Christmas Morning...

Christmas Eve

CHRISTMAS TIME IS HERE -

Pap is Santa

Our exchange students Francesca (from Italy) and Bianca (from Austria) enjoying their American Christmas

Nathan's first Christmas - I think he likes it :)

Sibling Fun

Nathan and Great Pap

HAPPINESS AND CHEER!

Merry Christmas

One of my most favorite Christmas traditions! We were trying to take pictures of all the kids with Great Pap and the babies were crying so we all starting singing. Here it is...

Merry Christmas!

Daddy Worship time

This was the very end of tonight's worship time Matt had with the kids. It started w/David sitting on the bench and the song "Jesus Loves Me". Then, it blossomed into this...

Field Trip!

Hayride...

Corn Maze...

We found Dorothy!!!

playtime...

Pumpkin patch...

Fun with Friends

A day chaperoning my daughter's kindergarten field trip...PRICELESS!

Best Friends!

I love my family. I will say it again, I love my family! You see there is something very special about my family...it is mine. I can not explain it, but even in their craziness, they are the best. I remember growing up, and for the longest time, my dad and my uncle only had girls...6 all together, and we lived no more than 5 minutes from each other. I loved being with my older girl cousins. I always wanted to be with them and cried when we had to leave them. They were older than me, and I always wanted to be like them.

Now, half of the girls have kids, and our kids seem to have picked up where we left off. Yesterday, the girls were at a scrap booking retreat and the boys raked leaves and played w/trains. When Matt, David, and Nathan came to pick us up, David comes to me crying saying, "I miss my cousins." My cousin Stacey (whose boy's David is referring to) and I say, "We know how you feel. We never wanted to leave each other either."

Here are our girls - They LOVE LOVE LOVE being together, and we LOVE LOVE LOVE it too :)

Oh, David!!!

Well, we are working on potty training with David, and...needless to say, it is not really "happening" yet :) .

Example - While working on potty training, David wet grandma's living room floor.

Grandma says, "David, you are not supposed to pee on the floor. Where are you supposed to pee?"

David, "In my diaper."

Transformed

I was inspired by one of my friend's blogs about life and sacrificing for Christ. As many of you know, we made a decision to leave a very secure/wonderful life to serve Jesus in full-time missions. Well, it didn't turn out the way we thought and here I am with these thoughts...

I've never been one to "keep up with the Joneses". In fact, I do know some of my limitations :) I am not a great housekeeper or cook, I lose things from time to time, I do not always walk out of the house with the best clothes or with makeup on, I do not always get thank you notes out on time, I do not make gift bags for my children's birthday parties, I do not usually iron my kids/husbands clothes, etc...etc..etc... TRUST ME there is much more...

To be honest, where I am in my life right now is not really where I thought I would be. I thought I would have my own house, a great job, and be financially secure in the world's eyes. I thought I would be that "perfect" mom, neighbor, family member, daughter-in-law, friend, etc... You know the one that always sends gifts, has parties, bakes, and looks good doing it :) Well, I am not perfect, in fact, I am far from it, but I have learned something very special in this time in my life, "HIS power is made perfect in MY weakness."

Do you ever feel like you don't really "fit" in this world, like your life is on hold and you are an outsider to others? Boy, I sure do! Before this time in my life ever happened, I feared what life would be like w/o money. Now that I have had this time in my life, I no longer FEAR money for I know without a shadow of a doubt He provides everything we need just at the right moment. It might not be as much as I wanted but it is always enough and even more than expected.

You see, I am being transformed...not the way I ever imagined and it is not easy, but it is good! I have hope that maybe someday I'll have my own house, a great job again, more clothes than just 1 pair of jeans that fit and a few t-shirts. That life will someday again feel "somewhat normal".

(the following is a conclusion to my thoughts written by a friend...I could write it in my own words, but it would not be quite as good...)

When or if that day ever happens...I’ll never be who I used to be. I’ll enjoy the same things as I used to eventually, but it will never be the same. I’ll enjoy them differently…in a different light. Praise G0D!! I’m being transformed, and sometimes it scares me. Who am I turning into? I found comfort in what I used to value.
“…The L0RD gave me what I had, and the L0RD has taken it away. Praise the name of the L0RD!” Job 1:21.

I’m learning that as G0D strips me of who I used to be, he replaces it with an unfailing trust in Him. My prayer is that G0D will teach my children in this season through the example of their parents. That somehow they will see this season (although it is not always fun and their parents are by no means perfect) as an example of our invitation to suffer with Christ and the joy and blessings that come from it.

My little Ballerina!

This picture makes me so happy. I have waited years for this and now I am able to see one of my dreams come true. My little girl is in dance class. She is taking tap and ballet. She, of course, loves ballet more, but just watching her dance brings me so much joy.

"You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever." Psalm 30:11-12

Apple Pickin'

"But the fruit of the Spirit is...

Love,

Joy,

Peace,

Patience,

...kindness,goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control." Galatians 5:22

The Fair!

It has been 10 years, but I finally made it back to our county fair. For those of you that don't know...I grew up showing animals at the fair with my sisters, cousins, and friends (I was even the fair queen...hahaha). I have so many wonderful memories and this past week I was able to enjoy it all again with my family.

Abby milking a "cow"

Quintin wins the tractor pull

Seth's Grand Champion Pony

Grandma and Nathan enjoying the sheep show
Seth showing his sheep
Our friend Abigail showing her sheep :) She kept giving it kisses.
My boys enjoying the pig show...
Highlights of week...
1. Seth's pig jumping the show gate into the stands.
2. Awoman turns around in the stands, looks at my husband and says, "You never showed animals before did you?"

Seth showing his pig.
Dad and Uncle Tracy at the pig show...continuing the tradition for over 40 years

Eating lunch in the horse barn

The reason why I like the fair soooo much...
...Because it is something we all did TOGETHER.

She's Baaack!

My little girl is back from her first day of Kindergarten. I asked her if she is ready to do it all again tomorrow. She replied, "You bet I am!"

And now...she's sleeping on the couch :)

First Day of School!

Today is a BIG day! Our lives will never be the same. My first baby is off to Kindergarten. I will miss her, and I know David will too! She is ready...from her letters to opening milk cartons :)

Today she woke up early, jumped in bed with mommy as mommy fed Nathan, got dressed, and had blueberry muffins for breakfast. It is such a special day. We prayed together and I could hear her starting to cry. When we finished, she walked away to get a tissue trying to hide her tears. I guess she is going to miss us too.

She is in the same Kindergarten classroom her Daddy and Mommy were in when we were in Kindergarten...how special!

Daddy put her on the bus and now here I am trying to process my feelings. "Will she be ok?""What are we going to do today w/o her?", etc... A new chapter of our lives has started.

Many Faces of Nathan

The Sleepy...

The Serious...

The Dazed...

The Happy...

The Content...


The Silly...

The "Melt my heart because you are just so cute :)"

"The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17 NIV