Funny Moments

So, I really need to blog about Faith's birthday...its on the list.

But for now two funny moments with the girls.

Grace and I were doing a sticker story book together. She was having trouble getting one of the stickers off. She said, "Mommy, how are we gonna get the sticker off?" Before I could reply she said, "Oh, yeah I forgot you have claws!" (Also known as nails to the general population)

I am sick and had fallen asleep while the girls were napping. Grace came out and informed me Faith had removed her clothes & diaper. I was kind of out of it and before I could go check it out Grace once again came out screaming, "Faith pooped in her bed." Yes, she sure did. There she stood half naked pointing, "mess, mess!" At least she didn't smear it everywhere as I've heard stories of other kids. This was not really funny to me at all at the time. But, I figure I might as well laugh about it, and record it so I can give her a hard time about it later. Grace never went through the stripping off her clothes phase so this is new territory.

Faith Turns 2!

This year Faith's birthday fell on a Monday. So on Monday we celebrated at home, just us. For breakfast we started the day with a special treat, doughnuts. Then that night we had cupcakes in honor of our birthday girl. She was SO enthusiastic to blow out her candles, she blew the first one out before I could even light the second one. After dinner she opened her gifts ( a Backpack from Dora and an Elmo you can put costumes on) We rounded out the night letting them play downstairs in their playroom. They enjoyed dressing up and dancing with their daddy.

Busy Fall Weekend

Courtney's Baby Shower
The 3 Bellies- Baby Gorsch, Baby Humiston, & Baby Caleb

This past weekend I spent a LOT of time on the road. Friday night I drove to Stephanie's house. Then we got up early to travel to Chicago for JoniKay's wedding. We stopped at a outdoor mall so she could make a few purchases. We were definitely reminded that neither of us were city girls!! We both forgot money for tolls (i hate toll roads) and the parking meter. We opted for parking in a nearby parking lot and walking instead of giving up our change (yeah, we are cheap). Then we headed to Wendy's for a quick lunch before heading out to find the church. Well, we had lots of time (over an hour to drive like 12 miles or less). But, we still almost missed getting there in time. My GPS couldn't locate the exact location. Stephanie finally ended up pulling over at the last minute and asking someone in a parking lot. Luckily the lady knew exactly which church we were talking about and got us back on the right track.

Jonikay's wedding was lovely. Here were some of my favorite "little touches" that made it unique:

-Her favors, (this was my favorite) were a selection of candy's from Vermont where she is from and the bride & groom's favorite coffee beans. There were little bags you could fill with treats to take home. My husband and kids also thought it was fun I brought home something to share!

-Her cake, Each table had different cakes on it. So you cut your own cake and then could browse the selection. I thought this was very fun.

-Her dress, it was simple but gorgeous. I love simple wedding dresses

After the wedding we headed to BD's Mongolian Grill to have a baby shower for Courtney. This was a new experience. You went through a food bar selecting any meat, veggies, noodles, sauces, spices, etc. Then they made your stir fry right in front of you. I really wish Jeremy would have been there because he would have loved it. I tend to stress at these types of restaurants, because I'm so indecisive. We had the shower just in time because we welcomed baby Caleb into our extended "family" of girlfriends that very week. Only a few short days later Caleb arrived!

Sunday morning I got up very early to drive home. I wanted to make it back for church and to see my sister. Her and some college friends had come to spend the night. Jeremy filled in as host for me and did a great job! After church we all went to one of Hannibal's big fall events "The Folk Life Festival" This is a really neat festival with tons of great food and culture. We have only got to go a few times because this was the weekend Faith was born.

Checking out the blacksmith.
The girls LOVED listening to the folk music.
Trying Rootbeer for the first time. Grace said, "Mom, can I just have some water." (thats my girl!)
Faith however loved it! She begged Aunt JoJo to share some more from her fancy bottle.
The girls have really missed having Aunt JoJo around so they loved getting to see her! Grace told me the other day, "Mom, I know JoJo has to go to her school, but I miss her SO much!"

A LONG week

The girls have so much fun playing in their room they haven't been taking naps very consistently. Faith was so tired on Sunday she fell asleep while they were doing art. I came in and found her fast asleep with pink completely covering her head.

My husband is the best- Need I say more? He brought me these flowers to surprise me, not for a special occasion but just because he knows I am struggling. I love him!!
This week was such a blessing because our carpet finally came! Here is a before and after of the girls' playroom. I will probably take more "after" shots once we are moved back in downstairs.

The girls have enjoyed playing downstairs and running around with lots of wide open space.

A lot has happened this week. I am exhausted! Which seems to be the theme of this pregnancy. I am so tired all the time. I fall asleep at 8:30-9 every night and can barely string a conversation together with my husband after we get our kids in bed. It has been a long week for me emotionally. I think the reality of transitioning out of our ministry, getting our house ready to sell, and all the unknowns have really hit me. I'm so thankful I have a great husband to walk this journey with me. God is teaching us so much right now, but its difficult. I wanted to blog today when I am really feeling discouraged so I could look back and see how far God has brought us.

I can totally see how Peter got distracted by the wind and waves, even if it was Jesus helping him to walk on water. While I still have a peace about our decisions it doesn't change my struggle through this transition. I'm just not big on change! (even if it is God ordained) I've also seen how the uncertainty in our home is affecting our kids. And that has been tough as a mom. I'm realizing I can't fix this on my own. Instead I am trying to learn how to navigate all these changes with God's help. I know God can be my constant when everything else is up in the air. But, this week I've longed for more... God, why can't we know where we will move? If we will move? What state our baby will be born in? How will I move our family when I am SO tired and SO pregnant? What is best? What is your plan? How long will we wait? How do I support my husband and kids when I feel so overwhelmed?

God's answer: I'm here I haven't forgotten you. I unexpectedly won something this week. This may sound silly, but it wasn't the prize I was so thankful for. Something about winning that blog giveaway was like God whispering, "I'm here and I haven't forgotten you." I'm thankful I didn't miss that. While the immature part of me longs for a flashing arrow or a glimpse at the future for now I'm trying to grow, even if it is really difficult.

Big Truck Night

Here you can see the parking lot full of trucks, and the helicopter landing.
Petting the horse- Faith's favorite.
Eating popsicles, a sticky mess!
Both the girls got construction hats.
Last Monday was one of our favorite annual fall events, Big Truck Night. This is a night sponsored by Parents as Teachers with TONS of different trucks & vehicles for kids to explore. Unfortunately Faith is getting teeth and was a little grouchy. So, there aren't a lot of pictures of the kids actually climbing up in trucks. We didn't see near as much as we have in the past. But the kids enjoyed it while we were there and we choose to leave when they got grouchy (even if it was a little early). A bonus this year was getting to see the helicopter land. This is such a neat event!

Faith's Big Mess

Last night I was getting the girls ready for bed. Here recently I sometimes get Faith ready on her sister's bed instead of lifting her up onto her changing table. So I had laid out her pjs, diaper, and diaper rash ointment on Grace's bed. At that point I got distracted with Grace needing my attention. When I finally got that issue resolved I returned to their bedroom to find Faith covered in the Triple Paste. She had used it as "lotion" all over her feet and hands. She was quite proud of herself! Besides the cheap part of me thinking, "That stuff is like $30 a tub!" it was quite funny. Grace was mostly concerned that it wasn't on her bed. She told her sister, "You need to ask an adult for help with that."

Blessing Ranch

Jeremy & I on the Blessing Ranch property.
We saw lots of mule deer, even out our window at the guest house.
The first morning during our break we climbed to almost the top of Rednose Mountain (which is actually a "foothill") It was gorgeous! I couldn't believe how far we made it considering how pregnant I am.

This is what our room looked like, the guest house reminded us of the Bed & Breakfast's we love.
On Wednesday afternoon we had some off campus homework. We drove up into Wyoming to the mountains. We stopped in Larime, at a bakery for a yummy lunch. We were hoping to have a picnic by the lake at the top of the mountain. Spend some time worshiping, talking, praying, etc. Well, as we went up the mountain it started snowing. We actually missed the lake, which we finally figured out when we started going back down. So, needless to say no picnic! We did get out for about 15 minutes and got some awesome pictures. But, I was freezing so we didn't stay too long.
Last week Jeremy and I had a once in a lifetime type of opportunity. We were able to spend a week at Blessing Ranch in Livermore, CO. It was an amazing week! While I won't go into the details of the exact circumstances that brought us to the ranch we felt God did everything in his power to extend a personal invitation from Him. Going to the ranch felt like the answer to a thousand prayers. (Some of them simply tears with hope the Holy Spirit would intercede!)

The ranch is located in northern Colorado and as you can see it is absolutely breathtaking. Jeremy and I have always loved God's creation and felt very close to Him whenever we spend time in his creation (must be that camping background) Personally I was running on fumes in my walk with the Lord and my job as a pregnant mommy of two small children. I knew I desperately needed some rest but had no idea how it was logistically ever going to happen. But, fortunately God did. We found out about the opportunity and less than 2 weeks later we landed in Colorado, thanks to our parent's willingness to take time off work to keep our kids. (I will blog about that in another post-they really enjoyed themselves too!)

Jeremy and I feel like we learned SO much during this week. It was a great opportunity for rest, reflection, prayer, reading, and seeking wise counsel. John & Deanna Walker blessed us beyond words! Each day we would have sessions with John, time to reflect, homework (a lot of reading), and amazing dinners each night. Jeremy and I both love to read and found we have both gotten out of the habit with life's stress. We also enjoyed getting to know another couple Ron & Jan who were also visiting the ranch.

I feel like I grew so much in my personal faith journey during this week. Life's circumstances had caused me to realize that God is a lot more concerned with our holiness than he is our happiness. (someone smart said that I stole it). It had left me with doubts and fears. I realized my childhood views of God (my protector who I easily trusted) would have to align themselves with who God actually claims to be in his word. And the truth is God's word is full of examples of his people struggling. These are all thoughts I had been mulling on in my time leading up to going to the ranch. I finally was honest with myself that God and I are having a trust issue. I am having trouble trusting God. (Remember how much I like control?) At the core of my dilemma is a simple question, "Is God really good?" When I loose my baby, when life is a struggle, when I don't understand, can I trust and say, "God is good." Because if I can, then it is really freeing. I don't have to fear what the world can throw at me. But, if I can't then I'm left with control but the price is costly. I'm left with an immature faith, one that doesn't know how to deal with the really tough stuff in life.

The conclusion to our time at the ranch was Jeremy and I making a major decision. Jeremy choose to resign his position as youth minister. It was not an easy decision. But, we felt that was clearly where God was leading us. And so we choose to step out in faith and be obedient. I wish I could say God has already illuminated the next step. But, he hasn't. So for now we are waiting in obedience trusting He is in this decision. It has been very difficult sharing this news with our family and friends. There are so many people we love here. Especially our "big kids." But I can feel a peace that reassures we are in the center of his will for our family, even if it hasn't been easy.

Today I overheard Grace talking to one of my daycare kids, "My dad is getting a new job. We don't know what it is yet. My mom and dad need to pray and ask God what it will be." She was reciting word for word what we had explained to her. Complete trust, no doubt, no fear. That is the kind of trust I want to find again. It is definitely a journey...

Fall Fling

This year city-wide garage sales fell on the same weekend as our church's outreach event The Fall Fling. Both my mom and Charlene were unable to come so it wasn't quite the same. I ended up going for a little while on Friday & Saturday. Saturday it poured most of the time. I found a few things for both the girls. I was especially pleased with two dresses I found for Faith. I even found two things I hid for her birthday I think she will enjoy.

That afternoon we took the girls to the Fall Fling. Jeremy and I only had responsibilities during the second shift so we were able to enjoy the event with the girls. They tried cotton candy (I think for the first time). Faith LOVED it. She really has a sweet tooth. They also tried a snow cone. Grace was too busy with all the fun activities but Faith loved this treat too. Jeremy had a great idea and asked for half the syrup. Grace's favorite thing was the above inflatable. It was an obstacle course that you had to climb through. Both the girls went through with their dad. Faith wasn't thrilled and didn't want to do it again. However Grace did it several times (until her dad got worn out). They also enjoyed riding the trolley and playing in the pool filled with sand. By the time we got home I was very tired!

Family Photos

I LOVE this picture!!

Faith dancing with Papa.
Wesley (Kit's girlfriend), Josie, Erin (Cody's girlfriend)
Coloring in their new coloring book from the bride & groom.

Blowing wedding bubbles.
The girls were very tired by the time we left!
A couple weekends ago we went to a wedding. My brother Cody's best friend Ryan got married. Both my brother Cody, and my brother Kit's girlfriend were in the wedding. It was a fun time to have our whole family together. The girls loved playing in the flower garden/fountain outside the wedding reception. It was a really beautiful location. My mom or sister took these pictures and my sister gets credit for the fun words/editing. (I'm a little behind with updating the blog, but working on catching up!)

I have to share this story from the next morning. Grace, Faith, & I were eating breakfast (Jeremy was already at church) and Faith began taking off her pj top. It had a very wide neckline and she was very proud of herself that she was doing it herself. As she dismantled her ensemble Grace said, "Look, Mama its like Wesley's dress!" I died laughing. Wesley had been wearing a strapless bridesmaid dress. I feel like I could write a post daily of something funny Grace says these days. She is SO observant and I never know what she will come up with.