The Celebration Continues.........

Friday night the celebration continued with Land's choice for his birthday dinner. Of course he didn't make it easy for us(he never does when he plans the menu). I promise if we had closed our eyes and taken in the aromas we would have all thought we were by the sea shore! We dined on steamed crab legs, Shrimp Scampi, Cajun Buttered Shrimp, Lemon Pepper Salmon, Cajun Broiled Flounder, Baked Potatoes and Tossed Salad!! How's that for some serious seafood! Needless to say we were ALL STUFFED.
We did manage to save enough room to enjoy this delicious Cookie Dough Ice Cream Cake! As you can tell it brought lots of smiles.

Here's Land about to open his gift from Anna Kayla and Greg.




Our four legged friend even tried to crash the party. After they partied on the porch for a while we moved into the kitchen for some dancing. Sorry there are no pictures of this. I was busy doing some dancing myself!

Until next time.........................

I hope you find a reason to dance this week!

Psalms 149:3 NIV
Let them praise His name with dancing and make music to Him with tambourine and harp.

Robin

Look How He's Grown.........Happy Birthday!!!

It's so hard to believe that this big guy is 13 today!!! Where did the time go........... Just two short years ago he looked so young. This is still one of his favorite shirts but now he just wears it around the house because it's too small!

Here we are on our first trip to China when I was still the taller one! Now I look up to him!!!

Dancing at Cotillion last year and I had on heels then!!!!

Heading off to Boston with Dad last March and since then he is almost as tall as Paul now, only about an inch to go and he will pass him!!!!

Looking so handsome for his first Cotillion this year. We love you so much and are so blessed to have you in our lives. Happy Birthday, no matter how big you get you are still my little sweetie!! May God continue to grow you into the man He would have you to be.

Until next time.........................We have some celebrating to do!!!

Psalms 145:7 NIV
They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

Robin

Here, There and Everywhere!!

The title of this post says it all. I'm doing a little catching up so this is just a peep at what we've been up to lately. Time just seems to slip away from me and I'm having a hard time keeping up. Everyday is filled to the brim with things to do. It seems that we have literally been here, there and everywhere!!! This picture was taken at a goat farm nearby while we celebrated a friend's birthday. The two little ones stopped off in the herb garden to smell some flowers.

This picture was at another birthday party at a different farm. We arrived a little late(imagine that) so the little ones enjoyed the animals while the others were away on a hayride. They had so much fun running around they didn't even mind missing the ride.

I'm sure they were asking"Is your mama a llama?" in this picture. If you have small children I know you are familiar with the book by the same title.

And then there was our very rainy Halloween night spent at our church's "Trunk or Treat". We met up with Anna Kayla and filled up our tummies and our pumpkin bags with goodies.

I think Emanuiel's afraid Anna Kayla's going to tell me that he has been drinking "cola" as he calls it.(something he knows I don't approve of, but since it was Halloween I did allow it, along with the potato chips that you saw in the last post!)

After Halloween we were finally able to get away to the mountains to visit the apple orchard. Paul packed us a picnic lunch and we headed off to see the sights. It was a blustery day but that didn't stop our fun. Here's CB and E posing with some cornstalks.

And what is it about my boys and wooden cows. If you saw Land in an earlier post he was milking a different cow and it looked a lot like what Emanuiel is trying to do here!

And finally here are a few pictures of my porch that I promised. The chair on the right is my favorite. I love to go out very early in the morning while it's still dark and sit by the lamp and have my quiet time. The mornings are chilly now so a warm robe and blanket are needed along with a steaming cup of coffee. So peaceful.

Here's another view. We are still not quite finished. Paul has to paint the rails and we are supposed to screen it but our dog Flopsy loves spending time on it so much we are in a quandary as to what to do. We are thinking about just leaving it open for now so that she can sleep on it during the winter.

The table is a favorite spot for Clara Beth and Emanuiel. They love to eat outside. If the weather's nice they sometimes have breakfast here or snacks after school. Hopefully we'll get it all painted and finished soon, if not then we'll just keep enjoying it like it is. It's hard to get things finished when you are here, there, and everywhere!!!

Until next time............ Between our comings and goings I hope we will all find a place for a little quiet and probably some much needed rest.

Mark 6:31 NIV
Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest."

Robin

Pure Joy

This is one girl who absolutely LOVES potato chips!! Just look at her face. Have you ever seen anyone enjoy a potato chip more??? (Ummmm not unless you've seen me eat one but that's another story) Needless to say, I don't buy them much but when I do this is the reaction!!!! Pure Joy!!!!



Until next time...................

Let's not forget our complete joy:

John 15:11 NIV
I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

Robin

Got Milk????

No but he is trying!!!!!!!!!!! Land had a little fun at "BOO at the ZOO" with the wooden milking cow!

Until next time..................

May we all be craving the right milk!

1 Peter 2:2 NIV
Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,

Robin

Why I Love Living In Small Town USA!

There are times when I just say to myself how blessed I am to live where I do. Today was one of those. Nothing special or extraordinary happened. It was just an ordinary day(my favorite kind). I was getting into my car leaving our little grocery store and I felt such contentment. It doesn't have a big deli or bakery but it does have all of the necessities for you to purchase things and go home and create your own deli or bakery if you so choose. What I love most about it is that the people who work there know me. I could forget my purse and they would let me bring my groceries home because they know me. The drug store is next door and I can call them up and they will fill my prescriptions and they know me. They even know what I need! I love that!

I love the fact that the only time there is heavy traffic is at 7:45 in the morning because people are out and about taking their children to school. I only have to stop at two red lights on the way to school and just one on the way home. I love that!

I don't mind that our dining out options are limited because the few that we do have are delicious. My Land would much rather eat at home any way. When he was little he would lovingly rub our kitchen table and tell me how much he loved to eat there. Now that's motivation to do more cooking at home! I love that!

I know that God puts us right where He wants us to be and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.

Here I am content! I love that!

Until next time....................

I hope that you too find contentment.

Job 36:11 NIV
If they obey and serve Him, they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment.

Robin

Does This Say Love or What!

Can you tell that these two just love each other to pieces! It is so sweet to just watch the two of them together. Their actions speak louder than words!

We all need to do a little more of this!

Let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
1 John 3:18

Until next time............
Robin

Having A "Ball" This Fall!

Yes, we are literally having a ball, a football that is! Land is playing for his Middle School team and this is keeping all of us very busy. He has practice every day until about six and then games every Thursday. He's doing a great job. This is a guy that has wanted to be a "sootball" boy since he was three years old! Back then he wore a football uniform to play in everyday! Here he is now in a real uniform after a big win. His position is full back and it is so much fun(and nerve racking) watching him play. We are so blessed to have a great group of Christian coaches leading these young men.

Here's Land and cousin Jayde before their first pep rally. I had to sneak over to his school to get some pictures and a peek into the fun before their first big game. Which they won!

Hugging on my very sweaty big guy after a game. Look how tall he is!!!!!!! and he just keeps growing. I think he's going to pass Paul soon.

My two favorite big guys! See how he is almost as tall as his dad. We are loving these fun, fall football days!

Here's my handsome guy ready to leave for his second year of Cotillion. He has grown so much since last year's Cotillion.

And no post would be complete without the little ones soaking up some fall fun! No pictures of my big girl this time and Greg they are busy with church and work but they did manage to slip in a quick flight to Florida to visit Mickey Mouse(we were so jealous)!

Oh and I did FINALLY get the house decorated for fall before we had some very special dinner guests last week.

I do love fall........ the leaves, apples, chilly days, warm soup, pumpkins, jackets and steaming coffee on my new porch where I am headed right now(pictures soon). I hope you are loving the fall season as much as we are!!

Until next time...................

Galatians 4:10 NIV
You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!

Make this season of your life special!

Robin

Working Away

We have been BUSY around this house with so many things, kinda like this little guy!!! Making sure it's just right.

Working hard helping daddy with the new screened in porch.(Notice the pencil behind the ear for marking correct measurements, just like dad)

That looks about right!

Until next time..................

When you are busy working away, remember this most important truth:

Philippians 1:6 NIV
being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Robin

Our Birthday Girl's Celebration

This weekend we celebrated Clara Beth's third birthday. It was a much anticipated event around this house. Both little ones could hardly wait for the party day to get here. We spent Saturday getting everything ready. Here's our table waiting for our guests! This was our second celebration. The first one was on Clara Beth's actual birthday. We went out for lunch after church and then it was back to our house for cake, ice cream and presents. She had to wait a whole week for this party to finally get here!!!! Paul smoked a Pork Tenderloin early in the day. The smell teased our taste buds until it was finally sliced and ready to serve.

I had assorted breads for the adults to make their own sandwiches. The children were able to feast on ham and turkey cheese wraps, pasta salad, and fruit kabobs along with a few other goodies.

One special tasty and very messy treat were these lemon sippers. They had quite a zing! Paul rolled chilled lemons then cut a small "x" into the top. Then we inserted a soft peppermint stick into the"x" to sip the juice through. Sweet and Tart!!! If you try these wait until right before serving to insert the peppermint stick or they will begin to dissolve like some of ours did. No matter everyone enjoyed them anyway!!!

Here's our birthday girl in her special birthday dress. Not looking quite like a princess is she?? That's what happens when you refuse to take a nap!

Emanuiel was a little more excited about singing "Happy Birthday" than Clara Beth was about hearing it. She did perk up when it was time to open presents.

Here's Clara Beth opening up something as Emanuiel supervises. These two hot and sweaty little ones changed into bathing suits and jumped into the pool before the wrapping paper was cleared away!! I was so busy seeing to everything that I didn't get any pictures of all of their friends who joined us to celebrate this joyous occasion.

It was a wonderful evening spent celebrating with friends and family. No more birthdays in this family until November, so we'll just have to find other reasons to throw a party!!!

Until next time we can all remember to celebrate the ordinary, my favorite days of all!!!

Ordinary can be extraordinary especially to our Heavenly Father: look at Peter and John!

Acts 4:13 NIV
When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.

Robin

First Morning of School

This week it was time for everyone to head back to sch00l. Emanuiel started back with Mrs. Welch and begins the four year old program officially next week. Land began seventh grade and Clara Beth went back to Mrs. Dawn's house for her own little preschool program. Here are the two little ones bright eyed and ready to go on their first day! I love the expression on Emanuiel's little face and if you look very closely you can see the remains of breakfast in Clara Beth's hand. That girl LOVES bacon!!Here they are watching and waiting for Land to join them.

It's so sweet the way Clara Beth is looking up at her bubbie. He looks like a giant beside the two of them.

It's hard to believe how quickly the summer slipped by. Now there will be other things to look forward to. We can't wait to go to Land's football games and cheer him on. Even though the weather is still sweltering here in the deep south, we know that the cool crisp days of fall aren't far away. Here's hoping to a wonderful year of growing and learning!!

Until next time................

Proverbs 9:9 NIV
Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.

A little side note, that bright white shirt that Emanuiel had on didn't last long. He had a first day mishap on the playground. When I saw him in the school office his shirt was covered in blood. Thankfully, it was just a very small bump on the head and he didn't even cry. He did, however, ruin this cute little shirt but that's okay, shirts are easily replaced. What would a first day be without a little drama!

A Special Birthday Celebration

Last night we had a wonderful birthday celebration for Anna Kayla. After a very long and busy week back at school it was so nice to spend some special time with my family. I didn't even mind the cooking. I could actually feel the stress just melting away while I was getting everything ready. Anna Kayla's place at the table was waiting just for her. In keeping with our family tradition the menu was every thing that she requested. We had a true "Southern Supper". We feasted on Crispy Oven Fried Chicken, Brown Sugar Yams, Lima Beans(her absolute favorite), Brown Rice, Cantaloupe and Flaky Biscuits.

Here's the birthday girl just before opening her gift. It was a silver circle necklace and she loved it. Too bad I didn't see the bean necklace they had on their website or I would have ordered it since that girl loves her Lima Beans!!

No baking for me this time because Anna Kayla requested this strawberry ice cream cake from her favorite ice cream shop. It was delicious.

Here we are right before devouring this cold, yummy ice creamy goodness!!! Notice the birthday girl is now wearing her present.

It was such a fun time for us, sharing a special meal and being able to have time together as a family to enjoy it and each other. Our lives, when school starts, become so busy there will be football practice, games, homework, meetings and so many other things that steal away precious family time. Because of that I need to remember to be thankful for all the time that we do have together and always try to make even the ordinary something special.

I hope that all of you will do the same.............Until next time let us all be:

Colossians 2:7 NIV
rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

Robin

Someone Has A Present Waiting

Tomorrow is Anna Kayla's birthday and we can hardly wait to celebrate. It's a family tradition that the birthday boy or girl selects their favorite foods for feasting. The menu is all ready and her gift is waiting to be opened. Hmmmmmmmm, I bet she'll be wondering what's in this lovely blue box from Tiffany!!! Hopefully I'll have more pictures to post after tomorrow!!! What a blessing to be able to celebrate the remarkable young woman she has grown into!!! We LOVE you AK!!!

Until next time.........................wonderful gifts come in blue boxes but.......
Romans 11:29 NIV
God's gifts and His call are irrevocable.

Robin

Make a Smilebox postcard

Missing My Big Guy

The house is more quiet than normal this week. My big guy is away at our church's youth camp. I miss him so much and will be glad when he returns home on Friday. This is the longest amount of time he has been away. When I talk to him each night it easy to tell that he is having a great time. I am so blessed to have Anna Kayla and Greg there leading the camp. Things are certainly different around here without him, like the fact that our refrigerator is full because he's not here to raid it every few minutes of the day!!! I can't seem to fill that boy up these days. I have promised him that when he returns on Friday I will have his favorite spaghetti waiting for him for supper!!!! As much as I miss him I know that he is having fun, drawing closer to God and learning so much while he is away. We'll all be waiting for him when he gets home with big hugs!!!

Until next time....................

Proverbs 1:5 NIV
let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance--

Robin