Mini Vacation

One of our churches gave us a "mini-vacation" as a Christmas gift!  All expenses paid (including a night out in a hotel).

The kids were so excited!  We left after church on Sunday and headed south to the...

We got there in time for about 45 minutes before closing on Sunday, then headed to our hotel!

We don't stay in hotels often, but when we do it is a treat for the kids! (no, they didn't all have to sleep in one bed together).

The next morning we were off to explore the museum!

I really wish I could explain it in detail, but I would honestly say, just go!  It was very well done.  I wouldn't recommend it for very young kids, because there is a lot of reading, but honestly - Maddie loved it too!

Adam in the Garden of Eden

Building the Ark

Dinosaurs!

Maddie says her favorite part was the Special Effects Theater.  She liked that she got "a little wet" and she could "feel the elephants walking"!

The boys couldn't decide what they liked best!  

It was all so much fun!  

Eli seemed to enjoy the planetarium! He liked all the dinosaurs too!

Nathaniel didn't like all the reading :), but he seriously enjoyed the museum!

Of our kids, Ronnie probably enjoyed it the most.  He's into history and loves to read and just soaked it all in.  He kept asking questions and really just seemed to love it.

All four kids seemed a little disappointed that we didn't go in the summer when the camel rides, petting zoo and zip-line are open, but they all had a great time.  They were pretty worn out on our ride home.

In all honesty, it was good they were worn out!  We had a rough drive home.  What normally would have taken 3 hours turned into a 6+ hour drive home through torrential rain, sleet and snow!

We are so thankful for a caring congregation who have blessed us with this mini-vacation and thankful for safety as we traveled!

Seriously, I recommend you go and visit!

Home a little early

My Valentine is on his way home a day early!  He went through some of the southern Ohio snow storm, but should be about 30 minutes away now!

Can't wait to greet him!  We are all missing him!

Thank you for your prayers for a good week.  The Lord used this week in some big ways and we are anxiously awaiting all that it means!  Thank you for carrying us and journeying with us in our adventure of Obedience to our Heavenly Father!

Happy Valentine's Day

For God so loVed the world,

                                              That He gAve
                                                    His onLy
                                                    BegottEn
                                                          SoN
                                                               That whosoever
                                                 Believeth In Him
                                                   Should Not perish,
                                                 But have Everlasting life."
                                                                                            John 3:16

Crazy, but cute!

We woke up this morning to -15 degrees outside, it was cold!

Now it is a balmy 16 above zero outside.

Despite the weather, my little Maddie has been wearing this today!

She got over a dozen "dress up" dresses from some friends this week and she is loving it!  Nothing is more fun than dress up to a four year old - even on a cold winter day!

Answered Prayer

For those of you who prayed for Ron yesterday and his meeting with his adviser, Thank you!

It was a good meeting and he was told he should begin to write!  

So thankful for a good meeting!

Reading

Lately Eli has been excited about reading.  We have noticed he is improving too.  He is a bit of a late bloomer when it comes to reading, but he's getting it.

He excitedly grabs whatever he can find.  Maybe not always the best idea.  I overheard him read about a murder in the paper which leads to questions, but I guess reading means learning (the good and the bad).

I'm excited that he is getting excited about reading!

Wilmore Week #22

We are beginning another Wilmore Week here!  After 4 inches of snow last night, I was a little worried about Ron getting on the roads, but he said the trip went good and he finally began to see grass just north of Cincinnati, but then when he got south of the city it began to be snow covered again.  Even ice and snow in Wilmore.  Just thankful he made it safely.

He meets with his adviser tomorrow morning.  Would you pray for wisdom, understanding and just a good meeting?

The kids and I are planning to hang out here and see if they actually go a full week with no delay's or cancellations!

Thank you for lifting our family in prayer.

Bad Name

We were driving today in Ft. Wayne and I noticed this restaurant.

I think maybe it was a poor choice of names.

Can you read the sign?

Paper Lantern, I mean really, what do you expect!

Trip of a Lifetime

In just a few short weeks, Ron and I have been invited to participate in a trip of a lifetime!  Let me explain.

Back several months ago, in August (we remember the date very specifically, because of other things that were going on) my parents invited us to join them in celebrating their 40th Wedding Anniversary!

Now let me pause there to tell you that it doesn't really seem possible that my parents are old enough to be celebrating 40 years, because honestly that means that I am drawing closer to that same year!  However, in June of this year they will have been married for 40 years.  I also want to pause for a moment and say that I am so so so so proud to have parents that I can say have been married (to each other) for 40 years!  What an accomplishment, especially in our society.  Has every day been wonderful and cherry and rosy - absolutely not, but has each day been lead by their Master and Savior - I have to say, I believe it has!  It is only by the Grace of Jesus Christ that we, as humans, can reach accomplishments such as these.  Jesus is Alive in my parents lives and in their marriage and so He deserves the credit for this 40 year accomplishment.

But, back to the trip!  Aren't you dying to know where they have invited us to share in this glorious celebration?

Well, brace yourselves!  My parents invited, myself and Ron, my brother and his wife, my sister and her husband all to join them on a 10 day trip to Israel.  They are planning to renew their wedding vows while we are there!  Isn't that awesome????  Are you jealous?  (don't be)  :)

I'm excited.  My dad went to Israel with a group of pastors 10 or more years ago and when he returned he said, "I want to take you all back someday".  Well that day is approaching!

The invitation was for all 8 of us to go together, if we could find quality accommodations for all of their grand-babies!  Ron's mom will be staying with our 4 and apparently my brother and sister both were able to work it out too!

So, instead of being jealous of our opportunity of a lifetime, would you pray with us?  We need prayer for so many things.  Pray:
      for the 10 grand kids (4 of ours, 2 of Jay's and 4 of Jo's) we are leaving in Ohio and in Africa
      for safety in travel
      for those who are keeping all 10 kids while we are gone
      for Jesus to meet with us as we walk where He walked
      for the Holy Spirit to be present with us and to draw us closer as a family through this trip
      for Jesus best for All of us!

Excitement builds as we count down!

I look forward to sharing all about the trip with you!
Thank you for lifting us up in prayer!

Round #...

I've lost track of what numbered snow storm we are into now.  But this is the 2nd for February, I think.  I'm pretty sure there was a little snow before the rain and ice storm of last weekend.  Anyway, this is the 1st significant snow storm of February 2014.  I'm guessing, not the last!

After the boys and Daddy shoveled out around our place, the pile was pretty high.   Ron measured 9 inches here!  

Below Ronnie stands with his head above the garage roof!

 And jumps down!

Eli shows that the pile is above his head!

Even Eli is above the garage roof!

Nathaniel didn't want to be left out

He was attempting a dunk, might need to work on the technique of that one.

...and the landing!

After a quick break, they were all 4 off to shovel at the church!  Might be a good idea to get the water hot for hot chocolate when they return!

Wherever you are and regardless of how much you got this round or what round it is -I hope you are staying warm, safe and enjoying your family!

Invention

Our little man has been awfully quiet lately.  He's been inventing!  

He's very excited about his new Vacuum Sweeper!  

Here he is demonstrating how it works for the camera!

That's where all my tape went!

Too bad it doesn't work.  

I might still buy one, he's one cute little salesman!