While putting McKailyn to bed we heard a fire engine's sirens:
McKailyn: Dad is that a fire truck?
Me: Yes honey, they are probably going to help somebody.
McKailyn: Ok, but if they come back this way I hope they are quiet so they don't interrupt my beauty sleep. (straight faced)
Me: Yes dear
Jocelyn was talking about something we didn't need to talk about while eating dinner.
Me: Jocelyn, please stop talking about that.
Jocelyn: You got it soldier!
Me: *confused look on my face*
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Our Pastor's Christmas Letter
I thought this was pretty cool and wanted to share....hope you enjoy.
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Dear Brian & Jill,
Every year I look forward to sending out my Christmas letter to our Christian Life Center Family. I do my best to find a fresh story or an illustration that tells of Christ's humble birth and all God has done by sending His Son to us. The following is an exceptional story set in the time of the Civil War that will remind us of the wonder of Christ's birth and what God has truly accomplished on our behalf.
For a brief moment that night in our nation's history, the news of a baby's birth brought peace to the hearts of the soldiers and to the nation. The good news of Christmas is that a baby was born that would not bring temporary peace but everlasting peace. The good news of Christmas is that in the midst of great darkness, there came a Light and the darkness was not able to overcome the Light. It was not just a momentary flicker, it was an eternal flame.
Even though the events in our world and in our own personal lives today try to snuff out the light Christ brings, the story of Christmas affirms that His Light can never be extinguished. The Light of Christ's love and power will shine forever. May His Light and love shine through us this Christmas Season and all through the New Year.
Merry Christmas,
The Rice Family
-----------------------------
Dear Brian & Jill,
Every year I look forward to sending out my Christmas letter to our Christian Life Center Family. I do my best to find a fresh story or an illustration that tells of Christ's humble birth and all God has done by sending His Son to us. The following is an exceptional story set in the time of the Civil War that will remind us of the wonder of Christ's birth and what God has truly accomplished on our behalf.
It was during the dark winter of 1864, at Petersburg, Virginia. The Confederate Army of Robert E. Lee faced the Union Divisions of General Ulysses S. Grant. The war was now three and a half years old and the glorious charge had long since given way to the muck and mud of trench warfare.
Late one evening one of Lee's Generals, Major General George Pickett, received word that his wife had given birth to a beautiful baby boy. Up and down the line the Southerners began building huge bonfires in celebration of the event. These fires did not go unnoticed in the Northern camps and soon a nervous Grant sent out a reconnaissance patrol to see what was going on. The scouts returned with the message that Pickett's wife had a son and these were celebratory fires. It just so happened that Grant and Pickett had been contemporaries at West Point and knew one another well; so to honor the occasion Grant, too, ordered that bonfires should be built.
What a peculiar night it was. For miles on both sides of the lines fires burned. No shots were fired that night, no yelling back and forth and no war was fought; only light celebrating the birth of a child. But it didn't last forever. Soon the fires burned down and once again the darkness took over. The darkness of the night and the darkness of war still loomed heavily over the men and the nation.
For a brief moment that night in our nation's history, the news of a baby's birth brought peace to the hearts of the soldiers and to the nation. The good news of Christmas is that a baby was born that would not bring temporary peace but everlasting peace. The good news of Christmas is that in the midst of great darkness, there came a Light and the darkness was not able to overcome the Light. It was not just a momentary flicker, it was an eternal flame.
Even though the events in our world and in our own personal lives today try to snuff out the light Christ brings, the story of Christmas affirms that His Light can never be extinguished. The Light of Christ's love and power will shine forever. May His Light and love shine through us this Christmas Season and all through the New Year.
Merry Christmas,
The Rice Family
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Kids Against Hunger
We are very excited about Kids Against Hunger. All of us have been to the "factory" several times to help pack and we love being able to serve as a family. Although Jocelyn's & McKailyn's attention span doesn't really stretch 2 hours of doing the same repetitive task, they now know why we are doing it. Jill & I have also volunteered to serve on a leadership role as well where we'll help set up and stage all the ingredients and equipment on at least one Saturday a month. I've also volunteered to help run the KAH blog(http://blog.hungernomore.us). Jill and I have been hoping to find a way to serve with our whole family for a while and felt that the girls were too young for the homeless shelter, etc... After our first packing session, it was confirmed that this was what we've been looking for. It's awesome to know we can make an impact.
We believe we are not only making an impact by helping feed these starving children, but even making an impact in our family.
Maybe two weeks ago during bedtime, I asked McKailyn to say prayers. She did a great job, but in the middle of the prayer she said, "God please bless Kids Against Hunger and all those kids so they don't have to eat dirt anymore." (We've showed them pictures of the mud cookies kids are forced to eat in Haiti). I think I started to cry :-)
Then just last week during breakfast, Jocelyn (out of the blue) told me, "Dad, when I get older I want to adopt 2 kids." I told her that is awesome and asked why she would want to do that. She responded, "Because I want to help kids be alive and not be hungry." That's what you call a pretty cool breakfast :-)
We believe we are not only making an impact by helping feed these starving children, but even making an impact in our family.
Maybe two weeks ago during bedtime, I asked McKailyn to say prayers. She did a great job, but in the middle of the prayer she said, "God please bless Kids Against Hunger and all those kids so they don't have to eat dirt anymore." (We've showed them pictures of the mud cookies kids are forced to eat in Haiti). I think I started to cry :-)
Then just last week during breakfast, Jocelyn (out of the blue) told me, "Dad, when I get older I want to adopt 2 kids." I told her that is awesome and asked why she would want to do that. She responded, "Because I want to help kids be alive and not be hungry." That's what you call a pretty cool breakfast :-)
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Happy Thanksgiving!
While we are entering the second hour of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, I thought I would wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving. I hope everyone has a fun, safe day with your family & friends.
Since I'm on here, I thought I would give everyone a quick update on the girls.
Addison - she is doing great and tomorrow she will be a happy & healthy 8 month old! Wow, how time flies. I don't think Jill has slept in the last 8 months, so any prayers for Addison sleeping all through the night would be great, thanks!! :-) Addison is trying to talk, right now all she gets out is "dadadadada" and "ahhhhhhhhh". She is always smiling and her latest enjoyment comes from looking at herself in the mirror. Just recently she started holding her arm up in the air in attempt to wave.
McKailyn "Gracie" - she is doing great as well and continues to amaze us with her constant dancing, singing and ability to make us laugh. McKailyn is in her second year of preschool, going three days a week for 2.5 hours each day. After some challenges with a school mate, she is doing much better and enjoys going to school. We are amazed at how well she can navigate on the laptop. We can log into the Barbie site and she'll be fine all by herself. She can click, drag, drop, etc... all by herself! The other thing that sticks in my mind is how just the other night during bedtime, McKailyn offered to say prayers. Of course we encouraged her to do so, and she then went to pray for "Kids Against Hunger" and all the little kids that have to eat dirt. We're amazed at how selfless she can be for a four year old.
Jocelyn - she is doing just as well as her little sisters! She is thoroughly enjoying Kindegartern at Cincinnati Christian and has made lots of new friends. Her teacher has told us several times how helpful Jocelyn is and that she is very thankful for having Jocelyn in her class. Jocelyn is also very proficient on the computer and has computer class once a week. She is also learning sign language and knows close to 40-50 words; she even went to the library and checked out a video to learn more! Just last week, Jocelyn also asked to say bedtime prayers. She then started to pray for "the men fixing our roof" (thanks Hurrincane Ike) and for "all our troops that are keeping us safe". We are blown away with how compassoniate and thoughtful she is, most of the time she continues to put others' needs first.
Jill - wife of one and mother of three, and she is the most awesomest of them all. She operates on limited sleep and continues to serve her family. Hopefully during this Thanksgiving break I'll be able to help her get more sleep. She is constantly doing something for our family and putting her needs last. I'm sure I don't appreciate all she does, but am extremely thankful for her. Just two months ago we celebrated our 9 year anniversary and we're looking forward to celebrating our 10 year on a nice quiet getaway to a New England bed & breakfast. One of the things I'm most thankful for is our marriage and how we continue to grow as best friends.
Since I'm on here, I thought I would give everyone a quick update on the girls.
Addison - she is doing great and tomorrow she will be a happy & healthy 8 month old! Wow, how time flies. I don't think Jill has slept in the last 8 months, so any prayers for Addison sleeping all through the night would be great, thanks!! :-) Addison is trying to talk, right now all she gets out is "dadadadada" and "ahhhhhhhhh". She is always smiling and her latest enjoyment comes from looking at herself in the mirror. Just recently she started holding her arm up in the air in attempt to wave.
McKailyn "Gracie" - she is doing great as well and continues to amaze us with her constant dancing, singing and ability to make us laugh. McKailyn is in her second year of preschool, going three days a week for 2.5 hours each day. After some challenges with a school mate, she is doing much better and enjoys going to school. We are amazed at how well she can navigate on the laptop. We can log into the Barbie site and she'll be fine all by herself. She can click, drag, drop, etc... all by herself! The other thing that sticks in my mind is how just the other night during bedtime, McKailyn offered to say prayers. Of course we encouraged her to do so, and she then went to pray for "Kids Against Hunger" and all the little kids that have to eat dirt. We're amazed at how selfless she can be for a four year old.
Jocelyn - she is doing just as well as her little sisters! She is thoroughly enjoying Kindegartern at Cincinnati Christian and has made lots of new friends. Her teacher has told us several times how helpful Jocelyn is and that she is very thankful for having Jocelyn in her class. Jocelyn is also very proficient on the computer and has computer class once a week. She is also learning sign language and knows close to 40-50 words; she even went to the library and checked out a video to learn more! Just last week, Jocelyn also asked to say bedtime prayers. She then started to pray for "the men fixing our roof" (thanks Hurrincane Ike) and for "all our troops that are keeping us safe". We are blown away with how compassoniate and thoughtful she is, most of the time she continues to put others' needs first.
Jill - wife of one and mother of three, and she is the most awesomest of them all. She operates on limited sleep and continues to serve her family. Hopefully during this Thanksgiving break I'll be able to help her get more sleep. She is constantly doing something for our family and putting her needs last. I'm sure I don't appreciate all she does, but am extremely thankful for her. Just two months ago we celebrated our 9 year anniversary and we're looking forward to celebrating our 10 year on a nice quiet getaway to a New England bed & breakfast. One of the things I'm most thankful for is our marriage and how we continue to grow as best friends.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Monday, November 10, 2008
Jocelyn's Limo Ride
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Yummy Baby Food
Friday, September 19, 2008
McKailyn's 1st Date
While at target, McKailyn found a set of baby doll clothes that she picked out as her special daddy daughter date present. During the 20 minutes we were at the store, she walked me up and down 5 aisles of toys and pointed out atleast 50 different toys that she "wants for my birthday." Leaving Target I asked her what movie she wanted to watch with me, she picked "The Princess and the Pauper", a Barbie movie classic. But to our surprise, when we got home Jocelyn already got the new Ariel movie for McKailyn to watch tonight! McKailyn was so excited that she wanted to give Jocelyn the baby doll clothes we just picked out at Target. We thought that was pretty cool.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
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