What would it be like to be Mary???

While I read from Luke last night I really contemplated about what it would be like to have been in Mary's shoes? Tomorrow the movie "The Nativity Story" shows up in theatres and let me tell you it has me thinking about what Mary was like. Here she is stepping out in faith, I mean REAL faith without any big doubts or major question session. She is whole heartedly into it and with unabandonedment follows the Lord's leading. I mean she saw an Angel!!! She was engaged and now to have a baby. Who would believe it was from the Lord and she didn't just fool around. How much redicule did she get? How did she approach Joseph with the news and have faith that everything would work out. Some faith! She journeyed being sooooo pregnant and journeying then was nothing like journeying now. Did she really have to cross a river? (I still have to look that one up) I want a faith like Mary. I want to see God at work in my life. I feel like I've been squinting and need my eyes wide open. I'm praying this season and all seasons of my life I'll have my eyes WIDE open and my heart taking in all that God is doing and be willing to do all that he wants of me and maybe I'll have a moment to ponder back on all He has done. May we all have the heart and faith of Mary. She was only human but man, did she lean on her Lord in a big, bold way!! PS. I'll let you know what I think of the movie if I get a chance to go. If you go please let me know what you thought!

What a week to be Thankful!

We have had a fun week to say the least. We've spent time with my twin sister and family two weekends in a row and also spent a week with Brad's sister's family for a week and can you believe that I only have two pictures to show for it all.

The weekend before Thanksgiving we had a support raising event for my sister's family. They are going to Mexico to be missionaries. They will work with Back 2 Back ministries which works with orphans and people of Monterrey. We were really hoping for a good turn out but didn't get what we were expecting. So, we trust that the Lord is working in the hearts of those that we sent invitations. God will provide for them in His timing we are praying how else we might be able to help. We may ask a local restuarant to get a % of their profits for a night and invite our friends to bring their families to eat.

We had a great time with our sisters and their families. Our kids play sooo well and enjoy each others company. When they come over the kids disappear and the adults get to talk. It is a wonderful thing!

We spent Thanksgiving with Brad's mom. We took a two mile walk in the morning with our dog and Grandma and then ate at her house and then went to our church where our family was on the clean up crew for the Thanksgiving meal that they served for over 200 people who needed a place to be on Thanksgiving! It was great family time. On Friday, my twin sister and family and my brother and his family joined us for a game of Lazer Tag. 40 people played in our "Misssion" and my niece who is 14 was the #3 scorer. Fun was had by all and Cathy and I watched with Asher from the observation deck.

We had a great week and to top it off. Caleb came down with the flu tonight. Hopefully, he will not be sick all night, but we shall wait and see. We are blessed in so many ways and love the four kids we have. I have a wonderful husband and best friend. I have counted my blessings this week and can't get over how incredibly blessed I am. I'm so rich in the Lord, it is like no other.

So here are some pictures of this week. Oh, yeah, it has been sooooo warm here lately we are still riding bikes and playing football outside without our coats and gloves. Can you belive it! I don't think my photos are loading so I'll try again later. Thanks for reading!

We are still here and we are doing well!

Sorry that I haven't written lately. We are doing well. We will be having a weekend with family coming into town. Brad's sister and family comes in from Mexico tonight and my sister and her family who is raising support to go to Mexico and minister along side Brad's sister and family. We are having a support raising event Saturday for them and life has been crazy. Also, Asher gets dedicated on Sunday! It will be great to have family in for that event.

I have photos to post and things to say but it may have to wait a few more days. I'm so thankful with time with our family and we'd appreciate prayers for our event. And this is Michigan week. GO BUCKS! I'll write more later when the dust settles.

So Here is What Happened on Halloween!

Well, everyone was happy on Halloween! Abby, Asher and I were "scaredy cats" for Halloween and stayed in and watched High School Musical while eating candy. We left a bowl of candy on the porch so we wouldn't have to see the scary masks that came to the door. Caleb dressed up as Yoda - thanks to Brad for making his mask the night before. Caroline was going to be Anne of Green Gables but realized that she gave away the dress that she was going to wear. So with 20 minutes before they were to leave we leaped into action and came up with STATIC CLING!!!! She was thinking a laundry basket and since I needed all my baskets last night we decided to attach clothes to a sweat suit and call her static cling! What a great sense of humor she has! Asher just had a pumpkin hat and a trick or treat shirt on. He went casual! Abby put on a horse outfit for the picture! Fun was had by all and Abby was so glad she stayed in and no one woke with nightmares. Hurray!