What Is It With The Turtle?

The Engels are undeniably huge turtle fans! I have over 12 pictures of turtles in my photo software...possibly because turtles are slow enough to capture on camera...or possibly because they are so adorable!

They are indeed interesting. Did you know that The Latin word for tortoise, which is testudo, was also a name given to a technique used by Roman soldiers during warfare? The soldiers would huddle together and hold their shields above their heads to form a protective dome. This allowed them to approach the enemy and keep safe from the arrows, spears, and stones hurled at them. A little bit of Roman history never hurt anyone!Sizes and weight of turtles range from 4 inches like bog turtles and 1500 pounds like the leatherback turtle.

Another of the many interesting turtle facts is that turtles can be found in every continent except on Antarctica.
Then of course there is the story of the tortoise and the hare. Hmmm....I am just fascinated with turtles! Odd that we do not have them as pets...I will tell you why....salmonella! We will stick to our cat for the time being. However, we will most likely have 12 more pictures of the turtle at least by the end of 2009.

Odd post huh? Something more deep is coming, I promise...it has just been a busy month of May!

I'm Lost Without You

I took my boys to the beach on Friday morning. We had worked so hard all week on school, I decided to do my morning walk on the beach with two of my children and one of their buddies and then they could swim/surf/play until it was time to go home.

My 5 year old son Shane is going through a stage right now where his stranger radar has totally increased. He is very aware of his surroundings and needs to be able to see me at all times. A few weeks ago, we went to the beach and he wouldn't let me sit in my chair, I had to be in the water the whole time or he was in the sand next to me. Even with his brothers braving the waves, he still needed me.

This time was no different, except that we brought a friend with us this time. I think Shane wanted to appear brave in front of his buddy, but he clearly still needed me.

He went into the water with Brendan and Chase and then as the waves would take them off...he would look up from where he was and frantically search the beach for me and my chair. He waved as he saw me and then off with his body board he went. Sometimes the tide would take him off to the right or left and I could see it in his face..."I have to see my Mom!" Every 5 seconds, I'm not kidding, he would look up and I would have to wave at him. Even if he saw me, he wanted to be sure that I saw him...I had to wave back. I understood and complied. He had a great time.

After about an hour of waving, my arms were tired so I called him in. I asked him why I had to keep waving. This is how he responded: "I just feel safer knowing you are there. If I see you, and you see me, then I know I'm not lost!"

Even as I type these words the tears flow down my face. I hugged him and told him I would continue to wave (even if my arms were in pain!)

As I sat there I thought about what an example he was to me. Every single day, I want to be that desperate for my Jesus. It is so easy for us to be overtaken by the storms in our lives. It is all we can do sometimes, just to keep our heads above the crashing waves of the ocean and sometimes we do get off center and are taken left or right. We should frantically be looking for our Savior...not just in times of storms, but in all times. I don't want to do this journey called life on my own. I'm am indeed lost without Him. I do feel safer knowing He is there, right beside me. And yes, if I am constantly aware of His presence in my life, then I know I am where I am supposed to be and I am not lost!

God said to Jacob in Genesis 26:15 and he says it to us today: "I am with you always and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you."

Randomness

Above is our exchange student from some tribe....no, it is just my 5 year old Shane doing what he does best....looking cute even when he is filthy filthy dirty!

I think every blogger blogs a random post every once in awhile. So much is going on here that it has been challenging to sit and type. So, a few pictures should catch you up!

Pictures I do not have however, are the ones of my boys riding their bikes...I'll have to work on that! Everyone but Kyle is officially on the road! Ahhh....just in time for the 90 degree weather! At least we can ride our bikes and jump in the pool!

Ok..so this is me on Mother's Day. Blessed to be a Mom! FYI: My weight loss journey is going great...28.6. lbs. so far... I'm in my 4th week of training for my first ever 5K. Very excited about this! I've been asked to write for a magazine...my article must be accepted first...many surprises here...if I get chosen I'll let you know!


It is May in Florida and this is what we do from now until about November! We love it! I did get a very cool new bathing suit...even got my picture taken in it...won't be showing it though! HA!

Brendan!

Shane (clean)

Kyle

Fun with friends! We don't get enough of each other at Bible Study every other Friday night..so why not hang out on the other Friday nights! Actually Mr. Dave is a police officer and he will be working on the Bible study nights...so we need to implement this game night....Oh by the way...Mike and I crushed them all in a very long long game of Cranium! I told them not to mess with the Engels!

Teaching my young one the art of winning, oops, I mean playing games! (Michelle, if you read this..how do you type something with the line through it?) hmmm? Anyway, as most people that know us know, we are a huge game playing family and this is one of Shane's (and mine) favorite games!

This is all I have for now. The Lord has been good to us & more life changes are on the way! Stay tuned!

Mommy

I wonder how long I will be called "Mommy"? I have already been called Mom...so far I haven't been called Mother! Whew! I am eternally grateful for the gifts that God has given me, both here on earth and in Heaven. I do not take my role of motherhood for granted at all...as many know, it took me a long long time to get pregnant with many babies now in Heaven. Kyle, Brendan and Shane are my gifts and I am honored to love, care and raise them up! I read this little story and I wanted to share it in light of Mother's Day. The author is unknown. Just so you know, it is just a cute little story...it's not doctrinally correct.

A Special Angel

Up in heaven a child was ready to be born. The child asked God, "I know You are sending me to earth tomorrow, but how can I survive there? I am so small and helpless."

God replied. "I have chosen a special angel for you there. She will love you and take care of you."

"Here in heaven, Lord, I don't do anything but sing and smile. What will I do on Earth? I won't know how to sing the songs down there."

"Your angel will sing for you." God replied. "and she'll teach you how to sing, too. And you'll learn to laugh as well as smile. Your angel and I will take care of that."

"But how will I understand what people say to me? I don't know a single word of the language they speak!"

"Your angel will say the sweetest things you will ever hear, and she will teach you, word by word, how to speak the language."

"And when I want to talk to You...?"

"Your angel will gently place your little hands together and teach you how. That's the simplest language of all. It's called prayer."

"Who will protect me there, God?"

"Your angel is soft and gentle, but if something threatens you, there is no stronger force on Earth than the power she'll use to defend you."

"I'll be sad not getting to see You anymore."

"I will always be next to you, even though you can't see Me. And your angel will teach you the way to come back to Me if you stray."

Then it was time to go. Excited voices could be heard from earth, anticipating the child's arrival. In a hurry, the babe asked softly, "Oh God, if I must go now, please tell me my angel's name!"

And God replied, "You will call your angel....Mommy."

I'm Glad You Married That Girl!

I haven't done this in awhile. Quote my kids! It is fun every once in awhile to just jot down what comes out of their sweet little mouths. Here are a few:


Kyle: Mommy, I love you so much ::Kiss:: You are married already huh?

Me: Yes Kyle, I'm married to your Daddy. If I had known there would be a you and I was born when you were born, I would certainly have married you!

Kyle: Well, it's okay Mom, I'm glad you married Daddy...he's a great Dad...you did a great job Mommy. ::Dad walks in:: Dad, are you glad Mom married you?

Dad: Absolutely!

Kyle: I'm so glad you married that girl! She is such a great girl and Mom...she is great at being both! Good choices guys!

Mom & Dad: Thank you Kyle....now close your eyes and lips...its time for bed!


I'm on the phone with a friend...(I guess I had to make several calls that day)...enters Shane:

Shane: ::eyes roll:: Oh my gosh Mom are you calling the whole universe today?!


Kyle talking to his Meme:

Kyle: I am best friends with my brothers. But Brendan is my bestest friend because we go all the way back to the belly days when we were babies!

Brendan: Yea...one time in Mommy's belly, I remember eating chocolate cake...Kyle and I fought over that...remember Mom?

Indeed I do remember that day...my only time I ate cake in my pregnancy..and those babies had a war in my womb! Fun memories!