MORE TWINS PHOTOS!

This is a record for me. Me posting 3 times in one week! Boy, I must have a lot of time on my hands...NOT! I just came home from visiting the babies and they are sooooooo cute! Did I tell you that the twins are cute?? Let me share the photos I was able to take...

Mister Jack was so hungry he started sucking on his thumb.

Miss Eva was so relaxed she didn't want to wake up.

Joshua and Jack bonding for the first time.
He only wanted to hold the 'boy baby'.

Eva and Anna bonding.
Anna couldn't wait to hold the 'girl baby'.

Look at those cute scrawny legs.
Can you tell which baby is this one???

Last, but not least, me.
Do you know which baby I am holding???

THE TWINS HAVE ARRIVED!!!

Eva Linnea and Jack Joseph

I know I am posting twice in one day but I couldn't help sharing the gorgeous photos of the twins. Anna and Joshua have 2 new, beautiful cousins!! This is what the proud father, John had to say about them:

Hi all!

After much anticipation and a very long day on Friday, the twins finally arrived on Saturday morning.

Jack Joseph was born at 12:53 on March 15 and weighed 6 pounds 3 ounces and 18.5 inches long.

Eva Linnea was born at 12:54 on March 15th and weighed 6 pounds 6 ounces and 18.75 inches long.

Both babies are very happy and healthy!

Hope to see you and talk to all of you soon; thank you for all the well wishes so far!!

Love,
Carie & John

The proud father, John with his 2 blessings!!!

Linnea is taken from an aunt who recently passed away. As some of you know that I requested prayers for this very special member of our family. We called her, Aunt Maryann but her first name was Linnea. It is such a beautiful name. I know she is smiling upon us right now!

Joseph is Carie's fathers first name. So you can see the family name is being carried over to the next generation. What blessings.

HEARTS AT HOME 2008!!

WOW! What an inspirational 2 days!!

First, If you don't know what Hearts-at-Home is all about please check out their site http://www.hearts-at-home.org/. Last year my friend Becky and I went for the first time and loved it. We met her cousin Kay and her friend, Robyn (who flew in from Vermont). The four of us planned on meeting again this year. Well, our foursome turned into an eightsome and more friends were appearing out of the crowds.

This past weekend Becky picked me up at 4:15 am (YES, I was still sleeping; my eyes were just open). We picked up 2 more friends; Sara and Shelley. We were off at the crack of dawn to Normal, IL. Let me tell you, I don't believe we stopped talking those 2 days, unless we were sleeping or in the shower.

Our first workshop began at 8:30 am with song, praise, stories of brave women sharing their lives and how they came to Jesus. We shed tears, we laughed and we sang praises to our Father! Cheri Keaggy was our main entertainment and WOW was she exhilarating, breathtaking, that I am listening to her right now as I blog. Check her out at http://www.cherikeaggy.com/home/index.html. She shared her own stories and her son came out to play on the drums. She mentioned her son is single!

Here is Cheri and her band singing their praises to our Lord!

Debbie, Robyn and Kay can't enough!

Shelley and Sara with their bright smiling faces!
This is both their first time at Hearts-at-Home.

Becky and I (I am on the left) feeling right at home.

The 3 lovely ladies who flew in from Vermont!
Kay (Becky's cousin), Robyn and newcomer, Debbie!

My friend, Nicole (far right) with her friends.

Our eightsome!
Becky, our new friend, Patricia (joined us on Friday night for the 'moms night out' program), Me, Kay, Robyn, Debbie, Shelley and Sara.

Most of us had different schedules but we connected whenever we can. The workshops that I took were perfect for my season in life. My 2 favorite speakers were Kirk Weaver and Susie Larsen (you can google them if you wish). I enjoyed them so much that I took both of their classes. Karen Ehman (google her as well) was another one who spoke about organization! I learned a lot from her and already implemented her 'brain in a binder' system.

Karl usually benefits from me going away from the girls! I come home all excited to share all that I have learned. Off topic then I will get back on topic........Whenever I go away for 2 or more days he seems to always have to take LOADS and I mean LOADS of laundry to the laundromat to get cleaned. His way of helping me catch up with laundry. This time when I returned I asked if he took any laundry to the laundromat (there wasn't any laundry to take! Looking for praise.) He didn't even noticed that the laundry was all cleaned or should I say dirty? Its amazing that my husband only noticed the mess but not what was clean. A huge aha moment in my understanding of my husband.

I really didn't know where I was going with that but I thought I would share! If you have a chance to attend a Hearts-at-Home convention, I suggest that you do! It is inspirational, fulfilling, teaches you so much more than what you would expect.

I enjoyed spending time with my friends, making new friends and truly seeing our Lord at work!!

God Bless You All,
Lisa

Quality Time

CHOO, CHOO, CHOO...Do you hear the whistle blowing?

I do! I wanted to share what my husband and kids have been up to a few months back. My husband, Karl saved his train set from childhood (I don't remember what kind it is :( He thought it would be fun to make a 'town' together with the kids in the basement.

They began with the ground...Karl built a table then he and Joshua both painted the table green. Later to find the type of paint they used didn't come off!!! I believe it had an oil base. So, they were green for a while. Karl found a hobby store and bought some green grass to cover the green paint. Apparently we did not have enough green! He figured that it would look a little more authentic...and of course it did!

On one of his visits to the hobby shop, he brought home the first building of 'our town'. It was a church! A beautiful white church! He also brought home a 'bluegrass band'! Don't forget my husband plays in a band and he plays the banjo. So, what kind of town would we have if we didn't have a band??

As you can see for yourself our little 'town' is coming along. They will add a river, general store, and other items as time goes by.

Here is a short clip. I had another video but it was too long to put on the blog. Enjoy.

I wanted to share this with you because it was fun watching them work and learn together. Watching their love and friendship blossom before my eyes and God's eyes. This is why He created us the way we are; for His delight. God enjoys watching His children grow in love, faithe, in relationships, and spiritually. For parents to learn from their children and children to learn from their parents. Without the faith that we have as a family I truly believe that we (and Karl) wouldn't of truly taken the time (quality and patience) to build not just a town for the train but a relationship with the kids. God Bless you all as you take the time to spend 'quality time' with your family building those relationships. Not only with our children or yours but with your extended family and friends. Most of you know first hand that 'our time' here on earth is short! Love on those who are around you!! I love you all.

PSALM 91

Family & Friends,

Please pray over our family as we travel separately during the week of Feb. 5th - 13th.

I will be traveling alone to Mexico to be reunited with my dad's side of the family. The last time I visited was about 18 years ago. I am very excited to see my uncles and to meet some of my cousins for the first time. I can't wait to share all my photos with you all.

Karl and Anna will be traveling together to Idaho to visit his sister and to do some skiing. Brrrrrrr at least I am going to a warm climate! They will be flying into Denver then driving 4 hours to Idaho. I am concerned about the weather that can slow down their traveling.

Joshua will be staying with Oma & Opa. Wish them luck! I know that they will have a great time with him.

Also with everything going on, our awesome Aunt Maryann has not be doing well. Her health is going down quickly. Please add her and her family to your prayers.

I have attached Psalm 91 a prayer of protection. Please pray these words on our behalf and for the rest of family.

Blessings,

Lisa

Psalm 91

1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. ^[a]

2 I will say ^[b] of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust."

3 Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare
and from the deadly pestilence.

4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,

6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.

7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.

8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.

9 If you make the Most High your dwelling—
even the LORD, who is my refuge-

10 then no harm will befall you,
no disaster will come near your tent.

11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;

12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

14 "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.

16 With long life will I satisfy him
and show him my salvation."

REMEMBERING 2007

I usually send out Christmas cards but time (and life) got away from me. Maybe that is what happened in 2007; LIFE. Which is good; life has been good to us. We have learned to take life as it comes to us, to relish in what God has blessed us with: family, friends, a home, food, work, travel and so on. Life in its simplicity is what I have learned from Karl. We want to share what we have done in 2007.

January

We started the year with surgery for Joshua. He had his tonsils removed and came home with an IV that I had to change for 3 days. - We did our annual 'Hunt Dinners' with family & friends.

February

Skiing in Idaho

Sledding in Minnesota

Christl came home for a long weekend! Then Karl & Anna went to Idaho for some skiing with Christl. Since they went somewhere Joshua and I drove up to Minnesota to spend time with Barbie and my nephews for some sledding in MN. - My parents celebrated 41 years together! -We got together with friends for a 'Chili Cook-off' and Karl came in 1st place. - Karl & Anna did their first Daddy/Daughter dance together - Anna is in gymnastics and loves it.

March

Karl & Anna go see 'Ralph's World' in concert - Opa, Barbie, & Chase (10) celebrate a birthday! - Anna goes to her first Christian concert with friends to see 'Newsboys' - While I go with my friend to Bloomington, IL to a women's conference, 'Hearts at Home' - I have been learning to knit by taking classes every other month

April

Happy Birthday, Oma, Pete and Jesse in heaven. - Joshua starts gymnastics - We letterbox as soon as the snow melts. For info in letterboxing go to www.letterboxing.org/- We hosted a fundraiser for a mission trip to Brazil for my team at Al Capone's Hideaway and Restaurant.

May

Karl turns 37 (your getting old honey...ha), Anna is 7 & young Carie turns 32 - We did some camping and canoeing - I went on an overnight retreat with my Brazil team - I was baptized at First Baptist Church of Geneva. What a wonderful experience and expression of love and faith for my Father in heaven.

June
Teachers, translators, Brazil team and some of the kids

God's intervention, my sponsor, Nathiely

I teach VBS (vacation bible school) at First Baptist and then I run off to the airport to teach VBS to the kids in Brazil! Brazil was wonderful, the kids, the culture and the experience. I sponsored a girl, Nathiely (above) - Kids start swimming lessons - Picnics, zoo, fun outdoors stuff.

July

Camping in the Badlands where the rattlesnakes live!!!!
And we heard one rattling in the night!

Somewhere in Wyoming...I think.

South Dakota



Joshua singing out at Christl's

I return from Brazil with a new perspective on my life. I will be forever changed. - Brandon & Chase come down for a visit with mom, Kate - We went on a road trip across 5 states. Karl, myself, Anna, Joshua, Brandon & Chase all of us in a rental for 17 days! We started in IL to WI to MN for a one night rest to SD (Badlands) to Mt. Rushmore to Cody, WY Black Hills to Yellowstone to Sun Valley, ID and back.

August

Hanging out in Minnesota!

More swimming & gymnastic lessons for both kids - Happy Birthday to Brandon (13), My dad and my mom - Hoss has a gig - Cougar game with fireworks - A big moment for me that Anna accepted Jesus into her heart.

September

Wonderful Anderson family reunion picnic! - Karl and I celebrate 9 years of a wonderful marriage - My dad goes to Mexico to reconnect with his family - Camping at Kohler State Park - I am happy to homeschool Anna in 2nd grade and Joshua is starting preschool here at home.

October

John H. birthday - John & Carie celebrate 4th anniversary - I found out that I have asthma and using an inhaler on a daily basis - Pumpkin carving and for us our first 'Trunk-or-treat- parties.

November

I learned how to can and I have been busy making jams of all flavors and homemade BBQ sauce - Joshua turns 4 - Karl does his hunting stuff on the weekends - Thanksgiving was celebrated at our house. We had such a wonderful time just being together. We prayed for those family members that are watching over us. - Anna is involved with 4-H and Faith Keepers and Joshua is involved with Contenders in Faith

December
Our wonderful Aunt Maryann, Christl, Oma & me ;)

Anna, Chase, Brandon & Joshua enjoying the blizzard!

My family!

My knees hurt...

I turn 41 and I am happy about getting older!! Carie & John are expecting twins! December is a family affair. Christl, Barbie and Speltz come into town. We do all kinds of family gatherings and its all squeezed into 4 days! I wouldn't have it any other way. We celebrate Jesus' birthday with a cake and singing the 'Happy Birthday' song. We learned about the kneeling Santa prayer:

KNEELING SANTA PRAYER The sleigh was was all packed, the reindeer were fed, But Santa still knelt by the side of his bed, "Dear Father, " he prayed, "Be with me tonight. There's much work to do and my schedule is tight. My sack will hold toys to grant all kids' wishes. The supply will be endless like the loaves and the fishes. I can do all these things, Lord, only through You. I just need your blessing, then it's easy to do. I do this only to honor the birth of the One, That was sent to redeem us, Your most Holy Son. So to all of my friends, lest Your glory I rob, Please, Lord, remind them who gave me this job." Amen

As I look back at 2007, all the things that we were able to do and achieve is only because this is Gods plan, His will. I am truly thankful for all that I have.

By being baptized last year I have opened up my heart to His will.
By opening up my mind I have come to understand Karl's motto, "Simplify" (we actually have a sign in the kitchen as a reminder!).
By opening up my arms, my children can come to me at anytime for me to hug and hold them tight whenever they want me.
By opening up my hands, I have enjoyed baking bread from scratch and now I really don't mind cleaning.
By opening up my eyes, I can see His creation in a new light by homeschooling His children and enjoying the outdoors with my family.
By opening up my ears, I can hear the laughter and cries of my family. To truly listen.
By opening up my soul, I have all that I could ever hope for; God's love, hope, and faith. The best of all my family and friends.

I wish you all a Happy New Year and many blessings in 2008!

In His Glory & Service,
Karl, Lisa, Anna & Joshua

Look at our SUPERHERO!

Remember this little baby boy?

He was born on November 17, 2003 at 8:10 am!

NOW, look at him at a ripe old age of 4! I just needed to share his newborn photo. Joshua Jesse had a spiderman birthday party this year! Our 'SUPERHERO'! He had family and a few friends over to celebrate.

Grace and big sister, Anna

Abigail and Rachel


This is Grant and I believe that he really liked those chocolate cupcakes. I am not really sure if he even had a chance to taste it. He face sure enjoyed it!

This is my favorite photo!! Father and son both showing off their tool box. Opa gave Karl his a long time ago and Joshua has been wanting one of his own. Thanks Opa for the best gift to your grandson.

I must also thank you both for raising such a loving man, my husband! I am truly blessed by him. We are both blessed by God for He had us in mind long before we were born. I pray for God to continue to bless our family and friends.