Happy Sweet Sixteen, Alanna!

16 years ago, today, a tiny baby girl (our daughter), 

 was born not so very far away, and we didn't even know it

I  wish I could go back to that time and see if we were

 given a sign or a feeling.  

A mother can't not feel something when her child is born, 

even if she doesn't know it, yet. 

 I wish I could have held her and seen her first smile and first steps

 and kissed her first boo boo, but I couldn't.  

I wish it didn't take us 10 years to find her, but it did.  

What is important is that she is here, now.  

Home, where she belongs and we are very very blessed!

   We never know what God is working on today that will be a very big blessing in our future!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BABY GIRL!

Alanna's Trip to Haiti

Alanna spent 10 days on a mission trip to Haiti this month.

Happy Birthday Alanna!

Happy Birthday to our beautiful 15 (going on 30) year old, Alanna!

Your family loves you very much!!!!!!!!!!

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11

Keeping Track

NO TECH TUESDAY

    This year, we are trying something that never would have occurred to me that there would be a need for when I started homeschooling in 1996.  I have outlawed the use of technology on Tuesdays, as in no internet-no social media-off the radar all day and hanging out with Mom!  The news was quite a shock, at first, but I think it has opened a whole new world for the kids, which is really an old world for anybody over 30.  

I think they have found that amazing things can be accomplished when you aren't carrying an Ipod that buzzes for your attention every 30 seconds.

We spent the morning picking blackberries and the came back and David made this beautiful Blackberry Crisp.

Alanna and Evonne made Blackberry freezer jam

Alanna decided to make 4 loaves of Banana Bread (2 with nuts, 2 without)

Then we made a huge pan of Pork Fried Rice for dinner.

Evonne and Alanna even spent several hours clearing paths through the blackberry patch to make picking easier for next time, and David went jogging.  They also got in math lessons, and some games. I feel like I have my kids back (at least on Tuesday)!

Tyler-we'll save you some jam and make more crisp and B. Bread when you get home.  The girls wanted to send you some jam, but I don't think that would work :)

County Fair, One Last Time

The Big County Fair Weekend is over.  It was Alanna's last; her Beloved Leader is retiring and so is Alanna.

Well, they are retiring after they go to State Fair, that is.

fitting and showing

4-H in Action

These handsome Dudes or Dudettes

(didn't wanna get personnel-they are BIG)

And the favorite exhibit of the small animal barn (and probably the whole fair)

THE DUCKEY WATER SLIDE

 Every now and then they would push 

one another or reach too far and down they'd go.

 They loved swimming around after they slid down,

 but I think they might have preferred and easier way to get there.

 When they were ready, they would waddle

 back up the ramp to dry off under their light.

WEEK 8

  No positive ID's this time, but this is what he's been doing!

He also sent back his answers to David and Alanna's questions 

PROUD MAMA!

Every day last week, our 3 teenagers willingly turned off their Ipods to spend 3 1/2 hrs./evening sharing the Love of Jesus to over 100 active little kids at Vacation Bible School!

Well done, guys!