some preschool fun

Where in the world did May go? 

What a busy busy BUSY month we had, with just about as much packed into our days as possible.

The month started out with Taylor's first ever fieldtrip.

Her preschool went to the zoo.

And Mason and Gavin got to go along too.

Who would have thought that getting the boys back out to the car would be so difficult and full of drama.  Mason was so exhausted he didn't want to walk. How wonderful.  Nor did he want to look at the camera.  Man, the zoo is such hard work.



That same week, Taylor's preschool got to join the rest of the elementary school for Field Day.

Mommy spent the whole morning setting up stations and then got to go around with Taylor's group during the afternoon.  Daddy even got off work early and drove out to hang out for a little bit too.



 Oh man.  If I could only explain the anxiety I had just seeing her stand in this lane ready to run a 50m dash.  I stood in that lane so many times in high school, and there is NO other sport that tore my nerves and emotions up more than track.  Crazy how just standing out on a track in those lanes can bring back so many memories and feelings.  I will be totally okay if neither of my kids ever run track.

Thank goodness this is preschool.  And just for fun.  And she didn't have a clue what she was doing.  Nor what place she came in.  She was just told to run!  And when she did, she smiled all the way. I definitely do not remember smiling like that when I ran.

 And then we had the last day of Pre-K.

 We are definitely sad to say goodbye to Mrs. Helsel.  We had hoped she'd be Mason's teacher too, but she won't.  Taylor loved her SO much.  We were so thankful and so blessed to have a teacher who loved Taylor back so much too!

Stay tuned for a few more end-of-the-year events.



a year ago this week

A year ago this week we were on the beach.

We talk about our Florida vacation ALL the time. Still.

The kids have so many fun memories and ask when we'll go back all the time.

The kids always wonder if Gavin was in Florida with us.  Kind of funny that they remember so many things but yet can't remember if we had a baby with us.

We always tell him he was with us, just in mommy's tummy.

I had been sick for 12 weeks. And this week in Florida (by the grace of God) was my first week to feel good again!

A few other memories from this week...

*watching the news of the Joplin tornado every night

*our DELICIOUS and oh so expensive crab leg dinner!

*the 18 hour car ride that went as good as could EVER be expected with a 3 and 4 year old

*our Florida song "Knee Deep" by Zac Brown Band. (we still have fun and crank that song up and sing it as loud as we can and remember Florida!)

Best. vacation. ever.

We talk already about going back someday.

As fun as Florida was though, we are super excited about this year's vacation to see aunts, uncles and cousins!!  The lake in Michigan is always such a great vacation too - it can't come soon enough!

And this year we get to stop in Cincinnatti to see baby Alice!!  WHOOOHOOO!

For the last few days Taylor has been saying that she is going to ask Aunt Rebekah if she can keep Alice.  As in bring her home and KEEP her. Forever.

We'll have to see what Aunt Rebekah says.

And speaking of travels...we are packing Dave up and sending him off to Africa tomorrow.

And then starting the 12 day count down for his return.



a mother's day hike

Mother's Day evening we took a hike.  Mostly because I wanted to do a little photo practice as I was finishing up my online SnapShop photography course.  What an AMAZING course! I still can't believe I WON it in a giveaway!

  Ashley's course was seriously so easy to follow.  ANYONE could learn to shoot in manual and get the most out of your camera, with Ashley as the teacher.  She explained things so well, and included examples as she went.  It was self-paced.  Which of course meant that I was finishing a lot of it up the night before it ended.  But when I was zoned into the course, I didn't want to stop, I was always so pumped for the next lesson.  It's been so fun learning to shoot in manual.  I don't think I could ever go back now.

And then our trail ended and we came out to this.



Wheat fields.  Evening sunlight.

What a great photo opp.

But then my camera battery died.  So I pulled out my phone for this last shot.

no greater joy

There is no greater joy than to be the mama to these 3 sweet kiddos.

I am far from the perfect mom.

Most days I mess up.  Ok, every day.

Some days and moments are completely and utterly embarrassing.

But they love me the same every day.

They forgive quickly.

They laugh a lot.

They love unconditionally.

They find joy in the smallest of things.

They keep me humble.

They say the sweetest prayers,

and their faith comes so easy.

I'm thankful for the lessons these 3 teach me every day.

There is no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

3 John 1:4

This is my prayer.

And this is my motivation to train them up in the ways of the Lord now.

One day they will be gone.

To kindergarten, and then to college.

I will mess up a ton more along the way.  I'll fail at many things.

But by God's grace only, we will all come out on other side,

more like Him.

Happy Mother's Day to all of you moms!



gavin {five months}

I'm quite late this month with Gavin's pictures.

It sure has been busy around here. I know everyone says that May is busy, and even with just a preschooler, I'm experiencing that already.

But even in all the busyness, this little guy just keeps growing and changing.

 It was much harder to keep him on his back this time, with his feet out of his mouth.

He pretty much spends most of the day with his feet in his mouth.

 I got all set up, thinking we had some great light, and then the clouds broke, and the sun kept going back and forth behind the clouds.

I'd get everything set just right and then all of a sudden it would get super brighter.

We spent some time just playing and waiting for the sun to go back behind the cloud.

Then I'd hop back up and try again.  Man, between 2 kids wanting to help, a dog getting in the way, a baby who tries to roll over, and the sun playing peek-a-boo, there sure was a lot to think about.

 And then he was done.

 Bubba G,
(one of the many nicknames you've been given around here)

This month you've been quite a bit more entertaining.  Now that you can roll over to your tummy, that's the only way you want to sleep and play.

At the beginning of the month you took your first airplane ride to Cincinnati to meet your cousin Alice.  You were such a delight to travel with.  I hope you'll be the same way in the car this summer!

We started you on some baby cereal this month, but have been super slow in getting you moving to the next stuff.  It seemed to be taking you awhile to get very good.  And I keep forgetting I'm supposed to buy baby food now.

You have officially moved to a solid nap schedule, one long morning nap,  one long afternoon nap, and sometimes a short cat nap around dinner time.

I think your best skill is sleeping. Thank you sweet baby.

You had a nasty nasty rash all under your neck and chest that took a week or more to get rid of.

We're afraid you may have inherited the allergy problems that your brother and mom and dad have.

Somehow Taylor lucked out!  Your poor eyes have had gunk in them since you were 2 months old.  The Dr. says it's congestion and you should grow out of it (in your eyes at least).

You grab for everything and love to chew on things. You're my first baby who grabs my jewelry and hair.  I'm not sure how I got by with that not happening before, but my oh my, how you love to grab ahold and not let go.  This past week, your first teeth are popping through. So much earlier than your brother and sister.  Daddy just said yesterday "I don't want him to have teeth yet". Which was kind of funny coming from your dad.  I think he realizes too how fast you are growing up.  Teeth always change that sweet baby smile.  Teeth are just another sign that you are getting bigger and bigger.

I've said this before I'm sure, and I know I'll say it again.  But you are seriously SOOOOO easy!  We never had a really tough baby, but your brother and sister definitely had their moments.  Tough evenings, tough naptimes.  Just times when they needed a lot of attention from mom or dad in trying to calm them. So far you have only had these moments for you are so few and far between that we can't even remember them.

Everyday you get comments about how you look JUST like our family.  I hardly ever hear that my kiddos look like me.  I guess you all mostly got your daddy's traits. Except your eyes. Daddy's blue eyes and Mama's blue eyes are distinctively different, and your eyes are like mine and Taylor's. It's so neat to see the way God gives us all some of the same traits.  

 Most people say you look JUST like Mason.  And some people say you look JUST like Taylor.  I think you're a good mix of both of them.

This weekend marks my first Mother's Day as your mama.  As a mama to 3.  You make my heart so full. You complete our family and bring so much joy to all of us.  I really can't believe you're 5 months already.  I will say that every month.  It's obviously what God intended.  And as much as we get excited about new stages and the joy we know that will come with each new age...there's a small part of us that would like to keep you this little forever.

Happy 5 months sweet babe.

something must have been funny

I'm a little late on Gavin's 5 month pictures this month.

I took them a few days late and haven't gotten around to doing anything with them until last night.

I couldn't help but laugh at this series of pictures that I took at the end of Gavin's photo shoot.

They aren't good pictures at all.

They wouldn't put their heads or bodies where I really wanted them.

Taylor couldn't open her eyes because she said it was too bright.

Something was hilarious and they couldn't stop laughing.  But I have no clue what.

I couldn't concentrate on my camera because of all the commotion.

Overall, the idea I had in my head of this little posed sibling shot, did not turn out at all.

 

But maybe what I got was way better. :-)

believe, and then I'll show you

If I was being really honest, I would have to say there have not been too many things in my life, or Dave's, that have required huge leaps of faith.  But in reality, that may very well be because we just hold too tightly to the reigns and assume that the issues are ones in which we know the answers to and faith is not necessary.

 Because faith isn’t a comfortable place.  Faith forces us out of our comfort zone, into an expression of obedience to God.

And I've come to the conclusion that a person cannot fully experience God’s blessing without understanding and accepting this reality.

Right now there are a few big things on our plate in which we are desperately seeking God's direction.  Because ultimately, we know that if we aren't in God's will - we are outside of his protection.  Not a place we want to be.

Weeks ago, the sermon at church was on the way that God opens and closes doors.  The exact lesson, at the exact time, that Dave and I needed.

I think it was back in February when some friends said that they would be planning a trip to Ethiopia to build a house for other friends that we have there who are in the mission field.  This sparked some major interest in both of us.  But, I also know that in this season of my life, with such a little baby at home - it's not possible for me right now.  But that didn't stop Dave from being interested.  Obviously, building is his thing.  And to do this in Ethiopia.  As part of God's work.  He was totally interested.  Except for the fact that it was possibly going to be a 3-4 week long trip.  Being away from home and his job for that long just didn't seem possible.  So to the FAR back burner this opportunity went.

But even though he put this on the back burner, it didn't keep God from bringing it back in front of him many times. He was asked to pray about the opportunity several times.  It came up here and there, but the length of the trip and the expenses really kept him from wanting to commit.

Then the trip changed to just a 2 week trip.  But there was still a lot of money to come up with - with only a few months to find it.  He was asked to make his final decision - in which he reluctantly said no.  He definitely didn't feel at peace with his answer.  I think in one night he made a decision back and forth about 5 times. The money scared him.  But he wasn't sure that 'no' was the right answer.  The Lord kept stirring his heart about this trip.

We sat and talked one night and decided together that many times in life the Lord just wants us to step out in faith and let him show his mighty powers and work out all the details for us.  It's natural for us to want to SEE the end result, or the means to get there. We feel the need to know how it's all going to work out.  It's hard to make a decision and not have a clue how it's going to come together.  It was so hard for Dave to say YES to Ethiopia without a clear picture of how he'd actually come up with money to get there.  He hated to say yes, and then weeks later have to pull out because the money just wasn't there.  He wanted to make the decision with confidence.  But we realized that he was wanting it to be confidence found through himself, and not the confidence we find through God. 

The Lord never said, 'l'll show you . . . then you'll believe.'  

He said, 'Believe.  Then I'll show you.

So on this night, we decided together that we needed to just let God show us.  Dave realized he just needed to say yes, and then wait to see if God continued to open the doors for him to go or not. 

One open door would be coming up with $2000 for a plane ticket quickly. We knew if this was God's will for Dave, he would open this door. 

All of a sudden we felt a little overwhelmed.  Neither of us has been on any sort of mission's trip since high school.  Here we are, needing $2000 quickly and we didn't really even know where to start.  So we started with prayer ourselves.  And then decided to let our family and friends know what's going on and ask them to pray too.  We had NO idea how God was going to provide $2000, and we really needed the prayer support of others. 

We sent an email to friends and family at 11pm one night.  No time to write up an official letter, this was quick and just basic - we didn't even know many of the details of this trip.  We asked that they help us pray that if God wants Dave in Ethiopia, it will be made clear to us.  And if he wants him there, that $2000 would be raised quickly.

Less than 24 hours later.  The Lord swung the door to Ethiopia wide open.

We had exactly $2000 to the dollar.  Exactly enough to be able to tell our friends it was a GO, and the plane tickets could be purchased.

How reassuring to know that you are in God's will!!  How exciting to know that he has plans to use Dave in Ethiopia.

He leaves in 2 weeks.  He's definitely nervous.  But so excited.  The kids don't really know the reality of this yet.  And I haven't really taken time to think about him being gone either.  I'm sure it will hit. 

But more than anything, even through all the nervousness - we are both so excited that the Lord is choosing to use him in this way.  If you would, would you pray for him as he goes - and for the 4 of us back here at home without him.

Hopefully I'll have pictures to show in June!

“A man’s heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps”.

Proverbs 16:9

33

Last Friday Dave turned 33.

I'd say he had a pretty good birthday celebration.  Tom Petty on Thursday night, out for steak Friday night, Lauren Alaina Saturday night.  And finally a birthday cake on Sunday night.

You would think at this age things don't really change all that much, nor get all that too exciting.

But he had a BIG year.

At 32 1/2 he got  his very first email address.

Haven't you all had an email address for like 10 years?

Well, some how this non-techy, anti-social media, anti-Apple guy had a mid-life turn around.

He's wanted an Iphone badly since I got mine.

And I've been all for it - so I don't have to beg for mine back all the time just to be able to make a call or text.

So we hid his old phone from him one night before going to bed (since I had to bring the old phone into the store in order to activate the new one).

The next morning he searched and searched.  And tried to wake me up to tell me he couldn't find his phone.  He was quite agitated.  Trying not to act to obvious, I told him I'd look for it and bring it to him if I could find it. 

I guess that gave it away, he said I would NEVER, in my half-asleep state, offer to look for it and get the 3 kids out to bring it to him.

So he knew something was up and went on to work without a phone that day.

The kids and I got up and headed to the phone store when it opened.

Then we had to drive all around North Newton to find where he was working, since I really had no clue. 

Luckily there's only new houses going up in a few places.

"Daddy, we found your phone!"  (as they handed him the white Apple box)

He said he knew it was coming.  But I could tell he was still so excited.

Next on the list would be the most heavy duty case we could possibly find, in order for his phone to not be destroyed at work.

So now, my hubby has an email address, is on Facebook (NEVER thought this day would come!), is on Instagram, and even has the Pinterest app on his phone too (he's not ashamed).

The benefits to me:

He doesn't have to give people my email address anymore and depend on me to tell him when he needs to respond to someone. And he doesn't have to be semi-embarrassed to give his wife's email address to someone when it's business related.

All of his high school friends can now be HIS friends on FB instead of friending me.  Which means, maybe I could clean out some friends. (yikes, maybe that seems kinda harsh).

He can read his own newsfeed instead of reading mine in all of his boredom.  He tried to get me to just let him login under my name and have my account open on his phone, and although it probably wouldn't have made any difference, I told him to get his own.

He's already said that my newsfeed was always much more entertaining.  His is kind of boring so far.

I DID let him login to my Pinterest account though, so he can browse.  He's actually found quite a few ideas for around the house and outside.  And even the occasional recipe he requests that I make. I'm not sure what I'll do when he figures out how to actually "pin" things though.

So at 33, he is a changed man.

And in 3 weeks, this guy will be heading to Africa for 12 days.

I think his Iphone, Facebook, Email and Instagram will all come in very handy.

(unless it costs a fortune).