Picture Worth A Thousand Words

I couldn't resist! I snapped this picture on my way home from feeding Baby Girl this morning. Isn't this so true that the grass always looks greener on the other side of the fence? I have much to say on this particular saying, but will just leave you with the

picture worth a 1000 words!

Summer Favorites of '08

It is hard to believe that the summer is going so fast. We have had some great times this summer. We thought we might capture our favorites list for the summer of '08:

Papa list of favorites include:

• time at Hume Lake with my wife
• Wii moments at the Cobbs
• time with Hopie & Luke while Mama & Abbie were at Wagon Train
• I have broaden my food selections to include gourmet (to Liz's delight)
• time with Rob going to Grace Children's Home to repair vehicles
• later evenings with the girls (Luke's bedtime is pretty set)

Mama has loved having my children home during the summer. Don't let me mislead you, they have had their fightin' days. They aren't fun but nothing prayer, self-control, and a little more sleep doesn't take care of. Then there are the "we are the bestest sisters EVER" ~ man, I love those days. Other favs:

• a surprise massage
• time with my man ~ Hume Lake
• a day working cattle with my buddy Benny
• watching my girls serve Jesus at the Family Fun Nights
• an all nighter on the trampoline with 7 little girls ~ can you say chiropractor needed
• relaxed schedule
• Wagon Train
• watching Luke learn to eat M&Ms

Abbie's summer favorites include:

• Wagon Train
• VBS
• Family Fun Nights
• Makeovers at McKay's house
• making cookies with Mama
• swimming

Hopie's summer favorites include:

• swimming
• morning (PBS Kids) cartoons - (that is so Hopie)
• VBS
• Family Fun Nights
• eating lunch at McDonald's
• helping Mama cook - (she is a good helper)

Luke's favs:

swimming

gettin' this walking thing down

making mud pies

eating M&Ms

Wagon Train 08

Abbie & Mama just spent a week at Hume Lake attending Wagon Train. Wagon Train is where the Old West comes alive as campers sleep in real covered wagons, eat in the Outpost, and purchase items from the Trading Post. We had a great time! Wagon Train is Hume's junior camp for ages 8-11. With its rugged western theme, Wagon Train showed us & 9 other children plus 3 counselors a rootin' tootin' good time while delivering the Good News of Christ. We were led through the week by dedicated staff (dressed in authentic western attire) who took us on hikes, taught us fun crafts, and shared their love for the Lord. This rustic camp gave us the opportunity to experience the outdoors like never before. With such activities as rappelling, archery, the Giant Swing and the Flying Fox zip-line, we were never at a loss for great things to do.

More Wagon Train Photos

Even More Wagon Train Pictures

Romance Weekend at Hume Lake

In June, Aaron & I got an opportunity to go up to Hume Lake and be a host couple for one of their "Romance Weekends". We have attended several of the weekends ourselves over the years. They are incredible! This was our first time going over to the "dark side" of Romance. This side was the hosting of Romance. Caring for the couples, setting up the theme dinner, turning down beds, and anything we could do to love on the 25 couples who attended the Romance weekend. It was a fabulous team of people who work well together. We had an amazing weekend serving together and making new friends.

Help....Wii has captured my husband

Our good friends just celebrated their anniversary this past Sunday. My girlfriend (Keri) shared with me that her husband (Rob) got her a Wii for their anniversary. http://cobblog.blogspot.com/2008/06/wii-for-me.html

I thought, how cool. I have heard many fun things about this game, yet haven't played it a lick. BUT there has been something strange come over my husband since our best friends got this new Wii. He finds ANY reason to run over to their home, and dresses it up nobly. He has even been late for supper, only to find out "I stopped by the Cobbs!" aka "I beat them AGAIN!" He cracks me up. Although, Keri & Rob are cracking me up too. They call to let Aaron know when they beat his score and of course he is over there lickety-split to show them up! The only thing I am not laughin' about is the funny eyes my buddy gave me on my Wii character. She says they look like me when I am excited! WHAT?!?!

Abbie the Artist

There is a great website for children done by the author Jan Brett. Abbie was on there the other day and was watching and following a video on how to draw a horse. Here is Abbie's drawing.
She did an amazing job.

http://www.janbrett.com/

Look who's walkin'

I have tried several times since I got this footage to get you better footage, failing at all attempts. The lighting isn't the best but he took several steps for the camera. When he wants to get there in a hurry, he resorts to the "crab crawl".

Eternal Trophies

We recently had our Awana Grand Prix, which is racing pinewood derby cars. It was a fun day. Our girl's cars actually did pretty good, thanks to Papa the mechanic! They each won a trophy in speed! While Papa & I are handing out trophies, there are events unfolding that we were unaware of. In the older boy's club there were three boys who came together and raced their cars. Well, two out of the three each got two trophies, while the third boy got nothing. The boys were celebrating their victory and Papa & I are moving on to handing out more awards. Abbie noticed the third boy sat all by himself and had tears in his eyes. She went to her Papa, who is announcing all the awards and wanted him to "help him". Papa explained that he couldn't , he had no control over who got the trophies. She then came to Mama and pointed the boy out and explained what she saw. I, too, knew I didn't have control over who got trophies. But the mama in me went over to console the boy, which lead to more tears. My heart is just breaking at this point. Then the next thing I see is two angels (named Abbie & Hopie) handing this little boy their trophies. The boy just lit up. He was so thankful to these two little girls. He jumped up and joined his friends in celebrating. My girls were celebrating inside too. I am choked up at this point, as I am trying to keep it together. We still are in the middle of an awards ceremony. Abbie turns to me and tells me, "Mama, I feel good in here", as she touches her heart! I just start crying and told her "I know Baby, that is Jesus telling you that you did good"! It is a true gift to see the Holy Spirit work in and through your children. We went out for ice cream later that afternoon and Abbie lending over and whispered to me, "Mama, I still feel good in here." I just have to say "Thank you Jesus!"

Precious Time

I recently had a girlfriend post the celebration of her daughter's 15th birthday. It was hard to believe how fast times flies. Nothing has sped up time faster than having children and seeing them grow ~ regardless of their mama's relentless nagging to STOP or slow down. There have been the physically draining times of parenting, lack of sleep, colic, chasing after toddlers, etc. But it pales to the smiles, the giggles, the hugs, and the "I love you"s (it has got to be a taste of heaven). It has been amazing to watch them grow and blossom into little people. Seeing the Lord working in their lives, a repentant heart or convicted spirit, is the most precious thing.

I have been watching my oldest grow up before my own eyes and have been amazed to watch her. Abbie and I recently had a morning that was just fun. It was her last week of school and they were just watching a movie & cleaning out desks. Since Hopie was in school, I saw an opportunity to get some Abbie & Mama time. We had a morning in town that we started off right ~ at Starbucks of course!!!! I with my latte and she with her hot chocolate, both with whip cream! We stopped by for kisses from Papa and he just laughed at us both with our Starbucks cups ~ "Like mother - like daughter." It was such a fun morning of laughing with her and talking about EVERYTHING in full detail. We finished our morning with one of her absolute favorite things to do - shop for shoes! Off to target, with some persistence we found the "perfect" pair for her. We pick up a few things for sissy and headed home. I enjoy this gift of motherhood. I write this even after a tough day of training these little people God has so sweetly placed in my life. I pray I continue to have the eyes to see the work that He is doing in their lives. He has great and perfect plans for these little ones. I am thankful I get to be a part of His plan. ~ "Thank you, Jesus"

Mud pie anyone???

Playing in mud is just too much fun. Hopie stills loves to play in it, Luke has just discovered it, and I occasionally still catch Abbie out there covered in mud. It is a fabulous sight. I can remember each of them discovering mud and decided to share Luke's with you. Even covered in mud you KNOW what he is..........so stinkin' cute!!!!!!