Cookies, Air Guitars and Crafts

Maddie had a very full day today!

First we baked cookies! (choc. chip).

Then, while I finished up the cookies she decided it was guitar time!  She was singing with Alan Jackson's, Precious Memories CD and playing her Air Guitar!  I think she listened to the CD 4 times today!  It was so much fun listening to her sing hymns and Praise the Lord!

Finally we finished up a craft that has been half started for several months.  It's a "game" of sorts that we made using letters, numbers and shapes!  It's really pretty elementary for her, but she enjoyed helping me put it together and said the "babysitting kids" will like it :)

So we had a pretty productive day here!  We also visited Granny and Gramps and Pap and delivered some cookies!  

Wilmore Week #21

#21 is underway!  Ron left this morning, instead of yesterday and now officially we are back into the swing of things.

I need to get the kids up to get ready for school.  After having 3 weeks off this has the potential of being a very LOOOOOONG week.

We will lean heavily upon Jesus this week.  Trusting Him to sustain, guide and go before.

Would you pray with me for safety for Ron this morning.  Pray for a good week of research and the ability to get a lot accomplished.

Prayers would also be welcome for the boys as they get back at it and we get back into a routine.  Maddie and I will have one more week here before beginning to babysit again!

Thank you for praying for our family.

2 Weeks Christmas Break + 5 Snow Day = 4 Kids ready for routine

It is about time for a routine around here.

We have had kids sick and snow like crazy - we need routine back!

Even the atari is getting old.

Even shoveling was fun, but there were days when even that couldn't be done for a very long period of time.

Although there is/was a lot to shovel.

 Now the melting has begun and we are on the mend around here.

Routine we need you!

Off on the Prediction - Snow and Bitter Cold - 2014

The predictions that I mentioned on my last post were a little off!  We got 8-10 last week, and were predicted to get another 4-7.  Well we got 13!  So we are snowed in with 20+ inches of snow!  We tried to keep up with the shoveling while it was coming down in order to not be too overwhelmed, but that is a lot of snow!  Now today our temps are below freezing with wind chills in the -40's!  It's brutal!  We are staying in and trying to stay warm!

Here are a few pictures of the neighborhood when Ron ventured out yesterday!  We aren't in the country, so we have been spared some of the drifting!  I can only imagine how big those drifts are.  

You can't hardly tell, but Ron is standing in front of one of the piles we have shoveled.  It is HUGE!

We tried some Snow Ice Cream, it was pretty good!  A first for us!

Snow days are suppose to be FUN, well these have been a little different!  The kids were suppose to go back to school on Monday,  but have been off both yesterday and today.  The not fun part is that they have all 4 been sick.  Nathaniel actually started a week ago, so he's doing good now, but he decided to share his germs with his siblings - love it when they finally decide to share!

They are sharing strep and taking turns laying on the couch!  Not so fun, but were trying to make the most of the days home together, despite not feeling the greatest!  Ron and I were talking this morning how their personalities come out when they are sick.  We have 4 very different kids when it comes to being sick - happy, grumpy, "normal" and weepy (in random order)- it all makes me a little crazy!

Hope you are staying warm and taking opportunities to make memories together!

4 to 7 more coming

Round 1 produced between 8 and 10 inches!  

Round 2 starts tomorrow night!

New Years Fun

A couple of days ago we traveled again to Northeast Ohio to Ron's parents.  One last visit before school starts up again.  What we didn't figure for was the snow!  We ended up staying longer than we planned, but it was fun being snowed in!

The boys did some work for Grandpa, but there was also a lot of fun!

Beautiful

Games

Yummy Food

a cook in the making

and lots of sledding!

even Grandpa got in on the fun!

There was snuggling too!

Thanks Grandpa and Grandma for a fun time.  

It's fun being snowed in with  you!

The End...and a Beginning - Changes

It has been a crazy year or at least the last 6 months or so.  I'm one of those people who don't handle change well.  I like my routine, I like to know what is going to happen and when and be prepared.

Well, with so many new things this year - that was impossible.  

A new school for the boys -and all the changes that brings along with it.  There were so many changes that are associated with that.

Ryan's hospitalization since early August - constant prayers for a miracle and seeing the Lord work over and over again in his life.  We were shocked at the outcome, completely unexpected.

Changes seems inevitable.  In life things change, people change (and I guess I am thankful for that).  We don't have to live in sin.  We don't have to continue along the path that we began this life in.  We are able to seek the Lord and truly repent.   We can seek Him and He will change us and give us a New Life.  So not all change is bad.  My prayer for the coming year is to see that step made by some who have never experienced the Love of Jesus and the True Life Transformation that only He can give.

I'm thankful that One thing never changes.  Jesus Christ!  I'm thankful that He is the same yesterday, today and forever.  I'm thankful that my dependence upon Him can grow and expand and He remains my strength and constant!  

Surprise Supper

At the beginning of December our Ney church hosted a Surprise Supper.  I had never attended anything like this before, but as it turned out, it was tons of fun!

First everyone was given a menu.  There were 12 "items" listed on the menu.  We had to fill the 12 items onto the 12 blanks (4 for appetizer, 4 for main dish, 4 for dessert).  The items include things like: elf, tinsel, and other "Christmasy" words.  What we didn't know was that elf meant fork and each word was code for either a utensil or food.

So then the menu's were collected and our meal began.

Mr. Lowell got creative and ate his spaghetti with a piece of his plate.

Mr. Scott had to eat meatballs with celery, because he got no utensils for that course.

Ronnie's appetizer round was his spaghetti, bread, meatballs and salad - but no utensils.  He made it work though! :)

Maddie had a salad, 2 desserts, and a knife...again, she made it work.  She was super excited to have her dessert before her meal. 

Nathaniel and I both had a fork for our spaghetti, a blessing!

Eli was pretty excited that ALL table manners were thrown out for this meal.

We had a great evening of fun and memories!  Fun times with our Ney church family.

Christmas Program

These 3 handsome men were the "wise men" for our Farmer Christmas program.  The Program was the "Best Christmas Card".  It was a family who was looking for the "best Christmas card".

The star was Lelah, one of the little girls I babysit for!

 It was a cute program and all the kids did a great job with learning parts and memorizing lines!  Lots of work and it paid off!

Mary and Joseph were adorable!

Maddie was the littlest sister in the family and had several lines that she memorized perfectly.  She was so excited to be a part of the program as "Lil Jil".

Even the Youth Group had a part.

I didn't get a good picture of everyone, but it was a great job by so many!  

There were 30 kids with parts and then the Youth Group too!  

The best  part was the message of the program.  

The best Christmas card is the One with Jesus at the center!