The Bates Family

Some of you who have watched the Dugger TV show (we borrowed it from a friend on DVD and loved it) will remember the Bates family. This special family is a close second to the Duggers for World's Largest Family.

This movie was really neat and I thought you all would enjoy seeing it!!!

I think it would be the neatest thing in the world to have 18 - 20 kids! What a wonderful life!!!

Jessica

January 15th is a great day to have a baby especially on January 14th! It, however, does not seem to be a great time to have a birthday once you are a kid.

Sarah has been extremely sick on 3 of birthdays, and when you are only 7 that is quite a high percentage.

This year Sarah has the tried and true flu. You know the one with 103 fever, headache, backache and chills. She has been a trooper and stayed in quarantine though. We set up a monitor and made a wonderful sick room for her. Her wonderful Daddy brought her tulips and a Toy Story Birthday balloon. I read Edith Schaeffer and know all about making this a good memory for her.

Until she is well, the celebration will be quiet. But I celebrate her in my heart because I have lost 5 babies now, and I know that life really is a gift from God. That each breath, each footstep, each moment when I hear those words, "it's a girl, it's a boy" are the moments of life.

There comes this moment when you realize that life is a vapor. There will be no 7th birthday for my 5 little souls in heaven. And yet their birthday was with Jesus. That is a hard concept to grasp when you are earth bound. One day, "we will be like Him, and we shall see Him as He is" then there will be no more tears.

So for the incredible 8 gifts I have on earth, I celebrate life. I teach them to celebrate a God who walked the earth. A God who had a birthday!!! That is what makes our God an incredible God.

A sober birthday post for Sarah. I will make a peppy one for when she is peppy!!!

A Homeschool Family!

This is SO us!!! Anyone who knows us will agree!

Reading A Story

I (Jessica) am reading some very good books right now!! Go here to see the titles and look for the reviews that will come soon!

http://livingbooksfromplantsandpillars.blogspot.com/

I love books, so for Christmas, there were a lot of books. Mrs. Clause chose the presents this year!!

I love the feel of a book when it is new and crisp. When the Sonlight box arrives or the UPS man drops off the Amazon order, I can't wait to open it and see a brand new book.

I will write a book one day in order to be able to feel that sensation!

Still, the books I really love are the ones that are worn out. "Tell me not what a man reads, but what he reads over and over again." Those are the books we have a relationship with.

For us Richard Scarry, Busy Town books are worn out and taped up and worn out again. We have owned and torn and loved more copies of Goodnight Moon than I care to tell you. Our Little House on the Prairie series is missing pages and taped and tattered from being read over and over. Charlotte's Web, Jan Karon's Mitford Series, Anne of Green Gables. These are the books that I love to pick up. We love to read our favorites scenes over and over again.

My Bible, I must say is not as tattered and torn as these. We have a lady at church whose Bible is duct taped together. Now that is a woman you know a lot about. She is far from perfect, but I know where she goes when the days the tough and when the days are good.

Praise the Lord for the written word. Teach your kids that men died that we would one day read the Word whenever we desire. Learn to read and Tolle Lege!

The Twelfth Day of Christmas

On the Twelfth Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,
Twelve Lords Leaping

The Twelve Points of Doctrine in the Apostle's Creed

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:

Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended into hell.

The third day He arose again from the dead.

He ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy *catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting.

Amen.

Merry Christmas!

The Eleventh Day of Christmas!

On the Eleventh Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, Eleven Pipers Piping.

The Eleven Faithful Apostles!

The Tenth Day of Christmas

On the Tenth Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,
Ten Lords Leaping.

The Ten Commandments.

The Ninth Day of Christmas

On the Ninth Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, Nine Ladies Dancing

The Nine Fruits of the Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control

The Eighth Day of Christmas

On the Eighth Day of Christmas, my true love gave to me,
Eight Maids a-milking.

The Eight Beatitudes:
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:3-10