Friday, April 30, 2010

Table Update

Little Joe has been doing pretty well at the table. We just have to watch him closely because when he's decided he's had enough to eat, that's when the plate becomes a toy.



We can tell that Joey loves being a part of the family at meal time. He fits right in:) God is good!

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Big kid now

Look at these children. Can you believe we have a 1, 3, and 5 year old? We're trialing letting Joey eat at the "big kid" table-Matt and I included in group "big kids". We'll let you know how it goes:)


Sometimes I can't even fathom the responsibility we have raising these kids. They do bring us so much joy!

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

NEWS

So, here I've gone and let too much time go without new blogging. We have been busy getting new jobs and our house and life in order to accommodate our big move to Spencer, Iowa! That's right, we'll be relocating this summer. While I'm sad to think about leaving our life here in Ames as we know it, the prospect of new opportunities and experiences tickles me too. Please bear with us as we post less than frequently...temporarily.

Please pray for the rest of our journey this summer to go smoothly, and if it doesn't, that we'll deal with whatever God has in the plan ahead of us, trusting in his sovereignty.

Monday, April 12, 2010

He Lives

Rainy day project last week: make "He Lives" necklaces from kits Grandma Lola sent in the mail.

Sylvia got to glue! This may have been her first experience with glue...and it showed:)


The finished product. The girls LOVE making jewelry and anything crafty.

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Easter...revisited

Olivia is the early bird, so she got her picture taken with her goodies before the rest of the crew emerged from their slumber.

After a little egg hunting, we all got spruced up for Easter service...what a handsome bunch!!!


Is is just me, or is Olivia's dress photographing hideously? Oh well, she loved it!


After church, Grandma Lola showed up and we got to enjoy her company for a day. Easter wouldn't be complete without dyeing eggs, right?

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Outdoors

When the girls are doing this...



Joey's doing this.

He's not too happy just standing at the window watching. See how he's holding his shoe, just waiting for it to be placed on his chubby little foot. He's quite the little joiner and usually whines, clings to my leg, and tugs at my pants until I finally submit.



Here, he is happy as a clam, outdoors. It must be said too, once outside, he wants nothing to do with his Mama anymore. It's all business...boy playing business that is...sticks and balls and chase. Lord help me!


Friday, April 9, 2010

Sister Moment

It delights me to no end seeing our children enjoying each other. They don't realize how special they are to one another, but by God's grace someday they will.

Girls, always be each other's best friend!

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Tribute

This is a re-post from last April 8...worth reading again:) If you don't have time for the whole thing, at least make time for the last paragraph.

Original Post (with revisions):

Some time ago, Matt and I began to chronicle some fond memories of my Dad. Today marks the 6 year 7 year anniversary of his "heaven day", so what better time to share. For those of you who knew Dad, I hope this brings a smile to your face and stirs you to share some of your own memories of him (as "comments" at the end of this post) with us. For the unfortunate readers who haven't met him yet, hopefully reading this will give you a sense of him and his heart.

Dad’s nickname for Seth was “George” and mine was “Gloria”.

On Sundays mornings, Dad would always be waiting in the driveway, car running, with the occasional honk, as we all trickled out of the house into the car.

On family vacations we usually had an amusement park day. Dad would always ride the roller-coasters with us, repeatedly sometimes if the lines were short, while Mom and Grandma chilled out in a shady spot on ground level.

Dad felt it was very important to teach us how to drive a stick-shift vehicle so he taught me how to drive in his little red Ford Ranger (stick-shift).

Showing his giving and selfless nature, Dad let me drive his little truck to and from school my junior year while he walked, so that I could sleep in.

Dad was the ultimate morning person, dancing and hopping around the house every morning.

Out of the blue or especially if we had a frown or bad attitude, Dad would ask, “Do you want a gut punch?” in his goofiest voice and gesturing his best closed fist, left handed upper cut and fake punch, poke, and tickle us until we laughed.

Dad would always say, “Hmmm, that was a good one” and kind of giggle through his nose.

On any given school night, you could find Dad at the dining room table with Seth and I while we did homework and he’d be grading papers.

After school, Dad would change into comfy clothes, but leave his black dress socks on, so he’d come out wearing pj/flannel pants, t-shirt tucked in, and those black dress socks; what a sight!!!

Every winter, on a snow day or Saturday afternoon, Dad would get out his old racetrack and we’d play for hours, attempting to get our little cars around the figure-eight track without sending them flying off into the air.

Other winter days were spent with Dad helping build elaborate lincoln-log fortresses. It only seemed to be fun when he was building with us.

Lots of fun times playing Yahtzee and Hearts.

Dad took us fishing numerous times even though we weren’t really “outdoorsy” at all.

Dad could fix anything with plywood and/or duct tape.

Dad never threw anything away-this is funny especially after going through the garage last summer and finding all the junk he kept, feeling it had worth and value…he would have used it all too, given enough time!

Dad always had a hanky he was willing to share.

Dad seemed to have the snow cleared from the driveway long before the sun came up.

One year for Christmas, Dad built Seth a Thunder-cat Layer (boy doll house) and me a Barbie House. They each stood about 3 feet high and were the COOLEST!!

Dad got to give me the great news that I’d passed my nursing boards-I remember cheering and crying while I jumped up and down on my bed, Dad on the phone with me until I could calm down enough to talk.

One precious memory is dancing with Dad at our wedding reception, to “Butterfly Kisses”.

We’d ride the bus from Kluckhohn Elementary to the high school and meet Dad in his classroom after school every day. We’d play with a tennis ball and the chalk boards while he finished up his labs and prep for the next day. Sometimes, he took us to the teacher’s lounge and we’d get to share an orange soda (in a glass bottle).

I barely remember this one, but I think when we lived in Anthon still. Dad drove a bus after school and I’d ride next to him, sitting on a pillow up high and to the left of his seat, maybe it was a register or something.

When Dad got his mustang, he made it a surprise so when we came home for Christmas (maybe?), before even going in the house, he opened up the garage door and introduced us to “her”. He was so proud and excited. He told us the whole story about how and why he decided it was about time to have that mustang, how he’d been wanting it for years, and how the price was “just right”. (Dad only got to drive it for a few months...Mom's been enjoying it since then:)

In church, Dad would get very “into” the singing and really belt out the hymns and praise/worship songs, even though he was terribly off key…it was beautiful and always made me smile.

Dad did most of the laundry…very helpful, but it would drive me crazy that he line-dried everything, so my jeans would be stiff as a board and he’d take my little knit shirts along the bottom, stretching them completely out of shape and tacking them upside-down on the line with clothes pins-ha ha!!

Matt's additions: When we were vacationing in Chicago, Seth, Abbey, and I were lingering in a “Hard Rock” store while the others were elsewhere. We ended up missing our bus back to the train station. Keith stayed behind to find us while everyone else went back. He found us and we had to walk all the way back to the train station from downtown Chicago. We had to wait at the train station for what seemed like FOREVER so we could get ‘home’. Keith wasn’t even upset at us, he just made sure we were ok and got back safely.

Shortly after Keith got his Mustang he took Abbey and I out in it so we could drive it. We drove it out on the county roads east of LeMars. Abbey was driving quite “conservatively” and Keith encouraged her to “get on it.” I think she may have bumped it up to 80 mph. I think it was a real thrill for Keith to cut loose in his Mustang, I remember the excited look on his face.

One of my favorite memories was the night I asked Keith and Lola for permission to ask Abbey to marry me. I was about as scared as you could be. I had spent all evening with them, trying to summon up enough courage to ask them until finally they were ready to go to bed and I still hadn’t asked! I ended up asking them and they were a little speechless. After a moment Keith said “A little young don’t ya think?” I’m sure this wasn’t how he had imagined things happening, but he was supportive anyway.

So...what are some of your favorite memories of Mr.Fitch? (end of original post)

In the BSF lecture today, Jane reminded me again of why we feel that ominous feeling sometimes, like we don't belong here. Jesus said it plainly, we are not of this world, John 17:16. On days like today, when those of us who miss Dad so much it hurts, we beg Him to take us out of this place. But it's not our plan and Jesus actually prayed that we would not be taken out of this world, but be protected from the evil one. We've got work to do here, work that Dad was a great example of-practicing selflessness, humility, and love in order to advance the kingdom of God. It almost sounds as though I'm glorifying Dad, but if he were here, he'd take no credit, giving it all to God...which is how I hope this comes across. Dad was great because he tried to live a life according to the Lord's plan, everything which is pleasing to God. I pray to do the same in my life as to continue Dad's legacy and ultimately God's Kingdom.

Saturday, April 3, 2010

Easter

"Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen!"

He is alive indeed!

What amazing news that must have been. What amazing news that is to this day! If the story had ended on that first Good Friday, things would be much different. But it did not end there. Our Lord is alive! He has conquered Satan, sin, and death for us! What glorious news!

I love how Paul expresses the magnitude of the resurrection in his letter to the Corinthians.

1 Corinthians 15:12-20:

"But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep." (emphasis added)

-Matt

Friday, April 2, 2010

Good Friday

What is the most painful thing you've ever felt?

Is there a word you would use to describe that pain? My guess would be the best word to describe the most painful thing you could feel would be excruciating. Wouldn't you agree? Do you know where this word comes from? A quick reference to this word's etymology shows us that this word comes from the Latin word excruciatus. It is a combination of ex (meaning out or thoroughly) + cruciare (meaning cause pain or anguish). The word cruciare comes from the word crucify which comes from the word crux which means cross.

So if we put it all together we might say that word excruciating was a way to describe how death on the cross thoroughly caused pain or anguish. Thoroughly. Not "kind of caused pain" or "caused a lot of pain" but thoroughly caused pain. If you check the thesaurus for thorough you will find these synonyms: in-depth, exhaustive, detailed, comprehensive, full, widespread, all-embracing, all-inclusive...etc. This leaves no doubt as to what death on the cross must have been like. There was no room for any more pain to be felt, it was thorough.

You know it had to be horrific if they had to invent a new word to describe the pain of crucifixion.

Remember Christ's suffering today.

Matthew 27:27-54:

Then the governor's soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. "Hail, king of the Jews!" they said. They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.

As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. They came to a place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull). There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. Above his head they placed the written charge against him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS. Two robbers were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, "You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!"

In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. "He saved others," they said, "but he can't save himself! He's the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, 'I am the Son of God.' "In the same way the robbers who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, ama sabachthani?"—which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

When some of those standing there heard this, they said, "He's calling Elijah."

Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink. The rest said, "Now leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to save him."

And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.

At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, "Surely he was the Son of God!"

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Failure

During naptime today, I was the big failure, for the following reasons.

  • meant to clean up lunch...didn't
  • meant to read a few more chapters in my book...didn't
  • meant to blog (something significant)...didn't
  • meant to take a snooze myself...didn't

So what did I do during the kids' naptime today? I browsed real estate pictures and planned the layout and decorating schemes for our new (to us) family room. Yes, I may be totally setting myself up for disappointment if we are indeed stuck with this house for another school year...but OH WELL!