Monday

This is a pretty typical monday night for us. Dad is off work mondays so usually the boys will get some tennis going at night - sometimes we have to beg them to let the girls play...so tonight they did! Wes and I played mom and dad.

Typically we have some sort of company over...well usually Wes and Preston, but they aren't really considered company anymore! I was just telling someone the other day that I'm sad that summer is over, because the boys always have friends over, and I love having all the comotion (sp?) and noise ... I guess thats what comes from growing up in a LOUD family w/ 3 brothers! I love it!

Dad and Josh playing with the air soft gun....

Relaxed on the porch swing. Lish and Jay gave us this swing and we definately put it to use! I love it, especially in the spring and the fall when it is not so hot - its really nice for napping ;)

WORKING HARD AT FASTSIGNS!

Random

This is a really random post. These are some pictures I took awhile ago, and I wanted to put some new pictures up...I was getting sick of looking at the cup of spilled milk ;) I love this picture of the tree though...mainly because of the "sepia" setting!

I am so blessed with a wonderful family... 2 amazing parents and 3 wonderful brothers! I couldn't ask for anything more in a family. Mom is always serving all of us in more ways than we will ever know. Dad is faithfully working long hard days and still making time to spend with us...especially playing tennis :). There is something different that stands out in each of the boys...Dannys would be faithfully serving in so many ways..at work and home especially. Sean is growing so much in serving...(i.e. putting away the dishes every night before bed without being asked). Josh has such a tender heart. The spirit is definately at work, he is quick to ask for forgiveness! The Lord has worked so abundantly in ALL of our lives since our move to VA. I am so grateful for Dad listening to the lord calling us out here! Thanks daddyo for leading our family so well! I could write lots more, but everyone is going to bed and I don't like being up by myself :)!

Spilled Milk

Have you ever heard the old saying; "No sense crying over spilled milk"? Well I had an interesting morning the first day of school this week. I wanted to cry over spilled milk! I woke up late and was just beginning my time alone with God when all of the sudden, one of my children went to lift a new gallon of milk out of the refrigerator when it slipped out of his/her hand and landed like a bomb on the floor. The reason I say bomb is because it pretty much exploded all over the kitchen. The refigerator, island, barstools, cubboards, table and oven were all covered with milk. As my child rushed the leaking jug to the sink; the floor, the dishwasher, many more cubboards, and even the window were freshly saturated with milk. I give you this vivid picture of my morning in order to share with you the way the Lord used this experience to get to an issue in my heart.

You see I had plans for my morning, I had things I wanted to get done. Helping to clean up a gallon of spilled milk was not on my agenda. As I was mumbling in my heart,"what a way to start out the day". I was quickly reminded of a verse I had written in my journal just minutes prior to the explosion. It was from Ecclesiates 7:9 "Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit for anger resides in the lap of fools." So I was doing my best to not be angry with my child, however I continued grumbling in my heart. Thinking thoughts like, "This isn't how I wanted to start my day especially on the first day of school" and "How am I ever going to get everthing accomplished now?" You can imagine the other thoughts that ran through my mind as well.

After working together to get all the milk wiped up I went back to what I had started a half hour before, my quiet time. (I decided I could mop the floors after my devotions). I was gently reminded by what seem to be a whisper from the Lord, "Maybe this isn't what you had planned for your day, but it is exactly what I had planned for you today!" You see, I had been praying for God to reveal sin in my heart and that is exactly what He did. I had my plans and I didn't want them to be interrupted. I had an adgenda and didn't want it to be "jolted" with an unexpected gallon of spilled milk.

I'm thankful that God graciously brought to the forefront the sinfulness that presides in my heart. The area of pride, thinking I know what is best for me. The idea that I deserve a life of ease, without "spilled milk" interrupting my plans. As I continued in my quiet time the Lord highlighted another verse that spoke volumes to me, found in II Corinthians 7:10 "Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death". I'm grateful that the Lord helped me to see that I needed to repent of the sin of pride that was so evident in my life that morning. His Holy Spirit helped me to have that "godly sorrow" as a result of my sin. I'm thankful that He opened my eyes once again to see my need for a Savior in every moment of my life, especially when there is "spilled milk" along the way!

Happy Birthday Mom/Grandma

My dear Mom! Now shes a woman to be praised, as Scritpure talks about in Proverbs 31! As her daughter, she taught me many skills I continually use now that I am grown and married myself. It was her unselfish dedication to investing time and energy teaching me how to sew, cook, play sports, work hard, make creative stuff with little or no money, how be be devoted to her husband (my dad), to be a godly wife and mother, and the list goes on. She was my biggest cheerleader when it came to trying anything. She would be the first to tell me I could do it, no matter what the task at hand might be .

Then as my family grew she invested the same time and energy into my children. She would often take the kids and just spend fun time with them, camping, garage sailing, going to "Call of the Wild", and the list goes on. Not to mention all the hours spent reading and recording books so that my little ones would have stories to listen to as they went to sleep at night!

Mom today as you celebrate your birthday I wanted to take the time to wish you a very special day! You are the best Mom ever! Thank you first and foremost for teaching me to love Our Savior Jesus Christ. Thank you also for teaching me what it means to be a commited and faithful wife, as you and dad celebrate 50 years of marriage this November. Thank you also for being my friend. I love you so very much! Have a wonderful Birthday. Lin

This picture is of my family growing up. Notice all the green dresses that match? My mom made them. I still remember because I think they were partially wool and they were picky! HEEHEE

Catching Up

Tuesday nights are supposed to be my dinner night. I'm not always the best at planning ahead, but I've been doing a little bit better (sometimes). Anyway, this tuesday, all the boys ended up being gone, so we had Wes, Char, Josh and Preston over for dinner. I was just going to make a bg chicken ceasar salad, but we need to make it go a little farther, so mom had the great idea of adding noodles to it..and it turned out to be pretty good! Not the greatest picture, but I thought to take it just before the salad was gone.

Josh, Char, Wes and I

COUSIN NIGHT! Saturday night the Smiths had people over to watch a movie, and after everyone left...if was just the cousins! We talked and laughed for awhile, and we stayed the night! Nate, Keek and Rach...when you guys come for Katies wedding...we have to have a sleepover!!

Clay & Kate

Clay Gabe and Wes

Dancing the night away! The Bartows had a coming home/going away DANCE party for Tyler. Matt and Peter taught everyone "The Hustle". It was alot of fun!