My Video 5/21/13 at OneTrueMedia.com

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It takes a village?

I have heard it said:

It takes a village to raise a child.

I have also heard:

I have seen the village and I don't want it raising mine.

I think I would say:

Choose your village wisely!

As a mother, and I know Phil would agree as a father, that we need to be so careful who we allow to influence our children.  Debi Pearl has explained it like this, "Children are born with a clean slate...as they grow, they carry that slate with them always...written on by everyone the children encounter.  What is etched on that slate will go with them throughout their lives."

There is no eraser to undo what has been imprinted on their little hearts.

We are their built in filter as parents and we need to feel the weight of this responsibility.  We can no longer just pass them off to their teachers, peers and babysitters to do the job that God has given specifically to US!!

I do believe that God gives us help...we are not in it alone.  And if you are in a season such as we are, daddy is providing for his family.  We do not have him here as much as we would like, however, in this season, we have been supplied with a village.

Bank on it...look for it, and pray for it.

Those of you who do not have children or your children are grown...or you don't mind adding a few to your plate, look for disciples.

Help parent train, disciple and influence this next generation.

 We need a tidal wave...

We need a village to raise up a new generation of Godly, strong and unwavering body of Christ.

We need you.

Deuteronomy 4:9  “Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children—

Deuteronomy 6:6-9 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.  You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.  You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Isaiah 38:19 The living, the living, he thanks you, as I do this day; the father makes known to the children your faithfulness.

Matthew 7:12 ”So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

2 Timothy 1:5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.

2 Timothy 3:14-15 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

I am so thankful for our village!!  Thank you for all who invest in us, pray for us and continually write on the slates of my children.  You are part of God's grace and mercy in our parenting!! 
I love you all!

First day on the ranch!!

A day at the ranch...

always begins with a "cock-a-doodle-doo" by the rooster Mr. Cogburn!!

We were so excited to be back in Montana...

The girls are once again together...missing a few newbies though!!

(Me, mom, Rikki and Katy Kay)

The cousins are REUNITED and feeling GOOD!!

Cowboys are all about business...always!

Even my children are awe-struck by the view.

 We were all so happy to see Grandpa Fred!!  Canaan's middle name is Fredrick after my grandpa and my dad, Rick.

 Jojo was ESPECIALLY excited to see him...she couldn't take her eyes off!

 Uncle Jim was giving free flying lessons!!

And the crazy sisters are once again reunited...a good old fashioned spankin' was due for this one!!

Boys, of course, get right to business:

First with shed hunting...

 And then a little trap shooting!!

 Ezra got to take his first shots with a 12 guage!!

 And Abraham once again blows us all away, only missing 1 out of about 25!!  Darn near knocked him on his bottom every time though!!  HA!!

 SEE!!  ;)

After about 500 rounds, Papa was in need of ear plugs and when all else fails......

Our days usually end...

 just...

 like...

this.

His wonders never cease.

Stay tuned to the first branding!!  Our second day in Montana was just as glorious!!!!

A special cake for a special boy!!

Happy 10th Birthday Ezra!!

You, by far, add the most color to our home and our lives!!

Nana knew that there needed to be a very special cake for a very special boy.

 So, like always, every event is memorable....

family and friends showed up....

 Cake was beautiful and you made your wish...

 Blew out your candle...

 and had the honors of cutting the first piece!!

 Which proved to be a little more difficult than you had imagined!!

 You had to push a little harder...

 position the knife a little differently...

 (I was thanking the Lord that you were a good boy and practiced your manners...you never once let on that you thought Nana had to be a terrible cook to have burnt this cake so badly!)

 You kept that smile on and decided to just eat the frosting...

 Until, finally, Nana lifted up that cake to reveal a BOX!!!!!  ;)

HA!!

 Thankfully, she brought out a very yummy one instead!!

Ezra, we are so thankful for you.  You are truly one of a kind...keeping us all on our toes and at the same time loving Jesus so much, it can't help but humble everyone around you.

We are so blessed to have such an amazing son.

Love you to the moon and back!!

Yellowstone...final stop and we see light at the end of the tunnel!!

Yellowstone is beautiful and was an amazing end to our exciting journey to Montana!!

(click on photo and scroll through to see them larger)

We just happened to get amazing seating...EXACTLY 7 rocking chairs,

 for watching Old Faithful erupt!!

 It was the perfect day to see wildlife.  This old Buffalo had traffic at a standstill and he walked across the road.

 I was able to get within 20 feet of this cow elk for an amazing shot!

 The sulfur springs stunk, but were well worth the stop.

Gabrielle gave us all a lesson on sulfur.

Sulphur is a mineral...at it's highest temp, it is blue, almost boiling it's green and as a solid it is yellow. 

Does it smell bad? Technically, the pure elemental sulfur is odorless. When it chemically combines with other elements or compounds such as carbon disulfide, it usually forms a toxic gas or acidic liquid with bad smell. The resulting odor is mainly due to the strong chemical properties of sulfur that comes out only once chemical bonding is achieved. But to answer that question...YES...it smells BAD!!

 

 

 

Even Phil seemed to be just plain happy in this beautiful place!

 After Yellowstone, we see light at the end of the tunnel!!

We get to eat (thankfully my children are easily amused)...

 Even still, when we go to a restraunt with all of the kiddos and the waitress compliments us on our children (this one took a photo with my camera and then with her phone so that she can show her friends), I feel like some small miracle has just occured!

 This journey has been a blast, but everyone is beyond ready to get gussied up to plant some roots out at nana and papa's ranch!!

Belt, Montana...HERE WE COME!!!