Summer is Here!

This past week our weather has been in the 80s!!!  And it's March!  Where did Spring go?

While enjoying the warm weather, we also took lots of photos!!! 

Michael is still learning how to smile for the camera!

Headed to church!

Erin's playing in the orchestra at church now

Some of my brave siblings camped in the backyard on Sunday night.  

"Let it come soon!"

At our house we like to make a big deal out of Christmas and the true meaning of that wonderful holiday!!!  We love to celebrate Jesus' birthday with cake, candles, and a song.  This is the birthday of our Savior and it is very important.

But, it only comes once a year.... much to Michael's chagrin.  This was demonstrated by his prayer yesterday.

"Dear Lord, please let Jesus' birthday come really soon!"

Oh, out of the mouths of babes!!!

In Memory

I listened to a really sweet, sad song today.  It is written to a baby who died before birth, and it reminds me of the five siblings I never got to met.


This reminded me that, though I long to hold them, sing to them, hug them, rock them, and do all the other things you do with your siblings, God does everything better.  He is holding them, loving them, and they are hearing the songs of the angels.

There were photographs I wanted to take
Things I wanted to show you
Sing sweet lullabies, wipe your teary eyes
Who could love you like this?

People say that I am brave but I'm not
Truth is I'm barely hanging on
But there's a greater story
Written long before me
Because He loves you like this

[Chorus]
I will carry you
While your heart beats here
Long beyond the empty cradle
Through the coming years
I will carry you
All my life
And I will praise the One Who's chosen me
To carry you

Such a short time
Such a long road
All this madness
But I know
That the silence
Has brought me to His voice
And He says ...

I've shown her photographs of time beginning
Walked her through the parted seas
Angel lullabies, no more teary eyes
Who could love her like this?

[Chorus]

Smart

SMART
My dad gave me one dollar bill
‘Cause I’m his smartest son,
And I swapped it for two shiny quarters
‘Cause two is more than one!

And then I took the quarters
And traded them to Lou
For three dimes—I guess he don’t know
That three is more than two!

Just then, along came old blind Bates
And just ‘cause he can’t see
He gave me four nickels for my three dimes,
And four is more than three!

And I took the nickels to Hiram Coombs
Down at the seed-feed store,
And the fool gave me five pennies for them,
And five is more than four!

And then I went and showed my dad,
And he got red in the cheeks
And closed his eyes and shook his head—
Too proud of me to speak!

— Shel Silverstein
From Where the Sidewalk Ends  HarperCollins Publishers: 1974

March Update!!!

Welcome March!!!!  Here is an update from last month!

We smiled,

ran from the camera,

hugged our siblings,

drew pictures,

got eaten by a dinosaur,

changed rooms,

smiled again,

(don't look),

read some books,

worked on Daddy's ipad,

went birding,

and did a little painting!!!

Michael is 4!!!

Joyful!!!

A joyful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones

Proverbs 17:22

Michael, you are a joy in our lives and we thank the Lord every day for you and the 4 years we have had you!  You are a blessing to us and I pray the Lord gives you many more wonderful years!

Love, Jessica

Our Newest Project!!!I

I promise more updates are coming... but here's what we are working on!!! 

Here come's a new house!!!

Jamie is 10!!!

Goodness

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness...

Galatians 5:22 ESV

We love you Jamie!  Happy Birthday!

The Newest Member of our Family!!!

This Saturday Erin added a new member to our string family.  Please welcome the Cello!

Since Erin bought it there has been much rejoicing!!!  She loves carrying it around and pulling it out to play.

She has even allowed her lesser siblings to play it.  (a little!) 

The hymn that was first learned?  Come Thou Fount!!!!  Of course!  (And no snickering from the T. Family, we know y'all heard to much Come Thou Fount when we were first starting violin!)

Learn More at Praise Him With Strings

Picture Update!

Birthdays, Court of Honor, Sweet Smiles, and Happy Family!

And the 2012 Movie Is....

Our 2012 Production is set in

World War II

The working title of our movie is

Soul Saver*

Are you excited?  We sure are!!!

We have finished the script, it is now being revised and typed.  More information coming soon!

* Subject to change as production moves ahead. 

Poll Results

Well, the poll is closed and here are the results!!!!

1. War Between the States (4 votes)
2. World War II (2 votes)
3. In A Fantasy Land (2 votes)
4. In the Future (2 votes)
5. World War I (1 Vote)
6. Biblical Times (1Vote)

Well, War Between the States won the poll... but that isn't the time period we have chosen.


Announcement coming tomorrow!!!!

It's Finished!!!

I just finished the script for the 2012 Plants and Pillars Production!!!   This is the most intense script I have ever written. 

Watch for an exciting announcement on Monday.  Keep voting!!!

2012 Production

Do you know what the #1 Question we get right now is?  Besides the obvious, "are they all yours?"  :-)

We get asked: "Are you working on your next movie?" 

YES!!!  We are!!!!

Truth be told, I have 3 in the works.  Yes, 3!!!!  But, I do have on main plot that will be done first.  Do you want to know where it is set?  Cast your vote on the poll on the right. 

Let's see what the vote is!

Sarah!!!

Joyful

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness

Galatians 5:22

We love you Sarah!!!!

Bible in 90 Days...

As of today, January 10th... I am 10 days into my Read the Bible in 90 Days.  As of right now,  I have finished

• Genesis
• Exodus
• Leviticus
• and I am into Deuteronomy!!!!

This is going great!!!!

In the Kitchen with Erin....

~

Erin, Ryan, and Jamie are in the middle of a game of Risk.  Erin is now convinced that Ryan has lucky dice.  "I mean I can't even roll a 5!  He attacked China with 5 men, I had 15, and he kept rolling 6s.  And 6s.  He totally obliterated my stand on China." 

~ 

We'll let you know how the came comes out!!! :-)

December Photos

A sibling photo at the zoo

Jamie, Jessica, and Mommy
(and the dating couple in front of us.  I'm sure they spent the whole time wondering how they got stuck with the wierdos in the back of the train!)

Erin and Ryan

Emily, Sarah, and Daddy
(Daddy really wanted to sit facing backwards.  He got off feeling slightly poorly)

Michael, Rach, and Erin!