The Life of 4 Joynerz: August 2009

Sunday, August 30, 2009

What a way to end the summer!

We had a great time this weekend spending time with our church family. We are so blessed to have such wonderful people in our lives. I thank God for my church and my friends.

On Saturday we attended a church picnic/water baptism. It was really hot, but we stuck it out. The kids got to swim and we ate some yummy food. Its great when Travis gets to attend things like this with me. There are so many times when he's at work b/c of shiftwork and he misses events like this. I was glad that he was there.

Today we went to church(Travis had to miss b/c of work) and had a great service...well I teach children's church so I'm always in the back. But the kids and I had fun. Today we talked about forgiveness. I gave the kids lots of situations and the kids had to stand if it would be easy to forgive the person or stay seated if it would be easy. It was interesting to see how the kids responded. We learned that God's Grace is free and he's so forgiving and that's the way that he wants us to be.

After church Travis and I hosted a back to school party for our kids at church in grades preK-5th. The kids swam and had a good time. We ate ice cream sundaes and enjoyed lots of fellowship. I just love being around my church family!

I'm just so thankful for the wonderful summer that God has blessed us with. I'm so greatful that I get to work from home, so therefore I get to be with my kids all summer. We are so blessed and God gets the glory. Now its almost time to go back to school and get back on that schedule that we have to follow, but I know that God has big things in store for us, and for that I'm thankful.

Madelyn and Gracie at the picnic

The girls trying to put together a scripture. I gave them all of the words on individual pieces of paper. We had three teams and the fastest to put the scripture together the right way won. The girls were the winners.

The boys tried hard

Faster, faster

They thought they had it....not quite

Hebrews 12:15a

The gang...its always so hard for me to get good pics...they hate the camera

Madelyn was glad to see Georgia

Peyton at the back to school party

There's Trinity

Brooke

Braeden wanted me to get a pic of him in the air

Taylor

Amber

Mike

Madi

Brooke

Gracie girl

Rachel

The girls

Brooke

Trying to decide what to play with

Josh in a pink float...Pey Pey laughing

Smile ladies

Julie

Cam

Gracie

Nancy serving ice cream

Look at all that sugar

Jacob enjoying it...he wasn't even supposed to be at this party b/c he's going into sixth grade but who can stop him from being at his own house??:o)

Josh

Amber and Kim enjoying their ice cream

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

And a Happy Birthday it was!

Madelyn had a wonderful birthday. Although we had to reschedule her party for the next day, because of rain, everything turned out great. Madelyn picked a pool party for this year and it was very successful. I think all of the children had a great time. I wasn't able to count every single child, but I'm guessing there were about 30 or so kids and I'm not sure how many adults. Madi made the list of who she wanted to come and since we were having it at home, I went with it. She got lots of great gifts and Travis and I gave her money. In our house if you have a party you get $50 and if you don't have a party you get $100. Of course Madi wanted a party. She loves for friends to come over. The more the merrier!

Travis came home with a rose for his girl....He always does that:o)

We took Madi and her friends out to dinner. She picked Mexican.

Madelyn and Elle....BFFs

Hunter, Jacob, Madelyn and Elle in front of the restaraunt

Madelyn's cake...she picked out everything about it

blowing out those nine candles

The girls

the gifts

Caleb doing the limbo

Jacob getting low

the girls again

precious CJ

Madi and Gavi...she was so excited to see her:o)

Madi and her cousin Chloe

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Daddy's girl...Mommy's princess!

Wow! Time has flown. Today we are celebrating Madelyn Riley's 9th birthday. I just can't believe my baby is 9 yrs. old! What a blessing to have been chosen to be the mommy of such a wonderful little girl.

As I remember back when I was pregnant with Madi, I almost start to shake with fear of that ever happening to me again. What I experienced for those 34 weeks was a nightmare. The first time I went into labor with Madi, I was only 24wks along. The labor was stopped but I was put on complete bedrest. I had contractions throughout my preganancy and I was hospitalized several times. The last time I was hospitalized, I was 30wks along and the labor could not be stopped. I was rushed from SMH to Norfolk Sentara in an ambulance given the max. amount of Mag. sulfate. I was vomiting from the meds, but almost completely paralized as well. It was the most horrific thing that I've ever had to experience. When I got to Norfolk, my labor was stopped and I was dilated 5cm. I stayed that way, in the hospital for four weeks!! Um...yeah FOUR weeks in Norfolk!! Jacob was 2 and he was home with Travis and was shifted from place to place when Travis was at work. Again....NIGHTMARE!

On Monday August 21st 2000, the Drs told me that I was able to go back home if I could walk around the hospital all day without going into labor. At this time I was 34wks preganant. I get up that morning and begin to walk. Of course after a few hours, I was seriously contracting AGAIN. This time I dialated to 7cm. Labor stopped on its own, but the drs said that I couldn't go home:( So the next morning August 22, 2000 the Dr. came in at 5am. I told her that I just couldn't take it anymore and began to cry. She said that she'd be right back. A little while later she came in and told me that she would be taking me down and breaking my water at 10am! That news couldn't have been better. I was big as a cow and dialated 7cm. I felt like Madi was going to fall out for 4 wks. I called everyone and sure enough my water was broken, and little Madi was born at 4:03pm. Weighing in at 6lbs12oz!! She would've been 10lbs if I had gone 40 weeks. THANK YOU LORD!

Madi is a miracle baby, just as Jacob is! Both born premature but turned out fine. Madi is a very happy, amazing child. Very smart with an awesome imagination. She's more than a mother could ever ask for in a daughter. She has a heart of gold, always concerned about others and their feelings. I'm so proud to be Madelyn Riley's Mom!

So today I want to wish my baby girl a very happy 9th birthday. Reach for the stars....dream big!! You are amazing Miss Madi, and I love you very much!!

Enjoy the photos...I laughed until my cheeks hurt. Madi was always soooo happy as a baby. She was and still is a joy!