8 years ago...

Chris and I got married. It was Friday, February 11, 2000. The day was filled with so many emotions and even though many of our family and friends were not able to attend, it was a special day! God truely has a plan for our lives and we need to trust Him (easier said than done).
Life for us hasn't been easy but, we are blessed and we do know that God is leading us. One day we will look back at all of the "stuff" and praise God because we will be able to use our life as a testimony to others!
Thank you Lord for my husband who Truely loves me and who strives to be a man/husband/daddy of God!

Extended Family

This picture was from christmas but I just got a copy of it and I thought I would share.

Back row from the left: Herb (brother) Yoey (cousin) Mike (brother) Cy (cousin) Elia (cousin)

front row from the left: Melissa (SIL) Naomi (cousin IL) Chris, Myra (SIL) Sarah (Elias girlfriend) and me in front (of course)

Yup- I was the only girl growing up with all of those boys! I do have one girl cousin on that side of the family but she has always lived on the west coast so it was usually just me and the boys! I am so glad they brought some girls into the family

We had a great time getting together and talking about all of the fun we had when we were little What a blessing it is to have them in my life

All grown up

Ben is such a big kid. We brought home his report card last week and we are so proud of him. He is progressing well in every area and the has "mastered" his people skills (at least while he is at school) I love to sit with him and have him read to me. He can read almost anything- instuctions, tv menu, words I spell out so that he won't know what I am saying (that no longer works with him)...

The latest stage is that he wants to grow out his beautiful blonde hair! I am all for him having hair that is a bit longer but it is in the in between stage and it is so messy.

I just love my little man!

Christmas in review

Well, it seems like life has been crazy but I guess thats what happens for us around the holidays!

We had an amazing Christmas here in MI. Snow, family and food! My brother Herb, and sister-in-law, Melissa, decided last minute to come up from Florida with their 3 children and 2 of their nieces and I am so happy they did! We had several family events starting the weekend before Christmas. On sat we had lunch at my brothers house (Mike and Myra) with my moms side of the family - well some of them- I wish I had picture to post but I of course forgot my camera. It is always fun to see all of my boy cousins. They all towered over me in the pictures that we had to pose for!

Then on Sunday we went to my dads house for more food.

This is all of the kids at my Dads house that afternoon. Caitlyn, Spencer, Lauren, Kelsey, Alyssa, sydney, Ben, Olivia and my little brother Kyle!
On christmas eve we went to Chris' moms house and spent some time with his family there but cut out early to get home to bed for the big day!
On Christmas day we woke up around 7 (thats late for my babies) and opened our gifts at home and then headed to Grammys for brunch and more presents. This is about the only picture I have of me so please pay no attention to my apperance!

After Grammys we went to Mandys house (chris' sister) to visit with her and papa and cindy and of course open more gifts! Anything Star Wars will put a smile on that cute little face! We have been so blessed with such a generous, loving and FUN family and we are so grateful to God for each one of them. I can't wait to do it all again next year!

Pros/Cons of my Job

Most everyone who reads this (if any one does) knows that I have a daycare in our "cozy" home. Due to the set up of our lovely home, the kids are mostly in my living room (no separate area). This can be a bit frustrating when things get spilled or when the same bin gets dumped, picked up, dumped, picked up... (con #1)

Wednesday night Sydney was vomitting - do I call and close for thursday and not get paid or do I wait and see? She didn't end up being truely sick so I could have never told the parents but luckily only ONE parent was going to keep their child away for Sydney (who was thought to have the stomach flu) so I still got paid for most of my day.

Thursday, a parent says they don't know if their husband will be able to get to work on friday (because of their sick child) which means "we won't be able to pay you until monday or so" HMMM ... How would you like it if you went to get your pay check and was told " maybe in a few days you will get the money you were counting on?

That family figured out a way to pay! but then today a friend who brings her daughter 1 or 2 days a week said "I forgot my check book, I will drop it off sometime next week" I hate this part of my job. so I had to say, NO that wont work for me. Her husband just stopped and gave me the cash...

On to the Pros! Today was Sydneys christmas program at school and it was at 8:30 in the morning. I didn't have to ask for permission to go I just made arrangements for someone to come and watch the kids for me. Then when I got home my fill in/friend, Jolene, stayed for the entire morning and visited and helped! Love her! and then another mom brought her daughter to catch the bus and stayed to visit and help until 3:30, Love Bobbie Jo too.

More pros! I can be the one to "teach" Sydney how to act (even if I don't always do a good job) I can be home everyday to get ben off the bus, I can see my husband several times throughout the day (even if I don't always want to :) ). and I get to play a big role in the lives of the children and their families. I hope I remember to show them Jesus! I guess I like my job after all!

Music to a mommys ears!

Monday night was Bens Christmas program at school. So cute! The kids were all dressed up - well most of them. Ben had told me that there was something special planned that he couldn't tell me about and I just figured it was nothing. When the curtains opened all of the kids had wide eyes and were looking frantically for someone they might recognize in the audience. It was half way through the last song when Ben finally found us and he couldn't stop smiling! It was so cute.

The surprise, well it was the cutest red nose. All of the first graders had to hold red paper noses behind their back until just the right moment and then they stuck them on their faces. All of the parents thought it was great!

It seems like only a few years ago that I was singing the same songs. I can't believe how fast its going. It makes me wish I had slowed down years ago and held him a bit longer or played more games instead of whatever I thought I had to do!

Giving Thanks

We had such a great time for Thanksgiving this year. As usual for me, the holiday lasted for more than just thursday. On Thursday we had dinner at my moms house with my brother, Mike, and his family as well as our friends Michael and Mandy and their two children. It was so relaxing. All of the children played so nicely together.

Ben and Sydney made the turkey hats for everyone to wear! It was so cute. (drew didn't feel like being in the picture so we took one with just Ben , Syd, Noah and Olivia.)

On Saturday, we headed to Benton Harbor to be Thankful with My family there. We just hung out and enjoyed each others company. My kids always love to go see Auntie Claretta, she has a wii as well as all kinds of toys that she keeps just in case one of my cousins would give her a grand baby.

I am so thankful for family and friends that are always there for me. I am thankful for our home, our new business and for everything God has blessed us with.