5 days ~ 25 people, pure bliss to me.

I truly think what I have enjoyed the most over the last 5 days is to hear the giggles of my nieces and nephews fill my house. "Why the giggles"? Because they take me back to when my boys were little, and that is something I will never experience again.So, I simply remember it and I am reminded of how wonderful it was, every time I hear the little giggle from sweet Olivia Rose, Wyatt, little Carter, or that sweet voice of Shay Shay. Our entire Arizona family is here, all staying at our house. We are celebrating Joshua's High School Graduation! I have honestly been in complete awe and wonder for 5 days at my life, and the goodness of the Lord in it! See, my husband is the oldest of 5 children, and unlike most families, I actually enjoy all of them. I not only enjoy them, I adore them. I don't mind ALL of them staying in my house, I really don't! I wouldn't have it any other way. It was was my joy on a hot afternoon while they were all here, to sit in pure selfishness, as I handed out Otter Pops to all of the kids on the back porch as I insisted on a kiss on the cheek from each sweet set of lips before they received their treat. Yes, I even insisted on kisses from own kids. I savored each little wet kiss as they sweetly said "thank~ you Auntie" music to my ears. My heaven on earth!! Another thing that I can't wrap my mind around, is how very spoiled I am . Yes, I am completely spoiled, I admit it, and I love it!!! See, these precious people all came for one thing,TO CELEBRATE OUR SON, and his accomplishment! They love us that much. On the day of Graduation, we piled into 4 cars to head to the school. See, it is no small task getting our clan from place to place. We needed to arrive early enough to reserve 1/4 of the gym just for our family : ) We all sat there, beaming with pride, despite the 100 degree temps in the gymnasium. Not one of our 12 little ones complained, at least not within ear shot of Auntie that is : -) I am overwhelmed with gratitude that they all, stopped their lives, took days off of work, and drove 14 hours (one-way) to support us ~ I realize not every family has this gift. However, it is a gift that I truly cherish. After Graduation, we simply came back to our house for spaghetti, Joshua's request. My mother and Grandparents came as well. After our meal, my mom had the request of Arthur's sister, Heidi and her husband, Jordan ~ "Would they sing for us?' Of course being the amazing couple they are, they obliged! To top off this amazing afternoon, our entire family sat around the piano, singing Glory to God, while my sweet man played the piano!Again, I was in my own personal heaven......spoiled, and I know it! Please don't get the wrong idea here, and start thinking "Wow,what a perfect life she has!" There couldn't be anything farthest from the truth! We are NOT perfect by any stretch of the imagination, however, for one day in a 365 day year.......our day sure seemed perfect...thank you Lord!!!!

~ Here I "try" again.....

Finally ~ the end of the school year is upon us, and WOW are we all ready !!!! As we finish up, Joshua is completing High School. As of this very moment, I am okay with it. Who knows how I will be next week when the actual Graduation is upon me.If there is one thing that I truly recommend believing when you hear it, and then applying it to your life, is the saying "It goes too fast!" It is true ~ life moves too fast, and there is not a thing we can do about it, except to enjoy EVERY solitary moment. I have learned to remember when I feel as if I am struggling, others are struggling more. When I feel sad, their are families out there who are grieving more than I am. I will be honest, there are have definitely been days over the last 4 years of Joshua's High School career, that I have thought " I definitely did not sign up for this", "God made a mistake" or "This is just too much for me". However also over the last 4 years, I have heard stories of mothers close to me. Not stories on the news, or the internet, but mom's whom I know and interact with
~ this mom had to send her son to an out of state school for almost a year, due to exceptionally disruptive behavior, and later to find out drug use.
~ another sweet woman, blessed with 2 sons. One chooses the wrong friend for ONE summer. He is now in jail, awaiting sentencing, possible over 20 years. This boys was just out of High School. His life will now be shaped behind prison bars, due to bad choices
~ another precious woman, as I mentioned in one of my earlier blogs, buried her son his Junior year of High School ~ cause of death suicide.

All of that to say, I have also learned that although many of us did not "sign up" for troubles such as these.......I serve a God who is bigger than any of this, and it is for that reason. I have had to learn over this last year, to choose, laughter, joy, and a thankful heart. Oh, and a favorite bottle of wine called "RELAX". Otherwise, life would consume me, and eat me whole, and then spit me out :-)) Hopefully over my next few posts, they will be about random moments over the last year to catch you up with our life.

So much to say .....

I just finished reading my dear friends Mindee's blog. Everytime I read her blog, I am inspired again to blog. Mindee blogs about everyday stuff, and I find it fascinating. So, that is what I am going to try. "every day stuff" My goal~ to blog twice a week, and to get people to comment. Mindee has like 12 comments for every post. People actually read her blog, I only "think" people read my blog, hee hee.
Today was our first "snow day" of the school year. Typically we would all be jumping for joy, however, we happen to be on Spring Break ; ( Not only are we on Spring break, but the school district called it a snow day before the first flake of snow even fell. We would never be SO lucky to have that actually happen while we were in school. So, how did we spend the day? Depends who you ask.
Seth "Uh, we I built an igloo, and it collapsed on me. "which sucked" and I went to my friends Boo's house, almost exploded the kitchen with the microwave so we had to open the window, during the blizzard, and then I came home and I had dinner."
Sage~ "went to Hannah Bananas house. Because I didn't get to go outside" (why are you typing what I say mom?) We didn't get to go outside at all, they didn't let us.
Caleb~ I shoveled the tramp and played X-box with Joshua and dad. I watched training US Navy seals on channel 287 on Direct TV, at 2:08 pm. Then I ate a cheese crisp with salsa, ham and cheese, shoveled the tramp, and at 5:16 pm, I watched Americas' Funniest home videos, and then I played X-Box.
JC ~ When did we make cookies? (side note, there were NO cookies to be seen or smelled, what a silly boy) his answer now, "WhAT? uMMM, (LAUGH) pLAYING x-BOX, SHOVELING. PLAYED xBOX, fACEBOOKED, BUNGEED, i DONT KNOW. ATE, YES ATE THAT'S IT. (HUG, LOVE YOU MOM)

hUSBAND (AS HE IS KISSING MY NECK, MAN ~WHILE i WAIT FOR HIM TO ANSwER..... I love THIs man) HIS answer~ "i HAD TO WORK FROM HOME, PICKED UP THE TRUCK. dID SOME jAVA-SCRIPT CODING, CHOKED MY WIFE AND NECKED WITH MY WIFE (IT WAS AWESOME) hE IS LYING ABOUT THE NECKING PART. ; ) - - last minute thought fromj husband, Oh, I played Xbox too. Actually I beat down the Arnell's in Xbox."


ok, now ask me about the snow day.
Let's see, The boys played Xbox.........
Me? Well, let's just say that as I went about the day I was a bit bitter that I was the only one not playing. But, now as I sit to blog, sipping my "special" hot chocolate recipe, it doesn't really matter what I did all day. What matters is we had a snow day as a family, and for that I am beyond grateful.

~ the TWINS

I had the amazing opportunity to capture precious newborn twin boys. Being behind the camera again felt good. When I looked at the images when I was done, EVERY image pulled at my heart. I was reminded why I simply LOVE photography. I just wanted to share a few of my favorites. To see all of the images click the following link ~the Twins

WOW ~ sorry

I feel as if I sort of left everyone hanging on a VERY sad last few blogs ~sorry. I so wish I had the gift as my friend Mindee does to blog weekly.....I think it is harder for me because I hate to sit. To blog, you need to sit, so . . . . . I am sitting :-) Life for the Landrey's is humming along. I feel in my heart as if the last few months are like Spring time. Not because of the weather, simply because I personally feel as if my heart is coming alive again, after too many days/years of heaviness, pain, grief, LIFE! This will not be a downer blog entry, promise. Just to say life is good. The kids are all plugging along in school. I get to join them some days, when the school calls me in to sub~ I love subbing. I recently was the PE teacher sub and realized girls can not run wihtout screeching. No kidding, it is impossible. :-) As a family we have wrapped up basketball. When I say as a "FAMILY" I mean every single one of us were involved and loved it. We will now be gearing up for baseball with Joshua....stay tuned.

~ so FULL

Have to be honest here. Not quite sure how i am feeling right now..... I definitely do not feel as if my life, myself or my children are perfect. But, i definitely feel as if we have hope in Christ, and with Him, we will be ok ~ even perfect one day when we see Jesus in glory. I know and realize how broken we as a family all are, but yet I am feeling so full and grateful right now. Perhaps it is because tomorrow is the funeral for the 16 year old boy from Joshua's school, who killed himself. actually hung himself in his garage for his father to open the garage door up to. Perhaps it is because I took Joshua and his friend Oliver to the boys viewing tonight. i can not even begin to imagine what went through the minds of those kids while they looked at their peer lying lifeless in the coffin. How on earth did his mother make it through? I guess in the grand scheme of things, my life is FULL ~ I am not burying my son tomorrow................................................................ & that is where my thoughts are.

~ Kendra

the Lord comforts us

Two verses I found today that are speaking to me.

"Because of the Lord's great love, we are not consumed~ for His compassions never fail."

"The Lord upholds all of those who fall down, and lifts up all who are bowed down."

How can this happen......

My heart is beyond heavy at this point. A boy at Joshua's High school took his life yesterday. I have an entire realm of emotions. However the one that keeps kicking me in the gut, is the question, "How is there such a love gap between us as adults, and these precious kids?"I know I don't know all of the details of this young boys life. However I can't help but think, what made him feel so alone ,or without answers that death became the only option. My heart just bleeds right now so much. I want every teenager to know that they have someone on their side. Someone in their cheering section, someone who believes they are worth life. I guess I have taken it for granted that every teen did have a cheering section. This boy may of had an incredible cheering section, I don't know. I am just wondering would it of made a difference if he knew he had someone on his side regardless of mistakes made? I know I lack compassion at times towards my own children, and think their bad choices are irreversible. However, I now am very aware that I need to let not only my own kids, but other kids in my life KNOW there is hope, love and forgiveness, and that is found in Jesus. That no matter what they have done, or feel like, they are loved and forgiven unconditionally! How can I get this message out to the kids? Why is there such a gap of love between the youth and the adults. Why do they feel at times we are so against them, what kind of message have we given them? All I know is there is a different message I want to convey and be intentional about, and that is the message of love and hope that Christ offers.

Halloween 2008

Every year I dread this day, however once it arrives, it is fine. We had a great time this year. Arthur & I took Sage, Caleb & his buddy Nathaniel over to our friends the the Arnell's . Joshua went to a party with a couple girls from church, and Seth was with his buddy Matt. That is why there are no picture of Seth this year. Arthur & I went as the prom King and Queen. I am happy to report I wore the dress I wore to my Senior year, Junior/Senior banquet. I do have to be honest and admit the dress had to come off within the first 2 hours of the party, I could barely breathe :-) Hope you all had a great Halloween as well.