What a Summer!

It was an amazing summer and a whirl-wind to say the least. We were so blessed to be able to spend the summer closer to family. I think the boys logged just under 6,000 miles in the car in 72 days. They were incredible! Here are just a few highlights.

- We made a trip to Denton to see all of Bryan's family and even got to go to a Ranger's game. The boys danced and laughed the whole time - they had a blast.

- We got to live near an Army base and visit the museums several times. The boys learned that there Great Granddad was stationed at that very base for basic training.
- Luke was sure we were living in the wild wild west.
- Spent lots of time at the wildlife refuge with these guys! Plus, the scorpions, ticks, deer, ground hogs, turkey and multiple other wild animals.
- Luke celebrated his 3rd Birthday while we were gone.

- We lost our cat Cheetah to the coyotes but thankfully Grammy McCrary's cat had just had a litter of kittens and this little one came back to Kentucky with us. Originally named "Spotter" but has since been renamed Padme.- Went fishing with my brother (Uncle Josh) and caught several fish.
We climbed mountains in New Mexico and the Wichita Mountains outside of Lawton, OK.
- We also made the annual fourth of July parade and turtle race in Canadian, Texas

- Isaiah and Luke took two weeks of swimming lessons and made huge steps towards actually being self sufficient in deep water without a floatation device. I think that wraps it up.... Oh - and a trip to San Antonio and Canyon - all so much fun.

Bryan's Blog....

is so worth the read! I am only slightly bias. At least go read the post title "Fire on my head." I am still laughing.

http://kenosisjourneyingtowardjesus.blogspot.com/

Enjoy!

Random

Well, I have sit down to blog several times and I just look at the computer screen. So, I think I will tackle a new post via bullets (that seemed to previously work).

* I have finished a semester, grades are not great but adequate to continue in the process - so I will take it.

* Isaiah has one day of kindergarten left - WOW this year has flown by! I am super proud of all he has learned.

* I also had a mommy first today!!! Isaiah had his first "real play date" at our house. We called the other little boy's mom - picked him up - took all three boys to the pool for hours - and successfully return the other little boy in one piece - YES!! Isaiah was thrilled and immediately wanted to progress to a sleep over. One small step for mom and Isaiah is already moving out. His is so extraverted and I am so introverted. I am ready for silence, a bubble bath, and everything to be still. Isaiah is really for a full blown - PARTY!

* Bryan and I enjoyed our vacation, it was short but worth the time away. I have found that it takes me a few days to stop my mind and actually enjoy the vacation. The Biltmore was stunning - nestled in the NC mountains. My favorite part was the house was designed with hospitality in mind - to provide a retreat for people. It stirred all sorts of emotions in me to have my own house again with lots of space. Space that we can freely give to people as they need a place to stay, recover, or just rest. I do not want a fancy house but I do want a BIG house that I can say "just come stay with us - here is a key - come and go as you please." Perhaps to grammies, missionary on home stay or seminary students just trying to make ends meet. Just a refuge for people.

* Bryan and I also kayaked on the river for an afternoon - a splendid time of relaxing, just floating, racing a bit, and splashing each other. Felt nice just to be carefree for a bit. Oh! I would post pictures but we forgot the charger for our camera battery - so no pictures.

* Now we are home, two days until we leave for OK. I am nervous, ready to get it over with, and really not at all sure what to expect! I am not fond of new places, people, or situations - unless I am hosting. So, we will see how it goes - I will let you know!

* Also, decided to take a class this summer - an independent study - so I will have a paper to write over the next 6 weeks.

* And Law Review is in fully gear, I am editing for the general law review potential associate editors. Today is the first deadline so I will have about 30 papers to read and respond to by the end of the week - While I am not looking for to the amount of work, I am looking forward the writing process, I like to see how the topics develop and what the finished papers will look like.

* As a final note - Luker will turn three in a few days! We are going to try and celebrate with a good Texas birthday once we get closer to the great state.

Well, I think that it the updates so far. We will post pictures of our temporary home in Lawton once we get there.

Just a Smile

Sometimes I like to think the little unexpected surprises of life are gifts from the Lord, a demonstration of his compassion for our human thoughts.

I was online - avoiding studying - looking through the many things that Bryan and I can do on our parent's only vacation in a few weeks. I was looking through the "Featured Garden Plants and Decor" for the Biltmore estates for 2010.

Two of the featured flowers are the Gardenia (Crown Jewels) and the Dahlia Mystic Beauty. My wedding bouquet was made of Gardenias, my favorite flower. Dahlia (the really big ones) are also some of my favorites. I am super excited to see a massive garden trimmed with such beauty!

Just made me smile! Back to studying!

One more final to go and my motivation is lacking.

I am sitting in the office "studying" while there is a full on wrestling match going on in the room next door. The boys are laughing and its so hard to study. It is raining out side, you know one of those soaking rains that has been settled in for at least a day and half. Plus, Bryan made cookies (thanks to the cookie dough left by mom). My house is full of laughter and life.... and I am hiding way - Oh some days I really long for this season to be over - today is one of them.

OK- back to work I go.

On Edge...

Luke has strep....

Bryan is leaving for Chicago.....

I have finals breathing down my neck.....

AHHHH I am on edge.....

BUT - MAMA is on her way! Sometime is just nice to be rescued by your mother! I am so blessed!

By the way Isaiah is holding us together until she gets here - he is an awesome 6-year old... it is amazing how he automatically cares for his brother - changes the DVD, ask if Luke if he wants or needs something - so blessed to have brothers that truly love each other.

Grotesque

Our conversation at dinner last night:

(Luke took too big of a bite of banana and it was spilling out of his mouth)

ME: Luker too big of a bite.... that is grote

ISAIAH: "grote" that is a new word, what does it mean?

ME: It's mom's short-hand for "Grotesque"

ISAIAH: What does that mean?

ME: Gross, Nasty, Inappropriate at the the table, YUCK

LUKE: It not GROOOTEEE - IT DINNER!

Updates

Well, I have sit down a couple of times to write a new blog and end up deleting them. Mostly because they are all so negative or critical - geesh! So.... this attempt is purely factual. Here are some our latest news.

* We are moving - AGAIN! But this time it is only temporary.... ummm.... I guess all of our moves in the last 18 months have been temporary. Anyway, this time we are headed to Oklahoma! I have accepted a summer internship at Fort Sill which is in LAWTON, OK. It will be really nice to get away from the pressures of law school for awhile. I have been going non-stop (even summers) since August of 2008 and well - I am burned out. I will be working in a JAG office for the summer, which will be a great experience.

* Since, we will be in OK for the summer, it will be the closest we have been to Texas in 10 years! So, the boys will be spending some extended time with Grammies, Aunts, Uncles, Grandpaw (that is how my dad spells it) and Poppy. We are hoping that the boys have a packed fun filled summer - learning about Texas! It is strange to think that my boys "aren't from there."

*After this semester I have 1 year left in law school! Plus, 3 months of studying for the bar - then WHO KNOWS what!

* 1 Year left in school means - its time to start looking for a real job. I start the application process in May for positions that will start Sept. 2011. So, HUGE prayer request - we need the best position possible for our family. I would absolutely love to clerk for a judge for a but those positions are highly competitive. In fact, I recently worked with individual who graduated last year and she still has yet to find a legal job.

*Bryan has news ---- He has been appointed as an adjunct professor at Asbury. We are so excited to circle around and be apart of the Asbury Community again. He will be teaching in the Practical Theology Department in the area of Leadership. We aren't sure what his exact class schedule will be yet but he goes to training in June. I think it will be one class online to start with.

* Isaiah --- has gotten so tall. He is studying dinosaurs right now and loving it. I am so impressed with how much he has learned this year. He is reading well, enjoys math and science. He is also challenging us to be more healthy. This last week he asked me "Mom, if you are so smart and in law school, how come you drink so much Dr. Pepper - it is soooooo bad for you?" YUP - NO good answer except the truth. "I am addicted to them, that is why I don't want you and Luke to drink them." So, we are all working hard to have better balanced meals - Isaiah is keeping us on track with his food pyramid.

* Luke --- I smile just typing his name, he is so unique. I played baseball in the front yard with him this week and he loves to HIT the ball - he giggles the whole time. He strongly favors his left hand which, I love but has been a challenge for me to think about how to teach him to do some things. He also has gotten really good at riding his tricycle. He can go almost as fast as Isaiah but Luke has this special sliding stop - like he is skidding into a parallel parking spot. He still favors his pacy and blanket. And well, I haven't potty trained him yet - so we have some work to do this summer - the delay is completely my fault - I just haven't wanted to tackle it!

Well, I think that wraps up the updates we have. I have two more weeks of class and then finals start! MAD dash to the end of the semester.

FYI

I think that I am finished blogging. I will leave this up for a bit in case I change my mind.

In addition, some new pictures posted on facebook (for those who don't have it, it might be time).