Caught in the Act!

I went downstairs to get some clothes for just a minute or so. It was silent when I came back up. This is what I found! I couldn't resist a photo!

Joshua's Easter Egg Hunt

Due to a very busy day on Easter, we didn't get to hide eggs on Sunday. The girls had colored eggs on Saturday to hide for Joshua. So, Monday Evangelyn hid the eggs and Joshua found them. He had a great time! Sorry he is in his sleeper, but it was almost bedtime when we remembered to hide the eggs. We were quite busy on this day too, getting ready to go to the I.H. Convention in Dayton.

My Sunday School Class on Easter

Timmy, Isaac, Emoine, Kaitlynn, Emilee, Deairus and Sallie

Deairus, Emoine, Sallie, Emilee and Kaitlynn

Sallie, Emilee and Kaitlynn

Emilee and Kaitlynn

I decided to bring my camera to church Easter Sunday. I took a few pictures of the children in my class. I thought they turned out very cute. These children are precious to me. I pray they live for Jesus all of their lives!

Finally ... A New Post!

Joshua searching for eggs. (above)

It's been a busy few weeks, and therefore, not much time to blog. In addition, I really didn't know what to blog about. I took a few pictures of our Easter egg hunt during Good News Club. The children had a great time searching for their eggs. More than that though, I feel the children are understanding the gospel message. Please pray for us as we try to lead these children to Christ, and help them understand what it means to live a life pleasing to God. We want to see them all in Heaven one day.

Driver's License at Last!

Christianna made an achievement today. She passed her driver's test! She is officially a licensed driver! Good job, Christianna! We are very proud of you! Now on to Graduation in a couple months, and then to College! Too many things are happening too fast! It just seemed like yesterday you were a baby in my arms ... now you have grown into a young woman. Congratulations, Honey!

Hmmm ... Out of Ideas!

Sometimes I just don't know what to post on my blog. Yes, I'm busy, but with the normal everyday things. I have spent a lot of time this week preparing for Good News Club, a children's ministry we do weekly throughout the school year. I have been going through the Wordless Book for the past few weeks. I have tried my best to help the children understand salvation, and what it means to live for Jesus. I have been praying that God would help me to relay the message in a simple manner. I have also been trying to be creative, and not the same old "program" every week. This is difficult for me, but God is helping. If you have any ideas feel free to comment. I would appreciate it.

In addition to Good News, I have been working on wall decorations for my Sunday School room. I love to decorate with "homemade" decor, so have been working on an Easter theme. I hope to have it up tonight before Sunday School in the morning. The children always enjoy seeing what is new on the wall.

That is about all I have to blog about now. Maybe there will be more activity next week. Have a great weekend, and a wonderful day in church tomorrow!

Saying Grace with Joshua

Joshua praying with hands folded and his eyes open! :0)

We have been teaching Joshua to fold his hands when we thank God for our food before we eat. A couple of evenings ago when we were preparing to eat, we all bowed our heads and had Joshua fold his hands together. Just as we were going to pray, Joshua said, "JESUS"! We had not been working on this word, although we've showed him pictures in books of Jesus. He must be listening to our prayers, and has figured out that we pray to Jesus. :)

Vacuums & New Words

Joshua loves vacuums. Even when I was pregnant, it seemed he would move a lot when I was vacuuming. Whenever we get the vacuum out, Joshua is instantly by our side watching or wanting to hold the handle to "help". Recently, we remembered we had an old child-sized vacuum in the garage which Nathan played with when he was little. James went and dug it out a few days ago, and believe it or not it still works. So, Joshua is having the time of his life "vacuuming". The only problem is he is always getting it stuck on the edge of the rugs, and then cries out for someone to help him get it over the rug. Oh well, it is keeping him pretty busy for the present time. I am posting a few pictures of him with his vacuum.

In addition, Joshua has been saying lots of new words lately. It is so cute! Today, he picked up his little Toddler Bible, and said "Bible". He has said "Bible" before, but I didn't know he associated it with his actual Bible, but he definitely does. Just this past week, he has been saying "Thank ye" for thank you, and "Sparkle", the name of my parent's new puppy. When we were in the store Saturday, we were passing by some dog treats with a picture of a dog on the front. He immediately started pointing to the dog saying, "Sparkle, Sparkle". He also says bottle, balloon, baby, ball, "gog" (dog), and a few other words. I love hearing him trying to talk!

Bus Convention

James and I decided to attend the annual bus convention this year near Indianapolis, Indiana. We have wanted to go for many years, but with our schedules it always seemed nearly impossible. Since James is currently laid off, we decided it might be a good time to go. With my parents' help in caring for the children, we left Wednesday morning and stayed until it was over last evening. We had a wonderful time! The teaching sessions were very interesting and helpful. Most of the time we attended the Sunday School "track", but did divert to the bus ministry sessions a couple of times. What opportunities we have as Christians to minister to the lost, if we only would try! This convention definitely stirred me and I want to do more for the Lord. It seems I do so little. With God's help, I intend to do more for Him. I surely do not want to go to Heaven empty-handed. There are so many different things we can do to win others for Him. We must pray for God's leadership first of all, and then go out to the highways and byways and seek the lost. May the Lord help us! There are still souls being saved and brought into His Kingdom!

New Nephew

Baby Dawson

Baby Dawson

Sheldon, Erin and Baby Dawson

A son was born on Tuesday, February 24th, to my brother and sister-in-law, Sheldon and Erin Rish, at Kettering Medical Center in Dayton, Ohio. Dawson Bruce weighed 8 1/2 pounds, and was 21 inches long. Both Mommy and son are doing very well, and came home from the hospital today. Sheldon now has five children: Stephanie, age 14; Kelly, age 11; Andrew, age 10; McKenna, age 1; and now Dawson. I am posting a few pictures of the baby and family we took yesterday when we visited.

Doctor Visit ... Nighttime Experience

We took Joshua to the doctor last evening to find out that in addition to his teething, he also has acquired an ear infection. The doctor said this could be related to all of his teeth coming in at once. Today he is feeling so much better, after only two doses of antiobiotics. I had an experience with him during the night though, that scared me to death for which I've never had before with any of my other children. About 3 o'clock this morning he started screaming at the top of his lungs. I went to see what the problem was, and he was on his knees rocking back and forth screaming, like he was in horrible pain. I picked him up and brought him out in the living room, and he continued to scream and would not sit still in my arms. In fact, I could hardly hold him, he was wiggling so intensely. I put him on the floor, and he kept rolling all over screaming. It seemed he was writhing in pain. Finally, he calmed down, and I was able to hold him, and he fell back asleep. I was afraid to put him back in bed, in case something terrible was going on with him, so I kept him in the living room with me. Every so often he would cry out, but then go back to sleep. James thinks he was having a nightmare, but I don't know...It was scary to say the least. Thank the Lord, he is doing much better today, and I hope we are past the worst part of this illness.

Sick Baby...Fever...Teeth...

What a weekend! Joshua has not felt well the past few days. He has been running a fever, and just plain not feeling good. I felt in his mouth to see if new teeth could be the culprit. Sure enough, I felt four teeth pointing through! They seem to be the molars, one on each side of the mouth, both top and bottom. I'm a little confused, though, at this point, since he has not gotten his eye teeth yet. This seems quite strange! I made a doctor's appointment just in case something else could be lurking in his little body as an additional problem. As for the teeth, I surely hope they come in quickly! This fever stuff is not very fun, especially at night!

Building the Bridge

An old man, going a lone highway,
Came, at evening, cold and Grey,
To a chasm, vast, and deep, and wide,
Thru which was flowing a sullen tide.

The old man crossed in the twilight dim:
The sullen stream had no fears to him;
But he turned, when safe on the other side,
And built a bridge to span the tide.

"Old man," said a fellow pilgrim, near,
"You are wasting strength with building here;
Your journey will end with the ending day;
you never again must pass this way;

You have crossed the chasm, deep and wide -
Why build you the bridge at the eventide?"
The builder lifted his old grey head:
"Good friend, in the path I have come" he said,

"There followeth after me today,
A youth, whose feet must pass this way.
This chasm, that has been naught to me,
To that fair-haired youth may a pitfall be.

He, too, must cross in the twilight dim;
Good friend, I am building the bridge for him."

Junior-Senior Banquet (G.B.S.) - April 29, 1989

James and my Engagement Picture - 1989

To follow Marea Pouzar's lead, I will explain how James and I met and began dating. We both attended God's Bible School and College in Cincinnati, Ohio. There we became interested in one another, not long after I began my college career in 1987. You see, James was a preacher for one of the Nursing Home ministries that G.B.S. had. I also was interested in Nursing Home ministry, so began taking part near the beginning of the school year of 1987. After a short period of time, with a friend's "help" James and I began to realize that each was interested in the other. At the time, I was a High School Study Hall monitor in the library. So, in the afternoon, James would make his way to the library to "study". I don't know how much studying was accomplished, because many of his thoughts and sights were on the Study Hall High School Monitor. He soon asked me out for a date. This date was to attend the School Talent Show. I was so excited, even though it was on campus and pretty short at that. From then on is history. We dated regularly, and finally the big day arrived. It was a Sunday afternoon, and James was visiting my home. On Sundays we always went to our pastor's home for dinner. They were like family to us, and my mom prepared a good portion of the meal. Anyway, we were at the parsonage that day. The house was attached to the church, so James and I were spending some time alone in the church. James took me to the platform, and there he asked me to marry him. Of course, I said, "yes". We planned for our wedding and were married July 29, 1989 in Lockport, Illinois. So, along with the Pouzars and the Eads, some friends of ours, we will be married for 20 years this year.

MY VALENTINE

Happy Valentine's Day!

What is love? When I think of love, I think of the great love of my Savior, Jesus Christ, and His great sacrifice He made for you and I on the cross of Calvary. Immeasurable, bountiful, unfailing, matchless, and most of all, available for you and I to receive. He loves us so much that He is willing to stoop down and pick us up from a life of sin and make us a new creature in Him. Amazing! Next, of course, I think of the love that my husband and I share together. This love grows stronger each passing day. Moments spent together alone are special and remembered. This love is not to be broken, and it will not be with God's help. Last of all, is the special love I share for my children. Protecting, sharing, giving, helping, nurturing, and caring. Children are blessings sent from God. I wouldn't trade them for anything. They have brought joy and so much fun into our family. Life would be pretty empty without them. Yes, there are difficult times ... but with God's help, He sees us through and we can make it together. Without love, what would eternity hold? Without love, what would our marriage relationship be? Without love, how would our children survive? We must love God, our spouse, and our children and then just keep loving more and more.

GOOD NEWS!

My sister-in-law, April, has suddenly taken a turn for the better. Her fever has come down, her blood pressure is normal, and she is breathing well with the assistance of a trach which was put in yesterday. She still has some of the infections, but is doing much much better. Praise the Lord! Please continue to pray, as she is not totally "out of the woods" yet. Thank you so much.

Life with a Fourteen Month Old

"You want one? These are "delicious!" " (Joshua playing with our Quadominos game).

"Joshua Daniel Baker! You are wasting water!"

"Da Da! Da Da!" (Joshua yelling to Daddy downstairs looking over his gate blocking the steps)

" Joshua Daniel Baker! Get out of that dog food for the twentieth time today!!"

"Please, Skittles (One of Evangelyn's four birds), come out and play with me!"

"Am I adorable or what?"

" Hmmm. Wonder how big this is?" ("Helping" Daddy measure a project).

"Fluffy, you want one? They're yummy!"

"Mmmmmm ... We love peppermint sticks!"

"Ouch! Don't pull too hard Joshua! Fluffy is getting old and fragile!"

A Brief Update

April, my sister-in-law, is still in ICU in Cincinnati. She stopped breathing on Saturday, therefore a ventilator was placed down her throat, and is breathing 40% for her. She continues to have all the infections she previously had, with an additional: MRSA. She is expected to have a trach put in soon and probably will never have it removed, according to her attending physicians. Please continue to pray for her. Her condition is very serious and critical, and time will only tell what may happen. Pray for her parents, my in-laws, who are not taking this so well.