All A's...

So proud of both Dylan and Mason! They both had all A's all year long...actually they have had all A's every year since they started school. The day may be coming for that "B" to arrive but as long as they have tried their hardest...I will be just as proud! I can already tell that I am going to be spending a lot of time (and money) at Books A Million...Dylan has already finished a 472 page book in less than a week. I am not going to complain... it is much better than TV and video games.

Which brings up another subject...have you ever thought about turning the TV off...We have TV but we do not have cable or satellite. We have Netflix which lets us watch and screen what is being watched. To be honest for us the commercials were worse than the shows sometimes. We have been doing this for about a year and a half and we have not missed TV. When we first decided to do this I figured by winter time we would have it turned back on. So far so good...we haven't missed it a bit!

I am so proud of you boys! I love you with all my heart and am so thankful to be your momma!

Camp and Gown...and a few tears!

My niece Alyssa just graduated high school. How can that be possible! The little girl who was about four years old when David and I first met is all grown up! I have to say this was one of the best graduations I have ever attended...not that I have attended many but I was very impressed with the young adults who spoke at this graduation. I was so proud to hear God at the forefront of every speech! Just when you think the time is near where you cannot mention GOD in school because it will offend someone...these kids take a stand. It is about time we all take a stand! I have been doing a little research and asking questions here and there and it is my understanding that the ACLU cannot MAKE you quit praying is schools and they cannot MAKE you stop handing out Bibles in school. The problem with all of this is that we just stand by and let it happen without putting up a fight. To be honest, I am ready for a fight! I am ready to stand up for my rights and the rights of my children...I don't really care if there is one person out there who doesn't want to hear God in the pledge...then don't say it. I don't care if they do not want to accept a Bible when it is offered...then don't take it. I don't care that they don't want to hear prayers in school...then plug your ears! One person changes everything. Well, then one person can change it back. Not sure if anyone out there has heard of Matthew Starver and the Liberty Counsel but I understand he is willing to stand up and fight for the rights of people just like in White County whose rights are being taken away. If we all stand up and fight for our rights we can make a difference but nothing is going to happen if we are passive and think well someone else will do something about it. The day has come that if we don't do it ourselves and work together to make a difference I am afraid to know what the future will hold for our children in this world! Well, I have gotten way off track with this post but this has weighed heavy on my heart for a few weeks.

Back to Alyssa!!! I am so proud of the woman she is becoming. She is a very strong, smart, beautiful young lady who has a bright future ahead of her. I know that whatever she puts her mind to she can accomplish! We were so blessed to be able to stay with Jeff, Steffani, Alyssa & Katrina in Fayetteville last Friday night so we could be there for graduation. We had a wonderful time...we don't get to do that very often and to spend as much time together as we would like to...we are going to change that. We really had the best time! We feel we have missed out on so much of the growing up of Alyssa and Katrina because we always lived several hours apart. They are growing up so fast and before we know it Katrina will be graduating too! Katrina is just as beautiful and smart as her sister is and the boys loved spending time with her! She gets out there and plays with them and they love it and her! We love you girls! We are always here fore you...no matter what!

Our favorite passtime...Camping!

We have been camping since Dylan was 6 months old...so for about 10 years! WOW...I really can't believe we have been camping that long and that Dylan is 10 years old. When I was little we had a camper and would camp for a few weeks out of the year with family and friends at the lake. I have always remembered this time in my life and looking back on it I knew that it was something that I wanted to do with my family. The boys love it! They love to hike, ride bikes and scooters, play on the playground, swim, play ball, fish, built a campfire, roast marshmellows or sometimes just hang out in the camper and play games or watch a movie. Camping is a special time for our family...it is a time to slow down and relax, enjoy being with each other and spend some time away from the rush of our every day lives. I feel it is such a blessing for us to be able to do this with our boys and I hope that someday they will do the same with their family! If not the grandkids will just have to come visit old mops and pops at the campground :)

Happy Birthday....

Happy Birthday to the best husband ever! I thank God for him every day! It is hard to believe that we will be celebrating our 13th anniversary this summer...where have the years gone too!! I am so thankful that God allowed me to find such a wonderful man. Looking back now I was such a baby when I married him. At 20 years old I thought I knew it all...I was wrong! We have truly been blessed over the last 13 years. Of course, we have had our ups and downs, struggles and trials but through it all we have become stronger. Stronger in our marriage and most importantly stronger in our faith. I am so thankful to be watching God's plan unfold for our lives. He certainly had a plan 13 years ago! I may not have seen it then but I definately see it now. He has blessed us with four miracles who make us laugh and smile every day! I already dread the days of a quiet house and no little boys running around. Maybe we will have lots of grandkids!!!

Happy Birthday David! I love you with all my heart. I truly married my best friend and thank God for you every day! You are such a wonderful daddy to our boys and I love watching you with them!

The Best Momma In the World...

I am so very blessed to have the greatest mom in the world. She has truly been an example and inspiration to me on how I should live my life. I only hope that I can be as great a mom and "Grandy" (someday) as she is. I am so thankful that God has given me a Christian mother...not only a Christian mother but also a Christian father. I had the privilege of growing up in a Christian home where right and wrong were taught. A home where we attended church every Sunday and Wednesday. This was the normal...and I am so glad we didn't know it any other way. I was not perfect, that is for sure, and I made my fair share of mistakes and of course have the things I wish I could go back and change (the if I only knew then what I know now things). It is because of my parents though that I was able to see the number one thing I needed in my life and that my kids need in their lives...GOD! Without God we are empty and unsatisfied. With God there is no void. I am not talking about knowing about God or who God is or some facts about the Bible or God. I am talking about a relationship with him. So many things offer happiness and fulfillment if only we use their product, read their books, or listen to their stories. These somehow always fall short. We spend so much time pampering and indulging our bodies and minds that we forget about our souls. God wants us to know Him. He doesn't want us to just know about him. God wants to be your friend! God wants to be there for you through everything that is happening in your life. He wants you to know He is with you. Our friends may fail us, but God never will. Just like Dylan's favorite group, Stellar Kart, sings "by your side, through the fight, you will never be alone, on your own, you've got me and Jesus".

Thank you momma and daddy for being loving, Christian parents and an example to me. Thank you for always being their for me whenever I need you. I love you both very much!

Graduation Day!

Sunday was graduation day for Jack. He graduated from Tender Treasures at our church where he attends a mothers day out program two days a week. I cannot even believe it is time for him to go to kindergarten. I will miss my Jack so much when he is gone all day. I know that his baby brother will miss him too :( All of our kids have attended this program at church and it doesn't get any easier with each of them. When it is time for the slideshow...momma loses it and the tears start rolling!! I love watching all of the fun things they get to do and oh my to see how much they grow from the beginning of the year until the end is unreal. My little Jack is growing up so fast! Although some days I want to freeze time so I can keep them little forever I look forward to what the future holds for each of them.

Jack is the life of the party though. There is not a shy bone in him. He is such a social bug and not afraid to talk to anyone...sounds like his daddy. While Dylan and Mason are both reserved and think they can't talk to anyone and stare at the ground when someone talks to them...I am trying to work on this! They are all so special in their own way though. Dylan is very smart and loves to draw and read! He is great at both! He amazes me at some of the drawings he does. He also loves to write stories and illustrate them! He is constantly with a book in his hand... I believe I have bought four books and the last two weeks and he is almost finished with the fourth. I am not talking about little tiny books I am talking about 200 page books! Dylan is a lot like his momma...according to his daddy! Mason is my tender hearted child. You can look at Mason with a stern look and he will cry! He is such a loving child...and I love to hear his prayers! They are always so strong and meaningful. He is also very smart! He has taken after his older brother in the reading department...he reads every night before bed...under the covers... with his book light! He is so loving and kind. He can also do some mean flips on the trampoline! Jack is daddy's boy! Wherever David is that is where Jack wants to be! He loves for his daddy to take him to school in his truck! He is a very smart little boy too! He loves to help daddy ...and me for that fact! Ever since he was little he always helped empty the dishwasher and put the clothes in the washer or dryer (something I should have started with the other two when they were little). He is always eager to help no matter what you are doing. As for Noah well, I can only imagine Noah will be a stinker...he won't have a choice! The baby out of four boys...he will be rough and tough and a bit mischievous ( I can already see it ) . He is trying his best to get into everything right now which is what he is supposed to be doing! Momma can't take her eyes off of him!

I am so blessed to be their momma and so thankful that God has entrusted four little boys to me to raise. It is a full time job but not a job I would trade for anything! Not just on mother's day but every day I want to be thankful for being a mommy and that God has given me such a wonderful gift! As for what the future holds come back and visit Where Four Boys Grow!!!

Graduation pictures in a few day!! (When my husband brings my camera back home)