We aren't in Ohio anymore kids

Josh had to come back to Indiana this week. He has been out of town a lot this month, and instead of staying home alone for a week we decided to tag along. We had a long drive this morning, but it wasn't too horrible, Ethan was much better than Merci! We came here, unpacked and made this tiny room homey! We are at an extended stay hotel, so we do have a kitchenette, so it isn't bad at all. I hope to post some pics, we have WIFI and since I can't go anywhere I can sit on my computer, and watch the kids at the same time=) We have already taken advantage of the pool, the vending machines and the gas station next door. The kids are going stir crazy at the moment waiting for daddy to come home so we can go to the grocery. There is a HUGE shopping strip across the street (well 6 lanes of traffic to be exact), yet we have no car since we drove the truck Josh has to take to work, so that makes me sad=( Oh well, we will get lots of quality time I guess!!

twenty~8

Happy Birthday to my wonderful husband!

We got to spend a lovely day together today and I enjoyed every moment of it, especially since he was out of town for the 9 nights the last 2 weeks=(
I hate when he is out of town, but it does make for way more appreciation!

Here are some pictures and thoughts!

I love you BABY!!



You are mine and I am yours.
As you would put it
"We just fit"



From where you were 6 years and 6 months ago,
you have come farther than I ever expected
you to be, daddy. Daily I see changes in your love
and tenderness that our baby girl needs.
Remember that as a girl, she WILL look for her acceptance in YOU!



I know how excited you are to teach Ethan all you know!
He looks up to his daddy in so many ways at even this young age.
He appreciates your excitement in cars and tools. I hope he continues to.
I pray that he becomes best friends with you. You have come a long way and have SO much to teach a son!


You are the best husband and father I could have asked for.
You were made just for ME, and we made them together with our Father.
Could there be anything greater?

Pictures by Sweet Dreams Photography

needed smiles

I just needed something to brighten my day!

Pictures by Sweet Dreams Photography. Check em out. They rock!


Me and my Ethan


Me and my Merci


Ethan has amblyopia.
I haven't been good about updating, but at his last appointment a few weeks ago, we got the ok to stop the patch(had to wear it for 2 hours a day for the last 6 months..even though we weren't consistent with it) for the time being. Ethan's eye seem to be working very well together! Yeah God! The doctor will re-evaluate his prescription in the summer.

De Lurking

So I have come across a few blogs who were playing this game and I figured I would play too!

I think yesturday was the day but, I will make it today too.

If you are a lurker on my blog, please reveal yourself. Leave your blog address and some tid bit about yourself. Excited to meet some new "bloggies." And if your an old "bloggie." You can say hi also!

Here is one of my favorite pictures from our Fall photo shoot with Sweet Dreams Photography.
I just realized I didn't share all of our pictures with you guys. So look for more soon!

A great proclamation

Try me. You will not defeat the God in me. Greater is He that is in me than you and every demon in Hell. You will not destroy all which God has given to me. You will not take a single portion from my plate. I demand you, in the name of my Jesus, to take your hands off of everything that is mine. Your plans are trash. I am not afraid of you. I have all power over you in the Name of Jesus. What you have planned for evil and destruction will back fire on you. Wait and see. You will not win. Try me, and you try my God. God is my protector. Mess with me and you mess with Him. I rise now out of this complacent pit. I am a child of the Most High God, and I tell you now to flee. You have been defeated, and you have no power over me. Your purpose was to destroy. God's purpose is to rebuild. God's purpose will be, because greater is He!! "...The righteous are as bold as a lion." Proverbs 28:1

Thanks Margo

All About Merci Rae

Meet our new pet. His/Her name is Twitch for now, but Merci doesn't like that name so we are trying to figure out the sex. My parents felt that they should buy Merci a gerbil for Christmas. We agreed. My parent's bought him a few weeks before Christmas, and were going to handle him so he would be ready to be played with when Christmas came. But being eager to surprise her they gave him to us a week before Christmas. He was so tiny, they bought him the day he was allowed to be away from his mommy. He is really cute and is gradually learning that we aren't going to hurt him and that no matter how fast he runs in his wheel he cannot out run the HAND!! Lol!



This is a picture of my brother Jon and Merci. I am the oldest and only girl of 4, he is the 2nd born, age 22. He is moving out=( It is so weird to see your siblings grow up. I can't believe my little brother is a big boy!!! My youngest brother will be graduating high school (hopefully) this year, so I am feeling pretty old!



On New Years Eve Merci stayed up all night with the adults. Usually we have friend over who have kids her age, but they couldn't make it this year. I felt bad. But she enjoyed herself anyway. She even made confetti for us to throw at midnight. She also enjoyed the sparkling grape juice, and finished off the bottle=)



Josh has been teaching Merci to play Jenga for a bout a year now, and she is turning into a pro Jenga player. Pro's can get to 37 rows, Josh and Merci got to 29 the other night. Not bad for beginners!

Spoiled and HAPPY

Did I mention my hubby really spoiled me this year, well last year, for Christmas. So did everyone else. Jesus must really love me!
My favorite: slipcover for our ugly couches! Mom and dad got us a slipcover for our couch. My mom picked out a nice patterned one, but it really didn't go with our room, I was going for a different feel. So we exchanged it for plain chocolate brown. Oh how I love them!!!

Before



These couches were a blessing! We got them FREE. They are from LaZBoy, and very comfy.
They are in really great shape, I just really disliked the pattern and colors. So late 80's early 90's, you know, hunter green, and wine...BLAH!

After




Our living room and dining room are so wonderful now. I am almost 100% happy with our home (even though it isn't really ours). Thanks Lord for allowing us to be so much happier here!
If we had to move anytime soon, I would want to bring our walls with us!!

Now I just need to figure out how to get the creases, from being folded in the package, out!

Salad

Josh and I decided to go on a little diet for January. We will be eating salad for dinner every night. It has only been 2 nights, and when I look in the refrigerator, I can't look at all of our cut up veggies.

Does anyone have any good salad ideas to offer? Like with fruit or different toppings (healthy!)
Does anyone have a recipe for an Asian salad??

HAHA

Your New Year's Resolutions

1) Get a pet hedgehog 2) Eat less tofu 3) Travel to China 4) Study marine biology 5) Get in shape with roller derby

What Should Your New Year's Resolution Be?

Funny. Got this from blogthings.com, and saw it on Margo's blog.

Anyone up for roller derby?!

I would love a hedgehog, I see so many cute videos of hem swimming in bathtubs on you tube.

A WHOLE YEAR

Today marks the 1 year anniversary that my husband stopped smoking! Hooray. Praise God!

My husband gives all glory to God. After all it was HIS perfect timing! he definitely couldn't have done it without him. And no withdrawal anger like any other time he tried=)

I am so proud of you babe!