Take a picture of me, Mom!

Answers to - DB (Daniel Bear) or "Deebs"
Age - 3.75
Currently Known For - Driving Jonathan nuts, throwing fits of anger, drinking a gallon of Chocolate milk in a week, saying, "You must be cwazy!!"

Answers to - JM, JonnyBear

Age - 1.5

Known for - Constant runny nose, love of all things cheese, destroying everything in his path, making Greggie crazy, saying "Awwww, cooo!!"

Answers to - GregO, Geegs, Gorgy Forgeson, Shmoges

Age - 5.5

Known for - Tremendous Energy, Love of popcorn after school, saying "Yeah, right" to everything, knowing how to work everything electronic in this house

The Buck Family

I know many of you have been checking on Josh through www.greenhouseministries.org. I thought I'd post this picture of Shelly with Zoe and Noah - they are a sweet family! Keep your prayers going - the website has been so inspiring and challenging.

Life is Precious

Today at church there was an emphasis on the Sanctity of Life. Our pastor spoke primarily on the unborn, and how we as a country have neglected their cries.

I wonder, as Christians in general, have we lost our passion for the right to life? I think I have, to be honest. It's a hot topic, but one I haven't heard a lot about lately. Have we decided that this is just the way our country is? Is it worth fighting for?

Yes! I am challenged to do more to encourage our Pregnancy Care Center here. One heart, one young lady at a time, this battle can be won.

On another topic, Josh and Shelly have been on our hearts all weekend. If you visit www.greenhouseministries.org, you can read updates on how he and the family are doing. It's been inspiring to see the outpouring love from West Michigan.

I'm reading a book called The North Face of God by Ken Gire, the subtitle says, "When God seems indifferent" and when I saw it in the bookstore Friday, I had to have it. It has been like speaking with a good friend who happens to be a Christian counselor when I've had big questions. I recommend it highly. What is happening to the Bucks is refining all of us, teaching us, lifting the layers of our souls to the deepest parts of our love for Christ and our understanding of Who He Is.

Josh

This is our friend Josh from Michigan. He was the Assistant Pastor at the church we attended in Kalamazoo. This past week, he and his wife were vacationing in Mexico when he suffered a head injury while diving. He was Life Flighted to Miami, Florida where he is now. Josh has a neck fracture and is still not breathing on his own. He has no feeling from his waist down.

He and Shelly were the couple I posted about back in August of 2005 as they tragically lost their 3-month old baby, Ava. This seems so...wrong. Beyond unfair. Obviously, pray, if you believe in the healing and comfort that come from Jesus Christ.

Tomorrow is a day of fasting and praying for Josh and his family. (wife, Shelly, son, Noah, daughter, Zoe, and Shelly is pregnant with third child, a son.)

Night

Has the Lord rejected me forever?
Will he never again be kind to me?

Is his unfailing love gone forever?
Have his promises permanently failed?

Has God forgotten to be gracious?

Has he slammed the door on his compassion?

Psalm 77


MAN
RAISES
HIMSELF
TOWARD
GOD
BY
THE
QUESTIONS
HE ASKS
HIM.

Night
by Elie Wiesel

Twelve

As of December 31st, Aaron and I have been married for 12 years.

There is a history two people share when you get to this stage...a collection of memories to pull out and remember together.

You also learn a lot about yourself, like how really annoying you are to live with sometimes.

I've thanked God over and over for the things I didn't know about my husband that I have been so grateful for, like knowing how to iron, not being afraid of a level 10 poopy diaper, important things like that.

A friend recently asked me to post the secrets to a happy marriage, but I can't really come up with anything original. Here's my best shot -

1. Play together. It's really simple, but being silly together is pretty important. Maybe not for other couples, but it is for us. It gets us out of a blah mood and helps us keep a light tone in the house when we're stressed or frustrated with the boys.

2. The First Five Minutes Theory. This is the theory that the first 5 minutes upon waking and the first 5 minutes Aaron walks in the door after work are vital to the way the rest of the day or evening will turn out.

3. Read Love and Respect by Emerson E-something...I forget his name now. It was a great book on how men perceive love through the respect we show them as wives.

4. Pray for each other during the day and try to pray together before falling asleep each night.

5. If you have kids, get away from them at least once every other week or so. Let them see your marriage is priority. It's true that the best thing you can do for your kids is to love their Mommy/Daddy.

6. Be kind. It's no fun to watch married people being mean to each other.

I am Blogger Challenged

http://www.onetruemedia.com/otm_site/view_shared?p=1e908def938248fc0d5d96&skin_id=0&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=email

Hopefully, you can click on this link and view a slide show of our rockin' holidays. If not, I give up.