Cute Critters

Aren't these just the cutest little fellers you ever did see? They are Jersey calves; three days old in this picture.

Notice his loooong eyelashes. Doesn't your heart just melt!
Jerseys are really way too pretty.

Here's Mrs. Goat. I can't remember her real name. She looks a little filled out to be just one.

The quackers are really fun to watch. I bet you didn't know that ducks are herd animals? Well, they are here at our place!

It's one big happy family in the chicken pen!

This is one of Mother Fluff-Ruffle's adopted hatchlings. It looks rather roosterish.

This is the cutest critter of all!

A Birthday Celebration For Martha

Today is my friend, Martha's birthday.

I've know her since Ashley was an infant, so we go waay back!

She is the mother of eleven children: plus me.

She has been my mentor for many years, although I exceed her in age by one.

Sawyer wanted to give her a birthday present, but all he had was his old, worn-out pair of boots.

(Daddy had just the day before gone to TSC and bought him a new pair).
Only Martha would enjoy such a gift given by a little boy!

Martha had a picnic at her house yesterday to celebrate her birthday. It was the Kendalls and us, so we were so happy to help celebrate. The boys all had a great time!

Here's Avery. Notice that Sawyer is wearing his new boots!

Aren't they cute?

These words are on the wall over Martha's dining table in her new house.
These words describe Martha's life~ strengthened. . . blessed. . . peace. . . filled.

Such feminine beauty graces Martha's soon-to-be-finished kitchen. What a memory for you, Martha.

She's everyone's Marmee.


Happy, happy birthday, my dear!

Bridal Showers

How blessed we have been with wonderful friends.
How we love the ladies that have been part of our lives.

The ladies at church were the first to give Ashley a bridal shower.
We enjoyed a lovely evening with these dear friends.

Here we are!

The second shower was given by the Kendall ladies of Greenville.

Everything was beautiful.

Christiana made most of the food. It was delicious.

Many of these ladies we hadn't seen in a loooong time.

Bethany (with Haviland peeking from behind her), Ashley, Christianna, Chelsey.

Christiana made a beautiful monogrammed pillow worked in shadow work.

Celebrating The Next Generation

 As a small child, my play always included dolls and homemaking. My neighbor friend, Janice and I, would spend hours together playing with our buggies and dolls. She had a huge basement full of really great stuff to play house, as well as to play dress-up. No one made us play like this. Both of our Mothers ruled their own domains of home, and we never considered doing anything other than that. Our hearts were by nature, homemakers.
As a young woman, making decisions about career and college, I had conflicting ideas going through my mind. Everyone around me migrated out into the work force; it seemed to be the expected thing, so I thought I was supposed to do the same. However, somehow I just couldn't get excited about any career, but I had this yearning to be a wife. How I longed to make a home for my husband and take care of him. I wanted to spend all my time in domestic pursuits. In my way of thinking, what you "do" is what you "are".

There are so many "perks" with this "job".

How wonderful the "fruit" is!

This is little Isabella Grace being held by Uncle Hamlin.
She came into the world April 23.

Granddaddy knows how to take care of babies!

Our son, Trevor knows what is important. He is a faithful, loving husband to Thelma,
and he adores his little girl.

Here is our hope for the future; one branch in our family tree that we pray will continue to bear fruit that will last through all eternity.