My Dad

I have another post titled "My Dad" and you can read it here. Please go and read that post because it really says all I need to say in this one. The only difference is my dad is no longer with us. The Lord took him home on December 15, 2018. God was good in so many ways and I am very thankful for His blessings.

Our family went to visit my parents on December 13 and spend a couple of nights with them because we were having our Christmas with Bryan's family on the night of December 15th. Dad had not had a good week and when we arrived we could tell he didn't feel well but the next day (December 14) he actually had a real good day. We really had a great time with him and enjoyed every moment of it. We went to bed and like every time we are there to visit I went in and told him good night and that I loved him. Dad and mom had plans the next day with the senior adults at their church so he was looking forward to that. Early the next morning mom came in and woke Bryan and I up and said she couldn't get dad awake... of coarse I just thought maybe he was sleeping really hard. We tried everything and then we knew he was gone. Tears flow as I type this because I miss him so much!

I am so thankful we were there and that he didn't suffer. Thankful for all the memories I have of dad and the memories my children have of him. It still doesn't seem real. I love that man and miss him every day!

Creation Museum and The Ark

We were blessed to be able to travel up and see the Creation Museum and The Ark. Back in January we made the trip and had a great time! Bryan's parents had went last fall and talked about how great it was and they thought we would really enjoy it too. Usually when we go somewhere as a family we have to have two hotel rooms and that can get very expensive, this time we rented a house in Petersburg, KY. We have never rented a house before but we all agree that we enjoyed it and would do it again! 

Here we are walking up to the Ark. It was very cold that day but once we got inside it was nice and warm.

Here is the crew all bundled up as we entered the Ark. We all enjoy going on adventures together!

Bryan and I stop for a picture together. Love this man! Joanna, Bryan, and I have birthdays in the same week and this trip was around our birthdays.

Here is little brother standing tall!

Middle Brother makes a funny face!

Little sister is one crazy girl!

Big sister smiles for the camera while little sister is the photo bomber. LOL!

All the brothers lend a hand in holding up the Ark. LOL!

Here we are just coming out of the Ark. It was great! When reading through Genesis now it puts a whole new perspective on it.

Waiting for the bus to pick us up and take us back to our vehicles. Did I mention that it was cold???

We are outside the creation museum. Lots to see and do in there!

YES... it was cold!! 5 degrees!! We decided to spend one day at the Perfect North in Indiana, right across the river from where we were staying.

Because they weren't busy they let our passes be good for all day! We got there that morning and did a few laps on the tubes then for lunch we rode back to our rental house and had taco soup (put it on in the crock pot before we left). After lunch and warming up we headed back to snow tubing.

Riding back up to the top to snow tube again! As fast as we could get back up the hill we could go again! It was lots of fun and very thankful that God provided this opportunity for our family.

Cooking With...

Because of rain here our soccer games got canceled today. It has been a great day to get a few things done and spend some time together. I decided to recruit this young man to help with supper. He is great at making some meals and one of his favorite meals is Sloppy Joes. 

 Cooking with Isaac is always fun! He likes to add a "secret ingredient". This time he added spicy ranch dressing which is his favorite salad dressing.

While he was preparing the sloppy joes and getting some tater tots ready to go in the oven I was chopping vegetables to roast in the oven. There is something about cooking together that makes life sweet! I enjoy cooking for my family but when I include the children in helping me it is lots of fun! I know when the day comes for Isaac to leave our nest he won't go hungry. LOL!

Last night the younger three children helped me prepare something for breakfast. We put it all together then set the delay start on the oven, when we got up breakfast was ready! I will be sure and have the camera ready next time another child is helping so I can share. Loving my life as mommy and wife!!

Seven Brides For Seven Brothers

One of Sarah's involvements this summer was a play. The local community theatre put on the play Seven Brides For Seven Brothers and Sarah was so excited to audition for a part. She was one of the town girls! 

Here she is during one of her scenes. Sarah really enjoys theatre and had lots of fun being a part of this play.

Here is Sarah again during another one of her parts. She did a great job! She has been involved in several other plays at the theatre but she said she thinks this play was her favorite!

Here are the six town girls. This play really was a great performance. All the young men and ladies did a great job and were a very talented cast!

We are blessed with a talented young lady as a daughter! Sarah is always ready for an adventure! The last performance for this play was on her 15th birthday and she left the next day headed to 4-H Round Up (post about that coming). Love this girl very much!

Don't Blink... They Grow Up Way Too Fast!

The child that first made me a mommy is now 17! He has turned into a young man and his time in our home is getting shorter. One day it will be time to launch him into the world and out of our nest. I thought I would include some pictures and I wanted to start with an older picture. I am not sure how old he is in this picture, I am guessing 9 or 10. This picture is very special but this young man is even more special. 

Below are two recent pictures. We celebrated his 17th birthday with grandparents in AL and these are a couple of pictures from that night.

He is a young man that knows what he wants (actually needs). He asked for some new shorts and a top from my parents and he asked Bryan's parents for a nice button up shirt to wear to church. They were great about getting him those things and actually Bryan's parents got him 4 nice shirts. He was very blessed!

Isaac has started his Junior year of High School! He is enrolled in two dual enrollment classes at the local community college. He is on the high school soccer team and playing recreational soccer right now. Isaac is a very talented young man, he is learning the guitar and can play the piano! God has a special plan for him and we are praying that God would go before Isaac preparing the way! We love him more than he will ever know!

Where Has the Past 15 Years Gone?

On June 19-21, Sarah led a Culinary Camp at the 4-H Extension Office. She planned the camp and led it with the help of a dear friend. There were twelve 4-6 graders that attended. They had lots of fun and Sarah enjoyed it just as much as they did. They learned new skills and each day they prepared food and that was their lunch. Sarah had such a great time and a great response that she will be leading a 4-H Culinary Club this next school year.

Today is Sarah's 15th birthday!! Where has the past 15 years gone? I will post more in the days to come about this precious blessing! Lots going on in her life lately and can't wait to share! Love you so much Sarah!

Camp Family 2018

While at Kids Camp the children worked on a musical performance and presented it at church on the Wednesday night following our return from camp. They did a great job! Here is our family in our kids camp shirts on the night of performance. I love my family and very thankful for the times we have together. We are truly blessed!

Father's Day 2018

 We were able to spend some time with both our Father's for Father's Day. We took Bryan's dad out to eat. Bryan's dad enjoys spending time with Bryan and the boys (actually with all of us). Very blessed to have him!

I like having pictures of these guys! I can't begin to tell you how grateful I am that my children have Bryan as their daddy. Our children would not be who they are if it wasn't for having Bryan as their daddy. He is such a godly father and does all he can to lead his family closer to the Lord. 

 I have a very special place in my heart for this man! He will never know how much he means to me and how much I love him!

He has made me laugh countless times and being with him is always an adventure. We are blessed to have both our dads still with us and it time with them is very special!

Time With Family, The Roughton Family

Father's Day weekend was full of family and fun! We met my cousin and her family at my parents house and was able to spend a couple of days with them. We usually only get to visit with them once a year. I posted here about our visit with them last year. We arrived on Friday night and had so much fun! My parents had purchased a used paddle boat and these kids had the best time! 

 Here are 6 out of the 7 kids on the paddle boat. Isaac decided he would sit this one out...too many on there! LOL!!

 Joanna caught her a fish! Fishing before breakfast and all through out the day...never know when something will be biting.

 Here is my cousin (Dodey), my dad, and me. We are pretty much all that is left of our family. My dad's two brothers and his parents have all passed...he is all that is left out of them.

We are first cousins and growing up were like sisters. We have so many great memories and now our children have some great memories too!

 Here are all the kids together! They have grown so much!

Here is our family with Dodey's family. Very thankful that we were able to spend this time together,  laugh, and just enjoy being together. Already looking forward to our next time together!

Look What Elijah Found!

When we had our first child, a boy, I just knew that he would be bringing home frogs, lizards, and bugs...not so! Isaac was never one to be interested in those things, much less pick something up and bring it to me. LOL!! BUT Elijah has made up for all that! He brings me enough to make up for all that Isaac didn't bring in. One day Elijah brought home this little guy to show me and the other children. He found him up at the pond.

 This is not the first and won't be the last thing that he brings for show and tell.

He let this little guy go and now we have these pictures to remember one of his many creatures. Love it when we can learn and investigate right at home! God's creation shows us His marvelous works!

Psalm 19

We have our family worship at night before bed. Bryan decided to let each of our children lead family worship one night. On Elijah's night he shared Psalm 19, which is one of his Bible Drill verses, Psalm 19:14. This young man is paying attention to those verses he has memorized for Bible Drills. If he ever sees one of those verses somewhere he is quick to point it out. When our children have memorized verses for Bible Drills it means more seeds being planted in their lives. For us it's part of  "training them up in the way that they should go.." Proverbs 22:6.

2018 Tennessee 4-H Congress (Final Post)

 Tuesday morning we attended a regional breakfast followed by the students being able to vote for Congress Governor, Speaker of House, and Speaker of Senate. Isaac is sitting on stage for breakfast because he was chosen to give the invocation for breakfast.

 After voting we were able to change and board buses for our trip to the General Jackson.

 After boarding the General Jackson we enjoyed lunch and great fellowship time with others.

 Can't have a complete trip without a little goofing off. :)

 The Cumberland River

 After lunch and a trip on the Cumberland River we headed back to Murfreesboro for a formal dinner at the hotel. Sarah was chosen to play the keyboard while everyone entered and was seated.

 Here is a picture of our table at the formal dinner.

Very thankful that I had this opportunity to attend Congress with Isaac and Sarah. These two had a great time at Congress.

2018 Tennessee 4-H Congress (Part 4)

 On Monday we all boarded buses and traveled over to our state Capitol in Nashville. Our morning started off with getting to be apart of mock sessions. The students were able to sit where our Senators and Representatives sit and see what voting on bills is like.

 One of Isaac's parts was to stand and oppose one of the bills they were voting on. Then the floor was open to others who wanted to state why they would be for or against the bill. The students were then able to "vote". The students I was with said this was their favorite part of Congress.

 Then after a box lunch at the Avon Williams campus of University of Tennessee the students attended a couple of educational sessions. One was titled "From Sheep to Wool" about the uses of wool. The other educational session was about Memes and how to critique them. We finished up around 2:15 and headed over to meet our county Senator and Representatives.

 First on our list was Dr. Joey Hensley which is our Senator.

 Next we stopped in to visit David "Coach" Byrd, one of our Representatives.

 Our final visit was with our other representative, Barry Doss. At the close of our visit with Barry Doss they were going in to sessions, which we were able to attend but didn't get to stay long.

 Then we had a few hours to grab some supper and look around before heading back to the buses.

 It was a long day, but good. We ate supper at the Old Spaghetti Factory...delicious!

Here we are making our way back to the buses. We got our exercise in for the day and were some tired folks. :)