Formal

7th graders

Saturday was the teen formal at church.  Josh didn't want to go, but I convinced him to come and honor the seniors .  I think he cleaned up pretty well!!  I know he was uncomfortable, but I think he looked so adorable.  Thank you Monica for helping us find the jacket!!

Last day

As much as I enjoyed the Hershey amusement park and making our own candy bar, I think the last day was my favorite.  After we slept in a little and ate breakfast, we headed up to Lancaster, PA.  We took a horse and buggy ride over to see some Amish farms and then we stopped on an Amish farm.  They had a little store set up.  I loved everything inside.  I wish i carried more cash.  I loved their quilts and hand made items.  For some reason, I loved the little Amish boy/girl dolls, but they were $10 each (remember, I didn't have much cash).  I loved all the home made goods they had.....apple butter, jellies etc.  I did buy a small candle and Jenna got an Amish outfit for her American girl doll.  I know we are not supposed to take pictures of the Amish, but I got one from the Amish children on the farm selling the things they had made and then I walked away and set my zoom and "snuck" one of the Amish boys.  I don't know what it is about them, but I am fascinated by their lifestyle.  I wouldn't want to live like that, but I am so curious about them.  I guess they are curious about us as well.  We had about an hour left after our tour, so about 2 miles down the road was an outlet mall so we looked around.  Right across from the buggy tour was Sight and Sound theater.  We somehow got tickets to Moses (It was all of God).  I was blown away by the production and would love to go back.  I knew they had live animals, but I didn't realize they would ride the animals down the isles!!  They had camels, sheep, horses, and even a bull.  The scenes and special effects were just amazing.  I looked over at Josh and he was so into it.  I thought maybe the kids would be bored, but he loved it.  He also had the isle seat, so he got a close up of some of the actors and animals.  I really hope to go back and see another production.   My pictures of Sight and Sound were few and they are on my cell phone, so I hope to get those unloaded and posted soon. We headed straight home after the play and got home at 12:45.  Just enough sleep to get up and celebrate Easter.  Thankful for a safe trip.  Thankful for more memories with my children.

PA, Day 2

Day 2 started with making our own candy bars at 9 am (and the glasses from the last picture were for a 4d show).  We immediately headed over to Hershey Park for a day full of roller coasters.  I LOVE roller coasters and was surprised that Hershey had some great coasters.  In fact, the big yellow one was probably one of the best coasters I have ever been on.....scary, scary and great!!  It was so chilly, especially on the coasters, but I would rather have that then the extreme heat of summer, especially waiting for the rides.  We didn't get to ride everything, but we so enjoyed the day we had.

Hershy, PA Trip

The last few years we have gone somewhere for spring break.  Sometimes it isn't a big trip, but other times it is a bigger trip.  One year we went to Grandfather Mountain, last year was our big trip to Disney and this year we went to Hershey, PA.  Loved it!!  Love making memories with my family.  We woke up early Thursday morning and drove to Hershey, PA.  Some of the things we wanted to do at the chocolate factory were already sold out, but we were able to do those events on Friday morning.  We did a couple of things at the factory, checked into our hotel and then ate a nice family dinner and used the pool.  Friday morning we did the other events and then went to Hershey amusement park and on Saturday we went to Lancaster and went to an Amish Farm and to Sight and Sound theater.  I will break these up little by little.  I will say my favorite parts were by far Sight and Sound theater, the Amish farm and making our own candy bar.  So for today I will post some highlights of us at the Hershey Chocolate Factory.  I loved making our candy bar.  You had to wear hair nets and then pick up to three things you wanted in your candy bar as well as if you wanted regular chocolate, white chocolate or dark chocolate.  Then you watched your candy bar being made down the assembly line.  You went into another booth and made your own wrapper and then you got your candy bar in a tin.  It was pretty cool.

Just Be Held

When I went to the Casting Crowns Concert I heard this song (I actually had heard it once before on you tube).  One thing I got for my birthday was the new CC CD.  When I actually listened to this song I realized how awesome the song really was.  They dedicated this song to the drummers little boy who needed a heart transplant.  I love the part of "your worlds not falling apart its falling into place" and "if your eyes are on the storm you'll wonder if I love you still, but if your eyes are on the cross you know I always have and always will" .  I also liked "and not a tear is wasted, in time you'll understand, I'm painting beauty with the ashes, you're life is in my hand.

Hold it all together
Everybody needs you strong
But life hits you out of nowhere
And barely leaves you holding on

And when you're tired of fighting
Chained by your control
There's freedom in surrender
Lay it down and let it go

So when you're on your knees and answers seem so far away
You're not alone, stop holding on and just be held
Your worlds not falling apart, its falling into place
I'm on the throne, stop holding on and just be held
Just be held, just be held

If your eyes are on the storm
You'll wonder if I love you still
But if your eyes are on the cross
You'll know I always have and I always will

And not a tear is wasted
In time, you'll understand
I'm painting beauty with the ashes
Your life is in My hands

Lift your hands, lift your eyes
In the storm is where you'll find Me
And where you are, I'll hold your heart
I'll hold your heart
Come to Me, find your rest
In the arms of the God who wont let go

What's been going on.....

I realized it's been over a week since my last post.  I try to post on Wednesdays, but I didn't get to it this week.  Last weekend I enjoyed time away at the beach with some great ladies.  I roomed with one of my dear friends and we stayed up until 2 am talking!!  love her!!  What great memories and what much needed time.  I came back very tired, and excited to see my family, but with a renewed spirit.  I'd love to go away again, but by my last post you know how hard it is for me to get away!!

I'm back in the routine of watching kids.  I have next week left and then we are headed for a week of spring break.  I can see the end in sight!!

And that brings us to next year.  Anxious to see what God has in store for me.  Right now I have no kids to watch.  I have a friend that works at a preschool and she needs an assistant, so there is a possibility of that.  I will be doing early morning care once again, but that doesn't pay a lot of money.  If I got the preschool job it would be T/W/Th.  If I don't get anything, I will probably just stay home and homeschool Josh, mainly because of no extra money and the fact that I can't sit at home and twiddle my thumbs.  My house can only be so clean, so I do not want to sit around eating bon bons and watching soap operas.:)!!   I choose Josh because I think he could use the extra help, and the kid can make friends with a light pole!!  He is gifted in that area, and I know he would do fine.  He has so many friends in youth group.  Jenna could stay home because she is always on Pastor's list, but she has no one at church her age.  She has one friend at church, and I dread the day when she moves up and Jenna stays behind (because she is a year older).  Jacob is a B student and could stay home, but in general, I think he needs to go.   I know I could easily find a part time job, however it is still necessary for me to take the kids to school and pick them up so the hours would have to fall in between that.  My kids can stay home alone now, but I also don't want a job where I would have to work every day of the summer because once again, I want time with them.  They are growing so fast that I can't get this time back!!  My Josh is a teen already and Jenna hits double didgets next week!!  I'm at peace with whatever happens and I can actually say I don't care what happens and I am not in the least bit stressed about it.