Merry Christmas

Though I wish it wasn't over already **sniff, sniff** But what a great year we have had. I love looking back at the tremendous spiritual growth that my family has had. All the trials and tribulations and how the Lord has guided and directed us through them all....God is so good!!!

What an awesome year we have had and I am so excited to see what the Lord has in store for us in 2008!!!!

So, what is going on for us this last week if 2007 you ask? We have successfully gotten the girls gifts upstairs and out of the obnoxious packaging that gets worse each year ( That, I am NOT looking forward to in 2008, lol!!!!) Trash was picked up this morning which was a special treat. Boy oh boy did we have us some trash.

The girls are enjoying their leapsters and Mama is enjoyjng the peace and quiet they are bringing.ha ha!!! I
am off to rest!!! Being sick is no fun, BUT, I can thank the Lord that it didn't happen til AFTER Christmas =)

all my love.

shannon

She's ALIVE!!!

Hi Ya'll. Yes, I am indeed still here and kickin' =) Phew, what a busy few months we have had!!! Just plain 'ol day to day busyness... Though, I wouldn't have it any other way.

We officially started our school year Aug 27th and it has been such a blessing. H is doing just fantastic. She is reading like a champ and already doing addition and subtraction. I am amazed at how the Lord has used our schooling to really bond us during our one on one time.

K and Babyface are doing great too. They are soooo obedient during school...just such sweet girls. They generally play pretty well together =) K is very adiment about putting the fruits of the Spirit to pracftical use and is sure to let you know when she is using one =) It just blesses my heart that she really allows the Word to be used in her heart.

Babyface had a moment of her own this last weekend. She swallowed a piece to a pool table game while I was away at our women's conference. Well, I should clarify that we really don't know for sure that she swallowed it...The older girls told me that she swallowed a green pool ball...we quickly tore the playroom upside down...found all BUT the green pool ball...Soooo, I say that evidence points to G's tummy =) So we are awaiting the next step. I have been disecting her poopies with dish gloves and ziploc baggies the last few days and nada. So, The nurse called us today and informed me that we could wait at least 1 more week for the mysterious green pool ball to show itself =) Great ...gag!!! lol.

As for me, Just continuing on in my race =) Trying to keep up with this family of mine. Church is growing and it has been such a blessing to watch the ministry grow. The people are such blessings in my life and I am so thankful to have all of them. God is soooo good. I'm just in awe of what an awesome God we serve =)

So on that note, I will make it a goal to update more often and prayerfully I will be able to give an update on G's case of the diappearing pool ball.

Love & Blessings,

Shannon

Blessed

Saturday I went to a baby shower that was so nice. Sorta makes me sad because I desperately would love to have another baby ...though D and I are NOT likeminded in that area..He wants to try in 1-2 years where as I would love to start trying now...But I completely understand his reasoning wanting to wait until we either add on to our home now or buy another home with more room so the girls would not have to share and we'd have a spare room for guests to stay in. Seeing that we aren't likeminded I have a perfect peace knowing that it is not of the Lord if we aren't able to agree. So for now, I am blessed with 3 beautiful girls until we come to a point that we're both ready to try for #4...the boy of course =)

Seems like everyone I know is having babies right now though. What a miracle a child is...the gift of creation that the Lord has given us, entrusting us to nurture and guide them down a path of righteousness, teaching and growing them in the way of the Lord. What a blessing it is to be given this special gift. I am so blessed with 4 babies (though Cade has gone home to be with the Lord). They each are so special and so unique. I see now as they each are forming opinions, likes and dislikes...the special gifts that the Lord has given them.

H has the gift of persistance. She is sometimes my most trying and stubborn...I pray that the Lord would grow her to use this gift to bring glory for His namesake. Possibly the next Amy Carmicheal???

K has the gifts of love and compassion...that little peanut is the most caring lil' thang. She is a mommy in the making for sure =)

While she is only 2...Babyface has the gift of laughter. She is great at making us laugh. I'll tell ya there is no one that can make us laugh like G. She gets this great belly laugh going that tickles us pink =) That girl is hlarious.

I love my family...I am so incredibly blessed beyond measure. I have the most amazing hubby. He is an amazing father to my girls. He is an amazing spiritual leader and a Godly role model to my girls. I am so blessed to be able to serve our God along side my talented husband. I'm so blessed to have a husband that loves Jesus and wants nothing more than to please God.

John 15:5 "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing."

Sniff, Sniff

What a day... A day that started out a little rocky went from so, so to crap in a matter of hours. I'm not one to throw in the towel since a series of unfortunate events is not far from reality in a household of my 3 beauties..BUT I must explain....

We started our morning well, the girls wake up in a great mood, I get up in my normal grog but after a cup of coffee, things are all good in the hood. We get ready for our playdate and we have a great time getting to know everyone =) Yes, the kids are rambunctous..but hey, who wouldn't be after a good week of rain and being cooped up in the house, right? BTW- LOVE the new playgroup friends, YAY!!!Okay, back to my day of unfortunate events...

So, we go to get some lunch, we eat, we go into Gap Kids...which, has THE cutest clothes right now. I could have spent a grip of money but I didn't..aren't I proud, YES, but most importantly, My hubby is too =) Anywho, we go to grab some cookes from American Cookies and lo and behold, my Credit card was not given back to me at Sbarro..So I trek back with the girls in tow and the cashier tells me...You guessed it, No card there, So I begin to search through my purse fractically. No Card there either, Mind you, my kids have cookies on the brain and all I can think is my card IS STOLEN and all YOU can think about is COOKIES????Uggghhh, Okay, I BREATHE...Cut them some slack...they are 5,4 and almost 3...And afterall, they are really good cookies. I again, for a 5th time check my purse and throw up a prayer and you guessed it..my card has been shoved into a pocket that I NEVER use. Thank you Lord...I begin to make our way out of the mall and make our way home. Yes, the kids have their cookies and are extremely happy and so am I because, YES, I gave in and ate the cookie that I intended to get to D...which whom by the way we did not get to see off to work and I'll get there in a minute. Ahhh, The cookie was heavenly and we are almost home...Well, in the midst of getting in the car, a misquito the size of Alaska has made it into the car..I begin to try and slap it off of me..Out of nowhere (okay not out of nowhere but saying this makes me feel a whole lot better) a curb hits my tire..And immediatly I know that the inevitable has happened..You betcha...I have a flat...So, I call D...he is about to leave and tells me to call AAA...Yes, I know that I should do this already but for some reason, calling D first makes me feel better yet every time I do, I immediately realize that calling him first is not the best decision to make.So, after I hear him tell me that I'm lucky it was a curb and not a car and that I need to pay attention to the road and not misquitos(DUH!!! But HELLO, It was HUGE!!!) I call AAA and they get to us rather quickly, Thank You Lord =) Needless to say, It starts to POUR down rain as the guy is putting on the spare..We made it home...Oh, BTW did I say that this all happens right down the street from my home...so close that I can see my street from my brokedown car...Yes, This was one day that I don't wish to repeat..except for meeting our new friends that is =)

Okay, I'm outta here..Off to realax before D gets home in a few!!!

Mmmm Hmmmm

I don't want to complain..BUT I will =) Yes, You guessed it...another rainy day. A girl could go crazy here stuck in the home with 3 amazingly, energy filled girls...Does Jesus really love me???

All joking set aside...This is a terrible thing...Rain= Crazy Kids= Crazy Mommy. Very Simple. I'm at a loss on what to do with the girls..You can only have your hair done by a 5 year old so many times without finally calling it quits due to the fact that I think I have a head of dreads H calls "beautiful". AND If I watch another princess movie I might gag.

Can I just say that I am eagerly awaiting some new candles I just ordered...Now, I'm not one to push a sale on somebody..however, being that I was once a customer before a demonstrator of Gold Canyon Candles...They are simply at best..heavenly. NO JOKE!! Heavenly, I tell ya'll =) I enjoy them very much...even D does...He will ask me the scents that are burning and can even name a few of them..this is very good for a man who can't tell plaid from polka dot =)I ordered a new scent and I'm sure it will be fab..just ask me..I'll let ya know!!

Rain, Rain Go AWAY!!!!

Seriously, Could it get any worse??...Being the Cali girl that I am, this darn rain is putting me into a depression. Ugghhh, Every morning I wake up to gray skies... which, over the course of the day are turned to dark, angry clouds followed by roaring winds, thunder and lightning that will easily scare the b'jesus out of somebody.
A storm blowing in today:


And H & K watching it make it's way:

On another note, My family is upstairs watching tv quietly giving me just enough time to sit for a moment and breathe (and type, lol)

Not long ago, Daddy was sent off to work with XOXO's and now it's off to a quiet Sunday night for mommy and the girls. Sometimes, I really hate his job, though I am grateful for it and I try not to complain. The hours are incredibly ridiculous sometimes and I just feel like I can never get enough of D...Which is Good, YES, but I just wish we could be "normal" like everyone else with weekends & holidays and such. Thus, the life of being married to a police officer =) Just tell me to get used to it already..It's been 7 years now!!!

Okay, Enough complaining.

So, we joined a new playgroup which I am hoping will be a good fit for my girls and I. I really feel like after 2 years of being here that I only have a handful of friends that I can truly call up and hang out with. I want the girls to have friendships and especially with homeschooling it will truly be a God send to have playdates to get us out and about after schooling for the morning. Who knew it was so difficult to find good friends with a few qualities I look for... 1)Similar in age 2)Same interests 3)Take life and motherhood seriously 4)Are not the "granola type" mom (tree hugger, cloth diapering..not against it...just NOT for me!!!

Babyface is officially potty training and has been going strong in panties for a good few days...phew!!! It's so exciting yet so saddening all at once. My baby is getting so big....Who it was that told her she could grow I'm not quite sure...lol. This is definitely a new season in my life that I will need to adjust to... Though, I am praying in the next couple years or so that we may be able to try for #4...Lord willing..."The Boy". While I miss the "babyness" of my girls...It really is a breath of fresh air at times =)

A Pic of her cute bummy in panties =)


And another of her beautiful blue eyes...messy face and all:



Off to "fix" ( The texan coming out) dinner and who knows...I may blog more this evening!!

Psalm 100:5 For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations.

blog, blog, blog

Today at church.... our pastor gave such an amazing message. Acts 20...Just amazing the word of God and how it speaks to you. What spoke to me was just what an amazing person the apostle Paul was. He had such a great love for people and how his heart just broke for the unsaved...Lord, I pray that I would be tender to the broken as well. It becomes so easy to stay in my comfort zone than to share the gospel with someone who is not walking with the Lord...I mean, C'Mon...It is terrifying to me to think that someone might look at me funny, think I am a freak, or just simply that I wouldn't have the perfect answer to their question (though I know that it would truly be the Lord to give me these words) BUT, Today I was just so ministered to in verse 24 :::: However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace:::: So, Lord, help me to give a daily sharing of your word with somebody, anybody who is willing to lend their ears to hear your word. What I would have given in my BC days to have somebody share the good news with me =)

Jesus, I love you and thank you for all that you have done for me. How you cleansed me and made me a new creation, All the many blessings you have given me snd what an honor it is to serve such an amazing God.


It is more blessed to give than to receive.- Lord Jesus

ahhhhhh....peace be still =)

Kids in bed... Sanity restored...even with laundry going, toilets to be cleaned. I at least vacuumed today...it's only been a couple days but with our hairy german shepherd and our siamese cat...a couple days seems like weeks with my cleaning anxiety...all the meanwhile the very loved pets sitting at my feet, lol. We went to church today and it is always great to see new faces and the very loved and well known too. Went to gramma's house today afterward as usual and for once, with daddy's new graveyard schedule, he was able to share in our family day..though he's always there in spirit =) Now, the work begins as the girls are sleeping and the houses' only sound is the humming of the dryer and the sometimes strange silence that comes over the house after the chaos of life with children and a very loved hubby =) I enjoy it yet despise it at the same time..I know strange, huh? So, tomorrow will bring a new day as we hopefully will be able to enjoy some playgroup time that we haven't been able to get to with my crazy work schedule that for now has calmed down. Honestly, I just feel like the Lord is telling me that my place is here with the kids and homeschooling and raising my beautiful girls. While the extra income is nice, I hate to think that the expense of the girls is at stake. So, for now, I am working from home and pray that the business will come easily and the work is steady without affecting the flow of our family. Well, it is that time....BED...ahhhh. Goodnight.

Phew...Been a while.

So I am officially back. To be totally honest, just forgot I even started this blog until today. but I'm glad to have remembered. I will be back to update tomorrow. It's late and my escape artist is out of bed. Off to put her back in and get to bed myself.