Blog Update

Hey all. I am looking at starting some new weekly posts. Hopefully beginning next week I will start Monday Mumblings. This will be random thoughts, family news, etc...

Then there will be Wordless Wednesdays. This will be a picture post. I love nature shots but I also love taking pictures of my family. Sometimes these will be themed and other times random snapshots, but either way there will be no words.

Finally I hope to do a post each Friday that will be a post that is more spiritual in nature. This will be a post in which I may get a bit preachy or I may just share from my heart something that God is teaching me. (I have not come up with a clever name for this post yet. Ideas are welcome.)

I will look to begin these new posts next week, but later this week look for a post or two that will include pictures from our Thanksgiving holiday as well as Christmas preparations in our home.

I hope your holiday was filled with love and family. Ours was and we are so grateful for the days we had with family in Indiana.

Ramblings

We have had a crazy week or two. Life is busy. Aaron started his new job along with having a few basketball practices thrown in. The church is getting ready for the holiday season as well as changing our service times, which has required a lot of extra hours for me.

The down time we have had we have tried to spend together. Last weekend, Aaron and I went on our first date since mid-July. It was wonderful.

The stomach virus hit again this week. This time it was me that was taken out by this round. It was awful. I am still not feeling great. I can't eat a lot yet. I am just so thankful that it happened this week instead of next. Hopefully I will be all set to eat tons of good Thanksgiving food.

This last week brought the boys first PA report cards and Parent-Teacher Conferences. The boys are doing really well. I was sick and unable to go to the conferences with Jack and Stephen's teachers but Aaron's report from them both were so great.

Jackson's teacher said that when she wants something done she will typically ask Jack to do it. She knows that when she asks him that it will be done and done well.

Stephen's teacher said that she uses him as an example to the other kids of how they should be behaving.

Some funny stories out of Stephen's conference were:

• She said that when Stephen is at his desk reading a bomb could go off behind him and he would never notice. (I have no idea where that trait comes from.) :-)
• A couple of days ago the word of the day was "of". She was trying to get Stephen to use it in a sentence. She started the sentence "Stephen is the son of..." (Thinking he would say Aaron and Heidi.) Stephen looks at her and says "God." (That's my boy!)

It is hard to believe that one week from today the holiday season is officially upon us. I am so excited to spend time with family.

Our family has had a "thankful vase" since the beginning of November. We each write something we are thankful for on a piece of paper, share it with the family, and then put it into the vase. While we have not done it every night, it has been fun to watch the vase fill with papers over the past few weeks. It is a great reminder in the midst of the craziness of everything that we are truly blessed.

Hopefully over the next few weeks I will be more consistent with posting to the blog. I have some thoughts for some weekly posts. We will have to see...

Re-Baptism

This past weekend, Aaron and I were re-baptized at our new church.

Here is the video clip.

God continues to be at work in us and through us.

A Week In Review

The past week has been busy.

Last Friday night the Girl's Volleyball Team from the Lititz Christian School played for the district championship. Since we don't "trick or treat" we decided this would be a great time as a family. The game was so fun and the girl's won. The kids had a blast.

After the game, we Skyped with Aaron's brother's family. It was great to connect with them in this way. It has been months since we have seen them so it was good to catch up.

Saturday was busy. I had things to get done for Sunday that just didn't get done during the week. Then we went to a Barn Party with a Sunday School class from the church. We got to meet some other families. The kids played in the hay loft where a zip line had been put up for them. We had a moment of panic when Alex's glasses got dropped into the hay. But after much searching (and a lot of momma's prayers) we found them. We finished the night with a hayride. It was chilly but not too cold. The sky was clear so you could see tons of twinkling stars.

Sunday was a typical Sunday=BUSY!

Tuesday was a BIG day. Aaron was offered two jobs. He accepted both. He is a route driver for Canteen Vending. His days will once again begin very early (probably 3 AM). The early start to the day will allow him the ability to be home for the kids and also to pursue his other new job, Assistant Varsity Girl's Basketball Coach.

Wednesday, Jack went to the Philadelphia Zoo. He loved it. No surprise there. We are looking forward to seeing his pictures. He took a disposable camera, so we will see what he was able to get.

Here we are back to Friday. We are going to go do some shopping tonight. I love living where there are great stores and malls close by.

Tomorrow the girl's volleyball team plays in the Semi-State game and if they win: the Championship Game.(This actually might be regional's and not state, either way it's exciting.) We are thinking about going and cheering them on.

Sunday, Aaron and I are being re-baptized at our new church. So that will add to the craziness of the day. But definitely worth it. We are excited to show our new church family that we are committed to the work of God in our personal lives as well as His work in this Church.

Much love to all of you. Praying your week ahead is filled with God's blessings.