Dress like a cow, eat FREE

Oh the lengths we'll go to for free food!  It helps that it's super fun too, especially with a slew of your closest friends!

Tattoo my eyebrows and eyeliner? Yes please!

I asked for an early Christmas present (or Christmas in July...haha) from my parents and my in-laws.  I really wanted to have my eyeliner and brows tattooed on but couldn't justify spending the money.  Being the sweethearts they are, they says yes!  It was slightly nerve wracking but it was so great and so worth it!  A few weeks later, my mom even went and got hers done too!!

So nice to not have to worry about this every morning :)

Life is like a box of chocolates...

You know, isn't that the truth?! You really never know what you're gonna get.  But there is one thing we do know...if we are obedient, doing as God's Word commands, then we will live in His will regardless of whether we get the yummy caramel or the icky raspberry filled chocolate.

Lately, in my Mom-World, as my kids are getting older,  I am dealing with new things. Hurt feelings, mean friends, you know, typical adolescent fun stuff ;).  What I remind my children and what I have to remind myself (because when they hurt my mama heart hurts for them a million times over), is that as long as they are making choices that are right by the Lord, they can rest in the peace of knowing He will honor that. We have to look at our circumstances through the filter God provides, not the one we think is best.

Fun at Papa and Grandma's house

We always have so much fun when we go hang out at Grandma and Papa's.  They just invest so much time and energy into my kids which I absolutely love.  That's what I remember from when I was little so it makes my heart happy.  And to think, this is the last summer the pool will be open... (insert tears here....) SO many of my childhood memories were made at their pool.  I lived in walking distance so that's where I stayed!  I am thankful my kids will be able to make those memories starting next summer at my parents new pool!!

Happy kids, happy great-grands

Grandma always plays whatever the kids want!

She and Jax were having a deep conversation about "the good ole days"

Seriously.  Could this BE any sweeter (and funnier)

Ahh, soak it all in......

Musicville

Camron and Caden had the opportunity to play hilarious henchmen in a musical called Musicville.  It was so much for them...and for me as well!  Jaxon decided to sit this one out because of baseball.  Although he ended up helping backstage and really enjoyed himself.  Joss still isn't quite ready for the lime light just yet!  After each show I had so many people tell me that Camron and Caden's characters, Half Rest and Eighth Rest were their favorites!  I can definitely understand why of course! ;).  Their laugh is contagious in real life and they were able to cackle on stage!

Baseball

Jax and Chris are so much alike sometimes it's scary!  I snuck this shot of them at Jaxon's game.  

And of course this is what little sister does at the ball field! 

A couple of sweet friends and I had the chance to go to the beach for the weekend.  It was such a wonderful time getting to know each other better and just relaxing in the peace and quiet of the salt air!  We hope to make it a regular thing.  #everyotherweekend #alldayeveryday #hopethedadsdontmind #thatswhatshesaid

 Love these girls!

Wait, is that a selfie stick you're using?! 

Beach picnic

Oops, car trouble

Someone is a smarty pants!! 

Mothers Day 2015

Children are a heritage from the Lord,

    offspring a reward from him.

4 

Like arrows in the hands of a warrior

    are children born in one’s youth.

Psalm 127:3-5

Love my mama!

Great Wolf 2015

We consider it such a blessing to be able to visit the Great Wolf Lodge to honor the memory of our sweet Jordan each year.  We enjoy being able to just be together and enjoy the craziness of the water park.  It's become "our thing".  This year there was hardly anyone there which the kids loved.  There were no lines for the slides.  We pretty much had the place to ourselves!

This was us our first year and then this year!  Wow!

We always take a pic here before we leave!

So much sweetness!

Jordan Robert Duke~5 years

5 years ago today was a day filled with pain, with grief, with overwhelming sadness. But God....  
I labored all day long. Only to give birth to our 4th son in the wee hours of the following morning, who had already gone to be with Jesus. 
My body was weary, broken. But God....
I wasn't sure how I would go on. I wasn't sure I could go on. But God....
He restored me. He gave me the verses:
Weeping may remain for the night but joy comes in the morning Psalm 30:5
I giveth and I taketh away Job 1:21
He knew my pain
He saw my hurt
He felt my sadness 
He loved me through it

Vanished, The Lost Colony

Well, the boys finally convinced me to do a show with them....and it was so much fun! Now, don't get me wrong,  I didn't have any speaking parts or anything.  We had a blast!

Friends don't let friends do yard work alone!

Friends who come and help you do things like haul mulch (and a lot of it) are just plain awesome!

O-K-L-A-H-O-M-A

Jaxon was recently in the production of Oklahoma with HPCT.  I think this may have been his favorite show yet!  It was full of amazing talent!  Knuckle-head broke his finger exiting the stage at the end of Saturdays show but....the show must go on and he sure did!  He performed that show and the Sunday show before going to urgent care on Monday and then to an orthopedic surgeon on Tuesday.  Way to go mom, right ;).

The princess turns 4!

I know I say it for all of my kids birthdays but I just can't believe Jossalyn is 4!  It seems like only yesterday when we got that phone call that our daughter was waiting for us in Miami!  Joss brings sunshine to the rainiest of days.  She can brighten any room with her contagious laugh and "wise beyond years" sayings!  Happy Birthday baby girl!  We love you so much!