Madeline and Hannah: February 2009

A Winning Birthday

Josh and Mike got a fantastic birthday present this year. The Steelers winning the Superbowl!!! We went out to a friend's house to watch the Superbowl with others and a cake was made in celebration of Josh and Mike's birthday. We were all sporting Steelers clothing and we even put Josh's flag on the car window for the drive over. Josh and I brought our terrible towels to cheer the Steelers on the right way. Our friend Amber brought a Commercial Bingo game. So we were intently watching the commercials not just for their entertainment value, but also to try to get a bingo on our commercial card. What an incredible birthday, we'll see what the guys get next year for their birthday!

The Traveling Friendship

Kristin and I have known each other for going on 8 years now. We first met as roommates in College at Cornerstone University. It was evident even in the beginning that the Lord wanted us to be a part of each others lives. As we watched other roommates fight, kick each other out of the room, get into trouble and never really connect; Kristin and I often found ourselves grateful to have ended up living with one another and growing into a very blessed friendship. Throughout college we experience many great times together that were fun and funny. We also shared difficult times and times of distance. But in the midst of it all we continued to grow in our friendship and create a lasting connection. After college we had the opportunity to live together for a short time again and then eventually we both got married and ended up living hundreds of miles away from each other.

However, those many miles have not kept us apart. We share phone conversations and cards. Sometimes emails and facebook message. But the best thing is our "Traveling Friendship." God has been so good to us and has provided opportunities for us to see one another on various trips. It just so happens that Kristin's in-laws live in the same town in Ohio and my in-laws. So, we have been able to coordinate on two occasions now getting together while we were both vi sting family in Ohio. Also, this past summer, Kristin and I happened to realize that we were both going to be taking a trip to Michigan during the same week and managed to set up a time to meet at the beach with a few other friends.

How awesome it has been to have these random get togethers with Kristin, especially when they happen when we are on vacation and in another state. God has truly blessed us by allowing us these moments, that are wonderful, though often too short. May my story of my friendship be an encouragement to you today, that God provides for our needs and sometimes our wants. God has created us first to have relationship with Him, but then to have relationship with one another. I miss you and Love you Kris!

Christmas 2008

Just wanted to get some pictures up from Christmas 2008. We enjoyed spending time in Ohio with family. And of course we made Gingerbread houses (which is hoped to be a tradition for Josh and I). Josh and I tried to create a Cape Cod style house. Melissa and Eric work on a church and Mike's gingerbread house was along the lines of a Frank Lloyd Wright version (hoping I spelled his name right!)

Thanksgiving 2008

We spent Thanksgiving in Traverse City with my parents, my brother and his family and my grandma. We truly enjoyed our time with them. I think my favorite things was my dad's great idea to go play laser tag as a family. It was fun to watch Alyssa scream and laugh every time she got hit while dad tried to be the sniper. Jacob also tried to be sneaky while Josh got a lot of hits and good hiding spots. I held my own (at least that is what I think) and at the end of the game Jon was the winner of the whole event.

It was nice to see family and to spend time relaxing. We did our traditional shopping on Black Friday. We got a couple of good buys, but overall it just didn't seem like there was as many incredible deals and at Walmart we tried to miss the crowds by waiting for the register in the hunting department where the line was long, but not nearly as long as at the regular registers.

We thank God for our great family and the time that we had to spend with them for Thanksgiving!

Josh Posts

Hey Melissa this is for you! Jenean says that you wish that you had a post to read everyday so I am just letting you and the world know that Josh has posted something on the blog!

OK that is enough I don't want to over do it with my first attempt! Whew......

Strolling thru Millennium Park

What a great blessing it was for me to have my friend Kristen come visit last weekend! She was my partner in crime for the costume party (shown in our previous post). Kristin was Tonya Harding and I was Nancy Kerrigan:) What a blast we had wearing too much make up and make-shift ice skater outfits with real look alike ice skates...hahaha.

On Saturday, Kristen and I ventured into Chicago with the hopes to stroll thru Millennium Park. Kristen had never been there, and upon arrival I was surprised to realize I had really never walked in Millennium Park either. We first visited Cloud Gate" (which many people call the "bean"). Where we walked underneath it and got a handful of pictures of our reflections. Then walked thru the Jay Pritzker Pavilion where there were ongoing sounds of what Chicago sounded like back in the day when there were large train yards in the area. It was interesting listening to the squeals, horns and rushing of the trains that made them seem like they were really there.

After, listening to the sounds of locomotives for awhile we walked into the Lurie Garden. This was my favorite part and I imagine it would have been more spectacular in the spring and summer when the wild flowers are in bloom. The garden pays homage to the City's motto, "Urbs in Horto" (City in a Garden), which refers to Chicago's transformation from its flat and marshy origins to a bold and powerful city. (www.millenniumpark.org) The trees along the front of Millennium park were a beautiful orange color that looked so brilliant against the backdrop of the buildings on Michigan Avenue. We walked across the BP Bridge to get a better angle on a picture of the trees and the buildings.

Before leaving Millennium Park we wanted a picture of the two of us in front of one of the fall colored trees. We stood on a wall by a tree waiting for someone to walk by that we could ask to take our picture when we were first asked if we could be interviewed. It turns out that a young adults group from church in Indiana were interviewing people for the One Month to Live series. (This explains the pictures of us with the guys with the microphone and camera!) They took our picture for us and provided us with a springboard for good conversation as we walked down Michigan Avenue to finish off our afternoon. It was great to spend the day in Chicago, but mostly to spend time with my good friend!