Jonah Darcie Turns One!!

What a gift Jonah has been!It is hard to believe that he has only been with us for a year. He is such a happy little boy. With a mama and daddy that would do anything for him, what could he ever be sad about? Happy birthday, precious child. We are so grateful that God brought you into our family!

Resolutions for 2012

For 2012 I am resolved to continue living a life of simplicity. I will read good books that will either encourage me in my walk with God, or will reinforce my belief that life is good.I will learn new homemaking skills that will enrich my life and the lives of those around me. I will spend time every day studying His Word, not someone elses opinions on what His Word says.
I will love my husband and children.I will be grateful for every day that He blesses me with.I will share with others what He has done for me, and what He will do for them if they believe. God bless all of my friends and family!

Christmas 2011- Henderson, Tennessee

This Christmas was spent in Henderson due to the soon-to-be arrival of baby Mia. We drove to Henderson on the 19th, finding Justin, Chelsea and Jonah had already arrived. Mia arrived before we did! Katie and her family arrived on Thursday and Brandon and his family came on Saturday. We had such a good time together. Poor Kristin,,,nothing like 16 people as guests the week you give birth to your first child! It was wonderful to be back in my old kitchen cooking and doing laundry. I loved falling asleep at night to the sounds of my children talking and laughing. Best of all was going to worship together Christmas morning, Mia's first time to church. I love to hear my children's voices as we sing praises together. How blessed we are to have a Savior who died for us so that we may all worship God for eternity together. We all gathered at the home of my in-laws, Earl and Lora, along with the Drew family for Christmas dinner. We shared finger foods, Christmas gifts, and much love.Brandon, Kristin and Charlotte were not there because Brandon preached at Buford, and they were greatly missed.How blessed we have all been this year. Seven healthy grandchildren and one more on the way. Merry Christmas one and all!

Mia Isabella

On December 19. baby Mia Isabella entered the world to a family who adores her. She will always be loved and encouraged to be a child of God. She has a mother who will model for her the role of a Christian wife, mother, daughter and friend. She has a dad who will model for her the role of the spiritual leader and protector of her family. She has six cousins (so far:) who think she is precious, and nine aunts and uncles who will always be there for her. She has four grandparents who think she is perfect. Welcome to the world, Mia Isabella! And congratulations to her mother, Kristin, who graduated from college three days before giving birth. She is quite a woman.

Luke Turns One!

Luke is our fifth grandchild, and a total charmer! He has this sweet mellow personality. Total contentment . It helps that he has a Mama who is always there.Security in a little one is a beauty to behold. Terry and I and the boys went and spent the night to celebrate his birthday, and mine the following day. The decorations were adorable! I love being in my daughter's home. It is a warm and nurturing place, that anyone wold look forward to at the end of the day. I always leave there inspired to be a better mom.

2011 In a Nutshell

Where did this year go? There were so many wonderful times with friends and family. There were wonderful walks with Terry around our little lane, and days spent enjoying our grandchildren going back and forth from the house to the cabin. There were birthday parties, graduations and even a new grandchild! Gabriel turned 6, Luke turned 1, Mia Isabella was born to Jon and Kristin, and Jonah turns 1 tomorrow. Our entire family's health has been great this year. What a blessed people we are. For the next several months my family blog is going to change directions a bit. We will be travelling in Greece, Turkey, and Israel from Jan. 24 thru April 18. If internet service allows I am going to record our adventures for those back home, as a way tokeep them informed as to our whereabouts, but also as a way for me to remember our adventures once we return home. 2011 was a wonderful year for our family, and Lord willing, 2012 will be a year where God will be glorified and a year in which we will turn to Him daily.

October 14, 2010/October 14, 2011

God is faithful. Some prayers are answered yes, some no, and some later...but all prayers are answered. One year ago today, on my blog, I asked God a special favor. And now I want to thank Him for answering my prayer. When I prayed my prayer I did not know that there was a woman who was carrying my grandson, Jonah. But God knew. And now one year later, Jonah is home with his Mama and Daddy. He is an adorable nine month old. One of the happiest babies you've ever seen. Thank you, God.

Birthdays in January

I just came across these pictures from almost two years ago that had gotten lost in the shuffle somehow. They were taken back in Tennessee when my granddaughters turned 1 and 3. Time is just passing way too quickly. So, even though they are outdated  I wanted to add them because they are very special to me. In these pictures, the girls are wearing the dresses their great-grandma Klein made in 1986 for their Aunt Chelsea's third birthday and Cousin Jaime's first. They are adorable still 25 years later. Happy Birthday to Maria and Julia....who will be turning 3 and 5 before we know it! Slow down, little ones.

Alabama National Fair 2011

We woke up earlier than usual this morning to meet our friends, Jana and Mallory, and their children, at the Alabama National Fair. It was a great excuse for a Field Trip:) The boys really enjoyed spending time with their friends, and I loved the chance to spend time with Jana amd Mallory. It is always so encouraging to share discussions with like minded women. Instead of discussing "fluff" , we had a chance to talk about the challenges of living lives in a way many in the world just don't understand. Though we are in different stages in life, I am the one who feels most blessed of all. It is so encouraging to see young mothers who love their husbands and families, and who are taking their responsiblities seriously. And as a side note, how refreshing it was to spend several hours with nine children, 13 and under, and to hear no fussing or complaining from any of them. I wonder if they would consider letting their children come and live with me so that mine would behave like this all of the time?:) The boys had a chance to milk a cow, and see a show with rescued timber wolves, and eat some "Fair" food". Christian was disappointed that I would not let him try deep-fried Kool-Aid. Really? Really?

Labor Day Weekend 2011

What a wonderful, busy time. All of the children were here. We laughed, talked, ate and shared. I love the chaos...and especially the late nights when the little ones are in bed and I get to hear my children all talking in the other room. God knew what He was doing when he placed us in families. I'm never happier than when they all come home.

Fall 2011

I love the coziness of my home at this time of year!

Pear Picking

What an overabundance of pears we have this year! It tokk the boys and I about 10 minutes to gather nine bags of pears to make pear butter and preserves with. The pears did not have very good timing, because I had a house full of guests after I picked them. By the time the majority of my guests had left (about four days later), I had about a bags worth that had gone bad. I think the sun coming through the kitchen window wasn't a great idea:). After two days of cooking on the stovetop and baking, I have enough pear bread and preserves to last us through the holidays. For those who asked last year, here is a wonderful easy recipe for making your own bread.
Pear Butter Cake
(Best served in a bowl with warm custard or dollop of thick cream)
6 1/2 oz. butter
2/3 c. sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp grated lemon rind
a good pich of ground cardamom
a large pinch of nutmeg
3 eggs
1 3/4 c. all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 c. cream
4 ripe pears
Preheat the oven to 350. Grease a springform pan. Mix together all ingredients except the pears and bake for 20 minutes.
Meanwhile peel and core the pears. Take the cake from the oven and quickly scater the diced pears over the top. Sprinkle with about 2 spoons of sugar. Return to the oven and bake for about 45 minutes more.

Delicious on a cold , dreary day! This recie is from one of my favorite cookbooks- "Apples For Jam" by Tessa Kiros. Everyone should own a copy of one of her cookbooks!

God is Faithful

This past weekend I travelled to Olathe, Kansas to speak to a group of ladies on the faithfulness of God. A former student from HUF 1986 had invited me to come and share my thoughts. Sheri is a woman I have grown to respect greatly over the years. She has always been such an encourager. Other than getting there and back ( trying to focus on the good in life, I will not digress to the current state of our travel industry) it was a perfect weekend. I stayed at a lovely hotel and enjoyed some catch up time with Sheri. The Ladies Day was wonderful. Such creativity! Each table was decorated beautifully for Fall with mums, and handmade Fall covered notebooks, pens, recipe cards, and a "Bountiful Harvest" bag of trail mix. And all of my friends know how I love Fall! I spoke twice, first on God's fatihfulness to us, and then again on our response to the faithfulness of God. As usual, I benefitted far more than anyone there through being forced to take the time and really study God's word. It is so powerful. As several women shared their life experiences with me, I was reminded once again. Any of these women could have spoken in my place. We all have a story of His faithfulness. Besides flying me up there, they blessed me with the most wonderful basket of goodies and a new Vera Bradley bag. It was a bit like Christmas:) I am very glad to be back home with my family, but I am so grateful for the opportunity God afforded me to go. It is an area of our country that I have not spent time in, and it is always encouraging to be reminded of the presence of faithful believers all over our country. Of course, I forgot to bring my camera:(

Girlfriends Who Know How to Live

I talked to my girlfriend, Jolene, yesterday morning. She was spending the morning with two of my other friends. Nothing out of the ordinary, it would seem. Except it was very out of the ordinary. You see, one of the three women in the room had gone on to be with God.Lavern's death was unexpected. And my dear friends Josie and Jolene were taking care of her like good friends do. Josie ( an awesome hairdresser that I REALLY miss) was doing her hair, and Jolene was fixing her nails. And it was really nothing extraordinary to either one of them. Just good friends helping each other out. We were able to spend some time together a few weeks ago when I was back in town for a few days. Josie has been battling for good health with everything she has to fight. She is giving her all and living every minute with purpose. When we said goodbye she sang me a line from the song Carol Burnett used to end each show with..."I'm so glad we had this time together...". Me, too. Jolene has lost her job, has knee surgery this week, and has been robbed of her first husband by cancer. But she calls to encourage ME! What extraordinary women. All four of us in our fifties. One of us now gone. And it makes me rethink our attempts in life to avoid suffering and loss. Because I see the sweet spirits in these women. There is a generosity and kindness, and an appreciation of just living, today. And a heart of gratitude that God has allowed them to wake up and share their lives with others, and to

serve, and lighten someone else's load. It makes me less afraid of what tomorrow holds, because I have seen with my own eyes that He will grant me grace for the journey, just as He has my dear friends.

Texas Times

We had the most wonderful week in Texas. VBS ran from Sunday night til Wednesday night with Terry teaching the adult class. I love hearing him speak and he really put his heart into his lessons. He spoke on the birth, parables, miracles, and His death and resurrection. We had a chance to visit with several former students from Harding and Freed-Hardeman, and shared a meal with the Mahana family. Our time with Justin and Chelsea was too short. It is delightful to see them as parents. Jonah is such a sweet natured baby. You can tell he has been loved and appreciated. Did I mention he is stylish to boot? The boys enjoyed hanging out with Justin, swimming and going to the movies with their Dad. Chelsea and I enjoyed some shopping in 110 degree heat:). We found a great fabric store, a paper and chocolate shop, and visited an American Girl store. I brought "Emily" home with me. I told Terry it was for our granddaughters, but I really just wanted an excuse to get the little apron, canning and preserve set. My last day there I finished up four jumpers for April (just the buttons), made a new set of curtains for the playroom, and turned their coffeetable into a HUGE  hassock so that Jonah would not bang his head as he starts being more mobile.The fabric is fun and looks great with the artwork Chelsea had painted-and the new chalkboard walls. I love being with my girls because we always have some project we're working on. When I was talking to Katie to tell her how much we were missing her being there, she had just finished dying a slipcover navy blue and painting 10 chairs white. I sure love my girls and their "Can Do" attitudes. Their Grandma Klein would be so proud!



The family room before: the bookcases prior to being painted and the coffee table.

The grey patch is chalkboard paint. 

We added foam to the top of the coffee table to soften the edges and protect the wood.

The foam along the bottom protects the wood from the duct tape.

 Cutting the fabric to make the top of the skirt

The completed family/playroom. Chelsea painted her old bookshelves and hung alphabet flashcards from a tension rod. Jonah's corner is to the right next to the tv cabinet.

Tv wall with chalboard paint on both sides

Jonah's corner.

The couches and new ottoman and curtains. Justin's office is in the back of the room. 

The completed ottoman!



Gotcha Day!

Jonah is ours. Well, honestly, we knew he was ours from the time we began praying for Justin and Chelsea's child. But as of July 15, he is in every way--legal speak-- my grandchild, their son, and a loved cousin. He was surrounded by Aunts, Uncles, Grandparents, etc. as we all stood alongside of his parents and welcomed him into this big, crazy family. What a joyful moment. It brought back sweet memories of Jordan's and Christian's "Gotcha Days".

Jordan- My Son, My Brother

July 8, 2011. A day we have prayed about for many years. At 1 AM Jordan called us from Tuscaloosa where he had been working with friends helping with tornado clean up. His friend, Grant, was up late working on a Bible lesson he would be presenting on an upcoming missions trip. Jordan decided that he no longer wanted to wait to put his Lord on in baptism. He did not want to wait until morning. So he called us and told us of his decision. As much as we would have loved to share the moment with him, we knew the timing was perfect. It was God's timing. It was a decision that only he could make, and it was the first of many decisions he would be called upon to make alone. He has been blessed with friends who share the same values as him, and examples for him to follow. He is a part of a youth group that is more than a social group to hang out with. It is a group that will help us, help him, as his walk in Christ begins.

The Fourth of July Celebration

We had a wonderful Fourth of July together with family. Good food, a beautiful cake compliments of Katie-followed by a magnificent fireworks display at Gold Park in Wetumpka. We assumed it would be cancelled because of afternoon showers, and by the time we arrived cars lined the road for miles. We drove right to the center of town- found two parking spots (using a bit of Terry's Italian parking skills:) and sat down on a grassy slope. And at that moment the show began! It was perfect. And as the last fireworks were exploding there was a beautiful voice singing "The Star Spangled Banner". It was a beautiful moment for me. I have spent many Fourth of July's on foreign soil. I have attempted to decorate a cake without red food coloring, made flags out of construction paper-and ALWAYS been grateful for the blessing of being a citizen of the United States. I have seen Bush burned in effigy in London, Rome, and Athens. After Sept. 11 it was hard to hear the people around me make disparaging remarks about my country, and how we had asked for the troubles we were experiencing. So, on a beautiful July night, in Wetumpka, AL, God allowed me to just sit and enjoy the gift of life in small town America.

A Visit from Great Grandpa and Grandma

June 15, Earl was asked to speak at Dalraida as a part of their Summer series. Terry was already scheduled to speak the same evening for the Pelham congregation, and really hated to miss hearing him. I have always appreciated Earl's lessons because I am aware of how many hours of Bible study take place while preparing for each lesson. He spoke on "By Faith- Joseph". I am so grateful that God blessed me many years ago with a father-in-law who serves God wholeheartedly. I am also grateful that almost 24 years ago, after the death of Terry's sweet mother, Gwen, that the Lord sent Lora to be his helpmeet. She is such a joy to spend time with..and boy, can she cook! Tim and Katie brought the children down to visit, and for once I had batteries in my camera. I had just finished new sun dresses for the girls so they were sweet "models" in the swing for me. What a blessing of faithfulness..to play with your great grandchildren on a beautiful summer day.

Dalraida and Wetumpka VBS

June 6-9 the boys attended VBS at the Wetumpka Church of Christ. They had gotten to know several of the kids from this congregation during the school year, as our homeschool co-op meets there twice a month. They had also met several additional children that had attended camp with them. VBS was like the VBS's of my childhood. Lots of singing, crafts, Bible Bowl, and t-shirts. The boys had a great time. Later in the month they attended Dalraida's VBS which was the 20-23. Terry and I both taught, Christian attended class, and Jordan was a helper, now that he has moved up to the youth group. I have enjoyed these unrushed days of Bible Camp, VBS's, and evenings eating outdoors while the boys swam in the pool. Summer as it was meant to be!

Indian Creek Christian Camp 2011

Where has this summer gone? A friend mentioned to me in passing about how long it had been since I had written, and I honestly believed it had been a few weeks. I wanted to keep this blog so I could remember the daily gifts I am blessed with. Looking back over previous posts has helped remind me of how good life is, and how very much I have to be thankful for. At the end of May the boys and I attended Indian Creek Christian Camp/ Apologetics Press Week. It was a wonderful experience. I was a counselor for 12-13 year old girls and they were delightful. The speakers each day were intelligent, articulate and knowledgeable about Science and evidences of God. I learned more than anyone! The mornings were spent in class, and the afternoon was spent doing sports or crafts. There was an evening lesson,followed by a devotional. I was appreciative that the boys were able to be surrounded by some really fine young people.

Graduation Weekend in Searcy

We headed to Henderson on Friday the 13th for a short visit with Jon and Kristin. We celebrated Jon's birthday with a dinner out together and then we stayed in our very beautiful "guest room" in our former home. The house and yard looked amazing. There is now a fountain to go along with the hammock under the trees. Very tranquil, something I never believed I would say about a home belonging to Jon:) I enjoyed a nice visit with my dear friend, Dana, who gifted me with a special book and other goodies. Our visit was too short, as always. The following morning we left for Searcy for my niece, Jessica's, graduation from Harding. We shared a lovely dinner, with most of my family having travelled to celebrate the special occasion. We stayed at Mona Lee's guest house ( a favorite cottage:). On Sunday we worshipped with the Westside congregation, and Sunday night with the College church, followed by grilled cheese at Kevin and Lori's. Having baby Jonah there was an added treat! There is never enough time to catch up with dear friends from the past. It had been many years since we had been to Westside, where Terry had served as an elder, and where our teenagers were nurtured and cared for during some really important years. It was also where our little boys were welcomed into our family. I wish we had had more time to spend there, but it was a wonderful reminder of how great Heaven will be. No more goodbyes.I was able to fit in a nice visit with Mona Lee, share some books together, and leave encouraged and edified. Monday we made the llooonnngggg trip home. A blessed weekend.

Paint job in Cabin

This is for you, Chelsea:) Do you see the sign you gave me on the mantel?

Sonlight- Core G

There's nothing more exciting for a homeschooling mother than the arrival of the new school years' curriculum. Everything is color coded and on the shelves waiting for our new year to begin. This year we will be starting World History-1 with Sonlight, Apologia Press' Anatomy and General Science, First Year Latin, Easy Grammar, and Teaching Textbooks Math. The day it arrived I emptied the box and then filled it back up with last years materials and took them to the post office to mail to an e-bayer:) Thanks to Tim and Katie's help, I was able to list some items on e-bay and sell them...and make over $400. Definitely worth the hassle of mailing!