The last one.....

of the kittens died tonight. We got home from Menard's and it was gone. I knew as the afternoon went on today that it was just a matter of time before it died. You could tell just by looking at it that it wouldn't make it. The children of course are sad but they know that someday their cat will have kittens again. There are enough strays out here in the country that she will eventually get pregnant again. That is the way that life goes. Tomorrow is a road trip for us to Minneota to visit family and pick up something. Something that we have been talking about getting for awhile (well since we moved out here) and now we are going to get it. The children are excited! Have a wonderful Friday evening! I will post again this weekend sometime!

Cathi

They've arrived!!!

Our new flock of baby chicks arrived today! Aren't they just the cutest things you ever saw? (of course I don't think they are so cute when they are bigger :-)) The layers and the butchers are all mixed together (hopefully they will be different colors when they are older so we can separate them out). They will hibernate in the garage until this weather makes up its mind and cooperate temp wise (not to mention, the 2nd coop isn't done yet)! ;-) Enjoy the pics!

Cathi

PS watch for another post this weekend about yet another arrival at our house. HMMMM.....

Awesome storm pictures

Check out the amazing pictures that Jason took last night! God's beauty after a storm is amazing! I couldn't believe all the great shots that he got with the camera. I had a church meeting so I got to see all the beauty from my van as I was driving home so I didn't get to take it all in but these photos say it all! Even in the midst of a storm He is there. The beauty afterwards is breath-taking! Enjoy the pics!

Cathi

Storm Pics part 2

And then there was 1

Another of Lightning's babies died today. They were both alive this morning when I got up, but sometime in the morning it died. So only 1 is hanging on, and I am not sure this one will make it. The children are sad, but I keep telling them that it is life and it will be okay we will bury it along with the other two as soon as it stops raining and dries up a bit. The two older girls were talking this morning already about names for them and I told them both they were not going to get names until we knew for sure that they will survive. I try to understand the laws of nature but I guess I don't. I would think that an animals motherly instinct would be just like that of a human mother. Lightning is of course young, either right at a year old or almost a year old we don't know for sure. Anyway....I will keep you posted, for now we are praying that this little one holds on and makes it. It is so cute. Dark colored just like it's mama. Have a wonderful Thursday! What could be better tomorrow is FRIDAY!!! What am I talking about, my days are starting to run into one another and I am lucky I even know what day of the week it is!

Cathi

Today's Life Promise

Hebrews 4:15 - Jesus understands every weakness of ours, because he was tempted in every way that we are. But he did not sin!

I was on my treadmill this morning and I heard this as I was listening to the Christian radio station in our area and then a song came on and it gave me chills and I began to sob. Now that was a sight I bet and I am thankfull that my children were not up to witness that. This is not the first time that I have heard this song but today it just struck a chord with me. Bear with me I am remembering some of the lyrics by heart (as it is a new song and their new CD is not even in stores yet). It goes something like this:

He made the lame walk, the dumb talk, He gave the blinded light, .......I wonder what life would be like if we all let Jesus live in you and me.

Can you begin to imagine what life would be like if each of us had Christ dwelling in our hearts? It certainly wouldn't be like it is now. I can't wait for the day that the Lord returns and sets up His kingdom on earth. I have peace knowing that He will be victorious over all evil in this world. Do you know Christ? It is not about religion, it is about the relationship with Christ. When we stand before Him on Judgement Day, He will not ask us what religion we were for it doesn't matter, all He wants is a personal relationship with each and every one of us. I love you all and hope that you all have that relationship with Him. He is waiting with arms wide open to come in, if you ask Him to.

Cathi

Only 2......

She finally finished giving birth and only 2 are alive. The last one died shortly after birth and the other just never stood a chance. We moved mama and the two live babies into the garage tonight (thankfully she let Briana and I move her and the babies) and got her and the babies settled and have a lamp on all 3 of them (it is suppose to get cold tonight). We will see if these 2 live or not. The girls are very sad that the rest died, so tomorrow we will have another burial for the last 2 that didn't survive. If this 2 are still alive in another week to week and a 1/2 they will survive long term. Time will tell. In the meantime, enjoy the pictures of the newest addition to our family! They don't have names yet, we are waiting to see if they survive. I am sure that I will not be able to convince the children to give them away to a new home, so they are here to stay! Enjoy!

Cathi

And then there were......

okay so I don't know how many there will be. Lightning gave birth today to a litter of 5 kittens. One for sure is dead and two more are questionable. I am not sure if the two that are for sure alive will make it as she is not even sure what to do with them. I am hoping that her motherly instinct will set in here shortly. In the mean time I have to make sure that my little ones don't disturb the kittens until at least a week when they have their eyes open. Talk about weird day. As I was mowing the north end of our property, Mikayla is running towards me with this frantic look on her face. Immediately I am thinking in my head that something has happened to the little kids until she gives me the words "Lightning had her babies", well I immediately shut down the mower and the 4 wheeler and make a made dash towards the house hoping no one has touched them yet thankfully they hadn't. We only saw the 3, check later and there was 4 and she is in a different spotting birthing another one. Well we moved them to where she was at (I know bad idea but still...) and that is where they are all at now. Time will tell. The kids were sad about the one that died. We buried it and said a little prayer for it. Now we will just have to wait and see about the other 4. I will keep you posted! In the meantime.....anyone want some kittens in a month or so??????

;-)

Rummage Sales

Now I know why I never have one (aside from the fact that I live in the country approximately 7 miles from town) but the hassle of it all and the work that it takes. Well there is no turing back now or else my husband might have a problem with me. I'm having a rummage sale at my MIL's house next Friday and just getting everthing down, cleaned and marked is already giving me a headache. BUT.....it needs to be done. I can't believe how much stuff a family of 6 can accumulate over the years. We just had a sale a year ago and it seems that we have more stuff now than we did then. We are a "needs" sort of people. My head is hurting from all the things that I have been doing with all of our "stuff". So I have stepped away from it until probably tomorrow. Besides I have to get my computer area back in order after I got this hairbrain idea to get rid of the computer desk (again for the rummage sale) and put our 2 computers on one long table and that way have internet access for both computers (one for the chidlren of course and the other for me).....anyway......I digress anyway all my stuff from my computer desk is now on my couch and all over my window ledge. I better get that taken care of or else......

Oh yeah......still trying to LIVE OUT LOUD each and everyday. My God bless you today in whatever you are doing!

Cathi

Faith, Family and Friends

The 3 F's in life! I am in awe of all that God had put before me in my life! I have come through many dark times in my life, many of which I didn't have Christ in my life, although He was walking beside me through all those dark times (and I didn't even know it). I see struggle and anger in my life currently and it saddens me. Not only with myself but with those closest to me. It pains me to see this. I can certainly let the world live in me and as a follower of Christ that is not how I am suppose to live! Bitterness can take root, and that bitterness can lead to anger. Where does it come from? The evil one, Satan. He doesn't want to see me happy or living each and every day for my creator and sustainer. He thrives when I am unhappy and bitter. I can see that anger and bitterness in my children and it scares me as I don't want to see them like me. My prayer is to live out loud! Live each day as if it is the last, live as if there will be no more. Live and love each moment with my family and friends, but also to live and love my Lord with all my heart, with all my soul with all my mind and with all my strength (my all time favorite song but Lincoln Brewster, which by the way is in my song log on the side of my blog :-)) My life has never been the same since the day that I surrendered it all to Him. The day when I was born again! My second birthday, the day that my new life started, February 13, 2006. Do I struggle? Each and everyday, has God abandon me on those awful filled days? NOT A CHANCE!!!! I have been washed by the blood of the Lamb, His grace is sufficient for me. His holy presence fills me and loves me wholly for who I am, good and bad, and it is through those struggles that I am to rely on Him wholly and He will see me through.

The reason for this post?

I have been struggling with things and I just needed to vent tonight! It is also the day before Memorial Day and for some reason this year it has humbled me completely. Those men and women fought for my freedom so that I could go to church, I can get down on my knees at night with my children and pray and I can say the name of Jesus Christ out in public without the fear of condemnation or death. These soldiers fought for each one of us to have that very freedom today! For that I thank them. Without them we wouldn't have those luxuries now. So as you get up tomorrow lift a prayer of thanksgiving for those soldiers past and present for the gift that they have given you, FREEDOM!!! Also say thanks to God for those men and women.

As you ponder the day remember this:

We are but a vapor, here today gone tomorrow, live each moment for today, tell your loved ones how much you love them and hold tight to your little ones. You never know when your vapor will vanish.

Peace and love to each of you!

Cathi

"The Boot"

After having the boot on for almost a week, it is no longer "cool" but a pain in the behind. She is tired of wearing it and just wants to be "normal" again. Here is a picture of her with it on. She is reading (her favorite pastime) in her closet. She rearranged it again so that it would be more user friendly for her, I only wish I had this kind of set up when I was her age. No wonder she likes to hang out in her room. She has been rooting her team on from the dugout but is not very excited about it. She is hoping that the boot will come off at her appointment with Dr. Bell on June 16th. We will see. She does have two games the first week in July and then tournaments. She is hoping that she will be ready to play those last 2 games and then play for the tournaments. Time will tell though. For now she keeps putting it on and wearing it even though she doesn't want to!

Have a wonderful holiday weekend!

Cathi

Prince Caspian

Jason and I hit the late night movie last night in Sioux Falls. All I can say is WOW!!! This movie was great! I loved it! It followed fairly close to the book but there were parts that didn't match with the book. I would recommend it for anyone who saw The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. This movie is of course not really a family movie as there is alot of fighting and wars in it. The good thing was that there was no blood. Jason and I both agreed that it wouldn't be a good movie for Colby and Keara and quite possibly Mikayla. Briana saw it last Saturday with the church youth group and she was a bit scared also but still enjoyed it! So here is what I think, go see the movie it is worth it!!!! It is one of those movies that can give you goose bumps in certain parts! WORTHWHILE FILM!!!!!

:-)

Cathi

Briana's MRI results

Went back to the orthopedic doctor yesterday to get her MRI results. She has a stress fracture in her foot. She is now in a boot for 6 weeks. What does that mean for my sports fanatic child. No softball this year! Talk about bummed out! She had to call her coach last night and let her know that she was out for the season. Needless to say Briana is very disappointed. She looks forward every year to softball and this will be her first year since she started playing that she won't get to play. She is bummed out and really not looking forward to having to wear that boot at all waking hours. She can take it off at bedtime and when she baths. Hopefully the boot will help Briana's foot to heal correctly and she will be ready for sports this fall. For now she will have to be content cheering her team on from the dugout!

I will post pictures later today of her with it on, they are all outside enjoying the sunshine. It is cooler today than it has been lately so that is kind of disappointing. Today officially marks the start of our summer vacation. Should be interesting! But we are looking forward to it that is for sure! By the time school starts we are all going to be at our ends and ready for school to resume again! It will be a busy summer between the garden, the animals and the activities of the children time will fly by way to quick! Anyway.....

Have a wonderful Tuesday!

Cathi

A work weekend......

Phase 1 began on the chicken coop this weekend. We got Phase 1 completed! Thankfully and I believe that the chickens are happy to have a bigger pen to roam in and I must say it isn't such an eye sore anymore. I thought I had some before pics but I guess not so you will have to just enjoy the "after" pictures.



Phase 2 will begin sometime this week or so on the other half of the shed to accommodate butcher chickens. Yes we are going to raise chickens to eat not just for eggs like we have had this past year! I don't know if I will ever look at chickens the same again but if it means that I know where my chickens are coming from then I guess I will have to do it this way. Runnings in Brookings will be getting in more layers and butchers this week, so we will be getting them this week sometime. We will be adding 10 more layers to the 16 we already have (of course they will grow with the butchers in the other pen until they are old enough to go in with the full grown chickens) and I am not sure how many butchers we are going to get but quite a few as the in-laws are going to get some also. Should be an interesting summer of chickens. Something new for me and the kids.


And the last part of the weekend was this evening when we got Keara's new bed into her room. The only problem is the frame is bigger than the mattress so Jason will need to adjust it to fit which is not a big deal. She was very excited to see her new bed all set up! It should be an interesting night for her as she has never slept in a bed that didn't have at least one part of it against the wall. I find it amazing how fast my children are growing up. We are slowly getting out of all toddler stages right now. She has been staying dry every night for a few weeks now but we are still wearing pullups at night until I know for sure that she is ready for the big girl panties. She is growing up way to fast for me! It makes me sad some days but happy on other days. Thanks Jodi Gloe, Keara will enjoy her new bed.

Doesn't she look like she will get lost in this bed????? :-)

Midnite after a hard day at the "office"

She worked so hard today that she needed to take a load off in the kids' sandbox tonight!

And the year......

is FINALLY OVER WITH!!! YIPPEEEE!!!!! The kids were very excited! They are so ready for summer vacation to begin!

Tonight turned out to be not such a hot night! We decided to get some grub and hit Sam's Club to get Keara a big girl mattress for the bed frame that we got from our former daycare provider Jodi. While eating Keara complained that her tummy hurt so she didn't finish her food, instead dad and Mikayla finished it for her. We get to Sam's and she complains that her throat is hurting. We stop and do the whole you feel warm, your glands feel swollen, oh what do we do now, do we go to acute care or not. So we get her mattress and decided well we are already in town might as well head there and have her checked out! Low and behold, the girl has STREP THROAT!!!! I am not sure that is how she would have liked to start her summer vacation! So now she is on antibiotics and hopefully that will make her feel better quickly as we have a graduation party tomorrow for a friend of ours from church, and Sunday we will have Vickie and Jim over for the afternoon for work and grilling out! We have a packed weekend ahead of us!

Ball games start for the girls this Tuesday and then let it all begin! They are ready! The weather is starting to finally cooperate and start to feel more like spring instead of winter!

Oh and one more thing, I finished the Prince Caspian book today and I am sooooo ready to go and watch the movie! So my hubby and I have decided that sometime in the next couple of weeks we are going to go to the movie on a night that there is no ball and see it! I don't think I can wait for it to come out on video! So now I begin the next book, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader! I do remember bits and pieces of these books from when I was a child and my mom read them to my sister and I. I don't recall if she read them all to us or not! But I am planning on reading them all myself! Anyway.....enough rambling from me. It has been a long evening and I must go to bed and read for a bit and then close my eyes for a bit! Have a wonderful evening and a blessed weekend!

Cathi

The countdown begins......

This is our FINAL WEEK at school! I am so excited and so are the kids! Thursday will officially mark the last day of daycare for Colby for good as he will start kindergarten next fall, Keara of course will still have to go until the Spring of 2009 when school gets out! WE are all very excited for this! I will have to work 1/2 a day on Monday the 19th and then my summer vacation will officially begin! We got our garden completely planted yesterday, YES I did manual labor on Mother's Day but it was worth it! We had so many laughs and the weather was BEAUTIFUL!!! The children gave me a box of chocolates (which I don't really need as I have some extra weight to shed anyway but the thought was sweet) for Mother's Day and Briana of course made me my cake and let me tell you, it turned out to be really good! I hope that all of you had wonderful Mother's Days and spent time with your children! Have a blessed Monday!

Cathi

Happy Mother's Day....

To all the Mother's in my life! I am so lucky to have you all! I hope that each of you has a special day!

My mother sent me a BEAUTIFUL heartfelt note in the mail and that meant more to me than any card she could have sent!

Sometimes in my life it is the smallest things that matter most to me! Like my two oldest girls wanted to get me a gift so Friday night (I was home sick and I mean sick with a migraine) the kids and Jason were at a friend of ours from church doing some work and her boys (who are in high school) took those two older girls to Wal-Mart shopping for a gift for me. I thought that was so sweet of them. Then to top it off, yesterday Briana (the almost teenager) and I went shopping (for some reason she still likes me to take her shopping) for groceries and clothes (for her of course) and she decided that she wanted to either buy me an ice cream cake or make me a cake herself. I told her that it was up to her but it would probably be cheaper to make me a cake. So we picked it out together when we were at Hy-Vee, she paid for it with her own money, and when we got home and she had finished her weekend chores, she baked it and frosted it. To me, that beats all!

It brings tears to my eyes as I write this because God is so good and He gave us our children for a reason and like God they love us unconditionally even in our worse moments and that I am eternally greatful for!! So today mom's (and of course everyday), hug your children extra, tell them that you love them often and never forget the precious gift that God gave us when He made US mother's!!!

I love you all and am so grateful to God for each of you in my life and am so grateful that God is in my life. I look forward to many more years of posting on this blog for Mother's Day!

HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY MOM'S!

Cathi

:0)

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

To Vickie and Jim! They will be getting MARRIED this fall (November 28th tentatively). I just want to let you two know how happy I am for you both and that I think you two will have a GREAT LIFE together!!!

Jim, welcome to the family!!!! It is great to have you here! :-)

Just remember to not sweat the small stuff and don't get all caught up in the details! Leave it all up to God and His plan for everything and the rest will just fall into place!!! Congratulations again! I couldn't be happier for you both!!

Cathi

MRI

Today has been one of those days where I just wish I hadn't gotten out of bed! I am in a sea of crap and it feels like I am drowning. I wouldn't say that I have reached a place of brokenness, just a place that I am trying to deal with. It seems that for the last 3 years we have had one medical crisis after another and today is no different. I can't say that today was a medical crisis (except the cost of the procedure is a crisis in itself) but still one that you have to sit back and go okay what is going on now.

I asked myself this "Is God punishing us for something?",

and one thing came into my head, It is not punishment, it is in those times of pain and suffering and confusion that we are to surrender it all and give it to Jesus at the foot of the cross. God brings hardships into our lives for a reason and that is for us to rely on Him and not ourselves to get thru it. Can we cry and scream and be mad? Of course, that is what makes us stronger in our relationship with Him. So many curves thrown our way and we deal with them the best that we know how. We turn to God and rest in His will for our lives not our will for our lives (cuz we all know that it would be different than what He has given us), anyway....

Briana had to have an MRI done today on her ankle per the orthopedic doctor that she saw. He wanted it done because he wants to know what he is dealing with and how to treat it so that it will heal, he is by no means thinking cancer or some other disease (thankfully, we have been there done that and no more please) but this has been a problem for her since October and our family doctor didn't know what to do as the xrays were showing nothing. We won't know the results until the 19th of May, so if any of you are so inclined to pray please add Briana to your prayer list. Peace of mind and comfort and healing for her ankle, wisdom for the doctor to figure out what is going on; a course of action to fix it and make it feel better. Does it hurt her to do things? Only sometimes, it is not an all the time I hate to walk, run, hop, skip or jump on it kind of pain but just a bothersome pain that sometimes those things above can aggravate it and make it feel worse. I have to rely on Jesus and His plans for this girl and leave it all up to Him. Do I hate seeing my children in pain or hardships of any kind? YES!! I never realized that being a mom would ever be this hard. I always thought as the children got older things would get a little easier, boy was I wrong. It seems that the older they get the more complicated our lives seem to get and how busier our lives get also. There is always this or that going on or we are always running here or there. We are also living in tough times and times of uncertainty. Things are tight and it seems to just keep getting tighter and tighter! Will it ever ease up or is this the "new normal"??????

I surrender all again as I always seem to do when times get tough, I lay it at the foot of the cross, I let Christ have it and do with it as only He sees fit, in the end it is He who will get all the glory!!

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" Philippians 4:13 (NKJ Version)

"Cast all your anxiety on Him because he cares for you" 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)

I am tired now and must end this post! Please keep our family in your prayers! I am certain that things will be alright and we will get thru this but at that particular moment today, I sat back and went "Can I really take anymore that God gives to me?"

The answer to that is a resounding YES for If God brings you to it, He will bring you thru it!!!!

I love you all and hope that you have a blessed night! Tomorrow will be a better day, it is FAKE FRIDAY for me!!!! What can be better than that?????

HUGS!!!!

Cathi

She's back!

:-) Who knows where she was at yesterday but this morning when I got up and was standing in my kitchen looking out my patio door, I was looking at the shed and there she was with her little head right in the cat door sitting there! So where ever she disappeared to she didn't stay long and decided to return home! The girls were SO HAPPY when they saw that she had returned! She is no longer MIA and yes she still looks the same so I am sure now that she wasn't pregnant! Have a good night!

Cathi

MIA

It seems 1 of our cats has gone MIA again! We saw her this morning basking in the sun as we left for school but when we returned home she was nowhere to be seen. We are not sure where she could have gone to or what could have happened to her, Briana was wondering as we were planting part of our garden tonight if she could have been pregnant and go off to have her babies, now mind you we have never had any animal of ours have babies or anything of the sort and we are not sure if she is even old enough to have babies (so if anyone knows this could you please leave a comment on the blog and let me know) and she really didn't look pregnant but there again I don't know how a pregnant cat should look (on my preschooler entertainment post from Saturday there is a picture of her and the dog; she doesn't look like she is pregnant but then again how would I know). She hasn't wondered off since the time she ended up 1/2 a mile down the road at the neighbor's about 2 weeks after we got her last summer. Since that time she has stuck to home and since she has her brother around that has helped A LOT!!! So we are not sure what has happened, but that has made the children sad :0( so I will keep you all posted as to what may happen! Sorry for no post yesterday but here I am today (I got some good flack from someone who shall remain nameless at this time about not posting yesterday, all fun and games ha,ha!) ;) I decided yesterday to actually get outside and enjoy the BEAUTIFUL day and start weeding between my trees so that maybe this year they will actually grow instead of get stifled by the weeds growing around them!!!!!! I am so thankful for the sun coming out finally and starting to warm things up! Tomorrow begins the practices for softball for the girls and games are slated to start in about 2 weeks, let the rat race begin! WE will be ready for a vacation when softball and t-ball (which will start at the end of the month beginning of June) are over with! There will be a lot of running around! Anyway....I should get off this computer and get some things done around here before I retire for the night (like laundry, most worse enemy) :-( Have a great evening!!!

Cathi

Symbolism and Meanings

As we are anxiously awaiting the release of Prince Caspian on May 16 we are doing some digging into what the true meaning behind The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is. Anyway....after a trip to the doctor about a week ago, we got talking and he asked Briana to look into the meaning behind the movie and what some of the characters stood for (that was her homeword from him). That was intriguing to me and to her because we both knew that Aslan was Jesus Christ and the White Witch was Satan but we didn't know what the other characters could represent. This is what I found in a google seach. I found it throughly fasinating! So I am getting thru The Horse and His boy and then thru Prince Caspian (hopefully before the movie releases :-))! Briana of course will be the first to see it as she will be going with the church youth group on the 17th and she is STOKED!!!! Anyway here is what I found out....I hope you find this just as fasinating as I did!!! ;)





The Chronicles of Narnia,

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

SYMBOLISM and MEANINGS

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, the first book written in The Chronicles of Narnia, can be read as a Christian allegory or a fantasy story. Author C.S. Lewis recommends that people first read the book (or view the film) as a story, before trying to understand the deeper allegorical symbolic Christian message.

The Story
During World War II, Four children- Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy, are evacuated from London due to bombing from Germany, and move to a large old country house in the North. While there, Lucy climbs into a wardrobe that leads to the world of "Narnia". Eventually all four children enter the wardrobe and discover a world where “it’s always winter and never spring.” They meet a witch named Jadis and a lion named Aslan, two of the story’s major figures, and their adventures begin.

The Symbolism

Note: This is my personal take on the story's symbolism, and reader's responses and opinions are greatly encouraged and welcome and (if decent) will be added as feedback on this page. Here is my interpretation of the primary symbolism in the story.

• Aslan = Jesus Christ

(which means lion in Turkish) is the creator of Narnia. He symbolizes Jesus Christ and the power of good.

• Queen Jadis, the White Witch = Lucifer

who rules Narnia for 100 years, represents the power of Satan or evil in the world.

• Peter = The Apostle Peter

A strong leader who becomes the High King of Narnia. most closely would represent the Apostle Peter, who in reality is the first Leader of the Christian church after Christ ascended

• Susan = Mary

Is the second largest human figure in the story, standing as the courageous queen in Narnia, and though very important is likewise very human.

• Edmund = Man

He is tempted by the White Witch, her Turkish Delights and the promise of power. He represents all mankind who has betrayed Christ from birth, and who Jesus died for on the cross. Man is led away by the enticements of this world and becomes selfish and fallen from the standards of Christ. Because of his betrayal, he has also been compared to Judas of the New Testament and Adam in the Garden of Eden.

• Lucy, the faithful youngest child, is the strongest believer in Aslan. I believe she most closely resembles and represents children in general, and their simple innocent faith- which we should all have. Susan and Lucy also represent the two Marys who beheld Christ's death and came to His tomb early in the morning.

Mr. Tumnus, the Faun = Judas, who at first betrays Aslan and wants to kidnap Lucy, until Aslan appears out of the fire and he repents, however loses his life as a result, and is also similar to the "Doubting THOMAS" of the gospels.

• The Stone Table is primarily the Narnian equivalent to the cross Jesus was crucified on, however it goes beyond this and resembles strongly the end of the "Law" also, or the stone tablets, and the breaking of the temple curtain at Christ's death, (which brought salvation by grace through faith as opposed to the keeping of the old "Law" or what was also referred to in the story as the "Deep Magic" that satan does not fully understand.

Lucy's Healing Potion = Christ's blood, which heals our infirmities

Aslan's Breath = the resurrection power of the Holy Spirit, Demontrated on several occasions, Aslands breaths onto frozen characters (Those killed by the witch) and they are restored to life.

Helmet = Salvation

Shield = Faith

Sword = The Spirit within us

Susan's horn = Prayer

The beavers = Faithful disciples of Christ who try to show others the way through.this world = (The frozen lake)

St Nick = The Spirit of Giving, which is a gift of the Spirit and gifts of the weapons of our warfare (see Eph 6)

The Fox = People who might generally be considered, or do not appear to be Christians, and yet if they had to, would give their life for Him.

Wolves = Satan's helpers

The Professor = Me (just kidding)

Symbolic Events:

When Susan and Lucy walk with Aslan to a quiet place the night of his execution, depicts the Garden of Gethsemane, and similarly after his ressurection he appears first to them in a glorified body.

After his death, when Aslan goes to the witches palace and releases his frozen captives, would represent when in Christs' death "He descended into Hell and set captives free" (however, the meaning of the actual event in scripture is contraversial).

In the story as it draws closer to Aslan's return to Narnia, ice begins to thaw and spring begins because the witch's power is weakening, might suggest that as Christ comes there is a deminishing of the strength of evil and an increasing intensity of Christs Spirit, (Warmth), presence and power.

In the end after the great battle, Aslan's authority, and those worthy, are set in places of authority to judge in his kingdom, which follows that when Christ's kingdom is fully restored that humans are even to judge the world and angels (1Cor. 6)

Summary
Not only do all the people, objects and events in the story seem to have symbolic meanings, but the plot and chronology of the story seem to portray the history, fall, and plan unfolding in the world as well. We all start out in an imaginary innocent world oblivious to the real picture of what is going on here, unless by faith, in Christ, who is the only Door =(The wardrobe) we enter into and are illuminated, revealing the kingdom of God. The best way to enter is as Lucy does in simple childlike faith, however, most enter kicking and resisting all the way, as Edmund, failing continually until the end when we meet Christ. Like the much theologically deeper "Pilgrim's Progress" by John Bunyan, not only do the Chronicles of Narnia help us understand individual struggles and events relative to the spiritual kingdom, but they give us an overview of history including apocalyptic events. The "Lion the witch and the wardrobe", after simply setting the stage, quickly moves to the central event of human history- the crucifixion of Jesus.(As capsulated in the "Passion of the Christ" by Mel Gibson).

Further, the chronology, paralleling the world, is one: Narnia exists and was here before our individual lives began, and it had likewise fallen into a long winter ruled by the forces of evil. Further, When we are saved, we enter in through the wardrobe of faith, we begin to understand and become part of what is unfolding. In this we realize, that the world was cursed, Christ (Aslan in the story) came, died for us and will come back again. This is so beautifully demonstrated when Aslan (Christ) has a gentle talk with Edmund (us) after Edmund repented, was rescued, and Christ knew he had to be sacrificed to save. The story also shows how we are to presently use the gifts God has given us in our war of faith (See Ephesians 6) against the rulers of darkness, and the great battle that will also occur at the end called the battle of "Armageddon" and the final victory of Christ.

The story definitely brings to the forefront, the importance of each of us choosing our sides, and standing for our faith to the end.

Preschooler Entertainment

This is what Colby and Keara can do for entertainment in this house when mom is busying herself with things other than little people. They thought it would be cool to put the My Little Pony on the frig since one of its hooves has a magnet on it!


Then I was in the kitchen making cookies and I could hear them in the laundry room talking about "it exploding" so I peek around the corner and they are looking into the washing machine as it was on it's final spin. I couldn't resist taking a picture of them looking into it. Those two are so comical! To boot they have a tendency to get along much better when the older two are not around, hmmm....wonder why that is!

Check out our dog and 1 of the cats, she loves to go into the kennel and drink from Midnite's water dish, crazy animals. Of course the other cat hardly ever ventures from the shed unless there are no people or animals around to disturb him, strange sometimes!

Enjoy the pictures! Also in case you were wondering about the spring program video, I can't seem to get it to upload. I am thinking about putting it on youtube and then putting it on here, but that remains to be seen, so for the time being no spring program until I can get it figured out! Have a wonderful Saturday! For those of you who live in South Dakota, try to not BLOW AWAY!!!! ;-)

Cathi

Keara's birthday

Here are some pics from her birthday on Tuesday. What a night it was! A LOT of running. I am so ready for school to be over with! ONLY TWO MORE WEEKS!!!!!

Isn't she just gorgeous????

I am amazed by how much this girl has grown! She is getting very tall (obviously clothes that we bought her for Christmas are to small) I just wish she would put some meat on her bones. You can practically see thru her! This was her outfit for her school spring program! I will be uploading video footage of that hopefully tonight after the two little ones go to bed.
We had quite the night last night. Jason, Briana and Mikayla left for turkey hunting in the Hills and were driving right into a blizzard and I was left to deal with tornados and thunderstorms here at home. So the little ones were holed up in the basement bathtub for awhile until the weather decided to settle down. For those of you who know me, you can imagine how I was feeling. I don't deal well with storms, but knowing that I had to be brave for them, I made it thru. We prayed while in the bathtub for protection and saftey and that really helped not only me but also the two little ones. Thankfully nothing happened just alot of activity in the sky all around us! Hopefully tonight will be a little more peaceful for us! Have a great day!

Cathi