ELEPHANTS!!!!!!!

That was the theme of Claire's third birthday! We celebrated the important day yesterday. I really can't believe that she is already 3 it seems that just yesterday she was born. How quickly time goes by!

Why an elephant you ask...well, she LOVES them. I am not really sure how or when it happened but she loves them. She picked a stuffed animal off the shelf when she wasn't even 1 and fell in love with it and has been hanging on to them ever since. I have lost count of how many are in the house here! big, little, stuffed, plastic you name it we have it!

I started thinking about a cake and trying to figure out what sort of elephant cake I would make for her and I couldn't find a "pattern" for one so...I just figured it out and viola! we have a purple elephant and glasses to boot!

Well, Claire is 3 I can't believe it, I will quickly tell you of how yesterday started...she often climbs into bed with us in the morning (as most children do) and she was up rather early yesterday so I was trying to pretend that I was asleep so that she would go back to sleep...smothering me with kisses and hugs (which is usually how we wake one another up in the house) she finally realized that it was not waking me up and in a very sweet and quiet voice she said "isn't it my birthday today mommy?" and with that we were all awake! at 6:30 on a Saturday morning. After we had a round of birthday hugs and kisses (again) she jumped out of our bed to go and proclaim HER day!

Go ahead and ask her about her cake, her day! she loves talking about it!!!

WHY are we always amazed??

So, if you have read this blog lately and seen the top 10 of the summer you would have read that we are homeschooling the kids this year.

Money has been a little tight for us lately (as many of you know). Well, I made up the list of what we needed for home schooling and also a list of a few books that I would like for the kids. I prayed over this list for quite awhile during the process of writing the list. I didn't want to seem greedy but needed to be the best teacher that I could be.

I have many friends that home school and well...I have learned (both last year with Meg, and now this year with the rest of the kids) DON'T ask too many people for their opinions, first off if they give it to you and you don't take it you offend them! and second you get a whole lot more information than you ever needed!!!

Well, I chatted with a friend of mine about what we were using and why...she quickly said to me "I have all those grades, I will bring them to you tomorrow..." This is a friend that I have only gotten to "know" in the past few months, but have known her for a few years (well, more like 10 years) so...we chatted today, she brought the books to soccer practice and we went through all the books she brought more than the 4 grades that I am teaching and as we looked at them and I was a little overwhelmed by the amount of books she brought me. She told me that she and her husband wanted to GIVE us the books. Knowing that we are working toward the mission field and that money is tight they felt that is what they needed to do. Not only did she give me the grades for this year but also for any year we are home schooling!! 3 FULL boxes of books...imagine when I added up what we needed it was over $1000. I don't even want to know how much the books are all worth that she gave to me!

With TEARS in my eyes, I reminded her of the time that she spoke at our moms group at church and told us to be specific when we pray. Her example was when they were adopting a few kids and needed bed for the children so they all started praying for beds. Faithfully they were praying for beds...and a few weeks later they had beds given to them...beds, not mattresses!! So...her point was to be specific, beds and mattresses...We were praying for curriculum. And looking for it specifically praying that God would provide it for us, either the money of the books...and He did! amazed I just stood in the parking lot and thanked God for once again providing above and beyond what we need and want!

Just thought I would share a little blessing that came our way today!

ok, ok...

So, I hear that people come here and just use this blog as a launching pad to get to all the other blogs! Glad that I could help you in doing that! want a quick update? well, lots of things are happening here:

1. our house is on the market and the people that looked at it last week are interested...we are waiting to hear from them. (YEA!!)
2. We have decided with much prayer that we will be home schooling the children this year. Pray for us when you think of it please!
3. We have been enjoying hanging out with our friends this summer...beach, pools...you know summer stuff!
4. We have been enjoying each day that God gives us and learning to totally depend on Him for everything. The rug was kind of pulled out from beneath us early in the year and we have been seeing His mighty hand at work on such incredible ways. I could write a book about it but I think that I will keep it for our family to often reflect on!!
5. Anna turned 5 last week! She is such a complete joy and bundle of energy! She will be the only one attending school this year and is very excited about that. I think we need to prepare her teacher. And a calf was born on her birthday she named it in honor of the day it is Team Impact Daniel. I think that the papers will just be Daniel. (not really sure where she came up with that name for it!!)
6. We had fun babysitting the kids friends this summer, yes I know insane but it was fun and I would do it again in a heartbeat! It was so much fun having them hang out with their best friends for a few days each week!
7. Varsity soccer started this morning which means that Abby no longer gets to sleep in...yes you read that correctly she is playing soccer at her old school they allow home schoolers to play on the team.
8...this is so random isn't it?
9. I just did 8 for the fun of it and am actually thinking that NO ONE is reading this so I am just typing for the fun of it
10. I just needed one more number to write before I closed this post!

So, little bits of nothing and big things this summer and I thought I would share them with you all!

Have a great rest of the summer!!

I know I have been a slacker

Well, what can I say? I was gently reminded while we were in Guate that my blog had not been updated in over a month, I guess people really do come to my page. Unfortunately they don't leave comments so I really don't know who is reading this and really if I should keep it up. Oh well!

so...Hi Bob! :)

We had a great time down in Guatemala. You can check out the Wilson's to Guatemala on the side bar to read all about it. Highlights of the week? Well, we started off the week going to LA before heading down to Guate. Yes, you read that correctly! We had the choice of going to Miami and waiting until the following day for us to maybe getting a flight at 5:00 but the likelihood of that was pretty slim. The next option would be to wait until 7:00 the chances of that flight were a little better...this would have been by midnight on the 15 Guatemala time that we would have landed. No thanks! we would have missed a whole day. I really have no desire to spend a day or 2 in Miami. She kept on typing and finally looked up at us and said that we could go to LA at 5:00 PM and land around 8 catch the 11:00 flight to Guatemala and land there around 4:30. Simple right? well...we felt as if we were sailing and tacking the boat to get from point a to point b. I thought that coming home maybe we could go the opposite way! England maybe? :) Really though that wasn't the highlight of the week, just a tiring thing that happened! I guess we can laugh about it so that is a good thing.

The kids had a little bit of a time with us gone again, it was hard on them. I didn't think it would be, but I think that Tennessee was still fresh in their minds when we went down. They all tried to be so brave as they said goodbye to us. 2 out of 6 did great. They kept up with their busy schedules while we were gone which I think the people that were taking care of them were probably thankful when we were finally home too. Just so that they could get some rest!

I know that I have said this to everyone already but THANK YOU everyone who helped make this past week possible, between praying for us, watching our kids and carting them around for us! You are in this just as much as we are even though you don't think you are! Your support is such a blessing!

I thought it was April...

This is what we woke up to this morning ...it is a beautiful, and extremely heavy snow. I am sure glad that I didn't have to shovel it. The kids had the day off. Not because of the roads this morning but because of the major power outages in the area. We lost it during the night and never even knew. Good thing they didn't have school because they would have been late. The sun shining through the snow was amazing. Once again we are reminded of God's handiwork all around us.

YES!! I am still around...

But, I have been very busy! I looked today at the last time I posted and well, it has almost been a month! I have been trying to think of something great to write about but...I come up short every time I did go and see Smuckers Stars on Ice. I was even going to post about it and well...I didn't. It was great fun, great seats, I went with my sister (who invited me) my mom and 3 other friends. We did have a great time. However, I didn't feel that I should post exclusivly on that especially since the pictures I have are awful!

The following week I went to see The Celtic Women. Kind of a late birthday present! They are incredible. If you ever have the chance to see them I highly recommend it. Phil really enjoyed it too! They were great! It was last Thursday when it was BITTER cold outside and we had to walk a few blocks to get to the car. I thought that I was getting frost bite while we were walking, It was sooo bitter cold! I was very thankful for the car (and the remote starter) when we were in it and out of the cold and wind.

This past weekend Phil took Cabot hunting...I guess he is trying to counter all the dress up that the girls have done with Cabot. :-) No really, Phil did take him hunting, they were supposed to go with a great friend of ours however, God had other plans and our friend suffered a heart attack the Wednesday before they were to go. He is doing well, you would never even know that he had a heart attack we were in just a couple hours later and he was talking to Phil about the trip and talking like he was going to go with them. But, the doctor (and the wives)said no!! We were thankful that they were not away when it happened because they were out of pretty much all civilazation. So, Sunday Phil packed up with Cabot and off the two of them went! I recieved a call Tuesday afternoon from Cabot remember that he is only 7 He was very excited to report that he had harvested a Eurpean Red Stagg. An 11 point buck! whoa...can you hear the excitement in his voice when he called me? And, do you think that I have any picutres? NO!! I will get some pictures up and let him retell his story! it is a great one!

And finally...ever hear of Team Impact? If ever have the chance to see and hear them they are incredible. The kids school is hosting the this week, and we took the family last night to go and watch them. They are there until Sunday night so...I recommend that you take the time and go. Their testimonies are incredible and straight from the heart, they had a little "teaser" during chapel yesterday and a bunch of kids responded to the message. And again last night during their presentation the gym was packed and they expect more tonight and the following few nights...Their might and strength is incredible. The kids were amazed that one of the men could lift a telephone pole over his head! (I was amazed too!) so...if you are in the area for the next few days go and check them out!

And finally I thought that spring was here yesterday it was 73* outside!! Bring it on that is all I have to say!!! (today is well...rainy!)

who let the cows out...

Dad sent thisto me earlier today. We don't stay up and watch the news at night. That is just a little too late for me! Lost is a little too late for me too these days why did they change the time? Anyhow check it out. It seems that these cows no matter who the owner is like to get out when the owner is away. I thought it was just our cows! I guess it is the breed in general! See Dad! ;) They are a pretty cow. So, I guess that can make up for it right?

I figure if T-bone can post about Hollywood commercials than the cow is acceptable for me!

Something else...if you have not check out our new blog it is on the sidebar. Take a look. I will try to update it as things progress. Sorry I don't have a pie chart for things as they are completed. Maybe I could talk Mark into that for me! :)

Next week is school vacation...maybe we will have some good posts from that!

randomness...

I am definitely having a lack of creativity. I am at a loss for witty things to say. Or even profound things to say! I am trying maybe a little too hard so! I will just tell you what has been going on here!

Basketball is OVER! what a season they had an impressing year with 0 wins out of 18 games. (Yes, you did read that correctly!) But it was a great year for the girls and it was fun having 2 girls on the middle school team. Most of the games started at 3:30 a few started at 5:00 but what we found out at the last game is that they start 10 minutes after the boys finish. (If the girls play the 3:30 game the boys start at 4:40ish and if the boys start at 3:30 the girls start at 4:50ish. We couldn't figure out why they kept telling us that the game was at 5:00 and we always missed the first quarter of the game. Well all that to say that Betsy started on Tuesdays game and had the first basket and only basket until the 3rd quarter. It was an outside shot that everyone was amazed she made. (not that she can't shoot but the team we played was a tough team) SO...getting to the game at 4:50 we learned that the game started at 4:40 UGH!!! we missed it!!! It was a great end to their season! The team lost their 2 "best" players early on for various reasons. Health and for one and other reasons for the other. However, with the two of them no longer on the team the rest of the girls really learned how to play a great game together! This was the coaches first year with them, and she did a great job! She wasn't all over them if they had an off game, she just worked harder with them and let them know that it was OK! God really knew that the girls needed a coach like her this year and it really showed in all of their attitudes!

What else? hmmm....home schooling, still trying to get the hang of it! We have great days and we have um, not so great days. I am just trying to get more done in the great days, then when we have a not so great day it is OK!

Potty training Claire. It has never been this difficult before~ that is all I am going to say. (the rest were trained by the time they were almost 2 or just after their birthday...UGH!)

Guatemala...no updates and you can check out that blog look on the sidebar.

Soccer on Saturdays for Meg is great. She lives to play soccer! It is so fun to watch her out their on the field. She can out run almost everyone, her very best friend Hannah is playing with her and she has never played before, Meg has given her lots of tips and so has her older brother so she is great to watch as well!

OH I almost forgot! I have a new coffee pot. Phil headed into Derry last night for a spark plug for his wood spliter and when he came home he had a package on teh counter! For those of you who have heard my coffe dilima for the past few weeks! I am back in the game! :) YIPEE

Um...I am not sure what else to write on so! Have fun catching up on us and hopefully next one will be a little more exciting and even a picture or two!

:)

I think he was in it just for the money!

OK, so maybe not! Just look at how cute he is with that tooth missing. Wonder when the next one will be wiggled out.


I must say that in comparison to the girls he is a wimp about pulling teeth! He worked on that one for days and wouldn't let me touch it and if I did whoa!

I will say that everytime he has a new first or does something a little pang goes off in me knowing that there are only 2 more following him with their firsts. Kind of wierd how that works!

Enjoy the toothless grin! :)

I think that I found Narnia...

Take a look at the yard. I wanted to post this yesterday however, the computer was acting a little slow I think due to all the ice and cold that we are having, finally!




I was going to take a few pictures today it looks like everything is glass. It is absolutly gourgous! However, everytime and ambulance goes by yesterday and today I am fearing that someone has been hurt due to the storm and the cold weather that we are now having!

OK...really not a huge post but just look at the picutres. The sun is trying to peek through can you see that?

Happy Birthday!

Cabot is 7 today!! What a great guy! I think his highlight of his day is that he can order his lunch at school today, unfortunatly Friday doesn't have much to offer Chicken parm sandwitch, chop suey, pb&j, chicken noodle soup or a green salad. What would you choose? He wanted a salad. Yesterday was pizza day too bad it wasn't yesterday.






What is he getting? not too sure...guess I need to head out today! Maybe God will provide some snow for him! I know I am making him a Pumkin Pie (that is what he has been asking me for since Christmas when his cousin ate HIS piece! oops)

ok...that is all, just didn't want to be told that I am not posting! :)

well...what can I say?

I have been a little busy lately. Sorry! here is a quick update:

The craft fair called "The Guest House" is finished I think that we worked a few weeks more than we needed to. However, we did have a blast doing it and meeting new people who will hopefully be back next year for it. We did learn a few things that we will carry into it next year. Eric was the only one to sell everything that he made! Way to go Eric! He actually ran out of pens and had to make a few more the last day we were open. I think it was worth his time! :)

Guatemala went well. They all came home without incident! My family was the only one not to get sick while they were down there. I guess there was a nasty flu that came on extremely fast and took over your body for several hours. Then slowly allowed you to return back to health. They had a blast "life changing" as Abby said when we talked about it. I know that Betsy is feeling the same way, just not actually verbalizing it that way. I read her journal entries WOW!! how encouraging to read that and see how an eleven year old views life in a different culture! she can't wait to go back, and Phil can't either. He is in the process of making plans for us to go down again in just a few weeks. We will be there for a visit and also a work trip. I hope that we are able to do it! Pray for us will you?

What else? Oh yeah, I am now home schooling Megan Yes! you read that correctly I am the person who has always said that I would NEVER do that. Well, what is it that people say about never say never because that is what God will have you do.
Actually I don't think I ever said "I will never" I think that what I said was I don't think that it would be a good idea. God knows me and He knows better than allow me to do it. Well...I guess that is about the same as saying never right? We had our first day yesterday. It went well. I am very excited about it and the rest of the kids want to know why they can't be home schooled...let's just say that right now is not the time for it! CCS is a great place for them to be! :)

So, that is it in a nut shell. Hope it was enlightening for all of you that read this. I am really not sure who actually reads this but for those of you that do...I hope it keeps you happy until the next one. HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!

what do YOU eat?

So, yesterday my Dad went out to feed the cows. I thought I would show you what we feed them. That way anyone who enjoys our cows can see what we actually feed them. My question has always been herbivores or carnivores...I guess I now know! :)









Think that we could send this in to the company that makes Boca burgers and have them use it for ads? :)

Enjoy the many pictures here...Dad has Broadband and that is where I am this week!!
Yes, call me a chicken I am staying here while my family is abroad!

I can't believe it is almost time

Well, tomorrow my husband and 2 older children will be boarding a plane and head down to Guatemala. You may remember I wrote about this trip back in the spring. I am a having a little twang of jealousy right now. I really wanted to go however, this time of the year is not a time to farm the rest of the kids out. Next year I am going and I can't wait to get back down there!

So, today is going to consist on getting loads of laundry done and packed for them. We are trying to remind the girls that it is a very poor country and they don't need to have so much stuff to bring with them. However, Dad needs to remember that he is bringing 2 of my offspring so lightly packing is going to be hard! :) (no tension here!) They were looking forward to the warm weather down there, and I was informed that they are having a cold snap. So not too many shorts are heading down with them!

Pray for the kids and the adults as they are distributing these packages. What a joy it will be for them to help give these necessities to these children and family's. (Maybe tour kids will see just how spoiled they really are) Pray for safety health and that they will see God honored through this whole process. I am so excited for them.

A lot of people have asked me if I am scared...My answer to that? Why would I be scared? God is in control, what better place to be then in the center of God's will? The place I wouldn't want to be is outside of that will. That would make me scared.
We know where they are going I have been there, Phil has been there and will be with them. I just wish it was me instead (or also)!!

Something else to pray for while they are gone. Me...Here with the 4 little kids. Meg would hate to hear me say that but...! I am looking forward not to have all the "extra" runs to school to pick kids up for sports or running to the basketball games. (yes, the season has started!) I guess I will sort of be on a vacation as well! :)

Well, I need to do some laundry thanks in advance for praying for this trip, and also thanks to those of you who have been praying all along on our journey!

Guess What!

Hey Everyone who reads this. Check out Nikkis blog. She is back YEA!! So, would you like an update on the craft fair? Well, the first weekend was a great success considering we really didn't promote it. We all had sales except for Dad, however he made up for it yesterday. He had the sales! Way to go Dad! And that leads me to the rest of us crafters, we all had a sale (yes you read that right A sale) not sales but, next weekend will be different! I hope. We are advertising in 5 local papers and putting more signs up to promote it. So, once again if you are in the area come on by. And don't forget to check out Nikki's blog while you are here!

For those who read this and are in the area...

I am having a fabulous craft fair here on Saturday Nov. 25 from 10am-4pm and then every Saturday until Christmas we will be having at least 7 people putting their things in. If you came last year you need to come back, it is going to be so much bigger (not the actual building!) and better! Stop by do some shopping, have a little cup of coffee a bite to eat. Enjoy the fire...

Who will be the crafters you ask? Well, Robin Williams (sure come by and see for yourself!) My Dad will be making some of his wonderful wood creations...Mom is making decorations for your tree and house, Misty will be making goodies such as felted wool bags, table runners, napkin holders...And so much more. Eric will be making his fantastic pens and Lorree will be making ornaments as well. Oh yeah, I too will be there with my jems :)

So stop by if you are in the area on any of those days. We look forward to seeing you! (and remember there is only 34 days until Christmas at this point!)

Post Secret...

Ok, not a huge profound post just something that I have seen and heard alot about lately. Post Secret. Have you seen or heard about it? I saw a clip on the news a few weeks ago. I stumbled across it a few months ago when I was flipping through blogs. Now there is a book.


The jist of it is for people to make a postcard of a secret that no one knows. One that you just want to share and get it off your mind. (hmmm....) The guy that started it did it just to see what people would send in, he said that he never imagined that it would be as big as it is now. Amazing what 100 postcards that he left in random places with a little description of what to do started...


It is heartbreaking to see it. Some of them are so sad, you really wish that you could find out who wrote it and let them know that there is someone out there for them. Someone who knows their hurts and wants to help them. As I was reading this I was very emotional and finding that I was praying for these poor people who feel that there is no hope for them. Some are fun...but most of them are so sad and depressed. Oh not to have any Hope how sad is that? Makes me want to make a postcard that says "Jesus loves you all the time, even when you feel that no one does!"


See, nothing profound!!

ok ok....I get the point!!

So, yeah it has been awhile!! Why do I get in trouble if I don't post and others don't post for a while and it is ok?? hmmm....just wondering? So, here is a picture of a little cutie for you all to admire...

So, until I can put a little more time and effort into this you will all have to look at Claire aka "Chicken Little" Enjoy!

Friday the 13th

What a busy day! First I had a field trip to the Stone Zoo. What a blast. I wish I was in first grade again! What a great time 10 kids, 7 adults. Lots of wild animals! (pictures to come tomorrow.) We had fun walking around looking at the cougars and the jaguars, spotted mountain lion, Himalaya mountain goats Canadian wolves...Reindeer(did you know they really can't fly?) llamas, boas...and a whole lot more. It was a great time, tiring time too. I think we walked 10 miles!

We came home to find out the girls soccer game was cancelled (secretly I was very happy!)

Megan is 10 today, and in our house birthdays are pretty special when you turn 10 double digits and all...so we went to the mall with Hannah, her very best friend in the whole world! and they had their pictures taken together in their matching outfits. (all the way to the flip flops.) Great pictures the photographer was having a blast with them, it was so much fun for them! We had a great dinner...then (drum roll please....) she went to get her ears peirced! oh what fun. A friend of the family Miss Crosbie came with us for the evening and she decided to get another set of holes done while we were there, so...Meg had company geting her ears done! what fun. (pictures of that will be up tomorrow too)

now it is almost 11:00 and they are still giggling and being little girls but I am very tired and going to go to bed! It has been a very long day~

Pictures will be up sometime tomorrow!! really once I can get it going!


HAPPY BIRTHDAY MEGAN HOPE :-)

Leaf Peepers...

Well, we were off yesterday for our annual family adventure up to the White Mountains. Once again we are amazed at how many travelers come all the way to beautiful NE to check out the foliage. I was able to meet a couple from Valencia CA. That is just about where I was when I went to CA this summer! How cool is that? The lady took some pictures for us, Phil asked a random person to snap a shot of the family and she just happened to be a professional photographer. (ok, but when you are not in a studio that really doesn't help much!) Gotta work with what you have. :)

It seemed that when we were on the Kangamugas highway that the leaves were mostly gone. And unfortunatly that is where most of the pictures were taken :(

















We ate at a great restaraunt Banners it was wonderful! Outside they had some beautiful gardens and the mums were vibrant. The butterflies liked them too...look! They were covered with Monarchs and honey bees!

And this last pictures is a local picture. this is about what the color is like here at home, we are almost at peek! Beautiful!





I will get some more on later. Gotta go and read for first grade! :)