Soccer

This one word seems to say it all for now. High school girl's soccer practice is in full swing. Games start in a couple of weeks. I find my self dreaming of new soccer drills. I catch myself visualizing the defense I want the girls to execute. I doodle plays and possible lineups. As the sign in my kitchen says "Soccer season is the reason mom is on the run". I am privileged to get to spend this time with my own girls plus 15 more high school girls. These are terrific girls. While time is always at a premium, I am convinced that this is time well spent. Pictures to follow when ever Beth gets home with the camera!

Has it been a month since I posted?

Yes, I know it has! Today we celebrated G's 7th birthday. Friends from church for lunch, kids in the pool and just generally relaxed fun. This week leads up to the curriculum fair. It will be the end of the busy summer for us since the week after CF begins varsity soccer. Last week was G's second week of First Camp and the big girls were at UAB for soccer camp. I think last week was the first time in a long time that Bay and I had time just us. G was an only child while the 3 girls went to leadership camp. The littles had fun with out any other siblings around. Over the 4th we were in Michigan. Lots of fun with family there

My AMAZING husband

As a surprise for me for our 29th anniversary, Steve planned a trip to California. He did tell me early in the week to make a list of kids activities and get people to cover my responsibilities BUT he didn't tell me where we were going and left me in the dark until just hours before we left. We flew into LA and met some friends there - THANKS Tony & Krista! We had a terrific time in LA and then drove up the Pacific Coast Hwy in the Mustang convertible that Steve had rented. We explored San Franciso for a day then headed north again - Petaluma was great, Ragged Point was stunning and Bodega Bay where Hitchcock's Birds was filmed was beautiful. Then the redwoods were just incredible. I still can't believe he pulled this off with out me knowing anything. I can't believe my children told me nothing. Kate is still laughing at helping her dad without telling me. Jr kept a secret! And the list goes on... So here's some pictures.

Busy Busy Busy....

hey all!
well its beautiful summer time here! and we are busy busy busy! on the go all the time!:)
so here are a few pics from this summer hope to have more up soon!

-love beth

these beautiful people are the ambrosetti's!

who we hold very near and dear:) as if they were family!!!

just a few pics of what we have been doing this summer!

Kindergarten graduation

We went to some friends and had a graduation ceremony for the little ones today!

LOTS OF FUN!!

very encouraging:)

lots of pics for now, no time to write!

Rain and more rain

Sometimes it feels like the weather is mocking my inner feelings. I feel like it is raining inside and out! We have been stressed with circumstances but just like the rain that is falling know that this too will pass. The sun will come out again. We are gearing up for the end of spring soccer, the end of Awana, the end of regular school year (we do work year around but summer at a different pace). We are gearing up for pool time, camp time, outdoor activities, canning, freezing and preserving our foods and the list goes on. As we have been reading in Psalms right now, no matter what the circumstances His love endures forever. Endures forever - I don't think I really can comprehend something that goes on forever. I'm not even sure I understand forever. Everything we know comes to an end at some point in time. Forever seems impossible to my human brain. I really want to think God's thoughts however so somehow I just have to trust that forever really exists and He is charge of that!

I went to Summit with the High Schoolers and received my Citation award. I really wish I had more time to spend memorizing God's word. I spend time each day meditating and memorizing but it is not like when I was in Jr and Sr High and memorized whole chapters each month.

This is a copy of the picture that Beth won a gold medal for at Summit. This was her first year to enter the Fine Arts competition and we were so pleased to see her win a gold. Not only do they have to submit that picture but they have to put a scripture verse with it and write a paragraph on how the scripture and picture relate. I really like that she signs her pictures E. gayle. By the way, she took this picture at the Aquarium downtown Chattanooga. Come visit and we'll take you there. It is one of our favorites.

This is a typical little boy at my house. What he was looking for or finding we have no idea! I do know that he gets multiple tick checks through out the day!

We really do have lots of pics from the last few weeks so I will try to get some up soon.

God is Good - All the time

God is good all the time. God is good all the time even when I can't quite understand the circumstances. It has been a really eventful few weeks. Kate's health has been very severely tested. She is not over the hump yet. Please pray for this flare to quiet and her level of health to be restored. Ask God with me to heal her completely. We have been reading and re-reading Psalm 91. We so want to dwell in His Shelter and rest in His shadow. Meanwhile the world is still busy for the rest of us. Kate and J and kiddos were able to spend a week with us. This is better known as Kids, Kows and Konfusion..... Soccer has been on going even with all the rain. Beth and I went to NC for Awana Summit. Our Bible Quiz teams did super (2 bronze, 1 Silver and 1 in Platinum!) Beth received a gold medal for her photography and I received my citation award for finishing 10 books. We had a great time. ECI is busy and we are thankful. Steve Jr and Shannon are very busy with Shannon at the farm and Steve Jr taking a new job. Will and Jenn shared the exciting news of a new little in December! Baby #3 for them and grandchild #6 for us. Beth and Lauren went to Prom and had so much fun. They looked so cute. Gerrit had his music prgram to end the year. Now it is time to start thinking about wrapping up the school year, awana ends in 2 weeks and get ready for summer camps and curriculum fair. Random post and here are random pictures!