Out of the mouthes of Babes

Mark and I have been simply passing each other most days now that it's summer time and we're shuffling the kids all over town while trying to get in our own work days. Last night we finally had about an hour to relate the days events and he told me a story I just thought was hilarious.

It's VBS this week at our church and apparantly there's a little boy who keeps saying, "Oh s--t!" over and over in front of all the other children. His teachers and the VBS director have told him several times that's unacceptable but to no avail. Well yesterday, the director asked if Mark would pull the little boy aside and have a chat with him. So Mark, the little boy and the director of VBS stepped into Mark's office. Mark asked the little boy to have a seat on his ottoman while Mark sat across from him. Mark said he was just this tiny little thing; although compared to Mark most little people do appear tiny, but he said he had these cute little Cars tennis shoes on, from the movie and his feet were just dangling off the edge of his seat. Mark said, "where have you heard that word before, ____?" and he said, "at home." Mark said, "why do you say that word?" and he said with a smile on his face, "Because I'm a big boy, I'm 4 now." Mark said it took everything in him not to laugh. He kindly restated that was not a good word to use and he needed to find something else to say instead and even gave a few suggestions.

We've had two recent deaths in our congregation so it was pleasant to hear Mark tell me something that gave each of us a good chuckle.

Happy Birthday Mark

My Love

Handsome Hubby

Father of our children


It's Mark's birthday today! The big 3-5! He's a wonderful husband, father, son, friend and pastor. I'm always thankful that God brought us together all those years ago. I was attending college at Kansas State University and he was at the University of Pittsburgh. I went on a summer beach project with Campus Crusade for Christ in San Diego and one of my roommates was from the University of Alabama. One of Mark's high school buddies also attended the University of Alabama and after three years at Pitt Mark decided to transfer. He moved into a house with that same friend and several other guys. I had already visited the campus and was planning on transferring when I went down again for break in January. Mark had just moved in! My best friend's twin brother lived in the house Mark moved into so during a trip there one afternoon we met. I was instantly taken with his height and his good looks. This will so go to his head!

We began talking and over another trip to Tuscaloosa during my Spring Break we began dating. We would talk often and write letters a lot. That summer I was studying in Italy so he wrote me letters every day and I would rush back to the study center just to get that precious note. After returning back to Kansas that summer I flew to Pennsylvania and we both knew at that point we would be together the rest of our lives.

Mark proposed that fall and we were married that summer. The same weekend as my middle sister and her husband. What an event that was for the whole family. Those memories are treasured ones, often seeming like only yesterday but when we consider what's happened since then so much has transpired. We've lived in 5 different states and 8 different houses and have had 4 amazing children.

God knew what he was doing, winding a path with many curves along the way for the both of us to get to Alabama. I'm so glad he did! Mark is the love of my life and not a day goes by that I'm not thankful for the man he is. He's a father that is always there for his kids, attending games and volunterring in their schools, chaperoning field trips and singing songs on his guitar. The kids know that they're his #1 priority, all things come after family. He's a pastor that people relate to and enjoy being around. Seeking advice and comfort but also spending time doing non-pastor things, making him real just like the rest of us. Mark is the same man he was nearly 13 years ago when I met him and yet more of a man than I ever knew he'd be. I love you!

Beach Pics

The Kids had a wonderful time in Galveston with Mark's parents. They came down to help me for a few days while Mark was gone and planned a great trip for the kids. We are so fortunate to be only 1.5 hours from the beach. Mark Thomas brought home tons of sea shells! Mark's Mom also installed a webcam for us while they were here and the kids are loving it! It's so simple to use and they send messages back and forth all day. Last night they talked live! Mark had to pick me up at work last night, he's been riding his bike to work to conserve on gas and get some good excercise so we traded at Noon and did the summer drop off with the kids, which meant I was at work without a car. He asked his Dad if he could babysit the two older boys on the webcam while he went to pick me up. Cross Country Babysitting at its finest!

Swim Season First

Today was a day unlike any other for us in our world of swimming. We have missed the swim team in Auburn like one would miss a dear friend. The organization was run so efficiently and the coaching staff was superb. Not to mention the facilities of nearly all the Y's we swam against in Central New York. Top notch compared to what we've seen so far down here in Southeast Texas. We're not complaining, well not too much, but needless to say it's been a rather large adjustment. It has been nearly a year and a half since Max and Ben swam competitively and we thought they'd be a little rusty. They started three weeks ago swimming 4 nights a week for an hour and a half. We decided to debut another Keffer as well. Mark Thomas joined the ranks this year and is loving it! Our new coaches here are great too!

Well today we had our first meet of the season. Outside! Although that's not unusual down here, we practice outside and all the teams compete outside. It's just new to us. Not sure there's too much of an adjustment though, the heat of Texas or the heat of an indoor pool with nearly 100 people packed in bleachers. But one thing was new to us...RAIN! The boys swam in pouring rain, no lightening, so the meet proceeded to chug right along. It didn't rain the whole time, just off and on. Finally the last heat was completed and just as the swimmers exited the water, a torrential down pour occurred. We all waited under what they call Easy Up Tents and then the boys decided to make a run for it! We got soaked and Max thought I looked particularly funny once we got in the car. Ben jumped to defend me from the back seat saying, "Mom, I think you like fine." Thanks Ben.

Max gave everyone a run for their money. Our club is always the most competitive and we won today's meet by more than 300 points! But Max quickly established himself as the new kid to beat. He started off in the 100 IM taking first overall and brought some whispers to the crowd. Being the proud mom, I just beamed inside. He then went on to swim the 50 FREE, they don't do 100s or 200s until they're 13 or older. Can you believe that, Jake?! Well they put Max in a heat with two other swimmers and he came in first without doing a flip turn, don't ask me why he didn't do that. The next heat the announcer said this is the heat to watch, it's a group of swimmers you'll want to see. Well, Max beat all their times and took first overall in the 50 FREE by over 3 seconds! He also came in first in the 50 Breastroke! I know enough, enough. Sorry, but we were all so proud of him.

Now onto the other boys. Ben and Mark Thomas are also fast Freestylers. The coach of the older kids saw MT swim for the first time and she said, "I cannot believe how fast and how good he looks for never having competed before. He's great!" Both he and Ben put those heads down and go to work, some of the older kids don't breathe as well as they do. Ben swam 23 seconds in the 25 Free and got 3rd in his heat in the backstroke. Mark Thomas came in 1st in his heat in the Free and 1st in his heat for the backstroke. They're all anxious to get their ribbons on Monday.

We're off to a great start and they're loving the sport again. It's not the same as swimming with the Stingrays but we'll make do. Keeping a love for a sport alive that was born and cultivated in Central NY!

Last night of quiet

Tonight is my last night alone. Mark's parents come home tomorrow with the children. They've had a wonderful time at the beach. They called earlier tonight and said they went to eat dinner at Rain Forest Cafe and they got a volcano cake for Ella's birthday. Don't panic, her birthday isn't until the end of September, but being such wonderful grandparents as they are they wanted to celebrate early since they most likely will not be here with us then. So Pat said Ella played right along. Possible therapy later on but what the heck, right.

Mark Thomas told me he has collected a ton of sea shells and Max and Ben's responses are always no more than one word so I'm sure I'll get more out of then once they return home.

I've tried to get in some extra hours this week but really just longed to be at home surrounded by the lack of noise. Although I love my children dearly, the noise level can sometimes get to you. Both good noise and bad noise. Laughter and screaming sometimes at the end of the day it's hard to distinguish between the two when you're simply worn out.

Mark gets home tomorrow too. We're all excited about that! It's been really odd not having him here for the past two weeks. I dare to say it's gone by rather fast, but for him I know it has not. I have such a wonderful husband. Some husbands travel and work long hours and although they may miss home, don't give it much of a thought, but my husband truly loves to be nowhere else but at home. He was ready to head back home by the second day and has been counting down the minutes the last few days. He misses all of us and I can hear in his voice how ready he is to be back amongst the craziness. You have to love that about him! He's a great Dad and we'll celebrate him this weekend, and his return!

Must See Movie

I took the kids to see Kung Fu Panda today and it did not disappoint! We all had a really great time. I love listening to us all laugh in unison. We have a great $1 theatre about 20 minutes away in Silsbee and they're always showing what's current. The Keffer Crew gives it two thumbs up!

Just in Case

Just so you don't think I've lost my mind with Mark being gone. Ella's FIRST sleepover was not with Becki's little man, Parker, it was with his older sister Kendall. Her Dad is a minister of the word and sacrament you know, we have values to uphold!

Sister Sister

Poor Ella. I've had to arrange for some people to help me watch her this week since Mark is gone and I still have to work. One of our wonderful neighbors, Becki is watching her today along with her sweet little man, Parker and last night to make things easier, asked if Ella could just spend the night with them. Ella was ecstatic. "This is my first sleep over, Momma", she said. She got a bath,put on her jammies and I blow dried her hair and we packed her small bag together. Then the two of us slipped out of the house and around the corner to Becki's, while her brothers were watching t.v. We all woke up this morning, got ready for school and absolutely none of them have even noticed she's gone! It must just be a man thing!

I can do it, I can do it, I can do it

Mark leaves tomorrow morning at 6 a.m. for Austin and will be gone for two weeks. It's the beginning of his doctorate. He's been reading and writing for the past several weeks and hopefully will be done in 5 years. 5 years! A lot will happen during those five years I'm sure but Mark is so happy to be starting this journey so I of course am excited for him! Maybe not quite so excited to be without him for two weeks but we'll muddle through somehow.

I've been working on painting the front of the house and we've got landscaping being done hopefully this week so we're on the road to a much improved exterior. It's been fun to see the transformation. I'll try to get before and after photos up when it's all done.

The kids begin their last week of school tomorrow. Totally hard to believe. Summer starts on Friday at Noon. Thankfully we've got grandparents coming from Pennsylvania the following Monday and they'll cart the kids off to Galveston to kick the summer off with a bang!