Woo Hoo!

Just got the girls on the road with Grandma Debbie to go camping for a night!!! Free Time!!!

Actually, work time... on the rental and the trailer to get ready for summer camp... but that just doesn't sound as good... Hopefully we can fit in a little fun somewhere in the next 24 hours...

Some Entertainment for You...

An albino grasshopper in our yard...

We are blessed!

Mama and the kids...

....

Flower Girls at Jake's vow ceremony

Melia's first buck...

He said he would... I didn't realize he was serious!

Super Baby!

Sweet Husband!

I've been having issues with my phone for a couple months now (so if you've called and I never called you back, it's the phone's fault!! really!) I told Gabe that I thought I was ready to spend $20 on a new phone :-) because I am such a big spender! He is definitely the "electronics" guy in our family, so I was happy to let him pick one out for me. I don't use it for much, just calls and maybe the MP3 part for taking our bible lessons along, and it needs to be very user friendly...
Anyway, this is the one he picked out. Isn't it cute? It costs more than $20 though, so it's a good thing he was shopping and not me ;-)
I am excited to get it- it'll be nice to have a phone I can hear when it rings and which will tell me when I have a missed call or voicemail. (I Told you it was the phone's fault!)

Blessings: Answer to Prayer!!

So, you all know that I have to go back to work next week. Remember that they were thinking about switching me to Fri/Sat instead of Sun/Mon, and how I didn't really like either of those options? Gabe helped me to be "ok" with whatever happened, saying that we can't really afford to give up my work yet and we would make it work, whatever happened... Read on!

My manager was on vacation, so he just threw me in for one day the first week instead of two- which was totally ok with me!! Blessing Number One...

A few days after that, he called and said, "So, what's working for you lately?" I have not asked for anything, trying to simply be thankful I have such an blessed position there at Costco and thankful they are flexible with my reduced schedule. I responded that I had just been waiting to hear from him where they needed me. And he said "well, Jackie's been thinking she'd like to have Thurs/Fri off...." Me:"I can do that- let's try it and see if it works!" Inside I am jumping for joy and trying desperately to hold the tears in until I can get off the phone. You see, Thurs/Fri is just about perfect! That way, MIL would never have to have kiddos two days in a row (barring OT or unforseen Gabe activity.. *wink*), Gabe would still get his one day in a week with them, and we would still have 2 days together of his 3 day weekends! And SUNDAYS OFF!!!! (that's me squealing with joy!) Huge huge HUGE praise- I am so thankful that He cares about our little concerns, and assists us in blooming where we're planted! Blessing Number Two!

Feeling courageous, I mentioned that we had summer camp coming up, and said while I completely understand if this won't work, but for that week, could I not work until Fri, and Sat or Sun? He said sure, they have lots of backup now, so that week I will ONLY work on Fri! I won't miss any days of camp!!!!! How many more exclamations can I add!!!!???!!!!

He has been so good to us- I pray that we remember always to give Him the glory and praise, and serve Him first! Amen!!

Dancin' Down the Aisle

I thought this was awesome- Makes me want to get married over again :-) How many friends could I find to dance down the aisle??!!!!

Babies, hopefully here to stay...

Ezri had two babies yesterday. I think a brown spotted male, and a snow spotted female. I will try to get pictures soon, but currently we are trying to trap Marsha to get her out of there. She had four kittens last week; none are still alive. She's done having kittens, to say the least... It makes me appreciate what a very good mama Ezri is!

OH-OH... Found another one...

She painted Isaac's carseat with nail polish...

I guess I can be happy it's blue!


On a different note.... How do guys get away with not matching? I was in Costco today, and noticed someone I work with wearing a horizontally striped blue and white polo shirt with green camo cargo pants. Shouldn't matching be part of the dress code? And yet, I wouldn't have even noticed if he hadn't been standing right in front of me for 5 minutes!

Two More for Today...

Add two more to Kiera's list for today...

Dumped a whole bottle of baby shampoo on the carpet.

Finished emptying the mylicon drops onto the carpet. in a different spot.

And no, I am not neglecting her. Sometimes, I just need a shower. Sometimes, Daddy needs some attention. Sometimes.... I just need to be able to trust her. And I don't know how to make that happen. Melia responds to training... Kiera- I have yet to figure out her method. She always seems so sorry..but will repeat nearly the exact same offense again.

Adventures in Kiera's World

These all took place over the last three days.

Made a big poopy mess at Gramps' house.

Sprayed sunblock all over the shoes and door.

Painted her wall with nail polish.

Squirted mylicon gas drops on the couch.

Sneaks cherries. (juicey face = dead giveaway)

Opened a whole box of band-aids. completely open, each one.

Sneaks chips. (caught in the act..)

Lotioned up her rocking horse (fabric) with aloe lotion.


I am sure I have forgotten something....

There for a reason...

This weekend, Gabe was best man for his friend Tom, who was best man in our wedding. Gorgeous wedding, fabulous view, very very enjoyable. But I had Isaac, so I was kinda hindered, plus there is a history between old friends and reasons which had me a little anxious about attending. But- I needed to be there. I thought it was because I was the wife of the best man, but God had other plans.

Throughout the ceremony, there was a young couple on the other side of the group (no chairs, just a group) which held back as well because they had a little one. The girl looked very familiar, but I couldn't place how I might know her. (Later we were introduced, and it turns out that I don't actually know her.) During the reception I told Gabe, "we need to talk to those people." They happened to be sitting alone at a table, so that presented the perfect opportunity. I am not normally so bold, but God was really pushing me- even though I didn't realize it at the time. We sat and ate dinner together, Isaac cried, and we got to know each other a little. Nice people- really really nice and normal :-) The whole time I felt like I needed to ask if they went to church anywhere, but I am a huge chicken about "witnessing." I have been praying for boldness and I think this was the first result of that particular prayer. But it took them standing up and preparing to leave completely before I could spit it out! And it turns out they have been attending a church in Wenatchee, but didn't feel like it was the right one for them! They were really interested, and while they couldn't come the next day, they did say they would come in the next few weeks.

I am so thankful for the pressure in my heart to speak! Through the whole situation I can look and see God orchestrating... Plus, I am so excited because you know how you meet someone and you just know that you are kindred spirits? (to quote Ann of Green Gables :-) I hope we have the opportunity to become good friends!

Perfect Description

I heard the perfect description today for how I felt when Melia was born, or how I would describe having a child to anyone who didn't.

"It's like having everything I never knew I always wanted come true."

I'd always said it was a good thing I didn't know what I was missing because I would have had a baby much sooner than we did! But it was truly all in God's perfect timing...

Electricity, Sun-Drying, and Humiliation: A short story

This morning, at approximately 9:10 am, (per the WenWorld) we lost power. I of course panicked for about 5-10 seconds until I realized that not all power was gone, just the hardline. (What? Try EMP threat...) Then I moved on to turning important things off... trying to put in my contacts in the dark... thinking about getting dressed. But something was missing.

(Some may want to skip this paragraph, but it leaves out the interesting part of the story.)
I have a few nursing bras. But one is my favorite. And it's been in the laundry for a few days, while the others made me sore... I was really needing that bra. It was in the dryer, which stopped running when the power failed. I felt creative, (and apparently risky) and laid it out on the deck to finish drying. Behind the hobby horse, so no neighbors got a good look at my lovely boring white maternity goods. And the sun is a good resource, so why not, when the temperature was 93* by 10:30am? We live on a quiet street...

But, of course when the power goes out the neighbors are going to want to know if they are the only ones... So, when someone knocks on our door, and Melia runs to open it (training in progress, let me tell you!) and I gasp, suddenly without time to put a cover shirt on my less-than-modest nursing tank top I wear to bed... I have to answer to the teenage neighbor boy... who now must think that I live for nothing more than to show off my personal wears.... twice, as he returned after he called the PUD, to find me still not dressed. (Hey! My bra wasn't dry yet!)

But all is ok. Our power is back on, along with the AC and freezers.... And my pride and dignity are long gone, replaced by a good dose of humility....

I have to wonder though, was God laughing at me or trying to teach me a lesson? Or both???

Kitties coming soon....

I am very excited to announce that Marsha and Ezri are both pregnant! Marsha's sides are becoming almost pointy, so I am expecting her to pop any day now... while Ezri is either a few weeks behind, or has a much smaller litter. I am praying for Marsha to do a good job... it would be nice to get a least a kitten or two out of this spendy female I purchased 2 years ago.

And hey, I might actually have some pictures to post on my other blog site!

Beautiful Morning

This morning, as I walked out the door onto the porch, a gust of cool wind hit me. With the abundant freshness of the rain from last night, I was overwhelmed with the impression of walking on the beach. The moisture in the air, the cool breeze....ahhhhhh. A real breath of fresh air... If I had more of those I would be one contented chica...

Too Much Stuff!

So, we only have a few activities each week, but I just can't find the time to post about all of them, no matter how hard I try! This week we had a blast fishing at Uncle Shaun's work, discovered the *new* greatest park in town with Brooke and her kiddos (Rocky Reach, even if you have to go through security!), and went to Hurst's Patient Appreciation Day (SOOO awesome), and then tomorrow the girls are in my cousin Jake's vow renewal! Here's a few of my favorite fishing pics, and you can read Andrea's post on it here.

Our BBQ fish- spewing eggs...

Yes, that's a smile. He smiles lots, but they are hard to catch on camera!

Not sure what to title that one, but LOVE the look on her face!

Sheer Joy.

I Wish..

I wish I could capture Kiera falling. She's simply amazing. A couple of times I have actually seen her go down so hard face first that her feet flip up, nearly doing an endo. And then she just hops up and keeps on going. Most of the time this is on flat ground, not tripping over anything but her own two feet.

I suppose that is what it would look like if one of you luckies caught me running and falling. Cause, ya know, we're both a little top heavy...

Rental Prayer Request

We have been so blessed for the past two and a half years with our rental, but now they are moving out. We would love prayer that God would provide new renters quickly, and wisdom for us to know who is the right one.

If you know someone whom you'd would like as a neighbor (because they literally share our driveway) please feel free to pass on our name/number. Thank you!

(It's a 2 bed/1 bath 1200 sq ft house.)

Very Interesting- Happy 4th of July?

I read a post this morning, and can't help but seriously ponder what it says.

Unfortunately, I am not allowed to copy it or give reference under condition of anonymity, but let me paraphrase.

"How do we celebrate Independence Day in a country that is daily giving up it's independence and freedoms? How can we not taste the bitter flavor of our government's direction, with it's intent to destroy everything our fathers have fought for? Oaths are taken to defend the constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic; what happens when the enemy of the constitution becomes the federal government itself?"

A frightening, yet very real consideration.

Chunky Monkey or Piggly Wiggly?

Friday Night: Guess how much our little man weighs now?

Thirteen and a half pounds.

Whew!

Hot Summer Nights

Today as we are driving home from the chiropractor at almost 6pm, the sign on Grant Road said 103*. Yuck! I like warm weather, but over 100 is just plain HOT.

I'm thinkin', well, the girls took a nap... and they have been getting up really early lately, so maybe we'll stay up late and play outside in the cool evening. So we did, only it wasn't that cool. Rather humid, as I was "glowing." (That's the feminine for sweating!) Isaac was basking in the breeze created by laying on the swing, sucking on his binkie, falling asleep.

We got about 45 minutes in of evening fun when all chaos broke loose. I dropped what I was doing, ran to grab the screaming baby and leap onto the deck. Kiera was screaming for her dear clothes that were laying in the yard. Melia ran like a superhero to gather the precious items.

What happened you say? The daily detail I always seem to forget.

The sprinklers turn on at 8:30. And poor Isaac had two of them pointed at the swing.

The sweet part is that later, when I told Melia that I was proud of her for running through the sprinklers to pick up all their clothes and shoes and Isaac's blanket, she said she felt God helping her "to be faithful to what she needed to do." Ahhh, isn't she cute? I'll wait a few years before I try to explain adrenaline. :-) Faith builders are always more important!

Now, remind me to ask Gabe to switch that time again....

And the Winner Is....

Number 3! Drawn randomly from my hand :-)

Sooo.... Miss Joy- I will bake up a batch of Raspberry White Chocolate Scones just for you and drop them by your family circus!

(If you are going to be gone for any length of time, let me know, otherwise I will let you know when they are coming! Or let me know if there is a really good day for you to have a yummy special treat!!! They don't take long, so if I am home I should be able to mix up a batch and get it to you!)