In my own bed:)

 Dairy Queen on the way to Texas to celebrate Lou's 15th birthday...

 The eyes say it all:)

 Sparklers on the 4th of July:)

 One Happy little 4th boy... Levi loved the fireworks this year... a big change from last year:):)  And he loved the food... as you can tell:)

The bigger boys with their cousins Maddie and Meaghan... They really enjoyed getting the chance to hang out with them:)  The times are so few and far between that we get to see them...

We are so thankful to have made it home safely...  

All the kids are finally silent... 

Greg is still up working...  

 Just finished unloading the cooler...

Loads of other things that will have to wait till tomorrow to be unloaded and unpacked...

I think when I start the laundry I will just repack and keep the suitcases in the extra bedroom till the kids and I leave next week for a wedding with my side of the family...

G leaves tomorrow for a week away for work..

Our timing has stunk this summer on planning/timing of commitments...

I think the littles will be going on 3+ weeks without daddy in the last month...

 I know it could be so so much worse... 

It is just for some reason this summer... I feel like summer will be over and we won't really have had too much down time with just our family...

 We love getting away to see our family all across the country and it is so cherished... but it really has me cherishing the time we had in Colorado with friends where we just sort of plunked down in one place and explored right around there...

Maybe it is just the shear fact that nowadays with 8 of us... just getting out the door is quite a small feat:)  

I wouldn't have it any other way...

Seasons...I know this one will pass way too quickly and I will be longing for it back:)

I am about to crawl in my own bed... There is something about sleeping in your own bed that just can't be beat:) Ahhh...  More vacation pics soon...

MORE TEXAS FUN

THE KIDS IN THE BLUEBONNETS

JOJO

CALEB

ANNA AND HER NEW "BEST FRIEND" BLAKE, RYANE'S HUSBAND

ANNA AND ELLA WITH ELLA'S NEW KITTINS

These were some more pictures from the fun in Texas. I love the bluebonnets. Looking at them along the drive really made the 8+ hours pass more quickly to me.

We are really enjoying our company. The kids are having a blast with their cousins and me with my "sista" -in-law. She is certainly just like a sister to me. Today we toured the Blue Bell Creamery... yummy. We all learned a lot and really learning about ice cream is right up my alley. I am a northern girl from the dairy state you know:)

The crazy thing was, here we are in the country store after eating our ice cream. And in walks the next group of people for their tour. Now, I think God is trying to tell me something, I have no idea what... the next group was about 40 pregnant or parenting girls from a school in the area. What are the chances that we would be there at the same time as all of these pregnant teens. My heart just ached for them knowing the road that they will be walking. Really though, they didn't seem to mind, they were chattering away just like other girls their age. It was just strange to me, I have never been in the presence of THAT many pregnant young girls. Who knows why the Lord had me there at the same time as them, but I did get to talk with some of their teachers about if most of them were planning on parenting or plan on making an adoption plan. Being around pregnant women is difficult, but wow, 40 girls in unplanned pregnancies when you have had to "work" hard for each of your own pregnancies, it was wild.

It just goes to show me again, how little I know about the mind of God and how He works. That is one BIG thing I have learned through this experience. Even being a Christian for my whole life, it is so obvious that we are not at all in control of things and we really will never get near to truly understanding God and all that He does. We just need to accept what He does and keep trusting HIM. His sovereignty and power is beyond our comprehension as humans. We can certainly get to know Him more by reading His word, but really understanding HIM... I just don't think so. I have had many questions since Samuel died, Why? What is His purpose in this? Was he in pain when he died, did he feel anything? But actually today I am ok with not having any answers and just taking it for what it is at this point... I don't always feel that way, but for today I do:) And that feels good... just to rest and trust!

TIME IN TEXAS:)

THE COUSINS WITH GRANDMA AND GRANDPA HINTZ

VISITING GREAT GRANNY AT HER NEW HOME:)


JOJO AND I HANGING OUT WITH RYANE


HERE IS THE EVIDENCE OF MY SLIGHTLY REBELLIOUS ACTIVITY
Sorry, I know that some people don't like looking at feet... But there was no real way of getting around that. Now does this give me a reason to ask for a pedicure:)

THE FAMILY WITH MEAHGAN AFTER HER CONFIRMATION

We are back in town after a super busy, but really nice weekend in Houston. We arrived really late Thursday night and arrived home really late last night. One of the reasons we went down was for Meaghan, our god daughter's confirmation service. She is growing into such a beautiful young woman. The kids loved their time with Meaghan and Maddie her sister. They always do a lot of laughing together:)

The other main reason we went down was because my hubby has been wanting a truck for years. Really, he has wanted one since I have known him. His very generous parents are going down to one vehicle, so we are the very blessed new owners of their truck. Greg spent most of the day on the truck, getting license plates, waxing it... hilarious. I am really happy for him.

We also crammed in a visit to our dear friends the Stocktons. We spent most weekends with them when we lived in Houston... so it is always just like old times. We just pick up right where we left off. They have been so supportive these last months. The kids have a blast together and we even got to make it to their son, my godson's, birthday party while we were there. By the way Mary, your crazy ear drops did the trick. Wow, they are like magic:) It is so much better... thank you.

Greg's grandma just moved from her home to an assisted living center. She was so gracious and is handling it so well. I was really impressed. I could tell it was hard for her, but she was very positive about everything at her new home. What a sweet lady she is. This past Friday was 5 years since she had lost her husband of over 60 years. I can see that she still misses him greatly. Every stage of life has it's difficulties, but Granny is handling those with such grace.

We also got to spend some time with Ryane, one of Jojo's god mothers. It was a treat as usual. I feel kind of bad...:) Ryane and I started to become close when she was going through some difficult times. I had struggled with some of the same things she was going through, so we would chat about it. That was probably 8 years ago. I never dreamed that such a beautiful friendship would grow from those times. She has been amazing since we lost Samuel, really there for me, and encouraging me to keep trusting in God's plan for us. I just never thought that someone I kind of mentored would be the one helping me so much. She is a real blessing.

So this is why I feel bad... Am I a bad influence?? :) She and I have talked in the past about getting tattoos. So we finally did it. Neither of our husbands thought we would go through with it. I love that I have a piece of Samuel, his sweet little footprint as a part of me forever. I actually love the permanence of it, does that sound crazy. I feel like that little guy stamped his little footprint, his existence as a member of our family, all over my heart and life. And now I have it stamped on my foot. I put the reference to the Bible verse Psalm 139:13-14 next to it.

For you created my inmost being. You knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

That is exactly how I feel. God created that little guy exactly as He wanted him. He knit him together perfectly. He created his inmost being, heart and soul. When I think of Samuel I do know God's works are wonderful. But boy do I miss His work in that little boy who I wish I could be holding in my arms right now.

I even think about when I am old and gray and wrinkled:) that I will be able to tell my grandchildren about their uncle and the wonderful God given gift that he was to us. Hopefully it may open doors to share my faith and what God has done in our lives through this whole experience.

So now we are gearing up for company.... I love it. My brother Mark, his wife Jane and 4 of their 5 daughter will be coming tomorrow until Easter. Yeah!!! I will try to post other pictures from Texas in the next few days. The bluebonnets were in bloom and were beautiful.