Happy 12th Birthday, Tyler!

(Photo by SaltLight Photography)

My sweet "baby" boy is growing up, and while I wish time could slow down.....or maybe I could go back and revisit each year of his youth again....I wouldn't trade watching him grow up at all.

(Photo by Blunck's)

I never wanted a "Christmas" time birth.  It seemed way too busy.  It seemed like the birthday and Christmas would just jam together into one.  But after losing a baby due in December 2001, finding out that we were going to have a little one in December 2002 was there very best gift we could have asked for!

(Photo by Blunck's)

Our little blessing was due on December 12, but we induced on December 5th - the earliest possible day the doctor allowed.  It was further from Christmas, but had a special "number" reasoning for us, as well (I won't share because it doesn't matter and might confuse you!).  It also happened to be the birthday of our brother-in-law, who twelve years later is teaching Tyler (filling in for his own daughter-in-law who has a new little one).

(Photo by Blunck's)

I love this picture with this sweet little face.  Tyler had to be one of the very happiest little babies ever.  He made others happy just by his smile.  I always felt like he knew that he was in our lives for a special reason.  We tell him that he is, too. Without the loss we had, Tyler knows that he wouldn't be here.

(Photo by Blunck's)

Not that we would have chosen the loss, of course, but also realize that even in loss, blessings can come.  They do come.

(Photo by Blanca's)
Tyler is three in this picture.  It was the "Woody" era.  Woody of "Toy Story", that is!  When he would sing, "You've Got a Friend in Me", it was one of the cutest and funniest things he ever did!

(Photo by Blanca's)

Here he's five....and wanted to wear a suit and tie each Sunday - just like his daddy did.  He still wants to, but it's not often!

(Photo by Sabrina Johnson)
This is such a sweet shot of Tyler that Mrs. Johnson captured.  His "thoughtful" pose is just so much "him"!

(Photo by Sabrina Johnson)

And then the "classic" smile we love!

(Tyler's 4th birthday)

Tyler,

I am so thankful that God blessed us with YOU.  I know I probably say that every year, but it's absolutely true.  Your life, your health, your spirit - we're thankful to Him for it all.  And above all of that, we're thankful that you are one of His children.  We are proud of your example in Christ to others, and pray that you continue to grow in your spiritual walk.

You are, and have always been, such a thoughtful and insightful young man.  You've taught me lessons about life.  You will enjoy your "Chronicles of Biscuit" posts some day.  (Well, I'm pretty sure you will!)  You will learn about what kind of young boy you were....and what a FUNNY young boy you were!

I miss your "Chronicles of Biscuit" episodes! That was one of the major reasons I started this blog...to "chronicle" YOU.  There's no way any baby book could have held all of your stories! Too bad I waited a few years to start this because I missed out on some great material early on!

Next year you'll be a teenager and you and Jacob will be the only two at home.  What a change that's going to be!  You've grown up so much in this past year.  You've always been 1/2 daddy's boy and 1/2 momma's boy, but this year I felt the shift....just like it should be.  You're becoming a young man.  And that's just what we're raising you to do.  God is molding you in His Kingdom.  We look forward to seeing what He has planned for your life.  For sure we know you'll continue to shine your light and be a blessing to all who know you.  Thank you for that.

I love you,

MOM

Thanksgiving 2014

Thanksgiving preparations began the Tuesday before Thanksgiving when our oldest son, Zachary, began making homemade bread dough for cinnamon rolls. In a big family tradition that began many years ago by my husband's grandmother, continuing to my husband's dad, it has now passed on to two of my husband's brothers, and now to our son. 

Zachary was honored to get to do half of the cinnamon rolls for the family Thanksgiving!  He's definitely close - if not "on target" - for perfecting them.  One of his cousins told him they were just like "Gramps" would have made them.  What a compliment!  Personally, I hope he keeps practicing :).  Hee hee!

We had a huge group for Thanksgiving Eve singing night at the Tipton church of Christ, followed by yummy finger foods at my mother-in-law's.

There were 40 people there, so it takes a lot of food!  

Plus, we always have leftovers to eat for the next few days for those who prefer the snack food over the regular turkey and dressing....or those who want it all!

The yearly "Turkey Trot" brought out quite a few brave souls to run/walk/or even ride a bicycle.

I always like the pictures seeing the walkers and runners from behind.  I thought about walking this year, but I wouldn't want to give up the pictures of the event!  Plus, someone has to keep time for the runners. :)

Thanksgiving Dinner was wonderful, as usual.  The potatoes, green beans and corn were all garden grown.  And that's a HUGE bowl of mashed potatoes!  The homemade "hot" (that's the 'official' name for them, even if they're not HOT :) ) roll recipe has also been passed on from generation to generation.  Not sure that my father-in-law's can ever be exactly duplicated, but they're still great!

I make a cheesecake every year. This time it was a trial, but turned out really good.  It was a salted caramel/chocolate covered dulce de leche cheesecake.  Sounds fancy....pretty simple.

We had two out of three of our littlest new family members.  We had so much fun with all of the "littles" around!  Seems like my own were the littles not too long ago!

This little girl is the very newest to the family.  She was born November 17th.  She enjoyed her first Thanksgiving!

Liverpool Rummy and 42 are THE games of the season for our family.  Sadly, I only played two games of Liverpool this year, and one of them wasn't a whole game.  I'll have to have my own family play with me to get my "fix" for the year since we won't be around for Christmas for this side of the family.

Thanksgiving afternoon it's time for the traditional "Pumpkin Bash".  This year the pumpkins were rotting early, so they were goopy, stinky, and ready for bashing!

Here's the soon-to-be-married couple posing on the biggest pumpkin! They will be married New Year's Day!  It was C's first time to be at our family Thanksgiving and he won the "Turkey Trot"!

This was the biggest cousin picture at the pumpkins in a long time!  Two cousins and their families were the only ones missing this year!  That's quite an accomplishment in a big family!

I thought this picture was cute of our oldest son. He had just been splattered with pumpkin pulp!  But he didn't seem to mind!

Our nephew got a nice hit on a really ripe one!  The effects are great!

A new tradition in the making, perhaps? Not sure about this one!

You know how I feel about my new "old" pickup????

And that HUGE pumpkin went on top of it!

And then down it went!

It busted right in two! Amazing how heavy those things are when they're mostly hollow inside!

Some ask about cleaning up the field after the pumpkin bash.  You know what? My husband MOWS them!  Yes!  They are cut into tiny, tiny pieces, barely visible from the road at all.  And the birds love it.

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving with many happy memories with your family and friends.

Thanksgiving Week 2014

Greatness, power, splendor, glory, and majesty are yours, LORD, because everything in heaven and on earth is yours. The kingdom is yours, LORD, and you are honored as head of all things. Riches and honor are in front of you. You rule everything. You hold power and strength in your hands, and you can make anyone great and strong. “Our God, we thank you and praise your wonderful name. (1 Chronicles 29:11-13 GW)

Our favorite time of year is here, beginning with Thanksgiving Week.  We call it "week" now because the kids are out of school all week - all except the college girl who had to go to school today, but will be home later this evening.  But, we will be together for the rest of the week and until Sunday afternoon!

What are you thankful for this year?  Each of us has countless physically, personal, spiritually, and emotional blessings from God.  The key is learning to give thanks for them realizing that ALL of them come from HIM. He is the giver of all good things! 

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

May each of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving! I pray that you have family and friends around you and that the love of God and Jesus strengthens your soul, guides your heart, and fills your mind with gladness!

First Snowfall of the School Year!

The snow began falling on Sunday morning during worship. We were so excited! It was so pretty! I had to take a picture of my new little tree in it's first snowfall.  It's cute, huh?! :)

 And then seeing snow on the pumpkins is always fun!

 Zachary put on his ski cap to go feed the goats.  It's all white/grey/brown except for that bright thing!

My old pickup saw its first snowfall, too, but by the time I got this picture, it didn't show too much!

It showed a little more early Sunday afternoon.

The boys were extremely excited when they heard we weren't having school the next day! I know it wasn't a lot of snow, but the roads were slick early Monday morning, and who knew the sun would come out and melt it away quickly?  (God)  And every other school around us was closed, so it was best.

 They played outside....rode the 4-wheeler...

...rode the sled...

 ...just had fun!

 And that afternoon Tyler even "swept" the snow off of the front yard....in shorts....

...so he and his brother could play football!!  

What a fun time it was for the first snowfall of this school year! We look forward to more!  Well, the boys and I do.  My daughter and husband don't. :)

Rejoice in the Lord - Always!

Sunday night, as I scrolled through Facebook, I kept seeing postings about people who had decided to give their lives to Jesus - putting Him on in baptism, having their sins washed away.  I don't know how many people I read about....maybe 20....but it was people from all over the United States.

Yesterday I read about a lady who is working in a prison ministry and has taught 44 ladies there about Jesus using the book "A Muscle and a Shovel" by Michael Shank.  All 44 of them did the same or were restored....repenting of their sins and turning their lives and hearts back to Him.What a wonderful thing it is when the Lord adds people to the church or causes their heart to be pricked to turn back to Him!!

Mr. Shank's sequel to "A Muscle and a Shovel" is called, "When Shovels Break". It will be released in January 2015, but is about Mike's friend who became a Christian, but then turned back to his old life.  He almost committed suicide because he felt so unworthy of Christ's love and forgiveness. He was hopeless. He didn't feel like he could ever be redeemed because of his return to sin and didn't feel like God would even want him back.

Many feel that same way - that they've gone too far into the depths of sin.  Nothing is further from the truth! God can redeem the lost and those who walk away!  He will forgive, and He does!

I can't wait to read that story.  I'm sure it will direct many more souls to Jesus, pointing them to the truth found in God's Word.

Jesus' disciples are still fishing, just as they did 2,000 years ago! They are fishing for men and women, not fish!

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Philippians 4:4