Check out my daughter's blog.

I didn't even realize that she notice... go read, it's short.

What a beautiful group of Grandkids!

Back row: Brandon (nephew), Zack (son), Emily (niece), Derek (nephew), Desmond (nephew)
Front row: Libby (daughter), Kaylyn (daughter), Kendra (niece), Anna (daughter)

Warning:Spoiler Alert for Christmas Eve Service

Don't watch this if you are going to be attending Lighthouse church tonight because it is a sneak preview of what Libby will be singing tonight at church. It is a song by Francesca Battistelli called "You're Here".

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas! Enjoy this special time with family and friends and know that God loves you!

Snow Day Fun

Per Cheri's request.

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

And a bonus one for fun.... (if it works)I removed it since it wasn't working correctly.

A picture for Kat

I noticed that in this picture of Emily I got my "Christmas headboard" in the background. I got this idea form Kat and Mark really likes it also. I think I will be doing this every year. Thanks Kat for sharing this idea!

Christmas Program

Here is Libby saying her verse at our Christmas program Sunday. The kids all did such a great job.

Singing songs.

Wordless acting.

Being still.

Watching.

Elf Yourself

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

TimberWolf

It is going to be hard to pick what pictures to share but I will try to limit it. We had so much fun this weekend on our youth group retreat to TimberWolf Lake. We spent most the weekend indoors thanks to the blizzard that we were living in but it was still a great time.

Here is a picture of the dorms we stayed in. Each dorm has 8 cabins in them and each cabin has it's own bathrooms and sleeps about 16.

Here is a picture from the 2nd floor inside the dorm looking over the "hang out" area.

Some of the kids hanging out on the second floor.

Here is Anna and our fearless youth pastor Brandon.

We ate really well. We were always served family style with as many refills as we needed. It was really good food.

This was a little payback from Anna to Cody for throwing her in the snowbank earlier.

Ice cream, coffee, and candy. Just what they needed to keep the leaders up all night. lol!

A performance from "Mega Man".

What High Schooler wouldn't want to go bobbing in a pan of flour for marshmallows?

Anna and Jordan climbing the rock wall.

Anna and Jordan again at lunch.

Taylor in the news.

Continued great news on Taylor.

French Toast Sticks and Hope

Posted 7 minutes ago

Sorry this is coming a bit late. I actually wrote an update several hours ago, but evidently got distracted before I posted it, and lost it. Taylor ate a full breakfast of french toast sticks this morning (wolfed em right down) and as a result, got to have his tube feeding discontinued. He later also got his central line taken out in anticipation for his procedure tomorrow to have an automatic defibrillator implanted (similiar to a pacemaker, about the size of a quarter). He had 2 MRI's this am, which we are awaiting the results of. Taylor went for a walk today as well, or should I call it a sprint? I had to fast walk to catch up. He also was on the computer and logged on to his facebook, so you in the younger crowd can check that out. Taylor has as his goal to sit on the bench for the first HHS basketball game next week. From his lips to God's ears! Amazingly, barring any further complication, I don't see this as an unreasonable goal. Praise God for his mercy. We serve a God of grace and mercy.

Amazing!

updates from Sara on Taylor's condition over the night. God is good!

"hello" and "Just look at you God!"

Posted 8 hours ago

Taylor just got his vent/breathing tube gastric drain tube completely out. He continues to breathe well on his own. The nurse asked him to try to say "hi" or something and he whispered a husky "hello". Our dear friend Vanika prophesied during a prayer just yesterday that we would be saying "Just look at you, God!". Vanika, you were so right...I would like us all to say a collective "Just look at you, God!" He has done more than we could ever ask or imagine. We still have an incredible road ahead, but we never could have predicted the miraculous events of today. For all of you out there posting and praying, I also say, "Just look at you!" You will never know the depth of our gratitude for your caring and prayers.

interesting turn of events

Posted 1 hour ago

Well, we have gone from thrilled that Taylor opened his eyes, to Taylor fighting with his mom about having to be in the hospital. One of the sedating drugs he had, wiped away the memory of all of the trauma of why he is here. Taylor is stating "But I'm healthy! " Praise God his personality is intact-the teenage one that blames mom for all things that are unfair-...but yet we need prayers that he will accept the fact that he will need to remain here for some time for the tests and assessments to determine the cause of the cardiac arrest.