Thursday, June 30, 2011
Daniel update!
We had his hearing test today and the results are that he hears just great! No problems at all with his hearing... so unto the next round of tests for an official diagnosis on his developmental delays.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
I wanted to share this encouraging post that i recieved from insight for livings special needs ministry blog....
Two Horses
Author Unknown
Just up the road from my home is a field with two horses in it.
From a distance, both horses appear to be like any other horses. But if you walk closer, you will notice something quite amazing; one of the horses is blind. However, the owner has chosen not to put down the blind horse but has made a good home for both horses.
If you stand nearby and listen, you will hear the sound of a bell attached to the halter of the sighted horse. The bell is used to lead the blind horse. You will notice something amazing; the sighted horse regularly checks to see if the blind horse is hearing the bell, is following the sighted horse's lead, and is continuing to trust that he will not be led astray.
Each evening, the horse with the bell returns to the shelter of the barn, occasionally looking back to make sure that the blind friend isn't too far behind.
Like the owner of these two horses, God does not throw us away just because we are not perfect or just because we have problems or challenges.
He watches over us and even brings others into our lives to help us when we are in need.
Sometimes, we are like the blind horse being guided by the little ringing bell of those whom God has placed in our lives to help us. At other times, we are like the horse with the bell, helping others to find their way.
Good friends are like that . . . you may not always see them, but you know they are there.
Please listen for my bell, and I'll listen for yours.
And remember . . .
Be kinder than necessary—
Everyone you meet is fighting
Some kind of battle.
Live simply,
Love generously,
Care deeply,
Speak kindly . . .
And leave the rest to God!
For we walk by faith and not by sight!
Note: Every effort has been made to determine the author of "Two Horses." If you are the author or know who the author is, we would be grateful for that information. You may convey it to us by leaving a comment.
Posted by Colleen Swindoll-Thompson at 10:43:05 AM in Family Life/Caregivers, Grief/Encouragement
Two Horses
Author Unknown
Just up the road from my home is a field with two horses in it.
From a distance, both horses appear to be like any other horses. But if you walk closer, you will notice something quite amazing; one of the horses is blind. However, the owner has chosen not to put down the blind horse but has made a good home for both horses.
If you stand nearby and listen, you will hear the sound of a bell attached to the halter of the sighted horse. The bell is used to lead the blind horse. You will notice something amazing; the sighted horse regularly checks to see if the blind horse is hearing the bell, is following the sighted horse's lead, and is continuing to trust that he will not be led astray.
Each evening, the horse with the bell returns to the shelter of the barn, occasionally looking back to make sure that the blind friend isn't too far behind.
Like the owner of these two horses, God does not throw us away just because we are not perfect or just because we have problems or challenges.
He watches over us and even brings others into our lives to help us when we are in need.
Sometimes, we are like the blind horse being guided by the little ringing bell of those whom God has placed in our lives to help us. At other times, we are like the horse with the bell, helping others to find their way.
Good friends are like that . . . you may not always see them, but you know they are there.
Please listen for my bell, and I'll listen for yours.
And remember . . .
Be kinder than necessary—
Everyone you meet is fighting
Some kind of battle.
Live simply,
Love generously,
Care deeply,
Speak kindly . . .
And leave the rest to God!
For we walk by faith and not by sight!
Note: Every effort has been made to determine the author of "Two Horses." If you are the author or know who the author is, we would be grateful for that information. You may convey it to us by leaving a comment.
Posted by Colleen Swindoll-Thompson at 10:43:05 AM in Family Life/Caregivers, Grief/Encouragement
Saturday, June 25, 2011
This is what you get....
When an alpaca gets sheared...
We hand sheared her and Cady, our llama... And it was not easy, but it went much better then we expected.
We had no intention of using the wool (and we hadn't regularly cared for their fiber by brushing and keeping it clean), so we where not to picky on how the fiber was taken off. Now they both look like they got a bad haircut and lost a few pounds... and we saved a few hundred dollars by doing it ourselves by hand. (buying a pair a electric shears is 350, and it's about 200 to hire someone to come out and to it for us.)
When an alpaca gets sheared...
We hand sheared her and Cady, our llama... And it was not easy, but it went much better then we expected.
We had no intention of using the wool (and we hadn't regularly cared for their fiber by brushing and keeping it clean), so we where not to picky on how the fiber was taken off. Now they both look like they got a bad haircut and lost a few pounds... and we saved a few hundred dollars by doing it ourselves by hand. (buying a pair a electric shears is 350, and it's about 200 to hire someone to come out and to it for us.)
Friday, June 24, 2011
this week....
The girls are getting bigger... I can't wait for the egg laying days!
It's fishing season!!!!
It's fishing season!!!!
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
For Missy
Maybe you'll get some inspiration... or just think my living room needs less toys.. either way here are a few pictures of of our home.
Sorry this picture is dark... I found this wall hanging at a garage sale for 3 dollars... they lady had some serious talent! And the items on either side were 75 cents a piece... they use to hold candles.. but it just didn't work for kids so they are waiting until the kids get older to hold candles :) The lamp was 4 dollars at a garage sale.
here is the hanging plates on the wall look.... going simple can make things look very nice.. you don't have to do extravagant or fancy
Not everyone likes this look but Matt made our wooden table for 60 dollars total. And all of the chairs were given to us or found at a garage sale and they don't all match.. but it works well and gives out home some charm. The curtains are also bedsheets....
here is our very bare looking kitchen.. it is actually more full then this picture gives off now...
Anyway... hope you gain some inspiration soon.. and just don't worry to much about decor... just start with basic colors that you like and then add to the decor as time goes by! have fun!!!!!
Sorry this picture is dark... I found this wall hanging at a garage sale for 3 dollars... they lady had some serious talent! And the items on either side were 75 cents a piece... they use to hold candles.. but it just didn't work for kids so they are waiting until the kids get older to hold candles :) The lamp was 4 dollars at a garage sale.
here is the hanging plates on the wall look.... going simple can make things look very nice.. you don't have to do extravagant or fancy
Not everyone likes this look but Matt made our wooden table for 60 dollars total. And all of the chairs were given to us or found at a garage sale and they don't all match.. but it works well and gives out home some charm. The curtains are also bedsheets....
here is our very bare looking kitchen.. it is actually more full then this picture gives off now...
Anyway... hope you gain some inspiration soon.. and just don't worry to much about decor... just start with basic colors that you like and then add to the decor as time goes by! have fun!!!!!
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
My Man
he works so hard...
He ripped off the roof...
replaced all of the plywood...
And put on the roof paper and shingles...
All in a week, with a little help from his dad.. but mostly by himself and on his vacation.
Speaking of working hard... after spending a whole day at work in the office, he comes home, plays with the kids, helps me around the house and then spends the rest of his nights developing his business...
I love how we both have the same mindset. He found this cart at the dump when he was bringing in all the shingles he tore off the roof. It just needed new wheels.. we already had 2 that would work so 20 dollars later we have a very useable cart. I'm pretty excited about it...
He is such a GREAT dad... seriously.. this man knows how to raise little boys.
Elijah was as excited about Matt's new gun and he wanted to try to shoot it.. being the ripe old age of 2... he's not ready!
He is loving and supportive... here he is at his little sisters high school grad a couple of weeks ago...
He is so good for me...
I have been seriously blessed. Matt is my rock. My steady and loving man. My mom always said that she prayed that God would give me a husband that would makeup for my childhood... though my mom was a most FABULOUS mother and i would not trade her for the world, I think God answered her prayers.
Matt and I have a very solid and strong relationship. Honesty and love flow freely as well as encouragement and understanding. We do have our hard days, don't get me wrong, and there are times when i am extremely irritated with him, BUT, those times are few and far between and don't ever last long. I know this sounds strange but i use to feel bad that Matt and i had such a good relationship. Now I'm learning to be thankful that we can talk about things and work through things and that our issues are never huge or blown out of proportion. I am not an easy person to live with by any means. I get cranky on lack of sleep, I'm sick on and off, i can be negative often, among many other things. But he loves me through my shortcomings and when he is upset with me, it isn't for long. I think before we got married, we talked out things to death about different situations and what our reactions would be to them, also we clearly layed out that divorce is NOT a word in our vocabulary... so we would be stuck for life, no options. We joke that our dating was just one big interview, and there are times we wish that we would have lightened up a little bit.. but i think that our foundation wouldn't be so strong otherwise. Right before we were married we had premarital counseling from the college which went very well ( EVERY couple should get pre-marital counseling before marriage)... and we also had to meet with the pastor of the church we were marrying at for a premarital counseling session. We filled out little surveys and then went in. He was amazed that we were on the same page about everything and that we had talked about everything before we decided to get married and he told us we would do well. If you know Matt at all, you know that he is a serious guy and he doesn't go into many things lightly. He didn't date in high school because he knew that he wouldn't be marrying any of those girls and he didn't want to break their hearts. I wish that my high school career in the dating department was a little more shiny, but all in all i dated very little and kept my heart for the man i would marry. He is faithful and loving. He makes me want to be a better person. He lovingly pushes me to greater things.
Anyway.. I know is ridiculously long.. i just wanted to share that I LOVE MY MAN, he is SO good for me... and also i thought i would share one of the songs that he always sings to me ... it's pretty hilarious...
* now this song is not a very conservative song... just warning you if you've never heard it.. and sorry if i scarred you for life telling you that he likes to sing this song to me... but it's nice to feel wanted :D and what would a blog be without some over sharing??!!!!
He ripped off the roof...
replaced all of the plywood...
And put on the roof paper and shingles...
All in a week, with a little help from his dad.. but mostly by himself and on his vacation.
Speaking of working hard... after spending a whole day at work in the office, he comes home, plays with the kids, helps me around the house and then spends the rest of his nights developing his business...
I love how we both have the same mindset. He found this cart at the dump when he was bringing in all the shingles he tore off the roof. It just needed new wheels.. we already had 2 that would work so 20 dollars later we have a very useable cart. I'm pretty excited about it...
He is such a GREAT dad... seriously.. this man knows how to raise little boys.
Elijah was as excited about Matt's new gun and he wanted to try to shoot it.. being the ripe old age of 2... he's not ready!
He is loving and supportive... here he is at his little sisters high school grad a couple of weeks ago...
He is so good for me...
I have been seriously blessed. Matt is my rock. My steady and loving man. My mom always said that she prayed that God would give me a husband that would makeup for my childhood... though my mom was a most FABULOUS mother and i would not trade her for the world, I think God answered her prayers.
Matt and I have a very solid and strong relationship. Honesty and love flow freely as well as encouragement and understanding. We do have our hard days, don't get me wrong, and there are times when i am extremely irritated with him, BUT, those times are few and far between and don't ever last long. I know this sounds strange but i use to feel bad that Matt and i had such a good relationship. Now I'm learning to be thankful that we can talk about things and work through things and that our issues are never huge or blown out of proportion. I am not an easy person to live with by any means. I get cranky on lack of sleep, I'm sick on and off, i can be negative often, among many other things. But he loves me through my shortcomings and when he is upset with me, it isn't for long. I think before we got married, we talked out things to death about different situations and what our reactions would be to them, also we clearly layed out that divorce is NOT a word in our vocabulary... so we would be stuck for life, no options. We joke that our dating was just one big interview, and there are times we wish that we would have lightened up a little bit.. but i think that our foundation wouldn't be so strong otherwise. Right before we were married we had premarital counseling from the college which went very well ( EVERY couple should get pre-marital counseling before marriage)... and we also had to meet with the pastor of the church we were marrying at for a premarital counseling session. We filled out little surveys and then went in. He was amazed that we were on the same page about everything and that we had talked about everything before we decided to get married and he told us we would do well. If you know Matt at all, you know that he is a serious guy and he doesn't go into many things lightly. He didn't date in high school because he knew that he wouldn't be marrying any of those girls and he didn't want to break their hearts. I wish that my high school career in the dating department was a little more shiny, but all in all i dated very little and kept my heart for the man i would marry. He is faithful and loving. He makes me want to be a better person. He lovingly pushes me to greater things.
Anyway.. I know is ridiculously long.. i just wanted to share that I LOVE MY MAN, he is SO good for me... and also i thought i would share one of the songs that he always sings to me ... it's pretty hilarious...
* now this song is not a very conservative song... just warning you if you've never heard it.. and sorry if i scarred you for life telling you that he likes to sing this song to me... but it's nice to feel wanted :D and what would a blog be without some over sharing??!!!!
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Camping and other events
I both love it and hate it.
Love the concept.. hate the work that comes with it, sleeping out in the wilderness, wild animals, and just not sleeping great..
other then that.. i love being with my boys out in the wild
here are some pictures from our latest camping adventure...
Joshua's best time for school work is at night. Notice that he is in his P.J's ... It was 9:30 in the evening that he did school work tonight.. I love homeschool!
6 years i started working as a youth leader at our old church. This year my "girls" that i was a leader to for many years (until we had to back out of leading for a bit because of children) graduated! Even though we do not go to the same church and it has been a few years since I've been a youth leader, these girls still remain very near and dear to me and it such a joy to watch them grow up. I am so blessed that they still include me in their lives.
Matt's little sister graduated this year as well. She has grown into quit a beautiful young lady and it's been a joy as well to see her mature through the years!
Love the concept.. hate the work that comes with it, sleeping out in the wilderness, wild animals, and just not sleeping great..
other then that.. i love being with my boys out in the wild
here are some pictures from our latest camping adventure...
Joshua's best time for school work is at night. Notice that he is in his P.J's ... It was 9:30 in the evening that he did school work tonight.. I love homeschool!
6 years i started working as a youth leader at our old church. This year my "girls" that i was a leader to for many years (until we had to back out of leading for a bit because of children) graduated! Even though we do not go to the same church and it has been a few years since I've been a youth leader, these girls still remain very near and dear to me and it such a joy to watch them grow up. I am so blessed that they still include me in their lives.
Matt's little sister graduated this year as well. She has grown into quit a beautiful young lady and it's been a joy as well to see her mature through the years!
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Names
I like naming my animals and these two still need names....
This is our Pekin Boy duck...
and this is our Rouen Girl duck...
any suggestions???
This is our Pekin Boy duck...
and this is our Rouen Girl duck...
any suggestions???
Monday, June 6, 2011
i wanted to share a song that got me through a few rough times.. i use to sing it out when no one was around at the top of my lungs walking out to the hills from the college. I miss that walk sometimes... Special thanks to Lola for finding the full song for me!
If i could just sit with you a while
When I cannot feel, when my wounds don't heal
Lord I humbly kneel, hidden in You
Lord, You are my life so I don't mind to die
Just as long as I am hidden in You
If I could just sit with You a while, if You could just hold me
Nothing could touch me though I'm wounded, though I die
If I could just sit with You a while, I need You to hold me
Moment by moment, 'till forever passes by
When I know I’ve sinned when I should have been
Crying out my God and hidden in you
Lord I need you now, more than I know how
So I humbly bow, hidden in you
If I could just sit with You a while, if You could just hold me
Nothing could touch me though I'm wounded, though I die
If I could just sit with You a while, I need You to hold me
Moment by moment, 'till forever passes by
If I could just sit with You a while, I need You to hold me
Moment by moment, 'till forever passes by
Moment by moment, 'till forever passes by
If i could just sit with you a while
When I cannot feel, when my wounds don't heal
Lord I humbly kneel, hidden in You
Lord, You are my life so I don't mind to die
Just as long as I am hidden in You
If I could just sit with You a while, if You could just hold me
Nothing could touch me though I'm wounded, though I die
If I could just sit with You a while, I need You to hold me
Moment by moment, 'till forever passes by
When I know I’ve sinned when I should have been
Crying out my God and hidden in you
Lord I need you now, more than I know how
So I humbly bow, hidden in you
If I could just sit with You a while, if You could just hold me
Nothing could touch me though I'm wounded, though I die
If I could just sit with You a while, I need You to hold me
Moment by moment, 'till forever passes by
If I could just sit with You a while, I need You to hold me
Moment by moment, 'till forever passes by
Moment by moment, 'till forever passes by
Ponderings on a June day
-Why is it that when our well starts acting up that's when i have the most laundry to do and the most dishes to wash? Not to mention.. i could really use a drink of water right now.. and brushing my teeth sounds so nice! Hopefully my hard working husband will get it up and going again here soon... really he doesn't need one more thing broken today.
- Speaking of my husband, Matt has been busy the last few days riping off the roof and putting a new one on. He works so hard... I wish i could help him more, but there is no way that i could be on the roof when our three little boys usually have some sort of crisis ever 10 minutes. I so appreciate all the work that he does, and i hope that this week on his vacation that he will actually be able to enjoy his vacation so we can go CAMPING!!!!! :)
- I lovin' having egg laying chickens around. What is hilarious is that Eleanor and Gertrude like to lay in the same box, so one will stand around and wait while the other is laying.. and then hop in as soon as the others out. We have plenty of other nesting boxes... I'm not sure why that one is so special.
-Can i just say that teaching a typical child is SO much easier then teaching a child with developmental delays. It's such a joy to have a little one catch on to something so fast. Though i love teaching Joshua and Daniel with all of my heart,and i love seeing them grasp concepts... It's nice to have an "easy" student in Elijah!
- For some reason i enjoy teaching my children in the spring and summer time more then in the wintertime. I think it's because there is so much more to do in the spring and summer and they seem more eager to learn during the warmer seasons. I have a feeling that a lot of their learning will be conducted in the summer time, though we still will do school in the fall and winter. I'm all for year round homeschooling with breaks here and there... if the boys are anything like me they will retain knowledge better by being consistent in schooling instead of taking a long break in summertime just to come back and have to relearn things forgotten.
-My yard is a disaster area... toys everywhere, desperately needing to be mowed as well as roofing material scattered here and there. I can't wait for Matt to get back from the dump with the empty garbage cans to pick up the rest of the roofing material on the ground!
-We were able to sell the old plywood from the roof... i was pretty excited about that prospect... i just wish there was some way we could have disposed of the shingles and roofing paper in a way they would be reused... through there may be something out there like that... i just haven't heard of anything yet.
-I'm still thirsty.... and the water is still not working.
- Speaking of my husband, Matt has been busy the last few days riping off the roof and putting a new one on. He works so hard... I wish i could help him more, but there is no way that i could be on the roof when our three little boys usually have some sort of crisis ever 10 minutes. I so appreciate all the work that he does, and i hope that this week on his vacation that he will actually be able to enjoy his vacation so we can go CAMPING!!!!! :)
- I lovin' having egg laying chickens around. What is hilarious is that Eleanor and Gertrude like to lay in the same box, so one will stand around and wait while the other is laying.. and then hop in as soon as the others out. We have plenty of other nesting boxes... I'm not sure why that one is so special.
-Can i just say that teaching a typical child is SO much easier then teaching a child with developmental delays. It's such a joy to have a little one catch on to something so fast. Though i love teaching Joshua and Daniel with all of my heart,and i love seeing them grasp concepts... It's nice to have an "easy" student in Elijah!
- For some reason i enjoy teaching my children in the spring and summer time more then in the wintertime. I think it's because there is so much more to do in the spring and summer and they seem more eager to learn during the warmer seasons. I have a feeling that a lot of their learning will be conducted in the summer time, though we still will do school in the fall and winter. I'm all for year round homeschooling with breaks here and there... if the boys are anything like me they will retain knowledge better by being consistent in schooling instead of taking a long break in summertime just to come back and have to relearn things forgotten.
-My yard is a disaster area... toys everywhere, desperately needing to be mowed as well as roofing material scattered here and there. I can't wait for Matt to get back from the dump with the empty garbage cans to pick up the rest of the roofing material on the ground!
-We were able to sell the old plywood from the roof... i was pretty excited about that prospect... i just wish there was some way we could have disposed of the shingles and roofing paper in a way they would be reused... through there may be something out there like that... i just haven't heard of anything yet.
-I'm still thirsty.... and the water is still not working.
Friday, June 3, 2011
I really like this song...
"The One"
If I see one more light that's fading
Hear about one more broken dream
Pray for just one more faith that's dying
It's one too many
And if I see one more child walking
Just one more mile for water
If I wait one more minute longer
It's one too many
When I think of what could be
If we let our hearts believe
That it takes just one
Just one could turn this all around
And if we're living history
How will they think of you and me
If it takes just one, just one
What if, what if, what if I'm the one?
It takes one, takes one, one
It takes one, takes one, one
It takes one, takes one
If I hear one more widow crying
'Cause there's no one by her side
And if I see one more family breaking
It's one too many
If there's one thing that I'm sure of
If there's one thing that I know
You could be one in a sea of faces
Or you could be one more chance for hope
When I think of what could be
If we let our hearts believe
That it takes just one
Just one could turn this all around
And if we're living history
How will they think of you and me
If it takes just one, just one
What if, what if, what if I'm the one?
I see a nation without any walls
A beautiful haven for one and for all
I see a day when people are free
When shackles are broken and fall to the street
A voice, a cry, call out from on high
The first one of many, go lay down your life
When I think of what could be
If we let our hearts believe
That it takes just one
Just one could turn this all around
And if we're living history
How will they think of you and me
If it takes just one, just one
What if, what if, what if I'm the one?
It takes one, takes one, one
(What if you're the one)
It takes one, takes one, one
It takes one, takes one
(What if I'm the one)
It takes one, takes one, one
(What if you're the one)
It takes one, takes one, one
It takes one, takes one
-Brandon Heath
"The One"
If I see one more light that's fading
Hear about one more broken dream
Pray for just one more faith that's dying
It's one too many
And if I see one more child walking
Just one more mile for water
If I wait one more minute longer
It's one too many
When I think of what could be
If we let our hearts believe
That it takes just one
Just one could turn this all around
And if we're living history
How will they think of you and me
If it takes just one, just one
What if, what if, what if I'm the one?
It takes one, takes one, one
It takes one, takes one, one
It takes one, takes one
If I hear one more widow crying
'Cause there's no one by her side
And if I see one more family breaking
It's one too many
If there's one thing that I'm sure of
If there's one thing that I know
You could be one in a sea of faces
Or you could be one more chance for hope
When I think of what could be
If we let our hearts believe
That it takes just one
Just one could turn this all around
And if we're living history
How will they think of you and me
If it takes just one, just one
What if, what if, what if I'm the one?
I see a nation without any walls
A beautiful haven for one and for all
I see a day when people are free
When shackles are broken and fall to the street
A voice, a cry, call out from on high
The first one of many, go lay down your life
When I think of what could be
If we let our hearts believe
That it takes just one
Just one could turn this all around
And if we're living history
How will they think of you and me
If it takes just one, just one
What if, what if, what if I'm the one?
It takes one, takes one, one
(What if you're the one)
It takes one, takes one, one
It takes one, takes one
(What if I'm the one)
It takes one, takes one, one
(What if you're the one)
It takes one, takes one, one
It takes one, takes one
-Brandon Heath
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