May 20th at Its Finest

     (Special thanks to Caleb Kohl and Daniela Shively for the great birthday photo documentation!)

What a great day with my little friends and my big friends! My little friends made a circle around me and sang to me after CTC while somewhere on the other side of town my big friends were making me a surprise pyramid! A half hour later I was surprised... they were sore.

January First With the Witte Crew

It seems like there is always a new second cousin to meet at each Witte family gathering... this year there were two new little guys who became the center of attention for both the adoring great aunts and the photographers.








Poor Elizabeth was both bewildered and intrigued by photos of early Uncle Mark's "girl hair." As I recall, I had a similar reaction to photos of early Uncle Mark's baby blue shorts...

A Birthday Celebration: Lois Witte Style!!

It was a happy day to be sure, as evidenced by the photo above. Mom and Dad are clearly quite fond of each other... what a gift! Mom celebrated her birthday today with her fantastic family and one of her favorite friends: Mrs. Jump, at one of her favorite restaurants: Pizza Hut.

I am exceedingly thankful for both of these women! It's about time they had a decent photo together!


Katelyn has always been pretty good about finding a solid balance between practical and heartfelt in her gift giving... but I think this may be pushing it just a little.


One of the pups chewed up a book that Grandpa borrowed from the library, but Emily saved the day and drew the rest of the cover for Mom's birthday! Watch out... that thing could be worth a lot of money some day.





Awww... warms my heart! What a great birthday!

From a Daughter

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory."

Ephesians 1:3-14 ESV

"See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure."

1 John 3:1-3 ESV

These verses are full of astonishing truths of my inheritance from God. Out of the riches of His grace, He chose to adopt me... He made me an heir with Christ... I am called a child of God. It is impossible for me to fathom why God would choose to make a rebel His daughter, but that is the beautiful mystery of the gospel: those who were once called enemies (Romans 5:10-11) are called children (Ephesians 5:1); those who were once called sinners (Romans 5:12) are called saints (Colossians 1:24-27); those who were once slaves to sin are slaves to righteousness (Romans 6:16-18); those who were once dead in sin are alive in Christ (1 Corinthians 15:22), (Ephesians 2:1-10); those who were once haters of God (Romans 1:29- 2:1) are heirs of God (Galatians 3:29). And to add to the wondrous mystery of it all, consider this: The God from whom sinners need to be rescued is the same God who provided a means by which we may be rescued (Zephaniah)! This means was His own sinless Son (2 Corinthians 5:21). This same God is my gracious heavenly Father. What a reason to rejoice on Father's day!

"He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?"

Romans 8:31-32 ESV

I am so grateful that along with the unfathomable gift of being called a child of God, God has chosen, in His incomprehensible kindness, to give me a godly earthly father whose view of our heavenly Father has been used to shape my view of our heavenly Father. I told my dad last weekend that by the grace of God and the power of Christ in him, he is a dad worthy of my admiration. It is very true. I cannot express how thankful I am that God saw fit to bless in ill-desearving sinner in this way.

We were able to celebrate both my dad's birthday and Father's day this past weekend. Here's a look at what the weekend was like around the Witte home...

...Hehehe... I'm glad they like each other so much. :)

She is very talented... a woman of grace to be sure.

Katelyn and Rosy... Emily and Ruby

To Grandpa Hall: My Favorite 97 Year Old

God graciously gave my grandpa another year of life. He turned ninety-seven last Saturday, and got to celebrate with some of my family out in Pennsylvania.

What kind of birthday present do you get someone who is turning ninety-seven? After that many years of birthdays, presents start to get a little old... in more ways than one. But who doesn't like a little poetry on his birthday? I deemed this the best birthday present option and decided to write Grandpa a little poem. It was writen for him mind you... so if it doesn't make sense to you dear reader, you can rest assured; it made sense to him!

Here's to you Grandpa:

Dear Grandpa Hall...

Sometimes I don't know about you,

You heckle me till I’m reddish-blue.

You tell stories about meat and dogs and knives...

And tails of your family and their lives.

You tell me I don't know how to kiss...

Then you speak of marital bliss.

You give shouts of scorn with wielding fork,

Every time I cut fat off my pork.

As I try to discreetly remove the gristle,

You grumble, shake your head, and bristle.

You have plenty to say about boys...

And remind me that I make too much noise.

Your wisdom far exceeds my own...

You deliver it well in your grandpa-ish tone.

You speak highly of my mom: the perfect child...

And then Uncle Charles who was rather wild.

I’m thankful for you Grandpa, to be sure...

You help me grow like a garden with manure...

My affection for you, you need not ensure...

For my love and admiration will certainly endure.

Happy year ninety-seven...

In June, two thousand eleven.

Grandpa Hall, you are now old...

... if I may be so bold.

Even though you don’t yet see the follies of sweets,

Even though you pickle your beats,

And even though you seasoned stuff with monosodium glutamate,

All in all... I suppose you are still pretty great.

I mean, come-on...

I’ve looked hither and yon...

You are the only one I’ve met who picks his nose with his tongue.

In my opinion, you’re still pretty young!

Be Still

Still my soul be still
And do not fear
Though winds of change may rage tomorrow
God is at your side
No longer dread
The fires of unexpected sorrow

God You are my God
And I will trust in You and not be shaken
Lord of peace renew
A steadfast spirit within me
To rest in You alone

Still my soul be still
Do not be moved
By lesser lights and fleeting shadows
Hold onto His ways
With shield of faith
Against temptations flaming arrows

Still my soul be still
Do not forsake
The Truth you learned in the beginning
Wait upon the Lord
And hope will rise
As stars appear when day is dimming

Words and Music by Keith & Kristyn Getty and Stuart Townend

Good Gifts

God gives good gifts. Even little leaves and flowers are beautiful instances of the kindness he has graciously showed sinful mankind in allowing us to enjoy his creative design. Even greater is the gift he has graciously provided in making a way for sinners to be right with him through the precious blood of Christ. He has met our greatest need.

"He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?"
Romans 8:32 ESV

What a gracious heavenly Father.

Absolutely Stunning

Just look at these three! They are Brittany (left,) Maggie (middle,) and Sarah (right.) Living with this many beautiful people is almost more than I can handle! God provided me with a generous, dear friend who paid for my room and board at Grace, and these girls are just one example of what a great gift it was. God is so good to me!

The Day the Playground Frowned

Katelyn and I went to the park for some senior pictures... and came back with this. I'm so glad that I have sisters that will humor me! :)




Ah-ha... this is a little more senior picturely. She gets her good looks from her older sister by the way.

How Much More...

I taught a children's Sunday school class yesterday, and we spent a lot of time talking about these verses from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount:

"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Matthew 6:25-33 (ESV)

I worry often about a lot of different things… but check out those butterflies!
Oh me of little faith!

A Bow In the Clouds

"And God said, 'This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.'" (Genesis 9:12-16)

I love rainbows… they remind me that God is faithful. This beautiful Tennessee rainbow was my canon digital rebel and my first rainbow together. :)

A Buncha Nuts!

This gives the phrase “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree” a whole new meaning…

(These mug shots were taken in the beautiful land of Tennessee, specifically, the Smoky Mountains where - ironically - anything that falls from a tree will roll.)

What is the key to longevity you ask?

Facial exercises for the elderly!!!

OOOOOO! EEEEEE! ULLLLL! ARRRRR!
OOOOOO! EEEEEE! ULLLLL! ARRRRR!

(side effects will most likely include temporary denture dislodgement)

Grandpa Hall's 96th Birthday

Grandpa: "Well what do you think you're doing up there!?! You're gonna get us kicked out of here!"


Grandpa celebrated his birthday in Frankenmuth, MI with his family. We spent quite a bit of time in Bronner's: the largest Christmas store in the world where we saw everything from musical instrument ornaments to hockey player ornaments to balsamic vinegar ornaments.

The only thing better than cousin time is second cousin time!

What a guy!


God has been so good to him.

Emily put some of her creativity to work as the birthday festivities drew to a close.