A Time to Mourn

Life is so full of ups and downs.  We rejoice in the up and draw closer to God in the downs.  Six years ago a wonderful man was placed in our lives.  In 2007, David's mother married one of the most giving man I have ever known.  His name was Bill.  Last Friday he was taken to the hospital for back pains and Saturday he died.  It was very unexpected and quite heart wrenching.  Saturday morning the kids had gone to the hospital to see Grandpa before he passed.  David was already there but I stayed home with the two youngest  (Isabella had a terrible case of the stomach flu).  I had been wandering around the yard and it hit me what a blessing Bill had been.  I looked at the swing that he and Alex had built, the fence he helped us put up in the pouring cold rain, the arbor he and David built for my birthday, and the garden boxes he and David built for another of my birthdays. I thought about how in almost every room in my house Bill had been a help.  The bassinet stand for the baby, the fan in the girls room, the paint in the bathroom that had clumped up and he came and tirelessly took it off and then spent the rest of the day helping me paint....   I really could go on and on.  Bill was a reliable man always willing to help.  When our washer broke he was here to help because "a family your size should not be without a washer."  Then when I would thank him he would always reply with a big smile "not a problem."  Bill truly did all things with joy and our hearts break for the loss of such a kind hearted man.

Saturday night as the girls and I did Bible I read them John 14:1-3 "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, belief also in me.  In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am there ye may be also."  I encouraged the girls that Grandpa had Jesus in his heart so now he was with the Father and that because we have also accepted Jesus as our Savior one day we will see Grandpa Bill again.  In verse 27 Jesus said "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

What an awesome God we serve.  That was where I was in my Bible reading that very day and I was able to comfort the girls with those words.  We definitely cried and mourn for our loss but what a joyful day Grandpa had.  I can only imagine what it will be like when we meet our Lord face to face.  As believers we have such hope.  May the hope and peace of the Lord be yours also today.  God Bless

Alicia

our Hawaii vacation with my parents and Paula and Bill

at Alex's graduation

At Aidric's birth

At Latisha's graduation

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 

Cassie Girl is Five!!!

It had been five years since we had had a baby in the house.  Cassandra was a surprise to many in our family who had figured we would be done with four children.  But to our delight we were blessed with a new addition to our family.  Cassandra made a very quick arrival.  Her labor was only 3 1/2 hours.  David and I had gone to drop Latisha off at a party and then were going out for what we thought would be our last date night before baby.  But on the way to Latisha's party I started having contraction, so, we never made it to the dinner.  Although the lovely nurse at the hospital made sure I got dinner after Cassandra was born.  

Alexander used to refer to Cassandra as his "Cassie Girl."  Well the name stuck and we all call her nickname is Cassie Girl.  It is fun to see how different nicknames come to be.  This just fits Cassandra, she is our bubbly "Cassie Girl."  She has such an entertaining nature and comes up with the funniest things.  Well, our Cassie Girl, after five years, our fifth child born on the fifth is now five.  (Say that fast five time :)  Happy birthday to our little girl who fills our days with such joy.  

Love you, 

Mom

Cassandra and Alexander got to have their family party together

The 20's

Wow!!!  Today my son turns 20.  It is so amazing, but a little surreal.  What can I say, you have a baby and you know they're going to grow up and you look forward to it, but with each new stage of life comes a little tinge of "wow, wasn't it just yesterday I took the test and there was this wonderful plus sign that signaled the beginning of a wonderful adventure." Then all the first for both us and him.  First announcements, first morning sickness, first maternity clothes, first ultrasound, first feeling of life moving in my abdomen, first swelling in every part of my body, first labor pains, first cry, first holding OUR BABY, first feeling of intense parental love.  The first went on and on and now our first child to hit 20, yes it is surreal.  We are very blessed with 2nd, 3rd etc...  

Today though we celebrate our first child's birth and thank the Lord for Alexander.  God has so much good in store for you and we are so proud that you have chosen to serve the Lord full time.  I know you will make an amazing pastor some day.  Happy birthday my Sonshine, As long as I'm living my Sonshine you will be.   ...  Mom

Have a great day.

Alicia

Graduation Day

Wow, here we go again!  We just graduated our second child.  Such a rewarding feeling as a homeschool mom, to watch your baby go from learning her 1,2,3's and A, B, C's, to walking down the aisle to receive her diploma.  Yes, the cliche "it goes so fast" rings loud and clear.  One of the highlights of the day was at this graduation we gave Latisha her diploma.  It was a little emotional but such a blessing.  Homeschool graduation is so great.  We get to pray to God and encourage our children in the Lord.

Then the next day we had a party for Latisha where many friends and family came to bless her.  Latisha had made lots of desserts, we had pulled pork sandwiches (I may have got a little carried away on how much pulled pork to make :)), and salads.  Thank you to my husband for your love and support, to Latisha for your hard work and determination, and to family and friends we have had to help encourage and help out these years, especially our mom's for their help this last year.  And to my dear friend, Amy, who just went the extra mile to help at the ceremony,  dinner, and party, you are amazing.

Latisha, you have definitely been a pleasure to teach.  We have had ups and downs in school, far more ups then downs.  I remember reading you history and you would play with my hair.  I didn't think you were paying attention but then I would ask you questions and you knew the answers.  I was always impressed by your self motivation to get up before breakfast and start your school.  Your goal to always be done by lunch, it didn't always happen, but more than not, it did.  Then your drive to take extra courses and finish early is just a part of your drive to get things done.  God has blessed you with so many gifts, we look forward to seeing you use them for His Glory.  Love you, Mom

Giving Latisha her diploma

our family

dinner

Aidric's first graduation party

Alex helping with his brother, Grandma and Link

Latisha enjoying her party with Brent

Planting and Harvesting

Here we go again.  Another garden tilled, planted and watered.  Now we could just sit around and let it grow and do nothing else, but that wouldn't be gardening and would not produce a good harvest.  Most of the plants would die, a few would grow a bit and maybe one or two would produce fruit.  That would be a waist of a garden.  I do my best to get out there and pull the weeds and make sure it is getting the food and water it needs.  I know I make a lot of analogies of gardening and parenting but isn't it the truth.  We don't just have children to let someone else raise them or let them just grow with the weeds.  We must continue to make sure they have the food spiritually and physically they need.  We must take time to pull out the weeds that threaten to choke or stunt our children's lives.  We must see that they are planted where they are getting the rays of the Son of God in their life.  But we cannot smother them to the point that they aren't getting the oxygen they need.  And now it is a family that helps out.  I love it when the kids get out and help me remove the weeds from our garden and I also like it when they encourage each other to remove weeds from their lives and to make good choices.  It is important to be careful when removing weeds that we don't remove a plant.  There is a fine line between encouraging and criticizing, that is where we can pray for wisdom.  We will work on being the gardners/parents that God wants us to be and look forward to a harvest that will last all eternity.  Have a wonderful day and God Bless.

Here is the garden planted and ready to grow

Alicia

Finally a picture of our family

Look at him grow, the hat is still too big but cute

I just love kissing my babies, you can see how Aidric loves it too :)

I just love it when he smiles

Happy boy

Alexander spending some valuable time with Cassandra

Home Again!

Yeah, Yesterday at just before 3:00 Alexander made it home.  It was so sweet all the girls ran out to greet him and help unload his car.  Aidric was very good and interested in his big brother.  We had a relaxing dinner and then a couple of Alex's friends came by and played a song they had wrote for him.  It was very nice.  Then they got to play games and catch up.  Things feel so comfortable and we'll just enjoy our summer together before it is back to school.  Although we still have a bit a school left but it is just so good to have us all together.  Have a great day.
Alicia

Showing off his big brother skills

All of our children together.

Time for games.