Boys Will Be Boys!

Here are just a few photos I couldn't resist posting of Isaiah and Tom in an all-out dart gun war. I wonder who is having the most fun? Tom retreating after a sneak attack...

Isaiah waiting in the hallway with a machine gun armed and loaded...

Valentine's Day Treat

Courtney surprised us with a Valentine's treat. She asked if we would rather go out to dinner while she babysat, or if we would like her to make dinner. We opted to have her make our meal...it was wonderful.

She made salad with dried cherries & goat cheese, french onion soup, peppered beef tenderloin, chocolate chiffon cake (in a heart shape with strawberries on top) and mocha truffles.

It was a candlelight dinner with music playing softly in the background. She even wrote up a guest check with "free" written at the bottom.

We left her a good tip! :)

A Sweet Moment

I was asked to do something that is way out of my comfort zone. I shared the situation with my daughter as I drove her home from school. When we got home she said, "Let me pray for you." She then put her arm around my shoulders and prayed the sweetest prayer!

She has offered before to pray for me, but this was the first time she offered to pray with me and for me. Her prayer brought tears to my eyes because she offered a gift to me in her words that she prayed over me. I never expected to be asked to do what seems so difficult, but what a awesome blessing from God to see the work of His hand in the life of my daughter!

Favorite Books

Maybe it is the teacher in me, but I have always loved children's books. There is nothing better than snuggling together on the couch and enjoying a good book. For my youngest ones I love the sturdy cardboard books that they can hold and turn the pages. My two favorite are The Little Noisy Book and The Little Quiet Book. When Courtney was a baby we read these books so many times we could recite them as we drove down the road and she looked at the book while in her car seat.

For my older boys we love The Ranger's Apprentice books by John Flanagan. Isaiah started reading these as a pre-teen and I picked the first one up to see what he was reading and I found myself pulled into the story and loving every minute. There are now seven published in the U.S. (he is an Australian author) and book 8 and 9 are scheduled to come out in May and August...we can't wait!

Reading books together is also a great way to bless your child, to encourage them, to teach them and just to love on them. Some books are so tattered from years of reading and re-reading. I'd Choose You by John Trent is one of our favorites as well as The Treasure Tree (also by John Trent & Gary Smalley) and Paw Paw Chuck's Big Adventures in the Bible by Charles Swindoll. Perhaps one of the best things about reading together is the gift of time as we share in the adventures together.

What are your favorite books?

Things I'm Thankful For

• I'm thankful for the piles of laundry to wash, dry, fold, and put away...for it means my children have clothes to wear
• I'm thankful for my squeaky dryer...for it means my laundry dries in less than an hour
• I'm thankful for toothpaste left in the sink...for it means my children are learning to take care of their dental health
• I'm thankful for books left out on the floor...for my children have been reading
• I'm thankful for crumbs on the floor...for it means my children have food to eat
• I'm thankful for the random hugs I get from my children...for it means that even though our house is not perfect they are loved and are learning to love back!

A Legacy and a Tribute

Frank & Quita
Celebrating 50 Years of Marriage

January 31, 2010

On January 31st we had the privilege to host an anniversary celebration to honor Tom's parents for their 50 years of marriage.

We had lots of yummy food...Frank & Quita had a chance to renew their wedding vows...There was also time for Tom & Sean to honor their parents with a Tribute...Special friends came from miles away to join in the celebration and to share their stories of friendship and encouragement from times spent together...We had a scrapbook to give to them filled with encouraging notes, words of blessings, and pictures from their friends from all over the country. It was a great time to renew friendships... We all enjoyed being able to bless Granny & Grandpa...