Memorial Day 2011

Yesterday Courtney and I went to our local memorial.  It is fairly new and it is just beautiful. I would just like to thank all those who have served and fought for our country.  T'hank you from the bottom of my heart. 

Happy Memorial Day

Crystal

Promotion

Hello All. Well my baby girl has been officially promoted to high school.  She had her promotion ceremony this last Tuesday.  It really is hard to believe she is going into high school.  I think it is just as hard for her brother and sister to believe.  Despite the terrible weather, rain/tornadoes that are state and neighboring states have been having Alyssa was able to make it home for the night.  The whole family together for Courts big event.  I was so excited.  We grilled and had a little bash.  Nothing big but something to let her know we are proud of her and yea you made it to high school (even though there was never a doubt).  Here are a few pictures of the big event. 



Little banner I made



Court with some of the goodies we made.





Yummy graduation cupcakes



Strawberries from the garden/graduation caps



promotion girl




Promotion girl with her brother and sister.  This is a good picture but:



This is true life at our house. 



Getting her certificate. 

Now you can stop growing up, please, pretty please.

Congratulations Court.  We are so proud of you.  

Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6

Giving a Little Room

                           Happiness is waking up and seeing this,

My sons car sitting in front of the house.  He is home from college for the summer.  Yea!!  He is giving himself this week off and then he starts working full time.  He was telling me he can not believe he just finished his freshman year of college and passed.  We are just so proud of him. 


                                        Alyssa on the other hand

                                        

stays at school.  She is going to work full time on campus and take a class.  She is going to be a senior in the fall.  As long as she passes all her classes, this time next year we will have a college graduate.  Wow, that really makes me feel old.  We are so proud of her.

                                   And for the baby of the family

 Yes this is her eating cheese balls with a fork, she did not want to get her hands dirty
                                      
Well she is promoting from the eighth grade to high school in just about a week. So technically she is not a baby anymore.  Ugh.  Just the other night she had her eighth grade promotion dance.  Her dad and I were chaperons and boy is it funny to watch the kids.  The boys would sit in one corner, and the girls stood in the middle.  I just love it.   Nobody really ever danced.  They would just all stand around and talk, occasionally have a snack or a bottle of water.  I love that most of them are still afraid of each other. 

It is so hard watching your babies grow up and find their place in the world.  We try so hard to teach them what we think they will need to know when they are out on their own including the most important about staying on the path God wants you on and to always look to him for guidance in all times and especially in times when you just don't know what to do.  When I came home the other day from work I found this little guy sitting on a pillow on my porch swing.

Is he just adorable?  Him and his mommy were just talking back and forth.  I am sure she was guiding him what to do and when to do it.  Just as we do with our children, and just as God does when we ask for his guidance.  I stood and watched this little guy and his mommy for quite sometime.  It does not matter what we are a mommy to, we all just want what is best for our kids and try to teach them to the best of our ability.  The mommy to this little one was doing a wonderful job she was in teaching mode but also staying back just far enough to let him learn on his own.  That is something I work on everyday.  I can not be there to fix everything (even though I want to).  I just want to be far enough away to guide them but also let them learn how to handle things in life.  It is wonderful to watch their little wings spread wide.

I am so very, very proud of you three.  Thanks for being such wonderful children

Just a little bragging but the kids gave me Easter/Mothers Day/Birthday presents.  This is what I got. 

Courtney and Mike bought me these. I got these items from JCPenneys.  I only spent $17.00 for all the things listed below.    I love finding good bargains.

 

                                                           2 shirts

I love me some JCPenneys.  

Alyssa gave me this, I wear it everyday.

                                                 Bling, Bling

Ryan gave me these

They are just gorgeous. 


I am just so lucky.  I thank God everyday for the family he has trusted me with.  I could not ask for anything more. 

Blessings

Crystal

Yesterday was my birthday.  I took the day off from work and enjoyed just being home with my husband.  Here is one thing I accomplished today.  Planting flowers.  I think they turned out beautiful. 

I always have to have just a few annuals for the porch. 

Blessings

Crystal

Easter Blessings

Happy Easter friends.  Spring and Easter are here.  It really helps my mood when the warm weather starts to settle in and the wonderful sun shows it's self a little more often than it does in the winter.  Some of the flowers are popping up in my yard. 

Oh they make me feel so happy!

I was walking home from work and found this wonderful creation on the ground. 

It is absolutely amazing to me how such a small creature can make a nest like this.  It is wound around so tight and the mommy and daddy were really thinking when they put the really soft stuff in the middle so everyone will be extra comfy.  I know that is always my goal at home.  I want everyone to feel welcome and oh so comfortable.

Hope you have a wonderful Easter filled with church, family, food and fellowship. 


HAPPY EASTER


Linking with:

Shoe Box Swap, Spring 2011

I participated in the Sister Shoebox Swap again. The hosts are Monica at The homespun Heart and Carrie at With All That I've Been Given.  Not sure why I like this so much but I do.  I love to read my swap partners blog and figure out what they may like.  I have to say though this time it was a little more challenging for me than the first time.  I had Michelle at The This and That of Everyday Life.   She is very sweet, family loving, Christian woman.  I loved reading about her family.

I sent Michelle these things.

And she sent me: ( side note I deleted the picture I took of all the things she gave me.  I gathered them back up but I feel as if I am missing something.  Sorry if I left something out Michelle.)

She figured out all the things I love. 

I saw the box on my porch when I arrived home from work one day and I  got butterflies in my stomach.  Just like a little kid would getting a new present.  It is just so fun. 

Thanks Michelle for all the wonderful things. 

Crystal

Thank Goodness for Little Brothers

It is so hard some days having 2 kids away at college.  I worry about making sure they are safe or can we get to them if they need us right away.  Just a lot of little things.  Every day I pray that God takes these little worries from me and just put my heart and stomach at ease.  It is a daily struggle for me but I am really trying.  I guess maybe I am one of those mom's who has a hard time cutting the apron strings.  I just want to lock them in our house keep them safe and not let them go through all of lifes dailey struggles.  Obviously that is not realistic.  So a lot of praying has to be done on my part.  The other day Alyssa calls me in kind of a panic.

She said, "I left my lights on and my car won't start now". 

"Oh, Alyssa",  I said

She said," I have to get to the dance studio".

I said, "Well, call your brother and see if he can come jump start your car for you".

She said. "Yeah that is what I was going to do."

She had a friend take her to work so she was not to late.   Little brother to the rescue.

She called him and asked what he was doing?

 He said, "Studying".

 Yes, that is good to hear.  I was happy about that.   

She said, "Will you come to my house and jump start my car for me before the storm hits"? 

It was about to storm bad and they were under a tornado watch.  Being the good little brother he is he went right over got it started in just a couple of minutes.  All before it started to rain.  I am so thankful they are at college together.  It sure helps this mommy know they have each other to rely on when we are so far away.   

Letting your kids grow up is so hard.  I am not really crazy about.

Thanks Ryan for helping your big sister out.  You are such a blessing.

Blessings

Crystal