Our Going Ons!!

My life has been a complete whirl wind since we got back home from vacation.  Every day, I think, “Today will be the day I blog about our trip and catch up with everyone.”  So far, as most of you know, it hasn’t happened.  We got in Wednesday evening and Drew had to start school back, at ORU, on Thursday morning.  I had two weeks worth of hugs to catch up on with Ella, school to prepare for since we needed to start this week, a MOUNTAIN of laundry, no food in the house, about 1700 pictures to upload and go through (which isn’t complete), beach withdrawals to deal with, also not complete, LOL, and exercising to catch up on, not even started yet!!  

We did start school yesterday!!  We had a great first day.  The boys are in 6th grade.  I can’t believe that.  No more elementary school for me, kind of sad, but we are on to bigger and better things.

Adam and Isaac being so studious!!  That lasted about long enough for me to take the picture, then back to our silly reality!!

We also celebrated Lindsey’s birthday!!  I can not believe my oldest baby is 26, WOW!!  Time flies.  I’ve been a mom a really long time.  I remember when the doctor handed her to me for the very first time, I was so excited, I already loved her so much, she completely stole my heart!!  You know looking back, I was so sure of myself but now I see how truly clueless I really was.  It is amazing what the Lord sees in you and knows you are capable of.  He gave me this amazing gift and then He began teaching ME!!    She has truly grown into a beautiful young lady, wife, and mom.  The JOY, not only is she my wonderful daughter, she is my friend!!

Since we started school and I also had Ella all day, she decided we would go to dinner, so Olive Garden was her pick.  It was yummy!  She even ordered dessert with a promise of a cake, from me, this weekend, which gives us all something yummy to look forward to!!

Don’t forget tomorrow is Why I Count it all Joy Wednesday!!  I hope you will all join me and spread some JOY!!  Just grab my button, make your JOY list, and come back and link up.  

Believing you will all have a fabulous day!!

Counting it all Joy!!

Something Beautiful

Today I am joining my friend, Renee, for Something Beautiful, to join in click here.

What’s more beautiful than God’s sweetest creation???  

Friday, my little sister, Sarah, had her baby girl.  Abigail Jane came into the world around lunch time and weighed in at 8 pounds 8 ounces.  I just couldn’t wait to get my hands on her.  What a sweet little things she is.  Of course I had to unwrap her, check her all out, and look at her cute little toes and fingers.  Oh, how precious she is!!

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."  Matthew 19:14

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.  Jer. 1:5

Counting it all Joy!!

Why I “Count it all Joy” Wednesday

Welcome to Why I Count It All Joy Wednesday!!  To join in on all the JOY, grab my button for your post, make your own JOY list, and link up below this post so others will be able to find your blog!!  Don’t forget to post a link on your blog back to me!!

I am filled with JOY because the creator of the universe created me on purpose and loves me!!

I am filled with JOY because blogger allows me to do posts in advance and schedule them for later, otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to do my JOY post this week!!

I am filled with JOY because I have spent the last 2 weeks with my wonderful husband and 3 of my kiddos, just wish my grown ones could have been with us!!

I am filled with JOY because we homeschool our kids, the ones who are still young enough, so we won’t have to rush right home from vacation and send them to school.

I am filled with JOY because as much as I have loved traveling and seeing all the wonderful things we have seen, we are almost home!!  Home Sweet Home!!

I am filled with JOY because I have missed you all and over the next week or so will be able to catch up with everyone and see what’s been going on at your house!!

I am filled with JOY because even though the last leg of our journey included a two day business trade show for Dan, we were able to come with him, and his boss took us out to dinner Monday night to Benihana’s Japanese Steakhouse and it was wonderful!!

I am filled with JOY because everywhere we have traveled to for the last 2 weeks, God has shown Himself in big ways and with fun blessings!!

I am filled with JOY because in a few short hours, I will get to be back with my big kids and granddaughter, who I have missed terribly.

I am filled with JOY because some of you link up every week and help me spread the JOY!!

Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be JOYful in God my Savior.  Habakkuk 3:18

What is filling you with JOY this week?

Counting it all Joy!!

Homeward Bound!!

Starting the long trip home today!!  Sad that vacation is over but glad to be heading home.  Miss my sweet Ella, so ready to see her!!  I talked to her on skype yesterday and she had just been to my sisters and gotten her hair cut and her ears pierced.  She was so excited and felt beautiful.  

We pulled over and set the camera up on the hood, on the auto setting, for this picture while we were in New Mexico.

Don’t forget that tomorrow is Why I Count It All Joy Wednesday, sure hope you will join me!!  Grab my button, make your JOY list, and come back and link up so others can find you and be blessed by your JOY list!!  Remember, JOY is contagious!!

Can’t wait to catch up with you all!!

Counting it all Joy!!

Something Beautiful

Today I am joining my newest blog friend, Renee, for Something Beautiful.  I was so excited when I found this and was anxious to link up, I hope you will too!!

As most of you already know, we have spent the last two weeks traveling.  We left Oklahoma, drove through Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, and we are now in Nevada and will start heading home tomorrow.  It has been wonderful and I can’t wait to share lots of pictures and stories with you all, but today for Something Beautiful, I want to share a couple of pictures taken early in the trip.  We were in New Mexico and were all so amazed at how beautiful the sky was.  I mean, no matter where you are, the sky is beautiful, but the skies over New Mexico took that beauty to another level.  I don’t know if it was just the day or if the New Mexico skies are always so amazing, but the day we drove through, it was breathtaking.  The boys were mesmerized.  We love road trips and love traveling through God’s beautiful creation.  We love seeing the different landscapes, the mountains, the desert, the ocean, the trees and all kinds of other things, but this day, the sky definitely won the masterpiece award from us!!  The pictures really don't do it justice though!!

The blue was so blue and the clouds were so fluffy and white.  

The contrast of the brown barren ground and the beautiful sky was amazing.  It was definitely the JOY!!

Counting it all Joy!!

Why I “Count it all Joy” Wednesday

Welcome to Why I Count It All Joy Wednesday!!  To join in on all the JOY, grab my button for your post, make your own JOY list, and link up below this post so others will be able to find your blog!!  Don’t forget to post a link on your blog back to me!!

Several weeks ago, I asked my kids to get involved in my JOY list and they loved it.  Today they wanted to do it again!!  So here goes!!

I am filled with JOY because even though the internet has been sparse around here, I was able to do my JOY list!!

I am filled with JOY because my parents brought us to California for vacation!!  (Isaac)

I am filled with JOY because we have eaten a lot of good (different) food!!  (Drew)

I am filled with JOY because today we got Skim boards and a kid at the beach was helping us learn how to use them!!  (Adam)

I am filled with JOY because some lady who didn’t even know us or that we had added a cupcake adventure to our vacation, just randomly gave us a box of 5 cupcakes. (the beginning of blessings, full story later)

I am filled with JOY because my dad is an artist, my mom is a baker, my big brother is a soldier, my sister is a mom, my other big brother is going to be a chef, and my twin is my BFF!!  (Adam)

I am filled with JOY because even though my oldest brother couldn’t come on vacation with us, he is in the army and fights for our freedom!!  (Isaac)

I am filled with JOY because we were able to travel across the country and we got to spend all this extra time with each other!!  (Drew)

I am filled with JOY because I got to spend the whole day at surf shops and the beach with my boys, my book, and the beautiful California sunshine that my God created!!

I am filled with JOY because I have a wonderful family and great friends who are praying with me and for me about Cupcake Wars!!

I am filled with JOY because every week I have friends who make JOY lists and help me spread the JOY!!

You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.  Isaiah 55:12

What’s filling you with JOY this week??

Counting it all JOY!!

Just a Quick Note!!

What a wonderful time we are having.  I have so much to tell.  The trip here was crazy.  We’ve eaten sooooo many cupcakes, not sure it is helping with that decision though!!  (In case you didn’t already know, I have been asked to be on the Food Network show Cupcake Wars)

Driving across the country seeing so much of God’s creation is truly amazing.  

We have been blessed in so many ways.  Wonderful little (and big) blessings out of no where.  I love it when our wonderful Lord shows Himself so clearly to my kiddos.  I can’t wait to tell you all about it when I get home.

I haven’t had internet much here, but will definitely be doing my “Why I Count it all Joy Wednesday” tomorrow.  So grab my button, make your list, and come back tomorrow and link up.

Love you all and miss reading your posts and getting your comments!!

Counting it all Joy!!