From My Heart and Soul

Growing Up......

2012-02-08T20:31:00.001-05:00

We have given Tallie some more responsiblities since she is getting older. And mommy has given up some of her...ahem...control issues. :)

One of them is her bedroom. I told her she can decorate her room how she wants to IF she takes care of it.

She agreed and decided to start cleaning her room right away. She was in her room for a while. Finally she comes downstairs very excited for me to see her NEW room.

**Once again...mommy trying to be excited for her and yet holding back control issues** lol

Here is what I saw when I walked in her room!

I am so excited for these "tween years."

And I love her decorations...I mean I'll take horses over Justin Bieber anytime!

sunday snapshot {our new neighbor}

2012-01-22T16:28:00.000-05:00

We have a new neighbor.
She is a real beauty and very quiet.

Tallie has been wanting us to get a horse for a while.
We think this was the next best thing.

She loves to visit Miss Abby.
She likes to give her special treats and just love on her.
Our neighbors have asked Tallie if she would like to take care of her when they go away.
Of course she said YES!

I think Tallie might like that.

Join in on the fun!

Just dreamin' of the beach.....

2012-01-06T21:55:00.002-05:00

January...a rough month for me...

I am a summer and beach girl......the beach has a part of my heart...

Always been a part of me...

So, until we meet again..my friend...I'll be dreaming of you...

A Year in Pictures

2011-12-31T19:28:00.007-05:00

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

We have had so many blessings in 2011! We can not wait to see what God has in store for us in 2012!!

Happy New Year's Eve!!!

From Our Family to Yours!

2011-12-27T15:48:00.003-05:00

Happy New Year!!

Christmas Day 2011

2011-12-25T22:36:00.005-05:00

Today was a wonderful day! It was full of early risers, many gifts to unwrap, good food traditions (like French Toast casserole and Homemade Pizza!!), and just loving on each other.

My poor girl was so sick today. :( She is battling a running nose, fever, and well, just plain old tired. She smiled the best she could today!! She was happy with her new Kindle!

The tree and presents after the big day!!

Here she is finishing the day. We watched "A Dolphin's Tale" and went to sleep. What a marvelous day! Thank you Jesus for so many blessings!

Merry Christmas Eve!!

2011-12-24T21:44:00.004-05:00

Glory to God in the Highest!!

Wordless Wednesday!

2011-12-21T18:34:00.002-05:00

P.S. And for those wondering if I fell off the face of the earth :) I am here! We have been super busy, but I plan on blogging about what has been going on around here soon!

God Hugs!

2011-12-04T19:54:00.006-05:00

Have you ever had a God Hug? I am sure you have! God gives them to us all the time! Unfortunately sometimes we are just too busy to notice the hugs.

But there are times when the hug is intimate.....only you and the Almighty God knows the meaning....and those are SPECIAL!

I love these the best! I am amazed that the God of the Universe would want to talk to me! And even more than that.....He gave me hugs today sent from Him especially for me. *giggle*

Here are my three hugs....love them...

While singing this very special song (this song has a very special meaning to me) in the kitchen....

I found a piece of red string in my kitchen drawer....just sitting there waiting for me to find it...:)

And then this little guy shows up...just walking around my kitchen cabinet....as I turn singing I see him.....giggle.....

Yep, He loves us and wants to show us....He has us and we are ALWAYS on His heart!

Fun Times at Mimmie's House!

2011-11-30T08:57:00.003-05:00

Happy Birthday Dean!

2011-11-11T11:06:00.005-05:00

Happy Birthday to my best friend! Enjoy the last year of your "thirties"! Thank you for taking this crazy, but wonderful ride with me!

Fun with Amy!

2011-11-07T09:14:00.002-05:00

We had fun working with Amy Oonk this week. She is a ACS mom who is a photographer. She takes such great pics! We had a hard time though with the weather, but finally had a good night to take family pics. If you want a sneek peek...go to Amy's blog and check it out. She'll have more pics soon.

Wordless Wednesday!

2011-11-02T20:10:00.001-04:00

A Cincinnati Weekend

2011-10-31T23:02:00.005-04:00

Just look at this sweet baby goodness!!

Oh my.....Aunt Mimmie is smitten with Miss Annie!

There is NO going back!! :)

My sister Lori and I took Tallie and Lucy to Disney on Ice this weekend while the boys watched Miss Annie and took in some college football. The girls loved the show. After buying cotton candy, popcorn, M&M's, and a Little Mermaid wand, we went home. Oh by the way Lori and Matt...sorry about the wand...I didn't realize it played the Little Mermaid song over and over and over again...:) I will do better at Christmas...I promise.

Look at these big girls growing up right before our very eyes!!

We were so glad to visit Lori, Matt, Lucy, and Annie. There is nothing sweeter than loving on your family and holding a sweet baby.

We can't wait to have them in our home for Thanksgiving!!

Eight Down....Four more to go...

2011-10-16T22:29:00.006-04:00

Oh, yes another one down...
Another Big Ten stadium visited....
And did I mention we were way up....
There was only one more row behind us and then the wall...the outside wall of the stadium.

Yikes!

It was rainy, windy, and cold, but we fought through it.
With smiles and hot chocolate.....of course.

We finally went to the "horseshoe" and watched Ohio State play.

This made my hubby happy...and I like making my hubby happy.

We did go on a Michigan State bus with a whole bunch of MSU fans.

Did I also mention the bus trip was 5 hours long....

Then we tailgated with the MSU fans, the MSU cheerleaders, and of course Sparty.
Dean didn't seem to mind too much....

Stinks the Buckeyes lost...
But we are closer to our goal....

Hubby is happy too...

And it was really cool to see the "i" in Ohio get its dot too.

My Girl Got Bangs!

2011-10-13T21:51:00.002-04:00

My, oh my...pretty girl....you sure are growing up! :)

Sweet Baby Goodness!

2011-10-04T21:34:00.003-04:00

Oh my what sweet baby goodness! Miss Annabelle Kate, you rock this auntie's world!!

Soon I will be holding you in my arms and well, Aunt Mimmie might not let you go!!

Upstream Fundraiser

2011-09-28T21:47:00.003-04:00

Please visit my friend's blog to read how God is calling Naomi and her family to adopt again. And this time from Uganda!!

I have never met this precious friend personally (which I would love to do by the way :)), but I love her heart and passion for others.

She has some fabulous fundraiser going on over at her blog to help raise their adoption costs.

And I am sure she would love lots of prayers too.

God's Word to Me Today...

2011-09-20T19:33:00.003-04:00

I waited patiently for the Lord to help me,
and he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the pit of despair,
out of the mud and the mire.
He set my feet on solid ground
and steadied me as I walked along.
He has given me a new song to sing,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see what he has done and be amazed.
They will put their trust in the Lord.

Psalm 40:1-3

Wordless Wednesday!

2011-09-14T20:14:00.002-04:00

I Remember....

2011-09-11T16:55:00.004-04:00

Today we stop and remember 9/11.

That morning was a beautiful sunny day. My friends and I had planned to bring our new babies to our school that afternoon. The kids and teachers were anxious to see the babies. As I was holding and feeding my new baby girl, my friend who was planning on going to school with me, asked if I had heard or seen what was going on in New York City.

I immediately turned on the TV and the scene was horrendous.

As I continued to watch another plane hit the second building, then the Pentagon, and then in Pennsylvania.

I just held my baby and cried. Knowing that here I was snuggling my new baby and so, many were dying.

New life beginning.....lives ending.

I was consumed with grief. So, many mothers and fathers would never hold their babies again.

Then I got angry......why is there so much hatred in this world?......why attack innocent people?

Then I had compassion....God reminding me that He loved all of them...even those who had done such horrible things.

They had listened to the lies of the enemy. And now forever without Him.

And then I cried for those who were never going to be with God...forever separated from Him.

I can't wait for God to make everything right. Someday He will. There will be no more sadness, pain, and fear. We long for this day, Jesus.

Saying Goodbye to Summer...

2011-09-09T21:47:00.002-04:00

Yep, summer is almost over and I am bummed. Summer is my favorite season. I also know that winter will bear its ugly head soon. Michigan weather is rough! Some of you know EXACTLY what I mean.

We end our summer by going to watch our local baseball team~the Whitecaps~. We eat lots of hamburgers, hotdogs, brauts, popcorn, chicken, ice cream...well, you get the idea! Great summer foods!!

Tallie loves to go to the games. Our friends bring their kids to the game too. Tallie enjoys playing cards with the boys.

Good -bye summer...I'll be seeing you again soon!

First Day of the Last Year of Elementary

2011-08-30T20:43:00.003-04:00

Today was Tallie's first day of 5th grade!! One more year and this girl is out of the elementary!! So, proud of her and yet, this momma's heart is not sure if she is ready to send her around the corner to Middle School! Well, I have a year and I plan on enjoying every second of this year!! We started out with a Tallie favorite "egg and cheese muffin sandwich". I must say she believes my "egg and cheese muffin sandwich" are better than the local Egg McMuffin!! :)

New glasses, new clothes, she's ready!!

You rock it out girl!!

She's on her way!! We are praying God will lead and guide you this year sweet girl!

Happy Birthday Annie!!

2011-08-24T00:47:00.007-04:00

Miss Annabelle Kate (aka Annie)!!

Born on August 23rd.

Happy Birthday Sweet Girl!!

p.s. Also Happy Birthday to my Daddy who celebrated his 65th birthday!

Determination

2011-08-18T22:45:00.004-04:00

Yep, determination!! :)

Heading East One More Time.....

2011-08-08T20:21:00.002-04:00

Tallie and I will be visiting my parents for a week in PA. We want to get one more vacation in before school starts. We will be visiting my grandma, going swimming, and visiting Knoebel's Amusement Park. My brother's 30th birthday is on Wednesday and my mom is planning a party for him. I am excited to be able to help my mom prepare for his special big day!! I am hoping to get some school clothes shopping done there too. No tax on clothing in PA!!

On the way back we are planning on stopping to see my sister in Cincinnati. She has been moving along with her pregnancy a little earlier than she thought. I would love to be there when Miss Annabelle makes her first star appearance!! I am getting excited to see her and meet her and be able to hold her in my arms!! Oh, how I love babies!!

I am hoping to help her and get her ready for the BIG DAY! Plus visiting Miss Lucy Mae well, that makes this heart sing too!!

Exciting times!!

Helping Daddy...

2011-08-03T10:38:00.000-04:00

So Loved Giveway!!

2011-07-31T16:06:00.004-04:00

First I want to share that these tees are AWESOME! I own quite a few and they are so comfortable. I love wearing these comfy tees, but not only that...I am also a testimony for Christ! Yep, these tees have a beautiful verse on the back of each one....telling others about God's love for them. I know people read these tees. While in Florida my mom saw a man reading the back of my tee that I was wearing at the time. Here's what it says....

I have swept away your sins like the morning mists. I have scattered your offenses like the clouds. Oh, return to Me, for I have paid the price to set you free. Isaiah 44:22.

What a great testimony to those who don't know our God!!

So, now there is a giveway going on for the tee "So Loved". I wrote a post about a beautiful little girl waiting for her family in China. Esther had a complex heart defect and her family wanted her home as soon as possible. While waiting in China, Esther lost her battle and went home to be with Jesus.

Now they are offering the "So Loved" tee again...in memory of precious Esther. All (that's right...100%) of the proceeds will go to help other orphaned children with heart defects receive the surgeries they need. Please go to Wild Olive and see their giveway going on now and/or to buy a "So Loved" tee or any other rockin' tee. :)

Trust me you'll love them!

Happy Sunday to all!!

Summer Camp!!

2011-07-30T10:31:00.004-04:00

This year for the first time Tallie went to Springhill Camp. She had a good time and learned lots about our awesome God too!!

On the last day of camp the parents are invited to come and have some ice cream with the kids (yum!) and a short awards/program too.

This was one of Tallie's counselors. His name is Austin and he just loved the kids! And a HUGE heart for God!!

When it was her turn to come forward for her award from Austin, he gave her the MEEKNESS award. What her counselors saw in Tallie this week was even though she was quiet, she was not shy ;). She was able to control her words and actions.

The verse he gave her was I Peter 1:13.

"So, think clearly and exercise self-control. Look forward to the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world."

So, all in all a great week at camp! Now if there was just a camp for adults.....anyone with me...:)

Horse Camp/Show 2011 and An Explanation :)

2011-07-21T21:47:00.004-04:00

First of all I want to say I am sorry. My last post was a Wordless Wednesday and it was a pic of my girl with a precious new baby girl. Many were wondering what was going on! :) I wish I could claim this little one for myself. She belongs to a friend from my school. Tallie was so excited to hold a newborn baby. She was just so cute! She wishes so much to be a big sister and we are praying that God will answer her prayers. Soon! :)

Now, to my girl and her horse. "Camp was awesome!" (quote from Tallie herself). She loved it so much she cried when she left on the last day. She never did that before, so I know she must of had a wonderful time. She also bonded with her horse, Bailey this year.

The kids decorate their horses for the show. I am not sure how Bailey feels about the bows and feathers in HIS hair. Maybe he is trying to relate this, check out his face!!

Tallie was in group two this year. She moved on to the trot and 2-point (way they sit on the horse). She also was the leader of group two during the show.

Saying goodbye is hard especially for this horse-lovin' girl. Her teacher who gives her lessons regularly told us that Bailey will be at her neighbor's farm and she can go see him there. Plus she can always go see Bandit anytime she wants too!

Enjoy your very HOT summer!!

Wordless Wednesday!

2011-07-13T10:57:00.002-04:00

My Almost Firecracker Baby!!

2011-07-11T20:11:00.002-04:00

This little one came into our lives July 3, 2001 at 8:59 p.m. I thought she would be a "firecracker baby!" The day was long and I really think she was happy where she was!! My doctor came in late that night and said, "Do you want to become a mommy today?" Of course I said, "YES!" He replied, "Well, I have a 4th of July party to get to tomorrow and well, let's get this show on the road!!" He was totally trying to make me laugh and calm my nerves!!! After all day of waiting we decided to have a c-section. Not the way I planned it, but it was so worth it when we saw her beautiful face!! When she was little she always thought the firecrackers she saw and heard were for HER birthday!! :)

Tallie at the Ionia Fair July 2006 holding her treasures!!

Here is our cutie patootie on Easter Day 2006!!

My, what a joy she is!!

And here she is all "growing up" and double digits!! Happy 10th Birthday our almost firecracker girl!! We love you more each passing day!!

Kite Flying 101

2011-06-30T22:39:00.005-04:00

While we were home visiting my parents, the girls wanted to try out their new kites. It was hot and not enough wind, but we had some success.

I will not post the crazy pictures of my very pregnant sister :) and me running around like crazy trying to get the kites in the air for the girls (I'll save you a good laugh!!)

Lucy for her first time did a really great job!! She even liked dragging the kite on the ground as she ran around!!

Tallie was there to give some big "sister" help to Lucy. Lucy is so cute..she calls Tallie her "sister". When we tell her Tallie is her cousin, she says, "No, she is my sister!" :)

Success!!! Finally!!

So, we had lift off and all was good! Kids were tired and hungry, parents hot and sweaty. Very successful day in my book!!

Beach Pictures Part Two!

2011-06-28T10:44:00.003-04:00

Well, here it is Part 2! More beach pictures of our family vacation 2011!

My brother-in-law Matt and Miss Lucy Mae checking out the ocean!! I love that she is trying to keep in step with her Daddy!

My daddy and the girls looking for shells!

This is Tallie's favorite spot!! She looks so peaceful!

Tallie and Lucy dancing through the puddles.....and getting all wet!

The water was really, really cold!! Love the face Tallie is making in the picture!! :)

We have been so busy since we got home two weeks ago! Not enough time to really do anything we needed to do, but that is ok! It's summer!! It is all about relaxing!! :)

Beach Vacation: Part 1

2011-06-24T10:58:00.004-04:00

We were so excited to return to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware this year! My parents have a beach house there and they invite us to come and stay for a week every summer.

We love when we get everyone together. I think my parents like having all of their kids and grandkids all under one roof! We were sad that my brother and brother-in-law were unable to come for the whole week, but maybe next summer.

Are these two so cute? My parents have been happily married for forty-two years! What a great example to give us!! Love that they are holding up a 4 and a 2!!

Dean and I celebrated 15 years this summer! And we have LOVED every minute of it! And no, we didn't pose with a 1 and a 5. :)

And yes, what would a visit to the beach without icecream!! Love these faces!!

And I couldn't end this post without a picture of my girl! This is where we ate dinner one night. Right on the boardwalk~right next to the ocean. Doesn't it look like a great place to eat?!

We enjoyed our time so much that Dean and I decided to go back next Friday!! I know crazy huh! 13 hours in a car!!

But until then we have lots to do. Busy summer days!!

{B&W Wednesday}- Lucy Mae!

2011-06-22T11:44:00.006-04:00

My beautiful niece~Miss Lucy Mae! This girl knows how to "busta' move"!

And move and move and move!!

There is no puddle left untouched....

or no clothes left dry...

You go girl!!

Happy Belated Father's Day!

2011-06-21T14:32:00.001-04:00

We love you Dean!

Happy Father's Day to all our special Dads in our lives!!

p.s. beach pics coming soon!!

Birthdays...

2011-06-07T08:27:00.002-04:00

Today is my 40th Birthday.

It is crazy to think back and realize I have been alive for 40 years.

I never thought I would get here, but it's here and I plan on celebrating......

~Lunch with my two favorite people and then a massage.

Thank you God for such an amazing 40 years!!

The Countdown!!

2011-06-02T20:59:00.003-04:00

Yes, in 9 days we will be back at the beach! How I look forward to the beach and spending time with all of my family at my parent's beach house!

We have one more day and SUMMER VACATION!! I can't wait to relax on the beach with a good book and get a great tan!!

Tallie and Her Horse

2011-05-29T22:45:00.002-04:00

This is Tallie's fourth year riding horses. She was excited this year to work with Bandit again! It takes a while for a horse to feel comfortable with its rider. Also Tallie needed to understand Bandit too.

They're learning a lot from each other....patience, love, and trust.

They working out all the kinks and planning on having a great season together!

I think they'll be just fine!!

Wordless Wednesday!

2011-05-25T18:23:00.002-04:00

Wordless Wednesday!

2011-05-11T18:15:00.000-04:00

It's a Girl!!

2011-04-25T20:27:00.004-04:00

Yep, that's right.....this girl is becoming an aunt for the second time!! And it's a GIRL!!!!

All praise and honor to the Almighty God!! Only He alone has done such marvelous things!!

See you soon...

2011-04-21T13:13:00.004-04:00

My friend's son Johnny left this world this morning into the hands of His Savior. We are saddened to have such a young boy die, but we know his life was used for His Savior. I am amazed at God's goodness and mercy. As I sit here I think about what Johnny is seeing, tasting, hearing, and feeling. My what a sight, his eyes see! It makes me what my home even more. And I am so glad we have a Savior who died for our sins on the cross, was raised from the dead on the third day, and is now seated next to the Father. We know Johnny's life was for His glory and His story.

Will you please pray for Johnny's mom, dad, brothers, and sisters? They know he is with his Savior, but they miss Johnny so much. We are praying for peace from the one and only Prince of Peace.

Someday we will see Johnny again...we know that because of Jesus. Praise you Jesus for healing him...not the way we wanted, but the perfect way...You're way.

I Thessalonians 4:13

"And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope."

Sunday Snapshot~Spring Cleaning!

2011-04-17T21:26:00.003-04:00

Yes, Spring is here and that brings Spring Cleaning around here! Over Spring Break I spent some time cleaning and organizing for the upcoming Garage Sales. As we finish the basement, we need to make room for the new bedroom, bathroom, office, and den. It is looking so good and we are excited to see it finished!

Last weekend we had 80 degree weather and it was so AWESOME! I am totally a summer girl and love hot weather! So, I am excited that summer is coming soon!

After church Tallie decides that we should do some Spring Cleaning. Ok, nine year old child WANTING to do some cleaning. So, like any mother I ran to get the bucket and rags before she changed her mind! :)

She decided to do windows. Mom inside~her outside. Part of the reason for her decision to be outside was she got to play with the hose! She worked so hard and I was so proud of her!

She is cleaning just like cleaning "girls" before her. She comes from a generation of cleaning girls. My grandma Bushie she is in her eighties and if she could she would still be on a ladder cleaning her windows!! She passed it down to my mom, my mom to me, and then me to Tallie.

Poor kid!!

When we finished the kitchen and dining room windows, she was excited to see her work completed. She even liked how the windows were so clear.

Now if I can get her to finish the 10 more windows in the house.......

Happy Sunday!!

Why we do it?

2011-04-08T18:42:00.005-04:00

Because God has called us to. I guess that is the only answer I can give. Because I believe that is the ONLY answer. When I asked God what He wanted me to do, He directed me to An Orphan's Wish. He clearly showed me. And now He has taken me on a wonderful journey with AOW. I love working with people who love God and love China's orphans. One of those special people is Stefanie. She is the U.S. director for AOW. She is dedicated to these special kiddos. Stefanie is adopting her 6th and 7th child from China. She is having a giveway to help bring her girls~Poppy and Esther~home. Please go visit her blog and her giveway. You be amazed at our God and how He deeply cares for us!

Another very important thing to me is child sponsorship. Yesterday one of our "sponsored girls" had her 3rd birthday! This is Gwynne and we are excited to see she received her birthday cake from us! But the best birthday gift she received was the news that she has a forever family. No more birthdays without a family! Praise you Jesus!

I am excited to see these special children find their forever familes. As I think about all this, I continue to pray for our own story and what God's plans are for our family. It is hard to be patient and wait for Him, but I know He is making a story that was written by Him only for us! Please continue to pray that God would lead, answer, and show us His plan.

Blessings!!

Blooming Butterflies....

2011-04-06T17:04:00.002-04:00

We love going to see the butterflies at the Gardens. Every March we take the trip to the Gardens to watch the beautiful butterflies. This year Tallie wanted to take a friend, her buddy, Olivia. As you can tell the girls were all about taking lots of photos!

I took many pictures with my new camera. My loving and awesome husband bought me a new camera for Christmas. My friend and I have the same camera, so I see in the near future many trips taking lots of pictures and learning all about my new camera. I am so excited!

We are getting excited about summer break! This week is our Spring Break and we are enjoying it very much! We didn't go anywhere this year, but we have kept very busy. Tallie and I enjoyed going to see the Celtic Woman last night. Her first concert and she loved it! She is starting to enjoy more grown up things. I love being able to share this with her! What fun times!!

We are excited to hear that Michigan will be having warmer temperatures this weekend. We have been waiting for this for a very long time. Maybe a family picnic this weekend!

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Funny "April Fools" Friday!

2011-04-01T19:47:00.003-04:00

Yep, kids strike again! Don't ever leave your car where the kids can find it!!

They found our principal's car and well........the pictures tell it all! :) Happy April Fools Day!

Growing Up!

2011-03-23T10:22:00.002-04:00

Our girl is growing up and I think we are in trouble! :) The phone rings and now some of the calls are for our girl! I am not sure if I am ready for this new phase of life. I guess I have no choice, but to enjoy her and all her new experiences. God is teaching me so much through her and for that I am so grateful!

Recorder Karate!

2011-03-14T20:25:00.003-04:00

Yep, our girl is playing the recorder! In fourth grade at our school, the fourth graders are required to learn the recorder. I think it is a wonderful opportunity! Many students will know if they would like to play in band next year after learning to play the recorder. Our girl is doing wonderful!

Our music teacher also has the students in a program called "Recorder Karate." This program requires extra practice and learning new songs. She has already earned her white, yellow, and orange belt. Her ultimate goal........THE BLACK BELT! We know you can do it!!

Down and Out With The Flu...

2011-03-13T10:33:00.006-04:00

My poor girl has the flu. We woke up for school on Friday and Tallie told me her body just ached. So, I took her temperature...it was 102. So, at 7:00 I called my principal and gave him the bad news. He totally understood and planned on being my sub for the day. Later on in the day I called to see how the class was doing and I was told I had SIX kids absent and then later on in the day another student came down with a high fever! So, out of 15 kids.....I had only eight make it to the end of the day. I think Mr. Yoder had a pretty easy day!! :)

So, Tallie spent the last three days on the couch...resting and becoming very bored!

But Mommy made sure she had ALL the items needed to make her resting time more enjoyable. You know what I mean.......juice, tissues, medicine, Nintendo DS, books, the TV remote, and anything else to keep her busy!

She is doing better. She still has the cough and the stuffy nose, but no fever! Yippee Jesus!

P.S. In other news.....please keep praying for us. I am praying and hoping by the end of March we can share some of the stuff that has been going on around here. So, excited to see what God has been up to! We know He will work out all things for our good! I am so glad I serve a God who has my family's best interest at heart...plus knowing our own heart's desires too. :)

Sunday Snapshot: Prayer and Fasting

2011-03-06T13:24:00.004-05:00

This is Johnny and he is eight years old. I have posted about him here and here. Please go back and read his story. It will take your breath away. He has according to the doctors about 6-12 months to live. There is nothing else to do for him, but to pray. I wanted to share a message Johnny's mom shared on their facebook page~Prayer for Johnny.

2/28/11 This is an email I sent out on Feb 18: When Johnny was diagnosed, my first response was surrender. If God wanted to take him home, I was very accepting of it. My desire for heaven is so longing that I was even a bit jealous that God was taking Johnny before myself. As God always does, He challenges us where we are at and He brought to my attention that everyone else was praying for a miracle. So, then, began a long journey of dialogue between God and I. He has used others, His Word and numerous creative ways to speak to my heart regarding this topic. About four Sundays ago, I was in church and once again God broached the subject. "Amanda, I want you to pray for a miracle." Hesitantly agreeing, I asked for confirmation. All week I continued to wrestle with the idea, trying to let go of my arguments, expectations and will. Needless to say, I was very crabby that week.

The next Sunday, the topic at church was Jesus' mission, motive and mode. Matthew 9:14-38: the synopsis is that people came to Jesus for two reasons: healing and to listen to him speak. He didn't have to chase people down, "Jesus was defined by the things that he did, not the things that he knew." Pete Finfrock.(This message can be heard on gracepointchurch.net) God has shown us that people are drawn to our story. Our story is currently on the associated press. By being on the AP, our story can go anywhere in the world that gets a newspaper. So as I continue to wrestle with my heart, God provided confirmation that I was hearing Him correctly. Like Gideon and so many others, I asked for a second confirmation. Since then I have received 3-4 confirmations and begun to talk to people. I have left out a lot of details but this gives you an idea of where my heart currently stands.

Please understand that God is asking me to pray for a miracle, He is not saying he will provide the miracle. Upon obedience, there is a responsibility to keep my expectation at God's level, not my own. That being said, I am writing to ask you to pray with us. On March 7th at bedtime, we will be approaching God to ask, with the faith of a mustard seed yet approaching boldly, for Johnny's healing.

Please feel free to respond and pass along this message. I have petitioned God for a small audience and He is asking for everyone to know what He is doing in my heart. This is overwhelming, incredibly humbling and vulnerable. Yet, Christ obeyed, even to death on a cross.

Prayerfully Yours,

Amanda

She is an amazing woman who is going through times I can't even imagine. Ten years ago when they were at Tallie's first birthday we never would have thought that someday we would be praying for healing for her son. But we know that God is THE Healer! If you feel led to pray for Johnny and his family, please join us March 7th at bedtime to ask God for a miracle.

Also you can read their story on their facebook page at Prayer for Johnny. Amanda has journaled this walk from the beginning. If you don't believe there is God who loves you, please read their story. You will cry, laugh, and praise the One who holds the Universe together in the palm of His hands.

Making Room To Grow!!

2011-02-18T22:49:00.003-05:00

Dean and Tallie have been busy around the house. They have been working on the bathroom in the basement. We are making more room in our home!

Hopefully by the summer the bathroom will be done and we can lay down carpeting throughout the living area, bedroom, and office.

I love seeing progress!!

Happy Valentine's Day!!

2011-02-14T16:27:00.001-05:00

Wordless Wednesday {Stuck}!

2011-02-02T12:39:00.003-05:00

God Spoke and We were Listening {A Sunday Snapshot}

2011-01-30T14:34:00.008-05:00

After many months of praying and fasting, God spoke to us BIG TIME. We are amazed by His power and strength. Once again I am humbled, and amazed, and on my knees worshipping, and singing praises to Him and to Him alone. To the tell you the truth~with all my" human-ness" here~ I was ready to give up. DONE! But on Friday, January 28, 2011, God knew the battle was turning and the enemy was trying to take me down and wanted me to give up. I was done, honestly...

But God knew all that, He knew what was coming, and He knew my heart. And forever I will praise Him for what He has done! Forever!

Yeah, it is going to be more work and yeah, we had to make a 180, and there are more hoops to jump through, but who cares right? Because we know that our God who moves MIGHTY mountains is with us. And that alone is good enough for us.

So, soon and I pray very soon we'll give you more of what is going on. Just keep praying for us because God is hearing you and He is answering you in Mighty Ways.

P.S. Why don't you join in and do your own Sunday Snapshot or just go over to Stefanie's blog and join in on the fun!

Our Crazy Seniors!

2011-01-29T10:47:00.002-05:00

I just love this class! They are so very special to my heart! I can't believe it has been 8 years ago that they were cute little 4th graders sitting in my class. I am so proud of you! Praying for God's leading throughout your whole lives!

Check out this video of our seniors! They totally rock! :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKQINtLwPWM

Almost Wordless Wednesday~Dressing Up for My Kids!

2011-01-26T22:10:00.001-05:00

Oh the joys of being a teacher!

January, where did you go?

2011-01-25T21:09:00.002-05:00

Oh my, what a busy month! I am not quite sure where January went, but it just flew by!

I am glad though since I am not a winter fan at all. But I am thankful that so far this winter we haven't had tons of snow or cold temperatures. We actually had some sunny days which are very rare around here. And that makes this girl smile! :)

Here are some pictures of our hometown and its second annual ice sculpting weekend. What is really neat about it is the Food Network is planning on a show about ice sculpting. They will be following this group of people around Michigan. You might even see our hometown on TV soon!

Have a Happy and Blessed Tuesday!

YES, IT'S BEEN A WHILE..

2011-01-23T22:59:00.004-05:00

And no we did not move to the South Pole! Even though the weather here is running a close second! I promise tomorrow I will do a post...(sorry mom and dad, my faithful followers!). Life has been crazy around here and I have new pics to share to. So, until tomorrow! :)

God's Blessings to Us and A Recap of 2010!

2011-01-01T18:04:00.008-05:00

We are so excited about the New Year and what blessings God will bring to us in 2011. Last year for each day in December I wrote about a blessing that God gave to us in 2009. This year was so busy I just never had the time to do that, but I wanted to still share His blessings to us and recap our year. I believe it so important to share and thank God for His blessings to us. He laid on my heart in the beginning of the year this verse and I focused on this verse throughout the year. God did not let me down and I know this verse was for me and for me to live it out in 2010.

Psalm 20:5

We will shout for JOY when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in name of our God. May the Lord grant all your requests.

So sit back, relax, find a comfy spot, and even sit a cup of tea (if that is your thing :)) as I recap 2010 and share God's blessings to us!

In January 2010 my sister and her family moved to Michigan. Nothing, but fun times with a 2 year old running through the house! We started praying and asking God to answer our heart's desires. Our barn fell and actually this was the beginning of God answering our prayers.

In February my mom turned 60! What a blessing to have a mom who loves and serves the Lord! We also had a Valentine's Day party too!

In March Tallie took her first Communion. What a special day for her! We also celebrated special birthdays and couldn't wait for the snow to melt!

April brought warmer temperatures and the sound of lawn mowers in the air! Tallie started horseback riding lessons again and enjoyed that special time with her horses! We also went to Disney with my mom. I will never forget Tallie's face when she saw Cinderella's castle!

May brought Science fair projects, research papers, end of school, Mother's Day, and the starting of our paperwork to adopt. Prayers were being answered by God and we went and took another leap of faith. We also starting praying for a little boy named Johnny. My friend's son was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor. Johnny is still battling his tumor and his family is walking out their faith as well. Please continue to pray for Johnny. The doctors have given him 6 months to a year to live.

In June we headed out to the beach! We also celebrated my birthday, Father's Day, and our 14th Anniversary! Tallie started swimming lessons and did so well! She also went to Horse Camp for her 3rd time and loved it too!

In July Tallie turned NINE! We spent her birthday in Pennsylvania and my mom gave Tallie a birthday party! We went to Dean's family reunion and Tallie spent time playing and swimming with the kids! I also started volunteering for An Orphan's Wish. Another prayer from my heart for God to use me for His glory.

August brought another trip to PA for the Zelinskie reunion and spending time with family. My dad and brother turned a year older and was once again the winners of the Zelinskie egg toss. We started school and Tallie started 4th grade. We started a different role~Teacher and student since I am the 4th grade teacher at our school! We said goodbye to summer!

In September God even went a little further with my prayer request to be used by Him for His glory. I started a journey with An Orphan's Wish which I am truly blessed. I became the Donations Coordinator and I love working with donors! What a joy!

We also had many family trips~like our trip to Crossroads Village and going shopping at the Outlet Malls. Fall started to begin here in Michigan.

October brought some wacky weather! We had tornadoes and warm temperatures in Michigan which is really rare here. We went pumpkin picking, scarecrow making, trick or treating, and baked pumpkin seeds. We finished our homestudy and sent it off, praying for God to lead. This started another journey......

November brought Thanksgiving and spending time with family. One of the neat things that God did was He brought the verse given to me in January and we used this verse at our Thanksgiving celebration at our school. We, as a school, gave glory to God by raising our banners to Him. Every grade did a banner and praised God for who He is and what He has been doing at our school.

Then December came like a bolt of lightning! Not sure where it went...but it was filled with many things! We celebrated Tallie's first role in our school's Christmas program. We also had a visit with my mom and dad. We celebrated Jesus and His birth! We went out to eat on Christmas Eve, looked at Christmas lights, and ended the year celebrating with friends on New Year's Eve. All Wheeler family traditions!

We are so excited for 2011 and see what blessings God will bring! We have been walking things out in faith and we are praying God will reveal His plans to us soon. Wow, I can testify that He is a mountain-moving God! Hopefully soon we can share some of His plans for our family soon.

God is so GOOD!

Christmas Day 2010

2010-12-30T19:57:00.000-05:00

Christmas Sweeties!

2010-12-27T15:11:00.004-05:00

I am so deeply blessed to be a part of An Orphan's Wish's team. God directed me to them through prayer asking Him to use me for His glory and blogging with others who have a deep heart for the SN children in China. Thank you God for blessing me this year and allowing me to be used for your Kingdom.

http://www.anorphanswish.org/merry-christmas-from-the-children-of-an-orphans-wish

Traditions: Christmas Eve 2010

2010-12-24T22:12:00.006-05:00

We have many Christmas Eve traditions. We always go out as a family to a local restaurant to have Christmas Eve dinner. This year was Pietro's Back Door. Very Yummy Pizza!!

Our 2010 family picture on Christmas Eve!

Then off to see the Christmas lights at our local baseball stadium.

Tallie is getting Christmas cookies and milk ready for Santa and carrots and water for the reindeer. She likes to amuse her Mommy, at least for another year. ;)

We end the evening with watching our favorite Christmas movie~"A Christmas Story."

But now everyone except for me as turned in for the night and now starts my own Christmas Eve traditions. Wrapping gifts, watching another episode of "A Christmas Story", and making our Christmas breakfast. This year we are having Nanny's famous French Toast Casserole! Yummy!!

Enjoy your very special Christmas Eve traditions with your family!

Merry Christmas!!

Wordless Wednesday!

2010-12-22T19:36:00.002-05:00

Christmas Play

2010-12-18T23:14:00.003-05:00

We are getting excited for Christmas around here! Tallie was in her first Christmas program this year at our school. It is such a big deal since 4th and 5th graders are allowed to try-out for the play. She was a great angel!

As a mom I am enjoying watching Tallie's faith in God grow each day. She really loves to give God lots of praise! Oh, be still "this momma's" heart!

Sneak Peak~2010 Christmas Card

2010-12-08T23:06:00.003-05:00

Just for you~my blogger friends!

A sneak peak at our 2010 Christmas Card.

Merry Christmas!

God's Blessings to you and your family in 2011!

A Christmas Tradition

2010-12-05T23:20:00.004-05:00

We never miss the annual "Santa Parade!"

We love our small town!

We started out with going downtown and watching the Santa Parade. Then we went to our favorite restaurant downtown "The Corner Bar" for lunch.

We then went looking for our Christmas tree. We were successful and brought the tree home and went to town decorating.

After the tree was decorated, Tallie went to her favorite thing to do~set up the Christmas village. She loves to put the village up and she does such a good job!

I can't believe it is Christmas already! What a wonderful time to remember what Jesus has done for us and how He is such an awesome Savior!

We have busy weeks coming up around here. Tallie is starring in her first Christmas play this Friday, my mom and dad are coming in from PA., caroling with friends, and many Christmas parties. Lots of fun!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-25T14:28:00.003-05:00

This morning I woke up to wonderful smells! My sister, the chef, was doing her THING! She is like our mom....loves to cook! Me.....well....not so much! I do try though. :)

As my sister was preparing the delicious meal, I went downtown to the 1st Annual Turkey Trot. Doing a 5K this morning was awesome! What a way to start Thanksgiving! Planning on doing that again next year.

While Mama was gone, my girl gave Aunt Lori some help. Good girl!

And what do you do while you wait for the yummy food to get done? Hang out in cousin Tallie's room on the top bunk, eating grapes, and watching a movie.

Then finally the food was done and the table looked like this....

And this.....

And then we topped it all off with pecan pie, banana and pumpkin bread, and rice krispie treats decorated to look like turkeys. A real big hit with the littlest one! :)

Our God is so good! I am thankful to Him for my family and friends, my country and our freedom, my home, and most of all I am thankful my God has rescued me.

I can be thankful because of who He is and what He has done for me.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

Wordless Wednesday!

2010-11-17T23:36:00.001-05:00

Sunday Snapshot~ It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like....

2010-11-14T22:43:00.004-05:00

Christmas!!

This is Bronners! The World's Largest Christmas Store! Located here in Frankenmuth, Michigan.

We visited this Christmas Wonderland this weekend. Boy, it was busy! You can tell Christmas is right around the corner.

This is a huge Christmas store with everything you could think of. They have just one HUGE section for ornaments. If you can think it...they have it!

Tallie was just so amazed at it all! She just can't wait until Christmas. She has her list written out and she even checked it twice. :)

Nintendo DS on the list. Oh my.

I just can't resist this face.

So, whenever you get the chance..come and visit Bronners.

It is an amazing and wonderful place!

And maybe we can meet up and have lunch or a coffee.

And we can get in the Christmas mood together!

Sounds like fun to me!

Look Who Has A New Haircut!

2010-11-12T13:43:00.002-05:00

After a week long of Parent-Teacher Conferences...I am beat! It is so nice to have today off to spend time with Tallie. We headed to the salon (of course) to get a little pampering!

Tallie was scared to get her haircut, but she loves it now! She was amazed at how much hair was lying on the floor after she was done. I might be a little biased, but I think she looks adorable!

What do you think??

Have a Fabulous Friday!

Corn Maze Craze!

2010-11-10T23:00:00.002-05:00

We are always thinking about what to do for family fun!

Dean wanted to go to the corn maze at night. So, we let him have some fun!

As you can tell from the pictures Tallie was a little hesitant. There were teenagers running around scaring the maze walkers.

But at the end of it she enjoyed it and even did some scaring herself!

And things are always grand when you come home and get to warm up with a hot cup of hot chocolate!

Halloween 2010: At The Lake

2010-11-04T20:37:00.003-04:00

What a wonderful night to go trick-or- treating at the lake.

This is our 5th year joining Mrs. B and her family to have fellowship and fun!

Isn't the lake beautiful?

Isn't this one beautiful!? My fairy girl!

The girls love to hang out on Halloween night! It is so much fun to see them change and grow each year.

Here is the whole gang! What a hoot, huh?

After walking from house to house and our bags getting heavier and heavier, we found our way back to Mr. and Mrs. B's house to enjoy hot soup, warm bread, and CANDY!

We had a wonderful night and maybe, God willing, next year we'll have another trick-or-treater. ;)

Wordless "Wacky Weather" Wednesday!

2010-10-27T17:33:00.003-04:00

Lake Michigan~ Grand Haven, Michigan

The Very Picky Pumpkin Picker!

2010-10-16T15:02:00.002-04:00

My daughter is a very picky pumpkin picker! Every year I take her pumpkin picking at the same farm. They probably see us coming and run and hide! :)

She takes this "pumpkin picking" very seriously. She could spend the whole day there just looking and looking.

She'll find a good candidate, pick it up, twirl it around in her hands, and check to see if it has any problems. If the pumpkin does not pass "her" inspection she'll put it down and continue on.

The funny thing is that every year she asks the same question, "Mom, what happens to all the other pumpkins that are left behind?" I tell her that some will be chosen and taken home and many others will be left and be used by the farmer on his farm.

But then I thought about adoption. I know pumpkins are not children, but how many children are in the world are waiting to be chosen just like the pumpkins?

Makes my heart sad......

But how happy she is when she finds her pumpkin and brings it home to be carved and the seeds to be roasted.

So, we continue to pray for the children who are waiting for families and for our own family as we seek God to where He wants us to go to bring home our child.

Lifting Up Our Banners to Our Awesome God!

2010-10-12T21:51:00.002-04:00

Our 100 Sponsors in 100 Days is not even over yet, but our AWESOME AND AMAZING GOD has brought us 102 New Sponsors!!

Lifting banners only to you God, only to YOU!

Have you seen this?

2010-10-08T19:30:00.005-04:00

*Update: We need only four more sponsors as of today~Sunday! My, our God is Awesome!

Yep, that's right! 8 more sponsors.......and 9 more days to go for our 100 Sponsors in 100 Days!

Has God been tugging on your heart? Do you have a special place in your heart for the orphan? Why not join AOW?!

We are still praying that God would move on the hearts of His people!

Psalm 20:5

We will shout for JOY when we are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the LORD grant all our requests!

Three Word Wednesday!

2010-10-06T19:44:00.000-04:00

FINISHED!! :)

Tallie and Her Scarecrow

2010-10-03T23:13:00.004-04:00

Tallie decided this year to make her very own scarecrow. We went to the fall festivities happening in our town this weekend. There were so many fun activities to do!

One of the activities was to make your own scarecrow. Tallie carefully picked out each part of her scarecrow.....the pants, the shirt, the hat...

When her scarecrow was finished, she was looking GOOD! I told Tallie all she needs was some BLING! :)

Next weekend we are off to the pumpkin patch. Maybe we'll get to carve some pumpkins and make some roasted pumpkin seeds. Yum!

Enjoy your week and the fall fun!

We're Almost There!

2010-09-24T23:13:00.002-04:00

We are so excited to see God moving! We have over 70 NEW sponsors for the precious children at An Orphan's Wish!

Our 100 Days will end on October 17th and we are so close to having 100 NEW sponsors.

So, if you feel God is pulling at your heart to sponsor one of these precious children, LISTEN!!

I was listening to one of the songs the children sang at school today...and it made me think how much our Savior loves children.

It goes like this....

"Though I may be young. You said, 'Let the children come."

So, I will sing. I'm not too small. To know you Jesus as my Lord.

Oh, I will sing, I will sing for you...only for you!"

Oh, how the Father's heart loves children.

So, pray about it and let Him speak to you.

A Must-Read....

2010-09-21T18:53:00.003-04:00

I do love to read. Really I do. I just never have time. I know this is not a good excuse.

But, sometimes a book is worth reading.

My friend passed this book onto me to read. I have been wanting to read it and she was finished with hers. So, she gave it to me to read.

A little background on me.......I cry easily...

I mean really cry.

I cry at commercials, looking at sad puppy dog pictures, singing praise and worship songs to God, or hearing when someone is sick or hurting.

The tears just come!!

I try so hard to not cry...sometimes I hate it!

I get embarrassed. ok. I told you. :)

But I guess I must accept this as a special gift from God.

I just wish the tears would not flow so easily.

ok back to the book.

Please read this book. Yes, it is a story about Mary Beth losing her daughter, but it is so much more.

It is her story.....God's story....

I relate to her in many ways. I question God about the bad times. And sometimes I struggle with understanding His ways. I use to think that was wrong...that God looked at me as being a disobedient daughter.

But I am learning that God doesn't see me at all like that. He made me...ME! He knows my heart, my emotions, my feelings....well, He made these things too!

Mary Beth is honest in this book. I like that. I relate to that.

So, if you have some time to read, grab some tissues (at least I had to) and this book and enjoy God's goodness.

Not just to Mary Beth, but to YOU too!

Our Trip to Crossroads Village and Huckleberry Railroad

2010-09-16T19:41:00.002-04:00

Isn't this old steam train neat?!

We found this "jewel" while searching for trains in Michigan.

We loved the train, the steamboat, and the cute village too!

It was so neat to step back in time and remind ourselves of how our country began.

This carousel is also very old and well, just so cute!

This older lady was such a sweetheart! She was sewing in one of the houses we visited. They act like they are living in the early days of Michigan. She helped Tallie make a bracelet.

Tallie was able to try out stilts and other toys children played with back in the early days. She kept trying until she got it! She has turned into a young lady who is bound and determined to try anything.

I never thought she would ever be like this. If you knew her as a child~well she was afraid of everything. I am glad she is willing to try things and to not give up!

I am so glad we found this place! We had so much fun and well, even snuck in some History lessons too.

Well, that's a teacher for you!

A Sunday Snapshot~ It all started with a simple prayer.....

2010-09-12T13:54:00.004-04:00

It all started out with a simple prayer. At a young age my heart was stolen away by the orphans of the world. I felt God calling me to have compassion and love for them.

This past year I felt my life was not where it should be when it came to this God-given call. So, I started to pray. Praying that God would lead me to what He wanted me to do.

When I was reading Stephanie's blog, she posted needs for An Orphan's Wish. I wrote to her not knowing how I could help or even if I was qualified to volunteer for this organization. But she reassured me that I would fit in somewhere. I prayed if this was His plan, He would fit me in where He knew I was needed.

So, I jumped in and prayed God would lead. The really NEAT thing about God is He not only heard my prayer, but many others praying at AOW. Even before I said "yes" to AOW, He was preparing other's hearts.

I met a wonderful person named Chris through blogging. She was already working with AOW (I didn't know this at the time) and one day she asked if I was volunteering at AOW. I said yes and well, that's all how it started.

Because of a simple prayer and a heart call from God, I now am doing a job that I am so joyful about! I am amazed at our God and how He uses us in a way we can only hope or imagine!

AOW is holding a sponsorship drive~100 Sponsors in 100 Days. We are over 60 new sponsors! Praise the Lord! The drive is over on October 17th. So, we really need your help!

You can visit www.anorphanswish.org or leave a comment for me and I would love to help you!

God does have a plan for all of us and sometimes God is waiting for an open heart and a simple prayer.

Have a wonderful Sunday!!

What a Wonderful Day!

2010-09-08T21:27:00.005-04:00

What a wonderful day to spend this day fasting and praying for others who are in the adoption process. I don't know about you, but it is hard to not eat all day! Especially when a student brings in her birthday treat and it happens to be Krispie Creme donuts!

But God is so Good and He brought encouragement to me today to keep going and keep praying! He brought people and verses to me throughout the day as well. When I was weak, He made me strong!!

I am excited to see what God is going to do with all of our precious prayers! So, please share with me if you were on Linny's list for prayer and how God has moved mountains on your behalf.

I want to thank you for leaving comments and praying for us! You are AMAZING! I love the body of Christ coming together for each other.

I will continue to pray for each one on Linny's list and that God will move mountains on your behalf.

God gave me this verse today to remind me of what is really important.

"Man does not live on bread alone, but on EVERY WORD that comes from the mouth of God."

We WILL lift up our banners to Our Awesome God when we see and taste His answers to our prayers!!

Praying and Fasting.....

2010-09-06T12:26:00.004-04:00

I want to share a real quick post so others will know to pray and fast for others and us in the adoption process.

We thought we would be done with our homestudy by now. We are waiting for ONE piece of paperwork before finishing our homestudy. This ONE piece of paperwork as been a problem for us.

We are meeting with our SW this Friday to complete our homestudy, but without this ONE piece of paperwork, we will not be able to finish.

When I read Linny's post about adoptions and she wrote about problems in adoptions this one line struck me hard "papers needed to be signed, but not the right people where they should be" ....yeah this is us right now.

So, would you please pray and/or fast with us as we need this ONE piece of paperwork done and sent to us by this Friday.

Please visit Linny's blog as they are many, many others in need of prayer. I feel as well that the enemy wants us to give up, become frustrated, and forget the call of God.

Join us in prayer and/or fasting on Wednesday, September 8 for the families and the little ones who are waiting for their forever families.

God is so Good!

Sunday Snapshot~Goodbye Summer

2010-08-29T10:20:00.004-04:00

Summer here is officially over and school starts on Tuesday. It actually feels like yesterday when I wrote this post. I am sad because I love summer and I love spending lots of time with Tallie.

But fall has good points too....I think. :)

So, we went to Whitecaps game for our last "hoorah" before school starts. It also helps when your friend has free tickets to the game! Yippee! We were able to sit in the "ohh, I feel special" seats and get all the free food we wanted!

(oh by the way gotta love Tallie's hair...she is in the "I want my independence stage!" So, hard for me!)

We also got to visit with some college friends which we haven't seen in about 4 years. We were able to play with their three boys. I never realized how busy three boys can be! But they were oh so cute and funny!

So, goodbye summer and all the joys you bring! We will miss you and can't wait until you come around again.

I will be dreaming of YOU when the bitter Michigan winters are here again.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

2010-08-24T20:21:00.004-04:00

Happy Birthday to the best Daddy and Pappy in the world!

We hope you liked your chocolate cupcakes!

Family Reunion x Two

2010-08-19T10:43:00.004-04:00

Here are some pictures from our first family reunion this summer.

Here are two pictures of the famous "ice cream trough!"

Lovin' the ice cream!

Here is the Prichard crew-- minus a couple of cutie-patootie grandbabies.

At the Zelinskie Reunion, Dad and Eric won the egg tossing contest...

for the third year in a row! I think someone needs to check their egg, umm...hard boiled!

Here are some of the kids at the Zelinskie reunion doing crafts--minus some precious faces. :)

The winners (Sierra and Tallie) posing with their stash of prizes from the reunion!

Thank you to Grandma and Grandpa Wheeler and Nanny and Pappy for taking us to the reunions! Can't wait until Reunion 2011!

Who's the Teacher?

2010-08-10T22:34:00.003-04:00

ME!

It is that time again to send my 'Welcome letters" to my new students. I have sent letters to hundreds of students over my 11 years of teaching.

But this year is different......one letter will be sent to a very familiar address..........MY address!

Yep, that right............This Mamma is having her child as a student this year!

Let the fun begin!!

Tallie's Summer Checklist: Swimming Lessons~Check!

2010-08-05T19:53:00.008-04:00

Every summer Tallie and I make Summer Checklists. One for her and one for me. Tallie has been doing well on hers and hopefully she'll finish it by the end of the summer! I can't say that I have been doing as well on my list. Well, my list isn't as fun as Tallie's list is! And her list is a lot shorter!

One of the things on Tallie's list was to learn how to swim. She has always been afraid of deep water and with all the lakes we have in Michigan, I thought it was best for her to learn how to swim. She has taken swimming lessons before, but it had been some years and last time she was in the "Aqua Kids" class which basically is introduction to the water.

So, I signed her up at our local public school and put her in Level 1. I felt bad putting her in Level 1 because most kids in this class will be quite a bit younger than her, but I wanted her to feel confident at the right level.

The first day, my "very taller than all the other kids in Level 1" girl stood up when they called her name with all the confidence in the world.

During lessons I watched her closely and she was doing wonderful! I had a funny feeling that she was going to move up to Level 2.

At the end of Day 1 her teacher told me that they would like her to move up to Level 2 since she was doing so well and mastered all the things they were learning.

Of course I agreed and she was moved to Level 2. And she didn't let us down! This girl can swim! And this mom is proud!

She is totally excited that she is now officially moving on to Level 3.

And believe me she has the certificate to prove it! :)

Here is a short video of Tallie during swimming lessons. She is the girl on the left. Please pause my music at the bottom of my blog to listen.

Just Some Tuesday Ramblings!

2010-08-03T10:37:00.003-04:00

I want to thank my sister for watching Tallie all week so I could suffer, I mean, take a college class this summer. :) Check out my sister's blog for all the fun they had! I wish I was as creative as she is!

I want to thank you all for praying for precious Johnny. We are still praying for a God-sized miracle! We know our God is ABLE!

Also we should be done with our homestudy very soon. I am looking forward to moving on to the next step! We appreciate all the prayers from our family and friends. We know God is moving!

Have a wonderful Tuesday!

Happy 8th Birthday Johnny ~A Sunday Snapshot

2010-08-01T18:04:00.003-04:00

Happy 8th Birthday Johnny!

Johnny has been battling a very rare brain tumor since May. His story can be found here. He finally has left St. Jude's and went home. He is celebrating his birthday today.

This family has been through so much, but their love for Christ and their faith is a joy to see!

We are praying for you Johnny and that God will provide a miracle for you.

We are praying that you will see many, MANY more birthdays.

Wordless Wednesday ~Summer Beach Bum!

2010-07-28T16:47:00.003-04:00

Family Pictures

2010-07-25T09:34:00.003-04:00

I was so excited when my sister's friend was willing to take some family photos of us. She was willing to give us a FREE session if we just allow her to use our photos in her portfolio.

Cha Ching!

We love our little "Hometown USA" and it has beautiful scenic spots.

We had a gorgeous day and she was so cooperative and kind.

I think she did a good job!!

Enjoy your Sunday Summer Day!

100 Sponsors in 100 Days

2010-07-20T22:37:00.003-04:00

I love using the passions which God has given me. God gives us all different passions. I love teaching. I love advocating for the orphan.

An Orphan's Wish is an awesome organization. They are doing a fundraiser called 100 Sponsors in 100 Days. If feel God has given you a passion for the orphan, stop on over to their website at www.anorphanswish.com.

If you sponsor a child, you have the choice to choose the following items~Their way of saying THANK YOU!

A really cool and soft T-shirt. I have one and I must say, "I love it!"

Or you can choose this beaded bookmark. Beautiful as well.

So, head on over to An Orphan's Wish and check them out!

Johnny's Walk with God's Grace

2010-07-15T18:59:00.005-04:00

I wanted to update everyone on Johnny's progress. I wrote about Johnny here. Johnny's family visited Michigan this week. So, we were able to see them. They moved from Michigan to Arkansas this year and we miss them very much.

Johnny has been at St. Jude's for the past two months. He is battling a very rare brain tumor. We have been praying for a miracle. The family has been used by God to minister to others at St. Jude's. Isn't that just like our God to take a very hard situation and use it for His glory? And to give us the grace to walk it as well. AMAZING GOD!{Spending time with Chris Tomlin!}

Johnny's tumor has not shrunk, but has not grown either. And most of his symptoms have improved! Praise to our God! His parents are awesome and have such faith. Please continue to pray for this family and for Johnny.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-07-14T18:22:00.002-04:00

Sunday Snapshot~Finding Her Way

2010-07-11T14:38:00.003-04:00

Tallie has always been a quiet child. Since the day she was born (ok the first 5 weeks were rough) she has been quiet, reserved child. She was so shy and had a hard time in new situations. She would sit in my lap at birthday parties while all the kids ran around and played. She was that shy.

At the age of three we decided to try to help her get some confidence in herself by placing her in ballet and gymnastics. She did fine, but it was still really hard for her to relate to other kids. I also had many friends and had play dates. That seemed to help too.

But at the end she needed to find her THING. The THING that helped her come out of her shell, gain confidence, and feel good.

She found her THING! Horses are her THING! And we are so proud of her!

Horse Camp 2010

Tallie and Ram

We are so proud of her! We see the talents and gifts that God gave her to love and care for horses. We can not wait to see the future has in store for her!

Have you ever had a week like this??

2010-07-10T10:56:00.003-04:00

After a wonderful week of beach, sand, sun, and waves......it was back to REAL life. :)

Our week included the following (in no specific order!!)

* Woke up and found mold growing on the inside of our front door. YUCK!! The door needed to be replaced for a while and well, I guess put that on the "list" of things to buy.

*Tallie's bathroom toilet is clogged. Yeah, no big deal, but we can't find the plunger! Another thing to put on the "list" to buy. The "list" seems to be growing by the day!

*Last night Dean came in from the barn and had a red, itchy rash over his body. He is better this morning. I gave him a dose of Benadryl, some cream, and prayed. Thank you God!

*I found what looks like a water stain on our second bedroom ceiling. Dean climbed into the attic and can't find the source. Another mystery...

*My flower beds have been torn up....I am on the hunt!!

So, today as I go and tackle all the jobs that need to be done around here, I will be remembering our vacation where I sat on the beach and relaxed, watched my daughter play and run on the water's edge, and stopped to watch the sights and sounds of the beach that our God created for us to enjoy!

Have a great weekend!