Hey..I'm still here!!

I haven't given up on Blogging! Nothing in my life seems to be 'blog worthy' I know this is going to be a busy month so I will try to post some pictures...for Julie...even if it seems boring!

What we have been up too....
-taking down pumpkin light outside
-getting Senior pictures taken
-celebrating Alisha's 17th Birthday
-hanging snowflake lights outside
-cleaning houses
-hunting
-hunting
-hunting
-oh..did I already type that..oops!
-New Attendees Lunch at church
-Annual exam & Mammogram...Joanne..haha!
-cleaning kids room..they do have a floor!
-laundry
-getting front end work done & 2 new tires on the van...poor girl..she's getting tired!

Well that about sums it up! Our life exciting as it is!

Smile at me...

My breakfast was smiling at me this morning.

I wanted it to smile at you this morning...so here it is!

Look around today and find a reason to smile...even if it is your food smiling at you...=)

Today, with all the gloom and despair on the news, we still have a lot to be grateful for (smile)!

God is still in control, we have homes, food, clothes and our needs are met. Most of us would have to admit, that we have WAY WAY more than we need...and are blessed above and beyond.

Take time today to thank God for meeting your needs and beyond....

Nose!....

I think it has literally been years since I have been sick. I mean like 'cold' sick or even flu sick. I have been without illness for so long, I can hardly remember how to blow my nose!

I'm living on Cold & Sinus Medicine. To make matters worse, I've learned to snore! Steve is sooo loving me!

I have never snored till about 3 weeks ago. Something about me not sleeping good is causing me to snore. We think it has something to do with my low hemoglobin. It WAS occasionally, like every other night...=). Since the cold and stuffy nose, it has been every night...all night long!

If we had a spare room...one of us would be there!!

'New to Me'.....

I love Craigslist!!!

Did I mention that before?? I think I might have?

I've been in this dilemma....Three boys and furniture. Need I say more?

I needed a new couch...but have three boys that still spill and make messes. So, I have been on the look-out for a 'new to me' couch. We found one last week-end. I faithfully searched everyday the ads. I wanted leather...Steve..not so much! And since I was asking him to fund it...I thought I might go along with him! Wise don't you think!

My two requirements...not Blue & have recliners on the ends! I got both. We picked up this less-than-a-year-old-microfiber-dual-recliner-couch! I have been so enjoying my new seat!

God is to good to provide just what we need! I'm reminded of a car we once purchased. It was early on in our marriage. We were shopping used cars...long story short...I convinced Steve to buy this less than great car! That was a real lesson for me....never take the lead from your husband. I can sometimes get him to make a choice that he otherwise wouldn't do. I try not to back him into these corners. It never works out good! If I'm patient and we agree on something..then we proceed. It's been a hard lesson for a self proclaimed 'Thrift Queen' to learn. I've had to remember, that there is always a deal to be had and if I'm patient..it's always better than the first bargain!

And the price was.....$250! Which we thought was a do-able price! Now to replace the recliner....

Doing It BIG!....

On Friday, we had our stump from the recent storm removed. We do it big here in MI. No shovels, axes, ropes, chainsaws.... Nope, we get right down to business and 'Git'r Done!'


They came in and pulled that baby out...it was so fast, I almost didn't get my camera in time.


Up, Up, UP and over the fence. Now we are left with a crater hole. The boys immediately jumped in and started playing Army in their new bunker!

Hibiscus Hiatus....

My Hibiscus has finally bloomed! This is one of those plants that are a lot of work! A lot of times it's....'more work than it's worth!'

I personally think it has feelings....it must have known! I've been thinking....maybe I should just get rid of it.

I have to bring it in during the cold months, which is anything colder than 50. I can't just store it in the basement...no....it has to be in a draft free place....right in the living room. We have to stumble around it all winter. Then it has the audacity to not bloom all summer. All that work and nothing but a big Japanese Beetle Attractor.

Well, we have a bloom....okay, so maybe one more summer...but if you don't bloom better than this next year....

Hodge Podge...

Here we are enjoying a Sunday Dinner at Oakridge.

Trent, Tyler & G-ma Elsie

Tyler

Troy, Steve,Trent & Tyler

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We had dinner at Dad & Linda's

Trent & Linda play ball in the background

a little game of Euchre going on!

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We went to see a Science show at Maranatha in Muskegon. It was a beautiful night!

Here is the man doing an experiment with a volunteer from the audience.

It was very techy...Linda & I spent a lot of time saying "what is he talking about?"

He put a 1 million volts of electricity through his body. That was impressive!!

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Ladies Breakaway at Maranatha

The speaker was Gloria Gaither a well know singer, songwriter and lyricist

Kelly and Joanne on the beach at Lake Michigan.
This was on our lunch break while at Maranatha.

Liz and Cosy enjoying the swing down on the beach.

Listening to the speaker. There's Linda..third one down..yellow shirt.


Fun Fact...Gloria was born and raised near Battle Creek MI! I never knew! And she really never saw herself as a singer!

And How Come?....

How come.....you can stand in line for 10 minutes at a fast food restaurant and when they are ready to take your order, you can't decide what you want? It's like we have brain freeze. It's like ohhhhh...what sounds good?

Hey, I'm just as guilty as the next guy...but it does bug me more when the guy in front of me can't make up his mind!

Weird!....

HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH...

.....The Angels in heaven above are singing..I just know it! They are rejoicing! There is a gladness in the air! There is a jubilant (is this a word?) party going on! My dishwasher is fixed...Hallelujah. Everyone now...Hallelujah! (come on Carolyn, I-can't-hear-you!)

Mr. Fix-it is on probation for now. We are pretty sure we are back up and running but I usually have to give it a week to make sure everything is good!

We thought we had our problem solved on Wednesday, when Steve went to pick up his brothers broken dishwasher that had the part we needed...perfect we thought. How does that saying go...'if it's to good to be true it probably is!' Needless to say, the part didn't work and now we were up by one broken dishwasher!


So we turned to what else..eBay! We purchased the part and in a very timely manner it came..today! So eagerly Steve put it in, as to boost his self esteem...hmmm....there seems to be a problem?? It's still not working properly....now it seems to be another part...what...how can this be?

Oh...where will we get this part on Saturday afternoon...oh....the dishwasher in the back of his truck.....bonus! So in he comes with the switch (at this point, I'm not feeling to bad about his brother's broken dishwasher)....it's in....hmmmm....something still is wrong.....out to steal another part off the other dishwasher. It works!!



Okay, I'm not sure what was truly broken....I'm just glad it's working. I'm doing a happy dance!

Jaxi and Trent doing there part!

We Did It!!!....

We beat the record! We are enjoying the snowiest February in Michigan EVER!! The record was set back in 1900 at 35.5". We got over that on Monday or Tuesday. I'm thinking it's not a big accomplishment! I would like to be setting other records! Like, fastest painting of a kitchen, cleanest house....you get the idea. This morning it was like -3°...burh! I kept my electric blanket on all night!

On a better note...Steve sold another Fire Truck....that's three! He also went to two bid openings (Tues and Wed.) and they were the low bidder!! That doesn't necessarily guarantee the bid ..but it's a good start!! One he will find out about next Friday and the other next month. Thank you for praying for us...we really appreciate it! God is sooooo good. Let the flood gates open....