Spaghetti time!

Tonight, Joshua tried spaghetti for the first time!



This is a standard dish in our household, and of course, he loved it!



Phew! Getting full!



It's so GOOD, Mommy!



Gnawing on a piece of garlic bread. A spaghetti dinner isn't complete without the garlic bread!



What mess, Mom? After dinner, Daddy whisked him away for a bath while Mommy cleaned up the kitchen. Everything needed a good scrubbing (including the kid!), but it was well worth it. Now he and my kitchen are squeaky clean!

Well, that's it on our end. Happy last day of August (wait, WHAT?)!

Love and blessings,
The Hollemans

Home Sweet Home

To see photos of our new home, click the link below.

https://cid-1e3142b65302e427.skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?page=play&resid=1E3142B65302E427!124&Bpub=SDX.Photos&Bsrc=GetSharingLink&authkey=bfmWSxj!wPQ%24

We are really loving this town, the church, and especially the people. Yesterday, a neighbor stopped by to bring cookies fresh out of the oven...YUM!



One of the ladies of the church made this for Joshua...isn't it adorable? He LOVES it...it's so cute to watch him snuggle that little puppy up to his face!

Well, friends, sorry this post is so short, but we have LOTS to do today, both indoors and out. Love you all!

M, K & JJ

A Warm Welcome

When we arrived in Fairview on Tuesday, this was in our front yard. So thoughtful!



We dropped our things off at the house and set out on a walk around the town to get acquainted. Of course, we had to stop and play on the playground!



After our walk, Joshua helped us unpack a few things.



He has been having so much fun in his new pool - what a great way to keep cool!



My parents drove in on Wednesday to help us unpack and get organized. They brought Joshy this new wagon - he loves it!



Hanging out with Daddy on the front porch.



Passed out with Grandpa after a long day of unpacking.



Our family.



Grandpa gives great piggy back rides!



We are having fun getting settled in!



Tomorrow we plan to do the majority of our decorating, so pics of the inside of the house will be posted soon! Love to you all!

The Hollemans

To Tide You Over

Typically, my Monday posts are "Muted Mondays," but today requires words.



Today is our last day as Michiganders...tomorrow we become...Illinoisians? Illini? Illinoisers?



Our Internet access in the next few weeks will probably be limited, so these pictures are to tide you over until my next post, which may not occur until September.



We have loved living in Michigan these past 2 years. It has been our home, the place where so many of our family and friends reside, the birthplace of our firstborn.



But, we are also SO EXCITED for what God has in store for us in Illinois! We can't wait to make new friends and to build a life there. Our new adventure begins TOMORROW! Glory to God!

Love you all so much! Blessings!

Mike, Krys and Joshua

Introducing...

...the REVEREND Michael Holleman!



Today was Mike's ordination service. He is now an official reverend!



The service was so beautiful and moving. Pastors and elders gathered around to pray over him.



Giving his first benediction as a reverend!



After the service, everyone gathered for food and fellowship.



Evidently, the cake was good! :-)



Joshua was happy to be snuggled in his daddy's arms after the service.



He was very well-behaved and squawked right along as we sang and worshiped!



God is SO GOOD!



Poor kiddo was so hot in his church clothes...in the words of his Grandpa Holleman, he was much happier when he could "drop trou" and cool off a bit!



We had a wonderful day, but this is how we are all feeling now. Soon we can hit the hay. The moving truck comes TOMORROW!

Thank you all for your love, prayers and support. You mean more to us than you could know!

Love and blessings,
Mike, Krys & Joshua

"In the presence of God and of Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage - with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry." ~II Timothy 4:1-5~

Play Date & Pool Time

Yesterday, our friends Kristen and Ty came to visit us in Portage. Kristen is my good friend, and her little boy, Ty, is exactly 10 weeks younger than Joshua.



The boys had so much fun playing together!



We tried so hard to get a good picture of all of us - this is attempt #1...



...#2...



...#3...Ty was being much more cooperative than Joshy!



...#4...



...#5...this was as good as it got, and then we just gave up! They're cute even when they're not giving us their very best smiles! Thanks, Kristen and Ty, for coming to visit us! We had a wonderful time!



Snuggle time with Mommy by the pool.



Lounging with Daddy.



Gotta love these beautiful summer days!

Hope you all have had a wonderful week!

Love and blessings,
The Hollemans

Does This Child Have Any Clothes?????

Contrary the the pictures in this post, Joshua DOES have clothes - too many, in fact! He just prefers to be in the buff. That's still allowed at his age, right? ;-)



Playing drums on the baby wipes container.



Sleepyhead.



Look Mom! I crawled under my exersaucer! Now, how do I get out of here???



Future linebacker!



Such a happy guy!



Also contrary to these pictures, our little man has NOT been so happy today...more teeth are on the horizon! The pain has made him Mommy's little snuggler, which of course, I don't mind at all!

This sweaty little boy needs a bath - until next time, friends!

Love,
M, K & JJ