Busy....busy...busy!

Hey, all! I know I have been busy, so I am sure that all of you are, too. I have really been enjoying my time. After putting the oldest 2 in school, I have been staying at home...catching up on the USUAL & actually I have been able to Volunteer some more in areas that I really enjoy. Boy...it sounds like I am saying "I" alot....so I guess I better get off of that!! No, I am very thankful for ways that God is opening doors...I was planning on trying to get a part time job(15-20 hrs) to help re-build our savings account & help pay for the wonderful "MEDICAL" bills that pop up...but so far, I have only been offered a lot of places to volunteer. So, for now, I will volunteer & see where God is leading. So, I better get going, because I need to be fixing dinner...it just had been so long...so I figured I should give a little UPDATE as to the question, YES...I am still alive & we are doing good! Have a FANTASTIC DAY!!! Enjoy this AWESOME SNOW....unless you don't have any....then I will enjoy it for you!! : )

Time with the family!!

Well....my parents 40th Wedding Anniversary is right around the corner (14th)...so my siblings, our spouses & children rented a VERY LARGE cabin in Bozeman area & just had some good "Famiy Time". It was a great time & the best gift to give my parents...since all they usually want or need they can buy....so what they can't buy, but really love....is time with all of us! : )

S0...6 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, 3 levels, 29 people, TONS of food & catching up time...with a FEW pictures is a low-down on what our WONDERFUL weekend was like. SO...here are a few pictures.....showing ALL the grandkids (besides, Taya, who is in Heaven).

Names: (in order of age) Adam, Ben, Megan, Austin, Alyssa, Jordan, Madison,

Isaac, Dominic, Jimmy, (Taya), Isabelle, Mikey, Trenten, Israel & Caleb...

So...here are the 29...by Family...Dad, Mom, John, Leanne, Megan, Alyssa, Trenten, Kim, Brij, Dominic, (Taya), Mikey, Jill, Brian, Ben, Austin, Jordan, Heather, Rob, Adam, Madison, Jimmy, Cory, Julie, Caleb, Nate, Rachel, Issac, Isabelle & Israel

Thanks, guys...it was alot of fun!

Love you all!

"Happy 40th, Mom & Dad"!

Madison goes to School!

Well...after a long "back & forth" between mom & dad...and after LOTS of DISCUSSION & PRAYER, we enrolled Madison in school on Friday & she had her first day, today! She was TOTALLY thrilled & at the end of the day...DOES NOT regret the final decision!

Here are a few of the "1st Day" pictures: Enjoy!!

Well...the pictures are backward in order...so, here is Madison doing her HOMEWORK!
Here is Maddie getting ready to go in to school! Have a GREAT DAY, Sweetie!

Adam & Madison in the 'burban...getting a ride to school

Madison all ready to leave for her "1st" day of public school!!

World of FACEBOOK!

Well...I finally thought I had gotten with it & I was getting HIP...then I found out I have NO CLUE!!!! It's hard to realize you will NEVER BE HIP OR YOUNG AGAIN!!! Well...I finally...by doing some odd search....fell into the world of Facebook....I felt like such a DOPE! There were people I know...twice my age...with TONS OF FRIENDS & ALL HIP AND WOW....Boy...I got to get out of the house more (besides just to the park!) Well....for those of you who are HIP AND WOW...check me out...I am too, now on Facebook & finding all sorts of friends. It is AWESOME! Well, just had to share that little tid-bit real quick....before I head off to bed for the night. I have 1 class to go for CASA GAL & then to do a mock-trial & be sworn in by the Judge. OH..and God has already given me a new friend, who I got to pray for tonight! HE IS SO SO SO GOOD!

PS After all the things that have been going on in my life & some close friends, I want to just encourage all....to live today....in the moment & know that you are here for a PURPOSE...believe it or not...you are not here....just to breathe & make it through the day! Enjoy the day & live it. I recently watched IRON MAN (movie) and the man in there stated something so awesome....Robert Downey Jr.s character was at a point where he essentially had 1 week to live...he wanted to just sit around...but the other character said to him...(paraphrased)"well, if you only have one week to live, you better make it a good one"....I loved that....so profound & so important for all of us to remember....(tomorrow is guaranteed for no-one). Love ya...and the professor is off to bed....so you can now put away your notebooks! Joking! Sorry....I get a little preachy....teachy (? on my literacy) lately....it may be boring to you....its exciting to me....if I bore you too much....well, just don't read what I write! :) Everything aside...have a wonderful day or night & God bless!!! (please excuse my writing....I really dont try to follow any rules of grammar as I type along)

Let it SNOW!!!

It's so nice having someone who shovel's the walk way for you!!! Thanks, Adam!

FINDING THE TIME???!!!!

Well.....I know we are ALL busy.... be it running after little kids, doing dishes & laundry all day long, trying to balance kiddos, hubby, the paycheck, life & all..... but as most of you know right now....I am taking a series of 10 classes (30 hours) in order to be sworn in as a "guardian ad litem" (click on my CASA CAN link below if you have NO CLUE as to what that is)....each class I find myself being "awoken" to the things around me! BOY OH BOY.....I have been living in such a sheltered little world, as I am sure alot of us are....to hear the stories in our community....the hundreds of cases of abuse, neglect & so forth....actually I cried tonight listening to one of the stories. As I sit in this class (by the way, very few of the volunteers are christians) listening to how we are here to volunteer to make life changing decisions on behalf of these children & families (spec. for children in GAL case)....it makes me want to get on my knees & be open to the holy spirit to guide me as I sit with the volunteers (who many are going through their own trials) but are here....giving their time....because they care about what happens to the abused children in our community! Well...I just wanted to LET SOME WORDS FLY OUT! My heart is heavy & I can hardly begin to take in all that I have been learning...so I am going to do some extra studying....so please...PRAY FOR ME.....PRAY FOR THE CHILDREN OF OUR COMMUNITY....OF YOUR COMMUNITY....THERE ARE HUNDREDS TO THOUSANDS OF KIDS IN OUR OWN STATE....WHO HAVE NOTHING....NO-ONE......ARE BEING ABUSED IN MANY WAYS.....I HAVE TO PRAY FOR FORGIVENESS FOR MY OWN IGNORANCE I pray I dont fall blind to the things around me in such a way anymore. Lord, Please help me to be all you want for me to be & use me in ways you have laid before me. AMEN!!! Thanks for listening to my "pouring out".....I am sure there will be more! Bear with me!! Have a wonderful day....hug your kids....kiss your husband & thank the Lord that He has rescued you....that you have been able to experience the miracle of New Life & Hope through Jesus Christ! Love & Blessings...Heather!!

Starting Class!!!!

Well, I have finished my application & interview....all seem to be in order....so I am off to my first class tonight. I am excited....please continue to pray for me, as this will definately be a NEW CHALLENGE & that I can still meet the needs of my family without being over-whelmed. Thanks to all of you who have been praying....I so appreciate anyone who says a prayer for me, my family & those that I will be helping. Thanks, again & God bless!!

Click: CASA-CAN for more info.

Baby Caleb......1 month & counting!

Caleb

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Isn't he just WONDERFUL!!! I know the picture isnt that clear....but I took it on my phone & I just loved seeing baby boy's amazing smile! I was spoiled...I got to feed him 2 times, hold him for hours & even change a diaper. We love you baby caleb & can't wait to see, hold, hug & kiss you more!

Prayer Chain SOS

Hello, all! I have always had in my heart a burden for children...I dont know if a burden is the right way to put it...more like ache in my heart for children who aren't loved. I was fortunate to grow up in a home where I always knew I was loved...thus not realizing how many children who don't grow up that way. My heart always breaks & I have to pray when I hear of children being turned away from their parents, being abused, or just not knowing that anyone cares. Well, I dont know if this is going to be a new venture for me...and thus my family, but the way God sometimes does....I got a little push in this direction & I am asking you to click on~~ pray for me~~. I have an interview on Thursday & if all is good (or more appropriately GOD), I will start taking a series of classes on Monday! I really appreciate any/all prayers. God is amazing...and if He so chooses to use me & my family in this way, then we are willing. Thanks so much & God bless!

Cupcakes anyone?!

Here is Adam doing his HOMEWORK!!! Yes, he has to cook & clean up 10 different meals/food items for his Family Resources Class. He is glad he only takes this class for 1 quarter!
Well, at least he gets to eat everything he makes....and so far.....everything has been very good!!

NOTICE....his hat....between timers.....he has to cheer on his fav. team...GO BRONCOS!! (they just happen to be playing Rob's fav. team)...GO SAINTS!!

A little more Family!!

Well....I forgot to bring my camera for half of our visits while we were in Helena celebrating "3" adoptions! (My mom was adopted...so we consider adoptions so special)! My sister kim & her husband brig, adopted Mikey & Dominic...(I'll put a picture on if I can get one) and of course baby Caleb. I only have a few pictures of the "cousins", I hope to get one before too long with ALL of them & put it on. The kids are great....to them, their cousins are like extra brothers & sisters. Well...I am glad I dont have to feed them all!!

Here is Adam, Madison & Jimmy...holding baby Caleb! They love having cousins!!
Here is my oldest brother, John's girls...Megan & Alyssa with Madison....she loves it when she gets to see them, although it is only a few times a year!
Here is Trenten...he is such a honey boy....I could spend all day with him. This is John's boy.

Our new baby nephew, CALEB RILEY!!

My sister-in-law Julie & baby Caleb!
He is so sweet....I can't wait to hold him!!
What a yawn....or is he hungry?!?
The proud new parents: Cory & Julie....with Caleb, of course!!
He is soooo wonderful....Auntie Heather loves you sooooo much!!

Congrats, Cory & Julie. We are so excited you were able to Adopt baby Caleb
& we are soooo excited we get to see & HOLD & KISS him tomorrow!

Love you, Rob, Heather & kidos

Off to School!

Ready & waiting....he has been up for an hour....and ready to go for half an hour....
He is not too thrilled with having "1st day of school pictures", for 8th grade

but he grins & bears it!

Well...off he goes...he is in God's hand now...be praying for him!

We love you honey & we know you will do great!

Love you, Mom & Dad!!!!!

Our little girl....is not so little!!!!!! Happy "8th" Lulu!

Well....here is some flame....on top of eight candles....upon the cake that Maddie built!
Here is the family, sitting around, singing a song, waiting for long, to eat the cake Maddie built!

Birthday Girl!

Well, we celebrated our little girl turning "8", today! It seemed like just yesterday when she was born....oh, how they grow! We enjoyed a wonderful time shopping at the MALL....and then we came home to eat some cake....HOMEMADE BY LULU & MOMMY....even the frosting! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LULU....we love you!!!!!!!!!!!

Me & my Baby Boy!

I sure enjoyed my baby boy's birthday! Sometimes life gets so busy...it's good to just sit back, let the dust sit & enjoy your children. After a very difficult week last week, having my youngest turn "5" & watching how just the SIMPLE made HIS DAY!! I just long for that....to have the simple make my day. Sometimes it feels like the SIMPLE is so far away....I just want to thank my JIMMY for helping me see & enjoy a little bit of the SIMPLE today! : ) PS notice my haircut....it took me forever to be able to cut it off....because every time I mentioned it....jimmy would just cry (it had been his SECURITY blanket since he was little)....but after about an hour of being VERY upset....he says I look beautiful & he loves my hair...esp. since he can still grab a hold of one corner! Well....TO MY JIMMY!!! I LOVE YOU, you always make me smile!! : ) Thank you Lord for my baby boy! (who by the way told me, he is no longer a baby...since he turned "5" today....but I know better)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOY!!!!!

WOW~ Our baby boy is 5! He is so excited that his day is here, he even woke up at 6 AM without any help!! Well, we have a wonderful day of RELAXING...playing...eating & opening gifts...it should be GREAT!! WE LOVE YOU JIMMY, JOHNNY, JOHN WAYNE, BRICK!!!!!

HAPPY 4th of JULY!!!

We enjoyed a Family Hike over the 4th. The kids did great & it was so beautiful!

Adam, Madison, Jimmy & Teddy before the hike!
Madison & Jimmy crossing the creek on rocks, DON'T FALL IN!!
Rob & I enjoying the sunshine & fresh air!
This is a ROCK waterfall...1 of 3 waterfalls on this hike!
Madison & Jimmy, DUCKING through part of the trail. This was a ROUGH ONE, but FUN!!

We started hiking as a family last Spring, and love it. It's so nice to get outside and enjoy fresh

air with the kids. Our kids are huge OUTDOOR fans...and we all love seeing our beautiful state that God made for us! The kids prefer to pick up and collect bugs & plants...Rob & I just like the wonderful FRESH AIR smell, you only get in nature...and the amazing views. Enjoy these pictures...they aren't the best, since they were taken on my camera phone...but they are better then nothing! If you want to check them out in person....this is just outside of NEIHART MT..the Missouri Falls....it is about a 2 mile hike...but not bad...the kids walked the whole way without asking to be carried once! THAT IS IMPRESSIVE!!!

few more nature pictures....

What a view from the top, huh!
2nd of 3 waterfalls. So beautiful in person!
Rob & kids going DOWN...doesnt look like it, but it's STEEP!
Another picture going back DOWN the hill.
Same picture...I TRIED to delete, but it just wouldn't go away!!!

Well, if you know of any more GREAT hiking places within a few hours of Great Falls...let us know! We want to go on as many as possible before winter gets here!!

Home again....Home again....

Well, Adam returned home from Camp. Sounds like he had a great time. He learned a few important things, like how to have towel fights, duck away from a flying paint ball & a few other important things....but so much that it's hard to put down on paper....or I mean on a computer! Anyway...sounds like it was a success & even though our adam is shy, cautious & quiet...he made friends, had time with Jesus & enjoyed a break (but not too long) from the normal family life. He did say he missed us something crazy....so that is always good to hear. So, we made it, and until next year....I think we will go camping as a family from this time out! Adam did say one of his favorite thing was called the "PLUNGE"...which they experienced a few times, due to not having the tidiest cabin, I guess! It consisted of some sort of large bucket, filled with water on some sort of stand....and then the person(s) who were to get "plunged" stood underneath to experience a very refreshing & cold shower, or down pour. Yes, I can see how that could be fun! Seeing his pictures & listening to his stories....reminded me of HOW OLD I AM GETTING! Gotta love the youth!

JIMMY JIMMY JIMMY

Well, Jimmy just wanted to pose for a picture. It seems that

his best friend (madison) plays alot with the little girl

next door...so he gets more time with MOM! He is smiling big because

we decided to walk to DQ (5 blocks away), which is his new

favorite place, along with the park that is right by DQ.

SEE...hanging out with MOM isn't so bad!

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Go 2 Camp!

Well...Adam will be heading off to CHURCH SUMMER CAMP for the first time. Hard to believe he is "13". I have the best memories of camp growing up...I am so excited for him. Here he is holding the NEW addition to our home. My sister KIM and her family had gotten this puppy, but he was TOO MUCH for her little boys... so we gave him a home. They called him MCQUEEN...I think he might be more of a CHEWY!! He is a cutie & doing very well.

Worth the WORK!

Well, we purchased a home in Great Falls the end of February & have been working on it since then. We have been painting, carpeting, fixing-up this and that & remodeling the kitchen/dining area. I know my family is so ready to be settled...and we are almost there. We only need to buy a microwave/fan for over the stove, some sort of light for over the table, finish the tile right by the steps (6 inches worth) & to put crown moulding on the cabinets. It has been a LOT of work...but it's so worth it...I love to be in the kitchen & know it will be used GREATLY! So...I have been working like crazy to get the rest of the house un-packed & should be done slowly. It's hard when you don't have the money to get all you need to finish your DECORATING...but we had to put all our money into the kitchen....so I will be content & the rest will come...and if not, I am so, so, so thankful for what God has blessed me (us) with. Well, don't hesitate to stop by & check out the Huston Home. We love to BBQ---and we love to have company.

A New Generation

Well...I am trying to Catch up to the times. I have found that everyone...has a blog. I still have NO CLUE as to what a BLOG is...but I am trying. If I figure it out, I will let you know, too. I was just talking with my sister Jill, and we decided we seem to get stupider (see, I don't even know if that is a word, anymore) with each passing year as being a mother. I am concerned, because my 4 year old(soon to be 5) seems to know more then me at times.(lots of times) Anyway, I figure I better try to figure out more ways to keep me brain savvy, besides just playing WHEEL OF FORTUNE! LORD HELP ME!!! Well, for those of you who agree, lets stick together, for those of you who know exactly what all the NEW rages are and what they mean---COME VISIT!! Well, I have more things to say & I want to see what all this TYPING looks like....so I will sign off. BYE BYE