GUESS WHAT?

 

It's their 26th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY! They've spent over half their lives married, had eight kids and survived so far. Pretty amazing right?! 

They've raised/still are raising eight kids, brought them to Christ, taught them to follow and live for Him and taught them a lot of what they know, and they've grown closer on the journey. There have been fun times, hard times, silly times, crazy times, sad times, adventurous times, learning times, and hard to describe times.

                                                                                          

Following God and His path. They may not be perfect (who is?) but they were perfect for each other and all eight kids. They took Deuteronomy 6:6-7 and lived it out. Impressing God's commandments on their children. They've lived a ministry of teaching and encouraging both their kids and those around them to follow God. To look for His call and live, work, serve, and go 'all out' for Him.  Leading by example. Two amazing people serving an amazing God.

Who are they? Well, there my Parents! 

I've been so blessed to have you as my mom and dad, thanks for teaching me about God, and His love and starting me on my life adventure and for being an example. You guys are amazing and I love you both!

-Hosanna 

We're Back....

....and its nice to be home. We got back yesterday evening, all of us super tired. It was a lot of fun. We got to meet new people, make more memories, and learn lessons. Dad, Rayni and I went down there along with Mr. Cooper, Jessica Cooper, Aaron Campbell, Jonathan Grindall, and Jacob and Justin White. It started out with an 8 1/2 hour car ride, then three days of tournament then the ride back.

Rayni and I competed in debate last year along with speech, and this year we aren't participating in the debate side. Lets just say we had a lot more free time, which was pretty weird but also pretty fun as we had more time to relax and talk. We had three rounds of speech on both Thursday and Friday, then Saturday was just semi-finals and final rounds. I think it was worth it going.

Anyways, that is just thought I would write a quick note. See you all later!!!

-Hosanna

 

Tournament!

Hello there!! Thought I would start off with a picture dad took a couple of days ago of Mom and Azariah that I absolutely loved!














So, this weekend there is a speech and debate tournament in Medford, Oregon. Dad, Rayni and I are going and we are taking a group of people from our club, down as well. We leave tomorrow afternoon so yesterday, today, and probably tomorrow as well we have been frantically getting ready. I'm working on my Illustrated (this is the picture of my boards from behind). It is definitely a work in progress.

I'll post again with either an update or results. For now though, so long!

-Hosanna

Hey Everyone

So it has really been a long time since my last post! I have been wanting to post for a long time but every time I get back to it I think about how much I have to say. Its this terrible disease I have for a need to have a full update. Haha, I am forcing myself to make this post and I must tell you it really isn't a full update at all, but I hope you enjoy it.

The family is doing great! Life is going on, all of us kids are back in school. Zeb is working on his tests, Jos is still going to community college Rayni and I are back at highschool trying to get caught up in areas the we got behind and Jed, Keziah and Malachi are all working with mom and getting a lot done. Malachi is working on reading and doing really well.

The Latest News (which comes in a list of blessings):

1.) Family The week before Christmas our whole family headed off to Colorado we eventually got there after a little bit of delay from the snow. To sum it all up, it was amazing, fun, and well worth it. We stayed at our Aunt Millie and Uncle Gail's house most of the time and went around visiting everyone. We had some kind of family get together almost every day and it was an awesome time to spend Christmas. At one point when we were about to have dinner we all gathered around to pray and as everyone bowed their head I glanced around and realized what an amazing blessing our extended family is. I've talked, known, and heard of people with broken families sometimes not even talking with each other because of something or other. But here I was standing in a circle of family all bowing our heads to praise God. There were 6 kids in my dads family. From that came twenty-eight grandkids (one of which I am one of them) and so far forty-three great grandkids. A big get-together, amazing fun, and a huge blessing. We got back the 3rd of January and it was nice to be home.

2. Friends My dad had his 50th birthday on Christmas eve of this year. Before we left we had a surprise Birthday Party for him (and yes, it did turn out to be a surprise...he didn't figure it out until after about three different families arrived haha). A lot of people ended up coming and it was pretty cool getting to see everyone. We have had a lot of amazing times and have been blessed by the families the Lord has put in our lives. I was talking with a good friend and talking about some of the fun times we had about 8 years earlier. I wish I could remember everything all of those fun times. We also had a surprise when we came back from Colorado, because someone had fixed our window that had been broken (for 2 years) and we're still not sure who it is.

3. Time As I'm getting older and the years are passing by faster and faster I am more and more realizing the blessing of time. The fact that we have time is a blessing in many ways. Most of them obvious, no time means well...no time. The fact that we have limited time makes us value, treasure, and hopefully use it all the more, along with making us look forward to the time we'll have in heaven. So exciting!!!

All this we have because, well...God gave it to us. How amazing He is. I've been reading some of the Old Testament prophet books. I don't know if you have ever heard someone say that the Old Testament God is a God of hate while the New Testament God is a God of love, but I was struck by how wrong that is. Yes, He disciplined His people, but my parents discipline me. Do I draw the conclusion that because they discipline me they hate me? No, all the more I see the love they have because they are taking the time to train me up in the way I should go...and every time I mess up and realize it, they let me back into their loving arms. God did the exact same thing with His people constantly letting them come back and always loving them. I was getting quite frustrated with the Israelites, why on earth do they keep making the same mistake, and why on earth does God keep letting them? Then I think about it, and have one of those "oh duh" moments and realized how much I do it and how God still puts up with me...not only that but LOVES me. Pretty crazy thought.


Well, its lunch time so I better go. I hope you're year is amazing!

-Hosanna  

Update!

So, if there are any people who actually read this blog you might be wondering when I am going to post next. After all its been over a month since I have posted. So here is what we have been up to and some pictures as well.

Mid July Rayni and I got to go to a house in Lake Chelan with our Awana group for five days. It was an amazing time to get to know each other better, have fun, learn, and grow in our relationship with God. We sang worship songs every night and it was amazing to just come before God and worship Him.

 Most of the girls that went to Chelan with us.

The last week of July Zeb, Rayni and I got to help out at a speech camp that some of our friends were putting on. It was awesome to see some of the kids grow and imagine how they might impact the world.

The day after Speech camp ended Jos, Rayni, Jed and I headed to Awana Camp for the first week of August. Where Rayni and I were attending as campers and Jos as a counselor. It was different from past years, some of my closer friends in Awana were graduating and there was a new change in counselors and staff there. The week was still lots of fun, and yet more growing and learning.

 Hosanna on top, then from left to right: Sarah, Noel, and Katie

Our bowling mates.

 Noel and Rayni being tough :)

 These were the other ladies in my cabin for the week.

We got home and had a couple days to rest (we were pretty much flopped on the couch asleep for most of it trying to catch up on rest) then we had some cousins come from Colorado come to our house. That was a blast as well. We went to the beach, bunkers, downtown, and locks as well as played all sorts of games. It sure was a lot of fun.

 On the Ferry! From left to right:

Rayni, Keziah, Josi, Ashtyn, Azariah, Hosanna, Malachi, and Jacob

 Jed and Ashtyn looking under the rocks.

 The Groves Family

Bryghton, Josi, Ashtyn, Kendi, Jacob, Braislea(sp), and Ev.

Malachi, Keziah, Josi, and Jacob

 The Groves Family Again

 The Frye Family

Sleeping outside!

Dad left on Wednesday, for two weeks, on a trip to New Mexico and Kansas for meetings, and stopped in Colorado to see our Granddad and spend some time with him. Prayer for a safe trip would be awesome

The rest of us are just getting back into school and trying to enjoy what summer we have left. So that is what we have been up to! Anyway, I better be off for now, till next time.

-Hosanna

Lately....

It seems like a lot has happened. Time seems to fly by as you get older and the more you wish it to slow the faster it goes.

On the 30th was Azariah's birthday and He turned a year old. Its crazy how fast that kid grows. We invited a few neighbors over and gave Azariah his own small cake which he proceeded to have fun with.

 "What is this??"

"Yum" - First Taste

 After a little while he got a little tired of eating it and started playing with the cake instead.

and boy was it fun cleaning him up afterwards (a job that fell to Rayni) but I'm sure he had fun

He had the rest of us laughing while he was eating his cake, (quite the entertainer at a year old). It's been so much fun to see him grow up this last year, and on the third he started walking all by himself. His whole face brights up when he starts to walk/run somewhere by himself, with this huge smile on his face almost hyperventilating from the excitement. 

The next day (the first) was Jos' birthday, turning 19. 

Jos (for the most part) has been one amazing brother (except, of course, for the times when he loved to tease us to death) he has always been fun to hang around. He seems to love little kids, and almost all of them love him as well. Nothing seems to knock him to much and if you ever need anyone strong to lean on, you can just call him. :) I've always looked up to him as a brother, the way he deals with situations and people not getting angry very often but always strong as a rock. Instead of working half-heartedly he finds the most creative ways to get through things no matter how hard. He is always such a joy to be around, laughing and making others laugh. 

I know this is pretty "mushy-gushy" but I love you Jos and I hope you have an awesome year to come, with many lessons and blessings from God, a year of growing and learning for Him.  

On the fourth we decided to stay home and had some friends come over for the day, afterwards we went and got a few fireworks to set off. I think Jos and I had the most fun setting them off and battling each other in a popper war (those small fireworks that you throw on the ground and they snap or pop). Afterwards part of us got up on the roof to watch the fireworks around us which was lots of fun. Here are some of the pictures we took while on the roof.

Zeb, Jos, Hosanna, and Rayni 

Zeb, Jos, Hosanna, Jed and Rayni 

 Jed, Jos, Hosanna, and Rayni

Jed, Hosanna, Azariah, and Rayni

Rayni and Azzy

Today mom left for New Zealand, our Grandma is moving houses so mom is going for two weeks to help out and see family. We are sure gonna miss her, and this will by Azariah's first time without mom for this long so he is gonna miss her too.

Anyways, I'm off for now. Hope you all enjoyed the update.

-Hosanna 

1 John

So, today is the 5th, and the day some of us were finishing. I must admit I've gotten behind so I am working on catching up right now, and set a new goal of Thursday. It has been really cool to hear the different ways people are going through it and what they have learned from it. I'm so glad some of you decided to do it. To those who are done and those who are close, what has been your favorite verse or passage. What was of the lessons God taught you this last week and a half. My aunt asked me how I hoped memorizing this book would affect my life and future, I might put my answer up later, but what would be your answer to this question?

-Hosanna