We had a great Christmas with our family on Christmas Eve. We don’t have a set day to do Christmas we work around what ever works best with the Nolt’s since they have so many more schedules to work around.

We sure could tell a big difference since last Christmas in the little ones. From the way I set the table, we went from having chargers, linen napkins & all goblets to paper napkins, plastic bowls & sippy cups! But it’s a good thing I didn’t mind at all.

John always reads the Christmas story & that had to be the short version to keep everyone’s attention.

Then there was all the fun of watching them open gifts which they now know how to do Mike gave them the battery operated vehicles but the batteries weren’t charged so they had to wait until Mon. to drive them.

Awhile ago John & I were discussing what we’d like to accomplish in our life time also known as a bucket list. We would like to do some short mission projects in the states & we both said we’d like to cook at the BMA Bible school in Ind known as EBI. A few weeks later EBI found themselves scrambling to get cooks for first term because of some unfortunate circumstances. They called saying they heard we might be interested. Yea 3-5 years from now. We said we’d think about it, John checked the work schedule & felt he can get away for 2 weeks.So Sat. morning we will be heading to Ind. and will be cooking 3 meals a day for up to 80-90 people. I’m so excited about it, John will enjoy it when we’re there & will love the interaction with the students. Pray for us if we come to your mind, for health & energy to get the work done every day. We will be home again on the 28th in time to celebrate the boys 2nd birthday!

John turned another year older on the 31st & we celebrated with friends. He doesn’t think it’s all that great to have a birthday on a holiday so I have to remind him occasionally that the whole world celebrates his birth!   When he was born the Dr. didn’t make it to the house on time so his Dad delivered him. He was very special to the family cause he was the first boy after 4 girls . He mde it in time for the tax deductions of ’59.

Well I need to get a few things finished yet today to get ready to leave on Sat. so til next time  be blessed!

This year it was my turn to teach the youth girls class the lesson when Mary was visited by the angel.I’ve taught/read te Christmas story more tims then I can remember & I think sometimes it’s not that we need to say something new & exciting (though the story is exciting no matter how old we get were would we be without it?) we just need to be reminded & reaffirm in our minds & hearts that what we believe & know is the truth. I went the route of Mary’s world being turned upside down. It wasn’t like she could go home & tell her parents “you remember when this happened to this other family & how that worked out.” There was no other family to see or talk to about this. Mary was the only one. So how do I respond when God wnats to turn my world upside down?  Or what if Mary had said “No”  Think about that this Christmas. If Mary had said “No” God would have picked someone else but look at the lessing Mary would have missed. So what do I miss because I don’t want my world/plans turned upside down. Would God have picked me or my daughter if we were living back then?  Pretty challenging.

Our family wishes you a very Merry Blessed Christmas whatever your plans. Don’t forget to thank God for being willing to send His only Son so that one day we can be with Him forever!

To those who are missing loved ones this Christmas we feel your pain. It’s our first Christmas without John’s Mom & yes we do miss her but we could never wish her back to this world so we will make sure we get to go to her one day!

Be blessed

                                                                                     Benjamin, Katelyn & Brandon.

We have so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. We’ll be spending the day with my brothers & sisters. We had our children home on Sun. for dinner & had so much fun playing in the leaves & just being together. The most fun was when they could totally cover someone up with leaves

Grandpa teaching them young…

This is how we roll…

Be blessed!

Tomorrow my nephew Ryan would have turned 25 hard to believe he’s gone a year already. We still miss him & he gets mentioned often. I think about him almost everytime I drive on the 501 past where he had his accident. Sometimes I just have to cry from missing him. Would I wish him back? No not after he’s been in heaven & is free from this world & all it’s pain. Do I wish I could see him again & talk to him? Yes but some sweet day Ryan some sweet day!  We’re going to a cabin with Randy’s & 2 other couples for the week end  so they don’t have to be alone over Ryan’s birthday.

That is my last rose of summer.

Sunday night the youth group invited us to their barn party just for fun. Had lots of good laughs. I really miss hanging out with them. Made me realize again what a great youth group we have. We really do love those kids.

  One of our big supplies sent us this one

On Monday I took my 2011 flashdrive along to Amanda to get some pictures from her. When I got home I thought I remembered taking my phone & flashdrive out of my pocket & laying them on the counter. Later that evening & through Wed. I searched the house & my car & called Amanda. My flashdrive was gone! After worrying my self about sick over it I decided to just quite worrying & God knows where it is & if He shows it to me great if not well then I just lost over 1/2 my pictures for the year. Wed. night at small group when it was our turn to say what’s happening & how the group can pray for us John brought this up. I wasn’t going to talk about it I was tired of fretting over it. On Thur. I was working around home thinking over where I had been on Mon. after I left Amanda. The only place I stopped was the chiropractor on my way home & I had this urge to call out there to see if it fell out of my pocket & someone turned it in. I asked the secretary if any one found a flashdrive. “Yes she said they did.” I said “Really is it marked 2011″ She said “Yes” I said “That’s mine & I will be right out to pick it up.”  I hung up the phone & just said “Thank You Jesus!” and called John to tell him my happy news then I called Amanda. I probably should have told the secretary the whole story but she was busy when I went in & she simply gave it to me. So the next time you have what you think is a  “little thing” & does God care about it HE DOES! I think sometimes He wants to see how serious we are about asking Him about what we consider “little” things. The other lesson I learned is o back up pictures on CD incase you misplace the flashdrive. I was using the flashdrive to save room & not have so much stuff in my house but I think the stuff will be worth the peace of mind.

So are you ready for the snow? Does anyone remember it snowing this much in October before? I asked my Mom & she doesn’t but the weather man said something like 1972 so I was 12 but I sure don’t remember that one. Well enjoy the snow if it comes.

Be blessed.

Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. Strength & honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also and he praiseth her. Give her the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates. Prov. 31: 10,25,28 & 31

That was our dear Mom/mother-in-law/grandma! We laid her earthly body to rest on Oct. 10. John’s mom has been in declining health for the last year. In Feb. she went to live with John’s sister Alma. She was requiring more & more help & Alma had a lady coming in to help her. There were a few times when Mom went to another home just to give Alma a break. In July a new home opened up where we planned to have Mom stay as soon as they were able to take her. On Sept. 6th Mom was moved there. On Oct. 2 Mom was rather alert & was talking a little to the family that was in. On Mon. her minister was in & asked her how she was doing. Mom said “I’m happy in the Lord” that was what Mom almost alwyas said when asked that question. That was the last she spoke. On Tue. she got an infection in her neck & hospice came in to care for her. Wed. morning John & I went in & hospice said they expect that she will only live about 48 more hours. John’s sister Ruth decided to make a quick trip in from MO. to see Mom & we left at 7:45 p.m. to pick her up. We were 10 min. from the home whn Dan called John & said “Mom’s gone!”  We told her “good-bye” before we left, we really thought she’d live til we got back. So we stayed with Pop at the home until Mom was picked up & came home & fell in bed exhausted. The next day was  flurry of activity & our house as the coming & going place. The funeral was basically planned before we just had to meet with the ministers & funeral director to finalize everything. Sat. the family was able to finally be all together for the first time since Mom died & we cried, laughed & remembered Mom. Sun. was the visitation & Mon. the funeral.

We will miss Mom so much. She left us a very Godly legacy for which we are thankful. We don’t grieve for her, how could we? She’s been wanting to go home long already it’s just so painful for us here without her. But one day we’re going to see her. She died the same day her own mother did 6 years earlier. We thought that was special cause she was close to her Mom.

It’s been way to long since I was on here!  I was reading older posts & it’s amazing how much has changed with them.The boys are doing great. They are walking & busy little boys but so much fun. They both have a few words, one is “snack” they get Katelyn’s toy dishes & come holding them, “snack, snack”.

Our precious grandchildren May 2011

Another change in our lives is that we are now officially empty nesters! Mike decided it’s time he lives on his own & found a very nice apt. & moved the beginning of Sept. The Mom in me found it hard to really let go but I think I ‘m adjusted now.

Hopefully now I’ll do a much better job of keeping this page updated.

Be blessed

It has been going really good with both boys home and we are enjoying them yes even the early morning feedings. Benjamin adjusted to being at home. He came  home Fri. night 2 weeks ago. Katelyn had never seen the boys and kept calling them “Ben”. When Jeff & Amanda got to Dale’s to pick her up she was tired & about ready for bed.Her car seat is in the middle & she looked from one to the other and went to sleep. The next morning she went to the boy’s bed because one of them was crying & she looked  in & said “Two, Two.” She then went down stairs and their car seats were setting there and she said “Two, Two.” She loves them so far. She says ” He’s cute.” & wants to kiss them. She does have some tough moments but I think that is more her age then the boys being home. Hopefully she keeps on loving them.

Last week end when Jeff was helping more with the feedings he noticed it was taking Brandon really long to drink like close to 1 hour. Mon. he made a hone call to Dr. Clark & explained to him what was happening & he talked to Dr. Weber who now was on Brandon’s case. They called from Dr. Weber’s office Mon. afternoon and told Amanda to bring Brandon to the ER and they will page Dr. Weber when she gets there. When she got there they did an echo and said it was worse then the one the week before and they need to do the balloon procedure the next day (Tue) So Brandon was admitted to the hospital. Tue. afternoon about 4 p.m. they took Brandon into surgery. They said it will be 2-4 hour procedure depending on how long it takes to find the artery in his leg. It took 3 1/2 hours. Dr. Weber said it took the longest to find that artery. It was amazing how much different he looked after he came out of the operating room. They could find a pulse in his legs & feet & they were a pretty pink. I didn’t think his color was that bad until I saw how it was supposed to be. He stayed in until Thur. afternoon because his blood pressure was still  high. The Dr. said that’s normal.

So they are now again under one roof. We generally stay 2 -3 nights a week to help with the night time feedings. It is basically every 3 hours. When you tired that comes around pretty fast. It takes about 45 min. from the time you get up to warm the bottles until you get back in bed. I know one thing an afternoon nap feels great.

Mon. 2 weeks ago my Mom passed out 3 times in the morning and they had to admit her to the hospital for tests. The only thing they came up with was her heart rate drops to low sometimes this time causing her to pass out. She now is the owner of a pace maker in her chest. We were all shocked because she said no more surgery. The Dr. explained to her what was happening & she agreed with him because she had been watching the monitor through out the week.  She came home Fri. evening. She said she is feeling better.

We did get to spend last Thur. – Sun. at the cabin & it was wonderful. Got lots of scrap booking finished.

Tomorrow is Mother’s Day & I know I’ve said it before but I am honored to have my Mom. She was a woman of few words but she lived a wonderful example for us kids to follow. She didn’t have an easy life. If you want to know about her read the book “A Home For Sarah.” That’s her life story written by my sister in law Romine Stauffer.

My Mom would never complain. I talked to her about her life after I read the book & commented how rough she had it. She said “I didn’t think it was so bad we always had a place to live & food to eat. There were lots of kids like me back then.” What a legacy we will have. This year she is extra precious with her being in the hospital last week.

I am also blessed with a very sweet Mother in law. She has been a wonderful example to me too. Wonderful prayer warrior. I am honored to be married to her son & for all the values she taught him.

Tomorrow we will spend lunch with Jeff & Amanda & their children & Mike. In the afternoon we plan to visit both our Mom’s.

I am also blessed to have 2 great kids, a son in law & now 3 very precious grandchildren.I love being a Mom & grandma  but I also know the responsibility to pass on a godly heritage to them.

So what ever your plans are tomorrow if your Mom is still living honor her by spending at least a little time with her.

Happy Mother’s Day!

The Dr. said “O.K.”  She told Amanda she been a nurse 20 years & this boy doesn’t need a feeding tube it’s there for the convenience of the nurses.

Today when she got there the Dr. told her Benjamin can go home either tomorrow or at the latest Sat. So it will be interesting I’m sure having both boys home but it will be nice to be able to stop so much running for Jeff & Amanda.

Pray for all of us as we adjust to life with the 2 boys & get on a schedule & just life in general.

Be blessed.

We had a wonderful Easter. Starting with a perfect sunrise.

The youth group did a great job at the service. We then had breakfast at the church followed by a good church service.

We took dinner to Jeff & Amanda. After lunch Amanda hid a few eggs outside for Katelyn just for fun.

On Sat. morning (4-3) when Amanda called to check on the boys the Dr. picked up & said to her “Are you ready to take Brandon home?” She said “If he’s ready to come home.” The Dr. said ” I’m filling out his discharge papers right now you can come & get him when your ready.” So late afternoon Jeff & Amanda went & brought him home. When Dale’s brought Katelyn home she feel in love with him. So what a lovely Easter present they got this year.

They had to take Banjamin off the bottle & put him on a continuous feed. He was not digesting the milk properly then they tried formula & that didn’t work either so now he gets fed all the time. He gained weight each day this week & that’s a good thing. They now will back off his feeds to on 1 1/2 hrs. then off that long. When he proves he can handle that they will eventually work him up to a full feed then try the bottle again. They told Jeff & Amanda this is normal for babies with the intestine problem he had & his system needs to get use to working. So hopefully he is on his way to getting the bottle back. He did get moved to a crib room this week & that is one step closer to the door.

Brandon had an echo done on his heart on Fri. & the blockage is still there & the Dr. would like to do the balloon procedure in the next several weeks. Continue to pray for the boys that their hearts would heal & Benjamin’s digestive system would start working.

Pray for all of us especially Amanda that she’d know how to balance her time with wanting to go to the hospital every day & now having Brandon at home. She needs her rest so she doesn’t get sick & Brandon gets up about every 3 hours.  So she is having to get use to getting up during the night again.

Another special day we had was Mike turned 26 on Thur. so we had some of his friends over for supper Thur. night.  Not sure where the last 26 years went.  I told him I’m honored to be his mom.  Had a fun night with his friends & it was really special to have Jeff & Amanda here with Katelyn & Brandon.

Blessings to you in the week ahead.