FMG 2012

 
Back in March we went to go see the Butterflies at Frederik Meijer Gardens.  The Paparazzi Peters arrived, armed and ready to shoot anything they deemed worthy.

We love going every year.  The butterflies are so beautiful...

...and of course so is my Baby Girl.

Blessings!!

Don't Mess With These Kids

May 19, 2012 we spent the day in karate testing.  Tyler and Jillian were taking their last test in the Mini's.  They had gotten up to brown belt (highest belt for that class), it was time that they moved up to the Kids class.

It's been so amazing to see the change that has taken place in the two years since they started karate.  They had "come into their own."  Their teacher had talked to me about how they had turned into leaders for the younger kids.  They helped her a lot in class and she was going to miss them.  The feeling was mutual.

Jilli had become quite attached to KyoSaNim Sam.  Even since Jilli moved up, they try to spend a few minutes together each week.  KyoSaNim Sam will often stick her head into Tyler and Jilli's class to watch them and see how they are doing.  KyoSaNim's locker is FULL of all Jilli pictures that she has made for her.

I love the fact that these instructors are just as fired up about Jesus as they are about teaching kids karate.  It is such a special place...

Jilli breaking her board.

 Tyler breaking his board.  Sorry the picture is blurry and I didn't get the exact moment his foot connected with the board.  He did it so fast my camera couldn't keep up!

 Jilli receiving her new belt from KyoSaNim Sam.

 Tyler receiving his new belt from KyoSaNim Sam.

 The three kids that graduated into the Kids Class.

 This was by far Micah's best testing.  He was determined to pass to his green belt.  Why?  Because the green belt is the 'green light' to start sparing.  Basically he gets to put on all kinds of gear (along with the other kids) and they get to beat on each other (with rules of course).  What is cooler than that!
During this test Micah started feeling really sick.  He turned very pale, and started breathing kind of heavy.  But he muscled through it, he didn't quit, even when the instructors stopped the test to make sure he was alright, he said he was going to continue on.  We were (are) so proud of his perseverance through the test.

Here is Micah determined to break his board.  Look at his face!

He connected!!

 Micah getting his prized Green belt from his instructor, KyoSaNim Tia.

 He was SO HAPPY, he passed his test!

It was a day of moving forward.  It was a good day, a day to celebrate the accomplishments of our 3 blessings.

Grandma's Funeral

It's been a few weeks since Grandma's funeral, so I thought I would share some of the moments that I captured.

Jilli made Grandma a picture to put in her casket like she made for Grandpa.  This picture has Grandma's favorite things on it... Rainbow, bird, horse, cross (Jesus), and flowers.  It says "Love Jilli Joy".

 Tyler's biggest concern leading up to Grandma's passing was that it wasn't going to be as cold and rainy as it was for Grandpa's funeral.  No worries Tyler, this time around it was hot, hOT, HOT!

Jilli, showing PopPop her picture.

 My nephews are the cutest little dutch/russian buddies EVER.  And I can't resist taking pictures of their sweet little faces, so when Aiden rolled up in his stroller and gave this pouty little face, I had no choice but to snap away.

 PopPop giving kisses...

 Sometimes, you just need to be cuddled by your Daddy.

Baby girl was having a hard time...PopPop was comforting her...

 The oldest grandchild taking care of the youngest.  So sweet.  Micah has such a caring heart for his little cousins.

It is amazing what memories are told when someone passes away.  My Grandma's very special friend came and shared somethings with our family that we never knew before.  It was such a blessing because it opens your eyes a little more to who Grandma was, especially in her younger years.  It showed her human side that struggled, but yet, it reaffirmed her unwavering Faith in Jesus.  What a blessing.....

Our Never Ending Hike

While in Ludington we took a few new hiking trails that we haven't attempted before.  It was a good thing, because had our kids been any younger I don't think we would have made it.

The loooooong hike started "early" Sunday morning (like 10am...).  We had to pack up to go home and we knew that there was rain/storms coming, so we ventured out not realizing the hike was like 4 miles and it was up and down dunes (sand, I have a love (mostly) hate relationship with sand especially in my tennis shoes).  It was a great workout, but not at all what we were expecting when we started our little journey.

Kevin pointing out the fact that we were on a dune that stood taller than the lighthouse that we could see in the distance.

How fun is this group shot!  The kids loved climbing up to find their spots.

Tyler loves to climb any and every tree.

Our trail...

We didn't make it back before the rain.  We heard the rolling thunder and then felt the cold raindrops on our heads.  We hurried as fast as we could back to the trailers to get things put away before the skies really opened up on us.  Thankfully we able to pack up, before it really started to pour.  And since we didn't have time to make lunch before we had to leave we got to stop at Big Boy!  Toni and I planned it that way :)

Blessings!!

The Wave

I found something the other day that I knew I had, but I wasn't exactly sure where it was.  But when I embarked on a picture organizing project, I discovered these precious little pictures.

And since it was Baby Girls birthday, I thought it would be a perfect time to show them.


Our first peek at the little miracle that is Jilli.  She was 14 weeks old here.  I had an ultrasound because I had gotten very sick, my body went into diabetic ketoacidosis.  My doctor later told me that he was 99% sure that I would lose the baby.  I didn't know that at the time, but this ultrasound is the result of my doctor making sure that the baby came through the crisis with it's heart still beating.

As you probably know, we were told many things about Jilli from stillbirth to retardation to clubbed feet and no hands.  On June 2, 2005 while laying on a table in the neonatologists office having another ultrasound, the tech snapped this picture.   We cried when the tech said "look, the baby is waving to you!"  She of course knew the diagnosis that we had been given.  It was the first of many signs that our baby would be born perfect.  The tech graciously printed it for us along with several other pictures.

Jilli's birthday always brings these precious memories up.  It's a yearly reminder of God's power that is at work in our lives.

I finally told Jilli some of her story 2 weeks ago.  I showed her the picture of her waving to us.  I told her that God worked a miracle in her and that God has great plans for her.  It makes her smile when I call her our miracle baby.  Someday she will have an amazing story to tell...

She Turned 7...

She turned 7 yesterday.  I feel as if I am a broken record... but really how is she already 7?

I blinked...

She was a sweet little baby in my arms just yesterday and today she is well on her way to a beautiful young lady.

That is all I'm going to write tonight, otherwise we will have water works happening and I can't handle that tonight.  Just loading up these pictures and looking at her has me sniffing.  

Our beautiful sweet Jilli Joy, Happy Birthday, We love you so much!!!!

Big Sable Lighthouse

Big Sable Lighthouse is one of the few towers that is over 100ft.  It stands 112ft high.  The view from the top is gorgeous, but we didn't climb it on this day.

There is a huge stump at the lighthouse and we had the kids all climb on it to take their picture.

 Then Kevin decided he wanted his picture taken...

 Then Paul wanted in the picture and this is what you get...

No wonder the kids act silly sometimes.... with Dad's like this to look up too...  The kids thought it was great fun to have their Dad's jumping in the pictures.  And honestly, the Mom's thought is was pretty funny too.  What great memories captured in a few quick seconds.

Blessings!!

Ludington May 2012

Back in May we took a short trip up to one of our favorite campgrounds.  Ludington.  We love to camp there early spring and late fall.

Our camping buddies joined us for this weekend.  It was fabulous... Here are some pictures taken from our time there.

The girls playing around...

 Sam, likes to make me work for a picture.  But I captured this one...

 Kevin and Tyler stopping for a quick picture together on one of our hikes in the woods.

 Sam and his Dad being silly...

 We left to take a bike ride out to the lighthouse and on our way deer were crossing over the path we were on.  They didn't have a care in the world.  Crazy, but fun for the kids to see them so up close.

I will be sharing more pictures from this trip tomorrow.

Blessings!!

Unbelievable

This past week was devastatingly sad.  But as I keep telling myself... God will use even this for good.

The lies that come out of Obama's mouth are numbered more than the sands of the sea.  He was argumentative when cornered on Obamacare being a Tax.  He said it wasn't.   But when argued in front of the Supreme Court, it was stated as a tax and as such the government was in full right to impose such a tax on it's people.  The Supreme Court agreed.

Within 2 months after Obamacare was signed into law (in 2010) our healthcare went up over $100 a month.  The letter that came with our increase stated that due to increased cost because of Obamacare our insurance had no choice but to charge us more.  Funny, Obama said it would decrease our insurance rates...  It's pretty sad when you spend almost as much per month for healthcare than what you do on your mortgage.

I have said it before and I will say it again.  Things are coming down the pipeline that will leave people wondering where The Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave went.  The Civil War was a horrible but necessary event to maintain the freedoms of ALL the people of the United States.  Another one might well be on the horizon.

Most people live with their heads stuck in the sand when it comes to politics and where we are heading.    Or when they listen and accept the lies that spewed out of the mouths of individuals that want nothing more than to destroy our great nation.  Ignorance will only cause you and your family harm.  Get informed.

It's funny reading the comments below the articles about the ruling.  So many idiots keep ranting on how we deserve to have healthcare for free.  How we are owed that "right".  How this is the best thing that has happened to the United States.  What this "free" healthcare will mean for them.  How stupid do you have to be?  Who ultimately pays for this "free" healthcare?  Not just the rich, because we definitely  don't make over $250,000 a year, but our premiums still went up (even though Obama said they wouldn't).  But regardless should the rich pay for the poor?  Let me ask you this... Does the smart student give up his grade for a stupid one so that their combined average is passing?  No.

So what good could this ruling bring to our nation that is teetering on the brink of destruction?  I am praying it wakes up those that want to see less Government involvement in our lives.  I am praying that conservatives will band together and vote the liberal progressives out of all the offices of the government.  I understand that what has slowly taken 100 years to destroy will take a long time to get back.  It's not an overnight win.  It will be a lifelong struggle.  But if I can do my part today, then with the Lord's blessing, my great-great grandchildren will be living in a Nation Under God, with the Freedoms I fought hard to bring back.

God CAN and WILL use this for good.  I just pray that I will get to see it in my lifetime...