June snapshots

We spent Tessa's birthday in Ronan
and enjoyed these mountains at lunch time!

beautiful creation x 2

Tessa was very clear in the weeks leading up to her birthday that the ONLY thing she really wanted was a cat.  She drew pictures of cats, and described in great detail exactly what she wanted.  "Mom, I don't just want a cat-- I really want a kitten.  And not just a plain black kitten, a grey kitten...."  The descriptions went on.  She wrote a note that spent weeks on the refidgerator: "All I want is a cat".  

We planned to get a barn cat to be a mouser, but that would (logically) happen after we built the barn.  I kept telling her, "Sweetie, we will get a cat, after we build a barn!"  Still, she persisted.  Finally, as her birthday neared and we still hadn't built the barn, I repeated that a cat was in the plans after the barn.  She slumped her shoulders and said, "Ok mommy, I will start saving for a barn.".... 

...my heart melted...

The day after Tessa's birthday, (*thanks to my friend Heather!!) we found a litter of free kittens!

we got 1st pick from this litter of 5

...we came home with 2 kittens...

  

I mean, my heart was still melted at that point, 

and it didn't seem fair to take one kitty from it's mama 

and bring it home without a sibling to play with!

I must say, these kittens have been the joy and delight of our home 

for the past 2 months!  They are sooooo cute, sweet, playful, and fun!

Ella giving a presentation on Niagra Falls
at our homeschool group day.
That day, we had 14 kids in the house!

June also meant it was time to replace the carpet that had flooded in March....
...so while we were at it, we decided to also replace the living room carpet that no longer ever looked clean, and the kitchen tile that was only looking worse with time...

photos to remember how I will NOT miss the 3/16" to 3/4" variations in the grout 

and all the cracks and gouges..
that tile floor was off-white (showed everything)
hard to clean (everything got caught in the grout)
and broke anything that fell on it (which is a lot around here)

the night before the contractor came, the kids got to do some demolition!

then the contractor dug in with big tools!

the kitchen was in upheaval for several days...

...so we (and the dishwasher and the carpet) camped out in the dining room

Jaci was diagnosed with cavities...
...recommended to have 8 fillings and 2 root canals....
....and we learned about oil pulling!
Where have I been?!?!?
I'd never heard of such a powerful alternative therapy!
Two nights after I took this photo,
that black speck fell out!  So far so good!

Jaci "do it yourself" Claire
wanted to help decorate her own cake!

wasn't sure how it would turn out, the way she asked for
sky and butterflies with grass and horses!
(but it was yummy anyhow!)

table all set for a birthday dinner!

I LOVE the way my kids are happy to see toys that had been "archived"
Each birthday, they shop for each other in our storage area,
and choose toys that they haven't seen in a while...

Two grammas, at a Gramma's house...
...what a way to celebrate!!!
Happy 6th Birthday, beautiful!

and another cupcake 'n' ice cream party
with our favorite Montana cousins!

when the tile was demolished, we lived with the original white vinyl floor for about 10 days until the wood could be installed.  It was in remarkable shape, considering it had been under tile for several years!

'Tika'

in between tile demolition and wood/carpet install,
I spent 1 late night and 1 early morning painting the baseboard trim
to give it a fresh look.

contractors installing pine + carpet

circle sawn pine is in!
we considered leaving it this beautiful natural color...

love the look and feel of wood!

Adrian & I hand stained the entire floor one evening. 

we love-love-love the way the stain brought out the circle sawn texture!

2 weeks later, the floor, column and carpet were all done!  

lovin' on Timmy!

May favorites

have you ever walked a bunny?

racking up the trampoline hours!

new pet

checkin' for eggs before breakfast

can't save all notes... so I photograph them!

new chicken coop and 5 Heritage Buckeye hens!

made her own breakfast!

garage sale = inspiration to purge!

awww!

Tessa's track meet-- she is in the navy sweats.
Her team took 1st in the relay at both meets!!

shortly after we introduced the chickens,
the silly horses thought the coop was theirs!

new (to her) bike!

April snapshots

sometimes my kids just deserve a trip to the ice cream shop!

spring babies at someone else's house!

The bedroom re-make that began in February....

...turned out pretty cute by April!

since everybody who sees it asks:
the vinyl wall saying is from Amazon!

when we wake up to fresh snow,
my kids think it's ok to have a breakfast
of homemade snow cone drizzled with agave!

Jaci', #1 kitchen helper!

March recap

just posting pictures....

this is one of my all time favorite photos
the kids often "ride" our railing...
and yes, each horse has it's own name!  :)

does every family have kids who bring a rock home
from every place they've ever been?
:)

the plow left a big mound that was perfect for
making into a snow cave!!

It's a filly!!!

This is such a great baby announcement!  Our shetland/mini mare had her foal today.  We thought she was due in April/May, but had to wait until today.... it was worth the wait!

It's a girl! (name tba)

Date: July 25, 2014

Time: 9:00 a.m.

Weight: 26.8 lb

Parents: Stella and Pip (pictured) 

i was climbing in the pickup to go into town... and
this is the first thing i saw when i looked out at the field (9:10 a.m.)
silly me... have been waiting for a foal for 3 months now,
and my very first thought was, "Is there a goat in with our horses?"

Then I came to my senses and realized we had a FOAL (unbelievable!!!)

I sprinted inside, yelled to my family, "we've got a foal!"

grabbed my camera, and sprinted to the pasture.

Adrian sprinted behind me.

The children came running too.

first walk- minutes old!

a pose with dad!

 Amazed by the beauty of this little filly, I have taken tons of videos and photos!

Here are the highlights: 

45 minutes old

awww, a mama's love!

everything is going beautifully!

family portrait

best day ever for a kid!
(and yes, it was the morning,
so we were still in a combination of pj's
and boots on the wrong feet)

Oh, happy day!

Parenting

Adrian & I are gearing up to facilitate a study from the National Center for Biblical Parenting this autumn.  It has been so strong on our hearts to do so, and we are hoping a lot of our friends will join us!  Even though the curriculum is written and purchased, there is a lot of preparation to do.  The two of us will be previewing the 8 sessions over the next few weeks, formatting each class, adding scripture as it comes to mind, and pray, pray, praying! 

Oswald Chambers said, "Prayer is not the preparation for the work.  Prayer is the work".   

I like that. 

Yesterday when we sat down to watch session 1 (all of 30 minutes), I think I counted 8 different interruptions between the kids, the phone, the doorbell, and cares of life.  We have thrown ourselves to the front lines, and we will be attacked -- but HE has overcome! 

To present the study topic to our church body, God gave me these words:

"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked.  

A man reaps what he sows.  

The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; 

the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.  

Let us not become weary in doing good, 

for at the proper time 

we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up."  

--Galatians 6.7-9

1) Parenting is not just an "experiment" (I've heard parents say, "We will do our best, and we'll see how they turn out...")  If we believe the Bible, we believe we WILL reap what we sow!  That's an absolute promise!  We can confidently declare, as Joshua did, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" (Joshua 24.15)

2) Parenting is not just the responsibility of feeding and clothing our children's bodies... but preparing their hearts to receive and spread the gospel!  (Matthew 13, Matthew 28.18-20, Romans 1.16)

3) Parenting is not simply disciplining children to act "nice" and be "good" ... but teaching them how to be holy!  God said, "Be holy, because I am holy."  (Leviticus 11.44, Leviticus 20.26, 1 Peter 1.16)

4) Parenting is not merely the biological result of marriage .... but also one of the best ways that God sanctifies us!  He is often whispering in my ear while I am instructing my children!  He wants to reach our hearts as parents, as much as we want to reach our kids' hearts.  

5)  Parenting is not only a matter of being  "mom" or being a "dad" ... but we are actually a real life representation the love of our Heavenly Father to our children.  

It's a challenge.  Being accountable to one another and having to confess we've messed up is humbling.  Being intentional in our parenting is not the easy road.  It is a battle, it is a fight ... but we 

"throw off every weight, and the sin that so easily besets us, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith ~ who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God". We will "consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men so that we will not grow weary and lose heart."  --Hebrews 12.1-3

oh, and did I mention ~ there is a whole lotta joy along the journey, too!!