Sledding and Sleeping

This past weekend, we decided to go sledding. There aren't very big hills around here but with the ice covering we have on everything, you could get up to speeds of 145 mph off of an anthill.


I love this action shot. They went zooming past me, and I almost missed them. They were having the time of their life!


Annie found that it was more fun to eat the snow, rather than sled on it. Dad, thanks to you this picture makes me dry-heave. When we were little, all of us girls were sitting outside eating snow. I can remember Dad telling us how dirty snow was. We didn't believe him. So, he set out to prove his point. He had us pack a drinking glass full of snow and bring it inside. He put it on the counter so it would melt. The next morning, we all ran in the kitchen hoping to see a sparkling, clear, Brita-filtered glass of water. Instead, we saw a mirky, dirty, cruddy glass of water sitting on the counter. Dad was standing there with an "I told you so" smirk and asked, "Who wants a drink?" Of course he sent 4 little girls in 4 different directions screaming, "Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!!!!!"
-Thanks Dad! I never forgot that that grody lesson, and I sat up all night wondering what diseases my children contracted from Saturday's eat-a-thon.



Annie was the first to have her fill of all the fun, and went inside for a cup of hot chocolate. Honestly, I think she only goes outside just because of what is waiting on the table when she comes inside...Honestly, so do I.
Annie managed to get her snow clothes off and even her shirt, but that was it. We all know how exhausting it is to huff and puff and tug your boots off. With that in mind, here she is sound asleep, feet toasty warm.


It's rough eating snow!

Vote Mikey

Mikey and I were discussing what he would like to be someday. He said that he wanted to be "that guy that lives in the White House." I said, "You mean the President?" He said, "Yeah...him....that's who I want to be." I said, "Well that's a very important job." Later that evening, we were all sitting around the dinner table. I looked at Joel and said, "Guess what, Daddy! Mikey has decided what he would like to be someday." Joel's eyebrows lifted, "Really? and what's that?" Mikey took a bite of spaghetti and very confidently (with sauce in the corners of his mouth), he said, "the president." Joel said, "Great! I'll vote for ya, buddy." Matt chimed in, "Mike! you have to be like really, really, REALLY good at speech to be that guy." Mikey shot him a look and said in disgust, "I know how to speech!"

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!

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday, Krissy!!!!! Having you for a sister is one of God's greatest gifts in my life. You have always put your all in anything you do whether it's running, teaching, or just being there for us. Your students are so blessed to have you. I know you always talk about them being such an inspiration in your life, but I think if they could talk, they would certainly tell you that you are the inspiration in their lives. Your love, hard work and dedication is reaping eternal rewards. I am so proud of you!!! I love you and miss you like crazy!!!

Have a wonderful day! (and again, dead sorry about mailing the gift late, man)

Summer

Well, I might as well update my whole summer since it's been so long since I've posted. Time flies when you're having fun and that's how our summer has been, fun-filled but flying by. We went to family camp in June and had a wonderful, refreshing vacation. It's almost like a family reunion each year we go back. We love going there! The Wilds of New England opened up this year in New Hampshire. So, Matthew went away to camp all by himself. (a big step for mommy!) He is pictured here with his counselor. (and lest you think he fell on his face, that is war paint from the night before) He absolutely loved his time at camp. He and his friends from church all got to room together, so that made it even better. He is growing up so fast and it won't be long before we have a teenager! -sniff-

And speaking of those who are growing up too quickly....We celebrated Dad's 60th birthday this summer! In my mom's words, "He looks pretty stinken good for 60!" I agree! Dad is an ex-marine, so he has always been the picture of fitness. Although Dad has made exercise important in his life, nothing is more important to him than his walk with the Lord. He is an example of

1 Timothy 4:8 and has always "exercised himself unto godliness." Each of one us girls know that our dad loves us beyond belief and each one of us knows that we are "his favorite daughter." :o) -wink, wink Dad, don't worry I know the truth. If we need godly advice our dad is there. He is an example of what a true Godly leader looks like. Dad's birthday was fun day, filled with laughing and family togetherness. Living with all of us girls has rubbed off on Dad. We bought Dad these silly glasses so he could proudly show off his age. And of course he did it to make us laugh.

One of the girls favorite past times this summer has been hitching a ride on the back of Grampy's bike. I came home one day and my mouth fell open. There was our little Annie on the back of his bike. Annie is our shyest and most "non-adventuresome" child. So, this was a shock indeed! She loves her Grampy so if anyone could convince her to get on the bike, he could. (of course, he did bribe her with Oreos to get on) However! no Oreos are needed any more! She loves it!

Emma, waiting for her turn on the bike. (and probably getting an earful of ants)


Joel accomplished a long time goal of his this summer. He finished his first triathalon. It was a 1/2 mile swim, 30 mile bike ride and a 7 1/2 mile run. He loved it and is looking forward to his next triathalon. He is trying to convince me to do one with him next year because it was "so much fun." I might need some more convincing of exactly where the fun was. Let's not forget I was the one standing at the finish line, watching grimacing faces cross over and then collapsing. I do have to admit though that there were some sweet moments. As I stood there and watched teams of people high fiving, encouraging one another, husbands hugging their wives, children cheering for their daddies and holding up posters, even some people that were in their 70's crossing that finish line, I began thinking "yeah, this is cool." So maybe next year, I'll be posting pictures of us together.