Dancing with Daddy

Peas Come & Lettuce Party!

A Few Expressions

Our Sunny January Day

Been There

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Lion Chasers Manifesto

Inspiring wisdom from Pastor Mark Batterson:

Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. Set God-sized goals. Pursue God-ordained passions. Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention. Keep asking questions. Keep making mistakes. Keep seeking God. Stop pointing out problems and become part of the solution. Stop repeating the past and start creating the future. Stop playing it safe and start taking risks. Accumulate experiences. Consider the lilies. Criticize by creating. Find every excuse you can to celebrate everything you can. Live like today is the first day and last day of your life. Don't let what's wrong with you keep you from worshiping what's right with God. Burn sinful bridges. Blaze new trails. Worry less about what people think and more about what God thinks. Don't try to be who you're not. Be yourself. Laugh at yourself. Quit holding out. Quit holding back. Quit running away.

Chase the lion.

Joel's 2009 Highlights

Favorites of Elianna's 2009

I'm A Big Girl Now

With Elianna nearing 2, we decided it was time to transistion her to the toddler bed.  It was kinda sad to take the crib down and say goodbye to the baby days.  She's a big girl now!  She did well her first night.  No tears, just playing around and enjoying the new freedoms.  She learned how to open her door for the first time that night; we found her playing in the downstairs bathroom...so on went the childproof door knobs.  By about 8:30 she had fallen asleep on the floor by her door.  Funny that Joel did the same thing his first time with a toddler bed (only he cried a bit too)!  Easy transistion, so far, at least...2 nights and 2 naps down successfully!!!

A Visit From Auntie Missy

We were blessed with a visit from my sister Missy over the holidays.  Even though she battled a cold almost the whole time she was here, we still managed to have some fun and make memories.  She came with us to our Christmas party for our cell group and Lighthouse's Christmas Eve service the first week she was here.  We ate out at a Chinese buffet place in town, along with an Applebees girls lunch out and a sister date at J Carinos one night!  We shopped the outlet mall in Burlington and found a lot of great deals.  Continue to keep Missy in your prayers and stand in faith for her complete healing.     

The Big Day After Christmas

This year I decided to hit the after Christmas clearance sales in Oak Harbor.  I have never really bought any Christmas decor besides tree stuff over the last decade.  The Hallmark store in OH was pretty much sold out of nice stuff, but later that day we checked on the Hallmark in Anacortes and it had a couple great finds!  I found a cool nativity set and singing/dancing Frosty the Snowman at Island Drug.  The Christian book store in OH also had all their Christmas stuff at 50% off...even DVDs and books, which surprised me a bit.  It felt good to get so much for such a great price, I admit!

Uncle Ryan and soon-to-be Auntie Ericka came over the day after Christmas and spoiled the kids with more toys...Joel got his first Spiderman action figure with a motorcycle and a Batman with a submarine thingy...oh the excitement!  Elianna loved the new stuffed dog, Aussiedoodle, and the counting book.   We were all so blessed with loving gifts this season from friends and family.  We lack no good thing.  God is sure good!

                                       My little Linus, sharing her blankie with Snoopy!                              The kids went GA GA over these singing, dancing decorations.  It was wonderful to see them take such delight!

Christmas Day Via Skype

We skyped in with G & G Neuharth and Auntie Jess (and Auntie Missy here with us) on Christmas Day as the kids tore open presents from them.  It was fun sharing in the moment with family, even if not in person.  Very thankful for this modern tool to keep us close on the holidays that we can't make it home for...and also the very ordinary days of our lives.  Joel received a saxophone and a Bibleman mask and cape...along with a Bibleman Jr. DVD.  He was very happy and impressed!  Elianna got a purple pettiskirt, a Christmas Boz DVD, and additional Little People sets that all coordinate...a coach and a wedding scene with more cute figures to pretend with.  I'm sure it will make for many fun times in the next few years...especially when she has playdates with other girls!  Thanks you family who shared a piece of the holidays with us via Skype and the phone.  We love and miss you!