Our tree and other pics

Since I didn't get to add them to the last post... here they are.

Thanksgiving~

I guess I should start off by letting everyone know what we've all been up too.
Nov.7th was Newberry's annual Craft show and bazaar. I was able to be a part of it this year with the help of my good friends Kristen & Norena. I did baked goods and did very well. I had 22 apple pies and 12 mini loaves of pumpkin bread and I only came home with one of each. This made me some extra Christmas money, for which I am very thankful!
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It's here It's here It's really here..... The last couple of days before Thanksgiving. I absolutely love the holidays! I am so into it that we even put our Christmas tree up this past weekend! I figure that if we're going to get all into decorating and making things pretty we may as well get to look at it for a while. I am so excited about Thanksgiving! I love love love FOOD! Though we've been trying to eat healthy here as of late, I will NOT be depriving myself of all the goodies that will be presented on Thursday :)Ben, Bennie(IV) and I are going to the Sault to Ben's parents for Thanksgiving this year. We'll be heading out Wednesday afternoon and won't be back until sometime Friday. For the first time ever, I will be going shopping on Black Friday.AHHHH. I am going with my mother inlaw and we should have a great time. Funny thing is I don't really have a lot of money to spend, so I will be getting up at 4 and will probably be ready to go home by 5:30.
I can't wait for Christmas to get here. I am just too excited to see Bennie open his gifts this year. He's finally at that age where you know when you've bought them the perfect gift!
Today we went and had Bennie's pictures taken. They turned out so nice and I can't wait to get them back. Hold on to your britches folks, I'll actually be handing out pictures this year!!!!! :O
I guess that's about it for now! Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Cold and Flu season is here...

I can't believe fall is here and is almost gone and then comes winter.
The cold and flu season is here and boy is it a rough one.... Every one seems to be sick in one form or another. Bennie was sick with a Nasty cold about 4 weeks ago which lasted 2 or 3 weeks, he got better for about a week turned around and got it again which then on Monday he was throwing up and having a fever. Once he threw up his fever broke for the most part with the help of Tylenol and Motrin. Then Wednesday Ben started to get a nasty head cold with the congestion and such. Probably about the same time for me but I am in worse shape as of today. I feel miserable. Such is life though I suppose. I just pray that this is the last we see of sickness for the next year or so... :D I have been cleaning and disinfecting like crazy, though I am sure you can imagine I have been a little more slack today... as I don't feel like doing any thing.
Bennie started headstart last month on the 28th. He loves school. I love the break. LOL!

Busy Busy Summer

It's hard to believe that Summer is coming to an end. I think mostly it's hard to believe because We didn't have very warm weather this year. I can assure you that I am NOT complaining about that though. Even though it was a pretty cool summer and it rained..... A LOT, it was an enjoyable summer for us.
For whatever reason, I cannot remember JUNE... nothing significant is coming to mind. In JULY, we had the 4th of course. Let's see. On the fourth we went to the local parade with the theme being something about Snowmen..??? It seemed there were a lot more floats then the last couple of years with more people getting involved. The Fire fighters were out with their hoses getting people drenched! That is Bennie's favorite part. After the Parade we went to the Community appreciation day at the School. This is a nice event that has taken place for the past few years and seems to be a success. Inside the school they have a place to set up tables and sell baked goods, or home made crafts and such. Out side on the playground they have a whole carnival set up for the kids and the neat thing about it is that the tickets only cost .25 so it's very affordable. There are neat jumping tents for the kids. Climbing activities, Ring toss and the duck pond. Kids can win prizes and tokens. They have a "stress reliver" car that you can pay a dollar to hit it 3 times with a sledge hammer. This year I also noticed that they had a virtual reality "drunk Driving" test. Basically you wear this thing that makes every thing appear as if you were under the influence. I would have liked to participate in a way as I have never been or will ever get drunk in the future but I thought it would be fun to try and do your best. Didn't want the wrong impression though. "Abstain from all appearances of evil" right.... :D
July 10-11 I was involved in the Relay for Life in the Sault. This was a very emotional time but very beneficial in raising money for the cause. I beleive over all about 80,000 was raised.
The end of July was our churches anual Vacation Bible School. Bennie got to be in a class this year which was so exciting. He love Bible School, but was sorely disappointed when he never won the secret seat. He would cry and it was actually kind of funny.
August first my brother, Kevin married his girlfriend, Sara. It was a beautiful outside wedding. It was rainy all morning and then about 1.5 hours before the wedding the rain held off and they enjoyed a beautiful day.
The rest of August just sorta flew by.
We've really enjoyed our summer. This summer was filled with LOTS of family time betweent Ben, Bennie, and myself.
We got to spend a lot of time with our friends as well. It's been a long time since I have gotten to see Marcia as much as I have this summer. Also we spend a lot of time with our great friends Chris, Crystal, and Logan. Lot's of fun for sure.
I will be posting pics of the summer later on this week hopefully.
Until then, God bless you all and thanks for reading

What a busy couple of weeks

OKAY I REALLY NEED TO FIGURE OUT THIS WHOLE PICTURE LAYOUT THING.....
May 18th Bennie and I headed out to Marquette for a few days with Ruby and the kids. The plan was to help Ruby go through some things and then to pack some stuff up for their big move to Connecticut. Well, that didn't exactly happen to say the least. We were too busy running around to this place and that and then by the time the kids were in bed we were exhausted. Good times though!
Kaitlyn(Ruby's second girl) came back with us though and we are having a blast. We went to my grandma's 80th birthday party(which was a surprise btw) on Saturday, all her 7 children were there, and we had a blast... Sunday was church and then after church we spent the afternoon at my Grandma's house to visit with her and everyone who was still there.
Monday was Memorial Day and we went out to McMillan cemetery for services there and we also visited Ali's grave and cleaned it up a bit. The kids got a bullet shell from the soldiers there.
Tuesday was a little more relaxed but I did laundry and we had Bible Study at Marcia's (Ben's cousin) Kaitlyn had fun playing with the boys there. When we came home Ben had a movie ready for us to watch with the kids. "Bolt" it was a really cute movie, the kids were up til 11:00 :O
Wednesday was church again. And then on Thursday we went to the school playground and let the kids play for a bit. When we got home We made turtle crafts.
Tomorrow is Friday already and I think we're just going to play it by ear.
Kaitlyn goes home on Saturday and I will miss her so much. We are all going to miss Ruby and her family when they leave. I haven't given myself much time to think about it yet as I don't want to get all emotional....

Schools out!

Bennie's last official day of school was the 13th. We went to the Garland zoo yesterday with his school and he had a lot of fun. Unfortunatley I don't have any pictures because my camera was dead. UG! But it was really neat to go and see all the animals. They had a large display of unique animals. They had a bear, bobcat, camel,lamma,emus,turtles,all sorts of birds, ducks,porcupines,beavers,bison,deer, and many more. It started out kinda rainy and cold but praise the Lord that the rain stopped. It was still a little cold but not too bad. We then went to the pavillian in Naubinway and ate fried chicken(grilled for Bennie), potato salad, macaroni salad, coleslaw, and cake. It was a really good time.
Next week Bennie and I will be going to Marquette to spend a few days with Ruby and Andy and family before the BIG move on June 5th. Tuesday we'll be accompanying Carol with her school to a different zoo. That should prove to be a good time too!
Ruby and I are planning on getting a lot of her things packed and making laundry soap! I love this new idea of making laundry soap. I really like how it works and makes my clothes feel and gets the stains out.
This recipe is from the "Duggers"
Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap- Front or top load machine- best value

4 Cups hot tap water
1 Fels-Naptha soap bar
1 Cup Washing Soda
½ Cup Borax

- Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.

-Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.

-Stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap and then fill rest of way with water. Shake before each use. (will gel)

-Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil.

-Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.

-Top Load Machine- 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads)

-Front Load Machines- ¼ Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)

I hope that you all will continue to pray for Andy and Ruby as they move and the decisions they will be making!

The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble;and he knoweth them that trust in him. Nahum 1:7

The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
Proverbs 18:10

Spring has Sprung!

So nice to know that Spring is finally here! Of course, living in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan we still get some small flurries of snow and in some places we can get large amounts of snow in the month of April. We've been very fortunate here in Newberry, to have not had to deal with too much snow fall this spring so far. We've enjoyed a couple of close to 70 and maybe just above 70 degree weather and now it's slightly less. Today it's staying at right about 50 and kind of gloomy out side with some light rain. Rain is always good and refreshing in the spring time as it gets rid of all the dirty snow that's left. Not so good for the floors in the home though.
Bennie's been able to enjoy the spring weather quite a bit so far. He's been out riding his bike, played at the playground, went to the bird ranch with his school, Jumped in the mud puddles, and gone on several walks with Mommy,Daddy and some with his school. School is almost out for Bennie. His last day is May 13th and then on the 14th the school and all friends and family that would like to join will be going to the Galand Zoo. Bennie loves animals so much that there's no doubt he'll love the Zoo.
My husbands Dad's Annual fishing trip is coming up. They'll be heading out north of Newberry this year. They'll be leaving on the 23rd of May and returning the 30th.
The 23rd is also my Grandma Wilson's Suprise 80th Birthday party! All of her children and several of her grandchildren and great grandchildren will be there.
My Sister inlaw and her husband and family will be leaving Marquette for Connecticuit for new place to live. He's in the U.S. Coast Guard and is being transferred to the East Coast. They will no doubt be missed by all their family and friends.
Our Church is in the middle of their annual Spring program. Last week was encouragement week and you could get points for you team by doing encouraging deeds for people. This week is Work week and you can get extra points for your team by doing work for others and the church.

Easter has come and gone.

This year Easter was a little different for us because this is the first Easter we've had to watch what candy to buy Bennie. With him Being allergic to wheat and milk it was a little difficult, but we did find some for him. Also Ghradelli makes chocolate chips that Bennie can have so I melted them down and put it into molds for some fun Easter chocolates for him. We colored Eggs and Bennie had a grand time with that, as did Daddy.
We hid the eggs and his basket and he thought that was just the greatest thing ever to go hunting for the eggs and stuff.
I was able to teach Bennie what Easter was for and he was so cute when I told him that because Jesus came and died on the cross and then rose again the third day that we can go to Heaven. Bennie exclaimed, "we can!" and I said "yes we can" and the then shouted "hooray!" So cute. He's just not seeming to be quite ready for me to explain just how he can get there but he's understanding the concept any how.
We went to Church Sunday morning and then we headed off to the inlaws, an hour away for Easter Dinner, which I must say was AWESOME! Very yummy food and dessert.
Bennie had a fun time playing with his cousins, Carol, Kaitlyn, Cassandra,Kianna, and the two babies;Kelsie and Shaela.
I guess that's it for our Family Fun Easter!

wow

I feel like I haven't updated in a while and that I've been super busy but don't really know if there is anything of much value to talk about.
I recently made a trip to Hammond, Indiana with my church to go to a conference down there. That was a lot of fun and of course as always a kick in the backside and very convicting.
One session the spoke on wasn't really preaching but it was teaching us about eating healthy and execise and things like that. I guess we all know that the food we eat is filled with horrible things now days but this really opened my eyes to how bad it was. I am just praying that with the help of good friends that I will be able to fit good, healthy, organic, natural food into my budget and into my lifestyle.
My good friend from All things parents forum is going to coach me a bit and I am sure that I will be posting about it along the way!
Bennie's been doing great in school! He's currently on spring break until the 6th.
Easter is on it's way soon and I have nothing at all yet for him. I am sure that I need to get a jump on it soon!
Ben's been working out at the Gym. He started yesterday and is going again today. He said his arms are really sore today.
I am hoping to be able to sign up for a membership soon. 60 bucks a month for the 2 of us is kinda much. I may have to just do my own work out at home.
We had our missions conference at our church last week. That was a great week of preaching and faith promise was raised by 400 dollars a week! It's amazing how God works. If it weren't for the missionaries we'd not be able to reach the other countries so it's great that we can help them by giving money to them.
Our Spring Program is about to start at church... I think Next Sunday.
SO for now I guess that's it. I will try to upload some pics soon.

My little preacher!!!

I was so excited this morning when I got Bennie up for school. He goes to preschool and it's basically a public type school.
This morning he grabs his Bible and says "can I take it to school?" I was so proud of him. He has such a love for his Bible. I love how he's so young and knows the difference between The Bible and any other book. Amazing. Isn't God good!

It's been a while again

Not a lot has really been going on around here but it sure seems like we've been busy. We had started out spring cleaning a couple of weeks ago and have kinda fallen into a slump... We never completed the task...
Cabin Fever may have set in around her this past week. Ben and I have both been on edge and feel incredibly anxious! It's driving us crazy!!!
Bennie has been doing really well in school and seems to be loving every moment there.
When I ask him what he did at school he always replies with: Eat and drink and play.
He's quite comical!
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I received a pancake puff maker for Christmas. I used it for the first time this week.... wowzers... it's amazing. I do have some minor complaints but the puffs turn out great and are tasty too!
www.pancakepuff.com

Bennie's Birthday Party

Well we reluctantly had Bennie's birthday party yesterday. Thursday evening we noticed that Bennie was running a temp. So I checked again Friday morning and he still had a temp so I couldn't send him to school. Of course I was alternating Motrin with Tylenol and every time I would forget to give him his meds on the four hour mark his temp would still be pretty high. So any way Friday night as I was decorating for the party Bennie wakes up at about 10pm and acts like he's going to be sick. He never got sick but I took his temp and it was 104 and I couldn't give him more meds because it wasn't time yet. So I gave him a cool bath. After about 5 mins in the bath I took it again while he was still in the bath and it was up over 104 and still going up so we took him to the ER. The Doc. there treated me like a complete fool and I was over reacting and blah blah blah... we won't get too detailed about that but he was not nice.... So Saturday morning comes and he still has a bit of a temp but is acting fine. I made him take a nap before the party and stuff... Well he did fine all through the party( a little whiny but not too bad) But about 6:30 he really started feeling badly. He fell asleep at about 7:45 and he was burning up... Poor little guy.
We've all been ill the last week or so... it seems like as soon as one gets over something the next one gets it and then the first person gets something new... it's so tiring.
But I guess overall he had a pretty good party.

Bennie's first day

Today was Bennie's first day of preschool! He was so excited! He said he had a good day and when I asked him what he did. He said that he ate and drank and played. I got his first school project, it was a cute little cut our of a boy with his mouth open and when you would spin the paper in the back it would run through the ABC'S. He got on the bus like a big boy and didn't even look scared or anything.
Here are some pictures I took of him.

Just wanted to share.

Bennie has been so cute lately. One of the things that had me in stitches is the other day we were listening to the song NO NOT ONE that says: "there's not a friend like the lowly Jesus, No not one No not one" None else can heal all our souls diseases, No not one No not one. any way Bennie was singing along with it every time it came to the part that it said no not one. Until all the sudden he busts our with "oh yes two, oh yes two"... So funny.

Then the other morning my mother asked me to pray for a friends baby who was just born and not breathing on his own. So I prayed out loud and Bennie was there and when I said amen he asked if he could pray too. I said that he could and this was his prayer " God, Could you make them better, they are a little bit sick right now. Jesus name amen." it was so touching to me...

Oh, and the other day I was telling Ben that it seems we can tell that Bennie really loves "junk food" because we've been eating healthier lately and Bennie eats it just fine but it takes him forever to finish. The other night we had Hotdogs and french fries and I never heard a peep out of him until he asked for more. He gobbled it right down. And I said Of Course he'd love the junk food. Well apparently Bennie heard me say this to his dad because the next day when he prayed for his food he said "Jesus, Thank you for my junk food, amen"... LOL :D

I love the stage Bennie is at right now, he is so cute and innocent. I love how pure his prayers are and how innocent some of the things he says are.

He's perfect... My beautiful beautiful BOY!

It's been a while

So it's been a while since I last posted. Unfortunately not a lot going on worth talking about. Except one thing. Please pray for a certain part of our family. It's not us but in our extended part of our family. I can't disclose any information but God knows who you'll be praying for and what's going on. It really urgent so please hold them up before the Lord.
Bennie will be turning 4 on the 4th of next month. He has decided that he wants a fishing party.... That doesn't mean we are going fishing... Too cold for that with little ones. But he's asking for supplies for his tackle box(he needs a tackle box too) and a fishing pole so he can go fishing with his grandpa's when all the white snow is all gone.
My friend Marcia and I are going to make a fishy cake for him... We actually found a cake recipe that is dairy and gluten free so we are going to try it for him. I think she'll be doing most of the work as I am not talented in that area. I can bake but only if it's like 3 or 4 easy steps. LOL :)
Ben has started a new business(sort of) Same business but with a new spin. He's still fixing computers but he's not doing on site work or taking computers in. He's working on doing remote assistance. Wiseowlcomputers.

Click the link above and check out his site and if you need computer repair go ahead and get started.
He's still doing nebswebs Making websites at very reasonable rates. Click the link above to check out his site and get a free quote on a new website or if you website just needs some sprucing up he can do that too! He also has hosting available!!
Don't forget about The Hoot Radio Station on line Playing Music from all over the world!local bands and non-copyrighted music
Thanks for taking the time to read my blog and checking out all of Ben's sites.
He's looking forward to helping you!

Remembering Ali

In Loving Memory of Alirene Maybelle Lewis
April 20, 2007-January 9, 2008

A Sweet Spirit you did show
Eyes of blue that seemed to glow

A terrible illness it did move
Your little body did not improve

But God's plan did unfold
When He took you home to hold

Now your body is brand new
And our hearts are a little blue

Thanks You God for Heaven
Where we can see Ali again

Remembering Ali with love,
Mommy

thoughts. & please pray...

So yesterday went rather smoothly. Unfortunately we didn't do much. I just took time thoughout the day reflecting over memories of Ali. I posted a writing of the first moments of reflecting. I made it a point to think of her at the same hour of her final hour. This writing can be found in the one right before this one.
There's a family I would like you to pray for. This teenager was supposed to be at our Church's Youth Rally today.Happens she was killed in a skiing accident. Please pray for her family. You can find the full story at 9&10news.com

An Indiana family is mourning the loss of a 16 year-old girl who died in a Northern Michigan ski accident. Police say she lost control and hit a tree Thursday night and died at the hospital.

They say Amanda Vignere was from Cedar Lake, Indiana and was on a church youth group ski trip to Treetops Resort near Gaylord when the accident happened.
Treetops General Manager Mike Fernandez said, "Our thoughts and prayers certainly go out to the family of this young lady involved last night."

16 year-old Amanda Vignere was skiing with a group of church friends when they lost sight of her. Police say she was a novice skier going down an advanced-level slope.

"The young lady was going down the ski hill and lost control and slid into a wooden section and had struck her head on a tree," Michigan State Police Sgt. Denny Reynolds said.

Amanda was not wearing a helmet, but skiers are not required to wear them in Michigan.

"It's a safety feature, not unlike the safety belts in your car," Tim Webster, Dan Webster's Pro Shop manager, said. Helmets can help in accidents, but not always.

"It's an activity you can get hurt in. Some people just get hurt more than others, and its unfortunate that it had to happen," Webster said.

And accidents do happen on any ski hill, but Webster says some can be avoided with a few safety tips: "Just being aware of your ability, more importantly, your surroundings and who is in your peripheral vision and who's behind you."

Treetops says they have a commitment to safety and will continue to make safety a priority.

"The owners and all the employees here are very committed to keep every ski terrain as safe as possible every time, every single skier," Fernandez said.

Vignere's autopsy was scheduled for Friday afternoon, but the results have not yet been made available.

MY SWEET BABY

At this time last year, 12am-12:30am Jan 9th, I was holding my baby girl in my arms as I watched and felt her go.
I miss her SO much.


Did you know I think of you?
Did you know how much I miss you?
The days go by but the pains still there.
The emptiness is so heavy it can consume
There are so many things I wish I could say
A ton more I wish I could do with you
I want to hold you and kiss your head, cheeks and toes.
I want to play pat-a-cake and peek-a-boo
Dress you up in cute little dresses and pretty hair things too.
To hear you laugh and say mommy. I never got to hear you talk.
Watch you play with Bennie or scream when he takes away your toy
See you watching him the way you always did
To witness the cuddles you gave Daddy
The pretty grin that was just for him
Watch you dance and bop your head
Hear you sing in your girly voice
You'd be running all around finding things to get into
Jumping on beds with brother and tackling Daddy.
Helping mommy make the Kool-aid
Baking cookies and getting into my make-up
Bed time prayers and special songs
Baby girl, I miss you
Ali, I love you
Alirene, I will not forget you.
You were so many things to me.
You were MY girl
You were OUR baby
We were so blessed to have you.
You are forever in my heart Sweet Ali!
Forever loved,
Momma


ALIRENE MAYBELLE LEWIS APRIL 20,2007--January 9,2008