Isaac's First G U N

Gabe found these at a Big R near where he was hunting this fall. He bought two boxes, which equals four guns! They've literally turned Isaac into a dog. He brings you a gun, loads it for you, then waits (im)patiently for you to shoot it, and runs to fetch the arrows? bullets? shooters? He then brings them back and loads it again... and again... and again. You have to hide the guns if you don't want to be stuck playing fetch all day! :-)

This, in my opinion, was a GREAT buy!

Why I Laugh When They Ask....

"You have a doberman? How does she do with your kids?"

Kiera and Ziva

I thought if you could only see the wealth of love, you'd understand. :-)

Although, Isaac did chase her tonight with a wooden spoon. How did she respond? By hiding next to Daddy... She knows who's boss!

Kiera, Workin' Hard

Because shoveling snow off the porch is SOO much fun! :-)

My Grandpa Elliott Memories and Jokes

You know how they often allow people to share memories at services? Well, as much as I would like to, I know that I can't do that because I would feel strong until I got up there, and then I'd look out over the sea of faces that share such a love for the person we're celebrating... and that would be the end of my strength. But I thought I'd list a few of my personal thoughts here, memories and jokes...

In my personal memorial basket, I included some vegetables and a jar of sweet relish. The vegetables were a remembrance of being one of those crazy Elliott kids who won't eat their vegetables... But I'm trying to now, Grandpa, really. The other part is something I cannot change. I cannot eat sweet relish. It gags me (same with Miracle Whip or sweet pickles). I included it because a funny memory I have is one time when I was little, Grandpa prepared my hamburger for me. He put sweet relish on it, and you know, once you put it on, you can't take it off. He made me eat it, but when I tried to swallow that first bite, I gagged and threw up all over the plate. :-) I think he believed me after that.

I also chose to carry Coke to the table, because although it was called "Peanuts and Pepsi time," I always remember drinking Coke and thinking that was pretty odd. :-)

A couple funny things I was thinking about...
It's a shame that Grandpa Elliott didn't get to know Melia better. She'd have given him enough material for his repertoire of blond jokes to last until she grew up!

About Grandpa in Heaven.... he's probably giving the angels a hard time about "being blonde..."

When we were growing up, we always sold things for school fundraisers and asked for sponsorships for 4-H. I would go up to Grandpa, give him the whole shpeal (is that even a word?) only to have him tell me that I had to ask Grandma 'cause she had the checkbook. I remember thinking "Can't you just say yes and tell her to write me a check?" :-) Anyways, I was considering when the Lord will ask him if he's been responsible with that which he'd been given, and Grandpa will shrug his shoulders and say to the Lord, "I dunno. You'll have to wait until Leota gets here, 'cause she's got the checkbook!" :-)

Another thing is I always remember Grandpa getting frustrated with me for not picking all the berries. I'd only pick the biggest, prettiest ones. After all, I didn't understand why you'd want to pick such little, puny ones. I'd obviously never made raspberry jam :-) Now I know sometimes those little ones have the best flavor!

In my yard I have some grafted fruit trees. I will be joyful when I have a variety of fruits harvested from the same tree because I remember being amazed at his variety of plums, all on one tree!

Pepsi and peanuts with Jesus

Tears fell today as my heart began saying goodbye to my grandpa. My mind said goodbye months ago as he was diagnosed with Alzheimers and stopped recognizing us. But now to know he's whole again is a sigh of relief through the sadness.

Melia has such a tender heart. She ran to her bed and cried when we told her. Her grief breaks my own heart so much more.

Melia's Many Observations

Melia: I sure hope winter doesn't last to long, because I REALLY don't like winter.
Me: Don't you like the snow?
Melia: Yes, I like the snow. What I don't like is falling down in the snow. I get so freezing cold when I do that.
My thought? Sounds like a personal problem!! :-)


Melia: The wind blew hard last night? I hope the bridge is ok!
(Kiera then explains to her that the bridge has big things under it that hold it up. :-)


Melia: What's the name of the person in charge of the whole world?
Me: There isn't one person in charge of the whole world.
Melia: You mean there's only Jesus?
Yep. You got it right, hon!

Tuna Fish

It cracks me up that Isaac doesn't really like tuna fish. Gabe does NOT like tuna fish, or anything that comes from water. But the girls love it, so it's one of my "go-to" lunches when Gabe is not home. Today Melia asked for "you know, that fish that we really like, but Daddy doesn't like very much? Can we have that today?" :-) Isaac is eating it, but the first bite came right back out. It took a little convincing....

Mrs. Choate

Melia: Dear Jesus, please help Mrs Choate to get better. Please just fix her blood and make her back to the way she was.


Please be praying for our dear Mrs. Choate- she's the girls' Sunday School teacher, and today she was flown to Harborview to be seen by a neurosurgeon due to "spilled blood" on her brain. Thank you.

11*9*10

Nov.9: I am thankful for the body of Christ. That we are supposed to be edifying to one another, lifting each other up when we each need it. And boy, do I need it! I tend to keep my issues to myself and a very small group of friends, but when asked how I can be prayed for- I can't keep the tears from flowing! Mommyhood is hard. It just is. Add life in, and it can darn near be overwhelming. Thankfully, God has given some the incredible gift of encouragement to be a blessing to others. I am thankful for those people.

A New Milestone

Melia definitely has a loose tooth! She's been saying she did for a while, but I couldn't really feel it until now :-) Now, to get that next set fixed on Wednesday. Last Wednesday she had the worst set of cavities fixed. It was a VERY large check to write, but the good thing is that she didn't have to have a mini-root canal. That saved us a bit. But I have to write another one this Wednesday... Ouch. It's one of those parenting mistakes that's really costing us, but at least it can be fixed.

(If you don't know what I mean, last spring when we took her in and thought she was on our insurance, we found out she wasn't, and got an estimate on what it was going to cost us then... well, now it was even worse because we tried to wait until she was on the insurance, plus trying to find a better deal. Ugh.)