Happy Birthday Dear Allie

Thirteen years ago today I gave birth to my first child.  A beautiful 7 lb. 15 oz. baby girl we named Allie.  Where does the time go?  Am I the only mom who cries on their children's birthdays?  I was looking through pictures of when we moved to the farm seven years ago.  Allie was six.  Now, my eyes are filling with tears because I realize that in seven short years she will be twenty.  What's a mom to do?
I just want to pause and thank the Lord for the gift of my precious Allie. 

"Heavenly Father, thank you for blessing me with an amazing daughter.  Help me to savor every moment that I have with her.  Give me the wisdom to raise her as a young woman who hungers for you.  Remind me daily that while the days are sometimes long, the years are ever shorter and being a mom is the most important mission I have.  I ask these things in the name of Jesus.  Amen"

Allie- I love you more than words can express.  You are my right arm most days and a treasure to our family.  You grow more beautiful every year.  May God bless you richly. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Love, Mom

Allie age 6

Allie now

Happy Birthday Dear Caleb

It is hard to believe that my little boy is 9 today. Time has gone so quickly. He is such a sweet spirit, loves the Lord, and is always looking out for his sisters.

For his birthday breakfast.....doughnuts. What better way to celebrate life than with food that will kill ya! LOL :O)

Later today we will have pizza, chocolate cake, and more pizza. Good thing birthdays only come once a year!

So touching

Today I read Ashlyn a book called, The Rag Coat, by Lauren Mills, and I almost didn't make it through! This little story is both heart wrenching and heart warming at the same time. If you have never read it, I recommend moving it to the top of your list (even if you don't have kids under 6). Then let me know if I'm the only overly sentimental mom, because I choked up three times, and needed a tissue by the end!

Easter Eggs

Today was the big day. The kids really look forward to dying Easter eggs. This year we made our own dye with food coloring instead of buying "the kit". It worked pretty well, except for the purple, which turned out more of a muddy brown.

The pictures look so peaceful...like everyone was getting along in a cooperative fashion. Yep, pictures are nice like that :O)

A Great Family Read

I cannot recommend the book Making Brothers and Sisters Best Friends highly enough. We have been using it as our Sunday book, but it is so funny the kids ask me to read it more often. Fair warning: I was laughing so hard last night that the kids couldn't understand a word I was saying. Yes! It's THAT good!

The humor and lessons are best for kids 8 and up.

LOVE THIS!

It is Saturday evening. Dinner is finished. Chores are done. What are the "big" kids doing?





Yes! They are reading unassigned books. Ms. Mason would be proud.

I think I can, I think I can

I had a birthday

I turned 35 on Saturday and my mom brought me this beautiful bouquet. It was a wonderful reminder that spring will come...it will...REALLY...and not a moment too soon.

In which Ashlyn learns to be a proper lady.....

Allan turns 40!

Comments like, "WOW! It looks like the whole cake is on fire." and "Yuck! Look at all the wax on the cake." did not make him feel any younger.

Blessing

Today I am celebrating 14 years of being married to the amazing man that God chose for me.

Ashlyn turns 4!

Yummy chocolate BIRTHDAY brownies courtesy of Allie.

It has been too long!

I will be posting more in the future. Here are a few Christmas card picture out-takes. Those of you on the Christmas card list will see the "good" ones any day now.

Sometimes preschoolers don't cooperate. "Where is Ashlyn?"


"Well, at least she's in the picture."

Vacation!

So far while in Branson we have been.....

Swimming








To the Butterfly Palace


And a quick jaunt through Silver Dollar City, but it poured most of the time :O(

So cute!

Allan's sister and her husband came for a visit and they brought along our precious nephew. He sure livened up our house in a hurry. He had so much fun playing with the kids. Here he is peeking out of the clothesline fort.

Writing her name

Ashlyn has been working so hard on writing her name "perfectly". I thought it would be fun to practice a bit with sidewalk chalk. While I was embellishing my version (just a bit), she seemed inspired.

our "work"

A Saturday on the farm

Just after breakfast, our cow Posie had her calf. She was a few days overdue and we were beginning to wonder if we had imagined the whole pregnancy. But clearly she knew what she was doing, as the weather was much more pleasant today than it has been. We were able to be a part of the whole experience. Here are a few pictures from the birth.

the bag of water emerging


two hooves


meeting mom


Posie's healthy baby boy. His name is Willie.





After lunch, Caleb had a tractor driving lesson with Dad. It looks like he is doing a fine job of raking the hay.

flexability and answered prayer

Well, we started school on Monday and Tuesday the kid's grandparents called and asked if they could pick them up Thursday and keep them a couple days. My first thought was, "Oh no! I have this whole week planned out, and now I am going to be two days behind." Then I thought, "Wait a minute, this is not a race. We can be flexible -I'm the teacher- and maybe this is a little blessing from the Lord."

I am always wishing to be able to spend a little time alone with my husband, and now He is giving me two and a half days. (Did I mention we have not had a single day without kids in 3 1/2 years?) If I had chosen to get all stressed out about the reading we weren't going to get done, I might have missed the joy and answered prayer that was right in front of me. Besides, what is more fun to a child than spending a few precious days with Grandma and Grandpa?

Now, what to do for 2 1/2 days.....:O)

So sweet

I feel like a new mom. I can't stop taking pictures of this little guy. He is so peaceful when he is sleeping....awake is another story....hide your toes!


Milo sleeping

A week of FAITH and FUN!

Vacation Bible School has come to an end for another year. We had a super week! Here's a peek.

My friend Annette and me in the raft at "Friendship Falls".


Ashlyn and her friend in the raft.


Allie and her friend taking the little one for a ride in the "train".


Caleb and friends on the "Slip and Slide".


Ashlyn and friends having snack at the cross.