25 years and counting!

Mom and Dad on the wedding day 25 years ago!!!

Elizabeth did this post...but I just wanted to add a bit.  I am so thankful for these 25 years with my best friend.  I have been amazed at God's goodness as he has made love grow stronger and deeper as we have walked through life together.  I have learned so much from my dear husband and thank God for making our paths cross at the right time.  We have shared many joys and sorrows...and in everything, we have found our God to be so faithful. My heart overflows with thankfulness and wonder as I contemplate God's goodness and observe the beauty of what He designs. 

       
Above:  After 25 years...just had to play a little 'dress up' as we remembered the vows we made a few short years ago...Below:  Three hearts...because we need love greater than our own for love to grow as it ought..."beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God...if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another...if we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and HIS love is perfected in us."  We have learned some of God's true love...may we continue to grow in love...   (now, back to Elizabeth...thanks, Elizabeth!)

The beautiful necklace that my wonderful Dad got for my wonderful Mom :)

 

In September Mom and Dad, went to Lutsen Lodge for their anniversary. So on their real anniversary they just had a special meal and some gifts. Pictured above is some delicious white chocolate raspberry cheesecake. Let me tell you, it was mouth watering:) We all decided that it was the best cheesecake that we had ever had.  The next pictures are from dad and mom's little getaway to the North Shore of Lake Superior.

1 Corinthians Chapter 13

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become [as] sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

2 And though I have [the gift of] prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed [the poor], and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

4 Charity suffereth long, [and] is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these [is] charity.

Happy 10th Birthday Marie!!!

Marie's birthday started on Saturday, when Daddy took Marie and Sarah,a cousin, to town.

 First they went to DQ for a blizzard. Then they went to the  Marvin Home center. From what Marie said, they had lots and lots of fun.

Every girl's dream...a date with Daddy:)

10 Things you might not know about Marie:

  1.She Loves to talk with friends, cousins, siblings...just about anyone:) 2. Her favorite hymn is" God's Perfect Lamb" 3. Her Favorite Bible verse is Joshua 1:9 Have not I commanded thee, be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid neither be thou dismayed, for the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest. 4. Her favorite game to play is Phase Ten. 5. Cool places that Marie has been to are, Gooseberry Falls, Split Rock Lighthouse, Niagara Falls, The Mennonite Village, Mount Rushmore(she was a baby at the time and probably does not remember it:), The Mall of America:), and Big Sandy, Texas. 6. Her Favorite Animal is the horse ( must be just about every girl's favorite animal at one time or another:) 7. Likes to play football with her brothers and sisters. 8. Loves to write e-mails to her brother that is oversees. 9. Wishes that someday she could visit Washington D.C.10. Her absolutely favorite Bible story is Esther.                                                      

Like last year Marie requested a castle cake. Every year Mom gets better and better at decorating it, though it is always different from year to year:)

Marie with some of her new gifts. One of her favorite gifts, was talking on the phone to her older brothers: Benjamin called just as we were singing "Happy Birthday" to her.  Then she got another treat on Monday when Reuben called...what fun! 

I Timothy 4:12

Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

Proverbs 20:11

Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.

while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;

 Ecclesiastes 12:1

Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth,

Happy Birthday Marie!! May you grow into a godly young lady that glorifies God with her life.

Ben is home..actually he's been home for 1 month and 12 days:)

After being gone since February 14, 2012 Ben is home!!!

He completed His National Guard training, extra specialized training, and Air Borne Training... His rank is Private 1st class(We Think:)...We are so proud of all the work that you did Ben. Today is Veteran's Day. If you can, go out and so thank-you to a retired soldier...If you can't do this, at least tell God how grateful you are for the protectors of this country. "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God." Psalm 20:7

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.  

I know that this poem is normally used near Memorial Day in May; But some other countries also use this around Veteran's Day. 

Thank-you Veteran's for giving so much for us.

Mom thought that some of you might like to know that Esther's arm healed very well. Here a nurse is using a saw to cut off the cast. If this saw touched skin it stopped immediately.

During this whole process, Esther kept on breaking into giggles...(She said it tickled:)

 

The nurse was glad that Esther was not scared. Many kids scream, and do not let the nurses take off their cast.
Hope that you all have a blessed day today.
                                                               The Mitton Family

Travel back in Time with us to..

....The time our whole church went to the corn maze for the Harvest Festival.

 

Here is Esther with a cousin,"The Cow", and a new friend!!
Our church was blessed to have a missionary couple  join us for the Harvest Festival.
Please pray for this missionary couple. They are English teachers in China{a Communist country}.

....The beginning of school. Here Esther is learning the difference between d and b:)

...The time Mom and Dad surprised us with a trip to Zipple Bay.

 Here I am pushing Victoria, in her stroller, down the trail that we walked on. The leaves were so beautiful!! How grateful we all are that God made different seasons.

Victoria also loved the surprise trip. You could literally experience fall with almost all your five sense.   

You could see the fall colors:
Hear the crunching of the leaves under your feet:
Feel the leaves on the ground: and
Smell the wonderful smell of trees.
You could only not taste fall..at least not at the beach. If you were at our house on Canadian Thanksgiving, you could have tasted fall:):):)

The waves were so pretty at Zipple Bay.

Mom and Dad...still in love with each other!!

No trip to the beach is complete without a game.

Siblings!! Best friends....at least most of the time:)

 The winning team!!!

Esther still active, even with a cast on( The cast came off last week.)

Psalm 127

1Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

2It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.

3Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

4As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.

5Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

 

Serve the Lord in all that you do today...You never know, today may be your last day on earth. Don't you want the Lord to say to you"Well done thou good and faithful servant"? I know that I do. You will stumble, but nothing you do the Lord won't forgive( not an excuse to sin). Keep pressing toward the mark and the high calling that Christ has for you!
Blessings on your day.
Signing off: The Mitton family.

Happy 20th Birthday, Reuben!!!

We were so very thankful to meet you...20 years ago.  Through the years we have been so thankful for you, as well...I asked your brothers and sisters for things they enjoy about you...or things they enjoy doing with you...so...here come just 20 of the list in honour of your 20th birthday, along with 20 pics...walking along memory lane...   #1  Matthew and Caleb love playing games with you.

Here you are...already flying!  Preparation for that long flight to Taiwan!  #2 Someone mentioned how thankful they were for the cozy fires that you make.   Hmmm...what does that thermometer say???

"Look, Mom...No hands!"  #3 Elizabeth has enjoyed climbing trees with you...very high...in the wind!

#4  We have always appreciated your generous spirit!

#5  The girls have enjoyed the fine gentleman who has taken them out for ice cream on their birthdays!

#6  We have enjoyed your amazing sense of humour.

#7  Everyone has enjoyed skating with you.

#8 Caleb & Matthew enjoyed shooting with you.

#9  Camping together is always fun...you're a great camper.

#10  We enjoy singing with you at home, church, at the care center...or in the van on the way home from Illinois...your joyful noise is sounding better all the time!

#11 Working with you is so much fun...sometimes hilarious fun!   And the work even gets done! (most of the time, that is!)

#12 Esther loves it when you carry her up to bed!

#13  Marie loves the names you give her.

#14 JoAnna loves your emails...they make her feel special.

#15 Your enthusiasm greeting folks...and in so many things is great to see!

#16  Working together on VBS skits has been fun...

#17  Your teaching skills in Sunday School are so appreciated...by more than just your brothers and sisters!

#18 It has been fun to watch your diligence in learning Chinese!

#19  Oh...and about enthusiasm...we love to see how you use it in your teaching...I bet all of your students appreciate it!!!

#20   Your kindness and love for all of your family makes us all smile!

"I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you making request with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ...and this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgement. That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ:  being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ unto the glory and praise of God."  Ph. 1:3-6 & 9-11    We love you so much, Reuben...and are so glad you are a special part of our family!  May our great God bless you today, and fill you with His love, wisdom, strength and joy!   Happy Birthday!!!!!