Kramer Recepetion 7-3-10

Mike and Debi's Recpetion in Yankton, SD.

We had a blast!

Today....

I RAN my first 5k. It was hot and humid first thing this am, but I made it!! All of the proceeds went to cancer research. My time was 38 min, although my goal was around 32. On the treadmill I have done it in 32, but outside is allot different :) Oh well something to work for.

PS/ Pictured above is the sign that was on the back on my shirt.

Hopefully I will have more pics to follow :)

I will carry you.......

"I Will Carry You" by Selah
There were photographs I wanted to take
Things I wanted to show you
Sing sweet lullabies, wipe your teary eyes
Who could love you like this?

People say that I am brave but I'm not
Truth is I'm barely hanging on
But there's a greater story
Written long before me
Because He loves you like this

So I will carry you
While your heart beats here
Long beyond the empty cradle
Through the coming years
I will carry you
All my life
I will praise the One Who's chosen me
To carry you

Such a short time
Such a long road
All this madness but I know
That the silence
Has brought me to His voice
And He says...I've shown her photographs of time beginning
Walked her through the parted seas
Angel lullabies, no more teary eyes
Who could love her like this?


I will carry you
While your heart beats here
Long beyond the empty cradle
Through the coming years
I will carry you
All your life
I will praise the One Who's chosen Me
To carry you

"But now, this is what the LORD says—
He who created you, O Jacob,
He who formed you, O Israel:
Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine"
Isaiah 43:1

One of God's little Angels.......

We are sad to share the news of the loss of our nephew Luke Arthur Campbell. He was born to Holli (Bowman) and Chris Campbell on 3/6/10. He was perfect in everyway, 7 lbs, 11 oz. and 21 inced long. He was never able to take his first breath, and will be dearly missed by all. Please keep his parents, grandparents, aunt and uncles, and cousins who will never be able to share in his life, in your prayers. We will say our goodbyes to him at a family funeral on Saturday in Denver, CO. I do not understand God's purpose for this loss right now. Please pray for our peace in knowing that he is with Jesus.

The Blizzard of '09

Our Patio
Our Grill :)

20 inches and counting...We are under a blizzard warning until Saturday at noon-

Merry Christmas.

It does remind us that as God forgives us he also makes everthing white as snow, and new again. We miss all of our family and friends that we could not be with this Christmas...God Bless you all.

Christmas Program

This is Zach's Christmas Program , he is kinda hard to see... he's in the middle with an Argyle sweater on :) Enjoy.

Bowling with Friends

Preschool Pics

Zach especially liked this....The fire fighter on the left on Kaden's Dad, and the one in the middle is his Grandpa!!

Good bye old wall paper...Hello RED!!!

A Random Saturday in October

Zach is going with his Daddy to haul a load of peptone :)

They are both getting so big!!

Dear Great Grandma....

We miss you very much and hope that you enjoy looking at our pictures. We hope that you are being well taken care of at the hospital. We love you very much, and hope you are feeling better,
Love Zachary and Benjamin.

The "Wooden" Park, Orange City Iowa

Sunday after naps we went to the park with the boys- Super Fun!

It's been a busy fall

Green Bean, Pickles, Salsa, Pasta Sauce, Pizza Sauce, Grape Jam, Stewed Tomatoes

Apples sauce, Meat, Mixed Vegetables, Peaches

And Sweet Corn, Applesause, Blueberries and Strawberry Freezer Jam in the Freezer, Whew!!

Boys and more Boys

Troy's New Truck

We traded Troy's truck for this one

We can all ride in it and it is diesel!!!

Yankton, Zach's first day of school and fun!!!

We went up to Yankton on Sunday with my Parents and the Kramers

Zach was jumping into the water!! He's a fish!!

Zach's first day of school!!!

We had a card night with our friends with NO kids

while my Parents were here! So Much Fun!!

Zach's Room

While my parents were here we painted Zach's Room for his 4th Birthday.

Thankfullness in ALL Situations

"I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength. "
Philippians 4:11-13

This is something that I struggle with. Being thankful in all of the situations that Christ may present is quite the challenge. I am trying to focus on this verse this week, and allow God to transform me into being content with what he has given me.

Being content with ones house, car, clothes, money and even spouse may seem like a easy task, but I find myself struggling every day. Even the little things....It is so easy to think "Nancy Drew's husband bought her flowers...I wish my husband would do that more" I think that this is an example of not being content. I need to remember that everything is a gift, and we so easily take it all for granted.

Have a Blessed Weekend :) Rachel

"The Wedding Ring"

What a great reminder from Proverbs 31 ministries

The Wedding Ring
20 Jul 2009
Marybeth Whalen

"An unmarried woman is concerned about the Lord's affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband." I Corinthians 7:34 (NIV)

While shopping for some nail polish remover, I stumbled upon a bottle of jewelry cleaner. As I picked it up and tossed it into my cart, I reflected on the days when I always kept jewelry cleaner so that I could keep my wedding ring sparkling and shiny. Somewhere in the rush of life, I stopped doing that, and it had been years since I polished up my very dirty, dingy diamond. When I got home, I cracked open the new bottle and put my rings in to soak overnight. The next morning, I fished them out and used the little brush to scrub away any remaining dirt. As I slipped the rings on, I couldn't believe the difference! I knew my rings were dirty but I had no idea how sparkling the cleaner would make them. All day I kept looking down at my hand to admire the way the diamond reflected the light, brilliant and shiny instead of dirty and dingy. God reminded me that my experience was a great illustration for how I have treated my marriage at times. Where once I worked hard to look nice for my husband, I often meet him after a long day in my pajamas—unshowered and unprepared to welcome him. Where once I took time to really listen to him, I let my thoughts wander when he talks, figuring I had heard it all before. Where once I looked forward to our time alone, I get in the car with a bored sigh, and a, "Where do you want to eat?" My shiny, sparkly, exciting marriage that I couldn't wait for had turned into a dirty, dingy drudgery that I forgot to take care of. As I admired my diamond that day, I thought of ways I could "clean" my marriage, restoring it to the brilliance that God desired for us:

• Taking time to at least brush my hair and put some gloss on my lipsbefore I saw my husband at the end of the day.
• Committing to regular exercise and taking care of myself, so I would feel better and look better.
• Treating him respectfully and watching both my words and my tone to him.
• Apologizing when I blow it and humbly seeking his forgiveness.
• Investing regular, consistent time into us by making the effort to plan date nights and secure a sitter.
• Really listening to him when he confides in me, not letting my thoughtswander to my to-do list.
• Spending time with him without feeling like we have to talk all the time.
• Respecting the differences in each of us, instead of fighting against them.

Of course I don't do these things perfectly every day, but I do have a renewed vision for what my marriage needs. Just like my diamond needed to be restored after neglect, so did my marriage. I can't become complacent or despondent about this most important relationship. I have to strip off the buildup of stress and busyness, scrub away any resentment or distance. When I do that, God has shown me that He will restore my marriage to its original brilliance and sparkle, reminding us both why we said "I do" all those years ago.

Parade in Hull, IA

We went to the parade over this last weekend with Mark and Ashley and their kids, It was super fun!!