craft idea!

I use to be a crafty person! Sewing, making craft things, more when we first got married, guess because I had more time and also looking for ways to make extra money. Not that I would not enjoy having extra money now, but I have lost the "crafty" mode! BUT the other night when the guys played their instruments at the Journey Through Bethlehem, the little reception room had these Christmas lighted blocks!!! They got my attention! I like warm lights and things that will last and not get smashed when you store it away until next year! As I inspected these crafty things, the lady there told me how to make them and they seemed so simple, mostly just gathering materials and plugging them in....my kind of project!!!! They are glass blocks with a pre-drilled hole and you can purchase them at Lowes Home Improvement for $10. Next get a box of 50 count lights, whatever color you like and smush them inside the glass block, leaving the plugged end out so you can obviously plug them in :) Lastly get some wide shimmering ribbon with wire and tie as you would around a box, making the bow on top!!! Then plug in...and set them around to get you in the mood for Christmas!! You could be real creative and use them year around for different seasonal ideas!!! Let me know if you make one!!!

We are getting the house all cleaned for the Christmas party tomorrow night. Bethany and I had to leave early this morning and take a few vehicles to our superb mechanic!! Anna's heat went out in her little car, it ended up being the water pump....ugh!!! AND then we had to take Bethany's truck.....yes, I said Bethany's truck in for an oil change!!! That farm girl has done gone and got her a farm truck!!!!! Well, this is how it is, you see the guys are in Ada with ALL the trucks and how does a farm girl do farm duties, like hauling hay, picking up 500 pounds of feed, taking goats to the vet, (like in the van last week)??????? Soooooooo, she has been searching for one a while on craigslist and other areas and finally found one!!! Its a 2002 Ford 250 Diesel. AND its got a 6 inch lift, so that means I won't be driving it....too high for me!!!!! We are thankful for His provision for Bethany, she works so hard being the farm manager rain, sun snow or shine!!!! NOW, she will not have to ask her brothers to pick up feed and hay...she will be able to herself!!!! Oh, and its black.....major!!!!

Have a great Thursday!!!

pictures now in hand....

Here are a few more of the pictures from the photo shoot! So grateful to have them! Again, thanks to Kristan and Jessica!! And speaking of the two photo gals, they are coming for a visit this weekend AND we are having our annual Christmas Party.....57 folks are expected!!! SOOOOO you now know what we are up to, getting ready for the weekend!!!! Tomorrow we are cleaning, today Anna got some dessert making in, and Friday morning we will be pulling it all together, Lord willin'! Games, food and craziness on the menu!

Thanks to all the folks ordering Caleb and Daniel's music cd. We are getting out a lot of orders, I guess for gift giving!!!! Soooo, get yours too!! Just click at the top right and order one for you!!!!


Here is the latest update on Kelley I received this evening, please keep praying for God to have mercy and intervene!!!


***The reason for the infection is there was a tumor on her kidney that burst sending gram negative bacteria and cancer cells through out her body. She is still on full life support and dialysis as there is no renal function. There is mild brain activity, however the doctors are only giving her less than 25% survival. They say that most people in her condition pass within a week but if she holds her own and starts to show signs of improvement she could come around in 4 to 8 weeks.

please pray

Please pray for a friend, a mother of 7 children and a wife. Her name is Kelley and she was at the hospital several times with us when Joel was in a coma and I talked with her many times on the phone during our hospital ordeal. She and their family has had some hospital ordeals as well with one of their babies. Kelley has had an incredible journey many years ago, with the birth of a second trimester baby, I think she was only about 18-19 weeks, I can not remember exactly, but the baby did live after a very long journey of care and of course prayer. Their family is one of great faith. Please pray for her. Here is an e-mail I got today;

**We received a call Sunday night that Kelley had entered the hospital and was in a coma on complete life support. Today we received an update that she has a type of bacteria that is immune to antibiotics and she is in organ shut down.**

the gift.....

(her) " do you think you will cry when your children get married?"

(me) "oh I know I am going to."

(her) "well, I made you something."

and then she handed me a gift,
and began to explain it to me.

what was before my eyes
was more than a gift from her....

God was using her as a vessel
to answer a prayer I prayed
or rather cried Friday morning!

she tenderly pointed out the fine details
of one of the of the purest,

most intricate,
hand-work pieces
I have ever seen......

a dainty white
handkerchief with threads
that delicately created a design
like unto a vine
that had 13 roses
finely stitched around a cross
that was in the middle.
tatting adorns
the outer edges
of the meticulously
hemmed
handkerchief

December 4th, 5th and 6th are difficult days still. Four years ago it was cold outside like today. and after the Dr. appointment, we were suppose to go get cow-boots with Joel and Josiah. Four years ago we wanted answers as we sat in the Dr's office on the 4th and watched the Dr. frantically dash out to make arrangements to admit Joel into the hospital for tests. Four years ago on the 5th, I watched Joel undergo more than a mommy's heart can bare. Four years ago on the 6th, tests results were told as we sat in the room at the hospital that our little boy had cancer. Four years ago....our lives changed. But HE did not!

Friday I read a verse and as I knelt by my bed, I prayed that verse, I begged that verse, I cried that verse because I needed Him the next 3 days. He was and is Faithful!

I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. John 14:18

My prayer did not ask God to comfort me, my prayer was asking Him to "come to me." The verse said "I will come to you." Thats what I wanted. Somehow. Someway. He did. Sunday at church. You see when she handed me the gift, the handkerchief, it was more than something to wipe my tears on at the Lord willing future weddings of my children. It was a gift that wiped the tears of my heart in answering the prayer I pleaded for......"I will come to you." I reached out and received the gift with a hug and tears, clutching her embrace and whispering in her ear, "thank you for 13 roses." He came to me today....through her. As I have pondered this small treasured handkerchief and looked at the intricate details, I could not help but think of the purity of Christ. Even something as this handkerchief, so pure, and with out blemish to our eyes, is not even comparable to what we shall see when we see Him. Jesus. God. Holy One.

Thank you Lord, for "her."
Thank you Lord, for grace.
Thank you Lord, for Joel.
Thank you Lord, that you will keep carrying me through this.


click on the photo and be blessed by the detail

elijah is 20 today!!!

Elijah is 20 today!!

4th born
3rd son
a working machine
a cowboy
sports of any kind
volunteer fireman
a construction guy
tractors, trucks, dirt bikes
a Dodge man!!
seeking Jesus!

He started his 20th birthday off with a bit of excitement....about 6 am, a fire call, a structure fire, this mom laying in bed praying but thankfully about 8 am he arrived back home and the folks had canceled the call, they were able to get the fire out without assistance! He was disappointed, he likes to live on the edge......but I was thankful! :) Happy Birthday, Elijah!! Love ya!

The glory of young men is their strength
Prov 20:29