Foot Prints

One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the LORD.
Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand: one belonging to him, and the other to the LORD.
When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand.
He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints.
He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life.
This really bothered him and he questioned the LORD about it:
"LORD, you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me."The LORD replied:
"My son, my precious child,I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering,when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you."

This poem always makes me cry....

Stability

I won't go into details, but this has been one of the most trying years of my life. Just when I think things can't get worse, they do. I've been thinking a lot about that "Foot Prints" poem where it talks about life getting too hard and having the Lord carry you. The Lord is carrying me right now!

There is one thing in my life that has always brought comfort/joy/stability. As stupid as it sounds it has been Sunday dinners at my moms. We have always (since birth) eaten Sunday dinner as a family. My mom has still continued that tradition even though we're all grown and out of the house. This past Sunday she made the most incredible Shepard's Pie. I have yet to come across anyone that can make a better dish! I had my dad take a picture of it because not only did it taste amazing, it also looked amazing! The dish stood 7 inches high!!!! My mom really knows how to cook!

I'm such a blond! Rick and I took the kids up to Franenmuth this past weekend and of course I forgot the camera. I forgot the camera because Saturday morning I woke up and went outside to get my paper and what did I find on my front porch....a baby kitty. So of course I had to take pictures of the little kitty. With all of the excitment the camera was left on the counter.

Franenmuth was a blast. We went through a mirror maze, rode pony's, went on a hayride, walked through Bronners (a Christmas all year store), ate tons of fudge and popcorn, and did tons of walking around town. I would have had a ton of cute pictures...but oh well, there's always next time!

I will share some pictures of the baby kitty (which ended up belonging to a kid down the street). You'll have to excuse Ellie's fro....when you've got curls you have good days and bad days! By the way, if your wondering why Nicholas isn't in any of these pictures it's because that kid will sleep till the moon comes out...pre-teens are so much fun!

FOR THE LOVE!

Ok- I searched all night and finally found the picture of me prior to the ballet recital (as you can tell the tights are still dry!). It's a little on the goofy side, but hey, we can all use a good laugh!

My Dancing Queen

My little girl started dance tonight! As many of you already know, if you have the Bithell genes then you are a born dancer! If you doubt that comment just ask Tom Bithell to do a little dance and you'll see what I mean.

Ellie will be going to tap/acrobat every Monday night. In June she'll have a recital (we went to the neighbors recital last June and surprisingly it was very cool!).

I'll have to scan in the photo of myself when I took ballet a couple of decades ago. It is probably the most ridiculous picture that anyone has ever seen. I would have been the most beautiful ballet dancer, but at my first recital I accidently wet my pants on stage. It wasn't nerves, I just really had to go! Before Ellie left for dance tonight I asked her repeatetly if she had to pee. Thankfully we didn't have an accident!

She is the sweetest little tap dancer around!