MESSY!!

We are in the middle of our remodel of the bathroom, and definately we are at the messy stage! They have been working on dry wall the last two days. Tomorrow and Monday they will sand the walls to prepare for paint on Tuesday. Then on the 8th they start the long process of tile in the shower and floor, etc. They tell me that could take up to 10 days!!! Your dad and I are now all over the house. Our clothes are scattered and we have to use the other bathroom. Kristi when you come home we may all be using the same room! Oh well it will be worth it when we are done.
Just a prayer request for your dad and I. We will begin a new session of The Truth Project on June 3rd with my family. We could use your prayers that it would be a building time and not a devisive thing. Andrew and Kristine will be joining us. Kristi we look forward to seeing you soon and maybe you could let us all know what you would like to see happen the week you are home. We will be having your shower on the 16th in the evening. Well it is time to make supper and I am glad your dad will be home soon! I love you all.
Mom

Update before the summer fun begins

Hey to all,

It's been awhile since I have posted or even had the internet access to check the blog. I have enjoyed getting to read some of your recent updates and look forward to seeing what happens this summer. I want to say a big Congrats to Kristi and Ryan on their recent engagement and say that I am honored and so excited about getting to be a part of one of the best days of your life. I am pumped for October and bet that you are even more so :-)

Matt and Court- I am glad to hear that you had such a wonderful time on your retreat and that the P90X has been a challenge that you two can do together. I know Andrew and I have had a blast working out together and even through the pain, we always find ourselves laughing. Way to go! I really enjoyed seeing Gid at the Mother's Day get together and am so impressed with his ever expanding vocabulary and little personality showing. He is such a sweet little nephew and we find ourselves talking about him at our apartment quite a bit. We wish we could see Gideon more than we do, but enjoy every opportunity!

Mom and Dad- We are looking forward to our time with you this weekend and always do. I enjoyed spending the evening after Mother's Day get together with you and hearing some of the wisdom you shared. Even if I talk more than I should sometimes, I really am listening to what you have to say and I reflect on it in my daily life. There are many times that I also share what you have taught me to other people! Keep it coming...

About us- Andrew and I are winding down an adventurous first year of marriage. We celebrated our 11 month anniversary yesterday (yes we celebrate months) and are planning to go camping in the next week or so. Andrew is slowing down at the tennis center and my awesome season at Westfield ended yesterday with a hard fought loss against 2nd ranked Carmel. I saw a lot of heart from the girls and loved the opportunity to help coach them. Today and tomorrow morning, we plan on watching the Kokomo sectional. My old team has won the past 9 sectional crowns and are going to be pushed hard this year. Eastern High School (which I was the assistant coach for last year) is the favored team to win. No matter what happens, it will be exciting.
Well a few days ago, I got news about the job I had interviewed for down at Westfield. It wasn't the news I was hoping for, as they let me know that they would be recommending someone else for the job. I have been disappointed, but have had a lot on my mind to keep me occupied. Throughout the process, I dedicated myself not to worry and I do not plan on changing that. I know that whatever I am supposed to do, it will happen and I am trying my best to listen. You can pray though for my peace about that situation because I do need help and support. Well, I am not trying to cut this blog off, but I am subbing at Kokomo right now and should probably get back to work...not that subbing is too rigorous :-)

Love,

Kristine

A Mid-May Update

Congratulations to Ryan and Kristi! I've been looking forward to saying that for a long time! And I'm excited to see you both fairly soon. To think by Christmas time you'll be married, wow. And awesome. I just wanted to start by saying we're really happy for the both of you!

I know it's been a long time since I posted an update here. Sorry about that everyone. I do want to keep you up to the minute on what's going on. Life gets really busy for me in May, when the school year winds down and I always find we have a lot more to do than I planned on. So, anyways.

Last weekend was awesome for our family though. Gideon got to spend time with Grandpa and Grandma (Peters) and Courtney and I got away with our friends to a local bed and breakfast for a "Marriage Retreat." It refreshed both our marriage and our church. Although, I have to say, I have a great wife and going into the weekend we both felt as if the retreat would be more a celebration of our healthy relationship rather than the fixing of a tattered one. We've had some rough spots throughout our married years, but I'd have to say that raising a son has brought us even closer, and the past year and a half have been the best of our marriage. A lot of that has to do with the way that Courtney treats me as a father and supports me in the things that I do. I just wanted to recognize here what a wonderful wife I have!

So the retreat weekend was really a fun time, but a lot of late nights, which made this week really difficult. Courtney and I have been doing a workout program together in the mornings here at home called P90X. It's pretty much amazing. I've lost 5 pounds in the first two weeks, but it is kicking our butts. We were so sore the first week, like all the time. We'll have to post our before and after pictures when we're done. The bad thing is that it requires us to be up at 5:00 in the morning in order to do it while the little guy sleeps. So without much sleep, that made this week kind of difficult too.

We could use prayer in a couple of areas. First of all, we've dedicated ourselves to a couples devotional time in the evening. Over the years of marriage, we have often maintained personal devotions but find it difficult to find time to follow Christ together. Often, we are too tired at night, or in the morning, and the middle of the day gets crammed with stuff. So, we're trying to spend a half and hour each evening in the Word and then in prayer as well. There's already been some challenges, but I think this is really important for our family.

Also, prayer for our church would be appreciated. Nothing really specific, but I'd really like to see the Holy Spirit liven us up a little bit. Sometimes it seems we fall into a rut, and so just prayer that we will continue to feel alive in what God has called us too.

Thanks for reading my long update. Can't wait to hear more from all of you. Thanks for the mother's day thoughts as well mom, I love the old pictures. And it was nice to talk and see Drew and Kristine last weekend. Too much time passes between our visits:( Hope to see more of you soon. Love you all.

Matthew.

Thank you

I want to thank all of you for the gifts and warm wishes on Mother's Day. I loved the flowers and the flower holder. They even go together! If the threat of frost ever goes away I may even get to put it outside. Kristi and Ryan, we missed both of you and hope you had a good day. Glad to hear about all of the planning that is going on now. Keep us posted on what is going on and how we all can help. Again thank you and forgive me if I did not express it enough on Sunday. I love, Love, LOVE you all! MOM

Mother's Day

I know that it is traditional to honor your mother on Mother's day, but this year I am protesting.
I want to honor all of you! It has been such a priveledge to be your mom and I could not have any better children. I feel so blessed to have three children from birth and three more that have joined our family. When I look at the pictures that I have included, all that comes to mind is the joy that you have brought to my life. I loved your laughter and your tears, your accomplishments and your failures. I want you to know that althought I could have done anything that I wanted, what I wanted most was to be your mom. Now you are all grown and our relationship will change, but my love for you and your spouses will remain the same and constant. Thank you!!!!!

In the car, one of the places we often were.

Three little pumpkin heads all in a row! What great memories. Our first time in Colorado? Maybe the second.