So Blessed!

Yes, I am a spoiled brat. My hubby took me on a surprise cruise for my birthday! What fun! Not only that, he took me to Maui for a treat in December. So, now I've been longing so much for a new RV, as ours is 14 years old to us, having recieved it for my 36th Birthday when I had just given birth to our 5th child. It has served us well. We have camped many, many, many times in it. I'm thinking we've probablly spent well over a year of our lives in that RV BUT, it has a bunkhouse, which our son no longer fits inside, meaning, that space is used for storage, or grandkids (occasionally) and we have to make up our bed, as well as collapse the table every time we sleep. I'm sick and tired of the whole thing. We've been talking about a new trailer for the last 3 years. SOOO...with some inheritance money, we have just ordered this:

And yes, I feel overwhelmed with gratitude to both of our parents...we felt it would be a great way to honor them with something they would enjoy seeing us use. Our favorite times spent as a married couple with our parents often revolved around camping as a family! Thanks mom and dad and mom and dad! We miss you so! Hope you know how much we'll enjoy it!! And...all you kids of ours, we are expecting to enjoy you inside this trailer as well!!

Consume Me From the Inside Out

I heard this song this morning as I was running errands--I LOVE this song! If only I could always live my life CONSUMED by loving and serving HIM! It is the cry of my heart to give him praise from the inside out!

From The Inside Out
by Hillsong United
album: United We Stand (2006)


A thousand times I've failed
Still your mercy remains
And should I stumble again
Still I'm caught in your grace

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame

In my heart, in my soul, Lord I give you control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out

Your will above all else, my purpose remains
The art of losing myself in bringing you praise

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame

In my heart, in my soul, Lord I give you control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out

Chorus 2x
Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart is to bring You praise
From the inside out Lord, my soul cries out

On Turning the Big 5-0

I can't possibly be THAT old, can I??? When I was a younger woman, I thought 50 would be, like, almost dead! I didn't really think anyone who was 50 looked good, unless they were a star w/surgery! I thought it would FEEL awful, that it would hurt, you would be crippled up, pretty inactive and have no sex drive. Ok, so, it's all not true. I totally don't feel anything like that, and I don't really feel any different. So, it's WAAAYYY better than I thought. The number, that sounds pretty lame, but it feels REALLY GREAT to be me! AND, I just had to buy smaller jeans in a size 6!! Yippy! (ok, I know they've changed the jean sizes to make us feel better, but it FEELS BETTER!) Now, I suppose someone who is 25 is probably feeling just like I did. I probably don't look that great to you, but from this direction, it feels pretty good!! Here comes 60!! The pic, that's us on Spring Break celebrating my 50th!

Boys, boys, boys!

Ok... what can I say? I found the very best boy at high school...when I 1st met him, he was leading worship at chapel. I was a freshman and he was a big Junior...who could drive..hello? He loved the Lord, and way back in 1973, that was not something many guys let others know about. He did, and he was soooo cute! Tall, dark, handsome, with a great smile and amazing eyes. I flipped head over heals in love with him...unfortunately, so did my best friend. Not an easy journey, but by the end of his Sr. Year, we were dating, and he was my boy friend! Now, he's my best friend, love of my life, husband! Lucky me. Well, this loving man became the father of my children. Being the only BOY in his family of 5, he prayed for a boy or two to take the place of the absence of brothers. OK, hon. It WORKED! We had 2 bouncing baby boys, then a daughter--when we decided to go for #4, I was sure my perfect little plan would bring the "perfect" family of 2 boys and 2 girls. But no, a VERY large almost 10 lb baby boy rocked our world. My hubby was thrilled. Fast forward 6 years and we decide ok, one more try for that little girl to be sister to our daughter...umm...another bouncing baby boy. It was great! Now HE had to take 4 kids potty and I got one! My shopping excursions were pretty simple. Just me and my daughter, while the boys went camping. Soon came 2 wonderful daughter-in-laws...and then the grandbabies...surely, there would be even numbers of boys and girls...Grandbaby 1--a bouncing baby boy! Grandbaby 2---a bouncing baby boy....Grandbaby 3--a bouncing baby boy! (can you see where this is leading???) We now have 2 new babies on the way! We found out about these wonderful pregnancies the SAME DAY!! It was amazing! Ok, now surely, there will be one girl in there??? Grandbaby 4---bouncing baby boy!!! Yesterday, our daughter's ultrasound...surely, she will produce our ONLY??? granddaughter???? Grandbaby 5--YEAH!!! another BOUNCING BABY BOY. Yes, we DO KNOW HOW TO DO BOYS!!! Ok little boys on the way, no worries. Grandma really does know how to handle you! I cannot wait!!! Can you just imagine how proud my beaming husband, with no brothers at all is???? I'm beaming too!!! YEAH for BOYS!!! Besides, this means the girls can go shopping and glamming and leave the BOYS with the DADDIES!!!