FUNNY STORY

There are some U.S. Naval Academy cadets at the Air Force Academy for a one year exchange program between the military Academy's. Well...this weekend is the big Navy Air force Football game at Air force. Some of the Naval cadet exchange students built a makeshift submarine on the parade field at the Academy. I guess they were trying to send a message of support for there Naval Academy. I thought this was funny and you might enjoy the pictures. One of the cadets sent these pics to his parents and they shared them with us.

Robert's Birthday

Well, it is that time of year again that we will be celebrating Robert's Birthday tomorrow. The years sure do fly by as we get old haha. We're busy making plans for the big day. The kids all have a list of what they are going to buy. It is nice that they work for their own money and buy accordingly. It will seem empty without Caleb.We do miss him and it is strange to go so long without talking to him or hearing from him. It would be nice just to be able to email him.Maybe he will email Robert for his birthday...that would be a nice surprise. We don't know how much access or time he has for such things. Well, I better go so we can shop for the needed birthday party items.
Becky

Money saving posts

I am back to coupon shopping and listing the deals on my money saving blog littlecabinsavings.wordpress.com.I have also been updating the home cooking blog as well littlecabinhomecooking.blogspot.com and I would love to have anyone who reads this to send me recipes and money saving ideas to share with our readers.Please start sending in the information. You can email me if you would like konefam7@yahoo.com
Becky

God's little creatures

What a blessing we had this past weekend. As Ike went by us on Sunday it did a lot of damage in this part of the country with 75mph winds. This caused a lot of trees to come down. My kids and a friend were in the back at our woods and found 2 baby fox squirrels that had been blown away by the wind. they did not see their mother so they brought them to me. We looked up on the internet how to take care of them and we started warming and feeding the cute little things. Then we called a licensed pet rescuer that lives near us and took them to her yesterday. They are so adorable! We saw them open their eyes for the first time on Monday. What a privilege! Caleb brought me so many baby rabbits that our dog would carry up to him and then he would bring them to me but I ended up accidentally killing a lot of them with formula:( This time was a better experience.We hated to see them go.

Grace's dance pictures

Pictures from Parents Weekend

Our little football player

I am hoping to get those pictures up from parents weekend and the pictures of Melissa's art, and Grace's dance pictures, but I am still having difficulty with the computer.This picture of Calvin #79 ( second from left)was in the local paper and there is an online version so I am able to at least get a picture of someone in the family on the blog.

Melissa has moved out

What an exciting experience for Melissa as she embarks on this new adventure.She has got an apartment on campus and has been moving in all week. As I sit here and type this I am watching her sleep on the couch here at our house. She will move her dresser tomorrow and some food from here and then that will be it ...she will be all moved in.This is probably the last night that she will sleep in our house maybe ever.How did this happen?...another child grown and moved on....Their lives go by so fast you don't even realize it until it is gone.Don't get me wrong I am pleased with both of my grown children and happy that they are able to make it on their own.The ache that it causes only another parent that has experienced this will understand. So much in our lives has changed in the last 18 months that it is hard to describe the ache that I sometimes have to turn back the clock about 20 years and enjoy it all over again.I know that the next 19 months will bring even more change in our lives. I know that when Robert finishes school we will leave behind our first born daughter and who knows where God will lead us next.We will also have to leave behind a new church family that we are learning to love so much that I know it will hurt a lot to move on from them. So much uncertainty in what our futures hold but so much certainty in our sovereign God's plan.Although we don't know what to expect next we know that God will direct us as we learn to trust Him more.I hope we can stay right here in Louisville if God so designs us a place to serve full time.Even if we do I am sure God will direct Melissa to where He wants to use her and so that will still mean a painful separation.
If you are reading this and have young children...hug them tightly, for soon they will be too far away to hug.Read to them often,for that will bring back sweet memories of times spent cuddled together on a quiet evening. Talk to them at every opportunity, for soon they will be too far away and too busy to talk to you much. Pray with them and for them for soon you will long to hear their prayers. Share your heart with them and inspire them to love Jesus for the fruits of that will be the only lasting joy.Play games when you really need to wash dishes for they will not remember the dishes but you will remember the times of fun and games. Go for nature walks and see through their eyes and show them just how great God is.Go outside when they are begging you to put down that laundry and see something they just saw and can't wait for you to come look. Let them help cook even when you know it may not turn out perfect if you do.Let them make dad's birthday cake even if it is lopsided for soon they will not be home for dad's birthday anymore and may be too busy to remember. Make Christmas decorations and put them on the tree even if it does not match your perfectly planned scheme for the tree for soon you will long to see those ornaments as you hang them without even seeing your child for Christmas this year. Go to their games even when you have morning sickness for soon they will play games so far away that you cant go anymore.Make cookies with them and take them to people to see the delight that it brings the recipient and the joy it brings your child. Make crafts when they get tired of the same old boring school lessons.Praise them often for someday they may remember that someone back home will always love them and be proud of them even when they make mistakes or feel they have failed.Be aware of the time and take advantage of it for time is passing quickly.Remember that you too will be sitting where I am sitting tonight watching you child as they sleep in your house for the very last time.
Becky

Falcon Game in Dallas

I dont know that traveling towards a hurricane is very wise but that is the case tomorrow morning.Caleb is there in Dallas and I am sure he is ready to play despite the weather. The game info is below.His jersey # is 49 not 52 like I stated in previous post.

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AFA-Houston football game moved to 10 a.m. CT Saturday, Sept. 13; No Television

The Air Force Academy's football game Saturday against the University of Houston has been moved to 10 a.m. CT (not 2:30 p.m. CT as originally scheduled) at Gerald J. Ford Stadium at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, according to officials at Houston. The game was originally scheduled for Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at John O'Quinn Field at Robertson Stadium in Houston, but alternate plans were made due to Hurricane Ike. The game will be broadcast on KVOR AM 740 and in Denver and northern Colorado on KYOL AM 1510. You can also listen to the game on www.GoAirForceFalcons.com. The game will not be on television due to the time change.

News from our trip to Colorado

I know it has been a while since I updated this blog. We have and are still having problems with my computer. I hope to get it fixed this weekend so that I can upload a bunch of pictures from parents weekend. We had such a wonderful time in Colorado Springs. What a beautiful part of the country. We mostly enjoyed seeing Caleb. We were blown away by the Academy experience. I had to choke back tears many times as we followed him around the Academy and had the privilege of going to a few of his classes with him. One was a Computer science class and I was able to follow it for 5 minutes before I was lost. I sat there as Caleb answered questions that I didn't even understand and marveled at how easily things come to him. We are so proud of how far he has come and all the obstacles that he has overcome along he way. The fact that he plays Division 1 football after having to overcome so much as a freshmen in high school he continues to amaze us.The whole weekend was a joy. We loved the time we had with Alex coming and going to Colorado.We loved being able to spend Caleb's birthday with him.
The Academy is such an impressive place. You truly look into the faces of Americas future leaders. The pride for country and gratitude that wells up in you for such sacrifice, that even these young men and women that are not in a combat situation, but give up their individual freedoms for 4 long years to pursue serving their country in the future, is overwhelming. The classroom situation is unreal. The # of students per teacher is so incredible. I have heard other student in Calebs age bracket talk of their class attendance being in the hundreds.Caleb's teachers know his name and can see his computer screen form the back of the room,and in this day and age that kind of teaching just doesn't exist too many places. No wonder nearly 10 thousand of the brightest students across this nation apply every year.
As you can tell we were impressed with the Academy but we were mostly impressed with the man that our son is becoming.I can not tell you how great he wears that dress uniform.Makes my heart almost stop to think that he is my son...my little boy that used to bring my handfuls of flowers and has brought me such joy in the past and to look at him now it is almost too much to take in.Where did the time go? Who knows what the future holds for him but we will be proud of him and enjoy him no matter what is in that future. It is exciting to think about what God is going to do with him.
After I fix my computer I will post some exciting news from Melissa and will hopefully be able to post her new paintings and our pictures from parents weekend.