Rare Sight!

Something you don't see everyday!

Family Visit

This weekend, my cousin Amy and her 3 kids, and my cousin John with his wife and 2 children came up for a visit. Growing up, Amy's family from Overland Park KS would come up and spend weekends with us in the country. We were always together and swore our kids would grow up close as well. That did happen for a few years! They would come up and stay with us at Thanksgiving... we'd go stay at their house and hit the city. But things change and people get busy. It's been at least a couple of years since I've seen Amy and her kids.

So I was so excited when she said she was coming up! Also, a bit nervous as to how the kids would get along. They hardly knew eachother. Well, my worrying was in vain! It was like we'd all never been apart!
Jeff and John came up Friday night and Jory really hit it off with Jeff. They played I Spy together and Jeff was so good and patient with Jory. You can tell by the way Jory's standing he was trying to lean in closer to Jeff! He adored him!

Jacen and Emily are only 2 weeks apart in age! They were so funny together. The discovered they had much in common, including F's in Social Studies! Amy and I are so proud! Really, they were so cute together!

This is Lauren. Isn't she gorgeous? When Lauren was a baby, I knew if I ever had a little girl I wanted the dark hair and eyes! No blue eyed blond for me! My parents had kittens that were 5 weeks old and they were the hit of the day! We hadn't seen them yet either and each family became attached to one! Lauren fell in love with this one! They decided to take her home and she is now Lucy, or Lola or something like that! This is the day we got Ming also!

Lauren carried the cat around in her front pocket all day. I think even if Amy hadn't agreed to taking the cat, they would've found her in Lauren's pocket about 1/2 way home!

This is John, his wife Paula and their new daughter Avery. Paula and Avery both adored this cat, but John gave a firm 'no'. He's allergic! They had been home a couple of week before he called and asked if he could come up and get the cat! It seems Avery was enjoying Aunt Amy's cat so much he could no longer refuse! We see who runs that house!

This is my mom and Avery. Avery is such a doll! It was fun to play with a little one again!

Jory was facinated with Avery and didn't get too far from her!

This is Amy and I! We had so much fun growing up together and at times were such little brats! We once hit our other little cousin over the head with a garden hoe and didn't even feel sorry for it! Yes, it was an accident. The time we shoved her down the stairs wasn't though. She always wanted to play with us. How terrible we were!

Jacen and Man Work!

Tonight I wanted some curtain rods hung and Jack was busy in the garage. Ugh... dilemma! I really want to put up my valances, but I really hate to bother Jack.

I decided I could do it myself, (absolutely I can, but isn't that why I have a husband?!) and Jacen wondered in asking what I was up to. He informed me he was a 'man' and could do 'man work'! I had to get my camera out! He did such a fine job! My curtains are straight and he was so proud of himself. He's going to make some girl a fine husband some day!

Apples and Birthdays!

My Brother just turned 40! Happy Birthday Uncle Hobbie!

Ever since Jory was little, he's called my brother (Rob) Uncle Hobbie! Uncle Hobbie also drives a Hobbie Truck (that's semi for those of you who don't speak Hobbie)! Jory spent a lot of time at my mom and dad's before he started preschool. When Rob had his Kidney transplant, the two became quite close. Rob never comes around without a toy in his toolbox! He and Jory always have to go out to his truck and check the toolbox! One time we stopped by unexpectedly and you should've heard the conversation as Rob tried to explain to Jory that there was no toy in the toolbox this time! He ended up giving him money! Can you say spoiled!

I couldn't ask for a better brother.

Rob's apple tree was extremely plentiful this year also! He gave apples away to everyone! My mom picked up many bags of apples and one day we canned apple pie filling from Grandma Mona's recipe. We slice apples thin, baked and make chips from them, we made cinnamon apples, apple cake, numerous apple pies and I don't remember what else! They were such good apples too! I can't wait until next year! Send me all your apple recipes!

A New Day in America

This post was on Proverbs 31 blog... it's an awesome site you should definately check out!

This is the day for new things in America.
Some of us rejoice with the coming new and some of us fell asleep last night weeping for what that new may mean for this country. Either way, it is the reality.
And I refuse for that reality to stifle my sense of possibility.
Now is the time for Christians to live the message of Christ. Maybe, more than ever before, we will be invited outside our comfort zones where living what we believe won't be easy. And dare I say, that may be the best thing that has happened to Christians in a very long time.
It's one thing to hold fast to traditional principles, but a completely different thing to act whole-heartedly upon them.
It's easy to say abortion is wrong, but hard to walk beside and support that woman who chooses life.
It's easy to think we should help the poor, but hard to write that check from our own bank accounts to do so.
It's easy to point out wrongs in other people, but hard to examine the many places we ourselves fall so short.
It's easy to point out problems, but hard to sacrifice our time to be part of the solution.
But, that's exactly what being a Christian is supposed to propel us to do. With grace and gentleness and humble spirits, we are to be more than a band of people labeled as conservatives. We are to actively be Christ's hands and feet in this world.
Jesus never called us to the comfortable life. He called us follow him through whatever life hands us.
Jesus never waited for the circumstances of the times to line up in his favor. He called us to follow him and be light in the darkness.
Jesus never bad mouthed the leaders of the day or demanded they change their policies. He called us to follow him and live out the truth through our right choices.
And in following Jesus, an air of excited expectancy will be breathed fresh in our souls.
In Obama's speech last night he said, "As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, We are not enemies, but friends...though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection."
Now is the time to be representatives of truth to all those around us. May we Christians be seen not as those who continue to strain against the unity of our country, but as followers of Jesus, those who help create it.
Now is the time... today is the day... to follow Jesus like never before.

A Prayer For Our Country

This is a prayer for our country from the 1928 Book of Common Prayer:

Almightly God, who hast given us this good land for our heritage; We humbly beseech thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of thy favour and glad to do thy will. Bless our land with honourable industry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord and confusion; from pride and arrogancy, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into our united people the multitudes brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues. Endue with the spirit of wisdom those to whom in thy Name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that, through obedience to thy law, we may show forth thy praise among the nations of the earth. In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulnesss, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in thee to fail; all which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.