Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for my sweet husband, who takes such good care of me. That my daughter married a Godly man who loves her to pieces.

For my my big guy and my two little ones who keep me so busy at home and

always keep me on my toes!!

These precious feet belong to Clara Beth.

Until next time....................take the time to be thankful today.

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

Robin

The third picture was taken by my friend Karen. Stop by her blog to see her fantastic work.

A Slice Of Summer

Summer is quickly slipping by, I have to go back to school next Friday so we are trying to squeeze all we can out of what's left!! There are still so many things I want to do with the children and so many projects that I had hoped to get done. We are "under construction" around here and I plan to post pictures of that soon. Paul has been busy extending our screened in porch. The little ones love to play out there and soon they will have more room to do just that. We will also have enough room for a table and chairs for dining. I'm imagining evening suppers under twinkling Chinese lanterns very soon!!! Until then we'll just have to make do with our patio dining when we chose to eat outdoors!
Tomorrow please take the time to say a prayer for our little guy. He will be having some outpatient surgery in the morning. We hope to be home by lunch time. He may be out of
commission for a few days(no swimming)so I know he will miss not being able to splash around in the pool.


He's such an active little guy I know he will bounce right back!

Until next time............................ I hope everyone enjoys the sweet taste of "summertime"!

And when you have a few moments of quiet time:
"Taste and see that the Lord is good."
Psalm 34:8a

Robin

Christmas In July!!!!!!!!

I never know what these two are cooking up. I kept hearing Ho Ho Ho coming from their room so I had to go and check it out. Sure enough there he was, Santa himself, hat, boots and all gathering toys from around the room to pass out to deserving family members. Here he is putting little toys in his bucket drum.

Getting into his chair so that..................

good little girls like this one can climb on his lap and tell him what they want for Christmas! When they were finished I found little toys delivered to all of our rooms, mine and Paul's were on the bedside table, Land's was in his room on the floor beside his bed and Clara Beth was carrying hers around the house with her. Hard to explain to these little ones that they still have a while to go before Christmas gets here. It doesn't seem to bother them though, they are content to have Santa show up like this when ever they like!!

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

If you too are waiting on something remember to......................

Wait for the Lord,

be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

Psalm 27:14

Robin

Has it been a whole year...................

It's so hard to believe that a whole year has passed since this little guy came into our arms for the first time. When I look at this picture that we took our first night together my heart just breaks. I remember how sad he was on that first day. His little life had changed drastically in just a matter of minutes and so had ours. Thankfully it didn't take him long to adjust to us, by the next morning he was showing us his bubbly personality. I told some one recently that you've heard of a "party in a box", well he's our "party in a boy"! He is extremely happy and never meets a stranger. He is a joy and I am so blessed to call him my son. Here he is after just a few hours with us clinging to his soccer ball and a snack bowl.

This picture was taken at Clara Beth's birthday party last August. Emanuiel had been home about three weeks. This is more like our happy little fellow.

What a ham, here he is in December clowning around on a motorcycle.

Our sweetie at the beach in June.

What a difference a year makes! This little guy brings so much laughter into our hearts and home. We love watching him grow and can't wait to see what the future holds. As I am writing this he runs over squealing "mommy" and wraps his little arms around me for one of my MANY hugs for the day. God is so good!!!

In May of 2008 we were told that we would not be able to bring this little guy home. The CCAA had denied our request, we prayed fervently for God's will to be done. I clung to this verse because God showed it to me over and over again in my quiet time and devotionals: "Therefore, I tell you all the things you pray and ask for- believe that you have received them, and you will have them." Mark 11:24. After four very long weeks our agency(CWA to whom we are forever grateful)called us and told us that the CCAA had granted our request and that Emanuiel would be ours. This wonderful news came on June 8, 2008, my late father's birthday, who was also named Emanuiel.

CWA is now sponsoring a special needs program called Project Hope to bring children and families together from China and Ethiopia. If you feel the urge, pray about it, God will provide for what He calls you to do. He may be calling you to adopt.....................

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

I'll leave you with another verse that sustained us during that difficult time of waiting:

"Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God."

Philippians 4:6

Robin

Destination....................Backyard!!

Well our vacations to the beach are behind us and dare I say it.....the beginning of school looms in the near future(sigh). I know, I know most people don't have nearly as much time off as I do but the clock is ticking. So for now we will just have to escape to the closest vacation spot available.......our backyard!!! Here's a little view from the windows in my kitchen, looks like it's calling our names.

That little table looks like a nice place for a pitcher of lemonade.

Some comfy chairs and cushions to sit on while I watch the little ones splash in the pool.

And if I really need to get "away" I can escape to this side of the yard for a little quiet time for myself(we all know that will never happen)!!!

So I guess I'll just do what the flag says and meet everyone at the pool!! What's your favorite backyard destination? Do you have one?

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

Isaiah 58:11 NIV
The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.

I hope you find the perfect place to keep cool during these scorching days of summer.

Robin

Wordless Wednesday (Look At Me)

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

2 Corinthians 5:7 NIV
We live by faith, not by sight.

Robin

Where did my little boy go................

I'm not sure exactly when it happened but my "big guy" has really turned into a big guy. When I look at him now I don't see the little boy that used to love running around in cowboy boots and a football uniform. I now see a young man who has been working out over the summer because he will actually play middle school football when school starts back. This is something that he has always wanted to do

He's growing up so fast but thankfully he still loves to spend time with us doing things like fishing with his dad.

Sometimes I have to do a double take when he walks in somewhere because he has grown and changed so much over the past year.

I now have to stand on my tippy toes to give him a kiss!!

He may be changing but one thing that will never change is how much we love this big guy!!!

My prayer for him is this:

Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God

1 Corinthians 10:31

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

Robin

Have you got the time(er)???

Take a look at what appeared in my bowl of apples................ see it???

Take a closer look......it's green like the apples, but wait, it's a pear that just happens to be my kitchen timer that I use for timing "time-outs". It seems that my little fellow(who gets the most use out of this) decided that he needed to hide it for a while. Pretty clever don't you think!!!

Until next time......................take some time today to count your blessings!!

Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV
[A Time for Everything] There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:

Robin

Wacky Wednesday Pictures

How about that!!! Elvis is alive and well and singing in the back of a convertible at a small town Hardee's!!! Who would have guessed!!!!

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

Psalms 63:5 NIV
My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

You may not sound like Elvis but you can still sing and praise Him!!! Hope you sing your way through the rest of this week!!!

Robin

Our Fourth Of July Celebrations!!

Our fourth of July started off with a bang!! We began celebrating on Thursday with Paul's family at the lake. Papa Ty cooked his delicious chicken stew in a big black pot on the screened in porch.The children had a great time being together. On Friday we hosted a party at our house. We had such fun getting everything ready. My flower arrangement for the dining room table was so simple. It started out with a cardboard pinwheel box that I picked up at our local drugstore(they had sold all of the pinwheels so they gave it to me). I put a vase inside of it and filled it with greenery from my yard and Queen Anne's Lace that Clara Beth and I gathered along the roadside. I then began to fill the table with yummy deserts.

Here are some of our guests taking a peek at the dessert table. We saved the homemade Cake Batter Ice Cream(that Ricky and Nancy brought) and served it poolside.

After stuffing ourselves with Chicken Stew, Hash(a tradition on the fourth if you live in the south),Paul's Smoked Chicken Quarters, and a variety of side dishes everyone went out to enjoy some splashing around in the pool.

Land is in the distance working on pitching tips with Houston(who , back in the day, pitched for Clemson)

These two water bugs were the first ones in the pool and the last ones out!!! They LOVE to swim. We had such a fun time that lasted well past the little ones bedtimes. It is so wonderful to get together with good friends.

Our celebration continued on Saturday with fun and festivities in our small town. We started out the day with a parade for the little ones. Here's our two little ones ready to wave "Old Glory" as they travel down the parade route.

The wagon pullers all ready to roll!!

Our big guy checking out the parade route, he left us and took off with his friends shortly after this picture was taken.

Anna Kayla took this picture right before we rolled down the street.

After visiting street vendors, food stands, and finishing off a round of cherry snow cones(the red stains went really well with the red, white, and blue) we were off to the park for more fun on the fourth. Our celebration ended with a band playing,the little ones dancing on a blanket, us in our seats surrounded by friends and fireworks lighting up the night sky. I love life in a small town it is so satisfying!!!

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



Deuteronomy 8:10 NIV
When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you.

Robin

Happy Fourth Of July From Our House!!

Psalms 119:45 NIV
I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts.

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

Enjoy your fourth!!

Robin

Almost Wordless Wednesday

Obviously these two had toooooooo much beach fun!

Genesis 28:11 NIV
When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep.

I think these two could have also slept on stones.

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

Robin

Father's Day At Our House

Our day began early with a special breakfast for Dad of Bacon Quiche, Blueberry Yeast Rolls, strawberries and coffee. Once that was finished the preparations for our Father's Day lunch began. The table was set.............. then we were off to church. Here it is all ready and waiting for our return.

After church we gathered together and enjoyed Stuffed Pasta Shells, Tossed Salad and Crusty Parmesan Toasted Bread. We finished it all off with warm Blueberry Crisp topped with French Vanilla Ice Cream. Yum!!!!! It was a wonderful meal to toast a great Dad and Grandad. (Papa Ty and Granny joined us for lunch)

We had a little entertainment before lunch that was enjoyed by all. These two are quite the performers!!!

Here are ALL of my sweeties stuffed and happy to be together!!

And here's a shot of us (I still have my apron on!!) so happy to be able to celebrate a great day with a greater Dad!! We love you sweetie and we hope you had a wonderful Father's Day!!!

Until next time..................I'm off to pack for the beach!!! Seven Days of relaxation!!!!

Isaiah 38:19 NIV
The living, the living--they praise you, as I am doing today; fathers tell their children about your faithfulness.

Our family is so blessed to have a father that shares his faith with his children. I hope all of you had a blessesd Father's Day.

Robin

Have You Seen Our Smiles????

For some reason my attempt to get them to smile for these pictures was useless. We couldn't find a smile anywhere!!! Maybe you've seen our smiles they seem to be missing.............

Mr. Rabbit didn't have them.................

Emanuiel tried but it just wouldn't come...............

That's okay I know our smiles will be back soon.

Here comes a little one, now if we could just find Clara Beth's!!! We'll just have to keep looking!

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

I hope you find lots to smile about this weekend!!!!

Job 9:27 NIV
If I say, 'I will forget my complaint, I will change my expression, and smile,'

Robin