winter happenings

I run outside, snow on the ground, wearing Merit's slides, heading to the coop for two eggs for banana bread. The chickens are cold and resting more frequently with less daylight. Sometimes I only get two eggs a day. 

As I am running, Connie, our tuxedo cat, greets me as does a leghorn chicken - a chicken who loves freedom and insists on fleeing the coop daily, unaware of coyote predators and hiding from hawks. 
Two warm eggs, a large white one and a medium brown one... collecting eggs has never gotten old.

January is my favorite baking month; 
chocolate cream cheese cupcakes
banana bread
zucchini bread
Now pizza crust has made the list...


I miss my baker Hazel while she is at school, my artist Oren too....
So thankful for substitute teaching and volunteering. 
These kids are learning right before my eyes. 

Driving in the snow is not something I love. Watching the kids play in it is. The coats, mittens, missing mittens, messy hair from stocking caps, and cold toes is an every day kinder occurence. They are excited for snack, excited for lunch, always ready for choice time (play time),and are becoming emerging readers even if they do not know it. 

Tonight, Merit is at the Sports Den recording. Willem is playing Fortnite, breaking for jobs I ask him to do. Hazel is having a play date (girl time). Vance is getting ready to plow the driveway and Oren is drawing, cutting, and pasting - truly what he does every night!

I am wondering if we will have a two hour late start tomorrow. Whenever our day starts, I am subbing kinder and am quite excited.

Case William

Case was born on January 31, 2009. He missed sharing his Grandpa Jim's birthday by one day.

My sister Tasha, her husband Reese, Lane, and Case lived in Coronado at the time. Tasha and I talked on the phone regularly during our pregnancies - Case and Hazel are just 2 1/2 months apart. The news of his birth had us all very joyful! Wondering if we could really wait until Thanksgiving to meet the little guy!

Thanksgiving, 2009 My dad had just built his shop and was as proud as could be! He wanted to host Thanksgiving there. We always spent Thanksgivings at Vance's dad, but it was different that year. Everybody in my family met Hazel and we all met Case! Hazel was five weeks old, Case was 3 1/2 months old. It was our first "shop party" at my dad's and I probably remember Merit, Willem, Kai, and Lane loving that shop party the most. PLENTY of room to throw a football around and run off energy! Merit being the oldest of those four boys, he was a first grader at the time. 

Natasha said to me, "when you have a baby it's hard to hold someone else's baby but let's make a point to hold each other's babies." We did. Babies were passed around.

My cousin Jill came over with Jackson too! All these sweet babies introduced.

Christmas came around and Tasha, Reese, Lane and Case came BACK to Lynden!! 

We were thrilled! Babies reunited once again. And MANY cousin memories made! 

Case made Lane a big brother. 

Case had the best laugh. 

Case was chubby and cute! 

Coronado friends remember Tasha walking Lane to school with Case in the stroller. 

He was so darling and sweet! 

He would be ten years old. 

I remembered commenting that that holiday season felt the most joyful since having our mom at Christmas. We had 7 years of the void being really big. Thanksgiving 2009 and Christmas 2009 brought us some joy and healing. 

On January 12, Case passed away suddenly. 

I wrestled with God on so many levels in the coming months. 

I have watched friends deal with children with health problems, one of their biggest supporters, if not their biggest supporter being their mom. Tasha experienced the death of a child and without her mom. 

Last night I got word that a friend's husband passed away. In his thirties and FULL of life!! They have a one year old daughter. 

Her road of grief begins and it makes my heart so sad. 

In this world, we will have sadness. 

In this world, we will struggle. 

Psalm 34:18

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. 

Matthew 5:4

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 

I have not been a great example of a mourning daughter, sister, or friend. But I continue to look to Jesus and take comfort in scripture. My desire is to help those hurting, it is always my desire. I think I have made an ass of myself several times. But I hope people know my heart means to help. 

Tasha and Reese could use your prayers today and so could my friend Ketarae, who just lost her husband. 

Have a great Wednesday!

I LOVE Oren's art!

Willem, Merit and I hit Buffalo Wild Wings in Spokane after basketball! A sweet WIN against Rogers High School! 

                                                                PLAY

HAPPY WEDNESDAY!

Basketball and Baking

I can sum up the weekend in 3 words;
Basketball
Bleachers
and Baking! 

I probably need to bring my chair with a back next time around! I watched 8 basketball games this weekend.

the amount of determination and hustle - I LOVE it! 

never argues a call, does not pout, is a team player, and hustles - 

I am proud. 

His games are controlled. So many less turn overs - all of these guys - compared to last year. 

He plays smart. 

I love this team. 

Homemade pizza crust, pizza sauce, AND sausage!! With the new Kitchen Aid Mixer! 

Pancakes and banana bread too! 

Back to school 

NONE of us were ready! Not even a bit. 

But, we will make the best of it. 

Treasure Hunt

 Today called for a treasure hunt. 

Merit was home from basketball by late morning, Willem has an appointment at 2:30 - the in between time encouraged a treasure hunt and hike. 

I am remembering how much I love January. 

A few more pictures from our time in Lynden

A few more from our time in Lynden :-)!

This break has been so good. 
Lynden was fun and busy and now being home is relaxing! I am in the middle of a great book, the kids are playing with new Christmas gifts, watching old seasons of Survivor, and hanging out together. 
Vance is cooking soups and yummy dishes. 

 Natasha's cookies are amazing. They are beautiful AND taste so good.

 Christmas morning was spent at Stan and Adie's with Abby, Luke, and Emily! Watching these teens laugh is fun!

 My nephew Ryp's first Christmas!

Lesha and Rob's dog, Bogey - such a sweet dog! 

Lesha

2019

Every year I feel like there is more hard and more good. More challenges and more blessings. More of a need to balance and, of course, pray. 
2019 I got out of bed every morning and did my best. That, I suppose, is my accomplishment.

On the days I least wanted to get out of bed and had the least amount of energy, I was often blessed by a stranger. I cannot tell you how many strangers God put in my path in 2019 who MADE A DIFFERENCE. 

I did more walking (thank you friends) and more self reflecting in 2019. 

In the two or three years after my mom passed away, I watched other mothers with adult daughters and felt so lost, sad, and sometimes envious. As the years went on, I felt I was healing in this department. I miss my mom every single day, but I could feel happier for my friends making memories with their moms. I saw grandmas with grandchildren and saw the JOY in their faces. Sadly, I experienced some regression in this department in 2019. Sadness seeped in and lonesomeness met me some days. Moms and daughters have a bond. Those daughters' moms and those daughters' kids share a bond. 

I miss my sisters incredibly. Our kids are very busy, so frequent visits cannot happen. We simply treasure the time we do get. They "get me" and I "get them" - it is certainly a blessing.

Praying for additional healing in 2020. 

2019 was a year of sweet memories, growth, hard stuff, and learning

I have become more of an introvert except when it comes to teaching. Teaching, working with kids, and volunteering fuels me. 



My attitude of gratitude became greater, because it had to. 

These 4 kids are amazing. 
Daily, I learn through them.
Also, I have been blessed my so many students! 

I am so very thankful for the many blessings that come in so many different forms. I am also thankful for the disappointments that led to blessings. 
I am so thankful our kids are making good decisions and have a strong work ethic!
I am so thankful for family and friends.

I have goals for 2020.
To get up each day and TRY. :-)
To TRUST God every step of the way. 
To travel, even if this means within Washington. This family doesn't do big trips real well. 
I plan to volunteer more in my community. 
I plan to eat more veggies.

To my blog readers, thank you! 

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

A Sunday Update

Merit and team had two games in Tri Cities yesterday, both out of league, the second went into double overtime. It was the most exciting game I had seen in a long time.
It resulted in a loss but was very fun!
My brain is cluttered and my heartburn is lingering. 
I tried a sip of coffee this morning - something I have not been able to drink much of lately - and I could not tolerate it.
I have to think that maybe just going really bland for a while could be the answer. I finished ten days of Nexium. 

Yesterday was fun and wild. I took Willem, Hazel, and Oren to Get Air between Merit's games. It was so a busy! I should have known, Saturdays and Sundays are. Although crowded, it was fun but Willem would have had a lot more fun with Merit there.
Merit left at 4:30 this morning to go to a baseball event in Seattle.
I am proud of his work ethic.
Willem and Merit have a lot of basketball coming up. And although Willem is in town this coming weekend, Merit is in Spokane and Idaho. Looking at the schedule makes me cross eyed but we will figure it out. 

I think my cluttered brain and heartburn may have me turning to more lemon ginger tea and taking bigger breaks from facebook and instagram. 

I feel very thankful that the Oren and Hazel are enjoying their time with each other and Christmas toys so much! The building and imagination is really fun! All the toys at my feet and creative play is really terrific.

It's so much more than a game

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR

5 wonderful Christmas blessings!

1) the roads were great for travel

2) after many months of Merit having issues with his back and pelvis, he is enduring 2 1/2 - 3 hour practices and playing games - Praise the Lord. We prayed so much for healing for him!!

3) cousin fun

4) Family willing to host all of us; Lesha and Rob, Lissa and Trav, Stan and Adie, Grandma Alma, Tasha and Reese

5) Most importantly the GIFT of Jesus!

Just got back from grocery shopping, the fridge was empty - Soon I will work the concessions at the high school basketball games tonight.

I think we can find ourselves over Christmas missing something or someone, but grateful too for those around us and our many blessings.

I could sleep for two days straight I think, but life does not slow down.

Phil, Brenda, and Ryp

Ryp is a happy, happy baby

 Kai and Vance

 Merit and Willem

Hazel Jane

Grandma Adie and grand kids

Santa filled their stockings!

Grandma Alma's

 Aunt Jill calls :-)