Truth & Chuckles...

Rachel said, "Mom, it's so sad when someone loses a loved one!"

We were headed home from a viewing and Rachel said, "Mom, we want to go see that lady in the basket!"

Michael quickly corrected her, "It's not a basket its a casket!"

Michael then goes on to say, "Mom, when a person dies and after their funeral God will take them to Heaven in a casket and once the person is in Heaven then God just drops the casket back down! Thats right. Right, Mom?"

I said, "Ok, Egg city comen up boys!"  And Myron repeats, "Eggs comen up city boys!"

I was putting Michael to bed when he looks up at me and says, "Mom, when I die I'll invite you and dad to my viewing! And then you ones can come on  over and watch them bury me too when they bury me!"  I told Moine I think we've been to, too many funerals this year.

We were eating pizza for supper and it had chopped up onions on it. Michael all of a sudden says, "Hey, Dad look, I lost a tooth!" So his dad said, really? And Michael opens his hand. Here in the palm of his hand was a diced onion.

Quiet Moments...

Quiet moments...
   What are quite moments many will ask I'm sure...I've been there I know it seems like you can never have a quiet moment. Unless you get up real EARLY or stay up real LATE! Of course were busy mothers and so we want all the sleep we can.  Where can we as busy mothers find a few quite moments in each day?
As I contemplated this today. I was thankful that I have more quiet moments then I did 3 years ago let alone 1 year ago!!  Its hard to find that quiet moment when your husband can't be home for several days but if you really want to you will. Ouch, I know if I really want to I will find a way to make time for a few quiet moments but will I??  I was privileged to have my husband home this weekend and as I was wondering will we be late for another church service? Will the children have to miss Sunday School yet another Sunday??  God spoke to me! I was in the shower and it was like He said as plain as day...Rhoda, enjoy your quiet moment today!  The water is a cleansing that will make you feel fresh and give you a clean start to your day. So instead of being grouchy i decided to enjoy a few precious quiet moments!
    In the afternoon I decided it didn't matter how my house looked when I got out but I was locking the bathroom door for a quiet moment...
   Some days are harder then others...But I challenge you...Will you find a few quiet moments to help you through your day???
 

Rachel Jean Martin

Tickled Birthday Girl!!

She even got to light her own candle. 

helping by washing dishes

sisters...tea time

Rachel (Trucken Buddy!)

Sister and Dad Time :)

Tease...She holds her own!

one of her writing papers

first meal she made...ramon noodle
Rachel, is our oldest daughter! She was born Nov. 19th, 2005. She changed our lives forever. Rachel is 6 years old. And loves Kindergarten. We do the Abecka dvd at home. Yes, were doing homeschooling! Her brother Michael has been doing it with her.  Rachel is defiantly our oldest. She loves to be the one in charge! Rachel loves to sing and play family.She has just learned Psalm 100 along with Michael and Brenda. She has learned how to read sentences if their not to big of words.She loves it. She is a very caring person with a big heart. She is a big help especially when she wants to be. She loves to help me in the kitchen. She doesn't enjoy much candy or sweets but Pringles is her weekness!  She loves her daddy time and looks forward to each moment that she can get dad to herself.  Rachel does very well with including all of her siblings and sheperding them!   She can hold up her own end! Her dad loves to tease her and give her a hard time but she gives it right back. Rachel loves to go see Grandma and spend the day away with special people like that.  She really enjoyed her first sleep over a few weeks ago when her and Brenda got to spend the night with Aunt Anita & Aunt Marffy.  They had a pillow fight and that has seemed to stick. I Love you Rachel Jean....You were the best thing to happen to out lives.

GOD WILL MEND A BROKEN HEART

GOD WILL MEND A BROKEN HEART, BUT HE MUST HAVE ALL THE PIECES. WHEN YOU ARE HURTING AND IN DESPAIR OVER LIFE'S TRIALS AND CIRCUMSTANCES IT MAY BE EASY TO SHOW YOUR HEART IS HURTING. BUT GOD CAN HEAL YOUR HEART. GOD CAN RESCUE YOU FROM DESPAIR AND GIVE YOU SOMETHING TO REJOICE ABOUT AGAIN. IT WON'T HAPPEN OVER NIGHT; THERE IS SOME NECESSARY MOURNING AND RECOVERY YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH FIRST BUT IT WILL HAPPEN. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS BE WILLING TO GIVE EVERY PIECE OF YOUR BROKEN HEART TO GOD. DON'T SAVE A LITTLE PIECE IN CASE YOU WANT TO FEEL SORRY FOR YOURSELF. AND BE SURE NOT TO  SAVE A LITTLE PIECE THAT YOU CAN USE TO MAKE SOMEONE FEEL GUILTY FOR THE  WAY HE OR SHE IS HURTING YOU. NOW, GIVE EVERY SINGLE PIECE OF YOUR HEART TO THE LORD AND HE WILL BEGIN THE MENDING PROCESS. YOU WILL SURVIVE, TIMES WILL GET BETTER, AND YOU WILL WITH THE GRACE OF GOD BE ABLE TO HELP OTHERS WITH  THE GIFT OF GOD'S LOVE. 

 WRITTEN BY:  MARY ELLEN                    

More Chatter & happenings....

Waking up to having choc milk being poured on top of me.  And just about a week ago it was Lemonade.

A day full of many questions???

 Momma, How is gum made?

"Momma, how is this and how is that made???  Lets, just say I got called to the bathroom and was even asked how things were made.

30, 30, 40,40 and I sold it to that Lucky Lady!

Sweet potatoes in my rocking chair......in the babys hair.

I was wrapping present's and my little boy wanted to know what I'm wrapping so I showed him and his reply was, "Yay, Kenny (Moine's boss) will like that! Mom, I'm going to tell Kenny that all he gets for Christmas is a bag!"  And walks away with a giggle!

Before I got started I had so many more but now I can't seem to remember. :(

Mr. Martin

              Elmoine (Moine) Michael Martin

My Prince Charming! My Knight in Shinning 

             Armour!   A Wonderful Father!

Daddy's ride!!

Everyone wants to be where dad is!

Daddy & The 4 Muskateers...

My dear husband is one of the best things that has happened to me. Moine is a truck driver. He is gone alot during the week and HOME most weekends. Even though he isn't here in person we do talk often. Yeah, worse then when we were dating! He is wonderful support and most of all a big encouragement to me through all of the weeks challenges. He hauls alot of oversize loads but also other stuff. He seems to stay rather busy which is good. 

     Weekends go by way to quick. He tries to fit everything in that he can that needs to be done but there seems to never be enough time. His first priority is to spend time with his children and I (his wife!)  Trimming and mowing is also on his list in the summer. Mowing is very relaxing for him so I do try to save that for him to do. We also tend to grill alot in the summer. And Moine does that for us.

      Moine enjoys doing fabricating stuff. He enjoys inventing new things as well.  He also enjoys mechanical work. He is sorta a jack of all trades. He has learned to do Carpentry, Electric and some Plumbing. He use to do Excavating and really enjoyed it but the ground is so different in Indiana then it was in Wisconsin. He also did welding before we got married.  He loved Hunting deer. And he was a sharp shooter!  He misses it but he says, " I don't have time for it right now anyway. I have more important things to do!" 

      As for the 2 deers he got from the dear stand that his dad and him built while thats another loooonnnnggg story for another day!!

      Sorry I'm still learning all this blog stuff and didn't figure out how i can write between the photos :(.  Sorry!

      I feel so blessed!!

Busy trimming! Wow, did it change looks!

Daddy & His girls!

Daddy & His boy's!

Grill time! We love when daddy grills.

Daddy  giving Brenda a foot massage.

One of the loads Moine has hauled.

One of the loads Moine has hauled.

One of the loads Moine has hauled.

Moine repainting a tryke. With the 4 overseers

One of the loads Moine has hauled.

Devotion Time...Couldn't be better with dad HOME!

My Challenge...

I asked for peace and quiet...
I asked for some alone time...
I asked for time when I wouldn't be so tired that I could just sit and pray...
I asked for the help to get me away from my computer...
I wined I complained and then I was given all that I asked for!

I wined snow...I  don't want it!
No Internet...How will I make it through the night?
No electric...How will I feed the children?
Which means NO heat! What are you kidding me?
I don't want my children to freeze.

God gave me what I asked for:
Put my computer away by no Internet service.
The electric was out by 5:30pm and it was dark
and the children were all in bed and asleep by 7:30pm
Which gave me much time to have alone time!!
It was very quiet and peaceful!!
And I had tons of time to pray!!
What more could I do anyway so why not pray?

I so dislike when my children wine so why should I??
This has been my challenge today!

Children's Chitter Chatter

This house is bustling with excitement!  This is the talk I hear between my children...
Yeah! It's snowing that means we will get to go to Grandpa Martin's for Christmas today!! 
Mom, can we please go outside and touch the snow? 
The snow is sticking to the ground.
We need gloves.  No we need mittens!
Wow, that snow is falling fast!
A chorus of song, "We wish you a Merry Christmas!"
Real worried children all of a sudden cause daddy isn't here...
We have to pray for daddy! Praying for daddy's safety.
One runs away secretly to pray in the bathroom! 
O let's go make snow angels.
I don't know how.
Yes, you do just like this (and lays on floor and shows by example)!
O, yes that's right I do know how! Let's go outside!
We can go make a snowman!
Winter is finally here!
Hey guys, look its all snowy over here.
The ground is all covered over here. Let's go check the next window!
Can we go outside? Please!
When we get alot of snow today then we can put on the plow.
No, mom doesn't know how to put the plow on.
Yes, she does cause I'm going to help her. That way my hands get get all greasy. Excited giggle!
Mom, can we go put the plow on?
Look guys there is so much snow outside!
Momma, do you want snow?
Momma, do you like snow?
Well, if not you should cause it's so much fun!
Wow, what alot of chitter chatter! 
I love my 4 little Muskateers!  They are such a joy!

A Wonderful Aunt or Is she??

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving and loved having Auntie Estalee here to enjoy it with us!
Auntie was a wonderful help and even watched the children so I could run Moine to meet his boss on Friday!
Aunt Crystal asked Aunt Estalee if she wanted to go along to Kohls. I was glad to see Estalee go along as I felt she needed a break. As the children were holding her reigns quite tight. The children sure didn't like the sound of Auntie leaving. We told them she'll be back but they still weren't very happy with Aunt Crystal.
As Auntie Estalee walks out the door my youngest is broken hearted. Crying buckets of tears. His daddy wonders what is wrong. And Myron takes off crying the whole time. He ran out trying to catch up with his aunts. While before he could get outside they were gone, but he thought they were still their cause Estalee's car was still there. So sock footed and all he waks through the mud to Auntie's car and starts crying for auntie.
Moine scoops him up and finally gets him to calm down but hes still not very happy.
Myron did start playing and all of a sudden he seen Auntie's luggage still in the bedroom where she was sleeping and came running out of the room saying, "She forgot all her stuff mommy!"
The it hit me, Myron thought auntie Estalee was leaving for good not just for a couple hours!"
So I did some more explaining and we had a rather delighted 3 year old boy!!!  They all love their Auntie Estalee so much and miss her so much!!

Children and Our day

 Awaken at 7am by a boy being potty trained! I think we might be arriving to the end of that stage :)!
All the other children awaken 10 minutes later.
And so the day begins.
After getting dressed for the day I walk downstairs to find my living room already tore apart with a house of blankets invading!
A boy in the bathroom filling a new container of sidewalk chalk with water (the chalk was still in it) that a dear friend had just sent the children.
The 2 oldest get started on school. The dri-gas man comes so I go to the basement to lite the pilot. Walk back up to see couch cushions made into fields for tractors which the school boy was dreaming of while trying to do school.
I go to the bathroom and walk out to find my daughter putting mashed potatoes all over the wall. About ready to discipline the second child when the first child pipes up, "Mom, I'm the only one that did it I promise! He was just cleaning it off!  What the world??
My laptop is turned on (which the children aren't suppose to touch unless given permission) and they're logged on.
Milk gets spilled on the table.
School papers get scattered.
 Tractor gets thrown.
Discipline session!
Took a break from school and everyone is taking naps!!!
I'm getting clothes packed as my dear husband will make his appearance one more time before he heads out for the week and I didn't get them packed yesterday!  And he wasn't feeling the best.
So now that leads me on to what shall I make for supper and as soon as the children awake we need to finish school. Hoping for a better afternoon.!  That's are day so far folks!!  Hope yours is better!!
But were thankful for the rough days so the good days seem so wonderful!