From Old to New

Happy New Year (almost!)

I have been spending a lot of time over at Holy Experience. I encourage you all to spend some time there as well. Ann Voskamp is a very gifted writer. Her post for Dec. 31 is about lessons she has learned from this year to carry into the new. Enjoy.

~Lisa

God is Good

I leave for work in the early morning hours. I usually leave while my children are still sleeping soundly in their beds, all warm and snug and wishing I could still be warm and snug in my own bed. This morning as I was leaving and praying for my family and their day I was overwhelmed with thankfulness to God for His many blessings in my life: my husband and my children. It was such a palpable feeling which prompted more fervent prayer for them and a few tears of gratitude for Gods goodness to us.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. ~Psalm 23:6

May you all be overwhelmed with thankfulness to Him for what He has done, what He is doing and what He will continue to do in the coming new year.

~Lisa

A Meatball Christmas Eve 2008

Yes, the title is "A Meatball Christmas Eve".

We spent Christmas Eve with Michael's family at his Mom's house. This is a very large group. Each family was to bring a hot dish and an appetizer and various other things. Usually everyone is assigned a specific dish to bring but we didn't do that this time so there ended up being three crockpots of meatballs. All of varying flavors, thankfully! There was plenty of food for sure. So, it was a meatball Christmas Eve! Those Saner girls sure can bake. This table is covered with goodies! Yum!

The battery in our camera died before I could get a picture of everyone there. I apologize for not getting at least one picture of everyone.

The Saner boys:

Jeff, Kevin, Mike and Greg

They are in Dodie's garage standing in front of Greg's favorite work of art, a velvet painting of dogs playing pool. He is so cultured!

Scott, Lucas and Mike

Cousins Sam, Alec and Cole

Mike's brother Jeff and his lovely wife Jenny

Mike's brother Greg and his beautiful wife Laura

The youngest cousin, baby Ryder and his Dad Scott.

They belong to Mike's sister Sharon

Mike's sister Susie and her husband Lucas

Jackson opening his gift from cousin Joel

Awesome! Hot Wheels!
Cousins Desi and Luke in the background

Cousins Casey, Brad and Joel

Greg's wife and son, Laura and Luke
Jeff's wife Jenny in the background

Mollie and Nick (Sharon's oldest)
Mollie and Charlene's daughter Shelly (both of whom I have no picture :()were the only girl cousins there on Christmas Eve. Out of the 31 grandchildren Dodie has there are only 5 girls, the rest are boys!
Casey, Joel and Jeff are in the background.
Missing this year are Aunt Leann, Aunt Deanna, Uncle Nick, cousins little Nick and Andrew, cousin Sonya and Richie and their two boys Joshua and Jacob, cousin David and his wife Sarah, Uncle Chris, cousins Daniel, Craig, Janelle, Brian and Jason, cousin Anna and her husband Jason and cousin AJ (we missed you all)
And as always Elmer and Bev are sorely missed.

Here are some of those cute boy cousins:
Cole, Jackson, Ian and Sam

Ryder playing on his new Sesame Street drum set that Aunt Susie gave him. He would play a bit and then look at everyone and start clapping his hands to elicit our applause.
We all happily obliged!
Ryder's daddy didn't like this (noisy) gift and is plotting how to get back at Susie for giving it to Ryder. Watch your back Susie.

Pretty Mollie with cute Ryder

Me with goofy Greg!
We all had so much fun this night.
What a great family to be a part of.
Merry Christmas!
~Lisa

Christmas Day 2008

Merry Christmas!

I opened the first gift at Christmas this year. Michael and I gave each other a new camera. A Nikon D60! It is very nice and this is one of the first pictures I took.

All the photos from here on out are taken with our new camera

Jackson and Ian opening their Christmas stockings.

AJ is playing with his new toy! He was so surprised to get this for Christmas. I agree with my sister Diane, it is nice when you hit a home run as a parent! Mollie's in the background not wanting her picture taken!

Jackson's army set all put together and positioned just right!
This was also another home run.

Before we left for my Mom's we all walked next door to visit our favorite neighbors Steve and Diane Vanderhoof to wish them a Merry Christmas.
They are the best neighbors and we love them dearly.

This is a picture of us just before we left Mom and Dad's. It's a bit out of order. AJ had left earlier to get Carissa's car back to her.

Mollie and I earlier in the day at Moms. This is also a bit out of order.

These next pictures are of the "opening of the gifts" at my parents home. It is quite a crowd and each gift is opened one at a time so everyone can see what everyone receives. It is loud and crazy but it is so much fun.

Jackson played Santa Claus this year (with a little help from his big sister Mollie!). He did a great job!

At the center of this picture are Danielle and Taylor with Ian, Ricky and Diane looking on. Betsy and her husband Dan are concentrating on something else.

Dad, AJ and Mom. Jackson is getting ready to give the next present.

In this picture are Brandon (Erin's friend), Erin, Brian, Paige, Bradley, Julie, Rich and Gary.

Jonathan wearing his beloved Minnesota Vikings colors. He is wearing his brand new hat. If you draw Jon's name at Christmas this is what he will have on his list for you, a new Vikings hat. It is said that Jonathan wears the Vikings colors every day. I believe it. I've yet to see him in Brun Hilda braids though! Maybe I'll draw his name next year and get him that!

Here I am opening the gift my sister Diane gave to me this year. For her birthday I gave her a silver necklace with "Sisters" engraved on it. She gave me the same one for Christmas. I also bought one for our sister Julie to give to her on her birthday in January. After opening this I had to spoil her surprise and tell her that she had one coming in a few weeks! So we will all three have one. Next to me are my brother Gary's wife Bernie and Gary.

Here are the six of us Wolbert kids with our parents Warren and Mary.

In birth order: Gary, Diane, Eric, Jon, me and Julie. This was the final shot after many attempts below. I had to show the goofy ones because they are so funny. The view that we see are all the cousins with cameras trying to get their shot. I should have taken a picture of that scene.

My favorite!

Here we've added our spouses. (those that have them)

Gary and Bernie, Diane and Rich, Michael and I, Julie and Dennis.

Beautiful cousins.

Back row: Sarah, Danielle, Paige, Erin and Taylor

Front: Betsy and Mollie

(we miss you Colleen and Angie)

Handsome cousins.

Back row: Ricky, Tyler, AJ, Dan (Betsy's husband)

Front Row: Jackson, Bradley, Ian and Brian.

(we miss you Alex, Jimmy, Quinton, JJ and Kellen)

I love this picture of Ian and Brian.

After we left Mom and Dad's we stopped at a house near our home that has an amazing display of lights. We took a few pictures there.

Here are Mollie and Ian.

Mollie, Brad, Ian and Jackson. Jackson didn't really want to get out of the car. He received a new Ipod for Christmas and you can see it in his hand here. He didn't want to take it out of his ears for the photo. Okay Jack!

Action shot!

Michael and Lisa

We had a wonderful Christmas day from beginning to end.

~Lisa

Christmas Cheer!

My beautiful, sweet and very funny friend Tina Williams and I have a standing coffee date every Wednesday morning. This snowy Christmas Eve morning was no exception.

I love her.

~Lisa

Christmas with The Sigmons

Our friends and neighbors Scott and Kristi Sigmon and their family came to celebrate Christmas with us. They are such a lovely family. Michael and I have been blessed and privileged to watch the Lord transform their lives.

We love the Sigmons.

Our son AJ and his girlfriend Carissa joined us for dinner as well. Carissa is home from Gonzaga University for Christmas vacation. They have been dating for a year. She is sweet and we all love her. We love it when they can spend some time with us.

AJ helped me finish up making the pretzel rods before dinner. He did a pretty good job. Everyone was waiting anxiously for these to get finished....especially Jackson. Our microwave died on us this week so we had to melt the carmel the old fashioned way. It worked but took a little bit longer. Well worth the wait.

Scott and Kristi's oldest, Cameron and his girlfriend Amanda.

Our whole crew. This picture includes Mollie's boyfriend Jimmy. This picture is too far away. I will get better about taking pictures for this blog...I promise.

The Sigmon Family:
Scott, Kristi, Connor, Cameron and Amanda.

After dinner Michael and Scott got on the internet to plot out our summer vacation.
The rest of us played a rousing game of Apples to Apples. Ian and Kristi tied for first place. I thought Connor was going to explode from all the fierce competition. It was really fun! This picture includes Jackson's friend Zane.

This is our Willow Tree Nativity. I just love it. It is so beautiful.

Unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given.

"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life". ~John 8:12~

Have a blessed Christmas.

~Lisa