Fall is just around the corner!!

I just wanted to remind all of you that we have moved to a new blog at www.FaithIsHopeOnFire.blogspot.com

We ran out of room for pictures, and I just haven't taken the time to get our book make yet!

We love to have you pop over and share in our journey in life!! You will notice a few things are different, but the heart of the blog is the same...our kids!!

See you on the other side!!

xoxo BRENDA xoxo

Come visit us at our NEW home!!

www.FaithIsHopeOnFire.blogspot.com

We outgrew our home so we hope you will join us at our new blog!! Remember, if you have us listed as a favorite you will need to update our address!!!! Can't wait to see you there....!!

don't give up on me!

Don't give up on me yet...I am still trying to get a book made so I can free up some space and add more pictures! It is a process I just haven't had time for! If that becomes reoccurring I will just set up a second site, because it kills me to not post pictures!


I hope to post some stories soon, while I know the pictures are what you really come for!

Hoping you have a great Mother's Day, and an enjoyable weekend!!

milestones!

We have had a week of milestones in our family!

Last week we attended they Relay For Life in Lincoln and Charli walked the survivor lap all by herself!! This was her first time doing so, and she was so grown up! Her apperance there caught the attention of the 1011 news station who interviewed us for that evenings news! While I was in Lincoln for work on Wednesday I was showna copy of that days Lincoln Journal Star, which Charil was in as well!! Fun times!

I also took both kids swimming by myself. I was afraid of how this would work but a freind gave me a little trick and we had a great time! Charli wore a lifejacket most of the time and floated around enjoying her freedom! When Harper wore the jacket he laid on his back and was so relaxed he almost fell asleep!!

After swimming we took a trip to the Children's Museum which was a great idea - however having our arrival time line up with the spring game - not such a great idea!!

We had a great weekend!

And...finally the milestone I just reached --> I have officially ran out of room for pictures on this blog! I am trying to get our books printed so I can take old posts off, however that may take awhile! In the meantime I will either have to create a second blog and/or delete posts as I go. If anyone is looking for a part-time job to get these books created...look me up :-)

getting ready to start the lap! she was so brave and the other survivors were so supportive and nice to her!


nice to see her on the other side of the law!

they each wanted to go in opposite directions while we were there, but they found a few common things to enjoy!

Charli played "dog" and Harper played "vet"!

he was not able to get his foot high enough to attempt the boot...but he tried and tried!

BIG tire! I tried to get Harper in the same tire - but he was too interested in the big semi next to it!

they two huge chairs which I love because it makes you feel so tiny! Harper just bailed off the sides when I tried to have them sit together!

harper, the puppy!

Charli was a hippo -- not a puppy! please don't confuse the two or she may get crabby! she just started the "peace" sign, not sure where she picked that up!

fun in the water!

i love this picture!!

doing chores!

they both take their job of feeding the goats very seriously! Harper runs around the fence with his lips puckered up trying to kiss them after they eat!

just like grandpa?! at one point he even had one hand on the throttle and one hand holding the diet pepsi!!!

GOOFY!

egg time!

fun (and messy!!) times!

the jewelry (candy) box Chad made for Charli on her "fun" day out in March for her cancerversary. he told her that when she was super good she could look here for treats!

Charli's plate for 2011. She even painted her fingernails orange!

I made a bowl - which has sat empty...not sure what to use it for now that I have it!

Two of my nephews came to the Relay, which made it extra special! I have pictures of them with the kids...great pictures of them with the kids, which I am very sad to not be sharing! I will post them as soon as I have room on the blog for them!! They loved on the kids and I could tell they were proud to be there with Charli -- and had fun playing with Harper! It's fun to see the big boys in my life take care of the little boy in my life! :-)

Charli's TV appearance!

If you click HERE you can see Charli make her television debut!! I had the opportunity to speak at a Relay For Life this weekend and we were asked for a brief interview by a Lincoln station. (which happens to be the station we watch, fun!) Charli even got to stay up until 10:30 that night to watch it! We were on first, but she was too excited to fall asleep...it was sweet! I will write more about this and post pictures soon!! During the first interview you can see Chad and Harper playing in the background!! Ahhh, what a fun memory for Charli!!

laughter and tears

This was a sad weekend, yet we found times to smile. A friend from high school lost her husband in a car accident this weekend...these things make you think, that is certain. My heart goes out to these families, and prayers are being said around the world for them...I am certain they will feel God's arms in their greatest time of need. The weather was gloomy this weekend, but Chad and the kids still managed to work on a project outside. Our old fence had seen better days, so it was time to give a little mini-upgrade to something that didn't blow over ;-) Charli enjoyed getting to help, and Harper enjoyed getting dirty!

we had lots of soccer time! I think I took about 50 pictures of her, and she has the same form in each picture! she loves soccer...hopefully she will enjoy it just as much when she has to follow the rules this fall!

red cheeks! she insisted on wearing long pants, it was so hot out!! the kids were bright red after a day outside!

she got to put several of the screws in, so this was truly a father/daughter project! it was cute!

she thought it would be hilarious to put Harper's pj's on! the pants are great capri size...we might be onto something!

he tried to run away before church...and tries each morning too! he opens the patio door and just takes off!

dear God, please pray for Japan...

Charli was on my lap tonight and out of her mouth came..."Dear God, please help the workers build everyone a new house in Japan". Sweetie!!! Harper threw some big-sized temper tantrums for a porkchop. He does not like to be anywhere but outside. He wakes up, grabs his shoes and runs to the door. We spent the night at the farm Saturday night and we were outside before we have breakfast most mornings...going in doors does not work for him!

so much fun to have someone to swing with!!

he sat in the big swing for about 15-20 minutes...and just took it all in!

for those of you who knew chad 'in the day'...this should be enough to make you worry. He loves this hat --> which means mom doesn't!!

well, if harper gets a hat....so does charli!

mmmm, breakfast! he loves to drink his cereal milk! he doesn't usually spill, lucky me...but not so lucky this day!

busted!

sweet!

harper's favorite piece of attire!

"been farming long"?!

when your hut is on fire...

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him. Every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming.

Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect himself from the elements, and to store his few possessions. One day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, with smoke rolling up to the sky. He felt the worst had happened, and everything was lost. He was stunned with disbelief, grief, and anger. He cried out, 'God! How could you do this to me?'

Early the next day, he was awakened by the sound of a ship approaching the island! It had come to rescue him! 'How did you know I was here?' asked the weary man of his rescuers. 'We saw your smoke signal,' they replied.

The Moral of This Story: It's easy to get discouraged when things are going bad, but we shouldn't lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of our pain and suffering.

Remember that the next time your little hut seems to be burning to the ground. It just may be a smoke signal that summons the Grace of God.

if a pictures tells a thousand stories....

Thank you for all the prayers, calls, emails, texts, and notes on facebook today...I was amazed to see all the messages we acquired today! Charli won't be making a trip back to Children's for a year...thank you God! Lots of pictures to tell lots of stories, enjoy!

double the pleasure, double the trouble, double the work!

i love the way he looks at her!!

now, if only we could find a way to keep them in here when they are climbing the walls!

step 1 - put on mom's shoes

step 2 - walk with mom's shoes

step 3 - fall out of mom's shoes!

love, love, love when they find something they can enjoy together!!

...and not fight over it!

Charli's first thing to grab as soon as we get to grandmas!!

and our dear Harper!! This is my old doll, Diana Marie. I wanted Charli to love her and take her home...she said no, but was glad to offer to take grandma's football outfit. So, I gave her to Harper who gave her lots of love!! Wouldn't he make a fine big brother ;-)

Coloring like such a big girl! She also colored using "paint" on grandma's computer. Makes her seem so grown up when she starts to play the computer!

it just makes sense to put a color in there, it is the perfect fit!!

Harper and grandpa worked through coloring together!

harper thought it was soo funny when grandpa would try to keep him from crawling on the table, eating colors, or putting them in his ear!

super-star!

Charli's first drink of pop...

...and she was not impressed!!

getting ready to have her finger poke. She was giving her 'tuff smile'

What a difference a year makes!

being OH SO strong! She was concentrating so hard to watch them get the blood out!

and was so brave while they were doing it! "she is 4 ya know"

Before we went got into the hospital she was so nervous, we think she made herself sick...how sad. She was brave and got to go pick out a toy from toys-r-us. She was SET on a big BUZZ who would talk and shoot lasers....

then we get there, and she fell in love with BATMAN!! I love this because I remember my brother having basically the same thing for HEMAN!!

wow, who is this big girl here? She looks about 3 years older?! I don't like it!! oh so pretty....

Oh, and we can't forget these!! Charli picked out these matching pj's! I was so impressed that she could be talked into purple for herself!! There is room to make progress!!! ;-)