Beautiful Fall Saturday

After Kyler's soccer game on Sat. we were going to go to the Pumpkin Patch again (with a working camera this time). The decision was made, however, that after the wonderful rain we had ALL day Friday, it would be too muddy and yucky. So...we went to my mom and dad's for lunch and caramel apples. Here are some pictures.

unwrapping the caramels


Aaliyah helped, too!


Kyler snuck a couple.


Look out! Here comes Daddy!


"Daddy! Get out of the caramels!!"


Ready for the stove.


Musical break




dipping the first apple


This is FUN!!!


Yummy!!!




Kyler and Grandma's handy work




Whew! I don't know about you, but that wore us out!


Enjoying the "fruit" of his labor!

to anyone still out there

Sorry for the lack of posts lately. I am trying to get back into the routine I started when we moved here and am falling into laziness instead. Old habits die hard. I am making a goal to post at least twice per week...we'll see how that goes! :)

Tag...you're it!

So...apparently I have been tagged by Mandi (who, coincidentally spelled my name wrong). I have to list 7 interesting things about myself, and find 7 people to tag. I am not sure these 7 things will be interesting...they may just be things that surprise you about me (or not). :)

1. When I was younger I used to put on shows for my parent's friends when they came over. By younger I mean until I was like 13 and by shows I mean putting up the boom box and singing and dancing for them (and it was RRREEEEAAAALLL bad)

2. I envy stay-at-home moms who get to leave their house with their kids.

3. I met my husband online...from a personals ad...that I put up...while engaged to someone else.

4. When we found out we were pregnant with Kyler we both cried...him because he was happy...me because I was upset and mad.

5. I swore I would never become a coffee drinker...then I had a second child...you don't want to see me before coffee now!

6. I tried out for cheerleading in 7th grade...and was laughed at by pretty much everyone.

7. I used to think I was the world's worst procrastinator...then I realized (recently, actually) that my husband is 10 times worse!!

The "tagged" 7
1. Alison...like she has time with two daughters now!

2. Jenni - wife of the oldest son of my parent's best friends in Oklahoma (did you get all that?)

3. Judy - I'm sure she'll have tons of (and by tons, I mean way too much) fun with this!

4. Jeanne - a great friend from church who will be moving to West Africa to live her life for Christ.

5. Becca - another friend from church who has such smart and funny boys (oh, and we used to be in her Bible Study)

6. Jamie - cool chick we used to live near, go to church with, and participate in a small group with. She and her family love God so awsomely and have such a neat life!

7. Rachel - another church bud and choir trouble-maker. Our #2's are just a few weeks apart.

Even if you're not interested in my 7 things...check out these friend's blogs. Each has an awsome story to tell.

update

Sorry I haven't posted more regularly. I will try to do better in the coming weeks.

I called Grandma on Thursday and she was very tired. At least she was able to respond a little when she wasn't falling asleep on the phone. I got to tell her I loved her and she said she loved me. I didn't know that would be the last time I would talk to her. Grandma passed away on Sat. evening. She was asleep...there was very little suffering...nearly everyone was there. Mom and Dad were going for another reason, but were there. She held on until they got there.
I was very upset that I did not get to see her. I was waiting for her to be more awake to tell her some things. It never happened. I wish my children could have had the memories with their Great-Grandma that I had with my Great-Grandma. She was supposed to live longer...she never got sick...why did it have to happen like this?
I hear people say "don't question God" when dealing with sudden death and trials (not that this was that sudden, but you know what I'm saying). Who says you can't question God?? I question Him all the time. Does that diminish my faith in His plan? NO! Does that mean I don't love God? NO!! Questioning and wanting to know why are part of being human. It doesn't mean that we don't trust Him or love Him or that we stop believing...this is how He designed us...to ask why...that is how He reveals His plan a lot of the time. We ask "why" and He says "because I need you to go through this so that you can minister to someone else...so you can show who I AM in your weakness."
I have no doubt that Grandma is rejoicing and praising God...right alongside her parents and her sister. She is not in pain...her 6 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren will know who she was. We will tell stories, attempt the recipes that she never wrote down, and tell them how much she loved them. She showed God's love even when it went against everything she was raised to believe. She allowed her heart to be changed to accept my husband and children, and for that I will always be grateful. My husband and children were allowed to know her and love her because she allowed God to change her heart. Thank you, God, for my grandmother. She will be missed, but we will see her again.














Keep our family in your prayers. Viewing is Tuesday night, funeral Wednesday afternoon in Oklahoma.

Whoa! Didn't see that coming!

My friends Alison and Brad need help, now!!! They have been contacted about adopting their sweet daughter's new sibling coming any day! They need to raise A LOT of money in the next 48 hours.
Hard? Yes.
Impossible? NO!

Go visit her blog to read the story and how you can help. We love Norah and Brad and Alison. We can't wait to see where God takes them on this journey!