Little Things Mean A Lot

My Boy is 5

2011-06-13T20:17:00.000-07:00

Oliver had a birthday last week. How it's possible that he's already 5, I'm not sure. I only know that time flies quicker each day. All he asked for was an umbrella. Isn't that funny? He made it easy on us:) He has been a joy from day one. He started as a content and smiley baby, and at 5 he's a kind-hearted, loving kid. I'm excited to see what's in store for him. We pray that he will know and love the Lord with each passing year.

On a lighter note, yep, we're those parents who bring our kids to the ranch to ride the ponies in crocs and a muscle T. Got a slight reprimand from the owner, but he let us ride anyway.

This Old House

2011-06-13T19:59:00.000-07:00

My sweet old house, our time is drawing nigh...
how I've loved sharing life with you
these past nine years.

Lots of memories.

Three kids, a dog, and a whole lot of repairs later,
we are parting ways.
Don't worry, your new owners have three kids too,
and they're excited to get to know you.

We'll drive by you often, and wave...
and hope your new owners treat you right.

Nothin' like you, old house. Here's hoping change
is easier for you, than it is for this old girl.

Love,
me

Baby Dedication

2011-05-08T13:29:00.000-07:00

Our church has a special service once a year for baby dedication. Yesterday, we dedicated Lydia, and prayed that we would honor God as her parents, and do our best to point her towards him. It was special, and although we felt like holding Lydia through the service was like wrestling a gator, it was meaningful. Our pastor prayed over each child individually. We took this picture to look back and remember our commitment, even when parenting is hard.

Weekend in KC

2011-05-05T20:51:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, we had a little getaway to Kansas City to visit family and friends. My sis-in-law is a great host, and it was nice and relaxing. We've been burning the candle at both ends lately with home projects (our house is going on the market in the next week or two, more on that later). The kids LOVE their cousins.

The boys slept in a tent in the basement.

The cousins...Lydia looks thrilled, doesn't she?

Hugs and squints

The best we could do to get 5 people smiling for a picture.

World Vision

2011-04-27T19:24:00.000-07:00

Every few months I look forward to receiving the World Vision magazine in the mail. I read through it pretty much right when I take it from the mailbox. World Vision is an amazing ministry, and reading about their presence among the poor and hurting literally brings tears to my eyes. This afternoon as I was reading the new edition (written mainly about earthquake recovery in Haiti), I asked Oliver if he wanted to look at the pictures with me. He's pretty inquisitive, and lately has been asking more questions about God. So he hopped up on the chair with me, and wanted to look at each picture. I explained what they represented..people cooking food for the hungry, crews building new houses, kids washing their hands to prevent Cholera, and clinics to meet medical needs.

I've been praying that Oliver's heart will continue to be soft towards the Lord, and that when the time is right, he'll accept Jesus. Along with that, I've also prayed that I would be intentional about opening dialog about God with him. As we continued to thumb through the magazine, I asked if he wanted to pray for the people of Haiti, namely all the hurting children. To which he promptly said "yes." He prayed,

"God please be with all the kids in... (pause to ask me because he forgot the name of the country)Haiti. Help them to get new homes quickly and have all the food and water they need."

Such a simple prayer, yet so powerful coming from the mouth of a 4 year old. Yep, tears in my eyes once again as I am reminded of the power of prayer. If you are reading this, please take a minute and pray for the people of Haiti.

Daisy vs. Lydia

2011-04-10T19:14:00.000-07:00

Our poor sweet Daisy has had her share of stress the past 5 years. She was our first "baby" and we joke that each time we have a baby, she moves down another notch. She really is a fantastic dog, but I admit, there are times she's on my last nerve. The kids try to give her commands, to which she totally ignores. Now, here's little Miss Lydia, getting ready to be one more bossy kid in Daisy's life. We love ya, Daisy. Really we do. Sorry for all we put you through.

Unruh Family Week

2011-04-06T12:12:00.000-07:00

The middle of March we had a week full of family! The week began with Max and April having their sweet baby girl, Tessa Whitney Unruh (born March 16). Eric, Julie, and their girls came from Phoenix to visit. Jay, Kelli, and kiddos came too, so we were all together. It was a memorable time, and the kids played so well together. We celebrated Gran's b-day, played at the farm, went to the zoo, and celebrated Meredith's birthday a little early with a gymnastics party. Looking forward to when we are all together again.

Meredith's 3rd Birthday

2011-04-06T11:28:00.000-07:00

Birthdays are bittersweet for this mama. I look so forward to celebrating, and am thankful for the blessing of another year, but I'm a little sad too. My kids are growing up so fast. Meredith turned three last weekend, and we had a great time celebrating. My brother and his family came for the weekend. It's always a good time with them. We started the morning with donuts. Since Meredith is always the first one out of bed in the morning, we went to Dillons to pick out her special birthday donuts before everyone else was up and around.

She helped make her princess cupcakes.

We spent the morning hiking trails and looking for wildlife at the Great Plains Nature center, then had a picnic near the center.

A delicious birthday dinner at Grammy and Pa's house.

Then, a tractor ride compliments of Pa.

I love this little girl. She brings joy and eccentricity to our family. She keeps us on our toes...in a good way. Happy Birthday, Meredith!

Swingin'

2011-03-22T12:21:00.001-07:00

Proverbs 27:17

2011-03-01T19:47:00.000-08:00

Proverbs 27:17
As iron sharpens iron,
so one person sharpens another.

I have been blessed, challenged, and sharpened lately by some amazing friends. I love this verse, because it is so true. This world has so many distractions and how easily my heart strays from my maker. A few friends have been like a compass pointing me back to God. Honestly, I have been struggling through a time of feeling discontent. It's not founded on truth. I have been striving for things that don't mean much eternally. It has put me on the sidelines lately. Just trying to find my way back into the game. It's time for a perspective shift. God in his graciousness is helping redirect my heart. I'm thankful for an all-knowing God and for honest and loving friends. Glad God created us to live in community, and that I don't have to go it alone.

Love

2011-03-01T19:41:00.000-08:00

Update

2011-02-10T14:28:00.000-08:00

I have been a negligent blogger lately. Alex has been traveling a lot, and I am pretty tired in the evenings (usually when I think about blogging). We've gotten more snow this season than I can remember in a long time. Beautiful and fun to play in...and cause for a bit of cabin fever.

Playing in the snow

In the afternoon when Meredith is supposed to be "napping," she is usually putting together some kind of a unique outfit. Sometimes those rainbow striped leg warmers end up on her arms.

The three amigos

Each child seems to grow up quicker than the last. Lydia is almost 7 months. She's sitting up and playing. Her personality is really coming out, and she's quick to smile. She wants to be in the middle of the action. She's always moving, and she managed to escape her Bumbo seat the other day. Yikes!

something in common

2011-01-30T17:30:00.000-08:00

Notice all three kids have blankies. Glad they are different colors or we'd never keep them straight!

Denver Reunion

2011-01-12T18:36:00.001-08:00

Last weekend, three of my best friends from college and I met in Denver for a girl's weekend. The four of us haven't been together for way too long, but like it always is with good friends, it was like we were never apart. Tera, Hollie, and I flew in Friday night and spent the weekend at Karmen's place (thanks for letting us invade for the weekend, Karm). We ate delicious food, laughed, talked, prayed, shopped, and relaxed. Notice sleeping in wasn't on that list...cause I brought Lydia:) Actually, she was a joy to have with us, just an early riser.

I became friends with these three girls my sophomore year of college. Theirs are the kind of friendships that changed my life for the better then, and continue to now. Love you girls!

Some things never change.

Christmas

2010-12-26T13:32:00.001-08:00

If I can do it...

2010-12-18T17:35:00.000-08:00

anyone can. I made this coffee filter wreath today. If you know me, you know I'm not good at arts and crafts, so I'm kinda proud of this little project.

Bead for Life

2010-12-17T18:20:00.001-08:00

My friend Katie introduced me to an amazing organization called Bead for Life. Because they can say what they are about better than I can, in a nutshell...

"Bead for Life creates sustainable opportunities for women to lift their families out of extreme poverty by connecting people worldwide in a circle of exchange that enriches everyone"

Women in Uganda make beautiful beaded jewelry made from tightly woven recycled paper. Then the Bead for Life headquarters sells the jewelry online, and ships it around the world for people to host parties. All the proceeds go directly back to support the women. Plus, bead for life provides training in money management and small business skills while teaching a trade. Love it.
So my house has looked like a bead retail store for the past week. Just got it all boxed up to send back. Grand total sold... $955.00 A big thanks to everyone who bought jewelry!

To find out more: beadforlife.org

That's what friends are for

2010-12-10T21:11:00.000-08:00

Some friends planned a dinner at Adrian's (one of my favorite restaurants) for my birthday. Love this picture and the friendships it represents. We stayed until they turned the lights off in the restaurant, and we had to leave. So thankful for these gals.

Jingle Bell Run

2010-12-04T18:23:00.000-08:00

Whew, I am beat. My dear friend Jess (and her dog Poppy) and I braved the cold this morning to participate in the Arthritis Foundation's Jingle Bell Run. It was 4 miles, which was definitely a challenge for this post-baby girl. The run was along the river downtown, and it was a really pretty route. Now it's 8:00 p.m., and I'm ready for bed.

My Birthday

2010-12-02T19:43:00.000-08:00

I turned the big 32 this year. It was a special birthday because Alex had a fun day planned for me (as a surprise).He told me he had to work, but instead gave me a "day-off." From morning until the evening he had blocked out time for me to relax. The kids made me a sweet card, complete with a unicorn. I got some time to meander around the mall by myself, had a massage, and a date night (our anniversary was 5 days before my b-day). He knew just what I needed. Plus, my mom planned a scavenger hunt, which the kids totally loved. Not gonna lie, I don't think I'll ever outgrow a good scavenger hunt.

My favorite gift on the scavenger hunt was a nativity carved from wood that mom picked out for me on her trip to Israel.

Thanksgiving in Galveston

2010-12-02T19:04:00.001-08:00

We drove down to Galveston for Thanksgiving this year. My mom's family rents beach houses every Thanksgiving, and we decided it would be fun to join them this year. The 11-12 hour drive went pretty well...thanks to the DVD players and Grammy entertaining the two older kids in the back seat. We met Austin and Molly and their two kiddos there. So thankful for the chance to catch up with my cousins, aunts, and uncles. I wish we could see each other more. I have memories of my older cousins taking care of/playing with me, and now their kids are doing the same with mine. I love it. We ate turkey, played on the beach, did a little window shopping, and played Bingo with around 35 people and two table of prizes. Great memories. Plus, my sweet niece Lena turned 1 year old over the holiday.

Trip to KC

2010-11-17T11:31:00.000-08:00

The kids and I took a little trip to Kansas City to see family. We also got to see a good friend while we were there. The kids love their cousins, and played non-stop. My sis-in-law is a fantastic host, and we had a fun and relaxing couple of days. They just moved in to a beautiful new house. We ended up being there the same time as Alex's parents, so the kids got to spend time with their grandparents too.

Lydia and Gran

Owen and Oliver

Kate and Meredith

Play Date

2010-11-12T11:51:00.000-08:00

A couple of my gracious friends occasionally invite me to join their weekly play dates. Today, I finally returned the favor. The kids had fun and played so well together, which gave us mamas some time to talk. Got a couple of cute pictures, just sad I am missing my other friend and her two cute girls who came over also. And the boy to girl ratio... a little off scale. Miles and Oliver were a bit out numbered, but I don't think they minded.

School vs.School vs.School

2010-11-09T19:27:00.001-08:00

I'm going to put myself out here, and share a little about the last year or so in this thing called, "choosing a school." Sounds simple, right? Kids have been being educated for years either at home or within a formal institution. As our kids get older, and as our friends kids get older, school choice has become a topic of more conversations than I'd like to admit. It seems so loaded. Public, private, home school, when to send your child to school, whole day, half day....to name a few options. I am honestly so worn out with the weight of all these decisions, and really, we haven't even made one yet (except for Oliver's two day a week preschool, which I over-thought too). I'm in an internal cycle of not knowing what is best for our kids, educationally speaking. I flip flop in my mind almost daily, and it goes something like, "I think it would be best for our kids to attend____________(fill in the blank) because _____________________ (fill in the blank)." Oh, and throw in the occasional urge to home school in the mix too. Plus, I'm trying to plan out K-12 for all my kids, and the Lord may return before we even get to that stage:)

My point, although I know the school we choose is important, I know it's more important to seek what the Lord has for our family and let him lead the way step by step. Maybe we won't know where Oliver will go to kindergarten until it's almost game time. For a planner like me, it's difficult, but I think that's what I'm being asked to do. A day at a time, step by step. Um, I see a pattern evolving in my life.

How Big is Lydia?

2010-11-09T19:04:00.000-08:00

SO BIG! She loves this. It's that age old game, and when we bring her hands up in the air, she gets the biggest smile. I love her. She is so pleasant.

Day 13

2010-10-27T17:47:00.000-07:00

Today marks day 13 of Alex being gone. We are definitely ready for him to be home. You could say this week has been "interesting." Monday morning the kids and I went out to the garage to get in the car for a play date. I opened the door to start the car and saw the the passenger's side window was shattered. The car was in the garage with no sign of breaking and entering and nothing was taken. Thankfully, I don't think it was a break in. Probably just a random, "I'm on my own with three kids, of course the window decides to break into small pieces" thing. We all went back inside, I called around and found a place that could get us in immediately to fix it. We drove there (luckily it was close)with glass continuing to crack and fall inside and out of the car. What a sight in the waiting room...four dum-dums, two waters, two trips to the bathroom,one t.v. that got every channel but a kids one, and $135 later, the window was fixed and we were on our way.

Then yesterday as I was walking up the steps to our house with Lydia in my arms, I tripped. Fortunately, I caught Lydia and shielded her fall only to cut open elbow and hurt my knee. The Meredith laughed, which added a little insult to injury. At least the baby wasn't hurt. Yep, it was totally one of those falls when I looked behind me to see if anyone saw how graceful it looked.

So yes, I am ready to do the two parent thing again.

A Sweet Reminder

2010-10-24T18:58:00.000-07:00

Alex emailed the kids and I this photo today, as a sweet reminder that he loves us, even though he has to be far away. At least I think that's him...he's kind of unrecognizable:)

I get by with a little help from my friends...and family

2010-10-23T19:18:00.001-07:00

Alex has been traveling so much lately, and my friends and family have totally stepped in to help me. I'm so thankful, and I don't know what I would do without them.

Pa likes to hold Lydia, and she likes him too.

My littlest girl turned three months this week.

My parents took the kids to a nature center while I was at baby shower. They had a great time. I love this picture they took through the aquarium.

For those of you wondering...yes, Meredith does pick out most of her clothing ensembles.

Take the road less traveled.....

Hometown

2010-10-16T19:19:00.000-07:00

Last night my dad took me and the two older kids back to my hometown football game. It just so happened to be homecoming night. I grew up in a town thirty minutes from Wichita. Population: 2,000. Yep, everybody knows everybody. Most of the 75ish people I graduated with I went from kindergarten through twelve grade with. Lots of memories (mostly good:) and flashbacks last night swirled around my head. It's been 13 years since I've been back to a football game. It was perfect fall weather and the kids had a blast watching the game, the band, the cheerleaders, but mostly eating popcorn, suckers, and running around free by the field.

Can you tell I'm feeling nostalgic? I ran in to some friends that I hadn't seen in a long time. Funny how I'm almost 32, but when I see friends I grew up with, I feel like I'm 17 again...like the movie. Being around the school spirit, everyone dressed in blue, and walking in the bleachers where everyone knows each other definitely gives me a warm feeling. Don't get me wrong, I love Wichita, and the community God has given us. I guess being back in my hometown made me more aware of many of the little things I took for granted.

Now that I have kids, I find myself wanting the same things for them...friends they've known all their lives, teachers who know the whole family, opportunities to be involved in everything from band to basketball, and a casual atmosphere.

After all the above, one would think we're going to pick up and move back. Not in the plans, but more than anything, being back just made me thankful. Thankful for my childhood and all the good memories it has afforded me.

Oh, and on the way there I told Meredith and Oliver that they were going to get to see the track that I used to run races on. To which Meredith quickly replied, "Now you a mom" Like, give it up mom, now you couldn't make it one lap around. My kids keep me humble.

Pumpkin Patch

2010-10-12T14:02:00.000-07:00

Our family got to go along with Oliver's preschool class this morning to the Applejack Pumpkin Patch. This is our third year to visit, and the kids always have a blast! The weather was perfect, and we enjoyed ourselves.

Tim..berrrr (or whatever you say when a tree falls)

2010-10-10T19:41:00.000-07:00

This weekend was filled with work and some fun too. Alex returned home after a 10 day trip. Whew...glad to have him home for a week. Saturday we went to town cutting down trees and planting two new ones. Alex got antsy while waiting on the chainsaw to arrive with my dad, so he pulled a Paul Bunyan on the tree. Oliver had the time of his life helping load the trailer with logs and branches. Plus, it was so good for him to spend time with his daddy. He's had a hard time with how much Alex has to be gone lately, so it was much needed time for the two of them. I forgot to take a picture of the ones we planted, but they are really pretty Aristocrat Pear Trees. I never thought I would be so excited about trees.

Today after church, we went out to the Unruh farm to have lunch and spend the day with Alex's parent's and aunt and uncle visiting from Houston. Forgot my camera, or I'd have a picture of them to post. Snapped of few photos of the kiddos before church, and we even caught Lydia with a smile on her face.

Three Babies at Three Months

2010-10-05T19:51:00.001-07:00

Ok, so I have a lot of time on my hands these days once the kids go to bed, but I love trying to figure out who babies/kids resemble. Here are my three, each at about three months old. It's been fun for me to go back through pictures and remind myself what Oliver and Meredith looked like around Lydia's age. One thing's for sure, none of them got the "hair gene."

Our Little Munchkins

2010-10-05T12:05:00.000-07:00

Oh, these three....I love them, and they keep me on my toes.

Oliver is in preschool this year two days a week and loves it. He is an outside boy and has a big imagination. He likes to play games on the computer, and asks LOTS of questions.

Meredith is our little firecracker. The smile on her face tells it all. She loves the outdoors too, and will swing for hours and hours on the swing set. She loves an adventure, and she changes her clothes a couple times a day.

We are three for three with thumb-suckers. Miss Lydia found her thumb a couple weeks ago. She has started smiling and cooing more, and definitely likes to sleep in her little crib.

The Bumbo

2010-09-29T10:06:00.000-07:00

Quite possibly my favorite "kid gear" invention ever. We put little Lydia in it the other day for the first time. It was hard for her to keep her head up, she loved sitting in it.

Halloween in September

2010-09-20T11:26:00.001-07:00

So the pictures are a little dark and blurry, but wanted to share them. The kids both put on their Halloween costumes (or part of them) this morning and wanted to play outside in them. Oliver is Thomas the Train, and Mer is a lady bug...the full costume to come in October.

And here's a recent one of Lydia. She was two months old yesterday. I took her to the doctor today. She's 12 pounds and 22 inches. She is growing like crazy!

Community

2010-09-15T11:40:00.000-07:00

Today I'd like to give testimony to how God has and is taking care of me. Many of you know that Alex travels a lot for his job. It's just kind of the way it is right now. He has busy seasons and less busy seasons, and we just try to take life a day at a time when he has to be gone. Being on my own with our three kids definitely has it's ups and downs, and I've asked a number of friends and family to pray for me/us. It's amazing to see how God is a God of details and how he cares for me through other people in small ways, that add up to big ways.

Just this week...

*Two neighbors came by and gave me their numbers in case I need anything.
*Another good friend and neighbor fed my dog when we were gone for the day.
*A friend from my Bible Study came by and took Oliver for the afternoon and evening.
*My mom spend the night to help out at the beginning of the week.
*Another friend from my Bible Study bought me a Groupon to purchase pre-made meals.
*And yet another friend is coming over to stay with my kids while I do some tutoring.
*My mother-in-law is going to watch my kids tomorrow morning so I can run some errands.
*Last but definitely not least, Lydia is being a really good sleeper, and beginning to fall into a routine.

Wow.I am so thankful for the community of generous women God has placed in my life at a time when I really need it. Thanks to all.

Labor Day Weekend

2010-09-09T11:48:00.001-07:00

We had a fun Labor Day weekend. We visited a wild life zoo near Wichita and Alex took Oliver and some of his friends on an airplane ride. Alex and Oliver also went to the farm and Oliver got to play with his cousin Owen, and ride the combine and four wheeler. I totally forgot to send the camera with them, and wish I had some pictures to post from that day.

Meredith getting ready to pet the bunnies. They were so sweet and tame.

Oliver and the turtles.

Little Lydia enjoyed the beautiful weather...as did we.

Meredith loves her Uncle Max.

The Crew (Sarah, Charlie, Oliver, and Lawson)

Oliver and Lawson getting ready to take off...they chatted through the headsets the whole flight.

Meredith and her cousin Graham giving big hugs.

August Update

2010-08-29T13:00:00.000-07:00

Wow. Having three kids makes it a bit harder to find the time to update my blog.

Oliver loves being a big brother. He is always kissing and hugging Lydia. He starts preschool this week. He'll go two mornings a week and he's really excited. He has been a big help to me. He loves to mow, play on the computer, and play in the dirt.

My independent and creative Meredith. I love how she marches to the beat of her own drummer. I guess she is ready for Fall, because all summer long she's been begging to wear a jacket, hat, and mittens when she goes outside. She keeps up with her big brother and loves any kind of adventure. Every day when she wakes up from her nap she comes out of her room wearing something different...usually 3 or 4 layers of clothes.

Sweet Lydia will be 6 weeks old tomorrow. She gave us her first few smiles this week. She's a good eater and a pretty good sleeper too. We are learning more about her each day. Her hair is still dark...we'll see if it stays that way. She is a little blessing.

Bottle it Up

2010-07-30T21:07:00.000-07:00

Lydia is almost two weeks old, and I'm just now posting about her birth. I've thought about writing on my blog numerous times, but haven't been quite sure how to summarize her birth and life. This labor and recovery has by far been my best physically and emotionally. I am so thankful for Lydia's little life, and really can't imagine our family without her. She has been a joy. She's such a sweet baby. She has dark hair (which is fun because our other two had blond hair) and dimples like her daddy. I keep thinking that I just want to "bottle up" the whole experience with her and keep it forever...from the labor and delivery to the first almost two weeks with her. Maybe part of it is because this may be our last time to experience it, and maybe the other part is I'm more relaxed about having a newborn than I was four years ago. Whatever it is, I love this little baby, and her daddy, and brother and sister are pretty crazy about her too. Here are a few pictures of her birth day. More pics to follow soon. Oh, and never mind the date on the pictures. Somehow my parents camera was set to the wrong date.

Proud big brother

Meredith got to meet Lydia first thing in the morning. She woke up as my mom was getting ready to come to the Birth Care Center. She climbed right up in the bed and wanted to hold her.

Lydia Mae

2010-07-20T20:13:00.000-07:00

We are so blessed and excited to announce the birth of our newest addition. Lydia Mae Unruh was born at 5:50 a.m. yesterday (July 19). She weighs 8 lbs and is 20 inches. We are in love with her....more details to come.

Almost There

2010-07-07T11:43:00.000-07:00

Happy Independence Day, America!

2010-07-04T15:16:00.001-07:00

Two Weeks

2010-06-30T11:35:00.000-07:00

Two weeks (give or take) until my due date. We got some of our "baby gear" back out and the kids are having fun putting their dolls in the swing, bouncy, and bassinet. Hope the baby has a place to sleep when she gets here:) Baby girl's room is ready, clothes are in her dresser, and mama is definitely getting ready. I have two more scheduled appointments in the next two weeks. Although it would be nice to have her a little early, I'm not banking on it. We'll see....

June

2010-06-22T12:46:00.001-07:00

This summer has been full of fun, and it's nice because Oliver and Meredith are playing so much together. Last summer, Mer wasn't quite old enough to play independently with Oliver, and it's been fun to see them interact.

They got ball caps for the sunny weather, and for evening t-ball games.

Shucking corn

Watering the flowers

Getting ready to ride his bike...I know, what's the point of all the pads when you don't have a shirt on?

Father's Day at the farm with the kids and cousin Graham.

The highlight of Oliver's summer thus far was helping Grandpa harvest the wheat on the combine. Wouldn't you know, I didn't get any pictures of him. Bummer. The combine broke, and Oliver waiting patiently all day and into the evening for the guys to get it fixed. He was covered in dirt from head to toe, and couldn't have been more happy.

Three weeks until the baby is due. We are just relaxing and enjoying the summer days. Thank goodness for air condiitioning and swimming pools.

Swimming in my Own Head

2010-06-16T11:38:00.000-07:00

So the past week or so, I've had that kind of "swimming in my own head" feeling. I remember feeling this way at the end of my pregnancies with Oliver and Meredith. Yet, even though I know it's coming, I'm kind of in the throws of it before I realize it. I feel like I'm watching the world pass me by and I don't know quite how to engage it. Doing my best as a mom, but feeling like I'm never quite handling things the right way...not to say that when I'm not pregnanct I feel like I always deal with things the right way.

It's a season. In four weeks (or less), we'll have a new baby girl and a new normal to adjust to. Oliver and Meredith are really excited about the baby. Yesterday Oliver told my mom that when the baby pops out of my tummy I will be able to hold him and carry him because my tummy won't be big anymore.

I guess life is all about seasons, and it's probably time for me to stop thinking life will or should be "normal," right? Always something new, different, and challenging. I guess that's good and stretching for this girl who has a hard time with change and likes to be in control:)

Oliver's First T-Ball Game

2010-06-10T13:06:00.000-07:00

We have officially entered the world of "organized" sports (and I use the term organized loosely because the kids are 4 and 5). Oliver started t-ball this summer, and our good friend Vail is the coach. We were lucky to get on a team with some of our friends kids, which makes it even more fun. Last night was the first game. I love watching all the little kiddos bat, then forget to run to first or run onto another field. It's sweet to see them all learning the game. Oliver enjoys it, and we like to cheer for him.

Oliver's 4th Birthday

2010-06-05T20:21:00.000-07:00

Oliver's birthday is tomorrow, and his cousin Owen's birthday is Wednesday, but we had their party this weekend. They both like the movie "Cars"...surprise, what four year old boy doesn't, right? We did a Cars theme, and my sis-in-law Kelli made some amazing decor, and even sewed matching shirts for the boys. They are such good buddies.

It amazes me to look back on the past four years, and how life has changed. Oliver has been such a blessing and joy to raise. I'm thankful I'm the lucky one God chose to be his mama.

Baby Shower

2010-06-02T12:07:00.000-07:00

My sweet friends had a joint baby shower for my friend Tara and I. Tara had her baby girl, Hope Rebecca two weeks ago, and I have about 5 weeks to go until my baby is due. It was at Olive Garden and it was so fun and relaxing just to eat and hang out with friends and family. I felt so loved and blessed. I'm getting pretty puffy, but I'm feeling good otherwise, and getting really excited to meet our new baby girl.

Margin

2010-05-31T09:50:00.001-07:00

The past eight months have been an adjustment for our family. Many of you know that Alex was transferred to the International Flight Department at work. He has been traveling on and off since last October, both overseas and in the states. His international trips usually take about two weeks to complete. With him being gone, there have been some tough and lonely times, but it has also helped me put life into perspective. This shift in schedule has definitely made us value family time. It's probably been good for me learn to not be such a planner, and be more flexible. Alex is such a good daddy and husband, and always takes time when he's home to be totally "home."

The last two weeks he hasn't had a trip for work, so he's been back at production test working pretty normal hours. The word margin comes to mind, becuase I have had actually had some in my life while he's been home. I didn't realize what a juggling act the last months have been until we have had some down time.

I'm feeling really blessed and thankful. Thankful for our new baby who will be here in less than six weeks, thankful for my friends and family, thankful for a gift certificate to get a pedicure, and thankful for health and life. Margin...ahhhh, it feels good. I will try to soak it in these last weeks before our family of four turns into a family of five. Alex starts traveling again in September, but for now, one day at a time.

Meredith's First Haircut

2010-05-14T10:56:00.001-07:00

So she's made it a little over two years without having a haircut. It was time to get it trimmed up in the back. She looks so much older to me now. Crazy how cutting a few hairs (and I do literally mean a few) can do that. She was a champ, and we gave her a muffin to keep her focus off what was going on with the scissors.

BEFORE

DURING

AFTER....the best shot I could get because she was ready to get down.

Happy Mother's Day

2010-05-09T12:38:00.001-07:00

Ahhhhh...after several not so great photo attempts, we landed a good one. I really wanted a pic with my kiddos today. I feel blessed to be Oliver and Meredith's mom (and the new little one on the way). The kids and Alex made me a sweet card and we ate pancakes this morning. Our nephew Graham was dedicated at church, so we got to see our extended family too. Now for a nap while everyone else is resting. Happy Mother's Day!

Pregnancy, Trampolines, and Awana

2010-05-07T11:21:00.001-07:00

How's that for three random things?

I have reached the 31 week mark with our sweet baby. I am feeling pretty good most days, but getting bigger by the minute and less mobile. I'm thankful for a healthy pregnancy, and that everything is looking good thus far. Oliver and Meredith are getting really excited, and like to kiss the my tummy and talk to her. She will definitely know their voices.

Oliver got a trampoline for his 4th birthday (a little early, so the kids could start enjoying it during this beautiful weather). Both kids have had a blast on it, and they are exhausted by evening. It's a fun thing to share with friends too.

Awana ended for this year, and the last picture is of awards night.

Science Fair

2010-04-08T19:25:00.000-07:00

This school year, Oliver and I have been attending a preschool for three year olds through Parents as Teachers. It's every Thursday morning, and it's class for the parent and child to participate in together. It's been a really good experience. Tonight was the Science Fair Expo for the preschool class. Everyone worked in partners to come up with Science projects to display. Oliver and his partner did their experiment on Matter...solids, liquids, and gases. It was fun, and Oliver was really excited to share it with everyone.

Our Little Cupcake Turns 2!

2010-04-08T19:07:00.000-07:00

We celebrated Meredith's second birthday Easter weekend. Pa and Grammy brought over donuts the morning of her birthday, and we had her Cupcake Party with friends and family the following day. I borrowed a big cupcake pan from my sister-in-law and made the cake. My friend Cristy did the cookies...amazing looking and tasting. Mer's favorite gift was a pink and purple head lamp from Uncle Max and Aunt April. Oh, and she was kinda in to the cake too:) It was a special weekend, and we are so thankful God has blessed us with Meredith.

Easter

2010-04-08T18:57:00.000-07:00

A post to tell you a post is coming...

2010-04-07T11:21:00.000-07:00

All our Easter and Meredith's birthday pictures are on my mom's computer. I need transfer them to mine with my flash drive, then I'll be able to post. Not that you all are on the edge of your seats waiting...but, wanted to let you know I'll update soon.

San Fransisco

2010-03-13T18:01:00.001-08:00

A little over a week ago, Alex and I got the chance to take a get away to a place neither of us had ever been. We had a great time exploring the city, eating a variety of food, and going north to the Redwood Forest and Napa Valley. It happened to be the Chinese New Year, so we got in on the parade too (right by our hotel). It was really nice to spend some timetogether, especially after the hectic four months we've had with Alex traveling so much. Thank you to our parents for taking fantastic care of our little munchkins.

The Famous Trolly Cars

Walking up hills to work off our ice cream...look at that view!

The Golden Gate Bridge

The best breakfast we had the whole time...a little diner off the beaten path. Not the Animal Clinic, The Lighthouse:)

Muir Woods, north of San Fransisco

Alex wine tasting before our tour through a vineyard.

A Sweet Baby Girl!

2010-02-18T13:19:00.000-08:00

We had our sonogram Monday to see if the baby was growing well and we got to find out that we are having another sweet baby girl! I was really suprised. When we started the sono I told the sonographer that I was sure we were going to have a boy. I'm not sure why I felt so strongly that way, but I had already made a list of positive things in my head either way; boy or girl. We are really excited, and she looks great. She's measuring right on everything seems to be growing and functioning the way it should. I am amazed at the miracle of life and how every little detail weaves into creating a baby. She was moving around, yawning, and waving her right arm. We even got a picture of her doing the "thumbs up" sign.

Awww....the world of sisters. I didn't grow up with a sister, so this is new territory to have two girls. My good friend said she saw wardrobe wars in our future. Probably so:) Feeling so blessed to have a son and almost two daughters. Plus, the bonus was that Alex made it home just in time from a two week trip to go with me.

Making Valentines

2010-02-09T15:02:00.000-08:00

We took on a little project of hearts and glitters in honor of Valentine's Day. Oliver made valentines for his classmates at preschool (with a little help from Meredith). It's been snowy and cold here, so it was good to have a project to work on this afternoon. We also made sugar cookie dough so we can make heart cookies and decorate them for his class.

Snow Day

2010-01-29T09:11:00.001-08:00

The snow began last night and when we woke up the ground was covered in white. It's still snowing. Schools are cancelled and Alex and his dad are working on the basement, so the kids and I are hanging out (need to post updated pics of the basement soon). Here are a couple of the kids and Daisy playing in it.

The Big B

2010-01-05T16:59:00.000-08:00

And I do mean basement. We started to remodel our basement two years ago in an endeavor to create more space in our house. Since our house is old (build in 1927) it has posed some interesting challenges. Alex (with the help of some friends and our dads) has done the work himself. We started with replacing the heat and air. The old heater had the repair recipts from 1962 laying on it when we moved in seven years ago. A time bomb waiting to explode or break. We had ductwork put in throughout the basement and had the furnace moved to the corner to take up less space. Then came drain tile and a sump pump to keep it totally dry. Then plumbing, electrical, and framing. We just passed our final inspection today through the city of Wichita. Yahoo! We are going to hire the drywall hanging and finishing as it's a majorly dirty project, and Alex has to be gone so much. When it's finished we'll have a family/play room, full bathroom, laundry room, and storage room. I need to dig up some beginning stages pictures to post, and get down there and take some recent ones of the process. Targeted finishing date: before baby gets here. Can't wait until it's finished...and of course we have vowed we won't ever take on any home project like this again. We'll see.

Christmas

2009-12-27T11:53:00.000-08:00

Oliver holding one of his two new baby cousins, Lena. He's getting some good practice.

Christmas Morning

Our best attempt at family pictures.

My sweet girl and me.

I'm Back...

2009-12-22T14:24:00.001-08:00

I haven't been good at updating my blog this month. Alex just returned from a two week work trip and it was all I could do to just keep the kids fed and clothed:) I am, however, starting to feel better. At almost 11 weeks, the sickness is subsiding. I am getting more and more excited, and can't wait to find out if this sweet little baby is a girl or a boy. We debated on whether or not to find out since we have clothes and bedding for both sexes, but neither of us can wait. We kind of consider it our suprise halfway through. We'll keep the name a surprise, for an added bit of fun...and I welcome any girl name ideas anyone has.

We will be home this Christmas, which is nice since Alex has been on the road so much these last two months. We'll spend Christmas Eve with Alex's family and Christmas Day with mine. I did so much of my shopping online this year, and we cut back all around on gifts, which has been a relief. I'm so looking forward to spending time with our little family and our extended family.

I'm hoping to get a good picture of our family at Christmas to either snail mail out or email. Kind of behind on that...

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

In July

2009-11-21T12:13:00.000-08:00

In July, Meredith will be big sister for the first time, and Oliver will be a big brother again. I found out when Alex was flying overseas, and waited to tell him until he got home. The kids wore these shirts (made by my amazing friend Tara) to the airport to pick him up. We are thankful and excited! I just have to get through all the sickness of the first tri-mester.

Halloween

2009-11-02T12:00:00.001-08:00

Daddy, Oliver, and Uncle Max after carving pumpkins.

Dora the Explorer, and a sweet little cowgirl and cowboy.

Our friends Zoe' and Anthony hosted their annual Halloween/Birthday Party. After we mingled a while, we took all the kids trick or treating in our neighborhood. The kids had a blast, and it was warm, thankfully, since I was wearing shorts and a t-shirt.

Chapters

2009-10-30T19:54:00.001-07:00

Life has so many chapters, doesn't it? As the holidays approach (which I love, because I am totally a holiday kind of girl), my mind keeps drifting back to my Grandma Ilene and remembering that this will be the first Christmas in 30 years that I haven't spent with her. I think of small things like the pink recliner she always sat in, the funny and honest stories she told, the smell of vegetable soup on the stove, and sharing with her all the bargains I got while shopping (and what each one cost). Those of you who know me, will note that the bargain apple doesn't fall far from the tree:)

I also think of my Dad, who has had to close this chapter in his life. It must feel hard and strange and surreal to lose your parents. He is a loyal and kind-hearted soul, which he got pretty honestly. I'd like to do something special and memorable for my dad this Christmas. Anyone have any ideas?

As Grandma's estate was getting settled, I received two important momentos to keep and pass on to my children. One is a black onyx ring that my grandpa gave my grandma. The other is an engraved banglet that my great-grandfather gave my great gradmother when they were dating. I have vivid pictures in my head of her wearing both.

Ah, life. Chapters open, chapters close. I am thankful God gave us a brain capable of storing memories.

Owl Shower

2009-10-20T18:00:00.001-07:00

My creative sister-in-law Kelli and I hosted an Owl themed baby shower for our sister-in-law April. I have never worked with fondant, and it was fun to experiment with. Kelli had lots of cute ideas, including making onesies for the baby using seasonal iron-ons (wish I would have taken a picture of them). Can't wait to meet my new little niece of nephew next month! Here's a picture of our cake.

U2 at OU

2009-10-19T12:10:00.000-07:00

U2 is one of the bands Alex and I have always wanted to see live. They haven't come to Oklahoma City in 26 years, so when were heard they were coming, we really wanted to go. Our friends found us tickets (because I gave up hope after the pre-sale tickets sold out). They were amazing, and the concert was a blast! It was perfect outdoor concert weather.

This is their 360 Degree Tour, so the stage was circular and looked like a rocketship.

And of course, here's one of Bono...

it's just part of life...

2009-10-13T18:50:00.001-07:00

The car was quiet tonight as the kids and I drove home from my parent's house. I even had the radio turned off because I have an ear infection and can't handle extra noise.

Out of the blue, this conversation began.

Oliver: Mommy, I need to ask you a question
Mommy: Ok
Oliver: When I was at Awana I told a little girl that she needed to share a toy with me. I told her she had to share because it's just part of life, and she said, no, it's not part of life, and I said yes it is.
Mommy: (holding in a chuckle) Well sharing is part of life, and you just need to make sure you share when you have a toy.

It's funny the things that come out of kids mouths. I know I have reasoned with Oliver more than once with the "it's just part of life" saying. I keep a list of all the funny things Oliver says...this will definitely make the list. Maybe I'll keep the radio off more often.

Fall

2009-10-11T13:19:00.000-07:00

Fall is my favorite season. This fall is off to a good start. Bible Study, substitute teaching, and Young Lives (teen mom mentorship) are in full swing. Oliver and I are going to a preschool class together at a Children's Museum on Thursday mornings. I am thankful everyday that I get to be home with my kids. Even on the hardest days, there is no place I'd rather be.

My good and forever friend Cristy and I baked and decorated 600 jersey shaped sugar cookies a few weeks ago for the Young Life Banquet. We had some help, or it would have been crazy(and even with help it was a little crazy). We loaded them all in my van and drove really slow so they wouldn't tip and spill all over.

Meredith graduated from her high chair to the booster seat, so her and Oliver get to sit together every meal.

We had a family movie night, complete with popcorn. We rolled out the sleeping bags and laid on the floor. Daisy especially liked the sleeping bag on the floor part.

Alex has been working like crazy on the basement. Lots of electrical work both in the basement and upstairs. He has to do a little more framing, then floor leveler, then comes the drywall. I need to take some pictures and post them soon.

The Prairie Rose

2009-09-23T13:04:00.000-07:00

For my mom's birthday we went to The Prairie Rose (chuckwagon dinner and musical entertainment). It's about 20 minutes east of Wichita, and a great, relaxing place to go. Oliver is really into cowboys right now, so he felt right at home. During dinner they throw out bisquits. When they asked who wanted one, Oliver automatically held his hands out to catch one. Nothin' like a good biscuit. Meredith agreed....especially a biscuit with honey on top.

The kids watching an old western on the big screen and enjoying/spoiling their dinner.

Meredith was a little unsure about the whole thing...but she looked so cute in her western shirt, jeans, and boots.

I think the evening brought the cowboy back out in Pa. Oliver and Pa even roped a few stationary cows:)

We bought Oliver and Meredith hats in the gift shop to go with their Halloween cowboy costumes. More pictures to follow in October.

Oliver and a real-life cowboy.

Dual Purposes

2009-09-07T13:24:00.000-07:00

While checking on Oliver this afternoon to see if he had fallen alseep, I noticed that the laundry hamper serves dual purposes...for dirty clothes and naps! This sweet little guy can fall asleep anywhere. Reminds me of my brother.

Summer Time

2009-09-02T12:50:00.000-07:00

This Summer has been filled with lots of fun; a small town festival (Oliver has his hand over his heart during the national anthem), art projects, celebrating cousin Jude's second birthday, and eating corn on the cobb from Gran's garden. The kids also enjoyed swimming more this summer, and we've played at the park and taken walks. I have loved the summer, but am getting excited now that Fall is just around the corner!

New York

2009-08-05T14:45:00.000-07:00

Just before Alex flew to Rochester, New York last weekend, I found out that I was approved to tag along with him. It was a great weekend! We got to see Niagara Falls, visit the jeweler who made my ring over 8 years ago (who happens to live in Rochester), shopped, saw a movie, and ate some good food. Best of all we got to spend time together. It was like a mega date weekend. Thank you to our parents who graciously took care of our our kiddos and our dog while we were gone:)

Fourth of July

2009-07-07T11:36:00.000-07:00

Our family and my parents took a road trip to Houston over July 4th. The week was filled with family, friends, and great fun! It has been three years since I had been there, so it was great to reconnect with everyone. It was relaxing, and our kids had a blast playing with my cousin's kids. My Aunt Betty throws a fantastic Fourth of July party. The kids were too pooped to watch the fireworks, but we got to see some on the ride home that evening. Oh, and the picture of Alex drinking barbeque sauce...that was a stop at Rudy's, a delicious barbeque joint.

Look Out World!

2009-06-21T18:32:00.000-07:00

She is walking, talking more, and on the go. I tried to post a video of her walking, but it took forever to upload, so I gave up. Meredith is at such a fun age (almost 15 months), and we are enjoying her little personality. A friend gave us this dress, and it is too cute, so I snapped a few pictures before church.

Date Night to K.C.

2009-06-21T18:25:00.001-07:00

Last night, I got to fly along with Alex and four other people to Kansas City. The two other couples won a package deal at a fundraiser that flew them to K.C. for the evening to have dinner. I was the tag along, and it was so much fun. I haven't flown with Alex for a long time, and it seems like we haven't been on a date in a long time, so double bonus.

My Boy Turned 3

2009-06-08T19:39:00.000-07:00

Life has been so hectic lately and I've neglected my blog. Oliver turned three on June 6th and we had a great time celebrating with friends and family. I made him a train cake because he is really into trains right now. In the days leading up to his birthday he kept asking where his train cake was and kept wanting to eat it. We had a joint party with Oliver's cousin Owen. They are only three days apart, and great buddies. Oliver is an incredible gift to Alex and me, and we are so thankful for his sweet life.

Blankies

2009-05-15T13:39:00.000-07:00

I have never met two kids more into their "special blankies" than these two. Their Gran made them each a blanket with silk around the edges when they were born. When they have their blankies, thumbs automatically go into mouths and all crying ceases. The blankies were in the hallway this morning. When I came around the corner they were both laying on the rug relaxing. I'm ashamed to say that I finally got rid of my special blankie when I got married (and I've finally quit sucking my thumb too :)

Mother's Day

2009-05-10T17:27:00.001-07:00

There is nothing better than spending the day with my family. Oliver kept saying, "Happy Mother's Day" throughout the day. We celebrated Mother's Day, Alex's birthday (tomorrow), and my dad's birthday day (Wednesday)all in one big sha-bang.
My mom got me a beautiful plant. She put pictures of the kids in it and wrote some really nice notes. I'm posting a picture because I thought it was cute and creative, plus it meant so much to me.

Destin

2009-05-08T18:32:00.001-07:00

Alex and I returned last night from a trip to Destin, Florida with seven other couples. It was a great time, and the weather was beautiful. Here are a couple pictures from the trip. It was a much needed break, and we are happy to be back with our kids.

Relief

2009-04-29T11:23:00.000-07:00

Thank you all for concern about Alex. No, he doesn't have the swine flu, and we are still not sure of the cause of the headaches. He had a migraine shot and has been taking Claritin, and high doses of ibuprofen. They have subsided over the last three days. Just in time for us to head for the beach in Florida! We're leaving early Saturday morning, and meeting 7 other couples there....no kids. We are looking so forward to the break. I'll post some pictures when we return.

Headaches

2009-04-24T10:19:00.000-07:00

Last Friday, Alex started feeling sick and had a terrible headache. He had a week long work trip to Florida scheduled to leave last Sunday. He went ahead and went, but got worse over the course of a few days. On Wednesday evening, his work flew him home early. He saw the doctor yesterday and she wanted to run a cat scan and do some blood work. Everything came back normal, so he got a high powered shot to try to relieve his headache. It let up a little bit yesterday, but today he is feeling bad again. Please pray that we find the source of the headaches soon.

Brotherly Love

2009-04-22T11:40:00.001-07:00

Here are a couple of recent pics of the kids. Oliver is pretty sweet to Meredith (unless she messes with his train set). I love sibling pictures, and Meredith is getting to the age where she interacts a lot more with Oliver. Her teeth are coming in like crazy, and she loves to show them off.

Garage Sale

2009-04-16T18:11:00.003-07:00

The girls in my neighborhood had one MASSIVE garage sale today. Whew, am I wiped out. It was well worth it and we made around $1,400.00.....that's a lot of junk, people! Only a small part of that cash was mine, but I did sell our couch. Thankfully, the rain stayed away and we had a beautiful day. Thank you Zoe, for letting us invade your house and driveway. I'm sure we won't need to have another sale for quite some time.

Happy Easter

2009-04-12T20:15:00.000-07:00

We had a great day celebrating Easter with our families. We went to church with my parents, had lunch with them, then on to the Unruh farm for dinner and an Easter Egg hunt.

Meredith's 1st Birthday

2009-04-05T18:24:00.001-07:00

Meredith's bumble bee birthday party turned out to be very special. I can't take the credit. I have been battling the flu all week, and had no energy to make it happen. Thanks to Alex, his parents, Karm, Cristy and others, it turned out great! Thanks everyone.

Celebration of Grandma's Life

2009-03-30T11:29:00.000-07:00

The weather in Wichita was not good enough to fly, so we decided to take off and drive on Friday afternoon. We made it to Fort Wayne at around 4:00 a.m. The kiddos slept and it went smoothly. Grandma's funeral was Saturday at 1:30, with the burial and luncheon following. The service was beautiful, and I know she would have felt so loved and honored. We drove back home yesterday, and we are a little weary, but thankful we made it to celebrate Grandma's life.

The following is what I wrote and shared at the funeral.

A Tribute to Grandma

Caring, Discerning and a Good Communicator. These are some of the words that come to mind when I think about my grandma. Her life was lived as a good and faithful daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. Among many of the things I appreciate about her, I especially loved her ability to go deeper on any given subject. From relationships to global issues, she had almost always thought out precisely her position. Out of her honest and conscientious heart came many words of wisdom and insight. She understood others, and was good at communicating.. She was easy to talk to and relate to, never missing a beat. The past few years we talked on the phone every Sunday afternoon. I will miss those conversations, but treasure the talks we had.

Grandma loved animals more than anyone I know. She always had a soft spot in her heart for them. She had all kinds of dogs and cats in her lifetime, and if dogs and cats go to heaven, I’m sure she they have taken residency with her.

I always admired the love she had for my Grandpa, and the love he had for her. They were married 59 years, and I know that when he left this earth, it left an enormous hole in her heart. She was strong and courageous and kept living life, even though it wasn’t easy. When talking about grandpa, and how much she missed him, she would often say, “When you lose your mate, you’ve really lost something.” The power of her love, even after 12 years of living single still burned in her heart. That kind of love is special and unique.

Grandma, you have given me many gifts, which I will not forget. Thank you for raising my dad to be a Godly man. Thank you for being faithful to God, to your family, and to your friends. Thank you for being engaged and interested in others even until the very end. Thank you for your love and words of wisdom. I will do my best to honor you by passing on the gifts you have given me. I love you.

3:30 a.m.

2009-03-24T05:46:00.000-07:00

Grandma went to be with the Lord early this morning around 3:30 a.m. She went without a lot of suffering, and for that I am thankful. The Hospice staff took really great care of her to the end. I am sad, but there is a sense of relief that she is finally home. The viewing and funeral will probably be Thursday and Friday. Alex is scheduled to take a flight to California for work from Wednesday to Friday that he cannot get out of this last minute. Orginally, he was going to fly us all there. So, I am not sure what plan B is for a quick trip. It's an 800 mile drive. Please pray that the details on how the kids and I get out there will work out. Thanks.

Daddy and Daughter

2009-03-23T12:42:00.000-07:00

I was looking through some pictures from the last month and found this one of Alex and Meredith. These two look so much alike to me, and it's priceless to have a picture of them together.

I'm Back...Kind of

2009-03-21T19:57:00.000-07:00

We left Fort Wayne and drove all night to get home this morning. We picked Oliver up from his cousin Owen's house in K.C. and got home around 9:00. I'm so thankful I got to make it to see my grandma. She had some very lucid moments, and still looks beautiful. Meredith was really good on the flight, and travel went smoothly. There is so much to process in my time there....saying goodbye, the meaning of life, thankfulness for hope, etc. For now I feel like I am back home physically, but not emotionally.

Going to Indiana

2009-03-16T17:37:00.000-07:00

I am really thankful because today Alex found a great deal on a ticket for me to fly to Indiana. On Thursday, Meredith and I are flying out of Kansas City and into Indianapolis. My sister-in-law Kelli so generously offered to take care of Oliver while I am there (thanks, kelli). My dad offered to come pick us up in Indianapolis (thanks, dad). The family moved my Grandma to a Hospice home this afternoon. They are working to get her settled into her new surroundings. She is somewhat confused, but doesn't seem to be in much discomfort as of right now. My mom said the Hospice home is absolutely beautiful and peaceful. I am thankful for a place like this. Even though this is a hard journey, God is good and he will be faithful until the end. Thanks for all your prayers and kind words, and thank you, Southwest airlines for your amazing deals.

Update on Grandma

2009-03-15T13:10:00.000-07:00

I just talked to my Grandma, for what I feel may be the last time. I have wanted so badly to be there with her but the timing and flights have not worked out thus far. Tomorrow my dad and his brother meet with the hospital social worker to determine how to make the transition to hospice. She is incredibly weak, and the tests they ran before the weekend showed the cancer had spread everywhere, including to her lungs which are now filling with fluid.

I told her that I loved her and that I was so thankful for how she had loved me and my family so well. I told her that I am proud to be so much like her, and that I am thankful that she raised my dad to know God. I told her that I was sorry I wasn't there.

How do I sum up how much she means to me in a few minutes? How do I get the words out when all I can do is cry? Please pray for her and my family as she walks through this next phase...

One more thing. My mom has been singing hymns to her and talking to her about heaven. Today, my mom said, "Mom, after you get to heaven and make the rounds seeing everyone, will you look for my mom and give her a hug for me?" To which my grandma replied, "Of course I will, I always really liked her."

Oh, How I Love the Sound.....

2009-03-13T17:25:00.000-07:00

For the past two days Alex and his dad have been working to finish framing the basement. Oh, how I love the sound of construction going on! We (I say we, but Alex and many others have put in the hard work) began renovating our basement a little over a year ago. When it's finished (Alex's goal is December), we will have a TV/playroom, full bathroom, laundry room, and storage room. The framing is almost complete, then on to the electrical, which is always interesting in an old house. I'm so thankful for a husband and family members that are such hard workers, and know how to construct. And when this project is finished, rest assured, we will have an ENORMOUS party... and you're all invited.

My Sweet Grandma

2009-03-08T20:08:00.000-07:00

If you remember, please pray for my Grandma Ilene. She was admitted to the hospital last weekend because her lungs were filling up with fluid. She was diagnosed with colon cancer almost two years ago and opted out of treatment due to her age (she is 89). She is very fragile and weak, and I think the cancer is shutting her body down. I HATE being so far away from her. She lives in Fort Wayne, Indiana. I really want the chance to hold her hand and tell her good bye in person. We are very close, and Alex always jokes that I will be just like her when I am well on in my years (I take that as a compliment:) She is the last of both of our grandparents, and when she leaves this earth for heaven, there will be a big void for me. We talk every Sunday afternoon....the conversation today was hard. Thanks for praying. Here is a picture from Christmas.

I Feel Like Goldilocks

2009-03-02T12:26:00.000-08:00

I was up late last night working on Meredith's scrapbook. When I came upstairs to go to bed, this is what I found. Someone's been sleeping in my bed. I almost let him sleep the entire night with his Daddy, but my selfish side won out.

Come on, Come on, Get Happy

2009-02-22T18:05:00.000-08:00

That's what I think of when I look at Meredith. She is so happy these days, and proud of herself as she is learning to walk behind the push toy. She looks just like her daddy with her winning smile.

Mandre and Oliver

2009-02-22T17:52:00.000-08:00

Oliver loves our friend DeMandre. He always looks forward to him visiting, and Mandre is so good to Oliver. There's something very sweet and special about a high school boy who takes interest in a little guy:) Here's a recent picture of the two of them.

Slow Fade

2009-02-20T18:01:00.000-08:00

Some situations I've heard about lately have caused me to reflect on a song by Casting Crowns called "Slow Fade."

It's a slow fade, when black and white turn to gray....
People never crumble in a day....it's a slow fade.

I find these words frightenly true. It seems like people don't make catostrophically bad choices because they wake up and randomly decide to. It happens from a series of "small" bad choices that get bigger and bigger until the damage is irrepairable. One more reason I/we need God's grace. Just my thoughts for today.

Happy Valentine's Day

2009-02-14T09:11:00.001-08:00