Toys

The other day I got the chance to spend time with Harry on our bathroom project.  Unfortunately I don't always get this one-on-one time with him.  The kids were all in school and we were both home from work early.

This was my choice of toy for the afternoon.

If ya all know me well then you know my choice of cleaning or working with my hands - the choice will always be working with my hands and most definitely working with my husband.  That's probably why my house is never in a clean order.  I always say you are welcome in my house but please do not look at my house.  I cherish these moments with Harry so much whether working on house projects, in the yard or working the cattle.  I love it.  I thank God for these moments.  Harry knows how important these times are to me and he works hard to help make these happen.  Yes I'm gushing but just for a moment.  

 

Projects

We have been busy lately remodeling the house.  Um yeah we are always remodeling.  It seems like a never ending project with us.  Anyway, we got the upstairs bathroom finished except the trim...that I'm suppose to find time to stain and then we will put up.  Where will those extra hours come from?

Upstairs Bathroom

Before

After

We dug right into the downstairs bathroom once this one was done.  Harry new there was some plumbing to be done.  What we didn't know was the nightmare it would cause.  We are going on day 4 of no water.  Well lets clarify...we have no water for like 19 hours and then it comes back on for enough time to get a load of laundry done and showers then it goes back off.  There has been 1 leak up to 4 leaks spraying across the room at times.  We started with redoing all the plumbing in copper and then tore it all out and put in PVC pipes and are still having issues.  Harry is getting there but so frustrating.  One morning (the morning of the spraying across the room) he woke up at 3:30 with Lil Harry.  When he went into the bathroom and saw this he started working once again.  All of a sudden I hear the saw going.  Seriously! Last night it was 12:30 before he came to bed.  Ugh it has been hard.  Then you wonder how they use to do it before indoor plumbing.  How does the Amish do it?  The first night I went down to my parents to be rescued with supper and showers.  We are managing and we will get this but so frustrating when you do it all the right way and it is still not working.  

Before

This is just my shower that I have used for 4 years.  You can barely turn around in it.  

After

This is the base of my new shower and he's pushed the wall back and made more room.  This is also before all the pumbing was finished the first time around.  

You can also tell that Spring time is here.  Harry's phone has been ringing off the wall for his mechanic expertise.  Which is wonderful but not when you are in the middle of a mess!  Oh and we are going to a cattle sale this afternoon.  Kids are so excited to get cattle again.  We are hoping there is something there but if not we will wait and be patient.  God has this all under control.  We take our comfort in knowing he will guide us the right direction.  

Seeing Clearly

This weekend was a great weekend with family and friends.  Oh how I love to fellowship.  Come invited or uninvited - I love company and I love being in people's company.  Hmm I guess that is where my kids get their "social butterfly" wings from.

Besides socializing this weekend we got to enjoy Ellaree's 2nd piano recital that her piano teacher puts on once a year.  So many talented kids in her group.  Here is her piece.

We are so proud of her.  She gets up there and you would never know that she's nervous.  She's amazing!

Time to turn the table.  I might get a little sermonie (is that a word? I tend to make up words...just ask Harry) on you.  Anyway, for the past year we have been seeking God's will for our farming.  Where, what, how, who, when, how-well we figured that one out.  But all these questions...we have the dream & goal now how do we implement it and do it in God's way and God's timing.  All this is for His kingdom.  So we have been reading a lot

and learning a lot.  Daily we consult the bible, a great book by Joel Osteen called Break Out! and of course this one for parenting.  Yes I do get more done then just reading even though it would seem otherwise.  

What struck me last night and this morning as I was struggling and reading (seems to be a constant battle between the two) were these two things...

The enemy would not be fighting so hard if he didn't know God had something great in store.  

Don't focus on the size of the problem, focus on the size of your God. 

These two statements have helped me more over the last 24 hours.  It was like when you don't have your glasses on and everything is flubbery (as Lorelai calls it), then you put your glasses back on and everything is clear.  Oh thank you Jesus for showing me this insight.  God does have a plan for us.  He is already orchestrating it all out.  He has been for years.  Now we need to sit back and watch.  Now don't get me wrong, I don't think God will give us everything on a silver platter.  I don't think that we should sit at home drinking our coffee waiting for the mail to be delivered with a letter from God telling us our next move.  I believe we have to get out there and do His work but we also need to stop, listen, watch, look around and be observant to His plan.  The plan that He's created for us.  

I'm so thankful that I have His word, His promise to fall back upon.  I know that there are times when it is not easy.  I know that there are times when I just fall to the floor crying, begging God to help us see His will.  He hears me, He feels my pain, He knows my struggles with patience.  But if he speeds up His plan to meet my needs then it would not be in His perfect timing, it would be in mine.  And therefore I need to learn to sit back and drink my coffee slower and enjoy the lessons He is teaching me.  Enjoy what He has given me right now and let Him take care of the rest.  

God is so good...all the time...All the time...God is good!

Updating the Past

Well I'm making myself sit down and write.  I have a million and one things I should be doing right now.  The days when there are no kids at home I try to get as much accomplished as possible.  I guess this would be one of those things that would be on my list as I won't be interrupted.  So I figured I would highlight the big stuff since Oct. to bring you all up to speed.

October

In October we had our annual 5K Walk/Run for Angels of Hope.  This amazing ministry is for those who have lost a child in any way - miscarriage, still birth, or death after life.  I am so very blessed to be apart of this amazing ministry where God shows us how to live after such a hardship.  This pictures shows us all lighting a candle for our loved ones and praying.  Oh how God was with us!

Thankful for my parents who had the kids so that I could help.  Harry was out in South Dakota at a church missionary trip building cabins for a bible camp.

Can you believe that these kiddos are this big already!?!?

3rd Grade

Kindergarten

Preschool

November

The kids got to try out what hockey was all about.  Oh the falls but they both got back up and kept on going.  They had lots of fun.  They both look so big and tough in these pictures.  

December

Harry was Student of the Month!

Christmas so much fun and fun as we watch the kids each year reflect on Christ's birth.  Oh how they continue to grow in His love and faith.  I'm in awe most days.

This guy turned 5!

All he wanted was cheesecake made by Mommy!

He also lost his very first tooth that morning!  It was a good day!

January

We are getting a lot of remodeling done in our house.  This is our foreman.  He keeps us on our toes and most days does pitch in to help.  

February

And this one is 6!

And all we wanted was Mommy's cheesecake with cherries on top in this design.  She's very specific and knows exactly what she wants.  Love her spunkiness.

Yes we have another foreman!

Who meditates!

The business owners decided that it was time for an upgrade.  It is a used furniture delivery truck so barely used on milage.  This is a gift from God as during the deal you could see his hand in it all.  Thank you Jesus!

Sock Hop at school! I love these days when I can make things for the girls.

March

We are so very blessed and thankful to celebrate my Dad's birthday this year after his scare last summer with this heart attack.  Oh how God's hand was in it all.  So glad to have these special moments to share with him.  As you can tell the kids love their Grapa...Grama too!

Lor got reading glasses.  She looks so sophisticated. 

Well that's it for now!  Back to cleaning in the quietness.  Thank you Jesus for these precious gifts of life.

I'm Back

I have not posted in quite a while.  I have many reasons but none that are good enough excuses to give you.  :)

There is so much to catch up on but in do time.  I will not bore you with it all at once.

I do have to say this weekend was very nice.  Saturday the weather was questionable with high winds and snow but then yesterday God blessed us with 70 degree weather and a beautiful sun.  We had a wedding we went to on Sat.  I don't know if Harry is allowed to go with me to weddings anymore.  One the way down we spotted not one but two trailers along the side of the road for sale in different spots.  A cattle trailer and flat bed trailer.  He's been patiently waiting for the right one.  I have to admit that I don't know if I would be as patient as him other then looking at the price tag.  On the way home he stopped and looked at them both and also got the phone numbers.  By the time we got home he had bought them both and they were both for less then what they had asked for.  Praise God!  They were also lots less then one brand new trailer alone.  Again we will say Praise God! I tease him that in less then one month he has gotten a new (to us) bread truck and two new trailers.  Oh boy he had better watch out for when I find something good I would like.  Wink, wink!

Sunday was a beautiful day and we celebrated with my family Easter at my sisters.  There was and egg hunt, food and fellowship.  So very nice day.

The kids are growing.  I can't believe it but the kids just finished up their 3rd quarter of school.  Their last day of school, Lord willing, will be June 3rd!  The kids are so excited.  I am excited to have the kids at home with me but according to the calendar it won't be much as it is so full already with summer school, bible camps and sports camps.  Wow how they don't stay small for long.

Lil Harry has lost two teeth.  Lor is not very happy about this as she has not lost any as of yet.  We try to explain how her teeth must be very healthy but there are days I don't think she cares how strong her teeth are, she wants the Tooth Fairy to come and to come soon!  Oh how that lil one keeps me on my toes.  They all do but in different ways.

We sold 16 out of 19 cattle last November.  Boy did we get a beaten on prices.  But we new we would either break even or we would be hurting. We have farming in our blood because we are out there again this spring looking for cattle to purchase.  Guess the beating wasn't to severe.  God has blessed us and we will try our hardest to manage His cattle to our very best abilities.

I'm so very thankful that God has chosen Harry for me to walk these paths with.  That carries the same faith as me and wants to serve our Lord in everything we say and do.  We are humbled by His love for us and so thankful for that cross.  Sharing Easter with the kids each year gets better and better as they come to understand and realize what it all means.  There is no better gift then to watch your child give their hearts to the Lord.  I praise Him that I have been able to be there for each one of my children and I have been able to lead them to Christ.  Oh my heart swells with joy!

Well speaking of children.  I have one who is needing me.  Hopefully next time there will be pictures and hopefully I will write soon again.

A Proud Momma Moment

Every day I am proud of my children.  But yesterday was a proud moment where Ellaree stood up for what she believed and showed us that we are leading her in the right direction. That we can make a difference no matter what age.

Let me back up and give you the full story.

Last week I was coming home from town and was listening to sermon on the radio. When I got home I rushed into the house to turn on the radio on the computer so that I could finish listening to it.  When I pulled the radio station website up I saw this looking back at me.  I forgot all about the sermon and started reading.

I mentioned Bring Your Bible To School to the kids and discussed it with them.  As much as I wanted them to participate in it I was nervous on whether or not we had taught them how to discuss and deal with their friends.  I gave it to God.  I prayed and said I would not bring it up again but if he wanted them to take their bibles to school to please bring it to their attention again.  About 2 minutes before the bus came Ellaree remembers to take her bible to school!  "Ok God! You have this one handled".  She went and got it.  I spoke briefly on how actions speak louder then words and also to speak with her teacher privately in regards to when would be a good time to read silently during class.  Thank God we have a Christian teacher!  

I received an email shortly after 8 from Ellaree's teacher.  Thanking me for allowing Ellaree to bring her bible to school.  Not realizing there was this event she was going to write it down on her calendar for her own children to partake in it next year and also she said she went across the hall and let the other Christian teachers in on this as well.

Later in the day I received this picture from Ellaree's teacher.  Ellaree had no idea that she took this picture but it did my soul good.  I had tears!

I did reach out to our local radio station to let them know how much I appreciated their radio station but also our story of the day and shared this picture.  They requested a phone interview with Ellaree for this mornings broadcast.  She was excited but also very timid and declined.  That's ok. We are still so very proud of her for standing up for what she believes in - her Lord Jesus Christ!

**If you are interested, Bring Your Bible To School Day is the 2nd Thursday of October!

Angels of Hope

It is that time of year again.  My day is consumed with getting every detail, along with two other lovely ladies, ready for the annual Angels of Hope Walk/Run.  This year will be so much fun as we are doing a glow in the dark!  I can't wait!  We would love to see you all there!