Pictures of Morgan's Thanksgiving Day Program on Friday

More Pictures of the Thanksgiving Day Program

Morgan with her Jr. K teacher, Mrs. Baer

Pictures of Morgan and Ryana

Pictures of Morgan, Linnea, and Ryana after the program

Update on Pastor James

November 4, 2008

Dear Praying Friends:

Yesterday was a good day. We had incredible doors open to world-renowned experts in prostate cancer and had two appointments, with a third coming November 17 at Northwestern. We have been assured that nothing is so urgent that we cannot travel to Israel, so we are going to leave this with the Lord and give ourselves to this wonderful opportunity to visit the lands of the Bible, which we have never done. We will be on a plane to the Holy Land tonight.

We have some difficult decisions to make regarding surgery to remove the prostate or radiation. Both courses of action come with significant possible negatives. We are leaning toward the option that is most effective for cancer treatment and leave the side effects with the Lord. Pray for our final decision before Thanksgiving and a possible surgery in early December.

Best of all, we have experienced an outpouring of love and support that has often been described by others, but now experienced by us as never before. The sense of the Lord’s presence is very real, the peace is tangible, and the comfort is deeply meaningful. “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble, and He knows those who trust in Him.” Nahum 1:7.

We covet your continued prayers through Thanksgiving for wisdom and unwavering faith. We will update you again as our decisions become clearer. We are so thankful for your love and prayers for us; they are needed and experienced.

Much love in Christ,

James and Kathy

Pray for Pastor James

I just received the following today...

November 3, 2008

Dear Praying Friends and Family:

I am dashing off a quick note of total dependence upon the Lord and a request for your prayers for me and my family.

I found out Friday that I have prostate cancer. I will know more of its severity after a doctor’s appointment tonight, but I know enough now to know it is not ‘routine.” As many of you are aware, Kathy and I are scheduled to leave tomorrow for a 10-day trip to Israel and I will have to decide tonight if that is the best course of action under the circumstances.

Please pray for wisdom in choosing the best course of action for my treatment and for the Lord’s protection upon my family during this time of trial.

“He knows the way that I take, and when He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” Job 23:10.

In the Love of Christ,

Pastor James

Addie Finally Has Teeth!!!

I took these this morning while she was in between eating crackers (her favorite). All summer Erin and I dealt with crabby Addie and her teeth that never appeared....Finally, after a long time, her teeth are here!!!

Summer Memories

Hey Erin - look! They are finally eating! I guess the vibrant colors and patterns didn't scare them afterall!!!

This is the birdfeeder we decorated this summer and put all our names on. Erin and I thought that it might scare all the birds off.....guess not. They just had to get hungry!!! So much fun!

How Things Work - According to Morgan's World

This morning I was doing Morgan's hair when she said, "Mom, we need to cut my bangs." And I'm thinkin' no way, it has taken this long to grow out since we did it ourselves! So I say, "Why do you want to do that?" To which she replies, "Because pretty soon I'll be tripping over them."

Sadly, I can relate....I think she must have my mind - oh gosh, hold on! I used to think that those dryer things at the salon were what grew your hair longer. It made sense to me, b/c if you could cut it to make it short, surely you would need something to make it longer, right!?!

Jessica's Birthday Party

This is Morgan at her friend Jessica's birthday party held at Pump it Up! She looks like a pro, huh! But this is as far as she went!!!

While Morgan was climbing so were Linnea (left) and Jessica (right). This was our first Pump it Up party so, it was also Morgan's first exposure to a rock wall. Linnea and Jessica have been to others, so they ventured a little further up. These are also Morgan's very best friends at school!

God Only Knows....

I needed a good laugh! Okay, so as I was putting Addie to bed I heard Roxie walk down the hall (thanks to hardwood floors, nothing slips by) prancing back and forth. Here I am thinking, Roooxxiieeee, come on, I am trin' to get the kid to bed.... Addie and I walk out of her room and into the hall, where I see Roxie and we proceed to the back door - out ya go. I think to myself, where is the other one....probably under my bed with a pair of my underwear (sadly, I have come to hate these dogs - sad I know). Going back to Addie bedroom, I get her laid down, but I can't find Ellie, but I hear her. I hear her nails on what I assume is the the hardwood floor, which means she is not under my bed - thank God - and she is not in Addie's room b/c we are the only two rooms with carpet. I check Morgan's room, the hall closet, back to Morgan's room to check her closet and she is no where, but I still hear her. I'm thinking, what could the chances be that she is in the bathtub - zero - wrong! There she is in the bathtub, behind the bath curtin! What on earth!?! How did she get in there??? Better question, how long has she been in there??? God only knows!!!

Heavy Hearted

I feel very heavy hearted today over just a wide array of things. I am not necessarily down, or overwhelmed, just a lot on my mind about things, people and my own sinful nature. I think about how satan likes us to keep things to ourselves inside. It's how he maintains control over out lives, but once it is aired his grip loosens. Because of this I want to just open up for a moment and I would encourage you to post if you happen to stop by, please.

I feel for the most part my heart and feelings towards others are pure (well at least as pure as a sinful person can be?). But I know inadvertently I have hurt people with out meaning too. And I think about those people whom I may have hurt down the road of life and this pilgrimage to be more like Jesus. I know that this may sound general, but I am just speaking my feelings at this stage, I am sorry. I am so sorry that I have hurt you, it surely has never been my intent in my heart to do so. I also feel as though i have let people down - most importantly my savior - Jesus Christ. As I strive to be like Him, I realize how radical that looks in this world - even to some other believers and I am not trying to be "holier than thy" but who Jesus was - was radical - are you with me on this? Maybe I am way off base. I try to keep my eyes fixed on Him and I strive so hard to be like Him, but I let him down, I hurt others, and I am so not worthy, when the truth be told. But my intentions are not to hurt, but to love. I sometimes feel social inadept(sp?) to express my feelings, yet remember not to inadvertantly hurt someone else, but somehow manage to do so regularly. I really stink at this.

I miss my friend, my right arm, my bud, Erin. Even though this transition back to reality has by God's grace just gone more smoothly than anticipated - I still miss you girl! I can't wait to see you in Paris. I miss my other friends too. Gina and Tanya and Patti. I miss you guys - even though you don't read my blog. I find it hard to stay in communication with them and I feel us drifting apart unintentionally. I desire a deep friendship close to home like I had with each of these people who have impacted my life. I find women are hard to open up. My heart goes out to them, especially my first small group of women here, whom bless their hearts, were always open. I love them. And now, the group God has entrusted to me this year to lead. Only two of the 7 showed up last Tuesday. I was so sad. I genuinely have a love for each of them - in different ways. And I wish I knew how to express that to each of them without coming across as strange. Is anyone with me on this? But how do you reach out to people? I fear getting on the phone and calling because my children most definately will scream and throw fits, or I am just paralysed with fear to call people - don't know why - I guess I am just messed up that way. I am also thinking of Jami, Megan, and Leslie. I deeply desire to know them more. I don't know how to connect with you ladies. I mean you each have your own, never ending supply of friends. I love you each and I think about you and your families so much. Here I am with what feels like no one most of the time. Thank God for Jesus - I mean if I didn't have him, I don't know how I would manage to keep going on. And now I think about my husband, whom I love so dearly. And how desperately I wish he knew Jesus like I do. I mean the things Jesus has done in my life is simply unreal - it's just a miracle.... My eyes are open, I get things I never got before.... I think about my sister, I love her so much and she is such a beautiful person inside - if you don't know her, you should - she'll just change your life forever. I love you. Of course my parents - I don't know where they stand spiritually, but I have been trying to reach out to them. I find it difficult though. There is a lot of pride on both ends and I pray that I can move past mine and God would soften their hearts to Him. I don't want to go to heaven with out either of them. And recently I have been getting into facebook. I have reconnected with so many classmates from school, some whom I felt hurt by growing up, but it is amazing what time and perspective can do to people and I thank God for each one of them.

I think about my own sinful nature. My biggest sins right now are food and controlling the sugar in my life. I can't help it I am a sugar addict - just like dad. I feel trapped in this gotta have sugar or something sweet all the time. Despite taking vitamins and what not, I crave sweet things so much. I feel like a slave to it. And now I can never find the time to exercise. I am "hands on" most of the time all day - this is why I hardly post, I lack to email. I am just thankful that I can get in the word most days - the most important thing. My other biggest sin is spending money. While I don't think I am overboard at all, I know that it is probably not under control in the way it should be. To some degree, it is just a way to get out of the house - b/c I feel trapped here alot. B/c there is no time for "me" or freedom to do "fun things" - I guess this is a release of sorts for me. I need to get it better under control though. Pray for me.

I love my kids.... Morgan is finally managable, but I have to just stay on top of her a lot. At least she is not so out of control and crazy like in the past. She has seemed to somewhat have come closer to level. Praise God! Addie is a momma's girl but she is so sweet. Too cute for her own good you know!?! I can't wait until Kyle gets back after being gone for two weeks....I could use some me time and we time.

I am actually so happy to be done working and really do not have a desire to go back next summer - truly - I really don't want to, but I know I will. It is so much, and so stressful teaching the arts and crafts. And I am so down on the women's clothing - b/c nobody buys....it's frustrating. I don't blame them, I mean - I would go to TJ Max or Marshalls for my golfwear too. Who wants to pay full price or sale price. The things are so adorable, but when you can get two or three outfits for the price these things are?? But it is also in part our compensation. Enough said about that.

I am still not sure about Halloween......it is so over the top any more. DO you know that it brings in more money than Christmas??? How is that possible? Look at your neighbors yard....or the prices they want for a costume.... sick, just sick - sorry if I have offended you. I just don't think I can see Jesus dressing up and going out with the disciples..... Although, I could be wrong.

So, this is my heart today.... well, most days, but today it feels heavier than most. And I have a ragging headache that does not want to go away.

What To Do?

It's coming and I'm not ready to provide an answer yet....I don't know what to do. What would Jesus do? I keep asking myself.... So here on the right shoulder stands conviction and over here on the left shoulder stands everything else the world will be doing. What is this? It is the much dreaded Halloween. I just don't like what it stands for. Yes, it is harmless in some ways. I mean they just dress up and get candy and every kid does it. But aren't we supposed to be different? I just can't help but think that this is Satan's biggest rally on the Christian. I mean is he telling God look at your believers participating in a pagan holiday. It feels much to much like a spiritual battle. Yet, at the same time I don't know what to tell my kid. And it is everywhere. We had a bag show up on our doorstep the other day that said "you've been booed" with candy in it. What do I tell my kid.....it is inescapable. So, if we participate, I am thinking that we need to do something to give glory to God.....lame but all I can come up with is handing out tracks.... I just don't know what to say to Morgan.... I didn't have to answer last year because we flew to NC on the 31st, taking the decision from me - thank God! But I don't have an anwer for this year.....

Morgan's 1st Day of School!

Here is Morgan in front of her locker the first day of school......uh, 2 weeks ago! She is so in love with school! In fact, on the first day, she told her teacher that she loved her! To which her teacher replied, oh what a nice thing to say Morgan. Hey that's my kid...and me. It's all or nothing, almost never a middle ground.

We get homework every night which consists of reading/phonics, math, and a bible verse a week that she repeats each night 5 times. The reading so far has been vowels. The first week we worked on writing and saying short a, the second short e. The math has been just identifying, talking about, and writing numbers. Her first verse was: And God said let there be light, and there was light. Genesis 1:3. Last weeks verse was: Beloved, Let us love one another, for love is of God. 1 John 4:7. I love it! It is great and she loves having more substantial conversations about God and Jesus. We even got our first invite from school to attend a birthday party!

Needless to say I am thrilled and so excited to see her learn!

Various Updates

I can't believe it.....summer is over.... Have you seen lately, leaves on the yards as your driving out of your neighborhood or around town? I even saw on my way up to the golf shop a couple trees that have already changed colors! I just can't believe that the summer has gone so quickly. And believe me, I am thankful after a hard and full summer. As we are switching gears towards fall/winter I am looking forward to our new schedule. Morgan starts Kindergarden Monday! She will be going half days in the afternoon m-f. I am told by November she will be reading and by May at a first grade level. This is just so hard for me to grasp - she is only 4 and will be reading!?! Wow.... Not only that but she will be memorizing new bible verses every week. Tuesday we went for orientation and meet the teacher. Here is a picture of Morg's just before we left:

Morgan is also taking a ballet class on Wednesday mornings. It is a pretty structured class and seems to be a serious dance company. She is so excited and so are we that she won't be twirling into anymore furniture! The kid seriously scares me.....you know at 18 months we took her to the ER near grandma and grandpa bauer's for twirling into a rocking chair and smacking her forhead on the arm! So here she is after her twirling adventure:

Morgan will also be doing Awana this year, which will be new for her.

Some things that I will be up to are returning to CBS on Tuesday mornings again with the girls, which I LOVE doing. We will be studing John this year, as well as my church, and the small group I am going to lead at church this fall/winter. Yes, finally after a couple years of dodging this request, I finally am stepping out in faith to do this. And surprizingly I am not really all that scared like I was a year ago. But I finally came to realize that I am doing nothing to help further God's kingdom by being perfectly comfortable in my small group. God hasn't called us to a life of comfort, but rather on being in constant need for Him. So, I am saying YES, and believing that God will use me for His purpose. Please pray for me if you think of it, I WILL need it. I also plan on working at the club two days a week - Thursday and Friday.

As for Addy - I think she will spend her past time with me working on walking and talking!

Of course, as always, we will be looking forward to some skiing time as well!

Noah's Ark Water Park - Day 2 & Deer Park

Since we had a 2 for 1 deal on the waterpark, we went back on Wednesday. It was pretty much, the same as the previous day, but we did try a different area of the park. When we went to get in the water with Morgan's water wings, they told us to get out. Evidentally we could not be in there with those on her arms. To say the least, that was frustrating. I then tried to get her interested in the tadpole bay area, however, she did not like the water spraying, even lightly, on her - argh!!! She just wanted to head back to the wave pool. So we did. We packed up everything and moved. She and I enjoyed most of the day in there. She just loves the waves. At one point I had taken Addy in as well. She enjoyed it too! Addy loves the water....well, I think most babies do. If ever she is in a bad mood, if I run her bath and put her in, she is all smiles. She loves it!

I was itchin' to try out some slides - although the guilt of leaving the kids behind is so great, I was able to try out a couple with my dad. **On a side note, do you ever feel like when you do things with your dad, people might think your a couple? I don't know, my dad had said that once, so now everytime we do something together, that what I imagine people are thinking....it is probably just the enemy working though.** Anyway, the first one we went down, and by the way these were on huge rafts for 4-5 people, was in my opinion boring, but then I do desire to have my life flash before my eyes so say something is exciting....sad, I know. The other one we went on, I made my dad go twice, was called dark voyage. Now, the first time it was hugely exciting, b/c it was pitch black inside and you had no idea what was coming up next - I loved it! The second time, just wasn't the same....almost....yeah, boring. So that was it, that was all I could get him to do with me and truth be told, it was okay, I was thankful to be able to just go!

Thursday, we decided to take the girls to the Wisconsin Deer Park, which was fun! If you have never been I recommend you go if you get the chance. When else are you able to come face to face with a deer, besides your windshield? The deer are very friendly, but still easily spooked. You get to feed them and pet them. They are in a large open area with trees. So they roam freely. Some still had the velvet on their antlers. They feel really cool and did you know they are actually like a finger? They have blood running through them and are warm, that is until the shed the velvet part, which bleeds and then reveals the bone like part of the antlers we commonly see. Morgan had fun and I think Addy did to. She loves to be strollered (morgan never did) and outdoors. A couple times some deer came noes to noes with her and she was a little spooked I think!

We had a good time, but I really enjoyed getting back to a normal routine too. The weather up here has been absolutely wonderful - praise you Father, you are so good. I am looking forward to fall and a change of events in our lives! Morgan starts school the 8th! We are excited for her as she is too! More to come in the future!

Noah's Ark Water Park - Day 1

Anyone who knows me, knows that I am the adventurous type. I am game for just about anything, except food....just one place that I am not very adventurous, although I will try most things once, not always, most of the time. On the other hand, Morgan is not. Naturally, I have a hard time identifying with this non-adventurous type. I can certainly respect trying something once and deciding that you don't like it, but to flat out say no without even considering trying it, well, is very difficult for me to understand being so closed minded. Morgan also reminds me a lot of myself at her age. She talks a big story, but when the time comes, she's just full of hot air! So, I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little disappointed that she flat out refused to go down the kiddie slides in the toddler pool at Noah's Ark. Now, she tells me she doesn't like going fast....what?!?! I am perplexed, where does she get this extreme attitude from? Certainly, not from me, uh-umm, the other half perhaps? Here is where we were yesterday:

See that turtle guy in the middle of the picture? On it's back side is a small slide (smaller than playgrounds). Refused! Absolutely, refused! No matter how much I bribed her, no way, no how! I finally gave up.....for awhile anyway. To my surprize, we ventured over to the wave pool, when it was not on at the moment - 10 min on, 10 min off - and when it turned on, Morgan loved it! It was her favorite thing to do. We did this most of the day. Here is a picture of that:

Addy went with us too. Although we managed to get her to sleep most of the time we were there, she sat in the zero entry part of the kiddie pool for a little while and loved splashing the water. She seemed to enjoy the day as well.

At the end of the day, we had just had our last "ride" in the wave pool when Morgan and I were heading back to grandma and grandpa and addy, I told her that they wouldn't let us leave until everyone had tried a slide. I picked her up and ran over to the kiddie pool, up the turtle and before she could protest down the slide with me! I'm mean, yes, I know, but how do you help a child break down those silly barriers? Well, she told me it was too fast and she didn't like it. Knowing that as a child that is something I would say, b/c I didn't want my parents to have any satisfaction in the fact that I enjoyed something they pressed me to do, I am sure she liked it - even if just a little. We plan on going back today -if it gets warm enough. We have a buy one day, get one free thing. I'll let you know if we do go!

Camp is F-I-N-A-L-L-Y OVER!!!!!

The ten week camp that I have now done for the past two years is finally over for the season. The camp does golf (kyle or staff), arts & crafts (me), tennis and swimming. It is stretched over four hours 9 am - 1 pm, 4 days a week, 10 weeks this year. I do two classes of arts & crafts for an hour each group. The first group is for the older kids 7-9 years and the second group is for younger ones 3-6 yrs. I have a helper, but it is never enough. At the height of camp I had 30, 3-6 yr olds for one week....I about died! And it is times like those that I just hate camp. On the low end we had 6 kids combined for one week and these are the times I love camp. The amount of hours I put into the camp developing projects, shopping for supplies, testing out projects, transporting, prepping, cleaning and actually doing the 2 hour session of the camp, just does not pay for the lost time with my kids, husband, house, and time for myself. I've got to get better at deligation for next year. Speaking of which, I should have 2 additional helpers, and an omission of the 3 and 4 year olds, they just can't do it in a group setting. In the beginning of the year I am always very excited and overly hopeful! Some new things we did this year that were fun was basket weaving, and knotting blankets which was very hard for my older group (little kids did not do). My flop this year, there is always one, was my lacing (sewing) project for the little ones with plastic needles. Wow, can you say overwhelmed!?! I will never do that one again. My favorite projects were the molding clay, perler beads, stringing necklaces with pasta or beads, and of course all the flour and water projects with newspaper and balloons. I am not sad to see it end as I am burned out for the summer. However, I love crafting and could do it myself all day. There is just something so soothing about zoning out and just working with my hands. I am now going on a small vacation with my parents in their new rv in wisconsin dells starting Sunday. Time for refueling, spending time with the kiddos and doing summer things that I don't get to do all year! I am really looking forward to this break and pray that the weather would be good and Addison would sleep. If you have craft ideas, I am always looking for new things! Please post!!!!

A Matter of Time

About a month ago Addison started this what I would call a speeding worm crawl. If you can picture how a worm would crawl in a waving like pattern, only instead of slowly and methodically, at record racing pace across the floor in hopes of getting her little hands on something that has caught her eye. It took her only seconds to do this and was quite enjoyable to watch....but knowing my days of her lying nicly on the floor were soon over. Shortly after Morgan's birthday celebration the 3rd of August, Addison got up and crawled in a correct manner....she'd only been crawling a few days when she started pulling up on everything she thought was sturdy enough and then grin from ear to ear, as if saying look at me! Her once unsteady legs that would slowly slide apart until she was violently screaming down to the middle splits has given way to a more sturdy unsliding stance. I can see in her eyes that she is ready to venture out, since falling doesn't seem to phase her much. Oh, it is only a matter of time before she is into everything....our winter should be stacked with lots of new adventures!