We are So Thankful this Thanksgiving!

Isaiah showing Elsi how to fold laundry

Elsi trying on Ben's underwear:)

Funny face

Packer girl

Can I just say, we are so incredibly blessed? Our family works together so well. The boys help (most of the time without grumbling) to fold laundry, empty the dishwasher, clean up their toys, dust and countless other chores. It is so neat to see their positive attitude and work ethic wearing off on our little Princess (even if she gets a bit distracted by wearing her brother's underwear:)). God has given our family innumerable blessings and we are so grateful to Him for that. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Isaiah's First Communion-No we are not Catholic!

Heather, Steve, Isaiah and Pastor Krug

Uncle Jim, Isaiah, Aunt Fatime and Grandma Dorothy

"Can I stuff any more cookies in my mouth?"

Elsiana, Isaiah, Ben and Dad for a horsey back ride

On November 23rd, we celebrated Isaiah's First Communion. When many people hear this, they are confused, as it usually relates to Catholicism, not the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. The church we belong to, St. Paul's in Oconomowoc, has adopted a new program, called Faith Inkubators. It is a program that encourages intergenerational learning within the family and it is home-based, church-supported. We work together as a family talking about our faith, participating in nightly devotions, sharing highs and lows and doing PTA prayers (Praise God, Thank Jesus and Ask the Holy Spirit). We attend GIFT on Sundays (Generations in Faith Together) with our children and their grandparents (Bill and Bobbie) and Prime Time, our Wednesday evening program with Bible Studies. Children in our church can participate in Holy Communion as early as 5th grade after a 9 week instruction class led by a pastor and attended with a parent. Isaiah then had an interview with Pastor Knea and myself to determine whether he was ready for the responsibility of taking Holy Communion. St. Paul's also no longer confirms its Youth, they go throught the process of Re-Affirmation as a Junior in high school. Being involved with our children's faith is very important to our family and we are blessed to have a church family like St. Paul's to support us.

More Halloween Fun

Steve getting some abuse from the neighbor:)

Pastor Knea and Simon Tiedtke playing Wii boxing

Elizabeth the Ballerina

Joe the Pumpkin

Joshie the Cowboy

Okay, so Thanksgiving has passed and it is almost Christmas, and I am first posting the rest of my Halloween pictures. Better late than never:). We did have a wonderful Halloween night. Our friends the Tiedtkes and the Kneas joined us for an evening of dinner and trick-or-treating and Wii. The weather was beautiful and we even saw a shooting star. We are so grateful to have such wonderful friends.