August Randoms

So, we moved on July 29th to Bentonville, AR....home of Walmart. Rob and I spent about 3 days working like crazy to unpack and set up the basic to create a home. (Leaving a lot boxed up in the garage because we will probably be moving into a more permanent home at somepoint.) Meanwhile the kids stayed with Judy and Turner in Little Rock enjoying their week at Kanakuk Camp.
 We are renting a house while we wait for our home to close in Bryant.  We got a contract on it the 4th day it was listed!  We are on thankful! It won't close until Sept 15.  With that and the fact that we don't know what neighborhood we would prefer in Bentonville, we decided to lease.  And God dropped a really cute rent home in our lap! Getting here and settled in has been about as smooth a process as moving ever can be!

So, we had about 2 weeks before school started to finally go on summer mode (the moving has seemed like FT work the past month) and explore our new town!  We quickly found the city pool and it rocks! Big, clean, not crowded and cheap! We spent 4-5 afternoons poolside.

We went roller skating one evening.  Always a family favorite!

We found the trampoline park that is complete with a Ninja Training Obstacle course! And morning trampoline workouts that I love!

Found the bowling alley!  They have dollar days in the summer...can't beat that!

Nonie and Poppa treated the kids to personalized backpacks and lunchboxes.  They were so thrilled when the packages arrived one evening from UPS.

We found an indoor 18 hole putt putt course!  Great way to beat the afternoon heat!

On Wednesday evenings at the city pool, they put up this obstacle course!  Pretty fun!

More bowling!

The kids were given gift cards to Fast Lane which has indoor gokarts and laser tag!  We had a great time playing there!

We were given passes to the water park here.  This was our last Friday before school started....spent it at the waterpark and then going to see  a Naturals Baseball game.  

They had fireworks after the game...and they were the most intense fireworks I have EVER seen!  Wowzers!

Hudson has decided he wants to take golf lessons and there is a great First Tee program here.  He is loving it!

I jokingly told the kids at the beginning of the 2 week break we had that I was going to wear them out because we were going to play so hard!  I looked back in the car one afternoon and this was what I saw!  Guess I did!

I have been blessed with  new job at Bentonville Public Schools!  I'm excited! 

I  Here is my new home away from home!  Lovin my window view!

Due to my new job, the kids will be going to an after school program on campus at their school. Lawson also gets dropped off for Jr. High activities for 2 hours on Wednesday nights at  our new Church.  We felt they need phones for us to be able to communicate and keep up with them at these activities so THIS happened the weekend before school started....

And the rest of the weekend pretty much looked like this...

First Day of School

We went to meet the teacher night at the kids new schools last week.

This is the first year that the kids are not both in elementary. I'm not really very good with that!  But, at least the elementary and middle school that they go to actually connect in the middle so it almost feels like one school.  (except lunch menus, important dates, drop off/pick up times are all a little different...not hard to manage at all!)

Hudson is going into 3rd grade at Willowbrook Elementary home of the elephants.  His teacher's name is Mrs. McNabb.

Lawson is in 6th grade at Bright Field Middle School and she has a different teacher for all 6 periods. 

And now all the obligatory first day of school pics! (the individuals, the close up, the front shot, the backpack shot, the "together" pics)  We got up and around pretty well...considering all four of have to be ready to go (breakfast, lunchboxes, etc) at 7am.

Looking forward to another awesome school year!

Saying Goodbye to Grandma

My grandparents have lived in Bella Vista, AR since I was like  3!  My grandfather past away about 2 years ago...and about 2 weeks (July 20) before we moved here my Grandmother past away.  She has been in very poor health for the past few years to this was a relief for her and for everyone who loved her.  However, we were looking forward to living in the same town with her.  Lawson (on her own accord) had told me she wanted to have a set after school snack date with her once a week! Her memorial service was the second weekend we lived in Bentonville.

I did not get to spend a ton of time with my grandparents growing up because they did not live close to us.  However, each time we were together must have been special because I feel like I have a lot of memories!

 I have always been blessed by their example and the way they lived their lives...an example so strong it resonated loudly to me....despite how many miles and how much time separated our visits.  My grandparents loved God and lived in a way that showed that on the outside.  They served faithfully at their church using their natural giftings...my Grandma making cookies for church gatherings and being a wonderful hostess.  My grandfather using his business skills to help with building projects and financial matters.  They loved on and visited those who were sick.  They were certainly the hands and feet of Christ showing real and tangible love to their friends. They were like stand out volunteers to the local Helping Hands store for the numerous years they volunteered.

They were good stewards of everything they owned.  It seemed like they always had the nicest of things....but I think it was just that everything just became better once they owned it. They would buy something used and then "clean it up" and it would seem better than new. They were hard workers...kept their home, cars, and yard all immaculate! Their things seemed to never wear out!
They fully enjoyed life...spent their late years in life travelling the word, playing tennis, bird watching and square dancing! They never missed any of their 8 grandkids, or children's birthdays...always calling and sending cards.
They were very strong...both together and individually.  The last year of their lives were very difficult. They were both plagued with unrelenting health issues.  They took turns spending time in hospitals and rehab hospitals.  They had to hire help for around the house as they could no longer take care of themselves without assistance.  They were in pain and they were often lonely.  I was only able to visit them a handful of times during their late years...but they would always want to spend most of the time asking me questions about how things were with me.  They would always smile and often joke about their condition.  My grandfather died about 2 years before my grandmother.  I was amazed at how she carried on without him after being married to him for over 70 years! Not an easy thing to do.

  The pic above was taken of my grandmother about 2 days before she died.  She was under hospice care and hadn't eaten in several days.  She was in pain, weak, and knowing the end was coming...yet she is smiling!  It is apparent to me that she did not find her ultimate joy in her circumstances but in the hope she had in her Savior...the One who gives rest to the weary!
I shed several tears at her funeral...but not tears of sadness that she is gone ....she is in a much better place(although I will miss her her)...but tears of joy as I reflected on the amazing legacy of faith and the strong example she left behind to me. I love you, Grandma!

My parents have been helping clean out their home and my mom sent me the following pics she found at their house.  Fun memories!

My little multi-tasker!  Holding her cup and her brother's at the same time WHILE watching TV! She has got it going on!

Oh what a fun busy Christmas this was!  Check my little man Hudson out...holding Baby Brooklyns paci in her mouth!  He is barely 2 himself!  He was feelin her...knew just what she needed!