A reflection

As I reflect on the past year and wonder, how would I sum it up? I can't help thinking about the truth revealed me; God always has the big picture.

We celebrated Derrick's brother's wedding in May. Breanne 8, Aliya 5, Madison 9.

This fall in Community Bible Study, plowing through Joshua, Judges & Ruth, the truth keeps reappearing. We don't see how things will all fit together and work together for good, but God does. Take Samson, he "wants" a foreign woman as a bride. His parents know it's against God's Law to marry a foreigner, but Judges 14:4 says, his parents didn't know this was from the Lord as a way to protect Israel. Then Ruth and Naomi, what seemed like tragedy, death upon death, opens a way for us non-Isrealites to be saved. God knew judge after judge, king after king would fail and pass on, and seeing the big picture, He sent Jesus to be our Refuge and Savior.
As I reflect on the beauty and assurance of this truth, I must be confident in the Lord building our house. 

Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Psalm 127:1a

Two-thousand thirteen has been a good year, yet a year marked by relearning. Foremost, relearning how to parent as our oldest girls enter the tween years and all that entails.

Precious memories on the farm.

Grandpa Great came
to see the 4-H Swine Show.

Relearning how you do 4-H (and show pig and non-livestock exhibits at the fair). Things change in 15 years and in a new county.

At the play, Snow White.

Breanne at spring recital.

Relearning our families' love and passion for the fine arts. Derrick and the girls enjoyed taking in some band competitions this fall. Breanne still loves playing piano. I started singing on the worship team and was delighted for Derrick to come on board as well playing both trumpet and djembe (not simultaneously mind you). Madison took another session of guitar but has developed an appreciation for the recorder as well as continuing dance and is our family's best storyteller. Aliya loves to sing, blow in Derrick's trumpet, play her "violin" and her sister's recorder. And both Madison and Breanne loved spending 3 weeks of their summer preparing and performing Snow White and the Seven Dwarves of the Black Forest.

Science Fair experiments.

Relearning how to do the science fair. And we learned that some in the family are procrastinators…let's learn how NOT to do that this year.

Madison & the 23 pound cabbage.

Relearning how to garden in Minnesota and live with white powderly mildew. We had a great garden and acquired more jars for canning. It's a family project with mom as the foreman, Derrick as the expert farmer and all five of us as weeders, harvesters and preservers.

Aliya (pink parade) skating on the pond.

Relearning how to ice-skate. Derrick and the girls have had so much fun on the ice in the backyard pond that they've convinced me; I need to find a pair of skates.

Snuggles at the campfire.

Relearning how to camp in Minnesota, the land of 10 zillion mosquitos and 100% humidity. We had some memorably experiences. Some horrible (flight of the mosquitos) and some wonderful with cousins on the lake.

Ah…Montana. Mystic Lake,
the inaugural 4-year old hiking trip with Aliya.

Relearning how to enjoy each other's company and build relationship.
It blows my mind to think what we might relearn in 2014. It is true what Isaiah says,

From of old no one has heard or perceived by ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for Him. Isaiah 64:4

One thing for sure is that God has good gifts for us! As I think about how Derrick and I put so much effort in giving Christmas gifts for our girls, hoping for faces of excitement and enjoyment. If we do that, how much greater are God's gifts to us.

If you then who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! Matthew 7:11

God is good and we trust Him for the gifts He'll give in 2014!

Moments pass

The moments pass so quickly this time of year. It's been such a fun winter so far. The girls and daddy have taken a special interest to iceskating on the pond in the back. It was a special treat to skate in the dark last week with the full moon shining overhead. Derrick reports that Aliya takes charge on the ice (like she doesn't anywhere else), "DeWilde's gather round," waving her arms. "Now, what do you want to play: tag, race or red light, green light?"

She does however have big shoes to fill, as she graciously pointed out recently when Derrick asked her to go get him his slippers. She promptly returned wearing them.

Last week in CBS, she was delighted to have daddy, mommy and auntie Kayla come watch the kids sing their songs. She was for the second year able to dress the part of Mary and carried baby Jesus. Likely, she was the loudest singer.

Breanne and her BFFAE, Kendall are quite the pair. I'm especially proud of her for being such a great friend. Kendall got hurt sledding and Breanne has been wonderful visiting her friend and playing games with her, keeping her company while she's laid up.

Madison had her Winter Snow…I mean show. What a joy to watch your kids do something they love! We were blessed to have grandparents at the show and then overnight and even to hear Madison and Breanne read the Advent Passage and devotion at church.

Counting the days

We're counting the days until we celebrate the reality that the long-expected Savior came in the form of a babe to save His people from His sins. The older I get, the more I realize that's what it's really about and Family Advent Devotionals are more valuable. (This year's is Adventures in Odyssey.) Yet I was a kid once and I know presents, giving and traditions are important.
In trying to point the girls in the right direction (giving not getting), Aliya begins her sprint today making gifts for her sisters. She has her own board on pintrest full of ideas of gifts for others. Last we jump started by making Santa hats as treats for our family.

Try it yourself, easy, fun and tasty. Though, I tend to agree with Madi, "They're good, but in my opinion, they'd be better with chocolate."

..interesting..

 How interesting a five-year old makes life! I have run out of fingers and toes tallying the number of times Derrick has come home and said to Aliya, "Well, that's an interesting outfit!" This week, seeing out first snow flakes and icy temperatures, had her all hyped up! If you're unsure of the changing weather, just get yourself a five-year old, his or her activity level will enlighten you of upcoming weather changes. Thank you Aliya!

Two weekends ago, Derrick had his hand at deer slaying while the girls had a day to themselves, doing girly things: shopping, Olive Garden, shopping, spending Grandma's money, crafts and girly food-chocolate! Here's Aliya and Abigail being…well, cute.
Last weekend, Derrick had another stab at the deer while the DeWilde girls road tripped it all the way to Billings. It was a long drive, but so refreshing to connect with great friends out there. This morning, we're all singing tunes from the The Music Man as we watched Farmington High School's performance last night. Brings back memories of Traci in that musical…."Seventy-six trombones led the bring parade…"

Boo!

Stealing a couple of nice days before the snow will eventually fly, we biked to a park close by our house where Aliya has learned to do the spider with mom. You're never too old for the swings.

 "Did I scare you mom?" We don't need Halloween to say that one around here. We don't typically do scary…check out these little innocent girls. Inspired by the Wise Owl, Hoot, in the play Snow White and the Seven Dwarves of the Forest this summer, Madison, the Owl.

Straight from 1812, Caroline the American Girl look-a-likes.

 "Mom, next year, we're going to all be Little House on the Prairie. Madison will be Mary, Breanne will be Laura and Aliya will be Carrie. You can be Grace and stay home." Nice to know I can pass for a baby..I digress. Sweet as ever, a blonde middle girl, Breanne. AKA, Laura Ingalls Wilder.

And even carving pumpkins around here is girly. Check out Minnie Mouse

and Cinderella's Pumpkin Carriage. Of course Cinderella's friends Belle and Aurora joined in for the ride. Now we just need mice…or not.

Spicing it up

I never understood how a woman wouldn't "have time" to paint her toenails. Seriously, how long could that possibly take? Sometimes we eat our words. I get it. I bewilders me how having 3 growing children take more time that 3 toddler and babies. Just the same, we keep rolling and I try to constantly remind myself that the most important thing I can do is be with Jesus.

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't as proud as a peacock of Aliya's first quilting project. We learned about Noah and God's promise to him then made a rainbow quilt reminding us of God's Promises. 

"Sewing is fun," Aliya decided. She's eagerly awaiting her next project but mom's been keeping the machine busy getting costumes ready for Halloween.
 The "big girls" are busy with piano & playing with Kendall (Breanne's passions) and dance & guitar (Madison's passions). They are excellent students and had great reports from their teachers at conferences. All three girls were able to spend the long break from school at Grandma Barb's last weekend. It was excellent for all parties involved I believe.

Returning home from Grandma's is probably totally boring. Aliya tried to spice things up a bit by Mexicanizing our football food this past Monday night (wasn't THAT a HORRIBLE football game!). Here she is measuring out ingredients for Mexican hot chocolate and also treated us with Mexican cookies. Maybe her recipes weren't immediate family favorites, BUT it's the process that makes memories, right?

"..too good and too small!"

Our new motto around here is, they're "too good and too small!" It doesn't matter if you're talking about pancakes, summer memories with friends or birthday celebrations! Here's a recap in pictures of the last 2 months for us....eegads!

Hanging out with Tiann and Alyssa at the pool in Billings. 

Madison snuggling with Justice on the top bunk. 

Aliya's total disbelief moment with Justice.

Storytime with silly Mr. Jared.

I love it that a good friend can pick up right where you left off! Great moments with Andrea!

And we're off for Sioux Charlie Lake...3 miles ahead.

Snapshots along the trail.

Ms. Sarah being the awesome friend she is, involved in the girls' lives, chatting about the day as the sun sets.

We caught "some" fish.

The famous rock...great for fishing and sunning.

Silly moments.

Spray park with Brogan & Cienna.

Aliya...photo bomb while mom and Ms. Brandee pose....and yes, we do know these people Aliya!

Musical chairs with Carter.

Hot tub moments with the prince Carter.

Hiking up to Mystic...3 miles one way and the tradition for every 4-year old in our family.

Mom and Aliya made it!

Forest fires made it hazy, but still majestic.

"This is the best day EVER!"

Doug, Sarah, Becky and Derrick

FabFour!

First day of school...and the bus forgot to pick them up!

Treasure hunting for potatoes.

Soon there'll be FIVE in the picture!

Camping with stocking caps and the recorder...with Uncle Ben and Aunt Melissa.

Check out this water fountain!

"Take your fingers out of your mouth Aliya!"

The birthday girl and newest member of the DeWilde family: Caroline. (Glad we didn't catch her hair on fire!)

Grandma hit a home run with Caroline and Aliya matching outfits.

Surprise! Grandma and Grandpa came to celebrate! Made the birthday girl's day.