Happy Birthday Hannah!!

Hannah loves to check out the Wine and Cocktail list when we go out. 

She thinks it is her own special menu.

When we're at home, you will find Hannah mostly in her swimsuit or ballet suits.

And eating apples... her favorite!

And painting on the glass with her water colors which is another favorite

Today was her 3rd Birthday. 

Streamers are a MUST at in our home on birthdays.  This photo looks dreary though!

The birthday girl or boy always wakes up to a house full of streamers!  Hannah's were purple and green.

Presents and Cards!

Opening her card from Grandma and Grandpa C.

We cashed her check from them before hand and stuck cash inside. 

She was far more interested in my reading the card to her over and over than she was in the cash! 

I asked her "what are you going to spend your money on?"  she said "purple dollies for Ann".

Elijah made her a special card and read it to her.

Hannah called this her "princess girl dress".

Hannah was trying to like all the crumbled up newspaper that Grandma and Grandpa S. mailed her.

She was SO EXCITED to find a mermaid barbie doll in the box!

and glad that she didn't just get a box of crumpled up newspaper!

David saved his Hershey bar from Christmas to give to her, along with a dollar bill.

Hannah had the day all to herself.  She could do whatever she wanted.

David played the Wii with her

Ann played dollies

I got a makeover from her (and a very wet head of hair)

Paul "had fun on the bed" with her (which is crazy wrestling, tickling, screaming time)

Elijah tried to help keep her away from her birthday cake that Ann and I were decorating (but that part got WAY ugly when Mommy lost her cool and screamed at everyone to STOOOOP IIIIITTT!!)

Then Mommy cried and apologized profusely with hugs and kisses.

Then it was back to party time

with Cheese Pizza, extra cheese

7Up

Cake and Icecream.

Hannah also got to go over to "acies" (Stacie's) house to play with her 6 friends.

She got to blow out more candles on top of rice krispy treat cupcakes.

What a wonderful day she had!

Tommorow she will get to drop her pennies (3) on the drum at Church. 

I will get to drop mine (34)  too since I didn't get to it last Sunday.

Thank you Lord for our cherished Happy Hannah Girl!! 

How amazing that we should be so blessed to have a girl like her in our lives.

And a warning to the world in her days to come.... WATCH OUT!! 

Some Everyday Life Pics

My heart skips a beat when I see *clean and organized*, even if it's food.

I love these trays.  I picked them up over a year ago at Fred Meyer's for 75% off!

I use them for our "kid meals", usually Saturday or Sunday night, sometimes both.

Vanilla yogurt w/ sprinkles (dessert), apple slices, corn and chicken.

Dog Pile! 

Mary is on the bottom...

JK!!

I lay out the girls outfits every night for the next day.

I used to do the boys but they do it themselves now since they are growing up. (sniffle, sniffle)

See my new casseroles?? 

Paul got them for me for Christmas. 

They are Rachael Ray!

You might also notice our criss-crossed silverware.

It is Ann's new way to set the table to "help make things fancy".

Also... I just figured this out a few months ago... instead of setting the table, only to gather up the plates again to dish up food;  I now put the stack of plates in the middle of the table so I can just stand and dish up food then pass out the plates.  Get it? 

 Even those little things make a difference in my day! 

Hannah freaked out when Paul put his foot up near her.

So naturally, we all joined in.

Wait!! Once more for the camera!

Mary was far to occupied with her perogie to join in.

Often, when I go to take my shower, I put the TV on.

The other morning, I came out and just had to snap a shot of my darlings! 

Look at how Mary joined right in to watch "Sid the Science Kid."

It touched my heart to see how Mary imitates her big sissies! 

I didn't know babies watch TV!!

This is also what I often come out of the shower to find.

Just thought I'd make you jealous. Mmmm... can I make a yummy sandwich.

A common occurence in our home. 

Dry Ice Wonders

One of our latest learning experiences...

Dry Ice!

Did you know???

that dry-ice is also known as frozen CO2?

that dry-ice is unbearably freezing cold to the touch?

that when you press metal tongs to the ice it makes a high pitched screaming sound?

that if everyone puts their faces around the bowl and blows all at the same time, a plume of "smoke" goes straight up in the air?

that sniffing the "smoke" makes your nose tingle?

that if you watch very carefully, you can see little "O's" in the "smoke"?

that you can scoop and hold the "smoke" in the cup of your hand and pass it along?

that white grape juice always tastes better with dry-ice?

that you can buy it at the grocery store for just 1$ a pound and enjoy an hour of fun and learning?

I am looking forward to doing this again with our Youth at Church. 

I am planning a Very exciting Bible School full of Science!!!

Thank you Lord for your wonders!

Dinner tonight:  Chicken, Roasted Potatos, Peas and Streusel Cake

Women Officers--- Tough Times

     I wrote this in the back of my  Bible when I was in training college.  The words aren't so comforting, in fact they are quite harsh.  I did not even fully understand the reality of Officership when I read them the first time, but as the years go by, and we have faced some difficulty, I begin to really get it. 
     When we consider the cost of following Jesus, of answering His call,  we must also remember that Jesus was rejected, despised, spit upon, mocked, tortured, and ultimately crucified, for the sake of OTHERS.
     And the most glorious part of all was that He rose from the grave, victorious over it all.
    
     "Then one day, for unknown reasons, God just isn't there anymore.  The Presence that has guided us and strengthened us is gone.  Our covenant with God feels broken and void.  The Scriptures stops comforting. Every page condemns!  We continue to read out of obedience, but the Word becomes the letter that kills.

     Pastoral skills become worthless.  The church is no longer a warm, nurturing environment where friends gather.  The church expels us from the secure womb.  Evil rages against us.  The boundaries of the church are not walls keeping evil out but a boxing ring keeping evil in, so that it can come back and strike us again and again and again.  We can't run.

     I'm up a tree.  High, far out on a fragile limb I cling.  I climbed out there because God said that He wanted me there and  that He would be with me.  Now the limb is cracking off the trunk.  God isn't there anymore.  The picture changes like a dream.  I am not out on a limb, but strapped to a tree.  I am hanging from a tree.  I am dying on a tree.  Pinched in God's vise, dangling helpless, I am made into the bait of God, but for whom?
  
      Nobody  pretty wants me now.  The world wants winners.  Nothing succeeds like success.  Look good to attract the good-looking.  Die to attract the dying.  Suffer to know the being of suffering.  Cry out to know the crying out.  Hear the blood of the innocents screaming; searing pain rises from the blood soaked dirt.
     Only now am I a parable of Jesus Christ."

-David Hansen, "The Art of Pastoring"


This can really apply to any area of life, couldn't it?     Not all of our days will be perfectly perfect.  In fact, not many.  We trust in Him, no matter where it takes us or who it leads us too.  At times, we may face unbearable pain and frustration, just like Jesus.   But we trust that His purpose and plan is being accomplished in us- bringing us closer into perfect fellowship (holiness) with Him.

More Snow Days

The snow is mostly gone now, except for a few piles here and there.

We've had such a mild winter. 

The children enjoyed the snow every chance they got.

This used to be my snow suit. 

I have memories of laying down on top of it to get zipped in. 

I also remember my Mom sending me to the potty first.

This one was my twin brothers.

I bet my Mom and Dad never knew how much use we'd get out of these!

So far, 6 children have worn these- Jacob and Rachel- their children

and David, Elijah, Ann and Hannah- their grand-children.

Mary will be next.

Ann

Elijah

Hannah

David

Mary

Building a fort.

Preparing the snowballs to cream Daddy.

Snowball chute they built for rapid-fire!

Poor Paul.

The boys built these bird-houses with their Grandpa in Michigan, then he shipped them out. 

They are a source of much pride!

Elijah took most of the outside pics.

Back of our home.