Ava Update

Per requests, here are some updated pictures of our newest niece, Ava. She was 5 weeks old on Monday. What a cutie!

Ava with Grandma Gail (aka: "GG")

Sickness

I had my first major puke-out session this morning. Oy. Not fun. But I hear that morning sickness is actually a good sign because it means things are developing properly with the baby. For that I am grateful. For the puking, I am not.

California

JP and I just got back from a beautiful trip to Napa Valley and San Diego. He has a couple of buddies out there that we got to visit. I hadn't been to California since I was very little - man, what a beautiful place!!! Napa Valley was just gorgeous, and we stayed in an unbelievable bed & breakfast way up on a hill overlooking the valley and all of the vineyards. San Diego was beautiful, too. We both got sunburnt on the beach...JP learned to surf and we both did some boogie boarding.
Enjoy the pics!

View of the Valley from our bed & breakfast


An even BETTER view, if you ask me. *smile*

"The Honeymoon Suite"


Driving across the Golden Gate Bridge

Alcatraz

Puppy Play Time

Day at the lake with Grandpa Jim & Grandma Margie. These cuties sure do love the lake.

Baby Week 7

Getting Cuter!

Evolution of Dance

If you haven't seen this yet, WATCH THE WHOLE THING!!!

This made my day....

Rock-a-bye Harley

If the baby is a boy, we are SOOOOOOO getting him one of these. :)

My Baby Week 5 (I think)

If my math is correct and I'm somewhere between 5 and 6 weeks pregnant, this is what my baby looks like right now. He (or she?) is not very cute yet, but he will be. His tiny little heart started beating this week. Its so amazing to me that right now this baby is only about the size of the letter "o" on this page...yet he has a heart that beats and pumps blood through his tiny body. His little liver and pancreas are already forming, as are his lungs and brain. The umbilical cord is developing. Within a week his eyelids and nostrils will form.
This baby is for real. He's tiny, but for real. All of those things fit snuggly into his little tiny self, so delicately.
I can't wait to meet you, baby.

6/6/06 Ahhhhh!!!!!!!!

Is today the Devil's Day? No! This is the day that the LORD has made!
BUT - I still kind of like what a group of bikers are doing today. They're all going to Hell. Hell, Michigan, that is.
The little town west of the Detroit region is planning parties, selling t-shirts, and has even installed a "Gates of Hell" play area for the kids. Hmmm...the kids play area may be overdoing it.

And for those of you out there who like words, try this one out for size:
hexakosioihexekontakexaphobia...the fear of 666.

Happy Jesus Day, everybody!

Announcement!

JP and I are happy to tell you that we are expecting our first baby!
We just found out a few days ago and while we know the "smart" thing would be to wait a while before sharing the news...YEAH RIGHT!!!!
If my math is correct, I think the little one will be here in February.
We're blessed and excited and a bit scared, but we trust God's timing and grace to be perfect in our lives.
I'm feeling fine - can't even tell I'm prego except for I'm a bit tired and emotional (what's new, right?). JP is very excited, too.
Praise God for baby Charlebois - we appreciate and welcome all of your prayers over these next 9 months!

Choose Life

This is the picture Margaret was talking about in her comment to the post "Jie-Jie Deserves Life."
Thanks for choosing Life, Margaret.

The Duck & the Devil

My Mother-in-law shared this story with me yesterday. It makes a great point and I thought I'd pass it on....

There was a little boy visiting his grandparents on their farm. He
was given a slingshot to play with out in the woods. He practiced in
the woods, but he could never hit the target. Getting a little
discouraged, he headed back for dinner. As he was walking back he saw
Grandma's pet duck.
Just out of impulse, he let the slingshot fly, hit the duck square in
the head, and killed it. He was shocked and grieved
In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the wood pile, only to see his
sister watching! Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing.
After lunch the next day Grandma said, "Sally, let's wash the
dishes." But Sally said, "Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in
the kitchen." Then she whispered to him, "Remember the duck?" So
Johnny did the dishes.
Later that day, Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing
and Grandma said, "I'm sorry but I need Sally to help make supper."
Sally just smiled and said," Well that's all right because Johnny
told me he wanted to help." She whispered again, "Remember the duck?"
So Sally went fishing and Johnny stayed to help.
After several days of Johnny doing both his chores and Sally's . he
finally couldn't stand it any longer.
He came to Grandma and confessed that he had killed the duck. Grandma
knelt down, gave him a hug, and said, "Sweetheart, I know. You see, I
was standing at the window and I saw the whole thing, but because I
love you, I forgave you. I was just wondering how long you would let
Sally make a slave of you."

Thought for the day and every day thereafter?
Whatever is in your past, whatever you have done... and the devil
keeps throwing it up in your face (lying, cheating, debt,fear, bad
habits, hatred, anger, bitterness, etc.)... whatever it is... You
need to know that God was standing at the window and He saw the whole
thing... He has
seen your whole life. He wants you to know that He loves you and that
you are forgiven.
He's just wondering how long you will let the devil make a slave of
you.
The great thing about God is that when you ask for forgiveness, He
not only forgives you, but He forgets .. It is by God's grace and
mercy that we are saved.