The kittens are now 10 weeks old.  Aren’t these 2 adorable.  Mother, Princess has been spayed about a week ago and is recovering nicely.  I will be setting appointments for the 3 females soon.  It looks like we will be keeping them all since no one has spoken up for any.

We’ve given them proper names this last week.  Above Blackie has been changed to Vader and his sister next to him is Dr. Watson.  Kayla has renamed her kitten, Katness from the Hunger Game movie,  the other black one with white markings is Holmes.  Nathan’s tabby male remains Tubby.

We are really enjoying to watch them play.  Nathan in particular is enjoying all the kittens and they are doing really well with him, he has not been scratched but once.  He checks on them multiple times a day.

The Atrium was filled with water wheels and other fun ways to get wet!

Lego Travel Adventure was a fun exibit for Nathan.

Kayla and Daryck race… guess who won?  (surprisingly Kayla)

Harnessed in, Daryck braved the Sky Cycle, hovering over 15 feet in the air and with a 300 pound counter weight beneath him, he pedaled across the second floor with just a thin peice of netting to catch him.  Yay!

I braved the bed of nails.  You raised and lowered them with a button.  They raised about 4 inches.  I wouldn’t want to sleep on there.

Nathan did well with the small wall to rock climb on.

Here Nathan and Jamie are downhill snow boarding.

Our friends from church allowed us to take their son with us.  He is a lot of fun to be with.  That was good company for the girls and Nathan.  I would have thought Daryck was an exibit because that is what Nathan wanted to see next, “Where is Daryck?”  and he was a good sport putting up with him too.

 from the back of the book…

A Simple Message
A wife has one driving need – to feel loved. When that need is met, she is happy. A husband has one driving need – to feel respected. When that need is met, he is happy. When either of these needs isn’t met, things get crazy.

A Message That Works

Based on over three decades of counseling, as well as scientific and biblical research, Dr. Emerson Eggerichs and his wife, Sarah, have already taken the Love and Respect message across America and are changing the way couples talk to, think about, and treat each other.

—————————————————————————————— 

I’ve been reading this book on and off for a while now, and finally finished it.   David and I viewed the dvd set of lessons, last year, which were excellent.  The book follows closely and lets you linger in certain sections.  This information has helped David and I slow down the “crazy cycle.” We still have a lot to learn about loving and respecting each other but our eyes have been enlightened to what God calls us to and we continue to ask for the grace to help us to walk in it.

I highly recommend both the book and dvd lesson set.  We’ve watched them over and over and even let our teens view them for their future relationships.  There is a lot of practical suggestions in how to apply these principles to life.

Here is the Love and Respect website to get a look at this resources along with articles written on the topic of marriage.  There is also a schedule of conferences too.

from the website:

2016 Obama’s America takes audiences on a gripping visual journey into the heart of the world’s most powerful office to reveal the struggle of whether one man’s past will redefine America over the next four years. The film examines the question, “If Obama wins a second term, where will we be in 2016?”

Across the globe and in America, people in 2008 hungered for a leader who would unite and lift us from economic turmoil and war. True to America’s ideals, they invested their hope in a new kind of president, Barack Obama. What they didn’t know is that Obama is a man with a past, and in powerful ways that past defines him–who he is, how he thinks, and where he intends to take America and the world.

Immersed in exotic locales across four continents, best selling author Dinesh D’Souza races against time to find answers to Obama’s past and reveal where America will be in 2016. During this journey he discovers how Hope and Change became radically misunderstood, and identifies new flashpoints for hot wars in mankind’s greatest struggle. The journey moves quickly over the arc of the old colonial empires, into America’s empire of liberty, and we see the unfolding realignment of nations and the shape of the global future.

Emotionally engaging, 2016 Obama’s America will make you confounded and cheer as you discover the mysteries and answers to your greatest aspirations and worst fears.

Love him or hate him, you don’t know him.

———————

We ventured into the theater this evening with the whole family.  The movie was very well done and the ideas and thoughts work well together.  It is worth the time to view and see for yourself who Obama is, in his own words, and where he wants to take our country.

-Beth

photo from my email box…

Okay, I’ve made it passed the 1/2 year point.  I’m continuing with my slow but steady pace of weight loss. I lost 4 more pounds in the last month.  Also this month I was inspired by a friend to go back to making green smoothies in the morning for breakfast.  I’m doing that Monday-Friday with weekends off for some variety.  My exercise has been consistant even through our 100 degree weather here in Phoenix.

Here’s a couple weight loss chuckles for you:

I loved this!  This was being forwarded around Facebook several months ago.  Let’s not forget where our taxes really go… will the government taking over anything really save money???  No way!

From the LivingWaters website:

Most of us have our own “comfort zone”- the place where we feel safe and satisfied. However, circumstances often drive us out from that area in which we feel most comfortable. Such was the case when Ray Comfort found himself being taken 7,000 miles from his home in New Zealand, to speak to the daunting residents of the most dangerous part of Los Angeles, California. MacArthur Park was infamous for being the home of murderers, drug addicts, thieves, pimps, prostitutes, and unfortunately, the destitute and the homeless.

At times, this fast-moving and true-life drama will make your hair stand on end as you enter the dark side of the supernatural. It will also encourage you and lift your faith as you learn how a celebrated Hollywood actor teamed up with Ray Comfort to bring an amazing message to America.

Beth’s 2cents-

This is an autobiography of Ray Comforts 30+ years of life after coming to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and his God given passion for seeing the lost come to know Christ also.  He lays open for us the different paths he started on in his evangelist fervor and the many stories of planting seeds in the hearts of many different people from all walks of life. He shares his failures and successes and some of the miracleous things God did to strengthen his own faith.  Best of all he shares his stradegy not for “getting decisions”  but for planting seeds and being faithful to what God calls man to do in relation to our fellow man.

I know this book has encouraged and strengthen me in my resolve to learn more about sharing my faith effectually with others, as I walk through life.  I highly reommend this resource along with any of the many resources LivingWaters produces.

First of all, Jamie purchased her own keyboard with the funds she has been earning working for her Dad this year.  Second, the church we are attending, Trinity Covenant Presbyterian asked her to help with the music and has been playing a prelude just before service starts, for a number of months now.  It was a big step of faith for her as she hasn’t had lessons in years but she is doing well, and I hope and pray getting more comfortable with it.

***special note:  I believe Kayla took the picture of the piano keys, which I think is an awesome picture.  Good job, Kayla!

Introducing Nathan’s new kitten, Tubby!  He has been voted most adorable by the rest of the family.  He has the most playful personality and everyone likes his stripes.  He will be an outdoor kitty and Nathan checks on him many time each day.  Nathan is great at feeding all the kittens and making sure they have food through out the day.  Tubby is 8 weeks here.

Okay, they are small books, but books none the less.  In July, Nathan and I finished up going through the alphabet one letter at a time. (And it’s taken more than a year to do, too)  We learned to recognize them,  sound them out, and print them.  We made minature books for each letter also.  He will be starting Kindergarden in the next couple of weeks.

Here is this years deluxe model for the back yard.  The shade actually helped a great deal keeping the pool cooler until a wind storm broke the main shaft holding up the middle.

Nathan has had a lot of fun in the pool this year.  He has done well in holding his breath and dunking himself underwater.

Wow!  he’s off doing the doggie paddle.  Go Nathan!

Kayla’s holding her new kitten and the black one with with socks.  At this point they are about 5 weeks old.

Here’s the yummy ice cream cake I made for David.  We had a feast of a day and played a new game after dinner and watched a movie.  Fun, fun!  Happy 54th birthday to my husband.

I love this photo!  I even turned it into a card for some of you!  The kittens are about 5 weeks old now and starting to eat and drink on their own.  Since we put out kitten food, Princess is starting to ween them.   We’ll be keeping one for Nathan and one for Kayla.  So there are 3 of the cutest kittens up for grabs very soon.  Probably about 3 weeks or so.   Don’t miss out!

I’m reblogging this article because I think it hits me right at home and where our family is at the moment.  I need to keep re-reading this article and asking God to help me practice this in my life and then be a positive example to my children in this area.  The article is entitled, “Four absolute ‘musts’ if you want to get along with someone.” written by Rick Thomas, a professional counselor.  To cut to the chase the four musts are: Confession, Forgiveness, Reconciliation, and Restoration.  He give examples and what it can look like.  I’m thankful for stuff like this.  Find the original post here.

What price would you pay for freedom? In the exhilarating action epic FOR GREATER GLORY an impassioned group of men and women each make the decision to risk it all for family, faith and the very future of their country, as the film’s adventure unfolds against the long-hidden, true story of the 1920s Cristero War -the daring people¹s revolt that rocked 20th Century North America.

I saw this film on Saturday.  Production was great and story was even better.  Although it was rated R (mostly for violence) it is one the girls will need to see.  Based on the Cristero War 1926-1929 in Mexico.  What a great portrayal of the faith and sacrific of many Catholic Mexicians. 

Okay, okay, this was swipped from Facebook, I’m not sure where the original photo came from but it does say something about our heat here in Arizona.  I’m sure soda fountains in convenience stores boost sales during summer’s peak heat.

But seriously,  I’m glad we don’t live in NYC as they are now trying to outlaw large fountain drinks and large movie popcorn sizes in their jurisdiction.  What happened to freedom?

“God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the Gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever…”   Thomas Jefferson

quote from American Quotations

Douglas Wilson, Pastor of Christ Church, Mosco, Idaho, has just finished a wonderful series entitled Father Hunger.  It is a 8 week series on Fatherhood.  Wow! what powerful stuff, in a day and age when most of us don’t have earthly fathers to look to and be cared fpr by.  Pastor Wilson does a great job definiting much of what a father should do for his family, of course,  it will only happen by the grace of God.  Here’s hope for the next generation.

Find the book, free sermon downloads and a free study guide for this series here.

This was my fun project while on vacation in April.  I crocheted all the squares in the car.  I just now finished putting them all together.  I like it on the bed for summer when we don’t need the bedspread.  Fun!  Fun!

That’s a wrap!

I’ve been fasting and going though a body cleansing process.  David brought me these and roses too, to cheer me up.  I love these, and think they are just lovely.  Thank you my thoughtful husband!

Expectant grandma, Jamie, sat by her side the whole time she labored.  The whole process took about 2 1/2 hours from the first being born to the last.

Here’s #1

Here is all 5.  2 have markings much like hers and the other 3 are very dark.  More cute pictures to come…