Band of Brothers

Time You Never Get Back

2011-01-19T21:20:00.002-05:00

Tonight I was reminded of the time that I will never get back, but only have a sweet reminder of the past. The boys and I watched the Walt Disney version of Robin Hood. We watched it because we are studying Robin Hood for school. But I laid there next to Will and we held hands and I rubbed his feet and cuddled I was so happy just to BE. Thank you Lord for the time you give me with the boys. The fun times, the sad times, and for the frustrating times. I am so thankful I have them and I am grateful for them and the joy and blessing they bring into my heart. Then as I was putting Will to bed I was singing to him and rubbing his back and then he started singing the song I was singing to him. "Truly truly special truly truly special your mommas little prince and daddy's pumpkin pie God has made you truly special" I made this song up for the boys an have sung it to all of you and you were the first one to sing it with me. So sweet this time is. I love you my boys thank you Jake for being that big brother and setting the good example to do school. Thank you Clay for being a mini Dad to Will and the others at times. (your heart is so kind) Thank you Ian for the tenderness you have and the obedient heart you have. Thank you Will for the laughter you bring and the joy in your heart. I love you and am thankful for this time all the time we have together. Love, momma p.s. Daddy had a cold so that is why he was not involved in this night. He loves being with us and is the best daddy ever.:) love you honey

It will make me want to smack my momma

2010-08-02T17:11:00.002-04:00

Oh Jake you made me laugh so hard the other day I just laughed every time I thought of it. We were watching Tim Hawkins in the car on the way home from North Carolina and he said this bit about going to the Cracker Barrel and how the biscuits make you want to smack your momma and then we were getting ready to pull off for lunch and Daddy said how about the Cracker Barrel and you said so dead pan serious that it might make you want to smack your momma we all just started laughing so hard. Thank you so much for that I love to laugh and I love to laugh with you all. I love you sugar boo, momma

Airplanes and ice cream sandwiches

2010-08-02T17:02:00.002-04:00

Today was a sweet day with you boys. We swam in the rain, played games in the pool, ate ice cream sandwiches, and laughed a lot. Will asked me to race these lego airplanes that he built (you are only 2 1/2 yo) and at first I hesitated because we just got back from our 2 week vacation and then I paused and said this may be the last time he ever asks. So we did and it was so fun and special. Thank you Will and I will remember these sweet times with you. You are always a delight in my heart no matter what you are doing. Jake, Clay, and Ian my heart is filled with and enormous amount of love for each of you. Sometimes I think I can't love you all any more and then the next day comes and I do. You are all my blessings from God thank you Lord for each of them. I love you, Momma

Quotes

2010-07-09T22:55:00.002-04:00

I really like quotes when they are good and well if I can remember them. Half the time I forget them and get them all wrong anyway but I have these two that I thought I would send them to you all. "Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, It's about learning to dance in the rain." I like this one because we will always be in some sort of storm but with God we can dance through it and become better people for it. "True success in life is knowing the will of God and getting right in the center of it." I think the only way to ever know what the will of God is, is to sit in His presence and listen. I pray you all will learn to do that and always be near to God. I love you boys, mom

The RACE

2010-07-09T22:46:00.002-04:00

Well you all did your first race. Actually Ian and Will it was your first race and well Will I carried you the entire way. (I am so glad it was only a mile) It was so fun and Ian your face was so red at the end. You and Clay ran with Aunt Tami who was telling you stories and giving you all great running advice. Very sweet we all had a great time and Will you were so funny because when I was carrying you, you said that you wanted a medal and Ava and I laughed because really we said I should get your medal for carrying you. And then later when you were walking you said "mama that was a good race." You just make me smile and laugh I am so happy to have you all. And my sweet Jake left me a note on my pillow tonight that said "from Jake Bye Bye and i love you mom". The little things in life that make life so much sweeter. I love you too Jake so much. Love, mom

Mama's Thoughts

2010-07-08T22:47:00.002-04:00

Some days I think about how it would be neat to know what I was thinking when I was raising you all. So here goes today I was amazed at how kind you all were at a birthday party we were invited to and how much fun you all had. I love watching you all around people and other kids and I am so proud of who God is molding you all into. I do not ever expect you all to be perfect but I do want us to be a blessing to people and that is what you all were. Today, Will, you picked up a picture of my mom and said "this is Grandma" and I just love that you know that it was her. I know you really probably don't remember much about her but boy did she love you and your brothers. I miss her so much boys and just wish she were her with me watching you all grow up because she would just love being apart of your lives. But she is watching from heaven sitting' with Jesus and I am so thankful that she is there. Ian, you still cry at night and miss her so much right now I am glad you are so vocal about how you feel. I am here and we will always have her in our hearts. I love being with you all so much I would never try it for anything in all the world. You are all blessings to me no matter what you have said or not said, done or not done. I love you higher then the highest tree ever grew so much more than you'll ever know, mom

things I want to remember...

2009-11-24T12:13:00.002-05:00

Well boys it has been a long time since I have posted anything on this blog to you all. So here are a few things that I have been writing down just so we all could remember how sweet, kind, and funny you all are. These are a little old but Ian when you were 21 months old you would say "sticky" and then knock up against the wall of your crib to get you out. It was so cute and funny. Then you would say that it was christmas time when you saw the christmas lights on and it was after christmas. Then the most recent thing was we were praying at night and I was praying for peace and comfort for someone and then you said after wards "who needs a piece of gum?" We all started laughing and then figured it out what was said that made you ask that. YOu are so funny Ian.

Jake and Clay this pass season you both are really into football and you call it football but when you were little you both would call it "BUCS" I think you got that from grandma she loved watching the Bucs play football.

I will post better I love you all so much and really just want you all to love the Lord with all your heart and follow HIM. Thank you God for these precious gifts. Love, momma

Accomplishing Mom...

2009-01-04T15:50:00.000-05:00

Dear Jake, I had to write this as soon as you said this because it was so funny. But we were out and talking about stuff and then I said that I use to work at Target and you said that you were glad to know that because you like to know that you have an "accomplishing mom." I just started laughing so hard. You can always make me laugh and bring peace to my heart. I love those alone times we share and the special quiet times too. All my love, momma

A helpful heart

2008-11-30T21:29:00.000-05:00

My dearest Clay, boy did God give you a helpful heart. I love watching you. It is so sweet how you help Alana with taking off her shoes. Running and getting Jake's tennis racket for him. Holding Will when he needs some help with stuff. No matter what it is or who it is, you are helping someone. That is a character trait that God has given you. You are just a precious little boy that always puts a smile on my face and in my heart. Thank you for being YOU:) I love you, momma

God moments

2008-11-12T20:34:00.000-05:00

OK, Jake you and I just had a moment that only God can give us. I let you read the blog I just posted and you were reading so well, must be that teacher you have LOL :) and then you got to the part that said "I love you with every breath that I take and God loves you even more" and you just stopped reading and started to cry and then hugged me. That was an irreplaceable moment that I thank God for.

Need a joke?

2008-11-12T20:22:00.000-05:00

My dearest Jakey, boy I just love you to pieces. You are just funny and I wanted to tell you the other day when we were talking with Grandma and she said that she needed a joke and you said," My daddy is our joke book." We both just laughed and laughed. It is true, you do think Daddy is funny and well I do too and Grandma it took her awhile to think he was that funny. :) I know this is tough with Grandma right now but I love you with every breath that I take and God loves you even more. We will get through this with God and thank you for your love and sweet prayers. Love, Momma

Cancer is bad...

2008-11-12T20:13:00.000-05:00

Ian, I wanted to write to you to tell you that you said a very profound thought. When Grandma was diagnosed with cancer you went to her and said "Cancer is bad, but God is good." We thought it was pretty profound for a 4 year old. It touches my heart to watch you love on her and Grandma just eats it up. Thank you for being just the way you are. God is going to do amazing things in your life and I can't wait to watch. You are a sweet and kind hearted little boy that loves your Grandma. And Buddy she loves you too. ( So much, you have no idea. ) I love you my precious Ian, love momma

When my memory fails me...

2008-10-08T21:01:00.000-04:00

I sit here with tears in my eyes because I feel so blessed to have you all. Life is so yucky sometimes and yet you all are this bright light in my life all the time. Will, when I nurse you I just feel joy in my heart that God gave you to me. Jake, you are one of the sweetest boys I know. Last night when I was talking with you in your room about tennis and how Clay just loves to be with you and you just got a huge smile on your face. I love the relationship you all have with each other. I write all of this because my memory does fail me and I want to remember the times that we share little or big just all of it. Thank you God for these miracles even though I am so undeserving and I ask that we would all bring glory to your name daily. I love you Lord and I love you boys, love mama

The things that make me smile

2008-10-01T17:19:00.000-04:00

My sweet Ian you made your dad and I laugh so hard today. I have to write you because I did not want to forget it. Well you were holding Sassy and said "Mom I think her name should be called Crazy." and I said why and then you said " because when I hold her by the head she just goes crazy!" We just laughed and laughed. Really you all are taking such good care of the girls. Thank you all for the responsibility that you have shown with these girls. I love you all more everyday and you all make our life sweeter. I thank God for you all with every breath that He gives me. I love you, mama

Love that horse

2008-09-22T11:17:00.001-04:00

Love that horse
Originally uploaded by budpalm

Hug a horse today.

One moment before we drop 1000 skittles...

2008-09-22T11:02:00.000-04:00

Cousin Jesse and Ian sing along at camp frontier.

New GIRLS in the house

2008-09-21T16:53:00.000-04:00

Well boys we finally got some more girls in the house. Well, they aren't your sisters they are hamsters but your pretty happy with that. Clay your name Lucy is just precious and Jake I love the name Sassy for the other little lady. You are all a joy to watch with these little guys (oops I mean gals) and lets hope Will does not eat them up. Ian we have to work on your handling skills so far they have not bit us yet so lets keep it that way. I love you mama ;)

Wanted... New teacher...

2008-09-18T22:46:00.000-04:00

Jake this one is for you. The other day we were doing math and I was dosing in and out and then you said, "ugh I just need a new teacher you keep falling asleep." I just laughed so hard and I am still laughing. Maybe I should stop laughing and get some more rest. No I would miss more funny comments. I love you so much Jake , thanks for the wonderful memories. It is the best being your mom:)

Homeschooling

2008-09-11T21:31:00.000-04:00

My dear boys what an honor it is to homeschool you all. I love it and I love watching you all everyday grow and learn. It is so cool to watch your little eyes light up when you get something. And Ian how you beg to be schooled:) so cute hope you keep that up. Jake, your reading has just grown leaps and bounds. Clay, you just make me giggle because you just have the best attitude and just keep doing page after page. (your like Dory on Finding Nemo) I know it is not always easy and I get upset with you all some too, but I am trying and we can do this with God. He is our strength and our guide. We can do anything with Him. I love you all deeper then the deepest ocean and higher than the highest tree and longer that the longest lollipop ever lasted... love Mama OUR VERSE TO REMEMBER Joshua 1:6-9 "Be STRONG and COURAGEOUS. Do not be terrified. Do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you where ever you go."