Summer Birthdays.

 We were going to try and post birthday posts regularly,but it didn't happen.So here are pictures of all the birthday people in May, June, and July.Enjoy!

 

Psalm 100 make a joyful noise unto the Lord all ye lands.

Serve the Lord with gladness:come before his presence with singing.

Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us,

and not we ourselves: we are his people and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving,

and into his courts with praise.

be thankful unto him,

and bless his name.

For the Lord is good:

his mercy is everlasting:

and his truth endureth to all generations. 

                                                        Psalm 100

Shots from our Camping trip

Yes, believe it or not, we are still alive. These shots are mostly taken by Reuben during our recent camping trip. We went about 2 hrs from here, and then did  a day trip on the north shore of lake Superior. It was a wonderful time together. Could be a long time till we are all back together, as Reuben is on a plane to Taiwan as i write this.

Taken at Split rock Lighthouse. Now how did I get to be the dog?

Matthew, chillin out, or something like that.

Mom, Elizabeth and Rachel.

Split rock in the background, lots of love in the foreground.

Nice shot Reuben

Part of the highlight everyday was swimming in the lake.

Caleb and Marie at Two Harbours. It was so hot that day, I really wanted to jump in, but had no suit with me.

Reuben. As I said, he is on flight 881 on his way to Taiwan for the year to teach English...all expenses paid by the Taiwanese govt. Please be in prayer for him and for us as he comes to mind. Here is a link that shows where his plane is. http://flightaware.com/live/flight/UAL881

Joanna, being Joanna, twirling!!!

This little girl just loved camping, swimming and just about everything about the trip, it was really sweet to watch.

Wearing big brother's clothes. Sweet Marie

We had some really beautiful sunrises and sunsets. I think Reuben only Photoshopped one thing in this pic.

Yes, Victoria had a great time. She is doing really well of late. I guess there is only one pic that we left out of this post, and that is of a for sale sign out in front of our house. I have a job offer in Thief River that begins the end of next month, so we are asking that if God would have us go, that we would sell our place and find another place down there. Please pray with us for His will to be done. 

Gooseberry falls were absolutely beautiful. Well, as refreshing as this looks, may the presence  our Saviour be more refreshing to you today. Blessings, Bruce

Mi Key Button (pronounced "mickey" ) and BMC

Victoria... feeling content

I got the photos ready for this post in April, not long after we were home from the hospital...thinking maybe some of you are not familiar with a "g-tube" and how it works.  The g-tube gives direct access
to the stomach.  When we came home from the hospital, she was on the pump nearly 24 hours a day.  Little by little we changed that, and have added other foods, so we mostly run it twice a day now.  In between, we feed her orally.  She is doing reasonably well with soft 'baby' foods, and with drinking from a bottle. We give her what she can take orally, and make up the difference of what she needs with the pump.  The first six weeks were home, she was not gaining weight, but over the last 5-6 weeks, she has begun to gain again.  She got sick at 17 lbs, dropped to 14 at her lowest while sick, then got stuck at about 15 for awhile.  Now she is back up over 17 1/2.  Her legs were SO skinny.  They are still not fat, but they are growing and looking healthier.   She is already 16 months, and we are so thankful for her.
She enjoys the great outdoors, loves her stroller  and being held.  She rolled over today...something she has not done since she got sick.  She does not like having her arms exercised...but her legs are limbering up, and she does not mind when we exercise them.   Well...sorry the photos are all so old.  I am doing this post on Reuben's lap top, and I don't have any newer ones to choose from today.  I will try to get some more up to date ones...sometime, when I find my way back to this blog... : ) ...meanwhile, it is summer, and we are all enjoying the sunny days, when we happen to have them, and catching up on indoor things when we don't.  The garden is up and growing...at the moment, I am pumping water out of the low end.  I am so glad for our raised rows!  So far, only the weeds are drowning!  We are hoping for a little drier weather,  so that we can get into the garden without sinking up to our knees, and get the rest of the weeding done.  I have one end of the 2nd garden which I can not reach with the pump, which has a lot of standing water...the low end of that garden.  I was thinking of sending out my boys in swim shorts to bail it out...hmmm...it could be messy, potentially useful fun.  Hope you are all enjoying the beautiful summer days...and stopping once in a while to hear the birds singing.

syringes we use with the mi-key button

The pump which pumps food for Victoria.
It fits neatly in the little black back pack you see
it in for 'on-the-go' use.

Medication port...but we use it for many other things

The extention, which connects to the mic-key button on one
end and to the pump on the other.  The
white thing you see is very important.
It is a clamp, and must be clamped when the tube is
not being used.
If Victoria has a burp...it can come out her mouth,
like any baby...or...open the clamp.
Getting air out with the tube is called,
'venting'.

Priming the $30.00, 1- day use bag, which
is for use with the pump
(We have learned to clean these bags well, so
they can last much longer)

The Mi-Key button.
This is what we see of the G tube.
It is held in place by a little
balloon inside which has about 5 mls
of water in it.  The extention attaches in the
middle, and gives access for feeding.
(This is an old photo...the incision you see
has been all healed for a long time now.)
When we are not using the tube, there
is a little stopper...somewhat like what
you find on  a beach ball that we close.
In side the mi key button itself, is a little
valve which automatically closes, until the end
of the extention is inserted, and opens it.

The bottles with this little hole
make measuring out meds or
vitamins so very easy
with the different syringes.

Caleb with Victoria

Daddy with Victoria.

What do three little girls look forward to every
week???  BMC, of course!

BMC  is short for Bible Memory Club...Rachel
decided she wanted to do something with them,
and this is what she began.
She teaches them a Bible verse,
sings songs and tells them a story, and
 quizzes them.
This year, many in our church were involved with
the Scripture Memory Fellowship
program, so she used this time to help the younger
two learn their "ABC" verses.

When they are done, they get prizes for their hard work.
sometimes the prize is getting their nails painted!

.

Both toenails and finger nails.
Sometimes the prize will be some fun stickers.
Sometimes it is the privilege of
baking with Rachel.
Whatever it is, the little girls love it, and look
forward eagerly to their BMC!
Well done, Rachel!

Father' Day

Well, here we are , on another Father's day. One of our traditions is to take a picture with all our kids with dad. I have such wonderful children that make being a Dad so much easier. Thanks kids...I am proud to be called your Father.

 Happy Father's day Dad. What a great dad you have been.

Are you sure you are really 81 this year?

 One of my sweet treasures

 Now here is a nostalgic picture. Sorry Steve, you weren't born yet. Aren't we such cute children? Blessings on you dad. Love you. Bruce

Graduation Open House

 

Reuben is Graduating!

You are invited to his open house!

Sunday, June 5th

12:00 - 2:00 PM

Family Fundamental Church

Pine Ridge Road

Warroad

We would love to have you celebrate with us!

Congratulations, Reuben, on a job well done!

Never stop learning and growing!

We love you!!!

"For the LORD giveth wisdom:  

out of His mouth cometh

knowledge and understanding."

"Wisdom is the principal thing;

therefore get wisdom:

and with all thy getting, 

get understanding."

May Spring Post

Okay, so its been awhile. Here are some of the things that we have been up to lately.

Piano recitals. Matthew and Elizabeth doing their best

We also visited Benjamin's new apartment in Thief River Falls. 

Living Room, with his new couch and IMac

 The outside of his apartment.

And of course spring planting. We have such great helpers

We have also been working on this little guys graduation which is in a few weeks. How do they go from that to this so fast?

And of course, no blog is complete without  a picture of Victoria...seeing that today is "Victoria's" Day for all you north of the border people. She has been doing really well lately. She has relearned how to eat out of a bottle, how to eat baby food with a spoon, and has learned that mosquitoes love to bite her. 

 Well, so much more has been happening around here, but I guess that's enough for one post. Blessings on your day. P.s, for those of us that missed the "rapture" this weekend, keep living for your Lord. Thought...how would you live this day if you loved Jesus with all your heart soul, mind and strength....any different?