Disney and friends

So, we took the kids to Disney. My wonderful husband surprised me and made plans for us to go on his birthday. What a sweetie! Since I missed my chance on my b-d and was quite bummed about it, I guess he felt bad. We've had this debate for awhile now that we should wait and go to amusements parks when the boys are older, b/c they won't care enough, won't behave, or remember it all. Anyway, I guess I won the debate and here we are. My parents even came up and surprised me inside the park. It was a lot of fun and I think the kids really did enjoy it although it seemed they liked running through the "water park" more than anything and having huge rainbow popsicles- all of which can be enjoyed in our backyard. go figure. I was a little pooped after the big day. The heat has had its toll on me, being pregnant and all. Unfortunately, my camera broke after gettting wet so I missed some great moments- but it was a fun day and I look forward to going back sometime next year. The pic on the bottom is of Brian's best friend Danny and his girl Vickie. He graciously came up one weekend and helped w/the pole barn- we got to go out for dinner with them .. It was delicious Carrabba's and I ate until I was stuffed. Yum!!! Food tastes so much better now, when I can go out and enjoy it, every morsel a time and have someone else prepare it for me.

Pool Time- a message for grammy & pappoo

I finally figured out ( I think) how to upload a video. Yea!!

Well, just to keep up with what's been going on. Brian has made great progress with his pole barn. Much thanks to Jacob and Danny for lending a hand. It looks really good and I am hoping this gives him ample space to work on his projects like he is wanting and maybe a few side jobs. Brian is an awesome handy man and I feel so proud of him for all that he's done, esp. under the circumstances. Some days he didn't have any help, but that didn't discourage him- he manages anyway he can, even if that means being creative or going the extra mile. David has even caught on- he said to me the other day "it's okay mommy, daddy can fix it", this is when the mower died on me. how cute is that? I am so thankful to have a man that can fix just about anything.

And, as if building a pole barn is not rustic enough- we caught a hog! Yes, a pig, hog, "bacon" whatever you like to call it. It seems there are herds of them coming into our yards, neighbors too and digging for acorns, bugs, what have you but they love corn. So, my darling husband built a pen and managed to catch one. He's been a prisoner for about a two weeks now, getting fed and watered like a pet. His buddies come and see him at night- I imagine they are jealous. The kids enjoy him and to hear Daniel say "hog" and snort, is enough to keep him around. I go out to help take care of him occasionally, but I really like to pretend that he's not there- until he is in plastic wrap and I don't have any idea how he got there. This has taken a little getting used to, I don't take it as lightly as it may sound. I guess I just don't have a huge say in the matter, (and it does make sense) so I find the easiest way to handle it.

Anyway, the kids spend there days outside anyway they can. Here's proof that a little mud can bring a lot of fun or just cute kids for a picture.

Life in pictures

We took the boys to Micanopy for the 4th of July parade. It was humid hot but a fun, small town way to pay tribute to our country's history. (and the people in the parade throw lots of candy!)

David is "mister serious" watching the tractors in the parade. Hot or not, this boy knows his tractors.

Feeling the heat on the street. It was a humid and sticky. Always love the Herlong Mansion, though. Memories of our wonderfully, fun wedding day flood my heart, when we are there. I want to do it all again!!!

David meeting a new "friend". He's becoming more adventurous these days. Somehow he needs to learn to be more amused with the front of this pooch than the end.

PRAY ANYWAY

When you don't know how to pray, pray anyway!-Ignorance is no excuse. When you don't feel like praying, pray anyway! - Depression is no excuse. When dullness sits on you like a vulture, and you can't muster enough enthusiasm to change channels, much less to pray, pray anyway!- Boredom is no excuse. When you see no need to pray and no reason to intercede for those about you , recognize this as a sign of impending danger, and pray anyway.- Blindness is no excuse. When you've grown spiritually lazy and feel that you'll never be able to pick up your Bible and read it the way you once did, pray anyway. -Laziness is no excuse. When you don't understand what the big deal is about prayer, and you think it's overrated because it never did you much good, pray anyway. -Immaturity is no excuse. When you're too tired to remember your own name, and you know God will understand if you don't, pray anyway. -Fatigue is no excuse. When you're embarrassed to be back before God confessing the same sins and admitting the same failures, come n and pray anyway. - Shame is no excuse. When you've been unfaithful and you now it and you feel that burden of guilt that makes you want to run and hide under the porch, pray anyway.-Sin is no excuse. When enemy's nagging voice keeps telling you there's no God, and even if there were He'd never have anything to do with you, pray anyway. -Unbelief is no excuse. We can bless ourselves immeasurably by rescuing our prayer life from bondage to our emotions and circumstances. There is no time and there are no conditions in which prayer is not necessary, not helpful, and not the right thing to do.
Just thought I'd share this. I've kept this in my Bible for many years and find it convicting, when I don't feel like praying. It is a very helpful reminder of my responsibility as a Christian.

Those with influence

So I missed Father's Day. sorry guys. Actually, I worked that weekend and was in my usual "post-call" fog being selfish I guess, and unmotivated. Anyway, I cherish my husband for what a strong, faithful, patient man he is. He didn't even get mad at me for accidentally throwing his 'carburetor thing' , for his truck, in the burn barrel. God really knows what he is doing when he puts two people together. Brian completes me in so many ways that I am not able. Patience for example. I missed Pastor Gary's sermon, but I imagine it was fully charged and motivating for our men to step up. For those that went to see Chonda Pierce, you might remember the opening comedian. He made a joke about how sweet and inspiring most pastor's are for their Mother's Day sermons and then WHAM! they lay it on thick and harsh for the men. It seems true. I sometimes think about this, in light of my husband. It must be a huge burden on him sometimes knowing the responsibility he holds for our family. It reminds me to pray harder for him and when he may not "step up" to my expectations, I may have only myself to blame.

Much thanks and admiration to my dad, who is learning to be a grandpa. It is a stressful job sometimes but with a little help he is doing a great job and the boys really love to hang with him. They affectionately call him "papa" and Brian's dad "pappoo". It helps to tell them apart. Hats off to dad Borges in CA. Even after 11grandkids, he is holding strong and very patient. It is more and more difficult not seeing him more often but we make the best of it. By the way, he has started his hormone therapy for his prostate cancer and feeling well. He is trying to modify his diet too, which would be a struggle for most of us, I am sure. We are so excited to go out to see them for a Borges reunion in Aug. It'll be fun to be there for our anniversary and see them before the baby comes. Only 4 more months! that is crazy. I am not sure I am ready but trying to take it as it comes and not stress over silly things, I'd usually stress over. That has been hard. I think it is really true that God blesses us with children as a way to improve our attitudes and behavior. I am learning that I have very long way to go to be more like Jesus.

We spent some time with papa and grandma Stalnaker a few weekends ago and the kids had a great time. My parents live near the harbor and many canals surround them, where many canoe and fish. The beach is 20-30 min. away but we decided to make it simple and hang out at Pt. Charlotte "beach", basically the harbor. But it was fun and the boys didn't know the difference. I posted a few pics from our visit.

Brian is finally getting to build his pole barn. We've put it off for various reasons; money and time being the most obvious. Anyway, he started on it this week after gathering the materials over the past year. I guess if we had the money, he would've gone the week before and bought everything, but again Brian is patient and he sought out any deals he could find. Last Fall the electric company put in new power poles along our main road and conveniently God placed them in our path and he was able to get the poles they would've gotten rid of. This may be against the law, and I could be getting him in trouble but we totally give God all the credit for that. And, he found other materials for great deals and our neighbor is an angel sent from Heaven, and a carpenter and graciously lends a hand whenever we need it. Hopefully, Brian will have a better place to work on tractors and such and might possibly find himself working for himself one day. That's a continued prayer of ours.

So, I love these great men and my boys. It seems I am surrounded by boys. It might actually be strange if this baby is a girl. I know she and I would be wonderful pals that's for sure. And, I might actually have a shopping partner.