Happy New Year!

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests." ~Luke 2:14

We have so much to be thankful for during this time of the year and always. I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and that we treasure the birth of our Savior just as much all year long!

A Belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all!

great grandparents

In the past month, three of our childrens' great grandparents have celebrated birthdays... just this past weekend, we celebrated my grandpa's 81st birthday.

What a blessing it is not only for us to enjoy, but for our kids to know and love FIVE great grandparents! Grandma G is still going a hundred miles a minute, canning pickles and making jam, working at the food bank, and having the family over. Grandpa and Grandma S. are busier than ever, working at church, working on the farm, baking/cooking/hosting big family get-togethers... and Grandpa and Grandma W. are nothing short of amazing, either! They willingly host as many people as are willing to come down to Moses Lake for as long as they'd like, and spoil all of their company rotten! They're also very active in missions and helping anybody and everybody out both at home and when they come to visit us...

Not only are our grandparents some of the most special people I know, they are such Godly examples to us and to our kids. I'm ever grateful for God's precious gift of grandparents!

it's been a while...

Wow... I definitely get the award for blogging slacker of the year! So much has happened since I last posted...

I have a new sister-in-law... thank you, John - and we love ya tons, Justine!:)
Our little lady has started KINDERGARTEN---so hard to believe!
The little man is talking a mile a minute and I am attempting potty training...
And finally, we're thrilled that I'm 18 weeks along with baby #3!!!

I've decided that I'm going to try and post about things I'm thankful for this month... and all of the above would be my post for today. Though our lives are a far, far cry from perfect, I'm so grateful for His many blessings!

so true...

"If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives.
Be kind anyway.
If you are honest, people may cheat you.
Be honest anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough.
Give your best anyway.
For you see, in the end, it is between you and God.
It was never between you and them anyway."

~Mother Teresa

kids say the darndest things...

I just love how kids say exactly what is on their minds. Last night, I was snuggling with our little lady when she analyzes my face and sweetly states: "Mom, your face is spotted and mine is normal." {side note... those "spots" are freckles.} Though, I have to say that one didn't make me laugh nearly as hard as when we went jeans shopping for her some time ago. As she was pulling a pair up over her legs, she honestly and innocently said, "Mom, the tops of my legs are chunky, just like yours!" Oh my goodness... how can you not burst out into laughter?! But honestly, if such a comment can be sweet or endearing, it was. At 5 and 6, little girls adore their mommies, and she saw nothing wrong with it. It was an observation all her own, and she was just saying it as she saw it.:)

I guess we'll see what lines this little guy comes up with in the next few years... right now it's "ME TOO!" in response to anything and everything we say.

I simply adore these two.:)

has it been 10 years...

I know, it's kinda mushy, but I've had an old, old Alan Jackson song in my head all week...

"Has it been 10 years since we said 'I do'

I'd always heard marriage made one seem like two

But you're looking better than you did back then

You still make this old heart give in...

And if I had it to do all over

I'd do it

All over again

If tomorrow I found one more chance to begin

I'd love you all over again..."

I seriously can't believe that we have been married for 10 years tomorrow! I have truly enjoyed married life more with each passing year... it's pretty amazing that he knows me a whole lot better than he did back then and still loves me!:)

I'm so thankful for a husband where God is #1, and family comes next.

He works incredibly hard so I can stay home with our kids.

He not only puts up with my horsey hobby, but enjoys riding with with me:).

The 10:1 shoe ratio he and I have seems to be ok with him...

He has a kind, humble spirit that I so admire and desire to have more of myself.

And last but NOT least, he loves me in spite of the fact that I pick the cookie dough/chocolate chunks out of almost every carton of ice cream we buy. *(i didn't say that he likes this particular quirk, but i know he still loves me!:)

Being married to your best friend is such an amazing blessing and I could not be more thankful for the past 10 years. I know I didn't know what I was doing at 19 years old, but I'm so thankful for God's gracious, loving hand in putting the two of us together!

this-n-that

One of the things we L.O.V.E. as a family are spontaneous camping trips. And if you live in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, you know that summer has been a bit late in coming. Anyways, all of this to say that we finally got our first miniature camping trip of the year in. My hubby got an unexpected day off on Friday; and so Thursday night, he suggested that we head over the mountains. (What a fabulous hubby/dad!:) He hooked up the trailer and we packed til the wee hours and left first thing Friday morning. Even though the campground that we were supposed to go to was closed and we ended up driving for an extra two hours, we had such a wonderful time! It's amazing how getting away for a couple of days and being removed from work and distractions at home truly rejuvenates a person. It also makes me realize how amazingly fast our kids are growing up and how important it is to take time and just enjoy them. We are beyond blessed to have these two little ones and can't believe they're 6 and 2 already!
And back to our little lady's birthday... We had a barbecue with one side of our family (for all of the July birthdays), on the other side, my mom lets everyone pick what they want for their 'birthday dinner.' And dessert, actually. Are we spoiled or what?!

(My mom is a blessing and someone I look up to so very much. She is always giving, thoughtful, and truly selfless. I aspire to be half the lady she is someday!)

Anyway, back to the birthday dinner: It's a dearly beloved tradition and one that we think about all year long when looking forward to our own birthdays. Our little girl's pick was lasagna, salad, green beans, and chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. She absolutely loved it and so did the rest of us! (Nana was very much relieved she didn't pick mac 'n cheese again!:)

She got her ears pierced and was so excited!

Little blue flowers were the pick. Such cuteness!:)

And then there's Mr. Mischievous at her birthday dinner. This little guy makes me laugh on a daily basis! He so often has this 'I have something up my sleeve' look.












He loved his sister's new chaps and insisted on wearing them...

As always... I'm just so thankful for family. We are truly blessed beyond measure!

happy birthday, little lady!

Where has the time gone? I cannot believe that our little girl is turning ((( 6 ))) this week! I know most every parent would say this, but I truly can't remember or imagine what life was like before she came into the world.

She loves her little brother, Boosky (her pony), Flopsy (the bunny), riding her bike, Carly (the doll she's had since her 3rd birthday), and she currently can't wait to start school. (Is this our daughter?!:) She is sweet and soft-hearted, yet strong. I sometimes still can't believe that we have the priviledge of being parents to such a special little girl. It is our prayer that she grows to love the Lord more and more each day... and we thank Him for her!

They melt my heart...

I just adore these two and am so blessed and thankful to be their momma!

(...and Miss Madelyn's auntie!:)

oh, what a beautiful morning...

It was a gorgeous morning! The sun was bringht, and the kids were itching to get outside and run off some excess energy. So my sister and I decided to pack them up and head on out to the park. A lovely time was had by all... on days like these I cannot imagine living anywhere else! ~~~

We also have a new addition to our little funny farm in town... Meet "Flopsy". My hubby has been working long and hard on the bunny hutch; it's finally done and the bunny is here! The little lady is oh so proud of her little pet, which she bought with her very own Christmas money. She makes sure that Flopsy has plenty of food and water several times a day, holds her so she doesn't get lonely, and carefully protects her from Ziggy (the miniature daschund who would love nothing more than a taste of that rabbit.) She's even excited about cleaning the cage! Who knows how long that will last, but we'll definitely enjoy it for now! :)

So Thankful...

"He tends His flock like a shepherd:

He gathers the lambs in His arms

and carries them close to His heart;

He gently leads those that have young."

Isaiah 40:11

I love my family beyond what words can express... yet I'm so thankful that God loves our families even more than we do. He directs their every step and holds them always. Praise Him for that!

the latest from the little farmer...

This little guy is cracking me up lately. He L.I.V.E.S to be outside... preferably with his dad. When he gets up from his afternoon nap, he hurries out of bed and grunts for his coat, shoes, and hat. And he wears them until Eric gets home, in hopes escaping the house. And no, Eric doesn't normally get home at 3:00. The Little Farmer will wear these around the house for 2 to 3 HOURS waiting for him if I'm not able to take him out.

His dad really likes his hat in this picture... the Tinkerbell blanket belonging to his sister, not so much!

Ride 'em Cowboy!

He loves his sister...

And while he hardly utters a word, he manages to say "too-tee"... cookie. He scrambles for a chair and promptly pushes it right up to the counter anytime he hears the mixer start.

He's lovable and sweet. Spunky. Mischievous. Determined. He's soft-hearted and compassionate. We love all of him and are thankful to God each day for the gift he is to us!

gifts

Sometimes when I look at this girl, I think to myself, "Is this really the girl who was placed in my arms for the very first time... 5-AND-A-HALF years ago already?" She stared right at me with the biggest, most beautiful, dark eyes... I am so humbled and thankful that God has given me the priviledge of being her mom. Every first-time mom is a true rookie... and my firstborn has had to put up with a serious learning curve! From not knowing what babies do, how to teach them as young children... all the mistakes I've made---oooooh! I don't want to even go there!

Yet God has given so much grace! Grace for me to be her mom, and grace for her to love and forgive me inspite of my mistakes. I'm thankful beyond words for both her and for her little brother. And for Eric... (there's a whole other blog post on HIS patience with me, though!:) In a world where there is much heartache, God is good. Our children, our spouses, our dear families, loved ones, the sunshine, each new day - they are gifts from Him; they're not ultimately ours, but HIS. And He commands us to think about whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy. And I know I've mentioned it before, but that list of things we're to think about follows the verse that tells us: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God, and the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."

I guess with the recent heartache in our community...little Cash and Melanie who are now in Heaven, and Jensen who continues to suffer... it's once again my tendency to be anxious. But I know that is not the answer. All of these children are so precious to Him. And their presence in our lives is truly a gift from Him.

prayer requests

To anyone who ever reads this blog, I have a request... please pray especially for the following 3 people and their families. It sure seems like 'rough patches' come in waves, and this is a wave alright!

1) Jensen Anderson... most of you probably know about him. He's a 6-year-old boy with cancer in his spine and he has been in incredible, excruciating pain. Pray that God has mercy on him and his dear family. (You can follow the Andersons on facebook if you look up Jensen Anderson Updates.)

2) Cash Parriera... he is 2 years old and has cancer as well. While it doesn't seem as though he is in a lot of pain, he is increasingly fatigued, and there is nothing more the doctors can do for him as far as treatment goes. They so need our prayers as they walk through this valley. (You can go to acashofhope.blogspot.com for updates.)

3) Melanie Plagerman... she has battled with Cystic Fibrosis her whole life, and is once again in the hospital. She has had 2 lung transplants in her life, and a third cannot be done. Her lungs are only functioning at about 10%. She is also unable to undergo any more significant treatment now... time will tell whether she is able to come home or not.

My heart just aches for these families. And I wish there was something to lessen their pain or get rid of their diseases. I thank God that they trust in Him and that this life is not all that there is to them. Their hope is in the Lord. I know that each and every one of them would covet our prayers on their behalf! For peace. For God's love and mercy to surround & sustain them. For healing, whether here or in Heaven.

I'm so very thankful that "the Lord's unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in Him."

And I pray that each one of them finds comfort in the words of Isaiah 41:10: "Do not fear for I am with you, do not be dismayed because I am your God. I will strengthen you and keep you. I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."

Health Food

I have a few friends who like to think that I can justify almost anything as "health food." I'll let you be the judge...

First of all, I actually do like to steer clear of hydrogenated oils where I can. I hear that stuff clogs your arteries. Anything that molecularly close to plastic probably shouldn't be consumed excessively. Soooooo, I make my all of my cookies with real butter. Yes, I'm a dairy farmer's daughter and the "M" word is not allowed in my house. Plus, it makes my cookies classify as health food if I use REAL butter.

Another example: Basically anything with chocolate chips is loaded with antioxidants, right? My grandma makes an unbelievable fudge at Thanksgiving. There is no margarine in it, and it's packed full of delicious, antioxidant-filled chocolate chips! My grandpa, who is just turning 80 years old claims that Hershey's chocolate has been a large part of his plan for healthy living.:) Anyways, Grandma's Fudge=Health Food.

Finally, my friend Dana makes an amazing sour cream coffee cake. This coffee cake is unlike anything I've ever tasted in my life, for not having chocolate in it. It gets a little harder for me to justify this one... (There might be about 2 sticks of butter, 1 cup sour cream and a 'few' cups of sugar in it...) BUT, this delightful dish is LOADED with dairy. Very important for strong bones, especially for us women. And, sugar is so much better for you than that fake stuff. So Dana's Amazing Sour Cream Coffee Cake=Health Food. What do you think? I think it works.

As you can see, my dietary plan has not been all that helpful in shedding holiday pounds. But it sure tastes good!

it's just january!

oh how i'd love...
to be in the mountains

camping with eric
and our two sweet kids

to make breakfast on a griddle...

bacon, sausage, eggs, pancakes
all smothered in maple syrup

and enjoyed in the sunshine

to ride horse through

mountains, streams, valleys

meadows of lupines

and soft lush grass

to soak in hillsides

covered with indian paintbrush, bright yellow daisies

the smell of sage

and a faint trail

to enjoy time

unhurried, uninterrupted time

with my family

the people i love the most.

...better stop my daydreaming and remember, it's just JANUARY!