Two Teenagers Already!

A new "white cabinet" look

13 candles

Paul puts on the necklace he made her

Lily doing what she loves most.

Lily gets to work the controls

Her breakfast plate smiley face

John and Sarah helped pick and arrange her flowers

The "I wan Apple" kid

The "men " of the family carrying the picnic supplies

A view of the Tennessee valley

It's been incredible to watch the kids grow. Joshua seems like another adult walking around the house. At 15 he can just about run things. We enjoy all the summer birthdays- eating meals together with family and throwing in a kick ball game now and then. We started celebrating Lily's day a little early by taking her to Boomsday, a huge fireworks show in Knoxville. It really is something to see so this year we had others join us and they were not disappointed. This event draws about 325,000 people, but we found a great church parking lot that has ,what we heard , the best and closest view. We have also enjoyed taking a day to visit the nearby mountains for a picnic and dip in what we think is the most beautiful lake we have ever seen. We started school and WOW!!! it is going to be a busy year. We have nature study class at the park on one afternoon with a half dozen families and Physical Education at the YMCA on another afternoon.One night a week we play frisbee and tennis. We are trying to get Lily involved with music and horses as well. Paul is playing in a golf league once a week and enjoying the competition. Joshua is working several afternoons after he puts in a heavy school day including Biology with the labs, Geometry, Format Writing, Spanish 1, and the other basics. The other kids have a full day also and I can't help but read aloud to them when it comes to history (this is generally because we read a lot of historical fiction) I am reading the Little House series to John and Lily not to mention their history and science readings . Lily seems to be able to get a lot of what I am saying and John is begging for more. The kid's attitudes make things easier but I still feel totally overwhelmed some days. You see, I do have this one busy little man who likes to get away with a lot when mom is busy. I try to let go and enjoy this time and overlook the messes. I just had to take a picture of the apple mess. He found an overlooked bag of apples on the table after we arrived home from the grocery store and decided it would be fun to take a bite out of EVERY ONE and spit the pieces out everywhere. He just looked at me upon discovery and said, "I wan apple" I am sure things have been worse since I have been occupied in between subjects, nap times and late at night sanding, priming, and painting our kitchen cabinets but it has been worth it. The kitchen, being my main dwelling place, needed to be a brighter more cheerful place.

Today, Lily's birthday (which is the day before one of her grandma's birthdays. Happy Birthday Grandma!) was really a precious day. I decided to take Kenny's advice and have more relaxed fun with the kids so therefore we just did whatever Lily wanted. We have a special breakfast tradition with flowers and candles followed by a few presents. Then we painted together around the table, played a video game, watched Prince of Egypt twice, made bead necklaces, made cakes, and then she couldn't stand it any longer. She had to get back to her computer art. She truly is a junkie. In the evening, we had friends and family over for the cake of her choice. She did something so wonderful today that I wish I could add to the blog. As we were drawing and painting we had some music on that she just couldn't sit still for so she jumped up and gave me the best dance show I had ever seen from her. I will try to put it on here soon. Lily has had zero seizures since we went up on her topomax which has been about a month now.

So what can I say. Sure life gets hectic. We get stressed and rude to each other at times. I even have days where I cry from not feeling adequate enough. But I try to remember the truth. I try to remember gratefulness is the way out. GOD'S LOVE IS HERE! So what more can I need.