Well! The second copy of The Town Sound has gone off to print... look for it soon ladies and gentlemen!
Now it's time to catch up on the hundred little things I never get around to... not. I think I'll just take a half-day break and then... off to work again. It's a good thing I love my job. ☺

   Hard to believe a month could fly by so fast! And what a lot has been accomplished in just these past few weeks. Rebekah and I officially launched our cleaning / organizing business; our family designed, published and hand-delivered 4,500+ issues of our new publication "The Town Sound"; and we built and launched our family website... mybigfam.com. But we're far from being done! 
   Next big project is the store... And a BIG project it is indeed! Not only do we have remodeling work to do, but we are in the process of sorting through our inventory too. There will be a lot of changes to the store when we do open - for those of you who have shopped there in the past. Good changes! We will have a bigger store for one, because the back will be opened up. And there will probably be even more of a variety of items than before. 
   Well, time to get back to work! Check back often for updates on store progress!

   Ever since I was eight and first entrusted with the responsibility of watching and caring for my baby sister, Johannah, caring for the very young has been my delight and joy. I love everything involved with infants and newborns... Their sweet baby smell, their cry, their tiny fingers and toes, the feel of their litttle head against your cheek  ...getting to see them lift their head for the first time, watching as they learn to crawl and then walk. But mostly just the feeling of knowing that that little baby relies completely on you for its every need to be met, and depends on you for protection, love, and care. 
   Responsibility is not a foreign concept by any means when you have so many younger siblings. But it brings satisfaction to know that you play a vital role in caring for and supporting your family. 
   The little ones are assured of love and support in abundance as they grow older. They have so many older siblings eager to step in and lend  a helping hand where needed or provide encouragement as they learn new skills (not to mention, Mom and Dad as well). This closeness in a family is one blessing that, sadly, is lacking in many families today. I am grateful to have grown up in such a big supportive family! <3

   Well, yesterday and today we put in two full days of walking, going from house to house and handing out copies of our new publication "The Town Sound". What nice weather it was, too! Not too hot, sunny, no rain threatening... We started later in the morning, took a break for lunch, then went for another run till about six. 
   Now it seems like I can feel every muscle in my body! But what a happy feeling to get so much accomplished! And it was our publication - that makes it more fun handing them out. A few years back we were doing pretty much the same thing, except that we were handing out flyers for someone else. Passing out something that you've actually put the work and creativity into is a whole different thing.
   Even though now all I feel like doing is sitting down and relaxing, I love going door to door and handing out flyers. I enjoy the exercise and the people interaction that you get. And I have always enjoyed being outdoors, especially when the weather is so nice! I drink it all in: the sweet scent of freshly cut grass and beautiful flowers, the bright colors springing up from the ground this time of year, the sound of birds singing cheerily now that spring has arrived. And my heart is filled with gratitude to God for the beauty all around me. I am very blessed!

 I remember very little about life in New York. We moved to Zion when I was very little. My first memory is being taken out on the porch in my dad's arms during a thunderstorm. I was afraid of the lightning and loud crashes of thunder, but in my dad's arms I felt secure and safe. He wanted to show me that there was nothing to be scared of. 
  My second memory was on my third birthday, shortly after we had moved to Zion, IL. I remember waking up that morning to find that my dad had built a little Lego sculpture with three little men standing on top. He had used different colored blocks to spell out the words: Happy third birthday! I was thrilled. 
   Throughout the years, there were probably some things that we did without, because we never had the extra money to spend on those things. But looking back now, I realize how much more we had than so many other families. We had a house full of fun and laughter. And most importantly we had - and still have - each other.