Extreme Home Makeover

Our chicks have flown the coop..The old coop that is.

We had them a little extreme home built.

It has 32 square feet on the bottom floor and they have a nice stair case to the up stairs loft. There are nesting rooms up stairs and easy open doors on the side to retrieve the golden eggs..This house can be moved anywhere in the yard so the chickens are eating green grass all the time.yummy!

We have enjoyed these chicks and can't wait to pop open the door to find our first home grown egg..

Sweet Joy's of life

My sweet daughter and I made strawberry jam for most of the day.

It is so much fun working around each other. She usually reads the instructions and I mix or I read and she mixes.

We laugh so much and we end up trying to solve all the "worlds problems" while we work side by side.

Somewhere in the depth of my soul I know this is the way it's supposed to be. We are supposed to teach our children side by side, day by day things that will be passed down. I know without a doubt she will be in the kitchen with my grandkids teaching them the things we learned together..and prayerfully I hope I'm right there with them...

Taking a break

As the heat of the afternoon approaches the little workers are off the clock and as you can see enjoying a refreshing treat.

All of our kids do something to help out around our home. Yes, even the three year olds. They are expected to help our house-hold run more smoothly. Now mind you it could be just emptying garbage cans or washing the front windows but it's something they can do and know their helping out and needed.

Now I'm not going to pretend that's always easy but it's something we train in every single day..We work together and we play together and we eat Popsicles together.. Life is good when we're together.........

Learning something new

Some very dear friends of ours came over with her new sewing machine surge thingy and we made 34 new dinner napkins.

We are trying to be more frugal and this will save on paper goods..

I love finding ways to save money.

This was alot of fun and I'm thankful for the fellowship time as well..

Kids and animals

Recently, we have added a few new animals to our farm.

We are trying to live off the land more save money and be better stewards of what God has given us.It has been so great watching the kids rise up to the challenge of getting up and feeding animals three to four times a day.

We had a new baby buck on Sunday night and I have to drag Coop out of the goat pen. He sits in there for hours and draws and talks to them..He has some farm animal in his blood.

We are out side Alot..We have washed and hung out three loads of laundry on our great clothes line. If you don't have one I suggest you beg your hubby to get you one..We have met some great older men on our journey to stock our farm. Men of character and men that love to do things the ole fashioned way. They have let us go into their barns and have taught us things you can't pay for. Hands on experience with animals..I want my kids to work, but to not just work, but to love to live off the land. I want all of them to know how to take care of animals and if they don't know how to do something to be able to go and find someone who does. At the end of the day we are so exhausted but we look forward to tomorrow.With animals who know what to expect.......

Things in cages that we love

Hard Days long long night

I didn't have a very good night. I started missing my little boy.
Sometimes it just hits me. I don't know where it comes from but
last night I knew where it came from, and I couldn't hold back the wall
of tears..I hurt somewhere deep in the pit of my heart and no one can
make it better, not even the strong shoulders of my husband.
It's almost like being nauseated. It's just a horrible, horrible feeling..
I tossed and turned just about the whole night..Reliving every detail of my
time spent with him. The questions that I needed answered asked in the dark over
and over again but there was no voice that answered back.
The peace like a river was not there, it was more like a raging tidal wave.
There is something about the dark, the moments when right before I fall into sleep
that reminds me that he is not nestled here..He is not nursing. He is not looking up at
me with those brown eyes loving me and depending on me.
I almost feel as though in some way I failed him. I should of been able to help him.

Life goes on and people forget but when you're grieving and missing, it doesn't get easier right
away. In fact in some ways it gets harder.
Like when Cullen comes into a room and for a brief moment I wonder to myself if William
would of had his personality. His curly hair..His sweet smile. I will never know... and in the darkness, I get mad. Why me, why us?

Then as if the questions being answered I hear "Why not you Robin, why not your family?
What makes you think that it should be someone else?"
That's not what I mean Lord. I don't want anyone else to have to hurt like this. It's just I don't
want to hurt either.
I don't want to have to tell Channie 6 times a day when she asks "Why did baby Willy have to go to heaven?" I don't know Channie..mommie doesn't know.

I will not have the answers until I see the Lord face to face and then I know all of this will make
perfect sense..It's just those nights I have to wade through to get to the morning..

Strawberries get your strawberries....

The blessing of three year olds..

Life with these two keep me busy.

I love their smile and watching them as they grow and learn.

I was telling a friend today that since losing Willy I have slowed way down in my thinking.

I want to play more and do less.

I want to savor every hug and kiss and smile they have to offer.

I want them to know that yes I miss Willy but I'm so happy I have them..

I will not and cannot be around these wonderful happy blessings and not feel blessed.

I will continue to trust in the Lord and be thankful for everyday.

One of my favorite boys and a day fishing

I took Coop fishing while the little ones took a nap and it sure is good to be alone with him.

He loves me so deeply and it comes so natural to him to make me laugh.

Today he asked me if I would keep his kids while he took his wife out.
I said "you better believe it."
He laughs when I tell him I'm going to live with him one day when I'm really really old. He says I can...

Coop is one of those boys that has a easy air about him.
I could spend hours just sitting and talking to him because he is a thinker.

We were reading a bio on Davy Crockett and it was said of him that he was a hard worker and cheerful.
If I had to sum up Coop in a couple of words that would do it.
He is willing and always ready to help you do Anything and he is cheerful while doing it.


He is loving and very affectionate...
He cries with me if I'm crying so I have to be very careful around him.. He worries about me.
He can tell when I'm upset and he will ask me "mom are you ok."

It is so much fun being his mom.
I love sharing his days with him.

I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for this little man.

Channie was not having a good day.
Her focus was all on herself and boy was she miserable.
She tried very hard not to let her brothers cheer her up but she couldn't resist the touch.
The want nothing,need nothing touch.
Sad to happy with just a touch.

Do you gently lay your soft hands on the ones God gave you to cheer on to nurture?
Do you encourage brothers and sisters to be lifters of others heads. To help others smile.


You may not know me if I'm standing next to you in Wal-mart. I may not be standing as tall as I was 2 weeks ago.
My smile may be missing. My eyes may seem cold. I may look tired. My clothes may not look good because my closet is full of maternity clothes that fit perfect not to long ago and now I have nothing to wear with this new body of mine. You can encourage me with a smile.
We don't always know what the people around us are going through so be gentle my dear friend.
Don't be quick to judge.
Don't miss the opportunity to touch the lives God puts before you.
I may be standing next to you.


blessings,
robin

A few of my blessings this morning

Scott doing bible with the family this morning.
Brothers looking on to see the pictures.
Flowers from two weeks ago that still light up our little kitchen.
The smell of the coffee that my beloved made for me.The touch of his arms as they held me and encouraged me.His voice as he told me I was pretty.
The coffee cups I bought for .50 each at a thrift store.
The sheets blowing in the wind.


Being able to see my boys climb trees in the front yard.
Hearing our baby chicks.
Watching my oldest daughter clean windows
and praying for her future beloved.

What are your blessings before 9.00am?
Count them, name them, one by one...



May you draw closer to the ones you love today,
and draw closer to the One who gives perfectly to us.


Blessings,Robin

Finding His Glory in my valley

"Help me learn by paradox

that the way down is the way up,
that to be low is to be high,
that the broken heart is the healed heart,
that to have nothing is to posses all,
that to bear the cross is to wear the crown,
that the valley is the place of vision.
Let me find Thy light in my darkness,
Thy life in my death, Thy joy in my sorrow,
Thy glory in my valley."

My perspective on life has changed alot in just
a few short days.
I feel suddenly older.
I feel grateful for the lives of my children and husband.

I feel like I don't walk this path by myself,
I have friends who care deeply for our family
and I'm so thankful we don't walk this alone.

"Two are better than one," says Solomon,"because they have a good
reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion" Eccl. 4:9-10

I now know what that verse means. Our friends have lifted us up so much over the past
two weeks. You know who you are and I say with tears thank you...for helping us do hard things.
For holding us when it felt as though we would surely fall.
Your children have been such a blessing to us and I'm so glad you are all a part of our life.

Taylor took this picture early this morning and it reminded me Today is a new day and with
the Lords help I'll make it through THIS day and when I lay in the arms of my sweet dear
husband tonight I will thank the Lord for getting me through it. Even though it may not be pretty I made it through..
When I wake up in the morning I will ask Him for help again to just make it through another day.
It's kinda day to day....right now......

Thank you for all of your kind words, cards, calls..... It really helps.

much love from the front lines,
Robin

Pruning is not pretty..

"Pruning means cutting, reshaping, removing what diminishes vitality. When we look at a pruned vineyard, we can hardly believe it will bear fruit. But when the harvest comes, we realize that the pruning allowed the vines to concentrate their energy and produce more grapes. Grateful people learn to celebrate even amid life's hard and harrowing memories because they know that pruning is no mere punishment, but preparation.

When our gratitude for the past is only partial, our hope for the future can likewise never be full. But our submitting to God's pruning work will not ultimately leave us sad, but hopeful for what can happen in us and through us. Harvesttime will bring its own blessings...pg19"

Harvesttime.

Turn My Mourning into Dancing by Henri Nouwen

My prayer for today

Help me to walk the separated life with
firm and brave step
and to wrestle successfully against weakness;
Teach me to laud, adore, and magnify thee
with the music of heaven,
and make me a perfume of praiseful gratitude to thee...

Tribute to our son Baby Willy we shall never forget.

(please pause my play list to hear the video)

In the midst of it all we have reason to celebrate

After our long difficult week we are so blessed to have many reasons to celebrate.
On Monday Channie Mae better known as Flower turned 3.
What a blessing this little girl is.
She truly is a gift from the Lord and it is our privilege to call her daughter.
Her name means Great mother and I often remind her of this.
She is a reminder to us of God's faithfulness and promises.
Happy Birthday Channie...