Who said kids need toys to have fun?

Isaiah's first reaction to being caught with the roll of toilet paper!

Isaiah saying "bad..bad...bad"!!

I am too cute to get in trouble!

OH...this is fun!

Papa, Mimi & Grandma's visit

Story time with Papa

Jeremiah snuggling up to Grandma

Grandma and I

His chubby cheeks are adorable!

Papa and Isaiah

Isaiah...nice hat...buddy!

Grandma and I at church

Grandma and I at church

Elijah on his motorcycle...with Isaiah in on the action

The "famous" lego block building with Papa

Jeremiah

Isaiah....cheeeezzz!!

Grandma, Jeremiah & Isaiah

Grandma and Jeremiah

Elijah was very excited to have his own jar of Grandma's famous jelly!!

Happy 4th Birthday...Sweetie!!

Opening gifts

Mommy and Elijah

Brotherly love...ahhhhh!

Elijah and Mimi

Elijah and Grandma

Cake for 1st party with Mimi, Papa and Grandma

Elijah ecstatic over his new, light up Thomas the train shoes

Elijah, Jeremiah and their cousin sharing in the fun

Excited about getting another Thomas the train cake

Mommy's big boy!

Elijah with his new, musical Thomas the train toothbrush

O.K.....so my little man, Elijah, is 4 today! I can hardly believe how fast he is growing! :< :>
Elijah is such a sweetheart and a mommy's boy! YES! Luv it!! He is our little comedian of the family! He is always cracking little jokes and making us all laugh! He loves to fall on the floor and then say "can somebody get me a wheelchair"! He loves his Thomas the trains!! He walks around holding 5 or more in his hands. He loves to set up his tracks and run the trains across them. He never thinks he has enough trains...especially if he's talking to mimi and papa!! :)
He loves Jesus and his prayers our so sweet. Everything is "God Jesus". If Jeremiah or Isaiah aren't doing exactly what he thinks they should, he tells them "God Jesus don't like that at all....the evil does(devil)"!!! He loves to be the boss, if he can!!

He's sleeping right now, and he is the most precious sight(as well as Jeremiah and Isaiah). He touches my heart everyday, and I'm so thankful and proud to be his mommy!! I'll never forget the day he was born, and the love that filled my heart! He's amazing to me! God has truly blessed me with Elijah as one of my sons! He's my handsome little man...and I love him more than words can express!! Happy Birthday...Elijah!

Yee-Haw!

Jeremiah and Elijah getting to feed the horse...Kramer!

Elijah ready to be done!

Elijah on his final round! Such a cutie!

"I did not like that very much!" (Not the same as the K-Mart horse ride)

Jeremiah eager to get his horse ride...no thanks lady...I can do it myself...very independent!

This is awesome! I love his expression!

Can we take him home?

Jeremiah...so sweet!

A couple of weeks ago, the boys got to go horseback riding. Elijah was very timid about the ride, so he only went 1 round! I think Jeremiah would have taken the horse home...if he could've. In fact, yesterday he asked why we could not have a horse at home!?!? I told him maybe someday. The boys love any kind of animals!!

Taking the road less traveled...

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same.

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day.

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence;

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference

Robert Frost

Which one will you choose today?

The way of the world?

Or the way of the Heavenly Father?

Choose you this day who you will serve.

Revival

Isaiah...he needs a Bible and a pulpit...and he'd be ready to go!!

Revival started last night at our church. This year revival started with a special teen service. Our church was full of young and seeking hearts. The revivalist spoke on the day of Pentecost, and about being filled with the Holy Spirit("turning God loose in our lives"). At the end of the service, the altar was filled with mostly teens and some others from our church. It was very touching to see all the young people seeking God's will for their lives. One of the young girls we've been bringing to church went forward to give her life to Christ. I was so happy and very emotional. I can remember being the age she is, and so desperately searching and longing for God's presence in my life. Please pray for her and her family...that she may be used greatly for His glory.

"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:13

A Parent's Worst Nightmare...

As many of you may already know, yesterday was a tragic day for Steven Curtis Chapman and his family(Christian singer). His youngest daughter, Maria, was ran over and killed by her teenage brother. He was backing up in a SUV and did not see her behind him. She was taken to the hospital and died later. She was only 5, and was the youngest of their family. For more info...go to fox news web site!
As a mother, I cannot even imagine the emotional chaos that is going on in their family. It would be horrible to lose a child, and I'm sure it's a double tragedy in this case.
Please be in prayer for their family and friends. We all know that little Maria is in the arms of God now, but the hurt is still unbearable(I'm sure) for the family.

Thought for the day...forgiveness!

"Humility is the posture of forgiveness, allowing us to see ourselves in those who offend us, to offer mercy, instead of punishment, to acknowledge that we are all noble ruins, and to draw together in human community."
"We have been shown such amazing grace, how could we withhold forgiveness from another?"

-Why Sin Matters by Mark R. McMinn

This is a fantastic book about the relationship between our own sins and our God's grace!! My brother, Jason, gave this to me on my birthday a few years back!! He also wrote down a scripture that goes right along with this book's theme:
"The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign in righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Romans 5:20-21

Mimi and Papa are coming to town!!

Mimi and Papa

Papa and his buddies

Jeremiah and Papa (The Wilburs...inside joke)

Mimi and Elijah

The boys are overjoyed and excited(understatement) about the arrival of their Mimi and Papa! They've been counting down the days for the past month!! They are ready to pack their bags, and leave their mommy and daddy!! Trust me...we are not as exciting as Mimi and Papa!! Mimi and Papa are the best grandparents anyone could ever hope for! They are loving, kind, patient, fun, and 1000% hands on grandparents!! Awesome!! Plus...the boys know they will get some ice cream, a trip to Perkins, a trip or two to Dunkin Donuts, definitely a trip to the toy store, and many trips to the park!! Hey...where can I sign up to be their grandkid?? Oh yeah...I'm the kid, which has it's advantages!! I'm still hinting about my metallic, electric blue with white racing stripes...FORD MUSTANG!! (You know who I'm talking to...Smitty) Anyhow...the boys cannot wait until they finally arrive! Also, a added bonus for the boys and I, grandma Yount is coming to PA!!! Hooray!! I miss her sooooo much! I'm the overjoyed, excited, and counting down the time until she arrives.....GRANDKID!!! LUV HER!!! She's the best...as we all know!!

Over the Weekend

Jeremiah helping to clean the camper!

Elijah having fun...not cleaning the camper!

Isaiah ready to eat pancakes at Perkins.

Elijah and Jeremiah showing some brotherly love.

Isaiah...Hey...crayons are fun and sometimes tasty!



Friday-The Christian Homeschooling Association of Pennsylvania held it's 22nd annual homeschool convention on Friday and Saturday. My alarm went off at 5 a.m....and the day began! We arrived in Harrisburg, at the Farm Show Complex, at 8:20 a.m.. The first speaker started at 8:30!! We made it just in time, and in pouring down rain!! So much for the nice hair day!! Ha! We all looked like a bunch of drowned rats!! I have to say...my hairspray held up pretty well through it all!! Shout out for ....Big Sexy Hair Hairspray...job well done!!

Anyhow, we had a great time together. Isaiah was a bit unenthused about all the seminars, but he did well. Jeremiah and Elijah loved seeing all the kids and all the fun things to do at the convention. Jeremy and I ordered Jeremiah's second grade curriculum, and Elijah's K4 curriculum. Elijah was very excited to be starting school. He loves sitting with Jeremiah everyday to learn. We though we'd go ahead and start him early in K, especially with his interest!

The speakers were the best yet at the convention! I was so encouraged by the seminars. I almost felt like I had been to revival!! Awesome!! The convention was just another wonderful reminder of why we are homeschooling the boys! God has truly blessed our family over the years, and I know He is guiding us in a uplifting adventure of His grace and mercy. We saw many familiar faces, and met some new ones too.

After leaving the convention, we decided to go over to Broad Street Market. It is located in urban Harrisburg. It's a blend of a farmer's market atmosphere and a international food court. I love going to get my Indian food! LUV it!!!!!! Jeremy got a Vietnamese noodle bowl with bean sprouts(healthy!). The boys wanted some down home mac and cheese, and they got it. I got Lamb Curry, which was AWESOME!!! We do not have any international foods in our town, unless you consider Taco Bell to fit that bill!! HA!! Our town mainly consists of Subs, hoagies, and more subs!! Such the variety!

Anyhow...we had a blast!! Before we left, we had a unexpected invitation!! There is a restaurant called Tep's seafood in the market. It's basically a down home, southern, deep fried, lard and butter friendly food vendor! They have collard greens, sweet potatoes, mac and cheese and more cheese, coleslaw, deeply fried fish with the bones, and good ole .99 cent white bread and butter served with every meal! You get the picture! I asked a group of regulars what fish they thought was best!? They told me the whiting or flounder! The one man graciously and quickly offered us some of his fish off his plate. I politely said no thanks, but that was not going to happen with this man. He said...go on...take you some of this fish...go on now. His friend said...you better take what he is offering...because he's liable to change his mind...he's tight! His styrofoam container was right in my face, so how could I decline! :) I reached in and pinched a piece off!! It was GOOD and fattening!! Yummy!! I laughed later, when I replayed the event in my head. I said to Jeremy...where else would you find someone to share their food off their plate with you!! He should be glad I wash my hands frequently!! :)

Science Center Trip

Jeremiah & Elijah playing a Animal Grossology quiz game

Elijah learning about cat hair balls!

Isaiah playing in the learning area with the boys!

1. Mommy, Elijah & Isaiah 2. Jeremiah & Elijah learning about force and weight

3. Jeremiah learning about gravity

Daddy, Elijah & Jeremiah trying to blow bubbles in the bubble wall



We had a great day together, and learned many things!! The whole exhibit was on Animal Grossology, which was great with boys....not so great for mom! HA! Actually...I had a blast!! We learned about all the gross things animals do. I have to admit...I never knew there were so many!! After it was all over, mommy got a Starbucks!! Yeah!! Decaf Hazelnut Latte!! Yummy!!