So much is going on… I guess I should start by saying Brandon passed his ASPAT (I think that is how you say it) test for entering into the Navy with a score in the 60’s.  All he needed was a score of 50 or higher.  The recruiters want him to lose a few more pounds, down to 190 and then he will go for his physical.  Brandon already has lost 20 pounds at least and is working on the last few.  I believe at last count he has four more pounds to lose.  We are so proud of his dedication and determination!  Keep up the great work Brandon!

The kids are definitely participating in the virtual school this coming school year, and I believe I already mentioned this in the last post.  They will be starting on August 17.  I was excepted into college this past week and hoping to hear what classes I will be taking soon.  Fall semester starts August 24.  So we are all excited to see what the new school year will bring.

I have finished my first book and received a proof last weekend, which corrections have been made and new proof has been sent.  Waiting to see this one and then hopefully it will be published soon.  I am currently working on a second edition to this book, with a possible third one in mind.  

I am going through Amazon.com and will post links when it is published!  I am so excited, yet terrified. 

Greg had a fun Father’s Day this year.  We made him close his eyes and pick out a gift and then guess who gave him the gift.  If he guessed correctly he opened his gift, if not he had to put it back and guess again. 

Michaela gave him the lighthouse clock… he loves lighthouses!

Cody gave him the traveling mug with Isaiah 40:31 on it!  “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint”

Brandon gave him the movie “Wager” a Christian based move with Randy Travis in it.

I gave him the Micky Mouse because he loves Disney.

Phaythe gave him a new wallet with the Isaiah 40:31 scripture on it as well.

And Tylee gave him another Christian based movie about a car salesman wanting to restore an old car.  Right up Greg’s alley, because he loves antique cars, well any car really!

Well more to come soon.  I am added new video of Michaela and Cody’s Chorus concert this past spring… may take a couple of days, but I will let you know.  Until we speak again… Love Katie Rey

Wow, I can’t believe this is the kids last week in school!  They are so ready for summer vacation. 

We applied for them to attend South Carolina Virtual Charter School, which is like public school and home school all rolled up into one.  They will be taken public school curriculum and have teachers and schedule, but they will do it from home on the computer.  The school only holds 2000 spots so we are not sure if they have been accepted yet.

I also have applied to go back to college, at Baptist Bible College.  I will be trying for a Bachelor in Science with a degree in Bible and then moving on to a Masters in Biblical Counseling.  I did receive a Pell Grant, and just waiting to hear from the college.

Michaela and Cody had some Chorus concerts recently and I will be adding those pictures and videos to the web site soon!

Love Katie Rey

Sunday, May 10, 2009, Mother’s Day, was full of blessings!  I am so thankful for the wonderful husband and beautiful children I have.  I was blessed with many gifts and take to rest.

I woke up little early to enjoy the peace and quiet of the morning, which I was able to for about half an hour.  And then of course chaos happens just like every Sunday morning.  We begin to get ready for church!  After we are ready for church and have eaten breakfast, I am handed a gift from my two youngest sons, Cody and Tylee… which was beautiful coffee mug!  

My husband informs me that I can open the other gifts after church.  Well after a little pestering I was able to open the gift which my husband got for me… an awesome prayer devotional journal by Beth Moore.

So off to church we go!  What a beautiful morning devotion and lovely Sunday School lessons we had.  Plus the sermon was awesome as well… all about Hannah the mother who gave her son to God, who turned out to be Samuel.   Before church started that morning roses were handed out to a few of the mothers.  I was given one for having the most children… imagine that, third year in a row.  I am still thankful and very appreciative!  

And as we left church that morning all the mothers were handed a little prayer devotional!

Of course lunch was cooked and served for me… thank you Greg for the wonderful lunch… always do so much for me!

I was then able to go ahead and open my other two gifts.  The first was from my beautiful girls… Michaela and Phaythe.  About a year ago I had read a book titled “House” which will make you think about good and evil.  So my daughters got me the movie that is based off this book, which I dearly enjoyed! 

And of course my oldest, Brandon got me something I have wanted for a long time… the Love Comes Softly Series.  Yes the very ones that play on the Hallmark channel!  I love that series and will watch it many of times.

  I just wanted to say thank you to my very thoughtful children and husband for such a memorable day!  You can take a look at the photo album under Special Events, Mother’s Day 2009!

I am just awful for not writing sooner and keeping up to date… with all that is going on all the time.  Well now that is just an excuse!  Things are looking better for us, sun is shinning and we are smiling more often.  The last couple of months have just flown by!

The kids (the four younger ones) are almost done with school for the year!  I believe they are more excited than we are.  I am going to try and set a way they can write for themselves on the web site.  I will keep you all informed.

Kyle is waiting for his physical with the Army and then a date to start basic training this summer.  He still has one more year in high school but during that year if he passes basic then he will be able to collect a nice pay check and have insurance and all the luxuries of being in the military.  Once he completes high school he will then be off to see the world.

Brandon has to lose a few pounds before enlisting, he has six more to go!  Way to go Brandon for putting forth the effort to lose the weight.  Once he loses those pounds, which he has lost well over ten pounds already if I am not mistaken, he then can move forward.  Sad news though, Brandon’s girlfriend broke it off and they are now just friends, but this is a blessing in disguise, if he is joining the military.

We are seriously considering “home schooling” again.  This time it would be different.  Most states now have online virtual public schools where the school provides all the materials (books, labs, lessons) but the kids can be at home to go to school.  We are looking into this because of the influence people, mostly students, have on the kids.  The school is a good school but there are issues just like any other school.  Still undecided with what we are going to do.  We have to decide no later than the end of this month though because they only have 2,000 spots open to the whole state of South Carolina!

Michaela and Phaythe are involved in an a Girls Bible Study at a nearby church with other girls from our church.  They attend nearly every Sunday evening and love to go and socialize.  Michaela has cut her hair really short.  I need to take a picture and post it!  Phaythe is still going strong and growing into a young lady!

Cody now taller than me!  Not by much but still, taller than me.  I will have to learn to look up to him to tell him stuff.  Tylee is so handsome but learning how be a dare devil.  Boys will be boys until they get hurt or scolded for being boys…. lol

Greg is still working for Home Therapy and enjoys it most days.  I am supposed to start working there and have for a couple of days in the office doing medical billing, but the office is small and they are looking at relocating.  Maybe I will work there or maybe I won’t.  Who knows?!?!?  For right now I am being the same house wife like I have been and still enjoy it… can’t complain! 

I am adding photo albums to the site… Christmas pictures and pictures on the day it snowed here and the kids played in it!  Also pictures on our visit to Florida to take Greg’s dad’s lift chair to him!  We went to a Safari and took a ton of photos and video of the animals and the kids too!

Ok I promise I will try to write at least once a week…. I think the kids more out of the site then anyone else… they get to see the pictures!

Love Katie Rey

Well most of you know us if you are visiting this site because most of you are family and close friends, but I am catching up with old friends, so it might be interesting for them to know a little about us.

Greg and I were married in November of 2005 and I have three beautiful children, Michaela, Phaythe and Tylee and Greg has three handsome boys, Brandon, Kyle and Cody.  All eight of us lived together in our home in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina until April of 2007.  We had a house fire and life became very crazy for a while.  In fact I don’t believe things have settled down yet!

Brandon the oldest is temporarily at home right now, but looking at enlisting into the Navy.  Kyle the second oldest moved to his mother’s in Georgia last summer.  He had to see what life was like with his mother because Greg has custody of three boys.  (Well not now because Brandon will be 20 in July and Kyle is 18 years old).  Kyle is seeing that his father was correct about his mother’s behavior (duh, it don’t take genesis to know that a mother has to be awful to get custody taken away).  But he is 18 and has one more year in school (flunked in middle school during their divorce) and then he is planning to enlist in the Army.

Brandon has a girlfriend… hummm… she still is in school, but 17 years old and Greg and my dad have met her and say she has a good head on her shoulder.  Maybe she can whip Brandon into shape.

Michaela who is 14 and Cody who is 13 (turns 14 in September) are both in 7th grade and we call them our twins.  They are both doing great, their grades are not so good a couple of C’s but they have been told to bring them up.  Michaela has been in Chorus since last year and now Cody is in Chorus, both through school. 

Phaythe is turning 11 in March, they grow up to fast and Tylee is now 8.  They both are doing really good.  For the most part we are doing good considering the economy.  Though we may have to make changes, who doesn’t these days.  Well guess this is a good start… hope to keep all updated on what is going on.

Make sure you check out the videos and pictures will be added soon!

Love Katie Rey