Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

Therefore, let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And God permitting, we will do so. 

It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.

Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.

Hebrews 5:13-6:8 NIV

Gluten Free Flour Mix

I've tried a variety of GF flour mixes, but this has been my favorite so far, largely due to the fact that it's whole grain.

I stumbled upon this recipe and I shouted (in my heart) for joy! Finally a whole grain GF flour mix, that actually works!

Here it is. Are you ready?

70% whole grain flour (ie: brown rice, sorghum, almond, teff, oat, quinoa, etc)
30% starch (tapioca, corn starch, potato starch, etc)

That's it.

If you have a kitchen scale you would use 120 g for every "cup" of flour. To make 10 cups of mix, 360 g of starch, 840 g of whole grain.

I've also noticed with this recipe, that I no longer use any kind of excess binder. You know, like guar gum, xanthan gum, ground flax with hot water. The starch in the mix seems to take care of most binding needs. Except in cake. I always add a beaten egg or two to a cake recipe. Helps tremendously.

So that's what I use now. My own little gluten free girl loves it. And she's not getting all those useless starches. (Or as much as she used to).

A Nativity Drama

Quick Thought about Christmas

I consider all things a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Jesus Christ our Lord. Philippians 3:8

May we all remember this verse as Christmas unfolds. May Christ and His people not get caught up on the materialistic aspect of celebrating of His birth. 

Love and Joy come to you

And to you glad Christmas too

And God bless you and send you

A happy new year

And God send you a happy new year!

Cranberry Pie

This is my Mother-in-law's recipe. It is a fabulously easy, fabulously delicious pie. One of our favorites. It's going to be Jesus' birthday "cake/pie" this year. Yum!

Beat two eggs well.
Add:
1 Cup sugar (I decreased it to 3/4 C)
1 Cup Flour (120g- wheat or GF)
3/4 C butter, melted
**If doing GF, add 2 tsp baking powder

Mix well.

Grease 10" pie pan. Put 2 C cranberries and 1/2 C (I decreased it to 1/4 C) sugar over berries. Pour batter over berries.

Bake 350 F for one hour or until golden. (GF will be a dark golden.)

A Chuckle (edited)

Joel found this sticker on the job site a few days ago.  Part of the "packing" "packaging" on some plywood.

Can you read it?

It's a warning that the plywood may generate wood dust, which is a chemical known to the state of CA to cause cancer.

I love Christmas...

Emily's Stocking

Under the tree :)

We did it! My heart is full of joy and peace right now! Thank you Jesus for showing us a way to remember Emily, and bless someone who needs to know You. If you are reading this and are a little confused read this post and then come back here.

After explaining to the kids and praying with them, we ended up choosing a little girl from India. Her birthday is just a day after and a year before Emily's. And, we didn't notice until later, but the little girl's name is very similar to 'angel'. How fitting.

And, sweet sweet Rachel, she was so excited. She was looking forward to being a big sister to another girl and taking care of her and playing with her...Rachel thought we were adopting this sweet child. Oh, how Joel and I yearned that this was true. We tried to explain and I think she understands now. Maybe someday we'll adopt, but God has not opened that door yet. Until then, we'll all have to be content sending letters and stickers and colorings to our angel in India.

Another Milestone

I've been wanting to buy Emily a Christmas gift this year. I haven't actually succeeded doing this before. I've wanted to, but never knew what to get. Then Christmas would come and go... I did manage to find a stocking for her. We had it in the ornament box, this little red, white and green stocking. We hung it up on her would-be first Christmas. And we've hung it up every year since then. One of those years, I found time to embroider her name with gold ribbon and sew a cloth butterfly onto her stocking. This year, instead of either on the tree or off somewhere by itself, it's hanging up between Rachel and Madelynn's stockings. Where it should be. Because she's a part of our family. She's just not here right now.

But what do I give my daughter who has everything?

I've been reading a book. It's a Gospel for Asia book, titled "No Longer a Slumdog".  I've been reminded and touched by this book. It's full of personal stories of children who have lived in the slums of India and Southern Asia. Full of reality, but also hope.

Last night, the Lord led me through a thought process:

What should I get Emily for Christmas? I've been thinking of getting her a windchime or a suncatcher with a butterfly somewhere attached. It would have to be perfect, not too fancy, just simple. It would need to have pink, yellow, purple and maybe some white included. But I haven't found it yet. Because Emily doesn't want a windchime for Christmas. She wants me to do something eternal. To give her a gift that has eternity in it's heart.

I think back to the book I've been reading. These children have nothing. No clothes, no warmth, no hope and no love. And that is when God gave me the idea:  Sponsor one of these lost children, in memory of Emily Grace.

So, hopefully tonight, soon at least, Joel and I and the kids will sit down together and "give" our gift to Emily. And bring eternity to a lost child.

My desire to "buy" something for Emily has "mysteriously" vanished. I am so excited to unwrap our idea of giving our money and love to a child who so desperately needs it.

I know this is what Emily would want. This is what would make her happy.

Because ultimately, giving our resources to another, instead of ourselves, is what Jesus wants and makes Him happy.

Sorrow and Christmas

This post is coming from the context of the violence, the suffering, the grief, the horror, the evil that happens in this world.

And more specifically, thinking of the families in Newtown, Connecticut.

Where is Peace on Earth?

This morning at church we sang this song, and it greatly comforted my soul and I also grieve the loss of my daughter who is in glory with those 20 children.

"I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day"

(Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882), 1867)

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head:
"There is no peace on earth," I said,
"For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men."

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men."

Till, ringing singing, on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,
Of peace on earth, good will to men!

Only in Jesus can we have hope. This world is full of death and hate and awfulness because of sin. And all of us are full of sin. Except for Jesus. And Jesus took all that sin and made a way for any of us to come to God and be forgiven and spend eternity with Him. And because of Jesus we can have hope. Because of Him, we can trust that this horrible world will come to an end, and God, the King of Life and Love will reign supreme.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

to 

YOU ALL!

"Christ in you, the hope of glory"

Love, Joel, Renee, Joshua, Rachel, Madelynn, Hudson

and remembering Emily Grace,

Our daughter forever

Consider yourselves dead to sin but alive in Christ Jesus.

(Romans 6)

A Purposeful VBS

Finally! Someone else who thinks that VBS curriculum is too entertainment-based!

Here's an excerpt from an article about Concordia Publishing and their new VBS curriculum:

Acknowledging that VBS themes may use cartoonish figures or themes to "hook" children and get them interested in participating in a church VBS program, a company statement observed that "the steady transformation of VBS programs into full-on entertainment machines has created a rather distressing situation.

"Instead of being used to share the Word of the Lord, VBS is being used to babysit and cure boredom—and many children are leaving VBS more confused than ever as to who and what is real and who and what are just characters and stories."

Laying the blame at the feet of publishers, parents and churches alike, Concordia, publisher for The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS), has spent three years refocusing its VBS brand and creating programming that remains faithful to the gospel message and the Scriptures as a whole. The publisher calls this renewed focus "VBS with Purpose."

Quick Buns

I love this recipe. I usually don't have time to make full on, three hour yeast buns so I use this recipe a lot.

1 Tb yeast (I've cut it down to 2 tsp and haven't noticed a difference, both GF and non)
1 1/3 Cup warm water
a squirt of honey

Let bloom for 10 minutes.

Add 2 Cups flour
1 tsp salt
1/4 Cup oil (again, I've decreased this to about 2 Tb, no difference in GF and non)

Combine. Add about 2 more cups of flour to form a soft dough. Knead until smooth. Let rest about 5 minutes. Form into buns, breadsticks, even a pizza pie or cinnamon buns! Place on greased pan/stone.

Bake at 425 F.

Buns and cinnamon buns take about 13-15 min.
Sticks are about 10-12 min.
Pizza is about 15 min.

Yes, this recipe is interchangeable with Gluten Free. Weigh out your GF flour mix (1 Cup = 120 grams). And use less water. Don't knead of course, just stir. Place in paper lined muffin tins, let rise 15 min and bake accordingly.

...do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?

(Matthew 6)

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Ephesians 5:21

To fear the Lord is to hate evil;
I hate pride and arrogance,
evil behavior and perverse speech.

(Proverbs 8: 13)

Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men. 

(Proverbs 2:12)

Set me free from my prison, 

that I may praise your name.

(Psalm 142)

And he has raised up for his people a [strength],
the praise of all his faithful servants,
of Israel, the people close to his heart.

Praise the Lord.

(Psalm 148) [emphasis mine]

Almond Milk

Did you know you can make your own almond milk? It's really easy and fast once you have your almonds done soaking. 

Here's the recipe:

1 Cup Almonds (soaked 1-12 hours, rinsed)

4 Cups Water

Blend together in blender. Pour through sieve. Let drip for about 30 minutes. That's it. You have almond milk. Store in fridge for 3-6 days. 

The original recipe calls for sweetener and vanilla. I agree it does make it yummier, but I prefer the plain method.

Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: 

to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, 

to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? 

Is it not to share your food with the hungry 

and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter- 

when you see the naked, to clothe them, 

and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Then your light will break forth like the dawn,

and your healing will quickly appear;

then your righteousness will go before you,

and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.

Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;

you will cry for help, and he will say:

Here am I.

(Isaiah 58)

A picture for today

I found this photo on google images. Chickadees make me think of snow. Or maybe it is the other way around. I like chickadees. 

It snowed here yesterday, a few flurries this afternoon and it's colder. 

The first few days of "real winter". 

The wood stove has had a fire in it all day. 

Joel's been working on the bedroom downstairs. 

The kids played in the snow. 

The first snow of the season. 

Hudson didn't last too long, 

a little wary of the cold white stuff.

A quiet Saturday after a holiday.

Happy Winter to you!

Strength for today, Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Great is Thy faithfulness, oh God my Father;

There is no shadow of turning with Thee;

Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;

As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be.

Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!

Morning by morning new mercies I see.

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;

Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,

Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above

Join with all nature in manifold witness

to Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!

Morning by morning new mercies I see.

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;

Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth

Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;

Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,

Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!

Morning by morning new mercies I see.

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;

Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Great are the works of the Lord;

they are pondered by all who delight in them.

(Ps. 111)

From the Kadunce....

Our Provider

He provides food for those who fear him;

he remembers his covenant forever.

(Ps. 111)

When Kids Get A Hold of the Camera

(This picture was taken upside down. That just strikes me as really funny, I mean, the button would be on the bottom then...)

Toolbelt action!

A Public Letter

I don't usually post much about politics. But this is worth posting. And reading. And listening. And doing. The following is a public letter to the people of the United States of America written from a couple in Germany. (Copied and pasted from Here.)

"Our dear America – where do you go from here?"

Today, Obama has been re-elected; all the efforts of many Christian leaders, prayer movements, “prophets” and “concerned Americans” who have lobbied, written appeals, articles, books, letters-some have even done films to warn not to vote for him have come to nothing. Many of them have behaved as if the future of the Kingdom of God is at stake. Well, it is not.

Can we, as foreigner who dearly love you as a people, say a few words into this situation? Because it is evident to us that God has a clear plan with your nation. But many don't seem to see it, and therefore run the danger of fighting the wrong fight, wasting precious time and resources, and even endlessly call upon God to do what he just will not do.

The German weekly Der Spiegel, kind of a German Time magazine, has a cover picture of Uncle Sam in bed, titled, The American Patient: The Decline of a Great Nation. We think this is a prophetic picture. As your friends, we know, acknowledge and admire that America has had a great past. But how will your future look like?

God chastises whom he loves because he knows: pride will come before the fall, and humbleness and brokenness is the only condition he responds to. We personally sense we need to tell you: the destiny of your nation is in God’s hands, not yours. It is not at all about Obama or Romney, it is about God using all the nations in the world according to his global and unchanging plans. Did you ever allow the thought that God in his sovereignty is using Obama like a pawn on his chessboard to humble the US as a nation because he wants to show his grace to a nation gone completely selfsufficient?  A nation that is so full of independence, individualism, nationalism and trusting a greed-and-fear-based economy that there may be only one way open to heal it from its idolatry and re-align itself with the Kingdom of God: a crisis beyond anything that America has ever seen?

In 2008, God has been challenged by a man standing up in public, preaching to the cheers of a huge crowd: “Yes we can!” We watched it; we saw the tears of excitement in the eyes of the people; the statements were received as if coming from the Messiah himself, and the electoral rallies had all the flavor of a religious revival. "Yes, we can" is the exact opposite of the King of kings saying: "Without me, you can do nothing!"

If God is the one who "deposes kings and raises up others" (Dan 2:21), does it really matter what are the names of the current puppets set in place by God that advance both the New World Order and the Kingdom of God? Neither Herod, Pilate nor Cesar were truly important for the development of the Kingdom. That is exactly why Kingdom people do not play in the Second League, but the First, the one that matters. The one that puts the Kingdom first, and everything else-including their own nation-second.

The problem of the current commotion and insecurities arises when even the people that call themselves after God keep confusing the Kingdom of God with the United States of America. And when that happens, especially through Christians with a public voice, then we have truly lost all perspective of the coming Kingdom of Jesus Christ and the predictions he has made that will precede his coming.

America is being publicly humbled by God; and he is going to use Obama-and those after him-to further advance his agenda that will lead all nations to kneel before that one true King Jesus very soon. If any nation wants to become a tower that reaches up to high heaven, it will be humbled by a God who will not share his glory with people relying on their own strength.

America, where do you go from here? What does this mean for you? The future is going to be very, very rough. Your securities will vanish, the economy will go down, the education system will become even worse, the streets more dangerous, the churches even more divided, the youth even more disillusioned-unless there is a true movement that abandons all those idols mentioned above, and radically repents, makes a radical alignment with the King of the Kingdom of God and his constitution, live the Law of Christ in all areas of life, first and foremost in the areas of sex, money, power and how we “do church”. This is a defining moment for you as a nation. You could go down, as the German journalist of ‘Der Spiegel’ predicted. Or, America could be literally re-invented by Kingdom people who are ready to implode the prevailing myths about Americas greatness, and replace it by God’s greatness. The King has even greater things purposed and would fulfill those purpose IF those who call themselves after Jesus the King, would turn away from their self-made religion, self-made churches and religious factions, self-made visions of success, and their self-made, harmless God.

Can we lovingly but urgently call you back at this hour to begin and initiate a movement to reposition and repatriate yourselves into the eternal Kingdom, by submitting yourself not only in theory but also in practical deeds to Jesus the King, starting to obey the King and his liberating decrees in all the areas that count? You might even want to write a declaration of dependence on God and each other, because by idolizing anything else before and over God, you will become illegal aliens in the country that counts, where we all are called to have our home: the Kingdom, the one place where our true citizenship, nationality and allegiance lies (Phil 3:20). This is the only one country that will not be shaken, as it has an unchanging King.

If there is any way that we can help you in this great challenge and task – we want you to know we will.

Wolfgang and Mercy Simson, Germany
(wolfsimson@compuserve.com)

Another Goodbye

We'll miss you Little Fred. It was a fun five weeks we had you. We all learned alot. But now you are in a good home, a home where they can give you more attention than we could. We'll see you every now and then, you only live a block away.  Farewell our little bear.

A Surprise for Rachel

A woman from our church brought over a stuffed owl, after hearing about Rachel's desire for a pet owl. The video shown above records Rachel's first meeting with her now beloved animal, which happens to be a "she".

Joel's thoughts for today.

I really hate Halloween.

I was thinking about some of the decorations in a neighbor's yard today.  It's kinda cutsy stuff; a goofy Frankenstein sitting in a lawn chair, a pair of plastic hands reaching up from the ground on either side of the sidewalk leading to their door.   Nothing too gory.  But still, all about death.   I'm sure this person, being the age he is, has buried his parents.  Doesn't it bother him to have pretend bodies coming out of the ground in his yard?  
How can we take something as evil and grotesque as dead bodies and make it cutsy?  How can we have a holiday celebrating zombies, ghosts, witches, blood and gore, and say it's all for the kids?   Sure there's princess costumes and cute kitty costumes, but if you take out all the scary stuff its not Halloween anymore.
I was really bothered today by the way Halloween makes light of death.  I couldn't help thinking of the last moments of Emily's life as she lay on the hospital bed covered in blood because they'd been doing chest compressions on her 5 lb body a day after heart surgery.  I remembered how it felt to hold her head as the fluid began to pool behind her skull.  I remembered wrapping her body in a white fuzzy blanket a few days later in the funeral home, her bruises barely disguised by make-up.
And now, when a kid comes to the door dressed as the living dead with fake blood all over his face I'm expected to smile and give him candy?
How can we make light of death?
I think of the thousand upon thousands upon thousands of children who've been mutilated by war. Those today who walk streets of terror and are no stranger to death and gore.  Would they celebrate a holiday of fear?   We are so ignorant in our safe little suburbs of the realities of the world.

I hate Halloween.

I know there are followers of Jesus who can be a part of Halloween, find a way to redeem some of it, use it as a chance to be out in the community with the Light.   It's not on my agenda to bring condemnation on them.   But as for me and my family we will have nothing to do with Halloween.

I was really missing Emily today so I went up to the grave site after work.  I intended to stay in that sorrow because I don't often dwell in it as deeply as I did today.  It's been months since we'd been there.   But after I'd taken down the kids' birdhouses from the shepherd's crook and picked up a few pieces of the shattered pinwheel, I sat down and the sorrow was gone.  I didn't have the energy to be mad at death, or Halloween, anymore.  I just had peace and a underlying joy that my little girl is alive.  I could almost hear her say "Daddy!"  I can't quite picture what she looks like, but I'm sure the moment I see her in heaven I'll know she's mine.  That's happened a few times for Renee and I, where we go up to Maple Hill to grieve and are surprised by Peace and Joy.  His other name is Jesus.   I didn't stay there long, because hey, Emily's not really there anyway and Jesus travels well.  I went down to another cemetery to look for the burial site of a family I wanted to pray for, then got home in time to hear our pastor on the radio in a forum on the marriage amendment.

Oh that this world would know and embrace it's Creator and find him to be Peace and Joy.   Then they'd leave off their twisting of truth and cartoonizing of evil.   

Overcast with a Chance of Showers

I was making our Christmas photo card last week. After Emily's birthday last summer, there was no way I could leave her out. I needed two pictures- not one- on that card. She is our daughter, she is part of our family, so she goes on the card-with the rest of us.

We only have one photo of Emily with her eyes open. It is now my favorite picture of her. It used to be of the ones where she was sleeping and she looked so angelic, peacefully sleeping under drugs of sedation. Those photographs I treasure but I have a new favorite. When I hold this photo it's almost like I'm holding her again. The way her face is angled and she's looking up into my face:

Rachel made a little card, just a simple piece of paper, that said "EMILY". She set it up against her framed copy of Emily's photo. The one you see above. Rachel explained to me why she did that. She did not want people to forget about Emily. She wanted people to remember Emily and never forget. I am so proud of Rachel right now. Such a sweet big sister. She has more guts than I do. I met a new family last Sunday at church. And, even though I keep vowing to myself I won't do this, I did it again. I said "Four children." It's a lie. I don't have four children. We (they and me) only SEE four children so we all assume four. But where's Emily? There's a fifth child in this family of ours?
It's not that I don't forget. Hardly.
Maybe it's the awkwardness. Maybe it's having to explain. Maybe it's the looks of sympathy (which there is nothing wrong with) that I dread.
I'm still trying to figure myself out.
Maybe I'm ashamed of Emily. Maybe that's it. I'm ashamed of having a child who wasn't healthy, who wasn't formed perfectly in my womb. Maybe it's all those Milky Ways I ate while I was pregnant with her.
But I know that's not the reason. Because I have two other children who aren't healthy. And I'm not ashamed of them.

Sometimes I get tired of this road. This road of healing, the dull ache, like an invisible bruise, trying to figure out the aspects of letting God take our child. Trying to figure out how to tell people, strangers who don't and friends who know. How to tell them what's in my heart, on my mind. Most days I have peace, thanks to all the healing that took place last summer. But there's still an ache, stronger some days. Like a healed injury during bad weather.
I guess it's raining right now, in my heart, because the ache is stronger, and I miss her.

Just For Fun

(

(a satellite formed out of clay)

(matching nightgowns!)

One of Hudson's Talents

Friends and Apples

We were so blessed to have an opportunity to go camping with some good far-away friends. Two nights, three days and gorgeous fall weather. 

Friends always

These two guys, Joshua (on right) and O have pretty much grown up together until just a few years ago when O's family moved. They are still great buds and look forward to each time they see each other.

Hudson insisted on having a head lamp on just like "everyone else". (Little Fred in front)

Little Fred pooped out on the gear

This was Little Fred's first camping trip and he did really well. He stayed close to us and only nipped the kids a handful of times. :)

Apple picking!

K (O's little sister)

Sibling fun

Madelynn and Daddy

All of us

Thanks M and K! We had a great time with you!

A little portage from daily life

(A lake. Ok, so I forgot the name of it...)

(Some people want to see moose. I wanted to see a loon. And we did! You can see it here in the center of the picture.)

(Trying to look natural while Joel takes a picture.)

(My wonderful husband)

It was a wonderful day with another couple from church. They brought their two canoes and we paddled, and portaged, paddled and hiked. Beautiful views and great fellowship.

And of course a big thank you to my dad, who watched the kids!

of defying gravity and other oddball snippets

It seems as though the kids are always changing. The last post that tried to give updates I missed some very important things. :)

One was Joshua is tying his shoes. Another is that Rachel is starting to read and has one loose tooth. Madelynn loves green smoothies. And Hudson walks, runs, says: Josh, no, mine, dog, up; and he also barks like a dog. 

Here are some other wonderful changes that have been happening:

Joshua learns to fly 

Oh. yes. He likes to fly. You should see him sometime.

and floating too!

Rachel also learns to fly

Yes, you can see it now. That's how they "fly".

Taking apart a broken toaster

Joshua enjoys taking things apart. He enjoys seeing what's inside and how it works. Putting it back together is something we are working on... (smile)

In other news...

The downstairs bedroom is one step closer...

Yes! The hole has been made and as I type this the window has been installed and is being framed in. The plan is for Joel and I to move in to this bedroom, so the girls can have our current bedroom and the boys can move into where the girls are now. The boys right now are crammed into a tiny room, that will eventually become an office area.

next project: dog house.

happy Autumn!

Another Baby

Last night after work, Joel brought a baby home. 

A boy.

Blue eyes, brown hair.

About ten pounds.

Eight weeks old.

Adorable.

His name is Fred.

Joshua and Fred

Nina and Fred

Fred camping out under the futon.

Tired puppy.

Fred is half mutt and half Bernese mountain dog. He is gentle, so good with the kids (ie: patient), and calm.

Welcome to the family Little Fred!