What does Ethan think of his border?

I think Ethan likes the border in his new room. He loves all of the balls.

Daddy picking him up for a closer look.
"Oohh!"

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!

Ethan's room Phase 3...

We finally got around to putting the border up in Ethan's "new" room this afternoon. We were waiting for a block of time when Ethan was napping, so we could do it. Since Bart has been gone so many evenings lately, and he's working during the day, we just having had time to do it. This afternoon, Ethan did NOT nap again. (Mondays he usually does not nap in the afternoon, because we're out running errands, and by the time we get home he's not ready to nap. He wants to play instead.) So we worked around attempting to get him to nap, and then let him watch his Praise Baby DVD while we finished the last strand. It went fairly quickly once we got going.

Bart is finishing smoothing out the last strand of border. Just seconds after this picture was taken, Ethan leaned over to the side and fell off the step-stool into the wall. I was attempting to get his picture on the step stool and saw him leaning, but of course it was too late to catch him. Bart asked if I got the "action" shot of him falling. I said, No. I missed it. So, Nana asked tonight when we were going to get Ethan's 18 month pictures taken. Bart answered, "When all of his bumps and bruises are gone." :-(

Close up of the border on the corner with different shades.

I think it looks nice.

Attempting to Skype Nana & Papa from Ethan's newly updated room. (But they were not home.) Ethan was trying to get to the computer, and Daddy was tickling him to keep him away from it.

One final shot of his room with the border over the closet.

Mini Pastor Barts?

Have you ever wondered what someone else would look like wearing your clothes? Well, Saturday we had a "revolving" door of a few guys asking to come over to borrow shirts/ties, one even pants, shoes, etc. for Homecoming. Before you think, "that's tacky." Remember: these are guys who NEVER dress up, so they do not want to go out and buy a shirt & tie for a one time use. It was fun having them come over and try to decide what color they wanted to wear. (Their sisters helped them decide what color to wear.) One might feel honored that teenage boys would want to borrow your clothes. (I think it's his wife who has good taste. :-) )Bart told them the deal was, they had to dress up Sunday morning too. Surprisingly they all did too. So here they are... the "mini Pastor Barts".

Wyatt, Corey & Jon
Wyatt-"sporting" Bart's shirt, tie, pants, belt, socks & shoes.

Corey wearing Bart's tie (he's a bit shorter than the others)

Jon wearing Bart's shirt and tie.

Oh... and Bart wearing his own black suit with his new shirt & tie that I got him for his B-day.

Aren't they a nice looking bunch? A good group of guys too. :-)

New sweater...

A very dear friend got me this new maternity sweater. I tried to e-mail her these pictures, but for some reason, they would not insert into my e-mail. So here's for you, Brenda! It fits perfectly! Thanks SO much for thinking of me! Love ya!

Cousin, Hayden...

We received this cute picture today from "Uncle Chadd". Apparantly Hayden and Sarah were shopping. This is how Hayden felt about it. :-) He's getting so big! Now that they live in Minnesota, we don't get to see them that often anymore. He is about 26 months old now. (Hayden is also going to be a big brother, in February.) It was a cute picture, so I thought I would share it.

October already?!

I can't believe it is October already! The summer sure flew by for us! It's hard to believe that in less than 3 months we'll have another little one in our home. It is a blessing and one we can't wait to have happen. In the meantime, we're still having fun watching Ethan growing and developing. His new favorite word is "Baby!" which he says when he points to Mommy's tummy. :-)

Learning to feed myself, and doing a pretty good job too.
Ethan playing with his "Mr. Horton" stuffed animal. (No, he's not choking him.)
Practicing to have a new baby in the house?? (perhaps)
Watching all of the birds in our yard!
This was Ethan last night, after a very OFF day. Mommy felt like this last night too! Daddy was gone all afternoon and evening at his class. Phew, was it ever a long day! (Figures it's when Daddy's gone that we have days like this.) We survived and all slept very well last night, thankfully!