Christmas Eve 2011

Fall 2011

Happy 8th Birthday, Cole!

You gotta admit, this kid has the gift-opening surprised face down to a science!

Happy 8th Birthday, Cole Henry!
You bring so much joy and energy to our family!
There is never a dull moment with you around, and we wouldn't want it any other way.
The Lord blessed us in such an amazing way when He gave us you!

Abby

Have I mentioned lately how amazingly proud I am of this beautiful girl? There are so many things about Abby that make me proud. She is beautiful, intelligent, a loyal friend, a hard worker, has the most tender heart for the needy, and so much more. She worked so hard and practiced so much for this year's cheer competition. And it showed. Her hard work and dedication paid off. She did an amazing job! And while the outcome was not what she had hoped for (no medal this year), I could tell she was praying with all of her heart for God to give her contentment despite the situation. And He did. And she glorified Him. And that is what makes me the most proud of Abby. She glorifies Him ... and that is the thing she was created to do.

Saying Goodbye to Summer

We'll miss you, Summer ... but we're excited for the blessing of Fall ...

1st Day Part 2

First day of 2nd grade for Cole.

Wait, what did I just say? Second grade for my baby!?! How did that happen?

Morning Instructions:
Be good.
Try to sit still.
Listen to your teacher.
Don't get your sweet friend Brandon in trouble.
Don't be crazy.
Don't lose your lunch box.
Don't get your backpack mixed up with that kid sitting next to you
who has the same backpack.
And, most importantly, be an example of God's love and grace.

1st Day

First day of 8th grade for Noah, and 7th grade for Ethan.

Morning instructions:
Take a copy of your schedule so you know where you're going.
Go to the cafeteria and get your job.
Put your cell phone on vibrate.
Don't lose your cell phone.
Don't lose your $100 calculator.
Lock up your bikes.
Lock your bike helmet to your bike.
Stay together when you ride to school.
Stay together when you ride home from school.
Look for new kids and kids with no friends and be their friend.
Put your name on your paper.
Be respectful.
Do your best.
And, most importantly, be an example of God's love and grace.

A Day to Remember

Abby has been waiting so long for this day to come. I think it probably seems to her like she's been waiting f-o-r-e-v-e-r. But today we finally made it to the new American Girl store in Seattle. We went with three of Abby's friends from church and their moms. It was such a special day. Abby was so thankful and so thrilled to be there, that it made me so thankful and so thrilled to take her there.

I know that American Girl dolls (and their endless amount of accessories) are a little on the expensive side, but I honestly just love the innocence and sweetness of these dolls. They are not "dolls" that look like girls pretending to be grown women. They are sweet dolls for sweet girls, and I will gladly support any interest of Abby's that encourages her to be a young, sweet, innocent girl.

Love

I am in love with this blog. I love it because it makes me cry. And feel sorrow. And feel hope. And feel the love of my Savior, which makes me long with all of my heart to love Him more and serve Him more. Because I am nothing, and He is everything.

A most beautiful, powerful prayer for a daughter was on the blog this morning. It so powerfully spoke to my heart. THIS is what I want for my beautiful daughter. THESE are the things that matter.

Father who breathed into this daughter…

I pray for this girl being formed into eternity….

May the wind always be in her hair

May the sky always be wide with hope above her

And may all the hills be an exhilaration

the trials but a trail,

all the stones but stairs to God.

God, clothe this girl in a gown of grace
Grace, the only dress that makes beautiful,
the style of Your spirit.

Nourish her on the comfort food of the Word,
Word, that makes her crave more of Christ,
have hunger pangs for Him.

Enclose her in communion with You
You, Love who makes her love, who folds her heart into a roof
that absorbs storms for souls,
that makes her tongue speak only the words that make souls stronger.

May her vocation in this world simply be translation

Translating every enemy into esteemed guest
Translating every countenance into the face of Christ
Translating every burden into blessing

When it’s hard to be patient… make her willing to suffer
When it’s ridiculous to be thankful … make her see all is grace
When it’s radical to forgive … make her live the foundation of our faith
And when it’s time to work… make her a holy wonder.

May she be bread and feed many with her life and her laughter
May she be thread and mend brokeness and knit hearts
May she be dead to all ladders & never go higher , only lower, to the lonely, the least & the longing
Her led of the Spirit to lead many to the Cross
that leads to the tomb wildly empty.

Oh, and raise me, Lord, from the deadness of my own sins to love this beautiful girl like You do…

In the name of Christ who rose

and appeared first

to one of His daughters…

Amen…

Our life

Football and cheerleading. Pretty much the only things we talk about right now. Pretty much the only things I see everywhere I look. Pretty much what consumes all of our time.

Good thing I love my husband so much.

My Family 2011

Some of the amazing, wonderful memories made this family vacation.

My parents, brother Greg, brother Garey and his family, and us.
We haven't all been together since 2005.
Hopefully it won't be another 6 years before we are all together again.

Pagoda

Noah's Chinese artifact for Social Studies class.

Why, oh why, do teachers assign "crafty" homework assignments? So unfair to kids with craft-challenged parents!

But, despite my lack of creativity, Noah did a great job on his pagoda!

Ethan is Awesome!

Ethan just received an Outstanding Student award from his middle school! His award was for always having a positive attitude (a glass half full kind of kid), and for academic improvement.

Ethan has always been the most positive kid. He truly does always see the good in everything (and everyone). He is a genuinely kind and loving young man. He loves people the way Jesus wants us all to love people. He is an inspiration to me.

Ethan has also improved and matured academically this year. Although his report cards have never had lower than a B+, and mostly As, he is taking more responsibility for his own learning, and that has been great to see as well.

So, in case you didn't already know, here is further proof that Ethan is awesome!

Noah's First Track Meet

Easter 2011

Happy Birthday Ethan & Abby!

Thanks to all of our family and friends who helped make Ethan and Abby's birthday celebration such a wonderful, memorable occasion!

Puyallup Field Trip

Cole had a blast on his 1st grade field trip to the Puyallup Fair School! He was able to see and pet lots of fun animals, and learned quite a lot about Washington agriculture.

Goodbye

Abby had one last visit with Bree on Friday. Bree was owned by our sweet friend, Erika, but she went to a new home on Saturday. It was a very difficult decision for Erika to sell Bree, but we definitely agree that she was in obedience to the Lord in doing so. Abby was so thankful to have one more special time with Erika and Bree!

Sentinels Basketball

Cole's first year playing basketball has come to a close. He had such a fun season! He improved so much thanks to his amazing coaches. He scored 14 points in the team's final game, and was a rebounding machine. We are so proud of him!

Believe it or not, Cole is going to sit baseball season out this year. He would have loved to play again, but Mom needs a little break! Noah will start track and field in a few weeks through his school, and we'll all be back full swing into football and cheer before we know it!

Life is full, but we love every minute of it. We had one of the best compliments from another parent at one of Noah's wrestling matches this year. He said, "Wow, your family always travels in a pack!" Not sure if he meant it as a compliment, or if he thought we were crazy, but we love that all six of us enjoy life together and share in each other's treks, triumphs and trials.

The Fabulous Four

My Favorite Flowers...

... from my favorite guy. I am so blessed.

Pirate Pride

Noah was once again this year given an outstanding student award at Pioneer Middle School. He was awarded for his academic excellence and excellent classroom behavior. We sure are proud of this kid!

And, oh my, look how he's changed since receiving the award last year!

League Tournament

Noah placed 4th in his weight class in the league tournament this past weekend. Quite an accomplishment for his first season of wrestling!

We made a decision as a family early on in the wrestling season that Noah would not wrestle any girls. We made this decision after much prayer, thought, and conversation. Noah, Mark and I were all in complete agreement. Noah had to forfeit his first match of the season because of it. And, then again at the tournament this weekend, he had to forfeit his last match for 3rd/4th place. Certainly, we were all bummed, but Noah did not waver in his decision and we were so proud of him for keeping a great attitude through it all!

Not only did he have a great attitude during the tournament, but he has had a great attitude all season, even though the learning curve for him was huge this year.

We are so proud of the young man that he is becoming, and are excited to see how the Lord is going to continue to grow him and use him.

MLK Jr Haiku By Ethan

Martin Luther King

why do they call you Martin

you were born Michael

Trip to Germany

dad changed Michaels to Martins

different but the same

Baptist minister

a civil rights activist

equal rights for all

Only judged by the

content of their character

his dream for us all

He was a dreamer

ideas that changed the world

black and white not seen

His dream does live on

a life cut short by hatred

he was a hero

Doctor King Junior

may your dream be realized

through people like me

Cole's First Basketball Game

Cole is playing basketball for the first time. He is on a co-ed kindergarten/1st grade team, and they had their first game last night. So, so cute! Quite entertaining, to say the least! Cole was totally amazing and scored four points. He's super competitive and energetic ... which means we definitely have to work on the "ball hog" thing before the next game!

Tacoma Art Museum Field Trip