Mid-Year Family Pictures Post

It's time for another picture post. :-)  May, June, July, and August.  A little delayed, but better late than never. :-)  It is amazing to look back over the months and see what all has happened.  The Lord is so good and so merciful; he blesses us in innumerable ways.  Here we would like to share with all of you some snapshots into our lives over these past four months.  Truly, family is one of His greatest blessings, complete with the daily tasks and joys of life.

May

Roasting Hot Dogs

Campfires are a family favorite. :-)

Daddy and his little girlies standing at the entrance to Lowes

Through all the years of house remodeling, since the time we older three children were little, we have developed many fond memories connected with this store.

Martha's first Mother's Day

(as an expecting mommy :-) )

Special Mother's Day Brunch

The blueberry lemon scones have become one of Mom's new favorites. :-)

I cannot express enough how thankful we are for our mom.

Truly, we have been blessed with a godly, virtuous mother, and we are so thankful for her example.

And then our Dad :-)  He is an amazing guy and a wonderful dad.  We are very grateful for his godly example as well.

And then there is them as a couple.

We feel like we have the most wonderful parents in the world. :-)  Truly, thanks to the grace of the Lord, we would not be the people we are today without them!

Beautiful Lilies

Mom's Mother's Day gift from Tayte and Martha

 

Baby bunnies the kiddos found.

 Our Beautiful Little Flower Waterers :-)

 Green Beans from the Garden

We were so thankful for all the produce the Lord provided from our gardens this year.

We have a lot to learn about gardening in Georgia, but the Lord is so gracious to provide.

Elizabeth trying her hand at Calligraphy

One of our many snake adventures. :-)

Our faithful dog is always on the spot.

Family Trip to Ohio & Indiana

 On the way there.  It's a long haul, but we have a lot of fun just being together.

Now is that face cute or what?!  :-)

 Our uncle brought Katie over to Grandma's to spend an extra day with us.  The kids all had so much fun. :-)

Here they all are in the U-Haul we rented to bring some things back home in.

 Family get-together at the Frame's

We so enjoy these precious times of catching up.

 And so do the guys. :-)

This is a very typical capture of amusement among our guys.

 Lilacs - Mom's Favorite :-)

:-) Best Buddies :-)

On our way to Grandma Webster's

 Mom and Great Aunt Jenny

sweet conversations

 Grandma and Elizabeth

 Mom and Aunt Tonja ... and Sarah

Playing "Mother May I?"

Traveling back home we made a stop to get out and walk around a bit.

 These two are so much alike! :-)

 These two are best friends. :-)

 Who wouldn't want to be together? :-)

Curious little minds :-)

 These two little girls love their big brother!

And he's very fond of them as well. :-)

 Repainting Bedrooms!

Titus was a phenomenal helper.

Enjoying the outdoors, their playset, and a snack. :-)

 Dad and Titus working together making a gun rack.

 Our Gardens and Chickens

 There's something so special about being a big sister. :-)

We sure do love all our little siblings.

 Pruning Rasberries

 Sunday afternoon fellowship with two precious sisters in the Lord.

We are so thankful for their friendship.

A stop on our way home from church to see the newest little member of our congregation.

June

While painting bedrooms we girls received a sweet note.

Titus is a sweet little guy. :-)

Setting up the swimming pool!

Very happy kiddos!
They enjoyed many, many a day this way.

 Such a sweet thing to see.

Bell working on crocheting her first baby blanket.

Giving Daddy his Father's Day gifts.

We have such a loving, caring, faithful, godly dad, and we're so thankful for him.

Setting up Martha's Co-Sleeper for coming baby!

Produce is coming in from the garden.

Canning tomato juice and spaghetti sauce.

The two little girlies making cookies together.

They both love being together and in the kitchen.

July
Family Get-Together at Uncle Trent & Aunt Deena's

 Jake taking the kids on one of many rides.

Watching "Audacity"

Playing a game of Hearts

Water Balloon Toss

 Water Balloon Fight :-)
These two were definite ring-leaders.

 Group Photo
We so enjoyed getting to spend this time together.

Grandpa and three of his four children

 Picking Elderberries

Little Sarah sweeping the kitchen floor.

So tickled with her new hair things.

Sweet Bell is so creative, and very grateful and joyful.
One evening we found this precious little note written on a piece of bark in our dresser drawer.
We wouldn't know what to do without our younger siblings.

August

Some neighbors were kind and shared their abundance of pears.

We had fun picking, and just being together.  Even Tayte and Martha came along.

Canning up Pear Sauce

We so enjoy the times when we're able to do projects with Martha too.  She is a precious sister-in-law.

Bell was so excited to start her own kumbucha.

She even made the little cover for it. :-)

 Mom and Dad's 26th Anniversary

opening all their gifts

 Their special dinner, set up out in the camper.

 A friendly turtle made his way into our yard.

The kids were so thrilled. (and the dog was intrigued)

 Esther's 7th Birthday!

For each of the children's birthdays up to 12, Mom and Dad give them a dollar for each year and let them pick out whatever they like at the Dollar Tree.  It's always so fun to see what each one comes up with.

Here Mom and Esther are getting ready to leave.

Thus ends the overview from these four months.  A very long post, I know, but I think it's neat to be able to look back, see and reflect on the happenings of life.  I hope you all have enjoyed getting another little glimpse into our lives as well.

“O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.  Let the redeemed of the LORD say so.  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!  Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.  The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.  Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.”

~ from Psalm 72 ~

~Brittany

Blessed are the Poor in Spirit

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

 Matthew 5:3

(Not the best video but I wanted the acoustic version of this song and this was the only one I could find.

I hope the song ministers to you about being poor in spirit though, as it does to me. ) 

In Acceptance Lieth Peace

In Acceptance Lieth Peace

He said, ‘I will forget the dying faces;
The empty places,
They shall be filled again.
O voices moaning deep within me, cease.’
But vain the word; vain, vain:
Not in forgetting lieth peace.

He said, ‘I will crowd action upon action,
The strife of faction
Shall stir me and sustain;
O tears that drown the fire of manhood cease.’
But vain the word; vain, vain:
Not in endeavour lieth peace.

He said, ‘I will withdraw me and be quiet,
Why meddle in life’s riot?
Shut be my door to pain.
Desire, thou dost befool me, thou shalt cease.’
But vain the word; vain, vain:
Not in aloofness lieth peace.

He said, ‘I will submit; I am defeated.
God hath depleted
My life of its rich gain.
O futile murmurings, why will ye not cease?’
But vain the word; vain, vain:
Not in submission lieth peace.

He said, ‘I will accept the breaking sorrow
Which God tomorrow
Will to His son explain.’
Then did the turmoil deep within me cease.
Not vain the word, not vain;
For in Acceptance lieth peace.

Amy Carmichael

In Acceptance Lieth Peace

In acceptance lieth peace,
O my heart be still;
Let thy restless worries cease
And accept His will.
Though this test be not thy choice,
It is His—therefore rejoice.

In His plan there cannot be
Aught to make thee sad:
If this is His choice for thee,
Take it and be glad.
Make from it some lovely thing
To the glory of thy King.

Cease from sighs and murmuring,
Sing His loving grace,
This thing means thy furthering
To a wealthy place.
From thy fears He’ll give release,
In acceptance lieth peace.

—Hannah Hurnard

Giants, God's Sustaining Hand, Fighting in Prayer

"It is when we are in the way of duty that we find giants.

It was when Israel was going forward that the giants appeared.

When they turned back into the wilderness they found none."

- Selected, Streams in the Desert, Vol. 2 -

"It is most needful for all servants of Christ to remember that whenever the Lord places a man in a position of responsibility, He will both fit him for it and maintain him in it.

It is, of course, another thing altogether if a man will rush unsent into any field of work, or any post of difficulty or danger.  In such a case we may assuredly look for a thorough breakdown, sooner or later.  But when God calls a man to a certain position, He will endow him with the needed grace to occupy it.

This holds good in every case.  We can never fail if we only cling to the living God.  We can never run dry if we are drawing from the fountain.  Our tiny springs will soon dry up; but our Lord Jesus Christ declares, 'He that believeth in me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.'"  - C.H.M.

"We plant our feet, and we fight in prayer."
- Paul Washer -
sermon, Importunity in Prayer, part 1

~Brittany