Living out here

I just love living out here. My little boys run around with chickens and ducks... They climb trees, swing from tires. They play in the dirt, grow veggies.....

Morning come, and Little hands wave, as they watch Daddy and Brady take the truck to work. Its cold on the kitchen porch early, but they don't come inside until that truck is out of their sight.

Late in the afternoon, we hear something coming up the dirt road. Then, little feet run back to the porch, doors swing, and excitement is heard "Daddy, Daddy, we missed you". Off to enjoy their Daddy. His Carharts worked hard that day! Brady's did too. All our men check the gardens, the animals, maybe repair a step, or fix the truck. All with the little guys in tow.

They build, and grow, and work, and love, and learn, and live. Life is good.

Family Encouragement Weekend (FEW) 2013

We spent last weekend at the FEW Conference in Marble, NC. Our family was blessed beyond measure. We appreciate all the effort that is out into this conference. Here are some of the families that host...

http://theneelyteam.com/
http://staddonfamily.com/
http://thewilkesteam.com/

We not only were blessed by the conference, but we enjoyed time as a family, too. We take our camper when we go somewhere like this. We usually stay a few extra days, and make it a mini vacation.

We were so excited to see snow flurries!! Not only did it flurry, it snowed the whole weekend. We don't see much snow in Georgia, so that's pretty neat for us!

These pictures are at the campground we were parked at. We didn't get many conference pictures. So this is just us, enjoying our weekend! You can see a little snow, if you look close. Brashton is in his Ikea high chair, which I love! I'll try to write more about that later. Benjamin is holding a snowball. He kept it in the freezer later that day, so he could bring it home.

Still Working

Sometimes when something starts, it just keeps going! First he built the bed, then a new porch out of the kitchen door, and yesterday.....A new bathroom floor in the hall bath! Yipeee!

My husband is so good at what he does!! I just love watching him working hard with all of our men-in-training around him learning to do what Daddy does. When we were at the lumber store buying porch supplies, Benjamin got one end of the board so he could "help too". He loves our new porch that Daddy and the boys built!

While the boys were working Miss Marendy made a dirt cake, all decked out with candles. Don't forget to notice her leaf wrapped presents to! How sweet.

I, of course, am just thrilled about our improvements around here. I love our house. It was a fixer-uper when we bought it, but to me, it's just perfect! It isn't too big or too small. I remember when we pulled into the drive for the first time, I knew this was the house for us! I thank the Lord always for blessing us with it, and hope that we are able to stay here for a long time.

Handy Husband

Have I said lately how blessed I am? I have such a wonderful husband who is always doing things for me and our children. He can fix and do anything! I was telling him last week that Benjamin needs a big boy bed. So, he comes home with lumber to build him one.

We spent yesterday afternoon with Gary outside while he built the nicest little bed I have ever seen! After Daddy was done building, Baylen sanded it down smooth. Today Gary will pick up some stain for it, and I will make some bedding. I haven't decided what yet, I am still thinking on that.

Lumber for the bed was about $25. It's sturdy, and will last for years. The memories we made together are priceless.

Today we are busy with school, and later on we will have Piano lessons.

Joyfully busy!

I may be a bit bias, but seriously, does it get any cuter than a smiling baby with a fluffy cloth bum?

Beraiah is 6 months old already! He's doing all the sweet things babies do. Rolling, playing, nursing, babbling, nursing, cooing, napping, and nursing.

I know that with this being my sixth baby, you might think it's not as special this time around. Truly though, I am amazed daily at how previous children are. How blessed I am, beyond all measure. How gracious the Lord is to let me be a Mama. And this little life is a miracle. Just like with my firstborn, I'm falling in love all over again, and being reminded that's there's nothing as sweet as the smell of a babys brow!

Overdue introduction - Beraiah

Well, the fact that my pregnancy counter says 46+ weeks, says it all. Our introduction is a little overdue.
Beraiah was born in February and is just an amazing little gift from heaven. We are all in love with him.

Having a good day

Today has been really good! The all.day.morning.sickness hasn't had me on the couch today. I was able to cook two meals, and eat them! We caught up on some housework that needed to be done, and I didn't have to have a nap! Things seem to come in spurts with this baby. I will have a really good day, and then a really tough one. Of course, when I am feeling my worst, I think of how healthy this little one must be, to have such strong hormones making Mama feel so sick. Sick is a good sign.

I ordered a doppler and it should be here in the next week or so. I am excited about getting to hear baby's heartbeat. That is such a sweet sound to my ears. Next week, I am starting to look for a doctor too. I am praying the Lord guides us in choosing someone that will meet our needs well.

In the meantime Benjamin is quite the nursing champ. He doesn't look like he will self wean anytime in the future. I am praying for an easy transition since he will have to be completely weaned before this baby arrives. We are going to have a planned cesarean, and I will have to be away from him for several days. I was hoping he would lose interested as he got older and busier. No chance of that. I am a little sad about it, it seems like he was just a newborn yesterday. It has been wonderful being able to comfort him with nursing whenever he is hurt, sick, or sleepy. He will be almost two when I plan on weaning him, and I know he has greatly benefited from that amount of time.

This picture was so cute. Marendy was playing babies, and she had them all piled up on her stroller. Like...um....all 15 of them, LOL. She pushed them in to where I was and said..."Look Mama, I have a lot of babies, I suuuurrreee am blessed, huh?" Yes baby, you sure are!

Happy Birthday Brady

I can't believe my oldest is 14 today! Happy Birthday Brady! You are growing into a fine young man. I look forward to watching your life, and seeing what the Lord has in store for your future.

Our Vacation!

Well we have had a wonderful week and a half! We took off to Pigeon Forge for our 15th anniversary, and stayed 5 days. My mom was nice enough to come along and watch the children during the day, so Gary and I were able to spend some time alone. We went to dinner a few times, did some shopping, went to museums and galleries, and saw a few shows that were there too. It was such a wonderful blessing to have my husband all to myself for a while.

We weren't the only ones that had a good time. In the morning's and evening's we all went rafting, cooked on the grill, and did all the fun things you do while camping. It did feel like cheeting sometimes though, because it was so convenient to have the camper there.

I can't believe I have already been married 15 years. I give the Lord all the praise and glory for the wonderful marriage I have. I am so thankful for my husband. I look forward to our next 15 years together. Just like the note he left me on my mirror....it gets better, and better everyday, and truly, it does.

My Place at Home

I am humbled, thankful beyond words, that the Lord has seen fit to place me here. I am truly living out my dreams. When I was a little girl, I wanted most to be a Mommy. To hold babies of my own in my arms. To love them, and care for them. At one time I wanted to be a teacher. To be able to teach children, read to them, help them. There was even a time I wanted to design clothes. All of these things are a daily reality for me. I spend my days with my children, teaching them, and learning alongside them. Caring for them in every way they need. I am the one that gets to joy in their learning to read, understanding a new match concept, and even taking that first little wobbly step.

Some days I go upstairs to my studio and make dresses. Yes, I get to be that designer. After having Madison, the Lord taught me to sew. I am so thankful for that. It is such a joy to create beautiful things with my hands. My dresses have been sold all over the country. Sometimes bringing a profit. Although I enjoy that, I have to say that the greatest reward is using this ability to serve my family. The Lord knew I would use this skill over and over again. Sometimes to dress our own children, and sometimes to sell my goods afar.

I am a teacher. (Although, I am thoroughly convinced that I do much more learning than teaching.) Yes, we do reading, and writing, and math. But there is so much more in our days. Anything that becomes an interested to one of us, is taught. We not only learn it, we do it. Hands on, touching, feeling....living it. We are learning to farm, and garden. To build, and cook. To manage finances, and run businesses. To help and encourage. To be self sufficient. To love the elderly. To love babies. To work on vehicles. To make almost everything we need. To make wise decisions. To trust the Lord. To sing, and play instruments. To be patient. To serve. To give. Yes, we are learning, more, and more everyday.

It breaks my heart to think of my children being in a building of strangers day in and day out, without Gary or I there to guide them, and help them. The years we have to mold them are so short and even now, I think of all the things I hope to teach them. I think of all the qualities, Lord willing, I hope to instill. I think of all the character traits I pray they have. I can't begin to imagine not having all the hours with them I do now, and being able to raise them to be capable young men and women, ready to serve the Lord in all things.

I feel so sorry for the mom's that are waking up only to rush out of their home. To drop their children off in daycare, and schools. Only to go to work for hours doing what someone else (not their husband) asks of them all day. They return home, to only do it again the next day.

I cannot imagine any other place I would rather be than in my home. God has placed me there, and I rejoice in that. I don't take for granted that all my needs are supplied, to do as I wish each day. Lord, help me to make the most of all of these things you have given me. To realize what a high calling I have here at home. To serve you with it all. To raise these children to be honoring to you. To equip them to do anything their life may require. Help me to see each day as it is, a gift from you with many, many possibilites.

Strawberry Picking

Yesterday was a perfect day to pick berries. The children and I visited a local farm, to do just that. This was the first time we have picked our own berries. I wanted to do this at least once before the weather gets unbearably hot, like it does here in Georgia. Even Benjamin picked a few. He was too sweet walking down the berry isles ooohing and ahhhing over the pretty red berries. When we left he had a red little face, I think he did more sampling than picking.

The farm was close to Gary's jobsite this week. Since he builds buildings, the location changes often. It was nice to get to stop and visit with him for a few minuites during the day. We fed him strawberries too.

On the way home, we stoped to see our dear neighbor. We enjoyed the sunshine, and watching little ones play in the grass, and chase bubbles. She has a box full of blue sand for her little grandson. It seems to be that sandboxes are thoroughly enjoyed by all children, big and little alike. I would love to get a sandbox for them this year. It will have to be one thats easy to keep closed, because we have lots of critters here in the woods.

When we got home, the baby still hadn't had a nap. I bathed him, and layed him down. Not long after that Gary was home. We spent the evening in our little playhouse (aka the camper..). We have so much fun out there. It's like a little cabin, where we are all close together. We ate dinner there. While the little ones watched a video in there room, Mama and Daddy had a cup of coffee. It was a good day.

The men in my life

I wanted to share some pictures with you. Benjamin looked to me, like a little prince in his Strasburg suit. I especially love the picture of Gary holding him. I like Gary's hand there, with Benjamin's tiny hand sitting on top of it. How sweet.

I look at these and realize how gracious our Lord is. Benjamin shouldn't even be here. I had a tubal ligation after Marendy was born. Through the mercy of the Lord, it was reversed, and we conceived another blessing. I can't tell you how much joy this little boy brings to our family. He lights up the rooms here in our little home. His sweet face is a continued reminder to me. These precious little ones are on loan to us. We must be diligent in training them in the Lord. I pray that each of my children go on to serve Him in every aspect of their lives.

I think my job is the best in the world. I love being home with my children, and being able to put all of my efforts and energy into raising them. I hold tight the task of making my home a wonderful place, so that my husbands misses it greatly, and can't wait to walk back into those doors each evening.

Benjamin is growing so fast! He loves being outside now that the weather has warmed up. I let the children go in the front yard during the afternoons, while I sew. I watch them from my window upstairs. They love their little brother so much! They take the red wagon and give him rides all around the yard. He likes to pick up sticks and rocks, and play in the dirt! As such is boys... Notice the little scrape on his leg in his pictures?

He has two fine young men to help mold him. His big brothers are as different as night and day. I love that about them.

Baylen has patience, and can build most anything. He takes joy in all that the Lord created. Growing gardens, and tending animals. All the while with a song in his heart, offering it up to the Lord.

Brady has boldness, and is becoming a leader. He is fascinated with science, and can hold with the best in a creation debate. He is a God called preacher, and its quite evident, even at 13 years old, when he is behind the pulpit.

My handsome husband makes a mighty fine Daddy too. Watching him with our children makes my heart do flip flops. Well, that and his strong hands holding holding my littlest blessing. Have I told you I was blessed? I am, I really am.