illness

I just lost a whole Post!!! I wanna cry. So I'll start over.

Faith was up sick in the night. I took her to the pediatrician after another 8 am appointment for therapy. She has strep. Katelynn will probably get it too as they share a room and are together all the time. Prayerfully no one else will get it. This picture was taken in the evening, they were catching lightning bugs.

We leave to go camping early in the week. Then we are moving Jennifer to Tennessee. She just closed on her first house and is super excited. Tabitha is going up with her this weekend to help her paint. The builder painted everything white and she hates white. Me I love white, it's so easy to touch up! Hey 20 years ago I would have painted too. She is looking for window shades. I offered my opinion and quickly found out she and I have different likes. I guess I'm too country for her.

I'm going to try and have a restful weekend before we go on vacation. LOL I know I'll need it!

Putting my Foot in my Mouth

Boy did I mess up big time!! D.J. and Marvin like to attend a youth group at a church we don't attend. I don't have a promblem with it, the youth pastor is a really nice guy, and lives for the Lord. However this past Sunday the boys ask to call the youth minister for a ride to go and I said no , we were all going to the church we attend together. The boys walked off in a huff. A little while later I saw them talking to their dad but thought nothing of it..About 15 minutes later a man from the youth group pulled up, I went to find the boys, but could not and when I got back upstairs the man was gone. I thought the boys had disobeyed me and went anyway. I was furious. I thought they had ask their dad and he said yes not knowing I had already said no. I called the youth pastor and kinda hateful told him not to come pick up my children anymore. He was confussed, but I didn't realize about what until later. I was kinda smart with him. They had only went to their room and wasn't hanging out with everyone else. So at dinner when I called everyone to the table, D.J. and Marvin came up and sit down. When did y'all get back I ask? We never left mom was D.J's reply. What? I thought you left with Mr. K to go to church. No, said Marvin you told us we couldn't go. Oh...UHOH I really made a mess of things. I apologized of coarse, but felt really stupid. At least it let the kids see me mess up and take responsibility for it. A lesson I try to teach daily. If you knock it down, pick it up and say I'm sorry. Not, well he pushed me into it., or (the famous) I didn't do it. So I guess I learned not to jump to conclusions and to trust my boys a little more to do the right thing.

The pictures are of D.J. in uniform for ROTC and Marvin with his birth sister who is 2 years younger than him. He's 15, and she is 13. D.J. is 16.

Dress up

My princess! Both of them are my little angels.

Keith's Dad

Charlie, Keith's dad was diagnosed with lung cancer mid May. It has been a rough ride for Keith and his sisters. At first we were going to bring him to live with us, but the Lord intervened and his oldest daughter Tanya moved in with him. (She's on his right)

It hasn't been easy for her. There was some issues from the past that seem to be causing problems even in the future. Patty, his youngest daughter is a store manager for a chain retail store, so she is in high demand on her job. Keith as always works as many hours as is humanly possible. I've always said he puts me second to none except his job.LOL I also realize his job put us where we are today. Some day I'll post a picture of the shack we started out in. God has really blessed us. I'm hoping and praying he will bring some peace to the family. He was given 6 months to 1 year to live. These pictures were taken father's day at the church Charlie attends. I try not to judge because we never know what it's like unless we have walked in their shoes.

On a lighter note, I got lots of school shopping done yesterday. All the kids are excited to get new shoes and clothes. (especially the girls) Faith and Katelynn are the easiest, they like any thing new. They play dress up every day and would probably just wear Cinderella, Snow White or Tinkerbell costumes to school and be happy. Oh if only my teenagers were so easy.

Celebrating the Fourth

We had a fantastic fourth celebration!

We had a BBQ with our former pastor and his family, kids played in the pool and then we ended with terrific fireworks show. Everyone was well behaved and had a good time.

The older boys were off with some friends when I took these pictures so they aren't in them. They think they are too cool to be seen with mom and such a big family.

We are trying to plan a mini-vacation to the mounains. Bible school happens to be the same week Keith took off work. Bummer. I'm not sure how we are going to juggle everything as one daughter babysits, one has a color guard practice and one has a tumbling event for cheerleading. I had almost rather cancel the vacation and just stay home. Almost. I'll manage somehow, maybe with making a 3 hour drive for 2 days. I think I'll be glad when Destinee gets her liscence. And then again maybe not.

Girls

My oldest three girls at home. 17, 16, and 15. All three are doing great and are a big help to me. Thet each have different gifts and talents. Basketball, cheerleading, chorus, track, and boys! Guess which one they all have in common. They are all clothes crazy and want way more than they need. The 17 year old is working and buying her clothes. The 16 year old is looking but so far hasn't found anything. They all stay busy during school with practices so I don't know if they can hold a job, maintain good grades (A's and B's) and keep up with all they are in. With my three grown girls and these three almost grown, I feel truly blessed with all the support and help they offer. I couldn't do it with out everyone doing their share. I also think it makes everyone feel needed and gives them a place in this big ole family.

Summer Fun

The kids are in the pool everyday now. Which is fine with me as I don't have to go through with the bath routine. Between bikes, trampolines, sandboxes, swingset, scooters, skates, pogo sticks and the pool the kids are pretty worn out by the end of the day. Which is also fine by me because they sleep well because they are so worn out. We don't watch very much TV because of all the junk on. They are just not any thing on fit to watch. Even commercials are alcohol, sex, or violence. So keeping the kids busy is most productive for us. The kids are healthly and happy which is what counts most.