Tim sent me this video yesterday and I just wanted to share with everyone. It is funny. The kids love it!
Enjoy!
http://www.doublesharpevideo.com:80/HomeSchool2/Homeschool2.html
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Gerber Christmas Letter 2007
Greetings from the Gerber family!
This has been a fairly quiet year for our family. I'll just try to update you on a few highlights.
TIM
Tim is still plugging away at Flavor Burst. It has now been 16 years! He continues to lead a mission trip to the Crow Creek Indian Reservation every summer. He is involved with several groups at church. He has helped coach the boys' baseball teams and wrestling squad. He played volleyball, ultimate Frisbee, and flag football. He recently found out that he has torn his ACL in his knee. Sports are having to take a back seat for a while and surgery might be around the corner.
KATHERINE
Katherine continues to home-school the kids. She has relearned to sew this year, thanks to the boys. She continues to scrapbook a few times a year. She has been active with several small groups at church, including the drama troupe (her VBS performance will live on forever in her mind). She recently got braces to help prepare for TMJ surgery she will be having in 2009. She loves being at home with the kids. However, she hates the fact they are growing so quickly.
CHRISTIAN
Christian is now 9 and in the 4th grade. He loves the fact that he is home-schooled but doesn't enjoy school work. He has been involved with wrestling (placed in several tournaments), baseball (team won the league and tournament; he also won the sportsmanship award – 2 years in a row!), soccer, and basketball. He continues to take piano lessons and is going to start learning some guitar (Tim is going to teach him). He is also on a praise team for children's worship at church.
JOSHUA
Joshua is now 7 and in the 2nd grade. He also loves the fact that he is home-schooled however, he enjoys his school work. He also takes piano lessons and is showing some interest in the guitar also. He has also been involved with wrestling, baseball, soccer, and basketball. He is a very social boy.
The boys have been teaching themselves magic. They have gotten a job cat sitting for the neighbors and make great money (much more than they get for their commissions). They have learned to sew. The project have included pillows, pillow cases, and pajama pants. They recently completed 5 baby blankets for friends who had quints. They are also finishing quilts for their great-grandmothers! We are so proud of them!
EMMA ROSE
Emma is now 4. She enjoys doing preschool work. She wants to be doing school at all times! It's great but it is hard to keep up with her. She has taken swimming lessons this year. She did a nice job. She wants to start with team sports but we just aren't ready for that. We might put her in some sort of dance or gymnastics though. She loves enjoys playing with her friends. She is a social butterfly. She is a very funny girl so we never know what she is going to say or do next.
THE WILLIS FAMILY
Larry was unemployed earlier this year. He is starting a business with a friend and will be working out of the house. He has visited us several times this year. Jennifer has been dating someone for the past couple of years. She and the boys, Martin and Max, are doing well. Martin is now taller than Tim, at only 13! Max started Kindergarten this year. Jonathan and Erin are also well. Little Alison is now a year old and a cutie pie.
THE GERBER FAMILY
Tom and Rebecca bought a house about 5 minutes from the old one. She works for a day care and he still works at Flavor Burst. Wendy and Michael are always busy. She is on a praise team at church and gives piano lessons. He travels a lot with Flavor Burst and teaches at a local college. Their kids, Eli and Mikki, are active with church, friends, school, and other activities. Mikki and Scott are super busy. Mikki is still a labor delivery nurse. Scott started his own business this year. All four boys, Jordan, Keaton, Cameron, and Aidan, are active in soccer, church, and school. Angie and Steve are busy with Flavor Burst and all their nieces and nephews. Ginger and Dustin are graduating grad school in December. They are anxiously awaiting the birth of their daughter in the spring. Ben has spent the past year teaching in Korea. He has been traveling to various countries the past couple of months. Everyone is excited for his return sometime around Christmas. Jon and Ali are still in college at Harding. They visit often during the summer and breaks. Ernie and Sharon have been traveling the globe this past year. They are busy trying to keep up with all the kids, spouses, and grandkids.
TRAVEL
Our travels have been limited this year. We have gone to Knoxville to visit the family several times. The boys went to church camp at Camp Allendale over the summer. Christian went to Iowa to spend a few days with a buddy. Tim was gone for 17 days on his mission trip. We took our trip to Holiday World and went camping. We went to Cincinnati, OH in November for the National Missionary Conference. Tim and Katherine rented a cabin for a few days to celebrate their 15th wedding anniversary. We are spending a couple of days at the Crow Creek Indian Reservation before Christmas. We will then spend Christmas in South Dakota this year.
We have had a wonderful year. God has blessed over the years and this year seems we are even more blessed than usual.
We hope you have a wonderful Christmas and a happy new year!
God Bless!
Tim, Katherine, Christian, Joshua, and Emma Rose Gerber
ways to keep updated with our family:
www.myspace.com/krgerber or
www.facebook.com or
http://krgerber.blogspot.com
This has been a fairly quiet year for our family. I'll just try to update you on a few highlights.
TIM
Tim is still plugging away at Flavor Burst. It has now been 16 years! He continues to lead a mission trip to the Crow Creek Indian Reservation every summer. He is involved with several groups at church. He has helped coach the boys' baseball teams and wrestling squad. He played volleyball, ultimate Frisbee, and flag football. He recently found out that he has torn his ACL in his knee. Sports are having to take a back seat for a while and surgery might be around the corner.
KATHERINE
Katherine continues to home-school the kids. She has relearned to sew this year, thanks to the boys. She continues to scrapbook a few times a year. She has been active with several small groups at church, including the drama troupe (her VBS performance will live on forever in her mind). She recently got braces to help prepare for TMJ surgery she will be having in 2009. She loves being at home with the kids. However, she hates the fact they are growing so quickly.
CHRISTIAN
Christian is now 9 and in the 4th grade. He loves the fact that he is home-schooled but doesn't enjoy school work. He has been involved with wrestling (placed in several tournaments), baseball (team won the league and tournament; he also won the sportsmanship award – 2 years in a row!), soccer, and basketball. He continues to take piano lessons and is going to start learning some guitar (Tim is going to teach him). He is also on a praise team for children's worship at church.
JOSHUA
Joshua is now 7 and in the 2nd grade. He also loves the fact that he is home-schooled however, he enjoys his school work. He also takes piano lessons and is showing some interest in the guitar also. He has also been involved with wrestling, baseball, soccer, and basketball. He is a very social boy.
The boys have been teaching themselves magic. They have gotten a job cat sitting for the neighbors and make great money (much more than they get for their commissions). They have learned to sew. The project have included pillows, pillow cases, and pajama pants. They recently completed 5 baby blankets for friends who had quints. They are also finishing quilts for their great-grandmothers! We are so proud of them!
EMMA ROSE
Emma is now 4. She enjoys doing preschool work. She wants to be doing school at all times! It's great but it is hard to keep up with her. She has taken swimming lessons this year. She did a nice job. She wants to start with team sports but we just aren't ready for that. We might put her in some sort of dance or gymnastics though. She loves enjoys playing with her friends. She is a social butterfly. She is a very funny girl so we never know what she is going to say or do next.
THE WILLIS FAMILY
Larry was unemployed earlier this year. He is starting a business with a friend and will be working out of the house. He has visited us several times this year. Jennifer has been dating someone for the past couple of years. She and the boys, Martin and Max, are doing well. Martin is now taller than Tim, at only 13! Max started Kindergarten this year. Jonathan and Erin are also well. Little Alison is now a year old and a cutie pie.
THE GERBER FAMILY
Tom and Rebecca bought a house about 5 minutes from the old one. She works for a day care and he still works at Flavor Burst. Wendy and Michael are always busy. She is on a praise team at church and gives piano lessons. He travels a lot with Flavor Burst and teaches at a local college. Their kids, Eli and Mikki, are active with church, friends, school, and other activities. Mikki and Scott are super busy. Mikki is still a labor delivery nurse. Scott started his own business this year. All four boys, Jordan, Keaton, Cameron, and Aidan, are active in soccer, church, and school. Angie and Steve are busy with Flavor Burst and all their nieces and nephews. Ginger and Dustin are graduating grad school in December. They are anxiously awaiting the birth of their daughter in the spring. Ben has spent the past year teaching in Korea. He has been traveling to various countries the past couple of months. Everyone is excited for his return sometime around Christmas. Jon and Ali are still in college at Harding. They visit often during the summer and breaks. Ernie and Sharon have been traveling the globe this past year. They are busy trying to keep up with all the kids, spouses, and grandkids.
TRAVEL
Our travels have been limited this year. We have gone to Knoxville to visit the family several times. The boys went to church camp at Camp Allendale over the summer. Christian went to Iowa to spend a few days with a buddy. Tim was gone for 17 days on his mission trip. We took our trip to Holiday World and went camping. We went to Cincinnati, OH in November for the National Missionary Conference. Tim and Katherine rented a cabin for a few days to celebrate their 15th wedding anniversary. We are spending a couple of days at the Crow Creek Indian Reservation before Christmas. We will then spend Christmas in South Dakota this year.
We have had a wonderful year. God has blessed over the years and this year seems we are even more blessed than usual.
We hope you have a wonderful Christmas and a happy new year!
God Bless!
Tim, Katherine, Christian, Joshua, and Emma Rose Gerber
ways to keep updated with our family:
www.myspace.com/krgerber or
www.facebook.com or
http://krgerber.blogspot.com
Thursday, December 13, 2007
A childhood innocence is now gone
Yesterday I had a frank talk with the boys. (On a side note, I sat them down and said "I need to have a frank talk you boys." Joshua's response was "can I be Frank?" What a jokester!)
Anyway, I sat them down and told them there was no Santa, Easter Bunny, or tooth fairy (sorry to all of you who still believe). They both admitted they didn't really think there was. Tim actually told Christian last Christmas and Christian did not believe him at all!
The boys have been asking us for over a year about getting baptized. Tim and I have discussed it many times. We did not feel it would be appropriate for them to be baptized if they still believed in these things. We didn't want them to come back to us one day and say "you told us Santa was real and then you said he wasn't, how is God any different?"
In my heart I know the boys believe what they should believe, especially for as young as they are. They have gone to church since they were born. They went to a Christian school and are now home schooled. They know! I am ready to let them but I think I might have to do some convincing on Tim.
I must that I was sad when I had the talk with them yesterday. I took away a childhood innocence that can never be given back.
They want to be baptized. This is something that all Christian parents want so why is it we struggle with this decision?
Anyway, I sat them down and told them there was no Santa, Easter Bunny, or tooth fairy (sorry to all of you who still believe). They both admitted they didn't really think there was. Tim actually told Christian last Christmas and Christian did not believe him at all!
The boys have been asking us for over a year about getting baptized. Tim and I have discussed it many times. We did not feel it would be appropriate for them to be baptized if they still believed in these things. We didn't want them to come back to us one day and say "you told us Santa was real and then you said he wasn't, how is God any different?"
In my heart I know the boys believe what they should believe, especially for as young as they are. They have gone to church since they were born. They went to a Christian school and are now home schooled. They know! I am ready to let them but I think I might have to do some convincing on Tim.
I must that I was sad when I had the talk with them yesterday. I took away a childhood innocence that can never be given back.
They want to be baptized. This is something that all Christian parents want so why is it we struggle with this decision?
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Maintaining
Back in September and October I went through a "biggest loser" program at Kingsway. I was the winner (you can see a past post with all the details).
I have actually lost about 5 more since that ended. My goal has been to maintain that weightloss through Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
So far, so good! I just wanted to share with everyone that I have been maintaining. I hope to start losing again in January. I am hoping my body will see this time as a plateau and not struggle to lose another 25-40 pounds.
My motto: slow and steady!
I have actually lost about 5 more since that ended. My goal has been to maintain that weightloss through Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
So far, so good! I just wanted to share with everyone that I have been maintaining. I hope to start losing again in January. I am hoping my body will see this time as a plateau and not struggle to lose another 25-40 pounds.
My motto: slow and steady!
Monday, December 10, 2007
Made with love....in memory of....
As most of you know my mom passed away 2 years ago September. She loved to sew! She made everyone blankets and clothes. When we were home over thanksgiving I went through her sewing room. I brought back quite a bit of material. (The boys have been taking sewing classes. They now love to sew but we didn't have anything for them to sew).
Anyway, about 6 weeks ago we had friends who had quints (3 girls, 2 boys). They all seem to be doing fairly well but prayers could always be used. The boys wanted to make blankets for the babies. This weekend we have made 5 Christmas blankets for the Manley Quints. They are pretty cute. (I hope to get a picture posted soon.)
My mom had also started 2 quilts. I had to sew a top on one of them. Emma actually helped with that. She was so excited to be able to help! I have now pinned the binding on it. The boys are going to sew it either later tonight or tomorrow. We are going to send this one to my grandmother. She won't have a clue who it came from but it will be there next time we visit.
I have to pin the binding on one more. We are going to send this one to Tim's grandmother. She will love the fact that the kids helped to sew it. It will be fun for the kids to see it when we visit her at Christmas.
I told my dad what we were doing. He said that he knew mom would approve!
We have made these blankets with love, in memory of my mom.
Anyway, about 6 weeks ago we had friends who had quints (3 girls, 2 boys). They all seem to be doing fairly well but prayers could always be used. The boys wanted to make blankets for the babies. This weekend we have made 5 Christmas blankets for the Manley Quints. They are pretty cute. (I hope to get a picture posted soon.)
My mom had also started 2 quilts. I had to sew a top on one of them. Emma actually helped with that. She was so excited to be able to help! I have now pinned the binding on it. The boys are going to sew it either later tonight or tomorrow. We are going to send this one to my grandmother. She won't have a clue who it came from but it will be there next time we visit.
I have to pin the binding on one more. We are going to send this one to Tim's grandmother. She will love the fact that the kids helped to sew it. It will be fun for the kids to see it when we visit her at Christmas.
I told my dad what we were doing. He said that he knew mom would approve!
We have made these blankets with love, in memory of my mom.
Friday, December 7, 2007
The Ultimate Gift
Last night Tim and I watched the movie "The Ultimate Gift." I would recommend it! It was very heart touching. It is a faith based movie. The acting isn't always great but the message is loud and clear. There are a couple of "big" name actors - James Garner, Brian Dennehy.
Why is it that so many faith based movies just can't get "decent" actors? We watched "Amazing Grace" the night before. Same type of thing - great message but the acting wasn't. "Facing the Giants" is another one. Even the "Left Behind" series is very low budget acting (sorry Kirk).
Anyway, I was really inspired by the movie. I just wanted to share that with you. I don't think you will be disappointed should you decide to watch either of those movies.
Why is it that so many faith based movies just can't get "decent" actors? We watched "Amazing Grace" the night before. Same type of thing - great message but the acting wasn't. "Facing the Giants" is another one. Even the "Left Behind" series is very low budget acting (sorry Kirk).
Anyway, I was really inspired by the movie. I just wanted to share that with you. I don't think you will be disappointed should you decide to watch either of those movies.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
I thanked God for ground beef
I know this is going to seem pretty silly to some of you but I am going to write it anyway. It's your choice to read or not.
Most of you probably know that Tim and I live by a budget. It is a pretty tight budget and sometimes it isn't very fun. However, this was a decision we made about 3 years ago and have stuck to it. We are much better off because of it. In fact, in January we get to up the budget and I really am excited about that!
Every month I use every penny of our grocery budget. Sometimes I go over and take from some place else. The grocery prices have risen with the gas prices but my money has stayed the same. Therefore, my grocery money doesn't stretch as far as it used to. I menu plan so I only buy food for what is on the menu (now I do keep some staples around but nothing like I used to).
I went for the first half of the month shopping on Monday. Kroger was having a decent sell so I marked which items I was buying from there on my list. (Groundbeef was on that list.) As I am walking into the meat department the butcher is moving down the "sell for less" packages. I look at my list and I have 5 packages on my list. Guess how many he has? 5! I thanked God right then and there.
The story gets better, I promise.
That evening I go to Wal-Mart and finish my shopping. Should I have had to buy the meat at regular price - I would have been over my budget!
I know this seems like such a small thing but December is a very tight month with all the entertaining we do and parties we attend. Our budget is the same in December as it is the rest of the month.
We are traveling to South Dakota this Christmas. The gas prices are going to be murder. (BTW, gas and utilities are the things we have no control over on our budget - we just roll with the punches). We are spending 2 nights on the Indian Reservation. We will be staying in the motel. We really don't want to sleep in the bunkhouse in late December - not a good idea. We will then be spending 2 more nights at a hotel in Sioux Falls.
December is an expensive month, especially on the years we go to SD. Thankfully I always have my shopping done so I normally use the "gift" money from December to help cover some of those other expenses.
Okay, so not one of my best blogs but I just thought it was interesting that when I am in the meat department at Kroger had had the desire to thank God for cheap meat!
Most of you probably know that Tim and I live by a budget. It is a pretty tight budget and sometimes it isn't very fun. However, this was a decision we made about 3 years ago and have stuck to it. We are much better off because of it. In fact, in January we get to up the budget and I really am excited about that!
Every month I use every penny of our grocery budget. Sometimes I go over and take from some place else. The grocery prices have risen with the gas prices but my money has stayed the same. Therefore, my grocery money doesn't stretch as far as it used to. I menu plan so I only buy food for what is on the menu (now I do keep some staples around but nothing like I used to).
I went for the first half of the month shopping on Monday. Kroger was having a decent sell so I marked which items I was buying from there on my list. (Groundbeef was on that list.) As I am walking into the meat department the butcher is moving down the "sell for less" packages. I look at my list and I have 5 packages on my list. Guess how many he has? 5! I thanked God right then and there.
The story gets better, I promise.
That evening I go to Wal-Mart and finish my shopping. Should I have had to buy the meat at regular price - I would have been over my budget!
I know this seems like such a small thing but December is a very tight month with all the entertaining we do and parties we attend. Our budget is the same in December as it is the rest of the month.
We are traveling to South Dakota this Christmas. The gas prices are going to be murder. (BTW, gas and utilities are the things we have no control over on our budget - we just roll with the punches). We are spending 2 nights on the Indian Reservation. We will be staying in the motel. We really don't want to sleep in the bunkhouse in late December - not a good idea. We will then be spending 2 more nights at a hotel in Sioux Falls.
December is an expensive month, especially on the years we go to SD. Thankfully I always have my shopping done so I normally use the "gift" money from December to help cover some of those other expenses.
Okay, so not one of my best blogs but I just thought it was interesting that when I am in the meat department at Kroger had had the desire to thank God for cheap meat!
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