whew... it's been a looooonnnngggg time since I posted anything on my site.  That does not indicate that there hasn't been much going on around here.  Sometimes it seems so crazy I feel like I get so little done besides the basics, but I guess  the basics are what's important.. who cares about curtains, pictures on the walls and new dresses, when you have glue and glitter, bouncy balls, snow to play int, etc, etc. lol... I'll try to update with our highlights the past few months.

We spent 10 days in Kansas over Christmas, had a really good time.  We butchered a cow and a pig with my parents and so brought home lots of meat to fill our freezer.  We also got to be there for my nephew's birthday party, that was fun!  The cousins all played together well and it's fun to see them as they get older and remember each other and enjoy the time spent.... it makes it harder to go home.

Jan 1st Brent started a new job.  He is now working for a grain merchandizing company.  The main percentage of his job is for them and the rest of his time is still involved with the family business.  This hasn't really changed much for us here, he still has an office close.  We are thankful for that.  The main difference is that he will be teaching some workshops for them - a couple in the spring and a few other times and visiting customer grain elevators during the year and that will have him doing travel time.... =)  We sure miss daddy when he's gone even if it's just during the day.  But he's loving the change and so that makes for a happy daddy, which we also are thankful for.

We had Christmas with Brent's family around New Years and the kids had fun doing gingerbread houses.

We were home from Ks for 10 days and then left for FL for 3 weeks.  Yeah new job now he has great vacation time... lol ... not really!!  The truth is that this company has an annual convention/conference in Jan for 3 days, so we all went to that and then they wanted Brent to stay for training in his job.  Which was great for us.  We got to go along and they put us in a condo while he was in training.  We were close to his job so he could walk to work, which he enjoyed.  The girls and I spent the days at a couple local parks, the many beaches in the area and just relaxing basically.  The girls loved racing the waves.. it was definitely their favorite thing.  Then on the weekends Brent was around and so we took in some local festivals, spent more time on the beach and just enjoyed the wonderful weather.  All in all it was a great 3 weeks and very relaxing.  Even the drive down and back wasn't too bad. 

Since we've been home, it's been - get back into "normal" mode, whatever that is.  Adjust back to cooler temps and lately rain, but I can't complain because it has also been sunshiny which is so nice to see.  Let's see other news... Brent and I are enjoying going through the Love and Respect series, I HIGHLY recommend it to anyone who has not ever had the opportunity to watch the DVD series, amazing..... where was I during this "do's and dont's" in relationship training?  It has been nice to get back to church and see friends and family that we haven't been with for a long time.  Brent celebrated another birthday, Happy Birthday Honey!, and we are all trying to stay healthy with all the sickness going around.  I'm also thankful to be back at BSF,  it was hard missing 3 weeks and now it's nice to get back in to it.  I never would have imagined that a study of Moses would have been sooo good.   We finished up Leviticus just last week and now are headed into Numbers.  The comparison between the OT and NT and the life of Christ is amazing.    Applying it to my life has been ... well so inspiring, humbling and convicting. 

A few of my favorite areas...

• Back in Genesis, the study of Jocabed.... and her faith, her faith towards God and his protection of her son.  She prepared Moses in just 3 years possibly? to live the rest of his life (until he left the palace) influenced by the Egyptians... this mother wouldn't have probably been very settled about that.  Faith- Faith is not just believing in God but that he's the rewarder of those who seek him.... Believe that and then ACT on it!
• Then in Ex 5 we discussed Moses's disappointments and not understanding God's will as Pharoah's heart hardened.  Moses thought God would immediately release them..... Made me go back and look at disappointments in my life and identify them and give them over to God.  Remember often times the disappointments are only to give us something better.  Don't try to figure it all out- you probably can't see the bigger picture and remember God reveals himself in disappointments.  Take your disappointments to God.
• It's been good for me to see myself in the Israelites.  When they left Egypt, they had plundered the Egyptians... they've only been gone for a few days and they are grumbling about needing water for their flocks... and starving, they thought they were starving but they were probably surrounded by the plumpest chickens, healthy steaks on legs and lambchops you ever saw.  Isn't that how we all are.... well let me say that's how I AM......  complaining and yet surrounded by so much- probably even what I'm complaining about. 
• I felt like I somehow was learning stuff for the first time and was so enlighten by the study on the Passover and Exodus from Egypt.  I know all the "stories" but seeing the comparison to the NT or how CHRIST is in the OT was so powerful to me!  Even the study on the tabernacle later in the wilderness... wow, such a picture of God's mercy and provision and now his plan of redemption started then.  I love it!  How the blood covered the sins of the people when God looked down over the atonement cover.  Maybe I'm too concerned about whether I am "proper" to come into the presence of God, and yet I need to focus on whether God sees the Blood when he looks at me!  I pray that I might fully believe in and take on the cross of Christ. 

well that's the highlights.. thanks for letting me share... I'm sure maybe my thoughts have been scattered but I wanted to have it all recorded somewhere.  It's just been so good and I thank God for the opportunity and his mercy and grace to me a sinner.  I need Him everyday and pray that He will guide me. 

Few updated pics of the girls

As this beautiful season passes on.... I love fall..... I'm reminded constantly of how blessed I am.  It's so easy to wake up to 3 small children, a husband headed out the door and a constant whirlwind at home and want to pull the covers back over my head or at least .... well complain just a little.... but look at the things I've listed...

3 children- healthy, miracles from God, 

husband - who is doing a wonderful job of providing for his family, a spiritual leader for our home, a fun silly Daddy, and the LOVE of my life

a home - warm, shelter, more than I deserve.

As I've been reminded so often in the past months.... we are so blessed that we often take things for granted.   We get so used to our blessings from God we see them as something we are entitled to and not as God's grace.  When we grumble we miss out on JOY.  It was pointed out to me this week that the children of Israel were grumbling in the wilderness for water for themselves and flocks.  later they grumble for food.... If they were needing water for flocks they weren't exactly without ALL food.  Think about it, they had just plundered the Egyptians and at the first mention of grumbling they had been gone from Egypt about 1 month, so they probably still had lots of animals, probably a few chickens? clothes etc, so basically they weren't totally without, yet still grumbling.  How often do I do that very thing, get so focused on one thing that I think I NEED and that consumes me and I forget just how blessed I am.  Forgive me Lord, for the discontent in my life and the unthankfulness.  Convict me of the fact that complaining about my circumstances is basically complaining against God.  HE IS my circumstances.

Now for some updated pics- I've been very GUILTY of not updating my page- sorry Colista, LOL.

We took off one Sunday and went to the Columbus Zoo.  the girls are getting older seem to enjoy it so much more.

Our Baby is getting so big, (in some ways- ALOT bigger- A.Kay thinks those thighs are quite humorous) sitting up, 2 little teeth are here, she's thinking about crawling and is the delight of us all.

Wishing everyone a Wonderful Fall and Blessed Thanksgiving.....Praise be to our Creator and Sustainer.

My husband says that tent camping is a once a year event.  I agree it's lots of work but the girls love it.  This year we camping with friends.  But hey, nice to be able to run home if you forgot something.  Anyway, good time was had by all.  I think we were like the only tent campers in the whole campground, no one else crazy enough to do that on Labor Day with high humidity.

All the "Girls" and having fun playing ball

The kids had lots of fun down at the creek.

All you ladies out there that are starting your homeschooling now- I'll be praying that all goes well.  How do you get motivated to get started?  we've decided that whatever we do, it will be next year until we start,  yet I can't imagine if I was starting now.  Canning still going on, summer activiites, whew to start that too... well looks big, I'd probably keep pushing it off .... and then oops, it's christmas....  Take care- have a God filled Weekend.  A