Trick or Treat

Maxwell looked so cute in this puppy costume, but he was not that fond of it. He did not like the hood. But he stayed in it long enough to get some good pics and show it off. He loves pups, his first word, and everytime we see one he gets so excited. Justin wants to get him one, but I do not think I am ready for that responsibility yet.
He is talking more than ever nowdays saying; baby, pease or peeps (please), hi, bye, and the funniest thing is whenever he hears a phone ring he puts his hand by his ear and says hi. So funny. The joys of children!

Happy 50th Birthday Aunt Sue!

Although my Aunt Sue's birthday was actually on the 28th we celebrated on the 29th! Nicole and Vanessa (her daughters) planned out a wonderful bash! The day was filled with pumpkins, bales of hay, apple cider, bobbing for apples, writing Haikous, estimating, Chipotle, and Carrot Cake! Vanessa(aka the game queen) planned the fun games, and just being with one another is always a blast. We ended the night all surrounding a fire laughing and sharing stories. Marc and Nicole, your place not only looks great, ( you have done wonders with the remodel job) but is very hospitable. Thanks for hosting. Always a good time with the Melchers.

Happy 50th Birthday Aunt Sue!

Some of the table decor I did.

Paul and Max...best buds!

Anne and Nicole

Mom., Dad, Uncle Don, and Aunt Sue

Vanessa, Anne, and Nicole...the green team!

Mom is cute. Casa de awesome, looking not so awesome !

How many Melchers does it take to eat 1600 Good and Plentys?

Group picture!

Marc bobbing for apples!

Vanessa explaining the games!

Sing your praise to the Lord...

In college, Nicole and I used to blast, I mean BLAST this song. We had the Amy Grant and the Rich Mullins version. We loved it. The words are actually really great, and what my heart longs for.

Sing your praise to the Lord
Come on everybody
Stand up and sing one more hallelujah
Sing your praise to the Lord I could never tell you just how much
Good that it's gonna do you

Just to sing Anew
The song your heart learned to sing
When He first gave His life to you
Well life goes on and so must the song
You gotta sing again the song born in your soul when
You first gave your heart to Him

Just to sing
Aloud the song that someone is dying
To hear down in the madding crowd
That you once were before you heard the song
You gotta let them know the truth
Is a light to shine upon the way that maybe they could go
And sing His praises once more

From the rising of the sun
To the place where it sets
The name of the Lord is to be praised
The Lord is exalted over all the nations
His glory above the heavens
Who is like the Lord our God
The One who sits enthroned on high
He who stoops to look down upon
Down upon this earth and its sky

Just to let the name of the Lord
Be praised both for now and ever more
Praise him oh ye servants
Praise the name of the Lord Come on everybody
Stand up and sing one more hallelujah

Sing your praise to the Lord
I could never tell you just how much
Good that it's gonna do you
Just to sing Your praises of the Lord
And everybody sing Your praises of the Lord

Happy Birthday Nessa!

Happy Birthday to my cuz Vanessa! Nessa has been married to Wally for 4 years, and is currently studying law. She's a smartie! Vanessa has a passionate heart for Christ and is a very compassionate person! She is very giving, and let me tell you, she comes up with the BEST games! SHAAAZZZAMMM!!!! She is the tops! I love you Ness!

Guy Smiley!

This is a picture of Alec and I at the Minnesota/Purdue Game! GO Gophers! It was a great game, and we had fun sitting in the homecoming student section, even though he has nothing to do with the homecoming committee. He scored tickets from his nerd work, at the Minnesota Daily. Seriously though, it was an awesome weekend, and I am so thankful for Alec and our friendship. I know I can always count on him, and I hope he feels the same. Oh, and as for the title of this post, when we were growing up I used to call Alec that all the time (you know Guy Simley from Sesame Street) because he used to star in our church Christmas plays, and he would smile through the whole play, even when he was supposed to be sad! Just his nervous tick I guess! I love you Al!

Happy Birthday Julia!

Happy 22 Birthday Julia! Julia is working at UW hospital as

a nurse! She is also living in her first apartment, with a

really comfortable couch, and an empress like lair. Loving anything orange, it definitely fits her funky fun personality. We love you Julia!

ON WISCONSIN!

OK its football season, so we root for the Badgers (but when they play Illinois we will have to root for the Illini). Justin and I got to go to the homecoming game today, thanks to his boss. It proved to be a good game, tied at the half, the Badgers came through in the end (big thanks to the defense) winning 31-20! Besides the fact that it seemed like we were sitting somewhere in the Arctic region, it was a blast! It is always fun to experience a game live, and try to beat everyone else out of the stadium! But basketball season is quickly approaching, and even though we both are graduates from Madison, (Justin spent the majority of his life in Illinois, and I was born there, its in my blood!) GO ILLINI!

God our Father

JI Packer has a good book titled "Knowing God." I highly recommend it. Some thoughts I had from a chapter titled Sons of God.
God the Father. He is Father to those who are his chosen ones. (Galatians 3:26- "You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.") He ADOPTED us as his children, his grace poured out unto us. To understand who we as Christians, we need to know God as our Father, and realize how we are his children. As his children, we should have complete and total faith that we can rely completely on him, come before him (humbly) but at the same time confidently because we know as his children we can always trust him. He loves us, he is ALWAYS with us, and he is our king (authority).
To better understand adoption: (Westminster Confession) "All those that are justified, God grants, in and for his only Son Jesus to make partaker of the grace of adoption: by which they are taken into the number, and enjoy the liberties and privileges of the children of God; have His name put upon them, receive the Spirit of adoption; have access to the throne of grace with boldness; are enabled to cry abba Father; pitied, protected, provided for, and chastened by Him, as by a father; yet never cast off, but sealed to the day of redemption, and inherit the promises, as heirs of everlasting salvation."
And here is something crazy,being adopted by Christ is an even better thing than being justified. I mean really, how incredible is it that God has chosen his children (what a endowment!) and has forgiven us is (amazing in itself), but he has furthermore, given us a RELATIONSHIP with him, an intimate, unbelievable, revealing himself to us, relationship. Praise be to him!

My Husband

Just a quick note.
Justin and I have been so busy these last few weeks, constantly in and out of the house, then spending last week sick. Life just slides by and we hardly notice. But today we paused. He has an exam tommorow, but it is important for us to have some moments together. Just the two of us. A hug from my husband. I love his hugs. He wraps his arms around me and places his chin ( that Swanson chin!) on my head. I absolutely love it! His hugs are so secure and warm, he doesn't even have to say anything. I am so happy I am his and he is mine. I love the small moments God gives us!

How Adorable!

Grandpa John helping Maxwell just before he started walking!

He looks pretty handsome all dressed up doesn't he?

13 months!

Happy Birthday Jaimee Grace!

Happy 7th Birthday to Jaimee Grace. Jaimee is the

sweetest 7 year old I know! Full of boundless energy

and an award winning smile, she loves lip gloss, art, reading,

movies, and disney princesses! She is well loved by her nephew

Maxwell, and of course by all of us!

Happy Birthday Judy!

(holding her first Grandbaby, Paul)
Happy Birthday to my gorgeous Aunt Judy!
She is the youngest of the four siblings! She loves
anything Harley Davidson...especially riding one!

Happy Birthday Mom Jane

Happy Birthday to my Mother in Law Jane!

She does not look a minute over 30 right?
I am so blessed to be related to this wonderful woman. She is an
outstanding mother, a strong woman, and the most incredible scrapper I know! You can see some of her stuff at www.scrapjazz.com
She has done pages of her childhood, famly, friends, our wedding, fun
outings, our family holidays, (meaning vacation for those of you who do not know our family lingo) and of her 1st grandson (Maxwell Jared).
What I love most about our relationship is that we get each other. We both love to craft, (we may compete on Craft Corner Death Match someday) we both love cute girly movies (all the Swanson women do of course) and we love good wine, and delectable chocolate. (a few to many consumed (chocolates that is) at a wedding recently...but hey we were celebrating!)
I love you Jane!

Happy Birthday Brett!

Happy 36th Birthday to Brett Favre of the Green Bay Packers!
(this one is for you Jordan!!)

(also continue to pray for Bretts wife Deanna who has survived breast cancer

October is Breast Cancer awareness month)

Happy Birthday Andy!

Happy Birthday to our dear friend
Andy Thomas! Andy is a fabulous
friend who we love very much, and
so enjoy spending time with.
We always laugh a lot when we are
all together!

GO ILLINI !!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Happy 51st Birthday to my Mother!

My Mother is a loving, kind, selfless,

giving, and a godly woman ! I am

so thankful for her and all the advice she

has given me through the years, and for

always being there when I needed her! I love you Mom!

(side note: She also shares a birthday with Brett Favre ! )

Happy Birthday Katie!

Madeline Lauren Reuhl

Happy Birthday to my dear freind and fellow
swimmer Katie Reuhl. Katie and Steve both
welcomed Madeline Lauren on August 14,
2005. Happy Birthday Kates!