Thanksgiving at the Ranch

Our journey continued as we headed north to the ranch. We made a stop to see Grandma Chick. She has had a really rough year and I felt bad that I didn't even recognize her when I saw her. My kids immediately did and I was so proud of them. For some kids a nursing home can be scary..but my kiddos would just talk to whoever was talking to them. 
I was so proud of Katie..she broke the ice by going up and immediately complimenting Grandma on her sweater and then quickly moved to favorite colors and such. Katie is my child who always tells others how nice they look and picks something they have on and lets them know she likes it. So it was a great time to see Chick and thank the Lord for sparing her life after a horrible fall.

At the ranch we got to meet up with the cousins...and boy were my kids excited. Cousins at the ranch means lots of time outside (even though it was freezing), dirt, riding 4 wheelers, horses, bikes, anything that moves. I love to watch them play together. They all get along so well and Carson and Spencer are so good to include Katie and Josie in whatever activity is going on. This was a great visit as I got to catch up with Kacey more than we normally do. I always enjoy spending time with her and Bob. We played a mean game of Yahtzee and it got REALLY loud! :-)

Here are a few fun pics from our time together..

The Holt Family

Spencer, Kyra, Josie, Carson, Katie & David

One more Chesser kid that LOVES horses

Goofing off..this was a mix of silly and showing off their "guns"

My Sweet Girls & Big Enough

Okay this was hilarious..they were posing and giving us their GQ look. Katie was cracking me up as she would strike a major pose every time.

Thanksgiving 2011

1 Thes 5:18 "In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

We are a blessed people with so much to give thanks for. I am truly humbled when I think that God placed me at the point in time in history, in the country, in the family that He did. I am so thankful for all He has given me, the things He has withheld, the times He protected me that I didn't even know it..He is good!!

We had a great time of family and food at my parents on Thanksgiving Day..here are some family pics.

Paw Paw and the Kiddos (minus Josie..she was napping)

Ms. Rynlee - isn't she precious??

The Girl Cousins- TaLynn, Katie, Shelby, TaBree, Kyra, Rynlee & TaNess...Josie was still sleeping

Welch Women

My Handsome Men...Love these guys!

Carlsbad Visit

On Wednesday we went to Carlsbad. The weather was beautiful so we took the kids to the Living Desert. That evening I got to celebrate my 38th Birthday with a yummy dinner with my parents and my brother and his family.

Meeting the Reindeer 



Flowers from my awesome Hubby



Katie & Uncle Mikey

Nana & Jo watching the fish



David and Mikey



Living Desert

 

Josie calling to tell what all she saw..



The kids enjoyed getting out in the beautiful weather...and I got some great pics of the kids.

Say Cheese

Josie talking to the ground hogs..

Best Buddies "Cheese"

One of my favorite things

There are so many things I like about being a mom. I love watching my children learn something new. I love watching them ineract with each other -- those special moments I catch Josie snuggled up to one of the big kids or Kyra and Katie telling stories and giggling after bedtime. I love watching them develop their interest or investigate something to figure it out. I love when one of my kiddos will walk by and hug me. I love when I see God working in their lives. I love catching them in the act of kindness.

Josie & David

Josie, Kyra & David

Jo Jo playing contently

Josie & David

This does not imply by any means that my kids are perfect, that we do not have those days that by 8:15 I'm ready for a "do over" or that we do not have some major areas of training..it just means that I try to find the good things in the everyday things of being a mom.

Thankful

Since I lack discipline and consistency, I often wish I could journal for the 24 or so days leading up to Thanksgiving of all the things I am thankful for...because there are so many things to be thankful for.

As Rody and I spent the last few weeks counting our blessings one thing we noticed we often overlook until it is missing is our health. Jesus has been so faithful this year in providing our family with good health. It is truly a blessing and we do not take it for granted one bit. As I'm also following a cousin to some friends of ours whose little girl is fighting for her life after a heart transplant in the same Houston hospital that Kyra was in..I again thank the Lord as I pray desperately for her and her family. Amazing how when you have been that close to something how much more real, sincere and faithful your prayers are. My heart breaks for this little girls parents ... but also know that God is strengthening their faith and family in a way that only these circumstances could produce.

I am so thankful first and foremost for a God who loves me unconditionally and pulled me from the miry pit (and continues to do so when I get bogged down with the things of this world) and set my feet upon a solid rock.

I am thankful for my family -- for an amazing husband (who did the grocery shopping tonight so I could rest) and my amazing children and the one who will soon be added to our family. For our extended family...for my parents and Rody's parents who make the word in-laws a word that represents love and acceptance. For my brother and his family, for Rody's sister and her family. We are so blessed. For grandparents..we got to see Rody's grandmother this weekend. I am thankful for the time I have had with her. Being so far from my grandparents, it was nice to function in a family with a grandparent that you get to see often.

I am thankful for our home, my job, my boss, my co-workers, my amazing friends, our church, my neighbors, and a country with the freedoms we have.

I am thankful for those who came before that gave us an example to follow that freedom of religion is worth the cost...

Tonight..I am humbled and I am thankful!

Play Time

I absolutely love watching my kids play together. Josie was enjoying a fun game of peek-a-boo the other day when sister decided to join in the fun. The camera did not do the precious scene justice.

Josie & David

Rody treated Kyra & Katie to a trip to the library the other day and I had some fun, quality time with David and Josie. I love watching these two together. He absolutely adores her and she loves him so much. They played and played. He chased her and she would giggle and laugh. I love this part of being a mom...

Cute picture of Kyra

Nov 15, 2011

We have learned about Indian summers here in TX. This last week it was so warm and the kids were enjoying the beautiful weather outside. They were drawing with chalk and then decided to wash it off with the water hose. It didn't take little Josie long to find the mud puddle at the end of the drive way and she kept rubbing the mud all over her face and her hair. So after letting her play I decided the easiest way to clean her was the hose..she went crazy. She started chasing her brother and sisters with the hose and squealing! It was so much fun to watch. I am so sad I didn't get pics of her all covered in mud.

Craftsmanship

My husband is quite the artist. A little over a year ago, David became interested in doing leather work. His dady had done this when he was younger and so they took up the trade and it has been a fun thing that Rody does with all the kids..as well as 3 boys from our church. Rody continues to amaze me with his talent and ability and D is getting to be very talented as well...here is a belt Rody did for Josie and then one he was just working on a new pattern.

Dying to Self

Rody gave a great sermon this morning as we have been going through Galatians. He was talking about the fruit we bear. I often wonder if my children were to describe my walk with Christ what they would describe. Would they articulate a fruitful life or just a mom who teaches scripture and the bible as we discuss history?
I confess there are many times my kids want mom to do something and because of my flesh, and not wanting to die to myself..I refuse them. Lord she's light on my lack of living the crucified life when I let my flesh rule.

Happy Birthday Rody

Nov. 12th ~ Happy Birthday Rody! Today we celebrate one of the greatest blessings in our lives. My husband, best friend, my pastor, and last but definitely not least the father of my children.

I could never have imagined 17 years ago when we started dating that we would be where we are today. And if you would have told me then that I didn't even have an "inkling" of how much I would come to love him, I would have said you were crazy. But it is true. I love him so much more today than I did back then.

Rody is an amazing man. He is one of the smartest people I know. When I was younger this used to really frustrate me that he could help me with my Organic Chemistry homework in college when he'd had the class and year or two prior--WHAT?? You actually remember what you'd learned. Now I am thankful for my live-in walking encyclopedia and Bible concordance.

One of the things I admire the most about him is his love for the Lord and his amazing heart for the lost. Rody genuinely cares where people will spend eternity. He desires for others to know and love the Word of God as much as he does. He is an incredible teacher.

He is an amazing father! He loves his kids and consistently provides them with a seminary level bible education. He has a plan and vision for their lives and loses sleep over the eternal weight and responsibility that being a dad holds...especially to 4 girls!!

We love you and hope you have blessed birthday!!

Say Cheese

I am laughing as I look at pictures of Josie. When trying to get her attention to take a pic we "Say Cheese." And she does...

Back to Blogging

It has been way too long since I last posted and have to admit it has been for silly reasons. I could not change my background and was having editing issues so I got frustrated...well that and having 4 busy children to keep up with.

It is once again we post with exciting news in The Chesser Household. We will be expecting Princess #4 on March 10th. I am 22 weeks along and have had a great pregnancy. The usual first 13 weeks of all day naseau and being tired, but since that time I've felt great. Another girl...wow!! D is a little sad but is such an awesome brother that this girls are blessed to have such a wonderful brother to love and train to be a great husband! :-) I have joked that we are going to have to remodel just to fit all the clothes, shoes and hair accessories.

Life in the Chesser home has been good. We are back full swing into our homeschool year - Grade 5 for Kyra and Grade 2 for David. Katie is our little sponge that just absorbs everything we are doing as well as being the resident math quiz guru. She loves to quiz them on math facts. Josie is at the best stage ever. I love this stage. She is funny and cute and every day (or every hour) does something to remind me why I love being a mom. I have gone from being "MOM" (everything was Mom for a while) to finally being "Mommeee". Today our new word was "Help"..I heard faintly from the other room..I went into the girls room to find her on the next to the top stair on the bunk bed facing forward and being stuck. Saying "help". Little monkey. She LOVES being with the other kids and they are so great about taking her and playing with her because the kid would live outside if I'd let her. She is just like her older siblings.

I promise to do a better job of blogging and will even try to catch up on some summer fun photos...And any of my blogging friends that can offer advice to help me "fix" my background issues...I'm all ears.