Christmas 2008

David showing off his new Browns sweatshirt and players gloves!

Shadow wanting to eat breakfast with us.

My dad got a pellet gun as one of his presents. He love it. And Catie and David did too! But the classic Caitlin line was when my dad asked her if she wanted to shoot it..."Sure dad, let me just finish painting my nails!" I loved it! She also got a bulls eye!

Getting ready for another family photo...

Did I mention that I love my sisters so much! We had such a fun time together!

This video is of Shannon playing a game on Christmas over at my Uncle John's house.

Our first Christmas

Wow, I cannot believe it is almost Christmas! We are headed to Cleveland today to spend the holiday with my family! Hopefully I will have lots of pictures to post! (if I can remember to pull out my camera)

Here are a couple of David and I having fun! Did I mention that I love him so much!!!! (Complete side note: My wonderful husband, changed a car battery yesterday in the freezing cold all by himself! I was so proud of him. David thank you for the many ways you care for us. I am so grateful to God I am your wife =). ) Now the fun pictures....

Family and Friends

Well let's just say this post has been a long time coming! We were without internet for 3 weeks and then as soon as we got it back life became really busy! So I am sorry Aunt Nancy for not keeping you up to date:-)

3 Weeks ago David and I went home for the weekend to visit my family! It was so nice to be back in Cleveland because I was really home sick prior to the visit! We had a blast just hanging out with my sisters, going shopping and going to a movie.

Trying to take a normal picture with all 4 of these people is always a challenge:-)

I love him so much!

Kit-Kats at the movies! Yumm

The following weekend one of my dear friends Sarah Altrogge (she was in my wedding) and her husband came to spend the night at our little home. I was so blessed to be able to send time with them and catch up. Also during this weekend, David's grandparents came to visit and we were able to spend time with them.

Last weekend we took a trip to IOWA for my grandparents 60th wedding anniversary celebration. That's right, the great state of Iowa where the corn goes sweeping down the plain! ha. This was the first time David had ever been this far west so it was quite the adventure for him ;-).

Crossing over the Mississippi river (Miss-iss-ipp-i) David stunned in amazement!

Welcome to IOWA!

My wonderful parents!

What did I tell you about serious pictures! ha

All my cousins with the grandparents

My adorable little cousin Tessa

All the Fam!
I love them both so much!Aww <3
On the car ride back to the airport with my family. (we all are very tired!)
Sacked out :-)

Then this week we spent Thanksgiving with David's family and had a wonderful relaxing day! I am so blessed for ALL God's many blessing in my life.

Crockpot Blog

Someone passed this Crockpot blog along to me so I thought I would share it with you. I have not yet tried any of the recipes, but I can't wait to try a couple!

http://www.crockpot365.blogspot.com/

Going to Cleveland this weekend to visit my family! I am so excited and I hopefully will have lots of pictures!

This is the God I trust (Isaiah 41: 1-10)

Listen to me in silence,O coastlands;let the peoples renew their strength;let them approach, then let them speak;let us together draw near for judgment.

2 Who stirred up one from the east whom victory meets at every step? He gives up nations before him,so that he tramples kings underfoot;he makes them like dust with his sword,like driven stubble with his bow.3 He pursues them and passes on safely,by paths his feet have not trod.4 Who has performed and done this,calling the generations from the beginning?I, the Lord, the first,and with the last; I am he.

5 The coastlands have seen and are afraid;the ends of the earth tremble;they have drawn near and come.6 Everyone helps his neighbor and says to his brother, “Be strong!”7 The craftsman strengthens the goldsmith,and he who smooths with the hammer him who strikes the anvil,saying of the soldering, “It is good”;and they strengthen it with nails so that it cannot be moved.

8 But you, Israel, my servant,Jacob, whom I have chosen,the offspring of Abraham, my friend;9 you whom I took from the ends of the earth,and called from its farthest corners,saying to you, “You are my servant,I have chosen you and not cast you off”;10 fear not, for I am with you;be not dismayed, for I am your God;I will strengthen you, I will help you,I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Soup Recipe...

Today I made Minestrone soup in the crock pot (with David's help too). It was very flavorful and great for a relaxing Sunday afternoon!

Zesty Minestrone

1/4 cup Kraft Zesty Italian Dressing
1 cup chopped Onions
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped carrots
1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 can (19 oz) red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
2 cans (14 oz each) vegetable broth
2 cups water
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
1 1/2 cups small shell macaroni, uncooked
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

How to make it:
Heat dressing in skillet on medium-high heat. Add onions, carrots and celery; cook 2-3min or until crisp-tender, stirring occasionally. Pour into slow cooker. Add tomatoes, beans, broth, water, and Italian seasoning; stir. Cover with lid and cook on low for 6 hours (or high for 3 hours). Stir in uncooked macaroni (I added extra shells because David and I both love noodles); cook 10-15min or until macaroni is tender. Sprinkle with cheese just before serving and enjoy! Serves 4.

Gettysburg

On Saturday David and I took a trip up to Gettysburg. We had so much fun on our adventure together and God blessed us with a beautiful fall day! I love spending time with my husband!!
Here is a shot of our beautiful fall drive...the sky was so pretty!
You have arrived at...
Love him more and more every day!
David trying to turn the page
The battle fields

David had a laugh at this saying

SO...after spending a couple hours at the battle fields, David said he would take me to the outlets!! Knowing that you get to go shopping after learning about history makes me want to go to Gettysburg all the time!

What a wonderful day with my love!

STATES!

My Sister Shannon's volleyball team made states this weekend! I am so proud of you Shan!

CONGRATULATIONS!!! LOVE YOU!
Pictures from our Saturday in Gettysburg coming soon...

Love you like a sister lol

I love my sisters so much! They are all growing up so fast. This is an email I got from my little sister Caitlin today (she is 11 years old)...it made me smile so much! I love you Catie!

hey you! how are you i have like not talked to you in forever:] so how are you and david??????????? well how is work do you like it? i hate school but i think you already new that... but you have to do it. volleyball just ended, i am really sad because that was like my life and dad said that school could be my life now but i am not happy about that. but yeah in volleyball thing we came 4 out of like 17 so we did pretty good but oh well. and i got my haircut it is pretty short. ok well i have to go do school:[ but love you so much! love you like a sister lol you are my sister! ok well love you.

Proof of ID Please?

Well...after a long ordeal of going into the MVA 3 times and God using the process to sanctify me...I officially have proof of ID that I am now Hannah Rose DeVries!

Recipe of the week

Thanks to my friend Megan P. I tried a new recipe called "White Chicken Chili". It was so yummy and so easy (the 2 most important things to me when I try a new recipe). Give it a try...

In a slow cooker mix and add:

1 cup copped onion

2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

1 can (14oz) chicken broth

1 tsp cumin

1 tsp dried oregano

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1 1/2 pounds skinless chicken breast or thighs

Cook for 4-5 hours on low. Once chicken is no longer pink, pull apart chicken into shreds.

Add to the slow cooker the following:

2 cans (15oz) great northern beans (rinsed and drained)

1 can (15oz) yellow corn (rinsed and drained)

3 tbs lime juice

Cook 15 min or until beans are hot. Serve with Corn Bread, Sour Cream and Cheese. ( for an extra touch sprinkle fresh cilantro on top of chili) Serves 4 people. ENJOY!

Hair Cut

Over the weekend I got my hair cut. For the first time in 17 years I have bangs! At first David wasn't sure if he liked them but now day 3, he said he really likes them.

Be Glad...

This passage in Morning and Evening encouraged my soul today...

Rejoice believer, but take care that your gladness has its spring in the Lord. You have much cause for gladness in God, for you can sing with David, "God my exceeding joy". Be glad that the Lord reigns, that Jehovah is King! Rejoice that He sits on the throne and rules all things! Every attribute of God should become a fresh ray in the sunlight of our gladness.

The fact that he is WISE should make us glad, knowing as we do our own foolishness.

That He is MIGHTY should cause us who tremble in our weakness to rejoice.

That He is EVERLASTING should always be a theme of joy when we know we wither like grass.

That He is UNCHANGING should provide a perpetual song, for we change every hour.

That He is FULL OF GRACE, that He is overflowing with it, and that His grace and covenant He has given to us, that it is ours to cleanse us, our to keep us, ours to sanctify us, ours to perfect us, ours to bring us to glory- ALL this should serve to make us glad in Him.

Silly Straws

Janet and I were out shopping yesterday and saw these "silly straws" and thought that they would bless our husbands! :-) So this morning David enjoyed his with a cup of coffee and Seth with his morning juice! It was quite fun to watch them drink from these silly things!