The Stokes Story

Mother's Day 2009

2009-08-02T21:03:00.004-04:00

We spent Mother's Day in Warner Robins this year--Saturday was spent with Kip's mom and Sunday with my mom. We love our moms and miss spending time with them . . . the short time we had there was not enough, but we enjoyed every minute. Unfortunately, I only have photos from Sunday, here are a few:

Soccer Season Comes to an End, May 2009

2009-08-02T20:02:00.005-04:00

Anna Beth finished up her first soccer season in May. We had her team party at the field, complete with yummy pizza, a soccer cake made by one of the grandmas, and soccer goody bags for all. OH, and don't forget the long-awaited trophy . . . Anna Beth was absolutely thrilled to have a trophy of her own, just like the boys! I have a feeling we will be adding a trophy case to that strawberry-colored room with the chandelier and prissy decor! When Coach Robert and Coach Greg gave Anna Beth her trophy, she was named "Ms. Determination" because she ALWAYS came to the field ready to play and determined to score goals. We are so proud of our sweet girl!

Special Moments: Graham's Spring Recital, May 4th, 2009

2009-08-02T19:18:00.006-04:00

Graham's Spring Piano Recital was held on Monday, May 4th. He did a fabulous job as always. He knew his song "Special Moments" so well that he could probably play it in his sleep! He got off key a few times during the recital and was very frustrated; he is our little perfectionist and doesn't like to mess up. We loved every moment though, and appreciate the time our little guy puts into improving his God-given talent!The three amigos before the recital: Daniel, Ryan & Graham

Sleeping Beauty

2009-05-02T22:14:00.007-04:00

The long-anticipated 'Sleeping Beauty' ballet recital was this evening. I think it was every bit as magical as Anna Beth hoped it would be! She absolutely *loved* being on the stage, her only disappointment was that she couldn't find us in the audience (ironically, we were right in front of her!). She looked beautiful, of course, in her 'Ruby Fairy' ballet dress. She did her best to remember her dance; it wasn't perfect, but it was beautiful! Our favorite part (ha, ha) was this little chicken-hop looking move they did near the end--it is hysterical, and happens to be Anna Beth's favorite part of the dance!

We are so proud of our little ballerina, and thankful for her opportunity to dance for Jesus in this Christian dance program!

Dancing for Him

2009-04-27T22:49:00.007-04:00

You changed my mourning into dancing;

You took off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my soul might sing praise to You without ceasing; O Lord, my God,

forever will I give You thanks.

~ Psalm 30:12-13 ~

Jax Goes to School!

2009-04-14T10:37:00.003-04:00

Anna Beth has 'sharing day' once a month at preschool. She was begging to take Jax to 'share' this month so we okayed it with Mrs. Boswell. We took him in this morning for his special visit. Anna Beth brought Jax's toy lion for him to demonstrate how he plays with it. He put on a good show with his lion . . .

He had a great time and everyone enjoyed petting him and playing with him. He even untied a few of the kids' shoes and tried to chew on them.

Easter 2009: He is Alive!

2009-04-12T22:30:00.003-04:00

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead

~ 1 Peter 1:3 ~

We spent Easter here at home again this year . . . this time because of our new puppy, Jax. We have only had him for a few weeks and were concerned about messing up his 'crate training' if we boarded him or transported him with us. So, we stayed here in town and enjoyed a wonderful service at Hebron. The kids especially enjoyed putting their flowers on the flower cross; we then had a family photo taken in front of it:

After church, I cooked the requested 'ham' like Mamaw's and 'baked mac n' cheese' like Nana's . . . I'm not sure it was all quite the same, but the family loved it. Of course, we missed our family back in Warner Robins, but all in all it was a relaxing day with our little family.

The Blessings of Friendship

2009-04-10T00:27:00.011-04:00

We were thrilled to have the Spain Family visiting from Lake Placid, NY, this past week. Kim and Derek quickly became some of our closest friends when we moved here almost 13 years ago. We are so excited for their ministry in Lake Placid, but miss them SO MUCH. It is always a joy to spend part of our Spring Break with them. Our children love each other as well, here are a few snapshots from the week:

Emma Grace and Anna Beth, playing the piano and then pretending to be dogs in the puppy's crate:

Grant and Ethan, on a ride at Six Flags:

Andy and Graham, on a ride at Six Flags:

A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

~ Proverbs 18:24 ~

The Sound of Music Fills Our Home!

2009-04-10T00:20:00.005-04:00

We are SO excited to finally have a piano in our home! Graham has been taking piano lessons for two and a half years now; he has been practicing on a borrowed weighted keyboard. He is doing so well and has advanced to the point that he really needed a full keyboard or a piano. We've been watching craigslist for months now and finally found the right one. It has been incredible to have the sound of music throughout our home . . . . We are so proud of you, Graham!

I've said it before, but we can't wait to see how God will use Graham's little fingers for His glory!

Easter Egg-citement!

2009-04-10T00:02:00.006-04:00

Anna Beth participated in the annual Easter Egg Hunt at Child's World (her preschool) last week. It was a lot of fun as she raced around with the other kids picking up eggs. After she was done, we realized she had picked up five or six eggs that were filled with sparkly 'goo' . . . such fun for a little girl like mine who enjoys the 'boy' stuff!

Here we are enjoying a picnic lunch after the egg hunt!

And here is Anna Beth posing with her best buddy, Jaden Moody.

Parablelooza!

2009-04-06T15:23:00.003-04:00

Graham has been involved in choir this year as well and had his final perfomance "Parablelooza" on March 29th. It was an incredible performance--entertaining AND spiritually challenging as well. It was tough to get pictures, but here are a few:

Jax, Our Little Gift from God!

2009-04-06T14:44:00.006-04:00

We are excited to announce a new member of the family: Jackson, a 12-week-old yellow Labrador, aka "Jax". He is a precious addition with a great temperment . . . he loves to play rough, but is very sweet and laid-back as well. His talents include chewing on the kids' flip-flops and shoe laces and pottying in his crate (AHHHH!). All in all, though, he is fitting in perfectly with our family!

Ever since our sweet Bailey died in February, there has been a void in our family. The boys, particularly, have really struggled. Last week, we decided it was time; I started looking online and came across our little sweetie. He was 12-weeks-old and the last of the litter. I emailed the owner and found out that he was still available and forwarded the information on to Kip at work. It just so happened that Kip was at a meeting in the area where the puppy was located, so he stopped by to see him.

Kip loved him and signed the papers and tried to pay for him. The owner stopped him, saying that she and her husband had been praying about the puppy and felt God was telling her to give us the puppy, that he was meant for us. Kip insisted on paying her, but she wouldn't let him; she felt God telling her this puppy had been saved for our family. Just a bit more information . . . she says he was the pick of the litter and they had been shocked that no one had chosen him early on. She has had him advertised for weeks now, and no one has called about him . . . until our email came. Then, immediately afterwards, she had 15 calls and emails about him.

It is as if God was holding this little one just for us . . . our precious pet was hand-picked for our family by God Himself. How amazing is that, and what an incredible story this was to share with our children! How comforting to know that God is involved in every aspect of our lives, no matter how large or small it may be, and to actually see his hands at work. God is SO GOOD!

Anna Beth's 'Praise Pals' performance

2009-04-06T13:57:00.002-04:00

Anna Beth has loved being a part of the children's choir this year. She had her final performance on Sunday, March 22nd. It was precious to see and hear her sing of her love for God! She is anxiously awaiting her choir class to start again after summer!

DiscipleNow 2009

2009-04-06T13:24:00.009-04:00

We had the opportunity to host a group of GREAT boys for DiscipleNow this year. We had nine 9th Grade boys and three awesome leaders in our home from Friday to Sunday. What a great experience for our children to see these teens bonding and experiencing God throughout the weekend! This was especially important to us since Ethan will be able to attend DiscipleNow next year. Everyone seemed to have a great time . . . tons of food, of course . . . manhunt games at night . . . fishing and rowing on the lake, one boy IN the lake . . . go-cart riding . . . time spent in God's Word. What a blessing to be a part of God's work. We can't wait to host again next year!

Date Night with Daddy

2009-04-05T21:52:00.003-04:00

Anna Beth was so excited about her date night with daddy. Notice the flower in her hair and the sparkly lipgloss! They were going to dinner and then for a special 'surprise'. Anna Beth requested a meal from 'Berber King', but daddy took it up a notch by taking her to Chick-fil-A! Afterwards, they headed to Build-a-Bear at the mall where she stuffed a cute lamb and dressed it in an outfit and shoes (we had four coupons to use and paid almost nothing!). She came home glowing . . . what a special treat for daddy AND daughter!

Boys' Night!

2009-04-05T21:45:00.006-04:00

Ethan and Graham didn't want a big birthday party this year, they simply asked for a few friends to sleep over. We decided to do it all on one night and each of the boys was allowed to invite four friends. That was tough, as they wanted to invite everyone, but they narrowed it down. The boys enjoyed a basketball game, then pizza, cookie cake, video games, gifts, and finally a movie on the projection screen in the basement. The big boys slept in the basement and the younger boys slept on the main floor. We aren't too sure what time they finally went to sleep, but it was LATE! After pancakes, eggs and bacon the next morning, the boys were off to their homes . . . and we were off to bed!

Afternoon Tea for Two

2009-04-05T20:30:00.005-04:00

The weather here in Georgia has been so wacky this year . . . one day it is snowing, the next it is 70 degrees! On one of those warm and sunny days, Anna Beth and I decided it was time for an afternoon tea party. We pulled out all the leftovers (notice the cut-up hotdogs, lol!) and some fruit, made it look a little fancy and headed to the back porch. We turned on our 'tea party music' and enjoyed a fun afternoon . . . just mommy and daughter. The music was just too good, my fun-loving daughter had to get up and dance! I love these precious moments with my little girl; she is such a joy to be around, so full of life!

I love you, Anna Beth!

Happy Birthday, Ethan & Graham!

2009-04-05T17:17:00.006-04:00

The boys celebrated their birthdays with family here at our home on March 8th. It was SO GREAT having everyone up, we had not seen most of them since Christmas. We missed Ray, Amy and the girls, they weren't able to make it. We cooked-out and enjoyed lunch together. It was a beautiful day so the kids (and adults) were able to play outside and ride the go-carts. We are SO THANKFUL for our family; we love and miss you guys so much! Here are some highlights from the afternoon:

Her VERY FIRST Soccer Game!

2009-04-05T16:34:00.006-04:00

"Mom, I can't believe it! It's my VERY FIRST soccer game!" She was buckled in her booster seat, headed for her first game, and could hardly contain herself! For years, Anna Beth has watched the boys play baseball, soccer, basketball, football . . . and she has always insisted "I can't wait to have my own team; I need a team and a uniform, Mom". Well, the girl has a team, and she *LOVES* it!

Here are a few pictures of her in action during her first game. She scored three goals that first game and has consistently scored every game. The boys call her a 'ball hog'; lol, I never imagined that would by MY girl's nickname. Her best game was in rain and 42 degree weather when she scored seven of her team's eight goals. Afterwards, she insisted that soccer is "more funner in the rain".

And here she is AFTER the first game--napping on the back porch! She was full of adrenaline, but physically exhausted! We are praying that she continues to give this (and everything she does) her ALL . . .

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men!

Georgia Snow!

2009-03-08T23:27:00.002-04:00

We got some snow in Georgia and it was an exciting weekend for all! The snow began falling around lunch on Sunday (March 1st) and continued throughout the day--about three inchess fell and it was BEAUTIFUL! The kids went out to play for a bit, but we spent most of the day by the fire, watching a movie and playing games. Then the kids were out of school for the snow on Monday--lots of time was spent outdoors, sledding and exploring. How FUN!

Our Mad Scientists!

2009-03-04T22:59:00.003-05:00

The boys both entered a science project in the Mulberry Science Fair this year. No, they are not super interested in science but it was 'highly suggested' that the gifted students participate . . . and so they did with a little prodding. Ethan won a 2nd place prize for his 'Red Cabbage Chemistry' project and Graham won a 3rd place prize for exploring 'Which Veggies are the Most Nutritious'. All in all it was a fun project for each!

In Memory of Sweet Bailey

2009-03-04T22:37:00.006-05:00

Our precious Bailey girl left us on February 19th. She would have been 15 years old on May 21st . . . an amazing lifespan for a labrador! We like to think she hung around because she loved us and she was happy. One thing is for certain--we loved that precious dog! She has been a part of our lives since Kip and I were first married. She has been here with us through it all . . . the newlywed days, four different moves, the first baby and then two more, etc. and etc. We almost lost her a year ago; the boys were devastated and prayed that she would make it to the new house with us. Our prayers were answered and she enjoyed almost a year here with us . . . swimming in the lake, enjoying the wildlife and outdoors, barking at the geese! What a precious gift that time was for all of us . . . Thank you, Lord, for the time we had with her!

Anna Beth is on 'The Star Team'

2009-03-04T22:24:00.003-05:00

We have a soccer player! Anna Beth is THRILLED to be playing her first team sport. These pictures were taken the evening we picked up her uniform--she couldn't wait to try it on. Then I caught her practicing her ballet moves--in full uniform/cleats! We were all very impressed it could be done in cleats, lol!

She has been to several soccer practices since then and absolutely *LOVES* it. She is the tallest girl and all the other girls think she knows what she is doing because she is 'bigger'. HA--it is hilarious! Will have more picts after her first game on Saturday! By the way, the girls named themselves 'The Star Team'!

Shootin' Hoops!

2009-01-18T16:25:00.003-05:00

Basketball season is in full swing and the boys are loving it! Ethan has played several seasons but this is Graham's very first season. After his first game he was upset and pouting--I thought maybe he was disappointed with himself? No . . . he was mad because the game was over and he wanted to play some more! Graham is definitely a little more timid, however he is doing well and putting forth a lot of effort. Ethan has become a lot more aggressive, lol, and his shots are a little better too. We are so proud of both of them! Here are a few pictures from their first day of games . . . they aren't great due to the fluorescent lighting, but I did my best!

Our Sweet Bailey

2009-01-18T15:28:00.006-05:00

Bailey is our sweet black labrador. She is now almost fifteen years old and will probably not be here much longer. She has gone from 75 pounds to 41 pounds in the last year and her kidneys are beginning to fail. Our family is struggling with this news, as she has been a part of our family for a long time. Kip and I got her a few months after we were married . . . she was only 3 months old! Anna Beth prays every night for Bailey not to die and poor Ethan can't even think about it without losing all composure. Bailey is now an outdoor dog; however, with the cold snap we've been bringing her in for just a bit to rest by the fire in the evenings. She loves it, and the kids love it even more . . . I thought I would post a few of the sweet pictures and a video from one of her visits with us.

Snuggling by the fire

Doggy kisses!

Bailey trying to do her trick!

Our first annual Cleft MotorFest

2009-01-01T21:40:00.005-05:00

The Hollidays stopped by this afternoon with their three new motorbikes; add that to our two gocarts and the Warbington's three-wheeler and it was quite a rowdy afternoon! Kip and the boys have turned the lot across the street into a race track (sorry Christa & Barry!); I even made a few rounds in the gocart myself--not sure I'll be doing that again any time soon, I still feel my bones vibrating, lol! Anna Beth finally got a ride with her daddy too, so that was an extra special treat.

Kip and Russell watching the kids

Me, driving a gocart

Kip with Anna Beth, very 'windblown' after her ride!

Merry Christmas!

2009-01-01T20:59:00.006-05:00

We enjoyed a beautiful first Christmas here at The Cleft. Kip was like a little kid. . . up and ready at 6 AM, looking out the window nervously and making thumping noises so the kids would get up! He was SO EXCITED about the gocarts he had been working on for the boys--he knew they wanted them so badly, but that it just wasn't going to be a reality this year. Little did they know . . . !

Of course, Kip had a plan for the reveal. He wrapped the boys motor helmets; when they opened them, they thought they were 'cool', but you could tell they were a little puzzled about what they went with. Kip told them there was a little more to their gift and to come outside. He had parked my expedition in front of the gocarts on the other side of the garage. He made the boys stand on the garage steps and yell 'Busdriver, Move That Bus', in the tradition of our favorite family show 'Extreme Home Makeover'. Kip backed out the truck to reveal the gift--It was hilarious and the boys were so excited . . . surprised, but very excited.

Anna Beth's pride and joy was (and still is) her new American Girl doll 'Isabelle'. Her first doll 'Annabelle' finally has a sister, lol, and they all dressed exactly alike for Christmas day! She also loves her new hot pink Ipod shuffle from her daddy . . . she has been singing and dancing to tea party and princess songs all week!

Here are some of the highlights--For some ODD reason Slide.com is placing all of my pictures horizonally . . . so just turn your head on the vertical ones, lol, for the full effect!

Christmas Blessings to All!

The Power of PINK!

2008-12-08T21:35:00.005-05:00

Okay--This little PINK vacuum HAS to be the highlight of my Black Friday shopping! I snagged this little gadget thinking it would be handy for quick trips around the wood floors on our main floor--and all for the amazing price of only seven dollars! It came in obnoxious colors like cobalt blue, lime green, and of course, bubblegum PINK. I chose PINK, thinking it would be fun; yet, little did I know about the POWER of PINK!

Basically, my girl has taken over the new pink vacuum. She LOVES it. She BEGS to vacuum. She DREAMS of vacuuming. She asks to vacuum for me every day as soon as she comes in from preschool. When I asked for a vacuum volunteer after dinner tonight, she jumped up and had her PINK pride and joy out of the laundry room in a matter of seconds!

The POWER OF PINK . . .

I'm loving it!

2008 Family Christmas Ornaments

2008-12-07T23:25:00.012-05:00

~ Isaiah 40:11 ~

He tends his flock like a shepherd:

He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart;

he gently leads those that have young.

* * *

We have a family tradition of making a different Christmas ornament each year. They have varied greatly from beaded snowflakes to cinnamon clay hearts to seashell angels . . . they are always unique and special to our family. I struggled a bit with what to make this year, however, we finally decided to make 'wooly lamb' ornaments. They turned out to be a little more time intensive than I expected (and a bigger mess!), but BOY are they cute! I forgot to take pictures at the beginning of the craft, when the kids were making the pom poms for the sheep bodies. It was hilarious--we definitely have some skinny sheep and some that have obviously been fed a little too well! Here is a slide show of the action Sunday afternoon:

2008-12-07T23:14:00.002-05:00

Every good and perfect gift is from above . . .

~ James 1:17 ~

With Christmas approaching, we are reminded of God's perfect gift to us---His son Jesus! We are also in awe of the three incredible gifts he has placed in our family--Ethan, Graham & Anna Beth. Thank you, God, for your perfect blessings in such an imperfect world!

Preparing for our FIRST Christmas in the new house!

2008-12-07T23:06:00.004-05:00

We have started decorating for our first Christmas here in the new house, but it is taking a LOT of work so we aren't there yet. However, here is the new nine foot fir tree we got for the keeping room:

And here it is a few days later, decorated! Please ignore the fabric standing in the corner (that is begging to be sewn into breakfast room curtains) and the wrapping paper under the tree (waiting to cover some presents). We are making progress but it is going to take some time!

Our Little Metal Mouth

2008-12-07T22:56:00.005-05:00

Oddly enough, Graham was SO EXCITED about getting his braces put on this week! He was most excited about choosing the color of his rubber bands . . . he debated the color scheme for at least a week, lol. That bit of information won't surprise those of you who know our son well! When the orthodontist asked him, he was ready: "I want navy and gold, you know, Georgia Tech colors!".

I was worried that he wouldn't eat anything for three days like he did when the expander went in last April, however, he has handled the braces much better. And isn't he just the CUTEST little thing!

'Smiling Eyes' has a Feast

2008-12-07T22:38:00.007-05:00

Anna Beth enjoyed her Thanksgiving Feast at Child's World again this year. The event was complete with the children's handmade indian costumes, drums and a Thanksgiving dinner. In the days prior to the feast, Mrs. Boswell named each child with his/her indian name . . . Anna Beth was appropriately named 'Smiling Eyes'!
I came and enjoyed the Thanksgiving Feast with my girl; of course we brought our signature Pilgrim Hat Cookies for dessert! Thanks to my Family Fun magazine, these treats have been a Thanksgiving staple in our home for five or six years now; I think I made a total of 150 hat cookies this year alone (including those for Ethan & Graham's classes)!

Thank you, God, for this precious little one who continuously puts a smile on all of our faces . . .

She is such a blessing to our family!

* * *

Raised to Walk in Newness of Life!

2008-12-07T22:23:00.007-05:00

We had a VERY exciting evening on Sunday, November 9th. Our sons Ethan and Graham were baptized at Hebron Baptist Church by Pastor Rob Brooks (the Children's Minister). Both of the boys made their own individual decisions for Christ earlier this year and unfortunately we have had a tough time fitting our schedule with Pastor Rob's schedule. Finally the night came and it was a wonderful evening for all of us. Graham was very excited and Ethan was anxious as always. However, the excitement on their faces afterwards says it all! I love that the boys were together in the baptismal pool, watching and waiting for each other; my prayer is that they continue to strengthen and support one another in their Christian walk in the years to come. Here are a few pictures:

Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death,

that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father,

even so we also should walk in newness of life.
~ Romans 6:4 ~

Halloween at 'The Cleft'

2008-12-07T22:03:00.008-05:00

Well, I am VERY behind as usual, but here are some snapshots from our first Halloween here at 'The Cleft'. Our kids were an eclectic group--Graham was Prince Caspian, Anna Beth was Ariel, and Ethan was the Well-Fed Referee (AGAIN). The Jenkins were out-of-town so it was just the Warbington and Stokes kids left to trick-or-treat:

The kids enjoyed visiting our neighbors Ms. Maggie & Mr. Ricky, who of course loaded them down with bags of candy. Next they proceeded to the Warbingtons' to make a 'Treat' of candied apples. Then the kids participated in a 'Trick' at our house--a scavenger hunt that led them to word finds, jumping jacks, scrambled puzzles, counting pumpkins, etc.

The final clue in the hunt led them to a leaf pile--FULL OF CANDY--in the back yard! Everyone seemed to have a great time--we can't wait to have more homes/families here to provide more 'tricks' and 'treats' for the kids!

You just never know . . .

2008-10-26T08:58:00.005-04:00

You just never know what to expect when you ask Graham to do something. This is what I got when I asked him to brush his hair yesterday morning . . .

A Great Season Comes to an End . . .

2008-10-26T08:44:00.005-04:00

The playoffs are over for Dacula National North . . . yes, already. We were stomped by the top Millcreek team in the first game yesterday, no need to put the awful score in print. The boys were discouraged and there were lots of tears. For most of them (including Ethan), this was their first experience making it past the regular season and they wanted to do well. Coach Gower was encouraging and praised them after the defeat, reminding them that they had risen to the challenge and gone further than anyone expected this 'C' team to go. They had done their best!

I love the picture above; Coach Gower had chosen his nephew and the coaches' sons as captains for this playoff game. They looked so tough walking across the field to meet their opponents. It seemed to represent for me a great season of dedication and perseverance from the boys and their dads/uncles.

Congratulations,

Dacula Falcons National North!

WOW!

2008-10-24T21:59:00.006-04:00

Just a quick news flash . . .

Ethan's story The Big One took FIRST PLACE tonight in Fifth Grade Literature at the county-level of PTA's Reflections contest! He recently received first place at his elementary school and advanced to the County Competition (a cluster of 30 Gwinnett County Schools). We went to the Reflections Exhibit and Award Ceremony this evening at the Gwinnett Heritage Center; we had no idea he had won until we saw that blue ribbon hanging on his displayed story. This means his story will now move on to be judged at the state-level of competition. He was very excited, but not nearly as excited and proud as his mom. *tears* I was thrilled that he took time to record this very exciting moment in his life, and that was enough for me; however, for a child who struggles a bit with confidence and self-esteem, this award and recognition is an extra special blessing!

Don't let me forget to mention that our neighbors Wesley and Will Warbington also placed in the county competition! Wesley took First Place in 4th Grade Literature and Will took Second Place in 2nd Grade Literature! Way to go, boys!

Hayrides & Pumpkins

2008-10-22T14:11:00.006-04:00

Anna Beth was SO EXCITED about her hayride and visit to the pumpkin patch at her preschool today. Child's World always does such an excellent job with this event and the children love every moment. Enjoy these pictures of my sweet girl on her hunt for the perfect pumpkin!

Heading to the Playoffs!

2008-10-22T13:48:00.008-04:00

Ethan's team won their final game on Saturday and are headed to the playoffs this weekend! Ethan had a great game, Kip said it was his best game ever. He played center the entire game, as well as a good bit of defense. He was excited that he got eight 'pancakes' (whatever that means) and several other good hits that I can't remember, lol!

Here is Ethan playing center--he is just about to hike the ball.

Ethan blocking two players--

(he is right above the ref's head in the pict)

This is Ethan's first time playing in the playoffs so he is ecstatic . . . Kip is a little excited too! They were ranked a little higher, so they are going against a pretty good team in this first game. It is going to be a tough one, especially with several sick players, another player with a death in the family, and the main runningback with a broken arm. However, these boys are tough and their heart is in the game . . . We have faith that they can do it!

Great Season, Big "E" Ethan!

WAY TO GO, FALCONS!

Tea for Two . . . Ummm, make that Sixteen!

2008-10-15T21:43:00.010-04:00

Anna Beth celebrated her fifth birthday with a tea party on Saturday. It was a fun celebration with fifteen of her closest friends and cousins . . . we had a house full of little girls! The girls enjoyed 'getting ready' for tea at the glamour table, complete with lipgloss, spray glitter, 'jewels', and feather boas. That was Anna Beth's favorite part of the party, of course! Then they used watercolors to paint paper fans out on the covered porch. When everyone was done, we sat down to tea and a finger-food lunch of flower-shaped sandwiches, teapot cookies, tiny cupcakes and more. The girls were great . . . they loved drinking tea and lemonade out of their real demitasse teacups. Of course, we were on our toes refilling those teacups! After lunch we played a fun game of musical chairs on the deck, and then headed in to open gifts. Thank you to everyone who helped make this a perfect tea for my princess! Here are some pictures of the highlights:

Not Forgetting Graham

2008-10-13T23:50:00.003-04:00

I feel like I'm leaving Graham out of the updates! He hasn't had anything 'big' going on lately, but he definitely deserves an update. He opted out of baseball this season and has been concentrating on his piano lessons. He recently signed-up for the Chess Club at school and begins playing later this week. He is also about to start basketball for the very first time--he is very excited about playing. I think he is most excited about the fact that Kip will be coaching him--he hasn't had dad for a coach in a few years! In his spare time, Graham is having a blast building multiple forts here at The Cleft with all of the Warbington and Jenkins boys.

On a sweeter note . . . Graham has also been my 'running buddy' on Saturday mornings. On our first run we decided that we would pray for our family during the short walking breathers we take to catch our breath. We ran our first mile or so and slowed down; I saw Graham bow his head to pray with me. I tried to explain to him that he didn't have to close his eyes, that we were running on a main road and that God would understand. However, he insisted, grabbing my hand to guide him while he closed his eyes and we prayed. What a precious time with my son, holding hands and praying over our family and the events of the day . . . Ethan's game, wisdom and endurance for Kip and Ethan to do their best, safety for our family, etc. These are the moments I will treasure forever!

Thoughts of Summer . . .

2008-10-13T23:43:00.003-04:00

I just came across this photo of Kip and the kids fishing in the neighbor's john boat this summer and I couldn't resist reminiscing a bit! These are the images I have loved seeing since we moved to The Cleft. Thank you, God, for simple everyday blessings!

GO FALCONS!

2008-10-13T23:18:00.004-04:00

Ethan is playing football again this year. It has been a tough year physically, but the hard work is paying off. He has improved his skills playing center and has even played a little on defense as well. In the photo above he is number 50 (beside the kid with the wrist-band on), going in for the block--he is playing guard (I think that is what it is called!) Kip is enjoying his role as coach again; he is not Ethan's direct coach this year, and we think that has been good for Ethan. It looks like their team *might* be going to the playoffs . . . that will be a first for Kip & Ethan, so they are excited!

GO FALCONS, Go Big "E"!

Happy Birthday, Princess!

2008-10-13T23:02:00.003-04:00

SHE'S FIVE. Yes, I said five. We cannot believe our little girl is FIVE. There seems to be something very certain about that number . . . no more baby, no more toddler, just a big girl now. We are so proud of you, Anna Beth. You bring so much laughter and joy to our home. The way you talk in your silly voice after dinner. . . the way you dress-up in your myriad of costumes ten times a day. . . the way you are so particular about every little detail . . . the laid-back, lovin' life attitude you share with us every day. We love you, princess!

Here is Anna Beth opening gifts from the boys on her birthday:

Trying on her gifts from mommy & daddy--the long-awaited rain gear:

Getting ready to blow-out FIVE candles on the powdered-sugar donut breakfast (that ONLY my child would request!):

We celebrated her birthday with a special Tea Party on Saturday . . . Pictures coming soon!

The Big One

2008-10-13T22:48:00.003-04:00

Written by Ethan Stokes

Something heavy was on my line as I struggled to reel it in . . .

Could this be the big one?

It was a hot summer afternoon. There was a clear blue sky and I was just beginning to fish with my friends. We were fishing for blue gills and crappie. My friends were catching blue gills like crazy. All of a sudden one of my friends caught a perfect-sized baitfish. I ran inside and got out my heavy Zebco catfish rod. It was a perfect white color with green line. I rushed back outside and I put the fish on the needle sharp hook. After a few tries at casting the rod, my neighbor, Mr. Rickie came over and helped me cast it far to the left. I waited and talked to Mr. Rickie. I asked him if he would teach me how to clean a fish if I caught a big one. All my friends had to go inside, so I left my line in the water and went in to eat lunch.

I was making my sandwich and my dad was watching my bobber out of the window. Suddenly, my dad yelled and sprinted outside. I knew what was happening, the bobber had gone under! Before I knew what I was doing I started racing after him. I ran out and found my dad holding the rod. I took it from him and fumbled with the rod for a few seconds. When I finally had the rod in my grip the bobber had come to the surface. Once I settled down the bobber began to move again. It moved right, jerked left, cruised right again and came to a halt. I waited for about twenty seconds silently then asked Mr. Rickie if I should reel it in. I started reeling it in and felt something heavy, it felt like one hundred pounds! It was so heavy it weighed me down and my rod arched. I worried that my line was about to break. Mr. Rickie said it was a turtle because it wasn’t fighting back. It was the heaviest thing I had ever caught in my life, besides sticks.

Then I saw the flash of its scales and instantly I knew it was the biggest fish I had ever seen. WOW! It was a silvery gray color with a hint of olive green and it had eyes as big as marbles. I confirmed that it was a large-mouth bass when I saw its mouth; it was so big my dad could make a fist and stick it in its mouth without touching its lips. Then I looked inside its mouth and I saw why it hadn’t fought; the hook was caught right in the middle of its stomach.

By this time everyone was outside, including my Dad (who had gone inside and instantly came running back out again), Mom, brother, and sister. My neighbors saw us all looking at it so they came running out too. Everyone congratulated me and said they had never seen or caught anything that big. I couldn’t decide whether to eat it or to mount it, but I finally decided to mount it. Every one continued to poke it and pull it out of the cooler. This fish was amazing! Later that day my bass was measured at twenty three inches long and six and a half pounds. It was the most exciting day of my life, and I can’t wait to have that trophy fish hanging on my wall.

Note: This is Ethan's story he wrote about his exciting catch this summer; he wrote it to enter in the 'Reflections' contest at school. Ethan doesn't enjoy writing so we were so proud of him for penning these details! You'll also notice in the photo that we now have his prized bass hanging on the wall in the basement!

Sock Head Girl!

2008-10-13T22:32:00.006-04:00

Okay, those who know me from childhood know about the 'sock curls'. My mom used to roll my hair on socks at night so that I would have curls in the morning. I even did this up into middle school, as far as I can remember, until I got a perm (UGGGGH!). Of course, my friends thought it was very odd and got a kick out of it. In fact, a friend of mine from high school reminded me of it on Facebook recently. I then told Anna Beth about it; she was FASCINATED and insisted that I roll her hair on socks. I finally broke down and did it (and actually we've done it several times now, lol), and here is the proof. Socks in before bedtime:

And the next morning, socks are out--look at those curls!

Our Knights in Training

2008-10-13T22:10:00.003-04:00

For this very reason make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness, and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

~ II Peter 1:5 ~

Our boys Ethan & Graham recently started a Bible Study program with two other families with boys--the Warbingtons and the Dickinsons. These two families composed this incredible discipleship program based on the verse quoted above--the purpose is to raise these young boys, or 'squires', into godly young men, or 'knights'. The boys were 'initiated in' on September 26th; it was a fun evening of pizza and fellowship with friends, and then the more serious discussion of what is expected of the young men. The night ended with a VERY SCARY trip down the Dickinson's zip-line in the backyard . . . in the pitch-black dark of the night, of course! Our entire family made it down, including little Anna Beth who begged to go and then screamed the whole way down! We are so excited to be a part of this Bible Study, particularly in a time when the negative influences around us are so great. Thank you for including us, Chuck, Stacey, Mike & Carrie! The boys are just as excited and eager to learn. We look forward to seeing them and all of the boys grow closer to God and each other in the days to come.

Labor Day Visit to Tennessee

2008-09-09T15:05:00.003-04:00

My grandparents and many of my aunts and uncles live in east Tennessee. Unfortunately, we have not made the trip to visit them in two years. So, we decided to make the most of the holiday weekend and head up for a visit. My parents and my youngest sister Amy and her family also made the trip. It was so good to see my family after such a long time . . . my grandparents did look a little older, but still seem to be doing great for their age. The kids enjoyed visiting with everyone and even said they want to move there, lol! It was a great weekend with family! Here is a picture of the kids with my grandparents--my Papaw isn't as stern as he looks, for some reason he never smiles in photos, lol!

Ella Boo Comes to Visit!

2008-09-09T14:35:00.003-04:00

One of the highlights of the summer has been anticipating little Ella's visit. Ella is my one-year-old niece, daughter of my sister Angie and her husband Rabb. Angie had to attend an education conference near our home, so she and Ella came up a night early and stayed with us. The day of the conference, Ella (aka 'Boo') stayed with us! What a day it was for Anna Beth, she played 'mommy' all day, catering to Ella's every need (whether she wanted her to or not, lol). Ella was great--she missed her mommy a little bit in the morning, but was ready to go after her morning nap. We absolutely loved having her and hope she will visit again soon!

Child's World, Here Comes Anna Beth!

2008-09-09T14:23:00.006-04:00

Anna Beth started back at her preschool the day after Labor Day . . . and believe me, she has been counting down the days since the boys started back! It has been a little lonely here at the Cleft with Riley Catherine and Blaine gone to Kindergarten, so preschool was a welcomed event. She looked as precious as ever in her navy & red apple dress and braids. My heart cringed a little when she ALMOST forgot to kiss me before hopping out of the car to her teacher, lol, but she DID remember! She had a wonderful time and was all smiles when I picked her up at noon . . . I think it is going to be another great year!

Ethan & Graham Go Back to School

2008-09-09T14:03:00.005-04:00

The boys started back to school on August 11th. Graham was eager and very excited, and Ethan . . . well, he was a little less so, as usual. Overall they had a great first day. Graham wanted to wear his new tie-dye spirit shirt and Ethan chose a very 'tough' football shirt with spikes on a helmet, lol--guess that gave him the fifth-grade 'edge'! We feel so blessed with their grade teachers and their focus teachers--they are all so wonderful! These photos are compliments of Andrea Jenkins since I completely forgot to take photos before they left! Here are my boys with her boys, Blaine and Jarrett:

Personally, I absolutely CANNOT believe I have a 3rd grader and a 5th grader--WHERE does the time go!

Back-to-School Celebration!

2008-09-09T13:45:00.004-04:00

We enjoyed a Back-to-School Celebration with our neighbors, the Warbingtons & the Jenkins, the afternoon before school started. It started with prayer over the new school year and a yummy mexican dinner; then the adults gathered around to watch the children run through the back-to-school banner. And WHAT a show it was . . . the daddies introduced each child, announcing interesting and sometimes exaggerated stats about the child as they busted through! Afterwards the kids danced by the lake . . . and then on the trampoline, lol . . . and then we enjoyed a cookie cake for dessert. The sparklers at the end of the celebration were the finishing touch. The children absolutely LOVED every moment, it was a wonderful way to kick-off the new year. A BIG 'Thank You' to the Warbingtons and Jenkins for including us this year!

LeConte Hike 2008

2008-09-09T13:23:00.005-04:00

I am SO BEHIND with my posting, so I'm going to try to make these quick! In July, Kip and I went on our now annual hike to LeConte Lodge in the Smokies. It is a great experience, even for a city girl like me. The lodge at the top is VERY rustic with no electricity or running water in the cabins--and certainly no cell phone service. I have never seen the stars from this viewpoint, and it is amazing! This year we hiked with three other couples--the Holidays, the Mikles and the Geigers.

It was a great hike with fabulous weather (that is KEY after our 3-mile hike in a severe thunder/hail/lightening/rain storm last year). We took our regular 5-mile hike up Alum Cave--it is the shortest, steepest route with breathtaking views. After a warm meal, we enjoyed the sunset on the cliffs and then played cards by lantern-light in the common area. The next morning, we headed out after breakfast, taking the Trillion trail down. It was a less steep 6.5 mile route through the woods--not as scenic, but beautiful in it's own right. Also, we saw the Llama train taking the supplies up to the Lodge--they take this trail up and down several times during the week. We have all decided that this is a trail that our boys can definitely handle, so they will be joining us next year--they are ecstatic!

Abbi & Sarah Kate spend the night!

2008-08-02T19:59:00.003-04:00

Cousins Abbi and Sarah Kate came up this weekend for their VERY FIRST spend the night party with Anna Beth--the excitement (and squealing) was just too much! Of course, Aunt Amy and Uncle Ray stayed as well, and we all had a good time visiting and catching up. Unfortunately, we were having so much fun that I didn't take a lot of pictures.

The boys loved playing with Uncle Ray's new Guitar Hero 3--so much fun! The girls enjoyed sleeping together in matching sleeping bags and then waking to a chocolate-chip pancake breakfast complete with bacon, sausage, fruit, eggs and grits. After eating, we were treated to a complete fashion show of everything in Anna Beth's dress-up box (and there is quite a lot, by the way!) Then they headed out to try their hand at fishing, where Sarah Kate caught her very first fish! Later they enjoyed some time outside, riding bikes and playing in the hot Georgia sun.

Time with family is limited since we live a few hours away . . . Thank you for coming to visit, Amy, Ray, Abbi & Sarah Kate! We had a blast and hope you come back soon!

The Long Awaited Carrot Cake . . .

2008-08-02T19:46:00.004-04:00

For months now, Anna Beth has been begging me to help her make a carrot cake. I love carrot cake but have never baked one (not since she has been alive, anyhow!), so I wondered if she REALLY knew what it was. She insisted that she tasted it at preschool and loved it and wanted to bake her own . . . in fact, it was so important to her that it was on the list of things she wanted to accomplish this summer!

So, since her aunt, uncle and cousins were coming to visit for the weekend, it seemed like the perfect dessert option (to Anna Beth). We headed to Publix for some fresh carrots and got started. It actually was a lot of fun, and the boys got involved too. Anna Beth is a VERY particular child and had a VERY specific idea of what it should look like when it was done--thus the carrot decorations I had to add at the end! We had a great time and the end result was both cute and incredibly YUMMY--we all loved it (minus Graham , of course, my picky son)!

Great idea, Anna Beth!

EXTRA, EXTRA . . . Read All About It!

2008-07-13T14:29:00.004-04:00

Just an update on Ethan's BIG CATCH--he was featured in Skipper Smith's column in the Banks County Newspaper on Thursday! Mr. Smith is the father of Shawn Smith, our SS teacher and good friend, and was so kind to interview Ethan about his fishing experience. You can click on the photo to enlarge it and read the article. What a treat!

* * *

Also, the fish is no longer in my freezer (thank you!), but is officially at the taxidermy shop for mounting. We should see her again in four to five months!

Perseverance

2008-07-07T08:56:00.008-04:00

One of my closest friends, Carol, asked me to run the Peachtree 10K Roadrace with her this year. It is something that I have wanted to do as well, so I agreed (with all my good intentions) way back in the early Spring. We ran the Memorial Day 5K together and planned to kick up the training from that point on. However, we left for vacation the week after and then I returned to a week of sickness and so on. . . unfortunately, I made lots of excuses not to run.

Me with Carol & Mary Ann--Finishers!

Needless to say, there wasn't much training and I was very discouraged. In fact, I was so discouraged that I contemplated just not running this year; I would wait until next year when I was better trained and prepared and could do 'my best'. Those who know me, know that I hate to do things unprepared . . . and yet I also don't like to quit something I've committed to do. I am so thankful for the encouragement of several faithful friends at that point. My good friends (and neighbors!) Stacy and Andrea reminded me that simply running the race, regardless of my time, would be such an accomplishment . . . as well as an amazing experience. My always encouraging friend Carol reminded me that we were in this together and that none of us were very prepared but we would persevere together. So, I finally made the decision not to quit--I would run.

I headed down to the race early Friday morning with Carol and her friend Mary Ann. On the way, Carol shared this verse with us in anticipation of the event ahead:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses,
let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles,
and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
Hebrews 12:1

I knew this verse well, and yet it took on such a new meaning that morning. As the race began, I was reminded of the verse two more times as I saw it posted on random signs along the route. That verse was for me and what an awesome encouragement it was! I pushed through the first three miles, only to find the last three to be a little easier. I think I gained a certain amount of confidence after that third mile and the knowledge that I WOULD persevere and finish was certain. What an AMAZING feeling to finally cross the finish line and know that I had accomplished what seemed impossible just a few days before.

* * *

Thank you, God, for giving me the strength and courage to persevere, and for surrounding me with such incredible friends who lift me up daily!

* * *

What a BLAST!

2008-07-07T08:48:00.002-04:00

July 4th was a blast . . . of course! We decided to invite a few of our favorite families over for a cookout. The Smith family (Shawn, Valerie, Hunter & Morgan) and the Hatcher Family (Alan, Carol, Colin & Faith) joined us for hamburgers, hotdogs and the fixings; then we headed outside to visit and fish in the lake. As soon as it was dark the kids played with the sparklers and and the daddies put on a mini fireworks show. What a fun day with good friends!

Ethan gets the BIG catch!

2008-07-05T15:25:00.010-04:00

Our neighbor Mr. Ricky has been talking about the BIG fish in our lake for some time . . . However, Kip and the boys have never hooked anything very big, so we chalked it up to another fish tale. Today, Ethan proved there are still some big ones left in the lake--here's Ethan's version of the story:

Now for the extended version: Ethan baited his line with a live brim (caught by our little neighbor, Jarrett Jenkins--way to go Jarrett, it was great bait!) and Mr. Ricky helped him cast it WAY OUT. Just a bit later, something was tugging at Ethan's line. He started reeling it in and didn't feel too much on the line . . . however, as it got closer, he realized he had the BIG ONE! His rod was bowing, but he held on and reeled it in all by himself. Kip and I were inside eating lunch when Kip noticed Ethan's line out the window--we all raced outside just in time to see the huge large-mouth bass hanging from the line. WOW! Ethan was a little overwhelmed and afraid to hold it--her mouth was so huge! Finally Ethan calmed down a bit and he and Graham managed to hold it for a few pictures. He wasn't sure if he wanted to eat the bass or mount it (letting it go wasn't an option!), but he finally decided that he would like to mount it if Kip was willing to foot the bill, lol! So, it is probably a good thing I haven't started decorating Ethan's bedroom with the military airplane theme he had chosen. . . not sure how that would look with a real bass hanging over the headboard! By the way--the men were guessing it would weigh in around 7-8 pounds. However, we weren't able to weigh it until it had been dead for a bit and it weighed in at 6 pounds (probably would have been a little heavier when weighed right out of the water).

WAY TO GO, BIG "E"!

Beach Trip 2008

2008-06-22T13:54:00.004-04:00

We took our annual beach trip to Panama City with the Stokes family and had a GREAT time! All of the siblings/parents/grandkids were there for at least half of the week . . . . We enjoyed some dinners in, some dinners out, time in the pool and on the beach, go-cart races, and even a few family wiffle ball games on the sand! How relaxing to get away and visit with family that we don't see often enough.

What a Blessing!

Our FIRST Harvest!

2008-06-22T13:15:00.006-04:00

As we suspected, the garden was full when we returned from the beach. Our wonderful gardening neighbors, Maggie & Ricky, picked some of our squash during our absence and stored it for us; then we had the pleasure of picking the rest when we returned. What a treat it was, and so rewarding to eat the fruits of our own labor! The kids were ecstatic--although Graham was a little less excited later that evening when he tasted grilled zucchini and almost vomited (he is my slightly picky, no texture kid, lol)! Anyhow, he is holding out for the beans and watermelon! Here is a quick photo of those first fruits and veggies . . .

Of course, there has been much more coming in since then; we've canned pickles, frozen squash & zucchini, and enjoyed many salads and dishes with yummy fresh vegetables. Can't wait for the watermelon and cantaloupe!

The Three Musketeers

2008-06-22T12:26:00.004-04:00

Well, you can tell the guys had a good time at the beach, lol . . .

This performance was done outside The Treasure Ship on the last evening we were there--I'll post more beach photos soon!

Garden Update!

2008-06-02T10:55:00.003-04:00

I posted photos of the garden when we planted so I thought I would do a quick update. Everything is doing GREAT right now, we have lots of baby fruits and veggies and are excited to taste them soon. Here are some pictures of it now:

1, 2, 3, 4, 5 . . . Once I caught a fish alive!

2008-06-01T22:50:00.003-04:00

This was Anna Beth's favorite song in preschool this year and it finally became a reality Saturday morning! She doesn't have quite the attention span of the boys, so time spent at the lake with her princess fishing rod is sporadic. However, the fish were biting on Saturday and she reeled in her first fish and then later two more! Here is the first one, which she brought all the way up to the deck to show me, lol--I hope he made it after they threw him back in!

Way to go, my little Princess!

How a Southern Girl Eats Some Chicken!

2008-06-01T22:27:00.005-04:00

Okay--it is becoming more and more evident that we definitely have a little 'country chick' on our hands. Whether it is her ever-increasing drawl (one-syllable words quickly evolve into three, or even four syllables!), her love of all things outdoors (including a good kickball game or riding 'the ramps' with the boys), her new obsession for eating a bowl (or two) of grits EVERY morning, and now her most recent demonstration of how to finish off every morsel of a grilled drumstick! Prepare yourself--it gets UGLY!

Don't say I didn't warn you, lol!

Finish Strong!

2008-06-01T22:01:00.005-04:00

Last year I ran the Dacula Memorial Day 5K with Ethan & my friend Carol from http://sheeptotheright.blogspot.com/--we loved it and planned to do it again this year. Of course, time was sneaking up on us and we kept delaying the registration as well as training. Finally, a few days before the race, we committed to do it--Me, Ethan AND Graham this year! To top is off, we only practice ONE DAY, so I was a little concerned!

Nevertheless, we talked about it, prayed about it (we needed lots of prayer!), and made the decision to finish strong in honor of all of the soldiers who have served and died for our freedom. Ethan ran with his buddy Connor (who also had not trained) and I ran with Graham (his first race!). It was tough, but we pushed through with only a few walks to catch our breath. We finished strong, two minutes quicker than last year! Of course, I'm not going to tell you what the time was since it wasn't anything to brag about, lol, but we finished! Ethan finished a little later, but again, he FINISHED! We had fun, but the aches and pains in the days afterward should be a good reminder to TRAIN next year!

Me & my boys!
Connor, Ethan, Ryan and Graham

Me with Carol--Girl, we've got A LOT of work to do

before the Peachtree Road Race next month!

The school year comes to an end . . .

2008-06-01T21:49:00.002-04:00

Well, school is over . . . it was a great year at our new school, Mulberry Elementary! We loved the small-town feel of the school--everyone knows everyone! Not to mention, the boys had wonderful teachers. We showed them how much they meant to us by planning a Teacher Appreciation Picnic with the Warbingtons and Jenkins here at The Cleft--Can't take the credit, as it was Stacey & Andrea's idea, but it was such a wonderful idea! Nine of the ten teachers/principals we invited were able to attend, and most brought their families as well. Graham's teacher had a conflict and wasn't able to come, however his focus teacher attended so that was great. My photos didn't turn out due to a foggy spot on my lens (wonderful GA humidity!), but you can check out some of the details here on Andrea's blog:

http://teamjenkins5.blogspot.com/2008/05/check-out-my-slide-show_23.html

The boys celebrated field day during the last few days--here is a video of some of the picts. Ethan was fantastic at the 'flag tag' game; he really showed his aggressive side and was in the top three competitors! Graham was great at anything that required a little bit of speed!

All-in-all, we have been blessed this year with our children's education. Thank you, Lord, for another successful year of growing our minds!

Graham's Notes . . .

2008-05-06T22:42:00.005-04:00

Graham played at his Spring Recital this evening. The performance was GREAT, as always, and we are so proud of him! He played 'The Toy Town' by Bowman & N. Faber. This was his longest recital piece so far (three pages) and he had to turn the page during the performance. We thought ahead and photocopied the page--only to have it blow off the stand during this performance! He proceeded, unruffled, and we are so proud of him. After the recital he received several compliments on his composure and focus during the sheet music incident!

Way to go, GRAHAM! We are so proud of you, and cannot wait to see how these precious fingers will glorify God in the days to come!

Put me in Coach!

2008-05-06T21:31:00.004-04:00

Graham's baseball coach scheduled a kids vs. parents game for this past Sunday--apparently that is his tradition every year. What a FUN idea! Anna Beth could not wait to play baseball--she has never played before. She put on the most athletic clothing she owns (A Nike set off the clearance rack!)and grabbed Graham's bat, helmet and old glove. Ethan was even excited about playing with the little kids. I was excited about taking pictures, lol, but somehow got roped into hitting off the tee and then getting tagged out by Ethan at 1st base, lol! I even included a few photos in the slideshow for the ultimate embarrassment. Anything for my boys--they got a kick out of mom hitting off the tee! Anyhow, everyone had a blast; I think Graham really enjoyed seeing his whole family 'in the game'. Ethan got to show-off a little bit with the little kids. As for Anna Beth . . . she has now decided that she WILL be playing baseball with all the boys in the yard, even if she is the only girl playing. I have a feeling we may be seeing her on the field soon! And as for me? Well, I'll be sticking with photography! Enjoy the picts . . .

ORDER IN THE COURT!

2008-05-06T21:01:00.004-04:00

Last Friday, Ethan went on his Fourth Grade FOCUS field trip to the Gwinnett County courthouse. It was an incredible experience for students and parents alike! You see, the students have been preparing for a mock trial to be held in the courtroom and precided over by Judge Laura Tate. Every student had their role, and they even brought their own jury of students from the regular classrooms. Judge Tate was incredibly gracious and spent 45 minutes or so answering questions from the students and parents. However, once the case started, she was ALL business! The suspect, Gold Elizabeth Locks (aka "Goldie"), was on trial for breaking and entering. Ethan was Officer Justin Time who arrived on the scene immediately following the crime. He was called to the stand to testify, along with Goldie Locks' siblings, parents, and of course, the Bear family. Both the prosecution and the defense argued their cases well (we even had some objections!). In the end, the jury found Goldie GUILTY and she was sentenced to 20 years! It was a blast and Ethan enjoyed the experience!

Here come the Spring Chicks . . .

2008-04-30T13:41:00.007-04:00

Or, I guess I should say, the Spring goslings and turtles! The animal babies are beginning to appear around us and it has been so exciting to see and experience! First came the six little goslings, parading around the lake with their mother and father. They have visited our bank several times, giving us a closer look. They've also visited our new garden . . . but not for long thanks to Mr. Ricky next door, lol! We still have a pair of geese near the Warbington's house with eggs that haven't hatched--we hope they make it, inspite of the dog and children! Then came the baby turtle--Ethan found him along the bank of the lake this week and absolutely LOVED him. He was adorable, maybe the size of a quarter. Ethan released him back into the lake and we hope to see him again soon. We love living here and are amazed more everyday by the beauty of God's nature around us!

God is so good!

How Does Your Garden Grow?

2008-04-30T13:16:00.003-04:00

Yes, yes, yes . . . you all know we live in 'the country' now, so we had to plant a garden. We've tried gardens in the past, but not with a lot of success. Here in 'the country', with our neighbors Ms. Maggie and Ricky, we decided we would try again and learn from the pros. Ms. Maggie had the absolute best tomatoes and veggies last year, we sampled MANY of them! So, with her guidance and help, we have planted a wonderful garden of cucumbers, squash, zucchini, carrots, onions, cantelope, watermelon and eggplant. It has been lots of hard work so far (and I know there is MUCH more to come), but it has been so fun to work together as a family and a neighborhood (the Warbingtons and Jenkins are planting as well!). The boys worked SO hard hoeing the garden and planting the plants and seeds; and we are ALL excited about seeing the plants and vegetables grow in the weeks and months to come!

Little Miss Sunshine!

2008-04-30T12:54:00.003-04:00

Anna Beth had her preschool program last Thursday night and you guessed it . . . she was a little sunshine! No doubt, this is the perfect costume for the little miss priss who loves to brighten our days. The program was ADORABLE with lots of the good old nursery songs and rhymes. Anna Beth sang "Mr. Golden Sun" with several other girls.

Her neighbor and partner-in-crime Riley Catherine is right beside her in the program and in the last snapshot taken after the show. Our other neighbor Blaine was a cute little spider who caused quite a scream for little Miss Muffet. It was a wonderful evening reflecting on the joys of childhood and all that our children have experienced this year. WOW . . . can't believe yet another school year is about to end, it just goes by too quickly!

Okay, Okay, Here is the House!

2008-04-14T18:07:00.017-04:00

Okay, I'm giving in--several people have asked that I post some picts of the new house here since they are not close enough to visit. I was planning to wait until it was decorated and looking more orderly than it is at the moment, however, it seems that is going to be MUCH further into the future than I imagined. I will go ahead and post a few photos taken on the day we moved in--they aren't great, but you'll get the picture! Disregard the brown paper all over the floors, lol, that was to prevent scratches on the wood floors on move-in day! Here are some pictures of the kitchen--this was my BIGGEST source of anxiety and stress, but I am very pleased with the outcome. The kitchen has proven to be a great arrangement and amount of space for my cooking endeavors. It has even 're-inspired' me to do more cooking (I've been in a slump lately!)

The photo above is taken walking in from the mudroom; the one below is looking in from the keeping room. You can see the columns we wrapped in stone--they turned out better than I expected! Here is the keeping room that connects off of the kitchen and breakfast area. We don't have any furniture in here yet, but we plan for this to be more of a cozy sitting/game room for family--no television, at least not in the plans for now. Just a fun room that is an extension of the kitchen . . . can't wait to use the fireplace next year! You can't see it in the photo, but to the left there is a HUGE triple window to the floor looking out over the lake.

Here is a photo looking into the great room from the kitchen bar. The second photo is looking in from the breakfast area (which is to the right). The french doors/windows in the great room have been useful already, and provide an incredible view of the lake. The doors open up to a vaulted porch.

This photo is looking from the great room across the breakfast area and into the keeping room--it is a wide open space!

Okay--obviously, this isn't a move-in day photo. This is the dining room, the one room that looks 'okay', so I included a post-move photo. It doesn't look this 'busy' in person, I promise!

Here is part of the master bedroom-it has A LOT of windows, you are looking at the lake and stars at night--the photo of the lake is taken looking out one of our windows, it really is beautiful! I love the vaulted ceiling and chandelier. The second photo is the master bathroom.

I don't have great photos of the kids rooms, the guest room or the area we finished in the basement. However, I think this is probably MORE than most of you wanted to see anyhow!

Thank you, thank you, thank you to all of you who prayed for us during this building/selling process. This new home is a blessing from our Heavenly Father and we cannot wait to invite others in and use it for His glory! We are claiming the verse from Isaiah that states "My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest." May this home provide a place of peace, security and rest for our family, and all who enter!

Check out TEAM JENKINS . . .

2008-04-13T17:20:00.002-04:00

One more thing . . . Andrea has more about what our family (and the other cleft families) have been doing on her blog. I'm so far behind at this point, I'll never catch up on all that has been going on so be sure to check out our family on her site as well--here is the link:

http://www.teamjenkins5.blogspot.com/

Cruisin' on TWO Wheels!

2008-04-12T22:57:00.003-04:00

Anna Beth is now cruising on only TWO wheels!

She has been begging Daddy to take the training wheels off for a few weeks now--she needs to keep up with Riley and Blaine, lol! Finally, Kip took the wheels off on Sunday night. She went out in the cold on Monday morning, on her own, and within 15 minutes she was riding down the driveway on two wheels! It was pretty amazing--the boys took a LOT more time, practice and encouragement. Although, we are not surprised--she is one determined little lady!

P.S. Check out the bumps, bruises and bandaids on those legs--this girl plays HARD!

New Waters to Explore . . .

2008-04-12T22:32:00.002-04:00

Since moving to The Cleft our boys (and now our daughter as well) have quickly become fascinated with fishing! I've had my fill of tying on lures, adding line weights and taking fish off their hooks to be released back into the lake . . . Thankfully, the boys can now do it on their own. It is amazing to watch them learn a new skill and enjoy the beauty of God's nature as well! Here is a quick slideshow of their first days learning to cast and reel them in! And yes, that is prissy little Anna Beth casting her princess rod--she is turning out to be quite a little tomboy, lol!

Easter in the New House!

2008-03-31T23:05:00.003-04:00

God is so good! We were so blessed to spend our first Easter in our new home. Usually we travel to Warner Robins to be with family on Easter, however, things were a little 'unpacked' since we had only been in the new house about a week. So we made the last minute decision to stay home; although we missed our family, it was a special time for us in the new house. Here are a few of the photos we took on our back porch that morning--of course, we didn't have anyone to take a family photo, so you just get bits and pieces of us, lol!

God's Fingerprints . . .

2007-12-23T20:46:00.000-05:00

I haven't posted in so long, so I thought I would log a quick update. We have officially sold and closed on our house and have moved into rental property. We had three weeks to pack up and move just before Christmas--but we loaded everything into pods and officially 'moved' last weekend. We are so amazed and thankful for the way God has shown his fingerprints throughout this entire process. Here are just a few that come to mind . . .

Selling--the fact that we sold our home in this terrible housing market is the biggest indication of God's work! Also, that our home was priced higher than many of the other homes in our subdivision and yet our buyers still chose our house. We prayed for our buyers to come and God brought them!

Timing--we received the offer on the house the day before Thanksgiving. I am SO THANKFUL that we didn't get well into the Christmas season and have to take down our Christmas tree and the sentimental decorations. That seems silly and trivial I'm sure, but taking down the tree really would have made the move even tougher for the children--and more work and emotion for me!

Friends--During the week of packing and moving we had so many wonderful friends who took our children and cared for them as their own. We had friends who offered their 'muscles' to help move heavy furniture. We had friends who brought a meal to save us from eating pizza or fast food. We had friends who simply called or emailed to make sure we were doing okay. Thank you Lord for surrounding us with such an incredible support group!

New Home--Andrea Jenkins was so thoughtful to let us know of a mutual friend with a furnished basement. It has been the perfect arrangement for us; it is completely furnished so that we were able to put everything in storage. Definitely beats moving twice--well, unpacking twice! Everyone seems to enjoy the new living arrangements. Doug and Karen have done more than necessary to make us feel comfortable and the kids have loved getting to know each other. Anna Beth has been a little 'weepy' with all of the changes, but she is adjusting. Also, our 13-year-old black lab Bailey has adjusted to a new home as well--she is used to sleeping in our basement and has now taken-up residence outdoors. She absolutely LOVES her new igloo doghouse; it has really surprised us all that she has adjusted so well. Although it really shouldn't come as a surprise--the boys prayed for her and God has answered.

Family--the timing of this move allowed us the perfect opportunity to spend the holidays with our family. Normally we rush down to Warner Robins on the afternoon of Christmas, spending two hours on the highway, enjoy some time with our parents and then head back a day or two later. This year we decided to spend the whole week with family, enjoying time in a familiar environment. We've been here 24 hours and it has been a blessing already.

Those are just a few examples of the many blessings we've been given during the past few weeks. God is so good and we are so thankful for all He has done. I encourage you to look for His fingerprints in your life as well!

Christmas Blessings!
Amanda

Now In Color!

2007-12-02T21:19:00.000-05:00

We don't have a lot of time right now (read below!), but I couldn't resist posting pictures of the house exterior IN COLOR! It was painted earlier this week and we are thrilled with the way it turned out. It is so hard to tell how the colors will look together until it is on the house--but we are very pleased with the end result. The metal roofing still has to be painted and shutters will be added later. They also installed the columns (the stone bases will be built later) which will be painted the trim color later on. On the schedule for this week: finishing the deck and starting wood flooring and trim!

This will probably be my last post for awhile. As many of you know, we have a sale contract on our house and have two weeks to pack up and move to a rental. Thanks be to God for his work in this terrible housing market, he deserves ALL of the glory and praise! Thank you also to all of you who have prayed with us. Your calls and emails pledging your prayers and then follow-ups to see how we were doing mean more than we can even express. Several of you even offered your homes, your basements, your trucks for moving, info on homes for rent--we have been so blessed with such an incredible circle of friends! Thank you for giving of your time and yourselves--we pray that we can help you in a time of need as well.

Moms for Modesty

2007-11-17T20:51:00.000-05:00

I came across this site awhile back and was so impressed with it--I signed the pledged immediately. I feel that I dress myself and my children in a modest way, however, this blog challenged me to be even more aware. My intentions were to post it here on my blog to make others aware; unfortunately, that is just now happening!

Here is the mission statement held by this effort:

Moms for Modesty Mission Statement

As a Mom for Modesty I believe in common-sense modesty for girls and young women.
I believe in refraining from sexualizing our girls and young women.
I believe that it is unwise and unfair to taunt boys and young men by permitting my daughter(s) to dress in an immodest manner.
I believe that true beauty comes from within and I strive to teach my daughter(s) this truth.
I will loyally shop at retailers that provide girls' and young womens clothing that is modest, affordable and stylish.

In addition to this statement, I include my own pledge for my sons: To only purchase clothing that presents them as young children of God, clothing that does not advertise immorality or support the popular brands that use explicit sexual advertising. They are surrounded with children wearing the 'cool' brands and this has already been addressed in our home--so I don't want to leave them out!

Many retailers, marketing and PR firms review mommy blogs for trends and opinions. If we speak as one we may be able to effect change in the clothing industry. If you are interested in pledging your support for this effort, please check out the site below and sign:

http://momsformodesty.blogspot.com/

News Flash

2007-11-17T20:21:00.000-05:00

WE HAVE SHEETROCK!

You probably won't be able to tell a lot by the pictures, but I'm so excited that I had to post them. This is really the stage where the house takes shape. It is looking great and we absolutely LOVE it. We hope to have more picts up soon as soon as we have trim, flooring, etc.

Enjoy!

Let the Little Children Come to Me . . .

2007-11-16T22:29:00.000-05:00

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

~ Matthew 19:14 ~

This past weekend we were given the greatest joy a parent can experience--Graham, our seven-year-old son, accepted Christ as his personal Saviour! Graham said that he made this decision back in January when his brother Ethan made his decision for Christ; however, our talks with him have really concerned us that he was not certain. I have been so burdened about this and have prayed that God would just speak to Graham and bring him on his own. I have specifically prayed that his decision would not be the result of a friend or sibling's conviction, but his own. On Sunday night, after hearing a christian illusionist's incredible presentation of the Gospel, he prayed and accepted Christ. He is such a private person that he didn't want to go forward in the service; however, we had a special time of confirmation later at home. Soon, our sons will be baptized together--what a blessing!

I have no greater joy than to hear

that my children are walking in the truth."

~ III John 1:4 ~

God is SO good!

A Feast to Remember . . .

2007-11-16T20:10:00.000-05:00

Today Anna Beth celebrated Thanksgiving with her preschool class. Anna Beth wore her turkey shirt that she painted herself. Her Indian headband identified her name as "Shining Star" . . . so appropriate for this girl who loves the *bling*! Each child provided an item for a traditional Thanksgiving meal--and Anna Beth enjoyed every last morsel! In fact, after gobbling down THREE of the pilgrim hat cookies we made, she was ready to run off the energy outside.

Enjoy the highlights in the slide show below!

Baseball & Football Come to an End!

2007-11-16T19:28:00.000-05:00

Baseball and football have finally come to an end for our family! It has been a fun season for the boys--they've gotten tons of exercise, improved their athletic skills and had so much fun!

Graham really improved this year with the Pirates. Coach Jay and Coach Dave were the best--they made the game FUN for the boys and taught them so much. Graham is looking forward to playing again in the Spring.

Ethan had a great year as well--it wasn't a winning season, but it WAS a learning season. Ethan was given a lot more playing time this year and he improved in so many ways. Kip was the offensive line coach, which made the season special for both father and son.

Way to go PIRATES & FALCONS!

The Cleft: What's in the Name?

2007-11-04T19:59:00.000-05:00

http://teamjenkins5.blogspot.com/2007/10/whats-in-name.html

I meant to link to this post this earlier--when Andrea Jenkins first posted it on her site! The Jenkins family will soon be one of our new neighbors in 'The Cleft'. This community has been their dream, along with the Warbingtons, for many years. In her blog, she explains the origination of the name of our little community of five homes. We feel so blessed to share in their dream, and make a part of it ours as well. As Andrea so aptly stated in her blog:

"Our desire for The Cleft is to be a safe haven for our families, a place where we can all come and rest and find safety. We also want it to be a place where we all seek to see the LORD and all His glory - not only for us, but for all who come to visit."

God is SO good!

Update on the New House!

2007-10-31T22:02:00.000-04:00

We now have brick AND stone on the house! It is so exciting to see all of the things we have chosen for our new home coming together. We love the brick and the stone together and the siding/trim colors we have chosen should really highlight it even more.

The elliptical arches over the windows were a last minute decision, but we love the end result.

Our future front porch in the making!

Of course, all of that brick and stone caused a BIG mess, so the Stokes Clean-up Crew was on the job:

Kip won't be happy about the photo above, but I couldn't resist, lol!

Everything seems to be moving right along and we are excited about our future in this home. One special request: Please continue to pray with us that God will send the buyer for our home in His perfect time. We covet your prayers!

"BOO" to you!

2007-10-31T21:27:00.000-04:00

It was a SCARY Halloween at the Stokes home this year . . .

Just take a GOOD look at Ethan, our well-fed, near-sighted referee! Ethan and Kip locked themselves in the closet this afternoon and came up with this creation--and it was a hit! Graham was going to be a football player, but opted to wear his favorite Ninja costume from two years ago--the weapons are just too fun.

Anna Beth was MORE than happy to doll-up in her favorite Belle gown--she loves any excuse to wear a little make-up and a pretty dress!

We've been so busy lately, we had to quickly carve our pumpkins before heading out to trick or treat--the boys designed the faces and mommy carved. OH--and then Ethan ate the roasted pumpkin seeds, lol! There is never any waste at the Stokes house!

All in all, it was a 'BOO-tiful' evening--lots of candy and tons of fun!

Happy Birthday, Anna Beth!

2007-10-13T23:22:00.000-04:00

Our little sweetie Anna Beth turned four on October 10--we celebrated the Saturday before with a "Make-A-Bear Party" in our home. Anna Beth had fifteen little girls to help her celebrate, and it was certainly a day stuffed with fun. Enjoy the pictures!

I've been TAGGED!

2007-10-13T21:17:00.000-04:00

AHHHHH! I’ve been tagged by Stephanie (Ocean Mommy)--Okay, Stephanie, I'm not great at these things, but I'm going to humor you, lol. Here it goes:

Four jobs I have had in my life:

A Fabric-cutter at Hancock Fabrics (during college years)
Promotional Coordinator for a Publisher
Marketing Coordinator for an Engineering Firm
A Mom (my favorite job, by the way!)

Four movies I can watch over and over and over:
I hate watching movies, so I don't really have one! If I were to sit down and watch one more than once, my two favorites are:

Sweet Home Alabama
Facing the Giants

Four TV shows I like to watch:

Extreme Home-Makeover (our whole family watches it after church on Sunday nights--we love it, we ALL cry together!)
Designed to Sell (and all of the other house selling shows--b/c I'm trying to get tips to sell our house!)
Divine Design and any other Design show on HGTV
Brothers and Sisters (probably shouldn't, but I do--I like Calista Flockheart)

Four places I have vacationed:

Bahamas--cruise
Colorado--skiing
Niagra Falls/Canada
Florida--the beach, of course!

Four of my favorite dishes:

SALAD--any kind, I absolutely LOVE it--especially with fruit, cheese and nuts!
Seafood--anything broiled (I hate fried food)
Pizza--wish I didn't love it!
Italian food--whole-wheat pasta only, of course!

Four websites I visit daily:

Our realtor's site (for some reason--see if there is any change!)
My bank account site to update hubby's work expenses
My friends' blogs to check for updates and be encouraged!
During change of seasons--EBAY--where I shop for the kids clothes!

Four places I would rather be (beyond the obvious "Heaven"!):

In our new home!
On another cruise--maybe without kids this time (although it was great with them)
Touring Europe with Kip--he has never been there
Anywhere with my husband and kids with plenty of time to spend together

Four bloggers I am tagging:

Carol, http://sheeptotheright.blogspot.com/--I probably know most of your answers, lol, but you never know!
Amy, http://www.signsmiraclesandwonders.blogspot.com/
Andrea (my future neighbor!), http://www.teamjenkins5.blogspot.com/
Deanna, http://www.thecoxconnection.blogspot.com/

One Brick at a Time. . .

2007-09-30T17:35:00.000-04:00

. . . Our house continues to take shape. We were so excited--and RELIEVED--to finally see brick on the house earlier this week. After the pallets of brick were delivered last week, I was sweating bullets. Honestly, it was some of the ugliest building material I had ever seen in my life and I had my doubts that it was the look we were hoping for. Kip reassured me though, and I am now convinced. Seeing the brick on an actual wall WITH mortar makes all the difference. The workers have mainly worked on the sides and back of the house this week and are just starting on the front. Here are some pictures:

And by the way: YES, there are many different colored bricks here and there is supposed to be paint splattered on the brick, LOL--we are trying to achieve a distressed, old cottage look. The brown bricks will look even better once the trim, shake and siding are painted a deeper color. We hope to have more pictures up soon once all of the brick work is completed!

Punkydoodle Day for Anna Beth!

2007-09-30T17:23:00.001-04:00

Anna Beth woke up VERY excited last Thursday . . . Punkydoodle was coming to her school! You may be wondering, WHO is Punkydoodle? Punkydoodle is a pony that her preschool brings in each year, along with a horse named Coca-Cola, as a special treat for the children. The children learn about the horses and then have the opportunity to feed, pet and ride them. Anna Beth was ecstatic about riding the horse, but just a bit apprehensive once it was her turn. She did great though, and enjoyed every minute!

Pretty as a Princess

2007-09-30T16:59:00.000-04:00

Anna Beth was in *PRINCESS BLISS* this weekend! We traveled to Warner Robins for her cousin Abbi's 4th birthday party. Abbi had a dress-up princess party at a local "Sweet and Sassy" party facility, and it was the epitome of *GLAMOUR*, *SPARKLE* and *BLING*! Anna Beth and the other girls enjoyed EVERY moment of the pampering . . . from manicures and make-up to hairdos and wardrobe, it was a day of pampering. At the end of their transformation, each princess was announced as she walked down the runway to be crowned. What a fun experience for the girls!

Happy Birthday, Abbi,

and thanks for an incredible day!

Put me in Coach, I'm Ready to Play!

2007-09-09T17:15:00.000-04:00

We are so excited Graham wanted to play baseball again this season! He is our creative, multi-talented middle child who loves to dabble in a lot of activities, but doesn't tend to stick with many of them, lol! He played tee-ball early on, but decided it wasn't for him. Then came soccer, which he was great at, but it wasn't for him either. Then he asked to play baseball again this past Spring and loved it. When he asked to play in the Fall league as well, we were excited to see interest in the same activity again--even though it was going to mean a tough schedule for our family since Ethan is playing football too.

Anyhow, Graham has incredible coaches this season and he is absolutely loving the game. The Pirates had their first game Tuesday night and he played both second base and third base. Now, you have to understand--this is his first time playing on the infield in the Pee Wee league, so it was a VERY exciting night for him.

On another note, here is a photo of Graham doing his favorite activity--playing the piano. He has been taking lessons for a year now and is doing great! Since the rest of us have no musical background, we are excited about having a musician in the family. Way to go, Graham!

Anna Beth is off to school . . .

2007-09-09T16:48:00.000-04:00

My little princess started preschool at A Child's World last Thursday--she will only be going half a day on Thursdays and Fridays. She has been so excited--choosing her backpack, who her new friends will be, what will she have for snack (she IS a Stokes afterall, lol), etc. Here are a few photos of her headed to her first day at school:

Anna Beth was SO excited--however, it was a tough, tough, tough day for me. Did I say it was a tough day? Sorry, but it was a TOUGH day. I think it just caught me by surprise when the tears started flowing on the ride back home. I had done this twice already with the boys (with just a few tears each time), so I felt like a pro. However, this time seemed a little worse . . . no one was going home with me. You see, each of the other times I had taken a little one off to preschool, there was always another little one going home with me who needed me to be a mommy. When you have been a mommy for almost 10 years, it really is an odd feeling when no one is there to need you.

**********

Anyhow, I counted the hours until I could pick her up, and needless to say, I was the FIRST mommy in the pick-up line! She had a wonderful time and enjoyed another great day on Friday. Friday was a little easier for me as well, although it was still tough. I know that it will get easier as I fill those few hours she is away with exercising/running, making decisions for the house we are building, and working in the boys' school. Hmm . . . might even be able to get my nails done without the little princess tagging along! Although I'm not sure--it just wouldn't be the same without you, Anna Beth. :-)

New House News

2007-09-04T08:19:00.000-04:00

This is the image I came across at the end of the boys' workday at the new house this weekend. The boys had given up on fishing and scampered off into the woods with their future neighbors Wesley & Will--being the overbearing parent that I am, I went to check on them after a few minutes. I had to resist my protective urge to yank them out of the tree, lol--do you SEE how high they are? After catching my breath, I noticed their topic of conversation--Wesley was telling the other boys the story of the Tar Baby. They were laughing and giggling and discussing what happened in the story--how incredible is that! With so many electronic and visual activities vying for their attention, it is refreshing to see them enjoying nature and literature!

Now--when I later asked how the Tar Baby topic came about--I was told that they were all comparing WHAT they would fall on if they fell out of the tree. Apparently, two of them would hit the ladder and the other two would fall into some briers . . . then came the subject of brer rabbit . . . and then the tar baby! LOL!

I know that spending time there this weekend--working, fishing, exploring--is making us anxious for the move. The house is coming along quickly; they are installing the siding and shake right now and the stone and brick should be next. On the inside, the rough plumbing is done and the electrical should be going in next. Our builder, Steve Harrison, is doing a wonderful job!

P.S. 'Click' the photos for the bigger picture!

The Babies are Here!

2007-09-03T23:49:00.000-04:00

"Every good and perfect gift is from above"

~ James 1:17 ~

Many thanks to those who have been praying for our sisters--for those who don't know, both my sister AND Kip's sister were due with little ones in the month of August! We are so excited that both babies have arrived safely and everyone is doing fine . . . here are the details:

Ella Caroline was born to my sister Angie and her husband Rabb on August 23rd--this little one is long-awaited by everyone! Many of you have prayed for them during their infertility, in-vitro and high risk pregancy . . . and here is the beautiful result of our prayers and God's goodness! Ella weighed 8 pounds, 7 ounces and was 20 inches long--She is doing great and Angie and Rabb are surviving with a few hours of sleep here and there. We were able to visit with little Ella this weekend and it was such a special time . . . I had to get out of there quickly before those 'baby emotions' got the best of me!

Ryder Stokes was born to Kip's sister Kaci and her husband Spencer on August 31st (just in time for that school year deadline, lol!). Ryder weighed 7 pounds 14 ounces, 21 inches long, and looks SO much like big sister Kadence. He had a pretty dramatic entrance, trying to enter the world fist first with his umbilical cord in hand. Needless to say, Kaci had a very scary emergency c-section. Everyone is doing well now and they should be resting at home soon--please keep Kaci in your prayers as she endures a longer recovery.

Are you ready for some FOOTBALL???

2007-08-26T18:03:00.000-04:00

We may still be in the hottest days of summer but football season has definitely arrived for the Stokes family! Ethan has prepared all summer by running and attending a speed, agility and quickness camp. He also attended a week of football camp and then jumped right into practice with his new team. One thing is for certain: He isn't the rookie this year!

Ethan is playing center for the offensive line as you can see in the photo above--Big number 44! He has worked so hard to learn this new position and do his best--we are so proud of his effort this year! Kip has encouraged him to use his position as center to be the leader of the offensive line.

An added bonus to the season this year is that Kip was asked to coach the offensive linemen! We all know this is SUCH a chore for him, LOL, but he is managing somehow. Honestly though, I think he now has a new appreciation for the time, emotion and responsibility that goes into coaching these boys.

GO FALCONS!

Welcome to Our Story!

2007-08-26T15:56:00.000-04:00

Well, a lot of great names came to mind for our new blog, but unfortunately they were already taken--so "The Stokes Story" it is!

Although I don't have a lot of free time to blog, I absolutely love the idea and have been enticed by the incredible blogs of Andrea Jenkins and Carol Hatcher--you two do such a great job! I thought this would be the perfect way to communicate to our friends and family what is happening in our lives . . . I may not be as consistent as some of you with my entries, but I will certainly do my best!

As the stories of our family are shared in the days to come, we pray they will be a blessing and encouragement to you. Most importantly, we thank God for the incredible story he has written for our lives.

"Lord, you establish peace for us;
all that we have accomplished you have done for us."
~ Isaiah 26:12 ~

The Stokes Story

Mother's Day 2009

Soccer Season Comes to an End, May 2009

Special Moments: Graham's Spring Recital, May 4th, 2009

Sleeping Beauty

Dancing for Him

Jax Goes to School!

Easter 2009: He is Alive!

The Blessings of Friendship

The Sound of Music Fills Our Home!

Easter Egg-citement!

Parablelooza!

Jax, Our Little Gift from God!

Anna Beth's 'Praise Pals' performance

DiscipleNow 2009

Date Night with Daddy

Boys' Night!

Afternoon Tea for Two

Happy Birthday, Ethan & Graham!

Her VERY FIRST Soccer Game!

Georgia Snow!

Our Mad Scientists!

In Memory of Sweet Bailey

Anna Beth is on 'The Star Team'

Shootin' Hoops!

Our Sweet Bailey

Our first annual Cleft MotorFest

Merry Christmas!

The Power of PINK!

2008 Family Christmas Ornaments

Preparing for our FIRST Christmas in the new house!

Our Little Metal Mouth

'Smiling Eyes' has a Feast

Raised to Walk in Newness of Life!

Halloween at 'The Cleft'

You just never know . . .

A Great Season Comes to an End . . .

*WOW!*

Hayrides & Pumpkins

Heading to the Playoffs!

Tea for Two . . . Ummm, make that Sixteen!

Not Forgetting Graham

Thoughts of Summer . . .

GO FALCONS!

Happy Birthday, Princess!

The Big One

Sock Head Girl!

Our Knights in Training

Labor Day Visit to Tennessee

Ella Boo Comes to Visit!

Child's World, Here Comes Anna Beth!

Ethan & Graham Go Back to School

Back-to-School Celebration!

LeConte Hike 2008

Abbi & Sarah Kate spend the night!

The Long Awaited Carrot Cake . . .

EXTRA, EXTRA . . . Read All About It!

Perseverance

What a BLAST!

Ethan gets the BIG catch!

Beach Trip 2008

Our FIRST Harvest!

The Three Musketeers

Garden Update!

1, 2, 3, 4, 5 . . . Once I caught a fish alive!

How a Southern Girl Eats Some Chicken!

Finish Strong!

The school year comes to an end . . .

Graham's Notes . . .

Put me in Coach!

ORDER IN THE COURT!

Here come the Spring Chicks . . .

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Little Miss Sunshine!

Okay, Okay, Here is the House!

Check out TEAM JENKINS . . .

Cruisin' on TWO Wheels!

New Waters to Explore . . .

Easter in the New House!

God's Fingerprints . . .

WOW!

News Flash

Pretty as a Princess