A Visit from Grandma Makey - Placeholder

My Mom was able to come and visit for a week. We had a great time just spending time with the kids and visiting...

I had gotten a new camera that took video and my Mom got my old camera so she was happy learning how to take pictures with it. I have one photo of her while she was here but I have a lot of me and the kids from her camera...which is a rarity because I usually am the one behind the camera!

Whiting Cousin Play

We went to Gothenburg to pick up my Mom for a visit and were able to stay and see the cousins in their music program. Kimberly was Belle in her classes play, AJ was a 7 of Hearts card in Alice in Wonderland, and Tyler was an Irish boy in "its a small world". I have video with my new camera that I'll try to see if I can post!

Okay...here it is...the movie of the kids at their concert...it starts with Tyler, moves to AJ and then finally has Kimberly's solo on it...hope you enjoy...video quality isn't the best at the distance we were but it was still fun to have:

Place Holders...

okay...I have several things to update here but I don't have the time to do it the way I'd like with photos and all so I am going to put some place holders in the order of the events and then when I have more time I'll come back and fill them in...

SO...when you see the placeholder off the end of the titles...you'll know I have updated them...maybe I'll have some time coming soon!

HOW TO STOP CHURCH GOSSIP - This will make you smile!

Mildred, the church gossip, and self-appointed monitor of the church's
morals, kept sticking her nose in to other people's business. Several
members did not approve of her extra curricular activities, but feared
her enough to maintain their silence.
 

She made a mistake, however, when she accused Frank, a new member, of
being an alcoholic after she saw his old pickup parked in front of the town's
only bar one afternoon. She emphatically told Frank  (and several others)
that everyone seeing it there would know what he was doing.
 

Frank, a man of few words, stared at her for a moment and just turned
and walked away. He didn't explain, defend, or deny... he said nothing.
 
Later that evening, Frank quietly parked his pickup in front of Mildred's
house...walked home...and left it there all night!!!
 
You gotta love Frank!

Slide Show...

Isn't that cool...I just figured out that I can do slideshows with my photobucket account...you'll all have to let me know if you can see it or not...I can but I posted it HA!

I realize that those with slower connections may not be able to see it...but hopefully those that have a faster connection can...

Update on us...

Let's see...what has been happening since Easter...

I think the first thing is that we put in an old computer for the kids...it was one that my dad had and didn't want anymore so he gave it to the kids to play around on...I was hoping to be able to network it over to my big computer and allow Abi to play around on her internet sites without being on Mommy and Daddy's computer but I haven't figured that out yet...for now she loves to do her letters on wordpad and color on paint...here is a picture of her doing that:

Jonathan has started sucking his thumb now...I don't have any pictures of that yet, but he is getting much better at comforting himself and not needing the pacifier any more...in fact he really doesn't like the pacifier now. He has also started sleeping 9-10 hours at night...it has been very nice! Now if I can just get the other kids to sleep that long (HA!).

We have had our usual MOPS meetings and activities and keep busy with church and errand during the week. The kids have enjoyed playing outside more though we have to really watch them as they like to play in places they aren't supposed to go...I have started reviewing the outside rules with them each time they go outside: Stay in the yard, Don't go on the road, Don't cross any fences, Don't open any gates, Don't go into the chicken coop. These are the basic rules for now...we will see if we come up with anymore as they continue to explore and play outside.

Oh...here are a few cute pics for you...here are my two "Daddy's Helpers" . They love to wear daddy's clothes:

And these were just taken this morning. Jonathan's first time in his jumper...I think Abi and Nate liked it more then Jonathan...

Well, that is all I can think of at this time. I'll try to remember to keep up as we get into the summer more and as they continue to grow...

By the way...I do have Jonathan's one month pictures...but now it is time to take his three month...here is his one month:

One Minute Each Night

ONE MINUTE EACH NIGHT

                               
ONE MINUTE EACH NIGHT During WWII, there was an advisor to Churchill who organized a group of people who dropped what they were doing every night at a prescribed hour for one minute to collectively pray for the safety of England, its people and peace. This had an amazing effect as bombing stopped.
                                
There is now a group of people organizing the same thing here in America.
                                
If you would like to participate: each evening at 9:00 PM Eastern Time (8:00 PM Central, 7:00 PM Mountain, 6:00 PM Pacific), stop whatever you are doing and spend one minute praying for the up-coming election, and for the revival of Christianity in this great country.
                                
Someone said if people really understood the full extent of the power we have available through prayer, we might be speechless. Our prayers are the most powerful asset we have.
                                
Thank You. Please pass this on to anyone who you think will want to join us. Of course God is listening 24/7.

                                       

Guest Pastor

AFTER A FEW OF THE USUAL SUNDAY EVENING HYMNS,
THE CHURCH'S PASTOR SLOWLY STOOD UP,
WALKED OVER TO THE PULPIT AND,
BEFORE HE GAVE HIS SERMON FOR THE EVENING,
HE BRIEFLY INTRODUCED A GUEST MINISTER
WHO WAS IN THE SERVICE THAT EVENING.

IN THE INTRODUCTION, THE PASTOR TOLD THE
CONGREGATION THAT THE GUEST MINISTER WAS
ONE OF HIS DEAREST CHILDHOOD FRIENDS AND
THAT HE WANTED HIM TO HAVE A FEW MOMENTS
TO GREET THE CHURCH AND SHARE WHATEVER
HE FELT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR THE SERVICE.

WITH THAT, AN ELDERLY MAN STEPPED UP TO THE
PULPIT AND BEGAN TO SPEAK.

A FATHER, HIS SON, AND A FRIEND OF HIS SON WERE
SAILING OFF THE PACIFIC COAST,' HE BEGAN.
'WHEN A FAST APPROACHING STORM BLOCKED ANY
ATTEMPT TO GET BACK TO THE SHORE.

THE WAVES WERE SO HIGH, THAT EVEN THOUGH THE
FATHER WAS AN EXPERIENCED SAILOR, HE COULD NOT
KEEP THE BOAT UPRIGHT AND THE THREE WERE SWEPT
INTO THE OCEAN AS THE BOAT CAPSIZED.'

THE OLD MAN HESITATED FOR A MOMENT,
MAKING EYE CONTACT WITH TWO TEENAGERS WHO WERE,
FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE SERVICE BEGAN,
LOOKING SOMEWHAT INTERESTED IN HIS STORY.

THE AGED MINISTER CONTINUED WITH HIS STORY,
'GRABBING A RESCUE LINE, THE FATHER HAD TO MAKE THE
MOST EXCRUCIATING DECISION OF HIS LIFE: TO WHICH BOY
WOULD HE THROW THE OTHER END OF THE LIFE LINE.
HE ONLY HAD SECONDS TO MAKE THE DECISION.
THE FATHER KNEW THAT HIS SON WAS A CHRISTIAN AND
HE, ALSO, KNEW THAT HIS SON'S FRIEND WAS NOT.
THE AGONY OF HIS DECISION COULD NOT BE MATCHED BY
THE TORRENT OF WAVES.

AS THE FATHER YELLED OUT, 'I LOVE YOU, SON!'
HE THREW OUT THE LIFE LINE TO HIS SON'S FRIEND.
BY THE TIME THE FATHER HAD PULLED THE FRIEND BACK
TO THE CAPSIZED BOAT, HIS SON HAD DISAPPEARED BENEATH
THE RAGING SWELLS INTO THE BLACK OF NIGHT.

HIS BODY WAS NEVER RECOVERED.

BY THIS TIME, THE TWO TEENAGERS WERE SITTING UP
STRAIGHT IN THE PEW, ANXIOUSLY WAITING FOR THE NEXT
WORDS TO COME OUT OF THE OLD MINISTER'S MOUTH.

'THE FATHER,' HE CONTINUED, 'KNEW HIS SON WOULD
STEP INTO ETERNITY WITH JESUS AND HE COULD NOT
BEAR THE THOUGHT OF HIS SON'S FRIEND STEPPING INTO
AN ETERNITY WITHOUT JESUS. THEREFORE, HE SACRIFICED
HIS SON TO SAVE THE SON'S FRIEND.'

HOW GREAT IS THE LOVE OF GOD THAT HE SHOULD DO THE
SAME FOR US. OUR HEAVENLY FATHER SACRIFICED HIS ONLY
BEGOTTEN SON THAT WE COULD BE SAVED. I URGE YOU TO
ACCEPT HIS OFFER TO RESCUE YOU AND TAKE A HOLD OF THE
LIFE LINE HE IS THROWING OUT TO YOU IN THIS SERVICE.'
WITH THAT, THE OLD MAN TURNED AND SAT BACK DOWN IN
HIS CHAIR AS SILENCE FILLED THE ROOM.

THE PASTOR AGAIN WALKED SLOWLY TO THE PULPIT AND
DELIVERED A BRIEF SERMON WITH AN INVITATION AT THE
END. HOWEVER, NO ONE RESPONDED TO THE APPEAL.

WITHIN MINUTES AFTER THE SERVICE ENDED, THE TWO
TEENAGERS WERE AT THE OLD MAN'S SIDE.

'THAT WAS A NICE STORY,' POLITELY STATED ONE OF
THEM,'BUT I DON'T THINK IT WAS VERY REALISTIC FOR A
FATHER TO GIVE UP HIS ONLY SON'S LIFE IN HOPES THAT
THE OTHER BOY WOULD BECOME A CHRISTIAN.'

'WELL, YOU'VE GOT A POINT THERE,' THE OLD MAN REPLIED,
GLANCING DOWN AT HIS WORN BIBLE. A BIG SMILE BROADENED
HIS NARROW FACE. HE ONCE AGAIN LOOKED UP AT THE BOYS
AND SAID, 'IT SURE ISN'T VERY REALISTIC, IS IT? BUT,
I'M STANDING HERE TODAY TO TELL YOU THAT STORY GIVES
ME A GLIMPSE OF WHAT IT MUST HAVE BEEN LIKE FOR GOD
TO GIVE UP HIS SON FOR ME.

YOU SEE...

I WAS THAT FATHER AND YOUR PASTOR IS MY SON'S FRIEND.