Random from this past week...

I can't post phrases under my pics for some reason?? So here it goes: we went to Greenwood last Tuesday to catch up with some of Rhyne's family from Indiana. His cousin, Harris, and his family came down to visit. We named our son, Harris, after this special cousin! The other handsome guy in the picture with Rhyne (the one to the right) is his Uncle James. Ben's middle name is James after this uncle. These guys mean so much to Rhyne. The pics with AP in the pink dress is from that night - she loves to pose!! I love catching ordinary moments - the kids had fun playing with their Daddy Saturday! They also love when Grandmother comes and brings a board game!! I am so blessed with such a great life!!!

How can I complain?

Today has been one of those days - a day where I have been convicted around every corner! I wish I could say that I wake up each day refreshed and excited, singing "This is the Day..." as my feet hit the floor - it is more like "KIDS, wake up we are LATE, get up, brush your teeth, we don't have time for breakfast, etc......!!!!" ! Now, there are plenty of days I am not the Screaming Banshee Mom - I just wish those days outnumbered the hairy ones!! All this to say, God has really been "dealing" with me lately. I have been going through a season of self-reflection and I can honestly say, I am so thankful God is dealing with me. For the longest time I have had a hard time being joyful, not "happy", but joyful. You can be in the depths of woe and still have joy in your heart. One of the books I am reading to help me with my joy-issue is One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. I will be honest, her writing style is very dramatic and rambling, but there are so many golden nuggets that it is worth the trudging you have to do!! I am not doing a book review for this post, but I had to mention this book! It has really made me stop and think and even change my life!!
All this to say, today, God has really opened my eyes to the small, yet huge, blessings I have every day! My day began with Will's speech therapy. We have to be at the public elementary school at 7am on Thursdays for Will to receive FREE speech therapy. I shouldn't complain about something that is free, but leaving the house at 6:30am with kids who don't like to wake up, is NOT fun!! Anyway, I sit in the parking lot while he has therapy and this morning I got to see two handicapped buses pull up and drop off sweet, precious students who can't walk (who have to be in wheelchairs). WOW- do I ever stop and thank my Heavenly Father for the simple blessing that my kids can walk and run?? Do I ever stop and thank Him for the gift of sound from their lips - this is hard when I have heard "MOM!!" a thousand times! But really, how convicting?
The next event today was a long-awaited message from a friend who has FINALLY been blessed with a child she has longed for, for so long! I said I would NEVER forget the tough journey of infertility, but I have to admit, I sometimes take these sweet miracles God has given me for granted. Not only did He give us a child - He blessed us with three here on earth and two in Heaven!! And I still can't find joy!?
I am working on this daily and I am so happy God has opened my eyes to see the gifts He so graciously gives that I never stop and think about! I am thankful He gives me days like today to remind me to be thankful always and have joy ALWAYS!

THANKS BE TO GOD!!

What did you do on your Spring Break?

Will spent 2 days trying to catch a
bird - I told him it was highly unlikely-
Boots and Pap helped prove me wrong!
Victory!


talking around the campfire

Celebrating Nel-Noo's birthday

Celebrating Dee Dee's Birthday

Helping Boots start the fire

talking on the front porch

having fun with Nel-Noo

She wanted to ride by herself! My daddy tells

me she is just like me when I was little!

Back in the saddle after almost 8 years?? There was

a time in my life when going 8 days without riding

was absurd!!

Ben's first horse ride

Will taking a turn

enjoying a roasted marshmallow

Hot dog roast

AP thought the fire was too hot

I would love to know what the

discussion is! Notice the hands on

all the hips - love it!!!

Otis probably didn't like Spring Break in the

country - he had to be an outside dog the whole

time!!

Spending time with Maw Maw

showing Maw Maw the new swing set

Will and Granddaddy- they share

the same birthday

In the country, you can water flowers in your

underwear and no one cares!!

Loving the dirt

We caught ants in a jar- we needed a safe way

to observe them!

Catching worms

Worms!

Beautiful Spring colors

Going to see the new swing set, how

long did it take Pap to complete it??

This is the question many teachers will be asking their students tomorrow (or at least I did when I taught)! We had a low-key Spring Break, but it was so wonderful!! The kids spent the first part of the week in Carrollton at Grandmother and Pop's. I wasn't there to snap pics but I know they had a lot of fun and were certainly spoiled!!! I was able to enjoy a few days of being just me and not MOMMMMMM!!!! I missed them, though! I picked them up on Thursday and headed to Acona (my home place). We played outside all day- we finally came in each day around 5pm to take baths and settle down. 3 days of non-stop playing outside in the beautiful weather - what a blessing!! I love taking them to the country because I don't have to worry about a busy street or them wandering off. I can just sit back and enjoy the sight of my kids loving the country life!! My cup overflows!!

Changes

When you have three kids who are growing up too fast, there is always something changing. The kids are spending half their Spring Break in Carrollton, so Rhyne and I decided to do some "spring cleaning" while they are gone. Because of Will's OCD personality, he is in serious need of a private room. I had always had visions of Ben and Will sharing a room together and loving it. Well, Ben's personality is the opposite of Will's OCD personality. So we had to make a change. Ben and Ann Phelps now share a room. They have been sleeping together in a twin bed for the past two weeks and love it. We decided to give Will a private room so he can create his inventions and do his science things in peace. Ben and Ann Phelps have a room where they can go wild without getting on Will's nerves. I think it will work beautifully!! I am having a hard time deciding how I want to decorate a boy/girl room!? On another note, this is the first time in 6 years that we do not have a baby bed in use in our house!!!! We took it down and put it in storage. I keep telling everyone we want a 4th child, but we are slowing eliminating our baby supplies (I gave away my maternity clothes last month). Maybe our consciences are trying to tell us our three are enough!!!! I am so glad I worship a faithful God who will never give me more than I can handle. He sees the big picture of my life and I am trusting that. If He thinks we need a 4th child, we will just buy another bed!!

Which One is Will's?

I joke all the time that Will is JUST like me! Unfortunately, he has acquired my OCD behavior. He drives me crazy (just like, I am sure, I drove my Mom crazy) with all of his obsessing!! We decorated eggs tonight to put on our holiday tree. I bet you can guess which one is Will's!! (in case you can't tell, it's the one with all the bunnies facing the same way and in line)!

Lately...

I am still keeping up with my "holiday tree"

Our Spring Holiday Tree

She wants to be just like the boys:

here we have a pull-up and underwear

that she put on herself!

Ben is obsessed with knights, cowboys,

and super heroes

We have been busy, but nothing really blog-worthy! Ben has completely succeeded at potty-training!!!! This is something I doubted for a long time!!! I have a feeling Ann Phelps will be trained before summer!! She wants to be just like her brothers so bad!!! We are getting ready for Spring Break- I am just looking forward to staying in pj's all day and playing outside!!