~~CLEO~~

This is a picture of Cleo.... I suppose we can learn a lot from this old hound... She obviously is mellow.... She puts up with a lot of torture from the kids. She loves at all times... Unless she is at deaths door and then she tries to yelp for help... This is the way God wants us to be. Loving at all times. Even when our children irritate us. Even when things don't go our way. Ol' Cleo is just thrilled to have a good belly rub and to sit next to you all the time. She even gets a little excited when we are gone somewhere and we pull up in the driveway. She even runs sometimes to meet us. I am sure that she is my example... Be calm at all times. Don't start screaming and yelling for nothing. Always be ready for a good hug and smooch, in her case belly rub... I should always be patient with my children. Ready to just sit and listen. Life seems so rushed and busy, why not enjoy things that don't cost any money... One day all my children are going to be grown up and gone and I am going to miss these days so much. I want to be able to enjoy everything about my family now, not look back in 10 years and say "I should have??"... Cleo even got to go with us to have Brand. She hung out in the back yard of the birthing center. She has always been a part of our family. Who would have thought I would learn so much from a $20 mutt.... God knew what he was doing with this ol' hound when he gave her to us. Now that she is getting older she no longer sleeps outside, unless she feels like it of course... She has a pallet on the floor next to my side of the bed. John and I both put up with her loud snoring and groaning all night. She is worth it. And all of my children should be worth my time each and every day. I love them all so much... God Bless..

~~ADAM~~

What a sweet boy we have. I love him so much. He was acting suspicious when he got up this morning... I wondered "What is Up"... I just figured he was wanting to go somewhere or do something that might be questionable and didn't know how to ask. He ends up asking me a series of questions about what we were doing throughout the next few days. Then he says, I have to be at work at noon today... Usually he goes at 1:00. I said that was fine... He leaves and within the hour comes back home. Obviously I think the worst... Fired, speeding ticket... But I saw that typical little grin when he walked up to me and knew he was up to something. He had gone to town and bought John and I a card for Valentines day. In the card was a gift card for Cattlebaron for $35. He says "Mom you and John are going on a date tonight and I am watching the kids"..... I almost cried.... Now how many 16 year old actually think of there mom and dad on Valentines day???? Plus the fact that he is volunteering to babysit his, needless to say, obnoxious brothers and sister. I am so blessed by everything this boy does. My prayer for him everyday is that he will grow up and be just as wonderful to his wife and children as he is to me. I gotta love m'..... God is good once again.

My husband!

John and I have been married for 7 years. What a ride this has been. He is from Oregon. I know he must love me a lot to move all the way to NM out in the dry, hot dessert. Oregon is so nice God only knows what I was thinking by moving back here. Anyways, John grew up on the race track and on ranches. He is my cowboy!! He is the greatest dad. He loves all these stinkers to death. He always treats me well. He is very affectionate for sure. He loves the Lord which is the most important thing. He works a lot of hours each week to provide for us. He has a great testimony for sure about his past. I am sure that he has finally settled down now with us. On Sunday afternoons you will usually find him out with the horses and kids. He has pretty much given up football because he realized you won't get to watch much because of all the kids wanting his attention. Now that is a true dad...... On Saturday mornings he always gets up and makes a big pancake breakfast. The kids love it and I enjoy the break. On Sunday is the best day for me. He and Adam do my chores and give me a day of rest. Who could ask for a better husband. I can still remember the day we met. I knew I loved him from the minute we met.He stayed and talked to me for probably an hour and his pick up ran the whole time outside. Obviously fuel was not what it is now... He was so funny. I was working in a dry cleaners. He kept bringing more clothes in every day. I thought man this guy has tons of clothes... Well, he had been buying more clothes (Western shirts and Wranglers) so that he could come in and see me... What a sweetie. On August 11th 2001 we were married and by September I was pregnant. That is when the ride began for sure. This man would do anything for me I am sure. He has built chicken coops, spent tons of $$$ building a fence for what he calls my rat dog that we got from the humane society. Built me goat houses, He has always helped me with all the children. When they were babies he would even get up at night when I did. Now what husband will do that..... When I was pregnant with Ride I was so sick with my kidneys. John took care of so many things and still worked his job. Praise God for healing for sure. When the twins came we had to change the routine. Since I nursed them both we had to alternate. He was exhausted and so was I... Now that a babies days are done he is getting more rest than usual. If you can call 4-5 hours of sleep a night good. He is a special man for sure. He loves us all so dearly. I am so proud of him and proud to be his wife. I am so blessed to have him for my Valentine.

Twins!

Twins!
I always wonder why God gave us twins.. They don't run in the family. In fact neither sides have any... So why did God choose us to raise them?? I am sure that God has a sense of humor so I am sure that he is getting a good belly laugh on this one...When I first found out I was pregnant I was so upset.. No more kids I said. I am done. Of course it was all John's fault for sure... I am sure for a full month I didn't have much nice to say to him.... Then I got over it and then the big news TWINS!!! It all seemed ok after we found Shiloh,,,, THE GIRL FINALLY... I can still remember Marquita running down the hospital hall telling the guys "She's a 10, she's a 10!!!" I could only laugh because I had a great epidural. They have changed our lives so much. I found these outfits that they are wearing in the first picture the other day in a drawer. They were so small.... They were born totally healthy and almost the same weight as a single baby... What a blessing. Shiloh who is 5 minutes older. is such a girlie girl. As we like to call her "The Princess".... She loves to help mom do laundry, cooking, dishes, just about anything a homemaker does. She loves her nails painted and also the whole make up thing. On the other hand she can take Joseph down and holy cow she has this ear piercing scream..... When she gets ticked off well lets just say look out... Then there is Joseph... Quiet, laid back, hugger, smoocher..... the more sensitive caring kind... Which is what most women want out of a man..... right?? He loves to be held and rocked still. Shy around strangers for sure. Always needs mom and dad still. Which is a great feeling for us... But when you take his toys (horses) away well lets just say LOOK OUT!! He can definately hold his own when he is mad. They are both so precious and so different. And how they fit in with there other siblings is an adventure everyday... I can't imagine life without any of them. Children are definatley a gift from God and he is entrusting us to raise them in the word. Can we do it??? Some days I wonder if I am a good enough mom for all this craziness but every day is a new day and God always seems to put ideas in my mind to keep going. The twins definately fit in and I am ashamed I ever questioned God. I love them with all my heart and trust God 100% that he made the right decision by giving Shiloh and Joseph to us. God Bless!

Roller skating!

I never realized how hard it is to do something you haven't done for years. For instance, I haven't roller skated for probably 25 years. We went last night and I was wobble weeble at first... But then it all came back to me. That is just like God.... You always know what the Bible says and what God puts on your heart, however, we tend to forget for a time. I knew that if I didn't lean in the right direction and put my feet firmly on the ground that I was going to eat it big time. Same with GOD, if I don't stay firm in the word and lean on him I always end up eating it... Anyways, we had a blast... Even John skated for a time and did pretty good at it... Adam, he had fun although at his age he would never admit having fun with his family.. I did see him smile several times. Brand caught on really fast. He was cruising pretty good after a few tumbles. Ride was a little more cautious.... Which totally surprised us. He is the risk taker.... Shiloh just thought she was all that and more with her pink skates on. Then Little Joe. He was shakey at first but he was rolling in no time. It was so much fun. I wonder how sore and bruised everyone will be when they wake up.... I realize how important it is to do things as a family. We all enjoyed one another. God is so good to our family. We also got to enjoy a family that we haven't seen in some time. It was great. Today is Shiloh's eye appointment. She is not wanting to go. I think she thinks they will dialate her eyes again. They won't but why would she believe mom.... So be praying it all goes well. John is on his way to El Paso and I pray for safe travel for him. I better get going with my day. I pray everyone who reads this has a blessed day.

Always a new day!

I have to say that when I am woke up at 5:00am to take my husband to work because he pick-up won't start, that is doesn't start my day off well. Although I did get to spend an extra 15 minutes with him on the drive to work. Oh and since the children weren't with us it was almost as if we were on a date. We actually got to talk.... Of course I got to drive home alone, which may not seem like much to some people, but when you have 5 children being alone is just not an option. For me 15 minutes alone is enough. I just don't do ALONE! Then I came home and got to watch the sun rise and also had a great quiet time. God is so good. While I was sitting here having my coffee it dawned on me that however I make the day is how it will be. In other words, whatever attitude I choose to have will be how the rest of the day will be. I, for one do not need extra friction in my life... I choose happiness and thankfulness. I am so thankfull for my husband and all 5 children. John and I have great things that have happened in our life. This March John's oldest daughter, which he has never met, will be coming for a visit with her husband and three children. We are so excited and blessed to have them in our lives. It is an awesome feeling to know that there are three children in IA that call me Grandma Joy. Gotta love them. Everyday my children are such a blessing to me. Adam is so sincere about his guitar and work. I just love him so much. However, he is growing up way too fast. I am afraid he will be gone before I know it. Then there is Brand, he is so sensitive but on the other hand rough and rowdy like the rest. That kid is so smart on math and I think he may have to teach me in High School.... Then there is Ride.... Oh boy.... He is so onry but caring all in one. If he doesn't have a broken bone by the time he is 6 I will be surprised. He has no fear!!! Good or bad, humm I am not sure yet.... Then there is Shiloh, what a girl. She loves pink and doing things with Mom. She is such a helper. I am praying for healing with her eye. Then there is precious Little Joe... He is so sweet. He always says "But Mom I love you.." He loves hugs and smooches. He loves horses so much. All he wants to do is ride Amigo and Gus.. If we are inside all he does is ride the rockn' horses and play with his toy horses. He refuses to wear anything but Wranglers and western shirts. Gotta have the boots and spurs and don't forget the belt and buckle. What a kid. I love them all so much in so many different ways. Then there is John, what a guy. He has finally settled down and is actually a family man. It took him 45yrs to figure it out, however now he is great at it. He works so hard every day to provide and then on weekends tries to have time for eveyone. He loves the Lord with all his heart. Who could ask for a better man. I am so blessed. Well I better get going. Showers to take, animals to feed and kids to feed too. School is waitn' and daylight is burning.

Busy weekend!

Well another weekend has come and gone. Seems like these days they fly by so fast. With John working so many hours during the week we try to fit everything we can into two days. It never happens. We always have to settle for just a few things together.
I don't know how many of you know about Shilohs eye condition, but I will tell the whole story. She went for her 3 year check up and failed her eye exam. Last Monday we went to the eye Dr. He said she has a sever lazy eye and is legally blind in that eye. Tuesday we are going back to get her glasses all sized up I guess you could say. She will wear the glasses and a patch on the good eye for at least 3 years. We are praying God will heal her eye and make her 20/20 vision in both eyes. God is good all the time... We just have to learn patience....
If any of you know any good ideas for getting a 6 year old to sit still during school I would love the help. We only do sitting for 30 minute to 1 hour intervals, but it seems to much to Mr. Wiggle pants Brand...
I better get. Lots to do still before bedtime.