Letter "S"

Sing to the Lord a new song. Psalm 98:1

Tonight's plan was a bit more simple than other nights. We started with dancing and verse memorization. Seth doesn't usually join in during Family Time, but because some of the things we do are the same or similar each week (like verse memorization) he has decided to join us for certain parts. Tonight when we were talking about how we wanted to recite the verse, he plugged his nose...it was HILARIOUS! Yes, plugging our noses and saying the verse is one way that we work to memorize the verse...needless to say, we plugged our noses with him. He thought he was funny too and laughed and laughed and laughed. If you've ever seen him laugh, he puts on quite a show bending over laughing, bending back laughing, covering his mough laughing, covering his face....quite the dramatic little fella! Then we took requests for songs. Alayna suggested "Jesus Loves Me" and "Jesus Loves The Little Children." Josiah wanted to sing "The Lord's Army." Then we sang the "B-I-B-L-E" faster, faster, faster, really quietly, and then as loudly as we could. This was followed by the traditional pictures drawn.

Where were you 8 years ago?????

Many of you were at our wedding...8 years ago today was the best day of my life. I married an amazing man....my best friend....and now a great dad...we are truly blessed!

Eight years ago....digital cameras were not as easily available (now I don't know that you could even find a film camera)....which mean pictures on my computer of our wedding day are not as easily available either!!

A Hard Worker....

Someday he will be very handy to have around....now, he just makes mowing a lot slower.
Cuter...but slower! :)

Zoo Fun

So, we live in Fargo, ND...not a town well known for having a great zoo. Nonetheless we have one and it's a clean zoo! Anyway, last summer we purchased a family zoo membership from Dakota Zoo in Bismarck...that way we can enjoy going to the Wahpeton Zoo, the Fargo Zoo and the MN Zoo (and MANY others that we didn't visit). We made good use of that membership last summer and we are still enjoying it this spring until we are due to purchase a new one.

Today is a pretty nice day so I decided to take Alayna, Seth and their cousin Evan to the zoo. There aren't a TON of animals, but it was fun to be outside, walk around and look at them. The wolves were a new addition to the zoo last summer, they were just tiny pups and we enjoyed going regularly to visit them and watch them grow. 6+ months later, they are BIG! Anyway, we had a great time and it was fun to see Seth enjoy it so much more this year!

The Letter "R"

Standing at 'attention' and talking about what it means to 'rejoice'. Even Seth followed suit. :)

Tonight's Family Time verse was...

Phil. 4:4 "Rejoice in the Lord always."

Michelle and I discussed that it is very important to learn how to rejoice when it is tough, not just when it is fun. Chip Ingrim said parents should teach their kids that suffering is normal but God is good. This is a great Christian paradox that only makes sense in the cross.

We went to the back yard for an since it was beautiful outside. A neighbor girl wanted to come over so she joined our family time. After our verse memorization, we discussed the verse a little bit. How can we rejoice in the Lord always? Dad told the kids that Josiah would have a turn first. Immediately, the complaining started. What's our verse again? "Rejoice in the Lord always." say the kids. "Even when it's not your turn?" says Dad. "Yes" say the kids. Each kid took a turn running an obstacle course. After each turn we discussed the ways we rejoiced while the other kid was taking their turn. This activity was very fun!

The next activity was to go for a short bike ride. Before family time, Dad sneeked into the garage and deflated the tires. So, the kids ran excitedly to their bikes and hopped on like they do every day. Josiah's bike could not really go at all. The neighbor girl's bike would turn left due to the loose tire. Alayna was too light for the effect. Now, could Josiah and the neighbor girl rejoice with bikes that did not work? Michelle and I discussed how to do this while Alayna made her way down the sidewalk. There was no whining and even a glimmer that they understood it a bit.

The third task was a special one for Josiah. I had a cement block in the yard and asked Josiah to pick it up and carry it about 15 feet then turn around and come back. It was too heavy for him to carry so he rolled, kicked, slid, and pulled it across the yard. As he was struggling, Michelle and I were coaching him how to rejoice through hard work. At one point, I helped him pick up the block and he got scraped. At first, I thought I ruined the lesson because he was crying. However, Josiah pointed out that Jesus had to rejoice while he was being hurt on the cross. Josiah and I carried the brick back into the garage. Michelle and I were very proud of him.

Then to finish it off we went to Dairy Queen and rejoiced in God's gift of ice cream!!

Wonderful Women

Here is a great group of ladies. This is the 2009 MOPS Leadership Team. What a great group of ladies to hang out with and serve with.... We just finished another year of MOPS....it was a great year!! They have each been a blessing in my life...thanks ladies!

Back: Kim, Annette, Tracy, Laquita, me, Chrystal, Shyrlee
Front: Quinn, Becca, Suzanne, Trista, Kristi

Fun at Grandpa Holder's

This little girl has been scared of dogs for the past couple years...even that day when we got there she was scared and this was her by the end of the day....

Riding the donkey

Walking with grandpa

There's our pretty girl

He loved looking at the donkeys!