Jace

Tonight Hailey is spending the night at her Grandmother's house and so it was just Jace at home with Mike and I and we was enjoying having all of our attention. He loves his daddy so much and wants to be just like him. He will often ask Mike soon after he gets home from work, "What did you do today?" and Mike will often have to go into great detail. Its not ok just to say he worked or drove a big truck, but he wants to know who's truck and where he drove it to and what he did while he was there, so for Christmas we found a bull rack kinda like Mike drives occasionally and Jace loves it. Here are a few pictures of them playing together.

Christmas

Oh the joy of Christmas with Kids.

Christmas Eve

I cannot believe we are at this time of year already. I am looking forward to having several days with family. My sister, husband and her little boy, that we haven't seen for a while will be coming from VA. Also Mike's sister who lives in IN. will also be home. Lots of people to see and places to go, but does not look so overwhelming as some years where we run from one family gathering to another, but this year they are alittle more spread out. My kids are very excited and keep asking if they can open just one present. I remember trying that one as a kid. Hope that you and your family have a blessed Christmas.
Merry Christmas from Mike, Jenelle, Hailey and Jace

2008-Part 2

At Uncle Matt's Wedding in March.

2008-Part 1

From this

Christmas Letter

I am getting high tech this year, OK maybe not, but I started a blog this year so I decided instead of writing a separate letter this year I would put my letter on my blog. I can't believe the year of 2008 is drawing to a close and as I look over the last year there have been lots of changes and a very busy year. It seemed like there was never a lack for anything to do.
Mike continues to work at Buckeye Veal and we are very grateful for the job that he has. He started hauling calves some and really enjoys it. Gets him out of the shop several times a week. He didn't seem to have lots of free time this year, because we added an addition onto our house and he did alot of the work himself. We also went on a mission trip with our youth group to the Bronx. Talk about a culture shock and we didn't even have to leave the U.S. We were ready to come back to the peace and quiet even though our house was in the middle of a renovation. We had alot of fun and got to know and appreciate our youth in new way. They are a really a great group and have hearts for God. We love each one of them.
Hailey Brooke started Kindergarten at Apple Creek Elementary this year. That was one of the saddest days of my life, that first day of school to just take her to the door and leave her there. She just loves school and is always ready to go in the morning even though she is not normally a morning person. She loves to read, write and do crafts. She will be 6 on July 4th.
Jace Michael, well where do I start with him, except he's all boy. Neither rain, sleet or snow will stop him in fact the more the better. He will go way out of his way to slosh through the mud puddle instead of going around it. He is adjusting to his big sister being gone, but some days will ask "When we get Hailey?" only minutes after dropping her off. He will turn 3 on January 17th.
I continue to be a stay at home mom and love it. Another project I was involved with this year is the process of building a church. I am on the decorating committee for our new church, which we broke ground for in April. We have been meeting almost weekly since August. Its been something that has been fun,but I will be ready to be done.
Hope that this gives you a glimpse into our lives. We wish each one of you a Very Merry Christmas.

Cookies, Cookies and even more cookies

That is what the last several days have been, lots of cookies. Tuesday I was at my moms and we did a bunch of cookies. Every year we say that we are not doing as many as we did the year before, but it always feels like we do even more. Last night then we baked cookies with our youth group for Sunday night when we go Christmas caroling and we didn't get them all baked so I brought them home and finished them up today. I am getting tired of cookies, but my family is sure enjoying them, so I guess its all worth it.

Changes

If you know Mike or I well you know that we are not a big fan of change and over the last while God has really been working on us about that, just about being flexible and letting him be in total control and not trying to control our circumstances, which we knew we were never in control, but we liked to think that we where. Over the last several years we have experienced several big changes and not sure where they where all leading, but just listening to God and hearing him ask us if we are willing to lay down our dreams and plans to completely surrender to him and his will for our lives. Our biggest change came several weeks ago, when we were approached by our pastor asking if we would consider stepping up as a head youth leader, wow God what are you doing? After lots of prayer and consideration and feeling very inadequate we said yes. As we look at the future, we still are very unsure of what our future holds but it is a daily thing of putting it in God's hands and letting it there. There are days that I want to be selfish and take it back and say God sorry not right now, but then I have to remember the verse in Jeremiah 29:11 For I Know the plans I have for you, plans of good, not to harm you, to give you a hope and a good future. While we are very excited about whats ahead we also know it will not be easy, so if you think of us or are reading this please just remember Mike and I and our kids in your prayers. Its alot of change for us.

YUK!!

So over the last week and a half we have been battling the flu at our house. NOT fun. Hailey was sick last Tuesday and Wednesday and then on Friday night Jace and I came down with it and now that we are finally over it Mike has it, so it has made its rounds.

I am lovin this Ohio weather, the cold and snow got me in the mood to set up my Christmas tree and start on my holiday baking. Today Hailey did not have school so this morning the kids and I started on the cut out cookies. We ended up with 7 doz of cutouts. We had so much fun. Even Jace stuck with it longer than I ever imagined he would.

This week will be a week of cleaning my house good. We have our Sunday School Class Party at our house Sunday evening and with the flu bug being there, it needs a good scrub down. Oh so much fun.