Hello All! Here is is the Briden Family Christmas Photo for 2008. We do this every year for our Christmas card. It was a fun and funny time : ) I have included the outtakes as they are the funny part. Let's be honest, Mommy has a "Nervous" condition, so I am glad we got the shot yesterday. I can now relax and start thinking about posing people for next year. The Briden Bunch 2008~ Coming soon to mailbox near you!!! Love ~ Crystal

Hello All! I am so angry!!! Read HERE to see why. Yes, we would love for you to move to our state : ) We have been in a recession for a long while and we are no longer salting the roads. Oh, this is rich!!!!!!!! As a mom who is back and forth to school several times a day, this is just not safe!!!!!!!!!!! We had 100 inches of snow last year, and roads were not this bad one day of last winter. I am in for a long winter, YIKES! I spun out going about 15 MPH today going up our hill to get out of our subdivision. I was on my way to take Luke to pre-school. We ended up going backwards down the other side of the hill after doing a 180 degree turnaround. Luke says " Mom, what happened, who did that?. That was fun!" I'm glad someone enjoyed it. He is just like his father! The other day Kelly asked me as we are going to pick up the girls from school "Should I do doughnuts in the school parking lot?" My response, "No, that is just what a bunch of 5 year olds need to see a grown man doing." I love him so much, but he is a wild adventurer at heart : ) Pray for me in my rear wheel drive bus, PLEASE!!! ~ Crystal

Check our this Link, HERE. This is our life today, the "Lake Effect is back. The kids are excited to play outside and I love to snuggle up with Coffee and read a book. Oh, who am I kidding I can't seem to finish a book lately let alone a full cup of coffee. Have a great weekend!!! Love, Crystal

Hello All! Well what do you think of the new blog design? My friend, Nikki, did a GREAT job!!! I love it : ) I purchase a digital scrapbook kit and she does all the hard work. The digital kit I purchased was called "Out of Africa". I took one look at it and knew it needed to become our new home in cyberspace. Please go check our Nikki's blog. She does a great job, fast!!!! The money goes to her trip to provide much needed help to those people living in poverty in Ethiopia and the Dominican Republic. Thanks Nikki, Great job!!!

Hello All! My friend Crispy at The Peters Peapod posted information about Jelly Telly on her blog. I went to check it out this morning and I am so excited about it. It was created by Phil Vischer the creator of VeggiTales, which we love!!!! It is just launching and you can get a free month long subscription when you sign up for a membership. Jelly Telly is a family friendly, CHRISTIAN, education and entertainment site for kids. YAHOO!! I am all over this!! The subscription fee after the trial month is $2.99 a month. That is less than a single video rental. They will have new videos often, possibly daily and a movie on the weekends. In the explanation of what Jelly Telly is, Phil Vischer speaks of them employing Christian film makers. That is exciting to me as an aunt to four boys in St. Louis who are gifted entertainers, filmmakers and Christians!!! Parker, you gotta check this out!!!!! I could see you working there someday : ) Please go and sign up for the free trial and let them know what you think. The Bunch will be there often. I know I can trust this site to be in addition to what we are teaching our children about our faith in Jesus. Have a great day~ Crystal

Hello All! I wanted to post about two of Timmy's firsts. Today he went in the snow for the first time : ) We had a good snowfall last night. He wasn't too sure about it. He tried on his boots before heading out to the frozen tundra. He was walking fine in them. When he got outside he stood still, than he sat and looked around. Hope has been sick, so she didn't go out. She watched through the door : ) She wanted to be with Timmy and Luke, though.

He other first was from November 5th, 2008. He went to the park for the first time. It was a balmy 70 degrees and we went to play outside. he got to slide for the first time and play on big playground equipment. He loved it!!!!!!!!!!!! Enjoy the pictures

Hello All! Well we are all sick today, YUCK!!! Hope is very sick, she has a fever and really doesn't even want to crawl or cruise around. I love the soup, warm mugs of cocoa, and comfort foods that come along with Autumn. With the good things comes the bad. The "Yucks", I hate viruses!!! Today I am thanking God it is Friday!! I am also praying for God's healing hand to move like Bleach through our home, killing all the dirty little microbes. I am a germaphobe : ) I know, I know it is impossible to kill all the bugs with five kids sneezing at each other. I have to try though, we have hand sanitizer every two feet on all tables and counter tops. For a neat article on how Bleach kills germs click HERE. Hoping your family is healthy this weekend~ Love, Crystal

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Hello All! Here are our "twins". They are very close in age. With adopting from Africa it can be hard to ascertain what your child's birthday actually is. These two are close in size, 26 and 23 pounds respectively, both have close to same number of teeth and both like to toddle like Frankenstein : ) They adore each other, which has been really great to see!!!! They wave to each other when they greet the other. They like to play side by side and make similar noises. They can empty our toy baskets quickly and than pick them up again, together. I love my double stroller and these two ride in style. In the stroller their seats even face each other. What fun we are having!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Praise God for siblings: )

Hello All! I took these photos today. I love Chickadees, they are my favorite bird. They are getting used to me standing in the backyard close to their bird feeder. I stand as still as I can and snap away. What a gorgeous fall day!!! God Bless~ Crystal

Hello All! This Halloween we had two beautiful Cats, Captain America, a Dragon and a Michigan State University Cheerleader (Go Spartans!) in our home for the holiday. We had a great time and all have had enough candy for quite awhile. Tonight was the Harvest festival at the Christian school the three oldest Briden kids attend. It was a fun time to dress up again and see friends from school. We hope you had a great weekend! Welcome November : ) Love the Bunch

Enough Said in that video for this "Right Wing Wacko". It's all about "fairness" isn't it. Let's "spread the wealth around." Doesn't sound fair to this mom of five!! Their is no "fair" in life, parenting, or politics. Let's just watch and see where the tax increase hits bottom, $100,000, $75,000, or maybe $50,000.

I look at the presidency now as similar to becoming a parent. First time parents, while the baby is in the womb, have all these thoughts and dreams of how their children will behave and how they will shape this little mind. Then the bundle turns 18 months and the precious little sinner freaks out in the checkout lane at Wal-Mart because they missed their much needed nap. Presidential candidates can have all these grand ideas, just like untested parents, but actually getting the job done can be harder than the idealized dreams we have in our minds.

Let's be real the President doesn't create jobs. This is Econ. 101, people!! Business and especially small business creates jobs. Tax hikes for anyone at this time when our economy is in the tank will only make it worse.

I will always teach my children to work hard and realize their will always be someone who makes more than you and someone who makes less. Don't steal from others and don't covet. This sounds familiar, did Moses bring those commandments down from Mt. Sinai many years ago? It always comes back to God and parenting for me. I guess because that is my life, I chose to stay at home and "bake cookies" (Hillary quote), I am raising the next generation to be educated and succeed. I don't have to much time to dwell on taxes all day, but it is one thing that burns me up!!! Let's just call it a hobby of mine : ) That and watching Bill O'Reilly at 8:00pm. Speaking of that, look at the time, I gotta run. Remember to vote on Tuesday, it is a honor and a privilege!!!!!!!! Dear Lord, thank you that by your grace I am an American!! Have a good night~ Crystal

Hello All! Today Timmy had his first taste of Pumpkin pie with cool whip, an American classic : ) He loved it and kept asking for "more". This past weekend we had all the kids in their "footie" pajamas after bath night. Everyone was relatively happy and calm. Here is our "Bunch"!! Praise God together at last!!! Have a great day and thanks for praying for us~Crystal

Hello All! I didn't want to get political, but who was I kidding. Check out this video here. I wouldn't be being true to me if I didn't include this video clip from my favorite " right wing" morning show : ) I love the line that some women feel their voices are not being heard. Those women disagree with a majority of East and West coast women on issues including education, recreation and procreation!!! You go Jeri Thompson and Sarah Palin!!!!! From one mom of five to another, keep fighting, take a stand for us all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now you definitely know where I stand, God bless America : )

Hello All! They made it safe and sound, PRAISE GOD!!!!! Timmy is fitting so well in our family and we Praise God for adding him!!! God is so good to us, all the time. We thank Him for never leaving us even when we, at times, questioned if this could ever get done. Timothy is from Uganda and that is where he and Daddy have spent the past seven weeks together. Timmy is very strongly bonded to Daddy, but is already reaching for Mommy and giving Mommy kisses : ) He has beautiful eyes and eyelashes most women would die for. He is a handsome little guy and we are so glad to have him home!!!! Enjoy the family photos. Thanks again for praying for us!!!!!! God did indeed work a miracle where we thought there was no hope. Indeed there is NOTHING IMPOSSIBLE FOR OUR GOD!! With excitement and awe~ Crystal

Hello All!!! Thanks for the prayers and support!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Kelly and Timmy are on a plane right now over the Atlantic ocean : ) We will have an exciting homecoming this afternoon!! I will update the blog with the new family picture in a day or so : ) Thanks again~ In Awe of our Great God~ Crystal

Hello All! For many reasons I am considering making this blog only available to people I know or want reading our blog. Many factors have contributed to this decision. Please email me at thebridenbunch@yahoo.com , if you would like to continue to view our blog. Include your email address in the email and I will add you to our list of readers. You don't have to be a person who comments on the blog or checks it that often, I want a majority of people to read it : ) I just want us to have more privacy and protect against people who would wish us ill. Thanks and I will leave this up for a week or so. God Bless you all~ Crystal

Hello All, please keep praying!!!!!!!!!!!! God can move mountains and he has!!!!! We are praising him for that. I should know more next week and will update the blog than. Thanks for praying, God is answering and he alone is to be praised in all this, God Bless your weekend~ Crystal and The Stateside Bunch

Hello All! God is working miracles on our behalf, we praise him because he is so amazing!! Only he could have pulled together this paperwork in such a short time. Where in the world can you have a court hearing and get that in writing the same day? God is working and he alone is to be praised!!!! He is moving mountains, thank you Jesus!!! Kelly has a very important meeting tomorrow morning in Africa. We need this meeting covered in prayer. Please pray for our son to get out of the country of his birth and be added to our family!!! Please pray for the God to move in this meeting tomorrow and for all to go in the favor of Timothy getting his Visa!!! Thank you, we so appreciate the prayers of you all, I can feel that you are lifting us up. I am humbled by all the people praying for us! People are telling me God woke them up to pray or they had a dream about Timothy's adoption and our family. Please don't stop we need your prayers and we know God alone will glorified in all this. I feel we are in a spiritual battle for this little guy and Satan would like nothing more than to crush our heart for orphans and Timothy in this process. Please pray for us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

31What, then, can we say about all of this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32The one who did not spare his own Son, but offered him as a sacrifice for all of us, surely will give us all things, along with his son, won't he? 33Who shall accuse God's Elect? It is God who justifies! 34Who is the one to condemn? It is the Messiah Jesus who is interceding on our behalf. He died, and more importantly, has been raised and is seated at the right hand of God.
35Who shall separate us from the Messiah's love? Can trouble, distress, persecution, hunger, nakedness, danger, or a violent death do this? 36As it is written,
“For your sake we are being put to death all day long.
We are thought of as sheep headed for slaughter.”
37In all these things we are triumphantly victorious due to the one who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor anything above, nor anything below, nor anything else in all creation can separate us from the love of God that is ours in the Messiah Jesus, our Lord.

ROMANS 8 31-39

PLEASE DEAR LORD BRING TIMOTHY HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WE WILL GIVE YOU ALL THE PRAISE AND GLORY!!! DEAR LORD SHOW ALL WATCHING AND PRAYING THAT YOU ARE AWESOME AND POWERFUL, THE FATHER TO THE FATHERLESS! IN JESUS NAME~AMEN

Hello All! God is working in a mighty way and for that we praise him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Kelly, Timothy, and our friend Matt and his baby daughter, Gracia will be appearing in court tomorrow in the morning ( in Africa). That would be the middle of the night our time : ) Please pray for a miracle in that they could have the needed paperwork in their hands top apply for the Visa and be granted the visa Friday. God is moving mountains and he has reveled to me that he alone will be glorified in all this! Now we are asking him to move his mighty hand to work in a situation that is impossible for man alone. "For with God nothing shall be impossible" Luke 1 :37 . God has revealed to me Psalm 10 and 2 Chronicles 20 in this process. God has spoke to me through his word and Christian brothers and sisters. Read them if you have time. He hears the plight of the fatherless and he holds them in his hand. Please pray for God to be glorified and to bring Timothy and Gracia home to their families!!!!!