Happy Birthday Rachel!

Today is Rachel's birthday. I can still remember when we went to Ukraine to pick up two new siblings. We were planning on getting one girl and one boy. We went to the orphanage where Rebekah was(we had seen a picture of her at a place that told us which orphanage to go to) but when we got there and had seen Rebekah, our translator asked us if we wanted to ask the orphanage directors if their were any boys available at the same orphanage or we would be in Ukraine much longer since we would have to be at each orphanage about 10 days. So, we gave him the go ahead and they said they did have one. The sent him out and he came out singing the Ukrainian National Anthem. My mom and dad were like "ummmm, we don't want to say no, but this one could be a real handful). Thankfully their problem was solved when they found out he was not available since he was being moved in just a few days. So we asked if they had any more girls. They said they one....Olga. She was 4 years old, the whitest, scardest(are those words) thing I ever have seen. That was the beginning of our life with her, and thank goodness it wasn't the end. Happy birthday to my little sister!Rachel at 5 years old.
Rachel at 11 years old.
Rachel at 12 years old.
Rachel on 11/28/08 with her horse Angel.

Happy Birthday Elizabeth!

Today is Elizabeth's birthday. She is now 7 years old. It is hard for me to think that it has been 7 whole years since she was born. Elizabeth was born at home and I can vividly remember everything. When we woke up at 6:45(that was a rule in our house, we couldn't get up before then)on Sunday, December 2 2001, mom was in labor and the midwives were just arriving. We were instructed to stay in a room that was right next to Mom's room. This was all before we moved so it was in our tiny little house with very few rooms. I remember hearing her first cry and getting all excited. I remember holding her for the first time. Then I made pancakes and the midwives left and we had breakfast. I can't remember if we went to church or not. We had several people stop in and see her on the first day. Then the next day was really crazy....we were adding on to our house and the builders were all there and we had to show off our new sister to all of them...it's kinda funny when I look back! Happy birthday to my little sister!
Elizabeth on 11/30/08 playing with the puppies outside
Elizabeth at 9 months old?

Elizabeth at 4 years oldElizabeth at 4 years old...don't you love the toes?

Let it snow!

Ben taking a ride down the sled track.
Ben taking another ride, this time with a puppy!
Elizabeth on her way down with a bunch of puppies trailing behind her.
And yes ladies and gents....that is me, though a very sorry picture of me(but then don't I think that about every picture of me? No wait, there was that one...:)

Yesterday we got a few inches of snow and everyone headed out to the hill in front of our house for an attempt at sledding. The snow was wet, so it went pretty well. We took the puppies out and they were so cute out in the snow. I tell ya, if we don't get rid of those pups soon, I am really going to want to keep one, and that is not good at all.

Oh, tonight I will be at my ag class while Rachel and Elizabeth are in a parade in a town near us. I will have to count on Abigail and her wonderful photography skills for pictures. I will post them tomorrow though.

Have a great day!
~Bethany~

Thanksgiving pictures

Four little cousins goofing off. These boys range in age from 3-5.
The whole family during dinner. Yes, it did come to my mind that we are all really big goobers. :)
Each table setting was just like this. The paper has the song Now Thank We All Our God on it, which we sang before we ate.
The whole table before we ate!
The turkey being stuffed by Elizabeth, this was before being cooked! :)

I never did post our Thanksgiving pictures, so I thought I would add them now. We had a great day with the whole family and were so thankful to be able to get together. We were thankful that everyone got down here safely and that the weather was wonderful, perfect for children playing outside. Everything went smoothly, no one got lost, no one had to turn around because of bad weather, and the Turkey was done just in time. :) Enjoy the pictures!

Shopping.....anyone?

Abigail and Hoss on a afternoon ride.
Abigail playing ping pong.
Ben showing that the ice is ready to skate on!
Abigail and Hoss, Rachel and Angel riding in the woods.
Abigail and I goofing off with our new cameras!

So did you get out shopping yesterday? Now, I usually don't like shopping, but I love to watch crowds, so I went with Dad, Abigail and Rachel at 5:00 a.m. where we went to Angola (IN). We first went to Meijers and got shampoo and Dad got an MP3 player. Then we went to Rural King and were going to get some saw horses but put them back when we saw the lines. After that we headed over to Khols and got some great deals. We got two electric griddles for $10 each! They were really $20 but there was a $10 rebate so that was an awesome deal! We stopped at TSC but didn't get anything, then headed over to Menards. Now on our way to Meijers earlier in the morning we had seen a LINE in front on Menards and at quarter to 6 there were probably at least 100 people there in line!!! When were got there around 6:30, it was a mad house. The whole main isle COULD NOT be walked through. The 15 check out lanes where lined up with at least 20 people in each line. It was unreal. Needless to say, we did not get any of the awesome deals that were there. Then we came to our little Coldwater where things were much calmer. We stopped at Family Farm and Home and got some buckets and sunflower seeds and Abigail bought some overalls. Then we headed over to Coldwater Meijers to get milk and Dad got a good deal on some coffee and then Abigial and I each got our deal of the day.....digital cameras! There were originally $119, but we got them for only $50! We did have to buy a memory card which were about $15 a piece, but I still think it was a slammin' deal! So needless to say, after all that it was really worth it. They are awesome cameras and I already have 63 on mine and have already deleated a bunch!!! Oh, and I can get almost 2300 pictures on that little thing! I have posted some of the pictures I took with it yesterday.

Have a great Saturday!
~Bethany~

Psalm 71

Last night I was reading my Bible and came across Psalm 71. Verse 5 (For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth.) really blessed me. You know, with all the issues such as wars, economic issues, etc. we need to just trust in God and run to Him when we are worried or afraid. He is our help in time of need. Isn't is wonderful? I thought I would post the whole passage so that others may be blessed by it as well.

Psalm 71

1 In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.

2 Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me.

3 Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.

4 Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.

5 For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth.

6 By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother's bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee.

7 I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge.

8 Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day.

9 Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.

10 For mine enemies speak against me; and they that lay wait for my soul take counsel together,

11 Saying, God hath forsaken him: persecute and take him; for there is none to deliver him.

12 O God, be not far from me: O my God, make haste for my help.

13 Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries to my soul; let them be covered with reproach and dishonour that seek my hurt.

14 But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more.

15 My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof.

16 I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.

17 O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.

18 Now also when I am old and greyheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.

19 Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things: O God, who is like unto thee!

20 Thou, which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth.

21 Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.

22 I will also praise thee with the psaltery, even thy truth, O my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel.

23 My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed.

24 My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long: for they are confounded, for they are brought unto shame, that seek my hurt.

AKC registered lab puppies

Ben enjoys the puppies! I am sure you all would too....:)




Just for all of you puppy lovers and those interested in a puppy, we have lab puppies for sale! They will be the perfect age at Christmas time and the perfect gift! Females are $350, males are $300. If you are interested, please email soon to get yours ordered before they all go!
~Bethany~