December 2012

December was an awesome time to prepare our hearts for the celebration of Jesus's birth. We enjoyed time spent with family and friends and the many celebrations that pointed us toward the birth of our Savior.

Here is a quick recap of the month...

Jeff finally had his kidney stone removed five weeks after feeling the initial pain. The procedure went well but it took several days to completely recover. We pray that this is his last one! He also had a visit with his GI doctor and we are praying about the next step to take in the treatment of his Crohns. He wrapped up the semester at school with semester tests and also participated in the Secret Santa game. He has thoroughly enjoyed this year at school so far!

Leigh Ann was busy with the women's ministry at church as well as wrapping up BSF for the semester. She also babysits for a friend one morning a week and has enjoyed having two more kiddos playing in the house.

The kids also enjoyed several play dates as well as a special Christmas story-time at the library. We wrapped up the month with one final ride on the Holiday train as Thad had been praying about it since Thanksgiving! Thad has started potty training and we are hopefully a few steps closer to being a diaper free household! Eli sang in church at the end of the month but Thad wanted nothing to do with the limelight. Of course, the snow made for a ton of fun up at camp where we celebrated Christmas with Nana and Papa.

We were blessed with visits from Ms. Scheible and the MacPeeks. We also enjoyed time spent with friends here in Fort Smith.

As we look forward to the New Year, we pray that God would be glorified in our lives and that He would be made known to the world!

Psalm 95:6  Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.

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November 2012

November was a month to make memories. From Eli's 5th birthday party to a wonderful Thanksgiving, we were blessed by family, friends, and good times.

Jeff started the month with another kidney stone but thankfully the pain was short lived and he was able to enjoy all the festivities surrounding Eli's 5th Birthday. We decided to do "old school" party games along with a Spiderman pinata and birthday cake. The Lord blessed us with an absolutely gorgeous day and everyone had a great time. It is hard to believe that we are parents of a 5 year old. Time really does fly!!!

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The boys had another appointment with their kidney specialist this month. Thankfully their blood-work didn't show anything to be overly concerned about. We will not have to see him again for another six months.

The following weeks were filled with planning for Thanksgiving. We were blessed to have both of Jeff's brothers and their families along with his parents travel to Arkansas for the holiday. After hosting Doug, Kristen, and their kids for a night at our house we headed to Pinecrest Camp where Leigh Ann's parents work. We rented out their big conference center for the next three days. What followed were days filled with food, fun, and memory making. The biggest blessing for us were the time of devotion and worship each day. What an amazing gift to be a part of a family that loves the Lord and serves him with all their hearts! It was a double blessing for Leigh Ann who was able to have her parents and her "sister" Tanya be able to join in the festivities. The Lord again blessed us with beautiful weather in a perfect wooded setting. There was no shortage of things to do as you will see from the pictures. A big thank you to everyone who helped make this venture a huge success. After that, the Illinois Rices and Jeff's parents spent a night at our house and attended church with us before heading home. It was neat for everyone to get to see where we live and where Jeff works. We also took the opportunity to ride the Holiday Express Train at Creekmore Park. What fun!

We pray that you had many things to be thankful for this Thanksgiving and that you give God all the glory for his marvelous blessings.

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October 2012

October was another marathon month full of fun activities. We continued to enjoy our "normal activities" including Bible Study Fellowship, Small Group, etc but for the sake of space I will just highlight a few special activities we got to do.

Leigh Ann and the boys started the month off heading to Nana and Papa's for a day. There is so much to do and the boys just love spending time with them. This time they really enjoyed playing miniature golf. When Eli takes his time he does very well. Thad will need a little more practice before he is ready for the big competition at Thanksgiving!

We also had a great time at our annual trip to the zoo. We never tire of seeing all the unique creatures God created. It was especially neat since we just got done studying about how God created all the animals during Bible Study Fellowship. A special treat was the sea lion show. They are truly magnificent animals and it was amazing to see all they could do and how effortlessly these enormous creatures glide through the water. They barely swish their feet to propel themselves through the water. It was fun to see one play volleyball with a trainer and talk to her. The petting zoo is always a highlight. Getting to touch and groom the animals is so fun! Leigh Ann was able to get 4 tickets for free by donating blood a few times so all we had to pay for was the gas. Thank you Lord for how you provide in unexpected ways!

Leigh Ann competed in her first 10K race the second weekend in October. It was a beautiful cool morning. Over 1,200 runners came out to show support for cancer patients. She finished in her best time ever of 1 hour 9 minutes and 30 seconds. If not for her injured heel she would begin training for a half marathon. This will have to wait as she takes time out to try and heal. Please pray for quick healing as she misses running and this is the perfect time of year for it in Arkansas!

We were able to spend more time with our Russellville friends again this month. It is always a blessing to visit with them.

Jeff endured his first set of parent teacher conferences at Southside. They hold them on two separate nights making for two VERY long days. He was mostly encouraged by the parents that came and really enjoys his students.

At the end of the month, we attended our church's annual Fall Festival. From games, to food, to the bounce around, fun is had by all! It was a blast to watch the adults on the cake walk. There was much laughter heard that night! Both Thad and Eli wore two costumes. They started the night in one and switched to the other half way through the night. Eli was a dinosaur and a lion. Thad was a kitty and a ducky. I hope you enjoy the pictures of them hamming it up! They also trick or treated at a few houses in our neighborhood.

Jeff and Leigh Ann had a blast at their small group's Halloween Party. We played silly games and laughed ourselves sick. We won the best costume in both the male and female category as well as winning one of the other games we played. Our friends provided our babysitter so we enjoyed the night without the kids. It was fun to see a different, less serious, side of our small group.

As the month came to a close, we were blessed by a visit from Nana and Papa. The boys always get soooo excited to see them they practically trip over themselves to give hugs and talk over each other to catch them up on the latest happenings. Papa usually brings a special treat of donuts and now the boys can't wait to see what kind of sprinkles there will be. This time were the usual along with star shaped sprinkles! Time spent reading together is precious but they don't sit still for very long. Eli especially has ants in his pants and with his bony butt makes reading a story rather uncomfortable at times. Thad loves to turn pages but often won't let you finish reading before he turns. There is never a dull moment here!

I hope you enjoy the pictures. I am sorry that the quality on many pictures is poor but our camera that has served us well for 6.5 years is now dying.

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September 2012

Is fall ever going to get here? School is back in swing, football season is under way, and it is still in the 90's here! We are hoping and praying for jeans and sweatshirt weather but not sure we are going to see it anytime soon.

The month started off with a bang for our family as Elijah became the newest triathlete in the family. He completed the swim/run/bike in great time and came in second place in his age division!!!! He swam and biked like a champ but a stomach cramp slowed him down in the run. Overall, he loved the experience and wants to do it again. He especially loves his medal (and showed it by kissing it several times) and his bobble head trophy. What fun! We were so proud of him we had to choke back tears.

Bible Study Fellowship is now in full swing and Leigh Ann is really enjoying the 15 ladies in her discussion group. They are studying Genesis this year and she is already amazed at all she has learned even though she has read Genesis many times in the past. The boys are also loving "Bible School" and are learning about creation right along with Mom.

Leigh Ann has enjoyed having one of her good friends move closer and the two of them take turns watching the others kids once a week so the other can have a break. What a blessing!

Our Small Group Bible Study has been studying the Treasure Principle by Randy Alcorn. So far the study has been challenging and convicting. We are trying harder to live life in light of eternity and not store up for ourselves "treasure" here. This has led to more giving and even purging of stuff.

As you will see in the pictures we have already been enjoying this football season. Jeff's school has a great team and an amazing band to boot. The cheerleaders, Dixie Bells, and Flag Core also make for fun entertainment. We sure love football. Now if the weather would just cooperate...

Jeff also helped two families in our small group move this month and would you believe that it rained on him both times! Who says God doesn't have a sense of humor. We have been in a drought for months and now it rains. I would have laughed those two nights if the weather hadn't turned into dangerous tornado conditions. Thankfully Jeff just ended up wet. Unfortunately, so did a ton of the stuff.

Leigh Ann has had to hang up her swimsuit for a while as she hopes and prays that her shoulder heals.She has been struggling with pain since the spring and it has started to get worse. She continues to run but plantar fasciitis has slowed her down a bit. Lord willing, she is still going to run her first 10K in a couple weeks. She completed her farthest run ever this past month at 7.2 miles.

We hosted a special visitor this month. Jake, a friend of Leigh Ann's from Bible School, whom she hasn't seen in 8 years, stopped by for an overnight visit. It was great getting to catch up and hear the stories of God's providence in his life. It was a fun and encouraging time and the boys loved having him. Eli has asked several times when he will be coming back. Maybe the next time we are in Wisconsin we can catch up with him again.

We hope you enjoy the pictures and that they bring a smile to your face. We pray you take time today to enjoy God's creation and find yourself looking forward to an eternity with Him!

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August 2012

August was spent connecting with friends and diving back into school and ministry. While summer was a blast, it has been nice to settle back into a routine.

Hardly a day went by this month that we did not visit or host friends. We even enjoyed several overnight visits! God has richly blessed us with an abundance of amazing friends who we can laugh with, pray with, and occasionally cry with.

Jeff also started his new job as a high school Chemistry and AP Chemistry teacher at Southside High School here in Fort Smith. There are many difference between his last school and this one but the transition has been really smooth and he has been enjoying his new students. Last Friday, he was able to reconnect with some of his past students when he attended a Union football game. He was given many hugs and well wishes. It was a sweet time to reconnect with people who had become like family.

We kicked off the fall ministry season at church. We are a part of a small group, teach the 2/3s on the third Sunday, help greet at church, participate in FYI (a women's ministry) and enjoy Men's Breakfasts once a week. Leigh Ann also started back up with Bible Study Fellowship and is looking forward to meeting the ladies who will be in her group this year.

Leigh Ann has also started the process of teaching Eli how to read. Thad also seems as eager to learn and can often be found on the couch with a book open "reading" to himself.

The weather has still been very hot and so we spend time almost every day in the pool. It has been a wonderful thing to have and the boys absolutely love it.

We hope that you too enjoyed your summer and that you also have an abundance of amazing friends to go through the journey of life with. We thank God for the blessing of friends!

P.S. We hope you enjoy the pictures of the boys trying on costumes. Savers was having a great sale!

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July 2012

Our family traveled more then 13,000 miles by car, boat, and plane this past month. We started the month in Arkansas before packing the car for the long ride to Grandma and Grandpa Rice's house in Wisconsin on July 2.

We spent the next day celebrating Thad's birthday and catching up with family. Thad thoroughly enjoyed yet another birthday party complete with a ducky cake and presents. A few of his favorites were his green costume, tiger towel, cars cup, and aqua doodle story book, and new life vest for the pool.

On the 4th, we were blessed to celebrate at Esau and Anita's house directly on the parade route and right across from Lake Michigan. The parade was great and the fellowship and food were fantastic. It was a hot day but we hiked out to a lighthouse and then went for a quick and cold swim in the lake. Later that night we watched the fireworks show complete with live band music. It was a first for both Eli and Thad.

A few days later, we headed to Appleton to have a picnic and reunite with friend from Rawhide. It was great to catch up and meet some of the newest members of the families. The day was beautiful and the setting was perfect. It was so much fun to watch our kids making friendships with our friend's kids.

Next up on the agenda was the Rice/Foster Family Reunion. We enjoyed getting to catch up with our extended family and spend time eating, swimming, laughing, and playing. Again the Lord blessed us with a beautiful day and perfect venue (Uncle Doug's house). It was a blessing to finally meet Billy's girls in person all the way from New York.

The following day Jeff dropped Leigh Ann off at the airport in Chicago. The next two days she took multiple flights to finally end up in Albania. For 10 days she wined and dined with her sister and her family. It was so wonderful to get to hug them and spend time in their world. Albania is a beautiful country and provided many new experiences. The language is extremely difficult and at times Leigh Ann felt like a child for not being able to understand anything spoken or written. The way of life is also hard and it felt as if she had stepped back in time during parts of her stay. From the cobblestone streets, to the roadside fruit stands, to the oxen pulled plows, it is truly a different world. She really enjoyed getting to see and experience parts of everyday life for Meredith and Amos. Playing with Isaiah and Seth helped her when she was missing Eli and Thad. It was a treat to be able to celebrate both Isaiah and Amos's birthdays. Saying goodbye was so hard. Please continue to pray for their family and for the Albanian people to experience God's grace and salvation.

In the meantime, Jeff and the boys stayed at Grandma and Grandpa's where the fun continued. From tie dying to boat rides to golfing to swimming daily in the pool, there was rarely a dull moment. Elijah's swimming went from good to great and he now swims confidently without his life jacket. Thad's vocabulary almost doubled on vacation... probably from spending so much time talking to his cousins. When they picked Leigh Ann up from the airport she couldn't believe how tanned and tall they both seemed.

After we were all reunited, we headed to Uncle Kevin's house in Illinois for the night. The next day was spent playing instruments, petting all the animals, and spending time in fellowship. It was a short visit but was nonetheless a great time.

Coming back to Arkansas was like jumping into a furnace. The temperatures have been in the 100s! Upon returning home we picked up Murphy and found out that our good friends are moving to Ohio. After delivering the sad news they asked if we wanted their 15 foot above ground pool. What an unexpected blessing! The last few days have been spent prepping the ground and putting up the pool.

This past week we also had fun at Vacation Bible School. Elijah especially enjoyed it and looked forward to seeing the clowns every night. During the day, Jeff attended a training for his AP Chemistry class and Leigh Ann enjoyed catching up with friends. This past weekend we headed up to camp and spent some time catching up with Leigh Ann's parents and our church family from Russellville CMA.

This month has been amazing and exhausting! As we wrap up our summer, we are so thankful for a job that has allowed us to spend so much time travelling and visiting family and friends. We are now looking forward to the start of a new school year. We hope you have managed to stay cool this summer and have found refreshment in the Living Water!

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June 2012

June flew by in a flurry of activity. Here are a few highlights from the month.

Eli enjoyed his second year of swim lessons and is getting better and stronger each year. To say he loves to swim would be a huge understatement. If he could spend his whole summer in the pool, he would. He also ran in another race and did great! He loves to run and this race was the perfect length for his age. He has also had fun at the local library where they have hosted movie matinees, craft days, magic shows and more. Both he and Thad love to be read to and really love going to the library. Eli goes straight to the computer and you will find Thad working the puzzles. Another good time was had when he and Daddy went fishing at the Nature Center. Eli caught the first fish of the day and was the envy of all the other kids.

Leigh Ann continued to train and then participated in her first triathlon. She did great and finished second in her age division. She really enjoyed the experience and would definitely do it again! She continues to run although an injury has slowed her down a bit. She is training to run her first 10K (6.2 miles) in October. She enjoys meeting up with other ladies from her running club in the early morning, before the scorching sun has reached its peak, and going the distance. Her furthest run to date is 6.5 miles in an hour and 9 minutes.

Jeff has already begun prep for this fall. He spends several hours a morning during the week lesson planning and coming up with labs for his chemistry classes. He has also enjoyed getting together with a group of guys for breakfast once a week and now for a couple poker nights. He came in second the first time they played! He also had several procedures done this month to alleviate a problem he has been dealing with since last fall. Thank the Lord, the procedures were a success.

Thad doesn't technically turn 2 until July 2 but since we are going to be travelling we celebrated early with Nana and Papa. It is always a ton of fun to visit Nana and Papa at the camp where they now work but even more so when it involves cake and presents! Thad has loved ducky since he was old enough to hold one so it seemed appropriate to have a ducky birthday cake. After cake, we enjoyed swimming in the camp pool for hours. It is hard to believe that my littlest man is turning two! He talks up a storm, is working on potty training, and does (or tries to do) everything Eli does. Unfortunately, we found out at a recent dentist that the poor little guy actually has an extra tooth and after we return from the great north it will have to be pulled to allow the rest to come in. He will continue to have a goofy grin for years to come!

We had a lot of fun doing play dates with many friends this month. A particularly special treat was the day Laura S. came. The boys love Ms. Laura Scheible (as does their mother)! She also took some amazing pics of the boys....which is no small challenge when they won't sit still for even 5 seconds. See the pics at the end of the Smilebox for a taste of what the photo shoot entailed.

We ended the month with a trip to the local Chik-Fil-A for Superhero Day. What fun to meet all the superheros in person! Thad wasn't too sure about what to make of these crazy individuals but Eli was super excited.

We hope that your summer has been great so far and look forward to sharing more exciting times with you next month. We are heading to the great north and Leigh Ann will fly to Albania! Please pray for travel mercies and health. See you next month.

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May 2012

May was a crazy month in the Rice household! We celebrated Jeff, Cindi, and Leigh Ann's birthdays. Jeff and Eli finished school. Leigh Ann wrapped up two Bible studies. We celebrated Mother's Day. We also celebrated Jeff's new job...at a completely different school! After all that celebrating it is no wonder I am exhausted!


Here are a few more details from the month...


On May 10th, the boys had their bi-annual kidney check-up. Unfortunately, the news was not as good as we had hoped. The disease is progressing in both of the boys. Please continue to pray for healing.


On May 12th, Leigh Ann participated in the Women Run Arkansas 5K along with over 1,000 other women. She ran hard and made her goal of finishing in under 30 minutes!


On May 22nd, Jeff was informed that he did not get the job in Van Buren after all. However, he was called for an interview at Southside two days later and has accepted the position of Chemistry/AP Chemistry teacher! What a roller coaster ride!


On May 28th, Leigh Ann did her first lake swim. She swam 1.2 miles in under an hour. The lake was rough making the swim very difficult but she finished!


In the middle of all this chaos, Bill and Cindi moved on to their new jobs working at a Christian Camp about an hour and a half away.


We also enjoyed time spent with friends for pool parties, game nights, and fellowship time. Whew...I hope June is a little less exciting! Enjoy the pictures.

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April 2012

April has come and gone. I cannot believe it is May already...and almost a week in for that matter. Here is a short (ok, not so short) summary of the comings and goings of our family this month.

Leigh Ann continued to train in running, biking, and swimming. She competed in a 5K at the end of April and beat her best time coming in at 29min and 25seconds (in 88 degree weather with high humidity nonetheless). Next weekend she will compete with several thousand ladies at the finale of the Women Run Arkansas Clinic. She also took over as a group leader in the middle of the month at Bible Study Fellowship. This came as a surprise as she thought she wouldn't lead until the fall but circumstances beyond anyone's control sped up the process. She is blessed to be leading the very same group of ladies she was a part of as a fellow member just a few weeks before. In just a few short weeks, this study will end. She is already excited about leading a group of ladies to study Genesis in the fall!

Jeff enjoyed a having Good Friday off of work. He spent a good portion of the day finishing the garden. It is now an amazing thing to behold. Plants grow at an amazing rate here (compared to the north) and we have already been eating out of it! He continued in his daily routine at school until the end of the month when he worked at two track meets inputting data. It sounds like it was quite the experience. During the month, he was told of a job opening at a school that he had interviewed at before us ever moving to the area. The job included getting to teach an engineering class. We had been praying that God would show us if we were to stay where we were or if he had something else for us. Jeff was so excited about the possibility and how it came to pass that he applied for the position. By the end of the month, he was called in for an interview. I won't make you wait until May to hear the outcome (although we had to). He received a call just the other day and was offered the job. He said yes! The school is close enough that he will be able to commute and it shouldn't add to much time onto his workday. He will continue to teach Chemistry and will now teach Engineering too.  Tune in next month for more details about that.


Thad and Eli enjoyed everything about Easter from dying (and cracking) eggs to "the hunt" to reading the resurrection story using resurrection eggs. We also headed to a local park for games, bounce-arounds, a climbing wall, face painting, and more (check out the Smilebox for pics). Unfortunately, Eli ended up with an ear infection Easter morning and since Leigh Ann was sick too both missed church on Easter morning (BIG BUMMER). Later in the month, Thad also developed an ear infection which seems to be the theme every time he cuts a tooth. Thanks goodness for modern medicine that quickly healed the boys. The highlight of Eli's month was his first 1 mile run. The 5K Leigh Ann participated in was a family night and included a 1 mile kids fun run. Eli ran the whole thing and was awarded a medal and some fun prizes as he crossed the finish line. He is still telling everyone he sees about how he ran a race! Leigh Ann is hoping he can become her running buddy in the future.

As a family, we were invited to be a part of a really cool event. Some friends of ours are foster parents and had the privilege of adopting another one of their foster children. We were allowed to attend the court hearing and the celebration following. I don't think there was a dry eye in the courtroom as baby Elijah "officially" became a MacPeek. What an awesome event to be a part of! I would rank it right up there with getting to watch my first nephew being born. This child has a forever family to be a part of that will show him the way of the Lord and introduce him to the heavenly Father who created him and loved him before he was born. How cool is that?!?

As the month wound to a close, Jeff and I celebrated our sixth anniversary. So much has happened in 6 years that it often seems like we have been together forever. The two of us enjoyed a nice dinner and taking in some of the scenery from around the area. It was a wonderful time to look back and see how the hand of God has provided and dream about what the future may hold. I am so grateful that God gave me such an amazing man to share my life with. He is the greatest husband and father ever! Thank you Lord for such an awesome blessing!

How about you.. Can you look back over the past few days, months, and years to see how God has provided for you? Did you arise on Easter morning with a sense of excitement and wonder that our Savior arose from the grave? I hope you can answer these questions with a resounding YES!

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March 2012

I think we skipped spring and went straight to summer! The temperatures have hovered in the 80s and even low 90s at times during this past month. If the temps continue to rise this will be the hottest recorded summer in history.

This month started with Leigh Ann joining the Women Run Arkansas clinic again. She went from beginners last year to the advanced group this year. She has run many miles, high stepped it up 900+ stadium stairs, sprinted football fields, dashed up intensely steep hills...and enjoys doing it!

A friend challenged her to do an indoor triathlon in June so she now swims twice a week and has started biking more in preparation for that race. Can you say CRAZY woman! (Thankfully, I (Leigh Ann) have the most amazing husband in the world who gladly watches the kids so I can partake in these awesome opportunities).

Leigh Ann was also asked to become a Bible Study Fellowship group leader. She is now in training and will lead her own group in the fall. This is a tremendous honor and also a BIG responsibility. Please pray for her as she tries to balance the details of her busy schedule and keep of with the kiddos.

For St. Patrick's Day we headed to Heavener, Oklahoma for a Viking/Celtic Fest. The festival was held at the top of Runer Mountain. As you will see in the smilebox, the scenery was nothing short of breathtaking and the booths and entertainment were great. We saw "authentic" viking garb, instruments, weapons, and more. We went to part of a dulcimer concert and enjoyed beautiful music. The hike down to the Rune Stone was also a beautiful and exciting adventure. The hike was complete with a waterfall and several bridges over ravines.

March also means Spring Break. We definitely enjoyed a more low key week. Jeff worked on his teacher work sample a couple of mornings and so we took advantage of having some friends over for play dates. Unfortunately, the weather was not very cooperative and it rained a good part of the week. We went to the Jones Center in Springdale, AR to go swimming one day. We also headed to Russellville to spend some time with friends.

As the month wound to a close, Leigh Ann and the kids headed to Wild Things Farm. We were given a free pass to enjoy marshmallow picking, the Easter egg hunt, pony rides, and more. It was a gorgeous day and the kids had a great time. Jeff had training and turned in his final project and gave a final presentation. He only has one more Saturday class and he is done!

We also welcomed Bill and Cindi into our home as they transition between jobs. Elijah and Thad absolutely LOVE having Nana and Papa in the house and haven't left them alone since they moved in.

I hope that this week as we head toward Easter you will look to the cross and find not only your salvation but the hope of eternity in Heaven with our Lord and Savior. HE IS RISEN!

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February 2012

February...a month to show our loved ones how much we care. February is a great time to remember and tell others about the One who gives us perfect/unconditional love - Jesus!

After a grueling January, February felt much easier. We ended up having two Mondays off in a row and were really loving having three day weekends. This month we celebrated Valentine's Day a day early due to having Daddy home on a snow day. It was a fun day complete with heart shaped pancakes! We all had a great time making snowmen and a snow dog. Murphy even enjoyed a good romp in the snow. But as usual, the snow melted the next day and two days later it was in the 60's. Good ole Arkansas weather!

We also enjoyed celebrating Papa's birthday, having a game night with friends, and participating in a surprise birthday party for our small group leader. What fun! Leigh Ann enjoyed a special treat and was able to spend part of a day with her friend Laura and later in the month got to spend part of two days with her friend Beth both from our church in Russellville. God is so gracious in providing wonderful and encouraging friends!

Eli continues to enjoy preschool but loves going to Bible School (where Leigh Ann attends Bible Study Fellowship) even better. He is memorizing scripture and learning many new Bible stories. At home and in preschool he is learning his letters and the sounds they make and has started sounding out simple words. His is also practicing writing his letters. He enjoys telling stories and singing at the top of his lungs. He continues to grow like a weed and manages to stay almost a whole size ahead of his age in clothing!

Thad is still in the middle of teething and has been having a rough go of it. When he is not in pain he loves doing whatever big brother is doing. He is still a "little bit" but manages to get into BIG trouble sometimes! He can now say "Eli" instead of "E.I." and says just about any other word that pops into his head. He is all about "I do".

Jeff is on the home stretch with the training he has to do to achieve his teaching license. He also attended some training in Oklahoma City this month and was able to take in the Memorial while there. He keeps busy with school and the demands of being a father to two crazy boys. He is an amazing husband and I can't wait to tell you about the opportunities he is helping me participate in in the next few months! You will have to tune in next month to hear more about that.

Until then, I pray that you have felt the love of God in an amazing way this month and has seen His mighty hand at work in your life!

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January 2012

Happy New Year! Sorry this is so late. January started with us getting back into our normal routines but then sickness found our home. For the last several weeks, Eli, Thad, and I have shared the flu, croup, RSV, and now I am getting over a sinus infection. Thankfully, the Lord protected Jeff's health and he was able to baby us back to relative health. Thank the Lord for modern medicine or we would still be in a world of hurt!

Unfortunately, there are not many pictures to share this month. I am not sure you really wanted to see us in our sickened state anyway. We pray that February brings renewed health. Love you all and Happy Valentines Day!

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December 2011

And the season of blessings and thankfulness continues...

December was a wonderful month in the Rice household. There were so many blessings that it is hard to recall them all. From time spent with family and friends to unexpected gifts, we were overwhelmed with love and the joy that comes from celebrating the birth of Christ our Savior.

Here is a recap of some of the things we did this month:

December 2 - Date night. Jeff and I enjoyed playing games and having fellow with our friends Mark and Charmaine (a couple from our church) while the kids played at another church.

December 3 - Leigh Ann runs another 5K. The Lord provided beautiful weather but a very challenging course.

December 4 - Leigh Ann enjoys attending a double baby shower for friends from church. There are many bundles of joy expected in the New Year. Our nursery is growing rather quickly!

December 5 - Charmaine visits with Leigh Ann and the kids. She helped Leigh Ann make some awesome Christmas crafts. Her friendship is very dear!

December 9 - The Women's Christmas Party at church was a blast. It was a wonderful time of getting to know some ladies better and developing deeper relationships with others.

December 10 - Jeff's Physics Class competes in the regional robotics competition. The robot did well but was up against some stiff competition. They were not able to make it past the qualifying rounds. Leigh Ann, Elijah, and Thad attended a birthday bash at the Monkey House for a church friend. Later in the day, Auntie Tanya and Jessyca came for a visit. They went to the Christmas parade with us and came back for dinner. It was such a blessing to get to visit with them!

December 11 - Following church we went out to lunch with Mom, Dad, Tanya, and Jessyca. It was a special time and maybe the last we see of Jessyca for a long time as she is getting to go home. May God bless you Jessyca in your new adventure. We love you!

December 14 - Our small group celebrated Christmas with a party. We played silly games and ate great food. We also thanked our childcare provider with a special gift. She has been such a blessing for volunteering to watch our kids for over a year!

December 15 - Elijah's preschool Christmas program was super cute. He did great and thoroughly enjoyed the spotlight. The program was complete with a cake reception for Jesus' birthday.
We also went to UCA's Christmas party while Nana and Papa watched the kids. It was a blessing to get to meet and start a relationship with some of the people from Jeff's school. We both won amazing door prizes. Thank you Lord for new friends!

December 17 - We celebrated Christmas with my family. Mom and Dad came over and we Skyped with Amos, Meredith, Isaiah, and Seth. We are so thankful for the technology to Skype! It was a sweet time but also tough that we are so far apart during this special time of year. Eli and Thad both received some great gifts from our family. Thank you all for your thoughtful gifts and your love!

December 18 - Eli sang Silent Night during church with his Sunday School class. It was super cute until he started picking his nose on stage. I was mortified but he didn't think it was a big deal at all. I guess we still have a long way to go!
We also celebrated with another Christmas party that night with two small groups from church. We had a great time.

December 19 - We packed up the car and headed to Wisconsin. Overall, the kids did great in the car. It was a long trip and we were thankful when we finally arrived.

December 20 - Billy and Sarah arrive. Eli decides Billy is his favorite uncle and spends as much time as he can playing and wrestling with him. Thank you Billy for being patient with Eli and putting up with his antics!

December 21 - We awoke to a winter wonderland. The snow coated every mailbox, car, and house for miles around. The kids were so excited that we had to bundle them up before breakfast to play in the snow. It was so beautiful! Later, Eli played in the snow for hours with his cousins sledding and throwing snowballs.

December 22 - Jeff's family threw a retirement party for Jeff's Dad. It was such a blessing to hear how God provided for them over the years and how he came to Christ. Thank you for sharing your experiences and for the legacy you have given your family!
We all pitched in to make party favors and centerpieces for Billy and Sarah's reception.

December 23 - A wedding reception is given in honor and Sarah and Billy. It was such fun to help do all the girls hair and nails, get dolled up, and enjoy wonderful food and entertainment. It was such fun to serenade Billy and Sarah with 'The 12 Days of Christmas' done Rice style. Welcome to the family Billy!

December 24 - We opened presents. There were so many wonderful gifts and much fun was had by all. One of my favorites gifts is a ticket to go see my sister and her family in Albania! We also played a Thrift Gift Exchange game. We were blessed to get to bring home Sprechers Root Beer, Russian Tea, Christmas mugs, and new drinking glasses. That night we went to a candlelight service at church. This is one of my favorite services. So many voices raised in song celebrating the coming of Christ. The lights dimmed and faces glow by candlelight. It was truly beautiful. I must admit that I got a little nervous about Eli holding a candle but he managed to not burn himself or anybody else.

December 25 - Christmas Day. We headed to church for a great service. The sermon was so timely. Pastor talked about the 3 responses to Christ's birth. I hope and pray that you have responded by seeking Him! Lunch after church was nothing short of gourmet. It was a great time to spend talking and laughing around the dinner table. There are so many people that we fill up several tables and still have to squeeze in!

December 26 - We said goodbye to everyone and headed back to Arkansas. Our time in Wisconsin went by so fast that it seemed we had hardly arrived when it was time to pack up and head home. The trip went well and we made good time. We came home to unseasonably warm temperatures soaring into the 70s. Wow! Eli already misses his cousins. He had so much fun that we hardly saw him! Thad also loved the time spent with his cousins. He especially took a liking to Jake and they could be seen cuddling and reading a book several times over the course of our stay. Thank you cousins for playing so great with the boys. You are a treasure!

The next few days were spent unpacking and taking care of things around the house.

December 30 - One of my dear friends from Russellville, Laura S., blessed us with a visit. She stayed the night and watched the kids so Jeff and I could go on a date. She is such an amazing friend and we enjoyed talking late into the night. Thank you Lord for precious friends!

We are so thankful for the blessings of the past year. As the New Year begins, we look forward to seeing how God will work in our lives and the lives of those we love. We hope that this past year has been one of many blessings and that you too look forward to seeing the plan of God unfold in your life! Merry CHRISTmas and Happy New Year!

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