As of Late...

Spring has made an appearance!

Eddie came over to play, and thoroughly enjoyed taking a nap in Quintin's teepee:

Shelby and I made LOTS of lasagnas for a church dinner:

We've been tired:

I attended Accepted Students Day at Defiance College with Shana:

Jordan has actually enjoyed reading!

We've been hard at work on our rental house. We are completely remodeling it and hoping to sell it this summer.

Grandma, Laura, Eddie, Eli, Quintin, and I had fun at the Imagination Station:

Today is our 19th wedding anniversary!

And last, but definitely not least, Malia decided to give her life to Jesus last night! We are rejoicing and asking for prayers through this important and life-changing time.

He Is Risen!

Happy Easter from our family to yours. He is risen!

Today was bittersweet. I love Easter and the joy it brings, but since today was also my due date for the baby(ies) I miscarried last fall, we felt some sadness as well. I'm so thankful that Christ died and rose again so that we can meet our other family member(s) in heaven someday!

It's So Hard to Believe...

...that this girl will soon be graduating! Wow. It seems like just a short time ago that she was climbing on the school bus for the first time. I definitely have a bittersweet feeling as we prepare for graduation, but I am so thankful for the responsible and beautiful young woman that Shana has become. She has such a bright future ahead!

It's only for a moment you are mine to hold

The plans that heaven has for you

Will all too soon unfold

So many different prayers I'll pray

For all that you might do

But most of all I'll want to know

You're walking in the truth

And If I never told you

I want you to know
As I watch you grow

I pray that God would fill your heart with dreams

And that faith gives you the courage

To dare to do great things

I'm here for you whatever this life brings

So let my love give you roots

And help you find your wings

May passion be the wind

That leads you through your days

And may conviction keep you strong

Guide you on your way

May there be many moments

That make your life so sweet

Oh, but more than memories

I pray that God would fill your heart with dreams

And that faith gives you the courage

To dare to do great things

I'm here for you whatever this life brings

So let my love give you roots

And help you find your wings

It's not living if you don't reach for the sky
I'll have tears as you take off
But I'll cheer as you fly

I pray that God would fill your heart with dreams

And that faith gives you the courage

To dare to do great things

I'm here for you whatever this life brings

So let my love give you roots

And help you find your wings

Find Your Wings by Mark Harris

Mr. Q

For several days, this kid insisted on wearing the hat in the photo above, talking in what he thinks is a cowboy accent, and saying, "That's swell!" everytime he was happy about something.

Quintin's prayer one night as he was playing church: "Heavenly Father, we come to Jesus in prayer and our lives are true. We have our freedom and we go to church. We take our toys like bells, but not dinosaurs, and especially elephants. Hippos and giraffes and bears. We die to go to Heaven. So satan can go be burned up in hell. Daniel and the lions' den...that's bad. We play games at church. I love you too. Amen."

One morning, he called Jordan stupid. I said, "Quintin! He is not stupid, and don't call names!" He said, "Well, I'm smarter than he is." I said, "No, you're not. He knows how to multiply. What is 6x4?" Quintin's reply? "Umm, I would say...24." Total guess, out of the blue. 🤣

Quintin: "Mom, can I go A-D-I-T-H-E?" Me: "You want to go adithe?" Q: "No! I spelled 'outside!' Mom, can I go H-I-J-E?"

Recently...

Shana received this certification, was accepted into the social work program at college, and started working at The Gardens nursing home all in the same week. Going to college and working 3 jobs while getting ready for high school graduation is a lot of work! 

The Bible Class served lunch at church one Sunday. Adrian took a ride on Sandy while shopping for groceries at Meijer.

Cousin time! Carly, Eddie, Ashton, Quintin.

A beautiful double rainbow.

Sleepytime snuggles. Some days I relish this, knowing that there probably won't be too many more times that he falls asleep on me. Kids just grow way too fast.

Poor Quintin had a nasty double ear infection and pneumonia.  

After a brutally cold winter, we are enjoying some warmer days and are thankful spring is here.

Are you a 2 for $4 breakfast sandwich in need of a job?

Malia was on crutches for about a week due to her Severs disease. She is now undergoing physical therapy for her knee and foot.

The twins decided I needed a pedicure one night, and took it upon themselves to make my feet nice and smooth. I didn't complain.

I have been enjoying the arrival of Easter candy, particularly Cadbury mini eggs...