Our Nephew Carson

Happy One Month Birthday Carson!

Thought I would share some pics Becky and I took of him this past week. Enjoy!

And not to leave Big Brother Kooper out, we took a couple of him too!

Corban's Kindergarten Writing Assignment

If I Were An Astronaut. . .

Translation: I would punch an alien in the face. I would ride in my rocket ship. I would go to Jupiter.

Such violence in young kids these days! :)

Father Daughter Dance

Jason and Brooklyn enjoyed another fabulous date night out at our church ball last week. To read all about it, visit Brooklyn's blog by clicking here.

Cub Scout Family Camp Out

We went camping with our Cub Scout Pack this past weekend, and we really roughed it! There were no bathrooms and the woods were so full of poison ivy you could not leave the trails! They had 4 port-a-potties for the entire campground, and they were completely full! Let's just say if you used it, you would get splash back. I used it once, in 36 hours. I held it like a champion the rest of the time. Despite the bathroom amenities, and the 4 man tent we squeezed our family of five in to for the night, it was a beautiful trip. The weather was perfect, it was extremely relaxing, and the kids got absolutely filthy and loved every minute of it. I even brought home a souvenir, a big ol fat tick with a big white dot on his back rode home on my tummy, or in my tummy I should say! yee haw! On Saturday afternoon the kids went through a series of stations. In one they built napkin holders, in another they learned about astronomy, in another they built and launched alka-seltzer rockets, and in ours they learned to shoot rifles and pistols with rubber band ammo. At the final campfire when asked what was the most fun thing of the camp out, the kids all screamed Rubber Band Guns. Yes, Jason and I are the coolest. It made my trip into the boonies of South Fort Worth to buy them all worth it.The kids took part in a special ceremony during the final Camp Fire. They learned how to properly retire both the Stars and Stripes and the Texas State Flag. It was really inspiring and patriotic. We were thrilled to get home and get in the shower! The water ran black off every one's body! We love the great outdoors! God made some really cool stuff and it's a treat to leave the city and enjoy it every once in awhile. . . as long as my running water and toilet is not too far away that is. . .

He Sustained Us!

During the years that I led you in the desert, your clothes did

not wear out, nor did the sandals on your feet.

Deuteronomy 29:5

Over the last couple of weeks I've thrown out 6 of Jason's dress shirts, three pairs of his pants, three pair of my shoes, four pairs of my jeans, 2 pairs of the kids tennis shoes, countless pairs of their pants with holes in the knees, and even my trusty old Honda Accord. Last night as Jason and I were at the store buying essential items, like socks and pants for him, (it's been seriously sad the last couple of days what he's worn to work!) it hit me. Everything has been wearing out in the last month or so. Clothes, shoes, cars, and more that I have washed and worn for years with no signs of wear are all suddenly wasting away together. God spoke to me in that moment and it was such a moment of peace and joy. It's been a difficult season we've just emerged from. We committed to the Lord that we would pay off our consumer debt so that He could begin using us and our money for His glory. During that time as we were chunking everything we could against that balance, we asked Him to sustain our things so that we wouldn't spend money replacing them. AND HE DID! Now that He's delivered us into this promised land, our things are beginning to wear. Like the Israelites we are transitioning from collecting our Manna easily from the ground each morning, to harvesting and working our fields for food. We are dusting off the desert sand and replacing the things we've worn thin with obedience. Money isn't any easier, it's still tight, because we're now chunking it towards the adoption, and replacing all this stuff, like cars, and homes, and clothes. But it's a joyful time, covered in His provision.

Jason and I began to feel a small burden to give the kids one last "Party of Five" celebration before their lives are interrupted with the transition months of the adoption, and so we prayed about it and God in His grace and mercy showed us a trip we could take with a smokin hot deal to boot! We're looking forward to taking the kids on a Disney Cruise in September. We'll cruise for a few days and spend two days at Disney World. It will be a blessed time all about the three of them. I can already see God changing and preparing their hearts for the arrival of their new siblings. Last night Brooklyn prayed for God to teach her how to be unselfish when her siblings arrive, and to understand in her heart the extra attention they will need for awhile. She's so precious. I'm so thrilled they have a Heavenly Daddy who loves them and made a way for them to have a little party all in their honor before the craziness starts. God desires to lavish us with good things, and when we're obedient to His will for our resources, splurging on a vacation is even guilt free!