More Beach Pictures

Marmee with the boys on the beach. Marmee was brave enough to endure a week at the beach with us. I adore my mom. The boys adore my mom. Kris adores my mom. So everyone was thrilled she was able to vacation with us. She was a huge help cooking, helping with boys, keeping up with the laundry, and a wonderful shopping buddy!!! Thanks so much mom. We love you so much!!!!!!!!

Hamilton hunting for shells!!

Hamilton and Samuel
Mr. Beach!!
My sweet little Jack Jack. He was too cute on the beach. He did whatever his brothers did.

2008 Seagrove, FL Beach Trip

Jack loved the beach this year. The boys were really at the perfect age. No baby on the hip, everyone could walk to the beach and even help carry a load. Wonderful trip!!!!!!
Sam did fantastic!!! I was so worried he would not feel well and enjoy his time there. He proved me wrong. He loves the waves, surf, and just being in the water. We had our annual putt putt outing and Samuel was simply hilarious. He really was the life of the party.....as always!!!!
Hamilton had a great time as well. He loved looking for shells, playing in the sand, walking on the beach, flying his kite, fishing......this list goes on. He literally had a check list of everything he wanted to do while we were there. We made sure everything was checked off the list before we left for home. He is so grown up and can basicly do for himself now, which made having them out of there space so much easier.
Mommy enjoying the boys on the beach!!!
Sam and Jack on the beach at sunset.

Hamilton Surrenders His Heart to Jesus!!!

Last night around 8:15 I got the best Mother's Day present any mother could ask for. Hamilton and I got on our knees in my bathroom and he prayed to receive Christ. I began praying while he was still in the womb that he would come to know and love Christ at an early age. I had no idea it would be at the tender age of 5. We are rejoicing with the angels in heaven over his saved soul. I hope to tell the whole story soon. What is crazy is, I was saved on Mother's day when I was 9 years old. We now celebrate the same spiritual birthday.

When he got up this morning, the first thing he said is "I am going to heaven"!!!!!!!
God is so good.
He is so faithful.
We are so thankful!!!!

Hamilton Surrenders His Life to Christ!!!!!

Three Sick Babies!!

Sick babies
with Daddy!!!




Last Thursday night Jack began running fever (103). For days he ran fever with no other symptoms. Finally the congestion set in with a nasty cough. Then Saturday, Sam was the next victim along with a kidney episode. Monday we end up at the doctor with them. Samuel had an x-ray and ultrasound of his kidneys. Praise God, they both looked good. As far as the fever and congestion, we were told it is viral and just has to run it's coarse. We thought we had dodged a bullet with Hamilton, but yesterday he started complaining and told me to take his temp. Of coarse, he had almost 102. CRAZY!!! They all three have been troopers. Mommy is ready for 3 well babies again.

Thank you Grandaddy!!!!!!

We have the best Grandaddy in the world. Kris's dad drove up for the weekend a few weeks ago to help us build a raised garden bed. It turned out perfect.

Mamma's Stud!!! He loves a job to do. He waters and checks the garden daily!!!
Grandaddy built the raised bed in no time, but he probably would have finished in half the time if he had not had two little helpers!!
Grandaddy was so patient and took time to explain what he was doing and why it had to be done that way. At one point, Hamilton was reading the level.
Mommy is so bad. I would do anything in the world to bring joy to my children. Soooo, I purchased a watermelon from Walmart and put it by the watermelon plant. And yes, my boys now think the watermelon plant is magic.

Funeral Home Funnies

My oldest sister is CRAZY!!! She really is alot of fun. She called me this afternoon cracking up laughing. She begin to tell me the funniest story......she is a minister's wife. So naturally that means tons of funeral home visits. Anytime anyone in the church dies, or their family member dies, or any of their friends die (you get the point) Jennifer and Frank are obligated to atleast make an appearance at the funeral home.

This evening she was going to the funeral home for a viewing of a family member of a church member. So she gets to the funeral home, signs the book, and is greeted by a crying family member. If you know Jennifer, she plays the part well, so she begins to console and tear up herself. So after telling the crying family member who she is and that she is sorry for the family's loss she makes her way into "view the body". When she gets to the casket, it has an engraved deer head on it, and she is realizing she hasn't seen a familiar face. She looks down at the write up about the man she is viewing she realizes it is the WRONG MAN. She is suppose to be seeing Denis Lindsey, she is looking at JAMES LEE. She said she put her head down and got the heck out of there.

So to the family of James Lee....the crazy person signing your book and consoling your grieving family members....that's my sister.

Samuel's Appointment Update!!

ARE YOU CALLING ME FAT?
Sam around 7 months old.

My sweet Samuel. We were at Children's Hospital yesterday seeing a kidney specialist. I was very disappointed with our visit. The doctor decided to put him on some medication to regulate some of his higher levels that seem to be causing stones. Which is fine, but after a few very uncalled for comments Mommy doesn't really trust this doctor. So I really don't know what we will do. Samuel has been regularly complaining for the past week with is stomach and back and the Doctor really did not address this. He said if he continues to complain take him to his pediatrician. Why do we even see a specialist if his regular doctor is capable of treating him?

The doctor really seem to zero in on the fact he thought Samuel was way too big for his age. Samuel has always been a big boy. Much larger than my other two boys. But no doctor ( and he has seen many) has ever commented negatively on his size. Samuel actually eats less than my other boys. The doctor continues to tell me not to let him have an open snack bar as Samuel is choosing from a snack bag I packed for him. (which consisted of apple sauce, raisins, and graham crackers) Immediately I was on the defense and let him know we drive an hour and a half to the hospital and back home. He told me "can he not go a few hours without food". LET ME AT HIM!!!! I wanted to say when is that last time you were in the car 3 hours with a 3 year old. If you have ever been in my house for an extended period of time, you know how strict I am about eating snack and what the boys drink. For heavens sake, I squeeze lemons to make their lemon ad, I juice their orange juice, and make our own bread. He was treating me like a mother who puts coke in a sippy cup. I was not upset at the fact he was telling me Samuel could stand to loose a few pounds, I agree. I was upset at how he really attacked me as a mother and said all of this point blank with my son sitting in the room listening to every rude word he said.

Ok, I feel much better now. Who knows what we will do next. Though out this whole experience I have learned you are your only child's advocate. Doctors do not always know what is BEST for your child. Pray for Kris and I over the next few days as we try to determine how to handle Samuel's heath issues. I obviously have a rotten attitude today, and I don't need to let that interfere with doing what is ultimately best for Samuel. I do love my SamSam.......

Week of New Jobs!!!!!!

After much prayer, seeking counsel from others, and sleepless nights, Kris left Hubbard Smith..... and is now working at Rosen Harwood. We feel confident He made the right decision not only for himself but for me and the boys as well. He started last Thursday and will have a few stressful weeks learning a new job and how this firm operates. He is really excited and I am so proud of how he handled a really tough situation. I adore Kris and am constantly amazed at how he sacrificially provides for his family.

As for me, I officially took on the title of Director of Preschool Ministries at our church last Wed. I have taken an active role in trying to make some necessary changes to our
Preschool and Children's Ministries. The church first approached me wanting me to be the "Children's Minister". That really freaked me out. I am very committed to being a wife, mother, and homeschooler before anything else. God really has been doing an awesome work in my life through Children's Desiring God, children at our church, and my own sweet babies as well. I really felt led to take on the preschool area, and I fully trust God will provide the time and energy to be able to fulfill the vision He has given me and others for our Preschoolers. Overwhelming.......YES. Impossible .......NO!!!!!!!!! Praise God. This is a non paid position which I like at the moment. I do not hold office hours and basically am able to do what I can though out the week from home. I will probably be up at the church some during the week (with the boys) especially thought out the summer as we transition into a new curriculum and make some classroom changes. Hopefully by Fall things will be in place and it will be more overseeing things than writing policy and procedures for preschoolers which is what I will be working on this week. I am really exited about serving Christ as I faithfully serve these Preschoolers.