Happy Fall Ya'll! 

Just a few pics from past Fall fun!

My first born pumpkin'.

Avery - 18 months - I loved this pic!

My 2nd lil punkin' - one month and 10 days old. 

 I could jump in this computer and kiss those cheeks off!

 My Harley Boys!!!! 

Riley - 18 months (this was in the midst of his reign of terror)

Avery -  4 years old

King David and King Solomen - first month living in Maryville - 2 weeks before Landry's arrival!

So handsome!

Awww....love!  Cowboy Landry - almost 2 yrs. old.

 

2009

2009 -

I will always remember this night.  Landry was so scared to be outside after dark since Clark wasn't home.  It is written all over his face!

Happy Fall!  I am sure we will be making more fun memories tonight!

Memorable Monday Moments

I feel sorry for Monday.  She has a terrible reputation and no friends.  I googled quotes about her, and found this one... "Tear my hair out, slow roast me over a fire, pull off my eyebrows strand by strand, push pins through my fingernails, ...do anything to me, anything but a Monday."  Ouch!  That is harsh!  Poor Monday!

However, my last two Mondays have certainly been Mondayish!  On the weekend before last I spent about 3 hours in our homeschool classroom, preparing for the coming week.  I was one proud homeschoolin' Mama!  I was ready for my day/week...or was I? 

We were about one hour into our morning.  We had finished with Bible and Phonics for Landry, and started on Arithmetic for Riley.  Suddenly, Landry got that, "I have to go to the bathroom NOW!" look on his face, and went running up the stairs. 

Sadly, the door to our upstairs (the place where all the bathrooms in the house are located) was LOCKED!  We are still not sure how this happened.  Luckily, I had my cell phone, and called Clark, fully expecting him to come to my rescue.  Unfortunately, he was on his way to Kentucky!  Then I remembered that my Dad who is a PRO at coming to my rescue was at Dollywood.  By this time, our perfectly scheduled and organized Monday is a mess, and Landry is doing the potty dance at the bottom of the steps.  I broke out Clark's tools.  I tried many, many different things:  screwdrivers, nails, screws, paper clips, a clothes hanger, bobby pins, scissors, and even a golf tee.  Nothing was opening the door.  Riley's suggestion was to use a crowbar and tear the door down.  We vetoed this due to the cost aspect.  Landry's suggestion was that it would be great if he was Luke Skywalker and then he would use his lightsaber.  We vetoed this idea for obvious reasons.  By this time, I am sweating in a very unladylike manner and getting close to tears (no surprise there.) 

AN HOUR AND TEN MINUTES LATER, after continuous attempts, Landry actually saved the day.  He suggesting using a small paintbrush from our art table.  I used a hammer and flattened the end of it, put it in the lock, turned it, and heard a glorious "CLICK."  Just call me Mrs. Macgyver!

Landry made a beeline for the bathroom, and I stopped and pondered that no matter how prepared I am for a day, life just gets in the way of the best laid plans!

I will have to save today's Mondayish moments for another blog.  Thankfully, someone DID come to my rescue! ;)

Happy 40th Birthday to Clark! (we are getting old!)

Happy 40th Birthday to my favorite person in all the world!!!  I could say a million things about the man that I married, however, my expressive vocabulary is limited in comparison to how much I admire, love, and respect him.  Thankfully, Hallmark can say it perfectly.  I picked out a birthday card for him that truly expresses how I feel. 

In the words of Hallmark...

For my Husband, a man after God's heart -

"Those who fear the Lord are secure;  He will be a refuge for their children."  Proverbs 14:26

Because you seek Him

as your source of wisdom,

you're a wonderful leader...

Because you depend on Him

to be the strength of your heart,

you're a loving husband...

Because you pursue His best

for our lives and home,

His blessing and peace are here.

There is nothing else

that could make me feel

more honored than sharing my life

with you!

"The steps of good men are directed by the Lord.  He delights in each step they take. 

Psalms 37:23-24

I am married to a man that is all of these things and more.  I have loved being married to him, raising three boys with him, and look forward to growing old with him!  He is my life's greatest blessing.

This is a side of Clark that few see, but that definitely exists!

Happy 40th Birthday!  <3



Riley turns 11!

My middle man, Riley Lance, turned ELEVEN last month.  We had a fun family party with his best friend, Nathan Ferguson.  Before everyone came over to celebrate, we went to our local bowling alley and bowled a few games.  The youngest man of the family beat the sockeroos off of the rest of the boys, and he thoroughly enjoyed rubbing it in.  Later grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins stopped by for pizza, cake, and of course, PRESENTS! 

Here are a few of Riley's ELEVEN favorites in celebration of his ELEVENTH year...

1.  Favorite Food - mac n cheese (this has been the #1 food fav since he left the baby food stage.)

2.  Favorite Dessert - brownies - specifically his Grandma Joan's brownies.

3.  Favorite Past time - playing video games.

4.  Favorite Video Game - Backbreaker - he describes this game as football on steroids.

5.  Favorite Sport - Football (as well as every other male family member)

6.  Favorite Teams - Titans (pro) & UT (college)

7.  Favorite Friend - Nathan Ferguson

8.  Person he admires the most - his Dad, and I quote, "...because all that he does for our family, he   always  puts us first before himself."  so sweet!

9.  Favorite place to be - Dollywood

10.  Favorite song - anything by Toby Mac

11.  Favorite story in the Bible - when the Lord brings the Israelites out of Egypt, because God shows    His Power in so many ways in this story.  Like when he gives manna, sends a cloud by day and fire by night. 

I love you, Riley.  I love the way your eyes light us when you talk, and the way you squeeze me each night before you go to bed.  I pray the love that you have for the Lord continues to develop into something that you can never turn your back on.  Your peace, contentment and joy can only be found in Him!  xoxoxoxox

Mike Brockmeyer

My heart hurts tonight for my friend, Angie Brockmeyer.  Her husband's funeral visitation is happening now.  I can not begin to imagine the heartache that she is feeling.  I can only pray that she is able to feel the Lord's peace enveloping her and her two children. 

The Brockmeyer family have held a special place in our hearts, since the time that we built a home in 1999.  Ours was one of the first to go up in the subdivision.  We anxiously waited for neighbors.  It was so exciting when Mike and Angie built the home next door to us.  They had a son that was a few months older than our 18 mo. old Avery, and their daughter was six.  It didn't take us long to form a friendship.  We celebrated birthdays together, had picnics in our backyards, and shared snacks and toys.  Avery and Mackenzie were inseparable. 

Mike and Clark were inseparable at times, too!  They spent hours in our yard talking the evenings away while the boys played together.  I remember when Mike first became a police officer, and Angie was so proud of him!  I always loved the way Mackenzie looked so much like Mike, since Avery looked nothing like Clark!  Mike loved his children so much! Kayla's sports events were the highlights of his day.   Mackenzie was playing in the back of Mike's truck one day, and fell out and broke his arm.  I think Mike felt the pain more than Mackenzie!  Because of Mike's shift at the police station, he was often home during the day.  When Riley's due date approached, I began fervently walking the neighborhood in hopes of encouraging Riley to join us.  Every time I would pass the house, Mike would cheer me on!   When I was diagnosed with cancer, Mike and Angie were there to encourage me and pray.  One Halloween, he and Clark took the kids out for trick-or-treating.  Riley's asthma had been terrible that week, and he was unable to go with the others. Mike felt sorry for him and brought him over a big bag filled with candy. Mike helped me pull off a surprise 30th birthday party for Clark, even though he said he almost gave it away a hundred times!  Saying goodbye to our family-like neighbors was hard when we moved to East Tennessee!  We often went by to visit when we whenever we visited Jackson.  Thank you, Mike for being such a wonderful friend and for all of the memories.  Please know that so many are praying for Angie and the kids and believing that the Lord's peace will carry them through this trial.

The following is borrowed from The Jackson Sun...

JPD officer Brockmeyer dies at 38: Former airman's cancer had come back in August

Brockmeyer

 

 

Jackson police officer and former airman Michael Brockmeyer died Friday night after a long battle with leukemia. Brockmeyer was told in June that he was cancer free, but in August his doctors told him his cancer was back.
Members of the community banded together on behalf of Brockmeyer as his condition worsened and his 180 sick-time hours dwindled.
About 20 officers decided to take turns working his shifts, and a schedule was worked out so someone would be covering his shift every day through the end of the year.
In May, officers organized a benefit cookout that raised $6,000, and the family received donations from businesses in the community, such as HaliHannigan's Cupcakery, which donated 10 percent of its cupcake sales and all customer donations on June 30 to the family.
Brockmeyer, 38, had his infected gall bladder removed in March, and his white blood cell count was still high after the surgery, so doctors sent his blood to the pathology lab. The family said the cancer diagnosis was a shock.
He was receiving a new round of chemotherapy at Vanderbilt Medical Center.
Police Chief Gill Kendrick said that it is with deep regret that the Jackson Police Department announced Brockmeyer's passing late Friday night.
Brockmeyer had 10 years of service with the department and worked in the Uniform Patrol Division.
Kendrick also requested on behalf of the Brockmeyer family that their privacy be respected at this time.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by George A. Smith & Sons North Chapel. Visitation is scheduled for 5 to 8 p.m. Monday at Englewood Baptist Church.
The service will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Englewood, followed by burial services at Highland Memorial Gardens.