...we learned we were expecting Tristan!
:)
Friday, November 27, 2009
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Thankful
Thanksgiving this year was SO different than Thanksgiving last year.
Last year at Thanksgiving we had only been parents for a little over 3 months. We still had a decent language barrier going on with Noah and Samuel. We were just coming out of the newborn phase with Tristan. We were a mess. A hot mess. My house was never clean. Heck, I was rarely clean.
My Dad was here last year on Thanksgiving and that was awesome. Seeing him get to meet Noah and Samuel and interact with them was special. Very special. He had met Tristan when he was just a few weeks old when we were stuck in Florida trying to get to Haiti to get the twins.
This year no one woke up until 7:30. What a blessing! A year ago my days ended late and started early with many wake-ups inbetween. Our Thanksgiving meal was cooked by 2:00 and I had everything cleaned up by 3:30. Everyone but me napped from 4-5... and Chuck and the twins napped until 6! I spent that hour relaxing by myself looking at all the sales ads. Then Tristan and I hung out until everyone woke up. We had turkey sandwiches and pumpkin pie. Then the boys watched Up while I took a bath.
This year was relaxing. I'm so thankful for that because a year ago my life was anything but relaxing. And I just thought it would always be like that. I had no concept of how things might change and get easier. I just assumed things would always be that hard.
But so much has changed. We sleep... most nights all the way through. Tristan might get up earlier than I like, but he sleeps in long stretches now. We are able to communicate effectively with Noah and Samuel. Their understanding of words, phrases and concepts amazes me. It is extraordinary. And the biggest change is that I've relaxed. I was hypervigilant last year. It's like I couldn't catch my breath. I was waiting for the other shoe to drop... constantly. I was just so afraid. We were thrust into parenting unlike most people (though I'm not sure how parents of multiples do it in the beginning... I can't imagine having more than one infant!) and we just had to find our way. And I'm so thankful that we have. I can breathe again. I'm not waiting for the other shoe (or anything else for that matter) to drop. And for the most part, I'm not afraid like I was. I can remember lying in bed at night last year thinking through all the scenarios of what could go wrong and how I would respond. Going places with all three was an event. Getting them all to church on Sunday mornings without Chuck's help (remember, he works there so he goes in early) was HARD. I just look back on all of it with a giant sigh of relief. I'm so thankful we are in the place we are now.
I'm thankful that we are all pretty much healthy. Sure, we've had a few infections here and there, but overall we are a healthy bunch. Even Chuck's chronic cough was figured out this last year (allergy to milk). I'm thankful for how God provides for all our needs. And He even gives us some of our wants, too. He has provided us with some pretty awesome friends as well.
I'll end with the friend I'm most thankful for. I'm thankful for Nicole. I've known Nicole for years, but we've gotten close over the last 18 or so months. Nicole started coming over once a week about a year ago. She has dinner with us and hangs out with me after the kids are in bed. Every week! She has been the only consistent person besides us in our kids' lives. They pray for her nearly every night. And she has stood by me through some really hard times. She's the one who would get the phone calls at 9 p.m. from me saying, "I'm just so scared all the time." And she'd listen and share some of her own experience with fear. And she'd tell me that I was going to be okay when I wasn't sure I would be. Nicole has been Jesus to our family during some really rough times. She listens and she doesn't judge. I'm so thankful I have a friend like that (and I stand in complete denial about moving away!). Nicole, I love you and I thank Jesus for you! You will have to take many trips to Las Vegas!!
So, what are you thankful for this year? I pray that your day was full of thanksgiving!
Last year at Thanksgiving we had only been parents for a little over 3 months. We still had a decent language barrier going on with Noah and Samuel. We were just coming out of the newborn phase with Tristan. We were a mess. A hot mess. My house was never clean. Heck, I was rarely clean.
My Dad was here last year on Thanksgiving and that was awesome. Seeing him get to meet Noah and Samuel and interact with them was special. Very special. He had met Tristan when he was just a few weeks old when we were stuck in Florida trying to get to Haiti to get the twins.
This year no one woke up until 7:30. What a blessing! A year ago my days ended late and started early with many wake-ups inbetween. Our Thanksgiving meal was cooked by 2:00 and I had everything cleaned up by 3:30. Everyone but me napped from 4-5... and Chuck and the twins napped until 6! I spent that hour relaxing by myself looking at all the sales ads. Then Tristan and I hung out until everyone woke up. We had turkey sandwiches and pumpkin pie. Then the boys watched Up while I took a bath.
This year was relaxing. I'm so thankful for that because a year ago my life was anything but relaxing. And I just thought it would always be like that. I had no concept of how things might change and get easier. I just assumed things would always be that hard.
But so much has changed. We sleep... most nights all the way through. Tristan might get up earlier than I like, but he sleeps in long stretches now. We are able to communicate effectively with Noah and Samuel. Their understanding of words, phrases and concepts amazes me. It is extraordinary. And the biggest change is that I've relaxed. I was hypervigilant last year. It's like I couldn't catch my breath. I was waiting for the other shoe to drop... constantly. I was just so afraid. We were thrust into parenting unlike most people (though I'm not sure how parents of multiples do it in the beginning... I can't imagine having more than one infant!) and we just had to find our way. And I'm so thankful that we have. I can breathe again. I'm not waiting for the other shoe (or anything else for that matter) to drop. And for the most part, I'm not afraid like I was. I can remember lying in bed at night last year thinking through all the scenarios of what could go wrong and how I would respond. Going places with all three was an event. Getting them all to church on Sunday mornings without Chuck's help (remember, he works there so he goes in early) was HARD. I just look back on all of it with a giant sigh of relief. I'm so thankful we are in the place we are now.
I'm thankful that we are all pretty much healthy. Sure, we've had a few infections here and there, but overall we are a healthy bunch. Even Chuck's chronic cough was figured out this last year (allergy to milk). I'm thankful for how God provides for all our needs. And He even gives us some of our wants, too. He has provided us with some pretty awesome friends as well.
I'll end with the friend I'm most thankful for. I'm thankful for Nicole. I've known Nicole for years, but we've gotten close over the last 18 or so months. Nicole started coming over once a week about a year ago. She has dinner with us and hangs out with me after the kids are in bed. Every week! She has been the only consistent person besides us in our kids' lives. They pray for her nearly every night. And she has stood by me through some really hard times. She's the one who would get the phone calls at 9 p.m. from me saying, "I'm just so scared all the time." And she'd listen and share some of her own experience with fear. And she'd tell me that I was going to be okay when I wasn't sure I would be. Nicole has been Jesus to our family during some really rough times. She listens and she doesn't judge. I'm so thankful I have a friend like that (and I stand in complete denial about moving away!). Nicole, I love you and I thank Jesus for you! You will have to take many trips to Las Vegas!!
So, what are you thankful for this year? I pray that your day was full of thanksgiving!
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Outside the Camp
Tomorrow marks three weeks until I move to Las Vegas. My life gets completely turned upside down in about 2 1/2 weeks because we are packing up the house 3 days before me and the boys fly out and Chuck leaves 2 days before we fly out. My gracious friend, Dana, has offered for me and the boys to stay with her. She has NO IDEA what she has invited into her quiet home!
I really thought these last few weeks would look different than they do. I thought we would be out with friends and catching up with people, but we are not. I guess the holidays are not a good time to be moving away. My mind is just now starting to really realize that there are some people I'm probably not going to see again. Ever. Wow. I didn't expect this feeling of lonliness to set in before we get to Las Vegas. It is very weird.
I've been making a special effort to stay close to God during this time. Today I finished a wonderful workbook study on the Beatitudes. It's from the "Following God" series and it's called "Renewing the Heart for Women... Life Principles from the Beatitudes" by Barbara Henry. I HIGHLY recommend it. The final study was about walking with Jesus as it pertains to suffering. My heart was opened to all kinds of new ideas about what it means to suffer for Christ.
One of the points in today's study was based out of Hebrews 13:12-16. Barbara Henry talks about "the camp" and what that means. For me, it means my comfort zone. Not necessarily material comfort, but also my routine... monthly budget... local grocery store... etc. The camp, for me, is safe and predictable. Outside of the camp... well that's scary. It's full of unknowns, maybe even persecution.
Going to Las Vegas is definitely going outside of the camp for us. It is full of unknowns. When we get there, we are staying with friends until our house here sells. I don't want to do that! Chuck and I are going to sell his van before we leave so we don't have to get to vehicles across the country and we will share a vehicle when we get there. I don't like to share my van! Chuck has to fundraise his salary and we still have a ways to go to be fully funded. I don't want to be poor! And on top of all of that, my routine is going to Hell in a handbasket!
Hebrews 13:14 speaks of "the city that is to come." And that is why we are going. I don't expect to be comfortable in Las Vegas. It is a sinful place full of broken and hurting people. And they are why we are going... because eternity is real and they will either spend it in "the city that is to come" or they will spend it in Hell. If Jesus could suffer like He did for me, I can certainly go and be uncomfortable in Las Vegas.
I used to think that if I served God, I deserved certain things... good health, safety and health for my kids and family, a place to live, etc. I don't think that anymore. And after today's study I'm more and more expecting persecution of some sort. The more time I spend with the Lord, the more I realize that knowing Him intimately far outweighs all that other stuff. Preparing to go "outside the camp" has proven to be a lonely path for us... but I'm growing closer to God because of it and that is such a blessing. I'm reminded that Mother Teresa, who served God wholeheartedly, experienced intense lonliness. I'm not even comparable to Mother Teresa... I just realize that choosing to go outside the camp like we have means choosing lonliness.
I spoke with a friend recently who has moved out to Las Vegas and she expressed how lonely it has been for her. The idea of going out to Las Vegas to help start a church is a very exciting and adventurous thing for me. And while it may be a surprisingly lonely path, I'm really not alone because I have God right there with me and I'm learning to draw comfort from Him. And as I direct more and more of my thoughts toward Him, I find that it's okay to be lonely... to be uncomfortable... and to even be persecuted.
So, I'm adjusting to the idea of being "outside the camp." And more importantly, I'm drawing closer to my Creator because of it.
I really thought these last few weeks would look different than they do. I thought we would be out with friends and catching up with people, but we are not. I guess the holidays are not a good time to be moving away. My mind is just now starting to really realize that there are some people I'm probably not going to see again. Ever. Wow. I didn't expect this feeling of lonliness to set in before we get to Las Vegas. It is very weird.
I've been making a special effort to stay close to God during this time. Today I finished a wonderful workbook study on the Beatitudes. It's from the "Following God" series and it's called "Renewing the Heart for Women... Life Principles from the Beatitudes" by Barbara Henry. I HIGHLY recommend it. The final study was about walking with Jesus as it pertains to suffering. My heart was opened to all kinds of new ideas about what it means to suffer for Christ.
One of the points in today's study was based out of Hebrews 13:12-16. Barbara Henry talks about "the camp" and what that means. For me, it means my comfort zone. Not necessarily material comfort, but also my routine... monthly budget... local grocery store... etc. The camp, for me, is safe and predictable. Outside of the camp... well that's scary. It's full of unknowns, maybe even persecution.
Going to Las Vegas is definitely going outside of the camp for us. It is full of unknowns. When we get there, we are staying with friends until our house here sells. I don't want to do that! Chuck and I are going to sell his van before we leave so we don't have to get to vehicles across the country and we will share a vehicle when we get there. I don't like to share my van! Chuck has to fundraise his salary and we still have a ways to go to be fully funded. I don't want to be poor! And on top of all of that, my routine is going to Hell in a handbasket!
Hebrews 13:14 speaks of "the city that is to come." And that is why we are going. I don't expect to be comfortable in Las Vegas. It is a sinful place full of broken and hurting people. And they are why we are going... because eternity is real and they will either spend it in "the city that is to come" or they will spend it in Hell. If Jesus could suffer like He did for me, I can certainly go and be uncomfortable in Las Vegas.
I used to think that if I served God, I deserved certain things... good health, safety and health for my kids and family, a place to live, etc. I don't think that anymore. And after today's study I'm more and more expecting persecution of some sort. The more time I spend with the Lord, the more I realize that knowing Him intimately far outweighs all that other stuff. Preparing to go "outside the camp" has proven to be a lonely path for us... but I'm growing closer to God because of it and that is such a blessing. I'm reminded that Mother Teresa, who served God wholeheartedly, experienced intense lonliness. I'm not even comparable to Mother Teresa... I just realize that choosing to go outside the camp like we have means choosing lonliness.
I spoke with a friend recently who has moved out to Las Vegas and she expressed how lonely it has been for her. The idea of going out to Las Vegas to help start a church is a very exciting and adventurous thing for me. And while it may be a surprisingly lonely path, I'm really not alone because I have God right there with me and I'm learning to draw comfort from Him. And as I direct more and more of my thoughts toward Him, I find that it's okay to be lonely... to be uncomfortable... and to even be persecuted.
So, I'm adjusting to the idea of being "outside the camp." And more importantly, I'm drawing closer to my Creator because of it.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Stats
All three of our boys were seen by the wonderful Dr. D this week. Noah and Samuel had their 4 year well check up and Tristan had his 15 month appointment. Noah and Samuel were also seen by the dentist. Their teeth are cavity free. Oh, and Noah DOES NOT like the dentist. Not even a little. Good times.
Anyway, I thought I'd share where our little guys are at, growth wise.
Noah was 42 1/2 inches tall (90th percentile) and 40 1/2 lbs (75th percentile).
Samuel was 41 1/2 inches tall (90th percentile) and 39 1/2 lbs (75th percentile).
Tristan was 32 inches tall (75th percentile) and 23 lbs 5 oz (25th percentile).
Up until shorts weather, N&S were fine in 3T pants for the most part. Noah could wear a 4T, but had mostly 3T's. Since they are slender, they wore 3T shorts all summer. I realized at the beginning of summer that we needed 4T shirts because their bellies were hanging out. 4T shirts are covering their bellies, but they need a 5T if I buy them long sleeves because their arms are so long. It won't be long (really, they could wear them now, I'm sure) before we are in 5T pants for length. They are tall. However, they are thin so I have to buy them adjustable waists whenever possible. Both boys are wearing size 13 shoes. They have grown SO much in 14 months. I'm pretty sure they came home at 27 lbs (Samuel) and 29 lbs (Noah). Oh, and I have to mention, Samuel's legs are completely fine. We had him rechecked by the orthopedist a few months ago and his legs are no longer bowed. AMAZING.
Tristan wears 12 and 18 months clothing. He is like me... long torso, short legs. So, he can get away with 12 month pants. Most of his tops are 18 months. He is wearing a size 5 shoe. I heard that many babies slow down on weight gain once they start walking. That seems to be true for Tristan. Believe me, he eats. Sometimes he eats the same portion size as me.
Sometimes I stand back in awe of how these kids are growing. I'm just amazed by our Creator and how He grows kids up. Noah and Samuel were in rough shape when they came home (though not nearly as bad as some kids... I will NEVER take that for granted). It is just so amazing to me that if you feed a body what it needs, it just blossoms.
I'm a stickler for healthy eating for my kids. I truly believe you have to start young on making healthy eating a habit for life. My kids get fruit or vegetables with every meal (yes, we do miss sometimes). We also eat home cooked meals most of the time (and occasionally we eat out or have fast food). I try to stay away from foods full of chemicals. I just try to be very aware of what I'm putting into their little developing bodies. I'm not nearly as vigil and freakish as some parents out there... not that I fault them... I just don't have the energy to be super vigilant. I feel that if I can teach my kids healthy habits they will have a better chance at health in the future. And so far, they are healthy. We have very little sickness here. And they are obviously all thriving.
So, that's where they are at. Rose Ann mentioned how big the twins are getting and asked what size they are wearing. It's kind of funny that I was planning this post on stats. So, there you go!
Anyway, I thought I'd share where our little guys are at, growth wise.
Noah was 42 1/2 inches tall (90th percentile) and 40 1/2 lbs (75th percentile).
Samuel was 41 1/2 inches tall (90th percentile) and 39 1/2 lbs (75th percentile).
Tristan was 32 inches tall (75th percentile) and 23 lbs 5 oz (25th percentile).
Up until shorts weather, N&S were fine in 3T pants for the most part. Noah could wear a 4T, but had mostly 3T's. Since they are slender, they wore 3T shorts all summer. I realized at the beginning of summer that we needed 4T shirts because their bellies were hanging out. 4T shirts are covering their bellies, but they need a 5T if I buy them long sleeves because their arms are so long. It won't be long (really, they could wear them now, I'm sure) before we are in 5T pants for length. They are tall. However, they are thin so I have to buy them adjustable waists whenever possible. Both boys are wearing size 13 shoes. They have grown SO much in 14 months. I'm pretty sure they came home at 27 lbs (Samuel) and 29 lbs (Noah). Oh, and I have to mention, Samuel's legs are completely fine. We had him rechecked by the orthopedist a few months ago and his legs are no longer bowed. AMAZING.
Tristan wears 12 and 18 months clothing. He is like me... long torso, short legs. So, he can get away with 12 month pants. Most of his tops are 18 months. He is wearing a size 5 shoe. I heard that many babies slow down on weight gain once they start walking. That seems to be true for Tristan. Believe me, he eats. Sometimes he eats the same portion size as me.
Sometimes I stand back in awe of how these kids are growing. I'm just amazed by our Creator and how He grows kids up. Noah and Samuel were in rough shape when they came home (though not nearly as bad as some kids... I will NEVER take that for granted). It is just so amazing to me that if you feed a body what it needs, it just blossoms.
I'm a stickler for healthy eating for my kids. I truly believe you have to start young on making healthy eating a habit for life. My kids get fruit or vegetables with every meal (yes, we do miss sometimes). We also eat home cooked meals most of the time (and occasionally we eat out or have fast food). I try to stay away from foods full of chemicals. I just try to be very aware of what I'm putting into their little developing bodies. I'm not nearly as vigil and freakish as some parents out there... not that I fault them... I just don't have the energy to be super vigilant. I feel that if I can teach my kids healthy habits they will have a better chance at health in the future. And so far, they are healthy. We have very little sickness here. And they are obviously all thriving.
So, that's where they are at. Rose Ann mentioned how big the twins are getting and asked what size they are wearing. It's kind of funny that I was planning this post on stats. So, there you go!
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Birthday Parties
Last year we didn't have much of a celebration for Noah and Samuel. About all any of us could handle was a quiet celebration at home. So, it was rather fitting that we had TWO parties for them this year.
The first party was just with some immediate family in Michigan. Chuck had a speaking engagement in mid October, so we decided to have cake, ice cream and presents with my family while there. My sister decorated everything with Cars and the boys opened presents from the family. The highlight was that they got bikes from Grandma and Grandpa Herb. They had been waiting FOREVER for their bikes.
On their actual birthday on November 9, we didn't do anything. I told them that it was their birthday, but that we would have a birthday party with FRIENDS and JUMPING on Saturday. I went back and forth on the type of party I would throw for them. I would have liked to have had a party here at the house, but November is just so iffy here in Virginia. We ended up having a party at an indoor inflatable park and I'm so glad we did. The weather was dreadful that day, so I'm so thankful we didn't plan the party here.
Noah, Samuel and 14 of their little friends jumped and ran and slid and bumped heads and had a BLAST. Us parents were able to enjoy some time talking as the kids had fun. It was a great party setting and I'd highly recommend it. My only regret is that I had booked us for a smaller party and then realized we'd need to book a bigger party. By the time I made that realization, we were too late to switch into a bigger party room, so the pizza, cake and presents time was crammed and most of the parents just stayed outside the room.
We made the decision a long time ago that we will never sing Happy Birthday to both boys at the same time. They are individuals and deserve their own song. We sang to Samuel first and he wasn't sure what to think with the lights off and everyone singing off-key. After he blew out his candle it took me a moment to get the cake and Noah's candle situated. Once we were all set, Noah exclaimed, "OKAY!" letting us know we were all ready. He was so excited to be sung to! He totally enjoyed all of us singing and focusing our attention on him for a moment.
My dear friend, Amanda (who has the cutest, tiniest little girls who just LOVE LOVE LOVE my boys) took pictures while the boys unwrapped gifts. Chuck took a ton of video footage, but I'm not sure if that will make it to the blog. We tend to wait a looooong time before actually downloading it from the camera (kind of like me and pictures from my camera...).
Anyway, please enjoy the pictures. I have pictures from both parties. (I apologize for the quality of the photos. I have a not-so-great camera and I'm not at all a photographer.) I absolutely loved throwing parties for these two. I had no idea I'd be so excited for their parties, but I was.
Noah and Daddy
Samuel
It was dark... so you can't see just how excited they were!
Noah
Samuel
Suffering through Mommy reading a
Presents!!
A Cars cake, of course!
Lilly and Mya
The first party was just with some immediate family in Michigan. Chuck had a speaking engagement in mid October, so we decided to have cake, ice cream and presents with my family while there. My sister decorated everything with Cars and the boys opened presents from the family. The highlight was that they got bikes from Grandma and Grandpa Herb. They had been waiting FOREVER for their bikes.
On their actual birthday on November 9, we didn't do anything. I told them that it was their birthday, but that we would have a birthday party with FRIENDS and JUMPING on Saturday. I went back and forth on the type of party I would throw for them. I would have liked to have had a party here at the house, but November is just so iffy here in Virginia. We ended up having a party at an indoor inflatable park and I'm so glad we did. The weather was dreadful that day, so I'm so thankful we didn't plan the party here.
Noah, Samuel and 14 of their little friends jumped and ran and slid and bumped heads and had a BLAST. Us parents were able to enjoy some time talking as the kids had fun. It was a great party setting and I'd highly recommend it. My only regret is that I had booked us for a smaller party and then realized we'd need to book a bigger party. By the time I made that realization, we were too late to switch into a bigger party room, so the pizza, cake and presents time was crammed and most of the parents just stayed outside the room.
We made the decision a long time ago that we will never sing Happy Birthday to both boys at the same time. They are individuals and deserve their own song. We sang to Samuel first and he wasn't sure what to think with the lights off and everyone singing off-key. After he blew out his candle it took me a moment to get the cake and Noah's candle situated. Once we were all set, Noah exclaimed, "OKAY!" letting us know we were all ready. He was so excited to be sung to! He totally enjoyed all of us singing and focusing our attention on him for a moment.
My dear friend, Amanda (who has the cutest, tiniest little girls who just LOVE LOVE LOVE my boys) took pictures while the boys unwrapped gifts. Chuck took a ton of video footage, but I'm not sure if that will make it to the blog. We tend to wait a looooong time before actually downloading it from the camera (kind of like me and pictures from my camera...).
Anyway, please enjoy the pictures. I have pictures from both parties. (I apologize for the quality of the photos. I have a not-so-great camera and I'm not at all a photographer.) I absolutely loved throwing parties for these two. I had no idea I'd be so excited for their parties, but I was.
Noah and Daddy
Samuel
It was dark... so you can't see just how excited they were!
Noah
SamuelMy sister hooked them up with Cars outfits
and hats and all sorts of other Cars stuff.
Suffering through Mommy reading a card and waiting to open presents.
Presents!!
A Cars cake, of course!
Lilly and MyaThe love between these girls and my boys is PRECIOUS.
CAKE!!
CAKE!!And yes, they had the same Cars cake at this party, too!
Samuel with a freshly opened gift from Sam.
Noah opening a gift.
Happy Birthday, Noah!
Happy Birthday, Samuel!
Friends!
More friends!!
Noah climbing up.
Samuel... really, he was having a good time.
Samuel sliding
Noah with Samuel and Lilly in the background.
Noah
Noah climbing up.
Samuel with a freshly opened gift from Sam.
Noah opening a gift.
Happy Birthday, Noah!
Happy Birthday, Samuel!
Friends!
More friends!!
Noah climbing up.
Samuel... really, he was having a good time.
Samuel slidingI have to note that just 7 months ago neither of
the boys was able to play here... it was just too
overwhelming for them. They've come so far!
Noah with Samuel and Lilly in the background.
Noah
Noah climbing up.Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Pointing and Stuff
Tristan started pointing in the last week. He points to let us know he wants his milk or more food (which is on a plate on the table that he can't reach since he can't be trusted to not throw it).
Something Tristan has been doing for the last month is batting his hand on his mouth while making noise. His hand is palm out instead of palm in and he doesn't exactly bat it... he kind of quickly bends it, but gets the same effect.
My mom was super impressed last month that Tristan will bounce a ball back and forth with someone. She thinks he's brilliant. We do, too, of course, but we don't know if the ball bouncing makes him so.
Last night at dinner Tristan repeated the word "noodle." He won't say it again, but we clearly heard it.
It's just amazing to watch a baby grow from a newborn, capable of almost nothing, to a toddler.
In other news...
Something Tristan has been doing for the last month is batting his hand on his mouth while making noise. His hand is palm out instead of palm in and he doesn't exactly bat it... he kind of quickly bends it, but gets the same effect.
My mom was super impressed last month that Tristan will bounce a ball back and forth with someone. She thinks he's brilliant. We do, too, of course, but we don't know if the ball bouncing makes him so.
Last night at dinner Tristan repeated the word "noodle." He won't say it again, but we clearly heard it.
It's just amazing to watch a baby grow from a newborn, capable of almost nothing, to a toddler.
In other news...
- The November Nor'easter (known in our house as the "Storm from Hell") has made our internet intermittent. It worked perfectly through the storm, but now we are constantly resetting things to get internet to work. Thankfully we had no damage to our home and never lost power. Chuck's van lost a window. The storm was basically like a mild hurricane.
- Noah and Samuel celebrated their 4th birthday with friends this past Saturday. Once I get pictures uploaded I will blog all about that. It was FUN.
- We move to Las Vegas in 29 days. That is crazy.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Goodbye, Gracie and Sabrina
Sabrina Louise
Grace MarieThese two cats taught me about love.
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We made the decision a while back that we would give our cats away before our upcoming move. They just weren't happy anymore. They were our kids before kids and then the kids got here and they just didn't get the attention they were used to. Then the kids started terrorizing them every chance they got. Gracie and Sabrina's quality of life just wasn't what we wanted for them.
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So, we started looking for a family for them. We wanted them to stay together since they are from the same litter and have been together for the last 8+ years. The ideal family would have no other pets or small kids.
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I finally got desperate and posted them on Craig's List. And finally someone called. Sarah called today and was eager to come and meet them. We grilled her. She just lost her cat and doesn't have other animals. Or kids. Her husband is in the Navy so he's gone a lot. She's home and can give the cats attention.
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We gave her our kids before kids.
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We are sad, but also enjoying some new freedoms. Like leaving a glass of water on the counter. And opening the door without fear of a cat running out. The list goes on. We will miss them, but we are glad they are in a better environment.
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This whole "moving" thing is getting more an more real. Giving away our family members today opened my eyes wider to the fact that we are outta here soon. Denial is slipping away...
Saturday, November 07, 2009
All-body
I don't want to forget this one...
Noah is VERY verbal. He needs to talk. Even if he has nothing to talk about, he is going to talk to you and you better look in his eyes when he's talking to you! Samuel will choose not to speak if he's not sure how to express something. Noah will just make stuff up or pull words together in unique ways to express himself.
Lately he's been using "all-body" and we like it so much that we find ourselves saying it too.
All-body takes the place of everyone or everybody. Noah will talk about how all-body is eating. "Mama is eating. Daddy is eating. Tristan is eating. Samuel is eating. And Noah is eating. We're alllll-body eating." He draws out the all for effect, too.
We LOVE it. Today I used it at naptime. "We're allll-body taking a nap." And we did! :)
Noah is VERY verbal. He needs to talk. Even if he has nothing to talk about, he is going to talk to you and you better look in his eyes when he's talking to you! Samuel will choose not to speak if he's not sure how to express something. Noah will just make stuff up or pull words together in unique ways to express himself.
Lately he's been using "all-body" and we like it so much that we find ourselves saying it too.
All-body takes the place of everyone or everybody. Noah will talk about how all-body is eating. "Mama is eating. Daddy is eating. Tristan is eating. Samuel is eating. And Noah is eating. We're alllll-body eating." He draws out the all for effect, too.
We LOVE it. Today I used it at naptime. "We're allll-body taking a nap." And we did! :)
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
Really, God?
I have said those two words so many times. Sometimes life seems to throw me a curve ball and I just have to say, "Really, God?"
Like when we totally thought the Coast Guard was going to send us to California in 2004 and instead Chuck's detailer "forgot about him." Really, God? We ended up staying in the Hampton Roads area and our lives have been so enriched here. Thank you, God.
Or when we lost a baby in April, 2005 to miscarriage. Really, God? It was such a heartwrenching experience - pain I wish on no one. But if we hadn't experienced that miscarriage, we wouldn't have started our adoption later that year.
Or maybe when I distinctly heard God tell me I needed to go to Haiti in July of 2005. Really, God? And I went. And that swung open the door to adopting from Haiti.
Or how about when we learned in January of 2006 that the orphan I cared for back in July - the one we wanted to adopt - had a family. Really, God? Then, the very next day we received the referral for Noah and Samuel.
Or how about when we learned that Chuck would never be deployable again after his back surgery and that meant his Coast Guard career was over. Really, God? After 10 years in the milirary it all comes to an end? And God provided a medical retirement for Chuck.
Honestly, I could go on and on.
My most recent "Really, God?" experience has to do with starting a church in Michigan. "Really, God, fundraising is not going to come through?" "Really, God, there isn't a single job for Chuck?" "You're closing the door on this, God? Really? But we told everyone we were going."
When it comes to starting a church, there are a few ways to do it. The first is to fundraise hundreds of thousands of dollars and begin having church services in a rented (or possibly owned) space with paid staff, equipment, etc. That was the route we were hoping to go. However, the rough economic times have made it impossible to raise that kind of money. There are church planting organizations that give money to new churches, but right now they are out of money. Another option we had was for Chuck to find a regular job and then build our ministry from our home. The big problem with this model is that Chuck was not able to find a job. Unemployment is extreme in Michigan. The collapse of the auto industry has had tremendous impact on employment in Michigan. Without a job, we would need to live with family. And we don't have family that has a big enough home to host us long term, if needed. As we prayed about all these things we came to the harsh reality that going to Michigan right now is just not an open door. Gosh, how I wrestled with God over that. If He called us there, why was He making it impossible to go?? I'm not sure. I don't know the answer. I have some theories, though.
Perhaps God simply broke Chuck's heart for Michigan. A little over a year ago Chuck became very burdened for southeast Michigan. Did we mistaken that burden for a calling? I don't know.
Maybe God wanted to see if our hearts were willing. I have shared here before - one of the last places on earth I want to move to is Michigan. The climate is rough there. I drive horrible in the snow. For Chuck, there is no surf and cold weather is physically painful for him because of his back. But we were willing to go if that's where God wanted us. And maybe God just wanted to know if we were willing. I don't know.
Another theory is that God pointed us toward Michigan to get us moving, and then would show us something else (which He did, keep reading). You see, we were long-term committed to Chesapeake, VA. We felt that if we started the church campus in Chesapeake, we needed to commit at least 5 years to it. So maybe God broke Chuck's heart for MI in order to get us moving. Again, I don't know.
I'm really not sure why things have happened the way they have, but they have. There are just some things I'm not going to understand this side of Heaven, and maybe this is one of them. We are fully open to going to MI if that's where God wants us, but right now He's not making it possible for us to go.
So, the next question is what do we do now? Some would say that we should just stay put. However, God has made it clear to us through many circumstances, situations, and people that our time here has come to a close. A lot of that has been rather painful and I won't go into detail about all of that. We simply know that it is time to move on.
So, where are we going? I'm so glad you asked. We are going to Las Vegas and we are leaving in 6 weeks!!
If that seems completely crazy, let me share some things.
The founding pastor of the church that we are currently at left last year to start a church on the Las Vegas strip. Part of his story is that his father ruined his family in Las Vegas gambling. So it's quite poetic that God would send him there to reach out to people just like his father. When Vince announced to our church that he was leaving to start this church he made it clear that he was not taking any staff with him. Our church would have enough change to process through with his family's departure so he didn't want to add to that burden by taking other staff members with him. Right after the meeting Chuck told him, "Man, if I could I'd pack my bags and go with you." And Vince replied, "Well you can't." End of story, right? Wrong.
In June our church's leadership made the tough decision to close the Chesapeake campus. By then we had shared that we were going to eventually go to Michigan to start a church (though at that time we thought it would be a few years because we were committed to Chesapeake for 5 years). That is when we began moving forward with plans to go to Michigan, so Chuck was planning to leave our church, not because anyone was "taking him."
Well, as the doors began to slam shut to Michigan, we began to think and pray about Las Vegas. Well, let me correct that. Chuck began to think and pray about Las Vegas. I wouldn't because I was close-minded to anything besides Michigan. Even though those doors were slamming shut, I felt like we needed to go there because that's what God said.
In late September I surrendered my closed mind to God and told Him that I would open my mind to the idea of going to Las Vegas. All the while, Vince and Chuck were talking frequently about what things would look like if our family moved to Las Vegas. Vince wanted Chuck to come and intern at Verve and Chuck very much wanted the experience of helping to start a new church with Vince. As Chuck prayed, he felt peace about moving our family to Las Vegas. And I can't underestimate that peace because relocating a young family like ours across the country is a big deal.
In early October I went to Las Vegas for 6 days with an open mind and heart. I went with a few other girls and we visited with Jen, Vince's wife. She is one of my best friends and it was so good to see her. We talked at length about the closed doors in Michigan and how our time was over in Virginia. I told her I just wasn't sure what we should do. That particular night I asked God to speak to me through the shuffled music I was listening to on my iPod. The songs I heard spoke of a desert and the Valley of the Bones. I won't say that "God spoke to me" with those songs, but I definitely take them into consideration.
So, Chuck and I have decided (and believe me, it's after MUCH prayer) that we will go to Las Vegas for at least the next two years to help launch Verve Church. From there, we will go as God leads. If He asks us to go to Michigan, we are willing. If he sends us out on the mission field, we will be honored to go. If He asks us to stay in Vegas or go anywhere else, we stay or go as He leads.
After making this decision, we've had so much peace. And that is just crazy! We are 6 weeks out from relocating our family across the country to a new climate, a new home; new everything! And we feel peace about this decision. In fact, we feel excitement. And broken heartedness, too. There are a lot of hurting people in Las Vegas. "Anything goes" there and the things I've learned about what happens in Las Vegas and in Nevada in general just breaks my heart. My eyes have been opened to the sex slave industry. It is awful.
As a side note, I don't want to discount the hurting people in Michigan. It is really hard times there. Harder than most people in this country have experienced. You can't understand it until you've been there. I can't compare the hurting people in Las Vegas with the hurting people in southeast Michigan. Chuck's heart was truly broken last year for Michigan and it has been tough to acknowledge the closed doors there. On our last trip to Michigan Chuck was really encouraged to learn of a church 20 minutes away from where we wanted to start a church. He was unaware of this church up until recently and after meeting with the Lead Pastor there, he sees that there is a good church in the area that he can pray for and direct people to.
I haven't even begun to think about leaving all my friends here behind. I'm very focused on all the details that need to come together for our move, so I'm not really thinking about the things I'll leave behind. The familiarity of my favorite grocery store, mall, etc. We've lived in this area for over 7 years now and we've put down some serious roots. The friendships we've made are incredible and I tend to go into denial about leaving all of that behind. So, if I seem unemotional about leaving, please know that it's just a defense mechanism - I really do care!
Our family will, of course, be busy over the next 6 weeks, but not to busy to spend time with our friends here. We look forward to spending time with everyone we love before we go. Please don't think for a second that we are too busy to spend time with you.
So, there you have it! Vegas, here we come!!!
Red Rock Canyon, one of the most beautiful places I've ever been
Like when we totally thought the Coast Guard was going to send us to California in 2004 and instead Chuck's detailer "forgot about him." Really, God? We ended up staying in the Hampton Roads area and our lives have been so enriched here. Thank you, God.
Or when we lost a baby in April, 2005 to miscarriage. Really, God? It was such a heartwrenching experience - pain I wish on no one. But if we hadn't experienced that miscarriage, we wouldn't have started our adoption later that year.
Or maybe when I distinctly heard God tell me I needed to go to Haiti in July of 2005. Really, God? And I went. And that swung open the door to adopting from Haiti.
Or how about when we learned in January of 2006 that the orphan I cared for back in July - the one we wanted to adopt - had a family. Really, God? Then, the very next day we received the referral for Noah and Samuel.
Or how about when we learned that Chuck would never be deployable again after his back surgery and that meant his Coast Guard career was over. Really, God? After 10 years in the milirary it all comes to an end? And God provided a medical retirement for Chuck.
Honestly, I could go on and on.
My most recent "Really, God?" experience has to do with starting a church in Michigan. "Really, God, fundraising is not going to come through?" "Really, God, there isn't a single job for Chuck?" "You're closing the door on this, God? Really? But we told everyone we were going."
When it comes to starting a church, there are a few ways to do it. The first is to fundraise hundreds of thousands of dollars and begin having church services in a rented (or possibly owned) space with paid staff, equipment, etc. That was the route we were hoping to go. However, the rough economic times have made it impossible to raise that kind of money. There are church planting organizations that give money to new churches, but right now they are out of money. Another option we had was for Chuck to find a regular job and then build our ministry from our home. The big problem with this model is that Chuck was not able to find a job. Unemployment is extreme in Michigan. The collapse of the auto industry has had tremendous impact on employment in Michigan. Without a job, we would need to live with family. And we don't have family that has a big enough home to host us long term, if needed. As we prayed about all these things we came to the harsh reality that going to Michigan right now is just not an open door. Gosh, how I wrestled with God over that. If He called us there, why was He making it impossible to go?? I'm not sure. I don't know the answer. I have some theories, though.
Perhaps God simply broke Chuck's heart for Michigan. A little over a year ago Chuck became very burdened for southeast Michigan. Did we mistaken that burden for a calling? I don't know.
Maybe God wanted to see if our hearts were willing. I have shared here before - one of the last places on earth I want to move to is Michigan. The climate is rough there. I drive horrible in the snow. For Chuck, there is no surf and cold weather is physically painful for him because of his back. But we were willing to go if that's where God wanted us. And maybe God just wanted to know if we were willing. I don't know.
Another theory is that God pointed us toward Michigan to get us moving, and then would show us something else (which He did, keep reading). You see, we were long-term committed to Chesapeake, VA. We felt that if we started the church campus in Chesapeake, we needed to commit at least 5 years to it. So maybe God broke Chuck's heart for MI in order to get us moving. Again, I don't know.
I'm really not sure why things have happened the way they have, but they have. There are just some things I'm not going to understand this side of Heaven, and maybe this is one of them. We are fully open to going to MI if that's where God wants us, but right now He's not making it possible for us to go.
So, the next question is what do we do now? Some would say that we should just stay put. However, God has made it clear to us through many circumstances, situations, and people that our time here has come to a close. A lot of that has been rather painful and I won't go into detail about all of that. We simply know that it is time to move on.
So, where are we going? I'm so glad you asked. We are going to Las Vegas and we are leaving in 6 weeks!!
If that seems completely crazy, let me share some things.
The founding pastor of the church that we are currently at left last year to start a church on the Las Vegas strip. Part of his story is that his father ruined his family in Las Vegas gambling. So it's quite poetic that God would send him there to reach out to people just like his father. When Vince announced to our church that he was leaving to start this church he made it clear that he was not taking any staff with him. Our church would have enough change to process through with his family's departure so he didn't want to add to that burden by taking other staff members with him. Right after the meeting Chuck told him, "Man, if I could I'd pack my bags and go with you." And Vince replied, "Well you can't." End of story, right? Wrong.
In June our church's leadership made the tough decision to close the Chesapeake campus. By then we had shared that we were going to eventually go to Michigan to start a church (though at that time we thought it would be a few years because we were committed to Chesapeake for 5 years). That is when we began moving forward with plans to go to Michigan, so Chuck was planning to leave our church, not because anyone was "taking him."
Well, as the doors began to slam shut to Michigan, we began to think and pray about Las Vegas. Well, let me correct that. Chuck began to think and pray about Las Vegas. I wouldn't because I was close-minded to anything besides Michigan. Even though those doors were slamming shut, I felt like we needed to go there because that's what God said.
In late September I surrendered my closed mind to God and told Him that I would open my mind to the idea of going to Las Vegas. All the while, Vince and Chuck were talking frequently about what things would look like if our family moved to Las Vegas. Vince wanted Chuck to come and intern at Verve and Chuck very much wanted the experience of helping to start a new church with Vince. As Chuck prayed, he felt peace about moving our family to Las Vegas. And I can't underestimate that peace because relocating a young family like ours across the country is a big deal.
In early October I went to Las Vegas for 6 days with an open mind and heart. I went with a few other girls and we visited with Jen, Vince's wife. She is one of my best friends and it was so good to see her. We talked at length about the closed doors in Michigan and how our time was over in Virginia. I told her I just wasn't sure what we should do. That particular night I asked God to speak to me through the shuffled music I was listening to on my iPod. The songs I heard spoke of a desert and the Valley of the Bones. I won't say that "God spoke to me" with those songs, but I definitely take them into consideration.
So, Chuck and I have decided (and believe me, it's after MUCH prayer) that we will go to Las Vegas for at least the next two years to help launch Verve Church. From there, we will go as God leads. If He asks us to go to Michigan, we are willing. If he sends us out on the mission field, we will be honored to go. If He asks us to stay in Vegas or go anywhere else, we stay or go as He leads.
After making this decision, we've had so much peace. And that is just crazy! We are 6 weeks out from relocating our family across the country to a new climate, a new home; new everything! And we feel peace about this decision. In fact, we feel excitement. And broken heartedness, too. There are a lot of hurting people in Las Vegas. "Anything goes" there and the things I've learned about what happens in Las Vegas and in Nevada in general just breaks my heart. My eyes have been opened to the sex slave industry. It is awful.
As a side note, I don't want to discount the hurting people in Michigan. It is really hard times there. Harder than most people in this country have experienced. You can't understand it until you've been there. I can't compare the hurting people in Las Vegas with the hurting people in southeast Michigan. Chuck's heart was truly broken last year for Michigan and it has been tough to acknowledge the closed doors there. On our last trip to Michigan Chuck was really encouraged to learn of a church 20 minutes away from where we wanted to start a church. He was unaware of this church up until recently and after meeting with the Lead Pastor there, he sees that there is a good church in the area that he can pray for and direct people to.
I haven't even begun to think about leaving all my friends here behind. I'm very focused on all the details that need to come together for our move, so I'm not really thinking about the things I'll leave behind. The familiarity of my favorite grocery store, mall, etc. We've lived in this area for over 7 years now and we've put down some serious roots. The friendships we've made are incredible and I tend to go into denial about leaving all of that behind. So, if I seem unemotional about leaving, please know that it's just a defense mechanism - I really do care!
Our family will, of course, be busy over the next 6 weeks, but not to busy to spend time with our friends here. We look forward to spending time with everyone we love before we go. Please don't think for a second that we are too busy to spend time with you.
So, there you have it! Vegas, here we come!!!
Red Rock Canyon, one of the most beautiful places I've ever been
Halloween!
Samuel thoroughly enjoying his ice cream
Noah was more into the cookie
Chuck caught in the act of stealing a bite of corndog
Me and the boys after the hayride
The pirate loving trio
My poor attempt of getting a pic of the familywhile on the hayride. Tristan got left out :(
I guess he'll be traing for a while
Happy doctor!
No pacifier!
Our pirates
Arrrg! Showing off their "hooks"
Chuck's pumpkin creation
The twins picked the dragon... it was not easy
Noah & Samuel jumped on the trampoline for aloooooong time while Daddy carved the pumpkin
Pumpkin guts!We were so excited for Halloween this year. Last year the boys had only been home for 8 weeks and were afraid of EVERYTHING. I am not exaggerating. We bought them pumpkin face orange shirts and called it good. We put them to bed at 7 and handed out candy to the few trick or treaters that came. Tristan was only 11 weeks old so he wore a Halloween sleeper and hung out with Chuck on the porch waiting for trick or treaters. I remember feeling very overwhelmed that night and wondering if we would ever get to a "normal" place.
Well, this year was TOTALLY different. The boys didn't really know exactly what was coming. They thoroughly enjoyed carving a pumpkin with Daddy in early October. We brought them to various stores to aquaint them with costumes and masks, etc. They were pretty freaked out by the scary costumes, but were okay with regular costumes. I was not a good planner, so I didn't get them costumes until the day before Halloween. And no, I didn't have them pick them out. I probably could have spent more time preparing them so that they could pick out a costume, but I think they will be able to do that next year and for years to come, so I'm not too ashamed that I picked their costumes for them. It's still a step up from last year!
So, I got the boys Pirate costumes. Chuck has made sure that they are into pirates. And recently a friend's son gave them a cool pirate ship hull that they love. Chuck was in his GLORY dressing them up as Pirates. He added bandana's to their costumes and we also had one eye patch and one pirate hat... but the boys weren't too into keeping those on.
Tristan had a few costume options - a bear or a doctor. Since it was so warm and muggy, we went with the doctor costume since it was lighter weight. We have toy doctor kits so he had some props, too.
We decided to go to a local church's Trunk or Treat. It ended up being a full-on harvest festival. Noah and Samuel were leery as we entered... they were just kind of taking in all the sights, sounds, and smells. We had only one freakout... Noah did not like the man-sized Yo Gabba Gabba character handing out candy from his trunk. Probably the neatest part of the night was a quick hayride. Chuck and I had never been on one!
After the festival we went for ice cream. We wanted to create a special Halloween tradition, and we decided on going for ice cream after. I know, it doesn't make much sense... but we wanted something special that no one else does. And since the ice cream shop was empty, I'm guessing we chose right!
I did not expect to have so much fun (remember, taking all three out to new experiences isn't always easy), but I really did have a blast. It was so fun to watch the boys have a new experience, all the while acting as pirates. Tristan was perfect - he just chilled in his stroller all night.
I'm sure next year will be even more fun!
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