An Answer To Prayer

We've had a great summer (with frost warning in the northern part of the state tonight, I guess summer is ending soon!). I will post more on what we've done but wanted to share something that happened last weekend that was very memorable.

Joe, Jack and I were at a friend's helping with a garage sale. Bill took Jenny to the wildlife rehab that she volunteers at. One of the girls wasn't able to come, so Bill decided to stay and help (he had Nate and Ellie with him). They helped clean up the paths and some owl and eagle cages. The owner took the eagle out of the cage and walked the eagle to a temporary spot while they cleaned the cage out. Bill said the eagle was awesome---huge and very majestic. The owner also has two poodles, one which was out with the kids.

Saturday night Bill and I went up with Nate and Ellie for bed. We asked Nate if he would like to say prayers. In the past, if he would pray, he would sing a prayer we sing. Nate said, "Dear God" paused a little, then said "Thank You eagle, thank You dog, Amen". Both Bill and I were moved to tears! It was so touching to hear him verbalize what he was thankful for from his day!

God answered a prayer in giving Nate the ability to praise Him!

Celebrating 50 years!

We spent the weekend celebrating 50 years of marriage for Bill's parents! Saturday we spent the day at Jim and Paula's visiting with relatives we haven't seen in years, and Sunday we had a delicious meal at a restaurant on a local lake.

Bill's parents raised five terrific kids and are blessed with nine grandchildren. We all had fun spending time together. The love Dick and Rita have for each other and for their family was so evident throughout the weekend. How blessed we are to have such wonderful parents and grandparents!!

Don't they look incredibly happy?!

And here is our troop all dressed up:)

Quick Post (by Joe)

Hi people! Remember me?
Did you ever know I have a SPIDER!

Yep, Harriet.

My favorite football team is the Bengals. Take a look!

Bye!

How a 3 year old defines equal

The other day Ellie decided to scoop some ice cream. She was going to get a treat for Nate as well. Being the independent little gal she is, she got out the ice cream, the scooper, two bowls, and two spoons and proceeded to scoop.

This is the result of her effort---Nate's bowl is the small one with the two small scoops in it, Ellie's is the larger one with all the ice cream that remained in the container in it.

Funny how things are equal to a three year old!

Spring is Here!!

We've had lots of days of sunshine, some rainy days, temps ranging from the 70s to still having frost warnings at night---spring is here!

Lots of kids climbing trees---



Lots of green grass to be mowed-----


And a couple of birthdays----

And we also had a fashion show! Ellie is very interested in trying on numerous outfits each day.

A note every mother likes to receive

In 2003, I received the above note from Jack who would have been 6 at the time. I have it in my room on a "keepsake board" with special things from the kids.

I have so many things that I love about being a mother. I feel incredibly blessed to have five special people that call me Mom. So much of what I know about mothering I have learned from my mom, who is the most giving person I know. I have an wonderful role model in Mom, and she is definitely my mentor. Mom has lived out her love for Christ through her actions. Looking back on my childhood, I felt appreciated for who I was as an individual (sometimes hard to do when you have five siblings). I have learned from watching Mom what true patience is, how important showing interest in your kids' lives is (whether it is taking a break from chores to snuggle and read or always making them feel like you have open ears and are interested in what they are saying), and that having fun is important too! Mom had quite the variety of personalities with all of us and gave me some great advice about appreciating each child. She said she always felt it was so important to love each child for who they were and to gently guide them in both their strengths and "weaknesses" (maybe characteristics we would consider bothersome but great for an adult---being strong-willed, etc) One other thing that I have learned through "seeing" with Mom is to always have gratitude, in every situation--to always find things to thank God for. Many days I will remind myself of Mom's ability to not complain but to give thanks. What a blessing she is!

As I looked at our five children today, I appreciate the gift God has given me and pray that I am able to raise and nurture each one of them to love Him deeply and to please Him throughout their lives. I look forward to the day in Heaven when I can meet the little one we never got to hold here on earth.

I am so thankful today that I am a mom and that I have Mom in my life! And I am thankful for the sweet notes my kids give me:)

Overheard

Today I was enjoying a tuna sandwich. I made a batch of gluten free bread yesterday, and the bread was so soft and fresh. I have always loved good bread and since going gluten free, find having good bread such a treat! And the bread was good today!

Ellie sat down by me and started eating her cheese sandwich. She asked me what I was eating and I told her a tuna sandwich. She asked for some, and I handed her the sandwich so she could try it. Her response:
"Ew, that really stinks. Could you put it away?"

My kid who will eat anything wouldn't touch a tuna sandwich:)