Another month older . . .

Oh has this little sweetie pie been busy this month.

She can now sit by herself

She has gotten two teeth

I did not have any pictures showing her little pearls.

So I thought I would share a few pictures of Little Rose with a few other pearls in our home . . .

Pearl number 1

Big sister Britt

And pearl number 2

Big sister Bree

She also has learned to hold her upper body up and as of the last few days is even begining to push up on her lower body.

Grandma, whom little Rose lights up the moment she arrives, bought her a walker and this too has added to her accomplishments this month.  She can move it backward and if she has shoes on will move it forward a little too.  What fun. 

She has captured an audience!  Her very own cheering section. 

The feet in the back are Daddy's.  Standing is Bell and seated is Mom, Essie, Ti, and Grandma.

This tops all of that though . . .

Rolling both ways and all over the floor. 

 She is just so fun to watch as she happily plays. 

It has been such a cold winter here that this month was also the first time she got to go outside just for the sheer pleasure of enjoying the great outdoors. 

You've just got to love that face. 

Nonetheless no matter how hard she tries she still has a hard time staying up until Mom and her older sisters go to bed.  But I assure you, she wants to. 

She gave it her best try one night when Britt, Bree and I were working on some sewing projects for Bell's birthday.   

What an exciting month in her life. 

I wish you all could see all the day to day mile markers in her precious little life.  Truly, she, as each of us  are, is fearfully and wonderfully made by an awesome Creator.  How thankful each one in our family is for our sweet little Rose Bud.   

May we each count our many blessings naming them one by one and see all that the Lord has done!

Recipe of the Month

For the coffee lovers out there . . .

A dear friend shared this recipe with us this winter and we have enjoyed it so much that we thought we would pass it along for others to enjoy. 

Cafe Mix

Here is what you need:

1/2 cup instant coffee

 ( Just a little note: we found that the cheap coffee was not as good.  We like the Folgers.  Also you can make it regular or decaf.  You can also adjust the amount of coffee to your taste preference.  This is truly made to order!)

1/2  cup powdered coffee creamer

1 cup instant dry powdered milk

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup instant vanilla or chocolate pudding mix

 Let's Begin . . .

In a mixing bowl combine all the ingredients.

Coffee

Powdered coffee creamer

Instant dry powdered milk

Sugar

Pudding

I made a batch of mocha cafe mix using the chocolate pudding.

And a batch of French Vanilla Cafe Mix using the vanilla pudding.

It is easy to do side by side at the same time.  Both are very good!

Next stir it all together in the bowl.

 

You could just use the mix like this but to make it even more smooth and throughly mixed . . .

Place two cups in the blender at a time 

Blend

Until everything is a fine powder.

Store in a sealed container.

When ready to enjoy or share . . .

place two Tablespoons of mix in your favorite coffee cup.

(add more or less according to your taste)

Add hot water

Stir as demonstrated by my little helper, Bell.

Now enjoy your special treat!

Oh yeah ~ don't forget the whip cream!

In our busy world, I hope this is something that will help you to stop for a few moments

 to sit and talk with a loved one or

to sit and pray or

to sit and reflect on all the blessings that God has bestowed upon you. 

Thanks Erin for sharing this recipe with our family! 

2011 Economics Conference in North Carolina

Earlier this month, our three guys- Dad, Tayter and Ti, went to a conference on Family Economics in North Carolina.  They were so blessed and challenged!  They had many things to share with us!  It gave them some quality time to be together as Daddy and sons, which was a delight!  Since the conference, we no longer are homeschoolers.  We are striving towards having a Family Economy mind-set!  Much like families were viewed and thought of years ago before fathers and mothers were taken out of the home to earn an income and the children sent off to school.  Our desire is not to just homeschool, but to have a family economy for the glory of God! It is always so encouraging to hear biblical teaching and also to get thoughts from and be challenged by other brother's and sister's in Christ, as they share about how God is working in their lives and directing their footsteps.

All of us treasuring those last minutes together before they left.

And off they went, not to return until three days later. 

Although not many pictures were taken, we delighted in the one's that they had taken and brought home!  Unfortunately, Dad is not in any of them, but he was the thoughtful photographer who took all of the delightful pictures!

During one of the lunch breaks, they went to a lovely park

that was not far from where they were staying. 

They were soon surrounded by geese, who were very friendly!

Ti had fun feeding them!

In this picture, you can see that there were many 

different birds visiting that day.

Here is one that was very friendly,

who was intrigued with the camera.

Dad was amazed at how it just came up to him like that!

Last but not least, is our precious Tayter and Ti

together on the bridge.

We were so glad to see all three of our dear guys when they came home! We ladies really missed them, but were glad that they had the opportunity to go and be blessed and challenged!

Budding pianist

Bree graciously took on the task of teaching her younger sister, Bell, to play the piano this year, as part of her education.  I thought it would be fun to share Bell's first duet! 

What a blessing it is to see Bree investing into our family enconomy and to see Bell's joy and skills coming along.  May God be glorified through all that is being done in our home.  The family is one of the important keys for society turning back to biblical principles.  If we look no different than the world, what hope do we really offer?  God's ways are not that of the worlds.  The path is narrow and it looks different.  It is peace and joy from within.  It is the preciousness of an older sister investing into a younger sister.  It is all for the glory of God!

A Must See- Be Awakened and Informed About the Truth!

"When Idaho Legislator Curtis Bowers wrote a 'Letter to the Editor' about the drastic changes in America's culture, it became the feature story on the evening news, people protested at the capitol, and for weeks the local newspapers were filled with responses.

He realized then... He'd hit on something.

Ask almost anyone and you'll hear, "Communism is dead!  The Berlin wall came down."  Though the word communism isn't used anymore, this film will show the ideas behind it are alive and well.

Join Bowers for a fascinating look at the people and groups that have successfully targeted America's morality and freedom in their effort to grind America down.

It's a well documented agenda."

- Quote taken from the back of DVD



We highly recommend this DVD.  It is well worth purchasing and passing on!

  

Click here to order DVD "Agenda"

Our Trip South, Part 2

Well... it has taken us a little bit, but here we are back with part two of our trip south! 

We last left off arriving at Uncle T. and Aunt D.'s Saturday night.

Here we are the next day, Sunday...





Aunt D. and Essie looking out the window at the beautiful red cardinal.

They have a lot of beautiful birds that come to their feeders.

And here's one of those pretty red bird's that they were looking at. 

Uncle T. and Aunt D. in the kitchen working on

making breakfast together. 

After everyone got ready and ate breakfast, we left to visit a church about an hour away from there, that we had wanted to visit.



Since we were about an hour early

(due to thinking church started half hour earlier than it actualy did,

and it not taking as long as we thought it would to get there),

we enjoyed the beauty of the area and went for a walk.  

It was a very rural, but very pretty area. 

The bridges and creeks were so peaceful and pleasant

and everything was so quiet.
A wonderful

place to be together as a family!

Admiring the beauty on the bridge together.



Daddy and his little honey Essie walking together. 

What a sweet sight!

(Also, take note of the readness of the dirt,

the typical color in Tennesse.)

This is where the church meets, in a rented pole barn. 

Very simple, but it holds everyone and the fellowship is sweet,

and that is what counts!

Our family, minus Mom who is taking the picture,

 in front of the meeting place.

We so enjoyed visiting that church!  The people were delightful, and the fellowship was encouraging.  It is such a blessing to see a group of people whose heart's desire is to obey the Word of the Lord and to take seriously living according to His commands and will for His people.  It was a refreshing visit!

Then, we headed to our Aunt and Uncle's church, where they were having a special meeting and a fellowship meal afterwards.  They have a nice church, with lots of really sweet and friendly southern folks.  Love the accent there!  Afterwards, we spent the rest of the night together at their place. 

Bell on Uncle T.'s lap sound asleep. 

It had been a long day for the kiddos!

Aunt D. and Ti together,

probably talking about all of those tin containers.

The little one's had so much fun playing with those!

Monday morning...



Dad and Tayter together on the air mattress that

the boys slept on. 

They love to be together!

Britt and little Rose enjoying the morning.



And here's my mamma! 

She's an awsome lady! 

(I really don't think I am that predjiduce either!)

She is doing our traditional morning practice, making and drinking tea!



This is an Uncle T. and Aunt D. marking, for sure! 

They are big fans of Bugs Bunny and John Deere!

I just love this picture!  The look on little Essie's face is so cuite!

I think she was excited about the tall tower she had just built

out of Aunt D.'s tin containers, and that it was still standing!

Mom and Britt in the kitchen talking together!

(A favorite amongst us ladies!)

And here's a favorite amongst the boys... wrestleing, tickleing, and pick-on time!

Oh, what sweet memories they make doing these things!

The delight on those faces are so obvious!

Here's Aunt D., the fantastic morning cook!

Here is the yummy breakfast casserole that she made!

Aunt D. made these cute little sculpey figures.

She can really make that sculpey turn into wonders!



Bell and little Rose on the bed together cuddling!

After spending the morning there, we left and headed on to our Grandpa and Grandma's in Mississippi. 

And that will be the next post!  More later...

- Bree -