Happy Birthday to a wonderful son-in-law

Kelly is married to my firstborn Juli. He is a wonderful blessing to Juli and to us all.

Just ask the kids...they were happy to give reasons

He is enormously funny...

He is really tall and when he picks us up we are so high up...

He loves Juli...

He has lots of brothers and sisters we can play with when we go to Arizona for a visit (16 to be exact...)

We beat him at basketball...

He's honest....

He's strong and cute....(I didn't say that!)...

Because we can beat him in arm wrestling...

I (Kaydee) can beat him at basketball...

We like to watch him act silly when he loses a game to one of us....

Because he double bounces us on the trampoline...

Because he's so smart...

He's such a good sport...you've heard of poor losers, well Kelly definitely is NOT one of those.~I bet you can guess Kelly who said this one!!

In all seriousness, Kelly is a great guy. We couldn't have asked for a better husband for our daughter. (Not that we ask for husband's or anything)

From dad and I~

Kelly is a hard worker....

He is a great father....

a great husband....

A man of faith in the Lord...

A wonderful provider for his family....

kind

honest

loving

patient

funny

faithful...and most of all, he loves our daughter!

Happy birthday KELLY! WE LOVE YOU

Kelly's little family

Juli

Aubryn

Beckham

and our little mystery baby in the making

My chocolate whipped cream 'dream' cake

I think it turned out to be more of my family's dream cake!  They loved it and want me to make it again.  Soon!!

Mary's eyes were certainly bigger than her tummy!  She thought she could handle a whole slice.  Her brother's ended up with her leftovers.

The sweetest dream I've ever had.....

Rarely do dreams move me to action but this one might! This morning when I woke up I was left with this image in my mind. The one there on the left! The wheels in my mind began churning as I tried to place a name to my dream. I dreamed I was having a "chocolate whipped cream cake." What's with that considering I'm not even a big fan of chocolate! But I googled it anyway and this is the one that came closest to what I remembered. (Minus the icing though as that would be overkill)

What would you say, do I go for it?

HERE is the recipe in case you are brave enough.

Wordless Wednesday

"See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.~Matthew 18:10

101 Reasons as to why I homeschool

Reason 93

In John 21:15 the word feed is translated from the same Greek term as is the feed in the 17th verse; but in the 16th verse the word feed is translated from an entirely different Greek term. In this verse the Greek does not mean simply to feed, but to protect, to shelter, to tend. The shepherd's duty is not only to feed the lambs, but also to guard them from the wolves that are seeking to devour them.

Lambs need something more than feed; they must be sheltered from the cold wind and cruel storm. Feed them ever so well, but if you expose them to the wintry storm, they will die. The storms are raging all around us. The television, internet, video games, movies, magazines, books that are uncensored by parents, peers, choices of clothing...the list goes on and on. The wolves are indeed seeking to devour them. The adversary is hard at work and seeks to destroy. As parents we are the shepherds and our children are the lambs. We need to protect, shelter, and tend to them at all times!

Speaking of modesty....

Modesty, a subject often spoken about in our home. Maybe it has a little something to do with having several daughters that it keeps coming up. It is a topic of much discussion in our home as we strive to raise our daughters to be "in the world" but not "of the world." I found it interesting when I looked the word up in the 1828 Dictionary of Noah Webster~That lowly temper which accompanies a moderate estimate of one's own worth and importance. This temper when natural, springs in some measure from timidity, and in young and inexperienced persons, is allied to bashfulness and diffidence. In persons who have seen the world, and lost their natural timidity, modesty springs no less from principle than from feeling, and is manifested by retiring, unobtrusive manners, assuming less to itself than others are willing to yield, and conceding to others all due honor and respect, or even more than they expect or require.

It goes on to say~Modesty, as an act or series of acts, consists in humble, unobtrusive deportment, as opposed to extreme boldness, forwardness, arrogance,presumption, audacity or impudence. The word is also used as synonymous with chastity, or purity of manners. In this sense, modesty results from purity of mind, or from the fear of disgrace and ignominy fortified by education and principle. Unaffected modesty is the sweetest charm of female excellence, the richest gem in the diadem of their honor.

As we see here, modesty is NOT just about what we wear! I Samuel 16-7~For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." Well now, that's a relief right? Now we have biblical proof that we can 'gloss' over the subject of dressing modestly. WAIT, that doesn't sound right! I Timothy 2:8-10~ "I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but which is proper for women professing godliness with good works."

Let's end the "Hostage Crisis" by determining right now that we will no longer follow the trends of our decadent culture. In matters of personal holiness, why not shoot on the high side? The church is a Bride, not a harlot. Let's determine to adorn ourselves modestly, both inwardly and outwardly.~Harold Vaughan

God promises blessing to obedient children. That should be a powerful motivation for Christian parents because they love their children and want God’s blessing upon them. Today, many parents have developed a pattern of responding to their children rather than instructing and training them. They spend a lot of energy negotiating with their children, often lowering some standard in the process. Parents have been seduced by self-esteem propaganda (e.g., "My son is student of the month at…") and the very liberal idea that a family should be a mini-democracy. The result is child-centered family relationships that may have more in common with anarchy than Biblical order and harmony.

Joshua declared before all the people, "but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." For Joshua, serving the Lord was a family affair. His was a right-side-up view of family. Christian parents, standing together as "benevolent dictators," should be teaching their children respect for the holiness of God in every area of life ― even when they don’t like it. Parents who model and enforce Biblical moral and ethical values consistently in the family home are protecting their children by setting standards of thought and conduct that will help keep them anchored spiritually and socially as they mature.

Wordless Wednesday

Celebrating 29 years of marriage

This may be coming a month late. Our anniversary was actually September 19th!! And at the first opportunity we are going to runaway and actually celebrate it!! Hopefully before our 30th anniversary rolls around. September 19 is not just our wedding anniversary but it is also my husband's birthday. We married on his 19th birthday on September 19th. One of my gifts to him for his birthday and for our 29th. anniversary is to list 29 reasons why I love him!! Of course there are more but he only gets 29 this year!! (In no particular order....)

1. I love him because-He married me...

2. because he is still married to me...

3. because he gave me 12 babies who are the light of my life...

4. because I can kiss him anytime I want to...

5. because he tolerates my weaknesses with love and firmness...(he has a "no whining around here" policy which everyone is expected to uphold!!)

6. because he strengthens me through his faith and love...

7. because he adores our children...

8. because he adores our son in law, daughter in law and our little grandkids...

9. because he protects me, both spiritually and physically...and finds joy in being my protector...

10. because we are best friends...

11. because he honors, respects, and upholds my position in the home as wife and mother...

12. because he prays for me...

13. because he prays with me...

14. because he blesses our family through his strong spiritual leadership...

15. because he calls me all the time when he is away...

16. because he LOVES my homemade bread...

17. because he loves the Lord...

18. because I get to sit next to him in his pick-up...

19. because he loves my parents, and he loves his parents...

20. because he gives me his coat and seat, does all the barbecuing, mashing of potatoes, and turkey cooking!

21. because I can nestle in his strong arms anytime I want...

22. because he loves homeschooling...

23. because I can date him anytime I want...(how's that? we still haven't gone out for our anniversary!)

24. because he takes me for motorcycle rides...

25. because he works fills our woodshed and keeps us warm all winter...

26. because he is handsome...

27. because he isn't a picky eater...

28. because he likes to hold my hand

29. And last but not least ~ because I'm about to enter another year of marriage with the man I love!!

~Semper Fi~

101 Reasons as to why I homeschool

Reason 94

Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in you heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes. And ye shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of think house, and upon thy gates. That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in all his ways, and to cleave unto him; Then will the Lord drive out all these nations from before you, and ye shall possess greater nations and mightier than yourselves. ~Deuteronomy 11

"Our culture has lost the fundamental principle of parental instruction of children. The business world, the religious world, the political world, the educational world - they all avoid it, work against it, and in many ways they rule it out - it will not fit into their order of things. Family is culture, and parental instruction of children is the God-ordained means of passing culture across generations. We interrupt that order only at our own peril. Naturally, there is stress between the world's ways and God's way. Giving in to the world in not the solution. Giving in to God is."~Teaching the Trivium"

Dancing with leaves.........

"For in Him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also His offspring."~Acts 17:28

(Notice the oversized shoes Mary is wearing? Oh to be one of the big girls!)

They spent most of the morning raking leaves, running, skipping, jumping, dancing, hiding....

What a brave boy

I might not have been present for baby Vance's surgery but the photos speak for themselves.

I am looking at ONE BRAVE LITTLE TROOPER! His little arm is all taped up tight making it appear smaller than his normal chubby self!! I just want to grab him up and snuggle him! I hear his is doing great. Getting stronger everyday! The blessings are so numerous.

Blogging issues

I'm not sure if it's my computer or a blogger issue but I am not able to do much with my blog right now.  Not able to load pictures or edit any of my other posts!  And it doesn't help the situation considering my internet won't be fixed for a  day or so, so I will have no way to check into it.   At my neighbors right now and my laptop isn't functioning right.  Hopefully I will be able to back online soon.  Thinking of all of you.

Mom plus eight makes a date!

I know there is only so much time before winter sets in here in Wisconsin so I'm trying to drink in the sun, (and my kids) while I have the chance. Every moment spent with them just fills me to the brim with joy!

Enjoying a picnic of Subway, Little Ceasar's Pizza, Reece's Cups, Oreo's, and Doritto's. Talk about an unhealthy, delicious lunch!

Pretending (for the photo) to throw Mary from the bridge. Only, there was another deck platform only inches from her feet!

After our picnic and outdoor fun we enjoyed an ice cream. I was told Mary had hers all over her face and while I was reaching for a wipe she beat me to it and cleaned her face off with her seat belt!

Imaginations are alive and well

Seriously? Where do kids get these ideas?

For This I Prayed.........

I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.

"OH MY!" This were the words that came out of my mouth when Heather texted these photos to me a bit ago. Praise the Lord. Just look at this little boy. Oh the joy that swelled in my heart. What a blessing to see this happy little face. Can I feel more blessed at this moment!

And the first words that came out of my husband's mouth....AAAAAAAHHHH, I want to be back in Arizona! (He came home a day too soon if you ask me!) I'm being told that the baby just might be able to go home on Sunday!!

I want to thank all of you who prayed for Lil. Vance over the past several months. They have truly been appreciated.

One happy boy. He has already resumed his nursing and is eating well.

Baby Vance's detailed heart diagram & more photos

I've had many questions in regard to exactly "what" did baby Vance's heart need. I am sure my explanation would be completely muddled so I have posted a few diagrams to explain. The first diagram is 'how a heart should look' and the second is the before and after surgery photos of baby Vance's heart. If you look closely you can see the differences in what a heart should look like, what his looked like before surgery, and what it looks like now.

This photo details the work done for Vance in order to have his heart look and function like the one above.

I would love to put a plug in for the Ronald Mcdonald houses. This is where everyone is staying while the baby is in the hospital. My husband was completely amazed at how they work. Here is just one example of the things they provide for the little ones to do. Gemma is having a great time while getting a pony ride. Definitely an organization to keep up and running. I am told that they are great blessings to those who need it!!

I love these pictures of my son and husband holding Gemma. She seems so content!

Vance getting a bath the night before surgery. Sure wish I could have been there. I feel like I missed so much!