tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39842139019682197132024-03-13T23:20:10.787-05:00The Sanders FamilyHand in hand we journey through this life together. Hold on tight.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12456988812677949238noreply@blogger.comBlogger451125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3984213901968219713.post-25810949461866365942014-04-01T11:16:00.000-05:002014-04-01T11:23:52.207-05:00With every year, I am reminded of how quickly life passes by. Cliché, yes, but it truly does seem like just yesterday that I was a naïve newlywed finding out that Jason and I were expecting our first child. How clueless I was of exactly how much my life was about to change. No more sleeping in, shopping alone, making decisions for me. Life became about sacrifice, about this little person relying solely on me. I came to know a love that most closely compares to the love my God has for me, for all His children. I became a mom to Gabe. <br />
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And now, as he turns 11 years old, I thank God so much for him. Gabe is the child that ushered me into motherhood, perhaps somewhat harshly with three months of colic and sleepless nights. He was strong-willed from the start and a handful as a toddler. He required a strong hand and strength of heart. I remember many mornings spent down on my knees asking the Lord for the strength to make it through another day following yet another sleepless night. It was trial by error my first years of motherhood. And I thank Gabe for that. I think if Gabe had been an 'easy' child, I may have failed to seek the Lord as earnestly as I had to just to survive (ha!)<br />
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So today as I celebrate Gabe's birthday, I also thank him for making me a mom. I thank him for making me a better person, one learning through my mistakes stumbling through those early years of motherhood and never failing to graciously forgive his mama when I'd fall short. <br />
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Gabe, you truly are my hero. You are a child who is wise beyond his years. You show others a sense of humility and love that is inspiring and that rewards you with loyal friendships and love from your siblings that will always bless you. You are the most hard-working kid I know and always willing to lend a hand when needed without asking. You are thoughtful and kind. You are a leader and possess a strength of character that makes your dad and I so proud. And you are just plain fun and a pleasure to be around. Although we try, words cannot express how much we love you. I know the Lord has great plans for you throughout your life and I can't wait to see the fruits of your faith. Thank you for inspiring me to be a better person and for just being you. Happy birthday, Gabe!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12456988812677949238noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3984213901968219713.post-38491423036769529872013-09-10T11:20:00.001-05:002013-09-10T11:22:56.252-05:00A blogging comeback<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have felt very guilty lately about not blogging like I used to. When I clicked on my blog and tried to recall my password, only to finally get logged in and see that my last post was over a year ago, I was a bit mortified. I started this blog with the goal to document our lives. To be able to write and share photos and have little bits & pieces of this short time while the kids are all little recorded for them to look back on. For me to look back on. To remember all the little ways in which the Lord blesses us on a daily basis. But I have failed miserably at keeping it up over the past few years. I have been too busy for the little things. Yet so many amazing, and awful, and fun, and memory-worthy things have happened. And as I thought about the journey God has brought us through these past few years, let alone all the little day-to-day things the kids say that I fear I'll forget, I absolutely cannot let another minute go by without adding to this little online journal. Maybe the fact that we now live hundreds of miles from our family is causing this blog revival...yes, we just moved from Iowa to Utah about four weeks ago. But whatever it is, I'm thankful. Let the blogging resume!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's literally in the middle of the night...1:48 a.m. to be exact...and I can't sleep. So please excuse my randomness. I don't think my brain is going to cooperate in creating a flowing cohesive post tonight, so here comes a bunch of random recent memories of the kiddos to catch up on the little people they have become. Sorry if it's incredibly boring or mundane. These are the little...and BIG...details I don't want to forget, so a lot of this is purely for my benefit. I do apologize in advance if you're bored to death by the end of this, that is, if you even continue reading (smile).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Gabe is now 10. He really amazes me with just how great a kid he has become. He is kind and thoughtful and loves to please. He's a good friend, a wonderful son, a sweet big brother, a great role model.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Gabe also continues to be a talented athlete. He does struggles with putting it all together. I guess what ten-year-old doesn't, right?! I see a lot of myself in Gabe with sports. When I was a pitcher in softball growing up, I would either have an amazing no-hitter performance. Or, I'd hit every batter in the line-up. Seriously...hit them with the ball. They called me wild thing. Ha! Gabe is the same way. Sometimes he psyches himself out and doesn't perform to his potential. And then sometimes he amazes us and out-performs our greatest expectations of him. He's definitely got the talent and potential, and does he ever love sports! He's also without a doubt the hardest working kid I know. But he doesn't always have the focus. Again, he's 10. When it all clicks, and I'm confident it will all click someday, he is going to be unstoppable. No doubt. And yes, I'm a proud (and maybe bragging a bit, I do apologize...) mama! :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's currently football season and in Utah, football is CrAzY! You'd think we live in Texas now or something. I'm talking homemade banners at every game, forming tunnels of parent bodies for the boys to run through, arranging scrimmages between moms versus boys just for fun, practicing five days a week and games on the sixth day with only the seventh day off, parents running up and down the field to have a better view of every play. I could go on, but I think you get the idea. It's fun...just takes some getting used to for this crazy wrestling mom who doesn't quite understand football yet! I'm trying though, for the sake of the boys...and Jason :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Anyway, these kids Gabe's age have been playing tackle football together at an incredibly high level of play for four years now. This is only Gabe's second year of tackle which means he's definitely playing catch-up. Couple that with the fact that two weeks after football started we had to be gone for two weeks to go back to Iowa for a wedding, and you an imagine how much Gabe missed out on in those two weeks. Those were the weeks all the boys were refining the plays, learning them front to back and inside out. So Gabe's been struggling to play catch up and spent a lot of time in positions he wouldn't normally play because he doesn't know the complicated plays. Normally Gabe is a full back and instead the coach has a strategy to build Gabe's confidence by playing him on the defensive line so that his role in the plays would be simplified. The coach is has also spent some extra time before practice with Gabe trying to help him go over the plays so that he can get in on offense. The coaches on Gabe's team are great by the way. Gabe looks TINY on the defensive line, and boy...do I mean tiny...going up against kids twice his size. And he's struggled because of it. But this past Saturday he finally had his first great game here in Utah, getting a quarterback sack among other great contributions he made to the team. He was a much happier kid afterwards. Only three weeks of football left, and then the boys will start wrestling. Although football continues to be his favorite sport, Gabe said he's very much so looking forward to wrestling season that starts in just a few weeks. Gabe also continues to play baseball and love that as well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Cooper is now 8. He is our random, sweet, happy-go-lucky most of the time, kinda kid. If you're needing a laugh, just hang out with Coop for a while and you'll get one. He says the funniest things! The other day he came home from school and was talking a mile a minute telling me all about his day. Meeting new friends and going to a new school has put Cooper's already analytical mind into overdrive, and he comes up with the best random thoughts. Our conversation went a little something like this...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Me: How was your day Cooper?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Coop: Great! My teacher is funny and nice. The girls that I sit by are kinda crazy. Make that ReAlLy crazy. I met three new friends today. I gave my friend Porter my extra cookie at lunch. Math was easy. The principal scares me a little. I played four square at recess....(and on and on.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Me: Wow! That's an eventful day! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Coop: Just so you know mom...(a little sidenote...'Just so you know' has become a bit of a 'Cooper catch-phrase' as he prefaces his random statements with this phrase all the time.)...I really want to go to Las Vegas cause that's where the dolphins live that like to swim with you. They're, like, trained to swim with you and I think they might even teach me how to swim better. So I really need to go to Las Vegas. Can we go there sometime?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Me: How do I say no to that?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Oh my goodness, granted I've never been to Las Vegas, but trained dolphins is not the first thing that comes to mind when I think of Sin City, haha! Now it is thanks to Coop:)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Cooper is also a very talented athlete. Cooper has also started tackle football and loves it. He's a running back and is so crazy fast. But wrestling continues to be his hands-down favorite past time. Cooper had a wrestling season this past year that is going to be hard to top. Seriously, he was on fire! I wanted to document a highlight reel of Cooper's wrestling accomplishments over the 2012-2013 season. I apologize again for the my-kid-is-so-amazing sections of this post. But really, what kid doesn't deserve proud parents after accomplishments like these...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Grade School State Champion in two divisions (Folkstyle)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">USA Greco State Champion</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">One word: Amazing! Cooper is super excited for the upcoming wrestling season that starts soon. We always sit down and talk goals before the season starts. My goodness, how do you top all of the above though? His goal: national champion. I don't think it's beyond reach, but let the hard work begin! And let it be known, Cooper pushes himself harder than we as parents could ever push him. He wants this. He's self-driven and self-determined. He's pretty much my hero. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Moving on, our little girl is growing up so fast! Chloe is now six-years-old and continues to be so much fun! Can I just say that I am so thankful God blessed me with a girl! First of all she loves shopping. Right there, she qualifies to be my best friend for life! She is such a well-balanced girl, loving princesses and pretty nails and cute clothes and done-up hair. But at the same time, she will gladly get dirty and rough house with her brothers and run around with her face a mess and her nose running all over and not care one bit. Yes, she will make some lucky guy an incredible catch some day, ha! I think Jason is hoping the snotty face will last well into the teen years and work as a guy-repellent ;)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Chloe is REALLY into My Little Pony lately and would watch it all the time if we let her. She is loving our new neighborhood here in Utah (as are all the kids.) It's quite a change to go from living in the country on 27 acres to living right next door to a neighborhood full of friends! She ALWAYS has a playmate. And being the social butterfly that she is, Chloe is loving it! Did I mention she's LOVING it?! She is. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Chloe is also an excellent student. She is reading like a champ and writes so well. She also loves to sing and wants to be on a stage so we signed her up to start a musical theater class once a week. They'll perform in a play at the end of the year. She can't wait for Thursday to get here! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Chloe also remains such an innocent child. Even as the world around her seems to grow up way too fast, she has managed to hold on to that glass-overflowing mentality where everything is sunshine and rainbows. I just love her attitude! She asked me the other day if I'd answer her an honest question (her words...love!!) She then asked if princesses were really real, like Ariel and Belle and Cinderella. She thinks they're real, but she just wanted to make sure! Ahhh, my heart just melts as I think of the wide-eyed wonder she possesses that all little girls are meant to have. And she really has it! So thankful for the way Chloe inspires me to love and cherish the little moments in life. Everyone is beautiful through her eyes. Everyone is a friend. Every day is a gift. Love her.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And then there's Gavin. Our fourth child, perhaps the last but making sure he's certainly not the least. Gavin is four-years-old now. If someone had tried to tell me before Gavin came along that so much personality could be packed into such a little body, I would have thought them a liar. But it's true! His personality is through the roof! Outgoing doesn't begin to describe it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Gavin is also fearless and amazingly sharp. At four he can tell you every turn you need to take to get to his preschool ten minutes from our house. He remembers everyone's name and sometimes sounds so very adult when he's referring to a conversation he had with them that day. Gavin is so enthusiastic and much like his big sister, he just loves life! Gavin is a total social butterfly as well, always ready to get out of the house and experience the next adventure life has to offer. Even if it's just a trip to Target, Gavin will find many people to chat with and has a constant goal to make yet another friend. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Gavin is perhaps a pastor or missionary in training. He has THE BEST prayers and is so genuine as he talks to God. He without fail will pray that 'Mom is my best mom ever' and 'Dad is my best dad ever' and 'Gabe is my best Gabe ever' and so on until he names every member in the family. And then he will end with 'And my whole family is my best family ever.' Is that not precious?! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And then there's his favorite song...'You are my Sunshine.' He LOVES to sing this song and has his own little motions he does with the words. I absolutely have to get it on video. I ended up getting a Subway Art sign that has the lyrics on it and have it hanging in the hallway. Gavin loves to stop and run his finger under the words and sing the song. Though he can't read yet, he's been told that those are the words to 'You Are My Sunshine.' Didn't know a boy could have such a love for wall art.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Basically, if I could freeze the kids at the ages they're at now, I absolutely would. But of course I know that's not God's plan. He has great plans for them to change and grow and be used in amazing ways. He has great reason for each of their little...or BIG...personalities. And as much as I love having them little, I also look forward to seeing the ways in which the Lord will use each and every one of them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So there's our kiddos in a glance. Hopefully many, more-consistent blog posts to come! God is working in incredible ways through this new ministry we're a part of in Utah, Redemption Church. I can't wait to share more with you all soon! Until then, cherish every day and make the most of it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Angie</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12456988812677949238noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3984213901968219713.post-49927378833183604742012-08-13T15:53:00.001-05:002012-08-13T20:35:42.317-05:00Gavin turns three!<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">For the first time in over nine years, there is no crib set up in our home. No children in diapers. No more bottles. The baby toys are packed away. And my youngest is three! (Insert tears here.) As I always seem to proclaim, where does the time go?! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Gavin turned three on July 31. We celebrated by taking him to Chuck E. Cheese and he had a blast! That boy is such a go-getter. So fiercely independent and ready to take on any adventure. He's very rarely still, seemingly in constant motion. So happy (almost) all the time. Such a charmer with those big baby blues and those long dark lashes. Gavin is known for starting up conversations with complete strangers on a regular basis. "Hi! What's your name? My name is Gavin. Where's your car?"...the exact conversation Gavin had with a random young lady at Target the other day. Gavin was the child we almost didn't have, as we had thought about stopping at three. But now I can't imagine life without him! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Here's a list of Gavin's loves right now:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Songs "Jesus Loves Me" and "Kumbaya My Lord"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Looney Tunes</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Mac & Cheese</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Fruit Cups</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">His Radio Flyer trike, which he calls his motorcycle</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Playing with his brothers and sister, trying to keep up with all the action</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Trying to play Cooper's Nintendo Dsi</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Being naked (something that needs to change, especially with starting preschool on the horizon!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Learning to wrestle with his big brothers</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">His friends Nolan and Owenn</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Still loves to rock in mama's arms while I sing 'You Are My Sunshine' and he pretends to sleep:)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">And some funny things Gavin often says:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">"You said a bad word" (If you tell him he's being naughty.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">"You be quiet" (If his brothers or sister are telling him to be quiet, ha! We're working on this one!!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">"I'm not a sweetie, I'm Gavin" (said with a big smile!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Gavin is quite the little clown...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Happy birthday baby boy! May your path lead you on many exciting adventures over the next year!</span><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12456988812677949238noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3984213901968219713.post-4252958582945058112012-06-10T09:38:00.001-05:002012-06-12T11:28:27.109-05:00Cooper is 7!<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Seven years ago today, Jason and I were celebrating five years of marriage by welcoming our second son, Cooper, into the world. (Did you get all that?!?) Yes, Cooper was born on our fifth wedding anniversary. He arrived five days early and was the only one of our children who willingly came into this world and the easiest labor too (bonus points for Cooper!) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">At seven, Cooper still loves Batman. He is a thinker and has a huge imagination that will captivate him in play for hours. Cooper is our quiet(er) child, but is such a goofball at heart. He is also an animal lover. We recently had an outdoor cat adopt us and have five kittens in our building. Cooper can spend hours outside taking care of them and it is so sweet to sneak up on him and overhear his conversation with the kitties. Cooper is kind, a good friend, and a joy to be around. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>Cooper's favorites at 7...</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>Food</b>: Steak</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>Drink</b>: Juice</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>Movie</b>: Batman</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>Tv Show</b>: Power Rangers</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>Animal</b>: Tiger</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>Best Friend</b>: Easton, 'and my brother Gabe' (awe!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>Sport</b>: Football, Wrestling</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>Game</b>: Wii Survival</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>Song</b>: Eye of the Tiger</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Happy birthday sweet boy! I can't wait to see what God has in store for you as you grow in Him. We love you!</span><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12456988812677949238noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3984213901968219713.post-35930537890017944132012-05-30T15:52:00.000-05:002012-05-30T15:54:30.163-05:00Chloe's Graduated!<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Chloe had her last day of preschool last week and as she'll gladly tell anyone who will listen, she is officially a kindergartner! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">For her last day of preschool, Chloe and her classmates sang some songs for us parents. Chloe had been practicing the songs at home for us daily, multiple times a day might I add, for weeks. Needless to say she was a bit excited to perform. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I had been warned by her teacher that I have a little performer on my hands. And that Chloe was, well, LOUD (in a good way, of course)! Now I know my daughter can err on the loud side, but I wasn't prepared for the magnitude of exactly how loud she was compared to her peers. I think this little video clip of the class performing illustrates said loudness pretty well. My daughter is the one you can hear above all the rest. (Please excuse the quality of the video clip. I'm not quite sure why it uploaded so poorly??)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">To say she isn't shy is an understatement. Chloe thrives being on stage. We had several adults suggest we take her to Hollywood immediately to begin her career as a star. Ha! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Here are a few photos of Chloe with her class. She has had such a positive experience in preschool and made several great friends over the year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Chloe with her friend Reagan while they're singing. It was so cute how Reagan and Chloe kept looking at each other while they were performing...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Holding their certificates of completion...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">The entire preschool class... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Chloe with her friend Ella (and bro Gavin too!)...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Chloe with her teacher, Ms. Bohr...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I can't believe my budding singer/actress is not a preschooler anymore but a young lady ready to take on elementary school. Yes, to no one's surprise who knows me at all, tears were shed. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I love you, Chloe, and am so happy you are the outgoing, kind, joyful little lady you are! You're going to conquer kindergarten as you do everything else in life!</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12456988812677949238noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3984213901968219713.post-90461285120348316782012-05-27T20:04:00.000-05:002012-05-27T22:14:12.566-05:00Chloe is 5!<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">My little girl turned 5 yesterday. Chloe has literally been planning her birthday since right after Christmas, so the big day has been much anticipated. Chloe had a two-part celebration. First we had a painting party at a local art studio for Chloe and seven of her friends the weekend before her actual birthday to avoid Memorial Day weekend scheduling conflicts. Then Chloe got to have her very first sleepover at our house on her actual birthday. I think it's safe to say that all of Chloe's long-built expectations for turning 5 were met!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Here's a photo of Chloe's friends party. What a lovely group of little ladies...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">In birthday tradition, I interviewed my newly turned five year old to document her favorites at 5. Her answers always make me giggle. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>Favorite...</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>Color:</b> All the colors in the world.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>Cereal:</b> Well, it's Frosted Flakes. Yup! Frosted Flakes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>Vegetable:</b> Brocolli and Carrots with Ranch.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>Drink:</b> Juice & Orange Juice & Chocolate Milk.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>TV Show/ Movie:</b> Princesses & Barbie.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>Book:</b> I Know An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly; The Very Hungry Caterpillar.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>Animal:</b> Butterfly <i>(Animal, Insect...apparently the same thing to my five year old.)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>Game:</b> All my Nintendo Dsi Games</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>Restaurants:</b> Sonic <i>(On a side note, our local Sonic Restaurants recently closed and are for sale. Every time we drive by their locations, Chloe remarks how sad the deserted building makes her and asks if we can just buy the Sonic and run it ourselves. ha!)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>Toy:</b> Barbies, Dsi.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>Holiday: </b>Christmas... "and summer, and fall, and all of them."</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Other Questions...</span></i><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">If you could change your name, what would you change it to?</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Well, I'd say Teresa.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">What do you love most about...</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>Dad:</b> He likes to play games and be silly and he put a napkin on my lip when I hurt myself. Oh, and he's silly.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>Mom:</b> You leave my door open farther than Dad does at night when you tuck me into bed and you jump really, really high on the trampoline and you do my hair pretty and you are a beautiful mom. <i>(Awe, love my girl!)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>Gabe:</b> He always 'be's'</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"> my prince.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>Cooper:</b> He has been nice to me lately <i>(ha!)</i> and watches Rocky movies with me and plays with me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>Gavin:</b> He watches Dora and I think he's cute.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Where do you want to vacation this year?</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I want to go to Wisconsin Dells and Colorado and Iowa <i>(that's an easy one!)</i> and Disney World and Sea World.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">What are your wishes?</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">When I grow up I want to be a princess and see all the princesses and I wish Gabe was my prince. <i>(Can you tell Gabe is a really sweet big brother?)</i> And I wish I was a cowgirl when I grow up. And a ballerina.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>What do you love most in the whole world?</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Dad and Mom and my brothers and everyone And of course God and Jesus because they love me very much too!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>What are your pet peeves?</b> <i>(I did have to explain what a pet peeve is.)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">When people don't share. When people aren't nice or make someone feel sad. Sometimes boys are my pet peeve. <i>(haha!)</i></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Who are your best friends?</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">All my girls! <i>(I knew this would be her answer. Everyone is Chloe's BEST friend.)</i></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">What are you looking forward to?</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Going to kindergarten and making even more friends!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Oh my sweet girl, what can I say about you that the above answers don't already illustrate. You are so very kind and thoughtful. You are sweet to the core and always happy. I don't think there's a more joyful little girl than you and I pray you never lose that joy. You bring so much happiness to our family. You are such a good friend to everyone. And you shine the light of Jesus wherever you go. I couldn't ask for a better little girl. We love you so very much, Chloe, and can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for your bright future. </span><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12456988812677949238noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3984213901968219713.post-67248173680397265992012-05-02T15:38:00.001-05:002012-05-03T00:29:46.832-05:00Moved by God<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I know this is a very long post. But I really could not explain our circumstances in any less words. I pray our heart to follow the Lord wherever He leads is apparent in what you are about to read.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Jason and I know that God is always working in our life. We know this because His word says just that. <span style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">"And </span><span style="background-color: #f9fdff; color: #001320; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify;">we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; text-align: -webkit-auto;">What a promise! Even when we don't feel Him right in the moment. Even when we're too busy or too concerned with worries that should not be worries. He is there. He is working. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; text-align: -webkit-auto;">And then, there are those times when you know, without a shadow of a doubt, that He has been intricately orchestrating event after event to bring you to the point where you are. Yes, we should always know that He is leading us through the events of our life. But how often are we too consumed to see it. And when you come to the 'ah-ha' moment when you can look back and see the trail of His handiwork, how much peace and awe and utter amazement can come of it. That is where I am at right now in this journey called life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; text-align: -webkit-auto;">To give you a bit of background, as most of you know, my husband is a youth pastor at our church. Fresh out of college he accepted a job as pastor to youth at a church in the community where we both graduated from high school, where both our parents live. That was over 11 years ago. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; text-align: -webkit-auto;">For probably the past five years, we have been restless. We have long felt the quiet call in our hearts that maybe the Lord was preparing us for something different. Perhaps calling us to serve in long-term foreign missions, as that is something that has always been dear to us. Maybe calling us away to seminary so that Jason could further his education. Or, just simply calling us to step out of our comfort zones. To <i>really</i> trust Him with our whole life. To trust Him with the lives of our children. To not worry about the details, for this is not our permanent home (Hebrews 13:14.) To know that He has a perfect plan, in His perfect time, and it will be revealed if we are faithful. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; text-align: -webkit-auto;">So, for the past five years, we have been praying for that big reveal. We've stepped out in faith and knocked on doors by sending out resumes applying for different ministry opportunities, only to have those doors remain closed. We've visited seminaries wondering if that is perhaps the path the Lord would lead us on, only to have sure confirmation that our path would not lead us to more schooling. And finally, in utter frustration that all of our searching for a revelation was leading us to dead end after dead end, we waited. We gave <i>all</i> control over to the Lord and simply prayed, "Lord, we will go wherever you want us to go. We will do whatever you want us to do. We know it is in your perfect timing. We will wait on you." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; text-align: -webkit-auto;">So we waited. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; text-align: -webkit-auto;">And then earlier this year, Jason had gotten an idea for a ministry opportunity he would love to pursue. He shared the idea with me, his 'sounding board' as he likes to call me. I've been Jason's sounding board for ideas many times throughout our marriage. Anyone who knows my husband knows that he's always thinking, always getting ideas of things he would like to pursue. Sometimes they're crazy and off-the-wall and I'm left thinking, "Is he for real?" Sometimes the ideas are quite practical and I think, "Yes, we need to do this!" And sometimes, his ideas are crazy and off-the-wall, yet I'm still left thinking, "Yes, we need to do this!"That's when I know it's a God-thing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; text-align: -webkit-auto;">So what was the crazy, off-the-wall idea Jason shared with me? He told me that he felt God was leading him to start a brand new college ministry on the campus of Weber State University in Ogden, Utah, and to plant a new church there as well. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Now to be clear, the idea of starting a college ministry isn't that crazy for us. We had talked about our desire to minister on a college campus many times. As much as Jason loves high schoolers, he also has a passion for college-age kids for that's the age where he really grew in the Lord and placed His faith in Him while at Iowa State University. We had long talked about maybe being led to college ministry someday. And, Jason has taken the youth group on mission trips to Utah before through an organization called Utah Partnerships for Christ (UPFC) and is not only now a board member for UPFC, but also has become friends with UPFC founder Russ East. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Of course, the off-the-wall crazy part comes in when we consider moving our family across the country, away from all they've know all their lives. Away from both sets of grandparents who live within minutes of us. Away from our house project (which still isn't completed) that we've been working on for years. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; text-align: -webkit-auto;">But as Jason told me the idea, I didn't think of all of these things that could ring as doubts in my mind. I only thought, "Yes, we NEED to do this!" I felt an overwhelming peace that the Lord was at work, that He had prepared my heart for this news just as He had given Jason the prompting to consider it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; text-align: -webkit-auto;">So, there we were, thinking about moving across the country for a job prospect that doesn't yet exist. Feeling an overwhelming amount of excitement, a bit of fear of the unknown, but most of all a sense of peace that God would show us if this was indeed His idea or our own. And because He is always faithful, the Lord did soon show us His will through a series of events.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; text-align: -webkit-auto;">First there was UPFC founder Russ East, which I mentioned above, writing in a newsletter he put out for the organization that his prayer was for someone to be called to start a college ministry at Weber State University, a campus where only one Christian ministry currently exists ministering to only about 100 students out of the 25,000 undergrads that attend. Yes, that's right, a prayer request for the exact need that we'd been led to consider fulfilling! And Jason and Russ had not communicated since we had been praying about moving to Utah, so this was indeed a very clear sign to us that God is indeed leading. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Then there was the fact that it had been laid on Jason's heart that we would need another couple to partner with us in ministry and head out to Utah with us to fulfill some facets of the skill set that Jason lacks...musical ability. Jason had a strong desire to have someone who would lead worship and was also led to step out in faith and perhaps come along side us to start this new ministry. As he prayed that God would raise up someone who might fulfill this role, a former youth member was laid on his heart. Justin was one of our very first youth group members after Jason became youth pastor at our church fresh out of college. Justin</span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> got to witness many of what Jason calls his 'fumblings' as a young inexperienced youth pastor, and we really feel like we grew in the Lord right along with those first students as we were so new to ministry at the time. </span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Those students from the early years still keep in touch and we call many of them our good friends, so when Jason called Justin it wasn't a huge surprise to him. But not only was it not a surprise, we quickly learned that God had been preparing the hearts of Justin and his wife, Sarah, for just this very purpose.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; text-align: -webkit-auto;">After the phone call, we met in person with Justin and Sarah and discovered through talking with them that they had planned to sell their house after the first of the year. That they had not only been praying about the possibility of going out on the mission field or entering full time ministry, but also that Justin had been praying that he might be used as a full-time worship leader (he has currently been filling in leading worship at a new church plant.) It was all too perfect, and as we brainstormed ideas of how this new ministry might look, the excitement grew in Jason and I. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; text-align: -webkit-auto;">After praying with Justin and Sarah, we left for home with the understanding that they would pray over the idea and get back to us within a few days and let us know their thoughts. Jason and I had decided that if they were 'in', then this is it! We'd move to Utah. And not more than an hour into our trip home from Justin and Sarah's house the cell phone rang with Justin letting us know that they were indeed 'in'. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; text-align: -webkit-auto;">And with that, our minds were made up. God is moving us to Utah!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; text-align: -webkit-auto;">It's all still so very surreal. It's exciting and a bit scary and a tad overwhelming. But most of all, we have such a strong sense of peace to finally know where God is leading and a feeling of security that this is in fact His perfect will for our lives. We have so many details to work out, both with the new ministry and with the logistics of moving across the country. Yet we know that with God's perfect will comes His perfect timing, and He will not leave us or forsake us through this journey. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; text-align: -webkit-auto;">We will use the next year to plan for the ministry, work out logistics, finish up our house, etc., so we will not be moving until the Summer of 2013. The kids will have one more school year here, which we think will also serve as a nice period of time to get used to the idea of moving. Although even Gabe, our oldest who we thought would have a real problem with leaving his friends, is already warming to the idea of living so close to the Utah mountain ski slopes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; text-align: -webkit-auto;">And so it begins. A new chapter of our lives. And although there will be sadness that comes with leaving our family and friends that are so dear to us, God's peace will trump it all. Knowing that this is not our home, that this is only a temporary dwelling place proceeding a much more permanent eternity with Him, trumps it all. And knowing that God's will is the only place to be is enough. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; text-align: -webkit-auto;">If you could please lift us up in prayer and pray for this new ministry, we would love that. We are so excited to venture out in faith and can't wait to see the ways in which God will be glorified through it all. Our prayer is of course that we would allow the Lord to make us use-able by Him and allow Him to work through us to accomplish His will on the campus of Weber State and in the community we will live. We know that this ministry will be successful, not by our own strength, but only by the Lord's guidance, direction and favor. It is so incredibly humbling to think that God chose us for this task of making Himself more readily known in a state where His truth is not prevalent. Us, in spite of our shortcomings and inadequacies. A favorite verse I've been meditating on and a prayer for this future ministy... </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 18px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">"The Lord's hand was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord. God's message flourished and multiplied." (Acts 11:21, 12:24.)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Here's a family photo of our soon-to-be Utah clan...</span><br />
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12456988812677949238noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3984213901968219713.post-60568051671887627362012-03-29T16:04:00.002-05:002012-03-30T00:02:48.769-05:00My baby is 9!<span style="font-size: large;">Nine years. Has it really been nine years? I can barely remember life before I was a mommy, so maybe it seems like longer. Yet, when I think about my baby boy, my oldest child turning 9 today, I can't believe it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I remember when Gabe was a newborn like it was yesterday. Then a toddler, a preschooler, a kindergartner, and now a third grader! Where does the time go? A friend reminded me last night that next year Gabe will be in the double digits, and...I cried. Yes, cried. It's not that I don't want him to grow up. I look forward to seeing Gabe continue to grow and mature, to experience new things and to achieve all that the Lord has planned for him. Yet, I am sad as I think he is becoming a young man and isn't my baby anymore. But as any other mother knows, he'll always be my baby ;)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I want to wish my first-born a happy 9th birthday today. I couldn't ask for a better son or a better role model to our three other kiddos. Gabe is kind, caring, thoughtful, funny, courteous and helpful. Gabe is an amazing athlete and such a hard worker. And Gabe is a great friend not only to his schoolmates, but also to his own brothers and sister. When I think of how I see the Lord shaping Gabe and Gabe <i>allowing</i> God to use him already at such a young age, my heart seriously bursts with joy. Gabe, with the help of a youth leader at church, had the privilege of leading a friend to Christ for the first time this past year at the tender age of eight. He is not ashamed of his faith and gladly shares the joy he knows in the Lord with others. If how the Lord is working in Gabe's life already is any indication, I'm excited to see what God has in store for his future, as I know the best is yet to come. We love you Gabe!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aw5frP9JTnc/T3TNPQQ-5qI/AAAAAAAAHZs/rRtb5OgL4n4/s1600/DSC_7138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aw5frP9JTnc/T3TNPQQ-5qI/AAAAAAAAHZs/rRtb5OgL4n4/s640/DSC_7138.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12456988812677949238noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3984213901968219713.post-72997362723802113552012-01-29T20:54:00.005-06:002012-05-28T12:50:44.065-05:00The making of our home<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Almost every one of my posts from the past year starts with some form of " I've been a bad blogger." I guess that's because I have been. I get so busy<i> living</i> <i>and enjoying</i> life that I forget to make time to document it. I guess there are worse things to forsake...like the<i> living and enjoying</i> life part :) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Anyway, I've been reminded recently that I've never posted any photos of the inside of our home after finishing up our what seemed to be ever-lasting main level renovation project. Thanks to all of you who have been anxious to see our progress and ever-patient with me while I worked on finding time for this post. For those of you who don't know, our entire home is a 'from the ground up' kind of project. We started over three years ago by pouring a walk-out basement and moving an old farm house on top of the foundation. We also added a large addition onto the back of the existing farm house. We lived exclusively in the basement for about two years until we got the main level nearly completed (minus the finishing touches) last December. So needless to say, we've been busy with our home renovation, doing much of the work ourselves (and thanks to family & friends) and hiring help when we could manage. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I think that the last time I actually posted about our home renovation was when we were installing the <a href="http://thejasandersfamily.blogspot.com/2009/10/stone.html"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">stone</span></a> on the front of our house. And before that, it was way back when we were in the midst of a <a href="http://thejasandersfamily.blogspot.com/2009/05/raising-roof.html"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">roofing project</span></a>. So much has happened since then. We basically started from a shell and made this house our own. I've had visions in my head as well as photos I've collected in a dream house binder book I keep of all my home ideas (before pinterest...old school!!) It's been neat seeing all of my visions become reality. I just love designing and decorating, and it's been fun taking a blank slate and making it a home. And actually, very easy as far as choices go. I'm not one to wavier on my style or second guess my choices. I think it's because I do so much research before I make any choices that I'm certain I'll love them. And it helps that I do have such a distinct style that I favor, which I call 'pottery barn style on a budget'. (I find great satisfaction in finding less expensive look-a-likes.) I like clean, bright, airy, uncluttered, casual, traditional, yet modern. I like craftsman style trim details complimented by a beach-y color palette of blues, grays, white and taupe. Thankfully Jason and I share the same sense of style, or at least he likes my sense of style, so we really work well together. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">It's been a fun journey, and one that will continue when we proceed to start on the second level of our home which is completely gutted right now. (We are working our way from the bottom up...with the walk-out basement level and main level completed and the upstairs remaining.) We have the plans ready though, so hopefully once it starts it will move along quickly. And then somewhere in the mix will be the addition of an attached garage with a second level studio/office for me that will also attach to the second level of our house. But, one step at a time!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">With all of that said, it's time for the best part...the photos! Enjoy the walk through our most recent home projects:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">The mud room (with board and batten trim work, hooks for all our coats, baskets for the kids shoes & gloves, and a gallery style wall photo display which I love...makes it easy to switch out photos and update them as I find the time.) </span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zi8oJ_d8qTY/TyX498qy7rI/AAAAAAAAHNY/gIVS8CO7Z6M/s1600/DSC_1975.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zi8oJ_d8qTY/TyX498qy7rI/AAAAAAAAHNY/gIVS8CO7Z6M/s640/DSC_1975.jpg" width="424" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L8gnl-pg5r8/TyX5gafKm_I/AAAAAAAAHNw/jD7qtMoJkpQ/s1600/DSC_1990.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L8gnl-pg5r8/TyX5gafKm_I/AAAAAAAAHNw/jD7qtMoJkpQ/s640/DSC_1990.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yNmx0NakiUY/TyX5JVF7PWI/AAAAAAAAHNg/9nAvTEPFz_8/s1600/DSC_1977.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yNmx0NakiUY/TyX5JVF7PWI/AAAAAAAAHNg/9nAvTEPFz_8/s640/DSC_1977.jpg" width="424" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UiE937bJ3Es/TyX5Uz5BzqI/AAAAAAAAHNo/VY9L064rXLQ/s1600/DSC_1988.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UiE937bJ3Es/TyX5Uz5BzqI/AAAAAAAAHNo/VY9L064rXLQ/s640/DSC_1988.jpg" width="424" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ShU1PRXIAQY/TyX4srVzayI/AAAAAAAAHNI/1_uoGwchSUE/s1600/DSC_1971.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ShU1PRXIAQY/TyX4srVzayI/AAAAAAAAHNI/1_uoGwchSUE/s640/DSC_1971.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">And on a side note, I just love this little wire storage bin from The Land of Nod. Perfect for some of the boys endless sports equipment...</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fhz_TiatS5A/TyX4zeWIjRI/AAAAAAAAHNQ/b9-cCBWo2Y4/s1600/DSC_1972.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fhz_TiatS5A/TyX4zeWIjRI/AAAAAAAAHNQ/b9-cCBWo2Y4/s640/DSC_1972.jpg" width="424" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">This room is actually somewhat temporary. When our attached garage is built, a bit of the garage will become part of the mudroom and will feature built-in lockers for all our 'stuff' similar to this... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><img height="640" src="http://www.simplysoutherntraditionalhomes.com/Images/Edgewood41-mudroom.jpg" width="480" /> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">And the current mudroom will feature a small back staircase to the upstairs.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">But on to other territory! From the mudroom, you enter the living room...</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4kox9UugLEY/TyX5sQU64hI/AAAAAAAAHN4/Jyj2ulLj6GU/s1600/DSC_2007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="416" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4kox9UugLEY/TyX5sQU64hI/AAAAAAAAHN4/Jyj2ulLj6GU/s640/DSC_2007.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zKPoqgtppOI/TyX7ZL_3l4I/AAAAAAAAHPg/KriUedSmM1w/s1600/DSC_2070.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zKPoqgtppOI/TyX7ZL_3l4I/AAAAAAAAHPg/KriUedSmM1w/s640/DSC_2070.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-onmo1eseFw8/TyX7xotxxjI/AAAAAAAAHP4/q_ftjXazTQw/s1600/DSC_2085.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-onmo1eseFw8/TyX7xotxxjI/AAAAAAAAHP4/q_ftjXazTQw/s640/DSC_2085.jpg" width="424" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gOUj2BFOE2k/TyX8Cq-kVtI/AAAAAAAAHQI/b6K6o1DTsIo/s1600/DSC_2093.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gOUj2BFOE2k/TyX8Cq-kVtI/AAAAAAAAHQI/b6K6o1DTsIo/s640/DSC_2093.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--SIARzguSIM/TyX7pty4hLI/AAAAAAAAHPw/CCOMlZS46bk/s1600/DSC_2082.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--SIARzguSIM/TyX7pty4hLI/AAAAAAAAHPw/CCOMlZS46bk/s640/DSC_2082.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">which features a very open floor plan into the kitchen, dining room, and down the hall...</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nl-WhMaC834/TyX8TnCeWwI/AAAAAAAAHQY/sm0nKzduInY/s1600/DSC_2101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nl-WhMaC834/TyX8TnCeWwI/AAAAAAAAHQY/sm0nKzduInY/s640/DSC_2101.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fKxXwbeBlx8/TyX8JYyQUuI/AAAAAAAAHQQ/LXl9NoqofHs/s1600/DSC_2096.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fKxXwbeBlx8/TyX8JYyQUuI/AAAAAAAAHQQ/LXl9NoqofHs/s640/DSC_2096.jpg" width="424" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I'm kind of a stickler for details, so it wouldn't be right if I didn't show you some of my favorite little features. Like the apron front sink...</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UAW981yUBqc/TyX6ov8b9YI/AAAAAAAAHOw/j6hSheO-2aM/s1600/DSC_2041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UAW981yUBqc/TyX6ov8b9YI/AAAAAAAAHOw/j6hSheO-2aM/s640/DSC_2041.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">and very cool 'industrial' style faucet...</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5hGFSFJT0Yo/TyX6gCv8QFI/AAAAAAAAHOo/Nzz2YwQTmP0/s1600/DSC_2039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5hGFSFJT0Yo/TyX6gCv8QFI/AAAAAAAAHOo/Nzz2YwQTmP0/s640/DSC_2039.jpg" width="424" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">the light fixtures...</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bKXqopN9ZW4/TyX6YOuoPWI/AAAAAAAAHOg/n6gTPDW-Trk/s1600/DSC_2037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bKXqopN9ZW4/TyX6YOuoPWI/AAAAAAAAHOg/n6gTPDW-Trk/s640/DSC_2037.jpg" width="424" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">the island...</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JWxajlGWitY/TyX6xJvFQFI/AAAAAAAAHO4/cyYEljnCpLk/s1600/DSC_2047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JWxajlGWitY/TyX6xJvFQFI/AAAAAAAAHO4/cyYEljnCpLk/s640/DSC_2047.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OEXQsKEF5Pw/TyX52mkaXzI/AAAAAAAAHOA/ttpBkliMt-A/s1600/DSC_2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OEXQsKEF5Pw/TyX52mkaXzI/AAAAAAAAHOA/ttpBkliMt-A/s640/DSC_2015.jpg" width="424" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">the gas stove top with above pot filler and the double ovens...</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sVRSAMZ2odw/TyX7JxO6XWI/AAAAAAAAHPQ/0aM0TH_8lxc/s1600/DSC_2064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sVRSAMZ2odw/TyX7JxO6XWI/AAAAAAAAHPQ/0aM0TH_8lxc/s640/DSC_2064.jpg" width="424" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0wNoNMVDZ4s/TyX7Qu3jYcI/AAAAAAAAHPY/dAN1n1ijj9A/s1600/DSC_2066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0wNoNMVDZ4s/TyX7Qu3jYcI/AAAAAAAAHPY/dAN1n1ijj9A/s640/DSC_2066.jpg" width="424" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">And we can't forget the peninsula bar with stools for all the kiddos...</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GC7sW0eSP-o/TyX65XXL2fI/AAAAAAAAHPA/U6dqpz7jNhg/s1600/DSC_2048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GC7sW0eSP-o/TyX65XXL2fI/AAAAAAAAHPA/U6dqpz7jNhg/s640/DSC_2048.jpg" width="424" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0urnUvRkyJE/TyX7BlP9_KI/AAAAAAAAHPI/R19pFqujXnY/s1600/DSC_2049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0urnUvRkyJE/TyX7BlP9_KI/AAAAAAAAHPI/R19pFqujXnY/s640/DSC_2049.jpg" width="424" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I've wanted white to-the-ceiling cabinets forever and love the contrast with the dark walnut island wood and dark wood floors. </span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lVgOhsJvmxw/TyX6AkHQimI/AAAAAAAAHOI/TJM5V6qOPwM/s1600/DSC_2018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lVgOhsJvmxw/TyX6AkHQimI/AAAAAAAAHOI/TJM5V6qOPwM/s640/DSC_2018.jpg" width="424" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">And I love the subway tile back splash you'll notice in the above photos. Although I think of all the choices there were to make, the back splash was perhaps one of the toughest for me. I knew I wanted subway tile, but I went back and forth between adding a decorative border or maybe an inset of decorative tiles above the stove top. And then there was the color. There were so many color choices. I had originally thought I'd choose white, but I am so glad I went with this smoky gray. As much as I love light and airy, I also love some contrast to keep things interesting and the gray tiles definitely contrast nicely with the white cabinets and play off the flecks of gray/silver that is in the granite counter tops. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">The dining room...</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JEMPeTgOciI/TyX8cILLLTI/AAAAAAAAHQg/-yLztmt6PM4/s1600/DSC_2108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="410" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JEMPeTgOciI/TyX8cILLLTI/AAAAAAAAHQg/-yLztmt6PM4/s640/DSC_2108.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EdDX3G4pVio/TyX8meFf9kI/AAAAAAAAHQo/tGmGg5C3fq8/s1600/DSC_2112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EdDX3G4pVio/TyX8meFf9kI/AAAAAAAAHQo/tGmGg5C3fq8/s640/DSC_2112.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">...features more trim detail with faux wainscoting trim and more of the craftsman style columns that I love that are echoed on the stair banisters and the columns between the mudroom and living room (and will continue upstairs eventually.)</span> <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wWVXtG4guik/TyX8tF7oooI/AAAAAAAAHQw/Weh8hfwlbK0/s1600/DSC_2117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="396" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wWVXtG4guik/TyX8tF7oooI/AAAAAAAAHQw/Weh8hfwlbK0/s640/DSC_2117.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5sxlhBZnZeg/TyX6IR3h2yI/AAAAAAAAHOQ/ywVRSjtGsTc/s1600/DSC_2033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5sxlhBZnZeg/TyX6IR3h2yI/AAAAAAAAHOQ/ywVRSjtGsTc/s640/DSC_2033.jpg" width="424" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Gabe and Cooper share what is now being used as their bedroom but will eventually be Jason's office once the upstairs bedrooms are complete...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">It's small for two boys, but works for them for now and they're happy to be out of the basement and into a space all their own. I have ideas for a better way to display all their sports trophies and medals once their room is complete upstairs. They're definitely running out of space for all of their athletic hardware now...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Also on the main level is a small 1/4 bath, the laundry room and a few coat closets. AND, a walk-in pantry in the kitchen with built-in shelving. I don't have the laundry room, bathroom, or pantry completed yet, but will post photos when I do!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">And, there you have it. Our latest home projects! It's been such a long, yet fun journey that we feel blessed to be able to do! We definitely couldn't afford our dream house if we just had it built for us all at once, so instead we continue as finances and time allows and we have patience and satisfaction in knowing that we are working towards making our house a home we will love.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12456988812677949238noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3984213901968219713.post-34636167193142580792011-12-29T11:50:00.000-06:002011-12-29T11:50:29.026-06:00Christmas Break Bliss<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">It truly is heartwarming to see all four of my kiddos playing the same activity (Batman)...working together (nicely)...and having fun. Pure bliss.</span><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br />
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</div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12456988812677949238noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3984213901968219713.post-50415184683677789272011-12-21T10:20:00.001-06:002011-12-21T10:22:11.287-06:00Polar Express party...and a streaker<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I am a terrible blogger this year. As I look through the archives and see every month in the single digits for number of posts published, I am ashamed. I really need to start doing a better job of documenting our lives. The kids are only little once, and with four little ones, you know I don't lack blogging material. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Take this morning for example. Chloe has a Polar Express party at preschool, so she got to wear her pajamas. I was taking her photo before school...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">...when Gavin got a bit upset hearing the talk of this 'pajama party,' as Chloe called it. Gavin started yelling, "Party! Yeah, party!" and began to take of his clothes. I asked him nicely to leave his clothes on, but he was insistent on changing into pajamas just like big sis. I thought, why not! So I followed him downstairs so that we could get his pajamas and this is what I see as he walks towards his room...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Oh, the excitement and laughter is never ending with these four kids. I am so blessed to be called their mama.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12456988812677949238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3984213901968219713.post-86546493796398359622011-11-29T10:36:00.004-06:002011-11-29T11:08:10.528-06:00God's plan is perfect, even in the midst of struggles<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I wrote this a few weeks ago, but felt it was too fresh to click that 'publish post' button until now. Very few people know this even happened, and it could easily stay that way. Yet, I feel compelled to share my story. I hope it is able to somehow minster to or comfort someone out there who may be reading it. Or, at the very least, cause you to be extra thankful tonight for your blessings and to hold them close, hug them tight, whisper some extra 'I love you's' and thank the Lord for them.</span></i><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">It's been a trying past month, not only in reference to my last blog post regarding Gabe's struggles at school. There's been heartache, and hopes seemingly crushed, and loss. And there's been sadness. Yet, there's also been great joy and thankfulness. And there's been a renewed sense of gratefulness for the four beautiful, healthy children the Lord has so graciously blessed me with that I fear I cannot accurately put into words. But with this post, I will try.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">You see, I was recently pregnant. I found out at about 5 weeks that I was indeed pregnant with my fifth child. The Lord had done it to me again. I had thought I was probably done having kids at four, but as He softened my heart, I realized I was not ready to be done. That I yearned for more. More kids to love and to raise up in His leading. More kids to share joys and triumphs with. More kids to have and hold with my husband, who we all know ALWAYS wants more kids.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">And so, we tried. And as it has in the past, it happened very quickly. At 8 weeks, I went in for my first appointment with the history nurse, where she updates my charts and the lab does the routine bloodwork. Everything looked well and good.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">In the past we had shared the news of our pregnancies fairly early on. I've never had any problems with conceiving and no issues during my pregnancies, so never really felt a need to keep it quiet. Yet this time, for some reason, we chose to wait. Maybe it was partially the fear that others would not share in or understand our joy to be pregnant once again. Although four kids isn't <i>that </i>many, some seem to think us crazy to want more. Other than a friend who asked me point blank if I was pregnant and I didn't want to lie to her, we told no one. A choice that soon makes sense in our minds.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I had been experiencing some morning sickness, but not as severe as with my other pregnancies, so I felt blessed.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">And was I ever happy to be pregnant. I can't quite describe the happiness, but I was possibly more happy than ever before to be pregnant. The idea that it wasn't 'over' for me. That that stage in my life was not closed. That I would once again hold my own newborn baby in my arms and smell that sweet newborn smell. I was happy because I have so much more love to give and I was going to have the opportunity to give that love to yet another addition to our family.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">At ten weeks, which was this past Wednesday (<i>actually Nov. 2nd</i>), I went in for my first OB appointment. My doctor for the past two pregnancies congratulated Jason and I on our pregnancy. We talked about our four kids at home and how much they've grown. We talked about starting all over with yet another and how excited we were. How excited the kids would be to find out. (We were waiting to tell them until after this appointment.)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">And then, came time to hear the heartbeat. The doctor moved the monitor around my stomach, but nothing. My heart sank. I looked at Jason and he tried to give me a reassuring smile that things would be ok. But, I had that sinking feeling that something was wrong. The doctor told us it was probably because it was so early on in the pregnancy, but he wanted to get an ultrasound done just in case. He pulled an old ultrasound into the room on a mobile cart. He found the baby on the screen, but because it was such an old machine, he couldn't zoom in enough to see detail. So, he sent us to ultrasound. There were no ultrasound appointments available at our hospital, so we were sent directly to another hospital a few blocks away. And we waited.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">The time we waited in the waiting room seemed like an eternity. I tried to disway the worries racing through my mind. We prayed. But, I couldn't shake that feeling in the pit of my stomach that things were not right. Then, my name was called.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">As we were led back to the room and I changed into a gown, my heart felt like it was beating out of my chest. I didn't want to know. Maybe I could just stay in ignorant bliss a bit longer. But soon, I was on the table. And although the technician couldn't tell us herself, Jason and I both knew as soon as the baby was up on the screen. He or she was not alive. There was no heart beat. I tried to hold in the tears. I didn't look at Jason because I knew once I did, I'd lose it. And once I got back into the bathroom to change my clothes, I did. The tears fell and I mourned.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">We were told to go back into the waiting room while the ultrasound technician showed the ultrasound photos to a resident doctor and called back to my doctor's office to get further instruction. Sitting in that waiting room was torture. I just wanted to weep. I wanted to crawl into a dark hole away from this public place and I wanted to cry in silence. And just then, a mother walked by with a little boy in tow. He was following his mommy and as he passed Jason and I, he looked over. He was about Gavin's age, my youngest son. He looked me right in the eyes, surely saw my tears, and looked a bit concerned at first. But as I managed a smile across my face at his sweet little face, he returned one to me. And was that smile ever comforting. Because just then, it hit me. I am SO blessed. Blessed beyond measure, just as my blog header says. I have a wonderful husband who is not only my best friend, but who is a better husband than I could ever ask for. And I have four beautiful children. Children who I had absolutely no problems conveiving or delivering. Children who have had minimal health problems or struggles in their lives. Children who make me want to be a better person than I ever may have strived for without them. And children who give me glimpes of the Lord's grace and mercy everyday I get to spend with them. Blessed indeed. And all of a sudden, I felt a peace and calm come over me. Yes, I was still sad. Tears still fell. I still mourned the loss of a child who we had been excited about and prayed for. But, my blessings outweighed that sadness. And more importantly, the Lord's love and mercy covered my sadness.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">When we were asked to return to my doctor's office, we did so in mostly silence. I know we were both in a bit of shock. After four completely normal and uncomplicated pregnancies, no previous miscarriages, and absolutely no signs of an imminent miscarriage, this was the very last thing we were expecting. But, again, the Lord covered the shock. We were grateful. Grateful for all that we do have. And we possessed a renewed sense of appreciation for just how special our kids are. What a miracle life is, and we take it for granted everyday.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">My doctor was so kind. He figured we already knew the answer when he walked in the room and immediately put his hand on me and said he was sorry. He consoled us. He gave us our options in the case of a missed misscarriage, which is where the baby dies but for some reason the body does not expel it naturally (on its own.) We talked about how my body is good at holding on to babies too long ;) I decided to first try medication to encourage uterine contractions so that I could expel my baby naturally at home. But after taking the medicine, it didn't work and I had to go back in for D&C surgery today (<i>Nov. 5th</i>) to remove the baby. It was the first time I'd ever had surgery or been put under anesthetic. I don't like to take drugs and had not even had an epidural for any of my previous labors, so I was nervous to say the least. But we prayed and our family and friends prayed, and I know those prayers work because I again had a sense of peace and calm that is completely uncharacteristic for this worrier. I felt the Lord's peace surrounding me. The procedure went as well as can be expected. I was sent home about 5 hours after I arrived. And tonight, I am feeling pretty good with little pain.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">But most importantly, I am thankful. I am so very thankful for all the love the Lord has already showered on my life. And I am hopeful for my future and whatever path the Lord leads me on. Because now, more than ever, I feel Him right here beside me. Just as the verse says, "He will never leave us or foresake us."</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I am in no way saying that because I already have four children, I grieve less for this fifth child. A child is a child, and not one is less significant than the next. Nor am I saying that we should not grieve. It's natural to grieve such a loss. But I am thankful that I have solace from my grief in the Lord and in the many blessings He has placed in my life to cause me to focus on being thankful.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Yes, there is a space of emptiness in my heart. I wonder if it was a boy or a girl. I wonder who he or she may have grown up to be. But, it is far greater knowing that God knows what He is doing. He has a plan, even when we may not understand it. He has a plan, and I trust in Him. And I have the security of knowing there is a child I have yet to meet waiting for me in heaven. As a friend reminded me, how neat to know there's a small part of me experiencing all the glories of God right now up in heaven.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Since this was originally written a few weeks back, we have shared our story with the kids. It was hard, seeing their faces light up when we told them mom was pregnant, only to see those smiles disappear as we shared that the baby had died and gone to heaven to be with the Lord. Our kids would have loved to have another brother or sister. The boys shared that they would still love to have another sister so that Chloe would have a 'friend' as they said. So sweet. We assured the kids that the Lord knows what He's doing and that if we should have more children, if they should have another brother or sister, then He will provide, whether through a pregnancy or through adoption. And since sharing the news, Cooper in particular has asked a few times if I'm pregnant again yet. The four of them have so much love for each other, that they gladly would welcome another. And that warms my heart.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">And so we wait. Wait on the Lord, and see what He has planned for us. For He does have a plan and it is perfect. And in that, I find my peace.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12456988812677949238noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3984213901968219713.post-29873916184186696822011-10-26T22:25:00.006-05:002011-10-26T22:53:23.594-05:00A kind heart<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Do I think my kids are perfect? Absolutely not. I KNOW they are not perfect. No one is, after all. Goodness, I'm certainly far from it. But, back to my kids. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">While I know they are not perfect, I do have to say that one thing they are...they <i>all</i> are...is kind. Maybe not always, but for the most part, they are all kind kiddos. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Now I may sound like a bragging mom, and if I do, I apologize. There's nothing worse than a mom who thinks her kids are perfect when they're not. Or a mom who is always tooting her own parenting horn. But please know that is the last thing I'm attempting to do. Lately, the Lord has just caused me to really <i>see</i> how kindness is rare in today's word, where attitudes and rude comments are so much cooler. Where it is so much more the tendency to be in competition with others than to be their teammates. Where it's more common to see others tearing each other down than lifting each other up. And I am so proud that somehow, the Lord has blessed my kids with kind hearts. Tonight I want to talk about Gabe in particular. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Gabe is my oldest, and he is a smart kid. He's clever and quick and understands so much more than I probably give him credit for. But Gabe also learns differently than others. Gabe has dyslexia. And although it's just a label in essence, it does help explain his struggles. His letters get turned around and make it extremely challenging to read. And because reading is a challenge, Gabe has to have some extra help at school. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">The extra help started off being no big deal to him, maybe even fun to get a break from the classroom. But now this extra help has possibly made him a target for those bullies that exist in every class. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Gabe has come home from school before and nonchalantly mentioned that someone called him stupid. But he usually brushes it off and moves on. Gabe is definitely a confident boy in general and doesn't tend to let what others say bring him down. Gabe has also been blessed with many good friends. But tonight, as he lay in bed and recounted the day with me as he always does, his eyes got watery and he grew quiet. I knew something was wrong. And as he asked me, "am I stupid, Mom?" my heart sank. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I of course asked him why he would think he's stupid. I've gone out of my way, anticipating the day when he would start to associate his different way of learning as being a negative, and have always told him that he's smart but just learns different than the average classroom is taught. That he just needs a little extra practice and it will all make sense. But as Gabe shared that on the playground today *Joey told him he was stupid, that he reads like an idiot, and that *Jimmy agreed that Gabe was dumb, it all made sense. Our words are piercing. They can go right through the heart of another, and make a lasting hole where they rest. Words can exist forever in the quiet echos of our minds. Words can hurt.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">And as I once again told Gabe how smart he is and how he can do anything he sets his mind to, I then asked him what he said in response to those unkind words. "I didn't say anything, Mom. I knew I didn't have anything nice to say back, so I didn't say anything." </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Yes, Gabe is kind.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Trying to hold back the tears as the words, "am I stupid, Mom" played over and over again in my mind, I attempted to think of words of wisdom to impart to Gabe. And of course, our ultimate role model came to mind. We talked about Jesus, and how people were cruel to Him. How they said unkind words to Him. Gabe chimed in and added how people threw rocks at Jesus on the cross and said, "Kill Him, Kill Him," even though he had done nothing to deserve it. And yet, through the midst of it all, how Jesus continued to show nothing but love and grace, and now calls us to do the same to others. And Gabe then told me that's what he tries to remember when people are cruel. And, he asked for me to help him pray for his 'friends' who were unkind. (Please know that these are not close friends of Gabe. But to Gabe, everyone is a friend.)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">As you can imagine, by this point in the conversation my heart was not just heavy, but breaking. Why is it that this sensitive mom is always the one who has to field such tough problems with my kids. Dad was still at church teaching the high school youth group, so I tried my best to get through the prayers. But as I ended by thanking God for Gabe's kind heart, I lost it. And to lighten the mood a bit, Gabe started to laugh at me hysterically. "Mom, why are you crying?" he said, as he giggled. I told him that sometimes moms are so overcome with love for their kids and so very proud of them that it comes out in tears. He said, "I love you too mom, but don't cry." </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">I guess if there's one piece of encouragement I could offer to anyone who happens to be reading this, it's just to think of parenting as intentional. Kids don't accidentally learn how to be kind to others. It's our job, in words and in actions, to teach them. To show them. If we leave parenting up to chance, the world will take over. And God warns us of the things of this world. Who wants their kids under those influences. And we cannot assume our kids <i>know </i>by watching us. We have to tell them. A simple reminder before your kids leave the door in the morning to 'be kind to your friends' could do so much more than you'd ever think. Perhaps it could have saved my son from thinking he's stupid. And perhaps not. But I know that the Lord will grow Gabe into a man of character through the adversity. Because, thank God He takes our weaknesses and can turn them into strengths. He takes our hurts, and turns them into love for others, even others that may hurt us. And on that, I rest my heavy heart tonight. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">And one last request. I know I have so many wonderful, believing friends who may be reading this tonight. If you could, say a little pray for my son, that his heart would continue to be abounded in Christ's love and kindness, I would really appreciate it.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sdsCdIDeGGA/TqjO0cM1ypI/AAAAAAAAGss/0iK8eASfsxo/s1600/DSC_4400+B%2526W.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sdsCdIDeGGA/TqjO0cM1ypI/AAAAAAAAGss/0iK8eASfsxo/s640/DSC_4400+B%2526W.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12456988812677949238noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3984213901968219713.post-1364638896407259022011-10-08T01:39:00.000-05:002011-10-08T01:39:32.218-05:00A simple note can melt your heart<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">First of all, yes, The Sanders Family is still here. I have done a pitiful job of keeping up with my personal blog. And, my photography blog too for the matter. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The kids are back in school and homework is in full swing, as is wrestling practice. Couple all of that with my photography busy season and I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed lately. Thank the Lord for His strength, because I certainly couldn't do this on my own AND manage to maintain my sanity. And, thank God for blessing me with a husband who is ever-helpful and other family and friends who keep me on track. Boy, I couldn't do it all alone!</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">But, back to the reason for this post. My boys may be wrestlers. Tough, strong, no-nonsense wrestlers. But sometimes, just sometimes, they show what sweet & kind little hearts they have. Feast your eyes on this note that the boys wrote...for their SISTER. Seriously, Chloe is blessed to have some of the best brothers around.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YKbKOILQt2Y/To_uKMV5P7I/AAAAAAAAGsg/FEJ4EP5fEd8/s1600/DSC_1446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YKbKOILQt2Y/To_uKMV5P7I/AAAAAAAAGsg/FEJ4EP5fEd8/s640/DSC_1446.jpg" width="426" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HgK9MxJ9QVY/To_uStcRkqI/AAAAAAAAGsk/20uEW9KmV5g/s1600/DSC_1447.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HgK9MxJ9QVY/To_uStcRkqI/AAAAAAAAGsk/20uEW9KmV5g/s640/DSC_1447.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"You are the best ever." ...and... "Chloe, We love you. You are 'awesome'. Gabe & Cooper."</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I wish I would have had the video camera going when the boys gave Chloe these notes. As Gabe read them to her, a HUGE smile lit across her face. I mean, the girl was BEAMING! Talk about melt a mama's heart. Chloe sweetly asked if they would tape it to her bedroom door, after which she proceeded to tell me that she now needs to have all of her friends over to show them her newest door hanging. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Oh, how I pray they all love each other just the way they do today for the rest of their lives. </span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12456988812677949238noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3984213901968219713.post-64749192285929488232011-09-01T18:44:00.004-05:002011-09-02T12:44:02.048-05:00Another old childhood photo<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">My mom was looking through her old photos and amazingly found another one of me! As I've mentioned before, there are not many photos of me...not that I'm bitter or anything...ahem. Just kidding! Actually, I thank my parents for their lack of picture taking when I was younger because I think, in a way, it may have ironically sparked my passion for photography. As everyone who follows this blog knows, my kiddos will definitely not be lacking photographic memories. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Anyway, back to the old photo of me. My mom kept telling me that Chloe looks like I did as a child. She kept saying that of course we have different hair colors, but the same features. And I have to say, I think the most recent photo find really does illustrate a resemblance.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here I am at five-years-old...</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dy2pEjcIN7A/TmAXvL_lKTI/AAAAAAAAGio/bJ93gFjUPLA/s1600/Angie+age+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dy2pEjcIN7A/TmAXvL_lKTI/AAAAAAAAGio/bJ93gFjUPLA/s640/Angie+age+5.jpg" width="444" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I know, I know...great hairstyle AND top (insert sarcasm here.)</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And here's the same photo, side-by-side with a photo of Chloe. </span><span style="font-size: large;">So, what do you think? Do you see a resemblance?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fYDS_ZxB3-w/TmAXzmbextI/AAAAAAAAGis/i5LBpDqMsUQ/s1600/mom+chloe.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="484" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fYDS_ZxB3-w/TmAXzmbextI/AAAAAAAAGis/i5LBpDqMsUQ/s640/mom+chloe.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12456988812677949238noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3984213901968219713.post-61652410321154520422011-08-26T14:57:00.003-05:002011-08-26T15:05:23.711-05:00Look-a-likes<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KSwmMVemY1U/Tlf0kmWFvcI/AAAAAAAAGgo/PhnBBwTeyd8/s1600/Angie+age+2+resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A9Fy_EZwAZM/TlfzpRCPubI/AAAAAAAAGgk/dpLjfvxNyrc/s1600/PunkyBrewster_S3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A9Fy_EZwAZM/TlfzpRCPubI/AAAAAAAAGgk/dpLjfvxNyrc/s640/PunkyBrewster_S3.jpg" width="456" /></a></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A9Fy_EZwAZM/TlfzpRCPubI/AAAAAAAAGgk/dpLjfvxNyrc/s1600/PunkyBrewster_S3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7S7wjCKz4Bg/Tlf4ku3xlLI/AAAAAAAAGg4/jkfjzKyJFj4/s1600/img004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>Remember the show Punky Brewster? I sure do! Not only because I used to watch it, but because when I was little, everyone used to say, "You look just like Punky Brewster." </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And I mean everyone. My mom remembers being stopped on the street, in the mall, at McDonald's, and having complete strangers come up to her and suggest the resemblance between Punky Brewster and I. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here's one of the very few photos I have of me as a young child. I was the fourth child and the youngest, and my parents apparently forgot how to use a camera...;-) </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7S7wjCKz4Bg/Tlf4ku3xlLI/AAAAAAAAGg4/jkfjzKyJFj4/s1600/img004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7S7wjCKz4Bg/Tlf4ku3xlLI/AAAAAAAAGg4/jkfjzKyJFj4/s640/img004.jpg" width="470" /></a></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I know, I know...don't you just love my heavy bangs and outer space t-shirt?!? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, here's a side-by-side of me when I was five and Punky Brewster. What do you think? Did we look alike?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UkrhrwMRoC4/Tlf1VP6rBMI/AAAAAAAAGg0/FFqiWG-6Tn4/s1600/punky+brewster+look-a-like.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="414" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UkrhrwMRoC4/Tlf1VP6rBMI/AAAAAAAAGg0/FFqiWG-6Tn4/s640/punky+brewster+look-a-like.JPG" width="640" /></a></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now, years later, my daughter is having the same occurrence. Not with Punky Brewster, but with a new commercial for Century Link (formerly known as quest.) I have had countless people tell me that they thought they saw Chloe on a commercial. And although it isn't Chloe, I do see the resemblance. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Watch the video for yourself and see if you can spot the Chloe look-a-like...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://3.gvt0.com/vi/fSuHKsFfb_M/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/fSuHKsFfb_M&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/fSuHKsFfb_M&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></span><br />
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</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12456988812677949238noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3984213901968219713.post-84534392132308296782011-08-25T23:05:00.003-05:002011-08-25T23:10:14.804-05:00Gavin, Clifford and Glow Worm too<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">You know what 'they' say...people start to look like their dog after awhile. </span><span style="font-size: large;">(On a side note, do you ever wonder who 'they' are?)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1u9-Urzx-i4/TlcbOpxnFlI/AAAAAAAAGgU/qaSefFyFq9o/s1600/DSC_1116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1u9-Urzx-i4/TlcbOpxnFlI/AAAAAAAAGgU/qaSefFyFq9o/s640/DSC_1116.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">But, when it comes to Gavin, I think he looks a lot more like his glow worm than he does his dog, Clifford...</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dbosFHm1gQI/TlcbY3-kBoI/AAAAAAAAGgY/1fffK7NfYuk/s1600/DSC_1124.jpg" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dbosFHm1gQI/TlcbY3-kBoI/AAAAAAAAGgY/1fffK7NfYuk/s640/DSC_1124.jpg" width="640" /></a></span><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Or, 'Clippord' as Gavin calls him. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Either way, Clifford and Glow Worm are two companions Gavin cannot sleep without. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Or, 'camp out' in the living room without either. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Oh, to be two.</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12456988812677949238noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3984213901968219713.post-30904791257841559952011-08-18T09:27:00.003-05:002011-08-18T12:49:10.598-05:00First day of school, 2011<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3Qpn7a7cCYg/Tk0SE-o1RzI/AAAAAAAAGZA/X290GgIuxhw/s1600/name+apple+collage.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="346" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3Qpn7a7cCYg/Tk0SE-o1RzI/AAAAAAAAGZA/X290GgIuxhw/s640/name+apple+collage.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have a first grader and a third grader this year. (And, a four-year-old preschooler, but she doesn't start school for another week and a half.) As always, it's hard for me to send the kids off to school. What can I say...I miss them while they're gone. I miss their laughter, the funny things they say, their goofy jokes, the way they need me. And the older they get, the less they need me. Or so it seems.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">But, as much as they are becoming independent, they still need me to be here for them. To listen when they have a problem. To have those fresh baked cookies ready that they've come to expect upon arrival home from the first day of school. To drive them here and there. To tuck them into bed at night. But most importantly, they need me to love them and pray for them. To be a prayer warrior for them, petitioning God on their behalf to help them be lights in a dark world and to grow strong and firm in their faith in Him. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I pray that they would be 'taught of the Lord' and great will be their peace (Isaiah 54:13.) That they would hide His Word in their hearts (Psalm 119:11.) That God would fill them with the knowledge of His will so they can walk in a way that’s pleasing to Him and their life will bear fruit (Col. 1:9.) I pray all these things and so much more for my kiddos. And I pray for myself and for my husband, that we would raise them up in the way the Lord would want us to. What a huge responsibility parenting is, after all.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">So today, I send my kiddos off to yet another first day of school. And I pray.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AwOx_QM5GCk/Tk0e1ZtgyrI/AAAAAAAAGZg/hL-lskNjKuM/s1600/DSC_0200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LFID9DWt4a4/Tk0fAN231aI/AAAAAAAAGZk/y4JPTNbfD9M/s1600/DSC_0264+B%2526W.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LFID9DWt4a4/Tk0fAN231aI/AAAAAAAAGZk/y4JPTNbfD9M/s640/DSC_0264+B%2526W.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fJlWyeVBwY4/Tk0fKyFDpSI/AAAAAAAAGZo/rGux-noykbA/s1600/DSC_0266.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fJlWyeVBwY4/Tk0fKyFDpSI/AAAAAAAAGZo/rGux-noykbA/s640/DSC_0266.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">A little tired this morning...</span></div><br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AwOx_QM5GCk/Tk0e1ZtgyrI/AAAAAAAAGZg/hL-lskNjKuM/s1600/DSC_0200.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AwOx_QM5GCk/Tk0e1ZtgyrI/AAAAAAAAGZg/hL-lskNjKuM/s640/DSC_0200.jpg" width="424" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bkP8V7I7d8A/Tk0ghxgmJLI/AAAAAAAAGZ4/MFid1drAAsY/s1600/DSC_0240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bkP8V7I7d8A/Tk0ghxgmJLI/AAAAAAAAGZ4/MFid1drAAsY/s640/DSC_0240.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6gbla7O5djE/Tk0fXMU1lII/AAAAAAAAGZs/Ox5KPDVKlgg/s1600/DSC_0240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MOaM4h1aqA0/Tk0fhxGY2II/AAAAAAAAGZw/Lv8NaNzql1s/s1600/DSC_0257.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MOaM4h1aqA0/Tk0fhxGY2II/AAAAAAAAGZw/Lv8NaNzql1s/s640/DSC_0257.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H-2RAoPixo0/Tk0gGBV6r3I/AAAAAAAAGZ0/IUUOenui2sY/s1600/DSC_0278.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H-2RAoPixo0/Tk0gGBV6r3I/AAAAAAAAGZ0/IUUOenui2sY/s640/DSC_0278.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12456988812677949238noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3984213901968219713.post-65307725146540137412011-08-03T21:52:00.004-05:002011-08-03T22:17:55.886-05:00Cooper turns 6...two months ago<span style="font-size: large;">Better late than never, right. That's exactly what I thought as Jason reminded me that I failed to do a birthday blog post for Cooper way back in June. Sorry, Cooper! Mama's been a bad blogger this summer! </span><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">My sweet Cooper. How you've changed so much in the last year alone. Our boy that was too timid to get out on the mat at the beginning of the wrestling season, but ended up fourth in the entire state at the end of the season. Our son who sometimes prefers to hide in the outgoing shadow of his big brother Gabe, but who comes home from a year at school with 10 best friends. And, then there's the girls. We lost track of how many girls have told him they are going to marry him. But he's oblivious. Our son who is sweet and kind, yet knows exactly how to push his little sister's buttons if he chooses to. And our son who told me today that he would love to have 100 brothers and sisters, because he just loves kids. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Oh, Cooper, how I love you my sweet little heartbreaker.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1qgnwry7oVM/TjoEtJeEhPI/AAAAAAAAGWs/o6NYr7TvZzY/s1600/DSC_4380+glam.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1qgnwry7oVM/TjoEtJeEhPI/AAAAAAAAGWs/o6NYr7TvZzY/s640/DSC_4380+glam.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">For Cooper's birthday back on June 10, we kept it low key. Cooper had one friend, his buddy Easton, over for a sleepover and slept in a tent pitched in the backyard. Well, most of the night, as the boys got too cold at about 4 a.m. and came inside to finish up a good night's sleep in the warmth of the bunk beds. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We started the night off with an awesome Batman cake made by my friend, Melanie. Cooper LOVES Batman.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s5l-yEajDFQ/TjnzFUdPQQI/AAAAAAAAGWI/JJ2-Fp5ZFaw/s1600/DSC_8559.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--Fn3gcZUgDQ/TjoHITPkY-I/AAAAAAAAGWw/f1liiDCbhEU/s1600/cake+collage.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="484" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--Fn3gcZUgDQ/TjoHITPkY-I/AAAAAAAAGWw/f1liiDCbhEU/s640/cake+collage.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O-LJS609DTY/TjnzVHawf5I/AAAAAAAAGWQ/wUqPt_Acvik/s1600/DSC_8564.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-szanE-6gS98/TjnzxfxVbXI/AAAAAAAAGWY/8j-bsB00Vfo/s1600/DSC_8567+B%2526W.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-szanE-6gS98/TjnzxfxVbXI/AAAAAAAAGWY/8j-bsB00Vfo/s640/DSC_8567+B%2526W.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And blowing out the candles...</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">(on a side note, I love that Coop is wearing his "Sanders for Supervisor" t-shirt. This was not planned. He just came out of his room wearing it. He's a fan of his dad!)</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lJ6J87pzBg8/Tjnz3j2JnaI/AAAAAAAAGWc/Sh8GE3VJvxk/s1600/DSC_8578.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lJ6J87pzBg8/Tjnz3j2JnaI/AAAAAAAAGWc/Sh8GE3VJvxk/s640/DSC_8578.jpg" width="420" /></a><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Gavin liked the cake, too... </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x6ft_pgwHGA/TjnzrKOJc9I/AAAAAAAAGWU/I68YMvwdGdU/s1600/DSC_8565.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x6ft_pgwHGA/TjnzrKOJc9I/AAAAAAAAGWU/I68YMvwdGdU/s640/DSC_8565.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Then, Coop opened presents...</span></div><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h8nYHTArSr0/Tjn0Ag3gPII/AAAAAAAAGWg/hn3-nGYEL7s/s1600/DSC_8581.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h8nYHTArSr0/Tjn0Ag3gPII/AAAAAAAAGWg/hn3-nGYEL7s/s640/DSC_8581.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IGj_ZkVRHg0/Tjn0J1XRnYI/AAAAAAAAGWk/pPhIiB4xx0Q/s1600/DSC_8585.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IGj_ZkVRHg0/Tjn0J1XRnYI/AAAAAAAAGWk/pPhIiB4xx0Q/s640/DSC_8585.jpg" width="424" /></a><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-om376ioEYEI/Tjn0QybNuwI/AAAAAAAAGWo/Zj-oeC0vkMU/s1600/DSC_8586+B%2526W.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-om376ioEYEI/Tjn0QybNuwI/AAAAAAAAGWo/Zj-oeC0vkMU/s640/DSC_8586+B%2526W.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Played a little wii...</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AfC5daBWRUQ/Tjny8r9442I/AAAAAAAAGWE/m5ULmXB6Hmc/s1600/DSC_8554.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AfC5daBWRUQ/Tjny8r9442I/AAAAAAAAGWE/m5ULmXB6Hmc/s640/DSC_8554.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And just had a great time! </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I still can't believe Cooper is 6. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">In two weeks, he begins first grade! He's so excited and loves to read books and write stories. Cooper is also known for HAVING to know <i>how</i> everything works. We fear he may be an engineer in the making, haha. ;-) Sorry, just a little joke for all our engineer friends. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">But really, it's so fun to see Cooper's curiosity and imagination as he builds inventions and brings his Batman fantasies to life. I love my boy! </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Happy 6th birthday Cooper! May your tender heart continue to grow in the Lord and always shine on all that you meet. We love you!</span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12456988812677949238noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3984213901968219713.post-43514849165068853412011-08-01T19:42:00.003-05:002011-08-01T19:47:12.230-05:00My baby is 2!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dWP8ncaJn2c/TjdF56UMQdI/AAAAAAAAGVo/l-v4LNuzBO4/s1600/DSC_4371+glam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dWP8ncaJn2c/TjdF56UMQdI/AAAAAAAAGVo/l-v4LNuzBO4/s640/DSC_4371+glam.jpg" width="418" /> </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Gavin turned two yesterday. TWO! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Where have the past two years gone? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">When I think about Gavin, I think about the what if's. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">What if I had stuck with my gut reaction after getting my girl in my third child and had really stopped there. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">What if I had never gotten pregnant again. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">What if I hadn't had Gavin.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I can't even imagine my life without his precious, ever-present smile. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
Gavin's joy has taught our family so much. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It's a constant reminder of the joy we need to experience in Christ everyday, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">no matter how busy we are. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">No matter the stresses that fill our days, we cannot let our joy be diminished.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">Gavin is truly a blessing each and everyday.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Gavin,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Your brothers adore you.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Your sister adores you.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Your mom and dad adore you.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thank God that He convinced me that four isn't too many. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Happy birthday to you, big boy!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Love,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Mom</span></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12456988812677949238noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3984213901968219713.post-84615953265648715292011-07-31T01:31:00.007-05:002011-07-31T01:52:02.337-05:00Gabe's first-ever Triathlon<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">What's this, you say?</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">A blog post? Really?</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I know, I have been absolutely terrible about blogging lately. What can I say, other than things have been busy as usual around here and the blog has taken hit. Sorry blog. You've missed so much! Vacations, baseball, flag football, storms, photographs, stories. Where to begin the catch-up?</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Well, I can't promise I will review everything that has happened, but I can start with the excitement of our day today. Gabe competed in his first-ever triathlon, consisting of a 50 meter swim, 1.2 mile bike ride and a .6 mile run. And, Gabe won first place! </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">But more important than winning is the fact that he once again learned to never give up. And he could have easily given up after the swimming, as we learned it is NOT his strong suit. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here's Gabe waiting to start...</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CWZKehIXqNE/TjTyvP4yx-I/AAAAAAAAGVE/tKinN_bsxQA/s1600/DSC_4809.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CWZKehIXqNE/TjTyvP4yx-I/AAAAAAAAGVE/tKinN_bsxQA/s640/DSC_4809.jpg" width="424" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And here he is during his first few strokes, already falling behind. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WLcEULliqXQ/TjTzH2rReEI/AAAAAAAAGVI/eha7t0u81lQ/s1600/DSC_4814.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="418" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WLcEULliqXQ/TjTzH2rReEI/AAAAAAAAGVI/eha7t0u81lQ/s640/DSC_4814.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Gabe did leave the pool in last place. But instead of throwing in the towel, he kicked it into high gear for the biking...</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3SYzwtulXY4/TjTzNnihOFI/AAAAAAAAGVM/fK60Sq_Ccto/s1600/DSC_4847.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3SYzwtulXY4/TjTzNnihOFI/AAAAAAAAGVM/fK60Sq_Ccto/s640/DSC_4847.jpg" width="640" /></a></span><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And for the running...</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w-B1Wcbp6iM/TjTzWJrqOzI/AAAAAAAAGVQ/tSf89G6QNtc/s1600/DSC_4859.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w-B1Wcbp6iM/TjTzWJrqOzI/AAAAAAAAGVQ/tSf89G6QNtc/s640/DSC_4859.jpg" width="424" /></a></span><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And Gabe ended up coming from behind to be the first to cross the finish line. He is really one of the most determined people I know. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Gabe, our little competitor. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bMZssXb1Hdc/TjTzzNg12rI/AAAAAAAAGVk/MmkSo1HYP1E/s1600/DSC_4885.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bMZssXb1Hdc/TjTzzNg12rI/AAAAAAAAGVk/MmkSo1HYP1E/s640/DSC_4885.jpg" width="424" /></a></span><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And here's Gabe with his buddy, Damon, who also competed and won second place. (Awful lighting, I know. They were lined up for a photo for the paper, so I just snapped a shot.)</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-adh9RWJKb6I/TjTzr11_slI/AAAAAAAAGVg/Sux6hNyGhs8/s1600/DSC_4883.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-adh9RWJKb6I/TjTzr11_slI/AAAAAAAAGVg/Sux6hNyGhs8/s640/DSC_4883.jpg" width="422" /></a></span><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">On a side note, it was so nice that these two friends grabbed the two top spots. And I not only witnessed Damon congratulating Gabe on his win, but also proceeding to tell everyone he saw that his buddy won first place. What great sportsmanship! I love to see friends cheering each other on!</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And one more side note...Chloe is still too young to compete in these events at the age of four. But boy, is she ready! She would compete in a heartbeat if they'd let her! And she certainly didn't let the age gap stop her today, proceeding to run alongside Gabe as he completed his running stint of the race. She then did an extra .6 mile run for good measure. All with a smile on her face. Here's dad showing Chloe the finish line as she completed the run. In flip flops, nonetheless.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TnGNDqXKMgc/TjTzei6wKJI/AAAAAAAAGVY/Ymwp32L6xc4/s1600/DSC_4869.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TnGNDqXKMgc/TjTzei6wKJI/AAAAAAAAGVY/Ymwp32L6xc4/s640/DSC_4869.jpg" width="418" /></a></span><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">So there's Gabe's first triathlon in a nutshell. It's goodnight for now, and hopefully see you soon dear blog.</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12456988812677949238noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3984213901968219713.post-48917395981587720342011-06-13T10:18:00.000-05:002011-06-13T10:18:20.845-05:00Fashion Friends photos: Chloe and Faith Flowers<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">You might recall <a href="http://thejasandersfamily.blogspot.com/2011/04/fashion-friends-update.html" style="color: #0b5394;">this post</a> from a little while back where I shared that Chloe would be having a photo shoot with her look-a-like Faith Flowers doll. Well, the photo shoot came and went and I still haven't posted any photos!! Talk about busy! </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So, today's the day. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here are a few photos of Chloe with the Faith Flowers doll. Not her very own Faith Flowers doll, which won't arrive until sometime in July when the matching outfits for little girls are ready. The doll pictured in this photo is actually the very first Faith Flowers doll off the assembly line, one-of-a-kind. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Can you see the resemblance... </span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RmK6-0bsfRM/TfYnfBuCSaI/AAAAAAAAGG4/v2jtnDt3Jp8/s1600/DSC_0646.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RmK6-0bsfRM/TfYnfBuCSaI/AAAAAAAAGG4/v2jtnDt3Jp8/s640/DSC_0646.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YniGryMD42A/TfYnoDpDj6I/AAAAAAAAGG8/szUnCWgg4qY/s1600/DSC_0951.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YniGryMD42A/TfYnoDpDj6I/AAAAAAAAGG8/szUnCWgg4qY/s640/DSC_0951.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jVU8AAn-nVU/TfYntpKHlBI/AAAAAAAAGHA/w0DwAhikmMk/s1600/DSC_0976.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jVU8AAn-nVU/TfYntpKHlBI/AAAAAAAAGHA/w0DwAhikmMk/s640/DSC_0976.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The owner of Fashion Friends had also requested that I capture a few photos of Chloe and I reading the Fashion Friends book together. So, I stepped out of my comfort zone and reluctantly got out from behind the camera for a few shots...</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Gc8bkLEyv3Q/TfYok0NJE_I/AAAAAAAAGHI/BrfQc-O3Klk/s1600/DSC_5321.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Gc8bkLEyv3Q/TfYok0NJE_I/AAAAAAAAGHI/BrfQc-O3Klk/s640/DSC_5321.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--56x8v75AbU/TfYooaSg8rI/AAAAAAAAGHM/daorESdNkW4/s1600/DSC_5329.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--56x8v75AbU/TfYooaSg8rI/AAAAAAAAGHM/daorESdNkW4/s640/DSC_5329.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The books and dolls are both currently on sale. You can find them <a href="http://www.fashionfriendsclub.com/" style="color: #0b5394;">here</a>. Not only are they high-quality products, but ones with great messages for little girls! And more photos of Chloe and Faith in their matching outfits when they arrive later this summer. Chloe is just a bit excited for that (ok...and mom is too.)</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12456988812677949238noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3984213901968219713.post-17612304768575975752011-05-26T13:43:00.006-05:002011-05-31T10:37:35.433-05:00Interview with a newly turned four-year-oldMy little girl turns four today! How do four years go by so fast?<br />
<br />
I thought it would be fun to document her age by interviewing her with a series of questions I found online. She's such a happy, fun-loving little girl, and I think her answers reflect that.<br />
<br />
<b>Interview with Chloe Faith, age 4:</b><br />
<br />
<b>What's your favorite...</b><br />
<b>cereal: </b><span style="color: purple;">f</span><span style="color: purple;">rench fries (? - ha)</span><br />
<b>vegetable: </b> <span style="color: purple;">carrots</span><br />
<b>drink:</b> <span style="color: purple;"> strawberry juice</span><br />
<b>toy: </b><span style="color: purple;"> strawberry shortcake house</span><br />
<b>tv show:</b> <span style="color: purple;">Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Wow Wow Wubbzy, Dora, Looney Tunes</span><br />
<b>book:</b> <span style="color: purple;">Dora, The Very Hungry Caterpillar</span><br />
<b>game:</b> <span style="color: purple;">Wii princesses</span><br />
<b>restaurant:</b> <span style="color: purple;">McDonald's</span><br />
<b>holiday:</b> <span style="color: purple;">Christmas</span><br />
<b>animal:<span style="color: purple;"> </span></b><span style="color: purple;">pony</span><br />
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<b>If you could change your name to any other name, what name would you choose:</b><span style="color: purple;"> "That's silly mom! My name is Chloe Faith and I want to keep it!"</span><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b>What do you love most about the other people in your family?</b> <b style="color: black;">Dad </b>-<span style="color: purple;"> "He got me lots of presents and loves me." <b><span style="color: black;">Mom </span></b>- "You sit by me on the couch during movie nights when I ask you to. And you play with me. And you're lovely." <b style="color: black;">Gabe</b> - "He got me a ballerina for my birthday. And he's strong." <b style="color: black;">Cooper</b> - "He got me Snow White for my birthday. And he plays with me sometimes." <b><span style="color: black;">Gavin</span></b> - "He plays trains with me. And I love his cuteness."</span><br />
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<b>Where do you want to go on vacation this year?</b> <span style="color: purple;">"To Colorado again. And to Cinderella's castle (a.k.a. Disney World.)</span><br />
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<b>What are your wishes for this year? </b><span style="color: purple;">"I wish I can have a computer when I grow up. And for people to be happy."</span><br />
<br />
<b>What do you love most in the world.</b> <span style="color: purple;">"I love everyone. And I love Jesus, cause he helps me not to be scared and he protects me and he died for me."</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The End </span></b></span></div><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><i><span style="color: black;">Aren't her answers sweet and fun! I think we have a Miss America in training, with everything sunshine and rainbows through Chloe's rose-colored glasses. </span></i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;">Happy Birthday, Chloe! You are such a joy and a light in this world! And such a blessing. </span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9A32ABdVPBQ/Td6eqV8_vBI/AAAAAAAAGCA/UJYj_L3NPZ0/s1600/DSC_4719.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9A32ABdVPBQ/Td6eqV8_vBI/AAAAAAAAGCA/UJYj_L3NPZ0/s640/DSC_4719.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UzRLJHYKfdY/Td6e7SVoaLI/AAAAAAAAGCE/5w1KeZq_MiI/s1600/DSC_4691.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UzRLJHYKfdY/Td6e7SVoaLI/AAAAAAAAGCE/5w1KeZq_MiI/s640/DSC_4691.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12456988812677949238noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3984213901968219713.post-54273814671351448492011-05-25T11:59:00.000-05:002011-05-25T11:59:11.253-05:00Chloe's dress-up doll<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">I think you can tell by the shoes that Chloe is at it again. Just another day of playing dress up with her little brother. Poor Gavin. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">On the bright side, at least she was thoughtful enough to match the snow white shoes to Gavin's pj's. Afterall, the Little Mermaid purple pair might have clashed.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NQ0Hw-RgYp8/Td00mbT0F4I/AAAAAAAAGB8/kT7qhyHg_Jw/s1600/DSC_3595.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NQ0Hw-RgYp8/Td00mbT0F4I/AAAAAAAAGB8/kT7qhyHg_Jw/s640/DSC_3595.jpg" width="422" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12456988812677949238noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3984213901968219713.post-55353897410672992752011-05-23T16:38:00.008-05:002011-05-23T22:36:32.435-05:00Raising girls who value inner beauty<i>Prepare for a very, very long post. But it's been in the works in my mind for literally years. It's filled with stories, and much passion, and I hope with a bit of challenge to re-examine how our words and actions, even the most subtle of words and actions, can shape and mold our children forever. I hope that through it, you can gain a new or perhaps revived perspective on your own worth in Christ.</i> <br />
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When I was a little girl, my mom (and dad for that matter) loved me for me. (Since I am a mom, I'll be telling this story from a mom's point of view, definitely not to deny the importance of fathers.)<br />
<br />
Yes, I was raised to love myself. Never did I question my weight, or my hair, or my freckles. Well, maybe I questioned my freckles a little, as kids can be cruel. But once home from being called freckle face, I was reassured that I was beautiful, inside and out. Not once was my mom ever critical of my appearance. And equally important, not once did I ever hear my mom be critical of her own appearance. Not once.<br />
<br />
Contrast that with one of my very best friends growing up. Let's call her Jenny. Jenny was constantly questioning her weight, her hair, her appearance in general. She was continually critical of herself. We were a mere nine years old at the time. I remember the first time I spent the night at her house. It became quickly apparent to me, even at the tender age of nine, why my friend was the way she was. Jenny's mom, in stark contrast to my own, was very critical of her appearance. I remember as we brushed our hair in front of the mirror to get ready to go to our local movie theater, Jenny's mom stared judgmentally as she stood in the bathroom doorway. She told her daughter, "It's too bad your hair isn't more like Angie's." Yes, I remember it well. And I remember my friend's face. She was crushed.<br />
<br />
Over and over again, Jenny's mom would say subtle, and not so subtle, comments that affected my friend more than her mom would ever realize. I remember on another occasion we had just sang in a vocal concert and as my parents congratulated me on my solo, her mom told her she should have stood up straight because she looks a little chubby when she slouches. Again, my friend's spirit sunk.<br />
<br />
And Jenny continued to be critical of her appearance...her hair, her skin, her weight. I remember her being extremely careful of what she ate, saying she couldn't have candy at the skating rink because she was needing to lose some weight. Again, we were nine. <br />
<br />
Fast forward to middle school. I had moved to a different town by then, and had a whole new set of friends. I spent a lot of time at the house of one of my closest friends. We'll call her Emily. Emily's family seemed perfect to me. Beautiful, loving, always having fun and going on adventures together. But it didn't take long to see behind the thin veil that disguised the truth.<br />
<br />
Emily's mom struggled with an eating disorder. She would eat very, very little and then exercise all the time. I always saw her in workout clothes. She was always talking about how many miles she ran on the treadmill, or how long she spent exercising to her workout videos that day. She was obsessed. In contrast to my nine-year-old friend's mom, Emily's mom was not critical of her own daughter. She quite obviously and openly loved Emily and treated her as any daughter would want to be treated. She told her she was beautiful. She even told her she wished she was thin like her. Thin, like a middle-school girl. And what her mom didn't see was that her words spoken to Emily meant very little in contrast to her diet and exercise-obsessed actions. That's what Emily ended up emulating. Because, after all, actions speak louder than words.<br />
<br />
Fast forward to today. I am now 31 years old and the mother of three boys and one girl. I don't struggle with body image or self-esteem because my mom didn't struggle with body image or self-esteem. She led by words and example and it served me well. And now, the passion inside me to not only raise my own daughter up in the same way, but also to encourage other moms to break the cycle and do the same is that much greater since I became a Christian. Because yes, it's a nice sentiment even for the worldly to spew quotes like "Don't judge a book by it's cover." But God gave it even greater meaning in 1 Samuel 16:7, which states <span style="font-size: large;"><i>"The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." </i></span><br />
<br />
Yet, all I see even within the Christian community is women judging themselves by the world's standards and thus raising their daughters to do the same. I see moms forgetting how much our words and our actions shape and mold our children, even when we think they're not watching. I see moms constantly joking about their weight, when in reality the jokes are only masking a real feeling of inadequacy. I see moms talking about how they wish they were ten pounds lighter, and in turn, their daughters having self-esteem issues. And it breaks my heart.<br />
<br />
The world has enough influence on our children. We don't need to be the ones to encourage an unrealistic standard of beauty our little girls already get from practically every media outlet today. And if our little girls are saying they're ugly, or they're too fat, or they're not good enough, it's easy to blame the media's distribution of photoshopped models and actresses setting an unrealistic standard that we can never achieve. But have we thought to question how we as moms may be contributing to their low self-esteem?<br />
<br />
Let me take a minute to say that I in no way think I'm a better mom than the next person. I mess up and fall short and pray that the Lord will help heal my kids' hearts when I fail them. I have had to ask for my kids' forgiveness when I've lost my cool, or said something I shouldn't have. I am an imperfect person.<br />
<br />
But by the grace of God, He gave me an extraordinary mother who instilled in my heart a love for myself. A love for my body, just the way I am. And since becoming a Christian, God's grown that love more and more each day which is perhaps why I think memories of my friends not having the same love for themselves is so vivid to me. Friends who tried to fulfill themselves with the things of this world, and who attempted to 'improve' their bodies with dieting and exercise. And who wallowed in failure, never able to live up to this crazy world's standards of beauty.<br />
<br />
And to address one more possible misconception, I'm also in no way saying that it's not good to be health-minded. But there's a vast difference between being health-minded and being body-obsessed, placing our worth and happiness in what number the scale reads when we step on it in the morning.<br />
<br />
<br />
So with those misconceptions discussed, I look around today and I see other moms who were perhaps much like my friend Jenny, whose mother was too critical of her appearance, and now she is now too critical of her own daughter's appearance. And moms who perhaps were once like my friend Emily, who watched her own mother work tirelessly trying to become perfect according to the world and grew up to now work tirelessly to be perfect according to the world while her daughter watches her. It's a cycle. We often will parent as our parents parented.<br />
<br />
Well I say, let's break the cycle! Let's rediscover what God says about beauty.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">In Proverbs 31:30, it says, "Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." </span><br />
<br />
We can spend lots of time and energy working towards a standard that we will never achieve and that will never provide us true joy and fulfillment. We can dress ourselves in skimpy clothing and seek out male attention in order to feel better about ourselves, more beautiful, more desirable, and in turn causing those males to stumble by feasting their eyes on things they shouldn't and darkening their minds with impure thoughts. And we can, by default, raise our daughters to do the same.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Or,</span> we can surrender our insecurities to the Lord, discover in His Word where we should find our worth and value, and intentionally live our lives for Him. If not for ourselves, let's do it for our daughters. Because they are watching. <br />
<br />
And us parents of sons aren't off the hook either. My boys have already been lectured time and time again that if they don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all. They've been told to respect women (or girls, in their case) and to look at them as God would. He looks at the heart. And thus, so should we.<br />
<br />
Let's be intentional, moms! Let's break the chains this world's standards have placed on us, and help ourselves and our little girls be free to live out their lives with joy and happiness!<br />
<br />
I had a conference with my daughter's preschool teacher. She's only three, so the conference is pretty low key. But in it, my daughter's teacher told my husband and I over and over again what a happy girl Chloe is and how much joy she exudes. "Her smile and laughter brighten the room," she said. And how easily can that joy and happiness be diminished over time if I as a mom didn't nurture it by teaching my daughter in the same way I was taught by my own mother . Teaching her to love herself. To disregard the world's standard of beauty and look to the One who really counts. To see How much He loves her, just the way she is.<br />
<br />
If I can do that, by God's grace, then my daughter can someday raise a daughter of her own who can grow up with the same worth in Christ. That is truly a dream fulfilled! Won't you join me in raising my daughter to have worth in inner beauty by teaching your own sons and daughters to do the same. Together, and with God's leading, we can change a world!<br />
<br />
And to end, a photo of my daughter, Chloe, and I. God has used Chloe, as well as my other children, to grow me in so many ways. I will never be the same, and for that, I am thankful!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7EH4fVM084Q/TdrTHv_mjWI/AAAAAAAAGBo/r5C8TzIR24s/s1600/DSC_5488.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7EH4fVM084Q/TdrTHv_mjWI/AAAAAAAAGBo/r5C8TzIR24s/s640/DSC_5488.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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</i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12456988812677949238noreply@blogger.com4