December 2020

O come, O come, Emmanuel...And ransom captive Israel...That mourns in lonely exile here...Until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel...Shall come to thee, O Israel.

We are so blessed to be the recipients of God's grace through the birth, death, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. This month was about the eager expectation of celebrating Christ's birth and the longing for when He returns again...this time as Conquering King. We are so thankful that the Christmas Season isn't about gifts, or cards, or even family gatherings but is about the One who came to seek and save the lost. We hope that you too rejoice in Emmanuel, God with Us!

As usual, we squeezed as much as we possibly could into this month. There were the usual appointments, lessons, and school work but mixed in was a swim meet, lots of time with family, and, of course, Christmas.

As we kicked off December, the boys had their kidney check-ups. Their ARPKD continues to advance but it is still doing so at a slow rate. We are thankful for doctors and modern medicine yet we continue to pray for miraculous healing knowing that might not happen on this side of Heaven.

Next up was the boys first official swim meet since the Pandemic began. Both boys dropped time off of all of their events. It was a great meet albeit different from those pre-COVID. It was strange for the boys to wear their masks to the swim blocks, put them in Ziplocs, and then adorn them again after each race. It was also a bummer that USAA swim is limiting the number of spectators per swimmer. Such strange times we are living in!

We enjoyed a fun night at our church with those involved in the Children's Ministry. We decorated cookies, played silly games while being socially distanced, and did Bible trivia. Our Children's Ministry team has done a great job of finding unique ways for us to meet during the pandemic!

The girls enjoyed Christmas themed festivities at school this month. There were fun dress-up days, Christmas crafts, and an awards ceremony hosted by the Grinch...er...principal. Marie received an award for improving her iStation math and reading scores and Anna received an award for her iStation scores.

When school break started, we finished packing and headed to Pinecrest Camp where we met up with Jeff's family for several days of family fun. It was such a blessing to come together, fellowship with one another, and have some good ol' fashioned family competition. We were blessed with beautiful weather, health, and almost the entire family being able to gather. A highlight for me was our Sunday morning worship time. Singing Hymns and reading God's Word together is such a beautiful thing. I can't even describe the amazing legacy of having 4 generations of believers in one room praising God and thanking Him for his faithfulness. There was a time for everyone to express their thankfulness and it was such a blessing to hear person after person having so much to be thankful for. This year has brought challenges no one could have ever imagined but our God is still Sovereign and has brought so many blessings to our family! 

We returned home from Pinecrest to another blessing. After Jeff's insurance rejected (three times) a much needed medication, the drug company decided to provide it at no cost to us. We are so thankful and humbled at the way God provided, yet again, for all our needs! Jeff had his first infusion the day we returned. Time will tell how effective the medication will be but we are hopeful that the end result will bring much needed relief to Jeff.

Next up, was the celebration of Christ's birth. We began the day finishing up our advent story and praising God for Jesus. We then opened gifts and had a magnificent breakfast. After our food had settled, we headed to the Anderson's house to continue our celebration. It was the first time in many years that we were all together for Christmas. What a huge blessing and gift from God! We enjoyed games, fellowship, and good food. 

As the year wraps up, we look back and see the hand of God all over our lives. What a gracious and merciful God! What a faithful provider! What an amazing gift-giver! What a wonderful Savior! We look forward to seeing how God is going to continue to reveal Himself to us in the New Year. 

The King of Kings salvations brings...Let loving hearts enthrone Him.

Click the link below to see a slideshow of December's pictures...

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November 2020

November is a month of thanksgiving and we have so much to be thankful for. First and foremost, we are thankful for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We are thankful for our family and friends. We are thankful for all the blessings the Lord has given us. 

The month kicked off celebrating Eli's 13th birthday. It seems like only yesterday that he was running  through the house in his diaper and cowboy boots and now he is almost taller than Jeff! Eli enjoys playing the guitar and piano, swimming on the swim team, and hanging out with friends. He also likes to serve and bless others. He is a hard worker and loves the Lord. We are so thankful for the young man he has become and can't wait to see what God has in store for him in the coming year. 

For his birthday, Eli wanted to go swimming with his cousins. The Ozark Community Center pool is about half way between us and the Andersons and made for a great place to celebrate both Eli and Seth's birthdays. We swam, had pizza, and enjoyed fellowship with the Andersons and Nana and Papa. It was great fun! We are thankful for new memories made with family.

We found out this month, after several weeks of illness, that Jeff's current medication is no longer working. After much prayer and talking with the doctor, he will be pursuing a new course of treatment in hopes of bringing his autoimmune disease under control. Would you join us in praying that the insurance will pay for the new treatment? We are so thankful for modern medicine.

This month brought a few days of rather nasty weather and with it the need for a place for Mac to go to get out of the weather. Jeff and the boys tackled the dog house project with gusto and in just a few days had an insulated house put together. It was so funny to watch our chicken go in and try to claim it for her own. We are thankful for Mac...and Mosey (the chicken). 😄

Eli had the opportunity to participate with the worship team for both Sunday morning services and Sunday night youth group. It was fun to watch him worship with his guitar. He seemed so nonchalant and relaxed on stage. He has been taking lessons from our worship pastor for a year and a half and really enjoys playing. We are thankful for his musical abilities and his desire to share them with others.

As the month wore on, it became apparent that Zeke was having some physical issues. After a visit to the vet and an incurable diagnosis, the decision was made to say good-bye. To say this was one of the most difficult things we have had to do is an understatement. Zeke was a part of our family and the loss we feel is so painful. We miss him so much and think of him every day. There is a hole in our family right now. He was such a great dog and loyal companion. We are so thankful for the many years we had with him.

Thanksgiving was an awesome day. The weather was beautiful and we enjoyed sitting outside while the kids played. The company was great and the food was abundant. Having Nana, Papa, and the Andersons here was such a blessing. We are so thankful for having family close by again!

To end our Thanksgiving week, we headed to the Amazeum and decorated for Christmas. Although our time at the Amazeum was limited, it was a blast nonetheless. The kids made the most of every minute!  We also had fun decorating for Christmas and kicking off the season with molasses cookie making. We are thankful for fun opportunities and the ability to do things together as a family.

We hope that you had time this month to sit and reflect on all there is to be thankful in your life. God has been so good to us and the only appropriate response is thankfulness and worship. 

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October 2020

Fall weather is finally here! After the month started off hot and humid, we ended with a cold snap that had us wrapping up in blankets and putting on sweatshirts. We enjoyed some of the fun fall activities that October has to offer and kept up with our regular activities.

This month we enjoyed carving pumpkins at the Andersons house with our cousins, Papa, and Nana. The girls were less than enthusiastic about digging out the insides but were super happy with their final jack-o-lanterns. The boys took to carving theirs with gusto. We enjoyed the beautiful sunshine day with family.

This month brought the end of the first quarter of school. The kids all did very well and had good reports from their teachers. Anna also earned two awards for her hard work. Anna learned more sight-words, Marie has been learning about sentence structure, Eli is tackling Algebraic equations, and Thad is continuing to learn more signs. Eden has also been working on her early reading skills.

Eden and the boys continue to enjoy spending Friday with Papa and Nana. Eden has been cooking, playing piano, and working on letter sounds. The boys do projects with Papa. Jeff, Marie, Anna, and I head up the mountain to their house after school and enjoy having dinner and fellowship with them.

After visiting with an orthodontist, it was determined that Marie needed braces. Thanks to a cross-bite she ended up with a set of upper braces that she will sport for approximately one year. She did great when they put them on and hasn't complained of pain!

This month we took our annual family pictures. We enjoyed trying out several different backgrounds this year. We even did some silly ones!

I gave my first lecture of the year for Bible Study Fellowship. Because we are currently "meeting" via Zoom, I video recorded the lecture. It was a challenging lecture to give because there was no audience feedback. I miss seeing all the ladies in person but am thankful for the technology that allows us to meet from the safety and comfort of our homes.

The last day of school this month was dress up day. Anna dressed up as Little Red Riding Hood and Marie wore her Tinkerbell costume. They both were super excited to show off their costumes and see what their friends dressed up as.

The final fun for the month included a Fall Family Fest at church. There was a pumpkin painting contest, family games, a costume parade, food, and fun. The Lord blessed us with beautiful weather and fun was had by all. 

We are thankful for a month full of blessings and are looking forward to what God is going to do in the next month! 

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September 2020

 Change is in the air. The weather is getting slightly cooler. The leaves are beginning to change. The days are getting shorter. This month has been one of settling into our new school routine and celebrating Marie's birthday.

We have finally found a groove with our school schedule. Marie has started learning how to spell while Anna is working on sight words. Eden has memorized all the letters, their sounds, and is now working on some sight words. Eli started guitar lessons back up and is looking forward to helping with worship at youth group. Thad has learned the alphabet in sign language and is now learning how to count. Both boys are working on some challenging material for piano. Eden started taking piano lessons from Nana. 

BSF started back up this month. We are currently meeting virtually. Marie, Anna, and Eden get to Zoom with their leaders on Monday night. Eli and Thad's class meets an hour later via Zoom. Mom's class meets on Tuesday nights at 6:40. Dad's class meets on Tuesday nights at 8:00. We are having fun uncovering new truths in Genesis this year!

Dad is teaching Chemistry, Principles of IT, and a coding class this year. It has been a challenging year so far because his students do not need to report to school but have the option of doing school online. This presents a variety of obstacles but he is figuring out how to manage it all.

This month we celebrated Marie's 7th birthday. She wanted waffles for dinner and a mermaid cake with blue frosting for dessert. Dad decided to tackle the cake and it turned out awesome! Nana and Papa came for the birthday party and we also zoomed with Grandma and Grandpa Rice. She received many wonderful gifts that she is thoroughly enjoying!

The other thing that Marie wanted to do for her birthday was go to a park. We decided to head to Tulsa and visit the Gathering Place. It is currently 66.5 acres of playground wonderland with plans to expand to over 100 acres. I cannot even begin to describe what a child's paradise this place is. Check out the Smilebox to see some pics of our adventure there.

As the month closes, we find ourselves yearning for the cooler temperatures of fall and looking forward to cool evenings, bonfires, and sweatshirts. We hope you enjoy the Smilebox! See you next month.

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August 2020

August brought the end of the longest Spring Break in history. It also brought the start of another school year. While times of transition can be difficult, we were all ready for a change...for a new routine...for what God had next.

Jeff started back to school with 2.5 weeks of professional development. To say that it was a strange time is an understatement. Trying to prepare for in class instruction while simultaneously preparing for virtual classes was interesting. The school district was continually coming out with new directives and changing safety standards. The students were originally slated to return to school a week earlier but then the governor changed the start date of school. He is now in his second week with students. The district decided to go with a block schedule this year to help with social distancing. This has been an exciting change for Jeff and one he has wanted for a while. He is also teaching an online coding class for Grace Academy again and is looking forward to trying out a new coding language.

The kids wrapped up the summer swim team session with an intrasquad meet. The kids all enjoyed the opportunity to compete, except for maybe Anna. She was more interested in smiling at everyone watching her swim. The boys dropped times off some of their events. It was nice to see all their hard work pay off.  It was a good time and everyone in the stands seemed to enjoy the "normalness" of it.

This year Marie and Anna are both attending public school. For a variety of reasons, we decided to send the girls physically. Marie is in first grade and has Mrs. Wilson for her teacher. She is getting back into the swing of school routines and was excited that several of her classmates from last year are in her class this year. Anna is in kindergarten and has Mrs. Rogers as her teacher. We are so thankful that she got the same teacher that Marie had last year. She is EXCELLENT! Anna also has a sweet girl, who is diligent in her studies, and follows rules as her table mate and new friend. That is a HUGE answer to prayer.

The boys have started their third year as River Valley Virtual Academy students. Thad is starting 5th grade and Elijah is in 7th grade. Thad is looking forward to learning sign language this year while Eli is learning Spanish. Both have a challenging course load but they are hard workers and will get it done.

Piano lessons also started back up this month. The boys are both a little rusty but were looking forward to getting back into the routine of practicing. 

Leigh Ann started her training for a new year of BSF. They will be studying Genesis this year. She is looking forward to her second year as a substitute teaching leader. They are starting the year virtually but hope to return to in person class very soon.

This month we enjoyed several family fun nights with our church family. We played minute to win it games, had a scavenger hunt, and enjoyed times of fun and fellowship. We also enjoyed time spent with Nana and Papa and the Anderson Family. 

We hope that you are staying healthy and safe and that like us, you are looking forward to new opportunities to see God at work this fall. 

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July 2020

July was so much fun! We enjoyed celebrating birthdays, having friends over, tubing, and going on vacation.

We kicked off the month by celebrating Thad's 10th birthday. I can hardly believe that he is 10! Thad enjoys swimming, reading, and hanging out with friends. He wanted to have a friends and family party complete with swimming and a Nerf war. Nana made pineapple and blueberry sherbet for dessert at Thad's request. He used some of his birthday money to buy things for Mac (his early birthday present) along with getting a new Nerf gun. He was also blessed with another book in the series he has been reading and Lego set. He enjoyed having Nana and Papa, the Andersons, and his friends Moses and Travis over. Several of the boys stayed the night. They watched a movie and had Nerf wars in the dark. The celebration ended the next morning with a breakfast of biscuits and gravy. It was a great birthday!

Next, we celebrated the 4th of July with some friends. Our town did something different this year. In order to keep the crowds low, the mayor rented a truck that had big screens on three sides that had fireworks displays set to music. It was underwhelming to say the least. The kids still enjoyed the free popcorn and Icees though. Marie's favorite part were the cheerleaders who danced for part of the event. Eden liked that the trolley came too. It was fun to be there with friends.

We were invited by some friends to go to their lake house and go boating. The Lord blessed us with perfect weather. We all thoroughly enjoyed our time on the lake both in the boat and on the tube. Even Anna admitted to enjoying tubing. We also had a picnic and wonderful fellowship. We are so thankful for the blessing of people who are still willing and able to get together with us.

Jeff spent two weeks during July helping out with training that the school mandated for all staff. His background in technology has proven invaluable, especially lately, with so many things going virtual. He enjoys being able to help others and will continue to be a valuable resource to many in the district.

Our church hosted a "drive through" ice cream social for the elementary kids and their families. They have been coming up with creative ways to stay connected while socially distancing. They have also done a drive through pizza night and a drive through hot-dog night. We never know what they are going to come up with next!

Eli has done several things this month with his youth group from church. He really enjoyed a morning of hiking along with a night game of volleyball and a sleepover at church...all while wearing a mask. Such a weird world we are living in!

Another highlight of the month was going on a mini-vacation. We rented a 4 bedroom house in Paris, Arkansas just a short drive from Mount Magazine and Cove Lake. The house, Myra's Mountain Retreat, was a perfect fit for our family. We spent a good portion of two days on the lake. We went swimming, paddle boating, and kayaking. The kids also enjoyed making sand castles and feeding the catfish that came right up to us. We also spent time coloring, painting, playing games, and watching movies. We went up the mountain and enjoyed the sights from the highest point in Arkansas. It was a wonderful, relaxing time. We are thankful for the time to get away, the resources to do it, and the dog-sitter that took care of our pooches while we were away. We are already talking about going again!

We also had fun celebrating our nephew, Gabe's, 5th birthday and a sweet friends 16th birthday. We enjoyed time at a nearby river with Nana and Papa several times this month. We also had friends over for dinner and Leigh Ann enjoyed several opportunities to meet with friends.

As summer winds to a close, we are thankful for all the fun we have had. We are looking forward to the start of school and a return to a routine but we will miss all the time we have been able to spend together as a family without a bunch of additional distractions. See you next month!

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June 2020

We packed as much as we possibly could into the month of June. From travelling north to see family, to home improvement projects, to adding to our family, there was not a dull moment.

We kicked off the month in Wisconsin. We enjoyed time spent with family. It was nice to finally get to see Jeff's parents new home. The weather fluctuated between cool and hot so we were able to enjoy both bonfires and swimming. There was much fun and laughter. The time went by was too fast!

Our next stop was Illinois where Jeff's oldest brother, Kevin, lives. We arrived during strawberry season so we got to see first hand the operation at work. We even got to help pick and literally enjoy the fruits of our labors. The kids had so much fun riding horses, boating, and playing with their cousins and second cousins. We got to meet the newest member of the extended family, Hattie.  It was a wonderful time spent with family.

After arriving home, we went to meet the newest addition to our family. Thad asked for a playful dog for his upcoming 10th birthday. Some folks from our home-school group had rescued a dog that had shown up on their property. He was in rough condition when he showed up but they had taken him to the vet and nursed him back to health. Mac is part Great Pyrenees and part hound dog. He has a sweet face and a pretty gentle temperament. He does get frisky and needs to be played with but overall he has been a good fit for our family. He is a rather big dog so we have had to make some changes around the house such as upgrading the food and water bowl...super sized!

The state finally opened up the ability for the swim team to begin practice again. It took a couple weeks for the kids to get back into shape but they are all doing well now. It has been nice to see some of our friends again after such a long break!

This month we added a kid to our family for a week or so. Travis is the 13 year old foster son of some friends of ours from church. Their baby needed to undergo open heart surgery so DHS made an exception and allowed him to join our family for the week the baby was in the hospital. Travis enjoyed playing with the boys and rough housing in the pool. Having two pre-teen/teen boys in the house definitely put a dent in the grocery budget!

This month our church started back doing some things with the children's ministries. Eli had a chance to go miniature golfing, biking, disc golfing, and had a picnic with the teens. Thad and the girls have been enjoying programming that includes outside water games twice a week for several hours.

Father's Day we enjoyed celebrating Jeff with a special breakfast and gifts. We then headed to Nana and Papa's church to hear Papa preach. It was a special day. We headed to their house for lunch and then went to swim/wade at a nearby park that has a river to play in. The Lord blessed us by holding off the rain so we could enjoy being outside.

We also worked on painting our kitchen cabinets, doing some training for school (Jeff), and hanging out with friends. Next month, we look forward to celebrating Thad's birthday and also have a few fun things planned. We hope this blog finds you safe and healthy. Until next month...

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May 2020

May was quite the month for celebrations, home improvement projects, and wrapping up school.

We kicked off the celebrations with Jeff's birthday. We celebrated with Leigh Ann's parents and then again with some friends. He received many wonderful gifts and we are so thankful for another year of his life.

Leigh Ann started the home improvement projects by painting the girls room. It was one of the last rooms that needed to be repainted. It went from a dull beige to a clean gray with white trim. The girls were super excited to have a "new" room!

Leigh Ann and the boys finished another year of Bible Study Fellowship. Transitioning to an online group/meeting was a little overwhelming at first but the year ended well. It was wonderful that God already had the technology in place! Leigh Ann learned how to host Zoom meetings, split the group into breakout rooms, and be on multiple devices at once while leading the study.

We celebrated Mother's Day and Nana's birthday for our next celebration. We are blessed to have Godly mothers who walk closely with the Lord, pray for their kids and grand-kids, and cherish time spent together.

Next up was Leigh Ann's birthday. She celebrated with Nana and Papa and the Anderson Family. It was wonderful to be able to celebrate with so many family members! She too enjoyed many wonderful gifts.

The kids wrapped up another year of school this month. Eli finished 6th grade with all A's. Thad finished 4th grade with all A's. Marie finished kindergarten with many Satisfactory marks. Anna finished pre-K and Eden finished 3-year old preschool. They all made progress in their education and are looking forward to a well earned break! Finishing the school year under quarantine was definitely a challenge but they all did well. We ended up having a have two calendars just to keep up with all the Zoom sessions!

Jeff's students took their big Advanced Placement exam this month. It was a very different format because of all schooling being online. The students all rose to the challenge and we are eagerly awaiting their final scores which are posted in July.

After re-arranging our kitchen two years ago, it was finally time to replace the floor. Jeff and the boys did A LOT of hard work to transform the floor from laminate to tile. It was a big project but the final product is so worth it!

To end the month, we packed up and headed to Wisconsin. We look forward to spending time with Jeff's family. You will have to tune back in next month to hear all about our adventures in the Great North. Until then, God bless and stay safe!

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April 2020

April has gone by in a flash. We are still "staying home" but just as busy as ever.

All the kids continued with their school. Some lessons are now being provided by PBS while others are on the computer and still others are from good old fashioned books. All the kids have managed to stay on track despite our ever evolving schedule. When the governor announced that we would not be returning to school, we were finally able to nail down a daily schedule that has kept the house running more smoothly.

Jeff moved his "office" into the shed where he continues to work on an almost daily basis. His job has evolved too as the standards for his students has changed. Some days, his primary focus is on contacting his kiddos just to make sure they are doing ok...not just with school but with life in general. Some of his students have taken on jobs to support their families while their parents are off work. Some have become the primary caregiver for their younger siblings while their parents work. And some are just struggling with not being able to see friends and do all the things they used to do. It is certainly a different world right now.

Good Friday was especially memorable this year. After what seemed like an eternity, we finally got to be with the Anderson's. There were many hugs, tears, and smiles all around. The cousins enjoyed an Easter egg hunt, a story with Papa, a silly string war, and just being together. We are so thankful for God's provision in their safe return to the States!

Easter Sunday found us celebrating the resurrection in our home instead of at church. The feel was very different this year but the reality of what we have in Christ was no less real than if we had been at our church. God is so good!

The boys were able to see a virtual tour of the art museum where their pieces were displayed this past month. They both were praised for their works and Eli received an honorable mention. This was their first year entering and they are looking forward to doing it again next year.

The month ended with our anniversary. After 14 years of wedded bliss, we are more deeply in love then the day we got married. It is such a blessing to have a marriage centered on God. We celebrated at home with our kids and reminisced over some of the memories we have from the past 14 years. Here is to many, many more!

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March 2020

March has brought many changes to our household. From birthday parties to quarantine orders, there hasn't been a dull moment!

At the beginning of the month, Marie underwent a series of tests at the Schmeiding Development Center. At the end of a nearly 8 hour day, the doctor's diagnosis was that she has one of the worst "cases" of combine AD/HD he has ever seen in a six year old girl. She also was diagnosed with sensory processing and auditory processing disorders. After 6 years of therapy, diet changes, schedule modifications, sensory toys and tools we came to the agreement that it was time to try medication. Will you pray with us that the medication would allow Marie to be able to focus and grow in every area of her life?

The boys kicked off the month with a Piano Festival (competition) at the University of Arkansas Fort Smith. Both boys received a Superior Rating which is the highest rating there is. We are so proud of their hard work and dedication. Both boys really enjoy playing and it shows!

This month we also finished fencing in our back yard. Lily is quite the escape artist and after chasing her hither and yon, we decided to do something permanent. She was quite diligent to check for cracks and holes after it was done. So far, so good!

We celebrated Anna's 6th birthday this month. Anna enjoys playing with her stuffed animals, singing, and dancing. She wanted a blue cake with blue frosting. Her meal choices for the day included chocolate chip muffins, a pizza lunchable, and spaghetti with meatballs. She was blessed with many wonderful gifts including skates, stuffed animals, a tea set, a swimsuit, a dress, slime, and dress up jewelry.

The following week, Governor Hutchinson sent all school kids and teachers home to work. In the following weeks, more people would be sent home to quarantine in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID 19. This didn't change our lives too much other than having Marie home and Daddy home. Daddy started working from a makeshift desk in our bedroom so that he could video call with his students and other staff. Other things that changed include the temporary cancellation of our after school activities. Anna and Marie are now doing their speech therapy via FaceTime. It is incredible how many things we can do, including church, from our home! We are very thankful that Jeff has a job he can do from home and that there has been relatively little change to our daily life.

This past week was Spring Break. We didn't get to travel as planned but still enjoyed life. We planted a garden, planted grass, put up sheet metal on our lean-to, cleaned the garage, played games and played outside. The kids enjoyed time spent in the sprinkler and biking/skating.

We concluded Spring Break celebrating Eden's 4th birthday. Eden enjoys playing dress up, playing in the sand box, and painting on her new easel. She asked for Sheriff Callie cupcakes. Her meal choices for the day included cinnamon roles, chicken nuggets, and waffles. Nana and Papa came over to celebrate with us. She received a pink scooter, sandbox toys, a dress, paint smocks to go with her new paint easel, and headphones.

One of the biggest blessings of the month was that the Anderson Family had safe passage back to America. Praise God! We look forward to spending time with them as soon as the quarantine has been lifted!

We hope that in the midst of uncertain times that you can look to the One who holds the future. Our God is Sovereign. He is not surprised by the recent events in our world nor is He ambivalent. Turn to Him, Trust in Him, and rest in Him. Let's have faith not fear!

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February 2020

Even though this month had an extra day it still went by super fast!

Thad finally got the opportunity to attend Superstart, a Christian conference for 4th and 5th graders in Tulsa. He watched Eli go the last two years and couldn't wait for his turn. He said he enjoyed everything about it from the speaker, the musicians, the break out sessions, and the time he got to spend with Jeff. He can't wait to go again next year.

Zeke got a tune-up this month when he went to the vet, got his shots, had several teeth pulled and two cysts removed. Poor guy is getting cataracts and is slowing down quite a bit. His 11th birthday was this month. His favorite things are cuddling up in a blanket and sleeping...especially on our bed!

Valentine's Day was fun for us all. The girls enjoyed getting and giving Valentine's cards at school. Jeff and I gave the kids a Valentine's treat and we dipped chocolate covered strawberries. Jeff also surprised me with flowers in a flask. Such creativity!

We also had a great time celebrating Papa's birthday with him. It was so special to be able to be with him on his birthday since we haven't been able to in years! The Lord blessed us with beautiful weather, great food, and a fun time with family.

We spent as much time as possible outside on days that were nice. We have had so much rain that on some days it seemed as if we would never see the sun again! We have been working on clearing old fence to make way for new and along with that removing what feels like thousands of vines! It is amazing to see the transformation. I wish I had remembered to take pictures.

The rest of our normal activities continued. I had the opportunity to give another lecture at BSF this month. It was the first time that I wasn't nervous! Thank God for his grace and the Holy Spirit that enables us to do things beyond ourselves.

That about wraps things up for this month. We hope that you too have been blessed with family to love and a relationship with God that brings you great joy.

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January 2020

I can hardly believe that 2019 is over not to mention the fact that January 2020 has already passed as well! We had another busy month with lots of fun memories.

Mom and Nana kicked the New Year off with a girls shopping trip and lunch date. It was fun to get to be together and we both enjoyed catching up and shopping for bargains at Savers!

The boys raced in a swim meet the first weekend in the month. Both boys did awesome and represented our team well. It is fun to watch them race! I love that no matter how they place, they are good sports and cheer everyone on.

Eden started the month getting her first pair of glasses. I didn't think she could get any cuter...I was wrong! Be sure to watch the slideshow to see for yourself.

Marie had an awards ceremony at school. She received awards in several areas including citizenship and math skills. It was fun to watch her skip across the front of the auditorium when her name was called. She lives life with LOTS of EXUBERANCE!

The next week, Thad qualified to swim in a championship meet at the University of Arkansas. He did a great job swimming against tough competition. He walked away with a 6th place in the butterfly and a 9th place finish in the . Eli went along to cheer for his brother and enjoyed hanging out with other members of their team.

This month Eli had the opportunity to attend CIY Contact a Christian youth conference for 6 and 7th grade boys held at ORU in Tulsa. He had a great time. He loved everything about it from the speaker to the music to the breakout sessions. He can't wait to go again next year.

The same weekend Eli was gone, the rest of us helped watched some kiddos of friends from church. Baby Isaiah is 6 months old and won his way into our hearts...especially Thad. He fussed and cried for a few hours until Thad held him and then he started "talking" and smiling. Thad is the new baby whisperer in our house! He was such a trooper that when Isaiah fell asleep on him, he volunteered to stay there until he woke up.

In other news, both Marie and Anna are a few teeth lighter. Marie is getting to be a pro at teeth pulling but Anna preferred someone else finish the job. The boys tried tying a piece of floss to her and then to the roller coaster and pushing it down the hill. It didn't work out as planned so we went to plan B and used a piece of floss to pull it out. She was excited to pick out a yo-yo for her treasure for her first lost tooth. No tooth fairy here. :-)

We also had our first snow day of the year. School was cancelled...sort of. Because the boys do their school virtually, they never have a snow day. Also, the school now sends home packets of work for the kids to do in the event of a snow day. Marie had several worksheets to do in between playing outside. The snow didn't even last the day but the kids made the best of it while it was here. They even got the sleds out and tried to sled down the roller coaster. It was packy snow so there were snowballs flying and snowmen being built. The dogs and I preferred to stay inside by the fire where it was nice and toasty warm.

We finished the month with another swim meet. Nana and Papa came to cheer on the boys as they raced against 100s of other great swimmers. This was the first meet where Eli and Thad faced off in the same heat of one race. It is fun to watch them swim. They improved their times in every event they swam. Way to go boys!

I hope your January was filled with fun memories and that you too can thank God for family.

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