Mother's Day 2013

 Daryl was asked to preach at a Chinese Church this year in Dayton.  God blessed his message to my heart as once again I sat there listening to my wonderful husband preach and Blessed the Lord for being Mrs Daryl Hausman! 

This year's Mother's Day cards and flowers! 

                     When Daryl brought home these hanging plants I was thrilled.  I LOVE the freshness of flowers... but since I pretty much have only BLACK THUMBS.... here's hopin I can keep them lookin as nice as they look now.  I loved their choice of gifts... for each time I look out my window doing dishes etc I see this plant and THANK JESUS for the four children that these represent!

Out back off our newly built being built deck! =)

 Each of the girls expressed this wishes in their own love languages... I just love the variety of their personalities... Darla's was a very colorful note of thanks, so typical of her sweet colorful self.  She's "Miss Bubbly"! Brittany's was kind expression of her appreciation and love... but of course she had to mention her all time F.A.V.E. ..... Food! =) Natasha chose to express her thoughts on FB this year. And since I L.O.V.E. variety... I was so pleased with each kid's "taste of something different"!! =) 

Front Porch!

My Cummins Truck Mother's Day card! =)

  I had to smile... laughed out loud .... when I opened Bryan's card to me this year.  He is such a dear boy and I thought maybe you'd enjoy seeing his expression of love to me.  It was just another lesson to my heart of how Jesus loves and accepts us for who we are and is totally O.K. with how we express our love to Him!

 

I'm SO Blessed to be privileged to be a Mother 4 times over!  God has been SOOOO good to us!  I've never known the heartache of "empty arms", never known what it was like to not be able to be a Mother.  God has blessed us with very healthy children and I bless His name!  They are all four very different which is sometimes a challenge to know how to connect!  But I thank God for the wisdom He gives.  Even just this a.m. I found a challenge from God's Words and it met the need of my heart's cry... to be like Jesus!  I'm so glad that our heavenly Father gave us the gift of Motherhood! I fall sooooo short of what I desire to be...
Thank you Natasha, Brittany, Darla and Bryan for your Mother's Day Expressions to me, each in your own way, which makes them all the more special to me.... I got to end my special day yesterday with a long heart-to-heart mother-daughter chat!!!  I sure do LOVE this Haus Full! =)

Happy Mother's Day, Momma!

 Our Example!

Celebrating Mother's Day with you, 1 week early!

 

Dearest Moma,

Those two words pretty much sum up our heart-felt thoughts, but to make it more interesting, I decided to make those words up into an acrostic... well sort of!=)  Some of these I had to use "text" spelling to make it fit, since I didn't inherit my Daddy's or Heather's abilities of making rhymes! =)

Our Example!

O-ther's first.  In our minds there is NO other Momma with more of a servant's heart, than you!

"Ur" (pronounced You're) our Prov 31 Momma... hands down! the best EVER! (And thank you for not judging me for not measuring up to you.  Especially since my version of being a "Biblical Woman" is still in the Bible; but somewhere stuck back in the maps section!=)

R-ejoicing Heart! Thank you for refusing to allow the trials of life to take away that silly, flirting with Daddy way you have, and just your fun-loving self that we all love soooo dearly! That, in and of itself, has been an example to me more than you'll ever know!

E-tiquette Queen!  Right up there just after Emily Post of course! =)

X-traordinary  Never any such thing as "just getting by for you"... always has to be as near perfect as is humanly possible! From ironing pillow cases to table settings to rolling out Sunday Dinner rolls, everything has to be perfect!!! =)

A-dvice   You and Daddy are amongst the 1st we call when we're in a pickle, for we know that you'll pray much with us as well as, give us godly council and I'm so blessed to have you for parents!

M-oma!  No other word fits you! But oh the wealth contained w/in that word! There are absolute volumes of knowledge therein, which you have endeavored to lovingly pass down to we four kids, then our mates, and now on to your grand-kids! and if Jesus tarries I know you'll pass on your knowledge to your great-grand-kids in God's time! (Keith and Natalie that's just for you! lol!=)

P-apa's loving wife!  Even if the most romantic thing you always told us you did was to "iron his shirts" =) Thanks for ALWAYS gladly following Daddy wherever God has led him!

L-oving our mates as much as you love us! And Yes, we'll forgive you for loving your grand-kids MORE!  After all, what Gram doesn't?! =)

E-conomical!  You always found a way to make "somethin' out of nothin' ". In fact you had that whole 'Home Economics 101" thing down pat!!! I can't Thank you enough for this trait that you've passed on to both of your missionary daughters.  You prepared us WELL for life on the mission field... even if we did end up landing on two different continents! =)

Happy Mother's Day! I love you Moma!

Love, Laura and Family

 

Just the Grand-kids from this Haus!

Mother Daughter Banquet 2013

 For more pics from the banquet see dickinsonfam.blogspot.com

Heather just posted LOTS of pics from this FUN Mother Daughter banquet and since she's the pic queen, I'll just link you to her post for more details there!


Saturday after the banquet was over and a ...much needed nap... we found this park!

"Go Faster, U. Phillip!"

dizzy anyone?!

Jesus totally healed the weather... we were praying hard for this was the only weekend we could have with everyone!  So thanks first to Jesus... and second to Daddy and Momma for all the work of having us all over.  So nice to get to be together and then for the beyond yummy supper!  Thanks Daddy for the pizza and Momma for the yummy fresh salad and cookies, fresh homemade mint tea! Delish!

Family Song by the Dickinson's!

"God's Got a Plan for my Life!"

 So fun to get to stay over and hear Phillip and Heather give their presentation of the work God has helped them to do with His Help and All Glory to God, GREAT THINGS HE HATH DONE!  Just love these lil guys!  Elijah and Mary were singin their lil hearts out! So cute!

Gram with about 1/2 of those Grand-ones!

 We ALL love you... hope you have a wonderful Happy Mother's Day! Love ya SOOOO much, Laura


 And one parting SILLY shot for you... T,B,K, "You don't have to thank me, but you probably should!" (Adventures in Odyssey quote =)
 

Fun Times!!!

Laura, you are an amazing woman! I know of no other women alive who would put up with what you've had to deal with for the last 4 + years (yes, I'm biased and not ashamed of it). :) You never complained about the kitchen or our home: washing dishes in the bathtub, no water in the kitchen for many months, all six of us sleeping in the same room for numerous months, and the list could go on. I am so happy how God has provided you with this beautiful kitchen. It's been neat to see how God has orchestrated everything. Additionally, God has used this as an object lesson to show our children and everyone who comes to our home that God is so good. When we give cheerfully and abundantly to God, He always blesses in ways we could never dream.
Daryl Hausman

"Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow"

 Over four and a half years ago, the Lord helped us to be able to purchase an old home, debt free!  However, one of the things we didn't realize was how badly the kitchen and upstairs bathroom leaked.  As a result we have slowly by God's help and as finances would allow gutted and insulated etc our home.  These next few pics show one of the stages that our home has gone through! =)  For if you've EVER done any remodeling, you'll know that it takes many steps... oft times painful steps to make any progress!  God is good and we have done our best to COUNT OUR BLESSINGS in the midst of those steps! This "sink" Daryl rigged for me made me SOOOOOO happy to have running water on this floor after 6 long months with a "dry sink". 

 There were more stages before this... check OLD blog posts from like forever ago! =)

 This is our kitchen as it appeared in Fall of 2010    THE BEFORE!

 What would be a "bar" area in our dreams some year.

 Make shift cabinets loaned to us...  how delighted I was to have our food out of boxes!!! =)

 Then last fall, my brother  and his son came through and offered their hours of love and switched our door and window around.  Bryan got some home-school 101days ~ MUCH to his DELIGHT!!!

 THEN..... God showed up and Showed OFF!!! When people "show off" we are ALLL turned off.  But when God "SHOWS OFF" we all stand back in Wonder!  And that's just what our family has been doing recently!  You see, one of our former supporters, from our days on the mission field, found out what condition our kitchen was in and contacted us.  They said that they felt that God was asking them, AS AN ACT OF FAITH, to GIVE... yes I said G.I.V.E. us a kitchen!  WOW!  I'm still BEYOND amazed! So we started yet another STAGE of the kitchen process... finding someone, best deal etc to build us a kitchen!  I can't in one blog post begin to thank all the people who have donated hours of labor, and advice in all the steps we have taken.
We finally felt God would have us contact my cousin in GA to see if he would have time etc to build us our kitchen. The only pic I have is below and they will NOT be happy with this form of advertisement... but they have to love me to get to heaven!  Hee! =) They do out-of-town jobs all the time, so if you find yourself needing a kitchen, you'll be very pleased with their work!  I say "their" Jeff builds them, but his wife Susan is truly his help meet!
 Jeff and Susan Hunt

Bryan's FAVE pose!!! =)

 I can't thank all of those other people without mentioning my wonderful husband!  He has worked COUNTLESS hours to make this Haus a Home and I am amazed!  God has given me the most wonderful, giving man alive!  I am SOOOOOOOOOOO blessed and if you can't tell, I'm totally in love with this man!!!

And NOW the AFTER!!!!

 My KITCHEN that JESUS GAVE ME!!!!  Trust in the Lord with all of thine heart; lean NOT on thine own understanding. IN ALL THY WAYS acknowledge him; and he will direct your path! Prov 3:5&6  Not that we serve God to GET.... but sometimes he gives... Just because He can!  WOW!  What an AWESOME GOD WE SERVE!!!!

 Dishwasher (not hooked up yet... but who cares) given to us by dear friends!

Plate rack.... fell in love with while in Russia years back!

 Yes, our fridge is small... but hey it works! =)

 These countertops were another way in which GOD SHOWED OFF.... I never in all my dreams, dreamed of these fancy counter tops.... But once again, God had someone in mind.  Nathan Earls from our home church came to our rescue!  Funny thing was, I didn't even know he DID countertops.  But GOD DID! Thanks Nathan and Connie!  If you live in Cinci area, We would highly recommend "Countertops By Nathan"!!!

My Pantry!

Pull outs, which I LOVE!

 A little Closer look...
I LOVE old things and so have been waiting for the year when I could FINALLY clean them off and add L.O.V.E. to the top of these cabinets. =) My kids were my right hand helpers! Home Economics at it's finest!!!! =) Yep, I got elected "Best-home-school-mom-ever", yesterday. that is!=)

 Russian Hot Tea (Chai) anyone?

Old Lunch Boxes

Wooden recipe box!

Bone handled forks from Russia and old cookie cutter and jar from my Grandmother!

Old Egg Basket a gift from a friend in IN... thanks Roseanne!

Comfort food... beans and rice anyone!

Darla listening to a story on headphones while eating a midnight snack!

Yes, we still need to add:  trim, a light fixture, an outlet cover or two... but MAN IS IT EVER FUN TO BE IN MY KITCHEN NOW!!!! I've always loved being in the kitchen... just never knew how much MORE fun it is when it's beyond GORGEOUS!!!!! Yes, I'm still workin on being classy enough, Jeff to fit in this kitchen! =)
Would you join me in asking Jesus to bless that Anonymous supporter?!  Each time I enter my kitchen, I try to remember to ask Jesus to bless them, to bless the Hunts and their business who built the cabinets and to bless the Earls and their business too.... and YOU... the many folks from CNC who have given and given and given again during each new stage of this Haus!
TO GOD BE THE GLORY, GREAT THINGS HE HATH DONE!!!! I don't EVER want to touch the glory.  It is our desire that GOD always be lifted up!
~Laura

Two Good Men, having a Happy Birthday!!

My life is SO rich because 1st of all the Daddy that Jesus gave me! Long before I knew who I was, Jesus chose to put me in the Edgar A. Bryan family.  I'm eternally grateful!

I love your laugh!

 

• Thank you Daddy for loving Jesus first
• Thank you Daddy for loving our Moma as close to 1st as you can get and still keep God 1st!=)
• Thank you for loving we kids ALL THE SAME, never playing favorites and doing an amazing job at loving us for who we are in spite of our strengths and weaknesses, not because of them
• Thank you for loving our mates just like your own kids
• Thank you for loving serving Jesus and making wanting to serve God CONTAGIOUS
• Thank you for your humble spirit, never being too big to back up and ask our forgiveness.
• Thank you for your knowledge. (In spite of how we like to tease you about all the details=)
• Thank you for your giving spirit! 
• Thank you for standing up for Holiness and never being wishy-washy!  

I'm soooooo blessed! 

Then over 22 years now, Jesus brought this most wonderful man into my life!  I couldn't ever have asked for better.  When we said, "For better for worse"... I've only ever gotten the "FOR BETTER" PART!

Sweets, I love you!

•  Thank you for loving God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength!
• Thank you for loving me so close to 2nd after God  that you can still make me feel like I'm 1st!!! =)
• Thank you for loving our kids and being the most.amazing.father.EVER!
• Thank you for all your wisdom. I'm constantly impressed and amazed!
• Thank you for your leadership in our home
• Thank you for your quiet confidence
• Thank you for being YOU and allowing us to be US and loving us still
• Thank you for always standing up for God wherever you find yourself serving Him

Again, I say, I am sooooo blessed! 

Some years ago a Southern Gospel song came out entitled, "We Just Need a Few Good Men"  Though some would agree with me that the words would not all be very deep, the thought has blessed me often for how thankful I am for the Godly men that God has placed in my life.

And these two special men God has placed in my life, share a birthday each year! 
Happy Birthday to you both!!!!  Thanks Daddy for allowing us to share your birthday's together a few weeks back! Sorry, I only have this poor pic to prove it!

Dinner out at a Chinese Restaurant!

 We like to jokingly say they are "twins" separated by only Twenty-Six years. =)
Daryl has gotten to have a birthday week... uh make that WEEKS!!!!  Life was too busy and our schedules going in too many different directions to make things all happen on his actual B-day, so we're still dragging things out and it's FUN!

Heart-Shaped Brownies!

The Flings, missionaries to Peru home on furlough, stopped by the night of Daryl's actual B-Day and sang a Spanish birthday song to him... so sweet but I failed to get the pic!
 The following Thursday our dear friends came over to work on helping lay tile.

"U.Daryl's little helper"

 The sweet story is this.  Sean got a ratchet tool set for Christmas earlier this year, when he opened it, his 1st reaction was, "Oh Good, Now I can go help U. Daryl fix up his house!" Too sweet! we were just able to finally make it happen a couple wks back.  When he got here though, he was sad b/c he had forgotten his tools.  But U. Daryl had a solution to that problem and told him he could borrow his tools.  Here they are laying the last bit of tile in our kitchen area! Sean is a good little worker!

Here's a couple other "helpers" that wanted to get in on the work!

Served a simple Chicken Taco Salad and then this yummy dessert since it was Valentine's Day too! =)

Long story, but having work done in our Haus so needed to keep supper as simple as possible, (since I don't have a kitchen right now)... but with it being Valentine's Day I had to do something! =)  This is a dud of a pic, but it was all we had.
I served this Creamy Strawberry dessert made with Ice Cream and then took a 100% Mocha Dark Choc candy bar that was sent as a gift from www.dickinsonfam.blogspot.com (my sister Heather!) mixed it with some milk chocolate that I had, melted them together and then cut out these Lil hearts with my smallest cookie cutter. Chilled my crystal dessert dishes and we had a fancy Valentine's Treat that made my heart smile at least!  It was sure yummy!=)

Daryl was also given a YUMMY Sunday dinner, one of his fave's!  Company Chicken and trimmings... completed with PB Pie!  And we STILL hadn't opened his gifts yet!!!  Lol!=)
He s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d this B-day out as long as he possibly could and it was FUN for all of us!

He's on spring break this week... and already we've gotten to enjoy a concert at downtown Music hall! And have gift cards to go on another date!  I don't even "need" to have a birthday celebration when it's my turn, I'm having too much fun helping him celebrate his birthday MONTH!!!!

The Annual "Perfect" Christmas Card Pic Search!

 So this post is for every family that has done this year after year... searching for that best-pose-ever! Usually in our case we are pushed for time and running 90-2-nothin and this year was no exception... only had less than an hour to run to beach on our visit to FL for that wedding and get these shots done.  The result we'll never forget... but as for that "perfect shot"... I'll let you be the judge! =)

                                               I dearly L.O.V.E. this "calculating man"! =)
                                                     (anybody notice a side-kick here?!)

FL WIND!!! Turn and get hair out of face & eyesquick peek at the ocean and relax your smile...

And...

Try again!

"Stop squinting!"  Like Father Like Son! =)

And Again...

One

Two

Three

Four

Five! "Okay forget it, let's go with what we got!!"

So there is NO perfect picture, but we sure had fun and hope these crazy shots gave you a much needed smile!
~Daryl, Laura and Family~