On Monday morning before I woke the kids for their first day back to school I read this verse and it was my prayer for each of my children for the day, as well as the school year to come. “you cover him with favor as with a shield”, this spoke to my mother’s heart as I see so may ways the enemy seeks to destroy those the Lord loves and calls his own.  I rest assured knowing his favor is shielding them.

Seeing as this is Big Brother’s senior year and I spent all summer teary-eyed, I figured I would be a boo-hooing mess when the first day of school rolled around.  Strangely enough, I was good…. get back with me in May…..

Big Brother turned 18 this summer, has big plans for his future, loves the little siblings, plays too many sports, makes me super proud on most days, and on rare days I want to punch him in the face.  I love this kid and I am so glad he is my kid!

Little Brother turned 10 this summer and is now a 4th grader, ask Little Sister not to acknowledge him at school, request to do his homework this year in the fort he built this summer,  was a crying mess when he was supervised  by Big Brother this summer in lawn mowing skills, which made me want to punch him in the face. I love this kid and I am so glad he is my kid!

Little Sister is 7 and started 2nd grade.  She is still letting me hold her hand and walk her to her class on the first day of school, cries for Big Sister when she gets really tired, taught by her older brother’s that farts are really funny (ugh!), and has become too picky about her clothing which makes me want to punch her in the face.  I love this kids and I am so glad she is my kid!

Big Sister is 19 and is half way through a three-month stay in Cambodia.  Currently recovering from Typhoid, ate frog then decided not to eat anymore meat while in Cambodia, has increased her mad photography skills, and still get frustrated with my advice (over Skype even!) which makes me want to punch her in the face.  I love this kid and I am so glad she is my kid

These are my kids, they do so many things to make me proud that I over-look the things that make me want to punch them in the face.  I love these kid, I am glad these are my kids and I am so blessed to know the Father’s favor shields them each day.

Please note: all contents in this box were bought with Little Brothers hard-earned money (yard work for a neighbor and a recent visit from the tooth fairy) or found in his drawer that hold all his most valued treasures.

Item #1-  a large, old nail.  I have no idea where this came from. Clearly one of his treasure found on one of his treks through the woods.

Item #2 -  A jawbone to a deer - This  was just given to Little Brother, but he  found it so super cool he had to re-gift it.

Item #3 – The New Testament with Psalms and Proverbs -  Little Brother knows the immeasurable value of the Word of God and hopes Big Brother treasures His Words in his heart. (Okay …. that may have been a little more of my hope than Little Brother’s purpose – but a mom’s gotta hope!)

Item #4 – Cranberry Mandarin scented candle -  This would be the gift Little Brother purchased with his own money.  Big Brother has a thing for a nice smelling candle burning in his room.  I would say it was a well thought out gift.  Big Brother said “it actually smells really good”.

Item # 5 – A miniature fart machine -  Because Brothers think farts have got to be the funniest thing in the world. 

Happy 18th Birthday Big Brother! I hope you treasure these gifts from Little Brother, they came with a lot of love to you, because he thinks you are so stinkin’ cool.  I do too.

These are my feet, that just spend 5 hours in a very lovely pair of shoes, at a very lovey wedding, for two lovely people, but my feet are not feeling the love.

That is one of the things I remember my Grandma telling me when I was a kid.  Obviously, it is not true; however, as a kid I always wondered, but feared burning a hole in the carpet to test that theory.  Still to this day when I step away from the running vacuuming cleaner, I do so quickly!

So yesterday as I quickly got back to the vacuum cleaner I laughed at myself as I still deep inside hold to that little bit of silly theory, which made me think of another thing my Grandma taught us….

If you sing at the table you are feeding the devil.  I do remember one day when my older cousin Joey was sitting at the table singing she told him “Joe! Stop that! You are feeding the devil!”  His reply was “Grandma, he’s got to eat sometime.”  The other grandchildren and I sat in silence and fear.  I was scared for him; not sure if I feared that Grandma was going to reach across the table and take him down or if it was for his mortal soul I feared.

At last my theology has advanced in years and I do not fear that I would aid the enemy if I sing a song at the dinner table.  I do recognize that my Grandma was trying to instill eternal damnation if we did not practice good manners – HA!  It is very tempting to use such tactics with teaching manners to my own children.

With tongue in check I tell my kids “Don’t lie – lairs go to hell”!  I don’t think I am putting the fear of God in them – they laugh at me; but I do let them know it is sin, and sin separates you from God.

I wonder if my Cousin Joey still sings at the table….

Yesterday afternoon a storm blew through our fair town.  Our little Land of Make Believe took a pretty good hit.  Several trees were up rooted.  Power lines and poles came down – hence the no power. 

• Trees came down, but no one was injured.
• Power lines on the ground, but no fire.
• Trees took out garages, sheds, fences, but no homes were destroyed
• The Land of Make Believe is a mess, but our property had no damage
• We have no power, but have hot water and a gas stove
• We have no internet, but we have smartphones
• We have no power to charge our smart phones, but we have car chargers
• I have to speak to a group of people at 8:00 a.m. tomorrow morning, but I will be clean even if I will not have a way to blow dry my hair.
• Big Brother had prom tonight, but he is a guy and low maintence.
• We went to bed really early last night and woke up well rested with the sun.
• Our laptops work well at Panera.
• Moved all food from the fridge and freezer to ice chest, but I had enough ice chest to store it all.
• Just heard from Big Brother while at prom, after being without power for a day and a half, the group he is attending prom with drove to a town thirty minutes away for dinner only for the power to go out while enjoying their salad.  They went through the  drive thru at McDonald’s, but he is still having fun.
• I will be glad when the power is back on, but I blessed that I have a place to live that generally has power.

Just before her senior year of high school we found out about a mission program called PhotogenX, offered through YWAM.  With her love, passion and skill in photography we thought this could be a wonderful fit for Big Sister.  She was very interested, but wanted to give college a try and the ol’ college try she did… and you know the rest of the story.

Bags backed, a week of tearful good-byes, she took off for 6 months.  We will not see her until she returns in September. 

It was an emotional day as we left her at the airport yesterday.

This morning I received the following email and picture from her as she reports on her first day, it made this momma’s heart so happy.

I’m rooming with 5 other girls, two from PhotogenX Erika Spitler and Megan Rich. Erika is makes me think SO MUCH of Hannah Litke- I knew I was going to love her! The other 3 girls are doing DTS performing arts,  Our room has 4 bunks, 5 dressers, a closet, sink, mini fridge, microwave, toilet and shower.

Our leaders, Laura, Zach, Jonathan, Christine and Sharee are WONDERFUL! I love them all.

Once we got to campus we took our things to our room and then got dinner. The whole cafeteria is outside! …did I mention it was raining? haha. After dinner we went to get registered, easy as cake! During registration Laura (a leader) took Campbell and I aside and informed us that she had chosen us to be her hospitality team. Which basically means that we will be making goody bags, planning gatherings, making leis, running errands and doing anything necessary to make the guest, who come in to speak, feel comfortable as possible. So from 3 to 5 everyday Campbell and I will be doing these things as our job. After Laura walked away from telling us she’d chosen us Zach (her husband) and Jonathan made sure to let us know what a big deal that was. SO EXCITING.

I’m so very exhausted!! I will talk to you tomorrow. I love you Tell the kids and dad I love them too. Kiss on Caroline and Ryder for me!

P.s. Make that 6 roommates..a girl that is exactly like Melissa Blackwell just walked in.

Secret Agent Man and I could not be more proud of Big Sister.  Jesus has gifted her with a skill and passion in photography and she is taking the first steps to make His name known to all the Nations.

Little Sister gave this to me and Secret Agent Man this morning.   “I did not have time to make 5 different ones, so it for all the family”.

22 years ago today Secret Agent Man asked me to marry him, so glad I say yes.

Years back we gave up on celebrating Valentine’s Day in the typical manner.  We find our own ways, he made me breakfast this morning – like most mornings.  I said “thanks. Hey, remember that time you asked me to marry you?”  He said “no”.

One year, about 5 years ago, we took the kids for McDonald’s Valentine’s dinner – they loved it and we had a new tradition.  We’ve picked up a few other couples over the years to join us for the  Heart Day dinner.

I will leave you with the short sappy story for Valentine’s Day:

Early (like 4 a.m.) one morning, in typical Secret Agent Man fashion, he departed for an out of town job.  He routinely gives me a good-bye kiss even when I am sleeping soundly and in my sleep I tell him “byeloveyoubecarefulcallme”. However, that morning I had a vague memory of the front door closing, his truck starting then driving off and I am thing to my sleeping self – I don’t remember the kiss…. back to sleep world…… then I hear his truck coming back and in my sleep world I am thinking is he coming back?  wonder what he forgot.  Front door opens, bedroom door opens, and then the goodbye kiss comes.  I asked him why he came back he said he forgot the goodbye kiss. *sigh*

I warned you it was sappy.

This momma loves this child’s heart.

Lulu is my 90-year-old friend and neighbor.  She was born and raised in Egypt.  Her father was Egyptian and her mother English.  She married a fighter pilot who severed with the Egyptian airforce ( aided the British during WWII).  After her husband retired from the service, he spent the next 10 years as the ambassador for all the Arab countries in Japan. 

Ms. Lulu and her husband raised two daughters – who came to Georgia to attend UGA, which eventually brought them to the states after their retirement. This is how she became my neighbor and friend.

Today Secret Agent Man is off saving the world… or whatever it is that he is does.  The kids are at school and I have a list of things to  do, but I think I will brave the freezing temperatures and walk down to Lulu’s and share a cup of tea with her.  I love her stories and I love her quick mind that always makes me laugh.