Marla's Musings

Trying out new blog

2008-02-17T14:37:00.000-08:00

I'm trying out the Vox blog. If you'd like to see it go to: http://marlafb2000.vox.com/. I don't know if I'll stay there or keep using this one. The jury is still out.

Remote control dog

2008-02-16T14:28:00.000-08:00

I came into the living room and Cinnamon had the remote under her. Breanna put her foot on top of it and she stayed that way until we got these pictures. What a dog!

Zion duty

2008-02-16T14:18:00.000-08:00

We sometimes get the privilege of "Zion duty" so mom can have a break. Breanna just didn't have the touch but "In-house Grandma Marla" does (my parents dubbed us In-house Grandparents and Breanna In-house Aunt).

She looks so peaceful when she is sleeping but she can cry a lot. She has some gassy stomach problems.

Health Issues

2008-02-16T14:13:00.000-08:00

I've been having some female problems that ended me up in the ER on Thursday, Feb. 7th. Since then I've been on hormones and feel pretty tired. The OB/GYN said my hemoglobin was down to 8.1 because of the bleeding problem I had had. At the ER it was 9.3. I am taking an iron supplement to get my levels back up. I feel pretty tired by the end of the day. I'm thankful that I am health otherwise although they did a biopsy and I will find out the results this coming Wednesday.

I'm thankful for my friends and family who have been praying for me! God's grace and his healing touch are here. Thank you, Jesus, for life and health!

It's been a year!

2008-02-15T03:35:00.000-08:00

Today is the anniversary of my friend Kim and her two young children's deaths. Kristian was 3 and Kiana was 11 months. They died in a fire last February 15. I can't believe it has been a year. I pray for God's comfort over her remaining children (4) and her mom, her twin sister, and her aunts, uncles, and cousins. Life has changed so much for us since her death. Some of it very good and some hard to handle. I know she and Kristian and Kiana are very happy with the Lord.

Last night I dreamed I had a fire in my kitchen. I tried to put it out but I couldn't seem to get it all. Others around me were not that alarmed. I couldn't get the water faucet to work or I couldn't find something to fill with water or I'd think the fire was out and then it would grow again. I asked God to protect my family and church family after I woke up. I want his flames to burn us but not the flames of destruction and death.

Breanna's ensemble at contest

2008-01-27T05:31:00.000-08:00

It worked! The first few seconds are waiting for the judge to say it was time to play. (Oops! I was all excited until I realized this is the one that only shows their tuning up. At least it is a video that loaded. I'll try again later for the longer one.)

Breanna's orchestra contest

2008-01-27T05:09:00.001-08:00

Breanna went to contest yesterday. She played a solo and played in an ensemble. Her ensemble got gold and will go to state. She played Mozart Concerto #3 in G (a very complicated piece) and got silver. Her violin teacher said it was a high silver. Toward the end, she messed up for a few seconds. We think that is why she wasn't gold. She is relieved to not have to play this piece again since she's been playing it since last summer!

Practicing her solo.

The ensemble: Breanna, Matt, Jenny D, and two other girls I don't know their names.

Close up of Matt and Breanna before they began their piece.

Matt's solo. He got a gold but it was a group II piece so he isn't going to state. He played very well, though.

Tuning up before her solo. Under her elbow is her former private lesson teacher, Lyn. She graduated Breanna to a new teacher this fall. She said Breanna needs someone who can challenge her. She got Breanna started on the Mozart piece and then apologized after we found out she got gold for giving her such a hard piece to go to contest with.

I've been trying to upload the videos of her solo and ensemble but it is not working right now! Any help anyone can give me would be wonderful!

Our small group gets to meet Zion

2008-01-10T16:29:00.000-08:00

Our "Breaking Free" small group that Amanda and Mark are a part of was able to meet and hold Zion. Amanda and Mark brought the baby upstairs after our meeting so everyone could meet her. You can tell they were glad to see her!

Zion Grace is here!

2008-01-04T14:25:00.001-08:00

She's cute as a button and healthy. Mom had a rough time of it during labor. We are all glad that the baby is finally here and the ordeal is over. She was born on January 2 at 3:20pm. She weighed 7lb 3oz. They came home late afternoon today. Mark and Amanda are very proud parents. Now the journey begins...

Christmas Parties

2008-01-04T14:08:00.000-08:00

My wonderful mother-in-law, happy that some of us came to her big meal.

Breanna crocheted her this scarf.

I gave Ron a salsa mix.

Then the day went to the birds. We took lots of bird pictures outside their picture window.

Kyle was so tired, he slept most of the afternoon.

Amber and Matt decided to leave on New Year's Eve because the snow was coming. Grandma B had invited us to come on New Year's Day. Bob's brother, Rollin, and Laura couldn't come because of the snow. Jezra wouldn't get out of bed to come (he had just gotten to bed at 8:30 a.m.). It was only Kyle, Breanna, Bob and me who had come for the lovely meal.

To see our family Christmas and the G Christmas, go to Amber's new blog: http://amberella148.vox.com/. She had a new camera and took pictures. I didn't take many while they were here.

Merry Christmas to All!

2007-12-15T09:08:00.001-08:00

We pray all of you will have a wonderful Christmas time reflecting on the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who came into the world so we could all be free and live with Him eternally.

There are a lot of changes in the our household. You will find mention in the previous posts on this blog the following changes for 2007:

1. Marla has a new full-time job and is no longer working at the church. She works in a financial services office as the receptionist/administrative assistant. She started there on September 10. It is close to home and she walks to work whenever she can. It saves us a lot of gas money as well as almost doubling her salary. The extra money has been helpful since Bob's construction work has really slowed down. We have considered Bob getting a new job or doing something on his own but so far haven't felt that is what the Lord wants.

2. The boys (Kyle and Jezra) both headed off to college in August. Jezra is a freshman at Purdue and Kyle is a freshman at Ball State. This left a whole basement empty. Did we leave it that way? No! We invited a young couple from our church to live there. They will be having a baby girl in January. They pretty much have an apartment down there. It has been going very well. We fit together pretty well. We both have our own space, which is nice.

3. Breanna is a junior in high school and is involved very heavily in the orchestra program there. This isn't new but it is new to only have one child at home.

4. Bob turned 50 on December 12. We celebrated by having a surprise card shower for him. Friends, family, and church family gave him cards. Marla and Breanna hid the cards until the day of his birthday. We piled them all (32) on his dinner plate that evening. He spent a long time opening and reading all the cards. Thank you to all who sent him one! (He has received 40+ cards thanks to the procrastinators who have made his birthday celebration extend over tw0 weeks!) Marla also went to a bakery the morning of his birthday and picked up cinnamon rolls. I made him hot chocolate and heated up the rolls as a surprise for his birthday. Marla wanted to get pecan rolls his favorite but they didn't have any that day. We had to make this a very low-expense event because of our tight finances. It was a very nice way to celebrate his birthday, making it special without spending much money at all.

Now that the boys are home for the holidays, our main floor is pretty crowded. It will be an adjustment to living in our more cramped space while they are here and Matt and Amber come home for Christmas on the 26th. We celebrate our family Christmas by fixing a "theme" supper on Christmas Eve. This year our Christmas Eve will be Friday, December 28 since Amber and Matt can't come on Christmas Eve. Our theme this year is Italian. We are doing homemade ravioli. Everyone gets into the cooking and we always have a lot of fun.

We are having 17 (including us) over for a Christmas Day soup lunch. I invited everyone from our families who didn't have a celebration to go to. It turned out to be quite a lot of people but the couple who lives in our basement are coming, too, so we can use their space for the crowd. It should be a wonderful, unconventional Christmas Day.

Blessings to all of you as you enjoy looking through the pictures and events that are in this blog, getting updated on our family.

--Marla for the whole family.

Miscellaneous Fun

2007-12-02T04:59:00.001-08:00

Melissa cut Brina's hair (and mine). Doesn't she look vicious?

The Z's Flute Orchestra is practicing. Would you like their tour schedule?

Always a game going on somewhere in the house during Thanksgiving weekend.
Below: new game called "Shake Down."

See ya next Thanksgiving in Newport News!

--Musing Marla

Beautiful Little Annie

2007-12-02T04:54:00.001-08:00

Annie is 2 1/2 years old and very precious. We enjoyed taking pictures of her. She is so cute!

Learning the dance to Baruch Adonai

2007-12-02T04:45:00.001-08:00

Sabrina was learning the dance to this song from a U-Tube video on her laptop. Glenn looks on and Cheryl and Annie try to follow Brina. Brina learned the whole thing but I couldn't get it all. I was going to go home and teach our dance class, but decided it was too complicated to learn by December 16!

Some of those present

2007-12-02T04:32:00.001-08:00

My wonderful parents.

Amber and Matt (our wonderful daughter and son-in-law).

Above: Our wonderful son, Kyle
Melissa and Joel (Little Annie's parents)

The Twins!

Jenny and Jezra looked like twins (when Jez covered up his beard) so we had them pose backward and then forward with both of them covering their mouths. Don't they look like twins? Doesn't Jez look like Grizzly Adams or a cave man?

Thanksgiving Newport News Style!

2007-12-02T04:22:00.000-08:00

The wonderful hosts of the fantastic thanksgiving weekend: Dwight (the wonderful cook), Jenny (the wonderful host), and Sam (the wonderful giggler).

It's not time with the K's if we don't do some martial arts with Jenny and Dwight.

On Thanksgiving it was 80 degrees. We (especially Little Annie) had fun raking and playing in the leaves and pine needles.

Bontrager Christmas 2007

2007-11-10T08:16:00.000-08:00

This is my husband's mother's side of the family. Bob's cousin Janet made a quiz about the Bontragers. She asked us questions about the family that went back about 4 or 5 generations. It was interesting to me to hear about the past. There were about 50-60 people there that would be Mom Brenneman's siblings and their kids and grandkids. She had 11 siblings that lived to adulthood out of 15 all together! I still don't know everyone's name but I mostly can tell which aunt or uncle they belong with now after 26 years of marriage.

Is it really me?

2007-11-10T08:11:00.000-08:00

Can you believe I ever looked like that? The first picture is from way back in May of 1973. I was with my sister Jenny in blue and my friends, Michelle and Delores. They stayed overnight at my house. The second one is me baby-sitting the neighbor boy. I was about 14 years old there. It sure seems like more than a lifetime ago that I dressed like that. We were a part of a non-denominational church where we wore head coverings and long dresses or skirts. I dressed that way from the time I was 8 until I was 16.

Ladies Retreat 2007

2007-10-27T10:36:00.000-07:00

In the Garden: Living Stones

This was our theme for our 21st annual ladies retreat at TLCC, on October 19-21. I was blessed to have my wonderful 17 year old "baby" go with me. Everyone would tell me how much I was blessed to have her with me. I truly was! Amber went with me one year but had a couple friends with her so it didn't feel the same. Breanna was with me most of the time (and was the only teenager there) while Amber was mostly with her friends. (I love you, Amber. You are my beautiful oldest daughter and I blessed to have you, too.)

There was one "incident" that happened on Sunday morning, which dampened the retreat a little bit. One person got hurt when we were throwing our palm sized stones (representing hurts and pain we have hung on to) into the lake (representing the ocean of God's love and forgiveness). God used it to bring more healing in the end, though! Praise His name.

Terry F. made a wonderful Prayer Garden at one corner of our meeting room. It was so beautiful and peaceful. There was a electric water fall in the one corner. These women are finding a take-home stone with the words, "In the Garden Living Stones, 2007 Ladies Retreat" on them.

Isn't she so beautiful?

On Saturday, we all brought a long-stemmed flower. Terry put them all into a bouquet. Katie brought the stuffed smiley flower. I thought Terry did a wonderful job incorporating it into the bouquet. We all are flowers in God's garden, beautiful by ourselves yet when we are put together for a purpose, we are more beautiful!

Sunday morning, Doreen had us all pick a verse from "God's Garden" for us to read later. It was so amazing that so many of the verses the women chose spoke into something they were struggling with or dealing with. Breanna and I were no exception.

Breanna has struggled with feeling loved and accepted by God. Her verse was Deuteronomy 26:18, "And the Lord has declared to you this day that you are His people, His treasured possession as He promised, and that you are to keep all of His commands."

One woman was trying to release her over 21 year old son, who wasn't making the best choices, to God and not operate out of anxiety for him any longer. She hadn't called for almost 2 weeks but was still struggling with anxiety about it. Her verse was Isaiah 43:5, "Do not be afraid for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west."

Mine was Isaiah 40:28-29, "Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak." I have found that in my life, God has turned my greatest weakness into strength. I have been overcome with panic and anxiety many times in my life. Now God uses me to bring healing to others who are struggling with this disorder. There is nothing so great as being able to help others through what you've been through yourself.

Needless to say, lots of tears flowed that morning at the retreat!

Thank you, God, for all the blessings you have given me and for freeing me from the chains that have bound me for many years.

October Birthday Bananza

2007-10-12T13:09:00.000-07:00

It's the three birthday bonanza in our immediate family and then add 4 more from the extended family all in one week! Monday was Lincoln's, Tuesday was Breanna's and Anthony's, Wednesday was Kyle's and Cheryl's, Thursday was mine, and next Tuesday is Lindsey's. Quite a lot all in a bunch! Kyle and Amber came up last weekend and Amber couldn't wait for us to open the gifts. She and Kyle (and Matt) got me the table cloth, table runner, leaf dish, and matching salt and pepper shakers/grinder as well as matching dish towels. It goes perfect with my new colors in my kitchen and dining room! Bob and Breanna got me two dangling earring sets from Kohl's, one clear crystal, and one pink. Breanna got a necklace and a couple DVD's from Amber and Kyle (and Matt) and got a new cell phone from us. Amber got Kyle a book and we ordered him a book and a surprise from Amazon that won't come in until November. Shh! Don't tell him!

Bob surprised me by sending me flowers on my birthday to my office. It was so pretty yellow and pink flowers with one yellow rose in the center (see picture below). The card said, "Marla, you are my hidden treasure that stands out among the others. Your happiness is my greatest joy. Love you, Baby Cakes." He was like a school boy getting the flowers delivered. The same woman who helped him get the order done came and delivered them. She was kind of giddy as she said, "These are for you!" I actually blushed when I read the card. I was glad no one was around me when they came!

Bob took me and Breanna out to South Side Soda Shop for supper on my birthday, too. Jezra sent me a birthday greeting on a video from Utube by Adam Sandler. Also, I spent my lunch hour with Mom. Jenny called when I was there to wish me happy birthday. Brina was at Jenny's. Later that evening, Brina called me and wished me a happy birthday, too. Amber called me when I wasn't home and a classmate of mine sang happy birthday in German over the answering machine. It was truly a special day for me.

It was weird for Kyle not to be home on his birthday. Long distance celebrating isn't as fun!

Baby Shower for Zao and Breanna's concert

2007-10-12T12:55:00.001-07:00

Before Breanna's concert, we stopped in to see Zao before the shower even started. Moe and Kristen are very proud parents of their baby boy. He is about 6 weeks old here.

Amber and Zao. Kyle actually held him but my camera battery ran out before I could get a picture of him.

Granny Annie (as she calls herself) was busy getting the punch ready for the party. Great Grandma is looking on.

Matt and Breanna milling around before the concert.

After the concert. Glad it's over, I guess!

Church Picnic on September 30, 2007

2007-10-12T12:46:00.000-07:00

We met at Bonneyville Mill after church for a wonderful picnic. The weather was very nice...not too hot but hot enough to enjoy the day fellowshipping with our church family.

Amanda holding the newest Lamb.

Kesha, Bekki, and Amanda enjoying time together.

The new TLCC football team! Steve was the coached and showed these middle school boys some pointers on how to throw and catch the ball. I can't wait until they form a team and compete. Anyone interested in getting this going?

Destinee enjoyed the day!

Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad!

2007-09-24T14:39:00.000-07:00

My parents will celebrate their 52nd wedding anniversary tomorrow (September 25).

Happy anniversary to you! I love you! I'm glad that you are my parents! May you have many, many more years together.

I don't have to report!

2007-09-24T14:29:00.001-07:00

I called the number tonight after work to find out if I still needed to report for jury duty and found out the trial was canceled. I'm so glad. I hated to have to miss work so soon after I started. I would have gotten paid my full salary, though, as long as I turned in any mileage reimbursement and check they gave me. What a benefit.

I really like my job. I enjoy the people I'm working with. I know they like me, too. I'm learning a lot about financial services in the process of working here.

Amanda is making supper for us tonight. What a blessing! We enjoy having them here.

Purdue visit

2007-09-16T14:58:00.000-07:00

This is "the look" except the kids said that it isn't really it because I don't mean it! They are all very familiar with this look from me!

Jezra enjoyed teaching us about the test and talking about what it all means after we got our scores finished. He loves his psychology class!

We went to Purdue on Saturday to visit Jezra. It was so good to see him! He is growing a beard and mustache. He looks much more mature than he did. He loves being in college. We spent part of the afternoon (after eating in a Mediterranean restaurant) doing a test together that Jezra had taken to help you find out what career you would be best at. It was so fun finding out how much the same and how different we each are.

I thought of my dad when we were at the park and Bob proceeded to do a front handspring. Everyone else (but me) tried to do one, too. We also did cartwheels (I even did some). Then Bob showed the kids how to do a roll back like a backward somersault, put your hands down, flip your feet up in the air and spring up to a standing position. (I don't have any pictures of this but it was so fun to watch!) Kyle and Amber (who tried this the most) were very sore today and of course so was Bob.

My dad is always trying to get us to do things like that when we are all together like standing in front of a tall log laying on the beach and jumping over it. He told the kids they had to believe they could do it. Dad, you would have enjoyed being with us!

I told the kids this is why everyone thinks our family is so weird. They said it made our family fun!

First week at a new job

2007-09-16T14:47:00.000-07:00

I know I'm going to enjoy my job. I'm getting used to getting up a little early. I enjoy most of what I have to do. I learned a lot. Some of what I did was orientation by watching a computer screen power point and then answering questions. One training was on the computer data program they use and one was to familiarize myself with MMA, their history, their mission, and what they do.

On Wednesday, I could feel myself coming down with a cold. By Thursday, I was dripping sinuses and coughing and sneezing all day. I found out I had a slight fever when I got home. I felt pretty miserable but knew I couldn't take off work on my first week on the job! Bob prayed for me that evening before I fell asleep and I slept well and didn't feel bad in the morning. I did cough a lot (I took a cough drop every 15 minutes because without one, I would cough and cough) but I didn't have a headache or fever.

The nice thing was the boss and another financial counselor had a business meeting in Canada so they weren't there Wed through Fri. That meant I didn't have many calls to answer or people to come in for appointments. (We only have three counselors that work out of this office including the boss.) This also meant I could learn the other parts of my job like the accounts payable without many interruptions.

On Wednesday, I received a letter saying I was summoned for jury duty on September 25. The nice thing is that MMA pays you your full salary while you serve and doesn't use your vacation days for it. That's nice because I won't be able to use my vacation days for 6 months. I told my supervisor and she said to send an email to all the staff letting them know. I will find out on the 24th if the case is still up for trial or if it's canceled. This is my fourth or fifth summons in 15 years! Bob was up for jury all year last year and didn't get summoned once. He's never been summoned before! I guess I don't care one way or the other if I have to serve or not.

Youth Group Party

2007-09-16T14:43:00.000-07:00

The church youth group did an activity with digital cameras. Breanna's group took these pictures. See if you can figure out what was really happening!

Goodbye gifts from the church

2007-09-16T14:39:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday, I received this plaque and flowers as well as a monetary gift from the church for serving them in the office for 8 1/2 years. I felt very honored and appreciated. Pastor Dave said some really nice things about me. I hope that they were true of my time serving in the office. I wanted to serve the congregation as if I was serving the Lord. I know I didn't always do that but it was my intention.

Moving In

2007-09-16T14:33:00.000-07:00

Mark and Amanda moved in last weekend to our basement. It now looks very homey. We have enjoyed having them here. They feel like they are part of our family.

Bike Trip to Shipshe

2007-09-04T04:44:00.001-07:00

Grandma and Grandpa and Matt along with Bob, Breanna, and me drove to Middlebury and ate breakfast at the Essenhaus. We were going to ride the Pumpkinvine trail to Shipshe. We found the beginning of it in Middlebury but outside of town, it was only a grassy trail. We rode on it for about 2 miles and then got off. It was very bumpy and loaded with mosquitoes! We rode the rest of the way on regular county roads with lots of ups and downs! We walked in the flea market for 1/2 hour or so, ate ice cream at Wana Cup, and then rode back to Middlebury. We were pretty tired but it was a good ride. We rode about 22 miles all together.

Changes

2007-09-04T04:30:00.000-07:00

There are a lot of changes coming to the Brenneman household. First, I have a new job starting September 10. I will be working for Herendeen Financial MMA as a receptionist/Administrative Assistant. (See the following website for what Herendeen is all about: http://www.herendeen.com/index.cfm?source=quotes.cfm.) I will be a MMA employee but will work in the office across the street from MMA. I can walk to work each day if I want to. It will take 15 minutes to walk. I will work full time, 8-5 M-Th and 8-3 on Friday. I will have one hour lunch and the rest 1/2 hour to make up for getting off two hours early on Friday. This week is my last week at my church as administrative assistant. I feel a little loss but also excitement about the new position and being able to make more money because I'm only working 24-25 hours a week now.

I am looking forward to being a "civilian" and not be responsible for Sunday morning in any way for a while! I will miss some things like serving the people in the congregation and enjoying the people I work with but I won't miss some things at all! This job is a stressful job at times. It's hard to disengage and enjoy the worship service on Sunday mornings. Sometimes you know things that you can't discuss with anyone else outside of the staff. It can get really heavy. There are also some neat things about being there and walking people through crisis situations. I enjoy being at the center of the communication when a crisis happens. I will miss that. My strength has been in pastoring people through tough situations.

Second major change is that we have invited a young married couple (they are Amber's friends from the church youth group) to live in our basement. They are expecting a baby in January. They live with his parents and his brother, wife and two kids in a 3 bedroom one bath house right now. They needed more space before the baby comes and we had a basement that was sitting empty. Pray for both of our families as we adjust to this new arrangement. They will move in this weekend.

I spent Saturday with Amanda cleaning out the stuff in the basement kitchen and the boys' rooms. I can't believe all the junk we kept around! We loaded Breanna's car with recycle and Goodwill stuff!

The other changes have already been mentioned: sending two boys off to college and experiencing a little empty nest. I'm not anxious about these changes. I feel God leading us all the way. I'm thankful for His leading. When He opens the doors it's much easier to walk through them. If we try to pry them open, it makes it hard to get through!!

Dance Class Trip to CARE

2007-08-27T05:48:00.000-07:00

The top picture is our whole dance group that met Saturday morning. Some had to leave before pictures were taken. The bottom picture is the six of us from my Israeli-style dance class at our church.

Our Israeli-style dance class from our church traveled to Baldwin, Michigan to learn more dances from the people who we had gotten the dance DVD from. They are a community that does intense counseling for people who have suffered severe trauma. They have adopted a lot of Jewish practices. We enjoyed their Shabbat service Friday evening and then joined their dance class on Saturday morning. If you want to know more about them, visit www.carepkg.org.

Glenie's visit

2007-08-27T05:18:00.000-07:00

Our friend Glenie has been staying with us. We've been enjoying conversations together and catching up with her. This picture is when Bob asked Glenie if she wanted popcorn and she said she would eat a little. That's what she got!

Two down and none to go until 2009!

2007-08-18T08:03:00.001-07:00

He's all packed up and ready to go Thursday morning. Bob and Kyle drove in his car and I drove the minivan to Ball State Thursday at 11 a.m. We got to Amber and Matt's at around 1:45. Amber had a nice lunch ready for us. We headed to Ball State around 3:30. Traffic was terrible at Ball State...so many people moving in. When we got to check in, they had Kyle's name on the sheet but it was highlighted like as if he already checked in! They couldn't find his key either. We got it all straightened out. He had registered late. They pulled keys of people who were registered but not in the computer three days before. Kyle had been entered into the computer two days before.

Kyle has a roommate from Evansville. We didn't meet the roommate, we met his dad. A.J. and his mom had went to get something. His dad told us he's a sloppy person and he didn't want to have a neat roommate. Kyle said he hoped he wouldn't get a sloppy roommate. We'll see how they can get things worked out between them.

It was a humid, hot day to move his stuff and there was no air condition in the dorm. We were all very sweaty by the time we were finished packing. We took everyone out to eat afterward and said goodbye around 7pm.

We are left with one child at home now. It's not completely hit me yet. I've been cleaning their rooms out and getting beds repositioned for company. My friend Glenie and her mom came Friday night to stay a couple weeks. This way the emptiness won't be felt for a while. Glenie is a missionary with YWAM in Texas for the last 5 1/5 years. Before that, she lived in our area and was a part of our small group for years.

This picture was taken while we waited for his enrollment mess to be worked out!

One Down, One to Go!

2007-08-13T10:15:00.001-07:00

We moved Jezra to Purdue Sunday morning. His roommate is his friend from high school. This week he has freshmen orientation activities. His classes begin on Monday, August 20. He seemed very eager to go with this roommate and begin his college life. Sean had moved in the day before. We didn't stay very long. Jez said he had a good night sleep his first night at college. I miss him already!

Thursday we move Kyle into Ball State. I won't know what to do with myself without my guys around! It will be pretty quiet unless Breanna brings her friends over.

Cheryl, Glenn, and Sabrina Visit

2007-08-13T10:10:00.000-07:00

Cheryl, Glenn, and Brina came for a visit. We met them at Mom and Dad G's house on Wednesday evening and then didn't see them until Friday afternoon. Friday evening we had a gathering of relatives. The cousins played a "quarter game." It was nice to see them all playing together making up a game that seemed to be really fun. The quarters would bounce on Grandma's carpet and sometimes would bounce into the basket! The second picture is our bike ride around Goshen on Saturday. What fun!

Fantastic Family Reunion

2007-08-01T16:36:00.001-07:00

The highlight of the reunion at Grandma and Grandpa B's house is the pond/ditch area that the dogs chase balls in and the kids kayak in. The weather was fantastic. It wasn't too hot, had a nice breeze, and it didn't rain.

Lots of people bring photo albums and this was the table to look at them.

The two youngest cousins, Lydia and Naomi, were getting water out of the dog water bucket and pouring it on the ground in front of Peanut, the dog. They had a blast.

The whole Ray and Fannie B family together at last!

Bob put up a swing on a tree branch and it was a hit even with me!

Two youngest boy cousins, Nolan and Brandon, loved the set of cars put out by Aunt Shirley.

Ashley and Breanna.

This is what some people like to do at reunions! This is Uncle Rollin.

Kayaking in the water. What fun!

More of Jenny and Dwight's visit

2007-07-26T09:21:00.000-07:00

Sam and Dwight playing chess with Kyle.

Sam's silliness after having a lot of sugar.

We look like we're having a wonderful time, don't we? We met at Mom and Dad's for pizza on Wednesday evening.

Lincoln can't talk without his hands!

Wonderful visit with Jenny, Dwight, and Sam

2007-07-26T08:51:00.001-07:00

When Jenny and Dwight arrived Sunday evening at 10pm, we had been without hot water since Saturday afternoon. It was a huge fiasco trying to find the part we needed for a whirlpool gas water heater from Lowe's. They had recalled the part we needed because of a class action suit against whirlpool and we found it impossible to get one anywhere. We finally bought a new water heater from a plumber on Tuesday afternoon. All I can say is don't ever buy a whirlpool gas water heater! We all had taken at least one cold shower and were really glad to have hot water again on Tuesday afternoon.

Monday afternoon we went to the 4-h fair. Joel B. had rabbits at the fair and we were able to hold them for a while. How soft and cuddly rabbits are.

On Tuesday for lunch, Jenny met two women who are homeschooling only children (HOO group) that live close to us at a local park. They had never met but had talked together online before through their HOO group. (Sam is holding up the sign that we took to the park so the ladies would know we were who they were meeting. Sam wanted to hold it upside down because it spelled ooh.)

Painting on the 4th

2007-07-10T14:24:00.000-07:00

On the fourth of July, before we left for Amber's on Friday, Mom, Dad, and I helped Tami paint her and Ben's bathroom. (Bob worked on the fourth so he could take off on Friday.) Dad took these two pictures of our finished project. The first one you might be able to see that their dog, Bear, got paint on him!

Merry Christmas!

2007-07-09T19:21:00.001-07:00

We purchased and Bob put in a new screen door for Matt and Amber as an early Christmas present. Bob put it in on Sunday afternoon. Their windows aren't able to open so they had only the front screen door for ventilation. Now the air can draw right through the house from the front to the back.

Last Bike Ride Pictures

2007-07-09T19:17:00.000-07:00

Home again after over 24 miles.

This is the trail we were on for 22 miles.

More Bike Ride

2007-07-09T19:14:00.001-07:00

After riding 12 miles, we all needed a big rest and much more water.

Second Annual Bike Ride at Matt & Amber's

2007-07-09T19:08:00.000-07:00

Dad actually started doing the breakfast dished on Saturday morning and I got it on film! Aren't you all as amazed as I was?

Getting ready to go, making sure we have the right adjustments.

First rest stop after 1/2 hour or so.

Block Party

2007-07-09T14:42:00.001-07:00

We helped Matt and Amber with their church's 2nd annual block party. I painted faces from 5-7:30 and then served food. Jezra was in the dunk tank for a 1/2 hour. Bob and Matt were "gophers" and also served the food. Kyle made and served cotton candy and sno cones and also manned the joisting ring. Amber ran the dunk tank and the joisting ring. We all helped clean up at 10 p.m. It was a lot of hard work but fun. (Breanna went with her youth group to THE CALL Nashville over the weekend so she wasn't there.)

Teaching pottery to the kids.

They taught a short dance.

Josh and Kate's Wedding

2007-06-18T14:54:00.001-07:00

Josh and Kate were married Saturday, July 16. These pictures were taken after the wedding waiting for it to be time to go to the reception at Ramada Inn.

My mom with mother of the groom, Marilyn.

Proud father of the groom, Dave.

Darrell's wife Melinda, son Anthony, and Anthony's girlfriend (can't remember her name).

The bridesmaid behind the bride is the bride's twin sister, Sarah.

Virginia's husband, Michael, and Mike, Josh's biological dad. He was there with his wife and two daughters ages 6 and 8.

The only picture taken at the reception.

Bev and her friend Phil.

Josh's aunts, uncles, parents, and great aunts and uncles (my mom and dad, and uncle Dave and aunt Shirley).

Darrell had to show off his new camera.

Breanna's MRI

2007-06-13T04:47:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we traveled to Indianapolis Riley Outpatient Center for Breanna's annual MRI. Her doctor said that it looked like the tumor has shrunk a little bit again! The last three years, the tumor has been shrinking just a little bit. I asked her what will happen in the future. Will she have to go somewhere else when she's 18? Will she continue to have MRI's?

The doctor said that she will continue to be Breanna's doctor all the way and she will continue to come to Riley. She said maybe after she graduates and the tumor doesn't increase, we will only need to come every 2 years and then maybe after a few years, we can go every 5 years. She is convinced that Breanna will display noticeable symptoms if the tumor grows at all.

Thank you, Jesus! We continue to thank you for healing our little girl (big girl now!). You are indeed our Lord and King! Thank you, thank you for being Breanna's sustenance and everything she needs for LIFE and godliness! Praise Your holy name!

The doctor told us about another family who's son (I think) had the same kind of tumor Breanna had. They insisted against her advice to go ahead with treatment. He had all the treatments of chemo and his tumor is still the same. This reinforces that we've been making the right decisions about not doing anything as long as it doesn't grow!

Graduation!!

2007-06-04T18:24:00.000-07:00

More celebration

2007-06-04T18:12:00.001-07:00

This is Mr. Nolt, the best teacher in the world, according to Jezra. He teaches Chemistry. Amber had him his first year of teaching. Jezra and Breanna have both had him. Kyle didn't. When Matt was introduced to him at the open house, Matt said, "So you're the best teacher in the world!" (Matt is going back to school to be a high school English teacher so he remembered Jezra saying that.) Mr. Nolt told me when he was ready to leave that we have wonderful kids and a wonderful family. I had told him at one of the parent teacher conferences that my kids tell me he's the best teacher they've ever had. I guess he acts goofy sometimes and makes Chemistry fun. He also has their respect. It was so wonderful to have him come to the open house.

Jezra two friends who are twins, Steven and Sean. He's rooming with Sean at Purdue.

This little guy wanted to play Jezra's trumpet that we had setting on the propaganda table after everyone else had left. He is Michelle N's nephew. He really put his whole self into playing it. He also put his whole mouth over the mouthpiece!

A Celebration for Jezra

2007-06-04T18:02:00.001-07:00

Jezra's "propaganda table." When people would come in, Jezra told them they needed to sign in on the poster board that we had on a table. He said they needed to at least sign their name and they could write something if they wanted to. He said they could say whatever they wanted without repercussions--they could write the truth if they wanted. Then he pointed to his "propaganda table" they could look at if they wanted. Everyone laughed about that. Jezra was a great host!

Our first guest was Jezra's friend Michelle. She will major in physics at college. Her card (below) said she wasn't good at sentimental stuff so she'll just use what she's good at; math, physics and some chemistry. Each bullet was the beginning of a new word and the letters of one word were added together. When he solved them, it spelled a message: "Thanks for being my best friend." It was a wonderful way to say it, I think!

Amber and Jezra goofing off.

Karli and Karen signing the poster board.

Happy Birthday, Amber!

2007-05-28T06:04:00.000-07:00

A page from her photo album.

The wonderful woman she turned into! :-)

Twenty-four years ago today, Bob and I became parents for the first time. Our precious firstborn is 24 years old. We are blessed to be her parents. I pray that God will give her the desires of her heart this new year with multiple blessings beside. Her verse for the year is from Ephesians 1:18-21: "I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His uncomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of His mighty strength which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come."

Amber, God's power is available. I feel that this year you will see God move on your behalf in a way you've never seen before. Keep the hope that you have in Him. He is faithful to complete the work He's doing in you!

Teenagers goofing off on Mother's Day

2007-05-14T12:10:00.000-07:00

The teens brought us some awesome entertainment after a wonderful lunch of Mom B's cooking. They did the cup game, rhythm thingy after telling awesome jokes around the table. We were all so impressed with their talent! Actually, Amber is an adult but she acted like a teen here.

Don't you wish you had been there with us?

Mother's Day went to the dogs!

2007-05-14T11:56:00.001-07:00

Mom B invited both sides of my family to her house for lunch on Mother's Day. Dad B. did most of the cooking. Karen and Lincoln, Calvin and Karli, Amber (without Matt because he didn't really want to paint our kitchen!) and Mom and Dad G. came, too. Rollin and Laura brought their HUGE dog, Henry but they had to leave him tied to the truck because the littlest dog, Peanut (Mom and Dad B's dog) tore into him too much. Peanut also tore into Cinnamon so she had to be tied up. Breanna brought Cinnamon there. Cinnamon chased Scooter who would chase the ball into the water. Scooter would jump into the water and get the ball and bring it back. Scooter loves to do that and will do it for hours on end. Cinnamon didn't care about the ball at all. She just chased Scooter (who is her father) around all day. She was panting and panting when we finally quit!

Henry

Peanut

Breanna is hitting the ball with the tennis racket to get it to go into the water.

Invitation to Open House

2007-05-14T07:36:00.000-07:00

Everyone reading my blog is invited to Jezra's open house on Saturday, June 2 from 10am to 1pm. I won't say my address online so if you don't know it, leave a comment and I'll contact you directly.

Jezra is actually graduating and he's going to Purdue in the fall. Kyle has applied to Ball State to begin a philosophy degree this fall, too. All of the sudden, we're going to have an almost empty nest. I'm not sure I'm ready. I told Kyle I would miss him and he said that he might after a couple months in college :-)

A long day of painting

2007-05-12T08:08:00.000-07:00

A long, hard day to a new kitchen began when Amber and I got started around 8am on Friday morning. Grandma G and Tami joined us around 10am. We worked to get the primer on all the places we were going to paint and then began the "colors" to make it look good. When Grandpa G joined us, he brought us pizza so we could eat and get right back to it. It was exhausting but a fun day with all the help. I'm very grateful to everyone who helped us get this done. It wasn't an easy job when we did the two-tone cabinet doors!

Second Shift

2007-05-12T08:03:00.000-07:00

Grandpa G, Bob, Kyle, Breanna, and Matt O joined us in the afternoon. Tami left around 2:30 to get Lindsey and Anthony for the weekend. Grandpa bought us all pizza. We took a break than then got right back to painting. We finished around 9:30. Grandparents left around 8:30 or 8:45! Boy am I sore today!

New Kitchen

2007-05-12T07:56:00.000-07:00

You can kind of see what it will look like finished. We have to put the cabinet doors back on. It sure looks different and sure took a lot of work and a long day!

A Guitar Player!

2007-05-12T07:53:00.000-07:00

Kyle began taking guitar lessons from a guy on our worship team. Here is our next worship leader!

Orchestra Awards

2007-05-08T04:49:00.000-07:00

Last night we went to the awards dessert banquet for Orchestra. Breanna got a key chain and a star for having so many points by turning in her practice sheets and participating in activities and events.

Isn't she the coolest?

She is in awe of how Matt can spin a styrofoam cup!

This lamp was given to the director by the senior orchestra students. It has all the seniors names on it as well as some instruments. It was made by one of the dads in the class.

Tackling a Big Job!

2007-05-08T04:39:00.000-07:00

Because of Amber's prompting, we are going to paint our dining room and kitchen including the cabinets this weekend. Last weekend and yesterday, we began scraping wallpaper to get ready to paint. Here's the brave people who helped us. Yesterday Tami and I finished it but I didn't take any pictures. I'll show you the completed job after this weekend. Amber is coming on Friday and Mom and Tami are going to help, too. Hopefully we'll get it all done. I want it finished for Jezra's open house on June 2nd.

Tami showed us how it was done last Saturday and we ended up scraping for an hour!

Sunday Breanna and Bob worked on it while I was walking 3 miles for a fundraiser in memory of Kim Love. They had it over half way finished when I got home. It made yesterday go easier. Tami and I wouldn't have gotten it finished by ourselves if they hadn't done two walls!

Don't you love the color underneath the wallpaper? Why am I painting it??

A Rabbit Nest!

2007-04-20T13:06:00.000-07:00

Bob found a rabbit's nest under our fir tree when he was raking up the pine cones. Aren't they adorable? There are four of them. We're going to move them behind our bushes and see if they mom will find them. If we leave them where we found them, Cinnamon will eat them up.

My friend Kathy's wedding

2007-04-20T13:00:00.000-07:00

My friend Kathy got remarried last Saturday a few years after her first husband died of cancer. Most of the pictures we took didn't turn out. This last one is of her two youngest children (she has five) lighting the candles. The first one is her three boys. The two oldest were groomsmen and her oldest daughter (Breanna's age) was maid of honor. The middle one is of me, of course. I had a small part in the wedding and I asked Bob to take a picture so I could see if my hair was okay. It was, wasn't it?

Spring has sprung???

2007-04-07T06:36:00.000-07:00

This is the scene outside when I woke up this morning. Snow that stayed on the ground on April 7th! Global warming??? I'd say global freezing is more like it!!!

Happy and Glorious Resurrection Day to You

2007-04-06T15:54:00.000-07:00

I am so thankful to our wonderful Savior for going to the cross for you and me so we could be free from our sin and live for Him! Without Him, I couldn't truly live. I would be a woman without hope. I wouldn't have a relationship with the One who loves me unconditionally and loved me while I was still dead in my sins. I am thankful that because of Jesus, I will see those loved ones that have gone before me in heaven some day! Thanks be to God who raised Jesus from the dead so we might have life and have it to the full! Have a wonderful Resurrection celebration on Sunday!

Updating my life

2007-03-30T06:57:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I posted to the blog. It's been a hard and exciting time since I last posted. I am grieving the loss of my friend Kim. The reality of life without her is hard. I have lots of memories that come that fill me with joy. I have met two ladies in her new small group from the new church she had been attending before she died. She was becoming a leader in that group. It's been nice to talk with the members about Kim. They all loved her, too, and looked up to her because of where God had taken her (out of drug addiction to freedom in Christ).

One of Kim's druggie friends who we had known before (he would come to ask us for money lots of times) came over a few weeks ago to ask me to pray for him. He didn't ask for money at all! He was coming clean and wanted me to stand with him in praying that he would be able to break free. I was amazed that he never asked for money and knew that something was changing in him. That is exciting!

Kim's twin sister lives in Tennessee. We had never met her but knew about her. We met her at the funeral home. There was an instant connection. She is so much like Kim. She is more petite and talks with a southern accent but it still feels like I'm talking to Kim. I told her on the phone yesterday that it's like I know her and yet she's a stranger to me. I feel I've known her all my life and yet I really don't know her. She came up this week and I spent Monday with her helping their mom organize her house and go through lots of clothing that people had donated for the surviving kids.

I had a dream that evening that I met her 1/2 way between our two houses and we spent a weekend together. I asked God to open the door for me to ask her to do this. Yesterday as I was talking with her, I knew the door was opened and I asked her. This summer we're going to meet somewhere in Kentucky and spend the weekend together praying and talking. She needs freedom. You can pray for me to be able to do whatever God asks me to in helping her find that freedom in Christ. It's exciting to be able to minister to the people Kim had prayed for all those years! I feel humbled and yet excited that God is using me to minister to those people that Kim cared so much about.

Bob and I have been taking my niece and nephew to church with us every Sunday. We pick them up at my brother's house and then drop them off afterward. The kids love to be at church and the people at church are falling in love with them. Anthony (4) is so into numbers. He tells us what time it is and when Blue's Clues and other shows are on TV. One Sunday our leader asked if anyone had anything to share with the congregation. Lindsey (6) held up her hand. Doreen asked her to come to the mic. The next thing I know, Anthony is right there with her! Lindsey asked for prayer for her cat, Peanut. Then Anthony takes the mic and says, "Fourteen years ago (I'm thinking what's he going to say?) my mom slipped on my blanket and almost died!" He was so passionate when he said that! Doreen prayed for Peanut and that God's purposes would be accomplished in their lives and that God would help Anthony with the things that concern him.

His preschool teacher said that all morning in his class he kept talking about his mom almost dying. We have no idea what he's talking about. Ben and Tami didn't either. On the way home I told him that he wasn't born 14 years ago. He said that it was 2 years ago.

Next on the agenda is getting our senior (Jezra) graduated and hosting an open house for him. He's enrolled at Purdue. He's thinking of doing premed although they don't have a premed undergraduate program so he'll have to decide on what he wants to get a degree in before med school. He's in the undergraduate studies program that will help him find the degree that fits best with his goal of med school.

Kyle is talking about school next fall. Amber's trying to talk him into Ball State. He is still unsure what he wants to study. It could be in 2 years when Breanna graduates and goes to college that we will have a complete empty nest. That is scary and exciting all in one! What in the world will Bob and I do? We could all go back to school and get lots of financial aid that way. Who knows. I don't know what I want to be when I grow up yet.

That's an update. Come and see us this summer!

The Gifts

2007-02-23T18:20:00.000-08:00

We gave them a scrapbooks (actually two). Kyle's poem was read by Grandpa and then we had him take a picture with them. We all enjoyed his poem. Here is Kyle's poem:

Grandma's House by Kyle

Grandma's house is where
You go to fill your belly,
Get spoiled by the telly,
And learn that cows are smelly.

Where
You can watch the sparrows,
Your father can lose your arrows,
And your sisters think they're Pharaohs.

Where
Many presents are sealed,
Super Mario never yields,
And one gets lost in scorching fields.

But mostly it's where
All the family gathers,
To fill their anxious platers,
And where life really matters.

The Kiss!

2007-02-23T18:16:00.000-08:00

Digital cameras make the kissing scene hard to get on "film" because of the delay. She wasn't happy having to do it over and over to get a good picture!

More 50th Pictures

2007-02-23T18:12:00.000-08:00

Surprise guests stood around the corner as Ray and Fannie came in the room.

Enjoying their sons' creation.

50th Anniversary Celebration

2007-02-23T14:46:00.000-08:00

Sandwiched between our grief for our friend, we had a wonderful 50th anniversary dinner for Bob's mom and dad. God's grace was on us to be able to lay aside our grief and really engage in the celebration. Bob's parents enjoyed it very much. The only disappointment was that because of the weather, 11 people from Kokomo weren't able to come and Bob's brother and his wife were sick so they couldn't come.

Pre-celebration decorations

Bob and his brother Ron helped with the decorations. They designed the bulletin board by themselves. All I did was print the words out on the computer!

Saying Goodbye to our Friend Kim and two of her kids

2007-02-19T14:17:00.000-08:00

Kim age 34

Kiana age 11 months

Kristian age 3

Bob and I lost a very good friend and her two little children in a fire on Thursday, February 15. She was our spiritual daughter and we loved her. We will miss her so much! We learned so much from her and received from her more than we gave. She and her kids are with Jesus.

Thank you, Jesus, for the privilege of knowing Kim and being one of her friends. Take care of her and the kids until we meet them again. I pray her life story of victory over drug abuse will bring many millions into your kingdom where they will find freedom from any addictions or struggles with sin they may have. Bring good out of this tradegy, Lord, for your glory and for your kingdom! Amen.

Orchestra Contest Pictures

2007-02-03T13:17:00.000-08:00

Today Breanna had orchestra contest at Memorial High School. She got silver for her solo and gold for her ensemble. She played Allegro in Suzuki Violin book 6 which has mostly 16th notes in a five minute song for her solo. She said she wasn't focused. She didn't play it as good as she had at times. It's a nerve-wracking time to play in front of a judge! Her ensemble will go to state on February 17.

I have her solo and ensemble on video tape. (I borrowed someone's camera for the day but I have to have them put it on DVD for me.) I will try and post it on this site when I get it back.

Amber was with us because she came home to watch the Super Bowl with her family. We are so excited to have the Bears (Bob and Amber's team) and the Colts (Kyle, Jezra, and Breanna's team) compete together tomorrow! Matt B couldn't get off work to come so he stayed home.

Breanna's wonderful private lesson teacher waiting with us in the hallway for Breanna to be called in to perform her solo.

Matt is on the left during his ensemble.

Matt missed Breanna's ensemble so they're trying to watch it on the camera. Amber is trying to steal Matt's apples!

Breanna during her ensemble.

Breanna's ensemble.

Happy 50th Anniversary!

2007-01-29T07:11:00.000-08:00

My in-laws are having their 50th anniversary on February 16. We're busy making it special for them. I'm very glad to be a part of their family! My prayer is that they will feel honored on their anniversary. I'd tell you more about it but it would spoil the surprise. Even though they don't have a computer or use the internet, I don't want to let the cat out of the bag before their special day.

Sunday dinner with Bob's side of the family

2007-01-08T10:34:00.000-08:00

We ended our weekend celebration at Bob's side of the family. Bob's Aunt Edna and Uncle Rollin were there with their kids and grandkids because Edna's mother Mattie had passed away and the funeral was Saturday. They live two states away so they stayed for dinner and then left to drive back home Sunday afternoon. We had 26 people there for dinner!

Breanna was too tired to read her book!

Terry and his new girlfriend, Kari.

Courtney loved little Peanut!

Paul was ready to deck his brother Eldon!

But they made up in time for a picture.

This picture will go in the paper for their 50th wedding anniversary that's coming up on February 16.

Ray and Eldon.

Tuesdae and Edna.

Ron and Paul.

Amber and Matt.

Rollin, Jr. and Ashley.

Paul.

Courtney, Ashley and Tuesdae going nuts over Peanut.

Isaac loved Peanut and Peanut loved Isaac!

Courtney and Peanut.

We had three tables set up to seat everyone.

Two in the dinning room.

Tuesdae.

Ashley.

Pizza meal with my side of the family

2007-01-08T10:23:00.000-08:00

Saturday evening we met for pizza with my side of the family so they could see Matt and Amber. We had a fun evening together.

Tami.

Breanna.

Mom, Lindsey, and Karen.

Anthony told me to take a picture of him. He posed really nice, didn't he?

Dad.

Bob.

Karen.

The End of the Christmas Celebration

2007-01-08T09:56:00.000-08:00

We had our family Christmas this past weekend because Matt and Amber couldn't come home until then. Thursday evening we opened presents. Friday evening we had our "Christmas Eve" meal together. We made a Mediterranean meal of falafel and cucumber sauce, hummus on pita chips, Mediterranean salmon, and tomato basil pasta. It was all so good and healthy. We had decided with all that food we didn't need a dessert. The goal of the meal is for everyone to help. Kyle was sleeping because he had worked all night and Bob took a nap because he had stayed up with the kids till 1:30 in the morning so Bob and Kyle helped clean up.

Kyle made a paper airplane out of the wrapping paper.

Christmas with Bob's side of the family

2006-12-27T15:53:00.000-08:00

Grandparents open the presents. The mugs are from us and feature pictures. Each mug is a different picture.

Grandpa put some cake in a plastic container for Breanna and Breanna almost dropped it. Grandpa was worried that the lid wasn't on tight but after Breanna had accidently flipped it over, she told him it was. They were "fighting" over who was going to have a "look-see."

Grandpa has a cute little puppy named peanut. It was the first time Breanna or me had seen her. She is such a cute little dog. They said she was a fox terrier but they think she's a mixed breed because she has gotten so round in the middle.

Christmas with my side of the family

2006-12-27T15:19:00.000-08:00

We had a wonderful time on Christmas Day with my side of the family.

Chris, Tami, Ben, Mom, and Bob

Karen relaxing before dinner.

Mom and Bob making the mashed potatoes.

The gift from us to Mom (Dad got the same thing). It says, "Fifty years of Marriage!" and has the picture of them laughing together at their anniversary party.

Karli took some of these pictures.

Lindsey, Ben, and Tami

Calvin and Jez enjoying the mixed nuts.

Anthony enjoying Aunt Jenny's gift. He loves the sky and space, Jenny. Thanks!

He really enjoyed those 3-d glasses that came with his 3-d book his mom got him.

Grandpa and Anthonly (as well as Chris and Lindsey) did the skit about the man and his donkey.

Karli took this picture. I'm not sure what Lincoln and Karen are doing!

Bob put on his presents from his stocking.

Anthony is talking with this other grandma in Michigan. He dropped the phone while talking with her. As he picked up the phone and put it back to his ear, he said, "Grandma, I dropped you with the phone!"

Breanna played her contest piece "Allergra" from Suzuki book 6 for us. It's all 16th notes!

Everyone else enjoyed the 3-d glasses, too.

Lindsey is talking with her other grandma.

Karen bought Lindsey some easy to read books and had Lindsey read them to her.

Breanna played a game like Aggravation with Lindsey and Anthony. Lindsey made sure that Breanna was playing it right!

We played a lively game of Dutch Blitz after we opened presents because Bob said that he would go to sleep if he didn't do something.

It looks like Lincoln didn't do something quick enough to keep from falling asleep. Karli took this picutre. I couldn't throw it away even if it was blurry!

The Grandparents. Looks like they are exhausted after a day of lots of family!

Merry Christmas!!!

2006-12-22T11:58:00.000-08:00

Join me in honoring our Savior who was born to a poor family, announced to the outcasts and the kings, and came to bring light in the darkness for generations to come. Thank you, Jesus, for coming so that we could be truly free!

Merry Christmas from my family to yours!

Out to Dinner Afterward

2006-12-18T11:54:00.000-08:00

Grandma and Grandpa G and Chris along with Breanna's friend Matt and his parents, all went out to eat with us after the dance at TLCC.

Chris, Amber and Kyle

All of us. You can see Jez in the red at the end of the table. Verna, Matt's mom, is between Breanna and me. (Steve, Matt's dad, took the picture so his face wouldn't be on the internet!)

Aren't they a cute couple?

The Last Dance

2006-12-18T11:46:00.000-08:00

In the morning on Sunday, December 17, we did our last full dance at our church. The place was very, very full! We had a short three dances at a church in Middlebury in the afternoon. Now it's all over and very sad!

The KMZ kids sang "O Come O Come Emmanuel" and did the first dialog before the first dance, "The Angels' Medley."

Breanna on the left and me in the middle.

This is the finale where we all dance together for the song, "We Bow Down." A spirit of worship is on the places where we all bow down and worship Jesus together.

Breanna and I in a Dance

2006-12-11T05:46:00.000-08:00

We are dancing in a dance called, One Holy Night. There are 9 dances performed by 6 different groups of dancers. Breanna and I dance to Oh Holy Night. Breanna is in the adult dance because she had a conflict with the time the teens met. It's neat dancing with her! There is dialog in between. It brings the congregation into worship of Jesus birth, death, and ressurection. We performed in the morning yesterday. Then Breanna had an orchestra concert at 3. There was another dance at 7 p.m. Breanna didn't go. She had too much homework. I had finally gotten someone to take pictures with my camera. All these pictures are from the rehearsal time when we were practicing. The kindergartners through 2 grade dance to Away in the Manger. The 3rd through 5th grade dances to One Silent Night. The teens to Here is Our King. We all dance to We Bow Down a new song (to me) with the words being: We bow down and confess you are Lord in this place; You are all I need; It's Your face I seek; In the presence of Your Light; We bow down, we bow down. It is so awesome to see all the dancers from young to old bowing down on the stage.

Our last full performance is this Sunday (17th) at 9:30 am at Tri Lakes Community Church.

Orchestra Concert in between

2006-12-11T05:40:00.000-08:00

We couldn't see Breanna during the performance so we took a picture of her friend Jenny and her boyfriend, Matt.

One Holy Night Dance

2006-12-11T05:22:00.000-08:00

One boy in the whole performance. He is Kesha's son (the co-director, kneeling in front).

The 3rd to 5th graders dancing to One Silent Night

Away in the Manger

Oh Holy Night

"Mary" holds a baby in the center of us in the real dance.

"Mary" and "Baby Jesus"

More and More Cookies and Candy

2006-12-11T05:10:00.000-08:00

Ruby and Betty making the "bacon and eggs!"

I made Orange/Chocoate Sugarplums and they were messy to roll into balls!

The drying of the "white trash" on the floor in the basement (on wax paper of course)!

These were the cutest "bacon and eggs" ever!

All of our creations divided into groups so we could all take home everyone else's stuff.

The whole crew!

More Cookies and Candy

2006-12-11T05:06:00.000-08:00

Virginia

Marilyn

Two Bevs (Bottom one was after she acidentally got sprayed with butter from a spray bottle!)

The "Girls" Cookie/Candy Day

2006-12-11T04:40:00.000-08:00

We all wore our p.j.'s and "funky" slippers. (Mine are the penguins.)

Ruby, Bev, and Marilyn (Ruby has a camera in her hand)

Ruby and Marilyn making their "stuff."

Bertha (she came late and didn't wear her p.j.'s) and Marilyn.

A Happy Thanksgiving (but few pictures)

2006-11-25T11:21:00.000-08:00

This is all the pictures I took on Thanksgiving Day. I was too busy getting the meal on the table and cleaning up afterwards (with lots of help from all the women there). We had Dustin's mom and siblings as well as relatives from both sides of the family--22 people all together. It was a good day.

A joke on Breanna and Matt

2006-11-15T05:03:00.000-08:00

On the way home in Kyle's "new" car from a Christmas gathering of Bob's mother's family (a two hour drive), Breanna was talking on Bob's cell phone to her boyfriend, Matt. I called Matt's number on my cell phone from the back seat knowing he has call-waiting. I heard Breanna say, "Okay." I heard Matt say, "Hello," in my cell phone. I said, "Hi, Matt!" and Breanna turned around as she realized who had interrupted her phone call. I was laughing so hard that Matt didn't know who it was on the line at first. We all had a good laugh over that one. It was so fun!

Funny thing happened at church!

2006-11-06T05:39:00.000-08:00

Our pastor was talking about being obedient to God even when others are telling us to do something else. He turned to a young man in the congregation and said, "Joe, you don't have to listen to Marla" as an example of this. Bob said loud enough for everyone to hear, "Amen!" You can imagine how much laughter went through the congregation as I hit Bob on the chest!

The ironic thing about the whole situation was that before church I had invited Joe to come to our small group on Wednesday evenings. I told him to pray about it and that he was welcome to join us. Imagine my surprise when the pastor used Joe and me for his illustration! I told Joe afterward that I hadn't told the pastor that we talked. Maybe God was trying to tell him something!

What a fun morning!

Teaching the last of our kids to drive

2006-11-06T04:55:00.000-08:00

It's been scary a couple of times but we are teaching Breanna to drive (from scratch). She didn't take any driver's training because it is so expensive and I found out it doesn't change the insurance at all. I let her drive home from the license branch after I drove out of the busy part of town.

The next time she drove, she was to make a right turn. There was a car sitting in the other lane on the road she was turning onto. She took the turn way too fast and didn't turn the wheel far enough. She came really close to hitting the car sitting there. It was an older couple and you should have seen their eyes as this car was coming closer and closer to them! Both Bob and I were screaming and Bob yanked the wheel to make the sharper turn and we missed them.

The next time she drove home from church on a dark rainy night. I was nervous the whole time. When we got home, Bob wanted to take her for a drive around the area and I asked to get out. I had such a hard time not saying anything in the back seat! Jezra was beside me and he and I were looking at each other and whispering what we wanted to say to her aloud! Jezra said, "Now I understand why you were so nervous when I was driving! It's hard not to say anything!" (One of the pleasures of parenting: hearing your child tell you they understand you!)

Breanna's doing much better. I can relax for the most part while she's driving. She still has a bit of trouble negotiating right turns for some reason but she's getting better. I'm so glad this is the last one we have to train. I don't think I could handle another one! I would have totally white hair like Grandma F!

My niece and nephew "home" again!

2006-11-03T04:59:00.000-08:00

They live in my town!

2006-11-03T04:57:00.000-08:00

Lindsey and Anthony moved to Grandma and Grandpa's house

2006-11-03T04:51:00.000-08:00

October Birthday Party

2006-10-22T14:57:00.000-07:00

We had a great time at Grandma and Grandpa's for the October b-days. We missed Cheryl, Anthony, and Lindsey, though, who all had birthdays, too! (Isn't our mom beautiful?)

Kyle's low-key birthday

2006-10-22T14:54:00.000-07:00

Just a family birthday with his own ice cream cake on his 19th birthday.

Sweet Sixteen Bonfire Party!

2006-10-22T14:52:00.000-07:00

For Breanna's birthday, we went to the farm and had a nice bonfire cookout with a few of Breanna's freinds. She had an ice cream cake from Grandma. It was fun and not too cold out.

Hail storm on Saturday

2006-10-02T08:12:00.000-07:00

The boys had a break when it began to hail in the afternoon. We couldn't believe how long it hailed (more than 10 minutes) and how much it hailed. You can see it was a lot. They had so much fun with it.

Evidence my boys do actually work!!

2006-10-02T08:06:00.000-07:00

There is the evidence that even our dog gets into working with the boys. The third guy is a friend who comes over a lot so he came out and helped, too.

Disclaimer

2006-09-25T09:53:00.000-07:00

I wanted everyone to know that they should NEVER mow the lawn barefooted even though I did. It's very dangerous. Please make sure you have shoes on when you mow the lawn. I don't want to be responsible for someone getting their feet cut off!

Update

2006-09-25T09:36:00.000-07:00

Today it's not letting me upload pictures and they were just going to be pictures of our dog because I hadn't taken many pictures lately so I'm sparing you much boredom. (You can thank me later.)

We have an extra person in our household for a few weeks. It's the person we had here for one and a half years. It's only temporary. It's been nice to have him back. It feels like he belongs here in our family.

Bob and I did a sermon on September 10 on Christlikeness. Bob did the introduction and that closing and I did the teaching. It went along with our class we've been taking. For the first time, I felt very relaxed and not nervous at all once I got started. It was actually fun. I could feel the audience with me.

On September 9, ten of us went on a bike ride in the town Amber lives in. My parents went along and all our family except for Jez plus Breanna's friend Matt, Bob's brother Ron, and Amber and Matt. We ended up riding for 28 miles when it was all over. We took an hour lunch break at a reservior. The food mom and I had prepared tasted so good after riding for I think 15 or 20 miles by that time. We were all ready to stop but we all had so much fun. We're ready to do it again. Someone suggest South Haven Michigan. Anyone want to go with us?