Thursday, February 17, 2011

A New Baby!


It's an exciting day on the farm! The first of our babies was born this morning so Michael, Kathryn and I went out to see how things were going.
Mark warned us that the Mamma would be very jumpy and he was sooo right. We didn't get close at all. And the second we stepped out of the car, Mamma was up and protecting and talking to her baby.




















We did, however have two other Mamma's come see us w
hile we were standing there. One looks ready to have her baby (or I hope so with her size-the one to the left of the two close up).




Sunday, February 6, 2011

Go Steelers!!!!!!




We have a long standing Steelers fan in the house. This shirt on Kathryn was Mark's when he was little! Looks like a great fit for Game Day!

Friday, February 4, 2011

8 Weeks or so And Our Last Angel Will Be With Us. . .



This morning Mark and I were able to go for Elizabeth's Ultrasound Check up. Before we left and while we were getting ready, I said to her (she was wide awake and kicking), "Today's the Day! Smile for the camera!"




So we went and were able to see an apparently healthy, moving, little girl who weighs about 4 1/2 pounds.







It's amazing every time. I (Mom) can't help but marvel at the miracle of life and the beauty of God's gift of little ones.

























I might add that I'm grateful that I have an obedient daughter (hee hee). We got our SMILE!!

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Mom's Birthday

Well, tomorrow is my birthday. I am blessed to share it with Christian, who is turning 20 and is serving the Lord in Texas. I am first of all, blessed by his willingness to sacrifice the "cool" life of college and friends for the "cool" life of helping his fellow man.

As I drove to Louisville to get Mark at the airport and with him to the temple, I had some very needed thinking time. I had a prayer in my heart for all of our family, each with their own needs.
I thought of the many years behind Mark and I in raising our children and in the many years ahead in raising them. I thought of the way that we've worked to raise them. Our view of our children is that they come to us with their own personalities with weaknesses and strengths-each with their own life's mission and much value. They didn't come here to fail but to learn and grow and discover like I have learned to do in my life. I am grateful for two parents who taught me this pearl of great price in my own life. I was expected to work hard, set goals, and contribute but in the ways that I could, not in the ways that they pre-determined. They worked to train, not control. They expressed their trust in me that I would,, one way or the other, discover the things that were important for me to develop the characteristic that would be valuable not only in this life but in the life after.
Mark and I feel the same about our own children. We think that they are amazing in each and every one of their own ways. We trust that they are on the right path for themselves. We trust that they know that there is a God in Heaven who loves them and knows them even better than we do and that they have a Savior who will walk side by side with them through life's ups and downs.
We trust that they are doing their best.


Why write about this on my birthday?
I know that I have a Heavenly Father who trusted me and loved me enough to let me come down here to earth to be with parents, brothers and sisters who love me and I would love. Where a strong foundation would be built so that I could return the favor and work to find that special someone who would help me to be the best I could be and to love and raise our children with the same trust and admiration that I feel from our Heavenly Father.
I am grateful for a Mother and Father who wanted to have children and not just a few.
I am grateful to have been born in these interesting days of challenge. Definitely not boring.
I am grateful that my sweetheart was born into a wonderful family, too, with a strong foundation to draw on.
I am grateful to have been born in a free country.

I am grateful to have been born when there is a plethora of good works to draw from including the recorded histories in the scriptures.
I am grateful to have been born with a very healthy body.
I am grateful to be here today and hope that I am blessed to have many more birthdays here on earth to share with my family.
I am grateful.

I am happy on this my 30th (hee hee) birthday :)

Monday, December 20, 2010

Christian in December

We've had some great reports from Christian about the ups and downs of serving the Lord in Texas. Most of the reports are really good.

He has a great companion and evidently the people really love him. Who wouldn't?!!


Here are some pictures from this month (December 2010).





Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Kathryn's First School Christmas Program









Kathryn and her schoolmates did a great job singing today!
They knew the songs and the hand movements. I think I counted 6 full songs that the 4 year olds needed to know.





It was a really fun group to watch!




The FIRST of our Snow Days-December is COLD












ICY Days!!!















This is what happens when big brother has a shovel and little sis LOVES the snow








Kathryn "helped" Michael shovel the driveway and then
Michael covered Kathryn in a snow pile
Michael and Kathryn built the first snowman of the season and then destroyed it
and then got in a snow fight
Lots of Screaming, throwing, laughing and COLD bodies