to bring our first (reversal baby) son into the world. 

What a day ~ I'll never forget hearing

"It's a boy!"

for the first time in 13 years!! A baby boy ~ 9lb and 9oz ~ 22 inches long ~   

God protected him in the womb. 

At birth the OB discovered an infection (sepsis) was traveling up the umbilical cord toward him.  The amniotic fluid was cloudy from infection.  Thank God he was perfectly healthy! 

He and my Dad both celebrate the same birthday!

~ Birthday Buddies ~

 and......what joy and fun he has brought into our life!!! 

Thank you Lord

for

Bradley Joseph

Happy 9th birthday Bradley! 

When he was only three, I would say...."Out of all the little boys in the whole wide world, how come God gave me the best one?"  He would say with sweet sincerity, "Because He loves you Mommy!"  Awwwwww    How humbling is that?

He is still an affectionate son today.  When he was little, I would tell him stories at naptime. I can still see the look on his face.  He was like a little sponge that would soak up every word spoken and want to hear more. 

One of his best character qualities is attentiveness!  What a blessing!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

For my birthday Monday, our youngest son watched the others give me gifts (before I even got out of bed!!!)  He then went and got a bag, filled it with these items, brought it to me and said, "Mommy, I worked so hard on this picture for you."  Awwwww....aren't these the sweetest little boys?  I just love them so much!

BTW, this is his favorite airplane!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Mother's Day 2007 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Everything I Know I Learned in Home School

by Melody Gillum

• I know that character is more important than academics.  An educated fool is still a fool, and the Bible does not have anything good to say about fools.

• I know that experience is a great teacher.  No matter how many books you read about bicycles, you will never learn to ride one until you get on one and try, fall, and try, try again.

• I know the best place for socialization is the home.  If you can get along with your family, you can get along with anybody.

• I know that relationships are more important than rules.  A strong, resilient parent-child relationship is the glue that bonds a family. 

• I know that being real teaches more than being right.  If I win the argument and lose the child's heart, what good is that?  If I am right and go about everything in a wrong way, then I have not Love.  

• I know that people are more important than things.  They are only children once, and then your opportunity is gone. For now, I choose the children.

• I know that it is not about me.  It is about God.  It is about obedience.  It is about my children, my grandchildren, and the generations to come.  It is a life of training and teaching, of learning and growing.  About doing the best I can with what I have and what I know.

Stephanie

My favorite poem ~                                       

Out in the Fields

The little cares which fretted me,
I lost them yesterday
Among the fields, above the sea,
Among the winds at play;
Among the lowing of the herds,
The rustling of the trees,
Among the singing of the birds,
The humming of the bees.

The foolish fears of what may come,
I cast them all away
Among the clover scented grass,
Among the new mown hay;
Among the hushing of the corn,
Where drowsing poppies nod,
Ill thoughts can die, and good be born,
Out in the fields of God.

(Elizabeth Barrett Browning, 1806-1861)

Matthew 6:28-30 “Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall He not much more clothe you?

Casting my care......

Psalm 41:11 (New Living Translation)

Well, our van is totalled.  Thank God the girls are doing well and thank God for a good chiropractor! Now we have to look for a new vehicle to seat us all and tow our RV.  We really don't have time to shop for a vehicle right now, but we are going to have to make time.  We need wisdom ~ thank God He gives liberally when we ask!

Emily Dawn

Emily will graduate this weekend!  The ceremony is Saturday morning which has kept us busy.  We are having potentially 75 people over that evening.  Brittany has been working soooo hard cleaning our carpets.  What patience she must have!  It takes a very long time for the steamer to do its thing.  It is a VERY slow process, but maybe she is enjoying the monotony of it!!  Sometimes that can be good ~  I think I'd like a little monotony about now.  Yea...The carpets look NEW!

There are so many details that go into a Graduation Party.  Especially just after a wreck like  the girls just had and preparing our oldest for a five month mission trip.   To top it off, I'm not really into hosting big parties.    Sorry, but it's true.  I'm doing this for our daughter.  That's the bottom line!  I like small intimate gathering where I can visit each person, or sit around quietly and worship the Lord!  Is that selfish or what???? Pray for me

You might want to pass this site along to friends and family.  There is alot going on in the world concerning parents rights (or lack thereof!)................

www.parentalrights.org

This is a picture I took before the A.L.E.R.T. Cadet meeting which is a father/son group. ALERT stands for Air Land Emergency Resource Team.  At this particular meeting, Barry taught the young men how to do interior house painting. Then on Saturday the group painted for a large family that has undertaken a large addition to their house. Their ninth baby is due within a couple of weeks. They had a small house for 8 boys and 1 girl ~ but added a large bedroom for all 8 boys!  Each time the Cadets (ages 8-17) meet, they learn a new skill. The Dad's lead the devotional and there are projects they work on together between meetings....it's pretty neat.....OMGoodness...I promise Barry doesn't wear this shirt all the time!  Just when I take a picture of him I guess!  LOL  

I'm still learning not to tip the camera toooooo much (like this one!)

  Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you

Happy birthday dear Natalie, Happy Birthday to YOU!!!

~ Natalie Brooke ~

It seems like only yesterday, Natalie was born ~ early, small (for me ~ she was our smallest at 7lb 8oz), struggling to breathe because her lungs were not yet fully developed.  God has used her healthy lungs to praise Him through many songs, some of which she has written.

Happy birthday Natalie  'child of joy' ~ * ~ *  you are a joy to us................

Happy in Nicaragua, happy holding her baby sister!  She's always smiling ~ I love you Natalie!~

Stephanie