Three Friends, Three Grandmothers, Three Granddaughters!

Three good friends for over 25 years.What great memories we have. Now with the years passing so swiftly, we all have grown married children. The interesting thing that happened in 2008 was we all had a new granddaughter. This was my third granddaughter and 6th grandchild but for my two good friends, this was both their first granddaughter. These sweet precious little granddaughters were each born 2 months apart.

Here is grandmother #1 enjoying some special Christmas time with her first grandchild and granddaughter. She was born in May and what excitement and joy.

Special snuggles for her grandma.

Notice her gentle touch to her grandmothers cheek. I love that feeling, a sweet chubby little hand is so special to her grandmother.

Here she is enjoying a cloth Christmas book made specially for her

with much love from her Grandma.

Here is Grandmother #2. with her darling little granddaughter. She was born in July.

The photo's above really capture the deep love this Grandmother has for her Granddaughter.
You can tell the feeling is mutual. Those granddaughters just eat up every minute of Grandma's special touch.

It's such a joy to show off those granddaughters and you can see by the smile that Grandmother #2 is one proud grandmother. And rightly so!

This is me with Granddaughter #3. She was born in September.
She is as sweet as she can be. I thoroughly enjoy every moment I get to
spend with her.


Here she is fast asleep but I still don't want to put her down!
All three of our granddaughters live far away from us.
Us three friends each got to spend precious memorable time
with our Grandchildren over Christmas or New Years.
We are very grateful for that time but it always seems to go too fast!

Me with my granddaughter all dressed for Christmas.

Here she is smiling, I just know it is because she loves visiting

her Nana and sitting on my lap!

Since I am the one who normally is taking all the pictures, I really don't have

a whole lot of pictures to choose from.

Every now and then I give my camera to one of my older grandchildren and ask if they can snap a picture or two. Most times they jump at that chance.

So now that our children and grandchildren have all gone back to their homes far away,

us three friends brag, compare notes, show each other pictures of our three granddaughters.

What a blessing they are and what a blessing that all three of us experienced it within 4 months time in 2008!

Abortion (SAD)

This is the Anniversary of Roe verses Wade. What a terrible time in the History of America!
In our wildest imagination can you think of how many Innocent babies have been killed since that horrible day in history! God forgive us as a nation and please help our Government and the leaders to hear your word and call to stop the killings. There is no reason why women, men, or doctors should have the right to choose to kill a living baby, that choice only belongs to our loving creator, God, who loves and forgives us through Christ Jesus.

This is the site to a beautiful song, YOU KNEW MY NAME.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvkthiv7JbE#

I am posting some statistics for anyone who is interested. Our State had only a few more then 800 abortions this last year. I say only because this is a low number compared to many states.
When I think of about 3 abortions happening each day in our state, it makes me sick to my stomach. When I think of my children, my grandchildren, I can't understand any argument one might have for this atrocious act of sin.
Number of Abortions Performed in the United States

(AGI) (CDC)

1973 744,600 615,831

1974 898,600 763,476

1975 1,034,200 854,853

1976 1,179,300 988,267

1977 1,316,700 1,079,430

1978 1,409,600 1,157,776

1979 1,497,700 1,251,921

1980 1,553,900 1,297,606

1981 1,577,300 1,300,760

1982 1,573,900 1,303,980

1983 1,575,000 1,268,987

1984 1,577,200 1,333,521

1985 1,588,600 1,328,570

1986 1,574,000 1,328,112

1987 1,559,100 1,353,671

1988 1,590,800 1,371,285

1989 1,566,900 1,396,658

1990 1,608,600 1,429,577

1991 1,556,500 1,388,937

1992 1,528,900 1.359,145

1993 1,500,000 1,330,414

1994 1,431,000 1,267,415

1995 1,363,690 1,210,883

1996 1,365,730 1,221,585

1997 1,365,730 1,186,039

1998 1,365,730 884,273*

1999 1,365,730 861,789*

2000 1,312,990 857,475**

2001 1,303,000& 853,485**

2002 1,293,000

&2003 1,293,000

2004 1,293,000

&&&AGI estimate&&NRLC base figure

*excludes NH, CA, AK, OK

**excludes NH, CA, AK

40+ MILLION ABORTIONS SINCE 1973
4,000 each day
AGI - Alan Guttmacher Institute (Planned Parenthood)CDC - Centers for Disease ControlNRLC - National Right To Life CommitteeCIRTL - Central Illinois Right To Life
Source:
AGI - Alan Guttmacher Institute (Planned Parenthood)CDC - Centers for Disease ControlNRLC - National Right To Life CommitteeCIRTL - Central Illinois Right To Life
AGI - Alan Guttmacher Institute (Planned Parenthood)CDC - Centers for Disease ControlNRLC - National Right To Life CommitteeCIRTL - Central Illinois Right To Life

Why Abortions Are Performed
The overwhelming majority of all abortions, (95%), are done as a means of birth control.
Only 1% are performed because of rape or incest;
1% because of fetal abnormalities;
3% due to the mother's health problems.
Source: Central Illinois Right To Life
Reasons Women Choose Abortion (U.S.)
Wants to postpone childbearing: 25.5%
Wants no (more) children: 7.9%
Cannot afford a baby: 21.3%
Having a child will disrupt education or job: 10.8%
Has relationship problem or partner does not want pregnancy: 14.1%
Too young; parent(s) or other(s) object to pregnancy: 12.2%
Risk to maternal health: 2.8%
Risk to fetal health: 3.3%
Other: 2.1%Source:Bankole, Akinrinola; Singh, Susheela; Haas, Taylor. Reasons Why Women Have Induced Abortions: Evidence from 27 Countries. International Family Planning Perspectives, 1998, 24(3):117–127 & 152 As reported by:The Alan Guttmacher Institute Online:
Legality of Abortion
Abortion is legal in the USA at any time throughout the entire nine months of pregnancy... FOR ANY REASON (due to a woman's "mental health" exception)
Abortions Worldwide
Number of abortions per year: Approximately 46 MillionNumber of abortions per day: Approximately 126,000
Where abortions occur:78% of all abortions are obtained in developing countries and 22% occur in developed countries.
Legality of abortion:About 26 million women obtain legal abortions each year, while an additional 20 million abortions are obtained in countries where it is restricted or prohibited by law.
Abortion averages:Worldwide, the lifetime average is about 1 abortion per woman.
source: Center for Bioethical Reform

The Wedding of my Niece

Make a Smilebox greeting

Make a Smilebox greeting

EDITING FAVORITES

#1

SO! This is a picture of My oldest daughter and husband. I love playing around with the color etc on the edit field. It is hard for me to decide which one I like the best

so I just posted 5 different tones.

#2

#3

#4

#5

Now if you would like, you can choose which one you like the best and put it in the comment below.

Photo (A)

This is my Youngest daughter and her husband!

I have done the same thing to this picture. With this being a outdoor picture

the color comes out a little different. Once again, if you want to comment and let me know which one you like the best.

Photo (B)

Photo (C)

Photo (D) Photo (E)

I love the natural look on both their faces. It was very cold up on that mountain and

I am sure they were both saying under their breath, just hurry up and take the picture.

I do thank my son-in-laws for being so very patient with me and humoring my

obsession with Photo taking.

Just for fun memory photo's!

We had so much fun and enjoyed our family that I just want to share a few special fun moments!

Mommy and Daddy trying to get a laugh from chick #5!

The baby of the family! Fun, Fun and more fun!

OOH! AH AH! All the lights at Story Book Island and the Christmas light drive!


Here we are on Dinosaur Hill.

WOW! It's so-o-o big!

LOOK HOW HIGH UP ON THE MOUNTAIN WE ARE!

BUR-R-R that wind is COLD!

Look at those eyes!

Nana is in her glory with 3 mo old chick #5 learning to grab her toys!

The treasure chest excitement!

Chick #1 is growing up so fast and so beautiful too!

Chick #2 a great help with the fire wood!

Chick #3 in her new (Its a GREEN WORLD after all) t-shirt.


Chick #4 making a snow Angel!
and

Below, excitement over his new speed racer!

Mom taking DOWN 9 yr old chick #2.

Its hard work but she can still do it! YEA!

And pictures to prove it!

On the playground!

Help! These things move and are scary!

We can't forget the dogs!
Toby with his gift!

Just try to get this gift! It's mine, all mine!

Baxter dog wondering if it is really Christmas and are you sure I can open my gift?

OK! I really get to open it!

Rosco with both his gifts, the chew bone and the squeaky squirrel!

Some little girl thinks I look cute with this flower on my back! Maybe I am cute!
Just don't try take my bone!

The Buck!

Yesterday, Jan 12 Th was a very, very windy day! Gusts measured to 75 MPH. We looked out our kitchen window to see this beautiful Buck laying just North and in our neighbors yard. This was a good place for him, protected by the fence and hill from the strong North wind.


I took the above picture from our window. This is the same exact place we had spotted a doe just 2 weeks earlier when our grandchildren were visiting and had the opportunity to see it from our window.

I watched him for a few minutes and then decided to walk outside and snap a few pictures. He was so content but didn't take his eyes off me. They sure are a beautiful sight when you see them so close up.
I actually walked right up to the fence and he just lay like a statue.

About 2 hours latter, He had turned the other direction so I got my camera again.

Then when he stood up, I could see why he had been so content to lay! His right leg was injured. I immediately felt so bad for the poor beautiful deer. I even trough some cut up apple over the fence in case he wanted to nibble on it.

I walked up closer. I'm surprised I could take a halfway clear picture with the way the wind was blowing and tugging at me and my camera.

We watched the deer all afternoon. He was laying most of the time and licking his wounded leg!

This broke my heart! I would have taken him a bucket of water had I thought it wouldn't scared him away. He was still there as it got dark, but this morning he was gone. I would hope or guess that he limped off to find some water and some good eating. I think his injuries might of possibly occurred from a car hitting him. There are a lot of Deer in town since the hills have over 5 ft of snow this year and it is hard for them to find food.

This reminds me of a Bible verse and song. Psalm 42: 1 As the deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.

January 6th EPIPHANY

This is the day we celebrate the Wise men, Kings, or Magi when they worshiped the new baby Jesus and presented gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. The link below shows the blog from last Epiphany and you are welcome to look at it. Let us also worship Him and offer Him gifts!

http://nanaporcupin.blogspot.com/2008/01/epiphany-12th-day-of-christmas.html

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I had purchased this tall, blue, very pretty bottle of wine 6 years ago.
This year with our whole family together,
I decided it was the perfect time to open and enjoy for New Years Day!


This is our family. Our two lovely daughters and their husbands, our 6 beautiful grandchildren and Me and my husband.

A special treat on New Years Eve, King Crab Legs!

The old year 2008 was brought to a end and the new year ushered in by our whole family attending church service together. What special joy and memories!

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;

old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

2 Corinthians 5:17

This is the Chicks! Our oldest daughter and husbands 5 children.
What a joy to have them visit for a full week.

We enjoyed many fun moments. This is our youngest daughter opening her gift from her Grandparents, my mother and dad.

You can see the excitement in my oldest daughters face after

opening her home made gift from her sister.

The newest member of our family, at 3 months old, this was her very first Christmas and we were blessed to spend so much time with her.

11 yr old Chick #1 opening her gift from us. She was very excited and well pleased.

Here is 9 yr old Chick #2
helping 3 yr old Chick #4 figure out all the fun features of his new

speed racer, A Battle Morph Mach 6! WOW.

Chick #5 received a Silver Rattle with Teething Ring

from us, her Nana and Papa.

She is just learning how to grab things,

hold them and take them to her mouth!

What a sweetheart and so much fun.

She also laughed out loud for the first time while they were here.

There is nothing like a baby's first laugh!

Papa and big sister show her the new dress from Nana and Papa.

Its a 12 month size and we hope it will fit for Easter.
I think she liked the bright pink color!

Chick #2 showing off his gift from Nana and Papa. He couldn't wait to try it out with the new country western CD.


And here is our oldest grandson. He received a wood box, (treasure chest) with many cute little treasures that everyone was excited to see. Since it was a treasure box, he had to go on the hunt for the keys to unlock it! That is his dad at the left and mom sitting behind him.

BUT . . . of all the chicks and of all the gifts, I think this was the best.
YEP! SKETCHER SHOES!

When she had told me about them 2 months ago, I thought, "what a gift for a 6yr old little girl" so I ask, "but are you sure you wouldn't rather have a toy?" She replied, "NO!"

This chick #3 re-wrapped and reenacted opening her Sketchers no less then 10 times and each time she was just as happy and had just as big a smile as if it were the first time opening them.

They fit her perfect and you can tell she loves them very mush.

I don't think I could have chosen a better gift!

Christmas Day, before our family arrived, We had the great pleasure of spending the day

first at church and then with dear Friends.

This is the granddaughter of our friends. We had so much fun with her!

Her and her parents were here visiting from Ohio. I used to baby sit her mother when she was that age so it was really fun for us to get some visits in,

first at our house and then at her parents home.

At 7 mo old she enjoyed snow for the first time. It was a real nice day and she loved the feel of the cold white stuff! What a cutie!

After spending a few hours at our close by friends, we traveled about 1 hour to the Northern Hills to spend a few more hours with other dear friends.

The couple front left are so very special to us. We have worked with them at the Pine Ridge Indian Mission for the last 8 years! They have 14 children but as you can see in the above photo, only 3 could be there on Christmas day. We had a very enjoyable time and also enjoyed the winter wonderland in the Black Hills.

Now this is our friends who I mentioned earlier, who's daughter I used to baby sit. They are very close to our family and this photo proves it as they squish chick #3. I doubt if she minded, just look at her smile! The family photos were taken by them and HE is the one who got everyone so worked up, excited and silly. We really did get some cute pictures, Thank You Jim!

We love our whole family so very much and pray for God to Bless their New Year, 2009!