The night before the night of new years eve...

I am quite sorry my dear friends for not posting very often. Life happens, as we all know, and sometimes that can be a painful truth, other times it is joyous (sp)!

So my Christmas was quite nice and definitly very enjoyable with all the family around and the ability to go sledding was a bonus! I went to my brothers house who lives in the mountains and my dad whole family was able to come, even my aunt and uncle from Mass. It was quite an experience!


















These are some photos taken over Christmas time. The people in the pictures are my sister-in-law, brother, and a cousin.

Tonight I was able to enjoy the pleasure of bowling. Though I am not a great bowler, I can say that tonight was my best night ever, since I won for the first time ever! It felt sweet!

Now for some time of exorting....
In the past few months, I feel that God has put it on my heart to practice humbleness... It is quite hard, especially sine I dont think about being humble very often...it's quite a struggle. So, I exort you to be humble, just as Christ humbled himself by coming down on this earth to save us poor wretches. So, as I practice humbling myself before God, I exort you to do the same! We can be exorting buddies!

So, with this I conclude my memo!
I hope you enjoyed the pictures... and If I dont post tomorrow....then have a

HAPPY NEW YEAR! (2008)

The Living Nativity

Howdy everyone!
So, today I have a fun post. Last night my family and two other families plus a couple extra kids went to something called the Living Nativity It was spectacular! You started out inside this churched huge gymnasium, then after about an hour or so after being inside, you go outside in the freezing cold and dark and sit on bleechers and watch the nativity scene. The roman soldiers come galloping down and camels come walking by along with sheep, donkey, goats...just a rag tag jumble of animals! it was so fun! I absolutly live hanging out with families, it feels like you can mix the age groups so much easier than when you just do younger kids with us almost adults.
I sure haven't posted in awhile... not much has happened in the last few days....other than I did make two draft snakes


(this one isn't mine)they turned out a mite bigger than I wold have hoped, but I made use of the largness and decorated them to look like a certain animal, one a green snake, and the other a University of Washington Huskie (since it's going to my brother and his wife.)
So I am now officially off of work for a little over a week. The family that I nanny has left for Pennsylvania, to bad they didn't need me and then I could have visited my ver special Joni camp friends! I miss all of you. Just yesterday I told my mom that I am going to have to find some way to get over to the camp. No matter what! But then, I do have to think that it may not be Gods plan. (But how dould something so wonderful and neat not be Gods plan for me! I'm teasing by the way!)
So, I will post more later some day! Thanks for keeping in touch!
In Christ
Laura

We will Praise You in this Storm

I just thought I'd share this song with you today. I know that many people at different times in their life go through periods where you feel like your being tossed to and fro in a storm. Well, in some ways, thats how it has felt this last week and week-end with Zachary. It's hard to remind ourselves to praise the one who allows these storm in our lives, even though we will grow stronger in our faith because of them. So, for those of you who feel down trodden, depressed, under thw weather, or anything, here's some uplifting lyrics...




Praise You in This Storm
words by Mark Hall/music by Mark Hall and Bernie Herms

I was sure by now,God, that You would have reached down
and wiped our tears away,
stepped in and saved the day.
But once again, I say amen
and it's still raining
as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain,
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away.

Chorus:
And I'll praise you in this storm
and I will lift my hands
for You are who You are
no matter where I am
and every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
and though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to You
and raised me up again
my strength is almost gone how can I carry on
if I can't find You
and as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away

Chorus

I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth
I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth

Chorus

Baby Zach's Journey

Hello everyone! So...here are some pictures of our Zachy! As well as the update on life after birth for him.... enjoy the pictures!


The Marks family is proud to announce the birth of Zachary James Marks born December 4th at 4:14 PM. He weighted 7lbs 9oz. and was 21 in. long. He is such a cutie pie and is so very precious. We are great full for the Lord's everlasting mercies and the blessings He bestows on us.
For those of you who might be wondering why he has an oxygen tube hooked up to him, a day an a half after he was born, Nick and Jennell, his parents, were not able to get him to eat. Because of this, he became dehydrated and to lethargic to eat anyways. When they took him to the hospital, he was admitted immediately and so began the long wait to find out what might be bothering this precious bundle. Doctors were baffled at first as to why his blood pressure and breathing seemed to be off until they discovered that he had a whole in each lung which had caused air to escape and then just be held in the lining around his lungs. Because of this his lungs were unable to expand fully causing the process of eating to be difficult. They immediately hooked him up to oxygen and the doctors (as well as Jennell who has been at the hospital the whole time began monitoring him closely by way of ex-raying him every morning and watching oxygen levels. We praise the Lord that so far, one of the holes has completely healed and the second hole is slowly healing as well. He is now able to drink an ounce to an ounce and a half of milk at every feeding. We are still unsure of when he will come as one doctor says it will be another 4-7 days while another doctor says he sees no reason why he cant go home tomorrow night or the next mourning. Please be praying that the Lord will guide the doctors in this decision as we don't want little Zach home to early. On the other hand, both of his parents are exhausted and ready to be back home as a family. Thanks for all your prayers, they have/are greatly appreciated.

Modal

Hello everyone again! I was just sitting her thinking abour fabric and a new textile that I see keeps popping up when I buy clothes. It is called modal. So, I let my curiousity draw me to the faithful internet! Here's what I found.

Modal is a bio-based fiber made by spinning reconstituted cellulose from beech trees. It is about 50% more hygroscopic, or water-absorbent, per unit volume than cotton is. It is designed to dye just like cotton, and is color-fast when washed in warm water. Modal is essentially a variety of rayon.

Textiles made from Modal do not fibrillate, or pill, like cotton does, and are resistant to shrinkage and fading. They are smooth and soft, more so than even mercerized cotton, to the point where mineral deposits from hard water, such as lime, do not stick to the fabric surface. Like pure cotton, modal should ideally be ironed after washing.

Very interesting!

In Him Laura

The Terrifying THUMP!

So, today at work, I made dinner for the family. The recipe was called Dahl(doll). It was a mix of onion, ginger,garlic, sauteed (sp) then you add 7 cups water and a whole pkg. of yellow beans. You then cook until it forms a loose paste. Then you eat with rice. Anyways, I was offered some to take home and eat for my dinner and I happily agreed. The smells had been tantalizing me all afternoon. Yummo! So, we put the Dahl and rice in seperate bowl and then I headed out. Well, as I was driving off down the road I heard this thump THUMP. Well, me being a very imaginative person, I was just imagining some dead body or somebody hiding in my car. But, I continued on and got over it. Well, as I went further I heard it again, by this time I was in more traffic and I started thinking about jumping out of the car inorder to see if in fact there was a dead person on my car. But I decided against it. Around this time I drove onto the on ramp to the freeway and looked over at the passenger seat and noticed that it was missing something. Then I realized that the food containers were missing. THEN I realized that I had left those said containers on the top of my car roof and that those were the things making the thumping noise as they individually blew off. I was so sad. I missed my Dahl! Even more frustrating was the fact that I had just lost two of my employers food containers. So sad, I guess I know what I'm getting her for Christmas!

So, now for the big news, my nephew Zachary James M. was born yesterday December 4th at 4:14 in the afternoon. He weighed in at 7 lbs. 9 oz. and is 21 in. long. My parents, the lucky grandparents were able to see him shortly after with big sister Katelyn. Lucky ducks! They have been having some troulbe with getting him to nurse, but that will all come in good time. We are so thankfull to the L0rd for the many blessings He keeps bestowing upon our family. It seems like we never have a dull moment.

Tomorrow I dont have to go to work until one in the P.M. I am so glad. I'm ready for a daytime break. Taking care of 3 four year olds can be very tiring. Yet so rewarding. As I left the house, I heard them telling their mom that they didn't want me bo leave. How Precious!

Tonight my parents and I started advent, yes yes, we are a bit late, but, no time like the present! Tonight we talked about the verse Emanuel, meaning God with us. Something interesting to ponder is that in Isaiah, it is said that they would call His name Emanuel, but in the new testament, the Angels said his name is Jesus and Mary called him Jesus. Anybody have any idea why it would have been prophecied one way, but then not used that way? Just an interesting thought.

Well, thats all for tonight... I'm seriously thinking about going to bed. I really am craving a good book right about now!

Oh, these pictures are ones I took when I went to Camano Is. where my aunt lives. For those of you who dont know, that is just north of Seattle by about an hour. Very pretty area. IN Christ Laura

Cats and Dogs

Welcome!

Hello everyone! Thanks for visiting my site, come on in, sit down, kick off your shoes and let me get you a refreshing beverage! I hope you enjoy my site as I will try to bring you interesting information concerning my life, random tid bits, and "things" in general! In this picture, two of my friends from a far away state came and visited! It was a very blessed time, the little that we did see of eachother. She's the blond and I'm the brunett....and no, she isn't dumb, just a little, shall we say....SMALL! I'm just teasing. She is very sweet and fun to hang out with. Her sister as well I was able to see, so much fun!

I'll post more later, after I figure everything out!

Is. 40:31

Laura