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!

Time Flies!

WHAT have these guys gone and done with my babies??!!

Movin' On!

Posing with Dad very early on moving day morning...Daryl is very excited and ready to begin his college career.

Daryl is a freshman at God's Bible School and College in Cincinnati, Ohio where he is working on an Associate of Arts Degree in General Studies. He is also enrolled simultaneously at the University of Cincinnati where he is working on a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice.

Mama and her baby all grown up! I can't believe that we are here at this juncture of life so soon!

Daryl is participating in the work study program as well which assists in the payment of his tuition. He is working as a security guard right on the college campus. We are very pleased that his job experience compliments his major.

This is Jeffrey Paulus Jr.

Jeffrey is a childhood friend of Daryl's. We were very excited to learn that Jeffrey was planning to attend the same college AND even more excited when Jeffrey and Daryl were assigned room mates!

Jeffrey Paulus, Daryl Fultz, and Dustin Covert

These three live together as room mates. So far, they are doing very well and getting along great.

Daryl's room is next to the top floor, four windows in from the right side.

When I zoomed in on Daryl's window, I discovered he left his mark! lol

This is Daryl's desk and study corner.

The bottom bunk is Daryl's and Jeffrey's is the top bunk.

This is their little lounge area. The truck box/coffee table is Daryl's stash of food! And yes, it has been restocked multiple times since he moved into the dorm.

We have missed Daryl terribly but get to use Skype and chat with him. I wish you could have seen little Nevaeh when Daryl's face first popped up on the computer screen! She couldn't get up on the chair fast enough to suit her!

Daryl is very busy and doing quite well in school. Here is a photo of the college choir of which Daryl is a part. You will find him in the back row with his hand raised!

Though we miss him greatly, we LOVE what God is doing in Daryl's life!

Life just has a way of movin' on.

Update! And Apologies!

Yes! Just like all of you, summer has come and gone for us! School has started one more time and it's time to get back to the routine. Life has twisted a new direction for us as this past month, we moved our first child into the dormitory of a college. I attempted to post some photos and share Daryl's move with you, but I agreed to try a new interface on my blog dashboard. Somehow, something froze up on my computer and I could not post, upload any pictures, couldn't switch back to my old interface OR communicate with anyone regarding my problem. Today, I have attempted to access my blog by logging into another party's computer. I DID attempt to switch back to my old interface, AND I am going to try posting this message to my blog! I apologize for any annoyance and we want you to know that we appreciate your faithful reading. Please be patient just a little longer and be assured that we are doing our best to have this situation resolved! I hope that your day has been beautiful!

Another Concert

Our family had the opportunity to participate in our community's outreach by giving a concert at the fairgrounds here in our town. This was our last scheduled singing date as an entire family before Daryl leaves for college. We shared a variety of selections using trio, quartet and solo arrangements. Daryl has been singing bass for us this year and doing a great job.

Daryl is singing the song that he composed entitled "Independence Day." He accompanied himself on the acoustic guitar.

Nevaeh was excited to have her face painted!

Her completed Bob the Tomato from Big Idea's Veggie Tales series.

The evening ended with another round of fireworks!
It was a blessed day.