Summer is Winding Down

It's hard to believe that school starts in about 12 days.

YIKES!

School uniforms have been purchased.

School supplies are carefully organized and ready to be taken to school.

Logos still need to be put on Abby's new uniform shirts.

My parents came for a glorious 3 days!

We LOVED every minute of it!

We exchanged Stephen's ice cream maker.

Daddy spoiled me and got me a mixer!

(That will be put to use tomorrow...possibly later today!)

Stephen has discovered I am an unwavering optimist.
Reality truly does exhist for me.
I see the bad parts. My personality MUST focus on the upside and err on the ridiculously optimisitic side. It's all based on Christ, but it can be a bit annoying. I'll own up to that.

He is also learning that I have some strong tendencies with my organization.

(Pictures will illustrate that in a moment.)

I discovered that even when I feel as if I am alone.

I'm not.

God proves it every time.
Sometimes it's while I'm asleep I rest in such perfect peace & awake refreshed.
Sometimes it is when I get unexpected cuddles from a four legged baby.

Ready for some pictures?

Papaw and Doodles got caught taste testing the Hershey's Chocolate Chocolate Chip cookies!

Lovin their shades!

Game time with Papaw!

Kaden was submitted to a fashion show!

More pictures to follow.

We just chilled & hung out.

And played more games.

Doodles & Nanna played Princess Checkers!

 

Both kids got to see how adorably in love their grandparents still are after 34 years. =)

We visited the USS Kidd Veteran's Memorial on Tuesday.

Mom and Dad treated us to a delicious dinner at Red Lobster!

Funny faces at Red Lobster and more USS Kidd pictures!

The day Mom & Dad left we travelled with them to Jackson, MS.

We stopped at Cracker Barrel for lunch - so delish!

I played the game they have out on all of their tables.

I beat it!

I'm a genius!

Doodles &  I did funny faces as Dad and Kyle showed how handsome they are!

I had to throw the pic of Nanna in again because I'm awful and did not get a pic of her at Cracker Barrel. =(

I love my parents. It was SO good to see them again!

We haven't seen them since May 19th and may not see them until Thanksgiving/Christmas.

This visit was wonderful and could only be more wonderful when Stephen gets to be there too!

We went shopping for him (Stephen) just so he would know he wasn't forgotten.

Abby modeled the shirt so I could show Stephen what it looked like.

I relaxed Saturday morning and did a little organizing!

Stephen has decided to mess with me.

Because yes, something so small as the LEFT picture can bother me.

It should look like the RIGHT picture.

Hence the "RIGHT" is right.

Get it?!

My cuddle bug.

I was having a moment the other day.

He kept coming over to me before my "womanly" (as Steve calls it) moment climaxed.

When it climaxed, he was laying on his bed.

It took seconds for him to go from his bed to on my lap without even waiting for an invitation.

He laid all 97lbs on top of me and rested his head up on my shoulder until I calmed down.

After a few moments, Kaden proceeded to kiss and wiggle around and poke me until I was giggling at how goofy he was.

He is a gift from God to our family.

He treats all four of us like that!

Well, three - Steve doesn't have crying meltdowns. ;-)

Peace out friends!

God is good and watches out for His children!

We're praying for you!

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

Does it?



Soak up the Moment

Number 1 focus this summer is:

Soak up the moment!

If you come to my house unannounced, please understand our primary focus is soaking up summer moments. That means the house is generally cleaned, not to be confused with deep cleaned.

If you show up announced, please understand our primary focus is family time and soaking up moments. That means the house is generally cleaned, not to be confused with deep cleaned.

Thus far, I have shared fun, stress, frustration, burning out.

Now I will proceed to brag a bit.

Tis true.

I'm also in a weird writing mood.

Can you tell?

;-)

Anyhoot

PT has been going on 3 times a week.

Kyle & Abby have attended all but 1 session with me.

They are WONDERFUL!

They wait patiently with their games in the waiting area.

They sit quietly.

They use their manners.

Everyone loves them.

Who wouldn't?

Yesterday we had 2 appointments.

1 took 1hr 45min.

The people who took care of us didn't realize the children were even in the room.

Oh yeah

My kids are that good!

2 took an hour.

They (my darling children) did SO well that the people with us had to walk out and see if my kids were even there!

Kyle opened doors for a lady in a wheelchair.

Both used their manners "Yes, Ma'am. No Sir."

Oh

We went to DQ.

We had to!

That's almost 3 hours of AMAZING behavior!

I am so proud of them!

Daddy came and joined us for some yummy ice cream and we had a grand ole time!

The End.

Love ya!

Praying for you!

Keep it real!

Burnt out and Blessed

I'm there.

I'm beyond exhaustion & totally focusing on me.

Awful.

Right?

It's true though.

I want a king sized pity party complete with:

Dark chocolate

Coconut milk Vanilla ice cream

Espresso w/ cream

The puppy.

Why not the family?

Oh because they would set me straight.

Stephen got called early to go underway, as most of you know.

Not a big deal, we're used to him going underway.

Kyle & Abby did not really detox so we figured we'd be just fine.

HA!

HAHAHAHA!

They were MUCH better than I anticipated.

You see, a small voice told me there was a detox coming.

It was right.

Just an example, one day I decided to have a laugh.

My laugh was to count how many meltdowns there were.

It's really at a point of you either laugh or just get overwhelmed.

I started counting at 9:11am when they woke up.

I stopped counting at 3pm.

The count?

TWENTY-THREE

Yes

23.

I'm having a complete human moment, I'm so sorry.

Feel free to say, "Ok Elizabeth, we love you but we'll read the next cheerful update.

Let us know when you're done with your pathetic 'boo-hoos.'"

There was arguing about who would take the first bite of dinner.

There was arguing about who would buckle their seat belt in the car first.

There was arguing about who would help me.

There was arguing about who was brushing their teeth correctly.

There was arguing about whose room we would say prayers in.

There was LOADS of frustration with me because

God forbid

I expected the routine to continue with a slight flex.

I don't mind the timing changing

But breakfast will not be fed to the dog

Teeth will be brushed

Baths will be taken

We will still function as a family and work together

We will still pray over our meals

If you scream and hit at me

You will receive the consequences.

Deal with it.

Now

Now I'm just tired

I don't want to sit and hear Halo being played

I don't want to hear whining because Kaden can't read your mind

I don't want the silent treatment when I ask "How are you doing? Are you ok?" when someone looks like they are about to cry.

On to the upside of life

THE CHEERFUL PART!

I had PT this past week 3 times.

Kyle and Abby came with me each time.

Mrs. D. who works that front office officially fell in love with my babies.

Why?

Because they were/are the ONLY children that can be left in the waiting area

and you won't hear arguing, screaming, or see them running around the room.

Why?

Because Kyle and Abby are those fabulous children who truly want nothing more than to love and be loved. I am so blessed!

PT is an hour long

How many 6 and 9 year olds can sit that long without fidgeting/arguing?

MINE CAN!!!!

And they did!

Mrs. D enjoys them SO much so that when I went to PT without Kyle and Abby today, she was sad.

Mrs. D sent her love and said hello to the kids through me.

Isn't that a great witness to how wonderful they are????

Stephen was gone for a full week.

During that week, Kyle and Abby helped me keep up with the house.

We made a trip to Baton Rouge.

We camped out.

We baked & created.

We played & had dish bubble wars!

We missed our Stephen and were SO very happy when he came home!

I am too exhausted to write more.

There is

a comfy bed

a comfy body pillow for a swollen right knee

a comfy pillow for my head

and an empty bedroom

All are waiting for me.

Who am I to keep them waiting?

Believe it or not

July has arrrived! There are many goings on and happenings! So much so that my head is swimming and this month has only just begun! For example, June 29 I had knee surgery - went superbly. June 30 Kyle and Abby came home - went fabulously, keep  them in your prayers still. July 2 Micah Robert Kafoure entered  this world and captured the hearts of all who have seen him. Tomorrow is July 4th. HOLY COW!

PIctures!

June 30 we all hung out, ate pizza, ice cream, & brownies and watched a movie. I apologize in advance because my iPod has become the new camera. At time the pictures are a bit dark/blurry.

Daddy loving having his son home!

My baby girl & I snuggling =)

Stephen and I are old school & think if you are part of a family you get to contribute to that family. A few weeks ago on facebook, a friend posted her "chores" list that she created. I took her idea (sorry Betsy!) and tweaked it.

Kyle & Abby were fit to be tied! Summer means fun and absolutely NO reading books, or chores, or anything like that! I am beyond excited to report that day #2 has both kids loving helping. Why? Because they don't do any of this stuff by themselves! PLUS if you make everything a game, who wouldn't love to do it?!

The dark shadow in both of those pictures is one ANGELIC, and I mean that, and ecstactically happy puppy dog! Both of his kids are home and he is getting 24 hr lovins!

July 2nd came early.

Why?

Oh because, my phone went off around 5am with a text.

Meet the TN extension of my family. They are wonderful! I love them! I miss them! I can't wait to meet them! Ok...well, there is really only one that I haven't met. Meet Nolan, Katie, Micah, and Solomon! Everyone is doing fabulously and we are all overjoyed for Katie and Solomon to welcome their second child into their family! They are both wonderful, God-fearing, and loving parents! Nolan will be the best big brother this world has ever seen!

Now, some know that when Kyle & Abby come home, it is traumatic.

However, God in His wonderful mercy has made this transition MUCH easier.

We would still like to request prayers for both children as they are adjusting to being home, for Stephen and I as we face some of the issues that go with adjusting.

The Devil knows how to get at God's children.

It is a fact of life.

God is victorious and we are IN HIS HANDS!

Pray for Stephen and I to be understanding and supportive towards....

each other....

It is difficult when the anger is pointed towards one of us. That one feels alienated and hurt. The other tries to explain but isn't always successful...

the children...

We know that because their faith is not yet strong and they are ONLY children, they do not yet have the discernment of adults.

No, no, no, our family is not having issues within. It is the usual blended family struggles.

Despite all of the goings on, we are remarkably full of joy, peaceful, and loving being together!

Here are a few pictures for you!

In this picture below, Kyle is trying to stick his tongue in my ear!

WE love ya!

We're praying for you!

God is in control and LOVES you!