God Always Comes...

when we need to feel His presences the most!!! So thankful for the wonderful service we had last night! It seems a lot has been going on around here lately, more than I care to deal with and more than I can not deal with, if I did not have God in my life!!! Last night we were singing
The Crystal Fountain, this is a very familiar song to me, as we use to sing it over and over and over in the church I grew up in. God came almost every time when we would sing it. As a teen I remember I could feel His presence, but I didn't always understand all the words. Well last night, a portion of the chorus really spoke to me--"where ALL my life's deep needs have been supplied...". It is so AWESOME to know we serve an AWESOME God who is willing and able to supply ALL of our life's deep needs, no matter how dark the times make look!!! His presences was SO real to me last night and I'm thankful I can trust Him to help us through what we are facing today and what we will face in the future! I also read a portion of scripture this morning that spoke to me "Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men" Lamentations 3:32-33. Wow, how cool is that?! "He will show compassion AND so great is his unfailing love"!!! I am so thankful I serve a God who will be with me/us, through all of life's trials! : )

First Day of the School Yr '09-'10

Well the new school year has begun, WOW, where did that summer go?!??! Talon did NOT want me taking pictures of him at school, so I told him on the way to school...I called the radio and tv stations and asked that they would follow us from home, all the way to school, to get FULL coverage on your first day of school this year, HA! Talon is in 7th grade and has moved in to the Upper Learning Center (grades 7-12) and Keegan is in 3rd grade in the Middle Learning Center (grades 1-3). Talon has mostly all new "classmates" and all new teachers this year. Keegan is still in Mrs. Coleman's class and LOVES it or should I say her! Both of the boys couldn't wait for school to start this year, so I hope they don't regret being so ready to go back, LOL! I know they will have a good school year, we are happy they can attend our church school, Frankfort Covenant Academy! We are also VERY thankful for the staff God has given our school!!! We love all of our teachers: Mrs. Angie Spangler, Mrs. Shelley Coleman, Mrs. Debbie Norfleet, Mr. Travis Johnson and Mr. David Fry! So glad He has given us a great principal too, Mr. Ron Coleman, we can never say enough good stuff about this guy, he is great! We told both of our boys, you don't have anything to worry about as long as you mind your p's and q's : ) Anyways, I thought I'd share a few pics of their first day. These pics are grainy too, as I am too lazy to resize them to put them on here ;)

Talon was thrilled to do this for his dear Mama, HA!

My little Keegan on his first day of 3rd grade!

Keeg all smiles in his new desk!
Keegan headed to his locker!Mommy & her baby boy
Keegan and his adorable, bratty sister!!! He wanted to get a picture with her and she wanted nothing to do with it, ugh!
Cousins (LtoR): Lane, Keegan, Talon & Courtney (these are Elizabeth's kids)

Summer Trip to MI 8/09

Well as always, we took a trip to MI this summer to visit Dad! We usually spend several days there and this year was no different, me and the kids spent a week there. We didn't really do much, but we just relaxed and enjoyed Dad's company! While we were there, we had a baby shower for my niece Megan and her baby Kai, that was fun (look for pictures of that in a previous post). I took pictures for my niece Crystal and her family too (look for a seperate post on them). Also while we were there, I helped Dad can some of his famous Kosher Dills, YEA! They turned out SO good last year, he decided to try them again this year. Last year I didn't really pay that much attention to how he was doing them, but this year I jumped in and enjoyed the experience! I now am anxious to get ahold of some small cucumbers and try my hand at canning some. All in all, we had a real nice time!

Kallee finally getting to hold little Kai guy! She didn't get to hold him when he was born because no one under the age of 12 was allowed in the room, so...Meg made sure she got to
hold him this time, thanks Meg!

What a big yawn for such a little guy: )

Grammy Shirley lovin' on her little grandson : )

Taking a summer walk to Papa's "40 acres"!

While we up there this time, I took family pictures for my niece and her family at Island Park in Mt. Pleasant. At this park, they have a military memorial there and it is really neat. Here is the statuette in honor of the Vietnam War, it is beautiful and HUGE!
Here is the face of the soldier who is comforting another solider.
The boots on the solider were like a giant's foot, look at the size of
Talon's flip-flop in comparison.
Beginning the task of canning pickles
Some of the larger cucumbers we canned and then made the others into salads, yummy!
Cleaning the cucumbers
Ta-da some of the pickles waiting for the vinegar/water solution to be poured on them!

Meg & Baby Kai's Shower

Last Saturday was the baby shower for my niece Megan and her baby Kai, in MI! My sister Mary and I threw this little shower for her and we hope she enjoyed it : ) She sure has a sweet, little guy! There were around 10 of us there to help her celebrate! Thanks to the Newports for allowing us to use the church's multi-purpose building, we apprecaited it!

Meggie & her sweet baby boy

Meatballs, Lil' Smokies, a Veggie Tray and Chips w/ Salsa

Little Duckie floating in baby blue punch and "bubbles" made of vanilla ice cream

Kai spelled out with cupcakes : )

Grammy Shirley praying for the food

Gift Table
Game Time -
Jodi Clark not really enjoying this game, HA! HA! Baby Food tasting/smelling game.

Great-great Aunt Joyce (my Mom's sister) holding Baby Kai. She makes EVERYONE that joins our family as stocking with their name on it. I can't imagine how many she has made for our family. What a special gift these stockings are!

Gift Time

Megan got the last baby blanket that Mom had bought for the great-grand babies.
Megan shed a few tears over this gift : (
All tired out from all the partying : )

Mom Celebrates Her 1 Year Anniversary in Heaven

Well today is the day, Mom has been gone for 1 whole year, where has the time went?!?! We still miss her each and every day, but we are sure glad she is no longer in pain and is enjoying the presences of her Savior! I have shed a few tears today, but I've tired to think of the happy times : ) It is still hard to believe that she is gone and not just at the store or away, especially when we are here at "her" house. Jerry and I drove up to MI over the weekend, but he had to go back on Sunday. The kids and I stayed here to be with Dad for today, hoping that we could comfort him, if needed. We went with Dad to the cemetery to see the grave stone, it is so pretty, he did a great job picking it out! We love you Mom and want you to know, we will see you again some day. "But until then, my heart will go on singing, until then with joy I'll carry on..."

The pretty stone Daddy picked out for himself and Mama

The kids looking at Nana's stone for the first time

Dad and some of us girls, Shirley had to go home a day early so she couldn't be with us.

A few of the grand kids and great-grandkids that were there (LtoR): Keegan, Talon, Jared, Kallee, Josiah, Crystal, Maverick, CJ and Javin