5 Generation Blessing

Last weekend we got the opportunity to go see my grandparents.  We planned to get our five generation picture done.  What a beautiful and amazing blessing to have five generations together to take a wonderful picture.  Twenty-two years ago we felt so blessed to be able to have a picture a four generation picture taken.  My grandma had had several health problems and what a blessing it was that she was still with us and we were able to get a great picture.  So, now for being able to take a five generation picture is not taken lightly.

That hit home for me pretty hard this week when a dear friend of mine was in a senseless car accident and passed away.  She was stopped behind a big truck at a stop light, when a driver who was playing on their phone while driving, ran into Pamela's car going around 50 miles per hour.  How horrible.  There will never be a five generation picture for her.  Her Grandchildren and children have been deprived from this precious life to share together.  Pamela was one of the most giving people I have ever met.  On several occasions when I had the opportunity to go with David on a trip, Pamela watched my children.  She hosted a couples baby shower for me when I was expecting Sierra, and cooked some amazing food.  She was in an almost constant state of business and giving.  Pamela was one of the biggest encouragements to me of homeschooling.  Although we hadn't talked in quite a while my heart broke when I heard the news.  Still I am blessed to have known this woman and have peace knowing she is with our Savior.  

I pray that this accident will not totally be senseless.  That somehow through this horribleness someone out there will put down their phone, not pick up their phone, or just ignore the urge to check their phone while driving. This was a wakeup call for me too, all too often I find myself not paying good attention while driving and I can improve.  

There are so many things that can shorten our life.  To have all five generations of women alive for a picture is tremendously special.  God bless you all and have a blessed day.

Alicia

August with Great, great Grandpa

My grandma with her Great Great Granddaughter

Five generation

Grandpa with Brinley

Our four generation picture 22 years ago.  I feel like I need
to take a four generation picture with all my girls.  Next time.

Happy Fourth of July

It is our honor and privilege to celebrate our nation.  We live in the greatest country in the world, not a perfect country, but a great country.  Last Sunday at church our pastor took a few minutes to have us all pray for our nation and a for our President.  There is much negative we can say about both, I am so grateful it is not me that is being torn apart by the media and all the way down to the everyday Joe.  Bashing our nation and our President only brings division, but prayer will unite and bring prosperity.  I am so thankful for this nation that the Lord has allowed me to live in and for our President who has a desire to bring our nation back to where it should be.  As you celebrate your freedom, be sure and remember those who have blazed the trail to those freedoms you hold so dear.  The police officers, the government, the soldiers, and the President need your respect and your prayers.  God bless America.

I have mixed emotions about fireworks stands.  They are overwhelming to me and I always want a good deal.  If it isn't too busy I enjoy going and buying some fun fireworks. As a fund raiser for Sierra and Danika to go to National Fine Arts, we were able to work in a fireworks booth this year.  It was fun.  The first day was quite slow, but each day it got closer to the "Day" got a little busier.  I highly recommend buying fireworks early.  There is no discount for coming at the end, just a long hot line, with cranky people :).  We had the early shift so we are blessed to be done and getting ready for a party and lots of fireworks.  I am sure I will have more pictures but I just wanted to post these and say  "HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!! and God bless the USA.

Alicia

the kiddos ready to go

our last day

our first day

Happy Valentines Day

"These things had I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.  This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you.  Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.  Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.  Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth; but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.  Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.  These things I command you, that ye love one another. "  John 15:11-17

Jesus spoke this and what a wealth of good words in this small passage.  Words I hold on tight to.  My prayer for this is year more joy.  May the joy of the Lord be yours this Valentine's day as you love one another.  

Our family starting the day right.  The girls got chocolates, necklaces and redeemable
ticket valentines card

Aidric got animal crackers and a red ball.  He really did like it.  

We have once again started our Valentine's day with a great love breakfast, complete with pink, chocolate chip pancakes, gifts, valentines, love and joy for all.  Unfortunately, we have had a horrible cold that is having a hard time leaving our home so we have delayed our annual Valentines party with friends, but we will still celebrate with the family we have here. 

A quick update on Isabella.  Her appointment went very well yesterday.  Her EEG was totally clean and the doctor felt that her episode was not a seizure.  Which means no meds.  Yeah!!!!   He had no answers.  He just sat there and stared at her.  Once again he found her quite a puzzle.  As I was driving to the doctors office I felt fear and anticipation of what the doctor might say.  But the verse  Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, what so ever things are pure, whosoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on theses things," came to my heart and I was filled with peace.  God is so good.  Not only was the report good but God was there to bring me peace before. Thank you for your prayers! 

God bless you all this day as you celebrate the love that God has given us all. 

Alicia

Children are a Blessing

I very much enjoy reading books with my kids.  I love it when they are small enough to climb into my lap and we read picture books.  In our schedule 9 to 10 or 10:30 is my time with the little ones and I enjoy the time.  Some of that time is used to do Isabella's therapy, some is used to play, and some is used for reading.  A lot of times Isabella will bring me a book in hopes of reading time, she doesn't really enjoy therapy that much, and would much rather have a book read to her.  So, I sit and it is reading/cuddle time.  Such precious time.  The other day Isabella had an attack of some sort.  A year and a half ago she had a terrible grand mall seizure that put her in the hospital for a couple days.  This one was a little different, so I was unsure if it was a seizure.  This time she was fully alert and trying to stop the jerking, while crying a terrified cry.  It was horrible.  I was able to pick her up, pray over her, and she eventually calmed and was fine.  After wards she got up and enjoyed all the attention her siblings were giving her with a big smile and since of relief.  Unfortunately David was out of town and I was unsure what to do.  I find it odd that David doesn't go out of town much, but odd things seem to happen when he is gone.   I called the pediatrician, who had me call the Neurologist, who sent us for an e e g.  That was exhausting for Isabella and myself.  Thursday we will get the results.  So as I sat to read today with my little ones I was reminded of this wonderful blessing of life that God has entrusted us with.  Isabella is yet to fit into any known diagnosis box so her physical therapist says she has Isabellaism.  I treasure the time I get to spend with my little ones, truly they are a blessing, challenges and all, they are a blessing.

 I have noticed a lot of people posting things about large families.  Some are quite comical.  One family had a video they did for Christmas with their 10 children to the tune of the 12 days of Christmas.  It was hysterical.  Each day was a different question like, "are they all yours?"  Then on the twelfth day they counted backwards and answered all the questions.  I put it on the tv for our lunch time viewing and we all got a kick out of it and relayed stories of questions we have had.

So I would like to share one such story.  While David and I were visiting our son at college we had gone to a nice restaurant for lunch.  Aidric was in need of a diaper change and I went to the ladies room with him.  An elderly lady came in and saw me changing his diaper and proceeded to tell me how she had raised three boys and what a time that was.  I smiled and told her I had another son and five daughters.  The poor lady was in great shock.  She went into the stall next to her friend and they proceeded to have a conversation that went something like this...  "Did you hear that lady, she said she had 5 daughters and two sons?"  "Yes, I heard."  "Did you see that lady?" "yes."  "no, way."  She came out of the stall and in shock went through some of the regular questions that people ask us, while washing her hands, how old are they, do they have the same father, you do not look like someone who has had 7 children (not sure what people mean when they say that) and then complimented me.  I quickly exited the restroom and joined the others with a big smile on my face.  David looked at me with a questioning look but we were with others that we had just met so I chose not to share at that moment.  Then guess who just happened to walk by with her friend, the lady from the restroom.  She brought her friend in our room and said "there she is, that lady with all the kids."  She looked around the table and said, "who is the lucky man." To which my husband replied "that would be me, seven times."  "Wow," she said, and made a couple more comments and left.    Then to our amazement when we left, guess who left about the same time.  Yep, the elderly restroom lady.  But now she had her dinner party with her and proceeded to introduce us to them. "This is the lady I told you about," she said  They had a good laugh and asked a few more questions.  When they found out where we live the man asked if we were Mormon.  No, I answered.  "Well, did you know there sure are a lot of Mormons where you live."  I said, yes, I knew.  Things like this give us a good laugh and I hope you too.  Have a great day and God bless.

Alicia

Here We Go Again

It's off to the races, as my dad says.  My pajama project for Christmas has begun again.  I ordered my material, got it in, washed it, and set it out waiting to be cut and sewed into our annual Christmas jammies.  This year I am using the ping pong table to cut out the patterns. I think it is working nicely.  Such an ordeal.  Finally today I began really getting down to work.  I had really hoped to have gotten more done, as I am a bit behind, but we got a good start and with all the help from my girls, we'll get them done.  It is hard to find the time.

This year has been especially busy.  We have been trying to get Isabella in to the right therapies to help her.  I wish I could be enough but she is still not talking and needs lots of supervision.  I was blessed to have a friend recommend a wonderful Christian home school mom/physical therapist/natural path who has been where I am, with one of her own children.  She has been able to answer some of my questions, provide insight, and give helpful ideas.  Also, she recommended a speech therapy center.  This week we had our speech eval at this center and Isabella scored extremely low.  They had set us up with a speech therapist who offered great encouragement and told me her story about her own child.  It sounded so much like my story with Isabella.  Somedays I feel like we're the only ones going through such struggles but hearing other people with similar personal experiences, who are trying to help Isabella, brings such encouragement.  Next month we begin occupational therapy, have neurological testing, and meet with a geneticist.  It is like I want the answer to what is going on but am fearful of the answer they might give.  Then I find I have been having a hard time not getting offended by comments made by other people lately.  I look at my beautiful little girl, my heavenly Father gave us and I just want to wrap my arms around her and protect her from everything.   I know that God is with us and He is so much bigger than any of this.  I hope I can be an encouragement to someone out there.  God is never surprised.  He doesn't ever say, "Wow, I didn't see that one coming."  I find in my moments of despair, when I surrender and fall down at His feet, He is there to lift me up.  Rachel Wissmann wrote a song we sang in Bright Lights called "I am your Shield."  Sierra will sometimes play it for us on the piano.  It is a beautiful encouraging song and I recommend it.

Other than that we canned 24 quarts of apples, thank you Amy.  We also froze several bags of carrots from our garden and made a yummy carrot cake with some of our carrots.  Today we made carmel apples with apples we got from my Grandma's tree.  I posted that recipe in 2011 under recipes.  School has been going great.  Sierra, Danika, and Cassandra are in horse riding lessons, thank you Mom and Shana.  The girls are loving it and Cassie is quite fearless.  I'll have to get some picture of that but for now enjoy some other fun pictures.   Have a great day and remember God is always more than enough.

Alicia

my little "Belly Bear"

Aidric never shies from the camera and his sissies love taking his picture

Cassie loves matching Isabella

my big boy figuring out the mirror

Carrot Cake

2 eggs

1/4 cup butter milk

1 tsp vanilla 1 3/4 cup shredded carrots

1 1/3 cup sugar

1 cup vegetable oil

2 tsp ginger

mix 

combine and fold in...

2 cups flour 

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp cinnamon

bake 350 degrees.  Top with cream cheese icing.  Yum.

Silly

I have to share a little story that will hopefully tickle your funny bone.  Sometimes I get so wrapped up in what I am doing that I forget what I am doing.  Have you ever been there?  I'm not a real baby food fan but for some reason that is how I generally begin feeding food to my kiddos.  At the dinner table I now sit in between my two youngest.  We enjoy our family meals and sometimes we get into some deep discussions.  At this particular dinner we were in a deep discussion but both Isabella and Aidric were not interested in their food.  I was trying to feed them both and put in my two cents into the conversation.  So, as I was talking, I cut off a piece of the burrito and fed it to the wrong child, Aidric.  I really didn't even realize what I had done until Latisha calmly said "Mom you just fed that to Aidric."  I thought "well of course I did, don't interrupt."  Then I looked at what I fed Aidric.  He sat there with his mouth wide open and burrito sticking out.  But there was a pleasant look on his face like "now that is more like it."  I quickly did the finger sweep much to his disappointment and got it out.  Well, I guess now he knows there is more out there than baby cereal.  The table errupted into laughter and I refocused.  It is the little things in life that can brighten up a dreary day and I really needed the comic relief.  God can use our mistakes for good if we let him.  Have a great day.

Alicia

the girls enjoying a tea party

  

The Seasons

Well here it comes, another change of season.  I love it when seasons begin to change.   When winter comes and the first white snow covers the dirty ground, or when spring is in air and the daffodils expose there flowers and the fruit trees shine forth the beginning of new fruit blossoms, or the summer goes into full bloom with all the plants fully dressed in leaves and flowers, my heart beats with excitement.  Today I was driving down the road and saw it.  I have been waiting for it and I saw it.  The beautiful trees beginning to change colors.  The trees were just in the beginning stages.  The stage where they are all rainbowed with color.  There they were with a lovely green stripe, followed by a beautiful yellow stripe of leaves, then at the end a vivid red stripe- all on the same tree. So gorgeous, decorated with the different colors of the season of life it is in.  Kind of like me right now.  I am in a season of life full of much color and changes.  One in where I have been blessed with an array of colors of my season.  One color is that of a mother with an adult child away from home, another with a child just graduated and spreading wings.  Then there is the color of the child entering her teens and another entering her adolescents.  Not to mention the early elementary child, the child with colors all her own, and finally the baby whose year is filled with so many firsts.  They are all apart of my season of life and I am blessed to be sharing this season with my best friend of 23 plus years, my husband.  I looked at myself the other day in the mirror and thought, boy do I looked tired, but I hope what the world sees is that I am colored with the season I am in and am delighted to be blessed with this season of life.  Yes, I do get tired and sometimes it shows but I am so excited with where God has me and wouldn't change one of my colored stripes for the world.

I wish I would have had my camera with me so I could share a picture of that tree with you but since I didn't let me share some lovely pictures of my little ones all streaming with color.  God bless and have a great day.

Mama and baby

Aidric starting to sit on his own

He loves his tongue

Cassandra loves to entertain him

Aidric's first time on swings with the big sissies.

God bless and have a great day.

Alicia

That Time of Year

My poor pantry is looking so sad.  We have almost depleted its resources.  Last year was a prosperous year and this year I have not had a great harvest.  I really have enjoyed the rain we have received the last few day, but other than that it has been a very hot summer.  I especially love the clean smell that comes with the rain.  Hail on the other hand I do not care for.  The other day we had an amazing hail storm that was very hard on my garden.  I'm not sure I have ever been in a hail storm with hail that big.  The hail was exciting and the kids danced around the house amazed by its force.  I was concerned for anyone caught out in the weather.  It was about that time of day when kids are walking home from school, and what about the motorcyclist or homeless.

As a child, my cousin Chris and I were at a family reunion.  We had been down playing at the water when it began raining.  Others had gone back to camp but we didn't mind the rain.  The sky darkened and I remember a sudden wind came up and then pelting hail began beating on us.  The hail really hurt and we were out in the open with nowhere to go.  We had been playing with a tiny raft when the hail came and we squeezed together behind our sad little raft for the shelter it provided.  We began to cry and to that point of my life, I was the most scared I had ever been.  I remember praying out loud trying to pray louder than the storm.  Suddenly we saw my Grandpa's station wagon coming to the rescue.  It drove down the hill and across the sand to us.  We jumped in and with tear stained faces received our answered prayer.  We sat in the car for quite a while waiting for the storm to pass.  It did pass and we are here to tell our story.  I find that effective in life as well.  Sometimes we just need to cry out louder than the storm, receive God's shelter, and wait for the storm to pass.  It will pass and God will be with us through the storm.

So now I must decide what to do about my pantry.  Should I buy some fruit to can or just buy from the store till next year.  My mothers garden has done quite well and she has provided me with cucumbers for pickles.  She actually started a batch of 10 day pickles and let me work on them.  Unfortunately we went camping on day 9 so my mom was so sweet to finish them and can them for me.  Thank you mom.  :)  Then someone at church was giving away the most amazing peaches, so we grabbed a couple bags and made some pies.  I kept a few seeds as a science experiment for my 10 year old to see if we could grow a new tree.  Here are a  couple recipes of them and some pictures.  Have a great day.

God Bless
Alicia

The hail bouncing down

so exciting when you inside

Danika trying it out on her feet

Cassandra collecting some

My poor flattened garden.  

10 day pickles 

 10 day pickles
1 gallon cucumbers-thick sliced or chunked
1 cup salt
  Mix with enough cold water to cover, place in cool place for 2 days (stir/shake each day)

Day 3 and 4
    drain each day and cover with clean water

Day 5
drain and mix with 1 Tbsp alumn, 1 cup apple cider vinegar.  Mix with pickles and add enough water to cover.  Heat and keep hot for 2 hours

Day 6
drain, rinse.  Mix syrup-1 qt vinegar, 5 c sugar, 1 tsp celery seed, 2 sticks cinnamon, 1 tsp whole cloves

Day 7,8,9
heat syrup from off pickles and put back on

Day 10
heat cucumbers and syrup together and put in clean jars and seal.

Peach pie
Combine 3/4 cup sugar, 3 tblsp flour, 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg, 1/4 tsp cinnamon, and dash salt.  Add 5 cups sliced peaches.  Mix.  Let sit till glossy.  Place in 9 inch pan, dot with 2 tbsp butter.  Sprinkle with cinnamon.  Seal with top crust.  Bake at 400 degrees for 45 to 50 minutes.  

Dedication

We had a very blessed Sunday as we presented our children to the Lord.  As a Christian parent it is our responsibility and privilege to raise our children in the Lord.  Deuteronomy 6:5-7 says And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.  And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down and when thou risest up.    We know from Proverbs 22:6 that if we "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."  That is our desire, vision and now commitment.  Sunday was such a special day as we dedicated Aidric to the Lord.  One of the special parts of the service is when the pastor seeks the commitment of the church to also assist in this area of training them in the Lord.

I always get so nervous for baby dedication because I never know how the baby will do up in front of the church.  I hope they don't cry, spit up, or mess their pants but you just never know.  Well, all went well.  Aidric was adorable and and it was a special time for the whole family.

Our pastor praying for Aidric

Then we saw the next step as our daughter, Sierra, was baptized on her own testimony.  Is was beautiful and we were just so blessed as parents to see her follow in the Lords foot steps and be baptized in water.  The dedication we made 13 years ago was a commitment we made of  Sierra to the Lord and now Sierra by her own choice has made her own commitment to the Lord.  A blessed day indeed.

Here Sierra was 13 years ago at her dedication

Here is Sierra at her baptism

Me and my girl.

God has been so good to us and I rejoice in his blessings as we try our best to honor him with our children.  May you have a blessed day.

Alicia 

Another Year Older

It is such a lovely day, a bit chilly, but lovely.  A good day for a birthday, mine that is.  Another year older.  What a blessed year I have had.  As I was praying this morning I just felt full of thanksgiving.  About 17 years ago, I had a very strange attack of some kind.  It lasted for over an hour.  At first I was shaking, then having a very hard time breathing and then went blank for a while.  I remember thinking I wonder if I am dying.  I thought I saw Jesus then turned and saw my grandpa, who had recently passed away, Grandpa told me it was not my time and to go back.  My lungs filled with air and I sat up.  I was all clammy and a bit disoriented I had been laying on the floor.  David ran me to the emergency room where they could find nothing wrong with me.  Later I found out that some women from church had felt a real need to pray for someone but they didn't know who.  I believe it was me.  Was there really something wrong, had I been hallucinating, was I healed?  I don't know but this morning I was thinking back to that and what I could have missed out on these past additional 17 years.  God is so good and he has blessed me with 5 more children since that time and numerous other blessings and friends that I am so glad to know.  Everyday is a blessing from the Lord and I look forward with expectation to all He has planned for this year, especially with the soon coming birth of our new baby boy.  My body is stretched and swollen with this pregnancy and it is all worth every moment.  Last night we got to celebrate my birthday with our traditional fondu (recipes were posted last year on my birthday if you would like them).  It was a lovely night.  Latisha had given me a lovely pedicure, Sierra gave me a lovely card with beautiful Bible verses, Danika gave me a beautiful card with pictures she had drawn, Cassie a lovely hug, Danika lot's of love, Alex called and Skyped me, and last week David got me a pregnancy massage with a massage therapist that actually brought her table with her to my house.  God is good and His mercy endures for ever.  Have a wonderful day and God bless.
Alicia

fondu with family

My wonderful hubby and me.

The girls felt it necessary to get all the candles on the cake, unfortunately I was unable to blow them all out this year.  I blame it on my crowded lung space.

Latisha's lovely pedicure on my swollen feet.  :)

  

Our peach harvest

All canned and ready to put up for a special day.

Well, I am so excited to be harvesting peaches again.  It is just so fun to have planted a tree only 2 1/2  years ago and to be able to gather a bountiful harvest from this tree.  We tried some fun things this year and we will see how they work out, adding a little sugar and cinnamon to the peaches just adds to the fun.  Unfortunately, the trees I planted at the same time have not had the same results.  One even died this year.  Very sad.  I have always loved growing my own food.  Several years ago we went to Hawaii for our tenth anniversary.  While there we brought home some of the yummy pineapples.  A friend had told us to cut off the tops and plant them.  In seven to ten years you would get a new pineapple.  Well, we planted two and they did wonderful for a couple year.  I got a bright idea to set them outside in the fresh air and forgot about them until the morning.  It had gotten quite cold that night and killed my beautiful plants.  So I decided to plant avocado seeds in their pots and see how that went.  Unfortunately a year later after they had grown significantly, I tried again to get them some fresh air and they also got left out and died.  Again I tried with some new avocado seeds.  They took off wonderfully and even survived a move.  They grew so big that I had to replant them.   When we moved to this house they were over 6 feet tall.  I put them in a sunny spot with lots of room and watched them fight for their lives.  Their 18 inch leave would grow and then wither and grow smaller and wither until nothing grew.  I was so bummed, I prayed over them frequently but they just stood there bare trunks.  What happened.  It finally hit me that I had placed them under a heating and air conditioning vent.  In the winter the hot air was blowing on them and in the summer they were chilled by the cold air till they could no longer take it.  Environment has a lot to do with how things grow or die.  It is the same for ourselves and our children.  What is the environment that we live and raise our children in like?  Are we allowing the outside influences to chill our hearts and theirs until we can no longer grow spiritually.  Is it sunny and roomy but unseen influences are creeping in and snuffing our joy and spiritual growth?  I had fun looking for verses on God opening spiritual eyes and would like to share them with you.  Acts 26:18 says Paul speaks of how God is sending him to the Gentiles to "Open their eyes, and to turn them from darknesst to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me."  That is beautiful.  In Numbers 22:31 "Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face."  How powerful.  2Kings 6 starting in verse eight tells the story of Elisha and how the King of Aram had his armies surrounding the city Elisha was in to capture him.  The Lord sent an army to surround their foes.  Elisha's servant couldn't see God's army and cried out in fear.  Elisha prayed and his servants eyes were opened and he saw.  What a mighty God we serve.  This is such an encouragement.  May the eyes of our hearts be opened that we might see God better and be able to remove any and all damaging influences in our environment.   May God bless and keep you and cause His face to shine upon you this day.  Here are some fun picture updates.  Have a blessed day.  

Alicia

Here's our new little avocado and pineapple plant.   Between Isabella and the cat they have had some struggles but I pray they will take off now and grow and produce fruit. :)

Danika enjoying soccer

Me growing rounder every day.  It is a cute little ball but it will widen and stick out even more.  Glad to be through the first trimester and feeling so much better.