Two years ago...

...Kaiya Elaine and Reyna LaVonne, you were born. You were small and beautiful and everything I hoped you would be. You were healthy and feisty and wrapped us all, yes even your big brothers, around your twenty, tiny fingers. You left the hospital after just four days and were welcomed in to the joyful, noisy existence known as your home.

Since then you have crawled, walked, talked, laughed, danced, played and grown into such beautiful little girls! You like to change your clothes and take off your diapers and dress your babies and eat lot and lots of pears. You are independent and funny and determined to get what you want.

We all love you so much and are thankful for your lives. Happy birthday, sweet girls.

The Best Things in Life

It has been said many, many ways.

"The best things in life are free."

"Sometimes the best things come in small packages."

"The best things in life are worth waiting for."

"The best things in life are worth working hard for."

I have come to a new realization. I think that the best things in life are those things that we have always known. Those things that are true and deep within us. We may not remember when we first discovered them or how it happened or where we were. They are those things that don't change over time and are not altered by new experiences or circumstances. It's almost like a sixth sense. In deeply knowing, even our dreams are transformed.

The best things in life are those things that we have always known in the deepest part of us to be true.

Not sure.....but ready.

I guess that's how I feel about 2010. I have no idea what it will bring and am actually full of anticipation for all of it, what ever "it" is. I have to trust that it's already been worked out. I am eager for change and hopeful that it will come. My life is full of blessings and challenges and I expect much of that will remain the same. Who can complain about that? I am thankful for family and friends and the ability to learn everyday. I am grateful for unexpected gifts and surprises that remind me how much I really don't know! I am ready for anything...come what may.

37 years ago today....

...this man was born.
7lbs 4oz - 19 inches long
big blue eyes
in a military hospital in Denver

now, he's all grown up
he weighs more
he's taller
he no longer lives in Denver
but he still has big blue eyes
and he gets more good-looking every year
i am proud to call him my husband
and the father of my children

happy birthday, sweetie
hope it's a great one

So Very Blessed

There's no way to list everything, but here are some of the many blessings I am thanking God for today:

My dedicated husband
My amazing, silly, energetic children
Friends and extended family in many places
Kind and generous in-laws
Growing up in Nebraska

My church
My education
Waking up in my home every morning
Never going hungry
Having enough to share with others
All 5 of my senses and a body that carries me through each day
Making mistakes and seeing beauty in the learning
Seeing beauty every day - really, Ohio is beautiful!!
Grace, Redemption & Forgiveness

Long Overdue......

The last picture was taken just one week ago at our favorite park. It was so warm we all had red cheeks and were sweating profusely when we left! It has been SUCH a gorgeous Fall here and we are so thankful for the extra time outside. Don't get me wrong Nebraska family and friends, we are eagerly anticipating our first snowfall, too!

Oh, if you're wondering, Grayson was a jellyfish for Halloween. A really good one!!

Happy "middle-aged" Birthday Mom (& Grandma)

Hey - you haven't changed much at all! That wasn't really that long ago, anyway. Just think, since then you've left a great legacy of musical knowledge for thousands of students, had two smart and good-looking children (okay, one of them was!), enjoyed the addition of SIX grandchildren (so far) and kept a home cleaner than any I've seen. Now - your life is just beginning!! Go out and have some fun. Be spontaneous. Drive the speed limit. Buy something online. Go out after dark. Don't clean house for one whole day.

We all wish you the happiest of days. Happy Birthday!

Love - Paul, Monica, Grayson, Elijah, Camden, Kaiya & Reyna

Happy Birthday Cousin 'Manda!!

.....or as Elijah would say, Aunt Manda!! Hope you are having a great day. We LOVED having you here for a visit. Please come back again and stay longer. I will post the pics I took soon....hopefully today.

Happy Birthday Little Brother

Many things have changed since that first birthday. A few things haven't. You have always been the best brother a girl could ask for (except that little period when you kept trying to get me in trouble for hurting you and I really wasn't). :) :) You have always made me extremely proud - at every stage in your life. You have always been supportive and kind and caring.

Now, you are a husband and a father and an uncle!! I miss you dearly and wish you were my next door neighbor. Maybe, someday........!

Happy, happy birthday to you. Praying you feel blessed today!

For the Love of Tennis

***To Comron, Travis, Tyler and Nate - I am so sorry this is so late! I have no excuse. Not even five of them.



A few weeks ago we had the privilege of hosting a few "tennis guys" from back home. There is a huge tournament every year here and we think we have started a tradition of hosting those who are brave enough to make the trek and put up with our large family. This year we had three guys with us for ten days and a fourth joining them for the last weekend. I don't know how much fun they had, but I know my boys have not stopped talking about their "big brothers". There was laughing and wrestling and little boys waking up big boys every day. We are already looking forward to next year, although we may need a bigger house!

It All Adds Up To Twelve

2 Apartments,
3 Houses,
5 Vehicles,
2 Dogs,
6 Jobs,
5 Children,
1 Big Move,
1000's of miles traveled,

and much, much more...... all add up to 12.

Twelve years of a wonderful, challenging, blessed, life-changing, laughter-filled, love-growing, on-going marriage. I consider myself privileged to be one half of a great partnership that has endured a few of life's storms and sailed through countless sunny days and celebrations. Above all, I know I am blessed by the One who planned it all from the beginning.

Aren't They Lovely

Reyna

Kaiya

Reyna

Kaiya

Kaiya & Reyna Touching Their Noses!!

Our sweet little girls are 18 months old! They have been for a week or so, but the check-up last night made it official. Here are the adorable stats:

Kaiya is 22 lbs 2 oz and 29 3/4 inches tall (or short, since that's only the 10th percentile!)

Reyna is 22 lbs 6 oz and 30 inches tall (also a shortie!)

They say ball, baby, puppy, waffle (faffle), down, bye, hello, cracker (caca), pizza (pita), diaper, mommy & dada.

They love to dance, wear shoes, purses and hats, put on their own clothes, read books and play outside.


On our way home from the appt I heard a great Stevie Wonder song. It's a great song and I thought I'd share a few of the lyrics.

Isn't she lovely
Isn't she wonderful
Isn't she precious
Less than one minute old
I never thought through love we'd be
Making one as lovely as she
But isn't she lovely made from love

Isn't she pretty
Truly the angels best
Boy, I'm so happy
We have been heaven blessed
I cant believe what God has done
Through us hes given life to one
But isn't she lovely made from love

Truly, they are lovely, precious, pretty and sweet as can be. We have been heaven-blessed indeed.

Precious Moments

Just look at that sweet baby boy.....
.....and his handsome daddy,
......and his gorgeous mama,
.....and his aunt Monica who loves him so much,
.....and those feet. Trust me they are totally kissable!

Caleb is a blessing and I am so happy to have had the chance to spend a few days with him. The time spent with his parents, yummy Nebraska food and romantic comedies were all an extra bonus. I miss you all already!

Christmas Songs

I just had an impromtu amazing time with my boys tonight! Camden fell off of a chair, which he is becoming a pro at, and skinned up his elbow. He was pretty upset about it, and with it being close to bedtime, he cried and cried and cried. Well, he loves Christmas songs (as do I) so we sat in the rocking chair and I sang him to sleep. It was pretty great! While he is my biggest snuggler right now, I know the days are numbered.

After I put him to bed, Elijah requested a sing-a-long, too! So, he and I shared the same songs in the pink rocking chair. He had a to have a little "back tickle" with the singing. I have ruined him for life! Just ask Paul.

Grayson came next, although we didn't sing. He told me all about his favorite computer games and had me completely pulled in with all of his hand gestures and facial expressions. It's adorable how he always says, "Hey Mom, can I tell you about this one part? Hey Mom, guess what happens in this part.", right in the middle of a conversation!

I am leaving Friday to spend a couple of days with my new nephew. I am SO excited. I will however dearly miss my family! Please pray for Daddy to be strong and courageous!

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline."
2 Timothy 1:7

A Quiet Week

Well, as quiet as it can be! No swimming lessons, cub camps or vacation bible school. Just good old fashioned summer play days. I asked Grayson to read yesterday`and he said, "Mom, you said it was a free week!" I think this is the only "free" week we have! Next week I will be snuggling my new nephew, then getting ready for Paul's tennis buddies from Nebraska, visiting teachers for three boys, packing backpacks, starting school on three different days and going to a great concert with Grandma Beth. Oh, and somewhere in there celebrating a 12th anniversary!! Where has the time gone?

It has been cool here, the coolest summer on record supposedly, so it has been great playing outside. I look forward to a day of bubbles, popsicles and cleaning - there is never a free day from that!

A Great Time at Studio Go!

Well, we made it through the week at Vacation Bible School and had a blast! Grayson and Elijah were actually in their own classes and Camden and the girls were in the nursery - no lack of attention there!! The theme this year was a game show and each morning started of with a crazy host and some fun games. Grayson proved to be quite the contestant a few times and played a very convincing Saul later in the week. I was even given the opportunity to play Esther (though I didn't think it so great at first!) and help lead music all week. We ended the week with a closing program on Friday night and the boys sang in church this morning. Grayson is off to Cub Scout camp this week and he and Elijah are in the second week of baseball. We are busy but enjoying ourselves!

Suggestion From My Husband

My sweet husband was thinking of me and sent this for a blog post. I think it's pretty convicting.

Some TALK the Talk but may stumble WALKING the Talk

A man was being tailgated by a stressed-out woman on a busy boulevard.
Suddenly, the light turned yellow, just in front of him. He did the right
thing, stopping at the crosswalk, even though he could have beaten the red
light by accelerating through the intersection.

The tailgating woman hit the roof, and the horn, screaming in frustration as
she missed her chance to get through the intersection with him. As she was
still in mid-rant, she heard a tap on her window and looked up into the face
of a very serious police officer.

The officer ordered her to exit her car with her hands up. He took her to
the police station where she was searched, fingerprinted, photographed, and
placed in a cell.

After a couple of hours, a policeman approached the cell and opened the
door. She was escorted back to the booking desk where the arresting officer
was waiting with her personal effects.

He said, "I'm very sorry for this mistake. You see, I pulled up behind your
car while you were blowing your horn, flipping the guy off in front of you,
and cussing a blue streak at him. I noticed the 'What Would Jesus Do"
bumper sticker, the 'Follow Me to Sunday School' bumper sticker and the
chrome-plated fish emblem on the trunk. Naturally, I assumed you had stolen
the car."

Our Best New Purchase

A Special Occasion

I changed the background of our blog for a Very Important Person whom we will have the great honor of meeting in a few short weeks. My brother and his beautful wife are expecting their first baby, or more importantly, MY first nephew the first week of August. I am thrilled to say the least and am finding it hard to resist all things baby boy. I am praying for the oppotunity to fly back home and spend even a couple days with them shortly after he, Caleb, is born. Any more than that and my sweet husband may fall under the pressure of five very sweet, very adorable, but very time-consuming children! Above all, we are praying for a healthy baby and mommy, and that my sweet brother develops the courage to change diapers. (Seriously - he tried with his three nephews and two nieces but could never get past the smell!) Love you, Colie!

Reyna's Glasses & The Favorite Outfit