I've been cleaning out some old stuff and discovered a small gold mine of Katie and Anna's old spiral notebooks. The notebooks we used for their schoolwork.
One of the prized writings I found was a letter Katie wrote to her future husband.....when she was only 13 years old!
I remember giving Anna and Katie the assignment. I don't remember if I offered any suggestions as to content, but I do know the things they wrote must have helped in giving them direction for the qualities and character they were looking for in a young man. They chose well!
Anna recently shared with me that she saved the letters written to her future husband and presented them in a book to her to-be husband, Cody Light, the week they were to be married, August 7, 2009. Wow! Wish I had done something like that!
So, if you're single, consider doing something similar for your future husband. And really, I guess it's never too late to start writing letters to our husbands. Think I'll give it a start!
I'll post Katie's letter to her future husband next blog. She's quite the prophetess. Come back and see what her 13 yo heart knew even before she married Alexander. Maybe Anna will share some of hers as well.
~Robin
Monday, January 11, 2010
Sunday, January 03, 2010
Santa Baby
Logan Tyler Simms
born October 28, 2009
Our 3rd grandson, our 7th grand!!
Those cheeks are kissable!!
He makes a great addition to our crew, don't you think?Saturday, January 02, 2010
'Twas a Snowy Night
“White Out ’09,” “The Blizzard of 2009,” “Historical Snowfall,” these were the headlines our greedy news outlets used describing December 24, 2009. If anything happened that day or night outside of Oklahoma we missed it. Wall–to-wall coverage of this disputable snowfall led our government officials and weathermen to tell us to stay home. A blizzard on Christmas Eve had created the perfect storm. We all have our stories of that night, but my story is not about the weather. It’s about courage, determination, togetherness and family. Should we have gotten out? Probably not.
Stay home on Christmas Eve? No way! We, as a family, had a get together and when my sister-in-law puts on Christmas, it is not to be missed. However, we had a 79 year old and two 84 year olds to get there. How? My brother-in-law selflessly trekked out to collect my mother-in-law and her husband. Robin and I picked up my dad and couldn’t have had an easier time driving in our all-wheel-drive Honda Pilot (dubbed “the Billy Goat” after this storm). What I sensed in our older family members was the same in our younger members: they wanted to come together. The enjoyment of each other’s company and the genuine fun we have together caused us to overlook the dangers of the weather outside.
.
My son-in-law and his two older boys started out in his jeep (which looks more like a lunar rover than an earth vehicle.) With 30-inch tires and an 8-inch lift he could go anywhere. But, there was no room for the presents and my oldest daughter and their new baby. Half-way through our trip we got a call from her that she needed a ride. After dropping off my car load, my youngest son and I went back for her. Living just two football fields away from us, going back to get her through the 40,50 and 60 mile an hour winds with the 3 to 6 foot drifts and the snow coming down was not something you would normally want to do. But for some reason I didn’t mind, because what happened on this night was far stronger than words can express. For me, it was a pleasure beyond the normal everyday experience.
The desire to want to come together that night caused us to do things that we normally wouldn’t do. It caused us to get out of our comfort, and yes even our common sense security zones. My oldest son, his wife and two daughters had no problem arriving in our heavier- than-a-boulder, four-wheel-drive dually welding truck, but he was ready to help my second oldest daughter, her husband and two daughters if they had gotten stuck. Her family had to maneuver through the streets of Edmond with all the other crazies that were out and go around all the cars that were strewn and abandoned but they made it. Heck, my youngest daughter and her husband walked to our party, much to our and her own surprise! She hates the cold but her husband is adventurous. Nothing he does should surprise her.
The last ones to arrive were our newest newly-weds. They weren’t late because of being newly-wed but because of traffic. What normally would have been a thirty minute drive turned into a three hour wait in a long line of traffic. But, with determination and patience they made it.
I purposely wanted to observe this year more than be in the big middle of all that was going on and was really blessed by doing so. I wondered why the 28 of us couldn’t have waited a couple of days to have our get together to celebrate Jesus’ birth, but as our second granddaughter, age 8, read the Christmas story to us, I thought this is what family is all about : a desire to want to come and share in each other’s lives. True love causes each other to want the best for the other, not wanting to tear down so that one can have the upper hand, but always building up.
I really liked what I saw. I’m truly blessed. This storm brought out the best in us. We laughed, we learned, we lived and even cried that snowy night, but boy did we enjoy each other. Getting home? Now, that’s another story.
Dirk
Stay home on Christmas Eve? No way! We, as a family, had a get together and when my sister-in-law puts on Christmas, it is not to be missed. However, we had a 79 year old and two 84 year olds to get there. How? My brother-in-law selflessly trekked out to collect my mother-in-law and her husband. Robin and I picked up my dad and couldn’t have had an easier time driving in our all-wheel-drive Honda Pilot (dubbed “the Billy Goat” after this storm). What I sensed in our older family members was the same in our younger members: they wanted to come together. The enjoyment of each other’s company and the genuine fun we have together caused us to overlook the dangers of the weather outside.
.
My son-in-law and his two older boys started out in his jeep (which looks more like a lunar rover than an earth vehicle.) With 30-inch tires and an 8-inch lift he could go anywhere. But, there was no room for the presents and my oldest daughter and their new baby. Half-way through our trip we got a call from her that she needed a ride. After dropping off my car load, my youngest son and I went back for her. Living just two football fields away from us, going back to get her through the 40,50 and 60 mile an hour winds with the 3 to 6 foot drifts and the snow coming down was not something you would normally want to do. But for some reason I didn’t mind, because what happened on this night was far stronger than words can express. For me, it was a pleasure beyond the normal everyday experience.
The desire to want to come together that night caused us to do things that we normally wouldn’t do. It caused us to get out of our comfort, and yes even our common sense security zones. My oldest son, his wife and two daughters had no problem arriving in our heavier- than-a-boulder, four-wheel-drive dually welding truck, but he was ready to help my second oldest daughter, her husband and two daughters if they had gotten stuck. Her family had to maneuver through the streets of Edmond with all the other crazies that were out and go around all the cars that were strewn and abandoned but they made it. Heck, my youngest daughter and her husband walked to our party, much to our and her own surprise! She hates the cold but her husband is adventurous. Nothing he does should surprise her.
The last ones to arrive were our newest newly-weds. They weren’t late because of being newly-wed but because of traffic. What normally would have been a thirty minute drive turned into a three hour wait in a long line of traffic. But, with determination and patience they made it.
I purposely wanted to observe this year more than be in the big middle of all that was going on and was really blessed by doing so. I wondered why the 28 of us couldn’t have waited a couple of days to have our get together to celebrate Jesus’ birth, but as our second granddaughter, age 8, read the Christmas story to us, I thought this is what family is all about : a desire to want to come and share in each other’s lives. True love causes each other to want the best for the other, not wanting to tear down so that one can have the upper hand, but always building up.
I really liked what I saw. I’m truly blessed. This storm brought out the best in us. We laughed, we learned, we lived and even cried that snowy night, but boy did we enjoy each other. Getting home? Now, that’s another story.
Dirk
Thursday, December 03, 2009
The Rest of the Story
Maybe you read this about our dining room furniture makeover. No? Go ahead. I'll wait.
OK - now you know about the top being refinished, and the parts you can see being repainted.
What I didn't tell you is a little secret I discovered underneath the table top.
OK - now you know about the top being refinished, and the parts you can see being repainted.
What I didn't tell you is a little secret I discovered underneath the table top.
Being that this is written in cursive, I figure Katie must have been about 8 years old when she signed our table. Certainly old enough to know better.
And here's what I find interesting about this recent discovery. What once would have caused me to be upset, wonder where I had gone wrong in teaching her, or trying to figure out the best strategy for discipline now only brings a smile to my face.
Why? Katie is grown now. She is 21.
She is the wife of Alexander, working on their 3rd year of marriage. She is working full time at McBride Clinic, is paying her own way through nursing school and will graduate this May with her RN degree . She is a loving sister, a fun Aunt Kate-Kate, and a wonderful daughter. She's hardworking, extremely talented and our go-to for medical questions.
So moms and dads. When you discover those signatures and masterpieces in your closets, cabinets, window sills, etc., just know that some day it won't bother you so much. Your little artists will have grown into amazing adults!
Besides, I'm sure Katie knows by now not to write on the furniture. Wait... maybe I need to have Alexander check underneath their table!
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Dining Furniture Makeover
Several years ago, when honey colored oak when VERY stylish, (of course) we purchased a larger dining table for our ever-growing family.
Now, since honey colored oak is no longer very stylish, and at the suggestion of my stylin' daughter, Ali, I decided to make a change. And we are all very glad!
First, I started with the bar stools. A nice improvement, don't you think?
I lightly hand sanded the legs, and spray painted with a black satin finish. No drips! The top I sanded with a power orbital, removing the finish. I used dark walnut Min-Wax Wood Finish for the top, and finished with a couple coats of clear satin water-based polyurethane.
Then, I really got busy!
I sanded, and sanded and sanded and....well, you get it. It took a LOT of sanding for the top.
Looks better, right?
Again, I removed the finish and stained with the dark walnut, applying several coats of polyurethane to protect the top. I lightly sanded the legs and this time used a brush and satin finish black latex to paint the bottom part of the table the the four chairs.
So, for more than a week's worth of work, dinner in the living room, a mess in the house, and about $30 of materials, we have a new-t0-us table and chairs. I think Dave Ramsey would approve. So does Ali!
Now, since honey colored oak is no longer very stylish, and at the suggestion of my stylin' daughter, Ali, I decided to make a change. And we are all very glad!
First, I started with the bar stools. A nice improvement, don't you think?
I lightly hand sanded the legs, and spray painted with a black satin finish. No drips! The top I sanded with a power orbital, removing the finish. I used dark walnut Min-Wax Wood Finish for the top, and finished with a couple coats of clear satin water-based polyurethane.
Then, I really got busy!
I sanded, and sanded and sanded and....well, you get it. It took a LOT of sanding for the top.Looks better, right?
Again, I removed the finish and stained with the dark walnut, applying several coats of polyurethane to protect the top. I lightly sanded the legs and this time used a brush and satin finish black latex to paint the bottom part of the table the the four chairs.
So, for more than a week's worth of work, dinner in the living room, a mess in the house, and about $30 of materials, we have a new-t0-us table and chairs. I think Dave Ramsey would approve. So does Ali!
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Number 23!!
We have GREAT news!! We are adding ManyMeadows, Number 23, and GRAND number 8 to our family in July!
Andrew and Abbi shared the news with her parents yesterday in Nebraska. We've known for a short while and have been BUSTIN' to share this happy news with everyone!!
Read more of their story here.
We're so very excited for them....and for us!!
: )
Andrew and Abbi shared the news with her parents yesterday in Nebraska. We've known for a short while and have been BUSTIN' to share this happy news with everyone!!
Read more of their story here.
We're so very excited for them....and for us!!
: )
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Dread or Great Expectations?
So you're headed to your in-laws tomorrow. Anxiety is already building, causing spats with your spouse and conflicts with your kids. You're already dreading the prying questions your Aunt will ask, the tension and comparisons with your siblings, the unresolved issues with your dad. Or things even worse.
Thanksgiving? Ha! It will be more like "Terrible Taunting Turkey Day". A day you can't wait to be over...and then, there will be Christmas to think about and all those issues to be revisited again!
But get this!
God's word tells us in Ephesians 3:20
God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! (The Message)
How?
through his mighty power at work within us (New Living Testament)
Is it possible in pressing circumstances that we could be setting limits on the power of God working in our behalf ? Might this scripture indicate that He will do just as much for us as we will allow him to do in us?
So why dread the day?
Instead, allow His Spirit to have free reign in your heart, and go to your extended family gathering with a great expectation! Watch for His Divine encounter. According to His power within us, He can do more than we can even think or guess or imagine!!
Now, that's a great and freeing thought!!
Thanksgiving? Ha! It will be more like "Terrible Taunting Turkey Day". A day you can't wait to be over...and then, there will be Christmas to think about and all those issues to be revisited again!
But get this!
God's word tells us in Ephesians 3:20
God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! (The Message)
How?
through his mighty power at work within us (New Living Testament)
Is it possible in pressing circumstances that we could be setting limits on the power of God working in our behalf ? Might this scripture indicate that He will do just as much for us as we will allow him to do in us?
So why dread the day?
Instead, allow His Spirit to have free reign in your heart, and go to your extended family gathering with a great expectation! Watch for His Divine encounter. According to His power within us, He can do more than we can even think or guess or imagine!!
Now, that's a great and freeing thought!!
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