This year we had the pleasure of my parents company on our Christmas tree hunt. The roads were pretty much snow free so we had a very quick and lovely excursion into the woods. My parents survived the car ride with 3 boys and my dad was a trooper making faces and silly voices at Nate the whole way. Fun was had by all.
Last night we volunteered to bell ring for the salvation army. We didn't get the best location in the world as we were at Sears, but people surprised me with their generosity. Although, I think the cuteness factor didn't hurt. The boys did great! I am proud of my little bell ringers.
Smiling into the sun
Patiently waiting to spread some Christmas cheer.
Please don't make me go out in public in this ridiculous outfit mom!
A month ago, Peter, a friend from church, went to be with our Lord after a fierce battle with Cancer. A couple weeks before he was diagnosed with cancer Peter heard God tell him that he was going to go through something difficult that would be for God's glory and Peter's good. Over the course of his illness Peter displayed a faith like I have never seen. He never stopped praising God. He showed everyone around him that it is not the amount of faith that you have, but the power of the one who you put your faith in that matters. Peter lived more fully in his death then most people do in a lifetime. I am honored to have known him and to have witnessed a man who truly loved the Lord with all his heart, soul, mind and strength. Please pray for his wife Amanda, and children Ethan and Claire.
This video is of Peter Crawford just one week and two days before he passed away. He had been unable to lift his arms at all, unable to move his right arm and had completely lost his voice and was in unbearable pain as the result of Stage IV undefined cancer. Friends around the country spent the day, Friday, August 12, 2011, in prayer and fasting for Peter. That night he was completely pain free, able to raise, move and wave his arms around and he spent time recording this message in the midst of his joy in the Lord while he was literally walking in the shadow of the valley of death. We know now that his chemo was having no effect and there is no medical explanation for his amazing, though temporary, recovery that night.
Nathaniel Stephen Hiester is here! He came into the world on Tuesday, August 30th at 4:25 pm. He weighed in at a whopping 5 lbs 14oz and 19 inches long.
Making a Schill size snowman
