Fun in the cold snow

Friday we had agreat time with sledding and more good food at Tyler and Charity's. The guys tied inner tubes and sleds behind the 4-wheelers, and pulled everyone through the fields. Mark took Faith and I for a wild ride. As we were screaming and laughing with snow blowing in our faces and down our necks Faith yells, "I thought I told Daddy I wanted a s-s-s-slow ride!" Well, Daddy got carried away and thought that all the screaming meant we were have a great time, so we must want to go faster! Right? We were all freezing, but had fun.

Thanksgiving thankfulness

This Thanksgiving I am thankful for my family.

Our family is a circle of strength and love.

With every birth and every union, the circle grows.

Every joy shared adds more love.

Every crisis faced together makes the circle stronger.

We spent a fun Thanksgiving day with family at my sister Rebekah and her husband Jon's house. There were 22 children and 12 adults. SUPER FUN!!!

Silly little girls!

Grandpa reading the children a story while the rest of us played a mean game of pictionary. Guys against girls!

The kids had fun playing spoons. One of our favorite loud and crazy games!

Esther enjoying her little thumb for Thanksgiving.

Happy Birthday Joseph and Savannah!

This month Joseph turned nine and Savannah turned three, so they got to enjoy a birthday party together. That night Mark took the opportunity to share with Joseph how he was born during a very special time in our lives. Almost ten years ago Mark went back to school for instrumentation. During that time he also worked nights at Ace Hardware's distribution center. It was not the ideal time to have a baby! But knowing that God had lead us in faith to receive our children from Him in His timing, we felt it would not be faith to change our course when we reached a difficult time in our lives. So in His sovereignty and goodness He gave us Joseph! I have many times been so thankful that I received him . Look who I would have missed out on! His life is a reminder to me of God's blessing when we choose to trust Him. "Whoever receives one little cihld like this in My name receives Me." Matt 18:5 .

Joseph is a sweet boy with an affectionate heart. He loves to help with his little sisters and is very patient with them. He reads to Savannah and plays games with her every morning during their time together while I do school with Travis and Faith. I know God has a special purpose for his life. I am awed by the privilege I have to be a coworker with God in receiving these lives with wide open arms for His

kingdom and helping them to see who He has predestined them to be. I pray that each one of them will know they were born just as Queen Esther was "for such a time as this".

Happy Birthday Joseph and Savannah! We are so thankful for you!

November Happenings

We continue this month of November with lots more days full of activity. Never a dull moment! One of the reasons I wanted to start this blog was to help me take time in the middle of these busy days to remember and enjoy the fun and special moments we have together. At the same time I can share them with all of you!!

Here are a few pictures of us around the bonfire. Silas decided to roast marshmellows after dinner. This is one of our favorite fall time activities!

Autumn homeschooling days

I love homeschooling my children! It is so awesome to have the opportunity to learn with them and watch their particular strengths and gifts blossom. It was a challenge starting this fall though, and trying to find how to make it work with seven different grades this year! One thing that has helped has been getting together with neighbors for some of our classes. On Mondays a neighboring homeschool mom teaches a writing class to our older children while the younger ones and I have been doing nature study.

Travis hard a work drawing bugs he saw at the pond for his nature journal.

It's great to get outside and enjoy nature with the children.

Making applesauce

We are blessed to have neighbors with apple orchards who share their bounty with us. This year we picked 25 boxes of apples and canned 88 quarts of apple sauce. Next we will make apple pie filling and eat and dry whats left. My little boys love turning the sauce maker and watching it ooze out. Lots of fun, lots of mess!!!

Sweet little girls

I have to give my sister in law,Charity, credit for the pictures here and the one at the top of the page. She is a great photographer who knows how to get the perfect shot. She's so good, she even started doing this as a side job. (There's a little free advertisment for you, Charity!)

Here is Esther Celeste age 10 months and Savannah Joy almost 3.

Our County Fair

One of the highlights of our fall time is the Central Washington State Fair. The kids show their rabbits and like to enter their crafts, sewing, cooking and gardening projects.

The little kids had fun in the tractor pull.





Bethany entered about 40 Mini Lop and Mini Rex rabbits. Her little brothers and sister love helping her out and showed some of her rabbits for her.

Faith with her cousins Samantha and Marilyn