When Kiddos are Sick

It all started with me getting a double ear infection and sore throat. I assume it's from the swimming we've been doing and the fact that my body isn't used to that much water in my ears. Oh well, started meds and have been feeling a little better.

Next was Jordan's turn. He started running a fever on Wednesday. By Friday it was still spiking and I didn't want to go into the weekend without a trip to the doctor. They got him in and said "Double ear infection and possible strep." Sounds like I've heard that somewhere before!

Sure enough Jake spiked a fever Tuesday night, right before bed. He had shots on Monday so I thought it might be an adverse reaction to that. Called the doctor and they said it probably was. I'm supposed to wait it out and see if he's still spiking a fever by Friday. Last night was the first time he complained that his mouth (throat) hurts. Here we go again...

I guess with 4 kids in the house this is bound to happen. I just hate to see them suffering! It breaks my heart. Hopefully we'll kick this one in the booty and be well for a while!!

Living with ADHD

We've known for a long time that Seth had some ADHD tendencies but we've always just called him our "wild man" and laughed it off. He's very active and has more energy than anyone I know!

I was worried as he entered Kindergarten and wasn't sure how he'd ever make it. The teacher was very strict and had a very scheduled day. In some ways that's good and in others, it's not. They got along but I could always tell that he definitely wasn't her favorite student. I felt bad for him and wished for a better start to his elementary education.

As we entered into 1st grade we found out that there was a teacher available that Josh had for 2nd grade. She was a Christian teacher and we felt so blessed to have her once! I spoke with her and she was aware that he was active and was willing to take on the challenge.

After a couple months of school and Seth coming home on yellow or orange, I knew things had to improve! Plus, things at home had taken a turn for the worse. There were some very strange and unreasonable behaviors taking place. I talked to the teacher and she said he definitely had signs of ADHD. At least I wasn't really losing my mind!

The teacher wrote a letter and we got Seth into see a specialist. She went over a check list with us. Anything over 25 was considered ADHD... Seth scored 49. It was pretty obvious that he needed to get this under control. We talked about our options and decided that medicine was the best way to go for us at the time. We went home with a prescription for Adderall. He started the next morning and within a week we saw changes at home and school. It was amazing!

A couple months later we started having some more issues with his behavior and questioned the medicines effectiveness. We saw the doctor again and she recommended that we up the dosage. So he started taking a little more and that seemed to do the trick. Back on track.

However, a couple more months went by and we started seeing signs that something else might be going on. He started speaking very "properly" for lack of a better word. He would enunciate his words quite often. We noticed that he was having hard time playing with friends and sharing. He often felt like the friends were out to get him and trying to make him mad. This was hard to watch as a parent because he would then just play by himself in the corner or in his room. There are some other issues as well.

We saw the doctor last month and she suggested that we have him evaluated. We're now working on getting that done so we can get him the treatment and help he needs. It's a long road but I'm glad God is with us. I'm not sure I would make it without knowing He has a plan for Seth's life!

To work, or not to work...

Lately I've been considering getting a job. Not because I want to but because I have to. We've had some unexpected medical issues arise and that brings bills for some reason. It's not easy when you see your child in pain and the pediatrician says "Take him down to the children's hospital to have it checked out." You do it because what is your other option? Well, unfortunately that also caused us to get a $1400 bill in the mail. My favorite kind of mail... NOT!

Then when you're having terrible headaches for months and no medication is clearing it up. You go to the doctor and he says words like Leukemia, brain tumor, or whatever else he said that I didn't catch because he said those other words that had me freaking out! You go for the MRI and a few weeks later an $800 bill arrives in the mail.

Now I'm scheduled to go to the dentist and who knows how much that will cost me. I'm bracing myself for it! Probably not going to be pretty.


We have insurance for both medical and dental but it's not the best. What's up with that anyway? Isn't it supposed to help us out and cover the issues we're having.


So anyway, we're praying about our options and trying to figure out how God is going to provide. Jeff says he could go get a second job but I feel terrible thinking about him working double time so I can keep staying home. I'm not a good salesperson so I don't think any of those in-home party sales would be a great option. I'm open to suggestions though! Any ideas? Otherwise, just pray for our family to do what God wants us to do!

Friend

I have lots of "friends" in my life but there are some that are closer than others. One friend that comes to mind as a constant in my life is Julie. We've been friends for over 9 years. Honestly, we can't either one remember how exactly it started. We were in the same small group for several years and I'm guessing it just kind of happened. I'm sure thankful it did!

I can think back on so many memories over the years...

~ The time I worked with her sister in law, Jenny and we surprised her with a baby shower. I know there are pictures somewhere but her face was priceless when she walked in!

~ The times we scrapbooked together late into the night.

~ I remember when her and Mark wanted to do a Holiday open house. We worked so hard on the finger foods. The party was a big hit!

~ Once when I surprised her for her birthday and we went horseback riding. That
was fun!

~ I remember roping her into co-directing the church nursery with me. It was great serving with a friend.

~ She threw me a baby shower for baby boy #2 and helped with baby boy #3.

~ She comforted me and my family the night we thought we had lost my sister.

~ Once when I had surgery she had to come "babysit" me because I was loopy on pain killers and couldn't move very well. Who knows what I said to her that day!

~ She supported me and was always there during the time my Mom made her way through breast cancer. Plus, made my Mom a goody bag of some of her favorite things... like red hots to help get through chemo!

~ The time her dog, Snickers died and we drove to the vet. We waiting as they got him out and she burst into tears in the parking lot. We stood and cried until we laughed. Then stopped at Starbucks to help us get through it!

~ We had a special adoption shower for her when L and B were coming home.

~ We've seen so many movies over the years... we really should have kept a count of them because that would have been fun!

For years now, she's been praying for me in good times and bad. I know I can always call her up when I've had a rough day and cry my eyes out. It's not always pretty but she helps me work through it and sees the silver lining. Like the time my son finger painted on the brand new carpet and she rushed over with her carpet cleaner. Or when I was pregnant and not sure I could love all of my kids enough. Probably sounds silly now but they were big when they happened.

Not only that but she's been a cheerleader for me in some business schemes I've tried... Premier Jewelry, Avon and Day care in my home. Always willing to offer a hand or host a party. Always coming up with new ideas to make extra to help support my family.

There have been nights where we've gone to dinner or a movie, hit up Starbucks and that's not quite long enough so we sit in the car for another couple hours and just talk about anything and everything! She even puts up with me when I get slap-happy and can't control my laughter. Actually, I think she secretly hopes I get that way every time :o)

I've been so blessed over the years! I've learned nothing can surprise me about her. She is willing to take risks and try new things. Her heart is HUGE and she has a big desire to serve the Lord and those around her.

Most recently I have to say that I've loved watching her through the adoption process. I remember the morning she stopped by with a video and we watched two sweet kids singing together. I cried my eyes out at the hopes of these two coming home to live with her. I knew that she was the perfect Mom for the job! I waited patiently for updates and news as the process continued. I had no idea what she was going through but I tried to cheer her on and encourage her along the journey! It was such a special night when they came home and I got to be a part of the "family" at the airport to welcome them. What a joy that truly was and I will never forget it!

Now her heart for orphans is bigger than ever. She's also a big hot-shot that wrote a book, Adopt without Debt. Recently she was featured on the Dave Ramsey show. I am so proud of her and her accomplishments. God is really using her to reach out and spread the hope about adoption. It can be done and she is proof.

I honestly can't imagine my life without her! Julie, thank you for being such a huge blessing in my life. God truly brought me a gift when our paths crossed. Love you, girl!

This was the time I surprised her and
we went horseback riding... cowboy hats and all!

Rough Start

Jordan was a different baby from inside the womb. With my first three, I was terribly sick for a good part of pregnancy. Not this little guy, I hardly even felt nauseous or tossed my cookies. He moved but wasn't super active. I even carried him differently. I honestly thought he was going to be a girl since my pregnancy was so different.

After several weeks of him trying to escape the womb and doctors stopping it, he made his appearance on June 18th. We were so excited and felt so blessed to have our 4th little guy. Even his entrance was different... he was screaming on the way out and came head and hand first. The doctor and nurses had a good laugh about him trying to shake their hand as he came out!

He was so sweet but was a crier from the beginning of life. I remember one evening at the hospital when there were several people in the room and the nurse came in because he wouldn't stop crying. She took him and swaddled him up tight and laid him in the bed, propped up. We were told to leave him alone for an hour or so because he was overstimulated. It worked! He just wanted to be left alone.

As time went on he was an "okay" baby. Friends and people at church would ask me if he was a good baby and I would reply "No, not really!" I felt terrible but it was the honest to goodness truth and I was tired of pretending. I just wanted him to stop crying. It got to the point where the three older boys just expected that's what all babies did. I was in tears more than a few times by the time Jeff would get home from work. I'd hand him over and go sit in my room for peace and quiet... just 10 minutes was enough!

When he was about 4 months old I realized that he would cry for hours on end and something wasn't right. I mentioned it to the doctor but she didn't really seem too concerned. She said "keep an eye on it." One night, he had been crying for 3 hours straight. I called my Mom and asked her opinion.

We ended up leaving the three older boys with her and my Dad and went to the Children's Hospital. I remember standing there in the triage area where I heard one nurse say to the other "He's crying more than normal, something definitely isn't right." So they checked him in and got us settled in a room. The doctor came in a checked him over and they decided to do blood work. She came in quickly and said that his white blood cell count was through the roof and more tests needed to be done. So a spinal tap was ordered, urine was collected and an IV was placed in his foot. I couldn't stand the thought of watching the spinal so I left the room. I will never forget hearing him screaming from down the hallway in the waiting room. It brought tears to my eyes and I held my breath. I remember the words "leukemia" and "infections" being spoken but most of that was a blur because I was so tired and scared.

Later they moved us to a room where he was admitted and they started treatment. They ruled out anything scary and finally just told us he had a bad infection. In fact, every time a doctor or nurse would enter the room, they would glove up and put on a gown. It was really weird not knowing what type of infection was running through his body. They honestly couldn't give me that answer.

On day three they sent us down for testing of reflux and swallowing disorders. I was nervous about how he would do. The did several tests where they tilted him around on a table and in a chair. I had to feed him this milky white solution from a bottle, spoon and cup. He took it easily so that was a blessing. I can't imagine if he would have fought the process! They diagnosed him with reflux and started him on Zantac twice daily. The nurses laughed when they would come in for his dose each morning and night. They said they never saw a baby who took it so nicely. Apparently, it doesn't taste great and most babies would fight it. I honestly think he wanted the relief and didn't have the energy to fight them! God worked it out!

Now when people comment about what a "Good" or "sweet" baby he is, I usually reply "He had a rough start but he's a great baby now!" We will probably never know what the "infection" was or why it attacked his body but I praise God that he was healed and that he has grown into such a strong, loving, amazing little boy!!

Code Adam

Once in a while you're in a store and you hear "We have a Code Adam..." I've often heard those and thought "How on earth can you lose your child like that?" I mean we've all had our kids wonder down the isle or around the corner but you usually spot them and do the old "1... 2... " and they return to your side.

Well, that all changed the other day when I was at Sam's Club. My sister and I had to grab a few things. We had eaten a piece of pizza, made a trip to the restroom and then were on our way. Jake decided he should walk instead of ride in the cart. We had just made it past the cold cases and were on our way to check out. I stopped to look at something and turned around to find Jacob was no longer next to me. I thought he had just walked around the corner so I stepped over to look. Still no Jacob. Hmmm, maybe he went down the next isle. Negative. This is when I slightly start to feel my heart flutter. I walk three or four isles over and my sister took off the other way. He was LOST! I find an associate and let her know that I need some help locating my son. I'm sure my voice was quivering at this point. On her walkie-talkie she says the dreaded words "We have a code Adam. 4 year old white male, red shirt and denim shorts. Last seen near the freezer cases."

I'm still searching and I see at least 10 employees start out to search for my missing child. I'm in panic mode at this point and tears are welling up in my eyes. Where could he be? A man notices my panic and worry and asks "Are you looking for a boy?" I quickly said "YES!" He said "check the storage sheds, I just saw one through the window." I ran over and threw the door open to find him standing there with a big smile. Apparently we were playing a game of hide and seek and I hadn't been informed. I scooped him up and gave him a big hug. We had a talk about staying with Mommy and asking for permission before walking away. I think he understands now.

I will never judge those parents again... I am one of those parents!

Ants in your pants...

I wasn't going to share this with many people because it's just gross but I decided to post it on my blog so now I guess the whole world can hear...

Last week I woke to a screaming baby who had an explosive diaper and didn't want to go back to bed. So I decided to snuggle on the couch with him and watch an episode of Oprah. Side note, I've decided to watch her final episodes even though I haven't watched her regularly before. Anyway, there was a follow up show where she talked to a young man who had grown up in the south. He lived in a very poor community that didn't have running water and they often had rodents and bugs in their house. He said at night they would actually wear earplugs or stuff something in their ears so the roaches couldn't get it. I felt sad for the boy and thought about how much better our conditions were.

Jordan ended up falling asleep in my arms so I laid him back in his crib and headed to my room. I remember laying in bed as I fell asleep, praying and thanking the Lord for not allowing us to have roaches in our home... and especially not in my bed!

The next morning I got the boys off to school and came home to get ready for the day. I got my shower and got dressed. As I was doing my makeup I realized there was something scratching the inside of my leg. I adjusted a little and it went away. Then a few minutes later, I realized there was something moving in my pants near my hip. I tried to remain calm but I was completely freaking out inside. I grabbed my pants and squished them together as hard as I could and heard... or felt, a crunch! Oh my goodness!! So I ripped my pants off as quick as I could and what do you know? There inside my jeans was a roach. I got back in the shower. I left the pants on the floor and made Jeff take care of them when he got home. I think I washed them twice to make sure it was out!

Obviously God has a great sense of humor because I had just prayed about roaches in the wee hours of the morning. I had asked him not to let them be in my bed. Apparently, I need to be more specific next time... I don't want roaches ANYWHERE in my house!!

We still aren't quite sure how that roach got in the house. Our best guess is that the boys had left the garage door open the night before and he found a cozy home to sneak in. I made Jeff thoroughly spray the entire inside and out for bugs!

She's Baaaaack!

So I realize it's been way to long since I updated this blog. I have the urge to sit down and write something every day. Somehow it passes as I get a whiff of poopy diaper and realize a change is needed or I find the latest spill on the floor that someone forgot to mention or even attempt to clean up. My heart is in it but there are 4 little distractions that always pop up!

Lately we've been busy just doing life. You know how it goes. It may seem like nothing special to you but it's always an adventure for us. Jordan is 10 months old, Jake is learning more each day, Seth was diagnosed with ADHD (more to come on this topic in another post) and Josh is busy in the kitchen and doing school work :o)

The days pass faster than I'm ready for. I can't believe we're halfway through April already!

So for now, at least you know I'm still here... still breathing! I'm hoping to hop on here at least a few times a week and update. We'll see how long it lasts. I do miss the blogging world though!

Not Gonna Lie

My friend, Julie recently posted a list of her faults and I thought it was a really great idea! We might as well get it all out there on the table, right? She's right, I happen to look around at all the other "Moms" I know and think they've got it all together in life! Truth be told, they are probably just as stressed out, tired and frustrated as I am.

So here's my list of honest truths about me...

~ I don't like listening to my children argue with each other. I probably raise my voice too often to correct this issue!

~ I hate a lot of vegetables and don't force my kids to try and like them either. So we don't have them as often as we should.

~ I would love to watch TV more than I should. There are just so many good shows out there and I want to keep up with all of them. It's something I'm working on!

~ There are times when I don't really listen to my kids when I know I should be. Just had to apologize to the oldest yesterday when he was telling me a story and I zoned out.

~ My hubby doesn't know how to work the remote (in my opinion) so I'm in control when we watch a show!

~ I get frustrated that my kids don't help out more around the house but it's my own fault for not making them. I can't figure out a great system to get us started. We're tried several times and failed.

~ I don't take the time to snuggle with my hubby as much as I should. I get frustrated when I'm "busy" doing something and he needs some lovin'. He's a very patient man but it frustrates him.

~ I've discovered that I only have to wash my hair every other day. So I straighten it one day and then don't do much with it the next day. Maybe throw a few curls in and pull it back. Not sure if it's being lazy or smart on my part :o)

~ This blog is another area where I struggle. I feel as though I have so much to say and would enjoy writing more but get nervous that someone out there will read it and judge me. Why do I worry so much about what others think? I should be living for only ONE person in my life... my creator!

There are so many more that I could list but I don't want to scare you all away! Thanks for letting me honest and keep it real with ya...

Welcome to the world, Jordan!

He's here and we're all adjusting to life as a family of 6! The older boys are more than excited to have a baby brother. They ran to tell all their friends on our street that he was home and took Daddy's cell phone to show pictures. Jacob however, has had mixed emotions over his new brother. The day we brought him home he asked "Can he go back in Mommy's tummy?" Then later asked "Can't we take him back to the hospital?" Lately he seems to have taken a liking to him though... talking to him and singing when Jordan gets upset.

Here are some pictures of our newest family member...

It's the final countdown...

I'm not sure exactly when it will happen but this little guy is going to be here before long! We are excited about seeing who he looks like. We have three boys that look very similar but each has their own "look" if that's possible! Plus, I wonder what his personality will be like?

Right now I'm at 34 weeks and 3 days so it's still a bit early but things seem to be moving along. My doctor has given me strict orders to rest as much as possible and NO HOUSE WORK! Ugh, if only she knew how much I want to be getting things ready right now.

The crib is ready. We put the bassinet together last week. I packed my bag so I think we're good to go at this point. Now we just have to wait for the big moment :o)

The Laundry Pile

I recently had someone refer to the "day" I do laundry at my house. I had to stop and think back to the good old days when we could do laundry once a week... can I get an Amen? It made me laugh at the thought, really. I don't remember the last time I waited a whole week to do laundry. For those of you who have two or more children, I'm sure you know exactly what I'm talking about.

Maybe it's just boys or children in general but I feel like I'm constantly doing a load or two of laundry. It just piles up before my eyes! Guess it's time I start training those little guys to get in there and help their Mama, huh?

Just think, a couple more months and we're adding one more family member's clothes to the pile... and even though he'll be tiny... he'll sure dirty a ton of tiny clothes!

What a pain... in my head!

I've experience headaches since I was in the 2nd grade. I don't even remember how I made it to the nurses office after I blacked out in the classroom. It was the strangest feeling. That brought about numerous tests and trips to the doctor. I began having to take migraine pills when they would start up.

These migraines are terrible because I typically loose sight, then limbs start to go numb and I just can't focus or concentrate. It can be scary but once you've done it as many times as I have, it's just routine. The worst one I ever had was while I was pregnant with Josh... my ears, eye lids and tongue went numb and I couldn't even speak! I think that one actually freaked the doctor out a little :o)

This pregnancy has caused regular every day headaches but it's also given me two migraines. What a mess. The first one was eased by drinking coke, taking Tylenol and sleeping for several hours. The second one, not so much. After 24 hours of fighting it, Jeff and my Mom convinced me to go to the ER. I wasn't happy but knew I would get the relief I needed. They gave me a shot of morphine and sent me home with Tylenol 3.

Now I'm just praying that they won't return and the rest of this pregnancy will be smooth sailing!

My heart

So I don't know how this is going to come across but it's what's in my heart and I want to say it. Since I've gotten pregnant, everyone has been talking about my having a daughter. Believe me, that's what I desire more than anything else. I've told people before that not having a daughter is like living with a hole in my heart! Growing up I always imagined my life as a Mommy to a couple of daughters. Maybe it was because I only had a sister and the bond we have with our Mom is unbreakable! Maybe it's because I always dreamed about dressing them up and doing their hair. Whatever it is, it's there and it's stronger than it has ever been.

I have a hard time when we're in a store and I see families who have little girls. Especially when they have all little girls and they aren't clean and their hair is a disaster. I'm telling the truth when I say that I've spoken with God about my judgment of those parents. He knows I don't feel it's completely "fair." It's a personal issue that I'm working on!

Right now as I sit just one week away from finding out what we will be blessed with, it's hard. My emotions are high and my heart is on edge. People keep asking "Will you really be okay if it's another boy?" "Do you think you'll have a meltdown on the ultrasound table?" "Are you going to cry depending on what you find out?" The answer is, I don't know! I honestly can't say how that day will be spent. I'm sure it will be full of emotion no matter what the outcome.

God says he gives us the desires of our hearts and I'm trying to trust that. I also know that He is in control and if He knows that another boy is best, then that's what I will have to trust. One day I will understand His reasons but until then I rest in His will for our family and my life!

Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas with family and friends. It's nice to have my family close all the time. This year we got to celebrate with Jeff's brother and his wife and their 4 kids after two years of them being in another country. Seems the celebrations have come and gone and life was a whirlwind for a few weeks!

Now we are on to the new year and what 2010 holds for this family...

Celebration mixed with sadness!

We found out last Monday that we are expecting baby #4! It's crazy when I stop and think about all this means. Especially when I think about all the birthdays we will have during that time of year. The baby will be born at some point in the summer when Jacob will be turning 3, Seth 6 and Josh 9! I guess that is how God wanted it to be because I wasn't exactly planning that. We are excited to see if we'll be having a boy or girl this time. You know what my heart desires and so does the Lord... He and I have had many talks since finding out!

Tuesday we were sad because of the 2 year Anniversary of Jeff's Mom passing. He was sick and had been running a fever for almost 24 hours at that point. So he didn't get to go down and visit his Mom's grave but we thought about her and talked about all she meant to so many people. He struggles so much because he was always so close to his Mom and it was hard to watch her suffer in the end.

We also just celebrated 2 years of my Mom being cancer free! It's been such a blessing to see her be aggressive in her treatment and fight this thing with all she has. What a terrible disease but what courage she has shown in the face of it. I can't imagine life without her and hope I never have to!

Thursday was Jeff's 35 birthday and he was still very sick with a fever. I hoped he would be feeling better by the weekend so we could get out and celebrate. He was feeling better but by that point Seth was running a fever and then Jake. So we will have to put the celebrating off a little longer. Once everyone is well we will take him out and do dinner. I know he is looking forward to it as much as I am!

Giveaways are awesome!

Go check out Mary's giveaway at Owlhaven...

http://www.owlhaven.net/2009/10/05/october-family-feasts-giveaway/comment-page-2/#comment-38198

I'm super excited to see who wins and I hope it's me :o)

I loved my Grandpa

I don't want to try and write something about my Grandpa all over again because it's still a bit emotional for me. So here is what I wrote in the memory book online...

As a girl I remember thinking my Grandpa was a very important man because he was the Pastor of our church. When he spoke, people listened. I also thought he knew everything about God and the Bible. He studied more than anyone I knew!

There are also the memories from the good times we spent with my Grandma and Grandpa. I will never forget spending the night and having yummy snacks like popcorn or bread and milk in a cup. There were the times laying on his bed playing with Andre the dog. The times out in their pool. Every couple weeks he would stop by our house to visit and we knew there would be a treat involved... most likely a Kit Kat Bar! We also enjoyed going to Burger King to get a whopper because Grandpa loved a good hamburger.

As I've gotten older I've come to realize just what an important and special man he truly was. It was so amazing to watch the relationship between him and my kids. My boys loved Great Grandpa and the times spent with him. It was always cute when Great Grandpa reached for his wallet because my boys knew he was about to give them a dollar! He would roll the ball with them or take them for rides in his chair.

Grandpa, we will never forget the good times we had with you. Thank you for loving us, believing in us and encouraging us no matter what life brought our way!

Here are some pictures from the graveside service. It was so emotional but I felt such honor for him and his service to our country!

I loved seeing the flag...

Such a cool thing to hear and see

She played so beautifully

Folding the flag

Presenting it to my Grandma

Probably the strongest woman I know

Grandma, Mom, Uncle Steve, Aunt Karen and Uncle Matt

The kids were trying to process the whole thing

Family is a blessing

I feel very blessed to have such a large family! Since I was a little girl we've always been closer to my Mom's side. On that side there were 9 grandkids, 7 girls and 2 boys. I used to love getting together at my Grandma's house for Holidays. My Grandparents had a pool and we would swim from morning til evening! I will always look back at those times and be thankful.

As I get older, I appreciate my family even more. I've come to realize just how special each of them are to me. We're all grown now and have our own lives but we still make time to get together and celebrate life. You should see it when all of us our there together, it can get pretty crazy and loud. I guess some of the noise may have to do with the 9 great grandkids ranging in age from 13 years to 1 month old.

Recently we all got together to visit with my cousin, Danah and her daughter, Aylah. We don't get to see them much because they live in Wisconsin now. It was also a blessing to have my cousin, Jen and her baby girl, Emma who was just days old. Here are some pictures from that night...

8 of the great grandkids

He said "Mom, we need a baby girl!"

He said "Mom, we need two baby girls!"

Isn't she the cutest thing ever?

The men of the family

My Mom with baby Aylah

I couldn't resist taking pictures of her!

Three generations of wonderful women

Tony and Kristi... they just got engaged last night!

Some students steal your heart...

Student ministries can be very tough but so rewarding! I've had such a great time loving on these students and pouring into their lives. Anyone who knows me well, knows how nervous I was to jump into this area because I was so used to working with babies/children. I knew I had life experiences to offer these students, girls especially. I just wasn't sure how receptive they would be of me. It was amazing as I jumped right in and started serving. God truly blessed my life with each and everyone of them.

As time has gone on, I've poured into different lives and seen such growth. Wow, some of them have amazing talents and gifts. I've been to High School summer camp twice and what an experience! Jeff and I had the opportunity to do GO in 2008 and what a blessing it was. We trained with the students to do GO in 2009 but had to step away at the last minute with the passing of my Grandpa. It was tough but we knew family comes first in all areas of ministry!

All of this to say there are certain girls who steal your heart and make you so proud. Since I started a few years ago, I've been impressed with Ashley. She seemed wise and mature beyond her years. I've seen her serve as a member of the praise band, leader for Jr. High students, put in hard work for the GO trips and above all else a girl with a big heart who loves the Lord. She also reminds me of myself years ago when I was young and in love. She knows she wants to be a wife and mother and is praying that in God's timing she will marry the man of her dreams, Casey. I'm so glad God has given us the chance to get closer in the last few months. I feel so blessed to be a part of her life! I'm looking forward to the things God has planned for her.

This pic is not one of my favorite pics (because of me) but she looks cute...