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Archive for the ‘Family’ Category
What a great week we had with children and grandchildren. Tammy, Neil, and the three grandchildren were here from Maryland for a week. We had a scary close call I blogged about on my other blog.
Papa, Marmee, and Tyler. Is he too cute or what?
Feeding the Goats
Neighbor’s cows
Tammy and brothers (funny that all wearing camoflauge shorts)
Happy 9th B Day David
Army theme birthday Party
Steak and Shake
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Posted by Robin on August 18th, 2008
Filed as: Animals, Family, Homemaking |
This has been a super week. We’ve been going to the Agriculture Center every day for the Bedford County Fair.
Tuesday night the Horse Whisperer spoke. We learned a lot about connecting with horses and working with them instead of against them.
Yesterday afternoon was 4H Youth Day. The participants played games, ran relay races, and took various agriculture classes (yes, it counts as school work!) Here are a few photos.
Christopher was timid with the chickens.
Egg Race
Small town - we bought our home from the family showing this calf.
Look at these happy faces.
We’re looking forward to the miniature donkey and mule shows on Saturday.
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Posted by Robin on July 24th, 2008
Filed as: Animals, Family, Homeschool |
I began this list when and found out I was pregnant in 2001 and two of my daughters were pregnant. (I was 46; this was my eleventh pregnancy and ninth child). Someone recently asked my for my favorite pregnancy links and I thought it would be useful here. (more…)
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Posted by Robin on June 26th, 2008
Filed as: Family, Full Quiver |
Here are photos from Outrigger Island VBS mainly 1st and 2nd grades. Bible study, games, crafts, snacks, and music. We loved it. The children ask to play the music CD daily.
Catch a Wave (our themes for the five days)
1. God is Real
2. Jesus is the Son of God
3. Jesus is the Only Way
4. The Bible is God’s Word
5. My Actions Show What I believe
Games
Music
Island Crafts
Island Snacks
Super Music
Outside with the Fire Department
A LOT of children
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0PA7b2Lo2U[/youtube]
Keeping with the island theme I posted about sailing on the HOW Blog. See “Allowing God to Chart Your Course”
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Posted by Robin on June 18th, 2008
Filed as: Family |
We had an above-ground pool installed this week in our back yard. Works for me.
Now it’s time to landscape!
Works for Me Wednesday is a “blog carnival” (explained here). Be sure to check out lots of great tips on Works for Me Wednesday.
Works for Me Wednesday Posts:
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Posted by Robin on June 17th, 2008
Filed as: Family, Works for Me Wed |
This week we will be busy at our church with Outrigger Island Vacation Bible School . I’m teaching first grade. Based on Psalm 86:11, the goal of this tropical adventure theme is to help kids develop faith in God and His Word.
Here are my boys singing about being unshakable in a world of shifting sands.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0PA7b2Lo2U[/youtube]
Just in case you can’t pick them out here are David and Christopher.
VBS Motto:
Know the Truth!
Speak the Truth!
Live the Truth!
Keeping with the island theme I posted about sailing on the HOW Blog. See “Allowing God to Chart Your Course”
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Posted by Robin on June 9th, 2008
Filed as: Family |
Two weeks ago my miniature horses started driving school. Today my sons and I began our training. The trainer, Dale, put his horse, Smurf (the black horse), with Comanche for awhile and then Toby. We rode like the wind! I had a blast. It was even better than riding for me.
Here is a video of my first solo with Toby (the child’s voice in the background is my grandson, Jordan, telling us to go faster).
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-FKDWImpyI[/youtube]
My son, Danny, and Dale the trainer.
Jordan, Danny’s son.
Christopher and David with Dale
Smurf and Comanche. Comanche is too small to drive with Smurf, but eventually I’ll drive Toby and Comanche together (they are the same size). Dale said they’ll make a cute team.
Smurf in his work harness. It will take me a few lessons to learn how to strap and buckle this getup.
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Posted by Robin on May 30th, 2008
Filed as: Animals, Family |
 I began this week hemorrhaging and went to the Shelbyville Emergency Room where they immediately sent me to Vanderbilt Hospital in an ambulance.
There is nothing more sobering than an hour ride in an ambulance with flashing lights and screaming sirens.
Read about it there
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Posted by Robin on May 9th, 2008
Filed as: Family, Wordless Wednesday |
Time to tackle the lawn. I LOVE this weather! I’m looking forward to the smell of fresh cut grass. My daffodils came up nice but next year I’m going to tipple the number I plant around this tree. A few tulips are popping up too.
We are really enjoying the Great Pyrenees pups. They are spoiled rotten.
 Tackle it Tuesday is a blog meme to motivate you to tackle a project each week. Tackles are not limited to housework. Any task you need to accomplish can qualify.
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Posted by Robin on April 8th, 2008
Filed as: Family, Tackle it Tuesday |
This is the before photo of an soon-to-be accident. My son got creative. Do I allow him to keep his invention and wait for the inevitable? Or do I confiscate it before the disaster?
His name is David. David and the slingshot…sound familiar? I named him David because it means “beloved of God” not because it means “kill things by slinging stones.”
Yes, this is the same boy that taped the frog to the wall. Now he has a weapon. Beware!
Here is not so scary.
Boys….I love ‘em.
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Posted by Robin on March 14th, 2008
Filed as: Family, Humor |
My five sons (ages 6 to 28) and I in one photo. We rarely remember to get such photos when we are all together. This was taken on the swingset in our new TN backyard last week. Anthony was hiding behind me, so below is a shot of him on the trampoline.
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Posted by Robin on January 21st, 2008
Filed as: Family |
 We’ve been taping (TiVo) episodes of Discovery Channel’s Planet Earth to watch in the evenings. After dinner and the dishes I asked the boys which episode they wanted to watch: Deep Oceans, Great Plains, or Caves. They voted on Great Plains.
The world’s plains are home to massive herds of animals. This episode reveals the grasslands of Mongolia and the flooding plains of Papua New Guinea, and finds amazing gatherings of creatures, such as East Africa’s wildebeest and clusters of rare grazers like the beautiful Mongolian gazelles. We all sat mesmerized at God’s creations.
About three-quarters into the show my 8-year-old says, “This is really good, mom, but where are the planes?”  Of course this led to a discussion on homophones. 
If you are watching these shows, there is a neat follow-up site to look up animals by habitat.
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Posted by Robin on January 9th, 2008
Filed as: Family, Homeschool, Humor |
 Last month I had dinner with my six youngest children at a restaurant (ages 6 to 22). It had been a long time since we were all at one table. I loved every minute of reminiscing and laughter. Midway though the meal I realized and announced, “If I practiced birth control, I would be the only one at this table right now!” Everyone was quiet for two seconds then they all busted out laughing. What a blessing!
Full quivers are blessings, but they also produce many challenges. Families of all sizes will experience joy as well as heartache. When children are small they step on your toes; as adults they step on your hearts. When you love deeply you can be hurt deeply.
I have experienced the deepest hurt when our adult children have not understood my spiritual beliefs or convictions. I have also experienced a flood of grace, forgiveness, joy, and overwhelming deeper love when misunderstandings are resolved.
Dealing with hurt or difficult family situations can exhaust our strength and understanding. The temptation is to get angry, complain, or put up a giant wall. But the mature and godly answer is to love as God loves us. I’m still working on it. Dying to self is the solution and allowing the Holy Spirit to live through us is the answer (Gal. 2:20, Luke 9:23). When we work for God we are working a spiritual purpose, an eternal purpose, a godly purpose.
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. (1 Cor. 15:58).
During family trials our motives and understandings can be transformed into strength:
And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. (1 Pet. 5:10).
God comforts us when we’re afflicted, and from His consolation we learn to comfort others. I received an encouraging email this morning on this issue:
…A seed appears dead when some of the most vital stages of life force are developing under that dry surface; and some of the most abundant-looking trees have to be pruned or else those same leafy branches will bear no fruit at all next season. Only the Gardener understands this fully. We seem to forget, year after year, as we lament over the dead plants of autumn and the pile of leafy pruned branches on the brush pile! He is at work, and next spring’s growth will be glorious as we allow Him His will in our “garden.” Hallelujah!…
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Posted by Robin on January 3rd, 2008
Filed as: Family |
I have several Erma Bombeck books and frequently reread them for a good chuckle. You can get them used on Amazon for a few dollars. She wrote this in her column on January 29, 1969.
 A young mother writes: “I know you’ve written before about the empty-nest syndrome, that lonely period after the children are grown and gone. Right now I’m up to my eyeballs in laundry and muddy boots. The baby is teething; the boys are fighting. My husband just called and said to eat without him, and I fell off my diet. Lay it on me again, will you?”
OK. One of these days, you’ll shout, “Why don’t you kids grow up and act your age!” And they will. Or, “You guys get outside and find yourselves something to do . . . and don’t slam the door!” And they won’t.
You’ll straighten up the boys’ bedroom neat and tidy: bumper stickers discarded, bedspread tucked and smooth, toys displayed on the shelves. Hangers in the closet. Animals caged. And you’ll say out loud, “Now I want it to stay this way.” And it will.
You’ll prepare a perfect dinner with a salad that hasn’t been picked to death and a cake with no finger traces in the icing, and you’ll say, “Now, there’s a meal for company.” And you’ll eat it alone.
You’ll say, “I want complete privacy on the phone. No dancing around. No demolition crews. Silence! Do you hear?” And you’ll have it.
No more plastic tablecloths stained with spaghetti. No more bedspreads to protect the sofa from damp bottoms. No more gates to stumble over at the top of the basement steps. No more clothespins under the sofa. No more playpens to arrange a room around.
No more anxious nights under a vaporizer tent. No more sand on the sheets or Popeye movies in the bathroom. No more iron-on patches, rubber bands for ponytails, tight boots or wet knotted shoestrings.
Imagine. A lipstick with a point on it. No baby-sitter for New Year’s Eve. Washing only once a week. Seeing a steak that isn’t ground. Having your teeth cleaned without a baby on your lap.
No PTA meetings. No car pools. No blaring radios. No one washing her hair at 11 o’clock at night. Having your own roll of Scotch tape.
Think about it. No more Christmas presents out of toothpicks and library paste. No more sloppy oatmeal kisses. No more tooth fairy. No giggles in the dark. No knees to heal, no responsibility.
Only a voice crying, “Why don’t you grow up?” and the silence echoing, “I did.”
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Posted by Robin on January 3rd, 2008
Filed as: Family, Humor |
Happy Birthday Jordan!
 (more…)
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Posted by Robin on December 28th, 2007
Filed as: Family |
Our church gave Christmas baskets to several local retirement homes. The boys made popcorn balls and strung popcorn as our contributions. I thought is was nice that they included photo f the children making the baskets on the basket tags.
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Posted by Robin on December 18th, 2007
Filed as: Family |
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Posted by Robin on October 6th, 2007
Filed as: Family, Scrapbooking |
Boys! Scotch tape is stronger than you think. The frog was very much alive. All four legs kicking when I came upon him.
The frog was released up-harmed and hippity hopped happily away.
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Posted by Robin on June 18th, 2007
Filed as: Family, Scrapbooking |
Our 13th grandchild.
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Posted by Robin on December 21st, 2006
Filed as: Family, Scrapbooking |
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My favorite candy. My aunt asked me to send the recipe and I decided to make her this page.
* 1 lb dark chocolate
* 12 oz. white chocolate
* 3/4 tsp. peppermint extract
* Ten 6-inch canes or round candies
Line the bottom of an 11″ by 17″ cookie sheet with sides with aluminum foil or wax paper.
Melt the dark chocolate in a microwave safe bowl (a few chunks at a time at 50% power or less). Pour the melted chocolate into cookie sheet and spread to a quarter of an inch depth. Cool slightly and then place in the refrigerator for 20 minutes.
While the first layer chills, crush the peppermint by placing in a heavy freezer bag and tapping with a hammer to desired size.
Melt the white chocolate. Add the melted white chocolate and 1/4 tsp. of peppermint extract and stir until smooth. Pour this evenly over the first layer of chocolate.
Sprinkle the top with the pieces of crushed peppermint. Let it sit for ten minutes before placing it in the refrigerator to set. After an hour the bark should be ready to be broken into pieces.
Store in an airtight container in a cool place or freeze. Allow it to come to room temperature before serving.
To Christmas or Not to Christmas? Holiday Dilemmas
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Posted by Robin on December 18th, 2006
Filed as: Family, Recipes, Scrapbooking |
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