Merry Christmas from the Peoples

Merry Christmas (the green way - a.k.a. the easy way!) Since so many of our favorite people are bloggers or emailers we decided to send our Christmas greeting via the internet. The great thing about this is that you can actually scroll through pictures of the happenings of our year.

Here are a few of the stats from 2008:

31: people who celebrated Josiah's first birthday - a happy and healthy milestone for him

22: team members Mike took on a mission trip to Panama

12: hours driving in the car to our family vacation to Gold Beach, Oregon

5: the age of our social and self-assured Kindergartner, Maicee Anne

11: minutes Brianne (7) spends showering each morning before heading off to 1st grade

6: times, minimum, I get into my car each day

12: units Mike has completed towards his Masters of Ministry

1: goal scored by Brianne in her last soccer game of the season for under 8's

14: consecutive fighters followed by 5 simultaneously for Mike to obtain his Black Belt in karate

3: times a week I escape to my "happy place", jazzercise ;)

2: unfortunate bucks, taken by bow, made us the fortunate recipients of a freezer full of venison

365: days a year we thank God for his grace and mercy and for the blessing of family and friends

With Love, Michael, Kaitlin, Brianne, Maicee and Josiah

Photography by Torrey James - for bookings go to torreyjamesphotography.blogspot.com

Thank you Torrey!

Pumpkin Patch Field Trip

The 1st graders and Kindergarteners took a field trip to a local pumpkin patch. I went along so Josiah could be apart of the fun. It's just a simple farm where hay wagons drive out to the patch and you pick your pumpkin. The kids loved it!

Soccer

Brianne, Nash and Carter - Blue Broncos


Brianne and Nash going for the goal


Coach Gillette presenting Brianne with her trophy

Brianne and Nash Wylie

Brianne enjoyed soccer this season and just started getting the hang of it at the end. She gathered her courage and attempted to score the last 3 games. She was finally successful in the last quarter in her last game. Yea!

October

Family Fall Festival


Birthday lunch


Birthday with mom and dad

Birthday kiss

my birthday

What? It's November? Where did October go? We've been so busy...but I did manage to snap a few pics of the past month.

one year ago...

josiah battling Botulism last year

today, happy and healed

josiah and "sisi" - his word for maicee

climbing

sweet kids

Today I rejoice in the healing hand of God! September 30, 2007 Josiah was in the PICU at Sutter Memorial Hospital battling Botulism and today, September 30, 2008 he is a healthy happy boy. Josiah brings such joy and completion to our family. My heart overflows with love for him. We spent time today enjoying the sunshine and breeze. I was humbled as I looked back at my journal of those days and at the Word that sustained us.


"I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live. The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came upon me; I was overcome by trouble and sorrow. Then I called on the name of the Lord: "O Lord, save me!" The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. The Lord protects the simplehearted; when I was in great need he saved me. Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you." Psalm 116:1-7


I continue to pray this prayer for Josiah; one that we clung to a year ago...


"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:11-13

Fancy Birthday

talking to gpa. jr. and wearing headband from Sarah Joy

pink, purple and yellow fancy cake

excited to blow out the candles

enjoying parfaits

Happy 7th Birthday Brianne!

ready for tea sandwiches and strawberry italian soda

sunglasses made by mike

pin the sunglasses on Fancy Nancy - also drawn my mike

slightly off

waiting to open presents

I can't believe that my daughter is 7! How could I have a 7 year old? Could this be true?





We had a fun day of celebration. Nate, Carm, Sienna and Isaiah came over the night before so the kids were up and outside playing before any of the parents were even dressed. What better way to start out your birthday than to be with your beloved cousins? Mike brought the "birthday donuts" home as we prepared for the "Fancy Nancy" party. Carmen helped me make tea sandwiches and a fruit plate while I finished the decorations. We read the Fancy Nancy story, had some coloring games, learned some french words (just to be more fancy), played pin-the-sunglasses-on-Fancy-Nancy and endulged in pink birthday cake and parfaits. Each girlfriend received a boa, purse that she decorated during the party, a fancy feather plume, and a Fancy Nancy story and sticker book. We had a studpendous time! Thank you to all who made such an effort to come and celebrate Brianne!





We ended the day at a swim party with church friends. Brianne crashed on the couch well before bed-time. She didn't even make it to her 'birth' time 10:48pm....but neither did I. :) Lets just say, I was peacefully sleeping and thankful it was 10:48pm in 2008 instead of 2001. The past seven years have been such a blessing. We love our energetic, joyful, sensitive Brianne Claire!

Black Belt Cake

Sensi Mike

I am proud to say that Michael has earned his black belt! In a surprise and emotional promotion last Thursday Mike was overwhelmed to find his dad (Sensi Peoples) and entire karate class standing in honor of his accomplishment when he came down from teaching. His mom, sister and the kids and I were there to surprise him and witness the event. He and his dad had a private ceremony as part of the induction into becoming a black belt. Mike is the first to earn this honor in the Ko Setumi West school of martial arts. We celebrated afterward with pizza and a cake I made to match their logo. Mike has been working towards his black belt since he was 15 so this was a big deal for him. We were teasing him later about which title he prefered...Sensi Mike...Rev. Sensi Mike...Pastor Sensi Mike...and we'll add the M.A. to the end in a few years. ; ) Good One Babe!!

Maicee

all smiles


new backpack and lunchbox


Josiah wanted to be apart of it too

She's officially a Pine Grove Bear


Playing in her classroom before class starts.

My "mommy's girl" who wouldn't leave my side (or Brianne's) just last year is suddenly so confident and sure of herself. Maicee started Kindergarten this year is was ready to go! She has Mrs. Holtz who goes to our church and who taught Brianne in Kindergarten, so that made her more comfortable. She is in a K/1st combo so it seems to be a little more structured which is what Maicee likes. She was all smiles on the first day and had no issues when I walked her to class. It was a different story for Mom, however. I am thankful for one more buddy at home with me, although I'm afraid I'm a boring playmate compared to his sisters.

Brianne

first day of 1st grade


treat after school


first soccer game of the season


hot and sweaty. she played hard!

My energetic, full-of-life daughter is a big First Grader now. She was willing but timid about her first day of school. There are 3 first grade classes this year so inevitably she was going to be split up from some of her friends. Also, going to school for a full day is a big change. She seems to be enjoying it and will share tid-bits here and there about her day if prompted. She's growing up, changing a ton and becoming a little lady. She does still have her energetic times, which is good for us to see. She's also playing soccer again this year. We took last year off with Josiah's health issues so she's taken a bit of time to feel comfortable on the field again. Saturday was her first game and she did great. She's 'under 8's' so they actually try to play positions. She played forward the first half and defender the second half. She's still one of the fastest ones out there so she's a good forward but she did really well defending the goal. We're very proud of her...can you tell? :) Thanks for letting me brag.