Monica and her best friend Leah

Across the hall from us are our good friend Kristin and Roelof. They have a little girl that is about 6 months younger than Monica. Kristin and I joke that they have a "love hate relationship". Whenever one sees the other they get super excited and want to play together, but after awhile of being together they fight like sisters. I captured this picture of Monica and Leah fighting during their daddies' hockey game. I LOVE THIS PICTURE.

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse

Monica LOVES Mickey Mouse. She got a HUGE minnie mouse from Aunt Richell for Christmas and she sleep with Minnie every night. Here Monica is about to watch her favorite thing in the whole world, "Mickey Mouse Club House." And of course her "best friend" Minnie wanted to watch as well.




PS. As adorable as this picture is the end of the story is not as cute. I was sitting in the living room feeding Olivia, and I hear Monica call very calmly saying "mommy mommy." I told her to wait just a minute I was feeding Olivia. So after I fed the baby I went in and Monica looks away from her show for a minute and was all calm as if it was no big deal said "mommy I peed in the chair." And then she turned and continued watching the show! I guess she did not want to miss even one second of her favorite movie and the chair seemed like a "good enough" potty. Needless to say I was not pleased so I turned off her movie and took her to the bathroom to get her cleaned up. Her not being able to finish her movie was punishment enough for her.

Ash Wednesday

Today is Ash Wednesday and when I ponder what Christ has done for me, I cannot say it better than Charles Wesley has in his hymn "Depth of Mercy".

Depth of mercy! Can there be
Mercy still reserved for me?
Can my God His wrath forbear,
Me, the chief of sinners, spare?

I have long withstood His grace,
Long provoked Him to His face,
Would not hearken to His calls,
Grieved Him by a thousand falls.

I have spilt His precious blood,
Trampled on the Son of God,
Filled with pangs unspeakable,
I, who yet am not in hell!

I my Master have denied,
I afresh have crucified,
And profaned His hallowed Name,
Put Him to an open shame.

Whence to me this waste of love?
Ask my Advocate above!
See the cause in Jesus' face,
Now before the throne of grace.

Jesus, answer from above,
Is not all Thy nature love?
Wilt Thou not the wrong forget,
Permit me to kiss Thy feet?

If I rightly read Thy heart,
If Thou all compassion art,
Bow Thine ear, in mercy bow,
Pardon and accept me now.

Jesus speaks, and pleads His blood!
He disarms the wrath of God;
Now my Father's mercies move,
Justice lingers into love.

Kindled His relentings are,
Me He now delights to spare,
Cries, 'How shall I give thee up?'
Lets the lifted thunder drop.

Lo! I still walk on the ground:
Lo! an Advocate is found:
'Hasten not to cut Him down,
Let this barren soul alone.'

There for me the Savior stands,
Shows His wounds and spreads His hands.
God is love! I know, I feel;
Jesus weeps and loves me still.

Pity from Thine eye let fall,
By a look my soul recall;
Now the stone to flesh convert,
Cast a look, and break my heart.

Now incline me to repent,
Let me now my sins lament,
Now my foul revolt deplore,
Weep, believe, and sin no more.

If you give a 2 year old a small book...

If there is 12 inches of snow on the ground and it is 12 degrees outside you might think it a good idea to go to the library...

If you go to the library you will begin reading books to your children...

After reading a few books you might think it is a good idea to go and look at the books on CD....

While looking at the books on CD you might notice "if you give a mouse a cookie" which is one of the kids favorite....

While looking at the book you might quickly realize that the book is only 2 inches by 2 inches big....

The size of the book should probably persuade you from getting the book, but it does not...

Because you got the book the kids love to listen to it and look at the pictures....

After listening to the book and looking at the pictures they might be asked to put it back in the library bag...

After putting it back in the library bag, and then playing for awhile they might realize they want to listen to the book again and so they get it back out of the bag...

After getting it out of the bag the kids listen to the story and look at the book again...

After listening to the story they might remember this "super cool toy" that is in their room and forget to put the book back in the library bag...

After forgetting to put the book back in the bag the book somehow gets lost...

After the books gets lost the mother has to spend hours looking in every corner of the house, tearing apart every toy shelf, and book shelf, since the book is only 2x2 inches...

While looking for the book you might realize how dumb it was to allow your children to check out a book that is not much bigger than the palm of their hand...

Then you might also realize that you might just have to start searching online for a replacement book to give back to the library!

Giving Something Up for Lent

This coming Wednesday is the beginning of Lent. Lent is a season in which we consider the death of Christ. For 40 days prior to Easter, we contemplate the price that was paid for our freedom. We consider our sin that made Christ's death necessary. We allow sinful patterns to become entrenched. Lent gives us reason to pause.

The Lenten season was formally established in the 4th century. Athanasius was a church leader in Alexandria, North Africa. He was concerned with the cheap grace of his day. People were quick to join with Christ in his life. But far fewer were willing to join with Christ in his suffering (Phil. 3:10-11). It was easy for the significance of Good Friday to be lost in the celebration of Resurrection Sunday.

One common Lenten practice is fasting. Fasting is a way of removing our dependance on other things and reasserting our dependance on God. Fasting has a way of revealing how much we look to other things for satisfaction. We might skip a meal inadvertently. But when we consciously decide to skip a meal, it consumes our thinking. We realize how important food is in our lives.

A fast can be full (i.e no food) or partial (i.e no meat or sweets). And of course the principle can apply to more than food. There are many things that have a potential to be controlling influences in our lives (i.e computer games, coffee, facebook, ect.). The common practice of "giving something up for Lent" has its roots in the discipline of fasting.

-Pastor Jeff Burr- Forest Hills Baptist Church

Valentine's Day

Daniel is very excited about Valentine's day. This is the first year that he has really been excited about it. He is having a party at school tomorrow. He took great care in writing his name on each valentine card and putting a sucker in each one. It was cute that while he was writing his name he said "Mom do I have to write Daniel or can I just write Dan?" I told him he can write whatever he wants.

Tonight he got out a different box of cards and made one for each one of our neighbors. Monica got her box (my little pony) out and did the same. Then my darling little children walked around to each door in the two buildings here handing out valentines to everyone who was home. They came back with huge smiles on their faces, and a snickers bar each. I guess someone decided to give them a little valentines gift as well!

Guess What??????

IT'S A SNOW DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

some little boy is very excited! We had fun playing in "all that snow... all that deep deep deep snow."

Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

Last wednesday night at church was the biggest night of the year for Daniel. It was the Awana Grand Prix. Every year Daniel waits for this day with great anticipation and excitement. This year he made Dinaco Mcqueen. He painted him and got him all ready for the big race. The past two years Daniel won second place speed. This year he did not quite rank but he still had a lot of fun. Daniel's car is in the yellow lane.


Here is Daniel with our neighbor Jessie and her friend from school.
Daniel with his participation ribon after the race. He was trying really hard not to be sad because he did not win. That was the night he learned the word "sportsmanship."


Tomorrow my darling baby girl is going to be 8 weeks old. I cannot believe how big she has gotten in that time. She loves to be cuddled and kissed on by everyone. She now smiles and coos when you talk to her. She is also grabbing at toys and loves watching her moble.

Monica is very creative and loves to play dress up. She loves her minnie mouse dress.
Monica also loves to play mommy. Here she got her hat on, baby on her front and her other baby in her car seat and was ready to go. And yes the baby in the car seat is her baby Elmo. He may be a red monster but this little mommy LOVES him. She loves to take her baby and do exactly what I do. She will repeate every action and words that I use when dealing with Olivia. I love my little two year old!

Keith and Kristyn Getty

Growing and Learning more everyday!

A word of encouragement from my Lord in times of uncertainty

....MADE THE IRON FLOAT....

2 Kings 6:6

The axe head seemed hopelessly lost, and as it was borrowed, the honor of the prophetic band was likely to be imperiled, and as the name of their God to be compromised. Contrary to all expectation, the iron was made to mount from the depth of the stream and to swim; for things impossible with man are possible with God. I knew a man in Christ but a few years ago who was called to undertake a work far exceeding his strength. It appeared so difficult as to involve absurdity in the bare idea of attempting it. Yet he was called to it, and his faith rose with the occasion. God honored his faith, unlooked-for aid was sent, and the iron did swim. Another of the Lord's family was in dreadful financial strain. He would have been able to meet all claims and much more if he could have realized certain portion of his estate, but he was overtaken with a sudden pressure. He sought for friends in vain, but faith led him to the unfailing Helper, and lo, the trouble was averted, his footsteps were enlarged, and the iron did swim. A third had a sorrowful case of depravity to deal with. He had taught, reproved, warned, invited, and interceded, but all in vain. Old Adam was too strong for young Melanchthon; the stubborn spirit would not relent. Then came an agony of prayer, and before long a blessed answer was sent from heaven. The hard heart was broken; the iron did swim.

Beloved reader, what is your desperate case? What heavy matter have you to deal with this evening? Bring it here. the God of the prophets lives, and lives to help His saints. He will not suffer you to lack any good thing. Believe in the Lord of hosts! Approach Him pleading in the name of Jesus, and the iran shall swim; you too shall see the finger of God working marvels for His people. According to your faith be it unto you, and yet again the iron shall swim.
-Charles H. Spurgeon

Olivia Leigh is 6 weeks old!

Two days ago my darling little girl turned 6 weeks old. It seems like time goes by so fast. She is slowly growing out of her new born clothes and into her 0-3 month outfits. She is smiling, and cooing and alert. She is such a joy and a very welcomed addition to our family.

Kazoos

The kids both got Kazoos in their stockings for Christmas. Daniel loved his from the start. Monica was a bit more frustrated with hers because he could not figure out how to play it. She kept blowing into it and wondering why it did not make any noise. I tried to show her that she had to use her voice to get it to work but she did not get it. One morning she brought it to me sad that she could not get it to work. I explained again how it worked and after working with her for about 10 minutes she finally got it. The first time she made sound out of her kazoo she was so excited. Now both kids walk around the house blowing their kazoos making music. Here they are showing off their musical talents!

Olivia Leigh

My baby is almost 1 month old already. Sho Sho has been begging for more pictures so I took some today. She is getting so big so fast!

The power of photoshop

I was trying to get a picture where all there of the kids were looking at me and smiling. NO SUCH LUCK. However I do have a little tool called photoshop that I have been learning how to use and I love it. So here is a picture where Daniel is looking at the camera smiling but the girls don't look so good....
And here the girls look good but Daniel's eyes look all funny...

so you take the best from both pictures, put them together and presto I have a picture of my kids who "always" sit so beautifully for pictures! ha! Oh the power of photoshop!!!

A few Christmas Pictures

This Christmas my in laws came for a visit. It was very nice having then around for the holidays. Here are just a few pictures from the last couple of days. I will try to post some from Christmas day soon. The top picture was taken at church when we went to the Christmas Eve service. The two of the kids were taken before we left. More to come... hopefully!

Blogging is so not my thing...

Well here I am after many many pleas trying to see if maybe just maybe I can keep up with my blog. I am sorry for not keeping up with it. I check my sister's blog all the time and I am very excited when she updates and tells stories about what is going on in her life. I have been denying my family the same privilege by not updating my blog.

Today is another normal day so far. Here I sit at the computer just finishing up a delicious cup of coffee. Coffee has become by jump start drink in the morning. It is nice to finally be able to have caffeine again! Olivia is fed and in the swing. Monica is getting to watch Clifford the big red dog on PBS. Daniel is off with daddy and daddy's friend Mr. Steve. They went to see "Fantastic Mr. Fox". We finished reading the chapter book to Daniel yesterday and so he is excited to go and see the movie. Later today my in laws will be in for a few days. The kids do not know they are coming and it should be a joyous surprise! It will be nice to have some family around for Christmas.

As everyone knows Olivia Leigh was born two weeks ago today. The last two weeks have flown by and I see so many changes in her already. He little face is starting to fill out and she is already getting longer. It is amazing how fast they grow. It is sad to me that my little baby is getting bigger everyday. Olivia looks a lot like Brandon. As a matter of fact both of our daughters look a lot like him. I am glad that my son looks like me! Here is a bit of comparison of Brandon and Olivia.


On a different subject it is just three days until Christmas. I love Christmas time. It is a great time to sit back and reflect on what our Lord did for us. Since moving to Grand Rapids our family has started celebrating Advent. Advent starts 4 weeks before Christmas. The purpose of Advent is so that Christmas does not "sneak up" on us. I find that it is very easy to go through the entire Christmas season with little time to reflect on what Christmas is all about. So I went out to hobby lobby and got the supplies and made an advent wreath for our home. We light a candle every Sunday and do a family devotion focused around Christ's birth. The point of the candles is each week as another one is lit it is a sign of our anticipation for the grand celebration on Christmas day. We have been giving Daniel weekly challenges and remind him about them throughout the week to follow through on his challenge. For example, his challenge last week was to be more like Joseph. When God sent an angel to Joseph and told him to marry Mary he did not question God but he trusted him and obeyed him without complaining. We challenged Daniel to obey his parents without complaining or questioning, and we ourselves were challenged to obey God in the same manner. On Christmas day we light the candle in the middle (as well as all the ones around it) and have a time of devotions, praise and worship, and celebration before we get to open our presents. I love this new tradition for our family.

Well I am signing off and hopefully not for months and months. I will not make promises that I will be the best blogger, but I will try to update so that other can see what is going on in our lives. But for now the shower is calling my name.

My African Princess

Tonight we had our missions dinner at church. I decided to dress Monica in a kanga and tie her baby to her back. She loved carrying around her baby . She looked adorable.

Not day 2 of potty training

I have been really bad at updating my blog. My mom has said she is tired of seeing day 2 of potty training so here is an update. Monica is fully potty trained. I am 6 weeks away from having Olivia. My parents came to visit this past weekend and it was a blast. Here are a few pictures from the weekend.

Swimming with ShoSho
Relaxing with babu
Playing boxing with Babu
We went to chuckie cheese. Here shosho is playing deal or no deal for tickets.
This was a big donkey kong type machine that dares you to hold on while it "shocks you" in high voltage. It is very intense vibrating. Mom held on through the whole thing and here dad is trying to do the same while mom laughs at him. It was very funny!

Adventures in potty training- Day 3

Day three of the "cold turkey" potty training was one that I was most worried about. This was a busy day for us as Monica had a doctor's appointment and then in the evening Daniel had a 2 hour open house at his school. I was tempted to put Monica in a pull up and ditch the underwear at these events. Brandon reminded me that we decided to ditch diapers and that we have to see how she does.

So this morning we sat Monica on the potty before we left for her doctor's appointment and she went potty! About an hour and a half later she returned in the same pair of pants she left in. I was so proud of her. I had a brain laps though and did not put her on the potty right after we got home, so she did end up having an accident. This was the first time that she was really upset about having an accident. I got her all cleaned up and told her that she needs to tell mommy when she needs to go potty.

Sure enough soon after I sat her down for lunch she told me she had to go peepee. I swooped her up and sat her on the potty. She went right away! I could not believe she told me she had to go. Throughout the course of the day we continued to work on going, and she did not have an accident all afternoon.

Then came the time I feared, the 2 hour open house. I tried to get Monica to go before we left with no success. About an hour after we got there we took her to the bathroom and she went. I was so proud that once again we had left the house and came home in the same pair of pants. Then after her bath tonight she told daddy that she needed to go potty. Shortly after he sat her on there she pooped! I am so proud of her. It seems that everyday gets a little easier and we get a little bit closer to the status of "potty trained". Let me remind you that this girl one week ago would throw fits if I tried to sit her on the potty, and now she is telling me when she needs to go and actually going.

Summary of day three: 8 potty chart stickers, 6 successful trips to the bathroom, and one accident. GO MONICA!