what? it's september???

Well, I can't believe, as usual, that the time has sped by so insanely fast.  Summer was so full of harvest, activities, doctors appointments, and projects!  I neglected to document any of it here...but it is time for some catch up.  We are so thankful for a safe and bountiful harvest.  I often thought this summer of how I used to race out to the field at the end of my work day as a nurse and ride until dark or later with Justin in the field.  Not anymore.  I chuckled as I shuttled kids back and forth to spend time in 'my seat' next to their daddy.  Farming is hard work and long dedicated hours that erase any hope for summer vacations, Saturdays free, or early evening dinners...but it is so worth it when my kids can spend great quality time with their Dad and Grandpa, learning how to work hard and be good stewards of the land and being faithful to their callings from the Lord.  It is a dusty, dirty, and hungry proposition so most of my time, in between my shuttling service, was spent cooking, caring for the ones left behind, and laundry!  Lots of laundry!  I am terrible at getting harvest photos but hope that someday when I don't have a child on my hip, there will be plenty of time for that.  I did happen to document my two hardest working boys...evidence of my need to do lots of laundry and cooking...

Matt my fearless wonder, also lost his two front teeth this summer!

Mark heading out to drive truck.

At the end of August, we celebrated the birthdays of two very special little girls!  Happy 3rd Birthday to Beth Ann and Happy 2nd Birthday to Emma Grace!  We had a party for them together with lots of family and fellowship! We are so thankful for the tiny package of dynamite that Beth is!  We can't believe she is three already and although she is a 'project' most days to instruct and keep from harm...she is about as cute and adorable as she can be, even when being defiant!  Beth is finally deciding that talking is a preferred way to communicate and has officially been named "Queen Bee" by her Grandpa, who gives nicknames to everyone.  It is fun to see her little personality emerge now that she is talking more.  A small but mighty package of joy and mischief!  Love her to pieces!

Happy 3rd Birthday, Beth Ann!  

Emma Grace.  Home for six months now.  Our big two year old!  It is hard to imagine, as I think about it, how far she has come since her first birthday, spent in a large three story building among three hundred orphans in Baoji, China.  I couldn't help but wonder on her birthday if there was a mommy, somewhere on the other side of the world, wondering, worrying, or thinking of her child, that she left behind.  I won't speculate on the circumstances behind Emma's being orphaned, because there is no way to know...but I just thought of the woman who gave birth to my daughter.  So many details unknown, but still a part of Emma's life.  Although Emma hasn't started walking on her own yet and is only beginning to realize she can communicate with us using her hands (instead of screaming)...she has grown up in so many ways in the last six months.  We are so thankful for her.  Emma has the most playful spirit and her personality is beginning to come out.  It will be so fun in the next year to see her blossom and grow and become more of a little girl, than the baby she is today. She loves her family and is finding her way deep into our hearts.  She brings laughter and so much music to our house...she has been sung to so much in the last six months that she now hums a tune that sounds a lot like Jesus loves me and row row row your boat, all mixed up together.  She is passionate about life, whether she is passionately happy or passionately mad....and she only knows one volume....LOUD!  We are so thankful for the gift of our Emma Grace!

Emma styling her almost too small traditional Chinese outfit!

Happy Birthday, Emma!  Love your crescent moon eyes when you smile!

School started and put an end to the summer schedule that we all had...back to school this year are Mark to the 5th grade and Matthew to the 1st grade.  They are doing great and love their teachers.  Matt is really getting back into the swing of things, enjoying his first year of school five days in a row.  Mark is such a scholar and drives himself to perfection...he is already better at math than I am.

 Both boys are looking a little tired but ready for their first day at JES!

September 13th, we celebrated Marks 11th birthday!  How did that happen?  Mark is such a great big brother and son.  Responsible beyond his years..to the point that sometimes when he isn't responsible I have to remind myself that he is only 11.  Mark was solely in charge of my yard this summer...and did a great job! He drove truck in the field during harvest and he loves to be the part of the action.   Mark has a tender heart for others and we pray that he will continue to learn to rely on the Lord.  He is such a blessing and a fun person to be around.  Love him so much!

In one minute or so, he will be 18, I am sure of it.  

Well...that is a little long winded but I think it touches on the highlights of the last few months.  I hope to update again before it is all of a sudden 2014!

Beth

Where do you look when you've given Beth a bath and put her in cozy pj's and then can't find her?  I would think she'd be in her room playing Barbies or playing with Ashley or digging around for yet another bag of 'fruities'...but no!  I do have the Barbie part correct but I finally find her...outside...with Barbie, high heels, and a red snow shovel.  She is filling in the window well with gravel!  :)  Never a dull moment when Beth is around..she is all adventure and fun!

What do you mean, Mom?  I can't move gravel in my heels and jammies?

I can turn my back for a second and never know what she'll be doing when I turn back around!  Love her little 'self' to the moon and back!  What a character!

Milestones...

We continue to celebrate the victories Emma has, no matter the size, big or small!  Emma is doing great and showing many signs of settling in more and more each day, even if some of them are undesirable (this girl can throw a tantrum).  I keep reminding myself of the 'little things' that she couldn't do and now can...just a few weeks ago she still could not use her lips to clean off a spoon or fork and now she can!  I am just so excited she has conquered her fear of the laundry room...seems like a small victory but a few weeks ago the laundry room and specifically the washer and dryer caused great anxiety!  Understandably, we do A LOT of laundry around here..so for her to be able to follow me in there without fear is huge!

She even stayed in there for 20 minutes, just chilling out watching the laundry go around!  YAY!

The next 'fear' on the list that we'd love to conquer is the vacuum!  Boy does the sight of the vacuum send her into some serious mad!  If she stays up on the couch or highchair, she does okay...but if she is on the floor and even spots the vacuum (it doesn't have to be running)..she may as well be facing wild lions.  Poor thing, I can only imagine she's never seen anything quite like it before and just can't make heads nor tails of it.  Hopefully, she will be vacuuming things herself before we know it!  

Keeping an eye on that thing!

  

It is a no go...GET. IT. AWAY!

Emma got her first tractor ride with Grandpa and Mark!

First, and traditional, kid bath in the utility sink.

And for the biggest milestone of the past few weeks!.....are you ready.....

Sweet balancing victory!  Congratulations Little Sister!  YAY!

It won't be long, hopefully, and she'll be toddling around the house!  We are thrilled that she is making an effort to stand up and this week is even almost coming to a stand without assistance, too!
 We are so thankful for the blessing of Emma in our lives!

Happy Birthday, Ash!

Today is the day we celebrate Ashley turning 5!  Wha? How did that happen?  We are so thankful for our sweet girl who will lead the pack of girls around here for years to come.  She can play everything princess and pretty but she can also keep up with the boys like only a true farm girl could (coming in at night almost as dirty as Matt)!  She has already given her life to Jesus with a sweet faith.  She can raise the roof with her emotional outbursts but loves with all the same intensity.  She joins me in Emma's room each night, kisses, hugs, and prays for her baby sister.  She speaks to Jesus as though He is in the room physically, telling Him about her day and what tomorrow might bring.  She is intense about knowing what is planned (gets that from her Momma) but she loves surprises, too!  We are so blessed by Ashley!  

All about Ashley as she turns 5!
Favorite color: purple and pink
Favorite food: Pineapple
Favorite toy: Bitty Baby
Favorite activity: Playing with Bitty Baby
Favorite place to go: To Spokane to the mall
Favorite person: Audrey and Emma
Favorite ice cream: Chocolate chip
Favorite character: Angelina Ballerina
Favorite movie: Angelina Ballerina
What she wants to be when she grows up: a Princess or a ballerina
What she likes to do with Dad: Give him a nice hug
Favorite animal: Penguin
Favorite restaurant: Zips
Favorite Birthday present: (names them all) Bitty Baby bed, carrier, and changing table
Most excited about...having her new baby sister, Emma.

Ashley got her first 'training wheel bike'!

Princess Cake for the Princess!  Beautiful inside and out!

Dearest Ashley, I pray you continue to grow and bloom into the beautiful person God is molding you into.  May you continue to know Him and seek Him and choose to show His love and grace to others.  We are so proud of you and the girl you are!  Love you, Mommy!

May Happenings!

May is flying by.  Where does the time go?  It seems one day is our anniversary and all of a sudden it is Matt's last day of school already.  Emma is learning more everyday, she survived her MRI and first set of immunizations (and so did I) and is exploring new areas of the house and yard all the time.  She seems to have formed a sweet bond with Mark, loving on him and getting so excited when he gets home from school.  Sometimes she even throws herself into his arms when she is in my arms.  It is nice to have a 'back up' set of arms when I need to do something else.  

Emma is learning some sign language...her favorite is MORE!

 Emma loves to be outside and is learning quickly that she wants to join the others when they go out.

Emma had to have an MRI of her spine, which meant general anesthesia.  They gave her some oral sedation first so she was getting all sleepy when they came and took her from me.  Her crying as they carried her away was both wonderful and heart breaking.  Loved that she wanted her Mommy and hated that she was being carried away and was scared.  

Thankfully, they brought me to her before she woke up.  Sleepy Tiger!

The nerve of some people...giving my girl blue bandaging!  :)

Helping Mom at the sink.

Big Brother time is the best!

She loves anything with her reflection in it...and no there aren't any clean mirrors or windows in my house at this point!

Conquering the stairway!  Wahoo!  Going up but not down so far..which is progress since last month if I put her down at the bottom of the stairs she would wail.  

Cutie pie is smiling more and more!

And of course there are some of 'those' days!  

Emma is saying "nice hair, Mom!"

Sorry for the picture overload...trying to keep up on things before I forget.  It seems an impossible feet to get the pictures printed out for the picture books...so this is a close second, right?  :)   And yes, the other kids are still all here, busy and growing...more on them soon.  Beth is all but impossible to capture of film these days, talking up a storm and causing lots of bed time turmoil.  Ashley is planning out her June 6th Birthday down to the tiniest details..to say she is excited would be a drop in the bucket, a very large bucket.  Matt is finishing kindergarten today...what?!?  Mark is growing like a weed and will soon be through with 4th grade. Never a dull moment!

14 years!

So blessed to be married to my best friend for 14 years today!  I don't know where the time has gone and although we both have changed over the years since these photos were taken...we are still as committed and in love as we were at that May Day wedding.  Whoever doesn't believe marriage gets better as the years go by...either isn't married or doesn't work very hard at it!  I am so thankful for a growing and thriving marriage to the best man God could have ever created for me!  He has been a student of me these 14 years and it blows my mind frequently how he just 'gets me' and uses that knowledge to push me, encourage me, build me up, help me, soften lifes blows for me, complete me!  I think we have experienced a lot in the last 14 years together and I can't wait to see what Jesus has in store for us to learn in the next 14 years!  Enjoy the pictures! 

 

Our engagment pictures...I remember we went shopping together and picked out all our outfits.  It makes me laugh to think Justin was the better shopper....a role we have definitely flipped since then!

 

 

 

We were married at Onecho Bible Church on May Day..it was a typical windy spring day on the Palouse.

 

 

It is fun to look back at how the years have brought change in the lives of these people.  Our flower girl will be a senior in college next fall.  The ring bearer, Justin's cousin, plays baseball for Gonzaga.  Little cute Shelby is all grown up, married, and still as sweet and involved in our lives.  Rachel is still the devoted sister, married and has two baby girls of her own.  JB and Jen have been married longer than us and are raising their son, Dustin.  The rest of our friends have gone on to marry or pursue the paths that God has set before them.  Such a blessing to have family and friends come along side us over the years!

 

Oh to have those fresh, unaged hands again! :)  I really appreciate this picture because Justin now has to wear his ring on his pinky, due to an accident involving his ring and ring finger. 

 

One of my favorite candid shots...you've never seen two happier people!!