National Collection Week!

It's national collection week {November 12-19th} for Operation Christmas Child boxes and we are busily packing our shoe boxes to send!

The crew is making sure to write a note to each of our kids receiving boxes. 

{In hopes to hear back from them!}

Every shoe box matters.

Every.single.one.

Go out and pack those shoe boxes! 

To find a collection site where you live please click here: Collection Sites.

Or ask any questions!

Seriously...get to packing! ;)

****

"Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked." 

-Psalm 82:3-4-

Hallow's Eve.

The crew all ready.

Up the road to grandma and grandpa's house to show them the costumes 

We live in the country.

 So we have to borrow a neighborhood to participate in the ritual of trick-or-treating.

Thankfully our good friends allow us to hang with them.

{And borrow their neighborhood}

{Could these little people get any cuter?!?!?}

Snow White, ready for some goods. 

\\\

 A neighborhood? A novel concept. 

A good time.

Mrs. Becky had a cupcake and candles to wish Miss Nora a "Happy Birthday" after the festivities.

She may or may not have almost burnt her hair with the candle. 

Overall?

A great time!

Thank you Meyerkorth family.....yet.....again.

****

A grandmother pretends she doesn't know who you are on Halloween.

 -Erma Bombeck-

4 years.

Remembering Major Hezekiah Rhodes. 

Our nephew. 

At rest four years ago today.

We gathered today.

We sat.

And talked.

And played

And cried.

Holding fast to the truth of seeing you {again} one day.

***

Sunset and evening star, And one clear call for me! 
And may there be no moaning of the bar, When I put out to sea, 
But such a tide as moving seems asleep, Too full for sound and foam,
When that which drew from out the boundless deep Turns again home.

Twilight and evening bell, And after that the dark!

And may there be no sadness or farewell, When I embark;

For tho’ from out our bourne of Time and Place The flood may bear me far,

I hope to see my Pilot face to face When I have crossed the bar.

Crossing the Bar
{Alfred Lord Tennyson}

****

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.
Revelation 21:4

The Sparkle in our family....

turns 3 today!

So hard to believe this {this!} was 3 years ago.

{But ohhhhh so thankful}

Since Nora's birthday is on Halloween {side note: don't say you you'd rather not have your babe born on Halloween, because it just might happen} We celebrated her birthday this past Sunday.

She requested a butterfly cake.

As you wish...

We had a great time, celebrating with family.

Birthday girl, ready to party.

 

All smiles

So thankful that this beautiful bunch made the trek to celebrate with us!

And uncle Dave surprised us from his trip to Chicago!

Grandma Diane and the birthday girl!

Miss Marin and mom helping blow out the cake.

A great time with cousins.

Good eats.

Excited about her first American Girl doll.

Cutest American Doll EVER.

 

And this little man? Could you not just melt?

Birthday girl had a great time.

Ohhhh Nora K, it's hard to believe you're 3 and yet it feels that you've been a part of our lives forever. Though the youngest, you mother and take of all of us. Making sure we all have our coats, shoes and matching socks. You are a gift beyond words. Each day is a gift with you. We look forward to watching Christ being formed in you.

We love you so much Nora!

Happy 3rd birthday sweet girl.

Happy 30th Birthday...

Uncle Jon!

We love you!

Welcome to the 30 club bro.

{Thoughts and prayers appreciated for Jon as he's in NYC, anticipating Hurricane Sandy.}

{Whataway to party Jon!}

Operation: Puppies

This is Amos and Bailey 

{And of course the cowboy}

We welcomed Amos into our family the summer after we got married 11 years ago. 

{Young married pups, getting a pup, swoon right?!?}

The first summer we had Amos, the cowboy expressed a deep desire to have kids.

From Amos.

{Not with Amos}

He vowed to get a female Blue Heeler, play a little Barry White, and procure some pups.

He mentioned this every year.

Every. year.

This year Amos was starting to get fliers and membership cards from AARP. So the cowboy thought we better see if the old man still had it in him. As luck would have it, the cowboy met a guy who had a sweet female Blue Heeler, and offered her services.

We fell in love with Bailey.

We asked the guy if we could buy her. Any price. And he let us have her under the condition that he would get a male puppy.

Done deal.

So we waited all summer  for the magic to happen. 

And finally?

It did.

Her sweet little belly was swollen.

And then one day.

She had little 'Amos' pups.

9 of them!

And we were thrilled.

As dog lovers may know, often times mamas birth their babies in the weirdest places.

Bailey had the pups underneath an old chicken coup in the shed.

The cowboy tried to reach them so we could move them into a safe kennel, with hay, blankets, food and water.

The cowboy couldn't reach them.

We had to call in the expert.

Shep to the rescue.

The first one, out and safe.

{With mama right there with it}

Sam transporting the babies to a safe place.

Sol in on the action.

This shoe-less hillbilly is committed to his job.

Sweet little face.

Double fisted. 

Nora mothered them all.

 Enjoying the pups he rescued.

Well done sir!

Bailey and her babies.

{She is one great mama}

Proud papa.

They are now 2 weeks old, and just opened their eyes yesterday.

Exciting times on the homestead.

{Yes, we plan on keep one, or two, or nine ;)}

Artistic interpretations....

of Vincent Van Gogh's "Starry Nights"

{Sam}

 {Shep}

 {Sol}

{Nora}

{Kidding!! The man himself}

Three for three, darn near, nailed it. 

Art is fun.

*****

If you hear a voice within you say 'you cannot paint,' then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.  -Vincent Van Gogh-