for instruction and training in manliness

After having 3 beautiful girls, I think it's fair to say that Ken has enjoyed  having 2 sons around to man around with.  Nathan is still a bit young for manliness, but Jacob and Ken  get plenty of guy time together.  Sometimes it's playing ball, sometimes trains and often it's just tackling each other and rolling around on the floor.  But being a Navy brat and having a Dad that's an aviator....Ken and Jake were quietly "playing" the other day and I walked in and saw them studying these really cool pictures that Ken made.  Seriously.

A boy has got to know his planes.

"Barnyard moo-sical"

Hannah was in her first school musical this week.  She's the white chicken on the far right.  She was a cute chicken and after all the kuddos she got on the bus on the way home, she declared, "Mom, I'm famous!"

Kids say the funniest things

Here's a few snippets of real conversations I had with a few of my kids this week:

Claire:  Mommy, will you give me my cup of ice water?

Me:  Where is  your cup?

Claire (being completely sweet and sincere):  Oh, I haven't ordered it yet.  Will you get me a cup of ice water, please?

Well, it works at McDonalds, right?

Yesterday, in a conversation with Grace (my child of many deep thoughts):

Grace:  Mommy, I think that there is food in Heaven.

Me:  Really?

Grace:  Yes, I think they eat bread and grape juice.

Well, makes since to me.

And in yet another conversation with my sweet and sassy 7 year old, I was reminded of how much little ones learn from their friends.  Shudder at the thought.

Hannah (speaking of a neighbor girl who she considers her BFF):  Mom, she's my sister from another mister!

WHAT?!?!?  I suppose I will soon have to explain the intricacies of that statement.  Soon, but not today.  :)

please pray

I just added a button to the right side of my blog...pray for Stellan.  You can click on this button to go to the blog of MckMama and hear the miraculous story of this sweet baby, God's work in this family and how they need your prayers right now.   We pray without ceasing, lifting up our brothers and sisters in Christ.

"Rejoice always;pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."  1 Thes 5:16-18

"beyond what you can ask or imagine..."

Well, it's official....we've rented out our house!!!  Most of you know that we'll be leaving here in the summer and heading for new orders in Newport, RI where Ken will be attending the Naval War College for 10 months.  Since we first moved here we knew orders would be coming soon and we would have to decide what to do with our house.  However, when we made the decision to buy rather than rent 2 years ago, the housing market was much better and we had no idea we'd be making this transition in the midst of such an economic crisis.  Over the past months we've debated rather to try to sell (and likely take a major loss) or rent out the house (not knowing how to find renters in such a saturated market).  Either way, we knew it would have to come down to "showing" the house.  For those of you who watch HGTV, you know how important it is to "stage" the house and at the very least have it clean and clutter free.  Well, let's just say that while in the trenches with 5 small children... Martha Stewart, I'm not.  How do you keep a house perfectly clutter free with little ones underfoot all day, not to mention nursing a newborn?Well, God heard our prayers and answered them more graciously than we could have ever dreamed.   Seriously.  

Our neighbors, who are currently renting, heard from our kids that we were moving and, due to issues they were having with their house, wanted to rent ours!  They literally knocked on our door and told us they were interested in renting our house.  Their lease on their current house just happens to be up at exactly the same time we're leaving! They signed a 2 year lease and we couldn't be happier!  I'm sure they will be great renters and will take good care of the house.  And we have the peace of mind of not having to stress about showing the house, using a realtor, paying 2 mortgages, etc.    Obviously we couldn't have foreseen any of this working out this way and we know it is only our Father taking care of us.  I know that nothing touches us without first coming through the fingers of God.  Yet, it never ceases to amaze me when he provides for His children in such miraculous ways!

The kids in front of our house this winter...we're gonna miss it here.  

"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to His be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen."  Ephesians 3:20-21

The little man

The little man is not so little anymore.  Nathan had his 2 week check up this week and is already 10lbs and nearing 23 inches.  He's getting chubbier (is that a word?) and cuter by the minute.  He is still a great little boy and happy pretty much all the time.  He loves just sitting back and watching all that is going on around him... and around here that is quite alot!  I have loved cuddling with all my babies and it never gets old.  I do think, however, that the more we have, the more I realize how quickly the time passes.  Now more than ever I want to enjoy every second with each of my kiddos ...they're not little for long.

 Nathan's first real bath in his bathtub and he loved it.  It seemed to remind him of "home".  ")

Nathan Daniel McNeill

I'd like to introduce you to the newest member of the McNeill family.  Nathan Daniel was born Saturday, February 28th at 12:38pm.  He was 8lbs, 9oz and 22 inches long.  He has blonde hair, blue eyes and definitely looks like one of our babies.  :)  We were very thankful for a short labor and an easy delivery and most of all for a healthy baby.  The kids are loving having their new little brother at home and love to hold him every chance they get.  He seems so far to be a pretty patient little guy while being passed around from kid to kid.   There will be many more pictures to follow in the coming days, but for now I just wanted to introduce our little guy so that you can give thanks with us!  We are more thankful than words can express for this little one.  God has truly blessed us beyond measure!

"For Thou didst form my inward parts;

Thou didst weave me in my mother's womb.

I will give thanks to Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

Wonderful are Thy works,

And my soul knows it very well."

Psalm 139:13-14

Short hair for all my friends!!!!

....again!  Once again, I have gone through the house with scissors and given every one a short, low maintenance  haircut....then they even styled it themselves, see?   It started because Gracey gave herself a cut a few days back and it was in desperate need of "evening up".  Of course, once Gracey got a haircut, everyone else needed one as well.  Jake, though not pictured here, got his usual military cut as well.  I love the girls with long hair, but I must say the time spent not dealing with squirming and brushing is great.

For a quick baby update....we are at due date minus 2 days!  I'm hoping to see our little one anytime now, hopfully by Wednesday or Thursday or I have a feeling we may be inducing.  Please keep praying for a healthy baby and safe delivery, as well as for the other little ones who will be getting lots of extra love and snuggles from Nana and Pa while we're in the hospital.  

We'll keep you "posted".  :)

This pose isn't something you can teach...either your a diva, or your not.  :)

A word of encouragement

Here is a quote by Charles Spurgeon that  we read in church on Sunday:

"Remember, sinner, it is not your hold of Christ that saves you- it is Christ.  It is not your joy in Christ that saves you- it is Christ.  It is not even your faith in Christ (though faith is the instrument)- it is Christ's blood and His merits.  Therefore, do not look  to your hope, but to Christ, the source of your hope.  Do not look to your faith in Christ, but to Christ, the author and finisher of your faith.  If you do that, ten thousand devils cannot throw you down.  It is not prayer, it is not faith, it is not your doings, it is not your feelings upon which we must rest, but upon Christ and on Christ alone!"

Wordless Wednesday