The Dulcimer Guy's Holly Jolly Bingo

Just wanted to pass along the news that Kelsey has been keeping up another blog....

The Dulcimer Guy's Blog.

Her and Matthew are hosting the Holly Jolly Bingo game and the prize for the winner is a FREE CD, one of Matthew's "When I'm Happy and I Know It''.  So if you're up for a game of bingo, head on over to their blog or Facebook page and play!

Click HERE on their Blog to play.

Matthew turned 25!

 On December 1st, my husband, Matthew, celebrated his 25th birthday!

Matthew shares the same birthday as his nephew, Nathan, so as a birthday tradition, his brother, Luke, would always take them out to eat at Longhorn Steakhouse.  My family helped me carry on the tradition by meeting us there to surprise him yesterday!

Fond Memory: The first day that Matthew called and asked to speak with me on the phone!  I'll never forget hearing his voice for the first time.  We talked for over an hour and it was almost unreal knowing that he was really, truly interested in courting me!  My heart melted, to say the least.

Funny Moment: The first time that Matthew and I met in person he was trying to help ease some of the awkwardness so he jumped in by telling a joke.  And it was a long joke.  One of those that builds and builds and builds until it gets to the end and leaves you hanging.  Unfortunately for him, we had all heard the joke before so he only got a few chuckles.  It was one of those "slightly embarrassing moments when you tell a joke and no one laughs". ;-)

Flashback...

(My sister-in-law gave us a thumb drive of pictures of Matthew growing up, which was super sweet because many of these I had never seen.)

 He and Luke are very close!

 Dressed for a play.

 On a camping/hiking trip with his brothers and friends.

 The J & L Lawn and Landscape crew.  Matthew is third from the left.

Happy Birthday Matthew.  I'm so glad that the Lord brought you into my life!  I feel extremely blessed to be your wife and I'm looking forward to what God has in store for our future.  You are a loving, kind, cheerful, sweet husband who cares for the things of the Lord and I love you dearly!

My sweetheart on our wedding day.

 "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.  But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law doth he meditate day and night.  And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."

Psalms 1:1-3

Ethan is 17!!!!

 

Today is Ethan's birthday!

Fond Memory:  Our church shares communion every Sunday, and each of the fathers distributes the bread and juice to his own family (being the head of his family).  Well, one particular Sunday Dad couldn't be there, so when it came time to pass it out, the deacons of the church handed the platter to Ethan to pass out to our family.  It was a sweet time to realize just how old he was and to recognize him as a "man of the family" that day.

Funny Moment: Every Christmas, all of us kids go out for an afternoon to go Christmas shopping together.  All of us would take our own money to buy gifts for each other.  Well, Ethan decided to be the big-hearted fellow and drop his change in each of the "door-ringers" buckets as we entered and exited the stores.  At the end of the day, it proved to be a very good lesson on how little change can add up!  As he counted up his money that he came home with and figured out what he had spent, he had given a total of $10 worth of change away!  Needless to say, he learned his lesson!

Flashback...

We love you Ethan, and thank the Lord for you!  You are such a big help around the farm and home.  You have been blessed with the gift of leadership and know when to step in and take charge.  Everyone looks up to you, and has, even from a very young age.  You can take on a challenge and succeed.  Praising the Lord for blessing our family with you!

Happy Birthday Ethan!

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God....Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;...he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness...Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord." 

Romans 12 compilation

Evangeline Repentance Yuck

October 8th, 2015, Jordan gave birth to her third little girl,  Evangeline!   The birth went well with only a 2 1/2 hour labor.   She did end up having to deliver in the hospital due to the fact that she was having issues with meconium.  But baby was born quickly and natural,  and both momma and baby are

 healthy!  Caleb and Jordan couldn't be more thrilled and Victoria and Berea love their new little sister. 

Evangeline weighed 8lbs. 1 oz. and she was born at 5:27am.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow! 

Our Pictures at Hitchcock...

After leaving the reception, Matthew and I went to Hitchcock Woods with the photographer for some couple pictures.

They turned out lovely!

Mr. & Mrs. Dickerson

This shot was a lot of fun....and a good balancing trick!

Tender moments...

Our favorite!

Such sweetness....awe!

He's really strong!

We were supposed to jump, but my train made it a little difficult. Matthew got really high though!

A beautiful day filled with lots of beautiful memories!

(All photos taken by David Russell Photography)