Getting Involved!

Ben has made several new acquaintances who are in Cubscouts.  So...here we are!  He seemed very uninterested in joining until the day of the first informational meeting.  Steve rushed home in time to take him and I've been to the scary scout store several times, purchased the shirt, patches, neckerchief, neckerchief thing-to-hold-it-on, belt, belt buckle, & scout guide book.  It seems as if this will not be the last trip as there are LOTS of things at this store.  Oh, and we've purchased a tent.  Oh, MY!!!  

Sunday was his first Cubscout meeting.  I must say, the sweaty boy that came home with a huge smile and rumpled uniform made it all worth the trouble!

Dad and I love you, Ben!  We hope you have some good memories and make some good friends.

Band Camp

Ben started band camp this week. He is taking up the trumpet this year and he seems pretty excited about it! We are hoping for a duet by Christmastime with Uncle Eric!

July

July hasn't turned out like we thought it would. On the first day of what was to be a two-week family vacation, Steve had a skiing accident behind his Dad's big boat and broke his face! We have spent a great deal of time in doctors' offices and getting him checked out.

Thankfully his eye is not damaged and he was cleared from the eye doctor and his cardiologist for surgery to fix the broken bones. But in the meantime, we had to wait for the swelling to go down. Steve also had a birthday. He couldn't eat much, so I decided we would have a "broken face" birthday party. We had a houseful of folks and Steve took the jokes all in fun. He was unprepared for people showing up with black eyes, but we decided we didn't want him to feel different. We ate soup and milkshakes right along with him. Thanks to everyone for helping to make his birthday fun!

Turns out that Steve was able to swallow some soft fish and mashed potatoes at Pappadeaux after his pre-op appointments. Happy Birthday, Steve! We'll go again when you can chew!

Surgery day was on Tuesday. It looks like they have him fixed up pretty good. He's recovering nicely with still more soups & milkshakes, movies, books, Commons Church work on the computer & some real dinners sliding down. Thanks to Commons Church family for helping us with the boys and feeding us your awesome cooking. We hope to have Steve back to normal soon!

Finally!!!!!

The Hulen Heights pool is open!!! YEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There was a lot of hooting and hollering and scrambling for suits, sunscreen, & towels this afternoon at our house.

I've not seen them walk this fast since last Summer!

Uh-Oh!

These boys are ready for Summer! It was the tiniest bit warm today, but we've busted out the swimsuits and water hose at our house! Beware!

Christmas Vacation: Day 14

New Year's Resolutions - today is the day you think about such things if you think about such things. I usually don't. But this year I think I have one. We urged our oldest to have more self-control this morning after he hit his brother. I got angry today when one child spilled a Sunkist in the garage and the other stepped on my Christmas tree that was in the way. I didn't say much, but I was extremely frustrated and I snapped at them to "go around" and "be more careful." I'm thinking I need even more than self-control. I need to consciously work toward developing all the fruit of the Spirit this year - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness & self-control. That and I picked up Jillian Michaels' 6 week six-pack at Target.

Christmas Vacation: Day 13

Love is patient and kind. I Corinthians 13:4

Today was full of the after Christmas-puttinguptoys&laundry-blahs. My children are cranky & tired from being off-schedule & I'm a little cranky myself.

Love is patient and kind.

A Special Gift

This Christmas I had a really fun surprise from some families in Kaufman. When I was getting out our Christmas decorations this year, I made note that I would need to be shopping after Christmas sales for a taller tree for next year. Our ceilings here are a little taller than they were in Kaufman and, in my opinion, you must have the largest tree possible....Christmas Vacation style. For some reason, I guess I mentioned this to J. Murrey of Kaufman, TX. I knew she was quite the shopper and that she might be out and about and find trees on sale and could let me know where to start looking. On our way to Rowlett for Thanksgiving break our boys were invited to spend the night with Blain Murrey and so our families met up at none other than El Fenix in Dallas to make the swap. K. Arrington had also made the trip to EF and as soon as everyone was settled at the table, I was given an envelope that I assumed was a Christmas card...I opened it to find that it was a Christmas card, but it was filled with cash from people from Kaufman with instructions to go and buy Commons Church (and our family) a taller tree for THIS year. It was very much an EXTRA for this year, but it made my Christmas extra special. I felt very loved and remembered and we had a lovely tall tree for church and our home to enjoy. This picture doesn't do it justice. It was beautiful. I've put your names on the tree box so that we will remember this special gift every year. Thank you for your extravagant love.

Thank you: Murreys, Arringtons, Hootie & Grandpa, Costellos, Vensons, Gentzels, Sloans, Froschs, Keiths, Williams, Valdez, Williamsons, Ferrells, McCalebs, Rawsons, Bounds, Richs, Archers, Sunderlins, Groths, Spradleys, Jacksons, & Gibsons

Christmas Vacation: Day 9 - 12

Sunday we had a small Commons Church breakfast and church service. It was just perfect. Afterwards, we drove to Rowlett to have "Christmas Eve" and "Christmas" with the Leatherwood family. We were able to spend several days with Eric, Allison & Baby Kate (who is not a baby anymore) before they headed back to Mississippi. We celebrated birthdays & Christmas and ate lots of yummy food. So glad we got to see all of you!

Lots of fun & presents.

So much fun it made you tired!

Christmas Vacation: Day 8

Merry Christmas!

For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

We had a wonderful Christmas! We spent the morning at home and then headed to Gainesville to spend the day with Mimi, Paw Paw & the family. We enjoyed stockings, presents & food, but the highlight was a reenactment of the Christmas story produced by Mimi starring all the grandchildren.

Christmas Vacation: Day 4

Santa was busy today! Lots of traffic and lots of people. Whew! Glad to be home with the family. Christmas movies and the couch! YES!

Christmas Vacation: Day 2

Today was Sunday and it was also Ben's 10th birthday. We celebrated with donuts in the morning followed by a great Christmas Sunday at Commons Church.

Directly after church we drove to Lindsay, TX to celebrate Bezner Christmas.

Afterwards, we stopped for some gas at the Runnin' Red in Gainesville.

Next stop...Movie Tavern in Denton, TX with Mimi. Ben opened some gifts.

We loaded up on junk food and watched Narnia.

The boys were on the edge of their seats. A good time was had by all!

God and the Envelopes

I don't know how you do finances in your family, but Steve and I work off of the envelope system. Every two weeks we go to the bank with Steve's check and get out a certain amount of cash in SMALL bills (small is important later) and we divide them up among envelopes that say Grocery, Haircuts, Clothing, etc. and we use that cash to live on. The other money goes into the bank for tithing, savings, bills etc.

So...there are times when certain expenses come up that are unexpected and it is in those times that I say," Ok, God, we've got this expense...where is that money going to come from?" It is amazing to watch God work this out.

I had one of those experiences this week.

Ben outgrew all of his jeans (except one pair) overnight. So...usually what I do is pray, God, we need (blank) item of clothing and I don't know where it is going to come from, so I'm gonna give you a week to provide before I use the envelope money. Usually when I pray this prayer someone walks into Steve's office with a bag of hand-me-downs but that didn't happen this time. This time we went to a youth worker meeting at a friend's house and as we were walking out the door, my friend said, "Oh, wait...I've got a pair of jeans that Ben left here a few weeks ago when he spent the night." They just so happened to still fit as well. Yea, God. Thanks!!!! So now I have 2 pair that fit. I waited and prayed a week this same prayer in hopes that another pair or two would show up. Meanwhile Ben wore dirty jeans (please don't judge) and I did a lot of laundry to keep the jeans that fit washed up. So...this weekend, I told Steve I've got to go to the store and buy Ben some new jeans. (My mom says that we only had two pair of jeans when we were little, but she must have been SUPERMOM. I just can't keep two pair clean and boys are messy. ) So...I survived a week on 2 pair of jeans for him and then I was at my wits end and had to go shop for some new.

Steve had just gotten paid, so before I left for the store I had to divide up the money to go into the envelopes so that I didn't spend the grocery money on jeans etc. So, I went to get my purse and get the envelopes and I remembered that I had been working out of two different purses. So, I found both purses and started gathering envelopes to sort money.

When I reached into the second purse to pull out the envelopes, there was a crisp $100.00 bill stuck in between them.

I have no idea when the last time was that I have even held a $100.00 bill (remember we get small bills at the bank.) So, I ran into the house to tell Steve that God had provided once again and happily went to the store to buy my growing boy some jeans.

Summer Vacation

Vacation this year was amazing! We had no intentions of getting to go back to Disney anytime soon, but a family in our church gave us a week in a timeshare in Orlando. So, off to Disney we did go! We took my niece and sister-in-law with us and we absolutely had a blast. We spent a week in Orlando and then visited family for a week after that. It was so nice to get to rest and visit with family. We had a great time. Thank you, Ferrells, for making our vacation possible!

While we were on vacation, our kittens disappeared. I am none too sad about that, but I did help the boys make a LOST KITTEN flyer on the computer. They sweated heartily as they passed them out to the houses in our neighborhood. Still no sign of them, but I must admit, I'm not sad about not sticking my hand in stinky cat food and changing dirty cat water and sweeping the back porch twice a day. Please, no one give us any more. We have gotten over it!

Speaking of sweating, it is incredibly HOT this summer. Unless we are swimming, we are holed up in our house with blinds shut and lights off. UGH. It is too hot to do anything! I'm ready for Fall weather with Summer agenda! Is that possible?

Swine Flu Update

The Swine Flu is proving to be very productive for the Bezner household!
Tuesday: house & closets cleaned, t-ball played, homemade tacos eaten, Stacks Family visited, ice cream eaten
Wednesday: floor store visited, blinds bought, Ikea conquered, Wednesday night church attended, one set of blinds hung to test them out, LOST watched (by Steve), more ice cream eaten (we have to get rid of it somehow!)
Thurs: floors in kitchen measured by floor store, electric screwdriver found, blinds being hung, hand-me-down Mario shirts being tried on and worn, pirate ship for playroom being put together, financial advisor being seen

Whew! A good break is being had by all!

April Showers Bring May Swine Flu?

It's been months now without a computer that I can sit on the couch with. So...no blogging updates about JB and the Boys. Sorry family! We've been super busy and LOTS has happened.
So...here are some updates in a nutshell:

Steve is still busy busy with youth and church work and various papers he is writing. He has started working on the yard and fixing up various things around the house that need fixing. He mentioned this morning that it might be time for me to get the kitchen floor replaced!!!

Ben is still doing great in school. He is really enjoying reading and is currently working on the first Harry Potter book. I finally found something that takes him more than 30 minutes to read. Yea! He is also loving karate still. He has advanced to a green stripe belt. He went with his karate class to a tournament on Saturday all by himself. He won 3rd place in sparring (who knew?) and he bought himself a dragon holding a sword to hang on his wall. Mom was SO proud. :)

Drew is also doing well. He is proving to be a challenging 5 year old...pushing mom to really dig for some behavior strategies! He now has a behavior chart across his wall that seems to be working well for him. YEA!!! He is also playing t-ball for the Wild Hogs. (The bbq place in town is the sponsor....and we live in Kaufman. Don't make fun of his team name!) He loves it and we have fun watching his little team.

I am now mom to two new kittens these days. They are black and white orphans that were found in the church dumpster. Yea for me! I got to feed them with a syringe and teach them how to use a litter box and eat kitten food. For those of you who know me well, you now know that I LOVE my children. Nothing else would make me take care of orphan kittens. I have several friends I would have dumped them on so they would not have died, but they would not have been living in my house/garage for several weeks now had my children not been in LOVE with them. BTW they used the potty all over the leaves in the garage so they are now officially OUTSIDE kittens. I think they like it.

So...enough about kittens....last night I got a call around 9:00 that said school was cancelled until May 18 due to a case of swine flu. WOW. It feels very strange to be at home. So....all the laundry is done, I've cleaned my closet, the playroom is clean, the floors are cleaned....and it's only 1:24 pm. We have an eventful 2 weeks ahead of us, I'm sure. I've been on the internet some looking up creative Mother's Day gifts for the respective Grandmothers....Maybe this year we'll actually have time for cute gifts! I've been sitting at the desktop so I thought I would update.

Everyone should wash their hands, and if you are off work due to swine flu...have fun!

Merry Christmas

Today has been so great that I have a headache. That happens when I'm really excited.

We've had a great December. We've had lots of fun with our boys talking about Jesus' birthday and why we decorate and why we give presents to each other. They are pretty fired up about life in general.

Today I've been to the store twice to get those few last-minute-idea-cherry-on-the-top gifts and I think I have FINALLY wrapped everything.

Steve came home from work for a few hours and has just left to get ready for the first of two Christmas Eve services and the boys and I will be there shortly. Our house is clean, presents are wrapped and hidden, suitcases are partially packed. Tonight we'll have dinner together after church and hang our stockings, have Christmas in the morning then we're off to Mimi's house for more Christmas. We'll head to Grandmommy's Christmas too and see Uncle Eric and Auny Allison and of course, baby Kate....(who isn't a baby anymore.) Life is pretty perfect.

Thank you, God, for Jesus and for letting us celebrate your birthday. It's so much fun. No wonder my head hurts.