Hello everyone! I know its been a long time since I last blogged. There are a number of reasons why but I won't bore you with it. This is just to let everyone know that we are still alive. Although I don't have any pictures of Noah to share with you at this moment (I'm in CA at my parents' home) I do, however, have some exciting news to share with everyone. We found out we are expecting a baby again on April 30, 2010. We are so excited. I will attempt at being more diligent in updating you with any special news tidbits. Thanks for your understanding.

Good Laughter with Good Friends

Natalie and Camille, this post is dedicated to the three of us. There's nothing like a good laugh with good friends... even if IT IS caffeine induced. LOL

Here's the story:

The three of us sat together at a previous choir practice and had a riot of a time. WAYYYYY TOO MUCH FUN for what should be allowed at any choir practice. (Tishauna, if you read this, it reminded me of our good ol' days when we'd laugh until something crazy would happen). As you can see, Camille had several hundred grams of caffeine in her bloodstream... there should be a law... and Natalie was just being Natalie (something about Missouri??? LOL), and me... I don't know... it was just one of those days. We laughed until we cried while I took impromptu pictures of the whole thing (don't worry girls... you're safe. I'm not posting them.) Sooooo, the next week, instead of doing the mature thing and separating ourselves like responsible adults should have done, we gravitated toward one another again. Well it wasn't until half way through the merriment of our practice that we noticed we were all matching. At this point, we were drunk on laughter. Okay, this started getting carried away. None of us had talked during the day, not one of us planned with the other during any previous conversation to wear matching clothes. Yes, we're all blonds, we all wear glasses, and that particular choir practice we were all wearing blue jean jackets, black skirts, black shoes and either a bright top or a top with something bright on it and some other matching items. It only gets funnier if you know all three of us... and more about us that particular night. (I won't tell Nat! HAHAHA) As you can see, we can hardly contain our laughter here. It was such a healthy dose of good medicine. I loved laughing like that with them. There's nothing like laughing with good friends... and sometimes even about the stupidest things. You should have heard Natalie's running commentary. Love you two.

PS Funny... Funnier... Funniest...

Here's us at the following church service.

CRC Christmas Banquet 2008

Here are a few pictures I took at our Christmas banquet this year... which, by the way, was first class. The Hamptons, the Lockharts, the McDaniels, the Isaacsons... and all who helped, it was 5 star. From the "Guess Who?", the Parmesan Chicken Dinner, Jan's Desserts, the Pictonary Carol Game (that no one cheated in... lol), the the HILARIOUS comedy with David, Jordan and Bro.???(I can't remember his name... but also known as Derek Sherill). It was all fantastic!!! I did capture a few fun pictures but there were quite a few I chose to not publish due to very competitive looking faces, grimaces, hysterical laughter, or food being stuffed into mouths. HAHA (which mostly filled up my camera). Enjoy:

Here is a very stunning couple. Doesn't Sis.Bridget's hair look awesome? (hehe I did it!!)
Here is the most handsome guy in the world.Here is me and my beautiful mom Wilbanks and beautiful sis-in-law Heather.

Me and Michelle taking pictures of each other. LOL

Jason and Heather

We all had a great time at the banquet in our NEW FELLOWSHIP HALL. (WOO HOO!!)

...And a Merry Christmas to EVERYONE!!! Love you all!

Sunday School Christmas Banquet

I am going to do some catch up blogging. It seems like the month of December has been loaded with parties, banquets, shopping, and fun all month long and there has barely been time to sit down and download pictures from my camera (Yes, the computer responds slowly to downloads unfortunately). So here is the first event I will share with you.

Bro. Jeff and Sis. Bridget Koehoorn did an amazing job with our Sunday School Christmas Banquet/Party this year. We had puppet shows organized and put together by Bro.Jeff, pizza and drinks from the Sunday School Department, games with Sis. StockingStuffer (Sis.Loretta, who was dressed as a giant stocking... adorable), gift exchange, and last but certainly not least... the Christmas story was read by candlelight from some of the older kids. I didn't get to capture all events during the evening, but I tried to get a picture of at least all who were in attendance.

Here is some of the kitchen help.

Here's a large portion of the party room.Here's Sis.Cheryll at fireside Gazebo serving punch.Sis.JoAnn, Sis.Cindy, and Sis.Loretta helping with the gift exchange.Sunday School Teacher of the year award went to Sis.Becky Taylor, hiding behind this Christmas tree. She is a phenomenal Sunday School teacher. Laura and Trey.
More kids.... now with their pizza in hand.
Teachers are staying busy serving their Sunday School classes.More kids who brought their families from our Sunday School route.

Let the games begin:


A really cute couple leaving the party.Bro.Earl, an awesome Sunday School teacher.
Another really cute couple... =)

We had a great time that night. ...And no, Noah did not attend. We had been at the church all day helping Sis.Bridget. Noah desperately needed a nap and I left him home with his daddy so he could sleep.

Merry Christmas everyone!! A very good friend of mine got me "dreaming" again (thanks Nelly!) As the curtain of 2008 comes to a close, I don't want anyone looking back behind my curtain to observe the "scenes" and "acts" that were never played out... be it neglect, lack of time, busyness, etc. Instead I want to "dream" and look forward to this Christmas and the new Year following it with a brand new stage set up. First of all I want to start Christmas traditions with my family. I want to read the Christmas story and pray together on Christmas Eve. This should be fairly easy since Noah loves books and we pray every night before bed, and most times as a family. Next I want to always take a family Christmas picture. Lastly, I would like to buy or make a personal ornament for our child(ren in the future) to put on the mantle every year where they could see their collection grow and remember Christmases passed. I am aware that as the children get older, traditions change or get modified. That is okay too... as long as we keep dreaming....

What are some of your Christmas dreams or traditions?

A Different Christmas Poem

I just received this email from my father-in-law. I had to post it since I just posted similar thoughts the day after Thanksgiving. This poem so aptly portrays my thoughts and feelings about my precious and beautiful country and those serving it.

Here it is ... by Michael Marks...

"A Different Christmas Poem"

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,

I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.

My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,

My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.

Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,

Transforming the yard to a winter delight.

The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,

Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.

My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,

Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.

In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,

So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,

But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.

Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,

Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.

My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,

And I crept to the door just to see who was near.

Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,

A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,

Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.

Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,

Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

'What are you doing?' I asked without fear,

'Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!

Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,

You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!'

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,

Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts.

To the window that danced with a warm fire's light

Then he sighed and he said 'Its really all right,

I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night.'

'It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,

That separates you from the darkest of times.

No one had to ask or beg or implore me,

I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.

My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December,'

Then he sighed, 'That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers.'

My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ' Nam',

And now it is my turn and so, here I am.

I've not seen my own son in more than a while,

But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.

Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,

The red, white, and blue... an American flag.

I can live through the cold and the being alone,

Away from my family, my house and my home.

I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,

I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.

I can carry the weight of killing another,

Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..

Who stand at the front against any and all,

To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall.'

' So go back inside,' he said, 'harbor no fright,

Your family is waiting and I'll be all right.'

'But isn't there something I can do, at the least,

'Give you money,' I asked, 'or prepare you a feast?

It seems all too little for all that you've done,

For being away from your wife and your son.'

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,

'Just tell us you love us, and never forget.

To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,

To stand your own watch, no matter how long.

For when we come home, either standing or dead,

To know you remember we fought and we bled.

Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,

That we mattered to you as you mattered to us.'

-- Michael Marks

I Am Thankful

I am thankful. Yesterday I found myself repeatedly thinking about my wonderful country... the land of the free... the home of the brave... the sacred truth it was built upon. It rings so true to me this year. I caught myself wondering if I have taken these blessings for granted in the past. I am certain I have. I want to declare to you that I am thankful. I want to declare this while I can. There may be a point in my lifetime that I will not have those blessings to be thankful for.

My Diary of Thanks:

I am thankful that I can choose to start a business and keep the profits and not be forced to share the wealth. I am thankful that I can freely "choose" to share the wealth if I please. I am thankful that partial birth abortion is still considered murder. I am thankful that we still have "In God We Trust" on our currency.

I am thankful that we still support and defend Israel. I am thankful for our armed services protecting this great nation UNDER GOD and preserving her freedoms. I am thankful for freedom to worship the Living God. I am thankful for the few politicians who still are willing to stand strong on the moral and Biblical principles that this nation was founded upon. I am thankful for those who choose to remember the MEN WHO FOUGHT and the BLOOD, SWEAT, AND TEARS that has made our country the great nation it is today. I am thankful for those who gave their lives to give future generations hope, freedom, and confidence. I am thankful I can speak openly about these things. I am thankful....

I am not ashamed to be called an American. As long as I can be thankful for these things, I am proud to be an American. "In everything give thanks." Why? Because it is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Lets not forget to pray for this great country and her leaders. The heart of the king is in the hand of the Lord.