Off we go!

This Saturday my youngest son turns six.  It’s so hard to believe.  When we moved here I didn’t even know I was pregnant.  It was shortly after we moved to South Carolina that I found out I was pregnant.
I wanted to do something special and memorable for his birthday (plus I’m one of those nightmare moms who hates throwing birthday parties) so my husband and I came up with the idea of going to Stone Mountain GA for the day Saturday, watching the laser show that night, and sleeping in a HOTEL.  I really think that is going to be the part he enjoys most.  My husband had reward points so we don’t even have to pay for the hotel.  We’re staying in the Evergreen Marriot right at Stone Mountain.  Yippee!!!!
We’re all really excited.
Now, what to do for #2 son’s birthday.  It’s in February…..


Wordless Wednesday – An Undefeated Football Season

From last night’s game:
My husband coaches and two of my sons play.

Are you to busy to think?

Sometimes I feel so caught up in my life I forget how to think, how to be quiet, how to ponder.

Last night my daughter woke up around 5am.  She came to get in the bed with us and my husband got up to put her back in the bed.  She wasn’t happy and I could hear her crying from her bedroom.  The crying got louder and when I got up to check on her my youngest son was in her room trying to comfort her. (Awww…)

I shuffled him back to bed and went in to try quieting her.  I curled up beside her and soon she was quiet and still.  So, here’s my few minutes of quiet, time to think and ponder when the house is dark and still and the only sound in the suckling of my daughter enjoying her thumb.

I thought of how much like God I was to my daughter.  Not in a sick and twisted sense but in the way He enters my room (heart, life) and I am quiet.  My heart stills.  I feel safe and all is well.  He is my comfort.  He calms my fears. AND He’s the only One who can give the comfort I seek.

What a glorious picture of Himself God gave me very early this morning as I snuggled next to my 3 year old.  My soul longed for Him again in the still of the night.   During my busy day I often forget to just stop, close my eyes, and invite Him into my room to curl up beside me and hold me tight.

I like being held tight by Him….
Longingly,
julie


Football Weekend

Many of you may know (yea right!) that here on the East Coast Appalachian State University recently beat Michigan in a beginning season upset.  My little school, Elon University, played Appalachian this weekend.  It was a sold out game with 13,100 people.  We traveled there to visit my folks and to go to the game.

13,100 people! … let me tell you, for Elon, that’s a lot of people.  It was a good game and Elon held their own through most of the game.  Appalachian did win but Elon put on a good show!

Here are a few pictures from the game.  We had grass seats so we arrived 2 hours early to claim our spots.  Here’s #2 son with a giant pretzel before the game……
Here are some or country’s finest parachuting into the stadium before the game.

It was really cool to see these guys.  They doubled into the stadium.

Here are my hubbie and oldest son watching Elon warm up.

And this guy walked around with a puppet.  The boys loved it.  My two oldest are in the "My Maroon is Hot" shirts. 


What did you do this weekend?
Julie


Christmas is coming early around here this year!



My youngest son saw this craft in a Chick-Fil-A book today and wanted to make it when we got home.  Looks like one trick-or-treat costume is taken care of, huh??
IN HIM,
Julie


That's my boy!


See the handsome guy in the middle #25???
That’s my boy!!!

Freaky Friday Foto

Well, today is Freaky Friday Foto AGAIN and I’ve nothing to post.  Not because there’s not plenty out there that’s freaky but because it’s been a crazy week. 
My best friend had to put her cat down this week and that has been horrible for both of us.  It’s been so sad watching her grieve the loss of her 15 year companion.  She was the sweetest thing.  This is the first time I’ve gone through the whole experience and I empathize with any of you who have ever had to do that.  I cried so much yesterday my eyes where swollen for my date night with my husband.  We tried to go see that new movie about the Apollo mission, Rod Howard did it, but it wasn’t on at the local theater.  So we ended up at StuffMart instead.  Some swap, huh? 

So in honor of Katie, my friend’s sweet little cat, I will not post a photo today.
Rest in peace dear girl.  Thanks for all the years of love you gave MY best friend.

IN HIM,
Julie


Guess who lost a tooth?

OUR YOUNGEST SON KNOCKED HIS TOOTH OUT AT A BIRTHDAY PARTY SUNDAY
AFTERNOON.  IT WAS ALREADY VERY LOOSE BUT NOW IT’S GONE!!

RADIO

Do you guys remember the movie RADIO?
I wrote about it HERE last year when my husband got to meet Radio and Coach Jones.  TL Hanna High School is very close to where we live so last night we piled up in the van to go see the game.  And of course Radio was there!  I got the boy’s photo with him and he signed our program.
Enjoy!

The boys with Radio…..

Radio on the sidelines helping coach (he’s the one in the tan shirt and pants)…..


Rare footage of me with the children…..

Thankfully I have one other photographer in the family…my 8 year old son.  So here’s a picture of me, hubbie and baby girl…..

This is what we do when the kids get bored when mom’s at a game.  We draw on each other…..

Blessing IN CHRIST,
Julie


Labor Day Ramblings

Today is Monday, the Labor Day holiday. 

We slept in the camper last night in the driveway.  I think it’s my favorite way to camp.  I have to admit I am a fair weather camper.  I still like being somewhere close to the house so camping in my driveway is ideal! 

Yesterday I found two stray kittens in the middle of the road.  They were so pitiful.  All fur and bones, no meat on them at all.  So of course they are in my bathroom now with kitten food and water and I’m hoping they’ll put on a little weight before I have to take them to the pound or animal rescue.  We already have four cats and my hubbie is not a cat fan.  So these little guys must go.  I’m hoping God has a plan for them and will provide them with a home. 

I was the first one up this morning so I opened the sliding doors on the screened-in-porch before putting the coffee on.  It was one of those wonderful moments where all just seemed right with the world.  The birds were churping, a dog barked in the distance, my family was still asleep…safe and sound in the camper, …..hmmm, I felt the Father’s rest.  That wonderful place He invites us into every day.  The place we are too busy to see, much less feel. 

I’m reading Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge right now.  It’s the most awesome book.  Every woman ought to read it at some point in their life.  The authors talk about how beauty invites us to rest and it is so true.  Whether it is the beauty inside of us reflecting God’s heart or the beauty of a sunset, flower or the smile of a child; beauty encourages us.  It invites us to rest and it gives us hope.

Almost every chapter causes me to put the book down and reflect on what was said.  It’s been life changing for me.

Well, happy Labor Day.  We’ve taken the day off of school and are doing absolutely nothing.

IN HIS REST,

JULIE


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