Nuggets Along the Trail: December 2011

Over the years, we've always compared our family life to a wagon train heading west. Just as everyone had to do his part to get to Oregon years ago, so everyone in our family must do his/her part to make our journey through life successful. If somebody climbs in the wagon and lets the others do the work, we just don't make any progress. We all have to pull our weight and work together. Along the trail we find lots of pebbles that make for a smooth ride and some bigger rocks that jar us a little; we hit the occasional pothole that can slow us down. But if we purpose to search diligently, there are countless gold nuggets and precious gemstones along the way as well. This journal is an attempt to preserve some of those precious moments for our children, and our children's children, as together we travel this trail called life.

Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. Psalm 16:11

Friday, December 30, 2011

12-30-11 Ice Skating!

Busy day with lots of projects!

So glad for all my helpers - - -

Time for some tunes - - -

Then - -

after supper we had a great time ice skating - - -

I hadn’t been on ice skates for over 20 years (since before we got married!) . . . but it was just as much fun as I remembered, although I do NOT remember having sore muscles afterwards! Dad & the kids enjoyed it too, despite a few falls, bumps, and bruises, and we are more ready than ever for Dave’s lake to freeze so we can do it again – soon!!!!!!!!!

Thanks again, JMS, for the wonderful evening!!!

12-30-11 It’s a Beautiful Day!

~Tori~

Yesterday was a beautiful day outside! It was sunny, around 50 degrees and felt like March. Today on the other hand, is cloudy, around 30, and feels like March (it can be both cold and warm in March).This week has been rather busy with different projects around the house that needed to be done.

Wrestling one night this week.

Dad was really sleepy at Bibletime one night this week so he had a Mountain Dew. Of course all of us kids wanted some too.

We saw the sun yesterday!! From morning….

till evening!!!!

Jesse can read Fox in Socks!

Josh ate all his supper last night…

…so he got an Oreo ball. Go Josh!

That’s going to have to be all for now – we have a big weekend coming up – we’re starting off with a skating party tonight – and then we’re celebrating Christmas with the Steiners and will be with them Saturday and Sunday. It’s looking up to be a pretty good weekend!

- Tori

Mom-isms

When you've got a lot of irons in the fire, sometimes you're gonna get burnt.
Much gain comes to him who hustles while waiting.
Good intentions produce little.
Efficiency is utilizing effective but careful shortcuts for the sole purpose of making more time for the next productive pursuit or service to others.
Laziness is utilizing shortcuts, careful and effective or not, for the sole purpose of making more time for the next selfish or nonproductive pursuit or activity.
Never try to multi-task while giving haircuts.
Carelessness hurts.
I've never met a mess that can't be cleaned up.
God made dirt not to hurt.
When you go on a walk, take gloves and a bag for trash.
Shortcuts usually aren't.
A job done right has been done twice.
When sick children are almost better, we always regret taking them anywhere.
When sick children are almost better, we are always glad we kept them home.