Alive in Christ

^{Ephesians 2:4-7}

 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,  even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),  and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

New Blogs

Hi everyone!

This is just a really quick post to announce the blogs of my brothers.

Elijah and Jeremiah's blog:

Blaze Orange 'n' Camo

http://blazeorangencamo.blogspot.com/

Christian and Jonathan's very new blog:

Brave Knights in Shining Armour

http://christianandjonathansblog.blogspot.com/

The Noble Family's Visit

The Noble family are up north for a trip and spent their last couple of days with us.  They came late Saturday night, much to our delight, and left late this morning, much to our dismay.  We miss them TERRIBLY. 

Dear Noble family,

Thank you so much for coming and giving us such a pleasant and memorable couple of days (that went far too quickly!). We love and miss you all so much and hope to have many more times such as this one.

The boys made some chalk drawings to welcome the Nobles.

These three boys...

...and these three boys "tent-camped"

in our backyard on Saturday night.

On Sunday afternoon, after church, we went swimming.

L-R

Me, Brooke, Wesley, Austin, Jonathan N.,

Jonathan A., Elijah, Christian, Jeremiah

The Alzens came over later in the afternoon and went swimming.

Jacob, one of the 2 boys that the Alzens recently adopted from Ukraine.

Manly conversations.

Brooke and her camera.

We played Catch Phrase in the evening

with the Noble family...so fun!

"Shadow photography"

Jeremaih gave Austin this book, Thoughts for Young Men

because it had really impacted his life.

Jonathan after church.

Brooke and me.

...and we just HAD to get a silly picture before they left!

To Die is Gain

Philippians 1:21

“For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

Bikes 'n' Baseball

The weather today is simply delightful, so we decided to spend some time at the park down the road from our home.  Mama, Jonnie, and I walked while the rest of the boys rode their bikes.  The park has a baseball field, so the boys love it when they have a chance to hit the ball a long way without fear of hitting something or possibly breaking a window.  I am really happy with some of the photos that mama and I got and I hope that you enjoy them as well.

Jonnie climbing in the "spider web".

Jonnie really enjoyed the spinning chair.

The happy biker.

(please click to enlarge)

Hot wheels.

Jonnie has a wonderful big brother.

What kind of infielder is that!?!

...runner goes!

The coach ...

... cheering his team on.

Elijah's trick move!

(my very first video on this blog!!!!!)

Wonderfully Made

Psalm 139:14-16

  I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
         Marvelous are Your works,
         And that my soul knows very well.
 My frame was not hidden from You,
         When I was made in secret,
         And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
         And in Your book they all were written,
         The days fashioned for me,
         When as yet there were none of them.

Happy Birthday!

Dear Papa,

Happy Birthday!

How I praise God for you and what a blessing you are in my life. 

I praise God for the desire he has given you to be the spiritual leader of your family.  I am so thankful that you protect me, mentally, physically, and spiritually from the world's influence.  I thank the Lord that you are raising your sons to be men of God, leaders and protectors of their families and young men who are treated as and expected to act like young men.  I am so grateful for your love for mama and the example you are to me of a godly husband.  I cannot thank Jesus enough for His completed work on the cross that brought us to repentance and that, because of the work of the Holy Spirit, we are born again.  Thank you for your love, trusting, perseverance, encouragement, teaching, discipling, and service.  You are truly the best papa I ever had (and the only!) and I praise God for you!

Soli Deo Gloria!Love,

Hannah

Now the "good new days"

This post contains photos from late 2007 to the present.  ENJOY!

Staying at a cabin on Lake Mille Lacs.

Elijah can tolerate a lot from tired little brothers!

Mr. Four Arms.

Best buddies.

Ready for a long road trip.

"Football" at an RV park.

Elijah's fancy way of picking apples from our tree.

He miraculously stretched overnight!  (really the marvels of

trick photography which I'm not very good at, as you can see!)

Jonnie loves it when Elijah pushes him up and down the sidewalk in that car.

The hardworking leaf remover.

Bunny ears and monkey ears.

At the fair.  Visit the boys' blog to see what else Elijah did at the county fair!

The boys helping out in the kitchen.

Elijah and his snowfort before it was 15 feet high.

Elijah's snowmen welcoming family for Thanksgiving.

Fun on the ice.

Baseball at the park.

The boys laying paving stones out from our back door to our pool.  I am amazed at the job they did.  We had a funny incline and they were able to lay the stones so that there are no spaces, dips or rises between the stones.  I am truly blessed with amazing brothers!

Our 15 foot high snowfort.

...and there's the serious guy on the left with his "banana peeled" sweet corn.