Mr. Nobody

When Drew went to put on his stocking cap tonight he found a note
which read. . . 

Dear Drew, Please put a five dollar bill on Jacob's
dresser.  

Thanks, Mr. Nobody

Money Hungry?

Edited Out

Drew pretty much wrote the Christmas letter.  I edited a bit but the words were his EXCEPT for the part about us.  He said I could write that.  Then HE turned around and edited all the great stuff I wrote about him right out of the letter!!  He is such an awesome man I want you all to know how much I love and respect him so here is what he edited out. . .

Drew and Beth (age: less than 40, barely) Drew leads this family with fierce determination and we all benefit. He sets us all up to strive after the LORD each morning with a devotional, heads off to slay dragons (he enjoys his work at BSS), and returns to charge us and challenge us to draw our hope and strength from Christ alone. He is an awesome husband and father!  I am finding new challenges in homeschooling the older three while occupying a 4 year old, toddler and baby. On good days, I embrace the challenge, clinging to the promise of reaping (do not grow weary in doing good in due season you shall reap). On not so good days everyone suffers, I repent, confess and we all move on :-).

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas 2008 from The Tribe. We initiated a new recruit into the Tribe this year, Chloe Ruth, born May 24th. She has been a tremendous blessing to all of us. Here is the update on everyone:

Mary (age: 11) Mary is blossoming into a beautiful young woman on the inside and outside. We like to call her the "adult-kid". In fact, Baruch recently inquired "Mom, who is older, you or Mary?" Mary is full of patience and spiritual insight.

Jacob (age: 9) No one contributes more enthusiasm and gusto to the household than "Cob". He has enough personality for 3 or 4 mortal nine year olds. We find the significant effort of engaging him in profitable activities worthwhile. Failure to do so results in profound household anarchy.

Abigail (age: 7) Drew calls Abi, "Beth, Jr." She looks, acts and thinks like her mother. If anyone is in pain, Abi is on the spot in a flash to nurture. She is our "upside down string bean".

Baruch (age: 4) Baruch's mind is always engaged. With large hand motions and triple digit decibels, he can often be heard explaining how the world really works. ( ie: "If you are a doctor, you can't pick your nose.")

Abram (age: 2) Abram is full of fun. He has the remarkable ability to repeat what someone else is saying (usually Baruch), syllable by syllable, as the person is speaking (and there is a lot of speaking going on here). His parents are fearful of indications that Abram's energy level and personality may one day eclipse Jacob's.

Chloe (age: 7 months) Chloe is a round bundle of joy. She is already crawling and pulling herself up on furniture. Drew tells Mary she is going to wear a hole in Chloe's skin from changing Chloe's outfits so frequently.

Drew and Beth (age: Less than 40, barely) Drew and I have resolved to create the kind of environment in our home that brings the most honor to Christ. Drew charges us up to strive after the LORD each morning with a devotional, heads off to slay dragons (he enjoys his work at BSS), and returns to challenge us to draw our hope and strength from Christ alone. As a result, he makes slow progress on the honey-do list. I am finding new challenges in homeschooling the older three while occupying a 4 year old, toddler and baby. On good days, I embrace the challenge, clinging to the promise of reaping (do not grow weary in doing good, in due season you shall reap). On less than good days everyone suffers, I repent, confess and we all move on :-).

It is ironic that in order to be more inclusive, the Christmas greeting has largely changed from "Merry Christmas" to "Happy Holidays". Paul told the Collosians, "But Christ is all." Remarkably, this is what real harmony with diversity and tolerance looks like. That is, to identify so strongly with Christ that the temporary distinctions of this life become almost meaningless. High and low social positions or profound cultural and racial backgrounds are insignificant in view of the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus. If God reveals just a bit of Himself, barriers dissolve, Christ becomes all. We are not looking for a baby Jesus this Christmas, but a blazing, glorious champion, Jesus Christ, Lord.

Striving to make Christ all, Merry Christmas,

Drew, Beth, and the Tribe

Christmas Photo

Drew's sister took a ton of family photos on Oct 20th.  It is challenging to get two adults to look nice for a photo let alone an entire tribe of people.  We were pleased with different aspects of each one.  Finally we had to go with the one in which drew and I looked the best :-).  There were dozens of those! hee hee ... But there was always one person who wasn't print worthy.  Then Drew had the brilliant idea of editing.  Here are the results.

Unedited

Edited (thanks to a friend of Drew's)

Christmas Chloe

More Christmas Chloe

Christmas Baking

We had such a lovely day baking Christmas cookies. Church was
canceled due to the blizzard conditions (high winds and low temps).
Here are some pictures to sum up our baking time.

First Mary, Abi and Abram cut out the Sugar Cookies

Then I Baked Them

After That We Made Frosting

While the Little Boys were Napping - Frosting Began

Wa La the Finished Product (s) :-)

Enjoying Snowy Weather

Mary, Gail and Cob

Sledding/Blizzard Conditions

The older three and I went sledding again tonight.  It was 28 when we began  walking to the park and the snow was falling.  It was so much fun.  Mary E. and I doubled a number of times.  The conditions were so good the kids were going down without sleds!  They asked me to try it but I am just too old to risk that kind of shock to my body :-) I thought of the time when I was about 6 years old and a bunch of my siblings went sledding.  My sister Terry was black and blue for weeks and was way younger than I am now!  We headed home after a really enjoyable half hour.  On the way home the wind picked up to true blizzard speeds.  I had all the kids hang onto a rope for fear of losing one of them!  Drew said we were red when we came in. I had not worn a hat and it took my ears a long time to thaw out!  We are suppose to continue having blizzard conditions until 6 PM tomorrow night.  I am glad we headed home when we did.  Funny how quickly weather can change.  When we began it was such a beautiful night.

The Big Snow

This Florida girl is LOVIN the big snow. I think I am more excited than the kids. Here are some pictures!!!!! AND it's still coming down.  The snow is so clean and beautiful.  When I woke up in the middle of the night I looked out the window and the snow falling down looked so peaceful.  It is still coming down.  I took pictures right away.  I especially wanted to get one of our neighbors car before the plow came by.  I posted some early morning pictures, not the best quality but you get the flavor of the depth!

Our Back Door

The Bench from Uncle David

Our Side Gate

Neighbors Car

How to Bring Home Leftovers

If you wish to bring home leftovers, don't cut the dessert into bars
before serving :-). I really didn't intend to bring home the
leftovers BUT here they are back at home. I brought these 7-layer
bars to the Christmas Program Wednesday night. The dessert table was
very well supplied or I am sure someone would have found a knife to
serve these up.

Christmas Program

The kids had the privilege of participating in a Christmas Program at church tonight.  They all remembered their parts and did a great job.  Mary and Jacob each played a Christmas Carol while the kids sang.  Susan added verses to the script so that each child had a part.  One participant sang so loud the little boy in front of him plugged his ears.  It was all very cute and I trust the Lord was glorified through the children's efforts.  I posted the script separately.  I could get it to paste onto this one.

Christmas Program Script

Adrianna - Isaiah 9:6

For a child will be born to us; a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

Ezra - Letter C

"Christmas is carols that we sing with joy, celebrating the birthday of God's little boy.

Jacob - Luke 2:10-11 

And the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 

Joy to the World (children sing first verse while Jacob plays piano)

Keziah - Letter H

"Christmas is hope for the whole human race. Our hope is in Jesus who died in our place."

Mariah - 1 Timothy 4:10

"we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers." I Timothy 4:10

Gwen - Letter R

"Christmas is receiving the gift God gives—Jesus His Son so that we may live."

Hailey

(holds up a gift-wrapped box and pretends to read the label): From God (points upward) to You!(points to audience: then opens package and removes card that says Eternal Life, holding it up for all to see)

Eliora - Letter I

"Christmas is Immanuel—the Son's special name that says God is with us! That's why He came."

Mary - Matthew 1:21

"And she will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins."

O Come, All Ye Faithful (children sing first verse while Mary plays piano)

Kirsten - Letter S

Christmas is shepherds leaving their sheep to go see God's Son in a manger asleep.

 Ethan - Luke 2:20

"The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them."

Shannon - Letter T

Christmas is telling people we know that Jesus the Savior was born long ago.

Wesley

Holds up a sign that says, "Jesus is the Reason for the Season."

Abi - Letter M

Christmas is a manger in a poor cattle stall. The baby who slept there is Lord of us all.

Andrew - Luke 2:7

And she gave birth to her first-born son; and she wrapped Him in cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. 

Away in a Manger (children sing first verse while Titus plays piano)

Priscilla - Letter A

Christmas is angels filling the sky, praising the Lord on earth and on high.

Hannah

(waves arms overhead and shouts) "Glory to God in the highest and on earth!"

Beniah - Letter S

Christmas is special don't you agree? For Jesus, God's Son, came for you and for me!

Titus - John 3:16

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." 

Hark, The Herald Angels Sing (children sing first verse while Leandra plays piano) 

Pete leads congregation in the rest of Hark the Herald as children go back to their seats.

 

Props Needed:

Poster Board with letters C,H,R,I,S,T,M,A,S

Box Gifted Wrapped with removable lid wrapped separately

Sign with words "Eternal Life" inside gift wrapped box (or envelope)

Sign that says  "Jesus is the Reason for the Season"

Lovin' That Sistah Up

When Baruch was holding Chloe she actually leaned over to kiss him!

She loved being held by Baruch

And he LOVED holding her!

Mysterious Happenings

For several days items have appeared in odd places. I found Drew's shoes in the drawer under the stove.   They were stuffed with Little People.  There was a dirty mixing bowl in the refrigerator. Abram has been linked to each of these.  Abram goes constantly!  This morning when I asked "Has anyone seen my slippers," they came up missing last night and I searched - even cleaned to help the search along.  Anyway when I inquired, Abram told me they were in the heater vent.   Sure enough, Jacob dug them out for me!   Ahhhh they are nice and warm. :-)

New Doll Dress

Mary's creativity with scraps of fabric amazes me!  She and Abi each have several of these mini dolls.  They are about 7" tall.  Abi has an outfit in the works.  

Reward Friday

Drew took off a couple hours early to take the crew sledding!

Baruch managed to eat snow on several toboggan rides taking the infamous front seat position!

Saucers flew and runners kited along!

With Temps in the Teens Abram was a TROOPER!

She Crawls Quickly!

Beautiful Baby

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Big Six Months Old!

Back from my Blogging Break (Maybe)

Wow I have not been on the computer in some days. Chloe is teething
and growing, therefore getting up several times in the night again.
This has put me in a brain dead state most of the day and in no state
to check e-mails, let alone blog in the evenings. Much has
happened. Chloe turned 6 months! She tried food again but didn't
care for it. Her first tooth popped through! We had a wonderful
Thanksgiving. We decorated for Christmas and did all out shopping on
line!! Yes we are done shopping for the kids. Drew's Mom is still
suffering with neck and shoulder pain. We have been to see her and
Bill a couple times in the past month but are not seeing them nearly
as much as we would like. On our last visit we had the priveledge of
seeing almost all of Ron and Kari's crew and hearing Jordan and
Jenn's Big News! If we are going to have supper tonight I better
fire up the griddle! Lord willing - more some time in the future :-)

Target Practice

Abram and His Aunt Jo Stocking

THE Tree!

I love Kids! What great imaginations the Lord has given them.

Abram

Pa and Many Grand Children

Pa and Mary

Happy Thanksgiving!

Nothing catches on like Giving Thanks, well except maybe the chicken pox. Have a Wonderfully Happy Thanksgiving Day! Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. We thank the Lord for His provision. The Puritans thanked Him amidst hardship. We feast in remembrance of their
feast.  Praise the Lord and REJOICE!

Chloe's New Walker

Chloe pulled herself up onto this laundry basket.  Her force pushed the basket and she went cruising along!  She loves to pull herself up despite the fact that it generally results in an accident.

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Thanks for the Fellowship Heidi

Abram took such good care of Calista.  They were so cute sharing together.

I really enjoyed Heidi's fellowship.  It is refreshing to be with a like minded Christain!

Abi and Gwen