poor kota

Technology is great and I truly appreciate it! However Kota is miserable. He has started his orthodontic treatment. He has an expander that will widen and enlarge his upper jaw. He is very uncomfortable and he came home from school today definately not a happy camper. His cheeks are becoming very raw too. I have to go and get him some wax for the metal loops where he has to wear rubber bands at night to a face mask. But we are grateful for the technology that we have where we can fix, cure, and treat many things. Here is a pic of his new appliance. He has this for about a year.

Okay here are some pics on Kota's guys we have been painting and a pic of the face of Nicholas. You can see his eyes now!

the other day Nicholas went up to get his hair trimmed. It was obvious that his bangs needed a trim so that you can see his great eyes. Well he went and surprised me by coming home with it all cut off. And I mean short like it needs to be for baseball season. Above the ears and I can see his face. As soon as I can I will snap a pic of him and post it. In the mean time Dakota has bought a LOTR strategy game set. All the little figures need to be hand painted. So that is what we have been doing over our mid winter break. Gotta run, off to hobby lobby to buy some more paint colors for Legolas and Gimli. sigh* and add an eyeroll
seriously though it is great time that I am spending with Kota

my new toy!

Winterfest was AWESOME!

The greatest love story ever told....

Is one of a man born of a lowly birth. A man who of 33 years of age died on a cross for you and for me. That is the ultimate kind of love. I know I can not repay him for saving me. However, I can introduce him to others and let them get to know the greatest love ever. Happy Valentine's Day to everyone.

fashion show

Sticker shock!

Do you know how much prom tickets are for Nicholas this year?

$55 per person

This does not include tux, flowers, pics, or anything else. The fee does include dinner since U of M and EMU have graduation and it will be difficult for dinner reservations. But $55 wow!

Be Mine!

This weekend many couples will be celebrating Valentine's together. Be it dinner, or with others. We have always done the usual thing for Valentines. Dinner (either just us or with other couples-it would depend). Well, this year we are going to incorporate the family. Vincent and I will still get our own time: movie and snacks/dessert, but we are going to have dinner with the boys. Now that Nicholas is older, he is going out with his "sweetie", but I thought why not do something for the whole family. I have always gotten them Valentine's. Be it a card or box of chocolates, so why does it have to end there. It doesn't. I am planning a special meal with lots of yummy food that we rarely eat cause it is for something "special" and then just some good ole family time. Board games, story telling, wrestling match, etc. Time is a valuable commodity and it is the one thing I have that is priceless when it comes to family. So, I am definately going to spend my Valentine's weekend with loved ones. It will be an extra-ordinary Valentine's Day and one that I am looking forward to. I am even thinking of sending some flowers to a certain person that God has placed on my heart. What if anything will make your Valentine's extraordinary this year compared to last year?

Valentine's Day!

As early as the fourth century B.C., the Romans engaged in an annual young man's rite to passage to the God Lupercus. The names of the teenage women were placed in a box and drawn at random by adolescent men; thus, a man was assigned a woman companion for the duration of the year, after which another lottery was staged. After eight hundred years of this cruel practice, the early church fathers sought to end this practice... They found an answer in Valentine, a bishop who had been martyred some two hundred years earlier.According to church tradition St. Valentine was a priest near Rome in about the year 270 A.D. At that time the Roman Emperor Claudius-II who had issued an edict forbidding marriage.This was around when the heyday of Roman empire had almost come to an end. Lack of quality administrators led to frequent civil strife. Learning declined, taxation increased, and trade slumped to a low, precarious level. And the Gauls, Slavs, Huns, Turks and Mongolians from Northern Europe and Asian increased their pressure on the empire's boundaries. The empire was grown too large to be shielded from external aggression and internal chaos with existing forces. Thus more of capable men were required to be recruited as soldiers and officers. When Claudius became the emperor, he felt that married men were more emotionally attached to their families, and thus, will not make good soldiers. So to assure quality soldiers, he banned marriage.Valentine, a bishop , seeing the trauma of young lovers, met them in a secret place, and joined them in the sacrament of matrimony. Claudius learned of this "friend of lovers," and had him arrested. The emperor, impressed with the young priest's dignity and conviction, attempted to convert him to the roman gods, to save him from certain execution. Valentine refused to recognize Roman Gods and even attempted to convert the emperor, knowing the consequences fully.On February 24, 270, Valentine was executed."From your Valentine"While Valentine was in prison awaiting his fate, he came in contact with his jailor, Asterius. The jailor had a blind daughter. Asterius requested him to heal his daughter. Through his faith he miraculously restored the sight of Asterius' daughter. Just before his execution, he asked for a pen and paper from his jailor, and signed a farewell message to her "From Your Valentine," a phrase that lived ever after.Valentine thus become a Patron Saint, and spiritual overseer of an annual festival. The festival involved young Romans offering women they admired, and wished to court, handwritten greetings of affection on February 14. The greeting cards acquired St.Valentine's name.The Valentine's Day card spread with Christianity, and is now celebrated all over the world. One of the earliest card was sent in 1415 by Charles, duke of Orleans, to his wife while he was a prisoner in the Tower of London. The card is now preserved in the British Museum.
found on www.theholidayspot.com
Yes there are many different versions of the story, but the base is still the same.

awwwww isn't he cute?

A Night for Jesse

Benefit Concert Jam Fest 2006
ages 13 and up unless accompanied by an adult
FRIDAY FEB 17TH 7-10 P.M.
Tecumseh High School Cafetorium

live music, food, chances to win one of over 50 door prizes

Bands-
Criticizing Compliments of Tecumseh
Color Blind of Tecumseh
Surreal of Ann Arbor

raffle tickets for a grand prize-xbox 360

you can purchase your tickets for this at THS office
tickets are $10.00 each

this is an adult chaperoned event

Jesse is thrilled and honored to be a co-chair this year for Northeast Relay for Life to be held at the Tecumseh Football Field on May 12 &13, 2006. Jesse was first diagnosed with cancer in April of 2005. He then was in remission by August of that same year and through regular testing, the cancer has returned. He has two masses on his chest cavity, one lymphnode in his neck and a return of the cancer to his thymus. He has begun undergoing treatment at UofM and the protocol is 2-3 rounds of five day treatments as an inpatient, with 2-3 chemotherapy perday. Jesse will be undergoing a bone marrow transplant in the next few months and then radiation will follow his transplant.

Jesse has been an advocate for Relay for Life for several years, both as a team member and then individually raising funds at Tecumseh Public School. Little did he know that he would someday battle this diesease himself; especially at the age of 14. Jesse sees being a co-chair as a great way to bring students together to share in something that helps others and helps them grow: Knowing that helping others is a wonderful experience, he has organized a challenge between Lenawee County schools. So far, Tecumseh, Clinton, and Hudson have joined the challenge. The challenge includes fun events for students to participate in while raising money. The challenge began Dec. 1, 2005 and will end on May 15, 2006.

Jesse would like to thank everyone for the personal support and prayers on his behalf and would like to encourage everyone to become a part of finding a cure for cancer. There are many ways that we can all make a difference. (email me if you want more info or a phone number to call)

Jesse's favorite verse
Isaiah 40:31- "Those who hope in the Lord, will renew their strength. They will sore on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not be faint."

very long but interesting read

from rollingstones mag
"God's Senator"

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/9178374/gods_senator/?rnd=1138921142562&has-player=false

Life is tough! It is tougher if you are stupid!

Police in Radnor, Pa., interrogated a suspect by placing a metal collander on his head and connecting it with wires to a photocopy machine.The message "He's lying" was placed in the copier, and police pressedthe copy button each time they thought the suspect wasn't telling the truth. Believing the "lie detector" was working, the suspect confessed.

okay i did not check this story out on snopes or anything but it just sounds hilarious. i could use the copier at home if the kids were younger!

Tonite On CBS

EXILE ISLAND!

yes Survivor is back!!!!!!