I LOVE NY

We made it back from our mission trip to NY city safe and sound. It was a wonderful experience. It was pretty hot though. This air conditioned mama had a hard time acclimating. There are too many stories to tell. It was a life changing trip for most of the 40 people that went. It was great to be by Dan's side again in ministry. I am so thankful for the chance to try it out again. But I must confess, before weeks end I was more than ready to be back with my babies doing all the jobs I was so ready to have a break from. The top 2 pictures were taken on the Staten Island Ferry. My pictures of the Statue of Liberty weren't so great. This city shot was the best I could do, photographer I am not!
Here's part of our group that awoke EARLY to make it to the Today show. They all said it was worth it. I will just have to take their word for it! This is the where the twin towers used to be. Visiting this spot and seeing the construction going on was so much more sobering than I thought it would be. I couldn't allow myself to think too hard about it all or I would have been a blubbering mess. I have too many images plastered in my head from that day. It was amazing to me how easily I could conjure them up again. The reality of it all was almost too much.
And last but not least.....Dan on the empty subway being, well......Dan.

I found myself strangely drawn to the city. I loved the rawness. Yes, it was crowded. Yes, it was dirty. But it was real. You couldn't hide from the poverty, the grime, the hardship. It was HONEST. That is a characteristic that I highly value and it was abounding in NY. The people were helpful and very loyal. I liked it. I don't want to raise my family there but I feel like I could appreciate it for what it is.

Somebody's Three!

Our sweet Olivia is 3 years old! This little girl brings sunshine where ever she goes! It is virtually impossible to resist her sweet smile and infectious laughter, even her mischevious giggle is hard to ignore! She has never met a stranger and brings smiles to even the most crotchety of old men and women! Her love for people melts even the iciest hearts. One hug from this little firecracker and most people are hooked for life!

She is the first of my children to laugh at me when in trouble. She has learned early that the a lady's art of persuasion goes a long way. She is one of the sweetest and most rotten little girls all at the same time! She made her debut in the world and instantly created a spot in our hearts. We cherish this little lady who LOVES to wear dresses. She wants to be just like her big sisters and she adores her baby brother! I can't believe that three precious years have come and gone.

I pray that the Lord will keep her heart tender and her heart joyful. I also pray that she will allow the Lord to bend her will to His. May God teach her to win souls to His Kingdom through her immense joy in and love for life. May her persuasion be used for the Lord's glory alone. I can't wait to see how our angel is formed and grows into the person God has fashioned her to be.

Happy Birthday, Olivia!

We love you!

A Frugal Query

OK all my Frugal Friends, I have a question for you.

IS IT REALLY CHEAPER TO BUY IN BULK AT A CLUB LIKE SAM'S?

I am looking at every way possible to get more for my money concerning our grocery budget. Everything I read says buying in bulk is cheaper. I agree to some extent. The only way it isn't worth it is if you don't use what you buy or it spoils. I think I am to the point now in my ability that I feel confident in making good use of what I buy but.....is it really cheaper to pay the annual fees for the few things I would buy in bulk? There are some things that I know I could get more cheaply at a supermarket or the mega store because I shop the store brands. Sam's doesn't always carry many house brands. Or they didn't when I last shopped there. Anyone have any tips for me when buying in bulk. I would be most interested in buying produce (that I could use up), Meats, dairy, and toilet paper, laundry detergent and dish detergent. I know they are good for small appliances, but is it worth the fees? We don't need those things EVERY year. Are their office supplies and clothes worth it? Is it worth it for just those items?

Areas of Change:
~I have found a day old bread outlet for our breads, and the milk at Br@ums is about .50 cheaper than at the mega store. So I stock up there and freeze it.
~I am also doing more cooking from scratch.
~I am trying to phase out pre-packaged convenience foods and snacks.
~When we aren't traveling so much I do one shopping trip a month and that really helps me save.
~I am trying hard to do more do ahead meal prep like chopping the onions and peppers and freezing, double batches for the freezer....
~Dried beans instead of canned (the convenience of canned beans is hard to let go of)

Tell me your tricks for getting the most bang for your buck at the supermarket. If you are local and know of a farmer's market let me know!

Family Fun

We visited Nana and Papa's for the 4th. We had a great time. Fun was had by all. Some had a little too much fun. It was a wonderful time full of family. We got some great pictures. Dan took some of the best! He has a much more artistic eye. We spent lots of time outside and the kids did so much fun stuff. They went to feed the cows with Papa, on a hike with Daddy and Papa at Caprock Canyons State Park, they rode the four-wheeler with Daddy, FL helped Papa mow the yard, they worked in the garden, they played in the pool, flew kites and airplanes, ate homemade ice cream, and spent LOTS of time outside!

Can you tell these two are trouble together? I think they were imitating me, but either way, it was too cute to pass up!
Memaw and Angie were doing a little post meal clean-up

Aren't they both lovely?

Silly face

We havae about a million pictures just like this from about 25 years ago!
I couldn't decide which one I liked better so I put them both up. We were concentrating on making our necks look long and skinny instead of short and fat and this is what we got. Next time we will try not to concetrate so hard.
A little walk-about with Memaw Maddie
Bedtime delay tactics with Nana
We enjoy our time with Memaw Crabb so much. She lived far away for so long and I *LOVE* being able to see her all the time when we are at Nana and Papa's! The great grans love it too!
Silly cousins!

When Daddy's Away...

...the girls will play!


We went to see Wall E on the opening day. It was really just a fluke we made for the opening day but we had fun anyway. We got a babysitter for Judson and we went for lunch and a movie, just us girls.

We were planning to go on the trip with Dan and the 40 or so Jr. Highers but we realized this wasn't the best trip or time for us all to go, so we planned our own outing. Actually we made a weekend of it! We ended up paying for it though. FaithLyn got sick last night. Everyone was pretty bummed to miss church. I think it was just a 24 hour bug, we'll see if it's going to make its way through the rest of us or not.

A Visit Home

Home is not just four walls for us. It's so much more than that. But most of all it's family. We had one of the best visits home; full of family, love and lots of laughter. We did all kinds of fun things! We got to plant carrots in Nana and Papa's garden, we watered and weeded. We spent one morning at Memaw and Pawpaw's. We had lots of mornings outside. Several tea parties at Memaw Crabb's house. Some time spent in the pool, and even a few good thunderstorms, but not much rain. I love going to visit family and feeling like you leave better off than when you got there. This time at home, I grew. I left there as a better version of me. But not by my effort or selflessness, it was Christ in those around me that bouyed my spirit and lifted my heart to think heavenward. Home can be anywhere. Anywhere that you feel the love of Christ.

It was a wonderful visit. We can't wait to get back there for July 4th! And this time Aunt Angie and Cousin Luke will be there. AND Daddy Dan gets to come! YIPEE! I can't wait!

Back in the BUSY!

We made it back from a great week at Nana and Papa's. Dan had a great week at camp and is still exhausted. But he has to put that thought on hold cuz we are in the middle of VBS! The jury's still out but I don't think I am a fan of pm VBS. I am a big fan of the rotation schedule though! The night just zooms by and I am only responsible for teaching in 20 min. segments. We can handle that. Although it is a challenge. I don't have the time I would like to really reinforce scripture memory.
It may be a while before you get the full scoop and update.

But we do have an announcement to make! (No, I am not pregnant again!)

We got a Van! Woowhooo! The silver bullet finally made it to that final resting spot for special cars. We loved that van and it was a gift from the Lord before we even knew we needed it but she was on her last leg and she limped. God blessed us again and we are so thankful that He meets our needs! We are the proud owners of a 2007 Hyundai Entourage. It had just a little over 9K miles on it when we got it. It is the first car we have owned with a CD player. We find pleasure in the small stuff! Oh, and the girls are pretty pumped that the passenger door windows roll down. I am just excited about being able to use the AC with out fear of the van dying! Yay, no more sweaty van trips! Thank you Lord for your provision and loving care!

We're OFF!

We are heading out to see Nana and Papa while Dan is at Centrifuge with the "teenagers."




Hope you all are enjoying your summer! We sure are. This is the only week we have to be away from Dan. That's not so bad. And we even get to go hang out at the homestead! We will be visiting Memaw Crabb and Memaw Maddie and Pawpaw Wayne! It's going to be soooo much fun! Have a great week!

You can tell these two are trouble! I am sure there will be lots of new things that Judson learns from Papa this week!

Happy Fathers Day!

AW, JUNK!

Yesterday I went to upload an old picture of newborn Judson from a CD I burned and out of the 4 burned CD's guess which one was corrupted? That's right. The one CD that had all of Judson's first moments of life and not to mention the first 8 months of the year 2007. 222 pictures in total.

I felt just like Judson in that picture. All day. My stomach was in knots. I was sick about it. I realize that they are just pictures. I still have the sweet boy here with me to hold and love and see grow. For that I am so. eternally. grateful! But still.....you can't tell me that wouldn't ruin your day!?

We are still going to try one or two more things. I haven't given up all hope but I am preparing myself to live with only the pictures that are captured forever on this blog. Thankfully, they were not ALL of our pictures of Judson. Just the first three weeks. And the documentation of our lives the previous 8 months. In the grand scheme of things.....not even a blip on the scale of tragedies. I don't even break into tears when I think about it. Not anymore, anyway.

What have I learned from this? Always back up my back up! From now on, I will be ordering prints of my most precious pictures. Live and Learn.

The worst part is that I know I checked each CD before I deleted the pics from the computer. Well, perhaps some computer tech somewhere can save the day. Maybe not. My world will go on and I will continue to take pictures! Maybe someone will be prevented this same heartache by learning from mine.

Sad Day for Mama B.

I don't know how much I have shared about our journey to figure out God's plan for our family and family size. Those of you that know us well probably know we are at peace with the decisions we feel God leading us to make. Through lots of prayer, tears, struggle and lots of bible study we have come to the conclusion that we are a complete family with our family size as it is. Does that mean for certain we will have no more children? No. But we are not making sure we will have more. Does that mean we have done anything permanent to end our family growth? No. SO technically, we could have lots more children. But we feel like our family is complete. Who knows, we may adopt someday. We would LOVE that.

But Judson is most likely our last baby that I will get to nurse. I have enjoyed and relished this baby boy. Every first for him has been so bittersweet for me. We reached a new milestone recently. And just typing it up makes my chest go tight and my eyes burn with fresh tears. This morning I nursed my sweet gift from God for the very last time. It came much sooner than I would have liked but my plans are not always the best plans. I knew I would have to be weaning him within the month and this caught me off guard, but I know my Savior has our best in mind.

This summer Mimi has made it possible for me to go with Dan and the youth group on our mission trip to New York. It is SO wonderful to get to do more alongside my husband in his ministry. We are learning how to incorporate our family in that ministry as well. It is a wonderful thing! But for the last 5 or 6 years my help in Dan's work has been limited because of babies. Also a wonder thing! It looks like we are turning a corner in our family life. The next stage of life. I have been in the baby stage for so long that I am scared to move on. I know that my primary roles in life are still wife and mother, but not having an infant allows a little more freedom to offer more parts of my abilities in other areas of my life. I am unsure of my abilities in any other part of the world outside of mommyland. I remember when I last felt this way. I was pregnant with FaithLyn, graduated from college and learning what it really meant to be a housewife. It was a hard time for me. I was so unsure of myself. All of the things that I knew I could do well I was no longer doing. Looking back, I know that it is a wonderful place to be. I know I will be growing. God will be teaching me new abilities. I will grow in my roles as wife and mother, daughter and sister, minister's wife and friend. I am still unsure, but I have a stronger faith in my Lord than I did six years ago. I know that my Lord has a plan for me that will make me a better version of me; a better reflection of Him.

I know that. But it is hard to move on. It is hard to leave the version of you that you have grown comfortable in. Only God knows if I will ever be back in this stage, but for now.....I am moving on. It doesn't seem like it has been long enough. But it is time. My little man has already taken the first step to independence. He is already moving away from needing his mommy for everything. That's good. It is the natural way of life. But the natural way of life is hard for mommies to submit to. My little man is growing up and changing, so am I.

Fabulous Florida Vacation Part II

These are pictures that Aunt Patty took at the zoo. I decided to go ahead and put in some pictures of myself. I mean what if something happened to me someday and this blog is the only thing of mine the kids have to remember me......I guess it would be nice to have a picture or two. So for the sake of family history I am getting over my public picture phobia.

Can you see that cow tongue? Isn't that a delicacy in some places? I'll pass.

Another family shot
These girls look pretty fierce!

The next few are from our trip to the Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola. It was one of our favorite days. We saw an IMAX movie about the ocean and then wandered around until lunch time. We even ate at the little museum cafe.




Side note: Growing up my sister and I were known for our "Clark stare." It was not a look you wanted directed at you. Now my family is known for their "stare." It's not quite the same thing. The effect isn't quite as intimidating. But you can see Judson has it down!
Oliva loves Aunt Patty! Shoot, we ALL love Aunt Patty!
Our last evening we all ate together at Barnhill's.Can you believe this is the only picture we have of Uncle Max!? He kept us all doctored up while we were there. No rest for the weary!

Our LONG, LONG, trip home.

But despite the long car ride, it was SOO worth it. We got home and a few days later Elise asked "Are we going to Aunt Patty's this morning?"

me-"No, we just got home and it's a very long way, don't you remember?"

E-"Oh, Can we go tomorrow?"

me-"No, but I wish we could."

E-"Me, too. When can we go back to Aunt Patty's beach?"

me-"Well, maybe next summer, but it won't be soon enough will it?"

E-"Is that tomorrow?"

me"No."