Before the Tea party Jacob and I went over to Candace’s house to get our hair done for the Tea party.

Natalie’s Dad was working so we had only one car to ride in so we were all very squished – even though Jacob and Nathan went with a different family.

So we arrived at the Park and Nathan and Jacob were the only young men in suits (not a whole lot of people were dressed up.)

Here is a picture of us all…

Kinsley and Sophie were very charming in their dresses…

The handsome Truxston and his very beautiful Mother…

The Handsome Truxston and his beautiful Aunt Paula…

We all had a very good time!

The seating arrangements changed for the way home, Nathan and Jacob had to ride in the already very squished car, so as you can imagine it was extremely squished.

We made a special trip to Sonic to cool off.

When we got back to Candace’s house we walked on the walk way
and got quite a few strange looks from other people in our old fashioned clothes

Hannah E.

This is Bear Bear. He’s been in our lives for a while. About eight years, acutally. He belongs to a certain little nephew of mine. Bear Bear is a friendly fellow and has endeared himself to the hearts of many little cousins and siblings and even aunts, uncles and parents.

Last night, Gage came home with a terrible headache and went to bed in misery without the comfort of Bear Bear, who had gone missing.

During the night, a voilent storm blew through the area, a loud thunderclap sent me tearing out of bed to look out the window and check the radar. I peeked at the babies in their beds and noticed that Trux was clasping Bear Bear in his fists.

So this morning at breakfast I asked Gage if he missed Bear Bear last night.

“Yes ma’am.”

“Did you know that Trux had him in his playpen?” I asked.

“No ma’am!” He answered, his eyes growing huge.

An hour later when I was in my room checking email Gage came in and asked if I thought it would be okay if he got Bear Bear now. Once he found the bear on the bed, he hugged it to his face and said under his breath as he was walking by Trux – “Was he cozy?”

I assumed that he was talking to Truxton, but then after he had left the room I heard him say (undoubtedly to his Bear Bear) “It’s okay if you sleep with him once in a while.”

“Children have more need of models than of critics.” Joubert

Glen and Truxton

Nathan and Natalie reading their books:

Wings of Dawn by Sigmund Brouwer and Emma by Jane Austin

“The humblest individual exerts some influence, either for good or evil, upon others”  ~Henry Ward Beecher~

Sister’s! Sophie and Kinsley at work on who has the best silliest face.

Glen helping the neighbor boy with basketball.

“The purest treasure mortal times afford, is spotless reputation: that away, men are but gilded loam or painted clay.” ~Shakespeare–Richard II. act I. Sc.I~

Truxton, well you might label him with a spotless reputation, but…
Do dirty diapers count?

“Associate with men of good quality if you esteem your own

reputation; for it is better to be alone than in bad company.”

~George Washington~

Dan (Uncle Dan) and Nathan inspiring each other to good health, stamina, and form.

“The most important single influence in the life of a person is another person … who is worthy of emulation.”
- Paul D. Shafer

Cousins; Glen, Sophie, Kinsley, and Gage.

“When wealth is lost, nothing is lost;

When health is lost; something is lost;

When character is lost, all is lost!” ~Anonymous~

• What are our roles?

• Are we thinking of what kind of an influence are we being to those around us?

• What are the things we do or say that will affect the generations to come?

These are only a few questions we might ruminate over.  Everyday sparks an opportunity for something good to give as well as something good in return.

It is not often thought about until it is too late, what kinds of influences we are being to everyone we come in contact with.

We must exercise the muscle of the heart toward children who are so easily influenced. Bend them toward the better things (ei: patience, kindness, goodness, humility, trust, faith, and most importantly love) and then this life would be in the end, most rewarding when God will say, “Well done my good and faithful servant!”

Shadows

My shadow and I stand together; the best of friends, might be

As we walk along the path, it copies everything

I run and walk in random pace; stop and go what please

I look behind and find it still, waiting to appease

So on I go no matter where, at least what seemed to be

But to my shock it wheeled around, crying in fervent plea

I must not go down such a path; it’s not a place for me

I’m just a child, whose guileless still, and must remain to be

Take note at who might follow, they’re watching every move

Ask yourself, ” what am I doing” ? Check, what approves

Here today, gone tomorrow, what did you leave behind

Leave the lasting treasure, the best that you can find.

Paula~

(Glen and Gage broke our camera a long time ago…I use Aunt Candace’s!) Anyway, Here are a few pictures I’ve taken.

A picture of the worm expedition…

A snail!

My bother Gage…

My bother Glen doing his duty! (Taking out the trash.)

A white rose. (My favorite!)

Natalie~

Yesterday Kinsley, Glen, Gage, and I, (with the camera!) went outside to dig for worms! We found a good spot to dig for worms, under the Crape Myrtle pots.

Kinsley kept on saying to  Glen and Gage “If you find a worm than you keep it, if I find a worm than I keep it”.

Than they started being silly…

Here is a picture of all of their worms.

While the little kids were digging for worms Dad and Uncle Dan were making a compost pile and talking.

It was a fun little excursion! I have to go give Truxton a bath!

Natalie~

I remember the day you came home from the hospital and
how excited I was that you were another addition to the family.

I think it was Niels who dubbed you “De-Dan-Dandy, Bubba -De-Nub,
Potto-Man Alan Jacobson”. I believe at the time you acquired this name we were on a long stretch of desert highway in Arizona somewhere, making our way to Uncle Pete’s house.

Dan, I do thank you and Candace for so graciously allowing us to
be such a close part of your family for a time. You both have shown us
such hospitality and patience.

As I have had the privilege of watching you interact with your little
ladies for a few weeks now, I have to say that you are doing a good job balancing love and calm discipline with them overall. I see your earnestness and hope for these little ones and know that you will continue to do what it takes to point them to God and the only Life that will make them joyful blessings to not only our families, but all those they come in contact with.

Dan, don’t “be weary in well doing, because in due season you shall reap.” As you would say: ” Keep on keepin on”.

May God richly bless you as you begin yet another year.We know whatever we will face, God will meet us there to show us the way.
We love you and are thankful for your life.

In Love and Hope,

Eric For All

I recalled to mind, when my own little ones (way back when, it seems) were sad, I would kiss their little hands. My lipstick would leave a kiss mark. I began to call them “happy faces”. It worked every time to brighten their sad countenance.

Now with my nieces, they eagerly run to me with hands extended exclaiming, “Happy Face, Aunt Paula!” and it’s not just on hands, but both hands, feet, and ow’ies!

Kinsley

Sophie

How simple minded they are and yet so complicated, but it makes me think of what kinds of treasures might they take with them into adulthood; something money can’t buy.

When their hearts come to a time in life, they need a little sunshine, I hope they will remember their Aunt Paula, and think of all the “Happy Faces” that came from this simple little play. I hope they will think of a time when all it took was a kiss on the hand to bring a smile to chase away a tear.

Christ Jesus knows our frames, and how simple His love is to us. We can do ourselves service, to our saddened hearts just by remembering how simple it is to call on His name, and He is there to forgive and mend our broken hearts!

“A broken and contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise.” Psalm 51:17

Paula~

Here are some pictures of some of the food we ate!

Cheeseburgers…

Coleslaw…

the whole spread…

And all the wonderful food was followed by dessert which was a chocolate wafer cake. (Unfortunately we didn’t get a picture of it!.)

After we ate the adults sat around in lawn chairs and talked. Kinsley and Sophie also joined them. (We only got a picture of Sophie in her lawn chair.)

We all had a lot of fun!

Natalie~

Two families living on top of each other for any length of time can be a real challenge, but to me this time we have spent in such close, day to day contact with the Dan’s family has truly been a great blessing.

Since our  kids have moved from the toddler stage some time ago, I was made to appreciate again the constant “upkeep” it takes to meet the needs of two toddlers and a brand new baby.

Seeing Dan and Candace at this daily juggling act of interacting with two very clever and lively young ladies and a wonderfully demanding infant boy ,brings back  memories of our own household not too long ago.

The pressures and sometimes frustration of constantly answering the immediate demands of  our little children can be daunting at times, but at the end of the day when they lay their sleepy little heads on your shoulder and embrace your neck with tiny dimpled arms and clasped delicate hands , we know this employment of raising children is the best job in the world.

The other night several weeks ago, for some reason I was designated by a majority to make a batch of Biscochitos, a New Mexican cookie that has been a tradition in our family since I was a little boy.

I conceded to the task and began to add two cups of lard to sifted flour etc.

When I finally got the ingredients together and had rolled the dough out on the kitchen counter, who do you think would meander into the kitchen to see if they could help finish the cookie making operation?

You guessed it, the Kinsley and Sophie team. Well, what could I say to two charming and delicate little girls that wanted to be my baking assistants?

I pointed to their two tiny folding chairs in the dining room and instructed them to pull them up to the counter so that they could stand on them and begin the process of punching out cookies with a round cookie cutter.

I first handed the cookie cutter to Kinsley. She eyed the dough carefully, and then very gently and delicately pressed it into the dough and made a very slow, clockwise turn.

I then instructed Kinsley to hand the cookie cutter to Sophie. Sophie anxiously snatched it from Kinsley’s hand and made a quick jab at the dough as if she were attempting to squash a cockroach. As she dug the cookie cutter deep in to the dough, you could feel her little arm trembling as she applied as much pressure as she could muster. She then proceeded to pull out the cutter. The dough had become stuck inside of it from all the applied pressure. Poking her little forefinger into the middle of the dough circle, she shoved the round cookie free of the cutter and  back onto the dough, finger print and all.

I then instructed Sophie to give the cutter back to Kinsley, but before I knew it, Sophie had already aggressively stamped out two more cookies in the same violent fashion she had done to the first cookie. Two more fingerprinted cookies ready to go!

Kinsley then realized that she had been taken advantage of by her little sister, and a high-pitched cry of protest was uttered. I then handed the cookie cutter back to Kinsley, and she again delicately and gently pushed the cutter into the dough.

We did manage to finish cutting the cookies out as a team, but I believe Sophie got to cut out more cookies than Kinsley, largely due to the fact that Kinsley had rolled out two ” little worms” of dough with her hands and was completely lost in her own world of baby birds and their mothers bringing worms to feed them. While Kinsley was away, high in the trees feeding the cookie worms to her hungry children, Sophie was making the most of the cookie cutting enterprise without the help of her sister.

(photos soon to be added!)

Watching these two dear little ladies, so alike in many ways, and yet so very different, I marveled at how God delights to create each one of us as uniquely His, each with gifts and talents that are intended to glorify Him and enrich our lives as we interact with one another.

Eric

It is cloudy and wet outside. I noticed on our morning walks that in the past few days the trees have turned a whole new shade of green. I love summer.

Otherwise, not much else is going on.

Nathan