Another summer day gone by...

Boy, summer is FLYING!!! I cannot believe a mere 5 weeks until school starts! Anyway, we had a great day today. I took the kids to the library for storytime. We met up with Vicky and her girls, like we have practically every week this summer. After picking out a few books and some movies, we decided to make our usual after library trip out to lunch. I'm actually surprised we've done this every week (lunch, that is), because the thought of 2 adults with 7 kids is quite frightening. I love meeting up with Vicky. Not only is her daughter, Ellie, Kyla's best friend, but I just enjoy spending time with Vicky as well, so it's a win-win situation. :) It's hard on Kyla to be surrounded with 4 boys at all times, so a great girlfriend she can play Barbies, Princesses and house with is so important and fun for her. Some of my best memories as a little girl are playing house with my sister on our lanai. It was great fun, and more than anything I want Kyla to have that little someone to be able to pretend with. I think it's so important. Anyway, after lunch, we came home, little boys napped. Kirt got home early today so I ran around making numerous returns to various stores that had just piled up in my car. I am so relieved that is done. As for the rest of this week, we are plan free but are sure to keep the kids busy for my own sanity. My mom is coming over Thursday to watch all the boys while Kyla and I go get our hair cut. I'm excited for a little mommy-Kyla time! Our biggest news of the week is our day trip to Busch Gardens on Saturday. The kids (as am I) are very much looking forward to going there this weekend, as they had an absolute blast last time!

John 6:27

I come here to post tonight what God has been laying on my heart recently. Until tonight, I haven't truly embraced it. However, when I was reading His Word tonight, the knock on my heart was finally loud enough. I have been letting my laziness of summer come into my relationship with the Lord in the past few weeks, and have truly struggled to stay atop of my reading. Finally, I decided I would sit down and start reading John again, as basically a fresh start after my hiatus. For the past few days, I have really realized that, as bad or as weird as it sounds, I am a bad shopper. I buy everything I want and don't need and truly struggle with this. I don't mean I put ourselves in debt, because we are not. I just spend, spend, spend without any true need. I have no problem buying my 85th pair of shoes, or that shirt that may actually just sit in the closet. Basically, although I do have self control, I have a spending problem. God had been totally laying it on me that I need to stop and start exhurting the self control I do have. There are SO many people on this earth, SO many people God created that have TRUE need and here I am buying another pair of shoes. Talk about rediculous. However, I tried to ignore and block out what God was telling me. Tonight, when I opened up to John 6:27, I realized God has probably had enough of this and he is going to lay it out right here in front of me. John 6:27 reads "Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you." Now, I'm not talking about food here when reading this. I'm referring to all of the non-necessities of life that I buy on almost a regular basis. So many clothes sit in my closet with tags, I have so many pairs of unworn shoes and my kids have so many outfits that are only worn once. My husband is working so hard and here I am buying all these things which spoil and without any true benefit. We rather need to put our money in places where benefits can be reaped. As I sit here in my lovely home, that has everything and more than I could ever need, I just think of all the poor starving children, children who have lost parents, people without clean water. Those people are in need. Heck, there are many people I'm sure within a 20 mile radius of me that are in desperate need. So, I am making a vow to stop spending frivolously. Until our vacation on July 26, I will not purchase anything I do not need. Although it's a short amount of time (19 days), it's a small start. I pray God uses me to fulfill his desires of my purpose here on Earth as I fully surrender to His will and purpose. All the glory is His, and I give Him all of my praise. Heavenly Father, free me from the trap that is set for me, for you are my rock of refuge.

Weekend

We had a great weekend. I love when my husband has 3 day weekends. We did a lot of shopping, a lot of hanging out, and a lot of spending time with our kids. Some highlights would have to be taking the kids to Home Depot for the monthly building project. This weekend they made super cute birdhouses. I am excited to see them hanging thoughout our yard. We also watched the LONGEST Wimbledon EVER. In fact, it was so long our TIVO didn't even record it all after 6 hours of record time! It was the most fantastic match though and my husband and I truly enjoyed watching it. We also did the typical Fourth of July fireworks. It was a little sad knowing that exactly one year ago we had arrived for our summer vacation in Iowa. Last year we were surrounded with soooo much family, and this year, all of our family in town actually left. It was weird not having any family in town.
Speaking of Iowa, we thought we would not be taking a trip there this summer. However, thanks to Spirit's wonderful deals, we got $11 flights. Needless to say, now we are going. :) The kids are ecstatic and I am super excited as well. We leave July 26 and come back on the 31. Two weeks later, school is back and session and summer will come to a close. I've actually enjoyed summer thus far, not having anything to do or places to be. It's been so relaxing and fun, even with 5 kids all by myself all day. I do look forward to the school year thought. I'm a little sad about Kyla going to school for such long days though this year. Well, my husband is home and my babies are awake, so I'm off to get some dinner started...

Baby Fever!

Man, there are so many days where I feel like I can be done having babies (because truly I would probably just keep having them..). Although I don't know if complete would be a great word, but satisfied and grateful for the children I do have. However, the second I look back at my little kids baby pictures, this feeling of satisfaction disappears and instant baby fever sets in. It makes me sad to know that I can never get those days back when my kids were teeny tiny and depended on my every ounce for their being. I carried them for 9 months, nursed them for another year and spend each and every day playing, laughing, crying, punishing and most importantly loving on these little guys. I'll leave with the oh so tempting pictures that may just coax me enough to take advantage of another blessing for the big man Himself!

My Boy is Growing Up...

My big boy that is..Sean met three girls at our little Third of July celebration and this morning when he walks out of his room, hes wearing jeans, shirt and a backwards hat. Coincidence? I think not. He's 11 now, going into middle school next year, and I have totally seen him shift from the not caring cootie stage of girls to the hmm, I think I'm starting to like one (or three) of these I've always said whoever gets Sean is one lucky chick because he is seriously going to make the BEST husband. He's a lot like his daddy, and I'm definitely one lucky wife. :)

Happy Birthday America!

What a special day today is when you truly think about it! Last night we went and "celebrated" the fourth somewhat by watching the fireworks that were displayed at Miromar. We usually see them every year, however, this year we went to our church parking lot with a group of friends. We had a great time and so did the kids!!
We are beyond blessed and grateful to have such wonderful friends in our life. Life is so much sweeter when surrounded with good people. I can only pray that all of my kids are surrounded with as great of people while they are growing up. I wish for them all to be God loving leaders in life, and I pray they never stray from this path due to influence from others. May God always be the biggest influence in their lives. Therefore, I also pray that we, as parents, continue to be influenced and led by God daily so we can lead our children through example.
Happy Birthday America!! What a glorious place our God has made for us!!

The Cutest Thing

So, I'm sitting here watching The Wimbledon and my cute litttle Carter is watching and playing in his own little match. He jumps up and hits the ball constantly(as if he's playing in the match) saying "Mommy, watch!". This boy already loves watching ANY sports more than any cartoons or kids show. His favorites are tennis, football, golf, basketball and baseball. In fact, he knows the names of all the sports, too. So, if he sees one on TV (I LOVE watching them..) he'll say, "Mommy, golf!" or "Mommy, basketball". I know in my old blog I had a post about Carter and his golf obsession. The kid just loves loves loves sports, all sports, more than any kid I know. At such a young age he was playing baseball and golfing like it was nobodys business. I can't wait for him to turn 4 so I can start signing my little man up and he can REALLY play!! For now, I will enjoy his huge amount of cuteness and sweetness in his small little body. I love my boy sooo much!!