Just Life

Here is a menagerie of photos from the last couple months. It does not cover all the children so I will add more of the ones less viewed at a later date. The simple truth, some children "demand" photographing more frequently and, Aaron is simply around more than the rest of them. :)


Here is Miss E. She loves this hat and can pull off the look well.



She is not going to be left in her sister's "drama" dust as you can see.



This is how Elizabeth sets out clothing options. Can you say type "A" personality.



Here are the two who tend to "help" me out in the kitchen most often. You can see why they volunteer, to lick the bowl (and to crack the eggs).



Our kids are just so shy, what can I say.



Hannah had to commemorate her first "real" cup of coffee. For the record, according to my standards ,it is not real coffee when it is this doctored.






Teeth are not supposed to come in like this! The sad thing is that his mother didn't even know there were other teeth coming in behind the baby ones until right before he lost the first one. The good news is that with both baby teeth out the others have successfully moved forward, in crooked fashion. He will be 3rd in line for orthodontia. Sigh.



Not quite sure who dressed the little man this time. He may actually get the credit here. Don't know exactly what look he was going for with the top hat, blazer, and bulging muscles. Any ideas?



For the record, the ceiling tiles are all finished behind Aaron. The someday bathroom, well that is another story. For now we choose the get some exercise theory for taking care of daily duties for those who spend a greater amount of time downstairs.



Thanks again cousin Erika for the air hockey table!

Easter

Easter has once again come and gone but only on the calendar. In my heart I am still reflecting with awe and humility at the free gift we are given in Christ Jesus. This past year I have been challenged to trust Him like never before, seen life-changing transformation in someone very close to us, and am in turn drawn ever closer to our Father. Jesus life, death and resurrection is our free gift for the taking if only we ask! Praise Him!

We attended a great Good Friday service where we were allowed to walk a journey similar to that of Christ's journey to the cross. As a family we got to hear the story from Mary's point of view while seeing things like a crown of thorns, the scourging tool (a wicked looking thing), we lifted (or tried to) a cross similar to the one Jesus had to carry, we saw spikes that held Him to the cross, we saw linens that could have once covered Jesus body, we got to write our sins down on paper only to watch them be shredded symbolizing what Jesus death means for our sins......it was a powerful experience for a seasoned believer and a great tool to teach our young followers of Christ.

Saturday night we celebrated the Risen Lord together as a family and rejoiced over the testimony of my little brother whose life has been radically changed and transformed by the persistent love of our patient Father. God is alive and working in lives all around us. What a thrill to walk along someone who is experiencing freedom that only Jesus can offer! It is my prayer that next year when I write about the impact of the resurrection that there are even more stories to share, bringing all praise and honor to Him.


Now the children should wake up Easter morning happy and compliant . This was not necessarily the case for us as this is the best picture we could get. You should have seen the others!!!


Looking at everyone's goodies.





Craft time with a couple of the kids up the street.





Time to dye the eggs.











Scott giving the pre-hunt instructions. Notice the closed blinds. It is quite the production around here to keep 8 kids from peeking, trying to get an advantage on the "prized" eggs. I must say that it seems so wrong to have to dress this warm.


Getting instructions.....


Aaron finding some goodies.


Hannah, Zach, and Damon.


Sweet Rebekah gets some of the more obvious finds . She is the daughter of our young adult pastor and his wife, my dear friend.


Isaac find one just in time before big brother gets there.


Elizabeth finds one of the prized eggs.


Notice the pond is still covered with ice!


Even the trampoline could house some goodies for Devin.


Rebekah was thrilled to find a few pieces of candy and then the rocks became just as fun.


Our tradition is to come in after the hunt and do the resurrection eggs (tells the Easter story) with all the kids (while they munch a little). We were thrilled to have 4 neighbor kids. God opened the door to share the story of salvation with these young hearts and we will pray for seeds to be watered and bear fruit. What an awesome privilege and responsibility to get to minister in our community.





As the afternoon progressed, 5 of Devin's cousins showed up for some fun. Before it was all said and done, we had 14 kids, two very patient (and probably overwhelmed) grand parents, two dear friends and Scott and I. What a blessed Easter!!!!!!

Time to be Green

Monday of course was St. Patricks day. It did not take long for everyone to run for all the green they could find to avoid the pinching activities. The girls went all out as you can see. The daddy-man was a little more desperate but not lacking in creativity. This does not include everyone who donned green that day, only the ones who demanded photo documentation, intentionally or unintentionally.










Not exactly sure what this is all about other than the fact that it is spring break around here and there were drama activities going on in the basement. The oldest brother is responsible for this one, I am told. That sibling also did the posing. Little brothers are so gullible!

The Other Side of My Man---Daddy Man

For those of you who have a junior high student in your house, you are very familiar with the almost daily routine of self-portrait taking via the cell phone. I am amazed at their lack of inhibition regarding this hobby. It does not matter if the setting is public or private, there is no stopping the pictoral chronicling of their junior high years.

Here, Hannah has taken advantage of her dad trying to get the rest the Lord has commanded of us on Sundays (after he is done with work at the church of course). This may be a side of Scott that many have not seen. He is such an amazing father and everyone should know that the drama in our children is from the paternal genes, not the maternal genes..













This is what he'd like to be doing.


Finally, the pose Hannah was looking for.

Tired of Winter

Like everyone else, we are tired of winter and more than eager for spring. I had great aspirations to get photo documentation of the over 55 inches that have accumulated to put us down in the record books as the second worst winter snow accumulation ever!!! Unfortunately I only have a couple.



This first one is of our five kids, plus our "adopt-not" Emma, on a desperate plight to burn off energy. The kids are standing in the church parking lot in front of one (not the biggest-it was too far away and as you can see, the kids were cold) of the many mountains of snow. We were heading into the gym to run off the grouchies.



We have experienced snow storms, ice storms, last week there was a brief thunderstorm, more hours of snowblowing than can be counted, below zero windchills, mail that isn't delivered because the mail box is covered in street cleaned thrown ice and snow and when we finally managed (via Scott) to pick ax ourselves clear, we got more snow and are back in the same predicament. Still no mail. Ugh! We need warmer weather to help us out. We are finally starting to see a few blades of grass pop through the blanket of snow that has never left all winter and are now dealing with the first of many flooding issues. Oh the joys of enormous amounts of precipitation. Watch summer be dry as a bone and we will be begging for rain.


This picture was taken a couple weeks ago when my parents got snowed in. This is a country road that is directly north of Tiffin. Notice the height of the pile in relationship to the road sign.