Busy Working at home

After soul winning today the kids and I stopped by Wal-Mart to get a few "forgotten" items for the BIG Texas trip tomorrow. We then came home, got the grass mowed, ironed, packed, did laundry, worked on Beth's culottes, and finally Jim and I went out for dinner. Time is flying by so fast!!

This and That

Well, we did some shopping today so the kids would have some clothes for their trips... I can't believe Kyle is going to Texas on Sunday! Beth's trip to camp will be in such a short time too...

We had our picture take for the directory and we liked all but two pictures, so that was really nice. I can't believe we will have them in less than 3 weeks.

We had our "Family Night" tonight... we played Chinese Checkers, Jim won. He usually does. He has his moves planned out many turns before and it is just so hard to keep up with him!

That's about all for now, off to bed.

Late Night and a Short Day

Monday night we went up to FBC in Milwaukee for their soul winning conference. The speaker was Pastor Jenkins, and he gave a very good message. We arrived home about 12:45 in the morning and fortunately the kids and I were able to sleep late, but with so doing I had a short day. (Jim had to get up for work, but was able to get to sleep a little earlier than usual tonight.)

Kyle, Beth, and I went out this afternoon to sell more tickets for the Spaghetti Dinner and we did very well. I am so thankful for the many people that we so generous to us! He is almost at his goal!!!

Happy 25th Birthday Sabrina!!

www.clipartheaven.com

Ashley's Party

Right now at this very moment I am at Ashley's 18th Birthday party. We have enjoyed her opening gifts, lots of yummy food, cake and ice cream, an attempt to have a fire, and now we are just hanging out. I am at Kris' house, so I will post pictures later (well, only some of them!!!)

Culottes

Yesterday and today, Julie came over to help me make some culottes for Beth. They are so cute! I just love culottes! Julie was such an enormous help and hopefully I will be able to make a few more pairs for her in the next week or so with out any problems (yes, she is that good at explaining it). Julie, thank you so very much for all the time you spent with me, I greatly appreciate it especially knowing how busy you are!

18th Anniversary

I just thought it would be fun to put our wedding picture up today as we celebrate 18 years together.

Home School Convention

I have spent the last three days at the home school convention and it was wonderful!! Lots of teaching that will help me with my kids and some information about creation that was FABULOUS.

Happy Birthday

Free Gifs & Animations" http://www.fg-a.com/

A very special birthday wish for a very special lady!

Hope your birthday is wonderful Julie!!

Don't You Hate It When You Find A Product That Is GREAT And It Is Discontinued??

Okay, just to warn everyone... I am posting about intimate apparel!

Read at your own risk ;)

I have been doing some searching for "The Best Fitting Intimates in the WORLD". Yes, that is actually the name of the the item. They truly are wonderful and as I have been checking on how to get these as the supply is dwindling rapidly at Wal-Mart, I have found out that you can NOT buy them!!

Here is the scoop from Sara Max (or SaraMax), they only deal with stores, so you can not find them to purchase online at all. The ONLY store that carries these... you guessed it, WAL-MART has stopped ordering them! So, what does this mean.... it means no one can get them anywhere at all. This is not good news!

During my search online, I saw many comments about this particular brand and many people are in the same boat... love the product and can't have them. So, today I called Wal-Mart and told them it is terrible that they are discontinuing this brand. They will send the info up through the chain of command.

So, here is my reason for posting. If you are one of those people that love these, we have to tell Wal-mart. The company won't make them if no one orders.

Here is Wal-Mart's number: 1-479-273-4000. Tell them you want them to continue to carry this item as it is not available anywhere else. If they don't know we want them by hearing the negative comments, we won't have them and have to start the hated process over of finding something that fits.

That is all. Thanks.

HAPPY 13th BIRTHDAY KYLE!!

WE LOVE YOU!

Celebration

Tonight we celebrated Kyle's birthday as Jim has to work a 24 tomorrow. Here are some pictures:

Finally Posting...

Okay, so I am WAY behind on this blog. Now that summer is coming and our schooling is over, I will try to get back on track. I have to honestly say that the past two months have been... hmmm different for me. Lots of changes and lots of time spent with God (something is gonna be happening soon it seems!) and my blog hasn't been tops on my list of things to do.

So, I won't bore you with all the details of what we have been doing as it has been basically the same.

Today, of course, is a very special day.... it is Pastor Dave's 50th birthday!!!

So, HAPPY BIRTHDAY PASTOR!!

Camp Joy Fun!

Lots of fun pictures were taken... here are a few!

This was a great craft time... I made 8 cards.
The late night crew playing a game.
My best friend... 6 retreats together and counting
Best Buddies
I can only tell you Laura is crazy!
Room mates! We had a great room. I am SO glad Anna was able to come
There were 26 ladies on this trip!
The end of the day relaxing before the drive home.
And of course, Julie, the BEST pastor's wife around!!!

Happy Birthday

Jim is 41 today!!

Happy Birthday!!! I LOVE YOU!!!

The Many...hmmm Faces(?) of Kris

As you can tell, she really wanted her picture taken...and I told her I would post them... so being true to my word, here they are.

A Toss Up

Now that I have two blogs, I have to decide where to write stuff...

Well, since I already posted on the other blog, I decided to write here.

Today we had a day off!! I have been looking on the Weather Channel online for about 3 weeks now looking for the best week to have our spring break, and I haven't liked any of them yet! Today however, I decided (lots of that going on in this post) that we would take today off. We have been tempted by nice weather here and there, we have been working hard, and we haven't had a day off for fun in a long time.

So, the kids played outside for a couple hours and I went to work on my kitchen! I am really, I mean REALLY sick of all the stuff on my counters! Today was the day I fixed that. As of right now there is hardly anything on the counters and the things that did stay got moved around. Hmmm better make sure I tell Jim that I rearranged the cabinets again....

After that Kyle and I played a game of Phase 10 and while playing these arrived www.debsdailyblessings.blogspot.com. Next was a phone call to Jayne's. Kyle is dying because he hasn't played with his friend in so long. So, we headed over there about 3:30 and we didn't leave until 9. It was a really good day. Jayne and I had lots of time to hang out, the kids played and played, and we had dinner too! Thanks Jeff and Jayne you are both so hospitable!

Now that it is after 10 and I have talked to Jim, I am off to bed. Have a wonderful night.

My Blog

Hi again.

I have been doing normal wife, mother, and church member things lately and they have kept me very busy. As a result of this I have spent little time on my blog (as if you didn't notice that). In light of this, I have been really thinking about my blog lately and what I am doing with it.

I like to blog. Time is an issue, but that has not been really what is on my heart lately. As you all know (at least the readers that I know that read and post), everything we do should bring glory and honor to God. I have felt like I needed to do something for a while with my blog, but just wasn't sure what that was. Honestly, I wanted it to be more...More of what I didn't know. Yesterday I figured it out. It was the my previous post that made me realize it.

So, I now have two blogs.

I am keeping this one for the "here is what we have been doing" things of our lives. My other blog is just to share blessings that I have. The whole point to that blog is to encourage myself and others to see God in everything... it's my spiritual blog I guess.

So, if you would like to stop by here it is: http://debsdailyblessings.blogspot.com/

An Email That Is So Worth Sharing

DON'T LEAVE IT ON THE DESK

There was a certain Professor of Religion named Dr. Christianson, a studious man who taught at asmall college in the western United States.Dr. Christianson taught the required survey course in Christianity at this particular institution. Every student was required to take this course his freshman year, regardless of his or her major.Although Dr. Christianson tried hard to communicate the essence of the gospel in his class, he found that most of his students looked upon the course as nothing but required drudgery.Despite his best efforts, most students refused to take Christianity seriously.

This year, Dr. Christianson had a special student named Steve. Steve was only a freshman, but was studying with the intent of going on for the ministry. Steve was popular, he was well liked, and he was an imposing physical specimen. He was now the starting center on the school football team, and was the best student in the professor's class.One day, Dr. Christianson asked Steve to stay after class so he could talk with him. 'How many push-ups can you do?'Steve said, "I do about 200 every night." "200? That's pretty good, Steve," Dr. Christianson said. "Do you think you could do 300?"Steve replied, "I don't know.... I've never done 300 at a time.""Do you think you could?" again asked Dr. Christianson."Well, I can try," said Steve."Can you do 300 in sets of 10? I have a class project in mind and I need you to do about 300 push-ups in sets of ten for this to work. Can you do it? I need you to tell me you can do it," said the professor.Steve said, "Well... I think I can...yeah, I can do it."Dr. Christianson said, "Good! I need you to do this on Friday. Let me explain what I have in mind."

Friday came and Steve got to class early and sat in the front of the room. When class started, the professor pulled out a big box of donuts. No, these weren't the normal kinds of donuts, they were the extra fancy BIG kind, with cream centers and frosting swirls.Everyone was pretty excited it was Friday, the last class of the day, and they were going to get an early start on the weekend with a party in Dr. Christianson's class.

Dr. Christianson went to the first girl in the first row and asked, "Cynthia, do you want to have one of these donuts?"Cynthia said, "Yes."

Dr. Christianson then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Cynthia can have a donut?"

"Sure!" Steve jumped down from his desk to do a quick ten. Then Steve again sat in his desk. Dr. Christianson put a donut on Cynthia's desk.

Dr. Christianson then went to Joe, the next person, and asked, "Joe, do you want a donut?"Joe said, "Yes."Dr. Christianson asked, "Steve would you do ten push-ups so Joe can have a donut?"Steve did ten push-ups, Joe got a donut.

And so it went, down the first aisle, Steve did ten push-ups for every person before they got their donut.

Walking down the second aisle, Dr. Christianson came to Scott. Scott was on the basketball team, and in as good condition as Steve. He was very popular.

When the professor asked, 'Scott do you want a donut?'

Scott's reply was, 'Well, can I do my own push-ups?'

Dr. Christianson said, 'No, Steve has to do them.

'Then Scott said, 'Well, I don't want one then.

'Dr. Christianson shrugged and then turned to Steve and asked, 'Steve, would you do ten push-ups so Scott can have a donut he doesn't want?'

With perfect obedience Steve started to do ten push-ups.

Scott said, 'HEY! I said I didn't want one!'

Dr. Christianson said, 'Look!, this is my classroom, my class, my desks, and these are my donuts. Just leave it on the desk if you don't want it.' And he put a donut on Scott's desk.

Now by this time, Steve had begun to slow down a little. He just stayed on the floor between sets because it took too much effort to be getting up and down. You could start to see a little perspiration coming out around his brow.

Dr. Christianson started down the third row. Now the students were beginning to get a little angry.

Dr. Christianson asked Jenny, 'Jenny, do you want a donut?'

Sternly, Jenny said, 'No.'

Then Dr. Christianson asked Steve, 'Steve, would you do ten more push-ups so Jenny can have a donut that she doesn't want?'

Steve did ten....Jenny got a donut.

By now, a growing sense of uneasiness filled the room. The students were beginning to say, 'No!' and there were all these uneaten donuts on the desks. Steve also had to really put forth a lot of extra effort to get these push-ups done for each donut.

There began to be a small pool of sweat on the floor beneath his face, his arms and brow were beginning to get red because of the physical effort involved. Dr. Christianson asked Robert, who was the most vocal unbeliever in the class, to watch Steve do each push up to make sure he did the full ten push-ups in a set because he couldn't bear to watch all of Steve's work for all of those uneaten donuts. He sent Robert over to where Steve was so Robert could count the set and watch Steve closely.

Dr. Christianson started down the fourth row. During his class, however, some students from other classes had wandered in and sat down on the steps along the radiators that ran down the sides of the room. When the professor realized this, he did a quick count and saw that now there were 34 students in the room. He started to worry if Steve would be able to make it.

Dr. Christianson went on to the next person and the next and the next. Near the end of that row, Steve was really having a rough time.

He was taking a lot more time to complete each set.Steve asked Dr. Christianson, 'Do I have to make my nose touch on each one?'

Dr. Christianson thought for a moment, 'Well, they're your pushups. You are in charge now. You can do them any way that you want.' And Dr. Christianson went on.

A few moments later, Jason, a recent transfer student, came to the room and was about to come in when all the students yelled in one voice, 'NO! Don't come in! Stay out!'

Jason didn't know what was going on. Steve picked up his head and said, 'No, let him come.'

Professor Christianson said, 'You realize that if Jason comes in you will have to do ten push-ups for him?'

Steve said, 'Yes, let him come in. Give him a donut.'

Dr. Christianson said, 'Okay, Steve, I'll let you get Jason's out of the way right now. Jason, do you want a donut?'

Jason, new to the room, hardly knew what was going on. 'Yes,' he said, 'give me a donut.'

'Steve, will you do ten push-ups so that Jason can have a donut?'

Steve did ten push-ups very slowly and with great effort. Jason, bewildered, was handed a donut and sat down.

Dr. Christianson finished the fourth row, and then started on those visitors seated by the heaters.

Steve's arms were now shaking with each push-up in a struggle to lift himself against the force of gravity. By this time sweat was profusely dropping off of his face, there was no sound except his heavy breathing; there was not a dry eye in the room.

The very last two students in the room were two young women, both cheerleaders, and very popular.

Dr. Christianson went to Linda, the second to last, and asked, 'Linda, do you want a donut?'

Linda said, very sadly, 'No, thank you.'

Professor Christianson quietly asked, 'Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Linda can have a donut she doesn't want?'

Grunting from the effort, Steve did ten very slow push-ups for Linda.

Then Dr. Christianson turned to the last girl, Susan.

'Susan, do you want a donut?'

Susan, with tears flowing dow n her face, began to cry. 'Dr. Christianson, why can't I help him?'

Dr. Christianson, with tears of his own, said, 'No, Steve has to do it alone; I have given him this task and he is in charge of seeing that everyone has an opportunity for a donut whether they want it or not.

When I decided to have a party this last day of class, I looked at my grade book. Steve here is the only student with a perfect grade. Everyone else has failed a test, skipped class, or offered me inferior work. Steve told me that in football practice, when a player messes up he must do push-ups. I told Steve that none of you could come to my party unless he paid the price by doing your push ups.

He and I made a deal for your sakes.''Steve, would you do ten push-ups so Susan can have a donut?'

As Steve very slowly finished his last push-up, with the understanding that he had accomplished all that was required of him, having done 350 push-ups, his arms buckled beneath him and he fell to the floor.

Dr. Christianson turned to the room and said, 'And so it was, that our Savior, Jesus Christ, on the cross, plead to the Father, 'Into thy hands I commend my spirit.'

With the understanding that He had done everything that was required of Him, He yielded up His life.

And like some of those in this room, many of us leave the gift on the desk, uneaten.'

Two students helped Steve up off the floor and to a seat, physically exhausted, but wearing a thin smile.

'Well done, good and faithful servant,' said the professor, adding, 'Not all sermons are preached in words.'

Turning to his class, the professor said, 'My wish is that you might understand and fully comprehend all the riches of grace and mercy that have been given to you through the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

He spared not His only Begotten Son, but gave Him up for us all, for the whole Church, now and forever.

Whether or not we choose to accept His gift to us, the price has been paid.

''Wouldn't you be foolish and ungrateful to leave it lying on the desk?'

A Fun Day and A Date

Today we went on the home school field trip to the Sci Tech Museum; it was a blast! Thanks Julie for a wonderful day!! We all really enjoyed it.

After this I had a VERY special date. Jim is working and Beth is at a friend's house, so Kyle and I went on a dinner date. It was very nice spending time alone with him as that does not happen usually.

Kyle's favorite spot for today!

The boys being eaten for lunch!

How could anyone NOT take pictures of this cute little man!

Learning about broadcasting.

Just us.