Sunday, October 30, 2011

Rifleman

Stephen and Caleb took another Appleseed (see earlier posts) course this weekend.  Guess who made rifleman?  My honey!  I am so very proud of him.  He is already working at the Appleseed next weekend.  Caleb did a great job too.  He was able to shoot without using a rest for the rifle this time and he made marksman.  I love the after glow when he gets home.  He is full of chatter and so proud to have been with Papa all weekend.







Caleb earned a flag for his wall :)


Next step for Stephen - Instructing
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Friday, October 28, 2011

Calling a Snow Day

Snow!!  A couple days ago we were blessed with a snowstorm.  The boys of course couldn't wait to get in it.  I was a little hesitant . . it didn't really fit in our schedule for the morning,  what about school,  but I would have to get all the snow stuff out and outfit them and create a huge mess . . . . . Then I felt the nudge - Let them go out, let them enjoy the snow.  Well I learned something.  We have passed into a new season with kiddos, not only did I not have to get the older ones ready but they helped dress the younger ones too!  The kids ran out into the falling snowflakes grinning from ear to ear.   They rolled in the snow, made snow angels, made snowmen, had snowball fights . . .  At one point Titus came tearing through the house  - snow flying everywhere - and got a bowl from the kitchen.  He was jabbering the whole way but he was so excited I couldn't understand most of it.  After he got back outside I looked at the trail he had left and could only shake my head and smile but Hadassah loved it.  She ran from snow pile to snow pile squealing.  What a great day to call off school!  I think the kids played for almost 6 hours total throughout the day.

















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Thursday, October 27, 2011

Big belly

So tonight my husband had a soldier in our home purchasing a firearm.  My lovely daughter ran up to the poor unsuspecting man who was getting ready to walk out the door and said, "  MY mama has another baby in her tummy - that is why her Belly is so BIG!"                                                                                    His eyebrows shot up to his hairline and he just looked at her not sure what to say.  I was having the hardest time not breaking out into hysterical giggles.  Stephen shut the door and turned around to find me bent over losing it.                                                                                                                                            Kids have such honesty :D

Almost 12 Weeks

My 11 1/2 week belly, the biggest I have been at this stage.  The picture looks a little smaller than I am.
I can feel it . . the energy returning, the nausea lessening, my brain semi-returning :P This week my house is suddenly returning to a clean or almost clean state, the kids school is getting done again (with my involvement now), I am getting dinner on the table (mostly) . . .

Is this because I am almost at the 12 week mark? Yes, partly. But the bigger reason I think is God has amazingly helped me to have my own time with him in the mornings. 5:30am :/ and yet I am able to get out of bed or lay in bed and read the word. Just the ability to do that right now is from him. The change in perspective and my attitude has been head spinning. So while I can feel the first trimester yuckys passing, much more I can see God meeting me where I am and gently helping me see where I have not been getting my strength.

John
1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.  Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.


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Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Date Night

Last night we had a date night - but not a Stephen and I date night - a big boy date night (and me).  For the last three weeks we have enjoyed planning a special night with our three oldest.  There was a movie coming out that they were very excited to see.

So the five of us bought junk food - some wanted root beer floats and some of us wanted cherry pie and ice cream and one certain adult (not me) wanted both. 





We had fun eating yummies and chatting then we snuggled and watched a movie.  After the movie we all settled in for a slumber party in our living room.  Our three boys have been working so hard to help me right now while I am not as on top of things.  It was fun to just spend an evening of playtime with them.

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Wednesday, October 19, 2011

A New Adventure Begins

Hi all, I know I have left you hanging about Stephen's shoulder.  Right now the doctors don't think Stephen will needs surgery again.  BUT at the doctor appointment the process was officially started for him to be medically discharged.  It is supposed to take at least 6 months for the process to be complete.  We are excited about the new adventure God is taking us on, though uncertain exactly what that adventure is going to look like. 



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Hadassah's hair has gotten so long and is so curly that I am having a hard time knowing how to tame it. Especially when she wakes up from naps like in these pictures :)



I am loving that her brothers adore her.  She runs to them all the time for a hug or if she needs help.



Brother, my shoe needs fixing.


What great big brothers!  It makes me a little jealous that I never had one;)

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Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Prayer Request

Before I get to the prayer request, I had to show you what happens when my baby bats her eyes at her daddy. We were getting ready for a run to the store and the peanut brought her papa a shoe and smiled and said, "peeease". He put it on her. A few minutes later she brought him another shoe with a smile. . . . . . So here we are heading to Walmart and I look at my baby's feet. "Stephen, what is on her feet." He says, "well I thought at least they are opposite shoes." (meaning they are on the right feet) Oh well, yes, we did take her to the store like this.

I LOVE this picture that Isabella made for me. At first I thought she spelled mom upside down and then she told me, "Look it says WOW, mom." " It is you and me :) "

This next picture shows that when I have a ridiculously grumpy crying baby all the way through science and Bible time that maybe she just needed me to put her to bed. Isabella found her like this in our family room snoozing away.


OK, Prayer request. Today while Stephen was walking through the parking lot at work his shoulder slipped out of socket a little bit. Please click here - Waiting . . .   Ironically he has his big appointment on Friday.  This could change our plans quite a bit.  It could be an indicator that he will need the surgery a third time which is daunting.  Please pray for God's will in this situation and that Stephen would have wisdom in his communications with the doctor.  Stephen's shoulder is also in even more pain right now - even with the morphine they have him on.
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Monday, October 10, 2011

During Bible Time Tonight

"Papa, excuse me, papa, what does dis-grace-ful mean?"
"It means  . . shameful, Isabella."
"Oh, oh that is bad." ~ Isabella
"Yes, that is is bad."
"hmmmm . . so it is good to not sleep through the harvest."

" Papa, I thought at first it was good . . "

Proverbs 10:5
The son who gathers during summer is prudent; the son who sleeps during harvest is disgraceful.

So cute!  I love listening to the little ones learn God's Word.  I love when things start to soak in enough to make them ponder them in their heart.  What a blessing it is to give our little ones the foundation for their worldview!  There is nothing so sweet to me as hearing His Truth come from my babies' mouths.

Saturday, October 8, 2011

First Snow

Blustery Snowy Day, Crackling Fire, Christmas Carols, Hot Chocolate, Cider, A Baby's First Snow
              What a Glorious Day!
Isabella came squealing into our room this morning, "Mama, it is snowing!"   Sure enough, it fell in great wet clumps; our cars were covered.    Stephen went from being sleepy to whistling about the house with Christmas carols ringing from his robe pocket.   Caleb had his coat and boots on before I had my eyes all the way open.  He went up and down from our back deck loaded with wood. 

He is probably the most ready for roaring fires again.

Hadassah was a little confused by the snow at first.  It did win her heart over though.





THIS is why Caleb was ready for those fires.  All last winter this was his favorite place to be, reading, doing school, talking with friends . . . .





This afternoon we went to a friends house and had great fellowship and a lot more snow :)
Our family found out today that we are all so ready for winter!

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