Framing begins...

Well, the framers are on the job and have had a couple of really beautiful (and hot) days to work. The kids have been thrilled to see the daily changes. We are too. Emma has discovered that she loves sweeping up all the saw dust. Hope she will enjoy sweeping her room as much when the new house is done!

Sam on the mend...

We are thankful that Sam is on the mend. Thank you so much for all the well wishes! The kids are SO EXCITED that Sam is now free to ROUGH HOUSE around and go swimming.

Three year olds are hard to keep down!

A new twist on a beautiful old song...

Family Of God

"I'm so glad I'm a part of the family of God

I've been washed in the fountain, Cleansed by His blood.

Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,

For I'm part of the family, The family of God.

From the door of an orphanage, To the house of the King

No longer an outcast A new song I sing.

From rags unto riches

From the weak to the strong

I'm not worthy to be here

But, PRAISE GOD, I BELONG!"

God's Creation

"We fancy that God can only manage his world with battalions, when all the while he is doing it by beautiful babies. When a wrong wants righting, or a truth needs preaching, or a continent wants opening, God sends a baby into the world...perhaps in a simple home and of some obscure mother. And then, God puts the idea into the mother's heart, and she puts it into the baby's (heart) mind . And then God waits. The greatest forces in the world are not the earthquakes and the thunderbolts. The greatest forces in the world are babies."

E.T. Sullivan

Poor Little Guy

Sam went into the hospital yesterday for some minor surgery. This procedure was to prepare him for his big surgery of repairing his urethra but the surgeon decided he was ready for the "big" surgery then! Bob and I were thankful they could do the whole repair in two surgeries rather than in the usual three but we had to do some brain adjustments as it is pretty invasive and a much longer recovery. The surgery went very well but poor little Sammy is having a really tough time. Please pray for a speedy recovery for our precious boy and that his pain will subside and he will avoid infection.

Contentment...

“You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.”
- Dr. Seuss

I am a planner...always organizing and arranging everything. I often feel like I am waiting for the NEXT thing... As I played in the creek last evening with the kids (Thank you Aunt Lois and Uncle Gary) I was surrounded by rays of sunlight, rushing water and the shrieks of glee as the kids discovered and caught the next minnow or crawfish. I realize that God intends me to enjoy THAT moment and that my family is my joy. Bob and I had to laugh at dinner as the kids (all talking at once of course) were so excited to tell their individual story of the evening ALL with a different twist.

I am so thankful for each of them.

THREE years old!

This photo is my favorite...Sam is NOT a morning person and when he saw the decorations and gifts he was SO EXCITED and this smile just wraps up his anticipation into a birthday package!! He is such a fun guy!!
Just what I wanted Daddy! Some new Thomas engines for my track!!
Time for some cake! Get that candle lit Gramps so I can blow it out!
Yummy cake at Grammy and Gramps house!
SLAM DUNK!!!! Oh yeah, Uh Huh!!

What an amazing day! Sam woke up this a.m. as an official THREE year old! We look at this little fellow and marvel at the extreme changes that he has experienced in his life and marvel at how well he is doing. He is old enough this year to KNOW it is HIS day and he loved all the Thomas the Tank Engine decorations, the singing and he relished opening each gift. This year he really understood HOW to open his gifts and that they contained something very exciting. Since Sam is still too little to say what kind of cake he would like to have we went with Mitchell Family Tradition and had an angel food cake. His favorite things of the day were most certainly some new Thomas the Tank Engine Trains. Gram and Gramps got him a Little Tykes basketball hoop which was a smashing hit with all the kids. It was such a beautiful day we ended the day with some playtime at Killeny Glen and then went to sit at the Clifton Park and watch the ducks. Home for a bubbly bath and off to bed. We sang Happy Birthday to him one last time after all the kids kissed him and he was off to dreamland!

Happy Birthday dear Sammy...we sure love you...you are an angel from heaven!