Our Christmas 2008 from our picture perspective

Every Christmas our kids have done something during the Christmas service. Last year John was Joseph, one of the girls was Mary, the other twin a shepherd and Karli played baby Jesus while a song focusing on Him played. This year John played a couple of songs during the offering and then the girls and John sang. Karli was suppose too, but when she gets put in the spotlight our sweet, fun, loving Karli fads away. So she did not end up singing on that Sunday, but she sure did practice really good! John was our lead singer, but apparently decided to lip synk the words and thankfully Kiley belted it out! It is precious to have them apart of our service worshipping our Savior and King! (Video of kids singing will come, there was an error in processing it)

During the end of our service we held candles while we sang Silent Night. I love this picture of John. I love hearing all the people worshipping our Savior. I thank God that He sent his One and Only Son to die for us. When you stop and think about it, it really is something truly special. I can't even imagine sending my son to die for anyone and totally being separated from God...He must really love us. That is what gives me HOPE, that is what gives me LOVE for others, that is what gives me PEACE. What a magnificant GIFT to all of us.

This picture to the right is Kiley lighting the Advent wreath. GG is helping her. It was great to have my parents at this service. It was neat to have them apart of it as well with our kids.

9 happy years of marriage bliss!

Today is our 9 year anniversary! It as been a wonderful 9 years! We praise God for all of them and look forward to many more!

Christmas 2008

This year we had Christmas on the 21st with my family (minus Andy and Kristyn) and also got to celebrate my mother's birthday. It was fun. We opened gifts and enjoyed playing games after the kids went to bed. Then on Tuesday we headed to Jason's family in Michigan. I love southwest Michigan. I grew up in the south, which I enjoyed, but southwest Michigan is wonderful. I love going there, it is so peaceful! We had fun hanging out for a few days before Christmas was here so we enjoyed going tubing at Hayes Park, a park Jason use to play baseball at growing up. We were the only ones on the hill and it happened to be raining, but there had been enough snow that it didn't effect our tubing! The kids loved it! Emily and Kiley even by the end were going down by themselves. Pictures will come later as I now have a new computer, but I need to get internet access for it...sorry for the delay. 8-) We had a fun time with Wes and Sharon, and we treasured every moment. Please keep praying for Wes and Sharon as they keep battling the effects of his brain cancer. Praise God that the cancer has not returned, but the medicine and complications of the surgeries and so forth are still very difficult to adjust to. They are doing great and we know that God is using Wes for His glory! Below I thought I would share some of the kids favorite gifts of the season:

John was excited about a Knex Roller Coaster. We almost couldn't get it, but ended up getting the last one in the store. Jason and John are actually working on it right now! When he has finished the coaster look for the finished product. Maybe he will use his new digital camera that Grandpa and Grandma got him to record his progress. He loves it and it even allows him to add hats and funny faces to people. He thinks it is funny! As many of you guys know John is a huge Cubs fan like dad and mom and so GG and Papa got him his own baseball card collection and notebook with page protectors too! He can't wait to put the Cubs logo on the front. We found he has some really cool cards! Those are some of John's favorite things.

Emily for Christmas was so cute because she was asking for clothes, make-up and jewelry, yes, I know she is only 5...wait until she is a teenager is what most say...oh my! She got a few jewelry items and some lip gloss and a cute outfit from Grandma, she looked like a snow bunny. I can't wait to get a picture on here of her, she was so cute. But, some of her favorite things were a pedicure set from GG and Papa. I actually gave her a pedicure the next morning. Grandma and Grandpa replace her favorite doll with twin babies, which she loved! Uncle Eric and Aunt Elisabeth got the Emily and Kiley Barbie MP3 players so Mom and Dad went with that gift and found IDogs with IDog purses for them to listen to the music on instead of with earphones. So they can carry their purses and listen to music and dance whenever they want. I had never heard of an IDog, they are so cute! The dogs even asked to be feed if music has not been played for a while.

Kiley has fallen in love with horses so she was excited to get a horse and rider for Christmas. She also got the MP3 player and IDog. They are going to have fun with that.

Karli was excited for Christmas this year. This was the first one that she really was excited so it was extra cute! She has been playing with the twins barbie house so we found a really cute one just for her on sale, she was so excited! She also got her own baby doll and Hannah Montana barbie doll. She was so cute, she finally had her stuff!

Jason had a great idea this year, "Santa" left a message for the kids with the cookies that they left out. He said that they had to find the most important present of all and that he had whispered clues in Jason's ear. So after all the presents were opened Jason "passed on" the clues from "Santa". It lead to a box somewhere in the house. In the box was a note with John 3:16 on it. They had to look it up. It also had a story to go along with John 3:16. He read the story and had the kids figure out which present was the most special for Christmas. It was great to end on to refocus the attention back on the main person for the rest of the day. I think we will start doing it every Christmas. So don't forget even though Christmas is already past, what the most important gift to all of us is: Jesus!

Crazy days

***please note if you click on the picture it will take you to the website where I got this photo.**

So I typed into google images crazy art...I wanted to find a picture that represented how I felt today. Bill Chatfield drew exactly what I was feeling. I couldn't have put it any better. I am so tired and miscombobbled. I really just want to curl up on the couch and veg. Yes, veg. Curl up with my head in that special spot on Jason's chest and sigh. I hope tomorrow I don't feel like this picture.

I am back from trotting with turkeys!

So it has been a while since I have written. I am sure all of you were wondering where did she go...no worries, I am back, I was just chasing a bunch of turkeys. Ok, not real turkeys, more my kids who were being turkeys in this years Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving. It was a lot of fun and we even made it back in time for Thanksgiving Dinner! Here are some pictures from that wonderful day: John ran in a 1/2 mile race, Emily and Kiley in a 1/4 mile race and Karli (with cousin Lukus) in a 50 yard dash!

Surprise Dates, Books Galore, Popping Excitement and Sweet Serenity...all in one weekend!

This weekend had been a crazy one. Jason was in a class all week and he needed to stay at school till about midnight all week. So it had been a long one. He was ready to come, we were ready to have him, but there was still more homework that needed to be done. So I told him to just stay there and get it finished. Amy, who lives down stairs, was planning on coming up later in the evening because her husband needed to stay down at Moody to get some work done. Starting the bills I thought I could at least get something else accomplished to.
The door from the basement started sounding as I was just about to get the main part of the bills done, but it would be nice to get the company. So I headed to open the door. As I opened the door the doorbell rang. Who could it be? I excused myself and went to get the door while motioning her into the living room. I felt akward as I realized that Jason was home, glad he was home, feeling bad because how do you graciously kick someone out? As he walked him there was an akward pause and then he looked at Amy and then to me and said, "This works out, do you want to go on a date?" At first I didn't realize that he had already talked to her and had arranged the whole thing. I thought he was being rude and was quite shocked. Then he started laughing realizing what I had just thought. He swept me off my feet and we had a wonderful time!

The next morning we woke up and headed to get our Popcorn from John's cub scout fundraiser nd then headed off downtown to Bookamania! If you have never gone and are in the city the weekend before Thanksgiving...this is the place to be! the kids had fun making crafts about different books and then if they went to 7 different stations then they got to get a free book! It is at the Harold Washington Library and it was so much fun the kids are asking to go back next year...oh and the best part...it is all FREE!

After the Bookamania! we headed down toward Michigan Ave. and we spotted a PotBelly's. We had lunch/dinner there (although it was nice because the kids actually wanted the snacks in my bag for lunch instead so we got away pretty cheap! Thanks kids!) and then we headed off to the parade. On the way we stopped at Macy's (formally Marshall Fields) and looked at their window display. It was fun and magical. Off the parade and we got to see Minnie and Mickey and Donald Duck (Karli's favorite) and of course we saw Santa! At the end we watched the magnificant fireworks display! It is simply breathtaking!

After church today we collected all of our boxes for Operation Christmas Child and headed out to the drop off location! The kids had fun loading all the boxes and anticipation and discussing where they might end up around the world! If you have never done a shoe box for kids around the world...please check out www.samaritanspurse.org and click Operation Christmas Child! It is a great way to help kids around the world get a little something at Christmas and teach your kids the amazing thing about giving!

Why I Love My Church!

Recently, I have been taken back as I look over the years that Jason and I have been at our church and just praise God for all He has done in our church and in our community! There have been so many changes and growth it is amazing what God is doing. We recently started something Jason called our 20/20 Vision as we are looking forward about the future (2020). Where do we want to be, where does God want us to be, are we doing what we need to to get there. And through this finding out more about how much our church is more a mission field than we ever realized! It has been a road for me, some ups and downs in this walk we are on, but each week God shows me more and more why we are there, why I am there, why the people who come are there. One of my favorite things about our church is that 10 percent of them are blind and half of those are on our worship team. What a blessing it is to see them reading their braillie and singing their praises to God! What a blessing it is to hear the thumping of one of the seeing eye dogs tails to the beat of the music! What a blessing to be able to hear people share what is on their hearts so we can pray for them! What a blessing to see the body of Christ work together to love everyone who is there! How amazing that people who might be outcast in other realms in our society have an open door and are freely welcomed with whatever they bring with them. I love my Church for the Love of God that just seeps out and overflows from the AMAZING love that God has for us! May it continue to grow, may others see God's love through us and may we make a HUGE difference to those in our community!
I am so blessed to be apart of my church!

Election '08 --- Ice Cream Election '08

So this year to teach the election process we held an Ice Cream Election with a bunch of families. To add in the electoral process we had each family be a state and then they took a vote, the majority got all of the votes! It was a lot of fun, a lot of families participated. The fun part was that vanilla won the popular vote and then chocolate won the electoral vote. Next presidental election we will add in toppings as vice president and then see if it is harder to decide who will win the election.

On election day a few of the families (the rest celebrated at home) joined us for the "unveiling" of the winner and to have an ice cream party with the winning candidate. Here are some pictures from the election meeting. It was a lot of fun and I believe the kids were able to understand the election process a little bit more! We can't wait for four more years to do it again!

Chicago Marathon - part 2

For those that want more pictures of the Marathon, here they are! These were not taken by me, but by others along the race. To see my pictures look two blogs down. I am bias, but they are good! 8-)

Here are some more of Jason on the race!

Have I Been Educated?

HAVE I BEEN EDUCATED? by Carolyn Caines

If I learn my ABCs, can read 600 words per minute, and can write with perfect penmanship, but have not been shown how to communicate with the Designer of all language... I HAVE NOT BEEN EDUCATED.

If I can deliver an eloquent speech and persuade you with my stunning logic, but have not been instructed in God's wisdom... I HAVE NOT BEEN EDUCATED.

If I read Shakespeare and John Locke and can discuss their writings with keen insidght, but have not read the greatest of all books -- the Bible -- and have no knowledge of its personal importance... I HAVE NOT BEEN EDUCATED.

If I have memorized addition facts, multiplication tables, and chemical formulas, but have never been disciplined to hide God's Word in my heart... I HAVE NOT BEEN EDUCATED.

If I can explan the law of gravity and Einstein's theory of relativity, but have never been instructed in the unchangeable laws of the One Who orders our universe... I HAVE NOT BEEN EDUCATED.

If I can classify animals by their family, genus and species, and can write a lengthy scientific paper that wins an award, but have not been introduced to the Maker's purpose for all creation, ...I HAVE NOT BEEN EDUCATED.

If I can recite the Getty burg Address and the Preamble to the Constitution, but have not been informed of the hand of God in the history of our country... I HAVE NOT BEEN EDUCATED.

If I can play the piano, the violin, six other instruments, and can write music that moves men to tears, but have not been taught to listen to the Director of the universe and worship Him, ...I HAVE NOT BEEN EDUCATED.

If I can run cross-country races, star in basketball and do 100 push-ups without stopping, but have never been shown how to bend my spirit to do God's will, ... I HAVE NOT BEEN EDUCATED.

If I can identify a Picasso, describe the style of da Vinci, and even paint a portrait that earns an A+, but have not learned that all harmony and beauty comes from a relationship with God, ...I HAVE NOT BEEN EDUCATED.

If I were to graduate with a perfect 4.0 and am accepted at the best university with a full scholarship, but have not been guided into a career of God's choosing for me, ...I HAVE NOT BEEN EDUCATED.

If I become a good citizen, voting at each election and fighting for what is moral and right, but have not been told of (or believe) the sinfulness of man and his hopelessness without Christ, ... I HAVE NOT BEEN EDUCATED.

However, if one day I see the world as God sees it, and come to know Him, Whom to know is life eternal, and glorify God by fulfilling His purpose for me, THEN I HAVE BEEN EDUCATED!

I found this poem and loved it point and purpose, and it is a great reminder to me as I teach my children that there is more than being the top of their class (although that is a good thing to be too). It reminds me to keep my priority straight throughout the day and I thought I would share it will you.

Chicago Marathon - World Vision

This weekend my husband did such a wonderful thing...ran a Marathon to raise money for kids in Africa! Last year it was to help the kids with AIDS in Africa, this year it was to raise money to supply them with clean drinking water in Zambia. He did a great job running it in 6 hours and 5 minutes. The kids and I were able to go and cheer him on at 3 miles, 11 miles, 21 miles (in Chinatown) and the finish line. The kids did great cheering him on and they walked to all the different places, after I even had to wake them up at 6 am to get downtown soon enough to get a good spot to cheer him on. Jason had a few friends join him in the cause this year and it was a great time for them all. Sidney even surprised us all and in his first marathon at almost 50 years old ran it in 3 hours and 51 minutes! Go Sidney! At 11 miles he looked like he was out for a fun jog...it was so cute to see him bouncing up and down! Next year Jason is planning on doing it again and I am planning on doing the 1/2 marathon so if you want to join us to help kids in Africa and get healthy too...come and join our team!!! Go World Vision! Check out World Vision at http://www.worldvision.com/ and if you want to sign up to join me with the half marathon check out http://www.chicagohalfmarathon.com/

Once Upon a Time...

So we are studying ancient Egypt and read about the one of the first fairy tales, Gilgamesh and the lion. So for one of our project it suggested the kids to come up with there own fairy tales. I thought I would put them on here so that you can sit back and enjoy!

Pirates at Sea by John Platt

The pirates were out at sea. They were looking for the treasure, but they couldn't find it. All the nice guys hid in trees because they were so scared. The pirates searched and searched, they couldn't find the treasure anywhere. The captian said, "I think I know where the treasure is!" "Where?" said the crew. "At Sunny Island" he said. "Let's go, sir!" they shouted. So they went to Sunny Island. They searched on Sunny Island for the U V W X Y Z, the X was the one they really wanted to find. When they went there all the letters were there but the X. "This must be the wrong island" said one of the pirates. Then another pirate spotted the X far away on another island, so they got on their ship and sailed to the other island. They ran to the X as fast as they could. They dug and dug and dug until one of the pirates hit something. Could it be? Yes, it is the treasure! "Yeah," they all said, " we found it after searching miles and miles and miles and miles and miles. We finally found it!" When they opened it they found tons of money. The nice guys suddenly came out of the trees. They fought back and forth, back and forth until finally the pirates won the battle! The End

The Fairy had a baby by Emily Platt

Once upon a time the fairy had a baby on Sunday. The mermaid said, "I love your pretty baby." Then she said, "Let's go to the park with your pretty baby." Then a princess came along to the park to see the pretty baby on her way back from school. Then the princess' mom, the queen, came to the park to see her husband. The king had been teaching the princess. Then a prince came to see the pretty baby, he had followed the king and queen. Then they had some beach time and then the fairy was swinging the baby in the water. They all went for dinner and lunch. They had a big feast where they ate and ate. The baby started to cry because the baby was allergic to the water and the mother did not know. They put her to bed to get good rest and in the morning she was not sick at all. They they had her birthday party! The End

Princess of Fairy by Kiley Platt

Once upon a time a girl was walking to school and she knew just what to do. She went over and did her math before her teacher came because her mom told her to so she would be helpful. When the teacher came she did her lessons. Then she came home and her little sister came and gave her a big hug because she was excited her big sister came home. It was lunch time, they ate berad and went to the park, they ate their lunch at the park. Then mom said, "Girls, it is time to go, we have to go bring flowers to Grandpa because he is sick." When they gave him the flowers Grandpa said, "Thank you." Then they had dinner.

Lizzie and Peach and Sarah by Karli Platt

Once upon a time the princess was going on a walk to the store to get some food. While at the store she broke the jelly jar. Then they picked out some other jellies and took them to the farm and ate them up. Then they went to the fair and went and got some candy with chocolate and strawberry. They put it in a bowl for dogs and cats. Then they went to bed and got some rest. When they woke up they got some cereal for dogs and cats. The End

I hope you enjoyed these priceless tales. I did and I was so proud of them and their creativity. I wish my computer was working better so I could get the illustrations on here. I will try at a later date. I hope sometime soon you have a chance to sit down and just take a moment to think about what your fairy tale would be of. We would love to hear!