Blog Templates?

I am having the toughest time trying to figure out a good template for my blog! Sheesh! I mean, Blogspot offers some nice choices....but none of them are really....me.

I haven't posted for awhile...and I am working now and won't be able to type much. We are all fine!

TWO more days til' Alex moves into State! Yikes. Poor thing....he didn't pass his driver's ed test the other day. He's so disappointed. Stupid parallel parking!!

Hope all is well!

Blessings!

~Bethany :)

A Visit to the DIA

I took the boys....just my three sons (get it??) to the Detroit Institute of Art. After all, I am one of those 'artsy' types (or, at least a 'wannabe'!).

Gabe enjoyed the part where he could practice his drawing skills. Sam...well, he wasn't bored per se. He did enjoy parts of the visit!

(sorry about the poor picture quality...I had to use the cell phone again!)

Blessings!

~Bethany :)

(in) courage

COURAGE.

What does courage mean to me?

Automatically, I think of my favorite "Wizard of Oz" character...he tried so hard to be brave. When the rubber met the road, he failed miserably!

Sometimes courage happens as a result of no other option.

Sometimes, I don't want to be courageous. I have to. I don't have a choice.

Sometimes, I muster up courage through my faith in God. He guides me. He give me strength to have courage.

Since being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, I have learned to lean on Him. I do not know what the future holds for me physically, but I know that I can have the courage to enjoy each day that God gives me.

Sometimes, I am scared.

Sometimes, I need courage to let my children be independent. It isn't easy!

Sometimes, being in a stepfamily isn't easy either. It takes courage to deal with issues that are not relevant to 'traditional' families. It takes patience, trust in my Lord, humbleness....did I say patience?

More than anything, COURAGE means that I have to LET GO.

That is what courage means to me!

Blessings!

~Bethany :)

P.S. Check out the link for (in) courage--it's on the toolbar on the left! Or go to: http://www.incourage.me/

"Not Me" Monday!

(I've never done this before--how exciting!)

This is a game that MckMamma created so that we can all have the opportunity to

'voice' our mistakes/mishaps.....do I really want to join???

SURE! Why not??

Here it goes....

~I did NOT eat a huge chocolate chip cookie and a handful of Bugles last night at the Loscher's home. NO way...not after doing so well eating healthy for these past 3 weeks. Not me!

~I did not get to work today, set up my station and cringe when I saw myself on the video phone....I was not horrified by the unsightly cellulite on my upper arms. Nope...it didn't bother me whatsoever.

~I never check on my 6 year old son to see if he is breathing each night....he's too old for me to do that. I'm never paranoid about our kids and their safety!

~I am also not upset about my oldest son going to college in a few weeks. I am CONFIDENT he will always have good food to eat, clean clothes to wear and wonderful, Christian friends to hang out with. I am not concerned about his safety AT ALL.

~I did NOT enjoy singing in the choir at church this past weekend....those people drive me insane! :)

Okay...there you have it. My first "Not Me" Monday entry. That wasn't too tough....all that lying! lol

Next time, I'm sure I will have more to offer.

Blessings!

~Bethany :)

The Days of Our Lives

And these...are the days of our lives! (At least, most recently!)

*No more training wheels! Yep--Gabe and Jordan are riding fancy and free these days! Here is a proud Gaby with Mark a few weeks ago.

NOTE: As I attempt to write this post, I seem to be unable to format it to my liking--UGH! Well, anyway, I'll explain the pictures in the awkward way! (Everytime I post a picture, it moves everything around!)

*Those huge inflatable balls? Alyssa and Sam are in there. Isn't that a strange toy? We had a lot of fun at Mark's brother's lake house a few weeks ago...all kinds of things to do!

*Those bikers are Alex and Mark. The past several months have been filled with biking trails, getting muddy and spending ungodly amounts of money on bicycles and parts! But...they are having fun! I have even joined in and have been riding my bike a few times a week. We have ventured out with all the kids a few times as well.....do you know how difficult it is to tote 9 bicycles in two cars?? It's insane. Truly.

*Just for fun, I gave Gabe a mohawk a week or so ago. He looks adorable :)

Jordan was really digging it and wanted to get chopped as well, but alas, his mother was not in favor of the drastic change. We respected her wishes and opted for lots of gel and hairspray instead. (another one of those step-family issues....you can't just cut hair whenever you please!).

Their 'after' picture is at the top.

Yeah...so, I posted the pictures with the intent of writing explainations beside (or under) each. I have to figure out how to format this a bit better.

SO...these pictures offer a little insight as to the current "Day's of Our Lives"!

Blessings!

~Bethany :)

Yipee!

Stellan is feeling better!!! Yipee!

(I hope MckMama doesn't mind that I copy and paste her blog pictures to my blog!!).

Praise God!!

The pic above is of Jules and her friend. It was a birthday surprise! We invited Lindsey secretly to join us at the waterpark. They were wearing the same coverup...very cool :)

The boy in the mask is Josh. We have been swimming a few days a week all summer--all the kids are swimming very well now!

Have a beautiful day!

Blessings!

~Bethany :)