DeLaugther Farm!

Two weeks ago our church had a pre-school field trip day at the DeLaugther Farm. The DeLaughter family is an amazing family. They have a heart for God and a heart for serving others. Janet(wife/mom)and I taught Summer Sonshine this year. God blessed me with a wonderful friend. She is such an encourager. Along with Zane(husband/dad)being a doctor, having an office in Duncan and in Tulsa, raising 3 girls with another baby on the way, plus building a home, and maintaining their 150+ acres of land you wouldn't think they would have much more time to do anything, but they do! During the Fall they open up their land to the community of Duncan. They have a pumpkin patch, with hay mazes, face painting, swings, train rides, hay rides, and fishing. It was lots of fun to be at the pumpkin patch with our church family. We all had a great time. The kids loved playing with their friends. It was a great day all the way around!!! Thanks Mandy, our preschool director, for planning the fun day and to the DeLaughter Family for sharing what God has given to them.

Jaycee's 1st Soccer Season!

Jaycee has 3 games left to complete her first soccer season! Byron has done a great job coaching 6 little girls. Its not been the easiest thing in the world, but I think its safe to say that he has enjoyed it.

The team color is purple and the chosen mascot is the Dragonflies. They play 3 on 3 with no goalies. They play four 8 minute quarters. Three of the girls had already played a season of soccer and the other 3 had not. Its been a huge learning experience for us as parents. I am thankful for all God has taught me this soccer season. I am proud of my little girl. She has done well for never playing soccer before. She honestly just loves being out there with her friends. She has scored one goal and also has an assist. The assist was from a corner kick. (Byron was super pumped for that one!) Of course her favorite part is after the game when the girls line up to run through the parent tunnel and also the snacks! Ha!Ha!

Enjoy the pics of our little soccer player!!!

Broken-Down House by Paul David Tripp

I just finished the above title book yesterday morning. It was a great book! So many challenging things in it as well tools to step back and examine my own life and situations. It compares the world we live in to a broken-down house. I wanted to share the last few paragraphs of the book with you. I posted it in a note on Facebook yesterday so you may have already seen it. I thought for the ones who do not use Facebook I would share it here on the blog. Also, its easier to view our blog on my phone then it is to view notes on Facebook, so I wanted to have it to where I can read it whenever I need a reminder of the greatness of my Heavenly Father!!!!

"There is never a situation, location, or relationship that you enter alone. Your Lord is not away somewhere and he never sleeps. He never greets your calls with a busy signal. He is never too tired or too busy to respond. He will never mock your ignorance or weakness, and he does not cruelly throw your failure in your face. He will never threaten that he is at the end of his rope with you. He will not grow weary of your inconsistencies, bored with your ambivalence, or irritated when once again you fall short."



"His loving face will always be toward you and, because of the cross, you will never see the back of his head. He will meet your moment-by-moment needs- providing strength from his Spirit, wisdom from his Word, resources from the body of Christ, forgiveness that is your daily need, and deliverance from constant temptation. Even the trials he sends your way will supply what you need: the character to live for him more effectively. These are all evidences of his commitment to you, that you might be who you are supposed to be and do what he has created you to do."



"This is the God of grace who calls you to resist passivity and discouragement. He calls you to fight the urge to give in or give up. He calls you to live with perseverance now and to invest wholeheartedly in what is to come. He calls you to hold firmly to the same thing believed by all the saints who have gone before us: ' that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him' (Hebrews 11:6)."

Nana and Papa's visit!

Well, its been almost a month since Nana and Papa drove out our driveway heading back to Washington. We miss them dearly. The time we spent was not quite enough time at all. Really, I don't know if we could ever get enough time together where we were satisfied. Its such a blessing to have such incredible in-laws. God has truly blessed me way beyond what I ever thought possible for our relationship to be. I do not think of them as my in-laws that is the only way to communicate to others who they are, but they are so much more. I truly feel like their daughter. They love, support, and encourage me unconditionally. Nana is one of my dearest most precious friends. I really don't think words can express how much I admire, love, and care for this amazing woman. I am so grateful for her. Praying that this doesn't happen, but if something ever did our story would be "Ruth and Naomi". Obviously, there is some difference since I do already have children, but I think you understand.

Now, let's see if I can actually remember all the things we did while they were here. This time around they were just involved in all of our activities really. We didn't have much time to go off anywhere, but we still had a great time. They arrived on Tuesday September 14th. They got to rest for a bit and then we headed off for Jaycee's soccer practice. The next 2 days were spent at home with church on Wednesday night. Friday morning the kids and I headed South to Amy and Michael's wedding. Nana and Papa went to Wichita Falls, TX to shop. It was wonderful having them at Jaycee's first soccer game on Saturday. The rest of our Saturday we played at the house and watched football. Sunday we all went to church and then came home ate pizza, napped, and watched NASCAR. On Monday, Jackson spent the day with Papa, Byron worked, and us girls had a fun day together. We went to Duncan and made all the little fun, unique stores. Moms you know the ones that I am talking about the ones you NEVER take kids into. That was quite the treat for all of us. That was also Jaycee's first time to visit the library. She LOVED it. We came home with a huge stack of books for the kids. Tuesday was a home day with soccer thrown in that evening. Wednesday was church and Nana had a private viewing of the pre-school choir that Jaycee sings in at church. It was quite the treat for Nana. Thursday we went up to Oklahoma City to the Stockyards, had lunch at Cattlemen's, and then shopped. Friday we had our own movie night watching Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. Byron and Papa went to Velma's high school football game. Saturday we had 2 soccer games. The kids then went home with my parents. Byron, Papa, Nana, and myself went to Smokin' Joes bbq and then to the Josh Turner concert. It was a great evening! Sunday was church and then we spent the rest of the day soaking up our time with Nana and Papa. I think it was close to 1:00 am before Nana and I went to bed. We knew it would be a while before we could sit and visit face to face, so we were getting in a very good one in hope that it would hold us over until we are able to do it again! (I am already in need of another one, though!)

If you haven't heard, we are coming to Washington in December. We are road tripping!!!! We are leaving out early December 17th with plans to arrive in Washington on December 18th in the evening. We will leave Washington on December 30th. We are only 7 1/2 weeks away from departure! WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hitched!

On September 17,2010 my sister married Michael Bailey! It was a great day for the wedding! A little on the warm and humid side, but we all survived. They got married in Weatherford, TX, Michael's hometown. The kids and I drove down early on Friday morning so Jaycee could be part of all the fun girlie activities.(Byron came down later with my Uncle Johnny and Aunt Retha). Jaycee got her hair all done up as well as got her finger and toe nails painted professionally! The down time between the appointments and the wedding we spent at Ma and Pa's hotel room. The wedding was simple, but beautiful! As you will see in the pictures for any of you that were at our wedding or have seen pictures, yes, my sis and I have great choices in colors. We both had black and hot pink for our wedding colors! We are gals that love black and well, hot pink looks really good with black. Jaycee and Michael's niece, Sophie, were the flower girls and Jackson was the ring bearer.Kiley and Keely were bridesmaids and Michael's 2 brothers were his groomsmen. I wasn't sure that Jackson would go along with the whole idea of being the ring bearer, but he did great! The ring bearer pillow become his "security blanket" for the evening. You couldn't get that thing away from him. He stood at the front for a few minutes then found his way to my dad's lap for the remainder of the ceremony. Everything went well.Keely read a very sweet poem that she had written herself. It made everyone a little teary-eyed. The reception was great! They had amazing food, cake, and ice cream! I am very happy that my sister found love and I hope that her and Michael have a great marriage! He's a wonderful addition to our family!!!

Little hope...

that I will ever get caught up on this blog. I do have so many stories to share with friends and family about what is going on in the lives of the Lohrer family. Every day passes without me posting anything. I really think I am going to just dedicate one night a week to staying up super late and hammering out these posts. I also want to blog because I don't want to forget these days with my children. I don't want to forget the early stages of their lives and the early stages of parenthood. I don't want to forget the everyday moments. I want us to be able to reflect and see God's grace, love, mercy, and forgiveness poured out on us. I want our kids to be able to have something tangible to share with their kids. I am going to get this blog caught up. I didn't say it was hopeless. So be on the look out for posts on Nana and Papa's visit, my sister's wedding, Jaycee's soccer season, the pumpkin patch trip, and the work that God has been doing in our hearts!!! Don't give up on me yet!!!