Birthday week

We have 3 birthdays in 6 days in October.  We have survived, no enjoyed, and here are a few pictures to 

prove it.

This is Rachel's birthday.  We did a big celebration for 13, as she is walking into young adulthood.  We invited lots of friends and even asked some from far away to participate.  It was fun and also very special.  Lots of people took time to pray for her and give her meaningful gifts!  What a special time.  I am sorry for those of you who missed it.  I'll post some other pics when I get them.  A friend graciously took photos for us.

Here is Nathanael on his birthday with his birthday card, frog (in the background) and balloon  from Grandma and Papa in Oregon!

Abby planned her own party this year and invited lots of friends.  Here she is (middle left) with some of them eating pizza at the park.

She planned some games for them all to play.  This is the wheelbarrow race.

Abby's cake. She had a fall them so she wanted an acorn cake.  Notice the little acorn on the left and the leaf on the right.  The acorn is Abby's cake, and the little leaf was Nathanael's.  Instead of having a party for him, we just sang to him and gave him his own little cake at Abby's party. :)

Here he is with his cake and one lit candle.  Happy birthday, cutie.  He  makes us all smile and fits right into our active family!

He Has Fought the Good Fight; He Has Finished the Race

Thankfully I am just referring to the 30 K race in which David participated on Sunday.  The reference is really to a great man of the Bible at the close of his life lived for Jesus.  I know David longs for these words to not only describe his running, but his life as well.
I am writing with the great news that David ran every step of the 30 kilometers or 18.6 miles on Sunday.  He said, "It was wonderfully difficult."  He really felt good about all of the race.  He finished in 2:08 (2 hours, eight minutes), which earned him 9th place overall!

David at the finish of the Downtown Doubler in Lousiville, KY, where he was "Running 4 Water."

It is not too late to send in your money for "Running for Water."  All money has to be in by October 10, as they leave October 11.  He is fully funded for the trip as of today!  Praise God for his faithful provision, and thanks to many of you who are partnering with David and with our great God in the work in Haiti.  That means that all money received now will go to dig wells in poor communities in Haiti, where clean water is scarce, but of utmost importance for healthy, longer life.  And some wells are dug on church property, where villagers will receive clean water to drink and Living Water from God, as well.
Here is the link again to donate online: CornerStone International  Scroll down until you see 'Trimble' and click the 'donate' button under 'trip.'
And you can always do it the old fashioned way.  Send checks marked Trimble's Haiti trip or Trimble- wells to
CornerStone International
P.O. Box 192
Wilmore, KY 40390


Together we are storing up treasures in Heaven, where nothing can destroy or steal it away!

Haiti Trip Provision-- Right on Time

We wanted to share this neat story of how God is providing for David's Haiti trip.  Last week David was at Cornerstone International House of Prayer for his usual prayer time, when he received a call from the team leader for the trip, asking if David would send the money for the plane tickets to the organization who would be buying them.  After consulting with the bookkeeper, he was told he had only $300 in his account. He needed $600.  He and the team leader discussed this, and David decided to wait for the money to come in, even if this meant he would have to take a different flight than the other team members.  Of course, taking a different flight is certainly not the preferred way to get there.  However, after talking with Jesus about it for a minute, he felt like this was the right course of action.  So since it was time to gather for prayer, he went in for the 2 hour prayer watch for the missionaries.  After the prayer time, the bookkeeper called David in to her office and informed him that he had just received a total of $350 more in donations for the Haiti trip... just in that 2 hour time period!  Quickly, David called his team leader, who told him that the tickets had not yet been purchased.  So because David was patient to wait on the Lord, God provided just what he needed, right on time.
They now have their tickets, all on the same flight, and they leave Oct 11.  He is still in need of funds for ministry and boarding expenses, and is hoping to be able to take extra money to help dig wells for clean drinking water.  God loves a cheerful, selfless giver.  We are blessed so abundantly here in the US.  Please consider investing in eternity and in the lives of the Haitian people.  He will provide for the trip.  God has shown us that he will.  Will you join us?

Follow this link to give:  Haiti
Scroll down 'til you see 'Trimble trip' and click the 'donate' button

Nathanael on the move

Here is Nathanael's scoot!  It's pretty funny.  He's getting fairly quick with it.

Winning Runner

Run, Run fast as you can.  You can't catch me, I'm the running man!  David enjoys running and once a month or more he runs in road races.  We have always made this a family thing so that his hobby doesn't take him away from the family any more than he already is.  We all pile into the car, usually at early morning hours, with breakfast in hand to go and cheer Daddy on.  But recently we all got a first- time thrill.  As we watched attentively for the first runners to round the turn and head for the finish line, we were surprised to find that it was our very own David Trimble!  We cheered all the more loudly as he came closer and my heart swelled as he finished in first place! And this was no ordinary race.  There was prize money involved!  So our very own beloved husband and daddy is now a race winning, money earning runner!  But we love him the same!
Here are some pictures from other recent races.  And of the winner with his prize money!

David ran a race on the 4th of July with his sister the day after our arrival in Oregon.  Rachel was the photographer this morning.

The start of the Wilmore 4th of July race.  They have it the weekend before the 4th.

David finishing the Wilmore race.  Abby took both of these pictures.

Silas' Kind of Fun

Silas is one funny boy!  He is creative and really likes playing with toys like Legos and Play Mobil "men."  He also loves all of his brothers.  And we never know what he will do next.  Here are a few pictures to illustrate:

I made this one extra big so you could see the paint all over the him.  Micah was painting and Silas wanted to paint too.  I asked Abby to sit with him and help him because he had never painted like that before.  A few minutes later I saw Abby in the hall and asked if Silas was finished already.  I went to check on him and this is what I found :)  He had more paint on himself and the ground than on the wood he was painting!

Keenan and I were working on reading one morning a month or so ago and  Nathanael was sitting in the play room with Silas.  I looked up to see Nathanael surrounded by all these blankets and pillows and stuff.  I asked Silas about it and he told me he was making a nest for his brother and giving him toys to play with.  Funny!  And Nathanael was as happy as he could be in his "nest."

Sorry for the sideways picture.  I don't know why the blog does this sometimes.  It is too much trouble to fix it so you will just have to turn your head :)  Here is a close-up of the "bird" in his "nest."

Spring fun

Rachel's class is dancing in the end of the year ballet performance.  They are doing worship dances.  It was beautiful.  Rachel is on the left.

Abby and Rachel worked hard at ballet this year.  In the performance, Abby's class were the sowers in the Parable of the Sower, written by their teacher from the parable Jesus told.  Abby is the far left.

This is a little out of order.  This is Rachel's class bowing after they are done.  Rachel is in the front middle.

Keenan and Micah played soccer this Spring.

I had the chance to speak at a Ladies Tea at a friend's church.  My mom happened to be in town and so we ladies went together.  We have a very enjoyable time.

Going to the park to play!

Silas loves to draw and color.  We are doing school work and he is making pictures :)

Nathanael and his buddy, who is a little more than 2 months younger

We celebrated Christ's resurrection with some family friends.  Here we are doing an egg cracking contest.

We had a long, exciting day on Easter.  First a local  church where the girls did a beautiful dance.  Then lunch with friends, then resurrection rolls, then worship.  Silas and Micah both fell asleep during worship.  We let them sleep (on me!) for a few minutes before waking them up for the egg hunt.

Happy Mother's Day to Me!

I have to brag on my kids for a minute!  They were so creative this year for Mother's Day.  First, they confined me to my room this morning, which is really a gift in itself, while they cooked breakfast and made a large "Happy Mother's Day" sign.  Rachel was the overseer at 12, with all of the others helping (except the baby), even Silas who is 2 1/2.  They made a huge homemade biscuit in the shape of a heart, scrambled eggs and cantaloupe.  (David made the coffee :} ) At the breakfast table they handed me a program of the Mother's Day Performance.  Here's what it said:

When: right after breakfast

Where: living room

Why?: because we love mommy so much

What: first- dance, "When the Tears Fall" (from Tim Hughes) by Rachel and Abby

next- song- "Happy Mother's Day to You" by Keenan, Micah and Silas

third- dance, "Be Glorified" (from the Passion CD) by Rachel and Abby

fourth- poems, read by Abby

fifth- dance, "Surrender" (from the Surrender CD) by Rachel

next- 20 reasons we love Mommy, by Rachel, Abby, Keenan and Micah

Finally- we all pray for Mommy

Wow!  The breakfast was delicious.  The sign was made with giant letters, each decorated differently by all the kids, from rainbow, to a superman shaped A. The performance was beautiful.  The dances were choreographed by Rachel and the girls danced them so well.  The boys were adorable serenading me!  The poems were not written by Abby, but chosen by her and very sweet.  The 20 reasons they love mommy was so special!  Some of the reasons were "she cooks for us," "she does what needs to be done without complaining," "she points us to God," and "she loves us for who we are."  And then they all gathered and thanked God for me, all 5 who can talk and David.  It was so so precious and encouraged me so much!  And if that wasn't enough, the older ones had homemade cards and even a few gifts!  Micah made me a card and a necklace, which I am wearing as I type.  Abby gave me a cute picture frame that has the verse from Psalm 127 about children being a gift from God on it.
It is a time I will treasure for years to come.  So if you can top that, comment about it cause I want to hear!  What a life I have!!  I am so happy to be in this season right now!

Peas in a Pod

Just thought you would like to see these cute boys.  They are almost always together.  Just this morning I was making breakfast with Micah.  He wanted to have cereal and I said we would save that for school mornings when we didn't have as much time.  He said, "It's not a school day?"  No, I say.  "Yippee!" He exclaims.  Keenan walks into the kitchen as we are talking and says "Why do you care?  You don't even have to do school work."  And Micah's answer is " Yeah, but I'll have people to play with!"

Silas and Micah watching Keenan put together some new star wars legos he bought with Granny's Christmas money

Look at these scary looking dudes!  Notice Silas in the background

Keenan was recently given a Gameboy.  We have never done video games so he is captivated with it!  Obviously so are his brothers.  Funny!

Now that Nathanael is getting bigger, they like to include him in their play, too.  Here they were camping or something and it is sleeping time!

Getting ready for the first soccer game!  David is coaching Keenan's team.  And Silas of course is just as excited about watching soccer.  He's even in the spirit with his soccer shirt!

                                   

Two Year Old Funnies

David and I are talking after breakfast on this relaxing Saturday morning.  I hear Silas call to his brothers, "I be right back."  He comes into the dining room and says, "Will you get me a helmet down?  And I need a sword and flashlight." 
"Wow," I say.  "What are you going to do with it all?" 
"I just 'tackin' (attacking) the boys (his brothers)."
"Oh," I say.  "Do they want to play like that?"
"No." Silas says with a smile.
So I remind him we should only attack others when they want to play like that, something that sounds so backwards coming out of my mouth.  I'd never have said that to the girls. 
Then David says, "I thought you wanted to read books with me."
Silas says, "No."  Then adds, "I have superpowers."

Too, too funny!  It's amazing the things that boys says.  It is so apparent that he has a house full of older siblings!

Thoughts from a Pligrim's Heart, Part 2

Well it took me long enough to write again.  I just don't have very much time to sit (without a baby in my arms) in front of the computer.  And really there is too much life to live to try to squeeze in time. 
I've been reading an old book by Hannah Whitall Smith titled The Christian's Secret to a Happy Life.  In it I read this that really challenged me: "In order for a soul to be made into a vessel unto God's honor, ...it must be entirely abandoned to Him and must lie passively in His hands."  She is using the analogy of clay in a potter's hand, yielding fully to the Potter.  That is so hard for me!  To lie passively, waiting, receiving whatever the Master deems useful and necessary.  I so often I think I know the way and try to direct the potter, but how foolish of me!  I must learn to place myself, ALL of my life, into God's strong, loving, omniscient Hands and just yield to His touches, "an entire surrender of the whole being to God."  Then she says, "To a soul ignorant of God, this may look hard.  But to those who know Him, it is the happiest and most restful of lives." I have tasted this and desire to really experience this DAILY!  It is not so difficult when you really know God; it is rest and joy and peace!

Thoughts from a Pligrim's heart, part 1

These are some thoughts from recent times at the House of Prayer, just sitting in God's Presence.
*Worship is like sweet smelling incense, first to God, who is most worthy!  But as I pour out worship from my heart, it brings the fragrance of worship everywhere I go.  Lord, teach me to pour out this incense, break my vial of worship all over my home that it would change me and change the atmosphere of my home.
*Thoughts from 1 Peter 1:  Pilgrims, God's elect... this wer are!  In this- begotten again, new, offered a solid living hope of eternal life and honor- in the we greatly rejoice! And even in this rejoicing, there is temporary grief, various trials, testing of my most precious faith.  Grief and rejoicing, difficulty and joy, peace and pain-- mixed like oil and water.  As I sojourn, I walk by faith, embracing the trials as a means to purification that results in resurrection and life, joy eternal!!
*v 8 "Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible" 
The foundation I stand on is unseen, even to me.  I can feel it (most of the time) but I cannot see it.  The treasure for which I have sold my life is buried deep and I long to lay my eyes on it, touch it, but for now I wait in faith!  As I dig, I get gems, tastes of what is to come.  He has not left me orphaned!  He has given me treasure, a deposit, to keep me til the end.  He has put oil in my lamp and continues to do so as I come to Him, until the Bridegroom comes and the lamp is no longer necessary.  My faith WILL one day become sight!  Though I do not see him, I love Him!  And I will recieve the goal of my faith, the salvation of my soul!!

Look at them grow!

The kids are growing up so fast!  Several of them have had some changes that I thought some would want to see, especially grandparents!  Just so you know, I don't post too often anymore for two reasons.  One you could probably guess: I have 6 children!!! and life is a little crazy often.  Secondly, my computer does not like to read photo cards and I have to go through a process to make it work almost every time I want to upload photos.  This makes me not upload photos very often!  Okay, enjoy the pictures of my growing tribe!  We sure love them!Oh, by the way, Rachel took most of these photos with a spiffy camera that my Dad gave her.  She's pretty good with it!

Nathanael is a 4 month old cutie!

Abby and her new "do" (with Nathanael).  She is such a great big sister!

Here's my crew minus the biggest one behind the camera!

Micah looks like he's posing for a magazine!

Notice some things missing?  He's so cute with the big gap in front!

The clown!  He grows sillier by the day. 

Here's another silly one!

If you look closely you can see his purple mouth.  Right now it is purple again.  This is the 3rd time I have had to treat him for Thrush with this bright purple dye stuff!  Ugh!  He's still cute, though.

Metal mouth!  Rachel got braces and has adapted quite well! And she is almost as tall as me now!

Mel's birthday

I am getting out of order a little because I have some great pictures of our trip to SC over Christmas break.  But I don't want to take the time to organize all of those right now, so I am going to post my birthday pictures.  This year the kids made me breakfast and decorated the dining room with a homemade "Happy Birthday" banner, a table cloth, candles, and neatly set table.  After our usual activities of the day, David took us all out to dinner and then we went to pick out the paint for my present.  David agreed to paint the dining room for me, which has turned out to be quite a task!  We are still working on it.  We concluded our celebrations with special ice cream.  I didn't want a cake since we had had so much cake over the Christmas holidays.  Here are the pictures...

May the Force Be With You

Light  Saber Cake

Keenan's friend Garrett studying the complicated transformer directions- his idea of party fun!

Each of the kids had a battle with Darth Vader

While Garrett worked on the transformer, the other kids played with the "men stuff"

Princess Leia, also know as Iannah

Since Keenan's birthday was in December I thought I should post the pictures from his party.  We didn't take very many, but here is a small taste of his Star Wars party.

toothless

Yesterday Keenan lost his 4th tooth, the 2nd one this week!  David was at work last night and didn't know he had lost it.  His "tooth fairy" got busy with other things last night and forgot to show up.  He comes to the bathroom door this morning and says to me, "I lloked under my pillow and all I found was my tooth!"  Oops!  He doesn't really believe there is a tooth fairy, but we try to convince him for now, mostly for the sake of his younger brothers.  So I said something about the tooth fairy sometimes getting busy and he should try again tonight.  Anyway, at dinner we were talking about his missing two front teeth.  Keenan was adamant that these two wiggly things fall out on their own this time, and they did.  Both while he was eating.  David couldn't remember if he had pulled out his other two teeth and so he asked.  Keenan said "You pulled out the first one with the pliers, and the second one William (his friend) accidentally punched out!"  Ha!  Ha!  Ha!  It's true, and it will forever be burned in his memory!
I'll post a picture of his cute toothless smile soon.  My computer is not reading my photo card very consistently right now.

pictures from the Christmas Season

Abby with her ballet class before their Christmas performance

Keenan helping to decorate the tree

Nathanael

My dad with Nathanael when we were visiting SC

snow bunnies that I coaxed to go outside and play

One of our favorite family traditions is to do a "giving tree."  This year we collected stuff for an package that was sent to Sudan for persecuted Christians.  This is us with our "action pack" before we opened our own gift.

Some of the mess after presents!