Happy Birthday Willem!

Posting the night before, because I sub tomorrow - 3rd grade! At Willem and Hazel's school!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WILLEM!
Tomorrow on the 20th, Willem will be TEN! double digits!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WILLEM! 

I love your spirit! 

You are smart! You are creative! You make friends easily and you are kind. 

We love you so much! 

Sunday Evening

This photo was taken at Stan and Adie's. I thought it was so cute. Love Adie's creativity there.

 This has been a winter of coloring! Snow, ice and fog mean more cozy fires, more baking and more coloring!

Win or lose, this bunch, we are HAWKS fans!! 

We sure enjoyed a day at Bryan and Katie's today! Cheering on the Seahawks and visiting! 

I am glad tomorrow is Monday. I need a Monday, especially one with the kids home. 

My to do list is long, but I have helpers.
Later this week we will celebrate Willem's 10th BIRTHDAY! And I get to sub in 3rd grade!!

January Days

Wild Will

Crazy about snow and sledding!

A big Seahawks fan!

Our January baby

January days

Vance has kind of a green thumb. He has a nice Bonsai collection and he has kept some of my "summer herbs" alive. It is so much fun to have fresh herbs right now...

There is a goat farm for sale not far from here. 

Oh my mind goes to dreaming...

Goat farming, more chickens, raising spinach! 

As crazy and wild as these dreams are, I think Vance likes them. 

This farm is set up for milking goats. A goat milking parlor. 

The setting is really pretty. 

made some ugly sweater cookies for the kids for an after school snack

I saw a sweet group of women today. Refreshing, good for the soul!

Amy R. and I exercised two nights this week during Reise and Merit's basketball practice, felt good.

Hazel wishes there was more time for baking and coloring. She is busy at school.

Oren has been fun, talking more and learning more.

Hazel's class is making an igloo out of empty milk jugs! I need to get into her classroom one of these days with my camera. -- It is such a cool project! I have been picking up empty milk jugs at Starbucks and dropping them off to her class. The childrens' excitement is so fun! The igloo is so cool!

My kids have some remarkable teachers! Merit's teachers do a fantastic job. Willem's teacher is so good at what she does! Hazel's teacher is nurturing and wonderful.

Thank you for praying for Natasha and Reese and family. God hears our prayers. 

Okay, back to my sweet 2 1/2 year old, Oren Paul.

Press forward, but also remember to pray

On January 12th, six years ago, this family was shaken with the loss of sweet Case William. 

He was layed to rest on January 20th, in Lynden. His parents grace was amazing to me. 

We begged God for comfort and I think I may have begged Him for understanding. I have not ever understood, but I continue to trust God. 

A few years ago I took family pictures on Christmas Day of Natasha and Reese's darling family! 

Lane and Estelle kept leaving a spot between them. I would say "scoot in" "sit close" but when I viewed the photo on my camera, I immediately felt like Lane was leaving a spot for his little brother and Estelle a spot for her big brother. And then I wondered what this family would be like if Case was still here.

I remember calling Kristen D. and telling her about the photos and how often there was a space left for Case. It made me smile and it made me cry. And there are countless things that happen each week that make me smile and they make me cry.

I have some of the best girlfriends in the world and I love my family so very much but I think I have moments and feelings that make it hard to understand me. And then I think of Natasha and Reese and how very hard some days must be. When they move to a new place, they have such a story. A lengthy, sad, deep story. But they have so much beauty too. They are examples of love. They are examples of people who press forward in spite of the most difficult circumstances.

but you know what, it is not just getting through it and getting by - they have JOY too.

Suncadia!

Ayakulik

And we keep praying and keep hoping. I try to ENCOURAGE. I am certainly encouraged by Natasha's love and GRACE.

Because of life's unknowns. I soak up these kids because I know tomorrow is not promised.

Merit still makes this silly expression!

Wild Will

Sweet Haze

Bonus baby Oren Paul

The need for prayer never stops. It is never that all prayers have been said. Today I am thankful for Natasha, Reese, Lane, Case, Estelle and Ingrid. Tasha is a mom to four just like I am but one of her children is with our mom in heaven. The trials and burdens of this world are heavy. I do know a few things; I know not to sweat the small stuff. I know our mom doesn't have to experience the heartache and pain of this world and I know that it is important to support others through hard times.

And one can be joyful, grateful and hurting all at the same time.

   

with a thankful heart...

I'm gonna get you

He is missing Merit, Willem and Hazel! All that time with them over Christmas break was great!

But we are having fun and he keeps me entertained.

Yay! Seeds for next year... or chicken treats! 

healthy, beautiful chickens

And their personalities! They keep us smiling!

With a thankful heart.

The snow won't be on the ground forever...

(Nathaniel Bong)

There won't be snow on the ground forever and because time is fleeting, I will enjoy it and I will also look forward to spring.

We went into Christmas break with a "snow day" and today was supposed to be the first day back to school, but it is also a "snow day" - it has been a good day! Slushies! Sledding! Chicken coop cleaning, hide and seek, monkey bread for breakfast and mac and cheese and smoothies for lunch. 

I think I have done 5 loads of laundry and there is still more to do. 

Our dishwasher is broken, but Merit, Will and I share that duty and it is going really well! Merit likes doing dishes better than he likes unloading the dishwasher.

The snow won't be around forever, babies don't stay babies forever, darling chicks turn into awkward "teenagers" quickly and Oren's crack won't be showing forever. But I suppose I can't be certain of that last one! 

I LOVED our garden last year!

In just two short months we will be able to get baby chicks again! 

I am reminded to enjoy the now. 

I have asked for prayer for my sis Natasha and I continue to ask for prayer for her and her family. Tasha and Reese are in CA and I think each day is a new challenge. I want to say each day is a new beginning and you know, I guess it is. I am able to look at it this way when I remember what God can do. It is just that the pain and struggle and toll of the day before sometimes carries over into the next day. Today was a new beginning for Lane and Estelle! They started school there. I saw their first day of school pic and they looked ready for this new beginning.

I will say some extra prayers for them this month. On January 12th, six years ago, their sweet guy Case was called to heaven.