MERRY CHRISTMAS

from the Mehmen's!

From left to right:

Katrina (5), Ashley (7), Taylor (9), Brooke (11), Courtney (16), Gunner (9)

Thinking over this past year, I cannot tell you every single detail that has taken place, but I can for sure tell you that our year has been filled with blessing after blessing.

January: Brad & I celebrated our 13th year of marriage, Courtney turned 16, and I also turned another year young! (I have decided that I do not need to divulge that information!) My mom was able to come for a visit from California for our birthdays, as she normally tires to do! It was a great visit and a good month. I LOVED last years winter, for we were dumped on heavily with the snow! I was a happy happy girl. I love snow!

February: Taylor turned 9 and we treated her to a pizza party with all of her friends. She had a great time, and loved every minute of it. Katrina turned 5 and we celebrated her special day at home with family. My baby is growing up & that makes me sad!

April: Ashely turned 7, and we moved back to Ames, and have felt right at home, as if we have never left! We are so blessed to have the home that we do, and it's perfect for our family! We also have room for visitors, so if you can, come for a visit! We'd love to have you! Although we hadn't even finished unpacking, the four younger girls and I packed up and took a trip out to CA to visit my family. It was a great time spending time with them. I do miss them all very much living 1800 miles away and all, but I don' t for see us moving back to CA, so the time spent with them is treasured and sweet and I look forward to the next time as soon as I leave. Of course it's never long enough to get in everything we'd like to do, but there's always next time, we'll see.

May: We officially finished our school year, well, our home school program anyhow. We do keep going through summer, just with a lighter, more flexible load. We took a camping trip with some friends, and it was a great time! Although, three specific female friends may not agree (since they were all 9 months pregnant! :-) What troops they were! Let me just clarify the numbers here. When I said, "some friends", that meant six couples plus one adult, so that was 13 adults, with 25 children! What a great time we had! Chaotic & fun! That was our only trip of the summer with the expectations of three births.

June: June was a time of sticking close to home to be of help to my dear friends that were expecting at any time. (As if I could help any! Emotional support maybe??) My first friend to have her baby was Kim, and she had a boy! This was on the 15th of June, followed by my dear friend Abby, which had her son at home on the 17th, and then last but not least, Laura Lynn, which also had a boy at home on the 20th! HA! None of them knew what they were having, and they all had boys! I was so blessed to be at two of the home births and witness new life coming into this world. It was so amazing & wonderful! This was the first time I was able to witness a birth, verses being the one giving the birth! LOL All three boys are growing big and strong & are just adorable. The Lord has blessed me by giving me my "boys" through my friends!

July: Brooke turned 11, and had a swimming party at the new aquatic center that happens to be right across the street from us. (Isn't that convenient?) Followed by pizza and a sleep over. We were all tired the next day!

August: My wonderful husband had his birthday and we celebrated by having a day out with out the kids. We ventured out to Des Moines (I know, we are so crazy!) and spent the day walking around downtown, had lunch, and came back to Ames to hit the dollar movies! Aren't we exciting? I don't know if this is a sign of getting older, but it's what we enjoy doing! Oh yes, and lest us not forget that this month is the month that our eldest daughter Courtney acquired her drivers licence! She is doing well, although, now with snow on the ground, it's a whole new ball game. More learning! Who ever thought that you stopped learning at any particular age or grade?

September: The official beginning of the school year. In our home school group, Classical Conversations, we have 21 families, totalling 65 children! I tutor the 4th grade girls, which is nine total, and it's a blast! It's good for me to be taught by them, as well as learning how to teach them! I really enjoy our group, community, and couldn't do it without their support, encouragement, and wisdom! I am truly blessed by the friends that the Lord has placed in my life. I am very thankful!

October: This was a fun & exciting month for us! Not only did my mom come for a visit, but she brought my dad along, and a dear family friend from Alabama with her son & granddaughter! I love having a full house. It was great to see mgf Crista, as well as meet her son & grand baby, and spend time with my dad as well as my mom. I don't get to see my dad as much as I see my mom, so the time was sweet and fun was had by all! I'm trying to get my dad to come out again in the spring when my mom comes again!

November: A time of giving thanks, and as you can see, nothing ever got posted on here for that, although, I did try! We hosted Thanksgiving at our home with Brad's side of the family. It was nice to have them over, and to be able to serve them. (If you didn't know this already about me, I love hosting!) Brad's folks stayed a couple days, and it was nice to visit with them, as we don't see them too terribly often either. Brad also celebrated his 2nd year anniversary with working for Almaco. He really enjoys his job and is blessed to work for Gary Clem, his boss.

December: On December 9th, my grandmother Jennie passed away, after 87 years of life. I was saddened that I could not be there for my family during that time, but my heart was with them. So, this brings us right back to December; where we all wonder "Where did the time go?" Time just flies by each and every year! I wanted to purposefully begin this "Christmas update"with the reminder of why we celebrate Christmas each & every year. The birth of Jesus, the Christ, our Savior. It's not a "holiday", it's not a "winter celebration" as some may call it. It is Christmas, a time in which our Savior was born. May you all wish others this Christmas season a Merry Christmas, and not a happy holiday. May you all remember what the purpose of this celebration is this Christmas Day, and rejoice in it.

What kind of King would leave his throne in Heaven to make this earth His home?

While men seek fame and great renown, in lowliness our King comes down.

You left the sound of angels praise to come for men with unkind ways,

and by this Baby's helplessness, the power of nations is laid to rest.

What kind of King would come so small from glory to a humble stall?

That dirty manger is my heart too, I'll make it a royal throne for You.

Jesus, Jesus, precious One, how we thank You that You've come!

Jesus, Jesus, precious One, a manger throne for Gods own Son!

Merry Christmas,

Love the Mehmen's

Backyard Pets

So this is our family groundhog. We have been negligent in picking a name for him. Maybe you can give your input as to what his name should be. Don't let his size fool you, this boy can hustle! Just ask Gunner!!

Mommy & baby. Heading out. I think mommy smells Gunner.

Pix #3 Mommy loving baby (my garden behind them)

Pix #2 Baby running to mommy. "Wait mommy!"

Pix #1 Mommy checking to see if the coast is clear. "Come on kid."

Mommy eating right along side her friend the squirrel.

Just a quick note to show off our backyard pets. We love them all, except when they eat all of our food from the garden! This is living in Iowa!

Change

Change is happening. God is on the move and working. Always working I know, but specifically in our lives. A while ago, I posted something about "Searching". If it wasn't on here, it was on my face book page under notes. So, if you haven't read it, you should read that first, and then continue on with this. (It will just make more since I think.) Or not, it doesn't matter.

God has continually been working in Brad & I's marriage, in our family unit, as well as in our individual hearts for quite some time. Over this past year, things have changed quite drastically. For the better of course! Once we "woke from our sleep", our walk with the Lord has been like a revival! It's been awesome, amazing, life changing, and has really cleared our vision. It's like a new prescription in your glasses, or getting glasses for the first time. Amazing, right? Well, that is how I can best describe our spiritual walk with the Lord.

As you all know, we started homeschooling last year, for the second time. (I was homeschooling, sent them to public school while the cafe was open, and then pulled them back out when we closed the cafe.) It has been amazing. A wonderful blessing that I give thanks for often 1) to my husband that allows me to stay home, so therefor takes on the longer hours to provide for his family, 2) to the Lord for also allowing me to stay home with our children, providing a job for my husband so that I can stay at home, 3) for the wisdom, guidance, and knowledge that He has given to both Brad and I. With such changes, there is always a cause and effect type of situation. With our minds thinking differently on things, then that means that our actions will be different, our needs will be different, our 'wants/desires' will be different, and our vision will be different as well. So, cause and effect. I hope that this makes since, because it's hard to describe.

With the different vision in which we have been given, we are seeing some things that need to be changed. It has caused us to be unsettled in some areas of our life. One of those areas is our place of worship, where we have called home for 8 years now. This church is where both Brad & I received the Lords invitation of Salvation through his Son Jesus Christ, and believed. This church is where we have grown in our spiritual walk. This church is where we were both baptized in the name of Jesus Christ; for the forgiveness of our sins; and where we received the gift of the Holy Spirit. We've added 2 children to our family since being a part of this church. We have loved this church dearly, and for all of these things, we are very thankful.

The change is that it is time to move on. With the Lord growing our family spiritually, there are some things that we are not on the same page with any more. Our world view is different, our need of encouragement is different, our vision of family worship is different, our vision of discipleship is different. These changes are all good. We definitely feel encouraged by these changes within our family, and have peace about it, but it's also a time of grieving since this causes us to leave the only family we've known for the past eight years. God is still at work there, don't get me wrong, and He is definitely changing lives there, it's just time for something more. Something that will be more like-minded as we are. Encouraging us in the areas of family worship, family education, family discipleship, and so forth.

We would appreciate any and all prayers for our family and our new journey. Prayers that we would trust Him, and that we would walk in faith, be faithful, steadfast and diligent to the Lord who leads our path, and guides our steps.

Summer Floodin'

Tuesday evening we had a wonderful time celebrating Brads birthday, filled with fun gifts, fun decorations and a delicious dessert! Who would want a boring old cake if you could have this, right? Well, that is what I told myself, but it was a hit!

Even though my hard working husband worked a full day with out getting off early, he was able to have a day off today! Not for the best of reasons though. We had a 'little' flooding last night/this morning. There was literately no way in or out of town for there was flooding on all sides of us. The news has said we were like a little "island". And as of 2pm, the water plant has been closed. There is a break in the water line, and with the flooding they cannot find where the break is, so no tap water. Boiling order in effect, and just about all the stores out of bottled water. We were able to get a bunch before the ciaos began! Praise the Lord! Here are some pix for my far away family and friends. Will keep you updated. I do have a post on face book with excellent aerial pictures of the whole town. (look for des moines register) It's really awesome to see.

Our home wasn't affected at all though. We are so very thankful!

This is Hilton Coliseum, where our basketball games are held, as well as concerts and such. They are calling it a "water hole" for all of the water inside. It's really unfortunate.

Oh yes, this would be the parking lot to our brand new aquatic center (to the right). No-one will be swimming today!

I also have two little videos for your entertainment.

Countdown!

The time is approaching once again for school to start "officially". We have done some school throughout the summer, but since last Monday, we have begun doing school each morning, so that when 'the real deal' begins at the end of the month and we have longer days, we all won't be dying, screaming, or in flat out distress! :-)
I have to say that we don't ever really stop learning. And what is most important to Brad and I is not math, spelling, or grammar. Though those are important, what is most important to us is that our daughters love the Lord and know how to love one another, how to happily serve one another and how to love others as we love ourselves. To think of others first before thinking of our own selves, our own wants, or our own needs. Another important "subject" in the Mehmen home is that our daughters know how to manage a household, how to cook, how to clean, how to take care of the laundry, grocery shopping, and the like.
My point of this post was to encourage you to start reading with your children, to your children, but also for yourself. Learning. Choose to be life long learners with your children, teaching them that learning is fun, and that we'll always be learning! We'll NEVER know it all! Not ever. Gaining wisdom and knowledge for our self so that we may also share that knowledge with others and be a blessing to those in whom we've shared that knowledge with. We will SURELY not gain even one ounce of wisdom from the television. Please, turn the TV off with me, and read with me. I have posted at the top of the blog (did you notice?) the books that I have read or are currently going through. It would be great to have good discussions with you and read through a book with you! Would you join me?
If you are not seeing books added to the list at least once a month, you need to be checking up on me, and seeing what's up!
Love always! The Mehmens

Harsh Reality

Truth be told, we all need to start living in the Truth more, and living in world less! Living in what we are "told" to do by society less, the so called "professionals" less, and our government less. Way Less. Extremely less. Living in the way that God wants us to live... MORE. A lot more. Extremely more! We like sheep are being led straight to slaughter. We really need to start thinking with our brain a little more, listening to Him a little closer, watching whats going on around us more carefully. Being on guard to NOT be among the flock that is being led astray.

I for one know that up until this past year, I always went with the flow, did what I was told to do (by the professionals), and didn't seem to question much of anything. I praise God that He is opening my eyes to the Truths that I find in His Word as well from like-minded brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. I praise God for them and for their wisdom, and for their boldness to say what needs to be said!

A must read. It's long, it's disturbing, and it's hard, and down right hard to swallow, but a MUST read!
http://www.voddiebaucham.org/vbm/Blog/Entries/2010/7/26_The_Continuing_Collapse_June_July_2010.html

**Sorry, this link is not working for some reason. No worries, please click on the link on your right titled "The Continuing Collapse" under 'Check these websites out'.**

Family Fun

Does your family movie nights look like ours? Is it really this simple to have this much fun??

Thanks Home Alone!

Do they consist of your children falling onto the floor, literately rolling on the floor laughing before getting back up and into the chair that they fell out of?

Welcome to Family Fun Night at the Mehmens!

Where has summer gone?

As I look at the calender today, and mark on it when we'll be starting school back up, I stopped to ponder, "Where has summer gone?" If my memory serves me correctly, (which it doesn't always) the month of June was filled with rain, rain, and more rain. On top of the rain, we spent the whole month of June driving Courtney back and forth to drivers training. That was fun! (not really) Praise the Lord that that came to an end on July 2nd. 4 weeks long~ Since when does drivers training last a month? I must be getting old. Brad and I celebrated this glorious day by going out to dinner with the money we would have had to spend on gasoline! :-)

We had our first camping trip in May with 6 families. Let me clarify the numbers with you; 12 adults and 27 children. We like to multiply! (ok, so a couple of us brought some extra kids, but only 4 extra!) Three of the moms that were on that trip were 9 months pregnant! So, we now have 30 children within the same group! We are also all homeschooling families. We had such a great time, as well as the kids. We hope to get in at least 2 more trips in before school starts. Isn't that pathetic? Only 3 camping trips through the whole summer? Our family will be taking a family vacation this year if it is the last thing we do! We haven't taken a family vacation together for probably 8 years! I think it's time.

Our spring/summer has included a trip out to CA to visit my side of the family, a camping trip, welcoming 3 new lives into this world, and lots of dinners with friends at our house, or theirs. Brad has been working hard on a play set for the girls. Just about done with that! It has 2 different levels so far! Went with some friends to their cabin on a lake, and had a great time. Took the girls tubing for the first time. They had a blast! I think mom was more scared than they were. We've gotten some school in, but not as much as I would have liked to. Learning multiplication and division has turned into a fun experience all thanks to a tip from a friend, so I hope to have 3 of my 4 knowing multiplication and division backwards and forwards before school starts back up, and really, in a very fun way. Taylor has been my experimental monkey, and so she will now continue her drills with Brooke, and then they will be teaching Ashley! Hurray for a one house school room!

We have also planted a garden! We are all so excited. Learning how to tend to your garden, plant, water (though God has been doing all of the watering!) and picking the weeds. Everything has popped up, and so now the waiting game until it's time to harvest. I have always wanted to plant a garden, and it's been really fun doing so. I just pray that things actually grow, because having a garden is an expensive hobby. Especially if there is no fruit from it! Wouldn't that be a bummer. We planted tomato plants, cabbage, peppers, bell peppers as well as hot peppers for salsa, cilantro, basil, 3 different kinds of beans, cucumbers, squash, zucchini, lettuce, okra & carrots. We'll see what we get! I am sure hoping for a successful turnout!

I have the blessing of being able to stay at home with my children, teaching them the way that they should go, learning life & education together, teaching & learning from one another, keeping the house together, teaching the girls how to clean a home, how to cook meals, how do laundry, how to make grocery lists, and so forth. It truly is a blessing and I have my Lord and Savior and my husband to thank for that. For God providing a job for Brad, and for him to be such a hard worker! We are truly blessed.

Well, I have posted some pictures of our summer so far. I will try to post more sooner than later. I know it's been a while, but sometimes, you just don't have the time. Really people, prioritize! Do I have them in the wrong order? HA HA I don't think so.

Love to you all!

Spring is Here!

Hello hello hello! It's OFFICIALLY spring and we are ALL thrilled! Not only because it is spring but also because we have a beautiful new home with a beautiful new backyard! (as seen above)And it also happens to back up into a great park! We have been so blessed this past year and are so very thankful. So, here we are on this day, giving thanks for His many blessings and His faithfulness with joyful hearts.

We're back to a normal routine, with our house (mostly) in order since I don't know when. With the move, spring fever, and our trip out to CA, things have been in a little disarray! So our "normal routine", if there is such a thing, is finally helping settle everyone down into our new home.

"The Move" went great. Great friends with helping hands always make things more enjoyable since moving isn't that fun to begin with, as well as cuts the time and trips in half! Thank you, thank you, thank you to all our dear friends for all of your help!

Took a quick trip out to CA with the four youngest girls. It was short but sweet, being able to spend time with my family. I love seeing how "home" has changed and how it has stayed the same. I enjoyed seeing my family and family friends, although, I have decided that when I do go out for a visit next, I need to also make visiting my CA friends more of a priority as well. We either don't make the time to connect, or are still about 9 driving hours away from them! So, FRIENDS, let's make a plan or something the next we come out to meet half way or go camping somewhere in the middle or something!

Well this is going to be it for now! I will try write again hopefully soon! I am thinking maybe once a month with a little more on special occasions or something. Not too much else to tell on a more frequent basis!

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Me & the gang!

BTW, Our oldest is missing from these photo's for she was not with us. Will put more pix of everyone next time!