Vacationing in Virginia

When Jack was younger, a friend was telling us about their vacation. Jack looked at me and asked, "Mom, what's a vacation?" Our poor kids!! Well, we finally got to go on our first real week long vacation! We rented a house in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia with our friends, the Shareks.

All the kids before we went to church in Front Royal, VA. It'a always a pleasure to worship with God's family in different parts of the US!

The deer were quite friendly in the Shenandoah National Park!

Jer and Heather watched Max and Sam for us one morning while we took a hike up Old Rag Mountain (This is Bob's favorite hike) So here we are getting started on our journey.

We took plenty of drink breaks!

The views became awe inspiring.

The last quarter of the hike weaves up and over these huge boulders...it's what makes the hike so fun!

After 2 1/2 hours of hiking we made it to the summit (a new word for Jack and Emily)

Seeing the vast space from the top makes you feel like a tiny speck on the face of the earth...and the space we saw was only a tiny portion of God's creation. We have an awesome God!

We also visited the Luray Caverns. It's a one mile trail that leads you through a cave with all sorts of rock formations. We all listened to the tour on our headphones. After we left Bob said, "For thousands of years that cave was there under the earth in the dark with no other purpose but to glorify the Lord. Now God has given man the priviledge to see his beauty."

We also took several drives on Skyline Drive. Here is a view of Old Rag from Skyline. Its the furthest peak.

The kids on a hike to see some waterfalls

Max was always excited to get out of the van to get a picture!

Samuel and Madison became pretty good buddies!





And there were good times in the pool!!!

Plenty of flipping

Plenty of cannonballs

Plenty of dives

More than plenty belly flops!

And plenty smiles!!

Now our kids know what a vacation is!

The Wedding

I wrote this story for Alyssa's shower...the story of how they came to this wedding day. The bold words are household products that we gave to Alyssa as gifts.

In 1979, a BRAWNY baby boy was born into the middle of the metropolis of Phoenix, AZ. Often referred to as SKIPPY, he grew up number 4 of 5 kids. He was full of energy, constantly BOUNCEing a ball, running, and practicing his moves of many different sports. Miles away in the year of 1986 a sweet baby girl was born into an eastern Ohio town. Her older brother didn't share many of her interests so she grew up following her sweet mother around.

Being 7 years apart in age, Titus was finished with college and going to seminary before Alyssa had even gone to her high school prom!

Long at last, Alyssa finished at Cedarville, moved back home and began going to church with her parents. As pastor of this church, Titus eyed every person that walked through the doors. A beauty he saw, but where did she come from? He just had to find out who this young maiden was.

After making a few inquiries, her dad, who thought Titus would make a great son-in-law, reported to him that his daughter was no longer attached to anyone. So Titus, as CAREFREE as can be, went out on a lomb, a pretty safe limb. he decided the best way to win her heart would not be to DIAL the phone, but Facebook would indeed be the way. Not quite convinced, Alyssa was a little leery of becoming friends with her parents' pastor who used Facebook to ask girls out!

After some persistence and a week of church camp, Alyssa gave in and they went out on a DATE. Long conversations followed and the spark began to grow. One day Titus GLADly announced to her that thye were going to be married. Alyssa wasn't so SURE so he said, "I'll give you one good reason." She replied, "I don't need one, but 500 might do!"

So, in a JIFFY, Titus went to work. When it came to convincing his true love, 500 reasons would only begin to scratch the surface! Over a few months he started giving her the reasons 20 or 30 at a time. It finally began to DAWN on Alyssa that maybe, just maybe, Titus could be the one. The TIDE began to change and before too long they were both looking for A HUNDRED GRAND ways to be at each other's side. Titus didn't mind the many miles he drove to and from Ohio to PAMPER his love with goodnight KISSES and oh so many goodnight HUGS.

One special evening in the month of July, Titus led Alyssa through an enchanted evening. They dined at the fanciest of restaurants, took a last-MINUTE boat ride down the Allegheny, and then strolled along the river hand in hand. Titus gave to her the last of the 500 reasons, got down on one knee and of course she did exclaim, "I do, I do!" The SPARKLEing diamond was placed on her finger that night.

Since then it's been plans about this, decisions about that, and a growing love that, Lord willing, will last through the years.

In August they'll be married; they'll PLEDGE their love and offer the vows that will bind them as husband and wife. We join them to celebrate and wish them the best in their LIFE together. And all of us here say with a SHOUT, "Mr. and Mrs. MARTIN, we love you and may God bless you!"

And the wedding day was truly a great day!

Titus and Alyssa at the rehearsal dinner

Joel (the best man) and Titus before the wedding

Jenna, Emily, Kaelyn, and Alison were the flower girls. As soon as those dresses were put on, they danced around the rest of the day!!

A few of the cousins...Grant, Lincoln, and Will

Kaelyn, Jenna, Emily, and Marisol

Being announced as Mr. and Mrs. Martin

Their first dance

Aside from the wedding we had a great weekend seeing friends and relatives that we don't get to see too often!


Here are some of the professional pictures...just beautiful!

The reception hall

Congratulations to Titus and Alyssa! We love you both!

Seidler

For all you Seidler (or Settlers of Catan) fans out there...the game has been passed down to the next generation! Train them early!

We taught Jack and Emily how to play (a test for Daddy's patience). They picked it up better than I thought, so now it might become a Sunday afternoon tradition!

Poconos '10

While we lived in Pittsburgh we met with a great group of friends for Bible Study every week for 7 years. It was such a great group. We started meeting together before any of the kids came along. We went on camping trips together, dinners out, and grew very close. One by one each family began to expand. It was so special to see the kids enter the scene. Now, the oldest of the kids is 9 and families are still continuing to grow.

The group is slowlychanging with families moving away and other families taking their place. Each year we try to get together for a weekend in the Poconos (thanks to the Einolf family)! Here are the pictures from this year.

Jack spent most of his time with a net trying to catch fish

My Sam

Here is the group photo...unfortunately the Smith family had already left:(

We always have to get a photo of Emily and Luke since they claim they are getting married!

The rest of the pictures were taken by Tim Einolf...thanks Tim!

Bob and Jer in the falls

Max kept busy by throwing everything into the water...toys that would float away, a gazillion rocks, etc.

Most of the older kids were able to jump off the lower cliff this year for the first time! Here is a picture of Emily.