Mother's Day

I absolutely adore being mother to these five! 

I am so blessed!!

Father's Day

I cannot answer why some are so blessed in the father department, but I can be thankful.

Camping Trail

We enjoyed a wonderful camping trip as a family to Trail Creek campground near Crouch, Idaho.

Birthday 42

My sweet friends and church family surprised me with a lovely party for my birthday! I am so very blessed!

Memorial Day

We had a very relaxed Memorial Day. We ate good food, watched the fly-over and built a fun fort with the kiddos.

Yard and Garden

There's always something blooming out here, either good to eat, beautiful to see or many times both. 

Kaite is now 11

Our little Kaite is now 11. She has grown like a weed recently. She had a fun outdoor party with just family. The theme was oreos, her fav!

Easter 2020

Easter was really different this year due to COVID 19 restrictions but we made the best of it. We visited "social distance style" with most of our people and Rick streamed his Easter message from the top of Lizard Butte with the big white cross in the background at sunrise. Later in the day, we joined our Bible Methodist family in a very special live communion service.

Different Like Jesus

Kalli's final speech assignment of highschool:

Different Like Jesus

Have you ever been called a copycat? Most of us have. Maybe you liked to mimic the ways and mannerisms of an older sibling, favorite cousin, best friend or popular media figure. Maybe you still do. Perhaps you had or still have someone who seems to copy everything you do and say; a little brother or sister that is constantly watching and mirroring your every move; a copier; an imitator.

Often we think it's very cute when a little kid copies something an elder does. It's cute and it's funny and we laugh about it. To the one being copied, especially if it's an older sibling who would prefer to be left alone, it's not so adorable. But no matter how you feel about imitation, you must admit that you've participated in it one way or another. Everyone imitates something, and everyone, at one time or another, has been imitated.

Webster defines the verb imitate, “to follow as a pattern, model, or example; mimic; counterfeit; to be or appear like.” Well, that's an in-depth definition, if not an easily comprehensible one. Perhaps we can sum it up in more simple terms: to imitate someone or something is to copy it out of admiration and a sincere desire to be like the thing of our affection.

But why do people imitate this or that? Why do we copy the things we see around us? Well, to be sure a good deal of it may be attributed to the admiration or respect of a person, quality, talent, or ability. But for us, imitation is often connected to peer pressure or the expectations of those around us. Peer pressure is a very real and dangerous thing if not controlled. Whether conscious or not, society has always encouraged mimicry. We copy others based on what is popular and socially acceptable. Conformity stems from a desire to be like others; to fit in; to be liked; to be “cool.” Siblings, especially, often copy each other for these reasons. It's only natural. One Psychologist put it this way: “Siblings copy each other...interact and reinforce behavior, serve as role models, and introduce each other to experiences.” Whether young or old, we all copy what we admire. We all wish to fit in with what we perceive as good- or cool.

When it comes to imitation, we have a host of options. We have long lists of role models to choose from; there are athletes, movie stars, media personalities, musicians, writers, and so much more. There are so many things we can admire; so many things we can copy; so many things we can imitate. But in narrowed terms, our options can be cut into just two categories. We can strive to be like the world, with all its diamonds and glitter, or we can set our hearts on being like Jesus. All people have to choose one or the other. Either we will imitate the world- follow the world's example and model ourselves after those around us- or we can follow Jesus. There is no in-between.

How we live is important. Who or what we choose to be like impacts our character. It affects our decision-making. We follow in the footsteps of those we look up to. It's up to us to decide whether they are worthy footsteps to follow. What we imitate affects how we live, and how we live reflects on our reputation. Whatever we admire and copy will be seen by those around us, and will thereby impact them, too. Those who look up to us, those who watch us carefully and idolize our every move, will want to be just like us. We all have such followers, whether we like it or not. You have someone like that in your life, I guarantee it: someone who looks up to you and, just like a child, thinks, “I want to be just like them.” We have the responsibility to make sure that in so doing, they don't end up somewhere bad. We need to use our lives to point the next generation or anyone who is watching us, to Jesus. As Christians, we have to use our influence for good; our imitation literally impacts eternity, and not just ours.

“Be ye followers of Me,” Jesus tells us in I Corinthians 11, verse 1, “even as I am of Christ.” Some versions read, “Be imitators of me, even as I imitate Christ.” Being like Jesus is not a popular thing these days. It isn't cool. It isn't “in.” It isn't the thing, and very few of the world's superstar humans encourage to do so. Most of the great celebrities rely on themselves and project an image directly opposite that of Jesus for their admirers to idolize and mimic. But popularity and a large group of friends, fitting in with the “cool kids,” and being “woke” is nothing in comparison to what we can have with Him. It isn't always easy, but it is worth it.

A common problem we have with imitating Jesus is a sense of ineptitude. We feel like we could never measure up- and we can't! Jesus is perfect. He is everything good and everything pure and kind and wonderful. We can never be just like Jesus. We can never make ourselves perfect copies of the only perfect being to ever exist. We know we can't do that, and because we know it's impossible, sometimes we don't see the point in trying. But that verse in I Corinthians doesn't say to be Jesus. It says to follow Him; to be like Him; to imitate Him. It doesn't say to clone ourselves into exact copies of Him, but to live as He would live if in our place. Imitating Jesus is a matter of doing our best, in our feeble human way, to live as much like Him as possible. Out of love and respect, we imitate Jesus by letting Him live and work through us on a day to day basis. And we need to make it about Him, not me. When the world looks at us, let them not see just good people, but a reflection of the best man to ever walk the earth. May they be pointed back to Him when they see how we live, and may they, too want to be like Him.

Being different from the world is not a bad thing. Failing to imitate those around us is not a bad thing. Not fitting in, not being cool, not going with the flow- that's all okay.

I'm not the only saying that.“Different” is becoming progressively more and more acceptable- and encouraged. But this funny old world of ours has an interesting definition of the term different. When it comes to being different these days, it seems that everyone has something that makes them so different, so special, so set apart from the rest. But as inclusivity and tolerance gain ground and we are told to it embrace diversity and love everyone for who they are, it seems that different is becoming the new normal. Today, anything goes. We are encouraged, at last, to be ourselves, whoever we might think that is. Now more than ever before we are told, “Live your best life!” “Practice self-love and self-care.” “Find yourself. Love yourself.” “We can be whoever and whatever we want!” Different is good!

But when the world's definition of “different” or “special” goes against the teachings of God and the Bible, we as Christians have the responsibility of standing up for the principles that never will grow old or change. And all of a sudden, different is bad again. Inclusivity is great up until the point where a Christian won't compromise his morals or beliefs to accommodate those who are living outside of God's commandments. Different is good, but only if you're a certain kind of different. The problem is, the worldly definition of different is always changing. It's changed countless times over since the beginning of time and will continue to evolve as long as the world endures. Even when different is good, there will always be a certain kind of “different” you are expected to follow. There will always be a newer, better, more progressive, more inclusive way of life. And if you don't adhere to these guidelines, then you are the wrong kind of different. You are a bigot, a racist, a prude. You stifle people's dreams and stomp out their light.

Jesus was different. Truly different and truly set apart- by God. His ways have never been, and never will be, the societal norm. He was so different from what the world expected a Messiah to be that no one but His earthly parents, a few dirty old sheepherders, and three magi recognized the babe as the Savior of the World. Not even His own people, the Jews, knew Him. To those who did recognize Him, He wasn't good enough. In fact, when He told them who He was, they called Him “Liar!” “Blasphemer!” No one supposed to say that; how dare He? He was too different, a kind of different they couldn't control- and that drove them mad! He performed strange and awesome miracles and what was worse, He did so even on the Sabbath and in the name of God. He fed hungry throngs of poor, dirty sinners. He was unorthodox in His teaching style. He walked and talked with Gentiles; He forgave adultresses and drank water drawn from a common well by a Samaritan woman. He ate among the sick and poor and wicked and unclean. He stooped too low. He was too different.

Christianity, I hope, will never be so progressive that it becomes “cool.” Where the world's idea of different says that anything goes and that you can be whatever and whoever you want, even going so far as to choose your own sex, and everything will turn out, Jesus gives us a clear and simple pattern to follow. Like Him, we have been set apart to point others to Heaven. II Peter 2:21 admonishes, “For this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example so that you might follow in His steps.” He didn't make it complicated. He didn't make it hard. All we have to do is follow Him.

When you reach a decision or crossroads in life, stop and ask yourself, “What would Jesus do?” It won't always be easy, and yes, you'll probably be scorned for it from time to time. You won't be popular with the world and people will try to convince you that it's not worth it, that you should live a little, that it won't make a difference anyway. But in the darkest trials, when temptation knocks at your door and the devil rears his ugly head, remind yourself that Jesus was different, too. People talk about “changing the world”- but no one ever made a difference by being like everyone else. No one person has ever truly changed the world on their own without help from higher up. No amount of popularity, diversity, love, world peace or any other extraordinary human force can really change the world. You know who really shook this planet to its core? An ordinary carpenter from Nazareth who only lived to be 33 years old. And His ordinary sameness- His consistency, His steadfastness in the midst of the storm- His sameness made all the difference in the world.

Make it your mission to imitate Jesus in all you do. Follow His perfect example. Live as He would. Don't be afraid to be different from the world, to stand out from the crowd. Be different like Jesus. Be the same like Jesus. He is more different than anyone and yet He is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Be different- like Jesus.

Spring is Just around the Corner

     We are getting anxious for spring. Planning a graduation, a senior trip, a special easter service at church, an egg hunt, a lot of gardening and loving all the warm sunshine. Kayla is half-way through her second semester of nursing school with just two more to go. She continues to get almost all A's and lead her class. Kalli did an amazing job on her SAT's and will be graduating with HONORS in her class of 65 young Idaho homeschoolers. Kammy, Kaite and Kaderick hope to be finished with the school year by Kalli's graduation on May 23rd.
     Among my spring decor you will find a lot of carrots. One of my newest "addictions" in decorating. Cheap, easy and fun.

The Pillow Promises

As a part of hospice chaplain work, we were asked a few months ago to provide a weekly Bible lesson for a group of king and queen-agers. I love it when you all share your inspiration with us so I thought I’d share this week's lesson with you all.

Object for lesson: A PILLOW
Matthew 11:28-30
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Does everyone see this? It’s a pillow. Pillows aren't something we spend a lot of our time thinking about, but if someone were to suddenly take them all away, we would probably think about them almost all the time. I think all of us here have at least one of them. Some of us have several. I just returned from a business trip where the hotel had several pillows to choose from in my room, and strangely enough, NONE of them were right for me. I really missed my pillow back home. We use pillows to rest our heads on when we sleep. We use them on our chairs to prop us up one way or another or to try and make ourselves more comfortable.
For most of us, pillows have been a daily (or nightly) part of our lives for as long as we can remember. Sometimes we still can't get comfortable, but we sure wouldn't be very comfortable without them. Our bodies would start hurting even more than they already do and we'd probably get even less rest than we do. Rest is really important. It's a question our parents were asked pretty much as soon as we were born. "How is the baby resting?" As babies and children, our health and growth was dependent in a large part, on our rest. If we didn't sleep well at night, we were cranky the next day. I don't know about you, but it's still this way for me. Sleep helps our body in a lot of ways. It helps our muscles rebuild and gives our stomach time to digest the food we ate that day. It helps our emotional well-being. Rest is necessary. Without it, we simply wouldn't survive.
You know, God is like this pillow. God also provides comfort and rest. He makes the uncomfortable places in life a bit more bearable. He doesn't always take the pain away, but he is like the best pillow ever and provides a cushion through his Word and his companionship in our daily lives to help with the "sore spots”.

I'm not talking about our bodies so much now, I'm talking about the rest he gives our souls.
Hebrews 4:9-11 says this:
9 There remains, therefore, a rest for the people of God.
10 For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.
When God's work of creation was done, he rested. For most of us here, our working days are over, and we are here to rest physically. What a blessing to also be able to rest spiritually. When we confess and forsake sin and receive Christ into our hearts we accept his promise that our soul will live forever in heaven. We can rest in this knowledge! If you are not resting in this way, then you have NEVER as yet found the right “pillow”.
When we go to bed at night, we don't know for sure how we will rest. There are things that may interrupt our sleep. Pain may come, worry can disturb our sleep, sickness can arise or noise may awaken us. The rest Jesus gives our souls is a sure thing. It's a promise. A promised PILLOW for our weary souls. Whatever we have done in this life to cause pain or mess things up, God has the right pillow for the need.
In Matthew 11:28, Jesus says, “come to me all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.” If we love Jesus and follow him, he will give us rest and comfort. We can be assured that we will spend eternity with God in heaven. We'll never have to be tired or stressed, in pain, sick or worried. So when you go to bed tonight, and when you lay your head on your pillow, remember that God provides a total rest for your soul and be comforted by that knowledge.

Prayer Challenge:
Lord, help us when things are uncomfortable here in this life. Whether it is the discomfort of body or spirit, to remember that you promised rest to our souls. Help us to relax in the knowledge that our work is done when we accept the gift of your forgiveness. Thank you for the gift of rest Thank you for the promises you give us as little cushions or pillows on our way to Heaven where we will rest eternally in our presence free from all sorrow and pain.

Song:

All the way my Savior leads me What have I to ask beside?

Can I doubt His tender mercies? Who through life has been my guide Heavenly peace, divinest COMFORT Here by faith in Him to dwell

For I know whate'er fall me

Jesus doeth all things well

All of the way my Savior leads me Cheers each winding path I tread 

Gives me strength for every trial Feeds me with the living bread Though my weary steps may falter And my soul a-thirst may be Gushing from a rock before me

Lo! a spring of joy I see

And all the way my Savior leads me Oh, the fullness of His love

Perfect REST to me is promised

In my Father's house above

When my spirit clothed immortal Wings its flight to realms of day This my song through endless ages Jesus led me all the way.

Written in cooperation by RWB&KBB

Valentines and Anniversaries

25 years ago. Our first Valentine's Day as a “couple.” I was 15 and we’d never even met, but we might have been in love anyway. We were online dating before it was cool. Eh, actually before it WAS. When almost all phones had cords, and time spent talking long-distance on them came with a hefty bill. Before email or texting were heard of and back when people wrote with paper and pen. I come really close to qualifying as a “mail-order-bride.”
For the last 25 years, he’s shared my greatest joys and my biggest heartbreaks and he’s done it in a way that has made me feel protected and cherished. He’s looked lovingly into my eyes over the top of a wedding bouquet and five fuzzy baby heads with the same adoring gaze. Those blue eyes have caught mine over the top of a pulpit, hospital beds, a desk piled high with bills, so many buckets of paint, tables gathered with guests, at gravesites, around roaring campfires, on road trips and late-night walks and so very many cups of coffee. In all the highs and lows of life, I can depend on him to be there cheering me on. He’s worked so hard to made sure I could be a full-time mom to our children because that’s what God asked of us personally. Just when I think I couldn’t love this life with him more, I do. Of all the things we’ve done together, seeking God's will and following his calling for our family has been the most FUN.
Girls, your story won’t be just like ours, but if you trust God's timing and let him choose, it will be just right for you.

In addition to Valentine's Day, there was also a wedding anniversary of 23 years and a Loomis anniversary of 20 years.

For Valentines Sunday dessert, I made these fun envelope-shaped cherry pie tarts.

Kammy Dayle

Kammy celebrated her 14th Birthday in January. She is an amazing artist and her work has paid enough to buy horseback lessons. She even competes in some dressage. She is currently in the middle of an 8-week art exhibit at the local coffee shop and she has been asked to illustrate for a children's devotional book.

White Christmas

Somehow I almost always end up choosing a theme each year and it kind of sticks for the family and for our church both. This year it was "White Christmas." We had a large group for our program at church and a lovely dinner together afterward. You will notice that I seldom will post pictures here on my blog of those in our church. That is because my blog is public and I don't like to do that without permission. The church has a facebook page where you will see more of that kind of thing. The message my husband preached was an amazing one of hope for the soul and how Jesus came to give our souls a White Christmas. Our youth did a wonderful job with their parts as well. We also toured the Indian Creek lights and had a cocoa bar. 

Our family Christmas was slow-paced and relaxed, just the way we like it and just like we needed after the busy holiday season. We are so blessed. 

Merry Christmas 2019, from our family to yours!

December 2018, we enjoyed having Rick's parents visit us, even though we spent much of the time ill. By the time they flew home on Christmas afternoon, we had worked in some fun things like a horse-drawn carriage ride through downtown Caldwell, some twinkling Christmas light sightings, and lots of cozy family time around the fire.

January 21, 2019, Karen's precious mother went to be with Jesus. She fought bravely with kidney disease, dialysis, and stroke over the last several years. We watched as her body grew weaker and her soul grew stronger. Her last night with us, she testified to having “camp meeting” there in her hospital room and we cherish the memory of gathering around holding her hand and praying with her. She was excited about going home the next morning, and as it turned out, she did just that—home to Jesus, completely healed! We had several out of state visitors in our home during this time and are so thankful for the faithful kindness of friends and family. We also lost a dear friend from church during the month of January, when Stan went to Heaven just two weeks before Mom. Rick had the privilege of spending many hours with him prior to his home-going and we still feel the loss of these saints keenly while at the same time we rejoice in the knowledge of eternal life in Jesus. They are with the One we are celebrating! What a thought!

February marked our 22^nd wedding anniversary. We are so blessed with the gift of each other. As time passes we experience more and more the joy of partnering on this journey.

The end of May, we made our first camping trip of the year. We had a wonderful, relaxing time and were thrilled that Papa Germain came with us.

In June, Rick preached for the United Missionary Camp in North Carolina. God gave us a wonderful time and we met many new friends whom we will always cherish! We also took some time to visit Washington DC, Colonial Williamsburg, and Mayberry USA! What a trip, and what wonderful memories we made!

August found Rick and I at our general church camp where our souls were fed and encouraged. We love and appreciate our church family, the Southwest Conference of the Bible Methodist Church as well as all those who are part of God's wonderful family by any other name.

September found us traveling to Washington for the wedding of my niece. The trip and the wedding was beautiful and Kaite loved being the flower girl.

The month of October was one of the busiest in history as on top of everything else, we worked to finalize the purchase of our local church building. The on-going work of revitalizing the building has had us meeting ourselves coming and going ever since.

In November we hosted our conference president and his wife for revival meeting and the dedication of our new church building. What a wonderful time we had and how very humbled and blessed we are! Thanksgiving season was the perfect time to celebrate and thank God for all the rich blessings given us and promises kept.

As for the individual members of this family, let me bring you up to date.

Rick still works full time for Loomis as a Branch Accounts Manager. He does travel a modest amount, but works from his home office much of the time which is a blessing. January will begin his 21^st year with the company. He also spends many hours in volunteer hospice chaplain work as well as continuing to pastor our local church for the 15^th year.

Karen teaches the children and keeps a tight reign on the family schedule as well as being a full time stay-at-home mom, homemaker and pastors wife. Things usually run smoothly in spite of the craziness of life thanks to her careful planning and lists upon lists.

Kayla, 21, moved in with her Grandpa Germain in January, works part-time at Canyon West for the third year now, has an occasional housekeeping job on the side, and is knee-deep in nursing school, finishing up the first semester with an A! This takes up most of her time but she still finds ways to love and care for others.

Kalli, 17, and a 2020 graduate, is dual enrolled at CWI (also an A student) with plans to become a dental hygienist. She is in her second year at Canyon West in the activities department where she loves entertaining the elderly. She also takes piano and is becoming accomplished. She enjoys baking things or writing whenever she gets a chance and taking long walks with her Great Pyrenees, Mini.

Kammy, 13, is a freshman this year. She rejoiced greatly to get out of her scoliosis back brace which she wore constantly for the past year. She still loves riding and has gotten a few blue ribbons in some competitions. She is an amazing artist and supports her horseback lessons with art for sale.

Kaite, 10, is in 5^th grade this year and doing great. She is a tiny little princess with a big heart. She loves her kitty and (usually) enjoys playing with her little brother and reading.

Kaderick, just turned 7 and is in second grade. He is all boy, but is super loving and cuddly. He enjoys school most days and asks questions that keep us all on our toes. He keeps us laughing with his sense of humor. His latest aspirations include becoming a lawyer so he can be paid to argue all day.

Choosing JOY

I was sitting at my desk working when little almost-seven-year-old arms snuck around my waist and a young man’s voice said, “Are you happy mommy?”

I hesitated a moment and sighed inwardly. It had been a long day. The children hadn’t gotten along harmoniously the whole time, the laundry seemed unending, there were bills in the mail, I was fighting a headache and a schedule that threatened to overwhelm me. The church Christmas program was coming and the children had been sick. It was the Christmas season, the first without my mother, and honestly, I wasn’t feeling too “happy.”

But then I thought of all my blessings. A roof above, a warm bed, a faithful companion, loving family and friends, children who desired to serve God and a God who loved me enough to send his son.

To the small boy waiting for my reply, I said as I hugged him close, “Oh, yes!! I am very happy! "Good mommy," he said. “Because mommy, if you’re happy, I’m happy.”

His simple words smote me, and I was so happy I had chosen to answer positively. May the Lord always help me to remember that they are watching. The littles, and sometimes even the bigger ones, take their queues from us. They never stop watching. Simply speaking, if we are happy, they are happy. Teach them to choose joy.