This was Jake’s prayer at lunch today:

Thank you Jesus for my family
Thank that my mommy and daddy spank when I disobey
Thank you that that don’t spank me when I do obey
In Jesus Name,
Amen

We arrived home Thursday night at 12:00 central time. It was a good drive home. We have found that driving while the kids sleep is the easiest way to travel.

We had a busy trip to Georgia. Friday night we celebrated my mom’s 50th birthday. I planned a surprise party for her and we spent several hours hanging out with her friends and family. Her actual birthday is tomorrow, October 18.

On Saturday we met Jim’s family at the Perry Fair. There were 19 of us herding around the fair grounds. It was so fun. For those of you that don’t know me I LOVE THE FAIR!!! I didn’t get to eat everything on my list, but I did get a Granny’s Apple Dumpling. YUMMY to my TUMMY!

On Sunday, Jim started a revival at Heritage Baptist Church in Douglasville. The boys stayed with my mom Sunday and Monday. I went back to Warner Robins to go to Dr. Alex Bell. This is a totally different blog entry. I then brought them back to Atlanta for the rest of the week.

We stayed with Jim’s parents and commuted to Douglasville every night. Sunday through Wednesday was very long and exhausting.

It is nice to be home. We enjoyed seeing family, but it is nice to be home. We can’t wait to be at Crosspointe on Sunday.

Here are a few pictures from our week in Georgia.

Of course, Mema was on the phone….

Fun at the Fair
This is a picture of seven of the cousins.
Hot mama and Dan the Man….
The boys LOVED this slide. Judd would just cackle all the way down.

Rabun was very interested in the fair. I am sure that it bored her since she was there everyday:-)
Isn’t she adorable?
This is the buddy system at work. Thank you girls for all of your help.

I just loved all of the comments concerning the tennis ball. However, it doesn’t look like we have a real answer. I do believe a new tennis ball is optic yellow and I am starting agree that it may look green once it has been used for a while.

Just like Jim commented, the madness ensues… I wonder who will win the kiddos over to their side. I guess I need to start singing tennis balls are yellow to them every night.:-)

Jim and I have this on going debate in our house. We can’t seem to agree on the color of a tennis ball.

Let me ask you: Is a tennis ball green or yellow?

Jim and I are so proud of Judd. He is almost 22 months old and he is becoming a chatter box. He really didn’t say much until after the tubes were inserted and healed. It is truly amazing how much he is saying. Jim said the other day “I think that Judd is learning new words every hour.” In his newly found language skills, he has become somewhat expressive of his opinions, some people call it bossy. I would like to share a dialogue that I overheard between Jim and Judd.

Judd came running up to Jim. Judd is looking up at Jim with his arms stretched high.
“up” “up” “da da”
Jim picked him up. Usually we would have made him say please but it was early and we were still trying to wake up:-)
“out” “out” “out” as he was continuously pointing to go outside to see the cat
Jim’s response in a kind, fun, yet firm voice: “Judd man you are not the boss. Daddy is the boss.”
Judd replies “no me boss”

Don’t you just love them!

Jake has a new saying “that’s not fair” I have been quick to remind him that he doesn’t want what it fair and what he deserves.

Then again, tonight I hear that we will get what is “fair” if a certain candidate is elected. So, should life be “fair”?

Just remember that we deserve death. It is only by the blood of Jesus and his sacrifice on the cross that we do we have life. As followers of Him, we are not promised “fairness” we are told we will have trials and troubles. BUT in Him we have hope.

My baby girl is growing too fast. I cannot believe Anna Kate is already 5 months, almost six months, old. She is such a blessing to our family. She seems to be growing and doing everything so much faster than to boys. As of 5 months, she eats cereal, she rolls over both ways, holds a bottle on the occasion that I give her one, graciously gives smiles and kisses, she has starting rocking on her knees acting as if she wants to starting crawling, sleeps until 7 on occasion, and my least favorite, her first tooth broke through last weekend. Yes, teeth. I can’t believe I only had five months of the beautiful toothless grin that melts my heart. As I type, she is very fussing because the second tooth is trying to break through. 🙁

I am scared to blink because she will be walking, talking, and blowing out her first candle.

When God moved us to Tennessee He allowed us to live in this great house and He even decided to bless us with wonderful neighbors. We love their whole family but they just happen to be Alabama fans.

All day Friday all of our kids played together and as we left to go home we discussed and imaginary line that wold be drawn between our yards Saturday morning. Neither one of us, wanted to go into enemy territory 🙂 My last words before walking in the house Friday night were, “I should paint a white line down the middle.” Well the is what we woke up to on Saturday morning….
The black line was added by Jim later in the day. (just in case you are wondering, they painted in their yard not ours)

Just to through salt on the wounds, we came home from church on Sunday to find a Alabama flag on our rocking chair.

Did I really start this off by saying we love our neighbors??? 🙂 Yeah, we do! We enjoy good old fun!

It is interesting how the Lord is answers prayers.

I have been praying that I would be more intentional in my training of the boys and really try to teach them. I think one way in which I struggle is by yelling from one end of the house or raising my voice to get their attention. The Lord is quick to convict my heart, as soon as I do it I know that I should have gone to them and looked them in the eyes, spoke the direction so that I knew they understood what I needed for them to do. I can give many excuses as to why , but I think it is best described by saying, this is one of those Romans 7:15 moments,”I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” I know that the Lord is working through me, but He has chosen an interesting way of teaching me this week.

I AM LOSING MY VOICE….

I am now forced to walk to them, knell down, look them in the eyes, speak softly and clearly. I must ask myself, “Self, why don’t you do this every time?” God is growing me and everyday I need to remember that I have to decrease self and He must increase.

However, speaking softly is hard when Judd is in the neighbors yard playing and I think he is going to run into the street. I am sure I sounded like a dying cat tonight screaming JJJJUUUUDDDDDDD! either way it got his attention:-)

Top Ten Favorite Days
1. November 23
2. Feb 27
3. March 19
4. April 9
5. Dec 14
6. March 9
7. November 27
8. December 25
9. Easter
10. Dec 10
11. May 18

Can anyone tell me why ALL of these days are my favorite in 2008?