Thanksgiving - Day 1

Hello, hola, greetings and salutations!!!

Yesterday being the 1st day of our visit we slept in somewhat and then after our morning routine proceeded to make breakfast.

Mother and Stacey cooking

mmmmm potato, bacon and onion breakfast tacos with orange juice.
The chillens have enjoyed playing with their nephews soooooo much.

We spent the day in catching up and doing some sewing while the children played and played........ and played some more lol.

Playing "time to eat" with Ethan,
which in other words means stuff all the play food you can possibly find into Aunt Bethany's sweater;)

Peyton and Aunt Victoria

Playing soccer with Franky

Franky and Stacey

Hayden and Ethan digging

Hayden watching Aunt Haviland knit and read at the same time. (I'm not sure how she did that but she did)

Peyton
He's not sure who we are yet, but Hayden and Ethan FINALLY know who I am :) Hayden calls me Aunt Bethany and Ethan calls me Auntie Bess when he remembers and when he doesn't he says "what's your name?"

Playing in the basement

Ethan and his Aunt (yours truly:))
And, just in case your mouth didn't water enough after seeing what we had for breakfast,
here is a picture of our dinner.

Steak, Ceviche and white rice!!!
And so after a nice, cozy day at "home" we all went to bed looking forward to the next day of our NJ vacation.

Hello from NJ!!!

Hello and greetings to all from the beautiful state of NJ.

We arrived around 6:30pm yesterday, safe and sound after a 12 hour even trip.

I hope to post pictures soon but shan't promise since I have to use my sister-in-law's computer, but I just wanted to let you all know where I was and wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Well I hope y'all are having a wonderful day, I certainly am:)

30 years ago last Sunday

Close your eyes and look back to November 14th, 30 years ago. In my minds eye I see a beautiful young girl just turned 16 and a handsome young man of 19 (Alright your all probably saying "wait a minute your only 15 how can you look back 30 years?" I may not have seen these events but I've been told enough about them to be able to picture it).
They are standing together in the court house saying their marriage vows. Neither of them has any idea of what the future holds, the trials and conflicts, the separations, of 2 men who would knock at the door and share with the young man the gospel of Jesus Christ, the struggles as they surrender their lives to God, of being called to the ministry as Pastor of Iglesia Bautista de la Fe and finally many years later having a family of 8 with 8 grandchildren (3 boys, 1 girl, 3 in heaven and 1 on the way) and an amazing legacy that they can pass on without regret to their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. I am number 4 of the 8 kids and I can whole-heartedly say that I am soooooooooooooooo thankful to the Lord for joining together these 2 wonderful people and through His amazing grace bringing them to His feet. Ask my parents any day and they will tell you without hesitation that it is a miracle that they did not end up divorced and with a broken family of only 2 or 3 children.

So on behalf of all of us kids, Congratulations Mom and Dad on your 30th anniversary!!!
Though we have each given ya'll a heap of trouble, we love you TONS!!! Nobody could ask for better, more Godly, more loving and more caring parents and thank you for teaching us right from wrong and keeping us all in line even when it hurt.

Love You!!! Hope you have 30 more wonderful years of God honoring marriage.

A Godly Sister

Hello,this is Haviland again!!! My sister is the most loving sister on the earth. And she loves to have fun with her brothers and sister. But most of all she is a Christian and she loves the Lord and wants to obey him. I am doing this post to surprise her.

Victoria,and Bethany.

This pic was taken this year but Bethany did not have braces. Bethany has been such a good sister to me and to my family. and such a blessing to people in parts of the earth. She is such a blessing to me for if I am doing something wrong then she will tell me and tell me what the Lord tells us to do.
May the Lord bless you, Bethany .

Mother and Daughter Time

• Hello, my name is Haviland. I am the sister of Bethany. She is on her way to NC. I stayed in SC. I was so sad that my dear mother had a little surprise for me!!!She had some tea for us!!! We had such a nice time that I did not want to stop. We read Raising Maidens of Virtue by Stacy McDonald. I was so sad that my mother did that to cheer me up. I wanted to go BUT we are going to have some friends over so I stayed. And I would like to thank the Lord for letting me be another aunt. My dear brothers' wife is going to have another baby!!! Well I need to go but I hope to do this more often. Well, till next time Haviland.
  

A country holiday

What does one do when your nerves are worn to a frazzle? When it seems that the stress and anxiety, which has robbed you of your sleep, will kill you? Where can one go for rest and comfort and just plain living ? The answer is Happydale Country Inn!!! The best place for resting your poor weary bones, not to mention wholesome adventure!!! When you are out in the country you are able to do SOOOOOOOO many things that you can't do out in the city such as.........


Going hunting!!!

Besides hunting I was able to cross a high log bridge (over a creek)(SCARY!!!), drive a manual 4-wheeler(FUN!!!) and TONS of other 1sts that really made my stay special.

After sitting in the woods for 2 hours in the COLD!!!

Playing castle with Sayre


Haviland found a new friend in Tristan and it was quite funny to watch them talking as Tristan
was teasing Havi about the scarf that she was knitting for daddy. Over all our 2 day stay in the country was simply delightful!!! Thank you soooooooo much Casseroles for the wonderful time we spent with ya'll.

What happens when siblings go camera happy?

Well I'm not sure you want to know. LOL.


First they take a nice, civilized picture,

then they decide that Bethany is in need of some love,

then, when you add a brother or 2 things can get just a little bit goofy.

AND THEN,when you discover the distortions, frames, filters and such all semblance of civility
seems to be completely lost................ buuuuuut..........I shan't burden you with such pictures instead I shall show you the ones that came out best.(in other words, the lesser of the weevils, if you know what I mean;))

Sisterly love

Thinking

My little sunbeam

Yours truly

Sister time
Soooo now you are forewarned of what can occur when you start taking pictures on your computer. Still, for the record, we had a blast.
I love you kiddos!!!