Construction

We have had a fire going most nights and all day on Saturdays to burn all of the trash and leftover wood around the home.  The kids have all pitched in to keep things cleaned up.  Many folks from the church have spent hours cleaning, sweeping, throwing...

Above is our entry which has the highest ceilings in the whole house.  This was all already framed when we purchased the house.

Above is our entry looking from the door inside the house.  The staircase on the right and the living room is directly behind the stairs on the right as well.

Below is looking from our bedroom down the hall way upstairs into the girls and boys rooms.

Right now, unless you actually walk through the house, you can't really tell what things are going to be or look like.  However, I thought I'd give you a couple of photos so you can get the feel for the 'roundness' of the home.  It has many arches, curved stairs, curves in the kitchen (I don't have photos of that yet)...  

We are usually there in the evenings and all day on Saturday if you want to stop by ANYTIME.  We live now only about 2 miles away and would love to give you a tour and hear advice or things you would do with your home to make it more efficient and others focused...  

Stitches (not the laughing kind)

I was upstairs getting a few things done while the kids were out playing.  On the way to the kitchen I glanced out the window just in time to see all the children jumping on the trampoline, which is totally common around here.  However, the UN common thing was that Andi was sitting in our plastic boat in the middle and just got jumped over and smacked in the face with the edge.  I was already out the door getting ready to tell them that the boat was supposed to stay off the trampoline and saw blood spurting out of her cheek.  IT LOOKED AWEFUL.  the kids were all standing around her screaming at the top of their lungs  BLOOD BLOOD BLOOD BLOOD, AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH and crying...  I grabbed the bottom of my long sweater and held it against her face and carried her to the sink.  One of the kids brought me some ice and the phone and I 'calmly' (you know me and blood) said "Nate, Andi split her cheek open and we are going to go get her stitched up!!!!!!!" I then called my mother-in-law and she came over to confirm that yes, super glue wouldn't do the trick.  Nate made it home in time to drive us to the clinic where she received FIVE stitches.  She did sooo good and held sooo still even though it hurt some.  My father-in-law took the not hurt or nursing kids with him to get some lumber so Nate could then head home and get started on the evening of framing our home.  MaryBeth (mother-in-law) brought over dinner for us and the workers even though she already had a full day.  We got home and she had cleaned my kitchen...  

Anyways, what an afternoon.  So, instead of being over at the house today we are doing the laundry and pick-up that we were going to do early this afternoon when the above happened.  

God so orchestrates our days and it's our job to be FLEXIBLE.  Thank you Jesus for another day to live for you and to fit in with YOUR plan for us.  Thans for all the people that you have brought into our lives to help us in our time of need.

This is our first and only trip (so far) to the clinic.  That's not bad for SIX kids.  Maybe this is the beginning:(.

Above and Beyond

Ever since I have known Nate (my husband) he has wanted to build his own home.  Being a builder and been in the construction industry for more than 13 years he has some definite opinions about how he would build a home, what he would put into a home if...  

For the sake of time (because it's after midnight) I will just give you a photo and a few words to tell you that Nate's DREAM is coming true.  Not without hard work (in the past and now), we are building our OWN home, a place that we plan on living for as long as we can think.  We are having so much fun planning and talking about our home.  

More to come on the progress.  Nate's still at the house tonight smoothing out the concrete slab in the garage.  

I would like to say that NONE of this would be or is possible without the help of so many friends.  Nate and I have spent time, tears (just me on this one) and prayers of gratefulness for the people that have invested in our lives.  We would not/could not do any of this without them (family very much included).  

TWO months old

Our little Trae-man is now two months old and growing.  Just over 11 pounds and just over 23 inches long.  He's still a sweetheart.  This past week or two he's quit eating through the night and that means that I get at least 8 hrs of uninterrupted sleep (if I'd go to bed right away:).  He's sure been a great addition to the family and the kids 'LOOOOVE the baby'.  Everyone wants to hold him and be the 'boss' of him.  

Andi leaned over to give him a smootch (or mootch as we call it) and scraped the skin off his nose with her zipper.  Todd and Andi are screaming from the kitchen  "THE BABY IS BLEEDING".  He was actually but we took care of it... he slept through the whole thing.

Grandpa's House

There is no greater present you can give a mother than to delight in her children, the people she invests in ALL DAY, her 'work'...  and then to have someone I (a mother) respect and love, take delight in my children.  It's even more special, even more of a gift.  Dad and Maria (Grandpa Carne and GrandMaria) spent so much time with our kids (their Grandchildren) this last weekend.  Puzzles, games, books, swimming, Silver Leaf Cafe Chai's and sandwiches, talking, help with getting jammies on, special foods and treats and cookies, a home that is peaceful and safe and prayed over (protected...).  We had a special time with them and hated to make it so short (even though I'm sure they needed their rest after all of us:)

After a bath Trae's hair is pretty amazing.

Special cookies with their initials on them.
Really fun reindeer gloves for all the kids.  They use them like boxing gloves...

GrandMaria and Andi
The kids spent an afternoon writing thank you's to people for the first time.  Last year they couldn't write, but this year they really wanted to make things for people who invested in us.  God them a bowl of snacks and let them go.  

Baby Fun

This little guy has been fighting quite the cold.  Many nights up and many hours praying for his health.  He's better now but there were moments when we wondered...

Fun Family...Fun Times!

We waited for the snow to melt and then it started raining and was supposed to rain for the next week or so.  Sunday afternoon was looking up so thought we would give taking a few photos a try.  I had a blast walking around with these people and hearing the conversations... the family dynamics are great and their love for each other and the Lord is very evident.  Thanks guys, I hope you enjoy them, if not I'd love to go out again.