Camping Part 2

Here is camp with Kevin getting the fire going.

He is JoAnna walking up the path to the bathrooms with me. You can see by this picture we are off the road.JoAnna and I came across dear on our way to the bathroom. Jo wanted to touch them.She got closer.Fires going and dinner soon to follow.We woke up to a really cold weather and a stead cold rain. Elijah got out and got drink and muffins for us.WE played in the tent for awhile.Then we played in the car for a while.

We then drove and went on one of 100's of hiking trails. It was, cold, foggy, misty, muddy, and the kids had the time of there live.

1st Camping Trip Part 1

We went on our first camping trip this last week at Shenandoah National Park. The drive up was beautiful. There are many over looks along Sky Line Drive. Franklin Roosevelt started Sky Line Drive in 1931. President Hoover had a vacation home there. There are 7 water falls and hiking trails for the beginner and the expert.

At the first over look we stop at a car pulled in and told us they just saw two baby bears eating in a tree about 1 mile up the road. So of course we jumped in and found  them. Traffic was stopped in both direction while every looked on.

All these animal pictures are just us in our car and them on the side of the road. The bears in the tree was just the beginning. Then further up the road we saw a mom and her cubs crossing the road. It was unbelievable.

 They crossed and stayed on the side of the road for minute but then quickly followed the mama into the woods.

This was the first dear we saw on our trip. This one stayed on the side of road and never ran off. Little did we know we would see a dozen in camp, grazing through camping, running through camp. The kids loved it.

 Camp beginning to take shape. The first day was beautiful. A nice drive up, great weather for setting up camp and watching all the dear and there were trails everywhere for the kids to explore.

Our tent.

How did the first night in the wildreness go?

To Be Continued...

~Amy

Pictures!

Here is Ezra playing outside with everyone. Zeke taking pictures.
Zeke taking one of himself showing off his black eye.

Josh showing off hi weapons.

Josh at the neighborhood park yesturday.

We went on a walk through are neighboring woods.

Elijah and Jo.

Miss JoJo

It tooks us about a week but we got it built and they love there basketball hoop.

JoAnna got a kitchen the other day from a consignment sale. She loves it.

JoAnna just being cute as a button.

There has been alot going on with us. Still looking for a church to call home. Still looking to make new friends. Still working out daily schedule, with school, meals, chores, and time to keep myself sane, and time to work in Daddy time who is on nights right now.

More Thankfulness!

Well I have found more things to be thankful for. I have had bills be forgiven or reduced. I have received a long awaited refund that I gave up on ever arriving. The weather has stayed cool for a straight 2 weeks. I have not had my air condition on for 2 weeks that is a blessing from the Father Above.

During the holidays is when I don't like that I live in South Florida. Its far far away from my family. They are all in Oregon bundled in sweaters and sitting by the fire. OK ,I know some of them are reading this and think I'm crazy because they would love to have the weather we are having now. To me Thanksgiving and Christmas mean cold weather, the hope for snow, hot chocolate, and lots of warm blankets. When its hot here it makes my heart ache even more that I'm not there for the holiday. Once again God is good. I'm taken this fabulous weather as a personal gift from God. :) Thank you Lord for the cool weather, keep it coming.

I'm getting excited and so thankful for a 4 day weekend with all my kids home and preparing for our first Christmas in our current house.


What are you thankful for?

~Amy

Thankful.

In uncertain times and with thing not going as I hoped or planned these last 5 months there are so still so many things to be thankful for.

• A home to live in.
• Food in my fridge and cupboards.
• 5 healthy kids.
• A hard working hubby that loves me unconditionally.
• A hubby who took his health back in control almost 2 weeks now. Lost 15 lbs. so far.
• A Mother, Father, and Sisters who care about me and my family.
• That I've been able to reconnect with friends.
• This is the first Thanksgiving my husband wont be working in 6 years.
• That God's Word has never been more alive to me. IT truly feels like the Bread of Life.
• That I'm totally dependent on Jesus. He is the only One who can give me total peace about everything and every time I reach out to Him. He shows up. There is no other way to live.
• That I'm a daughter of the King.

I hope you have a very Happy Thanksgiving. Even though dinner might not turn out like planned, you didn't get everything you wanted to get today you can still stop and take a moment to show thanks for the truly important thing.

~Amy

Halloween.

They are so excited and JoAnna's

right there feeding off her big brothers excitement.Having a fairy princess this year was so fun.

She stole every ones heart.

My little Cowboy Joshy was total in to and wanted to keep going .

Fairy Princess up close and personal. At this point she has had so M&M's.

She is sitting there with her basket to her right. I was trying to put the basket up and she was making it known that she was keeping that basket.:)

She walked up to the door and when the people said bye she would say "bye "back in her cute, adorable voice. And they would all say "ahhhhhh!"

Then the most handsome 9 year old ever was a Baseball Manager. Sporting the big gut.

Ezra was wearing his cuddle buddy. Its a monster face on the hood, a tail on the back, and claws at the hands. It his blanket that he sleeps with every night and it was his idea to wear it. Half way through he wanted to stop. He said his feet hurt. By the time we got home we realized why he was so tired. He had a full day of school and it took 2 hours to walk our neighborhood loop. They had fun and have so much candy in the house its crazy.

Eli isn't pictured but he stayed home and gave out candy. Our neighborhood was the happening place we ran out of candy.

~Amy~

Fall Fun in the Pool!

JoAnna was finally tired of the goggles.
There she goes trying the goggles out in the pool. She didn't
put her head under.

There are on and she likes them.

So cute I can't stand it. What is she thinking about.

Man this little precious girl never falls to make me smile each and everyday.

Josh having a snake beside the pool.

Ezra enjoying his snack too. It was great to be together again.

Ezra and Eli had a no school teacher planning day.


Just trying to enjoy my kids everyday. I had been so focused on all things not going how I planned. Lately I have been again enjoying everyday life. It's easy to do once you stop looking to fill you own agenda. I love my kids and the Lord has shown me how its such a privilege that He let me raise me five great kids. Living for Jesus is the only way to live.

~Amy