My Cup Overflows

Taste and see that the Lord is good!

I love how God shows me His love from time to time. We have dear friends that serve as missionaries in Kenya and they have been home for 8 months and will return to Kenya later this month. They have two children whom you have seen on my blog:





This family is very special to us and we went to hear them speak/share about their ministry in Kenya last week. It is mind boggling as to what all is involved in their ministry. It is very humbling to hear them share. They don't complain, or whine about their trails, and they share with joy there journeys on the mission field. Their children are the same ages as my younger two, and are little, so we have shared clothes with them when they come home so that they don't have to buy anything. I asked Kim (the mom) what they needed as they were packing, and it was a lot. They are going to a new climate that will be cooler and rainy. Just a few days ago, John had folded FIVE loads of laundry and had said to me that our kids have way too many clothes, and I agreed. So, I went through and pulled all of Blayne's jeans (as he will be wearing another size in the fall) I pulled clothes of Reagan's for the fall because I know that she has plenty. It felt good, but I also had this feeling of "oh no Blayne starts school in August, what if he needs this or that" but I cheerfully gathered the things and boxed and bagged them up for our dear friends. Then, last night, out of the blue, our old neighbor called me to tell me that her husband is coming through on business and will be bringing hand-me-downs for my kids. She specifically said that there were things for Blayne. Now, isn't that neat how God provided??? I had cleared out his things earlier in the day, and BOOM she calls and blesses me with replacements (which are always VERY nice clothes) and all is well. God always provides, it may not be the way that we expected or WHAT we expected, but he provides. I am thankful!

Baby #5--18 weeks 2days

Our Famiy is going to grow by......

Well, I realized that I haven't said much about Baby #5 on here. Today I went to the doctor and all is well. I have actually lost weight!!! That's the new diet plan, you know, get pregnant with a 5th child when you are 35 and you will lose weight! I have never had the blood tests done in the past, but because I am so old now, and I am at a higher risk for lots of things, I did have the extensive testing done. Everything has turned out "beautifully". The baby is growing on track, negative for: Down's Syndrome, Spina Bifida, and 2 of the Trisomy Choromosal disorders. So far so good! I have experienced a lot of pregnancy insomnia with this pregnancy, but that has been alleviated with the doctor's order to take Tylenol PM at night, now I just have weird dreams and make noises when I sleep! I have lower back and hip discomfort, but my doctor broke the news to me today that is because I have carried FIVE babies (I was kind of dumbfounded when she said that....five babies is A LOT!!!) and it will only get worse the farther I get into this pregnancy. She told me to sit in the hot tub, get massages, use Bengay, and just try to get comfortable! She was so sweet and understanding about it all! So we continue on. We go for the BIG sonogram in two weeks. We will be taking both of the big girls with us to experience the sonogram and to be the firsts to know "what it is"! Blayne is desperately wanting a boy, and the girls mention a sister more than a brother. Reagan told me that it is a baby sister and her name is "Hoop". I don't think that we will be going with Miss Reagan's choice in name. John suggested "Obama", but I doubt we would do that to our child either. So, please pray for a healthy pregnancy, a healthy baby and a cooperative baby at the sonogram in two weeks!

Playing Catch Up

Last week was a busy week. The 3 big kids attended "Crocodile Dock" VBS at a local church. Blayne and Whitney had gone 2 nights with their cousins a few weeks ago to the same VBS, so they were one up on the other kids. Blayne's teacher commented on how quickly he caught on to all of the songs and that he knew the answers to all of the Bible stories.....hmmmm, a couple of those stories he has just heard the previous week! They studied Moses all week and enjoyed themselves. Savannah's group did community service projects including walking to a retirement home to deliver candles that they made in the 102* heat!!!! Reagan and I got a taste of what life will be like in the fall when the three big kids go to school....surprisingly, she did very well as an only child last week! We also went swimming at "Aunt" Jan's pool. It was a hot day, and I was sure to put lost of sunscreen on the kids...but oooops, not ME! I got FRIED! Well, now I have jump started my summer tan. All three of the big kids are looking like Mexicans....and poor Reagan is the fairest of them all!!!! Blayne got to talk to my Dad on Father's Day while he held his favorite toad. I don't know what all my dad was saying to him, but Blayne sure was laughing!!! I got to celebrate my birthday last week and I am on the closer side of the 30's headed to 40 now! Ouch! Our sweet friends who serve as missionaries in Kenya brought be a gift and beautiful roses. My kids all got me great gifts and John got me some new accessories for my new cell phone. It was a good day. Reagan has been spending time pretending on the "her" cell phone. She carries on these long conversations with lots of expression...John took a picture of her...silly girl.

Well, here are pictures of the week to help play a little catch up!

Happy Father's Day!!!

Today, we reflect on what great fathers we have. John and I are both blessed to have wonderful Dads. We were both raised in Christian homes with Dads that showed us how to live and work toward a godly life. We are both grateful and thankful for our dads and the legacy that they are leaving to us and our children.




I am thankful to God for giving me John. He is a wonderful husband and an amazing Daddy. He loves our kids, he disciplines them when needed, he makes them laugh all the time and he hugs and loves on them. He is a special Daddy, and we are thankful to have him!



John always says that he doesn't want anything as far as gifts, but the kids and I are gift givers, so we always come up with something. Savannah used her own money to buy him a BNSF hat on our train ride last week. Blayne and I got him a vegetable grilling bowl for his grill. He had mentioned wanting one of those. Whitney gave him his 4th of July shirt that we get EVERY year from Old Navy for $5 and a Symphony Bar (his favorite) and Reagan gave him some sweet tarts variety bag. They made a book for him, and signed cards. You will notice that the gifts are all in random bags that were in our gift closet....so low economic crisis on gifts, but some thought went into them! John was sweet and excited about each gift and even shared his candy with us!!!

Swimming at Mammaw's

We had a family get-together last night at Mammaw's new place. I kept telling the kids that we were going to Mammaw's new house to swim in her pool. They were VERY impressed with her new place. It is beautiful there. All of the cousins were there and even an extra friend. It was a great place for the Stonecipher Clan to gather as there was a clubhouse with a full kitchen, a bathroom and AIR CONDITIONING!!!! Mammaw seemed to really enjoy having all of us there and got to be the "hostess" The kids had a BLAST! John did some of his famous cannon balls to get the kids excited only be way outdone by his big brother Uncle David! Katie Beth and Reagan enjoyed sticking their feet in and not getting too wet, well that is until Katie slipped in....Becky got to see if those Floaties really work, and they did! Reagan lost her footing at one point in the kiddie pool and flipped on her back like a turtle...she wasn't happy! I was proud of her, though, because she wanted back in the pool even after that little scare. We enjoyed burgers cooked on David's homemade grill! We will definitely be getting together again at Mammaw's before the summer ends!

Luke

Well, we have shared many of our adventures with our puppy, Luke. Several weeks ago, John made the decision (and I agreed!) that we needed to find a new home for our Luke. He was getting out of our yard EVERY time that we left to go anywhere...so, that meant every morning, when I took the kids to school, I would come back to find my Luke sitting by the mailbox or the garage door, usually with a "treasure" from the neighbor's house! I was concerned that he was going to get hit or even stolen! He was really sweet, but was very destructive....I know my dog lover friends will scold me on this and remind me that he was just a puppy, but it was getting to the point that it wasn't fair to him. We were having to chain him up each time we left, he was being scolded for the holes that he was digging and the things that he was constantly tearing up. A new home would be better for everyone. So, we began the process of finding him a new home. LOTS of people wanted him, and we just didn't feel good about any of them UNTIL we were contacted by this man...he lives on 10 acres, has a pond and a yellow lab Luke's EXACT age! His kids are grown, and he was looking for a companion for his dog, Josey. So, John took the big kids and they met the man halfway. John said he was wonderful! He and his wife were very excited to have Luke. Luke went with him and was happy to ride in front seat of the truck with his new owner. The kids took it pretty well, although, Whitney cried all the way home....she was the closest to Luke. Well, Greg, Luke's new owner is so nice. He has been sending us pictures. Luke has adjusted well and he and Josey are best friends! Greg has Luke jumping in the pond and retrieving dummies. We all feel good about our decision to re-home Luke, although it was a tough thing to do! Rudy has made adjustments and it has not been as hard on him as I had expected; he actually seems somewhat happier! So here are pictures of Luke and Josey!

Bubble Bath and Nail Polish

John took the 3 older kids to see "Night at the Museum" the other night, leaving Reagan and I at home to play. She was thrilled to take a bubble bath, she loves to lie down in the water and float around in the tub. She keeps her little face above the water. After the lovely bath, I painted her finger nails and her toenails! She enjoyed her evening of pampering and the other kids loved having a night at the movies with Daddy!

Yoga

Reagan wants to do everything that the BIG kids do. Here she is copying Whitney. Whitney likes to play Wii Fit and she has learned some Yoga moves. She will be talking and all of a sudden she will go into one of her balancing moves. She can hold a pose for a long time!

Frog Hunt

***TRIPLE POST***



Blayne has been in search of this frog for a couple of weeks. He was THRILLED to have found it this morning!

Here are some pictures him with Reagan and their frogs! Fun times.







Then he wanted to call John at work and tell him all about it. He walked around and retraced his steps as he told John about how he caught the big frog!

BNSF Special

We had the fun experience of going on a train ride with John's company last night. It was a three hour ride. We were in a wonderfully decked out car and they provided snacks and drinks. We brought along a picnic supper and were the envy of those seated near us. Thankfully, John reads the information and usually asks around before we go do things like this, so we were prepared!!! The kids thought that it was really neat and especially enjoyed when John took them for a tour of the train cars while it was going! We played cards and Reagan listened to CDs and visited with the people around us. We did have a new experience...BOYS FLIRTING with Savannah!!!! (Yikes) These two boys kept walking by our seat and being silly, one of them actually threw himself on the floor right by her feet. They even came and asked her name when we were leaving. He got shy and ran off. I told her that I was going to tell him "Gertrude" if he returned to ask again...John thought that "Lecretia" was a better choice. Oh, it has started!!!! We all had a great time. It was a fun family night...ALL ABOARD!!!!!

Ft. Worth Get-A-Way

Here are pictures of Whitney's Note...



John and I had a wonderful time this past weekend. We packed a lot into two days for sure! We headed out Friday afternoon to:



We booked reservations through Priceline to stay here:




One drawback was that THIS was going on across the street at the Convention Center:

(Hispanic Jehovah's Witness Conference)

And we encountered some scary drunk people on the streets behind our hotel when we would come in at night!

We had a wonderful time of dining out without children at H3 Steakhouse, Dos Gringos and a fun little cafe' in Aledo name Mac and Harry's. We met a rancher that had been wresting an alligator! He was called by the game warden to come "get the gator" It was 15 feet long and he estimated it was 400 pounds! They shot it and it took it to his ranch and tied it to a tree for the buzzards to take care of. His daughter had an Iphone and showed me the pictures. It was HUGE with a HUGE mouth! Neat story.

We went to the movies, walked around the water gardens, got me a new cell phone and visited John's grandparents. This was our first time to see Mammaw's new apartment. It was really nice. We stayed for a couple of hours visiting. John even took the time to fix Mammaw's sewing machine needle that was broken. She gave us a tour around her apartment and we sat and visited for a while. It was much larger than I expected. We plan to take the kids our there for a visit soon.

Poppa was in a different room at the nursing home. He has a very friendly roommate now, and the man actually asked me to take him to dinner...wasn't sure if he meant OUT to dinner or just down the hallway, he was funny! Sweet Poppa. He is so tiny and frail. He was in bed on full oxygen, couldn't really talk, but he still has that twinkle in his eye, he barked at us (like a dog--that is his greeting--always has been since I have known him) He would just smile and wink at us. He told us that he was tired...so tired, and then he would close his eyes, fake snore, and then open his eyes and wink at us! Funny, funny, man. He told me that Karen (John's cousin) had come and he pointed at their picture. I talked about Karen and her kids coming (since I had read it on her blog....I was able to carry on that conversation with him) John fed Poppa some thickened water and he had several slurps. He is too weak to suck from the straw, so John fed him like you do a baby with a straw, with one finger over the end of the straw. I didn't take pictures of him as he seems so frail and it just didn't seem right, but I stole these off of Karen's blog (thanks Karen) from her visit from last week. This is Poppa with Kayleigh (check out her HAIR) and being sweet with Logan. He was having a great day when they were there. He was flat in the bed during our visit.



We enjoyed staying up late and sleeping in....with no pitter patter of little feet running across the floor! I took some pictures with my new phone camera, but I will have to see how to get my pictures from there...to here.