Decorating the tree.

Tonight, when our Daddy got done taking care of stuff in town, we started decorating our tree. We make due with what we have and has been given to us. I know alot of people have "theme trees". I don't have a problem with that, but I do have a fondness of hodgepodge trees that the kids have decorated and made some of the ornaments themselves. :) Here is Gabe putting on an ornament.And again!
Juju, helping and having so much fun. She was talking about some more ornaments she could make most of the time we were decorating. :)

Yes, even Belle got in on the decorating. She did a good job as long as someone helped her. When noone was she just threw the decorations and yelled,"BALL!" It makes me laugh just thinking about it. This year should be interesting with that little one!
Noah, was tired and just wanted to go to bed, so we didn't decorate it all. We saved quite a few ornaments to do tomorrow, so Noah can help. I ran outside and took a picture of what our tree looked like from the street. I approve. :D
Today, in Children's Church we talked about Christmas and giving. If you think about it Christ gave everything and gained nothing. Wow!! I encouraged the kids to not think so much about what they want for Christmas, but instead to think about how we could give. I think to often we say with our mouths that Christmas is about giving, but our actions and thoughts do not reflect this. The rusty wheels of my brain are already turning and concocting a plan that can help show and teach my children this. Selfless giving...hmm....

The tree at home.

Yes, of course we had to trim it and it fits tight, but boy does it smell good!! We made fruit loop garlands and put them on tonight. The boys beat the girls in making the garland the quickest. :) This is my absolute favorite picture of today! I am soo blessed with my four beautiful munchkins!

Toby putting the boys fruit loops on the tree.
Gabe helping Dad!
Belle thinks she is participating. :)
My sweet family with the tree.

The Dad and Mom
The evening was just as pleasant as the day.

Wow!! He gets better looking everytime I look at him!!

This picture captures Julie's sweet side so perfectly!
Wrestling...I have such a wonderful life!
Tomorrow we are decorating the tree and the kids are thrilled. I am so happy to me. I would never trade my life for anything! I love my little family!! Thank you, Lord, for all these things that I don't deserve!

The hunt and cut!

Found it....Melanie and I checking out the tree I want.Dad and Gabe cutting down the tree.
Tinkerbelle and Daddy. This was her first time all geared up for snow. She loves to be outside!

Noah playing in the snow!
And loving it!!!

GabeJulie looking adorable in the hat that momma originally made for Gabe, but now it fits Julie.
God amazes me that he made this little thing from Toby and I!
In the car, relaxing after we have the tree...
We were right by Upper Mesa Falls and Melanie had never seen it, so we went for a stroll. Belle insisted on walking by herself.

My little gang

I tell you what!! I cannot believe she is so big already!
We had such a wonderful time! Thank you, Rodgers for a wonderful day and a delicious lunch!! The Lord blessed us with a beautiful day to get a Christmas tree. We thank Him for His goodness and protection.

Mom and Bob's New Land!

The land behind Mom and Bob's land went up for sale and the Lord blessed them with it. This is the day that we all got together for a party and they made an opening in the fence between the two properties. Grandma, Joel and Shelly and Granny were all present. Here are just a couple pictures of the fence cutting. :)

Mom finishing off the fence.

Our pretty little girl.

The proud new owners of 38 more acres, another little house and barn. How about it Beth and Joe???? :D

Precious Julie

Soo....Dennis Rodgers told us about Disney create a fairy. So I let Julie go on and make two fairies. She was so proud of them! Sometimes she goes to sleep in our bed, depending on how Belle is going to sleep. When we went to move her into her own bed this is what we found. I thought it was tooo precious! She had tucked her fairies in...one on either side of her. :)


This are the little things I don't ever want to forget! I love my precious daughter. It makes me sad that she is going to get bigger. I will most definetly miss these little Julie things. :) Thank you, Lord, for our JuJubee!!!!!

Fall

I absolutely love Noah's face in this picture!!

I was surprised when Julie came out of her room with her panties on her head. I thought they were done doing that. It made me laugh. I know that they won't do this for very much longer! She was a super hero. I so thought of us in Italy with our towel capes. :) All I can say is she is Julie.

They made Tinkerbelle a cape out of paper towels. I thought it was great!!
The boys raked up the leaves. They did it with such good attitudes. That makes this momma happy!

The working boys with their rakes.

Then everyone had to lay in the leaves that the boys raked up.
The boys enjoying the reward of their labor.

We are enjoying fall in our beautiful house that God gave us.

Dying to myself

The past five days have been rough and I have found myself getting grumpier and grumpier with each passing sleepless night. Last night as I laid in bed with my sick husband the Holy Spirit was convicting me of not dying to myself. He laid on heart that this was His chance to shine. As I started thinking, when we are tired and seemingly overwhelmed, is when our true colors show. Unfortunately, mine were showing extreme selfishness. I wasn't getting enough sleep, I wasn't getting any time to myself, I was doing alot of the work, I....I....I. Laying there I was so ashamed. I am so thankful that Christ was not that way. So I determined in my heart to think about dying to myself. To make sure I was, not just letting it happen if it happened. (which was not very often, because frankly it isn't my natural tendency) The Lord knew I would be dealing with this and helped me before I even knew He had. On Sunday, I was only at church for a short time to help Grandma with her slides, the words of the songs she was playing. I was in a hurry to get home to my sick family. For a while I didn't really read what was up there, but for some reason I looked up and started reading.

Spirit of the Living God
Fall fresh on me
Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me.
Spirit of the Living God
Fall fresh on me

Under that was a poem of dying to self. As I read it I thought, that is a really great poem. God tucked it in my heart to be pulled out for later use. :) As I laid in bed, the poem popped into my head and I realized exactly what I was doing or NOT DOING! This poem below is not the exact same poem she used. I am going to find out what it is, but this one is still very good. I don't want to live one more day of life living for myself in any way shape or form. I want to die to myself, so that I may live for Christ. It's author is unknown.


When you are forgotten, neglected, or purposely set at naught, and you don't sting or hurt with the oversight, but your heart is happy being counted worthy to suffer for Christ;
That is dying to self.
When your good is evil spoken of, when your wishes are crossed, your advice disregarded, your opinion ridiculed, and you refuse to let anger rise in your heart or even defend yourself, but take it all in patient, loving silence;
That is dying to self.
When you lovingly and patiently bear any disorder, any irregularity, any annoyance; when you can stand face to face with waste, folly, extravagance, spiritual insensibility, and endure it as Jesus did;
That is dying to self.
When you are content with any food, and offering, any raiment, any climate, any society, any solitude, any interruption by the will of God;
That is dying to self.
When you never care to refer to yourself in conversation or record your own good works or itch after commendation, when you can truly love to be unknown;
That is dying to self.
When you can see your brother prosper and have his needs met, and can honestly rejoice with him in spirit and feel no envy, nor question God, while your own needs are far greater and you are in desperate circumstances;
That is dying to self.
When you can receive correction and reproof from one of less stature than yourself and can humbly submit, inwardly as well as outwardly, finding no rebellion or resentment rising up within your heart;
That is dying to self."

John 12:24,25
Verily, verily I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.

Belle and the harmonica!

Here is Belle and her newest harmonica playing trick! This time she is just being cute, but she really can play it. She LOVES to play it! If she sees Papa Powell's harmonica case she goes and insists on getting a few out and plays them. Her Papa HATES this, you can be sure. :) We think she might start giving Buddy Greene a run for his money. She may be lacking a bit in the technique area, but definetly has him beat in the cuteness area. :D Sorry, Buddy! Have a great day, everyone! Don't forget to raise your voices and instruments in praise to God.

Two basketball video's!

So the one of these is a little long, but is soo cute!! It is the beginning of the game where Gabe makes the first basket! At about 1:30 is my favorite part! I think the footwork that the little guy on the green team does is priceless! Sorry they are both so shaky, it isn't easy to record and hold a 14 month old who wants to be playing and keep track of Noah. So if you can bear my horrible filming you should get a good laugh out of it! Sorry, dad! I know this kind of stuff makes you woozy. :) The other video is just a little of Julie, I didn't get her basket....Belle....need I say more?

Basketball

Toby found a 4 and 5 year old basketball league. We talked about it and decided since it is just for 6 weeks and only 1 day a week, we could give it a go. Toby wanted to help coach and then they needed a coach for Gabe and Julie's team so he is the coach. Last night was their first practice and game. We have 6 players on our team. When practice first started all the kids huddled by themselves. It was so cute. I wonder what they were planning in there. :) I know the pictures are dark. I brought the wrong camera. :(Then Toby would huddle with them to tell them what they were going to do.
He is such a good coach and we have a really good team. All but Julie can make a basket by themselves, but have no fear she is working on it!

Practicing getting the rebound.
Here we are in the game. Julie is passing the ball. We are Team Gray.....we played Team Green.
Gabe coming over to take his turn on the bench.

My basketball boy!
The game was...well....hilarious!!! I recorded some of it and will post some of it, but I am laughing through the whole thing. Our little team would have dominated if the coaches would have let them. They are a really aggressive team. On a very proud note, Gabe made the first basket of the game! He stole the ball and got the first "hoop"! Dribbling in this game was minimal and they followed whoever had the ball like a flock of sheep. Sometimes they all lined up in a line under the basket and sometime they were all in a cluster. We had soo much fun. Noah was very miffed that he couldn't play. Toby got him a shirt so he wouldn't feel left out, but he was sure since he had a basketball shirt he should get to play. Julie made a basket with a little assistance. (Just in case any of you want to know....we won.....you just can't say that at the game, but we did. :)