Logan Family Circus

beach photos part 1

2011-06-24T11:06:00.012-05:00

stay tuned! more to come!

sweet baby doll...

2011-05-03T22:45:00.001-05:00

This is a little taste of the Mother's Day pics I took today with the help of my dear friend Amanda!

hello old friend...

2011-05-01T22:56:00.003-05:00

Hello old friend. I came to visit you again. No pressure. Maybe just tonight. Or maybe tomorrow night too. I can't stay long. I've got four little ones (and a ton of laundry) who are in much greater need of my attention. But, I have thought of you often and wanted to say hello. Maybe I'll see you again this week. Hopefully.

Oh, dear friend, I forgot to mention that my fourth little one arrived seven months ago today. Her name is Catherine. She is one of the most wonderful gifts that I have ever been given. And, she purrs like a cat. Seriously no kidding.

Isn't she beautiful?

well, sorry God...

2010-09-27T20:23:00.003-05:00

Tonight we went for a walk to try to get things going with Catherine. (I am a couple of days late). And, John Stark for some unknown reason blurted out "OH MY GOD!!!" We quickly corrected him by telling him that God doesn't like to be talked about like that. He then yelled out, "Well...sorry God!" Of course we are all laughing already and then JS starts panting and complaining that his heart hurts. (He has a cramp from running). Vaiden assures me that the pain is "lower" than his heart. JS says, "Not Noah's heart! My heart hurts!"

The other day the boys and I were driving down the road, and JS wants to know where God is. We all tell him that God is everywhere. We can't see Him, but He always sees us. And, we can talk to God anywhere. He then yells out his rolled down window, "God, you hear me! I love you! I love you God! You love me!"

life with boys...

2010-09-27T18:18:00.003-05:00

As I am anxiously (and uncomfortably) waiting the arrival of my first baby girl, I guess I needed a reminder of how blessed I am to have my three boys... dear Vaiden, candid Caleb, and adoring John Stark. The weather is cooler here so I have the back door open and can hear my three boys laughter as they play together in the back yard. I am struck by how wonderful it is to have three little men to raise...three little men who love me. And, then immediately after, I walk into the living room to see the above picture... a little reminder of all that I would be missing out on if I didn't have these precious boys.

hello again

2010-09-02T17:16:00.003-05:00

Just a little over three more weeks, and these beloved little men will have be welcoming there new sister Ava Catherine Logan into the world. She will be called Catherine after my dear grandmother Catherine Grandstaff Wyman who went to be with the Lord this past February and after Skip's mother Mary Katherine Logan who also is with Jesus now.

More to come... I hope!

way over overdue...

2010-02-19T15:37:00.006-06:00

Here are some way over overdue Christmas Pictures!!! SO sorry it has taken SO long! We had a good, very festive December...

making tons of banana bread! mmm yummy!

taking Santa-inspired bubble baths! HO! HO! HO!

posing for Christmas card photos!

peacing out on Christmas light truck-bed rides!

that was fun!

getting freaked out by the big man!

Caleb and Vaiden were very good!

chilling out at Granddads house in Arkansas!

making Christmas cookies!

and sleepy, contented smiles on Christmas morning!

a little cross-dressing anyone...

2009-11-10T20:23:00.003-06:00

So last night we found John Stark in his shoes once again. WELL tonight Skip put him down, and when I went in to check on him around 8:20, I found this:

And the only thing John Stark had to say for himself was "pretty Mommy??!" He had on Vaiden and Caleb's shiny red exercise shorts as a tube top??? I'm always astounded by that boy.

strange one...

2009-11-09T22:24:00.003-06:00

Notice anything odd? Recently this is how we've been finding our youngest many, many nights....

And, there are even more shoes all over the place. Strange little man.

Here's another little John Starkism...

At Grace and Peace (our church), we always all hang out after the service for coffee and snacks. The kids usually go crazy over the food table, but John Stark actually missed out on it this week for some reason. Oh and I should mention that he is notorious for sneaking food during group events (and really just in any situation). That boy has swiped many a cookie in his day only to be corrected by a giggling adult. Anyway, all the good food was gone so little mister smarty-britches shows up with a mysterious Halloween -week-old Halloween- cupcake. After a little detection, we found out that John Stark helped himself in the church's kitchen to the stash of cupcakes that were left in the fridge from Halloween! To love to eat so much, he is SO skinny! Ah, he is such a mess!!!

jedi training...

2009-11-08T10:39:00.003-06:00

When we were at Disney, we went to Hollywood Studios' Star Wars area. They had a "Jedi Training" show. So we made sure that Vaiden and Caleb were ready to jump up and down and yell whenever the Jedis came out to pick volunteers. And, what do you know...Vaiden got picked first!!!

This picture was taken right after he made it to the stage. Can you tell how genuinely ecstatic he is!!! It was awesome for Skip and me to watch our kids get to be a part of this show!

Then Caleb got picked and put on a jedi robe and got a light saber!

They learned all kinds of moves in preparation for who else but...

OH MY!!! Darth Vader! The REAL one!!! with REAL clones!!! (We had NO idea this was going to happen!)

And then lo' and behold!!! All the trainees got to fight DV!! And, DV even threatened Vaiden and Caleb!

The boys used their news moves to defeat the arch enemy of the universe! Darth Vader was ultimately banished by all the new jedi's using The Force. It was really impressive!

This part of our trip was truly one of Skip's and mine favorites! We were probably more excited than the boys! They have spent countless hours light saber fighting in our back yard. And, now they got to actually FIGHT Darth Vader! Words cannot describe the boyhood elation we witnessed that day!

three year-old logic...

2009-11-07T23:28:00.002-06:00

Tonight, I was on the computer while John Stark was fetching a new book (from Grandaddy) for us to read. And, after I realized how quiet it was downstairs, up came my little man chomping on something big and green and fruity smelling. (Mind you, we had just brushed -and flossed- his teeth). I said something like "John Stark, where did you get that???!! Give it here!" (holding my hand to his chin waiting to take hold of that sticky green mass from his mouth). He frantically chewed and then with a big "GULP," he swallowed. I then asked again where did he get that candy. John Stark being three and SO smart, immediately replied, "In the tunnel, Mommy." He kept insisting that the gum came or was in the "tunnel" as if to say "Where else would it be MOM?" I realized that he was trying to explain to me not where the gum had come from, but rather where that green stuff had gone. He then proceeded to show me that the "tunnel" went down his throat all the way down his tummy and legs to his toes! Who knew that three year-olds were so clever?? To successfully avoid a question and then answer another with good logic, what a maneuver! I was impressed and reminded once again of how thankful I am to have a wonderful little three year old boy.

good morning birthday boy...

2009-11-06T09:33:00.002-06:00

Eating a nutritional birthday breakfast!!!

New shirt! Thanks Baba!

Opening more presents!

New soft shoes!!!

lemonade stand...

2009-11-05T21:14:00.003-06:00

I forgot about these pictures.

The "gang" hanging out this past summer trying to make some money!!!

My neighbor Christine eating a cookie and being neighborly.

Sweet giggles...Mathew and Sarah!

Thank goodness for good neighbors who supported our cause!!!

Little Nellie running away. I love that girl!

tooth job...

2009-11-05T21:13:00.002-06:00

I just found this recent pic on my camera. I think Daddy got creative....

halloween birthday...

2009-11-04T21:01:00.003-06:00

On Saturday Halloween, we had John Stark's birthday party!

The Wicked Witch of the West made an appearance!

We had cupcakes!!!

Secret Agents and Football Players came!

Harry Potter even flew in!

We all went on a magical hayride!

Sweet babysitters and neighbors walked across the street for the party!!!

Spunky ladies from the past even made it to the party on time!

Minnie and Mickey had a super time!!!

And, then when it was all over...John Stark decided it was time to let loose and relax. Thankfully, my astronomer neighbor was there to help in child-care!

popcorn...

2009-10-27T23:28:00.003-05:00

Ever heard of "popcorn prayers"? I really don't like that phrase by the way. But, my posts tonight are like "popcorn post." Just kind of random you know.

Anyway, I was just emailing a friend about our trip to Disney World, and I realized I didn't mention in my little itty-bitty post about the trip that Vaiden got the swine flu and threw up red gatorade all over a packed Disney bus. Everyone freaked out and we were "those parents" with the sick child exposing the world to a deadly disease that causes one to throw up "blood" all over an inclosed public transport. People were seriously breaking out the Purell after that. Everyone was busy sanitizing themselves...(as if one could really do that).

Wow! That was fun! Oh and did I mention that we ALL proceeded to get sick while chasing Mickey for seven days in Florida?? I know I've made it all sound just so horrible, and at times it was, but honestly we made it and still really did have a good time. Thank God!

Moments before the "outbreak." I'm SO GLAD I took this picture! It will forever immortalize that experience in my mind. And, looking back, the whole red gatorade thing (see the bottle in the picture?) was pretty funny. In fact, Skip and I were buckled over in laughter about it that night.

pumpkins...

2009-10-27T23:20:00.000-05:00

A bunch of little punkins looking for pumpkins!

goin' all out...

2009-10-27T23:14:00.003-05:00

I erased the address and my phone number (you guys have that). But if you want to come, there it is! Just where your costume! Oh, and if you want to know what we are ALL going as, then you're just going to have to be there. Cause I'm not telling!

fall finger man...

2009-10-27T23:12:00.001-05:00

good friends...

2009-10-27T23:06:00.002-05:00

We are constantly making new friends and growing closer to our old friends in Bowling Green. (We've only lived here two years, but our first friends here feel like old friends now). So thankful for that.

And, they all share our love for having a good ole time, ya'll!

potty training...

2009-10-27T23:02:00.001-05:00

good times. group effort.

moment of truth...

2009-10-23T22:47:00.005-05:00

I took these pictures the other day at Jackson's Orchard. And here's the deal...because God gave me a son with super duper cute blonde curls and because onlookers are constantly complimenting his hair, I decided to take some pics of JS and enter him in the Gap Casting Call contest. Go to: http://family.go.com/gapcastingcall/?cmp=OTC-Gap-Vanity

and type paigelogandesigns in the "search entries" box, and you can see his entries. Don't worry, this is just for fun. I am by no means turning into the pageant mom. I promise. Anyway, isn't my little Shirley Temple so sweet!

here goes...

2009-10-18T21:38:00.006-05:00

I don't know what happened, but tonight -YES!!! TONIGHT!!- I decided to make a new post!!! I don't know if it is the sweet pictures of us at Disney World, or all of your guilt trips (didn't know your requests made me feel guilty did you??), or that I decided to put off painting our church's info board yet another day, or that I just don't want to watch some show about making bloody gore horror movies masks with my husband downstairs....

Anyway, not sure what got in to me, but here goes.

Ok, I am supremely frustrated and my back hurts, but my intentions were good. I really wanted to make a slideshow of our Disney pictures. Now that I've been working on it for about an hour... figuring out Picasa web, how to export, import, report, upload, download, reload, deload, blah, blah, blah. I'm just going to bed. Maybe the slideshow will show up tomorrow. Goodnight.

tricked ya!

2009-07-02T15:17:00.010-05:00

Ok, skip Disney pics. Let's start with some beach pictures from JUNE! I uploaded all these pictures right after we got back from Panama City this summer, but what do you know...I never posted them. Enjoy!

on the way!

Ann Lundy and Shelby...sweet highschoolers who braved it to the beach with Logans -for over a week!!!

lovebirds! (oh to have long hair again!)

They're probably going to hate me for putting this picture up, and then when their my age, they're going to wish they still looked like this in pictures. Aren't we women so odd??

surfer dudey man!

oh my! soooooo good!!!

fake teeth!

having their caricature done...

one of my all-time...

2009-06-30T16:24:00.003-05:00

FAVORITES!!!

We just got back from the beach yesterday and I am just going through the pictures. Vaiden and I decided this one was our favorite. Oh I have such sweet boys! Thank the Lord for wonderful blessings!!!

ice cream! ice cream!!

2009-06-16T08:47:00.000-05:00

goofing off...

2009-06-15T23:38:00.003-05:00

sweet summertime...

2009-06-15T22:53:00.007-05:00

We're having a big time this summer doing things we don't regularly do. Before we go to the beach next week, I am going to try to work backwards through all of my photos taken in May and June and finally do some much needed posting. I really do have a TON of pictures!!! The ones below are from this past weekend. The boys got to jump on a boat and jump off a rope swing into the river. Skip and I were brave enough to swing from the rope too, but we're too scared to put our bathing suit body pics on the internet. Not a pretty sight I assure you! HA!

Caleb trying to climb up the mud mountain to get to the swing on the river bank. It was so nasty!!!

My handsome hubby! I love this pic.

Caleb realizing the desperation of the situation. Not so enthusiastic now!

WOW!!! Look at those moves!!!

WHOA!!! MOM! That was awesome!!!

Calabunga DUDE!!!

Look! I'm flying!!!

Crazy sweet brothers!

just because...

2009-04-29T19:31:00.004-05:00

John Stark in pj's looking out the front door early in the morning with Puppy and Lamb.

(I should have moved the plants...would've made a better pic. I'll try again another day!)

I like this picture though.

thank the Lord for flowers...

2009-04-23T15:25:00.005-05:00

I love flowers and I LOVE my flowering shrub that I have out back. Who knew I would have an abundance of little white flowers this spring for my pleasure! I bought this old basket at, yes, another junk store the other day for a whole dollar! Put a brick and an old vase inside with some of my lovely white flowers and...voila! Oh, and the chair was $5 and the bicycle basket hanging, I think was $2. I love that old metal basket! This little "arrangement" is what you see right when you walk in my front door along with some old rain boots of the boys, a mirror with hooks, some coats and my purse. So excited about my thrifty finds....

Boys home from school, banging on the door, thinking Mom has abandoned them...gotta go!

extracirricular...

2009-04-23T15:13:00.006-05:00

Probably didn't spell that word right, but with all of our activities, I don't have time to worry about correct spelling.

Vaiden is the pianist as some of you may know, but he is also quite a soccer player! I'm telling you, the boy's gettin' good!!!

He's really good at defense.

And oh! So handsome!!!

Seriously though, isn't he becoming a looker!

I love pics of their team running --towards me-- mind you. (I had the snacks!)

Karate Caleb got his yellow belt last night! He is SO proud and so are we! Doesn't he look cute and just gleaming with pride. He also is doing baseball.

He showed us some moves...

This particular kick has earned him some recognition from his "sinsay"?? He has a very high kick!

KAPOW!!!

and in that tree...

2009-04-23T15:03:00.003-05:00

there was a nest, the cutest little nest that you ever will see...

and on that tree,

there was a swing, the cutest little swing that you ever will see...

and the green grass grows all around, all around! and the green grass grows all around!

Do you remember that song? I just thought of it when I was posting these pics of some things that have inhabited our magnolia tree out front. First I found this AMAZING bird nest with this BREATH-TAKING little robin's egg. If you ever wondered what the color "robin's egg blue" really is, there you have it! Look no further! And, then came the old table leg that I found at one of my favorite "junk stores." I paid four dollars for it with the vision of making a little swing for John Stark. He loves it! And, I love my little magnolia tree!

He is RISEN!

2009-04-23T14:52:00.004-05:00

"God made Him who knew no sin to become sin for us so that we might have the righteousness of God"!

Our lovely, lovely eggs....

PEEPS! OH MY!

And moreEaster candy! We had a visit form the E.B.! God is so good to us!!

And some sweet snuggles. Reminds me of how much God loves us, His children. Have you snuggled in His lap lately?

twas the night before easter...

2009-04-23T14:31:00.005-05:00

And, we dyed eggs. Stayed up until about 10 p.m.! Mom was tired and said "No dying tonight guys." I made Vaiden cry. SO, we got to it and used plain old food coloring and vinegar and also did some using old silk ties! Way cool! If you want to know how, I'll send you a website. It was fun! I love all the bunny ears! Thanks Target!!

friends...

2009-04-04T16:10:00.003-05:00

This sweet little girl is John Stark's "MY J!" He loves this particular friend so much and she is very gracious to him. He's constantly hugging all over her.

The "neighborhood gang" just hanging out on my back steps. They are so cute and kind to one another. Very thankful mommy here!

can't say no to this...

2009-03-29T15:40:00.005-05:00

After running some errands yesterday morning, this is what I found when I got home. How can one resist?

"spring" forward!

2009-03-09T14:55:00.008-05:00

Snow is all over the place today, but this post is from last week...one I hadn't put up yet. A couple of days ago, John Stark and I spent the afternoon outside enjoying the 80 degree warm spell we just had. Crazy, crazy, crazy March weather!!!

I am so thankful for daylight savings time! Spring is here!! I have some lovely backyard flowers sitting in my window sill to prove it!

Love is also in the air! On my newly painted white dining room table, I have some flowers from my sweet husband! Thanks baby!

And, worn out from digging up worms and swinging outside, asleep in his bed is the happiest little boy you'll ever see!

Dirty, dirty little toes!

more of the gang...

2009-03-09T14:52:00.002-05:00

my little criminal...

2009-03-07T11:09:00.001-06:00

enough said.

the neighborhood gang...

2009-03-07T11:04:00.002-06:00

I didn't "make" this picture happen. It just did, and thankfully my trusty camera wasn't too far away! Caleb was the first to take his shirt off, and the rest followed. I find that whenever a group of boys get together for a romping good time, shirts usually come off...a sign of upcoming manhood I guess. These are our alley friends we see several times a week. So thankful for our neighbors.

typical today...

2009-03-04T19:24:00.005-06:00

Typical dinner conversation:

(John Stark is looking very serious and focused).

Mommy: "John Stark, do you need to go poo poo?"

John Stark: "No."

Caleb: "EeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwW!!!!!!!"

Vaiden: "Yes he does! His bootie is bulging!!!"

Mommy: "What??? BULGING??"

Vaiden: "Yeah like my eardrum was bulging when I had my ear infection. That hurt really bad."

Typical after dinner event:

Caleb just finished his 905th lick of his tootsie-roll pop. Who knew!?? 905 licks is all it takes to get to the center. Vaiden is standing over my shoulder -counting still- even as I type this last word.

Oh and I fell down the stairs today...kind of like when someone slips on a banana and lands on their bottom. Except, I slipped on my slipper and thought I was going to die from the pain. I really thought I had broken my back as I crawled to the phone. I'm alright now, but my worst fear is that one of my boys will love on me tonight.... They have a habit of affectionately slapping my behind. And of course, Caleb always points out that my bottom is squishy. Love shows itself in different ways. Typical boy family.

cooking...

2009-03-04T14:41:00.004-06:00

How to make chocolate cupcakes for your big brother's birthday:

First, you stir.

Second, you lay out the liners.

Third, you put the cupcakes in the oven and WAIT.

Fourth, you check...this part scared Mommy!

march...

2009-03-03T17:00:00.007-06:00

March. The month always begins with a very long-awaited birthday celebration for our oldest son Vaiden. This year we had about 6 pre-birthday parties for before the real shindig began last night. First we got together Caleb, Joe (V's best bud) and the birthday boy a.k.a. "Moe Toe, Foe, and Moe." Then we pulled out some hats...

invited some more friends over... (Ben and Whit)

and you can see the result!

The chaperones weren't left out either. All three of us joined in the fun! I think we started a tradition.

Of course this particular hat V is wearing is the official "Birthday Hat." I got it for free when I bought Skip's stuffed Razorback head this fall. The hog was wearing this hat. So you can imagine how special it is to our family!

"Hey! Trick candles!!!"

This is one of my famous cakes (they all kind of look like this these days). I decided this one could be a monster/alien cake. I need some better icing, but V loved it!

Yum! Yum!!!

Opening some presents..."501 Science Projects for Kids" from Joe! Thanks Foe!!

"They'll make a movie about me someday" tee-shirt from Mom.

And some very serious "Jump On IT" dancing courtesy of Daddy.

There was some crazy stuff going on at our house. Skip doing "the robot" with the boys. Moe, Foe and Moe Toe doing some major hip hop moves....

I think JS was in shock!

Vaiden told me today that it wouldn't be too long before he gets his driver's license! Yeah right!

Happy Birthday buddy!!! We love you SOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

the coat...

2009-01-30T09:26:00.002-06:00

This coat JS has on is absolutely on the list of "a few of my favorite things"! It is old and a little tattered and worn, but it is super soft and just perfect for my little man. Like most of his clothes, this one came from a consignment store. I think I might have paid $7 for it, but I would have paid a whole lot more if I had to! And, then I found at a very nice expensive children's boutique, a matching hat for $1!!! Couldn't believe my luck or I should say that I was surprised by His providence and care even in this very tiny detail. Anyway, I am never ever getting rid of that coat!

big boy pics...

2009-01-28T22:15:00.002-06:00

Oh BOY!!! Am I a proud mama! I LOVE these photos! Isn't my JS becoming a handsome young man? I'll post some more soon.

snow days...

2009-01-28T22:12:00.003-06:00

Got some SNOW!!! Good times with neighbors!

christmas morning...

2008-12-31T15:17:00.008-06:00

John Stark got a firetruck, rocking horsie, and his very own potty! As you can see he's trying it out!

Caleb (the builder) got just what he asked for...legos!!!

Vaiden never knew he was going to get a Dr.'s coat and kit! We're starting him on the right track!

Skip got a new pair of shoes to replace the pair he's had since college! And, I managed to get him some tickets to see Bryan Adams in Nashville! We're going in a couple of weekends! FUN!

Picture of dining room table set for Christmas breakfast. We had a great day! It was the first Christmas in our new home! Thank the LORD for his good gifts!

Oh! And, I got two "Litte Mermaid" movies -romantic gifts from my husband- some perfume, and a food processor! And, of course, I got my new kitchen and house! I'll post before and after pics soon.

christmas pics...

2008-12-30T22:40:00.004-06:00

More later, I promise!!! For now, you'll have to settle with Christmas cookies.

more pics...

2008-11-22T10:43:00.002-06:00

V pushing JS in the swing. V's about to run under JS's swing which JS thinks is hilarious!

I forgot about this pic of C. I know I don't post many of him. He's not very fond of the camera or he's either too energetic to stand still for the camera. But, here is one of "toothless" C. He was without both of his front teeth and is just now growing in a replacement. Maybe by Christmas he'll get both!

JS and V hanging out in my bed.

cookie monster...

2008-11-21T21:02:00.003-06:00

Ok tonight the funniest thing happened! Our sweet neighbor brought over some chocolate chip cookies for us. But, first I should notify you that JS has been eating cookies all day. We had some little friends over earlier; so I got some cookies for them. And, JS kept swiping them off the counter. He is pretty good at swiping things by the way. Anyway, I was in our bedroom when Skip brought the cookies to show me. So I just left them sitting on the dresser. Then I went downstairs to check on C, and all of the sudden, I hear what sounds like plates crashing. I run upstairs to find little bits sitting on the steps with cookies all around him stuffing as many cookies in his mouth as he can. So I took the picture below while I was seriously scolding him. (That is why he is crying...but still holding on to the cookie). He is a MESS! JS cried and cried "MA COOKIE!! MA COOKIE!" It was pretty cute.

long time, no posts...

2008-11-21T20:25:00.004-06:00

I thought I would begin this post by saying "I'm sorry," but I have decided that this blog is not going to be just a big apology for not posting pics and whatnot. Life is in transition for us right now, and the "Logan Family Circus" will just have to wait for whenever its author has a free moment. I will say that we are doing GREAT!!! We have moved! Been here for about a month. I remember when we first moved here thinking (rather emotionally and irrationally I will add) that our move to this crazy house was a huge, gigantic mistake. What a bummer that realization was while laying in the bed in my new room in my new house among all of my big boxes that all of my really nice friends had given up their Saturday to help move. Some of you know about the major problems we have dealt with since our move...problems with the house. Don't worry, it's ok now, but on day four of post-move, driving up my driveway to find a bulldozer digging up the back yard because our septic tank (that actually was not supposed to come with the house) is all stopped up...you can imagine.... And, then the hits just kept on coming. It was hard; I got sicker than I've ever been, ever! Lost 5 lbs!!! Food poisining? Maybe. I did eat shrimp that night. But, maybe cleaning the "dirt" out of the boy's new shower wasn't such a good idea, especially since the mess was actually sewage from that stopped up septic tank. Seriously though, I don't tell all these yucky events to complain. It really is alright now. So much so, that I can look back and laugh, and be thankful. That we're here. That I really do love my new house. That is was hard at first, but we made it. And, that it is over.

Now the weekends are so much easier. We're all so spread out and we have this fabulous backyard! Swings and slides and trees and trucks and jeeps and balls and hiding places and room, lots of room to explore! We love our house!!!! Please come visit!

Some of the pics below are from JS's second birthday. He got a haircut. I was sad as it was a little short, but his hair is growing out now. The others are just random pictures of our big guy this fall. He is getting so big and is filled with hugs and kisses.

this weekend...

2008-10-06T10:13:00.002-05:00

A big shout out to Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Shriener newly hitched this past Saturday!!!! Way to go!!! We love you guys and can't wait to see you again! Have fun honeymooning!

busy...

2008-10-06T07:53:00.004-05:00

Hello friends and family,

I am so sorry I have not posted ANYTHING for the past several weeks. The truth is life is a bit busier than usual (imagine that??) with our new house remodel among other various extracurricular activities for the Logans. I have never made so many decisions at one time in my life!!! What kind of trim? Where to put the gas line for the fireplace?? Paint? Where? Remove the sconces? Recess lights? How many? Carpet? What kind? And etc., etc., etc.! But it is all working towards a bigger picture...our house!!! And, let me not forget, that it is all going to be just fine...really it is! In a few weeks, we will be crazy moving into our new very personalized and unique home here in Bowling Green! I imagine sometime after Christmas, there will be a big WHEW! coming out of my mouth as we finally feel settled. Maybe by then?? Maybe I'll be perfectly organized and everything will have a place! Yeah right! What a lofty ideal some of you wiser ones might be thinking. You're right, I know.

Anyway, on to other significant news, we got a new computer which is also part of the reason I have not been blogging. It is a Mac and I have no idea how to use it. I'm learning....

Also, our church Grace and Peace Pres. had our first official public worship service last night. It was a very anticipated occasion and well worth the wait. We are so honored to be a part of that church family. I want to share a verse of a hymn that struck me last night. The song is "Jesus, I My Cross have Taken" and the words seriously always, always cause me to wrestle with the way I live in this world. Read and you'll see why....

"Perish every fond ambition,

All I've sought or hoped or known.

Yet how rich is my condition!

God and heaven are still my own."

And, of course there are more very rich lyrics to that hymn, but I think those pretty much sum it up. While making all those very meticulous decisions about our new house, I really have to rely on the Lord to keep me in check with reality because it is my tendency to get very much caught up in having everything "just right." That is how I am with everything. I want everything to be the way I always hoped or the way I've always known it to be. But, Jesus says "No, I have more for you!" As C.S. Lewis said and I paraphrase "You are content to make mud pies when you have been offered a holiday by the sea." Designing this new house is exciting and such a joy and blessing, but the Lord is so kind to remind me that the "redemption" of our new house is only a foreshadowing of the real remodel that is going on inside of me and my family and this world. He has graciously given us wonderful blessings in this world, but BUT! I cannot rely on those THINGS to give me joy and hope. I absolutely must find my joy in Him as everything else is only temporary and can never satisfy. Amen!!!

Check out the pic of our new wonderful Apple! It is SOOOOOO cool!

two weeks...

2008-09-14T21:56:00.002-05:00

OH MY!!! Has it really been two weeks since my last post. So sorry!!! We've had alot going on lately...alot to do with our new house...more later on that. I've just finished uploading two weeks worth of pics, and I want to show off a few favorites. I'll post some more later along with a "Logan Update." I know you just can't wait for that!

Vaiden and Caleb are on the same Baseball team! #12 and #2! Go Braves! They really are dong GREAT!!! I think between the two of them, they've scored 5 or 6 runs during the last two games.

A pic of little-bits hanging out watching his favorite "Blues Clues" eating another favorite...the "nana."

Speaking of baseball...John Stark loves this little boy whose big brother plays on our team. The moment JS set eyes on him, he gave him a big -long- and very serious hug. And, then at the next game, he did the exact same thing. It was really sweet and funny....

funny things...

2008-09-01T20:33:00.005-05:00

Thanks to Vaiden and John Stark, we have a little lesson on how to fearlessly try new things...

Moon Shoes...not as easy as one might think, but as you will see, Vaiden says "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again!"

Go slow and steady, get your balance real good...

and take off!!! Fly away through the air! Look MOM!!! I'm defying gravity...

Thud! Physics lesson.
And this activity just kept on going on and on in this exact order until we decided the moon shoes weren't all that anti-gravity great after all.

Now on to my youngest...my little cookie monster. The most efficient way to eat leftover cookie dough and brownie mix at the same time is to use:
a spoon, a spatula and of course the trusty old pointer finger -all at the same time!!
He is very wise for such a young one.

Very wise and very, very silly!

our lovely house...

2008-09-01T20:14:00.003-05:00

Hello! Below are some pictures of our soon to be new home! It is a good solid "tri-level" house, but remember that we've got alot to do to it to fix it up. So it's going to change a bit in the coming months. On the right is the driveway and a door leading to the lower level where there is a den, bathroom, the boys' room and a big laundry room/office.

We are planning on painting the brick, but we might wait a while after we move in so that we can really decide exactly what all we want to do to the outside. We may even add a front porch! The front door goes to the middle level with beautiful old hardwood floors, the kitchen, dining room and living room with a fireplace. And, you literally go up five stairs to the upper level with the very large master and bath (we are joining two bedrooms to make this), and two other bedrooms...one for John Stark and then another for a guest and another full bath. All hardwood as well!

Another pic of the front from the another angle. It has lots of trees which is really what we wanted. Out front is a young magnolia tree. I used to climb my grandmother's magnolia as a little girl and loved it because they have so many branches which make it very easy to climb.

This is obviously the back. The door leads to the kitchen which we will be remodeling! Yeah! We would love to add a screened porch, but we'll have to wait a while for that. We've got alot of other fixing up to do first.

This is a picture from the very end of our backyard. You can't tell how gigantic the yard is, but we are very pleased with the size. We're also going to add a fence.

This picture is from the back patio looking out. You can tell how shaded it is which is nice. There is also a detached double garage and a huge maple tree behind it which is not only beautiful but also great for climbing and a possible tree house!

dearest grandmother kate...

2008-08-28T21:10:00.003-05:00

Beloved Kate,

This "post" is for YOU. As I sit here smitten with my very soon plans to print out my entire year's worth of "Logan Family Circus Blog" entries, I realize that I probably should educate you on the 84 pages of technological messiness that you are about to encounter. So with that in mind and with a working printer (as opposed to the NON-working printer I just owned about 10 minutes ago), I am ready to fill you in on some much needed information.
First of all, let me say how thrilled I am that I get to include you in this thing that I do called "blogging." I created the "Logan Family Circus" blog for several reasons...mainly to keep in touch with friends and family about the going-ons of my husband, my boys and myself. I also thought perhaps, maybe someone somewhere in the world just might be encouraged by my haphazard "words of wisdom" or should I say...confessions of a wife, mommy and just an average messy person in general. I have grown to LOVE blogging! And, have found that lots of people actually do read my blog...which is kind of neat. And, I must also admit that I do like to show off pictures of my precious boys every once in a while, but that reason is probably very obvious.

Anyway, every once in a while, I will create a new "Post" which is just a blurb about something I find interesting and maybe some pictures. All the new posts will be distinctly separated, and every new post will be titled in the color orange. They also go backwards with the newest post always being first.

I hope you enjoy reading my thoughts and seeing the cute photos that commemorate our lives over the past year or so. Like I said, I am thrilled that you get to see all of this finally!!!! as I know you are also. I love you so much and appreciate all that you are! Enjoy!

P.S. John Stark says hello and elevator! That is his new word -or trick really because his attempts to say the word are actually funnier than the word could ever be alone. So his "elevator" is just a jumble of "ele-ele-ele-dooka-dootor" said really fast. Wish you could hear him.

everything AND the kitchen sink...

2008-08-28T15:49:00.002-05:00

Hello out there! I am thrilled to share my good news!!! I bought a kitchen sink today for our new home...my brand NEW kitchen! And, get this! I only paid $12.50 for it. It is a big vintage white porcelin double sink, and I got it at the Habitat for Humanity Re-Store. That place is awesome! Everything is used and cheap. I plan on getting old doors and door hardware there as well and who knows what else! Fixing up an old house with old things is way too much fun for me!

name change...

2008-08-27T14:45:00.003-05:00

I learned after posting about the little Kahn baby, that she is no longer "Zinah." In honor of her paternal grandparent's wishes, she is now named "Sheen" which means "snow." I will change the picture of her with her old name eventually, but I wanted to let everyone know. Either way, her name is just as beautiful as she is.

rain, rain go away....

2008-08-25T16:11:00.007-05:00

What fun we had this morning playing in the rain puddles with Farhaan. We kept singing "Rain, rain go away! Come again another day!" I absolutely love these pictures of John Stark and Farhaan! I am going to print them out really big and hang them up in our...

NEW HOME!!!!!!

Yes! As of this morning, we have a new home!!!! We'll close in three weeks. I'm without words! If you've read any of this blog at all, you will know how long we have waited to not only sell our old home in Memphis, but also to find a new one in Bowling Green. I've gotta go tell the boys as they just got home from school. They will be thrilled!!! Thank you so much for your prayers... especially those for our contentment while waiting.

Give thanks to the Lord for us!

Hello World!

2008-08-25T15:42:00.006-05:00

In Zinah's case, she literally is saying hello to the whole WORLD!

My good friend Nusrat asked me to post some pictures of her new baby girl on my blog so that her family and friends from India could see. This unfortunately is the only picture I have yet, but I've got to say that Zinah really is such a beautiful baby! I know people say that, but this little one becomes more gorgeous everyday! To use one of Nusrat's words, Zinah takes after her "smart" parents.

let us wonder...

2008-08-24T21:26:00.006-05:00

I just have to say what beautiful songs I have on my blog. I love to go to my little online "scrapbook" and look, remember, listen....been blogging for almost a year now. Wow!

I am even now listening to Chris Rice tell me how his soul wells up with Halleluiahs. I felt that way tonight at our Bible Study. We moved here over a year ago not knowing what to expect...excited, nervous, anxious, happy, sad. And, tonight as I looked around at our hodge-podge group of "Grace and Peacers," my soul was welling up and overflowing with thankfulness for what He is doing in our lives and the lives of those dear loved ones that He has also brought to our church-plant. It is the unimaginable, unthinkable, the more than we hoped for, that is what Jesus is in the business of doing. I see that more and more. To think that we get to be a part of a group of people who love us for who we are because Jesus loves them for who they are, and then to share that wonderful news with others in such amazing clarity and simplicity...what a gift! What an honor! You know, it is not that "my church" is that great or cool or has neat ideas and programs, it is that my church -a group of seriously real and messy people- loves a BIG God. So big that He gave up everything of value to fix a problem that we couldn't fix ourselves. He is a big God. His love is HUGE...bigger than our meager efforts to love Him back.

"Let us wonder; grace and justice join and point to mercy's store; when through grace in Christ our trust is, justice smiles and asks no more; he who washed us with his blood has secured our way to God." -John Newton

Justice smiles and asks no more. That quote is a sermon in and of itself. Great, rich, life-giving words. I hope they encourage you and bring truth to your life tonight. Thanks for reading.

p.s. I am posting that pic of Skip and JS again b/c everytime I look at it, it always reminds me of the realness of God's deep love for me...not because of what I have done but because He loved me first. I am His precious child, loved and adored. I am HIS.

a little poopy...

2008-08-22T20:33:00.013-05:00

I'm pooped tonight. (Some might think that I just typed
"I pooped tonight."
So if you're wondering...
I did neither.)
I've had so many great ideas, stories, pics, words of encouragement, photos of Nusrat's baby, etc. recently that I've wanted to post, but I can't seem to get enough time to get it done. We've had some big decisions to make and are also in the midst of negotiating for a home...negotiating with the owners for a good sale price and also negotiating between Skip and me on what all we want to do with the home. The latter of these negotiations is the most trying. Geezers! Do we see how important communication and the Gospel is there!! Skip and I am learning that if you're going to have a thriving -no not easy or necessarily "happy"- marriage, you have to be able to:
Forgive and Consider Others More Important than Yourself.
It is very hard work! And, we are so not there, but the struggle to love someone that way is worth every effort.
Anyway, there has been a song on my mind all week. It was played at Fred's funeral, and I love the melody and the lyrics. So I've uploaded that song and some others to inspire and encourage my faithful blog readers.
OK, to sum up what all has been going on with me this week in a sentence....
Jesus has been graciously drawing me back to Him as I tend to wonder away so often.
Take a moment and listen to the songs. You'll be thankful you did.

a southern lady...

2008-08-20T21:50:00.002-05:00

My grandmother Kate on our wedding day. She was the best-dressed one there (besides me and my man of course!). This isn't a very clear picture, but she has been on my mind tonight and I thought about how beautiful she looked on my wedding day, so I decided to post a picture. You can see how classy she is --97 years and counting and she can still turn heads when she walks into a room! Catherine Grandstaff Wyman is such a lady.

this weekend...

2008-08-18T21:02:00.003-05:00

Pics from this past weekend. We went downtown Bowling Green on Friday night to play in the fountains at "Circus Park," eat ice cream, drink wine, dance, chase, and listen to music. We had a great time. It was just so easy, you know...just pack up the kiddos, grab a blanket and some chairs, drive 5 minutes, find a parking place and just stroll over to the park. That is one of the many things we LOVE about our little town...things are just easier here, slower, smaller....
We love the downtown area too. Our church has been meeting at Verdi's restaurant on Fountain Square, and will pretty soon begin to have our worship services at State Street Baptist Church which is also downtown. That is such a blessing from the Lord!
Speaking of...moving here has given my family and me wonderful opportunities to share the love and grace of Jesus Christ with others. There are people literally from all over the world here in Bowling Green. It is such an honor to get to know these people and to have them share their lives with us. I have learned so much about different cultures and even more have I been loved -ever so richly- by my "foreign" friends.

glasses...

2008-08-18T20:39:00.006-05:00

On our kitchen counter lay the remains of not one $160 pair of glasses, but two. Now isn't that nice; we might as well even it out.
My children have super powers. Did you know this?
They have the AMAZING power of being able to demolish valuable objects just by thinking about it. They never, ever actually "touch" the objects.... that of course would mean that they were responsible for whatever has just been destroyed by the "Not Me" ghost.
I must say that I really do have extraordinary kids. After Vaiden and Caleb somehow broke the first pair of glasses in half, the other pair (the one pictured here) not five minutes later, just fell apart at Caleb's fingertips! Imagine that! I'm telling you; it's gotta be "The Force."
On the bright side of things... we did just look at house today that both Skip and I loved!!! It is way below our budget (more money for new glasses!) and is in need of some work, but that is exciting to me because it means that I get to "build" a house without actually building a house. We might be making an offer tomorrow! Pray and I'll keep you posted!

celebratory swingin...

2008-08-15T15:04:00.005-05:00

Aren't these two swinging giggle monsters the cutest ever! All smiley-proud in his "I'm the Big Brother" tee is our friend Fahhan. He lives across the street with his Mama -Nusrat, Daddy -Abid, and his brand new 1-day old baby sister Zinah! Yesterday morning Fahhan came over to our house because his mother was having some serious labor pains. Another neighbor/"adopted mom" of Nusrat took her to the hospital, and then early that afternoon, we welcomed little Zinah Abid Kahn into this world...two weeks early. Just the day before, John Stark and I spent some time with Fahhan and Nusrat shopping at the mall and running errands. When it was all said and done, there were two major themes of the day...walking and high blood pressure from all the wiggling, screaming, and constant merrymaking of two little Tasmanian devils. No wonder Nusrat had her baby early! It came as no surprise to me! Congrats to the Kahn family!! Thanks for letting us play a part in all the excitement!

first haircut...

2008-08-13T19:39:00.002-05:00

Yesterday I gave little John Stark his very first haircut. My friend Nusrat was the one who inspired me to go ahead and "clean up" his mop. Thanks "Lucy"! I love his new style. I think he looks soooooo sweet...not too grown up yet. Below is the before picture to show how long his curls really are when wet. Oh, and the infamous (unhealthy) poptart was my other friend Aimee's idea...tried and true first haircut bribery from a mom of five.

Ta-Da!!! Didn't I do a great job! I am proud of my work! Don't fret; he still has his lovely curls.

more bragging...

2008-08-13T19:28:00.000-05:00

Today being the "day after the first haircut," of course I had my camera with me nonstop. He just looks so different and so dang cute!! Can't get over the spaghetti face....

communicate!!!

2008-08-09T10:28:00.010-05:00

OK folks, I know there are LOTS of you all over the states who just love checking out our very, very goofy family. Who are you people?? For some crazy reason you just keep coming back to my blog. You've really got me curious! I know you are out there!! I see where you live, when you look at my site, how long you look, if you come back, what your networth is, if you really do pick your nose and yell at your children (just kidding about those last three ;) . It makes me so happy that you are interested, but I WANT TO KNOW WHO YOU ARE!!! If you live in any of theses cities, please don't continue to be a stranger! Give me a shout out...communicate! Leave a comment or email me paigelogandesigns@yahoo.com. Make yourself known!!

Jefferson County, KY

Westmoreland, TN

Waveland, MS

AR --Lowell, Hoxie, Dyess

SC -- Graniteville, Bath

Vancouver, WA

IL -- Bloomington, Glen Ellyn, Harvey

TX -- Spring, Plano

Augusta, GA

Westerville, OH

CA -- Rancho Cucamonga, Los Angeles

Kansas City, MO

Sioux City, Iowa

Tempe, AZ

Portland, OR

Oklahoma City, OK

Rochester, NH

NYC, NY

zoo pics...

2008-08-08T13:03:00.006-05:00

OK! I can upload pics now. Yeah!!

Vaiden and Caleb were the navigators through the zoo!

We saw HUGE turtles! They were awesome!

And this weird thing....

Skip and Caleb hanging out....talking evolution I guess.

Vaiden on the back of a real, life gorilla!!!

John Stark and Daddy road the "choo-choo"!! That was SO exciting! We are really into trains right now...a sign that my baby is turning into a little boy! And doesn't Skip have the most beautiful crystal clear blue eyes! They really are pretty.

See you later alligator! After while crocodile!

zooing back to school...

2008-08-04T20:41:00.003-05:00

Aren't I clever with my little "zooing" comment?! We went to the Louisville Zoo on Saturday for somewhat of a back-to-school-hoorah for the boys. It was really fun and a very cool zoo! On Friday night Skip and I went to see Dave Mathews and Willy Nelson at the baseball stadium in downtown Louisville. That was way too much fun! I was soaked with sweat from dancing so much. I think that was the third time I have seen Dave. Skip made fun of me and said that I was dancing like Elaine from Seinfeld, but I didn't care; the music was so good. I just wish he had played more of his older stuff. If anyone sees Mr. Mathews, please tell him that he needs to stick the older songs. Anyway, here are some pictures. And, also, we made another offer on the house we want, but they didn't accept or even counter. Their realtor thinks they're crazy. So we're off to look at two more houses again tomorrow. We like these, so we'll see! The boys start school tomorrow. They're excited! Me too!!!!! It has been a great summer, but I'm tired. Later....

arg! I can't upload the pics now due to an "internal error." I'll get them up as soon as I can.

house prayers...

2008-07-30T12:04:00.007-05:00

Please pray for us about this new home that we made an offer on Monday. We REALLY want it, but there is a strong possibility that we won't get it. Please pray for the hearts of the owners...that the Lord would change them to want to sell this house to us. They would have to come off the price significantly. And, please pray for us for patience, patience and more patience, and if it doesn't work out, we will still be thankful and content. I especially need this prayer. But, it just occured to me today as I was driving to pray for the hearts of the owners. God can do anything. He changes even the hardest hearts to love Him; so surely if He wanted, He can work this out as well. God is good all the time!! So pray that we will be joyful with whatever his goodness has in store for us!

With that in mind, Psalm 103 came to me...

"As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him."

"The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities."

as of late...

2008-07-28T21:23:00.001-05:00

As of late, we have...

been squirted in the bum by shooting water,

and have become obsessed with big brother's shoes,

learned of the joys of pulling around anything with wheels,

had long visits with very wise and funny 97 year old Great-Grandmother Kate,

loved every minute of riding around countless times in a little barrel with a cow face and a cow tail,

been seriously extactic about new Thomas the Train "choo choo" shoes, t-shirt, and train table,

visited with dear long-time best friends,

learned how to be pat a puppy gently,

and seen "Journey to the Center of the Earth" 3D!!!

All in a month's time! Happy Summer!

more beach pics...

2008-07-28T21:10:00.000-05:00

the end of the beginning...

2008-07-28T20:40:00.000-05:00

Today our Memphis home closed!! (At the end of typing that sentence, a voice in my head was singing the Hallelujah chorus!) And, today we made our very first offer on a Bowling Green home. So it truly is the end of the beginning of our move to BG almost a year ago. Below are pictures of the boys I took at our last stop to say goodbye to 2663 S. Crossvine Cove, Cordova, TN 38016. I got teared up as we walked through the empty house one more time, and Vaiden wept in the car. While sitting in the parking lot before going into a Mexican restaurant for lunch, the boys and I prayed for our beloved home's next inhabitants...that they would know the love and joy of Jesus that we did while we lived there. It was a sweet moment. And, then we went inside to get some cheese dip and chips and took turns telling memories of our lives in that house. I must say that you really don't realize how special a home and all the memories made therein is until you have to leave...even if your giving it up for something better, it is still a bittersweet experience. That was our first home...where Skip and I dated, lived as newlyweds and I became a mom of two and then of three young men. It was also where during my first trimester of pregnancy with John Stark, I planted three little flower beds, and the beautiful wisteria tree and honeysuckle vines and all the mint were given to me by my husband on my second Mother's Day. There are also lots of daffodils from Indiana planted all over the lawn that reminded me of my grandmother and lots of daylilies and then that one beautiful white iris from my mother-in-law that blooms every Easter. It is hard to leave these beloved flowers behind. I have flipped many a pancake, swept up after many dirty feet, played in the sprinkler, sat on the backporch with my husband drinking wine and watching the sun go down many times, talked to many neighbors about their lives, cried, laughed, slammed many a door and done lots of screaming, and making up, and forgiving and being forgiven, given lots of "group" hugs, lots of tickling and books and the fireplace and crazy dancing and chasing and singing...and we celebrated birthdays, first Christmas', Easters, and oh, the list could just go on and on. We have so many wonderful memories of that house and have learned and grown so much since first living there. So today we are happy to feel that it is the end of the beginning of our move to the wonderful city of Bowling Green, KY. And, if that offer works out, we'll be on the move once again. Another new beginning. Yeah!

When Skip moved to Memphis about 4 years ago, we had just started dating...which is a story in and of itself b/c as his brand new "girlfriend" I spent LOTS of time helping this man move and set up house, and I would be lying if said that there weren't moments during which I thought "I sure do hope this relationship ends up being worth all of the effort I am putting into it." Needless to say, it was. But, anyway, these pics of the boys are special because we have some of Caleb, little-bitty sitting out on the front lawn next to the "SOLD" sign on the day that Skip moved into this great house.

back to blytheville...

2008-07-12T20:58:00.001-05:00

Go Arkansas Razorbacks!!! We were in Blytheville at Grandaddy and Grandmom's for the 4th of July. Fireworks -especially stink bombs and bottlerockets (lots of those)- were shot and old friends got to catch up. Skip is pictured below with his childhood buddies Trey Hale and Teddy Huffman. We miss you guys and I (Paige) am still waiting to get those dates from you!!

Go Razorbacks!

PDP...old favorites

2008-07-09T22:50:00.000-05:00

"PDP" stands for "Paige's Daily Pic." You all need to remember that!

OK, these are some of my old favorites when it comes to pictures of my boys.

First official Mother's Day the May after our wedding. They were so sweet, and I wore a huge pink tissue paper flower corsage from Vaiden. I still have it.

Too goofy! Caleb still makes this face! Skip and I remember how Vaiden used to smile real big and nodd his head when he was excited about something.

Baseball pictures. We have so many good memories! Go Redbirds!!!

The Spiderman, Fruit Loop necklace phase. Those Superman pj's are a legacy in our home. It won't be long before John Stark can fit in them. How crazy!

Absolutely timeless picture of these brothers. The way they are standing and even their expressions are so unique and adorable. I LOVE this picture. It is from the first MD as well.

I love you guys and am so thankful that you are my sons!

new endeavor..."pic of the day"

2008-07-07T12:50:00.000-05:00

In honor of my dear husband. I am so thankful for you! This picture was taken at the Memphis Zoo Christmas lights exhibit while we were engaged. I can't believe it has been over three years! I wouldn't change any of it for the world, Skip! I love you!

And, this lovely pic is in honor of Summer! Vaiden and Caleb...little bitty when this was taken...spontaneously got it into their heads to shed their clothes and catch some rays in the backyard. This is a really funny memory of ours!

lessons....

2008-07-06T11:09:00.000-05:00

(If you don't read all of my rambling (I don't blame you), but please at least read the bottom part. Someone wiser than me wrote it.)

Well, Fred's funeral is over, and we are all left to make sense of the unreal events of this past week. That we could learn of a loved one's death, worry about how we are going to tell our boys that their cousin's father died and then quickly change plans so that we can go to his funeral and then actually make the trip and then cry and laugh and question and remember and especially to see his wife and children emptied out with grief, and then to leave, come home and go on with our lives.... It is so much to do, so much emotion and bafflement that it leaves me thinking - Did all this really just happen? In just a few day's time? Life is so unpredictable and then when the unimaginable happens, we are left to wrestle with how frail our lives really are. As the days pass, we have no idea what comes next. And, once again, God in his graciousness allows the pain of this world to restore our sanity.... He rescues us from our foolish assumption that this life is all that we have. He shows us that all of our hoarding and our efforts to be in control, to be "comfortable...." They are robbing us from the heaven-sent joys of daily, hourly thankfulness for what we do have and especially for the eternal surety, the scandalous grace that is ours in Christ. How foolish and silly we are...I am. As I am in the process of looking for a new house, I have found myself fretting and almost sick to my stomach with worry. It is an ongoing struggle...knowing that God knows what is best with our houses, our things, money, children, spouses, time...everything, and then wanting what I think is best.
I read the following this morning from Oswald Chambers "My Utmost for His Highest" July 4 entry....

"Fret not thyself, it tendeth only to evil doing." Ps. 37:8

"Fretting means getting out at elbows mentally or spiritually. It is one thing to say 'Fret not,' but a very different thing to have such a disposition that you find yourself not able to fret. It sounds so easy to talk about 'resting in the Lord' and 'waiting patiently for Him' until the nest is upset -until we live, as so many are doing, in tumult and anguish, is it possible then to rest in the Lord? If this 'don't' does not work there, it will work nowhere. This 'don't' must work in days of perplexity as well as in days of peace, or it never will work. And if it will not work in your particular case, it will not work in anyone else's case. Resting in the Lord does not depend on external circumstances at all, but on your relationship to God Himself.
Fussing always ends in sin. We imagine that a little anxiety and worry are an indication of how really wise we are; it is much more an indication of how really wicked we are. Fretting springs from a determination to get our own way. Our Lord never worried and He was never anxious, because He was not 'out' to realize His own ideas; He was 'out' to realize God's ideas. Fretting is wicked if you are a child of God. Have you been bolstering up that stupid soul of yours with the idea that your circumstances are too much for God? Put all 'supposing' on one side and dwell in the shadow of the Almighty."

Fred Stovall

2008-07-01T20:43:00.000-05:00

Skip is pictured here with his longtime friend and brother-in-law Fred Stovall. Fred was Skip's first wife, Katherine's, sister's husband. We are extremely saddened that Fred suddenly died in his sleep this past week. Please keep this precious family in your prayers. More info and pictures below....

Funeral services for Dr. Warren Fred Stovall, dentist, loving husband, devoted father, Christian, friend will be Thursday July 3, 2008 at Fellowship Bible Church in Jackson TN at 11:00am. The family will receive friends from 9:00am until the time of the service. The family will also receive friends from 3pm to 4pm at Cobb Funeral Home in Blytheville AR and then the burial will be at 4:30 at Elmwood Cermetary in Blytheville AR. Dr. Stovall died Friday, June 27,2008 in Colorado.
Fred was born February 11, 1971 in Blytheville, Arkansas. He honorably served his country in the United States Navy before attending dental school at the University of Tennessee. He then attended a residency program at the University of Maryland in Baltimore..Fred owned and operated his onw dental practice in Rutherford TN for 8 1/2 years. Most recently, he and his family had moved to Vail Colorado where he opened up a dental practice in Glenwood Springs in the Vail Valley.
Fred loved GOD, his family, the Arkansas Razorbacks, the outdoors, and traveling. He was finally realizing his dream of moving to Colorado so that he and his family could enjoy skiing and the outdoors. He was a member of Fellowship Bible Church.
He was a loving husband to his wife, Marion Overstreet Stovall and a devoted father to his three children: Caroline (9), Jack (2), and Izzie (1 month) who survive him. Hi is also survived by his mother Margaret Stovall and his father Fred Brown and his step-father Bill Stovall and his sister Bonnie Stovall and his brother Adam Stovall..
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that financial contributions be made to the children's educational fund either at Trinity Christian Academy at 10 Windy City Road, Jackson TN 38305 or towards their college fund.

Picture of my boys with Caroline and Jack last summer.

This pic was taken right before Skip and I were married. Marion was so kind to accept me as Vaiden and Caleb's new mother.

Vaiden and Caroline have known each other all their lives. They are very, very close.

I love this picture. It really does express the love that these cousins share.

Jack is almost exactly a year older than John Stark. He and JS are friends too. Jack will miss his daddy.

We love you Marion, Caroline, Jack and Izzie so much! We are praying for you and will see you soon. We miss you Fred.

"He will keep in perfect peace all who put their trust in Him."
(I can't remember the verse but it came to mind as I created this post).

movin' on up...

2008-06-24T15:59:00.000-05:00

Vaiden and Caleb are on to bigger and brighter things. V is in D.C. right now with his grandparents and Caleb is also visiting some other gparents in Jackson, TN and Oxford, MS. I think you can tell from these pics that Vaiden aspires to be a Steak and Shake chef and Caleb is going to be a Power Ranger. WOW! What goals you have! We are so proud of you both! We miss you ALOT!!! Hugs and kisses from Mommy and Daddy and John Stark! And, Caleb, Razorback wants to know when you are going to clean out his fishtank?? Vaiden, Mr. Steve says Hello!

john stitch

2008-06-24T15:29:00.000-05:00

Today we are celebrating the week anniversary of our youngest's name change. John Stark Logan is now officially known as "John Stitch." Last Tuesday, this little explorer decided to fall off the couch and split his forehead on our new coffee table. After frantically rushing to the local Urgent Care, we were told it might be better to take JS to the ER where a cosmetic surgeon could work on him. A few hours and several Mommy breakdowns later, John Stark was "papoosed," good and numb with only his head and little toes visible while Dr. Moss sewed him up. Poor child screamed and whimpered,
"Mahhhhmy...All dun?? All dun???"
"No baby, not all done. But we will be in a minute and we'll go home and see Vaiden and Caleb and play" (etc.)...
"Scream!!!!!!!"
"Mahhhhmy...Nana??" (milk)
"No baby....."
"Scream!!!!!"
Bless his heart, this went on and on and about killed me! But, he was a big boy and aften 15 stitches, John Stark even earned a red popsicle, lots of stickers and a rubber duck. Finally we went home and a few days later Mommy sprained her ankle. So it has been a crazy week here. Praise God...it could have been worse!

The picture below was taken after a brilliant idea to somewhat "even out" John boy's new face. We laughed and laughed. Vaiden and Caleb thought it was hillarious that their little brother had turned into Dr. Evil!!!
"One Meeeeellion Co-ooookies...Woooah ah ah!!!"
Ha! Good times!

sand and sunsets...

2008-06-15T23:00:00.000-05:00

Ok, so my back hurts from sitting here editing these pictures.... I love to really bring out the color and since so many of them are my favorites, I just have to "perfect" all of them. Anyway, I was planning on making a slideshow but have just realized that it is more work that I am up to tonight. So for now, I'm just going to post some of my favorite 2008 beach pictures. There are more to come of course, but here are a few. And kudos to the Eagins (young couple who went to the beach with us) for being our photographers! Thanks!

goodbye beach...

2008-06-13T20:58:00.000-05:00

Yes, unfortunately, the fun at Gulf Shores this summer is over

-at least for us. Today was our last day. We had a blast and will have pictures to prove it in the coming days. Love to all and see you soon!

like a big boy...

2008-06-06T16:32:00.000-05:00

he's always on the go!

summertime fun...

2008-06-06T16:22:00.000-05:00

we're back...

2008-06-01T22:45:00.000-05:00

Skip and I just got back from the sunny state of California where we spent a week ALONE!!! After flying into Sacramento for a wedding, we rented a brand new convertable with only 4 miles to its name! So we christened the Seabring with a long beautiful drive down Hwy 1. Then we explored "wine country" as we stayed in Monterey for a few nights and then two nights at a B&B in Napa. We also spent alot of time in Carmel...which was our favorite. If you go to CA, please don't ever make the mistake of missing out on all the beauty and charm that "Carmel by the Sea" has to offer!!! Be sure to find a quaint cottage in that sweet town which shouldn't be hard because they are everywhere...surrounded by roses and every other flower known to man! As I sit here thinking of the right words to type describing ALL that we saw, ALL that we experienced, I am simply blank. I'll just say that the Pacific waters smashing up against massive undisturbed rocks and pebble beaches as well as the huge rolling hills.... ahhh....

Playing in ALL that --freely-- with my best friend, with lots of really fine wine, and without any interruptions was one of the most exhillerating and energizing experiences of my life. I know this must really sound cliche, but I honestly did feel like a child in God's playground. Take a look at the pics. They are some of our favorites....

P.S. Skip wanted me to point out that the first picture of us is in front of the 18th hole at Pebble Beach Golf Course. Any jealous golfers out there?? (he wanted me to say that too!) :)

bubbles

2008-05-14T20:20:00.001-05:00

Oh! How we love the bubbles! I got a "bubble machine" the other day that blows gazillions of bubbles with the push of a button! It is just so cool...so much so, that when John Stark saw the package with our new toy, he couldn't stop saying "WooooW!" This particular new technology has created a stir in our little corner of the apartment complex. There were bubbles everywhere floating down from our balcony the other day, and all the kids (and adults) stopped to take it all in. Bubble paradise!

i lied....

2008-04-20T20:25:00.000-05:00

I promised more pictures and stories, but have not delivered. So very sorry! Aren't the Logan boys sweet? And oh...I have taken SOOOO many pictures of them. I'm jsut going to start posting pictures that have been taken over the past few months. They are of play times at the park, Vaiden's birthday (see the "8" birthday pancake!), Christmas visit to Grandaddy's and Grandmom's in AR, hanging out around the house and rub-a-dub-dubbing in the tub...to name a few!

the lost tooth....

2008-03-21T10:08:00.001-05:00

I'm a little late, but I saw in an earlier blog where I had mentioned something about Caleb losing his first tooth. So here is the proof! He is holding our Logan Tooth Pillow. Everytime one of the boys loses a tooth, I write in permanent pen whose tooth was lost and the date. A good tradition we think. Yeah for Caleb!!!

yoda love...

2008-03-19T21:29:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday Caleb! He obviously loves Star Wars, so this 6 year old requested a "Yoda" cake. This homemade concoction was the best I could come up with. I love to make their birthday cakes. It is a real joy and priviledge to me, and it is so neat to look back over the years at pictures of the boys proudly leaning over their special bday cakes. This year, Caleb realized what I had been trying to prove to him all along.... Mommy's cakes are so much better than store-bought because they are "made with love." You know those cake books that we all used to look at every time we went to Kroger as a child (I guess it was the Piggly Wiggly for me). Oh how beautiful they were! This year both boys just had to have one of those "professional cakes." (I guess it is part of maturing --you begin to outgrow homemade anything). Anyway, when Caleb's actual birthday party came around, the chocolate-Yoda-mess that I came up with just wouldn't cut it for a group of Kindergartners, so the professionals made what was supposed to be a very exciting Star Wars cake for Caleb's birthday party. It turned out to be a little dissappointing not only aesthetically, but also it tasted pretty bad. Though we wasted a good $20, I was thankful for the oppotunity to teach my boys a very valuable lesson. I eagerly reminded them that the bakery ladies make their cakes because they get paid to, but Mommy makes birthday cakes for free because they are made "with love."

old, new year's resolutions...

2008-03-18T22:14:00.000-05:00

OK, after extremely frustrating computer difficulties and a growing number of "why aren't you blogging anymore...where are the pictures?????," I have a very, very, very solemn pledge for all of you Logan Family Circus fans (my own little fan club...how sweet!). See my oath below and thanks for caring!

I, Paige Logan, do earnestly resolve to post at least 4 pictures every week. Furthermore, I (Paige Logan) will so seriously endeavor to not indulge the perfectionistic control-freak self that I am, and instead I will post precious pictures and thoughtful, sincere stories that will keep everyone up to date of the unpredictable "going-ons" in the Logan household. From this day forward, I do promise.
Stay tuned for more pics...maybe you'll even see some birthday pics. All three of my boys have had bdays this winter and not a pic has been posted yet. In fact, I'll just start catching up there. Love to all and goodnight. P.S. Be sure to click on the the picture above b/c you don't want to miss the many expressions of my little man.

baby, it's cold outside...

2008-01-02T10:55:00.001-06:00

It is really cold here in Bowling Green today! John Stark and I went out for something this morning, and the temp was 16 degrees with a windchill of 4!!! So for the rest of the day, we are staying in. I've got to say that I really do miss our fireplaces in our Memphis home. I loved the warmth and the sound and even the way the fires looked. We all loved them. After playing outside in the cold winter, the boys so enjoyed sitting in front of the fire with their shirts off. I have some sweet memories of V and C doing that often. Having the luxury of a fireplace is one of the things I have really, really longed for this winter. Speaking of missing things...I think I have (in some ways) forgotten what it is like to live in a bigger house. We have been so blessed with being able to live in a larger home for the past three years. Being in an 1100 square foot apartment has really shown me that. I am thankful for our new (temporary) home, but the desire of my heart to have a "real" home where we can spread out, play in our backyard and maybe even have a fireplace is growing stronger and more intense as the months go on. Please, please pray for our house to sell. We had someone look at it the other day. I found myself asking the Lord to please let this couple be "the one." But, you know, more importantly, please pray for us (me in particular) that He would make us even the more thankful and content with the lot He has given us right now. We truly are blessed; I know this. Even though someday we'll have what I refer to as a "real home," in reality even a street address only pales in comparison to our real REAL home with Him. This life is only a shadow and yet to think of all the material riches He has given my family just in the "shadow." Puts things into perspective, doesn't it?I am praying that I won't miss out on that reality while I spend these days hoping for a house with a fireplace. Maybe that is part of the reason God has us here for a time. But, still please pray for our house and for our hearts. Much love to all and thanks!

joy to the world!

2007-12-25T16:21:00.001-06:00

Merry Christmas everyone! Now that the holidays are almost over, I am planning on catching up on my blogging. We've had so much happen since the beginning of November. Alot of good and alot of new! But, back to Christmas...today was a wonderful day in our home. Santa brought Razorback the red beta fish (and a whole jar of worms to feed him, ugh!), an electric globe, lots of Star Wars treasures, new slippers for me, a robe for S, a laughing Elmo for JS, a chemistry set for V, real basketball shoes for C, and a note for all of us reminding us that "Santa brings the gifts, but Jesus is why we celebrate Christmas." As was said over and over again this morning while opening our gifts and from the last "P.S." on his annual letter, Santa just knows best, doesn't he?

curly and stark naked...

2007-12-04T21:55:00.001-06:00

I just had to show off JS's curly hair.

(Please excuse the nakedness, if it bothers you :)

Speaking of nakedness, JS's name is from family names. The "S" part came from my side. My brother, father and grandfather all had the same name which included the S part. Anyway, I think it is funny that when my brother was young --and probably still even now, he was nicknamed "Naked" by his buddies. Get it?? I think that was pretty clever of middle school boys to think of.

So here is a picture of our own little "Naked" being...stark naked.

B.B.B.W.W.

2007-11-24T11:01:00.000-06:00

Just in case you don't know...

B.B.B.W.W. stands for

"Best Biggest Brother in the Whole World!"

And, it is the absolute truth.
Just in case you didn't know....

happy thanksgiving!!!

2007-11-21T23:32:00.001-06:00

Ok, I know I really need to get some birthday pics up since JS has been a year old for over two weeks now. It's just that there are SO many bday pictures to choose from...it is a bit overwhelming. But, we did have a great birthday especially with the family members that came into town for the celebration. (Thanks for coming!). I'll post some more pics soon. I took the ones below today out in our apartment complex parking lot (and got some strange looks). I was inspired by the rain, shiney concrete and the beautiful, ever-changing leaves. It was a lovely day. We also have a golf course with a very long white fence behind our new home...and an airport to entertain us. So there's alot to look at. The picture with this post is absolutely one of my favorite pictures of John Stark. It really shows his personality...joyful. I took it probably about a month ago. There are so many playgrounds here in BG. I took the boys that particular day to play on one of them. It was fun, and of course, I got some neat pictures of all three boys. Enjoy and thanks for looking!!!

rainy day and airplanes...

2007-11-21T23:22:00.000-06:00

say Hello!!!

2007-11-09T17:50:00.000-06:00

I can go to my fancy "Google Analytics" page and see how many people are looking at my blog and where those people are located and alot of other really needless information. But, there are LOTS of people looking from ALL over the world, and often I am trying to figure who those people could possibly be. SO...please tell me who you are. I know it is tough to leave a comment...(you have to have an account and all that ridiculousness). But, my email is paigelogandesigns@yahoo.com, and I would love to get some mail from you stangers (or maybe not so strange) all over the world who read my blog. I want to know WHO YOU ARE!!!