Memorial Day Weekend

I personally think that there is a cure that can help bring closeness back to a crazy blended family.  Its camping!  Maybe its because there are no distractions, electronics, and that helps create a place where we pay closer attention to each other and talk more....I don't know but we all felt closer after the weekend.  Micah even commented and noticed it too.  It was a great weekend!  I loved the weekend, I loved watching the kids interact and look out for each other.  Instead of me writing so much about it I will let the pictures tell the story of the weekend.

Friday evening was very cold and windy

Karlee looks the part of a camper but as the weekend went on....well you'll have to see (the hat has a built in light)

Karlee turned the light on the hat.  I began to call it the "potty hat" since it was perfect to wear on your way to the bathroom

Here is Kyle check to see if he little sister was alright.  "Sara how many fingers to you see?"  Sara had fallen and bumped her head on the concrete picnic table.

Saturday-boys getting ready for a day of fishing.  (windy and cold today)

Kyle really doesn't like his picture taken, can you tell?

A net in the face.....I'm thinking Dillon doesn't like his picture taken either.

 Karlee making friendship bracelets.  Karlee keeping the dog warm and quite.  Karlee reading.  So I ask you if you think Karlee is a camper or not?  She did go fishing for a little while with Micah.

Sara was my tour guide on our hike.  Sara's alligator tree.  The bark looked like alligator skin.  When she wasn't hiking with me or playing outside she was in her "lab", where she entertained herself with her silly little made up games.

it was very very very windy

I have to say I really like this picture

He was the official fish cleaner

There were lots of smiles throughout the weekend

A Tree Chair

My new passion...hiking

Little blurbs:

Kyle looks over to Karlee and Dillon while eating "you guys get along and talk more when we are camping"

Micah-ipad watched a movie before bed.  Me-kindle , read before bed

I leaned over to kiss Karlee on the cheek and she shouted "mom your nose is frozen!"

Karlee was tired and cold and went out to see how warm the boys tent was and within two minutes she was out for hours.  (she wouldn't let me post the picture of her sleeping)

It was a great weekend.  I'm so thankful and blessed at how God worked in our family during the weekend.

Sincere Love

Yesterday we all got up and ready for church, we head out the door to get in the van and discover that our house and Micah's truck had been egged.  Micah wasn't too happy about it and he and Dillon stayed behind to clean up the mess while the rest of us headed to church. 

The sermon title was "Sincere Love", Romans 12:9-10. 
Love must be without hypocrisy.  Detest evil; cling to what is good.  Show family affection to one another with brotherly love.  Outdo one another in showing honor.

I'm sitting there at first distracted with looking at the door hoping Micah had made it to church after cleaning up all that mess.  I eventually told myself to stop looking for him and just to sit and listen to the sermon.  Once I began listening, I was focused and quickly looked for a pen to write some of the things that were sticking out and getting my attention.

(took this last year)

Church was over and Micah and Dillon didn't make it after all.  Once we got home everyone went in different directions doing what they needed to be doing.  Micah and I got ready to head to Blue Ridge.  The night before he asked me if I would go fishing with him at Blue Ridge.  I can take it or leave it when it comes to fishing but I was excited that he had asked me and spending time with him is all that mattered to me. 

On the way to Blue Ridge we did a some talking.  At first it wasn't much of anything then shortly it turned into interesting conversation.  I decided to bring up to Micah that the sermon was good and I wished he had been there. At first I wasn't sure how to bring it up but I soon realized that it was tying into what he had brought up of some of the things he has heard on the Christian radio station.  I was excited that the conversation was going so smoothly. 

I soon discovered that we both had heard the same message without him being there and that we were on the same page after all.  There have been times I just wasn't sure where we stood together and I'm pleased and full of hope at knowing that we really are on the same page and we really are striving to go the same direction in our marriage and relationships with the kids.

It was also nice to hear Micah tell me that he had noticed some good changes in me lately and how things have been going with Dillon and I.  That again rekindled the hope and brought a feeling of comfort knowing that God is really handling these things that have brought us all worried and concerns and we are able to see some of it now.

The sermon helped me see my relationship with Micah in a different light.  Our relationship is on the right track even though it has been bumpy.  One of the things that stuck out was when my pastor mentioned something about "liking" your partner and spending time with them and that the biblical love would come later and grow and change as we did.  *(Part of the sermon)  "Liking someone is a matter of our mutual personalities and our enjoyment of similar things.  It is one basis for forming close friendships.  But loving those I may not choose as my close friends means that I  genuinely care for them and I'm committed to help them be all that God wants them to be."  Pastor Steve Cole

Micah and I like being around each other and we get along and enjoy doing things together.  I mentioned all this Micah and he simply said "that's why I picked you" he likes my personality and likes my company.  He has told me that before and it never seemed to be enough knowing that until I heard the sermon.  Sure there are things I still would love to have between us but it will take time and in the mean time the long lasting love....the sincere love....the biblical love is developing and growing with us.  Micah and I have made the commitment to love one another that speaks louder than you know.  That is exciting and fills me full of hope.

Random thoughts I jotted down:  "liking" helps knit us together
love is commitment for each other and their greater good
like and commitment =love
love is a command not a feeling

We get to Blue Ridge and I'm mesmerized by the beauty and the quite sounds of nature.  I love Blue Ridge.  I was enjoying gliding on the water in the kayak.  It was so relaxing and calming being out there.  There were two ducks sitting on a rock.  One was white and one was brown.  It occurred to me that they were different but yet they sat calmly next to each other looking out at the water.  I told Micah to look and told him that they were enjoying being together like we were.

At the end of the evening we both told each other how we enjoyed our time together and headed back to the house.  It was a great Sunday.  Thank you so much Lord for giving my husband and I a few moments together to re-connect and make a new cherished memory.

You really do have things all under control :) thank you

A Great Family Day and it was Mother's Day too!

I had told Micah the other day that I really wanted to do something together as a family over the weekend.  I felt like we hadn't done anything in a long time together and that we needed it.  We've been going in so many directions lately with the kids games and then he and Dillon have been going fishing several times that we really needed to re-group.  So off to the lake we went.  We loaded up the jet ski and headed to Lake Pleasant for the day.

It was a beautiful day to relax in the sun and watch the kids play in the water.  I wasn't really interested in riding the jet ski.  I was more content just sitting in my chair in the water watching the kids play in the raft while waiting for their turn on the jet ski with Micah.

It was a great day.  I was pleased at how perfect it was, everyone got along, everyone had fun!  Oh and everyone was worn out and ready for bed when we got home.

the boys humored me in taking a picture....can you tell?

I really need to lose about 30 pounds :(

My little sunshine

Dillon, Kyle and Karlee

It was so cute, Kyle made boat noises and all while he was "docking his boat on the trailer".

He finally let me take a pic of him

Dillon waiting to be pulled behind the jet ski

lots of laughs.  It was so great to see so many smiles and hear so much laughter

Sara returning from being pulled behind the jet ski.  Sara and Dillon were the only brave ones.

39 and holding

My birthday was a wonderful day.  My girls and I went to the mall.  Karlee and I got pedicures and Sara had her fingernails painted.  I had never had a pedicure before and I enjoyed it so much I began to wonder how come I had never treated myself to one before. 

39 years old

Later that evening after Sara's softball game Micah took me out to dinner.  I had never been to a restaurant where they cooked in front of you before.  Micah took me to Sukura (in the Radison Hotel).  It was so good and so much fun to watch the chef cook our food.  We enjoyed our meal and each others company.  After we ate we headed to the movie theater to watch The Avengers.  We had to wait in line for an hour, well I found a bench to sit on and I let Micah stand in line for us.  The movie was good, full of action.  Which I'm thankful for the fast pace action since I was sleepy and it kept me awake.

The evening with my husband was filled with sweet little moments that put a smile on my face and warmth in my heart.

I had a wonderful day and wonderful evening. I was truly blessed on Saturday.  Thank you Lord.

ready to go out with my hubby

My Karlee girl was the photographer....

I'm not sure what we were laughing at but it was great to laugh and see ourselves having fun.