Hello again.....

Hello again blog, its me.....your author.  I've neglected you long enough and feel it is time we get reacquainted.  I have missed you so these past few months, but life happened and took me away from you.  I am embarking on a new year and hoping for a new found love to blog again.  Bear with me as I make changes, maybe even changes in the direction of this blog,  I want this to be more of an outlet for me and not just keeping everyone up to date on my family happenings. 

Here is a short recap.  December we had 2 birthdays, my beautiful red headed daughter turned 12 and my vibrant littlest girl turned 5.  Time is slipping away from me as they grow up so fast.  We had friends that came to be with us and stayed through Christmas.  It was a very special Christmas for us this year.  A few of the kids ended up sick with a stomach flu the week before Christmas and then another on Christmas Eve.  I also ended up sick with an ear infection that same night that left me with a perforation in my eardrum.  The next few days are a blur of flying wrapping paper, Motrin, tons of movies, lots of sweet goodies, and napping. 

While having sick kids during this time we had to postpone Christmas with our family until we were healthy. The Tuesday after Christmas my children went to be with grandparents while my husband and I traveled to help a friend that was relocating. We were away from our family for a whole week! I missed them so much, but it was good to be with friends and have some time alone. Upon returning from our trip we had enjoyed some much needed rest as a family and finally celebrated Christmas with our family this past weekend. All the decorations are finally down, things are getting back to "normal," the kids have colds now and the saga continues.

So here are some pictures to catch you up on all that has happened.  Some things will go unsaid and others will tried to be forgotten, but life happens, forgiveness is freely given, and a new year brings new hopes for the next.

This is Christmas Day Snow fun!  Our FIRST White Christmas!  Thankfully everyone was feeling well enough to enjoy a little while in the snow!

This is my middle arrows 10th Birthday!  I can't believe how time has flown by!!  She didn't open a present on her birthday because all she wanted was to go to the movie "Tangled" with her family!  Of course we took her, since we don't go to the movies very often it was a real treat for all of us!

A Picture is worth......

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, right?  Well how about a few collages?  Will they make up for my hiatus from the blog!?  SORRY!  It's been so crazy hectic around here.  I truly just haven't had time or motivation to blog until now.  I hope these picture collages will help you understand why I've been so busy and catch you up on the happenings at our "Blessed Little Quiver."

This is our trip to the Brushy Mountain Apple Festival and then up the Blue Ridge Parkway for a day visit!  It was a beautiful day to enjoy God's creation, as is any day!  This was a great family day.  We started the day with 2 soccer games, good food, apple festival fun, a nice drive, hiking and great pictures. I just love spending time together as a family....one of my favorite things.

This is our recent trip to the Creation Museum!  If you haven't been, GO....if you are thinking about it, GO.....it is money well spent!  I wish I could have recorded my Youngest girl arrows reaction to Adam and Eve's joy as they walked in fellowship with God and then after the fall, their sadness.  She was so overcome with their sadness, she started to understand the magnitude of "sin" and what it really means for us.   Precious moments!  We were also blessed to share this experience with our Best friends that recently moved to Indiana.  We will cherish these memories for a lifetime!

 This is the Creation Petting Zoo.  The kids really loved feeding and petting all the animals.  Even little man fed a few animals, but his favorite was the camel.  My oldest arrow doesn't show favor towards anyone and enjoyed feeding all the animals, especially the zebra/horse.

These are our dearest friends that we spent the week with in Indiana.  My heart longs to be with them.  It's so amazing to me how God puts people in our lives that we need at just the right time, my how I needed them and still do.  We have only known them for a few short years, but it feels like we have known them a lifetime!  We truly are more like family than friends. 

The kids are just as close to each other as us parents!  This was a Great "old fashioned," meaning like when I was a kid, park.  They had a merry go round, metal slide, see saws, swings, big rope tree swing, cool train where we rang the bell, and a little boat play set too.  It was a beautiful fall day at the park....a wonderful last day to our short trip.  We spent every waking moment together doing something fun, games, corn hole, outings, shopped the "Rural King," Creation Museum field trip, step classes, zumba, and late night laughter (my favorite).

We returned home on a rainy, stormy day only to unpack the car and lose power for the night and most of the next day.  Things are cleaned up from the storms, power is back on, school is in session and life is just as it normally is, BUSY.

Reformation Day was this past week and the kids enjoyed some dress up fun.  We hosted home fellowship in our home on this evening, so the kids loved showing off their costumes.  As you can see we had "Woody" from Toy Story, "Jessie" from Toy Story, "Astrid" from How to train a dragon, "Mean, Old Neighbor Lady," "Tooth fairy Princess," a Black Eyed  "P" and Daddy's One of a kind....NO costume t shirt.

So there you go, you are now caught up on the happenings in our quiver!  See you around!

For My Mom.................

My Mom.

She is everything a woman wants to be.  She is a Proverbs 31 woman.  She is everything I want to be. 

She gave me life, loves me unconditionally, trained me to work hard, showed me how to love.

She loves her grandchildren.  She loves them unconditionally.  She is training them to know and love the Lord. 







She is always ready to laugh.  She has a beautiful laugh.  She has an infectious smile!  She always seem happy, even on her darkest days.  She is a glimpse of what I (hope) to someday be.

She is beautiful on the inside and gorgeous on the outside!  She is a servant to all and an inspiration to many.  She is known by so many and loved by all.  I admire the woman that she is and will become in her lifetime.

Today is my Mom's birthday and I wanted to show you how wonderful my mom is to me.  She is all those things I wrote above, but more than anything, she is a Child of God.  Her life is a testimony to God's goodness and grace.  She is an inspiration to me!  I love you Mom!  There aren't enough words to describe the gratitude in my heart.  You will never know how proud I am of all your accomplishments.  I am so blessed and honored to call you "Mommy" and my children are blessed to call you "Mammaw."  Thank you for all your sacrifices for me while growing up and even still now.  Thank you for showing me unconditional love that I now show my husband and children.  Thank you for always being so true to yourself, never backing down from what's right.  The Lord will graciously give to you, for you so humbly gave to Him.

I love you with all my heart and soul!  Happy Birthday!
Your "Little Girl"

An excellent wife who can find?  She is far more precious than jewels.  The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.  She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.  She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands.  She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar.  She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens.  She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.  She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong.  She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.  Her lamp does not go out at night.  She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.  She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.  She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet.  She makes bed coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple.  Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land.  She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant.  Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.  She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.  She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.  Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: "Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all."  Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.  Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.
Proverbs 31:10-31

More Catchin up....

We had BackYard Bible Clubs July 5-9th!  It was awesome!  The kids had a blast!  The pictures say it all! Yes it was hot, yes we were sweaty and YES spreading the "Good News" is FUN!!!  Just ask the kids in these pictures!

We also enjoyed a little downtime the weekend before BYBC.  The kids really seem to enjoy their slip and slide.  We bought one years ago, but I think the kids were too young to know what to do, this year they went alllll out!  Running, Jumping and Sliding Off the end!  Even the littlest ones got in on the action.

Growing Faith...

I just love spring days when the kids are done with schoolwork and go outside to enjoy creation.  Today some of the kids came inside yelling "we found a nest, we found a nest and it has babies, cardinal babies!"  Of course I went running.....with my camera!  :)  Mom cardinal flew out of the nest and bush quickly when we all went outside, but the babies weren't bothered by us a bit!  They let me take a few pictures and even posed for me a few times. 

I really can't tell you how grateful I am that the Lord lets my kids experience His creation, His design for animals and His kingdom right here in our front yard. 

Let our faith grow as these young babes, feeding on HIS word as these babes feed from their mother...let HIM be in our every thought and deed today.

Soccer Star.....

Time for a brag post!  I have to show you my soccer star!  She has such a sweet, loving and giving spirit and underneath it all she LOVES soccer!!  I am so proud of my firstborn....she is such a blessing to our family and she plays some AWESOME soccer too!!  Here are a few photos of my babe playing hard and loving every minute of it!  She prefers to play Mid-Field Left or Center, but she will change it up like today and play Forward or Goalie!  Enjoy the pictures!  I know I sure do.

Savoring every minute...

I find myself savoring every minute we have with our friends lately.  In the back of my mind, I know this might be the last time we do this, or that, or the last time I could photograph this and that.  So yesterday at the park I followed the kids everywhere and snapped lots of photos! 

I guess I've been savoring my friends like a sweet dessert, one that you thoroughly enjoy.  With every bite you wish there could be just a little bit more.  Maybe just one more serving will satisfy your craving.  Maybe just another weekend with my friends will make the hurt not hurt so bad or maybe one more playdate will be enough to last until our next visit.  The time is going by so fast, it seems like I had a few more months with them, but now the time is near.  Only a few more weeks now, then they will be gone.  The emptiness is almost too much to bear, but then I have sweet moments like this to treasure and cherish forever.

I feel like this babe....being held in the loving arm of her mother, but I am in the loving arms of my Heavenly Father.  He is comforting me, soothing my nerves, swinging me to sleep in the midst of this storm.  I can feel His presence and at times I feel peace, but today.......I am anxious for the day is nearing, nearing when they will depart. 

So for today, I will continue to savor each and every moment we have together.....taking pictures to cherish forever, making memories with our children, and enjoying life.

O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!  You have set your glory above the heavens.  From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.  When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.  You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet: all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.  O LORD, our Lord,  how majestic is your name in all the earth!  Psalm 8

Aaaacccchhhoooo.......

Beautiful Spring....flowers blooming, bees buzzing, birds singing, kids sneezing playing, adults crying sneezing laughing and enjoying creation.  Our house is in full bloom, and I'm not talking about flowers...allergies!  My poor husband, oldest arrow and youngest arrow are the worst!  Our air conditioner is on the fritz, again, so we have all the windows open, fans in the windows, ceiling fans running on high and my counters, tables, chairs and everything is YELLOW!!!  I had to wipe down my laptop just to get on and blog!  EEEeeeeeeewwwwwww.....

As I spoke to a friend this evening we both shared how we feel as though the pollen this season is awful, more than normal and alot of it!  I noticed while driving home yesterday that there was a haze of pollen in the air all around us.  It looked as if someone had driven down a dirt road and kicked up all the dirt.  Ya know?  But we don't live anywhere near dirt roads, it was just the lovely pollen.  Hope you all are fairing well inside your pollen free air conditioning!  Pray for us!

Enjoy the beauty of creation, the smell of fresh flowers, the sounds of spring and the coolness of your homes and allergy free zones!!!  :)  Have a Blessed Spring Break Y'all!

Easter Weekend

Wow....Easter just flew right by us!  I missed out on all the things I had hoped to teach and go over with the children, as usual.  I don't think I've ever made it through a holiday and taught everything I had on the agenda!  LOL

Anyway, we had a wonderful, relaxing and refreshing weekend.  Blessed Daddy surprised us and came home very early Friday!  That's the nicest start to any weekend!  After a fun afternoon with Daddy we had some friends over for dinner and games.....it was just like old times with them.  Saturday Daddy had to work for a few hours, so the girls and I went to run a few errands.  I had a last minute Easter errand to run, finding a slip!  Ugggg.....slips must be a dying artform as well as thank you notes and rsvping, etc.  Oh well, after a few hours of shopping and a few stores, I found one that would have to do.  I returned home and cooked dinner for the family and then it was early showers, fingernail painting, preparing clothes for church and bedtime.  We woke on Sunday to a GLORIOUS Easter morning!  It was a wonderful and beautiful day to celebrate the resurrection of our Savior!!!!  After worship service we enjoyed fellowship with our church family, then lunch with friends at our home and lots of rest an relaxation that afternoon.  Here are a few pictures for you to enjoy!

Super Fun Field Trip!

Whew....we had the best time in Jamestown, Yorktown and Williamsburg.  I don't know that my oldest 3 arrows have ever walked that much, but wow it was great!  I learned so much while we were there and I pray that my girls did too.  It was a great effort to get us all there, but God was gracious in our travels, we arrived safely and had a wonderful time while learning so much about our country and exactly how this "new world" all got started.  If you ever have a chance to go, I must say, TAKE IT!  It is definately a must see kind of place.  To be there and see, touch, feel, walk and talk all where our founding fathers did was amazing!  Words just can't describe it.  Breath Taking!  I can't even begin to sum it up for you, but I will leave you with a slideshow of our trip.  We took over 300 pictures, but I downsized to the best of the best for you all.  ENJOY!  I will be back to my regular blogging this week.  I needed a few days to recover from such a wonderful trip.

The pictures start in Jamestown, then go to Yorktown and end in Williamsburg.  ENJOY!

Projects for today

So, the older kids played outside in the snow most of the day.  I gave them a "project" for school.   They were instructed to build an igloo.  First the attempted to scoop out snow from a mound and make an igloo cave, so to speak.  Next I instructed them to a block type igloo.  So, off they went and upstairs I went while the younger babes were still napping.

Ahhhh, it feels so good to accomplish a task for the day.  Don't you think?  Today I wanted to get some sewing done.  I have a number of projects cut and ready to sew, I just wasn't in the "mood" to do them.  Last week I had read a few other bloggers that were making camera straps for their cameras.  I thought, what a fabulous idea!  I could have a stylish, yet comfy strap on while I take pictures....so I did it!  I made my very own!!

YAY me, of course, I realize that it is very "girly" but the camera was a gift for ME, from my hubby.  I have material cut and ready to make him one too, if he complains about the flowery print.  It is much softer and nicer to wear now with the minky dot material on my neck.  Also it is completely removeable! 

On to the next project for today, making a camera wristlet case for my 11 yr old arrows new camera that she got for Christmas.  She is having so much fun taking pictures, but she needed something to keep it in. 

I think it is just her style, don't you?  She loves music, wants to play guitar and piano, wants to be a "rock star" so I thought the fabric was perfect for her. 

For the straps I used a ribbon.  It is lined and has a pocket on the outside/back as well.  It is so cute!  I think I may have to find someone else that needs a camera case, just so I can make another!  It was fun and it only took me about an hour to complete.

Here's a sneak peek of the inside!  Bright Orange, because it reminds me of her firey red/orange hair!  She's such an outgoing gal!!  Love you sweetness!  Hope you enjoy your new camera case.

BTW, the igloo cave collapsed!!  So, I guess they learned that building with brick type stones is stronger than just scooping out dirt from a mound.  :)

Will you love??

Ahhh....the peace of freshly fallen snow.  Isn't it beautiful?  It started snowing here late yesterday afternoon as I drove the 2 oldest arrows to their sleepover at a friends house.  Earlier yesterday we made sure to pack extra clothing just in case the snow actually arrived and they needed to stay an extra evening.  Well, I'm sure the children must have been ceaselessly praying because we awoke this morning to 6" of snow here in our town.  The town where they are got at least 4".  They are having a blast at their friends and I am missing them terribly.

The youngest 3 arrows woke early and wanted to play in the snow.  "Let's make a snowman!"  The snow is too fluffy for that, it doesn't pack well at all, it kinda crumbles.  So that didn't work.  Our youngest arrow lasted only a few minutes before screaming his head off!!  He had had enough and wasn't taking it anymore.  In his defense, it was still sleet/snowing, the wind was blowing and it was cold out there!  We sent him inside while the youngest girl arrow decided to sled down the driveway with Daddy pulling her.  Well needless to say, 2 times and she was done and ready to go inside.

After getting the younger ones settled inside, I continued to take some pictures of the beauty surrounding us.  I am always so amazed at the snow, I mean think about it.  Every single snowflake is different!!!!  No two are alike.  I can't even begin to imagine how that is possible, can you?  There is 6 inches of snow in my yard, all over my neighborhood, all over the town I live in, surrounding towns, up to surrounding states!!!!  And NO TWO SNOWFLAKES ARE ALIKE!!!!!!!  What an awesome Creator we have, how immeasurable His love for us.  He shows us His divine power through His creation and we see it everyday, but do we stop to think about it?  Really?  I often see, feel and experience these "God Moments" or "God Thing" and I am still constantly in awe of Him and all He does.  Are you?

Another thing I am in awe over is the way that God has provided for me throughout my life, whether I professed to be His child or not.  He has always cared for me, loved me and molded me to be the woman He wants me to be.  I am forever grateful and indebted to Him.

Today marks a very special day for me and my husband.  It was 17 years ago today that we were united and made into ONE.  I married my best friend, my soul mate, my help meet, my lover and friend.  At the ripe age of only 19 I thought I knew everything and I thought there was no way I could love anyone more than I loved my new husband on that day.  God has grown me in so many ways.  Not only do I love my husband more today than that day, but my heart has been blessed to love 5 Blessed and Earthly children and 1 Heavenly Child I have waiting.  I can't explain the love that one has for a spouse, but I can

tell you that it is far beyond anything you could ever dream or wish for.  These little beings have been given to me to care for, mold, instruct in the way of the Lord, guide to know Him, and protect as best as I can.  How can your heart hold so much love for one person, let alone 6 more????  Only God can fill your heart and make it stretch.  I don't feel by any means that my heart is stretched to its max.....I have sooo much more to give, My Savior, my husband, my children, my family and my friends.  Oh how grateful I feel today to have been blessed beyond all measure.

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and may have strength to height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all grounded in love, comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and the fullness of God.  Ephesians 3:14-19

 So I leave you all with this question.  How are you loving?  Are you loving to your fullest extent or are you with holding from your Creator?  Will you not give to Him freely the love He has promised you, that He gave you in the first place?  I will choose to LOVE today and always.

Happy Anniversary My Love.  Thank you for 17 wonderful years together and May the God Peace grant us many more years together!  I LOVE YOU!

New Year.....New ??????

A new year...a new me!  I am ready for some change...how about yall?  I do not normally do "new year resolutions," however, this year I am making goals for myself.  First on the list was a new hair cut!!  I opted instead to get a perm, first one in 23 years.  So far I am in TOTAL love with it and it's so easy to style, just wash and go!  Next on the list is to get Healthy again.  Hubby and I started together this time.  I don't have much success when I go it alone, so my darling better half is helping me.  We have started with our diets first, eating better, etc and next is to add exercise. 

I hope to keep you all updated on the "goals" for this year and help you to keep up with the family as well.  What better way to update than with pictures!?  So, here you go, the months of December and Jan in a nutshell!  ENJOY!