A call

Let me preface this by saying that writing my thoughts does not come easily to me. It is very hard for me to express what is in my head and heart. My thoughts are often jumbled and confused. I do not have a talent for writing. Bear with me!!


I sit here a little sad. I was just reading a different blog, and it's about a christian lady who's "Christian" husband left her for another woman. He was what appeared to all a good "Godly" christian man, and yet he has turned his back so ferociously on God and his family.

There is a lady in our church who is going through the same thing. They were once an upstanding christian family in our church. He was loved and respected. Her family is still loved and respected. But he left her for another woman. He is cruel to my friend now. HIS OWN WIFE!! (well now ex-wife. He has now married his new woman) Who he once loved and cherished!

My heart goes out to these lady's. You both will truly be in my prayers. I cannot imagine what you are going through.

What is going on these days with the men in our churches???? I think that is what I am most sad about. In my opinion, it seems to be the women that are the stronger, more spiritual these days. (This is a generality. I realize that there are some incredible christian men out there. We have some in our church.) But we have even more women who are looking, really searching, and wanting to live a christian life. WHY IS THIS????? Why can't the men stand up and take lead. I know that this is what I want in my home. I don't want to be the one to say let's not watch this, or let's not listen to this. I want him to say.....in my house, we will serve the Lord.

I just wish that I could see more men taking a stand. I wish that I could see more men really wanting and yearning, and searching for God. I think that if more men did this, we would have less men leaving their wives without a husband, and less men leaving their kids without a full time father. Why can't there be a call for men to lead their families. And not just a call but for men to stand up and answer that call.

The prayer of my heart is that God will keep my hubby and me close together. I never want to experiance what these woman are facing now in their lives.

Science Bus and Imagination Station

So today we went to this traveling science bus thing at Klehm Arboretum. It was cool, didn't take to long to get through, and the kids loved it. We also went to Imagination Station, at the park band shell. There was a juggler there, and the kids all loved him also. They are now in there rooms (supposed to be taking a nap) trying to juggle.


DD looking at a cicada


DS trying to see what doesn't belong in the group.

Tancy trying to see what doesn't belong in the group!!

#3 playing on the comp. (not sure what, but she was busy)

DS and #2 looking at some turtle shells.

Tancy having a fascinating conversation with the lady about beavers teeth.

Our group at Imagination Station

The juggler

The juggler talking to our group. He put his hat on #4 and he thought it was great!!

Our group with the juggler. Say cheese!!

The luckiest day

We had 3 girls spend the night with DD last night. DS was spending the night with his cousin so I thought it would be a great night to have a slumber party for DD.

DD playing with her friends


DH came down stairs and tried to scare the girls with the Darth Vader mask. It didn't work, they thought it was funny. I tried to get a picture of DH in the mask, but he wouldn't do it.

DH passed out the napkins at supper. The girls thought it was very funny.

I layed them down to sleep at 10:30. They didn't fall asleep until after 12:30. And that was only after I had to yell at them. Let me add that this wasn't just whispering to each other that happens at all slumber parties. They were sleeping in the basement, and we could hear them upstairs in our room! They were screaming and laughing with each other!!!!!!

Since we didn't have any bread, and the jelly was frozen, I decided that a trip to McDonald's was in order. As we were walking into McDonald's, all the kids were saying this is the luckiest day EVER!!!

The girls waiting for their food. I think that the customers and the people working were getting a kick out of them.

Playing in the playworld!

Okay, so when we were going to the bathroom, I noticed this lady sitting, minding her own business. The girls noticed her also. The were all fascinated by the rich, beautiful lady that they saw. I thought that it might make her day to know the girls thought she was beautiful. So on our way out, I told her what the girls said, and she obliged to take a picture with the girls. I think she thought it was nice. The picture isn't great, but she was a real doosy. Her eyes looked like racoon eyes, and she had these big, gawdy rings on all her fingers. It was funny.

Our busy summer

So we have been having a very busy, and fun summer. Here are some picts from the 4th, a trip to the zoo, and a fun swimming day. It has been a blast.

DS doing 1 of his favorite things!! Playing in the sandbox. He also likes to dig in the dirt, aka my garden, my flower beds the neighbors gravel driveway......you name it. :)



DD and her cousin. DD is "helping" feed her.


DD has been looking forward for a year for the fireworks. The fireworks started going off and she hated them!! She almost cried!!!!

A trip to the Madison zoo. I will never take a wagon again!!!! Everyone wanted to ride in it, and of course they all didn't fit!!

DS got a huge kick out of the goats. He thought it was great that he could feed them.

After repeated times of me telling my son not to climb on the fencing at the zoo, he persisted, and his shoe fell in the prairie dog exhibit! I'm not joking. By this time I was more then a little frustrated, and almost left his shoe with the prairie dogs. But I decided the prairie dogs might not like it, and so we got some help and DS got his shoe back!!

Aren't they cute??

My kids!

DD and her friend eating lunch.

DS and his friend eating lunch!


Our friends......playing in the pool. We had such a great day! DH and I had to watch 8 kids that day. They were all awesome!!!

Father's day

Father's day was a great day at our house. It was busy but good. We had our reunion that day and then we spent the rest of the day with my in laws. The kids swam and then guys played this bean toss game. They enjoyed it. We grilled out, and just really had a nice time.


The 3 men playing their game


The kids swimming. DD talked Grampa into letting her fill up the pool. I think that she just wanted to spray her brother.

A family reunion

We had a family reunion this weekend. It is not something that I look forward to every year, b/c I do not know many people there. We did not grow up around here, and so we did not grow up with any of my extended family. Anyway.....my kids enjoyed themselves. There were water balloon fights, and a kiddie pool to wade in and "go fishing." They had a craft table set up also. The kids really did have a blast.


DS having a water balloon fight


The cousins playing with the water balloons



DH~ he really gets annoyed at when he sees me pull out my camera.

Mom, Mel, and Eli.

The cousins at the craft table

DD painting. She does love to do art!

A day at the beach

Well, we spent the day on Sat. at the beach with some family friends. We went to Lake Geneva. It was a spur of the moment trip and well worth it. We were afraid there for a little while, we thought that we would get rained out. But when we arrived at the beach the rain stopped and we were able to have so much fun.

DD wanting me to get the camera out of her face!

#3 having a ball!

#2 posing for the camera

#4 cheesing

#1 playing in the sand

We even burried some kids in the sand!

DS playing in the sand

I tried to get my kids to take a picture together. They wanted nothing to do with it, and this is what I got!


Playing in the sand.

The dads