What's Your Family Mission?

We had a wonderful weekend with MFW families from all over the US a few weekends ago. We enjoyed the company of some old MI friends as well-what a blessing! Late nights, chocolate and heart to heart talks -- plus sharing some inspiring sessions together, it was all a big blessing. We enjoyed taking in some of God's beautiful nature which was wonderful too!

One of the things we were challenged to ponder; what is our family mission?....wondered if any of you have a family mission? We desire to love God, serve others and enjoy the life God has given us training our children to do the same. (at least that is where we are starting!!!)

It has been good to ponder; not just what do we hope for our children, but for our grandchildren? and even generations to come? God can do a lot more through my children's children than with just measly old ME! After all I am only one person :)

Sometimes we get too hung up on just the here and now. God's perspective is WAY bigger than ours and maybe he wants us to take a bigger view too.

Message version:

Duet 6:1-2 This is the commandment, the rules and regulations, that God, your God, commanded me to teach you to live out in the land you're about to cross into to possess. This is so that you'll live in deep reverence before God lifelong, observing all his rules and regulations that I'm commanding you, you and your children and your grandchildren, living good long lives. ....

5 Love God, your God, with your whole heart: love him with all that's in you, love him with all you've got! 6-9 Write these commandments that I've given you today on your hearts. Get them inside of you and then get them inside your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night. Tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder; inscribe them on the doorposts of your homes and on your city gates. (my emphesis)

So as we travel life's path -- striving to stay on the straight and narrow -- may we continue to look to the one who is able to do immeasurably more than we could ask or imagine!

Its impossible to see the end and can be overwhelming to look back and see where we have been!

When we slip on a rock.... when the leaves seem to cover the way.......when there is wonder and beauty all around us but we are so worried about making the right "next step" we don't bother to look UP .........................

remember the one who is UP and focus on HIM!!!

We serve an awesome God who is bigger than our family, bigger than our country, our universe and who has been here in every yesterday and will continue into every tomorrow.

In your family may God be real today, seek Him and you will find!

Shalom,

Q's

EGG games

A fun game at Old Iron Days -- the EGG toss! I think Uncle D wanted to see the Egg drop - we didn't want to "waste" our good fresh eggs :) but at the park it was fine!
So Zeko and a friend Ian joined in the game...

Good throw and good catch!

They had at least 3 passes before

SMACK it hit Zeko

and that was the end of that!

So D this is a shot of his smashed egg - just for you!

Another fun egg game - the spoon relay; Zeko was VERY serious about getting it across with out dropping it! He made it!
Hopefully they don't start any of these games in our backyard!
Running tally of eggs collected so far ---- 51!

Fall, Fun and Friends

OLD IRON DAYS: We enjoyed a wonderful day at a nearby park with our friends the Q-2's. We did a picnic lunch after church and then enjoyed God's beautiful creation! The view there is amazing!

We saw lots of friends there, here Eva and Maggie with Maggie-2. She was dressed for the festivities celebrating the early 1800's era. There were lots of fun games to play from that era as well as many vendors showing activities from that time. We saw woodworking, weaving, basket making, rag doll, corn husk doll, shoe makers, needlepoint, bonnet makers, weapons and lots more! It was great fun!

Here Eva and Malachi work hard together to saw off a piece of wood! They decided they are glad that is not one of their chores :)

They also did egg races, tried walking on stilts, pole climbing and digging in the straw for candy!
It was a gorgeous day to spend together! Here is a family shot say CHEESE!

Almost time to go-- here they are sitting watching the fish (there is a fish hatchery there too)

A great day to step back in time and enjoy how life used to be. And soak up God's amazing beauty of nature!!!

Blessings on your week

The Quak Flock

GREEN eggs and piano lessons...

a few pictures from our day



Piano Lessons are FUN for everyone!

Here is Z practicing rounding his fingers on the keys. he just learned half notes.

And M "Lets Play Ball" is really the name of a piece

(I think its just to get boys to want to play the piano :))

The others are all enjoying it too (even me!) I love hearing music throughout the day.

and finally -- YEAH a GREEN egg!

When they went out to check they found 5 one of which was a colored one!! our record was 3 so we are excited! So maybe we'll have to have "GREEN EGGS AND HAM" tonight :)
Today's Bible verse

James 1:22-25 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.

Blessings on your day!

Quak flock Mama

Birthday Boy

Happy Birthday Lil Gil!


Another year -- another day to celebrate
and thank God for the blessings!

From fun days at Lake MI to being our "PROFESSOR"!

and don't forget the never ending - edge of your seat exciting dandelion picking -- I mean BASEBALL games :)

Dress up is always fun -- being anyone you want to be -- usually a soldier or pirate or something requiring a weapon!

We are so thankful God blessed us with this

Mighty

Animal

Loving

Agile

Courageous

Huggable

Irresitable

young man :)