Welcome Baby!

Our sweet sweet Elizabeth Olivia Joy ~ Truly a gift from the Lord!

Born January 31, 2011 ~ 8lbs 2oz

Onto Thankfulness...

Oh how my hearts swells! As does my belly and I am reminded by kicks and flips of this beautiful little life growing deep inside.

Quietly formed in that secret place by The Maker. And I am grateful.

Grateful that He is in charge; He has a plan and His will is perfect and pleasing. No matter what comes He is still and strong yet bending and gentle.

And I, in His care.

5+1 or 7+1 or 40-19 or 10-5

We started homeschooling this week - what a blessing! This past year was a bit of a struggle but the Lord showed me that even though it was hard at times it was still where He was leading our family. When I submitted to that and left it in His hands what sweet peace washed over me! Today after our first week I feel renewed and encouraged in our journey to homeschool. I'm excited and ever so thankful! Everyday I gave praise to the Lord that here in our home is where we are learning and growing together. Truly homeschool is beautiful.

Have you figured out my math trivia? I'll give you a clue....I am definitely not just chubby!!

Yup that's right we are expecting! Babe number six - due this coming January! Baby makes 6 (5+1) kids or 8 in family size (7+1). I have 21 weeks left (40-19) making me 19 weeks - almost half way through! Or in terms of months 5 months left (10-5). Every one says nine months but technically it's really 10 months!

What joy! We are very excited and blessed. 

I suppose this is another reason why I haven't blogged much either, I was feeling very tired and nauseous the first few weeks and when I started to feel better it was summer! And now we have started to homeschool again!

Speaking of summer, what a wonderful summer we had. The weather wasn't great but we enjoyed a few getaways, outdoor swimming and lazy days. It feels good to be back in routine though.

Thanks for reading! Blessings to you!

Camie

His strength and not my own

The Lord doesn't make His will for us a maze to wrestle through but rather a path lit by His light, led by His Spirit. Being in a state of thankfulness, choosing joy and seeking it are important. Giving Him glory and seeking Him first no matter what the world or any great Christian resource has to offer. Do everything (even the mundane) as an act of worship and yes that would include laundry! Prayer. Always praying, never ceasing. In prayer I can wrestle through my struggles and know I won't get bruised or blind sided. And most important; reading His Word, this is something I know but learned anew a while back. When constantly in a state of prayer when filled with scripture He's there, He speaks and His Word brings life. I can be going through anything, anything at all and in His Word I find Him, strength, peace and guidance! 


Jesus's words, truth and worship the Father seeks.


Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1Thessalonians 5:16-18

A little bitty bit of RaNdOmness...

Ran-dom {ran-duh m} - adjective: proceeding, made or occurring without definite aim, reason or pattern, haphazard as defined by dictionary.com

RaNdOm {raaan-d'uh mm} - noun: a name for a post that is here and there and everywhere and has a little of this or that as defined by...me!

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* Tonight we are going to a church service/workshop called Healing of the Heart. I very much look forward to this!

* It's raining. It's been raining for a couple days. So much rain that the streets have been flooding

* My littlest one isn't feeling so well, fever, a runny nose and a cough

* Our garden is nearly in and growing quiet nicely

* My son is crying, I'll be right back...

* He was frustrated with his craft...all is well now

* Today I was asked by a lady going door-to-door if I ran a dayhome to which I cheerfully replied "nope" and she looked around at all the curious faces (after all we don't get door-to-door people very often) and she looked back at me to which I cheerfully replied "yup they're all mine!"

* We went to a garage sale today and found some new board games

* I love games!

* This week I thought about blogging lots but never got around to it...I find it takes a lot of time, 

• Time that could be spent with my darling children or Dear Husband
• Time that could be spent playing
• Time that could be spent teaching
• Time that could be spent cleaning or keeping up with Mount-Never-Rest
• Time that could be spent resting or reading or exercising
• And time that could be spent with Him, in His word and in prayer

* I'm considering removing the comments feature on my blog for the sake of simplicity....Not sure yet though as I love "hearing" from you 

* Our school year is coming to a close very soon...we are counting the minutes!

* We are almost set for a new school year already as we like to start early

* We are having Taco's for supper! Yum! Better go get started...

Blessings to you and may your weekend be filled with wondrous, joy filled randomness....

Camie

Gratitude and Finding Joy

271. Thank-you to Joanne at Ostriches Look Funny and The Lady at Her Household for sharing a post written about finding joy!

272. Truly we have had much to rejoice over! And for that I am grateful!

273. Him - How can I even describe this - I am just so thankful

274. A planted garden! How fun!

275. Time with friends

276. Birthday celebrations and good food

277. Long dresses

278. Modest clothing

279. Feeling lovely, and feminine

280. Little giggles and eyes that disappear when grinning

281. Hearing from someone else that one of my dear children are, well, dear!

282. Having a godly pastor, a few actually!

283. Being able to sit through and entire service - uninterrupted!

284. My dishwasher - it almost broke - so thankful it didn't!!

285. Long weekends

There is just so much to be thankful for, truly when we rejoice, seek joy and rest in gratefulness all else settles.

Ann's post was beautiful today (as always) it was real, sincere. Simply.

To find more posts on gratitude click above.

Consider starting your own....

Finding Joy

  Even in the midst of a storm.

The post in which I explain, vent, cry and fall flat on my face before God

I had planned out this very looong post in which I was going to explain, vent and cry about this season of brokenness I have been in, yet I couldn't bring myself to do it. I had it all thought out but every time I sat to blog the words wouldn't come out.

I thought a lot about how I would put to words what I was feeling and how I was going through this season and what God was showing me through all this. I thought if I put to words the motions I've been going through I'd understand better and maybe it would all make sense.

I had it all thought out, perfect, it made sense. All was neat and simple.

*Do you do that? Think in terms of blog posts? Blogging has completely changed the way I think. I'm not sure how I feel about this. Most days I chuckle about it as I find it quite comical but other days I'm not so sure. I must admit I have caught myself thinking blog post when I know my thought should be focused on what God is doing - not how I can turn what I'm going through into a post!*

The other day when this supposed post was all prepared in my thoughts what happened? Why the reluctance to write? Well...

I watched a movie with Dear Husband, an emotional one at that; "Where the Wild Thing are". I could hardly speak afterwards and all that ugly brokenness came pouring out and I cried and cried and cried. I cried for hours - until 4 am before completely crashing! Something about that movie and the message (I had not grown up reading the book and it was very new to me) struck a chord, opened a well.

Even though my heart hurt it felt good to cry - even the ugly cry. I felt the Lord say that joy would come with the morning and that He wanted to use what I was going through for His purpose and to show me something.

If you've seen the movie then you'll know what I'm taking about when I say I saw myself as the sister in the beginning. I was that sister. I'm still like her in many ways. You know the one, too busy about her own self, her thoughts and struggles to see whats going on around her. To distracted and occupied to see the hurt in those she loves. To wound up and defeated herself to do anything about it. And what and where she spends her time and gives her heart isn't even comparable.

Ouch, the truth of this hit hard.

I thought much about how my actions and selfishness affects the ones I care for and the deep consequences of that, I have seen it in my relationship with my little brother. I always understood the hurt there but watching that movie made it ever so real. I cried over that hurt from so long ago and realized that in someways I hadn't changed and I still do that - to my dear husband and my sweet children.

When the truth of this sank in I was most broken - hence the crying and uncontrollable sobbing.

I spent the next day praying about it and wondering what the Lord had in all of this for me...

Definitely humbled and wanting to repent I realized that the Lord has been shaping my character. Weeding, molding, pruning, tending, calling. I have been asking for this! I didn't realize it would hurt so much or that I would be so resistant! I was encouraged to look beyond myself, past everything to see the hearts of those closest to me and this scripture here has never had a sweeter meaning...

Moreover [let us also be full of joy now!] let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance. And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of character (approved faith and tried integrity). And character [of this sort] produces [the habit of] joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation. Romans 5 3:5

This was found in the Amplified Bible and in below in the English Standard Version, equally lovely.

More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Being a wife, mother, friend, sister, daughter requires integrity, endurance, confidence, joyfulness, character and hope. Imagine mothering without any of these? Imagine being a women without any of these?!

As a lover of my Lord I can't imagine going without His Holy Spirit, the gift of eternal salvation - no matter how much I least deserve it or His love. Oh  His  love ~ it catches my breath!

I might be theses things in my weaknesses and stumble through my struggles but He doesn't let go. He doesn't let go. He pours into me and continues to create a masterpiece, even when I don't see it. I am thankful for His chisel (Worth the click!) Truly He is ever so faithful. I have been praying about my children's character and it seems He chose to start with me! I love that His ways are not mine!

My hear is full of gratitude. I will choose to rejoice and praise Him - no matter what season I am in. Blessed be His name will be my song.

Blessing to you all! In Christ and for His glory,

Camie

Wordless Wednesday

Gratitude on a Monday

Thankfulness fills the heart. It restore, heals and clarifies.
It gives hope, brings joy and humbles.

250. I am grateful today for gratitude
251. For the thank-yous of a dear friend, dear husband and dear children
252. For the prayers of others
253. For caring and support received
254. For Him - He hears and knows

255. Home cut hair in the backyard
256. Backyard chores and
257. Gardening
258. In ground sprinklers
259. The sweet smell of Spring
260. The buzz of bees in our tree hard at work

261. The proverbs 31 example
262. Seeing her (the Proverbs 31 women) in friends
263. The example Jesus set
264. Seeing Him through those who follow
265. Being encouraged and blessed to follow after Him even more; that He would be seen in me as well

266. Undeserved grace
267. His acceptance of me through the blood
268. Faith
269. Scriptures
270. Knowing this is but a season and that struggles come but through them comes endurance and the development of character - both much needed

Friday Flashback ~ Couches!

Morning! Leanna over at Thoughts & Whatnots picked todays Friday Flashback theme - couches!! Oh my, where does one start? I considered posting a story about all of our couches or perhaps share the story of our very first couch; it was blue, heavy, cost $50, had a built-in-bed, and didn't fit in our new place when we moved, end of story...Actually if that couch among our newer pieces could talk, oh the stories they would share! They might speak up as well about the injustices they face on a daily basis such as dog hair, baby spills, crayons, being jumped on, peed on, flopped on and so on...

With 7 people living here and a dog our couches get used. Very used. And finding a couch that fits the lot of us is always welcomed such as this one

It's actually much bigger then it looks! And fancy too and right next to a fancy candy store!

Our family room couch does a pretty good job too

Every now and then we find a sleeping babe on it

Or children doing school

Our couches are always in the background, ever so present waiting to be sat on

Or read on

They are great places for picture taking and cuddles

And getting to know you's

Our little pooch is especially fond of the couch

And our little ones love doing this on the couch! Ah the couch, If only I had more time and pictures; oh the many stories I could share!

How about you? What do you thinking of when you think of your couches, sofa or chesterfield? Why not share and link-up over at Confessions of a Redeemed Diva!

Try as I may, I can't do it ~ no matter how hard I try!

The other day Dear Husband and I lay in bed talking and sharing. I read aloud to him  from a book. I read, he listened about about character training, Biblical parenting, tending to hearts and family time. The words read really spoke to our hearts and confirmed a lot of what God has been showing us. Actually everything we read echoed much of what our pastor taught in the parenting group we were part of this past month and last. Both used Biblical principles.

As I closed the book, lights and settled in for sleep I couldn't help but feel thankful. The Lord has made it so simple. In a world of 'try this or try that' one thing stands firm - His Word.

I said to Dear Husband "isn't it wonderful that God has been teaching us these principles? Imagine the beauty in following them!"

We are far from following though. It's a daily struggle as sin gets it's way.

It's hard knowing what to do but not being able to do it.

I know what it takes to be a good parent, I have read countless books, attended many workshop and seen wonderful examples. I know what it takes to lose weight and feel healthy. I know what homeschooling requires, the importance of character and discipleship. Yet I struggle with following through. I struggle with my old self, falling in ruts and staying there.

As I thought of this, thoughts that come regularly pounding to discourage I wondered why is it that we can learn all this, know all this, hear with our ears, read with ours eyes, desire it yet struggle so much.

Still and quiet I lifted my heart to His. A heart cry of sorts escaped.

In His faithfulness; ever so gently He showed me, that much of these, I try in my own strength.

Humbled. I offer my gratitude that He is made strong in my weakness. That His joy gives strength and that in Him I can do all things.

I lay, wrapped in a blanket of His comfort as He tends to my heart - broken and lost. In Him I am found. His burden is light and He calls me not to become weary.

I ask, as I have asked before "Jesus how do I do this in Your Strength and not my own?"

He works in my heart as I seek Him.

Wordless Wednesday

I'm just like my mom and that's a good thing!

Whenever I look at this picture I think of own my mom, my sweet mama! At a quick glance I can't help but see her. I hear her in my parenting and I think of her in my day-to-day.

Did you ever say "I'm NEVER going to be like my mom!" only to discover you're just like her? I did. I cringed when others said "you're just like your mom" especially Dear Husband but now, it's an honor. I'm glad to be like my mom and hope to be so in more ways then one.

As a young girl, I was very hard on my mom. I was high maintenance, high strung, moody and too independent for my own good and though she did her best, which I see now, I still gave her a hard time. When I was in my young teens I left home and caused her much grief. When I became a mom myself at the young age of 16 she was the first person I turned too because I knew she'd be there for me. I have never turned back.

I am so grateful for my mom! I am grateful the the fun we share, our closeness, our many inside jokes that have us laughing much harder then women who've had children should laugh and the sweet encouragement she gives me. Throughout the years the Lord has been ever so good to us in restoring our relationship. We have grown so close it's hard to imagine how far apart we had once been. Ah, God is good.

Truly I cherish my mom and all that she is.

Happy Mother's day Maman! 

I love you and I am honored to have you as my mom! Thank-you for always being there for me, the examples you've set and for having such a dear heart set after His. Truly I love you my Sweet Maman. I cherish you and the time we spend together. May you be ever so blessed this mother's day as we rejoice and celebrate the gift of motherhood. xox

Rooted

Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude. Colossians 2:6-7

We had crazy wind here the other day...actually crazy in an understatement! It was wild! There were points in the day when I thought the house would cave in or the windows shatter, we watched,  mesmerized by it's swirl and intensity.

The sound was loud, intrusive, yet comforting and interesting. We snuggled on the couch and watched. We watched the trees sway, bend and whip, threatening to break under such pressure. I reminded the children about the study we had done on trees a year back, about tree roots. I explained how the roots of a tree act as an anchor keeping the trees firmly planted in the ground. We watched in awe as some of the bigger trees in our neighborhood swayed back and forth yet remained steady and strong.

I got lost in a swirl of thoughts. I saw myself being tossed in the winds. Whipped around, damaged, broken and lost. I saw myself at the mercy of an unrelenting wind, powerless to it's strength. Overwhelmed and grasping, everything around me scattered, out of control, unreachable. I saw what I had blowing away, gone before I could reach it. Overwhelmed and defeated.

Then I looked up at the trees again and I saw myself firmly rooted, unshakable, unmoved. Hands held high, eyes looking upward, I stood firm in Christ. My anchor.

I looked over at my children again and explained how we are a lot like the trees when we stand firm in Jesus. No matter where we are in life, we'll get pushed and shoved, threatened and confused but His Word, His love, His tending to our hearts, our prayers and gratitude, worship and glory given to Him nourishes strong roots. Roots that keep us safe and steady even when the fiercest winds blow. That without theses roots we would be left at the mercy of the wind, crashing back and forth.

I looked at our front yard tree and saw where the branch had been broken from our moving truck a year ago and saw that it had new growth. I thought of the many trees that do buckle under the wind or perhaps lose a limb or two. They don't all stand firm.

I pondered this throughout the day.  I thought about roots; did you know the main functions of roots are absorption, anchorage and storage? Also if a tree does not have a healthy root system it has a greater chance of being knocked over in the wind or losing a limb? I saw how easily this could be applied to me. What I set before me, my eyes, ears,  my mouth and heart is "absorbed". What I set before me is what I build my foundation of. I though of the things I set my confidence in and hope in, what do I anchor myself in? Are they strong enough to withstand the inevitable pressures of life? I thought of the things I hold on to - store - do they weaken me or build me strong? Hurts, fears and bitterness destroy and breakdown any person, while scripture, gratitude, forgiveness and healing make way for new, hope and strength. I thought of my children.

Dear ones, could I challenge you? Next time the wind blows, really blows, stand in it and consider your roots. What are they made of? What are you anchored in?  Are your roots strong enough to withstand the wildest of winds?

I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:17b-19

Wordless Wednesday

N.S.W.S.B.I = What this means is some slight tweaking, and lots of thinking...

Have you met my girl Allie yet? I just love her! And not because she has a great blog (have I mentioned this before?) but because I know her in real life too...She's wonderful! Check out Confessions of a Redeemed Diva this week as she shares some how-to blog improvement stuff. 

Speaking of blog improvement...I'll be tweaking things up a bit this week. I have been wanting to do this for a while. Todays post on Confessions of a Redeemed Diva was about finding your voice - your blog voice that is.  I feel like I'm still finding mine yet I think I know what it is...

Mostly I want to share about the ins and outs of a loving-Jesus-being-a-wife-homeschooling-loving-training-5-little-ones lifestyle. I want to share the good the bad and the funny! I want to be real on here too as life is seldom all fun yet in those times when all is a muck it's there I see Him most. I want to share that. I have been hesitating though, funny is safe. Neutral is safe.

Does anyone really care about the struggles and triumphs of a young homeschooling mama? Maybe, maybe not. Is that why I write? That has been my biggest question. There are a lot of blogs out there that are really bloggy, typical, fun and I can see how easy it would be to go that route. But that wasn't my goal when I started.

When I first started I wanted simply to write, tap on keys and get my thoughts down. I found blogging to be  a  fun and creative way to journal. It's definitely cheaper then scrap booking and it's right in the home - no need to leave to pursue this activity. And spell checker, I love it! So it has it's draws. 

But I wanted this space to have a purpose too, a direction other then just sharing the ordinary everyday stuff. I want to share and grow in my walk with Him. He who calls me daughter. I want to be an encouragement to those who happen here. It just isn't always easy - especially when discouragement is beating on the walls. And really who am I to share wisdom - I feel so unqualified sometimes. And if I got really real would I get written off, labeled and put in a box?

I don't know why I think that but it's a the back of my mind, like a caution. I don't want this to be a place to vent either or give way to reckless thoughts. And I'm not looking for platitudes either.

To be completely honest most days I feel like a kid, selfish and silly, stupid and inadequate then I look around and realize that I am not a kid anymore - I have 5 kids, a homeschooling commitment, a husband and home to tend too, relationships to foster and most importantly my walk with Him to grow.

It all feels a bit messy and scattered. At least here I can keep things neat. Surfacy. Fun. 

Safe.

Just thinking...

Gratitude and Finding Joy

230. I am grateful for joy
231. Finding it in the everyday
232. BBQ Steak and hot dogs
233. Storms
234. Days with no wind
235. Grass that keeps getting greener
236. Friends returning home safely from the mission field, transformed by love
237. Mommy dates with little ones
238. Ice cream, especially black cherry
239. Cuddles and I love you's

240. My oldest daughter getting to go to her very first concert
241. Hearing that she had a blast
242. Knowing that it'll go down as one of her best memories
243. That she got to meet up with some extraordinary friends
244. Knowing she was safe and having fun
245. Sharing in challenges
246. The excitement of triumphs!
247. Moving forward
248. Sharing with friends new and old
249. For a week gone past filled with the everyday

Many blessings to you on this Monday and may joy and gratitude be fill your hearts and home,
Camie

Friday Flashback ~ In 9 months time

We have 5 kids. It seems like a lot to some yet I feel like I'm just getting started. I understand my body, my limitations, my strengths and what works and what doesn't (kinda) much better then I ever have. Also,  I usually "know" when I'm pregnant well before I actually find out for sure. My last pregnancy was no exception, sorta.

Actually it's kinda funny how I found out I was pregnant this last time...Over the course of 2-3 weeks 4 different people (yes 4) asked if I was pregnant!!! Yup, you can imagine my horror. At first I was polite, embarrassed, laughed it off but finally I just blurted out "NO I'M NOT PREGNANT I'M JUST GETTING CHUBBY OKAY!!!" I figured since I turned 26 my body just wasn't young like a 25 year olds, HA-HA quarter life crisis let me tell you! 

You see I was still nursing my dear son and my cycle hadn't yet returned (On a complete side note I have only had 4 cycles in the past 7 years because of nursing and pregnancy!!). Anyways, I knew there was still the possibility of pregnancy even whilst nursing and it was at the back of my mind. So when I gained 15 lbs in one month I knew for sure I was pregnant! I have never had a dramatic weight gain save for pregnancy. 

I headed to the doctors for confirmation getting myself used to the idea that I would be having 5 little ones..."Not pregnant" was the diagnosis! I was shocked! "Really? Are you sure?"

I waited a couple weeks and still no positive...I was stumped! How did I gain so much weight and what was with the mama intuition? I had been so sure. I shared with my sis-in-law about the weight gain and what-not and she asked how old I was.

 "26"

"Ahhh, I see" she said.

"What?"

"Well when I turned 26 my body changed drastically. You're not so young anymore. Your metabolism must be slowing down, it's all part of getting older." This was her response.

What?!?! AHHHHHHHHHHH! This was my response - mentally. I had just turned 26.

So anyways I went shopping with the girls and I was trying on some shirts when Madison says "mommy your tummy looks like it has a baby in it". 

"Thank-you Hunny I know it does" so gracious eh?

Deep down I'm really thinking "that's it!"

So since I was at Wal-Mart and you can buy anything there from clothes to tires and a pregnancy test, I grabbed a few. I took it at home expecting a negative and a waste of money but just as I was throwing it out low and behold a plus sign! 

"YES! I'm not just getting fat or losing my mind! I'm pregnant!"

I was relieved to tell people that...Yes, yes I am pregnant and yes that is a baby bump, with an actual baby growing in it - not just post 25 yrs of age chub.

So there you have it, just a teensy story out of so many; when you have 5 babies, 5 pregnancies, 5 labors - there's much to talk about!


Want to read more? Maybe share your story? What does 'In 9 Months Time' mean to you? Head over to Confessions of a Redeemed Diva to link-up or read more!

And for those of you who have just recently asked if I'm pregnant...This time for sure...I'm just getting fat.

Family Night Devotions

Once a week we head out to a family night at our church, complete with dinner, a family service that includes worship, a family devotion time, a goofy skit and a message that follows a monthly theme. Afterwards the kids go to childcare (or their favorite time with friends as they call it) and the grown-ups get to fellowship, pray and participate in a Bible study. The last couple weeks the fellowship group has been on parenting - and let me tell you it has been very good! 

Dear Husband and I are on the family night committee and try to help as much as we can, although it tends to be on the not-very-much-side seeing as how we have 5 little ones and live a fair distance...But it was our turn to do the family night devotions and I thought I'd share it with y'all. The theme this month has been friendship - how fitting! Grab a Bible, some kids, dear husband and enjoy!
(I'll include the Bible story at the bottom just in case)

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Virtue: Friendship ~ spending time with someone you trust and enjoy.

This Week’s Theme: A true friend will spend time with you.

This months verse: “A friend loves at all times. He is there to help when troubles come.” Proverbs 17:17

1. READ IT! John 21: 1-14

While you read the Bible story (John 21: 1-14) have others act out the characters in the story

2. KNOW IT! Try to answer as many questions as you can.

1. What part of the story stuck out to you and why?

2. Do your best to answer the following skill-testing questions!

        A.  When Jesus appeared again to His disciples, was it by:

a) The Supermarket  b) The Laundromat c) The Sea of Tiberius d) The Sea of Galilee 

        B.  What were the disciples doing early that morning? 

a) Singing a song  b) Sleeping in c) Drinking coffee d) Going fishing

        C.  What did Jesus do when He called out to His disciples? Who can narrate the best?

        D.  How many times after Jesus had risen from the dead did He appear to His disciples?

        E.  Based on this story, do you think it was important to Jesus to spend time with His disciples? How come and how did Jesus show this?

3. Draw your favourite part of the story and tell everyone why it was your favorite!

4.    LIVE IT! (To be done as a family some time during the week.) This week plan a day when you can spend time with some friends! Whether it’s a play date, dinner, tea or breakfast even, have someone over or stop by a friend’s house. Purpose to make them feel loved and cared for. Have fun and be blessed!

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JOHN 21:1-14

Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberius. It happened this way: Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. "I'm going out to fish," Simon Peter told them, and they said, "We'll go with you." So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
He called out to them, "Friends, haven't you any fish?"
"No," they answered.
He said, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some."When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, "It is the Lord," he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.
Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish you have just caught."
Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." None of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

Wordless Wednesday (Kinda)

Oh my has she ever has grown, grown out of her pants, shirts and evidently the playroom. Don't children grow so fast?!

Yummy Mummy!

How you can spot a nursie baby...

1. Sweet baby starts to smack and lick their lips and goes "mmmmm" when mama walks up!
2. When you are holding them and they get thirsty or hungry they pat you on the goods and assume the position!
3. If baby is very new any shoulder, cheek or arm will do - until they realize that it isn't mama...
4. And any nursing mama will do!
5. You might acquire a nick name such as Dairy Queen or Milk Lady or Moooma or cow, ok maybe not that last one - unless someone was feeling particularly rude.
6. If baby is rather impatient he or she might pull on mama's shirt and get a little owly - If baby is very impatient, all bets are off! You better feed that baby right now before you lose your shirt!
7. Nursie babies get what I like to call boob drunk! Have you seen this? It's so cute!
8. Your toddlers might play pretend to nurse their dollies.
9. Mama's purse contains pads - nursing pads that is, not so embarrassing when your son pulls those ones out...
10. And lastly but certainly not all, sometimes you can tell a nursing mama by her top, if she forgot to pull up her nursing bra and her shirt is a tad tight or even worse, the said goods leak! Having nursed 5 little ones so far I'm afraid I have had both happen to me!

I am Grateful for this:

210. Sunshine spilling through the windows
211. Dew on the grass
212. Snow that has melted
213. New green everywhere
214. Longer days with more sunshine
215. Waiting in anticipation for small buds to appear
216. Tending to such small growth knowing that it will grow into something beautiful and yummy
217. Enjoying a new week, a new season and a new day
218. The smell of Spring
219. Having the windows wide open

220. Those soft blue eyes, so young and learning
221. Those bouncy curls neatly pinned down
222. Those excited jumps and spins and twirls
223. Questions for mama
224. Being able to answer them
225. Having His Word as my guide in a world full of paths
226. His Spirit to lead me, that still small voice among so many
227. His joy that gives strength
228. Knowing, believing and resting in Him
229. Giving Him today, that it may be His - not mine

Flashback Friday - Party Cakes!

Confessions of a Redeemed Diva is hosting a weekly link-up called Friday Flashback and this week it's about party cakes! I know, it's Saturday - but better now then never!

The top cake, well kinda cake, was my attempt at NOT making a cake! I, like Diva, have not had the best success at cake making...So I made something different and it was a hoot!

Below is our very first sugar-free cake! It was definitely a success - so yummy and healthy!! 

Sugar-Free Fruit Cake

1 package of sugar-free cake mix or sugar-free pound cake

Real whip cream ~ Whip up with pure maple syrup and vanilla and place on top of cake

Top with favorite fruit and drizzle with pure maple syrup

Enjoy!

Finding Joy

This week we found much joy in these...

Yup that's all of us!  It has been fun and I will dearly miss all these little ones as they are returning home tomorrow...Well five of them are, we still get to keep our five...

We also Jumped for joy this week! Spring is here!

These smiles brought much joy...

And finding little Rebecca-Jane after her nap...Her smile looks like a hug...And I can't help but smile when I see her!

Spring Has Sprung And We Are So Grateful!

Would you have guessed that we did this today?!?

When less then a week ago we had this...

                                                                                                                         (April 14, 2010)

How about this?

Or this?

And yesterday we did this

Thank-You Jesus for each passing season,Your beauty is seen in each.Today we are grateful for Spring, warm weather, clear blue skies and new growth...Your gifts are endless.

200. Tulips and little itty bitty flowers that will turn into yummy cherries

201. Enjoying crazy weather!

202. Making the most of it and enjoying every minute!

203. Parks and trails and rivers to explore

204. Little feet splashing in the water ~ Rebecca-Jane walking right in!

205. Rock paint

206. Jumping for joy - Spring is here!

207. "Cheese" when the camera is on this little face! Can you hear it?

208. Big sisters helping little sisters

209.Finding treasures in nature

Happy Spring everyone!