Happy Anniversary!

Happy 4th Anniversary to Jason and Elizabeth! What a wonderful 4 years the Lord has given you both....and we will be praying that you will have MANY, MANY more! Love you bunches!

Good Morning!

"This is the day the LORD hath made....rejoice and be glad in it!" What a beautiful verse to wake up to each morning....no matter how we feel, what the weather is like, or what we have on the "to do" list for the day, we CAN REJOICE and be glad - because His mercies fail not, they are new every morning...GREAT IS HIS FAITHFULNESS!

This morning, I was typing out the prayer list for our Wednesday night prayer meeting, and seeing all the names on the sick list, or those in the nursing home, I was reminded again that I need to thank the Lord for the wonderful health and strength I have been given, and rejoice that I am able to "get up" and "get going" another day! Yes, this is the day the Lord has made...let's rejoice and be glad in it!

Comfy sleep and yummy meals at Jason and Elizabeth's beautiful home

We awoke to a great french toast breakfast - complete with 3 kinds of fruit, cereal and juice!

Jason and Dad grilling our great lunch - shishkabob's.....we had the choice of chicken, beef, tomatoes, crab, hotdogs, or all of the above! We also haed corn bread, cheese potatoes, relishes, fresh green beans and an amazing cookie dough ice cream pie! YUMMY!!!!

Brock's 8 month pictures.....

Brock is now 8 months!

Just a few more pictures from Taiwan

City streets

Dinner at church on Sunday....

The two Pastors at church on Sunday

Dinner at a Japanese Restaurant

We had a fantastic Japanese dinner in a restaurant with a neighbor of Rachel and Matt's and his son, and a friend. The fish was "fantastic" once you got past the head!!!

They serve the meal so beautifully, and everyone takes a bite of this and that as the table goes around!

City street - it's not raining, they just don't want the sun on their skin!

NIght Market....one of my favorite places to visit in Taiwan

A look down the street at night market.....

What fun it was to walk around with the other thousands of people

Some of the shops - all the merchandise is so crowded and packed in these tiny little stores

There are tons of eating places in every corner of night market...some foods you just aren't sure what it is in the pot! Taiwan is a city of food - everywhere you go is a market, restaurant or vendor selling food!

Our time in Taiwan with Micah Matthew

Bethtime is a favorite of Micah's!

Contentment...being with Papa

We had a great dinner with the Sawatzky's at the Mongolian BBQ. It was great having both sets of grandparents together!

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to two beautiful new Mommies!!!

Instant Prayers

Sometimes we don't have a lot of time to spend in prayer, but I love having "instant prayers" all during the day...here are some ideas for you -

Pillow prayers - before you lift your head off your pillow in the morning, say "Good Morning" to the Lord - start the day with a heart full of praise and thanksgiving! Your day will go much smoother

Mirror, mirror on the wall - while styling your hair or getting dressed, pray for your family, friends, co-workers and anyone else you will come in contact with during the day

Road rallies - just as you start your car, pray for SAFETY as you drive (and then of course, drive safely!)

Breaking news - as you listen to the news on the TV or radio...pray for our country, president and those in the armed services

Phone operator - while you are on the phone, say a prayer for the one you are talking to, or pray with them over the phone if they need special prayer.

Patiently waiting - next time you are waiting in line at the grocery store, doctors office, etc, take those moments to pray for those that are ill - the time spent "waiting" will be put to good use!

Lights out - at the end of the day, close your day with prayer - your sleep will be sweeter, and the burdens on your heart lightened!

Micah Matthew is 2 Months!!!

Happy 2nd month birthday, Micah Matthew! In just one week, your Nanny and Papa from Michigan will be flying out to see you! We can't wait!! Have a great day today at church...we love you bunches! XXXX

AWANA Awards Night....

Our AWANA Awards night was Wednesday night....here are a few of our "Sparkies" getting their 3rd book award.

These are the some of our "Cubbies" - those that are 3-5 years old.

A day in May....

Our first flowers have finally come up after a LONG winter season! How beautiful to see these panies in the front of our house....what beauty God created!

When I was in 5th grade, I wrote my one and only poem (I'm just not a poet...I leave that gift to my husband and children!). Here it is:

What is so gay about a day in May?

Birds fly in the air

Breezes blow through the hair.

The grass smells so sweet

As it tickles your feet!

Enjoy your beautiful day today!

High Tea

Friday night, I had the privilege of speaking at a mother/daughter tea at Byron Center Bible Church. When the ladies arrived, they were served punch from a beautifully decorated table with a punch bowl and candles. We then went up to the auditorium where we sang, had some special music, and I spoke. on the topic of "Me,,,A Teapot?" After that we went to the beautifully decorated fellowship hall for "high tea time"....which consisted of a 4-course tea time. The men served us scones and cream cheese and jelly, then the second course was crackers, cheese and grapes. After that came cucumber sandwiches and jelly sandwiches (tiny 2-bite size), and our last course was tiny cookies and bit size squares of cake. Such fun!

Bird Hunting.....

I was home alone on Thursday night as Bob was over at the church counseling a couple that will be married in June. It was a great night to get some clenaing done, and I had just gone to the basement to get something, and the phone rang. I answered the phone down there, and while I was talking, I heard a loud "rustling" noise! It was making me nervous, as it sounded like an animal was down there with me! All of a sudden, a HUGE BLACK BIRD flew right over my head and to one of the basement windows. I told the lady on the phone that I had to get to another phone - I dashed upstairs, closed off both basement doors, and finished the conversation. About an hour later, Bob came home, and we called one of our men from church, Jody, to help us catch the bird. Well, ......we COULDN"T FIND THE BIRD! They looked all over, but either the bird was hiding, or he somehow got out. We were sure praying it was the latter! We kept the basement doors closed all night, and Bob and Jody were going to check it out in the morning.

This morning, as I was doing things around the house, I heard something "hit" the basement door which was closed! Bob and Jody went "bird hunting"....and sure enough, a huge black bird was down there and flying around the basement. Jody had a big fishing net, so he finally cornered it, got it, and took it outside, where the bird promptly flew away! Praise the Lord the bird is out of our basement, and hopefully, won't remember how he got in!

I love to watch the birds in the sky, but I DO NOT like them in my house!!!

ONE MONTH ANNIVERSARY

One month ago today, was the beautiful wedding of Daniel and Candice. What a wonderful month this has been for them...a fantastic honeymoon, Daniel starting a great job, a wedding reception in Manton, getting their 250 thank you notes all written, and making their house into a darling home!

Happy anniversary to both of you!
We love you!!!

6 weeks, 7 months, 27 years

We are celebrating 3 birthdays in the Lanning family this week.......

Micah was six weeks on Wednesday

Brock is 7 months today Candice will be 27 this Saturday

Happy, Happy Birthday to each one of you!!!

We love you bunches

XO XO XO

Just a few more reception pictures!

Some fun family photo's over the weekend.....

The Bride and Groom....
Dad Whitley

Dad Lanning

Jason and Elizabeth

Nancy and Nana

Daniel and Aunt Shirley Lehmann

Candice and Aunt Connie