Well it's been four months since I last posted anything and I'm hoping to put an end to the dry spell. It's not that there isn't plenty to write about, just not enough time in which t0 write it all. I will just have to try and make the time. What is on my heart today and for the last two weeks, is how much my family means to me. We just recently lost one of my brothers and the last two weeks has been a little like the twilight zone. I'm so grateful for all the family I have and how we come together when things are tough. What a blessing! Just wanted to post a few pictures of my awesome family!


Our Duke...

Me and My hubby
Fab Five!
Lovely Ladies!
The best guys!
My hubby and the best sons!
My mom and family

I have a few blogs I like to keep up with (not everyday but at least once a week) and one of them is Lilly's Life. A while back she wrote about an experience she had while out with her sister doing some bargain book shopping (very funny story).

She happened to see someone she thought was familiar to her. At some point she realized it was her "favorite Aussie artist of all time".

Her story goes on to tells us, "I felt like a member of the paparazzi and wondered if I should approach him or call out to him in the same way they do to the stars, Hey Richard, what designer are you wearing? Richard, who is the woman with you? Richard, have you had plastic surgery? Richard, who does your ponytail? Oh no, I didn't have it in me to be that forward. I took the coward's way out. I just followed him, pointed the camera, clicked, then ran and hoped he wouldn't notice the flash going off. And what did I end up with? This priceless piece of artwork. A blur to end all blurs."

You really must read the whole story, it's very funny! The title is "There's a time and a place"

Anyway, I got to thinking about what my take is on famous people. It's no surpise (to me at least) that I don't get star struck, but there's was one experience I had a few months ago that changed that (at least for a few days).

Living so close to Dallas there is a BBQ restaurant not far from our house owned by Randy White (former Dallas Cowboy). The hubby and I went a few months back and had lunch there. As we sat there and ate I could feel someone looking at me so I turned and there he was big as life, Randy White!!!

Now when I say “big as life” I really mean it. I’ve never been that close to a pro football player in my life and he was a huge man. Not fat, just in shape, very tall and muscular. He came over to talk with us and all I kept thinking was how excited my Dad would have been and how I wish I could call him and tell him who we had met. Even more so I wish he could have been there. My Dad passed away 2 1/2 years ago, my star struckness was on his behalf. He would have been thrilled!

I had to call my Mom and tell her all about it. She agreed, my Dad would have thought that was very cool. My Dad's birthday was on the 14th, he would have been 71. I sure miss him, but know that I will get to see him again. Happy Birthday Dad!

Last summer get away

We closed out the summer like we normally do and that is with Brett's family out at the lake. This summer seemed to be a more meaningful summer with our families. We had so much fun and we will miss seeing them often. On Saturday, we celebrated Brett (8/29) and Sherri's (8/22) birthdays.

With school starting and every one's schedules getting busy again and all of us living so far from each other, we just don't see each other much during the colder months. We're very thankful for the time we do get and look forward to the time to come.
When I woke up Monday morning it was about 7:00am. We usually tend to sleep in because we spend all day in the sun and stay up late. So no one is ready to get up early, and why should we? It's is our time off after all right? Anyway, I got up early Monday (our last day) and Brett had gotten up and gone outside to have his quiet time. As I stood outside just looking around I decided to capture a few pictures of what I saw.

For those of you that have seen Dirty Dancing (it's been many years for me), this morning really felt a lot like the end of that movie. One more summer has come and gone and the lake house will be closed down for the winter. Everyone will say good-bye until another time down the road. It was bitter-sweet. The day however wasn't uneventful, more on that later...

Enjoy the photos!

The kids and I sharing a moment with Brett on his birthday.

Light the candles It's all about me! Blow out those candles, I was too slow to catch Brett Yea, that's my cake! My Mom!Not sure what was so funny! Jake and Keller I bet Brett was telling a joke

One view from the house Looking up from the patio Early morning QT random under the dock One last time to fish. There was a crazy sand bass feeding going on!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRETT!!

Onto a lighter note.... Today is my Hubby's birthday!!!! I thought last night about all the reason's I love him and came up with a ton, but I'll just tell you 44 of them since that's how old he is.

1 I LOVE his eyes! They speak volumes!
2 I love the ability he has to make me laugh even when I'm so mad at him
3 He made me a cd full of love songs that remind him of me! How awesome is that?!?!?!?
4 I love how much he loves the Lord!
5 He has such a great, crazy sense of humor
6 I love how he loves people, no matter their color or financial back ground
7 He is physically strong. That makes me feel safe.
8 He is gifted at writing. I'm amazed by this gift and pray that God will use him with it.
9 He loves the ocean. Doesn't matter which one, he just loves them and loves being at and in them with me.
10 I love the fact that he really enjoys all kinds of music
11 He loves the rain and being with me when it's raining
12 I love that he can act like a kid at times but gets down to business when it's time
13 He can have a conversation with just about anyone
14 He LOVES the Gospel!
15 He is very smart, I can lean on him when I don't know something and he will explain
16 He is a fantastic father to our 5 boys. I couldn't have asked for better!
17 I love the fact that he loves my mom! What more could a ask for? :))
18 He shared Christ with my Dad one last time before my Dad passed away. My Dad is now in heaven with Jesus because Brett was faithful.
19 He loves my Dad and misses him as much as I do!
20 He's not afraid to speak his mind
21 His favorite holiday is Christmas. I know that's true for a lot of people, but Brett always
makes it so special for me and the kids. I love experiencing Christmas with him every year!
22 He loves NYC!!! I loved our trip there and hope to go back
23 He still gets crazy silly with me and let's me act like a dork. I can so stupid in front of him. I
love making him laugh.
24 He truly wants to do what's right. That's a great thing for our boys to see.
25 I love his hands. Those hands work so hard for us, they are strong and protective. I love it when he holds mine.
26 He loves ALL five of our kids the same. That is something to be seen.
27 He always puts a lot of thought into gifts that he gives. Never just random things, always meaning behind them.
28 I LOVE his hugs!!! They make me feel safe and loved.
29 He is a warrior! He always come through for us and when times get bad he is the one to have on your side. He fights for us.
30 Even though it drives me crazy... I actually like the fact that he has to have 3 fans blowing in his face when he sleeps... :))
31 He LOVES the Word. He loves to read the Scripture and hides it in his heart
32 He puts up with me when I'm difficult, but never let's me go too far
33 He really enjoys spending time with our kids. He has so much fun with them.
34 Never misses an opportunity to teach our kids and always encourages them to stay in the Word
35 He helps others in need. Many times he has come to me and told me he wanted to give financially to a hurting family. Sometimes we could have used the extra ourselves. I'm always willing to let God lead him in that.
36 He talks to Jesus. People may sometimes think he's a little crazy because he will talk out loud to Jesus and it looks like he is talking to himself. I LOVE it when he does that. It makes God seem so reachable!
37 He loves to spend time with me. That makes me feel very special.
38 He wants to follow Christ with all his heart.
39 He wants other to know Christ in a real way and have a rich life with Him.
40 I love his kisses!
41 He loves babies. He's going to be such a wonderful grandpop when we have grand babies
42 He wants others to succeed. H e will help people, give advise etc... to help them reach their potential
43 He's not perfect. I love the fact that he's not perfect. I would feel so unworthy. He's knows he's not perfect. He is a down to earth, HUGE hearted guy that makes mistakes and always says he's sorry when he messes up. He can dress up and go to nice places or get down and dirty in a game of basketball with his kids. Can act like a total dork but get totally serious when it's called for. I could think of somethings that I don't really care for, but they are like a spec of dust compared to all the reasons I love him. One of my favorites is #44

44 HE LOVES ME!!!!!!!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BAM BAM!
I LOVE YOU!

God Gives Us Friends & Family

I love the fact that God gives us friends & family! We don't always see them often or talk on the phone everyday but they are a gift. God always knows when we are struggling, when we have need or when we just need a shoulder to cry on.

I have a good friend that I've known since we were in 6th grade. We lost contact for about 4 years, but have recently been reunited. She was always such a good friend to me and was always there to lend an ear and had a shoulder to cry on.

She has just recently received word after a Dr.'s visit that there is something "suspicious" going on. She is due to go back for more tests on the 9th of September. I think one of the best things we can do for people is to approach the thrown of God and pray on their behalf. Sometimes, we encounter hardships and don't know how to pray for ourselves. Sometimes people just don't how to pray for themselves. I'm not saying this about my friend, but feel it's an important issue to touch on. Being an encouragement and praying for others is so important. We can build others up and share the Truth with them and God can begin to restore them.
I am asking you (whoever you are) to join with me in prayer for my friend. Praying God's Word back to Him is a very powerful thing. I'm not giving a lot of details but God knows what they are. She is also having a very difficult time with her marriage. I am asking God to intervene and bring glory to Himself thru them. Please join me.

Father I am coming to You on behalf of my dear friend. I pray against any evil that may try and wage war with her body. Bring it to nothing. Take hold of her right hand and calm her spirit. Let her know that you are with her. Let her know that You are her God (Eze.34:31) and are fighting for her, not only in her body but in her marriage.

I pray Lord that you will strengthen her faith because of the assurance of things hoped for even when she can't seem to see you. I pray that You would help her not to measure You by her circumstances but that she would grab hold of Your truths. That You will speak to her and let her know You love her. That Your perfect love will cast out any fear that may lay hold of her. I pray Lord conviction over her husband. I pray God that you would stop satan in his tracks from trying to destroy this marriage and that they will be a testimony of Your greatness by the work that You do in them.

I pray that You would bring another man into his life that will truly hold him accountable as a godly husband and father. That her husband would have a heart for him, have respect for him and listen to his council. That he would no longer be able to live out his life as a hypocrite (play actor). That his sin will be exposed for what it is and that he will drop to his knee's in humility. That he would grieve his sin and want to please you.

I pray Lord that he would ask forgiveness from his wife and children. That he would confess his lack of godly leadership and for not training up his son's as a godly father. I pray that his motivation would not be driven by the worlds view of success or based on his ego or selfishness. I pray that his family would rejoice and forgive him. I pray that your mercy would flow on this household and that by your grace they would be healed. That you would repay the years the locusts have eaten so that they will praise the name of the LORD their God, who has worked wonders for them.

I pray Lord for the doctors. I pray that You would give them eyes to see. That you would give them wisdom beyond measure. Father my prayer is that you would give my sweet friend a clean bill of health, but if there is something there, You would remove it and use this time to bring glory to Yourself. I pray that you would be the doctors hands, and do a great work on Sharon's body. I know that she loves You. Please continue to do a work in her life and those in her family.

That you would press in on her husband from every side so that he can not run from seeing Your face. I pray that she would seek you in how she can be a more godly wife and mother. That everything she does is motivated by her great desire to please You and bring weight to Your holy name. We praise You God for Your loving kindness, grace and mercy. For the hope that we have in Christ and that we drink from the fountain of Living Water.

Thank You for my dear friend.

Revelation 7:17

For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

Isaiah 43:1b-3a
Fear not for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.When you pass through the waters I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.