Random pics of the girls

Someone was playing with the broom today and left it laying across the floor. When the UPS driver showed up with packages today, Cora was running to the door to see what packages they were and tripped over the broom handle. Eva said she flipped over (I was already at the door) and then landed on her face. It didn't look too bad when I cleaned her up and put the bandaids on (just some small scraps), but after her nap, it looked a lot worse. I'm sure it is going to bruise.


Cora loves posing for pictures!


Jaina and Martha love wearing hats!


For some reason, Martha wanted to sit in the bucket to watch the movie. I can't imagine it was comfortable, but she cried when I tried taking her out of it!


Jaina loves to "read"!

All Eva Wants for Christmas. . .

. . .is her two front teeth!

Attention!

We have been trying a new discipline tactic--standing at attention. Chad is drawing on his military experience and it seems to be working (although we may need to actually implement it more often for a great effect).

One day Allyn was not listening nor obeying so I told her to stand at attention. I guess Martha thought I was talking to her, because she went and joined her! We have never told Martha nor Jaina to stand at attention, yet she knew exactly what to do. She put her hands behind her back and looked straight ahead. This is a picture of the first time she did it, but she has done it every time they have had to stand at attention and she was awake since. Jaina even did it yesterday (although she didn't get the standing still and looking straight ahead part right!).

Happy Birthday, Allyn!

Allyn turned 6 on Friday (the 13th!). Since we hosted a very large birthday party for her grandfather (Gordon) on Friday (because he turned 75 the same day), we held her party on Saturday. Darcy's parents, Donalyn, and Charity's kids came to help us celebrate.

Allyn was able to pick out a cake from Mejier Bakery because when I tried to make her a butterfly shaped cake, it crumbled. I had to add the butterflies myself to this cake as the lady in the bakery said she didn't know how. We also served mint chocolate chip homemade ice-cream since that was her request.


Necklace, $6, and a glue stick from the Inglerights


A craft to make and Rack-O from Papa & Nana Carmichael


A complete princess dress-up kit from Papa & Nana Smith


A Cinderella wedding book with veil, gloves, & ring



New winter boots from Papa & Nana Smith

Recent Pics of the Family

Eva was reading a book that she had bought to everyone.


Jaina enjoying a book!


Martha was helping Eva clean the table.


Martha was being stubborn and not smiling when I tried to take her picture.


Allyn loves to pose!


Eva being a "little mommy" in the church nursery (they don't have any kids programs because they don't have any kids).


Cora likes to pose, too!


Sabra is really looking forward to learning how to read. She loves books!


Dara is growing up so much!


Jaina is just too cute!


Sabra and Cora asked for me to take more pictures of them.


Jaina climbed into the doll crib in the nursery.


Team Carmichael Girls


Allyn


Cora


Sabra


Eva


Dara


Jaina & Martha


Everyone (except me) on the bridge over the Falmouth Dam


Chad & I


Chad trying to make it look like he was falling in the water.


My handsome husband!


My sweetie and me!

Called to Preach!

Well, if there was any doubt on whether Chad has been called to preach, I think it can be put to rest now. He preached at Evergreen Baptist Church on Oct. 11th. We were in Muskegon on the 18th and then he was called to preach at Evergreen again on the 25th. They just called tonight and asked him to preach this coming Sunday, Nov. 1st. He is already scheduled to preach at our church (Liberty Baptist Church) on Nov. 8th. And Evergreen already booked him for Nov.15th.

What is God preparing him/us for?!

Blessed by God!

I feel very blessed this week! So many good things are happening to us. I am continually amazed at how good God is! I know that He loves me, and I know that He cares for me, and I know that He wants only the best for me, but it is still hard to fathom all that. Most people wouldn't think much about some of the things that have happened this week, but I see them as true provisions from God.

On Sunday, someone from church gave us a 1/2 bushel of apples because she was tired of canning apples and still had a 1/2 bushel left. I was able to can some pie filling and make some fresh apple crisp and still have apples left to either eat or make more goodies with. Also, a friend dropped off some things she was getting rid of that we needed and I was able to introduce her to someone who was able to help her with a health problem she had been dealing with.

On Monday we received a financial gift in the mail that was completely unexpected! In addition, it lifted our spirits to know not only that we are loved by friends and family, but that God is definitely at work in not only our lives, but of others as well.

Tuesday I picked up beef that my parents bought and are sharing some with us and with my brother's family. I was also able to pick carrots and someone stopped by and helped me finish picking them (my back was killing me!). I was very happy to send her home with some of the carrots as well and I made a new friend!

Wednesday I was able to get so much more accomplished than I thought I would and a friend called to tell me that she had started volunteering at the local INC, Spot and had been given store credit which she was giving to me because she didn't need anything.

Today we finished school early (because we actually got started early!) and I was able to run some needed errands and found some things we needed at the local resale store (where I used the credit my friend gave me!). I was also able to offer an ear to a friend who really needed to talk and I only pray I was able to comfort her as she has comforted me many, many times before. I was also able to help out my neighbor by keeping and eye on her property while she is gone.

This week we have also been milking my neighbor's goat that she is trying to sell as she is not living at the house right now and a milking goat is worth more than a non-milking goat so we are keeping that up for her.

It feels great to be able to be able to "pay it forward" with our blessings! God blesses us in so many unexpected ways that it just makes me look for more and more opportunities for Him to use me to bless others. It really is true what Christ told Paul, "'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" (Acts 20:32). My prayer is that God continues to use me to bless others and that my eyes be open to every opportunity He gives me to do just that and that I won't be too tired or too busy to see it and that I take full advantage of it. I pray that I can be Christ's hands to those He brings me into contact with. "To God be the glory for the great things He has done!"

Reasons for Homeschooling

People often ask us about homeschooling and while I always have an answer as to why we home school, I thought this post made on another blog gave a very through answer with scripture to back it up.

If you have ever wondered why some families choose to home school, then I suggest you read this. If you've ever contemplated homeschooling, please read this. If you are highly against homeschooling, please read this. In other words, I believe it would be good for anyone to read.

As the author of the post points out, I (and she) am/are not condemning those who send their children to public school, but trying to share our viewpoint. How a parent chooses to educate their child(ren) is between them and God and not up to me (or anyone else) to judge.

11 years!

Tomorrow Chad and I will celebrate 11 years of marriage! I am so blessed that not only did God bring Chad into my life but He has also brought us through the many difficult times in our marriage. We have not only grown closer to each other, but closer to God (which is why we were able to grow closer together!). Chad is a wonderful husband and an awesome father.

My life now is nothing like I imagined it to be when I was young or even from when we were first married, but I wouldn't have it any other way. God's plans are definitely better than mine! It is amazing how much Chad and I have changed over the years. I am so glad that we have been able to make those changes together. How much we have changed is a great testimony of God's love and power!

Some people might not think making it to eleven years is a great milestone, but every year is a milestone! I can't wait to meet many, many, many more milestones with my dear husband. Please rejoice with us that God has blessed us so immensely over the past 11 years!

Addition

I've tried multiple times to upload pictures of the addition and I either get an error message or the internet times out. The addition is up and done as far as we can go at this time. We are using it for storage and are still working on moving things out there to give us more space in the house.

Loss

Today we lost Rebekah, the mama goat. As some of you have heard, both the goats were attacked by the neighbor's dogs on Sunday night while we were gone. Rebekah was on the trolley so she couldn't really get away or fight back as much as she could have if she had not been tied up. Ruth was able to run away so she didn't get hurt as bad. This morning when I went to give them their medicine, Rebekah was dead. We had suspected internal bleeding but didn't know for sure.

Dara is taking it really hard. She was the most attached to the goats, especially Rebekah as she was learning how to milk her and take care of her.

What makes all this even harder is our neighbor is shirking his responsibilities and avoiding dealing with the situation. Because of this, it makes us feel that he isn't in the least remorseful of what happened.

We would appreciate prayers for the family through this difficult time.

Cora's Birthday Party!

Cora turns 3 on Tuesday, so we celebrated today with family. She wanted a My Little Pony party so I bought some little ponies to decorate her cake and she can now play with them, too!

Cora picked out this dresses because she couldn't decide between pink or purple!


soccer ball, pants, and necklace from the Inglerights


pre-school workbook and Cheerlie Pony from Papa & Nana Carmichael


princess crown and Pinkie Pie pony from Uncle Jim, Aunt Amy, and Madalynn


boots, lots of pre-school workbooks, color book, water bottle, and Pinkie Pie Pony from Papa & Nana Smith

She liked her cake. We also served it with homemade strawberry ice-cream.