The Cripes

Big Mack

2011-05-14T20:43:00.004-04:00

Unfortunately, Hope's first dairy feeder calf for 4-H was not doing very well (we think he was retarded). So here is her new one named "Big Mack". She and her dear friend Mackenzie were at the fairgrounds with "Big Mack" for weigh-in. He weighed in at 177 lbs. There is about 11 weeks lefts until the fair starts. That is plenty of time for "Big Mack" to bulk up with some weight and muscle. Hope will too!!

Mark 13:26

2011-05-14T20:39:00.002-04:00

"Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory."

Easter pictures

2011-05-14T20:05:00.005-04:00

Easter is always a good time to update those family pictures ,especially when everyone is dressed nicely! I love this one of Hope & Jonny and also the one of Greg & I. It's funny as I get older I take more pics of the kids and fewer pictures of Greg & I. I always say to myself that I wished I had pictures of just Greg & I. No better time than the present to start snapping pictures.

We spent some time Easter afternoon at Greg's Dad & stepmom's. The other cute kiddos in the pics are Hope & Jonny's cousins : Kyla, Brayden, and Jett. They hunted for Easter Eggs together after lunch.

Sunday is a comin'

2011-04-22T20:51:00.003-04:00

As I colored Easter eggs with the kids today, I was a bit overwhelmed with the beauty of spring. Simple white eggs one moment & beautiful pastel colors the next, emerging with such little effort. Those closest to us know that after what seems like an extremely long & painful winter; spring is coming! God simply paints effortlessly the beauty of spring. The soothing song of the robin early in the morning, the lilies peeking their green stalks out of the ground, the smell of hyacinth, and the freshness of new growth and life.

Good Friday is only good because of Resurrection Sunday!! My Savior dying an excruciating death on a rugged cross for my sins. He may very well be your Savior too but I like to make it very personal. He is mine. He wasn't always. But since September 1992 He is mine. Each and every year since that date I think about what He did for me, thinking of me. The new life He gave as He conquered sin and death. Rising from the dead, He completely justified me once and forever more.

So this Easter I am once again celebrating that "Sunday is a comin'"! Winter doesn't last forever. Pain & suffering do end. Life isn't made up of just valley experiences. Spring is coming. New life. New lives because of Jesus. Thank you my precious Jesus, you are enough.

The Pruning of the Pear Tree

2011-03-27T18:47:00.003-04:00

I have a pear tree in my yard that got its first official pruning ,in I don't know how long ,if ever. My father-in-law so generously and kindly came to my rescue. I didn't know how to prune a pear tree but knew if I wanted my tree to bear more fruit it needed to happen. You can see by the pile of branches in the background, it got a major pruning!

I am very hopeful that this will be a great year of pears and pearsauce!!

Upwards came to an end

2011-03-27T18:18:00.003-04:00

Jonny's Upwards basketball season has come to an end. He really enjoyed his team and had a great coach this year. His whole team showed such great improvement this year. Way to go Jonny!!

4H Dairy Feeder Calf

2011-03-27T18:11:00.004-04:00

Hope is going to be showing a Dairy Feeder Calf for 4-H this year. This is her pick of the litter. #232 aka "Sizzler". We are blessed to be able to keep it at a friend's farm. Hope goes over to take care of it along with other chores, several times a week. She and her little buddy, Lane, love to feed the "calfies" as they call them. I think Hope shows great potential to be a farmer or a vet! She has such a love for animals. The hard work is really building a great work ethic in her. I'm not sure that the auction after the fair will be untearful!

Upwards Basketball~February 19, 2011

2011-02-19T16:25:00.003-05:00

Jonny is playing "Upwards" basketball this year. I just happened to be filming this little bit today at his game and jackpot....a basket. Yes, it is hard to see, but that is Jonny that shot the basket. He is doing great! I am so proud of him. He has a great team and coach! Go Bobcats!!!

February's Blue Skies

2011-02-19T16:23:00.001-05:00

After what seemed like a long time, the snow has finally all melted, the sun is out and shining and the sky is blue.

The Natives are Restless!

2011-02-19T16:21:00.002-05:00

The kids have gotten restless with the blizzard conditions!

Blizzard 2011

2011-02-19T16:18:00.002-05:00

Fire Station Field Trip~January 20

2011-02-19T16:09:00.003-05:00

The kids enjoyed a great field trip to a local fire station in Mishawaka.

Happy 11th Birthday Hope Elizabeth

2011-02-19T15:58:00.003-05:00

January has come & gone but here is a few pics from Hope's birthday on the 14th of January. She had a dear, special friend over for the night and they played the Wii, ate cake, watched a movie and all the other fun stuff you do when you are 11 years old. Time has flown by and it is so hard for me to fathom that my baby girl is now 11! She was surprised by the new bike she received from us. Hope is such a sweetie. She has such a tender-heart and quite the sense of humor! She has a wonderful intuition that is far beyond her years, good judgement, and a sparkle in her eye. Her smile melts my heart and gives me great joy. Happy Birthday Peach! We love you so much!!

Beautiful Winter

2011-01-11T20:54:00.004-05:00

This is a most beautiful scene in our backyard early Sunday morning.

New Years Eve

2011-01-11T20:50:00.004-05:00

Anyone who knows us and knows us well can attest to one thing....we love to laugh. That is what we did on New Years Eve. We got together with some old and some new friends and played games & laughed! By the end of the night you couldn't tell which were old and which were new. They're all just family.

More Christmas.....

2011-01-11T20:32:00.004-05:00

Our Christmas get togethers last thru the end of the year! I am missing a few family members bacause the photographer was not on her toes that night!

Luke 2

2011-01-11T20:30:00.000-05:00

Christmas 2010

2011-01-11T20:21:00.002-05:00

Some pictures of our Christmas family activities and highlights! We finished 2010 being so thankful for the life that God has given us by the gift of His own Son, Jesus Christ.

Family

2010-12-20T12:06:00.004-05:00

the gang minus Jacob & Joellen
sister-in-laws

the brothers with Grandma & Grandpa

It is often so difficult to get together with all of our family at the same time. Our schedules don't always allow us to do the things that we enjoy. Greg's 2 brothers and their families spent an evening with Grandpa & Grandma Neff right before Christmas.

Girlfriends

2010-12-20T11:54:00.005-05:00

I have been blessed to have some amazing women in my life. These two girlfriends of mine are two of those women. Rich in their love for Christ, brilliantly intelligent and absolutely hilarious are just to name a few of the characteristics of these gals. When we get together, which is not often enough, we have a riot. We laugh, laugh, and laugh some more. I always come away: encouraged, enriched and blessed after lunch together. Kimlee & Ginger~I am a better person for having you as my dear friends! I love you two!

Vulcan-EBF-25

2010-12-12T17:26:00.003-05:00

Alright, this is the mother of all Nerf guns! Jonny used some of his birthday money to buy this big thing. He loves it! It is semi-automatic and holds 25 rounds. It empties out pretty fast (6 seconds)! He and Hope set up this big pink dummy in the hallway. Let's just say, the poor dummy has been blasted over and over. The dog got it. Mom got it. Luckily the bullets don't hurt.

The Nutcracker Ballet~ Dec. 10, 2010

2010-12-12T17:14:00.004-05:00

We did our annual visit to the Morris Civic Theater in South Bend to attend "The Nutcracker Ballet". Our home school group attends this wonderful ballet each year in December. It was put on by the Southhold Dance Company. I didn't take any pictures of the ballet itself but believe me, it was done well. Dancers ranged in age from little bitty to very mature. Hope really liked it and Jonny said it was "ok". If you translate that, it means it was too long and not enough swords, fighting or action. But he did humor me and sat still the whole time. I think they both enjoyed it.

Snow Angel

2010-12-07T15:06:00.001-05:00

I had a snow angel left for me on the deck today!

Lego City Police Headquarters

2010-12-07T15:03:00.000-05:00

Here is the lego set that Jonny, Hope & Owen spent hours assembling on his birthday!

Our Christmas Tree~ December 2010

2010-12-07T14:57:00.001-05:00

Happy 8th Birthday Jonathan~Dec. 3, 2010

2010-12-07T14:43:00.000-05:00

It is so hard to believe that our little man is 8 years old. We celebrated his special day with "O" spending the weekend with us. Owen is his best buddy. They played nerf swords, worked for hours on a new lego set, played at the creek, watched a movie and ate cake! I am amazed at how much Jon has grown in just one year. He has not only grown in stature but also in maturity. Don't get me wrong, he's still 8, but he is maturing in his walk with Jesus. He loves the Word and desires to talk about the Lord. I love how he is tender and sweet. He thinks the best in others and in almost every situation. His cup is always half-full and not half-empty. He tries to be so positive and upbeat. He lives and plays hard, laughs so often and loves much. He brightens my day with his dimples and big brown eyes. I love you Jonny! You are truly our gift from God and we are so thankful for you! Happy 8th Birthday!!

Hope's Music Recital

2010-12-07T14:23:00.000-05:00

Miss Hope joined the many others, in a recital, that are taught music by Mr. Parsons. Hope plays the piano but Mr. Parsons also teaches guitar and violin. Jonathan takes guitar lessons from him and will join in the recital next year but had only a few lessons in, when this recital was put on. Way to go, Hope! We are so pleased with her ability to play the piano!

Gingerbread Houses~Dec. 2, 2010

2010-12-07T14:16:00.000-05:00

Hope's

Jonathan's

Every year, the kids enjoy making Gingerbread Houses with our home school group. They are actually graham cracker houses but does it really matter? The final product is beautiful and mighty tasty!

Curious Kids Museum~ St. Joseph, Michigan

2010-12-07T14:09:00.000-05:00

The kids & I spent a few hours exploring the Curious Kids Museum in St. Joseph, Michigan. What a fun little place for them to explore. It is a completely hands-on Museum with lots to touch and work on. They were able to learn more about being a vet, a news broadcaster, a radio DJ, astronaut, ambulance driver and much more. They had a great time and learned a few things in the process. It was a great little field trip to break up the monotony of the day.

Bowling

2010-12-07T14:01:00.000-05:00

Our home school group has a monthly gym day. The month of November meant a fun time at Maple City Bowling in Goshen. The kids had a ball! No pun intended!

Happy Thanksgiving

2010-11-25T14:34:00.000-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving! How blessed we are! We are blessed not only with freedom, religious freedom, a comfortable home, clean water, lots of food at our disposal, nice vehicles to take us wherever and whenever we want to get up and go, clothing, good health, amazing kids, family, great caring friends, education, jobs but also with the mere fact of an Awesome Creator that is crazy about us. He loves and longs for that relationship that deepens, grows and blooms into close daily fellowship! I marvel at how He loves us. I am in awe of how He invites us to walk with Him daily in this great big adventure called life. But am speechless when I think how much He has prepared for those who love Him, in Heaven for all eternity!

Roses

2010-11-17T07:16:00.001-05:00

These beauties showed up one day via the flower shop! The yellow one was for Jonny. The peach one was for Hope. And the red dozen were for me. These were compliments of our adoring Daddy and Husband. We love his gestures of love!

Our Random Kids

2010-11-17T07:02:00.000-05:00

One of the greatest things for me in homeschooling is the fact that our two kids are the best of friends. Yes, they do annoy each other and on occasion they do fight. But for the most part, they are always coming up with some form of entertainment together. They build forts together, play all sorts of crazy things, sumo wrestle and miss the other when they are gone overnight somewhere. Jonathan is a very protective yet tender brother. He cares very deeply for his sister. His sensitivily goes very deep, like his Daddy. When Hope's feelings are hurt, his are hurt. Hope is a very nurturing sister. She definately knows how to be a "Mother" to Jon. She looks after him and tries to lovingly correct him. She wants what is best for him. She is extremely affectionate, something she does get from her Mommy. But most importantly they both are growing in love and servanthood toward one another.

John 15:12 "This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you."

The Shed is Finished!!!

2010-11-02T18:42:00.001-04:00

Here is the finished garden shed that Greg has been working on! I think it is absolutely wonderful. All my garden tools will love having a home of their own. They were starting to really take over the garage and need their own space. Can you picture window boxes full of flowers next summer? I can picture it already! We have some landscaping plans that involve that pile of paving bricks in the background. My parents think it is such a well-made shed...we've been calling it their future condo!!

Happy 49th Birthday Gay!!

2010-11-02T11:04:00.000-04:00

My sister will be turning 49 years old on Nov. 4. We celebrated a little early this year since my parents leave for Florida a little early. She enjoyed a meal out, a Dairy Queen cake and of course gifts. Happy Birthday Gay!!

The Fantasy Fashion Farm~October 28, 2010

2010-11-02T10:55:00.000-04:00

Our home school group took a little trip to Ligioner. We visited the Fantasy Fashion Farm. This place has been in business for over 38 years! They make characters out of pumpkins and gourds. Quite cute! I remember eating at the resturant they have there with Greg's Grandpa when we were first married!! It was fun to bring my kids there. We went on a hayride, went thru a corn maze and hay maze,and had a snack. My parents joined us before heading off to the warm climate of Florida.

Matthew West Concert~ Oct. 25, 2010

2010-10-26T10:59:00.001-04:00

Jonathan, Hope & Matthew West

Jonathan's autographed guitar

Josh Wilson & Jonny Diaz

Hope & McKenzie

Austin & Jon

We had a rockin' time with our friends the Reads at the Matthew West, Josh Wilson, and Jonny Diaz concert! Our kids love Matthew West's music and it was a real thrill for them to meet him in person. Jonathan was able to get his guitar autographed by Matthew. What a blessing to be able to not only hear some fantastic musical talent from all of these guys but also get up-close and talk with them after the concert. We had some laughs and encouraged these down to earth guys to stay in the Word & walk closely with their Savior.

Rainbows and promises....

2010-10-25T13:05:00.000-04:00

Genesis 9:13 "I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth."

Revelation 4:3 "And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald."

Secret Keep Girl~ Ft. Wayne, IN

2010-10-22T08:52:00.000-04:00

On Thursday night, we joined some friends and went to Ft. Wayne for a "Secret Keeper Girl" event! For those of you who may not be familiar with SKG, it is a fantastic ministry headed by Dannah Gresh, that focuses on True Beauty and Modesty from a biblical perspective. We had a wonderful time being reminded that we are a "masterpiece created by God". Unfortunately, our culture does not embrace this and the clothing industry does little to help us in the area of modesty but SKG uses the bible as its guide and has wonderful resources available. Thru music, games and a fashion show, we spent time in God's Word. What a blessing it was to us! Hope & I cried tears of joy as we saw many sweet little gals come to know for the first time, Jesus as their Savior and King!

Roses

2010-10-20T13:12:00.000-04:00

I planted this bush on the side of our house this summer and it has constantly been blooming!

"And the LORD will continually guide you, and satisfy your desire in scorched places, and give strength to your bones; and your will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail." Isaiah 58:11

Crossroads

2010-10-20T13:03:00.000-04:00

Our church had a Harvest Party. It was a party!!! Not only were there games for the kids, tons of food, hayride, but also "Crossroads has Talent"!! I didn't take many pictures of all the talent but snapped one of our Pastor and his trumpet! We had 16 different acts ranging from singing, gymnastics, different instruments, Tae Kwon Do, comedy, dancing and lip-syncing. It was so much fun to meet so many people with a vast array of talent! Positively....one of the best Harvest Parties I have ever been to!!!!

The Princess and her Slaves

2010-10-20T13:01:00.000-04:00

Jonny & Owen got more than they bargained for when they decided to be the ones pulling Hope's Chariot!!

Buddies

2010-10-20T12:59:00.000-04:00

My garden

2010-10-20T12:52:00.001-04:00

Ok, I neglected to put this post on when Greg was starting the shed. Maybe, I didn't want to gross any of you city people out! Yes, I hauled two truck loads of cow manure on my garden while my dear husband was hammering away. Hope graciously helped shovel one whole truck-load and then a friend came over to play. While I was outside basking in the aroma of cow poop, Hope and Hannah were inside cleaning my house!!! These two sweethearts not only cleaned but also made a delicious pumpkin dessert!! I wanted to kiss and hug them both but they said I stunk!!

Updating.....

2010-10-20T12:45:00.000-04:00

Here are a few more pics of the shed progression! It is roofed and ready for siding!

Saturday, October 9, 2010

2010-10-11T12:56:00.000-04:00

Our Saturday was a busy one. Greg started to build a shed in the back yard. Since we are finishing the garage we needed someplace to put all of our yard tools and the lawnmower. Greg started out with the limestone, then the skids, then the floor, then the walls, then the roof and lean-to. It is really coming along fast.

Science Project...Mercury

2010-10-11T12:53:00.000-04:00

The kids are studying Astromony for science this year. They made this great model of the planet Mercury from flour, salt, and water. They put the craters in with rocks and both ends of a pencil. Good job kiddos!!

More Projects.....

2010-10-11T12:50:00.000-04:00

These are pictures of the attic stairs that Greg put in the garage while we were insulating.

Weekend Project

2010-10-07T19:36:00.000-04:00

Greg & I spent the day Saturday, insulating the garage. Now, how romantic is that! We do have fun working side by side. That is one check mark beside the many projects we have on our house list! Another one down!!

Fall Party~October 1

2010-10-07T19:27:00.000-04:00

giving instructions

thinking about using one finger

going for it with her teeth!

Fall brings with it lots of Fall Parties!!! I love getting together with family & friends and just hanging out, doing life together, laughing and having a good time. Some dear, precious friends of ours had a Fall Party for their boys. Here are a few pics of the "bobin' for apples". It was fun just sitting by the campfire and talking!

September 21~Museum of Science & Industry

2010-09-28T12:09:00.001-04:00

We ventured up to Chicago for a field trip to the Museum of Science and Industry with my parents. I had not been to the Museum in many years and lots of changes. The kids enjoyed the exhibits on: weather, the planets, the human body, traveling into a coal mine,a U-505 Submarine, and the farm. We saw a great Omnimax theater presentation on the Hubble Telescope. They were a little bored with the exhibit on genetics and cloning. But overall, they had a great time. It was amazing how fast our day flew by!

Christmas in September

2010-09-28T11:17:00.000-04:00

We celebrated Christmas with Greg's Mom & Stepdad on the 18th of September. They were in town from Arizona. We did our celebration at the Potawatomi Zoo. We ate, laughed, played football, laughed, opened gifts, had cake, laughed, went in to the zoo, laughed, got soaked in the rain, laughed.... You see the theme here. Everyone enjoyed being together for an early Christmas...in the rain. I guess that is better than the snow!

Dinner with Grandpa & Grandma

2010-09-28T11:11:00.000-04:00

Here are the kids with Grandpa & Grandma at Applebee's for dinner!

September School Projects

2010-09-28T11:00:00.000-04:00

Yes folks, school is in full swing! Hope has entered the 5th grade. Jonathan has entered the 2nd grade. We decided to keep on homeschooling. We love being together and I love seeing the lightbulb click on and light up over my kiddos' heads!

They are doing Astronomy for Science this year. They made a great model of the planets (yes, we did include the Dwarf Planet, Pluto). It is hanging in our hallway as a reminder that our Gracious Creator God holds everything all together!

August Salsa

2010-09-28T10:57:00.000-04:00

Ok, so what do you get with a garden full of tomatoes, jalepenos, green peppers, and cilantro? Well, you add a little onion salt, lime juice and voila......salsa!

Sweet corn

2010-08-12T09:47:00.000-04:00

We have 51 (and counting) ears of sweet corn from our garden! Didn't think it would even grow in our soil but I was mistaken! It looks yummy!

Introducing.....Frankie!

2010-08-12T09:32:00.001-04:00

Well, here she is!! Frankie, the pet turtle who has been living with us for about 3 weeks now. She is a Map Turtle brought from a lake in Michigan. Jonny has wanted a turtle for what seems like an eternity. We thought it was a faze and he would shrug it off, but no. It persisted for over a year maybe even two. We didn't think he would take care of a pet of his own so we waited it out. Finally, we caved! Jonny now has his very own pet turtle. He takes wonderful care of her. Yes, we are sure it is a her even though she has an androgynous name. She has a slight handicap. Her one eye is damaged along with a foot and claw but she is a cutie! Cutie as turtles go. She has a nice aquarium with all the turtle stuff she needs, in Jonny's room. She just moved in this week. She was previously living in a rubber tote on the deck. But thanks to the generosity of a friend, she has a nice glass aquarium with a filter and light and rocks and yada, yada, yada. She likes to be hand fed by only Jonny. And he loves her deeply. I'm sure better pictures will follow.

Singin' for Primetime~ Aug. 10, 2010

2010-08-12T09:06:00.000-04:00

Our kids were part of a small group that sang for our church's Primetime (55 & older ) luncheon ministry. They blessed us with a gospel medley of "Blessed Assurance, When the Roll is Called Up Yonder, Savior Like a Shepherd Lead Us, Leaning on the Everlasting Arms, & Amazing Grace". They also recited Psalm 23 for these folks. What a delight to see your kids ministering to others!

My Garden

2010-08-12T08:52:00.000-04:00

This is my little green sanctuary! I spend lots of time in my private paradise. I love the smell of tomatoes, marigolds, green beans, corn, peppers and herbs. It has been a great place to pray, sing, and meditate. The birds don't mind my off-key voice! We are reaping a bountiful harvest that will be preserved thru canning and freezing, another one of the things I enjoy about living in the country!

"I shall remember the deeds of the LORD; surely I remember Your wonders of old. I will meditate on all Your work and muse on Your deeds." Psalm 77:11

Laundry Room Remodeled~Aug. 2010

2010-08-12T08:24:00.000-04:00

My sweet husband has been working hard on putting in a main level laundry room for me. We used an existing 1/2 bath that is right off of the garage as you walk in the house. He set out part of a wall into the garage to accommodate my front load washer and dryer. He moved the toilet back into the corner, with a nice little half wall for privacy, laid tile, hung beautiful custom cabinets and put in a vanity for the sink. We are just waiting on the counter tops that will be over the washer & dryer and also over the vanity for the sink. It has such a warm, cozy Tuscan feel! He is my "Greg" of all trades. Thanks Sweetie, it is wonderful!!

Hope & Lane

2010-08-12T08:03:00.000-04:00

This is a sweet picture of Hope with her little buddy, Lane. Say cheese!!

Swimming...swimming....swimming

2010-08-12T07:56:00.000-04:00

Like I have mentioned in the past, our kids love the water. We have done lots of swimming this summer. Hope took her underwater camera to the pool and captured some great "shots".

Bluberry pickin'

2010-08-09T16:15:00.000-04:00

We picked 12 lbs of blueberries in about an hour with my Mom & Dad. That is the allotted time for my kids. They work hard for one hour, then, that is all she wrote! They are done! They quit, they whine, they complain, they have to go potty. Yada, Yada! You name it, after that one hour mark, they throw in the towel and are FINISHED!!!! I was very thankful for those 57 minutes of hard labor!! Little do they know, we will go again!

The Fair

2010-08-09T15:30:00.000-04:00

This year was a fun year at the Elkhart County 4-H Fair! I don't know if that was because we had free passes, great weather, or just great memories with friends. We were able to spend a day, riding rides with friends. On another visit, we watched an elephant show and Hope & Jonny rode on the back of the star. Looked at the animals ate lots of junk food on all the other visits. The kids both received blue ribbons for their projects in 4H. Way to go kiddos!! Of course, the fair would not be complete without the tractor pull. The Cripe fam bans together, gets decked out in John Deere green, hoops and hollers for our men on their JD's. The men had a great year pulling.

The kids did the pedal tractor pull. Hope pulled 550 lbs around twenty something feet. Jonathan pulled 450 lbs about the same length. They both did great in their separate age brackets. Of course, I video taped it, but no still pics. Use your imaginations, it was brilliant!

4H Projects

2010-07-21T12:48:00.001-04:00

This is our first year dabbling in 4H. Jonathan is in "Exploring 4H" and he did a model of an airplane. Brilliantly done in a matter of minutes. Hope opted for a latch hook project. Of course, it had to be of a horse. This took many painstaking hours. She accomplished her task and did a wonderful job if I do say so myself. This has been the year she has discovered horses as a passion and love. With the fair beginning at the end of the week, we will be spending lots of time out there with more pictures to follow!

Mr. & Mrs. James Irish

2010-07-18T18:25:00.000-04:00

Our niece Kayla, married her sweetie, James on July 3! Congratulations!!

Finally....the beach!!

2010-07-18T18:16:00.000-04:00

We are BIG beach lovers. I think some of that comes from my winters in Florida, growing up. But we just love the water, the sun and sand. We finally found a day that we took off and went up to St. Joe, MI to our favorite spot, Silver Beach. It was gorgeous! Lots of sun and water fun, not to mention a big hole. Greg & the kids always dig a big hole, just for giggles. Can't wait to spend another day there!

Playing in the Rain

2010-07-18T18:10:00.001-04:00

Planting Flowers

2010-07-18T18:03:00.001-04:00

I have two little helpers that love to be outside. Since our move, we have planted flowers, worked on landscaping and planted a pretty big garden. In this picture, Jonny & I were busy putting flowers into pots for the front porch and the back deck.

My industrious son

2010-07-18T17:56:00.001-04:00

Living in our new home has given Jonathan lots of room to play outside. He comes up with the most remarkable scenarios. He was busy playing on our hill when I captured this little work of art or should I say this industrious invention. It included a welding helmet, a wagon, a snow sled and a stick. The story goes something like he was pretending to be a speed racer. He had a script down and everything. He was a little embarrassed to see me with the camera. Probably more embarrassed to see this post but I think he will get over it.

June 2010

2010-07-18T17:32:00.001-04:00

June was filled with lots of fun stuff. The kids and I picked strawberries with a friend and her boys. It is kind of our annual thing to do. I worked out well because the next day my sister & I were throwing a 50th Wedding Anniversary party for my parents. Guess what we needed....strawberries! We picked quite a bunch! We had an Open House to celebrate their 50 years of marriage. Lots of family and friends stopped in to honor them. My parents renewed their vows the night before the Open House. They had their Matron of Honor & Best man stand up with them again. My nieces sang together at the ceremony. Hope sang a solo and a friend of Mom & Dad's flew in from Florida to surprise them and to sing also. Jonny had the job of handing out programs to everyone that came. That evening we had nearly 70 people for dinner at an Amish home. Wonderful food! If that wasn't enough, we had the Open House the next day with more food!!!

In the midst of all that, we were buying my parents house and moving them. I think we nearly

died from exhaustion! But it was a great time. I am truly blessed with wonderful parents who have taken their wedding vows very seriously and they have set a great example of faithfulness and commitment in marriage. May the Lord bless them with many more wonderful years together!!

Projects with Dad

2010-05-22T19:46:00.000-04:00

My Mom & Dad picked up these little "Catapult" projects from Lowes with the kids. They brought them home and thought it would be fun to put together with Daddy. The master carpenter in this house had no problems showing the kids how to assemble and hammer these little jobbies! They love making stuff with Dad. They will have another project to do next weekend which they are anxious for!

May 20th~Our 16th Anniversary!

2010-05-22T19:30:00.001-04:00

Where has the time gone! It is hard to believe Greg & I celebrated our 16th Anniversay! I love these flowers Greg gave me.The colors are so bright and cheery! We were treated to a night at the Hyatt (thanks to points on our credit card), dinner at our favorite Chinese resturant, a movie (which we never do!!), and a fantastic trip to "Indulgence" where I had this delicious Chocolate mousse. Greg said his Lemon Meringue was fantastic! Quite the treat for us! We are praising the Lord for His graciousness to us and the way He has blessed our marriage! I am so thankful for a husband who desperately loves the Lord Jesus and loves me. I love growing older with this man! He's my very best friend, biggest encourager, and love of my life. And he keeps me laughing! I love you, Greg, forever and always!

40/40 Power~The kids' musical at church

2010-05-20T14:35:00.000-04:00

The kids' sang in our church's spring kids musical called "40/40 Power". Hope sang a solo in one of the songs and played the character of "Beta Believe" in the drama. Jonny sang with his choir a couple of cute songs. Sorry for the blurriness. My camera didn't want to cooperate.

~The Hole in Our Gospel~

2010-05-15T16:45:00.000-04:00

I just finished what I would say was the most life altering book of my life other than my Bible. I would super-highly recommend this book to anyone who wants their world turned upside down! Seriously, don't read it if you want to live just the way you have been. Greg's cousin recommended this book to me and warned me of its effect. Boy, he was right! It will make you examine the way we, as so called Christians, live and what God truly expects of us. Read it only if you want it to change your thinking and your life as you know it.

"Let my heart be broken by the things that break the heart of God."- prayer by Bob Pierce, founder of World Vision and now my prayer.

Baseball in full swing!!

2010-05-15T16:37:00.000-04:00

Yes, that number 12, is Jonathan! Baseball season has begun! Jonathan's team is Richmond's Feed Service. They won their first game last night! We are so proud of our little guy. He is really developing into a good ball player! He is playing 2nd base and had some great hits!!

Nephew

2010-05-15T16:29:00.000-04:00

Our nephew Jacob came home from a year at Appalachian Bible College. He was home for just a few short days before heading out West on a wheat harvest for several months. While he was home we were able to celebrate as a family, his 19th birthday. Happy Birthday Jake!!

"Actions Speak Louder Than Words"~May 7, 2010

2010-05-15T16:04:00.000-04:00

Hope played the role of "Nellie" in a production entitled "Actions Speak Louder Than Words". This was a play that was put on by her homeschooling History Co-op group, lead by my dear friend Kathy. The girls did a fantastic job in memorizing their lines, acting their parts, and having a great time doing it. It was alot of hard work for all involved and it was spectacular! The story was based on the "Samantha" books by American Girl. The girls performed at our church following a carry-in dinner for their families.

Morel Mushrooms!!

2010-04-27T15:43:00.001-04:00

Greg loves to go mushroom hunting! This is a sample of what he & Hope found on an outing!

Fair Oaks Dairy Farm

2010-04-27T15:23:00.001-04:00

Our homeschooling group took a field trip down to Fair Oaks Dairy Farm. It was a two hour drive to get to this LARGE (30,000 cows) farm. We were able to see them milk, feed, and give birth. We were fortunate to see 3 calves being born while we were there. It was amazing to see how much goes into the running of this big business. They have a 3-D theater that goes thru the milking process and the making of the products that they produce. Very informative and fun! We hope to return again some time soon.

Tree sling

2010-04-27T15:19:00.001-04:00

Our front tree is the forever haven of my very industrious kids. They decided it would be fun to put a sling for them to lay in, right there, on the branch. Who could say no!

Easter 2010~March 4, 2010

2010-04-27T14:40:00.000-04:00

I love when my family gets all dressed up! This one is Easter morning, kids with their new Bibles, ready to hear our dear friend, Pastor Yoder, give a great message at his church. A family picture taken with the handy-dandy timer. The next few are of the kids Easter Egg hunting at Grandma's house. The kids received these great punching balloons that could be worn as hats as one of their treats from Grandma.

Yikes! Blogging has taken a backseat!

2010-03-15T11:08:00.000-04:00

I am sitting in very sunny southwest Florida, enjoying the peace and quiet of a moment. (a rarity) I have not blogged since Hope's birthday! I have a lot of pictures to share of all the happenings of February and March but they are in Indiana so I am out of luck today.

Like I said, we are in Florida enjoying the sunshine and the warmth. Since we have been here we have had a car accident (PTL~Greg & Jonny were fine but our car was not!), seen lots of alligators, walked the beach, swam in the pool, visited with old friends, hunted for jobs, and have had our fair share of shrimp. We needed some time to take a deep breath and get a new, fresh outlook on life. We are opening the next chapter of our lives in hopes that it will bring another opportunity for us to better serve our Lord and Savior. Could it be in southwest Florida? Could it be in Northern Indiana? Could it be in a foreign country? Your guess is just as good as ours. We are praying. We are seeking. We are knocking. Thank you Lord for your faithfulness and love. Both of which, are ever visible.

"Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been proved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him." James 1:12

1/14/2010~~Happy 10th Birthday Hope!!

2010-01-16T14:33:00.001-05:00

I can hardly believe it! Hope Elizabeth turned 10 years old! She is such a blessing to our family. She celebrated her special day with a day off of school, lunch out, and a "Walton's" marathon of season 2, at home with her family. We had a special candlelight dinner and a white cake with chocolate frosting!! There are so many things that I treasure about Hope. Every year I am reminded of how God gave us "Hope" after we lost "Faith". She is truly a reflection of His love and mercy to us. I treasure the way she can make a room light up with her beautiful smile, her gentle honesty, her thoughtfulness of others' feelings, her tender heart~ especially towards animals and the way she encourages me in my walk with the Lord. For being only 10 years old, she has a profound way of being very insightful. In my book, she is way beyond her years with her passion for the lost, the poor, and the orphaned. I am so proud of her. She is my little ray of sunshine on a gloomy day, my little, big bucket of water in a desert, my sweet little peach.

Hope~we love you so much! You are truly a gift from God! We are so blessed to call you "Hopie". You enrich our lives, touch our hearts, and keep us smiling! I pray that you will continue to walk with the Lord Jesus all the days of your life. Your "hope" is found only in Him. We treasure you and count it a pure privilege to be your family! Happy Birthday Peach!! We love you!

Buddies~even under the weather! 1/10/10

2010-01-16T14:25:00.000-05:00

Hope was battling a fever and some general aching when her faithful companion decided to keep her close company. A faithful dog makes everything feel better!

Sledding Fun!!

2010-01-07T21:51:00.000-05:00

This is a real hum-dinger of a picture of Greg & Joe being pushed down the sledding hill by Jenny. What a fun time it was though!

Here is a little video clip of us sledding down a hill at Bittersweet Elementary School. Come along for the ride with us!

New Year's Eve~~

2010-01-07T21:22:00.000-05:00

On New Year's Eve. we went to our dear friends house for a night of food, games and fun. Dressed in our party hats and noise makers, we rang in 2010 watching Dick Clark and the ball in NY drop. The adults played a game of charades and we are all pretty competitive. Each team tried to doop the other with strange and outrageous words or phrases. It was a wonderful way to spend ringing in 2010 with our friends! May 2010 bring you into a deeper relationship with Jesus and may you be blessed!

Snowman with Dad

2010-01-07T21:15:00.001-05:00

December 31st meant snowfall and winter weather which lead to building a snowman. As I looked out the window, I discovered Greg & the kids making dear old "Frosty". They were finishing up the head when I grabbed a carrot out of the frig. and an old scarf and hat from the tote of winter clothes. They found rocks for the eyes, mouth and buttons. He is quite handsome for a snowman. His little arms are made from cut off branches from the front tree. As I write this, he is one week old already. He has lost his hat & scarf but still stands guard in the front yard.

No teeth!!

2010-01-07T21:09:00.001-05:00

Jonny lost both of his front teeth in the same day. The first one was a dangler. He had messed with it off and on for sometime. It finally was just a dreadful mess to look at. So he yanked it out. He then noticed that the other one was pretty loose. What I mean by pretty loose, is that it had quite a ways to go. We are talking weeks to go yet. But knowing teeth equals cash, meant he was determined to get this one out too. He worked on it hard, all day long. By evening, he had tortured it relentlessly and it too gave up it's residency.

More Christmas.....

2010-01-07T15:54:00.000-05:00

We have lots of family get togethers over the holidays. We spent a little bit of time with my Mom & Dad before they headed back to Florida for the winter. We celebrated Christmas, after Christmas with some of our other family members. We are so thankful that our times together are filled with joy and laughter. Lots of laughter in some instances. Blessings to you and your family over the holidays!

Christmas 2009

2010-01-07T14:03:00.001-05:00

We were truly blessed this year at Christmas! We love watching our kids appreciate the great generousity of others. We celebrate something far greater than the next new thing, but the birth of our very own Savior Jesus Christ!

Christmas Eve 2009

2010-01-07T13:44:00.000-05:00

We spent Christmas Eve with our dear friends. We celebrated Dominic's birthday and played cards. We had a ball! We love having, not only dear special friends but special parents of those friends. We went to Jenny's mom & dad's house to celebrate and play cards. They are a precious couple who lovingly embrace all of us.

Birthdays! December 21, 2009

2010-01-07T13:39:00.000-05:00

My mom and I have the same birthday. Unfortunately, she had to give birth to me on her special day many years ago! We had a nice quiet dinner at home fixed by my husband! Happy Birthday Mom! I love you!

Cleveland Clinic Dec. 15

2010-01-07T13:13:00.000-05:00

Greg has been having health problems for a long time now. We headed up to the Cleveland Clinic, in hopes of getting down to the bottom of a very long, lingering health issue. This is a lovely picture of Greg hooked up to a device that recorded all the information from the little tiny (capsule endoscopy) camera that he swallowed. He had to wear this gear for 7 hours. At that point the capsule should exit (what goes in has to come out). The camera showed that everything came back absolutely normal. Which was a good thing, but it didn't give us any answers to what his health problem is. We have ruled out all the major things, which indeed is such a blessing, but still needing to find out what the problem is and how to either correct it or know how to adjust to it. Unfortunately, we had a Dr. at the Cleveland Clinic who was not very thorough and didn't seem to give a rip. So we will take our business elsewhere, in hopes of finding out what the problem is.

Christmas Program Dec. 11-13

2010-01-07T12:38:00.000-05:00

The kids sang in our Church's Christmas Program that we do as an outreach to the community. The kids are each in their respective choirs. They sang beautifully! Of course, I am not partial!! It was a wonderful drama presentation with lots of great music. Praise the Lord for His perfect gift of salvation!

Time to Reflect

2009-12-08T15:06:00.000-05:00

In my opinion, Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year besides Easter. As the Christmas season approaches, I've been thinking. What a profound thing that is, for me to be thinking!! This year has in many senses, been an amazingly difficult for our little family of four. We have wrestled with health issues, lack of work thus lack of money, stress, heartache and the loud silence of God in the direction of our future. I look back and see the absolute faithfulness of the Lord. He has always met all of our needs (needs not wants), binded up our broken spirits, and although He is still quite silent on the direction of our future, He is not silent on the past or the present. He was and is the Savior of our souls from the penalty of sin. He was and is the Rock and Refuge in whom we trust. He was and is our Strength and our Shield. He was and is our Portion. He was and is our Comforter. He was and is our Healer. He was and is our Deliverer. He was and is. So as this Christmas approaches, I am mindful...very mindful that He is all that He says He was and is and is to come.

Jonny's Buddy Owen

2009-12-08T15:00:00.000-05:00

Jonathan wanted to have a friend spend the night for his birthday. He chose his buddy, Owen. These two crack me up! They can spend hours playing legos, star wars, or just chatting. I am always amazed at how much they look alike and sound alike. Jonny says Owen is his "brother from another mother". Too cute!

Gingerbread Houses

2009-12-08T14:42:00.000-05:00

What do you get when you mix a bunch of homeschool kids, graham crackers, frosting, candy and sprinkles? You get cute little gingerbread houses! They worked so hard on these. They had a wonderful explanation by Mrs. Deardorff on what each thing represented. I can't remember them all, so ask me later. This is something that our homeschool group does every year before Christmas. It is alot of fun. Unfortunately, Jonathan's house only lasted 2 days. Everytime he walked by it, he took something off of it to eat. Needless to say, it was bare in no time.

Happy Birthday Jonny~December 3!

2009-12-08T14:28:00.000-05:00

I can hardly believe that my little man is 7 years old!! Where has the time gone! Jon celebrated his birthday by having the day off of school. Yes, that is an advantage of homeschooling. Both of my kids know that when it is their birthday, they get the day off to have a little fun. He was so thrilled with the Colts uniform that he received. You would have thought that we gave him the world. My Mom & Dad bought him the Light saber. He was also tickled pink, with that. He is easy to please, very considerate of others, willing to help. I love the way at seven years old, he loves his Savior! His heart is soft to the things of Christ. It is my prayer, that as he grows and matures, that his heart will stay fixed upon Him and he will be steadfast. Happy Birthday Jonathan! God has great things for you and to do thru you! We are so blessed to have you. I love you so much!

Thanksgiving~2009

2009-12-08T14:18:00.000-05:00

We spent Thanksgiving at our dear friends, the Logan's. They live in St. Joseph, MI. We had a great time visiting, playing pool, eating a fabulous meal, and just being together. This couple is so special to our hearts. They are such a godly encouragement, full of wisdom and grace. We kindled our friendship starting in the Dominican Republic of last year. We have grown to love them and cherish them as our brother & sister in Christ and friends. Unfortunately, our day was cut a little short as Greg was not feeling well at all. We are so thankful for the time that we did have.