Missy's Moments

Last night at Epik we honored the seniors that were there, we heard what their plans are, prayed over each one individually and thanked God for the blessing they've brought us. It was amazing to watch these young men and women and be a part of this. I left there and headed downtown because you see not all kids walk the same journey, I tried to imagine my oldest son walking a different journey, not feeling the pain he's felt at a young age, being freed from the bondage of addiction, and realized that although his journey looks very different he is NEVER out of the reach of God, he made a commitment younger in life and no matter how much he runs from God He will keep running into God, he'll forever be reminded of how he is loved, he'll forever be fought for, he is forever His no matter where life brings him. I prayed for him as I often do and when I was done praying I thought about how hard it is to have to look at a video screen to visit, to not be able to call and j...

I am thankful for the memories my boys will have of growing up and hanging out with Daddy, raking leaves or whatever other project happen to be going on outside our house walls. I knew exactly what pictures I wanted to use for day four. At our old home it was a yearly tradition to have a leaf raking day and all three boys would help Dad get the trailer filled and they it would get hauled off to the compost pile. The boys would have so much fun out there laughing and playing and probably much to Rick’s dismay only a little raking actually went on from anyone under age! Our new house only has a few baby trees that don’t really require raking. In fact I think the few leaves they have blew away. By the time they are big enough to produce a fall mess I’m hoping our boys will come visit and clean up mom and dad’s yard just like in the ‘old days’ Did you notice Princess Kayla was no where to be seen? Easy answer for that- 1. either there was shopping going on or 2. there are to many ...

This first picture is a perfect picture of the glimmer Sam gets when his smile is full of fun! (and maybe a bit of mischief ) Here we have Eric- his smile is always so genuine. He melts my heart. This picture was taken when Jack was about a week old- do you recognize that exhausted but completely joy filled smile of a new mom? I think we forget those first weeks consist of more than just exhaustion and feeding and diapers. This last picture was taken in 2006. A lot had been happening in our lives the months previous to this and it was really a treat to be able to spend some time together. I’m not a baker so I bought one of those gingerbread house kits. From the looks of things my kids have gotten my talents. There are just two many smiles to choose from! As you can see the smiles of my kiddos are my favorites. I could have kept going and posted tons of old favorite pictures and even new favorites! I am thankful for my children, their smiles, their laughter. I love it when we ...

All 4 of my children were under one roof for Christmas this year. Hope it is a start of new traditions. starting on the left. Kayla, Bobbie (aka mom), Chris (brother), Alissa (Chris’ better half), Eric, Sam, Me, Jordan, Ryan (cousin), Kathleen (aunt). And behind the camera is Rick. All 11 of us enjoyed a great Christmas. Oh let’s not forget these two… Macy aka dufus and Bixby

Rumor has it that I don't like change. Apparently in the past I have been known to get a little... shall we say "on edge" when things change. I am quite certain that I am making good strides in getting past my refusal to accept reluctance to change, yet there are changes happening in my life, and in the life of my children, and in Rick's life. The emotions with each situation are so different I wonder some days just how one can go to through all these different feelings and not loose their mind. Well I don't really wonder, I do know how, but it doesn't change the fact that some days the rawness of emotion is exhausting and frankly there are days where I just pray and thank God for those distractions that keep me going. Last summer we made the decision to put our house on the market. We really had no timetable to keep for when we sell but honestly I don't think either Rick or I was prepared for the fact that it would take 9 months to sell our house ...

For Christmas my mom gave me a new camera. I just w anted something simple to put in my purse and take out and point and shoot. Well I've pulled it out of my purse a few times but really have yet to transfer the pictures. I started looking at them tonight... we've had a busy year so far and we're only 3 months into it. By January we had just a little bit of snow.....    We've all piled in the car to vacate the house while potential buyers looked.  Went to visit Rick's Mom (above) and Dad (below) Some intense games of Monopoly.... no longer is there railroads and Boardwalk- nope now it's airports and disney world!   We are offically a 'WILD' family- we've had the chance to attend a few games and have a blast each time.    Went to the Waterpark of America (above) and Nick Universe (below)   Have a great birthday dinner with ALL my kiddos (at once I might add). Last 30's b-day or should I say m...

Earlier in the week it was one of those cold crisp mornings and our front tree had a lot of leafs falling. Sam looked out the window, saw the falling leaves and very proudly announced "look mama it's fall today "! We got out to rake yesterday, or should I say the boys did. What a beautiful fun day!

  This pictures were part of a online album. For the sake of having everything in one spot I’m moving them here. On October 16, 2005 Kayla, Jordan and I all entered the waters of baptism. This was a decision made by all of us at separate times, although because we only had one Baptism weekend at our church we shared this weekend together. We all wrote out our testimonies and they were video taped before the day. There are screens that are unseen in the pictures that play the taped testimonies before we are submerged. I am going to try to find our testimonies that are written out and add them at a later date. Jordan Kayla Missy

This is how this morning started out..... 1. Kayla~ I heard her alarm this morning and somehow in the race to beat her to the shower forgot about her existence. Jordan came out to get breakfast and asked me if Kayla was already gone... hmmmmm? Well it's 6:48 her bus came by, funny she would have said good-bye and gotten lunch money... I better go check. There under the heap of blankets was a girl resembling my daughter, somewhat panicked looked on her face when I said "KAYLA IT'S TEN TO SEVEN!!!" She got ready and missed the first 20 minutes of study hall. Lucky for her it was just study hall. 2. Jordan~ I think his morning went well. No complaints from him or about him. Yeah Jordan! 3. Eric and Sam~ First words out of Eric's mouth while getting all teary... "I wanted the sun to be out"... oh boy, sorry buddy can't do much about that. Mommy can fix a lot but he was out of luck on that one. Then he decided his legs didn't work and wanted me ...

I can't even begin to tell you how tired I am this week. Good golly we have gone full speed from sun up (actually before) to sun down (much after). Things should settle down a bit and I think I wrote about this before but thinking about life being busy and actually being in the mist of it is two different things. Everyone has a full week back at school now. Sam is really enjoying preschool. He REALLY loves his music class which is one morning a week. I'm so glad because that was the class I wasn't sure about. I signed him up because it's on the morning of our women's bible study. I didn't think it was fair to put him in child care when there was another option available. I do think the childcare has planned activities but it's by no means as structured as the preschool class. He was telling me after the first class last week "mom we held this thing and got a stick and got to bang it and it was loud" What more could a boy want? A loud thing ...

Yesterday at 6:57am Jordan got on the bus. Kayla didn't have to be to school until noon so one more day to sleep in a bit, well minus the 1/2 day that it takes to primp and prep hair, clothes and make-up for a teen age girl. Today it was Sam's turn. And mine  😊 Tomorrow it's Eric. Required first day pics as follows:  This is Kayla, I was getting ready to take the picture and her phone rang, her ride was also pulling up. This is pretty much how I see her most of the time anyway so the picture is very fitting! 10th Grade Jordan 8th Grade Sammy Boy Pre-K Sam had his first day of preschool today. It was my first day too so we went together. (Eric hung out with grandma B) I think Sam kind of liked having mommy around. He was great about letting me talk with other kids and helping me play a game in the gym. We have a early drop off option and that was where I was working before our class began. That is also where Sam is before He goes to his class....

  July has produced many, many days of doing nothing. In fact I’m quite sure it’s the first time in a long, long time that I haven’t felt overwhelmed by life. Know what? I really like it..... A LOT. Sure we’ve had errands and grocery shopping, there’s been this and that, life has not come to a complete stop but I have to say I’m enjoying summer. Here’s what we have been doing, and I’ll start with me. Working on fall schedules. These lazy days will end. I officially have a child in every department of our church. I decided that I would volunteer the 2nd weekend with early childhood and elementary. Our high/middle school leaders all have children. Last year they started providing child care during their events so on the second Sunday evening I will be there. Whewwww. That was easy. Point there: Don’t call me the second weekend of the month! MOPS is getting ready to start up. I have a new position this year and I’m motivated and curious to see how God will work here. I am partnering w...