Merry Christmas for those still checking

Merry Christmas!!!!!! We have been so busy with the end of semester for me and the kids rounding out fall sports. Here is the run down of events since the last post

November : Mondays: Katie takes dance in Saint Charles each monday night. So I drive her up there and go to a local coffee shop and study.
Tuesday: Katie has youth group at Church called Crash. While Jack has soccer practice. As soon as we got close to thanksgiving. Neill's parents came in for the weekend. It is hard for us to get out of town with me seeing clients and classes. I love seeing clients but it has been a adjustment for the family.
Wednesday: is family night. Code word for cleaning and homework with an occasional movie night thrown in.
Thursday: Soccer practice and Neill is playing with guys from church. Thanksgiving was great this year. We celebrate the day with my family and my mom's best friend Katie Malone. This was the first family get together that my sister in law Alana was part of the family. We Love her!!!
Neill's dad was in the hospital on the day. He had to have surgery for a bowel obstruction. He stayed in for ten days.

December:

Lots and LOTS of christmas parties for everyone in the family. Each one was special and with a different group of people.

For Christmas- the kids got up early and screamed in surprise. Jack got a bike that looks like a motorcycle and lots of legos. Katie got a nintendo DS lite and a trampoline. I got a new camera so soon we will be back posting regularly with pictures. Neil got lots of clothes.


Merry Christmas!!!!! from us

No Pictures!!!!!

One of the things I love the most when I go to other peoples blog's are the pictures. It is the real reason that I read what is going on. So, that is why I have not updated ours. We don't have a camera right now and I figure who really wants to read about my life without pictures to narrate.

But, just for those people who do....... the last two weeks have been a whirlwind of activity. We went to Trunk or treat at McKnight. It was good to see old friends. The kids had a blast. Jack and Tristan got to hang out, which is becoming increasingly more difficult now that they are both in school. Then Trick or treating on Wed night with the Pribish's. We walked and we walked and we walked. Ken is like a marathon trick or treater. The kids slept late the next day, so we were rushing to get to school on time.

Finally, we bought new furniture for the basement this weekend. The couches we had were from my parents and had seen their day. They were so heavy that Neill and Doug(our next door neighbor and friend) decided to take the easy way (an excuse because they are getting old) to break the couches in thirds and haul out that way. That was a sight. The next day, Neill and I went paint shopping, we are getting the house updated so if we decide that we want to put it on the market in the spring it is ready but if we don't then it looks nice for us. Well, i bought the paint and was all ready to paint when Neill decided that we should knock down the wall in the landing to open up the landing to the basement. I agreed since we had been talking about it for years. Besides, one less wall to paint right? Anyway, it looks great and we are going to try and get started with the all the projects this week. My friend Becky and hopefully some others are going to come help me paint. Anyone willing???

Well. better go

Katie and the Jonas Brothers

If you are a "tween" Girl then you know who Hannah Montana and the Jonas Brothers are. Well Thursday night they cam to town to perform a concert. Like in the old days when New Kids on the Block were all the rage, the concert sold out in twenty minutes and tickets were being scalped for up to 300.00 dollars. CRAZY!!!!

Well, needless to say we didn't get to go to the concert. But last night, we decided to go to mall to walk around. Katie was bummed because it was a friday night and she had nothing to do. THE BEGINNING OF THE YEARS FOR US. So, we went to the Galleria mall and were walking around. These two "tween" girls were in front of us wearing their Hannah Montana shirts, so Katie asked them how was the concert when all the sudden Katie looks over the bannister and takes off running down the escalator saying "IT"S THE JONAS BROTHERS!!!!!" Noone was around them. Katie walks up to them, while I am trying to catch up to her. She walked a while with them talking. Other people started realizing who they were and started staring but there she was walking and talking alone with them. I grabbed her camera phone from them and asked if we could take their picture. So now, she has a picture to remember this by. SO COOL!!!! As we are walking away, she looks at me and says "Can we go to the mall every friday night?" OH NO WHAT HAVE WE DONE!!!!!!!

Finally Fall is here MAYBE????

This week the weather has finally gotten cooler. I fee like we have had to wait so long.
Nothing really exciting has been happening. I have 10 clients between Greentree and Covenant. And I could not love it more. The one thing that has been so meaningful to me is being able to listen and speak into a persons experience. I am have become acutely aware of the brokenness and fallness of man. People have amazing strength to endure circumstances and not only survive but to come out the other side and give the glory to GOD. It really is a privilege to be a witness to that.

Katie is a busy girl. Sixth grade is in full swing and she comes home daily telling me that she is sick of the homework.

JACK IS READING!!!!!!!! It is so exciting to see him learn new things. After years of therapists saying that it will take him a long time to catch up. It is amazing that he has managed to do it in one year.

Neill too is busy with work and now is playing basketball with church guys on Thursday nights. Now that we go to church in Chesterfield, we sometimes feel like does anyone live by us??? Well, yes they do Neill meet a couple of guys that live at the end of our street and down the road .

Nooma.com

Check this site out. Rob Bell produces these short videos about various spiritual topics. They are incredibly thought provoking. I love "Noise" and "Breathe". Have any of you heard or seen of these videos? I watched one not to long ago about his son and a rubber ball but I can't recall the name of it, but that one was really good to. It was probably my favorite actually.


CHECK IT OUT!!!!

Two Cousins Fishing

Michael and Jack decided to go fishing while we were at the camper. They stayed down there for quite awhile. Never caught a thing but when they came back I asked them "If you didn't catch anything, why did you stay down there so long?" To which they replied " I don't know. We were hanging out." Isn't it so great to hang with your friends, no matter what age?

Closed up the Camper

It has been a busy week and a half. This past weekend, we went up to the lake to hang out at the camper. Katie and Jack brought their cousins Morgan and Michael with them for company. It was 93 degrees on Saturday. The pool and beach had closed down for the season, so the kids were hot and running low on ideas to keep themselves occupied. Where is the fall? Neill and I were talking last night and he said that he heard the other day that all winter is supposed to be warmer than normal. I don't like that. I love Fall. It is my favorite season and I feel like I have been cheated.

Anyway- We decided to go ahead and close up the camper for the season. Once school, soccer and volleyball begin it is hard to get away. No more camping til April. That is Ok, we have decided to get our house ready to possibly sell in the spring. I told Neill if after getting ready we decided not to sell and put on the addition then at least the house will look really nice.

To completely change gears, Neill and I are thinking of going to Mexico to celebrate his turning forty and my graduating from Covenant. Any suggestions on where to go? We would like to go to an all-inclusive and see if we can't get my brother and his wife to go with us.

A Weekend of Soccer and Volleyball Games

Well, soccer and Volleyball games have started. Jack would rather be playing sports then doing anything.
I am ready for fall to get here. Sitting at the ballgames in 93 degree heat at the end of September is not my idea of fun. Is this about Global warming???? Regardless, the weather is supposed to change this week. I hope that's true.

I never found the pictures

Hey, I never solved the mystery of the missing pictures. But I have had requests to re-post them for family. So here they are

Enjoy

Back From Nashville

Here is my random pictures for your enjoyment.

This past week, I got to go to Nashville for the National AACC conference. There were six of us girls that went together and stayed at the Opryland hotel. If you have never been to the Opryland Hotel, let me just say it took me a day to figure out where everything was. I think that there is at least two ways to get to any location. Friday night, I left the conference and went to Dickson, Tn to visit my friend Jamie Sample. It is so great to get to see her. I try to get down there at least once a year. So, it was a treat to get to see her twice this year. I love talking to her and seeing how much God is working in her life.



Well, now that I am back I am have to get back to work

Happy Birthday to me

Today is my birthday!!!!!! I am 36 years old today but I don't feel that old. When I was my kids age, I remember thinking that my mom was old but now I realize that she was not old at all.

I am leaving today to go to the AACC counseling National conference in Nashville, Tn for 4 days. I am looking forward to staying at the Opryland Hotel and seeing my friend Jamie. When I was a little girl my parents took me to see the Opryland Hotel and remember telling my mom that one day I was going to walk down the grand staircase wearing a beautiful dress to meet my prince charming. Well, I am going back but this week I will walk down that staicase in sliming black and supportive underwear. Wasn't quite the dream that I had in mind, but hey we all have to adjust.

Have a great week!!!!!!

Good News

Delores had her surgery and everything went well. Her numbers look good and hopefully she will be able to go home on Tuesday. Neill and Scott are helping their dad get some things in order before heading home today sometime.

Prayer Request

We got a call this morning at 4am that Neill's mom had a massive heart attack. Neill's sister said that Neill's mom would die if she didn't have the surgery but there was a chance that she might die during the procedure. Needless to say, Neill and his brother Scott headed to Iowa to be with their family early this morning. We still have not heard how things went but I will keep you posted.

Please Pray for her- her name is Delores Griffith

The Mystery of the missing pictures

I have no idea where Chris and Alana's wedding pictures went. They just disappeared. Can anyone explain that to me????

Anyway- Life is in full bloom and our family is finally adjusting to the school transition. Soccer and Volleyball fill our weekends. Along with lifeline at church, kidz club and sheparding in sunday school. I am hoping that we are going to be able to get up to the camper at least two more times before we have to close up for the season. I love camping in the fall. I used to think that spring was my favorite season but i have decided that actually fall is.

I Love looking at pictures on people's blogs so I thought I would post a random picture just for fun What do you think pictures or no pictures???? at any rate, Enjoy!!!!

Chris and Alana's wedding

Finally after days of waiting for Neill to bring home the CD with the pictures on it, we have pictures.

The wedding pictures turned out Great!!!!!! Enjoy. There are pictures from both the wedding and the rehearsal dinner

Katie sings the National Anthem

On Labor Day , Katie was asked to the National Anthem at the Saint Louis Bike Races by the organizer and her former teacher Tim Ranek. I love to get to hear her sing. She has a great voice. Who knows maybe one day she will be on Broadway.

I am posting a picture of Katie singing and a picture with her friend Sara, who went with us to cheer her on.

Labor Day Weekend at the Lake

We could not have asked for better weather this past weekend. Our family went to the Lake of the Ozarks with our friends the Lucken's and the Johnson's for the weekend. Friday night-we hung out and visited. The Picture of Neill and the guys tells it all. Saturday - we went out on the boat all day. The kids got to go on the Hot Dog and swing for a rope swing that was about 15 feet in the air. I wish I could have gotten pictures of that but my zoom was not that good. Sometimes when Jack does things I forget he is just six. He is a total daredevil. Katie is just as adventuresome but I think at 6 she was a little more tentative. I would love to tell you all about the weekend but there are some things that just need to be omitted. (Right girls)

Sunday- we went out on the boat again and another great day. We came home that night to get some work done around the house. i think we have decided that we have had enough vacation for this year.

Thanks for a great way to end the Summer!!!!!!

First Day of the last year

I could barely sleep last night. Today is my first day of my last year in graduate school. As many of you know, I am attending Covenant Seminary working towards a masters of arts in counseling. Going to Covenant is one of the best decisions of my life. It has been a challenging and extremely rewarding experience. Not to mention all of the great friends I have made in the process.

So, wish me luck. This year will be full of classes, as well as seeing clients. It is exciting to finally be practicing what you have longed to do for so many years

Also, I will post pictures of the wedding when we get back from the lake. I think the vacation count is now 68 days.

Up til 4 am for the best reason in the world

If I were the mother of a newborn, blogging about my late nights would not be a surprise to anyone. However, I am not the mother of a newborn and after this weekend I now realize that I am not 21 either. My brother got married sunday night at 7:30pm in Memphis. It was an amazing ceremony. They got engaged six weeks ago and wanted to get married and honeymooned before SEC football went into full swing.(it at least that is my understanding) Some of you may be thinking --"WOW" her brother is a devoted fan. NO, he works forESPN 730am radio in Memphis. In fact, he is #1 in his market. But needless to say he had to get back from his honeymoon before things got crazy busy. So, our family spent the weekend celebrating Chris and Alana's wedding. We could not be happier for them.

So, you may be wondering what does this have to do with 4am? Well, after the ceremony we before home. My mom had to teach school the next morning and my kids had their first day of school. Let me tell you- we were dragging. The kids slept the best they good while Neill and I took shifts driving. Arkansas and the bootheel of Missouri is a long stretch of land at 2am. We managed to get home and in bed for a little bit before rising to meet the day.

Katie and Jack took their first day of school pictures and went to school. Neill and I ran in the house, locked the doors and closed the windows and went right back to sleep til noon. The kids came home ran into their rooms and went to sleep til 5pm.

In the end, we are now all back on schedule and no worse the wear. And there is no question in our minds that we would do it all again in a heartbeat. It was a beautiful wedding and I wish Alana and Chris all the happiness in the world.

I will post pictures later tonight

School could not start soon enough

I am not one of those mothers who dreads school starting. In fact, if the school called today and said "send your kids over asap" They would be there in 30 seconds or less. They are bored out of their minds. And they are making me crazy. I can not tell you how many times I have heard the question ..."what are we doing next??" or the statement " I have nothing to do, I am bored."It is the end of the summer and they have run out of ideas. When they ask me what to do --- I say what my mom said to me...GO CLEAN SOMETHING. That isn't even working. Katie moaned LOUDLY throughout her chores today. I guess she wanted to let me know her displeasure with the whole thing.

The good news is that we will be getting in the car for five hours with these "BORED" children and driving to Memphis for my brothers wedding. Let's just hope that they sleep.

Do you remember your end of summer? How did you entertain yourself??

Adult Only Weekend

Neill and I got to go away for the weekend together. It was so nice to sleep in, eat when you wanted to and talk to each other without being interrupted. We decided that we are going to have to do this more often.

This weekend we are heading to Memphis for my brother's wedding. We are so excited to have Alana as part of our family. We will post pictures when we get back.

Griffith Family Camping Weekend

Last weekend, all of Neill's siblings and their families, along with grandma and grandpa went up to Mark Twain Lake for a family weekend. They rented a pontoon boat and we took up my dad's boat for a day on the lake. Neill took everyone tubing that wanted to go.

It was so great to get to see my nieces and nephews faces tubing for the first time. We have been wanting to take them up there for a long time and go out on the lake. I think the overall response to the tubing at thirty miles an hour behind a boat that was twisting and turning was "WOW, Can we do that again?" My niece Melissa flipped three times in the air and landed with the grace of a swan. I guess that is the dancer in her.

We also went to the water park and floated around. Neill, Brian, Dennis and Jack had races down the water slide. I think Neill was the victor.
Saturday night- we had a big meal together, took family pictures and honored Jerry and Susan's 25th wedding anniversary. Congratulations !!!!

It was a hot weekend, but in the end I would say that we got to have a fun time in the sun and in the water.

Katie Got Baptized

Neill and I are thrilled to share with you that on August 1st while at Camp Neotez, Katie got baptized. ( we waited til we had the pictures to upload to blog about it)

She called from camp on that monday and said that she wanted to get baptized. Neill and I had spent the last year studying with her and praying about this decision. She had told us that she really wanted to get baptized at Camp Neotez so we were not surprised when we got the call.

When we arrived at camp, Ron Burge (the camp director) offered to read some scriptures at he typically uses and Neill could perform the baptism in crystal falls. We thought that sounded great. However, Katie had been studying and found a verse that she felt she wanted to share that described her feelings about this experience. She chose Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is a gift of God.

Neill and I were so touched by her understanding of this choice. In that moment, she shared her understanding of the cross and the gift of grace in a beautiful way not only with us, but with all her friends.

After the baptism, Cheryl Aston had made a "Birthday Brownie" for Katie to share with her friends in her cabin. It was so great for Katie to get to share this with her church family, friends and us.

Congratulations Katie, We LOVE you

Happy Birthday Morgan

My niece Morgan turned eleven today. It seems like just yesterday she was born. Katie and Morgan have been best buds forever. I always wished I had had a girl cousin my age. Well, if you can't get one of your own then what is better then your kids getting it.

We LOVE you Morgan. Happy Birthday.

IT IS SO HOT

Today we went to six flags with Scott and Ellen's kids. It was 105 degrees outside. We did the waterpark with the kids. Trying to get 7 people to agree on what we want to do is always a challenge. But somehow we managed to do it. Thanks to a little cooperation from everyone.

We are looking forward to this weekend. It will be another hot one, but hopefully being on the water will help with that. When we get back I will post pictures.

Till then

Back from the Camper and Texas

We had a great week at the camper. Our friends the Johnson's went with us, so we were just two families at play. We played at the beach, took the kids tubing and finally knocked both Katie and Jack off. The campground puts on a karoake night once in a while so as usual Neill and Katie can not miss the chance to sing. Neill loves doing the old standards like "Chantilly lace" and Katie loves Christina Aquilera. I just sit back and observe.

Two days after we returned from the camper, we headed off to Texas. A friend of mind from Covenant let us stay at his ranch. WOW!!!!!! it was amazing. Thanks again Josh. We could not have asked for a better vacation. We would open the gate to the ranch and 40 deer would run past us. Then a little bit further and we would pass horses, cows, antelope and bison. It was truly amazing.

We also got to go the the alamo, riverwalk, six flags, sea world and our all time favorite SCHLITTERBAHN. We had seen it on the travel channel but it was AMAZING. I would highly recommend that everyone go there. Uphill waterslides. Crazy. Then on the way home we stayed with old friends Wes and Shelley Jones in Dallas. It was great to get to catch up and see where they live. It has only taken us twelve years to get there. We promise not so long next time.

Well, that is the most recent adventures we have taken. We head out Friday for the camper again. Neill's family is meeting us there for the weekend. We have rented a pontoon boat so everyone can go out on the lake. See ya when we get back

Off we go on Vacation 4

Today we are heading up to the camper again. This time we are going for seven days. We love being there and being together. If you don't camp, I highly recommend it for quality family time.

This summer has been crazy. I have started my internship at Greentree Community Church and have four clients already. I never thought I could love doing a job as much as I love counseling.
Katie got her braces last Tuesday. She made sure to get festive rubber bands. So they are red, white and blue for the fourth of July. She has been a real trooper, not complaining about the pain at all. It can't be easy.

Jack is in summer school and hating it. He comes home daily telling me that they don't let him play on the playground. His words are "they make us play girl games for free time. I am not a girl. Can you talk to my teacher and tell her that??" I think she knows he is a boy. To help him make it through we count down the days until it is over.

Well, I better head out. Got lots of stuff to pack. See ya when we get back.