Bethany Christian Services has a video on YouTube!!

You MUST watch this beautiful video of an adoption
from China on YouTube by Bethany!! It's sure to choke
you up!!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJ-iO8Lem6g

My little boy!!

Yes, a little boy, a toddler! He is not mami's
baby anymore--and this new haircut makes
him look even older! Oh cherish these days!

OH

WHAT

A

LITTLE

STUD!!!!!!!!

Dennis the Menace (in female form)

Yep--I step in the shower for 2 minutes
and this is what I come out to. Guess I
didn't hide the make-up well enough :0

Mabel's way of how lipstick should be applied:)


"Hi, I'm Denise" (hence The girl form of Dennis:)


"Don't forget to get some on your teeth"
He He He!!!!!!!

Laundry Basket Baby!

"You're supposed to fold that laundry mom----NOT ME!!!"

Our Youth Group

Some of you know that Mike & I are Youth leaders
for the first time this year. It is definitely something
we felt God calling us to do, so we jumped in, trusting
Him that everything would work out. This past week-
end we had the opportunity to go to the annual Youth
Retreat, held at the Grand Traverse Resort in T.C.
We had one of the largest groups there with 20 kids.
We had a really good time. Lots of worship time, fun,
laughter, bowling, eating and NO sleeping was had.
It was good to bond with the kids in this way. However
I did not come home with the spiritual high that I had
set myself up for and I was dissapointed about that.
But...........I speak too soon. Last night our Youth group
met for 1 of our monthy sessions and it was the most awesome
meeting we have had yet with these kids. I seriously had
goosebumps the whole time. They just opened up more
than they have in the past and us as leaders were so
proud to see how strong they are in their faith! After
they all left for the night, this is when I experienced my
Spiritual High!!!! I STILL had goosebumps and was
praising God for these kids and what they do for MY faith!!
I'd like to ask you to pray for them, it is so scary what
they face everyday and all the pressures they have to
put up with. Pray they keep satan where he is supposed
to be-------------squashed under their foot!!!!
Here are a few pics of our fun weekend!!


Nate caught chowin his pizza!


Cards are always a must!!


Nathan during one of the games trying to blow a bubble!


Our main meeting room--there were about 100 kids present.


Mike, Gabriel & Nathan reading THE BOOK!


3 of the sweeties we had in our room--Abby,Kelly & Brooke


Mike and Rich enjoying pool time :)

Who would have thought?

Ok, so I know parenting wasn't going to be a breeze or anything but there is honestly nothing to prepare you for how hard parenting really is. I always find myself wondering if I made the right decision in this instance or if I wasn't hard enough on her in that instance. How do you know???????? Mabel has really been testing Mike and I lately. She is one stubborn, STRONG-WILLED little girl. Quite the personality in that little peanut but oh can she make mami mad!!!!!!! Today was a "I'm gonna get mom's blood boilin" kinda day for Mabel......and I'm ashamed to admit it, but she did!!! She was being really naughty, screaming at me, sassing me, stomping her foot at me------you name it, she was doin it. So I decided to do something I have never done before w/ any of my kids..........I poured a tsp. of baking soda in her mouth. I am afraid to use soap so I thought well, I'll go with baking soda b/c it will not harm her and it's very, VERY salty and yucky by

itself. She knew mami was not fooling around after she stopped spitting, gagging, and crying. She said she was sorry and we went over all the things she did that were not ok and she was a little angel the rest of the night! So........I'm sure some parents would not agree with this kind of discipline, but I WILL continue to use it for as long as it works. I don't see anything wrong with it when other techniques aren't working and I feel it gets the point across rather quick like :) Oh I love being a mami but there are days I just really need an hour to myself---------ya know what I mean??? No, I thank God several times a day for my 4 beautiful children!They are truly miracles---each and every one!!

The painting of the wall!

Every year at Christmas we get to paint
a different wall in Mom and Dad's basement.
This year we had a big wall to do and Grandma
wanted a garden with the flowers stems as
the kids' names. So we went to town!! The kids
had lots of fun doing their garden scene, there
were some things drawn that don't belong in
a garden but Grandma didn't care. They
were having too much fun!!

Mommy helping Maggie do her hand
print flower!


Grandma helping Mabel reach her flower.


Mami and Mags again


Madelyn and her handiwork :)


The moms just getting started on
the name stems!


Here is a good pic of the whole wall.


That's some great art work there!!!


Maggie and Uncle Matt's creations!


Here are the 4 kids's stems--Elijah
was sleeping this whole time so he
didn't get his flower up yet:)


Mabel paintin in her undies--Too Cute!

Can you put up with a few more??

ok so it's the new year but I am behind on
posting all our good Christmas pictures so
you'll have to bear with me as I get the rest
up on the blog--anyway, I know you all
enjoy pictures...........

Mabel being her goofy self!


All the grandkids with G & G -----Photo A


Photo B lol!!!!!


How can you resist this sweet face??


Elijah on his new Hippo!


Uncle Matt & Mabel gettin in some snuggle time!


Elijah's new neck pillow for the car.


Mabel's new neck pillow......


and Maggies---it's a monkey!


and last but not least, Madelyn neck pillow!





Look at all that technology:) Guess which one
is mine??? and which is Mike's??? :)


Here is Mike with his brother and sister!


Madelyn and her cousin Jacee--they could be
sisters huh?


and all the grandkids together!!!! So special!!!