Hello All! Last night my oldest little buddy, Gracie. Was up through the night vomiting. She told me before she went to bed that she was going to be vomiting soon. She never cries wolf when it comes to that sort of thing. So I went to the living room to watch a rented movie with Kelly. Next thing I know Grace is up and coming towards us looking like the creature from the black lagoon (all covered in pond scum, you get the idea) She had thrown up all over. She and Faith share a room and have bunk beds. Grace sleeps on the top bunk. Needless to say Grace managed to vomit everywhere, including the wall and even hit Faith's bed just barely missing her sleeping sisters head. YUCK! Grace is doing much better today, Praise God!! The picture I attached is of Helicobacter Pylori. It is a microbe that survives in our very acidic stomach. Yes, I LOVED my Microbiology class : ) I am a GERMAPHOBE, I can freely admit it. Helicobacter is a common cause of many stomach problems for us humans. He sure doesn't look like nice little guy, does he? Today I thanking God for washing machines : ) Love, Crystal

Hello All! Well tomorrow is a big for Kelly and I. Tomorrow we leave for a weekend away to celebrate our seventh anniversary on the 19th. Our children have not been without us both this long in a long while. It was back before we had three and maybe back before we had two even. So it is a much needed break! Last year we tried to stay one night away, but it was not meant to be. We had a huge ice storm that weekend, lost power and the kids all had an upper respiratory infection of some sort. My mother ended up driving about 3 1/2 hours from the other side of the state to watch the Briden bunch. It ended she helped me out as Kelly got sick with a stomach bug that same weekend. I had prayed for months about that trip. As I have for this trip. My sister, Heather, is coming over from Midland to watch our trio. She is a great aunt to them, they will have a blast. Kelly and I are headed to one of my favorite spots on God's green earth, Traverse City, Michigan. Traverse City is north of us, still in the lower peninsula. We will be touring wineries and we have a fun trip planned through the Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association, a snowshoe stomp. We get to hike through the vineyards for about two miles on snowshoes. It should be fun!! Traverse City is located on two large lake Michigan bays facing north. It has some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. We are thrilled to be going, but please pray for the kiddos and Aunt Heather. I will let you know how it all turns out : ) If you want to check out the organization we are going to be touring with go to http://www.lpwines.com/ Love, Crystal

Hello All! Well this morning has been quite eventful. We are all sick. Faith, Luke, Kelly and I have some upper respiatory thing going on. Grace also has that on top of vomitting six times this morning. So, you see we are the house of nasty smells and yucky winter viruses. I knew it was coming. With all the snow, cold and exposure to other children at church and pre-school it was a ticking time bomb. So now it is literally exploding all over the living room. So, who wants to come visit us today? No, takers? I am amazed!! Please pray for health and maybe a body size antiviral and antibacterial wipe for children. Thanks!! God Bless- Crystal

PS the picture is of one of our local Lighthouses on Lake Michigan in winter.