Beach Pictures

Here are a few beach pictures for my dear hubby and friends who could not be with us this week.. They have been flying red flags here all week so we cant get in the water but
as you can see, thats not keeping us from getting our toes wet.

Blessings, 

Stephanie

Road Trip.... whoohoo :)

Good Morning from Panama City Beach, Florida. The beautiful sunshine state!!!

We awoke yesterday about 5 am to embark on this journey with my Mother, 2 sisters and
8 robust children. After much deliberation over where to put all the luggage for 

these 3 families into 2 vehicles, we finally set out around 9am.

About 30 minutes into our trip this plastic contraption we created was blowing like crazy in
the 80 mile an hour wind. We made  a quick stop at Lowes in Alabaster to pick up
some additional bungees, let the lil ones stretch there legs and off we go again :) 

We had a fun road trip...good times!

After about a 9 hour trip to a 6 hour destination point, we arrived and my was it worth it!

Dont you wish you were here?

Blessing, 

 Stephanie

Children and Chores!

    My children always keep me smiling and laughing even when we are doing chores.  My almost 18 month old is always ready and willing to help.... When I sweep, he wants to take the broom and sweep too. When I do laundry, he tries his best to pick up the heavy wet clothes I hand him, then hurl them into the dryer. Its so funny to hear him grunt as he willingly struggles. Just last night when his daddy came home and changed out of his work clothes, lil Grant picked them off the floor and toted them to the laundry room. When I load or unload the dish washer, he is right there with me, with those curious lil hands. 

    Now vacuuming... that is a different story. Grant loves the vacuum cleaner, when its off.!!! LOL  He is constantly dragging it out and trying, with all the strength he can muster, to push it around the house. We have a Kerby so its quite heavy. When turned on it  has a self propelled motor so its not so bad, but off.... shew, its a workout. I bet it weighs near 25lbs.  My older ones love when I vacuum because Grant clings to them like white on rice. They think its cool to be his protector and they love his sweet embrace.

Here are a few cute pictures of  Gavin  and Grant.

I cant leave without showing you some of the messes that Grant likes to make as well... 

Never a dull moment with lil bundles of joy around.... 

"Children are a heritage from the LORD,
   offspring a reward from him.
Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
   are children born in one’s youth.
 Blessed is the man
   whose quiver is full of them. "

Blessing, 

 Stephanie

He Won't Let Go.

Just to let some of you in on a little secret... Rascal Flatts is like my all time favorite band. I've been a fan of them since way back when.... The first time I remember one of their songs making an impression on my life was when they sang, "God Bless the Broken Road".  While Rascal Flatts is not a Christian band, one of its members Jay DeMarcus started his career as part of the Christian group East to West.  I knew I loved these guys for a reason.  All of them are all accomplished songwriters, and have written several of their own hits. The lead singer Gary Levox has the most amazing vocal range. I just love to hear him harmonize! 

They have recently come out with this new song, "I Won't Let Go" which I was instantly drawn to. The song is not meant to be a christian song, so to speak! But.....If you look at it from the perspective of this being God's message to a lost and hurting world, you may find it has quite the soul stirring effect. Life is a storm but we don't have to go through it alone. "He Won't Let Go!"  Notice in the video, he even points toward heaven :)

Hebrews 13:5-6 "Let your conduct be without covetousness, and be content with such things that you have, for he has said, 'I will never leave you, nor forsake you,' so that we may boldly say, 'The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do to me.'"

  (We all have probably been in physical need at some time. All of us are in spiritual need, and will remain that way as long as we live in this body of flesh with its carnal nature. But God does not abandon us. Never, Ever! We can always trust in him to be there for us, no matter how hard things may seem.)

 Blessings,
 Stephanie