Happy Birthday, Richie!

February 15th my little brother turns 38. Yes, 38.

Where has the time gone, Rich?

I am thanking God especially for you, today.
He has allowed you the grace to be not only a faithful and loving brother,
but a great husband and Dad as well.

And He has sustained you through some tough stuff.

I remember once, awhile back...you said I was the glue in the family...because I was always attempting to get us together to do stuff ...


Well, if I am the glue...your the silly putty.

You have an amazing awareness that not everyone has.
You pay attention to, and even look for, what is important to each of us as an individual, and then the details you put into things in our lives, from the small stuff...to the big stuff...tells so much about your love for us.

And the kids love you, too....

"Be buddies..."

Being silly for the kids again...

Your tireless parenting...

This was when Ben had just come home...I wonder what he is thinking...
"Who IS this weird guy? He's MY Uncle?...Okay...I think I like him."

My wish for you this birthday, little brother...


"The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn His face towards you
and give you peace."

~Numbers 6:24-26
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Happy Birthday, Richie!
You are loved!

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Through the lens of a 40 year old...

Here we go... a few pics of my 40th birthday weekend...

I got this awesome button bracelet in the mail from my Sis. She made it herself! And in my favorite color too...
I told her she has the Kern craft gene in her.
There is no denying it, now.

February 11th, 2012, at 7:11 AM I was exactly 40 years old.

Mark and Sam decorated the house with little signs...

Grandma Kern came up and brought lots of paints and brushes.
Miss Belle made herself a little jewelry box.
She was so proud of her creation.

My choice of cereal for the morning...
(See the little message Mark wrote on the box? :)

My Pink cake~
Thanks, Mom!

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Miss Belle enjoying the cake.

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My chauffeur to Pizza Hut.

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Had to get a picture of me in here....


]

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Grandpa reading to me in the morning...

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Playing on the computer...

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My amazing birthday gift!~
Thanks, Everyone!~

"Happy Birthday to You!"

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Maybe you noticed a couple important people missing from all these pics?
Mark and Alison?
Well, most of the celebrating happened the day before my actual birthday.
Thankfully Grandpa and Grandma DID come up a day early and we did a little celebrating while Mark was at work. And Alison started feeling really sick and slept through a lot of it too.

The next day, however, the day of my actual birthday, I wound up getting sick as well, we found out Alison had strep, and Sam came down with Bronchitis.
I guess that's what a typical 40 year old Mom with 5 kids should expect, anyway, right?
My dinner with Mark was cancelled and is on hold for another day...
But I have to say it was a little fun being sick and in bed with my iPad to play with...
All in all...a very blessed weekend.

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Some good, good news for you today...

Now it's looking a little more like February...

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These are actually tiny little icicles on this small branch. The kids were sure they were going to poke themselves...but every time they would touch them the icicles would just melt.

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You are right, Sam!

Sam was asked to draw a picture of himself and tell his second grade class why he is special...

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The start of February...

40 degrees and a little photo edited snow...that's Minnesota's winter this year.

Are all kids this easy to photograph? It's just so fun with her.

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Snow Week

I made a last minute phone call to see if I could sneak into the coronation of the Snow Kings and Queens today. After getting the okay from the school (and Alison), Ben and Belle and I made it just in time.

The Candidates

Alison was happy, because her good friend, Kailey won. Alison told me afterward that before they found out the news of who the winner was, she told God that if He would get more glory with it being Kailey, she wanted her to have it.

Kailey is a really sweet kid, and as much fun as it would have been to see Alison win,
I was glad Kailey got it too.

Flowers from Grandpa and Grandma

Alison and her friend, Erin...all ready for the big dance.

Yikes, seriously, where did the time go?

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