Janet, you need to tell Matthew and Blain that they need to get a 4-wheeler their own size so the won't be breaking the children's toys lol!!! They have tractors, hellooooooooooo :) Little Miss Marleigh is trying to walk to her hearts content. The last several days she has been taking 5-10 steps at a time. I think she may not need our help by the end of the week and Nana is afraid she's going to miss that. I pray you all have a safe and blessed week traveling and visiting. Post some pictures for us :) Vonda, tell David we say "hey". Love you all :)

Kaiden got a hand-me-down 4-wheeler for his birthday.  The kid has talked more in two days than he has in three years.  I think he must be a little excited!

Mom~  Didn't want you to miss this!  I laughed so hard. I am not sure who was having more fun here, dad or Kaiden.  I think dad was pretty tired afterwards b/c he ended up doing some pushing.  The 4-wheeler flooded or something minor while dad was here so Kaiden told Matthew that Papaw broke his 4-wheeler.  Matthew said to tell Papaw that if he couldn't play right and not be so rough with his toys, he wasn't going to be allowed to ride anymore.  Kaiden thought that was hilarious that papaw was going to get into trouble. 

The Wooden Bowl

A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and a four-year old grandson. The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered. The family ate together nightly at the dinner table. But the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating rather difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass often milk spilled on the tablecloth. The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess. "We must do something about grandfather," said the son. I've had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor. So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner. There, grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner at the dinner table. Since grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl. Sometimes when the family glanced in grandfather's direction, he had a tear in his eye as he ate alone. Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food. The four-year-old watched it all in silence.

One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, "What are you making?" Just as sweetly, the boy responded, "Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and mama to eat your food from when I grow up." The four-year-old smiled and went back to work. The words so struck the parents that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done. That evening the husband took grandfather's hand and gently led him back to the family table.

For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled. Children are remarkably perceptive. Their eyes ever observe, their ears ever listen, and their minds ever process the messages they absorb. If they see us patiently provide a happy home atmosphere for family members, they will imitate that attitude for the rest of their lives. The wise parent realizes that every day that building blocks are being laid for the child's future.

Let us all be wise builders and role models. Take care of yourself, ... and those you love, ... today, and everyday!

Today, I am a hard-boiled egg all the way. And I also don't like coffee. Tomorrow I am praying to be a coffee bean or at least if I'm going to be an egg maybe I won't get so done!

I am a carrot, Trying to be like the coffee bean!!!!!!!!!!

Lorie~I will pray to be a coffee bean,as I'm sure I'm not. I just Thank God that I'm a work in progress and I pretty much stay on the Potter's wheel!!
And YES, Hershey sleeps with us, right between our heads and sometimes it's across our neck. She is so sweet. The only thing that will root her out is another grandbaby....
Michelle, I'm so happy that things are working out like they are for your family. I would LOVE to see a castle in real life...but since I would have to probably FLY to the country where they are, that probably won't happen. Unless I am drugged like they use to drug Mr. T on the A-Team!
Emily, your bread looked so good, I could smell it. You are becoming quite the cook. Now all you need is a Kitchen Aid mixer...Hint...Hint

Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean- Points to ponder

A carrot, an egg, and a cup of coffee...You will never look at a cup of
coffee the same way again.

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up She was tired of
fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them boil; without saying a word.

In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me what you see."

"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied. Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to
take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg.
Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma The daughter then asked, "What does it mean, mother?"

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently.
The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak.
The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened.

The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

"Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean? Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with
a stiff spirit and hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

Addie, your picture for Mary Kay is priceless. Vonda, if you guys need anything just call.

Good morning all

It is cold here today and a light dusting of snow coming down. Mom is over at the nursing home having breakfast with dad. I have the day off today and going to work on laundry. Mom and I are looking for some crockpot recipes due to our schedules now. I would love to try anyones favorites. Just post it here or email it to me. Emily read the article about sleeping with pets..dont think I will quit now or your mom either.Hey Rita doesn't your new pooch sleep with you and Blain? We miss you all terribly!!! Lil Vonda is already asking if her and Vesta can go to Tt's for Easter with Grandma. Shawn took a test at work to be a inspector and passed with a 97 percent. He gets a quarter raise. It was hard so we are proud of him. Dad was in good spirits yesterday. The place he is at is on my way home from work...a blessing. Can run in and visit anytime. He was up most of the day and they were putting him back to bed at 3:30 when I got there. He was tuckered out. He seems to be at peace with his situation and is really trying hard. Please continue to lift him and mom up before the Lord. We don't want dad to feel discourage or depressed. Thank you to all who sent him cards. Mom has them taped next to his bed so he can see them. He got hot wings and cupcakes for his birthday. He was happy. Everyone have a wonderful day and keep warm. Love you all!

It is pouring like crazy here! It started around 10:30 and I'd say we have at least 4 inches. My classes all got cancelled and I'm just hoping the power doesn't go out now. Zac has to work until 7:30 tonight and I've heard that it is taking people 2 hours to drive the road from here to his work (it usually takes 10-15 minutes) so please pray that he will make it home safely!

Michelle and girls, loved your pictures of the castles! And the history! That is so exciting to me! And we get to share these pictures as you travel the country! Yes!
I trust you girls had a great visit with Dad. Memories you will not soon forget. It is snowing here the biggest fattest fluffiest snowflakes right now. Maybe we will get 3''! Yeah!

Some of you keep asking for pictures of castles, so here are two we saw in May, 2010.

This is a castle we drove by when going to Burg Eltz from Trier, Germany. I couldn't find a name or date for this castle. We didn't go in it.

This is our trip to Burg Eltz, which is a castle north of Trier, Germany. We went in May of last year. Burg Etlz is first mentioned in a document dated in 1157 AD, and the document already calls it the old castle. It has been in the same family since it was built, more than 33 documented generations. Documentation is important here in Europe, as lands and houses/castles/palaces changed hands many times in wars/occupations. So 33 generations is amazing, almost unheard of, especially as it is located on the River Eltz, an ancient Roman trade route river. The largest Roman city of Trier, about an hour south, was established by Caesar Augustus Octavian (by 16 AD in an already existing town), who was Julius Caesar's nephew, who fought Mark Anthony, then ruled as emperor of Rome. Amazing history.

This castle still has original furniture, with a painted bed chamber with wooden beam ceilings from the 15th century and stain glass windows showing the coat of arms. They had over 20 working toilets that flushed using rain water collecting in large barrels on the roof. They have the family treasury with jewels, weapons, and suits of armor. There were tapestries, paintings, and murals from the 14-1600's. The kitchen was the most amazing for me (!) with a large slanted cutting board with a drain on the low end. You would pull a chain on the high end and water from a barrel on the roof would rinse it off. Thus, a working sink to wash meat and veggies! The wood burning oven was so huge, Toria and Aleya could stand in it. You can google the castle and see pictures on their website.

Happy Birthday Vonda and David. God Bless You.

Thank you All for the Birthday wishes , I am on my way to see David , so I will give him your wishes too. Love you All and Have a Blessed Day, This is the Day the Lord has made , Let us REJOICE and be Glad. Amen

Happy Birthday Vonda! I love you and wish you many more happy, happy birthdays!

Happy Birthday, David and Vonda!

Happy Birthday Vonda and David! Be Blessed today.

Trish, so glad for your praise blessing, Yes, God Is Awesome, and he is still in the healing business. He has never changed.And we will keep all the prayer request, in prayer. Every thing here is about the same. snowing now , but we are only supposed to get about and in. or 2.

Food for Thought:

God must be God of all, or He is not God at all. He is not the God of some things, but all things.

Way to go, Trish!

Mark 16:17-18 And these signs shall follow them that believe; in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

Morning all,
Sounds like you have had a wonderful visit Michelle. I know what you mean about leaving the camera at home. I feel like I watched tanners whole football season through the camera! Do you scrapbook? Your girls could have some awesome scrapbooks! I would love to see a picture of a real castle!

I have a couple of prayer requests too. Grace Legg is in the hospital with pneumonia and a urinary tract infection and Homer Cadle is losing his battle with cancer. He has more spots that are cropping up that they can't do anything about. He is getting hospice but they are kind of like mommy and daddy. Vena has Alzheimer's and homer is sharp a a tack!

I am decreasing my medicines for polymyositis so I am in a bit of pain in my joints and muscles but I think most of that is withdrawal from the prednisone and time is the only thing that fixes it. I go back to Cleveland clinic in march so I won't know anything else til then. But I haven't had any side effects from the chemo and I am finished with it for the time being!

Danny was sick yesterday too. He had a terrible stomach pain in his l. Upper quadrant of his
abdomen and vomiting. He couldn't get relief from the pain at all and thought he may have to go to the ER. I laid hands on him and prayed for him and 2 hours later he was hungry and absolutely no pain. The only thing this morning was soreness where he had his pain! God is good!

Happy early birthday Vonda and David, your cards will be a little later in the week. But better late than never. Well it's almost time for Emma so I better get ready.

Hope everyone has a good day!

Hey, everyone!!! It has started snowing again and hasn't stopped all night and this morning........I SERIOUSLY hope we don't get another 38 inches this month!!!! LOL

Hey, Monica! I will try to get the pictures downloaded in the next few days. But I have to tell you, surprisingly, we didn't take very many. I think we were just soaking it all in. Amazing how 336 hours can fly. But with the good news of an earlier return, it isn't so bad. We are under 4 months.

Teresa, I have PCOS where I get cysts. It started when I was 14 years old, and I still get one occasionally. They tried to control the cysts with the BC pills. I hope it isn't endometriosis. I'm praying for her. I know God heals!! Each of my girls has been healed many times, and we know Grandma is praying for her....Grandpa, too.

Much love to all of you, Michelle and girls

I also have a prayer request, I would like everyone to pray for Kelsey. She has had strep for the fourth time in two months and the doctor said she is probably going to have her tonsils taken out.

Also she is having female issues, she has two complex cysts that are probably going to be removed with surgery and she may also have endometriosis. She will probably have to go on short term disability because she has had to miss so much work.

I hope Kaiden gets better, we will be praying for him . We have also been praying for you Vonda and David even though I havent been blogging I have been reading.

Please pray for Kaiden as he has complained about his belly hurting all day and is vomiting like crazy.  (Hope you aren't eating and reading the blog.)  He is still drinking, which is making him vomit more, I think.  I am headed to get some pedia lite.  Say a prayer for him.

Michelle, we've missed you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Happy to hear you all had a good visit and that Joe will be coming home sooner than planned :) You need to post some pictures for us.

Janet, I agree with you on Emily's bread lol :p

Addy, I loved the Jekyll/Hyde pic. You're face looks like it is healing wonderfully. Are you getting back to feeling like yourself and walking without being dizzy?

Hello, it's been a long time since we've been on!
Janet, I am so sorry about your pregnancy. Much love to you, hang in there.
Addy, WOW! Sorry you had the accident! Hope you are better. And if you tell your kids what happened, you might suddenly find yourself the coolest teacher there!! Especially if you tell them you were airborn :D
Vonda, sorry about David. I hope he is recuperating.
Emily, thanks for the well-wishing.
Trisha, you looked like you were having fun with all those babies in the house! I hope you are doing well on chemo and not getting sick.
Steve, great on the interview. Hope you feel God's guidance about the yes/no on it.
And the bread looked great, like the bread here in our backerai. It made me hungry.
Rita, I liked the story about "I pray you enough". I printed it out to save.
Well, R&R was wonderful. It flew by too quickly. 336 hours was not enough. We had a warm spell that melted all that snow, so we only had to shovel once the whole two weeks! But then the river Vils by our castle flooded, so a lot of people had to drain their basements. I am glad we are too far away to flood.
We got some good news about Joe's deployment. They decided to end it in May instead of July!!! That made his leaving a little easier to bear, since we found out 3 days prior to his leaving. We travelled a little, staying close to home. We went to Nurnberg and Amberg, both walled cities with Castles and ancient churches from over a thousand years ago. It was nice to go to a city bustling with traffic, people, and after-Christmas sales!!! Remember, our little village close to the base has a population of about 6,300 people!!! So 100,000 people seems like a lot.....
LOL, good times. It is unique being here. Our next destination is four hours west, in a large city, only 4 hours from Paris. Can't wait for that. I think the kids are most excited about the Toys R Us, even if most of the toys are German made, with instructions in German, and the electronics have European specs......Me, I am excited about having a mall again!! Now I just need to memorize the conversion charts for clothing sizes :) It is very different. But the trade-offs are good knowing this is only for a spell, take the best of it and go on, yada yada yada. :D
I think I have rambled enough for one day...I hope all of you have a blessed and wonderful day. And no one else has bad news.... :)
Love to you all, Michelle and girls