Van for Sale!

We are putting our van up for sale so we can get a new one!

It is a 1995 GMC Safari Conversion Van
It is in good condition and runs well. It just has some minor improvements that can be made to it!
We are asking $2500.00 cash

We need to sell it quick, so please contact me if you are interested! wencla2007 @ gmail . com


Here are some pictures of our van.

Word Cloud 2

I decided to do a new one of these. You can get your own at: http://www.snapshirts.com/custom.php

Happy 14th Anniversary!

Today is our 14th wedding anniversary! We actually did our celebrating last week when hubby was off. We were able to spend a couple of days away while my in-laws watched our kids. We didn't go far, but it was a nice break!

We stayed at a friends condo for a couple of nights, went swimming and out to dinner. We enjoyed our time alone to just hang out and talk about different things without kids and interruptions.

My husband had to go out of town this morning at the last minute, so I will just be with the kids today.

My oldest daughter was kind enough to make us breakfast this morning "since I didn't have a chance to get you a gift"! Below is a picture of the pancakes she made for us. She is so thoughtful and wants to do things for us when she can. Thank you for blessing us with your thoughtful breakfast, my dear daughter!



We have had 14 wonderful years and plan to have many, many more ahead of us! We have had our ups and downs, but the Lord has been faithful to lead us through every trial growing closer through it all. We have grown and matured in our relationship with one another as well as with the Lord through the years.

Thank you hubby for all the love, patience, faith and understanding you have shown me through the years! You are a blessing beyond words and I am still so thankful that the Lord brought us together when He did!

A Rememberance of Merlyn Hirst

I originally started this in June 2007 when my grandma passed on. I have just finished it. I will leave it here for a bit and then put it in the right order.
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My grandma, Merlyn, at 17 yrs old in 1944.

My grandma, Merlyn Hirst, passed away this Wednesday evening. I was able to spend a little time with her this past week before she passed away, but, oh, how I regret all the time I could have spent with her before she got sick this time.

I wanted to record a few of my fond memories of my Grandma here. She was a strong, independent woman in many ways. She took care of her 4 kids for many years on her own as my grandfather was away with work.

Her house was always the one we stayed at the most when we went to visit our extended family (my father's parents were also in the same city during that time). We always looked forward to going there to visit them. We had some kids in the neighborhood we had come to know, they had these cool mini-grapes growing along the patio posts for many years, they usually had a dog to play with and so many little things in their house that I remember from our visits when we were growing up. She always had goodies for us when we came to visit or she came to visit us.

We went on a number of trips with them--camping and RVing. I have a lot of wonderful memories of the time spent with my grandparents growing up. They have both passed on now.

Thank you Grandma for all the love you shared with us over all the years of your life!

Sermon Notes--Raising Truly Great Kids!

We had a guest speaker at our church this weekend. His name is Tim Kimmel. He shared some great stories and ideas about how we are to parent our children. His ministry website is: http://www.familymatters.net/

I don't know that much about all he teaches right now, but what he shared this morning was good.

I just want to share a few of the notes I took. He is supposed to be coming again in March, I can't wait to hear all he has to share!

He shared that some of the areas he covers in his "Raising Truly Great Kids" Conferences include: an atmosphere of grace, three needs all kids have, building character in our children's lives, and where our kids are headed.

The focus verses for his talk were: Matthew 20:20-28

* We should consider the role of grace in our parenting--like God gives us grace.
* We should focus on changing/molding our children's character--not just their behavior. We want to reach their hearts for permanent change, not just outward obedience.
*Where should we aim our kids?
*How many things do you spend your time on that will end up in "heaven's dumpster"? (told story related to this)

I. Many parents have a tendency to aim their children at a future focused on success--in line with our culture and not God's Word
(What is your vision/goal for your children long term?)
(How are you prioritizing the time spent teaching your children?)

A. Measures of success in our culture

1. Wealth
2. Beauty
3. Power
4. Fame

(Think of receiving the yearly update letters in Christmas cards each year. What do people share about the most? If you look through the filter of these 4 things, you will see they are usually shown to be a priority in people's lives--even Christians. Not that sharing these types of successes is bad, but many people make these the main priority in their lives--THE things to be obtained above all else.)

B. We make a mistake when we make success our goal instead of a by-product of what we are doing -- for God and others.

C. If these are our goals, we set our kids up for tension, stress, selfishness, greed and a desire for things that can never be satisfied!

1. Middle class and up kids were born on third base but they think they got a triple and we are greasing them for home plate. (attributed to Ann Richards)

C. GOD places no value on those four things!He doesn't want us to aim our sights on any of these! (We don't need God to help us with those 4 things -- our unsaved neighbors do well teaching their children these things on their own!)

D. We may deter our children from relationships and God's plan for them (vocations) if we focus most on those four things.

E. To aim for these four signs of success/greatness, is to aim too low!

II. God's Word encourages--a different perspective

A. True Greatness--a passionate love for God/Jesus that shows in an unquenchable love and concern for others.
B. We should be aiming our children upwards and outwards at all times!
C. The higher calling is pouring ourselves out towards others.
D. He mentioned the difference in people affected by what happened on 9/11/01. Our resumes and pedigrees don't matter in the end! It will boil down to are we serving God--are we serving others?

III. The Qualities of True Greatness

A. A Humble Heart--a reverence for God and respect for others (Philippians 2:3-4)
B. A Grateful Heart--appreciation for what they are given and who gave it to them
(I Thessalonians 5:18)
C. A Generous Heart --a great delight in sharing with others what God has given you
(Luke 6:38)
D. A Servant's Heart--willingness to take action to help someone--anyone whose need you see and whose need you can meet (Matthew 25:40)
*Look at the Good Samaritan.
E. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr has said, "Anyone can be great because anyone can serve."

IV. How do we teach this to our children?

A. Be an example ourselves first!
B. Make these four qualities the expectation in your home (not the exception). Teach, guide, correct and lead your children toward these qualities.

V. Kids' Questions --that will overwhelm them and they will need answers for

A. What's my mission in life going to be?
B. Whose my mate going to be? (Old saying that you are are either doubled or halved on your wedding day.)
C. Whose my master going to be? Who will I serve?

**Where are we in all this? Have we made this type of greatness a priority in our family, with ourselves, with our kids?

**Some great things to think about it! We already want to instill this type of focus in our kids, part of the reason we homeschool, but I can always use the reminder to refocus and watch our priorities carefully.

Christy - part 1

I have been reading the book Christy by Catherine Marshall. This is a great book set in the early 1900's in the mountains of Tennessee. It is a fiction book, though it is based on real people and events. Really more of a historical fiction book in my opinion. I would recommend it for older teens and adults as there some sensitive topics discussed that younger children/teens wouldn't understand (or need to know about yet).

I want to share some of the passages I have come across that have touched my heart and/or made me think. I hope you will find them thought provoking also! I will do several posts with these thoughts I would like to share.

From page 95--spoken by Miss Alice--

"Christy, you have questions on your mind. I'm glad you do. Perceptive people like you wound more easily than others. But if we're going to work on God's side, we have to decide to open our hearts to the griefs and pain all around us. It's not an easy decision. A dangerous one too. And a tiny narrow door to enter into a whole new world.

"But in that world a great experience waits for us: meeting the One who's entered there before us. He suffers more than any of us could because His is the deepest emotion and the highest perception.

"Not mind you, that He approves of suffering or wills it. Quite the opposite. And He doesn't just leave us and Himself in the anguish. At the point where His ultimate in love meets His total capacity to absorb and feel all our agony, there the miracle happens and the exterior situation changes. I've seen that miracle."

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Addicted to Blogging

Several friends have posted this on their blog--take take the test and see how you do!

I was a little surprised by the result, but even if I don't get things posted in a timely manner, I now am always thinking about things I can post! Plus, I do spend a bit of time each day (sometimes too much) reading local friends as well as "cyber friends" blogs.


75%How Addicted to Blogging Are You?

Mingle² - Free Dating Site

Seven year old's thoughts

"When I am 16 I am going to make a machine so I can make a double of myself so I can punch him because he won't have any strength or fighting skills, he will be weak and puny."

--By my youngest son (7 yrs old, not afraid of anything or anyone---and loves to practice his "fighting skills" with Dad!)

--He went on to say that it would be a clone and discussed what it might be like with his 11 yr old brother. It is amazing what this little guy comes up with! His thoughts are way bigger than he is, and they always have been!

--He really wants to have his own boxing punching bag to practice on.

(No, we don't encourage him to fight, but he is always wanting to show how strong he is and practices mainly with Dad. He knows better than to do it to other kids unless he is defending himself.)

Visitor!

My husband found several small frogs/toads today as he was out watering the yard. Here are a few pictures of the one in the front yard. I need to look it up to see what type it is!

Taking Great Steps Contest!

A KONOS friend--Sprittibee is having a contest! You can check out the information about the contest on her blog and check out the Easy Spirit eCollection of shoes.

Check it out and join the fun!

Wordless Wednesday

Fantasy Football Draft!

My husband and several friends got together on Saturday to do their online Fantasy Football draft. He did it last year with a few people, this year their league has expanded to 9 teams--3 being from family in Colorado! My oldest son also has his own team. They will have a fun few months keeping up with football and seeing if their team will win!

Here are a few pictures of those who came over:

Hubby on the phone with his brother in Colorado during their draft with oldest son sitting next to him.