having fun.........

So, I changed some things on my blog page.............I have several friends who blog and I saw some of their changes and decided to play around a little. I tried several backgrounds but liked this one the best (can you tell what my favorite color is). I had fun messing around with it so you might see some other different backgrounds after a while, if I can find some free time to play.........
Anyway, I hope you all (all 4 of you) enjoy it.

Storms of Life........

We have just experienced our first tropical storm since moving here to South Florida last August. It is still tormenting the state and will probably continue for the next couple of days but the major threat for us is over. It came right over top of Okeechobee where we are and school was closed for two days! Tropical Storm Fay left a lot of people without power and there was so much flooding that the locals were saying that they haven't seen this much damage in a long time. Thankfully, we did not experience as much damage but it was a little bit scary at times. We didn't lose power or have any trees fall on us (and that was only a tropical storm)!

It reminds me of life.................Sometimes disaster happens............most of the time it isn't even something we planned for, it just happens. And sometimes, no matter how much we plan, it still happens. When we begin to get comfortable and think we are O.K. God has a way of getting our attention and bringing us to our knees. He wants us to constantly rely on Him and trust Him but we seem to think we can do it on our own. And when we stop allowing God to be our source for everything, disaster happens. Not always extreme or harsh but we do have a tendency to mess things up if left to our own (kind of like my children).

We have been in Florida for a year and will probably be here for a while longer so this will not be the only storm we have to go through. There will be plenty more. But just like us having to learn how to trust God to keep us safe during these tropical storms, I believe He is showing us that He will carry us through the many Storms of Life.............and we will learn to walk with Him one day at a time..............................................

Here are a couple of videos of Tropical Storm Fay...............

This is a while before it really hit. When it was just windy and rainy but you could tell it was coming........................

This is about an hour before the center passed by us. It didn't really get scary until after the center passed and we caught the tail winds. I did not get that on tape because it was dark then.

All in all, I think it felt like a really bad thunder storm except without the thunder and it lasting for several days instead of a couple of hours.

A Day at The Park.........

We were invited to go to a State park with some friends of ours and the first thing the kids wanted to know was if there was a place to swim. It was a good question to ask since it is pretty hot here in August and being outside without some way to stay cool is insane! Well, we decided to go even though there was no place to swim or be in water because it was cloudy and breezy and not too hot (98 degrees). The kids complained a little until we got there and they saw a large playground (in the shade). After a while of playing Samuel came running over to the pavilion we were all sitting under and he was all wet. I asked him what happened and he went running off all the way over to the other side of the playground next to a trail. I followed because I was curious and when I got there I saw the water spout. Samuel figured out how to turn the spout so water came out and filled up the hole under it and then he went swimming! Sammy's water radar is excellent if you didn't already know, so if there is water somewhere near, he will find it (like the time he ran full speed and went face first into a small pond in the front yard of a house we looked at to buy or the time at the ball field where he found a large puddle left over from a recent storm and stripped down naked and sat in it )............................. Anyway, The kids had a great time after they all discovered the water and played in it.................

Katelyn............

Katie is 5 months now..........WOW! It is hard to believe that it has been that long since I gave birth.............She is growing (as they all do) and doing so many things...............Eve loves to play with her now. Here is a small video clip....................................

New House.............................

O.K..........So we've moved...........................AGAIN!! I will say that it was God (and maybe a little bit of Joshua's restlessness) and His provision because this house is really perfect for our family. It is twice the size of the last place and it even has a place for the "in-laws" to stay when they come to visit (because it is still in South Florida). It is pretty private. There are horses and cows across the street and not really any neighbors around except the occasional boater on the water. The best part is that it doesn't cost any more than the other place. Anyway, I will talk more about it later when all the unpacking is done but for now, here are a few pics.................................



The house from the front....................................It looks small but it is not! It has about 4000 sq. ft. total with the garage and the 900 sq. ft. In-Law suite.
Some of the trees in the front yard and driveway.........
A view of the back of the house.............................. And a view from the back yard...............................The house is on the Rim Canal of the Lake. It has a gorgeous view from the house. In the morning we can see the fish jumping out of the water and once we saw an alligator sunning itself. I think that the longer we live here the less scary all this stuff is. I can't wait until our family can come visit.