Our little Kelton Gene

I believe most of you know about us losing our sweet blessing #5. Here are a few pics of our difficult experience. After carrying this sweet child for almost 18 weeks, I had terrible complications. After one week of bed rest, the good Lord asked this child to come be with Him in heaven. We said goodbye to our Kelton Gene on Jan. 18, 2014. His little body so perfectly formed just as Psalm 139 talks about was laid to rest on Jan. 20 at our nearby church. We had such amazing care and love throughout the entire process that to me, there is no question of God's amazing grace covering us. Or family stayed in the hospital as needed, watched our other blessings as needed, helped with burial needs, fixed food for several days, and prayed God's tender mercies over us constantly. While we would be ever so grateful to still have our little Kelton, we are so thankful that in a sinful and ugly world, God had mercy on us by allowing us to be surrounded by HIS love and grace during such a difficult thing as losing a precious child. 

His special little box and casket. 

Janelle arranging flowers at the grave site. 

Poppy and Kelly placing the grave stone several weeks later.

Janelle and Joelle dusting off grave marker.

Yes, several weeks later, we were even able to smile and rejoice knowing that Kelton is with our Lord and Savior.

The first little marker made by a family member until we could get something more permanent. 

A sweet young man only 12 years old was thoughtful enough to spend his own money to purchase these beautiful roses for me.

A precious friend sent a beautiful gift as a reminder of our precious gift, even if we only had him for 18 weeks. 

More farm life

We recently "helped" vaccinate Grandmommy and Poppy's cattle. I use the term help very loosely. It involved Kenton and Joelle standing by the head gate and getting in the way of Poppy and his helper. Janelle is able to get ear tags ready. Keljan opened and closed gates as the cows and calves were let into the head gate. And then we get the wonderful lunch Grandmommy prepared for the hard workers. The big cousins do most of the work. Juju does the wormer. Jenny is in charge of the head gate. Sarah handles ear tags and counting. Jamin helps with maneuvering cattle into proper location in which to receive shots. With this many helpers, we are able to vaccinate both herds of cows and calves totaling almost 100 head of cattle in one morning. Here are just a few pics.

My cutie helpers complete with coveralls. 

A calf in the head gate. 

Aunt Jody holding Kenton and Joelle by chute while Poppy and Mr. Andy give vaccinations.

Everyone has a job. AND it makes a great advertisement for those fashionable brown coveralls!!!

And the morning completely wore out this little farmer who crashed shortly after lunch while helping Poppy take hay bales to cows. 

See these pretty girls? I think you may have to be a beef farmer's daughter to think of them in such a way. But they are! I always tell them, "good morning pretty ladies!"

Wonderful farm experiences

Bee removal day

Honey bees inside fallen tree on farm need to be safely removed before Poppy chainsaws the tree to remove from field. 

The Queen Bee is caught safely in this trap and set aside.

Bees working carefully on newly laid eggs.

Bees in larva stage.

Removal of comb to be placed in box with queen bee.

Box in which queen is kept with hopes that others will join her and then be transported safely to their new bee farm. 

Watching from a safe distance. 

Is she going to try to blog again????

Is she going to blog again? Probably not consistently, but the thought crossed my mind. We are settled in our new home which is quite old. After living in 400 sq. ft. for three months, this old farmhouse seems like a mansion. It is plenty roomy, has a WONDERFUL yard, my parents are less than half a mile away, and we can use all our own things instead of having everything packed away in boxes. I have taken very few pictures because we have been so very busy, but here are a few of the house. 

Our back porch door.

The children seated by the heater while we were painting.

The front porch and wonderful yard! 

Things my little says

Kenton is growing up like a handsome young boy should be. He is a delight for our entire family!! He is so full of life in spite of his day to day challenges. His diabetes has not slowed him down one bit. At two and a half, his language is ever growing and causes me to laugh almost daily. Following are some of his adorable phrases (and their translations)! 

I wan my lie up oosh. (I want my light up shoes)

What that stink? (Each word very clearly enunciated)

What that nummy (and then sniffs the air)? (In reference to yummy smells)

My tummy yuck. Betes. (Said with the most pathetic expression imaginable in reference to a low 

              Blood sugar with his diaBETES.)

Mama, hello ring. (To let me know my phone was ringing)

Big i-ie (said like sissie only without either s) and wi-le i-ie (little sissie). 

His most often said prayer goes something like this:

Daddy work all done. Mama work all done. I-ie work all done. Bubby work all done. Wi-le i-ie work all done. Ma-men (shouted like any good evangelical preacher.)

Ok, I started this a while ago....... Kenton is now three and continues to crack me up. Just today at church he was LOUDLY flipping through his Bible. He would point to pictures and say, "Jesus!" Upon me asking him to be quiet, he responded NOT so quietly, "Mom, I reading my Bible!"

A stroll down memory lane

Recently my hubby had our eldest scan all our wedding/ baby pics in so we could have an updated version of the pics should anything happen to the hard copy. Just thought you might enjoy seeing what we were and what we are now.......

Two hearts became one!

Kelly's parents

Jana's parents

And then they were three! Our sweet angel baby girl, Janelle Zora 

And then they were four! Our fierce warrior, Keljan Simpson

And then they were five! Another sweet baby girl! Joelle Ellyana

And then they were six! Kenton Jake

JZT, age 9

KST, age 6

JET, age 3

KJT, age 1