I'm an aunt again... and again!

"Behold, children are a gift of the LORD;

The fruit of the womb is a reward."

Psalm 127:3

This evening my brother and his wife, Wilma, welcomed into this world two wonderful blessings-- a little girl and a little boy, each weighing 4 lbs, 8 oz and measuring approximately 18 inches in length.  I've seen a picture of each and they're simply beautiful and wonderful in every way.   You've done well, guys!  I so wish that I could be there to meet them in person... all in time, all in time.  

God is so good, isn't He?  Amidst the stress and strain of the day, He was there, protecting those little ones as they made their grand entrance, and He was there, strengthening their mama as she played her part.  And He's there now as they all rest and then rejoice in the wonder of life.  Thank you, Father!

Congratulations, Dave & Wilma, on the arrival of your precious little ones and welcome to the wonderful world of parenthood!  We love you guys and thank the Lord above for His most generous gifts~

Homeward bound

At 7 a.m. this morning, we climbed out of bed to pack up the van, stuff ourselves in like sardines, and set out for home. Summer is over; it's time to get back to the grind. First, though, we have to make a stop at "Camp Grandmom" to pick up Nannie. She's been enjoying these past 8 days with Grandmom, Pops, & Beau-- daily walks in the woods, treats after everytrip outdoors, her very own bed... what more could a 12 year old pup ask for? As for us, we are t.i.r.e.d. Once again, we need vacation after our vacation. Instead of returning home rested and renewed, we're all exhausted and desperate for sleep.

As this moment, we still have 4 hours to go, but hey, due to modern technology, I can blog while we're driving! It's a great way to pass the time while Lolli sleeps, the boys play tic tac toe in the back, and Hubby drives (he's in the zone-- a conquer-the-highway mentality, if you know what I mean). Here are a few pics to prove that we're all still sane and even smiling at the moment, though I can't promise the same by the time we finally reach our destination :o) Brace yourself-- these are exciting!

Here's Hubby. And that's me behind him; well, my hand, at least.

Ever-sweet Lollipop~

And our wild & crazy boys~

There's just nothing like a good road trip to test the bonds of family togetherness!

A whole new ball game

As varied as my interests are, politics doesn't usually top the list. Hubby, on the other hand, loves to stay up-to-date on all of the current happenings, both in and out of Washington, and he's very good about passing along all the important news. After today's developments, however, I think I'll be paying closer attention...

For the past several months, as the race for President has limped along, I've not been thrilled with the developments. I've just never been crazy about John McCain (given the alternative, however, he'd certainly be my choice). As of today, however, with the official introduction of Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate, I'm sold. A long-time citizen of the state of Alaska, this socially conservative mother of five seems to have taken the political world by storm. I'm extremely impressed with what I've seen of her thus far, but there's one issue in particular that has emphatically tipped the scales in her direction. Palin values life, plain and simple. After the birth of her fifth child this past April, a son born with Down's Syndrome, she released this statement:

"Trig is beautiful and already adored by us. We knew through

early testing he would face special challenges,

and we feel privileged that God would entrust us

with this gift and allow us unspeakable joy

as he entered our lives. We have faith that every baby

is created for good purpose and has potential to make

this world a better place. We are truly blessed."

Well said, Mrs. Palin... you have my vote.

The simple life

Life is so simple at the beach. Think about it... there's no need for television to entertain; you have the pounding surf. There's no need for treadmills and gym memberships; you have the soft white sand. There's no need for fancy clothing; t-shirts and sloppy shorts are enough. There's no need for gourmet dinners; pbj and fresh melon do just fine. How I love this lifestyle! Can you just imagine living this way for the entire summer?? How fabulous would that be?! I think I'll make this addition to my ever-changing wish list: a charming summer cottage, nestled in the dunes, decorated in shades of white with soft blue accents, not too big, not too small-- just right for our summer holiday... a gal can dream, can't she??

Anyhoo, for seven years now we've been venturing south with hubby's side of the family for a fun-filled week on the coast, and each year our party grows. When we started coming here, Bub was 3, Noh-man was one, and their blue-eyed cousin was only 3 months old. Now we're up to 7 kidlets and 6 adults (we're so glad you came this year, Poppa!), and my, how neat it's been to see our number increase! Each year we need a little more space and each time we consume a little more food, but oh, is it fun!

As they do every summer, the little ones are having a ball... they've been tossed about by the waves like lettuce in a salad bowl, and still they go back for more. They've scoured the beaches in search of new and exciting treasures and have come back with goodies we've never seen here before. They'd sleep in the surf if they could; as it is, they only return to the sand when their bodies are practically screaming for a rest. It's such a treat to see them all laughing and playing together, thriving on one another's company and delighting in the wonder of God's beautiful creation. Family truly is a blessing!

Well, I'd best be on my way for now... it's hard to believe that today is Thursday. Like with most things, I find myself wondering-- where does the time go? We have one more full day on the beach before we pack up our things, load up the van, and head home. Ready for a new school year, a fresh start... and more exciting adventures to come our way!

Aahhh... the beach!

I just love the beach... the sun, the fresh air, the sand (well, not so much the sand), the roar of the ocean, the striped sky at sunset, the sea birds soaring overhead... children laughing and playing and surfing and swimming and shelling and jumping and digging and sculpting and running and sleeping well!

I have tons of pictures to share of our adventures thus far; unfortunately, hubby's computer is not cooperating right now. Or perhaps Blogger isn't cooperating-- somebody's not cooperating and, as a result, I can't get my photos to upload. So... you'll have to wait until next week when I get back to my trusty Mac. Until then... know that we're having a blast. The sun is shining (though this morning a brief shower passed overhead... oh, how I pray it's raining at home! Mom, keep up the rain dance!!), the kiddos are flying high, and the adults are still sane, even if barely. Hope you all are having a great Monday (hopefully a rainy one for you, Ma); I'll post more soon! Love from us all...

Simply the best

Exactly one year ago today I said goodbye to my very best friend, Jackson, as he lost his battle with a nasty, incurable disease.  I never saw it coming... one day he was here, seemingly strong and healthy, and then 6 days later, he was gone.  Gone.  How was it possible?  I knew that, without a doubt, the days and weeks ahead would be terribly difficult to endure; I never would have guessed, however, that one year later the pain would still be so fresh.

I miss Jack terribly; eleven years together was simply not enough. Oh, what I would give to have him back...

Heavenly Father, please know that even though I don't understand, I trust You and I know that You had a reason for calling Jack home.  One day, I hope to see him again!  In the meantime,  thank you for the gift You gave our family when You gave us Jack... he truly was the best! 

Time for a make-over

In two days we leave for vacation. The day after we return, we start school. That very same week, swimming and soccer resume, and between those 2 sports alone, we have a practice or a game every day of the week. On top of that, Big Man starts preschool and all 3 boys start AWANA and co-op. The perfect time to undertake a new project? Why not?!

It's time for a make-over, and no, not for me (though it does sound like tons of fun!)... for the kitchen. It's time to finally rid this house of the 1980's floral that's been adorning the kitchen walls and the busy blue vine in the adjoining hallway. Mom and I took the plunge yesterday and started peeling like crazy, and hubby even joined in the "fun" last night after work. We started off on a high note as the border strip and the striped kitchen paper came down very easily. The vine in the hallway, however... not so much. Progress there has been painfully slow, but we're making progress nonetheless. (Sorry, G, that I wasn't able to save any for you-- I know you've had your eye on this stuff for a while!)

In this little hallway, we're only taking the top portion off as beadboard will cover the rest. It's amazing just what a difference a little bit makes-- I can actually see white walls! Oh, I can't wait 'til it's done!

Here's Mom, always the hardest worker in the bunch. Thanks, Ma, for all your help-- I wouldn't be getting this project done without you!

Nannie is completely unphased by the work in progress. Wallpaper is coming down all around her and still she sleeps.

So, there you have it. Lots still to do, but that's ok; we're getting there. Wallpaper-be-gone will surely be the theme of these next two days. Well, that and packing.