Happenings . . .

I was going to write this post last week after our weekend . .and never got around to it. Bummer. So here's my delayed report on the Vaughn family weekend (last weekend!). We declared that Saturday was "Family Clean the House" day. I need help to clean this place with the time I have around here to get it done, and everyone here is capable to doing at least SOMETHING to help out!

I was so proud of my boys (my hubby can be amazing when it comes to cleaning . .when he wants to be as well!). They were excited to tackle some chores and did so with minimal complaining and lots of enthusiasm. Seriously, I heard things like, "I LOVE dusting these baseboards - this is so cool! (Colby). And things like, "I want to clean ALL the bathrooms!" (Tyler). Oh, sweet music!!

So, they cleaned, we praised, we all cleaned, we finished in record time. And they were rewarded! We took them to Lifeway Christian Store after church Saturday night (mostly because I had a good coupon and wanted to use it), and they picked out some Bible character toys (that were on clearance - good boys!!).

We also went tree shopping with a Christmas gift card that Donny had gotten and bought our first tree - and named him "Joey". The boys check on him daily, comment on his growth, and have been making plans for what their tree house will look like someday (I don't have the heart to tell them that they will have to build that tree house as adults by the time Joey is big enough to support such a thing!). We planted the tree, mulched the flower beds, and I even did all the grocery shopping early on Sunday morning (my favorite time to grocery shop!). It was a very good (productive) weekend in my book.

Silly Brady . . .here's an age appropriate / skill level chore. Didn't last all that long for him, but at least he participated!! He helped DV gather all the trash, too, which was great.

Dusting maniac!

My vacuuming, bathroom cleaning, gameroom picking up boy!

This past weekend, Colby got to play in his first Upwards soccer game and LOVED it. He missed the first game since we were out of town, and last weekend they were rained out, so he has been anticipating this game for a long time now. He grinned the entire game. He's a good little player, too - he's our athletic little guy for sure.


And that's all for this edition of "happenings" for now! Blessings -

Easter weekend . . .

We went to visit Nonny and PawPaw over Easter weekend (my parents) and had a GREAT time. My mom called the week before we came saying she was worried that my boys would be bored at her house. Are you kidding me?? Bored at grandparents house?? No way! I think Tyler did say one time that he didn't know what else he could do there that was fun, but that was just because he thought the only "fun" things to do were playing on the computer and watching movies. Poor thing. We reintroduced him to toys and outside play and life was great! I love being at my parents' house - Mom takes care of us, she and Dad have a ball with the boys, I get to relax and actually lay around a little - it's just so nice!

We had most of Friday to be there, which made it feel longer than just a weekend. My cousin, Sherri and her kids came over for dinner that night and I loved gettting to chat with her for a long time. Her husband, Gary, was out of town, so we missed him, but loved the "girl cousin" time together! She has always been one of my favorite cousins - I always wanted to be like Sherri when I was a little girl - she had LONG blonde hair that I coveted!!

On Saturday we dyed Easter eggs, had lots of egg hunts and hung out with Nonny and PawPaw. There was a severe storm that went through the area that brought some big ol' hail with it - reminded me of the storm we had pass through here not too long ago. The boys were pretty impressed with the size of the hail stones - I think they did some pretty big damage to the cars in front of the house (Donny took ours and hid it under a shelter at a gas station - smart man!!).

On Sunday, we loved celebrating the resurrection of Jesus with the Golf Course Road family. I grew up in that church, and I always love going back and seeing people that I grew up loving and respecting - my first grade teacher, Bible class teachers, friends' of my parents, my childhood friends' parents. Such a huge part of who I am is because of the people in that church. My favorite surprise of the day was seeing my forever friend, Anda who was visiting her parents that weekend as well!! We both squealed (like little girls, you know?!) when we saw each other - I love that woman. She is connected to most of my childhood memories, college memories, and even a good chunk of our "married life" memories. She and her husband, Randy, are a great blessing to me today as well - I love them. And all their kids. God is good.

Here's a few pics of our sweet time in Midland:


Watching cartoons in Nonny and PawPaw's room in the morning. Love it that they went to THEIR room to start their day instead of waking up Mommy and Daddy!!

Nonny bought Star Wars egg coloring kits . . SOO cool!!

Nonny and Brady had their own egg hunt . . consisted of Brady dumping out all the eggs and then saying, "On your mark, get set, GO!" and seeing who could gather the most dumped out eggs the fastest!



Donny calls these shorts "sassy" - I think they are so cute on a 3 year old!


Blessings!

things that make us laugh . .

This is just a few things from the past couple of days I want to remember:

1. We were talking at dinner last night about why we celebrate Easter. Tyler remembered that Easter is when Jesus rose from the dead. I started reminding the boys how Jesus rode into Jerusalem on his donkey, and I said, "And do you remember what the people said to Him?" Brady replied: "Let's eat CAKE!" Well . . .not quite, but good try! Tyler DID remember what the people said. Under his breath, we hear him say, "Wow - I did so good remembering that - I should win the $5 on the basketball game for SURE" (Did we mention how we had $5 for family member who picked the team that won the championship March Madness game?)

2. Colby got his folder signed yesterday for the first time. This is NOT a good thing. He told his teacher a lie . . .but he says he didn't know it was a lie. Not sure about that one. Tyler is doing good to make it a week at a time WITHOUT getting his binder signed. I cannot tell you of the smugness and quiet celebration that has been going on in Tyler Vaughn's sweet heart the past day - knowing that his brother has now joined him in the "I've gotten my binder signed" club!!

There was something funny from bedtime yesterday when one of the boys was praying .. but I can't remember it. As it was, I had to write these two things down on a piece of paper so I wouldn't draw a blank when I got in here to jot it down. Shoot. Memory is slippin'!!!

I will rise . . .

We were at church tonight and were blessed not only to be with the body, but I was blessed by the Lord with this sweet, powerful song. I've heard it before. I was at the funeral service for sweet baby Cash Collins who lived for 13 days this past month then went to be with Jesus. His Daddy and Mommy are friends of ours from church...I was blown away by the song then, and was again tonight. Tonight as we praised all I thought about was the Collins family - they have been heavy on my heart for the past month since Cash's death. This week they had another crushing blow to their family. Cash's PawPaw passed away very suddenly. He didn't wake up Tuesday morning - he just went straight from sleeping into the presence of Jesus. My dear friends Beth, Tammy and Kenneth lost their Daddy. Kay lost her husband of many years. The grandkids lost their PawPaw. Baby Cash now has his PawPaw in heaven with him. To say the Collins, Plemons and Japhet families are mourning right now is an understatement.

Every time someone that I love passess away it makes me yearn for heaven. This song makes me yearn for heaven even more than I already do - the bridge speaks of hearing tens of thousands voices crying out, "Worthy is the Lamb!!" Can you even imagine what it will be like?? No more hurting, no more death, no more loss, no more sin?? My little mind can't take it in - I want it to come so very badly, though! Tonight would have been a great time for Jesus to just come in with his trumpets, his angels, everything - and just take us all home! I know the Collin's clan is wishing for that right now as well . . .Lord come quickly! I'm ready!! And the reunion of Cash with his parents and PawPaw with his family is one I really want to have a front row seat for, ya know? Oh, I've got a whole list of "reunions" I want to witness on that day . .. and I have a feeling the list will continue to grow as time on this earth marches on.

I will rise when He calls my name - no more sorrow, no more pain. I will rise on eagles' wings, before my God, fall on my knees and rise. I will rise. I will rise.

And I hear the voice of many angels sing, "WORTHY IS THE LAMB!" And I hear the cry of every longing heart, "You are WORTHY IS THE LAMB!"

Amen, Lord. Come Jesus - Your church is ready for you!