A Crazy Beautiful World

Intentional

2011-02-28T14:06:00.003-05:00

So many times I have so many thoughts and words floating around and have no time to write them down or articulate on them... and then the chance I do have to sit down and write, I'm blank. Why is that? Why can't I remember exactly what I wanted to say? Is there a vitamin for that? Ya know, a little cure all pill that makes me remember everything I wanted to say or wish I would've said? :)
I don't know. Maybe it's best that way... maybe all my thoughts aren't meant to be said out loud. Maybe they are only meant for me.
With all that being said... it really has nothing to do with what I sat here to actually blog about... I have made a commitment. Well, 3 commitments. But they go hand in hand. Continuing with this great book I mentioned before by Lysa Terkeurst (Becoming More Than Just a Good Bible Study Girl), the commitments I have made are these...
1. To not participate in gossip. (HUGE!!!) In that, I am giving anyone full permision to stop me if I slip up on this one because I DO NOT want this to define who I am as a person and most importantly, I do not want to in anyway participate in something that can have any kind of damaging effects on a person.
2. To choose not to judge. As women, we tend to do this, I think, a lot more than men. We so often judge other women to make ourselves feel a little better or judge other women because we only define a woman by our standards, not God's. Truth is, we are all different and that's how it should be. How boring and monotonous would it be to all be the same, think the same, act the same, raise our children the same. Where is the fun in that? If we, as women could accept each other for who we are and not judge each other for who we are not, how much more effective could we be as mothers, wives and friends. If we would lift up each other and help each other out when we see hurting or needs, God's love would shine so much brighter in us.
3. To be secure in my own unique calling. This is a big time struggle for me. I so often catch myself thinking "___ is a much better mom than I am. She can clean her house, take care of her kids, blog with ease, find time for herself. She has this awesome relationship with God and is working at the Church..." You get the idea. God does not want me to sit here and think of how great others are while in the process of doing it I put myself down for not measuring up to them. My calling is different, unique and He intended it to be that way.
So, want to join me? I bet if we were intentional about these things (and I'm not saying that we all go around and do these things every minute), but if we were truly intentional about these things friendships would grow deeper, lives would be changed and God's heart would shine through us. Our marriages would be stronger and our children would be more secure because we are more secure and not focused on what others are doing or what they have, but focused on God and His love for them and who He has created them to be. If we take a step back and ask God to show us His love and how to represent His love to them, the possibilities are endless. The sad thing to me is that these things are so simple and yet so hard because the society we live in feeds us the negativity and shows us what we don't have, instead of what we do have. That is why we must be intentional. For me, the first step to being intentional is voicing it. So that's what I have done, for all the blogger world to see... my 3 commitments!
"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." Ephesians 4:29

A Caring, Joyful, Transparent Fellowship

2011-02-22T12:03:00.003-05:00

So I am reading and studying a book by Lysa Terkeurst called Becoming More Than a Good Bible Study Girl. And one of the ways you are to use to become more than just a good Bible study girl is actually studying the Bible.
I've always been one of those people that needed a devotional to even know where to start "studying the Bible", but even after the devotional I still felt empty because I didn't feel like I "studied the Bible". I moreso just read what some one else said about the Bible. But in this book, Lysa encourages you to really study the Bible, not just some one else's words. Don't get me wrong, devotionals are great and I plan to continue to read one, but I want MORE. I want God's Word truly hidden in my heart and the only way to do that is to read it myself and gather it all in my thoughts.
With all that being said, I've decided to start reading in Acts. I read the first two chapters of Acts and these verses were what stood out to me...
"All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possesions to give to anyone who had need... and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all people." Acts 2:44-45, 46b-47a
What a powerful statement of the early Church... all believers were together and everything in common. We as a church need to come together so that we can have a positive effect on non-believers. We need to be examples, to be a light in their darkness, drawing them to God and giving them a deep desire or draw to want what we have. Like a moth to a flame. We are called here to voluntarily share and provide for those who cannot provide for themselves as well.
Glad and sincere hearts ~ demonstrating the fruits of the Spirit, in this instance, joy (the constant mood of the believer)
I love how one commentary described joy - The consistent consequence of conversion, regardless of circumstances. We have no choice, but to be filled with joy. That is our consequence of being saved. What an awesome consequence!! And I think this is something that is so often forgotten.
Luke called the early Church to 4 commitments ~
*to learn - to acquire knowledge of or skill in by study, to become acquainted with, to memorize (ding, ding, ding), to gain by experience, exposure to example (a habit or mannerism)
we should always be learning, memorizing, meditating God's Word. there is always something new to gain wisdom on.
*to care - to make provision or look out for, to have a liking, fondness, or affection, to feel concern about
we should not ignore those around us. we should constantly be reaching out to them, helping them.
*to fellowship - friendly, relationship; companionship, friendliness
we are called to do more than just interact with others. we are called to love them, have relationships with them, really know them. be genuine, friendly, kind.
*to worship - an adoring reverence or regard to our God (reverence as in an attitude of deep respect tinged with awe, an overwhelming feeling)
we were made to worship. we were made to live in a constant attitude of worship. this doesn't mean going about out days singing away, but living with the knowing that God is always with us, that He created us and everything around us and how grateful we are for that.
With those 4 things in mind... my favorite commentaries/quotes that I came across today were these...
"...what we do or do not do with our material possessions is an indicator of the Spirit's presence or absence." - Krodel
"With constant intimacy, exultant joy and transparency of relationship they (the early church) enjoyed the graces of Messiah's salvation in a true anticipation of his banquet in the kingdom." - IVP New Testamen Commentaries

What a call to action... to live by the early church. If we would take these things and really apply them think of the possibilities the church today could accomplish. Even if just one person lived by this, the effects would be so great. This is to truly live like Jesus and challenge to all. A challenge that I am accepting because I'm tired of living life just going through the motions. I want to live the life Jesus called me to be and I think the first step is learning to be more than just a good Bible study girl! :)

For I know the plans...

2011-02-11T22:39:00.002-05:00

Jeremiah 29:11-14a "For I know the plans I have for you,"declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek my with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the Lord, "and will bring you bring back from captivity."

I have heard that first declaration so many times before. It is said when babies are born. It is quoted when some one is needing to make a huge decision. It is said when doubts are running rampant in one's mind. It is said to bring encouragement or to brighten some one's day.

But it's the rest of the verses... those, not that I can recall or remember, have I heard before. And if I had heard them before, they didn't make the impact on me then like they are now.

Yes, I know He has a plan for me. Yes, I know they are for my good and not to harm me. And yes, I know that hope arises within me from that plan He has for me and that plan already knows my future.

Did I know that in order for this to happen I am to call on Him? Yes. ...that I am to pray to him? Yes. ... that He will listen? Yes. But putting two and two together tonight, I am getting it so much clearer tonight. In order for those plans to be fulfilled, for Him to truly do His work in me and prosper me... to see the hope and the future that awaits me... I MUST call on Him. I must pray to Him, CRY OUT to Him. I MUST seek Him, seek Him with ALL my heart.

What does that mean? How do I seek Him with all my heart? How do I burn for Him? How do I get to a place where I am fully aware that every breath I take depends on Him?

I have been questioning so much lately. Why do I believe what I believe? Can I even defend my faith if it really came down to it? Is my faith even real? After all the bible studies and all the classes, all the Alpha sessions and Sundays at Church, am I really any more dependent on God than I was 10 years ago, or even a year ago? What does all that mean? All that stuff. How can you go through all of that and somehow still feel empty? Because having a relationship with Jesus doesn't depend on those alone. Yes, they are good and necessary, but a true relationship with Jesus means that I must call on Him. I must seek Him out with ALL my heart. And I have struggled with this my whole life. I have kept Him at arms length for so many years... allowing Him to come in close enough only when I feel comfortable, when I am "at my best." And sometimes I let Him in when I need something too. But seeking Him with ALL my heart requires much more than that. It requires me to become vulnerable and open in a way I never have been before. It requires me to allow Him to see me for who I really am and know that no matter what He sees or who I really am, He still loves me and cherishes me and calls me his daughter. And no amount of questions or ramblings or theories or doubts will ever change that.

In this season of my life I want to figure out my faith. I want to boldly declare what I believe and why I believe it and I want to be able to defend it without any doubt in my mind. So as I go through this I welcome the questions and the doubts because if I don't sort through them now I'm not sure I can ever defend my faith without "a shadow of a doubt".

Bottom line is :

God, I want to see you.
God, I want to hear you.
God, I want to know you.
So that I can follow hard after you every day! (Prayer from Becoming More Than a Good Bible Study Girl)

Snow Day

2011-01-26T13:36:00.005-05:00

Just a few pictures of the kids playing in the snow...

This was Elaina's first time in the snow and the census is... SHE LOVED IT!

Taryn and Daddy made this snowman with the neat snowman kit MawMaw got us for Christmas... (snow not included)

Snow Angels! Mason couldn't wait to make one... he has been talking about it for weeks. Every time it snows he mentions a snow angel!

A New Day, A New Year

2011-01-03T15:37:00.002-05:00

As one year comes to an end and a new one begins we always tend to look back and think of things we would've done differently. And with those things come resolutions for the new year, in which we all know how well they turn out. But even though the statistics state that New Year's resolutions are highly unlikely to ever stick with us, we still set them. Maybe we don't proclaim it to the world like we once did, but quietly we make those resolutions to ourselves.
This got me thinking... if I quietly made my resolutions and told nary a soul then would I really give myself a fighting chance of keeping them? Because if no one knew that I made them, then no one would ever know if I never kept them either. So with all those ramblings being said, without further ado, here is my list of resolutions...

1. Memorize two scriptures a month.
I am following Beth Moore's LPM blog. She has put together the "Siesta Scripture Memory Team". It's a bunch (and I do mean bunches and bunches) of women who post their verse twice a month, on a day that Beth sets aside for just that. You are to write your verses in a small 3x5 spiral and carry it with you wherever you go. You can pick whatever verse you would like to memorize. My first verse for the year is "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name. You are MINE!" Isaiah 43:1 NASB (emphasis added)

2. Improve my prayer life. I haven't quite figured this out yet. My first step is to just more freely talk to God, which I have always struggled with out loud by myself. I have never had trouble talking to myself loudly, but for some reason feel very strange talking to God loudly. I would like to feel more comfortable doing that and the only way to feel more comfortable in doing something is to do it more often.

3. This one is not really a resolution... but I have given up Bejeweled Blitz on facebook. It has taken too much of my time unsuspectingly. And I can think of many other better things to do that play that game. Although, it's only been three days and I'm going through withdrawal already!

4. More quality time with my kids! I don't think that needs an explanation.

I have been very sporadic in my blog writing for the past year so I'm not sure if anyone reads this anymore, but if you do let me hear your thoughts on resolutions!!

A Serious Reminder

2010-09-09T21:21:00.002-04:00

This is what I found this morning... Elaina had found the playdough and crumbled it into hundreds of tiny pieces and was playing with it just like that. And then I found her and realized just what game she was playing with the playdough.

If you look closely, you can see the playdough in the tractor, taking a ride. And with a face like that, I can't be mad. It's only a rug and the vacuum did a great job sucking all that up. Although, we now have no playdough, which does not break my heart!

Today I was reminded, in a way that I wish wouldn't have been, that these lives God has blessed with me are not really mine. They are His. And all the little things don't matter. Why get upset over things so silly, so not worth it... things that other families cannot have anymore because those little lives have been taken from them all too soon.

A dear friend of mine lost her niece yesterday. She was Elaina's age. They were in the same class at church. It hit me hard and I my heart just aches for my friend and her family. All day I just watched Elaina as she went about her little activities and soaked it all in. I did that with all the kids. At one moment in the day I was holding my "Kenna Paige" (as we call her around here) and this overwhelming feeling came over me and I told her very adamently that I would not outlive my children. But the fact is, I don't know that. And can proclaim it every day, but it doesn't change any outcome. With all those feelings fear could have easily swept in, but one thing I do know is that God can take any circumstance and use it for His good. I will never understand how a life lived so short can be taken away so suddenly, but I can trust in His mercy that He will see those left behind through. And I can hold onto the certainty that we will see those we have lost very soon and in a place we can't even imagine.

After dealing with a close personal death of my own at 17, Mercy Me's song came out... I Can Only Imagine. The words from that song helped me through a really rough time and to this day when I hear that song it takes me back and I still cry, but I know now and I see now all the good He has done through that tragedy.

I can only imagine when that day comes

when I find myself standing in the Son

I can only imagine when all I can do

is forever, forever worship you

I can only imagine

Surrounded by Your glory,

what will my heart feel

Will I dance for you Jesus

Or in awe of you be still

Will I sing in your presence

Or to my knees will I fall

Will I sing hallelujah

Will I be able to speak at all

I can only imagine

I take this task very seriously. The task of raising my 4 kiddos in His light. And each day I pray that I will remember that this is His plan for my life right now, at this moment and that every mess, every broken lamp, every stained couch, every scream or temper tantrum is only this moment. And how I react is shaping and molding them. I want to be able to say that I have no regrets. However long I am blessed with being their mother, I want to know that I didn't shush them while I was on the computer or tell them to wait the phone rang... I pray that I will recognize these things in myself and stop them immediately.

And I will cherish every season, every moment, the good and the not so good.

My brother sent this quote to me this morning and I thought it was a great saying to say each morning...

"The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company… a church…a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past…we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude…I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you…we are in charge of our Attitudes."

~ Charles Swindoll

We can control our attitudes and there are way too many times that I have let it get the best of me and I have failed miserably. Thank you God for your grace. Your mercy is new every morning!

Keira Lynn

2010-03-29T23:30:00.003-04:00

I have had the privilege of photographing this adorable little girl since she was born. She is the daughter of some good friends of ours... Her daddy has been Aaron's friend since they were 5 (or close to it).

It's fun to watch the relationship forming between her and Elaina as well. They are about 6 months apart and are just starting to interact with each other.

This was probably the best photo shoot with her yet. She is a natural and gave me all kinds of great stuff to work with!

This picture above is my favorite by far! There is just something about her expression and the way she is looking. I don't know. It melts my heart.

(One more day until settlement... I will be posting pics of the new place very soon!)

Picnik.com

2010-03-28T21:23:00.001-04:00

My new favorite website... picnik.com helped me create this!
LOVE IT!

Uppercase Living

2010-03-28T14:16:00.003-04:00

... so, for our new house I would love to get all kinds of great things for my walls through Uppercase Living. Anyone heard of them? If you haven't, you're living in the stone age!
But anyway, I was thinking of either
a.) Hosting a party so I don't have to spend a gazillion dollars on everything that I want or
b.) Becoming a consultant, enjoying the discount and sharing something with my friends that I think is so neat.
Any opinions?
And if any of you are wondering, I don't have any neat "expressions" yet, but know tons who do and I do love them!

The Most Beautiful Day of the Year

2010-03-25T11:41:00.007-04:00

So, I'm sure many of you will agree that this past weekend was the most beautiful weather we have had thus far this year.
I absolutely love this time of year... you can hear the bird singing when you are sitting in the house. The grass is a beautiful shade of green. The flowers are starting to bloom and give way to new life.
And in the midst of it all, kids get to run outside and use up the energy that was being stored all winter!

(concentrating so hard on that ball coming)

(on the other end)

(tackling his big sister with hugs)

(enjoying the slide that he has pretty much outgrown)

(time for our walk)

(not so sure about walking on the grass/rocks/branches)

(ready, set, race)

(could not get her away from the sticks)

This has been a different season in our lives, to say the least. We are thankful that we had a place to go, rent free, to save up money for a house, but are anxiously anticipating the arrival our "independence date". Less than a week to go and we get those keys to our first home! Exciting... a bit scary... But so worth it all.

God has been showing me so much about myself in the past few months. He's really been working on me and it hasn't been that easy to "hear" some of the things He has told me. I know it was much needed though and I'm thankful that He has taken the time to show these things to me.

The next month (oh, who am I kidding), the next year will probably be another different, busy season in our lives. With work to do on the house before we move in and a new little one just knocking on the door to our hearts it is going to be a good busy around the Hostetter household this next year.

I keep reminding myself to slow down and take it all in. You only buy your first house once. You only watch your kids grow up once. I don't want to miss this important season by being too busy to notice it all or by focusing on the wrong things in life.

(my baby, for now)

("taryn, look here!")

("oh, okay, i'll smile now")

(big sister showing little sister all of the neat leaves and dirt)

(exploring)

If none of you have read the book "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan go pick it up today! And read it! Take your time though. Read a chapter a week and soak it in, but be prepared. You will see God in a whole new light and you will see yourself in a whole new light. Don't stop reading it if it gets too intense for you because it will be the best intensity you've felt. That's my little plug for the day! Now go buy the book!

(my favorite... kisses)

Stay posted for pics of the house, before and after photos and lots of fun things coming in the next month or two....

Days Like These...

2009-09-04T16:03:00.003-04:00

(An excerpt from my journal yesterday)

Days like these I love... days like these don't come too often anymore.

Days where I have no time restrictions, no time that I need to be showered and dressed, no appointments that I need to get to.

Days where most of the housework is done and only the beds are calling me to be made, a few dishes to wash and a load or two of laundry to be done. In the grand scheme of the day those few things take very little time.
And again, that brings me to my point... days like these I love.

Days where I can cut up fresh fruits and veggies for Elaina to try (which, by the way, did not go as successfully as I had hoped).

Days where I can catch up on my blog reading and not feel guilty that I'm sitting there when ten thousand other things need to be done.

Days when I can sit outside on my lounge chair while the kiddos are napping and just write or read or sit here. It is a busy time in my life and I'm not sure if it will ever slow down the way it once was. Seasons are changing and I don't just mean from summer to fall.... seasons of life.

Taryn is 7, she's starting soccer 2 days a week. Alpha is starting back up again and we're looking into joining a small group.

Our house hunt continues... which makes me realize maybe I'm not as into change as I originally thought I was.

I keep saying that God knows my heart's desires and that He will provide a place for us and yet I'm convincing myself over and over that I truly believe that. I want to believe it, but I can't stop thinking... which has always been my downfall... thinking... thinking way too much and too often... so much so that it really never benefits anyone and usually, most times, hinders me from moving forward or forging on.

And yet, among all this uncertainty I still really do love days like these!

(Mason is nowhere in these pictures because all of the pictures that I took of him, he was a blur of motion... he wouldn't sit still last night!)

Photos of the beach and another rainy day...

2009-08-13T07:28:00.004-04:00

I was waiting for this day all week... I had built it up in my mind. A nice day by the pool, Mason and Elaina napping for the afternoon and Taryn playing with her cousins while she swam. Me sitting with Shanna, relaxing and chatting the day away. And now what do I awaken to? A gray morning with a weather alert flashing on my computer this morning. NOT THE WAY I HAD ENVISIONED THIS DAY!

So now what is in store for this day? Cleaning? Because although it really needs done, I just don't feel like doing it!

Maybe, just maybe if I close my eyes really tight for a minute or so I will reopen them and the weather will be wonderful and my weather alert will stop flashing me, reminding me constantly that this day is not what I planned.

Vacuuming should be in order for the day, no matter what pans out though. It's getting very tiring scooping out the oh so tiny pieces of whatever and everything that Elaina keeps managing to find and eat! Seriously, who knew all that stuff existed on your floor before you had a crawler?

So many thoughts this morning and yet I'm not sure if I'm ready to share them at this moment. Because patience is not my virtue and yet, at this time, it needs to be. I will definitely be sure to update all of you when the timing is right.

I cannot believe that school is only a couple of weeks away. Where did this summer go? Time really does fly when you get older, but this is starting to get a little ridiculous. You blink and a year is gone. In only a few short months Elaina will be a year old and then what? Mason will start kindergarten, Taryn will be driving.... that is how it's going to be. It will come way too quickly!

As I sit and write this I'm watching Mason and Elaina interact with each other! I love watching the two of them (most of the time). I just know they are going to be such good buddies and playmates.

Mason just popped up from the floor and asked "Daddy home?" My response, "No not yet." (It's only 8 in the morning) "Daddy be soon, Mom" Every morning the same thing! We always need to know where Daddy and his car are!

I know, I know, there are no pictures of Elaina in this post.... they will come. This set is from our last day at the beach. Dean and Donna blessed Aaron and I with watching her while we took Taryn and Mason to the beach. It was so much more relaxing!

We are already talking about next year, which always happens. As soon as the week ends we all sit around and talk about the following year and how the week flies by and what we'll do differently and the same next year. Great memories for the kids and quality time with their cousins (like they don't get enough of that!)

Zucchini bread, swim meeting and a very silly show

2009-08-10T22:08:00.004-04:00

So... instead of just holding all these crazy thoughts in my head.... as I talk to myself throughout the day... maybe, just maybe some one else will get me and so, here are my thoughts and ramblings on things that really don't effect/affect (I'm never quite sure how to use those two) anything major in life.

(And a few photos... just to throw them in there!)

I had this wonderfully huge zucchini that some one gave to me and I was looking forward to making my first zucchini bread with chocolate chips of the summer! I found a new recipe on the internet from a blog that I frequent... her pictures looked so good and Taryn agreed that that was the recipe we were to use. I started measuring and mixing and towards the end I realized that this "bread" was not the consistency of a "bread", but that of a cookie... I was very disappointed because my batter did not look like her pictures, nor did the end result taste like I wished it would have. And OH MY WORD! Why did I not realize that 3 tsps. of cinnamon was way too much cinnamon for any dish?? I really need to follow my instincts when it comes to baking because I thought that was odd to have all that cinnamon, but alas, it's too late now because the so called "bread" is done and even though I don't find it as appealing as I'd hoped, the kids sure do like it!

Taryn and I went to an informational swim team meeting at the Y tonight and even though she is not going to be very happy about my decision... we will have to wait for this whole swim team until next year. The cost is a little ridiculous (on top of our monthly fee for the Y) and they want it all upfront. Now I can see if maybe they would charge it monthly with the option of paying it all at one time... but who has $500 to just dish out at once for recreational things? Not me, that's for sure! So it will only be soccer this year since she has also decided not to follow with gymnastics again. We shall see, we shall see!

Aaron and I watched that show "Dating in the Dark" for the last half hour of it tonight. What a weird show! And who in their right mind goes on these shows? Okay, let me rephrase that... no, there's really no way of rephrasing that for me. Why do people subject themselves to those kinds of things. Are we so desperate for love that we'll try anything? Apparently so! It's ashame that so many people are looking for an earthly love when they have a heavenly love that is just waiting to wrap them up. I think right now I'm "preaching to the choir".

Lately, I've been a little cold in my walk. Not feeling very worthy to be called His child. Not feeling that I'm making enough of a difference from my time here. Not feeling that I'm any good at my christian walk. And I know that I need to push through it and let Him carry me. It's just hard some times... to let go and "let God". No wonder this walk is a journey that keeps going...

Well, off to eat my not very good zucchini bread with chocolate chips cake thingy. I'll let you know if it's any better the second time around!

Days around here....

2009-07-19T23:12:00.003-04:00

... are very filled with life. So much so sometimes that I'm wondering where the days are going and why summer is flying by way too fast. Vacations are over, staycation is almost here and then hopefully, nothing but home, organization and enjoyment of lazy summer days will follow!
Although, in this stage of life I'm not sure if lazy summer days will follow for awhile! But it is a season and an enjoyable one at that.
I am finding that it is so hard to stay on top of things and organized during this time and am looking for any tips or ideas on how to that so my question is open...

What organizing tips or secrets do you have that keep you sane and your household at least, somewhat under wraps??

Off to the beach...

2009-06-19T21:47:00.002-04:00

We are off to the beach tomorrow! Oh joyous time! My goal while I'm there? To relax, to refresh and to enjoy my kiddos.... I feel like I have been so busy and some down time is much needed. So, I thought I'd give you a teeny glimpse of what we've been up to the past month (since it has been that long since I've posted).

I absolutely, positively, most definitely LOVE Elaina's eyes! The only way I could capture a little bit of them was to make the picture black and white and leave her eyes colored! They are a wonderful mix of green, hazel and at times blue... just like her great-grandfather's eyes!
Mason tagged along while I was taking some pictures of my nephew, Xander and I managed to get a couple of him as well! He is growing up so much before my very eyes. Where does the time go? He has such a tender heart and he loves to cuddle!
Giggling and smiling away as she so often does! What's better than a baby's laughter? Absolutely nothing, that's what!
The three amigos! Oh what fun they are going to have this week at the beach. I love how close they are and how they, most times, just love to be together!
My goal when I get back is to actually stay more updated on this thing called a blog, especially the picture aspect! We'll see if that really happens!

For now, I'm out.... and I'm ready to enjoy the beautiful sand and sea! See you all soon!

Motivation

2009-05-20T10:25:00.004-04:00

So, I decided to look up the defintion of motivation because quite frankly, I have absolutely none today. Although I have plenty I need to do!~to provide with an incentive; move to action~

Okay, so what incentive is there to mowing the lawn? Because we all know that while it may look nice right after you mow it, it's going to need done in a few short days again. What incentive is there in laundry? As soon as you wash it, dry it, fold it and put it away (which just took a good hour of your time) some one gets that freshly laundered piece of clothing out and wears it and dirties it, only for you to go through the same process again.How do you move to action when moving requires movement and that just seems a little much at the moment!
I know. It's terrible. It really is. :)

One of those days...

2009-05-18T22:21:00.003-04:00

Did you ever just have one of those days where you truly do feel like you woke up on the wrong side of the bed? Like you just want to crawl back into bed and get up on the other side, just to see if that helps your mood a little?
Yeah, today was one of those days. And I haven't had one of those days in awhile, but for some reason today was a big one. I get frustrated because no matter what I do I can't seem to pull myself out of it and I know how I feel and how I'm acting and yet, I can't figure out how to stop the feeling/mood, unless I can just go to bed and wake up the next day.
And can I just say it is very frustrating when I go to give Elaina a bath and the water is dirty... good ol' Strasburg water. It's been happening way too often lately. So, no bath for Elaina. Then, I go to put Mason to bed and his sippy cup lid falls off and milk pours all over him, the bed, me and the floor. Now I have no clean water and very messy two year old who is extremely upset at this point because his Thomas jammies are soaked and his blankets are soaked.... so I wash him up with dirty water! After dealing with that situation I realize that we have nothing to drink because the water is dirty and I'm extremely thirsty so I take off in the car only to find that the main road is closed and so is Turkey Hill because the road is closed. I get stuck in traffic and still have nothing to drink. (This is really starting to sound like a pity party, so I'll stop!)
I did find a drink! And tomorrow is a new day! Thank You Lord! And I do know that my life is still pretty darn good :) I think tomorrow I'll definitely start my day with some devotions.... that's always a guarantee you'll wake up on the right side of the bed!
Thanks for letting me vent!

A Diaper Forever

2009-05-18T09:18:00.002-04:00

At this moment, on this day, I find myself thinking/feeling that Mason will forever be in a diaper. He will go to school with a pull-up and secretly go to the bathroom only to pee in it and not in the toilet... but all his friends and even the teacher will think he actually went to the bathroom as the rest of them do.
I thought there was a ray of hope this morning when he wanted to wear his "big boy panties" and before he could put them on we had to sit on the potty. He did! Sit on the potty, that is. He sat for awhile, a good while so I told him that he could wear his "big boy panties", but that in 15 minutes we would sit on the potty again. And in 15 minutes we sat on the potty for another long while, with no sign of actual pottying. Then, after 3-4 minutes of sitting on the potty he decided he would pee where he was standing in his pants. At that point, I told him he would be wearing his diaper with no pants... he doesn't like not wearing pants... so after an hour or so, he looked like he needed to go #2, at which point I placed him on the potty again. This time, a lot longer than the other two times with no result. Again, the panties came out and after a minute off of the potty and fully dressed he peed in the middle of the floor in the hallway! There was crying on his end this time, which makes me think he knows what he should be doing, but can't control it? I don't know!
ENOUGH POTTY TRAINING FOR ONE DAY!

Bikes and Laughter

2009-05-14T21:52:00.002-04:00

It's been awhile since I've been on here. Before you know it, minutes turn to hours, hours turn to days, days turn to weeks and I'm running behind on a whole lotta things! Oh well. It happens when you have three kids.
A couple weeks ago we taught Taryn how to ride her bike. I have to say I felt a little bad... well, I felt really bad that I hadn't taught her before. I mean, she's 7... but... boy did she get the hang of it from the start. I held on to her seat for about 5 seconds and she took off! And then the very next day Aaron helped her ride down to the Turkey Hill. She LOVED it! Correction, she LOVES it! Every day she comes home and asks if she can ride her bike. Every night she asks if she can ride her bike tomorrow! She's still a bit wobbly, but every day she gets better!

Mason loves to run up and down the yards beside her while she pedals from the house one up from us to the stop sign right down from us. He just giggles the whole way! I love watching them.

Elaina is becoming so much fun to interact with... he smiles, her laughter, her cooing is all so animated! When you walk into greet her in her crib and she pops that little head up with a HUGE smile on her face, it's the absolute best!

Shanna and I went shopping at a consignment store this past weekend and ended up finding one of those Bumbo seats in there. I sat her in it in the store and she loved it so we came home with it and she's been loving it there too!

Tonight I had her on the counter beside me while I was making cookies and it was so neat to have her watch my every moment as I prepared the batter. I loved having her there! Mason and Taryn were right beside me as well and I have to say we made the best sugar cookies we've ever tasted!! I found the recipe online on a whim and it is so going into my archive of recipes to make often... very often!

And on a wonderful, wonderful note... after months and months of not finding Aaron's wedding ring, it turned up this morning. So much for blaming Mason on that one. I found it in Aaron's change jar on top of the refrigerator. Apparently, someone forgot where HE put it! :)

Inspiration

2009-05-02T06:02:00.002-04:00

I finally got up (with some help from Elaina) at 5am this lovely morning and went for a jog. I've had our alarm set for over a week to get up and go jog, but everytime it has went off Aaron has hit the snooze button for me! So, whilst I was feeding my precious little one I thought, "Do not go back to bed!! GO FOR A JOG!" And I did exactly that.
It's something to be up that early, when most of the town is still sleeping. It's so peaceful and calm. And hearing the birds sing as I ran was soothing. It really gave me an all new inspiration for life. I might be getting a head of myself, but now that I FINALLY got up and went for a jog (like I had been meaning to do for so long) I feel so good. I took control of my life and I did it. I conquered that little voice that kept saying, "Just two more hours of sleep would be so nice. You don't need to jog now. You can do it later." And like I said before, it feels so good!
I know this is a silly post, but I just had to share... it's off to do my devotionals in peace because another great thing about getting up early and jogging is that the rest of the house is still sleeping and there's so much quiet to be alone with God!
Oh, and welcome to the world Naomi Paisley Stoltzfus!

My babies, dirt and other thoughts!

2009-04-27T13:51:00.004-04:00

I was lying on the floor with Elaina while Mason was taking nap. It was so much fun being on her level, seeing things through her eyes and watching he ponder over the many things that were dangling right there in her reach... it was at that moment that I just felt overwhelmed with love for her. I just took her in... her smile, her eyes, her baby skin, her cute little nose. And then I started to tear up (like I often do about everything) because I couldn't help but feel intensely for her, for being given such a precious gift from God to take care of and hold and mold into His likeness. Wow, what an awesome responsibility. And now, thinking of all those feelings and emotions that came flooding into me I am overwhelmed with God's love for me. I mean, our love for our children only shows a glimpse of His love for us. And if I can feel that much emotion at one time... just think of how He feels for us each and every day! It is absolutely amazing. The best part is, it is unearned, undeserved love and He gives it to us anyway. Think about it. Just as baby really does nothing for us... aka doesn't do their own laundry, doesn't talk with us, doesn't put their stuff away, doesn't clean up their own messes... we still LOVE them. Because they don't have to do anything like that for us to love them. They just ARE. They are there, they are our children and we love them for that! So does our Father. There is nothing we can do to make Him love us more and in the same breath, there is nothing we can do to make Him love us less.

(Bundled at Groundbreaking)

(I love those eyes)

And onto my little man... he's growing up so fast! I sit here and type while he is looking through his coloring/sticker Thomas book with all its 700 stickers and am smiling. Smiling because I love to listen to him talk and pretend and spout off the 4 million train/bus/helicopter "people" in Thomas and I am truly amazed that he knows every single one of them! I just now heard him go to the door and open and close it... I called, "Mason..." because he has been sneaking out of the house lately to go play in the dirt. Only seconds later I heard little footsteps running towards me and just as quick as he ran in, he said "Mason right here! I right here Mommy!" His spirit is so gentle and tender. He is the first one to make sure everything is okay and if some one isn't feeling good or is hurt or one of his sisters are crying, it doesn't take long for him to arrive on the scene with a kiss and a hug to make things better!

At the same time, he is ALL BOY... loving to play in the dirt and pick on his older sister. He's very into cars. Aaron said yesterday that he thinks we have a "gear head" on our hands, which I think we're both secretly hoping for! Just think of all the money we could save on car maintenance! :)

This weekend he played for hours in the dirt with his little dumptruck. Back and forth in the flowerbeds he went with his dirt and his truck. I'm going to have to find him another place to play in dirt once my flowerbeds are planted and mulched!

Taryn has been challenging the past two years... but so worth it! Her personality is really shining through and in the midst of all the rough moments she always manages to let me know that I'm doing something right (with God's help)! :) Example, we were doing her "God Time" card for church and she recently decided to start a little God journal where she can write things that stand out during her devotions or something that she learned from a Bible reading. And every time she writes in it she consistently thanks God for anything and everything. She has this awesome spirit of gratitude for her Creator and His creation and it's wonderful to watch her as she shows her appreciation.

She loves to help. I was talking with her teacher the other week and she told me that at recess you can find Taryn following her around making sure everyone on the playground has what they need and that Mrs. Petruso is okay and doesn't need anything either. She's the one that goes around the classroom when she completes when she's working on and offers to help her classmates.

And although we definitely have our moments, they never last long and it's always a learning experience for both her and I!

(enjoying the fact that daddy actually let her help despite him being soaked from her not watching where she was spraying!)

(no more pictures mommy!)

(helping mommy?)

(his dirt, his truck, need I say more?)

(helping daddy wash the car)

(waiting until I give her the OK to head to the busstop)

(7:30 in the morning and already dirty with a runny nose)

Trust

2009-04-21T16:32:00.002-04:00

Why is it that it is so easy to trust God in the good times and so hard to trust Him in times of trials, tribulations, or just plain times of waiting?
Why is it so hard to see that His timing is not our timing and no matter how hard we push it, it won't happen unless He says so?
We are not creatures of patience. For most of us, patience is not an automatic... it is a learning process. And for fear of having to be patient, I've never quite conjured up the guts to ask God for patience... although, I know He still finds those time to develop my patience!
It's so simple, yet it's so hard for me... I know that God created me. He took the time to create our beautiful surroundings and to make everything so intricate and delicate and lovely. I mean, HE MADE ME! So why then do I find it hard to allow Him to take over and take control? I guess it's easier to control things yourself because then you know the outcome. But with God, if you allow Him to be in control, even if you don't know the outcome, the outcome is so much greater than we could ever have imagined!
I think I needed to just voice these things so that I could figure out my thoughts a little better and truly begin to believe that He has only the very best (and His best is far greater than our best) in store for me and for you too!

Ramblings...

2009-04-17T08:46:00.002-04:00

I am going to apologize in advance as this post might be a little long... And dispersed throughout my rantings are some pictures of the kids enjoying a beautiful afternoon. I can't wait until the weather stays warm and inviting, calling out to the kids to come and play in the backyard! I know they cannot wait either!

(Favorite pasttime, climbing trees)

The past two weeks have been, well, we'll call it an adventure! Taryn, as you know had her tonsils and adenoids removed two weeks ago today. She has done remarkably well throughout the whole process. Her follow-up was last Thursday and the doctor could not believe how well she had done and how well she is still doing. She is "ahead of the game" as he put it and kept telling us over and over that this is not normal that she did so well. Well I know that she did so well because of all the prayers that went up for her. It's so amazing how God works with such simple faith!

(Getting excited about the bubbles from the mower)

Wednesday morning (two days after her surgery) I woke up with incredible pain in my left shoulder. I could barely move it without a crippling sting shooting through my shoulder. As the day went on it got progressively worse until I was in tears for the most of the afternoon. Thankfully Aaron's day off was that day so he was around to help out with the kids. By evening, my MIL was on her way over to take me into the ER for some much needed relief and answers. I was sent home after a few x-rays and some prescribed pain medication. While at the pharmacy, I waited in the car and my MIL went inside to pick up the medicine... she proceeded to tell the pharmacist about the pain I was in and he asked her if he could pray for me. She replied with a quick yes and he prayed at that moment. After he was done she thanked him and he said "No, thank you for allowing me to pray for her." At that moment, when she had come out to the car and told me I was reminded of how great a God we do serve. Because all of this was going on inside the pharmacy, inside the car I was panicking... "How am I going to take care or three kids?" "I can't move." "How long will it take for them to figure out what was wrong with me?" "If a drug 4 times the strength of morphine wasn't taking my pain away, how in the world could this ever get any better?"

(Eating ice cream after a week and a half of being deprived!)

On Thursday morning my Nanny came down to stay with us for a week... to help take care of my kiddos and me! She was truly a Godsend! I realized that week how blessed I am to have such good friends and wonderful family... all the phone calls and meals I recieved were a real pick-me-up. And looking back I now see God's hand in everything we experienced. He doesn't cause His children to hurt, but He sure does work everything for good to those who love and trust Him! (So, if any of you helped me are reading this, THANK YOU!) My shoulder is doing much better now. I start physical therapy this week to break up the new calcium deposit that built up on my shoulder. I am praying and believing for complete healing!

(My tender heart)

With lots of help and some ordered time to rest, I began to read "The Shack", which I have been anticipating for quite awhile now, but had no time to actually do. One word to sum up that book is WOW! I had heard so many things about this book and I couldn't wait to actually read it and experience it myself and it was nothing less than I had imagined. Now I know that it is fiction, but I really feel that after reading it there is now way that I could ever look at my relationship with God the same way. I am so hungry to get to know Him, all over again, in a completely new and different way. If anything, I have learned through these past two weeks and through reading this book that He truly does love me and there is nothing that I can say or do to cause Him to feel otherwise. What an amazing realization for me! I would recommend this book to everyone I know... and I pretty much have. I'm not sure if anyone I have encountered since starting this book hasn't heard about it!
(Ice cream everywhere!)

This season in my life (the past 4 months or so) I feel has finally come to an end. It has been a season of learning and growth for me, of trials and disappointments, of sickness and healing... at times I didn't see "the light" and I felt that I would be in this season for a whole lot longer than I could stand, but looking back I now see that God's timing is perfect and that through it all He has opened my eyes to many things that I had closed them to before.

(His new thing when I'm taking pictures)

(My goofball)

This whole post has taken me a lot longer than I wanted it to and has had many interruptions and I'm not even sure if I got out half of what I wanted to say, but there is always another day and another time! So until next time... if you haven't read The Shack, read it! And if you have, tell me what you thought!

The Big Day

2009-04-06T14:12:00.002-04:00

Today Taryn had her tonsils and adenoids removed. I must say, for someone who usually worries about everything and freaks out over little things (me) I was extremely calm and at peace with the whole process. It's amazing the strength you gather when you are a mom and you need to be strong for your children!
She did so well... I was so proud of her! She is so brave and thinks most doctor/dentist visits are so fun and exciting... and this was no different! She thought it was so cool this morning that we got to follow Daddy into work and that we were going to see where he works. The staff was so good with her and made her feel very at ease. Aaron got to follow her back to anesthesia so she had one of us with her the whole time. When she woke up Aaron was by her side. That part was a little rough for her, but once they got some good pain killers in her she relaxed and fell sound asleep on my lap for over an hour. After that she was so upbeat and positive you'd never know she had a procedure done. She told me that "this place is fun!" and more comfy than home! Mind you, she had a TV, warm blankets, all the ice pops you could want as a kid and nurses at her side every minute! :) She was ready to go home though soon after that.

She is now all tucked in her bed watching HSM3 on my laptop... a special treat! Thank you to everyone for all of your prayers. We have felt them every step of the way.

Before I was a Mom....

2009-04-03T21:37:00.002-04:00

I never tripped over toys

or forgot words to a lullaby.

I didn't worry whethere or not my plants were poisonous.

I never thought about immunizations.

I had never been puked on.

Pooped on.

Chewed on.

Peed on.

I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.

I slept all night.

I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests.

Or give shots.

I never looked into teary eyes and cried.

I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.

I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

I never held a sleeping baby just because

I didn't want to put her down.

I never felt my heart break into a million pieces

when I couldn't stop the hurt.

I never knew that something so small

could effect my life so much.

I never knew that I could love someone so much.

I never knew I would love being a Mom.

I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body...

I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.

I didn't know that bond between a monther and her child.

I didn't know that something so small

could make me feel so important and happy.

I had never gotten up in the middle of the night

every ten minutes to make sure all was okay.

I had never known the warmth,

the joy,

the love,

the heartache,

the wonderment

or the satisfaction of being a Mom.

I din't know I was capable of feeling so much

before I was a Mom.

(Thanks mom for sending me this wonderful poem!)

Time flies...

2009-04-03T12:07:00.002-04:00

Lately it has been amazing to me how time really does fly... when you're younger you feel like the school year lasts forever and your birthday surely takes more than a year to come along, but when you get older it seems like the time never stops. I have no idea where my days go anymore or what they are filled with to make them go by so fast.
I look at Taryn and wonder where these past 7 years went because most of the time I still feel like that 20 year old new mom who is still trying to figure out this whole thing called mothering. And then I look at Mason and think "How is it that he is going to be 3 this summer?" And Elaina... those first few weeks I just wanted time to fly so we could be in a normal routine and she would sleep through the night and now that's here and I can't believe that it is!
It's been 3 years since Aaron and I went separate ways and found our way back to each other (with God's hand). Wow! I feel like that was a whole other lifetime ago. It was so good for us though. I wouldn't trade that time for anything because we both grew so much in that time and I feel that we'd be repeating the same pattern over and over again still if something wouldn't have broken back then. Yes it was hard and I wouldn't recommend to every couple to follow that path, but for us it worked. At the time you don't feel that way, but looking back you know it did! I thank God every day for allowing me to be so vulnerable and broken in that time so that I could become whole through Him.
I am going to try and write a little more in my blog about the things that I'm feeling and thinking... no matter if anyone reads it or not. And I vow to throw some pictures in there as well! With the weather getting better there will definitely be more pictures coming! I was thinking of changing the name of my blog, but as I read it again... A Crazy Beautiful World... that is exactly how I feel most days. Most times I feel like I'm crazy and then I look around and realize that the things that make me crazy are, most times as well, the things that make my world beautiful!

(She just learned how to hold herself up!)

A Thought... A Plan

2009-03-12T08:36:00.003-04:00

So it has been a really long since I posted anything on here. I just don't have the time these days to put thought into a blog. It's so much easier to go on FB and post pictures with no comments from me about each picture... as I often do on here.
Last night Aaron, the kids and I were driving home from small group when I suggested something that has been on my heart for the past couple weeks. I suggested that we designate a week and remove television, internet and video games from our access.... just to see what happens. It would be very interesting to see how attitudes change, demeanors change, our tones of voices with each other... without the influence of things distracting us.
I'm not sure when we will do it, hopefully we will. It will probably be a little hard for all of us. Especially with me and my email! TV won't be that hard for me, but you take away my computer and what do I have? A whole lot more time to get things done around the house! :)

Potty Training Step One

2009-01-06T10:57:00.002-05:00

So in an effort to "start" Mason potty training Aaron went out and bought him a potty and some big boy underwear (Thomas the Tank Engine Undies)....
In true Mason fashion he wanted nothing to do with the potty at first, so he decided it would be of better use next to the front door. I then put it in the bathroom again.
At bathtime, Taryn went to the bathroom so Mason decided it was now cool to sit on the potty while his big sister went to the bathroom. After bathtime he wanted to try on his undies, all at once I might add... so he had a couple pair on at one time. I kept asking him if he needed to go potty, but he didn't.
While getting Elaina ready for her bath he came into the bathroom and sat on his potty for about 3 seconds and then stood up next to it... about 10 inches from Elaina's head and decided that this was the spot he would do his business! So, in our tiny little bathroom he managed to create a huge mess all while I'm undressing Elaina for her bath! Yes what fun!
And I have no pictures of any of this because it's so hard to run and get the camera while taking care of a newborn... But I do intend to post some pics of him in his brand new underwear at some point because he looks way too cute in them!

Happy New Year!

2008-12-31T19:11:00.002-05:00

In honor of the New Year.... here is my list of resolutions. Now, I know that statistics show that people who make New Year resolutions rarely keep them, but I just can't go into a new year without making some. And for the past two years I have managed to keep at least one of my resolutions!

1. Lose the baby weight (and then some!)
2. Begin daily devotions (every day and not just when I remember)
3. Begin new traditions with the kids for holidays. (new traditions to be determined at a later date)
4. Cherish every moment of my kids childhood (or at least almost every moment)
5. Make more date nights with my hubby.
6. Keep up with my blog :) (write more of my thoughts down)
7. Pick up at least two new hobbies for myself.

I'll let you know if I come up with any more... but that's probably enough for this year!

Being a Mommy again...

2008-12-21T15:31:00.002-05:00

Last night Aaron and I were talking (for the hundredth time) whether or not this was our last... And yes, I know, it is very soon after she is born, but that wonderful question keeps coming up, "What are you doing for birth control?"

For a couple months while I was pregnant we were convinced that three was enough and that Aaron would be going to visit "the doc" soon after she was born. And then we started thinking... "Are we really okay with this being our last?" So, we have been back and forth for months and months with no true confident answer.

There are definitely moments when I think 3 is enough... like when I was in all that pain during labor or when I'm running a little low on sleep or when the kids are so loud I can't think...

And then there are definitely moments when I think I'm not ready for this one to be my last. I start to think that I didn't treasure the time when I was pregnant enough. And last night I teared up just thinking that I would never feel those first kicks again or that this could be the last time I hold a newborn that is mine, or breastfeed or feel the warmth of my baby on my chest at night.

So, with all of that running through my head, how are you to make a decision that is so grand? And whose to say that I won't have these feelings with my fourth as well? Because I definitely so not want more than 4... do you ever really know? Do you ever know that it is definitely time to be done?

So I guess all I can do right now is just enjoy this time that we are in right now... becaue we will never get it back. Taryn will only be 6 once and in first grade once and will only lose all of her baby teeth once (as we are experiencing at a rapid pace). Mason will only be 2 once and learning all kinds of phrases and words once. And Elaina will only be a newborn once, so helpless and reliant on her family that surrounds her.

All I know is that I don't want to take this time for granted no matter what our final decision is... 3 or 4? God gave us this season in our lives for a reason and I definitely don't want to be one of those moms that says "woulda, shoulda, coulda" or "if only I..."
So with all that said, I'm determined to enjoy every moment of motherhood, whether they be times of pure joy or times of difficulty... And I choose to believe that in the end we will know what God has planned for our little family!

"A little girl was asked where her home was, and she replied "Where my mother is."

~Keith L. Brooks

Elaina Grace... my third!

2008-12-19T17:42:00.003-05:00

So as most of you probably know already, we were blessed with another little girl on Tuesday, December 16th... She is absolutely precious and I just can't get enough of her! She looks like Taryn did when she was born. Unfortunately, that was before I had a digital camera so I have no photos to post to compare!

The best part, I think, is that she was born on my Dad's 5oth birthday! He is a proud PaPa! And was the first, other than Aaron and I, to hold her so it was really special!

Here's a few pictures to share with you! Thanks to Jessie for stopping by last night and taking some for me. I was so tired when we got home but I knew I wanted a couple pictures so it was great that she could come and do that for me!

Verses...

2008-12-15T15:22:00.002-05:00

I'm believing in and meditating on for today!

Mark 11:24 "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."

Psalm 37:4 "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart."

John 10:10b "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

Psalm 69:32 "The humble will see their God at work and be glad. Let all who seek God's help be encouraged."

Psalm 66:20 "Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!"

Philippians 4:6 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."

Annual Craft Show

2008-12-10T12:05:00.001-05:00

For the past five years or so my mom and I have been going to the Christmas Craft show and the Harrisburg Farm complex.... This year, I decided Taryn was old enough to join us and actually enjoy it! So here are some pictures that she took chronicling our day!

Driving to meet Nana.... she was so excited for the day to begin. We stopped at BK and shared some french toast sticks and then we blared Christmas music the whole drive and danced and pretended to play our "air guitar" and "air bell" (yes, I got to play the bell).

I don't remember seeing these, but she seems to have liked them!

Some Santas and Snowmen...

She just had to take a picture of mommy and Nana under the really cool lamp!

I told her she could pick out her outfit for the day... and this is what she chose! The pink sweater had to be worn because I was wearing a sweater as well that day and she "wanted to be just like mommy" (in her words!) She's so adorable!

And for all those who don't know.... she is an extreme popcorn fanatic. She would eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner if we'd let her. So when we passed the popcorn machine we had to take a picture of it! Aaron and I are planning on getting a little popcorn machine like this one when we finish the basement! How fuN!

They had a little puppet show for the kids at one point so we went to watch that and relax a bit.... which didn't last long! :)
There was a puppet stand right beside the show and she so badly wanted one so Nana bought her a pink frog. It's really cute. It's the kind of puppets with strings so you move their arms and legs and they walk around. She played with it the whole night when we returned home!
Great memories! Can't wait until next year!

Taryn....

2008-12-10T11:46:00.002-05:00

I have let Taryn have free reign on my old point and shoot camera.... I have no idea what she's taking pictures of half the time, but she absolutely loves taking pictures (just like her momma)! So I uploaded the photos from the camera card onto the computer to make more space on the card for her and this is what I found!

Not sure why the towel is on the head!
Painted toenails!

Screaming?

This is the smile I get most of the time when I want to take her picture!

Can we say diva?

Love the tongue and the glasses!

Oh those teeth!

I can't believe how much she is growing up.... it seems like yesterday I was pregnant with her and then holding her in my arms... all 5 pounds of her! It's hard to think that my baby is now my oldest! She never ceases to amaze me with all her knowledge at such young age! I love you Tootsie!

Best Buddies....

2008-12-10T11:26:00.001-05:00

So this has become a common sight lately. Mason just loves when "Tanan" (as he calls her) reads to him and "puts him to bed"... and she just loves that he wants her to read to him and not me!

She is a little mommy.

Although there are definitely times when they drive each other crazy, most of the time they are loving and enjoying each other's company! Whether it be dancing in her room with the music blaring or snuggling on the sofa watching a show or playing house in his room.... they have become great friends and playmates! It's so wonderful to watch their relationship develop and grow...

More pictures of my beautiful neice...

2008-11-20T22:54:00.003-05:00

Too cute for words!

My New Beautiful Neice

2008-11-19T12:28:00.000-05:00

Following in our Footsteps...

2008-11-05T09:34:00.002-05:00

As I was going through my Bible Study for the past week, I came across this story....

I had read it before, years ago, but just like the first time I read it, it touched me deeply and I felt that I had to share it.

This is an exerpt from the late Gilda Radner's book It's Always Something

"When I was little, my nurse Dibby's cousin had a dog, just a mutt, and the dog was pregnant. I don't know how long dogs are pregnant, but she way due to have her puppies in about a week. She was out in the yard one day and got in the way of the lawn mower and her two hind legs got cut off. They rushed her to the vet and he said, 'I can sew her up, or you can put her to sleep if you want, but the puppies are okay. She'll be able to deliver the puppies.'

Dibby's cousin said, 'Keep her alive.'

So the vet sewed up her backside, and over the next week the dog learned to walk. She didn't spend any time worrying, she just learned to walk by taking two steps in the front and flipping up her backside, and then taking two steps and flipping up her backside again. She gave birth to six little puppies, all in perfect health. She nursed them and then weaned them. And when they learned to walk, they all walked like her."

I just found this so empowering, especially as a mother. Our children watch everything we do, be it good or bad and most often learn to walk just like us! One challenge I am taking through this Bible Study that I'm doing is to break any generational strongholds that could be hindering myself and my children from being all that God has called us to be. So I challenge each of you to take that step with me because our children and our grandchildren will be our living legacy. How do you want to be remembered? And more importantly, what kind of impact do you want to have on the Kingdom of God?

In Honor of the Phils....

2008-10-30T08:08:00.003-04:00

I just had to put some kind of post up here about the Philadelphia Phillies being the new World Series Champions!! We finally did it!

And now, at last, I can get a good night's sleep before 1 in the morning.... at least until our new little one comes into the world :)

Aaron told his friend last night that he thinks I'm more intense about the Phillies than he is, and I'd have to agree to a certain extent. At one point last night I couldn't even watch I was so nervous. I allowed no one to talk during the game for fear that whatever would come out might jinx them. But he did a couple of shout-outs at the television when his nerves were getting a little too much for him! No swearing... just "Come on Lidge!" or things like that!

Poor Taryn, as soon as they won (yes, we let her stay up to see the game because we both felt like it was something she may never experience again. Although, she really doesn't know what it's all about, it made us feel better!) I picked her up, jumped up and down with her, let out a little scream and then just started crying! And for all of you who would like to make fun of me for crying, I'm pulling the pregnancy card out on this one! :)

So anyway, WAY TO GO PHILLIES! You've done us all proud!

And a special thanks to Chase Utley, Jason Woerth and Shane Victorino (my fave players)!

A Getaway

2008-10-17T09:50:00.002-04:00

This weekend Aaron and I headed off to a "Retreat center" with the Alpha group from Church. It was a time I was so looking forward to because I know that this will be the last time in a while that we will be able to go anywhere without kids... a time where I didn't hear "Mommy come" or "Mommy can you get so and so for me" or "Mommy look at me". But I could just simple enjoy a time where all I had to focus on was ME! And it was absolutely wonderful! Yes, I missed my kids, but the friendships that were formed this weekend were absolutely amazing!

We enjoyed getting to know some of our friends on a deeper level and we also enjoyed getting to know people we had never talked to before!
This weekend was filled with God's presence and mighty working power in our lives. I don't know how you could've gone on this retreat and not feel Him move. The conversations and the speakers were so annointed and really showed God's love for every single person and that He hasn't forgotten about anyone.

The worship was wonderful (Thanks Drew, Colleen and Andrew)... Worship has always been one of my most favorite, treasured times at Church and in the past couple years I had really gotten away from that when I was in a group setting, but this weekend I felt so refreshed and renewed and didn't feel like I had to hold anything back, which is something I have been struggling with.

This was a quick little blog on our weekend, but I am looking forward to writing more about it later!

Jeremy and Courtney, Alan and Mandy, Aaron and me

Our First Leaf Pile...

2008-10-16T13:52:00.003-04:00

In the past week, with the leaves falling off the neighbors trees (because we don't have big trees in our backyard), Mason loves to tramp through them on the side of the road while we are walking to get Taryn at the busstop. Taryn got home early today from school and on our walk back to the house she and Mason decided to collect leaves as they go and then dump them in our yard... which then led her to want to make a leaf pile! So this is how it all started... and if I liked my picture taken, you'd see how I finished it :) It was so worth it though because they had a blast together in the tiniest of leaf piles... because let's face it, I can only rake so many leaves before falling over and there really aren't too many in one particular place yet!

Just like his big sister!
Buddy, I think the rake is a little too big for you!
Watching where she was walking... Mason was literally up her butt the whole time she was trying to rake!
He kept saying, "Mommy, push!" with a long grunt because the rake just does not work like that!
What a wonderful raker (if that's a word).

Finally, time to play in the leaves!

Where's Mason?
So quickly they learn how to "jump" in the leaves... it's like they don't even need to be taught how to make the most of leaf piles!
Ready, get set, RUN!

JUMP!

What a glorious time!

Tickle, tickle!
Catchin' up to "sissy"!
Wait for me!
A running start...
My precious boy, dirt, leaves and all!

My sweet girl!
Throwing the leaves.... over our heads.

Sweet innocence...

Pure joy... what great buddies siblings make!
And next fall, there will be one more joining in the leaves!
She doesn't often smile with her teeth showing anymore because she's so self-conscious about her missing teeth and new ones growing, but the genuine joy over this moment is more fun than thinking about those beautiful teeth!
I just love her smile, it's so contagious... one day I was praying for her before school and I prayed that her smile would be contagious and that she would bless her friends! After I was done praying she asked me what contagious meant and the only way I could think to describe it was to compare it to getting a cold and coughing and sneezing and how if you do it around someone, they could easily get your cold too! To a six year old, that was the funniest thing in the world!

I tried to snap a few more of her because I don't have any recent pictures of her to hang on my walls at home...

My two love bugs, laying in the leaves...
And top it all off with that toothless smile...
What more could you need to have fun.... a rake, some leaves, legs to run and jump and siblings to make it all the more fun!

I, who have no sisters or brothers, look with some degree of innocent envy on those who may be said to be born to friends. ~James Boswell

Spontaneity

2008-10-01T12:34:00.004-04:00

So, on a whim, I decided to take Mason to Lancaster County Park to run around and snap a few much delayed two year pictures... I know, they come about 2 months late, but none-the-less I managed to get a few during the year he is 2!
We weren't at the park very long. I managed to get a few smiles from him, but most of the time he was cling-wrapped to me because, for some reason, every single noise he heard scared him. After 20 minutes he was ready to get in the car and go home!
But, at least I got a few shots!

This is him peering into the unknown of that sound he just heard.... soon followed by a "Mommy, home" and a tight grip on my hand.

Not quite sure what this look was all about, but it is pretty funny!

Mid-sentence about how he doesn't want to go on a tractor ride (because he hears one).

Again, mid-sentence about the airplane we hear in the sky.

I'm not sure if I like this one in sepia or color... I need some opinions...

(Especially to Nana, Nini and MawMaw) Here are Mason's two year pictures... let me know which ones you like and I will order them so you can have an updated picture of him!
Taryn's pictures will be soon to follow!!

Our First Autumn Dessert....

2008-09-28T19:20:00.001-04:00

So I picked up some delicious looking apples on Friday with the intent to make something with them that represents the season! One of my favorite things to eat has always been apple crisp... so I thought what better to make than that?
The kids had a blast helping... I just hope that they learn to love this simple dish as much as I do!! Bring on the warm apple crisp, vanilla cream and whipped cream :)

Taryn is always my eager helper in the kitchen!

This time, Mason wanted in on the action too!

Cheesin' together... enjoying the company of family!

It looks delicious just sitting there... without being put together! In the words of Rachael Ray, YUM-O!

Seeing Thomas...

2008-09-19T13:19:00.003-04:00

Today Aaron and I took Mason to the Red Caboose Inn to see Thomas the Tank Engine go by... it was pure excitement, at first, as we waited for Thomas to come by. Mason kept saying "Thomas, watch"... And then we saw the gate close the road off and anticipation grew!
Then within 15 seconds the train appeared and the excitement wore off and worry filled his eyes. All of the sudden he didn't want to see Thomas anymore! As Thomas chugged down the track I asked him if he wanted to wait to see Thomas again and he shook his head very prominently and answered with an emphatic "NO". I asked him if he'd like to go home and with that he was in my arms, ready for the car and home.
As soon as we were home all he talked about was seeing Thomas and over and over again we heard "Thomas, Ride". So maybe next time we'll battle the crowd and take him on a Thomas ride!

My Birthday Gift....

2008-09-17T16:18:00.004-04:00

.... was an unlikely gift because pure and simple we were not planning on getting it until Sunday morning.... when our computer went on the fritz for the umpteenth time and seemed to finally have it!
So now, needless to say, we have a brand spankin' new computer. And I have no pictures to post because all of my photos are on the old computer which I am in the process of transferring over to our new computer. Okay so I'm not in the process because I haven't even started yet, but I plan to be in the process starting tomorrow! Anyway, I was just so excited about my new computer I had to tell everyone about my new computer!!! Thank you Babe!

Happenings....

2008-09-11T16:16:00.003-04:00

So, a lot has been going on in my life in the past couple weeks, which is why it has been awhile since I've posted on here!
I'm working on many photo shoots that I have done in the past month... getting them edited and ready for viewing. I have a reception that I'm doing tomorrow night for one of Aaron's cousins at Mazzi's in Leola. It should be absolutely beautiful!
With Taryn in school, the days seem to fly by even faster than they did this summer. One minute I'm putting her on the bus to go to school and the next I'm picking her up at the bus stop. I don't know where the days go, but they are filled!
Aaron and I started a new adventure... being ALPHA table leaders! We met our group for the first time last night. It is absolutely amazing how God places people in your life at certain times. I truly do feel that He has put every single person in our group there for a reason! I am already seeing that with all of our group members. I am looking forward to God working in great ways in each and every one of our lives during this ALPHA course.
I have started the Beth Moore study, Breaking Free again, but this time with the ladies of WOW. I was honored to have Kelly Mylin call me and ask me to be her "Co-leader". There too, I can see God's hand in the group of women He has placed me with. I really feel that this season of my life is a season of growth and deepening and realization.
I have also ventured into helping two wonderful women start a Teen MOPS at our church. I have always had a heart for teen moms and to see it some of my dreams come to fruition is a real blessing! For now, I am behind the scenes with that and loving every minute of it.
Taryn started gymnastics this week! She has been looking forward to this for a long time and is so excited to be actually doing it! She said on the way there that she can't wait until she is in the Olympics!! :) A girl can have her dreams!! And if that's what they are today, then I'm all for it! How cool would it be to see her on TV in 2020?
Mason is adjusting to his days without his big sister... he loves taking her to the bus stop in the morning, but isn't very fond of the fact that she and the bus both drive out of sight while he's still standing there telling the bus to come back. In the afternoon I can't even mention picking her up from the bus a minute sooner than I want to leave because he is out the door and ready to see her the moment I say anything about her and the bus! He sure does love his big sister!
I've really been enjoying my one on one time with him too! He is an absolute blast to be around!
No pictures for now, but I'm looking forward to soon being able to take the kids out into some fall foliage and getting some good shots of them for my walls! It's long overdue!

"He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." Malachi 3:3

First Day of First Grade!

2008-08-26T14:43:00.002-04:00

Today was my baby girl's first day of school! I can't even believe that summer is over and school has begun... where does the time fly? She was so excited this morning, that we were ready for our trip to the bus stop a whole 30 minutes before we needed to be there.

I can't wait to hear all about her first day of first grade... I'll fill you in later!

This year marked the first bus ride as well! Last year, we walked to school because Mommy wasn't quite ready to let her go on the bus. Of course, I told everyone it was for the good exercise, but in reality (Aaron knows)... I wasn't thrilled about letting her go on a bus so young with some bus driver I don't know without seatbelts. I think I handled it well today! She was so very, very excited when the bus came driving down the road. I was glad to see that a friend from class last year was already on the bus, so she had some one to sit with and show her the ropes!

We also met neighbors of ours that moved in this past spring, that we never knew moved in. Their daughter, Emily, is also in first grade.... so before school even began she had made a new friend! How fun!

Mason didn't understand why "sissy" was leaving us on the bus. As the bus drove down the road with her on it he kept saying over and over "Sissy bus, sissy bus, sissy bus" in a not very happy voice! He loved walking her to school last year, so I'm sure we'll be walking to get her from school when the weather is nice.

Tis the season...

2008-08-20T19:40:00.002-04:00

... for corn on the cob!! And Mason was absolutely loving it this year!
His word for more is "mmmmm", so he just kept asking "Mmmm corn". And was still asking when it was gone... here are some pictures corn and all on his face!

It seems like yesterday....

2008-08-04T11:27:00.004-04:00

... when you were born. You were so tiny and so perfect! We were so proud of you from the moment you came into this world!
You have always been a joy to have around. And we can't imagine our family without you Mason James. I look forward to the many years to come, watching you grow into a young man and taking the world by storm! We love you buddy!

Proud Big Sister!

Daddy got his little boy!
Happy to see you... after nine months of waiting!Lovin' you and cuddlin' you, that's what big sisters are for!

We had a "Cars" themed party yesterday for Mason! He couldn't believe how "Nitning" (Lightning McQueen) was everywhere. I think it was a little overwhelming at times to have so many Lightnings around him.

Thanks Nini and PaPa for the blanket! Mason snuggled with it all night and when he woke up this morning he snuggled again!

An attempt at a family picture... can't wait to show this to Taryn when she's older :)

The birthday cake with lots of icing and a Lightning McQueen car on top... hence, the licking of the car!

Already a mess!

One of the highlights, at least for me, was this scene.... while Mason was opening presents, Dad and Aaron were talking and the next thing you know... (scroll down)

This is what you saw.... I told Aaron on the way home from Church to tell my dad that they were doing cancer research in at the hospital and they found that if the size of your hand was an inch bigger than your face you are more susceptible to having/getting cancer. For those of you who don't know this trick, when the person puts their hand up to their face to see if it is bigger than their head, the other person that smacks their hand back into their face. I know, it's not right and very childish, yet at the same time, it's totally worth it. In defense of my dad, he didn't want to hold his hand over his face, but Aaron had given him no choice! And this is what happened...

HAPPY 2ND BIRTHDAY MASON! WE LOVE YOU!

Our Annual Raystown Vacation....

2008-08-01T09:55:00.004-04:00

Every year since I was about 7 or 8 my family and the Smoker clan has been heading to Raystown for our camping adventure! Although by now, we probably camp in what some people might call "luxury"... with our refrigerators and microwaves and grill! You'd have to see it to believe it!

The Smucker clan this year! We missed you Court and Mitch!

The newest addition to our adventure.... Jessie! It was so wonderful having you here! You fit right in (which I'm not sure is good for you :)

Sondra and her companion, Eli, on most of our boat rides!

Sami... looking off into the distance!

Not sure how you trust a guy with that face to drive you around in a boat! :)

Austin and Jordan about to jump off the cliff!

My handsome boy at dinner at the marina! I don't have many shots of Taryn... she and Jake and Sami and Eli were always off somewhere doing something!

My babe wakeboarding! Look at him go!

Those are some shades to be sportin' around! (Thanks Doug for the photo opp with your sunglasses)

You'd always find the kids looking off the back of the boat while some one was tubing, skiing or wakeboarding. They LOVED it!

Our master wakeboarder for the week!

Taryn and "Uncle Chewy" tubin' together! What fun! Thanks for making the week extra special Uncle Chewy!

Puppies, Puppies and More Puppies

2008-07-30T15:42:00.002-04:00

For those of you who don't know, I recently started working for my father-in-law and his website company www.greenfieldpuppies.com taking pictures of puppies in our local area that would like to advertise with us. Taryn and Mason can come with me, so it's a great job... here are a few pictures of them and "their" puppies.

Mason tends to go for the little puppies because they're easier to handle! These two puppies may look alike, but their toy poodle brothers!

And the puppy just wants to go, go, go while Mason just wants to hold him for a picture. He is so good with the puppies.... he's gentle and caring and talks to them in his own little language to let them know it's okay.

Taryn is in love with brindle boxer puppies. She gravitates toward them when we go to take pictures of boxer puppies . She must take after her dad! (whose dream dog would be a brindle boxer)

Our Beach Vacation!

2008-07-22T15:25:00.002-04:00

This is a couple weeks late, but I just wanted to post a couple pictures from our annual Hostetter Beach Trip. We stayed at Bethany Beach in Bear Trap Dunes for the first time this year and the kids loved it. The house was huge and room enough for everyone.

Here they are waiting for the shuttle to pick us up and take us to the beach. Needless to say, we made our first trip out to the beach only to turn around and come back because of thunderstorms. The shuttle trip was their fun for the day!

Mason wasn't too sure about the sand at first... he stayed on the blanket and little by little would put a toe in the sand and then his whole foot and then the other foot until finally he would run and play in the sand. By the end of the week he was running onto the beach from the boardwalk! Him and Aaron played in the sand, making sand castles and burying toes.

Here some of our crew waiting for the waves to come in. Taryn got wiped out by two HUGE waves in the beginning of the week, so towards the end she was a little more lenient on getting into the waves. Thus, the reason most of our crew is not quite in the water.

And here is our annual beach photo.... that will be our Christmas card this year! Might be a little different than this one (photoshop works wonders). Look for it in November!

Our first lost tooth!

2008-07-11T13:24:00.001-04:00

Last night around 10:05pm Taryn came walking out of her bedroom with her first lost tooth in hand. She was so proud and excited!!
We first discovered her loose tooth at the beach a couple weeks ago and you would have thought it had fallen out then. She told every single person at the beach, individually about her loose tooth. We had to make phone calls letting family know as well :)
She could not wait to leave her tooth under her pillow for the "tooth fairy"... who Taryn says has as much money as London Tipton on "The Suite Life of Zach and Cody" (Disney Channel). And this morning she came out of her room beaming once again at her $2 under the pillow!

An Evening at the Park

2008-07-02T15:00:00.003-04:00

Aaron and I took the kids to Strasburg Elementary's playground on Monday night. Needless to say we have a monkey (Taryn) and a slide-a-holic (Mason).

Taryn was on this forever... first she balanced across it with her arms spread wide and then she did it with her arms not quite out so far and then she had to do it with her arms glued to her side.

Daddy and Mason going down the BIG sliding board. The first time Mason went down it by himself, I thought he was going to fall off the side on his way down, so we decided that one of us would slide down with him from now on!

My monkey on yet another playground item!

Kiss, kiss Daddy!

My precious man....
This is rare that I get a good picture of him without him cheesing! (Note: you will see the cheese in just a moment)

My baby girl, growing up before my very eyes! She'll be in first grade next year and going to school all day! What will I do the whole day without her? I say that now, but I'm sure I'll be busy with two little darlings running around!

She is so good at monkey bars.... she swings across them just like monkey would!

And here is my cheeser I was telling you about.... all my pictures, except the one above look like this one!

Summertime=Lots of Swimming!!

2008-06-11T14:22:00.003-04:00

So, this year I thought it would still be easy around the pool with Mason because he seemed deathly afraid of the water. At 1, Taryn was already trying to crawl into the pool and hated to get out, but up until last week, Mason was completely different. We'd ask him "Do you want to go in the water?" and he'd reply "NO WAWIE!" meaning no water. And then on Saturday it all changed! His cousin Riley loves the water and I think he just didn't want to feel left out. So little by little he got closer and closer to the pool until he finally he sat right down beside her and started splashing in the water!
Then without much prodding he began to jump into the pool (with me catching him). And now, I think I have yet another waterbug on my hands!
Needless to say I'll be spending more time in the pool this year than laying out in the sun!

Pictures for Grandpa!

2008-05-14T22:07:00.003-04:00

So here is our new family picture! Thanks Nini for taking it! I'm glad we're putting the photo book together for Grandpa because I'm not sure when we'd get an updated family picture if it weren't for the deadline! :)

My crazy beautiful kids!

2008-05-07T16:53:00.003-04:00

So today has been a day filled with fevers, rashes, headaches, whining, upset stomachs and of course along with those wonderful things, no nap!
Mason's tylenol has finally kicked in (again) and he is now smiling, laying on my bed watching "Pooh".
Taryn ventured to school today because she is afraid to miss a day and wasn't running a fever or anything too serious at the time.
So, with all of the sickness in my house I decided to post a few pictures I took a couple days ago while they were feeling well!

My Neice Riley

2008-04-22T11:33:00.004-04:00

I took my neice, Riley's "18 month" pictures a few weeks ago. She is a bundle full of energy (as most 18 month olds are). She is so fun to photograph because she has that contagious smile that just makes you want to giggle along with her!
Mason and her are 6 weeks apart and have become fast friends... "Iley" as Mason likes to call her!

Soccer Day Comes Every Saturday!

2008-04-21T21:05:00.004-04:00

Taryn is still as excited as ever about soccer! All week long she asks me how many more days until soccer. This week she asked me why she couldn't have soccer every day.
She had even more fun this week because she realized her favorite position is goalie! She had three saves in her scrimmage! The kids have to switch positions often so that they can learn each one. Before she played goalie she looked somewhat like a zombie (cute, but definitely comatose) running around the field. After her stint at goalie she was more alive... running after the ball, being aggressive and just plain having a lot of FUN!
After Mason saw Taryn with her shinguards on... he wanted in on the action!

First Day of Soccer

2008-04-08T11:07:00.004-04:00

This was Taryn's first day of soccer. She absolutely loved it! The whole week before she kept asking when soccer would start... then the morning of soccer, she couldn't wait to get out that door and go. She was counting down the minutes!
Here is a little preview from her practice!

She did really well. She handled the ball well and made a great save as goalie. She also learned how to properly throw in the ball (which I must say, she was fantastic at!) The ball went past her teammates. I even think she was dissappointed when practice came to an end!
It was so cold and windy that day. My fingers were numb from holding the camera. Hopefully the coming weeks will be warmer!

April Fool's!

2008-04-02T12:21:00.003-04:00

Taryn came home from school yesterday and told me that I had something in my hair. So I am trying to feel around my head for this "something" in my hair... all the while she is cracking up laughing and shouts "April Fool's!"

Apparently at school they read a book about April Fool's and then learned a little about it and she just thought she was the funniest thing all night. She April Fooled Daddy and Mason too (or so she thought).

At one point in the night, she told me that I could not fool her because she'd know it. For those of you who don't know, Taryn has a crush on David Archuletta from American Idol. (Maybe I'll write about that another time). This morning when she woke up I told her that David had gotten voted off last night. Now, she watched American Idol last night!! :) I asked her if she'd still watch American Idol without him on and she said "NO!" Then she climbed on my lap with tears in her eyes because there would be no more David on American Idol. I then said "April Fool's!" She got this huge smile on her face and then told me that was mean and not April Fool's!

So to all of you out there APRIL FOOL'S!

Mothers...

2008-04-01T16:22:00.002-04:00

I thought this was so cute so I decided to share it!

1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE.
"If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning."
2. My mother taught me RELIGION.
"You better pray that will come out of the carpet."
3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL.
"If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!"
4. My mother taught me LOGIC.
"Because I said so, that's why."
5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC.
"If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the store with me."
6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT.
"Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident."
7. My mother taught me IRONY.
"Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about."
8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS.
"Shut your mouth and eat your supper."
9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM.
"Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!"
10. My mother taught me about WEATHER.
"This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it."
11. My mother taught me about STAMINA.
"You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone."
12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY.
"If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!"
13. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE.
"I brought you into this world, and I can take you out."
14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION.
"Stop acting like your father!"
15. My mother taught me about ENVY.
"There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do."
16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION.
"Just wait until we get home."
17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING.
"You are going to get it when you get home!"
18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE.
"If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to get stuck that way."
19. My mother taught my ESP.
"Put your sweater on: don't you think I know when you are cold?"
20. My mother taught me HUMOR.
"When that lawn mower cuts off yoru toes, don't come running to me."
21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT.
"If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up."
22. My mother taught me GENETICS.
"You're just like your father."
23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS.
"Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?"
24. My mother taught me WISDOM.
"When you get to be my age, you'll understand."

Finally... Florida Pics

2008-03-29T12:02:00.007-04:00

Mason and Chase had so much fun getting dirty... they got a hilarious kick out of throwing the tire mulch up in the air.

Good Buddies!

Almost every day, at least once, we'd hear "Daddy (or Mommy) push me on the swings please!" When Taryn and I came down to Florida when she was a year old, she would sit for hours in the swing. Even at home she loved being in the swing. There were times at Nini's she'd fall asleep in the swing!

We couldn't get Mason to even sit in a swing the whole time we were in Florida! It's amazing how different the two of them are.

We hit up Jungle Gardens almost every year... not much changes, but the kids still have great fun!

Taryn and Sami had so much fun (as they always do when they're together). I think Taryn went through a little "Notni" withdrawal when we got home :)

Taryn has called Sami "Notni" since she started saying her name... while we were in Florida though she tried calling her "Sami" instead. Well, Sami (and the rest of us) think it sounds funny now when Taryn actually pronounces right, so Sami told to keep calling her "Notni". Later that night Taryn said to me "I don't know why Notni won't let me call her Sami."

I think "Notni" has become Sami's identity in our (The Hostetters) family :)

Me and my cute, cute kids!

Father-in-law, Son-in-law, Uncle, Nephew, Dad, Son, Brother-in-laws, "PaPa", Grandson

(and all in one picture)

He just adores his "PaPa"

Aaron, Austin and Colin got in on some Bocce Ball action in Pinecraft!
My monkey....
Our Beach experience... everyone, except Nini and Chase went out to Siesta Keys for one afternoon.

Mason only went in the water when "PaPa" put him in there... the rest of the time he stayed on his towel with his cars. He didn't quite like to whole feeling of the sand between his toes or underneath his shoes for that matter. Mason just didn't quite care for the beach, but he loved his towel!

Of course Taryn is a different story... she'd be a fish if she could! It doesn't matter how cold the day is or how cold the water is, you're not going to stop her from getting in that water. Thankfully, it was a warm day this time!

Our last Florida outing.... collecting seashells at Lido Beach! We did find a lot of sand dollars this year, which made the girls even more excited to collect seashells!

So another Florida trip has come and gone! Can't wait until next year!!

Computer Meltdown....

2008-03-28T14:56:00.003-04:00

I know, I know.... I was really hoping to have Florida pictures posted by now, but my computer decided to do its own thing and catch some viruses and spyware. Okay, so maybe it didn't catch it on its own, but hey, they make those things so sneaky.... you click on something that looks like it's a windows application and the next thing you know, you're getting 40 pop-ups and you can't get into anything!
For all of you who don't know a good computer guy... shoutout to Eric at Lancaster Computer Solutions on W. Chestnut Street. He's a great guy and knows his computers! His rates are reasonable too! Thanks Eric!
So, with all that being said about my computer... I am happy to have it back (felt lost without it) (was probably good for me to not have it a couple days). I will hopefully soon post those long awaited pictures!!

Back in the Cold...

2008-03-19T10:33:00.002-04:00

We are back from Florida, regrettably so.... it is taking all of us awhile to get adjusted to the temperature change!! Mason just wants to run outside with only a diaper on. Taryn would like to attend school in shorts. Aaron and I would love to start planting flowers and taking care of the grass! Hopefully all that will be possible very soon!!
I will post pictures of our trip very soon!

Florida... Here we come!

2008-03-07T12:51:00.003-05:00

Since we are leaving for Florida tomorrow and I'm not going to be on here for at least another week, I thought I'd post a few pictures of the kids before we leave....

(Taryn showing off her new MP3 player she got for her birthday)

(Uploading songs onto her MP3 player and singing while she's doing it!)

As you can tell, the kids have no choice but to be Phillies fans!! While we're down there, the guys (Aaron, my Dad, Austin and Colin) plan on seeing the Phils in action. I'm excited too for the season to start! I know I'm probably not a typical girl :) We have tickets to see the third game of the year and I cannot wait!

(That shiny thing in the foreground is my shoe... he has a huge shoe fetish and has to have some one's shoes on or near him at all times)

(Wearing Daddy's hat)

So, have fun up here in this cold PA weather! We'll be thinking of you as we're tanning on the beach :)

Dustin and Nicole

2008-03-07T08:43:00.004-05:00

Two weeks ago I had the honor of photographing Dustin and Nicole's wedding! That is why (if some of you are wondering) I haven't had any posts in awhile.

They are a wonderful young couple with a bright future ahead of them. I would have to describe them as "full of love".

I thought I'd share some pictures of that special day with you!

Congratulations Nicole and Dustin!

Adventures in the Snow

2008-02-22T10:56:00.005-05:00

This morning, as soon as Taryn awoke and saw the snow, she wanted to go outside. Well, Mason heard the word "outside" and off he ran to the door. So, I got the kids all bundled up (and myself) to have some fun in the snow...

Taryn ran outside and immediately started jumping down the hill, doing cartwheels and throwing snowballs.

Mason, on the other hand, had taken his boots off because he didn't like them (they are handmedowns, and a size too big). After three attempts to put his boots on, he finally made it outside. No gloves stayed on, of course.

It only took about 1 minute and a failed try at a picture of the two of them together, and Mason decided that this snow stuff was not for him.

He kept bending down to get the snow off of his boots and then cried when he touched the snow (from the chill of it).

Getting ready for some fun in the snow- 15 minutes

Numerous attempts to put boots on- 10 minutes

Being outside in the snow- 1 minute

Total experience for Mommy- Exhausting

When Taryn and I came back inside (Mason decided he liked it better staring out the storm door), we decided to make some chocolate chip pancakes and hot chocolate for breakfast! What a warm, inviting breakfast after a morning in the snow!

An Unexpected Pick Me Up....

2008-02-22T10:28:00.003-05:00

So, the past day and a half has been a little draining... I'm not sure if Mason is cutting more teeth, but he's been very whiny and clingy and hasn't slept very well. Last night, he went to bed at 7 only to awaken at 9 and never return to sleep until after midnight. This morning he was nice and cranky at 6:30! I am running on about 8 hours of sleep in the past two days and have been excitedly and nervously preparing for my first wedding shoot tomorrow! The nerves are a bit shot :)

Anyway, I went to turn on a movie for Taryn OnDemand and low and behold, my eyes did not deceive me.... my favorite movie growing up that I have not seen in at least 6 years (that in my lifespan I've watched close to 100 times) was there to surprise me! Now I know I sound very goofy right now and if you know me, I can very well be that way! So if you haven't seen this movie ever.... I suggest you go out and get it! You will love it and I bet your kids will love it. I hope Taryn will love it almost as much as I do.

Mom, I'm sure you know what movie I'm talking about already! And why did we never purchase this movie for me to own? I know we rented it enough!

Without further ado.... the movie is (drumroll please) THE NEWSIES by Disney

Favorite PJ's

2008-02-21T19:48:00.003-05:00

Mason absolutely loves his feety PJ's that have "vrooms vrooms" all over them. One afternoon he came to me, PJ's in hand and insisted (saying vroom vroom over and over again until I gave in) to put them on him!

It will be a sad day in our household when those PJ's are retired for good, which I am afraid is not that far away.

The Faith of a Child

2007-12-18T15:59:00.000-05:00

Yesterday we were on our way to the grocery store when we passed a graveyard. This is how my conversation went with Taryn...

T:"That's where people get buried, right?"

M: "Yes that is."

T: "Why do people get buried?"

M: "Well, that's what you do when someone dies...(and me, not thinking then says) You can either be buried or cremated."

T: "What's that?"

M: (what did I just get myself into) "It's when they take your body and burn it and then it turns into ashes."

T: "What's ashes?"

M: "It's like dirt."

T: "Oh, when I die I want to be buried, okay?"

M: "Okay."

T: " And I want you to buried too, so that you don't get hurt."

M: "Honey it won't hurt because you'll be heaven when they do it."

T: "Then where's your body?"

M: "Your body is here, but you're not in it anymore because your soul is what makes you who you are and that is what goes to heaven to be with Jesus."

T: "So you don't have a body in heaven?"

M: "You have a different new body in heaven."

T: "Are you alive in heaven like you are here?"

M: "You're alive in a different way."

T: " I don't want to go heaven."

M: "Some day most people you know are going to be in heaven."

T: "Like you and daddy and Mason and Justice and Lacey and Abby (and a list of almost everyone in her class)?"

M: "Well, if they asked Jesus into their hearts, then yes, they'll be in heaven."

T: "How do you do that?"
M: "You just ask Jesus to come into your heart and stay there."

T: "Did you ask him?"

M: "Yes."

T: "Did daddy ask him?"

M: "Not yet, but he's thinking about it."

T: "Did Mason ask him?"

M: " When he's big enough to understand, he'll get the chance to ask Jesus into his heart. Do you want to ask Jesus into your heart?"

T: "Yes (and before I could even lead her in prayer she bursted out in prayer) Jesus, would you come into my heart? Amen."

So then we talked about how we can tell other people about Jesus and how we should become like him and that will show people that it's good to ask Jesus into their hearts. She was so excited to tell all her friends about him.

It was one of the cutest, most endearing and at times funniest conversations I've had with her. Why is it that as adults we have such a hard time believing that it only takes something so simple to be accepted by Christ? Sometimes I wish I had more faith like a child and I wish I didn't question so many things. To just believe what you are told about Jesus and accept it and him into your heart with no hesitation, no questions..... it's amazing!

It brought so much joy to me to hear those 7 words come from her mouth. And what better time could it have come.... in the season of Christmas!

So as we celebrate Christ's birth, remember, all it takes is the faith of a child to truly know your Saviour!

Meddling Hands

2007-12-12T14:23:00.000-05:00

So, Mason found the baby powder the other day. Just when you think things are pretty much childproof, your child shows you othewise! He had more on my clothes, sheets and pillows then he did himself. But he still managed to have a face full.

My room did smell of baby powder for a few days, which was a very calming scent to have in there!

I'm sure there will be many more explorations to come and I hope I have my camera nearby!