Prayers....

There are several people in my family that could use some prayers...including myself.

I won't go into detail about each of our problems (and some aren't even problems) I'll just ask that you keep my family in your prayers, but I will tell you our major request...

my brother...

Josh...

as many of you know, he's one of my best friends and I wouldn't know what to do without him.

He and his family are getting prepared for him to deploy.  Not only his immediate family, but our entire family is preparing for this one.  We are unaware of where he's going, other than "over there". 

I have never been worried or upset about any of his deployments...even his 3 or 4 to Iraq...but for some reason, this one is taking its toll on me.  I know that he loves what he's doing and that this is what he was made for, but it's hard to let him go. (Not that we have a choice in the matter, but you know what I mean.)

I am requesting that everyone reading this pray Psalm 91 over him while he is gone.  That is the book and chapter that my mom and I have adopted for our family.  If you do not know it, I will include it here...

1  "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High

     will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

2  "I will say of the Lord, 'He is my refuge and my fortress,

      my God, in whom I trust."

3    Surely He will save you

      from the fowler's snare

      and from the deadly pestilence.

4    He will cover you with his feathers,

      and under his wings you will find refuge; 

      his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

5    You will not fear the terror of night,

      nor the arrow that flies by day,

6    nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,

      nor the plague that destroys at midday.

7   A thousand may fall at your side,

      ten thousand at your right hand,

      but it will not come near you.

8    You will only observe with your eyes

      and see the punishment of the wicked.

9    If you say, “The LORD is my refuge,”

     and you make the Most High your dwelling,

10 no harm will overtake you,

     no disaster will come near your tent.

11 For he will command his angels concerning you

     to guard you in all your ways;

12 they will lift you up in their hands,

     so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;

     you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

14 “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him;

       I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

15   He will call on me, and I will answer him;

       I will be with him in trouble,

       I will deliver him and honor him.

16 With long life I will satisfy him

      and show him my salvation.”

I have memorized it and believe it.  My mother bought me a book for Christmas with the title Psalm 91 and it's a compilation of stories told by soldiers and their families where this chapter has saved them.  So, please, please, pray this over my family and my wonderful brother.

Thank you!

Family time at the farm..

My aunt, cousins, and mom have made a country girl out of Sammie. She has begged me since we got back to "go to Didder's barn and see the bulls".

While we were at my aunts for Labor Day, we all loaded up in the back of Josh's truck and took a trip up to the barn to watch Jesse (my crazy cousin) ride a bull and to see the animals up close and personal!

The kids looooved it! They had the "fake bulls" on one side of the arena and the kids played on those for a long time.

Once they got Freckles (the big bull) in the chute, we all got to pet him and love on him. Apparently, he's a big baby..

This was my first time getting to watch Jesse ride a bull and I must say that I was a nervous wreck! He's come a long way from riding our backs and slapping his face! :)

My favorite comment of the day came from my big, bad, Marine brother..."I'll get shot at all day long, no problem, but I aint gettin' on no da** bull!" ha!

College Football!

Woohoo! That time of year is FINALLY back! College Football is the BEST time of year! It's like the seasons know it's time and they start changing!

I must say that all through my life, I've been a bit of a confused fan. Never really knowing who I should be pulling for. I was a Bama fan once in my life (I know, it's hard for some of you to comprehend!), but my brother made it hard to like Alabama football. Still does. HA I was an Auburn fan simply because I liked the way the orange and blue looked together (still do).

When I met my husband, I was in the place where I didn't care, but I liked to watch it. Now, I'm a LSU fan. No, I'm not from Louisiana, but I would love to live there one day. Baton Rouge is absolutely gorgeous!

We are, in fact, in the process of booking our next road trip to Baton Rouge. This will be our fourth trip down for the Tigers Homecoming Game! I'm so excited! I love the atmosphere on game day and homecoming just makes it better because there is so much going on! They have a drum battle, kids are sliding down these huge grass hills on card board boxes, the homecoming parade (where they pull Mike the Tiger through campus), and then you get to walk down the hill to the stadium with the band. I promise to get pictures of all of this when we go!

This past weekend, my brother was in town (remember, he's the Bama fan), so I was a good little sister and attempted to order the Alabama-San Jose St game on PPV for him. Thankfully, Charter knew that it was going to be a blowout and couldn't make it work. Saved me $39.95 :) but for real, Josh, I'm sorry! I tried!

We had the inlaws, my mom, Josh, Josh Sinclair (old high school friend), Brandon, and the kids over for the games. We flipped back and forth between LSU and Auburn. That LSU game had me sick to my stomach at the end. Thanks, Les!

All in all, it was a good night. Everyone's teams won and we look forward to all getting together again soon!

Geaux Tigers!

Day 3..the BEST!

This is how day 3 started... ha!

They were trying to squeeze the air out of the mattress and ended up having too much fun!

Look at Mason's face...

Now, check out Josh's face.. ha!

And remember how I told you that I would give you more details on the "Little Red Hen Club"? Well, here it is..

Apparently, this club was "invented" and founded by Grandy..we have members all over the world, USA, Ukraine, and South Africa.

Upon entering the LRHC, you must take the oath that you will tell the world about this club. This would be Kelly, Josh and Steph's awesome neighbor, taking her oath. Then you must do as Grandy does...I hate that I didn't get any more pictures than this, but I was busy helping him out. Grandy gets you up out of your seat and gets you bocking like a chicken, while dancing around like one. While you're busy dancing and bocking, someone (me in this instance) puts an egg in your chair..as if you laid an egg! I was laughing hysterically when it was my turn that I almost didn't notice the egg in my seat! Stephanie, as I mentioned before, chickened out about 3/4 of the way through..but it sure is nice being part of the LRHC! =) Mrs. Kelly was nice enough to fix Sammie's hair.. and she loved it!! You like the bow I made the girls??

Mini Miss America!

She was ready to go! Purse in hand!

As you can tell, Mason wasn't ready to go!

"What is going on!!??" Two out of three of my kids have black eyes.. not sure where his came from!

Just chillin'

Check out the dragster! We all wanted to ride really badly!

Sammie taking a "facebook picture"...you know, where you take one of yourself.. =)

The Marine Corps Roaming Jazz Band...awesome!

Waiting on the concert to start..

Yeah, he's just cool like that!

My hippie child!!

And now... for your eye candy!!!

Chuck Wicks!!!

ahhh...

This was the first move we made.. from way back yonder to way up here..

I promise my kids were having more fun than they look like!! haha

Yeah, ole hoochie momma had to show out!

Needless to say, Steph and I were jealous!

C'mon..all together... "awwww"

And our second move.. from close to even closer.. Sammie was sitting on the stage

You can thank me later.. =)

Mason informed all of us on this trip that he wants to be a Marine when he grows up..

The cannons they shot before the fireworks...

At sunset, they lowered the flag and played the national anthem..it gave me chills to look around see all of the different military branches saluting.

Then they played the military medley...each branch stood and saluted as their song was played.. even more chills.. I think I grew about 3 inches of hair while we were there...

And of course, my batteries died before all of this!! but it was awesome!!

They had the best fireworks show that I have ever seen in my life! It lasted a good 45 minutes and we were so close that you thought they were going to land on you.

It is safe to say that the kids and I had a wonderful 4th!!! Not so sure about Matt, he stayed back at the house.. it was too hot for him.. wuss =) but I still love him.

Here's to next year Joshua!! Thanks for everything!! I love you!

Day 2..water day

First of all...this is how our 2nd morning started.... yes, that's my Grandy wrestling with my brother.. ha!

After the "beat down", my mom, Josh, Matt, the kids, and I loaded up in Josh's boat and went out to the water!

This is a picture from the boat dock looking back towards the road. I think I could be happy living in Jacksonville, NC!

Gorgeous, huh!? My men..Mahlon didn't last long...the ride put him sound asleep.

Uncle Josh...he was very proud of his boat and had every reason to be!

The girls...Me, Sammie-G, Savy-baby, and Grammie

Me and Mas

Believe it or not.. After Mason and I rode the tube, we got my MOTHER on it! She loved it!

Look at those feet! haha

Go Grammie Go!

She was so funny!! We were having so much fun that we forgot we were playing in nasty brakus water and riding around in a "Live Fire" zone!

After our boat ride, we went back to the house and packed everybody up and headed to Camp Lejeune. We went to Onslow Beach. This beach was so different from what we are used to. It was the Atlantic Ocean and the waves..oh my gosh, the waves..and to be surrounded by men and women of the military was amazing!

The kiddos had a blast playing with each other!

These waves, if you couldn't past where they were breaking, you weren't going to! They were pounding hard and they were constant.

Uncle Josh took Mason out to the waves to ride the board...didn't last long..Mason's under the board!

Mason: "I'm done, that's it, I'm done"

My handsome husband!

Onslow Beach, NC!

Mahlon saying Cheese!

Mason buried himself in the sand

My Savy-baby pouting...I miss her so much already!

Sammie is the opposite of me..I'm a fan of the water and not the sand..she's a fan of the sand and not the water..ha

Day 2 was a blast!

Stay tuned for the best day of all!!! Day 3...Independence Day Celebration on Camp Lejeune with Chuck Wicks and our service members!!