More on the house...

Party with the Cammacks and Berries--means a clean casa!

 our room

 our sitting room

 our bathroom

 The Lego part of the boy's room

 The bunk beds...the girls slept on the mattresses below when we had my parents over--hence the girly colors below the bed.

 We had our friends--The Cammacks and The Berries over for New Years Eve--what fun!

Three Amigas!

Family Time!

Papa visiting with my kiddos

 Time with cousins--we often celebrate Melissa's b-day when we see the fam at Thanksgiving or Christmas.

 Mimer and Papa with the Cox cousins

 Cousins!!--enjoying Baby Esther!

 My brothers...

Happy Family of Grandkiddos!

A requested view

I was asked today by a friend--why hasn't she seen pictures of our house since we have moved in.  We are still working on details--and I hesitate to show before it's done.  Why?  I have no idea--maybe I'm living in denial!
So, here are our main rooms, the girls room and our music room.  The boys was clean last night, but not any more.  Ours wasn't clean last night nor is it this morning...so, you will have to wait on those:).
We are getting dry wall put in on Monday on our game room and missionary suite! We are super excited to have that scheduled!!!  Thanks Hannah for the inspiration to post!

Another dream a little dream post...

This is the car we are looking at buying next summer.  We've done a lot of research and much to the chagrin of the "Honda" side of the family, we are looking at this Buick for our possible future vehicle.  When a well known German car dealer told John that the American-made cars have really caught up to them, we continued our love of American made vehicles.  No, we are not snobs about it(hope no one sees us like that), but we like this vehicle.  This is kind of like my dream post:) like I did years ago.  Lots of dreams have come and gone, but we still like to dream:).
Funny, we looking at this old post...these are a few of the dreams that became a reality...

 I received these for Christmas one year:)

 I bought two of these for our new front porch...and for a deal!

 My sister in law gave me a white one of these a couple of summers ago:)

 We didn't get this exact table, but we did get a very large table...I still love this table and would like to upgrade one day when the kids are older:)

This is not a reality yet, but I'm thinking of doing this in our circle drive...a smaller version with a large boulder and some good Texas tall heather like grass--as my friend Alisa had the inspirational idea for!

Mark's B-day in October...

 Mark's such a happy kid!  He's so grateful and just plain nice!  I'm sure he got this from his dad!  John's just so even and friendly to all.  He turned 10 this year! 

Our kittens lately...

 That's momma cat...the kittens are ready to find homes.  One of my students is taking the gray and white one; we are keeping the runt--it's the black (with white on it's face).  Any takers?

My niece! Esther...

I just thought I needed to add my niece in here...she's growing up --she's a year now!  Although her parents are divided between UT and A&M...at least in this last picture, the grandparents got to request the outfit.  I will give it Cristina, though, she bought it and another one with UT on it:).  Go Mom!  I get to see her in about 2 weeks!

Grooves...

Sometimes life is tough.  A few weeks ago, I received a word from the Lord about teaching and I was thinking it was really encouraging.  Lately, I'm reminded of the purpose of a word might be for you to have something to hold on to during hard times.  That doesn't exactly make me smile...maybe laugh cynically, but not smile.  I have questioned some things lately.   I believe I am where I am supposed to be, but often I fall short...like lately--it feels almost weekly.  I wish I felt like He was chiseling away the grooves in a diamond...but I am feeling just weak.  I know my eyes need to be on Him, not on my heart being hurt or feeling pain.  Part of that is put to practice in the use of less words.  I do use way too many of them.  It's a choice to use words properly...may I make that choice moment by moment.

Ponderings...this October

Sometimes I wonder if I will change my mind on some unshakeable things that I believe in.  We all have certain things(that are not necessary cut and dry in the Word) that we think are right or wrong--and then, one day they don't seem so right or wrong.  I'm not talking about lessening standards, just mindset changes  October always brings thoughts to my mind on how people think certain ways on certain topics...I've had my mindset change about some things over the years, but not others.  When I have changed my mindset--I always have this thought--I wish I would have kept my mouth closed and judged less. 

I've seen people grow up in a household that does not celebrate certain holidays and when they are old they do or vice versa.  I watch these changes through Facebook pictures and wonder--what made them change.  Did society change them or did they gain or lose certain convictions that they didn't have before or had before?   Usually I don't ask about the change, but often I wonder, then I wonder, will I ever change in these areas? will my children?  Probably in some areas, but hopefully, not all.  In all my thoughts, I then think---I wonder what God thinks of this topic?  Is it a big deal to Him?  Is it just the heart that He sees?

Just some of my thoughts...I know, I'm pretty vague here, but again, it's not my intention to judge with these thoughts...just thinking...and therefore, no specifics, just vagueness.

Happenings!

 Jojo had kittens last night/this morning!  There are six, we think!  Like momma, like daughter---both had kittens when still a kitten themselves.

I don't know if you can see the racoon---its on the table to the right--little table.  He was eating the cat food!!!  John shot it...the boys helped him deposit it in the woods, and then they cleaned the shovel!  BOYS!!

Latest addition and Matthewisms

This is Java--our latest addition to our kitten family.  Jojo is still here, Faith disappeared...and we think JoJo is pregnant!  Wow!  She is sure like her mom---she will be getting fixed along with Java when the kittens come. 

A few more Matthewisms to record...
We we were playing Apples to Apples last night.  Matthew had the card Olive Oil, about which he states, "She's my favorite actress!" (think Popeye!)

Sunday morning, Matthew knocks and asks if he can come into our room.  We say, " What do you need?" Matthew responds, "Pretty much nothing." :)

Me:  Matthew, put away your clothes that are on the couch.
Matthew(as he is heading toward the clothes):  Let me sleep on that!

He cracks us up continually, and I want to have these lines written down!

Our kittens...Faith and Jojo

 Our kittens...Faith and Josephine(JoJo for short)

 Faith--she has gone missing a week and a half ago...so sad

Mark was creative and made them an x box...haha!

I had a couple of students that had a litter of kittens to disperse and we took two.  They've been with us for 2 and a half months...The kids are still hoping Faith will wander back home someday...the jury is still out...we live in the "country" where coyotes and bobcats are seen from time to time.