Home Sweet Home!

We made it home just after Noon today. It never felt better to come home! A week is a LONG time to be away from home, especially since I didn't sleep much at ALL this week! I don't know why, but I could NOT get comfortable and could NOT sleep all week. I was hoping that my fatigue alone would help me sleep better Thurs. & Fri., but I think Friday night was almost the worst! Besides that.... we had a great week!

Ethan did very well! He "slept" all night every night this week, minus the flips, flops, roll-overs, whines, etc. (Now I remember why we moved him back to his room when he was just 6 weeks old or so, so we could get some sleep. He's a NOISY sleeper!) Although I'm sure his Pak & Play wasn't any more comfortable than the bed we slept in. Don't get me wrong, we slept in the Retreat Center and had nice accommodations with A/C and everything. The bed was just NOT comfortable (to me anyway). I think Bart slept a little better, although he didn't sleep great either. I am sure we will ALL sleep like a ROCK tonight!

Bart did a great job speaking. He was able to challenge the kids and even staff members in different areas of their lives. About 4 or 5 teens were saved that we know of right now, and several made decisions to rededicate their lives to Christ after this week, along with other commitments as well. Thank you again for your prayers for us! They were definitely felt throughout the week.

We had good food every meal, and I didn't have to cook it! Ethan did great eating too. Which I was a little nervous about there being enough "Ethan-proof" food for him. He also enjoyed the meal entertainment (the kids singing silly songs, etc.) The quiet house will be nice to return to though. He got a lot of exercise running around the camp, socializing with the teens (waiving at almost everyone as they went by - with his tongue out of course), etc. He even got at least one bath day, due to being dirty, or sandy from the beach (Life is good - in his mind!). So, he did GREAT! Minus the fatigue of not sleeping, I felt pretty well all week also, Praise the Lord! It was probably my best weeks yet, as far as nausea goes, since I found out I was pregnant. Thanks again for your prayers in that area as well.

Nathan Britton stayed here at the house with Spencer. It is always SO nice to come home after he's house-sat for us! He had the house all vacuumed, the dishes all cleaned and put away, and his sheets and towels all washed and put back. What a blessing he was too! Thank you so much Nathan! What a blessing it is to have people who are willing to help us out, even by putting up with our dog!

We're all unpacked. Bart got the van all vacuumed out (we brought home about a dozen ants and a couple of spiders with us, yuck!). I'm working on laundry, etc. Home again, home again. But, oh, does it ever feel good to be HOME!

At Camp...

We are at Jr. High Camp at The Springs. Things are going very well! Bart has been doing a good job challenging the teens. One teen boy was saved yesterday evening, and one teen girl yesterday afternoon out on their canoe trip! Praise the Lord! I had the opportunity to speak to the girls this morning in chapel. I spoke on purity and valuing yourself like a priceless teacup. It was very fun. I did not feel nervous, and the girls were very open and receptive. It went great! Thank you so much for your prayers for me this morning. Oh, and I am feeling better this week already! Thank you for praying for that as well. I was concerned about being sick while being here. So far, I've been feeling pretty well, thank the Lord!

Ethan is doing very well also. The first day was difficult for him adjusting to a new place to sleep in his pak & play, but yesterday he went down almost without a fuss for his naps and bedtime. He is definitely getting his exercise in running around camp. He loves it! He walks all over the place. There are a couple of camp dogs that are black and white border collies, so he gets excited to see them. He also got to see a few new baby kittens. He could just about squeeze one to death if we let him (which we didn't). Then they have a petting farm. He got to see a goat, a couple of sheep "baa, baa!", a cow "boo", a couple of horses, and a pig.

This afternoon we took Ethan out to the beach around the "pond". They have expanded the beach area, which is nice. Here he is playing with his new sand bucket and shovel. He wasn't too sure about the sand at first, but he got used to it rather quickly.
Ethan and Daddy looking at the fountain in the middle of the pond.
Playing with his new boat in the water.
Playing in the mud...
...which of course went into the mouth. Yuck! He didn't like that!Splash! Splash!
Water-logged - it started to sprinkle so we packed up and came inside. A very fun first day at the beach! Thanks again for your prayers! We really appreciate them!

Heading to Camp...

We are packing and getting ready to head to The Springs Camp, in Gladwin, tomorrow morning. Bart was asked to speak this week to the Jr. High group. He will be speaking twice every day, including one wrap-up challenge on Saturday with the Parents present. He would appreciate your prayers for him this week, I'm sure! I also have the opportunity of speaking on Wednesday morning to the GIRLS only. I will be speaking on Purity. Please pray for me, as this is a little more OUT of my comfort zone. Pray that I won't be too nervous, and that I will be able to effectively communicate the importance of purity to the girls. We have 4 of our teens going to camp also. Pray that they will grow in their spiritual walk with Christ this week also. Please pray too that Ethan would adjust to a new setting, especially for sleeping! We will be staying in their Retreat Center, which is like a hotel room, with a private bath. It is very comfortable and has air conditioning. He will probably love being outside and playing. It is the sleeping that sometimes is difficult, being in a different place. We will be there ALL week, coming home Saturday, so pray that he will adjust quickly and that he will sleep well all week. He's been waking up early, probably because the sun is up so early now. I'm also a little nervous with the "meal" portion as well. Ethan is eating all regular foods now, pretty well. But he still does not do a lot of meat, other than chicken. So while I'll be thankful to have a week off from cooking, I'm hoping that the meals will be such that he can eat them without trouble. With it being Jr. High camp, I'm sure it will be better. They will probably get to eat a lot of things like Macaroni & Cheese (Ethan's favorite!), etc. One final prayer request would be for me - that I would be feeling WELL most of the week. Last week was a rough week, as far as "Morning Sickness" goes. I am hoping to be about done with this! Being away from home, I don't want to have to mess with being sick at all. Thank you so much for upholding us in your prayers! We appreciate them more than you know!

And then of course, the main reason you all look at our blog... to see Ethan. Here he is today in his "Hawaiian" shirt, "muscle" t-shirt, and shorts. Isn't he just the cutest thing?? We think so!

One of Ethan's favorite pasttimes, laying on the floor, reading his books... pointing to the Tractor!

Happy Father's Day...

Happy Father's Day, belated, to all of the Fathers in my life. I am grateful for the godly example they have all passed down and are passing down to their children/grandchildren.

My husband, a wonderful Father to our son, Ethan!
My Dad, a wonderful Father to me, my brother, and my twin sister, as well as a wonderful Grandfather to all of his grandchildren.
And last, but certainly not least, my Father-in-law, again a wonderful Father to my husband and all of his siblings and "Papa" to all of his grandchildren.
Here is the beneficiary of that wonderful example of Fatherhood, our Ethan James!

Our 11th Anniversary!

Where has the time gone? I can hardly believe it was 11 years ago tomorrow that I said "I DO!" to my best friend. I thought I would attempt to reminisce with you what that day was like, June 14, 1997. It was a beautiful sunny, 70 degree day that Saturday in June. It was a bustling day as we all scurried around getting ready for "the biggest day of my life." Everything went just beautifully. My Dad walked me down the aisle for a mock processional to my lone groom in the auditorium, because we wanted to take pictures before the wedding. The ceremony was beautiful and went well almost with out a hitch. My wedding ring was not with my matron of honor. As each bridesmaid looked down the line to the next, my Junior Bridesmaid, Jessica Wittebols, proceeded to walk over to my Father-in-law who was holding the ring and delivered his message to me, an inside joke. The whole ceremony was fun and a celebration of our love. My groom sang, "If You Could See What I See" by Geoff Moore and the Distance to me. Another special song was, "Butterfly Kisses". Later we found out why people were smiling at us while we were on the kneeling bench. The groomsmen had written "Oh NO!" on Bart's shoes, only visible while he was kneeling of course. Here are some pictures of our beautiful celebration, taken by our friends at Memories Photography, Tom & Susie Huizenga. (Sorry these pictures aren't the greatest quality, they are pictures of pictures so I could share them with you.)

Bridal Portrait
Bride and Groom on the stairs showing off my beautiful wedding dress and long train.
A beautiful sunny day was celebrated with outdoor pictures. Our Wedding Party
Our Parents, to whom we are SO thankful for, for giving us such a wonderful day!
Our Wedding Cake
Yes... I was naughty and shoved some cake up Bart's nose. (That's what happens when you're shorter than someone. The only place to go is UP.)
Heading off in our stretched limo for some pictures downtown, and then to celebrate our new life of love together! We went to a hotel for the night in town. Sunday we went back to our apartment to open our gifts with our parents present. That day, being Father's Day, we took them out for a nice lunch to celebrate. Monday morning, we headed off to Florida for our Honeymoon.

We have had 11 wonderful years together! I am SO thankful to God for giving me a wonderful, loving, caring, serving, helpful husband! I love you Sweetheart!

Cleaning Up...

Ethan and I got our summer hair cuts last week. His is nice and short for summer.
Daddy mowed the lawn. Ethan got to ride on it. He likes to drive (just like he does when he rides on Daddy's lap to church.)
Ethan pulled his toothbrush out of his drawer this morning and began brushing his teeth.
"Back and forth, in circles. Don't forget your gums and tongue." ;-)
Then this is his face when Mommy put the tooth brush away. WAA!!

Summer Calendar....

As we are looking ahead at our summer, it is filling up VERY quickly! I thought I would post our schedule so you can know what we are up to and how to keep us in your prayers through this busy time. Thank you for your prayers as we continue in our ministry here at Rollins.

Sunday night was our Summer Kick-off for Jr. High & Sr. High. We went to the Liabenows home for a pool party, cook-out and games outside. We had around 20 teens. It rained and stormed all afternoon, and then cleared up late afternoon. It was clear and even partly sunny for the remainder of the evening. Not an hour after we got home, it began to thunder and lightning again. Praise the Lord for giving us exactly the weather we needed! We will continue to meet most Sunday nights through the summer, just taking a couple off when we are away at camp.

Tonight ~ Beach Bums Game in T.C. with ~30+ people attending from our church. This begins our Wednesday night activities throughout the summer for JH/SH again. Other Activities include: frisbee golf, patriot games, putt-putt golfing, softball, and a pool party.

Tues., June 17 ~ A concert by Calvary Bible College, followed by volleyball and pizza with the teens. (This replaces our Wed. night activities for the week.

Wed., June 18 ~ Dinner and an informational meeting at our house for ~12 or so people hosting different College Meetings throughout the summer.

Sat., June 21 ~ Sunday School Picnic at church

Mon., June 23 - Sat., June 28 ~ Jr. High Camp at the Springs ~ Bart is speaking for the week. I will be speaking Wednesday morning to the girls only. (Please pray for me on this one.)

Thurs., July 3 - Sat., July 5th ~ Mini-vacation for us in G.R./Holland visiting with family

Sun., July 6 - Sat., July 12th ~ Sr. High Camp at the Springs. We will probably just go for a couple of days at the beginning of the week, come home for Wed. night activities, return Friday to be there for the end of the week and bring campers home Saturday.

Then we're home for 2 weeks. (I think...)

Sat., July 26 - Fri., Aug. 1st ~ At Gull Lake Bible Conference for the week with a few families from church.

Mon., Aug. 4 - Fri., Aug. 8, 6:30 - 8:30 PM ~ Vacation Bible School at Rollins

We're still trying to schedule one more teen event in August along with a vacation for Bart and I to get away for a few days also.

So, I'm not sure we should call it summer "Break", because it sure doesn't sound like much of a break, does it? Well it is a break from the normal routine for teens. We do have a lot going on though this summer. Again, thank you for your prayers for us and our ministry.

Big News...

We excitedly shared some NEWS with our church family today. ETHAN IS GOING TO BE A BIG BROTHER! We are going to be having a very special Christmas gift added to our family this year. Our new baby is due to arrive on (or around) Christmas Eve. We are so thankful to God for blessing us again with this wonderful new life! We continue to be awed at his immense blessings on our lives. Thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers for us, and continue to covet them during these next several months. Here is our new baby's first picture (via Mommy).

Young Adult Cookout...

Saturday night we had a Young Couples cookout at a family's home from church. There were about 25 people there. It was a nice evening of fellowship and food.

Isaac, smiling for the camera.
Daniel was the grill master. (They had enough meat to feed an army!)
Jacob (the home-owner) swinging and then wiping out in the dirt. (Kids DON'T try this at home!)
Baby time on the tramp. All 4 kids between 1 -2 years old. (Ethan is sitting in the middle.)
Ending the night with a nice family photo opportunity for the Nichols. What a cute family, and you can't even see one member yet. :-)

Wii Party...

That's a "Wii Party," not a Wee party. Friday night we had several teens over to the house to play some video games. They brought a couple of Wii game systems and played games for a few hours. We ordered pizza, had chips, cookies, etc. There were 2 teens from our church, and 7 friends from school. So this was a great outreach to their friends. We're hoping that this may have opened some doors for future input into their lives. We'll be beginning our summer activities on Sunday with our Kick-off for Jr. High & Sr. High at a family's house for a pool party. We'll see how warm the pool is. We appreciate your continued prayers as we seek different ways to impact teens' lives.

Nothing is safe anymore...

Ethan has figured out how to open the drawers. I was sitting in the dining room, thinking Ethan was just sitting on the floor in the kitchen with his blankie. It was rather quiet for a few minutes, so I came out to check on him, here's what I found... Ethan emptying my kitchen towel drawer. He has found my kitchen tool drawers too. When I'm making dinner, he thinks he needs to help.

Congratulations Graduates!

It's that time of the year again, graduation time! We had the privilege of graduating our 6th class of Seniors while here at Rollins already. (My how time flies!) Three weeks ago, we had our Senior Recognition Night, where we recognized the 4 Seniors who have been a part of our Youth Group and Church.

Matt Austin, Manton High School
Lydia Haven, Home Schooled
Sarah Skiver, Salutatorian at Manton High School
James Wheaton, Cadillac Heritage Christian School
Bart gave a short challenge to the teens to grow and mature in their faith, not staying as babes in Christ.

Here are the graduates. (Meg Stall was also there Sun. night. She is graduating from Manton High School. She is a friend of Sarah's.)

We had a nice fellowship following our service for the church family and all the families who were there. We figured we had probably around 85 people there. We had a nice variety of food including: meatballs (Swedish & Hawaiian), Crackers & Cheese, Veggies & Dip, Fresh Fruit, cake and ice cream. It was very good! A couple of the Junior parents helped me with the food. Thanks to them for their tremendous help!

(Sorry these are so small.) These are from this past Sunday morning, when Bart interviewed the graduates during the morning service. The church also presents them with either a Bible or a Study Commentary for being involved at our church. What a nice gift those are to the teens heading off to College.