Happy Thanksgiving!!

 The kids ready to go deliver the Pilgrim hat cookies to the neighbors.

They had a great time this year. The kids said "J" even talked :-)

 The twins are so hard to get pictures of:-) They do NOT want to be still so below Sissy held them

so we could get some pictures without them moving so much!

All my beautiful girls.

SOOOOOOO much to be thankful for!!! Babe had a family devotional this morning on faith and tying it in with the faith that the Pilgrims had even through rough times.

Essay for Posterity

In school, G was assigned to write a composition about an interesting topic. He was supposed to talk to an elderly person about something they did as a child and then they were to repeat whatever it was themselves and write about the whole experience! What a neat idea! Great way to connect the past with the present and connect generations! Here is G's essay . . . 
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G.L.

Miss A

Composition 1

23 November, 2014

 
    On hearing the instructions for this assignment, I was very excited to consult my Grandpa Johnson for the needed information. He is a jovial man and, though in his 70’s, almost never has too little energy for a water balloon fight, a run through the airport, or a nature walk. As a child, he was a farm boy, which makes him perfect for this assignment, as he has plenty of stories about his childhood on the farm. He was very happy to have the opportunity to tell me the games he played as a farm boy.
    My Grandpa told me that many of the things they did for fun during the 1940’s -1950’s were closely related to work. For instance, though he caught frogs for fun, there was a restaurant that gave money to boys who would bring them frog legs. Thus, this was also work because he helped earn extra money for the family as he was having fun. However, he did do things for fun that were not work, as well. He rode horses (though, one time, he narrowly escaped being trodden down by an angry running horse and has hardly ridden them since), picked berries, rode his bicycle, played soft ball with rural schools, played “Antie Antie over”, and many other things.
    The game I particularly wish to speak about in this paper is a game called “kick the can”. “Kick the can” was played by many farm families, and even people who had never played it before had most likely heard of the game. The game was better with more people playing. The game was played by farm boys and girls at night on the farmland. To play the game, a milk can was the only necessary item, besides people. A person was chosen to be “it” and the person would close their eyes, put their foot on the can, and count to 100. The other people would run as fast as they could to hide, be it in a hay stack, a barn, the fields, a tree, some bushes. The only place they could not hide was indoors. The person chosen as “it” would try to find the other players in their hiding spots. When he found someone, he would try to tag the person. The player being chased would make a bee-line for the can and if they could kick it before “it” tagged him he would be “safe”. However, one did not need to be seen to kick the can, if a hiding player saw from his hiding spot that “it” had walked away from the can to find someone, the player could bolt to the can and kick it, making himself “safe”. The first person tagged would be “it” in the next round. Also, to make sure that there were no stalemates, “it” would not simply stand next to the can the entire game, where only a general rush of players could dislodge him.
    I played this game with my two brothers Ross and Carson ages 8 and 5, and my sister Annalina age 11.  We used a tiny aluminum can and, instead of playing at night, we played during the day time.  As we played, we found out that it was very tempting to simply stand next to the can which, though not fair, ensured victory. However, we did occasionally go looking for people, and in this I found a great advantage when I was not “it”. When “it” would go in search of a player, I would slip around and run to the can. However, when I reached the can, since “it” did not know I was there, I simply stood over the can, and I did not kick it. Then, I would wait for “it” to come back from his/her search and see me calmly standing over the very can he/she was trying to defend. I would watch their heart sink into their stomach with a look of “Oh great”. Finally, with a look of triumph and defiance I would kick the little aluminum can as hard as I could and would send it sailing through the air. This was always followed by a good laugh made both by “it” and myself.
    In conclusion, I have had a good time playing a very interesting and old game that my grandpa once played. However, I have also learned something about the idea of fun 60 to 70 years ago. I learned that people did work for fun which is not seen often today. I find this very interesting as I did not know almost anything about fun at that time in America’s past.

Today Daddy Comes back home!!!!

 Today Daddy comes home! I am hoping for a fast day which it should be. Need to drop G off at school then go near his new school building location and drop off the applesauce spice cake I made for his school Thanksgiving lunch . . . get schooling done here and a little party for us at lunch. Meet up with G before swim practice to get his stuff and then pick him up at 5pm and immediately go to the airport to get DADDY!!!! Ah, a good day it will be!!!!

Family Church

Yesterday I was disappointed. I had gotten up before the kids and gotten dressed and ready for church. The night before I had gotten the younger kiddos bathed and church clothes laid out ready for the morning. But when I went to get up the twins they both had yucky runny noses:-) I knew the nursery was especially not going to want that. I was disappointed . . . our church is such a blessing to go to. But that is mommy life and since my hubby wasn't home to take the rest of the gang it meant being home. 

After the girls went down for their morning nap we had a devotional time and read out of Psalm 100 and Psalm 98. Big C quoted Psalm 100 since he had memorized it for school. We talked about "Serve the Lord with gladness:" and "come before his presence with singing", etc. Maybe in life we're not glad about our circumstances but we can be glad in them and we need to serve the Lord with gladness. We talked about one or more ways each of the big kids can serve the Lord in their daily lives.

We sang some fun thanksgiving songs and came "before His presence with singing". Big C however really wanted to skip to Christmas songs and especially his favorite "We Three Kings"!

 

Psalm 100

A Psalm of praise.

¹ Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.
² Serve the Lord with gladness:
come before his presence with singing.
³ Know ye that the Lord he is God:
it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
⁴ Enter into his gates with thanksgiving,
and into his courts with praise:
be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
⁵ For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting;
and his truth endureth to all generations.

Psalm 98

A Psalm.

¹ O sing unto the Lord a new song; for he hath done marvellous things:
his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.
² The Lord hath made known his salvation:
his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen.
³ He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel:
all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

⁴ Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth:
make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.
⁵ Sing unto the Lord with the harp;
with the harp, and the voice of a psalm.
⁶ With trumpets and sound of cornet
make a joyful noise before the Lord, the King.
⁷ Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof;
the world, and they that dwell therein.
⁸ Let the floods clap their hands:
let the hills be joyful together ⁹ before the Lord;
for he cometh to judge the earth:
with righteousness shall he judge the world,
and the people with equity.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My younger brother sent me a text later that morning saying . . .

"Forgot not His benefits." Which was such a great reminder of all the 

AMAZING things we have in Christ! 

I have been blessed by this passage of Scripture before (I have a date written next to the passage)   and again yesterday with the 

prompting of my brothers text.

What an AMAZING God that loves us and provides us with such love and care!!!

Great my brother sent that.

Psalm 103

A Psalm of David.

¹ Bless the Lord, O my soul:
and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
² Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits:
³ who forgiveth all thine iniquities;
who healeth all thy diseases;
⁴ who redeemeth thy life from destruction;
who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
⁵ who satisfieth thy mouth with good things;
so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

⁶

Thanksgiving Tradition

 Tradition at our house is that every year we assemble Pilgrim hat cookies and freeze them on Thanksgiving themed paper plates until Thanksgiving evening and then the kids go and deliver them to neighbors. They LOVE this. We got the Pilgrim hat idea from my sister-in-law. 

J was with us assembling cookies this year but really just ate cookies and Reesies.:-)

 Big C showing his assembled Pilgrim hat.

R is such a goof, on one cookie on his plate he forgot to flip the cookie over to the fudge part so instead the Pilgrim hat had stripes:-)

The Fun of Junior High

We had picked up G's school books from school so he could head to swim practice and as I was carrying them up to his room I saw 3x5 cards tucked down in the clear plastic sleeves on the front of some of his binders. I started reading and got a good laugh . . .

Tricksters' Warning

Warning: If this binder or any other possessions currently held by G. L. (his name) is found in the desk, hands, locker, or power of the prankster/s I will instantly confiscate them. Unless they were on their way to return them. If I see my belongings being taken to anyplace besides where I currently am, I will firmly keep my property from being handled further. Your cooperation is valued and expected. G.L. (he has his name)

I asked G about this when he got home and he got a big smile on his face and told me that during study hall or (his school calls it collequey) some of the kids play tricks and hide peoples stuff and it can take them awhile to reliquish the object so this was in defense of that happening. :-)
Ahh, the joys of jr. high. He LOVES school. Have I said that before?:-)

Strength and Song

Exodus 15:2

 

The Lord is my strength and song, 

and he is become my salvation: 

he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation;  

my father’s God, and I will exalt him.

 

Amen

Views From Our Home

 These two are really buddies.

 Colonial "C"

 A butcher, a baker, and candlestick maker:-)

 All these pictures are taken from my bedroom or master bath windows.

The colors were stunning this last week.

Beautiful Fall Day In Williamsburg

Big brother G wheeling the girls around. It was a brisk day but really just perfect weather.

Over Veteren's Day weekend we got the opportunity to go to Williamsburg and look around.

Williamsburg opened their doors to military and their families for free which was really really special. I am grateful for that. We had a much needed day out as a family in absolutely beautiful fall weather. We could not have ordered a better day. We really did the preschool tour of Williamsburg this time around. The girls only can go so long. But we spent quite a bit of time just not focusing a long time in any one place except the mansion and that one we barely made it through:-)

It was a wonderful day out and we were all thankful for it.

Daddy giving the kids a little lesson.

The gang

Us, in front of the governor's mansion.

Baby C and me

G really enjoyed the governor's mansion a lot because of the HUGE display of 

weapons of different sorts!

We took my mom's advice and brought a picnic lunch. Perfect day for a picnic and we weren't the only ones doing that! I hope we can do it next year too!

The twins really enjoyed being out of the stroller and exploring. 

The trees were absolutely beautiful!

Me with the love of my life.

ATTENTION!! The boys with a soldier.

"A" taking the opportunity to get to write with a quill pen.

G taking a turn at the quill pen.

"A" looking very colonial!!

The stocks in Williamsburg!

Baby B and Me! Enjoying the beautiful fall colors!!

"J" finally just conked out. He was one tired boy.

Baby C enjoying playing in the fall leaves.

R enjoying the fall day in Williamsburg.

Baby B LOVED LOVED LOVED crawling in the leaves! She did not want to be picked up.

Fun To Listen To Christmas In the Air!!

G says when he hears "A" practicing Christmas music he feels like going to sleep. It is relaxing!
She is still learning these songs but I thought I would post them. These are some of the sweet sounds that ring through our home right now.

I Thessalonians 5:16-18

^{I Thessalonians 5 . . .} 

¹⁶ Rejoice evermore. ¹⁷ Pray without ceasing. ¹⁸ In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Our family has been through some rough times lately but I want to give praise to God who always is good and always supplies grace. I am thankful for a God that instead of me showing myself strong He wants me realize my weakness and rest in His might for when I am weak I am strong. I know His plans are perfect and His way is perfect.

One funny side note from my day:
Big C came to sit next to me during school and I noticed he had on 3 pair of shorts. After talking some he revealed to me his grand idea. He had three pair on so when the top pair became dirty all he would have to do is take off the top pair and then then next pair were right there! Great idea but not real practical. I did get a kick out of it though!

What Are Your Thoughts?

This morning after having a leisurely devotional time and then a family pow wow of sorts talking about things to work on while daddy is gone I asked the kids "Does anyone have any more comments?" Jedidiah said "I do!" I thought to myself he is just going to say jibberish to be silly. I asked him "Jedidiah what are your thoughts?" He smiled and said "Jesus!" We reacted positively because certainly that is a wonder thought! I told him our pastor would be happy with that since on Sunday he challenged us in the morning when we wake up to turn our thoughts to Jesus as quickly as we can.

"What My Mom and I Look For When We Look for a House"-By (my daughter)

When my mom and I look for a house we have a great time. We usually eat out, sleep in a hotel, and drive around. When we go see a house we look for a place to play, a place for storage, and how far it is from places we need to go. Even though what we feel about a house does matter; what God says matters even more. So, we pray about it to make the best decision possible. When God says, "That's it" we tell every body at home and we move in! And that is how my mom and I look for a house.

"A" had to write a paragraph today and the above was the paragraph.

Parenting is the hardest job I have ever had in my life. As my older children get older I see how important it is for them to be rooted and grounded in the Bible. It must be their anchor for security and their scale for weighing right and wrong. I have much more work to do in letting my time with them be used more in rooting and grounding their faith.  It is so easy to let time slip through my hands. I am so thankful for A's tender heart & her relationship with Christ. J was with her during her personal devotional time tonight and she was teaching him about pharoah and how he said "NO" when asked if the people could go.

"A" has worked hard at her writing and has grown in her ability. She wrote a wonderful book report on Billy Sunday last week that was fun to read!! I feel so blessed by having my children in my life. They are a tremendous blessing to my days.

Daddy/Daughter Birthday Date

Daddy and "A" enjoy going out for steak eating dates. Last night in celebration of her 11th birthday they went out for steak but as an added treat she also got octopus which she thought was just great. She was especially happy with the fact that she ate a suction cup off the octopus.:-/ They had a great time as usual!!

A's 11th Birthday

Our little girl is no longer little. It is amazing how time can go so fast!! "A" is a very sweet girl and a great big sister. She is tender hearted and loves the Lord. She loves truth and hates evil. People are drawn to her. When we go out none of us are suprised when kids just come walking up to her to talk. She seems to have on her face "I am kind and I love people."

This year has been a harder road for her. At the end of February she had a Nuss bar put in her chest and across it to repair a birth defect. We were told after word it is one of the two most painful surgeries there are and I am here to say it is no fun being with a loved one coming out of anesthesia from that surgery. No fun AT ALL. What a trooper she was and still continues to be. She does at times still get uncomfortable. She matured through that process and understands more about help from God in times of distress and need.

"A" enjoys playing the piano, playing with her American girl dolls, playing with her brothers, and roller blading. She wrote a wonderful book report this week that was fun and interesting to read. She really tries hard at improving in things.

"A" has wanted Josafina from American Girl for quite a while and she was THRILLED to get her.

Big C made "A" a very creative and cute card.

Daddy bought her a very beautiful ornament of the nativity in Germany.

Her Great Aunt O sent her a really cool Playmobil set that she

was also thrilled about. She also receive many other cool gifts one of which

I'll have to post about later.

R bought for his sister with HIS money a beautiful turtle necklace down by the beach

weeks ago knowing her birthday was coming up.

"A" with her two precious to her dolls and her birthday cake.

Necklace

Card from Big C.

Being silly with A's birthday balloons.