Back To School - First Grade Style!

I can not believe that school is back in session!!!! Where did the summer go?!! Tyler is off to FIRST GRADE!!! Corey and I always tell Tyler not to grow up. Tyler says "I am trying not to, but it just happens." Tyler is so precious and is soooo excited about first grade. This year he does not get out of school until 2:40. In kindergarten he got out at 12:00, so this is a change for him. He is excited that he gets to eat lunch at school with his friends. What he is really excited about is his Star Wars lunchbox and thermos. Yes, this was the most important purchase made this year for school - forget the crayons and the glue sticks, mom.

Tyler had so much fun on his first day. They reviewed several things that they learned in school last year, and they went to the library where he was able to check out 2 books - one about tractors and the other about cowboys! So far, the past two mornings have been pretty smooth. Tyler understands that he eats breakfast as soon as he gets up. Then he puts his clothes on and gets his hair fixed. We will see how long this smooth morning routine lasts! Until then, Happy School Year Beginnings!

Boys Will Be Boys II

Then, we managed to find some time to play outside in between the rain showers.

Tyler with a frog.

Hayden with a lizard.

Tyler and Hayden riding bikes and just being boys at the park in Memphis.

Boys Will Be Boys

Over the last couple of weeks, it has rained a good bit. So . . . we built tents inside and played hide-and-go-seek!

When it was my turn to find the boys, it took me forever to find them. . . they had this really good spot under a desk with pillows covering them up.


Making lunch under tent we made in the living room.

Has It Really Been 10 Years?

Ten years ago today my sweet husband and I were married! Can it really be ten years? Where did this decade go? I must say that the past ten years have been quite a ride! The first four years Corey and I were married we accomplished a lot! We bought our first house, then we paid cash for our first vehicle that we owned. Then God blessed us with our first child in 2003 and our second in 2005. In the midst of having children, we were able to purchase another home. All the while, we were both working. With children, working, and other activities, these certainly make for a busy life. It is really neat to look back on the last ten years and see how God has brought us to this very point in our lives. One year ago, I left my job to stay home with my precious children. I am so very thankful for the opportunity to do so. I have grown a lot in my relationship with God, and I am thankful for the progress that I have made. I even facilitated a women's bible study. What is that?!!!! Now, in addition to his full-time job, Corey will be serving part-time on staff at our church. Wow!!!!!! We have certainly had our bumps in the road as we have learned about each other, learned to love each other, and learned to support each other. God has truly blessed me with a wonderful husband, two awesome kids, and a whole lot of love!

Here's to you, Corey! I love you with all of my heart!

It's Official!!!!

Well . . . it's official! My man is going to be in the ministry. He has accepted a part-time position at our church - Country Woods Baptist Church as Minister of Discipleship and Evangelism. He begins August 1st. It's something that he has been struggling with for about one year now. I truly believe that this is exactly where God is calling him. Is he nervous? Yes! Am I nervous? Absolutely! When you are walking by faith, you just have to trust God and believe that He has bigger plans, much bigger plans. It's like that song (can't remember the title or the artist) - "Whatever you're doing inside of me, it feels like chaos, but somehow there's peace. You're up to something bigger than me, something heavenly . . ." Anyway, Corey's passionate about Sunday School and about the Faith Evangelism Strategy; so I believe that he is a perfect match for this position. I am really excited about this new journey that God is leading us on. My prayer is that God would help me to be the support that Corey needs as he embarks on this journey. I don't know what this looks like; we'll just take it step by step. We want our family to stand strong. We want to honor and please our God. We want to love Him more than anything else!

Independence Day 2009

We enjoyed our 4th of July at our church - God and Country Day! Great friends, great food, awesome time of fellowship.

"Yum, yum. . . that watermelon sure was tasty!"


Corey serving it up during a game of volleyball.


The boys had fun on the waterslides that were at the church.

Hayden collided with a friend on the waterslide and ended up with a pretty nice cut on his right cheek. Nothing that a little superglue can't fix! (That's right - superglue!) Once we put the band-aid on, he was ready for more fun!

The evening ended with a great fireworks show! This year the boys at least watched the show, but they still had to plug their ears with their fingers.

Just Had To Get A Deer Pic On This Blog

This is for Corey . . . What success he had in Illinois this past winter!!!!!

The Closet

It has been so hot outside this summer that it's not any fun playing outside. So . . . the boys made their way to Mommy and Daddy's closet and their closets, and this is what they came out looking like.

First Blog

Well, this is my first time to blog, so I will give it a shot. Certainly is a neat tool to keep the extended family in the loop of what is happening with the family.