Pool time!

As the summer closes we are trying to squeeze everything we can in. We have been spending hours at the pool. Yesterday we went to the pool and the kids had so much fun playing. I don't do much in the water. I just walk around or float on a noodle. Aaron comes to the pool when he can get a break. When he does he balances floating with me and playing with the kids. So, I was moving around in the pool minding my own quiet, peaceful, business...then my loving husband began to make his way to me. He gave me a hug, then Georgia came over and joined him, then JD, Derek, and Ian gathered for a group hug! It was kinda heavy. I am blessed again.

Ian, Our blessing

This summer, like summers in the past, I have enjoyed the blessing of having Ian all summer. He and our immediate family are really close. We enjoyed many activities such as swim team, movies, going to the park, Fiesta Texas, and so on. We have had the blessing of being a part of his upbringing. He is extremely smart, likes to try new things and easy to take care of. We thank God for allowing us to be a part of his life in such a close way. We know that God will use him in a great way. He really enjoys being a part of his church activities and uses his knowledge to share with friends around him and frequently asks questions during our family devotions. He loves to read which increases his knowledge. He is definitely like the Scrimshire family with having what we call Ianisims.

Saturday is his 11th birthday. He is sooo excited about it. He said, "I can't wait till my birthday! I'm gonna stay up all night long. It's a tradition. I have been doing it since I was 10!" I thought Aaron was going to drive off the road he was laughing so hard! Ian definitely has a great since of humor.

We love you Ian and enjoys seeing you grow and mature.

Love Amy

Aaron's birthday!

Yesterday, my handsome husband turned 32! We went to lunch on Sunday after church to celebrate. Birthday boy chose an Indian restaurant:/. But it was new and interesting. He loved it, Georgia and I both tried several dishes, the boys mostly picked at their dishes. Yesterday we enjoyed an evening with our bible study.

Last night he finally got his birthday wish! oh, stop it....I tried Guinness beer. He was soo excited to enlighten me to this exciting experience. It was a great day for him.

At the firehouse it is a tradition that the birthday boy brings his own cake. I have made tons of cakes but only chocolate or white. He asked me to make a carrot cake. I didn't know anything about what was in it, well, except carrots-Hello. I don't even know how to run a food processor. I didn't get those instructions before he left so he had a good laugh trying to guide me through that over the phone. Yay! It came out great and Aaron said it was really good and said the guys all liked it too! Who knows, maybe I'll go outside of my baking comfort zone and try to make new stuff.

For his birthday his parents got him a hammock, camping grill, a christian T-shirt, and a chef hat. That hat was so fun! Aaron looked like the Swedish Chef from the Muppets! That hammock will come in handy for lots of reading for his classes!

We still have more celebrating to do on Sunday with my side of the family.
Happy Birthday Aaron!

This is My Story

This morning was a great start. I started my quiet time with my Lord to the old hymn, Blessed Assurance. He is mine and I am his. I read 1 Timothy 1:12-17 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves to full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners-of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, and only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

This is my story. I was raised hearing that Jesus loved me, however I did not know the gospel and how he loved me. Anyone one who knew my past would be quite surprised that I absolutely fall into the hands of my Savior. I made choices that I truly look back with embarrassment. I was in control, I thought. I showed up on the doorsteps of a church physically obvious that I needed God. I was 17 and a junior in high school. Pregnant. We looked at several churches before settling in on one. And every time I got out of the car and it was a humbling experience. I knew that God was real and I certainly didn't want his church to see how much of a sinner I was. We finally settled into a church that welcomed me with open arms. I wish I could say I changed my ways. I didn't. I continued to live a life of sin and rebellion. I ran with a very rough crowd.It was only by God's protection that I didn't get killed. I certainly didn't deserve his protection. Once I had Derek, I decided to have him dedicated. I made a promise to God that he would be raised in the christian faith. And that was a promise I kept. No matter how bad I got, he rarely missed church. When I not there, my mother faithfully took him with her. For that I am forever thankful. He is truly being used by God in major ways.

Eventually God's love made it to my heart. I repented. To repent is to turn away from my old self. I was tired of living a life of sin. I was tired of going nowhere. Somewhere in the mist of my crazy world, I got an education. I became a dental assistant and provided for me and Derek. I felt like I was the worst of sinners. I almost wrote in this testimony that I wasn't the worst of sinners because I didn't murder or steal or something we all consider worse than ourselves. However, God is very personal and every sinner is the worst of sinners. Sin is sin. Paul watched Stephen being stoned to death because of his faith and Paul gave his approval of his death. Even destroyed the church after his death. I fell at his feet and begged him to show me mercy. I accepted his gift of salvation. I have full assurance that I am his and will see him in heaven.

I am still a sinner. I have, many many times, looked down at those whom live the way I did. I pray constantly for forgiveness and mercy for not giving mercy and grace as my Father did. I have those I still struggle with.As I judge others I am truly judging myself. Talk about putting my foot in my mouth. It doesn't taste good. He is patient with me just as he is patient with all of his children. I believe he gives this gift to us, he bought us with the price of the death and Resurrection of his very own Son. He doesn't require action on our part to receive this gift. It is already ours. We choose to walk away from this gift. Our faithfulness to him produces fruit. We can't earn his love. Obedience and living for Christ comes from out love for him. My willingness to serve is not out of obligation, I did not sign a contract, I serve out of love because he first loved me. I have a true relationship with God AND I understand he is just and deserves respect and authority. He is the ultimate authority and is the judge of who enters his kingdom. I fall down daily and he picks me up. He offers his sacraments to me as a reminder of what he has done for me. He came to this earth as a man, he was without sin, he died for my sins, rose from the dead, and lives and reigns in heaven.

I look back at my old self and shutter. I have moments of guilt and shame yet he reminds me of his forgiveness and love. He has blessed me with a husband who leads our family based on his love and dedication our Lord. My children our raised, taught, and lead by our example and the teachings of Christ. I truly believe in going to church every Sunday. We find love, fellowship, and participation in his gifts he daily showers on us. I hope I can use my story to make an empact on those around me and my children. I am dedicated to being the best wife, mother, friend, and church member I can through Him.

Thank you for listening to my story- God's story.

My story is not over till I die and live with him.

Mission accomplished!

Everyday I wake up and make my list of things I'm supposed to do. I even put getting dressed on my list. A lot of times I don't get it done, but every now and then I get extra done. Today was one of those days. I already posted about moving the inversion table and getting my school room organized. I actually finished it! Everything is in its new spot, filed, rubber banded and tucked away. I found out that I have 39 flashcards! Who needs that many? Hmmm....my kids should be geniuses!!

I then got motivated and moved to the kitchen for dinner. Georgia helped me make dinner she did super! I think she needs an apron her size.

Dinner was done, we all pitched in and cleaned up the garage. We didn't clean out the garage. We cleaned up the mess from our inside garage door to the big outside one. Once that was clean we were done. JD finished the job by gathering all the shoes in the foyer! This photo was a perfect description of his task. It was really cute to see him trying to get them all at once instead of doing a little at a time.

Now it feels really good to sit on the couch and know we put in a great day. Ian helped out quite a bit but he ALSO finished all his reading for the different summer reading programs!! YAY Ian!! Great job!!

Honey Bat and Honey Do's

Today I finally attacked a room that desperately needed attention! I dreaded it but boy do I feel better now. When we finished the school year I purposefully tried to stay away from my schoolroom/den. I need the break too. During the year I spend ALOT of time there.

Anyway, shortly after the summer started my honey Aaron hurt his back in a fire. He was in alot of pain and had lots of trips to the chiropractor. My in-laws previously lent us an inversion table to help him stretch out his back (years of fire department and EMS can really take its toll). This is definitely a piece of equipment that is hard to find a good spot for. It sat in the garage for a little bit. When he hurt his back in the fire he needed to use it almost everyday. So we moved it to the den so he wouldn't have to hang upside down in the garage. The inversion table turns him upside down and stretches out his back. He loves it. My honey looks like a bat! I tried to take his picture but ....he didn't think that was very funny. Oh, well:) You can use your imagination.

This inversion table is a weird shape. We planned to move it back to the garage but I didn't want him to have to hang upside down in the hot garage...so I got rid of some desks that were too small for JD and Georgia and moved some furniture around and Wha La! I have my schoolroom back and he can hang upside down as much as he wants. AND...he's not driving me batty...ha, jkjk.

I can finally think straight. I have all my curriculum and all my supplies. Now I can get organized and ready to start next week! Eek!!

I love my Honey Bat and my re-organized school room!

King Clan

I have introduced the Tilts and the Keyshires. I now present to you the King Clan. My maiden name is King. They are my Dad, Sheila, Melissa, Alex, Austen, and our newest addition Katie. They live not too far from us. Dripping Springs is about an Hour and ahalf away. They really enjoy hobbies such as Karate and they raise and breed birds. The birds are mostly doves and several different kinds of parrots. They have some beautiful birds and they are quite intelligant. My dad and Sheila are very close. ( I am also very close to my mom, Trish). Katie is an addition to our family with an amazing story. She was only 2 when her mother, my aunt, was involved in a trajic car accident. She was completely disabled and passed away four years later from her injuries. She fought bravely through breast cancer just months after Katie's birth and then through the results of the car accident. We prayed for her and will remember her loving spirit forever. Katie was brave through it and my dad and sheila took an immediate role to raise her in a loving family. This little girl had been through more than I can share. The Lord took her in His hands and placed her in a loving home with her family and couldn't be in a more loving family. She is not just a cousin, she is my sister. She is a blessing from God and a testimony of God's faithfulness to His children. I continually pray for blessings for her and my parents immediate response to her need for care and love. Please enjoy these pictures of my loving family. Sheila is my loving step-mother who loves us as her own. She has been a blessing me and my family since I was 8 years old. We have grown together as a family and I love her very much. ( she does not enjoy taking pictures, so I do not have any of her- although I would love to have one someday). I have no idea why I don't have a picture of my awesome brother Alex.