journeys of a help meet

a new day dawning

2011-07-02T07:41:00.000-05:00

Well, I went back to the doctor on Thusday evening and they casted my wrist. WOW, does that feel much better! It can not move now. He said to take the sling off after 3-4 more days and try to start moving my elbow around a bit so it does not get too stiff. I did move my arms way too much on Friday and they are really sore but at least now I know that I am not hurting anything when I move them. Can't type quite as well as I could before the cast though. Today I am going to try to sew! :-)

jireh cooking breakfast

2011-06-30T09:19:00.000-05:00

I had to laugh this morning when Jireh ask to cook breakfast. She wanted to make french toast all by herself. As she began to get out all the ingredients I could not help but giggle as my mind went back to many years ago when we were in Bible college and living in Arlington, TX. Jeremy (then 14) came in and ask to have a sandwich. I told him to make himself one. He looked at me with a puzzled look and then replied, "I don't know how". WOW, had I really done EVERYTHING for them! Fast forward to about the year 2000 when Jonathan was 3. He was not even tall enough to reach the counter when we would put him on a stool and let him make his own food. All my little kids love to cook and I am so glad. We are not going down that "do everything for me" road again!

Jireh at age 8 can cook up quite the french toast!

a long day

2011-06-29T22:16:00.001-05:00

We are finally at the end of a very long day. I drove to town this morning (with a broken arm/elbow). Not a very smart thing to do! The hair cut and style were great! Seeing as how my husband has been trying to do that for me now for a week. Well... let's just say it felt good to really have a good head washing. LOL Then on to town for my very first pedicure. WOW! Now that was awesome. Worth every penny. It took a lot longer than I thought to do all that and run in to the store for some bug spray. Awe..yes, for the bird mites that migrated up from a birds nest outside my son's bedroom window. Very interesting! Of course when you are trying to drive with four fingers on your gimped up left hand, it takes a lot longer to do. Home safely but really sore. Will probably not try to drive again anytime soon.

a new day

2011-06-29T09:02:00.001-05:00

Well it is a new day. No pain meds yesterday at all. I think I actually feel so much better without them. No sick stomach. I think I am on the uphill swing with this thing. Will be venturing out and driving for the first time since breaking my arm to get my hair cut today. It is just six miles away so it should work out fine. Back to the orthopedic specialist tomorrow night to see how things are mending. Hopefully they are mending well and nothing else will need to be done. I pealed the scabs off all the scrapes and they look good too. Ha, yes, I know you are not suppose to peal the scabs off but you just try having all that dead skin on your face. YUCK, it was gross.

what a day

2011-06-27T22:37:00.001-05:00

Awe...such a day that I really don't even care to write about it. The house is a mess as I can not use my arms to clean it. The girls helped with the laundry as much as they could but they really haven't been trained to do that yet. We had food left over in the ice box for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I guess all in all, we were fed and clothed today and that is all that mattered. My husband did clean the carpets but they are so wet that he won't be able to put things away tonight so that will also be a mess tomorrow. Exciting times. Think I will take something and go to bed so I can sleep and hopefully wake up feeling better.

the garden

2011-06-26T18:30:00.004-05:00

We started the garden the end of April. It is now the middle of June and most of it seems to be doing very well. Not sure what happened to the peas. They started out really well but don't look so well anymore. Maybe it is too much rain. Who knows, never grew peas before.

Then there is the broccoli that I was told would attract bugs. So we planted it in one of the flower gardens. It too seems to be doing well, although I have no idea when or how those broccoli stalks come out. It has been about 50 days and all I have are big leaves. Guess we will see about that!

Then there is the cantaloupe and watermelon and the tomatoes and lettuce. All of which seem to be growing by leaps and bounds. Can't wait to make all my own salsa and tomato sauce for the winter. It is great to go out to the garden and pick your lettuce as you need it. Awesome!

Awe, then comes the fruit of our labors. Mmmmm good!

What do you make of this radish? Interesting!

finally learning how to blog

2011-06-24T22:29:00.001-05:00

Well, after a day of not doing much else but trying to figure out this blog, I think I am a little farther along than I was. Maybe I will get better at it and be more consistant. Who knows, it has just never been on my priority list.

a day with the doctors

2011-06-24T19:22:00.005-05:00

Well, all I can say is yesterday was a very long day. First of all the specialist couldn’t believe how many x-rays they did yesterday. He also found that my elbow is cracked also a little bit. No cast! Yeah, just a splint and a sling for now. Go back in a week to see if it is healing right with just those things. He also found that I have excessive cervical degenerative disease. That is in my neck. He says he almost never sees this in someone this young. From everything I see, it is caused no only by getting older but by stress to the neck (such as sewing). Anyway, I was waiting last night to see if they were going to put me in traction. Not fun. The spine specialist finally sent me home at 10:30 last night. I have called my chiropractor and she is going to look at the x-rays to see what she thinks. He showed me my x-rays and they were incredible as my spine curves the opposite way that it should. This will account for all the neck and shoulder pain that I usually live with. So that is it , in a nutshell. Still very sore. Can’t put pressure on either hand, even to open the car door. Hoping today is better. They did tell me yesterday that there was a lot of soft tissue damage but that the parts that are not broken, I need to try to move as much as possible so they will hear. Exciting times!

Doesn't look too bad today!

the bike wreck

2011-06-24T19:19:00.004-05:00

The day started out early for me, 4:30 AM. A full day planned as usual. Got some sewing done and then to wake the kids for a surprise breakfast at the local small town cafe, J’s Place. Sausage, eggs, hash browns and toast…mmmmmmm….. After hanging around for a while so that our food would settle a bit we took off for our three mine bike ride out in the country. Just moments later I found myself on the ground, face first on the asphalt. I had swerved to miss a child that was too close to me and hit some loose gravel. We were riding quite fast, as it was a really cool morning. My, oh my the instant pain. I knew I had probably broken my wrist so was in a hurry to get home and sit down. I got on my bike and Jonathan pushed me to get the bike going, by now I couldn’t even hold the handle with my right arm. I felt my face burning. I could tell by the kids faces, it must not be good. One look in the mirror and oh my, skin gone. It amazes me how bad the air can feel on flesh that has been burned off. Just the very air blowing on my face is a feeling that I really don’t care if I feel again. On to the doctor’s office to have an x-ray. Fractured wrist is the verdict. Visit to the specialist in the morning. “IN THE MORNING”!!!! How can they make me wait until the morning! You can tell it is not their pain. Oh well, the day is gone and the plans did not go as planned but all is well with this help meet.

they are here

2010-07-17T22:44:00.002-05:00

Corey and Jessica finally arrived on Tuesday. We had Brooklyn and Claire here for a couple of days too. It was wall to wall sleeping in this house. Grandma took them for a swim on Thursday before the girls went home.

reese's bedding

2010-07-17T21:54:00.002-05:00

I was able to make Reese's bedding. It was a different kind of bedding because of the flowers. The quilt is on it's way to being done but here are photos of the crib set and the curtains. I love pink and green!

Excuse the guns on the wall, her daddy is in the Army! :-)

reese adaliene duffer is born

2010-07-17T21:49:00.001-05:00

We welcomed our 7th grandchild into the world on July 8, 2010. She was born at 2:03 AM, was 7 pounds 2 ounces and 19.5 inches long. She joined her two sisters Brooklyn and Claire. Well, actually, we did not welcome her...... we were away at youth camp with Jonathan. We chose that week of camp because she was not due yet and we knew we would be able to be there for her birth. So much for trying to plan God's business. Hahahaha!

summer fun

2010-07-02T08:16:00.000-05:00

What full days we seem to always have here in our home. After all the chores were done Jonathan had a friend here for the day. It was fun to watch them be silly and act like boys! I did the business end of the Miche Bag business and then spent some time in the sewing room doing camp clothes. Jonathan and Michael then were taken to Park Meadows Baptist Church for a youth activity called Cola-Clash. What a fun evening. After such a long day of play, Jonathan was ready to get home and fall into bed.

happy anniversary to me

2010-06-30T07:37:00.000-05:00

Thirty-one years ago today, I married what would become the love of my life. I was just a child bride at the age of seventeen years and two months old. No, I was not pregnant! I just thought I was in love. Little did I know what love really was. I was only a junior in high school and promised my parents that I would finish school if they allow me to marry. I did just that. As we have both grown closer to our Lord over the years we have automatically grown closer to one another. I never take for granated though that the adversary is always there desiring to destroy my marriage. It is a daily task to make sure that I have a right spirit towards my husband and home so that my marriage will be protected. Has our marriage ever had problems? Well of course, all things that are worth anything have their struggles but God has been faithful and always drawn us back to Himself!

what do I do all day long

2010-06-30T07:29:00.000-05:00

I truly ment to keep this blog updated when I first started it. Wow, it looks like that did not happen. What a year it has been. So here goes again. Ladies often ask me what I do all day as a stay at home mom. I almost always chuckle as I think about just what it is that I do. Let's take yesterday for instance. Up at 5AM and get David off to work (so blessed that he has a job). Read my Bible and spend some time fellowshipping with the Lord. Then outside to prepare and spray the weeds in the cracks of the concrete as well as the fenceline and flower beds. Take care of all the pool needs, cleaning filter, vacuuming pool, adjusting saltwater pump, testing. Then it is time to draw water from the rainwater barrell to water the hanging plants. Back inside it is now time to wake the children so their day can get started. They go down the list of "must do" things before they start their daily chores. Things like make your bed, comb your hair, brush your teeth, read your Bible, eat breakfast and so on. Then it is time to oversee that the chores get finished properly. After chores then comes music practice. Jonathan piano and Jasmine on the flute. I like to sit and make sure they are counting notes properly and doing all that they are required to do.... there just went an hour and a half. Just about time it is all done, the lunch whistle rings to prepare lunch. Jonathan did this today while I prepared to do the many alterations in my sewing room. Lunch eaten, the children went out to play while I did some sewing. After about an hour and a half of sewing I go out and announce that it is bike riding time. We take off on a long bicycle ride. When Jireh becomes worn out we head for home. This is also after stopping twice to visit with friends along the way. Fast forward a couple hours and it is almost time for David to get home from work. The kids jump into the swimming pool while I answer the door to a lady that wants her own personal showing of the Miche bag. So while I am tending to her, David gets home and goes out to the pool to visit with the children. An hour later dinner is done and it is time to eat. Then our one television show of the week comes on, "Wipeout". We watch that and then David and the children play a video game together. I go back to the sewing room while they do that and then he tucks them into bed. This is my late night for sewing so I stay up and cut out my newest grandaughter's bedding so that I can begin to sew it tomorrow. Dropping into bed around midnight and it all starts over again at 5AM. So my reply when I am ask what I do all day. I never get bored or sit for very long at all. I am busy taking care of the things that need my attention.

the chocolate factory

2009-10-02T10:41:00.000-05:00

We visited the Chocolate Factory yesterday. What a fun trip. I am not a big chocolate fan but it was fun to see the chocolate fountain that starts two or three stories up.

The Chocolate Factory

the fountain

getting chocolate

the chocolate counter

Cadyn and the chocolate bear

our last day

2009-10-02T09:59:00.001-05:00

We are entering our last day in Alaska. In less than 24 hours we will be sitting in the Anchorage International Airport awaiting our flight home. It has been a long week. Those of you who know me well will understand that! I never leave home! Being away for 8 days has seemed like an eternity. I have enjoyed Jessica and the boys but am ready to get home and back to "life as I know it", my husband and my girls. :-) Jessica and I attended the baby shower that her church ladies gave her last night. They were so gracious to her and showered her with lots of beautiful gifts for Eli. It was a blessing to get to meet them and be a part of her shower. They were taking the photos for her but I did get a couple and one when we got home of her "much needed" gift.

Jessica opening gifts

He likes it!

chicago trip

2009-09-29T21:15:00.002-05:00

Before David and the girls dropped Jonathan and I off at the airport, we went downtown and visited the Magnificient Mile. We drove along Lake Shore Drive and then went to visit the American Girl Store to get Molly and Emily's ears pierced and the Lego Store. The parking was crazy but it was really fun for the kids. On the way back to the van we stopped in at the Disney Store just for fun.

Chicago skyline

Lake Shore Drive

The Magnificient Mile

Girls with their purchases

Standing at Molly's cubical era

Lego spider at the entrance of the Lego store

Lego Darth Vader

Jasmine creating something

Jireh creating something

Dino and cameras

Outside the Disney Store on the Magnificient Mile

greetings from alaska

2009-09-29T20:53:00.001-05:00

Greetings from the state of Alaska. It is a very cool crisp morning here in Anchorage, 31 degrees. Jonathan and I have been here since Friday night. We arrived at the airport about 10:15 pm after a slight delay because of weather in Chicago. We had a very smooth flight. We have had a very relaxing time since our arrival. Although there is lots to do here, it is nothing compared to life at home. No time to ever sit down at home.

The plane ride

The mountians where Jessica's family goes sledding in the winter

Cadyn, Derek, Casey & Eli

just an update

2009-09-01T06:44:00.000-05:00

The school uniform business is in full swing here with not much time to sleep. It is hard to keep it all in order. The kids are doing really good with their new home school DVD's from Bob Jones. It is a great program, although I think much more work on mom! Uniforms are being produced and going out everyday all over the country. David is due to be layed off soon from his day job and then will pick up his side construction business and go with that for a little while. I am actually thinking he should stay layed off long enough to finish my kitchen trim. It is the last thing to do before the renovations are completed. In 24 days, Jonathan and I will be flying out to spend a week with Jessica and the boys in Alaska. It should be a great trip. We are both looking forward to it although I have to admit, I am not at all looking forward to the flight! Will post another day the things we have done this summer when there is more time.

jasmine's 9th birthday party

2009-09-01T06:39:00.002-05:00

Jasmine turned 9 on August 24th. She wanted to have a Hawaiian

party so we set out to prepare. Everything you see in these photos

as far as decorations was on clearance... whole party...$15!

YIPEEE and a whole lot of fun!

I decided to make her cake from a photo she found in a book. I am glad my

children are so easy to please!

The decorations!

Then it was off to the picture taking. Jireh wasn't too sure about all the

hoola skirt stuff!

The girls with the bird! HA!

When the guest arrived they went out and played pass the coconut (like

hot potatoe) and then came in for treats.

We had lots of fresh fruit including a real pineapple and a real coconut.

They drank strawberry/banana sluchies!

Then it was on to the gift opening. She got many nice gifts.

A puzzle board, jewelry, polly pockets, webkin, doll clothes,

American Girl books and notebook things.

Then it was on to the yard for some games. They jumped in the trampoline, played

on our park slide and then played some volleyball. Back to the trampoline for the most fun. It was a beautiful evening.

Jasmine is such a sweetheart and growing into quite a young lady.

There are a few special things I love about Jasmine.

1. She is joyful

2. She is sensitive

3. She is sweet

4. She is creative

5. She is very organized

6. She can be so silly

7. She is diligent

8. She is determined

9. She is energetic

Thank you God for allowing Jasmine to be a special part of all our lives!

jireh's 7th birthday

2009-08-31T09:00:00.022-05:00

Our baby girl, Jireh, celebrated her 7th birthday on July 26th. It was the first time she ever had a birthday party with friends invited (we always have family parties). We planned and prepared for weeks for a Fancy Nancy party. It was a huge success and everyone had a great time.

This was the table with all the decorations on it. As you can see, Cinderella was there for photos!

This was the cake. Jireh's sister-in-law, Laura, made it for her from a photo we sent to her.

This was her gift from us. I used purple satin and motifs left over from a wedding to create

her a one of a kind princess dress. She was so proud of it she wore it to church on her birthday for the evening service!

All dressed up and ready for the party to begin.

This is Jasmine with Cinderella!

When the girls arrived, they were given a wand. Then they had their hair

fixed up and their crown pinned in place.

Then it was off to get their lip gloss and make up.

Each girl picked her color to take home with her.

Of course every princess needs her nails painted.

After all the makeup was done, nails were painted and hair was fixed the girls

were able to choose their own necklace, rings and sticker earrings.

Once they were all ready, the party began!

Jireh choose rasberry sherbert punch, mini pizzas and a fruit place for her menu.

They all ate up!

The first game we played was to guess what was missing from the

princess tray. I allowed them a minute to view the tray full of princess necessities and then

took something from it. Who ever guessed what I had taken won that item. I took the nail polish off.

Jireh was the winner!

Then we played pass the crown (kind of like hot potatoe). Jasmine won that

game and recieved the crown as her gift!

Then we played pin the tira on the princess. What fun!

Next we opened gifts. Jireh loves anything that she gets. She

is such an easy child to please.

She got some Fancy Nancy books and stickers, new stroller & baby doll items,

jewelry and gum, doll clothes, camera and lots of money!

When we were done with the inside activities they were taken outside to blow some bubbles

that they had been given and play one last game of hide the crown.

This is Jireh a couple of days later on her actual birthday.

She wore her crown to church that morning and her dress and crown that night.

We are so blessed to have Jireh as our daughter. Below are just

a few things I love about her. I wrote 7 of them down, one for each year.

1. She is full of joy.

2. She is a very pleasant child.

3. She is super creative.

4. She is fun loving.

5. She shows compassion on everyone.

6. She has a heart to serve people.

7. She is energetic.

WE LOVE YOU, JIERH DANELIA JOY!

zoo trip

2009-08-09T16:48:00.007-05:00

Wow, what a last few weeks! We met Grandpa and Grandma Jacobs at the St. Louis Zoo the end of June for a day of fun.

My good friend Doris Winkler came and she brought her grandaughter. It was nice to get to spend time with them.

The first thing we did was pet the stingrays. It was great. Although Jireh was not interested at all!

The perfect ending to the perfect day.... Grandma Jacobs bought them a funnel cake to share. Yummy... what a special treat!

just today

2009-07-10T06:21:00.006-05:00

Here I sit, down the road from my house, borrowing internet from a friend, along side their house. Yes, I did ask! :-) Ours seem to be down for the past two days. I am seriously reconsidering having all my banking done online! It is not so easily accessible when the web is down. We are packing to go to Missouri for a real short trip to a family wedding. Looking forward to seeing family but not the quick travel.

a quiet morning

2009-07-08T12:31:00.004-05:00

Wow, what a morning. Time to get something done besides blog set up. Jonathan has been out selling knives as a fundraiser for camp. He is quite the little salesman. The girls have been sewing doll clothes all morning. It has been a quiet morning! Might I say, abnormal for this house!

july 4th family photo

2009-07-08T08:53:00.001-05:00

Just trying to upload a photo....

getting started

2009-07-08T07:49:00.000-05:00

I have always wanted a blog. Do I have any idea what I am doing? Not in the least but I am sure as I take this part of the journey I will figure it out along the way. I am looking forward to a place family and friends alike can come and be updated on the newest things going on in our lives. Walk with me as I try to figure this blog thing out and see where it takes me.