Merry CHRISTmas & Happy New Year!

I posted the update on our lives in the 2 blogs below, but I remembered I had wanted to include this incredible C.S. Lewis quote that our friends had sent in their Christmas letter...in reference to how fast time passes, and our continued amazement at it...

C.S. Lewis said our being surprised by the passage of time is akin to a fish being surprised by the wetness of water. Time is the dimension in which we live. Of course it passes. But suppose, Lewis goes on to say, the fish is destined to be a land animal. In that case, he would find the water to be very strange. And of course, the reason we find the passage of time to be strange is because we know, deep down, that we are destined for eternity.

May our thoughts be focused on the Eternal as we continue to be amazed at "how time flies"!

Update 2...guess who is WALKING!?!!

This was at Thanksgiving, Ellyana found Great-Aunt Lucille's cane & decided she could take off...Great-Grandma & Aunt Theresa had to help :)

Those 1st wobbly steps

And here she is coming down the hall...one hand lifted for stability! She is just so precious to watch!

Update...Part 1

Lots of fun days to come with going to visit family & getting some days at home...today is the boys' last day of school till the New Year...hoorah!!!

Any one want us to make you something? Things are really sanitary here ;)

The boys anxious for snow after the neighbor gave them this cool sled for Christmas! I'm missing all the snow we had by this time of year last year...can't wait!

We will celebrate, I found several of these sticky notes around the house yesterday morning, after BJ slept in till 7:00 AM after his 5:15 AM streak....mommy was very happy, we may celebrate every night ;)

A little goofy before our church's Christmas program...the boys both said their parts so nice & sang well! We were very thankful!

I've been trying to take lots of pictures though I haven't been keeping up with posting... Ellyana got to celebrate more birthday with both sides of the family at Thanksgiving time, she loved it!

Pantry bandit!

Zach has been mommy's helper with cooking this year!

I'm going to attempt to post a different blog with our biggest news...Ellyana is walking...it is soooo cute!

Much love to you (sorry, for the random blog...tried to capture the last month in 10 minutes ;)! May you enjoy JESUS as the Reason for the Season! We have so much to thank the Lord! Merry Christmas!

Happy Birthday, our precious Ellyana!

Birthday Girl got flowers from Grandpa & Grandma Knobloch yesterday!

The kids got special candy/toys from Ethiopia this morning after breakfast, they have been waiting to open them till Ellyana's birthday! We have been home 3 months, yesterday!

We had a special celebration tonight with family/friends...the Birthday girl enjoyed her day today...with lots of "Happy Birthdays" at church! Still more birthday to come as we look forward to celebrating with both sides of the family at Thanksgiving time!

After she tasted the frosting she decided to skip the fingers & just eat right off the giant cupcake!

Loving the frosting! It really was a "Happy Birthday"!

Ellyana Blume
Happy 1st Birthday!

E – Ellyana…I love it everytime someone asks what your name is…Ellyana it means “God has answered our prayers”… that’s what you are…our answer to so many prayers, its been 3 months since you are home & I think my eyes still fill with tears at sometime everyday…at the “amazingness” of having you here with us, our 17 pound bundle of answered prayer!!!

L – Light, you light up every room you are in…not sure if it is your beauty, your smile or your fun personality…probably just a lovely combination!

L – Laugh, you love to laugh…Little Miss Giggle…especially at your brothers, who endlessly perform tricks to get another giggle

Y – You, you are just perfect for our family…I shouldn’t be surprised, because the God of the Universe picked you just for us…but we think you are perfect…you remind us so much of the boys so its fun to see that God must think this is the kind of kiddos that are just right for our family!

A – Animated, yes, just like your brothers, there isn’t a moment that we don’t know what you are thinking…and we love it!

N – Never a dull moment, you are on-the-go…into everything & always trying to keep up with the boys!

A – Angel, that’s what we think you are…as very beautiful on the inside as you are on the out! A gift from heaven! Our little joy bell! Sister Bear, we love you…Happy Birthday, precious ONE!!!!

Thanks to each of you for your prayers along this amazing journey, we are so thankful!

My Aunt Sheila Steffen went home to heaven this morning, 41 years with Down Syndrome she has a new body & gets to be with Jesus tonight! Ellyana & I fly out Tuesday evening & fly back Wed night. for the funeral/visitation. I think the whole family would appreciate your prayers in this coming week! Thanks so much & God's blessings to you!

Best Thanksgiving Program Ever

Mr. Turkey Zach is the "Chef" in the middle with his face covered :)

Anyone remember the "Best Christmas Pageant Ever"? Well, today it was Zach's preschool...it was all too funny! 4 yr olds alone are a really funny bunch, but today mixed with the background music "mix-up" it was hilarious. They kept announcing... and now we will sing "Praise Him, Praise Him" only to have a different song start up over the speakers and of course the 4 yr olds tried to join into whatever was playing (if they knew the song or not). The last song ended up being "Praise Him, Praise Him".

Zach was chosen as one of the 3 chefs for one of the songs, the teachers put the chef's hat on him & left the stage & didn't realize it was completely covering his face. Which he just stood there stirring his bowl (probably singing) for quite awhile till a teacher noticed & came up during the song to fix it. He has a wonderful Christian preschool that we are so thankful for & we "Praise Him, Praise Him" for God's many good gifts!

Our Ethiopian Princess turns "1" on Sunday...

Sickness

Zach... before we realized he was sick, we took the kids to the zoo on their day off last week. He was too weak to walk & we hadn't brought the double stroller.

Very sick baby girl.

The kids were quarantined to different floors. BJ had the basement. Mr. Social hung-out at the top of the stairs so he could still keep talking & set up a library for everyone to come to...though he didn't get much business.

We have been hit by "the bug"...yes, probably H1N1. Michigan was one of the last states to get it, and also one of the last to get the masses of vaccine. The kids all got vaccinated Monday at noon, Zach we think may have been actually infected earlier that morning. It is nasty stuff, try to avoid it. The characteristic very high temp & strange bad cough, body aches, nausea...the kids all got started on the Tamiflu (anti-viral) which I do give credit for really reducing the fever & minimizing the cough. The boys have been on the mend & Ellyana seems like she is getting some better this afternoon.

As for things I'm thankful for...

*that H1N1 didn't land us in the ER

*very thankful for the medication that I think lessened the symptoms & shortened how long it lasted

*that Ellyana is here with us & can get Advil for her fever

*Brian & I are still healthy

*BJ's asthma did not flare up too bad

*that there is forgiveness for sin...especially for a certain Mom that thinks their kid is "faking" it for a few days till the 104 fever strikes.

*hand sanitizer, Clorox wipes, Lysol, anti-bacterial soap & warm weather...to get outside & air this place out

*and that Zach gets to be "Special Me" next week at school, because the teacher says now she can probably count on him not to be sick ;)