GOD'S BLESSINGS ON OUR FAMILY WITH A NEW ARRIVAL

IN APRIL OF 2007 WE WERE A WHOLE FAMILY OF 11 MEMBERS. GOD HAS BLESSED US WITH A NEW ADDITION OF ANOTHER LITTLE GRAND DAUGHTER. CORY AND SHANNON HAD A VERY BEAUTIFUL LITTLE 5 POUND 10.5 OUNCE, 19 INCHES LONG DAUGHTER. HER NAME IS TEAGAN LEE CHURCH AND SHE ALSO JOINS HER BIG BROTHER CIAN NOW.
WE ARE SO BLESSED AND THANK OUR GOD FOR HIS BEAUTIFUL CREATION OF CHILD BEARING. YES IT IS PAINFUL BUT THROUGH IT ALL WE ARE GREATLY REWARDED WITH A BEAUTIFUL CHILD. WE NOW HAVE A DOZEN TOTAL IN OUR FAMILY AND LORD WILLING WE WILL CONTINUE TO GROW ESPECIALLY IN OUR LOVE FOR GOD. I PRAY EACH DAY FOR EACH OF OUR GRAND CHILDS SALVATION. I KNOW THAT EACH OF OUR OWN CHILDREN WILL BE IN HEAVEN ONE DAY AND IF THE LORD SHOULD TARRY I PRAY THAT WHEN OUR GRAND CHILDREN CAN FULLY UNDERSTAND THE MEANING OF WHAT THEY NEED FOR SALVATION (JESUS IN THEIR HEART) WE WILL CONTINUE TO PRAY.
SO WE THANK YOU JESUS FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL GROUP OF CHURCH CLAN THAT YOU HAVE CREATED.

FAMILY

Kevin and I are so excited to have our son Nick and his wife Amanda and our 3 grand children to be moving back to MI and to live with us for about 2 1/2 to 3 months. God has a new adventure for their family to experience. They have had a door open for them to go to Slidell, LA to serve the Lord with a pastor friend of Nick's. The church there is growing with leaps and bounds since Hurricane Katrina hit that area. Praise the Lord! It is to the point of needing help with teens and children and that is what Nick and Amanda love to do so in the mean time they are heading here to MI. Sometime is needed to relax and recoup and gear up for that calling. Their house in Harbor Beach has still not sold and they have been in GA for 2 1/2 years. This has been a burden so while they are here Nick and Kevin will go and do some repairs that are needed and Lord willing get it sold before they leave or find some renters for it that they can meet and find the right people for it. I am asking to really pray about this situation to be resolved by April when they are looking at leaving for LA. Pray for Nick and his family as they are going through this transition and so desiring the Lord leading in the direction for their lives.
As parents, we would love to have all our children near to us. Even living with us. I know many parents can't wait for their children to move on but for us we would LOVE to have all our children and their families to be under one roof. This is the time we as parents have waited for to have our grand children and children close---under one roof---but we know that GOD is leading all of them in different directions doing his work where ever they end up and THAT is the #1 thing that Kevin and I so desire for our children. To be serving the Lord!
So whether they are in LA or SD or MI---Serve the Lord but always know to all of our kids---our home is your home and we will always be glad to have you all move in.
So for any of you that are reading this please pray for Nick and his family with the decisions and directions they are needing. For Cory and his family please pray for a wonderful, safe, healthy, delivery for our future grand daughter to be born in March. Shannon and Cory are having a home birth with Teagan (our grand daughters name). Pray for job situations for both the boys and our grand children as they will be having to leave friends and make new ones and for Cian to be a wonderful big brother to his new baby sister. We love you all very much!!!
Also, Cristal's boyfriend Andrew has been deployed to Germany now with a few weeks there and then to Kosovo. He will be there about a year so please pray for his safety and also the unit he is with. Andrew is in the National Guards-Army-so it is a very emotional and trying time for Cristal and especially his family as he is over there. Pray for support and comfort for the family and a hedge of protection over Andrew and his buddies as they serve our country.

CELEBRATING OUR 32ND ANNIVERSARY!!!

On January 6th, 2009 Kevin and I will be celebrating our 32nd anniversary. Our new year has started out a little rough with both of us going through some health issues but we managed to get away for a over nighter at the Frankenmuth Bavarian Inn Lodge. It was very enjoyable and of course to short of a stay. We did a lot of looking around in some stores, just hung around and relaxed a little, ate our favorite meal at the Bavarian Inn Restaurant, took a horse carriage ride around the city. The video you see are us taking the carriage across the wooden bridge with the sleigh bells on the horse ringing and clippity clop of the horses hoves going across the bridge. I thought it was a neat sound. We were cuddled closely inside the carriage to keep warm and covered with a blanket but we did enjoy the quietness of the city (believe it or not) and hearing the horse making its sounds.
I did put in a picture of our wedding day. What more can I say? It was 32 years ago. (1978) :)

CHRISTMAS 2008

Well, Christmas has been here and now it is gone. Unbelievable!! I trust all of you had a great Christmas with your family/families. We unfortunately, were not able to have our sons and families home but we got to visit with Cory, Shannon and our grand son Cian on the web cam.
What a precious boy. They all are so special. Their all my favorites!!! Teagan is looking like she is still growing well in her warm little womb also. It's coming around the corner with the arrival of our 2nd grand daughter Teagan Lee. I can hardly wait! I am sure Shannon can't wait either.
We weren't able to see Nick's family on the web cam because unfortunately, 3 out of 5 of them were extremely sick and up all night. It was not a good night for Nick as he was the only one (so far) that is not sick. What a rotten deal for them. Hopefully we will get on soon with them. Please pray for them.
Our Grandson Bryson made us rock candy crystal that I hung on our tree but we have to make sure to eat them now. Then Nick made an awesome video of the kids as they were born to the age now. AWESOME! Truly things like this are the best gifts grand parents can get. We will watch them over and over for a life time. Also, we received a book named "Room for a little One". Nick made a cd of Bryson reading the book (he is only 6) with Zeke making the sound effects (of animals in the book he is 4). It was absolutely adorable and brought great warmth to our hearts to hear them read "there is always room for one." Yet another one that we can enjoy for a life time. Cristal gave me a necklace with birthstones of our children, Nick, Cory and Cristal. Now I will add to it of all my grandkids. :) She also gave us each a mug with pictures of our grandkids on it. How cool is that! Sip in style now.
Of all the neat gifts received from all, the gift of Christ is the best. I know my children and the in-laws will be in heaven and to this day we are praying for each grand child that they will receive Jesus in their hearts also. THE GREATEST GIFT OF ALL.
We were able to gather with some of my family in the early part of the day and then part of Kevin's family in the evening at our home so really we had a good day but I was exhausted from all the coming and going so I am looking forward to things slowing down now.
I pray everyone had a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND NOW WE WILL PREPARE FOR A HAPPY NEW YEAR---2009.

CHRIST IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON

Can you believe it? The Holidays are all ready upon us. I am sure we all are enjoying putting up the Christmas trees and lights and nativity scenes. These are all fun and memorable but I want us to remember THE REASON FOR THE SEASON! Luke chapter 2 tells the story of the birth of our Saviour. Luke 2:10-11 says, And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. I am so thankful for this. I hope all of you will take the time to remember this wonderful Gift that GOD gave to us all. If you are not a child of GOD'S than I pray that you will take this free gift now and ask him into your heart. Become a child of God's starting this glorious Holiday season. In my previous blog I put many of the Thankful things I have been blessed with so if you would like just scroll down to that to read my blog. Even those mentioned are just a few of the many many things I am thankful for but wanted to share some. It's been an interesting year with health and all but GOD has been in control of all of them and will continue to be so forever.
MAY EACH OF YOU HAVE A VERY GLORIOUS AND MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

MANY REASONS FOR A WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING!

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? FOUR MORE DAYS UNTIL THE HOLIDAY SEASON STARTS!
NEEDLESS TO SAY, I FOR ONE HAVE MANY THINGS TO BE THANKFUL FOR. WHERE SHOULD I START? I WILL MAKE A LIST FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR TO PRESENT.
1.) JANUARY STARTED OUT WITH KEVIN & I CELEBRATING 31 YEARS OF MARRIAGE. I LOVE YOU KEVIN. LOOKING FORWARD TO MANY MANY MORE.
2.) JANUARY WAS THE MONTH THAT OUR ONE AND ONLY DAUGHTER, CRISTAL WAS BORN. WE ARE SO THANKFUL FOR HER.
3.) JANUARY IS ALSO THE MONTH THAT OUR DAUGHTER-IN-LAW. AMANDA WAS BORN. WE ARE SO THANKFUL FOR THE WONDERFUL WIFE THAT SHE IS TO NICK AND THE FANTASTIC MOTHER SHE IS TO OUR 3 WONDERFUL GRANDCHILDREN.
4.) FEBRUARY WAS THE MONTH THAT KEVIN HAD A BACK PROCEDURE DONE THAT MADE HIM STAY HOME FOR SIX WEEKS. I CERTAINLY ENJOYED THAT BUT MOST OF ALL, I AM THANKFUL FOR GOD'S HEALING OF HIS BACK.
5.) FEBRUARY WAS ALSO THE MONTH THAT WE DECIDED TO APPLY FOR DISABILITY FOR MYSELF (TAMMIE). LEAVING IT ALL IN THE LORD'S HANDS FOR THE OUTCOME.
6.)MARCH IS THE MONTH THAT OUR OLDEST SON NICK WAS BORN AND HE TURNED 29 THIS YEAR. WOW THE BIG 30 THIS NEXT YEAR NICK. WE ARE THANKFUL FOR YOU AND THE WORK YOU DO FOR THE LORD AS WELL AS YOUR WIFE AMANDA.
7.) APRIL-WELL, I AM JUST THANKFUL THAT SPRING IS AROUND THE CORNER.
8.) MAY WAS A BIG CELEBRATION MONTH. KEVIN HAD A BIRTHDAY PLUS IT WAS MY ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY FOR MY FIRST BRAIN SURGERY THAT WAS A SUCCESS FOR MY ESSENTIAL TREMORS. MY HEALING WAS LONG BUT WELL WORTH IT. I AM SO THANKFUL FOR TECHNOLOGY TODAY AND MOST OF ALL FOR GOD'S HEALING POWER.
9.)JUNE IS THE STARTING OF SUMMER MONTHS. I AM SO THANKFUL FOR SUMMER AS I AM NOT A REAL FAN OF WINTER.
10.) JULY, WE ARE VERY THANKFUL FOR OUR GRANDSON EZEKIEL DANIEL CHURCH CAUSE HE WAS BORN THEN.
11.) AUGUST WAS A VERY THANKFUL MONTH BECAUSE THE LORD ANSWERED OUR PRAYER THAT WE STARTED BACK IN FEBRUARY CONCERNING MY DISABILITY. GOD ANSWERED BY HAVING MY DISABILITY APPROVED WITH NO COMPLICATIONS ANYWHERE AND HAVING NO HELP FROM ANYONE BUT FROM GOD. BY THE FIRST PART OF AUGUST I HAD MY FIRST CHECK PLUS BACK PAY. WHAT A POWERFUL GOD WE HAVE!!!! AUGUST IS ALSO A MONTH OF WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES. BOTH OF OUR SONS, NICK AND AMANDA WERE MARRIED AND CORY AND SHANNON WERE MARRIED. THIS IS ALSO THE MONTH THAT IS SHANNON'S BIRTHDAY, INFACT, HER AND CORY GOT MARRIED ON THEIR WEDDING DAY. GOD HAS BLESSED US TIME AND TIME AGAIN WITH SUCH GREAT WIVES THAT ARE DEVOTED TO THEIR HUSBANDS AND TO THE LORD. PRAISE THE LORD FOR OUR FAMILY. AUGUST WAS ALSO CRISTAL'S ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF WORKING AT JCPENNEY. JOBS ARE HARD NOW AND WE ARE THANKFUL FOR HER DEVOTION TO WORK.
12.) SEPTEMBER WAS A GREAT MONTH OF THANKSGIVING WHEN OUR FIRST GRAND DAUGHTER, ARIANNA JANE CHURCH WAS BORN. THIS IS ALSO THE MONTH THAT MY DAD EXPERIENCED SOME SERIOUS HEART ISSUES AND WITH MUCH PRAYER FROM MANY AND A PROCEDURE DONE THAT HE HAD A DEFRIBULATOR/PACE MAKER PUT IN, HE IS DOING GREAT AND IS EVEN OUT DEER HUNTING THIS MONTH. THANKFUL JESUS!
13.) OCTOBER IS A BUSY MONTH WITH BIRTHDAYS. LOTS TO BE THANKFUL FOR AS CORY, MYSELF (TAMMIE) AND OUR GRANDSON CIAN ANDREW CHURCH WERE ALL BORN THAT MONTH. CIAN IS FIRST BORN SON OF CORY AND SHANNON. THIS WAS ALSO WHEN WE FOUND OUT THAT CORY AND SHANNON WILL BE BLESSING US WITH ANOTHER GRAND DAUGHTER AROUND THE FIRST OF MARCH. HER NAME IS TEAGAN LEE. HOW COOL IS THAT! OCTOBER WAS ALSO THE MONTH THAT I HAD TO HAVE MY SECOND BRAIN SURGERY FOR MY ESSENTIAL TREMORS FOR MY OPPOSITE SIDE. PRAISE THE LORD IT WENT WELL. WHAT WOULD WE DO WITHOUT THE LORD'S HEALING POWER? I FOR ONE AM SO THANKFUL FOR MY LORD AND SAVIOUR. TO GO THROUGH BRAIN SURGERY TWICE TAKES A LOT OF PATIENCE AND CARE FROM FAMILY AND I AM SO SO THANKFUL FOR MY LOVING HUSBAND WHO HAS DONE EVERYTHING TO TAKE CARE OF ME AND THE HOUSE AS I HEAL. I AM SURE HE WILL BE GLAD WHEN I CAN GET HELPING ONCE AGAIN. I AM THANKFUL FOR MY DAUGHTER CRISTAL ALSO AS SHE HAS TAKEN CARE OF THINGS WHEN KEVIN HAD TO GO BACK TO WORK. THANKS TO BOTH OF YOU AND I LOVE YOU LOTS!
14.) NOW IT IS NOVEMBER---THE MONTH WE OBSERVE THANKSGIVING! WITH THE YEAR 2008 COMING TO AN END I AM THANKFUL FOR ALL OF THIS AND SO MUCH MORE. AS I THINK UPON THE MONTH, I AM THANKFUL THAT CORY HAS A JOB NOW WORKING AT A HIGH SCHOOL IN SOUTH DAKOTA. THANKFUL FOR HIS DEVOTION TO HIS FAMILY AND LOVING THEM. KEVIN AND I ARE SO THANKFUL FOR OUR 4 GRAND CHILDREN WITH ONE ON THE WAY (IN MARCH). THEY ARE THE APPLE OF OUR EYE AND THERE IS NOTHING IN THE WORLD LIKE HAVING GRAND CHILDREN. OF COURSE, THERE ARE MANY MORE THINGS THAT WE ARE THANKFUL FOR BUT THIS IS JUST A LIST OF THINGS I WANTED TO JOT DOWN.
SO IF ANY OF YOU KIDS READ THIS: PLEASE KNOW THAT YOUR DAD AND I ARE SO VERY PROUD OF EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU. WE COULD NOT BE MORE PROUD OF EACH OF YOU AND WHERE YOU ARE IN YOUR LIVES. GOD BLESSED US WITH 3 GREAT KIDS, WITH 2 WONDERFUL DAUGHTER-IN-LAWS THAT WE CONCIDER DAUGHTERS AND 4 PLUS ONE ON THE WAY GRAND KIDS THAT ARE THE BEST IN THE WHOLE WORLD. WE LOVE AND MISS EACH OF YOU!!!!!!

BUT THE MOST I AM THANKFUL FOR IS FOR MY LORD AND SAVIOUR. MY SALVATION FROM SIN. I AM THANKFUL THAT HE HAS SAVED EVERYONE CHILD OF OURS INCLUDING THEIR WIVES AND SINCE THE DAY EACH OF OUR GRAND CHILDREN HAVE BEEN BORN WE HAVE PRAYED FOR THEIR SALVATION ALSO, SO BRYSON, EZEKIEL, ARIANNA AND CIAN AND OUR FUTURE TEAGAN PLEASE KNOW THAT WE ARE PRAYING FOR YOU TO GIVE YOUR HEART TO JESUS SOME DAY WHEN YOU TRULY UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS. YOUR PAPA AND MEME CAN'T WAIT FOR THE DAY WHEN WE RECEIVE THAT PHONE CALL SAYING "I JUST ASKED JESUS INTO MY HEART". WHAT A GLORIOUS DAY THAT WILL BE.
GOD HAS GIVEN US MUCH AND WE COULD GO ON FOR EVER AND EVER BUT MOST OF ALL HE GAVE US THE CHOICE TO HAVE LIFE WITH HIM.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO EVERYONE!

SOUTH DAKOTA TRIP

Well, our trip came and went all ready. We had a blast, seen and did many fun things like:
a trip to Country Bear USA where you see many different animals roaming the area. The pictures of animals that I will post are taken at the Country Bear USA. The Badlands where Cory and Kevin climbed up to a cave to explore, went to Custer State Park to bugle in some elks (which unfortunately we did not see any-RATS!) After wards we went to a great steak restaurant in Hill City, SD called The Alpine. YUMMY!!!! We celebrated Cian's first birthday along with Cory's birthday and Brian's birthday (Shannon's dad). We found out that same week we are having our second grand daughter born in March of 2009 :) . We shopped a lot, spent the week end at Shannon's parent's home in Spearfish which received 3-5 inches of that white stuff we call snow. :( While there we went to Hill City again to take a 1880's steam engine locomotive ride through the mountains between Hill City and Keystone, SD. That was the first day it started snowing. One of the pictures I will post if one that Kevin took looking out the window of the front of the locomotive. The picture reminds me of The Polar Express.
We enjoyed so much being with Cory, Shannon and Cian. Cian is growing so fast and is just one funny fella. We always have a great time with Shannon's family. We are looking forward to going out again in March to welcome our grand daughter, Teagan Lee.