Blank Page

                 I've noticed that I haven't been on my blog for quite some time.  As I sit here and stare at this blank page, I think... "Hmm.... what should I write?"  Blank pages.  Isn't it nice that every day we wake up and get a fresh start.  We are a blank page, each and every day.  No matter what happened the day before or how we feel as we lay our head on the pillow at night, when we awaken in the morning, it's such a relief to know that we get the opportunity to be a blank page each and every day.  Just like the old hymn, Great Is Thy Faithfulness, "morning by morning, new mercies I see.... all I have needed, thy hand hath provided.... Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!"  Isn't that exciting?  We can erase that board and start new and fresh, each and every day! 
                 An artist will awaken and start a new painting and they begin their masterpiece with a blank page.  A great author always begins his or her novel with a blank page.  A composer always creates a new opera with a blank page.  God began his work with a vast void, or a blank page and turned it into something amazing!  Take your blank page each and every day and choose to turn it into an amazing masterpiece.

Oh my!  Here we are again and it is SPRING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Oh how I have missed green grass and even tiny bugs that fly in my face.  It has been a LONG winter season and I think that the trees here in Pennsylvania are starting to awaken and bud.  Plus, I may need to start mowing next week because I have noticed long pieces of grass sprouting everywhere. 
It is almost May and what does that mean?????????  School will be out in a month and summer will be here.  Our pool will be open, campfires blazing and lightning bugs will be blinking.  Enjoy this wonderful season!

         Hmm.......  So, it seems as if it has been a while since I have decided to blog!  I can't believe that it is almost Halloween already and summer decided to fly right by us.  My life for the past several months has been taken over by football, football and MORE football.  Not that I am complaining because I really do like watching my boys play and I just love their teams.  It's amazing how 1 team can be 0-7 and another one of my son's is going to the "super bowl" of the jr. leagues and his team is 9-0. 
         I guess life is a lot like football.  One minute everything seems gloomy and dismal and then within a minute it can change and you can feel like you are on top of the world as a champion.  Being a champion has been a little hard for me lately.  I began a new way in my life.  I am now an Advocare 24 challenge goer.  I am only on day 9 but I have lost 3 pounds and seem to be at a stand still.  I hope the next 14 days are just as good.  Some days I think "I would much rather have that cookie" and other days I think "I can do this!"  Crazy how the mind works like this.
        Not only are we still in football mode, my 2nd son is going to be having eye surgery in December, which happens to be the same day that my husband is leaving on a hunting trip.  To this, I am ok.  I know he feels guilty leaving us but honestly, I think it is best he is gone.  I will have to devote all of my attention to my son and he will be missing a week of school.  Not only that but I will need to have my home all Christmas decorated and ALL of the presents bought before this surgery.  A challenge indeed but I am up to it!
         So, yes there is A LOT going on in our lives right now but we are healthy and happy and living 1 day at a time.  Children keep me busy.  Church keeps me busy but I wouldn't have it any other way!

Spring,Spring,Spring!

Well, it is that wonderful time of year again.  The trees and plants are starting to bud.  People are beginning to mow their yards and America's game of baseball is in the air!  As I think of Spring and all of the new beginnings it has for us, it makes me think of this past Sunday.  At our church we had a baptism service of 7 people.  They ranged from the age of 10 years old toward 50 years old.  Each person had read their testimony, which were honest and very heart felt.  Three of those getting baptised were from our Youth group, which I help with.  I was so happy when my own son was baptised a couple of years ago and I must say, I sort-of had that feeling with these 3 lovely young people.  Baptism is like Spring.  It is a renewing of spirit and life.  No matter how dark days can become (as in Winter) springtime is around the corner and beautiful things are to come.

Being Content

Hmm, I thought this picture was perfect whenever I am thinking about being content.  When
life makes us feel that we are not happy about something.... we should make lemonade!
I was reading a blog from Christian writer Joyce Meyer about being content.  I guess sometimes
this is something that I may struggle with.  She had 3 wonderful points on how to be content
                                               
                                                  1.  Have no anxiety or care
                                                  2.  Tell God your need
                                                  3.  Be Thankful

These are 3 wonderful points!  Having anxiety, I really do not struggle with and taking my
needs to God is easy.  The 3rd point is one that I do not do enough.  I feel very thankful
and greatful with all I have but sometimes I don't tell God that enough.  I am very thankful that
I have a husband who loves me and takes care of me.  I am very thankful that I have 3 sons who
are being raised in a Christian and loving home.  I am thankful that I have family and friends who love me.
I am also thankful that I have a God who forgives me when I may say or do something not so pleasing
to Him.  So, what have I learned today........I am going to say Thank You more often to God and not
worry about what the world says I should have or do.  I will be happy with who I am and what I have
because God has blessed me.

Sweet Summertime

SWEET SUMMERTIME

Who doesn't love summer?  Sure fall and spring

are nice and even winter too but there is something

special about those summer months!

It wouldn't be summer without 4th of July camping!

These kids are so dirty that they look like they are

Children of the Corn!

Ahh, arriving at the beach.  What a wonderful vacation.

Too bad it wasn't longer but putting our feet in the sand

for a few days sure was nice!

Our boys decided that Adam and I needed our

picture taken together.  It is rare to have a picture

of us together without the boys.

It wouldn't be summer without a wedding!  Here we cousins

are huddled around our grandparents and we're being all

goofy for our picture!  I love my family.

Summer day in Gettysburg when the temperature was

a good 90* but the boys were still respectful when

we walked through the cemetery.

Just a good picture of Adam and the boys.

Can you tell that Adam likes being on vacation?
He is smiling in this picture!

Ahh, lots and lots of summer swimming.  It's so nice to

be able to jump in the pool on a hot, hot day!

It's hard to believe that summer is already 1/2 over.

I'm not ready for my boys to start back to school.  I wish we

had an extra month of summer!!!!!!!!!

Summer Lovin'

So, our summer began with a beautiful wedding.

Seth found out that Hannah had a fancy J on her toe

(her husband is Jeremiah) and he decided since he was in

the wedding, he wanted an S for Seth!

                                    

                                            Here are 2 best buddies looking so handsome for the

                                             wedding.  They did a great job!

Here is a picture of all 3 boys.  Brock's smile is a little "odd" but

it was the best I could get.  He'll hate me for putting this on here

but I am the parent and I like the picture :)

Oh Yes, baseball has finished.  Here Kolby is batting and

I must say, his batting skills improved greatly over the season.

I just loved this Dodger team!

Kolby getting a pep talk from coach Cory.

Oh, here we have Brock running to first base.  His Ranger team

did an awesome job this year.  They came in 2nd place over all

but they had the same amount of wins as the 1st place team and

let me say.... I will miss this team.

Here coach "Grampa Butch" is getting him ready to run.

I do believe that he scored on this next hit!

So, that started off the summer.  Next, we have another wedding in July and

vacationing at the beach.  I'm sure another blog with fun pictures of that

week will follow :)  Plus, I'll need to get some summer swimming pictures

up.  Happy summer to all and remember what is important in life...

It's not about the things in life but the people!