This Blog's a Keeper

I guess I've gotten a bit attached to this old blog. I tried to design a new one, but there aren't many options when you want to post large pictures. :)  I've realized, too, that even though posting parts of our days can be time consuming, it's still the most efficient way for me to keep a record of life as we know it. I'm often too impatient to write things down, and I'm also too forgetful to count on remembering everything.

Mountain Man has been home these past couple days. The fires continue to burn near the Lab and the entire town has been evacuated. We're praying for the safety of all who live there as well as for preservation of the Lab and the many jobs it provides.

When there was a huge fire 11 years ago, Mountain Man wasn't able to go to work for two weeks. He managed to build our front deck in that time. These days we're tackling small projects, but it's the small things that often make a heart the happiest.

Today the guys fixed squeaky doors, repaired a broken door, and glued down some countertops. They also managed to get in a dart game after dinner. And all of that in spite of the fact that Mountain Man seems to be bit by the bug that got me.

 The girls and I read a couple stories from Grandma's Attic. What a sweet book that is! It was a blessing to just laugh together.

Here's a group picture from a couple of days ago. I have lots more to post, including pictures from Reaches Up's birthday at the end of May!

Hopefully I'll be feeling good enough in the next couple days to get more photos up. While Mountain Man's home, I'm looking to get our carpets cleaned, the shed cleaned out, and maybe, just maybe, after a three year wait, finally get our master bath painted.  Why do I think he'll be wishing he was at work?

Much love,

Fabulous Fourteen

Oh how this young man keeps us laughing! He reminds us to not take ourselves too seriously, and he always has a hug for me!  Happy 14th birthday, Little Big Man!

In Memory

The last time my Dad visited our home was at this time of year 5 years ago. He was with us to celebrate Ella's and Jake's birthdays. I could spend hours making a slide show to remember him, but this will do for now.   Remember to turn off the site music before watching.

You can watch it on YouTube at the link below for a bigger picture.

Click here for YouTube version

Home

We walked through our front door late Tuesday night, and the best children in the world greeted us!  I know they were happy to see me and Mountain Man, but it was obvious who they really wanted to get their responsible, trustworthy hands on.

I think they would have divided this guy into pieces if they could have. And, I must say, after a minute of thinking we had dragged him into another hotel room where he'd be confined to the bed (sorry...the thought of crawling babies on hotel room floors just isn't cool with me), Cap'n realized he was home, and that meant lots of brothers and sisters and tons of hugs and kisses. His reaction?

He was beaming.

I'm thankful for God's preservation of our family in all of our comings and goings. I'm thankful for plenteous grace notes scattered throughout the house....a clean home, partially filled menu board of Emma's handwriting, food in the refrigerator (some provided by gracious hands of friends),  and beautiful pink roses waiting for me.  I'm thankful that Little Bit's collision with a hot pan didn't result in a more severe burn. I'm thankful for Mountain Man's job and that he was able to be with us the whole way. What a gift God has given me in my Beloved! I'm thankful for piles of laundry to do and dirty dishes to wash and conflicts to settle. I'm thankful for friends and family and the many who put feet to their words and blessed us beyond measure.

I'm thankful that I can't stop counting God's mercies.

Truly, is it not a gift of grace, that in the midst of our grief, eyesight blurred from our abundant tears as we mourn our losses, we can still see so clearly the mercies He has poured out on us, the mercies that move us to praise Him unreservedly for His lovingkindness? That's grace. All grace.


Love,

Radiant Six

                                                    Happy Birthday, Ella Grace!

Update on My Dad

My Dad continues to be in critical condition. He is suffering from kidney failure and an extremely severe case of ketoacidosis. This condition is their main concern right now. They've gotten his blood sugar down below 200, but the difficult part is lowering his blood sugar without getting it too low.

My Mom was able to get to the hospital yesterday to see him, but she is now having serious health complications not related to the current abdominal surgery she is recovering from.

When it rains it pours, and what would we do without the knowledge that the rain is coming from His loving Hand?

A multitude of thanks for your prayers....

Love,

Prayers for My Dad

My Dad was taken to the hospital this morning with a blood sugar of almost 1000. Because of my Mom's recent surgery, she was not able to go with him. Please pray for wisdom for the doctors, comfort for my Mom, healing for my Dad, and for fresh supplies of God's grace for them all.

Thank you.

Sew On, My Girl, Sew on

***This is our 700th post!***

I have feared this machine for the longest time, and if God, in His humbling kindness had not blessed us with four daughters, I probably would continue to avoid IT.  I have convinced myself that my brain is incapable of grasping the workings of a sewing machine, but there is a time for everything, and yesterday was the time to put those fears aside and just TRY. 

I watched sweet Whistler take to this machine like a fish to water, and I realize she'll be teaching  ME. Her enthusiasm blessed my heart, and I thank God she's so excited to be learning these skills!

Endless thanks to Miss Caity for getting us started, ever so patiently, in the midst of hug attacks from the Three Lovables.  We can't wait for the next lesson! And thanks, too, to Caity's Mom who is so graciously sharing her daughter with us. I'm also thankful for a husband who says, "You really need to spend a couple hours a day practicing what you're learning." :)

My most favorite picture. Caity's hand on Whistler's. Older servant's heart teaching and guiding the younger one. Such sweetness!

Whistler's first piece of work!

We had to pry the Lovables off Caity.

Whistler's second project. She would have kept going if we had more fabric. Now I'm wishing there was a fabric store nearby! This could be trouble. :)

This Morning's Sunrise

Friday Flashback~Mountain Photo Shoot, 2007