Happy Birthday Jesus!

 We had a great Christmas! Celebrating with all our family.
 We shopped at the mall...
 The boys enjoyed bunji jumping at the mall also.
Tired from all the shopping...
 And more jumping and play games...

 At the disney store there were too many decisions. Justus wanted one of everything!
 CHRISTmas morning Daddy read the story of baby Jesus from the Bible like we always do before opening all the presents. Our living room was a mess!
 Jacob got a new bike!
 The other boys got a kindle fire! (Jacob already had one from his birthday)
And they also got a table to build legos on. But Mommy kinda got carried away and built everything because they were all mesmerized by their kindles.

Justus had a birthday!

I cannot believe our baby is 4 years old. Time flies too fast. I can remember very clearly bringing him home from the hospital. 😟 

we bought him a Pre-K booklet to start in and he is excited about "doing school" like his brothers.
He has been writing his name and tracing letters in his new book. 

Fun times with grandparents

 My mom and Jacob share a birthday Sept. 12th so we celebrated at Zaxby's this year.
Justus loves his Nanny. (my mother's, mother)

 Then Meme & Pepe (my dad and stepmom) came to visit us from Florida and we went for an evening walk after dinner. They are in a weight loss competition and doing GREAT!
 They also took us skating with the homeschoolers one day. Justus surprised me and LOVED It!!!

 shopping at walmart for toys is always fun....
 Then Chris's dad, Peepaw & Meemaw came to visit us from New Hampshire.
 They took us to the aquarium and the boys LOVED it!






We are so thankful for all our parents and grandparents. We love them all!

What the Bible says about what's in the News?

I am not a big fan of watching the news. It's sad and depressing to me and scary to my children. I do however receive Fox breaking news emails about top stories. I am very much out of the loop when it comes to things like Robin Williams committing suicide. The ice bucket challenge seemed silly to me and just simply a waste of water. A football star kicked out of the NFL for drugs hardly seems relevant. Who won the US Open is not interesting AT ALL! I am just not lured in by all the nonsense.

The stuff that does catch my attention is what is happening to Christians in other countries. Beheading another human being is the most gruesome form of murder I have ever seen. How anybody in their right mind can do this and sleep at night is just crazy! I will never understand the way they think but I do know who is in control. God knew this was going to happen. We are warned of this in the Bible how things will only get worse on this earth before Jesus returns. It's getting closer to his return the signs of the time are all around us.

 Matthew 24:6-7 - And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

Luke 21:11 - And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.

 2 Timothy 3:1-5 - This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

 1 Thessalonians 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

I hope that when you watch the news you are reminded of what the Bible says.



Pictures, Pictures, Pictures

 Chic Fil A cow appreciation day!
 playing outside at home
  Camp Lifesavers!
Fourth of July!
 Summer Reading program at the Library

We've been having fun this summer and too busy to blog but we started school back August 1st and so back to regular schedule. We are planning field trips and lots of fun this year! 

Happy 9th Birthday Jaron!

He absolutely loves Lego's so thats what he got. Everything Lego!
I cannot believe he is already 9 years old!
My little baby who could barely eat when he was born is actually gaining weight. 
He's very smart and also a little rebellious. (He gets it from me)

Please read the poem I wrote about him 
"Blessings from God"
Click on the link at the top

Jaron's Check up in Boston

 
 We went to see Jaron's doctors in Boston at the children's hospital last week. Just Jaron and I flew up that morning went straight to the hospital and back to the airport to come home that evening.





The plane was full and it was hard to sleep but Jaron did nap a little on the way up there that morning.
I got some caffeine to try to wake up and prepare for a lot of walking.We got a taxi to get to the airport...there is always a line of them waiting to pick up people.





 
We went right to Plastic surgery department and they took lots of 3D images of Jaron and did a panoramic xray of his teeth. 
After pictures we went upstairs to the Cleft Clinic to meet with all his doctors. The waiting room is full of children just like Jaron and I think he feels comfortable there. We saw Dr. Shusterman and his fellows (docs in training) first. They determined by his xrays and an exam in his mouth that Jaron has "Slow Growth" and we will need to wait until next year to have his bone graft. They also said Jaron's back teeth line up good but he will need a palate expander for his top front teeth to be lined up with his bottom teeth. They can also work with our local dentist for the palate expander before he has the bone graft. Also learning from a mom in the waiting room that her son had the bone graft and the recover includes 12 WEEKS of pureed food, breaks my heart to think about it. 

Then we met with Dr. Mulliken, our favorite surgeon. He is amazing at what he does. This man is dedicated. He was even seeing patients in his office on his lunch when we were down there getting pictures made. He plans to fix Jaron's deviated septum during the bone graft next year. He measures everything on Jaron's face in Millimeters. He charts the average growth for each gender and ethnicity to estimate growth rate for the future babies that come to him for surgery. He always brags about Jaron's cupid bow and how nice the scars form when he puckers.
 


Ready to get on the plane.








We had some snacks on the plane ride home.


The airport has a playground where kids can play while waiting to board the plane.



There was some lightning in the sky beside us on the way home that night and it was a little uncomfortable but I prayed in Jaron's ear for God to protect us and bring us home safely and He did.