Maidin Monday wk 4

 This Maid has been very busy so today she stopped and reflected by she was so busy… and she stopped to smell the roses…

 

 

 

 

 And admire God’s gift to the desert…

 

 And the little things we take for granted…

 

A Walk in the Park

 Today I took Euphemia and my younger siblings to the park.  I also remembered to take the camera.  Warning; Many pictures ahead!

Jenna found it more fun to climb up the toys.

Lorna enjoyed sliding

 Moment of acomplishment!

Ethan wanted to be all boy… so…

He kept begging me to take pictures.

Aunt and Neice…

Euphemia enjoyed the slide as well!

This scene should have been video taped.  Ethan was calmly telling Lorna, “OK Lorna, Legs in, out, pull em in!”

 

Andra then wanted a turn…

Emma was interested in the dirt, what a sodbuster.

Jenna snapped this one of me.  Now you know the real reason I took them to the park.

So we all decided to have devotion time.

Andra and Emma decided grass was better than dirt.

“I’ve been deserted!”

 

Group picture take 1

Group picture take 2

Take 3… We’re getting somewhere!

Direct sunlight always gives such happy expressions!!!

 

I hope you enjoyed our outting as much as we did!

Happy Father’s Day

 My Dearest one, 
This will be quite a long post.  I recommend reading it either tonight or tomorrow morning before Church. 

I want to start this part 1 out by listing 50 things I love about you, as appose to 10 things I hate about you.  (the movie dear )
 

1.  I love your Christian attitude and heart.
2. I love the memories we share and the smile that comes to your eyes
3. I love the way you smile when you come home from work.
4. I love to watch you cuddle with Emma
5. I love to hear you play the piano, even when you stumble. 
6. I love the emphasis you make on family devotions
7. I love the fact that you continue to pray for meals even when we are rushed for time.
8. I love when you look words up in the dictionary.  I know it sounds like I tease you to death about it, and I do but you just wouldn’t be you without doing it.
9. I love the way you choose to dress and the way you make sure your hair is always combed.
10. I love the way you work hard (but I wouldn’t mind it if you took a few breaks now and then )
11. I love your dreams about gardening and living on a farm
12. I love the way you gently correct me
13. I love the fact that I wake up and you are tucked away in your study reading God’s word or writting down thoughts.
14. I love the way you honor both sets of your parents
15. I love the way you take care of things and teach me to be a good stewart of the things God has given us.
16. I love the way you read the Psalms to Emma
17. I love the way you laugh over Jerry Lewis
18. I love the way you ponder over things
19. I love the way you are more anxious to read a story then sit infront of the TV
20. I love the way you like to see our house run.
21. I love the way you say,  “we need to talk”
22. I love it when you cook
23. I love you when you let me sleep in even though it means you’ll be making your own lunch and breakfast on workdays because I am just exhausted.
24. I love how you very little complain.
25. i love your encouraging notes I find
26. I love your eagerness to find toads and lizards
27. I love the way you be neighborly without being a doormat
28. I love how you stand up for what is right and just
29. I love the sort of books you read and when you want to share what you are learning with me
30. I love you, body, mind and soul
31. I love your admiration of fine and good women, noble and true
32. I love the way you learn from the patriarchs
33. I love the fact that I can usually just come and talk to you.
34. I love the way you search for healthy alternitives
35. I love the way you support my sewing but remind me of the priorities
36. I love the way you write your letters
37. I love the fact that you take time to write me
38. I love the fact that you don’t rush into decisions
39. I love to watch you shave.
40. I love your quietness
41. I love your pet names for Emma
42.  I love it when you call me, Hopin’
43. I love your gentleness and giving spirit
44. I love the fact that you do things even when you don’t want too
45. I love it that we debate but walk away smiling at each other
46. I love it that you are the provider and protector of our family
47. I love the way you firmly but lovingly disclipine our child
48. I love watching you with Emma on any occasion, the father pride just beems from your face
49. I love your old fashion gentlmaness about you but most of all…
50. I love you, with every breadth, depth and hight.. if God chose, I shall but love thee better after death.

 

Because i know how much you love this poem;

Tell me not, Sweet, I am unkind
For, from the nunnery
Of thy chaste breast, and quiet mind,
To war and arms I fly.

True, a new mistress now I chase,
The first foe in the field;
And with a stronger faith- embrace
A sword, a horse, a shield.

Yet this unconstancy is such
As you too shall adore;
For, I could not love thee, Dear, so much,
Loved I not honour more.

Since we have been living more frugaly lately and since you “made” me promise not to use our cash to get you something, Euphemia and I came up with a scheme and it was quite enjoyable.

What we first did was count all the change in the house.  It added up to something like $1.60? Euphemia then pick-pocketed all the change from your pocket and even managed a dollar bill.  What a clever lil 8 month girl she is.  We then took all the empty bottles and can’s to the recycling center.  That gave us $5.80 there.  We now had about $9 and some change.  We then took that infamous picture the other day of your socks…

Emma took it into her head to find those perfect pair of wool socks that you love so much.  Cotton just won’t do and since I have not learned the technique of knitting with four needles (how daunting that sounds!) we decided that it was much cheaper and better for the poor widow woman, that stayed up all night knitting these specially for you, if we purchased them.  Oh wait, that would have been a few decades ago… never mind, we went to the small shop around the corner.

Emma picked these out for you…

 I am not sure which she is more happy about… the left over change at her feet or the fact that you have some socks, or the fact I pulled out the camera… but whatever the reason.. we love you!

Happy Father’s Day to the bestest husband and father in the world!

Your darlings…

 

Memorial Day

I found some pictures online that I thought would be a nice reflection to think on.  Pictures are worth a thousand words

Yellow rose, for memorial

 

 

2 years of marital bliss…

Yesterday marked our 2nd anniversary.  In two years of marriage we have been blessed with 2 children (1 on the way and the other crawling around).   I wrote last year on the wedding day prejitters, excitement, and a update. This year I would love to reflect on what marriage is.

22^(AV)Wives, ^(AW)be subject to your own husbands, ^(AX)as to the Lord.

 23For ^(AY)the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the ^(AZ)head of the church, He Himself ^(BA)being the Savior of the body.

 24But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.

 25^(BB)Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and ^(BC)gave Himself up for her,

 26^(BD)so that He might sanctify her, having ^(BE)cleansed her by the ^(BF)washing of water with ^(BG)the word,

 27that He might ^(BH)present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be ^(BI)holy and blameless.

 28So husbands ought also to ^(BJ)love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself;

 29for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church,

 30because we are ^(BK)members of His ^(BL)body.

 31^(BM)FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND SHALL BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH.

 32This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.

 33Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to ^(BN)love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she ^(BO)respects her husband.

Ephesians 5:22-33 NASB

Here is a picture of the man and wife and Christ and His Church.   How odd that marriage should be such a picture.  Marriage MUST be highly reverened (? not sure this is the word I am searching for…) by God.   But marriage was also instituded to, “fill and replenish the earth”.    Well, if that’s God’s plan then we need no fear of all the common scientist conclusions on how there are jsut too many people for our earth.  If God want’s us to fill the earth then by golly He will also give us the means.   I am surrounded by empty land so there definetly is room.  Hee hee.

Marriage is also to complete one another.  Now, in my understanding this does not mean you need a man or a woman to complete you.  God did not call all to marriage.  But I cannot imagine my life without David.  Sorry. I know that sounds absoluetly mushy and unrealistic, but I just can’t imagine.  He makes life run smoothly.  He makes my heart to beat (along with God of course ) My day is just horrible when he is not home.   

I remember one day my sister, Braelyn, asking Mumsie why she had such bad days when Daddy wasn’t home.  She replied,  “My other half isn’t here.  Half of me is gone.  I can’t function without that half.”  It took me until I was married to really understand that.  David is not only my other half, he is my better half.  While it is my job to run the house, he makes it run more smoothly.  While my job is the mothering, his is the fathering (you never hear God refered to as a Mother but always the Father ). 

It works both ways too,  God created ME for HIM! I was created to be David’s helpmeet.  I take care of the womanly things while he goes to work every single work day and works his muscles weak, his eyes heavy, and he neck out from all the mechanical stuff.  He has to put up with the language the fellow workers use (no curse free remote there) and he has to put up with awful lyrics from the local radio that is on all day.  He has to go to work even when his depression is so bad.  He has to go to work sharply even though he may have worked until 10pm the night before. 

Me, as you can see, I can sit here at my little computer, while my baby play happily and write down a few thought.  Women may have a 24/7 hard job, but I’d take it over what the men have to do.  It’s what we were created for.  I was NOT made to do what my husband does.  I would be a frazzled rumpled creature.  But I can wash dishes, change diapers, scrub toilets, do laundry, read daily, write hourly, etc.  with a much lighter heart.  If some things don’t get done, there is always tomorrow.  No customers complaining in my ear. 

So this is what our marriage is like.  Each trial brings us closer together and closer to an Almight God. Each memory made is treasured.  Each child given to us by God is our precious arrow for Him.  God is so wonderful.  He is so merciful.  He is such a blessing to us.  We are so blessed by Him.  Marriage is wonderful.  May I have many many more years. Lord take me home first! Let me live not one day here without my dearest Beloved. 

Where have all the young girls gone?

I was thinking about waiting to write this until  my birthday had passed but with the way my blog has been slowly been updated as of late I am writting this now, while I have the time.

It will soon be my 20th birthday.  How I wish I could write with such wisdom as my mother seems to have but I am still in the humble learning stage.  Life brings such trials and circumstance that seems to bring out the dull and slowness in me.  If I think clearly and “wisely” it’s usually in the shower and only to myself.   Perhaps this is what God has given me, keeps me humble right?

I am not sure how the day will be. Probably windy as it always is, weather wise.  Spiritually I will search for Solomon’s gift and pray for such a gift.  I know that we will be watching “My Fair Lady” and have cheesecake as I have asked that for my husband for a birthday gift.   I know he would LOVE to give me something but I cannot think of anything and we have no room at our home for dust bunny collectors.  Do I see not having to do dishes too? Oh boy, I ask for a lot. 

My birthday is a week before my anniversary and 3 weeks before my husbands birthday.  It keeps it easy and hectic at the same time.  My in-laws have invited us over for dinner, although I think they really just want to see their granddaughter, it is sure to be a tummy-filling event! I so enjoy being with them and the conversations we have.

Youngers are always asking you, “How does it feel like to be older”.  “Like you have been given more responsibility”.  They shriek and run for the hills (or whenever teens go now adays ;)).  For me as much as I dislike the actual duties that responsibilty brings I love being an adult.  I love being treated with respect and curteously.   We still have fun.  I still giggle silly with my friends over cute actors (though I still think the cutest guy on the planet is the one that I sleep next to every night).  But the purpose in life is so much more wonderful than waiting for the exciting day to happen.   Oh boy how horribly worded that was but alas I have no time to revise as I must go and practice what I preach as I head to the grocery store.

Happy Birthday to Me… God gave His love for me…

Ethie Bugifie….

The poor boy was doomed. Yes, we call him that. And he is all boy too.  Yep, All boy, down to the dirtiness, balls, rovin’ gambler,  smart alec, all that.  He was quite a surprise to us girls when he wouldn’t do anything so sissy.  Not like Nolan. Well, Nolan wasn’t sissy just very compliant.

But, Ethan, He had a fascination for balls, particularly soccer balls (a shame to his father who believes, “The first step to one-world-government”, to put it nicely).  He would lug around many balls at once when he was a toddler.  Just look at him now,

Ethan, Dapper Dude the 1,

Ethan has always found a way to tell you the most uninteresting things in the most fascinating way.  He has a story-telling way about him.  I rememeber (and we have it on video somewhere) him telling a story (when he was like 4?) about a horse, black.   It when on for over an hour about this horse.  I don’t think anything was repeted like, the horse was black, the horse ran in the meadow, the black horse ran in the meadow.  Nope, He probably could have written,  The Black Stallion without even reading it.   But with all that, he has a wee bit of difficulty reading.  Mumsie shall remedy that! 

I have a very cool picture in my photo album of Ethan all dressed up in the play knights armor.  Perhaps that day is the one I remember the most.   He dressed up in all this armor, came up to me (5 yr. old) and said, “I’ll protect you!”  And away he went slaying the dragon that threatened my life.  I called him after that, “My lil knight in shining armour” (Now don’t think he was replaced or he was the replacement, my hubby is, THE knight (not lil) in shining armour).  

Ethan loves, Spiderman.  I don’t understand the fascination but he is boy and LOVES Spiderman.  He has a few outfits and he will wiggle his fingers and do the whole web thing and even make the whooosh sound.  Talk to me about boys would ya? Is it like men and “The Godfather”? Boys and “Spiderman”?

But perhaps our favorite movie with Ethan was, “Finding Nemo”.   Remember the turtle? Crush?  Well, Ethan just loved that movie and would watch it 100 times a day (or so we girls thought when we watching to watch something like “Ice Princess”).  But we would walk up to him and say, “sweet” and he would say (3 year old here)
“Duuuuuuuude!”   You had to hear it to find it as cute but use your imagination or picture your three-year-old child saying that with dead pan expression but enthusiastic but dead voice.  So hard to write but so laughable to remember.

Ethan is also the “Protector” (if you will) of Lorna.  That means that while he will tease her to death (and maybe annoy her a wee bit too) he will also be her best companion.  I often come over to see them engaged in some sort of conversation or play.  Often times Lorna is chasing Ethan or visa versa but there is something between the sibling that just makes your heart melt.   He likes to help Lorna hold Euphemia.   See, here he is holding her when she was first born… He is gonna make some gal swoon with his teddy bear heart but fearless character.

Another pic to show how boyish he is

He is also looking forward to making a bookshelf with David soon. 

 

Andra’s Post

How original.  So, Andra, the blond one. Not only blond but blue eyes as well.  Andra is definetly blond in personality as well. Here she is in one of my creations.  This picture is one of my favorites.

She looks so much like her Grandma H. there.   She has the complete (or almost) personality of Grandma.  She is smart in her own way but she has a ditzy way about her.   Probably the thing that stand’s out the most about Andra is her logic.   My sisters can be deep in conversation about something, maybe child rearing (yeah we love to talk about that. Especially while watching Nanny and the Naughty Corner) They can go back and forth about the proper way to discipline and correct the child and Andra will pipe in with,
“Why is the room purple? What an interesting color for the child” Makes total sense to her. 

I believe Andra would make a good reporter.  You enter the house and she will tell you all the updates of the family.  Some of the lesser known things, some of the more known and common life details, something that the neighbors are doing, something someone across the country is in cahoot with the president.  You name it, she knows every detail about it.  While as we posted before about Jenna being our Jonah… perhaps Andra could be the more detailed version of it.  Where Jenna will tell you, Lorna broke a dish, Andra will say, 
“Sargeant (the dog) ran inside and Lorna was chasing after it.  Nolan had a popsicle. Lorna ran into the stack of plates. Braelyn did the bathroom. Lorna broke a large yellow plate. Challice called 2 days ago.”

Oh yes, so Andra.  She like Morgann love to bake/cook.  She has a interest for gardening too (but not the inclination to weed and prepare the soil. Just plant and water. ).  

  You can point to something right in front of her and her eyes are across the room scowering the said object.  You do have to tell her many times to do one thing or what you have said half a dozen times.  Her mind flitters from one thing to another.

Now, I have listed all her bad qualities.  What is she like as a sweet girl? Well, Look above at her picture. She has a certain charm about her.  Very rarely is she upset or sad. Atleast as far as my eye can see.   She posesses the humor for our family- read her comments here Andra’s Antics  (don’t worry, will only take about as long as it took to read this far).  Andra cuddles, she is a big little sister, She is a friend and a companion, and most of all she is a real treat.

Capturing her energy and livliness would make her quite rich.  If only we all could posess what children find within themselves.  But then, at one time we all did and it wore us out in the end.

The greatest memory I have of Andra is probably the one that I wasn’t even there for.  My mother has told it a hundred times.  Her birth.   They go to the hospital, the planned homebirth fell through, but the mom didn’t.  My understanding, Mom comes out of bathroom, climbs or fall upwards onto the bed and says,
“This baby is coming”.   Nurse and Dad nodd and reassure her.  “Yes, dear anytime now”.  
“No, this baby is coming NOW!”  Still more reasurring that it will be anytime.  Not sure how long this went on but soon enough Dad says, “Umm… NURSE! There’s a head… HEAD! NURSE!!!”  Nurse continues to fill out paperwork.  “I’ll be right there. “  doesn’t even look.  NURSE! (I can see a few #^*@#! in the distance even thought that is so not my dad).  Finally I guess the nurse turned around to make her point, yeah think she was a bit ticked,  just as the baby was about to fall on the floor and made a dash and caught her.  Wow. Talk about God.  Now, the reason Dad didn’t catch the baby was Mom had his thumbs.  She could’nt let go.  I hear she tried but she didn’t.  What a memory huh? That is what I remember most about Andra.  The birth story I was never there for. 

What a Eulogy should Andra ever need one. Ha. I’ll be gone before that sprintz is.

 

 

Jesse Spencer - Molly Smiles Lyrics

Daddy’s little girl paints the world with her magic wand
Daddy’s little child breathes new life to the morning time for me
Though we’re apart, her thoughts follow me
When I come home, Molly smiles with the dawn
Molly smiles, and she radiates the glow around her halo
When she plays, Molly smiles
On a summer day, Molly smiles
A new day, Molly smiles

Daddy’s little girl ties a ribbon around my heart
Daddy’s little child waves goodbye to the ocean tide that sweeps me
Though we’re apart, she’s a part of me

Molly smiles with the dawn
Molly smiles and she radiates the glow around her halo
When she plays, Molly smiles
On a summer day, Molly smiles
A new day, Molly smiles

When I come home, Molly smiles with the dawn
Molly smiles and she radiates the glow around her halo
When she plays, Molly smiles
On a summer day, Molly smiles
A new day, Molly smiles

When the days have gone grey,
Nothing’s wrong when Molly smiles

Be my Little baby Jenna B…

Have you ever heard the song; Be My Little Baby Bumblebee”?  A very stupid song but we would do a little modifying and change it too, “Be my little baby Jenna Bee. Be a bee, be a bee, be a Jenna bee.”  The reason for this is Jenna’s middle name, Blythe. Oh and what a fitting middle name.  Actually, Jenna full name, Jenna Blyth Havig fits her to a T.  She has the humor of a Havig.  She full of blithe and ever so gay.  Whenever I hear the name, “Jenna” I think of a blond hair, beautiful young lady. Jenna fits that description.

So, guess who this entry is about? That’s right! Jenna!

Jenna was born such a beautiful baby that Mumsie quit bringing her with her when she did errands.  Everyone would stop and coo and coo over Jenna that Mumsie could be standing around for hours (or what seemed like hours).  While she was a proud mama oops, mom (never call Mumsie, “mama”)  if you knew her you know she
A: hates shopping
B: Hates shopping
C:HATES shopping
D: well, hates shopping.

I remember a lot about Jenna.  She WAS beautiful and the first blond baby that I can remember.  Jenna also is one smart cookie. Whoever said blonds were dumb did not ever meet Jenna.  She is a grammar wiz, she picks up things so quickly, and can easily retain them as well. 

Jenna is a favorite in society circles. Ahem, yes I guess she is “out”.  She is you sweet quiet girl among the adults but playful and fun among the children.  She is quick to be a helper can possess a streak of stubborness, yes, she does cheat in games.   But with all her faults, she is a valuable and loyal friend. 

Jenna is the one in the family that has a fondess for Horses.  With how popular girls are today with horse stuff, Jenna was the first (and only?) girl that absolutely has a fascination for them.  While the rest of us enjoy good pictures, maybe a good story about them, or even a nice outfit or two with horse theme,  Jenna will go all out.  I doubt she could tell you the breed but I wouldn’t put it past her.  Recently she has been renting, Saddle Horse Club books from the library, and our own as well.

Jenna I believe was the first baby I started changing diapers for.  Perhaps that is why we have a bond between us. I am sure she would like to forget that kind of bond. 

It is hard to write about Jenna and the memories I have of her.  Perhaps the most recent ones are my favorite. Taking care of Lorna, Taking care of Emma, reading here, playing there. They are all little snapshots in a large photo album.  Just tiny memories but they so make up the personality Jenna is.   On a gloomy day, one smile, or a word from Jenna can lift the hearts of all those around her. 

Jenna was the first girl to have surgery.  Yes, she had surgery.  While playing with her friends she decided to get wacked in the forehead with a golf club.  Of course it was all an accident.  But it did earn her a nice helicopter ride,  large hospital, surgery, and a long period of rest.  The poor girl was about to go bored with all the rest she was given.  But she was NOT to over exert herself.  School was a no. Much to her dismay.  Coloring after a while is a bit boring.  But from all of this she learned to use her knifty knitter.  She made Emma one. A nice soft green one.  I still love that hat.  She really needs to make her another one.  Jenna has had so much fun with them that she actually has been making some to sell.    Go to Paradoxology.wordpress and talk to my mom for more details.

Jenna is going to be 12 (I think) years old this year.  I can remember birthday’s so well, but don’t ask me ages!  She has a more mature personality but all in all, she is ever so gay and sucha bonnie Lass.  A real cwedit (as Lady Cumnore from Wives and Daughter would say) to her parents.

As I was writting this out, the poem from Much ado about nothing came to my head; This fits Jenna so well.

Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more.
Men, were deceivers ever;
one foot in sea, and one on shore
to one thing, constand never
but sigh not so and let them go
and be you blithe and bonny
Converting all your sounds of woe,
in hey nonny, nonny!

 

Nolan, the Protector

So, now we come to the eldest boy in the family.  It took 4 girls for him to happen.

Ain’t he cute?

I’ve always thought he looked like an American, Harry Potter.

Anyway, so Nolan was the first boy.  Everyone was happy. Of course we always wondered why girls weren’t as good? But I doubt people understood that we understood them as well.  The culture today says, if you have more than one have 1 boy and 1 girl.  Or, only girls.   Anyway, on to Nolan!

Poor lil guy.  He really didn’t have a chance to be a all boy.  With four sisters he was stuck with us.  When we played dress up, he played with us.  He was more the knight but he still wore the flowery fabric as a cape.  When we played dolls he did too.  But through all of that, he was one, obsessed smart cookie.   Nolan had/has a fascination for hot wheels. Like boys do.
So, he would line up his 100 cars in a row.  Run to the bedroom for more (yeah, more) and my Daddy would quickly switch two cars and be back to what he was doing before Nolan got back.  We all would watch…(in our devious and inconspicuous ways)  Nolan would stare at the cars and survey the situation.  He knew something wasn’t right. After a few minutes he would switch the same two cars back.   Like Lucille says in “What the Deaf Man heard” (Excellent movie by the way. I highly recommend it) There is nothing dumb about that boy.

It was Nolan that took over my paper routes and “protected” me during the times we did them together.  We had so much fun.  We loved to race around the back yard. Of course I always had to win.  But sweet lil Nolan always reminded me that he “let me win”.

Nolan loves to work with his hands.  He helped me last year brake up tons and tons and tons and tons… of branches into small enough sticks to fill paper bags with. These sticks of course were all used up within a week but the word was hard and he did very much look forward to it.   But it provided some fun times for us.  I hear he is eager to do it again.  Have no fear Nolan.  Around here, wood is never scarce. 

But, he does other things with this hands.  I have two verses woodburned in a nice peice of oak.  The first one is what I recieved for my birthday and it says, The Grass Withers, the Flower fades but the Word of our God will stand Forever!”  The other one is “I can do all things through Christ who stregnthens me”.  Both are such excellent reminders to me every time I see them. Which is daily since they sit so nicely on my dresser.  I hear he made a dragon too.

Nolan is probably the only one in the family that loves video games.  But as much as he loves them, it sounds to me like he doesn’t play with them much.  They use to belong to Braelyn but she sold them to Nolan.  (Braelyn has a difficult time being interested in one thing for very long) (ahh don’t hit me dearie!!!)  He plays mostly with his friends and it sounds like they have a deeper desire for them than he does. 

For those that read Mumsie’s blog.  (Paradoxology or Havig Haven) know that Nolan is quite the handy man. He did many things in remodeling the bathroom.  He is sanding down things all the time.  He did the medival fort with all the medival weapondry.  His natural talent for creativity always gives him a sense of acomplishment.  Currently his hobby is models. Mainly plane models but he has done birdhouses, cars, and other various things.

 My fondest memory may be of the time when I was approached on our route by a stranger who wanted to go out with me (16 yr old and a 40 guy… CREEPY!) I pedaled away as fast as I could and Nolan followed. (the guy that accompanied the creep kind of kicked the creeps pants and said to behave. But I don’t think the creep (nice fitting name don’t you think) really cared what  his “friend” thought)  There was only one street left. I should have ridden home but I finished the route and Nolan stuck to me like glue.  I could see him across the street keepin an eye out.  This is a 10 year old boy here.  He watched what I was doing. And he kept an eye out for the van that the creep went in.  I have to say, having Nolan there was the most comforting thing I have ever experianced.   I knew he wouldn’t be able to attack but I knew he was a protector.  And he has been that way for many years.  Sure, he teases sisters and brother’s like any other brother would do.  But when it comes to being serious and manly, you can count on him to protect you through thick and thin weather.

 Did you know he will go get you chocolate? He will purchase with his own hard earned money gummy worms for the kids? What a handsome lil man we have.  He knows the way to a woman’s heart.  I have to say that Nolan and I have a silent mutual understanding that I do not have with the others.  We all are close but Nolan and I have a bond.

So, did you know that when Nolan is embarrased or angry his gate ears get red?

Are your ears red and on straight Roly Poly Noly?

Skip to Leenie Lou My Darlin’

To kind of give you a personality view on Kaylene the next sibling in the family a lot of this entry will be in pictures. Especially since she just celebrated her 15th birthday.

 Kaylene is hard to categorize, but if I could give one word for Kaylene it would be, “Unique”.   I tried to find a more “cool” word but I don’t have the time to sit and read a whole dictionary.  Kaylene has a very interesting personality.  She is fun to be around and will act silly and like a normal teenage girl but she will also listen to Sense and Sensibility soundtracks and watch Anne of Green Gables til the DVD player is over heated.

Kaylene is usually one of the background girls.  While she will stand out (and not because of her gorgeous strawberry-blond hair) in character, her presence is more noticed by her infectious laugh, her winning smile and her devious ways.  My sister’s will probably laugh at this description. 

Kaylene is still in school.  She is a wiz at something but does struggle through different subjects.  What’s the capitol of Madrid?  (really think about that question there.)   She is usually the first one to run in and say (when I arrive), “where is my niece?” 

Her talent’s probably lie in the computer realm.  Very much like her Daddy she enjoys the computer and will be whined at, talked at, begged at, and so forth, for a chance on the computer.  I am not sure how compliant Kaylene is with her other siblings, but I have no problem weaseling coaching the computer from her, then again, I have never had that problem.  End of story there. Onward.

Kaylene was always the most obnoxious, rude, loud, “disobedient” child that ever set foot in the Havig house. After years of many trying days, correction, Mumsie said, “Wham, she was the sweetest, loveable girl and more obedient too!”   
We are not exactly sure what happened but whatever it was we give thanks!

Kaylene is also a sci-fi fan. I am not sure of all the different shows she has seen I do know that among them are, “Stargate”, “Stargate Atlantis”, “Dr. Who”, “Everday (?) Hero’s” and “invasion”.  

 

Kaylene is just your ordinary every day old-fashion girl.  You have to know her personally to understand her.  She is not a easy one to write about.  She does not have a hidden personality but she is not open.  She is helpful but has to be nagged to do her work.  She is witty but she is not a comedian.  She likes romance but she is not a romantic.  She is sensible but not a fanatic.  She is a geek but not dumb.  She is sassy but not rude.   She is a friend and she is best-friend.   

 

Probably my greatest memory of Kaylene was probably the day she was born.  I was woken up, not by the sounds of a woman in labor about to give birth to her 4th girl, but of a warm snuggled up baby being placed beside me.  
Another memory is actually combined withy several the many times we would try to figure out who Musie called. Almost everytime we were wrong.  It is weired becaue our names sound nothing alike but when Kaylene was  called I would come running and visa versa.    Perhaps another memory of her is usually getting into my things.  Ooh how that would irritate me but a gentle reminder from Mumsie would usually set the record straight.
“You have such nice things and Kaylene would like to play with them as well.”  If I still was unhappy,
“challice, learn to share!” Gulp.. Usually at that point Kaylene’s interest lie elsewhere. 

I do not remember how her nickname came along, most likely an invention from Daddy.  But it stuck.  Like glue.  We call her our Leenie Lou.  Sometimes we would annoy her and call her KK and I think she finally got over that.

 As a young girl Kaylene had an invisable friend…name Connie.  I shall not write about the many things that Kaylene would do with Connie.  Most of them I don’t even know but among them was hugging tree’s.  Yep, Kaylene was a tree hugger.  (We later learned that the tree was Connie.)  Connie did everything with Kaylene.  We would laugh at her, tease her horribly but after a few tears (and us a correction from the big man) she would be off to tackle Connie again.  Oh man. The stories I have for her future husband.  I dare not share all of them now in case perchance he reads this!

So, after worrying about having nothing to write I came up with almost 800 words.  Not to shabby. 

Happy Birthday Leenie Lou.  Know you we love you.  Marry well. Marry Rich.  Be Happy.

 

Photographic Moments

So, this entry is about my partner in crime and sister, Braelyn.  Remember? She is the excellent photographer (hence the title?)  These are her latest, my youngest brother, Ethan. http://havigs.wordpress.com/2008/02/28/ethans-birthday-pictures-a-week-early-but-hey/#comment-48

Braelyn and I can be best friends or our worst enemy.  But through all we go through we will still be reunited by the love of one child, Euphemia. 

Braelyn does not hide the fact that she has a temper. I mean we all do but Braelyn doesn’t even try to hide it. That is why we love her best.  She is real.  Braelyn is an all down to earth type of gal.  We can tease her and usually it will roll right off her back or it will come right back attcha.

Braelyn has a tendency to be followed where ever she goes.  Only my family will really understand that and I hope laugh with me about it.  Braelyn has a go-and-get-em kind of spirit.   She has a wonderful laugh.  She is THE best photographer.  She can capture moments without a camera.  She has a witty sense of humor.  And she loves nutty butter.  It’s one of the few foods that very well fit her.

 Braelyn also writes on fan-fiction.  From what I understand, she usually writes Gilmore Girl’s stories.   And is a java junkie (but hates coffee).  Now, I have no idea what a java junkie is but I think it has something to do with Loralie and Luke getting together.

Braelyn also works hard. Although she would prefer to sit and watch Jennifer Garner  than do school, what normal teenager wouldn’t? She also works at a local warehouse packaging up boxes. *the same place where I change batteries in the cups*.  She is a diligent worker and every employer and employee loves her. 

My greatest memory of Braelyn would probably be the many times we would play “spy kids”.  And actually she even started a movie called, Spy Kids” (no not the one with Alexa Vega) and I even got to see the opening credits.  It was fascinating and very good.  But anyway, we would creep everywhere, along the walls, down the alley, to our secret hideout.  She would tell you this was all before I became so “grown-up”.   Hee hee.  Never really harmed our sisterhood. 

Braelyn and I are very much opposites.  Where I am more conservative (for example- limited to no computer playtime or video games) she is more for the fun of childhood.  We both think we are right and refuse to be persuaded either way.  As opposite as we are… we are so much alike.   

We will often reminiscence over the “good old days” where we would go on walks with Daddy. Or go to the park.  Where we would play Olympics with our roller skates.  Where we lived a more “strict” lifestyle.  Kind of funny to think about.  Especially since we were “NEVER going to be like Mumsie and Daddy!”

Braelyn and I could pick the ugliest fights.  Mumsie knows that we were clever enough never to do it in front of her. But occasionaly we slipped and man did we always regret it.  It was fun (in a way) for us to get mad at each other.  I mean, we could stew with an excuse and avoid each other but unfortunetly (or fortunetly) the next morning we were so happily playing together and forgot to be mad at each other.  Use to burn our cookies that we couldn’t stay mad.  Bet Mumsie was happy about that.

Braelyn was the only one in our family that had a broken bone.  Her arm  be exact.  After 9 children so far only she has broken her bone.  She also has asthma which can be very problematic if not treated quickly.  She was the active one in the family and I think she still is.  She rides her bike a few miles most mornings to work and likes to work out using the Leslie Samsone.  While she is pretty well fit, if she misses a couple days exercise she complains that she is getting fat and lazy and gets her bottom in gear.

I have shared the deep secrets now about me and my sister.  I pray she doesn’t start up a blog and start writting about me.  My reputation will be ruined!

 

The heart of the family

That would be my sister Morgann.  Morgann is the girl everyone wants for a friend and she now has her new column via phone called, Dear Morgann.  She “helps” (more like gives a good ear and a sweet voice) her friends in their trials and encourages them like no other person can.

That’s Morgann.  It was taken just after her first neice was born (my daughter).  By her expression and face you know what a trustworthy friend she is. 

She was the first one in the family to go driving.  Goverment’s even love her.  When I was very pregnant she would bring soup, food and coffee over for me.  Who could ask for a better sister?  It was daily trips at times.  I don’t think this is what she signed up for when she recieved her DL.  But without complaint that I ever heard she rushed off to the nearest fast food place and grabbed whatever.  I like to think it was me she was concerned about but I know all she wanted was that baby to get here happy and healthy.  Ok, so maybe there WAS a bit of love for me there. But she wouldn’t tell you that. 

Morgann is one of the fastest readers around and has a vast knowledge of things, books, places, authors, etc.  She even writes her own fiction stories on fanfic.net.  She find’s the neatest tv shows (some I would never watch as I am not a sci fi fan) but I have her to thank for the introductions to, “Bones”. Accompanied by Adrienne’s promting too.  We often could find Morgann deep within the pages of a novel or nonfiction at almost anytime.  A friend’s father use to tease her to death about her reading, but that never stopped her.  She can finish a 800 page book (yep, Harry Potter) within the span of a night, and she has too. 

Little children love Morgann to peices.  She has always been good with children.  I have always quite envied her and almost could dislike her (if she wasn’t so loveable) because she is so good.  Children seem to mind Morgann without THE rod in sight.  She is a favorite baby-sitter and will often be in demand at the same time.

Morgann is a hard-worker.  I know, for those that know me, shock city.  I do admit it.  I never liked too cause I was usually the lazy one.  But Morgann on her days to see to the cleaness of the livingroom and kitchen kept a pretty spotless house.  We loved tuesdays, her day, at the our house.  I often wanted to be like Morgann. Having the confidence and security of everything.  Morgann does not care what people think of her.  What you see is what you get.  In all that she is caring, loving, a friend, a companion, a confident, a encourager, and most of all a follower of Christ.

In our lil Girl Scouts for Christians, Stepping Stones or something like that,  we had to learn a verse, 1 Peter 2:21.  Can you still say it Morgann?

“For you have been called for this purpose since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps.”

I would say that verse describes Morgann. She follows in His steps. 

We liked Morgann’s baking.  “No oatmeal, we want oatmeal cake!”  OOOH chocolate Chip Muffins! OOH Blueberry muffins.  And so on and so forth.  She was the baker of the family. Whether it be cookies or something more nutricious for us.  Morgann and I had a plan when we were youngin’s.  I would do all her sewing for her and she could do all my cooking. It sounded like a reasonable, fair plan.  How niave we were to think that it could be done. 

Morgann=peacemaker.   My next sister, that I will write about, is the one that I usually fought with.  Morgann was the peacemaker.  I bet she could write so many stories that I don’t even remember about the fights we had.  None of us wanted to go to Mumsie because we knew we both were at fault but neither of us wanted Morgann to talk to us or even look at us cause we couldn’t hide our shame around her.  Yep, Morgann has always been the peacemaker.  Not just in our own family but to those near to her as well.

Morgann is another girl that I could spend a lot of time writting about.  My favorite memory with her would probably be that of just knowing that I could go to her for a chat.  Morgann was also my first paper route partner.  The cool morning of that Sept. day is often fresh on my mind.  It was a sunday. The first day of our routes.  We rode our bikes on that perfect morning and started the routes.  It was a bit difficult. Morgann always managed to finish her route before I did, no matter how fast I pedaled.  And we stuck together. 

Morgann just had her 18th birthday.  In the eyes of the world, she is an adult.  But in my own thoughts Morgann began to be an adult by the time she was 8. On the late Febuary evening. All cold as we were tucked warmly in our beds.  Morgann got up, went to Mumsie and Daddy and said, “I need to be baptized…tonight!”  And so she was.  From then on to today, she has made mistakes, but she has always had the pure adult mind.  Sometimes, she is just too good to be true.  Happy will be the man that capture’s her heart and her thoughts. Rich indeed will he be.

Morgann’s list for a perfect husband;
He must be a Christian
Must have a good sense of Humor
Must love the movies I do
Must love my family and friends
Be willing to take me to the movies
and I can’t read any more of her list for the time has creased it away. 

I love you sister.  You are always in my heart. Mushy mushy! 

Keeper of the Home part 2

I don’t know if you have ever seen a large family going grocery shopping.  For those of you that don’t understand or those of you that can totally relate here is what shopping looks like for a family of 11.  Mom in the front pushing the cart grabbing this and and that while the 2 year old in the front are pointing out the abc’s on a package product.  The mom of course left her shopping list at home…well, that is, if she remembered to write on in the first place, so everything is a mental checklist.  Toilet paper, check.  razors, check. Feminine necessities in three different brands or sizes, check. Paper, check.  100 pens, check. 100 back up pens, check.  Yes, dear that’s a “y”.  and so on and so on.  Ok, so you have Mom in the lead with the 2 year old (and we DID behave (most of the time) in the store!!! Mumsie made sure of that.  Her secret, take em many times and expect them to behave in the store as they would at home. ) and then you a troop line.  Age’s didnt matter. Uusally from youngest to oldest but it didn’t always matter.   Now quite often you were stopped in the store, not only by the sheer number of children  but actually all of us girls generally wore….dresses.  So after the usual, “are they ALL yours?”  or “are you a private school?” we usually got,  “Are you catholic? Mormon?”  Usually because we wore a dress.   Nope.   Then because they didn’t look shabby Mumsie was asked, “Did you make all their clothes?”  To which we all replied with an estatic, “yes!” as politley as excited children could of course.  

Yep, that’s right. Mumsie sewed 7 girls dresses as most of their daily wear.  By the time most of us hit 15-16 we could find more decent ladies skirt’s in the store.  They are now in fashion I suppose but it wasn’t always that way.  We are not too fond of the gownless evening straps (as my Daddy calls them) that they have too. Nope we had the prairie dresses.  And do you know what? We lived through all the comments too! Yep, our pride was not crucshed and to this day I still live mostly in skirts. 

So, now you know more about us as a family than Mumsie in general. But she is the heart of the family. What she does for us all makes us who we are. So, we are dressing-wearing-bible-reading-girls-that-still-have-a-good-amount-of-Christian-pride.  But we do wear pants.

Mumsie makes Hungarian Coffee cake every special occasion. Whether Thanksgiving (the most commonly know for her coffee cakes), Christmas, or Easter.  I’m thinking about begging on for my birthday over a cheesecake.  They are so delicious and she is quite famous around town for them. No, really! My neighbors have recieved some of hers. The men at Daddy’s work eagerly await the season that he brings one, and of course there is their neighborhood that recieves one.  Each coffee cake is lovingly made.  I mean, who can honestly say that they put hours of hot, hard work over a cake that will be eaten up in 30 minutes or less.  I know there are some still out there that don’t do the box cake (yes, we do, do box cakes!) but I am bragging about MY mumsie here.  I doubt very many can compete with her hot hungarian coffee cake.  Just writting that out makes my mouth DAROOL!

Mumsie has a unique way of comforting or being there for people.  She doesn’t call you and say, lets go chat over a cup of coffee but she may IM you and say, “hey there is this movie playing Friday, wanna go?” Usually that interprets, Lets go get some laughs!  I guess the main reason is she don’t do coffee. Give her a CAN (yes CAN skip the bottle) of Coke.  But I think it would sound silly to say, “hey wanna exchange peices of mind over a Coke?” that kind of sounds almost illegal! But many people have found comfort in her listening ear and just a sorry smile.  If you need a good kick in the butler, by all means she will give you one…. after the hug has been applied.  Oh, and by “hug” I mean chocolate. You never hug Mumsie if you love her.   And we lived through that too!

Every mother is unique and special.  Yep, we are all special and unique.  Yes, that is suppose to be oxymoronic (yes, I spelled it that way on purpose.)  But I can honestly say, I have never met a mother like mine.  I wouldn’t trade her for anyone.  She taught us the way of the Lord by FIRST living it out herself or by daily trial and error.  No one is perfect, she never pretended to be.  But she was our Mother and through that relationship developed a deaper level that no one can measure up too.  I can talk to her about almost anything.  But she is still and formost my mother.

OK, mom, I have to give you one…CYBER HUG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

The Keeper of the Home

I can picture now my mother getting up extremely early just to read what I am gonna post about her.  Ok, not really.  My mom is so great that when she reads it, she does but other than that, it’s just stuff she already knows.  Grin.

So, how do I write about her? Have you ever seen the good A&E version of Pride and Prejudice?  My mumsie reminds me of the Aunt Gardner.  Witty but sensible.  She loves to laugh.  They show you a glimpse of her aunt in Lizzy and its kind of how my Mumsie is.  Everyone loves her.  She is honest, fun,  engaging, full of wisdom,  a loving mother,  a gals best-friend,  smart,  has a great sense of humor,  and so much more that I could fill a dictionary.  Sorry, she’s taken.  She is also forgetful.  Sorry mom, but all us elderly girls think so. come on, I have to make you not so perfect somehow, its the best I could come up with!

My earliest memory of my mom….hmmm…. I don’t know.  I remember her reading Elsie Dinsmore to us.  I remember her coming out to help us when Kaylene got stuck in the tree.  I remember her disclipine to me when I stole an egg in order to put it in the tree so it could hatch, after she told me no several times.  I remember the time she would work so hard to take us for a walk.  My mumsie doesnt handle sun so well but she pushed onward.  I remember her singing.  I love hearing her sing. She has a lovely voice, despite her unfailing comments otherwise, it has excellent volume too.   I hear I am too expect a rendition of “Matchmaker Matchmaker” soon?

My mumsie taught me almost everything I know.  How to sew, how to cook (or atleast throw a few things together and have a tasty dinner), she taught me home to be a homekeeper, how to honor my husband and father, how to get along with my sisters, and so so so much more.   I know lot’s of girls are proud of their mothers but for me, I would want no other Mumsie.  She knows me so well.  She knows what I am thinking (even if I haven’t quite figured it out yet) and what I am trying to say when I struggle with words.   I have been accused of letting my mumsie speak for me and I need to stand up to what I believe.  The truth is, she writes what I have been trying to say in less sentences and more sense!  Even if she doesn’t agree with me.

My mother writes very many heart-stabbing blog entries.  You can find her here .  She has many more other blogs too. Be sure to take a few minutes and check them out.  I promise you won’t be sorry.  Among her other writtings are various fiction stories.  She has written about a woman that inherits her sister’s 8 children.  A sci-fi (that I know nothing about) A boy that kidnaps Santa, Alexa (my favorite) about a writer who gets trapped in living her unwritten story, just to name a few. 

Besides being a stay at home mom, writer, seamstress, teacher (for we all were homeschooled) she also takes the time to encourage other ladies online and help them in their delima’s.  She has a full time job.   We do not have any sports games to attend as we would have rather digged great huge mud holes in the back yard.  But she still made us brownies.

I wish I could write so much more.  This may end up being a two part post.

The Man of the Home

This is my daddy,

He is a very loving man.  He can dance with us, he even sings old Roger Miller Songs.  Of course if we ask him too, or even in the middle of dancing he will “break his ankle”.   I remember the many times he would take us out for walks.  My greatest memory of my daddy is the time he stood up for me.  I was slighted and my “feelers” (as my mother calls em) were very much hurt.  My daddy came and said there was nothing that could change the fact that he was my daddy and he loved me very much.  I do remember the many times that I was taken into the bathroom too for “correction”.  It wasn’t the correcting that I remember (except the fact that I prefered mom’s correction cause she just got it over with quickly as could be) but the fact that he would pray and ask God to forgive me for sining and to teach him how to be a better father.

The youngest memory I have of Daddy is actually a correction one.  I must have been 2 or 3 years old when I snuck into the kitchen one early morning so I could get a bit of frosting. Chocolate.  I think Daddy must have been waiting for me cause the moment I opened the fridge door and grabbed the frosting Daddy appeared out of nowhere asking, “what are you doing?”  Daddy usually did that, asked us what we were doing.  I like to think that he really wanted us to think about what we were doing to understand why it was wrong and so forth.   Of course no girl is going to say,
I am sneaking and stealing some frosting that your forbid me to have”.  I don’t know what I said, I do know Daddy corrected me and sent me back into my bed. 

Many often Mumsie has told me of the times when I was a baby and Daddy would come over just to play with me.  She teases how the only reason Daddy married her was so that he could have more time with me.  I don’t see how anyone could have a more loving father than I had.  I know hubby will be a loving father to Emma,  but our Heavenly Father gives each one of us the perfect father for us in one way or another.  Are we going to live for Him?

My Dad is a computer scientist.  He makes the planes on the naval base (here in the middle of the desert) talk to one another. He has a very important job.  His job and hard work provides many luxuries for us.   He cries over, “Its a wonderful life” and can laugh at the bunnies imitation of it.  He sets up the christmas lights ever year and picks out the best fullest tree. 

I don’t know what his favorite hymn is but we quite often sang, “Count your many blessings” when it was his turn to pick after reading to us from a bible study guide. 

Daddy makes an excellent bestafar (cause he is best by far!).   It’s the norweign word for Grandpa.  He loves babies so much and Emma is his favorite grandbaby!  Quite often if you are a child and you past my dad, his hand will shoot out, grab your wrist and it is called the “grip of death”.  In order to escape the grip of death you must say,  Mr. H- is brilliant and handsome and humble too”.  Amazingly the grip of death lets go.   Now, all the children know how to avoid even getting caught.  As soon as they past him they will say (as they keep walking); mr. h is brilliant and handsome too.  All said in a monotone.  Of course Daddy will only acted shock and says, “why thank you!” 

Children are either terrified (at first) of Daddy or they love him.  All terrified children come to love Daddy. I see why God chose him to have 9 children and raise them as arrows.

There is so much I could say about Daddy, but that simple word says it all. Daddy.

I love you!

Coming soon to a blog near you…

I will be starting a series on my family members. Stay tuned!

Christmas 2003

It was a year that we were going to go see my Grandparents for Christmas.  Of course we were excited…We hadnt been on a vacation in 8-10 years! The live in the midwest and we are as far west as you can get….Sunny California.  It’s kind of difficult to pack up a family of 10 (at the time) and head on over in a big Ford 15 passenger van.  If you have seen today’s gas prices you can understand.  It takes a lot of saving and planning.   Probably this was one of my more memorable one’s because it also was the start of a courtship between my husband.   The details are too embarrasing to tell right now about how we decided to get more serious… perhaps another entry someday…

So, the night before we left my handsome future husband comes to wish us goodbye.  There are suitcases everywhere and pillows and blankets and everything.  We say our goodbyes and at 5:30am the next morning…. we depart.

5 days later;
The day before Christmas.  WE had been at Grandma A’s house for 3-4 days and were heading out to visit Grandma H for Christmas day.  8 hour trip.  It was so nice to see them again and my Aunt and Uncle and their girls were able to make it up too!  It is kind of funny to me how my Grandma H had two boys and the eldest one (my Uncle) has 3 girls and my daddy has 7 girls… but he did manage a boy or two.  Anyway, back to the story.    Christmas.  My Grandpa has old-timers and so he ended up opening both his present and Uncle S- .  He didnt understand so we also got to go mall shopping! What fun! It was so fun, I dont really remember it at all.  Except daddy did get a Iowa state University shirt.  He will tell you that that is the best college in the world.  Go Cardinals!   That Christmas I recieved a lovely sweater and a pansy cross stitch kit (I had JUST finished the same one the same day.  Luckily, Grandma didnt notice).  Our stocking we opened at Grandma A’s house.  I had a whole bunch of embroidery fun in them.  I do remember my sister Braelyn mentioning that it wasnt a very fun Christmas.  I couldnt understand why she said that? I mean, what’s not to love about Christmas?  Family, fun and friends and most of all, the reminder of a perfect babe in a manger!!!!!!!!!!

We came home after 2 weeks (almost 3?) from vacation.  It was a beautiful homecoming.  I saw a familar car parked out front.  It could only be one man,  yes, we surprised my handsom future husband.  He was making small house repairs all over and boy I think he ended up more surprised!  See why I married the guy??

Yes, I will remember that Christmas forever!