Holyfire

Last weekend we went to see a dear friend of mine, Chrisy. She and her husband have a ministry called "Holyfire". CHECK IT OUT!!! They are an incredible worship band that travels to college campuses, youth retreats, and international churches sending out a message of redemption, rededication and renewal! To quote a part of their mission: "We believe that we are part of a broken and lost generation. All around us millions of people are living and dying without hope, purpose or meaning. People are crying out for something real, and the cry of the world can only be met by the transforming power of Jesus Christ!!" AMEN!! Chrisy and I met in 2000 when we both did our DTS, (Discipleship Training School) at Youth With a Mission in Monroe, NC. We clicked immediately! We continue to cultivate our friendship even though she lives in New Haven, CT. We take turns visiting one another and over time our husbands have become friends as well. I am ashamed to say that this was the first time we've seen them in concert!! OH MY WORD, IT WAS AMAZING!!!!!!!! They are so talented, passionate, focused, fun, blessed...anointed. If you're looking for a rockin' CD to give, (or have for yourself) this is definitely the one! If your husband likes to rock out then this is for sure for him! And if you like to rock out, then by all means, TURN IT UP!! What a great night we had. We enjoyed dinner together and then spent the next few hours worshipping our God alongside them!

Justin & Chrisy, (and precious Gabe) We love you guys so much! Thanks for being a part of our lives, raising sons beside us and encouraging us in our faith journey! SEE YOU SOON!!

"The purpose of Christianity is not to avoid difficulty,
but to produce a character adequate to meet it when it comes.
It does not make life easy;
rather it tries to make us great enough for life."
~James L. Christensen

Guatemalan Feast

Our dear friends Tim and Soila made us an amazing Guatemalan Feast last week. As you can see I forgot to take a picture of it because I WAS DEVOURING IT!!! It was so delicious and she didn't even have to try! She is from Guatemala and brings her amazing cooking abilities to their home in Gordonville! Thank you Soila for taking the time to prepare this meal for us. I know you are busy with your three little ones. It was very special to spend time with you and your family.

When they got married, Jake attended their wedding in Guatemala. To this day he talks about how amazing the food was. "Honey, they ground their own corn", "they picked the leaves to wrap the cornmeal in", etc. It really is quite amazing, but not out of the ordinary for them I am sure. Nonetheless, when we were invited to have dinner with them we made sure to make it happen!

Our children play really well together too. Tavita is their oldest girl and loves to play "Memory." (below) Their 2nd born, Zane, is Tyler's age and their youngest, Ivette, is Luke's age.

Here's Luke serenading Ivette....too sweet!

Jake becomes a different guy around Tim. They LAUGH so much together. I get a kick out of watching them! We took along a practical joke, (they LOVE to play jokes on each other and we thought it was our turn!!). It's a fake ice cube, (very real looking I might add) with a dead fly inside!!! When Tim was out of the room Jake put it in his glass. He didn't notice it until the meal was half way over. Suddenly he turns to Soila and they start speaking in Spanish! We knew right away what was going on, but we just sat there looking at them! It was SO HILARIOUS!! So, they're talking and talking and finally I say, "is something wrong?" He tips the glass toward us and we gasp. We pick up our glasses and start looking through them. By this time, they're back to speaking English! "Maybe Tavita put it in the freezer!", "I don't remember putting ice in the lemonade," says Soila. It was then that we just couldn't hold it any longer and we BURST into laughter. Tim takes the "ice" out of the glass and of course realizes that it's not cold! Good times!!!! They have been friends since they were very, very young. Tim was in our wedding as well. Here they are with their oldest boys, (as you can see in this picture they are smiling about something...that's what they look like the entire time they're together....mischievous grins!!) There will be many good times to come I am sure of that!

"And in the end,
it's not the years in your life that count.
It's the life in your years."
~Abraham Lincoln

SNL!

***here is my disclaimer: I am fully aware that this will not be the most "ladylike" post that I have ever placed on my site, but nonetheless, I continue for the amusement of all!!***

Oh my gosh, I was laughing so hard last night I almost peed myself, (doesn't take much these days!!!). Jake and I were watching SNL and there was a fake commercial, you know like they usually do. It was these ladies talking about this new pill that makes you get your period only once a year, (a spoof on some new product that is seriously out there!!) and they were so calm, cool and collected...so excited about the possibility of not being bothered every month. THEN, they cut to the part where they have their periods and they are raging lunatics...chasing people with an ax and eating children's birthday cakes in one huge bite and screaming and biting their husbands. I was laughing soooooo hard!!!!!!! Jake just sat there laughing at me laughing so hard!

There IS a reason these hormones swim around within us only a few days per month. If we try to hold them off but for ONCE a year, this is indeed what will happen!! That was sure a good laugh though!!! I'm glad the writers strike is over!

If this is not funny to you, I do apologize. Please do come visit my little blog again!

happy valentine's day: part II

I found this adorable apron at Target a few weeks ago, for only $2.50. Yes, I will admit it, I am on an apron kick and loving it! Jake and I had my brother over for a Valentine's dinner. Another friend and her son also joined us and we had a lovely evening together.
I had so much fun getting everything ready. Tyler and I made sugar cookies and placed the initial of the first name on the cookie and set it on the table. Here's is Jake's cookie!!

We made heart shaped mini cakes and decorated lots of sugar cookies w/ red icing and chocolate sprinkles....my favorite! I could eat a twist cone w/ chocolate sprinkles every day in the summertime!
My Valentine gave me this lovely bouquet of fresh flowers. He is so good to me. I am in love with him more then ever before. Without sounding too cheesy, I do feel like everyday is Valentine's day with him. He is so pure in his love toward me. My heart is full.
I LOVE YOU JACOB!!!!!!
"If you live to be a hundred,
I want to live to be a hundred minus one day
so I never have to live without you."
~A. A. Milne

may I have this dance?

Tyler's friend Moriah was here for a visit the other day. I was in the kitchen and next thing I know I hear the CD turned on and they are in the living room just dancing away! So cute! Tyler has some really great friends and I am thankful.

"Everything is more fun with a friend." ~Rebekah, age 14~

my buddy

This is my Uncle Tom, he is my buddy. He brings me candy every time and plays Thomas the train with me. We usually share a snack together. I like when he visits me and I love him very much. See you soon Uncle Tom.

Love, T-Y-L-E-R, (spelled out letter by letter, that's how he says my name).

Happy Valentine's Day to All!!

what a glorious day! I just LOVE Valentine's Day! It's a great time to celebrate the love we feel toward those around us, to make & take the time to SHOW it. We're having my brother and a friend & her son over for dinner tonight. I'm making all sorts of yummy food! When I think of Audrey Hepburn I think of LOVE and ROMANCE. Here is picture of her in the movie "Roman Holiday."

"For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart.

It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul." ~Judy Garland~

I'm it

A fellow blogger has tagged me and here are the rules:

1. Pick up the nearest book of at least 123 pages.
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the 5th sentence.
4. Post the next 3 sentences.
5. Tag 5 more people

Okay, I'm game. I like these sorts of things, so here goes...

"Utterly abandoned to the will of God;
seeking for no other path than my Master trod;
leaving ease and pleasure, making Him my choice,
waiting for His guidance, listening for His voice.

Utterly abandoned! No will of my own;
for time and for eternity, His, and His alone;
all my plans and purposes lost in His sweet will,
having nothing, yet in Him all things possessing still."

~"Streams in the Dessert...um, I mean Desert" by Chas E. Cowman~

This is exactly what my book looks like, its worn, torn and loved well. I found it at a garage sale and the name of the original owner is beautifully written in the front: "Ruth Eckert, University Park, Iowa."

Now, it's my turn: I tag Jeane, Vickie, Mary June, Tonya King and CJ Raymer!! Looking forward to seeing what those books say that surround my friends, near and far!
xoxo,
Janelle

once stranger, now friends

On Tuesday I had some "strangers" for lunch. I met Aimee and Beth through Kara's blog. We have been peeking in on each others lives for awhile, but have never met!! So, I decided to have a little brunch of sorts to finally meet "for real"!! What a fun time! I felt like I've always known them, (and their little girls for that matter). I will, without a doubt, contribute that to our shared faith in Jesus Christ! He has united us in heart long before we were united in person.

Tyler & his new friend Danae, (Beth's daughter). Thank you Danae for the fun Dora valentine!! Tyler loves it!
Here is Aimee and her little girl, Avery. What a doll!

Thanks so much for coming over ladies! It was a true pleasure to meet you, talk and laugh and share our lives with each other. My home is always open.

"We need old friends to help us grow old and new friends to help us stay young." ~Lettie Cottin Pogrebin

Holiday in Harrisburg

This past Friday Jake and I spent the entire day in Harrisburg, our state Capital. We began the day with Starbucks, (tall, white chocolate mocha please) and the morning paper. What a treat to sit and enjoy each other's company totally uninterrupted!

We then attended a republican fundraising Luncheon with the

Vice President of the United States, Dick Cheney!!It was quite an experience having so much anticipation for his arrival. Jake & I were especially enamored watching the Secret Service "do their thing," complete with bomb sniffing dogs, caravans of black SUV's & lots of holding the right ear while you talk into thin air!!!!!! Just before his arrival a man came to the front and affixed the seal of the Vice President of the United States to the podium! Every move seemed so clean, smooth & calculated! The speech was powerful and I felt an unexpected feeling toward Mr. Cheney....compassion. His job is not easy and is constantly scorned and ridiculed. I truly appreciated his office while listening to him speak. After the Luncheon we took some time to walk around the city a bit and do some shopping. Here is a picture of a gigantic shopping bag at the mall downtown called Strawberry Square,

very creative design!

Then we went to the movies! I literally cannot remember the last movie I saw in a theater! This was a brand new theater and the seats were AMAZING! Plush, rocking, reclining seats! Now, THAT'S the way to watch a movie! We saw "Fools Gold", a complete waste of time, but it took us to a Caribbean island full of sunshine, crystal blue water and palm trees and for that I was thankful!! Later that night we got "all dolled up" to attend a dinner continuing the

GOP, (Grand Old Party) fundraising day. Jake and I figured out that this chandelier, (one of 10) was bigger then our bathroom!! Yes, very random I know, but these sorts of random things come to mind when you are free to enjoy and take in your surroundings without keeping eyes on little ones!!

The Delectable Dessert of the evening!! Warm apple pie with caramel topping! MORE please!

My niece's Heather & Brianna, there to support their Dad, (my brother) in his official announcement to run for Auditor General of Pennsylvania.

ChetBeiler.com
A SPECIAL THANKS TO: Chet & Sharon, for the kind invitation, my sister Fan, my niece Catherine, Paige and my Mom for watching the boys and providing their needs throughout the day and night. We knew they were in good hands!! Thank you, thank you!!!

new highchair & cute baby

I've been looking for a new highchair for some time and finally found this one on here, one of my favorite sites for bargains galore!! It came with an adorable chairpad, but I put it on Tyler's rocker, (the one that Jake had as a little boy). Looks precious and Tyler thinks he's cool just rockin' away! Here is sweet Luke, my little "baby" who is almost 1!!!!!!!! His little personality has EXPLODED all over us and WE LOVE IT!!! He's just funny! Makes silly little faces and gets a laugh out of us everytime. It's in times like these, when I really start seeing the person behind the baby that makes me want to have more children. What sweet gifts that take a lifetime to unwrap!
"Babies are such a nice way to start people." ~Don Herrold~

Out to sea

A few weeks ago my brother-in-law and sister asked the boys to come for a photo shoot for their new catalog. They have a business that sells all sorts of outdoor fun. Take a peek at their site if you have the time. Of course Tyler was delighted to go because his cousins Mariah and Sophia would be there as well. Here are a few pictures from that day. Enjoy!! They sure did....

"You know you're old when you've lost

all your marvels." ~Merry Browne~