We Climbed the Cliff and are Back!

       Yes! I know what y'all are thinking, we fell off a cliff and died! That is a close guess but it wasn't that dramatic!
  I have this thing that blogs can get boring if its all words and no pictures, soooo since I am feeling guilty about our long uninterrupted silence I will force myself to drag some of those out from the past 2 years. I will try and get a picture or say something about everyone to get y'all updated, starting with

((((The highlight question for everyone "Whats your favorite saying right now?" ))))

Gracie:
  The independent 2 yr old that has managed to break about half of our inventory of glass drinking glasses, eat about 4 breakfasts every morning (one with dad, one with Jeremiah, one with faith or I, and then to top it all off she eats with the rest of the family) with her degree in the mastered art of begging, and then we have potty training, in which she is doing well! But all in all we love her and she keeps us on our toes trying to keep up with all of her adventures.

                                                                         "eeeewww!"

Watermelon that we harvested last year from our garden.

She's a princess on the outside but a tomboy at heart!

(she has lots of older brothers to teach her;)

Next munchkin on the list........Peter Rabbit! 

Our smiley, dimpled cheeks, talkative, sassy little boy. He is trying to keep up with both of his older brothers, but deep down he has a soft spot for Gracie too! He is doing great in his pre-K school! But it was a rough start at the beginning with him coming up with his own rules on how he should do things, but we fixed that now and he is enjoying himself immensely! When he isn't doing school he is outside playing with Gracie and riding his big wheel down the hill and into the ditch (his favorite past time). He keeps our house roaring with laughter with his little-kid-brain sayings.

"Every fing is possible wif God"

Micah! Climbing up poles and trees, building things with his drill and tool set, and helping around the house with chores (he's a great helper when he wants to be). He loves being outside and getting dirty, after school he comes in the house covered in dirt and sand, and well, you know whatever else the cats and dogs left in the sandbox;) We love him when he's happy!! 

"Peanut Butter Jelly poke the belly!"

Mercy Ann: The poor girl has chicken pox right now, but when she's not scratching (she says she rubs and doesn't scratch?), soaking in the bath tub, or in her bed, you can find her hiding and reading one of many books, writing letters, or making crafts in her bedroom. She is also a great help to mom when us girls are gone! 

"I love Spring!"

                                  

She did this to herself before she went to sleep! :) 

Matthew! He likes playing made up games and being in his own little world:) He will be outside on days that he gets his school done (some days we wonder if he WILL ever get it done??), he makes up games to play with his younger siblings and enjoys making them follow his rules! That boy! We all wonder whats inside his brain! We have many good moments with him too! He is growing up faster than ever! 

"God is great in all ways!"

Faith! She turned 18 a couple months ago with Dad exclaimed "She's on the market!" Trying to juggle traveling, work, school, cycling, and violin she manages to plan out all the meals in the house and do the shopping! Recently she was headed to work and had a run in, i mean she ran into our dads car! She sent it rolling down the driveway and onto the road at 4 o'clock in the morning! The windows in Mom and Dads room were open, so dad heard the crash and went running after his car! He wasn't real happy but we all are having a good laugh now! Life without Faith would be less exciting! 

Jeremiah! Our long lost brother that has been in AZ for the past two weeks! (he is coming home tonight) He graduated last year. We threw him a surprise graduation party after he was gone in Iowa/IL for a weekend. He pulled into the driveway, noticed something was off, and then almost rolled right back out! It was fun! He might not admit it but he enjoyed it! His job, putting metal roofs on houses, is keeping him busy. If you haven't noticed he travels a LOT, he's been traveling around the country racing his bike and visiting more of our churches, he enjoys staying with families from our church and worshipping with them on Sundays, its relaxing after a long race weekend! Out of his travels his big highlight would probably be having the oppurtunity to go to Haiti and serving the people there! 

"Keep the faith!"

Mom: She is staying busy with the kids and school, trying to keep her sanity and the monthly Midwest Food Bank load outs organized. 

"The joy of the Lord is my strength!"

Dad: Working hard, providing for the family, and keeping his car parked away from Faith's! 

"Kids, time for bed"

Thank You all for stopping by and listening to me mumble and jumble! Hopefully y'all will hear from us soon (before another 2yrs...preferably)!

~Patience Marie~

"Going to church doesn't make you a christian anymore than standing in a garage makes you a car"

Patience:  This is our 16year old going on 30. She got her driver's license this year, so watch our for a red S10 on the road. When we don't know what to wear, she can tell us.  Recently she found out where the Water Dept is, when she tried to take the water payment to the Electric Co.!  She keeps busy, working with Faith at Country View Market (a Mennonite bulk food store in Charlotte. Y'all stop by and see them sometime!), biking, traveling, and helping Mom at home with whatever needs to be done.  When she thinks I know something, we get along great!  Love her to pieces:)   

from,

       Mom