Quick Summer Read

We are getting a new principal. As a part of our summer, she asked us to read this book. It was a very good book. It gives you the 10 Rules to live a happy positive life. If you read it let me know what you think. You can also visit the website Jon Gordon's website.

After reading this book, I have now started reading Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. I started reading it a few years ago because our pastor at church was doing his entire sermons on it. However, for whatever reason I never finished it. Now that I have all this positive energy going, I need to know what God wants me to do with it. So far it is amazing. At the end of every chapter is gives you questions to reflect upon. It really makes you think about things in God's perspective. 

My New Favorite Songs for the Summer

I don't know about you, but I always have my favorites songs of the summer.  So here is what I have this summer. 

                                                Teenage Daughters by Martina McBride
I know I don't have teenage daughters (YET!) but I can relate to this song. It's really cute! Having a 'tween is close enough.

If Heaven Weren't So Far Away by Justin Moore. Sorry it's not the official video but you get the idea. Wow it's a powerful song. It reminds me of my Opie and Omie. My children never met my Opie but I know some day they will. There are times when they talk about him as if they have met him. I'm so glad they are able to learn what a wonderful man he was through our memories of him.

I just really like this song. It reminds me of hang out with friends on the back roads of Comal County.
Sorry for the overload of videos but I had to share.

Summer 2011

 Oh summer how we've missed you! Summer is most favorite time of year. This summer has been by far one of my favorites. I had to work the first week but it wasn't all that bad. Then we were Florida bound! What an awesome vacation.

White sand, clear emerald green water, what more can anyone ask for on the beach. We visited the Gulfaruim, Margaritaville, took a glass bottom boat ride into the Gulf of Mexico, held an alligator, raced go-carts and did some shopping near the beach. We had a blast! 

       

Daddy and his girls

Mother dolphin and her baby 

       

                                                                        Gator beach 

The girls have been very busy since we've been back. Karagen has already been to basketball and softball camp. Reagan had an awesome (her word) time at VBS at a friend's church. Next week Reagan is going to another VBS with her cousin. I love when she comes home to share all that she has learned. Last week, she came home with "Mom, you know God is watching us all the time." We spent Father's Day with my family for lunch. Then in the afternoon we went to Ryan's Dad's toob place(like us on facebook) for a little river action. My poor children have never been floating down the river. Call me a chicken  over protective mother but the river can be a dangerous place. I took my nephews and the girls down to the river with some toobs. They would walk up to the rapids (what's left of them) and float down to where I was sitting. There belly laughs could be heard up river I'm sure. It was a great time. 

ONE HUGE REQUEST...PRAY FOR RAIN! We are so very dry here. Wildfires are popping up all around our area. Ryan's grandma even had a mass for rain. That might have worked because we have a 30 -40% chance of rain tomorrow. 

What we've been up to!

                                                     ***WARNING: picture overload****
Since January we've been going like crazy! K played volleyball again this winter. Her team was AWESOME. He coach is great! She signed up for a summer camp on Sundays with her coach. She has gotten so much better every game she played. Now she is working on her overhand serve. She will get it, I have no dought.

 In February, we played in the snow. It was a whole lot of fun! We were  up and out by 6:15 AM and didn't come in until it was all gone.  We are never up that early on a Friday morning. We made snowballs and snow angels. The girls thought it would be fun to jump on the trampoline. They never really got up,  just slid all over the place. It was hilarious! We laughed so hard our sides hurt.

And finally, we had our first family stock show season. We only went to San Antonio and our county show so it was too bad. Tic and Tac were a LOT of work but we had a great time with them.  We met some great people and were reacquainted with old friends. I hope K enjoys showing as mush as I did when I was a kid. She is really good at it. She won her very first showmanship belt buckle. We made sure to let her know that was all her.  She was really proud of herself, as were we. It was really hard to say good bye last weekend.

We have already started Tball and softball practices. R, my niece, and cousin's little girl are on the lady unicorns(Yes, I know) . Let's just say they are going to have a blast. Who knows if they will learn anything. If they practices are any indication of there playing ability it's going to be a fun season. Lots of laughs and smiles to be had.  K is playing on the same team she was on last year. The coach decided to play up the season. They are pretty good for their age. Okay, I'm a little bias. K turned 10 on Wednesday! I can't believe she is 10. A local church puts up weekly quotes. A few weeks ago this one was up " If you are a parent the days are long but the years are short." How true is that? We are so proud of her. She has made straight A's for 2 years in a row. She is amazing at sports and showing steers. We couldn't ask for a better kid.

Ryan is going to a steer sale today. Hopefully, he will come home with a good one!  Spring Break is in a week (can't come soon enough) and we aren't going anywhere this year. The girls are bummed but we have TONS of stuff to do around here. SUMMER is RIGHT around the corner. I just want to get through TAKS testing and I'll be fine.  AND THAT IS THE CRAZY LIFE WE LEAD and would change a thing!

Prayers Needed

For Baby Skeet!  My cousin Malcom and his wife had Skeet Asher Kitchen. Baby Skeet arrived at 9:15 am on Novemeber 30th He weighed 3 lb 1 oz and 16" long. He was born at only 28 weeks. There have aleady been some ups and downs in his short little life. There is no dought he will be a fighter.  He is the first boy of 5 girls. Poor thing will have to defend himself with all those WILD girls. He is a true Christmas mircle just as his sister Madeline was last year. We pray for God to keep him in his hands!

Welcome Fall

I didn't realize how long it's been since my last post. I've tried many times to post but something always happens. School has started to our lazy days of summer are long since gone. K is playing volleyball this year for the first time. They are doing very well. Their coach is AWESOME! Coach Q is very passionate about volleyball and is passing that on to the girls. She also showed her steers...Yes I said steers at the Comal County Fair. She has two very big boys. We've enjoyed working with them. Tic and Tac are going to be hard to say good bye to, I'm afraid. Tic, was 2nd in his class and Tac well let's just say it was a VERY good class. She seems to really enjoy the steers. I was surprised at how well K showed. She stayed clam and worked very hard.

VERY Proud Mom, Dad, Opie, K, and Tac

Show time

R started school in August. Our school district started a program a few years ago for staff children. She has learned her entire alphabet in sign language. Now they are working on syllables. She can't wait to get up in the morning for school. Her teachers are wonderful! We are blessed beyond words!

Today we are cleaning house, putting up the fall decorations(pictures to follow) and working in the yard. This is the first weekend we've had free in a while so we are trying to get it all in. Happy Sunday!

God Bless Omie

On the same day Jesus was put to death our beloved Omie and Big Old Omie, as Karagen so proudly named her went to be with The Lord and my Opie after 12 long years without him. Yes, we are very sad because we miss her so much but the tears we shed are also tears of joy. She is with Opie once again.

I will always remember her "magic key" hiding right behind the light on the wall. When I was little I loved to hide in the bathroom and get into anything I can. She'd always get in with her key. I think I was probably 13 before she finally showed me where the key was hidden. She also loved to cook huge meals for our family. I have to say she was an awesome cook. No one can make spaghetti noodles like her. You can read more about her on my sister and cousin Shelia's blogs.

This song is going to be played at her funeral on Tuesday. What a wonderful way to remember a wondrful loving women.