Oh baby

Well Christmas was so much fun. This year we took the drive up north to the Sault and stayed with Uncle Mike and Aunt Katie. We had such a fun trip filled with many expected Quinn moments. The cousins got to play all weekend together which was so good for them. We told the Heyboer side that yes we are expecting baby number 4 in July and they were quite excited. Christmas with my side was so good. It was great to see Kim and Brad and for the kids to spend some good time beating up their uncle and chasing their aunt. Thanks Brad for the lifesize hungry hippo game. That will only come out to play when you come to visit again or maybe you will receive a large package in the mail soon. I think everyone was so surprized about this pregnancy. We are so excited and can't wait to welcome this new little bundle. I realize now more than ever that everyday with my children born or still in the womb is a priviledge. Whatever that Lord decides is fit for our family is what we will be happy with. I pray that He will allow us a healthy delivery and a happy healthy baby. The girls are so excited. Charlie has promised to help feed and cloth the baby but not change its diaper because that would be too stinky (so she says) I am getting over the all day yuckiness and moving on to having more energy. Three kids to chase around kind of takes my mind off it. Scott's working in Detroit M-Th so the kids are really missing him but we are all so thankful he has a job. Well hope all your christmas celebrations were relaxing.

God is good all the time

Kerry

last minute craziness

Trying to wrap everything up today. I informed my little helpers of our busy day and they were more than willing to join the team. We got lots of christmas shopping done and spent all afternoon baking our delicious christmas wonders. In the middle of the mixing and rolling the phone kept ringing and Charlie turned to me and stated "mommy we can't answer that because we sure are busy beavers today" She always makes me laugh. We made her reindeer cupcakes for her birthday treat tonight and she is so excited to share with her classmates. Tomorrow is her big party she seems to think that Will picked her name for secret santa or atleast she hopes because "she really likes Will". After school we leave for the Sault Ste Marie for the Heyboer family christmas. It should be lots of fun. Quinn and Charlie are just excited to see Lily and Newman (the cats). Except you can't touch Newman because he's cranky so Charlie says. Gideon is such a ham nowadays. He's such a little man but has such a tender little heart. At the gym he lines all the baby's up and feeds them their cheerio's. It's quite a sight to see. I think that he might be an athlete like his dad because he has such an arm. He's already broke one picture frame and had numerous close calls. It's always lots of fun in the Heyboer house.
We had such a great lesson on Wednesday I wanted to share. We've been studying the book of Nehemiah and how he prayed for God to strengthen his hands in the midst of the enemy trying to knock him down. He chose not to pray for an escape out of his trials but rather the strength to keep doing what he knew God wanted him to do. This so spoke to my heart because I am guilty of this. I often want the Lord to remove me from the hard times which is normal but I need to ask the Lord to use the situation for His will and to keep me strong in the midst. This is such a key concept for my kids, to teach them to endure and not give up but to always make sure they are doing the right thing even though those around them disagree. That's really what it is all about, preparing them to be good decision makers and to stand up for what is right all the time.
God is good all the time
Kerry

My first haircut

Gideon has officially recieved his first haircut. He did so well sitting still but did not like the clipper. We took a trip to the old-fashioned barber in Hastings so that Gideon could feel like a real big boy and now he doesn't look like my baby anymore. He really is growing up so fast. As a family we took pictures today at a church in Hastings for only $5. Super good deal and wouldn't you know it Quinn had to have a meltdown. I think a cold might be in her future. We topped our 6 year anniversary off by all going to The Mexican connection. They have some yummy stuff. I can't believe it's been 6 years already. Time flies when you have 3 kiddo's. The girls are excited to get to watch my little pony tonight and well Gideon we won't tell anyone you enjoyed it too. He did learn a new trick today. Scott taught him how to score a touchdown today so Gideon has been throwing his football down and yelling "down"at the same time. It's super cute except when the ball bounces up and hits him in the face, not so funny. Charlie has been so pumped up to be able to play in the snow at school. She told me she dreamed about having a snowball fight the otherday and the next day it snowed. She is really learning so much in school. They are working on blending sounds and she is starting to try to read. I can't even believe this is preschool. Well everyone take care

God is good all the time

Kerry

Black Friday craziness

Thanksgiving was great. We had a celebration/birthday party at my sister-in-laws house for the big man Grady who turned 1. It was fun and much food was eaten by all. The next morning is when the fun began. Erin and I went out shopping for the first time on black Friday and boy did we have fun. My $3 toaster was sold out but I found one for 10. Yeah, let there be toast again at the Heyboer house. We did witness some angry, rageful customers who should of chose to stay in bed. Listen people was it your choice to get up before the sun? that's right it was. Oh and by the way next time find a babysitter for your toddler who does not need to be up at 4am. Some people drive me crazy. We were going to make a day of it and get out hair done and our nails did but we opted out (heehee). I got so much accomplished. Well I hope all your thankgiving feasts were a treat and that you all ate too much.

God is good all the time

Kerry

Merry Christmas to all

Well after a long overdue wait we finally put up the christmas tree. We (maybe I should just say I) usually put it up the day after halloween but this year I don't know what has become of me and my lazy self. Quinn informed me that we couldn't put it up until the snow was here, so I told her if we put it up then the snow will come. Please Lord let it snow soon. I took the kids to a friends house today and she has 2 boys and a little girl so Gideon was surrounded by a lot more manly toys. Needless to say we need to buy the boy some more boy things. Yesterday he spent the day playing with the girls dollhouse. No one will ever tell him when he's all grown right? (hee hee) Should of got that one on video. He's been helping his dad organize the wood pile, his favorite job. Hope everyone has a good turkey day. Don't forget to brine your turkey over night. It is so very good.
God is good all the time
Kerry

Preparing for holiday time

Hi everyone,
Sorry it has been so long. The Heyboer's have been busy bees. Scott is working on plowing all his fields and getting all the equipment fixed and ready for the spring. We are praying for the 150 acres around our house which would be such a blessing. He has informed me that if we do get that ground then I need to learn to drive the tractors and plow the fields. I actually am excited about this because I feel like then I would be more of a help. We had such a good weekend just the two of us. Christmas shopping and lots of errands have now been accomplished. We finally bought the much desired and crazy pillow pets for the girls. Christmas might not have gone on without them. The girls only talk about them everyday. Charlie is doing well in school and is getting a bit more brave infront of everyone. Quinn has been developing quite some artistic talent. I'll try to post some of her drawings soon. She really has some talent. Gideon's favorite phrase is "oh no" which he says all day long. His latest trick is trying to do jumping jacks and bounce on his buns. Well hope all is well.
God is good all the time
Kerry

Please pray

Hi everyone,
This is a post for an urgent prayer request. Last Saturday one of Scott's co-worker's got into a very bad motorcycle accident and is now paralyzed from the shoulders down. He has a wife and 2 little kids and is very suicidal right now. Scott attempted to witness to him in the past but he didn't want any part of it. Please pray that the Lord allows us to use this situation to see him get saved. I really believe that a person can only say no to the Lord so many times before He really gets their attention in other ways. On another note the kids are doing well. Charlie finally said her memory verse in class infront of all the other kids which is a big step for her. Quinn is the same crazy kid she always is and well Gideon is always getting into trouble nowadays. He got his hand caught in an elevator the other day which was not fun but he survived all fingers intact. If I turn my back for one second that boy is doing something naughty. We did however attempt to potty train him which he just thinks is hilarious. He laughs everytime I put him on the toilet. Is this normal? I don't think so. Well enough for now.
God is good all the time
Kerry

Jesus love is a bubbling over

Hey everyone, Thought you might enjoy a little singing from Quinn. She loves to sing. Everything is good on the farm. Scott is busy trying to get all the crops in. Our little Pixie is still surviving on the farm and has made a new bestfriend with the cat. We also seem to have a pet raccoon that hopefully soon will visit his heavenly home. He thinks he can eat the cat food which he has managed to get quite a bit of since he is the size of a small deer.
Gideon has really started talking a lot more, he now says spoon, grama, stuck and no. I have decided to nickname him rooster because the other day he woke up at 4:30 saying mama, mama, mama, mama, mama, mama, mama, mama. He is relentless and oh so cute. Charlie is loving school and I love to hear all her stories she tells on the way home. Yesterday it was that Dillon got stung 32 times by a bee on the playground and then Will got stung but I didn't cause I held real still and I found the hive and ate some honey and them Mrs. Gonyou ran in and saved me. She makes me laugh.
Prayer requests
Phil Gunden- finished chemo and starts the stem cell transplant soon
Kim-visited the Cleveland clinic for her headache/connective tissue disease
Pastor Carson- had surgery for diverticulitis and is recovering
Parson family- wife and 3month old died in car crash, 2yr old is in critical condition
Upcoming elections- that God would allow the right people in office and that we would get out and vote.
President Obama-to lead the country the right way and to seek salvation in Jesus Christ if he isn't already saved.
God is good all the time
Kerry

New Chapter

Well after a lot of prayer and counsel from our pastor the Heyboer family has joined Faith Bible Baptist Church. After 6 years of driving 40mins on Sundays and Wednesdays the Lord has shown us that He wants us at FBB. Faith is about 15 miles from our house, it is also the church where Charlie goes to school. After having the pastor and his family over to our house we began to see the vision that he has in growing God's church. Scott and I needed to know his testimony and if he was leading the church in the right direction. It was so hard to say goodbye to everyone at CBC. We had made such great friends and had the priviledge to serve with some really genuine christians. Community Baptist of Lansing will always hold a special place in our hearts. I think the hardest part was saying goodbye to the teens. The Lord has given us the complete priviledge over the last 6 years to show many teenagers how they can know for sure if they are on their way to heaven. There is such joy to see a hard, rebellious teen give their life over to Christ and cry like a baby when they realize how much Jesus loves them. They now have the rest of their lives to live for Him but the key is to support them in their walk and encourage them to keep going. The world is a bit different now then when I was a teenager and it seems they get bombarded from every angle by the world and what the world wants them to be. To all you teens, I love you guys and the Heyboer's will always pray for you. Scott and I are so excited for the Lord to use us at Faith. We just want to see our lives move forward for Him.
God is good all the time
Kerry

O happy day

Hi everyone,
Today was a difficult day but a good day. Sometimes the Lord chooses to allow trials in your life so that He can reach others. I am learning that it is so important how I handle myself as a christian in the hard times because someone is always watching. My testimony needs to stay right for the Lord even when times are tough. Today I had a flat tire and had some trouble changing it and after two adult men tried to help me I gave the good old AAA a call and they saved the day. Then as he was driving away I got in the car to start it and it wouldn't so needless to say after an hour of my already hungry and tired children complaining I called AAA again and the same guy had to come back out and Jump the car. The whole time I was thinking "Lord what do you need me to do right now" and I fully believe that man needed to hear the gospel and how much Jesus loves Him. It wasn't coincidence that the same guy had to help me twice. My carnal side wanted to push the car off a cliff and stomp my feet but God had other plans. How is the world going to know if we don't tell them. As christians we need to stop throwing pity parties and start doing something for the Lord. There are always trials in life, they never stop. Always around the corner is the next one. I heard such a good sermon the other day about David and Goliath. I always wondered why David picked up 5 stones when He knew God would allow Him to kill Goliath with one. It was because David thought he would have to fight many more attackers and not just Goliath. He was ready for more. When we get done fighting one Goliath in our life we will have to fight another one. We have to be prepared and ready to fight. I need to be doing everything possible daily to be stronger in the Lord, that means studying my Bible and memorizing so that I can attack the battles of weariness, down-heartedness, temptation, backsliding and anything else Satan throws my way. We live in such a world right now where people are hungry for answers. Let's give them the Bible and what God has to say and watch it change their lives. I say all this because God has really changed me and is changing me daily to make me more like Him and He knows He has a whole lot of work to do on me. My prayer everyday is to be less like myself and more like Him because when I rely on myself I always fall flat on my face but the cool thing about my God is that He is always there to pick me up.
God is good all the time
Kerry

We have too much energy

Hey everyone, this is just for fun to peek at the energy of my kids.
God is good all the time
Kerry

This is the day the Lord has made

Hey everyone, thought I would show a new pic . Hope you all enjoy. We are loving this weather. I took the girls for a bike ride tonight and got chased by many large dogs so needless to say I got a nice workout and the girls just laughed. We had such a nice visit from Charlie's teacher and her family tonight. I am always amazed by the simple thoughtfulness of some people. I think in today's world when so many people only look out for themselves, it is such a breath of fresh air to know there are still caring, compassionate people just trying to share God's love with others. Well have a good night
God is good all the time
Kerry

Smarty Pants

We made it through the first day. What an experience. All the kids woke up better than I expected, really Quinn was the only one I really worried about. She doesn't do well with change. Charlie was so excited but nervous. At the school she goes to the older kids are asked to help the little ones so when we got there her new "bestfriend" so she says "miss Katy" helped her get to the gym. I left her as a little girl and when I arrived to pick her up in the afternoon I am pretty sure she aged a couple years because she couldn't stop talking about how much fun she had and how she just didn't have enough time to eat her sandwich and how she thought she would save it for the ride home. If you know Charlie you can picture her speaking with her hands in great detail like she always does. I love that about her. She can't wait to go back. She told her sister on the way home from church tonight that she would not be at her house on Friday because she had to go back to school. Quinn was a little angel today. I think that this is just what she needs, her own space. Even at the gym this morning she was chatting it up with her friends and pretending they were lions. She is starting to let herself be who she is, my crazy little Quinn.
God is good all the time
Kerry

Bring it on

Gideon hugging his sis
Scott and Quinn at the beach


Tomorrow is the big day for Charlie. I am pretty sure that I am more hyped up than her, just packing her too big backpack that is now too small because I can barely fit everything she needs is stressing me out.
She is starting preschool right? We realized tonight that her gym shoes which were not that old do not fit so off to Kohl's we go where I will add it is very hard to find normal shoes nowadays. I guess the definition of normal has been altered a bit. Our little pup is working out so well. Gideon really enjoy her and feels the need to constantly pick her up since she slightly resembles a stuffed animal. Pray this dog lives, I don't know what to do if it doesn't.
I decided that if there are any Christians reading this then I would post some prayer requests so that we might work together to see God do mighty things in His time
Phil Gunden (my sister-in-law's brother) has cancer undergoing a bone marrow transplant
My friend Kim- has a connective tissue disorder, severe headaches and is now losing function of one of her legs and is going to the cleveland clinic soon
Charlie- for her to accept Jesus Christ as her savior once she understands
Our family- as we contemplate the Lord maybe leading us to a closer church
Feel free to comment me with your prayer requests or answered prayers
Well goodnight ya'll
God is good all the time
Kerry

Goodbye Shiner, Hello Pixie

Well I can hardly believe this has happened. Our new dog whom we really were enjoying had to be returned to the original owners. It was a stray and its family had gone on vacation when he ran away so when they returned 2 weeks later they decided to put an ad in the paper. We had to do the right thing but we all really will miss him. I wasn't kidding when I said that we don't do well with animals. So on the way home from shiner's family I look back and Charlie is crying, so off to the pound to get her whatever dog her little heart desires. I know, I know, I just feel so bad for her. Every dog we have had has either died or we had to get rid of due to unforseen circumstances. Fifth one is a charm right. Now we have Pixie, a golden retriever/shepherd/lab mix and Charlie just loves her. Tomorrow is clean up day at the farm. When we bought this farm last year there was quite a lot of junk laying in random places behind the barns so tomorrow we hope to get a lot cleaned up.
This week was a big test in patience. Sometimes when you know you are doing what you feel is best for your children you don't always get support of those that love you most. I am learning just to stay focused on doing what is right for the Heyboer family and trying not to let those comments or feelings affect me or the way we raise our kids. It is so true that when you make big decisions in your life that is usually the time when the tests come. Am I going to give in and change my mind or am I going to stay true to what I know is right? Just keep going, keep doing what is right and just wait because soon and very soon the Lord will be returning. If you are saved you live for eternity and not for this life.
God is good all the time

Kerry

Welcome Shiner

Well everyone I am sad to report that the pot-bellied pig has not found his way to our home but instead Scott brought home a puppy from work on Tuesday. He is a black lab mix about 1 year old and very sweet. After much debate it came down between naming him cinnamon roll or shiner and since I might get an unhealthy urge to down a tasty pastry everytime I call his name I figured we should go with Shiner. He's working out really well but the Heyboers don't exactly have good luck with the animals so I pray he lives. The Kids are enjoying the good weather and all our garden creations. Today we made ketchup which after many long hours of peeling tomatoes I came to the conclusion that store bought ketchup is probably not such a bad thing. This year is the trial run so unless you are closely related to me you will not be recieving a canned creation (heehee). Thanks mom for being the guinea pigs.
We have sold our spelts YEAH and they come to pick it up next week. Then on to the next project or I should say harvest. I am so happy to be married to a man that works so hard for his family. We get closer every year to farming full-time. We both sometimes talk about what we hope and want for our family someday but the truth remains that the Lord Jesus Christ holds our future and the future of our children and I trust He knows what is best even if there are bumps in the road. The choice comes if I am going to live for Him and be obedient or am I going to go my own way. Then God reminds me in the Bible in 1 Corinthians 6:20 "For ye are bought with a price: Therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's". He paid the ultimate price for my salvation, I am owned by Him but the coolest thing is that God gives me a choice. He doesn't want us to be His robots and follow Him blindly. I pray that if anyone reading this doesn't know this truth I would be glad to share how that is possible but it is always your choice. My prayer for my life is just to make sure that Kerry Heyboer is living right and to constantly look inside my life to see if it's pleasing to the Lord and I pray that others who cross my path will see that in me. This is obviously an everyday journey because we all fight a spiritual battle if you are saved. Well later gators. Check out the new pics below
God is good all the time
Kerry

The end of summer

It's almost time for the big change in the Heyboer house. Miss Charlie Grace Heyboer will be entering her first year of school. I am so excited for her but so scared to see her leave the comfort of home. She is ready beyond belief and so excited. This week should be filled with school shopping and getting up before even the worms in our yard (hee hee).
We attended the big annual pig roast of our neighbor down the street and boy was it yummy. All the farmers in the area bring out, well I should say their wives bring all these deeeeelicious homemade goodies and we eat and eat. The kids made some new friends, even Gideon met someone that speaks his language. I was able to can 12 jars of spaghetti sauce and a bunch of stewed tomatoes today. I pray someday we will be pretty self-sustainable on this farm.
We found an old solid oak door for the chicken hutch so they will be roosting in style. I can't wait to order my little chicks. The kids are going to be so thrilled until they find out there are chores involved. The excitement today came when I found a mini pot bellied pig online for sale. Who wouldn't want a trained mini pig running around the house. I can hardly wait to see if this little wonder will find his way to our house. Anybody have any ideas for names? I know what you are all thinking "how cool" and how you wish that you too could find such a treasure. (heehee) Well thanks for checking in on us.
God is good all the time
Kerry

Hot days call for ice cream

Today has been a bit hot here which definitely called for some mooville ice cream. For anyone who doesn't know mooville it's a creamery attached to a dairy farm with homemade ice cream and so much more. They have a petting zoo for the kids which mine love and a giant sandbox for the kids to play in. Tonight they had a loose goat who chased us around and enjoyed licking Gideon's fingers for all the ice cream he missed. The bonus is that it's 4 miles from our house.
Charlie learned such an important lesson today about how God will answer prayers in His time. Our crops have seen no rain in the last month or more and they are suffering so this morning Charlie thought that it might rain. I told her that if she prayed and asked God to please send us some maybe He would see fit to bless us. I am not even kidding you that about five minutes later it started to pour. She realized that God had answered her prayer. What a blessing to witness her seeing the power of God. There are no coincidences in life. My God is way to mighty to give some earthly reason to a heavenly answer.
God is good all the time
Kerry

Thursday, August 5

Hey everyone,
We are having a good day. I just got done canning tomatoes when a pipe under the sink decided to come disconnected and everything in the garbage disposal flooded my feet. Of course then I had to clean under the sink and then everything else. Once I start cleaning I always seem to find something else that needs cleaning or rearranging. Thanks mom. Church was so great last night. My pastor's wife is doing a lesson for all the women on the tea's of christianity. This week was on "Beautea" and how the world's view of beauty is so tainted. A beautiful face can mask great ugliness, a bitter heart, a shallow mind, an evil smile and a proud life. As a christian woman my priority is my inward beauty and how the Lord sees me. What makes us beautiful is knowing, trusting, loving and living for Jesus. His loveliness will be reflected in me. This is not to say that we shouldn't pay attention to the outside because we all know if the barn needs painting then paint it. Well hope to chat with some of you soon.
God is good all the time
Kerry

Tuesday, August 2

Hi everyone,
Welcome to the Heyboer family news. I wanted to keep everyone updated on our family because things change so fast. Charlie is starting school in a month and I can hardly believe she is going to start this chapter in her life. I pray that she will do well, make some new friends, have fun and most of all accept Jesus Christ as her Saviour. She has such an imagination and comes up with the craziest things to say. The other day she made a momentous discovery that spaghetti O's looked like bellybuttons. Quinn is my diva. Most days she spends dressed up in her princess dress and "tappers" (shoes that make a tapping sound on the kitchen floor). She seems to think that princess Quinn rules the castle. Needless to say she finds out otherwise on a daily basis. Gideon is my little man. He has so much energy and so many smiles. I pray that he never loses his happy heart. His favorite thing is anything he can throw and hopefully it's not something breakable. It's a learning process right? They grow up so quickly and I love being able to be their mom. I really have no idea what I'm doing but I trust that the Lord will show me daily and He does. Scott is just winding down on the craziness of cultivating all our crops and trying to keep some of the weeds out. We now have almost all our farmland certified organic and I am so proud of all his hardwork and dedication. Now we can relax for a little while until harvest time. Our garden is giving us all sorts of yummy stuff. Tonight is spaghetti squash, my favorite. I have been spending lots of time canning with the help of my super neighbor who is teaching me the ropes. I also started a new job recently as a rehab nurse in a healing and recovery center. My goal is to work one day a week to keep my license and not lose the love I have for Nursing. Well that's the news for now hope to hear from some of you.
God is good all the time
Kerry