the cousins growing up

Yesterday Afternoon my sister in law Heidy posted a picture on my facebook page-  The pic had been taken a few weeks back when my boys were at her house helping celebrate my niece Katie's Birthday.
It's no secret that during this 'season' of my life, when it comes to my kids- especially the fact that our Eli has done grown up and going to graduate from high school in 6 weeks- I am a bit more emotional....like next to tears when I think about it or look at pictures of my boys when they were little- or pictures as they were growing up- or current pictures....smile....crying....back to smile
As I was standing in front of the mirror, curling iron in hand getting ready for Bible Study this morning I started thinking about the pic from Heidy- How fast time has gone to get both she and I to the place that we would both be watching our firstborn's graduate this Spring.....

The Spring and Summer of 1996 found our Earth carrying a bit more weight than usual- having not edited anything being consumed since the August prior, when I found out I was pregnant, I was dubbed by my husband to be as big as a whale (we would bust up laughing when he would say it and I would turn around backwards and shake my pregnant body so he could see everything jiggling.....we would then bust up laughing again). 

Matt's is one of 7 children- Matt's older brother Wayne married his wife Heidy the same year Matt and I were married (94').  During this time, it just so happened that Matt and I were living across the street from Matt's parents Dairy Farm- Wayne and Heidy lived on the Dairy along with Matt and Wayne working on the Farm too.........During this season, Heidy and I, in it's own unique way, had our lives paralleling each other- While our personalities were very different and we did not run necessarily in the same circle of friends, God allowed us to not only live close but to become pregnant around the same time- Both of us would become the new mother's to sons within 3 months of each other............That May in 1996 found my arms holding Eli Benjamin and that August found Heidy's arms holding Jesse Wayne (aka..Chester Cheeto Chi-wa-wa).

A little under 3 years later we followed suite only this time Heidy was leading the way with the birth of my niece Lydia followed by the birth of our Ryan....

Heidy took a giant leap ahead by having Katie a couple years later while Matt and I waited 12 years for our Ellie to join our family- Each of us being blessed with 3

Through out the years it has been very fun seeing the relationship between the cousins- We all live a bit farther apart now with our lives not paralleling nearly as much as they used too BUT this has not stopped the cousins from carrying on....living life with each other as not only cousins but most of them as heart felt friends....

By the time I was done curling my hair this morning I had dried the tears that were trying to spill out my eyes and let my heart absorb the memories of the cousins growing up.....

Amy
Shell Bell
Who were born to Matt's oldest sister Lesa and her husband

Rebecca and her husband Jason (and precious Lexy)
Rachel
Johnny and his wife Devyn
Ben (who gave his auntie a wedgie I will NEVER forget)
Who were born to Matt's oldest brother John and his wife Lori

Jesse
Lydia
Katie
Who were born to....wait, I already said who they were born to above

Gregory and his wife Emmy
Brandon- Bu
Joshy John
Who were born to Matt's sister Judie and her husband Mark

Cory
Cody
Katelyn
Who were born to Matt's sister Christie and her husband Shawn

All of which are a blessing
All of which are a gift from God to this Auntie....

Auntie Steph loves you guys!!

The pic my sis in law Heidy posted on my facebook wall

 

I swear...my nephew Greg (center) is not as mean as what he looks in this pic!  SMILE GREGORY...For pete's sake!!!

Love you Amy and Shelly!

34 months

In 2 months Ellie will be 3-  This makes her 34 months or a little over one thousand days old....whichever you prefer :)

As Ellie's personality develops more and more there are a few things we notice-

• She's detail orientated and keeps track of her stuff- At any given time we can ask Elle's where something is- If it belongs to her (or is one of our cell phones) you can bet that she will know it's exact location and how many of the certain item she has.  We all tell her how smart she is often!!
• Honesty will probably not be an issue for her-  She informs all of us if we have bad breath, BO, or stink in any way.  If she comes home from pre school with any sort of a boo boo we get to hear about the incident in detail- All the way down to how she pushed or took a toy (admitting first) prompting the other child to retaliate- Instigator or not she's not going to shy away from the facts.
• Things that are not the way they should be bother her.....She notices details on things and people right away- an example of this would be:  McDonalds is giving away my little pony looking toys right now- The pony's have their plastic hair covering one of their eyes....She noticed it right away and kept asking me why the 'horse' did not have 2 eyes?  We talked about this back and forth for a good 20 minutes before I finally said 'I'm not sure why they would cover one of the pony's eye with it's hair Elle's BUT that's just not right and would be really annoying to have hair covering your eye.'  She completely agreed (as much as an almost 3 year old can) and the subject was dropped- so was the pony.

• Her favorite TV show is '19 Kids and counting'....We will watch at least one episode everyday- I haven't asked her if she knows all of the kids names but it would not surprise me if she did.

You are an amazing blessing Ellie Marie and we love you so much....God has a perfect plan for your life!!

Gage and Jodi's Great Adventure!

My sis Jodi, her husband Gage, and their 5 kids have set out on one great adventure.....
This past fall my brother in law (Gage) learned about an opportunity to lease a ranch about an hour and ten minutes away from both of our home town (their ranch is opposite direction as ours so now Jodi and I are about 2 hours apart).  In about 6 months time they were able to sell their home and re structure Gage's job so that it is more of an 'on call' instead of 'daily'.  The ranch they are leasing is off the grid so things like power, water, and other modern day convenience's are a no longer the norm.  Gage and Jodi have traded their subdivision life for a touch of pioneer..........traded a traditional nine to five supervisor job for crop growing and animal tending.  This is the stuff reality TV is made out of folks- for those that have seen Discovery's 'Alaska Experiment' you will already be a head of the game in understanding what Jod and Gage have embarked on. Last Sunday night was their first night staying as a family up at the ranch- My sis had this to say (on her facebook wall):

'I am hoping to post some pics soon and start a blog but first things first...yes? Water and power we have discovered are gifts, blessings, things that make our days productive. Gage and I have never stopped long enough, except on a 2 week - 2 month mission trip in our teens, to really ponder what life would look like without those 2 wonders.
We got up here about 8pm on Sunday night and set up camp...our travel trailer parked next to our 1 room studio in a barn which consists of a wood stove in one corner, a kitchenette w/out a sink cut in yet (obviously no water) along a long wall, a fridge, our leather sectional and 2 half walls of upper and lower closet built-ins with our table in the middle. I hope to have a picture up soon. We unpacked a bit and hit the sack. Shad slept by himself in the studio and the rest of us in the trailer. We woke up Monday to a beautiful sunny day, made scrambled eggs and sausage in our cast-iron on our wood stove. Then down to the creek to wash the dishes. I used the little rocks and sand on the bottom of the creek to clean the dishes. There is an authentic outhouse here that we use during the day so b/w myself and our 4 potty-trained monkeys I hiked that path more times than I wanted:). The day was spent just unpacking and writing lists of stuff needed in town today. About 8pm last night all power failed...all solared-up battery power, that is. So we navigated to the trailer and the battery on the trailer failed so now no heat! Oh my, it was a frigid night in the trailer. If the floor wasn't cement in the studio we would have found ourselves basking in the heat of the woodstove. But, only Shad enjoyed that:). We left this morning for town about 9 and ran non-stop errands and food shopping. Shad  (oldest son) left this afternoon for a Lincoln-Douglas Debate Tournament. He will fly home on Sunday morning.
I write all this for my sake until I can unpack my journal. I so do not want to miss this crazy adventure we are on. We still have no running water and the batteries run low all the time in the evenings we have found. So prayerfully, in the next couple days Gage can get it all figured out.
Each evening I hope to post a little about our day. We are complete novices in off-the-grid living and ranching. We are learning as we go. There are 6 head of cattle and a baby:) up here that came with the ranch and Gage has just bought 2 more that will be delivered on Thursday. He called a vet to come up on Friday to check the herd and give us some "how-to" and "things we should know" lessons. I am headed down to town tomorrow to fill up a 500 gallon water tank. Oh, I forgot to mention that the nearest small town is 45-50 min away. Not that far;). Mail is delivered at the bottom of the canyon...about 5 miles. No phone service but we do have INTERNET::)).
Those of you who took the time to read this Bless You!
Love Jodi'

Congratulations on the new adventure guys- Praying that it is all and more what you dreamed it would be- If not, then Hallelujah for your bravery in trying something new and another Hallelujah that modern conveniences are waiting for you just down the hill- We love you!

a hermes handbag and a skull with horns....

If I was walking through the woods and came across a skull with giant horns, I would cringe that scowling grossed out cringe and walk quickly in the other direction.....
Likewise, if my boys were walking through Scottsdale Fashion Square and came across a Hermes Handbag for a way awesome clearance price, they would cringe that scowling grossed out cringe and walk quickly in the other direction (while I would drool all the way to the purchasing counter and then call my friend Deb so we could celebrate the purchase over a carb and sugar ridden meal)

Tonight, according to my boys, they super scored....
They went on a 'walk about' around the ranch and came across this.....
Great...
Another piece of wall art for their room....

As I type this blog post I hear all my boys talking about how to 'bleach' the skull (bleach is for hi lights on your hair, our teeth, to get stains out of clothes, and to clean the mold out of ones toilet....I guess it can also be used to whiten the skulls of animals.....that's not gross)

My boys seriously rock!!
Good Job Guys :) :) :)

p.s. Eli and Ry- Just an FYI.......YOU ARE NOT HANGING THIS IN OUR LIVING ROOM

womens roles and sniffing the air

• Just finished reading 'A Candle in the Darkness' by Lynn Austin.....it started a bit slow but was worth the read- It was actually a really good read!
• Our Associate Pastor taught on women's roles (in the church) this past Sunday.....a touchy subject now a days- She hit the nail on the head..........just kidding our pastor is a man (all of the pastors at my church are men).....HE hit the nail on the head- Really appreciated that he kept to what the Bible say's and did not sway the Bible to meet 'socially' acceptable.  Thank you for the sermon Pastor K (he doesn't read this blog but it seems respectful to thank him anyway- It's got to be a tough job standing up in front of hundreds of people communicating God's Word especially when the subject matter is one that is touchy)
• The missing plane............every morning when I wake up I ask Matt (who is a news watcher) whether the plane has been found......my heart aches for the families- and because it has not been confirmed by way of actually finding the plane, my heart aches for the people on board the plane..... I have found myself praying for both of them them multiple times a day....
• Tomorrow is my precious mom's birthday- she will be 66..........My mom is the most compassionate, genuine, loving person I know.  I love you mom and appreciate you so much-
• Banana Boats Hawaiian Tropic Sunscreen smells really good- Like coconut....I got it for our trip to Hawaii.  I found myself sniffing the air trying to determine what smelled so good- I even went as far as asking a girl standing by me what smelled so good....she said it was her tanning spray- I sniffed a bit more and realized it was not her at all but instead it was me!! I smelled DIVINE.....I didn't tell her though- but instead thanked her....I really was thankful- she caused me to smell myself and realize just how great the lotion smelled :)
• Last one and on the subject of tanning...........I spray tanned before going to Hawaii.......Salt Water and sand mixed with spray tan is a disaster...My feet and legs were orange and white- It was fine when they were an all over orange (from the spray tan) but once the salt water and sand started washing off the spray tan (in random spots) it was not good!
• OK this really is the last one....I spray tanned just before Ryan was born (I also had a pedicure) I didn't want to stare at my own white legs and ugly toes when I was pushing- When my water broke with Ryan it took off all the spray tan in lines running down my leg.......serves my vanity right that I had to stare at the washed off spots of tanning cream the whole time I was pushing- Thank goodness the water did not chip off my polish- I don't know that I could have handled that 'ummm....excuse me doctor- could you please give me something to stop this labor....I need to repaint my toes.......'            hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee!!!!!!

It's 10- Bed Time for this 38 year old!

Misc. Hawaii Pics

Saying Goodbye to Elle's.............Thank you pops and mom



my boys are all gangsta'

seeing the island with a backdrop of my black and white dress



Buddy (L) and Pono (R)

 

:)

Humidity + My Hair = DISASTER/FRIZZY MESS

 

Was able to go with my friend Julie as she tried on Wedding Dresses

Poipu (Kauai)

Surfs Up!! (Isaiah's dad Eli on the Left)

here comes trouble :) :)

Kewala'i Church (Maui)



Our Friend Mary holding her newest grandson Manoah

 

This is what kind of pictures I get when my boys take the camera

Nice Selfie Ryno....cool shirt dude :(-

ten randoms from a flight with me

(I wrote this post yesterday while flying from Maui to Oakland, California- we had a great flight, a long drive home from Oakland last night- in our car, which did not get stolen :) and I have spent the morning cuddling with Ellie...tis good to be home!!)
 

·         Every time I fly I will write in the margin of my Bible, usually after getting comfortable in my seat (but sometimes after takeoff).  I flip to Psalm 91 and write the date, where I am flying out of, and where my destination is (we are flying from Maui to Oakland California as I type this blog post- in the margin of Psalm 91 I wrote 3/27/14 OGG to OAK).  I do this because each time I am able to fly I am reminded of the incredible healing the Lord did in my life in 2005.  I was unable to fly because of an anxiety disorder (terrified to fly is an understatement) and in 2005 the Lord delivered me from it and I will forever be grateful…..

·         I choose Psalm 91 as my ‘go to’ place to write my flying destinations because it is, in my opinion, one of the most comforting chapters in the Bible if one is struggling…..It talks about the Lord being our refuge and strength…our protector- When I first started flying, after being healed from anxiety, I would struggle with being really nervous still when I would fly- I would read it (Ps. 91) and feel an incredible amount of peace and comfort....I don't feel as nervous now to fly BUT I still love reading Psalm 91....God's peace that passes all understanding never ceases to astound me....

·         Hawaiian and Alaska are my 2 personal favorite airlines to fly- Hawaiian because the seats are bigger (this was confirmed by an airline stewardess when I asked), they serve you free food, and they use coconut soap in their bathrooms- really, what’s not to love about those 3 things J  Alaska serves free Jones Soda and has a classy feel-

·         Our Ticket total for all 4 of us (E,R, M, and I) to fly from Oakland to Maui and then jumping on an inner island flight to Kauai that same day….. Then 5 days later from Kauai to Maui…. then 4 days later  from Maui back to Oakland was just under $1100 round trip…...  In Jan. Hawaiian ran a special ($188 one way)- I had enough Hawaiian Miles for all 4 of us to get to Hawaii on miles one way (17,500 one way each) and paid just under $800 for the one way tickets home.  Because we wanted to visit 2 Islands (Maui and Kauai) we needed Inner Island Flights- I had enough  miles left over to purchase a one way ticket (7500 miles) from Maui to Kauai for all 4 of us- Hawaiian also ran a special in Jan. on Inner Island Flights- $74 each one way- so for a little under $300 we made our inner island flight….the downfall was we needed to travel by car five and a half hours away to Oakland from our home town…

·         Speaking of Oakland……If given a choice, we will NEVER fly out of Oakland again….if your home town is Oakland, I am sure there are amazing areas (that we missed) in the town....should have listened to all those that said ‘are you sure you want to fly out of Oakland….it really is not a safe city’  WORD!

·         We did the park and fly package at the hotel we stayed at in Oakland- my 2005 Honda Accord is sitting at the Hotel- the one that made 3 stars but still has graffiti and barb wire surrounding their parking lot- I’ve told Matt several times on our trip….’Wonder if our car will still be there when we go to pick it up’….to which he replies in a completely honest tone….’I don’t know?’

·         It is 6:20 p.m. Mainland time (3:20 Hawaiian time) we took off from Maui about 12:10 we are set to land in 1 hr 15 minutes (7:35)

·         Our Flight over to Maui took almost 6 hours (Headwind)

·         Our Flight back to Oakland from Maui is supposed to take 4 hrs. 19 minutes (Hallelujah for tailwind)

·         The boys and I are so excited to see Ellie- She stayed with my parents this week while we were gone.  Just before I left, I asked Ellie what she wanted as a ‘prize’ when I got home….she loves wearing my rings and quickly answered ‘I want a ring’…….I wasn’t sure what type of ring she wanted because along with wearing rings on her fingers she will also wear my toe ring around.  ‘TOE RING’ was her enthusiastic response………I have a toe ring, Havaianas size 6 with the strap in the back, an adorable Hawaiian dress, 2 more pair of adorable flip flops, 2 necklaces, and a bracelet to give her when we get home…..This does not include the gifts the boys got her…………We love our Elle’s!!

Hope you are all having a great Thrus.- Thank you for spending some time with me 35,000 feet in the air thousands of miles out in the Pacific!

My view as I type this blog post

 

Aren't they CUTE!!!