We had a great family night recently that was all about BOWLING!!

Bowling? Why? Basically, because I got several things on clearance at target that were all about bowling! That is the great thing about themed family nights- they can be created around just about anything!

It took a little planning and honestly, the dinner was a little bit of a stretch, but we still had a great time together.

For starters,

This was our appetizers of black olives and cut up mozzarella sticks.

Here is our fancy centerpiece…this is the bowling set I got at Target.

They are super cute!

For Dinner, we had Bowling Ball Sliders, or as Pioneer Woman calls them, Meatball Sliders.

They are yummy! I actually made the meatballs from scratch, but to save time, you could just buy a bag.

We also had Strike It Potatoes or as Pioneer Woman calls them, Au Gratin Potatoes.

See I told you the menu was a little bit of a stretch, but it was a good meal, that we enjoyed.

After our meal, Jason led our devotional. He read from Matthew 7:13-14,

¹³“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. ¹⁴But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

He talked about how long and narrow the alley is that the bowling alley goes down. He then talked about choices and how many choose the wide (worldly, unwise) path and few choose the narrow (life-giving) path. We talked about what that means for them as kids and as a family. We talked about how obedience brings blessings, but disobedience brings consequences.

We capped it off with this simple of all desserts….marshmallows and whoppers.

We finally put our bowling alley/art gallery to good use. The kids loved this. I must admit, it was a little hard getting those pins down! I am much better at Wii Bowling.

Next, we moved outside for a little slip n slide…bowling style. This was another deal I found at Target…seriously it was less than $4.

Bradley rarely got to the end because he would dive….and somehow land on his hinney. He got sooo frustrated. He got the hang of it after a little while!

Parker was BY FAR the best slip n slider! She could go far in life if there was a professional slip n slider circuit.

Emery did pretty well, herself, but was all about hamming it up with her Dad.

The slip n slide was a great  hit….and a great photo op.

Life…is….good.

Today was our first day back at school.  But, it is also our first day at a NEW school.

The story is obviously long, detailed and one that is very personal. Jason and I take the education of our children very seriously. Therefore, the decisions we have made have not been easy or obvious. Our girls have been at an AMAZING school the last three years. We have no issues with their previous school and our plan, would also include them finishing out their entire education at this school.   Our girls were cared for, loved and taught so much more than how to read and write complete sentences. But, those wonderful benefits were not free! God has been so faithful to provide for our family these last three years. I have stand amazed many times and marveled at how HE has BLESSED us. We have many instances that went above and beyond what we had asked or imagined. He even did that for this next school year in a way that completely blew us away.

Yet, in the midst of this, we also saw many signs that pointed to us pulling our family and going in a different direction.  Our decision became more than just one on how we would educate our girls, but also included, our son. It became about how we prioritize things in our family, our ability to give and creating margin in our lives.  We went through every scenario, every possibility and still would come away unsure of what decision to make. I have watched my husband LEAD us, as he struggled, to discern what we were to do.  I have struggled to determine what God wants for our family at this season of our lives.  It has been difficult, hard and stressful. Mostly because we were effecting our children, changing their lives in a very real way.

After much prayer, discussion and then finally, just making a decision, we have moved on to a local school in our county.  There are so many positives to our new school.  Yes, we still grieve for what we have known, but, that is okay.  Sometimes, following Christ is hard.  That doesn’t make it any less of God’s plan, it just makes it…..hard.  I know that no matter where my children are educated, God is with them and we are fierce in our devotion to them.

My girls are doing well.  Telling them was grueling, I am not going to lie. Parker is sad and slower to warm up to change. She is nervous and today did little to diminish that, but I am praying for quick friends, an understanding teacher and for her attitude to be that of Christ, who for the joy set before Him, endured the Cross. Emery, on the other hand, loves a new adventure, change and takes on any challenge set before her. I am praying for quick friends, an understanding teacher and for her attitude to shine for Christ.  I am sad, But, in my fears, sadness, excitement and questions, I am CHOOSING to trust HIM.

Emery outside her new school

Parker and Emery

Parker and her Mrs. R

Emery and Mrs. C

This morning, Jason claimed and read Proverbs 3:5-6 for our family this next year. In all we do, we trust HIM.

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

Last month was a busy, but fun month for us.  We finished up some projects in the house, which makes my heart SMILE! We were able to lay the flooring in the playroom and my soon to be office and Jason also put up the baseboards and quarter round.  It looks sooo good! I sold our couch on craigslist, but haven’t found a new one yet, so we are a little makeshift in the playroom! Oh well! I am super excited to move into my office and have a dining room soon. We are re-routing our cable and internet and once that is done, I am moving into my own separate office. This will be great for my homestudy appointments, since we meet at my office/home once.

So what was the reason for our frenzy of project finishing you ask??

Our dear friends, the Robertsons, were in town and we decided to have a Shrimp Boil to celebrate.  They are living in Houston and only get home a few times a year, so we asked some of Jason and Matt’s old college buddies, along with their families, to come and join us for a fun evening of food and fellowship.  Our turnout was low, but we still had a blast.  It is amazing to me to think that I have known Matt for around 15 years and Heather for around 12 years.  I love that we have been apart of their story from the beginning.  Matt was Jason’s college roommate and they worked together, as well. Matt continued to work for Jason’s family’s business well after college and we have been able to stay connected through marriages, babies and distance.  When we moved away to Cleveland, years ago, they were some of the few to come visit us….I guess we need to return the favor!

One of our greatest joys was seeing Matt become a Christ-follower when he, Jason and Melvin were golfing. To watch how he has grown in his relationship to Jesus, is leading his family and pouring into the lives of others, brings sweet tears to these eyes.  They were the first to have a baby of our crew and they blessed us by naming Andrew after Jason (Andrew is his middle name and Bradley’s as well.)  We have watched Heather grow from a teenager into a beautiful woman who loves her man, her children and Jesus.  As they struggle living far away, I have seen God work in them anew, as they seek to find His place for them in Houston. I have seen how He has provided amazing friends for Heather that I know are supportive of her and Matt.

To me, this is a relationship that is all about doing life together….even though we rarely are.  It is about investing for the long haul.  I am so thankful for their friendship and that we can truly be real with Matt and Heather. I am praying BIG, GOD sized things for them, no matter where they live.

I went really basic on the tables since we would be putting the food right on it! This is a cute little tray I found at Goodwill for 1.99!

The wind drove me crazy and kept messing with my table! Loved the daisies and bandana mix….

The Amazing Shrimp Boil…love this meal

This was about the only pic we got of even a few of the kids…they ran, explored, jumped, played basketball, rode….

I am loving our yard…after all the work, it is worth it!

Mollie loves the four wheeler…she just needed some steering assistance.

Matt, Jason, Philip

Zan, Heather, Me

We had such a great time, catching up and watching our children play…8 between us!

We really enjoyed a relaxing evening with our friends. It has been so long since we have entertained and I was reminded how much I love having people in our home.

This house is FINALLY feeling like home!

I was about to sit down and write a sweet little post about some of the fun times we have had with our friends and family in the past few weeks.

But, I am simply not feeling it right now.

Why?

Because I have had one of those days where I feel on the edge…..the edge of anger, frustration, and not liking very much in general. I could go into the various reasons why I feel this way, on this particular day, but really, what is the point?  We all have these days, these moments, these emotions.  The key is figuring out what you are going to do with it.  Am I going to allow my emotions to rule, get on Facebook or Twitter and vent or am I going to die to my emotions, bathe myself in Scripture and prayer, and CHOOSE to respond in a way that brings Glory to His Name.  I think this is a battle that I fight more days than not. More than that, I think this is the battle I see many moms fight each day….especially with these last few days of summer upon us.  Life is hard, days are long, frustration is inevitable, so why not get a plan together for how to handle it instead of blowing up and moaning and groaning about it?  Imagine how that would look to a non believing world? Not that as Christ followers we don’t feel every single one of those emotions, but that we allowed Christ to respond for us, in the midst of those moments.

That is my prayer, my longing.  Is is yours?

Obviously, I am not being very consistent in blogging, but then again, the blog is about what you have done in your life.

SO, does the fact that I am not blogging much reveal that I am super busy having fun with my kids or that I am not doing anything worthy to write about?

Maybe a little of both!

I am planning on doing some posts about our last few weeks this weekend!

For now, I leave you with this……

Last weekend, my precious aunt passed away and I traveled to Mississippi for the funeral.  My dad and mom have been making at LEAST monthly trips to help take care of her, stay with her in the hospital and move her into a nursing home since last summer. Needless to say, it has been a trying time for them, but I have been blessed watching my parents, especially my dad, SERVE his sister.  Even though they were exhausted, living out of suitcases, not at home, and mostly dealing with hospital stays, they served her WELL.

My sweet, godly Aunt Bobbie, was a jewel.  She was one of the most godly women I have ever known. She was fiery, passionate, kindhearted and a woman of the WORD. You couldn’t be in her presence and not hear about Jesus. She absolutely ADORED Him and His church.  She was simple, yet steadfast.  She worked hard and even though she never  had any children, she was everyone’s Aunt Bobbie! But, she was mine, for real! She was so ready, at 80 to be with Jesus in Eternity. She was ready to go home. She lived life well and I learned so much from her.  But, to know that she is with the LOVE of her life, worshipping Him, fills me with such joy because I have no doubt that she is right where she wants to be.

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:17

This is the verse that is the foundation for our student camp, Camp Whatever. This is the sixth year, we have taken students to Horns Creek camp in Ocoee, Tennessee. To see  how it has grown, how adults who love teenagers will take a week away from work and family, and to see how students have deepened their walks each year, is one of the greatest joys I have been apart of in my walk with Lord.

It had been a couple of years since I had gone and this year, I went as the girls counselor. For a few months, I have been available to do counseling for girls on Wednesday night. To say that girls these days have a lot to deal with, is an understatement.  At camp, I was able to do the same. Once you separate a student from the world, wear them out, and have adults continually focusing them towards Christ, it is amazing to see the barriers come down.  Not only are they open to hear from the Word, the also are more open to share the hurts that so many deal with on a daily basis.  In some cases, they address sin in their life, and in some cases, the sin that has been done to them.  To see students who are far from Christ, come to salvation, leaves you breathless.  And, then to see a student commit to chase hard after him, without shame and in complete abandonment, leaves you challenged.

I was both this past week.

How are you pouring into the next generation?

A couple of weeks ago, I was able to have a fun day with Ms. Emery.

Bradley tagged along too, but when you have multiple children,  you can still do fun things that focuses on just one child.  We are in the midst of “it’s not fair” and “she gets to, so why can’t I” phase at our house.   I am sure you hear it, too! We want our kids to know that a bad day for them, is a heaven sent day for most children in this world. And I am okay telling them that life isn’t about fairness, it is about Jesus, His grace and mercy…..more importantly about giving those things when you don’t feel like it!

My dad had signed Emery up for a golf camp where he is a member.  He was going to take her each day and have fun with Poppy.  Sadly, Poppy had to go to Mississippi to be with my precious aunt who was in the hospital.  So, Mom and I took Emery to golf camp. She was a little apprehensive, but she quickly got in the groove.  Parker is also in a golf program, called the First Tee.

The First Tee is a program designed to get kids interested in golf and teaches, not only skills in playing golf, but also values such as honesty, courtesy, and perseverance.  She goes twice a week for an hour and so far, is enjoying it.  Emery has taken to golf easily and is loving it! Jason and I are all for the girls playing golf and are hoping this is something we can do as a family as all the kids get older.

Emery with her golf visor she received at registration….She can rock the visor I must say!

Imagine I am talking in a low whisper….Emery Stewart lines the ball up. She has studied it from every angle, will she make it to win the tournament….

And she hit the line beautifully, and she bottoms it!!

This is what Bradley did for an HOUR while we waited.  He is a lefty but swings his club/bat right handed. We figure we will let him get comfortable and good with his right hand and then,

turn him around to the left, that way he can switch hit! Or, he may play the piano, who knows!

After lunch, we headed to get Emery’s ears pierced. She has been BEGGING for about a year and we told her she could on her birthday. She was playing soccer so we waited until she was able to keep them in for the full six weeks. We got the store and she was NERVOUS! She ended up bailing and we went to Target to get a few things. She had decided to wait until the weekend when two people were working. After Target, she asked to go back, so after assurring me she was ready, we went back. Sure enough, she was ready to go.

She was still a little freaked! Can you see the tension in her face??

Two minutes later….

How precious are these little earrings?

Emery you absolutely light up our days with your amazing grin! I love seeing you excited over the small things. You are a beautiful girl and I pray that you always celebrate those special things that are apart of being a girl! May your love for Jesus always draw people to Him!

Last week we had our VBS style emphasis at our church, Lifepoint.  I helped coordinate all of our preschool workers and student volunteers. This year we opened up Pre-K to the community and had a great turnout! I got to love on some babies and toddlers, which was good. I am content in being able to love on them in doses and hand them back to mommy or daddy! We had around 800 kids on our two campuses and raised around $3800 for Haiti relief.

I love that our church focuses on children and students. I love that our kids worship with music that speaks to them, their age and their generation. The message is not watered down, which many often confuse with a hipper style of music or the use of lights and motions.  Our kids are learning to worship in spirit and truth and that following Jesus is about giving Him your life, not just a moment, a prayer or an acknowledgment.  They are learning what it means to follow Christ.  Last week they learned about Heroes in Scripture and their example. I am doubly excited to see our middle and highschoolers serving.  This week is possible because they sacrifice time at the pool, with friends, or hanging out in front of the tv for time spent investing in the lives of preschoolers and students. They are growing because they are serving Him.  Such a blessing to watch them grow in their journey with Jesus by being His hands and feet.

Emery was  on the praise team again this year and she did a great job!  It is so cute to watch her and we know that she is learning that leading others in worship is a privilege and that her role is to simply point others to Him.  No focus on self or on being the center of attention….at least that is our prayer.  Bradley was able to be in worship this year.  He came home singing some of the songs and talking about what he was learning, as well.  He told us all about, “the woaves and the fish.”  The girls were also able to invest in our neighbors this week. We don’t have many kids in our neighborhood, which is very evident in the summer.  Our neighbors had their nieces visiting and they came for two days.  The girls were so excited to be able to invite them. We are praying that they get to continue to see these sweet girls in the weeks to come!

Our good pal, Ryan, has become quite the photographer and took some pics of the fam this past weekend. We met up at Miller’s Grocery and had a little photo shoot followed by some good eats! It was blazing hot, but we persevered and captured our family, in what I think, are some amazing shots.

Thanks, Ryan, Marty, Peyton and Mason for a fun evening, your great friendship and for capturing our family…..we are blessed.