What’s in a Name?

So what is really in a name? I was talking with some friends about names today. We were also talking about some of the crazy names are given today. I mentioned all our children were given names based off the meanings, and then the middle name came from family history.



Looking back when we named the children, and now, their names do fit their personalities.



Celidah- Talented one. Celidah really is talented and things come very easily to her. Marie –Bitter this does not fit her as she such a sweet and loving child.



Jade- Precious. Elizabeth- My God is bountiful. God has truly blessed us with such a wonderful and precious child. Nine years ago, I had no idea such a beautiful gem could be hiding behind a diagnosis of autism. Nine years ago the list of never’s for this child was longer than she was tall. Yet today if she could stand before those doctors, they would be stunned with the original diagnosis.



Corbyn- watcher. Alexander- defender of men. This child is truly one who learns through watching before doing. He needs to figure out in his mind how to accomplish the task before starting. This tactic has proven to be an asset with his platelet disorder. Especially with the more complex sports or activities, he tries (but is not supposed to be doing). ITP is an interesting and complex platelet disorder for a child to have. Throw in the refractive nature of his and it throws in some unique twists and turns.



Jairon-enlightened. Arthur- noble, courageous. When Jairon learns skills he remembers them. He loves learning from the scriptures and re-telling what he learned in church. He can hear these stories and remember them forever. He reads a book and remembers the smallest details. Science is his favorite subject in school and again the smallest details stick with him.



Zachariah- Jehovah has remembered. Creighton- From the farm by the creek. Zach is one of my most active children but never forgets prayers and helps me remember family home evening and scripture study. Between him and his youngest sister we are doing better with these. He has some of the most memorable comments helping me to remember. For example one day he just came up to me telling me “Mom you are not being a good mom! How can I ever be a prophet if we do not read the scriptures or pray everyday? You need to do better!” He then just walked away and returned to his playing as if nothing had happened.



Chantelle- To sing. Rose- flower or fame. This child has gone through so much yet is always so happy. She is always singing. Sometimes her sisters say she is singing in her sleep. For her to go through everything she has, her lung issues, surgeries, many doctor appointments and still be so happy is such a blessing.



To think 5 yrs ago, when bringing her home from the NICU for the first time, we were warned that she may have severe cognitive delay issues and possibly other issues she has really been blessed.

Thanksgiving Day!

What a wonderful day we had today! We started the day with a movie and the kids helping to get ready to cook. About 11 this morning the cooking began. The girls started the pumpkin custard, then we stat down and watched a movie while wating for the next step.

Once the movie was over started the ham. With another movie playing we talked about how the rest of the cooking was going to play out. The younger kids did not understand why the cooking had to be staggered. Finally, the ham was able to placed in the oven and the next timer set. This time we played some games to distract the kids for a couple hours. After the bread was started and in the oven we could move onto the next set of steps. From this point the cooking steps would begin to move much faster.

At last it was time for Chantelle to join me in the kitchen to help with the stuffing. She was thrilled to measure the water into a bowl, dropped the butter into the bowl, dumped the stuffing mix into the bowl. her face lit up as she dumped more and stired everything together. With the stuffing in the baking pan and in the oven she happily jumped out of the kitchen to go play.

Next, Zach was thrilled to help with the mashed potatoes. Once again opening and mixing was delightful. Jairon helped with the gravy and was thrilled to learn this year we would be using my gravy dish made from the volcanic ash when Mt St Helens exploded in 1980.

Corbyn helped with the candied yams. He helped to make the syrup to pour over the yams. Carefully measuring and mixing the ingredients was so much fun for him. I poured the hot syrup over the yams and placed the pan into the oven for him.

Finally, with everything else ready to go and the ham down to the last 10 minutes Jade was thrilled to make the glaze to cover the ham. Once the ham was glazed we placed the ham back in the oven turned the heat up and set the table.

With the table cloth in place, dishes in place the kids were thrilled to have the opportunity to pull my gold plated silverware out of the special wooden box. The silverware I only let them use for special occasians.

Dinner this year was special for the kids because everyone had a special task they got to help with from cooking to setting to cleaning up from. This also helped me. I am still getting over my bronchitis and get worn down very easy. They loved being able to help, I loved not having to do as much yet everything got done.

With all the all the extra help the kisd gave it was really a wonderful and fun day with the kids.

Tomorrow we are going to stay home where it is warm, watch movies, make Christmas decorations, and enjoy each other.

Special Mail for the kids today

 Today the kids got some mail from Afghanistan. They could not wait to open the package as it was labled to Six Little Monkeys. It did not take very long for them to rip open the envalope. Right away they were excited to see a book from their father. Within seconds discovered a message from their father and found the disc.

The disc was in the VCR right away.

They were expecting to just hear the voice of their father reading the book

However, as soon as he appeared on the screen they all started to scream with joy as daddy was not only holding the same book they just opened but was sitting there reading it on the TV screen.

The looks of joy as the kids were not only sitting but were jumping around the room. Suddenly, the kids were silently flipping through the pages as daddy read the book to them.

 It was not long before our dog also realized that daddy was on the TV talking. Confused she could not understand why he was talking and sitting there but not responding to her. She starting licking the screen and was barking at him as well.

 Oh the Places You Go

All the Way from Afghanistan!!!

Setting up the Christmas Tree

 looks so with no lights

 adding the decorations

time to watch Polar Express

Found More Halloween Pictures!

Halloween party and parade of costumes

 

Cardboard stick figure daddy. The kids favorite halloween creation this year! 

cakewalk time 

time to trick or treat