Wordless Wednesday ~ Ahoy, Matey...

(PC to Tiff)

DNA...

Thanks Mark and Tiffani for the fun Christmas gift. It's interesting how similar our DNA is.

DNA Results Summary for Tim Williams

Ethnicity Estimate
Europe West 48%
Great Britain 29%
Scandinavia 15%
Ireland/Scotland/Wales 7%

DNA Results Summary for Eileen Williams
Ethnicity Estimate

Europe West 35% 

(Primarily in: Belgium, France, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein)

Scandinavia 22%

Ireland/Scotland/Wales 16% 

Europe South 14% 

Great Britain 11%

Overview:
Stone Age farmers brought wheat, cows, and pigs to Western Europe from the Middle East between 8,000 and 6,000 years ago. Migrations and conquering armies followed, including Romans, Franks, Gauls, and Germanic tribes. Each helped make this region as culturally, linguistically, and ethnically diverse as its landscape, which stretches from Amsterdam's sea-level metropolis to the majestic peaks of the Alps and from the boisterous beer gardens of Munich to the sun-soaked vineyards of Bordeaux.

Captain on the bridge...

Thomas Edison had some serious disagreements with the religions of his day, and was often accused of being an atheist. However he never denied the existence of God.

He said:
"When you see everything that happens in the world of science and in the working of the universe, you cannot deny that there is a "Captain on the bridge.""

I am not sure how you feel about that, but when I look at the stars, planets and universe, I am convinced that God lies behind it all. I admit that I will never figured God out completely, but in 'faith' I ascribe glory to His handiwork. I believe that God is the 'Captain on the Bridge.' 
~ Delme Linscott

Psalm 8:3-4
"When I consider your heavens,
    the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
    which you have set in place,
what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
    human beings that you care for them."

ThrowBack Thursday ~ The best...

The best, most devoted mother, period.

America's Pastor...

I remember as little girl listening to Billy Graham preach powerful sermons. He would fill stadiums. It's a memory that has stayed with me through the years. Grandma Federer also loved listening to him preach. She donated regularly to his ministry. I remember watching her write out a check and I would mail it. I believe Reverend Graham was chosen and gave hope to thousand of people. He prayed with and for many people. He preached that we should be "right with God." He taught that because of the Savior's atoning sacrifice we can repent and be saved. He preached a message of second chances.

He died this morning, he was 99 years old. I wonder if there will ever be anyone like him again.

I remember that he spoke with conviction and power. It made him famous and admired. Kings, queens, and many presidents sought his counsel and advice. He said that he prayed many times a day for the current president. 

He was very humble. He once said that, “My whole life has been to please the Lord and to honor Jesus, not to see me or to think of me.”

George Beverly Shea was the principle singer at the crusades. He would lead the music and sing. He would often sing "How Great Thou Art." It's always been my favorite hymn. I played that song on the piano at Dad and Mom's memorial services.

“God never takes away something from your life without replacing it with something better.”

“I've read the last page of the Bible, it's all going to turn out all right.”

“My home is in Heaven. I'm just traveling through this world.”

Reverend Graham has taken his place in his Heavenly home and has been reunited with his wife. He said, I just want to hear the Savior say, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant: ... enter thou into the joy of thy lord." (Matthew 25:21)

I have no doubt he did indeed hear those words.

Wordless Wednesday ~ Winter finally showed up...

Look up, not down...

We Can Always Come Back To This

Standing at the station, we don't know what to say
Looking out the window as you're rolling away
If I'm gonna be alone, let it be with you

Mother don't you cry, we're gonna be all right
Open up your suitcase when you get there tonight
You're not alone, I'm always with you

No matter where we go from here
No matter how the cards will fall
I'll pick you up, and you'll hold me too
So don't give up on me, I'll never give up on you
Everything's gonna be alright, I know you believe it too
If I'm gonna be alone, let it be with you
If I'm gonna be alone, let it be with you

Look up, not down
It all comes around
Even when we're gone
We can always come back to this
We can…

~Hannah Miller (From "This is Us")

Brothers.Sunday dinner.Date with Cash.The Park.Valentine Box...

(PC to Tiff)

Yummy dinner, thanks Chris!

I found Christopher's favorite coat in the storage unit, 
mother's know...

A legit hole-in-one...

First time tying his shoes!

My Valentine's Day gift to Cash, he can build a Lego set like this in a few days, all by himself. He told me it was easy!

 Cash's Valentines box is full and cards and treats!

ThrowBack Thursday ~ Ivan Lester...

My Dad... he worked hard all his life. 

He was gone too soon and I miss everyday.

Wordless Wednesday ~ My new Lexus...

Something resembling lemonade...

I've been watching a show called "This is Us.' I really like it. I have laughed and cried while watching. It has reminded me how important it is to keep moving forward in life. 

It's a very hopeful show.

These are few of my favorite lines from the show so far...

"You either roll up your sleeves and fight for what you've got, or you decide that you're tired and give up."

"I like to think that maybe one day you'll be an old man like me, talking a younger man's ear off, explaining to him how you took the sourest lemon that life has to offer and turned it into something resembling lemonade. If you can do that, then you will still be... taking three babies home from this hospital. Just maybe not the way you planned.

"I love you as much as a human heart can love."

ThrowBack Thursday ~ Snow angel Cash!

What a fun day with Cash. 

Too bad we didn't have much snow this winter.

Wordless Wednesday ~ Naptime for Grahm at Grandma's

Fork over knives...

I have known for some time that I wanted to try a whole food/plant-based diet. I don't really eat too much meat anyway. My niece Julie has been an inspiration as well as Tiffani. I think it takes a lot of courage and planning to change your diet so dramatically. I know we eat a certain way based on how we grew up, out of habit. We trust what our parents and grandparents put on the table was going to be healthy and good for us. I believe that they did there best based on the information they had, and what was available. (The meat I ate was right from our farm). I have been reading blogs, and watching documentaries, and I'm ready to take the plunge. It's not going to be easy but I want to feed my family more healthy meals. 

I have been following a site called Forks over Knives, and they are a lot of good tips, and recipes.

I watched a documentary call "What 

the Health" and it scared the hell out of me! 

My first attempt at a vegan Sunday meal... 

Santa Fe Penne with whole grain pasta and vegetables. I've never heard of nutritional yeast but it a nice cheese substitute, and tasted good on the pasta. I think I added too much garlic but it was still tasty. The grands didn't love it but they gave it a try. We also had asparagus and golden beets.

For dessert I made chocolate cupcakes with applesauce and whole wheat flour... no butter or sugar. The frosting was made with dates and honey. They were very good. Grey helped me make some cherry ice cream. We used bananas, frozen cherries, vanilla, almond milk, and added a few chocolate chips. We used the food processor and put the mixture in the freezer for a bit. Cash, Colby, Grey really liked dessert. When Grey finished his he said, What else can I have? HaHa!

It felt good to serve a meal without fat, sugar, and meat. I will keep trying to eat this way.

Another week...

The Blue Moon... there were two full moons in January.

Chris wants to me come to the Philippines with him and try shrimp wrapped in crispy sweet potatoes. That sounds delightful!

Sometimes Grandpa picks Cash up from school and they get a smoothie on the way home. He is so handsome.

Mark and Grandpa took the boys to Home Depot to make a craft. It was crowded so they painted them at our house.

We are so happy Chris is home, he's got a little jetlag.

The other night Colby put his arm around me while we watching a show. I felt so much love for him and I felt he was showing me that he loves me too.

Grahm likes these cars. He gets a hold of them and gives them a good whack on the table!

The other night Mark was reading a book with Grey. He likes the book, "The Dirty Dinosaur." Mark would read part of a sentence and Grey would finish it. It was so cute.

My cozy Colby!

Nite, Nite