I can't believe it's been so long since my last post... time flies when you're having fun! I don't have any news, but I just thought I'd share what's been happening in our lives for those of my friends and family that I don't see very often.

We've pretty much just been doing the same 'ol thing. Monday is "Laundry Day", Tuesday - Thursday are preschool days when I cram in as many errands as I possibly can, Wednesday night is church and, well, the weekends just end faster than I can blink. Since all of the rain here this week, the past few days have been a little exhausting with the kids cooped up in the house. Today, I met a friend at Monkey Joe's to let the kids bounce around for a couple of hours. Then, it was on to lunch time, getting Ivey's hair cut in the afternoon (shorter and very cute!) and then taking Morgan to church to begin Disciple Now weekend, errand at Target, etc.... A very busy day! But, I love busy days and, surprisingly, the little ones and I had a good time at Target. They are finally getting to the age where doing errands with them isn't so bad. So, we've got a fun weekend ahead of us and are hoping that the rain and tornados predicted for tomorrow don't sweep us away. Monday should be sunny and 73... we'll be at the park for sure!!!

Meet me on the hill

Hebrews 12:1-2
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the JOY that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."
God can use anything, anywhere, any time to teach us more about him. Today, this morning actually, he used running to draw my heart to Him. I love to run outside when the weather is nice. For one, I don't have to waste a total of 40 minutes driving to and from the gym. Secondly, I'm exercising while listening to my favorite praise and worship songs blaring through the headphones of my iPod. Thirdly, I seem to really be able to focus on God when I'm running and am in awe of his beautiful creation around me. So, any way, I had been running about ten minutes or so before I started up a hill in our neighborhood, one that I had run up lots of times before. But today I found something spiritual in running up that hill. First, I thought "This is where I AM right now." I've allowed myself to run downhill, it's so easy to do... gradually, so as to not even really notice that I'm going down until I'm at the bottom, in a spiritual valley. Of course, I can't stay there. I must run back home. So, I start up the hill, slow and steady. Is it hard? yes. Is it fun? not really. Do I stop? no way. But, I have to continue running. I set my eyes at the top of the hill, put one foot in front of the other and focus on my prize. God met me on that hill today. He reminded me that he is my prize. He is the reason I keep running on, putting one foot in front of the other, perservering through the struggles of life. He said, "Keep running. I know it's hard sometimes and I know you struggle. But, keep running." I even thought about when I don't really want to run any more, I'm tired and worn out and that little hill looks like a mountain. However, I have to make my body do what my mind knows that it can. And so it is with my spirit, too. When I'm weary and don't feel like trying to do the right thing or wanting to please God or even desiring to read my bible... I have to. I have to go through the motions until my heart believes what my mind knows is true. It's only a matter of time and, usually, not very long. So, I'm now on my journey back up the hill. And this hill, even though it seem rather unpleasant, will yield the fruit of knowing God more. I look forward to many more meetings with my true Love on that hill.

Harlem Globetrotters

Chris and I took Morgan and one of his friends to see the Harlem Globetrotters Saturday afternoon. I had never seen them before, so when QT sent out a deal with 4 tickets we thought it would be fun. It was really funny and the boys loved it! We had a great time just spending time with them and doing something special with Morgan.

The guys warm up before the "game" begins. Each of them did really cool tricks with the ball. It was quite amazing! Some of these guys were at least 7 feet tall and they only had one that was close to 6 feet.

The crowd does the YMCA. (See Morgan in the red shirt.)

This is one of the tricks they did quite a bit. They ran in a really tight zig-zag while throwing the ball to each other playing keep away from the other "team."

Night with Mommy

Chris went out tonight with some guy friends, so I had the kids all to myself. By default, any time one of us leaves the house for the evening, the other one usually finds somewhere to take the kids. Honestly, I think it's survival mode. So, since Chris headed out tonight, I decided that I would take the kids to the park, run a few errands then head home for dinner, baths and bed time. I had it all planned out perfectly. And, actually, it went very well. First, we went to the park. Then to Home Depot and Target. Then we headed home for ramen noodles (what every good mom fixes her kids for dinner, right?). It's now 8:18, I just sat down and after I finish this, I'm going to find some dinner for myself. Maybe I'll get out the rest of those Girl Scout cookies. I think I hear them calling my name...

Here are some pictures of my evening with the little kids...

Gavin LOVED the rock wall. He thought he was so big.

Gavin is pretty tough until his feet leave the ground. He made me promise that I wouldn't push too high.

And, of course, Ivey never meets a stranger. (I hope this lady didn't mind me taking her picture)

I think my kids honestly think it's a sin to go to Home Depot without riding the lawn mowers, so we definitely had to stop and do that.