Major Updates

My plan was origionally to keep up with this blog at the start of 2008. I obviously didn't do a very good job! But I'm determined to stay current with it this time. I think this is a really good way to keep track of what's going on with our lives, especially tracking my pregnancy.

So... We moved to Janesville, WI in April, and I love it here. We found a great church, New Life Assembly of God, and I am meeting some really good friends. The kids are enjoying their summer break, although I can't WAIT until they go back to school! Tyler will be in 1st grade and Michael will be in 3rd grade. Big boys!!

I am currently 21 weeks pregnant. Our baby girl (who will be named Jillianne) is quite an active little thing! I've had 3 ultrasounds and every one of the techs commented on how active she is, not to mention I can feel her too! Jon's excited about that, and thinks that she's active because she wants to come out ready to catch a football or hit a baseball!! Kayla is very excited to have a little sister, and the boys are excited and ready to help mommy.

I will be starting an at-home data entry job next week, and I am VERY excited for that! I have three weeks of training, and then I'm on my own, working 4 hours a day from my home computer. God has really blessed us with every possible thing we could need. We have a great place to live in an awesome community, We found a wonderful church the first week we moved here, Jon has a wonderful job that is only 2 miles away from our house, our kids go to one of the best schools in Janesville, and I will begin contributing money to the household by working at HOME!

Decisions, decisions...

Written: January 4, 2008

So we finally picked a permenant date for our wedding. January 26. I'm so excited!!! The year ahead is going to be very eventful with all the new things happening in our lives. We will be getting married, going to Florida, moving SOMEWHERE, and we don't know where, the kids going to a new school, meeting new friends, a new church.... But this time whereever we move to we will STAY there!! I can't wait to just settle down and start my life with my family. As for the wedding, we are planing on having it at a place called spring house inn, in Chesterton Indiana. It's a very cute little country place, with great views if all the leaves were still on the trees! All I can do now is pray for snow, which any other day I would hate, but if I can't see green, I'd like to see white!!! Then we will be going out to dinner at a place called Portobelos, or something like that. Jon and I ate there a couple days a go to try it out and the food was Excellent!! Were thinking there will be about 12 people there, perfect! Now I just have to find a dress, not too fancy, not to plain.... We are going to send out invitations tomorrow. I love this!! Today Jon said to me "In 22 more days you won't be Judy Munding anymore you'll be Judy Van Laanen, JVL"!! That made me get that excited, jumpy feeling inside, and I just can't wait!!!!!! Another cool thing is that everyone in Jon's family (his brothers and sister) all have J names.Jeff, Jody, Jay, Jim, Jerry, Jill and Jon. So they all have the initials JVL, and so will I! So if we ever do have a child together, you can bet their name will start with a J!!

First Blog of the new year

Written: January 1, 2008

Hello! So I am starting this blog to mark the start of a new year, and a new life. I have been thinking about keeping a blog for a while, and I figured what better time than January 1, 2008! Even though there is still about 1 1/2 hours left until 2008, it still counts! 2007 wasn't as bad as I had thought it would be considering how horrible 2006 was. 2007 was actually much better than I could have ever dreamed! Let's see, I moved out on my own (well, with Jon), I was able to become a stay at home mom in March, we moved to Portage, IN in April, and I got engaged in October. Things seem to be looking bright for 2008. I will get married, and we will move, once again, to a permenate location and get to start our lives together, how exciting!!! All my children are healthy, well behaved kids which I am so thankful for. I will list my new years resolutions here so I don't forget about them-in order of importance:1. Get a better, closer relationship with God.2. Be a better mother and (soon-to-be) wife by watching my tongue and not blowing up right away, and by being more patient.3. Lead a healthy life for me and my family, which will lead to losing weight! :)4. Start a savings account, and KEEP MONEY IN IT!5. Continue keeping up with this blog. It will be nice to look back on NEXT year and see how my life has gone. I truely feel blessed to have such a wonderful life, and I KNOW God has great things planned for me and my family. HAPPY NEW YEAR AMERICA!!!!