My Grandpa

Wise. Kind. Humble. Generous. Honest. Faithful. Servant. Hard Working. Preacher. Carpenter. Mountain Man. Handy Man. Family Man. Garage Sale King. Ice Cream Connoisseur.

Grandpa on the banks of the Payette River.

Grandpa & Valerie


Grandpa & Ally


Grandpa & Sierra picking raspberries.

Grandpa & Grandma Obenchain.

My Grandpa Obenchain is turning 84 this week. He has always been someone that I greatly admire. I am very thankful for the heritage that he has given (and continues to give!) our family.

Happy Birthday, Grandpa!

Oh No You Didn't...

... nearly fall asleep in my walk-in closet while trying to hide from me at bedtime!

... hide your scissors and itty-bitty paper scraps under the couch cushions instead of putting them away in the right place.

... unload 30+ books from the shelf in less than 30 seconds.

...empty my dishcloth drawer for the SEVENTH time today.

.... try to get your princess clock and porcelain Snow White doll off of the top shelf all by yourself.

So there you have it! This is what I've been up to lately, rather than blogging. I'm taking pictures of my three little girls being as naughty as they are cute.

What's a mama to do?!?!

Prayer Poem

This was so good that I had to cut and paste it from Dad's blog today:

I Didn’t Have Time to Pray
(author unknown)

I got up early one morning and rushed right into the day;
I had so much to accomplish I didn’t have time to pray.
Troubles just tumbled about me and heavier came each task.
Why doesn’t God help me, I wondered.
He answered, “You didn’t ask.”

I tried to come into God’s presence, I used all my keys at the lock.
God gently and lovingly chided, “Why, child, you didn’t knock.”
I wanted to see joy and beauty but the day toiled on grey and bleak.
I wondered why God didn’t show me.
He said, “You didn’t seek.”

I woke up early this morning and paused before entering the day.
I had so much to accomplish that I had to take time to pray.

Pancake Girl

Sunday night dinners are always interesting at our house! We usually have big bowl of popcorn (Whirley-Pop, of course!) and some Coke after naps and before going to the evening service at church. By the time we get home it's almost 8 o'clock. So we'll usually have a sandwich, or a bowl of cereal, or left-overs or occasionally we'll grab a $5 pizza at Little Caesar's on the way home. Well - yesterday was unique. After I tucked a tired little Valerie into her crib, I came out to find Marc and Ally in the kitchen....MAKING PANCAKES!!! They really hit the spot and I wouldn't be surprised if they become a Sunday night tradition in our family. Only thing is, I hate sending kids to bed smelling like syrup. Ick.

Tired Valerie. Sundays really wear this poor kid out!

Marc and Ally (poser!) in the kitchen.

I love the look of concentration as she flips them off the griddle.

(By the way, this girl can put down a pancake or two....or five or six!)

A Blessing on Your Head

Reading this passage meant a lot to me this morning:

Matthew 5 (The Message)

When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said:

* "You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.

* "You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.

* "You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought.

* "You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat.

* "You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'care-full,' you find yourselves cared for.

* "You're blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.

* "You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family.

* "You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom.

* "Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.

A Recipe for Happy Chaos

2 Grandparents

3 Sets of Aunts & Uncles

5 Small Children

1 Cabin in the Snowy Woods

Goin' to Town with Grandpa

A Photo Montage by Sierra Elise - Age 5

One of the best, new cabin traditions is the "big kid" trip to town with Grandpa. My brave Dad loads the girls in his trusty, half-ton Chevy pick-up (a.k.a. THE BEAST) and takes them to the booming town of Crouch for some candy. On the way they usually stop to visit the animals at the Rick's house. I let Sierra take my camera along for this last trip since parents are not invited. I have always been very curious about what goes on. Here are a few of the many, many, many pictures that she took:

Well, okay - I took this one before they took off. And they are in the 4Runner this time because the roads were a bit slick.

A view of the driver from the back seat.

A neighbor's snowman through steamy, blurry windows.

A stop on the bridge to see the ice forming on the river.

Rick's miniature horse and mule.

What you don't hear in these pictures is the John Denver CD blaring in the background. And, I guess that Sierra's hands were too busy to take any pictures of the girls eating their candy, but they each came back with chocolate around their lips and absolutely NO appetite for dinner.