Happy 19th Birthday Miku Boyka!!

Wow.  Michael turns 19 at 8:29 pm tomorrow, June 30th.  Its hard to believe that time goes so fast.  I remember lying in bed with Michael when he was a baby and wondering how am I going to do this for 18 years?  Well, I did it!  We made it.  Michael is my free spirited child.  He thinks unlike any other person I know, (except for maybe his father).  He is very athletic, he is very serious, has a genius ability on the guitar, and with writing words.  He thinks too deeply at times, but he is young, and I have faith he will be led down the path that he's supposed to be on eventually.  Considering I was 17 when I got pregnant with Michael, I think I've done a pretty good job.  I have done the best with who I was at at each stage.  When Michael is around he is either playing the guitar, climbing trees, or having conversations that are hard to follow with my "simple mind".  But he never ceases to bring a smile to my face.  He is my oldest child, and I wish him peace, I wish him love, I wish him joy.  I love watching him evolve, and it is a pleasure that he was lent to me from God.  Thank you, Lord for Michael.  Having trouble with the pics, so they are not in order....some are too dark....the one of him with his guitar and in the tree were just taken today...

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6lbs 15 oz. sorry its so dark

I know God forgives....but will He forgive me for ----------

I've been told by more people I care to count, that if you commit suicide you go to hell no matter what.  I admit when Danny died I struggled and questioned whether maybe these people were on to "something".  I've also listened to these same "Christians" talk about how you can lose your salvation, and get "it" back again..
I no longer wonder about such foolish things. I mean, really, which sin is it that I commit that God decides I am no longer His Child, and I need to re- earn my salvation?  Silly, isn't it?  Here is why I know I will see Danny again someday, and here is also why I don't have to fret every time I sin:
To those who don't believe, I say "You of so little faith".  Study your Bible and pray fervently, as the truth lies in the pages of that book.

Which leads me to my devotion today.  I was reading from "Finding God for Women" and I came across the following:

"Will God ever forgive me for _______________????

Why did Christ die?  So he could forgive you for everything but ___________?  As He completed the payment for sin by spilling his precious blood, did He cry out a caveat from the cross, "It is finished...except for one thing"?  Consider people in the Bible.  Moses was a murderer.  David was an adulterer, Samson blew his potential.  Saul murdered Christians.  Zacchaeus was a thief.  Peter denied Christ on the eve of his death THREE times.  Their lives are testimony to the outrageous, undeserved grace of God.
If you accept God's forgiveness intellectually yet fail to internalize it emotionally, you are either attempting to minimize your own sin and convincing yourself it wasn't that bad; or you are minimizing the work of the cross, by saying your sin was "so bad" that Christ's sacrificial death was not enough to pay for it.  Either option erroneously puts you in charge of your sin situation and sets aside the grace of God.

I think it is worthy of reading these words.  God said "IT IS FINISHED".
Indeed it is.
I am forgiven. 
I am a Child of God.
I will always be a child of God because HE paid the price so that I might live.

What a beautiful thing to not have to worry if today's sin is going to push me back into no longer being saved.

Have a wonderful day!

A visit with my Grandma Lillie~

Today me, my mom, Emily, and Caleb went to visit my Grandma Lillie.  My grandma is in the late stages of Alzheimers.   She doesn't seem to recognize us anymore, she sleeps a lot, and sometimes she cries this heart breaking cry, but I cherish the times I go see her.  I always leave feeling happy and satisfied knowing that I took the time to show her I care and love her.  Something I have noticed with grandma is how she loves to be touched.  When you rub her arms, or legs, she just melts into your arms, or shoulder..its sooo sweet.  When you do get her to focus on your face she always SMILES.  Today Emily was rubbing her legs, and it was just a neat time.  My children are going to remember their great grandma, that coupled with the stories I can share with them about her is amazing to me.  They are able to witness the small steps she takes, and they see that she is not just an object.
She is my grandma, and I love her.

:O)

Keep It Simple!

From the book Each Day A New Beginning:
I know I am guilty of this.  Today I am going to strive to keep it simple.
Have a great weekend.

I have a simple philosophy. Fill what's empty. Empty what's full. And scratch where it itches.
—Alice Roosevelt Longworth

All too often, we complicate our lives. We can wonder and worry our way into confusion; obsession or preoccupation it's often called. "What if?" "Will he?" "Should I?" "What do you think?" We seldom stop trying to figure out what to do, where to do it, how to meet a challenge, until someone reminds us to "keep it simple."

What we each discover, again and again, is that the solution to any problem becomes apparent when we stop searching for it. The guidance we need for handling any difficulty, great or small, can only come into focus when we remove the barriers to it, and the greatest barrier is our frantic effort to personally solve the problem. We clutter our minds; we pray for an answer and yet don't become quiet enough, for long enough, to become aware of the direction to go, or the steps to take. And they are always there.

Inherent in every problem or challenge is its solution. Our greatest lesson in life may be to keep it simple, to know that no problem stands in our way because no solution eludes a quiet, expectant mind.

I have opportunities every day to still my mind. And the messages I need - will come quietly. My answers are within me, now.

Our yard got hit by the storm last night!!

Crappy picture, but wow!  What a mess this Weeping Willow has made for us.  Our entire yard looked like a tornado went through it.  branches and leaves strewn all over our yard.  Thankfully we have children to help us when this sort of thing happens.  :O)


I don't think the Weeping Willow is my favorite tree anymore.....

Baseball Season is over for Caleb already?!

His medal for playing

The Team

Well, it sure went by fast!  We are signing him up for an extended season so he can play a little bit longer.  In the fall he will play football, so that is good.  He loves sports!!  It keeps him busy both mentally and physically.  He had a fun time last night going to a baseball game with Troy.  He won a baseball and bat.  He also caught one of the balls.  Seems like just a few weeks ago he wore his uniform 3 days in a row waiting for the rain to quit!!

Happy Father's Day~

I am a day late in posting.  Yesterday was busy.  I was able to spend the afternoon with my Dad, husband, and brother in law.  We went to Lisa's house, grilled some steaks, I baked a home made chocolate cake for my dad, and it was a nice time.  It was a little bittersweet, as yesterday was the last time Jon is going to see his dad for quite some time.  He is moving to Florida.  Jon hasn't shown much emotion over this, but I don't know how it couldn't be hurting him to some degree...say prayers for my son.  Pray for strength, and that he will talk openly to me when things are bothering him...

Its dark...but dat be mine Daddy~
Yes....he always looks that serious..LOL

Thank you for being a spiritual leader in our family, Dad.  Thank you for raising me in a family that served the Lord.  Thank you for doing what the Lord asked of you.  Thank you for loving me through every single incident in my life, for taking the good, the bad and the down right ugly, never loving me any less or making me feel as if I am somehow not worthy of receiving your love. 

I love you,
Kristy

I have no pictures of Troy, so Happy Father's Day, Troy.  Thanks for being such a hands on Dad!!  Thank you for work you do to help provide for this family.  Thank you for being Jon's "MOD".

Happy Father's Day to all the other Father's out there too.  I pray that any of you Father's who are currently raising children will be the spiritual leader of your home.  It is so important for the well being of your children.
In fact, if memory serves me right, the Bible commands father's to do so.  If that is an area you need to work on, pray about it.  God will lead you.  He wants to see every family follow Him.  :O)

"Father's"


God took the strength of a mountain,
The majesty of a tree,
The warmth of a summer sun,
The calm of a quiet sea,
The generous soul of nature,
The comforting arm of night,
The wisdom of the ages,
The power of the eagle's flight,
The joy of a morning in spring,
The faith of a mustard seed,
The patience of eternity,
The depth of a family need,
Then God combined these qualities,
When there was nothing more to add,
He knew His masterpiece was complete,
And so, He called it...
Dad
- Author Unknown

Once upon a time.....

Mine Mamma and Pappa

Once upon a time there was a young man and a young woman who fell in love with each other. 
Their families did not agree with their love affair, and did not bless their union.  But they loved each other so much they went ahead and got married anyways.  They were only 18.  (In time, their families loved and accepted the other partner as they could see that they were indeed meant to be together.  They became part of the family, and were as close as they can be.)
Since they were so young, the young man decided to join the army, where he and his new bride started their journey together.  Moving from the only home she'd ever known, the girl followed her love to Okinowa.  There were many lonely nights, many tears cried, many hard times that followed.  But they loved each other.
During the course of their union, they welcomed 3 children into their home.  Their children brought them much joy, and they loved them very much.  The couple continued down their journey, experiencing life together.  They experienced the joy of children, watching them grow, the heartache that accompanies having children as well.  They have enjoyed the feeling of having 9 healthy grandchildren.  They have seen the seasons of life come full circle in the loss of parents.  They have endured the heartache of losing one of their children.  Yet here they are.  42 YEARS LATER.  42 years ago today, my parents married.  They have had quite the journey.  They are closer today because of what they have experienced together.  They need each other.  They stand as one unit.  One being.  They love and support each other unconditionally.  God brought my parents together.  They belong together, and I am forever grateful to our Lord and Savior for blessing me with such incredible parents, and I am grateful to my parents for showing me what love is supposed to look like.  HAPPY ANNIVERSARY.  I LOVE YOU BOTH VERY, VERY MUCH......






Beach Day

I have fallen behind on my posts...been too lazy I guess.

Last week, Sami was down, so on that 103 degree day we took the kids to this little beach down the road from my house.  I only got one pic that turned out, so that is the one I will share.  We had a picnic under the pavillion, and the kids made their way to the water and played and splashed around for a couple of hours.
I think I will try to spend quite a bit of time there this summer since ITS FREE.  They also have a nice playground the kids can play at too....

Caleb and James having fun!!

Happy Happy 10th Birthday my sweetest Emily!!

At 10:27 a.m on June 13, 2001 Emily Anne Callies was born.  Weighing in at 6 pounds 5 ounces, my first words to her was "she's so little"!!  I cannot even begin to write about how Emily has blessed my life.  I truly do not know what I would do without my little girl.  She is this wonderful package of sweetness, sour, tender, tough all rolled into this skinny itty bitty body.  She has a song in her heart.  She doesn't judge people by their "outside shell".  She holds her own having 3 brothers.  She has brought more joy to my life then I can even begin to describe. 

T Shirt she got

Emily in her helmet with Koriah behind her

Picture of Emily as an official 10 year old!!

For her birthday I took her to Bunker Hills Stable for a horse back ride.  It was an hour long trail ride.  It was slow going, but the weather was beautiful, and I am glad we did it. 
I remember when I turned 10 I thought it was the coolest thing that I was a "decade"...LOL!  Now I'm pushing 4 decades...haha

I know God has big plans for my sweet Emily, and I pray that she will listen intently and follow His desires for her instead of her own.  I pray that she will never lose the song in her heart.

Thank you Father for blessing me with this wonderful little girl.

I love you Emily.

Mamma