Sewing

One of my favorite things to do is to sew. Between my daughter and I we have 7 sewing machines. Several years ago, Todd and Aimée bought me an embroidery machine for Mother's Day. My husband has graciously bought the rest of our machines. I currently have several projects I am working on that excite me. We know a couple going to Sierra Leone as missionaries. They are wanting to take along clothes for children, jumpers for the girls, and shorts for the boys. What a wonderful way to use up some of the fabric stash I have. I am having a delightful time sewing that project!

Tonight, Aimée and I are going to a bridal shower. Here is an apron I made as part of our gift.

Robin

My introduction to motherhood....

began with a 10 pound 2 ounce breech baby boy, that spent the first few days of his life in the NICU at Greenville Memorial Hospital in Greenville, SC. The first time I saw him he was wired to everything and had some IVs in. It was quite a shock to see. It took us several years to have a 'breather,' and I was quite taken with him! I didn't know he would have colic, or have projectile vomiting (oh the smell, LOL), or that he would have his days and nights mixed up, or have a lot of allergies. Nor did I know that at 6 months he could get out of his crib, or that he would walk at 7 1/2 months. Todd was quite the introduction to motherhood. He was our 'toy' for nearly 3 years. There came a point when this child was KING of our home. He wanted...we did. OH that was sad! I had to confess my sin in this matter to the LORD, seek forgiveness, and ask for help in undoing what we had done. My husband and I worked for 3 weeks changing Todd from a demanding child, to one that understood a simple NO, or DON'T, or even a look that would stop him in his tracks. Proverbs 22:15 "Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him." GOD's WORD is true!

The next 20 years have been a delight for us. He has grown from a child into a man. Along the way, he accepted Christ as his personal Savior, and developed a love to serve the LORD. He loves the WORD of GOD... the truth that it contains. He is ready and willing to share it at anytime, any place with anyone. The biggest problem we have had with Todd... would be maybe forgetting to take the trash out. He has been a willingly obedient child. One that sees his sin, and wants to make it right. He has been a joy to us.

As a young man of 23, he owns his own lawn service. He is licensed and insured doing commerical and residential properties. He has a customer base of over 100. He has never lacked for work, or for GOD's provision for him. He has never been in debt, and owns a truck, car, and all his equipment by paying cash.

He also attends The DELAND SCHOOL OF THE BIBLE.

He is an avid reader. When he was a young teen he decided that if he ate 3 times a day, he should read GOD's Word 3 times a day. He loves to listen to preaching, and enjoys preaching. He has a heart for older people. He loves to spend time visiting with them.

Todd has been a constant blessing to us. A son that has and continues to be a joy to us. GOD has been gracious to me and my husband, and all our failings to allow us a son that brings so much to our lives. We delight that Todd desires to serve the LORD with his life... in that Todd will find JOY.

I Samuel 1:27-28

For this child I prayed;

and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him.

ThereFore also I have lent him to the LORD;

as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD.

And he woshipped the LORD there.

Proverbs 4:3

For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.

Can't tell it here, but Todd has an eye with 2 different colors.
That makes him unique. LOL

I Timothy 4:12-16

Let no man dispise thy youth;

but be thou an example of the believers,

in word, in conversation, in charity,

in spirit, in faith, in purity.

Till I come,

give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

Neglect not the gift that is in thee,

which was given thee by prophecy,

with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.

Meditate upon these things;

give thyself wholly to them,

that thy profiting may appear to all.

Take heed unto thyself,

and unto the doctrine;

continue in them:

for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself,

and them that hear thee.

He is #1 Favorite OLDEST son here!

:)

Odd Todd

Todd has a wonderful sense of humor.
He enjoys life.....

Uh... well .. so far this is the closest he has

come to 'hunting'.

And it was a birthday gift.

He likes suits, and dressing up!

Todd is an amazing older brother.

He finds a way to find time to spend with Bear.
Todd appreciates the 'big trucks',
but understand the costs. LOL

He has a thing for HEAD GEAR.

He is an always willing taste tester for me!

Todd has a heart to SHARE JESUS.

He finds ways to do it, too.

Todd

Todd can HOLD the viola.

(and borrow his brother's hat)

He has wonderful taste in music that honors GOD.

He can run a sound booth at church.

He can play one song on the piano,

but that is the extent of his instrument playing!

What happens when you draw a picture of a target

on a picture of a deer in the local newspaper

and leave it for your younger (sensitive) brother to find in the morning?

Why your mother draws a target,

pins it on you, and sends you outside to wait

for your younger (crying) brother to come out

with your double dog (24) loaded rubber band gun,

and have target practice with you.

Your mother then takes pics of it.

Both boys lived.

Todd and his drills.



Yes, He is my favorite OLDEST child!
Todd and Aimée work hard with the lawn service.
They still find time, and energy to play 'football'
afterwards, with Bear.

Anything seems to become head gear at our house.

(Dad's lunch bag)
Todd..
Our child that came with the perfectly straight teeth.
We are thankful he never saw the orthodontist!
(unlike the other two. LOL)



Todd loves dogs, and beagles are his favorite.
However, after 2 tries to have a dog,
Todd's allergies won.
He learned to enjoy other people's dogs!


His last night as a teenager.
Todd and Aimée have detested the term 'teenager'.
They have heard a lot of talk about the horrors of teens,
how they are 'bad',
or excuses made for teenwho have bad behavior.
We did not experience 'teen' issues with Todd or Aimée.
We are thankful that they have sought to please GOD,
and in doing so, they please their parents!
That is a joy!

Pics of Todd

Aimée, Bear and Todd

ready for church.
Paper bags
have always been a source of entertainment
at our house.


It appears that
POM POMs are also used as HEAD GEAR.


Todd has been fascinated with CHEVROLET since he was 3 years old.
(I wonder if his father had anything to do with that?)

Todd and one of his CIVIL WAR ties

from Aunt Kim.

They are special to him because he likes

CIVIL WAR HISTORY,

but also because Aunt Kim is no longer with us.

She is with the LORD forever more!

The BEAR Cub

How does one describe a 'BEAR'? Our Bear is a blessing and a joy all bundled up into a very unique package. He was born nearly 2 years after we lost our son, Jake. We did not give him the name BEAR....that was all his doing. It started about the time he was 2. People would ask him his name, and he would reply BABY BEAR. We are season pass holders to SEA WORLD, he loved to see the polar bears there. The name has just stuck with us through the years. The dentist reminder card comes with BABY BEAR on it, his doctors all call him Bear. The orthodontist always has a new 'bear' joke for him. There are some people that have given us 'fits' (LOL) over calling him Bear...but for the most part, those that love him see him clearly as BEAR. He doesn't tell anyone his 'legal' name. I really think it is a nice name... but he loves Bear. At the credit union is account is in his initials AJ. That is about as close as you get to calling him by the name on his birth certificate. That is fine with us........... he is our FAVORITE BEAR CUB here!

Bear in his George Washington/pirate get up.
You have to love those dress up days!

What would Todd and Aimée have ever done without

BEAR??

Brothers at the beach.

They tease they are twins, just 12 years apart.

Bear loves COLOR.

Can you imagine SCHOOLING this??

Bear loves theatrics.

Thankfully, all the world may be the stage for him,

but MOMMA holds the key to the trap door!

One of many things I wanted for our children was for them to be close.

I wanted them to sincerely love each other.

They do. I am very thankful!

Even today when the oldest are 23 and nearly 20,

they color coordinate themselves. LOL

Here they are in their 'snakeskin' skirt or shorts.

Bear has been a joy to all of us.

We are thankful GOD choose to bless us

with a

BEAR CUB.