Men......

I love this picture! There are 2 thousand words in this picture!

This is Caleb talking to his nephew Joschua, who is two. Caleb loves little people. He loves babies, he loves toddlers. He loves kids. You can see it in his face. Can't you just see how Joschua responds to his Uncle?

HE knows Caleb loves him.

He loves Caleb too.

They love each other.

I love it!

This one gets framed soon!

Loving my men, Lynette

Sewing is fun!

Grandma and Joschua playing after all the sewing!

Joschua likes it dark to sleep. We came up with the idea

of fleece (and on sale half price...yay) to make it dark and

insulate from the cold in winter and from the heat in summer!

Playing with his train. Two window treatments!

Matthew Scott liked the valances so well, he said "can you

make a bed spread to match?" SURE! Camo on one side,

blue on the other. AND it's warm!

Joschua's new bed, pillows and bed covers! Maybe camo

sheets next!

Lorelei's fleece curtains are yellow. Her room is pink and yellow!

(Paint is distorted in this pic, do not know why.)

Sewing is fun and can be very helpful and allows you to have more choices. Plus saves much-o

dollars! I am glad I like to sew and it is very rewarding too. Are girls still learning to sew in school? I homeschool, therefore Hannah is learning to sew as we make time to sew together!

Delighting in Jesus today, Lynette

1st Day of FALL 2010

Well, Summer is over....my favorite season! It was a tremendous, wonderful, exciting summer for our whole family! My girls were able to travel extensively. Mexico, California, North Carolina, New England and Pennsylvania. We all went on a Missions Trip to Mexico together....that was the highlight for me....I loved it, the kids, the people, the Gospel sharing!

Fall or Autumn (as some desire to call it ---same thing) is here to stay. Cool nights, warm days. the coolness has arrived here, although Bekah just told me it is supposed to be 91 degrees here on Friday. Flowers are fading, although my zinnias still look fresh and in the pink. Our mums from last year are budding though not in bloom yet. Our dogs, Emma and Taffy are running around with extra energy when they go out, due to the cooler temperatures. They enjoy the 'crisp air' too. I have NOT put my shorts, flip flops or capri's away yet though. I am hanging in there as long as I can......savoring the last vestiges of summer time on the East Coast. I grew up in California and we always had an Indian summer in October....temps as high as 100 degrees! November always brought the sweaters out back then. I'll be looking for mine next week~

So for the first full Fall day here, Hannah and I took down all the 'Beach' pics and flowers and put out our fall 'fake' flowers, pumpkins and hung our Fall wreaths up. I was a little sad, but not too much. My hubby's favorite color is ORANGE....so I was happy to put lots of orange things out today. Even the small clay pumpkin that says "Always Give Thanks, for Everything" ~ a good reminder to this 'ol summer time girl! Two pots of soup simmering all day on the stove, Tomato and also Turkey Noodle (my families favorite) --homemade of course! Smells like FALL!!

Yes!
Fall
Has
Arrived,
And
I
WILL
Give
THANKS
Always
For
Everything!
Thank YOU Lord for you are GOOD! That turkey soup will taste so good tonight!

With a grateful heart, Lynette

Family Beach Vacation 2010

(Taken just before leaving early due to hurricane Earl!)

Fun at the BEACH!!!

Our family vacation for 2010 was at Nags Head, North Carolina and was a very special celebration as a family and of my Birthday!

We planned, we shopped for groceries, we packed up, we secured things at home like the mail being stopped, we made sure we had lots and lots of sun lotions (from 4 all the way up to 70 ~ we don't like sun burns), we even took 20 beach towels with us!

We are planners. Our family tends to be organized. I guess that comes from having a large family....things don't get done if we don't organize and plan. When we get there though.....we put all the groceries away, everyone makes their bed up, unpack and then we RELAX!!! We know how to relax....

We all love sweet tea, so the pitcher never ran dry. We love water too, so we went through how many cases, I do not know. Matthew & Natascha had their Cherry Dr. Pepper which is hard to find in North Carolina! NOT in PA though ~ and they like to share!

We spent our days on the sand, in the ocean water and in the pool. We took turns cooking ~ we do have great cooks, I must say ~ and Matthew is the Grill Master!

After dinner we had family devotions together. Ask one of my kids to tell you about the 'lie bucket' example Dave demonstrated to everyone about what happens when we lie. We cannot have a relationship with the LORD or others if we are not truthful. Relationships are based on trust and there is NO trust when we lie. So we seek forgiveness if we lie and then purpose to speak the truth even if it hurts.

After devotions, it was game time. We ALL love game time. Our family loves to play games. So the first night we played "Signs".....everyone had so much fun! The next night we played "Four on a Couch" ~ guys against the girls. The girls won and were challenged to another one ~ the guys won! We have the pictures to prove it...ha! I laughed til my side hurt. In fact I laughed so hard everyday! We played "WhoNu", "Life", "Wizard", "Mexican Train" (my favorite), and lots of others too. In fact we never turned the TV on (except Caleb to get his SPORTS updates) and Cartoons for Joschua~

Sunday Night we watched the LightShine DVD together that Chad gave us from Mexico.

Wednesday night we all went to Millers Wharf-front Restaurant for dinner out on Dad; Mom's Birthday Dinner. Yummy Steak and Fish! Love those 'hush puppies'! Back to the Beach house and cake and gifts. WOW! At the end I was presented by Rebekah a "Celebrate Sherry" book. I cried ~ as I read loving birthday greetings and memories! From my family and friends! So many happy happy memories and encouragements! I am over whelmed at the love in that book!

We had great moments together, good food, good fellowship, good fun like playing basketball, riding bikes, riding the waves, eating nachos, swimming in the pool, chatting, telling stories, praying together, eating snacks, and staying up late laughing!

We missed those who were not with us, Nat, Tara, Noe, Jeannette, and Sammy ~ yet our time together was precious. How blessed we are!

We woke up Thursday morning to a mandatory evacuation notice! See, the plans we make are held lightly....because there is Someone who holds all our todays and tomorrows in HIS hands. HE holds our lives in HIS hands. Were we sad?...yes. Yet we were joyful inside because we KNEW HE is in control and HIS plans are always for our good and HIS glory! Thank you LORD for 5 glorious, fun, spirit filled days together ~ we love YOU and we are very glad we are YOURS!!!!

Summer Time~

I love Summer. I grew up in Southern California and went to the Beach a lot each summer. I was blessed to live 30 minutes from Malibu Beach yet my favorite beach was Zuma Beach. It had consession stands, bath houses and lifeguards always on duty! But you had to pay to park....I remember it being $5 and that was a lot it seemed to me. I spent my hard earned money though to go to Zuma Beach because that is where all my friends were!

Now all these many years later, I still like the BEACH....any beach. Summer isn't summer without at least one visit to the Ocean. I was thinking about this yesterday ~ why is summer so special to me when I am surrounded by people who always say they love Fall or Winter and enjoy the cold?

I decided it would be fun to make a list of things I like about summer! Those of you who love winter or fall can do the same thing! Post it at the end of this post!

~Warm days to bask in the warm sun
~Flip flops
~Shorts and sleeveless shirts
~Flowers....all kinds
~Warm ocean breezes
~Popsicles
~Coke floats
~Cold Watermelon
~Fresh mowed grass smells
~Riding the waves
~Berry picking
~Bicycle riding
~Pool fun
~Slip and slide fun on our hill
~Riding in the country
~Steak on the grill
~Corn on the cob
~Vacation at the shore
~Washing my car in the sun
~Sleeping past 6am
~Frozen drinks
~Sitting under an umbrella on our deck
~Lilac bushes smelling sweet
~Roses in my garden
~Squirting the kids with the hose
~Playing games at night
~Flash light tag
~Shell hunting
~Sand between my toes
~Dead heading my flowers
~Fresh tomatoes
~Peaches....lots of them~
~Ocean City, NJ, with the Teens
~Walks in the evenings with my honey
~Ocean smells
~SnowBalls
~Family visits
~sooo many more...too many to list!

We only have a month of summer left~ and I will enjoy every day of it! Thank you Lord for giving us seasons but especially SUMMER!!!

With a Grateful Heart, Sherry