More Birthday Pictures from Jason and Emily

The annual "messy mouth" with Mom and Dad pictures!

Who needs a fork anyway!!

Opening gifts

Birthday Bunny

Emily's Specialty!! Everything was edible...

even the butterflys and flowers! I know because I ate a flower!

Annabelle turned ONE year old today!!! Happy Birthday!!

Happy First Birthday to our grand-daughter Annabelle!

(Jason and Emily's thirdborn)

We had a great time at the birthday party today...

and simply enjoyed every moment and experience

that Annabelle had today! These are just a few pictures

from today's activities....We are thanking God for Annabelle and

the joy that she brings to our lives! I can't believe she's a year

old already!!

After the candle was blown out...

the fun began!!!!
Mmmmmm!

The frosting is choice number one!!!

Who needs a napkin!!!

It's known fact,when a baby turns one!! Messy comes

with the honor! By the way....on Annabelle's first birthday

she got her first haircut. (by Daddy)

Where's the cleanup crew????

This was a really unique picture, we're not quite

sure how it happened....some kind of double

exposure.

Annabelle's beautiful birthday cake...baked by Emily!

Cody Hodgson (Ben and Stephanie's little boy....he will turn

two this summer.

Annabelle and Grandma, and a stick of celery!

Lilly Yaeger, cousin Esther, Cody and Annabelle

Mandy and Lilly! Lilly turns one in April.

Seth

Isaac making our favorite sound!!

Jason, Emily, Seth, Annabelle, and Isaac.

And next fall there will be a new addition to this picture!

PS: Our niece and nephew-in-law now have their

own blogspot: www.andreaclinthoagland.blogspot.com

Check it out sometime! They are expecting a baby boy in May!!

Have a Joyous Easter!!!!

Some updates:

1. Mom(Lois Hopkins) came through her pacemaker procedure, but not without some problems. She ended up in ICU because the pacemaker had a connection problem. They had to move the pacemaker from one side of her chest to another to prepare for radiation. After a cumbersome two surgeries, and a couple of nights in the hospital, she is at home resting comfortably, with a pacemaker that works!!!PTL She had been having trouble with an irregular pulse, and had she not had this procedure to move the pacemaker done, she may have never found out about the short! God works in mysterious ways.

2.I have started narrow band UVB light therapy in TC three times a week.

I have been blessed by having many dear friends willing and able to drive me there for the appointments. 45 minutes of driving, and 27 seconds of light, then 45 more minutes of driving. Oh well.........please pray that I see good results.

I also continue to have therapy on my hands a couple of times a week at Mercy Rehab. Ken is taking wonderful care of me.....and God is meeting all of our needs.

Have a glorious Easter.....our prayer is that you

know our precious Savior Jesus in a personal way,

and that you too can celebrate His death and resurrection!

He has suffered, died, and risen again for YOU!!!! so that you may

freely come to Him, accept His gift of eternal life...and faithfully

serve Him until He comes again, or calls you home!

These pictures were taken during our visit to Kurt and Heidi's

last Saturday. We had a wonderful time!!

Andrew and Jon

(this pic was sent to us earlier)

Heidi and I watched a movie while the guys went

to Joel's b-ball game in Grand Rapids.

This is a pic of Heidi holding the girls,

Kirsten was fast asleep....Rachelle was wide awake!

It amazed me how Heidi easily handles two at a time!

The whole clan! Thanks Ron and Carol for taking these

pictures.....it was great seeing you!

Rachelle

Ken and I and an armful of kids!!!




Here's the Jason and Emily gang!!!

Check out the future musicians below on

their kiddie microphones!

A bundle of boys and a bundle of joy!

Emily and Annabelle....soon turning one year old!

Jason and Seth (I think?) relaxing with the newspaper.

Notice that Seth's is upside down!!

Togetherness!!




Pictures from Kurt and Heidi

Kirsten and Rachelle keeping an eye on Andrew

Andrew

Kirsten

Jon

Rachelle"all smiles!"

Sweet sisters


The next grouping of pictures were taken up at Dick and Carol's in Mesick.

Our nephew Michael was home on leave. He serves in the United States Army.

Michael Nichols
Tom(Ken's brother) and his wife Deb

(that's Les Housler in the background)

Ken's brother Richard

Joel's Talent Show

The theme was surrounding "Penguins". Here's Joel penguin Nichols

Another skit was the "Three Little Pigs". Joel was the

"Big Bad Wolf" who had to huff and puff and blow the houses down!!

And he did!!!

This is Joel's friend John who played the part

of a "Blues Brother"

Joel's teacher even got in on the penguin skits!!

The whole show was wonderful....and

provided a great opportunity for the students to perform!!

Happy 23rd Birthday to Joel!!!!

Happy 23rd birthday to Johhhhhhhel Nichols!!!

St. Patricks Day baby......but he isn't green!

Joel wanted us to post this little video of him, taken at Jason and Emily's on Sunday evening......it's pretty funny!

Joel had a very busy birthday! Today he had a talent show at his school, and also has it on Tuesday and Wednesday! We will take pictures on Tuesday and post them tomorrow!

Joel played in a Special olympic tourney on Saturday, winning 68-19, and 35-34! (a little more fair:):)) Ken, Kurt, and Andrew watched the second game.....and I hung out with Heidi at the house with Jon, Rachelle, and Kirsten. We had a wonderful day!! I'll post the pictures later. Sunday night we had b-day at Jason and Emily's. Half Frosting/half cake!!!It was great!!

So happy b-day to Joel! We love you and are very proud of the young man you are growing into!

New pictures and updates!!

Just a few updates:

1. I am going to a dermatologist on Wednesday for a consultation regarding

UVB light therapy for my scleroderma. My specialist at U of M says they have seen good results using this ultra-violet light therapy. If it works, I'll be traveling to Traverse City three times a week for treatment.

The treatment itself only lasts for seconds....so I hope it willbe worth the drive. I had an appointment at U of M in February and my doctor did not notice much of a progression of the disease, and also was very encouraging that it was systemic, and not in my internal organs Praise God! I also saw a pulmonary specialist who checked out my lung function,

and he said everything was fine....and he saw no evidence of scleroderma lung involvement. Thank you for praying and being there when we need you!

2. Our mom, Lois Hopkins, has just finished 7 months of chemotherapy, and in a short time will start radiation. Please pray for Mom as she has an appointment in Grand Rapids on Wednesday to see a specialist regarding a cyst.

3. Please pray for Ken as he continues taking care of everything in our home...and for his health.

(he has a yucky cold and cough and is going through some medical tests)

4. Praise! I was able to sing special music in church Sunday, "Give Them All to Jesus". Jason accompanied me on the guitar and I somewhat chorded along on the piano:)

It always amazes me how God gives me the strength and stamina to use the gifts He has blessed me with for His glory even when I feel so weak.

Now::::::updates on the family front:::::::::

Jon and Andrew "Big brothers" holding

their baby sisters!!

Kurt holding an armful of little wonders!!

The babies are starting to smile...this is Rachelle!
Look at those bright eyes and happy expression!


Here's Kirsten. The girls are two months old already!


"Twin" shirts!

Annabelle posing for the camera.

Annabelle's shirt is about the same color

of Kirsten's and Rachelle's.

Isaac getting a whiff of the lotions Grandma

uses on her legs and feet.

Seth is getting lotion to put on my skin.

He took his time, and got the lotion out dab by dab!
Seth was very proud of his work....and we had a good laugh!!