Fun Times, For Sure

These are pictures of our activities on Saturday while we were up north. These pictures represent the GOOD PARTS. Because, letmetellya, there were a few bad parts, mostly having to do with our Rhino and a tree. Long story, all is well now, except our pocket book.....


Below we have a bunch of cousins sitting in dried mud. Hey, it makes for a great bench!!


















Sarah and her cousin Andrew.


















Lauren learning how to drive with Daddy very nearby.


















HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO HANNAH (15)AND DANI (12) !!!



















The cheesecake was from Sam's and it was delish! Actually much better than Costco's. Dave picked it up for us while he was in Flagstaff buying 4 new tires for our Suburban because 2 went flat the day before. Oh, yeah, we're sticking to the 'good parts' of this weekend.

Can you see the plastic placemat under the cheesecake? Yes, the one with brown mushrooms on it! For the record, I'd like to say that it is not mine. I have no control over the decor in that cabin. K? :-)

Giddy Up

We've been up in Mund's Park since Thursday night.

This is what we did on Friday afternoon....
























Lauren couldn't go on the one hour ride but she got to ride the horsey before we left for our ride. Can you see her excitement? I love the one with her squeezing the horn with all her might.

Do you see the person in front of me in the blue shirt? That is Dave's 75 year old mother! What a trooper. She grew up on a farm in Kentucky so this was nothing out of the ordinary for her. Except she had mules.

I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I've always loved horses and used to ride them when I lived in Wisconsin. I hadn't been on a horse in 20 years! My only regret is that we didn't get to run them. I held back a few times so I could get a little trot in but that was it, no running allowed. It's probably a very good thing we didn't run, I was very sore. The outside of my knees and my bum just ached!!

Next post, Saturday's pictures.

Modest and Pretty

I've been reading some interesting articles on other blogs lately.

This excellent article, written by a man, encourages young and old ladies to dress modestly. Some people were offended by this post but I took it as very good advice from a God-fearing man. It's true. Look around you...some women are dressing like tramps. They are wearing clothing that belongs in their bedroom. I cringe when I have my son with me and we encounter someone in an inappropriate outfit. I want to put my hands over his eyes (he's 13). We encounter these people all to often at our own church and our Christian school. I may sound like a prude but this mama bear has 5 precious blessings to protect and boy is it getting difficult!! We have long talks with our older children about their dress and about how to deal with the things they see out in public.

I think our dear mother taught us well about being modest. Her example to us was key and our example to our girls is also key. All of my sisters dress beautifully and modest. Yeah sisters!!



Here are a few outfits I think are:

a. hip and cool :)
b. modest
c. non-haggard like
d. affordable

Below you will find clothing from Coldwater Creek, Target, Chicos and Walmart (hey, I wanted a variety of prices).



















































So, tell me...what do you think?

Do you agree that these are modest, pretty and not haggard like?

And just for fun try guessing what clothing is from what store.

Jordin's In The House!!

Jordin Sparks paid a very special visit to Northwest Christian School!!! Can you believe it?

She's been on the local news all day and we knew she was going to be at her current school early in the day and Westgate Mall around 4pm.

Hannah text me at 2:45 and told me that Jordin was in the gym.our gym.NCS gym. I was right around the corner as it was time to pick the children up. I called Janice and Donna screaming my head off. I'm not sure but I have to wonder if this was an impromptu visit? She spent time with her friends in choir and sang a song for them and then she paid a visit to the rest of us in the school gymnasium. For those that don't know, Jordin attended NCS during her elementary grades. She did not sing for us but she was very sweet and gracious telling all the little kids "I love you"! She shook hands and signed a few autographs but that was it. It was short and sweet.

She looked beautiful, her hair was very long and straight. She wore a darling white dress and she looked TALL. :)

Lauren was on my shoulders so she had a great view. Her fingers/hands were either in my mouth, up my nose or poking me in the eyes. She was happy and screaming. I have a red shirt on and Lauren's is pinkish maroon. Look for us. I'm the one with fingers up my nose.


Yeah Jordin!!

Our next American Idol.

More info. Hannah told me that during the last period of the day no one was allowed a bathroom pass. It was then that they started to figure it all out. They guessed she was there.

A sheriff stopped me as I entered the parking lot and asked me if I was there to pick up my children. That was fun.

She rode around in a stylish black stretch Excursion (Ford!) and police were on our campus.

One of the football moms (spring work out) knows the Sparks family well and was invited to the big par-tay tonight. I know where it is....I should crash it. hehehe.

Fair Warning!

Moderate bragging ahead. :)

Hannah received a very special award at school yesterday and I am so proud of her! She is going to be mad at me for posting this but oh well, it's my blog and I can brag if I want to. And I'm the Mom.


















She received the very last award given out after a long morning of various academic awards. The Principal's Award was given to one young man and one young woman from each grade (9th-12th). It is from the high school principal and it was his sole decision. I honestly didn't know what it was even after she accepted it so I asked him. He said that he appreciates her positive Godly attitude and good behavior on the campus and that she is a pleasure to have around. And to that I give a hearty Amen! I couldn't agree more.




I grabbed the flowers while I was shopping at Costco and Dave picked up a special gift card to one of her favorite stores.

She was embarrassed and humble but cannot wait to go shopping!!

Way to go Miss Hannah. Keep honoring and glorifying God with your life.

Bon Voyage!

Remember my buddy Joshua?!

The one who HAD Burkitt's Lymphoma?

Well, he's smiling for a very good reason.



















Another limo is in his driveway ready to take him...NOT TO PHOENIX CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL this time.....

















Oh, and his parents and sister and grandparents get to go.

















On a very special cruise.

Here is one of their stops.




















The Grand Cayman Islands


All of this made possible by the amazing people at Make-A-Wish Foundation!

Bon Voyage, Joshua and family! We love you!

God's Word and Other Stuff

Encouragement for this Friday
Cor. 4:7-9

7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.

2 Cor. 12:9,10

9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.





















This and That

Why the Gerbera Daisies? Just cuz they are pretty!

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Only 10 more days of sock wearing for my children!! The uniform policy at our school requires all children to wear socks and gym shoes, my life has been torturous. I will promptly throw out all socks and start fresh in the fall. Ten more days and the flip flops take over the house. Maybe I'll throw out all of the old smelly gym shoes too!

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Not relating to socks, I typed these words to Donna yesterday. "The older our children get the more I need my husband's wisdom and sense of humor". I am so thankful for a wise and witty husband to get me through the teen age years! :) Laughter is indeed very good medicine. Isn't it Donna?

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Lauren started swim lessons this week at Aquatots. It is a brand new indoor facility with a heated pool. I am determined to have that child swimming independent of any type of floatation device by June. I bribed her with a special lunch date and a visit to one of her favorite stores. Maybe she'll pick this darling outfit for her teddy bear.


Have a great weekend!

Any big plans?

Who's In Charge?

More from Called to Obedience

God's Purpose for Suffering and Adversity:


1. For His eternal purposes (2 Cor 4:17)

2. To bring you to a greater dependency upon Christ so you will know Him more intimately (2 Cor. 12:9,10; Phil. 3:10)

3. To teach you, experientially, that God's grace and love will sustain, uphold, enfold you in the midst of the trial. (Isa. 41:10)

4. To be conformed to the image of Christ; to build your character. (Rom. 8:29, 5:3,4)

5. To share in Christ's sufferings and for His sake (Phil 1:29, 3:10)

6. To share the comfort with others that you have received from Christ; to minister more effectively for His kingdom (2 Cor 1:3-7)

7. To learn more of God's Word (Psalm 119:71)

8. To produce more fruit than you are already yielding (John 15:2)

9. To realize that inner and eternal blessings and sometimes, outward blessings are God's rewards as a result of trials (Matt. 5:1-12, James 1:12)

You can download free studies here. These are life changing, Biblical truths.

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Next post: God's Sovereignty in Adversity

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Please go visit Heather today. Her post ties in perfectly with what I am sharing with you today. Please remember to pray for her on Thursday.