nice hop you have a happy 4

Absolutely! And what a cutie little pie she is!!!

P.S. I've missed your posts!! And Thanks for keeping up the encouragement with your blogging! <3

You opened the comments! Haven is so cute eating her watermelon

I was looking through some of your pictures today and I can't believe how big all the kids are getting, especially Lake, she's looking more and more like a little girl instead of a baby. I've been reading your blog since you were pregnant with her! Time flies.

I missed the video last time I commented! Those boys sound great together, let them know I really enjoyed them and if they want to record more videos I'd love to watch them sing =)

That was fun! I loved Shelton's diplay of worship at the end, I felt my heart leap. Nothing like a baby lovin some watermelon, especially when the piece is about as big as her....adorable!

I just love this. Those boys are singin' from their heart and that just shines for Jesus! Just awesome. : )

LOVE it! :) It encouraged my kiddos and they have plans to learn guitar now. ;)

How can you video such blessed wonderment, Sweet Mama, with a steady hand? But, then, tears of joy can spill while a steady hand keeps videoing...right? Surely you know God delights in YOU and your entire family. THIS is the reason we press on everyday...loving, encouraging, training, pointing their hearts to Jesus! God is faithful. God is good. God is worthy of everything we have to offer HIM...the very air we breathe...all GLORY TO HIS NAME!

l.o.v.e the pic of Haven ~ enjoyed the video too ~ hugs to all of you ~

Clayton just watched the video with a big grin on his face ~

super cute, lys. all the kids are growing up so fast! i see it especially in the older boys~ all losing that boyishness and looking like young men. :) fun days ahead when they're all teens for sure!

Alyssa, I love the creek photos. Since I have never seen a creek like yours I am so drawn to them. You guys model the Godly family for me. I just wanted you to know that.
IN HIM,
Julie
www.raisingthreeknightsandaprincess.com

I love your writing on exposing kids to nature and helping them to love God's creation! I live in Fort Worth and I wonder how to find nature!?! I know that sounds silly and sad but, we live in a neighborhood. Besides taking my kids to the park or going camping I don't know how to daily or even weekly expose them to nature! I guess I need to get more creative but, do you have any tips for finding beautiful natural places that don't cost too much? I try to limit our TV and wii playing time and encourage reading but, I really think our family of 5 should try to do more hiking and adventure type things but, we never seem to have the money. I know that sounds like an excuse but, I really don't know how to budget to make it work. This past year was our first year of having our two older kids try some sports: soccer and baseball and they enjoyed it but, I think they got discouraged they weren't better and were on the lower level of skills. I also found racing around to practices and games tiring! How do you have such a positive attitude about juggling kids sports stuff? I'm worn out when games overlap and are in different locations and I wonder how you also have time to go out into nature after doing a morning / afternoon of Saturday sports? I really would like my kids to be less entertained and develop nature skills and a joy of being outside but, I'm worn out after Saturday games (I'm embarrassed to say that since only 2 of my 3 kids are able to do sports). Getting my 8 and 5 year old in uniforms, and water bottles and to the game early to warm up wears me out. I guess I need to toughen up and get more organized. How do you schedule it all? I've had a hard time with my older two and I'm nervous for when my 3 year old wants to join in and play sports. How should I encourage my kids if they enjoy soccer and baseball but, aren't the most talented and may be even the weaker players on a team? They aren't real competitive at this point and are still trying to learn the basic skills and many of their peers have passed them up skill wise. I LOVED your thoughts and actually would love to have your mindset and instead of my exhausted and worn out perspective about being outside in nature and having my kids do sports. Its probably selfish of me as a mom but, I tend to think about the dirty cleats, dirty uniforms, lost water bottles at the fields, dirty old car after muddy games, grumpy younger kids that are hungry and tired from missing naps and I'm tired and just want to relax at home after sports. I want to be a good mom or maybe even better I want to be the Mom God wants me to be I just didn't have a great role model and I feel like I'm walking blindly.

Also love your priority of your kids and investing in people over things! :) What a beautiful idea! :)

I didn't grow up in a sporty family. Plus I'm overweight. This summer I want to start to get healthy and model exercise to my kids! I've only lost 5 lbs so far but, I sure hope I can stick with it and get to a healthy weight so I have more energy and more to offer my kids!

Any tips for making simple healthy meals that aren't too expensive?

I wish you and your Mom and your sister would offer a Mom's overnight retreat so I could listen to your ideas for a weekend! :) I love how you love God and your husband and your kids! I'd love to soak up your wisdom but, also just ask tons of practical questions about mothering! :) No pressure... I imagine that that is the very last thing on your priority list to host and organize curriculum for a christian mothering retreat! You have kids to raise and adventure to experience! :)

I wish to me more adventurous but, I really get stuck in fear: fear of not having the money, fear of it being to hot, fear of my kids bickering and fighting, fear of not picking the right place to have an outdoor adventure!

Thanks for the cool pictures and mothering thoughts! They challenge me! :)

~ Ali

I adore your photos as always and your boys! Oh my Heavens what voices! Someday their wives will swoon when they sing to them <3

I coudn't agree more with Ali. Your blog and your life and family inspire me so much to love God more and to be a better wife/mother. But at the same time it makes me wonder what is behind it all. How DO you do things ? Now I now there is no formula and that everybody is different, but still I think there is a lot of practical wisdom that could be gained from you. Reading about how you could afford sports for your kids was soooo helpful ! Thank you so much for being willing to share !

Seeing your boys sing with such passion and talent left me speechless. Wow ! So here's my question for today : how did Shelton learn to play the guitar ? Do your children take music lessons ? Did he learn on is own/with parental help ? I guess my question is for my second born son who is so artistic, creative and musical but had no success at music lessons (suzuki violin with a teacher and then piano with his dad). I know we should encourage his natural music abilities, but I just don't know how...

Your sons musical gifts are wonderful. What a beautiful thing.