Proud Mama

Let me tell you about my girls...
This week Emily presented us with this letter from our state rep. letting us know that she made the honor roll in her first semester of middle school. This from the girl who couldn't read until second grade. The girl who failed every spelling test she took in third grade. This from the girl who HATED middle school for the first month. Emily, we are SO proud of you!



And then there is Hannah. Tonight was awards night for cheerleading. Our little Hannah walked away with a special award for having the best attitude. This is confirmation that she does occasionally listen to Steve and I, when we tell her to be positive and always give her best. Hannah, we are SO proud of you too!


Great job girls, keep making Mama proud!

---

"Peolple like it when you tell them things, in suitable portions, in a modest, intimate tone, and they think they know you, but they do not, they know about you, for what they are let in on are facts, not feelings, not what your opinion is about anything at all, not how what has happened to you and how all the decisions you have made have turned you into who you are. What they do is they fill in with their own feelings and opinions and assumptions, and they compose a new life which has precious little to do with yours, and that lets you off the hook. No-one can touch you unless you yourself want them to. You only have to be polite and smile and keep paranoid thoughts at bay, because they will talk about you no matter how much you squirm, it is inevitable, and you would do the same thing yourself."
--- Per Petterson (from, Out Stealing Horses)

NO MORE SNOW!!!

If we have any more winter, I believe with my whole heart, that my children will hurt each other. And, on the off chance that they don't hurt each other, I am quite certain they will gang up on me. I think I noticed some rope missing from the garage, and we are mysteriously out of duct tape.

Unexpected blessings

Last week I sold a drawing on etsy, my first one to a complete stranger. It was one of my favorites, of three crosses on a hill. The woman who bought it also has a site on etsy, and she makes the most beautiful wood crosses with bible verses on them. I am not sure why, but I felt a connection to this woman. I have thought about her a lot in the last week, and when I sent her the artwork, I included another drawing of a cross, that reminded me of some of her work. So this morning, she came to mind again, and I wrestled with myself over whether it was appropriate to e-mail her, and tell her that she had been on my mind.
This afternoon, at my front door, a package sat. It was from her. In it was this beautiful cross, and a simple message,
"Hi Amy! No explanation for this. I was just led to send it along to you. Thank you for your beautiful artwork. In Christ, Meredith."
It seems I will be sending that e-mail after all.
If you have a chance, check out her site, she does amazing work.

Glad he's not my boyfriend.

HAVERSTRAW, N.Y.
A man fighting with his girlfriend clung to a car roof and punched her through the window as she drove more than a mile on a busy road, hitting several other cars, police said.

Life on the playground

So, some of you will totally get this, and some of you will wonder what in the world I am talking about, and that is okay. But, I am gonna say it anyway.
When I was a child in grade school, we used to play kick ball at recess. I was usually one of the captians, and when I wasn't, I was always chosen first. Always. I am not sure if it was because I was really all that good, or if I just made people believe I was, but whatever the case, I never had to wait to be chosen.
Lately in my life I feel like I am back on that playground. I am in that crowd of kids with my hands waving in the air, yelling, "Pick me, pick me!" only this time, everyone else is getting picked first. No matter how hard I wave, and how loud I yell, the captian is choosing everyone else before me.
I am sure there is good reason behind the decision, but given the fact that I have never been in this place before, it really sucks.
I mean, come on, no one wants to be THAT kid.

Happy Birthday Isaiah!

Today Isaiah is 10. Never again to be a one digit number. It is hard to believe it has been ten years since we welcomed him into our lives. We are so proud of the young man he is becomming. Isaiah is honest, and compassionate, and has great intuition. He is fiercely competetive, and ALWAYS gives his best at everything he does. I love you so much Isaiah, happy birthday Ike.

Contortionist

Micah and his foot. This has got to be some cool yoga move or something.

Post eclipse

Sorry Cassie. I was caught up in a phone call with my husband, and completely forgot to take the camera outside for the full event. I caught what I could as we were moving back out of the way!

Wonderful!

I just received the most wonderful and unexpected gifts in the mail, from the most amazing and wonderful friend in the world! Thank you, thank you, thank you....

Love This

"In every community there is work to be done. In every nation there are wounds to heal. In every heart there is the power to do it."
Author Unknown

What Emily takes pictures of....

A pony at the barn,

the view from her bedroom window,

and her annoying dog.
I was charging her camera, and decided to upload the photos, and these are a few of them. The one of Hattie is my favorite... evil little dog.

Awake from slumber

Have you ever had those times in your life where you feel like you are just waking up? Not literally, but more spiritually. Like you have been in some sort of a daze, or fog, or just not present. It seems like it takes forever, too, to be fully awake. And the more awake you become, the more you realize how asleep you really were. Wish the espresso would help.....

My heart aches....

So these are the first photos I have of my cousin Zach, the soldier. I remember when he was born, what a sweet toddler he was... his big puppy dog eyes. My heart aches with so much emotion for him. I am so proud. Really proud, of the man he is becomming. So proud that he would give up his life for us. For all of us. And my heart aches, because I know where he will probably go, and the things he will see, and the choices he will have to make. The pain he will endure, and the pain he may inflict. So much emotion.
I am honored to call this man my family, my cousin.
So proud.
I love you Zach, and Godspeed.

My Life:

Isaiah: Hey Mom, it's snowing.
Emily: Thank you Captian Obvious.

The beauty of friends.

Last night was a difficult night. Steve and I tried to squeeze in some Valentine cheer for the kids, in between two practices on opposite ends of town. Hannah got home at 6:45pm, and we had to leave by 7:15pm to take Isaiah to basketball. Dinner was rushed, but the milkshakes were a hit. All this to say Steve and I didn't eat. Steve had to rent a car, for an emergency meeting in Grand Rapids, MI. this morining. He was going to wait until the kids hit their beds to leave. We were feeling like we had no time to even say hello to one another, let alone I love you. Emily volunteered to stay home with the boys and Hannah, so Steve and I could both take Isaiah to his short practice. (She always knows how to be a help). We dropped Isaiah off, and had about 45 minutes before we had to be back to pick him up, so we decided to hit Las Lomas for a quick dinner with just the two of us. It was packed, of course. And when we walked in, we saw some friends right away, and went and said hi. Back to our table for chips and salsa. We were finally beginning to relax, and it was so nice to sit for a few minutes with each other. The waiter brought our food just as our friends left. About two minutes later, he came back holding the paid bill, that said, "Happy Valentine's Day!" inside a heart. We were shocked, and humbled, and honored and grateful. What a beautiful and unexpected gift. Thank you Joe and Deb, you made our night. :)
AND, because we were so blessed, and relaxed, and feeling less rushed, Steve didn't end up leaving until about 4am, whoops. Had to make some quick phone calls on the six hour drive to push the meeting back. How exactly do you explain that one... uh, well, you see, it was Valentine's Day, and uh, well, ...

Happy Valentine's Day

This morning's reactions to gifts of love...
Emily: An eye roll
Isaiah: Wow, Mom, thanks! I love you!
Hannah: (so quiet you can barely hear her) thanks.
Brody: Crying very loudly: I want the one Micah has!
Micah: So excited, opens his box of chocolates, takes them all out, gives them to Emily, and says, "Hey look at this cool box Mom got me!"

lookin' up

It seemed like everywhere you looked in Vegas, someone had paid attention to the details. Every detail. Someone took the time for the little things. Just for me to enjoy. And I did. Reminded me that there is someone who takes even more time, and perfects every detail of my life. Delights in my happiness. Pays attention to the details. And all I have to do is love Him. Seems silly that I don't act like I do very often.

Are you kidding me?

Is is REALLY snowing again? This is getting out of control. I mean, seriously.

Viva Las Vegas!

As always, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas....
So, here are a few photos, we had a fabulous time!

The Big Storm, only half over

I believe some would call this a futile effort.

Snow seems to be more than a foot.

And, just to prove my point, this is the top of the ruler stuck down in the snow. I actually had to clear a spot so you can see the top. It is only eleven in the morning. The snow is not supposed to stop for several more hours. Welcome to Iowa.

vegas or bust.

We are in the middle of the biggest snow storm of the year. Snowed all night, snowing all day. We are expected to get between eight and thirteen inches. Snow should end by late afternoon. And I am praying it does. I leave for the airport at five in the morning for a seven-thirty flight to Vegas. Mark my word, I will get to that airport, even if I have to snow shoe there.

A typical evening at home....

remembering

i was driving down the freeway this mid-morning, trying to out run the latest storm system. this one expected to drop up to ten inches of snow, in addition to some freezing rain. anyway, as i was driving, all of a sudden, i was remembering the first time i ever drove that strech of freeway. it was mid october, two years ago. steve, baby brody, and i had just gotten into town for our first house hunting weekend. it was a weekend of record breaking heat, mid nineties. my first impressions were so different from how i now view this place. it was all so foreign. roads i could now travel with my eyes closed, held adventure and intrigue at every turn. there were these birds i had never seen before, soaring overhead. they were huge, and majestic (only turkey vultures, who knew?). i remember stepping out of the car at the first house we looked at, and the box elder bugs were swarming around, walnuts littered the ground, and the hum of locusts was so loud, we could barely have a conversation. all so new. and warm. in october. not february. i am so looking forward to the sounds and smells of late summer again....

Shiver me timbers

This morning when Brody and I were picking up Micah from school, there were some parents there that we hadn't seen before. In particular, a man, I am assuming a dad, waiting for his child. He looked to be in his mid twenties. He had a long brown beard, dirty hair and clothes, a holey ski cap upon his head. He had kind eyes. He smiled, and said hi. SO, when Brody couldn't take his eyes off of him, I was naturally surprised. I mean, he glared at this poor man for about five minutes. I was thinking to myself, maybe he sees something I don't, or maybe somehow, he has already come up with a stereotype in his two year old little head for what people are supposed to look like. It really bothered me. But, as we were walking out, I got my answer. Brody said to me, in the loudest voice I have ever heard come out of him, "Mommy, why is that pirate here? He make me walk the plank?"

Aahhhhh.

Prayer is exhaling the spirit of man and inhaling the Spirit of God.
~Edwin Keith~