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Saturday, December 31, 2011

Happy New Year's Eve!!!

We have come to the end of 2011! May you and your Family have another blessed year in this new year, 2012, abiding in the presence of our Lord and Savior!!!

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:
old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

~2 Corinthians 5:17 ~

Friday, December 30, 2011

Over the past few days...

We've had a couple funny things said in our house...
For the past six months, we have been having a problem understanding Abbi when she asks for a second helping of turkey at lunch. "May I have more toakey?" She'll ask. We inform her we don't have any cookies in the house. We would eventually figure it out, but it was really hard to tell what she wanted.
Well, she asked again, yesterday, for "more toakey". Mommy answered, "We don't have any cookies, sweetheart." Abbi looked at Mommy and answered "No, not tookie, toakey!!!" Haha! You really can't tell a difference when she says it!!! But, she knows what she wants... and it is not cookies!
Also, I was holding Emmi today, and she grabbed my necklace- "Look! A breakless!" She squealed. Then she asked "This your keys?"
And one more word misunderstanding: I invited Tori and Bethi to help me embroider some pillow cases yesterday. Since we only had two pillows, we took turns reading and sewing (although the pillows are apparently going to take longer than I had at first anticipated, it was a lot of fun!). When it came Bethi's turn to read, she stumbled across the phrase "the aroma of fresh bread"... She said "the army of fresh bread"...
I think that the fact that we can make and eat 12 loaves of bread in three days has kind of messed her up ;)!

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Isn't this pretty?

Tori got this beautiful picture
of the sun rise last Tuesday!

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Christmas Candies

We started our Christmas baking about a week before Christmas. We did all the candies in two days, although not back- to- back.
The first day, Tori and all the little ones got in the kitchen with me to make chocolate dipped pretzels, white and chocolate. It is tradition for us children to do this part- it has been since Christmas 2006! We have a few more children helping since then (in 2006 there were three of us who were old enough to dip the pretzels. Now we have six!!!). So it goes a bit quicker now :)! It took two hours to do those two batches...

Starting the white pretzels!



My Grandma would call this "The Little Dippers", haha :)!

Sweet :)!

Enjoying a snack afterward.

Ohhh...

Half of the finished product (and Abbi asking for more!)!

On the second day of candy making, Daddy was home and helped. We made caramels, triple treats, peanut butter balls, and chocolate covered potato chips.
Then, about 1:30, Daddy and us older four children went to clean the church and take candy plates to a few families. We had a lot of fun, visiting a bit with the people we brought plates to, and seeing one older man, our neighbor in our old house, who we hadn't seen for several months. We were also happy that we caught everybody we were planning on taking the plates to :)!

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Just too cute...

I mentioned the fact that we had learned to sign "Away in a Manger". Well, Emmi enjoys joining us :)!
She'll be playing, eating, anything... Then, she says, out of the blue, "Jesus... Jesus... Jesus... The sky!!!". As she says "Jesus", she holds her little hands under her chin (half of the sign for the "morning is nigh" part). As she says "the sky", she throws her hands in the air (you sweep your arms in the air to sign "sky".). It is really cute :)!
Also, today we went to clean the church. Daddy came to help us, but he had to get back to work after we were done. The rest of us were going to do some shopping before we went home. Abbi called from the back "Can we eat at a frefont? I mean- a fryfont?" She meant restaurant! I think she must have wanted fries ;)!
And, a wonderful update on Miss Rhonda: She got to come home right before Christmas!!!

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Merry Christmas!!!

1 And it came to pass in those days, that there
came a decree from Augustus Caesar, that all the
world should be taxed.
2 (This first taxing was made when Quirinius
was governor of Syria.)
3 Therefore went all to be taxed, every man to
his own city.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee out of
a city called Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of
David, which is called Bethlehem (because he was
of the house and lineage of David,)
5 To be taxed with Mary that was given him to
wife, which was with child.
6 ¶ And so it was, that while they were there,
the days were accomplished that she should be
delivered.
7 And she brought forth her first begotten son,
and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him
in a cratch, because there was no room for them in
the inn.
8 ¶ And there were in the same country shepherds,
abiding in the field, and keeping watch by
night over their flock.
9 And lo, the Angel of the Lord came upon
them, and the glory of the Lord shone about them,
and they were sore afraid.
10 Then the Angel said unto them, Be not afraid:
for behold, I bring you glad tidings of great joy, that
shall be to all the people,
11 That is, that unto you is born this day in the
city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign to you, Ye shall find the
babe swaddled, and laid in a cratch.
13 And straightway there was with the Angel a
multitude of heavenly soldiers, praising God, and
saying,
14 Glory be to God in the high heavens, and peace
in earth, and toward men good will.
15 And it came to pass when the Angels were gone
away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said
one to another, Let us go then unto Bethlehem, and
see this thing that is come to pass, which the Lord
hath showed unto us.
16 So they came with haste, and found both Mary
and Joseph and the babe laid in the cratch.
17 And when they had seen it, they published
abroad the thing that was told them of that child.
18 And all that heard it, wondered at the things
which were told them of the shepherds.
19 But Mary kept all those sayings, and pondered
them in her heart.
20 And the shepherds returned glorifying and
praising God, for all that they had heard and seen,
as it was spoken unto them.
Luke 2: 1- 20

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Merry Christmas Eve!

Angels, from the realms of glory,
Wing your flight o’er all the earth;
Ye who sang creation’s story
Now proclaim Messiah’s birth:

Come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King.

Shepherds, in the field abiding,
Watching o’er your flocks by night,
God with man is now residing;
Yonder shines the infant light:

Come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King.

Sages, leave your contemplations;
Brighter visions beam afar;
Seek the great Desire of nations;
Ye have seen His natal star:

Come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King.

Saints, before the altar bending,
Watching long in hope and fear,
Suddenly the Lord, descending,
In His temple shall appear:

Come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King.

~James Montgomery~
(1771–1854)

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas!!!

Friday, December 23, 2011

Advent

I have been meaning to write a post on how we do advent/ what the purpose of Advent is for... almost four weeks. Since the Advent season started. Oh well... Here it is now :)...
Advent is really a time of preparation and reflection on the reason why we celebrate Christmas! There are four weeks of Advent, and, although there are many ways to celebrate Advent, here is how we do it...
On the first night of Advent, we make our Advent wreath. We have a golden candle holder, with spots for five candles. One Candle (the white one, white stands for purity) goes in the middle. This is the "Jesus" candle. It is a bit taller than the other candles, as Jesus is above all others. The other four candles (purple, the color that stands for royalty) go in the four corners around the white. These candles are the "Prophecy", "Bethlehem", "Angels" , and "Shepherds" candles. We put green garland and white ribbon around the candle holder, in a spiraling circle. Green stands for new life, circles for eternity (there is no beginning and no end to a circle), and of course, white for purity. We put holly berries on (drops of blood that Jesus would eventually shed for our sins), and pine cones (pine cones must die to give life to the next tree- Jesus gave his life so we could have life. We also put poinsettia flowers on the wreath, to stand for the Star of Bethlehem.
Sometime during each week of Advent, we try for Monday, we will make a meal of either red chili or white chili, just because chili seems like a nice winter-ish meal. No other reason :). It is just part of how Daddy and Mommy chose to make that teaching time different from regular winter suppers, make a point of how this is a special time (kind of like it is pretty much a must for everybody to eat turkey on Thanksgiving!).
That night, we do a Bible study (using the Bible that Daddy used while growing up, and that was used for family Bible time every night for years. We now have a newer Bible for family Bible time, and this one is getting saved for this time of year, due to the fact that we didn't want this one destroyed by the little hands that wanted to read to themselves during the day) on what that nights candle stands for. We discussed the candle for that night, review the candles we have done so far, and have a time of prayer.

The First candle is : The "Prophecy" (or, anticipation ) candle.

" Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin
shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."
~Isaiah 7:14~

The second candle is: The "Bethlehem" (or, preparation) candle.
"But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting."
~Micah 5:2~
The third candle is: The "Angels" (or, rejoicing) candle.
"And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings, of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."
~Luke 2:9-14~

The fourth candle is: The "Shepherds" (or, the reflection) candle.

"And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven,the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them."
~Luke 2: 14- 20~

And the Fifth candle is: The "Jesus" (or, Christ)candle.

"For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people, A light to be revealed to the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. And Joseph and his mother marveled at those things, which were spoken touching him. And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary
his mother, Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising again of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be spoken against, (Yea and a sword shall pierce through thy soul) that the thoughts of many hearts may be opened."

~ Luke 2: 30-35~

Through these verses, (and, of course, there are many more to use if you wish!), a discussion can be started, that can be both informative and sweet :).
I have loved our family's Advent celebration the past few years (actually, I guess more than a few- four or five, at the least, which is considered several!). I think it has really helped our family really think about what Christmas is about, as a family, in a wonderful way!!!
I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas!

Friday, December 16, 2011

Nap time...

Yesterday, Abbi and Emmi were more interested in playing than taking a nap. We were trying to put them down for quiet time, they were trying to stay up.
Emmi did something she has never done before. She had been told to stay on the couch, so she sat on the arm of the couch. She bounced up and down, waving her arms all around. "I'm riding a horse! Ride horse, ride horse!" she squealed. It was really cute... naughty baby :)! Haha, we finally told her that was enough, but it was really cute!
Then, I tried to put Abbi down for a nap in the Library. She also did something she has never done before! She had brought Andrew's Woody doll with her. I told her "Your not supposed to have toys right now". I took the doll, picked Abbi up, and put her back in her nap time bed. "Woody!" she yelled. "SAVE ME!!!"

Thursday, December 15, 2011

"You are just my best friend!"

That was what Abbi said to me while Aunt Tessa and I were assisting the little ones in making leaf piles last Saturday. It was one of the cutest things I had heard her say for a long time while talking to me alone :). She said it while she ran at me, grabbed hold, and swung around in excited wildness (a state Abbi gets in a lot ;)!)
But what she said the next day was just too funny when you thought back to this conversation!
Daddy and Mommy had gone to pick up pizza for supper that night. I was left at home babysitting the little ones with Tori's help. I don't even remember what Abbi had done, but she was told that she needed to tell Andrew she was sorry. She said she wouldn't, so, we had a talk about how what she had done was wrong, and the right thing to do was to tell Andrew she was sorry for it. After I was done talking to her, I said again "You need to tell Andrew you are sorry". She looks at me, and says: "You are my best friend- you can't do this to me!" Haha...
I think she is still learning that best friends don't always give you what you want (like telling her she didn't need to tell Andrew she was sorry), they give you what you need (like explaining why you need to say your sorry) :)...
I think she has forgiven me for bringing her faults to light, though ;)...

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Away in a manger...

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head;
The stars in the sky looked down where He lay,
The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.

The cattle are lowing, the Baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus no crying He makes,
I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky,
And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever, and love me, I pray.
Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care,
And fit us for heaven, to live with Thee there.

~Stanzas 1 and 2, Unknown~
~Stanza 3, John Thomas McFarland~
(1851–1913)

Our Aunt Tessa taught us how to sign language this when we were visiting with them last Saturday, that was neat :). It really is quite fun :).

Visiting and Christmas...

We had a wonderful time going to the zoo with our Grandparents and Aunts on the third. I got a hat made for everybody Tori down, I finished ten minutes before we started getting ready to leave, haha :)! It was so much fun, although it was NOT cold in the LEAST! The hats were almost pointless when you judged their use by the weather!
Emmi loved the Kangaroos, which were more active than the have ever been in the day time when we have been there. They really don't move in the day, and the walk-about was closed for the night, but she had fun looking and talking about the "jumping" "puppies" through the mesh fence :). She "wanted to play with those" :)!
Last Saturday everybody but Daddy packed up to go have a sleep over at Grandma and Grandpa's house. The whole family also went to Daddy's Grandmother's house about a week ago, and had a great visit with her, along with everybody else who dropped by, including Gramma :). It was really fun!
Yesterday we worked on thoroughly cleaning the kitchen, and today Mommy wrote her Christmas letter. We'll be making a grocery list later today so that we now what we need for all our Christmas goodies, which we will start making soon, probably next week :)! I'll try to get up a post on how our Christmas baking goes when we accomplish it ;).
We have just ten more days until Christmas! I think I'm going to go get busy with more crafting. I am almost done with my presents, but I keep finding more winter projects I want to do before the end of the year ;)!

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Angels we have heard on high...

Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o’er the plains,
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains.

Gloria in excelsis Deo,
Gloria in excelsis Deo.

Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your heavenly song?

Come to Bethlehem and see
Him whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee
Christ the Lord, the newborn King.

See Him in a manger laid,
Whom the choirs of angels praise;
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
While our hearts in love we raise.
~James Chadwick~
(1813–1882) Link

Bethani learned this hymn at the age of three. It was her favorite, and it was so cute to hear her singing it :)! Abbi only has the chorus memorized, but it is now her favorite Christmas song, as well :). Emmi's favorite Christmas song is "The Little Drummer Boy", thanks to Veggietales new movie, "The Little Drummer Boy", haha :)! She is so cute... "I pay for yooooo... pum, pum, pum!
I love to hear all the little voices singing :)!!!

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

O little town of Bethlehem...

O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting light;
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight.

For Christ is born of Mary,
And gathered all above,
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wond’ring love.
O morning stars, together
Proclaim the holy birth!
And praises sing to God the King,
And peace to men on earth.

How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is giv’n!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heav’n.
No ear may hear His coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive Him still
The dear Christ enters in.

O holy Child of Bethlehem!
Descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin, and enter in;
Be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us,
Our Lord Emmanuel.
~Phillips Brooks~
(1835–1893)
Link
This Christmas hymn was written by Phillips Brooks, Theodore Bryan's childhood "hero". I love the books about Theo, and I thought it was fun that one of my favorite Christmas songs was written by one of the main characters in the books :).
We are getting very close to the 25th of December, that day when we celebrate the birth of our wonderful Savior! Christmas time is always such a fun, sweet time, but we should always remember why this date is even special- not the candies, the gifts, or the change in the season- but the fact that the Lord came down to earth to save us. I hope that you have a wonderful time preparing for this special day of celebration!!!

Monday, December 5, 2011

Wheelbarrow fun!

About a week ago Tori and I took the little ones outside. In bare feet. In the middle of November. You know, in the middle of winter. And it was hot. That is winter in South Carolina, haha!
Daddy went and bought a wheelbarrow earlier this year. Tori put the babies in it (and soon others followed!...) and they had so much fun!

Emmi wanted to push Abbi ;)!



That's our funny Bethi :)...!

Just chillin'...


They are sooo sweet...

Toes :)!

So, how is that for a December post ;)?

Friday, December 2, 2011

I'm busy

... crocheting! What else do I do now ;)?
I have about half of my Christmas presents done, and I'm now taking a break to work on winter hats. We are going to the zoo tomorrow with my Grandparents and Aunts. We're going to see the lights (our zoo does a "Lights Before Christmas" thing every year), and so, even for South Carolina, it will be quite cold as it will be night. This year I decided to make all the younger ones hats that will go with their coats. Although Abbi's doesn't "match" her coat, as my Aunt Amber says "it goes!" :). I can't wait to hand them out tomorrow. Abbi has already seen a picture of the pattern I used for her hat and asked if she can have "a frog hat like that". I know she will be excited ;)! And then Bethi's, Andrew's, and Emmi's will be a complete surprise to them, but Tori knows she is getting the one she requested- a monkey, haha! She loves monkeys, it is funny :)! Bethi will get a panda bear with a bow to match her coat, Andrew gets a dinosaur hat, and Emmi gets a snowman hat with a scarf tassel.
On a side note... the first post for December fit cold weather... but wait until you see the next post in mind ;)!!! After all, this is South Carolina... There have been summer days that were chilly... and then there have been winter days were the family went shopping and the warning was not "bring your coat", it was "don't touch the door, it feels like it just came out of the oven!!!" Haha...

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Our Thanksgiving celebration...

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
The day before had been spent preparing for the day (and the day before that!). Tori made the pumpkin pie (which was delicious!) and Bethi did the filling for the bishop's chocolate pies (which were delicious!) almost all by herself. I made the cinnamon rolls that Daddy was going to take to his store on Black Friday (Andrew helped me with these, and in the process of making them we managed to drop a whole egg in the milk mixture (thankfully it didn't crack!), brake a whisk and drop half of it in the milk mixture (haha...), and Andrew laid on a couple of the rising cinnamon rolls (which he helped me put on the table!), haha... aren't you glad that you didn't have to eat them ;)!), and Mommy made the maple twist, cookies, and cranberry sauce (yum to all but the cranberry sauce... haha. Daddy and sometimes Bethi and Andrew are the only ones who like that stuff! Although Mommy loves the smell- "It's time for *the sniff*" she says while taking it off the stove :)!).

Bethi making the pies...

Emmi playing under the tree. Isn't she a *wonderful* gift :)!!!

On Thanksgiving, the day of Thanksgiving traditions started. First, I made the maple twist icing with Emmi. It was so sweet, she doesn't get to help me cook as often as the others at this point, mainly because she hasn't learned yet how dangerous it is to dance on chairs, :), so she really only helps me with quick projects. She does love to help though, and she was fascinated with the powdered sugar, haha :)!
We ate our breakfast while watching the peanuts' movie "The Mayflower Voyage" and a couple short documentaries of the pilgrims.
We started the big meal almost immediately after breakfast was cleaned up. We tried making the macaroni and cheese in the crock pot this year to free up oven space, which would have worked if we had longer than four hours to cook it. As it was taking so long, though, we had to move it to the oven for about thirty minutes. On Christmas, we'll probably put it in the crock pot at the same time as the turkey goes in the oven, instead of a little after, and it should be fine.
After the macaroni was in the oven, we children held a "corn husking" party. This is probably the favorite thing for the little ones, because they get to help me make a corn husk doll for them after they husk their ear of corn.


Andrew named his "Johnny"... and quickly sent him to time out or something, I'm not sure why...


Tori named her's "Cornelia", haha :)!
Mommy read some Thanksgiving books, both story books and history books, and Washington's Thanksgiving Proclamation.
We ate at about five o'clock, and we went around the table, telling what each person was thankful for. Some of the things were Jesus dying for us, our family, God choosing to bless us with another baby, God protecting us when someone tried to break into our house and we were run off the road by a eighteen-wheeler earlier this year, and other things. We truly have a lot to be thankful for this year!!!
After we ate came the big task of cleaning up after the meal, but it actually didn't seem as big a job as it has in years past. After cleaning up, we decorated the Christmas tree while listening to Todd Agnew's Christmas CD, "Do You See What I See" and drinking hot chocolate. Although we do have "just for fun" decorations in other rooms of the house, we try to keep the main room, the living room, decorated in only meaningful decorations. Ribbon on the tree to stand for the gift of Jesus, three nail ornaments to stand for Jesus pierced hands and feet, ornaments with scripture verses that speak of his sacrifice, and so on. It is really neat, but our tree stays well UN-balanced through the season. Every time the current baby gets an ornament... it moves up the tree :). After a while they are all on the top half of the tree, haha! We laugh at it every year, but we would rather have babies to love then to have a"perfect" Christmas tree :)! (It wasn't until about an hour later that we remembered that the star wasn't on the tree yet, haha!)

Emmi thought the nails were necklaces ;)!

Sweet girls :)...

So thankful :)... (she was crying because she had to
wait her turn to put up another ornament, haha!)

Dueling photographers... another yearly tradition!

After the tree was "done" aside for the star, we watched a "Little House" Christmas show while we ate the pie. We then put the star on the tree and did devotions before getting to bed at about twelve, true to our tradition on Thanksgiving ;).

Bethi helped with the star this year.

We had a wonderful day, one to be thankful for :)!!!

The cornucopia I crocheted for Thanksgiving
has been used just as often as a hat ;)!

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving!




The pilgrims took a voyage,
taking food and luggage,
they had a simple explanation-
they wanted a Godly nation.

Many people died,
though to save them they did try.
One baby was born at this time,
one baby- Oceanus- added to the line.

When they reached the shore,
God they thanked once more.
Winter hit as they worked,
still, they did not shirk.

They got five kernels of corn,
their clothes ragged and torn.
All this to Fathers, Mothers, daughters and sons,
still they said "Thy will be done".

Springtime came again,
and with it an Indian man.
Squanto was his name.
Without him they could not have lived, that was plain.

When the harvest came, they thanked God for so much,
They were very happy and invited an Indian bunch.
they feasted several days, three to be exact,
And they were truly glad that not one had gone back.

Today the feast is kept on the 27th,
And we thank our God in heaven,
glad that the Pilgrims had no misgivings,
and so we celebrate... Thanksgiving.

~Thanksgiving 2008

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

Friday, November 18, 2011

Just a few thoughts...

I used to hate doing dishes. I liked anything better than doing dishes, especially if it was sitting on the couch with a baby and a book. But, over the past few days, I have realized that I actually enjoy doing dishes. Sure, I still don't like it well enough to shout with joy every time I see a counter full of hand wash-only dishes. But I have come to see that doing dishes is. really, enjoyable.
When I do the dishes, I usually have a helper (or two, or three, or four). What better time to talk about anything under the sun like we love to do? I cherish the memory of some of those hilarious talks Tori and I have had while doing those dishes, and it is sweet how the littler ones love helping!
And, washing dishes right in front of the window that is right above our sink brings it's own treasures. On a Summer day, I can watch diapers on the line blowing in the breezes, birds looking for worms, or playing on the clothes line, and our garden changing day by day. On Summer nights, we can watch frogs sitting on our window, attracted to the bugs that are attracted to the light. In the fall months, beautiful leaves and birds flying can be seen through that window.
And then there is the fact that every dish I wash is a way to help my family in the exact way that God has chosen for me :)!

Thursday, November 17, 2011

I'm not sure...

What Abbi was doing last night, haha :)!
Due to having several children with colds at the moment, Daddy put a humidifier up in our room last night. The one we had been using had stopped working, we are not sure why, but he bought a new one to replace it last night. All humidifiers have a light to indicate when they are on, but this one was BRIGHT. Abbi could see clearly to come and talk to me (all us children share a room at the moment, Emmi sleeps with me, and then the other girls sleep together and Andrew has a bed all for himself), and she did so quite often, haha. Finally we all went to sleep, but not long after, I woke up to Abbi climbing into bed with Emmi and I. I asked her what she was doing "I just want to sleep with you," she answered. "Why?" I asked "Because," she promptly replied... and just as promptly fell asleep!
What could I do? She wanted to sleep with me, she was already asleep... and she was too cute! I let her stay, but was really surprised to wake up in the morning and find Abbi in between Tori and Bethi again! I asked her about it this morning, and she said "I was just done sleeping with you." Haha... She's hilarious!
Now, I need to go. Tori made Bethi's day by asking Mommy if Bethi could stay up from quiet time and play The Game of Life with us while eating ice cream, just like "old times" when Bethi was our youngest board game player- three years ago :).

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Christmas is in the air!

Just a few more weeks until Christmas! Everybody is getting into the "Christmas spirit", making presents, decorating, singing Christmas songs and the like, getting ready to celebrate the birth of our wonderful Savior!
We put up our tree last Thursday (we'll decorate it on Thanksgiving) and have mostly gotten decorating the house done. Putting up the tree has been really funny the last few years, because Daddy cut the base of our tree to make it shorter, so that way it looked okay without the bottom row, which was too wide for the tree. The past few years we have forgotten that until we've already started looking for the missing row, haha :). We did better this year, but we still didn't know if we were supposed to start one or two rows up farther than the tree was made for!

Daddy bought this just last week. Isn't it *adorable* :)?!!!

Isn't it wonderful that Jesus came to earth to bring us the Joy of living with him :)?

Once In Royal David's City...

Once in royal David's city, stood a lowly cattle shed,
Where a Mother laid her baby in a manger for his bed;
Mary was that Mother mild, Jesus Christ her little child.

He came down to earth from heaven who is God and Lord of all,
And His shelter was a stable, and His cradle was a stall:
With the poor, and mean, and lowly, lived on earth our Savior holy.

And through all his wondrous childhood he would honor and obey,
Love and watch that lowly maiden in whose gentle arms he lay:
Christian children all must be mild, obedient, good as he.

And our eyes at last shall see him, through his own redeeming love;
For that child so dear and gentle is our Lord in heav'n above,
And he leads his children on, to the place where he is gone.

Not in that poor lowly stable, with the oxen standing by,
We shall see him, but in heaven, set at God''s right hand on high,

When like stars his children crowned all in white shall wait around.
~Cecil Frances Alexander~
(1818-1895)

Crocheting lessons...

About three years ago I thought it would be really neat to learn how to crochet. I had already known how to knit for about two years, thanks to a sweet lady who lived next door to us back then (she was an amazing knitter, and she also knew sewing/crocheting!). Well, about eighteen months ago I found some good instructions, and got serious about crocheting. At first I still liked knitting better, but crochet is slowly growing on me to where I like them pretty much on equal levels now :).
Tori started learning just over a year ago, and Bethi learned chain stitch not long after that. The other day I decided to do something Andrew had been asking for for days... he learned chain stitch as well, while Bethi got a starter on learning single crochet!
He did so well, I guided his hands for about five stitches, gave him reminders for four... and he had it! He accidentally took out all of his first stitches, but here are some of his earliest, he had only done about 15-20 stitches before he was able to do this:


Andrew wasn't feeling too good that day (we have all had a bit of congestion/ fevers and all that, Emmi's breathing sounded so bad that Daddy and Mommy took her to urgent care just to make sure it wasn't turning into pneumonia, but not a thing had settled in her lungs, we're not sure why she sounded so bad!), but he so wanted to keep working at it, because his hope is to crochet a "Larry" (a character from Big Idea's show "Veggietales") for Abbi for Christmas.



Bethi was excited to learn the next step in crocheting, too!

This is how tired they all were from being sick...
They NEVER fall asleep on the floor!
And I don't see how anybody sleeps like that :)!

Update on Miss Rhonda: She is doing much better, she can not talk at the moment, but she can communicate, recognize people, etc., and they are sure she will recover!

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Update:

We have received word that Miss Rhonda has gotten over the surgery and has gained consciousness. They are still not sure how well she is doing, but they are almost sure that she is going to make it. We are so thankful that she has made it this far!!! Thank you for all your prayers, please keep praying for a fast, wonderful recovery for Miss Rhonda, and grace for the whole family on this rough journey.

Monday, November 14, 2011

Please pray...

A couple years back we met a wonderful family. About a month ago they moved to Kentucky so that their Dad could go to seminary. Thy are eventually planning on being missionaries.
Early this afternoon Mommy got an email that said her friend, Miss Rhonda, had had a brain aneurysm last night, and may have had a stroke. Please pray for this dear family, that Miss Rhonda would be healed, and that God gives peace to her husband and three children, two of whom are between Tori and Bethi in age, and the youngest Emmi's age. She is having brain surgery today, and we are waiting to hear some more news. Prayer for them would be much appreciated!!!

Friday, November 11, 2011

The colors of autumn...

The trees are starting to change color and lose their leaves... I love trees all year, but especially in the fall...

"Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.
~Act 14:17

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

What we are up to now...

Mostly...
Sleeping :)...

Can you tell that it is quiet time? :)

Other than that, Mommy and Bethi are out shopping,

Tori is doing some extra school,

And I'm holding down the fort until Mommy gets back :). I'm about to go do some more crocheting (I think that's all I do now... okay, maybe not quite :).), and wake up the little ones. They need to sleep tonight, too :).

Monday, November 7, 2011