tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871873803697191262024-02-07T01:32:38.834-08:00The WetzellsBen and Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08722217631287724115noreply@blogger.comBlogger94125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-387187380369719126.post-1662719145650928672012-09-06T19:22:00.000-07:002012-09-08T12:52:09.782-07:00Caitlin...<div style="text-align: center;">
...This one's for you!!!!! And a few more who have been pestering me for a blog post!</div>
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Eli is ONE! </div>
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<strong><span class="text Ps-37-7" id="en-NIV-14458"><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">"</span></sup>Be still<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-14458A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup> before the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-37-7">and wait patiently<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-14458B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup> for him;</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-37-7">do not fret<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-14458C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"></sup> when people succeed in their ways,<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-14458D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)"></sup></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-37-7">when they carry out their wicked schemes." </span></span></strong></div>
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<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-37-7"><strong>Psalm 37:7<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-14458E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)"></sup></strong></span></span></div>
Ben and Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08722217631287724115noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-387187380369719126.post-83327527147996260952012-07-16T18:12:00.001-07:002012-07-16T18:12:49.197-07:00Long Lost Post<div style="text-align: center;">
Oh Boy! Wasn't even sure if I should write again since it had been so long. </div>
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Here's the deal...our camera is broke, so the only pictures that have been taken this summer have been on my phone. Those pictures are definitely not phenomenal so we just need to get our camera fixed. </div>
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Here is Eli at 10 months...still no teeth, but cute as ever!</div>
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Eli has had a busy first summer in Minnesota. Many days at the pool, lake and with cousins all around him! He is loving it as much as his mom and dad love him!</div>
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Thanks for checking in with the Wetzells! I will try to update sooner than later next time.</div>
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<strong>"I wait quietly before God,<br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-62-1">for my victory comes from him.</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-62-2" id="en-NLT-14806">He alone is my rock and my salvation,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-62-2">my fortress where I will never be shaken."</span></span></strong></div>
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<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-62-2"><strong>Psalm 62:1-2</strong></span></span></div>Ben and Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08722217631287724115noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-387187380369719126.post-67467419830951196152012-05-24T19:17:00.001-07:002012-05-24T19:19:20.758-07:009 Months<div style="text-align: center;">
I can't believe our little man is 9 months old already. Wowser Basowser! Time flies! For some reason he was not a happy camper during our photo shoot. He's even sweet when he's mad! You can tell his little feet were even kicking by how blurry they are in the big picture!</div>
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Our poor little bubby (cutest word ever from Melissa:) ) is finally back to himself (health wise). It seems like he has had some kind of sickness since we moved back to MN. It went from a cold, to a longer cold, to some kind of virus that made him throw up numerous times, to finally now! But that is life with kids, right?!</div>
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Tomorrow we become parents of four for a week and a half! We get to watch our three nieces while my sister and her hubby get to spread God's amazing love in Thailand. </div>
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Have a great Memorial Day!! We get to enjoy it by heading to the family cabin and loving on the girls!</div>
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<strong>"The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need." Psalm 23:1</strong></div>
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<br /></div>Ben and Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08722217631287724115noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-387187380369719126.post-52162473089537960852012-05-03T08:04:00.002-07:002012-05-03T08:10:53.564-07:00California...Much Too Long Ago Now!<div style="text-align: center;">
We took an amazing little vacay with the Wetzell family 2 months ago already. </div>
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This post is long overdue, oops!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghxYZyW_YgIeu0SlfPVSTHWFiLzkwGKaxiu13xISgImvF-XpR1Cm6Wrm8VIui5i2B9I20fUIh9A-DANpIrE7bjGgrWup2TC9NjYzGAC2RKRbmzR1RujuHRU8XnNf4Z4WeCUiaZ3tthkeT-/s1600/Ben_Amanda_and_Eli_CA-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghxYZyW_YgIeu0SlfPVSTHWFiLzkwGKaxiu13xISgImvF-XpR1Cm6Wrm8VIui5i2B9I20fUIh9A-DANpIrE7bjGgrWup2TC9NjYzGAC2RKRbmzR1RujuHRU8XnNf4Z4WeCUiaZ3tthkeT-/s320/Ben_Amanda_and_Eli_CA-001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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We were there celebrating Megan's 30th! WOOHOO...Oldie! And Mr.B just happened to be turning the Big ONE the same weekend so we got to have double the birthday fun!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYVORDViqASJo97kbAVw71MtW1-FE2brSouRT0lBspE7w3j8LV73UV_On-lXSF__G1cpIWP9MSx9fLFBPtz65klIWvifmuKawiWRbGoTaHogTvZaIi0cyUltqF4bR3y6KSKxpNxFBN3r3C/s1600/051-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYVORDViqASJo97kbAVw71MtW1-FE2brSouRT0lBspE7w3j8LV73UV_On-lXSF__G1cpIWP9MSx9fLFBPtz65klIWvifmuKawiWRbGoTaHogTvZaIi0cyUltqF4bR3y6KSKxpNxFBN3r3C/s320/051-001.JPG" width="320" /></a> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgwzambxN_4nXy23pPtu3zoEUf-sqvxnEdzdyMRpUfyaXlvb0Sq2MRG2JU5VQdJhS7LQ72y5Y8hGP2XWVEcVVNuJwhVPiGsuPxaN3_MMAyrGmHc48-M60odNR8JF9CLV2NJ8TTKxIyZVbj/s1600/cacollage2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgwzambxN_4nXy23pPtu3zoEUf-sqvxnEdzdyMRpUfyaXlvb0Sq2MRG2JU5VQdJhS7LQ72y5Y8hGP2XWVEcVVNuJwhVPiGsuPxaN3_MMAyrGmHc48-M60odNR8JF9CLV2NJ8TTKxIyZVbj/s320/cacollage2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I love family and warm sunny vacations!!!</div>
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<strong>“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:12</strong></div>Ben and Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08722217631287724115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-387187380369719126.post-80447129664883907782012-04-30T11:53:00.001-07:002012-04-30T11:53:39.434-07:008 Months and a Few More<div style="text-align: center;">
Eli is the sweetest boy in the world with eyes of wonder...as his daddy says!! And let me tell you, Eli feels the same way about his dad. He absolutely adores his daddy. When dad walks in the door at night he just squeals! And no matter what he is doing Eli immediately wants to be held by Ben! It is the most precious thing in the world!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqkD7iz8AnH-K7bNz4BVaS8GHXTK37ZrG0d3FVvpjWfID1aKoBXrpL7MSzd7wDdBMnytZzdq3LU3PJNqwYP1YYdIk_Ew9Wk_Vsz4MyZdHdebfVo-bpcdM4US1Z_bEKng99Vh3wYws7jyDT/s1600/8months.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqkD7iz8AnH-K7bNz4BVaS8GHXTK37ZrG0d3FVvpjWfID1aKoBXrpL7MSzd7wDdBMnytZzdq3LU3PJNqwYP1YYdIk_Ew9Wk_Vsz4MyZdHdebfVo-bpcdM4US1Z_bEKng99Vh3wYws7jyDT/s320/8months.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here are a few more pictures of Mr.E!</div>
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Can I just add one more thing by saying we have some of the best friends in the world! Thank you Gaalswyks for making my birthday so memorable! You are MUCH too sweet! Love you guys!</div>
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<strong><span class="text Judg-5-31">"But may all who love you be like the sun </span><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Judg-5-31">when it rises in its strength.” </span></span>Judges 5:31</strong></div>Ben and Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08722217631287724115noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-387187380369719126.post-66491551737310230242012-04-24T14:04:00.002-07:002012-04-24T14:25:34.982-07:00Switching LanesWe have now moved over to the fast lane! Our life has picked up unbelievably since moving back. Now, compared to a lot of families our life is probably still creeping in the slow lane, but when thinking of our life in WA we have definitely had to get used to having a lot more to do. So with that said, sorry for my absence. I have gotten a word about it from a few of you! <br />
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Eli will be 8 months tomorrow so you must see his 7 month pictures before you see his change to 8 months. <br />
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He has had a couple big haircuts since those pictures so tell me if you notice when you look at his 8 month pictures! That little rascal has had his hair cut about five times in his short little life! <br />
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I will try to be better but since I got this darn new iPhone(which I never thought I would get but am absolutely in love with), I don't turn on the computer...ever! <br />
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<b>"Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun." Psalm 37:4-6 </b>Ben and Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08722217631287724115noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-387187380369719126.post-37736671887975275642012-03-07T13:59:00.003-08:002012-03-07T14:15:02.540-08:00So Much To SayWow, so much has happened in the past month that it may take me a few posts to catch up. I will start with the most important thing...Big E! He is 6.5 months and as sweet as pie! Here are his 6 month pictures!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7O7BscKk_y1yA0napHmEkMtP6nCJMjusBqSPx3JEe2d_0RyxJWLoJ0gM9XUce1c17J3VEwa_psZ097Qu-R6pMolZUd-SQJavsbekt8Rh0CDiKqaPerZm7tDmsRn9r1UlP0QQdDd101Y7E/s1600/6month.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7O7BscKk_y1yA0napHmEkMtP6nCJMjusBqSPx3JEe2d_0RyxJWLoJ0gM9XUce1c17J3VEwa_psZ097Qu-R6pMolZUd-SQJavsbekt8Rh0CDiKqaPerZm7tDmsRn9r1UlP0QQdDd101Y7E/s400/6month.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717279972971975458" /></a><br />He is doing great in his new room! We are loving our new house. It was built in 1886, so much different than what we are used to. We adore the unique character of the house. I am hoping to put up some pictures of our home very soon.<br /><br />Other than that, we feel so fortunate to be close to family and friends again. Our calendar is much fuller living in MN! :) We definitely are missing our wonderful friends in WA, so hello to all of you! More updates to come!<br /><br /><strong>“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:23-24 </strong>Ben and Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08722217631287724115noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-387187380369719126.post-7291421073272114942012-01-25T20:34:00.000-08:002012-01-26T09:31:19.529-08:005 in Five...and 5 MonthsWell, it is official. We are moving back to the Midwest! Ben got a new job and we are heading back to Minnesota in T-Minus 2 weeks. So yes, we will be moving into our 5th home in five years. Some may call that being a nomad, we call it learning a lot about each other! I am not going to write much about it because most of you know all the details. We are extremely excited to get back to family and friends but it is definitely another time of our life where the Lord is challenging us to completely trust in Him. <br /><br />Some of the ways He has decided to do that is by: giving Ben a brand new job, moving into a home we have never seen, leaving amazing friends in WA, trying to sell a car in 3 weeks, figuring out how to move across the country in less than a month and many other things. <br /><br />Yet we (Ben especially) have such an amazing peace from the Lord about everything. We know we are blessed beyond belief and can't wait to continue our pursuit of the Lord in all of this.<br /><br />We also can not wait to hang out with our family and friends whenever we please...BOOYAH GRAMMA! <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNiMKZOszmsxo_x5YarqU7yFwZW5-35YM1FuZc9C-TXrHx98m9OdYuNVkT65gB4CRlMzKGP739ME7DzppvHapECNStbj4p-H-bUQkkG2MkuEJKBPyHICD0U2xZpcEFUyB8JdTAIm9xK6uW/s1600/MNvaca-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNiMKZOszmsxo_x5YarqU7yFwZW5-35YM1FuZc9C-TXrHx98m9OdYuNVkT65gB4CRlMzKGP739ME7DzppvHapECNStbj4p-H-bUQkkG2MkuEJKBPyHICD0U2xZpcEFUyB8JdTAIm9xK6uW/s400/MNvaca-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701794642302944914" /></a><br />Eli is 5 months old! KER-AYZEE! He is now eating two meals a day. We upped his solid food intake pretty fast because, well, he is just one stinking big little boy! Oh and have I mentioned a CUTE big little boy! :)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz09TmIsBg6hvAMldhNilZhdaSmLZKDgjHT7YE6C8VapXmhbIv_UBQFpoXUDg4ruhoDibkSYo95Fe97MRbmqKubk6TmrqWJOyJ3gSeUqJtPmeLbVxMzreNBf5qNfVgP1JFFNNd9zTuQn_F/s1600/003-1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 285px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz09TmIsBg6hvAMldhNilZhdaSmLZKDgjHT7YE6C8VapXmhbIv_UBQFpoXUDg4ruhoDibkSYo95Fe97MRbmqKubk6TmrqWJOyJ3gSeUqJtPmeLbVxMzreNBf5qNfVgP1JFFNNd9zTuQn_F/s400/003-1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701795435546136290" /></a><br />In case you are wondering, which you probably are not, I am not sure what the name of our blog will become once we are officially Minnesotans again. Hmmmm...any ideas?<br /><br /><strong>"But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did." 1 John 2:5-6</strong>Ben and Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08722217631287724115noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-387187380369719126.post-4301208466455410962012-01-18T16:24:00.000-08:002012-01-20T09:52:06.271-08:00Squash, Avocado and SnowI had hoped to wait a while longer to introduce solids to Mr.E but he had other plans in mind. I finally took his advice after he drank more than 11 oz. of milk before bedtime one night. If you aren't familiar with babies and their milk intake then I will inform you...that is one big meal!<br /> <br />My doctor(along with a friend) steered me away from rice cereal for a few reasons and guided me towards squash as Eli's first food. Just as I had prayed, Eli will be taking after his dad in the food department! Thank goodness because I was way too picky as a little peep! He loved the squash! We couldn't keep him sitting up. He just stayed bent over the entire meal because he wanted the spoon/food in his mouth the entire time! We are now on to avocado and he seems to love that just as much. <br />Sorry about the bad pictures, my camera has decided to be a pooper scooper and only work when it wants.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipgpob_8iG6gF4rO-a4raK_Cs7alvkd7uewT6z_jTTT_MnRuyK6tSHRCCEYw1EBOr4Z424QdOMWhkHk-xC3lpEf1mB4XXCeDAPYN-6efdktmU0m1Y3mRyAHRSFbjWDb6r2m7W1vCAivrvA/s1600/009.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipgpob_8iG6gF4rO-a4raK_Cs7alvkd7uewT6z_jTTT_MnRuyK6tSHRCCEYw1EBOr4Z424QdOMWhkHk-xC3lpEf1mB4XXCeDAPYN-6efdktmU0m1Y3mRyAHRSFbjWDb6r2m7W1vCAivrvA/s400/009.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699133315137697650" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYtvh7NOQYfBy81_AeRZ2QGf59foDzN4KA4ofInJgh7zn3_B1-ZM04wyCHAH-6dffpcQaqdeSzUe-TndswsoiMIfZuvqAozkHqt_hMl8GydhXjghZAP-J-NPyuYQhgPXF4mGk_svNzx6yg/s1600/004.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYtvh7NOQYfBy81_AeRZ2QGf59foDzN4KA4ofInJgh7zn3_B1-ZM04wyCHAH-6dffpcQaqdeSzUe-TndswsoiMIfZuvqAozkHqt_hMl8GydhXjghZAP-J-NPyuYQhgPXF4mGk_svNzx6yg/s400/004.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699133313208392914" /></a><br />We have had crazy amounts of snow here this week and it is supposed to continue until the weekend. It is so pretty but the roads are terrible when you get this winter weather in the PNW(Cargill term=Pacific Northwest...took me awhile to catch on), because they don't keep up on plowing and they don't salt the same way MN does. Schools are pretty much cancelled all week, along with Eli and I being snowed the entire week! <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-qxTL9_0DN3bDn-YBKNUcZqFBEaHntiGJ70IbtiP0Pbjm1EiSRFp3kmDPtBC5grO9iQX4iE2hTm_QqR7CgmnSJbRiyQfZjdHBtYxd4qlITtIae_ku4h2HlMsQ3GiT3Gq0awcoxpuf8SLK/s1600/2012-01-16.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-qxTL9_0DN3bDn-YBKNUcZqFBEaHntiGJ70IbtiP0Pbjm1EiSRFp3kmDPtBC5grO9iQX4iE2hTm_QqR7CgmnSJbRiyQfZjdHBtYxd4qlITtIae_ku4h2HlMsQ3GiT3Gq0awcoxpuf8SLK/s400/2012-01-16.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699136182958288818" /></a><br />I took a few pictures of our little sweetie and had to share because he is of course the cutest baby ever! Ha!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtpNHMSJJaFjZjhxSIEDkEXlm4Zzj80684bXSSzTGu6MYo5GYuN9SHy2f0W01Q6BmStYstGpiuL0NfnS9fgCwG8KT-V2yUHENNgtpgpedfhbrlCNhfgMVpywPKid6DLeJFFQWx4mO1Ov4s/s1600/4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtpNHMSJJaFjZjhxSIEDkEXlm4Zzj80684bXSSzTGu6MYo5GYuN9SHy2f0W01Q6BmStYstGpiuL0NfnS9fgCwG8KT-V2yUHENNgtpgpedfhbrlCNhfgMVpywPKid6DLeJFFQWx4mO1Ov4s/s400/4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699136545855890674" /></a><br />Instead of a bible verse I am going to end with a verse from a song I heard today. Emily had me listen to IHOP-International House of Prayer..not the Pancake house, although I am making pancakes tonight! Anywho, back to what I was saying, I can't stop listening to their live worship in the prayer room and this verse filled me today! And if you decide to check it out too then make sure to listen for awhile because you will probably like some leaders more than others!<br /><strong>"I delight to do Your will, <br /> For I know I'm loved by You."</strong>Ben and Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08722217631287724115noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-387187380369719126.post-34121544985760026022012-01-08T17:55:00.001-08:002012-01-08T18:56:32.392-08:00Christmas Craziness!What a blessed Christmas it was! Eli's first, spending a month in Minnesota with family and friends, going on our FIRST date since Eli was born and so much more! We truly enjoyed every busy second of our time at home. <br />Our first week was spent with 'The Girls'. It took Eli a little bit to get used to the hustle and bustle at their house, but once he did he just loved those girls just as much as they loved him.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8U3H-gZgpCfCk9mB2YADc9FvQUAj-KHjBCVxWv_yAEFUA_akMNopVJSlimu455Hq9CttFZEIwgAlMOty2sbWSL3tG9Lk_jPG1pR2tkzfF4H4zDQluhi571844cknGuAwZmRfs34ilBJU6/s1600/Christmas+2011.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8U3H-gZgpCfCk9mB2YADc9FvQUAj-KHjBCVxWv_yAEFUA_akMNopVJSlimu455Hq9CttFZEIwgAlMOty2sbWSL3tG9Lk_jPG1pR2tkzfF4H4zDQluhi571844cknGuAwZmRfs34ilBJU6/s400/Christmas+2011.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695445337549467250" /></a><br />The rest of our crazy time was spent spending as much time as we could with all our family and friends!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7202_Uu9NyuwmtkA7i9n1nX1xj9kN9AoJ76L6iQ7gEh34uvrJnlrX1FYtejZJri_zhSID7S7ALhGF1yymhDL89Fh7MN27wImFokur3KO2glDCa4KdcN-kAAUK-nwa7MFhlUR-1f4M3vaL/s1600/Christmas+20111.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7202_Uu9NyuwmtkA7i9n1nX1xj9kN9AoJ76L6iQ7gEh34uvrJnlrX1FYtejZJri_zhSID7S7ALhGF1yymhDL89Fh7MN27wImFokur3KO2glDCa4KdcN-kAAUK-nwa7MFhlUR-1f4M3vaL/s400/Christmas+20111.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695446229269861330" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv8kqlmr3W228_XHwFrGFx5Uoc1-aw39Lr0mqO7r3ayT4JcCZ13J1Y7IFNiQHUcaju6uwOkxaljgWBM0S6TerOuHeXccZix41p_njC7sT1LDBHtsc4HNRe19nqtfPTINTfx_uH-H3FcGmU/s1600/Christmas+20112.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv8kqlmr3W228_XHwFrGFx5Uoc1-aw39Lr0mqO7r3ayT4JcCZ13J1Y7IFNiQHUcaju6uwOkxaljgWBM0S6TerOuHeXccZix41p_njC7sT1LDBHtsc4HNRe19nqtfPTINTfx_uH-H3FcGmU/s400/Christmas+20112.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695446215965774130" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-07Bu6FANjuyHKB0yaWb8sDMCt64IEulzkInbFeTeE8feLskkTP6ok4cLbdvpDBT2QLy-xcmiMJr8Pd91aRe9h88646uJiKpdusw9y4iTs2gV6vo_Dq9KG-1HgPfGGBfEmiyqad579Ewp/s1600/Christmas+20113.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-07Bu6FANjuyHKB0yaWb8sDMCt64IEulzkInbFeTeE8feLskkTP6ok4cLbdvpDBT2QLy-xcmiMJr8Pd91aRe9h88646uJiKpdusw9y4iTs2gV6vo_Dq9KG-1HgPfGGBfEmiyqad579Ewp/s400/Christmas+20113.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695446213216564018" /></a><br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQs_pP8SV2wbUYOkr7qYFl9zvzBS4eHUr_PpxASCVfIJ1gDK4Us2JQW0R4EEk_SqTjtnbWepxSc5ZqOHQN15vE5nJQtpbznxuMXORnKk6p7pnhM4C3INyqi8Le-1f3B9GhDc3x9K9JTOGL/s1600/2012-01-03.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQs_pP8SV2wbUYOkr7qYFl9zvzBS4eHUr_PpxASCVfIJ1gDK4Us2JQW0R4EEk_SqTjtnbWepxSc5ZqOHQN15vE5nJQtpbznxuMXORnKk6p7pnhM4C3INyqi8Le-1f3B9GhDc3x9K9JTOGL/s400/2012-01-03.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695446500770760306" /></a><br />We just love our family and friends! We miss you all so much!<br /><strong>"Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night." Psalm 1:1-2</strong>Ben and Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08722217631287724115noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-387187380369719126.post-51729040849804614382012-01-04T19:15:00.001-08:002012-01-04T19:28:10.299-08:004 MonthsEli is still as sweet as ever...is it possible that he is continuing to get sweeter! He is learning more and more every day! We love everything about being his daddy and mommy!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmT2EYrKFE6L1Xud4FXrtPmrrLWjyNr8eH71S4NFk641hwO1_Mhz5hTNyryzByeI9Vg_SCtaP5etr7YHqUUrpOlSkqI2bhyphenhyphenq-IhH_keuNFZ0x434IQdyc5zo4Cg6Ly2EK1Y0FTb9tNmu4z/s1600/4month.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 285px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmT2EYrKFE6L1Xud4FXrtPmrrLWjyNr8eH71S4NFk641hwO1_Mhz5hTNyryzByeI9Vg_SCtaP5etr7YHqUUrpOlSkqI2bhyphenhyphenq-IhH_keuNFZ0x434IQdyc5zo4Cg6Ly2EK1Y0FTb9tNmu4z/s400/4month.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693982069472600514" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK6Cj1IJmZb3ypGwlSzylmza5029vfsffMgpj48-PX9wnYsE5pu742QUh19Njc0UmjwCs3heRLEDzcl4dHlr8wP_AVJ9-a89yytApRTqoyjdrVRl171dZWgEGM_EF1ooMOffuktq3vWJhO/s1600/2012-01-04.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK6Cj1IJmZb3ypGwlSzylmza5029vfsffMgpj48-PX9wnYsE5pu742QUh19Njc0UmjwCs3heRLEDzcl4dHlr8wP_AVJ9-a89yytApRTqoyjdrVRl171dZWgEGM_EF1ooMOffuktq3vWJhO/s400/2012-01-04.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693982655156161602" /></a><br /><strong>"Praise the LORD. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him!" Psalm 147:1</strong>Ben and Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08722217631287724115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-387187380369719126.post-47891721227910803122011-11-29T14:49:00.000-08:002011-12-01T09:59:45.071-08:003 MonthsUnbelievable! 3 months has flown by! Eli is the sweetest and happiest baby! We feel so blessed every day! The biggest news is he just rolled over today! Woohoo! It is so funny how the smallest things are so exciting when it is your own child!<br />Excuse the wrinkly blanket again!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA-EAfgM7DmdDMoKm6NGU7Ft7Fl3V8srJJtNSk_mXE5ucmiXB18xb5Y6JLHFcKK8upf_OFzRrloyNwZJkh9nSg9epsP7coFcl4kJ2JGfz_4lCyxmrPivlYqNGTN4ktDcWLubBishHWZgeX/s1600/3month.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 286px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA-EAfgM7DmdDMoKm6NGU7Ft7Fl3V8srJJtNSk_mXE5ucmiXB18xb5Y6JLHFcKK8upf_OFzRrloyNwZJkh9nSg9epsP7coFcl4kJ2JGfz_4lCyxmrPivlYqNGTN4ktDcWLubBishHWZgeX/s400/3month.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680556744516590354" /></a><br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO08Kk-PdTeEuAF6kV6Te7sWaG1qsS9WLN7YXxpe7HSTQi2L6NpVmf2NKkuJizQucwoL8hyFy9ftGEt98JCSDAZtp5X-1vFDufs4FK7KmDh3BWxpjpdDd0N1higsaXzyR-HSS3OQGV9Flc/s1600/3months.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO08Kk-PdTeEuAF6kV6Te7sWaG1qsS9WLN7YXxpe7HSTQi2L6NpVmf2NKkuJizQucwoL8hyFy9ftGEt98JCSDAZtp5X-1vFDufs4FK7KmDh3BWxpjpdDd0N1higsaXzyR-HSS3OQGV9Flc/s400/3months.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680556307643808898" /></a><br />We can't wait to go to MN on Sunday, but we are going to miss Ben like crazy! Can't wait to see you all! Love you!<br /><strong>"You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples." Psalm 77:14</strong><br /><br />Read below about our great Thanksgiving!Ben and Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08722217631287724115noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-387187380369719126.post-54063026358052758972011-11-29T13:03:00.001-08:002011-11-29T15:13:27.804-08:00Thanksgiving!What a fun Thanksgiving we had with the Thuls! Although Ben would have to say it didn't start out so great!<br /><br />It is supposed to be about a 4.5 hour drive to Portland. We figured traffic would be a little crazy since we were driving down Wednesday night, so we had planned on 5-6 hours, especially by the time we stopped and fed Eli. Well we started our trip south and no more than 20 miles into our drive we were stopped in traffic..."what in the world," we were both thinking. Come to find out there was a rock slide and a huge boulder was blocking the road...of course! So that put us back right away, but we were still keeping a positive attitude! Not long after we drove past the huge rock on the road we slowed down again and unbeknownst to us we would not be going much faster than that the rest of our trip. Long story short, we ended up being in the car for about 8 hours and Eli was a champ! Unfortunately I can't say the same for Ben!:) But who can blame him, driving in traffic for almost 8 hours, I thought he was going to lose his mind! <br /><br />Once we were in the Thuls home we couldn't have been happier! The weekend was so wonderful! They are the most wonderful hosts! What a blessing they were to us, to let us invade their home for an entire weekend! It was so fun to share Eli with family and they loved to "love" on him! Thanks for EVERYTHING Thul family! Eli misses you guys so much...especially the soothing piano, Buddy and the silly noises and faces you all made at him!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0nQgeqGCWQFop-PtRyonzyLSQaAAns70PQOrSj2JnL-roH9NbnA2xXJfqsPGQeOEQ9eEsZhAXDd2REdWGUKrEkr0ECupo6lv6qvTJ0iVT9OzfrnJ-5K-KPsSPaQuy3MZvZ8AbU-sZ2ltR/s1600/thanksgivingthuls.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0nQgeqGCWQFop-PtRyonzyLSQaAAns70PQOrSj2JnL-roH9NbnA2xXJfqsPGQeOEQ9eEsZhAXDd2REdWGUKrEkr0ECupo6lv6qvTJ0iVT9OzfrnJ-5K-KPsSPaQuy3MZvZ8AbU-sZ2ltR/s400/thanksgivingthuls.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680550280451854978" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6fvhnQhVnP33sD6ZQ_QkqrVs5rSHhphIe_YCqkYIW_QbLKsv0lAGLCyhy7YXxlqj6sFwbakhaMQWvNcma30M4rl4BLXeY0lDKLN_PKyVw2Xy46DacqpxdJsWEwHkhjyF2-6XdglwV0KKD/s1600/thanksgiving2011.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6fvhnQhVnP33sD6ZQ_QkqrVs5rSHhphIe_YCqkYIW_QbLKsv0lAGLCyhy7YXxlqj6sFwbakhaMQWvNcma30M4rl4BLXeY0lDKLN_PKyVw2Xy46DacqpxdJsWEwHkhjyF2-6XdglwV0KKD/s400/thanksgiving2011.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680551190601948562" /></a><br /><strong>"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." Colossians 4:2</strong>Ben and Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08722217631287724115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-387187380369719126.post-30907424176737501872011-11-15T14:37:00.000-08:002011-11-15T16:04:09.744-08:00Eli's Dedication<A href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Stv0-EQxEWvIHUeemjDckLEmgqXvWVZRyAeNG2kSBNvQ87FJLIMKk-MX8jun4o_Hkhk-hUmBn9OHqsqy4gnXK6vK_Wxz2HAVzsK3kN2i9sDwDG55wR8ZMvn0XUzXr4sS66udEcLe06Pk/s1600/Dedication.jpg"><IMG style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5675364893696149410 border=0 alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Stv0-EQxEWvIHUeemjDckLEmgqXvWVZRyAeNG2kSBNvQ87FJLIMKk-MX8jun4o_Hkhk-hUmBn9OHqsqy4gnXK6vK_Wxz2HAVzsK3kN2i9sDwDG55wR8ZMvn0XUzXr4sS66udEcLe06Pk/s400/Dedication.jpg"></A> <br />Eli was dedicated at church this past Sunday. Even though we were sad none of our family could be there to support us in giving Eli to the Lord, it was still an awesome day and we had so much fun with all our friends! And thankfully our good friends brought their camera to church, because ours decided to take the day off right when we got to church! Thanks B family! <br /><A href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0I2ZcKKkMQRUZGCBeUXMvroHjsTWPa42R9gV5Vo5JONSEwuZRj9WPMILMqtrrBBql0-1PYnaVku-UNe2eBZXF4jnC1mqH_ErZCIa-TroHq-1EoCv0-OMedQUwWn8SdrxlmLv56sLQNoJj/s1600/Dedication1.jpg"><IMG style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5675365063921964274 border=0 alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0I2ZcKKkMQRUZGCBeUXMvroHjsTWPa42R9gV5Vo5JONSEwuZRj9WPMILMqtrrBBql0-1PYnaVku-UNe2eBZXF4jnC1mqH_ErZCIa-TroHq-1EoCv0-OMedQUwWn8SdrxlmLv56sLQNoJj/s400/Dedication1.jpg"></A><br />The B family also took video of Eli being prayed over but I can't seem to get it to upload. I will keep trying. <br />Eli's Grandpa Tom emailed us some great insight the morning of his dedication! Thanks Tom! He reminded us of a really cool bible passage in 1 Samuel that deals with one of the first accounts of child dedication. <br /><EM>Hannah went to Eli the high priest and asked for his intercessory prayer to bring her with a child, who she would then dedicate his life to the Lord. And she (Hannah) made a vow, saying, <STRONG>"O LORD Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant's misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head." 1 Samuel 1:11</STRONG> When God answered Hannah's prayer by giving her a son, she remembered her vow: <STRONG>"As surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD. I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he will be given over to the LORD." And he worshiped the LORD there. 1 Samuel 1:26-28</EM></STRONG>Ben and Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08722217631287724115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-387187380369719126.post-71597335084136659812011-11-11T15:06:00.000-08:002011-11-11T15:10:38.899-08:00The Sweetest Thing!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzdY37Uqw03bYA2XBja9iXaJWB8eVifzpe0fqIs447QAb3uEeCsJRxrwpTNn8f99_HCJc5a-gexOZNiwD5xTWL14_oV3A0bqyQ4E8zj81QTZCbo2aMUHI42CT07DnbWBjnk8FYIj_Ducdx/s1600/Collages.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzdY37Uqw03bYA2XBja9iXaJWB8eVifzpe0fqIs447QAb3uEeCsJRxrwpTNn8f99_HCJc5a-gexOZNiwD5xTWL14_oV3A0bqyQ4E8zj81QTZCbo2aMUHI42CT07DnbWBjnk8FYIj_Ducdx/s400/Collages.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673879253434247122" /></a><br /><strong>"Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." Deuteronomy 6:5</strong>Ben and Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08722217631287724115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-387187380369719126.post-86528138661898804652011-11-09T10:25:00.000-08:002011-11-09T10:35:55.998-08:00Big Peanut and Our Favorite Time of the YearI promise that almost every time I go get Eli out of his crib after his nap I look at him and think he has grown. Is it possible that we may have bought a specialized crib? :) Our "little peanut" no longer fits that description, we should now call him our "growing too fast peanut"! Even though he continues to grow like a weed, he is still the sweetest boy who makes his mommy and daddy laugh and smile every day!<br /><br />He could also have the nickname alfalfa after that middle picture! His crazy hair sometimes has a mind of its own, as you can tell in all the pictures.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKO1EeizBuxcZAOsQ3y3ziucyHTcw7SLZCOwnDrTRZUqwSLKzBB0Al2ZI_AdfJpQbPNqzRH9cp7advcU-2rtWCrFC9IDLW69Awtzobk3etk0P0mSVEI7f4RR31ASGd32_CqDAguHSy8Xsl/s1600/November.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKO1EeizBuxcZAOsQ3y3ziucyHTcw7SLZCOwnDrTRZUqwSLKzBB0Al2ZI_AdfJpQbPNqzRH9cp7advcU-2rtWCrFC9IDLW69Awtzobk3etk0P0mSVEI7f4RR31ASGd32_CqDAguHSy8Xsl/s400/November.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673064366072578978" /></a><br />Look what Eli found!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOeq9z8bC3YthRp7NJrWd5W0FHDDIKwMSWTJk7ZZR2iQzq6_IIO59fAtYSJVgFVuuj72MQHC2tDoSTaOejw4FrnS6kB3sJifNC38Uy8nxJAKMyfHyefE5c9ZFII9CgwMfqSh8-Wj0a-dIG/s1600/003.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOeq9z8bC3YthRp7NJrWd5W0FHDDIKwMSWTJk7ZZR2iQzq6_IIO59fAtYSJVgFVuuj72MQHC2tDoSTaOejw4FrnS6kB3sJifNC38Uy8nxJAKMyfHyefE5c9ZFII9CgwMfqSh8-Wj0a-dIG/s400/003.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673065061185910754" /></a><br />We have almost finished our Christmas decorating and we love it! Of course this is earlier than we have ever decorated before, but we wanted to enjoy our favorite time of the year before we head off to MN. No tree this year so these 3 cute little ones in the corner of the living room will have to suffice!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBOWnD3HApBCbTuRha7SGBHOJ17dZ9FIpntn5iNfqnXbVDRHSdu_j7H_f-bq2V9LJS9Hjvi5GfIR30I-nnTSioBM6qcxh0Z0MpniAbNvwDOSVTaA3eb_TF7D51k_0IhfQeuPBEKdf6qEkL/s1600/Christmas.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBOWnD3HApBCbTuRha7SGBHOJ17dZ9FIpntn5iNfqnXbVDRHSdu_j7H_f-bq2V9LJS9Hjvi5GfIR30I-nnTSioBM6qcxh0Z0MpniAbNvwDOSVTaA3eb_TF7D51k_0IhfQeuPBEKdf6qEkL/s400/Christmas.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673064850420472850" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaO-Cdl3MHzQITdIisV26qon3RUW6ccqZOr0U8k0ojS9lwfZEhUdFVdWvcuUMMiIcBJ5j8akfsCmqvkREigAN-mlCCQ_3Aqj3AM2N2ukfYmTqu4-wTycCP0GlUAYkJ0mxla4b7Qrsji1-v/s1600/Christmas1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaO-Cdl3MHzQITdIisV26qon3RUW6ccqZOr0U8k0ojS9lwfZEhUdFVdWvcuUMMiIcBJ5j8akfsCmqvkREigAN-mlCCQ_3Aqj3AM2N2ukfYmTqu4-wTycCP0GlUAYkJ0mxla4b7Qrsji1-v/s400/Christmas1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673064847089363682" /></a><br />We love you and miss you all! We are so excited for everyone to spend time with Eli next month!<br /><strong>"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters..."Colossians 3:23</strong>Ben and Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08722217631287724115noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-387187380369719126.post-50300904920922966862011-11-01T11:42:00.000-07:002011-11-01T14:13:13.193-07:00Minnesota PrideBen is now a master pumpkin carver! And always a Minnesotan at heart...as am I!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6kwUJoI6iwI7LJVuTva3ZtjQDcZ0wUorLnNrM9AOQi9F_SqxHk06cuRjh5DuJGDb3XBjD1H-d-FwePnfTqnprn6l1XkkcdLbfEburt8dHBOlf0gs8_0aA72Euk_L-Q7nJpZnO54mfs8Qj/s1600/2011-10-31.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6kwUJoI6iwI7LJVuTva3ZtjQDcZ0wUorLnNrM9AOQi9F_SqxHk06cuRjh5DuJGDb3XBjD1H-d-FwePnfTqnprn6l1XkkcdLbfEburt8dHBOlf0gs8_0aA72Euk_L-Q7nJpZnO54mfs8Qj/s400/2011-10-31.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670137658687405458" /></a><br />Eli got to meet his newest friend Eva Claire(4 days old)! She is so precious, but Eli looked like a monster compared to her! :)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaaxUniMs6_-KrmTfx8QySfd6FwbJzCKmFVGQJ2H_WIquqWpyrBcA6jgNvVTOwKWavn8JgFrhq7NBUEUvtCh9paIdXTHGO3alOlEYYb8K3q0gwoDPnRhCuzOb9k8RD7ZJM9bF0f_bFO3_j/s1600/elieva.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaaxUniMs6_-KrmTfx8QySfd6FwbJzCKmFVGQJ2H_WIquqWpyrBcA6jgNvVTOwKWavn8JgFrhq7NBUEUvtCh9paIdXTHGO3alOlEYYb8K3q0gwoDPnRhCuzOb9k8RD7ZJM9bF0f_bFO3_j/s400/elieva.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670134901944282338" /></a><br />Eli LOVES his fist!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj67XSve7qygpbUz11lWoFCSmq7BIYMT3-dJ_uppMY0GfhOHFNzQ7OiGQo7sM2NvOnQcdBSnTHBMQI48dPZB3gm52Mbk6monqaYyzsYJWSmt_3uq74fW65a91dd49EVFRugu8EO905NX6qF/s1600/elifist.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 286px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj67XSve7qygpbUz11lWoFCSmq7BIYMT3-dJ_uppMY0GfhOHFNzQ7OiGQo7sM2NvOnQcdBSnTHBMQI48dPZB3gm52Mbk6monqaYyzsYJWSmt_3uq74fW65a91dd49EVFRugu8EO905NX6qF/s400/elifist.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670135177508646802" /></a><br />Let's play a little game...Where's Eli's Pointer Finger? :) Ha!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiABjqt3WvHXRiOvNrON8H8YxuLnyJZE-Y3Kzdfu5D8FTuuWAMf7i0JZlm3Gxz3o-Q4roA0UBCmv3o8lLx9u74JkBwwwv956-UQacpiKvirhtcWVn6VmQ4c1Ewh4WztySH9oKcCDMktteUn/s1600/elipaci.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 286px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiABjqt3WvHXRiOvNrON8H8YxuLnyJZE-Y3Kzdfu5D8FTuuWAMf7i0JZlm3Gxz3o-Q4roA0UBCmv3o8lLx9u74JkBwwwv956-UQacpiKvirhtcWVn6VmQ4c1Ewh4WztySH9oKcCDMktteUn/s400/elipaci.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670135392179634370" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVEyLYyJn-zKiKJuAL32a6iq5fy3k_EWpLX1qghmcD1HgdF0yIBZ7ZsxRGUfp-afuUBYeo5uWzKt8yuVRLgrRKdyZijM3vMfbLQuJqIBJ7GaRZ6Oo0ONcPIK7bTiKPFjjHZFPchJWedT-Z/s1600/Fall2011.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVEyLYyJn-zKiKJuAL32a6iq5fy3k_EWpLX1qghmcD1HgdF0yIBZ7ZsxRGUfp-afuUBYeo5uWzKt8yuVRLgrRKdyZijM3vMfbLQuJqIBJ7GaRZ6Oo0ONcPIK7bTiKPFjjHZFPchJWedT-Z/s400/Fall2011.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670136875337344450" /></a><br />By the way, Happy November...it is officially holiday season! Ben told me he heard Christmas music on the radio yesterday, and he was appalled! So I responded with, "That is weird." But secretly I was SO excited about it! I LOVE Christmas music and this time of year, as long as it starts after October 31! I even get to decorate for Christmas extra early this year since Eli and I will be coming to MN in the beginning of December! So stay tuned for some snazzy decorations!<br />We love you and miss you all!<br /><strong>“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people.” Ephesians 1:18</strong>Ben and Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08722217631287724115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-387187380369719126.post-50963452565424982912011-10-25T16:37:00.000-07:002011-10-25T17:40:31.612-07:002 Months!Have I already said how much I have loved every minute of Eli's life?! Yes, there seem to be a few more worries in life than before(and many more to come as a mom), but that is where my faith and trust in the Lord come in!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUA6bTjf95-H-TntpVA2f_Wuz0dM28-X2H7HCz7oYWQHlqGJjkpnlrVKKscES0lrssAKCAUnrO09E6TJPAorG43KE8VyL95mxoUDjKz3eKBefxFKJXceh3QCcQlvE1Epx9B25wY-4oWlwE/s1600/2month2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 287px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUA6bTjf95-H-TntpVA2f_Wuz0dM28-X2H7HCz7oYWQHlqGJjkpnlrVKKscES0lrssAKCAUnrO09E6TJPAorG43KE8VyL95mxoUDjKz3eKBefxFKJXceh3QCcQlvE1Epx9B25wY-4oWlwE/s400/2month2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667592866581815218" /></a><br />Eli is the sweetest boy! He is always making me smile with his quirky faces and sounds, that seriously sound like a giggle (but I know he isn't laughing)! We can't wait to bring him home in Dec. to share him with everyone!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPxy4gdrbMQPpAPlwLKYAOXQQEz6l6HVni074W1j8Kn5QCReLr2_ILd5b6scHV0lAmsDWjpTTZTK6n64q1fYUUcyQPnyVSggXd_eUawv3TcDc6ZBN-tBHen0BggHNU_6oKFv2kM_M6eWfw/s1600/2month3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 284px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPxy4gdrbMQPpAPlwLKYAOXQQEz6l6HVni074W1j8Kn5QCReLr2_ILd5b6scHV0lAmsDWjpTTZTK6n64q1fYUUcyQPnyVSggXd_eUawv3TcDc6ZBN-tBHen0BggHNU_6oKFv2kM_M6eWfw/s400/2month3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667593035058863122" /></a><br /><strong>“speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:19-20</strong>Ben and Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08722217631287724115noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-387187380369719126.post-35083411241310892252011-10-25T09:06:00.000-07:002011-10-25T09:24:31.565-07:00The Sun Really Does Shine Here!Isn't family the best? We were so lucky to have the Thorps spend the weekend with us! We had so much fun but it went WAY too fast! It was hard to say bye, especially to smiley little Caleb!<br /><br />We pretty much just hung out, watched football, played with our boys and enjoyed some yummy food!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0YDGWr1aL3vEqJ8w_OTUgL-cNjGvRBnBIhvpZ0suds7Sxz_AJ-iEr9lGHFsKJ75tIF3WIsBy3vyGq44fQ9FtiQ-0baq1LczhM-1JvT4_g2z2TpnFMUMRygkuvCMaF5lDZmvyuXc6tpJHU/s1600/Thorps1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0YDGWr1aL3vEqJ8w_OTUgL-cNjGvRBnBIhvpZ0suds7Sxz_AJ-iEr9lGHFsKJ75tIF3WIsBy3vyGq44fQ9FtiQ-0baq1LczhM-1JvT4_g2z2TpnFMUMRygkuvCMaF5lDZmvyuXc6tpJHU/s400/Thorps1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667466177939655682" /></a><br />But then it happened...Sunday the sun came OUT!!! We were all so excited! This was Megan's third time here and she still had not seen it be sunny here! We were so thankful and enjoyed every bit of it!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHZ0LePDCM3CjLOkrZ3x8Lkq5X_fb-zBfWcPYLNUfEer7kmaH73gRjhm_jUlAoOMPPcslqNMGXjE8kbZzpDuKiJx2krzHtOw4XOGHqVKQkV4DJiEnGIvOlhBBqnYEswPXo9FnUe0u-OjSu/s1600/Thorps2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHZ0LePDCM3CjLOkrZ3x8Lkq5X_fb-zBfWcPYLNUfEer7kmaH73gRjhm_jUlAoOMPPcslqNMGXjE8kbZzpDuKiJx2krzHtOw4XOGHqVKQkV4DJiEnGIvOlhBBqnYEswPXo9FnUe0u-OjSu/s400/Thorps2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667466315365795154" /></a><br />Thanks again Thorps! We missed you already yesterday!:)<br /><br />We love you all!<br />P.S. Happy 2 Month Eli! I will post about that later today or tomorrow! <br /><strong>"When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise— in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?" Psalm 56:3-4</strong><br /><strong></strong>Ben and Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08722217631287724115noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-387187380369719126.post-73437606248592162942011-10-19T11:26:00.001-07:002011-10-19T11:38:38.696-07:008 Weeks, Stoney Ridge and the VikesEli will be 8 weeks tomorrow. As I say in almost every post now...time goes so fast! Eli seems much bigger than these pictures even show! He is such a sweet boy, we truly can't get enough of him! He has the most kissable cheeks in the whole stinkin' world!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLsr5xSf_GnRB-bDD_HiIaIxEGYqzije4Xi1sP8CMUUuRNfdnuq7RqGK3aEL9NoWFVqOoRImMyFcyXbFZe60JQ1pUOgmMJSQfJ6KLU11wnJWQDA0g4K6hwLVQ7O8JiuwZVtNdZN9XbZpBp/s1600/6-8weeks.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLsr5xSf_GnRB-bDD_HiIaIxEGYqzije4Xi1sP8CMUUuRNfdnuq7RqGK3aEL9NoWFVqOoRImMyFcyXbFZe60JQ1pUOgmMJSQfJ6KLU11wnJWQDA0g4K6hwLVQ7O8JiuwZVtNdZN9XbZpBp/s400/6-8weeks.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665271604656803666" /></a><br />We went to the same pumpkin patch/apple orchard last year! This year was much more fun with Eli! As Emily said, "It looks like he is really interested!" Ha, he sure was!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTocN7PZInL-zo9sRyP55ifdzMCnLMXlEjDg-jS-Jx0W6EdsjHCGG83tdLgR2xPTpTaU5mtL8yO8l_QjZVCFkH9PF7JPM_IjHFnU67BXQbIO-0z0XNvweN5LYKBbSoNqmfCzumv9j335GJ/s1600/stoneyridge.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTocN7PZInL-zo9sRyP55ifdzMCnLMXlEjDg-jS-Jx0W6EdsjHCGG83tdLgR2xPTpTaU5mtL8yO8l_QjZVCFkH9PF7JPM_IjHFnU67BXQbIO-0z0XNvweN5LYKBbSoNqmfCzumv9j335GJ/s400/stoneyridge.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665271791860670738" /></a><br />We got to watch our first Vikes game this year! We were so excited that they were finally going to be on out here, so we got all ready for the game...in our awesome apparel and... WAH WAH...terrible game. Total Bummer, but Eli and daddy still looked snazzy!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij_YgApRV4OwVe2C5_Mp9rn5uLL74tEOj77AS7cEDxiKfJHh573hTiaLj_xqciS3u1uuZQUUjYrU1qXMCzmjA1hncg0iAVJpfYiwZsL6q2SJAkEYZlv5JkLygJBXrY1y5F37TDNfXQRTaw/s1600/058.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij_YgApRV4OwVe2C5_Mp9rn5uLL74tEOj77AS7cEDxiKfJHh573hTiaLj_xqciS3u1uuZQUUjYrU1qXMCzmjA1hncg0iAVJpfYiwZsL6q2SJAkEYZlv5JkLygJBXrY1y5F37TDNfXQRTaw/s400/058.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665273681397562546" /></a><br />We love you and miss you all! We are super excited that the Thorps are coming to visit us tomorrow...woohoo! Praying they finally get to see Mt.Baker, but the northwest weather isn't looking promising!<br /><strong>"Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." James 1:26-27 </strong>Ben and Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08722217631287724115noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-387187380369719126.post-13170786964137014002011-10-07T09:37:00.000-07:002011-10-07T11:05:43.023-07:00A week already?Well, it has already been a week since we have been home. I have to say it went MUCH too fast. It was a whirlwind of a weekend. We were so thankful to get that quick trip to MN for our families to meet sweet little Eli and I think they all enjoyed it too! <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUFYHiXc4GTdQdKwxsoZ-t1IchUUIl1WManuqPTDFw23_Zg6jpNYqeRWa2O4gdAqom-miWABc1vC8HjrwGayvsfqDDaLPsfOOoBRhqgniGhi4lCJtMnxmj8otEp-hfXv-J9YxEmWQlmoob/s1600/1sttripMNwolf.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUFYHiXc4GTdQdKwxsoZ-t1IchUUIl1WManuqPTDFw23_Zg6jpNYqeRWa2O4gdAqom-miWABc1vC8HjrwGayvsfqDDaLPsfOOoBRhqgniGhi4lCJtMnxmj8otEp-hfXv-J9YxEmWQlmoob/s400/1sttripMNwolf.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660791856989110482" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXCws1965vU9KecsUzZRUsaDmsXAQ2PdTEl3RsZQdhDM8Ptx63J9gaVPIygDZNRmPKzSIwYejGIc0U60vN9jkCEGQiq6bzUW8OjJObcQ9CQBPSKAE7EDRvotpyHLzWwzYPSzQS3LRHZpXh/s1600/1sttripMNwetzell.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXCws1965vU9KecsUzZRUsaDmsXAQ2PdTEl3RsZQdhDM8Ptx63J9gaVPIygDZNRmPKzSIwYejGIc0U60vN9jkCEGQiq6bzUW8OjJObcQ9CQBPSKAE7EDRvotpyHLzWwzYPSzQS3LRHZpXh/s400/1sttripMNwetzell.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660792003162545202" /></a><br />I somehow didn't get any pics. of my mom and dad, even though they were the ones with Eli the most?!<br /><br />My good friend Melissa even got a chance to sneak over to my parents house and take some beautiful(or "handsome", as my mother would want me to say) photos of Eli! She is the sweetest friend and most amazing photographer. She is just starting out and boy is she great! You can check her out <a href="http://inspireddesignandphotography.com">here</a>.<br /><br />We love you and miss you all! Hope you are enjoying your "warm" fall weather in MN. It is definitely fall here...cloudy, rainy and cool. Ahhh, the dreariness begins.<br /><br /><strong>"...You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.” Psalm 63:1</strong>Ben and Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08722217631287724115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-387187380369719126.post-36270639147488261022011-09-26T18:18:00.000-07:002011-09-26T18:28:35.051-07:001 Month!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqd2TVuNjaS1tmLA2Ajt4Ntl51CdXuUnbNId2rT_0r7kjSXPJD8uUQ3pI4xf6xQKuaZk17zXmUfez0hq0D_03EOJlH9h79a50l-diOq0uXokNrVy7E9zeoZK2BPvyTtRH-ImaAy_C0myHI/s1600/044-1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqd2TVuNjaS1tmLA2Ajt4Ntl51CdXuUnbNId2rT_0r7kjSXPJD8uUQ3pI4xf6xQKuaZk17zXmUfez0hq0D_03EOJlH9h79a50l-diOq0uXokNrVy7E9zeoZK2BPvyTtRH-ImaAy_C0myHI/s400/044-1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656845034508956066" /></a><br />I can not believe he is 1 month old! He is getting to be such a big boy and his looks are changing every day! So excited for (some of) you to meet him this week! He can't wait! <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIaSU3TzDgperHJTyvgaRFMh9zRyAnAdMshdhhhoKemGKCXI-eNYF_ImMg2Sqf0UDdzxNQppFuKOdMszWc0lL4pvpHfNfrtmFSjW2LlH3uxWH_s9Iy3m_r0O79rrX4QGeYqbAiBrnIaK95/s1600/047-1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIaSU3TzDgperHJTyvgaRFMh9zRyAnAdMshdhhhoKemGKCXI-eNYF_ImMg2Sqf0UDdzxNQppFuKOdMszWc0lL4pvpHfNfrtmFSjW2LlH3uxWH_s9Iy3m_r0O79rrX4QGeYqbAiBrnIaK95/s400/047-1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656845157366708034" /></a><br />We Love You All!<br /><strong>"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." James 1:22</strong>Ben and Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08722217631287724115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-387187380369719126.post-87685942937434835492011-09-20T15:23:00.000-07:002011-09-20T15:33:24.499-07:00Have I forgotten how to cook?I am not sure I will be able to whip up a meal the way I used to. Why you may ask? Well, the reason is this! Ben and I have been abundantly blessed with family who stays at our house and makes delicious meals for us, and good friends who graciously bring us meals. By the time all my freezer meals that I had prepared ahead of time are gone, Eli will be almost a month and a half old. Don't even say it because I know what you are thinking..."Amanda, you are SO lucky"! And yes, I am, but I am NOT taking it for granted! <br /><br />This last week was spent with Grandpa Tom and Grandma Pam! The week flew by and they had so much fun loving on Eli, and we had fun enjoying them loving on Eli!:) Thank you for EVERYTHING Tom and Pam! Eli misses all your kisses already! <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5LxtdlRSkZ1rv_RHdMb7ZiH7dyY82wWRN-8InqfZMaZCMxaE8mrqNwUX06P5W-cD2G2nw2-fFH0joAhjMXM6KQT4_SCCsFUdb9h5vUsjbphMhoCAVK-40GzmtaWz1Hnz8hcPfz68S-1-h/s1600/TomPam.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5LxtdlRSkZ1rv_RHdMb7ZiH7dyY82wWRN-8InqfZMaZCMxaE8mrqNwUX06P5W-cD2G2nw2-fFH0joAhjMXM6KQT4_SCCsFUdb9h5vUsjbphMhoCAVK-40GzmtaWz1Hnz8hcPfz68S-1-h/s400/TomPam.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654572424490421138" /></a><br />4 weeks in 2 days! Wowser, does time go fast!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOkhdvwqTK3Fapo2gVzZH4Ilw1aGqrtpecqsg0ZQzOYJgIxhbO0LBSX-egt34VZsq__t_8H8D9ewssDtuzjGdM5NMa0_EizipJseNp1S-158zPJpBSQMBbVUfTmhLxSGy-tmVXFFFt4DwP/s1600/Week3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOkhdvwqTK3Fapo2gVzZH4Ilw1aGqrtpecqsg0ZQzOYJgIxhbO0LBSX-egt34VZsq__t_8H8D9ewssDtuzjGdM5NMa0_EizipJseNp1S-158zPJpBSQMBbVUfTmhLxSGy-tmVXFFFt4DwP/s400/Week3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654572761695968098" /></a><br />We love you all!!!!<strong><br />"If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9</strong>Ben and Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08722217631287724115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-387187380369719126.post-7868725084919784062011-09-11T15:11:00.001-07:002011-09-11T21:34:41.644-07:00At least he is only 0 :)It seems like Eli is growing bigger by the second. And it makes me sad:( Ben tries to remind me that it is good he is growing...I don't know if I agree yet! Then my sis-in-law, Megan, reminded me I needed to take his "monthly" picture. When I got ready to do that I realized I had to put the number 0 on his onesie. I guess that made me feel better, knowing he is still "0 months"! :) I just love the stage he is at! I love snuggling with him, I love his round little body just rolling into a ball when I burp him on my shoulder, and there is so much more I love! But I also know that there will be that much, and more I love at all his next stages, I just don't want it to go so fast.<br /><br />Please ignore the wrinkles on the blanket. An iron will be used next time! I am planning on using the same blanket for each monthly picture so we can see his growth!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXujR7pGpAZ73rFkOvTZ_YZ2pk0TqYiBwLTRWeaJzD7PuWiUFcWO9LKrDaEGYlxExRq1M9I2VHYenXExRfdUZShxgYuPeE-W7f6bNGhfAHJzDL7e7Np8RdrAaIrC76qT-H_gIInBky-4hd/s1600/0months1-1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXujR7pGpAZ73rFkOvTZ_YZ2pk0TqYiBwLTRWeaJzD7PuWiUFcWO9LKrDaEGYlxExRq1M9I2VHYenXExRfdUZShxgYuPeE-W7f6bNGhfAHJzDL7e7Np8RdrAaIrC76qT-H_gIInBky-4hd/s400/0months1-1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5651230547532809410" /></a><br />Just a few more pics to peek at of Sweet Eli!Check out his CRAZY hair in the top picture! :)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwuw3L1nZffdK6pis2A6Et7AtgLB5HzuX-X4hyf531-4sW8HQQhOpFg3pz5hA_f-FgSGABXHP9XBKPkpzmL4_2-qFr6uJkWnAISf-oXvmkUo3QATD-IImn1CU6seeIxNGvyohgHkRyO19-/s1600/Week2pics.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwuw3L1nZffdK6pis2A6Et7AtgLB5HzuX-X4hyf531-4sW8HQQhOpFg3pz5hA_f-FgSGABXHP9XBKPkpzmL4_2-qFr6uJkWnAISf-oXvmkUo3QATD-IImn1CU6seeIxNGvyohgHkRyO19-/s400/Week2pics.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5651231845881491202" /></a><br />We love you and miss you all! Eli is so excited to meet all of you...he sends you all BIG hugs!<br /><strong>“A song of ascents. I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” <br />Psalm 121:1-2</strong>Ben and Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08722217631287724115noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-387187380369719126.post-1576152659251252052011-09-07T08:39:00.000-07:002011-09-07T08:45:45.736-07:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOYiZOogHmO-ua-jrw2hKvkDma9h3J0Rpzee04pDe1Z98sJi6XiN6jkF4U2U8_LKUeOMyap6dI0pDJyVRC2FGgyFG4OfT8qR3uPPMKQ1GXk1dGEuSuQs7ismz1toXQwMrxf1N-i3WDdwEG/s1600/Collage3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOYiZOogHmO-ua-jrw2hKvkDma9h3J0Rpzee04pDe1Z98sJi6XiN6jkF4U2U8_LKUeOMyap6dI0pDJyVRC2FGgyFG4OfT8qR3uPPMKQ1GXk1dGEuSuQs7ismz1toXQwMrxf1N-i3WDdwEG/s400/Collage3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649643813287907202" /></a><br /><br />Eli is still doing wonderful...and we still love him to pieces!:) I know that will never change! I LOVE being at home with him every day and Ben LOVES coming home to him every day!<br /><br />He has a "big" dr. appt today. Pray for him...and me, I think I will struggle more than he does! It is amazing how your heart changes when you become a mom! God knows what He is doing!<br /><br />I haven't taken new pictures in a couple days and I truly think he has grown within those days...even my mom thought that when we were skyping. I will try to take some and blog again in a couple days!<br /><br />We love you and miss you all! It is so hard to not be able to share Eli with all of you! He can't wait to meet all of you!<br /><br /><strong>“He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.” Colossians 1:28</strong>Ben and Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08722217631287724115noreply@blogger.com1