Another Birthday

Happy 11th Birthday, Katie!!!!

Katie has been wanting a snow cone machine for a while now. I found this one on-line at Hawaiian Ice. On the Friday after Katie's birthday, she had a friend spend the night, and the plan was to make snowcones! Well, we plugged it in, it worked for a minute and then stopped. I tried everything and then called the company as the girls - and all of Katie's siblings - were very disappointed. The Hawaiian Ice folks were so nice and helpful. It ended up being the switch that was likely damaged during shipping. They told us to keep the old one - to use the blades when the new ones become dull. We had a new -working- machine by Monday, and we have had lots of snowcone-making in our house ever since - despite the cold temperatures outside!

We started a tradition when Shelby was little to give the children a book for each birthday. 12 years and 5 children later, we are continuing the tradition. This year Katie received the above book: Summer Days with the Moodys. Most of you have likely never heard of it. It is the 5th book in a series written by Sarah Maxwell. Sarah is a homeschool graduate, the oldest of 8 children, and is only in her twenties now. We have all 5 books, and our 3 oldest children loved each one. About a Christian homeschooling family with 6 children, the books tell of the Moody children "blessing" each other, spending time together, and having a nursing home ministry. After reading them, my children were "blessing" each other - and me- often. For instance, one night my bed was folded down with a sweet note, and on another night I found my laundry had been taken to the laundry room and sorted. Obviously these books encourage our children to put others before themselves- now that's the kind of books I want my children reading! The books are available on Sarah's family's website: www.titus2.com