God has to have a sense of humor...

Why?  Because animals are cute!!  Yes, animals have purposes... to feed, to protect, to carry, to pull , and to look cute!!  Why am I thinking about this today?  Well, because we caught a pig! Finally!!!  We got the right mixture of foods in the right cage and got a pig! I walked with Hubby up to the trap and my first comment was "Aww, she's cute!" He still doesn't believe that I'll turn her into a delicious dinner.... BUT, I've learned over the years that well, God didn't make ugly things... Some things aren't as pretty as others, but He covered His Earth in things that were pleasing to His eye!

She's a pretty girl... and she'll be awfully yummy!  Thank you Lord for your provision!

The Holidays have ARRIVED!!!

It's official, the holidays are here!  Technically, Thanksgiving has passed, but we still have so much to be thankful for.  The start to the Holiday season at our house has always been daddy playing Santa Claus for a local elementary school.

The Hippo was NOT fooled by the suit. She knew that was her daddy!

Thanksgiving came quickly this year, and went by just as quickly...

And somehow... this is the only picture I took, and it's even from Wednesday!!  LOL.  Bubba and the Hippo had to help me organize my baking cabinet so that I could get pies and cupcakes made :-).  They're such good helpers, can't you tell?

Thursday was amazing.  I cooked a lot, and hubby cooked even more!  It was the first year we've really split the cooking and I highly recommend it!  The best part of Thursday was opening the door for my Aunt and Uncle who I knew were coming in from out of town and finding my cousin and his three kids standing outside too!  What a fantastic surprise.  (Sad part, his wife had to work... thank a nurse next time you see one for sacrificing time with their families to make sure you stay healthy!)

Black Friday... well, we go shopping when everyone else is heading home.  So we picked up a few deals, bought some family movies, and generally enjoyed the madness.  We also baited a hog trap and had family movie night :-).

The Birthday Princess and a little sister!

The Hippo decided that there was too much excitement... and took a nap!

Saturday came with the big princess' birthday party.  I cannot believe she turned 8 today (12/3)... Her birthday party was all her plan... pink, camo, princess, cowboy, western. Complete with a strawberry flavor cactus cake!  It was a great day with just a few close friends and family... Thank you... to all who came to celebrate with us.

The Strawberry flavored cactus cake.

Sunday found us at church celebrating knowing that we will soon be celebrating the birth of our Christ!

Monday (Yesterday) Christmas decorations came out.  Our rule is that we don't decorate until after the Princess' birthday has been thoroughly celebrated.

 Today... Hubby is taking care of cutting the grass in preparation for decorating the outside of the house... I am SO excited.  I love Christmas!  I just wish that more people knew the Magic of Christmas all through the year.

In other news... visit our Facebook Page for amazing sales and deals!

Making Our Dream a Reality!

I'm working today on streamlining our business ventures.  I want to make the Burch Family Homestead a reality.  We will only be able to that by applying ourselves and really working for it.  I mean, in reality, yes, we could make a gofundme site, we could attempt to win the lottery, we could stop paying our bills and save that money to find a down payment faster, but we'll do this our way.  Our way is harder, but it will mean more in the long run, it will teach our children how to work towards something, and that is one of our goals as parents, to raise children that do for themselves, that don't look for handouts, who know the value of a hard day's work.

The kiddos that God has given to us to raise!  We're praying we do something right!!

For those who don't know us personally, or are just getting to know us, or even who just haven't realized just how crazy we are... I want to tell you about some of the things we will hire ourselves out for :-)... then you know, and you can tell your friends!  All side jobs that we do, any profit is going straight to our down payment fund.

Auctioneer.  Hubby is a trained, licensed auctioneer in the state of Florida.  (AU3366)  He has an extensive background in antiques and collectibles.

Yes, Hannah was having a day and needed her daddy... She loves to hear him at an auction!

Avon.  I sell Avon :-).  I like looking put together when I venture outside of our house.  I like it even better that it's actually affordable.  Avon is changing with the times, and your Avon lady doesn't have to be next door anymore.  Anyone can order online through my website and have your makeup delivered to your doorstep!!  Check back often for new brochures and special deals, and free shipping offers!!

Baking.  Any baked goods in our home are for sale!  If you need a specialty cake, a homemade pie, or even just some homemade banana bread, get in touch with me and we'll figure out an agreeable price for both of us!

These were cupcakes for Hubby's Youth Football teams end of season party! Confetti Cake with homemade buttercream frosting and a Chocolate Shark lollipop... complete with their jersey numbers!

doTerra.  I also sell doTerra essential oils, oil blends, oil based cleansing products, spa products and oil accessories.  Essential oils have been used for various purposes throughout history.  From disinfecting surfaces and medicinal uses to just smelling good and therefore enhancing your mood, essential oils have been used by every people group throughout history in one way or another.  doTerra oils and products are Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade and tested regularly to maintain their purest form. You can find more information on doTerra and ordering at my website.

Estate Sales. Hubby and I work as a fantastic team!  We are available to set up and sell for you so that you can enjoy your weekend!  We work on a percentage of sales, for sales big and small!

Event Staffing.  Hubby and I both have training and experience in bulk foods, service, crowd control and bartending.  From ordering, to preparation and serving, we are your people!  Any kind of event, we can handle it, and have friends that we can call in to work with us if your event requires more than a staff of 2!

Hog Trapping.  We are loving working together as a family to trap hogs.  If you have a hog problem We are the family to take care of it for you!

The tracks of the hog we're currently working to capture!

Is there anything else you can think of that you need done?  We can handle pretty much anything... find us on facebook at The Busy Burches to contact us for whatever job you have for us!

I Stand Amazed

The old song says, "I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene, and wonder how He could love me, a sinner condemned unclean."  As we've been trying to help a family with a hog problem on their property, I have again been reminded how truly amazing God is.  Think about it... God created a world for us to live in. On this planet He created life cycles, food chains, all of nature sings to His glory.

This morning's reason for standing amazed is simple.  We set a hog trap.  It's a solid trap, about 4 ft tall and 6 ft wide... and big enough to hold a FEW hogs.  We got a text message that the door was closed, but there was nothing in the trap, so we went to check it out.  When we looked, we saw that the plate that our bait was set on was torn up, the trap door was shut, and there was no pig?!  What?!  U[on further inspection, the pig we caught was big and mean.  It's tracks that we found made my size 9 1/2s look SMALL.  This pig had busted out the side of the trap we set.  Now this trap is very sturdy, 1/4" fencing stapled to a 2x4 frame.  And this pig ripped the fencing nails out, and pushed the caging back so that it could escape!  I cannot wait to get this pig.  It's going to be especially yummy :-)!

And yes... I know that I need a pedicure... lol. It'll wait til I get around to it!

The only Bible some people ever read...

I've heard the phrase all my live.  "Live your life as a follower of Christ, so that others might see Christ through you, you are the only Bible some people will ever read."

I haven't always been a good example.  I've failed.  I've fallen.  I still fail.  I still show people that I am human, but that's not what I want.

I'm on a mission.

A mission to follow Christ only.  Completely.  In everything.

I hear it all the time that people don't know how I can handle having 4 children, or how I can get done all that I do with all the kids... and there's only way I can do it all, it's because of Christ.  In Philippians, Paul told the Christians at Philippi that he could do ALL things, through Christ who strengthened him.  This needs to be me.  Why is it so hard that when people mention to me how busy I am, I get irritated with them, instead of simply saying that I can do ALL things, because of Christ who is my strength?  Yes, I get irritated, people rarely count my children and shake their head and are amazed that I ahve them all at the grocery store, unless they're having out of character moments and everyone is acting a fool for the day.  People don't seem to notice on normal shopping trips when everyone is pretty well behaved and we're having an easy shopping day.

A preacher I've listened to recently put it this way... good wine comes from good grapes, bitter wine comes from bitter grapes.  Christ told us in Matthew that we will be known by our fruit.  Galatians explains to us that that fruit is the fruit of the Spirit.. love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. In John 15:5-8, Christ said, "I am the vine, you are the branches.  He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.  If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.  IF you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.  By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; and so you will be my disciples.

So what is your flavor?  When you, as a Christian, when I, a Christian, am "squeezed", what flavor do I produce... a good sweet wine, a bitter taste, an unripened fruit?  What reaction do I have to trials and tribulations and LIFE?  How can I better show Christ to those around me.

For those who have been around when I personally have been "squeezed" and have not reacted in a Christian way, I apologize.  Please forgive me, and pray for me, as I strive and struggle every day to live abiding in my Christ and producing fruits that please Him.

Homesteading

I'm admitting it now for EVERYONE to hear, well read... I dream of owning a homestead.  By homestead, I don't mean a big house that our family for generations will call the "family home", although that's a part of my dream.  I dream of having acreage enough to raise all our own food.  A garden, livestock, horses to work the livestock, chickens for eggs and meat, hogs for meat, goats for milk... I hear it's great!, and being as much "off the grid" as we can be.  I know, those of you who have known me forever, and a few that have recently become friends think I"m crazy.  Well, I've never been accused of being sane!
  My dream really wouldn't require THAT much land... unless of course we bought enough that our children could eventually build their own houses on the outlying edges of the land and really turn it into a "family home".  I don't want a full blown farm, well, I do, but just enough of one to sustain us, not the entire town!
It's funny though, as I think about a Burch Farm... I think, well, besides the food thing, we're not that far away from it!  The people I've admitted this dream to in real life have said, "Well, you've got enough kids to work a farm" and well, that's true; and they're used to mommy's crazy chores and having to help with the family matters, not just their own.  As for getting started on our way... we already cloth diaper... I"m working on making us not reliant on disposable products, starting, and probably ending, with normal things... like not using paper towels and napkins :-), but using reusable whenever we can... I've got a decent stockpile of clothes for the kids... and mend what I can and shop CHEAP for what I can't.  It's finally cooling off enough outside that I feel comfortable hanging clothes out to dry, and not feeling like I"m baking them dry!  I cook the majority of our food from scratch, and have a decent stockpile, but I would LOVE to go outside and pick fresh produce rather than having to run to the grocery store!
Well, I know, that was really horribly written - grammatically and trying to follow my train of thought, and for that, I am sorry... but my brain is wandering and with the way I feel right now, I'm not at all going to try to make sense.

LOL and the entire reason that I sat down to write this was the realization that I haven't purchased laundry detergent in a almost a YEAR!  At least 9 months... I realized today as I though about how low my detergent was and that I needed to make a new batch, exactly how much I've changed.  I was standing, thinking about how I feel awful, but I needed to make detergent, so I did. Instead of my old self whining and running to the store for whatever I could find on sale!  I wonder how much money I really save between detergent and diapers... I bet it's a lot...

Must go rescue the house from the one year old... she's on a terrorizing spree today!

WOW.

I knew I was slacking on blogging, but JEESH! Somebody could've told me I hadn't written anything since SEPTEMBER!!  Well, then again, I guess football season really did take over.  Season's over for a while now... so hopefully there will be some time to breathe!  Here are some quick updates on life...

Faith.
We've found our church.  We will be joining Community Baptist Church in Sebastian.  It's a small church with a big heart and not only for missions, but for each other.  We missed this Sunday because I was sick, and I seriously feel like I missed out, like there's something missing from me this week.  It's great to have that feeling...

Family.
We're gearing up for Leaky's 8th birthday.  Yup, I said it, my second child is turning 8!  I'm not ready for this... Everyone is growing so much, except for Bubba... he's staying mostly the same... lol.

Gratuitous cute kid and daddy picture... since I can :-)

We're also gearing up for the Holiday Season!  My favorite time of the year!!  If you're local and need some baking done for you... please use this form to order your favorite baked goods :-)!

It's crazy all the things I do now that I thought I'd never do... have kids (I really don't have any patience...), bake (for our family and for others), cloth diaper (ewww! LOL), make my own laundry detergent and dishwasher detergent, meal plan, cook 90% of our food FROM SCRATCH... it's nuts to think that I was the girl in High School who wanted an education and a career, and never really thought about having a family, much less a LARGE family and dreams of a homestead with farm :-)!

Football.

Our seasons are over.  Bubba's team lost in the first round of playoffs... it was quite the game.  I"m not a proponent of every kid playing jsut so they get playing time, but I got in a fight with the hubby on the sidelines, because Bubba wasn't in the game, didn't get any playing time, the game was in the 4th quarter and the team's biggest problem was that the child playing the position that Bubba excels at, was playing like CRAP!  Ugh.  Yeah, 3 quarters of the center (who wasn't Bubba) snapping over the head of whoever he was snapping to (this is youth football after all, so direct snaps happen more than you'd think ;-)) and this momma bear got TICKED OFF!  So I finally said something about it, to Hubby, who was on the sidelines, which finally got the attention of the head coach... who finally (in the 4th quarter) put Bubba in the game at Center... and HOLY CANNOLI! The offense was finally able to put some yards on the field!  I guess I should have said something in the 1st Quarter if we wanted a chance to win the game!  BUT, what's done is done, and that season is over except for the End of Season Party and Award Ceremony.

The High School season did not end on a high note... but one of my favorite players broke his 1,000 yard mark on the season, so that counts for something!  Those kids have become like extensions of our family too... it can't really be a bad thing for our girls to have that many Big Protective Brothers?!  RIGHT?!

Well, I guess that's about all the update there is!

Esther with Beth Moore - LifeWay Church Women's Bible Study

An Overview of Esther

At our Mom's Matter Too Bible Study... we're starting to study Esther.  I'm posting those studies here, so that you can read along, so that we all have a reference point... and maybe someone that needs something that God had us go over will receive that message from Him through these words.  I do not take any credit for the words I am typing here... This "study" while we are doing it without a workbook, without videos, etc... is mostly based on and borrowed from Beth Moore's study on the book of Esther, Esther: It's Tough Being A Woman.  I wish I was as eloquent and well versed in the scriptures as she is, and am blessed to have been able to participate in the video course and learn something from her that I can now share with some of my favorite moms.  Other information was gathered from Webster Mirriam Dictionary, Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Word Biblical Commentary, and my NKJV Woman's Study Bible.

Esther an Introduction
Background.
 - Written in the late 5th century B.C.
   - Ahasuerus = Xerxes reigned 486-465 B.C.
 - Esther & Mordecai lived in Susa (Hebrew - Sushan) in current day Iran near the Iraqui border
 - Diaspora story - Diaspora is a scatter population with a common origin in a smaller geographic area.
 - The traditional purpose for the book of Esther is to explain the Jewish holiday of Purim - a celebration of deliverance.  The reading of Esther (the Megillah) is the central rite of the observance of Purim and attendance is mandatory, even for women.
 - Fro Christians, the book of Esther is an important reminder that God is never absent.  Even those living in a world hostile to the Christian faith may not always be aware of presence, but He is always there.

**The book of Esther is unique - there is a NO reference to God.**

Why Study Esther?
 - The book is an integral part of God's Word to us.
 - Psalm 138:2b I will worship toward Your holy temple, And praise Your name For Your lovingkindness and Your truth; for You have magnified Your word above all Your name. - God's name may not be in it, but it is ALL OVER it.
 - It offers hope.
 - It reminds us of the providence of God.
  - Merriam Webster - providence - divine guidance or care; God conceived as the power sustaining and guiding human DESTINY
  - Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary - "God attends not only to apparently momentous events and people but also to those that seem both mundane and trivial --- Indeed, so all encompassing is God's attention to events within creation that nothing --- happens by chance."
 - Ephesians 1:11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,
 - Philippians 2:13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
 - The Title bears a woman's name.  - It's tough being a woman, in another woman's shadow.
 - The emphasis on human responsibility.  According to Word Bible Commentary, the God inspired author of Esther lays on the stress on human contribution to the divine-human synergism (combined or shared energy).



Next week... We'll focus on Esther Chapter 2 :-)

Ruth

Ruth –

Ruth 1:1-5 Elimelech’s Family Goes to Moab

Elimelech and his wife Naomi and their two boys headed for Moab to find food during a famine in Judah.  While they were there, Elimelech died, his two sons married Moabite women and then the sons passed away; this left Naomi in a foreign land responsible for herself and her widowed daughters-in-law.

Ruth 1:6-22 Naomi Returns with Ruth

Naomi heard that the famine was over in her hometown of Bethlehem and had to head home where she could be cared for.  Remember that in this time, women couldn't just go out and get a job and take care of themselves.  She told her daughters-in-law to return to their families, that their commitment to her and her family was over following the death of their husbands.  At first, both women said that they were going to stay with her.  After some urging, Orpah returned to her family but Ruth refused to return to her family and returned with Naomi to Bethlehem.  Her words, found in Ruth 1:16-17, were, 

"Entreat me not to leave you,

Or to turn back from following after you;

for where you go, I will go;

and wherever you lodge, I will lodge;

Your people shall be my people,

and your God, my God.

Where you die, I will die,

and there will I be buried.

The Lord do so to me, and more also,

if anything but death parts you and me."

What a promise of loyalty!!  A note from my Bible... (Women's Study Bible by Thomas Nelson Publishers 2006)

Gratitude on the part of one awakens loyalty in the heart of the other.

Selflessness on the part of one demands unselfishness from the other.

Bitterness in one gives opportunity for creativity in the other.

Interest from one is rewarded by responsive communication in the other.

Counsel from one bears fruit as accepted and honored by the other.

Ruth 2:1-23 Ruth Meets Boaz
Ruth 3:1-18 Ruth’s Redemption AssuredRuth 4:1-12 Boaz Redeems Ruth

Boaz was a rich person in Bethlehem.  He was of the family of Elimelech.  Naomi told Ruth to go to Boaz' fields to gather the left over wheat that was dropped by the pickers to provide for their little widow family.  When Boaz saw her gathering and knew who she was, he instructed his people to make sure that they left enough behind to provide for her and Naomi.  In those times, a man's family was to take care of the widows of their men and if their was a suitable male among them, to marry the widow and continue to bear children to increase their family line.  Boaz eventually married Ruth and they gave birth to sons, importantly, they gave birth to Obed.

Ruth 4:13-22 Descendants of Boaz and Ruth

Boaz and Ruth had a baby, Obed.  Obed was father to Jesse, Jesse was father to David, who became King David.  King David is in the human lineage of Christ.  I for one am quite glad that Ruth followed Naomi back to Bethlehem for the ultimate purpose of giving birth to the humanly lineage of Christ.

Where Does the Time Go?!

Life is BUSY!!  and in the mix of all the things that are "have to do"s and the "need to do"s and the "want to do"s.... some things get pushed by the wayside... Like blogging :-(.

I really do enjoy writing, and this is one way for me to get my thoughts/feelings/ideas on "paper" and done floating around my mind.  So... here's a short update on our BUSY lives.

Faith...
We've found a church... we think. We've been attending and worshipping and enjoying every Sunday with a local congregation.  September 15th is National Back to Church Sunday... have you been to church recently?  Get up and go!  National Back to Church Sunday is a great day to begin attending again.

Family...
I cannot believe that Hannah the Hippo turns a year old in 11 days!!  This time last year I was looking kinda like this...

... that's my big ol' belly... and Layla curled up between me and the couch next to her daddy... and Pixie the dog keeping me company. always. That stinking dog wouldn't leave me alone!!

Football...

Bubba is playing well.  He loves it.  His second game is this weekend... against what some would consider the local standard of youth football teams.  We'll see how it goes. And well, we do a lot of laundry for the High School team...

Until next time... I have laundry to fold!!

Every Saint has a Past...

August 20, 2013

This week we discussed how God can use people, women in particular, with a past.  Women like Rahab the harlot who was saved and her family spared when the walls of Jericho came crashing down because of her faith in the God of the spies that Israel had sent into the city.  Another was Bathsheba, who was seduced by King David, despite being a married woman; King David had her husband killed in battle and she eventually became his wife, and bore him a son, King Solomon.  And Sarah, the wife of Abraham, who followed and trusted and believed and helped Abraham along the way, but who also lied to protect herself and her family as they traveled through foreign lands.  Rahab and Bathsheba are now counted in the 28 generation genealogy of Christ listed in Matthew and both Rahab and Sarah are listed in Hebrews 11 as women of great faith.  Once we have become believers and submit fully to what God wants for our lives, there is nothing that HE can't do with us and through us.

  

Matthew 1 – The Genealogy of Jesus. - from the NKJV – Bold is mine.

1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham: ² Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers. ³ Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram. ⁴ Ram begot Amminadab, Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon. ⁵ Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, ⁶ and Jesse begot David the king. David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife^[a] of Uriah. ⁷ Solomon begot Rehoboam, Rehoboam begot Abijah, and Abijah begot Asa.^[b] 8 Asa begot Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat begot Joram, and Joram begot Uzziah. ⁹ Uzziah begot Jotham, Jotham begot Ahaz, and Ahaz begot Hezekiah. ¹⁰ Hezekiah begot Manasseh, Manasseh begot Amon,^[c] and Amon begot Josiah. ¹¹ Josiah begot Jeconiah and his brothers about the time they were carried away to Babylon. ¹² And after they were brought to Babylon, Jeconiah begot Shealtiel, and Shealtiel begot Zerubbabel.¹³ Zerubbabel begot Abiud, Abiud begot Eliakim, and Eliakim begot Azor. ¹⁴ Azor begot Zadok, Zadok begot Achim, and Achim begot Eliud. ¹⁵ Eliud begot Eleazar, Eleazar begot Matthan, and Matthan begot Jacob.¹⁶ And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ. ¹⁷ So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations.

Rahab – the harlot.

Joshua 2

Bathsheba – her who had been the wife of Uriah

2 Samuel 11

Sarah

Genesis 12

Hebrews 11 – the Faith Chapter – from the NKJV – Bold is mine.

11:8-12 ⁸ By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. ⁹ By faith he dwelt in the land of promise asin a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; ¹⁰ for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. ¹¹ By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child^[b] when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. ¹² Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.

11:30-31³⁰ By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. ³¹ By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.

Football Season kicks off TONIGHT!! No, it's not a game, but it's the kickoff of my High School, where Nathan is a coach, 20th Season!  IT's going to be a big night.  It's starting off with the introduction of the Youth level football players and coaches and cheerleaders... and the introduction of this years High school team and coaches.  The band will be playing, the cheerleaders (and parents :-) ) will be cheering... as the high school team plays a scrimmage.  What a great way to kick off season.  To know the names and the faces of the people you'll be cheering on, to get to see the fruits of all the labor that these boys and their coaches have been putting in.  I cannot wait for the sun to go down, to listen to the click and hum of the stadium lights as they turn on... and to see our boys take the field.  It's magical.



And in other news, I'm almost more excited to start Bible Study this week.  There's a group of us moms that meet during the youth football practice on Tuesday and Thursday nights to work out.  and this week, we are going to stat meeting earlier to have a time of Bible study with each other before we start our sweating together!  It's going to be AMAZING!!

What an Amazing Weekend

I'm loving life right now... yes, our calendar has LOTS of football on it... but that football has afforded us many things. Like friends, who are just as busy as we are, but that we see on a regular basis thanks to being involved in the same time draining thing...  Just this weekend, I've been with the same group of people all weekend, and loved every minute of it!

Friday was beach day... We all met at the inlet for a day of fun in the sun!!

 The hippo was busy with her mud bath and had no desire to stop for a picture!!

Saturday we had the High School Fall Scrimmage... the first day that our boys were fully suited up!! IT was amazing (I forgot to take pictures :-().  and that evening an amazing get together (that someone else hosted :-)) of all the coaches and their wives.  The kiddos stayed at Grandma and Grandpas!

Sunday was more football, but a different kind of football event.  There's a mega church nearby who hosts a campus with video feed of the preacher from their main campus at our high school.  They invited our whole team to join them for "Blue & Silver Sunday".

It was a special time of prayer and community support asking God for protection and His favor as we embark on this season.  Our football team has been inundated with the Gospel since the arrival of our new head coach.  They have participated in 7 on 7 tournaments put on by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, they attended a football camp also hosted by the FCA and even at our own on campus football camp, they had visitors in the form of area pastors who came in for devotionals.  These players have already seen massive changes; in their attitudes, their sportsmanship and the "team" aspect of the team.  This Sunday at Blue & Silver Sunday, 5 of our young men gave their lives to Christ.  Please join us in lifting them up and encouraging them to truly FOLLOW Christ.

My Calendar

My calendar is a disaster.  It's color coded craziness that not many people would find organized or even usable.  It's a google calendar that is linked both to my phone and to Nathan's and accessible to us anywhere online that we can log into google.  It had everything on it... Nathan's work schedule for both jobs... in his color.  My schedule for inputting Avon orders in it's own color.  The kids school schedule in the big kid colors, the little girls appointment schedule in their colors.  Under tasks is my menu plan, which is a rough plan lined out until New Year's Eve.  It has both youth and high school (JV & V) football games and meetings in practices... placed on the right persons calendar, but each football event is in the appropriate blue (light blue for Bubba's team and royal blue for Nathan's teams) It's highlighted the weekends that the big kids are home... those are the happiest weekends, that's why they get a bright and shiny color :-).  It's a mess, but it keeps me going where I need to go.  I can glance at the calendar, check the colors on any given day and know exactly what I'm dealing with those days.

Looking over my calendar again so I could write that all out for Kristina... I realized that my color code is the one that's really lacking on the calendar.  Carving out "Mommy Time" is currently next to impossible, BUT I will say that I'm proud of myself.  There are these two bright little boxes, on Tuesday and Thursday evenings that say, "Mommy Work Out".  What bright spots in my day, meeting up with friends who are just as busy as I am and working out.  Doing something to make ourselves better, both as women and as mommies.  Thank goodness for a fenced in playground with room for us to work out while watching our little kids while our big boys practice with their football teams.

Hmmmm.... I wonder if any of the other mom's on the football field would be interested in a Bible Study... I mean really, we are there 4 days a week for practice, and only 2 are taken up by mommy workouts... Off to research what studies are out there that we might do that don't involve videos...

until next time... Hey mommies, don't forget to take some time for you!

Menu Plan...

Oh goodness... a menu, for a house with this many mouths, is interesting!! Trying to find foods that everyone likes, or at least doesn't hate... and do it cheaply... it can definitely be a struggle.  I went grocery shopping on Monday and challenged myself to only cook from what we have in the house for the rest of the month... with the exception of milk, eggs, and fresh produce.  So... here's what we're eating...

W. Cheesy Chicken Noodle Casserole
R. Taco Salad
F. Italian Sub Layer Bake
S. **Party Elsewhere**
S. Mexican Hats
M. Broccoli Cheese Soup
T. Beef & Bean Taco Casserole
W. Spaghetti
R. Leftovers!!
F. **Not Home**
S. Chicken Noodle Casserole
S. Smoked Pork
M. Corndog Muffins
T. Fake Lasagna
W. Breakfast for Dinner!
R. Leftovers!!
F. **Football Game!!**
S. Sandwiches
S. Pork Chops
M. Pot Roast
T. ...
W. Meatloaf
R. ...
F. **Football Game!!**
S. ...
S. Smoked Pork

Ok, so I'm missing dinners for three days, but I'm sure I can find something. LOL!  I've been shopping the sales at WinnDixie all summer, and there's a pretty good stockpile of meats in the freezer... I know I have all the meats I need for what's on the list... and then some!  and well, my pantry is pretty full as well.  What I'm not liking about this plan of not shopping the sales this month... is that I really like my Fuel Perks!  I like earning money off my gas bill just by grocery shopping... and well, when you drive a vehicle as large and gas guzzling as mine, every little bit helps!!

If you read this and want a recipe, please let me know... AND even more... if you have a recipe you'd like to share, please send it to me!  My family actually rather enjoys being guinea pigs for new recipes!

I'm Sorry

I'm sorry I've neglected you... what few readers there may be of you...

I guess it's been long enough that a full blown update is necessary.

Summer time is officially over in our house.  Bubba is back to football practice 4 nights a week, we have no cheerleaders this year, and well... the baby is no longer a baby... she's WALKING!!

On the subject of faith... we're in the search for a new church home.  Somewhere that's loving, and accepting and leans toward family and missions.  Somewhere that my grandmother would've attended.  That mixes worship music between new and old... where they aren't afraid to pick up a hymnal... where they teach the Bible, nothing more and nothing less.  I'll be the first one to admit I like a good Bible study that someone else wrote... BUT Biblically based and truthful is a MUST.  I wish that the idyllic church in my memory (I know that in reality it wasn't all that I thought it was) from when I was young was still around.  It all goes back to faith... the evidence of things not seen, the trust that the Man in a book written thousands of years ago who died so that I might see Heaven was truly who He said He was and that one day I will join Him there.  I just want to find a church where I don't feel lost in the crowd where I can worship and serve Him.

Ahh.... the homefront... our family is crazy.  It's official.  We spent the majority of the summer traveling.  For football, for training meetings, for Father's Day and my birthday, and yet somehow, we never left the state!!  The boy has started his first season of 11 man tackle football.  He's worked his way into the position of starting cornerback, and is currently the long-snapper and the back up center; not bad for a 9 yr old who only weighs 56lbs!  Princess #1 is well... she's blonde.  Still spacing out about everything... but if for some reason I can't find her during the day, I know just where she is... she's curled up in the papason chair with a book.  Most recently she's found the Ramona Quimby series, that we own because I earned one of them in a contest in my classroom in 2nd Grade.  That's my girl, always with her nose in a book!  Princess #2 is doing well.  She's very 3.  Independent, yet needy; loving, but watch out for that attitude; a great big sister, but really wants to be the center of attention...   and well... Princess #3 has started walking.  Go ahead and read that as... she's into everything and of 4 kids, our first climber.  Yup, she's even been found on the bottom bunk of her sister's beds.  Just keep praying for me, because well, I need it.

Football is currently the biggest time suck on our calendar!  Imagine that right.  Daddy's schedule is crazy as a coach trying to get our team turned around to be better than the last however many years of not so greatness.  Even now he's at his second overnight football camp of the summer... and well, I'm kinda over it.  NOT because I don't support him, and NOT because I don't like football, but dang it, I miss my man.  The first camp this summer was the longest we haven't seen each other since we MET!  and that is well, for the birds!  When we do something, our family is all in, all together!  and currently we aren't together and mommy doesn't like it.  (Sorry, I just really needed to whine!) 

Truth be told, don't look at my calendar.  It's hyper organized and color coded and even includes meal plans for the next three or four weeks... but it's scary, especially to anyone who sees it who doesn't know me.  I've learned over the years that I'm probably (definitely) diagnosable with ADD and who knows what else.  But, as I've studied and learned and even while I was dealing with the boy and his ADHD needs... I've learned to force my brain to control the random.  One of the ways I do that is my big huge hyper organized calendar.  If I had to go without my calendar or my budget, it would be ugly.  And ugly is saying it nicely!  I can't function.... It's rather sad actually and probably made for a rather boring summer for the kids, thanks to my need to plan EVEYTHING!

All that said... I'll tell you about my meal planning tomorrow... for once I actually think I like everything on it and won't be switching things out like a looney bin.

What a busy life!!!

Let's see... Since my last blog post....

We've said goodbye to a family friend... So sad that he left behind such a young family, but a reminder to live each day as though we won't have another...

We've attended three different football games!!  Wednesday the 22nd we watched the competition that knocked us out of playoff contention last year... Thursday hubby went with a few of the coaches to watch our county rivals... and Friday the 24th, we had our Spring Exhibition Game!  We lost, but the team looked good... they never quit.  Which says more about them than many teams in the past that have worn the Blue, Black and Silver.  Somewhere in all that I made the little girls and myself some spirit clothes...

Their outfits are much cuter than mine...

It,s the back of my shirt... couldn't get a very good picture with it on...

That Weekend, we took the little girls to see Shamu!!  He's their favorite!

 and Hannah got to crawl around on the in ground aquarium at the Journey to Atlantis for the first time!

We celebrated the lives of those who died in the fight to keep our country free at a Memorial Day service at our local Memorial Island.  and then we celebrated my parent's 31st Anniversary with breakfast/brunch at IHOP.

We survived another week of the big kids at school, and hubby went back to work for Summer School... apparently the kids in summer school have to eat too :-).  Gotta love living life between two different counties school schedules...

And then.  This weekend.  We spoiled the kids!  We took them to breakfast at the little restaurant attached to our local airport... and watched some planes take off...

Look!!! There it is!!!

Mommy, I want to go on the plane!!!

 And then it was off to Blockbuster for their going out of business sale... and WalMart for pool toys for the summer.... and then POOL TIME!!! (Sorry no pictures... I Was in the pool with the Hippo baby :-)) and a family movie, and pizza!!

Yesterday was Sunday, Church time with our family... and then, we headed to the beach... for the Hippos first time in the sand!  I think she loved it!!

Daddy and the big kids in the water...

This is interesting!

I prefer the sand.

Waves are nice!

Sand is better :-)

So you see... It's been a little busy around our house... I'm kinda hoping it slows down... Just a little bit :-)