There's No Place Like...

We arrived safely home on Saturday (praise the Lord!)
and are rejoicing in being home with Daddy, again.
Thank you for your prayers and your encouraging words.

We have been keeping busy this week,
as we adjust to being home, again,
catching up on laundry, home keeping
(though Daddy had it VERY clean when we arrived! What a blessing!),
slowly resuming our homeschool studies,
sewing, fellowshipping, and spending time together.
In addition, we are adjusting to a new member of the family
(which can be found somewhere in this post). ;o)
She has a new haircut and misses my mom & grandma,
but she and the children are enjoying one another!

I hope y'all enjoy the rest of your week!
Thank you, again, for your prayers.
They have been such a blessing!


"I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD,
and the praises of the LORD,
according to all that the LORD hath bestowed on us..."
~ Isaiah 63:7

Heading Home...

It has been almost 5 weeks since we left home
to come nurse my mama back to health.
She is now doing pretty well (praise the LORD!
and thank you so much to those that prayed).
Tomorrow morning we plan to leave here
and return to where our hearts long to be... home.

We are so thankful and it was such a blessing
that we were able to come here
to visit and to serve where help was needed.
It was, also, such a blessing that the Lord
provided a wonderful, like-minded church
for us to visit, worship, and fellowship at.
It was just like being home.
What a blessing God's family is!
We will miss our family and our spiritual family
but we sure do look forward to home.

We have almost 1,000 miles
and 2 days of driving ahead of us
and sure would appreciate your prayers.
I thank you very much, in advance.
It is a blessing and comfort to know
we are lifted up in prayer.

Lord willing, I will be able to update
and get back into the "swing of things" next week.
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

This Week's Ways...

It has been another busy week here
as we are visiting with family.
My mama had a rough week
but seems that she is on the mend
and we hope to, perhaps, head home within a week
if she continues to improve.

Meanwhile, we are keeping very busy
and enjoying our time here
(though we are missing Daddy dearly!).

On Tuesday, after we took my mama to dialysis,
we met with friends at a local park.
The children enjoyed the afternoon of playing
as we enjoyed the fellowshipping...
even in the rain!










On Wednesday, it was my grandma's birthday
and we traveled North to a place
that bears many wonderful childhood memories...

My grandma used to own this place
with cottages on Lake Huron.
Her son (my uncle) currently owns it
and it was such a joy to visit it, again,
and see my own children enjoying it so much!


They shot hoops together


Played shuffleboard together...


Enjoyed swinging...




and pretending...


Ally was delighted to play (and try to tune)
the baby grand (which belonged to my grandpa)...


She, also, enjoyed swinging outdoors...


Our cousin recently had a baby
and we were so delighted to hold her...



What a joy it is to hold such precious blessings!

We, also, enjoyed seeing the lake.
Here were the children sitting on a swing,
just before the beach...


The younger ones trying to feel the water...


A view of Lake Huron...

That big rock has been there before I was born!

A view of the lake by the seawall...

The lake is beautiful, though quite unlike the ocean.
The lake's water is much colder
and slimely rocks cover the bottom,
but what a sight it is to see!

While we were visiting the area,
I took the children for a drive
to the childhood home of my teenage years.
We had a good time as I showed the children
the house I lived in, the school I went to,
the places I walked to and enjoyed.
I was, particularly, excited to show them
the swinging bridge that was there in town.
I had enjoyed it often when I lived there
and knew the children would enjoy it...




The entrance of the bridge...

That sign always made me laugh.
At the other entrance the sign reads,
"Love ye one another".
Old time wisdom noted at this 103 year old bridge
is still good advice today. ;o)









Not everyone was so delighted to walk across.
There was a bit too much movement
for one elder child...

But she did enjoy the visit!

Here were the children and I swinging the bridge...


The children enjoyed running back and forth
until it was time to go.
We had a lovely time together
as we visited those old, familiar places.

The rest of the week was spent at my mama's home.
We, also, had dialysis trips, a doctor appointment,
and we were able to visit with my dad, again.
We are enjoying much of our visit
but are looking forward to returning home
and being reunited with Daddy.

I hope y'all have enjoyed your week!

Hello Again...

It's been a week and a half since my last post.
We are still staying with my mom and grandma
as my mama continues to recover.
It has been a blessing to be here to serve,
help, and visit with family and friends.
We hope to return home within the next week.
We have a 1,000 mile trip ahead of us
and sure do appreciate your prayers.

Since it's been such a while since I last posted,
this post has a lot of photos (again). ;o)
(You can click to enlarge)

We were thrilled last week to hear jets
flying over Grandma's house...




Will and Beth were quite excited
and stood outside to watch a while...



Ally playing guitar and singing with great-grandma...



Beth fiddlin' around with Grandma...



After chasing down the ice cream truck,
they enjoy a cold treat with Aunt and cousins...



Playing with cousins...



Morning snuggles with Grandma...



Morning snuggles with each other...



An afternoon at a local playground
while waiting for Grandma at dialysis...






An afternoon of sewing for self, sisters, and friends...



We spent our Fourth of July afternoon
at my sister's and her husband's home.
My brother and sister-in-law were there, too,
with their two children. We had a lovely time!

My sister and brother-in-law had hidden
little toothpick flags all around the yard
and the children enjoyed searching for them!
Their prize for participating was waterguns
and they spent the afternoon chasing each other...





Even my sister's children (their two black labs)
benefited from the watergun chase...



The children, also, enjoyed playing in the sand.
Here was Carolynne decorating the sand castle...





Patriotic Garb...









Swinging with Great-Grandma...


My Mama...

(She is feeling better... thank you for your prayers!)

Playing on Aunt's piano...
(a delight of her day!)


Later in the evening,
the Grandmas, the children, and I
drove around to see the fireworks.
We found a nice spot to park and watch...


(chilly enough for jackets here in the north)












I hope y'all are enjoying your summer!
Have a great week!

Breaking the Bloggie Silence... Again

I had no idea that we would get so busy!
2 1/2 weeks have gone by since I've last posted
and much has been happening.

Two weeks ago, the children and I
packed up our van and drove 1,000 miles North
to come take care of my mama as she recovers
from her open heart surgery and other physical ailments.
It was a long drive but it was, also, such a blessing
to admire God's wondrous creation on the way!
(All of the photos in this post can be clicked on to enlarge)


The mountains are so breathtaking!











A sign we saw in West Virginia.
I added the Scripture.

It took us two days of driving but we arrived safely.
A few days after we arrived my mama
went back into the hospital for a week.
She is home now and doing better.
(Thank you for your prayers)

While mama was in the hospital
we were able to visit with her twice a day.
During our visits, the Lord blessed us
by allowing us to see His creation...
a rabbit finding his meal,
a mourning dove sitting on its nest,
and a rock dove sitting on its nest, too.
The rock dove was close to the ground
and we were able to see it very well...



During one of our hospital visits,
Ally asked to visit with my mama's roomate
(an elderly lady who had suffered a stroke).
She gave her flowers (with a tract)
and spent about 20 minutes talking and listening to her.
It was a blessing to see her desire to reach out her.

While my mom was in the hospital,
we made good use of our time
by visiting with my grandma
and visiting with my dad
(who lives a just a little down the road)





We enjoyed one afternoon going to the pond
that is close to his home...




















Ally fishing with my sister



Sites at the pond...







At grandma's (also my mama's) house,
we were very blessed to have a sparrow family
right outside the window.
We were able to watch them all week
as mama sparrow worked to feed her little ones
from sun up to sunset...








The lil' girls have enjoyed playing doctor...


Here they traveled to the living room one morning
and fell back asleep together...

It was such a precious sight.

We have, also, enjoyed a local park...










And, of course, who can resist a summer without bubbles...







It has been a blessing to be here,
helping out my mama (and my grandma & dad),
though we miss Daddy dearly!

We sure appreciate your continued prayers
as my mama is recovering.

Hope y'all are enjoying your summer, too!

Breaking the Bloggy Silence...

How do I know when it's been too long since I've last blogged?
When my beloved comes to me and says
that he's noticed I haven't blogged in a while. lol
When he was in Iraq, I knew he read our blog almost daily
but I had no idea he continued to when he returned home.

I'm not sure why I haven't blogged lately.
We've been keeping busy with life and tending to hearts,
and I, also, confess that my blogging motivation has been down.
The Lord has been Faithful in revealing many areas
that I need to be working on
and that it really is okay to let my blog go unattended.
In addition, my mama has been in the hospital
for the past few weeks
(she has kidney disease, congestive heart failure, and pneumonia
and underwent open heart surgery last week)
and has been unable to read our blog
and I guess I just didn't want her to miss out
on seeing photos of her grandchildren. ;o)

Though I don't have much time to write this morning,
I wanted to bring our photos up-to-date.
Also, thank you to those that were praying
for my beloved and I as we travelled to SC.
We spent four days cleaning our house there
and are praying the Lord will sell it soon.
We sure would appreciate your prayers, too.


Before I close and begin our day,
here are a few moments from our weeks past...



Carolynne doing her copywork


Beth doing her copywork


Will working on his typing skills


Ally improving her cooking skills ;o)
It's been a blessing to have her "taking over" the kitchen.
She is enjoying to opportunity to practice
her keeping the home skills, too!



Ally working with Carolynne during her piano lesson



Ally working with Beth during her violin lesson



Will and Ally working together during his piano lesson


Ally enjoying her own time at the piano


We, also, managed to 'squeeze in'
a particular event last week... ;o)



(wearing the dress that Ally made me for my birthday)


Discovering the children doing a Bible lesson together...

(and drawing outlines to go with the lesson!)


Ally's new objects of affection...

"Cutes & Puff"


Dad and Will having a 'man moment'
as they make hamburger patties together...


It was Will's first time to 'get his hands dirty'
in preparing supper on the grill...



The younger ones enjoying and examining
God's creation in their fascination...


the object of fasination...

a toad!

It is such a delight to intently watch and observe
these precious blessings that the Lord
has entrusted us with!
And I delight, though not necessarily an easy task,
in tending to their hearts.
What a calling and responsibility we have as mothers!
May I not falter nor grow weary
nor pursue my own selfish desires.
May I fight the good fight and finish my course (2 Tim.4:7).
May I be diligent to know the state of my flocks
and to look well to my herds (Prov. 27:23).
May I reach Heaven's door and it be said of me
"...well done, thou good and faithful servant..." (Matt.25:21)

Memorial Day...

We thank and remember those that died
for our freedom and the freedom of others.

We praise and thank the Lord of all for Him Who died
for our ultimate freedom from sin and Hell.


"Greater love hath no man than this,
that a man lay down his life for his friends."
~ John 15:13



Beloved and I will be traveling this weekend
to work on our house in SC,
as our tenants have left and we are trying to sell it.
We appreciate your prayers
and hope you enjoy your holiday weekend.

Daddy's Birthday Saturday...

What a busy week it's been!
Busy weeks seem to be frequent for us lately
and my lack of blogging shows it.
I hope y'all are doing well
and I do look forward to catching up one of these days.

I had a few moments so I wanted to share
some photos from Daddy's birthday last Saturday.
We sang the traditional Happy Birthday song,
gave our cards and a few gifts,
and ate Daddy's brownie cake... Mmmm!



Afterwards, Daddy wanted to go to a local field to play ball.
We had a lot of fun (and I took A LOT of pictures)...

Here was Daddy blowing up one of the balls...



Carolynne


Beth


Will






Daddy's waitin'





Tossing the football with Will and Daddy...



Daddy and Ally



Ally caught Daddy kicking the ball
and we've been chuckling at the pose ever since... lol



Ally got to bring the van around by the net
so we could use the back of it for sitting
(I have mixed emotions about this picture..lol)...


The lil' girls enjoying a snack...


And Ally was thrilled to play her guitar...


She and Daddy enjoyed singing...



Dad and Will enjoyed a quick game of basketball...



The field we were at was near the water
and I got a few photos as everyone enjoyed the view...


Ally



Beth and Ally



Beth pointing at the pelicans she spotted



Beth



Carolynne



Carolynne and Beth



Carolynne, Beth and Ally



Will



My blessings


Here was a shot of Beth and Carolynne sharing a snack...


And here was Carolynne's choice of footwear for the day...

lol


Afterwards we headed home for supper.
Daddy wanted to grill outdoors...




As we waited for supper,
Ally spent a few moments blogging...


Will practiced riding a bike...


Carolynne and Beth enjoyed playing with Legos...




It was a busy and delightful day spent with Daddy!


"And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children,
and the heart of the children to their fathers..."
~ Malachi 4:6

"While I live will I praise the LORD:
I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being."
~ Psalm 146:2

Pickin' and Jammin'...

Monday we went on a field trip to a local strawberry farm.
This is our third year to go strawberry pickin'
and have learned that we absolutely love it.
Last year, we began a new tradition of jamming
some of our berries, which is a lot of fun, as well. ;o)

I had a little time to spend online
and wanted to share some moments from our day of pickin'...



Carolynne and Beth ready to pick


On the hunt







Enjoying the fruit of their labors


.
Will searching for strawberries








Enjoying the fruit of his labor




Ally searching with a friend...






Enjoying the pickin'




Enjoying the fruit of her labors, too.


Beth going to search with Ally



Will and Carolynne enjoy some together



Calling it a day ;o)

We enjoyed snacking on the delicious strawberries this week,
along with some Cool Whip, too. Mmmm!
We've, also, been enjoying our homemade jam
(which we look forward to sharing with others)...
It's a little less solid/spreadable than last year
but we are enjoying it as a wonderful dipping sauce, as well!




"O taste and see that the LORD is good:
blessed is the man that trusteth in him."
~ Psalm 34:8

Bittersweet Milestones...

The older our children get,
the more bittersweet milestones we encounter.
We had one last week.
It was bound to happen.
It was exciting and, almost, dreaded at the same time (by Mama). ;o)


Our sweet Beth hungrily bit into her toast last week
and departed with a 5 year old friend...



Oh, how they grow so fast!