David Andrew

Camp Picture! Lillie needs a bow for her outfit, looks like we skipped cabin cleanup, but David is quick to help out with his baby sisters and loves on them.

David turned 15!! Amazing, that he now be so old!! He's like growing into a man, and I want my lil boy still!! Wow! That was the best of an orange cake I could come up with.

Must have been concentrating on a wish! I am still stuck that he is growing up, and that isn't fair yet!! He is a charming brother and son, he has great ideas and can be the best of helpers. He has been doing great in school and we are so happy for him! He likes biking and doing things with friends, he is thoughtful. We are blessed to have David, and he keeps us on our toes! We are glad he is our son and we take such joy in knowing that our Father in heaven has a perfect plan for his life and we will continue to steer David to great opportunities and adventures, he is awesome! Happy Birthday David!!

Yeah! Glad to be back! It feels like a celebration of sorts everyday and I cannot write much!! We are full into school year swing around here and smoothing into good things. Here are some favorites...

My mom with Lillie. Lillie gets to be in all the pics, and it's so cute to watch the girls grow fond of my mom. I love her dearly and wish she didn't have a full time job and live an hour away.

My Darling and I. Mommy and daughter, best love ever!

And my baby cat, Lola, what a honey!

Alive and Well

Wow! No wonder I have been wanting to blog...it's been so long I forgot what we did, that's why I love blogging for archive. The camera holds the proof! School is underway. I am a firm believer of we get what we expect from our public schools and I am comfortable with where everyone is at this year, so that feels good. Always smoothing wrinkles, that is motherhood:) Luke went back to work full time, we are getting more services to try and get ahead of some games and keep up with others! Since the newby, God has weighed some things on my heart, and I am rejoicing. In our international daydreams of serving one people in the name of Christ, people are everywhere that haven't been exposed or might not otherwise understand the relationship of God and themselves. So in all my spare time I am envisioning opportunities. Hopefully soon, yours truly, Katie Crying baby wins every time

Beyond Excited!

I am really excited to have found a new product for my skin! I try not to whine; and this summer has been really full, there are days with several appointments and playing catchup from the last 8 years feels like a slap in the face. We haven't exactly been hanging out at the pool this summer. I am not really comfortable bringing everyone own there yet, still making some adjustments. The last two years we had the pool pass but they raised the price and...my skin.
My skin as been bad with psoriasis. My own conceal and carry permanent poison ivy. Summer time with bad skin is not fun!
Especially worse when I am pregnant or nursing, and for nearly six years that hasn't been more than a 5 month stench. I value nursing my babies to age one, if not slightly weaning at 10-11 months when they can begin having whole milk. They usually wean themselves around a year then. There is a price to pay though and this summer was the worst in my life, wort day of my life just Monday. It was painful to walk my legs were so sore, continually caring for weeping wounds. Oh Lord why I suffer, please cure this from me.
If I weren't nursing, and when I'm done nursing (it doesn't last forever some of you non nursers!) I could clear it up with a month or 2 of "biological" injections. Can cause cancer, but I think I still have an extra 30 years protection from nursing, ha teasing. It's just the only that would really work after the getting really bad, and weather sometimes matters too, but I'm not really interested in that. It has to be variables I can decide.
Dr.Chi company herbal capsules product, within 24 hours my skin began clearing, "psoriacaid," is naturally blocking my bodies ability to make any damaged, excess, skin cells! I think it is just healing now. I told Luke I can't wait to get back to wearing normal clothes, like a halter and a mini! Seriously, I would have to have really thick skin, no pun intended (hysterical,) to show any of my arms and legs. No t shirts, tanks, skirts, capris, no shorts. Pants or long skirt (who knew the maxi dress fad was a blessing? Yeah, me,) a blouse jacket or crochet long seeve, over a nursing tank. Awesome summer wardrobe, oh well, my theory was it doesn't last forever and the risks were worth the potent treatment.

I'll spare you my treatments details, but I already tan, use topical steroids, and follow rigid and annoying diets- lke the Atkins I'm on now. And then the blessing of this magic pill, herbal and safe!! Thank you Lord! And why all that suffering! Now can I start shinking too please?

BRUNO XOXO

April 2nd was a tough day.
That is when we had to say goodbye to our dearest friend Bruno. We loved him very much and it was painful for us. Pets have a funny way of doing this to us, and Luke's theory is here today gone tomorrow, but when you have to say goodbye too soon it is really sad. He was literally the best dog known to man.
In the old house, and if I could search for the pic, as a puppy he destroyed a whole empty package of a bulk box of bottled water and paper towels, not a square inch of space let on the little kitchen floor, him standing on the little dining table!

He sensed,leadership, on occasion to lay on the kitchen table when we were out. At some point, we thought he was eager to mark things when we went out, so he mainly hung out in the bathroom when we were gone, poor thing!

He had the silkiest hair in the world, I have only met one other boxer with as soft hair. Truly a king in the breed, big, strong, tall, perfect "conformation" head, just beautiful! Truth is, as crazy as it sounds, just between his gorgeous eyes, there be a really soft fine hair, smell...many will attest...fresh baked pan of brownies!

When we first got him, when the girls were still napping, I trained him early on and he was a champ performer. Only on carpet though, the treat would have to be of great value for the lay downs outside or hard floor! He was most excellent at sit, shake, laydown, rollover, speak (could barely muffle one out, super cute!) and play dead. I'd make a finger gun and he would do it!! He was so smart, tender, and handsome.

We do have some contacts with a few of his pups, so that is great. We had even tried breeding him, before we knew he was sick and lost him before we even know if she had taken, she did not. He went downhill so quick. His ashes are with us. Naomi says it the best, at any mention she gets a really sincere expression and in her sweet voice, "Bruno died."

We love you, Bruno! You changed my mind about dogs and made me fall in love with Boxers. I loved it when you snored jiggle your jowls, "aaph, uph, aaph, auph."
I'll never forget when daddy was off to work after his month home and he was so quick to come to bed with me(Luke never let him,) You were sleeping so sound you fell off the bed and hit your head on the nightstand. That was pretty funny! You were everyone in the houses favorite and many passerbyers too. You were the best dog ever with all our kids and every baby that ever climbed all over you. You are loved forever and ever more and we miss you terribly so, that we will never likely try to e even replace who you were to this family. Thank you God for comforting us and making everything in our lives good because we serve you and want to glorify you in our lives. For all the Bible studies Bruno sat part in, he's probably leading the doggy chior of
King Jesus is All.

RIP Bruno Brownie Boy

Five Two Year Olds and a Birthday Cake

wait for it, wait for it...

A cousin hug, not all willing, but certainly all cute!






















6/12: Naomi, Emmett, Ellie (most in birthday mode being within the week prior:), and Oscar. MJ, cousin on Cindy's side, missing is Luke's side Zachariah is too two!

Home boy

I gotta home boy, Lukey has been home since last week he pulled something and just today when he faxed his paperwork they say he should have gone back to work last week with his 20# restriction...oops! Good thing though because I am losing my mind somedays here at the nut house! Transition has been ok. It's hard, but we're doing it. It'll get better.

Firm believers that if you are comfortable then you need to serve more, so I guess we can live that too!

Got a new car today. We have had so many vehicle changes lately it is just funny. Noah thought I said we are getting a new kid, cuz that's just what we do?!, instead of car and got excited, "what are we going to name our new kid?!". I should have toyed with him a little but was caught off guard by his sweetness. I wonder if he was thinking a baby or adolescent?

Let me rephrase the concept new car, new to me. We got an OLD car. Luke won, I will have my glory someday when I don't have other things on my wish list like pedigree cats and pop up campers. We saved 2 grand by snatching up a one owner (if I could italics numbers i would) ...

1997

Buick lesabre. It's not too ugly, has a tape player, old school door handles, this baby is collector in the making. According to Luke, having one 77k miles was better than newer. It gets about 27 mpg, so doubles the van and for appointments and when school starts and when we don't have to spend 40$ to go to the cities. I won too. I did mention the camper at signing too.

I traded in the 05 Odyssey, still mourning, for the '10 Ford 12 passenger, the chrome finish front is kind of appealing. The '96 Ford 12 passenger was donated to Sonny uncle transportation for BMx whatnots. The 95 Chevy truck also found a new home as we decided the new van is ample for towing the boat, Luke's original logic to have a truck. Now he still ants a truck, ok testosterone.
And now, next to my 98 corolla is the new stinking old old old, but mint, lesabre.

My mom drove one and I did too then at 16, they are fast!

Other than that Lon our agenda just getting the newly lined up with services and stuff, putting out fires around the clock, and feeding the baby.
The Baby! She is 5 months already and is off the charts for height and right on top for weight. She has some mommy obsesses though and I need to begin conditioning her,non the evenings she will scream bloody murder for solid hour, I know because I tried to go to target once. So I am going to start getting away from her more!

I have most of the school shopping done, but need to get that figured out. We are super excited to return to Lebanon this year, and I am working on that pop up.

In the meantime, we are alays blessed. Trying to serve others, take a number;)
God is working on a many a hearts.
My work is never done either!
And there are no greater crowns in heaven, step out of comfortable and do something brave for what your purpose is. Then in Christ you may be found, to let go is to know that we have faith in His blessings and plans.