Good Day.

Happy Summer.  Today is the first day of summer.  Yeah.  For us Spring was quite chilly and my garden didn't appreciate it.  But today it is warm and beautiful.  I love living in an area where we have four seasons, but here we go from one extreme to the next and sometimes even skip a season.  Winter is quite chilly and then summer is amazingly hot.  We have been blessed to have it only in the 70's but today it is supposed to be in the 80's and tomorrow 90's, yikes.  Time to close the windows and blinds for part of the day.  Just wanted to post some fun pictures and show you what is going on here.

We had a great relaxing Father's Day.  Alex, made his dad a game where you throw bean bags in to a hole in another board.  Last night we tried it out.  How fun but I had an amazingly terrible game.  Have to get out and do it again.  We also got a rubber raft and Cassie keeps telling everyone of how she is going to go in the boat with her daddy.   Have a great day. 

Isabella is still not walking on her own but is able to pull up to things and take about 4 steps on her own.  She does love to walk around holding someone's finger. 

We finally got her first pony in. 

Here I am with my daddy.  I got to spend Father's day evening with him.  Love you Daddy.
I actually think I look a bit like Isabella in this picture.  I have always thought she looked a lot like her daddy but it is fun to see me too.

Isabella enjoying the sun

Cassandra filling up the new pool.  Here she is with the terrible mosquito bites that everyone though was chicken pox.  She ended up having a terrible allergic reaction with them but is better now. 

Bruneau Dunes

"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork."  Psalms 19:1

I love getting away with my family.  This last weekend we went with our dear friends to Bruneau Sand Dunes.  I am in awe at these huge sand dunes rising up out of the ground.  How did they get there and with all the wind and people climbing and sliding down them, why are they still there?  Isn't God just amazing.  If he wants to place a big sand dune in the middle of nowhere he does.  It is so amazing.  And around it are little lakes.  It is quite "amazing". 

We all had a great time with one major flaw,  Mosquitoes!!!  Why did God make mosquitoes?  They sure are nasty little annoyances.  We all got quite a few bites but poor little Cassandra got so many and they are so red now that she looks like she has the chicken pox. 

The weather was wonderful and it is so good to get away with our family and another family.  Mark and Amy have a wonderful family and are expecting their ninth child.  It is such a blessing to get together with them.  What an amazing family.  We always enjoy spending time with them.  It is fun to share our meals and my favorite time is our older children will play music and we get to sing worship songs together.  What a blessing.  Well, here are some fun pictures hope you enjoy.

Here I am at the top of a dune but I couldn't make it carrying  Isabella so...

Alex carried her the rest of the way up

How many 18 year olds are comfortable enough to carry a baby in a front pack .  Love you son :)

Alex and Alli climbing back up after a slide. 

the kids enjoyed covering each other up with sand

very peaceful and relaxing

Amy enjoying the view

Latisha and Sierra checking out each others eyes

Latisha enjoying a mega smore.

Alexander, Trent and Ali played the music

Sierra and Chelsea singing.






    

Bright Lights

Today was our first Bright Lights meeting.  For those of you out there who have a daughter ages 10 - 13 I highly recommend getting them involved in Bright Lights.  It is a discipleship ministry for girls.  Sarah Mally, the author of Before You Meet Prince Charming, Making Brother and Sisters Best Friends, and Knights, Maidens, and Dragons, began this ministry several years ago.  There are hundreds of groups around the world.  The goal of Bright Lights is to give girls training and preparation they need so that they can make it through their teen-age years strong for the Lord without rebellion or failure. 

Everything went very good.  We planned on having 6 girls and we ended up with 10.  My daughter Latisha, very good friend, Ivy, and myself planned it and put it all together.  I am very blessed to have Latisha and Ivy working with me.  They are both great examples of girls who choose to honor the Lord.  The girls that came seemed to really enjoy themselves and I hope they all come back.   What a privilege and honor it is to be able to minister to girls who love the Lord.  I was blessed to have them all in my home and encouraged to hear their discussion.  Hope you are all having a great day and God bless you all this weekend. 

Cassandra Jane Eileen is 3

Cassie on her 3rd birthday.

Our little princess

Another birthday.  Spring is so busy for us.  Finally Cassandra got to have her birthday party.  She has been anxiously awaiting her birthday ever since I had mine in March.  Followed by 4 siblings parties and finally hers.  She could hardly stand the wait.  Saturday I asked her if she was ready for her birthday tomorrow.  The poor child went into tears and said she didn't want her birthday.  After all the waiting the pressure got to her and she decided she didn't really want it.  By the next day she was much better and when her little friend, Christy, arrived she was all better. 

Cassandra has been the blessing I never expected.  I thought having four children was more than I could ask for.  Having five or more children seems to be met with disapproval by so many I was concerned about what people would think.  We are more then blessed that God has brought me through that and now we have Cassandra, and Isabella too.   When we found out we were expecting Cassandra we eager to tell the kids in a fun way.  As David was praying during evening prayer he ended his prayer asking God to bless mommy and the new baby she was carrying.  Apparently not everyone was paying attention and they all began to give us kiss and hugs and go to bed.  David and I were surprised.  I said "didn't you hear what daddy asked God to do."  Latisha said "ya, he was just joking."  We said no he wasn't.  Then there was much confussion as they tried to remember what was prayed.  Surprise and disbelief followed then excitement. 

I had so wanted to be a Godly example of an expectant mother to my children but my flesh came shining through.  I was very tired and sick and gained my normal amount of weight.  Followed by achie  muscles and sleep deprivation.  But I really don't think my children noticed much of that.  They were thrilled to be watching my belly grow and feeling the baby move.  Then the big day came. 

I was near my due date and had felt no contractions all day and was getting anxious.  Latisha was supposed to be at a party when my first contraction hit.  I didn't tell anyone.  David and I were to drop her off and then go out to dinner.  When we got to the party the parents were chatting so David chatted with them but I was unable to concentrate.  Already the contractions had gone from nothing to major and 3 minutes apart in about a half an hour.  After about a half an hour of socializing I was very uncomfortable.  David asked if I was ready to go.  When we got to the car I was doubled over and he asked if I was ok.  I said I thought I was in labor but maybe we should go to my parents house for a couple minutes to see what was going on before dinner.  They weren't home.  Things happened quickly and I was having hard contractions every 2 to 3 minutes and was surprised by the intensity.  In the past I had my babies in 7 to 8 hours, but after an hour I felt like I needed to get to the hospital now.  At first we thought we would stop by the house and grab my things but as we drove I thought it better we just get to the hospital.  David called the house and told Alex to get my things together.  I had made myself a list of things to add to my bag and Alex was in charge of getting it in there now.  This caused him quite a bit of stress but he was successful.  Next David called our moms and asked them to grab the children and told them they might hurry to the hospital.  Then he called my sister and told her.  She told him she knew he was joking because she had just talked to me earlier and knew nothing was happening.  David told her "whatever, but we are at the hospital."  She arrived in just a few minutes.

 Checking in was so funny because they were all so calm.  Apparently David telling them I was in quite a bit of pain didn't concern them.  They couldn't find my paper work and asked me to fill it out while David parked the car.  They were in no hurry I think because we told them I had only had contractions for just over an hour, but this being my 5th child you would think they would have thought I knew when it was time to go to the hospital.  I finally told them I really couldn't do any more paper work right now.  The nurse said "well let's take you back and see what is going on."  She took me in the room and checked me and things really started to get crazy.  You're almost an 8 she cried.  "You said you had only been having contractions for an hour and you seemed really calm I had no idea."  At this point I was getting irritated and said "please just get me my epidural."  She started to go get a wheel chair but changed her mind and took off the breaks and started pushing the whole bed to the delivery room.  About an hour later Cassandra was born.  She was beautiful and healthy and I was so thrilled they let me hold her and didn't take her to clean her up.  I got to just enjoy her after her birth and I was so happy.  The children all gathered around and we were all in amazement. 

Happy Daddy and Mommy with Cassandra

Sierra and Danika in awe

Latisha stayed with me at the hospital and was such a help.

Alex serenading his "Cassie Girl"

and now quite the big sissy herself.

Cassandra has been on the go ever since.  She sat up early, got her teeth early, walked around 9 months and potty trained early.  She has a mind all her own and is full of life and joy.  She supplies us with many laughs as she interprets her world.  Her brother always called her his Cassie girl and it has stuck with her.  She will correct people and tell them she is "Cassie Girl."  She loves to read books and color, not always just on paper but we are working on that.  She has amazing deep brown eyes like her daddy.  Our older children have learned much about babies, children, selflessness and love with Cassandra.  Children are a blessing from the Lord and I am so grateful to have My Cassie Girl.  God bless and keep my baby girl.  Have a great day.

My baby the Adult

Alexander David

So today my son turns 18.  My oldest child, the one I made the most mistakes on and learned so much from.  A good friend of mine told me once "the first child survives in spite of the parents and the following survive in spite of the siblings."  Being an Early Childhood Ed major I really thought I knew what I was doing.  I had taken the classes, been around babies in my classes and felt very knowledgeable.  Unfortunately I had little hands on experience.  My only younger sibling is 3 years younger then me so when I had my first baby at 22 I hadn't lived in a house with a baby for years.  Things are a lot different 24/7 then watching a child here and there.  Feeding, diapering, bathing, pacing the floor, wiping, wiping, and wiping were all very new to me.  I had this strange feeling every time he cried if his diaper was clean he must be hungry.  So I fed him a lot.  Poor child.  He probably was crying trying to get me to leave him alone for a moment.

I can vividly remember that time in my life.  How does it go so fast?  I had wanted a baby so bad and when I took that test and sat it down to wait the five minutes for the results I could already see the result.  I was shaking and went to sit down with my husband.  He had wanted to check the result to let me know.  I thought maybe it was too early and the plus sign just comes up for a second and then would fade away.  I didn't want to get my hopes up.  Then David checked and sure enough we were finally going to be parents.  I was so happy and scared.    What an exciting time.  I didn't mind the sickness although it was not fun.  Fitting in to maternity clothes was so exciting, then outgrowing the maternity clothes was a bit depressing and still I continued to grow.  My sister preceded me in pregnancy about 10 weeks and so I saw her grow and thought that wouldn't happen to me because I was taking a water aerobics class and watching what I ate.  My sister ate like a pig and enjoyed the freedom of eating what she wanted.  But to my amazement we gained the same amount.  My lovely mom had only gained half what we gained and explained that was what happened to the women on my dad's side. 

Me almost 9 mos pregnant before David's college graduation

The big day came and I decided to try to have the baby natural.  My water started leaking about 3:00 am.  I wasn't sure what was going on so went to the restroom several times before my husband became concerned.  I called the hospital and told them what was happening but I wasn't in any pain.  They told me to come on in and off we went.  It was a dark drive to the hospital and I was so excited and scared.  David was focused but he seemed nervous.  I couldn't believe what was about to happen.  Was this a dream?  We got to the hospital and I was having small contractions.  They asked if I wanted any drugs and I said no I wanted to do it naturally.  A couple hours later David was enthralled in a cartoon and had no idea I was dying in the bed.  The pains hit hard and fast and I was trying my best to remain call and not over react so he had no idea.  After another couple hours I had changed my mind.  I was having hard back labor with one contraction on top of the other.  There was no break in between and I had decided I wanted something.  The nurse checked me and informed me it was too late.  I preceded to let them know I wanted to be knocked out but I could hardly talk.  So all I could say was Ow, ow, ow.  A couple hours later we delivered our first gift from God.  He was a good color, probably because he came out screaming.  What good lungs he had.  He was totally exercising those vocal chords to be used for the Lord.   A very health beautiful baby boy. 

Me loving on my Baby Alexander

Daddy and his boy

Starting to walk and never stopping

ready for church

school time

always the loving big brother, well most the time :)

Playing the piano

Tiny Tim in the Christmas "Life is full of Sweet Surprises Every days a gift."

And there we were.  Proud parents of our amazing son.  Alexander has been a blessing to us in so many ways.  I nick named him son shine and would always sing you are my son shine to him.  And truly he is my son shine.  He lights up the room and has entertained us from day one.  He loved playing the piano as a baby and never stopped.  He also began talking quite young.  First he had his own language but soon he started speaking English and we have got such a kick out of all he says.  I have many entries in my journal on what Alex said today.  Alex started preaching when he was 4.  We have the best video of it.  He has always been quite the athlete and would shock us with his coordination.   Looking back I think of my thoughts when Alex was born:  What will he look like when he grows up?  Will he love the Lord?  What is Gods plan for his life?  What does he need from me?   Questions we wonder about all of our children.  I am so blessed to see  answers to those questions at this stage.  He is handsome, loves the Lord, has God's calling on his life and respects our advise.  I am  so blessed to have had this opportunity to raise Alexander David with my amazing husband and his daddy.  Alexander truly you are a beloved leader of man as your name says.  I will love you forever, as long as I'm living my baby you will be.  Love always Mom

my soccer star.