Haven Faith

Spring Break Pictures and an Announcement!

First time in the swing! This is so fun!

Well, I better make the announcement first. This is probably not news to most of you, but we are expecting another baby! Haven is going to be a big sister sometime at the end of September! We are very excited and trusting God and His timing! Everything has gone very well so far. I have had 2 ultrasounds and everything looks great. We will hopefully be finding out what "it" is by sometime in May!

We have enjoyed some gorgeous summer weather. I just had to take advantage of it and be outside as much as possible! Chris and Justin were here for Spring Break and we had a GREAT time! It went too fast! Heston and Kelli also came for a couple of days, Sara and JD came down last weekend, and Van and Loretta and the boys dropped by on Saturday. So, we had a busy and very fun week spending time with everyone! This week we are getting back to normal with the weather and not as many people around! I have been cleaning house mostly. Good ole spring cleaning. I'm hoping to be past the yucky, sleepy stage of pregnancy soon, but so far it's hanging on! It hasn't been too bad, though. God is so good and the youth ministry is going very well. We are going to be meeting in an old school on Wednesday nights starting this next Wed. because we are busting out of our little room at church! Most weeks there are about 100! We are looking forward to a very full and exciting spring and summer with graduations, camp, and a missions trip to name a few. There are many challenges, but God is so faithful to remind us to depend completely on Him for everything we need! I just love this time of year as Easter is drawing close! I am reminded of His incredible love for us and hatred for sin and the answer in sacrificing His Only Son on the cross. I am reading the book of John and it is just incredible to me to see Christ's complete obedience to His Father and how He deflected any glory back to Him. It's challenging to remember that we are commanded to do the same!
Well, I better get going, hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Baby's day out! Samantha, Carson, and Haven!

Enjoying the gorgeous weather outside!

Haven, me and Sara!

My first dolly! Yea! Thanks Aunt Retta and Uncle Van!

How do I look?

mmmm, cheerios!

I love Aunt Chrissy!

Hmm, this looks like a nice soft pillow!

So sleepy!

Spring Break Pictures and an Announcement!

First time in the swing! This is so fun!

Well, I better make the announcement first. This is probably not news to most of you, but we are expecting another baby! Haven is going to be a big sister sometime at the end of September! We are very excited and trusting God and His timing! Everything has gone very well so far. I have had 2 ultrasounds and everything looks great. We will hopefully be finding out what "it" is by sometime in May!

We have enjoyed some gorgeous summer weather. I just had to take advantage of it and be outside as much as possible! Chris and Justin were here for Spring Break and we had a GREAT time! It went too fast! Heston and Kelli also came for a couple of days, Sara and JD came down last weekend, and Van and Loretta and the boys dropped by on Saturday. So, we had a busy and very fun week spending time with everyone! This week we are getting back to normal with the weather and not as many people around! I have been cleaning house mostly. Good ole spring cleaning. I'm hoping to be past the yucky, sleepy stage of pregnancy soon, but so far it's hanging on! It hasn't been too bad, though. God is so good and the youth ministry is going very well. We are going to be meeting in an old school on Wednesday nights starting this next Wed. because we are busting out of our little room at church! Most weeks there are about 100! We are looking forward to a very full and exciting spring and summer with graduations, camp, and a missions trip to name a few. There are many challenges, but God is so faithful to remind us to depend completely on Him for everything we need! I just love this time of year as Easter is drawing close! I am reminded of His incredible love for us and hatred for sin and the answer in sacrificing His Only Son on the cross. I am reading the book of John and it is just incredible to me to see Christ's complete obedience to His Father and how He deflected any glory back to Him. It's challenging to remember that we are commanded to do the same!
Well, I better get going, hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Baby's day out! Samantha, Carson, and Haven!

Enjoying the gorgeous weather outside!

Haven, me and Sara!

My first dolly! Yea! Thanks Aunt Retta and Uncle Van!

How do I look?

mmmm, cheerios!

I love Aunt Chrissy!

Hmm, this looks like a nice soft pillow!

So sleepy!

Haven's 1st Birthday!

Happy Baby and Huge Mess!

Haven's Birthday was Monday, the 19th. We had a little party for her on Saturday. We invited some friends with small children and had a great time! Haven loved her cake! She ate a huge piece! It was hysterical! And then she went to bed with no problems! Yea! We had a great time and we are so thankful for Haven! She is a blessing from the Lord and she brings so much joy and entertainment to our lives!

opening presents!

First bite- what is this stuff?

MMM, this is delicious!

the whole fam- a little bit apart!

Me helping Haven blow out her candle! Check out my new 'do! :)

Haven wondering what in the world we are doing while we sing Happy Birthday to her!

Haven with Aunt Kelli and Uncle Heston!

chillin' on my horsie, with Uncle Justin!

Haven's gorgeous delicious cake! Thanks Kassey!

Long Over-due Update

Sweet smiles :)

Well, this update is so late because we have been sick. Two weeks ago Haven and I both got sick with a nasty cold. Haven was feeling better after a few days but it took a little long for me. Then Steve came down with it last weekend. Now we are all on the mend, praise the Lord, and ready for Spring! Bring on the warm weather, please! We had our annual Parent Appreciation Banquet last Friday night and it went wonderfully. It was a jungle theme and some of the teen guys did a drama about Jim Elliot and the men who lost their lives to the Auca Indians. This week Steve was out of town from Tuesday till today at a Youth Conference at the Wilds camp in North Carolina. I missed him a ton! and so did Haven, but we kept pretty busy, doing things with people very day. It was good to keep busy and have an oopportunity to fellowship with people.
Now we are so glad daddy is home! Next weekend we are looking forward to Haven's Birthday party on Saturday as well as some friends and family coming to visit! She turns 1 on the 19th! I don't know where the year went, but it has been awesome and she is a joy! Hope you all have a wonderful weekend and get to enjoy some warmer weather!

From the back, look at those curls!

Haven's curly hair after her bath

Some of the parents! They went all out!

Sarah and her dad, He got her good!

Steve and I looking pretty wild!

All the teens singing at the banquet

Steve and I with the Seniors at our annual Parent Appreciation Banquet- see if you can find us!

11 months old today!

Haven just loves her cousins! She had a great time when they came to babysit her with Aunt Loretta and Uncle Van this weekend! In fact, she had such a great time that she barely slept, so she made up for it today, but sleeping four hours in two naps and going to bed at 7:15. She's so cute, though, my sweetie-pie!

Well, my brain is a little fried right now because I just tried to post this post and then the internet shut off, so I'm doing it all over again, so forgive me for being a little shorter than I would have been! This month has been crazy busy for us with something going every weekend and a lot of weekdays, but God has been so good and so faithful! He has given grace and strength for every situation, and provided in incredible ways! This past weekend Steve and I went on Brookside's annual couple's retreat and got to hear Pastor Tim Jordan speak. It was incredible and and God did some great work in my life, for sure, and Steve's, too. It was hard to hear the truth of how selfish we are in marriage, but it was needed, and God used His Word to penetrate my heart. I am so thankful!
Hope you all enjoy these pictures and have a wonderful week! We are enjoying some warmer weather after it being it the teens for quite a while, so I am super excited about that! Well, good night, that's all for now!

haven and josh playing in their jammies!

hmm, which book do I want?

got to spend some good time with my buddy, Carissa, she was such a blessing and encouragement as always!

big girl with her bottle!

climbing up the stairs~ what a big girl!

11 months old today!

Haven just loves her cousins! She had a great time when they came to babysit her with Aunt Loretta and Uncle Van this weekend! In fact, she had such a great time that she barely slept, so she made up for it today, but sleeping four hours in two naps and going to bed at 7:15. She's so cute, though, my sweetie-pie!

Well, my brain is a little fried right now because I just tried to post this post and then the internet shut off, so I'm doing it all over again, so forgive me for being a little shorter than I would have been! This month has been crazy busy for us with something going every weekend and a lot of weekdays, but God has been so good and so faithful! He has given grace and strength for every situation, and provided in incredible ways! This past weekend Steve and I went on Brookside's annual couple's retreat and got to hear Pastor Tim Jordan speak. It was incredible and and God did some great work in my life, for sure, and Steve's, too. It was hard to hear the truth of how selfish we are in marriage, but it was needed, and God used His Word to penetrate my heart. I am so thankful!
Hope you all enjoy these pictures and have a wonderful week! We are enjoying some warmer weather after it being it the teens for quite a while, so I am super excited about that! Well, good night, that's all for now!

haven and josh playing in their jammies!

hmm, which book do I want?

got to spend some good time with my buddy, Carissa, she was such a blessing and encouragement as always!

big girl with her bottle!

climbing up the stairs~ what a big girl!

Early Feb update

My cutie pa-tooty!

This past week we went up to Northland! We got up there Tuesday and stayed till Thursday afternoon for Heart Conference. It was great to be able to see so many friends and of course family. I'm shooting myself that I didn't take more pictures when I was there, but we will be back this weekend for Snow Camp so I'm planning on taking more pix then. Friday night I had a bunch of Junior and Senior girls over and we had a great time playing games, eating pizza and just hanging out. Lots of fun!
We have been having sub-zero weather here. Yesterday morning I got in the car to go to church and the temperature gauge said -8 degrees. Freezing! Today it is about the same, but tomorrow it is supposed to warm up to 14! Yea! It hasn't been this cold in 10 years! We are keeping warm inside and warming up the car before we go anywhere!
Well, Haven is pulling up to things like crazy now. She's on the move. We have also started the process of weaning! She took a bottle of whole milk from Steve yesterday no problem, and then from me today! SO I am so excited! I didn't think it would be this easy! This month is pretty crazy busy for us, but hopefully things will slow down more in March. God is definitely using this to keep us totally dependent on Him and to trust Him with everything! He is so good and His timing is best!

pulling up to get to mommy's Bible on the couch! She has a desire for spiritual things already, what can I say?

peekaboo!

all dressed up for church!

Stick that tongue out baby!

Our pretty much finished bedroom- going with the blue and brown theme! I love it!

Our Bedroom with new curtains and curtain rods! kinda dark...

Playing Mad Gab! Loads of fun!

Haven getting involved in the game!

Me the the girls, hanging out

Haven and Josh playing with the kitties

A tooth - finally!

All bundled up!

Haven finally has a tooth! I was beginning to think she was never going to get any and I put my finger in her mouth on Wednesday, and there it was! She was so cranky on Monday I didn't know what was wrong with her- that explains it! I've been giving her baby motrin/ibuprofen and that's been helping. She's been a pretty good girl now. Yea! I'm just so excited for her! 10 months and she has her first tooth- I've heard of some children not getting them till they were two, so I am thanful!

This week we had revival services with Evangelist Mark Kitrell at Brookside. They were amazing and God did a work in many lives, including my own. He really convicted me of my lack of love for the lost and gave me a renewed desire and hunger to see them saved. I pray he will use me with my unsaved neighbors, the people I see at the Y, and just the people I come in contact with everyday who don't know Him! I'm so thankful that He loves us even though we fail Him so often and He is patient with us and loves to see us confess sin and make things right with Him! He is so faithful, and the fact that He hasn't come back yet means there is still time for people to be saved! He is patiently waiting for as many as will come to him! He is so unlike us! So, we need to take the opportunity to share Christ with those we come in contact with on a daily basis. He wants to use us and He will despite our weaknesses and failures! He is a great God!

I also enjoyed some fellowship with some moms from our church this week, Amy, Sarah, Cassie, and Tami. It was a great time talking and letting the babies play. We're hoping to start a mom's group that can get together for fellowship and encouragement on a regular basis.

Next week we make our way up to Northland for Heart conference! I am so excited to see so many friends and family up there! It will be a great time! Hope you all have a great weekend!

Lovin' the shampoo bottle!

Happy Baby!

Profile view!

Trip to PA

Haven with Grandma Sauers! Awe!
We had a great time in Pennsylvania this past week! It was great to be able to see all the family and catch up where we left off! Of course Haven was the center of attention and she was loving it! It went so fast and now we are back in Milwaukee jumping in with both feet again!
God is so good. He provided so many things for us while we were in PA, one of which was luggage from Steve's parents. They probably don't even know what a blessing it was, but my suitcase was about to bite the dust so they're new "used" luggage is greatly appreciated! God also provided in small ways with clothes for Haven from a girl at Steve's dad's job and toys for her for Christmas. He also gave us safety on the flights which was a huge blessing! Haven was good on the first flight and screamed like crazy on the way back. She probably just didn't want to leave her Grandpa's and Grandma's, Aunts and Uncles! :) Actually, she was really tired and just kept fighting sleep! She tried a lot of new foods in PA - ice cream, pizza crust, mashed carrots, and loved it! She is crawling like crazy and trying to pull up on anything she can find! She is a real joy, even though it is a lot of work!
Today we are getting a new water heater installed by a man in our church. This is another huge blessing! We have been taking our showers at the Y for about a week and a half! It's a good way to get us to work out though! :) Steve will watch Haven for me when I go to a baby shower tonight and we have a busy week ahead of us with dinner engagements and then a Parents Open House on Saturday! We're also looking forward to Chris, Justin, and Tommy Ardt stopping in to see us hopefully on Friday on their way back to Northland! Next week is our Revival Week Sun.- Wed. at Brookside so please pray that God will do a great work in our hearts and the hearts of our church people! He has already been at work in my life as Pastor Sam preached a challenging message on Sunday night and I realized I had not been being honest with God about sin! It's so true, we talk to God about our respectable sins, but the real ugly stuff we gloss over and act like it's alright! So, I am so thankful for His working in my life, and I pray He will continue this work as He said He would!
Love you all! Thanks mom's and dad's for having us! We had a great time!