Family Birthday Bash

This weekend is our annual birthday bash. All my parents' grandchildren's birthdays are in the fall. Every year during the labor day weekend - we have a huge birthday party. We take turns having it in Atlanta and Charlotte. This year it is in Charlotte at Scott's house. Unfortunetly Matthew had a game, so Stephen, Matthew and Timothy stayed home.

So..... me and Jacob headed to Charlotte. We have had a really good time. We have gone to the reenactment of the Revolutionary War Battle of Charlotte. The girls went shopping and we had our birthday party! Today Jacob's uncles took him to play golf - they will be rewarded in heaven for that! Jacob and I will be heading home today.

Football is going good - All the boys have won all their games so far - so we are all still a happy household. Jacob and Matthew have sustained some injuries - but so far nothing tooo major.

That is my quick update

Playing Catch up AGAIN!

Wow, so much to has gone on...

Football season has started and I must say it is very much a love/hate relationship. I love football games and cheering but I hate the time away from my husband that it brings. We have to work extra hard to find time for each other. But this time will be gone soon, so I choose to enjoy these moments we have with our kids.

We did get away to the beach right before football hit. We had a wonderful trip and it was well needed family time for us. My parents got to come for a few days and that was nice. Not much to tell - we all just relaxed and read a lot of books - the way a beach trip should be..

My parents with the kids

My Boys!!!!

The Family

My dad with the boys!

I will be starting school next week. Timothy will head to Reinhardt for his classes. Matthew will start Vertitas and me and Jacob will start our school.

Timothy will be graduating on December 16th. Can you believe it? I can't. He turns 18 in little over a week. Wow - how time flys!!

Kenny Chesney - The Boys of Fall

It's football time again!!! Love this video!!!

Sting

This past Tuesday night Stephen and I got a once in a lifetime opportunity. Stephen is a big customer of Xerox and Xerox is the main sponsor of Sting's world tour. So Xerox brought us in to Chastain Park. We got to go to the sound check before the concert. Now, before we entered we were given a ton of rules that we needed to follow. I really was concerned that Sting was going to be a jerk. A real prima donna. But we got to the sound check and he was awesome. He was funny and really interacted with us. During the sound check, he brought up several of us to sing with him. He invited Stephen up on stage to sing - but can you believe it - Stephen said "No, I can't sing"!! Can you believe it! After sound check we were able to go up on stage and meet him and get our picture taken with him. It was such a treat!!

The concert was great also! He performed with the London orchestra. We had so much fun! When we get the picture I will post it. They wouldn't allow us to have cameras, but Xerox took some for us.

Other than that we have been very busy this summer with football camps. Right now we have two colleges looking at Timothy. We are very excited about one - I pray that it may work out. But I am sure that God will lead us to the one that He wants us to go to. We have a few more to go to this summer. We will be going to Shorter and UTC camps in the next couple of weeks.

That is it for now! More later!

Missing Parts

It is funny how when all the people in your family are at home and life is running it's normal crazy self, you don't realize how each part is important. It is when one of those pieces is missing that things just don't seem right.

Can you tell I am missing my son? My middle son is off with his best friend in Florida. They are working on his friend's grandparent's sheep farm. He has been gone for over a week and Stephen and I miss him terribly. It just feels like the family is off sync.

I am learning that each member of our family brings things to the table that make our family work. When one of us is not there - it is off. He will be home at the end of the week, but then leaves next week for his World Changer's mission trip. What is a mama to do?

Books

I thought I would let you know about some books I am reading this summer. They are not my usual Christian romance books, but I am enjoying them.

The first one is "Green Like God" by Jonathan Merritt. Matthew had to read and discuss this one for his science class. I don't agree with everything in this book - but it definitely give you food for thought.

The next one is Scrap Cotton by Floe Ellen Penley. It is a simple book written in diary form by a lady that grew up in Forsyth County in the early 1900s. It has been fun to read about people we only know from street sign names.

The one I am reading right now is Radical by David Platt. Not very far into this one - but it is very good - It is how we have Americanized the Christian faith - a lot of food for thought in this one also.

Just thought I would share these with you...... Enjoy your summer!

Michele

Playing Catch up

I am just going to try and catch you up on our lives. We have been on a roller coaster ride lately. First night, Matthew's team that has gone undefeated this year lost and got second place in the end of the season tournament. Matthew was up to bat with the tying run on second and struck out. He held on for a while - hit many foul. The next night, Timothy's team won the championship. The following night we went to support our youth minister that was announcing he is leaving. I would like to add, that this is such a sad day for our family. We are so very happy for him and his family because I know God had put all this into motion and is truly leading them to this new church. God has great things in store for them. But I guess we are left with some anger - regarding the circumstances that led to this. So pray for both family, ours that we learn that God will bring glory to all things and for the Harvey family as they continue on this adventure that God has laid out for them.
Back to my story.... We went from low, high, low, and then back to high when Timothy got a call from a college. They are interested in him (to play football) and wanted to invite him to their prospect camp. This school is above what we thought Timothy would get, but we are all excited. I have resolved - in order not to stress myself out - that God has complete control of this. He has a perfect plan for Timothy and if football is part of it - he will prepare the way. I know what it meant to Timothy to have this school call. As we know more in the coming months, I will share more information.
Matthew is away in Florida with his best friend. They are working on his friend's grandparents's farm. He will be gone around 2 weeks and as soon as he gets home - he is off to a mission trip. Boy, am I going to miss that boy.
Timothy is interning with our youth minister, before he leaves. So between work, the passing league that his coaches have put together, and football camps every weekend - Timothy is very busy!!
Jacob - well he is more low key this summer - he is taking a golf camp. Right now, it is only for one week, but can be extended if he does well and enjoys it.
And mom, is trying to breath, and workout in the middle.

God is so good and we are learning more everyday to rely in Him!

Michele