Sam's 11th Birthday

Sam on his 11th birthday.  :)

      Today was Sam's birthday and because of the weather he got the day off from school!

      This is a picture of Sam at the hospital the day after he was born.  He arrived at 3:15 in the afternoon.  He weighed 8lb 5 oz and was 20 in long.  After he was born they told us we had a boy, and after 3 girls we assumed this baby would be too.  So he was quite a surprise! So much so that we really didn't even have boy names picked out.  Oops! :)  So Doug went home that night and decided on Sam.   He really liked the story of Samuel, and the verse in 1 Samuel 1:27 For this child I prayed  and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of Him. Therefore also I have lent him to the Lord. As long as he lives he shall be lent to the Lord.    And so when Doug came back the next morning to take us home, Sam was named, Sam.  :)

      For his birthday cake we had a chocolate pie, and a pound cake covered in strawberries.  Which was wonderful and is now gone! :)

He received some tools and a toy tractor with a bat wing mower attached to it.  We had a great day together.  Iam so thankful it snowed and he was here all day and not at school.  He is growing into quite the young man, and is a wonderful blessing to me and his Dad. :) It is hard to imagine that someday this boy , who I am now almost eye level with and wears size 10 shoes!, will grow up to be a good, Godly man with his own family.  And it will be wonderful to get to watch and experience every minute of it with him! :)

     And of course there was the snow today! The kids went out to play for awhile.  Have you ever noticed that by the time you get the last child dressed and sent outside that the first ones are ready to come in?? :)

They were trying to build a snowman, but it wasn't working too well.

A very large contrast between this picture today, and Olivia's sidewalk picture yesterday!

     Sarah got to hold Caleb quite a bit today.  Caleb was so happy about this he fell asleep! :)

     Our day did not end up much like we had planned it to be last night.  With the storm came many changes.  Doug took Emily to work before 6:00.  We were planning to go to the Winter Conference at Precision today together, but with Doug leaving early it wouldn't work for me to go.  Which was ok, because Em got there safely and he was just a little early for the conference.  School was not cancelled but Doug decided he didn't want Sarah on the road, and so I got to spend the day with my kids! :)  It took Doug an hour to get Em to work this morning. (usually a 35 minute drive.)

     On a sadder note, a dealer for Precision on his way to the conference was in an accident that took his life.  Our hearts are so sad for his poor family.  We pray that God will comfort them and help them through this terrible time in their lives.  It has made us all stop and think about how fragile life really is.  I am certain that when he left his house this morning that his wife never even gave a thought to the fact that she would not see him again.   Our time is so short with each other here, before we make our final move to Heaven.  Thankfully because of Jesus,that move will be for all eternity.   But the separation from our loved ones in the mean time is still painful.  Even Jesus wept, and he knew the hope of what is to come.

     Blessing/ gifts for today  22.) A family still whole, together, to say I love you and Good night to.
                                              23.)A little boy growing into a man who believes in Jesus.
                                              24.) A God who loves us, knows we are made from dust, and is with us in
                                                    this life until we can be with Him in the next. I praise God for that..
                                              25.) 4 blessings tonight...Bryce has been traveling in this bad weather
                                                    coming home from a long trip. He is safely home tonight as well. :)