~Ross Country Cottage~

Been a Busy Season

2009-03-11T23:24:00.000-07:00

It is nearly 11:30 at night and I thought to myself, "Why not try to post a quick blog?" I went into my craft program and found this picture of 4 girls. Since I have 4 daughters I liked it. It is not anyone's birthday here in the Ross household but the picture still felt cute and just right for me. I am not quite there for getting out the camera and doing pictures.

You may wonder just what has kept me so busy. I had a major surgery on February 19th. I am in week 3 of my 6 to 8 weeks of recovery time. I am so blessed to have had so many helping me out during this time. We have had pretty much nonstop meals brought to us since the surgery. My friend from dayz in and dayz out, simply storks sister, arranged meals for my family with many friends from my church and homeschool center. I can not tell you how much meals help to keep a wonderful family balance going.

Each day I am getting a bit stronger and in less pain. I still have a problem that we are looking into to fix. Hoping the fix comes soon but know that I do not walk alone in it if it does not. I have my post op appointment on this Thursday, March 12th. Maybe I will get the go ahead to drive? We'll see! Although I have a big 4 x 4 suburban that is a bit to climb into....so maybe that wish is too soon considering I have a nice size abdominal incision that is healing....getting restless I guess.

I have missed talking to everyone and keeping up on everyone's lives. I hope you all are doing well. Blessings to everyone from me!

2009-01-06T00:16:00.000-08:00

A quick post. We have had a sick grandma here at the Ross household over this Christmas break. Her name is Grandma Shirley. She lives with us and is 87. She does not really like to have her picture taken but I do have a few shots of her...just have not time to sort through and find one. Grandma Shirley ended up going to the hospital last week and was diagnosed with pneumonia and atrial fibrillation. She has spent several days in the hospital and today went to the rehab section of our local nursing home. She should be there for 1 to 2 weeks and then gets to come home. Also at the hospital at the same time was another gentleman from our church who is 93. His name is Jim. His diagnosis ended up the same, pneumonia, and also been transferred to the same rehab center. Please keep these 2 in your prayers. The Doctor who treated Grandma said she was his 4Th elderly person checked in with pneumonia this week. That is a lot considering our hospital is only a 23 bed hospital. It has been a hard winter for our elderly.

~A Clear Bethlehem Night~

2008-12-28T23:33:00.001-08:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas

this year! We had a first here in the Northwest...

a real..I mean real...white Christmas!

We have had loads of snow this month...

Loads is not even an exaggeration!

I had hoped to be able to post a Christmas story

before Christmas but we had the electricity go out

3 different times and also had the Internet go

out ( yes again!). I am going to post one

anyways even if it is December 28Th today!

I hope to post some snow pictures later this week

and also to be able to catch up on saying hi

to you all on your blog sites!

Please enjoy this Christmas story.

I wrote it several months ago for

this years Christmas for my girls.

~~~

"A Clear Bethlehem Night"

It was a clear Bethlehem night and

out from my window I stared.

I could see a lady, on a donkey, great with child

and wondered if for this event of soon would she be prepared.

A man lead her way with concern on his face.

Looking for a spot where she could rest,

in a private space.

Tired she looked but also upon her face

was a resting peace.

For soon, very soon, her baby would be

swaddled in a blanket of simple fleece.

From place to place they looked

for a room.

For this baby would be coming and coming

quite soon.

From place to place no room could be bought.

Till they happened upon a man who

said, "A stable to share is

my only left spot."

With the straw and animals this baby

soon would need to lay.

No time to put it too worry,

for this baby would coming

and coming this day.

I wondered just why the stars

were shining so big, so bright.

Their glow made the sky an

awe inspiring sight.

I thought of this lady

and of this man.

What a special night for a baby's birth,

almost as if to fulfill a great plan.

Curious were my thoughts as

I wanted to learn, hoping to

see more.

Down my stairs I decided to step.

heading out to explore.

I ended up in a stable, and

stood still in a shadow of dark.

What was it about this night

that seemed as if something

was about to embark.

I wondered and wondered and

just for myself had to know.

This baby came and His

presence held a peace to bestow.

Just then shepherds from the nearby

fields to town came in.

Professing and sharing the news

of a newborn King.

I then knew this night was special

and holy, as this baby in a stable was born.

This birth was the beginning of what would

become the first Christmas morn.

To my knees I dropped and gave thanks

for this newborn King.

Thanking God for the plan and provision

of this baby, and all that it is

and will bring.

Not knowing just what it all meant was for me OK,

as God's peace held it to a peaceful right.

In my prayer I simply spoke, "Thank you

dear God that you cared and sent to us

a King on this starlit night."

Written by Kimberly Ross

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

2008-12-14T21:16:00.001-08:00

We welcomed our first snow here

in the Northwest this weekend!

It made for some very happy

Ross girls.

The snow is so beautiful.

Our chicken house

Trees lining our yard

Our rocks

The beauty of snow!

Night time sky

Our Internet was fixed and on

then it was off again...we found that

one of our dogs had chewed through

the phone line going into the computer.

It took a couple of days or more to discover

that one! I hope everyone is enjoying

this Christmas season....

Don't forget the real

reason for the season....He came as

a babe...something that we can relate

too and understand...a simple baby....

He stayed here for the just right

amount of time and then died for us...

then He rose again, for us...

He is the Reason for the Season.

The greatest Christmas gift ever!

~Season of Simplicity~

2008-12-03T21:57:00.000-08:00

I am back on! Just in time for the holiday season. We had a phone

repair guy come and he figured out our Internet problem

...moisture in the phone box, down the road from our home.

He fixed it and now we have Internet back. As for me I have

continued to go to the doctors, we seemed to have pinpointed

the problem and I should be having surgery after the holidays.

It will be 1 surgery covering 2 problems...sort of a 2 for 1!

Do you like my header picture? I have a craft program and

found the picture in it. It reminded me of simplicity

and youthful excitement. The kind that I am sure the

Lord loves to see us in..instead of in a holiday madness

and shopping craze.

Christmas has, for many been, stretched to what it is not

...I hope for you and your family that Christmas

remains what it is meant to be instead.

Jesus' birth had a simplicity about it. No fancy birthing suite

in a big hospital. Now I know most of us would prefer not to

give birth in a stable...but the workability of Jesus' birth

is what made it so simple...it worked out with out all the

big shebang and fanciness we think things need. No fancy car to

get Mary and Joseph to the hospital. No modern wheel chair to

get Mary to her birthing spot. No fancy layette for the baby

to sleep in Just a simple space in a simple space....and yet

it all worked out.

I wonder if Christmas can simply work out if we keep it simple

and not complicated...What would Jesus want my celebration to look

like? A mad rush to get it all right or a simpler memory filled with

simple smiles and happiness. It is something to think about for

sure! I have missed "talking" with everyone online! I hope

everyone is doing well...

Wishing everyone an enjoyable time of Christmas preparation......

Remember to simply enjoy this Holiday Season for what

it really is and not for what it really is not!

MRI Update....And Dr. Update

2008-11-19T23:53:00.000-08:00

Hi My computer has been online all day long today!

I am not sure what has been wrong and we did nothing

to fix it but I am glad to see it staying on.

Yesterday ( Tuesday) I had a pain in my upper abdomen

all day long. This is not the pain I had the MRI for.

By days end I called the consulting nurse and she

suggested I head to urgent care (our insurance company's

in between for needed care that is not an emergency).

I went in and it appears I was having gallbladder

troubles ...or perhaps an ulcer. I will be going in next Monday

for an Ultrasound. I went home with

pain pills. After a bit the pain finally settled

down....perhaps it was the 2 pain pills that helped!

I have not been to the Doctor for

years and in the last 2 months I have had several appointments.

I have been examined, poked and prodded all over...

making up for lost time I guess! The Doctor who saw

me last night looked at my chart and saw I was 43

and said "Welcome to the 40's"

During the appointment last night I noticed that my

MRI results were up on the Doctor's computer

screen. I asked her if that was my MRI results and

she said they were. I asked her if she could tell me

what they said. She gladly shared the results with me.

They have came back that the masses appear to be

cysts that are benign.....the "B" word is the good word

to hear and I got to hear it. I will still have to go in for

a consult on December 2nd and we will make decisions

about them. The concern is still the size of the bigger one.

If it is a "functional" cyst then it should go down in size over

the next couple of months. This is what will be watched for.

Also I still have the original pain I went in for so I will be glad

to discuss what can be done to get rid of it.

Thank you all for your prayers. I have felt great measures

of peace over this and know that the Lord is carrying me

leaving His set of footprints in the sand.

I hope to be able to blog with a picture and all real soon!

Bye and have a great day today!

2008-11-12T15:37:00.000-08:00

My Internet connection is still messed up this week!

Thank you all for your prayers!

I did well during the MRI. The more you hold

still the sooner you get out of the machine! I had no

intention of spending too long in it so I held still!

I have an appointment on December 2ND to go

over what they find on the MRI test. They will also

discuss treatment options during this appointment.

December 2ND seems far away. The December 2ND appointment

was made before I even had the MRI. It was the soonest they could

get me in. I am thinking that if I don't hear from them and

if no one calls me right away that that is in my favor?

Sounds good to me! They did say that maybe

my doctor could tell me sooner. I will call him at the beginning of

next week to see if he is able..till then patience is going

to have to be the protocol. God has been good with his

provision of peace and patience for me. I appreciate that

so much. I will get this posted before my connection

goes out. I hope I can figure out what is wrong soon!

Bye for now.....Kim

2008-11-04T21:11:00.000-08:00

My computer's Internet connection

has been going out over and over lately.

I have been unable to get into blogs and read

or to post. I have managed to get on for this

quick moment so I am going to make a quick

post of a prayer request.

I have an MRI on Friday morning at 8 a.m.

Originally I was to have a cat scan on Wednesday

but it has been changed to an MRI.

I have been having some abdominal

pain that needs checking on. They have found a

mass/perhaps cyst that is suspicious and needs checking

on. Please pray for my calm during the test. For some reason

I am calm about it but then when I talk to others it appears

I maybe should be worried about being inside the scanning

machine. I am going to try to place this time in the Lord's hands

and work on not borrowing trouble before the test begins.

Please also prayer for the medical team to be able to

place my IV in me. This has been a struggle in the past

when I have had my babies. The last time I ended up very bruised,

after a long time of digging to get it in. And lastly pray for the

doctor's guidance to be able to see what they need

to see and to decide what is the best next step for me.

My Favorite Flower

The Dandelion...

I think I will think about a field full of these

beautiful ( I mean that!) Flowers while

my test is being done!

They always make me smile as they remind me

of my 4 daughters and all the summer and spring time

hours spent picking them.

~On The Way To A Friend's House~

2008-10-28T11:10:00.000-07:00

I have been unable to get my pictures to load

from my camera into the computer this month.

Add that in with the school year up and going and

yep...I am behind on all blogging. Overall we are doing fine

at the Ross household. I myself have had to

go in for some testing at the Dr. Office for a problem

I have been having. So I have also been a bit tired.

I should find out probably today about that and

then maybe I can get it taken care of soon!

I decided to look in my older photos and see what I had that I

could post just for fun. These are some pictures I took

on the way to a friend's house, this last summer.

For her I am wondering if she can guess

who she is? For everyone else enjoy the everyday

beauty found in our daily trips to and from places!

Oh yeah the pictures loaded out of order as the driving one

should have been first. I am never just sure how a

computer takes over my efforts to do something, but

somehow they do!!!

Another oh yeah...my 2nd oldest daughter says

she thinks she may have figured out the picture loading

problem...hopefully she's right and I can load some photos!

I love old houses! I always wonder about their histories.

Families growing up within the walls, new babies being born,

a newly married man and woman enjoying their first home.

I would love to enter all old houses and sit and just read about

the history of who lived within it's walls.

A picket fence with lovely flowers.

This fence belongs to someone I know.

There is a certain peace that comes

with a white fence and flowers!

An old dock leading out into a lake. Lots of fun had

here by many I am sure!

Hubby's hands safely driving our family on
this drive!

~Road To No Where~

2008-10-06T23:57:00.000-07:00

At times I can be a thinker and a ponderer. I watch myself

and I watch others and I find it interesting to see the many

paths that we people can find ourselves on. Are we , am I , on

the path that the Lord would have me be on or am

I on the path made by my own decisions and choices.

Taking away the lead from the Lord. I know

that it is so easy to stray off the path, that in a quick

moment of time I can be off and planning my own way.

My way never leads in the direction that is best for my steps

to follow. It seems to happen so quickly before I know it

I am on a road to nowhere. Oh I work real hard on this road.

I keep moving, thinking,planning and fixing the path I am on.

...but still I get nowhere.

~~~~

~Road To Nowhere~

What brings out the best

isn't perfection you see.

What makes me the best is those

things that bring me to my knees.

In this world when I do

it on my own,

I can leave God out, but His

love of me keeps me never alone.

He gently on my shoulder will tap,

He'll be patient as He waits

for me to rest in His arms, taking time

to sit upon His lap.

I fight so hard to be all

that I can be.

He waits so patiently for me

to give all my heart to him and for

my eyes to open and clearly see.

No pressure does He place

upon me while I on my own stand.

He allows the consequences of my actions

to teach me, but always waits with His

outstretched hand.

Am I choosing a road to no where,

not looking to Him above?

Or is what I need to seek is His path,

given to me with His perfect love?

~~~~

A trip through the Psalms shows me a lot about

the Lord's path for me. It is a loving path with many

words of encouragement: He guides me, He restores my soul,

He teaches me, He sets my heart free, His path provides me with

delight, He fills me with joy, He keeps my feet from slipping, Keeps my

ankles from turning, He provides a light to my path. With

all that the Lord provides for me why would I ever think my own

road could ever be better. He loves me and leads me better

then I could ever lead myself!

Where is your road going? Toward God or is it

a road to nowhere? I am so glad that God is who He is.

His path is peaceful and it leads somewhere I want to be.

Psalm 23:3

He restores my soul.

He guides me in the paths of righteousness

for his name's sake.

Psalm 25:4

Show me your ways, O Lord,

Teach me your paths.

Psalm 119:32

I run in the path of your commands,

for you have set my heart free.

Psalm 119:35

Direct me in the path of your commands,

for there I find delight.

Psalm 16:11

You have made known to me the path of life;

you will fill me with joy in your presence,

with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Psalm 17:5

My steps have held to your paths;

my feet have not slipped.

Psalm 18:36

You broaden the path beneath me,

so that my ankles do not turn.

Psalm 119:101

I have kept my feet from every evil path

so that I might obey your word.

Psalm 119:105

You word is a lamp to my feet

and a light to my path.

2008-09-29T14:41:00.000-07:00

Hitting the Books!

I have been slow in posting with the school year underway.

There seems so much to do each day. The computer is

a part of our lessons. We have curriculum the girls do on it.

They also use it for research as for reports and homework.

It is hard to find it free in on any given minute of each

day. There is much to learn and many to teach!

My last "Take a Guess Tuesday" was 2 weeks

ago...My picture was of frozen raspberries! YUM!!

I can not find the picture to re post it....lost some where in cyberland

I suppose! I will not post too many of them over

the school year as it is hard to get to. But I will still post,

perhaps slowly, but I will still try!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful fall!

Our weather here has been superb! We have nearly

had a whole month of sun...not completely but nearly!

Fall is my favorite time of year...what's yours?

Enjoy this season! It provides the nourishment

needed to grow a beautiful spring!

~He Changes Times & Seasons~

2008-09-22T23:26:00.000-07:00

~~~

Fall has begun and it seems like along with the falling

leaves twinkling down from their branches that I

my self am falling further and further behind!

Last week I had every hour planned, before

getting our homeschooling schedule up and going, and

the kids fell sick. You know how it goes...we have all been

there. This time around was not to be a quicky to get

over and done with. It is now Monday night and I

have had some child sick for nearly a week now...my youngest

held on the worst but thankfully took a turn for the better

today. I finally saw her precious smile come back on her

sweet face. She has only had a few crackers as of yet but

hopes to be eating a real meal soon! So who is in charge

of this season in my life? My human mind wants

to just have it all over with...no more sickness and

better yet get back to my plans. But I have to stop

and look to see just what it is that He wants. Is it all about

my plans or is it really all about His plan?

Why do we fight so hard to make it our plan. Like

my plan would bring more peace to myself. It always

seems like having it all my way would do that but I am so glad

the good Lord knows the real truth about that and keeps me

on track! He is in charge of this season in my life and

all the seasons before and the ones to come. He already

knows my story. Thankfully so because I am sure

I could not write a better story or live the

plan for my life in a better way then the way

the Lord has planned it for me. My plan is all about me,

His Plan is all for me.

~~~

~He Changes Times and Seasons~

~Daniel 2:21~

"Praise be to the name of God for ever

and ever; wisdom and power are his.

He changes times and seasons;

he sets up kings and deposes them.

He gives wisdom to the wise

and knowledge to the discerning.

He reveals deep and hidden things;

he knows what lies in the darkness,

and light dwells with him.

I thank and praise you,

O God of my fathers;

You have given me wisdom and power,

you have made known to me what we asked of you,

you have made known to us the dream of the king."

~~~

Thank you to Simply for sharing this photo with me!

~Sick Kid's~

2008-09-18T15:19:00.000-07:00

Home again but for today

we have:

sick kids, and one tired mom,

at the Ross household.

Wishing all a great day...

Off to wash bedding from

last night! Us moms can

be tough cookies for sure!

We clean up the grossest messes

and yet love these special children

every step of the way! God

knew just what kid's needed when

he made moms...He knows what

us mom's need to make it through

....He is good that way.

Psalm 103:13

As a father has compassion on his children,

so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;

~Heading Over the Mountains~

2008-09-14T23:56:00.000-07:00

I am heading over the mountains again this week,

for 3 days. This time I will be going to my dad's house

to help out for a bit. His well pump went out and

my uncle went over to fix it 2 weeks ago. He is going

back to finish it up. He asked me and any of my girls

if we would like to come along. This seemed like a great

opportunity for some one on one time with my

3rd born daughter and also a great time for my other 3

to have some time together at home with each

other and their dad. My 3rd born is very

excited for this trip! She loves to stay moving and busy!

She is packed and ready to roll....I am off to

pack and then head to bed!

I am going to post my "Take a Guess Tuesday"

after this post and will be back to blog again on Thursday.

Although I am having a bit of a small problem in that my

pictures will not load off of my camera today for some

reason? Computers put us so far ahead and

then at times so lost in the dark!

These are a few pictures on my daughter!

I can rarely get an eye contact picture of

her but I can still get a great smiley one!

Have a Great Week!

~Take a Guess Tuesday~

2008-09-14T12:50:00.001-07:00

Here is last weeks

"Take a Guess Tuesday"

Do you know what this is?

All of you were right again,

although one of you were right on...(Dayz)

it is the Albino snake from the

Reptile Zoo.

This snake goes to different schools, fairs and parks for

kids to be able to hold and learn more about.

It is very long (although I am not sure how long)

All the kids line up and hold onto it. It is also very

heavy! My girls are the 2 front ones (in the blue

and brown sweatshirts.)

The reptile man's show is always a favorite with

my girls! Big smiles all around!

~~~~~~~~~~~

Here is next weeks

"Take a Guess Tuesday"

Do you know what this is?

Hint?....Yum!

~STAND PROUD...STAND TALL~

2008-09-11T01:20:00.000-07:00

Today is 9-11,

a few years ago that was just another date

on our calendar each year. Now it stands for so much

more. This day brought sadness and shock to us all

as we watched each event unfold. We found out how

weak we were ...we found out how strong we are!

It has been awhile since I put on a poem. I sat

one day thinking upon that day and wanted to

put into words what I feel when I think about 9-11.

The following poem is in memory of those who got up

to an ordinary day with an unordinary outcome.

The purpose that day was to weaken
Americans where we stand....but with

memories of those we lost there is only one thing to do

Stand Proud and Stand Tall!

~~~

9-11...

~ STAND PROUD...STAND TALL~

As the morning dew set the flag

flew high, at the entrance of town.

But in the short hours ahead families

across America would be weakened,
their faces held down.
~

People on flights or sitting at desks,

preparing for the day ahead.

Not realizing life would soon have them

as a special memory instead.

Firemen and policemen off to work

to protect me, to protect you.

Not looking back when the calls rang in,

there was no doubt that they had to go

or a hint of doubt as to what they had to do.

Always ever so strong in

America we like to stand.

But for this moment in time fear gripped

us as word raced across this great land.

How could it be that a plan this

big could be implemented and go unseen.

On an ordinary morning of busyness lives

were brought to the moment where there

would be nothing left to glean.

Amidst the dust and the smoke it

became evident, it became clear.

Special people were gone from our presence

with only their memories to draw them near.

The flags, in towns across America,

dropped to half mass that day.

We wondered if our heads could be lifted up

or if our resilience would return to stay.

For a moment, just a moment, we

wondered if America could recover

from this time of duress,

But American's showed strength as

they dealt with the sadness, trying

hard to remember that they lived in a

nation where they were still incredibly blessed.

One crazed man gathered forces, trying

to make a point to Americans one and all.

I choose to show him I remember those we

lost but my head will remain high

as in America I stand proud and I stand tall!

~KSR~

~Take a Guess Tuesday~

2008-09-09T05:03:00.000-07:00

Here it is one more chance to guess!

Do you know what this is?

Nearly everyone got this right it is wood, "stacked"

(in a way...but not in the way you might have imagined!)

It is stacked onto a planter and glued on!

Up close in the camera it gave the illusion of

a firewood pile!

Here is next weeks

"Take a Guess Tuesday"

Do you know what this is?

Good luck guessing!!

~Fabulous Finds~

2008-09-04T21:03:00.000-07:00

Anyone who knows me knows that I love

shopping at 2nd hand stores to provide for my household.

I did not used to be that way. In fact it takes a bit

of practice to get good at it. Now I find that

90% of what I wear and my family wears is from

a 2nd hand store (or a friend whose children have

out grown their clothing). Also my house is decorated with

mostly used items. We do not have a large income,

but God created me with tons of creativity to balance

that out! I am so thankful for that creativity.

In August I was asked to do a wedding cake for a

good friend of mine. I am not a professional decorator

but have taken Wilton cake classes for fun. That makes

me able to do ok enough on cakes...maybe not for

someone who likes a perfect touch..but ok enough for

someone who wants to be careful with their budget and

wants a cake and is not worried about it being "perfect".

I felt busy and tired this month. So I put this cake into God's

hands. I prayed for him to provide me the money to

make it and also the energy to make it. God is so good...

So what does that have to do with a "fabulous find" in the

2nd hand store? Well I went to a wedding the week before

I was to make my friend's wedding cake and I saw this

version of a cake on a scrolly cake stand. Seeing this really

made me think how much easier it would be to tier a cake this

way then to stack the cake the way I have done before.

I set this to prayer and asked God if perhaps there was a way

I could come up with a version like it that could work

for my friend's cake...Here is what He came up

with for my answer...He really hears our prayers..big or little!

He hears them all and knows what we need and what it takes

to make those needs work...

~~~

Here is the cake I saw at the wedding the week before

~~~

I went to a couple of 2nd hand stores and found

this plate stand, these clear plates, and these 2 candle

holders. The plate stand was gold and the candle holders

were black. I had a can of antique white paint at home

and sprayed them all antique white.

I was not sure if a plate stand would work but gave it a shot.

Here is what my version turned out as...

It was so much easier to travel this cake (traveled 2 hours) and a lot

faster to put it together once I got to the reception spot.

My friend gave me the flowers once I got there and her

daughter and I worked together to decide how to put them on the cake.

It was funny to me that the 2 candles..(which cost $3.99 for both together)

were more expensive then the cake stand or the candle holders!

The wedding and the cake turned out beautiful.

God is so good and hears our prayers and concerns

He also hears my praise everytime I see how he

answered this prayer for me and for my friend!

Something so simple mattered to him and He

provided for it.

Thank you for sharing in my fabulous find!

I have been in smiles over this request being met

for 2 weeks now! I only had a week for this to come

together. God created time and for Him a week

was no big deal!

~Take a Guess Tuesday~....Finally!

2008-09-02T22:12:00.000-07:00

I have been so busy and have not been getting to

the blog like I like to. I posted this

"Take a Guess Tuesday" 2 or 3 weeks ago!

I had better follow through with the answer!

So Here it is...do you know what this is?

If you guessed marbley things you are part right,

but if you guessed FROG you were right on!!!

While making some stepping

stones we had a little visitor!

My girls all love catching frogs! With a huge swamp/pond

on our property they have caught many a frog

for many a year!

~~~

Here is next weeks

"Take a Guess"

Do you know what this is?

Good luck guessing!

~The Pool~

2008-08-29T00:08:00.000-07:00

I have had a very busy run of it lately!

So I am behind on posting

This is the last post from our family wedding we

went to 2 weeks ago. I am doing this post for my daughter,

Hannah. She is my 3rd born and has many"special"

things about her. She always wanted to be a flower girl

and it just did not happen for her. She did such a wonderful job

at excepting that her younger sister was asked to be

a flower girl. Even though this meant a lot to Hannah

she did not complain that her younger sister got to

have this honor. Hannah has been

wanting me to post her favorite part of the wedding, in fact

with 100 degree heat it was most of my kids favorite part! So what was

her favorite part.........The pool!

First of all Hannah with a family friend

and

Hannah with her 87 year old grandma.

Now the Pool!!!
And of course the slide...she was a bit afraid at

first to use it but then loved it!

Thank you for sharing

family time with us and for reading

about Hannah's favorite part of the wedding!

~The Wedding...Flower Girl~

2008-08-21T16:40:00.000-07:00

~THE WEDDING~

At the Ranch, where this wedding was held, was

a cabin called the "Cozy Cabin".

This is where the ladies all got ready for

the ceremony. In this cabin was a pillow

on the bed with the saying,

"Always Kiss Me Goodnight"

I loved the saying on this pillow!

"The Cozy Cabin"

Getting Hair done.

Rose Petals, Lovely Flower Girl

Hot and waiting....100 degrees hot!

The ceremony

The wedding turned out lovely! It was hot but

still very nice! Being outside made for some

very nice photos! My daughter was nervous

but did a great job!

Ephesians 5:31-33

"For this reason a man will leave his father

and mother and be united to his wife, and

the two will become one flesh."

This is a profound mystery-but I am talking

about Christ and the church. However each

one of you also must love his wife as he

loves himself, and the wife must respect

her husband.

~The Ranch..Part Two~

2008-08-19T21:09:00.000-07:00

The wedding we went to was held at a

ranch on the other side of the mountains.

It is much dryer over there so the terrain is

much different then our "wet" side

of the mountains.

Horse riding/practice area

~
Horses getting a cool drink after

a long hot trail ride.

(They had just finished a trail ride with a

group in the 100 degree heat!)

Just like with bowling..on the ranch you

slip your feet into whatever pair

of cowboy boots fit before your trail ride!

There was some up and coming rodeo practice going on.
~

At every meal there were some of these visitors
dining along with us!
~

On the ranch there are boy and girls shower houses.

What's behind the curtains?
The toilets of course...
Along with a signs to let us know to be

sure we hold the handle down when we flush!

Believe me if you didn't the toilet would not

flush!

And of course what is a horse ranch without well

you know......! Yes this is the parking lot... and yes they

do have staff on hand whose job is that of pooper scooper!

Stay tuned to the next 2 posts one is

"The Pool/Reception"

and the other is

"Flower Girl..The Wedding"

~Trip Over The Mountains~ Part One

2008-08-18T21:55:00.000-07:00

We're back!

My daughter and I, and our

family, had a very nice time

together this weekend at a

family wedding.

On Friday my youngest

and myself headed over the

mountains to a family wedding.

Along the way we made a few stops

and enjoyed the scenery.

Heading out on the country roads near

our house.

First stop, a look at a beautiful waterfall.

Then it was time to head over the mountains.
Stop at the top of the mountain pass.

Lunch at the where else but the "Cottage" cafe...
Once in the town of the wedding we found this cafe.
We both decided we had to eat there!

The menu came complete with a
breakfast item called
"The Ross"

After our drive in our little
non airconditioned car we were hot... I mean
100 degrees outside hot! So that meant we
had to go to DQ and cool off with a treat!

Night time Scrapbooking together!

Our room!

My little gal made me a mini scrapbook with MOM on it!

This first day was filled with lots of

talking and smiling together and it was a lot of fun.

~~~

Stay tuned for part two...The Ranch.

~Not To Be Lost In The Shuffle~

2008-08-13T21:30:00.000-07:00

This weekend my youngest has been

asked to be a flower girl in a family wedding.

This wedding is on the other side of one

of our nearby mountain ranges.

My youngest needs to arrive early,

for rehearsal. Being the youngest of 4 sisters,

one with special needs, it can be easy

to become lost in the shuffle. She asked me

if there is any way her and I could go by

ourselves and spend the night together.

And the rest of the family show up

in time for the wedding. She even said that we

did not even need to go out and buy any food for it

that she would be willing to have us pack up our own

food that she just wanted the time out

with mom more then anything. I knew this was

a very important request from her so I began to

pray about it. I asked the Lord, if He was willing,

could he provide for this request. On Tuesday we

got a call from a family member saying that 2 rooms,

at a hotel in the nearby town of the wedding, were not

going to be used by other family members and that

they were ours for our family if we wanted them.

This makes it so my youngest and myself can go over a day

early, be ready for the rehearsal and spend some

time together and then the next day the whole family

will get to stay over for a night. These are available without

our family having to pay for them. This was more then

we could have hoped for. I am so thankful

for this time with my daughter and you

should see the smile on her face as she looks forward

to this weekend! She is not lost in the shuffle,

Our Lord fully sees her and knows just what she needs!

Thank you Jesus that you see us

so that we may never be lost!

Matthew 18:14

In the same way your Father in

heaven is not willing that any of these

little ones should be lost.

~Take a Guess Tuesday~

2008-08-12T22:01:00.001-07:00

I am a late poster again this week! It is 10:30 pm

on Tuesday. Here is last weeks Take a Guess Tuesday.

Do you think you know what this is?

If you guessed barn floor you are right!

It is the upstairs of a big barn owned by my husband's

cousin. As you can see it is empty and waiting to be filled

with this years hay!

~~~

Here is next weeks

"Take a Guess Tuesday"

Do you know what this is?

It is easier then you think!

~Take a Guess Tuesday~

2008-08-05T21:12:00.001-07:00

I have been a bit busy and am running a bit

behind this week...Here is last weeks

"Take a Guess Tuesday"

I am posting it at 10 pm on Tuesday,

it took all day to have time to get to it!

One more guess...do

you know what these are?

They are the foam beads from our

water bead game! Of course a few

always end up in the grass!

Here is next weeks "Take a guess Tuesday"

Do you know what this is?

Good Luck Guessing!

~...calls them each by name...~

2008-07-31T23:07:00.000-07:00

For today something simple

and yet I found it very unique...

My 2nd daughter had a slumber party last

summer. One of her friends took this shot

of all of the girls using their fingers to make a

"friendship" star. I think she laid her camera

on the ground for this shot. I love this creative picture

and the dim lighting at the end of the day that

gave the girls their silhouette look.

Psalm 147:4

He determines the number of the

stars and calls them each by name.

If he does that with the stars just

think how much more He knows

you and cares for you!

Wishing all a great weekend!

~Take a Guess Tuesday~

2008-07-29T12:14:00.000-07:00

One more chance to guess.

Do you know what these pictures

are of? I know I made this one

way too easy!

If you guessed our backdrop for our

slumber party you were right!

Here is next weeks
"Take a Guess Tuesday"
Do you know what these are?

GOOD LUCK!

~Camp Sisterhood~

2008-07-27T21:33:00.000-07:00

This weekend is nearly over now

and I am almost rested up from our busy

event of last week...almost!

We had a great time at our 2 day all girl

slumber party! The girls named it

"Camp Sisterhood" We had girls from age 6

to age 17 at this slumber party. The older

girls were there to be helpers and also

to have fun. God provided for this in every way.

From food to crafts, energy to extra hands.

He took care of all the details and it went very

well! We had a week and a half to put this together

and God did it!

~GIRLS~

Group photo

Decorations and some of the girls!

~CABIN~

Our "Cabin"

Our cabin was full of so many girls it

looked like one giant bed!

~

~T-SHIRTS~

Decals on the computer so each girl

could have a matching T-shirt.

~

~FOOD~

Our "Camp" cook!

So thankful for my friend's help to

stay the whole slumber party and

cook and take care of kitchen duty!

This was a God send for sure!

Yummy Breakfast!

~
Outside dining!

~DEVOTIONS~

We spent time sharing prayer requests

and praying each day. We also studied

some of the special things Christ is to us.

Our theme for devotions.

Devotion craft.

Devotion craft making.

~GAMES~

Getting to know each other game.

Volleyball

Tennis baseball.

Scramble...have to grab

other team's flags from their belts.

Scramble

Waterbead game...take

2 kids size pools, fill with water,

add one color of beads to one pool

and another to the other one. Each team tries

to get as many of the other teams

beads into their own pool also

rescueing any of their own color beads back

from the other team's pool. It is relay style.

You run down with an bucket scoop in the other

teams pool ( only one try at the scoop)

bring back the bucket and dump the beads into

your own pool. The kids absolutely love this game!

A night game of "Manhunt"

which is sort of like hide and seek with a twist.

Again the kids love this game!

~

~CRAFTS~

Making stepping stones.

~GIRL TIME~

Girls just love a time of fingernail
and toe nail painting...the older teens
helped with this.

~CAMPFIRE TIME~

At campfire time we did smores and also
had worship time together.

~CAKE DECORATING~

" Fish bowl" cakes to take home to
mom and dad for dessert.

~POOL TIME~

A final song for the parents.

Even though we could not completely replace

the camp that got cancelled we

were still able to have a very blessed time

together and create a different yet still special

memory together.

~Summer Camp...Ross Cottage Style~

2008-07-22T22:53:00.000-07:00

It is summer time and for the Ross family that

means camp. Our church has it's own each year.

The girls go up as campers or helpers and I go up

as a councelor. This year our camp got cancelled

a week and a half before we were to attend it.

At our house we held a family meeting and decided

to have a 2 day 2 night all girl slumber party

with all the girls who were signed up for camp.

We have been busy preparing for this fun event.

The Lord has made each hour go far and we

have got a lot done. On Wednesday night all

the girls will show up and off we go and a 2 day adventure

with songs, devotions, crafts, night game and day hiking in the woods

daytime games and a Friday night family potluck.

I will be off the blog till the weekend or next week

keep us all in your prayers...thanks!

Our theme

UNDER THE "C"

Painting a backdrop

Painting signs for the "new" cabin.

Painting decorations

The outside of our "Rosscottage" cabin

We used our front porch to make our cabin.

The girls all helped to paint it and even though

we are having a slumber party they used camp

on the signs....they just love camp that much!

Our "cabin" door

Inside our "cabin"

Our theme decorations.

UNDER THE "C"

We are so blessed to have a local appliance

company that lets me take all the cardboard

I could ever dream of to make decorations with

each year!

~Take a Guess Tuesday~

2008-07-21T22:51:00.001-07:00

Here it is again. Last weeks

Take a Guess Tuesday.

Do you know what it is?

I think that everyone was right, it is a quilt!

Although I did not make it. It was in the Oregon

Trail Museum. For fun I took a picture of my 3rd

daughter next to it. We have relatives that live

in the town where this museum is so we have

been here many times. As a homeschooling family

they let us in for free. Who can turn down that!

I love that they support our homeschooling.

Here is next weeks,

"Take a Guess Tuesday"

I posted several pictures

and I will give you a hint.

It has to do with something I will

be busy doing the rest of this week.

If I have time I will share it with you this

week if not I will share it next week.

After I share it the guess

will be way too easy!

Good luck guessing!

~Dying to Deceive~

2008-07-17T22:51:00.000-07:00

Satan has a daily goal that can surround us

if we are not aware of it. His goal is found in

the simple enough places. He is found in the

doubts and wonderings if our God is really there

for us and real. He puts forth doubts to cause

us distance and confusion. Maybe this Lord of

ours just is not the loving God we believe him to be.

If He was there then would we not "feel" good

all the time. Would not each day be one of self

indulgent living. He does not want you to think

that any hardship could possibly be used for growth

that is a true beauty for who we are meant to be.

He just tells us over and over, "You would not

hurt this bad if God really loved you."

The truth though is that Satan is the father

of lies. He will do what ever it takes to

keep us distant from our Lord. Our job

is to ask ourselves the question,

"Who are we going to believe?"

Dying To Deceive

I may not feel the Lord's arms around me,

It's all a lie is Satan's plea.

If things were really going well all would feel good,

So the Lord must be someone not to be understood.

But the Lord loves me more then just the

way a feeling can feel,

He grows me in a way that is nothing less

then completely real.

Satan's goal is for the taking of my sole,

The Lord's goal is to grow me and make me fully whole.

So who is the one I am going to believe,

the one whose love is real or the one who is dying to deceive.

John 8:44

You are of your father the devil,

and you want to do the desires of your father.

He was a murderer from the beginning,

and does not stand in the truth because

there is no truth in him. Whenever he

speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature,

for he is a liar and the father of lies.

John 8:31-32

..."If you continue in My word,

then you are truly disciples of Mine;

and you will know the truth

and the truth will set you free."

~Teen Room Makeover...Part Three~

2008-07-16T08:27:00.000-07:00

Here it is the final post

in our teen room makeover.

Are you ready to see the end result?

My daughter's "new to her" bedspread.

Two years ago I made these flip flop

pillows and a matching quilt for my daughter

for Christmas. My daughter decided to use

the quilt as her curtain. It fit exactly in her window.

These were new when I bought them

but on sale!

This old shelf was also something my

daughter found out in her grandma's

shed. I pressure washed it ( it was a slimy

green color before I did) and she

has her books on it as well as her jewelry box

and some candles/shells.

A desk turned into a place

to do your hair and make up.

A collection of pictures.

There are also paper lantern lights around the

top edge of the ceiling. We collected them

one package at a time while grocery shopping.

This was my only way of being able to afford them.

It took us 2 months to get enough to go around

the room.

The boat shelf.

New Nightstands are made out of

bar stools! I wanted skinnier night

stands and got a creative idea to

add shelves to the cross pieces of

these stools. We have a saw mill so

we usually have pieces of boards hanging

around. I asked my husband if he could cute me 4

boards to a certain size.

He gave me a strange look

and then cut the boards to the size I asked.

He liked the end result of the process.

The pair of lamps were parts

put together from many lamps.

The 2nd hand store I went to had 2 matching

lamp posts but the plastic parts, where the light

bulbs screw in were missing. I found other

parts from other lamps and added them

onto these stands. The lamp shades were

at the same store. They have beads and tiny

little shells on each dangly string. They

seemed to be the perfect fit!

Our family lives on a very tight income.

I wanted to share our makeover to show

that a fun room could be made out of

things that have been previously enjoyed

in another home. Shopping for everything brand

new can be fun but it is also fun to see what

creativity and hard work can result in.

About 90% plus of this room is 2nd hand

right down to the bed sheets!

Thank you for taking a peak at

our fun project. I leave you with my daughter's words

when she saw the room.

"It is like staying in a motel room!"

She really does enjoy it.

2008-07-14T23:28:00.000-07:00

Here it is again...one more chance to guess.

Do you know what this is?

Is it bumble bees?

Is it a dirty splotch on my window?

Taking a closer look will show the truth.

It is a nest of baby spiders on my front room window!

Somehow they seemed cute to me?

Mom of lots and Lissa's Angels you were both right.

Here is next weeks

"Take a Guess Tuesday"

Do you know what this is?

~Room Makerover Part Two...Things we already had~

2008-07-13T22:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Part Two. I have staggered it in 4 posts even though it is all part two........
These are things my daughter already used/had in her room
before we started her room makeover.
We freshened
up her furniture with new paint before we put it back
in the room.

~Part Two Cont.....Decorations my daughter collected~~

2008-07-13T21:13:00.000-07:00

These are things my daughter

collected for her room.

A picture with a special message!

A shell candle holder

Candles...lit up with mirrow behind them

Coconut Shell/Bamboo

windchimes

Mirror...it had a brown frame

and my daughter painted it white.

She found this screen in an old shed.

It belonged to her Grandma.

She sanded it and painted it, adding

some scrapbook paper for

added design...(using mod podge).

Finished screen.

~Step Two Cont...Decorations I secretly collected~

2008-07-12T21:59:00.000-07:00

These are decorations that I secretly collected for the

decorating makeover. Tropical pillows, shell bedspread,

baskets to hold make up and hair supplies, boat shelf,

glass sailboats, shells, jewelry box, lamps and lamp shades

pictures, glass shell decorations....bar stools with a little work

turned into a surprise new use...

~Teen room makeover...Part Two...A little Secret Revealed!~..~

2008-07-10T15:55:00.000-07:00

What is the secret I want to share

about our room makeover? Every picture

shown in part two is .........

.....is a picture of something that is 2nd hand.

Some things came from friends, some from yard sales

and others from 2nd hand stores. All together

they create their own unique look that no one

else has. Everything comes together in a lovely

way. Also these things come at a cost that is

pennies on the dollar.

(Even the tree was 2nd hand....it came from a

friend who was moving!)

Stay tuned for part three...

The Reveal.

~ Bedroom makeover.... Part One~

2008-07-10T11:42:00.000-07:00

Today I want to take you on a mini

tour of a room makeover we

just finished at our house.

During the last 2 weeks our

family, along with the help of some friends,

took on a project to redo our

17 year old daughter's room while

she was gone.

We don't have a big budget for

things like this so it required some

creativity. In step one we

prepared the room to get it ready to paint,

removed the old green carpet,

Cut flooring ( we have a sawmill) cut

trim, freshened up the furniture with

a new coat of paint.

Today I am sharing step one of

the process. Stayed tuned for step

two which is full of some surprise

decorating secrets. Then for step

three when I share the final

outcome.

This is two of our daughters in

the room before. Our oldest likes a tropical

theme and had started collecting some stuff

on her own. Her walls were originally

white, she had old green carpet and no trim

any where...just chipped up drywall.

My husband and myself worked on this room,

but not alone. We had a team of sisters and family

friends helps us out. 6 girls in all...each sharing the work.

In this picture the bed is getting painted.

Lots of colors to choose from!

Which one will give a just right

tropical look?

Choices, Choices...final Choice...

Apricot Dream.

~

Wall prep...patching old holes.

Washing walls with TSP.
Painting begins!

~OOPS~
A little painting fun!
Drippy paint can!

Trim boards drying.
Painting trim boards.
Hubby nailing up trim.

~REDNECK KNEE PADS~
Hubby is not as young as he used to be
and needed some knee pad help. My
creative thought was hand towels and
duct tape. It worked! that's what really
counts not looks! Poor hubby lives in a house
with 1 wife, 4 daughters and 1 grandma and I
brought him pink towels....but again they worked!

Hubby putting in floor.
Good bye old green carpet!
Hello new floor!

This ends step one of our room makeover.
Next step...share some decorating
secrets. Please come back and enjoy
step 2! The Lord has blessed us
with the tools and creativity to do
this with literally hardly any budget.
That is why I am so excited to share
our project with you.

~A Fun Visit With a Friend~

2008-07-09T21:40:00.000-07:00

I am a bit behind on posting. It is the time of year

where I get ready to serve at my church's children's camp.

I end up very busy with preparations.

Last week I had a friend and her children come

for a visit. These are some pictures from our visit.

We have our own business and have several pieces

of heavy equipment. My friend's son enjoyed

getting a chance to drive the backhoe.

My youngset and my friend's youngest

hanging out together.

My friend's little girl playing the

piano with the kitty's help!

Time to cool off but I can't find our sprinkler.

What to do? Rig up a redneck version!

The kids still get wet and think mom is

very creative!

Three girls enjoy sprinkler time in the sun!

We all had a nice visit and hope to do it again sometime!

~Take a Guess Tuesday~

2008-07-07T18:55:00.000-07:00

Tuesday is here again and you have

one more chance to take a guess.

Is this really "Mom of lots" Belly Button?

What do you think?

Are you ready to see what it really is?

My daughter took this picture of her...

Animal Cookies!

This is the dot on the cow!

They look good enough to eat!

And they were shortly after this picture!

Are you ready for this weeks

"Take a Guess Tuesday?"

What do you think this is?

Any Guesses?

Good Luck!

~Take a Guess Tuesday~

2008-06-30T22:33:00.000-07:00

After Last weeks Monitor break down

I got off track for my "What is it Wednesday".

At the beginning of this week I have guests visiting so

I won't have much time on the computer. I decided

I would post my last weeks answer and a new

"what is it" on Tuesday and call it "Take a Guess Tuesday"

Here is one more chance to guess...ok I know

most of you got it right away when you saw it!

Do you know what this is?

If you guessed Cottonwood fluff

then you were right!In the area where I live when spring nears

it's end and summer is to begin the cottonwood

trees release their seeds within a fluffy white

cotton fluff. This allows the seeds to be spread

by the wind. It leaves a "snowy" white

layer all over the place. It can be annoying

or beautiful ...depending on how much work

you end up with if you have to clean it up.

For me it is a pretty reminder that our

summer is nearing. This cotton fluff dances

in the air with each breeze life a fluffy snow.

There is a certain peace that flows with it.

You can find it on the road or in the grass.

You can find it in strange places..that are beautiful!

You can even find piles of it on your roof!

Now for next weeks

"Take a Guess Tuesday"

Do you know what this is?

My daughter took the picture.

I would have made the picture bigger but

my blogger would not load it any

bigger then what it is.

Do you think you can guess what it is?

Let me Know and Good Luck!

~Up and Going Again~

2008-06-27T11:41:00.000-07:00

Well here it is...a monitor!

My friend's husband had this one in storage

and shared it with us last night.

I am so grateful for it.

I was sad to have the other one go out

just as our oldest daughter was starting her mission

trip. Her group sends out a blog update and I wasn't going

to be able to see it! But thankfully my good friend DC has

been checking her computer each day and giving me

any updates that come!

Thank you DC!

Today I got to see the pictures...Yeah!

I wish everyone a wonderful weekend...

as for today I have a load of work to get to!

Bye...Kim

~Monitor Down~

2008-06-24T11:07:00.000-07:00

Hi friends,
My monitor is not coming on so I can not use my computer till I get it fixed or replaced. I am at the LIB for this update!
I will hope to have that process go fast! We'll see.
Wishing everyone a great week....and well for what is it Wednesday all you North West people are right..it is cotton wood fluff!
Kim

~Time Flies~

2008-06-22T13:25:00.000-07:00

It seems like just yesterday

we brought our oldest daughter home from the hospital

and began our new journey as parents. Now she is 17 1/2 years

old. Where did the time go? The time is now

here to begin letting her branch out on her own a bit more.

Saturday was a big day in that adventure for us. We took

our girl and a group of team members to the airport and sent

her on her way for a mission trip in the country of Costa Rica.

She arrived there on Sunday at 1:40. I can honestly say

this is the farthest she has ever been away from us and also

it will be the longest she will ever be away from us.

She will be back home in July. We miss her today and keep

wondering what is she seeing and doing and yet it also

feels peaceful because it is time for her to spread her wings

and fly where God wants her to fly. Here are some

pictures of her beginning her journey this weekend.

Our daughter's "FLAME" mission team.

"Following the Lord and Ministering Everywhere"

Loading up the cars

Lots of luggage!

On our way to the airport!

Were here!

Drop off at US Airways
Unloading the team.

We gave our daughter a final hug and kiss and left. No picture of this hug

as I am the one who takes the pictures and my daughter was more

like, "Bye mom, I'm fine!" She will be! Her team will be sharing God's

word at around 10 schools, at orphanages and at a teen drug

rehab center. They will be sharing music, dramas, dance and puppets

with the children they visit. They will also be doing hands on work projects.

And as I begun ...time flies! It is right and good for her

to move out on her own...as her parents we are happy

with the direction in which she is flying!

(although I will be real ...she is still a real teen!)

~ Karoke~

2008-06-19T22:57:00.000-07:00

One of the things our homeschool center

has at the end of each school year is a Karoke

Contest. This year my daughter had it arranged

to sing a song with one of her favorite teachers.

Her teacher's mom ended up sick last week and this week,

so the teacher was unable fo it. My daughter asked me if

I would sing with her. I don't really sing but I looked

in my daughter's eyes and the momma in me said

yes. A bit of a reluctant yes but none the less a yes.

We picked a song

"DO RE MI"

We did a couple of practice runs

I was so glad that the words were big enough

for my 40 plus year old eyes to see!

Then before we knew it it was

our turn and up we went. I pretended

my way through it! I always tell my

girls if you act like you know what you are

doing and pretend your not nervous people

won't catch on that you are! So I took my own advice!

For my daughter it was worth it. It gave her

a moment to feel like she really was a singer and what an

honor that she finds me worthy to be her partner!

At the end of a busy day I can say,

"It was fun,

but boy am I glad it's done!!!"

~What is it Wednesday~

2008-06-18T14:34:00.000-07:00

Here is this weeks

What is it Wednesday

I would have put it at the bottom

of this post but I added the other pictures

first and don't know how to make this one go

to the bottom! I Still have a bit more to learn!

So for this week I ask What is this?

Now for last weeks What is it Wednesday

Do you know what this is?

One more guess maybe?

Shirley and Mom of Lots you were right!

Yes, it is a nest but in such
a funny place to me!

There are many nests in the letters on this sign!

~
Every time I drive by this sign I have
to smile at how these birds are
living and raising their babies within
it's letters. The birds fly in and out
over and over all day long. It took me a long time
to get a picture of one bird. I looked sort of strange
to those going in and out of the bank!
In fact an employee was looking out to see what
I was doing and started to come out towards
me to ask, then she recognized me and turned back!
I suppose not many people take pictures of their local banks,
at least no one who is up to any good!
~

~Nature Scavenger Hunt~

2008-06-17T10:19:00.000-07:00

School is out for the year and usually it

takes about a month for my girls to get restless.

Yesterday though they seemed like they

were acting kind of bored and hanging around

with me while I was trying to get my work done.

I got to thinking and wrote them out a list of things

to find in the yard. I put on it different kinds of

leaves and different items I knew were on our

property. I even added sawdust to the list

because it is in a different area then some of the

other items and well I might well keep

them busy for a bit.

There's an old saying that goes like this:

"What's time to a child"

They did not mind using there time to do this at all!

In fact they had a great time of it! All smiles and I got

about a 1/2 hour of time to do house work to boot!

~Happy Father's Day~

2008-06-15T00:05:00.000-07:00

Any man can be a father,

but it takes a special man to be

a daddy

Happy Father's Day

to a great dad!

Yearly family Christmas tree

picture

Awana lesson about admirable qualities

that should be found in a young man,

Mr Ross style!

Strong, yet sensitive!

~Psalm 103:13~

Just as a father has compassion

on his children,

So the Lord has compassion

on those who fear Him.

~NASB~

"Sun Glorious Sun~

2008-06-13T00:30:00.001-07:00

Thursday started out rainy and over cast enough

but then..it happened sun glorius sun! I was non stop

busy all day Thursday and did not get to

take a picture of it. I know that sounds funny

for those of you who get lots of sun. This year

in the Pacific NorthWest we have had the coldest

spring on record! You almost begin to think that the

real color of the sky is Gray not blue! But just past mid

day ...sun. Now it is supposed to disappear for

Friday but then be back for the weekend!

I know I sound a bit overthrilled but we

are getting a bit soggy in the Northwest.

Even though I have no pictures to prove the

sun was actually here, I do have clip art that

can show how it felt. Thank you Jesus for sunshine.

It is truly a gift that brings a smile.

Have a good weekend everyone! I'll be thinking

of you.....Rossee

Rejoice in the Lord Always again I say Rejoice!

Thank you Jesus for the rain with out it we would

not have this beautiful bright green greeting

us outside today!

~What is it Wednesday~

2008-06-11T22:46:00.000-07:00

I thought I would make my first attempt at

a "What is it Wednesday" I found it hard

to crop the picture and am not even sure

how to do it again! There is so much

to learn with photography and also with

picture cropping! I am having fun

with the new challenge.

So I ask you,

What is it? And If you know what

it is then I ask you where?

Good Luck and have fun!

~Happy Birthday Grandpa Wesley~

2008-06-09T22:03:00.000-07:00

Today we celebrated my husband's dad's

92nd Birthday. He is 92 and still going strong.

Every day you can find him outside tending his

gardens and doing various outside chores. There's

no time to just sit around! We think this is what

keeps him so strong and healthy. Grandpa

Wesley served in WW2, has owned and ran an

organic berry farm for over 40 years, although

now he just keeps a couple of rows of strawberries

and raspberries going. We are all amazed at

just how good of shape grandpa is in. He still

moves and walks like a man years younger then

his. In fact up till about 2 years ago he still

enjoyed hiking in the mountains.

Grandpa Wesley posing with our family.

By now he has posed so so many pictures

he doesn't know which way to look!

Grandpa Received a Bible as a gift for his

Birthday. It is a large print Bible. After looking at

it he sat his reading glasses on it so I snapped a

quick shot.

The relative's house we shared dinner at is

an old farm. There is an old barn and house on the property.

My husband's cousin redid the house and raises/breeds

Apolusa Horses and also breeds Alaskan Malmute

Dogs. My husband and girls and myself went exploring

in the old barn.

These are two of the horses giving me

a curious look.

A rare moment to catch a look at a batch of puppies.

The moma got up just for a second and I was able to

catch a quick shot of them through the chain link gate.

This young horse found itself cautiously curious

of what I was doing.

2 of my girls watching from th barn gate.

This is my animal loving daughter. She is just about

willing to raise or keep any animal (if allowed!)

She found this big malmute and just had

to give him a hug.

Up in the hay loft the ceiling was

so high! This time of year the loft is

empty waiting for the rains to quit and

summer haying to begin.

A shot of the girls looking out of the loft.

This old barn is almost more fun

then the food at the potluck for the girls!

Overall it was a rainy, misty day and yet

fun and beauty was there to be found

and enjoyed, the long life of a relative,

curious horses, an old barn, a batch of puppies...

and the food was great too!

~Learning to Crochet~

2008-06-08T11:57:00.000-07:00

I have always been very good at crafts,

they just make sense to me...housework

now that's another story! These last couple

of years I have been doing less and less of them.

The excuses can run long ...we have a house to get

finished, school work to do, meals to fix,

laundry to wash... on and on it goes. My friend

Simply and myself see each other 2 days a week

at a place where our kids are able to add extra

classes to their homeschooling schedules. While we

visit Simply will usually have something to keep her hands

busy. A lot of days she is crocheting something. I told

her I wanted to learn to do that. She did not skip a beat!

She right away jumped in and has been showing me what

to do. She gave me a lovely little bag with crochet thread,

a crochet needle and samples of each step of crocheting a

little doily...which she calls a medalion. I have been giving

this a try. I am enjoying it a lot! Simply's sister Dayz

snapped a couple of photos of us working together

on my instruction of this time honored craft. My grandmother

and my mother crocheted and I just love the special

aspect of things like this being passed down generation

to generation.

Every time I see this bag it

brings a smile to my face!

There were samples of medalions, lace

and a cross bookmark inside this bag.

A special little note to cheer me.

Fingers at work. Hard to get

coordination going!

The teacher and the student.

My first 2 attempts,

harder then Simply makes it look!

My first "medalion" or as I call it

my first mini doily...It came out bell shaped!

I wet it down and patted it down...this

is called "blocking" It helps the doily to

take shape. I think it helped my middle area

to squish down flat and look less bell like

and more doily like.

My second try at a doily...

I am getting a bit better. I altered some of

my stitches and ended up with no bell

this time.

These are some of the samples Simply made me.

These lessons on crochet really brought a smile

to my face. It has been a long time since

I have taken the time to learn something new.

Thank You Simply for teaching me (still ongoing)

and for Dayz for thinking to take a few shots of us!

~Proverbs 31:26~

She opens her mouth in wisdom,

And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

~~~

~A Rosebud For The Living...Part 2~

2008-06-03T21:55:00.001-07:00

~Something to think about~

I wanted to type out this poem from

yesterday's post as a reminder

to share a rosebud with someone while they are

still with you, instead of waiting till they are

gone to think about them.

~A Rosebud For The Living~

I would Rather have a rosebud

While I am here to see,

Than have the costliest flowers

Placed on my grave for me.

I would rather have a rosebud

A tribute of today,

Than have the richest laurels

When I have passed away.

I would rather have a kindly smile

From hearts forever true,

Than tears around my lifeless form

When earth I've bade adieu.

I would rather have the kindest words

That can be said to me,

Than flattered when my heart is still,

And Life has ceased to be.

Then give me a rosebud sweet,

A rosebud pink or red;

I'd rather have just one today,

Than millions when I'm dead.

~Henrietta Blair Heard~

Do you rememer to give a rosebud

to others in your life through a kindly smile

or the kindest words? Just one kindness

is worth more then a million when our loved

one has ceased to be with us.

Ephesians 4:32

And be kind to one another,

tenderhearted, forgiving each other,

just as God in Christ also

has forgiven you.

~NASB~

~A Rosebud For The Living, A Story Nearly Lost In Time~

2008-06-03T11:03:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend I took my oldest daughter

shopping at a 2nd hand store. While

she looked for the things she needed I went

over to look at the books. I found this bible

sitting on the shelf and as I looked through it's

pages a story began to unfold. I took it up to the counter

and they told me that all bibles were free. So home

I brought this bible and started on the

journey to read it's story. This story was not so much

about the bible itself but about the people who

once turned it's pages.

This bible had such a gentle story to tell

with many details left up to the imagination. I can only

imagine why they had no children or what they did

inbetween the years that there is nothing written.

Here is a bible that sat in the home of a man who outlived

2 wives and now it was in my hands. Amongst it's pages

were a couple of book marks with bible passages written

on them. These book marks were still in the place of the actual

spots where the bible verses were found. At the end of

my journey through the pages of this story

can be found my favorite thing about this story.

It is a poem clipped from a newspaper and taped to

it's last page. With my love of writing poems the words

of this poem caught my attention. The poem is called

"A Rosebud For the Living"

This bible once belonged to a man named

Rollie and a woman named Carrie. They were

married on December 24th, 1914, by a judge in the

town of McCook Nebraska. It appears that perhaps

each of their father's were their witness'.

Rollie was born on October 28th, 1896 in Jasper

County Nebraska. Carrie was born December

3rd, 1894. On January 19, 1929 Rollie and Carrie

attended a tent meeting in Cambridge Nebraska

and 8 days later joined the Methodist Church

in Cambridge. It appears that they never had

any children.
~

Carrie and Rollie were married for nearly

47 years. With Carries death happening on

December 2, 1961. Rollie then remarried 8

months later. He married a lady named

Hazel Clark. Hazel was born in Frontier County

Nebraska on June 13, 1898. Hazel and Rollie shared

24 years of marriage together with Hazel

passing away on September 26th, 1986.

Rollie lived a little over 2 more years

after Hazels passing.
~

Rollie was 92 years old when he passed away.

Someone had printed the date of his death

as January 13, 1989. Completing the journey

of this man. Rollie lived through 2 World Wars

a depression, before the use of cars or electricity was

a norm and then the death of 2 wives. I find myself

courious as to how the bible found itself to a 2nd hand

store in the Pacific Northwest left as a memory in time.
~

One of the pictures found in this bible.
~

Hand written book mark found in Exodus marking

the 10 Commandments. Another book mark can

be found in Dueteronomy also marking the 10

Commandments.
~

My favorite find in this bible was this

poem taped to the last cover. I hope that for Rollie,

Carrie and Hazel that they received their Roses while

still living. I will never know which one of them

took the time to tape this in the back cover.

~What's a Mom to Do~

2008-06-01T16:45:00.000-07:00

We were given a huge bin of duplo legos a

few years ago. I keep them on an upper shelf

in our laundry room, bringing them out every so often

for a day of building. This way when they are out

they are enjoyed and played with for a very long.

The other day these blocks went along on a playdate

my younger 2 girls had. When they got back the bin

got left on the front porch and I forgot to put them

back on their shelf. The next day came and I hear this

big crashing sound out front on our sidewalk.

I look out the window and I see one of the

bigger sisters sitting with her younger sisters building

away. The side walk was in need of a good spring sweeping.

These blocks were mixed in with all the gravel and dried

mud and overall grub left from our days (weeks) of rain.

No worries to the girls though they happilly went to work

on some bright creations. So what is a mom to do?

I took a breath and decided "Oh well let them build...

even if I will have a few blocks to degrub later on. "

A moment of big sister/little sister fun is worth it. These 3 worked

happily and diligently for at least an hour building their

creations all the while laughing and smiling.

It became a moment to remind me of how we are to do

our work...with all our heart, for the Lord, happily, not

like a fool, not for men, establishing the work of

our hands, sets about it vigorously. Of course

these girls were enjoying a moment of play filled

work or is it work filled play...either way they

were living in a moment of time that God could

use to gently remind me of a lesson about work.

Lessons learned ... along with memories made.

~Colossians 3:23~
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart,

as working for the Lord, not for men,

~Ecclesiastes 5:19~

Moreover, when God gives any man wealth

and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them,

to accept his lot and be happy in his work—

this is a gift of God.

~Ecclesiastes 10:15~

A fool's work wearies him;

he does not know the way to town.

~Ephesians 4:28~

He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work,

doing something useful with his own hands,

that he may have something to share with those in need.

~Psalm 90:17~

May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us;

establish the work of our hands for us— yes,

establish the work of our hands.

~Proverbs 14:23~

All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty

~Proverbs 18:9~

One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys.

~Proverbs 21:25~

The sluggard's craving will be the death of him,

because his hands refuse to work.

~Proverbs 31:17~

She sets about her work vigorously;

her arms are strong for her tasks.

~Worth Smiling About~ Dearest One

2008-05-28T09:19:00.000-07:00

In 2005 I was having a hard time and

I was feeling sort of down and overwhelmed.

I needed to remember that I needed

to smile and keep going. I thought to myself,

"Just what would God want to say to me

if he wrote me a letter right now?"

I jotted down this letter as if written to

me from Him. He knows me and sees

me better then I know and see myself.

He always knew I would come to Him before

I even knew I would come to Him. He loves

me better then I could love myself.

Each day there is always something to smile

about. From a Tigger Toy in the fountain,

a dog licking it's nose, a daughter holding a duck,

or a container filled with mud and buttercups

stuck in it...a gift to mom. ( a dripping wet

gift to mom!) And of course 4 lovely

girls to smile at and with each day.

~A Letter From God.~

~Dearest One~

Dearest One,, I have seen you each

day that you have grown.

You have always been someone whose

heart I have known.

It was not meant to be that you wander

restlessly on this earth.

I knew you would find your way to me

and embrace my gift to you of new birth.

I see you with my eyes and a cup

that is more than half full.

I knew you had it in you to embrace

me and become fully whole.

So stop and rest and hold that happy smile.

For I plan to be with you, by your side,

for and eternity not just for a short mile.

~Love to you, God~

~Jude 21~

keep yourselves in the love of God

waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord

Jesus Christ to eternal life.

~NASB~

~The Imperfection of Perfection~

2008-05-27T00:01:00.000-07:00

~Deuteronomy 32:3-4~

"For I proclaim the name of the Lord;

Ascribe greatness to our God!

The Rock! His work is perfect,

For all His ways are just;

A God of faithfulness and without injustice,

Righteous and upright is He."

~NASB~

This weekend it was finally the time I got to

mow our lawn. We had been waiting all spring

for the lawn to dry out enough to start mowing.

Then we found ourselves in need of a battery

for our mower. Something like this happens nearly

every spring. Last year it was a silonoid that we

needed. As I looked at our lawn I found myself

wishing for that perfect groomed, non weed filled,

lawn. Wouldn't that just feel so peaceful to have

that kind of a lawn? That is what we people seem

to always hope for in life. If only things were more

perfect. A better house, newer furniture, a nicer car

on and on it can go. We can relax, be at peace, when

and if things can get to a more "perfect" place.

Our lawn this weekend was a reminder to me

of where I can allow my mind to wander. It was

also a reminder to me of what choice I get to make when

I find myself seeking my own sense of "peaceful" perfect.

Our lawn was at least 1 foot tall, full of buttercups, clovers

and big leafed plants. Yet there was still a beauty to be

found within it's growth. The rain had made everything

a super bright green. Buttercups love a wet ground and

were beautifully growing. A frog was found hopping away,

trying to escape the noisy mower. For the frog the lawn

had been a place to hide from preditors. There was nothing

imperfect about the lawn only my attitude toward it.

Time to dust off the cobwebs

from a long winter.

A new battery!

Gas, 2 gallons at

$4.05 a gallon!

Hubby testing out the mower before it is my turn.

I stopped the mower and let this little guy hop away!

~The Imperfection of Perfection~

In order we want it all,

Everything in the right place.

Nothing out of the ordinary with

the belief this will bring peace to our face.

If everything can be just right then

no stress will we feel.

It is the box we like to live in,

something we think, for us, is the best way to be real.

But perfection is not the true life for us

that leads to the need of our God.

If we can perfectly do it on our own,

then under our feet we will not need His sod.

If we will already have figured out the

best pattern for our life,

We will actually believe we can control

all actions that lead to any hard strife.

But the reality of this is imperfectly lived,

It removes the need for the one sent to be a bridge

between us and God,

with a life that is forgived.

Day by day He will direct our paths with His

own certain perfection.

Showing us that He loves us and knows just where

our life long path should point

heading us in the right direction.

~KSR~

~2 Corinthians 12:9~

And He said to me,

"My grace is sufficient for you, for power is

perfected in weakness." Most gladly,

therefore, I will rather boast about my

weaknesses, that the power of

Christ may dwell in me.

~NASB~

PS As soon as I was finished mowing the

lawn mower broke down again! Again

my own idea of perfection is not what

counts. God has all in His own perfect

care and He knows best!

~The Trees of the Field Will Clap Their Hands~

2008-05-25T23:24:00.000-07:00

~Isaiah 55:12~

For you will go out with joy,

And be led forth with peace;

The mountains and the hills will break forth

into shouts of joy before you,

And the trees of the field will

clap their hands.

Sunday, on the way home from church, we

took a back farm road. As we were driving our oldest

daughter saw this big tree and said she wanted to

stop and climb it. We stopped the car backed it up

and out we all got and the Ross family explored and

tried to climb this big tree! Most of the girls were

wearing dresses but this did not slow down the fun!

This tree was huge! As you can see by the

size of our vehicle in the background. The top of it

did not even reach the bottom of the branches!

These cows shared the pasture with this tree.

They never even gave our family a 2nd glance!

One side of this tree bordered the road.

The tree grew right around an

old barb wire fence.

Our oldest takes a stab at a climb!

Our 2nd daughter enjoys hanging from a large branch!

Of course hubby climbed the tree! Where do

you think these Ross girls got their love of a good

tree climb from! He has never told the girls

they could not climb trees, instead he has taught them how.

The Ross Girls!

The Oldest

Our 2nd born

Our 3rd born

Our youngest.

~ Family Dinner Time~

2008-05-22T21:19:00.000-07:00

One thing our Ross family takes time

to share together each day is our dinner

time. Even when the girls were babies they

always came to the table at dinner.

It is something we have kept as a special tradition

in our family. It is time together that is free

and memory building.

Last night was special as I got the night

off from cooking.....

My oldest daughter had an assignment to

plan and prepare a meal for our family.

This included choosing the recipes, shopping,

preparation, a set table, serving the food and

afterwards clean up. It all turned out great

She did a great job!

As a mom I loved this assignment!

Menu:

Homemade Pizza with fetta cheese...yum!

Sauteed Spinach with Garlic

Sticky Bun Cinnamon Rolls

Matthew 6:11

Give us this day our daily bread,

You can not tell by this picture

but I really did enjoy this meal!

So did the rest of the family.
~

Proverbs 6:8

Prepares her food in the summer,

And gathers her provision in the harvest.

What special traditions does your

family do together?

~New Camera Fun & Real Life~

2008-05-21T21:50:00.001-07:00

I was able to get a new camera for my birthday.

I am learning how to use it. I took the picture of

the girls. But my 2nd daughter took the rest of the

pictures. She has a good eye for shots. She

took a photography class at our homeschool center.

Her experience shows. I am realizing that in

the world of blogging you can really take good photos

and create a world that might not be real. So I

will let you know these pictures are fun but not necesarily

real! We have piles of papers in our house, too much

clutter and a few things hanging around our yard that

are well... redneck like! So even though it is fun to

show nice shots I definitly live a "real" life

and enjoy the beauty mixed in with that

real life.

~Psalm 116:6

The Lord preserves the simple;

I was brought low and He saved me.

~NASB~

~The Girls~

When I was growing up I would have

never believed I would have

4 girls! I am so thankful for

every one of them. God

surely does know best!

My favorite way to have a flower

garden...in a container... it is easier

that way!!!

Water drops on grass.

This is under the faucet where

we get the water for the chicks and ducks.

Simple beauty found in a, non fancy,

simple place.

Winifred...Walter's future girlfriend...

Who is Walter...look under "Meet Walter"

in my blogs from April. We got

Winifred as a baby this year and she

is nearly grown now. Still too young

for Walter but almost there!

Scotch Bloom... considered a

weedy bush...but still very

beautiful!

~ ~

~The Other Side~

2008-05-19T16:35:00.000-07:00

I posted this last month and wanted to post

it again. Our paths, when seen by only

our own limited eyes, can sometimes seem

to be impossible to follow. We only have

our own insight to judge which way we should go.

To the Lord the vision of our path is

very clear. He sees it's entrance, He sees where

it winds and follows along and in the end He sees where it

eventually leads. He has all of this within

His moment of site. We usualy only carry

within us the current moment. This

is something that is hard for me to do so many

times. I see and mostly I feel whatever my

current moment is. I lose track of it's begining or

lose faith in it's outcome. God just waits for me

to get me feet back on the path. He waits and He

waits. I am so fortunate to have a God who

treats me like I am worth waiting for. Even when

I mess up He waits for me to get back on the path

He has for me. Below is how I origionally posted

this poem:

~~~

Sometimes in life our paths are harder then

what we would wish or hope for. That does not

mean we can not still stay on the path meant for us

to follow. It just means we need to keep looking

to Jesus for his direction for our foot steps.

I admit this is easier said then done but believe

it or not doing it on our own really does not

make our path any easier to follow!

~Psalm 143:10~

Teach me to do your will,

for you are my God;

may your good Spirit

lead me on level ground.

~THE OTHER SIDE~

The hills been steep the road's been long,

The Lord paved me a path when I no longer had a song.

The path seemed narrow and not very wide,

It needed to be followed but felt steep on each side.

Leaning to the left or leaning to the right,

Fear grasped me as I thought I may become one who lost site.

Down I hoped I would not fall,

How could I let the Lord be my one, my all.

I crossed the deep ravine all the while safely on the path I did stay,

The Lord held me close, the Lord led my way.

I made it across, I soon let go of my fear,

The Lord showed His love for me, the Lord He remained near.

I found myself not just dreaming of the other side.

I was there resting and in the Lord I did abide.

Now I am looking back and the path seems wide and clear,

He always knew He would draw me to Himself and bring me ever so lovingly near.

So a song I will now sing with praise for the road that's been traveled,

With a gracioius heart for the pain He gently has unraveled.

~KSR~

~Thank You Jesus~

2008-05-19T00:01:00.000-07:00

~Psalm 26:7~

That I may proclaim with the

voice of thanksgiving,

And declare all Thy wonders.

I had a great Birthday. Thank you all

for the Birthday wishes. I appreciated them so much!

On Thursday Dayz, with Simply's help, made me

a "kitty litter" birthday cake. Complete with tootsie

roll poop....even one melted over the side. It looked

well what's the word disgusting or is it crappy? Either

way it was funny and tasted very good. If I ever get the

picture of it I will share it. I enjoyed the laugh

and for that matter the thought.

You may wonder what did I do this weekend?

There was nothing big or fancy that I did but what

I enjoyed was the peace I felt all weekend. We don't have a lot of

money for big and fancy but the weekend was filled with love

and peace. My husband surprised me with a gift he has wanted

to be able to get me for a very long time...since my last birthday.

He home made me a card ( I mean it is really homemade..he will never

work for Hallmark as an illustrator!) It had a stick figure lady drawn inside

sitting at a computer...He wrote Log on...To Quilt on.....and he had

a bank deposit slip showing he had deposited money for me to

order the Electric Quilt program. I have been wanting to use

this to design a series of quilts but just found it too expensive to buy.

We are still short on money but he had set aside enough to buy it.

This was very special to me because I know what it meant for him to do that.

As soon as it arrives I will be designing away..I'll let you in on a little secret...

I am planning to submit a book to a local quilt book publishing company

at some point. I have really not shared that with very many

as it is a big task that we will see if I am able to actually

do.....the Lord has blessed me with lots of creativity so this

has been a passion of mine to try for quite some time.

On Sunday my brother came over and brought dinner

for the whole family. That is no small task considering I have

1 husband, 4 kids and 1 grandma to feed...a lot of extra food

for a single guy! This included a chocolate fudge cake. Which I can

happily say has enough left to enjoy a 2nd go around! It was nice to

eat and not have to cook.

He also brought me a big Costco container of laundry soap.

Do you know how much that soap is needed in a household

of 7 people! He leaves Monday morning to fly

down south for some more military training. He will be

gone for a long time again so I will miss him. He is in the upper levels

of training that he is not always able to tell just where he is at

any given time...so you just pray and wait.

This last year has had it's ups and downs so I can say

to have a weekend of peace was a very nice up for me.

So in the end what is my point ...just a weekend all about me?

No it is a thank you Jesus that for bad days or hard times

you remember to stick in those times to renew us and remind

us of your care...simply that..thank you Jesus!

~1 Chronicles 16:34~

O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good:

for His loving kindness is everlasting.

~NASB~

~The Lighter Side~...~A Time to Laugh~

2008-05-17T00:01:00.000-07:00

My 43rd Birthday is today.

So I will share a picture of myself.

OK ,OK I know this isn't necessarily a

fair picture! One thing I love is a good laugh.

So many things can be so serious. So much of

my up bringing was so serious and filled with

non story book situations, but I have learned and am

continuing to learn to see the lighter side. God gave us smiles and

gave us laughter. These pictures are of me and 2 other

friends. We had a good friend move away to Montana

and her 40th birthday was coming up. We got this

fun idea to surprise her by showing up unexpected at her 40th

Birthday party (her husband knew we were coming!) we all saved

our money, bought plane tickets, went to the 2nd hand store and bought

the pieces it took to make up 3 sets of tuxedos. Used some left over

prom dress fabric to make bow ties and cumberbuns, added buttons to

the white shirts, got cheap top hats and canes at the party store

put corn syrup on our faces and stuck ground coffee to it and

off we went. We showed up like we were hired to entertain

and did a silly dance for her as her gift.

It was a fun surprise filled with lots of laughter.

For a minute we almost really do look like men.

At one point our Montana friend asked herself,

"where did they get these men from!" Then she

quickly began to realize it was her friends.

I know that Simply has" real" pictures of me hopefully

she will not be able to find them to post them!!!

Someday I'll have to post a real picture of me, till then...

enjoy the lighter side and remember to laugh

and to smile!

~Job 8:21~

"He will yet fill your mouth with laughter,

And your lips with shouting."

~Ecclesiastes 3~

There is an appointed time for everything,

And there is time for every event under heaven...

... a time to laugh...

~I Think It Is Finally Here...Spring!~

2008-05-15T22:54:00.000-07:00

This spring has been unusual here in the Northwest.

We had a 79 degree Saturday on one weekend in April

and then on the next weekend we had snow. Not just a flake or two

but nearly a 1/2 a foot of it. And it snowed more then one time.

Since it has continued to be rainy and cool. But today at last sunshine

and warmth!!! It is supposed to be warm and sunny all

weekend long. Thank you Lord, we all need it!

I put on this picture because it sort of represents the

kind of spring we have had. It is a quilt I made for my

oldest daughter 2 Christmas' ago. It has snowmen wearing

sunglasses, tropical hats and tropical scarves. This feels like

the spring we have been living this year.

~Psalm 47:1~

O Clap your hands, all peoples;

Shout to the Lord with the voice of joy.

~NASB~

~Psalm 48:1~

Great is the Lord,

and greatly

to be praised...

~NASB~

~Fabulous Finds~

2008-05-14T22:42:00.000-07:00

One thing I love is great 2nd hand store finds.

With 4 children it really helps to get a great deal

on something we need or want in our home.

Last year I wanted to be able to get my younger

two girls Easter dresses. I set out to see what I could

find. We did not have a lot of money and I asked God

to help me to find a couple of dresses I could

afford. I found these two dresses at the last

store I went to. They were homemade and appeared to

be maybe flower girls dresses? There was one in each

girls size. They seemed to be almost 70's ish but

also lovely. They were each $5. The fabric they

are made of is called dotted Swiss. When my teenage

daughter said she loved them I realized these

might just be the ones, after all they even

passed the big sister "test"! I had the littler girls try

them on and they just looked so cute. So these

became their Easter Dresses.

~Psalm 23:1~

The Lord is my shepherd,

I shall not want.

~Something That Makes Me Smile~Seasons of the Fountain

2008-05-13T22:23:00.000-07:00

A few years ago my husband and girls bought me this

fountain. Might not seem like a big deal except that

we do not always have a lot of money to spend,

so this was a very special gift. I have enjoyed many

seasons of it's beauty. Under it's water gold fish can be

seen swimming. They were left over from a friend's

wedding and needed a home. In the summer you will

see a frog living on top of it or the cat getting a

itself a daily drink. It is something so simple and

yet it brings a smile to my face day in and day out.

We have been building our home for many years now

and there are still many things that are undone. In fact if

you look closely at one of the pictures you can see our porch

with a pile of boards used for building on it.

This fountain is a peaceful little spot that always feels done.

~The Seasons of the Fountain~

My fountain sits in a river rock bed.

It's water flowing, the fishes within fed.

A frog likes to visit in the summer time.

Sitting on it's pump, the cool water becomes a pleasing find.

In the fall leaves float atop the water's flow.

The fish remain hidden in the murky water below.

Winter happens upon us and the water's flow begins to slow.

The water stiffens up , no longer moving, no longer does it have it's ability to go.

Then spring comes around and the fishes feed again at it's top.

Then the cat stops by to enjoy his favorite drinking spot.

This fountain has a quiet beauty providing it's own quiet rest.

Looking at it's beauty leaves me feeling peaceful and blessed.

~Psalm 92 1-5~

It is good to give thanks to the Lord,

And to sing praises to Thy name,O

Most High;

to declare They lovingkindness in the

morning.

And Thy faithfulness by night,

With the ten-stringed lute, and with

the harp;

With resounding music upon the lyre.

For Thou, O Lord, hast made me glad

by what Thou hast done.

I will sing for joy at the works of Thy

hands.

How great are They works, O Lord!

Thy thoughts are very deep.

~NASB~

~The Dandelion of a Child~

2008-05-10T17:17:00.000-07:00

~HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY~

I wish to all you moms a very Happy Mother's Day.

You all work so hard to to bring up these little ones

God has given to your care. When I watch little children

there is something so simple in the way they see things

in life. They have not had the time to learn the way us

adults see things. So to a child a dandelion is yellow, bright and pretty.

To an adult it is a disposable weed. Some where along the line

we outgrow it's beauty and see only the troublesome part of this flower.

We adults "know" so much, and at times too much. The simplicity

of the world around us becomes complicated with our years

of learning sometimes clouding our vision to go back and

live with the basic beauty that surrounds us. Dandelions are no

longer a weed to me. They bring a smile to my face and I

look forward to them each spring with anticipation. They remind

me of my children and all the smiles they have had picking these

precious flowers just so I can smile! So for me the dandelion

is truly my favorite flower. I thank my girls for showing me

the value they always had even though I had grown too smart

to see it any more!

~Mark 10: 13-16~

People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him

touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw

this , he was indignant. He said to them, " Let the little children

come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdon of God

belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will

not receive the kingdom of God like a little child well never enter

it," And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on

them and blessed them.

~The Dandelion of a Child~

The dandelion bursts open with the warmth of spring,

to many a person this is a pesky thing.

You see to some the dandelion is only a weed,

but a dandelion is full of the innocence of youth indeed.

The learning of life has not taught the children to know,

that this dandelion should not be left to grow.

The smile on a child's face who carries this bouquet of flowers,

this child could pick this pesky weed many by the hours.

The bright yellow petals bursting forth like the golden sunray,

glowing brightly in yards and fields by the light of the day.

When the newness of spring breezily moves along,

the dandelion bursts forth with it's fluffy white song.

Once again a child grins with the biggest smile,

as they blow on the dandelion sending seeds dancing for many a mile.

You see this dandelion grows as an unexpected treasure,

that brings youthful memories filled with childlike pleasure.

~KSR~

Below are my 4 reasons I get to celebrate

Mother's day!

~ My Reason to Celebrate~

2008-05-09T19:38:00.000-07:00

~Thank You Girls For Making Me a Mom!~

~Mark 9-36-37~

He took a little child and had him stand among them.

Taking him in His arms, He said to them,

"Whoever welcomes one of these little children

in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes

me does not welcome me but the one who sent me."

~The Restoration of Spring~

2008-05-08T22:24:00.000-07:00

~Isaiah 38:16-17~

"O Lord, by these things men live,

And in all these is the life of my spirit;

O restore me to health and let me live!"

"Lo, for my own welfare I had great bitterness;

It is You who has kept my soul from the pit of

nothingness,

For You have cast all my sins behind Your back."

~NASB~

I love the way the Lord gives us our seasons each year.

We get to appreciate the beauty of color found in fall leaves,

the freshness of a new fallen snow in the winter, the brightness

of a new spring with all it's color and the warmth

of a summer day leaving us begging for a summer

swim in the river.

Every spring everything gets a new

chance to grow again with a new freshness and beauty.

Spring reminds me of the restoration Jesus gave to

us with the giving of his life. We are like a new flowers

growing in the spring ... all fresh and bright.

And even then if we don't get it right Jesus meets

us where we are at and comes alongside us

helping with a new chance to grow.

~THE RESTORATION OF SPRING~

~
The freshness of a new spring,

the celebration that only new life can bring.

~

The tender fresh sprig of a young new leaf,

the chance to start a new life with the release of old grief.

A tree and it's leaves don't get one chance to get it right,

As soon as the new spring arises their new chance buds again into site.

Grayness fades away from winters lost round,

with the abundance of green waiting to abound.

The first dandelion pops up and opens wide,

it's yellow fresh excitement no longer hidden inside.

The birds sing by day, the frog's singing fills the night,

and warmth moves in as the frost fights it's last fight.

~
There is a fresh new start brought forth with each new spring,

when we bask in the newness and restoration it brings.

~KSR~

~As The Rooster Crows~

2008-05-02T18:00:00.000-07:00

Something we hear everyday at our house

is our rooster crowing. I am reminded in the daily

busyness and grind of things how that busyness can cause

me to deny Jesus. I don't downright deny him with my words

but I deny Him by not giving Him my time of day. I can have so

much to finish before I can calm down and really talk with him.

Before I know it the whole day has gone by and I did it

all on my own. I am finding that all on my own really

is no good at all. I am proof of why I needed Jesus to

die on the cross, if that were not so then I guess on

my own would work. As it is it can never work!

I don't just deny him this way once or twice or even three times.

I find I must be a stubborn learner because before

I can even realize it, I am here doing it on my own again.

I am glad that Jesus is patient with me and waits for

me to "get" it and patiently lets me learn to

Let go and Let Him.

~John 13:38~

Then Jesus answered, "Will you really lay

down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before

the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!"

~NIV~

Do you find yourself having trouble with letting go

and letting Him? Why is something so lovingly simple

so humanly hard to grasp? Once again

It is why I am proof!

P.S.

This is a picture of our rooster. He is very pretty but also

a mean bugger! The kids like to call him peepers.

When he attacks me or the kids I find

myself calling him "Stew"!

~The Water's Edge~

2008-04-28T06:00:00.000-07:00

While fishing on Saturday my husband and

girls went out on the lake in a canoe. The boat we

borrowed only held 5 so I stayed on shore to watch. Different

people came in and out of the park area. I sat and watched the

different ways in which families allowed their children to

play at the water's edge. Some families were very

conservative while others allowed their children to get

completely wet. As I watched the interactions I pondered

just what is it us adults find so important to be worried over

all the time. Will it really matter if our child gets wet or muddy?

Is keeping them clean more important then letting them explore

and create with their toes and fingers in the mucky sand?

One way brings a smile to the child's face the other way

leaves a child yearning to get those fingers dirty. As a mom

the water's edge means more laundry to wash. Usually shoes

to dry out. OK ...I'll be honest always shoes to dry out. And yet if I take

a moment to remember the edges of water in my own childhood my

biggest smiles did not come from being perfectly clean but

usually came from being imperfectly dirty.

What do you think?

~THE WATER'S EDGE~

The sun's reflection glowing back at me,

The wind moving ripples of water so smooth and so free.

The sound of children wading in the wet mucky sand,

The sound is happy as they reach down and squish

this muck through their precious hands.

There's no worry about any dirt or if they'll end up looking like a grub,

To them it's all fun, after all, at home a bath

awaits in a soap filled tub.

To a child the water's edge is filled with a simple

happy fun,

They can splash and play at it's edge till the day no

longer has it's sun.

This kind of fun is not one you can buy at the store,

It's the kind of fun whose simplicity leaves a child feeling fulfilled,

needing no more.

So at it's edge let the children play,

As their smiles turn into memories at the end of

an imperfectly lived day.

~KSR~

~Simply written watching smiling children playing in mucky sand~

~GONE FISHING~

2008-04-26T14:00:00.000-07:00

~The Ross family is heading to a local lake and going fishing on this beautiful sunny Northwest Spring day...remember last Saturday we had over 5 inches of snow...today is to be nearly 60.
~ Wishing all a nice weekend.~

~ Happy Birthday Mrs. V ~

2008-04-25T11:25:00.000-07:00

~HAPPY BIRTHDAY MRS. V ~

So who is Mrs. V ? Well let me start by introducing

you to our 3rd daughter. Our 3rd daughter was born "special"

She is a sweet girl whose mind has it's own

way of processing the world around her.

So again you may ask who is Mrs. V ?

She takes time each week to volunteer to work

with this special daughter of ours. She drives each Friday

to meet with our daughter for an hour of tutoring in the

area of handwriting and fine motor skills. I have seen a huge

difference this year in our daughter's writing and come to tears

when I think about the huge help Mrs. V is being to our family.

Thank You Mrs. V and Happy Birthday!

~Psalm 9:1-2~

I will praise you,O Lord, with

all my heart,

I will tell of all your wonders.

I will be glad and rejoice in you;

I will sing praise to your name,

O Most High.