Our Baby Girl is 4!!!!

Instead of a huge party, Nevaeh wanted to spend the day with her best friend Livie at Chuck E Cheese for her birthday.

Double trouble!

Striking a pose

With their earned prizes

Out for chinese with the dude!

Nevaeh's favorite food for her birthday lunch.

Nevaeh Re' is 4

Awesome decorations

The birthday girl with her cake just the way she wanted it to be.

Chawlie is her nickname.

With Daddy

With Mommy

GOTCHA!

...aaaaaaannd she got him back!

Nevaeh with the gift from her brothers.

Daryl was still away in college at the time so he is not pictured here.

Seasons

There are seasons in our lives in which it seems as if life sucks us up into the vortex of some violent whirling storm of water, fire or air and we somehow survive to live another day. It has been such a season for us and as you consult the date of our last post, you verify the passage of time. So much water has passed under the bridge since last we met. As I pause to take stock, I am relieved to discover that my family has remained unscathed and we are, in fact, doing well.

It is our hope that once again, we can meet here more regularly and perhaps even manage to catch up a little.

"To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:

A time to be born, And a time to die;

A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted;

A time to kill, And a time to heal;

A time to break down, And a time to build up;

A time to weep, And a time to laugh;

A time to mourn, And a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones;

A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to gain, And a time to lose;

A time to keep, And a time to throw away;

A time to tear, And a time to sew;

A time to keep silence, And a time to speak;

A time to love, And a time to hate;

A time of war, And a time of peace."

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

May you find peace and contentment surrounding you in whatsoever storm you find yourself.

Happy Awesome Day!

"Happy Awesome Day!" says a little boy from our church!

"It's awesome 'cause Jesus rose from the deadness!!"

And we agree! That's what makes Easter so awesome! Our Redeemer is ALIVE!!

Daddy & Nevaeh

She is getting so big!
The picture says it all...

Nevaeh and Miki Tikaani

Miki is an Alaskan name for Nevaeh's new puppy who is the most adorable Shorkie.

Our three beautiful children

Time out for a little scratch...

And of course, being with special friends on such a day only makes it more awesome!!

Hoping YOUR Resurrection Day was BLESSED!

Ours was!!

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to the man in our lives!!

Mark is now 41 years young and we are doing our best to make his life as exciting as we possibly can!
Our little artist and her handmade birthday greeting for dad - the BEST kind!

Ready for Easter Sunday morning service on Daddy's birthday...

His birthday wouldn't quite be right without his favorite chocolate/peanut butter cake so of course, we had to oblige. Daryl, Robert and I all participated in the making thereof!

Happy Birthday, Babe!

We LOVE you from the bottom of our hearts!

Our world would be incomplete without you in it!!

Just Because...

Just because it's been awhile, we want you to see that our princess in residence is still reigning strong!

We can't imagine doing anything without her!

She thinks she is a walrus with golden tusks.

And she's extra special too, because she managed to grow three instead of the standard two!

Babies Grow Up

At 5:09 p.m. on February 28, 1997, Robert Eugene joined our family and changed our world. I can't imagine our lives without him.

Daryl adored his new little brother and NO ONE could convince him that baby didn't belong to HIM!

He KNEW this was his baby!

This is the Sunday night we brought you home. Mommy was feeling pretty wiped out as we no sooner brought little Robbie home from the hospital when big brother Daryl got sick with the flu and started puking. I had a lot of great help but I guess I still overdid it in trying to clean up and get laundry started.

Robbie grew so fast and these two little guys did EVERYTHING together.

This is the birthday boy today all grown up. He is now 15 years old and mom is left wondering where the time has gone!

Rob wanted to go out to 5 Guys for a great burger for his birthday.

I wasn't certain the burger was going to fit in his mouth but somehow it did.

Here, his true colors are starting to show!

Mama and her baby!

HAPPY 15TH BIRTHDAY, ROB!

You are an amazing young man and we love you so much!

Mama's Boys

LOVE my boys!

Back To School!

Alas! But it is time again to head back to school. We have enjoyed immensely, our time with our oldest son during the Christmas and New Year vacation. It has passed far too quickly! Here you see the silly boy "passed out" with the prospect of "back to the grind." Me? Wishing I could stand here a little longer and hold him!

The last Sunday at home before heading back to school.

Daryl, Mom & Dad

Posing with Dad while waiting for his connecting ride back out to Ohio.

Mom with the kids

Nevaeh was NOT ready for her big brother to leave again!

Last minute playing!

Happy New Year!

Praying that your holiday season has been rich to overflowing with

THE GIFT of Jesus and that your New Year will be blessed in that GIFT!

Christmas Programs!

Click on this link to watch the live stream Christmas Program of God's Bible School and College where Daryl attends. Daryl will be singing in the choir. The program can be viewed live on:

Friday (December 9) @ 7:00 p.m.

Saturday (December 10 @ 3:00 p.m.

Sunday (December 11 @ 6:00 p.m.

You may click the link below to view the live streaming if you happen to log onto the blog during any of the above times.

I promise it will be a worth while watch!!

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ustream.tv%2Fchannel%2Fchristmas-program&h=6AQHo_6YQ

"When I Cry"

Daryl is an incredible big brother and as you can see, Nevaeh believes this to be so too!

While home on break from college, Daryl sang by request in our church.
He shared "When I Cry."

This song characterizes the true empathy of Jesus Christ.
We are never alone in our pain. Jesus knows where we are in any suffering. And like us, he suffered loss. In the shortest verse of the Bible, we are reminded that
"Jesus wept." (John 11:35)
Use the link below to listen to Daryl sing.
And be encouraged...God is on YOUR side!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZQzXze19Qw

Blessings: God's Mercies Disguised

Our 14 year old son, Robert, was asked to sing Laura Story's song "Blessings" for a couple Thanksgiving services. Our son Daryl, now 18, and I added background vocals. In the photo above we are practicing from home. I have attached a link below where you can view our live church performance. Enjoy and remember to take time to consider YOUR BLESSINGS!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daPAuMfOwH4

Happiness Is....

....being with the one you love!
Nevaeh and her big brother Daryl who came home from college

Blessings

Mama & Her Boys

Was privileged to sing with my two boys for our town's community Thanksgiving service. Rob sang lead and Daryl and Mama sang the background vocals. We shared Laura Story's song entitled
"Blessings."

We pray for blessings - We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
And all the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things
***
Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You're near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise
***
We pray for wisdom - Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
And all the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe
***
Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You're near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise
***
When friends betray us - When darkness seems to win
We know the pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
THIS IS NOT OUR HOME
***
Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You're near
***
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise

BE BLESSED THIS THANKSGIVING!

"Blessed is he who watches...."

In just six short days, this little girl's hero and big brother will return home for the first time since leaving in August to attend college. Little Nevaeh can hardly wait! She is making plans regarding how she will greet Daryl, what he will say, what he will do, and what she will do. She is......ANTICIPATING!

I am enjoying watching her "little girl" preparations for Daryl's arrival. She wants to assist making of his bed with fresh sheets. She wants to help clean his room. She sits on a blanket on the floor of Daryl's room in front of his closet. She has her music and a stack of books and she is waiting patiently.

This reminds me of how we are to anticipate the return of our Savior.

We get everything ready with excitement and then "....occupy till I come." Luke 19:13

Keep busy! Stay involved in the lives of those around you. Be the Hand of Jesus extended. Share the love of Christ with those you come in contact with even if it is simply just being gracious and kind.

Live with anticipation! It will affect HOW you occupy!

And your joy will have a valuable impact on the lives that you touch!

Watch! Be Ready! Occupy!

We're counting the days!!

And it won't be long!