Whats happening...

This is where we started...

This is where we are as of yesterday... August 6, 2008. He is moving around a lot! I think I got to feel him on Friday night for the first time... which was fun... I was poking at him to get him to come play with me!

Emily and I are leaving this Saturday for Ozark. Keep us in your prayers as we travel. I am so excited to see my family and I am excited for the road trip, and I am excited for Emily!

So many good things are happening!

Emily's going to Ozark

Joplin here we come! So Emily got her loan and everything worked out. So we are coming!
August 9th is when we are leaving. We are going to try to stay with Jake in Oklahoma City. As far as the rest of our stops, we are not really sure. We should be there on Monday or Tuesday. I can't wait to visit!

If you have any suggestions as far as where to stop and where to stay let me know!
YEAH!

Little Miss Stella

So Stella is the daughter of some good friends of mine... She is so picken cute... I got the priveldge of taking some 4 month old pictures of her today! And... I got to make two of the "accessories"... the tutu and the flower in her hair. Kids are so cute!



She wasn't buying this today...

The baby is a BOY!

3D... so cool



Well... we are all very excited... especially Darren and my Dad... we are even now... 3 girls... 3 boys...
I made so much stuff for a girl that I gave away some of it and I had people ask me to make stuff for them... so I made a blog for it... if you want to look. I'll be posting items that I am selling. It's on the list of people I love... aly's articles.

P.S. still probably going to Joplin in a few weeks. We are waiting to see if Emily gets a loan... if she does... we are going... if she doesn't... we aren't going... please pray!

Fun 4th!

A. I made the cutest baby pants of all times... I am so thankful for my crafty friend!

We had a block party... which went really well! Some pictures are from that and some are from our fourth of July. We went swimming and played tennis... I watched 3 nights of fireworks! I love them!

Betsy is Pregnant

Ok, so this is Betsy... Barely pregnant... She is due January 1st!

These are the two blankets I've made so far for the baby.... sock monkey and black & white... I know... I am a master seemstress! I have many skills!

And for those of you wondering... Its a girl according to the Chinese Lunar Calendar. And from my reasearch... it is a highly accurate tool. So we are going with girl... thinking Grace Abigail. So cute!

Words of wisdom

Lessons in Life
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it but it is really not his fault when things go wrong.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.
17. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.
18. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion ~ Today is it!
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, will this matter?"
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone, everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change. Remember nothing lasts forever!
32. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.
38. Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Don't audit life ~ Show up and make the most of it now.
42. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
43. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
44. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
45. The best is yet to come.
46. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
47. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
48. If you don't ask, you don't get.
49. Yield when necessary.
50. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

Tracy Reinemeyer

Unfortunately Tracy passed away yesterday morning. Friday she started to turn, when she got an infection and it spread through different parts of her body. It is shocking that two weeks ago she was fine and now she is gone. I can't even really wrap my mind around it.

She is young and beautiful and one of the most amazing women God put on this earth. In all the ways I know, she is the embodiment of what God asks us as women to be. She guarded her heart and the hearts of her children, she was diligent, responsible, respectful, honored her husband and God, she was sincere, kind, generous, thoughtful, and loving. She was not extravagant, but when she did something for you it was from her heart and her sincerity made her gesture extravagant. She spoke with kindness, grace, and gentleness. She was encouraging and a teacher to her children, friends, and church family. I love her and will miss her greatly. It was my pleasure to know her. She left a huge mark on my life. I hope to pay forward the gifts she gave to me.

Please keep her family in your prayers. Joey (the little boy they just adopted) has only been in the United States for a few weeks and I'm sure this is confusing for him. Jake (her 9 year old) is obviously going to miss his Mom, and will need all the prayer we can give him. Her husband, Scott, will also need prayer as he sorts out all the things before him. She has an amazing network of family and friends, pray that they can know what to say or not say and when to help. Pray for strength, wisdom and discernment for all of them. God's plan is made perfect through weakness, I know He will be glorified through this situation, just as He was through Tracy's life.

Tracy

Tracy's Care Page

We had some news this week that really shocked our world. Tracy Reinemeyer, who not only has worked for us for the last 5 or so years, also goes to church with us, found out that she has acute lukuemia. She got back 2 weeks ago from picking up a little boy they adopted from China. His name is Joey and he is three. Super cute little guy! Anyhow... if you could keep Tracy in your prayers I would appreciate it. She is trying to get better, bond with her new son, and keep up with her 9 year old. She is an amazing woman, but there is only so much you can do from the hospital. Above is her care page. You can sign up to see pictures and updates for how she is. You can also post messages for her to read. She actually just got to meet Marissa from dancing with the stars.

Emily's senior pictures

This one with the face on the brick is my favorite!







So Tuesday I got the priveldge of taking Emily's senior pictures. Here are a few of the final choices! I was really excited to get the change to try out my photography skills!

Melissa look here!

Hopper said he uploaded some pictures to his myspace... I went to look at them and this picture was there... I started laughing!

P.S. Michele... is Silas getting his own page?

Extreme Bulls!

Ok... so last night was the start of the Clovis Rodeo... every year, my dad and I go on the first night, which is Extreme Bulls. It is when the guys of the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) come and have a show. There is also roping... anyhow... One of my favorite parts every year is the rodeo clown. His name is Flint ... He isn't super hot, but he IS super funny!

Anyhow, Jordan (one of the girls from the youth group) happened to be sitting behind me. I was telling her how wonderful I think he is... she ended up sitting in the front row when Flint ... jumped over the railing and came up in the crowd. She told him about me (which is what the top picture is). So she is pointing at me, I am standing up trying to take a picture (with my camera phone, cause me regular camera ran out of battery right before he jumped the railing... figures!). HE BLEW ME A KISS!

A great day! I'm telling you... GREAT!
Video One
Video Two
Video Three

I miss everyone!

Mexico Pictures
It's been so long! I've been reading Melissa's blog. The pics of Silas are SO CUTE! What a beautiful family!

Well I've been to Mexico (for a missions trip), hired a new staff person, joined a small group, started work on an Event's Committee for the City of Clovis, went to monster truck jam, sent my mom and dad off to Mexico (for a vacation in Cancun, I'm so excited for them!), and learned that I actually like sushi... who knew!

It's been a super busy couple of months. Lots of exciting stuff going on, but I miss keeping up with everyone.

Melissa, we need to get Tyler a blog is he is gonna be in Florida, that way I can keep up!

Love you all!

My cousin Tyler...

So my cousin Rachel posted a super funny picture of my cousin Tyler (her brother) from this incident with the donkey in Las Vegas. P.S. That car is moving... and yes... he is hanging out of it.

I have to say that Tyler is one of the funniest people I know (actually their whole family is pretty funny)... and I have a lot of funny pictures of him even though I don't spend much time with him. I can't imagine how many there must really be. But anyhow... my favorite I have to say is the one below... This is the children's castle at the church my Grandma goes to in Iowa... At a wedding rehearsal. Tyler I love you! Thanks for making me laugh.

Spring is here in California

Since the blossoms are out... I decided to go take some pictures before they all fell off. It really is beautiful. One of the benefits of the area I live... not only California... but specifically the Central Valley. It's funny... cause the picture is so beautiful to me... and I think... God made that! His imagination is astounding!

Interesting Reading...

So lately I've been reading through 1 Corinthians, 1 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Jude, 2nd and 3rd John... and it has been interesting reading to me. So many things happen in a church and I didn't realize how much time God spends warning us about the teaching of the people who come into the church... church members. If you have the time, I would encourage you to read through these and see what He points out to you.

These are a few pics from moving Brandy to Yreka, where we got stuck... because the sky fell apparently and we had to turn around and come back to Fresno... leaving Brandy by herself in a hotel for 4 days until someone from Yreka could come get her. It was one of the worst storms I have been in!

P.S. Aunt Judie, I may be coming with Emily to visit Ozark... in April. I told her I have some really funny family there! She is excited to meet you.

Love you all! P.S. I miss you Melissa and Michelle... we really need to work on the cousins reunion!~