Resting in Texas (Christmas 2019)

We spent the last 10 days of 2019 in Texas staying with Chris's parents.  Our goals for the trip were: Spend time with family/get the cousins together as much as possible and I added on: read and rest. And for the most part, it was one of the most relaxing weeks of my life -- definitely of my year.

Read and Rest:
I went for a walk nearly every day (I missed two), walking a total of 28 miles! I haven't had that much time for a regular walk since this summer. During my walks I listened to a couple of new-to-me podcasts:

      * Cook Smarts - https://www.cooksmarts.com/articles/category/podcast/ (learning to meal plan a little smarter and get my kids to eat better too).

      * Annie F. Downs - https://www.anniefdowns.com/podcast/ (she's just so fun to listen to and has some great interviews about the enneagram)

Not only did I get some time alone to walk and listen to podcasts. I had quite a bit of time to read. I hadn't intended to read so much as I know it doesn't take much for a book to pull me away from the real people right in front of me, but I enjoy it so much I couldn't help it. I did try to avoid grabbing the book at inappropriate times... here's what I read:
 - Autopsy of a Boring Wife by Marie-Renee Lavoie
 - The Silence Between Us Alison Gervais
 - Dare to Lead by Brené Brown (only finished half so far)
 - The Alice Network by Kate Quinn (just started on the flight home)


Illness:
The only part of our time in Texas that wasn't relaxing/near perfect was Stephen getting sick. On Christmas Eve we took him to an urgent care where we discovered he had Strep Throat. He was pretty miserable for several days before starting to move around like his normal, active self. He and I skipped the Christmas Eve family gathering and went to bed early. Not much will slow Stephen down so when he wasn't moving from my lap for hours at a time I could see how sick he felt. I felt bad for him being sick over Christmas but glad we had the help and time to just sit together and rest. (I read a lot while he napped on me.) And with the help of medication, he was able to participate in lots of cousin time and play (just not as actively as he normally would have).

Family time: 
Mom took Chris and I with the boys to the River Walk in San Antonio to see the lights. We haven't done this with the boys yet and I was hoping they would love it. We hadn't seen many Christmas lights this year. They liked the lights, but I don't think they liked the walk along the river. They might also have been a bit weirded out because we never do anything after dark. 

I can be sure of two things when I visit Chris's family -- we will play games and we will drink wine (or beer if you prefer). And we did both several times during our visit. It was so nice outside they even played games outside while the kids played in the backyard! Somehow when we try to organize game nights with friends the kids always make it impossible, but with this family the kids hang out and watch or run off to play as they please. It's not really a hindrance. I love that my boys are growing up around this and becoming interested in playing too! (It helps too that there's usually an adult not playing so they can watch the kids.)

William is much more into sports this year than past visits. And he had us all playing football or baseball several times. We took full advantage of the backyard!

And yes, we spent a lot of time with family. Chris's sister, Shannon was home from China too -- we loved spending so much time with her. She's so great with our boys too - reading, playing games, going on walks and playing outside. Somehow she has energy for it all! And Chris's brother Brad lives 45 minutes away from his parent's place and drove his family over nearly every day to see us. Their boys are the same ages as ours and they have two younger girls. It was a full house but so much fun! I love seeing how they play together. I know it will look different when they are older and not as close; but for now, they have a lot of similar interests and play easily.

We also spent one afternoon with Chris's high school friends. We try to get together with them every time we are in town. I love watching these guys get together. They are so tightly bonded. And their wives and kids are wonderful too and I love spending time with this group of people.

We ended the week with fireworks. This tradition still scares me a little, but the men are very safe with the boys. William and Stephen LOVE fireworks and want to be as involved as we allow. 

It was a great time with family -- a family I am so grateful to be a part of.

We spent the last 10 days of 2019 in Texas staying with Chris's parents.  Our goals for the trip were: Spend time with family/get the cousins together as much as possible and I added on: read and rest. And for the most part, it was one of the most relaxing weeks of my life -- definitely of my year.

Read and Rest:
I went for a walk nearly every day (I missed two), walking a total of 28 miles! I haven't had that much time for a regular walk since this summer. During my walks I listened to a couple of new-to-me podcasts:

      * Cook Smarts - https://www.cooksmarts.com/articles/category/podcast/ (learning to meal plan a little smarter and get my kids to eat better too).

      * Annie F. Downs - https://www.anniefdowns.com/podcast/ (she's just so fun to listen to and has some great interviews about the enneagram)

Not only did I get some time alone to walk and listen to podcasts. I had quite a bit of time to read. I hadn't intended to read so much as I know it doesn't take much for a book to pull me away from the real people right in front of me, but I enjoy it so much I couldn't help it. I did try to avoid grabbing the book at inappropriate times... here's what I read:
 - Autopsy of a Boring Wife by Marie-Renee Lavoie
 - The Silence Between Us Alison Gervais
 - Dare to Lead by Brené Brown (only finished half so far)
 - The Alice Network by Kate Quinn (just started on the flight home)


Illness:
The only part of our time in Texas that wasn't relaxing/near perfect was Stephen getting sick. On Christmas Eve we took him to an urgent care where we discovered he had Strep Throat. He was pretty miserable for several days before starting to move around like his normal, active self. He and I skipped the Christmas Eve family gathering and went to bed early. Not much will slow Stephen down so when he wasn't moving from my lap for hours at a time I could see how sick he felt. I felt bad for him being sick over Christmas but glad we had the help and time to just sit together and rest. (I read a lot while he napped on me.) And with the help of medication, he was able to participate in lots of cousin time and play (just not as actively as he normally would have).

Family time: 
Mom took Chris and I with the boys to the River Walk in San Antonio to see the lights. We haven't done this with the boys yet and I was hoping they would love it. We hadn't seen many Christmas lights this year. They liked the lights, but I don't think they liked the walk along the river. They might also have been a bit weirded out because we never do anything after dark. 

I can be sure of two things when I visit Chris's family -- we will play games and we will drink wine (or beer if you prefer). And we did both several times during our visit. It was so nice outside they even played games outside while the kids played in the backyard! Somehow when we try to organize game nights with friends the kids always make it impossible, but with this family the kids hang out and watch or run off to play as they please. It's not really a hindrance. I love that my boys are growing up around this and becoming interested in playing too! (It helps too that there's usually an adult not playing so they can watch the kids.)

William is much more into sports this year than past visits. And he had us all playing football or baseball several times. We took full advantage of the backyard!

And yes, we spent a lot of time with family. Chris's sister, Shannon was home from China too -- we loved spending so much time with her. She's so great with our boys too - reading, playing games, going on walks and playing outside. Somehow she has energy for it all! And Chris's brother Brad lives 45 minutes away from his parent's place and drove his family over nearly every day to see us. Their boys are the same ages as ours and they have two younger girls. It was a full house but so much fun! I love seeing how they play together. I know it will look different when they are older and not as close; but for now, they have a lot of similar interests and play easily.

We also spent one afternoon with Chris's high school friends. We try to get together with them every time we are in town. I love watching these guys get together. They are so tightly bonded. And their wives and kids are wonderful too and I love spending time with this group of people.

We ended the week with fireworks. This tradition still scares me a little, but the men are very safe with the boys. William and Stephen LOVE fireworks and want to be as involved as we allow. 

It was a great time with family -- a family I am so grateful to be a part of.

2019 In Review

This is one of my favorite traditions. Reflecting on the past year and sharing the highs and lows with those who may not have lived close enough to know about them. Especially now that my blog isn't updated as frequently as I would like.

This year feels like one of fullness and relief. After years of praying, applying and waiting for a new housing situation to work out we are now celebrating and rejoicing in thankfulness for our home of 10 months.

2019 started out with hope. We had been approved for a bank loan and qualified for a second load through a city program for a two-bedroom, two-bathroom condo in the Western Addition district. There was a lot to do to prepare for the move while at the same time guarding our hearts from major heartache if this were to fall through as so many other potential homes had. We cleaned out our storage unit, got rid of all of our baby stuff and anything else we hadn't used in years. All in hope that this move would happen.

And then in February we made the move! I remember that day very vividly. I brought William to school knowing that when a friend dropped him off at "home" it would be a space he had never seen before. We hired movers and they did it all in a day. Chris handled the clean up and last minute things we'd left behind. It was surreal to see our apartment of nearly 9 years empty again. It looked so big!

In March, we got the news that William got into our first choice elementary school - a Spanish Immersion program. We were so relieved and excited. He finished out his year of Transitional Kindergarten in June and started Kindergarten in August. He is doing well. For the first few weeks he would say "I didn't learn anything, it's in Spanish." But by the end of the second month he seemed to be picking it up quite well and he had some really great friends! Now, after 82 days of school (they keep track), he seems to really like it. And we all love his teacher.

In April, we had our first experience with stitches. William had a run in with a door and cut his forehead deep enough to need 6 stitches. I was so thankful Chris was with us and took control of the situation. We made our way to the urgent care and they cared for him so well. Seriously, amazed by the care and attention these two women gave him. They skipped their lunch hour to see him right away and let him watch PJ Masks while they stitched him up. The worst part was they finished before the episode was over! I can't say I handled this event well, but I did learn a few things. I had no idea that this would be my training for when Stephen had a collision with a railing in June and also cut his head. William, now understanding that the word "wound" was more serious that "owie" alerted me to the injury by screaming "Stephen has a wound!" Sure enough, there was blood everywhere. Back to the urgent care we went, but he didn't need stitches. Just glue and an order not to get it wet for a week. We were all much more prepared this time around, but it still isn't something I want to repeat.

In July, we spent two weeks in Minnesota. It was my favorite time of summer -- fair season. As we did when we were kids, we made it to every fair we could get to . . . for a total of three. We went to parades, rode rides, ate corn dogs, played kiddy games, saw animals. and went to a bull ride.

We spent as much time as we could with my siblings and their kids which included a few nights at a hotel with a pool. The pool provided so much entertainment for us all. I loved being with them -- would have loved more time together. It's never enough. We ended our trip with a afternoon at the water park and dinner at the buffet with my parents. The kids (and I) had a blast!

In mid-August our "Fall" schedule took affect. School started for William, and Stephen and I started swim classes on Wednesdays, attending a child observation class at the city college on Thursdays, and a playdate swap with another family on Fridays. Then my mother's group (MOPS) started in September and we were in regular a routine. I'm coordinating MOPS again this year with a team of lovely women. We have such a great group and it continues to be a blessing to me and our community.

In November, Chris flew to Texas for a few days to attend his cousin's wedding and spend time with family. The next week he started a new job as a software engineer for Granular. He had been quietly looking for a new job since May. He loved working for Rhumbix for just nearly 2 1/2 years but it was time for a new experience. The new job started out a bit rough and with the Thanksgiving break and a few days off for sickness, he was feeling a little down about it. But now he seems to have found a groove.

And for Thanksgiving break we took a road trip to Provo, Utah to visit with my sister and her family. The pass through Tahoe was a wreck with snow so we drove the long way around the mountain making a 12-hour drive a 16-hour drive split up in two days each way. Traffic on the way home was so heavy that we spend an additional 3 hours in the car than we hoped to. The boys handled it as we expected -- voicing how we all felt every 15 minutes. Even though our time with the Hunt family was shortened by a day we still had a fabulous time and the boys loved playing in the snow. Now Stephen keeps asking "When will it snow in San Francisco?"

My sister, El, had a baby on December 1 and I'm trying not to think about how old he will be when I get to meet him face to face. They are doing well! The rest of December basically flew by. We ended the year with a trip to Texas and spent 10 days with the Babiak family. Will try to write about that soon. And now, I can't believe we're at the year's end.

There are a few other things that need to be mentioned. As is true with most of life, in the midst of the "good" we experience the "hard" and "sad" and down right "awful" moments too. When we were in Minnesota over the summer, we lost my Uncle Jerry. So while I wrote above about all the fun we had, we also had the hard and sad experiences too. So many emotional conversations were had and hugs were given. And time together treasured. I was thankful to be home with family during that time.

And in August, a dear friend of mine passed away. So while we were adjusting to our new routines I was in a heavy mourning season and trying to be supportive of my friend's family in any way I could. The hard moments live along side the everyday . . . making those everyday days so very hard to get through.

I'm carrying hope into the New Year knowing that each year will have hard days and good days. Our new home has given me a lightness which contrasts the darkness I had in previous years. That lightness feels so good - unhindered, freeing. With the burden of finding housing behind us I am hoping that our prayers and focus can be put on those around us and on our children as they grow.

May you have a blessed New Year - with renewed hopes and dreams; may your burdens be light.

This is one of my favorite traditions. Reflecting on the past year and sharing the highs and lows with those who may not have lived close enough to know about them. Especially now that my blog isn't updated as frequently as I would like.

This year feels like one of fullness and relief. After years of praying, applying and waiting for a new housing situation to work out we are now celebrating and rejoicing in thankfulness for our home of 10 months.

2019 started out with hope. We had been approved for a bank loan and qualified for a second load through a city program for a two-bedroom, two-bathroom condo in the Western Addition district. There was a lot to do to prepare for the move while at the same time guarding our hearts from major heartache if this were to fall through as so many other potential homes had. We cleaned out our storage unit, got rid of all of our baby stuff and anything else we hadn't used in years. All in hope that this move would happen.

And then in February we made the move! I remember that day very vividly. I brought William to school knowing that when a friend dropped him off at "home" it would be a space he had never seen before. We hired movers and they did it all in a day. Chris handled the clean up and last minute things we'd left behind. It was surreal to see our apartment of nearly 9 years empty again. It looked so big!

In March, we got the news that William got into our first choice elementary school - a Spanish Immersion program. We were so relieved and excited. He finished out his year of Transitional Kindergarten in June and started Kindergarten in August. He is doing well. For the first few weeks he would say "I didn't learn anything, it's in Spanish." But by the end of the second month he seemed to be picking it up quite well and he had some really great friends! Now, after 82 days of school (they keep track), he seems to really like it. And we all love his teacher.

In April, we had our first experience with stitches. William had a run in with a door and cut his forehead deep enough to need 6 stitches. I was so thankful Chris was with us and took control of the situation. We made our way to the urgent care and they cared for him so well. Seriously, amazed by the care and attention these two women gave him. They skipped their lunch hour to see him right away and let him watch PJ Masks while they stitched him up. The worst part was they finished before the episode was over! I can't say I handled this event well, but I did learn a few things. I had no idea that this would be my training for when Stephen had a collision with a railing in June and also cut his head. William, now understanding that the word "wound" was more serious that "owie" alerted me to the injury by screaming "Stephen has a wound!" Sure enough, there was blood everywhere. Back to the urgent care we went, but he didn't need stitches. Just glue and an order not to get it wet for a week. We were all much more prepared this time around, but it still isn't something I want to repeat.

In July, we spent two weeks in Minnesota. It was my favorite time of summer -- fair season. As we did when we were kids, we made it to every fair we could get to . . . for a total of three. We went to parades, rode rides, ate corn dogs, played kiddy games, saw animals. and went to a bull ride.

We spent as much time as we could with my siblings and their kids which included a few nights at a hotel with a pool. The pool provided so much entertainment for us all. I loved being with them -- would have loved more time together. It's never enough. We ended our trip with a afternoon at the water park and dinner at the buffet with my parents. The kids (and I) had a blast!

In mid-August our "Fall" schedule took affect. School started for William, and Stephen and I started swim classes on Wednesdays, attending a child observation class at the city college on Thursdays, and a playdate swap with another family on Fridays. Then my mother's group (MOPS) started in September and we were in regular a routine. I'm coordinating MOPS again this year with a team of lovely women. We have such a great group and it continues to be a blessing to me and our community.

In November, Chris flew to Texas for a few days to attend his cousin's wedding and spend time with family. The next week he started a new job as a software engineer for Granular. He had been quietly looking for a new job since May. He loved working for Rhumbix for just nearly 2 1/2 years but it was time for a new experience. The new job started out a bit rough and with the Thanksgiving break and a few days off for sickness, he was feeling a little down about it. But now he seems to have found a groove.

And for Thanksgiving break we took a road trip to Provo, Utah to visit with my sister and her family. The pass through Tahoe was a wreck with snow so we drove the long way around the mountain making a 12-hour drive a 16-hour drive split up in two days each way. Traffic on the way home was so heavy that we spend an additional 3 hours in the car than we hoped to. The boys handled it as we expected -- voicing how we all felt every 15 minutes. Even though our time with the Hunt family was shortened by a day we still had a fabulous time and the boys loved playing in the snow. Now Stephen keeps asking "When will it snow in San Francisco?"

My sister, El, had a baby on December 1 and I'm trying not to think about how old he will be when I get to meet him face to face. They are doing well! The rest of December basically flew by. We ended the year with a trip to Texas and spent 10 days with the Babiak family. Will try to write about that soon. And now, I can't believe we're at the year's end.

There are a few other things that need to be mentioned. As is true with most of life, in the midst of the "good" we experience the "hard" and "sad" and down right "awful" moments too. When we were in Minnesota over the summer, we lost my Uncle Jerry. So while I wrote above about all the fun we had, we also had the hard and sad experiences too. So many emotional conversations were had and hugs were given. And time together treasured. I was thankful to be home with family during that time.

And in August, a dear friend of mine passed away. So while we were adjusting to our new routines I was in a heavy mourning season and trying to be supportive of my friend's family in any way I could. The hard moments live along side the everyday . . . making those everyday days so very hard to get through.

I'm carrying hope into the New Year knowing that each year will have hard days and good days. Our new home has given me a lightness which contrasts the darkness I had in previous years. That lightness feels so good - unhindered, freeing. With the burden of finding housing behind us I am hoping that our prayers and focus can be put on those around us and on our children as they grow.

May you have a blessed New Year - with renewed hopes and dreams; may your burdens be light.

Merry Christmas from the Babiaks

Merry Christmas to you!! I hope you are enjoying this season of joy, peace and hope with those you love. We are currently in Texas with Chris's family and enjoying the literal peace and quiet of the country.

December marks 10 months of living in our new condo. And we still love it. It was really fun to decorate and figure out what Christmas looks like in our new space. We still don't have anything on the walls so we had a lot of options! The boys continued in the tradition of going with Dad to pick out our tree. This will most likely be the last year we have Chris's pickup to make the trip easy, so it was a bittersweet outing. We are hoping to sell the truck next month. 

The boys were very excited to unwrap all the ornaments and find their favorites. They weren't at interested in actually putting them on the tree by the time I was ready for them. We had the tree up, the stockings on the wall, garland on the china hutch and a wreath on the door. The final touch was our advent calendar; or rather string of envelopes. We decided to put them above the stair railing. So every time we go up or down our stairs we are reminded of the anticipation of Christmas Day and the stories we've read as we wait.

Once again we are doing the Truth in the Tinsel advent activities. Each morning William opens the envelope for the day and finds the clue (star, shepherd, sheep, Mary, Joseph, etc.) and each day we read a portion of scripture and complete a craft that associates to the story. We did really well until Day 17. Then evenings got taken by other activities and we fell behind. (Trying not to let it get to me.)

I had every intention of doing something festive each week in December. Going ice skating, visiting the gingerbread house, seeing Christmas lights, drinking hot chocolate, etc. But this month was busy with just every day stuff; and Thanksgiving being at the very end of November I felt like was missing a few days to get ready for it all. I was thankful for the Christmas tree and advent crafts to remind me of the season. 

Last week was a bit more festive. On Sunday the kids sang during the church service and Stephen was a little wise man in the nativity scene. They did a great job and were just the cutest kids. You can watch them here (start at minute 16).

William had a Winter Festival Performance at his school on Thursday night. His school doesn't have an auditorium so they had a stage set up outside. Thankfully it wasn't raining! Each class performed a few songs and some even danced. William's class sang Feliz Navidad and Estrellita Donde Estras (Twinkle, Twinkle little Star). He did very well -- and had been singing it non-stop at home all month!

So, while the month feels like it has been too busy to do all the things we wanted to do, it still had plenty of Christmas spirit and focus on Jesus. Chris and I also managed to fit in a date night and I had a few evenings with friends. Those were great bonuses!

We wish you a Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to you!! I hope you are enjoying this season of joy, peace and hope with those you love. We are currently in Texas with Chris's family and enjoying the literal peace and quiet of the country.

December marks 10 months of living in our new condo. And we still love it. It was really fun to decorate and figure out what Christmas looks like in our new space. We still don't have anything on the walls so we had a lot of options! The boys continued in the tradition of going with Dad to pick out our tree. This will most likely be the last year we have Chris's pickup to make the trip easy, so it was a bittersweet outing. We are hoping to sell the truck next month. 

The boys were very excited to unwrap all the ornaments and find their favorites. They weren't at interested in actually putting them on the tree by the time I was ready for them. We had the tree up, the stockings on the wall, garland on the china hutch and a wreath on the door. The final touch was our advent calendar; or rather string of envelopes. We decided to put them above the stair railing. So every time we go up or down our stairs we are reminded of the anticipation of Christmas Day and the stories we've read as we wait.

Once again we are doing the Truth in the Tinsel advent activities. Each morning William opens the envelope for the day and finds the clue (star, shepherd, sheep, Mary, Joseph, etc.) and each day we read a portion of scripture and complete a craft that associates to the story. We did really well until Day 17. Then evenings got taken by other activities and we fell behind. (Trying not to let it get to me.)

I had every intention of doing something festive each week in December. Going ice skating, visiting the gingerbread house, seeing Christmas lights, drinking hot chocolate, etc. But this month was busy with just every day stuff; and Thanksgiving being at the very end of November I felt like was missing a few days to get ready for it all. I was thankful for the Christmas tree and advent crafts to remind me of the season. 

Last week was a bit more festive. On Sunday the kids sang during the church service and Stephen was a little wise man in the nativity scene. They did a great job and were just the cutest kids. You can watch them here (start at minute 16).

William had a Winter Festival Performance at his school on Thursday night. His school doesn't have an auditorium so they had a stage set up outside. Thankfully it wasn't raining! Each class performed a few songs and some even danced. William's class sang Feliz Navidad and Estrellita Donde Estras (Twinkle, Twinkle little Star). He did very well -- and had been singing it non-stop at home all month!

So, while the month feels like it has been too busy to do all the things we wanted to do, it still had plenty of Christmas spirit and focus on Jesus. Chris and I also managed to fit in a date night and I had a few evenings with friends. Those were great bonuses!

We wish you a Merry Christmas!

Toddler B2: Three and a Half Years Old

"How old are you?" is one of the most common questions people ask kids. My grandpa asked me every time we were together! My boys love it when the answer gets to change. And I love remembering the changes they have gone through in the past half-year. Stephen can now answer the question with "Three and a half!" And I get to write about him!

Stephen is no longer a toddler really, more like a preschooler without actually going to preschool. We're looking into having him start next fall. We've been keeping busy this fall with a lot of mom-and-me activities: Parenting/Child observation class at City College, swimming lessons, MOPS, and playdates with friends. He typically doesn't like leaving the house for any of these things and will tell me repeatedly that he just wants to stay home and play, but once we get there he is usually just fine and has a good time.

This swimming session has been a little different in that band-aids are reason enough not to get into the water. And lately, he's had a lot of bandages. No real injuries to report, just the occasional scratch or skinned knee. But the bandages stay on for a long time and he doesn't like to get them wet. So we sit on the edge and he plays with the water toys. Near the end of class I can usually talk him into doing one or two things the teacher is doing and he does seem to enjoy it.

He has really gotten into building and playing with legos recently. William received a lot of lego sets for his birthday last month and Stephen loves them all. We build together a lot. My favorite thing is when he asks for the "constructions" instead of "instructions!" He also really likes going to visit our friends who have bigger toy trucks than we have -- fire trucks, garbage trucks, cranes, etc. If it's big, it's his favorite. Paw Patrol has also become a new favorite. We've let him watch a few episodes on TV and he loves the trucks they drive. Remote control cars are also very exciting to him. He calls them "Comote controls."

He loves drawing. Mostly trucks. I love it when I can actually see what he was trying to draw! More than just lines and circles now. He loves it when I draw tractors, fire trucks, construction vehicles and garbage trucks for him so he can color them and add his own details. He had his dad draw for him once and from that point on the request was "Mom, can you draw the garbage truck like dad draws it?" I did my best.

I can make a pretty decent cardboard car though . . . he took it to school pick up.

We are working on our letter sounds and recognizing them. He loves finding "S" everywhere we go and is pretty close to being able to write it. The "W" the second most commonly noticed letter (for William).

Sports are and always have been important to Stephen. We've gotten the boys into a soccer program this fall and they both really love it. The coaches do such a great job with little kids and Stephen stays engaged and participates the whole time! Stephen still loves basketball but we haven't been around it much lately.

Stephen and William get a long for the most part. They play, look at books, color, draw, pretend and wrestle. Stephen likes to pick fights and has a pretty powerful punch (the back slap really hurts). This is probably my biggest struggle . . . helping them find the line between playing rough and actually meaning to hurt each other.

I do enjoy my days at home with this growing boy. I'm trying to appreciate it more knowing that eventually he too will be off to school. 

"How old are you?" is one of the most common questions people ask kids. My grandpa asked me every time we were together! My boys love it when the answer gets to change. And I love remembering the changes they have gone through in the past half-year. Stephen can now answer the question with "Three and a half!" And I get to write about him!

Stephen is no longer a toddler really, more like a preschooler without actually going to preschool. We're looking into having him start next fall. We've been keeping busy this fall with a lot of mom-and-me activities: Parenting/Child observation class at City College, swimming lessons, MOPS, and playdates with friends. He typically doesn't like leaving the house for any of these things and will tell me repeatedly that he just wants to stay home and play, but once we get there he is usually just fine and has a good time.

This swimming session has been a little different in that band-aids are reason enough not to get into the water. And lately, he's had a lot of bandages. No real injuries to report, just the occasional scratch or skinned knee. But the bandages stay on for a long time and he doesn't like to get them wet. So we sit on the edge and he plays with the water toys. Near the end of class I can usually talk him into doing one or two things the teacher is doing and he does seem to enjoy it.

He has really gotten into building and playing with legos recently. William received a lot of lego sets for his birthday last month and Stephen loves them all. We build together a lot. My favorite thing is when he asks for the "constructions" instead of "instructions!" He also really likes going to visit our friends who have bigger toy trucks than we have -- fire trucks, garbage trucks, cranes, etc. If it's big, it's his favorite. Paw Patrol has also become a new favorite. We've let him watch a few episodes on TV and he loves the trucks they drive. Remote control cars are also very exciting to him. He calls them "Comote controls."

He loves drawing. Mostly trucks. I love it when I can actually see what he was trying to draw! More than just lines and circles now. He loves it when I draw tractors, fire trucks, construction vehicles and garbage trucks for him so he can color them and add his own details. He had his dad draw for him once and from that point on the request was "Mom, can you draw the garbage truck like dad draws it?" I did my best.

I can make a pretty decent cardboard car though . . . he took it to school pick up.

We are working on our letter sounds and recognizing them. He loves finding "S" everywhere we go and is pretty close to being able to write it. The "W" the second most commonly noticed letter (for William).

Sports are and always have been important to Stephen. We've gotten the boys into a soccer program this fall and they both really love it. The coaches do such a great job with little kids and Stephen stays engaged and participates the whole time! Stephen still loves basketball but we haven't been around it much lately.

Stephen and William get a long for the most part. They play, look at books, color, draw, pretend and wrestle. Stephen likes to pick fights and has a pretty powerful punch (the back slap really hurts). This is probably my biggest struggle . . . helping them find the line between playing rough and actually meaning to hurt each other.

I do enjoy my days at home with this growing boy. I'm trying to appreciate it more knowing that eventually he too will be off to school. 

Back on the Bike

I mentioned on Facebook back in May that my bike was stolen from our garage. It not only took away the reality of biking but also my excitement to start biking again.

But in October a friend of mine posted that she was looking for a specific child seat to go on the back of her new family bike so both of her kids could ride with her. The same seat that we had sitting in our closet waiting for a bike. I told her our predicament and offered her the seat since we weren't getting any use out of it. She then told me she had an extra bike with a child seat on it that she wouldn't need anymore if she took our seat. So, we swapped!

Our first bike ride was a big one. We started the morning with a mile ride to soccer practice. It was the first time I'd ridden a bike in over four years! After soccer practice we rode downtown for lunch (And yes, I was thankful to have another break even after a short ride.) After lunch we continued up the Embarcadero and made our way to Aquatic Park to watch the Blue Angels during fleet week. It was the perfect day!

The ride home was much more vigorous with a steep hill between us and home. I stopped a lot. And felt like my heart might beat right out of my chest and I would die, but we made it home. Other than some soreness the following day, I felt great. And proud that we did it. We biked as a family!

Since that first weekend in October, Stephen and I have gone on a handful of bike rides together. Usually we take it to swim class, which is just 5 blocks away. We also ride along with Chris and William to soccer practice on Saturdays and last week we took the bikes to church. I love it! The exercise is great and doing something as a family -- even as simple as a bike ride -- has been really good for us. I'm hoping we can go on many bike rides together before Stephen hits the weight limit for his seat! And we'll avoid the hills whenever we can.

I mentioned on Facebook back in May that my bike was stolen from our garage. It not only took away the reality of biking but also my excitement to start biking again.

But in October a friend of mine posted that she was looking for a specific child seat to go on the back of her new family bike so both of her kids could ride with her. The same seat that we had sitting in our closet waiting for a bike. I told her our predicament and offered her the seat since we weren't getting any use out of it. She then told me she had an extra bike with a child seat on it that she wouldn't need anymore if she took our seat. So, we swapped!

Our first bike ride was a big one. We started the morning with a mile ride to soccer practice. It was the first time I'd ridden a bike in over four years! After soccer practice we rode downtown for lunch (And yes, I was thankful to have another break even after a short ride.) After lunch we continued up the Embarcadero and made our way to Aquatic Park to watch the Blue Angels during fleet week. It was the perfect day!

The ride home was much more vigorous with a steep hill between us and home. I stopped a lot. And felt like my heart might beat right out of my chest and I would die, but we made it home. Other than some soreness the following day, I felt great. And proud that we did it. We biked as a family!

Since that first weekend in October, Stephen and I have gone on a handful of bike rides together. Usually we take it to swim class, which is just 5 blocks away. We also ride along with Chris and William to soccer practice on Saturdays and last week we took the bikes to church. I love it! The exercise is great and doing something as a family -- even as simple as a bike ride -- has been really good for us. I'm hoping we can go on many bike rides together before Stephen hits the weight limit for his seat! And we'll avoid the hills whenever we can.

2019 Walk For Life: Success

Yesterday was Alpha Pregnancy Center's Walk for Life. As I mentioned before this year was a big deal for us because we were bringing our boys along to the event -- and not just the after party with the bounce house. 

We walked and walked, all morning long. William asking every 10 minutes or so how much further we had to go. Three miles is long walk for this guy and in the end it was more like 3.75 miles but he did it! I'm so proud . . . even if he did say "I'm never doing this again" at one point. Stephen lucked out and was pushed in the stroller. We knew if we didn't bring it, our backs would take a beating trying to carry him that far. He did walk for nearly half a mile. Walking with friends helps. 

We got to walk with a lot of friends this year and we had a huge team! Dan and Val are friends from church and anytime we get to spend with them is a blessing. Dan is a great photographer too so I'm looking forward to seeing what he captured yesterday. Matthew and his daughter Catica are long time friends too. Matthew and I were on a team together for my very first walk! And Brittany is a friend through the Walk for Life. She was placed on my team three years ago and we've been friends ever since. This is our third year walking together (and the second time her mom and mother-in-law joined in!) And one more gentleman joined our team, Robert (not pictured) -- so we made another friend too!

After the delivering the gifts to Alpha's clients we made our way to the park for a big celebration lunch -- and the bounce house. And this year, the boys got glitter tattoos and cotton candy. 

(Sorry for the big-head perspective)

The directors of Alpha announced that they had raised over $8,000 through the event this year and had 150 walkers delivering gifts to 50 families! And you all blew me away with donating over $1400 to sponsor our family walking! Amazing! I'm so thrilled!

One more thing: this year I had coordinated a service project with my MOPS group to serve Alpha in a big way. We hauled all the gift items to our church so that during our 2-hour meeting we could bag them up for each parent and child. In 90 minutes we had packaged 120 gift-bags! It was an amazing event to watch and be a part of. (And a lot of work getting it ready and put away again.) 

I'm so glad my whole family could participate this year. And that I could get our MOPS group to partner with the center as well. Thank you for your prayers and support for Alpha!!

Yesterday was Alpha Pregnancy Center's Walk for Life. As I mentioned before this year was a big deal for us because we were bringing our boys along to the event -- and not just the after party with the bounce house. 

We walked and walked, all morning long. William asking every 10 minutes or so how much further we had to go. Three miles is long walk for this guy and in the end it was more like 3.75 miles but he did it! I'm so proud . . . even if he did say "I'm never doing this again" at one point. Stephen lucked out and was pushed in the stroller. We knew if we didn't bring it, our backs would take a beating trying to carry him that far. He did walk for nearly half a mile. Walking with friends helps. 

We got to walk with a lot of friends this year and we had a huge team! Dan and Val are friends from church and anytime we get to spend with them is a blessing. Dan is a great photographer too so I'm looking forward to seeing what he captured yesterday. Matthew and his daughter Catica are long time friends too. Matthew and I were on a team together for my very first walk! And Brittany is a friend through the Walk for Life. She was placed on my team three years ago and we've been friends ever since. This is our third year walking together (and the second time her mom and mother-in-law joined in!) And one more gentleman joined our team, Robert (not pictured) -- so we made another friend too!

After the delivering the gifts to Alpha's clients we made our way to the park for a big celebration lunch -- and the bounce house. And this year, the boys got glitter tattoos and cotton candy. 

(Sorry for the big-head perspective)

The directors of Alpha announced that they had raised over $8,000 through the event this year and had 150 walkers delivering gifts to 50 families! And you all blew me away with donating over $1400 to sponsor our family walking! Amazing! I'm so thrilled!

One more thing: this year I had coordinated a service project with my MOPS group to serve Alpha in a big way. We hauled all the gift items to our church so that during our 2-hour meeting we could bag them up for each parent and child. In 90 minutes we had packaged 120 gift-bags! It was an amazing event to watch and be a part of. (And a lot of work getting it ready and put away again.) 

I'm so glad my whole family could participate this year. And that I could get our MOPS group to partner with the center as well. Thank you for your prayers and support for Alpha!!

SIX YEARS OLD

William Bradley is six years old today. Is it strange to admit that when I had a baby I never really imagined what it'd be like to have a school aged child? (or a teenager or an adult son . . . ) But he keeps growing and I need to adjust my ideas of who this baby of mine is and is becoming! It's exciting.

He loves learning about and pretending to be animals. Not dogs or cats, but animals like perigean falcons, honey badgers, and black jaguars. He also loves dinosaurs and more recently dragons. He doesn't really like playing by himself, he would much rather play with a friend, a parent or his brother (if he plays along with the rules...). He loves watching sports with dad and playing football, soccer and basketball with friends at school during recess. Over the summer he really got into swimming and will do lessons again next month. He is pretty competitive and always wants to know who was the best swimmer, player or runner. What he really wants to hear is "you were the best one!"

He also really likes drawing and he is pretty creative in what he comes up with. Mostly animals but he is expanding his subjects more now. With both William and Stephen drawing more, we've nearly gone through an entire ream of paper this year! Those afternoons of coloring or drawing are my favorite moments. They cooperate, they're quiet and creative. And I love hearing their stories about what they drew.

He loves going to school and seems to be doing well. He has made some really great friends already. He really likes his teacher and even wants to become a teacher when he grows up! That or a professional football player (yikes!). He doesn't speak too much in Spanish at home yet, but does come home with new words all the time. It's the songs that get stuck in his head and he sings those for days!

It's been a really fun year with this guy -- he has grown and learned so much and we are so very proud of him.

William Bradley is six years old today. Is it strange to admit that when I had a baby I never really imagined what it'd be like to have a school aged child? (or a teenager or an adult son . . . ) But he keeps growing and I need to adjust my ideas of who this baby of mine is and is becoming! It's exciting.

He loves learning about and pretending to be animals. Not dogs or cats, but animals like perigean falcons, honey badgers, and black jaguars. He also loves dinosaurs and more recently dragons. He doesn't really like playing by himself, he would much rather play with a friend, a parent or his brother (if he plays along with the rules...). He loves watching sports with dad and playing football, soccer and basketball with friends at school during recess. Over the summer he really got into swimming and will do lessons again next month. He is pretty competitive and always wants to know who was the best swimmer, player or runner. What he really wants to hear is "you were the best one!"

He also really likes drawing and he is pretty creative in what he comes up with. Mostly animals but he is expanding his subjects more now. With both William and Stephen drawing more, we've nearly gone through an entire ream of paper this year! Those afternoons of coloring or drawing are my favorite moments. They cooperate, they're quiet and creative. And I love hearing their stories about what they drew.

He loves going to school and seems to be doing well. He has made some really great friends already. He really likes his teacher and even wants to become a teacher when he grows up! That or a professional football player (yikes!). He doesn't speak too much in Spanish at home yet, but does come home with new words all the time. It's the songs that get stuck in his head and he sings those for days!

It's been a really fun year with this guy -- he has grown and learned so much and we are so very proud of him.

My Friend Chastidy

I lost a close friend last month to cancer. I've been processing her passing for weeks and still find myself missing her and struggling to grasp this new reality that she isn't here. I've been meaning to write a tribute to her in this space and reflect on what she meant to me and what she taught me but the words fail me. Her Celebration of Life service was this past weekend which was really a wonderful time of hundreds of people gathered to remember and honor her. And it seems fitting to finally sit down and write my own memorial. Or rather, my memories of her and how she left her mark on me.

We first met at our church. Chastidy and her husband Matthew had moved to the city a few years before us and Chastidy was now the director of Alpha Pregnancy Center. She spoke about the Walk for Life at church one Sunday and the stories she shared really impacted me. I knew I had to participate. I ended up being on Matthew's team and walked a lot longer than I had signed up for! At the event Chastidy shared more stories of their clients and the people they try to help as well as sharing needs the center had. Again I was moved. We started supporting Alpha Pregnancy center shortly after and I have been a supporter and fundraiser and walker ever since the Fall of 2011.

Through Alpha's events over the years I had several opportunities to hear Chastidy speak. She was an amazing speaker -- so full of passion, wisdom, and vision. Every time I heard her speak, I felt like I was drawn closer to the Lord and a flame was flickering for the cause of protecting the unborn. Her testimony was so powerful; her life anything but easy. It seemed like struggle and heartbreak followed her nearly everywhere. But her testimony of God walking close to her during each of those trials was so evident and her faith was so firm and real that I left inspired and changed.

Our lives overlapped more as our husbands began working for the same visual effects company. We hung out more--doing dinner and game nights and becoming friends. We shared burdens, lent them our truck when they had car troubles and lamented together the housing struggles we both faced.

When their housing plans fell through and they were forced to move out of their house which they had planned to buy we referred them out landlord who had a vacant unit in our building. In 2015, they became our neighbors! It wasn't what they wanted and she would tell me she hated living there often, but I'd like to think that being neighbors was a silver lining and a blessing for us both.

After suffering miscarriages, she was able to carry her fifth baby to term and in February 2016 she had a daughter. We were overjoyed for them! I even got to take her maternity photographs. I started envisioning how we could do motherhood together -- Stephen born just three months later. Playdates, date night swaps, shared childcare... it was going to be awesome for both of us.

 But throughout the pregnancy she would tell me that something wasn't quite right, that she wasn't feeling well. Everyone told her it was pregnancy related -- including me. And when she confessed her abnormal fatigue after going back to work I repeated it again, adding that working with a baby at your side was the most exhausting thing I had ever done. But she insisted that this was different. And she was right. With a five month old baby in her arms she received the news that she had Stage 4 colon cancer. Our world was shaken to the core. We all surrounded her with prayers for healing; our community rallied meals and childcare and prayer meetings. We believed that this godly, courageous, faithful woman would indeed by healed by the living God. This woman who fought for the unborn, who wanted nothing more than to be a mother and finally got her chance would certainly be given more time to be a mother to her baby girl.

I was so scared for her. I didn't know what to say. I didn't know how to be what she needed. I was so afraid of saying the wrong things (which I did, often); I was so afraid of speaking doubt over her faith. I was afraid my faith wasn't strong enough to heal. I don't remember exactly how we organized it but I tried to help however I could -- usually babysitting or meals. And once I quit my job in January, 2017 I was more available to help. I watched her daughter as often as I could -- frustrated with how I couldn't handle three kids for longer than 2 hours at a time. And I brought her family meals on a weekly basis.

We taught William to pray for her and he did every single night. I was so hopeful that my son would get to see God answer his prayers in this amazing way at such a young age. That the faith of a child could bring healing.

After a year had passed I think something switched for one or both of us (like her energy level and my schedule) and instead of just passing food across the threshold or picking up her daughter for a few hours, we started to hang out together with the kids. Maybe 15 minutes here or there and then somehow it became an hour or even two. And I would sit with her and hear her stories, hear what she was experiencing and learning in her walk with God. And after knowing each other for years, we finally hit a rhythm of doing life together. It probably had something to do with our kids being able to play while we chatted! And after William started TK, she would watch Stephen while he napped while I did school pickup and I would watch her daughter once a week for a few hours in return. Last Christmas, we did our advent calendar crafts with the kids together. Traditions and memories were being made. It was so very special.

But the cancer continued. Her body was suffering. Fatigue and difficult breathing were the outward manifestations of the tumors taking over her insides. She kept her eyes on Jesus and spoke in churches and MOPS groups all over the Bay Area encouraging us to keep the faith in times of trial. And all over again, my friend inspired me in my faith. Just like she did before her cancer story even began. She didn't falter. Her faith got even stronger. Her story more compelling. She kept a blog throughout her journey, if you are compelled to know her through her writing. I would start here.

When we moved to our new place in February, we saw them much less often but through May I tried to get over there once a week to visit/help. I doubt it happened that regularly though. Her body was weakening and she was in a lot of pain. In July she flew to Ohio to spend her days with her dad and family there. July 4th was the last day I got to see her. I gave her a hug and she told me how much she missed living near me; I treasured her words to me that day -- she wasn't the type to say something just to be nice!

And now she is gone to be with Jesus. And that is truly the better place. While she did want to live here as long as possible and mother her daughter forever, being with Jesus was her end goal. She finished her race. She now has a restored, brand new body. The things we trusted and believed for on this earth were granted in Heaven. It isn't how we imagined or hoped, but He is still Good.

One of the most powerful lessons Chastidy demonstrated and taught was believing in God no matter what. Believing in his Goodness and Faithfulness even when to our eyes it looked the opposite. This is an excerpt from her blog post after she experienced a loss of a friend. She also spoke this same thing to our MOPS group, with tears streaming down her cheeks, she proclaimed, "but even if He doesn't, I will still worship Him."

Oh, Lord, I am asking my God for a long long life. I struggle to put it out to the world. What if it doesn’t happen? But, what if it does? I go back to Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego— when faced with a life threatening challenge, they kept a firm hope in God’s rescue plan for them. And they told the king who was threatening them, “we know God will rescue us, but even if He doesn’t…” and they stood firm in faith. They were thrown into a fire, but Jesus was with them, they were protected and miraculously they came out of it without any burns and not even a scorch mark on their clothing! 

So here I am, looking at this fiery trial. I know God has the ability to rescue me, to heal me, I believe He will. But even if He doesn’t I’ll still praise only Him. I’m mourning the deaths of my friends. My heart is raw right now. but I’m still going to praise God. He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

I had these very words in my heart after I heard that she passed. I'm mourning the death of my friend, my heart is raw, but I'm still going to praise God. This is her legacy in my life. Her steadfast faith and belief that Jesus is the one worthy of our praise. Always.

I lost a close friend last month to cancer. I've been processing her passing for weeks and still find myself missing her and struggling to grasp this new reality that she isn't here. I've been meaning to write a tribute to her in this space and reflect on what she meant to me and what she taught me but the words fail me. Her Celebration of Life service was this past weekend which was really a wonderful time of hundreds of people gathered to remember and honor her. And it seems fitting to finally sit down and write my own memorial. Or rather, my memories of her and how she left her mark on me.

We first met at our church. Chastidy and her husband Matthew had moved to the city a few years before us and Chastidy was now the director of Alpha Pregnancy Center. She spoke about the Walk for Life at church one Sunday and the stories she shared really impacted me. I knew I had to participate. I ended up being on Matthew's team and walked a lot longer than I had signed up for! At the event Chastidy shared more stories of their clients and the people they try to help as well as sharing needs the center had. Again I was moved. We started supporting Alpha Pregnancy center shortly after and I have been a supporter and fundraiser and walker ever since the Fall of 2011.

Through Alpha's events over the years I had several opportunities to hear Chastidy speak. She was an amazing speaker -- so full of passion, wisdom, and vision. Every time I heard her speak, I felt like I was drawn closer to the Lord and a flame was flickering for the cause of protecting the unborn. Her testimony was so powerful; her life anything but easy. It seemed like struggle and heartbreak followed her nearly everywhere. But her testimony of God walking close to her during each of those trials was so evident and her faith was so firm and real that I left inspired and changed.

Our lives overlapped more as our husbands began working for the same visual effects company. We hung out more--doing dinner and game nights and becoming friends. We shared burdens, lent them our truck when they had car troubles and lamented together the housing struggles we both faced.

When their housing plans fell through and they were forced to move out of their house which they had planned to buy we referred them out landlord who had a vacant unit in our building. In 2015, they became our neighbors! It wasn't what they wanted and she would tell me she hated living there often, but I'd like to think that being neighbors was a silver lining and a blessing for us both.

After suffering miscarriages, she was able to carry her fifth baby to term and in February 2016 she had a daughter. We were overjoyed for them! I even got to take her maternity photographs. I started envisioning how we could do motherhood together -- Stephen born just three months later. Playdates, date night swaps, shared childcare... it was going to be awesome for both of us.

 But throughout the pregnancy she would tell me that something wasn't quite right, that she wasn't feeling well. Everyone told her it was pregnancy related -- including me. And when she confessed her abnormal fatigue after going back to work I repeated it again, adding that working with a baby at your side was the most exhausting thing I had ever done. But she insisted that this was different. And she was right. With a five month old baby in her arms she received the news that she had Stage 4 colon cancer. Our world was shaken to the core. We all surrounded her with prayers for healing; our community rallied meals and childcare and prayer meetings. We believed that this godly, courageous, faithful woman would indeed by healed by the living God. This woman who fought for the unborn, who wanted nothing more than to be a mother and finally got her chance would certainly be given more time to be a mother to her baby girl.

I was so scared for her. I didn't know what to say. I didn't know how to be what she needed. I was so afraid of saying the wrong things (which I did, often); I was so afraid of speaking doubt over her faith. I was afraid my faith wasn't strong enough to heal. I don't remember exactly how we organized it but I tried to help however I could -- usually babysitting or meals. And once I quit my job in January, 2017 I was more available to help. I watched her daughter as often as I could -- frustrated with how I couldn't handle three kids for longer than 2 hours at a time. And I brought her family meals on a weekly basis.

We taught William to pray for her and he did every single night. I was so hopeful that my son would get to see God answer his prayers in this amazing way at such a young age. That the faith of a child could bring healing.

After a year had passed I think something switched for one or both of us (like her energy level and my schedule) and instead of just passing food across the threshold or picking up her daughter for a few hours, we started to hang out together with the kids. Maybe 15 minutes here or there and then somehow it became an hour or even two. And I would sit with her and hear her stories, hear what she was experiencing and learning in her walk with God. And after knowing each other for years, we finally hit a rhythm of doing life together. It probably had something to do with our kids being able to play while we chatted! And after William started TK, she would watch Stephen while he napped while I did school pickup and I would watch her daughter once a week for a few hours in return. Last Christmas, we did our advent calendar crafts with the kids together. Traditions and memories were being made. It was so very special.

But the cancer continued. Her body was suffering. Fatigue and difficult breathing were the outward manifestations of the tumors taking over her insides. She kept her eyes on Jesus and spoke in churches and MOPS groups all over the Bay Area encouraging us to keep the faith in times of trial. And all over again, my friend inspired me in my faith. Just like she did before her cancer story even began. She didn't falter. Her faith got even stronger. Her story more compelling. She kept a blog throughout her journey, if you are compelled to know her through her writing. I would start here.

When we moved to our new place in February, we saw them much less often but through May I tried to get over there once a week to visit/help. I doubt it happened that regularly though. Her body was weakening and she was in a lot of pain. In July she flew to Ohio to spend her days with her dad and family there. July 4th was the last day I got to see her. I gave her a hug and she told me how much she missed living near me; I treasured her words to me that day -- she wasn't the type to say something just to be nice!

And now she is gone to be with Jesus. And that is truly the better place. While she did want to live here as long as possible and mother her daughter forever, being with Jesus was her end goal. She finished her race. She now has a restored, brand new body. The things we trusted and believed for on this earth were granted in Heaven. It isn't how we imagined or hoped, but He is still Good.

One of the most powerful lessons Chastidy demonstrated and taught was believing in God no matter what. Believing in his Goodness and Faithfulness even when to our eyes it looked the opposite. This is an excerpt from her blog post after she experienced a loss of a friend. She also spoke this same thing to our MOPS group, with tears streaming down her cheeks, she proclaimed, "but even if He doesn't, I will still worship Him."

Oh, Lord, I am asking my God for a long long life. I struggle to put it out to the world. What if it doesn’t happen? But, what if it does? I go back to Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego— when faced with a life threatening challenge, they kept a firm hope in God’s rescue plan for them. And they told the king who was threatening them, “we know God will rescue us, but even if He doesn’t…” and they stood firm in faith. They were thrown into a fire, but Jesus was with them, they were protected and miraculously they came out of it without any burns and not even a scorch mark on their clothing! 

So here I am, looking at this fiery trial. I know God has the ability to rescue me, to heal me, I believe He will. But even if He doesn’t I’ll still praise only Him. I’m mourning the deaths of my friends. My heart is raw right now. but I’m still going to praise God. He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

I had these very words in my heart after I heard that she passed. I'm mourning the death of my friend, my heart is raw, but I'm still going to praise God. This is her legacy in my life. Her steadfast faith and belief that Jesus is the one worthy of our praise. Always.

Dragons Love Taco Party

About a month ago, William was begging to buy a dragon costume. He just really wanted to dress up like a dragon at home. So he used his savings and bought one (and that meant Stephen did too). When it arrived in the mail he exclaimed, "I'm going to wear this to my birthday party!" While he didn't really want to have a costume party, he definitely wanted to be a dragon at his party. So we went with it.

Brainstorming what to do with dragons at a birthday party I remembered the book "Dragon's Love Tacos" which the boys thought was hilarious. And the boys both actually love tacos. So I planned our menu off that and had a Dragons Love (Breakfast) Tacos Birthday party last weekend.

William then requested he have a "6" on his cake that looked like a dragon! Well, I was not going to become a professional cake decorator overnight so I had him draw me a picture of what that actually looked like. And I have to say, I did a pretty good job of transferring his idea to the cake. (Turns out I can decorate a cake like a 6 year old's drawing!) Whew! He loved it.

The day of the party arrived and I was fearing forecasted rain but it turned out to be the most perfect day and not too hot (as we had suffered for the week prior). He wore his costume until he got too warm and feasted on his taco and wrestled and played with his friends who came to celebrate with him. He blew out his candles and devoured his cake (each child requesting part of the "6"). 

We had a great morning with our friends. And I love this photo above because it's what I hope for with our birthday parties - the kids are off playing (or having a snack) while the parents get to catch up on life and enjoy time together.

My only fail (other than ordering too many tacos, but we are enjoying the leftovers) was the party favor... they were cute and made to match the theme, but I will never include slime in a favor bag ever again! It was basically sticky water. . . Stephen opened it right after we got home from the party and it ended up everywhere! In the trash they went. Sorry parents!!

About a month ago, William was begging to buy a dragon costume. He just really wanted to dress up like a dragon at home. So he used his savings and bought one (and that meant Stephen did too). When it arrived in the mail he exclaimed, "I'm going to wear this to my birthday party!" While he didn't really want to have a costume party, he definitely wanted to be a dragon at his party. So we went with it.

Brainstorming what to do with dragons at a birthday party I remembered the book "Dragon's Love Tacos" which the boys thought was hilarious. And the boys both actually love tacos. So I planned our menu off that and had a Dragons Love (Breakfast) Tacos Birthday party last weekend.

William then requested he have a "6" on his cake that looked like a dragon! Well, I was not going to become a professional cake decorator overnight so I had him draw me a picture of what that actually looked like. And I have to say, I did a pretty good job of transferring his idea to the cake. (Turns out I can decorate a cake like a 6 year old's drawing!) Whew! He loved it.

The day of the party arrived and I was fearing forecasted rain but it turned out to be the most perfect day and not too hot (as we had suffered for the week prior). He wore his costume until he got too warm and feasted on his taco and wrestled and played with his friends who came to celebrate with him. He blew out his candles and devoured his cake (each child requesting part of the "6"). 

We had a great morning with our friends. And I love this photo above because it's what I hope for with our birthday parties - the kids are off playing (or having a snack) while the parents get to catch up on life and enjoy time together.

My only fail (other than ordering too many tacos, but we are enjoying the leftovers) was the party favor... they were cute and made to match the theme, but I will never include slime in a favor bag ever again! It was basically sticky water. . . Stephen opened it right after we got home from the party and it ended up everywhere! In the trash they went. Sorry parents!!

2019 Walk for Life

Alpha Pregnancy Center's Walk for Life is just 22 days away and I'm really excited for it . . . for a number of reasons! Let me tell you:

1) This year Chris and my two sons will be joining my team! Chris walked with me years ago but since William was born we have always had them stay home for that precious morning nap. But this year, Stephen isn't napping anymore and they are old enough to start participating in this service activity. I know the actual walking 2-3 miles will be challenging for them. But it'll be a good stretch and they'll get to be a part of giving gifts to a family in need.

2) My Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) group is doing a service project in two weeks to help Alpha prepare for the Walk! We are going to be stuffing all the gift bags with all the donated toys and clothes that will be delivered. They are estimating a total of 60 families and each family gets at least 5 bags of presents! That's a lot of packing! I applied for a "Action Team" grant through Thrivent Financial and we'll be using those funds to provide special care packages for the moms too! 

3) We set a goal of raising $1000 for our family's participation and we're nearly half way there already! I'm blown away by such generous givers and quick responses! If you'd like to sponsor us, please go to my crowdrise fundraising page.

But there is also a bit of sadness around this event for me this year. Eight years ago, I met the director of Alpha Pregnancy Center and realized that she attended our church. I signed up to walk the Walk that same year and quickly became more involved with the organization -- mostly with designing their newsletter -- and fundraising for the Walk every year since. Over the years, I became friends with her and eventually neighbors. Stephen is the same age as her daughter so we even got to motherhood together for a while.  In 2016, she was diagnosed with colon cancer and fought really hard doing a number of treatments that kept her going for over three years. But this past August she went to be with Jesus. When you lose someone it's fairly normal to mourn over the "firsts" of things that they aren't there for... so this is my first Walk for Life that my friend won't be there. She was the one who invited me that very first year and got me involved in the cause. She has been the event planner and brains and passion behind this event for over a decade. It was her story, her faith and her courage that inspired me in so many ways over the past eight years. There are just so many memories. And now she isn't here and she won't be there on October 19. It's a strange feeling. So we are walking because we do it every year. We love Alpha Pregnancy Center and what they do on a daily basis. But I'll also be remembering my friend on this walk and giving thanks for the difference she made in thousands of families -- mine included.

Alpha Pregnancy Center's Walk for Life is just 22 days away and I'm really excited for it . . . for a number of reasons! Let me tell you:

1) This year Chris and my two sons will be joining my team! Chris walked with me years ago but since William was born we have always had them stay home for that precious morning nap. But this year, Stephen isn't napping anymore and they are old enough to start participating in this service activity. I know the actual walking 2-3 miles will be challenging for them. But it'll be a good stretch and they'll get to be a part of giving gifts to a family in need.

2) My Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) group is doing a service project in two weeks to help Alpha prepare for the Walk! We are going to be stuffing all the gift bags with all the donated toys and clothes that will be delivered. They are estimating a total of 60 families and each family gets at least 5 bags of presents! That's a lot of packing! I applied for a "Action Team" grant through Thrivent Financial and we'll be using those funds to provide special care packages for the moms too! 

3) We set a goal of raising $1000 for our family's participation and we're nearly half way there already! I'm blown away by such generous givers and quick responses! If you'd like to sponsor us, please go to my crowdrise fundraising page.

But there is also a bit of sadness around this event for me this year. Eight years ago, I met the director of Alpha Pregnancy Center and realized that she attended our church. I signed up to walk the Walk that same year and quickly became more involved with the organization -- mostly with designing their newsletter -- and fundraising for the Walk every year since. Over the years, I became friends with her and eventually neighbors. Stephen is the same age as her daughter so we even got to motherhood together for a while.  In 2016, she was diagnosed with colon cancer and fought really hard doing a number of treatments that kept her going for over three years. But this past August she went to be with Jesus. When you lose someone it's fairly normal to mourn over the "firsts" of things that they aren't there for... so this is my first Walk for Life that my friend won't be there. She was the one who invited me that very first year and got me involved in the cause. She has been the event planner and brains and passion behind this event for over a decade. It was her story, her faith and her courage that inspired me in so many ways over the past eight years. There are just so many memories. And now she isn't here and she won't be there on October 19. It's a strange feeling. So we are walking because we do it every year. We love Alpha Pregnancy Center and what they do on a daily basis. But I'll also be remembering my friend on this walk and giving thanks for the difference she made in thousands of families -- mine included.

First Day of Kindergarten

Yesterday was a big day-- it was William's first day of Kindergarten. He was well versed in the idea of getting ready for school and biking with dad in the morning since he did a year of Transitional Kindergarten last year. But this was a new school, a new uniform, new kids, and a new language.

He was pretty nervous (he says scared) when he left the house yesterday morning. I couldn't even get him to crack a smile for the picture. But when I picked him up at the end of the day, he was all smiles! As we were leaving, the principle asked him how his first day was, and William responded, "Great!" He didn't stop talking about recess and playing soccer with is new friends -- and one very special friend who attended the same TK as he did last year! It helps to know someone when going somewhere new. I should have taken an "after" picture!

I'm really excited for his year ahead. It's a small, community-focused Spanish Immersion school; we've already met some really great families and hope we can develop lasting relationships! And I'm hoping I can do some work on my own language learning too.

Yesterday was a big day-- it was William's first day of Kindergarten. He was well versed in the idea of getting ready for school and biking with dad in the morning since he did a year of Transitional Kindergarten last year. But this was a new school, a new uniform, new kids, and a new language.

He was pretty nervous (he says scared) when he left the house yesterday morning. I couldn't even get him to crack a smile for the picture. But when I picked him up at the end of the day, he was all smiles! As we were leaving, the principle asked him how his first day was, and William responded, "Great!" He didn't stop talking about recess and playing soccer with is new friends -- and one very special friend who attended the same TK as he did last year! It helps to know someone when going somewhere new. I should have taken an "after" picture!

I'm really excited for his year ahead. It's a small, community-focused Spanish Immersion school; we've already met some really great families and hope we can develop lasting relationships! And I'm hoping I can do some work on my own language learning too.

My Memories of Uncle Jerry

My family and I traveled back to Minnesota in July this summer for two weeks, but I will write more on that later. The biggest news (and among the most important) that happened while we were at home was that my Uncle Jerry passed away (or as my cousin so eloquently put it "he sailed off into the sunset, just beyond the horizon" which is fitting because he was in fact a sailor).

My Uncle Jerry was one of the most interesting people I've known-- definitely one of the most motivated in seeking after his dreams. I could chronicle his journey but he actually did that for me by writing his own book! So, rather than share his life story, I will share a few of my memories of Uncle Jerry.

I grew up hanging out at Uncle Jerry & Aunt Marion's house a lot as a kid--Aunt Marion babysat me and I loved being there (their youngest daughters, Mary and Erin were my favorite people). So my earliest memories of Uncle Jerry go way back -- and what do I remember? His hair. He had white hair and a white beard from my earliest memories. But he wasn't old. I also remember his shop. He was a welder and had a shop near his home and on a few rare occasions, Erin and I would go over for a visit (or try to sell his customers lemonade and chips). He worked hard. He was always in his shop.

But I later found out, he wasn't always working on work. He had his own passions and ideas too; his own thirst for adventure and a challenge. Jerry and his family lived in rural NW Minnesota in the middle of fields and forests. Imagine driving down the gravel road and suddenly seeing a sailboat parked next to the shop. Imagine discovering that this sailboat was built from scratch by a welder who just wanted to try building a boat. He learns how to build the boat, how to sail and navigate, how to use Morris code and how to use a radio to communicate, and everything else required to sail somewhere. And then he sails. Every year he sails. And not just around one of the 10,000 lakes his state is known for. No, He sails down the Mississippi River, around the Gulf, from New Orleans to the Caribbean; and then one year, he sails to Norway. And the next he sails around Spain and Portugal. And then finally back to the USA. (My memory of where they went in what order is not at all accurate... please read his book.) His family joined him on his adventures and sometimes his neighbors and friends did as well. And in between trips, he worked. He works so hard. He worked and worked so he could sail and sail.

And when I was in 9th grade, he took a week off of everything and led a sailing camp (sort of like a Bible camp, but with a sailing emphasis). I wish I could remember all that he taught us during that week, but alas, as it goes with summer camp stories, there was a boy I liked so nothing stuck in my mind very long. I do remember being out on the water every day with my friends and watching Uncle Jerry do his thing; being so proud that he was MY uncle. He looked so happy and totally in his element.

When I brought Chris home to meet my family over Thanksgiving 2008, Jerry took us and a few other cousins out for a walk around his property after dinner. It was all covered in snow and a bit cold. The entire time, he talked with Chris -- telling him stories of his life and adventures with sailing. I'm a little ashamed to say that I wasn't really paying attention but Chris certainly was. When we got home Chris was totally in awe of this man who had done so many incredible things and taken such grand adventures on his boat. I was so proud of who Jerry was at that moment -- not only had he done such cool things -- but that he was thoughtful in sharing his story and his life with Chris. I don't think many uncles do that with a nieces boyfriend! It was such a special walk.

Ten years ago, Jerry was diagnosed with a very aggressive leukemia and after months and months and months of treatment, a transplant and care he came through it. It was amazing to see and everyone was so very grateful for his miracle. It took a toll on his body for sure but that didn't stop him from pursuing his life's passion. In 2017 he sailed again in the Bahamas! He always had stories to share and he was always willing to sit for minute longer to share another one. But for as many adventures has Jerry took, he never forgot to ask about your own. Always willing to listen and ask questions. And for Chris and I, that usually meant talking about California where Jerry had also lived for awhile in his early married life.

I was able to see Uncle Jerry one last time just three weeks ago. It was certainly unplanned but I'm glad the Lord worked it out that way. He was in the hospital in Grand Forks (a turn in his health seemed to come on very suddenly) and I was on my way to Grand Forks with my brother to meet up with my mom and sister Molly. We decided to meet at the hospital and say a quick hello. It had been 18 months since I had last seen him. We ended up all crowding into his room and he made sure he asked us all how we were doing and what we were up to. He shared his health update and then looked very tired so we moved our gathering to the lobby where we stayed and chatted with Marion and Erin for hours. He passed away a week later.

When I heard the news, my heart ached. He had fought so hard through his cancer. He had gone through and survived such amazing things. And then this one thing just became too much and he would not fight any longer. I had no idea how big this "one thing" was or how long it had been a part of life. It took me by surprise; I didn't think this was his end. I just assumed that being who he was, he'd be back up in no time. My heart ached for his family. My aunt (his wife of 53 years), his children, and his grandchildren. I thought of their home and how it must feel now that he isn't in it. Of driving by his shop knowing he wasn't there either. My heart filled with sadness.

His legacy to me is this: you can learn as much as you need to learn to do the things you truly want to do. You can work hard and go after your dreams -- even when it might not make sense at the time. :) And everyone has a story if you just ask them about it!

Now, I just have to figure out what my dreams are!

Obituary Link

My family and I traveled back to Minnesota in July this summer for two weeks, but I will write more on that later. The biggest news (and among the most important) that happened while we were at home was that my Uncle Jerry passed away (or as my cousin so eloquently put it "he sailed off into the sunset, just beyond the horizon" which is fitting because he was in fact a sailor).

My Uncle Jerry was one of the most interesting people I've known-- definitely one of the most motivated in seeking after his dreams. I could chronicle his journey but he actually did that for me by writing his own book! So, rather than share his life story, I will share a few of my memories of Uncle Jerry.

I grew up hanging out at Uncle Jerry & Aunt Marion's house a lot as a kid--Aunt Marion babysat me and I loved being there (their youngest daughters, Mary and Erin were my favorite people). So my earliest memories of Uncle Jerry go way back -- and what do I remember? His hair. He had white hair and a white beard from my earliest memories. But he wasn't old. I also remember his shop. He was a welder and had a shop near his home and on a few rare occasions, Erin and I would go over for a visit (or try to sell his customers lemonade and chips). He worked hard. He was always in his shop.

But I later found out, he wasn't always working on work. He had his own passions and ideas too; his own thirst for adventure and a challenge. Jerry and his family lived in rural NW Minnesota in the middle of fields and forests. Imagine driving down the gravel road and suddenly seeing a sailboat parked next to the shop. Imagine discovering that this sailboat was built from scratch by a welder who just wanted to try building a boat. He learns how to build the boat, how to sail and navigate, how to use Morris code and how to use a radio to communicate, and everything else required to sail somewhere. And then he sails. Every year he sails. And not just around one of the 10,000 lakes his state is known for. No, He sails down the Mississippi River, around the Gulf, from New Orleans to the Caribbean; and then one year, he sails to Norway. And the next he sails around Spain and Portugal. And then finally back to the USA. (My memory of where they went in what order is not at all accurate... please read his book.) His family joined him on his adventures and sometimes his neighbors and friends did as well. And in between trips, he worked. He works so hard. He worked and worked so he could sail and sail.

And when I was in 9th grade, he took a week off of everything and led a sailing camp (sort of like a Bible camp, but with a sailing emphasis). I wish I could remember all that he taught us during that week, but alas, as it goes with summer camp stories, there was a boy I liked so nothing stuck in my mind very long. I do remember being out on the water every day with my friends and watching Uncle Jerry do his thing; being so proud that he was MY uncle. He looked so happy and totally in his element.

When I brought Chris home to meet my family over Thanksgiving 2008, Jerry took us and a few other cousins out for a walk around his property after dinner. It was all covered in snow and a bit cold. The entire time, he talked with Chris -- telling him stories of his life and adventures with sailing. I'm a little ashamed to say that I wasn't really paying attention but Chris certainly was. When we got home Chris was totally in awe of this man who had done so many incredible things and taken such grand adventures on his boat. I was so proud of who Jerry was at that moment -- not only had he done such cool things -- but that he was thoughtful in sharing his story and his life with Chris. I don't think many uncles do that with a nieces boyfriend! It was such a special walk.

Ten years ago, Jerry was diagnosed with a very aggressive leukemia and after months and months and months of treatment, a transplant and care he came through it. It was amazing to see and everyone was so very grateful for his miracle. It took a toll on his body for sure but that didn't stop him from pursuing his life's passion. In 2017 he sailed again in the Bahamas! He always had stories to share and he was always willing to sit for minute longer to share another one. But for as many adventures has Jerry took, he never forgot to ask about your own. Always willing to listen and ask questions. And for Chris and I, that usually meant talking about California where Jerry had also lived for awhile in his early married life.

I was able to see Uncle Jerry one last time just three weeks ago. It was certainly unplanned but I'm glad the Lord worked it out that way. He was in the hospital in Grand Forks (a turn in his health seemed to come on very suddenly) and I was on my way to Grand Forks with my brother to meet up with my mom and sister Molly. We decided to meet at the hospital and say a quick hello. It had been 18 months since I had last seen him. We ended up all crowding into his room and he made sure he asked us all how we were doing and what we were up to. He shared his health update and then looked very tired so we moved our gathering to the lobby where we stayed and chatted with Marion and Erin for hours. He passed away a week later.

When I heard the news, my heart ached. He had fought so hard through his cancer. He had gone through and survived such amazing things. And then this one thing just became too much and he would not fight any longer. I had no idea how big this "one thing" was or how long it had been a part of life. It took me by surprise; I didn't think this was his end. I just assumed that being who he was, he'd be back up in no time. My heart ached for his family. My aunt (his wife of 53 years), his children, and his grandchildren. I thought of their home and how it must feel now that he isn't in it. Of driving by his shop knowing he wasn't there either. My heart filled with sadness.

His legacy to me is this: you can learn as much as you need to learn to do the things you truly want to do. You can work hard and go after your dreams -- even when it might not make sense at the time. :) And everyone has a story if you just ask them about it!

Now, I just have to figure out what my dreams are!

Obituary Link

Transitional Kindergarten Graduate

Nine months has come and gone since William first boarded the tag-a-long bike behind dad and road off to his first day of Transitional Kindergarten. August 20, 2018; he wasn't yet five years old--still such a little boy. This would be his first experience with an all day school program. His preschool experiences being only 2-4 hours a few times a week. This TK program was everyday for 6 hours.

But so much growing and learning has happened since that very first day. He loved it from the start. He made instant friends who would eventually introduce him to TY beanie baby toys, Pokemon cards, and join him in daily pretend fighting games. His teacher was a very sweet woman dedicated to pouring knowledge of numbers, letters, words and writing into these little sponge-like brains.

It didn't take long for William to come home and count to 100 (they had put it to music so he just sang the whole song on the way home one day). He practiced writing numbers nearly everyday -- some are still backwards but much improved from that first attempt. He knows all the site words appropriate for this level and can now read a few level 1 books from the library all on his own. 

His favorite areas of the classroom during "exploration time" (free play) were the block area and the art table. His drawings are much more detailed and he enjoys it so much more now. He even started writing his own version of his favorite "Who Would Win" books written and illustrated by Will -- complete with facts and a battle between the animals just like the actual books. So far he has 20 editions!

They went on field trips throughout the year to an art museum, and Asian art museum, the zoo, a pumpkin patch and the symphony. He loved them all. Stephen and I got to join him on most of them.

The school held a small graduation ceremony for the two TK classes as they will all go to different schools for Kindergarten in the Fall. It was sweet and I felt more sentimental and proud than I thought I would. Something about seeing my little man in a cap and gown just brought tears to my eyes.

We are very proud of all the learning our son did this year and are very excited for the years to come. He'll be attending a Spanish Immersion school in the Fall.

Nine months has come and gone since William first boarded the tag-a-long bike behind dad and road off to his first day of Transitional Kindergarten. August 20, 2018; he wasn't yet five years old--still such a little boy. This would be his first experience with an all day school program. His preschool experiences being only 2-4 hours a few times a week. This TK program was everyday for 6 hours.

But so much growing and learning has happened since that very first day. He loved it from the start. He made instant friends who would eventually introduce him to TY beanie baby toys, Pokemon cards, and join him in daily pretend fighting games. His teacher was a very sweet woman dedicated to pouring knowledge of numbers, letters, words and writing into these little sponge-like brains.

It didn't take long for William to come home and count to 100 (they had put it to music so he just sang the whole song on the way home one day). He practiced writing numbers nearly everyday -- some are still backwards but much improved from that first attempt. He knows all the site words appropriate for this level and can now read a few level 1 books from the library all on his own. 

His favorite areas of the classroom during "exploration time" (free play) were the block area and the art table. His drawings are much more detailed and he enjoys it so much more now. He even started writing his own version of his favorite "Who Would Win" books written and illustrated by Will -- complete with facts and a battle between the animals just like the actual books. So far he has 20 editions!

They went on field trips throughout the year to an art museum, and Asian art museum, the zoo, a pumpkin patch and the symphony. He loved them all. Stephen and I got to join him on most of them.

The school held a small graduation ceremony for the two TK classes as they will all go to different schools for Kindergarten in the Fall. It was sweet and I felt more sentimental and proud than I thought I would. Something about seeing my little man in a cap and gown just brought tears to my eyes.

We are very proud of all the learning our son did this year and are very excited for the years to come. He'll be attending a Spanish Immersion school in the Fall.

Book Review: The Middle Matters

Hi Friends! I have the privilege of being on another book launch team this summer! What is that? Well, its a group of people who are given an advanced copy of a book to read and review and share with the world. It sounds fun because it is! And YOU are my world! So I get to share this brand new book with you!

The Middle Matters: Why that (Extra)Ordinary Life Looks Really Good on You, written by Lisa-Jo Baker is a great read. It's not a self-help or how-to book at all, instead this book contains short essays on all the aspects of life that we might struggle to find value in -- the middle of parenting, the middle of marriage, the middle of your living room, the middle of (my favorite) your muffin top and the list goes on.

There is excitement at the beginning of an adventure and the end contains a lot of glory and praise -- especially if you finish well! But the middle of nearly everything can feel hard, mundane, maybe even boring or unimportant. And Lisa-Jo's stories tell us that isn't true. She finds the treasures in the middle of life and calls us to find ours too. She says "The middle is the place where our lives really live. This is the place where we have grown into the shapes of our souls even as we might have outgrown the shapes of our jeans."

I might not be the exact target market for this book (still technically in the early stages of marriage and parenting) but I enjoyed reading this book nonetheless. I found her voice and the truth she spoke to be that of a mentor telling me of whats to come and I appreciated that more than I can say. I so desperately need more mentors in my life!

I enjoyed reading her book. She writes in an almost poetic, storytelling style which made me slow down enough to enjoy the beauty of words and really grasp what she was saying. I loved reading the chapters she wrote to her children. Reading them felt like I was seeing into a mother's heart like never before and being reminded of the beauty of my own children. And looking forward to seeing them get older.

As I read, I kept thinking of people in my sphere of family and friends who would most definitely relate to Lisa-Jo's experiences and stories. My mom friends who run to all the sport practices and games; the parents who are raising the passionate middle schoolers with big dreams; the friends who find their marriages on a plateau-- not bad but not as great as they hoped. The sister who has moved nearly as often as the author and just wants to make a home. Lisa-Jo has a story for each of you!

This book isn't available yet, but you can preorder! There's a pretty sweet preorder package offered too, so it's worth checking out! http://lisajobaker.com/the-middle-matters-book/

Hi Friends! I have the privilege of being on another book launch team this summer! What is that? Well, its a group of people who are given an advanced copy of a book to read and review and share with the world. It sounds fun because it is! And YOU are my world! So I get to share this brand new book with you!

The Middle Matters: Why that (Extra)Ordinary Life Looks Really Good on You, written by Lisa-Jo Baker is a great read. It's not a self-help or how-to book at all, instead this book contains short essays on all the aspects of life that we might struggle to find value in -- the middle of parenting, the middle of marriage, the middle of your living room, the middle of (my favorite) your muffin top and the list goes on.

There is excitement at the beginning of an adventure and the end contains a lot of glory and praise -- especially if you finish well! But the middle of nearly everything can feel hard, mundane, maybe even boring or unimportant. And Lisa-Jo's stories tell us that isn't true. She finds the treasures in the middle of life and calls us to find ours too. She says "The middle is the place where our lives really live. This is the place where we have grown into the shapes of our souls even as we might have outgrown the shapes of our jeans."

I might not be the exact target market for this book (still technically in the early stages of marriage and parenting) but I enjoyed reading this book nonetheless. I found her voice and the truth she spoke to be that of a mentor telling me of whats to come and I appreciated that more than I can say. I so desperately need more mentors in my life!

I enjoyed reading her book. She writes in an almost poetic, storytelling style which made me slow down enough to enjoy the beauty of words and really grasp what she was saying. I loved reading the chapters she wrote to her children. Reading them felt like I was seeing into a mother's heart like never before and being reminded of the beauty of my own children. And looking forward to seeing them get older.

As I read, I kept thinking of people in my sphere of family and friends who would most definitely relate to Lisa-Jo's experiences and stories. My mom friends who run to all the sport practices and games; the parents who are raising the passionate middle schoolers with big dreams; the friends who find their marriages on a plateau-- not bad but not as great as they hoped. The sister who has moved nearly as often as the author and just wants to make a home. Lisa-Jo has a story for each of you!

This book isn't available yet, but you can preorder! There's a pretty sweet preorder package offered too, so it's worth checking out! http://lisajobaker.com/the-middle-matters-book/

Toddler B2: Three Years Old

We celebrated Stephen's 3rd birthday this past weekend, but his actual birthday was a week ago. We worked hard all year to get him to answer the question "How old are you?" but as a 2 year old, he never quite got it, but when the answer became "I'm 3!" he has no problem answering! I'm hoping a lot of other things click this year too!

Stephen is a happy child with a lot of energy. He loves basketball, climbing, running, playing blocks, construction trucks, garbage trucks, sand boxes, painting, and getting out his toy tools anytime dad is fixing something. He loves bothering his brother and sometimes enjoys playing nicely with him too. The only thing he really dislikes is a nap. He hasn't taken consistent naps since we moved and got bunk beds for the boys.

That's right, he now has big boy bed. This transition didn't go as smoothly as it did for William but we knew that would be the case. This second born of mine doesn't sit or lay still and he doesn't like being told to stay put. When nap time or bedtime rolls around, he doesn't really come out of the room that often, but he does get up to play, open the curtains, sneak under the bed or as of yesterday climb the dresser . . . 

With William in school every day, Stephen and Mom got some one-on-one time this year. And lots of it! We did a lot of trips to the playground and took swimming lessons. He does really well in the water and recently became brave enough to try swimming with a life vest (without mom holding on!) He was a champ and so proud of himself! He isn't crazy about going underwater yet.

He loves going to the zoo and the California Academy of Sciences. He enjoys taking the bus and does much better sitting still than he did a year ago! He also likes getting around via scooter and shows off his balancing skills while zooming down the sidewalk with one foot held up in the air. The stroller is only used occasionally and on really long distance walks. He likes the idea of his balance bike but doesn't quite have the patience to master it yet.

He is an excellent eater and eats a wide variety of foods. At the top of the list of favorites is cake. He was begging to eat his birthday cake the moment it came out of the oven and again two hours before the party started.

He is growing just fine -- he is 37.75 inches tall and weighs 31.5 pounds. He might not be the tallest basketball player one day (although maybe he will be) but he has the best shot of any 3 year old I know. We're making friends with our new neighborhood recreation center staff as we ask to rent a ball every time we come!

His favorite books at the moment are "Lift the Flap Airplanes," "Tonka Trucks," and the "Biscuit" (dog) series from the library. He really loves going to the library now and has a lot more interest in sitting with me for a story. This year he also started singing along with me -- Jesus Loves Me, Amazing Grace and This Little Light of Mine are the most common and in the car he will always request dad's "Of Monsters and Men" CD.

Many of our friends were able to join us for a party on Saturday. We celebrated with a brunch at a nearby playground with basketball themed decorations. We bought Stephen his first Warriors T-shirt that fittingly says "Born to Play." I'm sure he felt loved by all the attention, good food and playtime. I know I did! I love our community and I love excuses like 3-year-old birthdays to get everyone together!

We celebrated Stephen's 3rd birthday this past weekend, but his actual birthday was a week ago. We worked hard all year to get him to answer the question "How old are you?" but as a 2 year old, he never quite got it, but when the answer became "I'm 3!" he has no problem answering! I'm hoping a lot of other things click this year too!

Stephen is a happy child with a lot of energy. He loves basketball, climbing, running, playing blocks, construction trucks, garbage trucks, sand boxes, painting, and getting out his toy tools anytime dad is fixing something. He loves bothering his brother and sometimes enjoys playing nicely with him too. The only thing he really dislikes is a nap. He hasn't taken consistent naps since we moved and got bunk beds for the boys.

That's right, he now has big boy bed. This transition didn't go as smoothly as it did for William but we knew that would be the case. This second born of mine doesn't sit or lay still and he doesn't like being told to stay put. When nap time or bedtime rolls around, he doesn't really come out of the room that often, but he does get up to play, open the curtains, sneak under the bed or as of yesterday climb the dresser . . . 

With William in school every day, Stephen and Mom got some one-on-one time this year. And lots of it! We did a lot of trips to the playground and took swimming lessons. He does really well in the water and recently became brave enough to try swimming with a life vest (without mom holding on!) He was a champ and so proud of himself! He isn't crazy about going underwater yet.

He loves going to the zoo and the California Academy of Sciences. He enjoys taking the bus and does much better sitting still than he did a year ago! He also likes getting around via scooter and shows off his balancing skills while zooming down the sidewalk with one foot held up in the air. The stroller is only used occasionally and on really long distance walks. He likes the idea of his balance bike but doesn't quite have the patience to master it yet.

He is an excellent eater and eats a wide variety of foods. At the top of the list of favorites is cake. He was begging to eat his birthday cake the moment it came out of the oven and again two hours before the party started.

He is growing just fine -- he is 37.75 inches tall and weighs 31.5 pounds. He might not be the tallest basketball player one day (although maybe he will be) but he has the best shot of any 3 year old I know. We're making friends with our new neighborhood recreation center staff as we ask to rent a ball every time we come!

His favorite books at the moment are "Lift the Flap Airplanes," "Tonka Trucks," and the "Biscuit" (dog) series from the library. He really loves going to the library now and has a lot more interest in sitting with me for a story. This year he also started singing along with me -- Jesus Loves Me, Amazing Grace and This Little Light of Mine are the most common and in the car he will always request dad's "Of Monsters and Men" CD.

Many of our friends were able to join us for a party on Saturday. We celebrated with a brunch at a nearby playground with basketball themed decorations. We bought Stephen his first Warriors T-shirt that fittingly says "Born to Play." I'm sure he felt loved by all the attention, good food and playtime. I know I did! I love our community and I love excuses like 3-year-old birthdays to get everyone together!