End of the week update

Here's a review of the week so far.
Sunday flat tire
Monday dead battery
Tuesday bought new battery.
Wednesday Johnny tries to replace battery and realizes the battery cable is corroded into.
Thursday Johnny replaces end to battery cable
Friday drive to work and go into Parts store to return battery. Leave my lights on and guess what.. yep my battery is dead!

Not complaining at all. Actually now that the week is over I find it kind of comical. Aaron the guy that sits next to me said he was going to buy me a license plate for the front of my car that says Red Lemon.. I've been joking with my co-worker that sold me the car that he sold me a lemon. I told Aaron he couldn't leave work until he makes sure my car will start when we leave. He keeps singing over the wall. Tina's lemon isn't going to start. Tina's lemon isn't going to start.

Well it's Friday, it's the weekend, I'm blessed with a wonderful family, a good job, a good Christian church to attend and I'm going to put the last 2 weeks behind me and move on. I was listening to a program last night on the radio and the guy said you can always look forward to looking back on your history. So that's what I'm going to do. I'm going to look forward to this being my history and tomorrow being a new day. After all it's a new day the Lord hath made and we should rejoice and be glad in it.
Blessings,Tina

Happy Birthday Addie

Our little Jewell turned a big 4 yesterday. We celebrated at Grandpa's on Sunday with her cousins and then last night at my moms house. She is growing by leaps and bounds and we love her dearly. Happy Birthday sweet Addie.



Over the weekend we made cookies. The kids loved decorating and eating them. Alex said they were the best cookies ever.

Struggles with emotions.
Do you ever go through spells where you just seem to be struggling so hard to stay a float. You cry at the drop of a hat and you know how blessed you are and you know God's love and strength are with you but you still continue to walk through a valley you just can't seem to get through. Well that's where I am right now. I feel like I'm walking through a valley. I'm praying, I'm relying on God's mercy and strength to see me through. I know He's hearing my prayers. I know he's answering my prayers and yet my heart just feels broken in two.
So you ask why do I feel this way? As many of you know Ashton has lived with us for quiet some time now. We've (I've) grown very attached to her. She decided last week that she needed to make a change in her life and chose to move out. She left on good terms and I have talked with her almost daily since she left. Still there is an empty hole in our family. Last night little Addie cried as she went to bed that she wanted Ashton. I tried to explain to her that Ashton no longer lived with us but bless her heart she just really doesn't understand. I have to say I don't understand either. I think if I could comprehend on some level what her reasoning for leaving was or if she left on bad terms I could understand her leaving but to not understand why she chose to leave makes it even more difficult. I can see her struggling greatly and I want to reach out and tell her I feel like she's made a really BAD mistake. I know Joseph is hurting very deeply also and I know for his best interest I need to leave things alone and ensure I don't overstep my bounds. However that doesn't keep my heart from hurting or make the pain I feel any less real. I'm trying to encourage the two of them as they choose to go their separate ways. I'm trying to let my light shine and help them make it through this difficult time in their lives. So I'm holding up a big front. I'm smiling when I don't want to smile and I'm doing what I can to ensure I'm being a Christian mom to Joe and a Christiian friend to Ashton. I ask that you lift our family and Ashton up in your prayers.

Ephesians 6:10
Be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.
With Love,Tina

pics

My brother Ricky was in on leave visiting a few weeks ago so I was able to get a picture with him and with Jonathon.

My oldest son Jonathon. Such a great young man. He works for

our local police department and we are so very proud of him.

Rick is 4 months older than Jonathon. He's also a great young man that's

serving in the U.S. Marines. We are so proud of him and his service to our country.

Reunion

We headed to Tulsa to reunite six out of seven beautiful little girls that we traveled home from China with. Larry and Shyla were so gracious in letting us meet at their house. The girls were able to swim and play with one another. It was such a blessing to be able to see so many of the girls together again. I'll attach a few pictures from our trip.

Left to right: Erica, Kailey,Charlotte, Gentry, Addie, Susanna

Handsome man by the pool
Susanna and Addie

Daddy and Alex

Big buds ready to go swim

Heading home

Independence Day

I hope everyone had a Happy Independence Day. I know our family is so blessed. The kids learned to say the Pledge of Allegiance last week and it was great hearing them saying "One Nation Under God". This is especially great since both my kids are now U.S. Citizens and can enjoy the freedoms we are all able to share here in the U.S. Friday we went to a Safari park. The kids had a great time during the drive thru but the main attaction was being able to pet the rabbits. On Saturday we celebrated Independence Day at my mom and step-dads. Here are a few pictures from the weekend.