Catching Back Up...

I have been so behind on keeping our blog updated. A friend of mine called me this week to see if I was ok. Thanks for checking on us Cindy!

It has been a hectic few months. I have been questioning a lot of things, doing a lot of things and hearing and seeing a lot of things. Some good, some bad. But, through it all, I am learning to depend more on God than others. That is a hard lesson to learn sometimes.

But anyways......let me update you on the latest happening with our family. This is about 3 months worth so I hope I don't miss anything. LOL.

Nathan has been doing very well in school. It's hard to believe in just a few short weeks he will be a second grader!! He never ceases to amaze me how much he is learning. He is reading on a 2nd grade level and the math he can do is amazing! But what I'm most proud of is his witness to the other kids. He always talks about Jesus to his friends. He has even had a few tell him they don't believe Jesus is real. It made him sad. I hope he doesn't get discouraged. He is so precious.

Here is his spring school pics. Isn't he handsome??

A few weeks ago, Nathan came home from Tripp's parents. He excitedly told me he made something. We ran down into the basement to see his creation. He had taken some old wood and nailed and bolted a cross. He was so proud! He didn't want it to sit in the basement. So we took it upstairs and it is sitting proudly in front of my fireplace. When people come in and see it they kindof have a look of why it is there.......but you know what? I don't care. I am proud of the fact Nathan thought of Jesus instead of other worldly things to make. If he wants it to sit in the living room for the rest of my life, so be it :-)

We also attended the annual Sweetheart Dance at school. It is the Valentine Day dance where students invite their parents as their dates. Nathan was disappointed his friends didn't attend and wanted to go home......but we stayed until the last 30 mintes. I got him to get out and boogey with me, much to his embarrassment. Ha ha! But it was fun!

Just last week, Nathan had another field trip. I have been jealous of all the field trips he has taken as a first grader! Boy I never went on that many. Ha ha! I think this was his fourth one and from what I understand he has one or two more before the year is over. Last week he went to the Creative Discovery Museum and then a picnic at the Riverpark. I love watching him interactive with all his friends. If you know Nathan, he is extremely shy around adults but when he gets around kids his age, he is the most confident little guy. Everyone seems to like him too. He is definitely a good friend. I am so proud of him!

Natalee is also doing well. She is growing big. Can you believe in 2 months she will be 3!!!! She is something else too. She is very sneaky and loves to tease you. She is very much into ballerinas and princesses and makeup. She really keeps me laughing.....and sometimes I'll see her doing something and realize "oh me! She has picked that up from ME!!" She is very outgoing although she can be very shy around men. In a way I'm glad she doesn't like men too much. This world is so nuts you don't know who to trust anymore.

In January, a couple we know at church went to India. They actually are from India. They went home for a month to visit family. When they came back, they presented Natalee with her own Indian dress. She LOVED it! She thinks she is a ballerina whenever she wears it. One day we hope to let her wear it to church.

Here is a clip of Miss Natalee doing a jig at Cracker Barrel

We are looking forward to these warmer days. We have taken advantage of the weather and started our biking up again. We also took a day trip to Atlanta to see their new aquarium. Nathan has been wanting to go there so bad. It was really neat! If you have been to Ripley's Aquarium in Gatlinburg and our aquarium here, it is a combination of both. But one thing that really impressed me was their whale shark exhibit. It was so neat seeing that creature swimming around so peacefully. I could have sat there all day. Here are some pics of our two adventures to the Riverpark and the Aquarium:

Tripp has been doing well. He has been keeping busy with work and church, and now that it is getting warmer he is out tackling the yard work every week. We have been discussing a vacation for the summer. I am so looking forward to getting away. I'm not sure about Tripp but I am feeling quite burnt out. I've been doing quite a bit. My days are filled with doing things at church (playing organ and piano, Awana teacher and secretary, church secretary, filling in during Sunday School occasionally, singing solos and in the choir, etc) school (volunteering with activities there), home (normal cooking, cleaning and raising kiddos) and Run for God (running program at church for a 5K in June). I'm ready for some downtime and get some things done that I haven't gotten to do in a while, like scrapbooking and more sewing. I am trying to tackle making matching Easter outfits for the kiddos. So far so good. I hope to get them completed and post them on here for ya :-)

One thing I also have been doing is several Bible studies. My friend Becki and I have been working on "Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World". It has been a great study and I've enjoyed sharing it with my friend. I've also been doing a Beth Moore study on the side "David". I have always loved Beth Moore. In fact, I just spent my Christmas money on another lesson of hers "Jesus, the One and Only". These studies have been something I look forward to everyday. I'm so glad we have the priviledge to have things like this to help us. I have also ordered myself another Bible. I'm trying to read the Bible in a year, but my Bible has seen better days. I heard several people talk about the HCSB. I did some research on it and it really appealed to me! I am planning to restart my yearly Bible plan over and use this Bible when it comes in. From what I understand, it gives some interesting commentary on the verses and books as you read.

It's good to be blogging again. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed doing this......

Until next time.....hopefully not in 3 months! Ha ha!