August Musings and Moments

 Back-to-school this month! It’s hard to believe but we are done working at the farmers market for the season, and we are heading back to school in just a few days! Summer flew by with camp for Emma, soccer camp for the boys, a trip to Maine for Emma, a trip to Wisconsin, Chandler leaving for BMT, and a whole host of other summer activities. There will always be a list of projects that I wish I would’ve gotten to get accomplished, but the fact of the matter is that none of the kids will care that the bathroom didn’t get painted (again)! Hopefully, they will remember the memories created in the mountains, the beach, dirt bikes, frog ponds, and summer moments! 

Date moments- with extras!! 

Chandler left three weeks ago today, and to say that he is missed would be the understatement of the year! Now, I'll admit, Wyatt and Travis have both helped themselves to his closet of clothes (with Chandler’s permission) and Wyatt has claimed the bottom bunk for the moment, but whew- we miss him! Returning to the “dark ages” of no cell phones or texting is not for the faint-hearted, but we are making it! Sometimes we can get access to a link to look at photos, and it’s literally like playing “Where’s Waldo”! I’ve only ever seen one picture of Chandler, and it was not a good photo! We’ve been writing every day for about three weeks, and we hadn’t gotten a singular piece of mail. No, I take that back. We did get one piece of mail from Chandler, and it was information about his graduation. The only thing that was handwritten was the address- not helpful!!! 

I’ve learned a lot in three weeks…”no news is good news”; the military is the GOAT of using acronyms; just keep writing; pray always; tears are normal and expect them often; and a host of other things! I’ve made some friendships via some of the support groups, and it’s nice to know that we are not alone. I’ve been able to encourage a few others through prayer, sharing Bible verses, and being able to relate. The military is a whole new ball game!

The support groups are a wealth of information and sometimes it’s hard not be overwhelmed. However, the one thing I’ve gotten down is that you never know when a phone call will happen. So, I’ve figured out how to by-pass the silent tone with Chandler’s number, so it’ll ring even if I have my phone on silent. I’ve changed his ringer to a specific one just for him, and I carry my phone everywhere. I’m doing my best to not miss his call if/when he calls! This worked out in my favor on Saturday morning.  The boys had a soccer jamboree tournament, so I was sitting at the gate collecting money. At 10:11am, my phone rang, and it was Chandler!! I picked up the phone and tried not to dissolve into complete tears. Roger had just wrapped up his game, and thankfully, we were able to walk into the school building and talk uninterrupted for 14 minutes and 57 seconds!  Let me assure you, that was not nearly enough time, but it was good to hear from him. His voice sounded terrible, and he said it was from so much yelling. He told us that he had written several letters, but they hadn’t been able to send any mail until August 4th (Saturday was the 8th). He pleaded with us to keep sending the mail, which he says is his favorite part of the day, as hearing from home keeps him motivated and going. Chandler’s voice sounded like it hurt to talk, and his voice kept cracking all over the place, but he’s alive and kicking. Praise Jesus! That phone call totally made my week! Chandler said that the church services on Sunday have been on point with the Bible, and he has really, really enjoyed the services. There were a lot of other little things we talked about, but time went by too quickly. 

Roger and the soccer team had a jamboree on Saturday, so we spent the day at the school. It was also Emma’s birthday, but we celebrated her day on Friday evening. It probably wouldn’t have been her first pick to hang out at the soccer field all day, but she is a good sport. We are so thankful for Emma. Emma is sweet and loves all things girly. She is NOT fiercely competitive, much to her brother’s chagrin, and she does not like people to be upset with her. She squabbles the most with Travis but also can be his biggest supporter. She wrote the sweetest note to Chandler, and I might share it here. We love her, and our prayer is that she will continue to grow in her relationship with Jesus, and that she will live her life completely for HIM. 

The boys' soccer team did decently on Saturday. I know Roger has been working hard with his team, and that the team is missing the depth of experience that last year's seniors brought to the team. However, they’ve been working hard, and it showed on Saturday. The team won one game and tied two others. Roger would appreciate your prayers as it can be challenging to coach a soccer team with a wide range of skill levels and a team that has two of your kids on it! Garett came and took pictures of the team in action, and it was good to have him there. It was completely weird to not see Chandler on the soccer field, and he really enjoyed the game. However, watching Wyatt play is a lot like seeing Chandler play! They have a lot of the same mannerisms and Travis would say that Wyatt has taken over Chandler’s job of yelling at him! Haha- we do have some great memories and some not-so-fun moments! 

When we arrived home from the jamboree, there were five letters from Chandler in our mailbox! Could my day get any better?! Praise Jesus! One letter was just the graduation passes for September, and Chandler had written “DO NOT LOSE! I WANT TO SEE YOU!” Ok- got it! There were three letters for our family, and one note for Travis. Chandler had also tucked in a little note for Emma’s birthday. I’ve read and re-read his letters, and while he’s not winning any awards for spelling, I can see his energy and heart in the letters. He is most concerned about passing the selections course which will take place after basic. He needs to pass the thirteen-week course in order to move on to his selected field and only 15-20% pass selection. Please start praying with us on this! I told him on the phone, and I told him in letters that God’s people are praying for him! He said that he can feel God’s presence and Chandler finds himself praying all the time. I think that God is working in Chandler’s heart, so please continue to pray for that. Please pray that he will stay strong and healthy. Please pray that he will be a good leader for his flight, and that he will find good friendships. Please, please pray that he will pass the selections course. And if you want to add one more random prayer request, I have an unspoken request that I’d appreciate prayers for also. So far, after hearing Chandler and reading his letters, I would say that he is currently in a good place mentally. Please pray for the aforementioned prayer requests!

In other news, Garett is moving forward on his pilot’s license! He has scheduled his written test for the end of August, and I can tell he’s already nervous about passing it. Garett often chooses the comfortable route because he doesn’t want to fail at something. This is an important step for him, and I know he would appreciate any additional prayers. 

Sundays are just going to be hard for me, and I think I’ve resigned myself to that fact. There are certain songs that will cause my tears to flow and Travis would say “Mom, that seems to be about every song!” Haha, well, currently yes! During yesterday’s handshake part of the service, I turned around to shake the hands of the people behind me. The lady asked me how Chandler was doing, and just like that, tears flowed! Oh, yes, I’m a regular waterfall! She wrapped me up in a hug and introduced herself. I’ve seen her multiple times behind us, but yesterday we made a connection. One of her children had also gone into the military, so she was familiar with the process. We exchanged phone numbers, and my heart was so encouraged. God is faithful- always. 

I think the only child I haven’t mentioned in this post is Wylie. Wyatt is doing ok. He started off the summer with a job that he really liked, but he ended up back at the farmer’s market. Wyatt doesn’t love that job, but he is a hard worker. He has cut grass for us multiple times this summer without being asked, and he enjoys tinkering with his dirt bike. He invited the soccer team players (juniors and seniors) over to our house after the jamboree, and I’m thankful for that. Unfortunately, only two boys ended up coming over, but I’m thankful that Wyatt wants to invite people over to home, and that he has some good friends. Please pray for him as he enters his junior year of high school that he will make good friends, love Jesus, work hard and lead well. 

It’s time for me to sign off as school is calling! I’m starting to feel a lot of pressure to get a lot of things done in a short amount of time. I have lots of art classes to teach this year, which requires lots of preparation, power points and writing lessons. I write my own art lessons, and every year I focus on some Biblical point. I’ve covered Names of God, Attributes of God, and this year I think I am going to focus on the Fruits of the Spirit. (It helps me learn things too!) 

In closing, I’ll add a song that Emma really loves. 

Thankful for a God Who Never Changes!

This picture of God’s Creation is a reminder that He controls every sunset and sunrise and everything in between. I am thankful for His constant never changing love for me. 

 July is flying by too fast! I wish I could stop and bottle up lots of the feelings and emotions of these last few weeks, as I feel like I just need time to process so many things! 

Chandler leaves on Monday for BMT, and I am not ready for it… at all. Chandler tells me, “Mom, I will be coming home again at some point.” Yes, I know. But I also know that it will never be the same again as the boy is becoming a man. From here on out, he will be home to visit, but never to live at home in the same way again. The route that Chandler has chosen is a long one in the military, and it’s not going to be an easy road. I know that he hasn’t said much to very many people as he’s a little worried about all the training ahead of him, and he doesn’t want to fail. He told me the other day, “Mom, I’m planning on doing this or die trying. But don’t worry, I left you all my life insurance policy.” Why thank you son! (Slap forehead here) I appreciate that thought, but I’ll put my energy and effort into praying you through, thank you very much! Oh, this boy is excited, nervous, overwhelmed, over stimulated, and eager to get started. 

This past month, I took a trip to Washington DC. Over the Fourth of July. Roger and I were supposed to have a weekend away, but due to the fire situation, he wasn’t able to take off work. I asked the boys who wanted to go, and Garett had to work, Chandler had made plans with his friends, Emma had just gotten back from camp, so Wyatt and Travis agreed to come with me. What an adventure it was! We had a really great time in Washington, DC. We left early Saturday morning, and got on the metro around 11am. It was a quick, smooth ride downtown, and we were amazed at ALL THE PEOPLE! The media had been boasting about the lack of people attending the Great American Fair, and I’m here to tell you- that was a lie! There were thousands of people on the streets, waiting to get in the museums, the Fair, and all the historical places in DC. We stood in line for a good chunk of time, just waiting to get in the Fair, and then Travis decided that he would like to try to visit each of the 50 booths representing the 50 states. Wyatt and I were like “No way, bru. It’s too hot for all that! Pick a few and we will stand in line some more!” We could’ve stayed for a lot longer, but the day was so incredibly hot. The National Guard was doing a good job trying to distribute water, but we did see several people needing medical attention. The fair was bi-partisan, and we saw and met American from all over the United States that we happy to be celebrating America’s birthday with us. It was a really, really cool experience. We headed back to our hotel after five pm (metro is free after 5pm.) and the boys were starving. We had eaten breakfast, but only water while we were out on the fair grounds. It was honestly too hot to eat, but once on the metro and in the air conditioning, their appetites returned! We were the last stop on the metro and six minutes from our hotel, so it really was a great location. The hotel was the most amazing one I’ve stayed at, but it suited our purpose. We ate dinner, rested for a bit, and then headed back to the metro to head in for the fire works. The weather did not cooperate at all for the fireworks and the President’s speech, but we did get to see the fireworks that started around 11:40pm. It was a sight to see! We did not stay for the entire fireworks display because I knew that the thousands of people that had ridden the metro with us would need to return back! We arrived back at our hotel around 1:30am, and showered off the grime and sweat again! It was a great weekend, and my favorite part was probably visiting with 100s of other patriotic Americans. We won’t forget that experience any time soon, and I am thankful that Wyatt and Travis went with me. Someday Roger and I will be able to get away again…he certainly has the time off available, but there’s not been much for opportunities to use it! 

Lots of water bottles! I have no idea how many 100s of thousands of water bottles were used in DC over the weekend, but I would be curious to know! While there are a lot of water bottles around the trash can, I will say that I thought most people did a great job of at least placing the bottles by the trash can and not littering everywhere! 

In other family news, Travis now wears glasses! I think he’s super cute with glasses! :) 

The  boys found out that our neighbors have an old 1988 jet ski that has been sitting around since 2008. Well, guess who inherited that?! Garett and Chandler went down and dragged it home. Chandler spent some time cleaning out the engine, and they got it running!…for a bit! It’s currently not running again, but now Roger and Chandler are working on cleaning the carburetor. I do love seeing their efforts and energy come to fruition, and it was fun to watch them on the pond for a bit. Our neighbor says that everytime she drives by the pond and the boys are out there, she has to stop and watch for a minute. She calls it her comic relief for the day! That, and it keeps me praying! 

Emma has been off to Maine this week with Aunt Jen. She was at church camp for the first week in July and she loved it. Then she was home for a few days, and now she’s off to Maine! I am thankful for these experiences for her, even though I do miss her a lot! She has been enjoying time with her cousins, lake time, and all kinds of other adventures! 

Wyatt and Travis had the opportunity to attend a local soccer camp last week hosted by a college, and they had a great experience. Travis was a little hesitant to go, but I’m glad he went. Both boys said it was money well spent for them, and they were glad that they went. 

Roger did get a day off last Wednesday, so we met up for lunch along with three chaperones!  Garett was working, and Emma was in Maine, but the other three boys were happy to meet us for lunch. I am thankful for these moments,

This past Sunday afternoon, we went to the beach with some friends, the Hardisons. We went to the early church service at Coastal Community Baptist Church, and then we went up to Topsail Beach. North Topsail is one of our favorite beaches as it’s usually less crowded, and typically we can get free parking! We had a great time enjoying the warm water, sunshine and fellowship, and everyone came back a little red from the sun! 

My mediation in God’s Word has been on the promises of Who He Is…Faithful, Trustworthy, Gracious, Holy, Protector, Provider…I am so thankful that God is Who He says that He Is! Worthy of all of our praise! 

Summer Break!

 Summer break is in full swing, and we are working hard at making the most of it!

 Emma’s life goal, at the moment, is to go swimming every single day of the summer! She also has been learning to bake a few things, feeds and waters the chickens, enjoys going to the library, and comes with me to the Farmer’s Market some. 

Travis tinkers with his dirt bike, mows grass for the neighbors, takes care of the chickens, and usually works two to three days a week. Wyatt typically works about five days a week, and he probably comes home the most tired. He’s been working with construction demolition and clean up, and he’s been working hard. He’s trying to save money for his first car, college, etc, so he’s been trying to save a lot of his money. Chandler has kept busy with lots of odd jobs for various people in the area. He’s become quite the handy man in a lot of ways as he does pressure washing, lawn care, painting, or whatever else needs doing. Garett continues to work for the gutter company, and Roger has been crazy busy at work. Typically the spring fire season is done by mid to end of May, but it has been so hot and dry here, that he’s been working about 14 days straight. He then has the mandatory reset days and right back at it. We did have a little rain yesterday and the humidity is increasing, so perhaps he will be back on a normal schedule soon. 

We’ve enjoyed several trips to the beach, which often happens after church on Sunday. Chandler has had several of his school friends over on occasion this summer, and I am often reminded of how quickly our children are changing right before our eyes. Chandler originally had a date for boot camp in August, but due to some additional testing that he has taken, his date has been moved up to mid- July! I am suddenly feeling all the feelings of this “boy becoming a man”. He’s getting ready to leave home, and whenever he does come home again, it’ll never be quite the same. He is both excited and nervous, and I am feeling much the same way! I am so very proud of his decision to enter the military, but also part of me is just sad that this day came so quickly. Suddenly a month of the time we thought we had left is just gone, and we are down to just a few weeks! We have plans for a trip to the mountains as family in July for one last adventure, and then it’s off to boot camp for Chandler. Please, please pray that he will find good friendships, stay close to Jesus, do his very best, lead by example, and that God will be glorified in and through Chandler. 

This week both Garett and Chandler are gone on a missions trip to the Dominican Republic. This is the same mission group that Garett went with last month, and this month it worked out that both Garett and Chandler could go. They left on Saturday evening with the plan to arrive in the D.R. On Sunday afternoon. However, the first flight on Saturday was delayed. They made it to the hotel later than planned on Saturday, but were at the airport ready to go for the next flight on Sunday morning. Then that flight was delayed significantly, so they missed the connecting flight to the D.R. The only option was to stay overnight in Miami, and try for the next flight on Monday! Finally…the team made it to the Dominican on Monday afternoon! Typically a missions trip always has a few stand-out memories, and this one is shaping up to be a memorable trip. We are thankful that the boys had the opportunity to go, and we are praying that God will work in and through them this week. 

Mission Trip Adventures

                                                                        Beach Time

Pond Adventures! 

Lots of Corn! 

We’ve been busy this summer, and I am enjoying the break from school, lesson plans, and the schedules. Please pray for wisdom for Roger and I as we work through some challenges with schooling, adult children, church, life, parenting, etc.! I am so thankful that God is faithful! We serve an amazing, holy God. I love this song by Chris Tomlin: 

July- Work, More Work, Liberty University, Appomattox Court House, Parenting

 July has come and gone, and teacher in-service begins in less than a week. I am so not ready to go back to school, but I know that when the time comes, I will be ready…Lord willing. I’ve put a lot of energy and effort into thinking and preparing for the school year, and my biggest prayer request is that I will point my students to Jesus. 

We worked a lot this summer, and I mean a whole lot! Everyone has been working except Emma, and shes’s enjoyed lots of time at the pool and time spent with Aunt Jen. (I am very thankful for Jen and her willingness to help out with our kids) 

On July 4th, we spent the day as a family. We attempted to go to the beach, but that was an epic fail as the beach was so crowded! We did enjoy lunch together, and we had a good time. Roger had a full month in June on fire patrol, so it was nice for everyone in our family to have the day off together. We had talked about inviting some families over to our house, but I wasn’t up for hosting, prepping, and cooking. It was a good day, but a very uneventful Fourth of July! But, oh how thankful I am for our country! I know that we are all concerned about the future of America, but I know I sometimes forget how much I have to be thankful for in this great land. However, that being said, please go vote in November! We are not professing our love for a candidate, but rather voting for the future of our children. Please vote wisely! 

Garett has been working hard at the gutter company, and his favorite part is lunchtime! He enjoys food greatly, and his boss pays for lunch everyday. Garett has also been trying to finish up a math course that he needs for this school year, so he’s had a busy summer. Chandler works five days a week out at a farm/produce stand near Roger’s work. On one of my days off, we took a field trip out to his place of work. It was fun to see where he worked, and he is well loved by his employers. Emma came to work with me one day, and she had a good day helping at the farmers market. Travis has come to the farmers market several times, and he typically keeps the produce bins full and helps wherever needed. He also helps sell stuff from time to time, and this past week a lady asked him about okra. Now why you would ask a teenage boy about how to cook okra is beyond me! But Travis said he had overheard one of the employees say that she had breaded the okra and then fried it. Now, she had breaded it in cornmeal and seasonings and then fried it. Travis couldn’t quite remember what the breading was so he told the lady that the breading was oatmeal!! Um- no! Haha! Then Wyatt was like, “Travis! It wasn’t oatmeal!” So a few weeks later when someone asked about cooking okra, Travis said his mom had a secret recipe and that he wasn’t allowed to tell anyone the recipe! However, he did sell okra! It’s been fun working with the boys this summer, and while the trip is a bit of a drive, we’ve had lots of time to talk and spend time together. I am thankful for these moments. 

 A famous preacher once said, “Preach the Gospel always, if necessary, use words.” I’ve told my kids this phrase often as I tell them that their actions and what they do matters. This summer at the farmer’s market, I’ve worked hard to always wear a t-shirt that has a verse, a worship song, or a phrase that will point someone to Jesus. I’m amazed at how many people will comment on what I’m wearing and either ask about what it means, or whole-heartedly agree with the statement. It’s a opportunity to point people to Jesus, and as believers we must be diligent to “redeem the time”, and point people to Jesus. On the other hand, I’m sure that I’ve offended some people with my t-shirts, but all the people that have spoken to me have been so pleasant and kind. One lady told me that she even choose to bring her business to our farm stand because she liked my t-shirt that said, “Waymaker, promise keeper, Light of the world, that’s my God”. I wish I could say that I take advantage of every opportunity to point people to Jesus, but the truth is that I often fail at it. But, God is merciful and kind and He provides more opportunities to talk to people about Him. 

In the month of July, we also coordinated a week of craziness with our friends, the Hardisons. Chandler and Eli had a few days of a Remote Control Robotic class at a local community college. Stephen was gone to a retreat for school, and Tamela and I switched around a bunch of kids that week as we navigated a crazy week of work as Wyatt and Kaeden came with me, and Chandler stayed a lot of the week with Eli. Surprisingly we did forget any of the kids anywhere, and we made it through the week! I am thankful for cell phones and the ability to coordinate schedules with friends. 

A friend of ours went up to Maine, and he brought us back some lobsters. Roger made some delicious lobsters rolls, and we met up with our friends, the Everett’s at a park halfway between both of our homes. It was a fun evening for their family to try something new, and having lobster rolls certainly brought back a lot of great memories from our time in Maine. 

This past weekend found much of our family in Lynchburg, Virginia. A while back Chandler was looking for soccer camps near us. He found a soccer clinic/camp happening at Liberty University, and he asked Roger and I if he could attend the camp. It’s basically a soccer camp for rising juniors and seniors that are interested in playing soccer in college. We got a phone call from a recruiting person on Sunday evening, and we had to listen to the whole jabber about how to best get Chandler into soccer in college. Well, let’s just say that we don’t have the kind of money that we would need to put Chandler in the “best spot” to play soccer in college. I’m thankful that God is not concerned about that, but that He already has a “best” plan for Chandler’s life! I found an airbnb for Friday and Saturday, and Jen and I headed to Lynchburg, Virginia on Friday afternoon. Wyatt, Travis and Emma came along with Chandler, and while we wish that Garett and Roger could be with us, we did enjoy our time there. I dropped off Chandler at the soccer camp, and he told me that he was nervous. He had paid for this camp out of his own work earnings, but he was worried that he would be the worst player at the clinic. We pulled into the college, and the intimidation factor was real! These kids had the backpacks, the shoes, the jerseys, and everything that screamed “I play soccer”! Meanwhile, Chandler had on shorts with paint on them and shoes that had a lot of wear and tear. But I reminded Chandler that clothes don’t set a person up for success, and that God already has a plan for Chandler. By the time I picked him up at 8:00pm, he was beaming. He told me that he had really enjoyed the first afternoon of soccer camp, and that he was glad that he had spent his money to come to the camp. I was thankful that the coaches and soccer players from Liberty University had taken the time to pray both before and after the session, as well as gave their personal testimonies of how they had come to play soccer and how God had brought them to where they are now. It was encouraging to Chandler to play with players on his own playing level as well as be challenged by many that were better than he was. I have no idea what God has for Chandler or his future of college or soccer, but I know that God already has a plan. I told Roger that Chandler wasn’t the only one that felt “out of their league”. I was speaking with a few parents and a mom mentioned that this is her sons’ 3rd ID soccer camp of the summer, and they had driven up from Georgia for this clinic. Another parent mentioned that they had come from Florida, and I was over here like “oh, um, this is our first soccer ID clinic, and we have no idea what we are doing, but whatever it is, we’re having fun while we’re doing it!” Haha! We’ve got five kids to try to help through college or further their education, and we are praying them through whatever God has for them, but we are not on the level of most of those parents. And know what? That’s totally okay for them and for us. It was a great experience for Chandler, and he said he would 100% spend his money again to come to the soccer camp. I’m thankful that God worked out the details for him to be able to go, and it was fun to get away for a few days from the normal routines of life. 

On the way back from Lynchburg, we stopped off at the Appomattox  Courthouse in Virginia. It was a free stop on the way back home, and it was educational to boot! It was interesting to read about the surrender of the Confederates that day on April 9th, 1865. We got to step into history as we walked through the area, went in the buildings, and toured the grounds. There were a lot of artifacts from the Civil War era, obviously, and Travis told Aunt Jen, “I think it’s really neat how they had a hot dog cooker back in those days.” Jen was obviously surprised and she asked Travis to show her the “hot dog cooker”…it was a curry comb!! Haha! That kid keeps us on our toes, and he’s very matter of fact about life! I’m glad we made the effort to stop, but we were all glad to get home that afternoon! 

“Hot dog Cooker” 

Garett successfully finished his math course while we were away, and Roger and Garett were able to spend some quality time together. We are thankful for these moments!  

It’s been a busy and full summer, but we’ve made some memories. The boys have played golf whenever they can squeeze it in around working, and Emma has spent many hours at the pool. We visited a few other churches this summer as well, but either we didn’t feel like the fit was great or we didn’t feel like the doctrine was sound. We’ve been in North Carolina for over two years, and I still feel like I’m struggling sometimes to find “our groove” in church and in friendships. The church we were a part of in Maine had a much higher median age, but there was also a connection that came through a small school and church. We’ve made a few friends here in NC, but I know that Roger and I often feel like we don’t know how to connect…and we wonder is it us? Our tribe of five kids? The fact that we didn’t grow up here and don’t have family around her?  Because we don’t live like the “Joneses”? What makes it harder for us to connect and feel included here? Truly, I don’t know. We’ve had many, many families over in our home in the years we’ve been here, and I do it because I really do enjoy opening our home, hosting and cooking as it’s a part of who God created me to be. (I also grew up watching my mom cook a big Sunday dinner every week, and we had someone over for dinner almost every Sunday.) We found deep connections with the Everett family, but God chose to move them to Virginia. We’ve been very thankful for the Hardison family and their boys, and I absolutely know that God had His hand in bringing along their family into our lives even though Emma wishes that they had a girl and not so many boys! So what do you do when you feel like everyone around you has enough friends already? To be honest, I’m not entirely sure, but I know that God still calls us to love those around us, worship Him completely and rejoice in Him. We will continue to have people in our home, prepare food for others, love our neighbors, and love Jesus. Maybe God is creating our sons to create really great and meaningful friendships with each other- provided that they can stop arguing with each other long enough to decide that they love each other! No, they don’t fight all the time, but there is a lot of testosterone in our house with four teenage boys! I thought that diapers were expensive, but I am not prepared for how much food these boys can eat or how expensive car insurance is for teenage drivers! Whew! Parenting is not for the faint- hearted! I am so thankful for God’s grace,  and that He calls us to rest in Him! (Parenting is also exhausting!) 

As we prepare to return to school, we would appreciate your prayers for wisdom and direction. Garett will be a senior, and he’s unsure about what God would have him to do after he graduates from high school. We need a lot of wisdom and prayers as we help him prepare for the future. 

I have really been enjoying this song. I pray that you will be blessed tonight. 

 

Greenville, SC & A Trip to the Mountains & lots of Work!

 Summer break is flying by, and with the majority of our family working this summer, we are working hard to cling to the moments we have together! The early years of raising children is hard work, and it can be monotonous and overwhelming. Then they become teenagers! Life is no longer monotonous, but we need a family calendar to keep track of everyone!! 

Earlier this summer, we were praying that Chandler would find a job. He was able to work with me at the Farmers Market for a few days, but he was still looking for more of a full-time summer job. Well, he now has a job with more hours, and he still gets to be outside a lot. Thank you for praying that he would find a job!  Chandler is working for a farmer/produce stand near Roger’s work. Chandler has been working 7:30am- 6:00pm, and he is shucking a lot of corn, selling fruit, working in the fields, and getting an introduction to welding. He’s been busy, but God is so good. God provided this job for Chandler, and it’s about twelve minutes from Roger’s job. Roger has also been working long hours due to the lack of rain, so he drops Chandler off at work and then picks him up. 

Garett continues to work with the gutter company, and he likes it. I’m pretty sure that his favorite thing is going to lunch everyday, but he does like his job. He’s been getting up and going to work around 5:30am due to the heat this week. 

Wyatt and I are working at the farmer’s market. I try to work about three days a week, but it all depends on what’s happening with the other kids, Roger’s job, and other activities. Most of the time, Wyatt comes with me to work, so he’s been able to get some employment this summer also. 

Travis and Emma stay busy with helping take care of Aunt Jen’s chickens, cutting grass, and going swimming. We are thankful that Aunt Jen is willing to have two sidekicks this summer. Currently, Travis and Emma are in Wisconsin with Aunt Jen visiting with my parents. I’m thrilled that they have the opportunity to do that, and I know that my parents were excited to have them come visit. 

In the past two weeks, we’ve worked and played. Last week, Chandler and Wyatt attended basketball camp at Bob Jones University, while Jen and the two younger kids spent a few days in Greenville, SC. Roger and Garett stayed behind and worked, but then met up with us in the mountains for a few days of fun later in the week. 

Last Monday (6/17), we left for basketball camp with two of our boys that were attending as well as two of the Hardison boys. They were all excited about attending basketball camp, and I’m glad that they were able to work on some skills and drills that should help them in the future. While Bob Jones camp was okay, I think the boys will be returning to PCC next summer to try one of their sports camps. I know that I can be OCD about communication and spending time wisely, but to be honest, BJU should’ve done better. Camp should be looked at as a potential student visiting the college (in my opinion). These are 9th-12th grade boys coming to visit the college campus and a little bit more of a “best foot forward” approach would’ve been greatly appreciated by this mama. I also would’ve appreciated a more serious and dedicated approach to spiritual lessons and growth. I know that I’m in a minority and that’s okay, but I really want Jesus to be first and foremost in any activities. I personally feel that sometimes we get so worried about “kids having fun” that we fail to prepare them for eternity! (I did personally call the college to express some of my concerns as well.) So what did BJU do well? Like I said, I appreciated the emphasis on improving skills in basketball. Both of the boys said that they felt like they learned a lot, and they were thankful for that. I’m thankful that this opportunity was given to them, and now they’ve had an introduction to BJU. It’s really too bad that it wasn’t a better experience because I know that Bob Jones does present some top quality events for educators, and I’ve been a recipient at those events.  

While the two boys were at basketball camp, Travis, Emma, Jen and I spent a few days in Greenville. Greenville has a beautiful downtown area, and we walked down there several times. The hotel we stayed at offered breakfast, snacks and drinks and supper- all included in the price of the hotel! That was an amazing blessing as we were able to spend time just watching the kids swim in the pool, eat, read, and soak up some sunshine and relaxation. It was good to get away for a few days, and if I ever go to Greenville again, I’m going to be looking for the Drury Inn and Suites hotel again! A highlight of the trip for Emma and Travis would be going to Smoothie King and trying the Dude Perfect smoothie! 

Basketball camp ended on Thursday at noon, so I picked up our two boys and headed for the mountains. Jen headed back to her home to check on the chickens, and get ready for her trip to Wisconsin. 

We met up with the Everett’s in the mountains on Thursday afternoon. Roger and Garett met us there and everyone went golfing in the afternoon except Emma, Laura and I. Thursday was Laura’s birthday, so we were happy to celebrate her birthday. I had purchased discounted tickets for Anakeesta and the Titantic museum for the few days that we were in the mountains. We went to Anakeesta on Friday, and it was a hot day! The chair lift up to the top of the mountain was a lot of fun, and Anakeesta offers some nice views of the mountains, beautiful gardens, tree walk ropes course, and lot of playground space. We did enjoy it, and I’m glad that we did it. However, I felt like it was more suited towards kids Emma’s age as there was a lot of playground space, slides, and ropes courses. For teenagers, Anakeesta offers two mountain coasters and zip lining (all of which cost extra $$), so for that reason, I don’t think we’d do it again. The boys didn’t complain about not doing the coaster or zip lining, but the playgrounds and slides were a little below their level of interest. However, it was a fun day spent with family and friends, so it was a day well spent. 

Saturday morning was set aside to visit the Titanic museum, and everyone really seemed to enjoy that. There was lot of information to take in, but they did offer headphones that would read the highlights to you as well as a kids version of the highlights. I think I can say that everyone did learn something, and that was a good experience. It was money well spent in my opinion, and I’m glad we took the opportunity to do that museum. 

We also played some game that Justin came up with. It was the adults versus the kids, and the adults did win. We didn’t win by a lot, but we did win! It was a lot of laughter and fun, and then we decided to take a trip to the Smokey Mountains park and get in the creek. We ended up finding a spot with a waterfall, and while we only planned to go wading, everyone was pretty wet by the time we were done! 

A few other notes to remember from our trip: we really enjoyed “Steak n Shake”. It was a restaurant that reminded me of Culver’s hamburgers, and it was fairly cheap. We tried to go to Cades Cove to see some wildlife, but we didn’t realize quite how low we were on gas, so that ended up being a bit of a flop. I guess we will save that for another trip! We had coffee at the Black Rifle Coffee Company, and that was a fun time. We enjoyed s’mores around the fire pit, and the mosquitos weren’t too bad! The cabin was practically straight up a mountain, but it was a memory for sure! We treasured our time with our friends, the Everett’s, and it was a fun few days in the mountains!

We left the mountains on Sunday morning, and I met up with Jen in Newport, Tennessee. She was headed to Wisconsin and rather than come all the way back to Eastern North Carolina, we met up with her in Tennessee. Emma and Travis hopped out of our van, and into Jen’s vehicle. Emma was a little sad about going on Saturday night, but by Sunday morning, she was happy to be going to visit Nana and Papa. Travis kept asking if Wyatt could come with him to Wisconsin, and originally we had planned on that. But when Chandler got his job, then Wyatt could work with me, so Wyatt decided to stay back and work. I think Wyatt would’ve liked to have gone along also, but he was also happy to be going home. Our friends, the Harrison’s, kept Sam from Thursday thru Sunday, so we picked him up on Sunday night. I think Sam was happy to see us, but he really doesn’t seem to mind hanging out with the Hardisons’ dog Marley. We were all happy to be home on Sunday night, and when we sat down for family prayer on Sunday evening, I was like “okay, who’s going where this week and working where?!” I’m thankful that the sun sets later these days, as we are frequently gathering around the table around 7:30/8:00pm for supper! (Everyone still likes to eat!) I’m thankful for employment, memories, family, God’s grace, sleep and clean clothes! (I’m thankful for a lot more, but those are the ones that are on my mind!) 

Travis and Emma will be coming home with Jen tomorrow, and I am very much looking forward to seeing them! Roger has been crazy busy with work also. Typically the standard fire season is over by early June as the humidity rises and we get more rain showers. However, this summer has been very hot and very dry, so Roger has been working quite a bit. The district that he flies for has only received about .5 inch of rain in the past 31 days. Most of the crops are gone, and only the farmers that have some type of irrigation will get anything off their fields. The cucumber harvest is about 90% dried up, and peas will be in short supply as we just haven’t gotten enough rain. Please pray that God will provide some rain for much of the eastern side of North Carolina. We are thankful that Roger is able to gain some extra hours as this will help him be able to take off in the fall when he is coaching the soccer season, but we also really, really need a nice soaking shower of rain. 

Amidst the business of all the working schedules and summer activities, I’m also constantly reminded that Garett will be a senior this fall. I’m not ready! We’re trying to soak up the memories, moments, and pour into each of our children their need for a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Garett has talked with us a little about his plans for after high school, but he needs a lot of direction and prayers at this point in time. We are capable of hard things, and God provides what we need every step of the way. I know that this also holds true for our children. I’m thankful that while the world erupts in chaos and disorder, we serve a God who has never relinquished His control. He holds us in His hands- and I’m thankful for His presence. 

Summer Break!!

 It’s been a busy two weeks, as we’ve jumped full swing into summer break! We are enjoying a bit of a more relaxed schedule, but we find it’s still really full with kids working, balancing screen time and work, projects that we’d like to finish, and planning a few activities over summer break. 

I’ve still been working at the school some as it’s near impossible to get everything cleaned and packed up before school ends much less when I’m working in both art and library. I enlisted the help of my kids to help take down bulletin boards, move books, haul stuff to the dumpsters, and other cleaning jobs. Working for mom would not fall on their list of favorite things, but welcome to life! I’ve been doing some research regarding an art curriculum for elementary students, and there is so much out there! It’s so easy to be overwhelmed with it all. We’ve also looked for a library curriculum, but that’s a really hard one to come by because I’m picky about what we read and generally we don’t have the books on the list in our small library anyways. I’ve written our own lessons plans for the past two years, but it would be nice to be able to have the book, a game, and an activity all ready to go without searching all over creation for what I want…maybe I’m just too picky or my expectations are too high!? 

On Memorial Day, we went to Aunt Lisa and Uncle Ryan’s house out towards the western side of the state. It makes for a long day, but it was a fun day. All the kids got in the pool (multiple times) and Emma and Travis ended up with a sunburn! We took Sam (the dog) with us, and he did very well on the car ride so that was a blessing. The boys walked down to the pond to go fishing, and they caught a few fish. We enjoyed lots of delicious food, good fellowship and time outside. It was a good way to start summer break. 

Chandler had the opportunity to spend a few days at a lake with one of his friends from school and a few other boys as well. He left on Wednesday to go to the lake, and we came down on Saturday to pick him up. He had a great time fishing, kayaking, playing with air soft guns, and doing all kinds of activities. We came to pick him up on Saturday, and we enjoyed time at the lake as well. It was good to get to know Nicholas’s parents a little better, and we surely did appreciate the laughter and fellowship. It was a beautiful day to spend at the lake, and we were thankful for the invite. 

Garett is working full time with the gutter company this summer, and last week he got his drivers license! Yes, he is almost 18 (in August), but we were not in an anxious place for him to get his license and insurance is expensive! However, the timing was right and God arranged for all the details to fall into place. Roger took him to Jacksonville last Thursday for a 8:00 am appointment. They arrived in time, but there was an accident on the route that they normally take the drivers road test on. The DMV told Roger and Garett that they weren’t sure how long it would be before the route opened, but they would be given a “floating” appointment meaning that once the route opened back up, Garett could take his test as soon as they could squeeze him in. Well that was a bit of a bummer as Roger was missing work to take Garett to do his drivers test, and we weren’t sure if we should wait it out, reschedule or if I should come and wait with Garett. Roger and Garett went back into the DMV to talk to someone, and they said that they would allow Garett to take his road test on an old route that they didn’t use anymore. Praise the Lord! Within ten minutes, Garett was walking back into the DMV to get his drivers license permit! We are thankful that one of the boys now has his drivers license as this means that Garett can now help with getting other kids where they need to be! I didn’t think I’d be this excited about one of our kids having their drivers license, but it’s been so nice! 

I started working at a farmer’s market a few days a week, and it looks like Chandler will be able to earn a little money on the days that I work as he can come with me. The days are long at the farmer’s market, but it’s not hard work as it’s just being friendly and selling people produce. I think it’ll work out nicely for a few days a week and help provide a little extra money for a summer trip or the school bill. Chandler would still like to find a bit more work as he’d like to work closer to four or five days a week, but we are thankful for something! 

Travis finished up the soccer season with the rec team this past week. It’s been fun to watch him play, and he’s enjoyed it-mostly. I thought that Travis would be excited about being on a team without his brothers and getting a lot of playing time. He told my sister, Jen, that he enjoyed playing soccer but it would’ve been better if Wyatt could’ve been on his team. The Lord was good to Travis as Travis was placed on a team with Christian coaches, and it was a good experience. One of the coaches is also a coach for a soccer league team in the area. The coach sent us an email about Travis playing on a travel ball team, and then he came and talked to us. While the experience would be good, the cost is way too high, and we are already busy as a family. We don’t need one more event to haul kids to or cause us to split up our very valuable family time. We asked Travis what his opinion was about the travel ball team, and told him that it was nice of his coach to notice Travis’s skill level and offer him a position on the travel soccer team without Travis even going to tryouts. And all of that was and is true! It’s nice to be recognized for hard work and effort, but thankfully this was an easy decision to make. Travis was non-committal about it (he’s not one to talk a lot), but he said, “yeah, it’s nice to be asked to join the team. But I don’t want to. I wouldn’t really want to do it without one of my brothers, and I’ll get to play on the school team in the fall.” So that was that, and it was a good decision. The coaches held a little awards ceremony after the last game last week, and it was so refreshing and encouraging to hear these coaches talk about the “Christian character” award, and how that was being like Jesus. This is a non-Christian school team, and these kids are from all walks of life, but these coaches made a point to bring Jesus into the conversation and to pray over the players after the last game of the season. I doubt Travis thought much about it, but as his mama, I sure did appreciate the prayer and reference to Jesus Christ! 

This past week we’ve been dog siting for some friends of ours. I’ve decided that we are definitely a one dog family, and while we’ve not minded Marley being here, we are thankful for just one dog! We also have the three Hardison boys here, so that’s eight boys and Emma! It’s not been very quiet here, but it’s been fun. They eat a lot, but they also have played hours of basketball and golf. We are thankful for these moments and days. Life truly is a vapor, and if I accomplish nothing else with my life, I want my kids to know and serve Jesus. 

We’ve also had VBS (Vacation Bible School) this past week, so I took Jace and Emma in to VBS with me, while the boys spent time with Roger. They even got to go golfing a few times with the Hardison boys, so that was fun for all. 

Chandler has already gotten a pay raise at the farmer’s market, so that was exciting for him. He worked two days and got a pay raise on the third day. The disadvantage to the farmer’s market job is that it is a bit of a hike to the job, so he really can only work on days that I work, and I don’t want to work every day! This past week, Wyatt also worked at the farmers market for a day. Chandler, Wyatt and I all worked on Saturday, and it was a busy day. I prefer the busier days, as I’m not one for sitting around! The boys worked hard at keeping everything stocked and shucking corn. We always come home tired, but it’s been good to have a little employment this summer. 

This week is basketball camp for Chandler and Wyatt, and they’re looking forward to going to Bob Jones University with two of the Hardison boys for basketball camp. I’m excited that they have this opportunity, and Travis and Emma are looking forward to it as well. I’m going to take the two youngest, along with my sister, and we’re going to spend a few days in the Greenville area while the other two boys are at camp. It should be a good week, and I’m looking forward to spending some time with the youngest two kids. 

Today was Father’s Day, and we barely saw Roger! He spent the day at work flying patrol for the fires. We really, really need rain. The forecast for the next ten days is hot and without rain. Please pray that God will provide some rain. Many farmers are on the verge of losing their crops as the soil is so dry. We really need several days of a nice soaking rain. We missed having Roger around, but we are so thankful for him. He’s not the life of the party, and he doesn’t like to be the center of attention, but Roger is faithful, loyal, kind and a good friend. He loves his family, and he works hard to be present in our lives. I’m thankful for him, and I love him so very much. 

Life can also be heavy and hard, and sometimes it’s hard to know what God is doing. The pastor said something this morning that really resonated with me after this past week. He said, “What you believe in not only matters for eternity, but it also shapes your perspective on life.” And sometimes we just have to walk by faith. This past Tuesday, my friend, Beka, from Wisconsin called me. She told me that there had been an accident and the daughter of someone I knew had been killed in a tragic ATV accident. I was completely taken off guard. Emma is almost the same age as this little girl that passed away, and I was pregnant with Emma the same summer that my friend was pregnant with her daughter. I don’t know what God’s plan was in allowing this tragedy to happen, but I do know that God is in control. He is the God of all comfort, and His mercy never fails. I’ve cried several times this past week as we grieve the loss of life, and for the family left behind. Please do pray for my friend, Jen, and her family, as they grieve the loss of their daughter. 

News Article

As parents, we naturally expect our children to outlive us, and sometimes we are caught off guard by what happens in our lives. I look forward to the day when “He will wipe away all tears from our eyes.” Heaven is going to be an amazing place, and if you’re not sure about where you will spend eternity, please reach out to me. I’d love to show you how you can know for sure that you are on your way to Heaven. Jesus died for you, so that you can have eternal life in Heaven. We need to recognize that we cannot get to Heaven on our own, and we are all sinners. We have no hope of Heaven without Jesus. But..Romans 3:23 says that “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 6:23 “for the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life.” John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Believe that Jesus died for you. Recognize that you are a sinner. Ask Jesus to forgive your sins and come into your life. Ephesians 2:8-9 states that “for by grace are ye saved, through faith, and not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast.” Salvation- that’s the best gift ever! 

  

Beach Days, Memories, Meetings, and a 10th Birthday!

 Next week we go back to school! How is that even possible?! The summer has literally flown by, and I am not ready to see it go. We’ve had a busy last couple of weeks as we’ve wrapped up our final cheer camp, the younger boys and Roger took a trip to Wisconsin, we spent a few days at Myrtle Beach and now in-service for school! 

We’ve spent a lot of time swimming and being outside this summer. With two kids running cross-country this fall,  I’ve tried to make sure that they run a least some during the summer. Garett has stayed busy with his job with the gutter company and his favorite part is that they go out to lunch every day! His boss generously pays for meals, so Garett has enjoyed that immensely! They often go to the same Mexican restaurant, and Garett gets the same thing. The owner recently told Garett, “You don’t need a menu. I know what you order.” It’s been a good experience for Garett, and we are so thankful that God provided a job for him. 

Chandler and Wyatt have tried hard to do odd jobs here and there. They were paid very well by a man in our church for spreading pine straw, and that was encouraging for them. Chandler would’ve liked to have found steady work, but it is what it is, and God knew that this would be the plan for Chandler this summer. Wyatt has kept our pool clean and he helps monitor the water chemicals and vacuum it out. We’ve been thankful for his help this summer. 

Two weeks ago, I had a meeting with the IEP team with the school district that the kids are enrolled in. The people in the meeting were very friendly and kind, but it’s so much information to take in! Neither Garett or Travis will qualify for an IEP, but they both are needing some modifications for education in the form of a 504 plan…which means another thing that needs to get done before school starts! There’s a certain score that a student must fall below in order to get an IEP plan or funding. One of the boys was 3 points away from that marker and 10 points below average range. The IEP team said that both boys scored high on their adaptive behavior testing (which basically means that we are doing our job as parents). I have some concerns regarding the testing of one of the boys, and there were some markers for some other things that are concerning. I need to get a pediatric visit set up, so please pray that can happen quickly. While the scholarship funding would’ve been nice, I’m more concerned with how to best meet the educational needs for these boys. We’ve got some things to figure out, and figuring out how to do it in Christian education can be trickier. I’m not complaining as that’s the best option for our family, but it can pose a challenge. We are just a few short days away from school starting, and I have a lot of ducks that need lining up. (Currently, I don’t know where my ducks even are and they’re certainly not in a row!) We’d appreciate your prayers as we try to figure out how to best help our boys. 

After the boys and Roger got back from Wisconsin, we headed to the beach on Thursday morning. Emma’s birthday was on August 8th, so we kinda made plans to go to the beach for her birthday. We weren’t there on her actual birthday, but we had such a good time together with our friend, the Everett’s. We’ve become very dear friends with their family, and we share a lot in common with raising teens, moving a lot, and life experiences. We are thankful for them! Jen was able to come with us to the beach, so that was an unexpected blessing. The kids (except Garett), Laura, Jen and I left on Thursday morning. We arrived at the beach in the afternoon in time to use the water park for a bit and go to the beach. The lodgings weren’t the world’s finest accommodations, but they were workable, and the company was so fun. We had left Garett at home because we figured he would be working on Friday. However, he called me on Thursday night and said that he didn’t have to work on Friday. He asked me to come and pick him up so that he could spend time at the beach. (Roger and Justin were coming on Friday night). I made plans with Roger and I left early Friday morning to meet up with them. I picked up Garett around 6:30am, and he was able to spend the day at the beach with us. It was a full day of swimming, beach, shopping, mini golf and laughter! We soaked up the sun and the memories! On Saturday evening we went to the Pirates Voyage dinner show with the Everett’s and Jen. It was so fun! I would definitely do it again, and all the kids enjoyed the show too. We’ve never been to a dinner show, so that was a special treat for us. We also had relay races in the lazy river at the hotel, played mini golf, and did some school shopping. It was a great weekend away, and I don’t think that any of us were ready to come back to reality, but here we are! 

Emma’s 10th birthday was on Tuesday! I can’t believe that our baby is 10 years old- where did the time go?! The Bible says that “life is a vapor” and it surely is! We blink and the years pass by. We made an ice cream cake for Emma’s birthday, and it was similar in taste to Dairy Queen’s except much cheaper! The boys said it was good, but the cookie crumbs weren’t smashed enough. Emma thought it was delicious and she especially liked the frosting. It wasn’t hard to make, but it was a little time consuming. Travis has already asked for one for his birthday which is also just two weeks away. We celebrated Emma’s birthday with cake and she decided on shrimp, pasta, breadsticks and fruit for her birthday supper. She had gotten her ears pierced for her birthday while we were at the beach, but she also got some legos, jewelry, clothes and art supplies. She was thrilled. She did tell me that the only thing that would’ve made the day better was if she had gotten a dog for her birthday. She is convinced that we need a dog, but Roger and I are certainly not convinced! I love this girl so much! School doesn’t always come easily and she struggles with a lot of things. But she is sweet- hearted, loves hugs, and spending time with her daddy. We are so thankful that she is a part of our lives! My specific prayer requests would include the following: that she will understand salvation fully, and that she will understand school this year. Also that she would make good friends and be a good friend.