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So far summer has been off to a rough start. I have been grouchy and grumpy and sometimes down right mean.  Giving into not very becoming behavior and questioning why on earth the boy child was being so darn ornery.  Um, hello...didn't we just talk about on Monday how  Mom's attitude can set the tone for the whole house.  Could it be my dear son was essentially mirroring my attitude back at me?? Gasp.

Last night was Ryan's night to make dinner, as I, his sous chef began to prep the kitchen I put on one of my favorite praise CD's and allowed the music to begin to seep into my soul.  As my spirit lightened I began to sing at the top of my lungs which made Hannah literally laugh out loud and say, "Mom, what kind of song is that??" (In case you are wondering it was Sandi Patty's rendition of Blessed Assurance).

This morning as I a woke, promising myself it was indeed going to be a better day, a new day a fresh start.  I brewed my coffee and cracked open my bible and journal.  The first verses I read today were on peace and joy.

The soundtrack to Hannah's life right now is Camp Rock 2.  The following is a video of one of her favorites, it never fail to lift me spirits either....it is a brand new day!!

Today is the last day if school! I am sure by this evening I will be cursing summer vacation but there is just something about that last day of school!!

I was pleasantly surprised when the Mr got home on Tuesday afternoon to find that in fact he had the whole week off from his 2nd job. Its been so nice to have some extra family time.  Tuesday I was sitting out on the deck, getting in a little extra devo/prayer time.  Hubby soon joined me regaling me with tales from his weekend camping adventure.  The children soon ventured out as well.  We sat for a while chatting and generally enjoying being together.

Last night the five of us headed out to Walmart.  The older two children were in desperate need of some shorts.  It probably seems silly but I don't even remember the last time if ever we had gone "shopping" as a family.  I took great delight in all of us being together.  We even purchased a new slip and slide, sure to bring hours of summer fun.

Hannah was apparently a little scared/lonely come bedtime.  Daddy has quite a soft spot for his youngest daughter.  He went and laid and chatted with her until they both dozed off.



Let the summer begin!!

God is good.  My heart is happy and I am thankful.  For friends.  Wonderful friends who care, and life each other up when we fall. 

I remember spending most of my high school years and early 20's feeling oh so lonely.  In fact if you were to go back to the beginning entries of this blog you would find the heart cries of a very lonely girl. Not that I didn't have a few friends but they were few and far between.  And I myself was to insecure to call on them.

In recent years, since our move back to NY God has brought so many wonderful, wonderful friends into my life.  They are such a blessing and a treasure.  I have learned the joy of giving and receiving and stepping out of my little box of comfort to encourage someone else who might need it.  I am learning to listen when the Lord speaks to my heart.  Even if it means picking up that dreaded phone.

I am thankful that my God is a god of Hope, and Joy and Peace.  That He helps us, guides us and helps us rise above.

Nearly 11 months after we moved in Mik and I finally painted her bedroom.  Despite the fact I am not a green person, it looks great.  And she LOVES it!  Storm has recently been introduced to Mikayla's room.  He is the ONLY cat with basement privileges.  But Mikayla loves being able to enjoy her kitty in her room, he even tolerates the guinea pig...

I added it to my "New House" album on facebook.  Naturally I had to look at the rest of the pictures in the album from last summer.  I got a little choked up.  This house is such a blessing.  I love it so much!  I am so thankful that we now a have a home we call our own.

God IS good...

A week ago Hannah and I visited the cemetary with Grandma.  It is the first time I had even been there since we buried Grandpa three years ago.  I hadn't given it much thought other than brief conversations with Ryan about the fact that that was where Grandpa's body was.  But of course he was in Heaven with Jesus.  Cemetaries never had much hold on me.  It just didn't seem important.  After all as I already stated, Grandpa wasn't really there. But I realized last week that obviously someone needs to go now and then.  Someone needs to make sure the grave is neat and tidy, that it doesn't look unkempt and forgotten.  I am glad I had the opportunity to go with my grandma.  To help her care for those who are no longer here, those we will some day see again.

My grandfather was a great man.  I miss him very much.  He and Grandma celebrated 60 years of marriage together!  Such an amazing accomplishment in a world where it seems marriage is no longer valued.  He was a man of integrity and had a great love for the Lord. He was wise and had a fabulous sense of humor. He may not have been wealthy in the wordly sense but I feel he left a great legacy behind. I am proud to be his grand daughter. I hope I will leave behind a legacy as great as he, that perhaps I am a little bit like him in some ways.

I have a great dad.  Like the best ever.

I had kind of a weird random memory this afternoon.  I was thinking about the last day of school and how it is rapidly approaching next week.  I was thinking back to the last days of school as a child.  For some reason the award ceremonies we used to have the last day of school in Middle School came to mind.  And how one year my dad showed up at that ceremony.  Why I remember it I don't know.  He must have happened to have that day off of work.  It wasn't like it was a big deal, just something to fill in those last few hours of the school year.

Dad has always been there for us.  He played riduclous games of kick ball with us three kids in the front yard.  Him and Nate against, Me and Laura.  Which is challenging when you only have two people per team, you have to keep swapping places on base so there is someone to kick.  He made us a tire swing and spent evening pushing us, timing each turn so we couldn't complain that one sibling had a longer turn.

He is a pretty special guy.  One I am proud to call Dad.

Me, My Dad and my sister <3

This year was our 2nd annual camping trip to Long Point.  This years trip was off to a slightly rocky start.  Rhett and his dad were planning on leaving in the morning.  The kids had school, so I was leaving in the afternoon with them after school.

However due to brake trouble on the truck, Hubby and Poppi were home shortly after they left to repair the truck.  Rhett finished shortly after Ryan got home from school.  We all ended up driving up together in the end anyway.

I was more than slightly apprehensive about the forecasted weather of rain and scattered thunder storms.  It also rained most of our drive to the camp ground.  When we got there the entire campground was MUD and PUDDLES.  Yuck!!! And the wind was crazy, it was so cold.  I could have cried, I nearly did.  That night I prayed huddled in the tent for the wind to cease.

 

It did, and the rest of the weekend was great! Some of the mud and puddles dried. The rest of the family did lots and lots of fishing. My darling husband informed me he would have to get me a pole and teach me to fish.... we'll see....

Rhett's first catch of the weekend!!

Hannah's first catch of the weekend.

Mik caught this little guy!

Mostly I did a whole lot of this...

All in all it was a great weekend.  I had my moments of hating camping, but mostly I had fun. :) It was very relaxing sitting by the lake.  And nothing beats and campfire and S'mores!

Did you know lady bugs like Trix??

Today was Hannah's last day of preschool.  Bringing my little girl one step closer to being a big girl.  One more year of preschool and then she'll be off to Kindergarten.  How the time flies.

The kids were so cute today.  They all did such a great job!  Hannah was so excited.  All week she kept telling me, "We are going to have a party in the green room and Pastor is going to come and say a prayer!!!"

Hannah helped me bake cookies to take to her closing program, she did most of it herself.  She was so proud!

This weekend was my cousin's wedding.  Sometimes it seems surreal that we are all grown and marrying...wasn't it just yesterday we were playing "Attack", and kickball on Grammy's hill, getting tractor rides from Pa and roller skating at Papa Wheelies?

But alas we are grown ups now.  Those carefree days at Grammy and Pa's seemingly gone forever.

The wedding was absolutely beautiful.  It was held at Harbison Chapel, at Grove City College.  Where both the Bride and Groom attended.  My little Hannah was the flower girl.  She was quite nervous, but bravely did everything that was asked of her (with the exception of smiling for pictures).  We did get a few small smiles in the post wedding pictures as opposed to the pre wedding pics. 

Jenn and Hannah.

the bride and groom.  I love smooching pics

The wedding party. Aren't they a handsome looking bunch!