Thanksgiving 11-27-08

Well, this Thanksgiving had a few bumps in the road. First off, we were supposed to spend it down in North Carolina with Roger's side of the family, and unfortunately after getting everything ready and packed Wednesday morning (and yes, we had everything in the car and were minutes from leaving), Roger finally realized that he was way too sick to make the trip, which probably would've taken us twice as long to get there with all the stops we were going to have to make, lol, and so within five minutes of finishing packing everything into the car, we turned right around and unpacked everything out of the car. Besides that, the weather was absolutely horrible, and since I didn't get my new car before we left {booooo}, we didn't have very good tires on the old one and that would've made the trip even more of a white knuckle experience. So Leyna, Logie and I went over to mom and dad's without Roger, to his relief, so he could be alone in peace and quiet for the day, and the remaining 11 of us had a fantastic meal (it really does taste better every year), and then had a little photo session afterwards which everyone just LOVED!! Josh, Jake, Christopher and Logan were on their best behavior. We all have so much to be thankful for and our family really has been blessed.

This is how Roger spent his Thanksgiving

What's left of the 2008 bird!

Since we had an extra seat, we invited Frosty to eat.

46th Thanksgiving together for Mom & Dad.

Shelley, Shawn, Jake and Josh

Chris and Christopher

Logan and Leyna

Nanny, Logan and Mommy

Granny, Logan, Nanny and Mommy

All the Girls!

And all the Boys!

Logan and her Granny Julie

We even invited some of our "special" friends.

And of course our Home Boys!

Leyna and her 3 cousins playing a little Candyland.

And that sweetheart Josh playing a game of Candyland with his littlest cousin Logan.

Gotcha Day for Kelsi Rose

Oh, for cryin' outloud, one more time, lol. Julie and Patrick are a couple with the same adoption agency as Roger and I...EAC, Inc. They are in China right now and have just met their new daughter, Kelsi Rose. Click on the link below and it will take you to their adoption blog. Once in the blog, go to Travel Log and enjoy the photos!!

http://www.journeytokelsirose.com

Happy 40th Birthday, Shawn!

Ah, yes, now there's 3 of us down and 1 more to go

until the big 4-0!

A day at Rim Rock and Jake's Rocks

This past fall, which now seems soooo far away, Chris, Amanda, McKayla and Christopher, and Roger, Logan and I went out to Kinzua one Sunday afternoon (9-21-08) just to enjoy the beautiful weather we were having. We cooked some hamburgers and hotdogs, but first Chris and Roger had to make their own spatula because that was the one thing we forgot to bring. Chris poses with their invention in one of the following pictures. We even put the kids up to harassing a few folks who were protesting any future drilling that may or may not be happening at the state park by letting them yell "Drill, Baby, Drill" as we walked by. There was a lot of hiking, which some had more trouble with than others, not mentioning any names. Everyone played on lots of rocks and basically had a pretty good time. I just got the pictures from being developed and they turned out so good, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to post a few even though it was a couple months ago. Besides, it was nice to be reminded of how great the weather was this spring and summer seeing how it's going to be freezing for the next five months, lol

Round 2

As if Monday wasn't bad enough! lol

Let It Snow!

Take a look at what we woke up to this morning! And it's still snowing. I think when it's all said and done, out first significant snowfall this year could be around a foot and a half to two feet. Oh, well, so it begins. And for those of you down south (you know who you are), in nine days we'll be coming your way and we may be bringing a little surprise with us so that we all can have a white Thanksgiving!

Logan's First Trip to the Movies

Last night Leyna and Roger & I took Logan to see her first movie at the movie theatre. She was very excited and she couldn't wait to see the big TV we had all promised her. We went to see Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, and it was a very funny movie that all of us enjoyed.

So we get to the parking lot, and of course I'm going to take

a picture of Leyna and Logan, duh! Can't you all see how

happy Logan is?

We got the tickets...

We got the movie...

We got the drinks and the popcorn, and I got my Milk Duds

that I have been getting since I was little.

And we got our seats. It must be nice being so little that

you don't have enough weight to hold the movie seats down by yourself, lol.

And......ACTION!!

Fall Fellowship 2008

Our congregation's annual Fall Fellowship was held Friday night (11-7-08). There were 19 of us in attendance, and even though the number was small we did have a good time with lots of activities and of course as always lots of good food. The night kicked off with a devotional by Randy M. He and the kids discussed anger and the scriptural way to deal with it. There was quite a lot of input from the kids and I think they were pretty interested in the subject as every one of them could probably think of situations they've gotten into because they let their anger get outta control. I imagine all of the adults could remember certain instances that they themselves got into also for the same reason!

Here we have Sandy, Betty, Marian and Bev overseeing things during the devotional, four women none of us want angry with us I'm sure!

Here are some of the older kids having some snacks and goofing

around. Poor McKayla is completely outnumbered!

Michael and Jake are playing charades re-enacting Abraham
getting ready to offer up Isaac as a sacrifice, with Graham and
Logan looking on wondering what in the world they're doing. Oh, yeah, all the kids love the guy (Randy) with the toys.

Jake takes the apple plunge! Now his brother Josh gives 'em apples a whirl!
But, woo hoo, look at which cousin got the apple!

Overall, Michael was the winner at bobbin' for apples

with a time of three seconds.

Going down the hall on the walls are all of our baby pictures

and here everyone is trying to guess who is who.

John, you got a little bit of chocolate right there on the

side of your mouth.

Evan made short work of his chocolate donut and chewed

his way to victory leaving the others in the dust.

Now, that right there, folks, is Collin and that is one BIG mouth!

Graham and Logan try their hand (er, mouth) at the

ole donut on a string game.

Anyone for a game of Bible Book Bingo?!?

The girls getting together for a family photo.

Mom, Me, McKayla and Logan.

WHAT I BELIEVE WITHOUT A DOUBT

This is what I think about at 12:47 AM, and I felt compelled to share what I believe and why. But don't take my word for it, take God's!

I believe in one God- Father, Son and Holy Spirit
(Matthew 3:16-17, John 14:9-10)

I believe God is the creator of all people and of all things
(Genesis 1:1, Acts 17:24-28)

I believe that Jesus Christ is God’s only Son, the Savior of the world, and the Head of the church (John 3:16, Matthew 1:18-21, Colossians 1:13-23)

I believe the Holy Spirit dwells within every Christian
(John 16:5-15, Romans 8:1-14)

I believe the Bible is the inspired word of God and the final authority for all matters of faith (Romans 15:4, Hebrews 4:13, 2 Timothy 3:16)

I believe that every person has worth as a creation of God, but that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:7)

I believe that salvation (the forgiveness of sins) is offered to all people and comes only by grace through the blood of Jesus Christ (His death on the cross) and His resurrection from the dead
(Matthew 26:28, Romans 5:8-11, Ephesians 2:8-9, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4)

I believe the Bible teaches that the pattern to follow to receive Jesus as Savior is to believe in Christ as God’s Son and Savior of the world, to repent of personal sin, to confess Christ as Lord, and to be baptized (immersed) into Christ
(John 20:30-31, Acts 2:38, Romans 10:9, Romans 6:1-7)

I believe that the church is the body and bride of Christ, founded on the day of Pentecost, consisting of all Christians everywhere
(Matthew 16:13-18, Acts 2:14-47)

I believe it is God’s plan for the elders to lead the local church
(Act 20:28, 1 Timothy 3:1-7, 1 Peter 5:1-4)

I believe that death seals the eternal destiny of each person. The saved will inherit eternal life; the unsaved, eternal separation from God
(Romans 8:10-11, Daniel 12:2, John 6:47)

I believe that Jesus will one day return and reign forever as King of Kings and Lord of Lords (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

TRICK OR TREAT, SMELL MY FEET!

A few pictures of our little masqueraders!

I'm sorry, Barry, I couldn't help myself. Logan is waving her magic wand over the McCain/Palin 2008 campaign. And a little fairy dust couldn't hurt either!

Has Batman (Christopher) finally found his Enchanted Princess (Logan)?

Or has the enchanted princess finally found her frog prince (Gavin)?

Two members of the Pittsburgh Steelers came out to spend the evening in Warren. Do I see the NFL in Josh and Jake's futures?
And the ghoul, I mean girl, behind this bleeding skeleton face mask is none other than our very own beautiful McKayla, although you wouldn't know it from this picture.
And we can't possibly forget Winnie the Pooh (Madison)?
Of course all the kids had a great time this year, and as with every year I'm sure all of us adults will once again be "nibbling" on all the goodies in the coming months. And come spring 2009 when I mow the grass for the first time, I will find that earring that went to Logan's costume that was lost in the yard hugging her pappy!