collin the teenager

i love this kid. our kids adore him. marlee calls him "caghee" and talks about him all the time. he is a smart kid and fun to be around. he is an oosterhouse kid magnet. he turned 13 today. wow! we love this little man. and i love these photos i captured of him. especially the first one-my favorite.







collin and his sister anastasia

REJOICE 2011

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Philippian 4:4

the past few years i have had a word for the year. my word for 2011 is rejoice. a lot has been on my mind the past few months. things i can't control. things i have had a hard time letting go of. things that take up way too much of my mind and heart which then take attention off what i need to be focusing on-my family and my relationship with God. i prayed a lot for peace and the thing that kept coming up to me was to rejoice always. there is a song that a friends little girl was singing "rejoice in the lord always, again i say rejoice". the next day that song wouldn't get out of my mind. that was the time i realized that this needed to be my word. i need to remember the always part-especially in the times i may not feel like rejoicing. i have been given so much in my life. i look forward to times and experiences this year that will bring me closer to God and the people in my life as i choose to rejoice.