Two months!!

Piano Recital yesterday!








Jay and friends camping and boating at the lake on Memorial Day weekend.


Jay's 12th Birthday, 6 boys spent the night.

At the zoo, so much fun.

Easter morning.

Wow, it has been two months since I posted. It has been a crazy time with all of us. Here is a brief summary of our last two months.

We celebrated Easter and the kids enjoyed an Easter Egg hunt at church.

Then the kids had Spring Break from school. We went to the zoo and had a great time. The rest of the week we did fun local stuff and just enjoyed being at home and off of the school schedule.

Then we worked on rental property for two weeks. We had a renter move out and had two weeks before our next renter wanted to move in. WOW, it was a huge project but we finished on time barely!!

We had our church BBQ, which is always a huge event and pretty much covers the entire weekend.

We celebrated my son's 12th birthday. SIX BOYS spent the night. We played games, had pizza and cake, watched movies and laughed until the early morning.

Volunteered for Mabopane foundations annual Golf tournament.

Had another renter move after only two months. So we worked on another rental property. I was so bummed but then very thankful we were able to get it rented quickly.

Celebrated Mother's Day.

Camped at the Lake for Memorial Day weekend. Jay had two friends spend one night and Elle had a friend over for one night.

Went to VIR, Virginia International Raceway and watched the guys ride go-carts. They had a blast.

Interviewed a prospective Youth Pastor for our church. Praying.....

Also, went through up and downs and twists and turns and rentals and problems and long hours and problems and oh my....

Tonight, I am sitting here, feeling completely blessed. As I think about the hectic pace we have had over the last couple of months, I am thankful for how the Lord has been so good to us, blessed us and helped us through it all. At times, things are just physically and emotionally draining. And without getting into specifics, it is at times just a way of life for us. I am so thankful for the way HE loves us and carries us.

Laura

Myrtle Beach

Last weekend we went to Myrtle Beach. This was a spur of the moment decision, just felt like we needed to get away. My hubby found a very nice hotel online Friday and made the reservation. When we arrived to The Dunes Village Resort http://www.dunesvillage.com/ I was very pleased. It had two indoor water parks, heated outdoor lazy river, nice rooms, restaurants etc.

My kids had an absolute blast. The Lord blessed us with good weather. We were able to sit on the beach in our bathing suits. Such unexpected pleasure.

It's funny how a little time away clears your head.

Where have I been...

Wow, I have been a bad blogger.

A few weeks ago, Hubby and Elle attended the annual Father/Daughter dance and had so much fun.

Have a great weekend,

Laura

To my hubby...

So I am joining the SWAK carnival from http://www.wearethatfamily.com/
and writing a post about my hubby.

We have been married now over 15 years. We like everyone else have experienced hard times along the way. We have been through a major job change, a son a monitor for the first 7 months of life, becoming a SAHM, a late miscarriage, his mother's battle with cancer, his mother passing away, the struggle of how to balance home/rental property responsibility/work/church and try to do it all well. Even after all of these years balancing everything is still a struggle. There is always something to fix, something broken, something, something.

But let me tell you...we are BLESSED!

We have a beautiful, but small, old farmhouse that we renovated completely 9 years age. After living here over 15 years, I still walk outside and love to look at the land, the old barn, the pond, and all of the grass (that needs mowing all of the time). There is no other place I had rather live.

But God has blessed me so much more than that. He blessed me with a Godly husband. My hubby loves the Lord, he is a devoted father and husband. I love that he is always talking, joking and laughing. Because I'm just too serious. I love that he is laid back, because I am just not. I love that he is an optimist because most of the time I see the glass half empty. I love that he is not a worrier, because I am. I love that he provides for our family and has allowed he to stay at home for 11+ years. He would have it no other way. I love that he is a good man and tender hearted. I love that our children are so important to him.

I don't tell him how thankful I am for him nearly enough. I don't thank God for him nearly enough.

Thank you Lord for blessing me beyond measure. Thank you for my sweet hubby. Please continue to bless our marriage Lord. Help us Lord to to keep YOU as the center of our marriage and our home.

I love you hubby.
Laura

pray for those....

Luke 6:27 - 36

27"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. 30Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31Do to others as you would have them do to you.
32"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. 33And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. 34And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. 35But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

It's all about Basketball

This is how we have been spending our Saturdays!! This is Elle's first year playing basketball. Did I mention she is the only girl on the team?
At her first practice, she looked over at the other team practicing, many of whom she knew from school. She said, "Mom, I can't believe we are going to have to fight our friends." So, of course, I explained you are not fighting you are playing basketball. She said, "well dribbling is the same thing as fighting." Oh, I laughed! And how is dribbling the same as fighting, huh?

Before the first game, the team was sitting on the bench. Little did I know she had claimed the chair. Each time it was her turn to sit on the bench for a few minutes, if any of the boys were in her chair, should would make them move. After the game, I had to explain that anyone could sit in any of the chairs. There were no assigned seats. She said, "oh, I didn't know that." It was too funny.

Jay also plays basketball, so each Saturday we go to two games. I can't tell you how much we enjoy it! It is so much fun.

Have a great weekend!
Laura

Because this is love....

Sunday we went to an ice cream social at the home of the African Children's Choir. I can not even put into words how much joy those children bring to a soul. It was a great day. The Lord blessed us with beautiful weather. We were able to sit outside and enjoy spending time with the children.

My FIL volunteers there and fell in love with the children immediately. He mows the yard there and is always bringing snacks to them. We all love that when we drive up and get out of the car we are greeted with hugs, hugs and more hugs. It does a heart good.

Oh, what a blessing!!

Laura