I'm SO excited you came to visit me here!!!!!!!!  Please leave a comment so I'll know you found us!

For the most part, if you are seeing this, you already know our family----but it is fun to give a run-down of who we all are, so I will!

To begin with, Mom and Dad are Gary and Kristi.  We've been married 18 years this December, and have managed to produce 6 wonderful kids in the process.  Gary works for Honda Manufacturing and builds houses for us to live in on the side.  (We're hoping this one will be our Home for GOOD!)  In many ways it is my dream house, although right now we are having to content ourselves with living in the "mostly finished/partly unfinished" basement.  God has been SO incredibly faithful to bring us through some very difficult recent years and allow us to build basically debt-free. 

Currently Gary is the Youth Pastor for our small "start-up" church, Abundant Life Family Fellowship.  We serve on the Leadership Team, and we're excited to see where God may be leading us within this group.

On the Honda front, he has just found out that he will be part of the training team for the Odyssey vehicles they are going to start building at their plant.  This is exciting, as it is a step "up" in some ways, and get him off the "line" for several months.  He'll be good at it, I'm sure!  We're looking forward to the next 12 days though, as Gary has them off from work for the holidays!  I'm sure he'll be working more on the upstairs part of the house . . . . . .

I'm Kristi.  I'm not totally sure where to start my own description.  This year has been so full.  Probably the biggest news has been my taking on a small part-time job as the co-Administrator of our Homeschool group.  I had worked with it for the previous year as High School Administrator, and then took on more this year as the Pastor's wife needed to take time off to have a baby.  This keep me a bit busier than I had anticipated, but it has helped fill in some financial gaps with work being slow for Gary at Honda (as in NO more overtime . . . . . . )

One of my favorite things this year has been heading up the Ladies' Ministry for the church.  Abundant Life Family Fellowship spread its' fledgling wings in the early part of the year, and we've already grown to about 120 people.  (Though a BUNCH of them are kids . . . . . . .)  I've been leading a Bible study based on Henry Wright's materials from "Be In Health Ministries", and hosting about SIX baby showers (no wonder we're growing so fast!) 

I keep trying to find the time to work on my favorite hobby--scrapbooking.  I'm only about 20% through with the album(s) I'm doing from our big dream-vacation to Disney in 2007, and I'm trying to learn a little about sewing.  I'm also almost through with a new Planner/Calendar for busy Mom's that I'm hoping to offer for sale in a few more days (I'm REALLY excited about it----a Calendar that is FUN to use!)  My dream right now (outside of a finished house of course!)  is to get a toy Rat Terrier of my own to keep in the house . . . . . . . . . . . . .just gotta convince that wonderful, hard-working hubby of mine . . . . . . . . .

Of course, just the basics of homemaking and homeschooling 6 children could keep me busy 24 hours a day.  Thankfully, those children have become a big help . . . . .

Christopher is now 17.  GASP!  WHERE has the time gone?  He drives and worked full-time this past summer.  He's in the 11th grade and getting more serious about getting his school-work in and preparing for college.  He's beginning to think about what he is going to do with his life.  Thankfully (esp. for him) he has really started taking off in the "growth" department!  He is now taller than me, and is either right at or a bit above his Dad's height.  He's become quite good at building houses, and he builds computers in his spare time.  I'm proud of the young man he is becoming.

Jeremy is 14 and in the 8th grade.  He's still an avid reader like his Mom, but he has done a lot of building with his Dad as well.  He's still raising Rat Terrier's that are adorable.  He's considering running Track next Spring, if we can get him on a team, as he is fast as greased lightening.  He and Christopher both help out every week with the set up of our church (we're using temporary quarters in a gym-like building that is used for other things all week.) 

Nathan is almost 13.  It's been fun to watch him really blossom as a "junior-Chef" this year.  He makes or helps make most of the meals (part of a deal he struck with his brothers to not have to help clean-up the Kitchen!)  Additionally he plans and executes one special meal a month.  We've been delighted with what he has come up with each time so far! 

KatieAnn is now 9.  She is a beautiful little girl that is both learning and giving all the time.  She's had a big struggle with reading, but is amazingly persistent.  She helps around the house and tries to do stuff her Mommy does, every chance she gets (she is learning to scrapbook and sew as well!)  She also tries to keep up with the boys, though, and that gets her into scrapes sometimes!  She loves to sing and dance and praise the Lord . . . . . . . .

Joshua is 7.  He is all mischievous boy right now!  He is into everything and tries valiantly to keep up with his older brothers.  One minute he is racing his sister in Math, and the next I'll find him outside playing guns with Nathan.   

And, bringing up the tail end, we have Bethany.  Next month she'll be 5, going on at least 12!  She's smart and fun and adorable, but also a mess most of the time.     I love the fact that she is still VERY much into dolls and playing house. 

So, there you have us.  Hopefully I'll insert some pictures tomorrow, so they'll be ready for everyone once they get their Christmas cards . . . . . . .