Only By The Grace of God....

 There is really not a reason that I haven't wrote about this.   Just been trying to find the right words I guess.  And still comprehending God's mercy and playing those few minutes over & over in my head.

It is merely a blessing that I am even doing this blog to tell you about what happened.  God is good.  So good.  Monday was our "date before Kyle leaves" rule that he came up with.  I had blogged the other day about us going to the movies.  That was it :)!

Well he was driving and I was in the passenger seat talking to him and texting my friends like usual.  We were right in front of my moms house.  She lives on a very busy highway that has constant traffic.  Mostly beach traffic.  I had just texted my friend, Whitney, back and looked up when I saw my life past before my eyes.  Keep in mind that traffic there is not slow by any means.  Everyone is in a hurry to get to the beach or get home.

I calmly told Kyle that "they" were about to hit us.  It is honestly by the Grace of God that they did not PLOW into my side of the car.  I am 100% positive if I had not of looked up when I did and got Kyle's attention that I would be spending my days in Heaven. 

It is the first time I have ever had something happen and really tried to figure God out.  There is no figuring God out.  God is God and that is exactly what makes Him so AWESOME! There was a girl driving the tahoe and she had a guy friend with her and another lady friend following them.  In order to miss us, she had to SAIL through Mom's yard.  She was truly an amazing driver and without a doubt all of our Guardian Angels were with us.  She managed to miss crashing into moms house and into her big oak tree.  The only physical damage that was done was Moms flower bed.  The impact of the tahoe flying through them snapped her trees.  I didn't even realize that until last night when we were there.

I never yelled, or even got mad at Kyle for that matter.  It was truly an accident that was completely avoided by only one explanation.  When the Tahoe missed my door, it is only another Miracle as to why we didn't hit her.  As soon as we turned in, Kyle jumped out of my Tahoe and ran to check on them.  He felt so bad and kept apologizing.  I had to sit in my car for a little while.  I was completely startled and just had to have some time with God. 

Just so happened that Mom and the kids were outside.  They heard everything and came running around to see what happened.  Never expecting to see us.

Once I got my composure together and saw that they were okay, I got out of the car.  I hugged each of my kids so tightly and then went to the girl driving the Tahoe and just commended her on her excellent driving.  She was so shook up.  She and her friend following just kept apologizing for the flower bed and messing the grass up.  I assured her that the grass and flower bed can be replaced.  A life couldn't. 

As soon as they were headed back to their vehicles to leave, I just burst into tears.  I cried for so many reasons.  I cried because of how beyond thankful I was to be safe.  I cried because of how I know without a doubt that Jesus had the wheel.  I cried because my beautiful children and mother would have had to see the accident first hand and all the possibilities that would have come with it.  I know without a doubt that Kyle and I both will be in Heaven when something happens to us, but if I can help it, I would rather my children & mom not be the 1st on the scene to see us after a bad crash.  Anyway, so many thoughts are still going through my head.  I am sure so many of you have experienced something like that, but that was my first one that severe.  Not only that, somehow I know that I would not be here if she had of hit my door. 

Y'all know I am a picture taker..... I took these pictures for you, but also for a constant reminder to me of how BLESSED we are.  Never try to figure God out.  You won't ever be able to.  Just trust in Him.  He has purposes and reasoning's beyond anything we could ever imagine.

This next picture is of my Tahoe.  We didn't even bother moving it from right off the road.

And these are the ones I took last night.  I thought moms flower bed was okay until last night.

All of those little trees and bushes were snapped.  All but 2 I think it was.  Just a clean cut.

"FOR I KNOW THE PLANS I HAVE FOR YOU," declares the Lord, " PLANS TO PROSPER YOU AND NOT TO HARM YOU, PLANS TO GIVE YOU HOPE AND A FUTURE."
                           ~Jeremiah 29:11

Evening Beach Trip, Yummy Suppers, Swimming Lessons, Date Day, & Chickens!

Okay I thought I would start you off with those videos.  I had no clue Kyle was recording us.  She kept trying to figure out how she could get back in my belly (was trying unsuccessfully to go through my mouth) so he was trying to record her.  He didn't get that taped, but managed to get our hand games LOL!

So last Thursday we went to the beach to eat and hang out at Pier Park with The Tisdales.  On the way, we got to watch an Osprey land.  It was pretty stinking awesome.

Aren't these children so precious?

Brayden loves to play with his Momma's hair, so playing with Sophie's just came natural.

The kids had so much fun at Miracle Strip. 

Sophie even became friends with the worker for the jumping thing.

Since Sophie and the boys weren't tall enough for the Carousel, Tad Pole was a team player and rode it with all of them.

Heidi was pep talking Sophie about the planes.  Such a great big sister.

Awww... me and my Sweet Thang :)!

So Heidi REALLY wanted to do the trampoline thing where she is in a harness and all that jazz.  Well for (1), it was really late and we still had to drive home, (2) it's $10 to  jump on that thing, (3) the line was RIDICULOUS!!!  Anyway, she and I went over there to let her do it bc she was crying.  Well we stayed in line for a little bit and then I said, "Baby if we were staying here it would be different because we wouldn't have to drive home".... anyway she kept crying and thanks to Tad making us feel bad, she and Kyle went.  Stood in line for 45 minutes.  She got to jump twice because her harness messed up, so that made her extra happy.  And we got home just right before midnight.  *YAWN*. 

I talked about Friday a little on my last blog, but I didn't mention Swimming Lessons since it was a "Dads Blog" :)!!  Anyway, before swimming lessons, Sophie wanted oreos and milk.  Of course she bumped her cup and spilt it EVERYWHERE!

Heidi left early that morning and went to the beach with her friends to celebrate Oki's birthday.  She had so much fun.  I LOVED getting pictures throughout the day.

And here are some of little bit's swimming lessons.....

I was cracking up because as Sophie was going around kicking her feet and stuff, they were telling us how she "chases butterflies".... she immediately lost her train of thought and stopped what she was doing to look around for the butterfly LOL! I died laughing.

 Okay, so Saturday morning we went to get our newest additions to the family.  5 exotic chickens.  They like came in the mail and everything hehe :)!!  The kids love them... and I guess I have to admit, Kyle and I do too :)!! We have been wanting chickens again, just haven't really took the plunge.  Anyway, these came up and were free, so why not.  We got them for the eggs.  Gonna start teaching the kids a little responsibility :)!!

It is so funny now, but after we got home with them, Sophie had one of them and was like holding it down and trying to cover it up.  Well we thought she had killed it.  It was all slumped over.  Wouldn't hold its head up.  Acted like it couldn't bend its legs.  It was sad.  Kyle was on the phone with my Dad at the time & I walked away from the chickens and told mom that my heart just couldn't take it.  I went and told KC he would have to come finish the chicken off because apparently Sophie paralyzed it. He came and looked at her and wouldn't you know, the silly thing just started acting fine.  I guess she was faking death?  Heidi was so made at Sophie and kept telling her that she killed it.  Here we are 5 days later and we still have all 5 of them.

Monday afternoon, Kyle and I went on our movie date.  We watched, "Now You See Me".  It was a very good movie. 

Anyway, on the way Kyle had us singing old school tunes.  I was laughing my head off while he sang but of course I was singing too.  We both knew every word to most of the songs.

We ran by Wally World after and you know they have those big candy bins at the front with like 98 cent candies?  Well I came across these... and they are THE BOMB!!!

Monday night we had a DELICIOUS meal at MeMe's.  Steak, potato, salad, all sorts of yummy things.  It was a wonderful evening just hanging out with MeMe, Jon Wesley, Leigh Ann, and the girls.  We all went for a walk after we ate.  The kids love walking when we go to her house.

And yesterday morning Karter & Heidi went to a Kidz Kamp.  They had a BLAST!  I was nervous about Karter going, but he did great.  He talked and talked about it.  Before we got there he told me he needed his backpack LOL!  I think he is ready to start big school.

I was so glad to have a friend that was there to send me pictures.  She sent this one of Heidi holding a Salamander. 

Hank came to spend the day with us yesterday, but I had already paid and signed the other 2 up for the Kidz Kamp (Sophie was too young), so he and Soph had several hours just to themselves.

Here are the turtles they painted.

Want to hear a funny?  On the paper it said they would be painting turtles.  Well, we knew it was like a fun animal thing where they held the Salamander, touched a snake, and held a frog.... so we were thinking they were like painting turtle shells, or miniature turtles.  We are crazy I know!!  Kyle & I were both relieved that it was only a canvas painting of a turtle hehe!

For the past few days Kyro has been working on our chicken coop.  Once Kman got home, he and Sophie girl had to help him.  Of course they said they had to take their shirts off just like Daddy :)!

Last night we grilled chicken kabobs, had shrimp, baked potatoes, cheesy mexican rice, corn on the cob, rolled green beans, homemade biscuits, deer sausage, & I think that is it :)!! My bestie, Amanda, and her hubby, Momma, and Tyler came over to eat.  It was yummy I might add.  I had been working on the meal on and off all day (which was nice.  I love to be able to do that).  So when it came time to grill, the girls and I sat outside with Kyro and grilled and watched a storm brew up in the distance. 

Karter man ended up falling asleep before everyone got here and slept for hours.  He was give out. 

I also fixed an ice cream sandwich dish.  You take ice cream sandwiches and lay in the bottom, spread cool whip over them.  I also mixed in some caramel with the cool whip, and then squirt chocolate syrup over it.  Then layer again.  It was so yummy!

And I didn't think to take a picture of the food before we ate it, but here is my empty plate haha!!

We have ate good the past several nights needless to say hehe & have had a wonderful time just being with family. 

Love our simple life :)!!