Monday, Monday...ya really CAN'T trust that day.

Levi Taylor 

Molly Christine

Ethan James....working on toughening up his hands. Must be a karate thing.

David Franklin...working on work emails. Huntin' and Peckin'.

one of these days, I will figure out how to put these back in order...this should be up by Ethan's pic. 

Will Franklin...reading on his floor. He said this was comfy. He even fell asleep shortly after I took this. on his weights. nut.

Melanie Kate...I was adding Mel's Monday pic and realized that I'd be able to add a pic of myself too. how conveeeeeenient. Here, my lovely first daughter is practicing her recital piece, sure to bring some tears, for it's a moving piece...called "The Orphan". She's doing really well.

she has pink hair again.

Good Tuesday evening. If the first two week days are any indication of what the next 12 days will be like before we embark on our journey south, then it's a good thing we are heading for some R&R because this ol' gal (ME) is plum tuckered.

I have a lot of catching up to do...I tried to blog these pix yesterday but blogger has been extremely obnoxious of late. Forgive the delay....my heart was here. I will try to blog more before we leave since I probably won't be able to on our trip. Unless I can figure out how to do it on my iPhone. I'm sure it's possible. Oh, and my parents have a computer so it's highly possible that I will get to attempt blogging. We shall see....

All I know is that the Gulf is calling me. Being out and away from this area and all of the busyness of our lives is extremely appealing to me. I love it here but with a self-employed hubby, staycations are NOT possible at this point in our wild and crazy lives.

I need a hair cut. I'd like some highlights. I'm going to the podiatrist on Friday. Can I get a Hallelujah? My foot has been hurting me for the better part of six months now...it's time to take some action. It's sorta hard to continue to work on weight loss when the repercussions of exercise/running/walking/whatevering are almost too painful. I walk like a 70 year old currently. It's time to finish getting skinny. ish. All of my kids' and I have clean teeth. I have one cavity. David is taking a mole off of his forehead...don't ask. Molly still wets her pants almost every day. gross. We fogged our house today because we have a slight (well, not slight. sorta bad) bug problem right now. They are not responding to roach traps but they look like roaches. They are RoboRoaches. I hate them.

Will is looking into finishing up his transcripts and beginning some college courses at Franklin College (fitting, since he is in a line of Franklins, namesake-wise). I can hardly believe that I have a kid old enough for this. Bah! Ethan is doing a great job with his schooling, his karate, his driving. He has gotten so tall and skinny. Melanie is also doing really well with her school load and helping us here at the homestead. She's really just a beautiful soul. Levi has loved texting from his iPod. he doesn't spell particularly well but our hopes are that this will spur him to start! He is a rare breed! Molly is loving school, writing her numbers, cutting, painting. I've really been trying to do more arts with them. They are both very creative...I love to see their little personalities come out in their creations. Molly is also going to be starting gymnastics when we return from AL.

That's what is going on. I'm trying to keep my head above water every single day. Every morning, David and I have to give each other a pep talk because getting out of bed is a struggle. It's frightening....it's almost too much. We just get a day done and another one starts. We may have SAD. I dunno. I'm not aging well. 40 may or may not bite.

I miss my baby. He'd be 19 months old tomorrow. NINETEEN months without a member of my family. A perfectly beautiful, brown haired beauty of a boy, who is not here to get into everything, who is not here to make cute noises and love and get loved on by everyone who meets him and his siblings. I think I miss that the most...the void that his departure has left in each of our hearts.

but also, because of his departure, the gifts he left us. The JOY we seek every day and find in some way, shape or form. The hope we have of heaven and seeing his face again. Knowing that Jack is with Jesus, the Creator of all things, my grandparents, other loved ones, Keith Green, Jim Elliot, Corrie tenBoom, is almost more than I can fathom.

There will always be a void in my life but I can't help but think of all of the good things, the many gifts that Jack Oliver Young's short, sweet life, brought to my otherwise quiet existence. Thank You, Lord...I will thank You till I take my last breath.

And that, folks, is a wrap. I will be home all. day. tomorrow and will hope to get another post on here! I will show my blog some love, which, in turn, shows love to my people.

ha ha.
snicker.
Tory, I'm writing you a letter...I have high hopes to have it out by the weekend. You are a fixture in my thoughts and prayers. Shellee, you and yours are as well! Dad, Mom, I cannot WAIT to see your mugs. and Mother Gulf. ha ha.

man, I'm crackin' myself upppp tonight.
g'night!