Oops.

Is this blog still here? I guess so.

Well, since I last was on here much has changed...

We welcomed daughter #2 into our family, Elsie Jeralyn. She's a sweet pea, and we love her boat loads. She's starting to smile more and is just picking up the giggling.

Felicity is about half a foot taller. Well, not quite, but she did grow that much in 2013 all together. It's fun to see her grow and develop. I love now that she expresses herself more than ever before and loves to make conversation. Here are a few right off the top of my head,

Nearly every morning she hugs me and then says, "Where's Elsie? I need to see Elsie."

When opening up her Christmas presents on Christmas day she exclaimed, "What is it? Oh my! Wow! Oh my word! Oooh my! Oh my!" Haha! Thankfully we got a little bit of it recorded...it's a moment I want to watch over and over. :) The funny thing was that a couple of these gifts were from a very dear friend of ours, Kathryn, and F's expressions reminded me so much of the gift-giver. I loved it!

We were reading through the 10 plagues of Egypt in family worship, and the 10th one really seemed to stick with F. For days now she's been saying, "He died. Why did he die?" So, we've talked it over quite a few times. Now she keeps talking about how Jesus died. When I ask her why Jesus died, she says, "To take away our sins." I'm sure she's just repeating what we say, but it's neat to hear her say it anyway. It's neat, too, even if we do hear her say, ""He died. Why did he die?" over and over and over. I've tried explaining the resurrection to her, but she seems stuck on the dying part. It's okay. We can take things slowly.

Just today we were working on potty training. The bad news: accidents were had. The good news: F sat down at the dining room table with me for a snack of pretzels after we finished up our two hour practice session and said with a sigh, "This is muuuch better."

This evening  as I was getting ready to go to a baby shower when F came in and told me, "Mommy, you're so pretty." Well.melt.my.heart.

We've started a memory jar to help keep track of F and E's milestones and those cute little sayings that we want to be able to remember...because to be honest, there are too many for us to remember in our itty bitty brains. I'm hoping to put them in a scrap book at the end of each month...nothing fancy, just slap the 3x5 cards in it so it'll be semi-organized. :) Hopefully this good-intention doesn't become like this here blog.

Let's see, what else has happened?

We've spent time with lots of family in the past couple of months, which has been super fun! We had Z's family here during Thanksgiving...although, we almost froze some of his siblings by making them sleep in an RV in our front lawn. (Yes, an RV became our front lawn for more than 3 weeks. Thankfully, the neighbors didn't report us). And, we've gotten to meet (one just over Skype) several newborn nieces and nephew since September. They are F's new bffs. She talks about them constantly. And, we got to hang out with my side during Christmas...my favorite parts being the late night talks, of course.

We had record breaking cold the second week of January. Z got the whole week off school. Score. Sadly the week ended with Z getting sick and then me getting sick. So, he had to take the first day of school off. Tuesday I was still sick, but I was feeling pretty great at the end of the day...the flowers and ice cream Z brought home helped a lot. Isn't he sweet? :)

In other exciting news, we redid our dining room and kitchen floors (Well, Z and a friend, Aaron, did...thankfully, I didn't have to help...it would have been a disaster if I had to). And, it looks absolutely fabulous! The laminate slate in the dining room puts the previous 60's puke green linoleum to utter shame. Z and A did a fantastic job, and I think they had fun doing it. And, surprisingly, we found nice hardwood under the kitchen carpet. :)  

Hmm...it's good to jot down the things that have happened. I've lost the art of faithfully keeping a journal since becoming a mother. But, it's good to think back and see all the ways that God has shown us His love and faithfulness...even in the small things.

Yesterday, F and I took advantage of the lovely weather outside and walked around while Z taught his college course class. The campus we weaved our way through was absolutely gorgeous. We loved the flowers, the rocks, and the sunset.

Towards the end of our 2.5 hour adventure though, I was definitely starting to waddle, and since F was so enamored by the site of three young children riding their scooters in circles down the sidewalk a ways, I decided it was the best time to just stop and stand and let her sit in her red stroller to watch the kids play. Soon though, the friendly and fit looking Hispanic mother of the children rounded the building jogging, and they were off, heading towards us.

When the mother got closer, she stopped to jog in place, smiled at F, and then, while pointing in our direction, looked at me and said, "It's a boy. Yeah?"

 I get many people asking me these days if we know the gender of the kiddo who makes me look like a hippo. We don't. Assuming that's what this woman was referring to, I lifted up my hands, shrugged my shoulders, and said, "We don't know yet."

The lady's eyes got wide while she stopped jogging in place. She froze for a second. Then, she said, "Oh," and turned around and kept jogging. I thought it a bit strange.

I thought her response was a bit strange and awkward. So, I was left pondering her response and thinking and rethinking over her gestures, voice tone, and eye movement. Then I realized she probably wasn't talking about my preggo belly. I'm pretty sure she was asking about F. Oops.

I guess the next time I dress F in gender neutral colored clothing I'll be sure to put a ribbon in her hair. :)

A Gift From the Giver

I wrote the following last year sometime in August or September, soon after we learned that Mr. Y accepted a position at the seminary and would be resigning as our pastor. I'm not sure why I never posted it; maybe I never posted it because I never finished it...and still haven't really "finished" it. :) But yesterday, as I was thinking over the morning sermon, I was reminded that it was probably the last sermon I would ever hear from him as my pastor. It recalled to mind this post I wrote way back when and how blessed we have been to call him our pastor...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

When I was little I use to think he was a giant - literally and spiritually. I can remember looking up at him while waiting to ride the horse at Matt and Karen's house. I stood at his feet with my head tilted as far back as I could get it, arms dangling at my side. I'm pretty sure my mouth was gaping open as I looked up as his lanky stature while he ushered us kids into a line with his extended (and in my mind, extensive) arms. I had never known someone so enormous in my whole life of three years. And, up until I was six, I was privileged to be a baptized member of the RP Church under his pastoral leadership. Granted, I can't recall much from those years, but they were very formative years. 

It was during those early years that God, through my parents, siblings, and church, showed me my sin and my need for Jesus. It was a combination of my parents' teachings at home and one of Mr. Y's children's sermon that lead me to realize that I needed and wanted Jesus. Yes, I still remember seating in between my brother Daniel and the fake plant that stood along side the pulpit. And, I remember wondering if Jamey and Luke would ever stop fidgeting in front of me so I could see; but, I mostly remember the poster board with hearts drawn on it and Mr. Y asking what kind of heart we had. It was around that time that I told my mother during "Bible" that I wanted to pray and ask Jesus into my heart. Yes, they were formative years.

When Z and I got married in the fall of 2010 we switched our membership to SRPC, another blessing from the Lord. Many people don't know how much I struggled spiritually and emotionally those first few months of marriage, but I did. God was ever so gracious to place me under biblical, strong, convicting, and encouraging preaching every Sunday morning, even when, sadly, I didn't want to hear the truth. Only by the grace of God, He has used Mr. Y to help me grow, see my sin ever so more closely, and point me more and more to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

A few Sundays ago Mr. Y preached a sermon entitled, "Gospel Thanksgiving," from Colossians 1:3-8. It's not up on sermon audio, otherwise I would link to it (and, because I can't re-listen to it myself, anything I put in quotation marks may be a paraphrase...but, I think they're pretty close). He started out by saying that, "We are to be thankful all the time. Recall how often it is encouraged through Scripture. It should be our daily expression. We should be in awe of the Gospel. We should be full of thanks when we see the transformation that takes place because of it. The Christian should look at this world with rose colored glasses because our souls are covered in the blood of Christ." He gave us three reasons to give thanks, the faith of others, the love demonstrated for the church, and the hope stored away for us in Heaven. He went on to say that the eternal Gospel itself is the source of our thanksgiving. And that, God gives us the "constituted means" (pastors, elders) to tell of the word of truth so that the Gospel remains with us. We're to remember, however, that the preacher who preaches the word to us is only the gift. We must look to and give thanks to the Giver. This sermon called many things to mind that I can give thanks to God for, including Mr. Y.

Z and I have slowly gotten more and more involved with the church since we first moved here. And, I think it's amazing how much you don't see if you're standing on the sidelines trying to figure out how the church works. I grew up in a family that loved to minister to others, but I'm continually amazed how much time, energy, money, and emotion can be spent in encouraging, ministering, counseling, evangelizing, visiting, and hosting people. And as we've gotten closer I'm continually amazed at and thankful for the passions and gifts that God has given to Mr. Y.

It's plain to see that Mr. Y doesn't primarily seek out "methods" for ministry in the church. Rather, he is a man devoted to prayer. While I can't look into his personal prayer closet, I can see that he is a prayer warrior because of the affect of his ministry. E.M. Bounds wrote in his book Power Through Prayer, "The character of our praying will determine the character of our ministries. Prayer makes our words strong, gives them power, makes them stick. In every anointed ministry, prayer has always been a serious business...Talking to others for God is a great thing. But talking to God for others is greater still. We will never speak to people for God with real success until we have learned how to speak to God for people." Mr. York's sermons, teachings, hospitality and so on would be powerless and worthless if he wasn't a man of prayer. He has spoken to people for God with success because of the power of prayer.

We've also witnessed Mr. Y in his role as a school administrator, principal, and teacher. We're both amazed at his considerable diplomacy. If there was ever an issue in my life that needed addressed, Mr. Y would be one of the few people I'd pick to be the one to come talk to me about my problem. I appreciate his forthrightness, tact, and gentleness. It's also pretty neat to see his patience with the kids in the school. There seems to be a fine line somewhere between the unacceptable behavior where you need to put a stop to something and simple immaturity where you need to just come alongside the kids to help them grow. Mr. Y figures this line out pretty well, in my own estimation.

The Y family have invested much in us, and it has been such a blessing and encouragement. They have opened up their home to us, given us gifts, made us meals, listened and talked to us, and prayed with and for us. We are so thankful that they have exemplified Christ's love to us and for their faith in God which points us to the Gospel.

He and his family are planning to move away within the next year. At first, there was a feeling that no one can replace him or that the ministry won't flourish. I remember thinking, "How is this church going to go on without him?!" I'd tend to think that even more when congregants would make verbal lists of everything he does for the church and school. And while, in some regards, no one will ever be able to replace him, I know that the ministry won't die out, because Mr. Y. is not the Giver. He is only a gift that God has given. Jesus Christ is the one who changes peoples' hearts and lives and builds His kingdom for His own glory. 

"We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf and has made known to us your love in the Spirit.

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."

                                      ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 A lot has changed since I first wrote this. The Y family leaves in just a few weeks. And, God has provided another gifted man to help lead SRPC. We're very thankful for all the ways that God provides us with good and godly men to lead us, and we're very excited to get to know our soon-to-be pastor and his family. Isn't God a good gift-giver? 

Well, it's finally February, and I'm finally getting these pictures up from the "family fest." :) Sadly, I didn't get as many "good" photos or a larger variety showing all the different people involved. But, it still brings back some good memories. :) I'm so thankful for my family and will always appreciate our gatherings (even if we're about to fade out of the "glory days" :).

Before the fest really began, most of us went to our cousin's wedding.

I'm not sure which expression I love best. :)

I got to see BECCA!!! 

The blue candy table was pretty much amazing. The Frooties were best candy displayed and eaten, in my humble opinion. :) 

Grandma got the party rolling by handing out her gifts to the great-grandchildren.

Felicity still struggles, but she's getting better at opening gifts. She loves the wonderful fish print pillow case that Grandma Long made for her. Sleeps every night with it, except when it needs laundered. :)

We unintentionally wore our Geneva shirts the same night, so I made sure us grads got a pic together. :)

Anna and Dan loaded us with the coke. I never did get a Sprite Zero. :( But, Z shared his with me. :)

I thought this was adorable. 

Samuel likes to talk. :)

Ruth teaching us a neck massage technique... 

while Samuel kept talking... :)

Someone "fell asleep" at the top of the stairs... :)

Isn't she adorable? :)

Cousin love.

Singing Psalms...

I think this was David's "sea monster" motion/face during one Psalm.

Taking Dr. Grandma's photo...

Grandpa's popcorn was a highlight, as usual. :) 

Aw, "the four little girls," all together again for a game of Dutch Blitz. :)

Gil was working on his photography skills.

I love Joel's face in this photo. :)

Mother with all 8 of her children around the table while the in-laws went on their outing. :)

The in-laws returned, and there was great rejoicing...especially on Mother's part. :)

The in-laws, further bonding, after their outing.

The in-laws brought back ice cream for me. I'd say that was a successful outing. :) Thank you, Sergei!

Getting ready to ring in the new year, 2013!

James "dropping the ball."

Cheers, hugs, and kisses. :)

Some people were a little hesitant to show any PDA by kissing... :)

Aw...  :)

Boy, these in-laws do not like to kiss...how do they expect to win the PDA contest?! Just kidding. :)

The next day we packed up and headed out. We loved our time with the family, but we were ready to get some sleep and get back into the normal life mode of doing things like...

Drinking hot chocolate...

Baking cookies...

And playing peek-a-boo...

But then, our next big holiday was just over a week later. We had Weigh-In-Day on January 10th. F was able to accurately weigh-in at home, too! 

Measuring her against the wall was a bit more challenging, but seemed to be accurate based on past check-ins. :)

F thinks it's a fabulous family holiday. Here she is giving an enthusiastic high-five after getting measured. :) The results came in a couple days later, but here are our placement records for the year: On the weight (out of 29 people), F got 5th, Z got 25th, and I got 29th (first time I've ever gotten last place - but, that's only because I had given birth to F in late 2011 and still had all that baby weight on me...I'm really going to try and pull for the top 5 for next year...not really, but you never know.:). And, for height, F got 1st (hopefully, that measuring was accurate:)! Z and I, like many adults, didn't change in the height category, so we didn't get listed. All-in-all, I'd say it was a successful and happy weigh-in. :)

And, here she is trying to get ahead for next year's Weigh-In-Day.

But, Weigh-In-Day can be exhausting...

So, goodnight. :)