Number 2 has turned 10.... He is a JOY!

Caleb... He has had a lot of blogs lately BUT this one is the best! He is 10, well on May 7th he was 10!!!  I just love this boy! he is my gentle spirit (well, here lately with his allergies, he has been a little snippy), he is caring, and he LOVES his momma! He wanted to stay at home while the girls went to Granny and Grandpas, I WILL NOT COMPLAIN!... I LOVE that the kiddos don't get tired of me (well, maybe they do but they have never lead on)

While the girls were gone we had "boy" time... really I did nothing... they kept themselves occupied and I was able to get some things done... we sent Andrew to school everyday and Caleb and I hung out... making this penguin game, eating popsicles at Hill Street Market, and playing outside with the Frisbee (how may times can we go without dropping it, I think it was 14)... we had a blast and it made his birthday week FUN!!!! on Tuesday his actual birthday Joel came over ALL DAY!!! Caleb and him had a blast!!! I really only saw them, of course, when they were hungry! not surprised at all! later in the afternoon we packed up and headed to Bear Paw (army surplus store) and the boys bought paracord to start a "business"... we were thankful that Joel could spend the day with us!..  all in all we had a GREAT day! so thankful I can be Caleb's mommy!

He has been preparing my heart for years!

whoa!    what.a.week.....

God has been doing so much in my heart and I REALLY am thankful... but many times when he speaks I REALLY get scared, fearful, and joyful all at the same time... you see my story starts MANY years ago.. I was raised everyone being so close (literally with in 3 miles) and Dad , Sharyn, and Kat (within 7 miles) I grew up with my cousins and they were like sisters... we did fight, spend the nights, and had LOTS of fun... I grew up with one of them graduating at the same time as me... we were a close knit family... so growing up I NEVER thought I would leave Lawrenceville (the town I grew up in) .. I was FOR SURE that Doug and I would stay there with momma and we would be close in proximity to each other... well God had other plans, we got married, moved to an apartment in Lawrenceville BUT when Alexis was 3 months old we found a house in Griffin... we fell in love, well I really liked the bright colors of the trees in the driveway, so we bought... we lived there for 4 years and realized that with Doug's job and me raising kiddos we could not run a farm!... so we sold... so we moved about 10 miles and bought our current home.... but looking back I see God has been preparing my heart... for change, for action, and for peoples eternal lives! Doug has been going on mission trips for 4 years and I have held down the fort (that's my job, right??) I have LOVED hearing how God worked in those trips, I have listened to women talk of the brokenness when they went on their trips, I LOVE hearing stories! I was telling someone not too long ago, I have NEVER stepped foot in another country BUT I am burdened for them, whether it be spiritual darkness or basic needs such as food.. I am burdened... I always thought I am to be a prayer warrior (which I am called to do that too) but for me to go?? NO?? I mean I have 4 kiddos... WHY would I think it is OK to leave them... BUT this God we serve... He says go.... does that mean I love my children less?? NO... Does that mean that I must lean on the Lord even more?? YES!!!... I am so thankful that God has shown me that HE IS WORTH IT! I am excited to announce that I will be packing up on July 11-21 and heading to East Asia to assist our own missionaries from our community in VBS and teaching English to the ladies using the gospel! I am at peace because he gave me peace.... this song came on in the car while Caleb and I were picking up Andrew and I was reminded of he is I AM!...

MERCY ME - you are I am!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JI4CPfuLW0