HAPPY BIRTHDAY MLK

Jack learned about Dr. King at school and make this book to celebrate the Birthday of MLK.

THANK GOD FOR MY DVR!!!!!!!!!!!!.....

at 2am! I am so sick of not being able to sleep. INSOMNIA is so much fun!!! Late night TV is not so great... What would I do without my DVR? catching up on tv shows that I tape during the days.
I never really set New Years Resolutions, but I never really do. But maybe I will list some things that
I thank the Lord for over the past year for:
1. On my mind, thank you for the material provisions you have allowed us to have, INCLUDING my DVR.
2. My amazing husband.

3. my health (this one I have a hard time being Thankful for, am in continual prayer for, but as the Lord says ask me in prayer and then start thanking even before results)----but there have over the last year been many results---brought me through the "sickness" last fall, then the surgery in May, then the pleurisy....now I am currently working on getting healthy in general!

4. My support system, my extended family, my friends--- We are so blessed here!

5. My children and their thriving selves, they all had wonderful years!!! Grew so much, each one of them.

6. The lessons you taught me about TRUST in you and in my husband, one I continue to struggle with but have learned sooooooo much regarding.

7. My church family

8. My SEAT WARMERS, sounds strange maybe but that is one luxery that am truley Thankful.

9. the prospect of my new job, which sounds PERFECT for my family, and for the knowledge that the Lord will PROVIDE... all the stress surronding the situation is a huge prayer request, so Thank you in advance God for whatever direction you take us. I will trust you and have faith that I will be and am exactly where I am supposed to be now and in the future.

VIEWER BE WARE...DOGGIE BITE PHOTOS

I have been meaning to post these pics for a while. A little before Xmas my friend Dawn's son called us and told us his friends dog had bitten him. We hurried and met him at the ER.
Graham of course was rough housing with Scottie (the dog) and got himself bitten on the ear. Thanks to the dogs large overbite his ear did not get completley bitten off!!!!!
KIDS BE CAREFUL WITH DOGS! THEY BITE!
Graham, here are your pics! You made my blog! You are in the big leagues now boy.

I've got the Blues.....the Job not Starting Blues...

Job Starting Blues...yep, I've got the Blues............to the tune of when in the world am I actually going to start this new job??? (and the song is in my head, yes!)
I think I have had a handful of soft dates and now one firm date now gone. January 12th is not going to happen. The boss man swares he will have a start date for me by next Friday...SO WE SHALL SEE.
I think I have just had more than enough anxiety this week. I want to be trusting in you Lord. I feel tht I am, then I realize all of this anxiety, axst that is withen me. Will I ever get there?? Will I ever really trust, ever be free of this anxiety???? I know I said BRING THE RAIN... and I still mean it. I want to learn to trust in my Lord. I truley do, but I feel like I am a really really really really poor student.
I heard the bad news yesterday about the job starting a few weeks later and I went into a downward anxiety spiral immediatly. I even caught it, prayed, but still my emotions were haywire..
Does anyone else feel this way???
Lord, I know you are in control. i know you have a plan. Again, aloud I state that I am Trusting in your plan. You will take care of my family with our without my job starting when i think it shoud. My big fear of it falling through, its so irrelevant in your big picture, in your big plan. It matters so much more how I react, how I serve you and glorify you in the process. I feel like I blew it yesterday.
I don't know if anyone reading this can relate, or if I am making sense, but please join me in praying that I will react better to my next challenge, actually even in this one as it continues. Thanks friends and family that read this and pray for me!!!!

To all of my friends (and family) in Miniflock:

Jason and I feel blessed to be a part of this group. This last year has been great, through all the not so great books, to the great studys, to the YUMMY FOODS, to just all the time spent together getting to know each other better. I feel like we have really meshed as a group this year, we just FIT!!!

We look forward to spending another year laughing, loving, praying, studying and praising our Lord together with you all!!!! We love you all!!!

with that, I forgot to take many pics at our AFTER CHRISTMAS PARTY....but here is what I have:

Please Pray!!!!!

I just got a call that my best friend Beck was just in a horrible car accidient. Luckily I got word straight from her. But still, I am soooo shaken up. She was driving to Minnisota to the Mayo Clinic for a doctors appt (actually her aunt was driving) and they hit an ice patch possibly, ran off the road, flipped numerous times, four or so we are told and landed in a ravine. The cops said they were amazed they survived.
God, thank you for keeping them in your loving and protective care. You have brought Beck through so much and I know you are not done with her yet. I just know it.
Her Aunt in Intensive care...please pull her through. Please be with them. I know Beck is all alone, scared, in pain...Please wrap your loving arms around her Lord God.
Anyone who reads this, Please go kiss your family, make right any squabbles or disagreements...Life is so fleeting.
I mean I was all consumed today in my little stomach bug, wanted to be just left alone. I never left my bedroom. Then BOOM, I find out Beck could have died tonight. God, I know you are in control of everything.
You are SUPREME!!!
Our life goal here is to glorify you and thats really it.
We must FEAR YOU, HONOR YOU, TRUST YOU...I get so caught up in every day life, in ME ME ME...that I forget my PURPOSE. So easily I forget my purpose. You also put my beautiful family here for me to take care of...I can take that for granted so easily to, thinking of ME first comes so easily. Please help me to "SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD"...each and every day, and to focus on being loving and patient with my family. On finding JOY in my life, REJOICING IN ALL because all is what you put here for us...I am just bursting with emotions, thoughts.....I don't know if I am even making sense but I needed to get this out.
We always think there is time, but what if there isn't???? I know God is in Control of that to. I need to not let that fear take over.
PEACE,not anxiety erika. REST IN YOUR LORD ERIKA. OK, thanks for listening.....
I am gonna go kiss my babies,even though its midnight and they are all asleep.
I am not gonna be sleeping with this stomach bug tonight much I don't think.

School starts in the am....hope no one else in the house gets this, surely they will though...Hope AW is better by am. I don't need a sick momma and still a sick baby. Luckily my amazing parents took the kids Sunday, since J and I were both sick, as well as baby AW.

Man,so much to think about, to learn, to strive towards, its just OVERWHELMING!!!!!!!
Lord, calm my heart tonight please. and again, love on Beck, may she feel your arms around her right now.
Erika

Beach Christmas

We celebrated Christmas a little late this year with the Yaman Clan due to Aunt Laura being on call at her vet practice in Atlanta on Christmas day. So...here are some pics, via slide slow of the kids in Charelston from Aunties camera. The second slide show are pics from my camera.Thanks Auntie for sharing pics of all of our kiddies!!! If you are reading this Yamans--Thanks so very much for all of the christmas gifts and all of the memories created! We love you all so very much, much more than we could ever say in writing on this blog. The kids had so much fun and loved everything! Emmy Grace--You are such a special girl- WE LOVE YOU BUNCHES AND BUNCHES BEAUTIFUL ANGEL!!!!!

The kids had lots of fun opening presents--it happended so fast I didn't even see what they got till days later really!!! It was chaos of wrapping paper flying and EXCITEMENT galor---memories I hope they will hold dear forever and ever!
Then they spend the following hours, days, and will be months and months to come playing will all the goodies!!!! Thanks again Maggie, Pap-Pap and Auntie!!!
Poor Jack was a little sickie, but he did not let that stop him-He had such fun too!!!
ok, here are some more pics: