You can see Jordan smiling in this shot.
Cabinet hung! David did it all!
Such a punkinhead!
Monday, May 26, 2008
More Photos
Luke and Mattie
You can see Jordan smiling in this shot.
You can see Jordan smiling in this shot.
A Visitor, A New House, and More Additions to the Family
Michael's mom is coming from IL to visit tomorrow. Whenever she comes, I get a new house! We are putting together our school room and the wall unit in the living room. That means a LOT of boxes are being unpacked, so that is a very good thing! I will try to post photos later when we get closer. I don't expect to be really "company ready" or anything, but it's fun trying!
About those new additions: We are getting two doggies, and are we ever excited!
Here is something I wrote to one friend, then ended up sending to another later (I lack the time to type much anymore, but that's OK):
Michael met a lady at Home Depot the other day who asked if "anyone wants a puppy." Michael was the only one around, so he asked what kind. We planned on getting a dog for Rachael anyway, but hadn't done it yet. The lady gave him a flier and we decided to take a looksee.
http://www.doggiekamp.com/
When we heard that the mom was part doberman and probably part black lab, we weren't sure we'd want a puppy from her. We wanted to go see what the kamp is like and also to ask the owner to watch for the type of dog we did want (border collie). The lady runs a dog boarding facility and also is a rescue place for Great Pyrenees (which I fell in love with today). She has about 50 dogs, total: boarding, rescue up for adoption, and nine of her own dogs! Plus the puppies!
The puppies are very cute. They are mostly black, with some brownish-tan markings on the legs and a bit on the ear tips and eyebrows. Their hair is like an Australian shepherd's. Their faces are shaped like aussies, too. The tails are skinnier like dobermans but their paws are huge and cute. They are very sweet docile dogs, both "beta" males, which is good for being around children and other dogs. She will give us training lessons/classes, too.
Rachael is going to volunteer several hours each week, too! She is very happy about that!
Michael and I keep asking each other, "Are we really going to get dogs?" Most people get dogs instead of children but we are skittish about getting dogs and we have eight children!
I wanted to name my dog (um, I mean the family's dog) Apollo.
I think Zeus is wonderful for Rachael's dog but Rachael says no.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We have since decided against any Greek names. I am wanting Obi Wan for "our" dog (meaning, the family's dog), and we are trying to convince Rachael to name hers Anakin. She says her dog will receive his name when he is home and in her arms.
I think they will be good sized dogs: at least 45 lbs. which is fine with me! I love bigger dogs!
We will put a deposit on the dogs tomorrow and fill out an application for the dogs. The dog lady will come to our house to inspect our backyard and our fence and in about two weeks, we will be dog owners! Yippee! We are so excited!
About those new additions: We are getting two doggies, and are we ever excited!
Here is something I wrote to one friend, then ended up sending to another later (I lack the time to type much anymore, but that's OK):
Michael met a lady at Home Depot the other day who asked if "anyone wants a puppy." Michael was the only one around, so he asked what kind. We planned on getting a dog for Rachael anyway, but hadn't done it yet. The lady gave him a flier and we decided to take a looksee.
http://www.doggiekamp.com/
When we heard that the mom was part doberman and probably part black lab, we weren't sure we'd want a puppy from her. We wanted to go see what the kamp is like and also to ask the owner to watch for the type of dog we did want (border collie). The lady runs a dog boarding facility and also is a rescue place for Great Pyrenees (which I fell in love with today). She has about 50 dogs, total: boarding, rescue up for adoption, and nine of her own dogs! Plus the puppies!
The puppies are very cute. They are mostly black, with some brownish-tan markings on the legs and a bit on the ear tips and eyebrows. Their hair is like an Australian shepherd's. Their faces are shaped like aussies, too. The tails are skinnier like dobermans but their paws are huge and cute. They are very sweet docile dogs, both "beta" males, which is good for being around children and other dogs. She will give us training lessons/classes, too.
Rachael is going to volunteer several hours each week, too! She is very happy about that!
Michael and I keep asking each other, "Are we really going to get dogs?" Most people get dogs instead of children but we are skittish about getting dogs and we have eight children!
I wanted to name my dog (um, I mean the family's dog) Apollo.
I think Zeus is wonderful for Rachael's dog but Rachael says no.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We have since decided against any Greek names. I am wanting Obi Wan for "our" dog (meaning, the family's dog), and we are trying to convince Rachael to name hers Anakin. She says her dog will receive his name when he is home and in her arms.
I think they will be good sized dogs: at least 45 lbs. which is fine with me! I love bigger dogs!
We will put a deposit on the dogs tomorrow and fill out an application for the dogs. The dog lady will come to our house to inspect our backyard and our fence and in about two weeks, we will be dog owners! Yippee! We are so excited!
Photos
Rachael and Jordan. They have a special relationship.
This is one of my current faves of Jordan. His playful nature really comes through here:
Jordan looks so much like Marky in this photo. What a beautiful gift from God, doncha think?
David helping dad hang a cabinet (I can't find the photo of the hung cabinet). David loves to do work around the house!
My Mother's Day flowers. White daisies are my favorite!
Breakfast! Isn't that wild? Rachael made these today. We got the recipe from the cookbook by Marmee Dear. It has really large-size recipes and great instructions!
What can I say? I am so blessed! Luke says I am mean to embarrass poor Jordy in this way.
My baby my baby my baby!! I love this little guy so much! (6.5 mos.)
David with his the drill that he bought himself! He has used it quite a bit lately getting the house ready for G-ma Put's visit. He is in heaven having his own tools! Age 7.
Stephen says of Jordan, "He's MY baby." OK, I'll share. Stephen is 6.
One last shot of my baby making the same face Rachael always did. We sure are having fun with our new punkin'!
Hope you enjoyed the photos!
This is one of my current faves of Jordan. His playful nature really comes through here:
Jordan looks so much like Marky in this photo. What a beautiful gift from God, doncha think?
David helping dad hang a cabinet (I can't find the photo of the hung cabinet). David loves to do work around the house!
My Mother's Day flowers. White daisies are my favorite!
Breakfast! Isn't that wild? Rachael made these today. We got the recipe from the cookbook by Marmee Dear. It has really large-size recipes and great instructions!
What can I say? I am so blessed! Luke says I am mean to embarrass poor Jordy in this way.
My baby my baby my baby!! I love this little guy so much! (6.5 mos.)
David with his the drill that he bought himself! He has used it quite a bit lately getting the house ready for G-ma Put's visit. He is in heaven having his own tools! Age 7.
Another musician? He loved playing the piano! Once he figured out that it made noise, he was interested and even sang along!
Stephen says of Jordan, "He's MY baby." OK, I'll share. Stephen is 6.
As usual, Luke is the clown. Jordan spends a good amount of time in Luke's arms. Luke's choice, of course.
One last shot of my baby making the same face Rachael always did. We sure are having fun with our new punkin'!
Hope you enjoyed the photos!
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Been Two Weeks and Life is 'Sort of' Back to Normal
Well, the baby DID remember Daddy and they have been inseparable. Well, unless Daddy is attached to someone else or the baby is!
Michael has adapted to a new state with all that entails amazingly quickly. It seems he has always been here. He never looks out the window and wonders if it will ever look familiar. He never gets lost. He never even wonders at the weather. I shake my head at him all the time.
Talk about energy. He is unstoppable. It's like living with a different husband. Still trying to get used to it. It's all good, believe me. All good.
We had Jordan's 1/2 birthday party the other day (May 2) and Rachael made a 1/2 birthday cake. Jordan had no idea what was going on, but we sure had fun!
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Some Observations
Jordan was happy to allow Mark to hold him and smiled at him -- at first. Then it was as if he realized that he didn't really know this guy and started looking slightly distressed. Then he put his head into Mark's chest and pushed with his hands and feet to get away from him.
Michael hasn't been able to hold the baby yet (baby night night) so pray he will remember his Daddy and Daddy's heart won't break. All will be well in a couple of days so I'm not really worried about it, but that's what I observed this morning.
Mark is being treated like a long-lost friend. It's so strange to have my child be gone for two months and then come back so much bigger and, bigger. His wrists are as large as a soda can! Tomorrow he will be taller than I am, he's growing so fast. I guess this is what happens when one is 13.
I made two lemon cakes yesterday (one of Michael's favorites) and we think we will eat them between meals and maybe even FOR meals--just this once. ;-)
Cleaning, for me, is therapeutic on many levels. I have realized that even though Michael says he doesn't care about the cleanliness of his home, or even the orderliness of it (except for socks and other unmentionables), I have observed that I clean for him as much as for myself. I know that he appreciates it even if he doesn't know it. Does that even makes sense?
Michael is on an emotional high right now, having accomplished something that was out of reach for a long time. I pray that he finds what he is looking for here in Texas, and that all his dreams come true. So far he is very optimistic and likes what he sees!
It's weird to have been here for two months without him getting used to things at the same time as the rest of us have been. I no longer look out the window and wonder when things will look familiar. I look at the weather, the trees moving in the almost constant breeze, and the birds playing on the back fence. I visualize the grass not having 100000000 weeds and so many spiders and us out there enjoying the backyard. When I get in the car, I don't wonder which way to drive because I know now how to get to our regular stomping grounds. Michael will be getting used to things and I get to watch that. He will master the roads in about three days, whereas it has taken me these two months.
We are on different planes at this time, and that is strange. It will be all the same soon; it's no big deal, really. For 19 years we have been in the same place at the same time so this is something new.
The weather today is warm and slightly overcast. Kind of yucky, actually. Supposed to rain in the next couple of days. Tonight we are going to one of Michael's favorite places to eat, Steak N Shake. There were those in Missouri when he was growing up. He says that they are close second to In-N-Out's burgers.
That's all for now.
Blessings to everyone. Leave a comment and I'll publish it here if it's not too mushy. :-)
Michael hasn't been able to hold the baby yet (baby night night) so pray he will remember his Daddy and Daddy's heart won't break. All will be well in a couple of days so I'm not really worried about it, but that's what I observed this morning.
Mark is being treated like a long-lost friend. It's so strange to have my child be gone for two months and then come back so much bigger and, bigger. His wrists are as large as a soda can! Tomorrow he will be taller than I am, he's growing so fast. I guess this is what happens when one is 13.
I made two lemon cakes yesterday (one of Michael's favorites) and we think we will eat them between meals and maybe even FOR meals--just this once. ;-)
Cleaning, for me, is therapeutic on many levels. I have realized that even though Michael says he doesn't care about the cleanliness of his home, or even the orderliness of it (except for socks and other unmentionables), I have observed that I clean for him as much as for myself. I know that he appreciates it even if he doesn't know it. Does that even makes sense?
Michael is on an emotional high right now, having accomplished something that was out of reach for a long time. I pray that he finds what he is looking for here in Texas, and that all his dreams come true. So far he is very optimistic and likes what he sees!
It's weird to have been here for two months without him getting used to things at the same time as the rest of us have been. I no longer look out the window and wonder when things will look familiar. I look at the weather, the trees moving in the almost constant breeze, and the birds playing on the back fence. I visualize the grass not having 100000000 weeds and so many spiders and us out there enjoying the backyard. When I get in the car, I don't wonder which way to drive because I know now how to get to our regular stomping grounds. Michael will be getting used to things and I get to watch that. He will master the roads in about three days, whereas it has taken me these two months.
We are on different planes at this time, and that is strange. It will be all the same soon; it's no big deal, really. For 19 years we have been in the same place at the same time so this is something new.
The weather today is warm and slightly overcast. Kind of yucky, actually. Supposed to rain in the next couple of days. Tonight we are going to one of Michael's favorite places to eat, Steak N Shake. There were those in Missouri when he was growing up. He says that they are close second to In-N-Out's burgers.
That's all for now.
Blessings to everyone. Leave a comment and I'll publish it here if it's not too mushy. :-)
They're Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeerrre!
After a long and arduous journey, Michael and Marky-MAN are here. Mark has gROWN so much. He's huge!
Today we will spend attending to some family business and get reacquainted.
Thank you for your prayers and for sticking with us during this crazy time.
When I find the camera battery's charger and the card reader, I'll take lots of photos and post them (Michael has had these all this time so I was unable to take any photos or access any of the old ones).
Today we will spend attending to some family business and get reacquainted.
Thank you for your prayers and for sticking with us during this crazy time.
When I find the camera battery's charger and the card reader, I'll take lots of photos and post them (Michael has had these all this time so I was unable to take any photos or access any of the old ones).
Monday, April 21, 2008
They Are On Their Way!
Michael and Mark finally left Sunday morning, about 10:30 California time. They made it to Deming, NM, which is about 100 miles from El Paso. That's 686 miles in one day. Whew. It took me pretty much all day just to do 300 miles.
They are now about nine or so hours from home, and we anxiously await their arrival.
Yesterday I called him to check progress. He answered the phone, "What?" I said, "Is something wrong?" The tail lights on the trailer thingy were not working. I hung up and immediately prayed for the Lord to solve the problem, as I know Michael is not an electrical guy at all and he was frustrated. I said to the Lord, "I want him to call me and say, 'the Lord solved the problem and all is well.'" About 20 minutes later, Mark called and said, rather incredulously, "Mom, it's all fixed now. I don't know how Dad did it, and neither does he; he doesn't know anything about fixing electrical stuff but I'm amazed that it's fixed."
So, praise the Lord!
They are now about nine or so hours from home, and we anxiously await their arrival.
Yesterday I called him to check progress. He answered the phone, "What?" I said, "Is something wrong?" The tail lights on the trailer thingy were not working. I hung up and immediately prayed for the Lord to solve the problem, as I know Michael is not an electrical guy at all and he was frustrated. I said to the Lord, "I want him to call me and say, 'the Lord solved the problem and all is well.'" About 20 minutes later, Mark called and said, rather incredulously, "Mom, it's all fixed now. I don't know how Dad did it, and neither does he; he doesn't know anything about fixing electrical stuff but I'm amazed that it's fixed."
So, praise the Lord!
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