She's Arrived!

Piper Ann McGuffey arrived safely from God on Saturday night around 9:00 PM to my sister Rebekah and her husband Isaiah. She weighs 8 lbs. 2 oz. and is 20 and a half inches long.

Mother and baby are doing great!

My dad is once again a proud grandpa.

My mom loves having a another granddaughter. 

My brother Kirk likes being Piper's uncle.

Kirk's girlfriend Jeri will one day be her aunt.

My sister KayleeBeth thinks it's cute when Piper sticks out her tongue.

My brother Ryan didn't quite know what to do with the little baby.

She likes to be all bundled up.

Isn't she so beautiful?

P.S. I took all the pictures except for the one with me in it (KayleeBeth took that one).

Exciting Stuff and Summer

Hello my lovely readers! It's been a while since the last time that I actually did a more personal post (i.e. about me, my life, my family, etc.) and so I will do one now! =)

    This month has had its busy parts and slower parts but has been quite nice so far. My friend Jeri (my older brother Kirk's girlfriend) graduated on the second. She and my brother-in-law both left on a plane on the eighth, her to Norway for a month to visit a good friend and him to Alaska until the beginning of August to do commercial fishing. My family and I miss them both but Becky (my sister married to Isaiah) misses Isaiah a LOT! About two weeks before he left they found out she was pregnant which is very exciting (it'll be the seventh time I'll be an aunt) but has made them both miss each other even more knowing that both of them are missing out on sharing time together before Becky gets a big tummy and can't do much (She's only a month and a half along right now). Becky really wants to have twin boys and Isaiah thinks that would be cool but doesn't particularly care just that he's having a baby. I'm so happy for my sister! She's had baby fever ever since that got married one and a half years ago but wanted to wait a while. So, it's about time she got pregnant! =D

    While most people are done with school my siblings and I are home-schooled and are going to do school through the summer. I'm a bit behind (from too many breaks because we're home-schooled) so I don't mind since it'll give me the chance to catch up. =) I'll be a junior come this fall and am pretty excited about that.

    My summer plans involve:
Helping with Vacation Bible School at my church on the 27-29 of this month
Lots of reading! =D
Sun bathing (got to get my tan hehe)
Working for my dad in his lawn care business (who doesn't need money?)
Getting dirty in our garden
A few possible trips out of state
"Field trips" to towns/cities in Montana (possibly to Philipsburg (again) and Great Falls)
Random fun stuff!

    What are some or your plans for this summer? Going on vacation anywhere? Or will you be staying at home enjoying the sunshine, nice weather, and familiar surroundings?

P.S. All pictures were taken from Google Images.

A Poem by a Good Friend

This is a poem that my great friend from North Dakota sent me in the mail. We're pen pals and every once in awhile she'll send me some poems that she's written. I hope you enjoy this one as much I as do. Oh, and of course I had to add pictures that I found on Google. =)

“The Man I've Never Seen Before”

By Christina Leigh

When I cross that Jordan river,

With water bittersweet,

I know there'll be a lot to hear;

And many things to see.

But when I reach that pearly gate,

I won't mind the golden street,

Or the shining =mansions,

Because there's someone I want to see.

 

And though I've never seen His face before,

I love Him everyday, more and more.

And though I've never felt His hand in mine,

I know it's been there all this time.

So when I stand on Jordan's shore,

And look to see Heaven's doors.

I'll run, as fast, as Heaven will let me,

To meet the man I've never seen before.

 

And should I not taste the grave,

And have this mortal die,

Then I know, in the end,

Then my freed spirit will fly.

Past the clouds, past the stars,

Farther than man has ever gone,

To the shore of Jordan's still waters,

To see the man I've never seen but have known.

And though I've never seen His face before,

I love Him everyday, more and more.

And though I've never felt His hand in mine,

I know it's been there all this time.

So when I stand on Jordan's shore,

And look to see Heaven's doors.

I'll run, as fast, as Heaven will let me,

To meet the man I've never seen before.

The Essence of Love

Love. That lovely word that people love to say. 

"I love you" is a very commonly used phrase that you hear, read, type/write but is not so commonly said. Why? 

Well here are few reasons:

Fear of rejection. 

 Not having it said back to you.

It's like a promise that has a big meaning.

Because those are very strong words. You don't just throw that around, you have to sincerely mean it. It should only be easy to say it if you really mean it.

If somebody was not brought up hearing it at all or very often, then it might be hard for them to say it. So maybe you should start saying it more so the cycle doesn't continue this way? Kids and family especially need to hear it.

It's not . . . if you're with the right person or people but only use it if you mean it. Follow the quote, "mean what you say, and say what you mean". Also, "actions speak louder than words" so if you're "saying" you love them by showing them in what you do for them that you truly do love them it will be doubly powerful. Make it clear that you love them and not leave them guessing or doubting.

 

Most of the time it's hard to the opposite gender because it isn't love anyway it's lust. We must understand that love is an action not a feeling. When we are honest with ourselves we know that we don't love the person, we might be fond of them, care about them, but not love them in the romantic sense of the word.

  Because to tell someone you love them you have to understand them first. To love someone you have to love all of them not only the good parts. Love is for life not just for when things are going right. Before I tell anyone I love them I have to get to know them very well and then it takes me awhile to accept that I love them with all their faults (which we all have).

Too many people say, "I love you" when they don't mean it, they just think they like someone at the time. A lot of people say, "it was love at first sight" when what they really mean is that it was lust at first sight. It was their looks, the way they dressed, talked, or did something that made them lust after them. Love is different. It is a more potent sentiment than a simple liking or lusting for another.

What the Bible says about love:

Deuteronomy 6:5
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
 

Proverbs 10:12

Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins. 

John15:13
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

1 John 4:7, 8, 16-21

7. Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth God is born of God, and knoweth God. 8. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 16. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him. 17. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 18. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 19. We love him because he first loved us. 20. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar; for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 21. And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

What the Bible says about charity (concept of unlimited love and kindness):
 

1Corinthians 13:1-7, 13

1. Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 4. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not;  charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5. Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6. Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7. Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. . . . 13. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

2 Timothy 2:22

Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

1 Peter 4:8 

 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

Happy 35th Anniversary Mom & Dad!

Today is my parents 35th Anniversary! This post is a special tribute to them.

The two of them. In love. Forever.

(These photos are all at least a year or so old but are all I could find at the moment)

 Here are the eight kids who are blessed to be theirs.

Thanks Mom and Dad for sticking it through together all these years (and not killing one of us . . . yet, lol)! 

It really is a great blessing to call you parents.

Love you both tons,
Chasity and KayleeBeth

My Big(ish) Family

My parents on their wedding day. :)

November - 1976

A few years together before having children . . .

The first child. A daughter. Karissa . 

February - 1982

 1993 or early 1994

More children sent from God: girl holding baby - Karissa, white shirt - Ranae, by Dad - Christine,
girl with short curly hair - Rebekah (Becky), baby boy - Kirk

(I couldn't find any family pic's between this one and the one above)

1997

1999 or 2000

Winter - 2003

Fall - 2005

December - 2009
Back row (L-R): Kirk (15), Mom, Dad, Becky (18)
Front row: Christine (20), Ryan (8), KayleeBeth(11), me (14)

 

Karissa's family
(couldn't find a better picture)

Fall - 2009

Ranae's family

December - 2009

Spring - 2010

Thanksgiving Day - 2010

My nieces and nephews - March 2010

Christine and Devon

Winter - 2010

Becky and Isaiah

Winter - 2009

I'm trying to have us get one this year of us who are still at home. It should be fun. Not! 

But I will not rest until it is done and to my satisfaction. :)

What Happens When You're With Your Sis

It was a Thursday afternoon. We were inside because it was too hot outside. Me and my younger sister KayleeBeth sat on my bed giggling for no reason at all. But then when we choked at the last giggle (I really think we were going insane by being cooped up in the house) we realized we were bored out of our minds! (Which I know is hard to believe because laughing your head off about nothing is pretty fun to do.) So I said, "Let's take some sister pictures!" and so we did. Here are a few of them . . .

KB: "Yeah, she's pretty crazzzzy!"

Me: "You're one to talk! At least I don't have my tongue hanging out of my mouth."

This one's my favorite. Ain't we the sweetest? :)

KB: "I bet you can't read my mind!"

I thought this would look cute at the time . . . funny how you change your mind.

<3 Chasity