Easter Celebration!

We had a great time yesterday. I am so thankful for my wonderful church and to be able to celebrate his resurrection and life with them. The body of Christ is eternal!! It is a worthwhile thing to spend time with them and pray for them. What an honor.
After church we came home and spent time with my Mom. I am so grateful for her. She has given much of herself, in the last year especially, to come here when she was able just to spend time with us. She has taught the girls several crafty things and it seems she is always willing to teach them what she has learned. She showed us her new projects in beading a crochet necklace(fun!) and crocheting an afghan. In our family time is a very precious gift so we are appreciative when someone gives of there time. It shows love. If you want to know what I mean, spend a little time with the older kids and I guarantee that you will hear "thank you" many times!!
We went outside for a bit and blue bubbles that my Mom had bought for the kids. Me and Mom laid in the sun for a bit to get some vitamin d. We had leg of lamb, mashed potatoes, and green bean casserole for dinner. I was(and am-absent the fever now) very sick so the girls fixed the potatoes and casserole. It turned out great! The lamb was so very good, most of the kids loved it but some couldn't take the "gamey" taste. We did hide chocolates around the house after a bible lesson. We demonstrated that just as we are searching intently for the chocolates, knowing how good they are and hoping that we can find them, we should search intently for Christ, knowing how good he is and that we have hope in him. Though we have obstacles that come our way, we will not stop. And when we have this goodness, don't we want to share it? To tell others about him. Obviously this breaks down at some point but we wanted them to relate the feeling of intent searching and hope for something good, to the attitude that we should have when we are searching for Christ, his will, and the hope of glory. Thank you God for your demonstration of love for us that while we were still sinners you died for us. Not just that you died but that you rose from the grave, conquering death once and for all.

Teach Them Diligently Conference

We are going to the Teach Them Diligently Conference! I am a little nervous about taking everyone up but we will have help from our parents, thankfully! I fear however that I will GREATLY miss my little people! They will be with one of our parents during the conference and I am just not sure I am ok with that, lol. I will likely have to leave so that I can spend time with them. Some people might think that it's unhealthy to miss them like that but I just LOVE them. I would take them with me but I fear that they would be overwhelmed with all the people there. I guess I will just have to wait and see. The kids are very excited. Not only are they excited about the conference, they have been giddy over the free breakfast from the hotel. I have been undecided about what to do for their meals, which is NOT free, lol. At the conference there will be vendors, chick-fil-a, subway, etc.. but I imagine it will be costly and very busy. I am thinking we will likely bring something, that way it won't take us as long and I can keep it healthy. I NEED healthy food so that I can pay attention, I will likely be exhausted and some good food always helps.

The past several weeks have been difficult with Melody, though the last 2 nights she has done well. She is so precious, she just wants to feel loved and close to you. She had a lot of congestion at night that would wake her up and she needed to know we were there. Adding to the lack of sleep was Jason's work schedule and the pressure right before a deployment. He has had a lot of stress on him because his project was deployed the end of last week. God blessed him though! He has had only minor changes here and there. That is a huge praise report because it could have been disastrous! He is still recovering from being sick last weekend as well, so this has been a crazy week but we can see God all in it. Isn't it wonderful when you catch a glimpse of just how much he loves us and cares for our needs? What name can you give him to describe his character and relationship to us?


ELOHIM......Genesis 1:1, Psalm 19:1
meaning "God", a reference to God's power and might.
ADONAI......Malachi 1:6
meaning "Lord", a reference to the Lordship of God.
JEHOVAH--YAHWEH.....Genesis 2:4
a reference to God's divine salvation.
JEHOVAH-MACCADDESHEM.......Exodus 31:13
meaning "The Lord thy sanctifier"
JEHOVAH-ROHI......Psalm 23:1
meaning "The Lord my shepherd"
JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH.......Ezekiel 48:35
meaning "The Lord who is present"
JEHOVAH-RAPHA.........Exodus 15:26
meaning "The Lord our healer"
JEHOVAH-TSIDKENU......Jeremiah 23:6
meaning "The Lord our righteousness"
JEHOVAH-JIREH.........Genesis 22:13-14
meaning "The Lord will provide"
JEHOVAH-NISSI.........Exodus 17:15
meaning "The Lord our banner"
JEHOVAH-SHALOM........Judges 6:24
meaning "The Lord is peace"
JEHOVAH-SABBAOTH......Isaiah 6:1-3
meaning "The Lord of Hosts"
JEHOVAH-GMOLAH........Jeremiah 51:6
meaning "The God of Recompense"
EL-ELYON..............Genesis 14:17-20,Isaiah 14:13-14
meaning "The most high God
EL-ROI................Genesis 16:13
meaning "The strong one who sees"
EL-SHADDAI............Genesis 17:1,Psalm 91:1
meaning "The God of the mountains or God Almighty"
EL-OLAM...............Isaiah 40:28-31
meaning "The everlasting God"



ABBA.............................Romans 8:15
ADVOCATE.........................I John 2:1 (kjv)
ALMIGHTY.........................Genesis 17:1
ALPHA............................Revelation 22:13
AMEN.............................Revelation 3:14
ANCIENT OF DAYS..................Daniel 7:9
ANOINTED ONE.....................Psalm 2:2
APOSTLE..........................Hebrews 3:1
ARM OF THE LORD..................Isaiah 53:1
AUTHOR OF LIFE...................Acts 3:15
AUTHOR OF OUR FAITH..............Hebrews 12:2

BEGINNING.........................Revelation 21:6
BLESSED & HOLY RULER..............1 Timothy 6:15
BRANCH............................Jeremiah 33:15
BREAD OF GOD......................John 6:33
BREAD OF LIFE.....................John 6:35
BRIDEGROOM........................Isaiah 62:56
BRIGHT MORNING STAR...............Revelation 22:16

CHIEF SHEPHERD.....................1 Peter 5:4
CHOSEN ONE.........................Isaiah 42:1
CHRIST.............................Matthew 22:42
CHRIST OF GOD......................Luke 9:20
CHRIST THE LORD....................Luke 2:11
CHRIST, SON OF LIVING GOD..........Matthew 16:16
COMFORTER..........................John 14:26(kjv)
COMMANDER..........................Isaiah 55:4
CONSOLATION OF ISRAEL...............Luke 2:25
CONSUMING FIRE......................Deut. 4:24, Heb. 12:29
CORNERSTONE.........................Isaiah 28:16
COUNSELOR...........................Isaiah 9:6
CREATOR.............................1 Peter 4:19

DELIVERER..............................Romans 11:26
DESIRED OF ALL NATIONS.................Haggai 2:7
DOOR...................................John 10:7(kjv)

END....................................Revelation 21:6
ETERNAL GOD............................Deut. 33:27
EVERLASTING FATHER.....................Isaiah 9:6

FAITHFUL & TRUE........................Revelation 19:11
FAITHFUL WITNESS.......................Revelation 1:5
FATHER.................................Matthew 6:9
FIRSTBORN (3)........................................Rom.8:29,Rev.1:5,Col.1:15
FIRSTFRUITS............................1 Cor.15:20-23
FOUNDATION.............................1 Cor. 3:11
FRIEND OF TAX COLLECTORS & SINNERS.....Matthew 11:19

GENTLE WHISPER.........................1 Kings 19:12
GIFT OF GOD............................John 4:10
GLORY OF THE LORD......................Isaiah 40:5
GOD....................................Genesis 1:1
GOD ALMIGHTY...........................Genesis 17:1
GOD OVER ALL...........................Romans 9:5
GOD WHO SEES ME........................Genesis 16:13
GOOD SHEPHERD..........................John 10:11
GREAT HIGH PRIEST......................Hebrews 4:14
GREAT SHEPHERD.........................Hebrews 13:20
GUIDE..................................Psalm 48:14

HEAD OF THE BODY.......................Colossians 1:18
HEAD OF THE CHURCH.....................Ephesians 5:23
HEIR OF ALL THINGS.....................Hebrews 1:2
HIGH PRIEST............................Hebrews 3:1
HIGH PRIEST FOREVER....................Hebrews 6:20
HOLY ONE...............................Acts 2:27
HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL.....................Isaiah 49:7
HOLY SPIRIT............................John 15:26
HOPE...................................Titus 2:13
HORN OF SALVATION......................Luke 1:69

I AM....................................Exodus 3:14, John 8:58
IMAGE OF GOD............................2 Cor. 4:4
IMAGE OF HIS PERSON.....................Hebrews 1:3 (kjv)
IMMANUEL................................Isaiah 7:14

JEALOUS..............................Exodus 34:14 (kjv)
JEHOVAH..............................Psalm 83:18 (kjv)
JESUS................................Matthew 1:21
JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD................Romans 6:23
JUDGE................................Isaiah 33:22, Acts 10:42

KING.................................Zechariah 9:9
KING ETERNAL.........................1 Timothy 1:17
KING OF KINGS........................1 Timothy 6:15
KING OF THE AGES.....................Revelation 15:3

LAMB OF GOD...........................John 1:29
LAST ADAM.............................1 Cor. 15:45
LAWGIVER..............................Isaiah 33:22
LEADER................................Isaiah 55:4
LIFE..................................John 14:6
LIGHT OF THE WORLD....................John 8:12
LIKE AN EAGLE.........................Deut. 32:11
LILY OF THE VALLEYS...................Song 2:1
LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH............Revelation 5:5
LIVING STONE..........................1 Peter 2:4
LIVING WATER..........................John 4:10
LORD..................................John 13:13
LORD GOD ALMIGHTY.....................Revelation 15:3
LORD JESUS CHRIST.....................1 Cor. 15:57
LORD OF ALL...........................Acts 10:36
LORD OF GLORY ........................1 Cor. 2:8
LORD OF HOSTS.........................Haggai 1:5
LORD OF LORDS.........................1 Tim. 6:15
LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS..............Jeremiah 23:6
LOVE.................................1 John 4:8

MAN OF SORROWS.........................Isaiah 53:3
MASTER..................................Luke 5:5
MEDIATOR................................1 Timothy 2:5
MERCIFUL GOD............................Jeremiah 3:12
MESSENGER OF THE COVENANT................Malachi 3:1
MESSIAH................................. John 4:25
MIGHTY GOD...............................Isaiah 9:6
MIGHTY ONE...............................Isaiah 60:16

NAZARENE.................................Matthew 2:23

OFFSPRING OF DAVID.......................Revelation 22:16
OMEGA....................................Revelation 22:13
ONLY BEGOTTEN SON........................John 1:18(kjv)
OUR PASSOVER LAMB........................1 Cor. 5:7
OUR PEACE................................Ephesians 2:14

POTTER...................................Isaiah 64:8
POWER OF GOD.............................1 Cor. 1:24
PRINCE OF PEACE..........................Isaiah 9:6
PROPHET..................................Acts 3:22
PURIFIER.................................Malachi 3:3

RABBONI (TEACHER)........................John 20:16
RADIANCE OF GOD'S GLORY..................Heb.1:3
REDEEMER.................................Job 19:25
REFINER'S FIRE...........................Malachi 3:2
RESURRECTION.............................John 11:25
RIGHTEOUS ONE............................1 John 2:1
ROCK.....................................1 Cor.10:4
ROOT OF DAVID............................Rev. 22:16
ROSE OF SHARON...........................Song 2:1
RULER OF GOD'S CREATION..................Rev. 3:14
RULER OVER KINGS OF EARTH................Rev 1:5
RULER OVER ISRAEL........................Micah 5:2

SAVIOR...................................Luke 2:11
SCEPTER OUT OF ISRAEL....................Numbers 24:17
SEED.....................................Genesis 3:15
SERVANT..................................Isaiah 42:1
SHEPHERD OF OUR SOULS....................1Peter 2:25
SHIELD...................................Genesis 15:1
SON OF DAVID.............................Matthew 1:1
SON OF GOD...............................Matthew 27:54
SON OF MAN...............................Matthew 8:20
SON OF THE MOST HIGH.....................Luke 1:32
SOURCE...................................Hebrews 5:9
SPIRIT OF GOD............................Genesis 1:2
STAR OUT OF JACOB........................Numbers 24:17
STONE....................................1 Peter 2:8
SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.....................Malachi 4:2

TEACHER...................................John 13:13
TRUE LIGHT................................John 1:9
TRUE WITNESS..............................Revelation 3:14
TRUTH.....................................John 14:6

VINE......................................John 15:5

WAY........................................John 14:6
WISDOM OF GOD..............................1 Cor. 1:24
WITNESS....................................Isaiah 55:4
WONDERFUL..................................Isaiah 9:6
WORD.......................................John 1:1
WORD OF GOD................................Revelation 19:13
**taken from http://www.smilegodlovesyou.org/names.html


Wow!! We have an amazing God!

What a great weekend! Jason and I were able to spend a night at the Hampton Inn, see Ron Paul, spend time with my Mom and StepDad, and make a cake for Daniel's birthday yesterday. I made him a guitar cake. So cool! My Mom got to help too and I was so grateful!

Times are a changin

Announcing(2 wks late) the birth of our 8th precious little one that God has so graciously loaned to us for a time.

Melody Anastasia
Oct. 31
6.6 lbs

Grateful for my husband!

This morning Jason and I were talking about some things and I am just so grateful that God has given him insight and he helps me to understand certain things. Sometimes my view becomes cloudy and I can't quite understand the full picture. We were talking about the "all or nothing" mentality. I have mentioned on my blog that I struggle with this daily. What I haven't recognized is that there are others who struggle with the same thing and I need to understand and give them grace in this area. Just because you can't be the best musician, programmer, artist, mother, daughter, father, papa, etc.. doesn't mean that you give it up all together. It means that you do the best you can and work with what you got. Jason gave me a beautiful imagery. He said " Picture 2 gardens. One is lush and has thick black soil with abundant fruit and beauty. It would be awesome. Now picture another garden with boulders around everywhere and very few spots for adequate plant growth. But on the boulders you see cracks where plants have sprung up and one even has an apple tree! Wouldn't that be amazing?" He said " Your life is like that garden with all those boulders. You have to live in this garden, it's just the way things are. Don't you want to let God make it the most miraculous and awe-inspiring as you can? To tend to the plants that you CAN grow, even if it's not some botanical garden? God is growing plants where you least expect them. Don't give up and settle for a yard of boulders. Let God make it something beautiful" So all those people out there who struggle with the all or nothing mentality, Let God make something beautiful out of your garden of boulders!

Andrews birthday

We celebrated Andrew's 4th birthday yesterday with the grandparents and cousins. Everyone had such a great time. Here are a couple of gruesome pics of the cake, lol.

Update on Pregnancy

Things have been going fairly well, with the exception of my typical issues like restless legs and circulation issues. I haven't had many braxton hicks contractions so that's awesome. I have, in the last 2 wks, experienced a change in things though. It looks as though she has dropped a great deal and I am having more issues with varicose vein pain, especially after waking in the morning. It's very weird. I haven't been to the doctor since my 20 wk appt but I am going tomorrow so we will see how she is doing in there. I have this huge fear that they will put me in the hospital. It seems every time I show up there that's what ends up happening, lol. I rest in the knowledge that God is in control and he knows the perfect plan for this little one. That is a very comforting thing for a Mom. I will update how the appt went.

Updated Toby's Books

I updated Toby's books on the left hand side. Also, if you click on his name, it will take you to his website that he made ALL(he did get help when he had a question of course,lol) on his own, hand coded. Kaitlyn taught him HTML and a little CSS. So proud of him!

Sewing Projects

I thought I would post some pics of what I have been working on over the last 2 wks. These were really fun and lots of love in return. This is Summers new art bag. She starts classes on the 6th. She is so excited!! 

This is a guitar strap that I sewed for Daniel. He LOVES the guitar and obsessively plays it all day. He really needed a way to carry it around. It has multiple button holes so it's adjustable. Next time I would make it a little bigger so the older kids can use it. I used a guide from online.

Family Computer Projects

 I am having so much fun doing the HERALD5 website! It's been great showing the kids what's going on as well. I don't think I have posted on here about them learning html, css, javascript, and jquery, but they are making great progress in those areas. They have a site they are working on right now that I think they will be very proud of. So, it's been fun working as a family on this stuff. Of course Jason is ALWAYS working on something, finding a new idea, or WANTING a new idea to work on.lol So if any of you know of something that might be great to have, whether it be a site, a gadget, or database integration software/code snippet, let me know and I will pass it along. Oh, if you want to check out the HERALD5 site, go to http://www.herald5.com  I will put up the kids' when they are done. I am so proud of them! It will likely be Charlotte doing the graphics and some html, Kaitlyn doing the javascript/CSS/jquery, and Toby adding much input and learning html. I can't wait to see how these little people flourish(even if it's something totally unrelated to computers and music.. ;) )

Lovin the Piano

Celebrate and Reflect

Today Jason and I celebrate our 13th anniversary! In reflecting on these past years there are so many emotions that can overwhelm me if I think about it all at once. God, in his mercy, has spared us from so much. God has blessed Jason with a forgiving and loving heart. He has shepherded me like Christ and taught me so many things. God has used him and the kids in my life to STAY ALIVE. I am so grateful for the sacrifice that Jason does each and everyday. He shows me how my weird and quirky thoughts are NOT real. He is a constant, a healer(just as his name is defined), a loving father, and humble man. He doesn't demand anything out of me but truth and loyalty and if I fail to give him those, he is quick to forgive. He desires to please me, encourages me to shoot for the stars. He asks me "What do you want to do(meaning hobby, etc...), I will support you!" He massages my legs every night and sometimes 2-3 times during the night to help with pregnancy induced restless legs. He doesn't come home and watch TV, he eats and then plays with the kids, individually! He leads me with God's word and shows me my flawed reasoning. He sets a Godly example for the boys, that they would have honor and respect for themselves and for young ladies. He doesn't make rash decisions without going to God and really praying about it. He leads with a gentle but firm hand, always asking my opinion and considering it, but making the decision based on God's leading. This has been so paramount in our lives. When I thought he should have made a different decision, I would always submit and say "If God is leading you, then go with it." He would and guess what? He was always right(of course I would tell him that)!! LOL He amazes me. I often think "What did I do to deserve him?" And the answer is always the same "Absolutely nothing." God has poured out his blessings on me for no apparent reason and it humbles me to think about that. So with a very thankful heart, one that desires to be that Proverbs 31 woman someday, I say "Thank you God for the last 13 years that you have revealed yourself through my husband and kids. That you have had mercy on this sinner and blessed me beyond my imagination. You have sustained my life when I didn't want you to and brought me to your feet time and time again."

Toby's New Book

Toby has finished his book and is bubbling over to start his next one. If you have a chance, please send him a letter of encouragement or donate(the button below the pic) to his "writing fund". I am so very proud of him!!

How often do you stretch your abilities?

I was just thinking about this today. I feel like I am constantly out of my "confort" zone. It seems everyday I have to or need to learn something else. Do you feel like this? Is it just me, maybe I never learned what I should have or something.Like cleaning..

And cooking(or uncooking)

                                                     
                                                   And then of course there's technology...

                                                                   

And those are just the things that I really need to know. I like technology but it gets hairy when you want to learn a skill for money and not only for fun(javascript, no-sql databases, etc). To top it off I have all kinds of things that I WANT to learn. There's music. When will that beast let me rest? Why can't I just say TATAh... Why does it matter so much? Do you know how difficult it is to relearn theory, practice piano, learn guitar, and have this nagging desire to write songs when you know you likely suck? All this knowing that it is likely a hopeless cause? There are so many things that I want to be involved in as well. I would love to be in choir again, there is someone that is wanting to get together to play around with some music he's written, and of course I would love to learn guitar via teacher. And that's just MY hobbies. The girls are learning website design and web marketing. Toby is wanting to get into electronics, and the little ones just want tons of love that requires keen observation on just how that love should be given to them. I feel like I should be learning  right along with them to support them and help them if they have questions. I FEEL LIKE GUMBY!!!
                   

                                                                     
 I know that God, in his sovereignty, has not given me more that I can handle. However, deciding just WHAT areas he intends for me to "stretch" to is a whole different story. Laying down, picking up. Laying down, picking up. What to lay down, what to pick up.

Charlotte says "Mom, I am so glad we are taking school off for some of the summer. I can be so productive." I look at her with curiosity "What do you mean Charlotte?" She gets this serious look on her face and says, "Well, I can write and do research all day. We just really aren't productive when we are doing school." I just smile and shake my head in agreement.

 We are finally almost over this sickness that has lasted several weeks. Toby got it yesterday but it seems to be milder with him. He did run a 103 fever and vomited once but he doesn't act as sick as the rest. I want off the vomit comet!! Hopefully Jason won't get it.
  On the funny side we had some really cute things said during the whole thing. I don't know why being sick makes you say the funniest things but man did they have us rollin. We had kids waking up in the middle of the night talking about crazy stuff and Andrew was entertainment on several occasions. Yesterday I was in the laundry room transferring clean clothes to the dryer. Daniel and Andrew were with me and Andrew asked if he could help. I let him after I got over my initial thoughts of "This is going to take even longer". He loads a few things and we close the door. He looks at me and says so sincerely "Mom, thank you for sharing your dirty laundry with me!" It was so adorable and worth every second extra that it took.
  We also have had a major event happen a couple of days ago. Summer finally lost her first tooth! She has been wanting to lose a tooth for so long. It was precious. She was on top of the world. I am so glad `that this tooth came out quickly without any major pain. She just pulled it out and said "Look Mom, it came out!"
  So now that we are soon to be on the mend, we are looking forward to seeing friends again and getting outside(in the coolest part of the day of course) to soak in some summer time.

Beach Trip

This weekend I will be going with my Mom, Grandma, and Sister to the beach. I am looking forward to a time of fun and reflection. For the last 2 months I have really been wanting to take a trip to the beach so this is a nice treat. I am going to get pictures as well, I know the kids will want to know everything that happened. We are supposed to go to the Opry too and I am really looking forward to that!

Some Pics of the kids

Kite flying and Bible study CAN go together!!

A day of kite flying, Bible study, and fun! Here is Daniel sitting in their flowers.

 

Getting ready for Bible study.

 

Here is Summer and her friend Bethanie. Alex is chilling out beside them in the shade.

 

Here is Daniel and Emmi. They are so cute!!

 

Here you can see them flying the kites.

Fun outside

We had a great weekend, apart from being sick still. We went to the state park and did a mini hiking trip. The kids had such a great time. Here are some pics we took.

Kaitlyn with her hiking stick

All the kids except for Daniel. He was with us behind the camera.

Charlotte posing.

Andrew after getting caught fighting with the bushes.lol

Daniel having fun in the leaves.

Summer taking a break.

Alex taking a break.

And of course the crazy parents. Jason was actually bouncing me up and down and that's why I look like that.lol