God is Amazing!

Well life here has been very interesting as it has in many areas of the province in the last week.

Last weekend started with really hot humid weather which resulted in thunderstorms Friday, Saturday, Sunday & Monday. Tornados were spotted and hit some people's homes. Gratitude to God that we are safe, feeling for those who came out of the storms with loss.

Every night we sat up in the wee hours of the morning watching the rain pound down, hail (2 nights) and wind blow.

As farmers we sit there in awe and a realization hits that what you have worked on all spring and part of summer could just be wiped out in a matter of minutes. Thunderstorms for me show me the majesty of God. The constant thunder and lightning one night was just amazing. WOW!

Our crops were okay, a couple got mildly hit, but nothing as serious as some of our neighbors. So again, we are thankful that God spared our crops and yet feel for the ones whose crops were destroyed.

Our phone was down until later on Wednesday. It was interesting not having contact via phone and internet. We had our cell phone on, but not many people know that number. Guess what was one of the first phone calls we got when we were back on the line? A credit card company trying to sign us up. Didn't miss that part!

And to top everything off....I left our camera out in the rain. We had some family fun on Sunday playing outside and I was taking some great pictures and put it down, we went to have our campfire, and I didn't bring the camera with me. We cleaned up, went in, went to bed. In the morning Megan asked me, "Mom, did you bring the camera in?" Oh man! So the camera is in the fix it shop! Thankfully they can fix it but it will be a couple of weeks before we get it back. Just in time for us to go on holidays! Oh well at least we have a video camera!!

We have been planning to go on holidays. We wanted to get our first cut of alfalfa done. We got about half of it baled but when we were just about ready to bale the second half we got rain and rain and rain. So today, the weather and the forcast looked nice, the sun was shining so Mark and Josh went out there to get what hay wasn't drenched with puddles, and guess what??? It started raining!!!

So as you can see the last few days have been a test, ups and downs. But in the end it is all just stuff. We have God's love and enduring promises, we have our loved ones. Life is amazing! God is amazing!

Here are some family pictures 'before' I left the camera in the rain!

Go Nate Go!

You're never too cool to play croquet!

Pausing for a photo

There's always time to pet a kitty!

Who can resist those eyes!?!

Brooke's Summer Day by Megan

It Doesn't Make Sense

Okay, so here's the deal.

I planted a perennial last year (can't remember the name)

I planted it because it is supposed to attract butterflies.

So the other day we were admiring the flower garden and then we saw them!

Caterpillars all over this plant.

Chowing down on this plant!

Then Jennifer piped up and said she thought they were monarch caterpillars.

Mark looked it up and sure enough, they are monarch caterpillars!

Okay.......So I planted a plant to attract butterflies, it attracted them in a pre-butterfly state, and they are eating the plant that is supposed to attract them!

To me this defeats the purpose! Does anyone else have this 'problem'?

It will be interesting to see what happens from here. A real live science lesson!

Such a Time as This

Well in respect to Father's Day yesterday I thought I would say a few words.

I don't know how many times Mark or I have heard from parents whose children are grown up and have left home (especially dad's) saying how they have regretted not spending more time with their children in their younger years. It's so easy to let life pass us by being busy with 'things' and before we know it those 'moments' with our children are lost forever. Don't get me wrong, there are still moments, even when children are grown, but I'm talking about those moments that will forever shape and be etched in our children's memories. The times spent together talking, training, teaching, mentoring, playing, reading, helping and so on.

I was reflecting on my childhood and what I remembered of my dad. And I came to the conclusion that it wasn't the long hard hours he worked for us or the things that he bought for me, but it was those special moments that him and I spent together.

I remember sitting on the couch beside him and watching football. I had no interest whatsoever in football at first, but I would sit there for hours just to be close to him. We wouldn't say much except for the occasional explanation of a play.

Another thing I loved to do was go trucking with him. When I was around 4 years old he drove milk truck and later on a gravel truck. I remember the fun I had going with him. My dad is a man of few words, so we didn't 'talk' a lot, but he showed me his love by taking the time to have a child tag along.

I remember his patience in me 'styling' his hair!! I would spend hours wetting, combing, wetting, styling, combing out knots.... Now it seems like a dumb thing, but to me then, it was big stuff and he let me do it!

I remember hanging around him when he was fixing a vehicle. This is when I was older, probably 14 or so. He would take the time to tell me the names of the tools and the parts of a vehicle. He taught me how to drive a standard, patiently as I stalled it a few times. We laughed!!!

I rolled 2 cars (yes, count them, I did say 2) before I was 18. He never got mad at me (even though I am sure he was quite frustrated) but instead he told me, "I don't care about the car, as long as you are alright". I remember feeling really loved at that moment because he had every right to get upset at me. And you know, he has never mentioned it since, the only time we have talked about it is when I bring it up.

He has an amazing heart for worship and I still love to watch him in a church service worshipping the Lord. We have often laughed about how 'off tune' he is but it doesn't matter, because his heart is worshipping.

So as I was thinking of all these things I realized they didn't cost him a dime (except maybe the wrecked cars), it was time, patience, love, training, teaching, these are the fond memories I have and they are the things that have formed me into part of who I am today.

So I guess I want to encourage all of us as parents. Time goes so fast, take advantage of every moment you have with your children to be who God has called you to be to them.

One of my favorite verses in the Bible comes from Deut. 6:5-7 "And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and all your soul, and with all your might. And these words which I command you this day, shall be in your heart. And you shall teach them diligently to your children and shall talk about them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way and when you lie down, and when you rise up."

Many times we 'teach' our children by our actions more than our words. What they see in you, they will usually adopt as part of who they are. What do your children see in you, what message are you sending to them. Do they know that they are more important to you than your work and all the 'stuff' that you have? What kind of memories will your children have of you when they are grown and have left home. What kind of memories will you have of the time spent with them. I hope we can see in things in hindsight and not regret the time lost with our children but instead feel satisfied in the time we invested into their little lives.

Be encouraged Dads. God has chosen you for this amazing opportunity to mentor one on one the little ones he has lent you for

'such a time as this'.

Me and My Dad

Consider This

Ponder This: Campolo on Consumerism "Consider this," author and speaker Tony Campolo says. "The typical size of an American house has increased 40 percent in the last 25 years. It's not because we're having more children; we're having fewer children! We need bigger and bigger houses simply to hold all the stuff we don't need. What's even worse is that we're renting out space in storage bins because we can't contain all the stuff we have in the huge houses we have at our dispoal. It has become an insane society as far as surplus is concerned." Hmmmm......What's wrong with that picture?

We Sold Our Van

Well actually, God sold our van!

We had done our own thing, tried the Auto Trader, put up ads all to no avail, in fact only one phone call. I was praying that we would be able to bless a large family with a good deal because I know how hard it is to find these vans. And it just so happened that a friend of ours knew of someone who has 7 children and needed a large van and it was a match! I am glad it is not sitting here anymore collecting dust (not that I regularly dusted it or anything). So good-bye to our faithful Ford Club Wagon that gave us many good rides. I hope it does as good for the next family!

Do they look alike?

Here we have Megan & Brooke.

They are the two in our family that I think look most alike.

What do you think?

Crusty

With all the rain we have had lately it has packed the dirt in our garden so that it is just a hard crust on top. Yesterday I was checking if everything was growing. I was amazed as I looked at some of the plants and how they have pushed their way through the hard crust. Seeds like carrots that are so tiny, have made it through and are growing nicely. It must have been much harder for them to push through this hard crust rather than nice soft soil, but I have to think the plants are stronger for it.

This reminds me of my life as a Christian. God sometimes puts ‘hard’ things in my path to make me grow strong. I have two choices. I can sit there under the surface and become bitter and angry or complain to God, or I can allow these things to make me grow and make me stronger in Him. He doesn’t put these things in my path because He loves to see me hurting, but instead because He loves to see me grow, He wants my roots in Him deep and strong so that when the winds and rains of life come, I will be strong in Him and be able to handle less than ideal conditions. It is so easy to bemoan and groan in my afflictions, but God says in the Bible to rejoice in these things.

“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; But rejoice, inasmuch as you are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, you may be glad also with exceeding joy. If you be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are you; for the spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.” 1 Peter 4:12-14a

How many times do I think of my ‘fiery trial’ as an inconvenience and ‘unfair’ and yet God uses these things to bring glory to Him as we grow and mature and encourage others. So I want to encourage you today as Corrie ten Boom said, “There is no pit deeper that God’s love is not deeper still.” So whatever pit you are in today remember, God’s love for you is deeper and allow Him to ‘grow’ you as a strong, deeply rooted plant that will produce much fruit for Him and bring glory to His name!

Two Month Milestone

Dear Mikaya,

Another milestone, 2 months old.
You are such a little sweetie! You love to smile and just wait for someone to come into your view so you can smile at them! You even occasionaly laugh! And as quickly as you can be happy and smiling, you can get very upset!! You make us laugh sometimes with your quick mood swings.

Already we can see your little personality forming. You are one very determined little girl. You rolled over from your tummy to your back when you were 8 weeks old! Over night you went from screaming every moment you were in your car seat and swing to almost liking it. I don’t understand this except someone must have been praying for you (I haven’t asked her yet, but I think it was Grama). So now after you are done eating and everyone is done cuddling you we put you in your swing and you are contented, you even fall asleep occasionally! And when we go for a car ride you are quite happy in your car seat! Yeah, this should make our summer holidays a little easier.

Your brothers and sisters still absolutely think you are a little bundle of joy. Caleb likes to cuddle you often and is very good with you! Nathan comes by often and gives you many kisses (he’s a kissy guy!) Zachary asks often if he can hold you and Jesse is still awed by your little hands and feet. And of course big brother Joshua loves it when you give him ‘that smile’ and likes to talk to you. Your sisters do a lot to help mommy take care of you, they change you, feed you, entertain you and put you to sleep. Brooke thinks you need many blankets and is always bringing them to you. When you cry she comes to you and says ‘Oh, what’s the matter?’ I can see already that Brooke and you are going to be close friends. You are very blessed to have so many brothers and sisters to love on you.

You sleep much better now. You can fall asleep in your crib all by yourself and sometimes even nap your whole nap in there. At night you have given mommy lots of rest as you usually sleep for 7 hours straight. Thank you!

Your firsts this month:

first time to McDonalds

first smile and ‘coo’

your first garage sale

your first garden planting

your first trip to Forte Whyte Center

first trip hauling cattle

first time to cry yourself to sleep

first trip to the zoo

first time rolling over

first wedding banquet

Wow that’s a lot of firsts in one month!
Praise reports this month

The angels held you when Jennifer fainted while you were in her arms! You are alright and so is she.

You fall asleep on your own and like your car seat and swing much better.

We love you Mikaya and look forward to getting to know you better as we spend more time together.

I Have an Amazing Husband

You may be thinking, what did he do, bring her flowers, take her on a weekend getaway, clean the house, take her out for supper? Is it his birthday, is it 'Love Your Husband Day'? Not this time, this time it's just because of the little day to day things! Sometimes I just look at him and say 'I have an amazing husband!'
Take last week for example, he pulls this old truck out of the bush and was going to make a dump trailer for hauling manure. I look at this old beat up truck and ask, 'How are you going to do this?' 'Oh, I'll just take the cab off, put a hitch on and put some hydraulics on it.' He made it sound so simple. And guess what, he made it look simple too! The girl's and I looked out the window at his progress and said 'He is amazing!' And within a couple of days he had his trailer done! I wish I would have taken some before and after pictures so you could really appreciate what I am talking about! Amazing!!

Another thing is the way he relates to his family. To me, he always makes me feel beautiful, whether I am 9 months pregnant, in my 6 week post partum state, full of dirt & grime from helping in the field, ready for church, just woke up or whatever state I am in, he has never made me feel less than beautiful. To our children he relates to each one in such an amazing way! So many times I just sit back & watch and marvel. From a 17 year old son, to 2 teenage daughters, to a 12 year old daughter, to 4 boys, to 2 little girls, he goes from each one, loving them, teasing them, making them laugh, comforting them, talking to them, training them & making them feel like they have his undivided attention. He seems to know what to say and when to say it! Amazing!

His love for God and wisdom of His ways is also amazing. So many times I have been captivated by his interpretation of the scriptures and he makes the most complicated verses seem so simple. He is not afraid to think outside the box, and wants to be the person God wants him to be and lead our family where God wants us to go. He cares more about what God thinks than what people think. It has not always been the popular or easy road, but he has faithfully lead our family to the places that God has called us to. Amazing!!

He relates well to people in general. Whether it be a perfect stranger on the street, a long time friend, a fellow church goer, family, in the workplace, young, elderly, teens, adults, whoever it is, he can carry on a conversation and make that person feel God's love. Amazing!!

He is so FUNNY! He makes our home a light hearted place to be as there is often a joke, pun or one-liner on his lips. He can make the most stressful situations seem light. Amazing!!

Well I could go on & on but I think you get the picture.
I have an AMAZING husband. Thanks hon for being you!

Tell me about that amazing person in your life!

CHECK IT OUT!

Hey (for you Penner's!) We've started a recipe blog. So if your interested in what goes on in our kitchen (well not everything that goes on!) then check it out. http://quivercooking.blogspot.com/

It's a boat, It's a car, It's a......

BOX!

Jennifer got a new keyboard and as soon as the boys saw the box their imaginations were running wild. First it was a box, then it was a car, today Nate even used it as a bed. The simplest thing yet it made for such fun! Hurray for big boxes, they make the best toys!

TOO FUNNY AND TOO SAD

I had an interesting experience the other day. I met a lady who looked at the 3 children I had with me that day and said, "You have three, I only have 2 and I can't handle them. I don't know how you do it!" Caught a little off guard at this comment seeing that I didn't even have 1/3 of our children with me, I just smiled. But as she went on and on about how did I do it, I just had to say something! So I said "You wouldn't believe it if I told you how many more we have!" To this she threw up her hands and exclaimed, "I don't even want to hear it!" and she got in her car and drove away. Even though this was quite humorous, it is also sad at the same time. Is this really the general feeling of society today? Two is even too much? Now those of you who know me well know that I love having a big family and I wouldn't trade it for anything. I love being a mom to 10 kids! One day another lady was talking to me about our family and made the comment that I shouldn't have had so many children. I turned to her and said. "Which one do you suggest I shouldn't have had?" To this she was a little lost for words, but really. Why would anyone wish their children away. Yes they take energy, patience, lots of love and forgiveness, but why do we tend to focus on the negatives? I don't even let thoughts come into my head of when I was single or just married and had all the time in the world to do my things. That's counter-productive. God has given me these children, and my job, my privelage is to love and care for them. No self pity, no grumbling, no wishing is going to change that. Mothering is hard work, I will never deny that, but what are the rewards? A part of you that will be there as long as God wills, someone who will always come to you for advice and a little lovin'. I am tired of the attitude that children are an inconvenience and mess up our life. The Bible says children are a blessing and a reward. So if you have children, give them an extra hug today and thank God for them, whether it's one, two, three,.....or 15 (yes, I know people who have that many!) and rejoice in being a mom.

First Pregnancy

This is one of the blog surrveys going around. Let's see if I remember that far back :-)


1. WAS YOUR FIRST PREGNANCY PLANNED? Yes, by God


2. WERE YOU MARRIED AT THE TIME? Yes, for 7 mths


3. WHAT WERE YOUR REACTIONS? Very excited!


4. WAS ABORTION AN OPTION FOR YOU? Absolutely NOT


5. HOW OLD WERE YOU? 18


6. HOW DID YOU FIND OUT YOU WERE PREGNANT? In those days (boy that makes me feel old) you went to the good 'ol clinic and got a test done. That's what I did!


7. WHO DID YOU TELL FIRST? My amazing husband


8. DID YOU WANT TO FIND OUT THE SEX? No


9. DUE DATE? Jan. 4/90


10. DID YOU HAVE MORNING SICKNESS? Yes, but nothing real bad.


11. WHAT DID YOU CRAVE? Chocolate Swiss Rolls


12. WHO/WHAT IRRITATED YOU THE MOST? My husbands boss because he made him work so much (we were on a farm)


13. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CHILD'S SEX? A boy


14. DID YOU WISH YOU HAD THE OPPOSITE SEX OF WHAT YOU WERE GETTING? No, we were thrilled he was a healthy red headed boy.


15. HOW MANY POUNDS DID YOU GAIN THROUGHOUT THE PREGNANCY? Very little, I think under 20 (wish I could have kept up that trend!)


16. DID YOU HAVE A BABY SHOWER? Yes


17. WAS IT A SURPRISE OR DID YOU KNOW? I knew.


18. DID YOU HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS DURING YOUR PREGNANCY? Yes, high blood pressure (which I have had every pregnancy since and found out it is the 'white coat syndrome' meaning it goes up just for the doctors :-)


19. WHERE DID YOU GIVE BIRTH? Morden Hospital


20. HOW MANY HOURS WERE YOU IN LABOR? Induced 1 week early because I had high blood pressure. Mild labor for approx. 2 days before he decided to make his appearance.


21. WHO DROVE YOU TO THE HOSPITAL? My husband


22. WHO WATCHED YOU GIVE BIRTH? My hubby and the Dr. and Nurses


23. WAS IT NATURAL OR C-SECTION? Natural


24. DID YOU TAKE MEDICINE TO EASE THE PAIN? Demoral, but I would never do it again. I felt so out of control of what I was saying (something about the pelicans at Pelican Lake :-)


25. HOW MUCH DID YOUR CHILD WEIGH? 7lbs 8 oz.


26. WHEN WAS YOUR CHILD ACTUALLY BORN ? Jan. 1/90 (New Year's Baby)


27. WHAT DID YOU NAME HIM/HER? Joshua Mark


28. HOW OLD IS YOUR FIRST BORN TODAY? 17 years and 4 months

This is me just a couple days before Joshua was born.

Looks like I had to stick my belly out so it would show!

I don't seem to have that 'problem' anymore!!

Reflections

I have been a mom now for 17 years, 4 months and 10 days.
Over those years I have learned a few things and continue to learn them every day.
In the occasion of Mother’s Day I thought it would be a good time to reflct on those things.

Money can’t buy everything
It can’t buy the miracle of birth
It can’t buy the look of a ‘full tummy’ on an infant
It can’t buy the look of accomplishment in a toddler’s first steps
It can’t buy the funny things a 2 year old has to say
It can’t buy the look of pride on a child when they learn to ride without training wheels
It can’t buy a child’s look of wonder at God’s amazing creation
It can’t buy the inquisitiveness of a 3 year old
It can’t buy the adventure of teaching a child to read
It can’t buy the elation of a teenager getting their license
It can’t buy the tranquility of a family around a campfire
It can’t buy the drawings of children
And the list goes on and on…..

The Joy of the Lord is My Strength
If I can’t laugh, I wither.
There are so many things everyday in life that you can choose to
frown or choose to laugh at. I have failed to laugh many times
when I should have. Laughter is a choice..

Trust
I can spend all my days fretting about my childrens health and safety
or I can choose to trust. I can’t be everywhere at once. I can’t control
the health of my children, but my God can, and I need to choose (there’s
that word again) to trust in Him. That He knows and loves my children
more than I do, and will take care of them better than I ever could.

Children Grow Up Fast
When we had our first 4 children ages 5 and under people used to tell me ‘enjoy our kids while they are young because before you know it they will be all grown up.'
I remember thinking, “That is easy for you to say!!! I can’t wait until they grow up and can feed themselves, change themselves, get themselves a drink, are potty trained ect.”
Now today as a mom of both teenagers and little children I realize that what those warned me is true. So enjoy your kids all the stages that they are in, because they do grow up so fast. What you think you will never get through now, will be just a memory in a few years.

Relationship Matters
When my children are grown, it won’t matter

if they wore the nicest clothes,

if they had the best education,

if they had enough friends,

if they drove the nicest car,

if they…..

What will matter is their relationship with their heavenly Father

and with Mark & I. If I work more on getting them things now
rather on the relationships that I have mentioned, I have failed miserably.

Those other things will pass away, our relationships will not.

Our Children’s Holiness is More Important Than Their Happiness
There are hard choices we have had to make as parents in the holiness vs. happiness category.
We all want our children to be happy, and sometimes we let it take the place of their holiness.
It is hard to see our children disappointed or even angry at the decisions we make,
but we need to be careful not to substitute their happiness for holiness.
When we stand before God and give account of our lives, He is not going
to ask us if we made our children happy, He is going to ask us if we taught
them to love Him with all their hearts, soul, mind and strength and to live a
holy life before Him.

Being a Mom is a Ministry
Over the years I have found that there is so much pressure from the church
to be ‘involved’ in the ministries of the church. I was once in the ‘involved’ trap
and trying to be a good mother at the same time. I had so many areas that I wanted
to serve in, Sunday School, Senior Ministry, Youth Ministry, Worship, Drama and
the list went on and on. And I kept doing more and more until one day God got my
attention and said ‘What are you doing?’ “I am serving You God.” I said.
“No, you are serving man“, He replied, “if you were serving me you would devote
your time and energy to your husband, the blessings I have given you and your home.”
Over a period of time I began to realize I did not have to go outside my home to serve God, it was all right here. And when I began to see my children as my ministry, my attitude toward them began to change. They were no longer an inconvenience to MY ministry, they WERE my ministry.
I was amazed at how this changed my perspective. And I came to the point where I

was satisfied being a mom and felt there could be nothing I would rather do. And now I do not view my children as in the way when I have to miss some things like ladies bible study, when I have to be in the baby room instead of in the church service, when I can’t shop whenever I want, when I am so tired I can hardly think, when my children are sick and I have to miss something I have looked forward to for a long time, when I am once again pregnant and don’t have the energy……..Because I now know that I am right where God wants me to be, a MOM.

A Clean House Is Highly Overrated
My house will never be as clean as when I didn’t have children.
And that’s okay. I cannot measure myself according to other people,
but I need to measure myself according to God’s standard, and this includeds
our home. If there are no health and safety issues, if my husband is happy,
if our company feels comfortable, then it’s all okay!

Self Pity Sucks
There is no place for self pity in my role as a Mom.
If I pity myself then I see life through my lense instead of God’s.
I will have valleys, but in them I need to know that I know that God is faithful
and that my view of His faithfulness should not depend on my circumstances.

Teenagers Are Wonderful
The world view, and even someimes the churches view is that the teenage years are to
be dreaded because they will be full of rebellion and heartache. This simply is not true.
We believe and have experienced God’s grace in this as we have been thoroughly
enjoying our teenagers (we have 3 in our home right now). We have always had this
belief in our hearts, but the thought was always in the back of our mind, 'but we have never had teenagers, can we be confident in this?'

Well now our oldest is 17 and we can with confidence proclaim,

“TEENAGERS ARE WONDERFUL”

Are their hard times? Yes, but if we have our children's hearts, if our

parenting years have not been just do's and don'ts, but instead,

do this because this is what God says,

if they have been taught to obey out of a love for God and us as parents,

then the teenage years will be a blessing!

Now on the Less Serious Side
Toilets draw kids like magnets, some even use them as swimming pools.
When everything is quiet, find them!
Butter really does fly.
It’s impossible to listen to 5 people at once.
If you want any chocolate you have to hide it!
If kids walk in the garden first thing in the spring, they will loose their boots.
Peanut butter takes gum out of hair.
Diaper rash ointment is very hard to wash off of a kid plastered with it.
Fat sticks to just about everywhere after you have a baby.
Some kids prefer to jump in the tub with all their clothes on.
Potty training tests your character.
Infants can smell when it is meal time and prefer to eat then too.
Teenagers ‘wake up’ around 11:00 pm
and last but not least, you can never get too many kisses from a toddler.

If you are a mom, be encouraged, it's an amazing calling,

one that will impact generations!

Just to let you know.....

We're Done Seeding!

Yeah!

p.s.. No, these photos were not staged.

What makes you think so :)

Our New Friend

Every since Mikaya was born, she likes to be held...

And held, and held, and held......You get the picture!

At night we put her down and she sleeps just fine,

but doesn't like her bed during the day.

That's okay, I would rather it that way than the other

way around.

The first month was fine, there was always someone

to hold her, but now there is so much to do with yard

work and exta stuff that we needed a way to hold her

and be mobile at the same time.

So I bought the amazing MamanKangaourou (from Quebec)

wrap off of ebay.

And we love it! It has been so handy and she is in

it most of the day.

It is one size fits all, so my girls can wear it too.

There are 5 different postitions to carry them (including

the nursing position).

Your hands are free to do what you need to do.

It is easy to put on (once you get the hang of it)

and you just throw it in the washer to clean it.

It folds up nice and small for throwing in the

diaper bag.

You can use it from newborn up to 35 lbs.

So I say, 3 cheers for MamanKangourou.

You have made our life a little easier!

Here's their website http://www,mamankangourou.com

Here is my lovely model Kerri demonstrating

our new friend!

Quote of the Day

Children are not expensive, lifestyles are!

Dear Mikaya

You are one month old today!

It seems like just yesterday that you were born.

We have enjoyed cuddling you, rocking you,

kissing your baby cheeks and admiring all your cute baby faces.

You are very loved, all day long your siblings are telling you how cute

you are.

You and I have spent many hours in the wee mornings,

when everyone was fast asleep, talking, crying, and just being close.

Even though somewhat tiring, I have savored those moments knowing that

soon you will be running around and I won't be able to cuddle you like this.

I have found out you don't like chocolate near as much as I do!

Thanks, you knew I needed to cut down!

You don't like your soother very much and can't understand why we would

try to stick that thing in your mouth when you could just nurse from mommy. Jennifer seems to have the most patience with you and your soother!

You have given us a few little smiles. It lights up your whole face,

you are so cute!

Brooke can't stand it when you cry and quickly comes to tell me 'The baby

is crying.' You already have her wrapped around your little finger.

Your daddy is busy in the field these days but every chance he gets he

holds you close and talks with you.

Your brothers ask all day long if they can hold you.

They have affectionately nick named you 'Kaya'

Your sisters cuddle you often and even take care of you when I have a

much needed nap.

I can't imagine what life was like when you were not a part of our days.

We all feel very blessed that God has chosen us to be your family.

I love you little one.

Here is a verse for you;

'May you be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, whcih passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.

Ephesians 3:18-19