Throwback Thursday

My mother gave me some pictures and some of those pictures were in picture frames. As I was looking through those pictures I found a few pictures behind others in the frames. SURPRISE!! I found the following three pictures tucked behind another one. I bought a picture frame that would hold all three and can't wait to hang it up on the wall. Wanted to share these sweet pictures!

Isaac and Sarah 2006.

Isaac and Sarah 2007

Isaac and Sarah 2008

Puzzles

The kids and I have enjoyed putting this puzzle together. 

I was in the Dollar General a couple of weeks ago and picked up two puzzles. One was a 100 piece and the other a 500 piece. This picture above is the 500 piece one, the 100 piece puzzle was of construction trucks. The kids had the 100 piece puzzle put together in no time, but it took a couple of days to put this 500 piece one together. Looking forward to finding another puzzle for us to work on!

Psalm 19

The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.

Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge.

There is no speech nor language Where their voice is not heard.

Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their words to the end of the world. In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun,

Which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, And rejoices like a strong man to run its race.

Its rising is from one end of heaven, And its circuit to the other end; And there is nothing hidden from its heat.

The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;

The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;

The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is great reward.

Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults.

Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, And I shall be innocent of great transgression.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.

Psalm 19

This scripture is our Sunday School lesson today.

God's handiwork is everywhere!

His power and existence can be seen in each sunrise and sunset!

There is a Creator and His name is GOD!!

Baby Chicks

Over a year ago Isaac and Sarah participated in the 4H chick chain and received 26 baby chicks. They have raised them and last September took six of those chickens to the fair Chick Show. Isaac and Sarah received second place, reserve grand champs. Now Isaac has hatched some chicks in an incubator. He has done two batches and has got 4 babies from each batch. They are so cute! All the kids have enjoyed watching the eggs hatch and then see the babies grow. Isaac has been very excited about being a "Chicken parent". LOL!! Here is a picture of three chicks in the incubator right after they hatched.

Just for you Dad!

A while back my parents came to visit and on their way up they stopped and got some fruit. My dad loves plums, so they bought some so they could eat while they were here. We had a great visit and on their way home that Sunday my dad called and said they had forgotten their plums. He wanted us to eat them. We don't eat plums, not that we don't like them, it is just not a fruit we eat. My brain went to work thinking what we were going to do with these plums....JAM! Sarah and I went to work on preparing the plums and some strawberries to make jam. We made Strawberry Plum Jam and it is so delicious! When my parents came for their next visit I couldn't wait to let them try our jam and I sent some home with them. It is now my dads favorite jam! When I was in Kroger the other day I grabbed some plums and strawberries to make dad some more jam. Here is the jars I made. 

I know it looks like plain ole strawberry jam but let me be the first to say it isn't! It has a different taste and texture. It is more than just strawberry jam....it is Strawberry Plum Jam!! Just for you dad!!! :)

Throwback Thursday

Thought I would share some pictures that a friend sent me. She knew I had lost all my pictures in the fire and when she came across these she knew I would want them so she emailed them to me. Thank you Kay!!

Sarah 2009

Isaac 2009

Elijah 2009

Two Amazing Men!

I know I am a little late, but I wanted to wish these two men a Happy Father's Day!

My dad and my husband are the most amazing men I have ever met! They both love me unconditionally and have provided for me my whole life (my dad the first 20 years and Bryan the past 20 years). Bryan and my dad are the two most giving men I have ever met. They love their family and both are amazing dads! God did more than I could ever ask, think, or imagine when He chose my dad and my husband (a great father to our children) to be a part of my life!! I thank God every day for placing these two amazing men in my life! I am very blessed!!!

Hanging Bed

We have just recently gotten the kids beds. We got an Amish man to make the girls bed and two beds for the boys. After we had those stained and usable Bryan began building Timothy a hanging bed. My husband is amazing and can do many things. Just one of the many reasons I love that man!

Here is a picture of the bed he made. The kids really like it! We haven't got steps made to the bed yet so Timothy is using Bryan's ladder. This bed is very strong and not going anywhere...it is there to stay! :)

Happy Birthday Dad!

My dad celebrated his 63rd birthday this past Monday! I'm very thankful to have him. Thought I would share a picture of him and Joanna playing. She was showing him all her Minnie Mouse things. I love you dad!!!

Fruit Salad

One night while I was making supper, Timothy and Joanna decided they would make us a fruit salad.

With my supervision they chopped up apples and strawberries. Then added those to a bowl. Peeled an orange and separated the pieces. Then added the oranges to the bowl and mix them all together. A very good fruit salad! They have made it a couple of times since then and it has become their "specialty". :-)

Our AnniversaryTrip

Bryan and I went to Chattanooga, Tennessee for a couple of days to celebrate our 20 year anniversary. We went hiking at Signal Point.

Here is a view from our hike. It was beautiful!

This was the roughest terrain on a trail we have ever hiked. But we made it!

Then that afternoon we went to Ruby Falls.

We had lots of fun and look forward to going back. Thankful for my parents who kept our children those couple of days.

Family Fun and Rest

One day in April we loaded up and headed to Shiloh Military Park and Pickwick State Park. Spent the whole day enjoying the beautiful world around us and enjoying our time together as a family. We all had so much fun!

This was our first time visiting the Battle of Shiloh grounds. Very interesting! Isaac and Sarah has been learning about the Civil War so this was good for them and educational. Sarah was not in the above picture because she was taking her own pictures. She took lots of pictures that day. :)

Sarah and I in our hats! The sun was shining, the weather was perfect.

Timothy and Joanna

Joanna posing by a sign

We went fishing at Pickwick! Isaac enjoys fishing and he saw a big alligator gar.

Here is Bryan and Timothy fishing. Timothy caught a little brim.

Elijah giving it a try.

Joanna reeling in...

A Fish! She was so excited!! Lots of memories were made that day.

Banana Muffins

Banana Muffins

4 ripe bananas smashed

2 cups of all purpose flour (I use whole wheat)

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp sea salt

2 eggs

1/2 cup of sugar

1 cup of coconut oil melted

3 TBSP milk

1/2 tsp vanilla

1/4 cup nuts 

Mix flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together and set aside. Mix bananas, eggs, sugar, and oil together in a large bowl. Add in dry ingredients and mix together. Add milk and vanilla. Fold in nuts. Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes for muffins or 50-60  minutes for loaf.

Joanna Lost Her First Tooth

Joanna was so excited when she realized she had a loose tooth. She kept wiggling it and it would get looser and looser (is looser a word?). Finally she was outside on our back deck loving on the animals and she bent over and bumped her mouth on the picnic table...out popped that loose tooth. It really was funny because she was surprised that it was gone. Here is a picture I took of her that night before bed. My baby is growing up! :(

Sarah Has A New Hairdo

Sarah asked a while back if she could get bangs cut and I talked her out of it. I know they can be a lot of work and then it's a headache if you want to let them grow out. She came back to me last month and asked again, this time I gave in. :) Here is a picture of her at the salon with her new hairdo. What do you think of her with bangs?

Our Wedding Day

Here is a wedding picture I would like to share in honor of our 20 year anniversary! :)

One of the saddest losses in the fire was our wedding video and wedding pictures. Praise the Lord my parents had some that they were able to pass on. Also when my grandmother passed away in 2014 my mother gave me some pictures that were hers, one of them was an 8x10 of our wedding picture. 

20 Years!!

Yesterday Bryan and I celebrated our 20th Anniversary! 20 years has gone by really fast and a lot has happened in those twenty years. We were able to get away for a couple of days last week while my parents came up and stayed with the kids. It is very nice to be together and have some alone time. We love each other more today than we did 20 years ago! Bryan shared with me 20 reasons why he loves me and I followed suit with 20 reasons I love him. I wanted to share the 20 reasons I love him...

Number 1: God has changed his heart

Number 2: he loves the Lord with all his heart, soul, and might

Number 3: he has genuine and true worship

Number 4: he has compassion for the lost (those who don't have a intimate relationship with the Lord)

Number 5: he always knows how to make me feel special

Number 6: he had the most unique way of asking me to marry him...I will never forget that!

Number 7: he is the greatest spiritual leader of our family and marriage

Number 8: he is an honest man

Number 9: he loves me unconditionally

Number 10: he provides for our family which allows me to be home with the kids so I can be the mom I need to be

Number 11: he always has my best interest at heart

Number 12: he is great at giving me compliments (truthful)

Number 13: he loves my parents and are very good to them

Number 14: he is the most godly pastor I know

Number 15: he will serve the Lord no matter where He leads

Number 16: he is a great dad to the kids and I couldn't be the mom I am without him being the dad he is

Number 17: he has a big part  in our school and very supportive of our homeschooling

Number 18: he is very knowledgeable of Gods Word and still keeps learning. He has a great desire to know Him greater!

Number 19: I love it when he holds me, I feel very secure and loved

Number 20: he still likes to flirt with me! 

I can't wait to see what the next 20 years holds!