We Serve a risen savior!

No it isn't Easter this week and no I didn't miss it! We are celebrating Jesus this week and his death, burial  and resurrection. We have a few stories left in our Bible reader and I am happy they deal with this subject since it is so very important! This should be our celebration every day since we have been saved from our sins through Christ Jesus! My prayer is everyday I find ways to praise and celebrate my savior and all he has done for us!

He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying. ~Matthew 28:6

We made resurrection biscuits last night! They are super simple and very yummy! They make for a wonderful object lesson for children! My boys loved the fact they could help make these and loved the story that went with them!



1 tube biscuits
1 stick melted butter
cinnamon and sugar mixture
Fat Marshmellows (as many as biscuits you have)

Roll the biscuits flat. Stick a marshmallow on each biscuit (marshmallows represent Jesus). Completely seal each marshmallow in each biscuit (as the tomb was sealed).
Roll biscuit balls in butter then in sugar mixture (represents the dirt in the tomb or the embalming spices needed to bury the dead).
Bake according to the directions on the biscuit tube. When you pull them out of the oven the marshmallow is gone!

Listening to the story!

Waiting for his turn!

Putting "Jesus" in the tomb!

My Guys!

Finished product!

The tomb is empty! HE HAS RISEN!!!

He lives! He lives! Christ Jesus lives today!

He walks with me and talks with me along life's narrow way.

He lives! He lives! Salvation to impart!

                                     You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart.

Bible Lessons with Daddy

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. ~Psalm 119:11

Nothing is as sweet as seeing all my guys at the table with their Bibles open studying together. Weston reading his Bible reader, Jackson taking notes, and Gibson listening intently. God's words penetrating both the young and old in our family! I just want to Thank God for a husband who seeks God and teaches my children about his love! Someday when my boys have kids of their own I hope to see three generations sitting at the table studying God's word together!

Listening to the creation story!

Reading the Bible!

Daddy reading God's word!

This may be the start of a beautiful friendship...

A couple of weeks ago I joined the Christian Homeschool Hub. I was looking through groups and found a group dedicated to Homeschoolers being Pen Pals. I was pretty excited so I joined and added my kids to the list. I got a response for a Pen Pal for Weston within minutes and his letter came in the mail today. His Pen Pal happens to be a eight year old girl named Madeline from Tennessee!  He got started right away drawing her a picture and we will be working on a letter soon! I remember having Pen Pals in school and I think it will be great for practicing writing and reading!

That's all folks!

Today we finished our State required testing and I am beyond relieved about it! This is our first year to have to test and I was pretty nervous! I am happy to say that I think Weston did just fine! The test seems less about what he has achieved and more about where I might have failed. At least in my mind I guess! It is hard to believe that two years have passed as a Homeschool mom! I am excited about the next chapter as all my  boys will be in different areas of study next year.

Summer is here in all it's sunny glory! I have come up with some fun stuff for the season in the way of  reading clubs,crafts and lots of outside time. As for a vacation I am pretty sure this mom will have to settle for soaking her feet in the kiddie pool in the backyard! Happy Summer Everyone!!!

Are your hands full?

Coming to a store near you the Stapleton family circus! I realize that when we take the boys to the store it is a sight to behold. Children taking things off the shelf, running into the little old  lady on the scooter and trying really hard to be still. It amazes me that just a simple trip to the store or anywhere else mind you comes with so many comments. These are my favorites in no particular order.

1. Wow, Your hands are full aren't they? 
2. Do you want to try for a girl?
3. You are not having anymore are you?
4. You must never sit down.
5. They don't go to school! Oh you poor thing!
6. Are they twins?
7. I had three boys and they are now grown. You will get through this.

Of all the comments I get number seven is the one that I appreciate the most. I love to see the wonder on a couples face when they smile and shake their heads. They stop and tell me stories of the good old days when all of their boys were using spatulas in the kitchen aisle of Walmart as swords too.  They get my sweat pants and hair in a pony tail frazzled mom look. Most of all they understand that my hands are full but they are full of love!

Gibson (Gibber) Eli Stapleton

On Sunday my last baby boy will turn four years old. This seems unimaginable to me because wasn't it just yesterday I brought him home from the hospital? Gibson was a miracle to us as we were fighting a uphill battle with Endometrisosis and facing a hysterectomy. My doctor told me it was now or never so we threw caution to the wind and the blessing of Gibson was the result.

These pictures are bringing tears to my eyes as I realize how blessed I am. There is also a little bit of sadness knowing I will never again have a tiny baby to hold or watch grow. Since I was told by a doctor I probably would never have children I know just how blessed I am.

Brand new Gibber!

The boys seeing Gibson for the first time! (Weston ran in the room looking everywhere screaming "where is he??")

My best friend Missy took such good care of my boys while I was at the hospital!

Going home!  

Granny Gibson and Baby Gibson!

Halloween Baby!

Always a ham!

Gibber all grown up!

How I know Weston is sick...

Some mother's know their child is sick because he runs a fever or starts sneezing. I know Weston is sick when he sits down for more than a minute. Weston is a child always up for a adventure. Always turning household items into spaceships or castles. Nothing is off limits I remember one time he was eating peaches he looked at one and said "look mom a boat." His imagination is endless and so are his adventures around the house. That is why when he gets sick it is such a dramatic contrast. Today he is laying on the couch not moving so I know he must feel really bad!!

Here is a new video and picture from his baseball! I hope my little pumpkin is back at it soon!!

One thing I find funny about this video is Luther trying not to say something when Weston misses the ball!! Ha!

Weston ready to bat!

The Last Supper!

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
~John 14:6 


What a blessed day at school we had today! Our reading lesson was on the last supper and I was reminded of how grateful  I am to be able to share these moments with my boys. Weston read through the Bible reader and the boys and I had sweet conversations about how great our GOD is! Weston commented that Jesus is like a elevator with out stairs and the only way to get to the top. How precious is this time God has given me and how he is showing how wonderful and mighty he is through my children! 


We also had a "Last Supper" of sorts today. We had grapes, cheese, pita bread and grape juice. We enjoyed retelling the story and munching on the food God has provided us!!

Yummy!

Saying Prayers!

Weston was hungry!!

Mr. Logical...

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.~Psalm 139:14

One thing that I absolutely love about my children and teaching them is their completely different takes on life. Jackson is very logical and is interested in details. He is also my problem solver and always has a logical solution to whatever we are doing. Today as we discussed Jesus healing the blind man Weston commented on how amazing it was that the blind man could see. Jackson and his practical mind stated "Why didn't Jesus just get him glasses?"  Of course this tickled me but I know better than to laugh at Jackson! What a sweet spirit that little fellow has!!

Jackson David as a baby!!

Hard worker!!

Jackson's Proverb for the week!

Mom and Jackson!

My kids will never move out....

Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.  After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need.  So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.  He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
~Luke 15:13-16


We had a lesson today on the prodigal son and my child  must have missed the point. Weston is now convinced that he should never leave home because if he does he will eat with the pigs. I tried to explain to him the symbolism of the father in the story and God the Father but well he is a seven year old boy. Hopefully when he is all grown up he won't recall this story and decide to stay with us for the rest of his life! HA!

Weston with his pig puppet!

Jackson with his pig puppet!

Gibson with his pig puppet!

Three little pigs!

Our little lobster practicing!

Just some video's from Gibson's Starter T-Ball practice!

In honor of Mother's Day!

Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him.  Psalm 127:3


Since Mother's Day is Sunday I thought I would tell the wonderful day I became a mother. No one tells you when you become a mom that you love and hurt more than you ever thought possible. You give up things that were so important before such as sleep, showers and time and honestly wouldn't trade it for the world. I can truly say that the blessing of being a mother is one of the best things that ever happened to me.

Weston's birth was a three day hospital induction due to high blood pressure! It started the night of October 14 when I was admitted to the hospital and was started on a gel to open my cervix. I barely slept that night wondering what the next day would hold. I woke up on the morning of  October 15 and nothing no contractions or dilation. I was put on pitocin all day long with no change at all. Needless to say everyone involved was pretty exhausted and frustrated.


The morning of October 16  I woke up and felt tiny contractions and they told me I was one centimeter dilated. They came in not to much later and broke my water! Wow! my contractions started then and it was not long before I was progressing nicely!

Then things went down hill from there. The nurses started me pushing while the doctor was called. Every time I pushed Weston's heart rate would go down. Finally my doctor came in and told me we were going to try with forceps and if I didn't push Weston out then we were headed for a C-section. I can't tell you how exhausted I was and to think three days of all this and then a C-section! I gave the best pushes I could and Weston came into the world. The doctor looked at him and said "You Turkey!" Then all sorts of people came rushing in from the NICU. Weston wasn't breathing on his own!! The fear that ran through me was indescribable  !! Finally he was ok and Luther was allowed to take him to the nursery! Luther's most vivid memory of this time was leaving the room and the doctor saying I was bleeding and to get more sutchers. Needless to say we were all ok but it was quite a exhausting and scary day! The first time I held Weston was when he was all cleaned up and in his little stocking hat. I remember how much he looked like Luther.  It was truly a day I will never forget and I thank God for the chance to be his mother!!

He had some awesome hair!

Sweet little rosy cheeks!

A rare occasion!!

Big old football player!!

Mom and Weston 2011!!

Our Life

Our life is full
Full of excitement and hustle
Baseball, Football, Fort building
and Jedi Warriors

The exuberance of youth
and the crash of bodies  The zeal that never
ends and the energy that knows
no bounds

Full of Homeshchooling and
Bible readings
Lessons from Life and
From the Blessed Word


The shrieks of joy and the tears of hurts
Mother's tender kisses that make all better
And Daddies strong hugs that
drive away the monsters in the shadows

Our life is full of the unknown and the mysterious
The exploration of new worlds,
with little hands and feet padding along
keeping pace then forging ahead

How can so much love,
fill the heart of one person
Without pouring through,
in thought and deed

Love for those around us: Spouse and Children
always growing, never detracting
from that which was before
Adding to without covering

Our lives are full of heartache and joy
the depths of which we explore,
embracing all that God has
and walking by faith as never before

Our life is full of praise and
worship for the God of our salvation
The God of Grace and Mercy
who reigns on High

Our life is on display for those near
and far, a testimony to the
redeeming power of the
Resurrected Savior

Fish and Loaves Picnic!!!

Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. ~ Mark 6:41

Basket of fish and loaves

We had bread, fish sticks, goldfish crackers and ocean water!!

The boys didn't want to sit on a blanket so they chose to eat at the table!!  (Probably better with blue juice!)

Jackson and Weston enjoying lunch!

I love fun times like this with my boys. I know someday when they are grown and have lives of their own I will recall these memories and be so happy I spent the time and effort to create these moments! I thank God for his precious gift of my children!