Tracking with the Trimbles

There's No Place I Would Rather Be

2012-01-25T23:00:00.000-05:00

I am listening to the live worship streaming at the International House of Prayer as I often do. Tonight the worship leader is singing this line, "There's no place I would rather be than here in your love..." As I sit thinking about that, I am really able to sing those words from a deep place of submission to a loving Father. This has been a difficult year for me in many ways. Parenting 6 very different kids from a teen to a non-sleeping baby has really tested me on many levels. Actually, I have come to understand better in the last few weeks that it is not about me and my abilities at all. It is about Jesus and His crazy love for me and my kids. I can never be the perfect parent and I can never be strong enough on my own. Of course I have known these things for years, but somehow that has not stopped me from trying to accomplish them. Jesus said it so simply when he was asked about the greatest commandment. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength. And the second is like it: love your neighbor (your kids) as yourself. So why do I strive so much?? I guess the actual doing of it is much more difficult in this body of sin and weakness than reading it, agreeing with it, or even wanting it! So I want know how high and deep and wide is the love of God, to know this love that passes knowledge (Eph 3) and I want to be so consumed with His love, so filled to full measure of God (also Eph 3) that I overflow with His love. If I really know His love, I can only respond by loving him back. And I He loves me and I love Him, then His love will spill out of me without all of the striving. And I can mess up and be weak and still love! That is the beauty of love! Jesus didn't say to be perfect or to follow all these rules or to never get overwhelmed. He said LOVE! What a beautifully difficult pursuit! And so as I sit here listening and worshiping, I can truly say that there is no place I would rather be. Even though this season of my life is hard, and I feel overwhelmed and inadequate sometimes, this is the place where God is! Right here, right in this hard moment, right in each day of this whole hard year. There is no place where I would rather be because God is near to those with a broken and contrite heart, because God says to count it all joy when we face trials of many kinds, because God is my rock, my stronghold, my strength. I would not have chosen this way, but then who would? I am such a pleasure/comfort junkie! But God has sustained me in each day of this hard season. I have many times looked back and marveled at God's grace! And I don't know how much longer this season will continue, but its really ok. Until recently, I was really frustrated and discouraged about some of the circumstances I am facing. But, He led me here and he has sustained me this long. I can trust Him! I cling to Jesus and His faithfulness. Not my strength to grit my teeth and survive through it. God is working in me. "For our light and momentary troubles (if Paul could say this, surely I can, too!) are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." 2 Cor 4:17 So I can honestly say, there is no place I would rather be than here in your love, God. Right here, experiencing your love.

Joyful life in January

2012-01-23T21:40:00.000-05:00

The weather has been mild here in the Bluegrass. We have a a few cold spells but overall it has been nice weather for the first half of winter. Here are some of our kids having fun together.

Rachel and Abby learned to finger knit

up close :) Using her free time with creativity! Mom really likes this!

Silas on the "sit and spin" having a good time.

Micah giving Nathanael a ride in the wagon. Nathanael loves to be outside. Just today it was really nice again and the older boys were going outside. He brought my his shoes, telling me he wanted to go out too.

trampoline fun! I am so glad we have this trampoline. All of them from the biggest to the littlest love to jump!

More jumping

What a cute pair! Abby is a baby magnet. She loves them and they love her!

This was Nathanael's first time on the trampoline. Everyone sat down so he could get used to the ground moving beneath him. He loves it! In fact after I put his shoes on and let him outside today, he went out and started yelling for Abby, who was on the trampoline at the time, to come get him. She did cause she's such a good big sister.

A friend made the hat for me for Christmas. I love it! Nathanael obviously does too. He was so cute playing 'peek-a-boo' with me one afternoon.

What a cute kid! He has charmed us all. And good thing, too, because he still does not sleep well at night. I told David just the other day that God had really put a love for this boy in my heart because I can still smile at him even after he's kept me up so much at night! God's love is deeper still.

December celebrations

2012-01-23T11:49:00.000-05:00

Well, I am playing catch up on our family happenings. We'll see how much I get done today. God has been so good to us. We are enjoying this crazy life with a house full! I live mostly by what is right in front on me so blogging has not been a priority. I want to try to get a little more regular with it as it really helps me and keeps those of you far away in touch with our family.
I'll let the pictures tell the stories from these exciting celebrations in December.

We enjoyed another beautiful Christmas dance celebration in early Dec. Here are Abby and Rachel in their costumes. It was a special performance for our family. Abby had a ballet solo and Rachel danced her first dance 'en pointe.'

Micah was also in the ballet performance this year. Late into the semester, he was asked to be the "boy Jesus." He had a small solo part, which he loved!! You can see the proud smile on his face.

The same day as the performance, we were part of a craft sale . CRAZY! But worth it! Rachel had the idea to bake goodies and sell them at the annual craft sale in our small town. She wanted to raise money for Casa de Fe, a children's home in Ecuador run by one of CornerStone's missionaries. So along with ballet rehearsal's we spent the week making pumpkin bars, cookies, granola, cupcakes and other goodies, along with friendship bracelets. We had fun as a family and raised a good sum of money, too!

Here are the four boys with their Christmas nutcrackers. Grandma Trimble sent these to the the girls, but the boys loved them so much that the girls shared them.

Micah was so happy to get these two Black Stallion movies for Christmas!

My parents were able to come up for a few days before Christmas and we really enjoyed spending time with them. Here is one of the gifts they brought along. Nathanael is riding on his rocking horse.

Also in December we get to celebrate Keenan's birthday. He had a "hunting" party theme this year. This is his camo ice cream cake.

We did a relay race with hunting clothes for our first game. This was after they had target practice with their dart guns. :)

Next we played dodge ball- hunters against "deer." These are the deer for the first round. See their antlers?? Abby is far left and Micah is in the middle. The others are friends that we are glad God brought into our lives.

Birthday week

2011-10-24T21:56:00.002-04:00

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

2011-09-23T16:56:00.000-04:00

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

2011-09-16T20:08:00.000-04:00

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

2011-08-05T15:18:00.000-04:00

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

Winning Runner

2011-07-31T22:04:00.001-04:00

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

2011-06-11T11:34:00.002-04:00

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

2011-05-30T14:24:00.000-04:00

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!

2011-05-08T13:10:00.001-04:00

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

2011-04-23T10:14:00.000-04:00

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

2011-04-23T09:49:00.000-04:00

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

2011-04-19T20:17:00.000-04:00

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

2011-04-05T10:33:00.000-04:00

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!

2011-03-16T22:28:00.000-04:00

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

2011-02-17T19:08:00.000-05:00

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

2011-02-17T18:52:00.001-05:00

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

2011-02-17T18:33:00.000-05:00

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

2011-01-25T17:38:00.000-05:00

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!

A Taste of Victory

2011-01-25T17:11:00.000-05:00

The past few months have not been easy ones for me. The transition with the new, somewhat fussy baby has been harder than I anticipated. However, I'm learning to rest in God's grace for each day! I read this verse a few weeks ago and it has blessed me and lifted my heart! "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work." 2 Corinthians 9:8 What a beautiful declaration! God is able to give me every grace I need for every circumstance that I face so that I can excel in all things! His grace is truly sufficient! I am learning to rest in Him.
The following is something I wrote in my journal on Jan 11. It summarizes some of what has been going on in my heart.
"I woke up a little frustrated yesterday morning. The baby has not been sleeping very well and I was beginning to complain in my spirit and get grumpy before I even got out of bed. It seems like many of the other kids are at difficult places and that makes each day so challenging. So as I say up and nursed the baby yesterday morning, I cried out to God, saying 'Lord, I don't want to hate this life. I don't want to go through the day wishing for something different.' I just talked to my Father, the LIVING God, about being tired and this season of my life being hard. And I said yes to Him and His ways. I cried out for His work in my, for His joy to sustain me, to be content in the 'now.'
And a beautiful thing happened! I didn't find myself frustrated throughout the day. Not at potty-training accidents, not at 4 year old tantrums, not at rowdy, cooped up boys. Even at bedtime (with David gone all day), I was peaceful and content. Amazing! God is my help. And he saw my victory! The victory of longing for his ways, choosing to lean on Him instead of wallowing in self-pity or gritting my teeth in self-reliance. The taste of victory is sweet! And I want it again and again. Joy in each moment. His Spirit instead of my flesh!"

oh so cute!!

2010-11-21T21:04:00.001-05:00

"Keep Growing" Nathanael! (A special friend made this shirt for Abby.)

adoring brothers and sisters the morning after Nathanael was born

So here are pictures from the first week or so of Nathanael's life for those so eager to see them. He is so cute, and his siblings still really enjoy him, but he is a good bit fussy. He seems to have some digestive problems. But we love him anyway, and know that 'this too will pass.' And in the meantime, we keep trying to cling to God's all sufficient grace. I don't have time for much of anything but immediate daily life, which is hard sometimes. But we are all growing in the process of it! Growing is never easy, but it is worth it, so we are pressing on! Enjoy the pictures!
(p.s. Sorry for the big gap between pictures as you scroll down. Don't know why it did that and I can't figure out how to fix it. That gap is not there in my "create and edit" page. uuggghhh!)

Rachel holding him about an hour after he was born

Micah examining the tiny bundle

Mom and Dad with all 6 grandkids

A sweet kiss from Silas

All in a day's work?

2010-11-19T16:44:00.000-05:00

October 23 started like a typical day. Enjoying the extra few minutes in my cozy bed, not having to think about school and waking up sleepy children. Listening to boys play not-so-quietly in their room as the house wakens. Big Saturday breakfast. Laundry, washed and hung on the line.
David leaving for our team's cleaning at the House of Prayer. Oh, and the not very normal contractions. Not enough of them to make a call to the midwife, yet, but enough for us to know something was happening and today just might be the day!
So David again leaves, cell phone close to him, just in case. He is going to have the title on the new-to-us van transferred and make it really ours. He wonders if he should wait on the van, but I assure him to go. We had been praying for this van and God's provision as a family daily for over a month. We were all rejoicing that God again proved faithful and now we have another everyday reminder of His goodness, His listening ear, His meeting of our practical needs. David returns.

The kids are enjoying the fall day, jumping on the trampoline, playing in the golden leaves that fell from the maple in the front yard. I'm taking pictures and enjoying the relaxing day.

A neighbor asks David to help with some yard work, and I tell him go ahead and do it cause this might be the day and we don't know if he'll be able to help later. More questioning glances after the work is done. Still the same. Should I cook dinner? Contractions don't stop hunger, so I pray through dinner preparations that His timing is perfect and I wait for Him. More questions, what about Kids worship? I'm supposed to teach. Maybe that wouldn't be such a good idea. Don't know when contractions will speed up and baby will likely come quickly when they do.
David takes the kids to worship to give us some quiet. We take a walk to see what will happen, Silas, David and I. Oh, now they start coming more quickly and we head home. David goes to retrieve the kids, hoping to get the boys in bed before the house becomes a bustle of activity. I call the mid-wife and she starts her drive to our house. Seems strange to just hang around the house and not pack a bag for an overnight stay. Comforting to be at home.

Abby sighs that this baby may not come quickly enough for her to still keep her birthday just to herself. A good friend arrives to keep the girls company while they wait in the new place of mom birthing at home.
Contractions get closer and harder and I know it will not be long now. Wow, how did it happen so quickly? I call the midwife again, just to put some urgency in her blood. Lying in my bed, awfully uncomfortable, but thankful. David encouraging and staying near-by. Birthing pool filling, but is it filling fast enough? Midwife arrives and I am glad because it is almost time. Warm water, husband supporting the throbbing back, a very present Life-giver giving new strength, and a tiny new life arrives in my own bedroom. Girls rush in, wondering if its a girl or boy. My answer, "I don't know!" I am praising God that it is over, and that baby is safe and this miracle has happened for the sixth time in my life! Tears flow as I hold this precious one in my arms for the first time.

Then I lift the new one up and discover he is a boy. "God, help us!" I exclaim. How can we possibly raise another boy? But God knows, and God will provide, just as surely as he provided the van that very morning. We are on a journey and trusting in His strength and His wisdom and walking in His joy and peace are essential. We have walked so far that there is no other way. We trust Him in a real, daily, heart-leaning way or we fail. There is no middle ground. It's overwhelming and joyous all at once! It's a huge responsibility and a tremendous privilege ! And it's all in a day's work!

Do you have a clue about Rachel's birthday party?

2010-11-10T17:38:00.000-05:00

For Rachel's birthday, she chose a mystery theme. We decorated with question marks and footprints and black a white. We played a mystery treasure game called "Jewels in the Attic" and then we had several mysteries that the girls had solve along the way. One of the most fun was having them guess what candies and other goodies I mixed into the vanilla ice cream.

Double Digits!

2010-11-01T16:53:00.000-04:00

October is a very busy month for us. One of the highlights of the month is both Rachel and Abby celebrate their birthdays. This year however, we had a baby due right between their birthdays so we decided to celebrate early. Abby got to have her party first. We decided on a growing theme, like plants and flowers etc... We had fun decorating with flowers, leaves, pumpkins, tomatoes and other types of growing things. She invited a few friends to come for a sleepover. We ate pizza, played a growing things scavenger hunt, painted flower pots and planted flowers. We also had a Scripture Treasure Hunt to find out what God's word has to say about growing, and watched The Secret Garden. For her "cake" she asked a neighbor to make dirt pudding. It was in a flower pot with silk flowers and looked like a real plant. What a fun time they had!

beautiful birthday girl

birthday "cake"

decorating the sidewalk

Painting flower pots

playing trampoline games in the cold morning air

All but one of her friends who came to the party with their flowers

A Little Taste of Japan

2010-11-01T16:44:00.000-04:00

Last month we studied 16th and 17th century Japan, particularly the Samaurai. As a conclusion to our unit, we had a Japanese Tea Ceremony. We also set up a sumo wrestling arena and did some wrestling. We learned that after one powerful leader took over in Japan, he didn't want the Samaurai to fight each other any longer. He instituted the idea of sumo wrestling instead. We had a great night. Rachel and Abby were the hosts of the Tea Ceremony, so David and I and the boys sat and enjoyed good service through all 6 or 7 courses. Here are some pictures from our evening.

Keenan and Abby wrestling, notice the "stands" for viewing

David and Rachel doing the initial stare off

Rachel squatting before the match begins (this is required, right after drinking the purifying water)

Micah and Keenan

TEA!! the perfect conclusion to our ceremonial dinner. Don't forget to slurp to show you are thankful.

waiting for the first course

Salad and rice course

our hosts, who served us well.

soup

boy fun!

2010-09-23T16:00:00.000-04:00

Oh What fun these boys of mine can cook up! Here are some pictures from the previous few weeks of some of their adventures. They have built backyard forts with various things from around the yard, pirate boats, animal traps (not pictured), done a scooter show- with stunts and clown antics- and more. I love their creativity and the way the work together. Of course it is not always rosy and we have to talk about being a team and working together almost daily, but they do love to be together and they do know how to use their imaginations! I've also included some pics of one of Silas's new things... he likes to put things in lines. Always similar things, like books, balls, swords, etc... It makes quite a mess, but this sometimes keeps him occupied while I am schooling the older ones.

believing prayer

2010-09-04T10:27:00.003-04:00

We have been reading about George Mueller as a family this summer. He was a man who started out life as a thief and liar, but he met God in a powerful way and became a preacher and eventually an orphanage manager in England. The biggest quality of this man and his wife that has been such a challenge to us is his faith that God will supply ALL our needs if we will ask. From early in his walk with the Lord, beginning when his wealthy father refused to pay for his schooling because he wanted to be a missionary, Mueller began simply bringing his needs to his heavenly Father. And over and over, God answered and provided all that was needed. This continued all through his life as he intentionally sought God for all the necessary things he needed for life. George Mueller was a big dreamer, and through his prayers and trust in God He created positive changes in the church and for the thousands of orphans he came to care for through the years in Bristol, England.
I am writing all of this to give you a context for our family's prayer challenge and experiment. We decided that if God would answer George Mueller in such a tangible and specific way, that he would answer us, too. All it takes is a heart that wants to know God and live for His purposes in this brief time on the earth. So we decided to pray for two things in particular. The first was more urgent in nature. We needed to pay our rent for the month and funds were low for us. So we prayed for the remaining $300 that we needed to pay our rent. We started praying specifically on Tuesday for the money to come by Friday. On Friday, David called the bank to check our account and found that $322 had been deposited that we were not expecting! Is not our God so good! He heard our simple requests and answered in the perfect timing with just what was needed! Our faith and our children's confidence in our faithful God has been strengthened in a neat way!
Our second need we are praying about is a new van. With the baby coming in October, we will outgrow our current van. David has been diligently looking for a bigger vehicle but as this point we are not even sure what would be best. So we started praying specifically as a family each night that God would lead us to the right vehicle and provide the money needed to buy it. We are excited to see how God answers this prayer! What a great God we serve! We are so thrilled to be called to this journey of faith! Won't you join us?

p.s.We will keep you informed of God's answer about the vehicle so you can rejoice with us in His care!

Joy in the Unseen

2010-08-22T07:39:00.003-04:00

Top 10 blessings from this week (in no particular order):
10. All 5 kids sitting around the table at snack time, their snack mix poured out in a heap, talking and laughing together.
9. Hearing the 2 year old learning to say new words.
8. Praying with friends from out of town about a big decision in their lives.
7. The oldest daughter's thankfulness at being set free to go with a friend to a much desired destination.
6. Snuggling with the cutest 4 year old ever!
5. Quiet moments with Jesus in the morning before anyone wakes, where Jesus in his gentle way draws me back to what is really important in life!
4. Hugs and the familiar scent of my man.
3. Dinners with friends
2. Laughter with the kids, which happens all too infrequently.
1. The teasings of cool, refreshing fall weather and the excitement this brings to my soul.

As God draws me to the unseen, to communion with him and the enjoyment of the life he has blessed me with, I wanted to record these memories that echo in my mind this morning.

"They shall utter (literally translated 'bubble forth') the memory of your great goodness, and shall sing of your righteousness" Psalm 145:7

EDIT: one more... watching my nine year old worship the Lord! Wow, does she bless me and I know Jesus too.

Swim, bike, run

2010-08-09T21:33:00.012-04:00

August 1st as a big day for Rachel. She participated in her first triathlon. It was post-poned a couple of times and then finally moved to a different facility, but the day did come! We were very proud of her effort and commit- ment to prepare for the race. And she did great! Here are some pictures to tell the story.

Happy Birthday, Silas??!!

2010-08-09T21:06:00.006-04:00

In late July we celebrated Silas' birthday. He is such a fun, good tempered boy! We are so glad to have him in our family. All of his siblings love him so much. We had a low key celebration with another family. I decorated the dining room with balloons and streamers and Silas really liked them. We (mostly the other kids) thought it would be fun to fill and use the pinata that someone had given us. So we filled it and hung it up. Silas thought it was great fun to swing at it with a stick. But when it started bursting open and candy flying out, he did NOT think that was fun. He cried and cried! I think he was scared by the flying pieces and violence of it. Anyway, we quickly came in to find something more fun for the traumatized birthday boy. We opened presents and he enjoyed that. Next we got out the cake and lit the candle. He likes to sing so he liked the birthday song. But when I told him to blow out the candle, he just wrinkled up his nose and looked at me and the cake like he was not so sure he liked this idea. Why was I putting fire on his cake and then telling him to blow? Finally, I blew out the candle for him and he happily dug in to his treat! After all of that I am not sure what impression he has of birthday parties. He may just prefer a regular day with a little extras, like friends and dessert. We'll try again next year!

Beach Bums

2010-08-02T16:33:00.005-04:00

After the Summit, we headed south to the beach! I have such fond memories of the little camper in the campground by the ocean. It is always such a treat to take my family down to that same little place for a few days of beach fun! My grandparents own this little place and supply almost of all our necessities, so we are so thankful for their generosity. One of the best parts of this year's vacation was watching each of the kids enjoy the beach in their own way. Rachel liked riding the wave boards or swimming. Abby swam some, but preferred to look for pretty shells. Keenan was really getting more comfortable in the water and played with daddy or jumped waves closer to the shore. Micah liked to look for shells and play in the waves as they hit the beach. Silas didn't want anything to do with the water and so spent most of his time playing in the sand or throwing a ball or frisbee. We also enjoyed the pool. Silas didn't like the ocean, but he really liked the pool! He thought he could swim on his own and fearlessly jumped time and time again from the side of the pool. He would have preferred to jump without David and I and often tried to wiggle out of our arms. Fun times. Here are a few pictures from our fun time.

The Summit 2010

2010-08-02T16:22:00.004-04:00

In July, the mission agency that we are a part of, had all of their missionaries come to Wilmore for several days of worship, prayer, teaching, training, and fellowship. As Intercessory Missionaries at the House of Prayer, we spend several hours each week praying for these missionaries. Some we had met before the Summit and some we were just getting to know, but we felt instantly connected to them because of our participation in their ministries through prayer. As home staff, we helped with the planning, set-up, food coordination, welcoming, etc... It was a fruitful time for all of us. I enjoyed getting to know some of the missionaries better and hearing what God is doing in their part of the world. I enjoyed praying with the missionaries and not just for them. I enjoyed the evenings of worship and teaching. I am so thankful to be part of this great organization whose mission statement includes this: "a missions organization fueled by prayer and worship, mobilizing people to evangelize the world, loving and serving Jesus Christ."

Over the River and Through the Woods, Part 1

2010-07-24T16:23:00.003-04:00

In June, Grandma and Papa came over the Rivers and over the mountains and across the country to visit us from Oregon. We really enjoyed the time we had with them! Mostly we just enjoyed being together. I think the kids would say the best thing they did while Grandma and Papa were here was to go out on special outings with them. First they took the boys to the park, to DQ for ice cream, to the library and then out for lunch! Wow, what an afternoon! A day or so later, they took the girls near Cincinnati to the Creation Museum. They were tired after being away early morning til late at night, but were very talkative about all the exhibits the next day! Thanks, Grandma and Papa for making special memories with the kids!

Camping in the Red River Gorge

2010-06-19T10:58:00.006-04:00

We had so much fun on our camping trip last week! We were soooo busy during the month of May with school and work, that we decided to take some time during the first week off and spend some quality time together. We spent a few days at "the Gorge" as it is known around here. After setting up camp, we cooked our special dinner (steak, potatoes and salad, mmmm......), then went for a hike. On our hike the kids discovered some wild blueberries, so we picked berries to add to our pancakes the next morning! What a treat!! Then we enjoyed s'mores around the campfire. The next day after breakfast, we headed out of the campground to explore. We saw some beautiful scenery, including the one lane rock tunnel that was blasted through with dynamite during the early 1900s. Our destination that morning was Rock Bridge Trail, where we were told there was a waterfall and a creek where we could play. It was a beautiful hike and the creek and waterfall were all that we expected! We had a great time playing in the creek. The hike back up the mountain was HOT but worth it, especially with the m&m trail mix! After returning to the camp, some of us rested, some of us explored the woods around our site, and some of us had a water fight. you'll have to guess which one did what activity! We had dinner, played cards, and roasted marshmellows (again!!). The next morning it was raining so we made breakfast in the drizzle over the fire and then packed up. It poured as we were leaving so we just headed back toward home. We stopped at a park for lunch, playing and feeding the ducks! What great memories we made!

Distraction

2010-06-08T21:46:00.004-04:00

Recently I was reading the account of Jesus' visit to Martha and Mary's home in Luke 10. Some of the words used to describe Martha really stood out to me: Distracted, Worried, Troubled. And as I meditated on this passage, it occurred to me how fittingly they describe most people in our culture today, even people in the Church. Distraction comes in so many forms. We are distracted by entertainment, such as movies, television, social activities, etc... We can be distracted by daily chores, work, money, other people, religious activity, and many more. How much diligence it takes to fight these to go after the One Thing that is essential!
Likewise, how many are "worried and troubled about many things"? We mostly worry about things we are not sure will happen or things out of our control. Jesus said we should not worry about anything, but seek Him and His kingdom and He will provide for us, He will protect us or give us strength to endure what ever may come. He has a perfect plan that we can trust! However it is not guaranteed to be pain free. In fact, we are told to be ready for trials and suffering, and to face them with joy.
So if we are so like Martha, how do we become like Mary? Jesus is gentle in his correction with Martha, just as He is with us, pointing her to what is best. Jesus told Martha that one thing is needed and Mary had chosen that good thing. And what is that one thing that is needed? Sitting with Jesus, hearing His word, obeying His commands. We must learn to put aside distraction, worry and things that trouble us just to be with Jesus and soak in His truth and love, to align ourselves with God's purposes. That is what I think Mary was doing that day, and I am committed to going after that myself! Come along with me. It's not easy, but it's worth it. It's the one thing that is essential!

Awana Awards Night

2010-06-05T16:44:00.004-04:00

Our kids participate in Awana during the school year. For those of you who do not know what that is, it is a Bible club where the kids do Bible lessons each week and memorize Bible verses, play games and hopefully grow in their love for God and His Word. They all worked very hard this year and each one completed their book plus a little extra work. Here are the pictures from the Awards night where they received recognition for their work and an award. Rachel and Abby have been in Awana for many years. They both won special awards this year. Rachel in particular won the Timothy Award, for completing all 4 books in her class. She is now finished with this level and is ready to move onto the next level. She is really growing up fast!

Take Me Out to the Ballgame...

2010-06-05T16:21:00.005-04:00

We had so much fun this Spring with the local T-ball league. David coached Keenan's team, which was really an intro to coach pitch. During the games, David pitched up to 5 balls to each player on his team. If the batter missed all 5, then they could hit off of the Tee. Micah was on a team of kids his age and he had great coaches. His favorite thing about T-ball was not batting or throwing, but having snack after the game! This league is very laid back and lots of fun. We kind of miss it, but we have some great memories and we're looking forward to next year.

The Parable of the Sower

2010-06-05T16:08:00.003-04:00

My girls have been taking ballet classes this winter and Spring here in Wilmore. It was a great experience for them both: good exercise, meeting new friends, dancing with a focus on Jesus, and a good teacher who is committed both to the students and to Jesus! At the beginning of May, the ballet school did a performance and worship dancing for the parents and friends. Ms. Hannah, the director and main teacher, wrote the dances herself. Rachel and Abby were part of Act 1, which was based on the Parable of the Sower that Jesus tells. How cute each little seed, sunshine, maiden planter, weed, etc... was on stage reminding us to have good soil in our hearts and to sow God's Word into our own hearts and into those around us. I couldn't get any good pictures during the show due to technical difficulties, but here are the girls afterwards in their costumes. Abby was a sun and Rachel was one of the maiden planters. And the middle pictures is of Rachel with one of her friends who also dances.

to fight or not to fight

2010-05-31T21:40:00.004-04:00

This is a conversation I heard between Keenan and Micah a couple of days ago. I wrote it down because it was so funny. I was hanging up laundry, Keenan was sitting outside whittling a stick, and Micah just walked up and sat down by Keenan. Then the serious ponderings of a 4 year old become known.

M: Keenan, you know what?

K:What?

M:When we grow up we’re gonna be in the army.

K:Not me.

M:Why not?

K:Cause people die in the Army.

M:Not when I grow up.

K:Yeah, lots of people still die in the Army.

M:Well, Daddy’s in the Army.

K:Nuh uh. Not anymore.

M:Well, he was. He didn’t die.

K:Yeah, but he didn’t fight.

M:He didn’t?

K:No.

M:What did he do?

K:He helped do papers and stuff.

M:Well, that’s what I’ll do in the army.

K:Well, you could still die.

M:Really? How?

K:Well, you probably won’t die, you’ll just bleed.

I didn't catch Micah's last comment but that was enough soldier talk for the two of them for that day.

Hope you had a good laugh. God sure keeps us laughing with these boys around.

boys, they stick together

2010-04-26T19:39:00.002-04:00

Just wanted you to see these cute boys! I am so thankful that they love each other so much. They have so much fun together. Sometimes they are wrestling, sometimes digging in the yard or building something. Other times they are reading books or jumping on the trampoline. But they are usually together and usually having fun! What a blessing!

Easter

2010-04-07T16:20:00.005-04:00

He is Risen!! What a great time of year! Warm weather, flowers just starting to show their beautiful colors, and best of all a time to remember and celebrate the great love of our God! Thanks be to God that he loved us when we were his enemies, and took the punishment for our sins that we could have peace with God and a place in His holy family! He is alive and we look forward with growing anticipation to the time Jesus returns to rule with justice and righteousness!
We had planned an Easter passover Seder with our worshiping community but because of some flooring problems it had to be rescheduled. So we went to a different local fellowship and gathered with them to celebrate Jesus. Then we went to CiCi's Pizza, a treat for us all. After rest time, we had a plastic Easter egg hunt, then dyed real eggs and hunted them too. It was a great day and a great ending to the Spring Break week!

The middle pictures are of the boys searching for eggs. Keenan climbed the fence to retrieve one and I had just given Micah a hint about one and that was his reaction! Finally is a picture of us dyeing eggs.

Keenan's green thumb

2010-04-07T16:17:00.003-04:00

Keenan and Micah picked a weedy spot in the corner of our backyard, cleared it for a garden, then asked for seed to plant on their hill. It was still chilly so I gave them some lettuce seeds. They have been watering it and watching it grow for a few weeks, so I took a picture of it to share with you all. Look closely and see the little green sprouts. Hopefully in another 3 or 4 weeks, I'll have some real lettuce to show.

Spring Break

2010-04-07T15:33:00.007-04:00

We had so much fun over Spring Break. We made family time a priority and made some fun memories. First, the girls had their last day of Classical Conversations (a homeschool group), which ended with a fun pizza party. The following day we lounged around and played outside in the sunshine. David took Micah on an "adventure", the boy word for date. He had taken Keenan and Rachel in previous weeks , and Micah was counting down days til it was his turn with Daddy. Wednesday, we drove to the Cincinnati Art Museum for a "field trip" and enjoyed the man-made art and God's art in the grounds of the museum. Thursday, we went with a friend to an Amish area in Southern Kentucky to buy grain and other goodies in bulk! On the way home, we stopped at a creek and skipped rocks and explored. Friday, I drove with a friend and ministry partner to Louisville to visit a inmate in prison, whom we had the great honor to lead to the Lord and watch her relationship with Jesus grow in the local detention center. We were very encouraged to hear how well she is doing in this hard place, struggling to learn new patterns of thinking so that when she is released she can continue her walk with the Lord in a healthy new life! Saturday finally arrived for Rachel because she and David had been planning a biking trip on some local trails. Rachel packed them lunches, and they took the bikes to the the trail beginnings, only to be greeted with rain. Not to be denied her fun, they started out anyway and after a little while the rain stopped and held off for the rest of their time. The other kids and I painted and planted seeds for the upcoming garden, played outside and worked on Easter decorations. We also took a walk down and bought ourselves some ice cream pops! After dinner some friends came over to do our Easter resurrection rolls with us. We make these rolls with the kids as a hands-on symbolic way to remember that Jesus is no longer dead... He's alive!! So now just a few pictures from our week. Mostly I forgot to take pictures, but a few times I remembered. Hope you enjoyed a view into our week!

Enjoying a Spring Day

2010-03-14T12:00:00.004-04:00

We were outside enjoying a spring day and I thought about grandparents who might like to see how the kids are growing. I know some others of you may like to keep up with us, too. I got frustrated with the blog site while trying to upload videos a few months back and just let the blog go. Maybe I'll get back to posting pictures every now and then. Enjoy these pictures from a lovely spring day in Kentucky.
Rachel is riding her bike, which is her favorite outside activity. Silas is greeting our neighbor's dog. Abby was gathering her drawing stuff to draw outside. Keenan is chopping a piece of wood. Micah is on his way outside with his new sword!

Micah's birthday

2010-03-14T11:57:00.003-04:00

Well, I am back to the blog with a few pictures. These are a few from Micah's pirate birthday party in February.

Home sweet home

2009-11-24T21:37:00.004-05:00

Ahhhhh... hard wood floors, large kitchen, nice neighbors, play room for the boys, boxes, boxes, dust, cleaning, 'where should I put that?'. We are experiencing both the joys and difficulties of moving. We all really like the new home, and are looking forward to all of the boxes put away and there being some sort of order and cleanliness to this cute blue house! We have also been sick and incredibly busy with David's work and the kids school work. I am so excited that we are officially beginning the Thanksgiving break tomorrow! I am looking forward to unpacking, reading books to the kids, going on walks, and just relaxing! The following are some pictures from our moving day.

Baby Picasso

2009-11-03T22:07:00.004-05:00

Well, I am on a roll... This is my 4th blog post tonight. David was supposed to get home from Haiti tonight, but he and his buddy missed the last plane and will not arrive until tomorrow morning. We were a little sad, but happy that they are safely back in the US and we will retrieve them at a much better time of day tomorrow morning. So instead of hearing all about David's trip, I am catching up on my blog. :)
So, what does that have to do with Picasso? Nothing! The real reason for this post is to show these pictures of Silas. Keenan was trying out Abby's new easel she received as a gift from grandparents, when Silas spied him. He is in the stage where he wants whatever anyone else has so of course he had to have a try. He sat right down, picked up the crayons, and made his first work of art. Maybe I should have kept it, but in light of our up-coming move (this week!!!), I trashed it. Hope you don't think I'm a terrible mom. At least I took a picture of it first!

My little ballerina and her party

2009-11-03T21:54:00.003-05:00

Abby is now 9! She had a "Let's be creative" party on the 23rd, the day before her birthday. She invited several friends. She helped "designed" the party and the activities, which included Making pizza pockets for dinner, making chocolate lolipops, making stationary kits, and playing a homemade lifesize game. Unfortunately, the photographer was not very attentive to picture taking. It was a little crazy with all that making stuff!
I've also included a couple of pictures of Abby at ballet class this week. She posed (eyes close!!) for me and then I got her as she was trying on her costume for the Christmas dance. More about that later. Happy birthday to my sweet girl! I am so glad she is a part of our family and pray she continues to stay close the the Good Shepherd as she grows up!

Pumpkin Carving

2009-11-03T21:18:00.004-05:00

I need to be a little more creative with my titles, don't you think? Crystal King, send me some of your pizazz! :) Here are some pictures of our family carving a pumpkin. David went with Keenan's kindergarten class to a pumpkin farm and they picked out this big guy. We gave him the happiest pumpkin face there ever was! The boys were really into the scooping of the goop. The girls were not into this part, but liked the design and cut part. Rachel spent most her time reading until she got the idea that we should roast the seeds. She pulled them out of the goop with some help from her siblings and we roasted them. "They taste like chips" was her reply after sampling the salted ones.

Not a baby anymore!

2009-11-03T16:12:00.009-05:00

Well, as I looked through my latest pictures, I realized Silas is so BIG! He's a toddler now. Goodbye, baby. His personality is blossoming. He is determined but I still think he will be a little more mellow than the other two boys. Maybe its just wishful thinking. ;) Anyway, enjoy the pictures of our cutie!

Birthday Morning

2009-10-18T10:48:00.004-04:00

We have a tradition at our house. Birthday boy or girl gets to choose his homemade breakfast... anything they want. In past years we have had chocolate waffles, oatmeal, cereal, pumpkin doughnuts, shaped pancakes, etc... This year Rachel wanted Daddy to make waffles. He was flattered and even put off his planned morning run to make birthday breakfast for his oldest little girl. We served the waffles with homemade berry topping, apples and cinnamon, yogurt, maple syrup and even chocolate syrup. Better than Denny's! What a great way to start the celebration! After breakfast the birthday girl got to open her gifts from mom and dad and from her grandparents. She was pleased with all of her gifts. The following video is of Rachel opening her gift from Melissa's parents. Since you guys couldn't be here, I thought you would enjoy seeing it on video.

My oldest girl turns 11!

2009-10-18T10:02:00.005-04:00

Happy birthday to you...
Today is actually Rachel's birthday, but she had her campout slumber party last weekend so her closest friend could come. We had planned to campout near the woods at the Cornerstone mission base. However, rain forced us to improvise. We set up the tent in the newly built sunroom. We decorated the table and built a rock "fire ring" for our electric grill to be our camp fire. After the guests arrived, we sang happy birthday and ate the camping themed birthday cake. As a side note, the cake was a lot of fun to make. Other birthday events included gifts, roasting marshmallows over the "fire," watching a movie and playing wild horse. In the morning the girls made pancakes together, then went out in the chilly air to play. Rachel really enjoyed her party! Thanks to all who had a part in it!

Our newest pet

2009-10-01T20:03:00.004-04:00

Meet the newest pet in the Trimble home: a praying mantis. We are enjoying this unique creature that God made. We caught it at Cornerstone after prayer one day. The girls have fittingly named it "warrior." A week before catching it, another prayer missionary found a mantis eating a baby snake. We thought it was a good prophetic picture of the "pray-er" or one who prays having victory over our enemy, Satan, symbolized by the snake. We don't know if we caught that same mantis or a different one. Anyway, we brought the mantis home and have been taking care of it for a week or so. We catch flies and put them into the cage live. Then the mantis hunts it, catches it and eats it. It is gross but fascinating. The following videos are rare footage of the actual hunt and eating of the prey. The first video is of the mantis hunting. He misses in this video but you can get the idea. I wasn't quite quick enough to film him actually catching the fly. The second one is him eating that same fly. The videos are not National Geographic quality cause I am still learning to use this crazy camera, but I know someone who reads our blog will like them.

video...finally

2009-10-01T18:55:00.002-04:00

This video is of Silas playing chase with Keenan. The boys love to play together. Silas is already learning "boy stuff" from his brothers. As I was starting this blog, Silas was grunting (his way of asking for something) for a sword. He goes to the fridge where we keep them and points to the top and grunts persistently :) He also likes to wrestle. Beware lying on the floor. He will run (as best he can, which is cute in itself), smile a big smile and jump right on you!

A little glance at life

2009-09-23T21:24:00.006-04:00

Life has gotten so busy with the start of school. My days are so full with planning, teaching, taking to and from school and extra activities, cooking, cleaning, praying, teaching some more... I am so thankful for this life God has given me! But it is busy. So I have not had time to sit down and blog. I really haven't been taking photos or videos much. But for those of you who do want to see our children... Here are some pictures. Most of them are of the boys. The girls are usually reading or doing school work or riding their bikes. I just don't think to take pictures unless someone is doing something cute! Here you will see sidewalk art, a birthday cake for mama made in the Trimble boy bakery, morning cuddle time, and some wrestling. Silas wanted to get in on it, too!

Silent Movies

2009-09-07T10:55:00.002-04:00

My dad is letting me use another of his cameras. So I am experimenting. Why are these electronic gadgets so difficult to work properly? First I have to learn how to use the camera to take a picture. Then, I have to learn how to make a video with the camera. Next, I have to download the pictures and videos onto my computer. Then I have figure out why my videos are not showing up on the computer when they are there on the playback of the camera. After some time, I determine that the formatting of the videos from the camera is not compatible with the programs already on my computer so then I have to download "Quicktime." And when I finally get the video to play on the computer, I learn that it has no sound! So now I guess I have to learn how to turn the sound on the camera, too! Oh well! Here is a video of Silas, without the clicking, but with no sound at all! It would be much better with sound, 'cause then you could hear all his babbling and laughing! I guess that's why they added sound to movies all those years ago.
On the brighter side... I figured out how to solve my problem all by myself! God has given me a good brain!

Hahahahaha! After all that, I guess there is still more I have to learn. After 3 tries and several hours, I could not get the video to upload. It is not the first time I have had this problem, but there seems to be others in the blogging community that have struggled with this too. Anyway, hope you enjoyed a laugh today. And I will try to get a video up soon! I will not let the electronic monsters win!

Kentucky State Fair

2009-09-07T09:31:00.012-04:00

We have a tradition in our family. A state fair tradition. Almost every year since I was a small child, my parents have taken me to the state fair. When our children came along, they wanted to continue that tradition, even though at the time we were living in Kentucky and they were in SC. So they drove up to our house, we loaded our van and drove to Louisville for the annual state fair. We are now back in Kentucky, but that did not stop the tradition. Once again, they made the long trip from SC to Kentucky so that we could pile into two cars (our family has grown!) and make our way to the Grand Event. So what draws us back there year after year, spending loads of money and time in the car? David asks that question too! Maybe its the fun of watching the children laugh as they are are tossed around on the dragon mini-roller coaster or fly through the air on the swings. Maybe its riding the tilt-a-whirl (with my mom!) to see how fast we can get our car to spin! Maybe its the funnel cakes. Maybe its the excitement of my dad playing a game to win a prize for his girls. He almost always wins, too. Its probably a little bit of all of that plus the memories of all the previous years at the fair that draws us back each year. Fun, excitement, rides, and sweet treats + nostalgia = the state fair for the Cockrell family. Thanks mom and dad for a fun night!
Here are some pictures of our adventures. The boys had so much fun on the rides, squealing with delight. Their favorite was the swing ride. The girls are getting older and wanted to try out some of the bigger rides, which made their mother a little nervous :) Their favorite was the pirate ship that swings way up!

school!

2009-08-21T20:48:00.003-04:00

Well, the Trimble crew has a boy in public school! We have a great kindergarten program in this county and we have a very energetic little boy, who when coupled with his little brother gets into too much mischief or too much wrestling when I am doing school work with the girls. So we decided after much thought and prayer to put Keenan in Kindergarten! He started last Thursday and really enjoys it! He is so cute! I enjoy having a few quiet minutes in the mornings with just him (and sometimes Silas). He even likes riding the bus... to school, not home from school :) He says its too hot on the bus in the afternoons. We like that he is only at school for 3 hours. Adjusting to the schedule so strictly is a little bit of a stretch for me. I am used to being able to roll with whatever may be happening that day. Our homeschool schedule is somewhat flexible. But public school doesn't care that the baby was up all night, or that church went really late the night before, or that friends are coming from out of town for just one day. The bus still comes at 7 am sharp, Monday through Friday. I know that many, many others have surrendered themselves to the public school schedule for years of their lives. I just don't like someone else telling me exactly when and where I have to be so often. Anyway, we are doing well with it and looking forward to a fun year, both at kindergarten and with the girls at home!

Camp and Camping

2009-08-14T16:56:00.010-04:00

Last week we took the girls to a camp in Ohio. Some good friends of ours were helping to lead it and we wanted the girls to experience summer camp, with an eternal purpose! So they spent three days worshiping God, praying, learning to use dance and other forms of art for God's glory, playing games, staying up late, etc... They had so much fun! Both said they came home knowing that they had really, wholeheartedly worshiped God! That was worth every penny we paid for it! I cannot post their pictures because they had a disposable camera. Sorry.
While the girls were at camp, David and I took the boys camping nearby. We also had a great time. The boys loved playing in the dirt, hammering sticks with a rubber mallet, hiking in the woods, exploring, roasting marshmallows and other outside activities. Silas was so filthy by the last day, but he loves to be outside so he didn't mind! I bathed him a tiny sink before we left :) Enjoy the pictures of the boys roasting marshmallows, Silas with a whole marshmallow in his mouth, and the boys at the lake near our campsite.

comments

2009-08-14T16:55:00.002-04:00

For those of you who care to comment, I think I figured out how to make it easier to do so. Grandma T., try it and let me know if it really is easier.

Hard Pressed by not Crushed!

2009-08-10T22:24:00.003-04:00

Well, for those of you who read the Aug 1 blog "Overwhelmed" here is the update. God was so good to me as I cried out to Him for his eyes and his heart for my kids. As usually happens when I take my eyes off of me and my circumstances and fix them on Jesus, my perspective is corrected and put into clearer focus. I had a fabulous day following that blog and though the days that have followed have not all been easy, my outlook and attitude (perspective!!! I love that word) is better. I keep seeking the Lord and his joy and grace for each day. I was very encouraged as I reread Scriptures like " We are had pressed on every side but not crushed, perplexed but not in despair... Therefore we do not lose heart..." 2 Corinthians 4:7-18 Paul knew how I was feeling! He had experienced it. Not with his kids, but his other daily circumstances. And my life is no less important to God than his, though it is less "famous." One of our favorite singers at IHOP (International House of Prayer) in Kansas City sings this line, "If I don't give up, I win!" Endurance and staying faithful to the end is a theme all through Scripture. So even when I am struggling and God seems so far away, I'm not going to give up. I will keep seeking the Awesome God who made me and loves me! I will keep singing to Him and waiting on him, putting my hope in God alone. See Psalm 33!! It's one of my favs!
Melissa

He's Walking!!

2009-08-02T13:49:00.000-04:00

Today, Silas just started walking. It seemed sudden to us because he didn't really do just one or two steps first. Rachel was holding his hand leading in down the hall, she let go, but he kept walking. He took at least 5 steps before plopping down. Just to make sure it wasn't a fluke, we tried it again, this time with the camera. And sure enough he did it again for us and then again for Daddy. So here you go... footage of baby Silas, who is quickly growing out of "babyhood," walking!

boys just gotta run and jump

2009-08-02T10:42:00.000-04:00

Here is some video footage of the boys having fun a few days ago. Just a reminder that the videos I post are not really great quality, but for grandparents, they will do. One day I will have a better camera, but for now I am thankful for the one I have! Thanks mom and dad!
p.s. there were two videos but I could only get one to download. I need to learn a new format or something for my videos. If you are computer savvy and have suggestions, please let me know.

OVERWHELMED!!

2009-08-01T00:35:00.000-04:00

WARNING: THIS IS RAW, PERSONAL INFORMATION. PROCEED WITH CAUTION.
David is not here to talk to so I am using this blog to process some of my thoughts. The last few weeks have been difficult days for me, especially at home. Jesus, please meet with me as I type and help me to work out some of these issues. Honestly, I am having a hard time enjoying my children. What are the difficulties? Bickering, a baby who has turned so whiny all of a sudden, boys who want to beat up each other all day long, not listening to instructions, self-centeredness and the inability or unwillingness to consider others... I could go on, but really I think I just feel two things: one is a sense of being overwhelmed by day to day struggles and the second is a genuine burden for the spiritual and emotional maturation of my children. Now my problem is what do I do now? What do I do with these feelings? How do I handle them correctly so that I grow to know God in a deeper way and that my children do, too. How do I teach my children things like overlooking a (minor) offense, patience with a grumpy baby (even when I am tiring of it too), thinking of someone else's feelings or desires, being calm when necessary, self control when they are angry, etc...? Not to mention picking up after oneself, not picking one's nose, closing the door when going outside, following directions as soon as they are given, etc... I am getting bogged down in the muck of parenthood. I am not laughing and enjoying being a mommy. Tonight I played a card game with the girls after I finally got all the boys in bed. It was so good to laugh with them. I told them that our laughter was good medicine for me. But the majority of my day is so different. How do I enjoy them when one minute my three year old is calling someone "poopy bottom," my five year old gets angry and hits him, the 10 year old gets mad at the 5 year old and starts saying all manner of ugly things. Then a few minutes later, the baby is whining at my feet or pulling the CDs off the shelf he knows he isn't supposed to touch and "accidently" the 8 year old pushes the 5 year old off the bed and now he's screaming in his anger at his mistreatment. And on it goes all day! It hasn't always been like this I don't think. What has changed or why do I feel the weight of parenting so heavily now?
Is is a discipline problem? Is it some sort of spiritual attack? Is it deep heart issues with me or with my children? Probably it is some of all of it.
Last night after a hard day, I just put some worship music on and prayed and worshiped God. And it was wonderful! Today, I am writing this blog. I feel like crying and screaming all at the same time. I do feel like God gives me strength enough for each day, but I don't like always feeling like I am running on fumes. fumes of joy, fumes of patience, fumes of energy and strength... I want to be victorious. I want Jesus to be king in my home. I want my children to love God and his ways. I want to abide in Christ. I want to live in freedom and joy and the power of the Holy Spirit. I want more than I am experiencing right now!
One thing I know. God had put me in this place at this time and it is He who is my help! I call on Him and wait for his hand of mercy and deliverance. I am not giving up the fight. If I don't give up, I win!
Here's my plan. Worship and pray now! Communion with God is my strength, my joy, my fuel! Tomorrow, I think I'll turn off my computer, use paper plates, sing lots of fun kids songs, get outside and enjoy my kids. And I'll start our day with worship and prayer and God's Living Word! I'll "trust in the Lord with all my heart and lean not on my own understanding!"
It was nice to write openly. I feel a little lighter after expressing my frustrations. I hope none of you are offended or have the wrong idea about me or my family! I love what I do and my kids are great. We are all just a work in progress and that gets messy sometimes. God is faithful! I'll write again soon so I don't leave you hanging.
Just thought of this verse, God speaking: "when you pass through the waters, I will be with you and the waves will not overwhelm you." From Isaiah 43. Thank you Lord for your promises.

Happy Birthday

2009-07-30T16:22:00.000-04:00

Yesterday we gathered at a park with another family to celebrate Silas's birthday. As we drove to the park it started raining a little and we were wondering if we would have to change our location. But by the time we got there, the rain had stopped and we were greeted by this beautiful rainbow.
Silas brings so much joy to all of us. We are thankful that God gave him to us. Here are some pictures from the party. There are a few more on in my Facebook album.

quick peek at the family

2009-07-30T11:11:00.000-04:00

Last week we went to an old farm. David was taking the pictures so I could be in them. However he didn't know that the camera was on video mode. So here are some super quick videos of us...

Trash for Cash

2009-07-29T12:44:00.000-04:00

Our county wants to clean up some roads so they are offering non-profit organizations money for each mile of road we clean up. So a group of us from Cornerstone International House of Prayer cleaned up the road that leads to the mission base. Here are some pictures a friend and fellow trash picker-upper took...

the Spaceship

2009-07-17T12:52:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, I was washing dishes and Micah came inside to ask me to come out and see their ship. I was thinking they had made a boat. Upon my arrival in the backyard, I saw quite a sight. Then Micah said it was his turn to drive, got in, turned a few "buttons," and said "blast off!" Wait... "What kind of ship have you made?" I asked. A space ship of course! Enjoy the cute little boys. They were actually playing so nicely together. I even got Silas on the video, too. He really likes to be outside.

gardening

2009-07-13T14:03:00.000-04:00

This year has been the most fun, productive garden we have ever had. We have a plot out at the Cornerstone mission base (where David and I are on staff as intercessory missionaries) and tend to it several times a week. The kids all help. For them the funnest job is picking the beans or digging the potatoes. However, they all, except Micah, pull or hoe weeds. And earlier in the gardening season, the boys and Abby were my potato watch dogs. For weeks, they pulled off the potato bugs and smashed them. The kids are eating the "fruits" of their labor, learning to keep working even when they are hot and sweaty, and getting to watch how God has designed plants to grow and reproduce. It really feels so good to me to work hard in the garden. We were there this morning, everyone working hard. And our reward will be dinner: Basil Parmesan Chicken (with basil from our garden), roasted potatoes (from the garden), and sauteed green beans, also from the garden. We could even have a salad from the garden, if we wanted! 100 years ago it wasn't so cool to grow your own food, but today, we are thankful for this experience. And our bodies will be healthier, too, from the work, the sunshine, and the fresh, organic food.

Superman

2009-07-13T13:44:00.000-04:00

Keenan likes to draw and has lately developed a fascination with superheroes. So a couple of weeks ago he made this drawing for me. I wanted the grandparents to see it so I took a picture of it. Enjoy superman and the burning building.

Look at Me!

2009-07-11T20:54:00.000-04:00

Babies grow and change so quickly. It is so fun to watch. This week, these are the "big boy" pictures of Silas that we captured. First Silas is on the stool in the kitchen. Next, he is in the car being pushed around by Abby. And Finally, Abby is swinging Silas on the swing David put up under our balcony. We will celebrate his birthday in a couple of weeks.

Silas's first haircut

2009-07-05T10:53:00.000-04:00

This morning we gave Silas his first haircut. It was a little past due since he hair was hanging in his eyes a little. But I really enjoy that "baby hair" look so I let them go as long as possible before cutting it. Rachel was photographer again and David was feeding Silas cheerios to keep him still. It was a very painless, tearless experience! And pretty quick, too. My hair dresser friend might be appalled at his "style" since I just pretend to know what I am doing, but I figure he's just a baby! We'll buzz it when he gets a little older and he'll look even more like his brothers.

Trimble Restaurant

2009-07-05T10:44:00.001-04:00

We had lots of leftover pancakes for breakfast earlier this week and the kids and I were talking about what to do with them. We decided there were too many for Daddy to eat (he was not here that morning) so we decided to fancy them up like Denny's or IHOP's kids meal pancakes. We got some whipped cream in a can, made some eggs, etc... Abby named us the Trimble Restaurant and made menus. It was great fun! Maybe some day you can come to the Trimble Restaurant too, where the food is good and making it is fun!

Father's Day Water Gun Fight

2009-07-05T10:30:00.000-04:00

For Father's Day, the kids and I got David some water guns for a family water gun fight. We had a blast! It was 3 against one the whole time as the pictures will tell. I even got in a few shots at the end. But look, we still liked each other after it was over! That's love! Thought you might enjoy the pictures. Rachel didn't want to join the fight (preteen?!) so I dubbed her the official water gun fight photographer. What do you think, Dad? Do we have another photographer in the family?

Run as though to get the prize

2009-07-03T14:45:00.000-04:00

Last weekend, several of the kids participated in a local road race. Many of you know that David enjoys running and often will run in road races. David found out that there was a race very close so he asked the kids if they would like to run it. 4 of the 5 participated in some way. Abby and Keenan ran in the one mile fun run and both finished in under 8 minutes!! Wow! They were both 2nd place, Abby for the girls and Keenan for the boys. Rachel wanted to run the 5K despite the blisters she had gotten a few days earlier from a practice run. She worked very hard and pushed herself to finish! She was first place in her age group. David pushed Micah in the jogging stroller and ran with Rachel for encouragement. She told he after the race that it was hard and that she was glad that Daddy was with her or she would have quit. Isn't that life sometimes, too. It's hard and painful. But we have Jesus to run along side as an encourager. And we need each other in this race of life too. "So run in such a way to get the prize," like Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 9. Don't forget to encourage some else along the way. And don't forget to look to Jesus. He will give you the strength you need to "run and not be weary."

The pictures are from the pre-race, the warm- up (notice Micah trying to do push-ups no matter what every one else is doing:), David, Micah and Rachel finishing the 5K, and Abby and Keenan finishing the one mile race.

swimming

2009-07-03T14:28:00.001-04:00

Rachel has been spending a lot of her summer in the pool. She joined a swim team in May and has been enjoying her experience on the Wilmore Dolphins swim team. She has been learning a lot and enjoying the social aspect of the team, as well as the actual swimming. She is decorating her room with the ribbons that she earns. Next week will be her last swim meet for the summer. The rest of the family will be glad it is over because swimming has lately taken over our schedule. Enjoy the pictures.

bedtime

2009-06-26T23:36:00.000-04:00

Bedtime... sometimes bedtime is fun and a good bonding time. We read a book or play a short game, we brush teeth, sing a song, kiss, hug and pray. Tonight though bedtime started off a lot different than that. It has been a tough afternoon. Some days the kids are just grumpy and don't want to say or do anything nice to anyone. Those are difficult days in our small house. I don't know why some days are like that, while others seem to go so smoothly and everyone plays and works together nicely. Similarly, neither do I understand why some mornings I feel at peace, ready to walk with the Lord and tackle the day ahead with joy, and other days I would rather just go back to bed.
So after being alone tonight (David is at work- his first night of his new job with an evening work schedule) with cranky kids, I was worn out and frustrated. I said "good night" to Keenan and started to walk out the door, trying to leave without the usual bedtime routine. But he asked me to sing to him. I sat there for a minute trying to decide what song to sing, and a song from youth group days that has encouraged me along my journey came to mind. So I sang "God will make a way, where there seems to be no way; He works in ways, we cannot see..." And as I sang it, I claimed the truth of it for my family. God will make a way for me. He will make a way for His will in my life, in my kids' lives, in this crazy world in which we live. God will make a way.
Then it was on to child #2. I got Micah all tucked in and like usual asked "Do you want to pick the song or shall I?" He wanted to choose and picked "I love you, Micah." I don't know if you know this little ditty. I am not even sure where I learned it, but all of my kids love it. It goes like this: " I love you ___________(fill in the name), oh yes I do. I love you ________ and I'll be true. When you're not with me, I'm blue, who who. Oh, _________ I love you!" As I sang, I thought about how much he loves me to sing that simple and somewhat silly song to him. He loves for me to sing about him and to sing about how much I love him. And I thought about Jesus telling his disciples to be like the little children to enter the kingdom of heaven. Then he thanked God for Silas (it blesses me so much how much they all, especially the boys, love him), and for the cats (we only have one since we moved), and a few other things. Again, the simplicity touched my heart and lifted the frustration of the day.
So bedtime started so difficult, full of the frustrations of the day, but turned out a blessing that helped me readjust my vision. I saw Jesus and His love and power, and that makes all the difference in the world. Maybe tomorrow,by God's grace, I'll be able to keep that focus all day no matter what the circumstances may be.

video experiment

2009-06-24T14:49:00.000-04:00

I am trying out a new camera that Dad is letting me borrow. Silas was laughing like crazy at Keenan at breakfast this morning so I tried a video of it. It didn't play very well on Windows Media Player, so I don't know how well it will work here. It has a clicking sound that we are hoping to get fixed. Anyway, this is mostly for Grandma and Papa in Oregon. I figure a bad video is better than not seeing the kids at all! Love to you!

more vacation pics

2009-06-22T13:37:00.000-04:00

These are pictures from our good friends the Leitner's house. We had so much fun with them! Again, there are more pictures on facebook.

vacation

2009-06-21T11:32:00.000-04:00

The kids and I had a great time on our recent trip to SC. We traveled quite a bit, visiting friends and family. God gave me lots of grace and patience for the 5 kiddos for 10 days of traveling. I will post a few pictures here of our journeys. If you want to see more you can find them on my photo album on facebook. (never thought I'd say that, but it is a good way to post pictures)
Thanks to mom and dad, Granny, the Leitners, the Chigbus, and the Keevers for making our vacation so fun!

Picking Strawberries

2009-06-03T18:33:00.000-04:00

A couple of weeks ago (sorry, I'm a little slow lately) we went to a local farm to pick strawberries. Everyone had a great time and we are enjoying the fresh strawberry jam, too!

Treasure

2009-06-01T22:15:00.000-04:00

What is my treasure? What is that thing that I will give it all for, spend my life storing up and seeking? I have great kids and I love my husband. I enjoy life and I like to drink coffee and eat ice cream. But none of those things, as special as some of them are, should be my treasure. I was reading in the Bible a few days ago about our treasure. I found these verses tucked away in Psalm 119. "The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of coins of gold and silver."(v 72) "I rejoice at your word as one who finds great treasure." (v 162) Do I view God's word this way? I grew up with several Bibles on the shelves at home, hearing its stories weekly in church. I haven't always viewed God's word as my treasure, but in the last several years, God has opened my eyes to its riches! Verse 50 in Psalm 119 says "Your word has given me life." Jesus said "The words that I speak to you are spirit and they are life." Nothing else I could seek, no other treasure that I could run after will give me life! His Word is a deep well of truth. His Word is a light to our path. It is light when all around us is darkness. And it is the very character of God that makes his words so priceless. SO really, He is the treasure! Jesus tells a parable about a man who found a treasure. He sold everything he had and bought the field that contained the treasure. I have decided, and have to reaffirm that decision often, that I will give it all for the treasure of Jesus and His Word. He gave his all for me, thinking me a special treasure. How else will I respond?

Awana Awards Night

2009-05-18T19:32:00.001-04:00

Last night was the Awana Awards night. For those of you who don't know, Awana is a Bible club, where the kids play games, fellowship, and work in workbooks to memorize verses from the Bible. The three biggest Trimble kids are in different classes in Awana and worked very hard this year in their books. They all completed their books and received an award. Abby received a special award called the "Rave Review" where in one sitting she said all 32 verses she had memorized during the year. She was the first kid in their Awana club to do this! Go Abby!
The first pictures are Keenan with his Cubbies class. The second two are the girls with the "T and T" class. "T and T" stands for Truth and Training. One pic shows Abby receiving her Rave Review Award and the other is Abby and Rachel with Rachel's best friend Aerelle.

horse farm

2009-05-18T19:19:00.000-04:00

A co-worker of David's at the bus garage owns a horse farm. When David told her how much Rachel enjoys horses, she invited us out. Last weekend we visited the farm and had a lot of fun. We saw lots of foals, some even as young as three days old. We met the co-worker's husband and he told us a little about their farm and let us frolic with some of the foals in the barn. We are thankful to this family for such a neat experience. None of us had ever been that close to foals so young before. We even got to see a few racing horses they had for breeding. Rachel is hoping to go back and ride some time soon!

something that goes "ribbet"

2009-05-08T14:40:00.000-04:00

Though we live in a neighborhood now and not out in the woods, we still find the creatures. Today the boys were playing outside and Micah came running in the house and said in a cute sing-song voice, "mommy, I found something that goes "ribbet.'" It was the same toad that Daddy had found the evening before while mowing. Micah was sad to let it go last night, so he was thrilled that not only did we have the toad again, he was the who found it. Lest you think only the boys like such creatures, Abby was the first one out of the house, and it is her hands you see holding it in these pictures!

Reading Derby

2009-05-08T14:19:00.000-04:00

Rachel participated in a reading comprehension contest at the local library earlier this week. She had to read several books, take some tests, then wait to be selected for the final round of the competition. After it was all said and done, she earned 3rd place! We were pleased with her hard work and diligence at getting it all done and remembering so much of the books for the competition. She won a medal and a gift card to Amazon.com. And her name will be put on a plaque at the library. Here are some pictures from the night of the finals.
Rachel's good friend Aerelle also participated. That made it even more fun for both of them.

Rub a dub dub

2009-05-08T14:15:00.000-04:00

Rub a dub dub, three boys in a tub! Aren't they cute!

caught in the act...twice

2009-05-04T10:19:00.000-04:00

A few days ago I was making lunch and Silas was hanging out with me in the kitchen. He has recently learned to open kitchen cabinets and I turned around to find him in the "kid's dishes" cabinet playing happily. I had to catch it on camera before I removed him.
Then the next day, I was gone and David was making breakfast. He found Silas in the same place, took his picture, and laughed as he saw the pictures I had taken the day before.

baby loves balloons

2009-05-04T10:11:00.001-04:00

We went to a friend's birthday party last week and the kids got to bring these balloons home. Silas loved holding the string and batting at the balloon. Wish I had a digital video camera so that you could see it in real time.

comments

2009-05-02T12:04:00.000-04:00

Just a word on posting comments to either pictures or writing. I would love for more of you to post comments so that I know that you are keeping up with our family. Also, I just like the way it helps us stay connected to you in a small way. So thanks to those of you who have already commented!
In case you are new to blogging, to post a comment, you click where it says "1 comment" or "0 comments" and then it will bring up a screen where you can type and publish your comment.
We are thankful for each of you and hope to hear from you more.
This is especially to parents and grandparents!!
Love to you all!

He didn't stay in the grave...

2009-04-30T16:17:00.000-04:00

Here is a line from one of our favorite International House of Prayer (IHOP) musicians, speaking of Jesus...
"He's not a baby in the manger anymore,
He's not a broken man on the cross.
He didn't stay in the grave,
and He's not staying in heaven forever."

I really like this because so often I think as church-goers, we have an incomplete view of Jesus. Yes, he did come to earth as a baby and I am so glad he did. He experienced life as a human and now is a compassionate High Priest by the side of the Father. He did give his life in a gruesome and humiliating death to pay the penalty for the sins of every person in the world throughout all time! But he rose victoriously and returned to heaven. And now the Bible says he sits at the right hand of the Father interceding for us! But it also says he is sitting there waiting "til I make your enemies your footstool." (Ps 110) He will not stay there forever. The Bible is full of references of His return to the earth. YAY! He's not staying in Heaven forever. He will return as a victorious King and set all things right! He will rule with justice, truth and righteousness. Andthe whole earth will rejoice. I can't wait! Let's not get so captivated with this temporary life or this tent we live in that we miss this great news!

how we spend our time

2009-04-17T10:51:00.000-04:00

This is how we see Rachel spend most of her free time- with her nose in a book. She is oblivious to everything going on around her when she is reading, even her mother calling her name. :( We are working on this!
You can't see him very well, but that is David in one of the big yellow buses. He only has about 6 more weeks of 5:30 am wake-ups! It fits our schedule well though and we are thankful for the job!
Keenan is having fun playing T-ball. David is the coach and is having fun "herding sheep" as he calls it. It is so funny to see everyone on the field run after the ball. We've even seen teammates knocking each other down to be the one who throws the ball. So much for the idea of a team sport. But they are learning and having fun in the process. Keenan is the best encourager on the field, always shouting "good job" or "you can do it" to his teammates.
Abby has recently begun to work digilently on a cross-stitch she started last year. Now she enjoys doing it. It may actually get finished before 2009 is over. (Can you see the box of newletters on the desk behind Abby. We are working on getting these out this week.)
Check out these serious cowboys. They are quick to fire, so don't tangle with these two!

And where is Melissa? I am the ones taking the pictures and posting the blog. No time for photos of me. Maybe we'll get one soon!

Silas

2009-04-17T10:38:00.000-04:00

Silas is all smiles! He is such a joy to everyone! Keenan says several times daily, "Mommy, I am glad God gave us Silas!" It makes my heart happy that they love him (and each other) so much.

Father, forgive them

2009-04-13T14:51:00.000-04:00

This week was Easter week and as many others around the globe, we were pondering and rejoicing in the sacrificial death of Jesus our Lord. Something that really stood out to me from the story this year was this simple phrase that Jesus prayed as his life faded away on the cross: "Father, forgive them..." Those who taunted him, mocked him, spit at him, called him a liar, pierced his hands and feet, all those whose past and future sin had made this horrible death necessary- these he prays for in his last moments. What powerful words! How profound and how selfless! "Father, forgive them." Even in his lasts breaths, in the intense, unbearable physical pain, and in the depths of emotional turmoil he experienced as he bears ALL sin, He never forgets his purpose. He was born for that moment, so that "in Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace" (Eph. 2:7) The writer of Hebrews says, "For the joy set before Him, he endured the cross..." Wow. And what was the joy that spurred him forward? I think it was being able to stand again with the Father and and say "Father, on the basis on my pure, sinless blood to cover their sins, I ask you to forgive them. Release them from their due penalty." And he has been standing there at His Father's side for thousands of years saying that very thing - "Father, forgive them." (Romans 8:24, Hebrews 7:25) As I read it in the Easter story this year, I knew in a deeper way that he has looked at me with compassion, even as my sin caused his brutal death, and said to the Father, "forgive her." My hearts leaps at the thought, and I am moved to worship Him! Won't you hear him say those words over you today!

the prayers of a three year old

2009-04-07T20:41:00.000-04:00

Micah was praying at bedtime tonight for my dad who has not been feeling well. He said, God, please help Grandaddy feel better and get strong and mighty muscles." Great huh? On a serious note, I love that my kids know that they can talk to God and that He does hear us when we pray.
So dad, get ready for strong and mighty muscles!

from cute to funny looking

2009-04-07T14:49:00.000-04:00

Abby said the other day that Silas has changed from cute to funny looking. His hair is growing in and sticks out among other things. I still think he's awfully cute. What do you think?

A Day in the Life...

2009-04-07T14:41:00.000-04:00

I thought it would be fun for you if I wrote about what a typical week looks like for us. In one week

* David spends 18-25 hours driving a school bus,

*the girls spend approximately 18 hours doing school work, * Melissa spends about 12 hours cooking, and we all spend about 12 hours eating that food, * Rachel and Abby spend more than 10 hours each week reading books, * David spends at least 11 hours in the prayer room worshipping, praying, and studying the Bible, * Melissa spends about 8 hours in the prayer room, * the kids spend 3 hours in the prayer room and 2.5 hours at children’s worship, * Melissa spends 3 hours helping with a Bible study in the local jail, * Coach David and Keenan spend 2 hours at T-ball, * the girls spend 1 hour at a homeschool PE class, * all of us spend about 5 hours a week fellowshipping and serving others at Cornerstone, * the kids spend about 3 hours watching movies, * we spend about 1.5 hours every other week at the library, * Rachel spends 2-3 hours every other week volunteering at the local Equine Humane Center, * David spends at least 4 hours reading to us from the Bible or our latest family novel, * We like to spend 3 hours each week offering a meal and hospitality to someone, * David would like to work another 15 or so hours each week (he is looking for another part-time job since the wood cutting season is finished), and * Rachel, Abby and Keenan spend about 3-4 hours a week preparing for and attending Awana (a Bible club). That’s a lot of hours, but we are managing our busy schedule quite well with God’s help. Of course I didn’t include special days at the park or the time to check email or write letters, or plan for school or do all the chores that make the house clean, or all the hours the boys spend wrestling, swinging swords, coloring, or building with legos etc… We are so thankful for the life God has given us and count it an honor and responsibility to invest our time in eternal things and in our children.

beginning

2009-04-07T14:32:00.000-04:00

Well, I have done it! The Trimble family is getting more Web savvy, or maybe just more "absorbed". I don't know how I feel about it all. We will see how it all works out. First Facebook, now blogging! I hope that it serves as a way to share what God is doing in our lives with those that we do not live near. Let me know what you think.