Happy Birthday Kaylyn!!!

10 years ago today, the Lord blessed us with our firstborn daughter,
Kaylyn.

Kaylyn is a sweet girl who loves imitating animals (and is quite good at it),crafts, the Georgia Bulldogs, dressing up and playing old fashioned.Her favorite food is tuna casserole and favorite colors are pink, blue, and red(for the Bulldogs). She is our quiet one but can give quite a squeal when tickled!!!

Kaylyn is a sweet girl, who amazes me in how long-suffering she is, she is sensitive to the ways of God. Encouraging others (including me) to do the right thing if she sees it is dishonoring God. A girl of modesty and already is thinking of ways she wants to honor her husband when she gets married.


Our prayer for Kaylyn is that she would submit her life to the Lord Jesus Christ, be pure in her ways and thoughts, and continue to grow and train in becoming a homemaker.

We love you, Kaylyn...Pumpkin, you are a true joy and blessing in our lives!!!

Sunday Hymn

"And Can It Be"

Written by Charles Wesley

And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain—
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

’Tis mystery all: th’Immortal dies:
Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine.
’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.
’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore;
Let angel minds inquire no more.

He left His Father’s throne above
So free, so infinite His grace—
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam’s helpless race:
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!

Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray—
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

Still the small inward voice I hear,
That whispers all my sins forgiven;
Still the atoning blood is near,
That quenched the wrath of hostile Heaven.
I feel the life His wounds impart;
I feel the Savior in my heart.
I feel the life His wounds impart;
I feel the Savior in my heart.

No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine;
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.

My First First Haircut-by Zechariah

"I couldn't go to a hair salon,'These are for girls', my big brother,E, insisted. We had to go to his and daddy's barber...Here I am unsure of what is about to happen...

First comes that scary, loud razor...

Good, he walked away, he must be all done......NO!!! Not again!!!...
I don't like this!...Don't touch me!!! I'm telling my mommy!...

Oh NO!!!Not the razor again!...
When is this going to end?!!!...
Where did all my hair go?...

I guess it wasn't TO bad...I kind-of like my new cut!"

Sunday Hymn

"How Deep The Father's Love For Us"
By: Stuart Townend

How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice,
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom
(REPEAT)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

8 years ago today the Lord blessed us with our oldest son, Caleb "E".

Caleb is quite a character who loves joking around, wrestling, reading, using his tools, making faces and school. His favorite color has always been yellow and he loves ice-cream.
E is passionate for making sure everyone has a Bible, passing them out to neighbors, friends, or asking if we can send orphans Bibles. He also has a heart to put out tracts about the Gospel.
Our prayer is that the Lord would one day save his soul and use these passions for his glory.

We love you, Yellow Man "E", you are a true blessing in our lives.

HAPPY 8th BIRTHDAY!!!

I Have Been Tagged!

I don't usually answer to these but since I really like Joelle, and she has been a blessing to me in so many ways, I decided I would participate.

1. What is the one thing you find the most difficult about homeschooling?

Trying to change a dirty diaper while helping with phonics... with another calling in the background for my help-meanwhile the phone is ringing, the rats are staring at me to be fed...oh yea...and a 19 month old sitting on my lap. So I would definitely say the chaos at times that seem to happen at least once a week! :)

2. What is the one thing in your children (or one of your children) that you have the hardest time to deal with or manage?

One of my children has a hard time NOT being bold about how they feel about things and how a situation goes towards friends and siblings. We have prayed, practiced, disciplined, but it seems to not help...at times. My prayer this child would grow in a love for the Lord and use this weakness and turn it into a tool in which they use mightily for the Lord and be BOLD for Him!

3. What is the most amazing place you have ever visited?

I love the Atlantic Ocean where I am from in South Florida...as I look out into the water and onto the horizon, it looks never ending. The view is beautiful, the blueish green sea, blue skies, white caps from waves. The scene is often breath taking with it's beauty.As I look out, I always think of God. His attributes of never-ending grace to me, His child. His love that goes from the east to the west,His never-ending compassion. I "see" the beauty of God in His long-suffering with me, in spite of my incredible sin. And when I close my eyes and listen to the rumble of the waves crashing the shore, they remind me of God's great power. The power to do as He desires because HE IS GOD!

4. What do you like to do when you are alone?

Read a good book, check blogs, and ponder.

5. How many days of the week (on average) does your scheduling gets followed?

Depends on the week and what is going on, but I would say most days I stay on track. I don't have a strict schedule, I am pretty laid back, so it is actually hard to break. :)

6. Are you the kind that lets the folded laundry sit awhile before putting away, or it gets put away right away?

Yes and No. If it is during school time, they will sit until I can sneak away for a moment. But I don't fold all the clothes. Each kid, except the two youngest, folds and puts their clothes away. The three year old is responsible for washcloths and his shorts only at this point. The towels are divided up between the kids.

7. Do you plan the Christmas season out?

No, I always intend to, but I rarely do.

Thanks Joelle for the tag. It was fun!...Now I am off to help with a math problem...

Tigers play the Gators!!!

Today is a big day in our house:

The LSU Tigers


plays

the Florida Gators...

But we are not unified on who we want to win.

AJ, Kaylyn and E root for the Tigers...

But Katie Faith, Elijah, Zechariah and I have better sense...we root for the FLORIDA GATORS!

Here is Elijah's message to all you Loser State University Fans!!!



Translation: "Go AlliGATORS!!! Eat Those Tigers!!!"

Can't wait 'till the game tonight!

Dessert

Last night's dinner was good and then came dessert. I decided to try a new recipe...Sopapilla Crunch. The family was glad I did!

I took my tortillas out and cut them in strips...

Heated two good dollops of butter (oh my!) in the skillet...

Placed my tortillas in the pan...

When they begin to puff, flip over. Continue to flip back and forth until desired crispness.

Take out and arrange on a plate...

Poor on Raw Honey...

Be generous with the honey as it adds great flavor.

Sprinkle on some cinnamon sugar (gasp!)...

Add a few scoops of vanilla ice cream ( double gasp!!!)...

Grab that honey and cinnamon sugar once more...drizzle over the ice-cream....and Voila! You have yourself Sopapilla Crunch!!!

Everybody grab a piece and DIG IN!!!*For those of you who know me well...raise your hand if you about had a heart attack knowing I used all that butter and sugar (you know it was killing me!). My kids thought something was wrong with me! :)

Sopapilla Crunch

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

1 flour tortilla, large

2 tablespoons butter

vanilla ice cream

honey

cinnamon sugar

confectioner's sugar(optional)


Directions:

1. Cut tortilla into strips of your preference..

2. Melt butter in skillet.

3. Add strips to melted butter on medium to low heat.

4.When tortillas begin to puff flip over.

5. Cook until lightly browned and crispy ( to your likeness) on each side.

6. Arrange cooked strips on a serving plate.

7. Drizzle with honey and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.

8. Add vanilla ice cream and top with another drizzle of honey and sprinkle of cinnamon sugar.

9. Serve immediately. ( I precooked the tortillas earlier in the day and they were fine. Probably would be better if served hot.)

My thoughts on this dessert was it was "ok". Everyone else loved it and my husband said it tasted like fried ice-cream. I will most likely make it again as it was very easy and quick. I doubled the recipe but next time I will triple it as it goes quickly.

And NO!!! Zechariah did not get any!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY STEPHANIE!!!

Dearest Stephanie,

You are a wonderful, talented young lady, with much life ahead of you, Lord-willing.

Our prayer for you on this special day, would be that you would take this next year to stop, in the busyness of life and take time to smell flowers, watch a beautiful sunset, listen to the birds chirp early in the morning. Embrace the life God has given you and live for His glory.

If you were here we would celebrate you with chicken potpie...

and a cherry piewith 19 candles on top!




Happy 19th Birthday Stephanie!!!

We Love You,
Your Family down south in Texas

Sneak Peak...

What are we having for dinner you ask? Or maybe not but I am telling anyways!!!

Amy's Chicken Enchiladas (more like burritos) with a creamy sour cream sauce...( this picture does NOT do it justice)

Green enchiladas...still working on these...

Homemade Guacamole with chips...

Zatarain's Spanish rice...

homemade refined beans..and just for fun, we may add some Mexican music!

For dessert...

YOU will just have to wait till tomorrow and see!!!

We will be eating around 5:30 if anyone wants to join us! All are welcome!!!

Hasta la vista, Baby!!!

Dream Come True

Have you ever had a dream that when you woke up you wished it could come true?

Every morning during breakfast I ask the children about their dreams. I enjoy hearing how their little minds work and think in their dreams. Sometimes crazy, sometimes good, they have bad dreams, dreams they call "foolish" because it was something they know God would not be honored with if it were true. Times when they can't remember, and dreams they would love to come true.

This past week, as Kaylyn slept hard and sound, she had a really good dream.

She was so excited about this dream she told me as soon as she woke. And when it was her turn at the breakfast table, she excitedly told her siblings of this great dream.

As I listened again, I decided I wanted to bless my precious daughter and make her dream come true.

So that afternoon, I began working on making it happen.

The girls and I gathered in the kitchen, got out our ingredients and got to work.

First we made dough. Then the girls took some and made shapes for each member in the family.


Each bread stick was made with much care and thought, choosing a shape that would be special to that loved one...

Then on our PIZZA dough, we spread our sauce on...

followed by cheese.

After baking, I let Kaylyn have the honor of cutting the pizza...

We dished it out along with the special shaped bread sticks, gave thanks to the Lord and began eating...

"Our whole family was sitting around the table eating pizza......

(some were playing with their "trucks")

and we were reading a story from 'Story Time with Grandma'. "I see Kaylyn's eyes beaming with excitement as I hug her and tell her..."Sometimes dreams come true!"

It might be a simple dream to others, but it was a big dream come true for Kaylyn!

I was glad to be able to make this dream come true for my loving daughter. She brings much joy to my life and I was glad to be able to bless her in this simple way.

I love you Kaylyn, I pray you have many more dreams come true!

Have you ever had a dream come true?