We've moved!

We thought we'd throw a move into our summer plans because we just didn't have enough going on already! 
We finished cleaning the apt. and turned in our keys and now it's just trying to get everything put away.  In our little apartment of 900 sq. ft. there was not really a choice about where to put certain things.  This house is more than twice the size of our apt. so we've got lots of options...which means it's taking longer for us to figure out where we want everything.  The house is great, but it definitely has some quirks. 
So, that's all for now...got to finish unpacking! 

Something special

Have you ever been given a gift or a word or encouragement JUST when you needed it?  Like maybe somebody new what EXACTLY you needed.  I did, today!  I've had a rough week.  I've complained (a lot) the last couple of weeks.  Maybe not always in word, but definitely in attitude.    Well, I think the Lord had enough of my grumbling and successfully revealed that to me this morning.  This past week we started a new series for Bible Study on Jacob, the deceiver and manipulator.  Through the week I've seen where I try to get my way (hello manipulation!) when I don't like the way things are going.  Sure, I'm not trying to steal a blessing or birthright, but I can still dress up like the best of them and wear false smiles and hide behind "religious" activity (hello deceiver!).  Anyway, I love how the Lord takes what I've been reading and studying and wrestling with during the week and then just kind of knocks me down a bit with His word.  No, it doesn't exactly "feel" good at the time, but then again it's the best "feeling" I know. 
Have I lost you yet? 
Maybe I can explain it this way.  The God of the universe, who created all things, and controls all things, who sees and knows all things, who holds all things together in the care of His hands, this great God loves me enough that HE knows EXACTLY what I need AND He gives it to me.  God gives the best gifts.  Sometime that best gift is a little bit of discipline through correction.  Today I needed a bit of an attitude adjustment...and let's just say I got it!  Our pastor said this morning that we can live in 3 different ways:  in Egypt (bondage to sin), in the wilderness (where we see God providing every need and yet we constantly complain and grumble and MISS God's best-that hit a little close to home), or in the promised land (where we face giants and do battle, but have abundant life because we are walking in the Spirit).  I'll take what's behind door #3.

Spring photos and other news

First, I'll share the other news.  Praise the Lord, I think we finally have a place to live in Joshua!  We calculated recently that each time we drive there it costs us about 2 gallons of gas...that adds up quickly!  Anyway, we have been told that we can rent a certain house (we haven't seen it, but we have heard that it is really nice) but we are not sure when we'll be able to move in.  It seems there is a plumbing problem, not with the house but with one of the lines underground somewhere (which means it might be a city problem).  So, the owner doesn't really want us to move until that gets fixed.  He is thinking at least 2 weeks.  And, guess what we have going on in 2 weeks?  VBS!  So, hmmm....June should be exciting.  But, I'm excited to know that we will be moving!

I think summer is going to fly by.  We've got so many great things on the calendar!  I mentioned VBS in 2 weeks.  I'm teaching Kindergarten this year!  In mid July our entire family is going to Children's camp.  Josiah is not "of age" but since I'm going, he is too.  At the end of July our family is going to Brownsville, TX on a mission trip with our church.  Exciting!  And then, in August we will take a week vacation and then school starts again.  In September it looks like we'll have a visit from the McCarthy's.  Woo Hoo!

Okay, that's all our "news" so here are some more pics of this past spring.

My handsome first born - March, 2011

My handsome baby boy - March, 2011

 We played a little put put golf during spring break.

This is their ninja pose.  They are both working on their own ninja moves.

Ethan participated in the AWANA Bible quiz. - April, 2011 

Was it the right answer?  I don't remember.

The choir that Casey went with to New York had a performance at this UM church in South Lake, TX.  While the choir was rehearsing the boys and I sat out by the "lake" and watched the ducks.  Josiah's favorite past time is drawing, and Ethan's is reading.  

This is his artwork.  The "person" sitting to the left is the bronze statue man that was near us.

He's got the cutest little dimples under his eyes.

Casey is building my new computer while the boys watch.

Ethan helping Casey with the computer.

A few of the kids from the children's choir went to a nearby Retirement home to sing some of the songs from the spring musical.

And finally, here is a little video on some of the storms we've had recently.  This was a Monday morning.  By the afternoon it was clear and sunny and the sidewalks were dry.  The next night is when we had the big storm systems come through that produced the tornadoes (and hail, thunder, lightning, winds, etc.).

Our mini vacation

We took a little trip down to Glen Rose, TX a couple of weekends ago.  We really needed a few days away.  It is called the Dinosaur Valley because they have found lots of prints and bones around the area.  The boys love all things Dinosaur, so it was a really nice time.  
Dinosaur Valley State Park:

Climbing rocks!

If you look at where they are pointing you will see a dinosaur foot print!

Crossing a little river to find some more tracks.

There are some large prints in there, but the water was a little muddy.

The T-Rex from at the State Park from the World's fair.

Along one of the trails of the park.

Dinosaur World is another nearby attraction that has dozens and dozens of dinosaurs along a circular path.  There is also a little playground, store and the best part: a fossil dig.  The boys got to dig through the sand and find fossils like shark teeth.  They were allowed to keep three items and I think they both got some shark teeth.  I can't remember any of the dinosaur names, but I'm sure Ethan does if I asked him.  Enjoy!

I'm back...sort of...

Yes, I realize it's been forever since I've posted.  I apologize to my 5 or so faithful readers who have been left hanging out there. :>)
So, here are the "highlights" of the last few weeks! 

1. Casey has now completed 2 years (4 semesters, plus one summer term) of his Masters Degree.  Only 3 semesters left.  
2. Casey is now seriously considering a Doctorate.  Yep...add 4 more years of school...
3. My computer crashed and my hard drive was completely wiped out...yep, gone.
4. We spent last weekend in Glen Rose, TX (aka dinosaur valley).  It was a lot of fun.  We went to the Dinosaur Valley State Park, Dinosaur World, and the Creation Evidence Museum....we saw lots of dinosaurs.  There is something about boys and dinosaurs!
5. I came home from our mini vacation (Sat. afternoon) with what I thought was an ear ache that went down into my tonsils.  It got worse.  Monday I went to the Dr. and they checked for strep.  The little swab (that they gag you with and make you cry) came back negative.  However, the dr. took a look and said, well, that sure looks like strep.  So, my first strep...it is quite awful and totally changed all the plans I had for this week.  
6. We still haven't found a place to live near our church in Joshua, tx.  So, we are praying about buying again (because of number 2).
7. Casey is not taking summer classes (hallelujah!).  We need a break from school...however, it is looking like he will go to full-time over the summer months at church.
8. Casey went to NY with the school choir and he loved it.  It was a HUGE deal for the school to be asked.  Casey enjoyed NY a lot.  I can tell because he's still talking about it!  Another great thing was that he got some one on one time with a few profs that he really respects and was able to talk some things out.  
9. The Lord has blessed me with a wonderful friend and "partner" in ministry.  Her name is Stephanie.  And, making it even sweeter is that our kids like to be together and get along very well.  
10. I cleaned the tub today.  I know, that's not really "news" worthy, but I couldn't end on a 9.

Scripture

I love God's word.  I'm glad my boys love God's word, even at such a young age.
I know I've said this before, but my boys love AWANA.  They love memorizing verses!  Josiah gets so excited when he hears a verse mentioned that he's already memorized.  He'll immediately come to attention and say in a loud whisper, "Mom, I know that one!" 
On school days I will tell them when it's time to get started and they will say, "but Mom, we haven't read our Bibles yet."  Ah, they remind ME what's important! And, for both of them Bible is their favorite subject in school.  I've had to tell Ethan to stop going ahead in his Bible work so we can have time for Math and English and everything else. 
Yesterday morning, we were looking through Josiah's AWANA book and he was sharing with Casey the newest verses he had memorized.  He got to a section with a some reading and just skipped over it.  I told him to go back and read it because it was probably something important (he just wants to skip to the next verse to memorize).  There was a question in his reading that said something like, "Do you ever wonder how you got here?"  You know, one of those philosophical questions.  Josiah said, "No, I know how we got here."  Ethan also answered, "No, God created us, that's why we're here."  Josiah said, "What?!  We drove to Texas!  That's how we got here!"  Casey and I laughed hard at that one.  Characters, yes!  Philosophers, no!

The Doctor's office

My boys are healthy.  I'm SO very thankful for their overall good health.  They don't pick up every bug that comes around, like the flu and strep throat.  They get the occasional cold and runny noses...but we can manage that!  I know yearly check ups are important so I made their appointments and today we went.  I really dread the Dr. office.  I don't like to be in the same room with people I know are sick and let my kids look at books that I KNOW sick kids have touched.  It's the germ-a-phobe in me that wants them not to touch anything!

Last time we went to this Dr. it was right after we moved here for Josiah's 5 year check up.  He's 6 1/2 now, so it's been awhile.  Ethan hadn't been since we moved.  It just takes F O R E V E R !  We left the house at 9:00 am, arrived at the office at 9:20 am for our 9:40 am appt.  I filled out paperwork and returned it by 9:30 am.  Then we sat and waited...and waited...and waited.  Thankfully I remembered our LONG wait the previous time and brought some school work for the boys.  About 10:10 am we went back with the nurse and she checked their weight/height/vision, etc.  Since both the boys were getting check ups I knew it would take a bit longer.  The doctor came in soon after the nurse left...Yay!  And, to his credit, he was very thorough and did not rush through anything!  He answered all the questions/concerns I had.  He wanted Ethan to do a urine and blood test to check for a couple things and asked us to wait the extra few minutes to get the results.  They came back negative for what he was looking for, so that is good.  We left his office at 11:10am and headed to the first pharmacy.  We left there at 11:50 and headed to the second pharmacy.  We left there at 12:30 pm and were starving so I let Ethan choose a place to eat.  He chose Wendy's.  Gotta love the frosty!

They are both in good health.  Ethan has an inhaler now so if he has any asthma problems away from home we will have something other than the nebulizer. 

Here's a funny thing that happened.  The dr. asked the boys if they eat vegetables and fruits.  They listed off all the fruits they liked.  He asked them if they eat vegetables.  Ethan said he liked carrots mostly and salad sometimes, and only the "flower" part of the broccoli.  Josiah said broccoli was his favorite and he eats it all.  Ethan repeated that he didn't like the stems of the broccoli and the dr. said, "That's okay, the top is the most important."  Ethan's face looked really happy and he looked at me and said, "so I don't have to eat the other part anymore, right?"  Well, I guess if the dr. said so....