Pictures-The Cows

These pictures are for my city girlfriends ;) Is that you, Lindsey??
After staying inside for way too many days with all of us having colds....AND some nice weather
has come for the weekend it looks like.....I took the kids out to where my brother Jacob works this morning.

This place is pretty amazing...they basically raise TONS (as you can see above and that's not even all the calf huts either!) of calves and make some good money in the process.

Here's some bigger cows.....

If I remember correctly from growing up on a dairy, this is called a freestall barn.

Gabe got to "feed a baby cow" as he says ;)

Ellie was loving it too....poor kid, I'm the over protective mother that made them wear their winter coats because they have colds.....nasty coughs...never ending runny noses....

We got to ride on the feeding machine....the neat looking tanks in the back actually are the cow's drinks ;) You just drive past and fill their buckets...how cool is that?

Uncle Jacob...the bull rider....and farmer boy ;) Thanks Jacob! We love you so much!!!

Looking for...

I'm currently looking for a giant onion or a plump garlic clove to BITE into
so that my sinuses may be cleared up...can anyone help me with that?!?!?!?!?!

Wow...you don't realize how much you appreciate a clear nose until it is STUFFED
so tight you can only make air movement out the mouth and drool in the process....
I fear I have become slightly toddler looking....with drool and all....*sigh* this is no fun.

BUT....the kids slept allllllllllllllllllll night....GLORY hallelujah!!!! Jase had the cold first
then passed it on to us...thanks honey....but ya know...we're tough, so we'll pull out....but
PLEASE if someone could pass me an onion I would so appreciate it! Vicks isn't helping anymore!

The great thing is this: The weather is warming up and the weekend forecast looks beautiful,
so really.....I should not be complaining about sinuses, eh?

I just told Jason I'm going to sleep outside tonite as I have NO sinuses issues out there.....too bad we have no tent.....and too bad I'm too chicken to sleep outside without a shelter ;)

Happy Friday!

Check Der Diaper

I was working in the kitchen this morning and I heard Gabe talking to Ellie.
"I check der diaper?" He was patting her bottom.
Next thing I knew, he was right behind me, patting my bottom, then he turned
me around and patted the front below my belly button.
"Mommy I check der diaper?"
He never ceases to make me laugh.

Acclaim and Exult

Main Entry:
1ac·claim
Pronunciation:
\ə-ˈklām\
Function:
verb
Etymology:
Latin acclamare, literally, to shout at, from ad- + clamare to shout — more at claim
Date:
1606
transitive verb 1 : applaud , praise 2 : to declare by acclamation intransitive verb : to shout praise or applause
— ac·claim·er noun

So I was reading this morning:

"Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;
love and faithfulness go before you.
Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you,
who walk in the light of your presence, O Lord.
They rejoice in your name all day long;
they exult in your righteousness.
For you are their glory and strength..."
Psalm 89: 14-17

The word acclaim just jumped out at me so I went and looked it up.
What you read above is the dictionary meaning.
The next word that jumps out is: exult.
Dictionary meaning follows:


exult
Main Entry:
ex·ult
Pronunciation:
\ig-ˈzəlt\
Function:
intransitive verb
Etymology:
Middle French exulter, from Latin exsultare, literally, to leap up, from ex- + saltare to leap — more at saltation
Date:
1548
1obsolete : to leap for joy2: to be extremely joyful : rejoice
— ex·ult·ing·ly \-ˈzəl-tiŋ-lē\ adverb

Okay...this really got me thinking....
I really need to practice this more....acclaiming to God, because "blessed are they
that learn to do this"....right?
And I really need to practice more leaping for joy and being extremely joyful...
because that is what God's Word is saying here..."all day long." Wow!

If I could really start applying this to my heart and life, I can about imagine the difference
in my days where I think I'm gonna go insane.

So, today....I'm going to start applying and if you walk past my house and think there's
a crazy party going on of jumping and shouting...don't be concerned or weirded out.

It will just be me, teaching these little monkies the meaning of acclaim and exult.
Because after all...it's the WORD OF GOD ,eh?

How Great

Charles Spurgeon said, "How great is the sum of them! When we remember that God thought upon us from old eternity, continues to think upon us every moment, and will think of us when time shall be no more, we may well exclaim, 'How great is the sum!'... It should fill us with adoring wonder and reverent surprise that the infinite mind of God should turn so many thoughts towards us who are so insignificant and so unworthy!"

"How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God!How great is the sum of them!If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand."Psalm 139:17, 18 KJV

I Love These Guys

The bestest brothers in the whole wide world.....they still make me feel sooooo small ;)

Yeah, cuz I'm 5'9...take a gander how tall they reach? Then guess their wingspan...

Praying for our Children

I found this on another blog on what to pray for our children and really liked it.
I will add on with my own list too.

1-to grow up to love God and love the church
2-to remain healthy
3-to make the right friends
4-to come to know God at an early age
5-to embrace the role God has given them
6-to be positive leaders among others their age
7-to find places in the church where they can serve and use their gifts
8-for them to focus on all the positives of ministry and not the negatives
9-for them to understand and regularly practice forgiveness
10-for them to love people
~Holly Furtick

My List:
1-If they are to be married someday that God would already be raising up
a Godly spouse for them
2-That they would be mighty warriors in the Kingdom
3- That God would place Christian friends in their life when they are in school
4- That they would radiate Jesus
5- That they would know the meaning of The Cross

Hava great week....Hugs n Blessings.....Laura
Psalm 71:17 Since my youth, oh God, You have taught me, and to this day I declare Your marvelous deeds.

Pictures-Party Time

We headed over to Jason's Gramma's last night for 4 people's birthday party.

We love Great Gramma....she is the sweetest lady ever!

Little cousin Amanda turned 4 and got a princess cake.

Lil Miss Ellie turns 1 in a couple wks so we celebrated hers too! Here she is acting shy

when everyone is singing.

She too, got to have the princess cake...she really didn't know what to think.

She was very cautious with the digging in part....only took little lady like bites of frosting.

She loved ripping open her presents..she got her first dollhouse! Thank you to Great Uncle

Bob and Aunt Jo.....they have had great fun playing with it today!

Gabe farming on the kitchen table with Jason's stepdad, Dale.

Cousin Alyssa became a teenager!!! She had the coolest cake: Sisterhood of the traveling pants!

Playing with Great Aunt Jo.

Still farming....with cousin John.

Ellie had fun with Amanda.....

Jason's sister Emily had a birthday too.

When we got home last night, Ellie helped Daddy fix the door.

(We had to lower the latch so Gabe couldn't reach it)

I loved this shirt I found for Ellie ;)

Taking some steps....she does better every day.

Aunt Emily

I Gave My Heart...

14 years ago today....I gave my heart and my life to Jesus.

It hasn't always been easy...but God has provided every step of the way.

The road hasn't always been a smooth one...but God has leveled it out where I needed it.

There wasn't always lotsa sunshine....but God still held me in the rain.

There have been many days that I felt to be a failure of a Christian....

But God always spoke to my heart Words of Love and Life.

His promises have always come true...and He's never let me down.

And I have never, ever regreted the decision to let Jesus into my heart

and live my life for Him.

So here's to the rest of my life here on earth....more years of serving Him.

Because there's no better life,than walking by His side.

“Therefore know that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments..."

Deuteronomy 7:9

The Nanny Diaries

Just watched The Nanny Diaries.....and just a couple things:

1-I pray that I would always be able to raise our children and thank God that He
has provided finacially so far that I can do so....even though some days I wish I could
run away.....seriously...I have the greatest job in the world being these 2 little monkey's mom!

2-To all the nannies out there.....I salute you. If you are all the nanny that Scarlett Johansen is....
then there are some really, really lucky little kids out there.

3- This movie is great....would have been so much better without the bad language.

4- I wanted to cry a couple times....but I did not, I'll have you know ;)

5- Lastly....it's 11:00 pm but I just went in and picked up Ellie and rocked her again while
she was sleeping....because I can....because I love being a mama. I'm now going to snuggle with Gabe without waking him up ;) Good night!

Why I Love My Mama

The platter awaits me....Treats from Panera, Dave's Bakery, and Great Harvest.
Thus...one of the many reasons I love my Mama...always gifting me with things I love ;)

Now for the debate...which to eat and linger with my coffee??
1-Almond Filled Bear Claw
2- Orange Donuts
3- Bavarian Cream Roll
4- Cinnamon Crunch Bread
Which would you choose?

Pictures-A Day in the Life

I did get some things accomplished today....despite all the monkey business happening.....

A Day in the Life of....the Stroughs....never ever ever a dull moment....

The stick has made it's appearance once again....and Lil Miss Ellie is NOT happy about it.

I think.....today I cleaned up more messes than I ever have in my life.

Constantly by each other's side.....making a big.ol.mess....

Wearing Mommy's shoes and dancing in the kitchen....

His new thing: He closes his eyes and says: "Mommy, where are you?"

Before the stick came back out....another mess in the making.

Today was the day that Ellie REALLY learned how to climb....as soon as I put the gate

up to keep them outa the kitchen tonite, she instantly climbed to the top.

Scary factor: Gabe did NOT do this until he was closer to 2 and she's not even 1 yet!

Once again...side by side....being inventful.

She learned how to climb INTO her walker today....great.....

Her first taste of salsa at supper tonite...barely a face...she is such a Daddy's girl!

This morning, is when all the climbing started. Gabe set up his chairs and she went crazy.

And boy was she proud of what she had accomplished ;)

I did get some things accomplished today amidst all the messes.....I gave car rides in the

laundry baskets......amidst 25 loads of laundry ;)

And Gabe proceeded to think he needed to take Ellie for a ride...she wasn't so sure about him driving...can't say I blame the girl.

Why we have to take all the tricky routes, I'll never know.

And there she is....cameo and her only 2 teeth she's got.

Climbing on the couch is such a no-no, but oh so much fun!

Sooooo........even though I was super Mom and running circles around our monkeys....

I did get some things checked off my list.

1-Got the kids' summer clothes put away/winter clothes out

2-2 meals made today and fed to my family

3-pan of bars made

4-Did I say 25 loads of laundry....okay not quite that many

5-Had a quiet time and lingered with my coffee

6-Did some more photo work (my new business in the making)

7-Some good talks with friends on the phone

8-Good quality time with my hubby BEFORE kids got up from naps AND after putting

kids to bed tonite.....that doesn't always happen so it was an extra special day ;)

So even though it was rainy and gloomy....it was very sunny in our house with our 2 little sunshines of monkeys ;)

Oh My Goodness!!!!

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh! I'm jumping up and down with excitement!!!!
Guess what?!?!?!?!?!? Beth Moore is coming to Illinois!!!!!!

Do you know how long I've waited for her to come near enough to
travel and see her for a low cost?!?!?! Ummm, forever....

Bad news....we have to wait a whole year....But it's on the schedule!
Mark your calendars for November 6th-8th 2009 in Springfield, Illinois.
Living Proof Live!!! And maybe we can get a whole bus load to go!

If you've never heard of Beth....you can go to http://www.lproof.org/default.asp
and check out the website. She is an amazing and annointed woman of God.

Be On Your Way

1 Samuel 16:1
"The LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.”

It broke Samuel’s heart to realize that Saul’s reign as king was coming to an end, even though it was for the best.When God brings a season, an initiative, or a relationship to an end in our lives, it can be devastating, even if it’s for the best.
If God is currently bringing something to an end in your life, your church, or your business, consider what God said to Samuel:Fill your horn with oil and be on your way.Move on. Receive a fresh anointing and continue making progress.
You lost a staff member? Learn from it, be gracious, and be on your way.You lost your job? Adjust the family budget, draw near to God, overhaul your outlook and be on your way.Your boyfriend broke your heart? Maybe he just wasn’t worthy of you…delete his number and be on your way.
The oil of God flows freely to those who make a conscious decision to stop mourning over what God has rejected, fill up, and get moving.Be on your way today."

~Pastor Steven Furtick

WeinerRoastVille

So we just had 3 weiner roasts.in.a.row.at my parents....what fun we had.
Sunday night was our annual one we have with approx about 100 people....it was great!
Hayrack ride and all. Last night was FCA: Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
My brother Isaac makes me so proud....He gave his life to Jesus this summer and has just
been amazing to watch the transformation in him. He is the leader in FCA this year and he
recruited triple the amount of students that were in it last year. Yeeha!!!

My brother Isaac is the tallest in the picture, one of our favorite teachers is on his left-Mr. Dunahee...oh and can you find Jason????

It was raining so instead of a hayrack ride we all commensed (sp?) in the new shed with a baggo tournament....that too was so much fun!

We had group discussion outa the Bible....

As Isaac led the group I just had this awesome vision of seeing his dream come true: Him being a Christian coach someday....he's so good with kids and he's so in love with Jesus!!!

Then tonite we topped it off with my piano students' weiner roast. So.much.fun.again...

Good thing I accidently slept in til 9:15 this morning cuz the kiddos slept til 9:45!!!!

Cuz these younguns' sure do know how to make us older ones tired!!!!

This is how you keep warm on the hayrack ride...sit behind the bus seats.
This is my most advanced student, Karla....she has been such a joy....and it's so fun to watch

her play Beethoven and Bach!

Craziness.....too many marshmellows make a person hyper!

Every student got to bring a friend...and 2 of my students weren't able to make it.

Victory in bobbing for apples!!!

The rowdy boys.....

Did bobbing for apples always consist of seeing how wet you can get?!?!?! They seriously

were dunking their WHOLE faces in the water.....I don't remember this.

Thank you Dad and Mom for letting us use your place to have all the festivities....thank you Dad for being the best "school bus/hayrack" driver ever....and Mom for watching the little kiddos once again. I love you both so much and appreciate all you do for us!!!