We had such a beautiful week and weekend, the weather couldn't have been more perfect.  Saturday we took the kids and went to our favorite beach!  What a fun day we had and the kids had a blast playing in the sand and water!  Yesterday everyone was tired after church so we pretty much just hung-out and later went to our neighbors to swim.  Today has been catch-up day.  Thunderstorms are looming; Brett is headed to a camp to work for the summer; and I'm trying to get everything in order for the rest of the school year; Blake's graduation party and kids that are coming in from out of state!  Lots to do, lots of excitement and counting down the days until "School's Out For SUMMER!"

a hot spring day

"cotton candy"

our "Cherokee Maiden"

two adorable girls!

Mr. Tough-Guy

pool fun!

Two little cutie-pies playing in the pool

a Victoria-ism . . . .

at lunch today I was talking about our Cottonwood Trees and all the stuff that they are letting go and Victoria said, "oh look at all that cotton candy!" Oh I just love a 3 year old's perspective! and I had to admit it did look like cotton candy too! it won't be long and our grass will look like its covered in snow! Yesterday the trees were just letting small snow-like flakes of cotton go; today the trees have clumps of that fluffy stuff and its like a cotton snow-storm in May!

a new female, soon to be added, in the Lutz tribe!

It's been absolutely gorgeous here this week, unbelievable weather for mid-Michigan! I've been remiss in taking pictures, honestly it never even crossed my mind, how bad is that?  I guess there's so much on my mind these days that picture taking seemed to take the back burner!

Branden's girlfriend, Katie, has been here since Sunday! I feel so bad for both of them as he has had to work longer hours and his time spent with her hasn't been what they both probably anticipated yet Den said it's reality, it's life! He wasn't being harsh but was just stating a simple fact!  I've enjoyed my time with Katie, she's adorable and will fit nicely into this crazy, chaotic family!  I'm sure this hasn't been the best vacation for her spending time with her boyfriends mom and siblings! and the kids can't quite get enough of her either! Victoria thinks she flew here for her; her personal playmate!

What I think I enjoy the very most about Katie is her deep walk with the Lord and how she continues to pursue Him, even above her relationship with my son! She's been an amazingly good influence on Branden and has really pushed him to figure out life, helping him have something to work towards! I love how they are careful with their "alone" time! I'm just so extremely happy that my son waited for God to bring the "perfect" mate into his life, someone who will compliment him, encourage him and care for him the way God intended it to be! and I'm excited to have another young woman in my life, someone who will continue to push me to be a better mother-in-law and hopefully friend.

It's a continual struggle to remember to pray for the future mates of my sons and daughters! yet when I see how God can unbelievably bless them, beyond their wildest dreams, its awesome!  It encourages me to "keep on keeping on" in my prayer life!

BIG or little. . . .God answers!

For the past several months I've been taking alot of "things" to the throne of Grace, some big some little, yet they all are important to me.  Each morning as I take my children to school (two separate trips/two separate buildings) I pass a friends house that's for sale.  I met this special friend at my ladies Bible Study, and as we moved from one study to another she became more debilitated (she has MS) and this past spring I heard that she was now hospitalized in another city, thus the selling of their home.  I've been praying 8 times a day, as I pass their home, that God would sell it quickly.  You see we live in an area hard-hit by the downslide of the economy and its truly a miracle when a home sells.  One afternoon, last week, as I drove by their house for the 6th or 7th time I noticed a "SOLD" sign! I almost cried as I sang out my praise of Thanksgiving to God for answering my plea for this family!  AWESOME!

Since last fall I've been praying that somehow someway we could get a grill, our "big daddy of all grills" just plain wore-out last fall and we just didn't have any extra $$ to purchase another one so I began to pray (we usually grill year round) and ask God to give us one, used or new, it didn't matter to me.  Last Wednesday Tori and I were biking downtown to the sandbox park (thats what she calls it) for a picnic lunch and as I passed by a home an older gentleman was pulling a gas grill out to the road for the trash.  I quickly asked him if there was anything wrong with it and he responded that it was fine, he had just gotten a new one; I then asked if he would mind if I took it and he promptly pulled it into his yard.  I called Den and within minutes he and Brett came and loaded it into the van!  I can't tell you how excited I was to get this grill and how much we've used it since we brought it home!

Praise God from whom all Blessings Flow!!!

When God responds its a HUGE encouragement, to me, to keep on praying, seeking and asking!

Bad Tooth Fairy, Bad!

Yesterday as I was cleaning off my desk I can across this little piece of paper folded-up.  I unfolded it and found this cute little note from Colson to the Tooth fairy!  I couldn't help but snap a picture of it, and then feel horrible that its been a week and he is still waiting for the Tooth fairy to come! Bad Bad Tooth fairy! It's so hard to remember after he goes to sleep and when I do remember its early morning and I run the risk of "getting caught".  So tonight I'm going to try and put his surprise in his Tooth Fairy pocket (special little Tooth Fairy Teddy Bear).

a gorgeous Saturday morning. . .

It seems like it's been days since we've seen the sun around here.  Thursday it literally peeked out for 5 seconds and yesterday we had sunshine the entire day!  I don't know about anyone else but my body needs sunshine to thrive! After almost 10 sunless days I had no energy and no desire to do anything (that's not a good thing around here either).  Before I picked my kids up from school on Thursday I drove myself to the tanning spa and took a 20 minute sunbath! I can't even begin to tell you what that did for my mental health as well as my inner soul!  I walked out of there with a spring in my step, ready to take on the chores, duties I had previously let go!  and today the sun is shining in all its beautiful yellow glory with blue skies.  Oh it feels so good to wake-up to something other than complete grayness! I know we need the rain but it will take days before our yard is dry enough to walk on without squishing!  I am enjoying the sounds of my son mowing, the birds chirping, Tori's 3 year old chatter, the dishwasher humming and Colson playing! Its all music to my ears!!

now I know why Master Rick said, "go home and take a nice warm bath!" yet I just sluffed it off, but should have done what I was told! I feel muscles I've never felt before and am so sore; but honestly I LOVE this! can't wait until Tuesday!!

what a workout. . . . .

We have a Karate Instructor, that goes to our church, who just started a 45 minute workout class.  Tonight was the first night I was able to go and I'm like a wet noodle.  Every part of my body is limp! It was an amazing, exhilarating class and I'm excited to go again next Tuesday.  I think I'm going to need a 4-day break to re-cooperate!  I've always wanted to take a boxing class but the cost is outrageous and Master Rick, the instructor, donates all his time.  I think thats all I'm going to say I can't hardly make my fingers move. . . . .

special gifts from special hands. . . .

My little 2nd grader, Colson, is so excited about Mothers Day! For the past few days, at dinner, he's shared about each of the gifts he is giving me on Sunday (I'm pretty sure he will present them after school today because he just can't wait!). It's adorable listening to him try and not give the gifts away yet each time he shares a bit more information about them. The first night he says, "I made you a coupon book for Mother's Day today!" I said to him, isn't this supposed to be a surprise and he says, "it is, I didn't tell you what I put on each coupon!" The next night he says, "we wrapped our coupon books today," and last night he says, "your gonna love the second gift, mom, so much, that you'll want to frame it!" We all laughed and he just smiled! I can't wait to get those precious handmade gifts because I know they were made with his precious little boy hands and with a heart full of love for me!

And, by the way, Jacqueline gave me a flower in a hand-painted pot for Mother's Day last year and I've kept it alive for a whole year! It's almost died a few times, from over-watering and frostbite, but it's still alive (a bit scrawny, but alive!). She's so proud that I've kept it this long and I'm so proud I've kept it alive!

~~Happy~~Mother's~~Day~~

rub-a-dub-dub. . . . .

It was an amazingly beautiful day here yesterday, with sunshine and 80's temps! When the kids got home from school they immediately got on their swimsuits and went outside! They usually hook-up the sprinkler under the trampoline but today they decided to enjoy a little "tub" time! I couldn't help myself and took this cute little photo! My oldest son sent me a message on FB saying it was "redneck hot tubbing"! Gotta love it and I sure love them!!