Nov. 14, 2009 - Back to the blog!

I am not yet sure how often I am going to be able to blog, but some people have asked if I would go back to it and I decided after almost a year to go ahead and go back to blogging.  The last year has been quite the ride with many ups and downs...have learned so much about God, His character, myself, my wonderful husband, and my kids who are just themselves.  We have been through incredible adventures, changes, gains and losses, love, tears, laughter...and here we are...all together!  We just completed a month long visit with Oma and Opa as well as Oom Jan and tante Betty.  We had many adventures and they blessed us both with their time and materially...thank you ...all of you.  We have had much tragedy in our lives in the last month, I had an accident and lost a baby, our friend and church member passed away, and my children's friend, sadly another child passed away.  Grief.  I wish it was not part of life but it is.  So, with becoming self employed and all the grief and all the changes I am feeling a strong need to get back to the roots of what I love.  Michel and I love spending time with the kids, especially around water (there is lots of that in Hawaii).  We love to garden and now get to YEAR around...woohoo!  and we love to grow chickens and of course eventually eat the eggs.  Here are some pictures to get you started with what the children did today.

This is Joey and Elijah reaching into our Americana chicks that just came home today.

Big grins are had by all!

Ben told me he is trying to decide which one he will name Twinkle!

This is the cage Michel and I put together!  They seem happy enough for now.

I will be back soon here to go ahead and add more pictures of our adventures...update each of the kids and keep everyone abreast of our adventures.

Nov. 10, 2008 - Michel on a yacht?

Nov. 10, 2008 - The house is on the market!

Nov. 10, 2008 - Aloha...finally happening!

Oct. 18, 2008 - Homecoming Dance!

Rebecca went for her first homecoming dance...her date is not in the picture...but she went with a friend and it was fun!

Oct. 18, 2008 - choo choo

After months of Joey saying "choo choo" with the museum train...big sister finally took him and Elijah.

All Aboard!

Oct. 18, 2008 - Homecoming Game!

We took the kids to a football game.  Homecoming is a big deal here.  We enjoyed the traditional bonfire as well.

Oct. 18, 2008 - Fall is upon us!

I think fall is a neat time of year.  We were blessed by an orchard near us to be given as many apples as we wanted.  So I went about canning apple pie filling and had a little helper.

This is Elijah making the sauce of the apple pie filling.

yummo!

we made apple sauce too!

Sep. 6, 2008 - Turkey Run State Park

Labor Day we went here.

We were in a canyon...my favorite place to hike when I was young.

The kids were busy discovering creatures in the water...

Eden was not quite sure about crossing creeks...

Joey and papa really had fun hiking hand in hand.

More discoveries:

This picture makes me giggle because as usual Elijah was into something besides the picture!

Joey was "King" of this rock!

Elijah and Christina really enjoy each other.

Eden managed to "get a little love" from her Big Sis.

That was a dead squirell and the kid in red is not ours!

I tried to get some pics of all the kids!

The best part was at the end playing in the water...

Naomi found a shell.

Big sisters are nice :)

We went  to Arby's and took up an entire section (excuse the lighting)

we had good times in the car...

The faithful captain...

Yes, if you ask an Illinoian they will say the world is flat!

Sep. 6, 2008 - School days return...Firsts

Elijah and Christina (and Elisha their friend) started kindergarten. 

there are always oodles of parents there to tearfully say goodbye.  Here is the scene from far off.

This is a new season for me.  JOEY started school.  YES! you heard that right.  he is going on Tues and Thurs afternoons for 2 1/2 hours each.  Here he is (sniff sniff)

See the cars on the carpet...those are his favorite!

Aug. 12, 2008 - Sam is back from camp...glorious "boy" time

Sam was at camp Tecumseh.  You can go to www.camptecumseh.org and look at pictures of week nine in the parent connection.  He really had so much fun!  He did shooting guns at targets, rocketry, and water polo.  He went on hikes, climbed a wood mountain, worshipped with hundreds of other kids, made good friends, ate and slept well.

Here he was making rockets

And here is his cabin group...the guy sitting down (Indian) is the one going to NASA the other guy (standing) is a soccer player from Brazil.

Yeah! Glad to have my Sam back!

Aug. 12, 2008 - Letting them go!

Well, it has been a LONG time since I was blogging, but hopefully I can get it going now that school is starting and I can get into more of a routine. 

Rebecca had an outstanding time with Infusion and is now safely home.  She felt at home in Hawaii and feels the people she was with are now part of her family.  Michel and I lived in  a YWAM community and there is nothing like it except if you have experienced it.  They went to Hilo, Hawaii for some ministry time.  Here is the link to the video. Infusion time in Hilo 

Here are some pictures.

Jul. 25, 2008 - Update on Rebecca in Hawaii

Rebecca is getting all settled in the YWAM base.  SHe is learning lots about the character of God and how to aquire God's character qualities in her life.  SHe is  in a team of kids, they have broken into smaller teams.  They have a team with emphasis in art, one in sports, a dance team, and a worship team.  Rebecca is on the worship team.  She is making deep friendships and growing tons.  Please continue to keep her in your prayers!

Cecelia

Jun. 27, 2008 - Weary?

Weary I have been.  We as a family have been going through persecution.  I am understanding more about Jesus and some of what He felt as He was being falsely accused.  God IS faithful and to Him we will cling.  Please pray for our family in the coming weeks that peace will be restored around our home.  Thank you.

Cecelia

Jun. 17, 2008 - Rebecca

Rebecca is 14(almost 15) and entering high school.  I am very proud of her and her abilities in leading worship.  When we were in YWAM we used to do a skit about why we are Christians.  This was aimed at people groups that were their religion because there parents were.  Christianity is different that way.  At some point we move into our own accountability.  This is my desire with my children, that they realize they aren't a Christian cause it is the "thing" to do.  Rebecca has had opportunities with Disney and some music opportunities and we have turned them down and encouraged her to seek the Lord.  How can she use her talents for the Kingdom.  Interestingly she has chosen to pursue worship and missions.  Michel and I having been YWAMers naturally are drawn to there programs.  We found out about INFUSION a program in Kona.  This is basically a mini DTS but directed at teenagers WITH outreach.  They will be ministering to the people from the Marshal Islands.  They are living in deep poverty in Kona.  They will be learning how to hear God's voice and ministry.  Rebecca will be getting MORE training on leading worship and being sensitive to the Spirit while she does that.  She is also planning on being in Revolution, the live band for the highschool at Vineyard.  Rebecca will be sending out a support letter.  You will hear more later!

God Bless

Cecelia

Jun. 10, 2008 - Broken

Have you ever been broken?  Utterly dependant on God? I can barely walk.  I broke down crying, then I was listening to this this morning: www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xXT71Qt104 I believe that sometimes God will continually allow this to bring us to minute by minute dependance!  I am there!  I am blessed by the awesome opportunities I have sometimes daily to minister to my children.  They are such unique little souls.  Blessings to you this day.

Cecelia

Jun. 7, 2008 - We serve an amazing God

I was feeling really really tired. I was weary.  Yes, even feeling a little sorry for myself.  I walked into the sermon given by Pam Larson on deep roots of sin that we may have. You can google Vineyard Champaign and find the church and listen to the sermon if you like.  Then ...worship started.  Have you ever had one of those days when people pick songs just for your own soul.  You can listen to the song here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXsYaBQGbM0  I was so deeply affected.  I began just crying out to God.  Do you know I have one of the most special jobs on earth.  I am a mom and even better I have the privledge of being blessed with special children.  I was running on empty because I was running on Cecelia.  I need to 100% depend on God my FATHER.  He cares when I get no sleep.  He cares when three kids are screaming and my back is out.  He cares that my dishwasher is broken and my basement flooded.  HE can take care of that, HE only asks that I depend on HIM and put my trust in my DELIVERER!  My heart began to grieve and soar at the same time as I realized that these children are not mine but HIS.  I love them with all my breath, yet HE loves them more!  GOD is the DEFENDER of the weak.  HE is EVERLASTING..............Amen

Jun. 3, 2008 - The Pool

We let the kids play when the pool was half full.  Joey thought it was just right!

When the kids played when the water was about 1/5 th full.  Yes they still had their clothes on. But it was fun!

Elijah got plumb tuckered out!

The next pictures are self explanatory....Enjoy!

Jun. 3, 2008 - Library Luau

Well our local library had a summer kick off luau.  The kids got authentic food from Hawaii as well as games and arts and crafts.
This was the same day as the pool being set up.  We had to wait while it warmed in the sun.

The games were simple but FUN!

The craft was painting silver dollars.

A fun time was had by all!

Jun. 2, 2008 - Pool Season officially open!

Well, Saturday as it was nearing 90 degrees and seeing the forecast 90 appears several time I thought we better get the pool out.

Of course anything we do we aquire an audience.

Oh and Joey was like, "What is a pool mom?"

So I told the kids that they had to play so they went about buisness while I did.  Do you think Joey is spoiled?

As usual something else wasn't working so Rebecca put the good ole lungs to work.

The children begin to really take notice that the hose was on and going.

Time out here this is Caleb!  He is eight!

THe kids then realised that it was going to be a LONG time before that pool was full so back to the trampoline.

The pool saga will continue.