New Do...

Yep... I did it... had hairdresser cut it ALL off!
Oh, and Yep... Mike hates it!

But hey, With as busy as things have become, I felt a need for some simplicity in my life!

Surprise!!!!!!

This was the look on Devin's face as Grandma and Grandpa Lyons walked in the door Sunday afternoon... Priceless!!

I'll back up... Friday evening, Ray called my cell phone to say they were 4 hours away and had an extra day, they'd like to come visit for a night. Of course we said yes considering they live 12 hours away! But, we decided NOT to tell the kids and really make it a surprise. All we told them was we were having a "family day" on Sunday because Devin was gone for a week. So, we went to church, came home, ate lunch, and began to "make plans"... knowing that the grandparents were just a short while away...

It truly was a fun surprise and the smiles were amazing! We spent Sunday afternoon just visiting, then headed to Old Bethabara Park before returning home to grill out.

Sadly, they had to leave on Monday morning... but they'll be back in July!

Devin's Home!

Devin came home from his first mission trip Saturday... all smiles! Paige and Juli couldn't wait to hug him as he got off the bus. He's still trying to unwind and process everything he did and witnessed... but he had a great time and is excited about the people he helped while there.

When we first started attending River Oaks, the youth leaders welcomed the kids with open arms. But, there was one man that really just took Devin under his wing and helped him to open his eyes to the Glory and love of God... Doug Todd. Doug has played a huge role in Devin's life over the last year (as well as many other youth members) and we are very thankful for that. Doug wasn't able to attend this mission trip, but was at the church waiting for all the kids to return.

Welcome home, Devin!! We are so very proud of you!

Simple Math...

PLUS


EQUALS

Need help with the equation?
__________________________

1 Bedroom Floor
+
5 jugs of water
=
1 Little Girl in Big Trouble!
__________________________

Seems Paige tried to make her bedroom floor a "splash pool" this afternoon because she was hot!!

Didn't work out so well for her once she got caught! Sometimes I wonder what goes through that little girl's head!

Happy Father's Day to the Dad's In My Life!

My husband, Michael. This man will sell the clothes off his back if it meant it would give something to his family. I've seen him work many hard hours and come home to play with the kids for a few more hours, and then cook dinner. He's a man that so easily brushes things right off his back and says "so what" when I'm freaking out. He's the rock in my life and keeps me so grounded and is the best father I could ever have dreamed to have for our children. I love him more and more every single day!

My Dad, John... Gosh - I cry even starting to type this! He's such a special man in my life, and grows more special to me each and every day. He's taught me more than I can begin to think about and has really shown me how to love unconditionally. He's very loved by each of the grand-kids and we wish we were able to see him more often.

My father-in-law, Ray Lyons has such a special love for all his grand-kids and is the one full of hugs for everyone. He's a great man that I feel blessed to have as a part of my family.

My step-father-in-law, Chris Reinhart always makes sure he's not a step-grandfather to the kids. He's always been a load of fun to each of them and is better known as "Papa Chris". Each of the kids LOVE taking rides with him on hot summer days! He's such fun and we enjoy visiting with him!

I hope each of the Dad's in my life have a fabulous Father's Day! You are all loved very much!

Happy Anniversary Heritage-Healthcare!

I work for a great company, Heritage-Healthcare Inc. This weekend, they invited ALL of their associates from all over the United States to Greenville, SC to celebrate their 10th Anniversary... and they did it up right!

The event was held at the Furman University Soccer Field and there were activites for kids of all ages: face art (this was way better than face painting let me tell ya!!), balloon art, characatures, obstacle courses, bounce gyms, and more! I wish I would have taken the kids with me. But, I am so glad that I took the time to go and meet the brains behind Heritage-Healthcare and am so very thankful that 2 men decided to take a huge risk 10 years ago!!


I am very lucky to have a great boss, Jennifer Dasta, who really cares about her employees... who are literally ALL OVER the United States! She's not only a Vice President of Operations, she's an Area Manager for 2 or 3 areas now as well as a treating Speech Therapist! I have no idea how this lady keeps it all together!!

I think the craziest part of my weekend away was a chance encounter. While in the pool at the hotel Friday night, I heard "MICHELLE?" from across the way... I looked and was SHOCKED to see a good friend from HIGH SCHOOL 20 years ago!! We talk on Facebook on occasion, but haven't seen each other in years!! Angie (LaFountain-Boyd) and her (beautiful) family just happened to stop at that hotel on their way to Hilton Head for vacation!!! We had fun catching up and managed to get a picture before we went our separate ways!

All in all, I had a great weekend get-away to celebrate with a wonderful Company 10 years of existence. I'm excited to see what the next 10 years has to offer!

Here, There, and Everywhere!

A crazy weekend it will be!

First the Here:

Tomorrow we start our weekend at the doctor's office with Kayleigh... seems her sugar is off again and it's been hard for her to control with diet alone. So... she's the lucky winner of another glucose intolerance test as well as a fasting full panel blood screen. Here's to hoping this one goes better than the last time when the lab tech messed up and had to start all over after she had done 2 draws!

Also here, Mike will be the parent on duty all weekend and a busy weekend it will be for him! He gets to manage work, meals, bedtimes, as well as church events for the kids! I am very thankful to him for allowing me to be....

There:

I am going on a weekend away with a dear friend of mine, Marli. She and I are attending our employer's 10th Anniversary Celebration in Greenville, SC. We're staying at the Drury Inn & Suites in downtown Greenville, within walking distance of many little shops and restaurants. All day Saturday we'll be at Furman University for the big party. I work for a great Company (Heritage-Healthcare, Inc.) and am looking forward to the time away.

Boy are we spread out this week with Mike here, me there, and Devin being...

Everywhere:

Devin leaves Saturday morning for his first mission trip with our youth group from River Oaks Community Church. They will be traveling to the Wade Center in Bluefield, WV where they will be working on community projects remodeling homes, painting, roofing, and more; as well as organizing a Vacation Bible School for the community and providing outreach. He has been so excited about this trip and we are so proud of him for taking the huge step in his faith!

So... there ya have it... our weekend here, there, and everywhere!

Yep... I'm Definitely Frazzled...

I started a Bible Study tonight with 18 other women from our church and neighboring churches. I left there feeling so not alone being so frazzled all the time... the Bible Study: The Frazzled Female.

To start - why am I frazzled? Wow! I can come up with HUNDREDS of reasons I'm sure...

- Being the Mom of 4 (amazing) kids who always have something going on... doctors appointments, school events, sleep overs, illnesses, etc.

- Being the wife to a (fabulous) husband who works crazy hours and is on call 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

- Trying to keep the house in pristine shape "just in case" someone were to happen to stop by... wouldn't want anyone seeing how we REALLY live!

- Trying to find time for Mike and I to "date" so that we maintain that spark in our relationship.

- Trying to find time for me to unwind, yet also deal with the kids who greet me at the door before the van is even turned off because they've miss me all day.

- Being the only treating Occupational Therapy therapist for the last few months AND trying to manage my department as a whole

The list could go on and on.... but, where does frazzled get me? Nowhere!

Tonight, I realized what's missing... GOD! He's always here waiting for me, but I never talk to him. I never stop for a second to give it all up to Him, to trust Him. Even if it's just to say "HELP! I need Your help, God!".

Psalm 29:11 says "The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people with peace." When we need His strength and we seek it, He is there. He blesses us with peace for our families, peace with our worries, peace with our weaknesses, peace for our lives. But we have to open up and go to Him, trust in Him, to get the peace we need to un-frazzle our life.

I am going to immediately plan time for God each and every day. I'm going to make it a point to spend time each and every day with God and give up all my worries, all the things that make me frazzled, and have faith in Him that he will provide me with the peace to know He is always there.

When You Send a Teen to the Mall...

They suddenly become fashion models...

5th Grade Graduation

The schools here celebrate EVERYTHING... last year Paige had Preschool Graduation, this year Kindergarten Celebration and today was Chase's 5th Grade Graduation complete with Pomp and Circumstance! In the beginning, We weren't too thrilled about it, but it turned out to be a nice ceremony.

If you know Chase at all, you know he gets real funny in big crowds, especially when he's leading the 5th grade! He had the craziest grin on his face the whole walk! That's our Chase! I have to admit, watching him walk in Processional to Pomp & Circumstance did get me a slight bit teary eyed! 5th grade.... crazy I know! Momma's gonna be a mess senior year!

This has been a milestone year for Chase in so many ways! Chase had a FABULOUS teacher this year! Mr. Stone handled Chase so well! We didn't have to go to the school for a team meeting AT ALL! Again, another tear when Mr. Stone gave Chase a HUGE hug on stage this morning to congratulate him! (Yes, Mr. Stone is well over 6 feet tall!! His legs are as long as Chase is tall!!)

The ceremony closed with the kids singing "Ready Set Go". Chase ended up front row, center! You all know I couldn't pass up a moment to video part of that to share with y'all!! Enjoy!

Devin's Birthday Bash!

Devin celebrated his 16th birthday Friday evening with his first party at our house. Original plans were bonfire... but a week's worth of straight rain killed that idea! So - Dad to the rescue!! We grilled hotdogs and hamburgers for them while they all hung out on the back porch, the trampoline, the yard, the house... there were kids everywhere! At one point we had over 20 teenagers in our living room playing rock-band and singing! I have to say... it was quite fun to see them all enjoying themselves!!

The best part of the night though... that would be the birthday cake. Devin is terrified of clowns... yep... clowns! My good friend Jenni made him a clown birthday cake (by our request). He had NO idea and only a few of his friends knew. This is how it went...

We are very blessed to have such good kids with such good friends!! Here's a few of our favorite pictures from the evening...

21 Years Ago Today...

I met my wonderful husband! Here's how it happened . . .

My parents took my friend, Katie Steele, and I to the Strawberry Festival in Payne, OH. It was a small-town street fair type thing. Katie and I were told to be back at my Dad's car no later than 6pm. Well . . . being the girls that we were - we were still on the basket ride at 6pm! We got off and ran like crazy towards the car. While running - I literally ran over Mike! He kind of laughed - and then followed us to the car trying to talk to me the entire time. He did manage to get our names - thanks to Katie!

At the time - I remember thinking how creepy it was for him to follow us the way he did. Katie, on the other hand, had an instant crush on Mike! Off we went with my parents as he stood in the parking lot watching the car until we were out of sight.

A few days later - HE KNOCKED ON MY DOOR! Somehow he figured out who I was and where I lived! (Probably with the help a family member in law enforcement!) Again - I thought - this boy is CREEPY! We talked for a little while and he left. I called Katie - who thought it was the sweetest thing ever and she hoped he was on her doorstep!

The next time he came - my Dad said that I should at least give him a chance because of the trouble he went through! I reluctantly agreed and went out with him. Little did he know - that the boy who "stalked" his daughter would eventually be his son-in-law! His charm and personality had me hooked from that first true date!

As for Katie - she was furious with me . . . but, she eventually got over it!