Someone Very Special

Lately, I have been thinking a lot about all of the gifts God has given me. One of those gifts is my brother. David (but always Davey to me), is my younger brother, but in many ways he has always seemed a little bit more like a big bother. He's one of those people that you just know God must have put in the world for some really special reason. I know I couldn’t begin to list all of the things about him that I love and am grateful for, but here are just a few:

• He always loves me … no matter what.
• He would do anything for me, and often does – even if I don’t ask. Once, when I was about sixteen years old, and he was fourteen, he spent his own money and bought parts to fix my car, surprising me when I got home.
• He always loves my husband, kids (all six of them), and grandkid (soon to be plural)…no matter what. I believe he would do just about anything for them too.
• He’s in the top 1% of all the smartest people I know – in the whole world.
• I love his pretend arrogance about his fishing skills. And I love camping with him and his family.
• He can fix pretty much anything, except maybe a broken heart. Seriously, it is almost scary of much he knows. He’s on his way this afternoon to fix my roof – even though I didn’t ask him to. Actually, he’s amazingly good at just about everything he tries.
• He's the #1 best tractor driver for every hay ride we've had (even when he realized the brakes on the tractor were a tad too weak to be really effective at stopping the wagon-full of people heading down a hill).
• He’s the best uncle that three little girls could ever dream of.
• He has encouraged and supported Tony in learning to hunt.
• He supports me, even if he may not agree with all of my ideas and decisions.
• He’s one of the hardest workers I’ve ever seen.
• He has been through some pretty rough times in his life, yet he found the strength to turn them around and make a happy and successful life out of them.
• He is stubborn and hard-headed sometimes…like me.
• He's not afraid of anything, except maybe a mass of ants falling on him unexpectedly while remodeling my bathroom. That was something to see!
• I have seen him spend his only free day of the week driving an hour each way and then spending six hours or more out in the freezing cold to help our dad or Tony cut and split wood, or any other chore that needs to get done.
• He’s a very devoted father and has raised two great boys.
• He knows how to love with all his heart.
• He is my brother.

Post Script to Golf and Guns

I'm sure there are some who are offended by the idea of hunting, but please keep in mind that the deer and turkey population are large and need to be controlled. Also, we do not waste the meat -- it is all eaten!

Golf or Guns?

Tony was an avid golfer when I met him -- and a GREAT golfer! I think part of the reason he was (and still is) so good is that he never took himself too seriously. He enjoyed being outdoors, talking to other golfers, and playing a good round. But he never got too uptight about the game. And he was great!

So...we left Florida and moved to Missouri. Now, there's plenty of great golfing in Missouri, but Tony decided on a new sport -- he was going going to learn to hunt! How many people decide to "take up" hunting in middle age? Seems like most people who hunt just grow up hunting. This is one of the things I adore about Tony. He never feels limited -- if he wants to do it he will do it! So today, Tony bagged his first turkey! In November he got his first deer! He just decided he would do this, and he DID!

I wish I could be more like Tony. He's an incredible person in a hundred ways, but one of the things I most love about him is his self-confidence. He tells me sometimes that he doesn't like to think about things in terms of age because it is self-limiting. I really need to take a lesson from him! His confidence and determination inspire me every day. Here's a picture of Tony with his first turkey (and a picture of the girls with their morbid curiosity)!

Pretty Toes

The girls say thanks to Aunt Pam for all the pretty colors!

Washing feet and other outdoor fun!

Last Sunday in Children's Church, the girls learned about how Jesus showed his love and humility by washing his disciples' feet. It's a lesson about selfless service to others, and at the end of the lesson their Sunday School teacher washed their hands. (Ruby informed me that she washed their hands and not their feet because they had socks on.)

Fast-forward to today. I took the girls on a little hike down into the woods behind our house and let them play in the creek. After walking and throwing rocks for a while, they decided to have Elizabeth sit on a log so they could wash her feet like Jesus did with his disciples. I was so glad I had brought my camera along!

Then Pa (my dad) caught up to us in the woods. Pa is always lots of fun!

Then, they turned rocks over until they found some worms to hold.

And then we came home and they ran through the sprinkler in their already wet and muddy clothes!

Grandma again!

Some of you may remember that my son and his wife, Derrek and Samantha, were pregnant and lost their baby in January. Well, Derrek called this afternoon to tell me they are pregnant again! They are very excited, and cautiously optimistic, and a little nervous -- but very, very happy! Congratulations Derrek and Samantha! And I can't wait for this grandchild! Please keep them in your prayers for a healthy pregnancy and baby.

My Ethiopian Princess

Elizabeth is looking quite sassy in her braids. I told her she was my Ethiopian princess, and she just smiled at me like she already knew that!

Today we took the girls swimming at the indoor recreation pool at the local community center. They also have two giant indoor water slides, and all three of the girls went down a slide. They had a great time! It was the first time Elizabeth and Ruby have ever gone swimming in a pool. They were absolutely squealing with delight. I wish I had picture of it, but I was too busy in the pool with them to take pics. Maybe next time!

Summer Rae

Happy birthday, Summer Rae! Today we celebrated my granddaughter's 4th birthday! Derrek and Samantha had a great party for her. And the best part -- tonight the girls are having a slumber party at Derrek and Samantha's with Summer, so Tony and I have some time together! Here are a few pictures from this evening. Could Summer be any cuter? Oh, and my son is pretty cute too. Heh heh heh. Sorry, Derrek!

Yes, Chris, everyone passed the panty check!

In answer to Chris's comment/question, I actually DID have a moment of near panic when I double checked the girls for panties before the party started! They had on dresses and were riding their bikes just before guests started to arrived, and I stopped them to ask if everyone was wearing panties! My brother and his wife were the first to arrive, and he was quick to ask if I checked to make sure I hadn't "forgotten anything." I'll never live this one down!

Happy Birthday to My Biggest Girl

Ruby turned five today! She had a great birthday and a great party! Here's my biggest girl. :-)

Are you my mother?

It's funny, the things you see when you live out in the country. We first saw this baby egret out by our pond about a week ago. Then we started noticing it following one of our horses around the field. Lucy walks around grazing while the baby egret follows her around like she thinks the horse is her mother.

Tony's Life with Three Daughters

Life for Tony is very different now that he has three daughters. I doubt if he ever got out of bed wearing princess earrings when Jonathan and Chris were little! The girls climbed into bed with him this morning and "fixed him up."

No panties?

I just got through laughing -- at myself -- so hard that I had tears coming out of my eyes!

Today is Elizabeth's birthday. This morning I gave all the girls their shower and fixed their hair and gave them each a new dress to wear today. They were so excited! Then my son and his wife came over and ate lunch with us since they'll be working tonight and unable to come to the birthday party. We had a great time; Elizabeth got to sit on everyone's lap, we all sprawled out on the living room floor and did jigsaw puzzles...well, you get the idea.

About ten minutes after Derrek and Samantha left, Ruby came to me and said, "Mommy, ummm, I think you missed something. Elizabeth doesn't have on any panties." She was RIGHT! The entire morning and half of the afternoon I had a kid running around in a dress with no panties! And she never said a word about it!

Oh my gosh, I'm still laughing. Here's the birthday girl in her new dress. I took the picture this morning. I'll never be able to look at it again without remembering she wasn't wearing any panties!

Handprint Lilies

Our lilies are blooming! I found this great idea in the current issue of Family Fun magazine. It's a super easy and fun craft! The flowers turned out really pretty, and they will be the "centerpiece" on the table tomorrow for Elizabeth's birthday party!

Instructions: The white part of the lily is your child's handprint. You cut it out of white construction paper, curl the edges, and tape it to a straw. You cut the leaves out of green paper (one strip with a hole punched in the middle to run the straw through) and tape them on, then you use a yellow pipe cleaner to make the flower's stamen. Easy!