Please pray with us....

...for Tim Beck.

He is my brother-in-law's (Benjy) younger brother. There is no blood connection, but he's part of the family. Just the fact that we've attended the Caldwell Night Rodeo together gives us a bond that is stronger than blood. ;)

You can read the whole story on his blog called "Fighting Hodgkins", but tomorrow is a very important day.

He is receiving a stem cell transplant after a week of intensive radiation and chemotherapy.

Please pray that his healthy cells (which were harvested a couple of months ago) would do their job and fight off the cancer that has been attacking his body. Most importantly, pray that he would be strengthened in the inner man.

Thank you!

Miss Piggy

Valerie has a new trick! Isn't it lovely?

Life with Little Girls

I always thought that I would have a houseful of boys. I was wrong. Wonderfully wrong. I can't imagine anything better (for me!) than staying home with three little girls. I may be singing a different tune when they are 17, 15, and 12.....but for now I am perfectly content. Here are just a few "girly things" that I really enjoy:

• Hearing Sierra and Ally sing all of The Sounds of Music songs at the top of their lungs.
• Creating new hair-dos using as many clips as and ribbons possible.
• Playing house, school, store and doctor.
• Crafts that involve jewels and sequins.
• Reading and watching Little House on the Prairie together.

Ally and Val-Val playing in the tunnel.

Kissy lips on Valentine's Day....courtesy of Uncle Chuck and Aunt Missy.

Dr. Ally gives Belle a thorough check-up.

Valerie loves her new toothbrush. (She still has only one tooth!)

Sierra brought this book home from her school library last week and read the whole thing (32 pages!) to me.

I was SO PROUD!!!

No Greater Joy

This post at least a week overdue, but I just have to share it:

Last Thursday (Feb.25) sometime around 8:00a.m. Ally Grace asked Jesus to come into her heart and be her savior! I was in the middle of fixing her hair when she blurted out, ""I believe in Jesus." She has often said this to me so at first I didn't think too much of it. But, for some reason, in the middle of our mad morning rush to get Sierra to school, I decided to take a little more time and ask her what she believes about him. She told me that she believed that he died on the cross and was in heaven now. I'm sure I've done it before, but I explained again that if she really believed that then she should pray and tell God. Her next sentence took me completely off guard. "I want to do that right now." I almost dropped the comb. The ponytails could wait - this was it! Right there in the bathroom, I led her in a prayer. What a joy to hear her repeat those simple words of faith after me!

Fast forward to this Friday (March 5). We were in the bathroom again getting ready for the day. Ally says, "Mom, you pray after me this time." With a smile in my heart I agreed and put the comb down again. Line by line I followed her in this prayer:

"Dear God, please help me not to do bad sins. I want You to forgive me. I believe in You. And I really want to have a garden in the spring. Dear God, Amen."

Trashin' the Camp

Even with an ear infection and while pushing through her first tooth, she is still a pretty happy baby.

The girls like to listen to track #4 on the Tarzan soundtrack while we clean up before nap time. Obviously they were a little distracted this time. Watch Sierra's awesome white-girl dance moves and Ally trying to figure out her fingers for rabbit ears. They crack me up!!!

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?!?!