Little Ladies

Doug Phillips from The Vision Forum had an excellent blog on "Doll Play" that would definitely be worth your time.
Check it out here:
http://www.visionforum.com/hottopics/blogs/dwp/2007/09/2996.aspx
It sickens my stomach to even walk down the Barbie/Bratz aisle at Wal-Mart. What are these people thinking, and worse, what are these mothers thinking? Here is my Madelyn with her doll "Liberty".


Madelyn is a little girl with a variety of interests. While she does coon hunt with her brothers and dad, and she has a serious farmer's tan from hours of daily outside play, she already knows more about cooking, sewing, home remedies, child training, and general homemaking than I did at age 20 when I got married. Her best friend in the world is Caleb, and I enjoy hearing them talk about the future when they'll both marry and have families of their own. I strive to direct their play, so that it is not only fun, but also prepares them for their adult roles as helpmeet and homemaker, and provider and leader. For Sis, that means a doll, an apron, a bonnet, a play dress, cookware, a first aid kit. For KK, a coonskin hat (or cowboy, or soldier, or just a cap like Dad wears), a pellet gun, a hatchet, a bow, a dog. [Incidently, our family wasn't even phased by the thousands of Mattell recalls. We have very few "toys" of that nature. Dress those kids up and send them outside!!]

Here is a delightful conversation Sis and I had a few months ago:
Sis: "Mom, when I grow up and marry, can I live in MawMaw's house?"
Me: "Well, that would be okay, but your husband will build you a house of your own."
Sis: "But what if he can't build a house?"
Me: "Well, perhaps he'll buy you one."
Sis: "But what if he can't buy one?"
Me: "Well, if he can't build or buy you a house, he can't even think about marrying my little girl. He isn't ready to marry anyone, but certainly not my daughter."
Sis: "Yeah, I guess you're right. I'll just have to let KK take him out back and kick him in the butt." [said with complete sincerity, without cracking a smile]

Just Having Some Fun....

Faster than a speeding bullet...










More powerful than a locomotive....

Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound...

Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird, it's a plane, it's Superman!

Yes, it's Superman, strange visitor from another planet who came to Earth with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men. Superman, who can change the course of mighty rivers, bend steel in his bare hands;

and who, disguised as Clark Kent, mild-mannered reporter for a great metropolitan newspaper, fights a never ending battle for truth, justice, and the American way."

Go get the camera!

A few weeks ago, I was trying to finish up with our garden bounty and do the last of my canning. I needed the boys occupied for a little while, so I let them play on the porch. They love to paint, so I got them 2 mason jars, some paint, brushes, and paper. They were happy, so I went about my business. A few minutes later, I hear a shriek from Caleb. "Mom, come quick! What are you going to do?" This is what I found.

So, what did I do? I got my camera, of course. They had actually taken their shirts off, painted each other, their hair, the porch, the posts, and even my plants - everything but the paper! Yes, it took me hours to clean it up. And the salsa got finished around midnight. But just look at those grins. Of course they will never paint again until they are married and move out of my house, but this is definitely a memory we will have forever!

Happy Birthday to Caleb & Seth!

This past weekend we celebrated 2 of our boys' birthdays. Caleb turned 10 years old. He wanted a cowboy birthday party. He informed me that soon he may be too old for such things. In my heart, I know this is true. We went all out, making wanted posters of our friends, playing horseshoes, and having a shooting contest with a cork gun. He had a wonderful time. We got him a new coon skin cap and a Confederate soldier hat. He is growing into such a fine young gentlemen. It did my heart good to see him, without my suggestion, go around thanking everyone for coming. I've found it's very difficult in our affluent culture today, to develop a thankful heart in our children (and ourselves for that matter!).

This is Caleb's horse cake.

Seth turned 4 years old. We got him a Bible, and some SEA MONKEYS! He has never cared anything about cowboys, so I ended up doing 2 birthday cakes. Seth is a hobbit at heart. He loves flowers and gardens and music, and he even has nasty feet most of the time. (As if they didn't stay dirty enough, he usually ends up painting them with my mascara!) I made a Shelob cake for him. Please notice poor Frodo in the web. We all had a great time. Our family and friends are so loving and generous to our children, and we feel very blessed.

This is my sweet little neice, Maggie. Isn't she adorable?

My New Blog

By worldly measures, I live an extremely boring life. So why does the already crowded world wide web need one more blog? Well, at the urging of a friend (Melanie, you've created a monster!) I thought I'd give it a try.

Unlike many women today, I don't have a college degree. Or a career. Or a social life. Or a lot of friends (though the ones I have are priceless jewels!) I do have scars from childbirth, bags under my eyes, more gray hairs than I care to admit, holes in my dress pockets, chocolate milk stains in my carpet, and very little time to myself.

But, believe me or not, I'm perfectly happy and content. I guess the better word would be "fulfilled", as in knowing you're doing what you were born to do. I hope to fill this blog with news of all the blessings that come along with the scars and bags and stains and holes. Homemaking certainly isn't glamorous, but it is very satisfying, knowing that all my work holds eternal value. Everyone I know is busy with something, and I hope to keep myself busy with things that will count when we get to the Other Side. For me, right now, that means pouring all my time and energy into my husband and the precious little souls that the Lord entrusted to us.

Here are Bubbie & Seth making Mother Bear's Fish Stew


KK & Sis, Best Buddies