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Friday, November 4, 2011

Master's the Death of this Blog

I have not forgotten this dear blog that I love to update, but this Master's Degree is killing any and all "extra" time I have, which is not much.  I will post Halloween pics and other Hill boy happenings soon...real soon...

Saturday, August 27, 2011

The Man that Excused Himself from the Table

1 John 4:7-21  God is Love

Last weekend we celebrated three wonderful people, my cousin and his marriage to a beautiful lady, Ryker’s Birthday, and also the birthday of my Grandpa who turned 85.  Traveling to this family event, I was excited to see my family, aunts, uncles, cousins that I hadn't seen since my Grandma’s funeral.  I was looking forward to a happy event.  What surprised me more than anything, is that while there, I learned a very important lesson, a lesson I believe came straight from Christ.  This lesson I learned, was one I thought I knew well and understood perfectly, it was the lesson of Love.  But this time it was different, it had a deeper more passionate meaning, one I was shocked to learn over the weekend. 

I learned that God’s Love will always have an overwhelming impact on not only those of us that know Him, but on those that spend a lifetime trying to avoid it. 

My grandpa celebrated his 85th birthday on August 22nd, this birthday was different, this birthday was missing someone, his wife, my grandma.   A little background on these two from my perspective growing up…  Grandpa was rarely around for his kids as they grew up, this is a well-known and talked about subject among his kids, and grandkids.  As I got older, I noticed that he would always head out to his shop when family arrived.  While we sat at my grandparents dinner table, laughing, talking, and being totally in love with my Grandma’s every word, Grandpa was never there.  I never understood why he did this, it was obvious from the smile and hug he would greet us with, that he loved us, but why did he always disappear? 

After this weekend, I think I just might have the answer to that question.  I noticed a different side to this man.  I watched him watch his family with a smile.  I saw him sitting at the dinner table surrounded by his family, laughing, talking, and him being totally in love with their every word.  As we sang Happy Birthday to this man of little emotion, I watched as he cried, not because he was sad, but because he was loved.  This got me thinking, maybe just maybe he excused himself from that dinner table so many times in the past because he knew that my Grandma with her kind words and gentle smile would and could teach his children and grandchildren what love was, what it meant to be faithful to Christ-something he was never taught to do, something he was not raised to do.  He knew she had a gift of teaching us how to love, and maybe his gift was to let her.

I think that the tears he shed were because he once again was surrounded by the love that could only come from one lady, his wife.   He could feel her presences in us, her love in us.  A man that spent his life avoiding emotions, was now overcome with the love of his family, a love that comes from God. 

I wonder if we as a Christian family, a family that has been taught by the ultimate teacher of love- Do we make the lost feel overcome with love when we are with them?  Do we love like Jesus loved?  Can they see and feel Christ’s love in us, from us.  Do we leave them with an emotion that for so long, they have tried to avoid?  When we leave them, are they now in the presence of God’s Love?

As a mother, I learned from my Grandma the importance of loving each other, taking care of each other, and living my life faithfully.   But who would have thought that I would have learned a much greater meaning and desire of God’s Love from the man who excused himself from the table.



1 John 4:7-21  God is Love

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

New Found Love and a few Kid Pics!

Well, I have found my new love, baby blanket cakes.  I love love love making these.  What a stress reliever.  And I just love it when I get to decorate them in pink. 




I will be posting wonderful summer happenings at the Hill house soon.  We have been very very busy.  Here are a few pictures.

Hudsen getting ready for his baseball game...Go Tadpoles!

Ryker after a day at the pool.

Wait for it...


Can you see what I caught?

That's right, I caught the black bird that eats all of Norman's food. 
I was in the kitchen when I pulled the rope.  Snap!!!
"I can't believe he finally caught that bird."



Thursday, May 26, 2011

~~Hours in our Day~~

Hello World!  Seems like this blog has become a hit or miss type of blog.  I think of it often and have little time to do much about it.  I am afraid that over the past few months I have been in a blog fog.  No real reason to blog, well other than the wonderful world of Hudsen, Gannon, and Ryker.  These guys rule my world.  They seem to dictate every move I make, every thought I consume, and every decision that I make revolves around these three little guys and this blog has not fit into their world lately.

Hudsen finished 1st grade this past week- ALL A's!!!!  What a smart guy he is.  When we started him in school we debated on whether we should start him early or late, we went with early.  Each year that has gone by, Hudsen has excelled in all he has done.  I am so proud of how much he loves learning.  Every night Hudsen would read to us.  At the beginning of this year, Hudsen knew nothing about putting letters together to make words.  Now, he is reading on a 2nd grade reading level and making 100's on his AR tests.  I thought, he we should give him a quarter for every book he read this year, then I did the math..$60.00 in quarters...sooo we went with dimes.  He made a 100% on every Spelling test he took this year and did just as well in Math.  I am so thankful for that big brain that God placed in his head!!!!
Baseball season is in full swing.  He finally moved up to Machine Pitch which he is thrilled about.  This boy is a Baseball player.  Yes, I am bragging- it's my blog, I can brag if I want to.  I am so excited to be "helping" coach his team this year.  Late nights here we come.

Gannon James-my big three year old.  He is nothing shy of being his big brother's shadow.  Everywhere Hudsen is, Gannon is also.  Everything Hudsen does, Gannon attempts.  I love hearing him say, "Ryker, just me and Hudsen, you are too little."  "You have to big like me and Hudsen."  His love is huge and his energy is amazing.  This is the kid that requires little if no sleep and has more energy than all 4 of the rest of us combined.  Levi and I are slowly discovering that Gannon requires little attention to make him happy.  We often say, have you seen Gannon in awhile?  He keeps himself completely busy all on his own.  With this new found "bigness" of his has also come a new "I can do whatever I want when I want attitude."  I am attempting to change that big attitude in that little boy.  I wonder if Hudsen was like this at 3.  I can't remember I was so occupied with baby Gannon and Levi being gone, that I honestly can't remember.  I look at Ryker and think, man I have another 3 year old to come.  Please Lord help me survive.  Terrible 3's or whatever, Gannon James is still my little man with a HUGE heart. 

Ryker Sutton, standing here screaming as I type because Gannon just took his phone away from him.  Gannon thought if he gave Ryker a "different" phone, Ryker would understand, not the case.  Ryker is not happy with Gannon right now.  Ryker has gotten big.  Saying anything and everything-as long as he is at home. In public, this kid is shy and very quiet.  He is a snuggle bug.  Sometimes I go out in public when I need a little one-on-one time with Ryker.  I find it so hard to believe that in just a few short months this little guy will be 2.  It gives me such a sick feeling in my stomach that my baby is growing so fast that I can't seem to soak it all in.  Speaking of changing, we had a major change happen last night/today.  After a year and half of bananas in this house, yesterday was Ryker's last official banana.  Before his nap yesterday we gave him a banana-nothing different- when he woke up from his nap, he had the worst rash I have ever seen.  His arms and legs looked as if he had been burnt.  After thinking about it I decided that it had to be the banana.  I am allergic to bananas and thought well so is he.  I watched him closely, gave him benadryl and sent him on his way.  He never cried, or acted as though they itched or bothered him.  This morning Levi and I noticed that they were worse and had spread.  We went straight to the Dr. and he went straight to the epi pen and steroid shot.  He then looked at me and said, you are lucky he woke up.  Well, thanks!  Sent us home with another pen and said, "Next time...Emergency Room!"  So, that was NOT fun.  Really, it amazes me how kids survive their parents sometimes.

My plate is full, actually it is overflowing right now.  I woke up a few mornings ago around 4:00 and just thought about all that I have going on right now.  I start my Masters program next week-OVERWHELMING.  I have taken on coaching duties for Hudsen's baseball team-OVERWHELMING.  I volunteered to run the concession stand at the Little League games-OVERWHELMING.  I have to attempt to take 3 active boys to the swimming pool this summer-OVERWHELMING.  I signed up to teach 3 year olds at church for the next 3 months-OVERWHELMING.  I spend 90% of my evenings talking to my husband on the phone because he works evenings-OVERWHELMING.   Trying to figure out how to spend quality time with ALL three boys daily-OVERWHELMING. 
I am such a small person in such a large world right now.  Daily I tell myself, breathe just breathe.  Why do we put so much on our plates when we know we are already to busy to do what we need to do anyway?  My answer...because we are Moms and that's what Moms do.  We just do it...get it done and then volunteer for something else. 

Tonight I pray that my life as OVERWHELMING as it seems, never gets to busy to love the people around me, that I am never to tired to hug or kiss my boys one more time, and that I ALWAYS find time to thank God for all these OVERWHELMING opportunities and blessings in my life. 


PS...A very wonderful person that has become a very dear friend lost her parents in the terrible tornadoes that went through the Oklahoma City area this past week.  Tonight and for many days and nights to come, I pray for you Lisa.  I pray that God will comfort your heart and bring peace to your life once again.  Your smile is contagious and your laughter is a sweet sound.  I hope that we see and hear that again soon. 

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Reason to Celebrate

I am so lucky that I am the Mommy to these three little toads!  Thank you Hudsen, Gannon, and Ryker for letting me be your Mommy.  I love you bunches! 
I LOVE MOTHER'S DAY!
Mommy Loves you Mommy Loves you, YES I DO!

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Growing Older

Today is a terribly windy day here and I am choosing not to go outside and stand in it.  So I thought I would use this time to tell you a little bit about the man I married. 
Let's be honest, before I met Levi, I was looking for someone tall, dark, and handsome.  Those were pretty much my only requirements in a man.  Levi fit those no problem.  I noticed him because of those qualities and was intrigued by them.  When we started dating I began to fall in love with him for his sense of humor, his intelligence, and his wanting to hang out with me.  He was a great guy that made me happy and I knew that he would take care of me no matter what.

Fast forward to child number one, Hudsen.  Wow, who knew this man that I fell in love with because of how handsome he was would also turn out to be such a great Daddy. 

Levi and Hudsen: Day one

As Hudsen grew, so did Levi.  He began to set new priorities for our family.  Set in our ways we were a happy family of 3. 

Then this happened...
My 2 sons



Once again Levi had a new set of responsiblities and a new outlook on life.  He was the Daddy of 2 wonderful full of energy boys.  And once again, my husband did everything in his powers to make this family of FOUR the best that it could be.   He loved us and he wanted the best for us-and he delieved....Well AND SO DID I. exhibit 3...
Daddy and boy #3

Oh my, new challenges, but never discouraged (or at least never led on) he was going to be the best Daddy of THREE that he could be.

My 3 Sons
And today, on this windy day, I am more in Love with this man not because of his hottness, which he is, but because he LOVES us more than I ever imagined possible. 
Thank you Levi for being a SUPER DADDY and a FABULOUS HUSBAND.

Love your wife,

J-

Monday, February 21, 2011

What was I thinking, Grad School? Oh MY!

Well, after a very long wait, I finally found out that I have been accepted to Graduate School, Instructional Design and Technology.  This has always been something I wanted to do, BUT now that it is here, I am scared to death.  I will be spending the next few years of my life, and my family's life, working on this degree that I have wanted for so long.  I just hope that I have enough time and energy to complete what I am about to start.  We will see how crazy I am in a few years.- Pray for Levi- he is going to need it.

Here I  We go...

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Raise your hand if you have not been Sick.


I think about this blog weekly I really do, but lately, the only thing I would have to write about would be which one of us was sick this week.  Luckily for me, unlucky for my husband, it is his turn AGAIN.  Seems like we can't go a week without someone sick and feeling yucky.  I can't wait until it warms up so we can go outside and get some fresh air.  We have attempted a couple times the last week to get outside and play in the snow.  It has been way to cold.  I am ready for my summer heat to hit. 

  • Today Hudsen has his last Hot Shots basketball practice.  He is a little bummed about it- HE LOVES ALL THINGS SPORTS. 
  • Hudsen is doing great in school.  We were blessed with all A's on his progress report.  I told him that if he continues making A's until he graduates from High School, he could pick where he wanted to go to college.  If he started getting C's and D's, then I get to pick.  He said, "Oh great Mom, you will make me go to Texas Tech."  Looks like we will have all A's from this kid.  He is Orange and Black through and through.  (whatever works)

Gannon James, IS FINALLY POTTY TRAINED!!!  This is such a relief, only one kid in diapers.  He is so good, that he came running in a couple of nights ago screaming because he could not get his pj's off.  I am loving this.  All credit goes to his Daddy for that one. 

...side note as I am typing, I hear "why did you lock the door?"  "I guess I didn't know it was locked."  This is a conversation Levi and Hudsen are having right now over Hud locking the bathroom door- no one is in the bathroom.  Let's see how the handyman does on this one.

Ryker Sutton, So big!  He is talking up a storm.  Words we hear the most right now... "Mama" (my favorite)... "Don't" (least favorite)... "no"..."dog"... and  "this"  He walks around pointing saying "this this"  So cute.  Oh and "bottle".  Yes my 17 month old is still on a bottle.  Just keeping my baby a baby for a little longer.  I am trying I really am, but I can't imagine NOT having a baby in this house. 
I do look forward to the nights they all brush their own teeth, and get themselves ready for bed, BUT  I do love those little voices and little guys that are running around right now. 

Levi and I, well we are just trying to survive being parents of these guys.  We are doing our best to wake up each morning  NOT sick.  I think I am going to have to kick him out of our room until we are BOTH healthy. 

I am still loving my job.  The people I work with are great and so are the students.  High School kids can be very funny.  I find myself laughing all the way home about something they said or did.  I just think, oh my, I (my friends) did that same thing.  We some how survived and so will they. Just hope I can keep this in mind when my boys are in high school.  Oh that will be fun, lots of fun.
Must go Ryker is calling my name.  What Ryker wants Ryker gets. He is the boss of this house, well for now anyway.

Oh and Levi, if you read this blog before Monday...Valentine's Day is MONDAY!!!!

XOXO