i seem to be having a hard time finding TIME to oost regularly. i'm sorry. thank you for those of you who wontinue to check in on me. we had a good weekend. friday, we had a quick yardsale before the rain hit. about 8-12. i made almost $275. not bad. and it helped me clear out some junk from the storage areas so it could be much more manageable. i promised the kids they would get to pick out one new toy that they would really love if they would go throughall their things and get rid of thigs that were too young for them or that they didn't play with anymore. it was a good exercise for them since they don't usually like getting rid of anything. they were motivatede and got rid of quite a bit they had been needing to get rid of. the sweetest part of all was when little boys would come by with their moms, micah would jsut gove them a couple of cars. i hope my children learn the value of things and the importance of taking care of them while never holding on too closly to them. materialism is so sneaky. micah chose a Narnia game for his game boy. anna chose a cinderella dress, and bekah chose a puppy that makes puppy noises. they were really happy with their clean and organized play room and new toy. i think they will be willing to do that again when it comes time. i took the family out for a fun family night at an inexpensive movie theater showing The Shaggy Dog and to dinner. it was our celebratory family fun evening. i also bought each child a ceiling fan for his/her room to keep the heat down in the summer. i tithed a little and there is still some left over for me to indulge with!!! yay!

Saturday micah had another soccer game. he's getting better and better everytime. saturday night we had the praiseteam over for dinner and a movie. it was fun. sunday was a marathon day. that's how they are most of the time. my mom and dad got back form their cruise. they had a blast. i am so happy for them!

tomorrow bret and i leave for the pepperdine lectureships in malibu, ca. i am so excited and so nervous at the same time. i've never been this far away from my children. i can't just come home to them unless it is a major emergency in which case we would just have to buy tickets to fly home. i pray everything goes smoothly. please pray for me, too!!!! today, i am just finishing out laundry and packing. getting it all together is going to be tricky. i have my list going so hopefully i will remember everthing!!

gotta go get to folding clotes and packing them.
summer