A few highlights from vacation! part one

We had a fabulous time in Branson despite the record breaking heat. I mean I am from Texas I know heat but there is something about the heat of the midwest that is worse I think it has something to do with the wind. Usually in the part of Texas I am from there is a breeze or wind not here we were lucky if we had a breeze in the 90 + degree temps and heat index of 105-110f.

Grace and Jonah even rode their first roller coaster.

Jonah looks like he is terrified and it was enough that he didn't go on any more rides except for the train. I don't think he will be the amusement park type. Grace on the other hand loved it. She went on every ride there could be with her Daddy of course. Mom, Kerith and Micah sat on the sidelines and watched.

I love Swagbucks!

Oh how I love swagbucks. I admit I was a skeptic at first but that is nothing new right I tend to always be the skeptic. However I am so glad I took the plunge and joined and downloaded the toolbar. I earned $15 worth of Amazon gift cards just this month and just turned them in for two books on canning and preserving that I have been wanting in order to help me preserve our garden veggies. You also get swagbucks for people that sign up under you. But the real meat comes from the toolbar and searching for various things. It takes 450 swagbucks to earn a $5 Amazon e-gift card which is just a code you can use at checkout when you shop thru amazon.com.

Here is my referral link if you want to check it out! I think you will be happy you did :D

Getting Ready for Vacation

Laundry, Laundry Laundry...Packing,Packing,Packing yes all the things one must do to get ready for vacation. I never really knew what my Mother meant by vacation is a lot of work until recently. Packing for a family of 6, getting 3 dogs to the sitter, making sure all Stone Street orders are out, etc etc etc. I do lead a crazy busy life but it is all worth it. I know the kids will squeal with excitement once they see Silver Dollar City and White Water, this makes all the packing, laundry, last minute errands worth it. Tomorrow will be an exciting adventure and lots of family memories will be made. It will be such a happy time!

It's a...

Boy! We found out on July first that our next addition is a boy. We weren't going to find out but he made it fairly obvious. No name set although we do have some ideas :)
It has been a really rough pregnancy but praise the Lord it has been a healthy one so far.

Book Challenge Update

Remember the Book Challenge I posted back in January? The Challenge was to read 24 Historical Romance in a year. I started out really well but like my blogging March, April and May went by the wayside. However I am back in the game and started my 7th book this week.

So far it is a pretty good read. Vikie McDonough is a new Author to me and so far I really like her style.

I have my next few books lined up but am REALLY excited about Julie Lessmen's new one releasing August 1st.

Homemade Tote Give Away

You guys know I don't sew, I can't sew but I admire those that do sew and come up with creations of all sorts.

I have a friend on PAI(Parenting After Infertility) who this cute tote and is giving it away! I love handcrafted and homemade products and I love them even more when they are free.

So get on over to Tammy's blog and leave a comment to enter!

Null and Void

I have struggled a lot with loneliness since our move to Illinois almost eight years ago.
It was around that time I married, left Texas with my husband and moved to Illinois and since I have yet to find a girlfriend to do things with. I miss it a great deal, the movies, the pedicures, the hanging out, the go to girl when I need to vent etc. Don't get me wrong I have friends here in Illinois just not the girlfriend, intimate, type I desire. It makes me sad and sometimes mad.
This week as I was praying about it God brought something to mind that I thought was interesting. The fact that I have always longed for the one thing missing in my life and admittedly thought that "if I could just have that it would complete me". When I was single it was a husband, when I was married it was children, and now that I have both husband and children I desire the friendships that God had given me when a husband and children weren't a part of my life. I took two truths away and tucked them inside 1) My relationship with God is what completes me. I think that because there has always been a void of some sort in my life I need to remember HE is the ONE who fills that void whether it be my desire for an intimate friendship, my desire for a husband, my desire for children. 2) My desire for Christ should be just as strong if not more than those desires of my heart.
The best part of it all Christ is my best friend and I am thankful for that.