Farewell Aimwell

    Picture Taken Easter 2014

     We resigned pastoring Aimwell Calvary Holiness Church last night.  We are excited & feel good about it although we are kinda nervous with no real direction.  After all, we did quit farming to pastor.  However, we all know that God knows what is best & works mighty wonders especially when we cannot make any rational sense out of the situation.  We love Aimwell & were really comfortable there.  To clarify any questions maybe I should state that nothing happened that made us want to leave.  God just simply said go.  We struggled with this decision since May/June & God confirmed it during Broxton's camp meeting through Brother John Gabbard.  All we know to do is step out on faith & trust Him.  When God shuts one door, He will open another in His time.  Will we pastor again?  Will we travel & evangelize? Will we stay home to promote our local church?  God only knows.  Many things have flowed through our minds in the past several days.  Please hold our family up in your prayers & also the church during this time of uncertainty.  God will bless us all if we follow Him!  We are not discouraged!  We serve God that is all powerful & has conquered death, hell, & the grave.  NOTHING causes Him to wring his hands.  He is ALWAYS in control.  We want God's will above all else!

     Above is one of my favorite quotes!  Maybe I'll take this time to say he was a great leader for an amazing cause!  He stood for RIGHT in America even though it cost him his life.  At the 1st of this year our family read through the Addy books from the American Girl series to study the history of the United States and also as an introduction to the issue of racism.  I know my children notice that there are different races all across the USA & our world.  I NEVER want them to be so shallow that they form any judgements or opinions on others based on someone's nationality or to be plain the color of a person's skin.  God loves all & will NEVER esteem "white" people above the rest.  That kind of thinking is an embarrassment for the race that I am a part of.  God will never lift up those who esteem themselves but blesses the humble.  I wish I had just a small portion of the courage & effect Martin Luther King, Jr. had on this country.  His legacy lives on!  He made a positive difference in the lives of countless others that has changed history!  With God's hand on our lives & guiding our footsteps, I am encouraged more than ever to follow God's "staircase" even when I can't see but 1 step at a time!

A New Special Connection

     I had an idea I thought I'd share!!!  As many of you know, I LOVE to write!  I like doodling, typing, journaling, to do lists, calendars, counting my blessing, writing in margins of books, & just about anything that allows me to jot down & organize my thoughts.  I gain insight that probably would never occur to me otherwise.  It is an outlet & a huge blessing!  So back to my idea...
     I love writing + I love my kiddos, so why not mesh those two together?  I desire to have a special relationship with my children that continues into their teenage years & extends into adulthood.  I ran across a suggestion that sometimes it is difficult for a child to talk to you face to face about certain things & may feel more comfortable writing you a letter.  Thus, the birth of a new idea~to journal back & forth with my kiddos as they get older!
     My next trip to town included the purchase of a cute set of pens & a snazzy journal with a quote from Eleanor Roosevelt about your dreams.  I sat down in a quiet moment & wrote to my oldest Kaley (almost 12).  I wrote what a sweet, beautiful girl she was growing into.  I tried to share my heart & how I want her to be able to ask me anything that she desires my opinion on & share what's on her heart also.  As a conversation starter, I pointed out the quote on the front cover.  I asked her about her dreams & what makes her happy.  I love to see when her smile shows so big & genuine that she has dimples!  I explained that when she had written back to sneak it onto my bedside table, & I would soon return it in a surprising place!  She was so excited!  Our house is full of lots of loud family time, so I plan for this to be a new way to connect with just her.  I want to encourage the quietness of thoughts & journaling in her life.  I want to share this blessing with her.  I know right now she may not have huge questions.  She may not have profound, earthshattering thoughts either.  I do want when those times come for her to know she can always come to me & us develop that kind of bond. 
     I am excited to see what the future will hold for my little ones!  Right now they have so few responsibilities & worries.  Their innocence & immaturity shows so strong.  I love it!  I relish these moments with each one!  They are fascinated with so much that we often take for granted.  I want to experience their view of the world.  I want them to discover their own ideas & beliefs.  I want to ask open ended questions & hear their hearts.  Already we have written back & forth a few times.  I surprised her with my response when she went to make her bed this morning.  I just can't wait to read what she has to say next!  Their lives are full of much opportunity, & I want to be a positive influence & an active role model for each one!    

Our Fabulous June

     My June began with a bang!  After being a member of Weight Watchers online for 5 months, I reached my weight loss goal of losing 20 pounds!  I am so excited about that!  That came just in time for...

Calvary Holiness Youth Camp 2014

     Calvary Holiness Youth Camp is a highlight of our every summer!  The kids make a countdown calendar the week before.  They also help me shop & pack.  It's tons of fun for them to stay at our local campground with hundreds of kids that they know from all across south GA.  It's a week packed with VBS, art, games, talent, choir, train rides, skits, snow cones, & other activities.  Nathan was honored to be the night speaker this year.  It was such a blessing to see the altars fill up each night with children seeking the Lord & praying one for another.  The presence of God was amazing!  We had a BLAST! 

St George Island, FL

 

      My parents blessed us the very next week with a beach vacation to St George Island, FL!  My sister's family, my family, & my parents all went together.  They rented us a beach house with a pool.  There was tons of swimming, sunning, building sand castles, & relaxing.  Mid week we all drove over to Wakulla Springs for a boat ride & even more swimming.  The best part was being together...cooking & eating the fresh, local seafood from the island!  My parents are both famous cooks in our eyes.  The crab boil topped my list!  Daddy is a great griller too so steaks, hamburgers & hot dogs were also a must!  Swimming with family, smelling the grill, enjoying great food together, & all for free!  What a blessing June has been for us!!!  :)

Looking forward to celebrating this week too! 

Happy 4th to all!



The Glory Barn Grand Opening

Saturday, May 10, 2014

Hanging Baskets $15

 Bedding Plants

6 Pack $2.50 ~ Flat $13.50

Large Ferns $20

Fresh Produce



EE's Daylilies $10 & Up

      In this picture you can see our home in the background.  We live at the back of our 5 acre pecan orchard.  We LOVE it here!

 Concrete $3 - $32

The Garden

     I'll try to take more resent pictures of the garden soon.  This was a month ago & it has grown so much!!!

Birthdays & Vacays

     March is a birthday month at our house!  We celebrated Marianna's 8th & Ninja Clay's 3rd birthday this year! 

      We saved up (plus family pitched in) for our AMAZING family trip to Discovery Cove & Sea World in Orlando, FL.  Our little dolphin lover finally got her dream come true!  



We all had a GREAT time together!

 

    

     Discovery Cove is the most spectacular place we've ever been!  We've looked into going several different times.  It is pretty pricey though, so we would always back out.  However, Marianna never relented on her begging to swim with the dolphins.  Finally, we decided to bite the bullet & buy the tickets.  Thankfully, different family members gave Marianna birthday money since the dolphin experience was extra.  She was beside herself excited!  We all LOVED the whole park!  It is worth every penny paid!  It is not crowded at all as they only pre-sale so many passes per day.  It is beyond beautiful!  It's as near to heaven on earth for 10 hours!  We snorkeled in coral reefs with fish & other sea life, fed & petted tropical birds, watched marmosets & otters play as we swam, floated around in the lazy river, & much, much more!  All of your gear, meals, snacks, lockers, towels, sun screen, strollers, & anything else you can think of is included in the price.  Even the bathrooms are fully stocked with shampoo, conditioner, soap, bags for wet clothes, & warm towels.  The staff members all walk around catering to you & your family.  All you do is show up dressed to swim as you lounge around & play on the beautiful, pristine beaches for the day!  I just can't say enough wonderful things about it!  We all can't wait to go back sometime!  Also included in the ticket package is a day at Sea World & Aquatica (though we didn't stay another extra day for Aquatica)!

          Sea World was tons of fun as usual!  It is the park's 50th anniversary this year.  They opened several new exhibits & shows.  The animal encounters are tops!  We also got to see all of the Sesame Street characters in Elmo Rocks.  The little ones really enjoyed that! 

       The older girls were really the only ones big enough for most of the rides.  They went off with Daddy while I kept the little 3 in the kids zone.  Raegan was content to eat ice cream.  Clay & Graham couldn't resist getting wet in the splash park.  I wasn't prepared for that, so I bought Clay something to wear.  Of course, they were too expensive, so I just let baby Graham get wet in a diaper cover!  lol 

 

 

     The last day we were exhausted.  We slept in.  The girls & I went shopping at the Orlando outlets while Nathan & the boys went to Bass Pro.

 The memories we made together are priceless!

It's A God Thing

     This song has really blessed my heart today.  My girls were at the shop with their Daddy finishing up their school work.  They don't "need" me as much towards the end of the year since it's mainly review before the last tests.  I put both boys down for a nap & had about 3 hours to myself.  I decided to multi-task & got out my laptop.   Quickly, I found a recording I thought I would benefit from by my favorite author on www.valorieburton.com.  I started scrubbing down my kitchen~straightened up, washed curtains & windows, & scrubbed down the walls, table, chairs, & cabinets too.  I guess I was lost in her challenging thoughts & in super scrubber mode!  I was able to reflect on some of my goals.  I rejoice in ones that I have recently accomplished (us buying land, paying down debt, building the shop, moving, & starting a new business venture).  It also motivated me to get my current goals more specific.  For example, instead of a vague goal of  "loose weight," I decide to "loose my last 10 pounds by June 10th."  Instead of "finish up school for this year," I set a more specific goal of "finish all our papers & testing by May 9th."  That is right before Mother's Day.  That will give us a few extra weeks to enjoy our spring weather together before the hot south GA summer sets in.  I also set a few more goals for things to accomplish this June & July.  I stopped & wrote them in on my calendar.  Then, after filling my brain with all this new information, I was ready to listen to lyrics.  I LOVE music with powerful words!  I turned on youtube on my laptop.  I enjoy listening to the free music of your choice.   I cried & prayed singing the lyrics.  I finished up just in time to get ready for Wednesday night church service.  Nothing like a good cry to cleanse the soul...feels like God just reaches down & mends your heart in love!  "It's A God Thing" is so true!  God can do miracles!  He specializes in changing the impossible into possible!  My heart is uplifted & encouraged in all my God can do!  That's just who He is!

One Messy House, But One Happy Mama

"Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox." 

 

     The morning began with a telephone call.  Mama invited us to go with her shopping in a nearby town.  She wanted us to treat the older girls & let them help pick out some new spring clothes for all of the kids.  I quickly called Nathan.  Of course he is always willing to watch the little ones.  His new shop has a nice playroom.  Soon, off we went!

     It was such a beautiful, fun day!  The girls, or course, had a blast!  They tried on tons of dresses.  I should have taken pictures of Marianna with what she wanted to get.  She is such a little fashion diva...grabbing up anything with sequins & frills.  She would dress in formal wear & high heels everywhere she went if I would allow.  What is offered for such young girls to wear is ridiculously appalling!  We also picked out clothes for the little 3 & enjoyed a deliciously, fun lunch in a Japanese Hibachi restaurant.  Mama blesses us tremendously with making these purchases.  She has always been a great giver.  It's in her heart & shines through in every aspect of her life.

     I return home to sleeping babies & a working husband.  The house is quiet & messy.  Nathan is great with the children & helping around here but hasn't quite conquered both at once!  lol  The girls race off to the see Daddy.  I smile as I look around at the mess, thinking about how this use to annoy me.  Toys scatter the floor in the living room.  It appears 3 little kiddos had a lot of fun with their Daddy.  The dishes from lunch are overflowing the kitchen sink & on the counter.  The table is spotted with dried food, & the high chair looks plum scary.  None of the beds are made, & apparently all of the children threw their PJs in the floor this morning in the rush of excitement to get ready.  Other things are just randomly placed around.  I am reminded of the scripture from Proverbs 4:14  I turn on a CD I really like.  The music is uplifting.  I bring in the shopping bags to add to the disorder.  I begin to pick up, taking advantage of the naps in progress.  I find the floor to sweep the kitchen.

     As I clean around the house, I reflect on the scriptures.  I think of the gift of my children & what an overflowing blessing each of them are.  I think about how most of our society today wouldn't want 5 & the chaos that comes with the territory.  I smile knowing what a joy they are.  I think of the thousands of women who have chosen not to have children & went to work today in a high ranking, corporate American job.  I wonder if they are proud of themselves & their accomplishments.  They look so prestigious in their suits & heels & confident driving their commute in a luxurious, fancy car.  I wonder if they too smile as they return home to an orderly, spotless house that is decorated with the finest of furnishings.  I wonder if they work out at a big name gym & meet friends later on for a spectacular restaurant meal.  I can't help but wonder if they are happy or desperately lonely in the quiet when they turn in at night.  They never hear little feet sneaking into their room.  Their beds are empty beside them.  They wake up to the same life.  They run that same course most everyday.  No one has a boo-boo to kiss or a handful of weeds to share with a smile each day.  They hear no little laughter that is attached to their heart & soul. 

     Yes, my house is sometimes messy, but it's a happy mess!  I never know what to expect as I begin each day.  It takes prayer & great effort to school & feed this crew.  The laundry is usually piled high from the 7 of us.  Yes, I wipe noses & butts here daily that are not even my own.  I am constantly organizing.  On occasion, I pull night shift to nurse others.  I am certainly never lonely nor bored.  My heart is bubbling over as I finish straightening up our home.  I put some cookies in the oven.  I take them to the shop for Nathan & the kids.  They are hot & delicious!  We enjoy them together, & I find out he has a surprise for me!

     As you can see, Nathan finished my plant arbor!  He has been working so hard on this project.  He waded through water to cut down the right cypress trees.  I helped him set the tree posts & frame it out last weekend.  I can't hardly contain my excitement as I envision a flowering yellow vine growing up the poles & across the limbs in the years to come.  Soon I can fill it full of beautiful spring hanging baskets!  This is just a sneak peek at some of our progress for our shop.  You can see the garden rows laid out beside it.  The vegetable plants are already growing!  I can hardly wait!