Happy 5th Birthday to Cousin Garret!

The kids and I journeyed to the Kansas City area for my nephew Garret's birthday party on Saturday the 21st. I made the decision to travel it in one day rather than spending the night (just a lot of work with 4 little ones). Because it was just me and the kids making the trip, we met my parents in Chariton and caravaned to KC. It was a rather long trip for Ephraim--we left home at 8am and he was begging for lunch by 9:30. He thought he was being tortured with every McDonald's sign we would pass. We ended up stopping for lunch in Cameron, MO. As God would have it, we saw my cousin Sheryl (from Ames) at that McDonalds. We made it to KC and had a great time with Garret. In the picture is Eden, Eliza, Emmet, Ephraim, Garret and Alyssa. The boys ended up spending the night and riding back Sunday morning with my parents. I came back Saturday night with the girls.
In other news:



This picture is significant! I never thought I would see the day where both boys, at this young age, would be in the same bed asleep. This just started in the last two weeks. They lay down in the same bed and actually go to sleep! We'll see how long this lasts.

Faith begins at home

Seth and I had the opportunity last week to join two others from our church at a children's minstry conference in Chicago at Willow Creek Community Church. We had a great time and gained some new insight for both ministry at church and at home. One of the main speakers was Mark Holmen, author of Building Faith at Home and Faith Begins at Home. He was an excellent speaker! His main point is that Satan has moved the focus of his attacks on us at church where there is strength in numbers to now attacking us in the home. Parents (even churched families) have simply left the faith teaching to one hour on Sunday by Sunday School teachers. Mark Holman's message is one where the family/home is the primary place where faith is nurtured. Research shows that the mother and/or father are the most significant influences for a child's faith. This is the new, exciting movement sweeping through churches.

Another speaker at the conference was Phil Vischer, creator of Veggie Tales and JellyTelly. He was excellent also! He spoke on the influence of media on our children. He has an excellent book out entitled Me, Myself and Bob. Afterwards, he was signing autographs and we were fortunate to have him sign one of his children's books for our children.

Farm life

Sunday afternoon was a great day to get outside. The kids enjoy taking a hayrack ride to the crick. Here is Eden enjoying the day.


Here is Seth and Eliza sharing a moment on the crick bank. This is a precious picture.


Here is Emmet checking on our 5 new cows. They are pregnant and we are anxiously awaiting calves.

This is Ephraim checking the cows. This has become their favorite activity and we've only had the cows since Saturday, the 14th. The boys now ask to "go check the cows" or "go feed hay to the cows."

Trouble x 2

Seth took this picture of the girls. Originally they both looked like they were texting. We have enough old cell phones as play toys that they shouldn't have to fight over the same one.



Outside playing . . .we think they look cute in the boys' outside gear. Eden's on the left and Eliza's on the right (in case you couldn't tell).



All right. Whose idea was it to give the girls chocolate pudding cups!!!?!!? Go directly to the tub. And try not to contaminate anything along the way.

Happy 39th Anniversary!

Happy anniversary to my parents! They celebrated 39 years of marriage on March 6. Here is a picture of Emmet, Eliza, Ephraim and Eden when we went out to eat to celebrate.
We praise God for both sets of parents and the examples they have been to us!

Happy 30th Birthday!

Seth turned 30 on Saturday. We planned a party with family and friends at Pizza Ranch on Saturday night. We had a great group show up!



Here is a picture of Ephraim, Emmet, Eliza and Eden with their daddy. The kids couldn't wait to eat the cake. I baked it Friday night and then frosted it Saturday morning, so they've had their eye on it for quite a while. I was just relieved that the cake made it to the party in one piece and with no mishaps. Here we are lighting 30 candles on the cake! The kids were really excited about that. You can't tell it by this picture, but there were adults at the party, too!

Happy Birthday Seth!

Happy Anniversary!

We had the opportunity to celebrate Seth's parents' 35th anniversary on Saturday night at the Monarch restaurant on the Molengraght in Pella.

Here we are with Arlin & Donna in the front. The back rows are Loren & Rhonda, Jenny & Seth, Paul, Tom & Michelle, and Beth & Randy. The food was terrific! (And it doesn't cost anything to reserve the party room there!).

Afterwards we went to Tom & Michelle's house for cake and ice cream. The kids were there waiting for us. Here is a picture with the grandchildren: Emmet, Ephraim, John, Mark, Eliza (purple) and Eden (pink). Michelle made the gorgeous and delicious cake!

We had a fun party. Praise God!