Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to my wonderful hubby! He is such an awesome father. I know my kids won't really grasp what a wonderful dad they have until they are parents themselves, but, boy, I sure get it! I look at my children and see how secure they are in themselves, how my daughter's just know they are beautiful and have value beyond measure. I look at the self assurance Jayson exudes in being the teenage child he is. All that comes from knowing you are loved unconditionally.

I can remember how excited Jay was EVERY time he found out we were pregnant. I can remember how awe struck he was EVERY time he held one of our newborn babies in his arms for the first time. And just last week my heart swelled with gratitude for presence of him in our lives as I watched him cry when our daughters took the stage.

I think that saying "anyone can be a father but it takes someone special to be a dad" really applies to my husband. He is just the kind of man who makes it to everything that is important to our children. He takes time to talk to them, play with them, snuggle them and encourage them. Ah, what a man!

My Jay learned from the best....his daddy. I can't believe this is our second year without VT and he is missed terribly. It's days like today that the scab is ripped off the wound and their is pain again. However, one of the most important things VT modeled for Jay (for us all) was faith...and through faith we hang in there knowing that ultimately we will be with VT again. I know when Jay meets VT in Heaven that VT will tell him what a fantastic dad he was to our children!

Summertime!

Summer Summer Summer! I think we have officially found it here in our house. The kids actually got out of school last week, but with the weekend packed with dance recitals and house showings, it just now feels like we have had the much anticipated mornings of sleeping in and lazy days.

Oh, speaking of dance recitals, the girls were AWESOME! They both brought tears to their daddy's eyes. Honestly, I was so busy running back and forth from behind stage to the audience, I didn't have time to cry. But it was so worth it. They were simply charming.

Summer plans? As Katie would say "Oh yeah!!!!!" In 2 weeks we leave for Cancun. I simply can't wait. This will be a new experience for us all, travelling to a new place. The girls are on major excitement overload and planning daily for our trip. The boys, well, they just do what we tell them to do.
One of the cool things about our vacation is that we will be in Cancun on MY birthday. I told the fam that all I could ask for was a day on the beach with my book, peace and quiet . Well, we will see how long that lasts....not because they won't give it to me, but because I won't be able to stand it....after all, don't they need me around so they can have fun? :o)

I have also given each child a card to write on stating one activity they would like to do with me one on one over the summer. It is my goal that each child have a moment this summer to spend with me and for me to have no distractions. If you are a mother then you know what I mean. I often have the best intentions but....well, you know what I mean. They each asked for something different, and I was suprised to see nothing "over the top". Basically, they just want my time. And I am honored that of anything they could have asked for, they just want ME!

Now, that could get me started on a tanget about raising kids, but I will leave that for another day. Those of you who know me well probably already know what I was going to say anyway!

Happy Summer everyone! Stay safe and have fun! :o)

San Fran

So, Jay and I got 4 fun filled days in San Franscisco, WITHOUT kids! It was fun and a much needed time for us to be together. My sister kept my kids for 4 days...can you believe that? She has the patience of a saint. I owe her big!

I missed the kids and was so glad to get home to them, but we did have a really good time.

Next up, family vacation in Cancun! I can't wait!

Happy Mother's Day!

Today I wish all Mother's a happy mother's day! Being a mother myself, I know how demanding the job can be. But, oh, the rewards are so great!

Today I got breakfast of cereal, water, mandarin oranges and a cereal bar in bed. It was the best breakfast ever! I have the best kiddos!

There is nothing that gives me greater pleasure than being a mother. I can't think of any job I would rather be doing than this. I am grateful for the privilage to be allowed to stay at home and be a mother full time. It is a blessing from God (and from my husband).

Although today we are celebrating and having a great day, it is all with a tinge of sadness. Today is the first time in 42 years my husband will celebrate Mother's day without Bug. I know it is hard for him. It is my wish that we can honor her memory in some way today that would bring joy to Jay's heart. It shouldn't be too hard, she was a fantastic mother to Jay (and of course Jon). She was a good mother in law and a fabulous grandmother. I believe she would want us to have a fun, relaxing day full of laughter and togetherness. And,I think that is just what we are going to do!

just some updates

Well, so much has been going on (surprise surprise) that I thought I would just give a little update.

Our friend Cal Upton is finally home after a long but brave battle with MRSA staff infection. The infection won a few battles, but Cal has won the war and this little guy is now home with his family. Thanks to all of you who prayed for him!

My dear friend Tammy's husband is in a rehab facility now in Richmond Va. He ALSO had a MRSA infection in his lungs. He is still very weak, but the miracles that God has shown us all through his healing so far are....well, miraculous! Thanks again for all the prayers!

Jayson is in his last weekend of Frog Prince and is doing a great great job. He is a very funny and cute Frog Prince. It has been fun watching him. He is also wrapping up his assistant directorship from Honk and he should be proud of himself for the work he has done with this show. Here's a secret though: He figured out that he would MUCH rather be ON the stage than behind it. And, Mommy likes seeing him IN the plays too. But, this was an awesome learning experience for him and not just anyone gets to be the AD in a play for Ms. Cortez!

Katie had a round of strep throat along with an ear infection. It slowed her down for about, oh, 2 hours. She was right back at school yesterday bouncing off the walls. She still loves going to school and being with her friends. She is getting ready for her very first ballet recital and since she received her beautiful leotard she is soooooo excited.

Hunter is also preparing for her musical theater dance recital. She is dressing as the cat in the hat and it is just adorable! I can't wait to see her dance and sing! She is usually our quiet one, but she is really looking forward to her show. She is ALMOST ready to do her backhandspring on the trampoline and has been promised the panda webkin when she does. I look forward to buying it for her as she has worked very hard to earn it. When I stop and think about how horrible she felt for so long and yet she pushed through to work each week in tumbling, I see how unstoppable her spirit is. She is also feeling sooooo much better and NOW I see the benefits of her surgery. We started her allergy shots and now have 2 weeks under our belt! Yippee!

As if that wasn't enough, Jay and I are considering putting our house on the market and buying a new home. We just aren't used to living in one house this long! ha ha ha Seriously, we are looking for just a bit of a different lay out now that our kids are growing and so are their friends. We are painting, carpeting and de-personalizing our home. I must say that I hate depersonalizing this house. To put my beautiful pictures of my kiddos away doesn't make me happy! I love every picture that I have out and I just can't imagine anyone else not wanting to see them. But, the goal is for someone to see THEIR family here, not mine. So, they can be tucked away FOR NOW!

If it is in God's will for us to have a different house, then so be it, if not, well, I have a very clean decluttered house! But the pictures are coming back out soon!

So, there's an update....
I hope all of you are well and happy!

National Day of Prayer

Well, Thursday was our National Day of Prayer and I was asked to say a little something about family and to pray over family at our church service that night. WOW! I was honored, but you know I struggled a bit finding the words. I know I know, I always have words! :) Actually, I do always have words, I have come to a conclusion that I just love words! After all, a long time ago I went to school to study language. I love the written word (reading, writing) and I love the spoken word. So, why was I having such a hard time coming up with a simple speech and prayer for family? I LOVE my family, adore them.

Through the help of my discipleship group, we worked through my difficulty and I realized....I felt like a hypocrite praying over family when my relationships with my extended family are often less than perfect.

But, I was reminded by my dear friends (thank God for my discipleship ladies!) that you do NOT have to be perfect to pray!

I thought I would share here what I finally came up with (warning, I DID find the words, lots of them) :-)

When I was asked to pray over family tonight, I was honored. Besides my personal relationship with Jesus Christ, my family is my biggest blessing. I am still amazed that God has granted me the privilege to be wife to Jay and mother to Jayson, Hunter and Katie. It is a job I take very seriously and I can’t think of anything more powerful that I can do for them than pray.

I don’t kid myself into thinking that the reason why my family unit is so strong is due to mine and Jay’s hard work. I know the reason why our family continues to thrive is because we place Christ right in the center. In this day of high divorce rates, financial burdens, misplaced values and day to day lies from Satan, it is only through prayer that I feel I can keep my family (especially my children) safe and grounded. Oh, I know we will still face trials, that’s a given, but knowing that when the trials come that my family rests peacefully in the hand of Jesus, brings comfort beyond measure. I also know and find comfort in the fact that my husband and I are united in seeking God’s will first in each decision we make regarding our family. Jay and I share the same belief and faith and we both draw our strength from our relationships with our Heavenly Father first and foremost.

Jesus stated in Mark 3:25

If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.

Together, Jay and I are teaching our children that unity in our family is a unity in faith and that what we will face, we will face together with God on our side. We will search His Word and prayerfully consider what He is saying to us. Jay and I want to model to our kids that long lasting marriages (good marriages) must invite God into the marriage from the day the vows are exchanged. And, it is also through prayer and God’s Word do we find the wisdom, compassion and unconditional love that we (two IMPERFECT people) need to allow these children to see just a glimpse of what God’s love for them is like.

As families all over this world face different hardships, it is my honor and privilege to pray for them:

Father God,

It is with praise that I stand before you tonight and lift up this prayer. I praise you for the gift of family that you give to us.

Lord tonight, as we all come here together to pray for families I ask that you would open hearts all over this world so that they may seek You first and know your wonderful and perfect plan for family.

I pray that families would seek to have a church family that can help them grow in their relationships with you and with each other. Often it is our church family that is the first to step in when we are hurting, the first to congratulate us on a happy moment and the first to hold us to a level of accountability for our actions. Lord, help us to see that the deeper we get rooted in our relationship with you and fellow Christians, the better our family relationships will become.

I ask Lord that you would also use Christian families to reach out to other families. Sometimes it is just by welcoming someone into our home or providing someone with a meal that others can see the wonders that only you can orchestrate through us.

Our father, wherever there may be discord among families, I pray that you would have your hand upon those situations. I pray for the restoration of parent/child relationships or sibling relationships. The pain that is inflicted by those we love is often the hardest to forgive. But father, you have set the example of forgiveness and it is through you that we learn how to forgive. I pray for open hearts tonight, hearts that would be open to the thought of forgiveness.

Lord, I pray that we as a nation would be able to open our eyes to the sin that takes place around us and around our families on a daily basis. Our minds are bombarded with so many lies or half truths that it is difficult and exhausting at times to fight the battle. I pray for families to take a stand for their morals and values so that there would be change brought about in this world for the good and for your glory.

And finally Lord, I pray that families all over this world would return to the biblical mandate stating that we as parents are to train our children in YOUR way and not to simply be bystanders in their maturation. We must not leave our children to be taught by others, it is our responsibility to lay the foundation for our children’s eternity. I pray for parents to see clearly what is happening in the life of their child and to have open communication that would be driven by Your Word. Communication that would ultimately lead their children to salvation and growth in their Christian walk.

Heavenly father, I again thank you for MY family, because it is through them that I see your love for me daily.

In Jesus’ Holy Name,

Amen

ANOTHER Birthday

Today is another birthday in our home....KATIE'S!!!!! Our sweet baby girl is officially 6 years old. I can't tell you how much it is breaking my heart. From the moment she was born she has been the sweetest angel baby we could have ever wished for. She is our snuggle and cuddle bug. She is just precious.

I am so amazed and honored to be this child's mother. She has one of the biggest, loving, forgiving hearts I have ever seen. Katie always has a smile and a hug for everyone and she is so very eager to welcome anyone as a "new friend". And she teaches me daily about forgiveness. If she feels she has upset me she always says "sorry Mommy" and when I tell her I am sorry she always says "that's okay Mommy". Oh, if I only had that amount of humbleness in my heart.....

And on this day of her birth, I am the one who got a great big gift wrapped up in a small package. Thank you God for blessing us with our sweet Katie Kate and for the privilege to watch her grow daily into the amazing woman she is going to become.