Slow Week

Not much going on around here. 

Just work. 

Have to work so we can afford to play on the weekend.

Short week though. 

God bless!

Picture #7

It's Thursday!!

That means it's picture day!!

Last week, Baby H was the size of a lime,

but has grown to be the size of a plum. 

If you read my last post, you know that little plum is a GIRL!!!

Mattie really wanted a baby brother, but I think after talking to Hysti and Tiger,

she realizes how much fun having a sister will be. 

They also talked to her about being so far apart in age.

They are seven years apart and Mattie will be ten years older than Baby H.

I just know she's going to be a great big sister. 

Now for a test! 

How observant are you? 

There is another really big change about to happen for our family, 

and we have been dropping some very subtle hints in the last few post. 

See if you can guess before you get to the last clue.

Clue #1 - A count down clock named "Secret Day" was added to my side bar a few weeks ago

Clue #2 - One of the items Katie had listed in Picture #5 is "Getting Ready to Pack & Move"

Clue #3 - Post "This Kid" on March 19, 2015 tells about Mattie trying different types of food 

Clue #4 - The Picture #6 post states "lots of changes are coming" 

(yeah that could have been about Baby H, but it wasn't)

Clue #5 - There are three clues during the reveal party, so I'll list those as sub-clues;

Clue #5A - Hansel & Gretel are on the reveal box

Clue #5B - On the poster behind Katie's head showing the boy/girl guesses, 

boy and girl are listed as junge and madchen

Clue #5C - the reveal is a pink dirndl

So have you figured it out? 

If not, you'll see it as you look at Picture #7. 

Yep! 

My babies are moving! 

It's exciting and sad at the same time. 

I have been able to love on Mattie just about every day of her life. 

But as hard as it is for me, 

I just keep telling myself how great it is going to be for them. 

I hope we have a name for Baby H before they leave! 

God Bless

More fun with Baby H

Last night we had a small family gathering. 

My family can make a party out of anything. 

This party was to find out the gender of Baby H.

The decorations turned out great. 

Even Mom's cactus was dressed for the occasion. 

Frank and I knew the answer, 

and we had been tormenting everyone all day. 

We gave them one final tease before everyone arrived. 

Everyone dressed in the color of their guess, 

Blue = Boy

Pink = Girl

The teams were quite lopsided with more on Team Blue! 

 And Mattie showed how excited she is with all her Big Sister accessories!

We started with a guessing game. 

I had filled this jar with candy,

Half blue & half pink, 

well almost.

There was one more of one color, 

the winning team color. 

I had everyone write there guess on their team side as to how many they though was there. 

This box holds the answer to which gender Baby H is!

After we had dinner, it was time for the reveal. 

Mattie held the box

Phillip and Katie pulled the ribbons. 

And it didn't take long to learn what gender Baby H was. 

YES! IT'S A GIRL!!

And someone was really wanting a boy!

Baby H has been prayed over and will be loved beyond belief. 

And big sister Mattie has since turned that frown around 

and is all smiles about having a little sister. 

So now we wait on a name for the next little princess.

And God continue to bless us as we wait!

Picture #6

Baby H is growing!!

No longer a peanut, now a lime!

Dad, Mom and big sister are busy making plans for the future. 

Lots of changes are coming!!

We are all hoping this will be the last week that 

Baby H will be without a name! 

We should have the results of the DNA test by tomorrow! 

I certainly hope so! 

Great grandTiger is planning a reveal party!!

Pray we get the email in time!! 

God bless

Frustrated

I often wonder...

Why do big people want to be mean to and intimidate little people?

Why do people want to be mean in general? 

God bless.

This Kid

This kid...

She makes me so happy!!

And she is learning that it's fun to try new foods!

It's a good thing she's learned to try it!!

God bless!

Safety City

There are rights of passage for every grade once you start school in kindergarten. 

In Abilene, you learn about a special event that takes place when you are in the third grade. 

You hear the big kids talk about when you begin kindergarten. 

A lot of times, 

you drive by the park and know, once you get in the third grade, 

you'll get to go there, 

The excitement builds for years. 

Today was Mattie's day to get to go. 

Go to Safety City. 

Luckily, they had great weather. 

She learned how to escape from a burning house, with what , as she explained to me,

 was real fake smoke and real fake fire. 

Out safely, and all smiles!

First in the car that belongs to the electric company

"you know Lolo, the one you used to work for"

See ya later!!

And a turn on the bicycle.

It was a great day. 

Beautiful day. 

And rain came later. 

God Bless

Party Planning Time

I just hate to post when nothing much is going on.

About the only thing I've been doing this week is planning a party.

I love party planning.

This time is even more special.

I'm planning the Gender Reveal party for Phillip and Katie.

It's so fun.

But it's hard to plan when we need to do it quickly but we are still waiting on the results.

Hopefully, we have the results by party time!!

Until next time,
God Bless.

Picture #5

Well.

She took her time this week getting the picture to me. 

But she thinks she is going to change to taking the picture on Thursdays. 

Today, she is exactly 10 weeks.

30 More Weeks. 

WOW!

It's already moving along fast! 

Along with the picture this week, 

we've included a video. 

Baby H's premiere!

God Bless

Good Night

Mattie and I had a great time in San Antonio.

I am to tired to download the pictures.

Will do that later. 

Good night!

God Bless

No Ghost

We stayed in The Menger.

It has a very interesting story. 

Part of that story says it's the most haunted hotel in Texas. 

Yeah, I didn't know that when I made the reservation. 

But we're up this morning all in one piece.

No ghost sightings! 

Hahaha!

Off to eat breakfast then visit the Alamo.

God bless!

Tired

Mattie and I are taking a mini vacation.

She choose San Antonio.

We've had fun! 

But I'm tired. 

Seeing the Alamo in the morning! 

God bless!

Going on a Little Trip

Today is Friday!

YAY!!

Tomorrow, we're taking a little trip to the Metroplex, the kids and I.

Frank is fishing.

Sunday, Frank and I will fish!

YAY!!

Have something to look forward too.

Until next time,

Go bless

Nothing

Absolutely nothing going on. 

It was a delayed start today because of ice.

Other than that, nothing to record for memories.

God bless.

16 More Days Until Spring

I know the seasons change as they should in God's time.

But this winter, well I'm done with it.

I am ready for spring!!

Just 16 more days until spring.

God Bless.

Festival of Purim

If I'm not mistaken, the Festival of Purim starts today.

Last year I taught Esther to my Sunday morning ladies class.

I taught it using my grandmother's Bible, King James.

It made me really think.

I hope all of you go back to the King James Bible to study sometimes. It really does make your brain work.

To celebrate the beginning of the Festival of Purim, I'm sharing my notes.

Until tomorrow, God Bless.

The book of Esther is unique because the name of God is never directly mentioned but His presence is there.

Esther was a Jew from the tribe of Benjamin who grew up as an exile in Persia.

Her Jewish name was Hadassah. Esther was her Persian name.  The name Esther means 'star'. Hadassah means 'Myrtle',  Myrtle is a tree that signifies peace and thanksgiving, two things Esther did bring to her people.

We are studying the women of the Bible but you cannot tell the story of Esther without telling the story of these men, King Xerxes, Mordecai, and Haman. And there wouldn’t be a story without Queen Vashti. Her actions are what allowed Esther to become queen.

King Xerxes ruled over 127 provinces. In the 3rd year of his reign, he decided to display his abundant wealth. This display was for 180 days. He gave a banquet for all his nobles and officials, the military leaders of Persia and Media, and the princes and the nobles of the provinces were present. (This was not a small party. If there is at least one person from each province I would say it is at least 762 people) He wanted to show off all he had. And if a180 day banquet wasn’t enough, He followed it with a seven day feast. The feast was held “in the enclosed garden of the king’s palace, for all the people from the least to the greatest who were in the palace.”  I’m not sure of the difference between a banquet and a feast, but we know there was a lot of food  and wine involved, and he was really showing off his wealth.

AND

I love the description of the garden, it is very specific. (READ Esther 1:6) And he shows off more by the description of the amount of wine and how it was served. (READ Esther 1:7) We wouldn’t dare serve our guest with stemware that didn’t match, but here it seems to show more of his wealth.

On the seventh day of the feast, he decides to show off even more and King Xerxes summons Queen Vashti to show off her beauty. Today I think she would be referred to as “arm candy”! She refuses to come. King Xerxes consults his wise men and they make the decision she is to be banished from the kings presence. This is not only because she disobeyed the king but these wise men were afraid their women would follow what she did. (it never says what actually happened to her, just that she was never again to enter the presence of King Xerxes and the king was to give her royal position to someone else who was better than she.

When Xerxes had calmed down, he remembered what Vashti had done and the decree he had made about her. He again turns to his wise men and they propose to “Let a search be made for a beautiful young virgin to take Vashti’s place.” Xerxes appointed someone in every province that he ruled to bring these beautiful women into his harem. They were placed under the care of Hegai, and received beauty treatments. Sounds like the first recorded beauty pageant.

Now Mordecai was a Jew in the palace and heard that Xerxes had plans for a new queen.

Mordecai had a cousin named Hadassah that he had raised because she didn’t have parents. Hadassah was also known as Esther and she was beautiful. Mordecai took Esther to the king’s palace and placed her in to the care of Hegai.

Hegai really liked Esther and immediately provided her with beauty treatments and special food. He assigned her seven female attendants selected from the king’s palace and moved her and her attendants to the best place in the harem. Mordecai had forbidden Esther to reveal her nationality and family background. But every day he walked back and forth near the courtyard of the harem to find out how she was doing.

Every young lady went through twelve months of beauty treatment before meeting the King, six months with oil of myrrh and six with perfumes and cosmetics. When she was called to go to the king, she could take anything with her she wanted. In the evening she would leave the harem and go to the king’s palace and in the morning she would return to another part of the harm. She wouldn’t go back to the king unless he called her back by name.

When Esther was called to go to the king, she asked for nothing other than what Hegai had suggested and she won the favor of everyone who saw her. 2:17 King Xerxes was attracted to Esther more than any other woman. So Esther was chosen as queen and Xerces gave a great banquet for all his nobles and officials. He proclaimed it a holiday throughout his kingdom.

And Esther had still not told anyone she was a Jew.

Now, during all this time, Mordecai had been sitting at the gate to the palace. And it was during this time that he found out about a plot to kill the king by two of the guards and he told Queen Esther who told King Xerxes but gave the credit to Mordecai. King Xerxes had the guards impaled on poles and had all of this recorded in the record books which later serves as a blessing for Mordecai.

After all of these events, King Xerxes has Haman promoted to a high seat of honor, higher than any of the other nobles. Every one was to bow down to Haman and pay honor to him. But Mordecai would not. And this made Haman very angry. So Haman goes to King Xerxes and tells him about a certain group of people that live throughout all his kingdom that follow their own customs and not those of the king. Haman convinces Xerxes that these people should all be killed and he offers ten thousand talents of silver to the king.

King Xerxes tells Haman to keep his money, places his own signet ring on Haman’s finger and tells him to “do with these people as you please”. They write out an order to “destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews - young and old. (READ 3:9) And Haman seals it with the king’s ring.

When Mordecai learns what has been done he tears his clothes and puts on sackcloth and ashes. He goes out in the city wailing, but he does not go through the king’s gate because he is dressed only in sackcloth. Esther’s attendants came and told her about Mordecai and she sends clothes for him but he wouldn’t accept them. When Esther is told about this she sends another attendant to go back and find out what is wrong with him.  

Mordecai tells the attendant everything and gives him a copy of the decree. He sends word for Esther to go before the King. She sends word back to Mordecai saying that everyone knows what happens to a man or woman that goes before the king without being summoned. They will be put to death unless the king holds out the golden sceptre to them. She also tells him she has not been called by the king for the last 30 days.

The attendant tells Mordecai what Esther had said and he sent these words back (READ 4:13-14)

And Esther responded to Mordecai (READ 4:16)

Mordecai did all that Esther had commanded him.

On the third day Esther put on her royal clothes and went into King Xerxes inner court.

When the King saw her he extended his royal sceptre. She touched the top of the sceptre and the king asked her “What is it Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given to you.” She asks him and Haman to come to a banquet she has prepared for them. He summons Haman and they go.

As they are eating, King Xerxes asks Esther again what it is she wants. She asks for the two of them to come to another banquet tomorrow and she will ask him then.

When Haman left he was happy and in high spirits, but then he sees Mordecai at the gate and he becomes angry again. He goes home and gathers all his friends to show off his great wealth. He shows off his many sons and tells of all the ways the king has honored him, even elevating him above all the other nobles. Then he says (READ 5:12-13) His wife and friends suggest he have a gallows made, then suggest to the king that Mordecai be hanged on it. This made him happy and the next day he had the gallows made.

That night King Xerxes could not sleep, so he ordered the book of records brought up and read to him. It was read to him about Mordecai exposing the two guards that had planed to kill the king and he asked what reward or honor Mordecai had received for this. When they told him nothing, he asked who was in the court at that time. Haman had just entered and wanted to talk to the king about having Mordecai hung on the gallows. King Xerxes had him brought in and asked him what he thought should be done for a man that had found great honor with the king. Haman thought to himself that there was no  one the King would rather honor than himself so he said (READ 6:7-9). King Xerxes told Haman to hurry and have all of this done for Mordecai the Jew and not to leave out a detail that he had mentioned.

Haman did as he was commanded and led the horse with Mordecai through the city claiming “This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor.”

Afterward, Mordecai returned to the gate and Haman headed home in shame. He told his wife what had happened. She said there wasn’t anything he could do about it because Mordecai was a Jew and that would be the downfall of Haman. Before they could finish, the king’s attendants came for him to take him to the banquet that Queen Esther had prepared.

King Xerxes and Haman again attended the banquet that Esther had prepared for them. The king again asked the queen why she had petitioned him and again offered up to half of the kingdom. (READ 7:3-4) King Xerxes asked his queen who was the man that had dared to do such a thing. She said it was Haman. Haman became terrified before the king and queen. Xerxes flew into a rage, left his wine and went out into the palace garden. Haman stayed behind to beg Queen Esther for his life. And just as the king was returning, Haman was falling onto the couch where Queen Esther was. The king exclaimed “Will he even molest the queen while she is with me in the house?” As soon as the king had said this, they covered Haman’s face.

One of the king’s attendants said that a gallows had been set up by Haman that he had intended for Mordecai. The king said to hang Haman on it instead. And when they did, the king’s fury subsided.

The same day, King Xerxes gave Esther the estate of Haman and had Mordecai brought to him, because Esther had explained how they were related. The king took off the signet ring he had taken back from Haman and gave it to Mordecai. Esther appointed Mordecai over Haman’s estate.

Esther again pleaded with the king to save her people. She begged him to put an end to Haman’s plan against the Jews. (READ 8:7-8) The royal secretaries began writing Mordecai’s orders. Mordecai sealed them in the king’s name with his signet ring and they were sent out to all of the king’ provinces. The orders provided that the Jews had the right to assemble and protect themselves from anyone that wanted to hurt or kill them. Then Mordecai left the king’s presence in royal garments of blue and white, a large golden crown and a purple robe. And all the city held a joyous celebration.

Picture #4

Again, she is really making this easy on me. 

But I know at some point, that belly will be taking up more room and she'll have less room to write on that door. 

At some point, she'll be able to start talking about Baby H's movements and what (s)he likes and dislikes. 

But for now, I just want to you notice what a beautiful daughter I have. 

 

Until next time. 

God Bless.

New Old Friends

Most everyone one knows I'm in a private group on Facebook.

It's a group of breast cancer survivors.

We call ourselves Pink Sisters.

In February we celebrated our second anniversary. 

We've always wanted a way to meet each other, but it's hard to get 400+ women all together. 

So it's gotten to be when someone travels they try to meet up with others in there home towns.

Sunday was my turn. 

Marianne was traveling from California to a cowboy poetry gathering in Alpine. 

Not that it was on her way, but she came through Abilene and we got to meet. 

We had a wonderful time, it just wasn't a long enough visit!

Hopefully we'll get to meet again sometime!!

Always take the time to meet and hug someone new. 

You never know, you might be hugging your next best friend!

Love you Marrianne!!

Until we meet again, 

God bless!