Tanners Orchard

We spent a delightful day at Tanner Orchard today! When we first arrived we grabbed a quick lunch and then headed over to the fun! :)
Here are some photos of the day:

William riding the "horse":)

Emma pretending she's in a Roy Rogers show riding Trigger! :D

Grace on the pony!

Abby on the pony!

Caleb took William on the Barrel Train and William had a delightful time! Here he is waving goodbye to us! *wipes tear*

If you look closely, you'll notice Abby waving frantically at Tiff, Dad and I. Cute! :)

Caleb and Dad, sitting back and enjoying the *warm* breeze! :)

You never realized I was THAT short, now did you? :D

Dad and Emma! *smile*

My goodness, my sweet little sibs were turned into....ANIMALS?! Gracious, we can't take them home like that....think of the neighbors!! (lol. You'd have to have seen Peter Pan to get that last part! hehe)

Our charming little...ahem...goat...I guess?! lol.

Emma on...(well, she insists...)....trigger! :D

Abigail driving the "train". :)

William and Em! :)

Emma...looking like a doll!

William, Our *Little Prince* :)

Melinda, Josiah, Sierra, Lenna, Lily and I + Sugar + late at night = CRAZY FUN! :D

And we have pictures to prove it! And video, but THAT isn't showable! *grin* Okay, so some of the photos turned out a little *ahem* embarrassing, so I cannot reveal them all, but here's a few so that you get the idea. :)

Melinda, Myself and Sierra! :)

Lily, Melinda, Sierra and I! :)

The whole crazy group! :D Josiah, Sierra, Lenna, Lily, myself and Melinda! :)

Don't let the above picture creep you out! We're not REALLY headless! :D lol.

Last of all...the most embarrassing of all! :D Lily (i love the look on your face!), Melinda, Myself, Sierra, Josiah and Lenna's being held by us! :D lol.

Happy Birthday Caleb!

Today is the birthday of a very special person...

I remember the day we found out that Caleb was a boy. Mom went in for an ultra sound and I waited, eager to hear the news. I wanted a little sister, of course. What six year old girl doesn't? :) When my mom came home and told me, "We're having a sweet baby boy," I burst into tears!

But my tears didn't last long. The day Caleb was born I was brought into the hospital room and saw him for the first time, I knew he was just what I had wanted. I didn't care if he was a boy or not-he was a baby! And I decided he was the cutest baby ever and nothing would ever change that.

He's not a baby anymore, that' s for sure. He plays paintball, takes the garbage, mows the lawn, shoots guns, plays football....he is a "boy" now. Time flies by so fast, it's so hard to believe that my "baby" brother is now eleven years old and completly 100% boy! No longer is he the chubby baby he once was-now he's my protector-brother-my knight-in-shining armor (in training).

Boating....

Close your eyes and imagine it....

The soft sensation of the breeze on your back... The gentle ripple of water in your ears... The sweet laughter of your little sisters... And The Slipper and the Rose Soundtrack wafting from the CD player...

Ahhh! "Is there any felicity in the world superior to this?"

Lazy old day
rolling away
dreaming the day away
don't want to go
now that I'm in the flow
crazy amazing day

One red balloon
floats to the moon
just let it fly away
I only know
that I'm longing to go
back to my lazy day

And how it sings and how it sighs
and how it never stays
And how it rings and how it cries
and how it sails away.. away...away....- Enya, "Lazy Days"

Soooo...Tiff and I donned scarves and sunglasses and headed out to the boat for a little relaxation! :) It was beautiful!
And guess what more???
I have pictures to prove it! Ha! :D

Tiff laughing...probably at me. :D

Abigail, enjoying the ride and looking oh so cute! :)

Okay, so we agreed that with sunglasses on and scarf thing that I look like the modern rendition of Caroline Bingley from Pride and Prejudice! :D Kind of a snobby look! hehe. :)

Tiff looking oh so awesome! :D (if you look behind her you can see a line of green foam stuff on the lake. If you must know, that's algae growing on the top. It's mostly only at the edges though, so it's not TOO bad. ;D) Don't ask me why in the world I just told you that...

Okay, so you caught me posing...something I don't usually do! :D lol.

Virginia Grace looking beautiful!! :) Aren't little sisters wonderful??

And I can't close without an artsy shot of the water! :D Yup, that's our lake water It actually looks gorgeous in that picture (from a personal viewpoint, anyway. :) )!!

jessica

Our First Annual Reformation Day Faire!!!!

October 27 gives you a great opportunity to learn about the life and times of Martin Luther and the Reformation while at the same time meeting the families of Providence Church! If you are in the area, or if you just happen to be driving by Peoria, plan to come to our first annual Reformation Day Faire!

We have a host of activities planned including an authentic medieval feast, archery competitions, hymn and psalm singing, theatric presentations, historic dancing, and an opportunity to meet Martin Luther himself (well, actually my Dad impersonating the great Reformer). Oh, and did I mention feasting?

If you are able to make it, please RSVP by calling the church office - 309-387-2600. You can download an official invitation Here!

Click HERE to see photos from our Reformation Day Faire 2005!

The Last Sin Eater

"A little girl's quest for redemption uncovers a dark secret...and the truth shall set her free."

Thus says the tag line of movie The Last Sin Eater based on the best-selling book by Francine Rivers and directed by Michael Landon Jr. (yeah, the son of the guy who directed the Little House on the Prairie series! :D)
When Mom ordered the movie (after we missed seeing it in theaters since it wasn't playing everywhere) I must admit, I didn't watch it right away. But last night, after Mom and Tiff left for the Raising Maidens of Virtue meeting, Melissa and I put the kids to bed and sat down, with nothing to do.
As Melissa walks up to bed I stop her.
"Hey, Moosh (our nickname for her...don't ask!), I don't really want to go to bed yet...will you stay up and watch "Last Sin Eater" with me?"
She shrugs. "Sure."
So we sit down and turned on the projector and the film started.

What can I say, except that I was surprised beyond belief? I wasn't expecting much, and I got more than I'd hoped for!
It's the beautiful, Sweetly sorrowful story of a young girl, Cadi Forbes, who has, in her eyes, committed an almost unforgivable sin. She struggles to find cleansing for her broken heart, she searches, desperately trying to find the one who can take her sins away, the sins that are tearing at her heart.
She goes to the sin eater...who she thinks is the one to take her sins away forever. When he fails, and she thinks that all hope is gone for her, a man shows up...a man of God, who, with a few simple words, shows her the truth of Jesus Christ, the only one who can cleanse us from our sins. The one and the only Sin Eater.

I couldn't help but let the tears fall when Cadi finally tells the Man of God her great and terrible sin. It went like this:

"Will you ask God to forgive me?" Cadi begs, the tears rolling down her cheeks.

The Man of God smiles as his own eyes fill with tears and embraces her. With his rough, southern drawl he replies,"You just did...you beautiful girl...you just did."

If you haven't seen this movie, please, at least rent it. And if you haven't read the book (which is better, by the way!) please do the same. Believe me, you will be glad you did!

"And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with his wrath? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just: that his justice cannot sleep for ever . . . ." -Thomas Jefferson

God bless America!

Chili or Chilly??? (A bit of an odd conversation)

Okay, so in the McDonald home we have this odd habit of sitting in the same building (sometimes on the same couch) and chatting (On Google chat of course. As a friend of mine assured me, Google is slowly taking over the world!). Don't ask me why. It's odd, I know. lol.
Anyway, some of those internet conversations are too funny not to share.

(Warning: This is what happens when you're insane and enjoying it!)

So here's our latest and greatest conversation. LOL. (Oh, and "me" is me. :)











<- the culprits.


The Conversation-(read at your own risk!)
_________

me: (tis a bit nippy outside)

Tiffany: as in chili?

me: (with a british accent)

Tiffany: with a brit accent

yeah

me: yeah

:D

Tiffany: thus the chili

not chilly

me: wait

do you mean

chilly

or chili?

:)

'i'm dreaming of a white christmas' sort of

Tiffany: I was wondering if it was chili...instead of chilly...because chili sounds more british

me: LOL

um

chili

is mexican

dahilin

dahlin

:)

Tiffany: like

duh....

I meant

it sounds more brit to say chili than chilly

when speaking of the weather

;-)

me: you are so odd, Tiff

lol

Tiffany: like I know that....

did that just occur to you?

:)

me: no

unfortunatly

I

've known it for a while

:)

but that's why we get along so well!

:)

P.S. And we still haven't figured out who if it was chilly or chili...

Tiff showed me this brain type quiz. I thought it was kind of cool. :) Check it out!

I am an
FEIR / ESTP "Opportunist"
"smooth operator," deal-maker; tactical, enterprising; adaptable,
persuasive, energetic; seeks fun and excitement; athletic;
enjoys the moment; realistic, good natured, self-focused;
body- and clothes-conscious; entrepreneur; negotiator; promoter;
fine motor skilled.

What are you?


(When you are done, click here to find a definition of your result.)

Happy Birthday, Mom!

On September 3, 2007 something wonderful occurred. Not only did we have three dear families from church come help us clear off some of our land (and clean out our barn/shop thingy), and not only did we enjoy an evening (after the work) of dancing and laughing, but something else happened.

My mom had a birthday!
I'm so thankful that God has blessed me with a mother that is so wise, understanding and kind. Whenever I have a problem, or am hurt or upset, My Mom can tell right away. She listens lovingly and helps me down the correct path.



I've watched her live each day for the Lord, raising up children not for the moment, but for the future. I've seen her be a servant, so that I might be blessed.
I've seen her love, even when she is hurt.
My mother is so special to me. And I honestly don't know what I'd do without her.
Thank you Mom, for raising me and teaching me that to be a mother and a keeper at home is not degrading in the least, but A high calling, and one that pleases the Lord. Thank you for teaching me the love of the Lord, so that I might also teach my children one day.
Thank you for loving me and guiding me through the treacherous terrain of life.

Happy Birthday, Mom! I love you!

p.s. Pictures of the exciting event are below!

p.s.s. My Dad has started a new blog! You can find it here.