Hmmm...My genius is asleep.

Touch your nose, Shalom! No really, I told her to touch her nose, and she did! HER genius isn't asleep, huh Joanna?!?!?!?

You won't believe it, but most of the time my girls do what I tell them to do. For instance, this picture. I was taking laundry off of the clothesline, and told the girls to sit there...

So they sat there and watched a woman paint a wall...

No, really. They did. They sat there and watched a strange lady paint the wall that takes up out view from our gigantic window. Really. They did.
I knew you wouldn't believe me. But it's true. Honest.

Now my only question is...why is my grass greener when I am not looking at my girls faces?

Firsts: My Girls are growing!

Shalom, wearing the outfit she got for her 1st birthday from Aunt Allison and Uncle Chris... Notice she is also wearing a pair of shoes? Yeah, Ruth wore those at 7 months, and Shalom at 1 yr is just now fitting into them...and has plenty of wiggle room in them too!

Ruthie-Bear has graduated from a playpen to a real little girl bed! Mama is SO sad!

She was quite excited last night, and perfectly content to just lay on her new bed until sleep overtook her.

And Shalom is just plain cute in her white t-shirt/nightgown!

A Sister of mine: Danette Ann

Hello, 'Nette.

Yes, this post is for you, my friend. The following song is a song about Jesus. He didn't have a home either. He traveled around from place to place too. You seem to be in good company, if you ask me!

I love you!

Rebekah

Rich Mullins - You Did Not Have A Home lyrics

Oh, You did not have a home
There were places You visited frequently
You took off Your shoes and scratched Your feet
'Cause you knew that the whole world belongs to the meek
But You did not have a home
No, You did not have a home And You did not take a wife
There were pretty maids all in a row
Who lined up to touch the hem of Your robe
But You had no place to take them, so You did not take a wife
No, You did not take a wife
Birds have nests, foxes have dens
But the hope of the whole world rests
On the shoulders of a homeless man
You had the shoulders of a homeless man
No, You did not have a home
Well you had no stones to throw
You came without an ax to grind
You did not tow the party line
No wonder sight came to the blind
You had no stones to throw
You had no stones to throw
And You rode and ass' foal
They spread their coats and cut down palms
For You and Your donkey to walk upon
But the world won't find what it thinks it wants
On the back of an ass' foal
So I guess You had to get sold
'Cause the world can't stand what it can't own
And it can't own You 'Cause You did not have a home
Birds have nests, foxes have dens
But the hope of the whole world rests
On the shoulders of a homeless man
You had the shoulders of a homeless man
No, You did not have a home
Birds have nests, foxes have dens
But the hope of the whole world rests
On the shoulders of a homeless man
You had the shoulders of a homeless man
And the world can't stand what it can't own
And it can't own You
'Cause You did not have a home



Song lyrics | You Did Not Have A Home lyrics

Some thoughts (text only)

I live in a bubble. There is no real pain in this bubble of mine. I have not really known heartache, either. I have a Man who loves me dearly. He would give up anything (even food) to make sure the girls and I are getting what we need. I have two beautiful girls who, while sometimes drive me to insanity, are the other loves of my life. I don't know what I would do without these three God- sent humans in my life.

I have wonderful friends. Some don't know what they are doing in life , some traveling the world finding themselves , many serving God with their lives, and where they are (that is everyone else). Somehow, that have convinced me that they love me and appreciate me.

I have sisters - everywhere, really. One is in England (soon returning to the US), I am actually living in the same state - just an hour away from the other one. One in Israel, one finding herself somewhere between Arkansas, Louisiana, and Washington...many more, everywhere!

So, now to the point of this post. There are people out there that are hurting, and I can't do anything about it! If you take a gander over at the left of the screen to my Favorite Places, there are two blogs that grip my heart and cause me to say, "I don't understand, God!" Bring the Rain (audreycaroline.blogspot.com) is about a woman who found out that her Baby would not survive outside the womb. The blog is her avenue of healing, basically. Confessions of a CF Husband (cfhusband.blogspot.com) is the remarkable story of Nate and Tricia, and all they have been through. Please check out these two blogs. I promise, they will give you a new perspective of God, and you will see things without the rose colored glasses we are so fond of!

Thanks for reading. I guess today I needed the reminder that "No where on my birth certificate does it say Holy Spirit."

Josh and Rebekah Larson

Okay, so we are tired, having a 14 yr old in the house keeping us up late is wearing on us!

This is me after losing 15 lbs, and gaining 5 back.

True to form, Mom and Dad, yes, my hair IS wet!

The Finished Product...

Wine berry preserves over homemade vanilla ice cream!

Sleeping Beauties

Yesterday for naptime, Ruth and Shalom passed out! They didn't wake up early, I actually had to wake them up to go to lunch.

And yes, Ruth IS under a pile of blankets...in a bedroom with no a/c!

Wine Berry Preserves

My Man is wonderful. His Mom raised him teaching him how to can things, and he is all about canning and saving money by raising our own food. So he and Joe (my brother) spent two and a half hours picking wine berries to make into preserves for this winter. Already we have four pints of wine berries, and about 7 pints of cherry preserves. We also have 5 little square tubs of blackberries frozen for this winter.

I love the way God is allowing Josh to provide for us. Josh works serving others and not bringing in a paycheck, and God supplies our family with fruits and veggies from nature around us! We serve a good God!

Food for the winter

This will be a long neck pumpkin soon.

So will this.

This is an acorn squash.

So is this.

This behemoth is a long neck pumpkin. The leaves are gigantic, as is the pumpkin.

So you think you can take pictures?

Look at that RED HAIR!!!

My brother Joe tried to get a good picture of the four of us for our next newsletter. First Ruth wouldn't look, the Shalom got sick and tired of being so croweded by four hot bodies, then Josh and I got sick of trying!

My Ladies

My little reader...actually holding the book the right way!

My Shalomish (Or as Ruth calls her "Lomish")

"MUST we sit thru ANOTHER photo shoot?!?!?!"

Um...yeah