Jadon finished up Kindergarten in February before the Disney trip. When we came home he started First Grade! We are very proud of how hard he has worked this past year. He has grown so much! He has taken off in his reading ability; his writing has grown leaps and bounds since last year, and overall loves learning!

We decided to hold off on growing butterflies, for the Kindergarten unit, until the weather got warmer. In February our larva’s arrived! It has been so much fun watching them grow. I love this kind of learning!

https://youtu.be/Kp-xJOkd-7U

Its blurring, but we got to watch two come out!  Super cool!

The kids and I were able to go skating twice this month, ice-skating and roller-skating! It was such a fun field trip and birthday party! It brings back so many memories of skating.

Our homeschool group that meets twice a month did an art gallery in March. I love the creativity and diversity in the artwork. Rahab brought a framed picture of her R people, Jadon showed off his Lego Chain Reaction, and Esther brought her Paper Mache mask. All three of them also brought their Lego creations. They did a great job presenting their artwork to their friends.

We also took a field trip to the Tacoma Musical Playhouse on March 17th to watch James and the Giant Peach.  TMP did an amazing job!  We all enjoyed the play and I can’t wait to hear what they are going to do next year!

The last news in Homeschool Happenings is Jadon read his first chapter book!  Magic School House series:  Dinosaur Before Dark

-Chris

Cancer it is such a common word these days. Most people are affected by cancer in some way shape of form. It can destroy you physically, emotionally, or spiritually.

As my family walks through this trial I would be lying if I said I didn’t experience the depression, denial, or anger emotions. Of course I have experienced them. Do I stay on those emotions? I can’t it will literally eat me alive. I have to choose to focus on the LORD through it all. Some days are really hard to say God is good, all the time, God is good. But I know this as truth and I cannot deny it. I can say that because I look past the here moment and into the eternal moment where I will be standing with my Savior in Heaven. I praise God that my Mom who is facing the cancer will be there too! It brings a comfort to my soul as I watch the cancer try to destroy her body. She is a fighter! The cancer will not destroy her spiritually. In fact it is doing the opposite, it’s making her stronger. The amazing thing the Holy Spirit is doing is making others around her stronger as well. What an amazing testimony. Something the devil is trying to use to destroy our family with is making us stronger.  I am simply amazed and proud of my Dad.  He truly is the glue to our family!  I can not imagine walking through this with out him.

No one fights alone!

It is all in God’s hands, and I am thankful for that!

I’m also, thankful for a great weekend with my family before Mom goes into surgery #2.  March 10-13, 2016

-Chris

We threw Greg a surprise party a few days before his birthday! With my trip to ND and his trip to Nepal, it was the only day we could do it!

The kids did a great job decorating for him. They made a sign across the bridge and one for our bedroom floor. They also thought up games for us to play. Catch the parachute off the bridge and the other was find the airplane! I love how special they wanted to make it for their Dad.

https://youtu.be/dYb2v_VYoY4

The sign says Happy Birthday!

I made Greg lasagna, one of his favorites, and of course custard pie! I’m so excited to give him his gift this year, but it arrives on the 15^th the day after he leaves. He will have to wait until he comes home! The kids bought some practical items this year, tie downs for the car, measuring tape, and a battery rechargeable unit for Nepal.

The next morning Rahab came down all dressed ready to dance.  She had planned a surprise dance for her Daddy.  Of course Greg had to join in!  Love her heart for her Daddy!

Greg I am so honored to be married to you! I love being your wife and mother to your children. You are an amazing husband, daddy, tickle monster, the list could go on! May the Lord bless us with many more birthdays to celebrate together! Love you!

Chris

Esther’s eyes where a little more opened of just how big God’s love is for her.  We were reading the last part of Revelation 14 about the Harvest on Earth.  “Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest on earth is ripe.”  Rev 14:15  “The angel swung his sickle on the earth, gathered its grapes and threw them into the great winepress of God’s wrath.”  Rev 14:19

In the first part of the chapter it was talking about belonging either to the Lamb or the beast.  “They follow the Lamb wherever he goes.  They were purchased from among men and offered as first fruits to God and the Lamb.”  Revelation 14:4  “If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, he too, will drink of the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath.”  Revelation 14:9-10

As her heart was pondering ‘why is my sin not put in the winepress?  It deserves to be in the winepress.’  She saw that those who belong to the beast will live in their sin forever, being tormented for eternity.  But as someone who belongs to the Lamb she was trying to wrap her head around where her sin goes.  We talked about how Jesus bore her sins on the cross, he took the wrath for her.  So that she can follow the lamb.  “This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God’s commandments and remain faithful to Jesus.”  Rev 14:12

My sweet child, may you always inquire of God’s love for you.        May He show you His abundance of love that can not be separated!  You are his child marked with the seal of the lamb. “the Father’s name written on (your) forehead” Rev 14:1.

 

For Christmas this year we gave Rahab a Mommy/Daughter date to Painted Plate in Olympia!  She loved spending time with just me and using all her creative energy!  I enjoyed watching her pick out the colors and where she was going to put them on her piece!  She did a great job!  I’m excited to see the final product.  (I’ll add them later).  Throughout our time she kept telling me how much she loved our date.  My sweet girl, you have no idea how much I treasured this day with you.  My prayer is we will always enjoy having Mother/Daughter dates!

Finished Products!

Was to Disney Land! This year we asked the kids if they wanted to go to Great Wolf Lodge for their birthdays instead of presents. They loved the idea and were very excited. Well, we had the opportunity to join the Vawter’s to Disney Land. We asked the kids if they wanted to trade in their Great Wolf lodge trip for a Daddy surprise. It took some time to convince Rahab, but she eventually got on board! I think they liked the trade.

It was so fun surprising our kids. They had no idea where we were going or who we were meeting. It was fun to see their reactions as they started to put the puzzle together. We spent the first two days with the Vawter’s and then Grandpa Don and Grandma Ferol joined us the next two days.

Grandpa Don and Grandma Ferol also surprised the kids! They also surprised them by taking us to the Mickey Mouse and friends breakfast. Rahab was especially excited to meet Minnie Mouse! Our kids had fun getting the signatures of all the character around Disney Land.

We had a great time and averaged 17,000 steps a day! We were very exhausted and ready to be home. Love creating these memories with our family!

-Chris

We went back to MN in January for a wedding and meeting the newest nephew/cousin.  Which meant we also got in some sweet ice activities!  Rahab enjoyed walking on the ice with her boots.  Esther and Jadon got out the skates.  It was the first time skating for Jadon!  He did amazing!  So proud of him, videos below :).  Greg and I had our first experience curling!  Wow there is way more to that sport then I ever realized!  If you ever get a chance to play you should do it!  All of these actives took place on Uncle Tim and Aunt Kaley’s pond!  Super cool!

https://youtu.be/0-2FjzCAbmY

https://youtu.be/HOwT5Ome3oI

-Chris

Esther celebrated her birthday 4 times this year!  All the cakes/desserts were different too!

It started on the 20th with the Ireland Grandparents & Uncle Brad, Aunty Megan & Owen.  She ate ice-cream at every meal!

Then we were off to MN for wedding, meeting the newest cousin and celebrating Esther’s 9th birthday!   She wanted to sled on her actually birthday so we gathered the extended family and found the biggest hill around!

After sledding, we headed to the Wharram’s for a pizza party with the Barrus’ Grandparents, Uncle Mike, Aunt Tricia, Aunt Nancy, Uncle Tim, Lucas, and of course the Wharram family!  (Way to much pizza!  So glad Uncle Mike didn’t let that go to waste 🙂

Later on Esther’s Birthday we went to celebrate a marriage.  The bride is a childhood friend of mine!  So thankful Esther didn’t mind attending a wedding on her birthday!

After the wedding we took Esther to her favorite restaurant, Olive Garden!  She loves the Zuppa soup there!

The next day we headed over to Uncle Tim and Aunt Kaley’s house.  She got to hold Nolan and loved every minute of it!  They bought her a cake and had a lot of fun with the candles!

My first born daughter, I can’t believe you turned 9.  You have learned so much these 9 years.  I love watching you create art, play the piano, swim, kayak, gymnastic, and most importantly grow in your love for Jesus.  I’m proud to be called your Mom and honored God would allow me to be your Mother.  Love you and can’t wait to see what the future has in store for you!

-Love Mom

 

Greg and I cruised for a purpose! We left the kids with the grandparents and sailed away for the week. What a treasured week it was for the both of us. This cruise took away normal daily distractions of life. No cell phones, Internet, work, kids, meal prep, and house distractions. Although, we did HAVE to watch the Vikings lose, a heart wrenching loss, to the Sea Hawks. I’m still sad here, people! Anyways the point was we took time to work on our marriage. Keeping up with the oil changes in life trying to avoid the head gasket blow!

We enjoyed all the wonderful things about the cruise. The amazing port stops, great food, top-notch house keeping, and just good old plain relaxing! What made this cruise experience set apart from others was the conference we attended on board. We had amazing speakers who spoke truth with laughter in our lives. We could laugh together about how complicated I am as a woman and how simple, kid like Greg is as a man. We both learned things on how to serve each other as a couple. I have an amazing husband and this purpose vacation really highlighted that fact. I’m excited to enjoy another 12 ½+ years of marriage! I love enjoying life with my husband! God created us to be companions in this life together and I want to enjoy all the moments. The good, the bad, the great and the hard.

Cruise details: January 9th to January 16th, 2016 out of the Port Canaveral, Florida

Norwegian Spirit Ship

Port stops:  Key West, Florida; George Town, Cayman Islands; Ocho Rios, Jamaica;  Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas (we were not able to port here due to weather)

-Chris

This year we celebrated Christmas with family 4 different times in three different states!

December 19^th, 2015

We started in Fargo, ND with my Dad’s side of the family. The time we get to spend with family is precious to us. The distance doesn’t help but it sure helps us be intentional with the time given. This year on the Barrus side of the family we drew names, but not to give gifts, but words of encouragement to each other. We shared fun memories and encouraging words. This is truly a great gift. Thoughts that are not often shared but are truly valued! I hope the a new tradition sticks 🙂  Greg was sick that day so he missed the festivities.

December 21^st, 2015

Our second Christmas was with Tim, Kaley & Lucas in Hutchinson, MN. We were anxiously awaiting the newest nephew/cousin to come. In the meantime, Lucas and our kids enjoyed playing together. They wore each other out! It brings me great joy to watch the cousins open Christmas gifts together. Especially Uncle Greg’s homemade wood gifts! This year it was a catapult. I’m not sure who enjoyed it more, Lucas, Tim or Greg :).

While we were there Nolan decided to make his entrance into the world on December 23^rd. Of course that was the day I got sick along with Rahab. Fun fun. Greg held down the fort and watched all the kids and I cleaned and prayed over their house so no one else would get sick! God was good, Tim’s family never got the stomach flu! Praise God!

 

December 24^th & 25^th, 2015

Our third Christmas was hosted at the Wharram’s household in Orono, MN. My extended family was there along with my parents and brother! Christmas for me growing up was always with a house full. This Christmas was just that. Jadon got sick after church but before dinner. Poor guy had to wait until Christmas morning to open his presents. He didn’t seem to mind all the attention was on him and he didn’t have to wait his turn :). We played games, piano, in the snow, and wondered who would get hit next with the flu bug.

December 30^th, 2015

After two full days of traveling, see Rahab’s birthday post, we made it home to celebrate our 4^th Christmas at Don & Ferol’s in Yelm, WA. Esther got sick the night before, but was feeling up to joining us that morning. Our kids opened more presents with their other cousin. I’m so thankful for the time we have together especially when we celebrate our Lords’ birth. Owen also received his Uncle Greg homemade wood gift, the catapult. It was a day later, and Uncle Brad & Grandpa got hit with the flu we brought home.

We had a great Christmas. Even with the stomach bug that seemed to plague us this Christmas. It truly is all about our Savior. I love that we get to spend time with family celebrating it. Even if we are the ones who brought the sickness this year! Sorry family!