Your Grace Still Amazes Me

This is for my Aunt M and Uncle K. My Uncle K is ready to go be with Jesus. He told my aunt if anyone asks his thoughts to tell them them the verse . . . "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith."

My heart is so heavy for them this morning. Carson sat in my lap as in tears I have prayed for them. As Carson said "God can do anything". "He can make the blind to see".  I have sat here in tears knowing my uncle is completely aware of all that is going on while he loses the ability to control his body and it's functions. My aunt faithfully is with him taking care of him and watching her love slip away. I am glad she has the assurance she will see him again in Glory.

I am thankful that they are both aware of Christ's love for them and his unending grace and peace. Not only are they aware but have accepted that grace, peace, and love.

Praying for them.

Part 1 of Gabriel's 11th Birthday!

 Gabriel wanted to do the cake part of his birthday celebration

while his Uncle B and Cousin C were here. So on Saturday 

night we sang Happy Birthday to Gabriel and they got to eat cake!

We just got it celebrated before it was time to go to bed! At least we got it accomplished!

Fun with Cousins, Uncles, and an Auntie

 Over Memorial Weekend we were able to get together with family and have fun.

My brother Quentin and sister in law Theo and my 3 nieces came during the day on Friday and then my older brother Ben and my nephew C flew in on Friday and left Sunday morning. Unfortunately, I had to leave out a lot of pictures since (as I mentioned before) 2 of my nieces we are waiting on adoptions to go through. I look forward to showing their beautiful faces on here when I can!

We had a great time

seeing everyone and being all in the same place at the same time!

Theo and I took the kids to the park while Babe and my brothers
went target shooting. Target shooting is high on the enjoyment list
for all of them so it was nice they all got to go together.

 Gabriel and Cousin C.

 Annalina with Cousin Alyzza.

 Ross, C, and Gabriel.

 Alyzza is doing a great job of pushing!

 Ross Monkeying Around.

 Fun with Sissy.

 Cousin C decided to let Jedidiah have a ride with

me waiting for him down below!

 Carson Boy.

 Annalina on the playground down the street from our house.

 The 2 BIG boys and one little boy.

Fun to bike ride to the park!

So nice that the playground is by our house!

Fun With Family

Recently my brother Quentin and his wife Theo and their 3 girls came up for a Friday visit. It was so great to see them. I have 3 beautiful nieces but can only show pictures of Alyzza now since the other girls we are waiting for their adoptions to be complete!

Carson is dressed as a pirate because for his birthday he got from them a bag of pirate gear and pirate books. PERFECT for him!!! Alyzza is reading him one of his pirate books. She is a a great big cousin!

Theo and I and the girls were able to go to the bi-annual MOPS kids clothing sale while they were here! We are both thrift shoppers and we had a great time searching out good deals!! Back home was a big wrestling match between the boys and Uncle Q!! Fun both places!!

January

For a number of years now I haven't really relished January. I don't think it is the whole holidays are over thing. I don't think that really bothers me. I just always feel like January DRAGS on for so long! Maybe, it is the fast paced days of December are gone and January puts on the brakes. Who knows, whatever it is I need to not dread it. I did do better this year!!

January this year was an extremely interesting and eventful month. On the lighter side . . . Annalina and Ross started new classes (More on Ross's class later). Aside from morning family devotions Annalina and I started Mommy/Daughter devotions at night before bed with a one year mommy/daughter devotional that has already touched Annalina's and I's life. Babe started Father/Son Devotions at night with Gabers and Ross. It is written military style and they all enjoy it. Funny the devotional book was written by people out of Colorado Springs! Jedidiah cut 2 teeth. We had friends over for lefse making and eating! They wanted Babe to tutor their family in the art of lefse making! Very fun! Get memories and laughter.

The heavier events of the months are not for writing but needless to say so much joy and tears of sadness. Our Lord works in so many ways and more often then not contrary to the way we'd work things out because His ways are so much better. As my friend M. N. said it is like the disciples getting scared when they saw something coming towards them on the water and then in their fear they realized it was Christ and he spoke to them! Oh, now it is all better Christ is in this and then peace comes! I love that picture. A book (Guns of Thunder-Douglas Bond) I am reading the kids right now said it so well. The grandfather was speaking to his grandson and said "Ay, no ye cannot, and so ye must learn to wait upon the Lord, lad. Ye'll find it easier to put fear aside and wait upon God the more ye come to love God's sovereignty, to know his goodness, to hope in his gracious power to save."

February will continue in fun. My sister-in-law and her two daughters are coming to spend some time hanging out and then our BIG plans are to go to a castle (Glen Eerie) for a tour and then all of us girls are going to a REAL tea party at the castle!  The castle is run by a Christian organization. I really look forward to this! We've been wanting to do this for awhile! We are also going to our friends home this month where they are going to teach us how to make fried ice cream (funny story as to why). That will be so fun. Babe will be winding down in his current job and in March starting to train to go on watch which is shift work with 6 days on, so many days off, etc. Our schedule for family life will really be changing.  We've got some big decisions to make too this month. Also, I've been reading a book about Bonhoeffer and have been challenged to start memorizing the Sermon on the Mount with the kids. A bit intimidating, but slow and easy wins the race. I have no idea how long it will take. As Christians, my family and I need the attributes preached about in those 3 chapters and what better way to learn to live them then by memorizing and meditating on them. Wait, how can I forget it's my BIRTHDAY this month too!!

I love how God is continually teaching me to rest in His sovereignty. I don't always enjoy the journey but the destination is worth it.

Christmas with My Brother and His Family

 This is Jedidiah with sweet and very loving cousin Alyzza!

 Really, how cute are these two kiddos!!!

So happy together!

 Jedidiah giving kisses to his Auntie Theo!

 He loves his Auntie Theo!!

 Gabriel was SOOO EXCITED to give his gift to his Auntie

and she loved it!

 Uncle Quentin opens his gift with an audience!
My little niece at the bottom of the picture I
still can't introduce yet.

Cousins that were thrilled to have their dolls together for the first time!

I am sure Kit and Kayah were thrilled too!

Since I was recently diagnosed with Celiac Disease my brother Quentin made me a really special lunch gluten free and made it in memory of my time in England and British food! It tasted SUPER and I ate left overs the next day! My sister-in-law made me gluten free cookies that were yummy and that will be a recipe I'll keep! She left me left over dough that was baked all up today!

The kids love their Cousins and Aunt and Uncle coming over!! I'll have to do another entry

about what my sister-in-law gave me! Tooo cool!!!

Mammoth Caves

 It was neat to see Mammoth Caves and the

kids enjoyed it. Carson wasn't so sure he wanted to go in a

cave but he did great. Mammoth Caves are the longest caves in the world.

After our tour we got a group shot. My mom came along

but didn't do the tour. It was nice that she was with us for

the journey though.

A cave cricket in Mammoth caves.

Grand Ol'Opry ready for Christmas

 Such a cool hotel to see especially at Christmas.

This picture was taken INSIDE the hotel. They bring the outside in!

 So cool this is all inside!

 Carson and Jedidiah on the INDOOR boat ride!

Too cool. Jedidiah was a bit fussy at this point in

the day but it was cool to see.

 Annalina on the boat ride.

 Opry Christmas tree. Beautiful!

These pictures were taken outside. It was beautiful!!!

The kids loved exploring with Grandpa.

Inside again and oh so beautiful!

Grandma and Grandpa Johnson's for Thanksgiving/Christmas Celebration

 Carson's robot outfit from Grandma and Grandpa!

He loved it.

Ok, I have to say how disappointed I am in the pictures I DIDN'T take. The kids played games with Grandma (especially Gabriel--that's their thing-Mankala and Chess), raked leaves, pruned, cut flowers, went to see Christmas lights, played and played and played, and I took almost no pictures of the time with Grandma and Grandpa at the house which is the most important time! Oh well, good memories for sure. The kids had an absolute BLAST with them and didn't want to leave. I heard that A LOT leading up to our time to depart! That is just as it should be. We're blessed that my parents are such involved grandparents and make it a point to influence our children through their love and attention.

They gave Babe and I an AMAZING gift . . . nights spent at a hotel! A nice hotel! We weren't sure what to think about it at first because we wanted to spend time with my parents but we really enjoyed our time together and ability to sleep in. I never thought of that! I'm used to early mornings! Grandma and Grandpa enjoyed having the kids to themselves without us 

around to crush the fun!:-) Again, just as it should be. It was just what Babe and I needed and we didn't even know it!

 Fun in the pool with Grandpa!!

 Good times!!

 Time with Grandma and Grandpa is never boring.

 Jedidiah really enjoyed the pool with Daddy . . .

 and SPLASHING!!

 Grandpa is learning how to play this complex war game.

Gabriel has his ruler out measure how far some warrior can go!

 Yep, Kaya was at the game time watching.

OOOh, let me at the toys the bigs kids like so much!