Hello!

Hello blog readers! Blessings to you in this new year! 

I have been a little silent on the blog for the past couple months, mainly because we've had some recent life changes that has made for a little busier life. But I hope to be more active in posting now, and look forward to sharing some updates with you! I'll start right now with recapping our family's Christmas/New Year celebrations.

Christmas Day we enjoyed a brunch of yummy food and a quiet afternoon with a dear friend, Ms. Barbara. 

We enjoyed a little bit of singing as well!

The day after Christmas we got together with all of Dad's family and had a really great visit! We played the annual Silvey Rook game, and surprisingly Jacob and Sarah's team broke Uncle Mike and Jared's record of winning each year. 😁

New Years game night!

A beautiful sunset to finish out 2023!

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Will and Brittany and the kids visited for New Years, and we had our Christmas celebration with them then. Lots of sweet family time was had, and Lizzy and Jack kept all the aunt and uncles on their toes with their never-ending energy.😆

Dad read the Christmas story before we opened gifts. 

Jack was old enough this year to really appreciate the presents!

The Buffalo Plaid Guys!😁

Reading books with Aunt Sarah.

The uncles had quite the hilarious time entertaining Lizzy one night!😆

Codenames...again.😁 (If you have been following our blog recently, you should notice by now that we have a new favorite game.😉)

Happy Birthday Amanda!

 

Amanda turned #30 this week! Amanda blesses our home in many ways with her joyful spirit, creative ideas, cooking skills 😋, singing abilities, and passion for honoring Christ in all that she does. 

Amanda celebrated her birthday with pizza, bonfire, s'mores, and a fun night with friends!

A game of Codenames!

Happy birthday!!!

"To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. 

O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever."

 -Psalm 30:12

Happy Birthday Jared!

We celebrated Jared turning #28 last week!🎉 Jared is our entrepreneur, in-house financial advisor and political commentator, bass singer, and pie eater. 😋 We are so thankful for all that he adds to our family and for his passion for the Lord and what is right. 

Happy birthday!!!!

 

"The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him. The LORD is their strength, and He is the saving refuge of His anointed." -Psalm 28:7,8

September Recap

Jared, Mom, and Amanda took a trip to St. Louis to visit Ms. Eleanor, a dear family friend on Mom's side of the family. She did not have much longer to live, so Mom wanted to see her one last time. They had a really sweet visit, and good times with family!

Ms. Eleanor passed away on October 7th. She will be missed very dearly!

Some of the Hellwig cousins.

Jacob bought a house that he is going to turn into a rent house! There is some remodel work needing done, so he has been busy working on that.

Enjoying a walk with Aunt Lynn!

We're thankful for the produce that grew in our fall garden! The squash and zucchini were very abundant. The green beans did fairly well but were not as abundant as we had hoped, but we are thankful for what God provided.

Some friends gifted us a bunch of apples recently. We canned a bunch, and turned some into apple sauce. 😋

Some good progress was made on our new house recently! Friends from Kansas and Texas came and helped with the work and we were very thankful for all that we were able to accomplish!

"But the LORD is the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King. At His wrath the earth will tremble, and the nations will not be able to endure His indignation." 

-Jeremiah 10:10

 

Random Life from June to August

June was the month of concerts with three within two weeks of each other! Two of the concerts were actually on the same night, so we had two different vehicles going to their favorite of the two performing groups.😉 Jared, Sarah, and I chose to go see the Inspiration Quartet.

We were excited to have our friend Jonathan join us!

Jared and Sarah talked beforehand to the piano player of the group and requested a couple songs.

We were thrilled to get to meet/hear them for the first time in person!

While we were there, the rest of the family went to hear the Mark Trammell Quartet!

With Trevor Conkle, the piano player.

A week later, the whole family attended another Inspirations concert in Conway, AR.

Enjoying our new Inspiration t-shirts. 😊

Our family was asked to sing at a church at the end of July, and this was one of the many practices getting ready for that!

Harvest Grove Baptist Church.

John and Amanda went on a trip to Kansas to visit several friends, and made a stop in Missouri at Will and Brittany's house on the way back!

Mr. Jack is getting so big! ❤

Will was working at the fire station that day, so they were able to swing by there and visit with him for a few minutes!

"You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because He trusts in You. Trust in the LORD forever, for in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength." -Isaiah 26:3,4