Blah Blah Blah...

SOOO Kim here again! I'm downstairs on the computer doing my daily check for any new posts! I felt like writing a little something, about nothing in particular really....just felt like writing! We had the Thelen family up for a visit last weekend - the weather could've cooperated a little better but it didn't rain so at least we got to get outside for the fresh 'hair' as Makayla calls it! =) We went to the Platte River Hatchery to check out the fish for all the guys (although us girls liked it too!). We discovered a whole section of the hatchery that we've never seen before and I've been there 3 times before! Hello...I know my blode roots are showing but are they really THAT bad?!? The guys got a chance to putz around with the GPS looking for lakes while the 2 little ones slept which gave Bren and I some peace & quiet too! Ahh...always love a little R & R! Then we ordered out at Chili's and went to Moomers for ice cream! Moomers is a local place....it's right on a dairy farm and they make all their own ice cream. It really is probably the best ice cream I've ever tasted!! Makayla ate her 'Supermoo' down in about 3 bites and kept saying all night 'that was very very very good ice cream!' =)
I just got done baking a batch of choc chip cookies for my sweetie to take with him as he heads up to Newberry in the U.P. tomorrow for work. He'll be gone for 3 days so again Makayla and I will have to conjure up new adventures and make special memories of our own. It gets lonely, yes, but it's funny how when it's just the two of us we always end up having that special mommy/daughter time. I try so hard not to take that for granted even though some days I feel like pulling my hair out!! =) Time invested in your kids is ALWAYS worth the return!! =) On that note I'll bid you farewell! Have a blessed week and don't forget to be thankful for everything you have, no matter how small. Life is to be treasured.... Love you all!

Is Anyone Else In Heaven?

I just had to post a very quick note to see if anyone else is in heaven with this weather!!! Of course, this won't be long because I have to get back in the sunshine. But I am so blessed by the sunshine and warmth I had to say, "Thank You Jesus!" I keep telling myself that it is only March and it probably won't last but while it is here we are loving it!! Enjoy!

~Jen

more love from aunt katie

These are professional pictures that Robin and Ben had done of Avary and I don't know if they got a chance to share them with you. So I thought I would. These are only a few, but sweet precious Avary looks so cute.

Love her auntie Katie

Aunts who love their nephews and nieces

I was getting bored of just looking at our old entries....so I posted a picture of hunter and kendall. Nothing likes little kids smiles. I wish more then anything that they lived right next to me.

Love their aunt katie

We need some excitement for this monday!!

This is Hunter and Kendall, bath time!!!Kendall has such a precious smile.

Miss my little honeys, good thing I will be home in MI in a few days for a little vacation!!!

changes

WOW! I am so impressed with this family of mine. Not one day has gone by where there wasn't something new to read about. Thank you to everyone for contributing, and for you new "bloggers" out there, welcome!

I personally have news of my own. Today I changed my major. It's not that I don't want to be a nurse anymore or that I don't think that I can do it, I've just been realizing that I need to pursue the passions of my heart and that for me is photography. I have written about the nitty gritty details on my blog. Thanks for all of your prayers as Jason and I are up here figuring things out!


~love you Stacey

Aaron & Barbara and the boys

Hello Everyone,
I do believe this is the first post from us, I tried once a while ago and hit a wrong key and lost it all. I'm back though to do this again, I've got so much to say so I'll just give you a little at a time.
Things are going wonderful here in Hudsonville, we've been staying so busy with church and work and wrestling. The boys have had a little wrestling clinic 2 nights a week for the last month (they have been really liking it. They will be done on Monday wrestling and then will start little league T-Ball in about 2 wks.
God is doing such wonderful things at church, He is on the move growing and stretching us. Barb has stepped up and is heading up a new ministry at our church called the Care Cupboard. She will be keeping it organized and keep up on the inventory, the goal is to expand on our food drives so we will have items in hand to help meet needs on a constant basis. So I am so proud of her for stepping out of her shell to do this, I know God will bless what she is doing.
We are also starting a small group at our house on Sundays for married couples, us and one other couple will be leading it so pray that God will touch lives. I also have a mens group that meets over here on Monday nights so we have been keeping busy.
We finally are just about done with our basement, the drop ceiling is in and we just got our new carpet in on Saturday( it's so soft) and I moved our main entry door to come into our fireplace room now so we can have more room to get in and actully have an entry. So things are looking a little different around here but we are almost done, just a little painting.
Well that will be it for now, till next time love ya all.

ANSWER TO JENS ?

Hello Jen I didn't know how to respond to your question so i thought i would do a post Yes i am still doing massages so to you OR ANY ONE WANTS ONE :) let me know i have myspace ( under audrey eisen )if you wanna contact me or email is milesofsunshine@yahoo.com or my number is 262.4428. please don't feel you need to call just so u have the info if you ever want one. love to all if any one can tel me how to respond to a question without posting something let me know pleaseeeeee. well im off to go play with eli outside it 's so nice out can;t wait for summer. man i could go onand on typing. I love it but i won't bore you all who reads :) I LOVE THIS FAMILY WE R SO GREAT. so ........... different might i say ok really i'll go now lol

Don't You Love How God Made Children?

I thought I would share a cute kid story. I love to see into the minds of my children. They are truly amazing when I take the time to learn how they think. I am continually shocked to discover how much they can actually comprehend, at all ages!

The other day the girls and I were discussing my grandpa dying. I told Tori and Elli that God had given me a picture of my grandpa and grandma in heaven. They were living with Jesus, worshipping and dancing and having so much fun. Tori just sat there quietly thinking. Then she asked me, "Mommy, does that mean that they live in my heart?" What an amazing connection to make! I had told them that my grandparents live with Jesus and she knew Jesus was in her heart. I never thought about that connection.

As we continued the discussion, Elli's wheels were turning also. Of course, in typical Elli fashion she was in a completely different area of thought. She says to me, "Mommy when I go to heaven, I think there is going to be a big blankie for me." I had to laugh. The one thing that both my girls hold very dear is their blankies. So of course, Jesus would have to have a big blankie for them. Or it just wouldn't be paradise! :) Gotta love kids!

~ Jen

Our Valentines picture taken at Crazy Horse Restaraunt

Well, I figured out how to scan this in for you all. I know, it's a little crooked; just tilt your head.
I planted broccoli & pepper seeds to start in the house today; I did my tomato seeds a few days ago. It's a little late but I was waiting for new seeds that I'd ordered. Every spring I just can't wait to start planning my garden and being able to finally get outside. Uncle Doug trimmed all the raspberry canes from last year last week; we have to do the old asparagus yet too and uncover the strawbery plants soon. YUM, fresh picked strawberries,raspberries, asparagus, beans, tomatoes, broc, cucumbers, peppers, squashes; I can't wait! The chickens got let outside today for the first time this spring. They are very excited because it's very nasty in the chicken coop after all winter. . . and cleaning the chicken coop is another upcoming fun job. Any volunteers to help? I could share alittle of that lovely ckicken poop with you (if there's any fellow gardeners out there). It sure makes the garden grow better (if you let it age for a year first, it's very hot).
On that note I'll get going. :-)
Love you all, A. Rachel

THE TINY HANDS

THE HANDS BELONG TO MY DAUGHTER LILY AND I (AUDREY) SORRY I DIDN'T SAY WHO

St. Patty's Day

Eric and I at St. Patty's Day. Don't you love the hats????

Gathering Point: the eisens

Gathering Point: the eisens




Hello all again wow everybody has commented on my blog. yee haaa yes to your comment Aunt Renee I thought people would not know who we were
so that's why i decided to download pic. I love seeing everybodies messages. Ya know one thing that I read about in the blogs is how alot of the ladies
are building there men up complimenting them, telling them how thankful they are for them. I think that is awesome. What a great family we have
and what great teachers we've had to teach us. much love

the eisens

hello every one this is Audrey coming to you from holland. YEHH

well since we just got a puter and the intro i thought i would find this crazy place and write everybody. Starting next weekend hopefully we will be starting our big addition to the house. since what we live in now is a little cramped. 700 sq. ft. 2 kids and we live in the living rm. but praise God we have a roof over our heads and food on the table and jason has a job it could be way worse. ( always remember to praise our God no matter what the situation ) anyway we will be very busy with that and having a new born. well she's not so new born anymore. 6 months 19 lbs. and 27 in. long. eli almost 4 . summer is ah coming i can't wait to hopefully take the Harley out for a drive maybe among the crazyness. well I only have limited time today and must finish cleaning the house before jason gets home . love to all

audrey jason, lily, and eli

great news

Hello all! Well I woke up this morning to the screaming wind and yucky white stuff on the ground (i think they call it snow) Needless to say I am not that happy to get out of the apartment this morning and walk to my classes. I do have some GREAT news though! Due to Jason's poor undergrad grades he was not able to apply for a Teaching Assistant position, since he has started grad school he has kept down almost a 3.9 GPA, proving to him and everyone else that he is someone to take notice of. His mentor called him this weekend and told Jason that he had been offered the teaching assistant job for the whole academic year next year!! We are so excited. This is such a huge blessing in more ways than one. Jason will be able to get his feet wet teaching (he'll have is own class of 18 year olds), we will have some sort of medical insurance, he won't have to scrub toilets anymore and most of all he will be paid a stipend to do it. The amount is not huge by any standards (except ours) but hopefully it will be going up. It will be so nice to breathe a little bit financially next year! Congratulations Jason! I think you're wonderful!

Ok so I know you are all wondering how school is going for me....well you will just have to wait. I have a lot to say on the matter of me and where i stand with this whole school thing, but i have a few more things to figure out first. I promise to keep you posted. In the mean time...BE HAPPY! (I dare ya!)

with all of my love
-stacey

Hi Everyone, Just wondered if I'm the only one who needs Kleenex every time I read this site. If I read this at work I wonder what anyone who walks past must think... Boy she must be having a bad day!! Really, it is just so amazing the things that go on in this family and how good our God is, it just makes me cry!! Not that we don't have struggles, but we are a FAMILY!!! I guess the more I see and the older I get the more I realize just how unusual our gang is, and I am happy. So I guess it"s OK if I cry . It's so cool to SEE Katie's new car, Little Grannies being blessed, personal achievements like first solo flight announced. Thanks to everyone who keeps contributing, I'll just keep my Kleenex handy.
Speaking of crying, I got to see the smallest grandchild I have right now today when I checked my email. Kimberly had emailed the picture of her Thurs Ultrasound. Yep I cried.
Uncle Nick and I are leaving this Wed. for Tn. we're going to take Gram and Gramps TB with us to see Bradley and his family and do a little sight seeing as well.
Love you all Barbara Grace

Need Kleenix

Hi Everyone, Just wondered if I'm the only one who needs Kleenex every time I read this site. If I read this at work I wonder what anyone who walks past must think... Boy she must be having a bad day!! Really, it is just so amazing the things that go on in this family and how good our God is, it just makes me cry!! Not that we don't have struggles, but we are a FAMILY!!! I guess the more I see and the older I get the more I realize just how unusual our gang is, and I am happy. So I guess it"s OK if I cry . It's so cool to SEE Katie's new car, Little Grannies being blessed, personal achievements like first solo flight announced. Thanks to everyone who keeps contributing, I'll just keep my Kleenex handy.
Speaking of crying, I got to see the smallest grandchild I have right now today when I checked my email. Kimberly had emailed the picture of her Thurs Ultrasound. Yep I cried.
Uncle Nick and I are leaving this Wed. for Tn. we're going to take Gram and Gramps TB with us to see Bradley and his family and do a little sight seeing as well.
Love you all Barbara Grace

Passin The Time...

Kim here....just checkin the blog again for anything new and since there wasn't I thought I'd post a little something! Dan is busy muddin the drywall he got hung over the past week (can I hear a Hallelujah!?) and Makayla is busy catching "big fish" with her Barbie fishing pole! We've had a normal week, which was needed for us, and I feel like we're a family again. It's always a little tough when we're seperated (Dan was out of town and I was in Allendale) for a while.....as much as I love being at Mom and Dads it's always good to be home again as a family!
We're still on the look out for a new church, it's something I have on my "to do" list for the week. There's 2 places I want to call and get some more information before we check it out. It will be so nice to have this figured out and feel "home" again with a church. When we were in Allendale we went to GH Res Life and ohhhhh how good it felt to feel like we were REALLY in church again. It seems like since we've moved up here we haven't had that and I seriously miss it as does Dan. I felt like the service could've gone on all day long and it wouldn't have mattered a bit to me......it's amazing how when you're in a church that "gets it" and His presence can be felt it's just so peaceful and freeing really. So keep that in your prayers still when you think of it....there's got to be something that's meant for us up here somewhere! =)
I guess I'd better sign off....Makayla got up from her nap a few minutes ago and now is hungry so I'm gonna go raid the fridge for a snack. While I'm there I guess I might as well get me a little somethin too.... =) Love you all - remember as the weather is getting warmer, T.C. is a really nice place to come visit and we're a free hotel!

Ok we will go from top left and around clock wise.

The top left is from left to right eric's brother in law-matt, eric's sister-michelle, me and eric (myboyfriend), the next picture is of eric and I at the mammoth lacrosse game in denver (he likes to kiss me, only on the cheek of course :O), the other is also of eric and I, we even look cute with bunny ears, and the last is of my car!!!

here is my new car I got last week. It is a mazda 6 and it is so much fun!!! I have never had a car that I got to pick out or something that isn't at least a decade old. So this one is all mine and it is so much fun to drive. I love it!!!

I got a really good deal on it because one of eric's fellow fire fighters has this dealer's license so he goes to dealers car auctions and gets cars at a fraction of the price. So that is how I got my mazda 6!!!

Just wanted all of you to see my car since I can't exactly come over to your house since I live on the other side of the country. :o)