We had a blast going to the hotel Craig has worked part time for a lovely dinner celebrating Grace's 11th birthday. Could we please FREEZE frame you now, Grace?? Thanks for being a HUGE blessing to us.
Thank you, Lord, for sending her to us for this time.

Do you like margaritas? This was the BEST I have ever had!!!

My Man!!!

The prettiest 11 year old!

Grace Kelsey celebrates birthday #11!!!
Happy Birthday DEAR GRACE!!!

Grace opens her gifts as we celebrate with Crispy Cream. She loves cold Mocha, so we gave her one for her special day.

She was born around 7pm at home. The doctor, Dr. Dawn Meisner, was great! Grace was one of the 3 births at home where the doctor was actually present! She was our 3rd home birth, and all went extremely well. My dad, who had been released from the hospital earlier that day, cut the cord. That was a very wonderful memory for us.

During the 9 month wait for Grace, I was totally convinced that Grace was a BOY! We were blessed with 3 boys already, plus 1 girl. She kicked me so hard and consistantly, that I was certain she was a boy. When she was finally born, my mother announced joyfully, "Julie, you have a girl!"

At that point, we happily introduced her as "Grace Kelsey" and she was a beautiful baby, weighing 8.8 lbs. We were thrilled Kathryn would have a same gender side kick!
Also, because the doctor had missed Kathryn's birth, as well as Graham's, they did not charge us AT ALL for Grace's birth! I think we only paid for lab work. Wow, what a blessing!
Homefirst, Chicago, IL. A group of FANTASTIC home birth doctors.

Grace is a huge blessing and gift to our family! She is always ready to assist in watching Truman, making sure he is safe. She shares her room with Joelle, her younger sister by 4.5 years , helping her keep it clean and picked up.

Grace loves F*A*S*H*I*O*N* !!!!!
We call her the FASHION GIRL! She looks adorable in all her fun outfits, and has loved to wear hats. We gave her a lovely suede jacket from Limited Too, a special find at my favorite resale store!

Joelle gave her some special lip balm, a large assortment! Kathryn gave her some body lotion, glitter, lip gloss, nail polish, etc. Just what every girl needs to look FAB!
Tonight Craig and I will take just her out for a special dinner downtown. Will post more shots of that special occasion!
We love you Grace, and are so thankful God sent you to our house!!!

Matthew 7:13, 14
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

"...this objection--that our doctrine is too strict, we made the way of heaven too narrow--is in truth the original objection (as it was almost the only one for sometime) and is secretly at the bottom of a thousand more, which appear in various forms.
The church today, listening to the world, is afraid of being called narrow, afraid that those who are educated and political will dismiss the church because of the narrow way that the Savior proclaimed. So, to avoid being called narrow or exclusivistic, many try to open up the way a little bit that Jesus declared by denying the truth of the Scriptures, the doctrines of the Scriptures, making them more palatable for the pride of man, or denying the holy walk of life unto which the Lord called His disciples."
-Ian Murray, "Evangelicalism Divided"

I feel very blessed to have been given the above chitlin's as a gift! Those people you are looking are very dear to me. Really, we were very surprised when God sent Truman to us, as He knew by then, what kind of parents we were. We totally do not deserve them, and know we do not! They are wonderful and we pray for daily guidance to help nurture them in the admonition of the Lord. Please Lord, continue to direct us in wisdom and discernment!

We are continually amazed by the creation God gives us, including the unique and different personalities we have in our family. Each one is as different as can be, and it is really cool. I love it! Yes, sometimes a bit frustrating, but hopefully God can teach us to get along and love one another. He is a very patient and good God.
Micah 6:8
He has showed thee, O man, what is good, and what the Lord requireth of thee: surely to do justly, and to love mercy, and to humble thyself, to walk with thy God.

Easter Egg Hunt March 2008, which we all know has nothing to do with the Resurrection! It was fun watching the kids casing after good ol' chocolate eggs. I did this every year as a kid and still remember it fondly.

March 1, 2008

Vernon Hills, IL
Craig's mom plus Lauryl and Brittany

The boys with their Uncle Jack.
They all love him!

Random Thoughts on March 6, 2008

Psalm 37:23, 24
The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.

Beautiful day in here, lots of rain and wind. Quite unusual for us but it is wonderful. Lots has occured. Ofcourse Grandma N. passed away and we were all sad, as she had had a great and long life. She prayed everyday and kept short accounts, apologizing easily. She was very generous and loved the children. She was a grand woman, and is sorely missed.

We enjoyed seeing Lauryl and Brittany. Had not seen them for 3 years. Bruce and Gail will be sending Mike off to college sometime in the future and Brittany and Kyle are already there. Kyle had a bad flu bug and did not make it back for the funeral.

Catching up with Jack and Mom is always fun, though the occasion was not. We did see lots of others who we had not seen in years like Allen and Carole Elliot, Kurt Peterson, Nina and Peter, Keith and wife, Amy W., Steve W, Sue and Walter, Uncle Bobby and I am sure there is more I am leaving out. It was good to see them all and be back in touch.

I was able to catch up with Debbie and Nancy, dear friends from Willow. They are both excellent and I very much enjoyed conversation with them. We have all (in different ways) been through some trying times, but it is wonderful that we all thank God for His mercy and goodness to us.

March 1, 2008
Craig and I celebrated 22 years of marriage!! Are we old enough for that?? I guess so! It was fun to go out to dinner in Marble Falls, while the children babysat.

Did I mention how great our kids are? Okay, I am a bit biased.

I will have to post photos later. That is the step I am rusty on.

Joelle's birthday, back in December. SIX YEARS YOUNG!! We celebrated with Crispy Cream early in the am, followed by opening gifts! Somewhere in between we went to the Family Store (Salvation Army resale shop, the only place I go besides HEB, Costco) When my mother was here, she kept asking me where I shop. I kept saying, the Salvation Army. We are disappointed they do not carry toys any longer, due to the recalls. Oh BOTHER. Liberalism at it's best. How many people have died from that toxic junk?

Back to the birthday celebration. Wow, Joelle had a blast! That night we went on a carriage ride. (thank you, Laws family!!) Truman cried when we got off, and Joelle had a blast too! San Antonio is beautiful at night.





Enjoying the River Walk in beautiful downtown San Antonio. No, it does not compare to Chicago, but it does have a charm all it's own!




Christmas Day 2007. We feasted all day.

The Weird World of Tattoos

Okay, so I find tattoos very weird and strange. I mean, some of them may be lovely, though I don't appreciate the dedication to avante garde edginess. I have seen a pretty butterfly (how quaint) that was attractive, but I mean, what is the point?? I truly find the attraction to tattoos odd. I think they are very ugly, and can't help but conjuring up a voodoo shaman, smoking his weed and chanting to, uh, not my god, when I see them. Sorry, you cooler than cool 20 something generation. (generation x'rs?) I have long ago lost my desire to be cool (actually, I don't think I ever had it...no surprise to any who know me...I DO NOT follow the crowd!!)

I am amazed at the popularity this "artwork". Such an ugly thing, and the pain involved to get them is tremendous I hear. I can just hear the same crowd complaining about the pain of childbirth...

Know of someone who wishes like anything he did not get a tattoo. My husband says that long sleeves have to cover them in the business world, to have some appearance of professionalism. In the office?? No, this is at a 5 star hotel. This friend is now a newbie cop, and he got tattoos before he was saved. He is terribly embarrassed of them and wants to get rid of them. Well, at least he sees their oddness and lack of professionalism.

Think long and hard about doing such an irreversible act. I know they can be removed, with lots of $$ and more pain and possible infection...yuck. No thanks.

“Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man."
Benjamin Franklin


January 2, 2008

Happy New Year!!

I have been giving some thought to the term, "Happy Holidays". Any cursory study of the word should indicate that "holidays" used to mean "holy days", which of course started with the Winter Solstice beginning on 12/21, the pagan ritual of celebrating the end of short days of Winter, and the suns lengthening of days. There is no mention of the birth of Christ at Christmas in Scripture. There is no mention of the celebration of Winter Solstice in Scripture...(I should hope not, as it was a completely pagan celebration complete with drunken orgies for several days.) So, when did Christmas come to be celebrated? As in several other "holidays", it came about from the Catholic Church looking to get in on the "fun". In the 4th century, the church first made mention of celebrating the birth of Christ, to be done on 12/25. Christmas is not a Biblical holiday. I completely understand those who do not celebrate this "holiday" at all. It has no Biblical basis at all. Christ was born in the Spring, according to historians.

For me, this is pretty clear evidence. I have not quoted sources here, but look into it yourself.

So what do I do with this? Well, now that our family has celebrated this "holiday" for 21 + years, it is a pretty difficult line to draw. My husband enjoys the ritual. I enjoy it. We do lots of family traditions together, though we are scaling back hugely in the "Christ" aspect of the day. Whenever I think of Christmas, I remember that God prescribed 1 specific holiday to be observed once a week. That would be the Sabbath.
***I AM DETERMINED TO CELEBRATE THE SABBATH WITH OUR
FAMILY MORE IN 2008!!!!!!!!!!!!!!****
Ok, enough of my reformed rant....
What do you think??? Let me know your thoughts.