Hailey & Kevin are engaged!

My brother-in-law, Kevin, proposed to his sweet girlfriend, Hailey Prince, a few weeks ago! Next December we will be having a wedding! YEAH! The kids love "Aunt Hailey" - we have known Hailey and her precious family for a while, because we went to church with them in Shreveport before we moved to TX. If you want more info on them in the future - about who they are, their engagement, and their wedding plans ... check out The Prince/Broussard Wedding Blog from time to time!

Merry Christmas

Belated Merry Christmas! This picture was taken on the Tuesday before Christmas when we went to see the lights at the Opryland Hotel here in Nashville. We went there with John's dad, Grandpa, and step-mom, Granny Susan. This was all in the middle of our family passing around a yucky stomach bug. Jack, Grant, and I had already gotten it. John and Shelby got sick after this. We are so thankful to be over that!
John is home 1/2 day of vacation today and won't be back at work until the January 2, 2007! Wow ... 2007! Happy New Year!

ESa Holiday Party 2006

Getting ready to leave for John's office Christmas party. Can you tell we will be missed?!?!?!?



At the Loew's Vanderbilt in Nashville, TN.
A great hotel that also contains John's office!
More pics to come - just of flowers!

Elisabeth Elliot's Word of Wisdom

This devotion was such a blessing to me this morning! It is a must read at this busy season of life! The encouragement at the end is when Elisabeth Elliot's daughter is reminding her Mom of what she taught her; "When Val phoned I asked, 'How do you do it?' 'Mama, I just do what you taught me: don't think about all you have to do, just do the next thing!' I needed to be told what I have often told others, and it worked."

So often I need to look at the big picture of where we are headed with our children, but some days I just need to look to the next task and get it done!

I thank the Lord that Shelby is being such a contributor to our family life! From cleaning out the dishwasher to sweeping the kitchen, she is helping to make our home run more smoothly! Thank you, Lord!

Author: Elisabeth Elliot

Source: Keep A Quiet Heart

Homeschooling
When my daughter Valerie Shepard was homeschooling three of her five children (the other two were preschool age), I asked her what she had discovered about the advantages of homeschooling. Here is her answer:
The children have more time: to read (aloud and silently); to learn responsibility by doing chores at home; to play (without adult direction) and use the imagination; to listen to and enjoy each other; to learn obedience.
Parents need not deprogram or reteach values the child hears for seven hours a day. They have the child's full attention at any time of the day and can give him full attention; he is not absorbing two different value systems daily.
Children learn to love each other more. They do not look down on one another in favor of their peers, or in wrong adulation of older children. This society teaches that among children "older is better." That's not right. Having them at home all day allows them to be children without having to "grow up" in the wrong ways.
They learn to be servants of one another. The family is a microcosm of the Body of Christ.
After I asked Val to write this I had the fun of trying it out myself. Val and Walt went to South Carolina (taking their nursing baby Colleen) and I had the other four for five (very busy!) days. There was a schedule of chores posted in the kitchen. Daily I reminded them (seldom more than once). The nine-, seven-, and five-year-olds took turns setting and clearing the table, emptying the dishwasher, folding laundry, sweeping the kitchen. Walter (the oldest) and Jim (not quite three} took out trash, the girls cleaned the bathroom. All but Jim made their beds.
School began at nine with Bible reading, singing, prayer, all four joining in. Jim sat on the floor and played while the others studied. Christiana finished her kindergarten work by ten or so, Walter and Elisabeth worked till nearly lunchtime.
Every afternoon there was Quiet Hour. This was a lifesaver for Granny. The three older children were expected to be in their rooms for an hour. They did not need to sleep, but they were to read or find something quiet to do alone. (Not once did we have any altercation about Quiet Hour. It had always been a part of their lives, and they liked it.) Jim and I lay down together, I read him a Beatrix Potter story, and he fell asleep.
Since we had no car, four of us walked to the grocery store every day, while Walter rode his bike. It was an interesting string of people, Elisabeth hugging (for example) five pounds of flour, Christiana batting things with a box of Saran Wrap, Jim lugging a bag of apples, Granny with a loaded brown bag.
We had poetry readings (Jim memorized with no effort at all) and singing. Everybody learned "Chattanooga Choo-Choo," by mistake, as it were--I meant for them to learn "Praise the Savior" but somehow that one didn't stick so easily, alas! Walter and Elisabeth practiced the piano and played vigorous duets for the rest of us. We made bread and organized drawers and closets and sorted clothes and toys for give-away and picked violets and had a marvelous time.
I should confess this--on the evening of the first day I wasn't sure I'd survive the week. When Val phoned I asked, "How do you do it?" "Mama, I just do what you taught me: don't think about all you have to do, just do the next thing!" I needed to be told what I have often told others, and it worked.
Homeschooling is demanding to say the least--but worthwhile. If you are considering trying it, you might want to get Mary Pride's The Big Book of Home Learning: The Complete Guide to Everything Educational for You and Your Child (Crossways).

Catching up ... Michael's 1st b'day!

Michael is 1!


A little sleepy too!


After church we went to McDonald's for lunch and cake!


What fun hands!
Michael had his check up this week because we were a little late on his 9 month check up etc.!
We have found a pediatrician that came highly recommended by a friend, and he attends our church! YEAH! The children have really taken to him, so we are blessed! It has been hard to find a comfortable place after being in Dr. Cindy's office!
More to come ... hopefully sooner than later!

Operation Christmas Child

John and I have participated in Operation Christmas Child in the past.
Our church, Grace Community Church, here in Nashville sets aside November as "Mission's Month." That is a time that they look ahead at mission opportunities for next year as they educate us new people in all the ways we can be a part of missions at church. One way is by the children making their Operation Christmas Child boxes! Grant and Shelby enjoyed shopping for their child and filling their boxes!



Shelby is writing about herself on an information sheet to put in her box for a child.


Wrapping the boxes so they will be ready to fill!


Learning about other mission opportunities as Grace.


Presenting their boxes at church!

I hope to be able to work with the local crisis pregnancy in the future as well as VBS and maybe a couple of others!

Interruptions, Delays, Inconveniences

Author: Elisabeth Elliot
Source: Keep A Quiet Heart (a portion from a devotion I read a week or so ago)

One more quotation--this from an out-of-print book, The Life and Letters of Janet Erskine Stuart. Says one who was her assistant for some years, "She delighted in seeing her plan upset by unexpected events, saying that it gave her great comfort, and that she looked on such things as an assurance that God was watching over her stewardship, was securing the accomplishment of His will, and working out His own designs. Whether she traced the secondary causes to the prayer of a child, to the imperfection of an individual, to obstacles arising from misunderstandings, or to interference of outside agencies, she was joyfully and graciously ready to recognize the indication of God's ruling hand, and to allow herself to be guided by it."

November 13 - from Streams in the Desert

God knows that you can stand that trial; He would not give it to you if you could not. It is His trust in you that explains the trials of life, however bitter they may be. God knows our strength, and He measures it to the last inch; and a trial was never given to any man that was greater than that man's strength, through God, to bear it.

Happy 1st Birthday, Michael!

Happy Birthday, baby boy!

Our Home

My dear friend, Tamra, asked me months ago to post pics of our new home. Mostly so she can show her children that we live in a new place etc. So, finally ... the boxes are unpacked and things are mostly in it's place. (I started this blog post in October!)




Our dining / school room!


Grant and Jack's room!

Our living room!

Another view of the living room!

Shelby and Michael's room!

MY room! HA! OUR room!

The kitchen - above and below!

Now I should add pictures with Christmas decorations! Hope this gives you a good idea of where we live!

Dentist and Field Trip

We have been trying to finish up our study of ancient history, so we made a stop in Ancient Greece. We have been reading about Homer, the people of ancient Athens and Sparta, Greek gods, and the first Olympics! When our reading took us to the architecture of the "Par-fa- non" - as Jack calls it - I new it was time to head downtown for a visit! We have driven through the park where it is located several times, but we have never stopped! So, after our dentist appointments (Shelby, Grant, & Jack) we headed to lunch with Daddy and off on a field trip.



How cool is this! An exact replica!




This place is HUGE!



Well, I thought I was getting a picture of the whole crew in front of the statue of Athena, but someone was a little hesitant of the situation and wasn't visible once I looked at the picture!



This statue was MASSIVE! I am always amazed how they were able to construct things so long ago!




Run Jack!



A smile at last! :)

Cool train!

Wow, even a picture of all of us! Daddy ate lunch with us, but had to head back to the office just a few blocks down!

Can you tell we were loving this outing?

Grant was ready to head home! Can you tell?

Plenty of ducks to feed here! They followed us all around! All we had to give them were cheerios!

See some of what we saw here at the official Parthenon website!

Our weekend!

Michael waiting patiently to get a move on!

Jack is just happy to be outside where he can push "Max" wherever he wants!

Grant is a little bummed that he can't do what Shelby is doing!

Shelby getting ready to go on the zip line - see the previous post for a video!

There she is!

Grant's first canoe ride! See him paddle!

Jack's first canoe ride!



Michael just wanted to get down and play! But it is cold!

A wonderful view of the amphitheater across the lake! That is where our opening and closing services were held! We didn't make it for opening! It was going to be a long day for us! :)

Family Fall Retreat

Today we were at an ALL day Fall Retreat with our church - Grace Community Church. It was our first time to meet some homeschooling families from church! YEAH! Many families with four children and a couple with the same ages of our children! FUN! We were at a YMCA camp here and there was lots to do! A few firsts for the Ramares children! I will leave you with one this evening so I can get in bed!!!!!
Shelby on the zip line! YIKES!
Pictures to come! Hopefully you can see this video now!

Happy Birthday, Treese!

Need I say more?!?!?
My big sis is the BIG 40 on Thursday!
Happy Birthday, Treese!
I wish I were there!
I love you!

FINALLY

Well, we have been watching for a tooth for weeks now! Yesterday we finally saw that Michael's 1st tooth has broken through! YEAH! My children normally get teeth by now! My last baby's gummy grin is about to be gone! OH NO! Maybe I can get a picture of it soon!

October 11

Title: By Death We Live

Book: Streams in the Desert

Author: Mrs. Charles E. Cowman

"As dying and behold we live" (2 Cor. 6:9). I had a bed of asters last summer, that reached clear across my garden in the country. Oh, how gaily they bloomed. They were planted late. On the sides were yet fresh blossoming flowers, while the tops had gone to seed. Early frosts came, and I found one day that that long line of radiant beauty was seared, and I said, "Ah! the season is too much for them; they have perished"; and I bade them farewell.

I disliked to go and look at the bed, it looked so like a graveyard of flowers. But, four or five weeks ago one of my men called my attention to the fact that along the whole line of that bed there were asters coming up in the greatest abundance; and I looked, and behold, for every plant that I thought the winter had destroyed there were fifty plants that it had planted. What did those frosts and surly winds do?

They caught my flowers, they slew them, they cast them to the ground, they trod with snowy feet upon them, and they said, leaving their work, "This is the end of you." And the next spring there were for every root, fifty witnesses to rise up and say, "By death we live." And as it is in the floral tribe, so it is in God's kingdom. By death came everlasting life. By crucifixion and the sepulchre came the throne and the palace of the Eternal God. By overthrow came victory.

Do not be afraid to suffer. Do not be afraid to be overthrown. It is by being cast down and not destroyed; it is by being shaken to pieces, and the pieces torn to shreds, that men become men of might, and that one a host; whereas men that yield to the appearance of things, and go with the world, have their quick blossoming, their momentary prosperity and then their end, which is an end forever.--Beecher

"Measure thy life by loss and not by gain, Not by the wine drunk, but by the wine poured forth. For love's strength standeth in love's sacrifice, And he who suffers most has most to give."

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Update ...

I made it to LA safely! The children were great on the road!

My niece, Sarah Jane, is having a MRI tomorrow afternoon to rule out anything else they can not see! Right now she has been diagnosed with a form of vertigo, but neither her pediatrician nor her ENT have ever seen it in a child her age. They are doing this test to set my sister at ease. The procedure they did on Sarah Jane last week hasn't helped her symptoms a whole lot! Please pray for them tomorrow - she will be put to sleep to run the test! I will try to update when I know more! Thanks!

Well ...

tomorrow morning (EARLY - Lord willing) I will head out on my first trip back to LA since we moved! My second time to travel alone with the full crew and just me! :) Please pray for me! I am also a little anxious, because this week marks one year from a major trial in our lives! The Lord is reminding me of His constant provision!
John will fly in to join us on Friday evening. We will be attending our sweet friend's, Mandy B - well - now Mandy S, wedding reception! We will see a few friends we went to college with and I also found out that it is homecoming week at my high school - and they are celebrating the 75th anniversary of the school! Cool! So, I may see more friends!
Well, I have to finish packing the van and get in the bed! Thanks for you prayers, dear friends!

Fall is Fun!

I love the fall! I love getting up to the crisp mornings and drinking my coffee and reading! Fall is so refreshing! I started reading about some fun fall things and thought you might want to read too! Click here for a refreshing look at fall!

Isaiah 26:3-4

Isaiah 26:3-4

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:

Grace in the Morning

Title: Grace in the Morning
Book: Streams in the Desert
Author: Mrs. Charles E. CowmanProgram
Date: December 31st, 1969
Web Page: http://www.backtothebible.org/devotions/print.php/streams/256

"Come up in the morning . . . and present thyself unto me in the top of the mount" (Exod. 34:2).

The morning is the time fixed for my meeting the Lord. The very word morning is as a cluster of rich grapes. Let us crush them, and drink the sacred wine. In the morning! Then God means me to be at my best in strength and hope. I have not to climb in my weakness. In the night I have buried yesterday's fatigue, and in the morning take a new lease of energy. Blessed is the day whose morning is sanctified! Successful is the day whose first victory was won in prayer! Holy is the day whose dawn finds thee on the top of the mount! My Father, I am coming. Nothing on the mean plain shall keep me away from the holy heights. At Thy bidding I come, so Thou wilt meet me. Morning on the mount! It will make me strong and glad all the rest of the day so well begun. --Joseph Parker.

Still, still with Thee, when purple morning breaketh,
When the bird waketh, and the shadows flee;
Fairer than morning, lovelier than daylight,
Dawns the sweet consciousness, I am with Thee.
Alone with Thee, amid the mystic shadows,
The solemn hush of nature newly born;
Alone with Thee in breathless adoration,
In the calm dew and freshness of the morn.
As in the dawning o'er the waveless ocean,
The image of the morning-star doth rest,
So in this stillness, Thou beholdest only
Thine image in the waters of my breast.
When sinks the soul, subdued by toil, to slumber,
Its closing eyes look up to Thee in prayer;
Sweet the repose, beneath
Thy wings o'er shadowing,
But sweeter still to wake and find Thee there.
--Harriet Beecher Stowe

My mother's habit was every day, immediately after breakfast, to withdraw for an hour to her own room, and to spend that hour in reading the Bible, in meditation and prayer. From that hour, as from a pure fountain, she drew the strength and sweetness which enabled her to fulfill all her duties, and to remain unruffled by the worries and pettinesses which are so often the trial of narrow neighborhoods. As I think of her life, and all it had to bear, I see the absolute triumph of Christian grace in the lovely ideal of a Christian lady. I never saw her temper disturbed; I never heard her speak one word of anger, of calumny, or of idle gossip; I never observed in her any sign of a single sentiment unbecoming to a soul which had drunk of the river of the water of life, and which had fed upon manna in the barren wilderness.--Farrar

Give God the blossom of the day. Do not put Him off with faded leaves.

Devotions.org is made possible through the generous gifts of supporters. Your gift is appreciated to help keep this ministry touching the lives of men and women through the Internet. Go here to make a tax deductible donation or call 1-800-811-2397 to partner with us.

P.S.

John had a great lunch today with the pastor from the church we have been visiting! Our doctrinal beliefs are the same. :) I pray that the Lord will give us clear direction as we sit under this pastors preaching ... as he teaches through Romans 8&9 over the next couple of months!
Thanks for your prayers!

Please Pray :)

Most of you have heard me talk about my niece, Sarah Jane, that is one year older than Shelby! Sarah Jane has had some nose bleed problems in the past that we attributed to allergies. When they started up a couple of weeks ago, she also began having some dizzy spells. The doctor gave her medication that helped, but he thought it would be a one time deal. Well, this weekend it returned and today the school called Patreese because of it. They went to the doctor and he said he needed to rule out a couple of things before they continue treating it as they have. So, tomorrow the doctor hopes to run an MRI to rule out a brain tumor or an opening to the spine that would allow fluid in to cause meningitis. (I have no idea if I said all of that correctly or spelled it correctly, but you get the idea of the breakdown my sister was having at that point!) Please pray for Sarah Jane and Patreese. The Lord has been slowing revealing himself to my brother-in-law, Jeff, and I pray that Lord will use all of these events to draw this family to Himself!

I will try to keep you posted! :)

Isaiah 26:3&4
3Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
4Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:

ESa Picnic

John's company picnic started yesterday around 3PM. Activities went on until almost 6PM when our dinner was served! We all had a great time! I am sure you will be able to tell by the pictures! We also met some nice people!


Jack decided to ride! Uh oh ... I hope he doesn't acquire Shelby's passion for horses! :)


Spin art! I am going to try to scan our art work and add it to the post later!


Michael is having fun watching everyone!


Daddy and Grant jousting! Pretty funny to watch!


Shelby is eating this up! She knew the horses names right away ... Hosanna and Grace.


Surprise!


Balloon swords!


A teddy bear!


Shelby and I were playing the egg toss game they do every year at the picnic!
The lady next to me with the tan shorts ... she and her husband had theirs bust on the first or second throw. The man in the white t-shirt went on to win the toss for the third year in a row. His partner was a teenager that we went to the county fair with a few weeks ago!