Miscellaneous (again)

Since I was on hiatus for such a LONG time, I thought I would share some photos we took during that time... Enjoy!!!














Easter egg-hunting buddies, Caroline and Ryann



















Hanging out in the helicoptor at the zoo with Jackson...



















Mommy and Ryann on Easter Sunday

Ryann and Jordan at the Mets / Braves game (Mets won!!)

Happy picnicking!

Strawberry Picking

So, after a LONG hiatus, I am back. It sincerely took me 2 months to download the photos on my camera to my computer! Pathetic, but true.

Anyway, Ryann and I decided that we were going to go pick strawberries today because we wanted to make some strawberry jam. (Actually, this morning when she found out that it was just going to be the two of us, she was a little less than enthused. But, we had the "You Should Just Enjoy Doing Things With Mommy and Daddy" talk, and we went anyway!)

The adventure began around 11am this morning. I say "adventure" because it turned out to be much more involved than I had anticipated. I called Megan early this morning to find out how to get to the place we went last year. She couldn't remember how to get there, so she told me to go to the patch near her house. I thought that sounded like a good idea, so we headed that way. Much to my dismay, it was closed until tomorrow. Feeling disappointed but undeterred, I decided to go to another patch that I had seen recently. That one wouldn't be closed -- so I thought. It was closed, too!!! So, by this point, I began to wonder if my longing for strawberry freezer jam would go unfulfilled. I had one more option. I called Ellen to find out the name of the place where we had been last year, hoping she would remember. Thankfully, she spouted it off with no hesitation. Then, I called Michael to see if he could look it up on the web to get directions for me. (All I remembered was that it was out in the middle of NOWHERE!)

So, around noon we finally arrived at the only strawberry patch that was open in the the whole state. We grabbed Ryann's bucket, picked up a flat (box top) for me and went to work. (Yes, work. By the time we were finished picking, we were pooped!!!) Anyway, we picked A LOT of berries. Ryann did a fine job of picking berries that were just right (not underripe, not overripe, not bug-ridden, not mushy -- just right). But even sweeter than any berry we picked today, Ryann said that she was glad that we went... just the two of us.

To Kill A Squirrel

Okay, so I don't really want to kill them, I just want them to stay off my birdfeeder. I have literally chased them (I say them because there is more than one, but I don't know exactly how many) off the feeder at least two dozen times over the course of the past 24 hours. They are driving me crazy! Why do I care if they are on my bird feeder, you say? Because they are destroying it, emptying out the contents of it in the process, and when the squirrels come, the birds fly away. (Time out... I just had to get one off AGAIN!) I have polled some friends, and based on those conversations, I think I will head out to get some sort of Nerf gun tomorrow (step one) to shoot at them without killing them (my yelling and clapping of hands don't seem to be very scary to them anymore) (Time out... I had to get one off AGAIN!) Can anyone feel my frustration??????? (Time out... I had to get one off AGAIN!) The only thing that is saving that squirrel from becoming extinct at the moment is the rain.

I will keep you posted... In the meantime, if you're a squirrel lover, thank God for the rain!

Question of the Day

My friend Kristi was wise far beyond her years; though she was only 30, she had a spiritual maturity that I feel was unmatched in her peers (myself included). I noted this often as her wisdom and maturity were displayed in many ways, but especially in the way that she cared for her family and in the way that she parented her young boys. On more than one occasion well before she became ill, I prayed that Ryann will grow up to be like Kristi. She was the epitome of a Proverbs 31 woman. (If you don't know exactly what I mean by that, please check out this link for a great explanation: http://www.proverbs31woman.com/)

Kristi was a beautiful woman, but even greater than her physical beauty was her inner beauty. I have never met a more beautiful person inside and out than Kristi. Despite her 30 short years, she has left quite a legacy and quite a model for those of us who knew her. Her faith in and love for Jesus will inspire others to want to experience for themselves the amazing hope that she had. She will have a lasting impact on her sweet boys as she taught them about the Savior and about His great love for them. Her example will be a model for moms like me to follow as we seek to parent our children in a godly manner, according to God's instructions for our families.

You're probably asking by now, "What is the question of the day?" With Kristi's passing on Friday, I have been thinking a lot about her amazing legacy.

Question of the day: What will your (and my) legacy be?

Angels are Singing

Today is a bittersweet day.

My friend Kristi, 30 years old, mother of three, went home to be with the Lord this morning after a fierce battle with cancer. My heart is broken for her husband and her three young boys, but my soul rejoices that she is singing with the angels right now in the presence of the King! Though I may weep tears of sorrow for this great loss, I will praise my Father in heaven for the opportunity to have known Kristi and to call her my friend. She was a true ambassador for Christ even to her final breath. She was a jewel, and she will be missed by many.

Thank you, Lord, that You are Sovereign and that Your plan is perfect. Kristi's cancer was not a surprise to You, nor was her passing today; and though I do not pretend to understand Your ways, especially in this circumstance, I will trust in You. I know that You are in control of this and every situation. Amen.

Noticeably Absent

As several of my loyal readers have noted, I have not posted in a while. Sorry! There is no good excuse, so I won't even bother trying!

A lot has happened since I last posted. We've been to birthday parties (including Michael's grandmother's 80th), dinner with friends, play dates, hair cuts, swim lessons, children's choir, AWANA, the dentist, a charity auction, and much more! It has been a busy time, to say the least! But that is the nature of life, I guess. It will get way too busy if we let it.

At any rate, I thought you might enjoy a few photos taken over the course of the past 3 weeks.















Making Valentines















At the Dentist

Ryann and Katie at the Pool

Aidan and Ryann under the play gym

Ryann and Great Grandma

Ryann's First Cake

The snow kept us home again today. I am not complaining at all -- I love being at home, not having anywhere that I have to go, especially when I can look outside and enjoy the beautiful snow! Michael braved the elements and headed in to work, so Ryann and I spent the day trying to find things to do that didn't require leaving the house. It isn't that hard for me to do -- I still have boxes to unpack, decorating to do, cleaning and laundry that I never get caught up on. Ryann, on the other hand, seems to run out of things to do pretty easily, never mind that there is an entire room upstairs devoted solely to her toys. Consequently, I decided today would be a great day to break out that Easy Bake Oven that my sister gave Ryann for Christmas.

I must admit that I was looking just as forward to using the Easy Bake Oven as much as Ryann was! I haven't used one of those since I was probably 10! Though Ryann's had a more modern look, it was basically the same as my old yellow and brown one. I was excited to break out some of the baking supplies that I used to use with my own Easy Bake Oven (hooray for my mom for not throwing them away years ago!!).

Because of Ryann's youth (on the box it says it is for kids "8 and up") and inexperience with baking, I did have to do a bit more than just supervise ("Adult supervision required"); but she appreciated the help and had a great time making her first cake and decorating it with frosting and sprinkles. Her mommy had a pretty good time, too.

Maybe tomorrow we can make sugar cookies... or brownies... I can't wait!