It Can't Be Snow Can It?

There was a huge storm than came down from the north/west and it brought a LOT of pea size hail.It was a pretty exiting thing for Joyce,Cyrus,Ekie,Naomi,Odell,and Grace to see.They had never see hail before.Actually all the kids had a lot of fun filling cups with hail.




Here Cyrus got ready 'just in case' a huge hail fell on his head.It is always good to be prepaired!Just love his eclectic footware as well!

Now, Who Is That Crazy Woman...

Now who is that crazy woman running down the highway? Oh, it is just Tina Frye...again.

I pondered for a little while if I should post this little window into the life of me.My hesitations are pride,embarrassment,being majorly misunderstood and judged.Well, I guess I have never claimed I had all my ducks in a row or for that matter all my wits about me! Those who know me well enough know I'm missing quite a few of those marbles I'm supposed to have but I know I'm missing even more than you think!You will soon read why.

I have ALWAYS been a slight perfectionist,in my mind things are all or nothing, and a very insecure person.I would be the type of friend others might categorised as high maintenance.I am one of those people who wants to be liked so much I will sway this way and that just to be a part of things.

I accepted Christ as my personal savior in 8th grade not for fear of being separated from him for eternity,or because I was distraught over my sin.It was because of my intense need to be important and valued by someone,to be significant,to not be invisible,to know that my very life on earth was for a purpose,that I was not a waste of space or a mistake.It might sound real selfish but at the time those were all things I thought I was.

Now I have heard that sometimes when a person accepts Christ they are delivered at that moment from a particular bondage that holds them so firmly in its grasp and they no longer struggle with that particular bondage of sin any longer.Maybe,drugs,depression,eating disorder,anger,That did not happen to me.I did develop a huge hunger for God,I wanted to know everything about him.I knew that my life was not my own, but God's.But I still struggled greatly with insecurity,the very thing that brought my on my knees before Christ.Over the years I thought maybe I really was not saved,but my hunger for God was so deep and strong only Christ living inside of me could ever explain that.

Now it is ...26+ years later and the weaknesses are still there.My love for Christ is still there but it seems to be clouded with the confusion of living the 'right' way for Christ.Raising our kids the right way,being the right kind of wife,etc...
I would say the biggest secret in the Frye house is that I feel I am not doing things the 'right' way.If we did things right ,wouldn't our teens be a blessing to be around most of the time,they surly would not talk back to us disrespectfully or pick on each other until there are tears.My three year old would not be throwing himself on the floor in tantrums at least a few times a day.If I was the right kind of wife wouldn't my husband and I be best friends most of the time and living in harmony more often.If I was doing things right the way God wants me to wouldn't raising 14 children bring me continual fulfilment and joy?Surely I would not feel the weight of others judgment if I were doing things right.Hmm..

Well,so there I was..my bags packed with little Lily and myself off to start our own life where I wouldn't fail so much.I'm not teasing this really happened just this week.The humbling thing about my running away is

1. I do not drive so Jeff and the kids have to drive me to my run away destination

2. I had only 35$ of money (and no credit cards in my name because I tend to overspend,wise choice except when I am running away) so Jeff has to go into the hotel and make my reservations for me and get the cash so I can eat while I'm running away.

3. The hotel is booked so I can only run away for two days

Well,I'm back from running away.The kids just thought Lily and I were having a fun vacation.Sadly (or maybe not) I'm still going to fail,need God's constant reassurance that I'm OK and that his love for me is not based on my performance here on earth.Even if I MAJORLY mess things up by not doing things the 'right' way with being a parent or wife,God will be so faithful to take care of all of it and make it better.

The verse that I thought a lot about during my running away episode was this:


For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
I Corinthians 1:17

You might be wondering what this verse has to do with all I've wrote up til now.Well,I'm not at this moment preaching the Gospel like Paul when he wrote this to the Corinthians,I'm just living my life.But could it be that I'm very fortunate to be so weak and a mess most of the times so that there will be no mistaking God's power in my life?All these years of struggling with the very things that brought me to my knees before Christ.All the feelings of failure that I was trying to run away from this week,maybe it is better than if I was delivered from this weakness years ago.Just maybe...

Shop 'till You Drop

Tonight was Naomi, Ekie, Odell, and Anya's turn to go shopping and spend the money they saved.Jeff,Grant,Alan,and Elena took them to General Dollar to get some good deals!

Ekie wearing her pretty necklaces



Naomi giving us a view of her tasty gum as well as her pretty jewlery



Odell showing Josh the things she bought



Anya with her purchaces

Introducing Smolder

Thanks to Gen and her family as well as the Stahls for helping bring Smolders into our lives!He is SO cute!

They call me mellow yellow...

They call me mellow yellow...

Dragonfrye tie-dye
Is gonna be a sudden craze
Dragonfrye tie-dye
Is bound to be the very next phase

They call me mellow yellow
They call me mellow yellow
They call me mellow yellow

Need I say more..well only to visit Dragonfrye Baby for some real cool t's!







Just in case you are wondering,yes I am on the roof utilizing my very convenient clothes line!

Jeff stayed up late one night with me and did a lot of the boy t's.He did a really good job!Thanks Jeff.

BEE BERRY BOUTIQUE

If you are interested in purchasing handmade cards or bloomers for your young girls visit Natalie's

BEE BERRY BOUTIQUE

I just happen to own few of Natalie's card creations and can tell you she does a beautiful job!

Memorial Day

Jeff and the 7 older kids woke up real early this morning to go fishing out on Loon Lake.They had spent days digging up worms all around the yard.They were real exited.Some of the kids had bought fancy fishing poles with money they saved but sadly they all broke.Cyrus's fishing pole actually snapped in half and a fish swam away with part of it.The only fishing poles that did not break were the homemade ones that were just sticks from our yard,fish line, and hooks.The kids brought home some of their fish and put the fish in the little kiddy pool to keep as pets.Of course the fish died rather quickly.Sweet Joyce thought they were just sleeping because the hose water was too cold.I think that the kid all still had fun even though the fish died and their poles broke.




The kids look so sad that their fish are not doing well!




One of Joyce's 'sleeping' sun fish



Later in the day we drove to Mankato so I could pick up a few things at umm...the fabric store... Yes,again.

I had brought my camera along and snapped this picture of the the kids in their seats.They are all back there some are out of view or are sleeping.At least they are not fighting and everything is quiet!




When we got home from Mankato we cooked out on the grill and had all the picnic fixings!It was a good dinner.

******

I had saved up money for quite a while to upgrade to a new digital camera.Here I'm testing it out on Lily.My other digital camera is a Sanyo 6.0 Mega pixel.I bought a Kodak 12 Mega pixel Easy Share Z1285.The Sanyo is very easy to use but the picture quality was not great.The Kodak takes great pictures but is pretty difficult to figure out.Kind of frustrating.I'll get it figured out.

Where Exactly Is Your Clothes Line?

Now this might just be the stupidest post I've ever done but here goes...


Where Exactly Is Your Clothes Line?

On our roof of course!

Because we live in town and our house takes up about half of our lot there is not a lot of room for the kids to play and a clothes line so on the roof it is!
Our house is one of those old houses (1917) with a third story attic which is real cool.There were a few additions added on over the years by previous owners that are located off the back of the original house.One is a family room and another addition that was intended to be a master bedroom with full bathroom.We just use it as a regular room,though.The additions are one story so the roof over the additions is big and flat.On that roof is where I have a clothes line.There is not a door on the second floor to get to the clothes line so I climb out the window.The window is located in Jeff's and my bedroom so the kids can not just climb out.I have the window secure when I am not out there.Sounds weird but someday maybe God will bless us with a huge yard and I will have a big ol' clothes line right on the ground but until then on the roof it is.

Now these are very poor pictures (I took them at night) but I thought you just might be so curious that you would not want to wait for day pictures!

Side note:Notice part of my new batch of tie-dye shirts.They turned out pretty nice but do not look the greatest in these night pictures.I'll get them on my Dragonfrye Baby site soon.





The 'door 'to our clothes line and also our bedroom.I have not put a chair out there yet.It is a nice relaxing place to read.If I were about 20 years younger I would actually tan up there.I'm a little too old and have too many extra 'rolls' to do any tanning these days!I stay covered!



The back end of our house where the additions are.You can not see the clothes line in the dark but it is up there.

Saturday, May 24, 2008

Elena ,Grant, Alan, Lily, and I walked over to the coffee shop (not a surprise,I know) and then to the HyVee garden center.I picked up some actual plants to fill in a few empty spots in my square foot garden.When Jeff and the kids all left for their paper routes lily and I planted my plants.She was a vision of beauty there on her quilts so no pictures of my garden today just Lily!

Friday ,May 23, 2008

OK,I will not post any pictures of Lily today,well unless she does something real cute (which is quite a lot) and I just have to share it.She is at a fun age.The other day she tried to wave to Alan (it looked like a purposeful arm movement the resembled a wave,anyway). She even leaned her head close to me for a kiss,and grips my neck when I carry her.It is always hard to tell with babies but I'll just pretend she it a prodigy at her young almost 5 months.


I will give you a few update pictures of my Square Foot Garden.I think that some animal ate most of my seeds because the carrot,bean,tomato,and pepper sprouts are no where to be seen!At least ,the peas and radishes are looking good.I just might go ahead and buy some tomato and pepper plants this weekend.



The pink flower is from Grant.He bought it for Mother's Day.
One of the coaches at the Boys HeavenWord class gave Alan the flower on the right to him after a demonstration and Alan gave me one to plant in my garden.


Here is one of my strawberry plants.I should actually clean the leaves from around my strawberry plants but I'm a little lazy.I'll get motivated at some point this summer.


Last night was my date time with Grace.It was a lot of fun.We walked to McDonald's and got an ice cream.She chatted all the way.She was a trouper because it was a long walk for a little three year old.I really enjoyed being with her.Cute little Grace!

I made another little blog (I love to blog) that I am calling Dragonfrye Recipes and More...
I thought it could be a blog for recipes and other large family home management topics.I posted the granola recipe as well as a few other things.OK,OK, so I really am not asked about how things get done around here much but sometimes I wonder how things actually get done!If anything my new blog will entertain me. :o)

BREAKING NEWS!!! Baby on The Move

Now when I put Lily on her blanket she was on her back.I turn around for a moment and when I looked back at her she was reading the little book!Now,Lily how did this happen...





She looks as surprised as I was!



Since I took the pictures she rolled herself into a predicament she was not as pleased with.

Lily in Action

Hmmm...now what...

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

I used to make granola often when our family was much smaller.The last few years I thought about making granola but the quantity I would need to make for just one breakfast seemed pretty intimidating as well as the cost to make such big batches adding all the fancy extras like nuts,coconut,honey,wheat germ,etc...Well,I had extra oatmeal and thought I would make an experiment batch with the only ingredients I had on hand and my experiment actually turned out real well.I am sure there must be an official recipe for this but I could not find one so here is my version of what I will call My Dragonfrye Frugal Granola.Now it might not be as healthy as it could be but it fills up our many tummies and is very inexpensive to make.

My Dragonfrye Frugal Granola

12 cups of dry oatmeal (I would think any type would work)
Cinnamon to your liking
3 sticks butter or margarine
3 cups brown sugar
Raisins (optional)

melt butter and brown sugar on stove.When melted stir into oatmeal.Put on two cookie sheets and cook in oven set at 300 stirring every 5 minutes for about 20 minutes or until toasted.Let cool and add raisins.Very cheap!This will feed our kids for one breakfast with a little left over.My thought is if you would desire the granola in bigger chunks you would use more brown sugar and butter.

God Always Provides!

As most of you know even before we set out on our adoption journey we already had a larger family with our 7 children.Financially,we had years of plenty,and years of very little,and years of very,very little.Most years can be categorised as years of very very little!(We did had a few months of being what we would consider rich.Those were the few months after we sold our first house but before we used the equity to pay off our student and car loans.It did not last very long!)

Anyway, already having 7 children and thinking of adding more through adoption did seem pretty scary.Lots of fears like are we really doing the right thing,are we going to end up 'sacrificing' our bio children for the sake of some children across the world that we do not even know.What if the children we adopt have major adjustment issues that will affect the rest of the family.How will we ever be able to give our time to so many more children.How will we EVER feed more children!I would lay in bed at night fearing the worst most of the time.

One verse that would keep running though my mind through much of the time was

Psalm 37:25
I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.

Now,some who know me might think that it is awful bold of me to think I'm one of God's 'righteous'.Not in any way do I claim to be righteous on my own.I goof up way,way,WAY to much.It is only because Christ became my righteous with his death on the cross.
(Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.Hebrews 9:22)So because of Christ I can know I am included in the observation made by David in Psalm 37:25.

That all being said,and now having 14 children God really has always provided for us.In so many areas even beyond basic food,even fun things like free twins tickets or just the other day someone dropped off 16 free passes to the Minnesota Zoo.A few weeks ago someone brought over two DQ ice cream cakes because they thought we could use a treat!Genevieve Krueger and her daughter Beth from Jeff's childhood church thought of us.Today the Born's brought over a ton of stuff.

Clothes,can goods,fun extras...so many ways God proides and through so many different people.People we know and even people we do not know!I am just overwhelmed with God's continued care for us.


From the Borns

Happy Half Birthday Nolan!

Today is Nolan's half birthday which means donuts,a balloon and a little stuffty waiting at Nolan's breakfast spot!Turning 9 is looking pretty good to Nolan and now it is just 6 months away!.

Monday,Monday...

Today was just a normal Monday.School,chores,spaghetti dinner.Just the usual.But there were a few out of the ordinary things which made for a little excitement.I need some of tht on a Monday.

Instead of plain old Monday oatmeal for breakfast I made baked oatmeal (thanks Natalie for putting a little bug in my ear with the baked oatmeal idea)I had multiply my recipe by six to feed all the kids.I figured it is three of Natalie's recipe.Very good!

Speaking of Natalie of Natalie's Soapbox,she is selling very cute homemade bloomers.Traci C. for some reason I can just picture your little girls in fancy dresses and bloomers.All your girls just seem so dainty!

Jeff and the bigger boys had their HeavenWord Handlers group tonight.They are learning a lot of fun things.There was an extra slot so Nolan was able to join the other three boys.He sure had fun.

Elena and I biked (what a vision,seeing me on a bike.It does takes some getting used to)down to Clear Lake for our nightly prayer time.Well,our goal is to pray nightly but we usually end up praying 3-4 nights a week.I love those times with Elena.Anyway,Clear Lake is only about a 5 minute bike ride away.It was a lot of fun.The beach was real quiet except for a horseshoe club practicing near by.It was a little more exiting that sitting on my bed.

Oh yes, and Jeff brought me home an iced Mocha from Starbucks tonight.Every Monday Jeff brings me home something special like flowers or coffee.Aren't I just spoiled!And as you must have figured I love my coffee and tonight the mocha was a good treat.

I just have to throw in this cute picture of Anya,Joel,Nolan,Lily,and Joyce. Anya is doing her Jacob Flat smile,Joel is giving Joyce the 'eye' because she dared to tell him to smile for the picture.Nobody crosses Joel.Nolan is not wanting to get his picture taken.Lily keeps fussing but this picture got her in-between fusses.Joyce is trying to get Lily to Cheer up and to wave.What a picture.