WE'VE MOVED!!!

WE'VE MOVED!!!
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Monday, March 30, 2009

on our way... REJOICING!

" YES "
(good and LOUD) :)


...and they went down both into the water...
And when they were come up out of the water
...he [we] went on his [our] way rejoicing.
Acts 8:38,39


Mommy's angle... 



from the church camera



I put our camera on the floor to steady the video - then I turned it OFF instead of hitting RECORD :( so I did not get the very beginning... BUT that is truly not significant to the fact that


KYRIA  GOT  BAPTIZED !!!!


PRAISE THE LORD!!!

Thursday, March 26, 2009

HAM & CHEESE...

not sure which is which...
but... 
you get it :)


HAHAHAHAHAAAAAaaaa


sweet smiles... even with dirty faces :)

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

TAGGED

Rachel has tagged me. I am to tell 7 things about myself that are not common knowledge and tag 7 people.
1. My middle name is Astre, and it means STAR; Kyria's middle name is Esther, and it also means STAR.

2. When dreaming of names for my children, I always wanted to name a boy "John Mark." I am now married to John Mark; and he does not want a "Jr." :)

3. I enjoy designing modest/yet modern girl clothing in my head - but I cannot draw worth ANYTHING!

4. Although I love to be with my children - no matter their age; I prefer to be with older children/teens when dealing with teaching or an activity.

5. I cannot say that I am enjoying thinking of these things :) I do not like to talk about myself.

6. I love furniture that is completely solid wood... unpainted with a stain or glossy finish.

7. I love to cook! I am not a baker, but I LOVE to cook :)  I enjoy making new recipes... sometimes they're good; and sometimes they're NOT :)

I am tagging:

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

more by Kyria...

the sky was blue...
the weeds were blooming :)
and so were some flowers
such a pretty pink!
and Anya came to join me! :)
Kyria took these yesterday...
along with LOTS of others... many multiples :)

crackers!

two cuties with Daddy
HOLD ON...
is that a CRACKER ?? 
she went to town on that thing!
and LOVED it!! :)
I know, I'm cute!
really, really CUTE!
Before our very eyes... 
They GROW 
and GROW 
and GROW!!

ROLLING away... !

Well, I didn't get it at the very beginning :) as she kept going part-way and then back on her back. She actually is rolling over almost every time she is put down now - no more couch sleeping for her!! This was the first night (3rd time) she rolled over... Saturday evening.
WOW - she is 5 months old... I can hardly believe it.

She was not too happy by the time I got a video of her rolling over... so after I helped her with her arm, I just picked her up :) Her poor little chest is soo congested with allergies; we are all feeling the affects of pollen this week :(
ENJOY...
more pics later today...

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

concentration...

I can get it, Mommy...
I know I can!! 
Is my smile pretty?? Mommy loves it!!
I love the look of concentration on babies faces! They put their whole being into just picking something up!! Mikalah has been growing so quickly... she can almost sit up by herself!!and she holds/grasps objects quite well. Her poor nose is soo runny right now (crazy weather around here!)... and so she's not sleeping so well... but, boy, does she have a smile ;) !!!She is a cutie... love her dimpled fingers!! 

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Resolution - 7

This is something the Lord has made me more aware of in several different ways recently; and I believe anyone who can should say something about it. So I am. 

Do you know where your child is? right NOW? I came across this post that says it very well. Please read and take heed. 

Even those of us that have very young children: Do we know who is watching them in the nurseries? Do we know the teenagers that like to come up and talk with them? Do we make ourselves aware of the influences that are thrust upon them simply by walking into the grocery store? Do we talk with them about what is right and wrong and WHY? We are working with Kyria in the area of modesty and kindness; and learning Bible verses that teach us simply that God want us to be kind and to cover our bodies. This is lacking - even in church (and not just visitors). I cannot say that I am the kindest person; but wanting my children to learn kindness has convicted my heart to be softer and kinder than I ever was before. (and some days are better than others!)


Proverbs 22:6

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.


I Timothy 2:9 

In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety;


Titus 2:3-4 

The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;  That they may teach the young women... 


I would never presume to tell you what modesty is (unless you ask), and I am not God to convict on what/how you should raise your children; but in my own life, I look around and see what I believe does NOT honor the Lord in the lives of many around us, and I ask the Lord to keep me humble and wise and diligent in teaching my children to NOT do those things - before they are confronted with the temptation; and for conviction when those things are in my own life - so they can be purged! And above all, to LOVE the LORD JESUS... as love is THE greatest motivator - and the love of Christ should be that motivator!!


Please watch Kyria's choir class below :) 

...and please know that I only speak

 from the love of Christ...

Monday, March 16, 2009

I will rejoice....

He has made me glad...

He has made me glad...

Have a beautiful day!

Friday, March 13, 2009

Nothing new...

Well, no pictures... but maybe I'll take some today :). 
We've been busy just living life: feeding Mikalah :)!!  
Anya has allergy congestion, so she is a bit cranky and not sleeping all that well; but she is still her sweet self most of the time. I need to sit down and write out some of "her language" to post - she is pretty hilarious sometimes!! 
Kyria keeps the little ones entertained (most of the time) and loves to help.
I have been (trying to) systematically cleaning/sorting things... from papers to fabric. 
Speaking of fabric... the Lord has been good to me in the fabric department. Though our Walmart closed that department and there is no Hancock or JoAnne's within 50 miles of my house, I have a stash the usable fabrics... mostly from people giving me what they thought was trash to go through... and my favorite thrift store has a bin of fabric remnants - that are sometimes up to 3 yards of fabric for usually around $1! Now I just need to get sewing :). 
I can hardly believe March is half way over... just yesterday was New Years!! I pray you all have a great day... and a wonderful, beautiful Spring filled with gorgeous flowers!! And I'll post some pictures maybe tonight!! :D

Monday, March 09, 2009

FUNNY... from the bulletin

This is from "the light side" in our church's bulletin.... 

How the Wall Street Bailout works in layman's terms:

Young Chuck moved to Texas and bought a donkey from a farmer for $100. The farmer agreed to deliver the donkey the next day. The next day he drove up and said, "Sorry, son, but I have some bad new; your donkey died."

Chuck replied, "Well, then just give me my money back."

The farmer said, "Can't do that. I went and spent it already."

Chuck said, "Ok, then just bring me the dead donkey." 

The farmer asked, "Whatcha gonna do with him?"

Chuck said, "I'm going to raffle him off." 

The farmer said, "You can't raffle off a dead donkey!"

Chuck replied, "Sure I can. Watch me. I just won't tell anyone he's dead."

A month later, the farmer met up with Chuck and asked, "What happened with that dead donkey?" 

Chuck told him, "I raffled him off. I sold 500 tickets at $2 a piece and made a profit of $998."
 
The farmer said, "Didn't any one complain?"

"Just the guy who won. So I gave him his $2 back." Chuck now works on Wall Street for AIG.


------- HOPE YOU SMILED ------
before you cringed!!
and have a great day!!

I have a couple more funnies I plan to post soon.

Resolution - 6

Today, I am taking from the devotional that our Pastor writes. I know that we all understand that Christ must have pre-eminence, but do we (I) have Him as the goal? Not just pleasing Him, but HIM... just Him?


* * * * * *

I Corinthians 2:1-5

And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.   For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.   And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.   And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:   That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.


G – GOALS

March 9

Bible Reading: I Corinthians 2

Key Verse: I Corinthians 2:2- For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

Key Words: For I determined

 

Paul had a goal, and his goal was to make Jesus Christ the focus of his life. Oftentimes we become distracted by the trivial things of life.


I tell those around me on occasion to prioritize their lives into three areas:

1.     those things that are necessary,

2.     those things that are needy, and

3.     those things that are nice.


Have goals and focus on Jesus Christ as your Number One Goal.


Bernie May, the U.S. Director of Wycliffe Bible Translators, once wrote a paper entitled, “Fly the Airplane,” in which he described his early training as a pilot and his instructor’s words regarding the procedures to follow in case of an emergency. There were a series of steps to take regarding the throttle, the flaps, the engines, etc., and he said, “Between each of them write on the card, ‘Fly the Airplane.’ Don’t become so involved in handling the emergency that you fail to continue flying the airplane.” He pointed out that some years ago a commercial airliner crashed in the swamps of Florida because the entire crew was so involved in the process of checking a landing gear which did not seem to be coming down that they forgot to fly the airplane.


There is a German proverb that goes: “The main thing is that the main thing remains the main thing.” I trust that Jesus is the main thing in your life.


What to do:

>      Remember, oversleeping will never make your dreams come true.


* * * * * *


I enjoy reading these devotions from my Pastor. There are always good illustrations used and a "what to do" application at the end of each day that I find very helpful in being a focus for the day. There is a link on my R sidebar to a PDF copy of the devotional each month. (There is also a link on our church's website.) This month is the ABCs... hence the title: G-Goals :).  We also print the whole month with a nice cover in a booklet format that we are able to send to individuals or churches as they are requested (there is not charge for this-as it is a ministry of our church, but donations are always welcome).

Saturday, March 07, 2009

My little cupcake...

She is my cupcake...
and she is EXTRA sweet!! :D

Basketball game...

I suppose this is becoming somewhat of a tradition (though I am not sure how many more years it can happen!! LOL). The high school boys basketball team plays the staff men (and a couple alumni). This year, I actually got some pictures. The first year, I was expecting Anya; and last year she was walking and almost 1 - not so good for taking pictures. The staff won (as usual), and John played the entire game! Enjoy!! :D

"Awesome Dad"
(that's what his shirt says!)
just waiting for the ball to come back! :)
it did...
WOW - great shot!
He did make it... and a few others too!!


This was the final score...
HOME: high school team
GUEST: staff men

Wednesday, March 04, 2009

Anya... and a flower...

Well, here are a few pictures of Anya Ruth... 
that KYRIA took :) 
(if you look closely, you can see her in the glass door) :D
and a flower picture, too... 


ENJOY:



Tuesday, March 03, 2009

I digress...

Tonight on our way home from visitation Kyria had John and me in stitches laughing... those of you who know her can understand that her jabbering can become quite hilarious. 
She asked John if something she said was funny, and he said, "yes"- of course... so she says "Anya, this is funny." and Anya said, "Oh, OK." and started laughing....!! 
BUT this is the FUNNY part:
Then we were trying to calm down as it was late, and we were planning our devotions and going to bed as quickly as possible when we arrived home; so I told Kyria to tell me the "other funny thing" in the morning. Well, our digression, I mean, conversation went something similar to this:
"Want to hear this other funny thing?"
"Let's calm down, baby. Tell me in the morning."
"But it's just a little funny."
"Tell me in the morning, sweety."
"Well, it's not really funny."
"You can tell me in the morning, OK?"
"Well, it's just a little sad, Mommy."
Then Anya started talking.. and the conversation ended just that abruptly... and I could not help but laugh hysterically... as quietly as possible... 
(and if you missed her self-portraits... PLEASE check out the post before this one!!)

Monday, March 02, 2009

It IS March, right??? :) ... ... .... .... and other pics and self-portraits

Sunday, March 1, 2009 - 
our SNOWSTORM :)


from our back porch...
Our back-deck railing...
Pretty SNOWGIRL...
before leaving for church...
before we promptly had to come home... 
it looked like this AFTER he cleared it off, too!!
ANYTHING can be pretty... with snow on it :)

MIKALAH...


Dimple fingers :)
fell asleep in the
Hundred Acre Woods :)
Sitting pretty... :) 
Pretty smiles!!!


KYRIA...


SELF-PORTRAITS

Kyria took these pictures OF HERSELF
BY HERSELF... 
we had NO idea until we took them off the camera...
She is becoming quite the photographer... 
has her OWN style!!

BEWARE- she is SILLY!!




More pictures coming... including Anya :)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Little faith in a strong plank will carry me over the stream,  
great faith in a rotten plank will land me in the stream. 
~ ~ Dr. Burton of the Mueller Orphan Home in  Bristol, England. ~ ~

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Courage is not the absence of fear, 
but rather the judgement that something else is more important.