Halle's Crawling

Our little baby Halle is CRAWLING! Well...she's got the gimp crawl down so far. We no doubt have to keep our eyes on her at all times now. She scoots across the room pretty fast. She seems to be fascinated with electrical outlets as well. It's definitely time to make the house Halle safe. We're so proud of her. She's growing so fast. There is really so much I need to video blog during these special times. There will surely be more to come. But here is a short and sweet video of our gimp crawler. Go Halle, GO!

Bubbles, Bubbles Everywhere

A few nights ago Halle was introduced to a bubble bath and she LOVED it. She laughed and laughed at Daddy blowing bubbles in her face. Dan would go under the bubbles and then burst out to surprise Halle. It took Halle's breath away of excitement and laughter.  This little beautiful girl loves water. I can't wait to take her for pool visits this summer. I couldn't help but post all these pics...her face captures the excitement!

Mommy's Day

I had the best "first" Mommy's day ever! My really sweet husband and adorable daughter came home Saturday night with flowers in one hand and a card in the other.  The card had a certificate for a one hour massage inside and a very unique signature from Halle. When Halle and Dan arrived I was confused and curious to why Halle had a sock on her hand. Was she okay? Did something happen? Then I opened the card to find her precious little hand print and a recorded greeting from Halle and Daddy. But that's not all. Saturday we went and got a gym membership and then they took me to my newly favorite restaurant, Hu Hots! On top of all that Halle said "mama" all day long!! I have the sweetest hubby and daughter a gal could ask for. I am tremendously BLESSED!! Being a wife to Dan and a mother to Halle is the best thing that has ever happened to me apart from my Saviour Jesus. Being a mom is the BEST job in the world! There is not a day that goes by that I don't stop and thank Jesus for the awesome GIFTS He has given me in Dan and Halle.  Thank you Jesus!

All Dogs Go To Heaven: A Tribute To Mickey

I will never forget the day we brought Mickey home from the pet store. He was so small that you could just fit him in the palm of your hand. He was the cutest little (mini) Yorki that I have ever since seen. As soon as he hit the ground at his new house in Belgium he went to rolling around and chasing Misty (our former cat) around the living room. Once he had finished chasing Misty he went to his new best friend, my mom. 

Mickey really was one of the sweetest dog (don't ever let my mom hear you say he was a dog. She is completely convinced he thought he was one of us, even at times calling him my brother (even though I never saw a picture of me with a tail)) I have ever known. Whenever I came home from school while I lived at home Mickey would always meet me at the door. We would always greet him with "Hey Mickey" and he would just get so excited, I swear he was smiling at us some times. Whenever we would sit down to watch tv in the evening he would always hop up in our laps. And before he would take a nap on our legs he would be sure to give us kisses as if to let us know he was happy to be enjoying the time with us. However if mom ever entered the room Mickey was sure to leave who ever he was with to join her where ever she planted herself.  As Mickey got older and was unable to jump up on the couch to join us, he would let us know that he wanted picked up. After we brought him up to our level he was sure to show his appreciation. For being such a small little guy (no more than 8 pounds) he sure had a lot of heart. When ever a big dog approached mom on a walk Mickey would turn into a ferocious little animal, causing the German Shepards and Irish Wolf hounds take a step back. When it was bed time, he slept at my moms side every night. Every morning when my dad woke up and got out of the shower, Mickey was sure to be there to help dry Dads ankles. Again, even when Mickey was old and had a hard time getting out of his bed he struggled and worked through the pain to get over and "dry" dad off.

My brother and I have always joked that Mom loved Mickey more than she ever loved me or Michael. Though this was only a joke the bond between Mickey and my mom really was some thing I had never seen with any other pet we have had, or any other pet that I have ever known. Wherever mom went, Mickey was just a couple of steps behind. When Michael finally headed off to college, mom had no one else to take care of but Mickey. So when I came home for Christmas over the past couple of years I was amazed at all the special treatment that Mickey was receiving. He had his own set of stairs that he used to get up on the couch. He had a new little bed next to to fire place so when it snowed in Iowa he could stay warm. If Mickey could speak and if he were asked who his best friend was, it would have without out a doubt been Mom.

Over the past couple of months Mickey's health has been deteriorating. His knees have gotten so bad to the point where he could barely walk. His throat had become swollen and made it hard for him to breathe. For the past several days Mickey has spent his time in my mothers lap as she would sit. Although I was not there, I imagine that my mom did not stay very busy, and stayed inside most of the time because she cared for Mickey so much. I can envision her sitting on the white chair in her house reading with Mickey resting on her legs, giving her kisses. Mickey's apparently had a really good time on Saturday and was able to muster the strength to chase a squirrel across the yard before his health got worse that evening.

On monday, Mom took Mickey in to the vet for a sad prognosis. Being that Mickey was in such pain mom could not bear to see him struggle any more. As they put Mickey on the table and put the needle in he began to kiss mom on the lips over and over again. Slowly Mickey went to sleep.

I really am going to miss Mickey. I know my mom is likely crying on and off these days. I remember watching the movie "All Dogs Go To Heaven" as a kid. Though I am not sure that there is any theological evidence to make any such conclusion, if there ever was a dog that might make it, and that I would wish to see again, it would be Mickey.

In Memory of the greatest dog in the world, Mickey Friesen.

Happy Mother's Day

"Her children rise up and call her blessed;

her husband also, and he praises her:

'Many Women have done excellently, 

but you surpass them all.' 

Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, 

but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. 

Give her of the fruit of her hands, 

and let her works praise her in the gates."

Proverbs 31:28-31

 My mom is so beautiful. My mom is so smart. My mom is creative. My mom is diligent. My mom is a hard worker. My mom is dedicated. My mom cares. My mom is mother nature herself.  My mom is a wife. My mom is a great mom.   My mom is a lady that could pass as my sister. My mom is the person I look most like. My mom is the one person I talk to on the phone nearly everyday. My mom loves Jesus. My mom loves her husband. My mom loves me. My mom is my BEST FRIEND!I love you mom! I am so thankful that you are my mom. I am so proud of you and the accomplishments you are making and how hard you are working. Just know that you are loved. Have an awesome Mother's day! 

My step mom, Amanda is the best thing, after Jesus, that has ever happened to my Dad. She is such a JOY  to be with!!  She has the softest, most warm and loving personality. She is such a wonderful wife to my Dad and that makes me extremely grateful and proud. She has made her home welcoming, warm, cozy, and beautiful.  Amanda, you are one of my best friends. I love to be with you. You are such a sweet person.  I love you very much and am SUPER proud to call you family. Have a wonderful Mother's day!

My Meme is AWESOME!! There are too many great words to describe Meme to even list.  She has to be the sweetest, most caring person I have ever known. My Meme has always looked out for and cared for everyone else. Jesus truly shines through in Meme.  She has played a HUGE part in who I have become today. I am so PROUD to call her my grandma. I love you Meme so much. Have a wonderful Mother's day! ...and God bless Jesus! (inside joke:)

Mother's Day brings on a whole new meaning this year for me. Being a mom myself makes it all the more real to me how blessed I am to have such wonderful women as moms in my life. I am honored to look up to these women. 

Thank you Jesus for great moms! You give the most amazing gifts! I love you so much!

My Mom

I will never forget when Jess and I found out that we were having a baby. It was one of the most exciting and frightening times of my life. Within an instant of seeing the little line on the "pee stick" my world was completely changed. I was ecstatic at the thought of being a daddy. I was worried if I would be able to provide for her properly.

I always knew that I have had a good mom. When I became a parent myself I came to realize this truth all the more. As I watch Jessica as she tirelessly takes care of Halle Grace on a moment to moment basis I become painstakingly aware of the time my mother gave of herself to me. I never realized how many poopy (incredibly rank) diapers she had to change. I never realized how many times she likely had to change her own cloths as a result of my pukes. I never realized how many countless hours of sleep she likely lost when I was sick or running a fever and she stayed of with me as I screamed. 

My mom taught more than I currently realize as I am stepping further into the shoes of parenthood. I look forward to Halle growing older so that I can do some of the same things with Halle as my Mom did with me. I can't wait to do "Daddy Dates" with Halle bug like my mom did "Mommy Dates" with me.  These are some of the greatest memories I have as a kid.

 Mom getting me out of school to go to Show Biz Pizza.

 Mom waking me up by tickling me till I nearly peed the bed.

 Mom watching me do all the goofy things that I did as a kid (home movies, special recipes, swinging from breaking vines, chopping trees down in the backyard.

 Mom reading me the children's bible before I went to bed.

 Mom letting me eat the cookie dough from the bowl.

 Mom making me read books with her on puberty (definitely not a favorite!)

 Christmas

 Mom watching TV with us in our forts that we would build in the family room

Mom taking us to the pool in the summer

As a child every boy grows up taking what he learns from his Mom and basing that off of how to choose a spouse. My mom taught me what to look for in a wife and best friend. And because of that my Mom helped me find the best gift in the world in Jessica. And now Jessica is a mom. And the more I watch my incredible wife grow into an incredible Mom, I am continually reminded of what a great mom I had and continue to have. Happy Mothers Day Mom.

Dedicated to Karen Denise Friesen.

We are now Iowa'ins!!

It has been a long while since I have posted. That is because we have recently gone through a BIG transition. Dan, Halle, and I now live in Cedar Falls, Iowa. About mid February Jesus began leading Dan and I to the next step in our lives. We felt that we were being released from Four Points Church and the work Jesus had called us to in Acworth, GA. We had moved to Acworth in August of 2007 with Brent and Sarah Stephens along with three others to plant a church. Since then It has been an amazing year and a half. Jesus has done huge things! The church has gone from seven people in Brent and Sarah's living room to now over a hundred in an elementary cafeteria. Jesus has grown Dan and I in so many different areas during our time in Acworth. The decision to leave Four Points was a tough one. We absolutely LOVE the church and serving under and alongside Brent and Sarah. But Dan and I really still feel a strong calling to plant a church as well one day. Before we do that we know that we still have a lot of growing and learning to do. Four Points was still not at the point financially to take on another staff member full time so Dan was working a job in down town Atlanta that was just making ends meet for us. Dan wants to go back to school and get his masters in theology. He was working a forty plus hour week with over an hour commute each way to work then having meetings during the evenings with the church and then church and church events on the weekend left no time for school.  After much prayer and fasting Dan and I felt a release and even a calling to move forward to the next task. So then began the search for the next place Jesus would have us serve.  About mid February through the end of March we interviewed with several different churches.  The week of Easter we accepted a job as worship/student pastor at Glad Tidings Church in Cedar Falls, Iowa and then began our move to our new home up north. We are really excited about this new adventure Jesus has given to us and are super psyched to work under and alongside Joe and Tonya Henson. 

It is truly bitter sweet. We LOVE all of our Four Points family and will miss each and every one of them so much. There are some families that we can't go without recognizing and thanking. These are families that we were able to get really close to and will miss a alot. They were such a wonderful part of our lives and will always be. 

Brent, Sarah, James David, Abbey, and Bryar Stephens have to be the coolest family ever. We are so thankful that that one night in Louisiana they sat down with us to eat and asked us to join them on an adventure to move to Atlanta (where they didn't know anyone, they didn't have any jobs lined up, and had no place to live yet) to plant a church. We absolutely LOVE  these guys. They have taught and blessed our family soooo much!  Sarah and Brent always ALWAYS looked out for Dan and I. They gave us blessing after blessing after blessing  and then some. They were truly an example of how shepherds look after, care, and feed their sheep. A part of them has been ingrained in us forever and I am so glad. They have taught us many great things to do in the church and to do it whole heartedly with excellence for JESUS!  They have also taught us how to be good parents. Sarah has shared so much wisdom with me and helped me through so many things that I as a new mom had no idea about. Her phone rang very often with questions about being a mommy. I've always told her she has an invisible super mom cape because she is truly a super hero. I will definitely miss sitting under Brent's teaching. It has been so rewarding to watch him grow in knowledge and teaching the Bible. What an awesome teacher he has become and is still growing into. I could seriously go on and on and on about this family. Stephens family, I just want you guys to know that we are beyond BLESSED to have served with you guys and we LOVE  you guys so much. You will forever be some of our best friends.
Jason and Laurie Lefevers are two of our best friends. If we were playing poker, watching movies, playing board games, swimming at the lake, jumping off big boulders, going to the Westin at 11:00 at night, going to a Braves game, going shopping, hanging out at the mountain house, enjoying some really great food cooked by Laurie, playing golf, writing songs, playing music, laughing at crazy stuff on you tube, eating tons of ice cream, dreaming BIG together,  hospital visits when Jessica was super emotional (oh..and Jason too:) or staying up late talking forever which turned into late night sleep overs...what ever we ended up doing together, we had a blast every time we hung out with these two! We had MANY great memories together that Dan and I will never forget. Jason and Laurie have blessed us in so many ways. Laurie has to be the most giving person I've met. I think over half of Halle's wardrobe from 0-24 months was given to us by Laurie. Jason is an awesome musician who Dan loved to play and worship along side. What an amazing couple of people. Thank you guys so much for all the great memories, the great food, the great conversations, for EVERYTHING! Thank you for being such amazing friends. We love you guys so much. Please know you will forever hold a special place in our hearts.  
The Nails family has been such a blessing in our lives. It was always a HUGE treat to be able to hang out with this amazing family. They are wonderful parents that we can gain so much from by just watching. Jennifer is a very loving and caring mother of four. She has inspired me in being patient, loving your children, teaching your children, endurance and multitasking. I really look up to you Jen. You guys have hearts of gold that shine Jesus! Thank you guys for all that you have given and done for us. I could never say in words how thankful we are for everything. You have always given of yourselves to help us when ever needed. We love you so much! Your children and you will always be very special friends in our lives.
Jen, Kevin, Carter and Shiloh (aka: Mr. Wiggles)....what incredibly special people! We have been tremendously blessed by this families friendship.  You guys have always given special time, gifts, encouragement, and love to Dan, Halle, and I. We are forever grateful for you guys. We always have had an amazing time with you. Jen, you have an awesome servants heart that shines Jesus and have the gifts of encouragement and generosity! You are a wonderful mom and probably the sweetest person I have ever met. We love you guys and are so thankful for the time we have got to spend with you. We have learned a tremendous amount from you. You will forever be our friends. We love you so much.
The Robertson family...GREAT people!! It was always such a blessing to hang out with this family. Chasity was the incredibly sweet lady who watched Halle every other week. Terry and Chasity are wonderful parents that you can only wish that they rubbed off on you in some way. They both have tremendous servants' hearts that shine Jesus! They are so kind, caring, giving, and loving. And you can really tell they are in love with Jesus!  Their house was always filled with a loving warmth. I was proud and honored for her to watch Halle.  Thank you both so much for the time and kindness you always gave to us. We appreciate so much you watching our precious Halle. We love you guys a lot and please know you will always be looked up to and considered our dear friends. 
The Powers family our great friends. Bev has always been there to offer me wonderful advice on mommy hood and she has always been there to help. Bev inspires me in her perseverance she has in any situation. Her eagerness to learn more and grow more is contagious. She is a mommy who loves her girls. She has given Halle so many beautiful hand me down clothes that are such a blessing. Bev we are so thankful for you and our friendship. Thank you for everything you have done for us. We love you  guys so much. You will always be considered great friends of ours.

All of our Four Points family has been an unbelievable blessing in our lives. We love this family of Jesus followers and seekers. Never have I been a part of a church where everyone is so hungry to learn the word of God and to serve and to seek Jesus more and more. We have grown tremendously at Four Points and will always look back at this part of our lives as some of our most monumental life changing moments. We thank Jesus for the time he has given us to  serve at his wonderful church. We love you guys beyond what words could express. We look forward to the time in the future where we get to visit and reconnect and see the AMAZINGLY BIG things Jesus has done and is continuing to do at Four Points. 

Dan, Halle, and I are now really excited about the new adventure Jesus has laid out before us in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Cedar Falls is a college town in the middle of a bunch of corn fields. The church is less than a half mile off the college campus; a prime location. We are really psyched to get involved in serving the community and sharing the gospel of Jesus with them. The church family has been amazing in welcoming us to our new home. We had over twenty people show up to help us move in and they all came with bags of groceries on their arms to stock our pantry. 
We have been blessed to stay in this amazing home for a couple of months until we find a rental place of our own. The house has been an incredible place to unwind and relax. We call it our vacation home. The friends of the family to whom it belongs to has left it full furnished until they close on the house in June. So the house came fully loaded with TWO flat screen TVS...woohoo! We are enjoying this beautiful place while we have it for sure. Yes, this street is full of cars from the church family and the streets behind us were even piled full of cars.
A day after we got there we were surprised by some pretty incredible guests...DAN'S PARENTS flew in from Germany and HIS BROTHER MIKE flew in from Florida to welcome us to our new home. They all stayed for a week. It was really one of the BEST surprises we have ever had! We are so incredibly thankful for them coming to visit! We love when they are able to be here with us, it just goes by way to fast!!  Thank you Doug, Karen,and Mike for a wonderful visit! We love you guys so much!! What a GREAT surprise!
Halle really likes it up there! She's catching a really HIGH ride.
Thank you JESUS for a great, smooth, and exciting transition. We love you and worship you forever!