Guess who was born *48* years ago????

............ME!

I can't not believe I am the age that I am, but it's true, SIGH! I still feel like I'm 18. Thankfully, I am much wiser than I was at 18. (At least I hope I am). I've received lots of phone calls, emails, and cards today wishing me Happy Birthday. How sweet for so many people to remember me. I feel loved! The best gift I ever received was when I was 33. God, chose to open my spiritual eyes and ears to His truths and called me to be His child. I have been following Him for the last 15 years and it just keeps getting better all the time. Thank You, Lord, for loving me and giving me life!

It's been a long time

It has been over two months since I've posted. I really wish I would have journaled all that has gone on over the last four months so I could always remember it. However, I didn't, so now I will have to just go from memory. I will try and be more diligent in my writing.

It was the beginning of October and once again North Carolina was the main topic of our conversations. We have been talking about NC for the last three years. We had been out there a few times and loved the area. We really felt drawn there. We wish now, we would have listened to our hearts and moved there before we bought this house. Moving here, was a mistake. God is in the business of taking our messes and changing them into something good, so we know it's only a matter of time.

Our nightly devotions usually ended in prayer for wisdom and discernment about moving to NC. One of our daughters was totally on board, the other, not at all! We just prayed for God to soften her heart and be open to change. He did, and she is :o)

We decided to step out in faith and make plans toward the goal of relocating to NC. We had a couple of garage sales in October and sold everything we wanted to sell and then some! The girls decided to sell their horses and they sold in one day for double the price they bought them for. We sold our van, and 4 of our dogs. We were trying to downsize to prepare for our move. We even had a woman from our garage sale ask us if we were selling our home. We told her we were. She is very interested, but not ready to buy at this point.

After we came back from our visit to North Carolina in December, we decided it was time to put our house on the market. We did in mid January. We are waiting for the Lod to send the right buyer at the right time.

In the mean time, while we wait, we have been going through things. Downsizing as much as we can. Selling furniture, giving things away, getting the house in order. The wait is hard, but we know in the end, it will all be worth it.

Off we go into the wild blue yonder...........

Tomorrow morning we are headed to North Carolina for 6 days. We will be staying with Michael's cousins. We're really looking forward to leaving the cold, snowy, midwest to visit the warm southeast!! Lots has been going on here. God is moving in our lives in a MAJOR way and it's all good!! We are looking forward to visiting a new church and meeting a wonderful Christian realtor who is helping us find a home out there.

Until next time....be blessed!

Birthday Fun!

Like I said in my last post, we were going to be celebrating Kaitlyn's *18th* birthday. Well, we did and had a wonderful time!! Kaitlyn was so surprised that three of our favorite familes came out to help celebrate. We had a yummy BBQ.  They all played volleyball, sat by the bonfire, and the best part of all, they had a major bluegrass jam session. Kaitlyn got to play her brand new mandolin. Thank you everyone for making this a special day for Kaitlyn. Enjoy the pictures :o)

Blessed!!

Tomorrow we will be celebrating Kaitlyn's *18th* birthday. How on earth has 18 years already went by? Wasn't it just yesterday that we were on the way to the hospital to have our baby?

As I sit here and reflect on the past 18 years I am reminded of how very blessed I am. Blessed to be a Christian. Blessed to be married to a wonderful, loving, godly husband. And, blessed to be the Mother to three beautiful daughters. Thank You, Lord, for these gifts. May I never take them for granted!

Happy Birthday to my precious girl. I love you Kaitlyn!!

Early Morning Visitors

I was awake this morning before anyone else, so I quietly slipped downstairs and started a pot of tea. As I was filling my teapot, I happened to glance out the kitchen window. The sun was not up yet, so it was still a little dark. As I looked out the window, I noticed something moving by our woods. At first I thought one of our dogs got out of their kennels. I continued watching and noticed it was 2 deer! A momma and her fawn. I went upstairs and woke up Kaitlyn to come and see. She grabbed the camera and took some pictures and a couple videos. The two deer were joined by two more. They ran, jumped, and played in the yard as we quietly watched from the window. I love living in the country! It is so amazing to be a part of God's glorious creation. (Sorry that the pictures are a little dark and fuzzy. It was still pretty dark out and we couldn't use the flash against the window.)

Horse Tack & The Hand of God

You know, God never ceases to amaze me. He shows up in the most unexpected places and ways. It is so glorious to be a part of His perfect will. I just had to share our story with ya'll.

So, yesterday, we had a meeting to go look at some horse tack for the girls horses. Kristina found an ad on Craigs List that was pretty close to where we lived, so we thought we'd go check it out.

Not only did the girls get two saddles, and numerous other items for a great deal (and some thrown in for free), but we got to share the love of the Lord with a single Mom and her (almost) 8 year old son, Micah.

Micah was instantly drawn to Michael. He was showing him all over the house, his room, his toys, and his heart. He was telling us all that Sunday, he is going to be 8 years old. He also told us that his Daddy was taken back to Mexico and he doesn't know if he'll ever see him again. It was heartbreaking. We spent 4 hours there just talking and listening.

After we left, the girls decided we needed to do something special for this momma and her little boy. We went to the store and bought him several birthday gifts. We called her this morning to invite them out to Pizza Hut to celebrate Micah's birthday. She was so grateful. Micah was jumping up and down with excitement in the background.

It was so fun watching Micah open his presents. He sure seemed to enjoy them. He ordered what kind of pizza we had. I think he liked being in charge of that department :o) He was very thankful and made sure to tell us several times. What a sweet boy. Those deep brown eyes of his could melt anyones heart!

It truly is amazing how God orchestrates meetings between people. We could have bought the tack and left, but there was a much bigger reason we were sent there. We were sent  to share Jesus, and to love on these two people who need to feel HIS love. Thank You God, for using us in your plan. May YOU be glorified through it all!!

They're MARRIED!!

~Mr. & Mrs. Chet Bishop~

September 17, 2010

Rehersal Night

~Eric & Sophie~

~Travis & Jenna~

~Cody & Kristina~

~Chris & Kaitlyn~

~The *Dads* & Kelli~

~The whole wedding party~

~Bob (the grooms Dad) & Chet (the groom)~

This little girl............

.....is our oldest daughter, Kelli. In this picture she is three years old. Today she is 23 years old and in 3 short days, she will be walking down the isle to say *I DO*!!! Oh how I miss those days when she was a little girl. But, oh how I cherish these days watching her and she prepares to be a wife. She's a beautiful young woman. I am proud of who she's become and I couldn't love her more!!

Girls & Their Horses

This is how our girls are spending their days lately. I think they are enjoying themselves, don't you?

Two more members on the farm!

Saturday evening our cat, Amelia, gave birth to two kittens, both girls. Aren't they precious?? Kaitlyn named her kitty, *Josie*, and Kristina named hers, *Sophie*

Two new family members.........

Yep, that's right! We've got two new friends moving in over here on the farm. This past Labor Day weekend, our girls purchased 2 horses. Needless to say, they are beyond happy!

Kristina got a gorgeous, stocky, Quarter horse gelding. He is 13 years old, very sweet and very well broke. He followed Kristina all around the pen like a puppy. She named him Dakota. He seems like the perfect horse for her.

Kaitlyn has always wanted a Haflinger, but we could never find one we could afford, that is, until now :o) She found a beautiful little 2 1/2 year old mare. She knows all her ground manners very well. Kaitlyn wanted a horse she could break herself. She's the perfect size. Kaitlyn named her *Celtic Promise* and will be calling her *Celtie* (pronounced Keltie)

We'll be picking them up and hauling them home this weekend!

This & That

Yesterday was Aunties funeral. She looked beautiful. I am so thankful to know that she loved the Lord and is at home with Him now. It all went very well and it was nice to see cousins and other relatives that we only get to see at times like this. I'm thankful Michael was able to get the day off from work and go with us.

On a happier note, my two nephews are a part of the Orono Fire Department. My youngest nephew, is the Captain. He took our family on a tour of the fire department, gave us a little class on fire safety, and then we all got to go on a trip around Orono in the HUGE fire truck. It was pretty cool :o)

Today, the girls are babysitting and I am home catching up on laundry and normal Monday things that didn't get done yesterday.

It's only 17 more days until Kelli & Chet get married! I can't believe how fast time goes by and children grow up. Seems like only yesterday she was a little newborn, now she's a grown woman, ready to become a wife. It's a bittersweet time for sure. I'm praying that if the Lord see'd fit, I'll be a grandma this time next year. How fun is that? I can't wait!!

Auntie is gone

My oldest brother called me last night to inform me that our favorite *Auntie* had passed away :o( She just turned 88 a few weeks ago. She was never able to have children of her own, so she loved all her neices and nephews very much and always did special things for each one of us. She will be greatly missed by many. Rest in peace Auntie!

Praise!

Last Saturday morning, we were sitting around the living room reading our Bibles when all of a sudden Michael got up, grabbed his heart, and headed for the bathroom. No one noticed this except Kristina. A few minutes later, Michael called me into the bathroom. There he sat, shaking, sweating profusely, and white as a ghost! He said he was having chest pains and for me to call 911, which I did immediately. Minutes later, the ambulance was here whisking my husband off to the hospital.

The girls and I follwed. I called our pastor, and some close friends and asked them to pray. Once we arrived at the hospital, I was taken back to ICU where they had Michael hooked up to all kinds of machines. They were doing blood work, putting in an IV, and doing an EKG.

Our pastors daughter and son came and stayed with the girls out in the waiting room. They were so sweet. They brought us some food and something to drink. It really helped the girls, having their friends there for comfort, and encouragement. Chet & Kelli came from St. Cloud to be with us. It meant so much to me to have all my girls with me during this time. They all left to go get some lunch and then I sent them home. I stayed with Michael.

One of the elders came and stayed with us for a couple hours. He prayed with and for us, and read scripture. It was very comforting and thoughtful.

They monitored Michael for the next 12 hours, doing blood work and updated EKG's. Everything checked out OK and he was released to go home about 9:00 p.m. I never felt so good driving my husband home. The girls were thrilled to have their daddy home.

I am so thankful to have my husband. He is a wonderful, godly man who loves the Lord and his family. I am just so grateful that God allowed him to remain here was us and not take him home.

Photo Shoot

A couple of weeks ago, Kristina (our family photographer), decided to start taking some pictures of Kaitlyn for her graduation pictures. I think they turned out exceptional! I may be a little biased, but, it's true! The photographer did an excellent job, and the model is simply beautiful :o)

A day at the fair

Yesterday the girls and I went to the fair. A couple of families we know and love were singing there, so we went and listened. We ended up spending the whole day there! It was sooooooo hot and muggy. The heat index was 102!! Even though we were hot and sticky, we had a great time with our friends. I didn't get any pictures because I didn't want to carry our camera around all day in the heat. Michael met us there after he got off from work. We ended up have to leave an hour later because a tornado and severe thunderstorms were headed straight for us. Thankfully, we made it home safe and sound.

Next week, the girls will be singing at our county fair. I hope they place so they get a little money to save up for the new instruments they want. I will definitely take pictures when they are singing :o)

Bridal Shower

Yesterday was Kelli's bridal shower. It went really well. We had a Kentucky Derby style tea party with dresses and BIG hats :o) The girls and I made homemade raspberry white chocolate and cranberry orange scones. Boy were they YUMMY!! We also had fresh fruit, a variety of cheeses & crackers, fruit tarts, truffles, a varierty of teas and lemonade. Kelli sure got a lot of wonderful gifts. As of today, it's only *39* more days until her wedding! My baby is all grown up. I am so happy for her though.

"You're Missing Out"

How do you know that you want to train to keep a home if you’ve never tried to do anything else?
It seems a logical question to ask in our relativistic culture -why make one choice before you’ve tried out all of the others? By not going to college, aren’t you narrowing your options -by choosing to go one direction, aren’t you forsaking other options?

Well, yes.

But isn’t that the nature of making choices?

When I chose to stay at home instead of going to college… I chose to forsake certain life experiences. I didn’t move out at eighteen, nor am I planning to move out at twenty-one. I didn’t move cross-country to experience life apart from my family. I chose not to see myself solely as an individual, but, instead, to embrace my identity within the context of my family (and within the broader context of the body of believers), and that choice did narrow my horizons professionally… considerably.

When I chose courtship instead of dating… I chose not to invest time in every young man who manifests a mutual attraction. I didn’t go on my first date, didn’t have my first kiss after a breathless first date. I chose not to bring my boyfriend home from college and introduce him to Mom and Dad after I’d already made up my mind about him.

In fact, I chose to make all of my major life-decisions in conjunction with my parents -I don’t just forge ahead without consulting them on the big things (so I might buy that pair of shoes, but I didn’t start an English class without consulting them first).

I “missed out” on those things.

But sometimes, I think of other things I may have missed out on had I made different choices.

I think about how I would have been away from my family, at least during the four years when my little brothers -now six, three, two, and one -were growing and changing so much. I would have missed out on the special moments that I share with them.

And I think about how I might have missed out on the daily lessons I have been able to learn from my family -on being consistently discipled by my mother and to be challenged by my father. I would have missed out on being part of our church’s tight-knit covenant community.

I might have missed out on giving my very first kiss to the man I’m going to spend the rest of my life with (although I’m still not sold on having it in front of everyone at the altar! ). And I may have missed out on experiencing so many “firsts” with him, and on going into a marriage, Lord willing, transferring from one fruitful family environment and beginning another. Whoever that future husband may be, I’m looking forward to embarking on that journey with him.

I missed out on punching the clock in my first job. And I missed out on that big promotion that may have made my day. I missed out on spending my days at a college university.

And, perhaps, in an alternate universe, I may have missed out on teaching my brother Asher how to read. I may have missed out on getting to know my mother better these days than I’ve ever gotten to know her before, and appreciating things about her that I may never have noticed without the time I’ve been able to spend with her. I may have missed out on finding my place in this home and loving and learning within the context of my family -

My beautiful family!

We’re always making choices -we can’t possibly have it all, despite what the culture has told us. Stay-at-home daughters miss out on being college gals. College gals miss out on being stay-at-home daughters. And I could have chosen differently than I did… but I didn’t. And the further I travel along this path, the more I’m loving the choice I made.

By God’s grace, although I don’t have it all, I have enough. I have everything I need and most of what I desire (though I know Prince Charming won’t make my life perfect, he’ll be a welcome addition whenever he does get here -you understand ).

I was not afraid to make choices, and you shouldn’t be either. Embrace the calling that the Lord has put on your life fearlessly, in spite of what you’ve been told you’re “giving up.” Because, when it all comes down to it -in my humble opinion -you’re giving up those other things for something infinitely more precious.

And that’s a treasure that we truly don’t want to miss.
Jasmine

About The Author

Jasmine is the oldest of Voddie and Bridget Baucham’s six children. She is a homeschool graduate who enjoys studying and writing about areas as varied as theology, philosophy, political science, art, film and culture. She is also an aspiring author who currently lives at home where she continues to assist her father in his research, is completing a degree in English literature, writing a book based on her blog, Joyfully at Home, and is blessed to assist her mother with the care of her younger siblings.