Saturday, June 28, 2008





































TuTu Girl

Thursday, June 26, 2008

I Missed My Calling...

After weeks of searching for one, we stumbled upon a Wii Fit game today!!! The whole family has enjoyed it today... actually 5 hours worth of combined "fitness" time. Not too bad, huh???

Well, tonight I finally got my turn to play after everyone was in bed and Shawn was home. He thought he was doing pretty good until I took the lead in the ski jump, soccer ball, and the hula hoop. I managed to twirl that hoop around 132 times and with 3 hoops on at the same time!
Let the competition begin!!!!

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Family Day Take One!

We attempted to go hiking today. We have all planned and waited all week for today. It was going to be a perfect hike starting early...sunrise, maybe. That way we would have plenty of time to get in a few miles before it stared to get hot or rainy or both. Like all perfect days- the perfection of this day was lost in a dream. First, my sunrise hike was delayed by my later than sunrise awakening. I actually slept with Mya until 10:30!!!! I must have been tired. We finally got the energy and desire to hit the road afternoon. With a quick stop at the Chick Fil A drive thru ,courtesy of our local library reading program , we were on our way. We had every intention of hiking in the Garden of Gods. We even went there, stopped in the vistor's center, and drove through the entire park but never got out. We decided to wait until the other tourists go home! Even after calling my friend for directions to another local hiking location we made a wrong turn and kept on going. We found out selves in explorer mode so we kept on going until we had no idea where we were. Needless to say the kids were not too happy- we never made it hiking. But we had great time bonding as we wound our way through a dirt road made for 4-wheelers. We went 100 miles out of the way just to make a huge circle! So one trip to sonic for happy hour slushes, one stop at a local campground for a picture of where we were (and my apparent dyslexic memory that thought we were going to Salida when in fact we were going to sedalia. A huge difference let me tell you- Salida- a huge camping/hiking area near a river. Sedailia- a tiny town off of this dirt road (22 miles exactly on this road) in between Denver and Colorado Springs.), A few pullovers for potty stops, one pit stop as Jon threw up from carsickness, a few prayers that Jason wouldn't follow suit, and a tempermental air conditioner later we finally made it back! We stopped at the outlet stores in Castle Rock just to get out of the car and let everyone's tummies settle. Dinner was at Applebees- again thanks to the library the kids all are free. Finally we made it home at 9 and quickly sent them all off to bed.
I have to tell you in closing that I love where I live. I love the beauty that surrounds us. I love that we can get lost there and find our way back out. I am glad that I am married to this incredible man who takes his responsibility and care for our family very seriously. I love this new life God has given us! Now I am off to join my hubby for a nice quiet movie without children!!!

Thursday, June 19, 2008

I want to but how....

All my blog friends...I need your help. I am trying to learn how to better manage my home in a godly way. I have many ideas swimming around in my head. I have a tendency though to quickly get carried away and overwhelmed with unrealistic expectations. This almost always leads to failure and despair. So I was wondering would any of you be willing to share with me what works for your family. I would like to know what system you use for chores/ responsibilty building, family time, consistency with discipline (do you use a "chart", rules, etc), and mostly how you incorporate spritual training into your family life.

I would really appreciate any suggestions, experiences, and help you can share! Please leave me a comment or email me privately at sstock1211@juno.com

Thanks!

Monday, June 16, 2008












We had a wonderful weekend! Our family joined Shawn's parents, his two sisters and their kids for a camping trip to Lone Duck Campground. This is where we went camping on our visit to Colorado last summer. The kids had a blast and wore themselves out. It is a great place to go because the kids can literally just run and play all day and we don't have to worry about where they are or what there are doing. It was very refreshing. Hopefully we will work in a couple of more trips before the summer is over...I know there is at least one more trip planned with my friend and here family. I am really looking forward to that one.


Here are some pics from the weekend...as usual I have more of Mya than anyone else. I really am not playing favorites...she just happens to be the one who stays around long enough to have her picture taken!!!




Tuesday, June 10, 2008

UGGGGG...
What an awful day today has been. Nothing made it particularly that way. It was just yucky. I think I am just overtired and desperately in need of a vacation! The noise level in my house was too much today. The crying and screaming and fighting and demanding was too much. I felt bone tired physically and spritually. Thank God that today is over. Maybe tomorrow will be better...I am praying for strength to overcome and not be overcome!

Thursday, June 05, 2008

Tonight I am sitting here watching the minutes turn this night into morning. I am so overwhelmed by the greatness of the God who calls me his. I am just so incredibly blessed. The past few weeks have just been a collection of his reminders of his love. I feel so alive and so close to the Lord in a way I haven't in a long time. There is a part of me that wonders when this dream will end and I will wake up and find myself back in reality. Oh, I am praying that this will become my new reality. Just to be content with what God has chosen for my life.

Here is a sampling of the many blessings I am pondering tonight:

* I have a wonderful conveniece called a dishwasher! After eleven years of washing dishes (and watching them multiply as the years have gone by!), I finally have a dishwasher. I never knew what a difference this would make in my life...it is so much easier to maintain a clean kitchen!

* I realized just the other night that Jonathan has outlived the "life expectancy" his diagnosis carried with it when he was first diagnosed. I have no idea if the amount of years has changed and I don't really care. What I am so thankful for is that inspite of all the tears, heartbreak, and fear I have been given 6 more wonderful years with my precious child. I don't know what the future holds for him but I am thankful for today with him.

* We discovered, thanks to my good friend Gretchen, the goodwill store today. Oh what a wonderful place to treasure hunt.We came home with 2 new hockey sticks, a cozy coupe car for Mya, a bagfull of books for Brittney and Jon, and 2 videos for Jason and spent very little money!

* Most of all tonight I am so blessed by an incredible husband who endures, encourages, and supports me in all my random craziness. He has participated in more room remodels and redecorations than he has enough fingers to count. And he always so willingly stops on his way home to bring home dinner when I have become so involved in my project that I forget to feed my family! At least they have comfy places to sleep, right?

Anyway, I better get to bed...I am sure the littlest blessing will be crying for me shortly anyway!