Picture time

For those of you who don't know already. My family came up to visit us in Deeeetroit! It was fun adventuresome weekend. The family came up in a camper to keep the kids entertained for the 7 hour trip. We had a birthday party for Joe at my apartment then traveled up north to an indoor waterpark/hotel. It was an fun filled weekend and thought I'd share a few pictures from the weekend.
And a small prayer request. I leave next Tuesday for my conference in Boston. I've never been away from my husband for more that 2 days...so it's gonna be a little hard to be apart for 5 days...and pray that the girls I'm with don't want to party at night but that we can experience Boston and have fun touring as well as learning a lot at the conference. Thanks! Love you all
Booxy

Come on, girls!

Good BEAUTIFUL Thursday morning to you! How is everyone doing?? Now i know we all could think of SOMETHING to say...can't we?? Or are we all outside from dawn till dusk enjoying this beautiful weather?!?

Well, I've got a couple prayer requests for you all. First, my Dad and brother are in Mexico this week at Magdalena! But we heard 16 in the group are VERY sick! Mom's worried about Dad, and not being able to have contact is hard on her. He's been very week for so long she's hoping he's not 1 of them!! But just pray for the group!

The other one is Lisa Gerber. She and Byron lost their little Micah last fall, and now she is in the hospital with leukemia!! PLEASE pray for her and Byron through this! It's difficult not to question 'why her??' But God has His hand on this, and she has an amazing attitude right now...she told me "either way, I'll win!" If i can't fight this, i'll be with Christ and Micah...but if I do I'm here with my family and friends! They have a very possitive outlook for her, so that's encouraging. But please lift them up in prayer - she'll be getting chemo treatments for the next 3 weeks and they're keeping her in the hospital the whole time. The risk for infection is so great.

Sorry for the depressing post, but we need to pray for one another!
Love ya! Kristy

Not much to say....

Yeah....thought I'd post something, but I'm really not sure what...hee hee, my life's not that exciting! But here we go: Aaron and I had a great discovery (ok so he actually discovered it) the other day. About a mile from our house is the old Ford homestead. They have 300 acres of land which they've now donated to the public/UofM Dearborn as a nature area. It has tons of trails, and none of the those "please stay on path" and no "don't pick the flowers" signs...we're really free to explore. It has a lake, river, streams, swamp, old rose gardens and awesome open fields that would be great for ultimate frisbee! Speaking of frisbee I just bought a new one...what is it with buying something new, it's just so exciting for some reason. Anyways, thanks to everyone for putting pictures on the blog from the weekend. We've really enjoyed them. Are pictures are pretty much the same thing as all of yours, so we didn't post them...but thanks for putting yours up! And Kristy, your little Abbi girl is adorable! Love you all and miss you tons!
Bekah

Abbi's 1 year pic's

Good morning, everyone! Wow, this blog is turning into the picture blog. :) But I love pic's, so I hope you guys don't mind that i keep posting them. Hope you are all doing well - safe after those storms!! We were at Communion Sunday night, and we had to go to the basement! It looked aweful outside, and a large tree was uprooted out in the cemetary!! A friend of mine, who's an EMT and was upstairs through it said the doors were blowing open and slamming! So scarry. But praise God we were all safe. I felt so bad for some of the parents who were really upset and crying since their children were home alone, if they had older ones to watch them! The fire dept wouldn't let anyone leave. Some did anyway, but it was so bad out!! When we walked out to go down to the basement it felt like we were in the middle of a tornado - the trees were blowing almost sideways. The only damage around here was a large shed about 2 mi from the church lost most of it's roof. But that's all i've heard of so far! What a powerful God we serve!!

My dad and brother are heading to Magdalena this weekend!! I was hoping to send something with them for Seth...do any of you have an idea?? Something small, but Barb - is there anything he needs or would love to eat/have/read??? Well, I'd better keep going! I think it's time for some more questions, Rebekah! Get some conversation going again!

Love you all! Here's my abbi girl!
Kristy

1. Wow, Matt's quite talented! :)
2. The Girls' 'pow wow' Friday night
3. "The hole"...I just had to include this - one of my favorite parts of the house
4. The grand table! lots of fun, around there! Clark doesn't look very happy...but Matt sure is enjoying his meal! :)

Well, those are my best ones. I took alot of just random people and I will get those printed off and sent out to you guys! Also, let me know if any of you want any of these. Some of you said you forgot your camera, and I'd be glad to get you a copy! Hope you are all having a great week!! I can't believe this weekend is APRIL! wow. Well, supper's ready, so i'll talk to you soon! Kristy

AH!! It's carrot top's cousin!


What a crew!! So many great memories!














These crazy guys...wow, this one's a classic!!
Above...Sparky was the 'life' of the weekend!

We had so much fun last weekend, and we can hardly wait until next year!! We looked into renting the guest house as well as the one we stayed in and it would only be about $15 more per person for the weekend to get both!! So I think that's what we'll do next year...thanks for those who bunked up, though! What great memories...Chad and I both said what a special family this is, and we love each and every one of you!! More pic's to come in the morning...this took alot longer than planned - my computer froze up on me. (yawn!)

Love, Kristy

The table that endured through the hunger while watching the other table consume warm bread...only to be tricked into thinking we were going to eat their leftovers....
Here are the trickster! Don't be fooled by the innocent, kind smiles...

Matt and I had such a great time with all of you guys!!! This will have to become an annual event! It was so fun to get to know all of you a little better! WE love you.

Love,

Rebekah

Pictures from the Cousin's Vacation

Awwww....don't they look so cute? The newlyweds.
The crazy game of Around the World! WE may still be counting the injured :)
A view of some of the adorable houses on the beach.
Andy making a swift break with the rest of the crazy guys' clothes.

I have more pictures to post but for some reason this thing only lets me post 4 pictures at a time.

Love,

Rebekah

some new pictures of my kids

Here's Josh with his Aunt "Pami" (rarely does he get the "T" on the front of her name) He's in his little prisoner P.J.s :)
Darci in her little bouncer chair. She get's so excited to play in this! She's growing up so fast!
Josh having fun in Daddy and Mommy's bed.
Matt and Josh in the snow. I think Josh is going to be a snow boy just like his dad!

Just thought it'd be fun to post some new pictures.

Love,

Rebekah

Woo Hoo! Leah's coming! =)

I'm so excited you're coming, Leah! And we would be glad to give you a ride back! Actually, Andy and Marie are going back to Francesville Sun to get their kids...how close is that ? We can work it out once we're up there, but plan on us taking you back for now. So is that ok if you and Sparky take care of the paper products?? That would help a ton!

That makes all 18 of us! (well, minus Sether's) =( How's he doing, by the way? I bet he was glad to see some of his family these last couple weeks!
The only thing I'm wondering is Aaron and Bekah...do you know yet if you'll be able to stay both nights?? I was aslo wondering who plans to make it for supper Fri night. Around 7:00 (IL time) Hope that's not too late.If everyone's there earlier, we may shoot to eat a little early...

Well, we'll see most of you friday!

Kristy

.....

so i don't want to be the only one not coming...:)...yeah, it looks like it'll work out for me to come...i'm going to drive home to btown and come up with klint and sarah...but here's the kicker.....i need a ride back to west lafayette on sunday....it wouldn't be horribly out of the way for you il folks...you would just be taking the sides of the right angle triangle instead of the hypotenuse..west lafayette is a straight shot below michigan city...so if someone would be willing to drop me off on the way home...i'm coming!!

Abbi Grace is 1!

Well, here's the birthday girl! 1st birthday's are so much fun. :) She did really good. Cute apt, Booxy! Thanks for posting those!

Well, your info pkts went out today! I didn't have the price on there, because Leah is still unsure and Aaron and Bekah are not sure they'll be able to stay both nights. (So obviously that will determine the divided cost)But for both nights, we're looking at $120 to $130 total! I will know for sure then, so just have your checkbook with you and everyone can pay me there! Included is the Bible study we'll do for our Sun morn service! It's taken from the devotional: Building your house on the Lord! So please take some time to have that filled out and come with experiences to share/ a story/ or just some good thoughts! I know you all have some! PLEASE call me if you have any questions or if you see that I missed something! I'm sure I did. :)

Is everyone's week starting off ok?? Mine wasn't so grand...had the flu yesterday! :( And come to find out, Mom K and Clark did too!! Bummer...it wasn't a bit fun, but I'm feeling like a new woman today!! It was very short, of which I am sooooooooo thankful! Well, I just had to include a pic of lil Abbi walking! She started taking all kinds of steps at M&D Kaeb's Sat night, and ever since then, she keeps standing up and taking steps all the time! It's so fun to see them grow and "keep trying" after so many falls! We can learn so much from them, can't we?!? Well, I'd better sign off...I don't know if this post will actually publish, since it's so LONG! ;) But have a great week, and I love you all! Kristy

Apartment pictures

Here are a few pictures of our apartment for those of you who haven't seen it. The top left picture is the living room/kitchen we came home to after our honeymoon...yeah Aaron's brother and sister-in-law had some fun. The bedroom furniture is brand new so I wanted to put it on the blog for mom to see. Love you all!

Bekah

What a beautiful day!

Good Saturday Morning, ladies! Wow, today has started soooo nice!! It's 67 out! But i just read that that might change. :( We have a chance for some strong storms. But we need the rain...

Well here's some pic's of where we're going to be staying in a couple weeks!!! I'm so excited! I will be mailing out some info to each of you, so be looking for that! I think everyone is coming...Leah is iffy (come on, Leah!!) and Aaron and Bekah will pry only be able to stay 1 night, but other than that everyone can come! I can't believe it. I am really looking forward to this! Bekah, Chad just got his hair cut from one of your HS classmates...Tracy?!? Not sure of her last name, but she cut's hair in El Paso, and said she was in your class! And we are not going anywhere this spring...just to northern IN with all of you, and then our Hoffmann vacation in June! That's all we've got planned so far! No warm sunny 'cation for us this spring.

Well, take care, ladies! Have a wonderful JOY-FILLED weekend! I'll be posting again soon when I have my pic's downloaded from Abbi's 1st bday! :) ~Kristy

OK ladies, how about some conversation?

So, just curious, but am I the only one not leaving this dreary midwest this spring? (then again I did go to the carribbean in January...ok ok, I won't complain)
Barb, when do you leave for Florida? (or did you already go?)
Leah, have a great time on your break...I know this week is rough but we're praying you through your exams...and trust me, next week will be worth it!
Mom, try to enjoy your trip to Mexico. Remember it will be totally different then your last trip, you won't be in charge of cooking, and we can pray you won't have any medical emergencies as the students did two years ago! Oh, and enjoy Arizona when your done!!!
Kristy or Jamie--what's the plan for the Hoffmann weekend? Aaron and I are trying to get organized...it looks like we may be able to come late Friday night and spend most of Saturday with everyone...but then will head back to Detroit for communion Saturday night...
News from me: Michigan is still cloudy and rainy...thought today for the first time it's supposed to get above 50! It may even reach 60...you should see me, I'm practically giddy. So I ventured out of my little box and visited a neighboring mall (I needed my watch battery changed) and found it to be an awesome mall...Marshall fields, Sax 5th Avenue Outlet, Lord and Taylor, Gymboree (for you moms) JC Penny, Limitted, Gap, all kinds of stores...so if anyone wants to come visit me....I live 3 minutes away from it!!!!
Hopefully I'll let you all know soon about my job situation.....
And last but not least I'm going to try to insert a link to a website. My family appreciated (I think all of us cried) this video from CBS news...so I thought you'd like it too. I love you all, miss you tons...and hope to hear from you soon.....
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/02/23/earlyshow/main1339324.shtml
Bekah

Pictures From My Weekend

Josh (For some reason I can't get him to smile for me when I pull out the camera.) This is the picture before we got the haircut done!! Yay!
Oh did you know I got to meet Orpah Windfreeze this weekend!! She's the talk show host for a movie we did for VISION! she's pictured here with one of her guests. Also featured on the show were Jonothan (aka Jarod R.) and Daniel (aka sweetie pie....urr... Matt K. ) :)
Just another sweet day with Darci :)

Love ya girls,

Rebekah

Good morning ladies,
Hope you are all staying healthy and warm. Last night we were blessed to get to go to Chad and Kristy's for supper. Uncle Dennis had a talk in Roanoke and Kristy invited us to come early and eat supper with them. Kristy, I don't have your e-mail so this is your thank you note. Your meal was delicious. It was so nice to see where you live. Your home is so cute and your kids are precious. Kelsey is so friendly and bubbly. Josiah is an all American boy. He loves Thomas the Train, just like our grandsons. They were so excited to show us their rooms. And Abbi is a beautiful baby. She is so good (she gets played with so enthusiasticly with her siblings and just smiles). Thanks so much Chad and Kristy. We really enjoyed your hospitality.

Now for the answers to your questions, Rebekah.
1. There are 3 years of my life I would like to relive just to enjoy again. The year I was 15 was carefree(too young to get a job but old enough to enjoy some freedoms). Life seemed so fun and free. I also think it would be fun to relive our first year of marriage. We were so in love, did so much fun stuff on week-ends and in our free evenings. The year the kids were 5,9 and 10 was great too. They could pretty much take care of themselves. They were so happy enthusiastic and respectful. We took some great vacations that year and the couple years that followed. Nothing was boring we'd drive to say FL and they would be watching out the window every view was interesting to them. Oh what fun inoscence!
2. As far as weather goes I too would like to be rid of the destructive storms like hurricanes and tornados, because they affect so many people. But when I think of driving in weather I hate driving in fog. I can just feel panicy thinking about it.
3. I can't think right now of an obnoxious tourist, but I can think of an unusual one. A little old lady sat be side us on our flight home from Europe. She kept asking for beer and she knew her beers. She'd ask for a German and then a Swiss beer etc. I think she got at least 7 cans of beer in the 7 hour flight. She would then have to step over us to go to the bath room every so often. I think you get the picture.
4. I'm with Rebekah on this one. I mean honestly those somo wrestling uniforms are discusting.
5. Ah I was in love with Scotty Lancer on the western Lancer. He was a tall slim and blonde cowboy. Thats probably why I named Andy-Andrew Scott.
Thanks Rebekah for the questions and again thanks Kristy for the wonderful meal. Love, A. Bonnie

Shivering in Dearborn

I hear it's could in Illinois/Indiana too...but let me tell you, the sun can be deceiving in Dearborn. I look outside, think it looks like a gorgeous day, step outside and feel my lips start to go numb with cold! Nothing like bundling up!
Things are going well in Detroit, I've had a few interviews and continue to look for a job...and hoping that it doesn't take too long to get my Michigan Nursing License. Anywho, here's the responses to Rebekah's questions.
1. Definately the summer before my freshman year in high school. I had a blast that summer. Lisa and I would do nothing but lay on rafts on their pond, make up songs, and laugh alot. We even made the comment that "this is the best time of our lives." Which I look back on and agree, we were carefree, had fun and goofed off!
2. I would say tornadoes because you never know where or when they're going to strike and thus have no reaction time to save yourself.
3.Most obnoxious tourist? My husband?..hee hee j/k. I'd say the people on our tour of Miami trip. They sat and complained the whole time that they couldn't understand the guide or know what he was talking about (if they would have quit talking they could have understood). Then they refused to give up their seat (too single people in their own row) so a couple who had to split up, but still talked over the seats...so the passengers complained...my thought was, give them your seat so they can sit by each other and you would hear them talking! Seriously, people or so weird!
4. No doubt in my mind, the US Olympic snowboarding team. It's like their jail birds or something. This silly white with blue stripe outfits, or maybe they're a baseball team, only the clothes are baggy....Not a good choice for the olympic team.
5. We were good little kids who never watched wordly TV!!! J/K honestly I have no idea, I only remember watching Sesame street and Mr Rogers. But I would say as a little girl I fell in love with Jim from the movie "Man from Snowy River." He had such a cool accent.
Well, hope to hear from the rest of you soon!
Luv ya-booxy

here we go again!

well, it looks like i'm becoming the regular poster on this blog! oh well...here are some more questions since they seem to be popular. thanks for the answers girls!!

1. if you could returnfor one age in your life, knowing what you know now, to relive that year as you wish, which year would you go back to?

2. if you had to eliminate forever one form of weather, what would it be?

3.if you had to name the most obnoxious tourists you've encountered, who would they be?

4. If you could redesign the uniforms of any sports team, which team would it be, and what changes would you make?

5. if you had to pick the TV personality you were most in love with as a kid, who would it be?

Here's my answers:
1. I think I'd go back to my freshman year in college. I hope I'd be a more diligent student. I think it would have also been less stressful knowing who I was going to marry in the future...maybe not...I don't know if it helps to know. I probably would have just been obnoxious around matt and he would have ended up not wanting to marry me!

2. I think I'd get rid of hurricanes/tsunamis - (can I lump them together?). They seem to cause some of the worst damage.

3. Hands down, the jr. high idiots on the jelly belly factory tour!!!! Oh my word! these kids were as obnoxious as they come. They were sitting in the cart right behind my sisters and I during this tour that I remember absolutely nothing from besides these kids. They were making retarded jokes about Viagra, throwing things at people in the cars ahead of us. They would yell things at the speaker. They would shake and shake our cart. We could hear absolutely nothing from the tour. We had to wear these dorky pointy hats on our head. I was 8 months pregnant (lovely picture...a fat lady with a pointy hat on). You'd think they'd have some compassion, but NO! towards the end of the tour one of the kids reached up and threw my hat off of my head. I was so ticked byt his point I just wanted to attack them. But I just turned and gave them a look that Tami later told me could have killed if looks could cause mortal wounds. I should have stopped there because they actually looked scared. But then I said, "what is your problem?' then they said in a winy voice "what's your's?" I couldn't think of anything clever so I just said, "YOU'RE my problem". Thankfully the tour was over and we could leave. I still wish I could have given a good comeback!

4. I don't know about a specific team but i think i'd change the outfits of wrestlers and weight lifters. Put some baggy shorts on or something...nobody wants to see everything we see!

5. I can't remember his name not but he was the brother on the show OUR HOUSE. did you guys ever watch that. I thought that kid was fun. I also liked Kirk Cameron on Growing Pains...but probably not quite like Tami did.okay,

well, hopefully these questions get your blogging juices going again!

love ya,
rebekah

Here's some more questions...

HI Girls,
Thanks to you who responded to the last post! That was so fun to read your replies! Here's some more questions for you girls to ponder:

1.If you could have a servant come to your house every day for one hour, what would you have them do? (Deffinitely the laundry!!...it seems I NEVER catch up with mine)

2. If you could, in retrospect, thank one teacher you had in school for what they taught you, who would it be, and what would you thank them for? (I think I would want to thank my 5th grade social studies teacher - Mr. McClintock. He made history come to life and made me love it. He helped me see that history isn't just a bunch of facts but stories about real people who lived. I think your first history teacher can often make or brake the subject for you.)

3. If you could make a film from any book never produced as a film, what book would you pick? (boy! this is hard! it seems like every book I love has been made into a movie. Hmmm....well, maybe it would be VERY scarry but it might be kind of fun to see "Three" as a movie...but maybe too scary! I don't know.)

4. If you could ensure one single personality trait in your children, what would you want it to be? (This is hard because there are so many I wish I could ensure my children would have. I think I'm going to say humility. I think if my kids were humble people, a LOT of things would be better and it would affect a lot of other characteristics in their life)

well, that's all I have time for right now. I love you guys.

LOve,
Rebekah