Mother of Seven + 2

We try to teach our children to apply the Bible to their lives.  Ryan decided to help Kaytlin with this task when they were ages seven and five.   Like a typical child or even adult, he was better at applying it to someone else's life. One day Kayt was doing her usual chore of picking up downstairs so Ryan could run the vacuum.  She was overwhelmed by all the toys.  With her own dramatic flair she said, "Mom, look at all these toys.  Just look at them.  I can't pick them all up.  Look, mom, just look!"  She carried on like this for several minutes. Finally having enough of his sister's drama Ryan stated, "Kayt, if your eye causes you to sin, poke it out."  Guess he thought looking at all those toys was causing her to sin.

Supper Menu #5   A – Crockpot Mongolian Beef B – Tuna Noodle Casserole C – Easy Ham Bake D – French Dip Sandwiches E – Egyptian Rice F - Primavera Pizza Grocery List #5 Dairy B – milk (1 c) B, C – cheddar cheese (1 lb) B, C – butter (4 T) D – mozzarella (8 oz) E – sour cream (8 oz) F – grated Parmesan (2 T) F – Italian blend cheese (2 c) Bread B – bread crumbs (2 T) D – 1 loaf French bread F – 2 cans refrigerated pizza dough Fresh Meat A - 1 ½ pounds beef steak C – 8-12 oz ham D – 1 ½ pound boneless round steak or a beef roast E – 1 pound hamburger F – 12 oz chicken breast Fresh Produce A – garlic (2 cloves) A – carrots (shredded ½ c) A – 3 green onions C – 6 med potatoes C, D, E – 3 onions C – 4-6 apples F - red bell pepper (1) F – red onion (1) F – baby spinach (1 sm bag) Canned/Boxed/Packaged A, E – rice, 2 lb bag B – 2 cans cr of mush soup B – 2 cans tuna B – 1 pkg egg nood...

Guess I'm feeling a little nostalgic today.  Thinking back there are many memories from when the children were little that I want to never forget.  I've written many of them down over the years, so I thought I might share a few with you over the next couple weeks.  The years slip by and our little ones grow up.  Those baby to preschool years are busy, but they are filled with delightful antics that brighten our days.  Here is a classic story from Ryan, our oldest.  He is now in college, but this is his interpretation of The Good Samaritan at the tender age of four. As we were walking one summer day, Ryan and I passed by a very flat squirrel lying in the road. Having a tender heart Ryan asked, "Is someone going to help that squirrel?" I explained to him that the squirrel was beyond help and we passed on by. On our way back home we once again passed the squirrel.  Ryan said, "Mommy, nobody has helped that squirrel." "That's be...

It seems like yesterday when our home was filled with these unending questions from Ryan and all the siblings that followed.  "Daddy, you wanna play with me?" "Play train?" "Daddy, wanna play ball?" "Play school on 'puter', daddy?" Every day before work, over lunch, and after supper Les was bombarded with questions like this.  Ryan would look up at his daddy pleadingly with those big brown eyes, and Les just couldn't resist at least spending a few minutes playing with his boy.  I loved watching Les and Ryan together.  It was just the way a father and son should be--spending every moment possible together.   Watching Les as a father over the years has reminded me of my Heavenly Father.  He desires to spend as much time as possible with me.   Seeing how eager Ryan or any of our children were to spend time with their daddy, reminds me I should be just as eager to spend time with my Father. I remembe...

The leaves are falling from the trees. Reminds me of the seasons of life. Time goes on.  Life changes. Husband went to bid a final farewell today. Beloved minister, mentor, and friend passed on. Time stopped.  Our lives forever changed. Changed because he took the time to love, Changed because he listened, Changed because he taught by example. Calvin and Betty are on the right-hand side.  Pictured here with just a few of the college kids they mentored over the years. He celebrated our wedding with us. He was at my husband's ordination. He held our firstborn son. I will always remember one sermon he preached. It was on the Lord's second coming. He was excited and animated as he described Jesus coming back in the clouds. Our son, then two, sat enthralled. However, at some point we had told him Jesus was in his heart. He suddenly looked in his shirt and said, "Uh-oh, Jesus all gone." No, Jesus wasn't gone.  Jes...