Floridaaaahhhhh!

Well, it was a bit crazy getting there, but we did! While waiting to board the plane, we were told that some "brainiac" had overfueled our plane and now they were having an electrical problem. Joel looked out the window and his eyes grew as big as saucers. He said, "They've got the whole engine on the runway!" I said, "Ummm, I don't know about you, but even if they fix that problem, I don't want to get in that plane." So, we grabbed our bags and stepped in line to see what our options were. Apparently we weren't the only ones that saw this as being a slight problem, and 20 other people made it in line in front of us. After 45 minutes of standing in line with some very anxious travellers, an announcement was made that our flight was cancelled and that we would need to come back tomorrow for a 7:00 am flight. We were so bummed, considering it had taken a whole week to pack five children and ourselves. We wouldn't get there until Sat. afternoon, and we were coming home Monday morning. It didn't even seem worth it to fly down there any more. We stood in line and prayed that somehow we would make it out that night. Finally it was our turn. As we stepped up to the counter, I said, "Is there any way we can get out tonight?" The man's fingers clicked across his keyboard like lighting, he looked up at the gate next to ours that was headed for Atlanta. He said, "I can get you there by 10 pm." So, Joel and I ran to the next gate and grabbed the last two seats on the plane. We were literally the LAST TWO people getting on that plane. As we sat down, my thoughtful husband turned to me, smiled and said, "Just think Beck, if you let that old man get in front of us, we wouldn't have made this flight." I smiled back and said, "Well, I would have anyway." :o)


Pictured below:
Joel screaming like a mad man at the Delta lady, telling her, if we don't get out TONIGHT, she's out of a job. -Ok, ok, it's just a picture of Joel checking our luggage. :o)






Awww, and you know Mommy and her "cawfee." She was serving it up whenever we stepped in her home. We had so much fun....coffee, shopping, pedicures, out to eat, more coffee...It was a regular girl's day out. When we were getting our pedicures, I put the magazine over my face and looked at mom, biting my cheeks and said, "I'm about two seconds away from completely losing it here." We were giggling like a couple of highschool girls in there.

I am so blessed to be able to call these two people, "my dad and my mom." Their love for one another is so obvious. They will be married for 40 years this year! Some people would say, "Wow! congratulations on being married for so long!" They would say, "Wow! has it already been 40 years?" That's a love that God builds! They have always taught us the importance of keeping God first in our lives. It's one thing to say it. It's a whole other thing to live it! They have taught us by living it! Thank you Dad and Mom for being the most influential people in my life! I love you with all my heart!

All I can say is, I'm sure glad we made that flight! We have memories to last a lifetime!

"Corly"

"Mamma, you make my hair corly?" Annie loves going to church, and apparently tonight was a special night. I heated the rollers and set her hair. Then, we went to go eat dinner. She was sitting at the table just as proud as could be, knowing that the "new and improved Annie" would soon be emerging. The boys looked at her like she was nuts, while Emma was begging me to make her hair curly, too.




After dinner, I took her into the bathroom and carefully unraveled each roller. When the last roller was put away, I turned her around and gasped, "Oh honey! look how pretty!"

These were her thoughts....






I looked up at Joel and said, "PLEASE!!! tell the child she looks beautiful!" He bent over and said, "Honey, I love your hair. You look so pretty." And just as quick as the tears came, they were gone.

Out for a Winter Hike

Mary and I decided to head outside with our cameras to take pictures. It was extremely cold!!! We were hoping to see some wildlife, so we could snap some great pictures and submit them to National Geographic. With all the deer around here lately, I was sure we could find one. We were crunching around in the snow with our eyes peeled. After a while, I said, "Let's just wait here and stand quietly." A few moments later, I heard IT!!! -a rustling in the trees, and crunching in the snow. It wasn't too far from where I was standing! I quicky grabbed my camera and turned it on. I steadied it through the branches. There was the sweetest, little dear I have ever seen! Here is the picture.....................








:o) Sweet, huh? She was looking up at the moon and said, "Cool Mommy! The sun and the moon are out at the same time."

Anger

"Let not the sun go down upon your wrath." -Ephesians 4:26 As I watch the sun set, it brings the close to a day. I am reminded in God's word not to end a day with anger in my heart. Given how many people live in this household, it can be said with assurance that someone usually gets angry in the course of our day. As a mom, it's important for me to be teaching this truth to our little ones. As a child of God, it's important to be checking myself, making sure no little roots are taking place in my own heart.

Oh Deer!

Since we've moved here, I have seen more deer this past month than I think I've seen my entire life! The usual events go like this...Joel or I will walk by the hallway window and scream "deer!" Five children and one adult go charging in the hallway, and sit EVER SO STILL on the couch. If anyone even REMOTELY talks above a whisper, they will have 6 people shushing them. Then, Matt grabs his binnoculars and we pass them around and "ooooh ahhhh" the deer until the deer notices he's being watched and high tails it outta there...funny thing I just noticed...the deer actual do raise their tail before they run, is that where that expression "high tail it outta there" came from? Ok, that was a bit of a rabbit trail. Anyway, things happened a bit differently this weekend. Little Annie, our 2 year old, was the one to walk by the hallway window yell "deeerah!" We all ignored her. She cried, "deeeraaaahhhh!" again. Finally, someone actually listened to her and said, "Woe! she's right!" So, we all assumed our positions on the couch and watched.



A few minutes later, our deer was joined by a friend. We were gasping and "oohing and ahhhhing," passing the binnoculars around like crazy. Then, a third deer came along....then a fourth. We all watched with amazement as TWO more joined those!!! Now, there were 6 deer in the backyard.



































After a while, I walked into the kitchen and looked out the front window. There were three more! Two of them were babies. It was so cute! I snapped these pictures from the kitchen window. We were ducking and crawling all around the house, whispering to pass the binnoculars. We were surrounded by wild life! It was awesome!























































At one point, Emma ran upstairs and got her stuffed sheep. She wanted to show the deer. I guess this was her way of saying, "I am your friend. See? I like animals." When one deer happened to turn in our directions, she squeeled, "MOMMY! He sees my sheep!!!!!" I didn't have the heart to tell her that the deer was merely wondering "What is that crazy human holding up, and why in the world would they think I even cared about stuffed sheep when I'm out here fighting for my life?!!!" Nonetheless, Emma was assured that she had made a friend.

Following Directions

Today, Matt was doing his math paper. As I was grading his work, I informed him that he had not followed directions in one section, and that he would have to go back and correct his answers. Upon hearing this, he said the infamous words, "It's not fair." I said, "You didn't follow the directions, and went ahead on your own. And now, you've made mistakes that need to be corrected." As soon as the words came out of my mouth, I thought how many times this has happened in my own life. When I don't follow God's directions, I too end up in a situation filled with mistakes. And yet, the Lord forgives my waywardness and sets me back on the right path.
"This is the way, walk ye in it." -Isaiah 30:21

Music to my ears! (well some of it was)

We were blessed to have "Miss Sarah" over hour house last week. She was introduced to us by Mary's violin teacher. She and "Miss Merrillan" gave us our own little recital. We all sat with our mouths hanging open. They are amazing! I can't think of any other word than that...actually, spectacular would fit, too. Afterward, they allowed the kids to play their instruments. (a VERY brave thing to do.) The kids enjoyed every minute.


Psalm 103: 33 "I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being."




And this is just for you, Aunty Krissy...

We are still working on the one chord that you taught us over Christmas break. Maybe you could teach us a new one? PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAASE! TEACH US A NEW ONE!!!!!!!!! I beg you.

Snow, snow and more snow!

One of the things I love about living here is the beauty that surrounds us. With each passing season, God's handiwork is so evident. This winter, we have had more snow than average. We've been outdoors soaking it up before it melts away. The kids made a snowman that was "taller than daddy." -a giant in their eyes :o)



Daddy taking Mary for a snowmobile ride. She squealed anytime he went above 10 mph.


Guess it will be a while before we swing here....


The snow is so beautiful when it's glistening in the sun. It looks like diamonds are tucked inside. Sometimes as I look out, I have to shield my eyes from the brightness of it. And to think that God says he will take our sins, wash them and make them "whiter than snow."
Psalm 51:7 "Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow."

2008

As I bask in the glory of 2007, I am shamefully aware that I did not conquer a single resolution that I made last year. I am reminded in Philippians 3:13 to "forget those things which are behind and to press forward to my mark." So, with that in mind, I move into 2008's resolutions. :o) My husband gave a devotional on New Year's resolutions and why they are made. He said, "We make resolutions because we see some type of pattern in our life that we want to change. You never hear someone say 'This year, I'm going to get as fat as I can get' or 'This year I'm going to go into debt.'" Although I have the "get healthy" goals like anyone else, I really want to focus in on one key thing....getting to know God on a deeper level. I read John 5:18 today and was convicted, "Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit." Next year, I want to see more fruit in my life. (I think I only produced a raisin this year.) I want my heavenly Father to be glorified!