Tough

I've never had difficulty posting to our blog. But now the words escape me and this is tough. Micah, our nephew has ran the race, fought the good fight with his eyes fixed on Jesus. And now he sees Jesus, not in part, but the whole. As I just finished watching this video again, I am thankful for the terrific parents God gave Micah as he walked this earth and am inspired to point my girls to Jesus as Mike and Traci do their children. One of Micah's favorite verses was James 1:2-4:

Consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds. Because you know the testing of your faith develops perseverance. And perseverance will do its work to make you mature and complete, not lacking anything.

As Mike said at Micah's memorial service, Micah is mature and complete now. May we be inspired to adopt this as our own prayer.

Feel like a birthday

 "It doesn't feel like a birthday," was the repeated phrase on September 28, Aliya's 4th Birthday. "No one is coming to my house!" It's a hard thing for a four-year old to wait for a party, two days after the birthday. I tried my best to let her pick all her favorites throughout the day. She started with chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast. Apparently, it was really Breanne just talking her into the pancakes idea because after she blew out the candle, she asked for a bowl of cereal. She enjoyed a new favorite: storytime at the library in Farmington and we came home to read birthday books and make birthday hats for our little "party" after sisters returned home from school. Her activity of choice? "I want to play games...like Candy Land." And wouldn't you know, Breanne won. Shucks!

 We woke Saturday morning and headed to Grandma and Grandpa DeWilde's where a new tire swing and playhouse awaited them. They had the greatest time that day! Aliya and Breanne were convinced to ride in the tractor with Dad for a little bit, but the real icing on the cake was when the DeWilde cousins came over to play: Bailey, Trevin and McKenley.

Sunset on the farm

It was truly a picture perfect weekend and the party finished it off. This picture is really fun, but a bummer that we're missing the oldest cousins: Micah and Daniel. The kids played at the park but in retrospect, I should have had water games..it was quite warm. Funny, I wasn't even sure we would be able to have the party outside!

There's nothing sweeter than being surrounded by cousins you love and adore!

A bonus...

Just found this treasure taken with Derrick's phone from Breanne's play, The Wizard of Oz this summer. The cutest munchkin EVER!

The Pumpkin Pie

"That girl's been asking for pumpkin pie all month," Derrick notices Aliya's repeated request. When my sidekick noticed the pumpkins at the grocery store this past week, I couldn't resist her much longer. (However, now I seriously question my sanity...why not just talk her into buying the canned pumpkin?)  But an almost 4-year old doesn't comprehend that a pumpkin in itself is not miraculously turned into a pie by a wave of momma's wand. So, we bought the whole pumpkin and on Friday, the day had finally arrived to excitedly, "Make the pumpkin pie!"

As we cleaned and then began cutting the pumpkin, she thought the pumpkin could also dub as a wig if we placed it on her head. I couldn't convince to try the wig on, even for a quick picture. 

Then, while the pumpkin baked in the oven, we started on the pie crust. This momma isn't the best pie crust maker...I convinced her that we needed to call in Grandma Barb next time, who is the best pie maker ever! (Take note grandma!) The pie turned out WONDERFUL. Best I've ever tasted. I guess momma and Aliya are a good team.

After Aliya retired to a nap, it was finally time for momma to play with her new toy! I don't know that it's normal to be so excited when purchasing a 50 pound bag of wheat berries.

 

But I was. In no time at all, I had my fresh wheat flour ready for baking...but what? Well, we started with whole wheat waffles. Received pretty well by my white bread family. Started some Artisan Bread souring in the fridge to bake tomorrow. Then Breanne was my partner in crime to tackled whole wheat pizza crusts. Terrific! Yumminess...come visit me to get some!

Our Best Moments

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Momma's privilege

 Isn't it a mother's privilege to be proud of her children when she catches glimpses of them headed in the way they should go? Wasn't Paul proud of the churches he planted that were growing and flourishing in Christ? With that in mind, I will share the thoughts racing though my mind lately in regards to my three golden heads.

What an amazing 3 (well, almost 4) year old we have in our family. We like to call her our favorite 3-year old. She can be quite responsible (although, she has her moments). This morning, she asked for a washcloth so she might clean up her play dough toy area. Last night, laying in bed, I prayed that she might some day ask Jesus to be the boss of her life, something she's surely heard from her sisters and I've overheard her say in her free play. She said, "When I wake up, I'm going to ask Jesus to be the boss." On second thought, "No, when I'm 4, I probably will. When it's Christmas I will ask Jesus to be the boss. Mom, when I ask Jesus to be the boss, I'm not going to suck anymore," she is confident Jesus will immediately give her the gift of self-control, until then, she immediately shoves her fingers in her mouth to suck. When sisters headed to school, she began homeschool preschool. In the week we've been at it, she's begun writing her name, loves to sing the "Days of the Week" song and following in sister's footsteps, loves to sing and dance. She is becoming quite the roadster on her bike. While she hasn't ditched the training wheels yet, she can muster up the energy to make it to the park, about a mile away.

Our favorite middle-girl, Breanne (a term coined by my dad for me...Derrick & I find it perfect for our Breanne) is quite the independent minded little spirit. Sometimes I like to call her my little Beaver because she notices details that her older sister and I may glaze over. Her heart is tender toward her friends left behind in Billings and her preschool teacher from Billings who was diagnosis with cancer. This summer, I'd often find her writing letters and cards to mail to friends and she prays for them often. She worked really hard this summer to sew together a fleece blanket and bag to carry it in. She also started a pair of pajama pants, but they are a work in progress. I'm so proud of my little homemakers! I find it amazing how lucky our girls are to be able to build a sandbox with dad one day and the next, sew with their momma. She is Derrick's little boating girl, she loves to ride in the boat with dad and on Labor Day, was right next to Derrick hooking up ropes and such. She is excited to be back in school and making new friend in her new class.

Madison is our little work horse! She often amazes Derrick and I with her already strong work ethic. She is able to stick with a job until it is completed (most of the time...unless there's a game of barbies or school that needs to be played...which is totally understandable for an eight-year old). She was able to spend a weekend backpacking with her daddy which thrilled both of them! Maybe the hike wasn't quite a Montana backpacking experience, but after all, it isn't about the destination, but the journey! She also picked up her sewing again this summer. 

As I type, our office desk is covered with the workings of her very own recipe book. She is compiling favorite recipes she can make herself. She does quite well baking...just gotta double check every now and then to make sure she added a teaspoon (not tablespoon) of salt to the batter. Again, I'm proud as a peach, watching my girls learn how a home and family works.

This past weekend, we finally got to camp now that the weather's cooled some. It was fantastic...just what this momma wanted! It was good for our family to get away together, unplug, have "no agenda" and enjoy God's gorgeous creation. (Breanne has decided she doesn't want her picture taken by me...so woohoo, maybe I'll be in some pictures now if she can use my camera!)

We are constantly praying for cousin Micah, as Traci said, "storming the gates of heaven," asking for a miracle! In the midst of it, my sister and brother-in-law take each day and recognize it's many gifts! I count it a huge gift that we've been able to see their family much and have cousin time! What a joy to be close to family...even if camping in the Montana mountains is cooler.

A fun picture of the girl cousins.

Summer in the life of a DeWilde girl

 What a summer! It really has been a good summer with our girls. Of course, at times I sigh and need to catch my breath, but we've been able to do some really special, fun things. For the most part (minus the fighting), I have enjoyed having them home and I'm not the mom saying, "Does school start yet?" To be honest, when Madison went in for her assessment this past week, I found myself bummed that the summer bliss is almost over. In this post we'll cover some highlights of the past month.
Right after Breanne's awesome Slip & Slide Birthday party, Breanne started Drama Camp and preparing to perform, The Wizard of Oz. She made for one adorable munchkin and really enjoyed the opportunity. The performance was very well done and Derrick and I thought the Munchkin Musical sequence was the best part!
This also became the first time in my life that I've ever felt like the "soccer mom" many refer to stay at home moms as. We put on about 40 miles a day driving her to and from camp. Except for Wednesdays, when Madison tried her hand at gymnastics which was in Farmington...on Wednesdays, we put on 80 miles to get everyone where they needed to be. On most days, Madison, Aliya and I would stay in Burnsville and do various shopping (lots of fun garage sales and really, any sale!), run errands, go to the library, play at parks, swim, or if it was too hot to be outside, play at McDonalds. I think it was good from the standpoint that it made me stop and just "be" more because I couldn't be "doing" at home.
While Bre was busy with drama camp, Madison got busy sewing! Actually, what one sister does, the other needs to do as well, so they both made fleece blankets and bags to carry them in. I was pretty proud of them because they mostly did it on their own. (If I watch to closely, I tend to micromanage.) I would explain the procedure and then let them do it. They were really proud of their work and finished them just in time to take them on our road trip to the Pipestone County Fair to see the Kracht cousins show their cattle.
It was so fun to be at the county fair again. Minnesota sure knows how to do a fair! The Kracht cattle looked great and the kids did a great job having them tame and ready for show. Aliya was too young when the baby pigs were on dad's farm, so I couldn't resist taking a million pictures when she was so captivated by the baby pigs that were born at the fair.

Cousins, grandpas and grandmas are definitely the highlight of being back in Minnesota from all of our vantage points. We sure love and appreciate it!

We were able to enjoy a bit of fair food and one ride (thanks auntie Kelly!) And of course, no Pipestone County Fair would be complete without a visit to the Dairy Booth for and ice-cream cone!

 Madison and Braelyn dared to ride the Octopus. Derrick and I think they're nuts!

 The day after the fair, we stuck around to freeze 253 quart bags of sweet corn! Mom said, "Even Becky was getting crabby toward the end of the corn." Tis true, tis true! However, looking back, I am grateful for the opportunity to work together with family. Grandma Veldkamp got to come help as did Grandpa Kracht, so how cool is that?

 Madison wowed all the grandparents and great-grands with her jump-right-in-and-help attitude and perseverance!

 We stopped by the DeWilde farm after the corn massacre and wouldn't you know it, the applesauce apples were ready to pick. When it rains it pours. I was so exhausted from the corn, I sat and watched while Derrick picked a box of apples. However, when we got home, it was I who canned the first 20 pints of applesauce with my secret weapon: Madison. She is pretty proficient with the colander. She impressed me! I told her that Grandma Great Kracht would be so proud of her for learning how to can. Grandma Kracht always took such pride in all her canned produce!

 And what a joy for me to pass down that legacy!

 The following weekend, we got three more boxes of apples for applesauce. Thankfully, Derrick took that week of vacation and was able to help with this batch and we did another 40 pints. But more importantly, he took a day to build a sandbox with his girls! They absolutely LOVE it. And I loved having him home and taking a nap in the hammock together!

After the sandbox was built, we spend the next day at Valleyfair. I might be getting old, but I just enjoy watching the girls have fun. The roller coasters have lost their luster for me.

On Thursday of "vacation week," we headed north of Brainerd to a cabin with Derrick's family. It was beautiful and awesome to get away from phones and home!

 The weather was cool and especially so the first day, but we enjoyed the sun and snuggles on the dock, went biking and geocaching, and I took a nap and read.

 It was entirely too much for Aliya. Kayla almost tripped over Aliya while walking downstairs to look for her. She fell asleep on the steps. Nothing like dropping where you are.

 I needed the nap so I could wake up early one morning and watch the sun rise over the lake. It was gorgeous and oh so worth it! I took a ton of pictures, but this one's a favorite.

 We also did lots of boating throughout the weekend and enjoyed plenty of really good food! I think everyone had a great time, but I believe the highlight was reading snippets of How to speak Minnesotan out loud. It often left us with side-aches and tears, saying "that is so my mother," or "I've said that!"

School starts in another week, but we're still loving summer (though I'm getting sick of picking and freezing green beans!) Today, the girls started one more sewing project: pajama pants along with their cousin, Rebekah. I may have underestimated how tricky it would be to lead three girls through a sewing project with only one sewing machine. So many times this summer, I've thought, how did my mom do this? But still, I count it a privilege to teach my girls such life skills like sewing, canning, gardening, keeping a home, cooking and baking!