The month of July in review

WOW! I can't believe that we're halfway through August already; I haven't even had a moment to blog a/b the crazy~busy time in our life that we'll just call July.

July was exhausting and fun all in one!

July brought...

* Will taking his first steps and then becoming a big walker!

He always made the most hilarious excited face when he started walking (mouth WIDE open and usually laughing), and he still just adores the new independence it gives him. It was WAY too cute to watch and definitely worth waiting for!

* A visit to White Water in Branson

We took the kids to White Water for their first time, and they both loved it! Kennedy was nervous on the big curvy slides @ first, but was addicted after only one time down them! She even got a battle scar to prove it! : ( And Will still had zero fear of the water...of course. : )

* The 4th of July holiday

We spent the weekend of the 4th in Ft. Smith w/ both sides of my family. We look forward to this holiday every year b/c of the large amt. of extended family members that we get to see all in one wknd.! So fun!

Saturday afternoon/evening was spent catching up w/ my Dad's (HUGE) side of the family @ my Aunt/Uncle's farm outside of Ft. Sm. in Booneville, AR. It's by far the most anticipated Hobbs family get-together every year and we just try to soak it all up while we're all together! There were way over a hundred of us this year, and that was w/ several out-of-town family members unable to travel this year.

We play some mad games of volleyball (or at least the uncles and cousins do), eat way too much food and dessert, talk each others' ears off, play w/ each others' kids/grandkids, and then sit back and relax during a beautiful family firework show. It was awesome. And, we were (and are always) thoroughly exhausted when we leave. : )

We also spent some wonderful quality time w/ my Mom's side of the family by staying @ Nana and Grandad's farm Fri. and Sat. night. Gammi brought a new bubble gun which (as you can imagine) was a big hit w/ the kids. And, we got to celebrate our niece's upcoming first birthday after church Sun. w/ the entire family as well. Her ladybug party was so cute, and she cracked us up w/ her cake face-planting! Aunt Vicki did a FANTASTIC job on her cake(s)! And the little fingerprints from Ayan were all just part of the fun night. Ha, ha!

* A visit from our nephew Ayan

We spent some down time @ the house while he was here, but did enjoy a play date w/ friends from church one of the days he was here. I so enjoyed getting to bring him along!

* Our MBSF group serving as the REC TEAM for Teen Leadership Camp @ Bogg Springs Baptist Camp

We spent a very hot, yet wonderful week @ TLC leading recreation w/ several of our students for a week. This was the 2nd year that our group has been asked to lead it, and it's always such a fun week together! However, due to many of our students working jobs during the Summer months and/or being enrolled in Summer school @ the U of A...we recruited a handful of others to come help us carry the load. A few college age guys from TX (friends of our students) drove to join us, as well as two of my first cousins (college age). It was especially great getting to spend some time w/ Josh and Joel in a non-family get-together setting. They are extremely special guys and everyone adopted them into the group immediately! The Lord really provided us w/ wonderful extra help.

Kennedy got to go "help" us this year as well, and was such a trooper the entire wk. She was never once bothered by the scorching sun or heat, and hardly even stopped for a nap most days. It was a lot of fun having her there w/ us!

The task of leading rec. for nearly 700 campers was definitely "interesting" @ times. But, Patrick did a FABULOUS job of having everything organized and ready to go for the wk.! We had 3 fields being used each day for games during organized rec. - which equaled 9 games total being played @ the same time. It could have been really chaotic, but we split the groups up based on age/cell group size/etc. We made several trips into town (Mena, AR) throughout the week to pick up extra supplies which made for some pretty fun trips too.

I cannot even begin to express how wonderful the week was and what an awesome job the students did of representing this ministry. The camp evangelist for the wk. related to our group like none other, and we all gained so much through his messages each night. What an experience!

I hope everyone @ some point in your life - steps out of your comfort zone, endures the heat and rock hard bunk beds (or whatever the circumstances may be), and allows yourself to be used. We were commanded to serve. We were created to serve. And, we were created to show God's love to others. Thank you Lord for the awesome opportunity you gave our group to do so.

(These aren't all of the pictures from the wk., but there are WAY too many to share + we haven't even collected all of the pictures from each student who brought a camera that wk.)

* A trip to TX to celebrate Lyla's 1st birthday!

The weekend that we returned from TLC, Lyla Dawn turned 1 year old. So, we immediately turned around and drove to TX to spend that wknd. w/ my family @ Steph and Aaron's house. We brought Ayan back from Ft. Smith w/ us too. Her party was outside, but the kids got to enjoy several kiddie pools that were set up as well as a slip 'n slide. They had a good 'ole time! The esp. loved sliding down the slide (from Ayan's swing set) directly into the pool. : ) Her ladybug themed party carried over from the family party, and Steph made 2 adorable ladybug cakes as well as some yummy cupcakes for everyone. We were so glad to get to be there for her special birthday. We also got to eat @ a delicious new restaurant Sat. night called Fish Camp that is set out in the country and not too far from their house. Plus, we loved getting to see the progress they've made on the addition to their house. It's going to be awesome and we're so happy for them!

* An unexpected trip to South Carolina for Grandma's funeral

While in TX, we received a call in the middle of the night Sat. night from Patrick's Mom concerning his Grandma Pulley (his Dad's Mother). We were told that Gma had just passed away. Gma lived in South Carolina, as well as the rest of my Father-in-law's extended family. Patrick went to SC to visit that side of the family at least once a year while growing up, and I have been able to join him ever since we got married in '04. Kennedy has been able to go on three SC trips since she was born, but Will was just introduced to the family for the first time this past Dec. We are now thrilled and relieved that we made the trip in b/w Christmas and New Years to see Gma when her health was not good...yet better than in the recent months.

Since we were in TX and majority of the things we needed for a trip to SC were @ our house (and majority of them - still dirty from our wk. @ camp), Patrick's Mom and brother-in-law graciously went to our house and retrieved every item that we would need for the family visitation/funeral/etc. A little overwhelming to direct them through every drawer and cabinet and shelf, and to know exactly what all four of us would need...to say the least. We were so thankful for them!

Even though it was obviously not the most ideal of circumstances (to say the least), we did get to see SO MUCH family during our stay. It was actually pretty overwhelming to see just how many friends/family showed up to the family visitation @ the church. Ruth Pulley (Gma) was certainly a very loved woman! And it was really special getting to meet distant cousins, great aunt/uncles, etc. in Patrick's family.

We are very relieved that Grandma is now in Heaven talking w/ Jesus, b/c her pain became so intense for so many months. She must be loving her new home as well as being reunited w/ Grandpa. And the message of salvation was LOUD AND CLEAR during her service. Multiple preachers shared a/b Gma's life and a/b what she had always wanted @ her funeral. And after all of the many questions that Kennedy asked throughout the week in SC...I think she's truly beginning to understand more a/b death and a/b the choice to spend our eternity up in Heaven (or in the sky as she says) w/ Jesus. She repeatedly told me that it was "just Grandma's body" laying there, b/c "Gma already flew to Heaven". "...out of the mouth of babes..."






(Patrick and his cousin Bryan - practicing their duet for the funeral service)

(Papa explaining more to Kennedy)


And here are some of the most recent pictures we have of Grandma - taken during our last visit out to SC this past Dec./Jan., + a couple borrowed from my sister-in-law that were taken last Summer and one just a few wks. b/f she passed.

(Kennedy eating lunch next to Gma...while sitting in her walker)

(Kennedy and cousin Kayla playing in Gma's rm. while she slept)

(Gma w/ some of her grandkids)

(Gma w/ her 4 daughters and 2 sons)

(Gma and just some of her great grandkids)

(Gma w/ the 4 of us)

(Gma holding Kennedy during her first trip to SC - Summer of '08)

(Gma w/ 3 of his grandchildren - Patrick, Jenifer (sister) and Kimberly (sister)



(The most recent picture of Gma b/f she passed - taken July 2nd, 2010)

* A quick trip to Myrtle Beach on the way home from So. Carolina

After the family visitation, funeral, and several home visits from extended family...we decided to spend a day together as a family b/f driving back home to AR. We drove the hour from Gma's house to Myrtle Beach and spent one day/night @ the beach. This was Will's first trip to the beach! And despite the rocky beach that we like to call the East Coast (w/ tons of tiny sea shells under your feet) and the rough ocean condition that day, we REALLY enjoyed our time together! Patrick and Kennedy searched for shark teeth for what seemed like forever and actually found several! She was thrilled!!! And, Kennedy and I enjoyed looking for unique sea shells the entire day as well. All the while, Will just had a grand time laughing @ the waves and splashing in the water. He played endless hours in the sand (which never bothered him one bit), and he thought it was pretty neat that you could completely hide hands or feet under the sand and then make them reappear once a wave rushed over you. He also got SO excited every time an airplane flying a banner or a blimp would pass by! He didn't stop for a single nap b/c of his playing! Therefore, he and Kennedy both crashed hard and fast on the way to dinner that night. ; ) We ate @ a delicious seafood restaurant right off of a fun boardwalk, and it was SUCH an enjoyable evening! Insanely hot during the day, but beautiful weather that night! The kids just loved staying in the condo, and esp. loved spending time out on the balcony. Our rm. was on the side of the bldg., so we had a view of the strip to our left, and a view of the ocean if you looked out and to the right. Kennedy and I even got up the next morning to hit the pool one more time b/f we packed up. It was pretty hard for us all to leave that morning, but I'm just thankful for the one day at least that we got to enjoy the beach!

WHEW! I'm exhausted after recapping such a full month ~ congrats if you stuck w/ me!

Coming soon is...swim lessons, VBS, and MUCH more in August already.