Tuesday, June 21, 2022
Karate grappling
The boys have been doing karate for around five years now I think. Ben Sparks does SUCH an amazing job with them. They have learned SOOO much. They got to grapple each other the other day, and I got a video. Ben always has to watch very closely when the brothers are grappling because they can get carried away. So fun to watch all they've learned.
Pounce like a tiger
Technology can be fun sometimes!
Raven is SUCH a fun dog. She is so much littler than our other dogs and SUCH a sweet heart. Everyone has a favorite dog. Isaac doesn't love dogs but would probably say Raven. Sidge would say Ritter. Abigail would say Raven. Hannah would say Raven. And I would say Arabelle. No one loves Arabelle like I do. Ritter is a pile of fluff, and you can't not like him. But ohhhh, our Raven girl. The girls call her "Buts-uh" because her butt is always a-wigglin'
Monday, June 20, 2022
24 years together
Today is our 24th wedding anniversary. When my kids saw this picture of us as teenagers, they said:
Sidge: “Mom? Why are you wearing a crop top?"
Abigail: “Mom, why are you sticking your bum out?”
Hannah: “Mon, is that an anklet??”
Isaac: “Wow. You guys are like my age!”
Here is the tribute post John wrote to me on Facebook.
29 years ago we started dating.
I was 17. She was 16.
24 years ago, I knew I was marrying my best friend, but I had no clue about the adventures in store for us.
We’ve lived in 4 states and on 3 continents, travelled over half the globe, and have had over a dozen jobs between us.
Now we are sharing life with 4 amazing children on a farm in East Tennessee.
We’ve grown closer and more interdependent on each other over the years that sometimes it’s hard to see the other as a separate person… but this is such a miraculously good thing.
I’m more blessed than I deserve.
Happy Anniversary, Wendi Huisman Kitsteiner
*****
Here are some links to some of my past anniversary posts on the Blog:
Friday, June 17, 2022
Keep building the ark
DAY IN AND DAY OUT
Year after year (maybe for 60 - 70 years), Noah did the same old thing— hammered, nailed, and kept on building his ark. He did not have time to do all the things that everyone else was doing. He just kept on slogging and being faithful, doing the same thing every day for all those years. In doing so he condemned the world.
He changed the world because he stuck with the job he was given to do! While others did their own thing, Noah gave his life to building his ark. He was mocked, ridiculed, and persecuted, but he was the only one who saved his family!
Sometimes you may feel like Noah. You may wonder what you are doing. Family and neighbors think you are strange. Life is not always easy. Dear mother, I want to remind you that your daily faithfulness in the home is not in vain. You may not have time to do all the “vain” things that others are doing around you. But as you commit your life to building your ark, you will save your family. Also the generations to come, and for eternity.
Hebrews 11:7 says: “By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark TO THE SAVING OF HIS HOUSE; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.”
It’s another building day. Keep at it.
Blessings from Nancy Campbell
Painting by Steve Atkinson
Ballet videos
Abigail just finished her first week of ballet intensives. Following a week of very hard work every day from 11-5, the girls (and some guys -- including Isaac who helped partner!) put on a performance. I managed to get videos of the dances that had a lot of people who are special to us in them. I don't share links to dances of other kids without permission, but because these were already performed in front of an audience, I feel they are free for me to share. Here are the links!
Modern dance (includes niece Ana and our dear friend Maryah)
Partnering (includes Abigail, Isaac, and our niece, Kari)
Ana and Partner (our niece Ana partnering with a young man from ballet)
Gabe with Partner (nephew Gabe partnering with Ay-la)
Class dance (features Abigail and niece, Kari)
Kari (group dance)
Ana dance (includes Maryah)
Abigail's group dance (includes friends Johnna Beth, Ella, and Sarai)
Older girl group dance (includes Ana and Maryah)
Thursday, June 16, 2022
Seeligers visit
Our friends, Nick and Kristy, and their five children: Noah, Jonah, Liam, Oliver, and Angelica stopped by for a visit while vacationing in the Pigeon Forge area.
The Seeligers were stationed one year ahead of us first in Eglin, then in Turkey, and finally in the Azores. Our families were very connected, and a huge part of support for each other. It truly was AMAZING to see them again.
John is an introvert and doesn't often say "I'm so glad we did that" with company. BUT MAN were we glad we did that!
Way back in the Azores (July 2012)
And way back in Turkey (2010)
Tuesday, June 14, 2022
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