Anticipating new babies in the family soon....

My sister-in-law, Kelli and her mother....waiting for Kelli and Tommy's first child...

The Grandmothers....

My girls and I with Aunt Kelli...

Proud parents, Tommy and Kelli....

we're all anxiously awaiting our new little nephew or niece!

4th July 2012 (and Hubby's 50th Birthday!!!)

50 years old...if it wasn't so incredibly hot here, I would go in the attic and dig out a picture from my husband's 25th birthday party...the first of his Fourth of July birthday's that we celebrated together....(but again...it's way too hot up there!)

All of these years between 25 and 50....thru 4 children, even more job changes, moving, working night-turn, homeschooling and my illnesses...many of life's challenges....I love this man.  I love him so much more now than 25 years ago...so

Happy Birthday, Honey!!!  Looking forward to 25 more birthdays with you!

My brother-in-law, Todd, puts on the BEST fireworks display  every year....shoots them off right over our heads...and every year they get better and better!  We are so blessed to have our own 'private' show!

Celebrated over my sister, Lori's house this year....as Ron and my nephew Ty shared a party (Ty is born on July 5th)

Ron and his mom..

25 years of "fireworks" with this man!

"Spidey!"

The birthday "celebrities"!

Grammy and her girls...

Celebrating a special daughter....

The past month has been a busy one...high school graduation, commencements, a special guest staying with us, VBS and a special 50th  birthday....feel as if I'm just a little behind in updating this, our family "journal", but wanted to share pictures and memories from Sara's graduation party last Saturday.

Our Sara "sunshine"!!!  So happy celebrating her graduation from our homeschool...all the fun , and memories...really have loved teaching her and having her at home!

Best friends!  And sisters!  Michaela (who also graduated this year), Morgan, Sara and Meghan...

They did NOT plan the matching dresses!!! LOL

The blessings of family and friends....

Anna and her little friend Ruthie....

Grammy, Aunt Jolyn, Anna and I in front of the picture boards...

these two always 'fool around'...not sure why she was putting her cap on! LOL

Must have wanted it for the picture...

Sara and Grandma Ro...

Done!!!  Happy, exhausted siblings!

I am so very, very blessed to be these 4 children's mother!!!!  And, my Sara....we are so very proud of the wonderful, talented sweet daughter and young woman you have grown up to be!  Can't wait to see the plans the Lord has worked out for you!  We love you!  

A strong work ethic....

A strong work ethic...this is something that we inherited from our parents and grandparents...grandparents who were immigrants to this country and worked hard to build a life for their families....and homemakers who worked hard to make a nice home for their husband to come home to after a hard, hot days work...in our case...many of our ancestors worked in the steel mills of Pittsburgh...most working 2 jobs.

These are values we try to instill into our children...to work hard at whatever you are asked to do...as working for the Lord...to be proud of your work and to do your best for the glory of God.  Today's society and especially youth have a sense of entitlement...they are used to having everything handed to them, or working the least amount possible...especially at home.  They expect their parents to run them (and pay for it) to tons of sports and activities, entertain their friends and not make them do too much around the home because "oh, they're only kids once"...I disagree.  But, there will be more posts following on my thoughts and a book review in the future when I am done reading this book "Cleaning House:  A mom's 12 month experiment to rid her home of YOUTH ENTITLEMENT"  by Kay Wills Wyma....excellent book so far!

We've always taught our children to work together so our home runs smoothly...we ALL work together.  My goal for my older daughters was that they could do everything I can do...and they can.   If something were to happen to me, they could certainly menu plan, grocery shop (and bargain shop), cook, bake, clean, do laundry, schedule and even homeschool the younger children...because they've been taught.

Anyway...the pictures today are of our 10 year old son, working to clear away  brush and stack logs after we had 4 trees trimmed...on one of the hottest days of the year.  And he ASKED to help!  

So proud of Ronnie wanting to work hard all the time.  Today, he is with a small group from our church working at the City Mission, serving the homeless and working to fix up a playground there. He is so excited!

As I read further thru the above mentioned book, I'll be posting my thoughts here...and as this is sort of a 'family journal'...I'm loving posting my thoughts for my children to read and have.    Off to get dinner in 2 crockpots now!  (loving having "servants"!)  ~Sue~

yarn along....

Joining in with Ginny this week for her weekly yarn along!  Haven't done this in so very long, and the crocheting is coming slowly the more my hands & elbows hurt, but I am determined to finish this afghan for my niece by September at the latest! LOL

I try to follow Karen Andreola's advice from her book "A Charlotte Mason  Companion" for 'mother culture' and keep at least 3 books going....the Bible and other devotional books, some 'light' fiction (in this case I am on the 13th book in "The Wheel of Time" ) and 'learning' book....in this case "Cleaning House:  A Mom's 12-month experiment to rid her home of  YOUTH ENTITLEMENT" by Kay Wills Wyma.  Excellent book!!!  I've just started it, after waiting months thru the library system, and it is very convicting....and also written in an open, humerous way.  Will post more as I get further into the book.

Hope you all are enjoying fiber and books on this beautiful summer day!  ~Sue~

16 June 2012 Amanda's Baby shower...

My very special niece, Amanda, flew in from Las Vegas recently for her baby shower!  We are so very happy for she and her husband, Dan!  They are expecting their first son in October.  (he may join us sooner, as she is in a high risk pregnancy due to type 1 diabetes)  She is doing amazingly well, but could only be with us for a few days before she had to fly home...but what a wonderful time we all had helping her celebrate and prepare for her son!

Amanda has loved monkeys since she was a little girl...and I was so happy I was able to find some 'monkey' board books for her little guy....and I was able to make her....

A monkey blanket!  The front has brown monkey faces on a cream background, and the other side is brown with white, yellow and green polka dots...I used 1 1/4 yards of  flannel for each side, so he can use it for many years....and the double flannel wears like iron and gets softer the more it's washed...so I hope it gets many years of love!

Three generations...my mother-in-law, Ro...her daugher, Maureen and Amanda.

My nephew, Ben, his wife Crystal and their boys Hayden and Austen made it in from Deleware for the shower.  Ben is in the Air Force and we don't get to see them as much as we would like, so it was a treat to see them all!

Amanda (due October) and my sister-in-law, Kelli (due beginning of September)

It was a beautiful shower!  My sister-in-law, Maureen did a great job!  Many prayers and much love to Amanda, Dan and their little guy!!!

Father's Day...

What a very nice Father's Day!  Our Saturday services at church are much less crowded and quieter...and knowing it was going to be a busy day, we all went to church last night.  What a special service for everyone, especially the fathers!  At the end of the service, a group of men went forward and pledged the resolution in the movie 'Courageous'...held accountable by each other and led by our pastor...and then all the father's in the service went forward, linked arms and prayed together while we sang "We raise our white flag...we surrender all to you..." by Chris Tomlin.  So special!  The men of our church will be doing a special study this fall based on the movie and the book and Ron is very excited to start it.

Today....we all slept in after yesterday's excitement of my niece, Amanda's baby shower...then the girls and I prepared all the food for today and got the house ready while Dad took his 68 Plymouth Fury out for a quiet spin....my Dad came over for dinner and dessert as well as my sister and mother-in-law for a delicious dinner and celebration of Father's Day!  What a wonderful husband and father my Ron is!