Hello Spring!

This year started out pretty rough for us, but I am happy to report to you all a clean bill of health! Praise the Lord! I will always be grateful for all of you praying and helping with the kids during this season of our lives and I am so excited that it is over!! I feel better then I think I have ever felt and it’s the first time I really feel like I’m getting a grip on my health- I anticipate feeling better and better!

Pete and the kids are doing great and are very glad to have their wife and mommy “restored.” Preston no doubt remembers my hospital stay and still sometimes mentions that he was sad that I was at the doctor and so glad to have me home- with a big hug. And while of course I did not like being away, I’m glad he likes having me around! :) We have all been enjoying the nice weather and are excited to know that for the most part it will continue- who knows though, we may have a foot of snow next week. :)

With Gratitude

This past month has been rough, but I’m feeling better and things are looking up. We appreciate more than we could express for the many who have cared for us and continue to lift us up in prayer. I am also thankful for The Great Physician and that He has chosen to heal me and grant me a season of recovery.

Despite illness, overall we’ve had a good winter and made some really fun memories; however, we are definitely looking forward to getting back outside. We drove by the park the other day and it was cold and rainy and Preston wanted to go and he said, “Well, maybe when it’s warm.” He is much looking forward to the Zoo as well, one of his favorite places. I also anticipate Bella being more interested in the animals this year which will be fun.

The below pics are some from the last month of Preston and Bella just hanging out. And while there are times they will endlessly fight over the same toy only to attain “victory” and suddenly loose interest, most of the time they are very loving toward one another and I seriously think they would be lost without the other. Preston, at only 3 ½ is so protective and caring for her, it really does amaze me (when we are some place new he will keep his arm around her and walk with her until he is comfortable- it is priceless). People who are around us comment on it all the time and even people I don’t know at the library and at Church have mentioned how neat is to watch him look after her. I’m just so blessed to be raising them and am so grateful to see their tender hearts growing every day and it brings me much joy to be able to share it with you.

While we wait

Writers block doesn’t happen to me often, but lately I seem to be at a loss for words, which is why I haven’t posted in awhile. But I think it’s finally back, it usually doesn’t last long. :) I have gone through waves of emotion since being home from the hospital from being frustrated to elated. Frustrated that I don’t have the energy to keep up with everything that I’d like to and elated just to be home with my family and kiss my babies goodnight. I have several tests to go through yet and have to wait until the 20th to find out exactly what is going on, it seems like a long time to wait. I’ve had a lot of time to think and pray and just reflect on life and what it really means and whether or not I use what knowledge God has given me in accordance with how I live. A lot of things have gone through my mind and what I have been making very complicated has become very simple all of a sudden. Life is uncertain. I don’t know if I’ll wake up tomorrow or blow out 90 candles in 60 years. We all walk through the same world yet many of us take different paths and some we don’t choose but must walk anyway, sometimes I’ve crawled. No matter where this path leads that I’m staring down the only thing I know for sure is that I’m not alone. Not only am I continually accompanied in this life but there is One who has gone before me and prepared this road. Wow! I take a lot of comfort in that because no matter what happens I am in the hands of an Almighty God who loves me and ONLY works for my good, whether I understand it or not. My hope does not lie in what any doctor says or test result shows, my hope is in what Christ did for me on the cross, because this life is not all there is and it’s not all about me. I also know that while I am blessed with days on this earth, I will savor them, they are precious!

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into and inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.” 1 Peter 1:3-4

Hospital Stay

Me and "Polly" and eating my first real meal after 3 days-

it was delicious! All while rocking a great new hair style!

"Lazy days of..."

I have always heard the phrase “lazy days of summer,” but during the summer we’re outside everyday playing at the park, going to the Zoo, swimming, grilling out etc, etc… But this winter, oh this winter is a cold one and so we come upon ourselves being a little “lazy.” Sure, we have MOPS, play dates and places like the library and mall to hang out if we want to, but it just doesn’t provide as much running space. So I find myself doing things with the kids at home that we probably wouldn’t see accustom in the summer. Like staying in our pj’s until 11a.m. and lounging on the stairs (as you can see below) or baking chocolate chip cookies and eating the dough... I believe Bella says it best… “nummy, nummy!!!” Another frosty day favorite of course is building a fire (well, Pete builds the fire, we enjoy it). :) So as ma-cheese-mo as it sounds I’ve decided I wouldn’t trade winter for any amount of summer because while I am definitely looking forward to warmer temps and getting a little color back in my skin, I will miss these cold cooped up days being so close to my family. Praise God for how creative He is in giving us seasons! :) Stay warm friends!

Some of their favorite things

Preston with Lightening McQueen and Sally (and me of course) :)

Bella with Woody and her baby doll

Bella made the paper!!

Our church had a Birthday party for Jesus back in December for the kids. This is a picture of Bella from the party that appeared in our local newspaper on Christmas day!! :) And the first thing out of Preston's mouth when he saw it was, "Where am I with my green balloon?" Bella has no idea really, she just wanted to crumble the paper. The original of course is laminated on our fridge. :)

Awww....

Preston loving on Bella

Bella loving on Preston (Christmas 08)

Recent Pics

This is the four of us from Bella's Dedication at our church in early December 2008. We chose Proverbs 31 as our spiritual goal for her, as it is a good example of a godly woman, focusing specifically on verses 30 and 31: "Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised."

Christmas Eve

2008

Welcome 2009!

Funny how when we are looking into a new year we usually begin by looking back. How did we succeed, how did we royally mess up, what do we want to rid in our lives or possibly make new, not to mention all the memories- some bad- most good. I’ve been examining the last few years as I became a mother; which, no doubt has been tremendously life changing. There were so many things I didn’t know before I became a Mom- like how to change a diaper!! :) Or what sleep deprivation really meant. I didn’t know just how selfish I was nor how anal I am- about everything!!! :) I also didn’t know that incessantly wiping runny noses and answering the same question twenty times a day would feel like the biggest privilege in the world (so long as my perspective is in the right place of course). :) I am just so grateful to God for all the challenges that bring me closer to Him and have made me wiser (ha-ha- as if, right) and all the undeserved blessings, or gifts rather, that He has given to me. If I had a new years resolution, or better yet- a life’s resolution- I would resolve to never take for granted God’s amazing grace.

PS- HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!

New Years Eve

Pete and I realized this year that once the kids get to a certain age we will probably never spend New Years Eve with them. So, here we are at a good friends house and we all had a great time, we wouldn't have wanted to spend it any other way (and as always Preston and Bella are thrilled to be posing for the camera). I played a Wii for the first time and not only was it pretty hilarious but I realized I need to make some major "balance" adjustments. :) The kids didn't make it til midnight and neither did we (gosh, we are getting old)!! :)

With friends, Etan and Julia. They decorated their own New Years hats. :)

Past pics

For anyone who knows me, you know I take a million pictures. As I started this blog and started looking back I felt odd not adding a little more of our kids history, so I went back as far as our very first digital camera- 2005! :) Choosing just a few to post was a real challenge for me, but I hope you enjoy them.

Bella

Preston

Brrrrr...

The four of us braving the cold at a local Christmas parade. December 2008

Multi-Tasking

MySpace, Facebook, Kodak Easy Share... phew, I just can't keep up anymore! Between all the applications, emailing and picture up-loading I found my relief in Blogger; after all, I need to have a quasi-creative outlet somewhere. And what a great way to stay in touch without all the "pressure." :) So, here we are on the wonderful World Wide Web if you'd like to watch the kids grow and join us on our journey.