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!

Let It Snow!

We woke up this morning to a blanket of snow on the ground! It was really beautiful! When I opened the blinds around 7:30, I was greeted by an even sweeter surprise -- there were two deer in the back yard! I love wildlife, and at our new house, we are blessed to have lots of birds, some squirrels, deer, and an occasional fox or two wander through the yard or through the wooded area behind the house. I was fortunate to get a few photos of the deer and the birds this morning -- I am really glad we got that bird feeder out there before the snow arrived!

Ryann, of course, had a blast in the snow. Our neighbor, Jack, came over this morning to see if she wanted to come out, so we bundled up and went out to join in the fun. They had a great time sledding, and later on this afternoon (round 2) they even made a snowman. The snow didn't pack really well, but Jack's dad came up with a brilliant idea -- we packed snow in various buckets, trash cans, coffee containers, etc. to get it to stick together. The end result was a square-headed snow creature that looks like Wubbzy! (If you have no idea who that is, check him out on wubbzy.com) Anyway, it was a fun-filled day for us all, and from the looks of it, we will probably end up doing it all again tomorrow!

Hooray for snow!

"Staying In The Lines"

Ryann is becoming quite the little artist. When she was 2, she drew a cat all by herself. I was so proud (and had visions of her being the next Picasso)! Recently, she has gotten quite good at staying in the lines when she colors. It probably helps that she gets lots of practice -- she colors A LOT!!

Only God knows what Ryann's gifts will be at this point, let alone what she will be when she grows up. I guess it is really a little too soon to tell. But, my hope and prayer for her is that she will always "stay in the lines" not just in her next masterpiece but in whatever paths God leads her.

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."
- Matthew 7:13-14

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, And he shall direct your paths."
- Proverbs 3:5-6

Hello Kitty!

We decided last night as Ryann was coughing her head off that it wouldn't be a good idea to send her to preschool this morning. She didn't seem to be feeling poorly, but her coughing told the real story. So, when she woke up early this morning, or should I say, when her incessant coughing woke her up, our decision not to send her to school was affirmed.

Unfortunately, though, we still had to go to school this morning. I signed up to take play dough for Ryann's class this month, and because I completely forgot about it last week, I HAD to take it this morning. So, we got ready as usual, only we didn't take time to eat breakfast. We decided, instead, to take the play dough to school and then go grab a bagel at a local bagel bakery.

We both got our favorites: Ryann had a chocolate chip bagel and I had a cinnamon-raisin bagel with honey walnut cream cheese. YUMMY! If you know my Ryann, you know that she eats slower than grass grows. So, I knew we would be there a while.

Around 10:00, a nice lady came up to our table and offered Ryann a coloring page with some crayons and made her a pink balloon flower. I thought she was just being nice until I saw a couple of little boys come in who seemed to know her. I finally figured out that the lady was a regular Monday morning fixture (and so were the boys). As Ryann continued to work on her bagel, the lady came back with another balloon creature, this time a blue dog.

When Ryann was (finally) finished with her bagel, she colored the picture that the lady had given her. At that point, she realized that there was more to the lady than just crayons and balloons -- she was painting kids' faces, too! When Ryann first asked if she could get her face painted, I was reluctant to say 'yes.' Then I caved. The poor kid was sick all weekend and had to miss out on playing with her friends at school. How could I say 'no?'

Ryann waited in line very patiently for her turn at the face painting. When she got into the chair, she asked the nice lady to paint her face like a kitty (another of her favorites). What a fun "sick-day" treat!

"I want to do what you're doing."

We're at home today because Ryann has a cold -- coughing, sneezing, lots of snot, etc. We had the opportunity to go to a friend's house to play with several of Ryann's friends this morning, but we decided it was in everyone's best interest to keep these germs to ourselves. So, at the moment we are coloring (actually, I am taking a break to write while this thought is on my mind).

Ryann wanted for us both to color the same thing, so we're each coloring some Christmas bells. I wasn't paying close attention at first, but before long I realized that she was coloring her bells the same way that I was -- same colors, same pattern, same everything. Then she said it. "I want to do what you're doing." No truer words have ever been spoken. She does want to do what I am doing, not just when we're coloring Christmas bells, but all the time. No matter what I am doing, she wants to do what I am doing. That may not sound so profound to you, but what it said to me was that whether I am paying attention or not, she is going to do what I do. It was just a fresh reminder to me that I need to be deliberate in all that I do, to be purposeful in my actions and especially in how I raise my daughter. Even more than that, I need to pay attention to the little things I do when I don't even realize that she is watching. I only get one chance to raise her -- I can't go back for a "do over" when she is 20 if I don't like how she turned out. So, now is the time to pay attention, because she wants to do what I am doing!

“Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old he will not depart from it."
-Proverbs 22:6

Hump Day

After having Michael at home for about 2 weeks over the holidays, it has really taken a lot of effort, it seems, to get back to "normal" now that he has gone back to work. We like having him home with us!!

Now that everything is starting back up after the Christmas break, Ryann and I headed to church this evening for our usual Wednesday Night Dinner and Children's Choir. My friends and I have an elaborate plan for Wednesday nights to make sure that we have time to get our food, get our kids fed, and get to choir on time. We get there early to get a table, a couple of us stand in the lines (one for the kids' line and one for the adult line) to get the food while another gets drinks, salads, and desserts. Managing the kids gets thrown in there somewhere, too! Thankfully, Ryann is finally old enough to stand in line by herself for a while until I can get there to stand with her. Tonight, she was standing in line with her buddy Parker. A friend took these photos of them -- she said they were so cute holding hands that she had to get a picture.

After we got all our food and got all the kids settled, we were finally able to eat. Amazingly enough, there were no major disruptions tonight -- no one spilled anything, no one threw up (yes, that has happened), etc. A couple of small pieces of cake ended up in the floor, but other than that, it was a pleasant dinner!

After dinner, we headed to choir. Normally we meet from about 6:30 to about 8:00, but tonight, our time together was cut short because of a power outage. Thankfully, there were battery-operated back-up lights in each room and in the hallways. If not, I think we would have had more than a little bit of crying!! We had a few kids who were not crazy about being in the dark, but thankfully, the parents were told to come and pick up their respective children early. Of course, when over half of the children had been picked up, the lights came on. We were still told to send everyone home, though, just in case the lights went off again. (We have had crazy weather here today and we didn't know if the electricity was off due to a downed power line or an accident of some sort).

So, we got to come home a little early tonight, and Ryann spent the remainder of the evening coloring pictures for her friends.


"Happy Hump Day!"

Swim Lessons Started Today!

Since August, we have taken a few months off from the pool and swim lessons after Ryann came down with a very bad case of swimmer's ear right after the last session of summer lessons. If you have ever had swimmer's ear (and I had more than my share of it growing up), you know how badly that hurts!! To make matters worse, shortly after her swimmer's ear cleared up, her ear became infected again and consequently her eardrum ruptured (puss oozing out of the infected ear -- GROSS!!!). Seeing how much pain she was in with the swimmer's ear and then seeing all that yucky puss running out of her ear made me a little hesitant to start back into lessons (or to let her near a pool at all).

But today, we headed back to the pool! We got there a little early this afternoon so that Ryann could get back into the water and get acclimated before the lesson. I was really glad that she had that extra time to "practice" because the first time she jumped in (like she has done hundreds of times before), she panicked and wasn't able to swim back to the side. The life guard, who was on the stand right beside me, had to extend her a line (or whatever that thing is) to help her get back to the side. She was completely fine, and thankfully, after a few minutes in the pool, everything started coming back to her.

Her lesson went very well. Her instructor had helped in one of her classes over the summer, so she felt very comfortable with him. She didn't learn anything new today (they never really do the first day), but at least she got back into the groove and had a good time.

After her lesson, Ryann got to play in the toddler pool for a while with her friend, Katie, from preschool who also had a lesson this afternoon. Playing in the pool is always more fun with a friend!

Good times!

Living out loud, Cecil the chauffeur, and other random thoughts

Michael asked me earlier if I would post anything to the blog today. It hasn't been an extraordinarily eventful day, and I am really struggling for a topic. So, for your reading pleasure, I thought I would share a few random thoughts that came to mind today.

Random thought #1:
I want to teach Ryann lots of things that I have learned in the last 35+ years. One thing that came to mind today is to teach her to live life so that she doesn't have regrets, and more importantly, to live out her faith BOLDLY! I pray that she will live life on purpose for God and that He will instill in her a servant's heart, tender and compassionate.

Moral of the story: LIVE OUT LOUD!

Random thought #2:
When I took the car to get it serviced and tuned up this morning, I didn't know that I would be at the service center so long that I would have to get a driver to take me to pick up Ryann from preschool. Cecil was our "chauffeur." He is 81, and his job is simply to shuttle people to their respective homes or jobs. It was a short drive to the church and then home, but I had the most pleasant discussion with him. He is such a sweet man and from the conversation that I had with him this afternoon, I believe he loves the Lord. I would love to have had the time to chat with him longer.

Moral of the story: There is so much to be gleaned from spending time with and listening to our elders. They deserve our love and our respect.

Random thought #3:
I had an opportunity when I was a teenager to minister to an ailing elderly relative (actually, I think he was dying of lung cancer). As he laid at his home in what would eventually be his death bed, all he wanted from my sister, my cousin, and I was to come and sing hymns for him. How hard is that?!? I didn't want to do it. It would make me uncomfortable, I thought. Looking back now, I am ashamed and saddened because I only went once to sing for him. Because of my own selfishness, I missed out on the blessing of bringing a little joy to someone who needed encouragement.

Moral of the story: Don't miss out on the blessing of doing good for someone in need.

Random thought #4:
I really don't like "The View." I was reminded of that at the service center this morning. Even worse than "The View" is "The View" without Elisabeth Hasselbeck, which was the case today!

Moral of the story: Do yourself a favor and just don't turn on your TV during the day -- you really won't miss a thing!

Random thought #5:
I highly recommend that next Christmas, you head to your local Trader Joe's and purchase multiple boxes of their "Dark Chocolate Covered Peppermint Joe Joe's." You will be glad you did!!! They are by far the best store-bought cookie that I have ever had!

No moral here, just pure pleasure for your taste buds!

First Post -- Nothing "Inappropriate"

Well, this is the first-ever post to the "Three's Company" blog! I have been thinking about starting this for a while, and since Michael surprised me with a cool new Sony Cybershot for Christmas, I don't have any excuse for not supplying our friends and family with an endless supply of photos from our daily grind. I hope to post frequently, but if I fall behind, let me know and I will try to do better!

I have recently been lovingly made fun of by my friends for shamelessly telling them when I think something is inappropriate, like the time I found one of their sons (who shall remain nameless) on top of my daughter. HELLO?!?! Am I the only person who thinks that is a problem?!? How about the time at Chick-fil-A when my little sweet pea was playing with four of her friends (which all happened to be boys that day) and they decided to play "doctor." Who do you think ended up being the patient? If you guessed that Ryann was the one being examined, you would be right. Anyway, for all these reasons and more, I guess I am now the foremost authority on what is appropriate and what isn't. So, if ever you have a moral dilemma and need help deeming what is appropriate and what isn't, feel free to ask!