Their wish is his command!

My sweet Daddy came to pick up my mom and to stay for a week himself.  He pulled into the driveway in his tiny Ford Escort and had the backseat crammed full of goodies, one of which was a jeep for Kate.  Do you think she was excited?

He and Mom also produced a pool for Kate’s upcoming birthday, which everyone enjoyed.  Even me.

Water straight from the well was a little chilly for Katharina!

Dad also put new tires and tubes on all the girls’ bikes and taught Lauren to ride a two wheeler.  Way to go Laurie!

Next on his grandbaby spoiling mission was assembling an old swing set stored in the barn.

Caleb thinks it’s just for him!

Being Daddy’s little girl, as well, I got my share of spoiling, too.  In the back of that car was also a computer chair and a lamp for my living room.  I have to be extremely careful what I say in front of my parents.  If they think you want something, they will oblige.  I also got almost an entire honey - do list wiped out.  I think Josh is relieved!

Much more wonderful than all the gifts and service were sweet times of fellowship.  Every evening we watched Andy Griffith season one.  One of my favorite sounds is my daddy’s laughter.

Life Without Air Conditioning (is it possible?)

OK, I know some of you are shaking your head or rolling your eyes at how very spoiled and American my title is! As if people haven’t survived without it for thousands of years. I have been spoiled my entire life with air conditioning. My husband, however, grew up without it and thinks we could do without.

Nebraska is much different than Tennessee in regard to summer heat. In Tennessee, you roast a full six months out of the year, not as much from high temperatures as from the sauna-like humidity. Here, you have a few weeks of intense heat, usually in August, where triple digits are likely. That’s quite a difference. It may technically get hotter here, but it is brief compared to the south. So far, we’ve only had three or four days in the 90s. Even those days have cool evenings.

So far so good, I guess. I’m of the opinion that we should turn on the ancient old window unit in the living room on days that it reaches, say, 95 outside, at least during the hottest part of the day. We certainly can’t afford to keep it running much more than that. (We’re not even sure the old thing works!)

I am learning a few things I thought you might find interesting or humorous.

1. Every time you open your refrigerator or freezer door, you linger for a while.

2. You are less inclined to snuggle with your children on the couch as you read. (”PLEASE try not to touch me!”)

3. A cold shower is a reward!

4. You become more in tune with the weather. Every time a cloud blocks the sun you sigh a little.

5. When the sun sets you come alive!

6. You take joy in the silliest things. Like keeping a spray bottle of water in the fridge and spraying it all over yourself. Instant bliss!

7. Chocolate chips in the pantry will melt.

8. You can get emotionally attached to strange objects. Like window fans.

9. It is much more difficult to keep modesty in check. (”Um, why can’t I wear this?”)

10. Creativity is sparked. Necessity is indeed the mother of invention. Check out our new cooking porch:

We tried putting most of our heat producing appliances in an old laundry area so we could close the door and not heat the entire house. If we ever build, this will be a much more well thought out space, as we are thinking of using a wood cook stove.

Does anyone have any tips for me?

How much fun can wash day be?

Today it was a whole lot of fun!

Inspired by the system of our fore-mothers, I started an experiment today. Washing on Mondays. Only on Mondays.

I know it sounds impossible. I, too, imagined a tower of laundry overtaking my entire house. However, I found a few places to hide it. I definitely had enough clothes to pull it off. Can you imagine the feeling of putting away your last bit of laundry and knowing it’s finished for a whole week? Almost brings tears to my eyes.

The girls and I did it today. We devoted the day to our laundry and got a bit goofy as well. As the girls grow the fellowship that comes from working together grows as well. This motherhood thing just keeps getting sweeter!

Rachel told me today, “You know, Mom, if someone saw all our laundry, they’d think you had a lot of children instead of just five!” Bless her heart, I think some of my training is starting to take! Here she is imitating her mother:

Ashlynne’s favorite job is taking the clothes off the line.

And being adorable!

The clothesline is like a children magnet! All activities are moved to wherever the wash is being hung. Here I caught Rachel and Lauren working on yet another story:

Finally, Rachel wanted to strike a pose. Can anyone name the character/movie she is imitating?

It’s the simple things in life…

It doesn’t take a lot to please our son.  Take mowing the yard, for instance.  Very big deal to him.  He’ll sit and watch the whole process while quivering with delight.

In between passes he’ll squeal and bounce up and down in his seat in anticipation.

Oooh, look!  There he goes again!

It’s just a matter of time before he’s demanding to sit on Dad’s lap so he can “help.”  For now, however, he has another favorite “manly” pastime.  Sitting on Dad’s lap while eating popcorn, watching Andy Griffith.

He would literally sit for hours if Josh would hold him, with or without the popcorn.

Oh, how we love this little guy!

Friday night is date night

Friday nights are a pretty fun place to hang out around here.  My husband has officially deemed it date night.  He treats all his women to pizza, popcorn, and Little House on the Prairie.  I’m telling you, it doesn’t get much more exciting than this!

Nature lesson for my two year old

See the large hawk circling our chicken coop?

See how all the chickens are hiding inside the coop?

God made chickens smart!

Lost and … found?

Our little Rachel lost a most important top tooth. Actually, it had been dangling for a few days and Ashlynne helped it out with a little horse play. Yes, my little women in training do that sometimes. Here she is in all her toothless glory!

Coincidentally, (are Christians supposed to use that word?) her little brother got his very first tooth the same day she lost hers-and it was the same tooth! Well, not the same tooth, naturally, but the tooth in the same spot. Looks like Caleb was none too happy to have to share this milestone.

I could use more clothesline, Beloved!

Isn’t it exciting to see your family grow?

More clothesline, bigger mixing bowls, doubling recipes, more kisses, longer vans, taller stacks of laundry, more time on my knees, adding benches to my table, rubbermaid totes full of hand-me-downs, supersized crockpots, additional fingernails to trim, begging God for wisdom, many hands make light work, and love multiplies!

“Thou hast increased the nation, O Lord, thou hast increased the nation… Thou art glorified.” Isaiah 26:15

“I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small.” Jeremiah 30:19

Thank you, Lord!

Spurgeon for breakfast

The children are now getting a healthy dose of Charles Spurgeon at the breakfast table.

I thought the Prince of Preachers might be a little too advanced for some of them, but they are actually quite attentive. (The food helps!) I even get reminded if we happen to forget.

I’m always looking for ways for us to have corporate study of the Word.  At this stage in my life, independent, quiet study is not realistic most days.  I could turn it into a source of real frustration and blame my children for needing me too much and hindering my relationship with God.  Wow that sounds terrible!  I might as well start requesting some “me-time”!  I’ve been encouraged recently to bring them along in my pursuit of knowing my Redeemer. I shouldn’t go to great lengths to get away from everyone to meet with him.  Serving my family is serving Him, not getting in the way of serving Him!

Studying with your children is no less holy or spiritual than studying alone.  Sure, a lot of the material we use is on a child’s level, (who’s to say I don’t need that, too) but it is also good to give them something to grow into, to ponder.  I love John and Noel Piper’s booklet “The Family: Together in God’s Presence.”

“Not everything children experience has to be put on their level in order to do them good. Some things must be.  But not everything.

For example, to learn a new language you can go step by step from alphabet to vocabulary to grammar to syntax.  Or you can take a course where you dive in over your head, and all you hear is the language you don’t know.  Most language teachers would agree that the latter is by far the most effective.

Sunday worship service is not useless to children just because much of it goes over their heads. They can and will grow into this new language faster than we think-if positive and happy attitudes are fostered by the parents.”

So, today is Spurgeon.  Tomorrow, Baxter and Edwards!

Afternoon at the park

About one mile from our house is our tiny town.  It is all of about three blocks and has a bank, post office, co-op(every town has one out here), taxidermy, and pub.  Population 57, or so I’ve heard.  However, it has the nicest little park smack dab in the middle.  I think you know where I’ll be hanging out!