I am joining Amy's SHMILY group to pray for our husbands for the month of June.  We are using Stormie Omartians book called "The Power of a Praying Wife"  I am enjoying it so much!  I feel so convicted in this area of my life.  I often wonder if I had been praying for my husband for specific things and in a deep committed way since the beginning of our marriage 15 yrs ago this coming August where would he be now?  Don't get me wrong, my husband is a wonderful man who LOVES the Lord but if I could go back I would do some many things different as a wife and prayer for him regularly would be my main priority.  There are so many things I would do different, I have NOT always been the best wife, actually many times I have been down right rotten. 

Everyday we are to pray about something different for our husbands.  His job, his finances, his faith and much more.  I will blog about some of the challenges as I go.  Amy has also put on her blog activities we can do and the 1st one is a list of all the things we love about our husbands so I thought I would share mine here!

He is so patient!

He is very kind hearted!

He is the greatest dad I have ever known!

He works hard so we can be a homeschooling family!

He loves to video all of our family memories, he gets so touched when he watches his family memories!

He LOVED his mom so much!  She died last year and it has been very difficult for both of us!

He LOVES Jesus!

He always makes me feel beautiful, even though I have gained too much weight he has never made me feel ugly or not sexy!  He stills loves me the way I am

I find him very handsome!  He hates that he has put on weight, I still find him very handsome!

He loves animals!

He is a great COOK and does most of the cooking (I know I'm so spoiled)

He pumps my gas (I know, I know-how very spoiled I am)

He always lets me know how much he misses me when I'm gone and always says I love you on the phone.

He prays for me!

He is ALWAYS supportive of my endeavors no matter what they are!

He takes care of me when I'm sick!

Wow, I could truly go on and on.  Actually when I read about others who have struggled with loving difficult husbands, I often feel guilty because it has truly been ME that has been the difficult one over the years but God is really working on my heart and I am really working hard to change that.  I want my husband to know how very much I love him and I don't ever want to take him for granted.  Thank you Jesus for bringing this man in my life!

This week's assignment to to name 27 things we are thankful for since Thanksgiving fall on the 27th this year so here goes!

1.  God, I know thats the right answer and we feel sometimes we have to put that, but let me tell you without him I wouldn't make it through each day, this year especially after losing my mom-in-law.  I have so needed him to comfort me and to fill a void in my life only HE could fill!

2.  My family-I know each day how blessed I am to have three beautiful children and a husband that loves me, I don't ever want to take that for granted.  Thank God for them, even when I'm messed up they still love me.

3.  My church and church family-I have been there since the age of 7 and I continue to be blessed that every week I still hear the Old Old Story out of the Word of God.  That I have truly learned what the hymn says, I'm getting to used to the family I'll spend eternity with! 

4.  My extended family- my brother, my husbands brother, 2 wonderful sister in laws, a niece and nephew who I adore, 2 dads (one each), and a mom and even though my mother in law is in heaven waiting our arrival I will ALWAYS be thankful for the time I had on earth with her!  She NEVER leaves me!  We have such a great times as a family and I cherish every celebration, dinner, outing, visiting and everything else I do with this crew!  I love you all!

5.  Our health-  We really want to strive to lose weigh here at home this coming year but we have truly been blessed with good health, I'm thankful for it!

6.  My friends-the ones I know personally and the ones I have met here online or in my blog world.  I feel so blessed in this area.  I have friends that pray for me, have truly held me up when I thought I would crash, they have encouraged me and wept alongside of me.  You know how blessed you are when your friends weep with you just because they know you hurt so much!  Thank you so much for all of you!

7.  My new jobs working at home.  We very much needed the money and now I'm working for my brother and doing some freelance work for the Old Schoolhouse, I'm thankful God provided these so I could be home with my children to educate and train them!

8.  Homeschooling-what an honor and privelage it is to homeschool my children.  I truly LOVE it and can not picture them not here with me.  I know this is a right I can not take for granted and I'm thankful I can do it.

9.  My country- I am concerned about my country, I hope we never lose focus on our freedom and never forget who gave it ALL to us.  But I'm very thankful to live in a free nation, I'm thankful for the troops and their families who sacrifice it all to make it happen.

10.  My home-I know how fragile times are and I'm thankful that my family have a roof over their heads and beds to sleep in.  We so often take these things for granted but I know that there are many this holiday season with no home!

11.  God's Word-it lifts me up and gives me Wisdom

12.  Our pets who bring us joy and companionship

13.  The Homeschool Crew and other review companies I review for-I cherish every product that comes through my door, I just can't believe people are giving me things to just share about their product.  This blesses me more then anyone could ever know.  Everytime I get a package I just thank Jesus for providing it for our family.  It's been pure joy to be on this crew!

14. My homeschool coop-I belong to a wonderful coop, I'm very thankful for that.  My kids and I have met so many great people and have learned so much with all the extra classes you can't get in during your busy day.

15.  My blog I know this may sound silly but I really enjoy blogging and I'm thankful for it.  Its a real outlet for me-I have learned so much from other blogs as well, they make you celebrate motherhood!

16.  I know I put this last year but I am still Thankful.  My mini van.  My inlaws bought this van for us in 2004 and it gets our family around everywhere.  And there is plenty of room for our STUFF!

17.  The necessities of life-food, water, clothes, again I know there could be a day where its not so easy to have these, I thank God that we do.

18.  My Fathers World Curriculum-I use several thing in homeschooling but MFW is our core.  I love that it is a biblical worldview mulit age curriculum.  We have learned so much this year reading about missions and how much the world needs Jesus!

19.  Chocolate(you have to be thankful for it)  Its just wonderful!   Dove and Reeses are my all time favorites!

20.  My childrens laughter-I love hearing them down the hall laughing, it bring such joy!

21.  Prayer-I'm thankful its my communication with God, its what keeps us connected and thankful for people who pray for me, don't know what I would do without it.

22.  Christmas- I just LOVE it!  It is truly The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

23.  The Seasons-living where I do you get to enjoy every season, I love that!  There is something I look foward to on every one-even winter!  I'm going to share that on a blog entry later

24. My hubbys cooking.  Wow, does he ever cook good!  I love it.

25.  internet-I know the internet can be a bad thing but if used wisely it can be such a blessing.  We have found so many homeschooling sites, travel, recipes, and just staying connected with groups.  Its been wonderful.  I could get rid of the tv but my computer or internet you would have to pry out of my hands.

26.  Music-I love it, it lifts me up!

27.  My hobbies- Scapbooking especially-I love making something that is going to bless my family years from now!

Wow!  27 is alot, if you made it to the end of my list-I commend you!  Its nice having it though, last year I did a thankful list using the alphabet, if your interested here is the link.

   I have two new awards from some blogging buddies.  The first one is the Sharing the Love award.  Thanks Kim for this one!

This lovely award is created by Crystal @ Memoirs of a Mommy in honor of Noah and the donor of his sweet little heart who ENCOURAGES us to SHARE THE LOVE ! Thanks Crystal! [Click on Memoirs of a Mommy to learn and read this special love story!] The rules for this award are to pass it along to some people whose blogs you love. They make you laugh, smile, leave encouraging comments on your blog. You would like to share some love with them because they have uplifted, inspired, encouraged or prayed for you. Please include this paragraph with the link to Memoirs of a Mommy so that everyone know where this award originated from.

I would like to pass this on to

Pursnsnorts

Kindredhearts

The next one was given to me by my lovely sister in law- Pursnsnorts!

Arte & Pico award.

About the award:

This award was created to be given to bloggers who inspire others with their creativity and their talents, also for contributing to the blogging world in whatever medium. When you receive this award it is considered a special honor. Once you have received this award, you are to pass it on to 5 others.

Rules:

You have to pick 5 blogs that you consider deserve this award for their creativity, design, interesting material, and also contribute to the blogger community, regardless of language.
Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his or her blog to be visited by everyone.
Each award-winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given her or him the award itself.
Award-winners and the one who has given the prize have to show the link of "Arte y Pico" blog, so everyone will know the origin of this award.
To show these rules.

You can read more about this award at http://arteypico.blogspot.com/

Schoolinrhome

Julie

Candace

Kendra

Vanessa

Carissa

Don't forget to nominate your favorite homeschool blogs at at the homeschoolblogawards.  I have so many to nominate, it is so hard, there are so many great ones out there.  Hurry, you only have until the 24th.

Wow!  What an honor-I feel so blessed!  The Old Schoolhouse Magazine has picked 100 homeschoolers to be on a focus-review group.  This group will get products from homeschool vendors to review to share on our blogs, in our support groups, our lounge page, or groups that we are involved in online or in person.  I have been chosen as one of these to share about the products.  I can't tell you how excited I am about this.  The project is suppose to last 9 months so I will have plenty of things to share with you in my Tuesday Review!   I am a resource junkie and can't wait to share about some wonderful products!  The first products don't come until some time in October but keep posted here to read about them when they come!

Well today my husband and I have been married 14 years.  I'm so glad I have had the chance to spend my life with him!  Like any marriage it hasn't always been easy, there have been trials and sadness and times we just wanted to throw each other out the window!  However the joyous times have by far won out!  We have three beautiful children God has blessed us with, a love of Jesus, and a commitment till death due us part that we really mean! 

I'm so grateful that we have the same priority for our family, to raise our children in the lord., to homeschool them, to take them to church.  I can't imagine the heartbreak of not having a mate that wants that for their children and I know what a blessing that is.

I also feel blessed that my husband works so that we can be home.  We don't have much and many times have struggled with money but he feels it is well worth the sacrifice for us to care and school our own children.  I know many men that would never support that-oh how blessed I am!

If I could go back 14 years and get to make that decision again, I would make it without hesitation. 

I love you Eric, more then you will ever know!

A couple of weeks ago we had to go to our basement for a possible tornado sighting.  What really made this scary was the sky near our home was really creepy looking.  The clouds were lower then I have ever seen in person and the storm was bad.  We gathered our pets (two cats and 1 dog) and of course our family and went to our basement.  We prayed, TWICED!  Praise to God a tornado never came and it it wasn't long and we were able to come upstairs.  The real bummer ended up being that our electric was out for hours and it was a 90-degree day but hey that beats a tornado any day!  

I have really been convicted lately to simplify my life, less stuff all the way around.  I have really enjoyed de clutterering this summer.  Every bag that goes in the garbage, to Goodwill, or to other people has been a huge blessing and feels like a load off. 

I was thinking as I was in the basement what would I really miss if my home was destroyed?  Trust me I don't want to lose my home but I do know it can be replaced.  I was amazed of how little that would feel like a great loss.  Of course before anything would be my family, the thought of a loss there is too painful to even think of , I would hate to lose a pet (you know how that is)  They are a part of your family but material things, well what would I miss?  Of course my prayer was and thankfully answered I wouldn't lose anything but if I had to this is all I could think that would cause a real ache in my heart.

My pictures (ones developed and ones in my computer) There are so many memories there!  That would be a great loss.

A few things my daughter and I inherited from my MIL"S passing this year- they don't have great monetary worth but they are worth so so much in my heart.  It would be sad to lose them.

My curriculum and school books-its true these could be replaced.  But with a tight budget and many of these things borrowed-it would be so difficult to replace them for this coming school year. 

Our home videos- Wow, my husband is a video making machine-he would be DEVASTED to lose these.  There is nothing he loves more then to video his family making memories, let me tell you!  Many Many hours of our family making memories, many with my MIL that passed.  What a loss that would be!

That was my list; out of all the stuff we have when it came down to it that’s what I would miss the most!  It’s amazing how things that cost so little are what we cherish the most.  It’s a great thing to remember when we want to spend too much on something that doesn't have real value!  It helped give me a new perspective!

Today is the big day to share what we all got on the blooming swap that Monica and Carrie hosted!  This was so fun, they took the first 50 to sign up and I was blessed enough to be one of them.  Your box was supposed to be filled with things that make you think of spring! I would have taken pics of what I sent her so you all could see but I forgot. But boy did she bless me!  It felt like Christmas time, it is very rare including Christmas that mom gets a box of goodies just for her, (wow that sounds selfish, doesn't it) but it was so nice, it was like being a little girl again for a moment.  My kids got excited for me too, they all stood around while I slowly opened each item-of course the boys were making weapons out of the garden tool and my little girl was eyeing the butterfly for my garden and the angel for the door.  Lisa blessed me beyond what I could have imagined.   I took a picture of each thing; today Mr. Linky is up at Carrie's blog so everyone could see what everyone else received.  Go check out all the great boxes. 

For me it starts with the box.  Lisa painted spring flowers all over it including the word Spring, I loved it!

These towels are too pretty to use, i just love them!

tart warmer, I have always wanted one of these and it matches my apple kitchen!

Spring on wheels, this is a fun decoration!

Lots of flowers for my flower beds.

stationary, list paper and flower coupon holder

lotion and candles, yankee (my favorite)

I love this 30 day challenge that Leah  has on her blog.  It is an encouragement to read your bible everyday.  I used to struggle with this a great deal, however I begin praying a couple of years ago now that God would give me a love for his Word.  Now, I have always loved God's Word-without it I would simply be lost, however, I didn't always LOVE reading it.  I would do my obligation read when I could and go on.  Now the Lord still spoke to me through it many times but it wasn't what my heart longed for.  I wanted to thirst for it.  I wanted to not be able to hardly put it down, like when your reading a great book of some other kind.  So I began to pray for a love for the Word, and guess what- God gave it!  I started reading the message from Genesis 1 and you know I fell so in love with the stories-I have now read Genesis-2nd Kings- all of Psalms, All of the gospels in the New Testament and Proverbs at least twice.  I'm loving it.  At first I thought it must be the Message version that made such a difference but I find I can pick up any version and I still love to read it-that is the Lord for sure! Somedays I only get in 5 minutes but somedays when my husband gives me free time to do whatever I want or he takes the kids out I have been known to read for over an hour.  It has really helped me to put away the schedules.  I had tried so many bible reading schedules but always felt I was behind, once I ditched those I had freedom to read when I could.  Sometimes I don't get as much in as I would like.  So I thought I would do this challenge and it would help me stay accountable even more!  We make time for everything else when we need to and this is a great way to start a new habit in making time for God first!  Come join Leah and do the 30 day bible reading challenge.                             

Hopefully I will be catching up some great things about convention and I want to tell you more about a personal Bible study I have started my Beth Moore this week-I know it will help me in my reading as well!

Angela

I love to give myself new goals, not always just at the beginning of the year but it is a good time to evaluate what is working and what is not in your life.  This past year has been a tough one for sure.  We have had financial stuggles, my father in law was burned over 20 percent of his body this summer (my mom-in law really helped him get through that) and then the passing of my mother in law Jan 2nd.  If you would have told me Jan 1, 2007 that all of this would happen, especially losing my mother in law I would have said no, I could never take that.  Yet God knew what my year would bring and HE had me in the palm of his hand the whole time.  He has given me the strength to endure all of it, I'm just glad I don't have a magic crystal ball to know whats ahead.  I would probably go insane before the events actually happened.  We don't know our future, we can only know who holds it and thank God He holds mine.  I wouldn't trust it with anyone else!  I'm hoping for a less stress year of course but trusting the Lord regardless.  I thought it would be great to post some goals I have for the new year!

At the top of my list is to be a better wife, I think there is always room in this area to improve.  I hope to be the best wife my husband can have.  I want to encourage him more, pray for him often and support his endeavors.  I want to not let the petty things bother me so much and just be thankful for what a great man God has given me.  He is the most gentle, caring man I have ever known and I'm blessed beyond measure to have him- I'm ashamed to admit that I don't always show it and often look to closely at his faults.  I pray God will help me in this area the most!

Second is my children- With my first child I was so in tune to him.  I loved becoming a mother and I worked hard with him.  I worked on his character, and enjoyed every moment with him, sadly with my last two who were only 17 months apart life got hectic, I got busier, and my commitment to my children seem to suffer.  I want to spend more quality time with them, I want to work harder on showing them what a joy to me they are.  I want to pray for them more and work more intently on teaching them about God.  I want to teach them more about first time obedience.  Not because I want to dictate but because I know they will be better adults and servants of God if they can learn that now.  I want to treasure every moment homeschooling them, it won't be long and I won't have them anymore to homeschool because they will be grown-I don't want to take that for granted.

I want to work more on my health.  I'm overweight and need to exercise more often.  I want to have a long life on earth to serve the Lord, and see lots of grandbabies some day.  I also know that my body is a temple of Gods and I want to treat it accordingly.

My husband and I would love to be debt free.  Who doesn't right?  We want to work harder on financial peace and freedom.  Selling on ebay, odd jobs, whatever it takes to get better with our fiances!  Again we know there are many scriptures on debt and what it does to our lives.  I want to please the Lord in all areas of my life.

I would love to read more, it would be great to get one book in a month.  I don't know if this is realistic during the school year but I would love to try.  Reading my Bible everyday is another goal, I did pretty good last year with this, better then I ever had but I would love to get even better with it this year.

I hope to be an encourager to other moms and homeschoolers.  I am going to speak at my local homeschool support group this month on homeschooling and loving it, bringing the joy back into your homeschooling day.  I hope this is a great start to help others in their efforts to teach their children and show that anyone CAN do it if they have been called by God to do so!

With everything I do I want to please God the most.  I don't want to do anything HE doesn't want me to do and I hope to be quiet enough to Hear what HE has for me and my family. 

Angela

Wow, thank you blessinghill for the blogging with a Purpose award.  I feel so blessed and honored to get this award from you. 

Eric Novak came out the the Christian award, "blogging with a Purpose" in April, 2007.  Eric felt that with so much focus on secular awards, a Christian blogging ward was needed.

The scripture verse which inspired Eric to create this award is Matthew 5:13:  "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again?  It is no long good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.

There are a few rules to abide by for those who are nominated for the "Blogging with a Purpose" award.

1.  Awarded parties must nominate five people who have not received the award.

2.  The blogs that receive the award must serve some purpose.

3.  In their post about the award they to link back to this entry.

4.  Awarded parties must post the award banner on their site, and must remain linked to Eric's site.

Here are five of my dear friend bloggers that I am passing it on to.

SchoolinRhome

MiryClay

Heart Print

Jenn4Him

KindredHeart

I was given the Spirit of Christmas award from NaturalPaths.  

This award is for those who talk about and show the spirit of Christmas in their blogs. 

What is the spirit of Christmas you ask?

Quite simply it is those that have a generous and giving nature...those who care about others. ..those who have a kind word to say or a broad shoulder to lean on in the times that others need that...those who display the "Spirit of Christmas."

Pass this award along to five others that have touched your heart with their kind, giving, and caring nature

I will be passing this on to 5 people.  I hope you all enjoy!  What a fun picture this is.

Tiany

Canadagirl

mrsincredible

kellieann

lauraedythe

Wow!  Thank you so much for the ones who voted for me, I will put this in my sidebar soon.  I am truly shocked.  I never thought for a minute I would be a nominee, it never even crossed my mind.  I wouldn't have even known if  schoolinrhome didn't wish me well for being a nominee.  My blog name is Homeschooling and loving it, however they have listed me as Our Family because thats what my dh put next to our stick people at the top.  That is  fine because that name is good too but I did want you all to know if you went looking for me.  I was nominated for best encourager and cyber buddy.  The voting begins December 3rd.   I just feel so good that my blog has encouraged others in their homeschooling, I can't tell you what your blogs and your comments have meant to me.  Again, thank you- I feel so blessed!

I also wanted to thank naturalpaths for this blog friend award. She has blessed me so much with her comments and blog entries.  I truly feel like I know her, just like she lived next door.  Thank you dear friend.   I just feel so blessed on my blog this Thanksgiving weekend.  I'm supposed to pass it on to 5 friends.  So here they are.

samman2007 (my son who is dying for an award)

Jenofavonlea (without her I wouldn't be blogging) 

SchoolinRhome

Keri

blessedwith2angels

Angela

Well I have seen so many thankful list, I love reading them.  Everyone that has done them have made me realize how much we have to be thankful for.  I love Monicas tradition of doing the ABC thankful list, I have been commenting everyday on each letter she puts out so I thought I would put my whole list on my blog.  So here goes!

A- Allie, my only daughter and my baby who I love so much.  I can't believe she is almost 4 already!  A little girl I have to share my jewlrey and have tea parties with, a little girl who I hope grows up to be a woman of God and a great friend of mine.

B-Boys, for a long time I only had boys.  Wow, how fun they are.  I never could have imagined what boys would bring to my life as mom. 

C-Church, I still go to my childhood church, a small church that is truly family.  We don't have a lot of bells and whistles but I wouldn't trade it for anything.  A church that teaches the word of God and has enough love to keep you.

D- My dad!  A man who is not biologically my father but you would never know.  He has loved me like his own since I was one and introduced me to a man named Jesus!  Thank you dad! 

E-Eric, the man I married 13 years ago, the love of my life.  Without you I wouldn't be who I am today, I look forward to growing old together

F- Family, I am so blessed with my family at home as well as with my extended family.  I am so blessed in this area.

G- girlfriends-they say you are lucky to have one great friend in life, I'm so blessed to have many.  The times I have turned to my friends for a broken heart or major trial or rejoiced with them in great times.  I love each one of them, and each one has brought something different to my life!

H-my home.  I used to be down on my home, all the time wishing for something better.  The Lord has changed that, it may not be fancy or my dream home but its mine.  Everyday I turn into my driveway now I thank the Lord that I have a place to be, that my children our warm and happy memories are taken place there.  Thank you Jesus for my home

I- ice cream, the all time comfort food!

J-Jesus, my Lord and Saviour-without him I would be nothing!  Thank you dear Jesus for paying a price you didn't have to pay so that I could spend eternity with you.

K- my kitty cats, what stress relief they are.  I love the way they sleep all the time in the most comfy places and show us affection when we need them the most!

L- Love, without it life would be empty!

M-mom, thankful for the overnights and shopping trips and us just laughing our heads off together and mom-in-law who is fighting a deadly disease with courage and a fighting spirit, I have learned more from you then you will ever know.

N-my niece and nephew (I have one of each)  I love being your aunt, I hope I can measure up to be a great one to you both.  Love you guys!

O-Optimism- I love the glass half full approach although I haven't always taken it.  I love to be optimistic for the future and am thankful for it.

P-Piano, I love to hear my son play!

Q-Quiet, being a homeschooler and having everyone around all the time I do cherish the quiet times I have, it sure makes you appreciate those times although I know  someday it will be too quiet!

R-my last name which I wear proudly since marrying the love of my life!

S-Sam, my firstborn, my son.  The most kind , good hearted child I have ever know.  Already at 8 a boy who believes firmly in prayer.  I can't wait to see how the Lord is going to use you.   I love you!

T-The telephone (where I'm sure I'm on too much), I have shared so many things on the telphone with good friends and family, so many times I have been so excited to just pick it up to share good news or to just reach out to someone in the midst of hearbreak.

U-umbrella, my sister in law bought me a huge one with polka dots last year because I wanted one my whole family would fit under.  I LOVE it!

V-my van, a gift from my inlaws in 2004 and what a gift it was.  It has taken our family on vacations, trips around town, dr. visits, grocery shopping, christmas light seeing and all kinds of other places. 

W-The Word, my manual and map for life.  I would not know what to do without it, I'm thanful I live in a country I can carry it freely and do not have to hide it, may it always be so!

X-xmas, I hate to use that word for Christmas but I'm desperate for an X word.  Thank you God for sending your son that wonderful night, what a sacrifice-we could never repay you!  How blessed I am to know HIM as saviour.

Y- My yard is large and fenced in.  I love sitting in my swing under the tree and watching my children play or my 90pound lab run around.  My dh built the kids a huge swingset last year and its so much fun even for me.

Z-Zach, my middle child who is full of life and spunk.  He is full of emotion and when he is excited he gets the whole house excited.  He is mommas boy all the way.  He loves, I mean LOVES cars and trucks and has overcame so many obstacles (late talker, etc)  I can't believe how he is maturing.  Love you little man!

Feel free to leave any of your thanksgivings this year, I would love to hear them.

I have been blessed with an award from Kerriruth, Thank you for thinking of me-I appreciate it more then you know.  I would like to give this award to three of my blogger friends.  If you accept awards please copy it and send it on to others!

Candace - I enjoy seeing your blog so much!  You always have so many hands on projects and I love the I'm thankful post, thanks for sharing your life with us!

AFJen88 - Its my turn to bless you with an award, thanks for having such a great blog, I enjoy reading it alot!

NaturalPaths - You always leave such nice comments and have so many great things for me to see and read as well, I'm so glad your on my friends list!

I hope you all enjoy this award!

Angela

Tracy over at homeschool boutique is giving away free t-shirts!  Check the details out over at her blog, HERE, there is a limited amount so HURRY, HURRY!

Angela

I have been blessed and given the You Make Me Smile Reward from AFJen88, I feel very honored that I have made someone smile while reading my blog, I need to give it some bloggers who make me smile regularly.  Its really tough because I love all of them, I tried to pick a few so they could pass it on to others.  Here is the rules from the person who created this award. Feel Free to change it a little if you need to.

The thing that I love most about blogging is that I learn so much about a person just by reading their blog. I have met MANY wonderful people with wonderful stories to tell,and I am grateful every day for each person that I have the pleasure of crossing paths in life with.

I wanted to create something special for the top ten people who have inspired me through their blogging; the stories they tell, and the lives that they lead with grace and dignity. I visit their blogs for inspiration and encouragement.

Tiany

Canadagirl

PreschoolersandPeace

Jengresak

AussieinAmerica

henryteachers

workinprogress

If you guys want to accept pick some bloggers to pass it on to.  Thanks again so much!

Angela

Way back I wrote about all the things I loved about my preschoolers, well I also wanted to write a post about all the things I love about my oldest son (the one I officially homeschool)  He is seven.

I love my sons dimples (real deep ones like his mommy), everyone loves them.

I love his sense of humor-he is a riot

I love his tender heart and kindess (I will have to say he is the kindest sweetest child I have ever known)

I love the way he hugs his baby brother and sister every night and just out of the blue sometimes tells them he loves them.

I love our talks(anything and everything)  from why God does certain things to video games to great books we read together.

I love how excited he gets about our read alouds(he can't wait to get to his top bunk and listen)

I love his stashes around the house (he likes to have little collections in his secret places)  action figures, spiders (toy of course), all kinds of boy things.

I love the way he treats his friends, he will give them things, make them things, I only wish he received that kind of friendship back more often (something I'm praying about)

I love to watch him swim (he's quite good)

I love to play the piano with him (we are taking lessons together, its been great fun)

I love the way he loves Jesus!

Sam has been through alot of medical things and he has come out a trooper(the hardest was surgery this last March)  Its so great to see his progress and he charms the pants off the nurses and P/T, they all love him!

I love the way he helps me around the house!

I love that his Dad is his biggest hero!

I could go on and on and bore you to death, but I will stop there, I'm posting a few pictures of him so you can see how cute he is too!  Of course I'm not one bit biased!