The privilage

Sunday morning, a time spent in church with praise, prayer, communion and fellowship. This is something that I have done since childhood and have always loved it. My kids also enjoy this time and I am thankful, especially since their dad is a pastor. Some of my fondest memories were spent in church with friends and family. One of the many things that Jonathan and I have in common. I remember reading his grandmothers journals as we gathered after her funeral. Each Sunday she stated that she had "the privilage of taking Holy Communion today". What a great way to look at it. My Grandmother also was a great witness she always sang praises and spent much time studying Gods word and in prayer.

So many times we look at our time at church as just another thing we do in our schedule. We are all busy and sometimes it just falls in the cracks of our lives with everything else. I like to think that we as a family have learned "the privilage" of attending church from generations before us. And hopefully we will pass that same message on to our childrens children.

The day continued to be glorious. The girls and I enjoyed lunch in Franklin Grove while Jonathan worked hard in a friends field picking blackberries. We will make jam with them tomorrow, just the smell of the jam cooking is wonderful. The sun is out and the temperature is refreshingly comfortable.

Kalyn walk/ran while Abigail rode her bike and Elianna and I rode Bessy. Kalyn is working hard trying to loose weight and get in shape for sports for this school year. Melissa was home being crafty and getting her things ready to detassle at 5:30 am this week.

Our prayers are with everyone for a great week! With thanksgiving for our family and friends!

Full Circle

The day has come full circle from cold and rainy with only two of our children home to full sun and a beautiful breeze with our house full again. We have missed Kalyn and Melissa this week as they spent it with their dad in Kentucky. As Mom I love to get the phone call asking when they can come home. NOW is always the response. They enjoy their time away but find peace here and want to come back. That's all I can ask for. Its hard to tell now that their home who makes more noise in the house. The obvious note is that Kalyn can rile up Abigail and Elianna pretty well.

Mocha is a source of pitty in our house this week. I decided to give her a hair cut and went a little too short. She also has only one leg that is trimed and three that are still longer. She is a good sport and never is embarassed by her looks, although Jonathan has a great time teasing both her and me.

The garage sale has taken a tole on me. Unfortunately I am in bed early again with terrible pain. I was hoping since we rained out today that I would be able to stay up with the kids tonight until a reasonable hour. It always takes me by surprise how long it takes me to recover from things. Prayers are always appreciated for help with this struggle. And a miracle of healing would be nice!!!

We are all looking forward to our visit with Aunt Miriam. We only get this opportunity once a year and here we are. Abigail has a long list in mind of things to do and thankfully Elianna will go along with the flow. As will the rest of us. We hope for nice weather to ride bikes, fly kites, go to the park, swim, play games and maybe even have a bonfire with marshmallows and chocolate!

Its hard to believe that school registration is this wednesday, all my girls will be in school this year. What will I do....

• pray hard for happy, healthy kids
• share time with friends and family
• knit
• quilt (I have to catch up)
• pray
• rest for the evening
• read
• pray
• exercise (yes, I'm supposed to do it)

Well thats a list that will keep me busy. Please let me know if I should be doing anything else.

Peace and love to all and God Bless You!

Garage Sale Days

What a day! We have set up a garage sale in our front yard and driveway this weekend and opened it today! Serious Thursday shoppers were out and it was a great day, however, I am reminded that I cannot do these things anymore. The call to simplify our lives was what set me into motion for this. And I still want to do this but possibly a different way next time. I think we have been clouded with so many "things" that we don't take the time to truely appreciate all that God provides for us. I love to watch my girls play for hours with no toys at all, except the swingset. It is a ship, a clubhouse, a rocket, anything they can make it into. There is no need for all these other things I have piled up throughout the house. The little ones have learned this from their big sisters who still love to "makebelieve" with them.

Let your life speak... that is something that has been tugging at my heart this year. I have tried to teach all our girls that the "things" in our lives are not whats important but its the memories and time we spend with our family and friends. I have to say this was something that my late mother-in-law taught me as well as my own grandmother. Maybe its taken until I have aged a little to really appreciate this.

I hope that God continues to strengthen this part of my life and that He will teach me ways that He let His life speak, so that I can follow Him more fully. I hope He does this in your lives too.

Peace in Christ

Blogging dropout

Well you can tell I haven't gotten the hang of this site yet. I actually couldn't find what I created. Summer is great our girls are all growing up (which is not the great part). But they are all wonderful. My husband is full of energy and quite happy now that he doesn't eat wheat anymore. Long story short he is allergic to it, his body has been reacting all these years and he has never realized that it is the wheat that is making him sick.

Kalyn is busy with Volleyball and speedcamp. She is really getting in shape and feels great about herself. She keeps us laughing most of the time except when the hormones take control of her body and we run for cover. Don't tell I told you...

Melissa is also doing great, she joined volleyball and speedcamp this summer too. And she played softball. She is also going to try her hand at detasseling (not sure on spelling). It is a great summer job out her for kids. Very hard work, hot and buggy. She will be going back to public school this year, we are praying for a smooth transition.

Abigail is really changing! She is not really our snuggle bug anymore. She is very busy learning to ride her bike and her imagination is incredible. I love to listen to her and Elianna play on the swingset (club) they spend hours laughing and busy on it. She also soaks up the information, she has questions that I can't even answer. That is when we call daddy.

Elianna is still my snuggle girl. She still likes to fall asleep with me at night on my shoulder as I read or do the computer. She loved to give hugs and kisses and is full of love. She doesn't walk much she dances or skips or jumps or just twirls to wherever she is going. She is also excited to go to kindergarten this fall. I will miss her.

Enough for today, peace to all and to all a good night.

Swingset is up and fully functional. Dan and Armondo worked all day and completed the task. The kids were very patient but towards the end they waited at the window saying "are they almost done, after that how many more things do they have to do", then they all ran out as the guys cleaned up and started to play. It quickly became a ship that was being attacked by other ships. The kids all worked hard to keep it safe and won the battle in the end. It was a great day with friends and Grandpa even came out to visit. We were hoping to see Grandma Karen and Sean and Alana but they were sick. Food was overflowing and all delicious, we will be feasting all week on the leftovers. Thank goodness because I don't cook as much anymore.

This morning we had koffee clatch with the ladies from church. Grandma Jackie (@80) came and Elianna went running out the door to show her the swingset. After the complete tour which included the trailer that it was delivered in they both climbed up onto the platform to play with the steering wheel and telescope. It was wonderful to watch, we were thankful that only Elianna came down the slide. Grandma Jackie took the steps back down.

Thank you everyone for your help with our swingset. It will provide hours of entertainment.

This week we keep The Chattertons and Nicole and other family and friends in our prayers as they mourn the loss of Olivia. Please add them to your prayers as well. Thank you and God's peace be with you this night.

A memorie of a weekend

Sunday night and all is quiet. It seems like the weekends go by so quickly when the kids are in school. It is wonderful to have these three days! It seems as though everyone had the same idea this weekend - get out and enjoy the weather! And how glorious it is! Tomorrow we will be putting a swingset in our yard. No Jonathan is not building it, we are having our friends come and help. Jonathan is in charge of entertainment and refreshments. We haven't told the girls yet, I can't wait to see their faces when they see it! The funniest thing is how many people have slipped and asked about it in front of them and they just don't seem to expect it. Yesterday an enclosed trailer was parked in our backyard with all the necessary items to put this swingset together. Their first thought was that they were getting horsies! HA!

I will let you know how construction goes on tuesday.