Finding Time

When I realized that I had not blogged in almost a month I was slightly embarrassed. But when has there been time?????? Currently we are delayed in the Sacramento airport - so guess what - I have time!!!!!!

The last month has been a whirlwind! We had something on our calendar every night (and day) from Thanksgiving until now - my first official day of vacation! I am sitting in the Sacramento airport waiting on a delayed flight with my two sweet kiddos and my husband. We are off to Grandma's house for the holidays and I can tell you we are all very excited about it! A break is much needed and I am thankful to get to have time with my family and friends that I don't see very often! I am thankful for days when I don't have to rush and get ready, can play with my kiddos and enjoy staying up late to play games with my family! Most often when I travel, delays can be frustrating, but really today I am ok with it - we are enjoying time together! Ethan even got his picture taken for free with Santa at the airport - not the best Santa I have seen - but hey - it was free and Ethan was in a good mood! So here is my song for the day:

Over the freeway and through the air to Grandmother's house we go!
The plane is delayed but that is ok - maybe we will see snow!


Merry Christmas!

Thankfulness Day 22: Getting Caught Up!

So I just sat down after cleaning up dinner and getting things ready for the women's ministry meeting that is here at my house in about 30 minutes. I had a few brief moments and realized - "I am behind in my days of thankfulness" - - - where did the weekend go?????? Time just flies!

Over the weekend, I can say without a doubt that I was thankful for the time that my aunt and her husband were here visiting! It was just what I needed. My aunt is the best - I know that I can always count on her! She wants the best for us and cares for us greatly - I know if I needed her here for anything she would come! It was fun to watch Linda and Andy with my kiddos - Allie had a blast and Ethan was so happy! We had a wonderful dinner at LaCoco's, a fun time at Powell's Sweet Shop, great lunch at Johnny Garlics and I had a fun time shopping with my aunt! It is a rare occasion that I get some time with just her and it was much needed! I am so thankful for how God allows me to have time with my family - I loved every minute of it.

Sunday was a full day! Jeremy preached in Petaluma, made some homemade jam and went to a birthday party. I worked on some laundry and started packing for our trip to Missouri.

All that to say - the laundry is caught up, the house is clean, I have actually started packing earlier than normal (normally I am up doing laundry and packing the night before we leave until like 2:00 a.m.) and now I have written my thankful post - - - - it is a good feeling to have somethings "caught up!" I am thankful for how God continually gives me what I need and so I can head to MO feeling "caught up."

I have much to be thankful for - it was a weekend of blessings!

Thankfulness Day 19: My Mom

Tonight I was talking to my Dad on the phone and he said something that I totally agree with: My mom is wonderful! I am very thankful for my mom. She means the world to me and I have learned so much from her. She has been faithful in sharing Christ with me from a very early age and always displayed Christ-like love to me! I love being with her. We have been so blessed since I have moved to California that I have not ever really had to go more than three months on average without seeing her. Over the last few months, God has been extremely gracious in allowing me to see her in April, July, October, soon in November and then again in December! That is a pretty amazing thing!

I have so many reasons to be thankful for my mom. She is such a hard worker. She gives 110% to all she does. She has always done a wonderful job in managing our home, being an excellent wife to my dad, caring for each of her kids and now loving on her grandkids. She also does a great job in her work. The thing about my mom that I love is that she doesn't do things for herself but to the glory of Christ. It is her heartbeat that Christ receive all the glory for something that is done or happens and not her. I love that about her.

I have so many good memories with my mom. I have great memories of being with her at Windermere's music retreats. Those were fun times. I also have special memories of cooking, canning corn, making decorated sugar cookies and more with her. I love the times we get together now and make jam! I love getting to go shopping with her hunting for good deals! I love the memories of decorating the Christmas tree and am so thankful I get to do that with her again this year!!!!!!!!!!

It has been such a blessing to have her come and help after the birth of both of my children. That is the best - nothing like having your mom here! She has helped me more than she will ever know!

I am learning from my mom what it means to be a godly mother and wife. She is a wonderful example of those things to me. I see her love for God's word and study of his word, which must be first in my life. I see her complete love and devotion to my dad and how she unselfishly cares for my brothers and I. I watch her love on my kids and know they LOVE being with her! God has blessed me with a great example to follow and for that - I am so thankful - I love you mom! You are the best! I am so proud you are my mom!

Thankfulness Day 18: My Job

Not many people at my age still can send their grandma a school picture. I do - yes, I get my picture taken every year - have had it taken every year since I was in Kindergarten :) God called me to be a teacher/educator and for that I am very thankful - I love to work with the kids and staff and am very thankful that God has placed me at Rincon Valley Christian School. Before coming to Santa Rosa, I was blessed to teach for 10 years in Missouri - teaching Jr. High Math and English. There are so many rewarding moments in teaching and it is humbling to think that God would choose to use me to impact the lives of so many young students. I am so thankful to be where I am and get to work with Christian people who encourage me, pray for me and are committed to seeing young people come to know Christ. I truly work with a great group of people - gifted teachers who love Christ with all their hearts. It is a joy to be working where I can pray with kids and point them to God's word for truth and direction. I love the parents of the students I work with as well - they are such a blessing and it is so fun to see them each day and get to be a part of their lives. I value the partnership I have with each of them. The students are so fun - I love coming in and finding a picture on my desk that someone made for me, hearing those happy voices greet me in the morning and be in the classrooms and see all their activity!

I am thankful that God continues to provide for my family. Not many people get to work on the same campus as their spouse, have their little girl on campus for Preschool, ride to work with their spouse and only be about 4 - 5 minutes from home. It is a real blessing!

Allie's First Gymnastics Show

Allie is taking gymnastics lessons at school every Tuesday morning with Coach Gary and Mud Puddle Gymnastics. He does a great job - she loves the class! They had a show last week and so I wanted to share with those who couldn't be there a little of her performance. As you can tell - we have a little ways to go, but she is learning and loving it! It will be interesting to compare the performance now with the one they will have in the spring! Enjoy watching our little gymnast!

Allie's First Class Chapel

Today Allie's PreK Class, the Purple Parrots, sang at our school chapel! It was so cute! It is hard to believe that she is old enough to be at school and participating in chapel! Time flies but we are loving each stage with Allie! Hope you enjoy watching this cute video. The little girl right beside her in the blue and white shirt is her friend "Lil" - they have been together since they were born and I am thankful they are in the same PreK class.

Be patient - they eventually come walking down the aisle.

Thankfulness Day 17: Answered Prayer!

So I didn't have a post yesterday - not because I wasn't thankful but because it was a non-stop day. Yesterday I would have written how thankful I am for my Catalyst Group - there is nothing like the body of Christ and being in community together. It was a special time of sharing a Thanksgiving meal together and then spending time sharing our praises and giving glory to God for things he had done in our lives this year. I am very thankful for a group of people who I can "do life with" and know that no matter the need - big or small - they are there!

Today - I have MUCH to be thankful for! There is great rejoicing today for answered prayer in our family. My dad recently had surgery for prostate cancer. We have all spent the last week praying as we waited for the pathology report to come back to let us know whether or not the cancer had spread or not. Praise be to God who hears our cries - the report came back clear and they were able to get it all in the surgery! What a blessing and answer to prayer! We have people all over praying and I am so thankful for everyone who prayed on behalf of our family! Again, the body of Christ is a precious thing! It was so exciting to be able to tell people today that God had answered our prayers - people who had been praying specifically for us. I am thankful for all the people I work with who would ask about my dad and pray each day! I love you all!

Being home for Thanksgiving will be extra special as we have another HUGE blessing to be thankful for! God gets all the glory - it is because of his mercy and grace that we have anything at all!

Psalm 103:1-3

1 Praise the LORD, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the LORD, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
3 who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Thankfulness Day 15: Getting Out!

After spending 123 hours straight in my house with a sick little girl, I am thankful to say she is well and we were able to get out of the house today! Praise the Lord! It was a very long week - Lysol became our best friend and I did more laundry in a week than I have done in the last month. The washing machine ran non-stop. Jeremy was in Seattle and so it was a tiring time - but I am thankful today for time out of the house, the weather was beautiful and I got to spend a little time at Barnes and Noble with wonderful friends/coworkers of mine while having a nice cup of Caramel Apple Cider in a red cup - which also makes my heart happy! Getting out of the house was a much needed blessing today! Fresh air and a change of scenery was the best! I think Allie was as glad as I was to get out of the house! So glad she is feeling better!

Thankfulness Day 14: My Grandma

Last night I was able to visit for a while with my grandma on the phone. She is an amazing lady and I love her with all my heart. She was so encouraging to my heart last night - when I called her, my glass was definitely half-empty, but she kept encouraging me and just talking to her made my heart glad! When I say she is amazing, I really mean amazing! She is a strong lady. She has had some very difficult things in her life and yet she has a calm stay about her and cares for her family. I look at all she has dealt with and done in her life and I have the utmost respect for her. When I think about the things she has been through, I think I really might have folded in dealing with those things, but not her, she is a woman of strength and courage.

I have so many fond memories of my grandma! She is a really fun person to shop with - I can remember every year looking forward to her taking me shopping for school clothes - it was fun and she has GREAT taste! She always looks nice. I wish I could look as nice when I put on a jogging suit to walk as she does! I love being in the kitchen with her and watching her make fabulous meals! She makes the best Jeff Davis pie (even though she would tell you something like "It is probably watery"). It is the BEST! I remember her always caring enough to make us our favorite meal for our birthday dinners, picking me up from school and the memory that stands out the most - I used to be a person that would get REALLY homesick when I had to go away from home for camps, etc. Well, I was to attend a cheerleader camp and just couldn't handle it - guess who came and stayed with me - my grandma! Most high school kids might have been embarrassed at getting homesick like that or having their grandma there with them - not me - I was just glad to be with her. I always know I can count on her and she will always be there for me! She is a hard worker. Everything she does, she gives her best to - from cooking and cleaning her house to taking care of her family.

I think my grandma is one amazingly beautiful lady. She always looks great! She cares for herself and walks almost everyday I think. She is in much better shape than I am - I should take lessons! No matter where she goes she looks classy!

Over the last several years, I watched my grandma demonstrate to me real love. She spent the last several years taking care of my grandpa. His health was getting worse and he required a lot of help with things. She loved him a lot and took wonderful care of him. She was always there to help him in any way she could. It wasn't always easy, but real love sticks it out even when it isn't easy. It was obvious that she loved him in the way that she took care of him with all her heart. It was a wonderful example to me. I know it wasn't easy caring for him at the end at home, but she did it because she knew it was what he wanted. She sacrificed much because of her love for him. What an awesome example of how we are to love. Putting yourself aside for the best of another.

I am thankful for such a great example of love! I am thankful for my grandma and all she has done for my family. I am proud that I have a little girl who is named after her - Allison was my grandma's maiden name. My grandma has had a big impact on my life and I love the times I get to talk to her and be with her. Recently she was able to come to California to see where I lived, meet Ethan and spend time with us. It was meant the world to me and I am so glad she was able to come! Now I am excited that I get to be with her on Thanksgiving! She is definitely someone I am thankful for!

Thankfulness Day 13: A Trip to MO for Thanksgiving

God continues to provide and bless us with exactly what we need when we need it. A few weeks ago, I was quite sad to find out that Jeremy's parents were not going to be able to come back from Africa to see us between Thanksgiving and Christmas. It has become something that I really treasure and look forward to each year. I love being with them and having their help decorating, etc. We are really praying that they will soon get relief on the field so they can come back and see us. I was sad thinking about not being able to be with family on Thanksgiving. Our family has experienced much this year and my heart just wanted to be with family. I told Jeremy one night, "Hey - lets to go to Disneyland for Thanksgiving - it is the happiest place on earth." That was a fleeting thought as we started checking out the prices of what a quick trip south like that would cost. My heart just really wanted to be with family. My dad just had surgery and I wanted to see him. I have not celebrated Thanksgiving with my family for seven years. I kept thinking, "How cool would it be to go back to Missouri and celebrate the holiday with them." I knew that with the cost of tickets that was a pipe dream. But my God is a God who has no limitations! We were blessed with the provision to be able to fly back to Missouri for Thanksgiving! It all happened so quick that for a few days it didn't seem real. I called to tell everyone the great news and I think they were as excited as I was! I am excited to get to help make Thanksgiving dinner, help put together the Christmas puzzle, do some serious Black Friday shopping, help put up my parents Christmas tree while listening to the Statler Brothers, and introduce Ethan to friends and family. God knew I needed to go back and spend some time with my family all together. Not being back for my grandpa's funeral was tough - so getting to be with them at Thanksgiving is huge! We will also get to be with Jeremy's grandma as well which is a HUGE blessing! We have much to be thankful for and I am thankful for God's provision and blessing in this way! In just eleven days we will be landing in Missouri and I think even stopping for some good Kansas City BBQ for lunch! I am quite excited!

Day 12: Thankful for our Pediatrician

I know that there are some people who are not fond of Kaiser, but we LOVE it. We have been so blessed to have wonderful doctors who we really trust and care for our family in wonderful ways! Allie has been sick since Tuesday evening and I was starting to be concerned that this was still going on - not passing in the normal 24 - 48 hours. So I called the advice nurse who was great and put a call in to our pediatrician. Allie had been asking me for two days to call Dr. Hauptman - she likes him too. He was so kind to call me back, give me some good wisdom, put my mind at ease and then let me know that he was working this weekend so if we needed him again to call. I have to tell you that I really appreciate that he would take the time to answer my questions. He always quickly answers e-mail questions and is so good with my kids. Our other doctors at Kaiser are just as good. They are all so caring! They are good about answering e-mails and even calling us at home to just check on us when something is going on. We are blessed - I know Health Care and Insurance can be a pain, but I am thankful for God's provision and for my family doctors. They are awesome! I would recommend them to anyone! Actually, I usually do :)

Day 11: Thankful for my Dad

Today my dad came home from surgery that he had yesterday and so he has been much on my mind today. I know I already wrote a post about how thankful I am for my parents, but with my mind really thinking about Dad today, I felt like I should just say how thankful for him I am! My Dad means the world to me and I am so thankful God chose him to be my dad. He has always been there for me - no matter what - from taking me fishing and camping when I was little (the camping part is debatable on how fun that was - ha ha!), rescuing me in a major blizzard, listening to my car woes when things would go wrong, making sure we were taken care of, coming to watch me cheer at football and basketball games, praying with and for me when I was struggling with anxiety issues and this list could go on and on. I know I can count on him and he cares for me. One day I was driving home from college class in a pretty major snowstorm. I got maybe a mile and pulled over in a K-Mart parking lot knowing I couldn't possibly drive the rest of the way (about another 12 miles). I immediately knew I could call my dad and he would rescue me. I was confident of this - didn't even have to guess what he would do. Sure enough he did- he came and in the freezing cold changed my wiper blades. He cut his hand pretty bad while doing it - and didn't even know he had cut it because it was so cold outside. I was sitting in the car and saw the blood on the car window. Never once did he complain or try to come up with another idea. He simply came and rescued me. He drove me safely home. That day is forever stuck in my mind. I want to be that kind of parent, the one that my kids know that no matter the situation, I will always be there for them and do my very best to help. It was also a picture to me of Christ-like love. I know Christ suffered and gave us much more than my dad did that day - but what my dad did was a clear picture of how we are to love others and how Christ loved us. My dad is the best. I usually don't go more than a day or two without talking to him and really miss him. We have fun together and have lots of fun memories. I treasure our yearly father/daughter Christmas shopping trip, our fantasy Nascar games, driving around looking at Christmas lights listening to the Statler Brothers, playing Nerts with him (that is a story all to itself), watching him play with my kids, and just getting to be with him. I love watching Allie smile when she says the word "Grandpa" because I can tell he is leaving a lasting impression on her too - she loves him so much! She gets the cutest grin and says, "I am grandpa's heart."

I am thankful his surgery went well and that we get to spend Thanksgiving together! I love my dad and am so glad God gave him to me! I am blessed!

Day 10: Thankful for Friends

I have wonderful friends! I am so thankful for them today and everyday. I was home today with a sick little girl and my dad was in MO having his surgery. What a blessing it was to get calls and/or e-mails letting me know that they were praying for me and my family! The friends God has blessed me with are amazing! They are there to listen, pray, talk, hang out, love on my kiddos and much much more! I couldn't ask for better friends! The body of Christ is a precious thing that I am so thankful for. I have said this before, but being away from my family in Missouri and Africa isn't easy but my friends as the body of Christ out here in CA have become family to me and I love that we can do "family" type things together. You are all a blessing to me and when I count my blessing you are part of that!

Just a few of my many friends and GREAT memories we have created!

Day 9 of Thankfulness in November

Tonight I can say a BIG "I am thankful for Lysol spray!!!!!!" So my little pumpkin Allie is sick - no fun for anyone and so sad to see them sick when they are little like that. I think she has a flu bug and it has been a rough evening. She is in bed now sleeping which is good - thankfully all I have to do is tell her, "Dr. Hauptman wants you to drink water" and she does it - he carries a lot of weight in our house. Right before she went to bed we reviewed what to do if her stomach hurt again: run to her bathroom and run to the toilet. She said, "I won't spit on the floor again, I will spit in the toilet." Glad we have that one down. All that being said, we are thankful for Lysol spray and being able to easily disinfect the house. We are praying Jeremy stays well as he has class this weekend and praying that Little Ethan stays well - - we would appreciate prayers.

Also, we would appreciate prayers for my dad who has surgery tomorrow. I am thankful that God is in control and sovereign over all things. He loves my dad more than any of us could and I am trusting him to take care of my dad tomorrow.

God is faithful!

Thankfulness Day 8: Quiet Moments

I have to start this post by saying that I am thankful God allows us to change our minds. I have to retract my #7 item - being thankful for daylight savings time. I have decided that states that don't observe it have a much easier time with their newborns. Ethan doesn't get "sleep an hour longer" at all - so all it did was mean we get to be up earlier - - - but you know what - - my new #7 thing I am thankful for is a sweet newborn to wake me up :) I am so thankful God has blessed me with him and at least when I am up at 4:30 a.m. it is because of him and I have his cute smiles to look at! Very, very thankful for Ethan! This leads me to my Day 8 thing I am thankful for: Quiet Moments! I am thankful for times of peaceful relaxing where I can sit here by a crackling fire and enjoy a sleeping baby on my lap! Allie went to bed quiet easily tonight and Ethan is snoozing away. I had time to sit and read God's Word, enjoy some homestyle popcorn (another thing to be thankful for) and just enjoy some quiet time. I am really thankful for quiet moments - good to think, pray and just relax. Once again I am reminded how God gives us exactly what we need when we need it. A quiet moment was much needed - thanks God for continual blessings!

Borrowing and Catch Up!

So I am "borrowing" an idea from a wonderful friend of mine and doing a little catch up (Thanks Jamie!). Sometimes it is so easy to end up in a pity party and we are so blessed. I need to turn my attention to all I have to be thankful for! My goal is to post each day something that I am thankful for through the month of November and so because it is November 7, I have a little catch up to do:

1. Salvation and Christ: Apart from Christ I have nothing. I really look at my life and realize that He is truly my sustainer. I am thankful that He would choose to save a wretch like me - someone deserving of nothing. The fact that Christ died for me and saved me - that is an AWESOME and AMAZING thing!

2. My Husband: He is an answer to prayer. I remember praying a long time for God to bring me a godly man and God blessed me beyond what I could ask or imagine. Jeremy is my best friend! He is a wonderful husband and father. He shows me he loves me and cares for me in so many ways - from praying with me, running to the store at the last minute for something I forgot, taking the time to talk and listen to me, helping around the house, helping with Allie and Ethan and this list could go on and on. I am so blessed to have a best friend like him and I love him with all my heart - he is my GREAT thing!



3. My two sweet kids: Allie and Ethan bring such joy to my life. I love playing dollhouse, doing puzzles, cooking, reading books and much more with Allie. She is such a happy girl who loves life. Snuggling with her and hearing, "Mommy I love you," melts my heart. Ethan is such a happy little guy - his smile can melt me! He was such a blessing and God knew I needed a bright spot like him this year in the midst of much going on in our family. He is my little peanut and I love being with him. I love my little munchkins and am humbled that God would entrust them to us! I treasure each moment with them!





4. Incredible childcare! Since Allie was born I have had to work. God is a provider and has provided for me in amazing ways when it came to child care for my children. When Allie was born, I was blessed to have Miss Pam watch her at school! When that changed and I was fearful God continued to provide by blessing us with my dear friend Christine to each Allie at my house with her friends Lily and Grace - what a blessing! And I still have Christine with Allie and Ethan now. It is a blessing to have my close friend caring for my children while I am at work and taking such good care of them! We are thankful for Miss Pam and Christine! God has been so faithful!

5. My Parents! I love them! They are such an example of Christ-like love to me and I treasure all the moments I get with them! They are a blessing to me and are wonderful grandparents to my kiddos! We love time with them! I might be 2011 miles away but we talk almost daily (almost) and I am thankful for the love they show me! I know they are there for me always!



6. Food! Yes, I love food - love to cook it and eat it and I am thankful for it! I had the chance to enjoy a wonderful meal with friends tonight and was just remind of how much I love to try new things and how thankful I am that God blesses us with so many good things to eat and enjoy! So many good conversations happen around a table. I am thankful for times of sweet fellowship around the table!

7. The time change. As I write this I look at the clock and realize that it is 12:27 a.m. - no wait - it is really 11:27 p.m. Praise the Lord for an extra hour! As a mom of a new little guy and a 3 year old with all the other responsibilities, I really am thankful God gives me this extra hour! Now off to bed to enjoy the extra hour of sleep - but something tells me Ethan won't get this "extra hour thing" - - - - but I am still thankful!

A "Chocolate Bolet" Day

Some days are just a tad bit overwhelming. I was at a meeting today all day in Concord and my brain was swimming! So many thoughts in my head and so much to do. But there is nothing like coming home to my husband and sweet little kiddos. My evening was filled with a yummy dinner (pasta fagioli soup), relaxing with my family and watching a movie with my husband. I love it when we are reminded of what matters most - - - and it wasn't all the things swimming in my brain. It is things like snuggling with my little girl on the couch, talking over dinner with my husband, playing with Ethan and enjoying his little (big) smiles. The best part - when I was little I used to do a lot of "play cooking" and would make lots of things for my grandpa. One of which "Oil of Olay" (I know - weird - but hey I was little). Well - tonight I was able to enjoy Allie doing "pretend" cooking and making me "Chocolate Bolet." I know - weird - she made it up - - - but it is times like this I treasure - - - it was just a "Chocolate Bolet" sort of day! And I love every minute with my family!

Pumpkin Patch Time

Our family of four at the pumpkin patch - can you tell Allie didn't want to sit still????


Allie looking for "the biggest one!"


My two pumpkins!!!! I love them so much!


My new little pumpkin - he is such a smiling little guy!



Climbing the "highest hill" - the funny part was at the top Allie looked over and said pointing to a big mud puddle, "Look Hannah it is the big river!"

We recently went to the pumpkin patch - one of my favorite things to do! It was starting to look like we weren't going to make it with the rain that kept coming. We planned to go one weekend and it was rainy - so no pumpkin patch. New plan - the next weekend - but they were calling for rain - so we made a quick trip after work one day to a little pumpkin patch and it was GREAT! Perfect size for a little girl to run and have fun and we left just as it started to rain. I am so glad we made it! It was a fun time with friends and my family!

May Your Power Rest on Me

Funny how God gives you what you need exactly when you need it - like a hug from a friend, a smile from your daughter, a gentle reminder of God's grace from your husband, His word through a verse card, an e-mail from a friend to encourage, or a song on a drive home. On my way home tonight, I was thinking over Ps 100 again, how this life really isn't "ours" and the seasons of our lives. This song was on and was another example of God's grace and giving me exactly what I needed in the moment. It is my prayer - that God's power would rest on me. How good to know that He is strong when I am weak!

Let me hear my Savior say,
“Your strength shall return”.
Then I’ll rejoice in my weakness
As I lean on your grace,
As I lean on your grace.

May your power rest on me.
You are strong when I am weak.
I can bear all things when temptation springs
For you sustain me all my days.

Let me know my Savior’s face;
Let my hope be secure.
Then I’ll rejoice in my weakness
As I lean on your grace,
As I lean on your grace.

Once from the Lord withdrawn
I thought that I could live my life alone.
Leaving the solid ground
I sank beneath His wisdom.
The harder I tried to climb,
The closer I was to find how great is my weakness.

Though the trial still goes on,
Your grace will be my song.
For I can bear all things when temptation springs
For you sustain me all my days.

Happy Campers!

Getting things all set up. Not sure if you can tell but Allie is in her ballet dress. Perfect for camping right????




The Happy Campers all ready for a cool night of camping out!



She was so excited. Had her little flashlight and everything!




All zipped in and officially "camping" according to Allie!

I am married to a wonderful man who is such a great Daddy to our kiddos! I love watching him with them and doing fun things with them - can't even describe how happy it makes me! A few weeks ago, Jeremy had an evening of Daddy/Daughter time by "camping" out with her in the back yard. Allie had really been wanting to camp - this stemmed from us telling her that her friend Gracie was camping. So being a good Daddy, Jeremy set up the tent in the back yard. I have admit I was skeptical about whether or not they would last outside all night. It was our first really cold night out. They bundled up, got lots of blankets and out they went. I was amazed when I woke up at 7:45 a.m. to them coming in the house. They really did camp out all night! She loved it! She loves her Daddy! Maybe - just maybe - she will like camping more than her mom :) Ethan and I were quite warm and comfy in the house! One memory made of many to come!

She is so SILLY!!!!!

Allison is a joy! From about 13 months on, we knew she was going to be quite verbal and talk a lot. (Wonder where she gets that - hmmmmm?) It seems she is always coming up with things to say that just make us laugh. A few recent Allison funnies:

At Allison's birthday party she managed to sit in her cake and get icing all over her tutu. Gracie sees it and gets upset about the icing on the tutu to which Allison responds, "Don't panic Gracie it is just icing and it will come out - no panicking." Wonder where she has heard that one before?????

On the way to the library with her class at school they often pretend they are walking through a jungle and saying things they are "pretending to see." Last Monday while doing this little activity Allison yells out "I see a naked lady." That is funny all by itself, but what is funnier is that her teachers didn't realize at first that Allison knew what the flower "naked ladies" were. We all had a good laugh over that one. Something about a three year old yelling out on a Christian school campus, I see a naked lady" was just a hoot!

As you see, she loves to dress herself too - - isn't this quite the outfit! She does bring us so many smiles - I just love her!

My favorite Season!

Autumn has to be my very favorite season! I love:

The colors - shades of oranges, yellows, reds
A cool crisp morning and an evening that requires a sweatshirt
A great mug of hot apple cider
A tall Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate from Starbucks
Trips to the pumpkin patch
The smell of a pumpkin candle burning
Emberli Bogue's pumpkin cheesecake
Caramel Apples
Caramel Puff Corn - a must!
Getting Allie (and now Ethan) all dressed up for a night of trick-or-treating
Making pumpkin bars with my little girl
Crunching leaves as I go on walks
Making piles of leaves to jump in - oh the days when my Papa would make big piles for me to jump in!
Pumpkin Pie with homemade whip topping
Driving down to the Auxvasse Creek and seeing the hills covered with trees in beautiful shades of red, orange and yellow
A drive through Napa or Sonoma and seeing the beautiful vineyards painted in various shades of fall colors
Soups and homemade bread
Getting out the sweatshirts and sweaters (and my boots!)
Cool Friday Night football games when in Missouri
The Hatton Craft Festival
My little girl's October birthday party
Thanksgiving Day and the time with family and friends! (This day could be a list in and of itself!)
Smoked turkey Jeremy makes on Thanksgiving
Thoughts of my wonderful sister-in-law who loves fall as much as I do
Hearty Fall Harvest meals - thanks Melinda for this!

This list could go on for quite a while! As I write this list, I am reminded of God's great love for us and how he demonstrates it even through the seasons. We have much to be thankful for! I am reminded of Ps. 100 and challenged by all of the verbs: make, serve, come, know, enter and give."

"Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!
Serve the LORD with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!

Know that the LORD, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!

For the LORD is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations."

How GOOD Christ is! More than anything, I love that the Lord is God, we are His, and His love endures forever - in all "seasons" of our life!

My Little Ballerina is Three!

I can hardly believe it but my little Allie Grace is now three! I am not sure where the last 3 years have gone, but they have gone quite fast! Allison is such a joy to me - a little girl who loves life and brings us many smiles! She is currently into Angelina Ballerina and twirls around the house all the time - the dress or skirt she is wearing has to "twirl." It is cute - I love it when she has her daddy dance with her, which really means that he has to stand up and hold her hand so she can twirl. Too cute!

It was a fun birthday party and we were thankful to have Grandma and Great-Grandma Dord here with us! Our theme was Angelina Ballerina (of course) and we had lots of cute little girls in tutus running around the house. Because Angelina is a mouse, we had "cheese" themed snacks: cheese and crackers, cheese balls, cheese puffs, etc. It was a fun time and Allison loved being with all her little friends!

It will be interesting planning a birthday party for Ethan - no pink and hmmmmm - our friends need to have some boys - otherwise all the girls are going to have to learn to like things like baseball, football, trucks and cars! At least we have a little time before a party for Ethan - but who am I kidding - time flies so fast it will be here before we know it.

She's Back!

Believe it or not, I am back to the blogging world! You might be as shocked as I am! When I sat down to look at this blog, I realized that it had been quite some time since I had blogged and a lot has changed in my life! There probably isn't time (or interest) to go back over the last two years of my life, but lets just say God has done a lot!

I am in a new season of my life as I am now a mommy of an adorable 3 year-old (that sounds crazy to say) and a very precious and sweet little guy who is almost 3 months old! Allison turned 3 on October 3 and is a happy, energetic little girl who keeps us on our toes! She started pre-school this year and loves it! She was also excited to become a big sister this summer and a great one she is! Ethan David was born July 18 at 9:25 p.m. He is a sweetheart and his smiles melt my heart! He is a super sleeper which we are thankful for and just a happy guy!!!! Jeremy and I are thankful for them both and excited about all God has in store for our family. We are learning how to be parents of two kids - - wow - that wasn't a jump it was a chasm that I sometimes feel like I am dangling in the middle of! I am just thankful for God's mercies that are new every morning!!!!!!!! God is using them to teach us much and mold us to be more like himself.

You might have noticed the name of this blog has changed. Again, I am in a new season of my life - one where I am really learning to rest in God for his mercies which are new . . . . every morning! One of my new favorite verses is Lamentations 3:22 - 23, "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; GREAT is your faithfulness." Summer Steph just isn't fitting anymore. A new season and new things to learn and grow in!!! Something I look forward to knowing and trusting that God has great plans for me.

I was recently inspired by a dear friend to get back to blogging - after reading her blog I was motivated to get back at it. My prayer is that through blogging I can keep friends and family up-to-date on our lives here in CA, post pictures of two of the cutest kids I know and take some of the thoughts spinning in my head and share them. (Not that I have earth shattering thoughts - but at least getting them out makes room for me - ha ha!)

I am excited to be back!!!! Remember - His mercies are new . . . . EVERY morning! Great is His Faithfulness!