The last hurrah before school starts!

This last Monday, my friends, Paula Hanks, Rose Tilford and I took all nine of our children to stay at Jake and Paula's condo in McCall, Idaho.

We had such a great time! The children played for hours together, watched movies, and swam in the pool. We mommies, enjoyed some "chill-out" time, watched a great chick-flick, and scrapbooked.

Paula, Rose and I, are all home-educators. Being able to spend time sharing what has worked, what has not, and how we each juggle home, school, and family...priceless!!
We are all doing to the best of our ability, and with as much joy as possible, what God has called us to do...but we are quick to admit that without the support of each other, we would fall flat on our faces!

Next Tuesday, Sept 4th, begins another school year for all nine of our kids. (I will be adding one to my school. My niece, Alyssa, will join Nikki in 1st grade this year.)
Please join me in prayer, that God will be very real and close to us this year. I know that He has an amazing plan for our children, and I am excited to watch it unfold!

Happy Birthday Kristi!!

Today, my sister, Kristi Davenport, is celebrating her 20th birthday!

Words that describe Kristi:

Sweet
Happy/Joyful
Loving
Compassionate
Caring
Gentle
Funny
Organized
Punctual
Helpful
Giving
Creative
Strong
and many more!

Kristi is married to my brother, Matt, and is a great Mom to Garrett and Olivia! She is a home educator, and does so very proficiently! She exemplifies all that is true and beautiful about a godly wife and mother!
Move over Proverbs 31 Woman... here comes Kristi!

Kristi, I love you and still thank God EVERY DAY that Bob married my mom, and brought you and Matt into our family. You have become not only my sister, but also my friend. God is good!

Celebrate and be good to yourself today!
I love you,
Sheila

Next!!!

Well, our boarders, Aaron and Cher are gone...again. They moved into their new home today.

I just went out and pulled the little chain to light up the neon "vacancy" sign (not really).

We have a 5 week gap, and then our next boarders will be moving in. They arrive from Australia on Oct. 6th.

Yes, I am going to miss my brother and his family. They are sooo easy to keep! I told Cher that they need to come and stay with us once in awhile, so we don't get too lonely. Nikki will miss the sleepovers, and constant playmates, but Alyssa and Kenlee are only 3 miles away.

Blessings to Aaron and Cher, as they unpack and set up house in their new "big" home (see pictures)!
I already miss you!

Cousins from Seattle

Tonight, all of us headed out to Murphy, to enjoy an evening with my cousins from Seattle. Mom fixed her delicious enchiladas, and I took blackberry cobbler.

Melissa (Aman) is married to Jimmy. They are parents to James(4) and Blake(1). Jessica (Aman) is married to Mike and they are mommy and daddy to Jayden (8 mon.)
I remember hauling both Melissa and Jessica around when they were babies. Now they have their own babies! And Jessica's baby, Jayden has red hair!!! (I love red hair!) These couples are great parents and yes, I am proud of them.

We had a great time! When I asked James if he remembered us (from last Summer), he said, "I sure did!" He enjoyed watching and following Alex around.

Thank you God for blessing us with chances, even the small ones, to be with those we love.

P.S. Alex once again proved to his mom, and dad, and Grandpa Bob, and everyone else out there, that he is a GOOD shot with his rifle. He hit the bulls-eye every time!

More pictures of our weekend.....

A Weekend in the Mountains

A weekend in the mountains, with friends...it doesn't get much better than that!

Last Friday we headed up to the cabin in Donnelly for a weekend of fun and rest. We were joined by, Aaron, Cher, Alyssa & Kenlee Horn and Jake, Paula, Jessica & Austin Hanks.

As we were driving towards Donnelly, we saw plumes of smoke that were coming from all the forest fires that are burning. It was amazing to see those huge billows exploding from the mountain tops!

The guys drove(4-wheeled) to the top of West Mountain in Aaron's Jeep. They made it up to the lookout and got a great view of the valley and the fires. We gals stayed home and watched home decor shows, while the children played outside in the creek and caught grasshoppers.

On Saturday evening, due to the fact that the lake has nearly dried up, we went searching for a place to swim. We had read about a place called, Gold Fork Hot Springs. The drive there was beautiful and the Hot Springs were amazing!

As we drove back into the driveway, at the cabin, we saw a big toad hopping down the road. Duane jumped out of the van, and caught it. Alex and Austin enjoyed scarring the girls (and moms) with it.

We laughed, laughed and laughed some more! We made great memories and feel refreshed for another few weeks.

More Summer Fun!

Summer is quickly passing, and so we are doing all we can to hang onto it. Last week, Kevin and Anita, Courtney, Kayla and Ashley Haight came back down and hung out with all of us for a couple days. On Tuesday evening, Marc and Talisha came over, and joined us for a BBQ.
The kids enjoyed getting wet in the pool. Addison and Kenlee, preferred to get wet with a cup and a bucket.

We love Summer!!

Flowergirl

Today, Nikki was the flower girl for her Grandma Colleen's wedding to Mr. Chris Thomas. The wedding was held at Katheryn Albertson Park in Boise, near a beautiful waterfall. It was hot, but we were under a stone gazebo, in the shade...thankfully. It got even better when Duane and Aaron showed up with a cooler full of water for everyone!

Nikki was gorgeous, and did a great job at carefully dropping the petals! Of course as her mommy, I thought she was one of the prettiest flower girls I had ever seen!

Colleen was my dad's second wife, and after 9 years of marriage, they divorced. She has continued to love us, and is very good to all of us. The kids still think of her as their grandma.

We pray that God will bless her and Chris with a long, long happy life together!

Roses, Roses Everywhere!

Today, my Step-Mom Colleen, was married, and she had asked me to make centerpieces for the wedding reception. So, yesterday, I picked up 16 dozen roses and with lots of help from my brother, Aaron and sis Cher, I made 8 centerpieces. Colleen wanted something very simple, and they turned out very pretty!

Falling & Confession

They say that confession is good for the soul...so here goes.

I confess, that I am clumsy.

Last night, around 5:30, I had just put my flip-flops on (to go with Duane, to help Aaron unload his moving truck). I started down our stairs, wearing the flip-flops that I had just put on, when I felt my shoe snag on the carpet. In an instant, I was falling all the way to the landing. I managed to hit every part of me on something! I cracked my elbow on the wall, I hit the back of my head on the step, I hit my left shoulder, the middle of my back, my hip, my rear(tail bone), my knee, and I twisted my right foot! I seriously felt my brain flop around in my head, and my abdomen was screaming in pain. I immediately felt dizzy and very nauseous!

Duane was in the shower, so I carefully got up, and tried to assess the damage. The wall and stairs were fine, but I could tell that I was not!

Not wanting to be left alone, lest I should fall asleep and not wake up...I left with Duane. I went and sat in a camping chair, while all the guys helped Aaron. As the time went on, I felt more and more pain.

I didn't get a great night's sleep, and this morning I woke up and felt like I had been either beaten badly, or in a car wreck. I think I have whiplash, and my tailbone is not allowing me to sit upright. My elbow is bruised, and my head feels like it weighs 100 lbs.
(Are you feeling sorry for me yet??)

This would all be kinda funny if it didn't hurt so bad!! Duane said that I am not allowed to wear flip-flops down the stairs anymore, and since this is the second time in 9 months that I have fallen down the same stairs, he is considering installing a stair-chair. I think an elevator would be a better option.

Of all weeks, this is not a great one, to be laid up. I am decorating for a wedding on Saturday, and I can't even walk, or sit.
Please pray that I will feel better soon.

The best Chicken Casserole ever!

Talisha, Cher and I got together one afternoon, before Stephanie had her baby, and cooked her 10 freezer meals. We did all the prep, assembly & packaging, and then put them all in her freezer for her to use at her convenience. This was one of the casseroles that we made, and it was a hit! It is a new spin on a boring old recipe. Try it & Enjoy!

Paula Deen's Chicken Rice Casserole
2 tablespoons butter or vegetable oil
1 medium onion, peeled and diced
3 cups diced, cooked chicken
2 (14 1/2-ounce) cans green beans, drained and rinsed
1 (4-ounce) jar pimentos
1 (10 3/4-ounce) can condensed cream of celery soup
1 cup mayonnaise
1 (6-ounce) box long-grain wild rice, cooked according to package directions
1 cup grated sharp Cheddar
Pinch salt Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Heat butter or oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add onion and saute until translucent, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and transfer to a large bowl.

Add all remaining ingredients to bowl and mix together until thoroughly combined.

Pour into a greased 3-quart casserole dish. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until bubbly. Let stand for a few minutes before serving.

Fishing

A few weeks ago, while at the cabin in Donnelly, we went fishing.
If you know me, you know that I love to fish!
My Grandpa Aman instilled in me a love for hooking the worm, casting out, and anticipating the "big one"! I don't mind the worms, tangled string, slimy fish...and all the other joys of fishing! When I get in the Fishing-Mode, my stress melts away.

I have usually been quite successful in my fishing endeavors. I remember one time when I was 12, I had caught a beautiful rainbow trout. He was at least 10 inches long...really.
I was the only one who had hooked one that day, and I was proud! My dad had leaned into the water to put the fish on the string, when the fish flopped, and dad lost his grip. My fish went swimming away, laughing that he had gotten loose...while I cried!

My idea of a perfect day, would be me(with lots of sunscreen and a big floppy hat) in a little rowboat, just quietly fishing. I wouldn't mind if someone else was with me, so I would have someone to talk to. I really wouldn't mind if Grandpa Aman could come down from Heaven and join me for just one more fishing trip.

The Sherriff and his Better Half

We have been blessed to have John and Rose Tilford not only as our business partners, but as such close, wonderful, true-blue friends.
Tonight, at the BBQ, I looked across the way, and this is what I saw...a Big-Bad Sheriff and his darling wife.
Thank God for these friends!

Tumbleweed Gulch comes to an end

We have been making the long commute to Boise every morning this week, to attend and help in VBS. It was a great week, and the children had a great time!! The theme was "Tumbleweed Gulch...Where God's Love Changes Everything!"

I helped Rosanna, Laura, Kay & Ann in the Preschool-1st Grade Chuck wagon Snack Station. Ashley helped Talisha, Sherrie and several other moms in the Cowpoke Craft Station.

Tonight, we attended the Wild West BBQ at the church. We enjoyed a delicious meal, entertainment from our kids on stage, and then we joined the kids outside for "Gold-Rush Games". It was so much fun!

Our friends, Keith & Lori, had sent their son, Trey to VBS with Emme, so we enjoyed hanging out with all of them too! Alex even talked Keith into running the 3-legged race with him!

It was a long week, but we saw many children impacted for Jesus!

More Friends....

Business is booming here at the Blue Spruce Hotel, (a.k.a. Sheila's Bed & Breakfast).
On Monday afternoon, Kevin Haight called and said they would like to come down from Twin Falls, and visit us.
So, we readied the guest room, and down they came.
We went to our new favorite Mexican restaurant, Jalapeno's, and enjoyed dinner, and then home to have a slice of apple pie topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!

The children all went and jumped in the pool, while Duane and I visited with Kevin and Anita. At midnight, we forced the kids out of the pool, and sent them to bed. They checked out by noon the next day. Short visit...great memories!

We are so blessed with many great friends...including the Haight's!

(The picture I have posted is from our trip to Colorado with them last fall. I'm sorry that I didn't have a more recent one.)