Silence...

Isn't silence nice sometimes? It's a rare treat around here, LOL! Anyhow, I do have lots of pictures and fun things to share with ya'll but it will have to wait just a bit longer. I just had to pull myself away from a rousing game of air hockey to type this much. :) By the way, I won my game against Sean! That's right, Air Hockey Queen's in the house. 


Only 1 day and my sweet 9lb baby boy will be a married man. Oh man, does time fly! We've had a light dusting of snow which will make the wedding even that much more beautiful. 


In other news, last night we had a wonderful surprise. One of Ryan's friends that we've adopted as our own came back for Zachary's wedding. He recently moved about 4 hours away and we have missed him terribly. :( You should have heard the screams of all the little's when they saw "our" Dereck! It was precious. So our boy is home for a few days and we are going to enjoy every.single.moment. Life is way too short!


And just because I know I will forget later.... as the little's were getting ready to go outside and play we heard a helicopter flying low. Real low! He circled over and over again right around our house and then  it seemed he was planning on landing but flew off instead. The boys were SO EXCITED!! I mean this copter was LOW! He did return several times flying over the area and we saw several state troopers flying down the road too so most likely it's an escapee of some sort. We live in the mountains with prime places to hide so this isn't the first time nor the last for this kind of "action" around here. :) It makes Psalm 91 that much more important to me!

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High

will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress,

my God, in whom I trust.

Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare

and from the deadly pestilence.

He will cover you with his feathers,

and under his wings you will find refuge;

his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

You will not fear the terror of the night,

nor the arrow that flies by the day,

nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,

nor the plague that destroys at midday.

A thousand may fall at your side,

ten thousand at your right hand,

but it will not come near you.

You will only observe with your eyes

and see the punishment of the wicked.  

Psalm 91: 1-8 

Alrighty then...back to the game and winning.....much to Sean's chagrin! :)

Christmas around the world....

I can't write a post without a fabulous picture to go with it so here you go.....my littles ready to go on our annual "see the lights" ride. Homemade cookies, hot cocoa and jammies...nothing better! :)    (One child missed out on the extras of the cookies and cocoa. Bet you can't guess which one)

This month in school we've been studying about "Christmas Around the World". It's been fun to learn how other cultures celebrate and to hear Kyalynn trying so hard to say Merry Christmas in another language! LOL! So I thought it would be fun to share with you some of what we learned this month.

How to say Merry Christmas in:

China - Kung Hei Shing Taan (goong-hoh-sheng-tahn)

Russia - S'Rozhdestvom Khristovym (z'roh-DESHT-vohm KRIS-too-vim)

Mexico - Feliz Navidad (feh-LEES na-vee-DAHD)

Swahili (Africa) - Sikukuu ya Kuzaliwa Kristo (see-koo-koo yah koo-zah-lee-wah kree-stow)

Arabic (Saudi Arabia) - Miladun Said (mee-lah-doon sah-yeed)

France - Joyeaux Noel (Zwah-YUH noh-EHL)

Hawaii - Mele Kalikimaka (MAY-lay kah-LEE-kee MAH-kah)

Brazil - Feliz Natal (feh-LEES nah-TAHL)

Tamil (Sri Lanka) - Kirusmas Vazphuphal (KROOZ-ma FAR-too-dal)

Norway - God Jul (good yool)

Go on. Try at least one. It's fun! Oh, and just in case I don't get a chance to get back on here.....

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!



What Shall I bring?

The wise may bring their learning, 

The rich may bring their wealth,

And some may bring their greatness,

And some their strength and health;

We too would bring our treasures 

To offer to the King;

We have no wealth or learning:

What shall we children bring?

We'll bring Him hearts that love Him;

We'll bring Him thankful praise,

And young souls meekly striving

To walk in holy ways:

And these shall be the treasures

We offer to the King,

And these are gifts that even

The poorest child may bring.

~author unknown~

Words to Ponder....

His Love....Reaching

Right from the beginning God's love has reached, and from the beginning man has refused to understand.

 But love went on reaching, offering itself.

 Love offered the eternal...we wanted the immediate.

 Love offered deep joy....we wanted thrills.

 Love offered freedom...we wanted license. 

Love offered communion with God Himself...we wanted to worship at the shrine of our own minds.  

Love offered peace...we wanted approval for our wars.

Even yet, love went on reaching. 

And still today, after two thousand years, patiently, lovingly, Christ is reaching out to us today. 

Right through the chaos of our world, through the confusion of our minds. 

 He is reaching...longing to share with us...the very being of God.

His love still is longing.

His love still is reaching, right past the shackles of my mind.

And the Word of the Father became Mary's little Son. 

And His love reached all the way to where I was.

~ Gloria Gaither ~

Hungry?

So this is what it looks like most mealtimes. 

I always have plenty of helpers! :)

Half the time I can't find my rolling pin and this is why....

Samuel Tobias loves playing with it! LOL!

That's my man getting ready to butcher our roosters. 

No more cockle-doo-doo around here. LOL!  

And there is always cooking and baking happening around here. My little's love, love, love playing with playdough. I can't make enough of it for them. This month's flavor is peppermint. Yummy! I love to see their creativity. They use books as cookie sheets for their playdough cookies and put them on the shelf as an oven. Nolan even rings for the timer going off. :) 

Today Nolan was using his construction vehicles in it to make roads. So, if you come visit and you wonder what that green stuff is stuck all over our table, don't worry it's just peppermint playdough. :) 

Impossible?

There is nothing which God cannot affect. ~ Cicero~ 

If thou knowest God, thou knowest everything is possible for God to do. ~Callimachus~

Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26

Do you ever allow that word to escape your lips? Unfortunately, I do. Too often, to be honest. When the little things continue to pile up and become a full blown battering ram upon my soul and my spirit lags, this word assaults my thoughts and heart. Yet why? For I am a living example of how God has done the impossible in my life. Time and time again I've doubted and feared things were impossible but God never failed to make those very things possible! Why do I forget? 

I know the stories of the impossible....Noah building a huge ark.....Sarah having a child at 90 years old......Moses rescued and adopted....David fighting a huge giant of a man with just a sling and a stone....a donkey talking.....my Savior born in a stable, died on a cross, and resurrected again....Peter becoming a "Rock"....and Saul having "heart surgery" and becoming the man of faith Paul! 

In light of these truths why do my "impossibilities" seem so huge and insurmountable? I mean really, mine are nothing compared to those. It's because I take my eyes off of Him and His power. What makes my impossible possible is only one thing - GOD! Not what I can muster up in strength or ability. Not what books I can read or what website can walk me through it. Not even my pastor can do it. Only God can because as He states in His word Nothing is impossible for Him! 

"Your religious life is to be a living proof that God works impossibilities. Your religious life is to be a series of impossibilities made possible and actual by God's almighty power." Andrew Murray

So my seemingly impossibilities? All part of God's perfect plan to show His power in my life and draw others to Him. Just like His faithful servants whom I read about in His word that are utterly helpless without God. He steps in and works gloriously and changes impossible  to possible. 

Although it's part of human nature to want to be in control and direct my own steps, it's only when I lay it all down at His feet, surrender fully, and acknowledge I am nothing without Him that I am finally free from that "impossible" rut. I once again look up and know that what looks like impossibilities now are the fertile soil for God's hand to move and bring forth a harvest of possibilities!!

So very thankful my God is Elohim. (Elohim is the great name of God, signifying supreme power, sovereignty, and a covenant relationship that He is ever faithful to keep. Genesis 17:7,8)

Christmas Fun...

We learned a long time ago that when you don't have the extra cash to go and do fun things you need to dig in deep and pull out your fun and creative side. :) Many of the things we do around here are to create memories that last a lifetime. Sometimes it's fun, many times it's corny but the little ones LOVE it. So we continue on. If you've been around much this last year you know that we've started up a new tradition of "Talent Night". Every couple of months we gather together family, yep, even friends (gulp...really have to swallow my pride when friends come. LOL!) and enjoy everyone singing, dancing or doing whatever their talent is for that night. We thought a Christmas version would be fun so we threw  one together last weekend. The kids spent lots of time planning out their "acts" and gathering their "materials". They are a riot! I hope I don't forget these moments because these are the ones that really count! Anyhow, without further ado here are some pictures from the show....

Kyalynn played a song from Charlie Brown's Christmas on her piano. 

Just look at the pure joy in her face! 

This girl LOVES music. 

She did an awesome job and even clapped for herself when she finished. :)

Gabriella decided she wanted to make a surprise drawing for her talent.

 She worked hard and turned out a beautiful butterfly! 

Little man played the harmonica. 

Not sure what song he was playing LOL! but it was priceless! 

Connor sang Joy to the World. He sang acapella (? - without music LOL!)

He did a beautiful job. So wish I had a video camera! 

 And Samuel was not to be excluded.

He jingled this bell as we all sang Jingle Bells together. :)

Who's that? Rudolph?? That's just grammy joining in the fun. She sang Up on the Housetop while dancing around. I laughed so hard I thought I'd pee my pants! Nolan wasn't so sure...he just

stared at her with saucer eyes which of course made me laugh even more! LOL! Pappy participated too by dressing in a Santa suit. Now we don't "do" Santa around here. My children know the real reason for Christmas and why we celebrate it. Funny sidenote: Whenever we are at the store without fail somebody asks the kids if they are ready for Santa. My kids always say No which shocks the person asking but allows the opportunity to share who Christmas is REALLY about! :)

We ended the "show" with a live nativity. This was hysterical as the kids planned out who they would be and what they would wear. I had to fill in for Joseph because at the last minute Connor decided he wanted to be a Wiseman instead. :) Samuel was to be baby Jesus but he had no desire to be laying down for that long, hence the baby in swaddling clothes standing up! LOL! Nolan was a shepherd boy but I think he was off chasing a sheep during this photo. Sean was all the animals. I know, you're all jealous my man is so multi-talented. LOL! Let's see, Mary (Gabriella) rode in on his back as he was her donkey. Then Connor rode in on his back because he was his camel and Nolan led him in as his sheep. 

All in all, great fun, good clean laughs and much memory making took place. Gosh, I will miss this when they are bigger and realize how corny this "fun" is. :)

Living out Acts...

They ate together in their homes,

 happy to share their food with joyful hearts.

Acts 2:45

How would you have liked to be the one who opened his home for Jesus?

You can be.

"Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it for me. (Matthew 25:40) As you welcome strangers to your table, you are welcoming God himself. 

Something holy happens around a dinner table that will never happen in a sanctuary. Don't listen to that voice that everything must be perfect. If we wait until everything is perfect, we'll never issue an invitation. Remember this: what is common to you is a banquet to someone else. You think your house is small, but to the lonely heart, it is a castle. You think your living room is a mess, but to the person whose life is a mess, your house is a sanctuary. You think the meal is simple, but to those who eat alone every night, pork and beans on paper plates tastes like filet mignon. What is small to you is huge to them. 

Open your table.

The Greek word for hospitality compounds two terms: love and stranger. The word literally means to love a stranger. All of us can welcome a guest we know and love. But, can we welcome a stranger? 

Every morning in America more than 39 million people wake up in poverty. In 2008, 17 million households had difficulty providing food for their families. An estimated 1.1 million children lived in households experiencing hunger multiple times throughout the year. And this is America, the wealthiest nation in the history of the world.

When we provide food stamps, we stave off hunger. But when we invite the hungry to our table, we address the deeper issues of value and self-worth. Who would have thought? God's secret weapons in the war on poverty include your kitchen table and mine. 

~Max Lucado~

Are you rich??

A truly rich man is one whose children run into his arms

when his hands are empty.

~ anonymous ~ 

The Countdown is ON!!

It's hard to believe that my firstborn will soon be a married man! The date is set, the plans in place, the excitement palatable. Ahh, love. :) What an absolutely beautiful thing!!

The little girls are so ready. They are imaging it as a glorified tea party since they've never been to a wedding before. Since we had them try their dresses on Kyalynn has been asking repeatedly "Zack and Ericka wedding?" Oh my, it may be a long month! LOL!

The countdown is ON!!! :)

Just had to share this one!!

Prayers for my special buddy...

Remember this precious little guy? Many of you prayed for him during his last hospitalization. Jonathan has so many medical issues that cause him to be in and out of hospitals way too many times. :(  Poor little guy is again in the hospital and needing our prayers. The Drs. aren't sure what is going on so prayers for wisdom would be really appreciated. Also, prayers for his sweet family as they endure the testing and waiting with such grace and fortitude.

He is a treasure, I'm telling ya! A walking miracle boy. Please join me in praying for him so he can get back home and enjoy life at full speed.
Thank you!!!

Hodge Podge...

I just can't seem to find the necessary time to get all the posts brewing in my head typed out. LOL! I have no idea why I can't find some spare minutes in my 24 hour day to write something down but until this moment I haven't. So here is my hodge podge version of what's been happening on the mountaintop. Most of it is for my sake so I can remember what in the world I was doing with my time and the memories we are creating. All I know is that when I get to the end of my life I couldn't care less if I don't have two dimes to rub together, or a houseful of things to show off. As long as I have been loved by my wonderful man and my precious children I have been the richest woman on the earth!!

So without further ado....the past month (or so) in a nutshell. We do a Harvest Party every year for the little ones instead of Halloween. Some years have been just us and others have included grandparents and/or friends. This year we were so blessed to have Zack and Ericka and my parents to join in the fun. The fun includes sack races, hayride (which really is all of us piling into the back of Sean's truck sitting on leaves!), pumpkin carving, apple bobbing, relay races, stuffing scarecrows and pie eating contest. It's a blast! The picture below is of the pie eating contest. Nolan likes to take his good ole' time and enjoy each bite while the rest of us are speed eating to be crowned the "winner"! LOL!

Every Sunday now for weeks and weeks this is what our driveway looks like. Actually, we've had it where people are parked down the driveway and in the grass! 

Our son Ryan holds an Airsoft game every Sunday. It's grown from just a handful to lots of big guys running around here. It brings new meaning to "sunday dinner" as we usually prepare a big meal for all of the ravenous guys. We just love it!! I will sorely miss them when Ryan heads off to bootcamp. 

These boys are best buddies. They play so well together! I know that Samuel usually always has the pacifier in his mouth in his pictures but the boy is seriously addicted to it. LOL! We have been working on weaning him but this week he has a cold and we've flexed a bit. Hope it doesn't make it harder in the long run.

Thanksgiving was wonderful! Thanksgiving is my very favorite holiday. I love having my home filled with those we love. This year my cousin and my grandma joined us which made it extra special!

Black Friday found Sean and I out on a date in the evening. Woot! Woot! No we didn't join in the shopping frenzy we were just enjoying one another uninterrupted!! Ahh...Heaven! :) Our tree is up, house decorated, and a new unit study begun on Christmas around the world. The kids have been busy creating their masterpieces to give away and I have been busy preparing Advent activities to draw each of us closer to the Reason for the Season!

Often amongst the busyness of having so many little's Sean and I will just look at one another and say, "these are the days". Sometimes it's hard to remember that these days filled with chaos, tears, laughter, exhaustion, happiness and endless activity are the days we will remember and long for when we are old and the house is quiet, but they are. I can't imagine having quiet time for myself, uninterrupted conversations, a clean house, and nothing to do. Honestly, it makes my heart skip a beat, not because of happiness and longing but because of sadness. These children in all their loud, dirty, activeness are what make my world go round! I can not thank God enough for these priceless gifts He's given me.

I am the richest woman on earth!!