The Davis Family

Happy Birthday Elyona

2009-09-11T20:38:00.004-05:00

Today Elyona turned 12 years old. Being at the beach made her birthday extra special. She has gotten old enough now to just want money. The things she really wants are too much for just a birthday gift so she has to save her money for the big girl stuff. We went to eat at a nice place tonight and daddy took her snorkeling earlier today. Last SUnday night we had a party so that Katerri could be here with us. She wanted a Twilight cake, so I made one. It was red velvet with black icing. Everyone had a black mouth and we all looked gothic. What happened to the nice, pink icing with rainbow sprinkles?

So much has changed with her this past year. It is really hard to think about what is to come. She has started enjoying the company of me and daddy and adults more and more. She is growing up. She enjoys e-mailing all her friends, which are mostly made up of people at least 10 years older than she. I feel like she needs to slow down. This is all happening too fast. She has traded in Winnie the Pooh for Twilight, Highlights for Pride and Prejudice, playing in the sprinklers for checking out MY facebook account (which she wants one but I am holding off for a while). 12 years old, wow. She is already dabbing on a bit of make-up, and wanting to dress "cool". Tonight at dinner she was too old to eat off the children's menu. She was thrilled, I almost cried. She wants to constantly read, see, and try new things and I am constantly saying "no" because like I said, this is just all happening to fast. I want her to be happy and enjoy life but life's pleasures from now on seems to bring with them responsibility and consequences that I want to protect her from. For example, I let her read some of Twilight and now she is a junkie. Do I remove it completely or let her dive in. We decided to just dabble with her. I read It to her leaving out those things that are unfitting for a little girl. I can handle these little ones because I know how to make them happy, they are simple. But what if when they get bigger it takes more and more of this world to make them happy. It will be part my fault because I know I have shown them a false love for this world and not enough of a true love for the One to come. 12, I guess she is getting to the point soon where her salvation will have to work itself out and that can sometimes be a scary thing to watch, especially being a mama.

But with growing up in our home, responsibility grows evermore. Elyona is always up for that challenge and passes with flying colors. Here in the next few years if any of you need a good babysitter, house cleaner, someone to do your laundry then she is your girl.

Elyona, you are a beautiful young girl. I am a bit afraid of our new adventure while you are growing into a woman but we can do it. Always remember to be strong in the Lord and seek Him diligently. Read the Word, pray, and learn how to trust in the Lord. Let Jesus become a part of all your decisions and let him make you in who you will become. Mama and Daddy will sometimes fail you and may not always make the best decisions for you. Start practicing looking beyond mama and daddy to Jesus for he will never fail you. I am so proud of who you are so far and am looking forward to what is in store.

Happy Birthday Baby,
Mama

Catching Up

2009-09-05T09:50:00.004-05:00

Wow It has been a long time since my last post. Let me take time and just do a bit of catching up.

Judson has learned to walk, talk and be silly. He loves to dance around the room at night after bible time and make everyone laugh. He is such a funny boy. He loves to go outside, ride the lawnmower, and take a bath with John Mark (but not Jadon). He is not a little baby any more but a toddler. I am already feeling like my arms are empty but so far it's OK.

John Mark is a big boy. He loves Sesame Street and World World. Of course he has to watch those when we do school just to have something to do. Its a little difficult right now with him because he is not in school so he doesn't get much attention during the day. We try to have a date once a week so that I can spend a bit of time with just him. He loves that.

Jadon is in Kindergarden and is doing wonderful. He is very easy to teach and can do most of his work with just a little teaching. Thanks to daddy, he is a superhero fanatic. His favorite is Hulk. He is very fashion savvy. He loves to dress himself, John Mark, and Judson every morning. He lays their clothes out every night. It is so cute. He is going to start soccer this year. Fun Fun.

All the girls are doing good in school. Some are great students, others are average and must work very hard to maintain good grades. Our homeschooling has been transformed this year. We have changed to a computer based program called Switched On Schoolhouse for most subjects. Basically, the computer is the teacher and I am just the parent who encourages them in what the have to do and learn. We study for test and work on assignments together but the teaching and school requirements are initiated by the "computer school" and not me. I just do not have time to be creative enough to be wife, mother and teacher to so many grades. This has been such a blessing because I can still homeschool but so much pressure has been taken off me and put on the children. Before if they didn't get something it was because I didn't give it to them or teach it well enough. Now if they don't do well, it is because they didn't apply themselves well. They all will play soccer this season. We will have 5 playing in all, WHEW.

Eric has a different job at Honda now. Instead of working assembly which is very tiring on the body he is now working in quality. It is still hard work and more stressful but not the repetitive motions he used to do for 7 years. He come home the other day and was so excited because he didn't break a sweat that day. He works so hard for us.

I have been laying low these past few months. I found myself constantly having more to do than I had time for. I reevaluated and discovered how many things I was doing that God had not called me to. Good things, no doubt but, just not the things that God had called me to. SO, I made a list and narrowed my life down. Life is much less stressful and so much more fulfilling when I lay my head down at night with the peace that I have been working on the things God has called me to and not those things that are just life "fillers". Blogging, facebook, phone calls and such just didn't make my list. Eric, my children, my walk, hospitality, prayer, and church did. Jesus accomplished everything that the Father had given him to do, so maybe if I try to stick to the things that God has given me to do then maybe I will to.

Happy Birthday Mary-Grace

2009-06-07T19:04:00.022-05:00

June 3rd was actually Mary-Grace's big day. She is now 7. How has Mary-Grace changed this past year? HMM. She now has "big" teeth to go with her big smile, successfully completed 1st grade, and is able to ride a bike without training wheels. She still, however, can't pronounce her 'R' sounds. We kinda like that though and we will be sad when her tongue catches up with her brain.

Mary- Grace is the most spunky child that I have. She has a bit of Bailey in her but has her own little spunky twist to it. She has a huge imagination that she probably gets from rooming with Annalee. She still plays dress up, sings loud, and needs mama's loving every night. She is a hard worker around the house and a big help with the boys. She is a picky eater and is always in the kitchen around cooking time to be certain of all the ingredients.

Birthday celebrations for her were delayed until this coming week when Eric and I take her out on a date after a family party. We went camping Thursday thru today. She was thrilled to be camping with the Henry's and Harmon's. We had a great time swimming, fishing, karaoke, late nights by the campfire and chocolate chip pancakes on the griddle early morning. The kids literally swam 4-6 hours a day. Of course there were the "Davis bloopers" that we can't live without. John-Mark fed Judson a worm, a long, fat, and slimey worm. We found half on his highchair tray, remnants in his teeth and the rest must have been swallowed. Jadon fell asleep in an inner tube in the middle of the lake. He had been swimming for hours so when he finally found a comfortable place he was out like a light. I figured it was worth it just to tread water beside him to make sure he didn't fall through so that he could get in a good nap than to risk waking him up and hoping he would go back to sleep in the tent. The weather was perfect. Camping with a LARGE family is a hard task but it is so worth it. Jimpaw always encourages us to make memories and I believe that camping with our friends and family will always be a good memory.

This wraps up all the birthdays until September. I just watch them as they all grow up too fast. One day I am excited to show Elyona how to put on a little eye shadow, Annalee how to send an e mail, Mary-Grace how to change a diaper and Judson how to walk. Other days I want it all to just stop and enjoy my little children forever. Enjoy their little problems, their little fears, and their little world. But life flies by so we will just "make memories"

Here is my interview with Mary-Grace

Favorite color?...yellow
Favorite food?...ice cream
Favorite thing to do?...swim
Favorite song?...Holy, Holy, Holy
Favorite toy?...new baby doll
Favorite game to play?...Wii bowling
Favorite movie?...Barbie in the Princess and the Pauper
Best day of the week?...Sunday
Least favorite chore?...Bathroom
Best friend?...Chloe, Autumn, Isabelle, and Hannah-Grace
Favorite animal?...baby horse
Best day ever?...going to Six Flags with the Swinneys

Happy Birthday Greater Luv
I Love you
Mama

Happy Birthday Jadon

2009-05-20T21:34:00.023-05:00

Today is Jadon's 5th birthday. My little man is growing up. He was disappointed when he woke up because he thought that he would be bigger. He kept saying all day "am I 5 yet?". Finally, after being convinced that he was 5 and no longer 4, he started to cry because he was the same size. Today's birthday had its ups and downs. First of all Bailey and Annalee were sick so that meant that his big birthday party with all the cousins was off. Second, he didn't grow 5 inches overnight. But we partied anyhow. He wanted a Prince Caspian birthday cake. We got him a Spiderman bike and some $2 army men. Guess what the favorite gift was. Oh yeah, the army men were a big hit. Since he was 3 he has been waiting to turn 5 so that he could spend the night with Carly. Tonight he remembered that promise and is anxiously waiting for a chance.

Jadon is a mama's boy. He loves to be loved on. I think that he will be the type that even when he is 20 will come crawl in my lap for some lovin'. Of course that is just fine with me. Jadon enjoys being outside, jumping on the trampoline, action figures, monster trucks, and singing. He is athletic. Although, it may just be that after all these girls, Eric and I just have tons of hope, but he seems to have potential. He has been dribbling a basketball since he was 2. He can throw a great spiral and has been swimming since birth.

Jadon is a special little boy. There is something extraordinary about your firstborn son.

Happy Birthday Man
I love you

Bathtubs and Birthdays

2009-05-11T14:20:00.053-05:00

We have so many birthdays on both sides of our family. You can imagine how overwhelming birthday parties can be, especially for grandparents. To make it easier on mamaw we decided to just have 1 party a month (Sunday afternoons) at her house so she can celebrate the grandkids' birthdays. Believe it or not we have a birthday in every month except December. This is also a chance to get the family together once a month for a good meal, some fellowship, horses, go-carts and zip-lines. May is Annalee, Chloe and Jadon's month. This is what goes on on my side of the family. Now with Eric's gang, we have pool parties and ride golf carts and four wheelers. My extended family is huge and I would not have it any other way. Birthday parties are just an excuse that we have to get to be with the people that we love. When I was a child, I always wanted siblings my age, or a nearby friend that was a walk away, or cousins that lived close by. When ever I did get to have a fun filled day with children, if we were swimming, riding bikes, or playing ball, it was remembered for a long while. Those days were far and few for me but my children experience this life style daily. Can you imagine growing up in a household with 6 other playmates and your best friends were your 15 cousins that were a short drive away. That is my children's life and it sounds like a good one to me. They still complain though. Just last night we had a "talkin to" about not being thankful and content. They always want more. More spend the nights, more friends over, more candy, more ice cream, more TV, more, more, more. They sound like me, "I want a bigger house"," I want a camper"," I want to go to Disney"," I want to adopt." None of us can ever have enough HUH?

This week John Mark has started being a terror. An unpredictable terror. He insists on going into my bathroom and squeezing all my toothpaste out on everything, walls, floor and Tuesday it was in his and Judson's hair. Wednesday he dumped my garbage down my toilet. Thursday at 4:30am Eric caught him in the closet having opened up and pulled out all the diapers, all the wipes, all the Q-tips, and all the drawers. He crawled onto the counter and poured coffee grounds into the coffee maker where water is supposed to be poured. He has started taking out every apple and taking a bite out of each one of them. Yesterday he dumped all the bath water onto the floor. The deal is that this is not like him. You know when you can usually predict what they will and won't do. Well this is very unpredictable. You may say "where were you when he was pouring the water out?" Well, normally he would just sit and play so I was dressing Judson. I don't know where I have been during his adventures but who can predict that a 2 year old will get up at 4:30am to destroy his closet. He seems to be better today. Hopefully his exploring phase has passed, or has been "corrected" out of him.

Happy Birthday Annalee

2009-05-02T17:24:00.003-05:00

Her actual birthday was yesterday May 1. Her big day will be celebrated in a variety of ways. Last night the Henrys came and spent the night. We made cupcakes and watched a movie. Next week we will have another small party with mamaw and Mady Henry, her best friend since birth, then a trip to town for some Maggie Moos. YUMMY. Of course the big blow out isn't until closer to Mary-Grace's birthday in June. I will reveal all secrets later but just know for now it is going to be huge...22 little girls huge.

Before I had Annalee I always wondered what her little personality would be like. Elyona was the typical first born pleaser, while Bailey was the demanding, second born fire ball. Where would Annalee fit into that mixture. Well, just as God intended...perfectly. She is and was the most mild mannered child ever. Of all 7 she is the most easy going. As a baby we could put her in any situation and she would adapt. She is the same way now, very laid back and goes with the flow type of girl. But that is her life here on earth with us common folk. Most of the time Annalee is actually in another world that usually consists of princess and castles with a fairy godmother and, of course, a prince. She lives in la la land most of the time. If we are doing school, she is drawing ball gowns, if we are cleaning, then she is Cinderella singing with the mice. If we are watching American Idol she is pondering her own stage show that she would perform. But she is not a performer. Very seldom does she ask me to watch her do or perform anything. We have to catch her in front of the bathroom mirror or outside by herself. Her enjoyment in her pretend performances isn't for any one's enjoyment but her own. She can remember lines from movies like they were etched in her brain the first time she heard them. She can remember songs with ease. She cannot, however, remember her times tables.
I interviewed her for this blog so I could get some details. This blog time about Annalee is actually good for me because it makes me think about her. She is the one of all 7 that will go unnoticed by me. It's nice at times but it is also sad. She doesn't demand my attention so she doesn't get much of it. She is so worthy of it too. She is a precious child. Here is my interview.

Name : Annalee Jordan Davis
Birthday : May 1 2000
favorite color : dark pink
favorite movie: all Barbie movies
favorite song: My Heart Will Go On
favorite singer: Carrie Underwood
favorite actor/tress: Miley Cyrus
favorite bible character: Esther and Paul
favorite Disney character: Ariel
favorite food: Pasta
favorite restaurant: Olive Garden
favorite friend: Mady Henry
favorite ice cream: Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
what do you want to be when you grow up? teacher
what do you want for your birthday? American Girl Doll outfits
best day ever: Going camping with the Harmon's when we swam all day.
Favorite thing to do? swimming and eating

Happy 9th Birthday My Princess

Happy Birthday Judson!!!

2009-04-03T16:00:00.004-05:00

Today is Judson's first birthday. We are all excited about planning his first birthday party. Although 1st birthdays are always very special, I try not to make too much out of the 1st birthday gift. I mean, I have others that want American Girl dolls and Nintendo ds games in just a few weeks for their birthdays so, I try to be wise and not go over board when I don't have to. But my dear children thought it was a disgrace that I was not planning on getting the little guy anything. They decided to help me out a little. They knew that I wanted to get him a wagon so they got a jar and labeled it "Judson's First Wagon Fund" . They have collected $52, with the help of Maw Maw and Daddy. So we are off in the morning to get Judson his first wagon. His party will be shared with cousin Elijah whos birthday is April 5th.

Judson is still such a baby. I remember Elyona's first birthday. She was a little girl, walking around, talking, and such. She was also a soon to be big sister with Bailey's arrival being just a few weeks away. Judson is nothing like that, he is our baby. I bet when he is 21 he will still be mama's baby boy.

Glasses

2009-03-17T15:36:00.002-05:00

Judson got his new glasses yesterday. We think he is too cute. Every time we see him we giggle and start kissing him all over. Last night when we got home from B'ham we had to take him to mawmaw's and Melanie's to show him off. The reaction was the same..."OH HOW CUTE!!! " and then tons of hugs and kisses. Now he must know how adorable he is in these glasses because whenever we first put them on he wrinkles up his nose and laughs like he is trying to be a little show off. It works, we all melt.

His ophthalmologist said that he should wear these safety glasses most of the time to get used to them. After that he said to wear them when he is toddling around, having outside activities and any time he is around other children. I was like..."OK... so I guess he can sleep without them". So far Judson doesn't mind them and keeps them on until one of the kids touches them and reminds him that they are there.

The ocularist didn't think it would be a good idea to add right now to the prosthesis because it would make it too tight. If it gets too tight I can't get it out. So, we are just going to leave it loose and spinning around for right now. He goes for another adjustment in 3 months. I have figured out how to straighten it up so that he is not looking cock-eyed without having to take it out and put it back in so, that makes things much more manageable.

School is going good. We are in the final count down now and with this pretty, warm weather it is all we can do to stay inside and do math. But we must do so if we are going to finish before May. I have been looking at a few curriculum changes for next year that have excited me. We will see how that all goes.

Life is always busy and seems to be getting more so...so blog time isn't happening a lot anymore. Thanks for keeping up with me anyway.

Judson's BIG eye

2009-03-02T16:20:00.001-06:00

First of all, I am so sorry for such a long blogging strike. Sometimes life is too busy to waste time trying to blog about it. Right now I have 4 in bed sick with fevers so this really frees me up to have some Internet time.

Judson finally got his "big" eye, as we call it. It is actually called a painted scleral shell. This is still just the beginnings of several adjustments and changes to a better fit. We were not able to get an exact mold of his socket because he is just too little to hold still but in a few years he will get one that is a perfect fit. We have to go back next week for an adjustment because right now if he touches it it spins around and he looks goofy. When he wakes up I put him in bed between Eric and I and one eye is looking at me and the other at Eric. The kids love it. They try to make their eyes do the same. The conformers were so tight that his eye stayed irritated but they made this eye smaller so that maybe it will not be so irritated. But I think that they got it a bit to small because of how it is spinning. They will just build it up from behind and make it a better fit. Like I said, many adjustments to go. I think they did a great job on the color though. It is really neat, it has the small veins and the gold specks and everything just like his normal eye. She painted it wile Judson slept, she would just open his eye up a little just to get a color match. I have been removing it every night to get some practice removing it and to help keep down irritation. I thought it would be weird to remove it but it is really no big deal although Judson hates it.

We will go March 16 to get an adjustment and to his opthamologist to get glasses. They will only be safety glasses but he will need them since he will soon be toddling around and active with all his brothers and sisters.

This has been quite and adventure so far. I have met extremely neat people, people who have had horrible accidents that left them without 1 or both eyes, people who have lost their eye to cancer, others who have the same problem as Judson but it effects them in both eyes. others who have so many problems that a small eye is really the least of their worries. It all makes me so thankful for Judson's little eye.

Judson with his conformer in (very irritated)

No shell or conformer. This is what he would be like without modern medicine.

Two beautiful eyes, one dirty face

Blessings of a full life /Meals

2009-01-22T18:36:00.003-06:00

This week has once again brought a life of sweet, blessed busyness. Many of you know that my sister and her husband has been dealing with the lingering process of the death of David's dad. After 2 weeks of ups and downs, hopes and disappointments, frustrations and anger, Papa Jake went home to be with his creator. Death is always ugly and never truly ready for.

This week I had the privilege of being mama to eleven children. Of course we still have Murren, who is schooling well and fitting into our world quite well considering her little world is upside down. We also had the Harmon's 3 younger ones. We schooled, played, laughed and cried together. We had a big surprise birthday party for Eric. Daddy was so excited to come home to a table full of good food, cheese cake, presents and 11 smiling faces. As we all held hands and prayed, thanking God for daddy's 35 years we were also thanking him for Papa Jake's homecoming. I loved what my table looked like tonight. It was so full of ... LIFE.

This week had difficult moments but I was able to serve those who were in most need of my service. Thank you David and Melanie, and Holly and John for letting my family borrow your children, letting us love on them as if they were our own. I have counted my busy week as such a blessing.

Mama, just a warning, 11 children fit in our house and around our table very comfortably....hmmm?? (my heart is leading me to Africa)

This weeks Meals
Chicken Marsalis
Tacos
Black beans and rice
tuna salad
navy beans, corn, turnip greens, corn bread
baked potatoes
pizza

Meal Plans

2009-01-13T20:59:00.002-06:00

My friend blogs her meal plans for the week and I kinda like it. I am always looking for new ideas and maybe you are as well. So, I will try to keep my meal plans blogged and give my bloggers some ideas.

Black beans and rice
Roast, potatoes, and carrots
Chicken finger salad
Stir fry
Black eyed peas, green beans, corn, corn bread
Veg. soup, corn bread
Pizza

Encouragement

2009-01-12T19:46:00.002-06:00

This Sunday was our end of the semester homeschool meeting. I always want to have something prepared to tell these women that will be an encouragement to them in their hard role as mama and teacher. This time I was wanting to bring someone in to speak but unfortunately there just aren't too many of us out there who have finished this journey well. Although, there are some great women who have, praise the Lord. Anyway, in my praying on how to encourage these mamas like myself, God gave me a week that I hope to model for weeks to come. You see, prior to starting school last week, Judson went through such a horrible time(previous blog) that my everything was focused on him. I did not want to leave my home, I had no desire to chit, chat on the phone just to catch up with people that I talk with everyday. But mostly, my whole mind was on my little home and what was going on with-in it. After a week of home mindedness I was then gearing up to begin school so, my mind stayed focused on my little world. I wanted to get up early and have B'fast for my children ready, with a well straightened house for us to begin our day with. I made a strict schedule and was able to keep to it with enthusiasm. We had free time that we really enjoyed after a day filled with hard work. I stayed up late to make sure everything was in order before we had to wake and do it all over again. All this worked well last week. My house stayed clean without nagging, school was done with a smile on our face, and we all went to bed knowing that we had accomplished something worth while that day. I was able to share this with the homeschoolers last night and I wanted to put it on my blog as well because a lot you are in the same boat as well. I know that God purposed this past week to show me a few things and maybe to encourage a few others as well. I always want some feel good encouragement thinking it will get me going and motivate me but in the end really all I need to do is return to the basics of what I know is true. Women, we are to be managers of our homes. The better that it is managed the more joy that can abound from it. I should get up early, get ready, put my shoes on and WORK. This is not my normal way of approaching my day, although, I know I should. Normally, I take it as it comes with a phone call here, and a coffee break there. I am robbing my family of valuable work time that I dedicated to them years ago. I get together with others and complain because my job is so hard and I can't figure out how to do it all but, am I working to exhaustion or am I working hard at trying to not have to work so hard. I want everything to be easy but it is not. But my most rewarding week in a while came from just getting back to the basics and stop trying to find some quick fix and just plain working hard. And it was so rewarding.

Another thing that I was able to shared with them is that I think that we want our children to be such godly people that we spend more time working on them than we do ourselves. I am so concerned with what they watch and say and if they listen well during bible time with enthusiasm, and things like who are they making friends with and what do they do when I am not around. Mamas, we can't make our children righteous. We can make white washed tombs and hypocrites but not men and women who know their God. I think I need to lay off my children's spirituality and work on my own for a while. Our children need to see that serving the Lord is joyful and free, not binding and legalistic. Mamas, Let's serve the Lord with gladness as we work hard for our beloved families.

"Give that baby a bottle" :(

2009-01-09T18:54:00.002-06:00

Judson is doing much better. He is still very congested and has a decreased appetite so nursing is not going so well. I know I have "gone off" on my nursing joys before but it's time for another. Eric and my mama ,who both have good intentions, have decided that since nursing is going so poorly right now and that it is probably time to wean him. They say things like "he might just need a bottle, mama!". Well keep in mind that I have tried daily to give him a bottle because he is dehydrated somewhat. He will not take it. He wants me, not some old bottle. He cries and wants to latch on but each time he does he cannot breath and comes off screaming. This cycle last all day. I have been so frustrated. I am loosing my supply with each passing try and he is screaming wanting to nurse and all that is in the way is a bunch of snot! GROSS! I have tried it all to get it out but it is useless. I have tried pumping to keep my milk up, torture! So with all the problems going on maybe you to would be in the crowd of those to say "wean him". But thanks be to God for a mother's love and the bond of nursing. Finally, after 2 days and 13 missed feedings, Judson latched on and stayed there for 1 hour. He was so relaxed and happy. He went right back into the routine of playing with my face and rubbing my neck and arms in total satisfaction. I know it was only 2 days but I was lost with out my nursing baby and I believe he was lost without me. I am not ready to wean him and despite how sick he gets, he is not ready to give up his mama for a substitute. So ,although Eric and my mama love me and Judson with all their being, they are not his mama. But more than that, neither has ever nursed a baby and have no idea what that bond is like.

Now you all don't get in a tizzy and email me about disrespecting my mama and my husband. This is something that we have discussed in all fun and laughs.

Catching up

2009-01-06T14:20:00.002-06:00

A while since my last post, I know. It has been a busy few weeks. Let me quickly catch you all up. My free time is still sparse so be patient as I try to keep up with "blog world".

*Christmas was wonderful. Too many gifts but overall a joyful time. Although Judson got an infection in his eye for a few days. We tried ourselves to remove the conformer to no avail which landed us at the eye foundation ER so that they could remove the conformer and treat the infection. HORRIBLE experience. Screaming, metal hooks, blood stained tears, and exhaustion.

*After Christmas we did "winter cleaning". We scrubbed floors, cabinets, toilets, and just really cleaned up our house good. WHEW. You all know I loved that. The feeling of a clean house is wonderful.

*Judson started cutting teeth with low grade fever and misery.

*More holiday gatherings with Eric's family. Fun Fun.

*Judson developed pneumonia and is still miserable. He ran of some degree of fever from the day before Christmas to Jan 3rd. He is still not well. He will not eat and is constantly slipping into dehydration. He cries hours on end and then crashes with exhaustion. I believe he should have been hospitalized but seeing as no pediatricians were on call through the holidays he was only seen by clinic Drs. Now I am trying to decide if he needs to be seen again by the Ped. or do like the clinic DR said and just give it a few days for him to recover. What to do???

*I started weight watchers. I usually do well on diets and loose my weight. The problem has been that I always gained it back and more with each pregnancy. That will not be happening again so hopefully all will go well.

*School is up and running again and going great so far.

*We have added one to our crew. A friend is having to go thru radiation treatments for 6 weeks and her daughter (6yrs, 1st grade) will be staying and schooling with us during that time. This makes my plate very full but I am praying that God will give me strength, wisdom, grace, and patience. I really want to help and I know that it is best for my friend if her dd can remain in one place then to be carted from here to there.

Gotta go. Life is so busy right now. But I love it. Down time depresses me.

Christmas Tea Party

2008-12-23T22:47:00.000-06:00

This and the following 2 posts are some of our Christmas festivities that we have had going on. I cannot do them all at one time due to my beloved dial up issue.

I was pondering what to do for all these precious little girls that we have in our lives and I could think of nothing better than a Christmas tea party. It was so fun. We had sugar cookies, chocolate goodies and hot cocoa. We talked about what it means to be little ladies and how to use our manners. The highlight of the party was all of us sitting around the TV watching Barbie in A Christmas Carol. It is such a good little girl movie and it is so festive. At the end of the DVD there is a carol-oke special feature. We sang and laughed. I hope all those little girls had as good of a time as I did. There were 6 little girls who were out of town and couldn't come. God has blessed us with so many wonderful friends to share our lives with.

Gingerbread Houses

2008-12-23T22:24:00.000-06:00

All I Want For Christmas...

2008-12-23T22:18:00.000-06:00

IS MY TWO FRONT TEETH!!!

Choir Concerts and A Humbling Dedication

2008-12-14T21:29:00.000-06:00

K-6th grade choir

pre-school choir

Today was our Home school Choir Christmas Concert. They all did such a great job. It is amazing how much talent is that little choir. Most of those children have a special talent in music so, this choir may give us some exciting shows in the near future. This time they sang a few hymns and some carols. Bailey sang a solo in The First Noel... she sounded so sweet. My favorite part was all those toothless grins. Most of them were missing at least 1 or 2.

The preschoolers also sang a few of their songs they do in Sing, Spell, Read, and Write (our Co-Op preschool program). They were so cute. Each of them got to hold the mic and sing thru the numbers song. Jadon remembered all the words to the shapes song which was a worry since he is the loudest one. Today he blended in better than I expected. He wore his new suit and tie. He says that it is his "Christian" suit. Who knows where he got that one.

Today we also dedicated Judson to the Lord. We have several of these dedications a year at our church but Carlton always makes each one of them so special. Of course my family can't do anything without having a story to go along with it. I spent forever picking out clothes so that we would all match since the whole family would be on stage. We were all in our Christmas black and red, suit and tie best. Half way through the dedication, as I am holding the squirming Judson, I discover that 3 out of 4 of my dress buttons are unbuttoned. OMG! And if that wasn't bad enough, Jadon tee-teed on himself while standing on stage. Thankfully he never acted as if he had to go, he just went and as soon as we left the stage he told me, and no one noticed my 3 unbuttoned buttons. Isn't it funny how I took all that time to make my family presentable because I knew we were going to be called up on stage only for it to backfire on me and leave me laughing at myself in embarrassment. God does humble the proud, doesn't he?

Scheduling

2008-12-14T19:47:00.004-06:00

This has usually been something that I have been pretty good at. But, here lately, well its been a slow decline for a while, I've been struggling. I need your help. I am desperate for ideas on how to better schedule my time and ways to be more efficient. Also, pray for me. Whatever I decide to change, I will have to be disciplined to stick with it. Here are a few things that I could use some advise or scheduling tips with. 1.) Spending quality teaching time with each on the ones that are in school (pre-school, 1st, 3rd, 5th, 6th) and creative things to do with the others that are not 2.) Spending time playing with them all. 3.)Time with Eric. 4.)Time alone. For those of you with large families, I have a hard time keeping the house straightened. Do you have toy rules, clothes rules, kitchen duty, laundry duty ect...My children clean very well but they don't keep it clean. We all make huge messes then clean it up at a certain time in the day. That works sometimes but how could I stay on top of it more. My children are not lazy slobs, they work very hard, we are just so busy, even when we are just staying at home. It seems that all of our time would need to be structured and scheduled since there is so much for us to do in a day but everyone needs some freedom, right? I used to be on top of all these things but not anymore, 4 children is a world away from 7. I am tired of chaos and I need order. Please comment or E-mail me some ideas, large family moms or not.

Will they ever survive?

2008-12-11T15:41:00.002-06:00

Monday was another one of those days that had me functioning on autopilot with little emotion. You know those days that are just so jammed packed with school, meals, dishes, laundry, more school, more meals, and more dishes. By 6pm I made the announcement that the next time I heard "Mama, I need you" I would spank. Eric had a hurt back and came home from work and went right to bed so he was little relief to the all day chaos. By 9pm all I wanted was to nurse my little man and go to sleep. My flesh was screaming of my woes of having no time for my self and if sleep was all I was allowed, I wanted all I could get. Get this, Judson would not nurse. He would latch on and bite, latch on and bite, ect. I was so mad. I would pull him away and say sternly, "NO!". How dare he bite me when I was so tired and just trying to feed him. Finally I gave up and just put him in his own bed to cry it out. He finally fell asleep. 30 min. later John Mark was awake and needing loving, so in my bed he came. This woke Judson up who wanted to nurse. This time he would not even latch on. He would root around but only to refuse. This went on for 5 hours. Miserable doesn't even come close, you know. Judson was screaming and would not accept any comfort. Around 3am he threw his head back in a fit and I saw something in his mouth. He had a furniture tack stuck in the roof of his mouth. The nail end, thankfully was already gone and not stuck into his flesh but the rough round end had created a STRONG suction to the roof of his mouth. It took great force to remove it. He ended up with blisters and scrapes on the roof of his mouth. He was so traumatised that he refused to nurse the rest of the night and on thru the next day. He still is very hesitant to nurse but is getting better each time.

How long had that thing been in his mouth? Where did he get such a thing? Was he biting me or was I being irritated by the tack? Was I being stern and jerking him away for something he wasn't even in control over? My poor baby. Will I ever lie down at the end of a long day and know that I did a good job that day? Will John Mark ever stay or be where I think he should be? Will any of them ever survive my feeble attempt at parenting? Thanks be to God, when I am weak, He is strong.

Good News / Bad News

2008-12-02T19:42:00.001-06:00

Okay, bad news first. Today was Judson's ocularist appointment to get another conformer. BTW, They are getting so big and hard to get in but Judson handles them so well. Today I found out that BC/BS will not pay for the conformers nor the scleral shell. That's a whole lot of change $$$. Because of Judson's problem he is also on Medicaid but...Medicaid will not pay either. So pray for me as I start battling the insurance company through appeals to try and get them to pay something. It really doesn't make since to me. Why would they not cover the cost to give my baby a chance to have a normal looking appearance? I mean this isn't like I am having his teeth whitened or something. If they will pay for a prosthetic leg or breast than why not an eye? Anyhow, that's the bad news.

Now, the good. Judson has been tolerating the larger conformers so well that he will be able to get his painted scleral shell January 26th! YIPPEE. I was told that he would be in conformers until he was a 1 or 2. He will be 9 months old and already have his. I don't know really what to expect. The next appointment will take half the day while they get a mold made from the conformers and hand paint it, clear coat it, shine it up and put it in. I know that they will not get to do a mold of his good eye until he is 4 so this first shell may not be the "perfect" fit that later ones will be. I also found out that the normal length to keep one shell before needing a new one is 7 years. We will need to have it cleaned and adjusted twice a year. Of course, all this would not be covered under insurance and totally out of pocket unless God intervenes. But today I am just thanking the Lord and kissing all over my baby boy for being able to handle these irritating conformers so well. Tomorrow I will ruffle my feathers and get down to business with the big wigs.

Help Wanted!!

2008-11-30T16:32:00.001-06:00

I need your help blog friends. Here at the Davis home we have come upon something that we are stumped in finding an answer to. Many of you know that when I was a little girl I was terrified to be alone. It was quite a debilitating problem. I would loose several hours of sleep a night because I was afraid to close my eyes. I was afraid that someone would come into my house and try to hurt my family. When everyone else had been sleeping for an hour or so I was the only one left awake, so I felt the responsibility to take care of my family in case someone broke in while they were sleeping. It was a miserable time in my life. Being afraid is a horrible feeling but thankfully God took my fears away 6 years ago. Since then, I go to sleep with no fear, Eric at my side or not. I say all that to let you know the pain I feel when my children are afraid. Most of the time when one does complain(which is odd), I will pray with them and we sing awhile and it is all over. But my sweet Mary-Grace is not getting over it. She is truly afraid to go to sleep without me or Eric with her. I have tried everything positive I can think of. Of course she is not in a room alone, Annalee is with her but that just will not do because Annalee falls asleep fast and leaves Mary-Grace to fight the criminals alone should they invade. She is not afraid of monsters or bad guys. She is afraid of some criminal breaking in and hurting us. I don't know specifically where she saw or heard this but she has developed these thoughts somewhere. Of course we try to keep our TV watching safe but even those "home security" commercials give me chills. We do watch some of the "super hero" movies which could have introduced the evil side of people too early for her little mind to understand. A month ago if she was tired she would go to bed all alone with no fear at all but something has happened and she CANNOT sleep alone. Blog Friends, help me! I do not want my baby to suffer as I did all those years. What can we do. We have read verses and prayed God to put a hedge around our home. We have locked and relocked doors and tried staying awake until she fell asleep. Nothing has worked. Should she be discipline for not trusting me? That seems harsh to me. I mean, I hope God doesn't discipline me every time I am afraid and untrusting. We have decided to let consequences happen. She will not be able to spend the night away from home until she can get a handle on this. I tell her that she is going to have to choose to not be afraid and trust in God's protection. Until then, no sleep overs. I want to test her to see just how much of her fear is real and how much is just "a chance to sleep with mama" but I don't want to punish her if she is truly afraid. Give me your ideas, please. And please pray that these evil thoughts would stay out of my baby's mind and that Eric and I will make better choices of what comes into our home through the TV. I look forward to hearing your ideas.

Thanksgiving

2008-11-25T22:10:00.003-06:00

I love this season. It is so full of memories and traditions and new ones to make. This year we did a unit study about Thanksgiving that my mama ordered from Family Life. It was a dramatic audio reading of the Pilgrims voyage and the first few years that they were developing the Plymouth colony. William Bradford said of the people that there were far more graves than there were huts that first year. Before Native Americans intervened, the Pilgrims' daily ration of food was a meager 5 kernels of corn but the pilgrims, when given the opportunity set a day aside to give thanks and were so moved by the opportunity they couldn't wait to do it again. And what kind of president, after a feast that gave thanks to the one true God hundreds of years before, decides to make it a National holiday. Wow! Can you imagine.

"Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be. That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks, for his kind care and protection of the People of this country..."
-Proclamation of Thanksgiving Day, President George Washington, October 3, 1789

"No human council hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American people."
-Proclamation of Thanksgiving Day, President Abraham Lincoln, 1863

What is neat about Thanksgiving, it that it is a holiday that God himself has preserved so that we take time to give thanks. All other Christian holidays has been so perverted but Thanksgiving is truly American and Christian and is still observed with its original intent...to return thanks to the Most High God by the gathering of friends and family with a time of feasting.

Part of our study was to list thanksgivings. Here are a few...
My mama and daddy. - Mary-Grace
My best friend Mady. - Annalee
That God is changing my life and making this arrow sharper and pointier. - Bailey
For Judson's good eye and bad eye. - Elyona
Carly. - Jadon
Jesus, Family, Grace Fellowship, nursing babies, cold weather & coffee, silly
books like Twilight, fond memories, Honda's current work schedule, conformers
and prosthetics, A husband who loves to get up early get the kiddos ready and go shopping in the mad day after thanksgiving rush and... Alabama Football. - Mama

Acceptance

2008-11-06T08:23:00.003-06:00

I read the other day something that I've heard many times but this time I was terribly convicted. Allow me to share. "Whatever controls us is really our God...The one who seeks acceptance is controlled by the people she wants to please".
Wow! It's still hard to think about, but that is me in a nutshell. Many of you know my famous statement, "I have seven children and I home school but I am NORMAL!".
That statement alone has convicted me just because I know that all I really want is to fit in with all kinds of people. I admit, when it comes to just about anything ,I will try to find a way to be accepted. As I was in another one of my mastitis bouts that kept me up half the night I started pondering all the things that I am absolutely convinced of that makes me abnormal from most people. The obvious are that I do home school and more than that is that I have 7 children that are all mine, that I birthed, and that I wanted. But the thing that separates me from most people is what I believe...my doctrine. So, let me try to explain it in common words.

I believe the scripture alone is the source of written divine revelation. The Bible alone teaches all that is necessary for our salvation from sin and is the standard by which all Christian behavior must be measured.
I believe that our salvation was accomplished by Christ alone.
I believe that in salvation we are rescued from God's wrath by his grace alone and that salvation is in no way a human work.
I believe that justification is by grace alone through faith alone because of Christ alone.
I believe that because salvation is of God and has been accomplished by God, it is for God's glory that we must glorify him always.
I believe that we inherited Adam's sin nature and therefore we all are depraved from birth and in need of a savior.
I believe that before the foundation of the world God choose those who would be His based on no work that they would or could accomplish.
I believe that God had a plan before the world began to redeem those whom He called out to be his. Jesus Christ became the atonement for those people.
I believe that I was dead in my trespasses, incapable of doing anything to save myself, and unknowing that I needed to be saved. In my dead state God breathed life into me and in my decayed sinful state of being He said LIVE. My first breath as I came to life was faith and then God, by his grace alone raised me from spiritual death to spiritual life.
I believe that because salvation is a work of God's grace alone that I cannot do anything to fall from that grace. God will keep me to the end and I will then be eternally saved.

Some of these thoughts may be new and radical to you but I am backed by scripture, church history, Jonathan Edwards, Martin Luther, John Calvin, Charles Spurgeon, the disciples and the apostle Paul to name a few.

I've been tagged!!

2008-10-29T21:51:00.002-05:00

OK Here goes, Seven random things about me...

1. When I was a little girl, around 10, on cool fall evenings like these, I would line my "children" (3 baby dolls ; Todd, Mandy, and Casey) up in my make belief stadium so that they could watch "mama" play football for the Miami Dolphins. My dog was always the opposing team.

2. I want to see Niagra Falls.

3. If I could, I would trade in my 15 passenger for a Volvo SUV.

4. Steel Magnolias still makes me cry.

5. I haven't slept through the night, without getting up to check on someone, in 11 years.

6. I still am dealing with DIAL UP!!!

7. I am fed up with modern education and am looking into unschooling!!...???

Unconditional Love

2008-10-28T22:30:00.000-05:00

Thank you all for your comments and concern for Marky, he is feeling much better. He is still a bit wobbly but no fever this evening. You're right Aimee, I feel like I need to dip my family and house in a Clorox bath or something. What's with all these weird bugs we keep catching?

Last night, after all the John Mark drama, my little man, Judson, was ready for his mama and I was ready to snuggle up with him as well. You bed time, nursing mamas know what our little ones are like at that time. Only one thing will do the trick...MAMA. It's a wonderful feeling. You know that sound that they give out when they are laying in the bed and they see you getting ready to get in beside them.. That half laugh, half cry with a bit of cooing along side all wrapped up with ultimate anticipation of what's to come. Well last night I was taking it all in with delight. To be loved that much by another human is exhilarating, especially when you have had a day full of guilt because you have blew it so many times with all the other humans in your life. So there I was, all snuggled up with my little man who could care less what my sin was, and all this extra weight that makes me miserable, he loves. I thought "what a feeling to be loved so unconditionally". But is his love really unconditional? No, of course not, I have trained him to love me because I have trained him to need me. But that didn't discourage me because God's spirit then spoke to my heart with a loud voice that reminded me that God's love for me is truly unconditional. He knows my sin, my weight, my guilt, my pride, my filthy rags, and all the other stuff that makes up me and He loves me. I hope that before I grow too old that I can walk with the Lord daily and feel that perfect love as strong as I did for a few moments last night.

How deep the Father's love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He would send His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

Toxic Synovitis

2008-10-27T21:00:00.002-05:00

The last time I heard this term had to be about 12 years ago when I was studying for my nursing boards. It meant nothing back then but today it has become a household term.
John Mark has had a slight limp for a few days that I associated with everything from a wrinkle in his sock to a toe nail cut too short. Sunday night at home group it progressively got worse to the point that he could bear no weight on his right leg at all. This morning he woke up the same so, off to the Dr. we went. I just knew that my baby had broke his femur and I didn't even realize when it happened. It is so terrifying to watch your baby not be able to walk and to be in severe pain trying. At the Dr.'s office we discovered that he had a low grade fever. My medical back ground kicked in and I got nervous. My mama was with me to help with Judson so I had to keep my cool as to not overly upset her but inside I am slowly loosing it. Joint pain associated with fever...not good!! After x-rays and CBC's we left with our diagnosis...Toxic Synovitis which is a VIRAL infection of the synovial fluid in the hip joint. We left with these instructions...Motrin every 6 hrs. and he will be fine, all should clear up soon just as with any virus BUT if fever persists throughout the night see the DR. or if his temp spikes over 103 go to ER immediately. All these things would point to a bacterial infection of the joint instead of viral. Guess what happened tonight? Yep, a temp of 102.8. I call the Dr and start waiting for the calls back from the after hours run around. By this time mama gets the news from Melanie that John Mark is worse so she is here loving on him. I decide to take his temp again to see if it is coming down after the Motrin and the thermometer starts to read 102.3 and it keeps going up, 102.9, 103.2, 103.7...mama says "what does it say?" I hesitantly say and she freaks out. We both know that this means a BACTERIAL infection. I keep watching the temp slowly raise higher and higher and after it gets up to 104.7 I start questioning the thermometer and then when it goes over 106.8 I have to use my better judgement and realize that it must be broken. Well my mama is not listening to my reasoning too well and is already at Melanie's house demanding back up medical opinions and a different thermometer. A few moments later we are having a family reunion. We discover that my thermometer is broken but John Mark's temp is too high for comfort but not high enough for a direct admit to the hospital so we will keep watch through the night and see Dr. C in the morning. My gut feeling says that his infection is only viral and not bacterial and he will be better in the morning. Right now he is trying to play hide-and-go-seek with the others unsuccessfully, crawling and limping his way around without complaint.
We never know what all is out there but if you ever hear of Toxic or Transient Synovitis you will know what it is and not to be too alarmed. It should run it's course like a cold. It affects mostly boys ages 2-5. These things sure do mess up a homeschooling mama's day though.

Happy Birthday Bailey

2008-10-25T15:53:00.001-05:00

We are wrapping up the fall birthdays with a bang. Oct. 21st Ms. B. turned 10. WOW!! My girls are growing up. What can I say about Bailey that she doesn't say by just living her little life. All you who know Bailey well could send a slew of comments telling your own Bailey story. I always say that I need a shirt that says "the thoughts and opinions of my children doesn't necessarily reflect the thoughts and opinions of their parent" Bailey defiantly has her own thoughts and opinions on many things and is always ready to share them. How do you raise a child that is gifted like Bailey? She is a true blue leader with strong administrative skills. We are trying to develop in her now those gifts so that when she is older she will know how to use them wisely but right now they sure do get her into a whole lot of trouble.

That's a little bit about Ms. B. that you all are familiar with, what you may know know is that she is extremely sensitive to her own sin and deals with it the way most adults do. Several times she has battled over her sin and ends up asking questions about the sin nature and the process of justification that many mature Christians find themselves dealing with as well. Bailey also lives in a house with people pleasers, which she is not. That makes life miserable for her at times but we try to encourage her by letting her be aware of her giftedness as well as her, and everybody else in this family's, depravity and that obviously God has chosen to sharpen her early in her life for possibly something great soon to come. Bailey's giftedness comes in real handy in a household with so many small children. She bathes these boys up and has them dressed and all ready for bed without ever being asked. She is in her element with them...total control!!

We celebrated Bailey's birthday with all of her favorites...Hannah and Abby spending the night, a house full of company, a veggie dinner, a strawberry birthday cake, a few gifts, and no school.

Birthdays are over for a while and now we get to gear up for Christmas. We are so excited, we have a few ideas spinning around that may make this a very special Christmas during this financially troubling time. Stay tuned...

Drowning!!!

2008-10-08T16:46:00.002-05:00

I described the way I felt as drowning to a friend the other day. Every time I get my head slightly above water I get pushed back down with just a small breath. Right now I am trying to be so thankful for those small breaths but then again I know I cannot survive this way. Let me explain with bullet points as Katy W. does so well.

. I cannot educate 4 children as well as they should be educated.
. My time with my boys is sparse.
. Healthy meals????
. I cannot keep my house clean.
. Honda is cutting back on production $$$
. Eric who?
. With my milk production being better than it has ever been, mastitis is still plaguing me with fever, chills, and pain. Judson is refusing that side so he is super fussy.
. Quiet Time. Neither of those words have meaning to me especially when you put them together.
. Changing out summer clothes for winter clothes takes a LONG time and can get out of hand quickly
. I do not like Eric on 2nd shift.

Of course I have a plan. I always come up with a plan to fix things, right? So follow my list of ways to fix ALL my issues. HAHA

Sunday morning the plan was to send Ellie to JCA. By Monday evening my mind had changed and I wanted to send them all to JCA. After you are paying for 4 the rest go free! I had wonderful reasons why that was the best thing for all of us. Eric scoffed and said NONE were ready, I cried:(

Tuesday morning I am convinced I must visit Dr. Young and get happy pills. By Tuesday night the happy pill idea faded and I have a new idea. I need a maid!!
I mean really, if I were willing to pay for all my kiddos to go to school then I could just use that money to hire a maid. Eric shot that idea down too, I really cried:(

This morning (Wednesday) my mastitis has subsided and my fever finally has gone away. The core of my house is some what clean, I finally got all those summer/winter clothes situated, Eric has done my laundry, school went so so and I now realize what I knew deep down all along... Eric is a rock solid and will not be swayed by my waves of emotion, don't pay me any attention when I have mastitis and Eric is on 2nd shift and what I really need is NOT a list to fix things but Jesus. I would still like a maid though.

Is there light at the end of the tunnel, it may be far away but, I hope so. My children's education may not be able to measure up and at times that is very unsettling, especially in today's society. I would like to be able to say that at least they are getting to see mama's walk with the Lord and the joy that it brings but unfortunately not much joy has been oozing here lately.

Lisa S. is a treasure. She spent some time with me, bought me a candle, magazine, and ice cream, and brainstormed with me on how to fix things until Eric shot us both down. Thank You Lisa. OR were you just trying to blow my diet with that ice cream so that you would win the cash??? HMMMM

Trials will lead a believer to Christ and I now that I am at the end of all my ideas I really just want to hear from my Maker.

ANYWAY

Fall is coming up and Eric and I want to dress up with the kids for some of the festivities. We have some ideas we are toying around with. I thought about being the old lady who lived in a shoe ???? Eric's said we could be the Brady Bunch but the boys are too little and Ellie would have to be Alice. Eric still wants Judson to be a pirate. When he was diagnosed Eric said he would always be dressed as a pirate for all the festivals.

Thanks for letting me vent to all my blog friends.

Happy Birthday John Mark

2008-10-04T22:13:00.000-05:00

Birthday season at the Davis home is officially in. John Mark turned 2 October 2nd. I was trying to decide how to make his day special. Seeing how money is pretty tight here lately, we decided to just do something small with just us. It is so neat how God works things out to make little things special. We spent the night with my good friend Jyoti on John Mark's birthday and that next morning we woke up and had a huge breakfast. Jyoti and Chad surprised us with John Mark a birthday cake. We were able to have a small little party with their family and ours. We were so happy and thankful. I am so glad I didn't plan something big. We would have missed out on the special small things.

John Mark loves four wheelers so we got him a small little riding one (plastic, that you have to push along with your feet). He is so prideful though, even at 2 he won't ride the thing in front of us. He waits until we are all inside and then hops on and takes off. I guess he is afraid he may not do it right or something. Also, he HATES the Happy Birthday song. Every time we sing it to him he says "STOC".

I can't believe my baby is already 2. It seems like just yesterday that I found out that I was pregnant with him and begging God for another boy. I had no idea that God had 2 more in mind. Happy Birthday Marky.

By the way, for my non Calhoun County blog friends (aka Stacey), we are all doing fine. By last Saturday morning we were all better. After the Alabama/Georgia game we were even better. Hopefully, that will be the end of the sickness for us for a while.

WHAT A DAY!!!!

2008-09-27T11:28:00.005-05:00

Many of you know that my family has been battling strep/scarlet fever on and off for a month. Scarlet fever is basically a rash that is associated with strep. When toxins are released from the strep bacteria it causes a sandpaper type rash on the trunk. Dr. C. had to do some heavy explaining considering my kid's only attachment to scarlet fever was that it was why Mary Ingals was blind. Our battle with this nasty bug began with Bailey at the beach, a week later Annalee, another week then Mary-Grace and now this week. Of course I was wondering all the while "who's next?". Well, Thursday after co-op Judson and Jadon stared running low grade fevers. (sorry co-op friends) I knew that it was strep so we were up bright and early Friday taking them to Dr.C.. This was how my Friday progressed. After being up all night on and off with 2 sick little boys, I was loading them into the van by 8am. I decided to take all 3 boys with me even though John Mark wasn't sick. I was taking the last load of things to the van when I noticed our new baby kitten was still asleep on the porch only to discover that it was dead. I was leaving the girls home alone and didn't want them to come out and see their dead kitty so I had to bury it while in my dress clothes and the boys waiting in the van. So now, cats buried and we're off. We arrive a bit early so that I can nurse and make it to the office right on time. We were the first patients so that was great. Jadon had not been to the Dr.'s office but a few times in his life so he started freaking out, Judson's fever still hadn't broken after the Tylenol so he is weepy and John Mark had to explore. I had my hands full. Finally, after throats were swabbed (real fun) shots were given (even more fun) and prescriptions written out, we were out of there. Jadon had strep, John Mark had nothing but treated just in case and Judson had a fever virus that must run its course. It was such an ordeal that I told the boys that we could meet maw maw for lunch. They were so excited. We met at Jack's and was eating a nice lunch with Maw maw. Jadon started feeling a bit sickly so came and cuddled up under my arm until time to go. John Mark must have felt left out and decided to lay his head over on my shoulder. You are getting this mental picture right? Well out of NOWHERE John Mark PROJECTILE vomits all over me, my hair, my arms, my food, Jadon's head, clothes, food, and all the way over to Judson who is on the other side of me in his car seat. My mama is at the register getting something and has no idea what is happening behind her. I sit for about 10 seconds making my mental list of how I am going to handle this one, Jadon starts screaming hysterically, and John Mark just smiles and says "gwoss!" After my mama and a whole team of Jack's employees (who had nothing else to do because no one in the store wanted to eat anymore) got things cleaned up, we headed for home quite smelly. We get home to a very clean house ,thanks to my girls, and put Jadon (still screaming and 102 temp) and John-Mark in the bath. Judson is screaming as well but I had to shower so I left them all wailing and got cleaned up. Now I get all my boys cleaned up, medicated and in the bed and the girls remind me that American Girl club is in 10 minutes. After all that they had done for me I knew I couldn't let them down so I call Melanie and she carries them for me. I now have the house to myself for 2 hours so, I sleep. When I wake up I feel a bit funny but I have no time to think about it because I am soon keeping Melanie's 3 little ones while they go to the boys' far away football game. They soon arrive and stay while I go get the girls. I finally am home and start to make out my list so that when Eric gets home I can go to get the boys' prescription and some groceries. About 15 minutes before Eric comes home I have to stop and pay attention to the fact that I feel awful and it is not just stress. I take my temp and it is 100 and my throat is sore. OH Yeah I now have strep, but antibiotics have already started their miracle effect and I should be back to action soon. What a day!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELYONA

2008-09-21T16:12:00.000-05:00

This blog is about a week late but I could not let my Ellie's day go by without a special blog.

September 11, 1997. This day my world started spinning in another direction. I had the most precious thing placed in my arms and was told that she was mine. I put my all into that little bundle. She was bathed 2 or 3 times a day, dressed like a doll even if we were staying at home, she was meticulously trained to our commands to which she obeyed very well, every detail of her life was thought about and prayed over.

On her 4th birthday, 9/11/01, we woke up to a new bike, birthday pancakes, birthday phone calls from all the cousins and the unforgettable birthday terrorist attack. Being a new 4 year old, she was so mature. She seemed to have so much understanding that day at what was happening. I told her that day that her birthday would be remembered by the whole world for the rest of her life. She thought that it was cool. She was super responsible at 4. I didn't realize it much then but now that I have had many four year old I understand what a gift God gave me in her. She was a whiz kid then too. She could memorize any verse I could throw out to her. She began reading soon after her forth birthday as well and progressed in her education rapidly with joy.

Well now my baby girl is growing up and is changing everyday. I look back at how much time I put into her and wish I could do that much for all the others but I think God had a plan for Ellie even when she was being trained at 12 months old. You see Ellie is more responsible than most anyone I know. I can trust her with any task. Now she is still a little girl who likes to sing, dance, play dress up and make belief but she has always been able to go from being a little girl to my biggest helper in a snap. She is my best friend. I can talk to her about everything and I trust that she will keep my secrets much better than I probably keep hers. I am having to change the way I think about Ellie now. She is growing up and becoming a person of her own. She has opinions about things and her own likes and tastes. We have been discussing if and when we sould send her to school. She would like to but then again she likes it at home with us too. We have started to talk about SAT scores and college, drivers license and buying a car, her first job, her wedding and her own children. She has her own thoughts on all these things. How exciting to watch her become a young woman.

She is also changing spiritually. Her faith has to start becoming her own. Soon she will have to deal with sin as not offending mama and daddy but her spirit will really start feeling the pain of offending a Holy God. I want to see her grow in the Lord. I long to see my prayers fulfilled in her walk with Him.

Ellie is a special person. For her birthday she wanted Seven Brides for Seven Brothers on DVD and BrainAge for her DS. She is such a nerd. Her mamaw called and wanted to know what she wanted and after thinking about it for a while she called back with her request...to spend the day alone with her mawmaw.

Ellie I hope you have had an enjoyable birthday and I love you!!!

Vacation 2008

2008-09-05T09:19:00.000-05:00

Vacation

2008-09-05T09:09:00.000-05:00

John Mark gives a big hello from Ft. Walton.

We had a great time. It had been 4 years since we have been able to take the children to the beach. They loved it to say the least. The best part though, was the place that we stayed at, Waterscape Resort. It was fabulous with pools and
children activities. I could describe this place forever it was so nice. Our condo was just as nice with all the extras. If you have children you need to check this place out.

The weather was an added extra. We were able to have all kinds of weather lessons with the hurricane weather coming in. The ocean went from no waves at all to crashing waves so high it was scary to look at.

Of course our favorite part of all was being able to watch the Alabama game on a 60" flat screen TV. ROLL TIDE!!!!

Mike Rogers For Congress

2008-08-27T23:22:00.002-05:00

We made it to TV !!! OK, so it's not Jon and Kate Plus 8. It's not even like those notorious ALFA quads but it is TV. I was sorta hoping my first TV experience would be Extreme Home makeover but I was thrilled when we were asked to be in a Mike Rogers for Congress commercial. It was about high gas prices effect on large families.

We were to meet at a gas station in Saks at 2:40pm. Great, I had all day to get everyone dressed and ready for TV. I had my list finely tuned so that everything would be perfect by 2:40, everything from drying hair to washing the van and even working Judson's schedule so that he would nurse at the perfect time. At 10:05am as my family is slowly starting into our list and beginning baths in a relaxed, non rushed way THEY CALL. They are wonderfully ahead of schedule and need us there at 11:30. AHHHH!!!I ask for 30 extra minutes and start into my drill sergeant mode. We did make it but it was nothing like the way I had planned. Actually I had made a much bigger deal out of it then what I needed to. The kids basically just had to run around and I had to look sad and frustrated. I still think they fooled me and it was really a pro-choice commercial.

We did meet Mike and he bought the kids candy. We had our picture made but I don't have it yet. I have no idea when it will be on TV so if y'all see it let me know.
It was tons of fun and I think I can even count it as a school day. YEA!!! 10 down 150 to go, but who's counting.

Starting School and Conformers

2008-08-14T22:56:00.001-05:00

Our summer is over and school is up and running. We have ended up our second week and have settled into a good routine. Here is the run down of my little world this school year.

Mon-Wed 7am wake Annalee, Mary-Grace and Jadon up for breakfast, getting dressed, chores and to begin school. We usually are finishing up around 11am. While we are in school Elyona and Bailey do chores, laundry, homework and play with the little ones. After lunch I have school with Elyona and Bailey which has been taking about 3 hours. While we are doing school the little girls are doing chores, playing with the boys and homework. I meet Melanie so we can walk after I finish up with the big ones. When I get home from walking, the children watch PBS while I prepare supper. On Tuesday and Thursdays supper is on the road. Tuesday afternoon we have piano and art in White Plains and Thursdays is soccer in Alexandria. Both of which has us getting home around 8pm.
Thurs. We will soon be starting our co-op so we will not do school at home but be with all of our friends learning with them. When we get home we do a little science and history before we have to leave for soccer.
Fri. we will save this day for Science and History projects and crafts. We are learning all about Astronomy and Ancient Civilizations this year.
Sat. this fall from 9am till 12n we will have soccer games.
Sun. is truly our day of rest!

Separating the big ones from the littles to teach has worked wonders this year. Also, giving out "homework" for them to work on in their own time has helped tons as well. So far so good.

My house, on the other hand, is slowly becoming hazardous. I have been able to maintain, with the help of the children, laundry, dishes and general picking up but my floors and toilets and such...well, if you are coming to my house and would be offended, bring a scrub brush and a mop.

Judson has started his conformer series. A conformer is a clear shell that fits over the entire eyeball and is used to stimulate the tissue surrounding that small eye to grow and "conform" to the shell. We go to B'ham every 4-6 weeks to get a larger conformer until the tissue is ready for a painted shell that is the size of his other eye. I will post so that you can keep up with his progress.

Mastitis Woes

2008-08-01T18:36:00.002-05:00

I've noticed that I have not put up many pics in a while but I am sorry, you aren't getting one of this either.

I have developed mastitis. It is so painful. I have never had it before and I am so thankful that this is the first and hopefully only time that I will. Judson decided Saturday that he would only nurse a few minutes before humming, singing and biting. He did this all day. I did develop a lot of excess milk but GOOD NIGHT, not enough to develop this pain in the ying yang. Today is the first day in three that I have felt like living. We did survive with the help of Melanie, who got my antibiotics and Jennifer who came one day to feed the children lunch, make supper, do some house work and give my children something to do other than babysit. The children were so thoughtful though. We had a few fun things planned that we had to skip out on but they were very understanding. I have to brag on them a little. I woke up one time and found Mary-Grace changing Judson's dirty diaper and doing a very good job. She even remembered his diaper rash cream and to wash her hands. Today they cleaned the entire house VERY GOOD, they even mopped and changed the sheets. They bathed up the boys and right now I have a wonderful hot supper waiting on me that they alone prepared... chicken, green beans, potatoes, and rolls. I am so proud of them. Last night when they thought that my fever would never break, they, with their daddy, prayed for me. I looked up and saw Jadon holding my hand, with his little eyes closed, begging Jesus to heal his mama. I love my family. They mean so much to me.

Self -Righteousness

2008-07-29T22:16:00.002-05:00

A few Sundays ago my pastor delivered a sermon that knocked me off of my self righteous high horse. Most of my blog readers go to Grace Fellowship and know what I am talking about. For the readers I have that do not, let me catch you up. John 8, the part when the adulterous women is thrown at Jesus' feet and condemned by the Pharisees. Jesus ask the one who is with out sin to cast the first stone and of course they all tuck tail and run. Jesus then forgives the woman and tells her to sin no more. In the sermon, it was brought out that the most despicable sin was not that of the adulterous woman but the self righteousness of the Pharisees. I AM A PHARISEE. But my self righteousness is gained through grey matters not a black and white issues like adultery. At least the pharisees knew that was absolutely against God. You see mine is in all these gray areas that I have laid down as my own way to please God. Here are a few things in my life that I think make me more righteous than...lets say you! I am a stay at home mom, I home school, I have 7 children, my husband is faithful, my house is nicer than yours, or maybe some days it is that your house is nicer than mine so you must be of the more worldly than I am to think so much of your house, I attend church every Sunday, I do not drink, my doctrine, or my church. You see, I have made these "things" replace Christ's sacrifice. More than that, you know what scares me, I am training my children to be self righteous little pharisees as well. How often do I here "that shirt shows her belly, she wears a bikini, they watch Hannah Montana, she has a boy friend, they talk back to their parents, they don't go to church". Shame on me. No wonder my children can't get over that being a Christian is not about what you "do". That is all I ever teach them. RULES!!! Even I know the old saying, "Rules without Relationship lead to Rebellion". Please pray that I will begin by having a right relationship with Jesus and second that I might retrain my children that it is better to be the adulterer laying forgiven at the feet of Jesus than the self righteous Pharisee whose knowledge of God's LAWS keep them from ever really know Christ, the friend of sinners.

Microphthalmia

2008-07-22T21:10:00.002-05:00

I have been rethinking Judson's treatment and studying things out for myself. His eye Dr. is a wonderful man but is mostly concerned with Judson's vision and the protection of the good eye (which is a good thing) but is not intense on the cosmetic side of things. You all know that at first I was told that I could get his prosthetic at 4 or 5 years. That bothered me so bad. I did not want my son being stared at for that long. So asked if we could get it sooner and The Dr. was just sorta vague and said we could discuss it at his 6 mo. check up. At the time, that was good enough for me but now it is not. I researched deeply and found several children who already had there prosthetic at 3 months old. So I started E-mailing and Judson now has an appointment with the Ocularist Aug.6th. YEAH!!! The Opthamologist deals with the vision while the Ocularist deals with the cosmetic side and all my microphthalmia yahoo friends say that the Ocularist will be my best friend because he will make Judson look normal. I am so thankful for the Internet and all the information I have found out. At the appointment we will find out if he will need conformers, which are plastic shells that are changed out progressively to stetch the tissue to prepare it for the prosthetic. If he doesn't need conformers then he will immediately get his prosthetic and be good to go until he out grows it and need another. I can't wait to see my baby with 2 big eyes. Sorry for the spelling errors and such I am in a hurry and just wanted to get this posted.

Squealing Happy

2008-07-18T09:40:00.004-05:00

You've been there right. When you are so happy you just want to squeal like a little girl and believe me, they do squeal. My heart is overflowing with thanksgiving once again. Yesterday a dear friend, who having read my blog, knew the week I'd had, decided to lavish me with a gift that I do not deserve. She gave me a "Spa Package" to Monet...manicure, pedicure, and a 1 hour massage. I have no way to let her know how thankful I truly am. You know those times when words just aren't enough, even an invite to dinner in return is such a small gesture to show another a thankful heart. It is not just the spa package that I am thankful for. I am thankful that she ,first of all, has a giving heart and had already set money aside to be used to give as the Lord would lead. Second, that she did something for me. She knew if I would have received money it would have been put on something important but never in a million years would I have thought of a spa package. So, a big fat THANK YOU is in order but is still so small.

Now that you all know why I am squealing happy I need your help. I have never in my life done anything like this before. You know me, having my hair done by a professional was a major event in my life. Monet...just the name is intimidating. The pedicure is the least stressful in my mind. I like to paint my toe nails and I am going to the beach soon so I would love to have beautiful toes at the beach. Then there is the manicure. Can I play football after having one of those? I am going to be walking around with my fingers straight as a board for a month trying to hang on to the manicure as long as I can. Now, the big stress, the massage. Ya'll, I'm nervous. I have a few questions that you may can answer for me. First, do I have to be nude. (OMG I am red just typing it) Second, I feel like I am going to walk in this place and alarms are going to go off with the announcement "Country bumpkin trying to live outside her class". Everyone is going to take one look at me and know that I drove all the way from PIEDMONT to get there. And if I have any conversation with anyone I will tell them that I have 7 children. Now I already don't fit in but now they are going to be thinking "there she is living on welfare, having one child after the next with no telling how many different men and spending her money on a massage, how dare she" Third worry, will a man be massaging me, cause you know, Eric wouldn't go for that?

Despite all my worries, I am so excited. It sounds so selfish, but only having to think of me for a couple of hours sounds so nice.

God's people are priceless. My thanksgiving list is just getting longer and longer.
11. The spa package
12. Money from a wonderful couple to take the family out. We went out to eat and to the movies. We did not have to share a community drink and no dollar menus. I could say "tell the waitress what you want". My children were so excited sitting there with their own drink and a huge plate of food. And we did not go to the drive in movie, but the real thing. Thank you friends for a great night out with the family.
13. An invite to dinner this Sunday after church. I know what a service this is. Not only are these people being hospitable, opening up their home, but they are opening it up to my family. I know we are overwhelming.
14. Feeling like family when I'm invited to go to Lisa S.'s parents house.
15. Uncle Bar and Aunt Suzie spoiling my children as only they can do.
16. Lisa giving my blogspot a makeover.

I am so thankful

2008-07-13T18:28:00.001-05:00

Today at church we had an opportunity to share things that we are thankful for. My list, in a matter of seconds, was enormous. I decided then and there that I may not be able to speak them all at that moment but I could blog about them.

I am thankful for...
1.Our Great God. To steal the thoughts of John Piper, God has made himself the blazing center of the universe. The God that I have the privilege to serve and worship and intimately know is also supreme over galaxies floating in endless space. From the top of Mt. Everest to the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. From the peaceful blue whale to the microscopic killer viruses. He is supreme! Over the first cell division of a tiny embryo to the next breath of the 102 year old lady in the nursing home. He is supreme over all weather, from hurricanes, monsoons, tornadoes, earth quakes, floods, snow, sleet, and rain. He is supreme over cancer, malaria, the flu, AIDS, and the wonderful antibiotics and drugs. He is supreme over all countries, armies, suicide bombings, nuclear threats, politics, elections, media, news, sports, entertainment, leisure, education, science, research, business, manufacturing, transportation, all information, and the Internet. As Abraham Kieper(sp?) famously said "There is not one square inch on planet earth that the risen Christ does not say... MINE!!!". I am so thankful that this same SUPREME GOD wants to be my friend and abide with me and calls me his son and that he alone made a way for this relationship to happen.
2. Grace Fellowship. My church is priceless to me. The leadership, teaching, older men and women, younger men and women, and children are irreplaceable. I am thankful for Carlton who preaches the truth with boldness and conviction and with wisdom far beyond his years. For Aaron who is the most humble man I have ever known. For Carlton Brown who's administrative skills and responsibility never keep him from playing with our children. For Ms. Pinkston who is an irreplaceable jewel. For Dave and his immeasurable sacrifice that he and his family have made to serve our church. For the missionaries spread abroad that our church sends out and those that have returned with hearts overflowing at what God is doing around the world. For the gospel of Jesus Christ and the call for sinners to repent being proclaimed at our church(despite popular belief) so clearly yet so intense that even the mature believer must examine himself.
3. God's healing hand. Hearing Aaron give his testimony of praise and thanksgiving was an emotional ride. Hearing his raspy, weak voice is a bitter reminder of what pain and suffering he has been through but on the flip side it is a sweet reminder that God is merciful. Aaron can speak!!!
4. My children. They all woke up healthy this morning.
5. Eric. He is the love of my life.
6. My mama who entertains me when Eric is on 2nd, buys me dinner and serves us all ice cream.
7. My dear friends who listens to my roller coaster rides of ideas, dreams and plans. Who pulls me through when I am down and hangs on tight when I am not.
8. Melanie, who for ANY reason is a phone call away.
9. Honda. I never want to forget where our paycheck comes from.
10. Blogging

Happy "Plastic" People

2008-07-11T22:55:00.003-05:00

OK First of all, why is all of my stuff that is supposed to be on the left hand side stuck way down on the bottom? I can't figure it out.

I have been thinking this week "why do I like to blog?". I have many answers. I want people to know my family, I like to journal my life for myself, I think my children and my husband are the best ever and I want everyone to know that, and it's like therapy to just get to THINK about what to say and when people comment they have THOUGHT of their comments. You know what I am saying..we all listen before we speak in blog world. We can also be, and our family can be who we want them to be in blog world...right? Well this week blogging took a cold and hard turn to real life for me. I read a blog of a precious family who lost their 4 year old daughter. The post leading up to that horrible morning was much like the rest of ours...LIFE, wonderful LIFE. But then there was death that would change these people forever. One blog they are enjoying the summer with all it holds, the next ultimate sorrow.

Death has hit so many children that are special to me. Of course we all think "will I be next?" Well imagine if you have 7 and the odds and all that stuff. Well even our children think about it. My niece must ask every night before she goes to bed if she will wake up in the morning. Even she knows tomorrow has not been promised. Mary-Grace asked how they fit adults into such small caskets because she has never seen an adult casket before.

Those of you who have lost a child speak of Christ in a way that I am envious of. It is almost as if you are talking of someone that I have tons of knowledge and a friendship with but I have never felt Him like what you describe. Does that mean that I don't know Him or that I have just not expierenced the grace that you have? I have been thinking of all the "ifs" and "what would I do" and "how would I act". Would I be as vocal about the goodness of our great God or would I want to curse God and die. Maybe I would want to do both. Eric told me that I need to search myself and cling to God's Word because you never know when a trial will come. I have been afraid of God this week. Remember in Chronicles of Narnia when asked of Aslan if he was safe. The answer was "He is good but he is not safe". That is what has came to my mind over and over ...HE IS GOOD but is he safe? Well, eternally for believers, he is safe but I guess he is not that safe. Something that powerful cannot be safe unless it is for our good, which is all about His glory and that, I know, is SAFE.

Ok so all this real life stuff has made me want to be very real, even on my blog. So here goes...My children are wonderful and cute but today I have had about as much as I can stand. Three nights up on and off with MG and Ely who have ear aches, 2 more nights up with JM because he has a stopped up nose and can't suck his thumb, and of course Jadon, the early bird, insisting on breakfast at 6:30am. Now this week Eric is working his 2nd shift rotation. I really can't describe how difficult it is with him working 2nd. We get to see him just as much but its different. It's like I have a visitor coming for a nice lunch that I must prepare for, they stay a while to visit and then they leave. All the resposibility of these kiddos is on me. And night times are the worst. After supper, baths, and bedtime I want to scream and then go be by myself. But OH NO!!! not this week, chaos decides to keep happening right at bedtime and someone needs just a little more attention, attention that I do not want to give, even to a 6 year old crying with a earache. So today I really needed a nap. You would think that since I have done this before and since I have read all the books I would know how to prepare my family that mama is taking a nap. Well I didn't! I just wanted to lay down for a nap with out all the work. The only thing that was going my way was that Judson was asleep. You know you can't choose when you are going to feel exhausted and around 4pm it hit. That is also the time that Elyona decided to make a quilt, Bailey and Annalee decided to make a purse without any knowledge of what they were doing, Mary- Grace wanted to make a key chain charm thingy, Jadon wanted to be a horse and all that comes with that, and John-Mark, fresh up from a nap, just wanted to do it all. I wanted to SLEEP. I never did get to sleep but I did get to spank 3 of them for what I am sure was a good reason and I was able to cry and tell all of them how they must not love me because they will not let me sleep. After that they let me have some quiet but all I could do was lay in bed an feel sorry for myself because I have no grandmother who comes and takes them all for a week while I get to pamper myself. Then duty calls and I must get up and fix supper, guilt kicks in and I make my rounds begging for forgiveness and then I find myself in a familiar place, begging God to forgive me for being such a wretch and pleading for discipline.

I want to be real even when I blog so that if my world comes crashing down with all my walls around me, you will have seen a bit of me being raw and ugly.

I have been listening to some hymns today and here is some words that have ministered to me.

In the cross alone I glory, Recognition laying down, Greatest treasures count as worthless, Standing next to heavens crowns.

Have a good weekend!!!

Co-Sleeping

2008-07-05T11:46:00.000-05:00

Co-sleeping is for me. I know that many of you put your little ones in the crib right away and I will not fault you for that. But since this is my blog and I can have my own opinions I will say that you all are missing out. Every morning I get a great big high that carries me thru the day. This is how my night and morning usually go...I lay down with my fat bundle and we nurse to sleep. He stays tucked right up under me all night. When he wants to nurse there is no crying or getting up. He starts wiggling around a bit and I wake up just enough to get him latched on and back to sleep we fall. People ask if he sleeps through the night (nursing mothers know that this isn't a good thing for milk supply) and I say "yes, kind of" because we never really wake up. He never wakes up daddy and we have a peaceful night sleep. When we are sleeping it is like he is still inside of me. He is so close I can feel him breath. I know when he is too cold or too hot and can quickly make adjustments to make him comfortable. I am TOTALLY aware he is there and could never roll on him just like you would not roll over on your pregnant tummy while you sleep. I believe it is instinct. I know this may sound sick to some of your but others will understand exactly the way I feel. Sometimes I look at Judson and my others and I want to just eat them or squeeze them into me so hard that they become part of me, well sleeping with my babies is the closest thing I can get to fulfilling that kind of desire. It is the sweetest experience of my life. The best part of sleeping with Judson is the early morning when we wake up. He is tucked right up under me and has usually just got his tummy full. I start humming his hymn (I'd Rather have Jesus)in his ear and before he can open his eyes he has a smile stretched across his face. He starts stretching and smiling all at once getting ready for a new day and I am right there within a few inches to enjoy the show. Daddy loves it as well and would not have it any other way. I usually go to sleep with him watching over us like he is looking at the sweetest picture ever. He loves how much our babies love their mama. He and I both know that this is a season in our lives that will pass too quickly and we need to breath in every moment like it is our last. So every morning around 6:30 think of me while I am inhaling deep the sweetness of baby Judson.

By the way, many of you ask about Judson and his eye issue. Still nothing new. We will have a check up at 6 months and another at a year. That is when we will start to be fitted for safety glasses (to protect the good eye) and the painted prosthetic "shell" for the bad eye. Thank you for asking and being concerned. I have concluded that I like questions a lot more than stares. I hate when people see him for the first time and don't say anything. They just oooh and ahh and walk away. I know they are wondering what is wrong with his eye. ASK ME!!! It is so awkward. Do I wait until they ask or should I automatically throw out the info. Anyway, hope you enjoy the post and go love on your babies.

Missing My Daddy

2008-06-27T11:39:00.000-05:00

My daddy's name was Jack Pettus. If he were still alive we would be celebrating his 76th birthday soon. Daddy was a hard working man who knew no different. He was raisied as he youngest of 10 children in a share cropping family This is a picture of them. He is the one with the blue sweater vest. He didn't have much education because he had to quit school in the 9th grade to work on the farm. Looking back at the things he accomplished in his life I realize how smart he was. He seemed to be able to figure anything out. I was 19 when daddy died and ,as you can imagine, I had nothing in common with a 61 year old man. We were not very close and I resented him being so old and sick all the time. I thought at that time life with him was boring. What a fool I was! My daddy read and studied the Bible with commentaries and study helps. He tried diligently to teach us the word with tears dripping off his face. Spiritual things moved my daddy to tears daily. Where are those men today? I had no idea what a treasure I had in my daddy. He sang base in a quartet and sang on stage once with the Oak Ridge Boys. He would take Adam (the only grandchild he really knew) outside for long walks in the woods and explore everything they could in one day. He did most of the cooking for our family. He would come home from working at the pipe shop, wash up, clean up the house, then cook supper for his family. I was so unthankful for all he did for us, it was just expected. My daddy loved my mama. She was his jewel. He was never afraid to grab her up and give her a big ole kiss in front of us. Before I cared what discipleship was, he was practicing it. This is just a bunch of thoughts put together quickly, I hope you can follow me. We wonder what daddy would have thought of his 2 girls having him 12 grandchildren. I miss him much more now than I ever have. I met Lisa S. daddy the other day and I couldn't help but think of mine and miss him. Her daddy still makes sure her tires are working right, e-mails her safty hints, and has turned his yard into a childrens wonderland that sends a big message...I LOVE MY FAMILY. I miss my daddy. He would be just like that. Only 2 of daddy's sisters are still living. The others have gone on to be with the Lord. Aunt Demeris and Aunt Elvie with my cousin June came to visit me the other day and it was so nice to sit and talk with them. I took pictures but failed to have my memory card in my camera. I was so disappointed. These are just a few thoughts about him that I've been having lately. If your daddy is still alive, please treasure the time you have with him and ignore the things that you see as old fashioned or boring. From what I have learned old fashioned in mostly wisdom speaking. But Daddy is at home singing and praising Jesus, knowing Him as He wants to be known!! HALLELUAH

Spoiling our Daddy

2008-06-15T20:32:00.000-05:00

We decided that Daddy does enough for us so we spoiled him this Fathers day. We stayed up and surprised him with this home theatre system. (40" LCD, PS3 Blu-Ray, and surround sound). We put it all together(confusing work) and stayed up until 2am waiting for him to get home from work. He was so surprised. It was worth it to see his face. This thing is so nice. So Happy Fathers Day, and Anniversary (June 29th) and Birthday, and Valentines, Christmas, Easter, Forth of July, ect...........

Happy Fathers Day

2008-06-14T21:41:00.002-05:00

Daddy,
Thank you for swimming with us even when it is cold. Thank you for teaching us the Bible and praying for us when we are sick. Thank you for liking the music we like and wanting it loud like we do. Thank you for loving Mama. Thank you for cleaning the kitchen for me when it is my turn. Thank you for fixing the pool and the bikes and for trying to fix the 4 wheeler. Happy Fathers Day. I love you
Elyona

Daddy,
Thank you for building us a new bedroom. Thank you for working hard and so we can go out to eat. Thank you for having pillow fights with us. Thank you for my piano so that I can play for you and Jesus. Thank you for letting us ride the lawn mower. Thank you for waking up the same everyday. Happy Fathers Day. I love you.
Bailey

Daddy,
Thank you for kissing us goodnight. Thank you for making money so we can go to the doctor. Thank you for having lots of brothers and sisters for me to play with. Thank you for making sure the doors are locked every night. Thank you for wrestling with us rough and when you tickle me and I can't breath and say "UNCLE" you stop. I love you,
Annalee

Daddy,
Thank you for fixing the drinks for us at supper time. Thank you for feeding Jack so he doesn't jump on me and scratch me all over and get me dirty. Thank you for letting me sit in your lap and drive the van. Thank you for taking us to see Prince Caspian. Happy Fathers Day
Mary-Grace

Daddy,
Thank you for letting me practice shaving with you. Thank you for carrying me to the van instead of making me walk so Jack don't jump on me. Thank you for teaching me how to play the 4 wheeler game. Thank you for doing the "bumpy thing" every time I ask. I love you.
Jadon

Daddy,
Thank you for checking on me in the middle of the night to make sure I am all covered up. Thank you for bathing me up and getting me dressed every Sunday morning. Thank you for being so strong that you can throw me super high and catch me when I come down. I love you
John Mark

Daddy,
Thank you for letting me sleep in the middle every night since I was born so that I can snuggle with mama. Thank you for spending special time with me, holding me and talking in your funny baby voice that makes me laugh. Happy Fathers Day.
Judson

Buddy,
Thank you for being a faithful daddy. Thank you for sacrificing your dreams and replacing them with us. Thank you for the tears that fell from your face and landed on mine when Elyona was placed in your arms for the first time. Thank you for looking out always for me and deciding Judson should be the last. You make our family strong. Happy Fathers Day. I love you.
Alicia

My Friend Jyoti

2008-06-04T09:04:00.000-05:00

My precious friend from church, Jyoti Krammer, was able to go back home to India this past month. She had not seen her family in 5 years. We were all so happy for her. There were many things in her trip that God worked out as only he could that made the trip so special for her. One of those things was that she was able to share the gospel with about 150 Hindu school children. She was invited to come back to her former grade school and speak about America and Christianity. She was thrilled, for this is what she knew God had her there for. The gospel made such an impression at the first speaking, she was invited to come back. 5 of the girls wanted to hear more about Jesus and decided to go to Jyoti's house for more. Jyoti was also able to feed all these 150 people when she went to speak. She is such a servant. She is an example to me in so many ways but her willingness and love for serving is the greatest example to me and my children. She has fed me so many unexpected meals. Back to the story...While in India she had a much needed surgery. While recovering she wasn't able to go shop for the things that she wanted to buy for the people back home in the USA so her brother was able to bring the store to her. He brought a whole bunch of things for her to choose from. She bought these dresses for all the little girls in the church. My girls were so excited. They counted down the days until they could were them to church. We are so thankful to have a friend like Jyoti, who can not only share in the fellowship of Christ with us but can bring to us a part of her side of the world and make India and her people something familiar to us. Thank you Jyoti!! I am so blessed to have a friend like you.

Girls at Camp

2008-06-02T23:32:00.001-05:00

This is a new experience for me. Today was the girls first day of "day camp". They had so much fun and were exhausted when they came home. Swimming, singing, boating, and friends were just a few of their favorites. I, on the other hand, was feeling a little left out being the only girl home with all these boys. I got to experience what school days would be like. I had to make a lunch and have them out the door before 8 and I get them at 2:30. I don't think I could do it everyday, I would miss them too much, but this week is going to be fun for them so it is worth it.

I was RUNNIN'

2008-05-29T15:16:00.002-05:00

I am Running!! Can you believe it? Well it is quite a sight to see. I really want to lose weight and get into shape. I have such a long way to go but I really want to . Melanie and I have been walking about 3 miles, 5 days a week for about 2 years. It is very enjoyable and we get our talking time in for the day while we are walking instead of on the phone. We walk at the church across the street from my house. It is in the middle of the most beautiful field and is surrounded by the most perfect landscaping. They also have a playground and trails running all through the woods which makes it a fun time for all the children as well. Although we love our walking, we realize that it is just not enough, espicially when we slow down because we get involved in a good conversation. So, we have decided to start running. We are starting very slow but we are determined. We are running 1 lap and walking 2. We will keep increasing the running little by little until we can run for 30 min. straight. Sounds like a good plan right? Well I an huffing and puffing after 1 min. Right now I think the most we are accomplishing is a good laugh for all my neighbors. It all ends with a bang when we start stretching. Can you imagine looking out your kitchen window bright and early in the morning, hoping to see the sun rising over a beautiful pasture only to see mine and Melanie's bottoms stuck up in the air as we stretch our legs. Well I am going to keep it up. I have lost 2 lbs and I feel great. We hope to run in a 5K at some point. I don't know if we will be able run it all but we will try.

I've Been Tagged & Open House

2008-05-22T00:36:00.000-05:00

OK here goes
10 years ago...Eric and I were 1 month away from celebrating our 2nd anniversary, Elyona was 8 months old and I was 4 months pregnant with Bailey. Life was easy.

5 Things I need to do...
1. Spend some quality time with my husband other than watching American Idol.
2. HANG MY VANITY (Lisa S., Why didn't you do that for me today?)
3. Multiplication drills with Bailey, reading with Mary-Grace and Annalee, and some preschool with Jadon
4. Read my book that I've have had checked out for 3 weeks and am only on chapter 6. It's a good book too!!!
5. Spend time with the Lord of any kind...prayer, bible, singing...you name it, I need to do it.
6. Yes I am adding one... HOUSEWORK...but that's continuous isn't it.

5 Favorite snacks
1. Prestige Chocolate Almond ice cream YUMMY YUMMY YUMMY!!!
2. Monterrey Jack Cheez-Its
3. Chips with sausage cheese dip
4. Chocolate covered nuts
5. Homemade Strawberry bread

If I were a billionaire...I would pay off my debt, buy a 8 bedroom house with an indoor, in ground pool, with lots of land. I would also have one of those one room school houses with a computer built into every desk and tons of books surrounding the room. I would hire a maid sorta like Alice but I would take care of my own children. I would adopt from orphans from a few countries. I would want Eric to quit Honda and either go into ministry full time or to seminary. I would then put some in the bank to live off of and in trust the rest to my elders to use how they see fit.

5 Bad Habits
1. Overeating (can you tell?)
2. Obsessing over my messy house
3. Complaining
4. Talking too much
5. "working" on my children and not "loving" on them

5 Jobs I've had
Well that's a short list. I was a church secretary for Gladeview Baptist for a while. That was after I graduated nursing school and before I had Ellie. Then she came along and I became a mama.

5 places I've lived

1. Anniston Beach Rd
2. House in East Anniston
3. Parsonage in J'ville
4. House in Weaver
5. Presently my old home place that I bought from my mama. Home sweet home!!

OK...Jennifer, Stacey, and Olya you've been tagged.

Below is a picture of Grace Fellowship Christian School. It is the best school ever I think. We are so excited about what will become of this small group as the years go by. Will we have a small half day school one day? Will we have missionaries, teachers, doctors, pastors, and faithful mamas come out of this group? These children are not only going to be a product of a generation of mamas and daddies who felt a calling to break away from the norm and teach their own children at home but also by a church who accepted the call to build a community with our children and the call to help train them in righteousness as well. Thank you to our faithful church who have helped us all to raise our children up in godliness. My prayer is that all these children will one day rise up and call their mothers blessed (and their daddies, elders, and church body as well).

All the children did a great job at the open house with all their presentations and their projects. I am already looking forward to the next one. This open house thing gives me so much accountability to do more than just basic school with my children. Ya'll pray for next year. We are going to be discussing a co-op program where some subjects or electives are taught corporately rather than at home. This is a big step for some of us so pray that we make good decisions.

What A WEEK!!!

2008-05-21T23:10:00.000-05:00

Wow what a week. I have never had such a busy week but you all know me and that I thrive on staying busy. I will just run down the highlights of all that went on...Monday - Take my Mama to Cheesecake Factory for Mother's Day and get everything done for home school project, Tuesday - go pick strawberries with Harmons and Swinneys, fun, fun! Wednesday - Shopping for all that's going on. Thursday - Home school open house dress rehearsal where I unknowingly left John Mark in the rain at the church parking lot then I cried on and off the rest of the day cause I have so many children I don't know what to do like the lady that lived in the shoe, Friday - Zoo trip with home schoolers where we also had a birthday party for my big boy Jadon who is now 4, AND Friday night - Birthday party sleepover for Annalee, Mary-Grace, and Chloe along with 9 other wonderful sleepover friends and 3 other tired mama's, Saturday - Rest...Yeah Right! Sunday - My Sunday school class presented their catechisms and other things they have learned this year, which they all did a wonderful job. And finally Sunday night which was our home school spring open house which I will blog about later. Not only did I have to get myself to all these gatherings but I also had to get my whole crew along as well...STRESSED OUT!!!

Norris Farm strawberries...Taste like candy YUMMY

Jadon enjoyed his zoo birthday party.

This was the best birthday we have ever had. All the girls were so well behaved. We had everything well planned...dress-up, make-up, fashion shows, singing, dancing, and a movie. They all went to bed with no problems and slept thru the night. The best part was that Jennifer, Lisa, Rhiannon, and myself were able to have so much fun with our kids and that is something I don't do a whole lot of. The worst part was that all of us goof ball mamas stayed up gabbing like silly teenagers until 3am.

Groceries for the month

2008-05-09T08:46:00.000-05:00

I have decided to try to buy my groceries for the month. I have tried it before and for some reason I stopped. This time I hope it works out. There are many reasons why I choose to start back. Here are a few of them. 1. I want to always have enough food in my house to be hospitable to others and not to have to plan so much in advanced if I want to have others over for a meal. 2. Gas prices!! 3. It will be a date for Eric and I (almost). We left the girls at home and we went to Quizno's and shopping with the boys. Normally when we go shopping Eric will take the kiddos to the toys or books while I shop but I must have him doing monthly shopping. I filled up 4 buggies yesterday. It was a lot of fun. 4. Hopefully it will save us money because I will not be in Wal-Mart as long or as much. You all know how that place is $$$$. 5. With a large family you never know what will come up and if I can't go do my normal grocery shopping on Thursdays then we are OUT of food and usually end up ordering pizza or fast food.

As you can see in the pics we got a few boxes of cereal bars and a few waters. You should see all the milk in the freezer. I hope it will last us the whole month. We will still have to go weekly for fresh produce, toiletries and, of course, things I forgot but, I am going to try to make this food last. We will see how it goes. I have planned for it to last until June 6. I keep you updated.

Ya'll be patient with me with this blog thing. I know it looks boring but with my blogger illiteracy and dial up service this is about as good as it gets. It took me 15 min. just to download 2 pics. And trying to upload things onto my profile and those cute little side dealies, No Way is that happening. I waited 30 min. to put my pic on my profile and it never did anything. FRUSTRATING

Thanks for reading

Proud Aunt

2008-05-07T22:53:00.000-05:00

Adam is being inducted into the National Honor Society. I am so proud of him. Right now, most of the time, he is just a typical teenage boy who stays in his own world either downloading songs to his ipod or playing his guitar. But then we have days like today when we know he is alive and somewhat of the same world we are. He has proven to be an excellent student and has a desire to go to the University of Alabama. I hope he is able to achieve his dream one day. Roll Tide!!

But more than his academic achievements, Adam is getting an opportunity to defend the Word. He has began a nice little discussion with a fellow student about...you guessed it...the doctrines of grace. Well of course he has been taught these truths very well but has never had an opportunity to see how controversial this discussion can be, even to another teenage boy. Now he is having to prove with scripture references and all to this fellow student what he believes and why.
The whole thing is just exciting to me. The fellow student is a great guy and even told Adam how great it is that they are actually getting into the Word together. Adam has been encouraged not to make this a battle of knowledge or who is right, but just an opportunity to defend what he believes. I pray that this all will ignite a flame in Adam, like it has so many great men of our faith ,to pursue and to know his doctrine, but above all to know his GOD.

Adam, I am so proud of you. I love you very much.
Cecia

To 'V' or not to 'V'....???

2008-05-06T23:59:00.000-05:00

'V'... You know, the male end of family planning. Well actually it is no longer a question that we are dealing with. It has been done and we can no longer bear children. (Is this something I should be blogging about?) It is a real sad statement when I first had to grasp it but it is even more of a relief. I know to some that sounds offensive, and believe me, a few years (and children) ago it would have offended me. Children are a heritage from the Lord, right? a blessing, right? ABSOLUTELY!!! But somewhere between #5 and #7 life got tougher and my strong convictions got weaker OR I gained a bit of wisdom and became less legalistic. I honestly don't know which has happened. I do know this. I love my children, I love my new baby and can only be so thankful that God blessed us with him. But I do not want to birth anymore children. I am tired. I am ready to raise the ones I have instead of being so tired that I cannot get off the couch. I am ready to run and play with them instead of watching daddy getting to enjoy all the tickle fights while I...sit on the couch. I want to have control over the ones that I have instead of letting them run wild, and care for themselves. When I was pregnant with the first few, everything was sooo exciting...kicks, due dates, sonograms... but with the last few it all has lost its hype. I forgot my due date repeatedly. I was 20 or so weeks when someone ask me if I was feeling him kick. I had to think and say "Oh yeah, I should be feeling that by now", and sure enough in a few seconds...bump there was a kick. What?? that is crazy. Who would've thought that a precious life moving around inside my womb could have been over looked. I never thought it could, but it did. That is when I knew something had to change. Doesn't my precious #7 deserve the same excitement as #1 in the small details. I have always wanted to be the mama who could have a house full and with a smile on my face say "we want more" . I can't because in trying to keep up that "conviction" I am loosing others like child training, family worship, my desire to home school and little things like forgetting to tuck them in at night and tell them I love them.

Our decision did not come easily. Mainly because we had been taught from older women and respected teachers that child bearing is something not to be messed with and fully to be placed in God's hands. I cannot say that we have done the "right" thing. But I also know that to keep adding on to the ones I had didn't seem right either. I still believe that God is sovereign over my child bearing and if I get pregnant I will praise the Lord for working His plan and directing my steps in my life even though I had planned my way. John Piper has an excellent article on his web site about birth control and such. It helped us a lot in making our decision. Take a look at it sometime.

Notice that I have never said that I do not want anymore children. I do!!! Someday. We hope to adopt a couple of children and raise them up to know Christ. It is so exciting to think about the different phases of life that God could have for us.

Now on the up end, I do not want to discourage any of you from desiring or gaining a large family.( Now maybe a little better job of spacing than what we did might help.) It is so rewarding. I have to keep reminding myself that I am in the sowing phase of life now but someday soon I am going to start reaping the fruit of my labor. It is exciting to think of what God could do with my little efforts. Large families are a blessing. Hopefully with this blogspot I can and have encouraged some of you to want a large family. Life is never dull. I do have a heritage growing up here. If you think that by the grace of our sovereign God that you can sow a large field successfully then sow and oh!!what a harvest you will have. But if you think that you can only successfully sow a small field then work hard on that small field and have a fruit filled harvest as well.

Praise God for all these trivial things that bring women like me to cry out to Him for guidance, and what peace I get when I know that the number of children I have is not my sanctification but just another tool God is using to bring me into more of a right relationship with Him. Also, praise God for husbands like Eric who willing and adamantly choose to have the 'V'. Thanks for reading.

Alicia, the happy mama of 7 blessing from our great God!!!

A first time for everything

2008-05-01T22:31:00.000-05:00

Ok, This has never happened to me. You can tell by the picture that John Mark found the scissors and had a fun time with his hair. It didn't bother me that much because I thought "hey there's a first time for everything" . But today I discover another whack of hair missing off the back of his head. Then my detective mama mode kicked in and a knew it must have been someone else. Well after extreme interrogations it is confirmed that BAILEY who is soon to be 10 cut his hair. WHAT!!!!! I still can't believe it. I don't even know how to discipline her for it. I still just look at her and scratch my head. Did I not train her well enough when she was 2 not to cut her own hair? Why would she cut his hair when she is 9. I asked her WHY??? She just said she felt like cutting something. HUH!!! I have tried to fix it but now he looks like Jim Carey on Dumb and Dumber. Maybe in a few weeks it will grow and look alright

And speaking of unruly older siblings...Elyona ran over Annalee with the lawn mower. The blade was not running so it was no more that a want-to-be go cart. But my nervous neighbor called in a tizzy wondering if she was OK. I had no idea what she was talking about. What she didn't know is that it was all a game, I found out later. Elyona was chasing her on the lawn mower and she didn't hear her say to move out of the way so she ran over her. HUH!!!!WHAT!!!! You see all my neighbors think that I allow this type of behavior. WRONG we have talked to them about lawn mower safety and only let Elyona and Bailey drive the thing around the house for fun. But Oh no they are out there chasing each other with it so all the neighbor's will have one more reason to think we are STRANGE.

Thanks for reading
Alicia

Judson Owen

2008-04-29T10:07:00.000-05:00

Judson Owen

2008-04-28T13:42:00.001-05:00

Well it has been a while but I am back. I will not even begin to catch up from the past year so I will just start with where we are today. Judson is here and will be a 4 weeks old Thursday. He was born with an under developed eye and from what we know so far is that he has minimal to no vision from it. Microphthalmia is the medical term for this abnormality. I have been able to go on other web sites and blog spots but have never read anything like what Judson has. Most cases of microphthalmia that is discussed on the internet is associated with other more severe chromosomal abnormalities or delays of some other sort. Judson doesn't show any signs of those. I hope my blog spot will be there for other mothers who may find themselves exactly where I was a few weeks ago, searching for information.

Judson had his first eye exam last week and we were thrilled to know that he has a perfect right eye with what seems to be perfect vision. I was clueless to know what would happen at this first exam. So it all was a surprise to me. The Dr. dilated both eyes which is harmless except that Judson cannot open his "little eye" very far. A speculum was placed in the eye to hold the lid open so it could be seen well enough. That was the worst part but necessary. We were also informed that methods to improve vision in the little eye is available but minimal sight would be all that could be accomplished. And that is if he has sight at all in that eye. We will probably just leave that little eye alone. He can get a prosthetic shell to fit over his little eye when he is around 4 but that seems far off to me. I am thinking of asking if we can get one sooner. I would rather Judson have to adapt to something new like that when he is 2 or so than when he is 4. We go for an ultrasound tomorrow and that will give us more info about his vision and the size difference.

A family in the area has a child with the same problem and she has offered so much information about raising a child with a small eye. Her daughter is beautiful and you would never know that she has a small eye with the shell in place. Our conversation was so encouraging.

Most of you know this information already about Judson but I figured if I was going to start blogging about it then I should star from the beginning. Thanks for reading.

Alicia

My Flower Girls

2007-06-08T22:50:00.000-05:00

The girls had an opportunity to be flower girls this Thursday. They were treated so special. The wedding was beautiful, as most weddings are. This one was outside with wildflowers, barefoot bridesmaids, park benches, and the most elegant flower girls ever. Jessica (the bride) and her mother spent several days last week making flower baskets with the girls, swimming, and just taking time to show them that they are special. I am sure that this family had so many things that could have consumed their thoughts and time but they chose to take of their precious time and invest it in my children. Thank you Jessica and Sharon, the girls will never forget you.

Strawberry Pickn' 2007

2007-06-05T15:55:00.000-05:00

Today we went strawberry picking. We go every year and have soooo much fun. You can eat while you pick and boy do we eat. We eat until we can't even taste the strawberries anymore. They are so warm and juicy. The children try to fill up their buckets with the biggest and reddest ones that they can find. Usually by the time that we are finished picking we all have red faces and red hands. Tonight we are having strawberry cobler with vanilla ice cream, tomorrow I will make strawberry bread for breakfast, and after all the little hands have reached in the bucket for "just one more" the strawberries will be all gone....until next year. Thank you Lord for blessing us with STRAWBERRIES!!!

Jadon learns to swim

2007-06-01T20:18:00.000-05:00

Jadon has always had no fear of water. Last year he had shown that he was going to be a fish. The other children always went thru a phase around 2 when they were just not afraid but when the next summer came they grew up a little and understood danger more. Therefore, they showed more respect for the water. Not Jadon! He has no fear so we knew we must teach him to swim. Today I got in the pool with him and was going to show him what would happen without his floaties. Well, he showed me. He ducked his head, swam across the pool, came up for air and, kept on swimming. So we are more afraid now then we were before. Not only does he have no fear but he is confident that he can conquer any water. He doesn't swim to me, he swims away from me. Please pray that Jadon stays safe this summer and I remember to take the ladder out of the pool.

John Mark's first oreo

2007-06-01T20:04:00.000-05:00

John Mark is being able to enjoy life a lttle more than some of my children. When the girls were little they would have never had an oreo at 8 months old. Elyona had an almost sugar free strawberry shortcake for her first birthday. French fries were an absolute no no. An oreo at 8 months old, I will agree, is not the best thing and don't worry, I will not make a habit of it but, it sure does make a cute picture.

Memorial weekend

2007-06-01T19:51:00.000-05:00

We had an opportunity to spend the day at the river. We had such a wonderful time! The children were able to swim and ride in a fast boat. In the picture above all the men have gotten all the children in the boat with three being pulled behind. A few fell in as well as a few dads. Eric got a chance to ski and knee board. It had been 12 years since the last time and boy was it different. He could hardly get out of bed the next day.

This is the oldest and youngest of the cousins right now on Eric's side of the family. Elyona is 9 and the new Simon Jesse is 3 weeks with a total of 13 in the middle. But of course in this family, the youngest doesn't hold the position long. Rhiannon is expecting this Christmas.

Memorial Weekend

2007-06-01T19:28:00.000-05:00

The children love when Daddy gets t
to swim with them.

Bailey and Nathan enjoying aunt Robbie's pool

Mary-Grace and Isabell

Rebekah being just sooo cute

Jadon and his tractor

2007-05-21T22:14:00.000-05:00

Today Jadon woke up bright and early to ride his new tractor that his mamaw got him for his birthday. It came with 2 rechargeable 12 volt batteries. He went through them both today. He rode from 8am till lunch and then went right back out to ride some more. He carries everything around in his wagon...sticks, rocks, barbies, John-Mark ect... This afternoon while he was out "farming" the rest of us were doing our inside chores. Ely went out to check on him and found him sound asleep on his tractor parked under a big oak tree. She quickly ran in got us all. When we saw him and after video and pictures were taken we just stood and watched him, no one wanting to ruin such a priceless moment. Thank you mamaw for the tractor, Jadon truly enjoys it.

Birthday Pictures

2007-05-21T21:29:00.000-05:00

Spring...Birthday time

2007-05-21T20:04:00.000-05:00

Spring always means birthdays around our house. Annalee turned 7 May1st, Jadon was 3 yesterday, May 20th, and Mary-Grace will be 5 june 3rd. We decided this year to have a big party all together. We invited all the family which consists of 14 cousins and let the children add a few of their friends. I made the Annalee a "flower" cake, Mary-Grace had a butterfly cake and Jadon had a football (Roll Tide). I think everyone had a good time. It was just a simple party with the people we love.

My children are growing up so fast. I have such a desire to savor every moment and to show in my actions that I enjoy every moment of their childhood, but I am afraid that most of my actions show impatience. But they are still so cute and amaze me with their ideas and cute little ways. What a blessing my children are to me!! Happy Birthday my babies.
Alicia

The Davis Family 2007

2007-05-21T19:12:00.000-05:00

How neat is this. I feel like I am treading upon uncharted waters here with this blog thing, but I will give it a try. I just figured out how to e-mail pictures. This is a neat opportunity to be able to keep a journal for myself and to be able to share my family with all of you. To start out this blog let me say that the glorification of our Creator, Savior, and King is the foundation of my family and our heartbeat in all we do is to know Him and make Him known. But we do not always do the things that we want to do, right? I hope this sight helps us to be more transparent to all of you for our maturity and yours. Thanks for visiting.
Alicia