Doing what Daddy and Blake do best, playing on the swingset!



Have you met Boppy? If you've been around Blake much at all the last few months then you've had the pleasure. Boppy is now part of the family and goes where ever we go....in the car, to friends houses, to preschool. She's definately a keeper.




When Lexi swings she makes sure to tell you she wants to go "high to the sky!"


Our Buddy for the week, Bailey. Blake loves Bailey, if only we could have Benson feel the same (we've nick-named him "old man" for his grouchy ways).


My brother and his girlfriend Dawn made a quick vist, Blake loved Dawn and her jewlery :)

video

the video below should be fixed now! sorry!!!

WORDS!!

Update

I wanted to give you all a quick update on Elaine, she went to be with Jesus about 4 a.m. Saturday morning.  All the nurses on our unit talked about how wonderful she was and how she is just one of those patients you never forget.  Thank you all for your prayers, I spoke to the nurse that took care of her and she said Elaine was surrounded by family and it was a very peaceful time.  

In the book she gave me she had a few hand-written papers she scribbled on, I don't know if these are verses, or were just inspiration to her but this is what she wrote:

Shut the mouths of lions that have come against my flock.

There will be no sickly or afflicted among you.

I never created a sick flock, my flock hears my voice and heeds to it.

Rejoice, Rejoice, Rejoice saith God.

Pictures

Hunting for easter eggs...



Blake got a Mr. Potato head in her easter basket.

We did some planting in the yard last weekend. Nick kept quoting "Old School"..."we're gonna have a nice saturday, maybe go to Home Depot...."

Blake loved helping.

Maybe eating dirt isn't such a good idea...

Catcing Up

Thank you all for your prayers for Elaine.  I was able to see her Sunday. She is still in good spirits though her health continues to decline.  The plan right now is to get her to a long term care facility.  

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We went to Arkansas last week to see my new neice, Layla.  It was a rough week for my sisters new family.  Layla had to be admited overnight to monitor her jaundice.  Clint (my bro in law) had to go to the ER and get fluids because he was vomiting and dehydrated, then had to stay away from the baby for a few days.  Then, my sister woke up bleeding and had to go to the hospital for surgery to stop the bleeding.  They are getting setteled in now, but it's been a rough start.  Blake was great with Layla, and even saying "Lala" by the end of our first day, but wanted NOTHING to do with me holding the baby.  It made me anxious that she is so jealous when I would hold Layla.  Several of our friends have babies on the way so I am hoping to expose her to more babies so that someday she will be ready for a little brother or sister. Below is a pic of Blake holding Layla, Layla is blurred out until I get permission to post her picture.  Where there's a will there's a way :)

 

And a few random phone pictures..

Blake and Grammie.

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I got a stupid "camera" ticket in the mail this week.  Nick got a big kick out of it, as he is usually the one getting tickets.  It says I ran a red light but in the picture I'm clearly turning right at a red light which is perfectly legal!!! rrrrrrrrrrr.  So do I file for a hearing, find a babysitter, and go try to fight it, or pay the stinkin' $75 and forget about the injustice??? Let me know what you think.  

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Please be praying for one of my closest friends, Emily.  I don't want to post details without permission, but she is sick in the hospital.   The Lord is faithful and the prayers of His people are heard, so please lift her up as often as you can.  

And they keep on coming....

Congrats Rachel and Stephan on expecting their first baby!!!! I know you two will be awesome parents!

If this one is born in 2009 that will make 4 babies in my family for this year :)

This and That

I never just write about what's going on anymore, so here's a few things.

First, a few nights ago I had to run to Walmart at 9p.m.  While there I see this family, 2 parents, 4 kids, all shopping together. The oldest kid was probablly 7.  They had two huge carts full of food and all those kids, acting up (probably tired!! it's 9!) I just can't imagine what would possess you to take the whole family out for a major shopping trip at night when one parent could have stayed home and tucked the kids nicely into bed while the other does the shopping.  I vow, that if I have 4 kids, I will never have an entire family major shopping trip unless it's for something special...not groceries.  Whew, they wore me out just watching them.

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Next, I've completed TWO spin classes (aren't you proud Jodi??)  Yes, they kick my butt.  But I feel so proud once I've made it through! It's so fun, they turn the lights off and play cheesy 80's music, like "Girls just wanna have fun" and every once lets out a yelp at the end of a hard sprint...so fun.  

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I had a patient yesterday at work that really touched my heart. She's a very young 60 years old. I had admitted her a week ago and was now taking care of her again.  She is very sick with a lung disease (though she has always taken care of herself and never smoked) and will probablly not make it more than a few months.  We had talked a little last week and I knew she knew Christ.  She was such a sweet spirit and I just really enjoyed taking care of her.  She had a stream of visitors just waiting to see her, and even though she was exhausted (and I was encouraging her to get rest) she took time to see each of them.  I told her I would not be back until next week and she asked if I would come say bye to her before I left.  I was prompted to give her a scripture that was shared at my bible study last week.  It's Lamentations 3

17 Ihave been deprived of peace; 
  I have forgotten what prosperity is. 

 18 So I say, "My splendor is gone 
  and all that I had hoped from the LORD." 

 19 I remember my affliction and my wandering, 
  the bitterness and the gall. 

 20 I well remember them, 
  and my soul is downcast within me. 

 21 Yet this I call to mind 
  and therefore I have hope: 

 22 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, 
  for his compassions never fail. 

 23 They are new every morning; 
  great is your faithfulness. 

 24 I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; 
  therefore I will wait for him." 

 25 The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, 
  to the one who seeks him; 

 26 it is good to wait quietly 
  for the salvation of the LORD. 

 27 It is good for a man to bear the yoke 
  while he is young. 

 28 Let him sit alone in silence, 
  for the LORD has laid it on him. 

 29 Let him bury his face in the dust— 
  there may yet be hope.

At then end of the day I shared these verses with her.  Then she said she wanted me to have something. It was her daily devotion book.  She had written in it to me and asked that I take it.  I broke down and cried right there in front of her.  She asked that I remember to pray for her and I said I would.  How great a God we serve, to let us touch others lives and be touched by them in the same breath all while feeling His presence and being encouraged.  If you want to pray for this sweet lady, her name is Elaine.

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