pix for ya

our kids and K kids

this is just chuckle worthy.

Ok, so I wanted to throw a couple of pictures....hope to have more tomorrow. Peace! Joy! Salvation!

You will have to click on this...

You will have to click on this to enlarge it.

Or just go to Pinterest and enter Hugh Jackman....

This just makes me laugh uncontrollably...

Pardon the buff Hugh but give it a looksie.

Home is where the creamy crock pot chicken is...

I bit the bullet and made some homemade play dough. You'd have thought I told them we were going to Disney World with all the whoops and hollas going on here when the first 3 colors emerged. Sheesh. If I'd have known they'd be so smitten, I'd have made this a long time ago.

My Little measuring man...

This will cure what ails ya. Triple C visits and never ever stays for too long. We must dominate at every  meal (breakfast included) until it is GONE!

We grew to really enjoy the reality show "Duck Dynasty" (we do not have cable at our house) whilst on our southern vacation. One of the brothers on the show, Jase, looks A LOT like this. Weird hats with lotsa frizzy hair hanging out. My beard is a little bit smaller though. hah ahahahahahah. 

Levi had his first orthodontic appointment on 2/28. He is going to need some work. Poor Guy. It's a good thing he 1.) is so strikingly handsome, 2.) has such nice olive skin, and 3.) is so very very nice.
Just nice ya know? Hate to say it, but there are a lot of not nice people out there...even in the Christian community, homeschool community and it reminds me to keep on my kids about being kind and thoughtful. (I'm not saying we don't know a lot of really great people either. Because we do!)
Putting others before themselves.
Yep, I got all of that from this picture of my boy.
He has his "moments" but Levi Taylor Young is a really kind guy!

when I'm a smidgen down in the dumps, I refer back to this. not because I have so much against the people that post these things of Facebook, but because, I dunno, there's just something about Batman smacking the Boy Wonder upside the head.

These are what our days look like these days. We desperately need some springtime and sunshiney Vitamin D!!

My Gals. Love 'em.

Will and Ethan are a little bit harder to nail down for pics these days. They are either holed up in the rooms doing school work or off at a Bible Study, Karate, homeschool academy and what not or working with their Daddio. So forgive me if it seems that I ignore them.

They are ever present in my life and I'm so glad.

life is a little bit crazy these days...even with 1.5 drivers....the pace just seems to be picking up so I'm forcing myself to STOP!!

I need to. For many reasons, which I won't go into any detail here. I covet your prayers though. There is a battle going on and the Lord is going to win.

if it means I say no to everything, I will do so. There is a lot at stake. Priorities need to change NOW! and accountability is being sought....prayers are being lifted continually and because I know how the story ends.....

I am victorious.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus...

Look full in His wonderful face...

and the things of earth WILL GROW STRANGELY DIM...

In the light of His glory and grace.

Let me encourage you to turn your eyeballs upon Him.

Amen!

On another note...My sis, her fam and my big brother are currently in Orange Beach...lucky. They've had some good weather down and even went on the dolphin cruise today. They can come home now. all of 'em. even the old ones.

I'm outta words...hope you are doing amazingly well. Tory, I really WILL write you a letter. I've been carrying yours around in my purse since last week...hugs to you and yours.

Shelter over me

So, while my mom is snow birding it, her hair continues to grow. She found a little Truvy-look-alike in a very Steel Magnoliasesque salon...I swear, I felt as if I was on the set and any moment, M'Lynn and Shelby, Ouiser, Annelle, would all come busting outta the supply room...And yes, Mom's brown football helmet, which I love immensely, was properly cared for!

everywhere....

except here, because, this is gross. I mean, I'm sure the fishy would have tasted good but not that bag o' shrimp back there. ewwww.

just ..... ewww.

last day in the pool. 

last night on the beach. always so bittersweet for me.

beach bums

yummoooooooo!

The sunset that God gave us on our last night was phenomenal, to say the very least...We all love being on the beach and man, it just rocks.

My sis, her hubby, her kids, and my big brother are all on their way there even as I type this. From what I've seen of their weather reports, they should have some lovely days. I'm anticipating some wonderful beach pix and stories straight from Beck's phone/mouth/FB.

also, as I type, I shiver. Why am I cold? I dunno...could be the 2.75 miles on tready and ellipitical....I sit here and type, and David is on the treadmill now...the thing about his exercising is that he likes his music super duper loud. I can hardly stand that...I like it loud but in my ears loud. Not in the house loud. Goooooooo David...you can do it.

David turned 42 yesterday! (dannnnnnnng!) I think we will have a birthday party for five when everyone gets back home to Indy...We have four birthdays from Jan 10 to March 9. Tom will turn 43 (gasp!!) on Saturday.

Lots of good things happening. Lots of amazing things on the horizon...

so grateful for the way that He carries me everyday. Learning to live in the Light of His salvation is a pretty amazing place to be.

I'm doing a monthly photo challenge for March. Today's pic was fear. I'm trying so hard not to be fearful.

I always used to be afraid that something would happen to one of my babies, in utero....and they always made it. but still....

every pregnancy it was there. always the cord....

today's picture was of a knotted rope. I'm laying that at the foot of the cross. I cannot let fear grip my life. For everything that happens, I look up...I am seeking the Lord every day and so whatever storm or peace we endure, it's all good. because of that knot (and I'm not getting too theological here), I pray that my kids that have stayed will come to know the Lord in ways they wouldn't have otherwise....

Strong Tower is playing on my iPod now....loudly. Kids are cheering for their dad as he gushes sweat on the treadmill....it's a precious moment.

When I wander through the desert
And I'm longing for my home
All my dreams have gone astray
When I'm stranded in the valley
And I'm tired and all alone
It seems like I've lost my way

I go running to Your mountain
Where Your mercy sets me free

In the middle of my darkness
In the midst of all my fear
You're my refuge and my hope
When the storm of life is raging
And the thunder's all I hear
You speak softly to my soul

You are my Strong Tower
Shelter over me
Beautiful and Mighty
Everlasting King
You are my Strong Tower
Fortress when I'm weak
Your name is True and Holy
And Your face is all I seek

Strong Tower by Kutless (who we saw perform this song at Rock and Worship Road show and man, was it powerful!!)

Good night, my lovelies....hope this finds you well and healthy.

some Instagram for ya

well, 'scuse me, madam...

it changes almost hourly out there! one of the things I abso love about the gulf.

we love the grandparentals

I heart you

not sure what's happening here, but Molly's buff.

yes, this is a totally weird picture but I like that both of us are in it.  dorks.

E took his raft in the condo pool. 

She is pesky but precious. I love this li'l lady. the other kids don't stick around me as much as she does, it's harder to get their pictures. 

Happy 20th month in the Lord's arms, Jack.

Ethan's 17th birthday, beaches and some weepiness

can't believe this guy is 17. 

Salted caramel pie....mmm mmm delish

funny guy

This is a show that never gets old, skanky, commercial-y, questionable, political. It's all GOD, all the time.

I DID get in the water. it was flippin' cold.

a thingy in the water. 

This was the Tuesday before we left. The waves were extreme and there was a gaggle of surfy guys out there all day long. It was rather difficult to get a pic of them. This is also the day that I let my littlest kids get sunburned.

These may be the last pix that I took with my camera, on our 2013 trip south. I did finally get all of the pix off of my phone and hope to get more on here but you can also find them on FB.

Hoping to have some of those up soon...

It's really really cold here. I mean like 32 degrees cold. Surely it'll break soon....

Molly started gymnastics last week and absolutely loves it. Her teacher, Miss Tamara, is an adorable little Mary Lou Retton-looking chicklet and I think this will be so good for Miss Moo.

We also got a new car yesterday. We'd sold the Rendezvous and thought we'd be able to finagle transpo with David's white work van for a time, to kinda save money but it proved to be a bit more difficult than we thought. So, he got a really good deal on a fuel efficient Mitsubishi Outlander sport. It's Laguna Blue. I'm really glad he chose a vehicle with some pizzazz. We're drawn to grey vehicles, clothing, paint, paper, whatever so this is a nice change. Levi is OVER the moon with the new car. It's small, cute, peppy and safe for our kids or David to plug around the city in.

In other news, well, today would've been Jack's 20 month birthday, if he'd stayed. I visited his spot at Forest Lawn. it was so cold out there....

Sometimes, outta the blue, it wops me upside the head that my son isn't with us. That we have a spot, other than at our home, where we go to sit, visit, remember someone that belongs in our home. For whatever reason, he is not here. well, there's the obvious one...knot in the cord...but you know what I mean...he was perfectly healthy. he was perfectly whole, beautiful. There are people that kill their babies every day or themselves or other people...just shakin' my head. I don't know what my point is except that I'd give my left arm to have him here. I'd never ask him to come back here though. I will forever look at the pictures of that sweet boy and remember exactly how I felt when it was taken. it comes back FRESH, like a slap in the face and a wad in my throat...my baby died on his birthday. I just know God is using this for good...and so I keep my face up, cry when I see new babies in person, or on TV or wherever....and just thank Him for Jack.

That is all I can do. Praise Him for the ways in which He works and for loving me so much to walk with me on this road.

Ok, I'm gonna go cry now...

all is well.
all else pales in comparison to living, learning, loving the Lord.

everything.