I'm weakening!

Well, I'm sure its common knowledge, but in case you didn't
know, I don't really like cats. Seriously. I could probably count
on one hand the number of cats that I actually don't mind. And
there are only 3 that I actually LIKE. Well, that used to be true...
A very sweet, very pregnant cat has waltzed into our family and
into my heart as well. (Ouch, it hurt to say that!)
This momma kitty showed up on Sunday morning right before we
left for church and of course Crystal, Rach and Mom were petting
and cuddling it. Aunt T FED it... So before any of my family members
got into the van I made them slather their hands in GermX, and I of
course didn't touch the awful creature.
Until Monday that is.
Monday morning this thing was meowing on our doorstep (its all bony
and underfed). And although I thought I threatened them enough, I
didn't want to be the "mean sister that everyone hates" so I only let my
tirade of "you had better not feed that thing, make sure you don't let it
near Taffie's fence, take it into the road before you pet it so it won't
come by our house, WASH YOUR HANDS WHEN YOU'RE DONE!!!)
go on for a few minutes...

But of course that didn't work... On Monday, Rach fed it a can of tuna
and Crystal made it a bed in our garage out of a cardboard box, and
some old towels and sheets }:(
Monday afternoon Mom and Dad found out, and lets just say they
weren't very happy. But they got the whole "Its pregnant" speech on
how we'd be kind of like the innkeeper in the Christmas story who
throws Mary in a stable instead of a comfortable place to give birth,
if we just shooed the cat out into the "cold..."
So now, apparently we have a cat.

She is a rather nice cat. And I actually named her.
Her new name is Claire.
She looks practically ready to explode she's so pregnant!
But I think she's probably only got 3 or 4 kittens in there.
She's so skinny otherwise, that's why I think she looks so big.
Crystal though is hoping for 7-10 kittens :)
I wouldn't wish that on any mother (cat or otherwise).
So me and this cat are bonding.
I find myself scolding Taffie if she barks at Claire,
and have also been going out almost every 2 hours to pet the her and all that.

And even though when this cat gives birth it will mean lots more cats
wandering around, I am so extremely looking forwards to having the
kittens around too ;)
There's just something about new life that brings joy! And excitement.
Crik, Rach and I have already started to come up with a name list
and are trying to think of anybody we know that might possibly want a
cat. So if you need a cat... You're welcome to one (or more) :D

So now I can add another cat that I actually like to the list. :P

Sometimes...

Sometimes we must be hurt in order to grow,
we must fail in order to know.
We must lose in order to gain,
some lessons are learned best only through pain.
Sometimes our vision clears,
only after our eyes are washed with tears.
Sometimes we have to be broken,
so we can be tender; sick, so we can rest and think better
on things more important than work for fun.
Trip near death, so we can assess how we've ran.
Sometimes we have to suffer lack,
so we can know God's provisions.
Feel anther's pain,
so we can have a sense of mission.
So take heart, my friend,
if you don't understand today.
Instead of grumbling, ask God what he means to say.
In order to learn, you must endure and learn to see the bigger picture.
In order to grow, you must stand, look beyond the hurt,
to God's loving hand that takes what is good, and gives what is best
And on this blessed thought: rest.
As your anxious heart, with questions: wait.
God's hand only gives, what his loving heart dictates.

};D

AAAUUUGGGHHH!!!!!!!

My *dear* dog has recently taken up the hobby

of dumping the garbage cans.

Which, in case you hadn't guessed, doesn't make me the

happiest owner around.

This picture was embellished by my sisters just a little,

and well, Taffie is now staying in her crate while

we are gone. That ought to teach her!

Pancakes!

So, on Labor Day Sunday, the Refuge put on a pancake

breakfast for the campers at Mendota Hills!

We were only expecting 80ish people but we ended up serving

over 150!!! I made pancakes from 8-10, and wow,

you wouldn't believe how hungry it makes you flipping

TONS of pancakes! Thankfully we had some leftovers so us

workers got to eat ;)

It was so much fun! And I can't wait until next year!! :D

It didn't happen.

Well, I had good intentions of catching up on all
the blogging that I need to do today... But as you can
very well see, it didn't happen.
Ah well, maybe tomorrow!
Now I'm off to clean the bathrooms, }:P (I'm overjoyed...)

Aunt time.

One Monday, when we were at Grandpa's for lunch

Cameron and Karley were getting really "bored" so

Aunt Beck came to the rescue! :D

We "colored" (except that the only writing utensils at grandpa's

house are pencils and pens...)

And I'm always so amazed at how much they enjoy it if you

just get down there and do it with them! They stay

occupied for so much longer too! Plus listening to their

conversations and seeing them make their 'works of art'

is pretty priceless.

And we had fun too :P

Some fun.

Well, day 2 of school is over!
So even though there are a bunch of other things I could (or maybe

even should) blog about, I'm gonna post some fun pictures!

:D In celebration!!!!

Like a river glorious is God's perfect peace,

Over all victorious in its bright increase;

Perfect, yet it floweth fuller every day,

Perfect, yet it groweth deeper all the way.

Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest;

Finding, as he promised, perfect peace and rest.

~Frances Ridley Havergal~

The world is but a canvas to the imagination.

~Henry David Thoreau~

But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ

lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our

Savior. He will take these weak mortal bodies of ours and

change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same

mighty power that he will use to conquer everything, everywhere.

~Philippians 3:20-21~

Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before

you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; then stick to the

path and stay safe. Don't get sidetracked; keep your feet

from following evil. ~Proverbs 4:25-27~

The heart of a child is the most precious of God's creation.

Never break it. At all costs, never break it.

~Joseph L. Whitten~

Let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us...

10!

Today is Cameron's 10th birthday!

Happy Birthday Cameron!

I'm so glad your in my life, and that I get to be your aunt!

God has blessed me beyond measure!
You are so special to me!

I love watching you just be you.

Keep it up!

I love you so much!

Wow.

Its been 8 years since that awful day when so many peoples

lives were turned upside down.

In some ways it feels like it was so long ago, but when you

stop and think, all the feelings are fresh again and it feels

like just yesterday.

I am so thankful for all of the brave people who died that

day to protect my freedom.

And for the ones who are fighting right now to keep me free.

But don't forget to pray for all of the people who are hurting

today. Let us NEVER forget.

Six Flags!

Today was Six Flags "homeschool" day!

We have gone every year for about 8 years probably.

This year we drove "caravan style" with the Ziglers group.

They had 3 vehicles. Josh, Cecelia and Cameron went with us!

We were excited, but just not quite awake yet...

Joy found a penny :D
There were like 25 of us in the group...
Well we stopped for a 'quick' bathroom break.
It ended up being about 1/2 hour... :(
Cheezits anyone?

Gettin' bored on the drive there...

The swings!

(something Mom could go on) :D

And the rest of these Mom couldn't go on...

The King Chaos! We all just about lost it on this one...

We had to walk pretty slow for a few minutes after this one.

But it was still really fun!

Oh, I forgot about this one!

Mom actually got to go on a roller coaster!

Cameron, Criky and her went on the 'Ragin' Cajun'.

The log ride!

This one was cool.

I didn't go on it, (and I'm so glad)! You were in a boat,

and you had squirt guns things, and so did everyone else.

Even the people on the sides watching the ride! So you

shot at each other! They all really liked it, but got DRENCHED!

The Giant Drop!

I SO love this ride!

I just don't want to wait until we go skydiving next year!

We had a lot of fun!

With it being a day where only homeschoolers can go,

there weren't near as many people at the park.

On a normal day you might get to go on 10 rides...

We probably got to go on about 40!!!
We were all feeling kind of sick by the end of the day,

but it was well worth it!!!!

Oh, and we got Ice Cream on the way home!

(happy happy!)

Criky and Josh kept falling asleep on the way home...

Hey All!

Happy Wednesday!
In case nobody recognized it, today is 9/9/09!
Cool huh? So, in honor of it being that unique date
I put a "9" song on our playlist :D kind of...

So, enjoy the great weather today!
We are headed to teach music lessons, and bible study
is tonight, and then tomorrow is Six Flags!!!!
(I really hope I don't get sick...)

Soooo...

So, tonight we went and played music at a Nursing
Home in Dixon. We've went there often enough
that the people are starting to recognize us :)
Its kind of fun having them all be like, "oh hi girls!"
"We're glad your back!"
Rach and I got daring and played Trumpet/Violin duets!
They went off really well! And it made for more variety,
so that was really nice too.

And now, I'm happy because we're having pizza... :)

That makes you feel good...

So, there's this thrift store in Dixon, and every once
and a while I like to go there and look through their
piano music section. Well, I found 3 classical music pieces
and bought them... The cashier lady saw them and asked
if we played piano. And she also expressed her love for
classical music, to which we agreed.

Well, as we were walking out the door, I hear her say to
the lady next to her, "There is some hope for the younger
generation!" :D

Wow, that's quite a load, somebody thinks I'm the redeeming
factor for all young people everywhere!!!

My day.

This morning I got up and descended into the black abyss.
(otherwise known as our basement...) And from it I emerged
ALIVE!!!! I cleaned the basement out, but came out pretty
dirty myself :( So I went and relaxed in the sun for a few minutes
while reading a book, and then came in to do my chores and then
went and scrubbed down the upstairs bathroom (walls and ceiling)
with bleach... Now I keep smelling my hands and think about
swimming pools and waterparks. I want to go to a waterpark!
It feels good to have accomplished something in my day that will
actually be seen. A lot of times the stuff I do feels like it just eats
away my time and there's nothing to show for the hours I've spent
doing it. So YAY!!! The bathroom can now be painted! And I think
I greatly reduced the number of spiders in our basement!!!!!!!

Untitled

Sometimes our light goes out but is blown into flame
by another human being. Each of us owes deepest
thanks to those who have rekindled this light.
-Albert Schweitzer

I almost forgot!!!

HAPPY SEPTEMBER EVERYBODY!!!

Just because I'm an Aunt...

Sooo, Saturday we went to the parade in Amboy with Josh and

his family. The kids were SO excited (especially the girls).

Karley and Devyn kept seeing cars drive past before the parade had

started and started jumping up and down yelling "the Parade!

I love how everything is a new experience for them. I've been to plenty

of parades, and this one wasn't exceptional by any means, but I

thoroughly enjoyed myself just sitting there with the 3 of them and

watching them be so excited, run for candy, wave at every float

that went by... (I told them that if they waved the 'nice people'

would throw them candy) :D

Twinpic.The kids were all smiles!

These beautiful faces bring me joy every time I look at them!
Their smiles are so pure, and innocent!
The weather was so beautiful out that day too,
most of us wore sweatshirts, but the sun was out and it felt
WONDERFUL!
The kids were told at the beginning that they couldn't eat
too much candy, so when they collected it they needed to put
it in a bag, they did so good with that! They'd fill their hands and
pockets and then run to the bag to unload it all :)
This was kinda creepy!
'Abe Lincoln' in the back of a truck...
For most of the parade, both girls sat on my lap :D
And of course I just "hated" that...
When this float came by Karley looked up at me and said
'Doggie?' Devyn looked at her and said, 'Horsey.'
When I told them that they were Alpaca's they though that
was pretty neat.

Candy anyone?

So yeah, just because I'm an Aunt. I can get away with

posting pretty much all pictures of the kids, I can love just hanging

out with them, get them wound up, on sugar highs, ride them around

on bikes, let them get away with a little more than their parents

usuallyallow, and then try and talk my way into letting them all come

for a sleep-over! Plus the fact that I know that when I'm tired,

Rach is there to provide reinforcements, and when we both wear

out... we just take them home!

I got the greatest job ever!

Oh how I love these kids...