A Celebration of Birthdays...

Last week we were able to go to Grand Rapids and celebrate the 6 Glupker October-ish birthdays (from Sept. 29th - Oct. 20th.). We headed down Tuesday morning, went to Babies R Us, finally ordered our crib to replace the one we have that has been recalled, and then Bart went to his class at GRTS. Following his class, we had dinner with his family. Everyone was there, except his brother and his family (Chadd, Sarah & Hayden). Chadd called right before dinner, with their good news that he and Sarah are having another boy. So we will have 6 boys and 2 girls in the Glupker family by next spring. We had a delicious supper, opened gifts, and had birthday cake.

This is just a picture of the cake I made for the Jr. Highers Wed. night and then another one for the Pastors & Wives meeting we had on Thursday morning. It is his family's favorite - Ho-ho cake. I made it in 2 9x9 square dishes, so I could use it for two different days and occasions. It worked out perfectly.

The 6 honored birthday guests: Aunt Judy, Gramma Glupker, Bart, Hudson, Taylor and Dad.

The birthday cake.

Gathering in the basement to open gifts.

Gramma & Judy got Bart a picture frame (for Ethan & Littlefoot) for his office, some peanut M&M's and a case of his favorite pop, Barq's rootbeer. He also received money to put towards a new I-pod.

We all went in together and bought Dad a new table saw.

Uncle Lance painted Taylor's headboard/footboard. Are those Michigan colors? ;-) (No, they're "Hudsonville's" school colors. He's a Michigan State fan, as you can see.)Hudson, opening up his gifts of toys and clothes.Ethan was drawn to Uncle Lance's portable basketball hoop in the basement. He wanted someone to lift him up all night so he could shoot hoops. Ethan & Hudson, cousins, born just 6 months apart.

Taylor, Emily, Hayley, Hudson & Ethan. At the end of a long day and a fun party, Ethan wasn't ready to sit for a picture with his cousins. He LOVED playing with them though!Good-bye, Aunt Judy. We love you! See you all at Thanksgiving.

Happy Birthday to my Wonderful Husband!

Today is my wonderful, loving, caring, helpful, encouraging, supportive husband's 36th Birthday! Happy Birthday, Bart, my love! While we have certainly changed in appearance over the years, one thing has not changed - that is our love for each other. The only thing that has "changed" is that our love for each other has grown deeper for each other. God has brought us through many circumstances together, mostly good, but some struggles as well. He has blessed us in SO many ways: with wonderful supportive families, a terrific marriage, financial provisions and freedom from debt, a wonderful church to serve together in, an amazing son, and another baby boy on the way - just to name a few. So, "Thank you" to my terrific husband of 11+ years for being such a wonderful husband to me and father to Ethan. I would just like to reiterate what his birthday card says, that I bought for him (it says it better, than I can with words, I think.)

"For My Husband: As I celebrate your birthday, I think again of when God first brought you into my life (~16 years ago). We've shared a few more years and a few more birthdays since then, and we've discovered that love is so much more than we first imagined. Love is waking up to each other in the morning, and falling asleep beside each other at night. It's sharing all of life - the good parts and the hard parts - and knowing no matter what happens we'll always be together. It's laughing, praying, loving and living together. Love is a gift that we get to open every day. (SO TRUE!) So, on your birthday, I'm thanking God again for you and for the love He's given us. I'm looking forward to celebrating many more birthdays together because I can't imagine sharing life with anyone but you! Happy Birthday! '...You have a very special place in my heart. We have shared together the blessings of God...' Phil. 1:7 TLB"

Here are a few pictures to walk down "Memory Lane" with us:

On June 14, 1997, I said, "I DO" to my best friend, forever.
For all of our adventures, from Camp Calvary to Florida (for our honeymoon), to Washington D.C. & Niagara Falls for vacations, to the Caribbean for our cruise with Vision for Youth...
... To ministering together at Rollins Church for 6+ years now...
...To adding a "miracle" son (soon to be another little miracle) to our family...
... to having fun as a family at places like Gull Lake... our love has grown and continues to grow. I am SO looking forward to this next year with you. As we add another little family member, I will always be thankful for your help around the house and loving touch.

Happy Birthday, Bart! I love you, Sweetheart! I always have and always will! Thank you, Lord Jesus, for allowing us the opportunity to share our lives together serving you!

A week of birthdays....

I've been meaning to update this in awhile, but I just haven't had time. Tonight, I do want to acknowledge a few nephews and a niece on their birthdays this week. Sunday began the week with our oldest nephew, Solomon, turning 10 years old! I can hardly believe it's been 10 years since we became an Aunt & Uncle. Tuesday our niece, Emily, turned 7 years old. and Thursday our nephew, Hayden, turned 2 years old. Today, Ethan is 16 months old! We are grateful for all of our nieces, nephews and especially Ethan :-). We love them all and have enjoyed watching them all grow physically, mentally and spiritually! My how time flies! Speaking of time flying... time for bed... as soon as Bart gets home from cleaning up after VBS. More pictures soon...hopefully.

Happy 101st Birthday, Grandma!

Bart's Grandma Hall turned 101 today! What a milestone! She is a wonderful lady of prayer and encouragement! We are truly thankful for her example of faith and love of Christ! These pictures were taken from her big 100th b-day party last year. (You can see Ethan wasn't too happy at the moment, but she looks great, doesn't she?!) Happy Birthday, Grandma! We love you!

Great Grandma Hall & Ethan

Great Grandma Hall with her whole family!