Life with my sister

(Daniel to the far left with his arms up and Samuel has the ball) Tonight is the last basketball game of the season. Samuel and Daniel started playing in October so its been a good long season of games. We've had a disappointing season but #12 and #32 have played hard with good attitudes and character. I couldn't ask for anything more. Well, more wins would have been nice, but oh well! I'll settle for good attitudes. Stephen helped coach the team and received a technical in one game. The head coach was thrilled it wasn't him getting it and I was appalled that Stephen would get one! You just never know what kind of day the referee has had before he comes to call your game. The boys have made some good friends and so have I because of basketball. It has been a good season and tonight we will celebrate with the team at a local pizza place. I'm hoping for some baked potato pizza! Julie

Have you heard of Crossfit ? It is growing in popularity. I am Crossfit ...or attempting to be anyway. I have been going since November. I won a door prize at an event I attended and it was a free month at Crossfit . I tried it and got hooked. I am seeing results, but not on the scale yet. My arms have muscles that they have never had before and my rear end is slowly fading away, so that keeps me motivated. I am waiting for the rest of my body to change. I hope with time. This little video gives you an idea of what a Crossfit workout is like. It is intense and exhilarating. I am addicted to it. I never thought I would be addicted to exercising, but I think I am now. I get up most mornings at 4:45 and start my day with my Crossfit Carl. On the mornings Randall is out of town I have to go at lunch. The lunch workouts kick my booty a lot harder because the instructor is a lot different than Crossfit Carl, and it is at lunch and my body performs differently. I enjoy them both in their o

We attempted a little photo session before school one morning this week. It was for Henry's Valentine's Day card. He loves to say "cheese" but sitting still is not his best thing. He has so much to do and see. He has never been 2 before...it is a big deal. He makes me laugh. Always smiling and saying "cheese" but not looking at the camera. I practically stand on my head, bark, moo, sing, etc to get his attention but he just laughs and looks all around. There is so much to explore and see when you are 2. He is going to be a heavily sought after Valentine, don't you agree? The girls in Toddler 2 may do some hair pulling over this boy on Feb 14 th (I am such a modest mother). We can't wait to share his card with you on that day. I am doing a super fun theme for him this year. Last year it was airplanes and this year may top it. Oh, what fun it is to be the mama of such a fine boy! Abby

This are my Pine Bluff girls. Well, minus one that left us when she moved to Jonesboro . But since she is allowing us to live in her house I have forgiven her. Rachel, the one in the Ridgway t-shirt is moving away from us, also going to Jonesboro , so this was our good-bye lunch. No tears were shed, but oh my goodness the laughter that was heard! We had such a great time together. We are all pastor's wives and mothers. We love that our husbands are in ministry in local churches, it is what brought us together. But our love for each other is what keeps us friends. These women have been by my side, literally, over the last couple of months. It is a joy to know them and to call them friend! And on a side note, if your pastor has a wife hug her neck the next time you see her. She'll love it! Julie

I have so many fun ideas in my head but very few make it to fruition these days with being a working mother of a toddler and wife to a husband who travels. I love my many blessings, so don't think I am complaining...just being for reals here...a girl can't do it all, all the time! So, this past weekend I decided we were going to create and that we did! It was a crazy, fun time. It felt so good to get it out of my head and see the ideas come to life. I am loving Pinterest. I am getting all sorts of handprint/footprint ideas for H. I decided to do a handprint or footprint each month this year and make a calendar of them next year. So, we made this footprint into a snowman and we went ahead and did a Valentine hand craft. It is suppose to make a heart in between, but with a squirmy 2 year old, we are just happy to get the idea of a heart. We also made some fun thumbprint cards for some special Valentine's. Henry loves to do crafts. They do them at school all the time so he is

Last Thursday while Samuel was home alone, an intruder came in our house. Samuel heard the door, and thought it was Stephen but realized it wasn't. He went & got a bb gun and while on his way back to the kitchen, where the guy was, Samuel made a noise and the intruder fled. Samuel watched him run out our backyard and across the ditch that runs along it. While he was in the backyard, I dropped Daniel off and left again to finish running errands. (Yes, I'll win the mother of the year award!) They both went to the ditch and looked for the guy and found a cup and saucer from my Christmas china lying carefully on the ground. Apparently, the guy decided he didn't need them after all . I came home with David & Anna, saw my china sitting on the counter and began yelling for Samuel. I couldn't believe he would eat & drink off my china and just leave it sitting around. Well, they never answered. While I was still yelling for them Samuel called from a neighbors house

http://ordinaryfamilies.wordpress.com/2012/01/19/lee3/ This is a link to the blog our preschool ministry has just started. Its purpose is to introduce several families in our church as an encouragement to others in their walk with the Lord. We are the first family to be featured. It thrills my heart to serve in this church and have them serve us the way they do. If you do not have a church family, I encourage you to find one. If you live in our neck of the woods we would love to have you come to NBC with us. Abby

Henry loves a bath. He goes bonkers when he hears "bath" so we have to spell it when talking about it unless it is time. He will sprint to the back of the house when he hears "bath" while laughing, squealing and yelling "Baftub...I want baftub!" Have I ever told you how much I love this little fella?! I love this baby boy to pieces. He can be so ornery at times and push all my mama buttons, but I love him for it. These past few days it has been just the two of us. His Daddy went on a hunting trip and I was home with a stomach bug. Julie's dynamic duo shared the germ with ole Aunt Abby. Thanks, guys! Henry was so sweet and cooperative with his sick little mama. He has not gotten sick and I am so thankful.... and still crossing my fingers! He was sweet to sit still with me while I felt so bad. At one point he looked at me, patted me on the arm and said, "Mama a good boy!"and leaned in and kissed my cheek. Melt.my.heart! I don't care how bad

Henry was all smiles when I picked him up early on Friday from school and told him we were going to see Juju and the gang. He had his Gigi, juice and his DVD player playing. He was set and ready! His little squinty smile is funny stuff. We traveled to Stuttgart on our way to Pine Bluff to see Samuel and Daniel play basketball. Henry had never been to a basketball game. He ran right onto the court and after the ball. Anna caught him for me. She is such a good little helper. I wish I had her all the time! Aren't they cute in their raccoon and beaver hats?! Daniel is on the far left and Samuel has the ball. I loved that they were both on the court at the same time. They are in a homeschool group that plays other homeschool groups and small private schools. It was fun to watch them play, cheer for them and hopefully not embarrass them. They are at that age and I forget sometimes. They are all still Henry's size in my aunt heart! This little love went to a lock-in with a local

I get to spend the weekend with this silly bunch. Julie told me this weekend better meet her expectations! From the high side of the delta (or as us natives like to call it..."the dirty") to the low side, we will roll on down and see them. Pine Bluff better watch out, Henry and Aunt Abby are rolling in for the weekend! I thank God for my precious family and the joy we get over seeing one another. Nothing in this life is more precious than this. P.S. I am taking a little break from Food Friday for a while. I hope you don't mind :) Abby

I have lived in small town for most of my married life. I have only lived in a town with a Walmart in it for a total of 19 months. I've been married for 18 years!!! I've loved living in small towns. I enjoy the closeness of the community, knowing what people drive and waving when we pass on the road. I like the small-town feel. I like being able to see the stars at night from my backyard. I love not having to lock the doors of my house or car. I have loved small town living. I have embraced it. But let me tell you about living in a bigger town. I LOVE IT EVEN MORE!!! I never thought I wanted to live in a bigger town. 2700 people was big enough for me. But, I don't know if I can go back. I can run & get Anna tights before church on Sunday (something I couldn't do in my small town), I can get free wifi at my local McDonald's. I like the traffic. I like the bigger town feel of the community. I even enjoy my security system and hearing my van honk when I lock it!

School Days, School Days... The kids went to school today. Not "real" school, as we call public school, but a homeschool academy that meets on Tuesdays. Everyone was excited, and everyone was a bit apprehensive about going this morning. They all looked so cute. I wish I had taken a picture. I just don't even think in pictures anymore! Shameful I know. I woke up early this morning fixed breakfast and made lunches for the three in our family that don't care for spaghetti, which is what was being served for lunch at school. Sadly, I didn't think ahead about lunches and was out of bread and zippy bags. So, I made peanut butter crackers and wrapped them in foil. Poor things, they don't even know to be embarrassed ! Samuel is taking Geography, Civil War History, Music, and Drama. David and Daniel are taking Music, Science, Art, Cooking, and English. Anna is taking Music, Art, Cooking, Thinking Skills, and Grammar/Reading. I hope they love it. I hope I love it. I al

Henry is 25 months old. Sometimes I sit and start to panic that I am going to regret not writing it all down. This weekend was one of those weekends. I just sat down and started typing. I feel better now. I know I will never be able to record it all. I have so much bottled up in my heart that will stay there forever. Henry, you are 25 months old: You have learned that you have an opinion and you share it. It is adorable and annoying! You love to say “NO WAY” and “NO WAY JOSE!” You sometimes laugh when you say it…which makes it adorable. You love your “monkey” like crazy. You still like both the blue/white & blue/green one . You love to rub the silky part. When we were at Marmie’s for Christmas Daddy had run an errand in the truck and your “monkey” was with him. Marmie gave you a green silk nightgown and you were happy. Silly, sleepy boy and crafty, smart grandma! You love trucks, trains, tractors, buses, combines, and bicycles…anything that goes, basically. You love pushing your t

Henry is gearing up for the Cotton Bowl tonight. He wore his Arkansas shirt to school today and went with a lot of team spirit. I am sporting my Arkansas hoodie and ready to get home tonight and watch the game. We are first delivering a meal to some friends in our SS class who had a baby. I am sure they will enjoy BBQ while they watch the game with their new little guy. Cheer on the Hogs with us tonight...Henry would be so thankful! Abby P.S. My den is super dark so most all my videos have bad lighting because the den is where we live, for the most part. Excuse the lighting and enjoy!

Do you remember the post from September when I told you about the different churches we had visited? And how different they were, yet still had similarities? Well, since I last blogged I have visited quite a few other churches. We have visited with Stephen and without Stephen. A couple of times he preached at one church and because of the children's activities we went to another church. I have seen church people at their very best. Let me tell you what an encouragment that has been. Not only to me, but also to my family. After being so disheartened by church people it has been a balm to our souls to see the love of Christ shown to us. One Sunday morning I wasn't feeling 100% and was thinking of what my excuses could be to stay home. I don't feel good, lunch needs to be fixed, need to get groceries, need a few more Christmas gifts bought, would love to stay home by myself and also a sinking feeling about how "Christians" treat other Christians. I had excuses! With

Here are some books that are being in read in my home this Winter. I thought I would share them with you in case you were looking for a new, good read. I have been doing Crossfit for a couple of months now. I get up at 4:45 most mornings and head to meet Crossfit Carl (my energetic, God-loving Paleolithic trainer). I get home at about 6:15 smoked and ready to start my day as mama, wife and marketing director. Self punishment is my friend! I am now introducing this Paleo way of thinking/eating into my diet in order to see better results and feel better. It is very interesting and tough at times. It is basically how a caveman ate. Randall gets a kick out of it and texts me caveman comments all day long. I love that man. I do not plan to be a fanatic and I do not plan to give up sugar for good, but for now I am trying to ween off of it in order to jump start my system and train myself to eat a little cleaner. I LOVE Crossfit and find myself doing things I never thought I could or would e

Ok, I'm back. Abby has done such a great job filling it the gaps for me here on the ole blog. I'm almost leary of starting back since she is such a great blogger. We are settled in our new (temporary) home. Christmas decorations have gone up and come down. School has started, stopped, and started up again. Life is pretty normal. Our Sundays are different but we are just calling them our new normal. Stephen has been busy preaching at different churches on Sunday's filling in for vacationing pastors. The kids are going to a homeschool academy one day a week. I'm looking so forward to this for them and also for me. They get a day with friends and fun subjects taught by someone besides me and I get a day to myself. Hallelujah & Amen! God has been so real to us the last two months. His provision has been more than I knew to ask for. Stephen and I have shed happy tears being the recipients of God's goodness to many times to count. If you don't have a relationship

Melissa, What a blessing to receive a sweet note and gift from you. I do not know who you are, but God does. I wanted to send you a formal thank you note but by the time Abby got the envelope to me it has ripped in the corner right where you address was. Shoot! I blame it on Henry :) This public "thank you" will have to do. Your kindness was so uplifting and appreciated more than you will ever know. You have a super sweet heart. God bless you, Melissa! Julie

S Family Christmas comes every year and every year it is great fun. We head to Daddy's house in Mississippi for a fun-filled day of family, gifts and food. And almost every year Daddy is supporting and sporting a new team's pullover....just kidding. He went from Arkansas to Ole Miss and now back to Memphis. I love it. He looks good in Tiger blue. S Family matriarchs , Babs and Bob. Meemaw and Peepaw did well. From Babs and Bob you have the beautiful brunette S girls. We are quite the trio. Jules and I love our cousin Hollye to pieces. She is like a sister to us. Coming from a small family, we bonded well growing up even though we lived a state away from one another. From the 3 of us you have this handsome group! Thanks to Jules for doing most of the work :) The S family produces such pretty girls. Meemaw would love pampering these two just like she did us. Claire and Anna are " our pretty girls". Meemaw used to say "my pretty girl" all the time. I love