My Fellow Sojorner

Adrian, who has also just started blogging, did a photoshow from when she lived in Boise, ID. I loved seeing her then and now pictures. Yesterday, I found some old CD's with Galveston Pictures on them and thought it might be fun to stroll down memory lane, too. It is so strange to me how time seems to erase the bad and highlight the good. I know Galveston wasn't the best chapter in our lives but, I have such good memories from living there. I credit the sweet friends and the Lord's blessings.

Brady and I have moved quite a bit... Abilene, TX College Station, TX Temple, TX Winston-Salem, NC, Galveston, TX and now Miles City, MT. I long to feel at home somewhere. I long to have the friends I've made in these places and family close by. The Lord reminded me yesterday as I was looking through these pictures that...By faith I am an alien and stranger on earth. I am looking for a country of my own. I am longing for a better country-a heavenly one. God himself is preparing a city for His own. (Hebrews 11:13-16) One with really great worship!!! I see it and I welcome it from a distance!

Please allow me to come full circle here, The Lord is blessing me with precious Godly women to make more sweet memories with, (ie. the above mentioned Adrian and more). And of course I am so thankful to the Lord for testing me in my commitment of... "Where you go I will go and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me ever so severely, if anything but death separates you from me! (Ruth 1:16and17) By the way... Happy Birthday Honey! Anywhere you are I want to be there, too!

I started My Running Program!

So, I've been feeling the pressure from all you amazing mom's who can blog and run at the same time! I've caved to the pressure of blogging now you want me to run, too! I can never satisfy you! Okay, Okay, I did run yesterday. Does it count if I had a baby on my hip and four other cuties trailing behind? I had Charlie, Jay and Riley at the park playing while Hallie and Bailee were at Violin lessons at the college a couple of blocks away. When at 4:25 I go to the car to hop in and pick up my budding virtuosos and realized Riley helped me lock my keys in the car. Brady is still out of town hunting and my cell phone is safely locked inside the car in my purse. So Riley, Charlie, Jay and I take off down the road to get the girls from violin. Thankfully, their teacher has on-star as well and she allowed me to use hers and they unlocked my car from outer space!! How cool! Can I get a bow chicka wow wow for On Star? Back to the car we run!

Day One running log entry: Beautiful day. Broke a sweat. I think I'll wear exercise clothes next time! (And put Jay and Charlie in a stroller!)

A Little MeMe

My precious Texas friend, Jeanine, who is now my precious Tennessee friend has tagged me with a meme. I am assuming it is called a "meme" because I get to talk about me me! I am suppose to tell seven true things about myself and tag seven other people. So here are my nominees.... Stacy and David, Adrian and Jon, Anita and Clay, Gina and Pete (I know you are busy so you may have an extension). I'm cheating a bit with the husbands but, I know they read these blogs too so, lets give them a chance to talk about themselves!

SEVEN TRUE THINGS ABOUT VICKI

1. When I pray by myself I fall asleep. I have to keep a written prayer journal or pray out loud to stay awake. When I pray out loud with Brady he falls asleep! I'm glad God never sleeps!

2. I am an excellent parallel parker! It's a gift!

3. My thumb doubles as a microphone.

4. Last fall I woke up one morning, looked out the window and saw something swarming in the distance. I just knew I was seeing an apocalyptic sign. I called to Brady waking him from his sweet dreams to join me breathless at the window. Turned out to be some cow birds swarming over poop in the next field. Brady teased me that we'd been left behind. We've laughed about that for a year now!

5. I have a degree in Corporate Fitness/Exercise Science. I don't have a corporation. I am currently not into fitness. I don't exercise. I'm terrible at Science.

6. I can't believe I'm sharing this with you but....I learned how to ride a bike last spring. Brady bought me my very first bike for my birthday two weeks after Charlie was born. Needless to say I wasn't going to hop on it and learn right away. However, I did learn six months later. Hooray! Brady was so precious running behind me in our field. I had on a helmet and everything. Our house is right off a busy street so, there is much traffic along our field. I'm pretty sure some people were driving by thinking, "Ahhh look at Dr. Banta out there helping that "special needs girl" learn how to ride a bike". Anyway, humbling myself to learn was worth it. I've had so much fun riding bikes with my kids. I can at least be proud of the fact that I never had training wheels!

7. When I was a little girl my granny would eat chocolate chip cookies and a Coke Classic for breakfast. She told me when I was a granny I could do it, too. Well, I didn't wait until I was a granny, except I drink Diet Coke.

You know it's fall when....

This fall has been especially fun. The weather has been mild and the leaves have stayed on the trees longer. I think last year we had two weeks of fall and then jumped right into winter. We have the cutest wild bunny living in our yard(if you didn't already know I just love bunnies). We have enjoyed watching Bailee's soccer games and Riley's football games. We haven't had much rain to speak of so we've played outside lots! Brady has been grouse hunting, pheasant hunting, prairie dog hunting, antelope hunting and this weekend he's going elk hunting. Most wives would be rolling their eyes about now but at this point I feel differently. For so long Brady has sacrificed his free time (no golf, no hunting, no fishing) to work and have family time! We've been here a year and these are the first attempts to go be wild at heart! Bring home the big one honey and I'll mount it on my blog!!!

Some of you may have noticed the adorable little red-head in my photo-show. Her name is Pheobe and as far as Jay is concerned she's not his friend, she is his cousin. She and her family have become very precious to us. God has blessed me again with another sweet sister-in-Christ, her mother Adrian. God moved us to Miles City at the same time. She has started a moms-in-touch group where we pray for our school aged kids. Our preschoolers play in the basement. Alot like pray-n-play but we have specific scriptures to focus on each week, and we follow the A.C.T.S.* prayer model. Needless to say praying has certainly improved my attitude about being in Montana. Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

*Adoration
Confession
Thanksgiving
Supplication

Charlie's First Haircut

Charlie got his first haircut. We go to Hair Success/The Lighthouse Christian Bookstore. Sandy is a sweet christian woman (who also loves Beth Moore) owns and operates the christian bookstore and has a barber chair in the back! Is anyone humming the theme to Green Acres. I have for about a year now! Anyway, she cuts all the kids hair and it was finally Charlie's turn! I know some of you are noticing the cuts and bruises on Charlie's face, don't mind those, their just from when Jay closed Charlie's head in a drawer! (I told you I needed prayers!) Riley was there to help document the momentous occasion. You can see her in the mirror in one of the pictures. Remember keep those prayers coming!!

We've Come Along Way Baby!

I praise and thank you Lord for bringing Brady and I this far,literally and figuratively. Our relationship began in disobedience and you blessed us with Riley. With the birth of each child and the move to each town you have forged us together and drawn us to your irresistible side. You have poured out grace and mercy upon our marriage, more every year. You have turned the heart of this father to his children, and the hearts of these children to their father. This our thirteenth year, we are just teenagers in the scope of love and we ask you to protect and mature our love in the years to come. Why are you so good to us? You are faithful. Worthy to be praised. Worthy of our time and efforts. Our hope is in you alone, you give us purpose everyday! We look forward to your glorious return. May we use this time wisely and do your work while we can. If you tarry, help our generations to come be faithful and obedient until that day! In Jesus' name I pray.

*Simpatico - Of like mind or temperament; compatible.

TAG I'M "IT"

10 years ago... we were living in College Station, Texas. Brady was in his second year of med-school. I was teaching elementary P.E. Riley was two and I so wanted to be home with her! One of my sweet friends from Abilene watched Riley with her son (Jacobubby) during my school days!

5 years ago... I was a mom of three little girls, living in Galveston, TX in a two bedroom apartment without furniture(sleeping for 4 and 1/2months on an air-mattress). Wearing Stacy's clothes. Meeting some really amazing women of God. If you don't already know the story it's quite long!

1 year ago.... I was quite overwhelmed! I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength saved me!

Yesterday I was... Watching the sunrise with my Bible open. Cooking shrimp and chili rellenos with my husband. Trimming fingernails, looking over homework and sorting laundry.

Snacks I enjoy... cheese and crackers, chips and hot sauce, chocolate, and my coffee is sooo sweet it is a dessert in itself!!

What I would do with a $100 Million... Write a $10 million dollar check to our tiny church, that would be a fun check to write!! Pay off school, house, and car loans, set up college trust-funds for my kids and our nieces and nephews. Build a youth center, with a swimming pool of course, and open a Mexican Food Restaurant in our town. Give the rest to the public school system. Not that I've thought about it or anything!

Location I would run to... Grand Cayman

Bad Habit I have.... Trying to control things I can't and the inability to relax (BeStill)

Things I like to do.... Plant flowers, cook, eat, read my Bible, clean, blog, pray,and laugh with and at my kids!

Biggest Joy of the Moment... Starting a ladies Bible Study at our tiny church (we have 16+ coming)!

Anita Johnson TAG YOU'RE IT!!!

My Little Punkin-Heads!

I know you moms who had boys when I just had girls are going to revel in this confession. I thought I had mothering figured out after I had three girls. I will be the first to admit I knew nothing and today I know even less!!! These precious, adorable, messy, loud, things we call little boys are serving me a slice of humble pie every morning for breakfast!!! I am just now brave enough to take Jay and Charlie to story time at the library. Jay was sitting in the teacher's lap when I got back from the bathroom telling everyone about rocket ships... Brady and I are helping teach the cubbies class at our church on Wednesday night. I have the little annoying boy who touches everyone's face and walks around the room when he should be seated. Talks about rocket ships when we are talking about God. YELLS BIBLE when we are suppose to whisper. He's only pottied in the grass once when we had a mission team of about 40 over for dinner. When he crawled on the roof he got right down when Brady yelled at him!!! I covet your prayers as I begin anew to teach and train my little punkin heads.

Beautiful Bouncy Bailee!

Brooke and Bailee played each other this past Saturday. They are the best of friends no matter what they are doing!


Bailee is Six years old and in the first grade. This is her first year to go to school all day and she is loving it!! Instead of dance this year Bailee wanted to give Soccer a try. She is doing great. We are all so impressed with her endurance and quick feet. We have had so much fun watching her games. One of her best friends is pictured above with her. She invited her to VBS this summer and she's going to AWANA with her this Wednesday. I pray she will always be bold in her faith and bring people to Jesus!!!