Breakfast Date

Elie and I decided it was about time we went out for a date, just the two of us. It's been a long time.

This morning we got up, bundled and heading out into the wintry morning to one of our favorite places, Russ's. It's a Dutch resterant, where all the waitresses know the patrons by name and ask them if they want the usual today, as they get seated. We get huge steamy mugs of hot coco piled high with whip cream, Elie's favorite part, and a grilled cinnamon roll. We work together to color the kids menu (today it was a picture of a castle) while talking about whatever comes to mind:o).

Every time I get this special glimpse into my daughters mind I feel so lucky to have her in my life. This morning wasn't anything to speak of, but it sure was priceless. I heard again how she is looking forward to having another baby brother and sister around the house - (no this is not an announcement). And how she likes her new tent, and wishes she could have her friend, Gracie, spend the night in it. (Little does she know that Gracie's mom and I have a surprise sleepover already planned:o). Nothing new, but everything good.

Blizzard!

For all our friends and family who don't live here, we had to show you what the weather was like last night. Yesterday was a mild 40 degrees and lots of rain. Most of the snow was gone, and you could see mushy grass. We had a blizzard last night, and this is what we woke up to. The drift in our driveway was 3ft in some places when Bryce went out to shovel it away, while there were bare patches in other places.

We had no snow in our backyard last night. Around midnight we looked out our window and we couldn't see these trees, during the storm.

Thick snow clinging to the door downstairs. It felt a bit like being snowed in:o)

It's been fun:o). We've been reading Little House on the Prarie lately, and this feels like we get to see for ourselves what the long winter was like:o). So fun!!

Just Haning Around

Life at home is so much more relaxed that on the road. We have time just sit around... or lay around:o)
Even the dog seems to enjoy the pace

Elie received a bit of birthday money, and with it she bought a tent sleepover kit. The kit came with the tent, two blanket, flashlights and these eye covers for sleep. We layed the kids down for a nap Sunday afternoon and came in their room to wake them up for supper and found this...

They had so much fun with it that we decided to let them try sleeping in it at night.

They eventually ended up back in their beds, but it sure was fun to listen to them giggle and play for a while:o). Ahh, the complete joy of being a kid!

Remembering Nancy

Yesterday marked one year since we said good bye to Bryce's mom, Nancy.

We had a pretty quiet, uneventful day. Really, a few days ago was harder as Bryce remembered the events of the week a year ago. Yesterday he said he felt like he'd worked a lot of the sadness and anger out as he was remembering that week. But he was somber and reflective as he shared some of his memories, thoughts and feelings with me throughout the day. It was a surreal feeling to realize we've been without her for a whole year.

We are talking through Matthew with the kids right now, and this morning we talked about peacemakers. As Bryce went to work Elie, Jadon and I continued our conversation. We talked about parents and kids. Elie said, "Mom, you are just a kid too. God said so."
"That's right, I'm a child of God too," I responded.
"Yeah, God's the Daddy," she paused, "And Now Grammy Ancy is the Mommy!"
"Is that how it works," I asked, amused and caught off guard.
"Mom, does Grammy Ancy have a really big body now? As big as God's?"
I had to just think a minute, not quite sure where to go with this train of thought my daughter was revealing. "Well, she has a brand new body now. Without any owies or hurts," I finally said, still thinking about how to answer her real question without putting a limit on her imagination of what God can do.
That's when Jadon entered the conversation.
"Yeah," He said perfunctorily, "And Satan has an owie bottom. Right mom?"

Shocked, I just laughed. (Jadon doesn't like diaper changes, and will go hide when he makes a poopy, so hours go by before I get it changed. He's got blisters on his bottom now so Bryce and I tried to explain that the poopy germs munch on his bottom skin and make little owies, trying to convince him that ultimately the best thing would be to simply put the poopies in the potty (something he does with ease when the mood strikes him right). I'm not sure it's achieving our goal, but Jadon's had a deep facination with the evil bottom munching poopy germs in the mean time. Apparently Satan has this malady too... )
Elie supplied the response, "That's why he's such a grouch. But he used to be an angle, but then he disobeyed God, right mom? Will Grammy Ancy disobey God?"

Now that was something I could answer easily for her. I think Grammy Ancy is so excited to be with the Lord and Best Friend she loved so much when we was with us, that there will never be a reason for her to even think about disobeying. She is just happy to be near Him and doesn't need or want anything else, and if she ever did God would see that she had it before she could say a word.


A while ago a dear friend shared with me that she relies heavily on scripture to help her through her grief. (She lost her husband) I have a hard time just opening my Bible and reading or knowing what to read, so I found Bible study. It's called 90 days with Jesus, the One and Only, by Beth Moore. It's been incredibly helpful, as we've searched the scriptures to better understand the person of Jesus. I find myself falling in love with Him all over again. I guess, being married, I forget to keep Him as my One and Only, feeling that if I do I'll forsake the flesh and blood one and only in my life. These past months of searching out Jesus in my Bible have proven how silly that mentality is, and especially as we've had to weather the grief of loosing Nancy, I have discovered just how good it is to rely on Jesus as my One and Only, as He supplies my needs as a wife, mother and friend and teaches me how to love unconditionally.

I guess I share all this because I feel sort of like it's been Nancy's parting gift to me, from mother-in-law to daughter-in-law. I don't have words to articulate how exactly... but as I reflect on this last year and all we've been through I feel closer than ever to my Lord and Savior, in a way that I think I would have missed had she not gone home to rest with Him. Of course, I would want her here... but since she can't be I feel like through Christ her gift has been the avenue of searching deeper for the One and Only... I hope this makes sense and is not offensive.

More Snow!

I just couldn't help it! I had to take more pictures...

Elie had a blast playing in the snow. Unfortunately, Jadon didn't get to because he chose to play when it was time to pick up toys... he was very sad. But tomorrow is always a fresh chance! In the mean time, Jadon quietly helped me with lunch and called his sister in when it was time to eat... after he sorted out his tears. Elie was in heaven, putting her head down and plowing forward like a horse... as she put it:o). What fun!

Snowy Morning

I'm not sure if you'll be able to see the snow falling, but it's falling rapidly in thick pillowy flakes. The deck was cleared off last night.

This is what our morning has been. We bundled the kids in robes and slippers and had a hot breakfast, while watching the snow fall and reading/discussing the B- attitudes in Matthew.
It is so good to be home. I know we are crazy, but we LOVE this weather!!!
The forecast is more snow - Bryce and I are practically giddy with joy and anticipation.

At Home

Yay! We are at home at last. Today is Monday morning, the morning I promised myself we'd be unpacked and back in the swing of things... yeah, right! Well, one can have high hopes, right?

First off we decided to get spring cleaning out of the way as we sorted Christmas toys, clothes (we had to take 3 seasons worth), and all the different odds and ends we took or picked up along the way. It's been a much slower process than I anticipated. However, I am happy to report that my bathroom and the kitchen are sorted, organized and deep cleaned - yay!

Though I still have books, mainly cook books, piled in the eating area, we were able to all sit down to a hot breakfast at the kitchen table, and even do some schooling. Whew! That feels good:o).

It's a sparkling white winter day - the kind that feels like we should have a hot lunch of steaming soup and a simmering roast in the crock pot. The kids have been working toward the privilege of playing in the snow... they have to cooperatively help sort and put away toys, both old and new, as well as help us keep up on the regular chores. It's been a rough morning in that regard, as Jadon is really struggling with being treated as an almost 3 year old, instead of a baby... but we're getting there. Growing up is so hard!

Our family goal is to have the house completely done by this weekend, and the reward is a family sleep over, with movies, popcorn and left over Christmas and Halloween candy. Yup, Halloween candy! We didn't take any on the road (I couldn't put myself in the car with a huge bag of candy to munch on day in and day out), so we have a whole bag left over and I want it gone... so we figured one good night of pigging out and the rest will go to dump heaven. Then I won't feel like I'm a mean mom depraving my kids of their candy:o).

We are very happy to be home, thoroughly enjoying this winter weather and all adjusting very well. Although, whenever we get in the car the kids want to know where we're going next and if we're spending the night. When we reply that we're just going to the store they want to know if its a long enough drive for a movie (on really long travel days the kids got a movie), and when we're on our way home they want to know if the hotel has a pool for them to swim in... I think it might take a few weeks of getting in and out of the car at home for them to adjust to this "new" way of life:o)!

Christmas Pictures... Finally!

Candy, Scott (the almost brother-in-law), Bryce, Lindsey, Ali & Jared
All in our traditional Christmas PJ (just pants this year).

Scott and Jadon... pretty good uncle material:o)

Christmas morning means stockings!

Simmea found a cuddle pal

Elie and Jadon went up for story time at the Christmas Eve Service

(They are in the very front row, in pink and dark navy blue)