Friday, December 18, 2009

Bekah's Masterpiece

Bekah took a culinary class this past month where she learned how to make a gingerbread house (from scratch). We've made them as a family but never anything like this. She designed it, baked it and decorated. It is awesome... especially with the stained glass windows and electricity! Many thanks to Chef Jim!!!





Thursday, December 17, 2009

Tourney Champs

Jake was on two basketball teams this fall. Whitefield 4th and 5th grade . The 5th grade team won their tournament on Tuesday. Talk about excitement. I stood up with a baby on my hip and did the "Arsenio Hall" for those of you old enough to remember what that is! HA!! Scared the baby too! oops. So proud of the way he played and improved this year. Way to go Jake. Go Wildcats!!!




Ella at the game.. she's been drug to every football and bball game this fall.. a trooper!

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Highview Family Christmas

Pictures of the boys at the Christmas program Sunday evening.. So proud of them! Great night of worship and celebration of our Warrior King, Jesus!



Ella was ready to go home after the festivities!

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Faithful friends who are dear to us.. gather near to us....

Last Thursday, Dan and I held our once a year praise team party for our praise team and band. It's something we've done since we've been at Highview. It's always a great time. Lots of friends, and lots of laughs. In our ten years at Highview, we've seen so many people come and go, but there are still some of the "old faithful" still involved! These people are not only a talented worship team that lead our people weekly in worship, but they have become family to us. People who we have weeped and prayed with, rejoiced with, and fellowshipped with! Our babysitters, brothers and sisters, and our parents away from home. We love these faithful friends, servants, and brothers in sisters in Christ. Yet, there are always new ones every year added to the fold. We always look forward to getting to know them as well. So thankful for the opportunity to know these people and serve with them.

Saturday, December 12, 2009

An Artist Among Us

Rebekah recently has taken an interest in art. Everyday she doodles and oodles...wolves, shapes, animals.. you name it. Whitefield Academy had a contest recently and asked students to draw a Christmas scene for the Christmas Card and Program. We encourgaed her to enter... she did, and guess what? Yes.. she won. Her art was on the Christmas Program for the school music presentation. We were excited and so proud. She was especially surprised when Mr. McKinley came to her class, recognized her and presented her with a check for $25. Congrats girlfriend!



Bekah's artwork

Friday, December 11, 2009

Big Birthday

Jaron turned eight on December 6th. Jaron was super pumped about having his best bud Nathan over to stay all night. (The beauty of homeschooling... staying all night on a Sunday night!) Love it!! We went to Incredible Dave's Sunday evening and took Nathan with us.. Realizing that after having one extra child in the car... if we were to add to our fam any more... We would, without question, need to purchase a fifteen passenger! They played and ate and ate and played. A fun time was had by all! We came home, opened presents, and had cake! My fave. Nathan got Jaron a Louisville Cardinal shirt. He is a major Kentucky Wildcat fan, so....If getting your friend a Louisville shirt isn't love, I don't know what is! They are two very precious boys and its so fun to watch them play.. no agenda.. no pretense... just pure, untainted love! A great example and blessing they are to me. If all of our friendships could be like that. WOW!! Hope you had a happy birthday Jar! I love you.


Thursday, December 3, 2009

Tis the Season

Hope everyone had an awesome "Turkey Day!" We did, although not much fun when both families eat at the same time! UHG! We managed to fill our bellies though. So much that Dan and I are on a major diet through the holidays. I don't know what were thinking. Hopefully we'll not regret it. (I'm crossing my fingers)
I was really stressed about not finishing our unit on Pilgrims, but we did. So all is well. (sigh)
So, the tree is up the stockings are hung and the Odle's are ready for Advent. We started our calendars on the 1st and read "The Legend of the Candy Cane" today. Enjoyed talking through Isaiah with the boys today along with some verses in John and Mark. Love It! Micah especially enjoyed it! Check out his pic (below) This is what he did while the boys and I were working on our Candy Cane lapbooks today? I guess we'll have to start on our study of St. Nicholas... The "real" one soon! Meanwhile... we're going to be decking the halls




Our Pilgrim Lapbook

Stockings

Micah Claus

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

A Birthday Baptism

This past Sunday, November 22nd was Dan's birthday. As with all birthday's in our house, it's a special day. This birthday, however, was an extra special day. Jacob, our oldest son, was baptized at our combined campus service. Dan was honored to baptize him. As I stood in the wings taking pictures, a thousand things rushed to my head. I thought about the day he was born, the day he was diagnosed with Sensory Integration Disorder and the day the doctor told us he would not be normal. I thought about the many nights we cried and prayed for him.. not only for this day but for many days to come. I thought about all the days I watched him grow and mature to the boy he is today. He is a joy! Today, he's very normal, loves people, has a heart for the Lord, and a great blessing to me every day!! I had prayed for his salvation before he was born, and it was amazing to be able to pray with him when he made the decision to follow Christ. I was blessed to be able to walk with him and witness his declaration.... I was beyond words.. I am also grateful for a husband who is a great example to him... in all ways. Joy was bursting from my heart and it was a wonderful feeling!! Happy Birthday to my awesome husband of almost 16 years..... and so proud of my boy who was obedient today to the call of his Savior, Jesus Christ! AMEN!!




Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Unit on Jamestown

This year for history.. we are studying "Early American History" and next semester going onto the "Revolutionary War." The boys and I just did a fabulous study on Pocahontas and Jamestown. They have worked extremely hard on these replicas and I was really proud of them for attempting it. I think they look awesome! Now onto Pilgrims.. Just in time for Thanksgiving!


Monday, November 16, 2009

Last Football for the Year

The boys were selected about three weeks ago to participate in their Highview All-Stars league. We traveled to Owensboro Kentucky this past weekend for a weekend full of football! Talk about FUN! We are so proud of Jake and Jar. Jar's team came in 3rd place overall... not too shabby! Jake's team won the Championship... he carried the ball, got his first interception, caught the ball and made several tackles! Dan, Jar and I were screaming like crazy people! Can I say I was so proud? Yes.. I can!
This was a perfect way to end our football season for the year.. Three- Four nights a week of practice and Saturday games since July... All WELL WORTH IT.. to see my boys play this weekend! To grow in their love for the game, and learn a skill, character, perseverance, teamwork, and hard work......and to grow up be men!!! I love being a mom and I love them even more.
Jakes team with their trophies

Jar's team

With the Championship Trophy

Celebrating after the big win and interception

Thursday, November 12, 2009

New Do!



Bekah got her hair cut yesterday.. I love it! She looks soooo grown up though! Don't you think??

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

HERO PAPER

Rebekah recently came home from school with a paper she had written on a "hero" in her life. I would like to let you read a little bit of it.

....."I am lucky enough to live in a home my mom works so hard to keep clean. She loves me enough to take time out of her day to love and take care of me. She works extremely hard to provide us with plenty of food and a good, clean, warm house to live in. She's a wonderful mom and will always love my family and me. My mom is very smart. Whenever I ask her a question about life she can answer it. My mom is the smartest woman I have ever known. My mom never lets her pride take over all of her responsibilities. She works hard to give me a good life. She is a wonderful person. My mom is someone I can look up to as an example of a Godly woman who works hard to provide for her family. I hope that someday, I'll be able to be a wonderful mom, wife and servant , just like her."

After crying... I hugged her! She got an A... on the paper, and always in my heart!

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Ella's Dedication




This past Sunday was a special day in our house.. "baby dedication" at our church. I can't say enough how blessed we are to be at a church that loves babies, and children. It's always a blessing to be able to commit to raise our "inherited" child in the ways of our Great Lord and Savior! We committed, as a family, once again, the fifth time to teach Ella the ways of our Lord and to raise her in a way that would be pleasing to Him.
Ella was precious.. she couldn't have been better. She smiled on cue and loved the attention from our pastor (notice the picture) our pastor said she was just like Daddy!
Micah was a champ and stood very still.. a great accomplishment for him... I have to confess that I started praying at 7 that morning and put his patch on while he was still sleeping.. so .. what can I say... prayer works! We are blessed.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Trick or Treat










Halloween this year was full of fun! The kids had a ball carving pumpkins..this was the first year that Jake and Jar did their own without my help.. and they did an awesome job!! Trick or Treating was fun and lots of candy has already been eaten. Bekah went as someone who doesn't like mornings, Jake and Jar went as the Manning bros..VERY COOL, and Micah was, of course, a pirate, last was Ella as a Louisville Cardinal cheerleader. They were really cute.. if I do say so myself. We traveled the neighborhood as usual.. and then went to the fire station for free hot dogs and chili... YES, I KNOW, were cheap! Happy Halloween!

Friday, October 30, 2009

Six Months!





Ella turned six months today.. and to celebrate the milestone, she cut her two bottom teeth. YAY! Where has the time gone? She is so precious.. and I couldn't have asked for a better baby! She has been textbook awesome! Sleeps well, adjusts well, pleasant all the time... what more could you want? I am often reminded of how precious and fleeting the time is when I look at her and out of the corner of my eye... in the blink of an eye.. there stands my 12 and a half year old.. I was just holding her a minute ago(seems like). We have enjoyed Ella so much and are so grateful to the Lord for giving us the opportunity to raise her. Thank you Lord for the gift of girls...Help me to be the mommy you need me to be. May I be worthy of the call to bring them up to honor you with their lives.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Birthday Number Five!

It's so hard to believe that Micah turned five a few weeks ago. It seems like yesterday he was born as do all of my children. It reminds me of the verse... "Teach us to number our days"... so true.! So here we are, five! What a great day we had! Goodies at preschool, presents at home, a visit from Maw Maw and Paw Paw, and getting to play soccer! Micah lately has been a challenge with his ADHD. I've been reading a great book for ADHD moms called "She's Gonna Blow" the author refers to her ADHD child as a sizzler.. so appropriate! So recently I've began to refer to him as my sizzle child.. and that he is!
Soccer will continue with to be a a challenge as do all adventures that require some sort of focus.. But he had a fun time "rolling on the floor" anyway! Thank you Lord for the sizzle... Gotta love it... and thanks for the purpose you must have for his life! I love you, nine!



Sunday, September 20, 2009

Micah




My Micah was diagnosed with ADHD in March and we have struggled since then to find a medication that we all can live with! I'll have to admit it has been very difficult. I always thought I had a great handle on parenting... after all Dan and I have read all the books, been to countless seminars, and with our five, have experienced just about everything you can experience with kids.. then along came a headstrong little boy that started walking out of the house and down the subdivision, hung out of windows, colored the dog, and a lot of other things.I knew something wasn't quite right and after a series of interviews and testing, it was done. ADHD.
I have to say that the Lord has used this is my life to remind me that our lives need to be completely surrendered and dependent on Him. I have to be honest and say that there have been times I would've liked to have gotten in my van and driven far, far away... but there has always been that strong peaceful sense that the Lord was telling me to endure and to lean on Him... oh how very hard that is to do at times when you just want to be mad. "Lord, why did you give this to my son?" Why him? Why us?
I was having a rough day trying to homeschool with him a few weeks ago, when some friends who have sons with ADHD gave me some suggestions during our school day and I talked to the pediatrician again and they changed his dosage. It has been a better week, with a few minor kinks.. but all in all, good! I'm so thankful for my precious boy, what he means to me, and that God is using him to strengthen my faith! God is so good. My friends told me to try to focus on his positives. He loves to build things so here are some pics of him during our school day.. he was very proud of himself.

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Love these Ladies







A couple of Saturday's ago, I had all the Fegenbush praise team/band ladies over to my house for Pedi's. It was a beautiful day and we had such a great time! These girls are the bomb!!! They are such a talented group of gals with hearts for the Lord. Dan appreciates them ...... A LOT! They all give up alot of their Sunday so they can help lead our people in worship. Never a complaint and always willing, team players. I am so grateful to serve with them.
As we talked about " How beautiful are the feet of them that spread the gospel.. I can say I am proud and honored to call them friends. We had such a great time of fellowship and reflection....... they all have beautiful feet..spiritually and now.... literally! Thanks gals for you sacrifice..Love ya

Friday, September 11, 2009

Stitches







We had just gotten home from the boys football picnic and I had to run very quickly to the store... Dan had to sing at a funeral the next morning and was at the piano practicing. I had just put the baby down for the night, the boys were downstairs watching t.v. before bed and Bekah was getting ready for our girls movie night. I left the house and came back 30 minutes later to hysteria. Bek had cut her leg on a cuticle remover.. Yes, a cuticle remover! It had sliced her leg open like a potato peeler. Jaron was crying, Bekah was crying and Jake looked like a deer in headlights. Needless to say Dan, at 10 pm on Friday night, took her to the emergency room. Fifteen stitches later, she was up and walking again. YAY!! Brave girl!