Today is a blessed day for sure. My husband Stuart has just left for work!!!! This may seem confusing to some, saying "Why would she think its great to have her husband leave the house"? Well let me clarify that statement. Stuart has been unemployed for the last 2 1/2 years!!! Its has been a trial like no other. We have been through the lowest times. Yet, through it all God has been faithful. He has provided EVERY need. In case someone doesn't know yet, God is a right on time God! He has put our family in a wilderness for a time and now we are ready to move on with many precious lessons placed deep in our hearts to take with us on the next part of our journey. I'm so thankful to have the Lord in our life. I have children that love the Lord and now know how important it is to depend completey on Him. He knows our needs and our wants....sometimes He even gives both!!!

Have a blessed day....we are for sure!

Michele

Boy oh boy how busy this life can be! School has started, well actually 1 month ago, and its been a blur. What a challenge teaching at home is with a 16month old at your side.  I knew it would be difficult but I'm really questioning myself now. I dont want to short change these kids or my baby. I'm constantly trading off telling someone to "Wait a minute, ok?"! I realize I cant help everyone all at once and someone has to wait but I feel so bad. I'm moving from" sun up" till "sun down". I've been trying to focus on the reasons why I believe Homeschooling is right and better than any day in the public school system. It doesn't take long to see this is better. Just driving by the local high school is scary enough. But, I still need to teach and be the one to get it all done. I didn't realize how rusty I was at all this. I hope I do not scare anyone off from this road. I would love any advice that you ladies might have. Any one who has little ones and homeschools older children my hat is off to you. I cant imagine trying this without the help from our Father in heaven. I now realize why I've heard my sister say she has spent many hours on her knees asking the Lord for help and grace for another day. On the other hand, this has been a hidden blessing for me too. The things I need to handle keeps my mind going and not dwelling on the financial heartache we are going through at the same time. God in His great understanding knows what is happening and will get us through. I'm so overwhelmed with life right now between it all happening at the same time and trying to stay smiling and joyous for our family that its truly like I said "a blur" this month. Thank you to those who have been praying for us. Please keep them going we so need it right now. Well I'm off to create something exciting out of hamburger...wish me luck!

Michele

 Everyone running in and out and asking for a snack has never sounded so good to my ears! Dont ever take the "well" days for granted(I'm sure none of us moms do)! We have been very sick for the past week and its been quite a bummer. Last Thursday started with Sydnie waking me up  saying " I'm going to throw up!". I wish this time she didn't ask for permission first! She decided it could't wait and let it go right at my bedside. Nothing like starting your day of with a bang LOL!. As I went downstairs Shelbie and Stuart both had their own complants. One had to go potty every minute and one was copying Sydnie. That day all three kept me busy cleaning up stuff and my clothes washer nice and full. I thought for sure I must have fed them something bad but the next two days changed that thinking. Friday was Ty and My husband Stuart's turn. First thing Sunday morning, the sick bug thought I was feeling left out because it was my turn. Sunday afternoon it was Aaron's! My mom called Sunday afternoon and I really wanted to hand it all to her to fix just like when I was a little girl. Fat chance it didn't happen. Long story short we've made it through and my house has never been cleaner. I'm soooo thankful to be feeling well and that God kept Miss Megan well as she is preparing for heart camp. My little Ty is still battling with the poops but he's little so its taking longer. Stuart and I have been going through alot lately, as my family knows, so this seemed to press down on my happiness a little harder. Once again, God is faithful and just. I know he'll see us through it all!

Love ya & Be Well,

Michele   

Last week my Dad called(who lives in Arizona) and needed prayer. First, he's been looking for a job because the Real Estate market has been slow and he needs dependable income right now. Second, his new cardiologist found a "dark" spot in his chest area during his last exam. I think it was on a x-ray. Dad has had different heart problems and has been experiencing (which he doesn't know I know- Thank-You Pat )irregular beats in the past few months. The Drs. ordered a CT scan to find out what it was. This test was to be on Thursday. He also had a job interview the same week. Wednesday night at bible study we of course asked the Lord to touch these situations for Dad. Friday afternoon Dad called. The test came back fine! It was a cist or something on his right lung, probley from the many times he's had pnuemonia. They will check it again in 3 or 4 months to make sure it hasn't grown. The job interview was great also! God is Good! They new job as offered him a positioon and he goes in to sign paperwork next week. Wow! That raises my faith and hope in the Lord to answer our prayers for a financial blessing too! The wait has been long but God is always right on time. So for now we will just keep waiting and praying for the phone to ring and receive our much needed job! I hope this helps someone to be encouraged to trust Him and He will take care of you.

Love and Blessing to You,

Michele

What fun three girls can be when we are shopping! Today I had the time to take out the girls (Megan, Shelbie and Sydnie)for a little time of fun. We don't have extra money to spend but we did have lots of unused gift cards and cash from the girls birthdays and graduations. Its nice to have little Ty around but we all need a break sometimes so the boys (Dad, Aaron, Jr.,and Ty) stayed home. We started our day at the Mall(of course) and stopped only for lunch at Taxi's -YUM! Each of the girls found great deals and had fun picking out some new clothes. I loved watching Shelbie and Megan run towards the coolest shirt or thing they both just had to have. I also loved hearing Sydnie say that everything I thought was cute and nice she thought so too( she was actually being honest!). Thank the Lord I have one real girly-girl. Megan is always fun to shop with because whatever I cant get her she has some other back up plan like her Dad or Uncle or upcoming Birthday(which she informs us of about 3 months prior!). I can truly say I had so much fun with them. I know thats what it should be but life is real and sometimes it isn't fun. We all needed today! The highlight of our day was at the"Build-A-Bear" store. Megan has been able to make a couple bears at this totally fun place and most of her cousins have too for that matter. Syndie and Shelbie usually play with someone elses or just sit and dream about which one they would make. Syd and Shelbie are so good at being excited for everything that Megs does or has even though they might not have done/have those things. They dont ask for much either because they know the money isn't there. Syndie wanted to give me her giftcard from Wal-Mart so I could get the things we NEED not what she wanted. How very giving! Of course I said No! Anyways, Stuart and I decided that today was their day to receive instead of give. I let them know after watching Megan spend her money on her "Moose" that today was their day to make one. I wish all could have shared in the joy that was on their face! They were so happy, so excited, and just shocked! Shelbie actually had tears in her eyes while smilin which of course caused me to cry too! They picked their bears, dressed them and I just felt there wasn't enough room in my heart for anymore joy to fit. Megan was blessed also watching the fun they had. After all that we were ready to go back to "the boys".

Thank-You Lord for giving us joy and fun in our day- nothing we bought shopping was better than just being together!

Love,

Michele

Wow, where have I been? Things get so busy you just don't have time some days to even write for a few minutes! Well today I'm making time. My husband took the kids  to Don Padro to go wake boarding and out for some fun today. His family is camping this week so there are lots of cousins there too. They might stay the night but we'll see how the day goes. If your wondering why I'm home blogging well put it this way, In the heat at a camp site with a 14month old who wants to be everywhere, while we wait for the boat to come back does not sound like fun to me! Ty James would be miserable. Its so much fun up there but when he's a little older it'll be better for him. Stuart's parent live up at the lake but who wants to be in the house while everyone else is in the boat or swimming? Do I sound like this is turning into a "pitty-party"...well it should! No really it's ok. Last week I had fun with all the kids at Great America. The triplets received season passes for their birthday this summer from Aunt Tina and Aunt Dorothy. We all ended up with one too! I'm not a huge fan of G.A. but it is fun for the kids and Ty will enjoy it now too. We are always looking for ways to have fun with the kids that does not cost alot! On Saturday we went to my cousin Brenda's daughter Esther's graduation Party (whew!). It was so much fun seeing some of my family that we do not see very often. I was also able to see people that I used to go to church with. Some friends I hadn't seen for probley 12-14 years! Crazy, I know. Every few minutes when someone would come in you would hear a scream and then laughter. We talked about old times and fun things we had done. It was great to show off my family and enjoy theirs too! My sister Melissa happily asked me if this was what it would be like in Heaven. Father's Day was nice for us as always. Church and then off to see Stuarts parents at a get together at Dorothy"s place. Service was great as usual-- I appreciate our church so much. I was a little sad because I miss my Dad . One of these Fathers Days I'm going to spend it with him! I appreciate all he does for us, the prayers that reach Heaven and just the love he sends my way. I proud of him! Speaking of prayer please keep us in prayer regarding Stuart's job situation. Bottom line there is no job yet. It's pretty hard to stay focused when that fear trys to creep in. Its amazing how you can be high in the clouds, full of faith and then boom! The door rings and its doubt and worry wanting to chat! I love that song, "God is in Control"--I cant remember who sings it but its true and I beleive it! I know God cares for even us! O.K. enough. I better go get something else accomplished while Ty James is napping!

Love and God Bless,

Michele

Boy, the nerves of homeschooling high school can be scary! I'm starting to think of the upcoming fall adventure and really getting nervous! Megan and Aaron will enter 9th grade with me helping them and I just really hope I can handle this. I know and expect It'll take time but I really want this to be a success. God has given me this desire (actually it started many years ago) and I began but had to stop for a while. Today I met with my sister who has been homeschooling her 5 children for the last 5 years. She is going to be a great help I'm sure. We went over some curriculum(?) and choices we have in studies. I meet with my E.S. next Thursday so I'm trying to get prepared. I know God wants me to do this but its hard with a 14month old pulling at you and a family who needs clean clothes and well you know where I'm going with this. They all pitch in but the planning and directing is all me. I'm praying for good time management ! My goal is to school the triplets at home also by the following year. Just think in 4 years I get to start Ty James in Kindergarten! I'm being sassy yes but truly grateful at the same time. I'm so tired and need to go to sleep but its so nice right now because everyone else is snoozing and its so quiet. All I hear is a snore from Stuart and one followed by Ty (being his crib is still in my room!). Who wouldn't want to hear that Ha-Ha! Well God is so good and has carried us through this day. I'm so thankful for each new day and look forward to whats in store for us!

God Bless My Friends and Family,

Michele

Wow, what a day! My husband and I have been working in this house all day. It is partly a blessing because our boys have been begging us to let them share a room. Today we decided to join the two guys together! I say its a blessing because if you only knew the start we had you would understand. Stuart and I tried to join our families with the thought the children wanted to be one big family just like we did. We were wrong! Well the triplets did but Megs and Aaron didn't. We finally backed off and gave Megs and Aaron lots of privacy and rights has the "older kids". They all had to respect each other and follow the rules but we tried to give them extra space. Prayer was the (is) the most important thing too. Over the past several months we have watched them all become closer and closer. The boys seem to be always together. I just watch and keep silent has if its no big deal but inside I'm screaming "Thank-You Lord for hearing our prayers!". The boys came to us to share a room and I drilled them to make sure they were sure. I even took Aaron out alone to talk so he could be open with just me. He told me he truly wanted to. Aaron put it like this, "Mom,we are not like the girls, we might argue but we just get over it no big deal". Today was hard work gutting out, rearranging, moving furniture upstairs then down, and then having Megs thinking she wants a room make-over too! Honestly though,it was a celebration of things getting better and God answering prayers. He is so good to His children! We had a awesome service at church yesterday that proved that too. God lifted lots of worry and fear from Stuart and I about our financial situation. He said through our Pastor,during alter call, that He hears our prayers. We must trust Him. He was speaking to our entire church too. I was able to really pray with Aaron and help him seek God- its just awesome to have that kind of relationship with your children. I wouldn't ever trade it for the world.

Michele

Today I have started something for me....just me! You may think that sounds selfish but in a family of 8 personal time is cherished. My sister in the Lord Mindy, has opened my eyes to the world of blogging. Please dont ask me what "blogging" is because I don't have a clear answer yet. What I do know is this is a place I can come to journal, vent, learn from other wonderful ladies, receive support, and just laugh. How cool is that!! I'm anxious to hear from friends new and old. This is a good day, I can feel it! God Bless.

Michele