Do hard things

This is a book that Mackenzie has been doing in her Sunday school class at church. And this past Sat, Tim and a few other dads took a group of teenagers to the conference in AL. It sounded incredible. They issued a challenge to us as parents to not let our kids conform to the expectations of the world. We need to help them rise to our heavenly father's expectations. I read some of the book for the first time last night and I have to admit it's convicting to me. I want to be known to my girls as a mom who practices what I preach. So I am going to "Do Hard Things" with them. Check out this link.... DO HARD THINGS

Hilarious!

Last week I was helping Leah change out of her dance clothes. I said, "Let me help you take off your leotard." And she looked at me and said, "And then you will help Vivi with her vivitard?"

Understanding the relationship between theology and real life

We went to an orientation for discipleship at our church last night. It is a 2-year program that the elders at the church put together. Two of the goals are to learn theology and to equip people to be able to use it in their every day life. It's not enough just to learn it. We need to be shown how to use and apply the truth. This is EXACTLY what Tim and I have been desiring for a long time. We have really needed direction and accountability. I am just so thankful that God directed us to this church and I am thankful for the hearts that the elders have for the body of Christ.

First day of school!

Today is the day!

They both got right up when I woke them. Thankfully Tim made breakfast to help me out. We took our pictures and were on the way EARLY! I couldn't believe it. We got there early so we stopped in the church parking lot across the street to pray. We all had out teary moments and got ourselves together. When we got to the carpool line Mackenzie saw two friends she made this week at volleyball, so she was a little less nervous walking in with them. We pulled back around and parked so that I could walk Madi in. And I saw several other parents taking lots of pictures too. Madison walked right into her classroom just like she has done it her whole life. She got a little nervous so she wouldn't talk when we got there but she didn't cry. We stayed with her for a few minutes and then I asked her if she was ready for me to go and she nodded her head yes. I gave her one last hug and that was that.

I am praying that they have a wonderful first day! I will upload the pictures soon.

A new chapter

This week begins a new chapter in our family.

One that will be exciting and busy. And is unlike the last few years of constant diaper changes and nap schedules. Times they are a changin'!!

Mackenzie will be in 7th grade. She is starting this year at a new school and (Lord willing) last school. She is doing volleyball and assisting on a Christian cheerleading squad.

Madison will starting Kindergarten. I feel like the year of K that we did at home has really prepared her for school. She's already reading so I think she will feel confident in her class. She is also going to be doing karate and and she really wants to play softball in the spring.

Leah will taking ballet, reading, music and art.

And miss Vivian is going to be taking ballet.

And mommy is going to be a professional chauffer.

It was hard to imagine when they were all so little, that this day would ever come. And I have been overwhelmed at how fast time has gone. I am so thankful that God has shown me this and helped me to see the need to just ENJOY them.

Too much of a good thing

We just bought a nice LARGE bottle of gain. This would be the mega concentrated, HE kind. It has the dispenser where you push the button and it comes out. Wellduring my "quiet time" today, Madison comes yelling telling me that something happened in the laundry room. I walk in to a room full of gain. It must have slipped off the washer and fell. Then it exploded all over the room. I am talking even on the ceiling. So I got all the towels that were waiting to be washed and cleaned up everything I could. Then I went on about my business of washing clothes. When Tim got home he got the shop vac and got up as much as he could. The problem is the sticky film that's now on the floor. Just when I think the excitement is over, I opened up the washer and realized that there was diaper in there. Thankfully since there's no agitator, it's not as bad as it could have been. But still not fun. And since the diaper spent a few days in the hamper, I also have mildewed clothes. No need for tv at our house!

The last few weeks....

...have been interesting over here.

Let's see....

We got a dog. Vivian had her first ride in an ambulance. The police came to our house, twice in the same week.

The first time was because I thought someone snuck in while I was out walking Mercy. I had run home to quickly switch cars and walk Mercy, and when I did I heard a noise. And then more noises. So I was convinced that someone was in the house. I called Tim and he came home. He heard the same noises so we called the police. It was the most excitement they had had all week. B/C when they walked in the garage, they heard the "footsteps" too. Guns in hand, the whole nine. After a thorough search, the culprit was our door to the crawl space.

A few days later, someone who shall remain nameless, didn't shut the door after their mother instructed them to set the alarm. We were in a hurry to go to the vet and the alarm goes off. I was in the front with the Mercy who chose that very moment to run awya from me for the first time. I quickly round her and the girls up and get them in the van and turn the alarm off. We head towards the vet. I get a call from my mother-in-law telling me that the police are on the way to my house!! Yikes! So I turn around only to find the very same sheriff who had saved me from my door a few days earlier. Thankfully he is a nice guy and thought it was pretty funny.

Later that weekend, after coming home from church, we found a puppy in our back yard. It was really hot that day and we were worried about him. So we gave him some water, some food and put up a sign in the front of the house in case his owner was looking for him. In the meantime, we put the dog in our fence in the back b/c we have some big dogs that live near us and I didn't want the little guy to become a snack. Apparently he was not very appreciative. He came up on the porch. So Mackenzie and I put up a gate so that he would stay in the yard. Then he attempted to scale the gate and fell backwards all the way down the stairs. I thought for sure this dog was a goner. Oh no. This dog is invincible. Now the dog comes barreling up the stairs and clings on to the gate with all fours! Can you say psycho dog? He managed to slide himself around the gate (and the porch for that matter) and go through the top level of the porch. Then he found the dog door. Thankfully I was watching all this from inside and blocked the dog door before he was able to get in. At this point, the dog had worn out his welcome. So animal control came to pick him up and we hope he found a great family who likes to mountain climb.

Other than that we have had scarlet fever, a severe reaction to penicillin, a PRECIOUS tea party thrown by my sweet neighbor, a black widow on the playset, some of the hottest weather followed by wonderfully mild weather, Mackenzie was a helper at vbs, we dressed up like cows and got free meals at Chick-Fil-A, we have had an awesome time making our yard beautiful, we now have one daughter "legally" wearing makeup, Madi lost her first tooth, Mackenzie did art camp and a scrapbooking class and we are now wrapping up the summer with the stomach bug for 5 out of the 7 of us. Dog included, although the vet assured me that she didn't catch the stomach bug from us. It's more likely that she ate something that didn't agree with her. But vomit just the same. Thankfully it seems that everyone is on the mend and Madison and I are holding our breath until it's completely gone.

Oh yes and school starts in two weeks. Summer, what summer? :)