Two benefits in one...

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He's learning and getting his vitamin D at the same time. The trampoline has been a nice change of scenery from the dining room table, for schoolwork. Who can resist, when the weather is so lovely? Thank you, Lord.

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Psalm 36:7-9

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"How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.

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They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.

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For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light."

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3 months old

You Know You're a Big Family When...
by Rebecca Prewett
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Many people have asked exactly what constitutes a "big family". Some have defined it as any family with more than the socially acceptable number of children. Others have defined it as four or more children. Yet others have defined it in any number of ways. We have come to the conclusion that, almost no matter how you define "big family", we probably stand a good chance of meeting the criteria. How do we know? How can you know if you're a big family? Well, read on:
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You know you're a big family when...
...people count the number of your children out loud when you're in public

...people ask, "Are they all yours?"

...you start counting your children when you're out in public

...you have at least three bunk beds set up in your home

...almost everyone you know has less children than you do

...people say, "Wow! How do you manage?"

...people ask you, out of the blue, if you are Mormon or Catholic.

...you buy your pots and pans in the restaurant supply store

...supposed "family size" food portions seem awfully small

...you complain, "Doesn't anyone make large dining tables anymore?"

...you outgrow your mini-van

....you've forgotten what it's like to be alone anywhere else but in the bathroom

...your children never run out of playmates among their siblings

...everything you buy is in bulk

...people ask, "Don't you get overwhelmed?"

...you and your husband can no longer hold each child's hand while crossing the street

...it takes a wonderfully long time to hug and kiss everybody

...one of your children looks wistfully at the newborn and asks you, "Can't you have another baby really soon? I hardly get to hold this one because everybody else is taking turns."

...you realize that few houses are designed with your family in mind

...people ask you if you've ever accidentally left any of your children behind

...life around your family never seems boring or dull

...your tent is the largest one in any campground

...you feel sorry for people with only two children

...you sometimes wonder what on earth mothers with only two children do with all their spare time

...whenever you set your dining table, it looks like it used to look when you were expecting lots of company

...you read a cookbook and joke, "They call these meals? Sounds like a little snack to me."
...your gratitude at the abundance of God's blessing moves you to tears unexpectedly

...you start thinking of yourself as "rich in children"

...you secretly think that life in your family might possibly be a much more joyous adventure than life in smaller families

...you are vastly amused at much modern parenting advice, realizing that it is unnecessary, impossible, impractical, or simply silly to try to apply it in a large family setting

...it seems as if you pack more stuff going on a short trip than some people pack when moving their entire household

...your husband sighs happily, "I've finally got my dream car"--and it's a used 15- passenger van.

You know you’re in a big family when you smile at the following: by Kaitlyn

- A package, containing six fillets of meat, with a sticker that says ‘family pack’

- A cookbook titled "Meals for 2"

- A mother who is fully stressed out with her one child

- Books with titles such as, "Organization, Plain and Simple"

- Someone who asks, "Are they always this well behaved?"

- Pre-made pancakes, being sold in packages of 4

- A yard with a clean blanket of snow, and no boot prints

- A sweater with a price tag that reads, "$55.00"

- A mother who picks up her child instantly when he begins to cry

- A photographer who has a limit of 8 children per shot

- People who pity your mother

- Families that never go to the re-sale shops

- A room with white carpet

So, do you qualify as a big family?

Some thoughts on the time of harvest.

As the dried out fields of corn begin to fall under the blades of the combines, I can't help but think of the scriptures pertaining unto the time of harvest.
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Not in the fleshly harvest of food, but the harvest of men's lost souls, redeemed to everlasting life with Jesus, their Saviour.




Matthew 9:37-38

Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

John 4:35

Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.

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Get ready...

Get set...

GO!

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Today, a few of us children decided to get out and enjoy the perfect weather that God has given to us over the past few days.

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We pulled out the bikes and the roller blades and hit the road full speed! Well, as fast as you can go while dodging cracks and weeds in the road! :o)

I am blessed to have such wonderful sisters! Liz and I often bounce ideas off of each other while we do an activity, such as rollerblading, and I have come to really enjoy our times of conversation and fun!

A great example of the difficulties of an old concrete road!

Luke, popping his famous "two inch wheely"! :o)

Emily joined in the exercise as well!

Did you know that you can fly if you flap your arms hard enough? :o)

A group shot of me and my buddies!

Our local library had a "Laura Ingalls Wilder Party", this week. They asked Lizzie to come and play her "fiddle" for everyone. Em and Mother went along and snapped a few pictures.

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Craft time
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Laura Ingalls Wilder :-)
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Elizabeth and Mrs. Wolfe, who was in charge of the event.

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Of Mothers...

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One of the greatest blessings a child can have is a godly and virtuous mother. I'm so thankful for mine. She is indeed a joy and I love her dearly!

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Delight in every day and every moment that you get to spend with your mom and appreciate the treasure that the Lord has blessed you with.

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Proverbs 31:10

Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

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Jack is 18

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Man of the hour.
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Some time ago, Lizzie had the children begin memorizing various scripture verses with the goal of seeing how many rings they could create before Jack's birthday. This was what they did. Hey, good job kids and excellent idea, Liz!
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Emmy and Eli

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Reading a letter from Pastor.
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Aiden, striking a... uhhh... pose?
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Connor, not quite so willing to have his picture taken

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The process of blowing out all 18 candles...

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Getting ready.
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Beware all ye candles!
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Emily made the ice cream dessert... very rich but sooo yummy.

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Dad, sitting back and watching all the action.

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And last, but certainly not least, a shot of my mature brother... alright, alright, we'll give him a break. After all, he won't really be 18 until tomorrow! ;-)

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Big Brother

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Liz & Em

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Hmmm, could there be another side to your "friendly" blogger?

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This is what he did the other day, when someone was getting ready to snap a picture of him. Brothers... what do you do with 'em? :-)

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Multiple choice poll!

Choose several if you can't make up your mind on this one!

Holy, Holy, Holy is the winner!

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I don't know why Holy, Holy, Holy got 47% of the votes. Maybe because it was the most well known. But for any of you that were wondering...it was my first choice also. I love it when it is played by a brass group especially! (No bias at all of course! :oP)

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Here are the final standings:

Holy, Holy, Holy: 47% - 24 votes

Only By His Grace: 15% - 8 votes

When Morning Gilds the Skies: 13% - 7 votes

Onward Christian Soldiers: 11% - 6 votes

Jesus is the Sweetest Name I Know: 11% - 6 votes

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Thanks for participating!

Ten Weeks

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Nathan is 10 weeks old now, and smiling all the time. We're loving it! What a blessing from God this little boy has been.

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Just how many ways can you use a tomato?

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Well... we are discovering that there are quite a few ways. Praise the Lord for a productive garden! Our tomato plants have been producing abundantly, so we've been canning salsa, tomato juice (for soups, casseroles and such), making tomato cheese sandwiches, eating them fresh...

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So, tomatoes anyone? (BTW, we are welcoming any creative ideas, at this point.)

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Helpers

Mindy, helping Emmy make lunch. You should have seen her 5 year old delight, at being able to help with the meal. :-)

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Connor climbed up (on a chair) by the sink, earlier today, and began turning the water on and off, filling a cup and dumping it, in turn. He proceeded to get water all over the sink, floor, chair and himself... to say that he is a "busy child" is an understatement.