Ace and Emily

Not too long ago Will's adopted cat, Jag, became a mommy. It was pretty devestating to walk through the initial arrival of her offspring since we started out with seven and finally ended up with two of her little ones for the kids to cuddle and spoil. We've never really been big cat people and Amos has always taken his share and more of the love need for pets but that was all before Ace and Emily came to stay. For the most part, the cat family lives comfortably under the deck with what I thought were very rare visits inside for the kittens. Watching them these last couple of days has proven me wrong. These youngsters know their way around my house very well.
And now I know why my plants are looking so sad!
And I also know why our milk supply is going at a much faster rate too!

Something's Missing

Something is missing at our house and until it shows up, there may not be a lot of peace around here.

Earlier this week, I began to look for some photos that one of my sisters requested. No problem, I thought...little did I know! If you know me very well, you will know that I like photos. Lots of photos. If you know me at all, you also know that we've had a few moves in past years. I asked my husband to bring the somewhat large canisters from storage so I could go through them in search of the requested photos. Still sounds ok, right?

Then a couple of my children had their interest tweaked and started going through the canisters as well. At the bottom of one of the containers held our firstborn's babybook. Not only his babybook, but also the nice little scrapbook I put together with the cards we received along with the calendar of his first year of life--complete with all the stickers! Ok, so maybe you're sensing a little issue forming in the imagination of our youngest child? Our resident drama queen was a little put out that oldest child had what she considered TWO babybooks and made sure we all knew about it. At that point, she began the innocent search for her babybook. She searched through the first one...then the second one...then the last one...and by this time there were issues to say the least! "Where is MY babybook?! Am I even your child?", she said with all the enthusiasm of a soap opera diva. Because she didn't let off the hystrionics, I stopped whatever I was doing and went through the containers myself. Oops, *sheepish smile*, "I know you are ours, I just don't remember what I did with your book." I tried to calm her with. It didn't work. After that, I went through both of the cedar chests. Not there either. Uh-oh, now I'm getting into some deeper water with her. I offer to tell her almost every detail of her birth that I can remember (and haven't begged God to help me forget) but that didn't work either. Keep in mind that our son, whose book is also missing really could care less about the whole babybook thing, he found some pretty funky photos of his parents in the process and is by now bored with the whole thing.

Somewhere in a few moves and lots of photos, there is not just one babybook but two. Both of my younger children's books are missing. And honestly, I'm not sure where they are. But I do know that until I find them I'm going to be having to ask God to help me remember all those moments I had begged him previously to help me forget, just so I can 'prove' to her that she's really ours. And since I'm being honest, I will tell you that only their babybooks are missing. There's no point in looking for scrapbooks with their cards nicely arranged and cutsie calendars with stickers on. They just don't exist. *sheepish smile*.

There hasn't been much quiet in the house since the case of the missing babybooks has come up. And just when it seems to be settling down, she will make some crack about her being left out and unloved. I have no idea where she could possibly come up with her drama but it remains entertaining and because she doesn't allow us to forget, we'll keep looking for those books just to prove to her she is ours.

Not that she acts like either one of her parents, and that's not proof enough, mind you. :)

The Weekend!

To say I'm happy it's the weekend just doesn't begin to cover it. It seems like this week has been a long one and yet I find so many reason's to thank God for His love and constant presence!
Being able to stay with my niece and her husband following the birth of her firstborn was a true give and blessing. My prayer is that it somehow helped her and also my sister who so wanted to be the one helping her daughter grow accustomed to her newborn but couldn't. It was a week away from my own family with a bit less sleep on the schedule but oh so worth it.
Having recently returned from the funeral of my sister-in-law seems to have brought many of us into a deeper state of thinking. Her sudden death was a tragedy to my family and yet I was completely overwhelmed that every member of my family, with the exception of the one who was in the hospital herself, came to stand next to and give whatever love, support and encouragement we could to my brother and his family.
As my sister's health deteriorates it takes much faith and focus to know that God indeed has a plan for her life as well as every one of ours who are blessed to be praying for and encouraging her in her walk of faith.
To receive the news that a different sister had been taken to the hospital with a stroke seemed like more than this family could digest. But we are by the grace and unfathomable love of God. Thankfully, my oldest sister will be ok, IF she will take the advice of the doctors and walk the path of less worry.
All of these situations at times seem to weigh heavily upon my heart but it's in these moments when I can do nothing but open my Bible to the ever present comfort of our Heavenly Father.
Praising HIM for all He is through all the storms there are...

1,001 Things

There were at least 1,001 things I needed to do yesterday, but I didn't do them...

...I enjoyed the beautiful gift of my family and I couldn't think of anything more important to do.

It doesn't happen for long that Will is above the surface of the water.

Cole takes his job as lifeguard pretty seriously...

...he kept 'saving' Ally when she didn't need 'saving' and it got pretty hilarious. At least he's practiced up if the need ever arises for him to actually save someone!


In our family, being a girl doesn't necessarily mean they go easy on you!

The family that God has blessed me to be a part of.