School is in Full Force

Well, school is definately in full swing at our house. Caleb will be in school for one month this week and it already seems like it has been longer. He has already turned in a science project with another one due in 3 weeks that is supposed to display a model of the planets in his own creative way. He has a book report that has to be in the form of a diorama (scene made in a shoebox). He also has chosen an early culture to study and has to prepare a story board about this culture. I've decided my next investment should be in poster board supplies. I am so thankful Caleb has the opportunity to go to a Christian school but I'm amazed at the amount of projects that 5th grade has brought.
The 5th grade has brought some fun stuff that Caleb truly enjoys. He plays the trumpet in band at school and they will be participating in the local fall festival parade in just a couple of weeks. It has brought the opportunity to participate in the fall play in which Caleb will be playing a sheriff in "How the West was Dunn". The month of August has started fall baseball up although it has been so hot, practice had to be cancelled twice last week. As Caleb gets older it is exciting to see how his personality and interests develop, but it also is sad to watch my son start dispensing with his toys that he always played with, his music taste are changing to more grown up sounds. It seems each week bring something new that he wants to get rid because he feels it is too childish for him.
I've been reading a book called "Celebrations of Faith" and the author talks about the fleeting moments (kairos) with your children and how to make the most of each moment. My heart has been convicted as I read it because I realize how quickly life is changing and my little man is turning into a young man. My prayer has been for the Lord to help me with the kairos of life that these few moments will last a lifetime in my son's heart and mind.

Celebrating Wayne's Birthday

This is the birthday guy! Happy 36th birthday Sweetheart!

We celebrated Wayne's birthday by going to Claudia Sander's Dinner House in Shelbyville, KY. We had not been there for a quite a while and Wayne thought it would be the perfect opportunity to take a motorcycle ride with our friends, Joe & Tracy as well as celebrate his birthday. The ride down wasn't bad but we decided to take the scenic ride home which was beautiful but needless to say we girls were ready to call it quits, our derriere's were not quite used to riding on the bikes that long. The dinner house was started by Colonel Sander's wife and was actually the place where KFC's corporate headquarters were first located before they moved to Louisville, KY. They will serve off the menu or you can be served family style. It is a neat place to go and visit and was actually featured in the Taste of Home magazine some time ago.

This is a picture of our dear friends Joe & Tracy. We are truly blessed to have them in our lives.

Notice the bad hair day, this is what motorcycle helmets will do for you.

Here I am pretending to drive this big bike, the seat is quite comfy but I'm not a driver of motorcycles it has taken a big effort on my part to ride behind my husband. It still is not my favorite mode of transportation but we have a good time while riding.

Here are the four of us, some nice man was gracious enough to take our picture. There were alot of fun memories made that day.

My husband

This has been a rough week for me with work, emotional rollercoasters and just life in general but my husband put a smile on my face tonight. Wayne has been out of town all week with work, he came home last night and then left again today for a weekend of bonding with the guys at Promise Keepers. I was having a bad day at work because I had some very sick patients that needed my every second, it was so bad that I think I may have sat down 15 minutes in a 8 hour period and mind you I still had 4 more hours to go. Wayne called my cell phone to tell me he was leaving town and asked me about my day and with tears welling up I said it was not going well. Needless to say when I walked in the door of the house there was a precious note laying on the table that my husband had quickly written before he left town. That note was a welcome sight and just kinda set my world a little straighter. Thanks baby! By the way Wayne will be turning a year older on Monday, he will proudly be able to say that he is on the other side of 35. Happy Birthday!!!!

Protection Angel

I had a protective angel watching over me last night and I just wanted to share this with you. I've had a very busy week this week with work and just life in general. Yesterday I sat in a class for 8-9 hours, rushed to meet a friend for shopping and dinner got into town approximately 9:30pm picked up Caleb, spent a few minutes with my in-laws, rushed over to a friends house to make a delivery and then it happened as Caleb and I pulled into their driveway. I heard this pop as I drove into their driveway and I thought I must have gotten my tire partly on the driveway and grass I hope I didn't hit anything. I get out of my car to open the trunk and there is my left rear tire popped.
The story behind this tire is that I had gotten a screw in my original left rear tire and Wayne decided to try putting some slime (it is supposed to help with tractors, ATV's, ect.) in the tire and then use a plug, well the slime set up in the tire and was causing quite the bumpy ride at slow speeds. So my dear husband was going to fix the tire this weekend but because of other obligations on Saturday we arrived at the tire place just as it was closing so the tire couldn't be fixed. Plan B was to get a tire from another source have it put on, remove the slime from the original tire and replug it, rebalance it and thus I'd have a new tire, well the plan worked except that the tire that we got had different lugnuts and now we are at the end of the weekend and my husband will be gone all week. Wayne calls a good friend of his and the friend offered to remove the slime from the original tire, put on the spare tire and then change back to my original tire once my tire was fixed. Sounds confusing, I apologize.
The bottom line was I was at the friend's house who was going to change my tire back to the original tire that had been repaired when the spare tire popped right in their driveway. It was simply a miracle for me that the spare tire did not pop as I was driving the many miles of highway that I was on yesterday and that God kept his hand over me and sent his guardian angel to protect me. I'm truly helpless when it comes to changing tires, airing up my tires or doing any maintenance with my car. God gave me a wonderful husband who is very mechanically inclined that takes care of those things for me. I also appreciate that we have some wonderful and dear friends that help us out but that we have close fellowship with as well.

Bible Promises

HANDY LITTLE CHART
God has a positive answer:

You say: "It's impossible"
God says: All things are possible
(Luke 18:27)
You say: "I'm too tired"
God says: I will give you rest
(Matthew 11:28-30)
You say: "Nobody really loves me"
God says: I love you
(John 3:1 6 & John 3:34 )
You say: "I can't go on"
God says: My grace is sufficient
(II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)
You say: "I can't figure things out"
God says: I will direct your steps
(Proverbs 3:5- 6)
You say: "I can't do it"
God says: You can do all things
(Philippians 4:13)
You say: "I'm not able"
God says: I am able
(II Corinthians 9:8)
You say: "It's not worth it"
God says: It will be worth it
(Roman 8:28 )
You say: "I can't forgive myself"
God says: I Forgive you
(I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)
You say: "I can't manage"
God says: I will supply all your needs
(Philippians 4:19)
You say: "I'm afraid"
God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear
(II Timothy 1:7)
You say: "I'm always worried and frustrated"
God says: Cast all your cares on ME
(I Peter 5:7)
You say: "I'm not smart enough"
God says: I give you wisdom
(I Corinthians 1:30)
You say: "I feel all alone"
God says: I will never leave you or forsake you
(Hebrews 13:5

Summer Treat

My sister-in-law, Aytha brought me this wonderful recipe the last time she visited and I have made it several times since. I enjoy cooking and trying new recipe's, the best kind are those that are quick and easy but taste absolutely wonderful. I thought I'd share this with you'll. Enjoy!

Bacon Ranch Coleslaw
2 bags shredded cabbage coleslaw
12 oz jar ranch dressing
1 pkg. bacon bits
1 pkg. craisins
1 cup sugar

Combine dressing, bacon bits, craisins, sugar and cabbage, mix well. Refrigerate to combine flavors until chilled. Serves 12 people.

Simple Pleasures

You know you are in redneck country when you enjoy going to demolition derby's, truck and tractor pulls but I truly enjoy the simple pleasures that it brings. This week has been our county fair and we have enjoyed it immensly. It started with Wayne and Joe running in the demolition derby, watching these ugly, beaten up redneck cars being hit from every side, feeling sorry for those whose radiator or engine would tear up. Caleb went to the fair with his papa on Thursday night as Wayne and I were both working and Caleb got to see the big cars wrecking and tearing up. Caleb got to have a front row seat because his papa is one of the firefighters working the derby so pure enjoyment for him. Last night we went again to the fair to watch the tractor and truck pulls, they had the two wheel drive, four wheel drive and construction class of trucks. There were row back cages on the tractors, modified long nose tractors (that is what I call them because only the back of the tractor remains the same but the front is all customized with a big ole' long snout), we stayed at that silly pull until after midnight but again it is all simple pleasures. I will never forget the first time I went to a tractor pull, Wayne just thought I had to go and I thought I'd absolutely hate it but yours truly found it very interesting and I keep going back for more.
Don't get me wrong I truly enjoy the finer things in life too, fine arts, excellent eating establishments, beautiful clothes but there is something about the simple pleasure of being at the county fair watching cars crash, trucks and tractors lose their drive trains and front axle's that makes me enjoy a little bit of redneck country.