New house?

Tom wanted to show me the place he would like to own, so while we were out scoping out the hunting area we went to this little place. It sets up on a knoll on about 2 acres. The kitchen/dining area has french doors that open on to the deck on the other side of the house-very nice! There are 2 bedrooms and baths. We're assuming the upstairs is an open loft. We are thinking about checking it out. Maybe while the kids are home we'll all go take a look! Anyway-it's all fun to think about.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Tom and I wish you a very Merry Christmas!

It sure is different not having the children home for the holidays. We'll see Aaron and Shannon today and celebrate with my family tonight. We'll celebrate with Hannah and her family in a few days. Nate and Becky won't even leave WA. til Weds. My, how time changes things!
We are so very glad Christ came, but even more glad He completed the plan of salvation for us!Some days more than others, we are acutely aware of our need of Him. I am so glad HE KNOWS!
He is most trustworthy for every need!
Enjoy the day and each other! Merry, merry Christmas!!!!

Waiting patiently

That's what Tom and I are doing.We're so looking forward to the children being with us again. This will probably not happen again for a year or more since Nathanael will be shipping out in the early spring and may be gone for a year. Hopefully, Aaron, is not called up to go!
Hannah, Andy and Chastity are to be arriving next Mon. eve. and should get to stay for the week. Nate won't be here til about the 10th--it's up in the air whether or not Hannah and Chastity stay on til he gets in, but we're hoping they do.At least Andy wants her to! Aaron isn't far so it should be no problem for him to be here.
It's a busy end of the year--lot's going on in our little part of the world. I hope all of you are enjoying the season and looking forward to spending it with family and good friends.
I'm sure I'll have pics and things to post once the kiddos arrive--how can a grandma not share her time with her grand-baby!?

Thanksgiving breakfast, dinner and Christmas lunch

Thanksgiving morning started pretty early for us. We were having our friends over for a breakfast of sausage gravy and biscuits, quiche, pumpkin scones, cinnamon rolls, fruit salad, hot choc. and tea. Tom's chef hat was essential for him to be able to work properly--or so he said! He helped me make the scones the night before then tended the sausage for me in the morning. Yes, I cooked in my robe! Not a flattering pic, to say the very least!! When I get up at 4:30 to cook, well--I stay in my robe!
Everything was enjoyed and the company was good. It's so very refreshing to meet safe, honest people who are genuine and also love God truely. These kids have really taken to Mr. Downer! He has so many fascinating stories to tell them and they seem to like them all. He and most of the boys did a major wood-splitting job a few weeks ago and they had such a great time.
There were 15 of us but we all fit very nicely into the new place.











Every year my family gets together and shares a potluck meal for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I believe if we were all there, there would be about 113. We don't seem to go a year without adding 1 or 2 -maybe more- to the family. So far, there are 3 new babies expected next year--one will be the first great-greeat for my folks! Dad stopped by on his way home from a hosp. stay!! that accounts for his worn look. The little guy was our littlest helper!






These are some pics from the lunch/exchange we have for the married and over 18 girls. It started out just mom and us girls but has grown quite a bit. It's always a lot of fun but, this year was very good!











Becky and her girls




Linda and her girls and 1 DIL




Mom and all us girls. Next we added one sis-in-law, Kollette



Mom, sister Gloria and daughter


Mom, sistr Christine and her girls and g-baby


After the party and Mom and my sister Mary



Tara just showing her real self!

Very nice give-away!

A new company to me but it looks great! HOMESTEAD COMPANY their specialty is natural skincare products. Looks like a really nice company and you could win a $40.00 gift certificate to it by visiting http://nourishedkitchen.com/

check it out!

Old news- new news

For the old news first--when Hannah, Andy and Chastity were here a while back we went to the Creation Museum. It's a very interesting place and takes a while to go through if you're going to see, read and hear it all. The walking paths are very nice and there are plenty of photo ops. Chastity liked the little petting zoo-well-for the most part.
Tom and I are settling in to the new place. It's a mess right now as I go through boxes and decide what to keep and what to pitch. I wish my family were closer so they could help me out by taking some of the things-I know someone could use it!!

As for the new news-- Hannah found out they are having a BOY! She did't think to tell the Dr, she didn't want to know so the Dr. went to pointing things out before Hannah could tell her. She had an ultrsound because she and Chastity were in an accident the day before and she was just getting things checked out. Otherwise-she
wouldn't have had it because she really doesn't like to do it.

Now, this is only for you who are very interested in all things natural as far as birth--if you're not--just skip the next few sentences and go on to the pics!
I can now add a new skill to my resume'--placenta preparation--namely encapsulation of the dried placenta. I did this for my doula client this week. It's interesting but not so bad if you just do it. For all the benefits of the placenta I think it's a good thing for moms to at least consider. I'm learning a lot and I must say-it's a very fascinating new world of information.


The view of our new place. Our side is the brick side. Windows from left to right are dining area, kitchen sink and laundry room. The tree was just gorgeous! This is going to be a nice place to relax this spring and summer.



Model of the ark and flood





Checking the goats out on her own



This is kind of fun



Not liking this camel!




Beautiful water lily--the pond had lot's of them!



She enjoyed her mac & cheese!

Moving, etc

This Fri. eve. Tom and I and my siblings and their spouses will help my parents celebrate 65 yrs. of marriage. We're very happy and proud to be able to do this another year.



Life has a bit busier than normal lately. Tom and I have moved, although the process is ongoing for a few more days. We have downsized from a 4 bedroom farm house to a 1 bedroom mother-in-law suite of about 900 sq. ft. or so. It's nice and cozy and enough for Tom and I. I've posted a few pics of the new place so far. I'm not done pulling it together but, we think it will be nice when it's done. Going through things and deciding what to keep and what to get rid of is the worst part of the job in a way.
So--between moving, working, chiropractor and the other tasks of living---life is busy.







I'm sure most of you reading this blog already know that Hannah is expecting baby#2 in April. She plans a home water birth this time.Tom and I are hoping to be there at the arrival--not a month before though! After attending home births with the midwife, I know it can be done and done safely and beautifully. Yes, I am excited for her and looking forward to the birth.
As for birth, I'm enjoying learning and participating in the births and lives of the midwife and the women we deal with. Home birth is such a wonderful way to welcome a new baby into the world and to see the joy and satisfaction in the mom's face is really quite the joy. Now, home birth is not for everyone. It's a choice you have to make after educating yourself and being convinced that it's the right choice for you. However, it is safe and most women who experience it will never give birth another way if they can help it.
That's just some of my feelings on home birth. After all, why make a natural process that God gave us into a medical procedure/emergency. A pregnant woman isn't sick--she's pregnant! There are times for intervention but, in many cases it's the interventions--pitocin, epidurals, etc. that cause the problems in the first place and then constitute the "emergencies". Well, I'm sure there are some who agree and some who don't but, it's the beauty of life to be able to learn and form our own opinions on things. In the end- a woman should do what she is comfortable with and what she thinks is best for her and her baby.
Wow! I didn't plan on all that but, I guess that's where my thought are this morning! Enjoy the day!

Moving

Tom and I are going to be moving again come the first. We'll still be around Dayton, just in another place.
As some of you know, we were robbed about a month ago when Hannah and Chastity were here. We thought there was no damage to anything until I was cleaning the room Hannah stayed in--getting it ready for their family visit. I saw wood pieces on the floor and eventually the remnants of a bullet! When Tom got home we got to looking at it all and realized that whoever robbed us must have been armed. They had taken a shot or 2 into the bed! Maybe they thought someone was in there???? We'll never know. It put holes in everything clear through to the floor. Needless to say, I moved Hannah and family over to another room.
This in itself is a good reason to move but, we had planned on it anyhow.
Later, I'll post some pics of the new place--it's alot smaller but, we're excited about the change.

A couple weeks ago I won 4 tickets to the Sean Hannity Freedom Concert at King's Island in Cinci. Greg and Stephanie Burley were able to go with us at the last minute and it was nice to be with them again.
Not knowing exactly what to expect-or even if we'd enjoy it-we made the trip, ate some poor burgers inside the park, had our Starbucks, watched Tom take a ride-Greg couldn't fit-then settled in for the show. It was loud-can't say we really enjoyed all the music except for the patroitic songs. It was neat to see all the flags flying and hear the patriotism from the people.
It was just what it said- a freedom concert. I can't say that we would ever pay to go to one but, the money does go to fund college for kids who have lost a parent in the war and that's good. They introduced a few of the kids who have been able to take advantage of the scholorship funds.
They also had a surprise call from a girl stationed in Iraq-she got to call her mom-that was neat. Then they introduced a young mom who had lost her husband over there-the little boy was only 4-I don't think his daddy even got to meet him.
Anyhow-just a brief overview of the freedom concert.
Enjoy your day.
Later I'll post some pics from Hannah's visit---or maybe I'll wait til after the next visit over Labor day!!!!

Sean

The unmoveable Security guard-he was determined to keep his post -even though he was blocking the view-until his supervisor told him to move back and forth across his area!

Lee Greenwood on the screen

Comedian Rich Little-he does excellent impersonations

Charlie Daniels and Sean singing the devil went down to GA.

John Voight, dad of Angelia Jolie. He wrote a wonderful speech about the way America is heading with the leadership we have.



Michael W. Smith

Col. Oliver North


Sean Hannity and Billy Ray Cyrus