****This Crazy Ride We Call "Life"****

Every day is like a new ride, a new roller-coaster. There are new bends and twists whenever you aren't expecting them. Some are fun and exciting, others are weird, awkward and not so much fun. I recently ran into a friend of mine from High School, we never were the closest friends, but we were always able to talk to one another. It's amazing how 2 years can change your life so much. It's crazy how it actually equips you for the random points in your life when someone else is going through that exact same thing that you went through a year ago and you just happened to run into you at the exact point in which they need your help. I found this to be a huge factor in why I ran into this girl. I'm sorry for the situation she is in, but I praise God that he brought me to her when she needed me the most. I've decided not to go into details at all, some of you readers just might know her. This was a good twist.
I've recently found out that my older sister, Amber, will most likely being going on tour with her good friends who are in a popular Christian singing trio known as "ZoeGirl". This is a GREAT bend for Amber, for me however, it's a not so fun one. See, with Olivia being in California (sad twist) and now Amber possibly being gone on tour, it leaves little ol' me here. Yes I have my own family and in-laws that I adore, and who can forget my wonderful parents...but nothing is as good as a sister being close. I was especially sad because Am would be gone up until mid March, well I'm due on March 15th....so I'm sad in thinking that she might not be here when little "Mac baby" number 2 finally gets here. So this, is a sad twist.
The good twists and bends definitely out number the sad ones...but the sad ones seem to always set a little heavier. Why is that? Why do we allow ourselves to be so easily saddened when so many good things are happening at the same time? It's easier to be sad than it is to be happy. Why do we have to try so hard to be happy sometimes? Hmm...ok, obviously I'm tired so my thinking is a little less than "logic" lol...so I will say good night and go get some beauty sleep, Lord knows I could use some! =) Until tomorrow! -Lacey

"Class Reunion"

Tonight my friend Sarah got married. This in itself is quite huge because Sarah was always "anti-marriage". She married this great guy, Alex.
When I first got to her wedding, I took one look around and saw a lot of people I hadn't seen in a long time and realized how much I missed them. Whether we were really close at one point or just casual friends, it didn't matter, I missed them. My friend Donielle and I joked saying that it was like a class reunion, even though I really graduated the year after all of my friends. It felt good to see them all back together, in one spot, having a good time.
Obviously some looked different, thinner, new hair styles, new piercings, pregnant and just more mature. But everyone looked great!
Isn't it crazy how even after you haven't seen someone or spoke with someone in over a year, the minute you get thrown back into your old "social circle" with them, it's so easy to pick back up right where you left off? Sure, you know a lot of time has passed, but you still have that connection, that tie.
I wasn't able to stay for the dancing and what not, my mom was here with Ella because Jonathan had a Youth Leadership Meeting at church, and obviously I was at the reception. She had stayed with Ella until really late/early the night previous and so I didn't want to keep her for too long. However, it would've been fun to have spent some more time with everyone.
Well, enough for tonight. Jonathan is home and we are going to watch a movie then go to bed. It's so awesome to have him to come home to. Love him much!! Talk to ya all later! -Lacey

**Family Camp**

Well, the first couple days of Family Camp were a blast! Spent a lot of time down in the water and on the beach. Just relaxing and hanging out with friends. Then, I caught a bug. I was throwing up and sleeping all day Wednesday. What a bust! I was the third person to get sick while we were there. By 1 am Jonathan came into our cabin and told me that our friends Corey and Heather were heading home because Heather and three of their four children were throwing up.
Not too long after they left, we decided it would be best for us to just pack up and head home. The best place to recuperate is definitely in your own home. So we packed up everything at around 2 am, and were headed home around 3:30 am.
We got home around 5:15 am, tucked ourselves into bed and slept until 11 o'clock. I was so glad that Ella was just as tired as we were. I wasn't ready to have to be up by 8 am. A little later on in the day, my mom came over and watched Ella for us so we could get a little more sleep.
I'm finally starting to feel a little more "normal" today. I'm still a little sleepy and just worn-down, but I'm on the up side of whatever I caught. Not such great news for the Clark family. Heather just got home from the hospital this morning and now everyone is ill. Please keep them all in your prayers.
Quite a Funny story from Family Camp:
Grace Leonard is our friends Ryan and Koralyn's daughter. Wednesday, around dinner time, I was just lying in my bed in the back end of the cabin. I had opened the window so that I could hear all the announcements and what not. Jonathan had ran to town and got me some vernor's (ginger ale) and said he would be back in the room after a bit with a glass for me.
I heard the screen door open and close loudly, so I figured it was Jonathan. Then I heard a rather loud pouring sound, so all seemed normal. But then I started hear what sounded like someone playing with the spring on the screen door, so I peaked around the corner and saw Grace standing by our door. I ask her what she was doing and she told me she couldn't find the potty. Obviously I was confused, so I said "what?" She then told me that she couldn't find her cabin, so I just told her that it was the one right next to ours and pointed. She said "ok" and left.
A couple minutes passed and Koralyn came in. She had a huge grin on her face and she said "Grace just peed on your floor" lol It was no big deal. Ryan came in and mopped up the floor. But it makes for a great camp story for years to come!

* Lights, Siren, ACTION *

Last night we ended up going over to our friends, Corey and Heather's house to celebrate Jonathan's birthday. A few other couples that we are tightly knit with were also there. I made my favorite chocolate cake with the white poofy frosting and mini m&m's sprinkled on top...YUMMY..Jonathan isn't much of a sweets person, so I got to decide what would be made.
The most interesting part of the night, however, was when Heather, Mary and Myself were on our way back to Heather's house to get Mary's keys which she had forgotten. There were a swarm of police out that night because of the "lakefront days" festivities.
Heather was just talking about how the lights on the dashboard don't work so she can never gage how fast she's going. We pulled down a side street, "I hope I'm not speeding" Heather commented, then lights, camera ACTION, we're getting pulled over. =) The thing was, Heather wasn't speeding, SHE NEVER TURNED THE HEADLIGHTS ON!! She was so nervous and we were all giggling and talking about how we couldn't believe that we were pulled over.
All ended well though, she didn't get a ticket or even a warning for that matter.
Later on during that very same night when we were on our way back to Heather's for the second time, we were gabbing away, turned down a side-street one block down from the last, and Heather realized she had forgotten again to turn her lights on, that is, after someone flashed us to let us know. Luckily, there were no cops down that street. Funny stuff....
It's always so good to get out and hang out with some friends. I had really been needing this for a long time and these girls are the best. Praise God that he will always supply us with the people we need the most and that need us the most.
All in all, Jonathan had a great birthday and the rest of us had a great time just being girls and hanging out. Loves!!!

...My crazy life...

Jonathan is turning 25 tomorrow. What is it about turning 25 that gets people a little bit sad? I mean, you're still young, still have fun, you're basically in the prime of your life! I guess I will view it differently once I get there, maybe I'll understand a little better. But to me, 25 doesn't sound so bad!
We're trying to decide what to do to celebrate, hopefully we'll get some friends together and head down to Grand Rapids for shopping and food. Or even make our way up to TC, eat and catch a movie or something. I've really been wanting to see "The Island"...if you've seen it...leave a review! =)
I've not been feeling well these last couple of days. I think it's due to the antibiotics I'm on right now. Apparently, I'm the type of person that deals a lot with bladder infections during pregnancies. With Ella, it landed me in the hospital. I was glad that I caught this one early so it didn't have to end up getting me emitted. I am on some pretty strong dosages though. So I think that's why it's been harder on my BOD.
Don't you wish sometimes that the answers to all of lifes questions were just readily available to you in a huge book with a killer index? Whenever I find an answer I'll jot it down, I could make a fortune! =)
Well, this post was a little here and there....but it's just the current things on my mind. There are some others, (the following statement is derived from the movie Superstar) but I think they'd best be expressed through a line from the hit TV show "Scrubs"..."Help me to help you, help me to help you, help me to help you."
Not really sure how that applies...lol but I'm tired. =) Alright, enough of this madness, I'm outtie.

**Random Thoughts**
So, tomorrow is my first Dr.'s appointment. The first one isn't much of anything, they just sit there and ask a ton of "health" questions, mostly pertaining to past generations. Heart diseases, cancers..bla bla bla...Praise God my children and myself and Jonathan are exempt from all of that. A God that healed us before we were even walking on this Earth. Claim it and it is yours! "By His stripes, we ARE healed." Isaah 53:5 *note* ARE healed, not WILL BE healed. Interesting....=)
Anyway, back to what I was saying before....The first appt. I'm not nervous because it's all stuff I've went through before, no biggy.
One thing I learned from my past experience? That you have to be very precise on what you pray for. God hears our prayers and he holds tight to them. You get what you pray for. *Remembering back when I was prego with Ella* "Lord, I just want Jonathan and I to be in the room when this baby is born, I don't want nurses running all around and whatever else..." Should've asked to have a Dr. too...oops! I have a totally different view of the bathroom floor. =)
On another note...FAMILY CAMP IS NEXT WEEK!!!! I'm so excited. A week away from everything! A time to escape reality and just relax and hang out with close friends. It is much needed here! They even provide on-site babysitters!!! PRAISE THE LORD!!! lol
It is now time to close "random thoughts with Lacey" and say good-night. I've had a long day and I need my beauty sleep. lol Lots of it!! =)
LOVES -Lace

HEY.....What's up everybody?
Well, I don't know how many people actually check this thing out or what, BUT...my friend Donielle is in the running to be the new spokes-person for the Mazda 3 here in our home town(see picture to left, that's her!!). She'll also get a year lease on a brand new Mazda 3!!!! PLEASE, help her out by going to www.gtmazda.com and vote for Donielle. Once you've voted let me know by leaving a comment!! =) Sweet! -see ya