I'm gonna miss this

"She was starin' out the window of that SUV

Complainin' sayin' I can't wait to turn 18

she said I'll make my own money

and I'll make my own roots

Mama put the car in park out there in front of the school

and she kissed her head and said I was just like you

You're gonna miss this

You're gonna want this back

You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast

These are some good times

So take a good look around

You may not know it now

But you're gonna miss this
Before she knows it she's a brand new bride

In her one bedroom apartment and her daddy stops by

He tells her it's a nice place,

she says it'll do for now

Starts talkin' about babies and buyin' a house

Daddy shakes his face and says

Baby just slow down

Cuz you're gonna miss this

You're gonna want this back

You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast

These are some good times

so take a good look around

You may not know it now

but you're gonna miss this

Five years later there's a plummer workin' on the water heater,

Dogs barkin' phones ringin'

one kid's cryin' one kid's screamin',

And she keeps apologizing,

he says they don't bother me I got 2 babies of my own

one's 36 one's 23 it's hard to believe But you're gonna miss this

You're gonna want this back

You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast

These are some good times so take a good look around

You may not know it now

But you're gonna miss this
You're gonna miss this

Yeah, you're gonna miss this"

~Trace Adkins~

Delicious Sleep

I spent some time perusing the pages of pottery barn this morning, (and being shocked into total dismay that people would actually buy this stuff for the price they are asking)!! I'm spoiled by having a pottery barn outlet less then 5 minutes from here.

I came upon this picture and just had to stop and stare and imagine the delicious sleep one could have in this bed. I'd like to save my nickles for this set!

I have this quote beside our bed, pretty much sums it up:

"What a happy and holy fashion it is
that those who love one another
should rest on the same pillow."
~Nathaniel Hawthorne

Happy 1st Birthday Sweet Luke!!

Today my Baby turns ONE!! It just seems like yesterday that he was born! I will never forget that moment....and WHAT an event it was! He was born here at our home in Strasburg on a Friday night, March 23rd at 6:55 p.m.

This picture was taken the night before he was born! That was quite the handy tray!

Fresh from the oven letting his voice be heard! Oh, he was so cute!
He weighed 7 lbs. 12 oz. and was 20 inches long. Proud Papa!He had long fingers and big hands and really looked like Tyler in a lot of ways. It's really quite the story of how he came into the world: Jake had to deliver him because the midwife didn't make it here in time!!!! Or, maybe I should rephrase that and say I delivered him and he CAUGHT him!! I had been having contractions for two days, every 10-20 minutes so I thought it would go fast, but we had no idea that it would go THAT fast!! Next time we have a baby you can be sure I'll be calling WAY ahead of time!
Here is Tyler playing in the birthing pool before Luke was born. I was in such shock when Luke came without anyone else here.
I was praying, "I speak life to you in the name of Jesus," and calling out to Jake, "pray, honey, pray." Of course, Jake, the ever calm man that he is kept saying, "he's fine, honey, he's breathing." I think I was in such dismay that he was born and no one was here, I couldn't relax and truly believe that all was well!! About 4 minutes later the midwife got here. (Later she told us she was going to stop to get something to eat, but had a feeling she should get here!!) Oh my word! We were so thankful that we had a safe delivery here at home, even though it turned out to be a little bit MORE of an adventure then I had bargained for!!

"In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind." Job 12:10
Here Tyler is meeting his baby brother for the first time. This is my brother Tom, who Luke was named after. Luke Thomas.

So, here we are 365 days later, many sleepless nights lie behind me and for that I am thankful! It's hard those first few weeks, but so rewarding and intimate at the same time.
Luke's personality is started to blossom and it's so fun watching him become HIM! He laughs hysterically at Tyler and likes to tease him as well. This morning Jake and I were talking about the boys and how their births hold such similarities to their personality. For Luke, he just held back for a bit, (he was a week late) and when he decided he was good and ready, HE CAME...READY OR NOT!!!! He knows what he wants and when he wants it and you are sure to hear about it. He loves his Mama, loves to snuggle close and read books until he's had enough....and then, that's it...onto something more exciting. He won't sit in front of a video for anything, too much to do and see. He LOVES to eat. Most days I can safely say he eats more then Tyler!! He will pounce on you if you are lying on the ground. He will give you a kiss if you beg long enough! I anticipate watching his personality come to life even more in this next year!

WE LOVE YOU LUKE THOMAS!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!

"I'll love you forever,
I"ll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
My baby you'll be."
~Robert Munsch~

A visit from India

Last week my dear and forever friend Lindy and her little girl Manju came for a weeks visit. She lives in Kalimpong, India. She started a home called "Freedom House" in 2006 to receive young, pregnant, unwed women or girls and provide a safe place for them. They are located in Northeast India, the Himalaya Mountains surround them. They are near India's border with Nepal and Bhutan, and Calcutta is a 12 hour train ride south. The last time she was home was 2 years ago, Tyler was only 6 months old! Thankfully through the amazing technology at our fingertips we are in touch a lot. Even though that is the case, there is nothing like FACE time! When she came to the door it was though no time had passed at all. We are kindred spirits to be sure. Before Jake and I were married there was a group of 4 of us that hung out together ALL THE TIME. Jake, Paul, Lindy and I. We created so many fun memories together and had the time of our lives. I don't think I have ever laughed as hard as when I was with the three of them. Lindy and I had an apartment together for several years so we were two peas in a pod. The four of us took road trips together, went out for late night dinners, played games & talked for hours. At that time none of us were dating anyone so the four of us found "refuge" in our singleness with one another! It was a precious friendship....and still is. One of our best memories was the night we got all dressed up and went to Baltimore Inner Harbor. The three of them had grown up in very conservative schools and never had the chance to attend a prom of any sort. So, one summer night we decided to change that. The guys bought new suits and we found beautiful dresses for ourselves. We got all dolled up and off we went. Lindy and I totally shocked the guys by renting a limousine. We came driving in hanging out the sunroof! Man, that was a good night! That Christmas, as a gift to each of them, I asked my cousin Freiman to paint a picture of that night. This was the masterpiece that he drew from a picture we had from the evening.

The time we had together was so special. Thank you Lindy for taking the time to come for a visit. We stand with you and love you dearly! We'll see you soon, hopefully at YOUR doorstep this time.

"Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody,
I think that is a much greater hunger,
a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat.
Each one of them is Jesus in disguise."
~ Mother Teresa~

2 1/2 more hours to go

Well, it's under three hours until the LIVE HGTV Dream home giveaway for 2008. I'm wondering if I should put some makeup on and get out of my faithful sweatpants. How does this work? Do they come to your door? Show up at a restaurant? Is it really "live"? We shall see. We don't have any hot plans for tonight, just a little bit of Thomas the train and chocolate chip cooking eating...oh, and reading my latest book club book of which I've read over 200 pages TODAY. (Atonement, by Ian McEwan). This would explain why we are all still in our pj's....I've been reading EVERY chance I get. The boys were exposed to the chicken pox virus almost exactly two weeks ago so we're basically staying quarantined for another few days.

I'll be sure to let you know if we win!

gettin' a kick

OUT OF APRONS....OH, APRONS GALORE!!! This picture is from here, a great site that I visit and droll over more then a few times each week. OH, THE JOY HAD I BEEN STANDING IN FRONT OF THIS GLORIOUS SELECTION!!!!!!! Can't wait for garage sale season....especially a precious little old lady that is ready to part with her well-loved things. I WILL GIVE THEM A NEW HOME!! Yes, I will!!

We All Need A Tree

I hired a plumber to help me restore an old farmhouse, and after he had just finished a rough first day on the job: a flat tire made him lose an hour of work, his electric drill quit and his ancient one ton truck refused to start. While I drove him home, he sat in stony silence. On arriving, he invited me in to meet his family. As we walked toward the front door, he paused briefly at a small tree, touching the tips of the branches with both hands. When opening the door he underwent an amazing transformation.. His face was wreathed in smiles and he hugged his two small children and gave his wife a kiss. Afterward he walked me to the car. We passed the tree and my curiosity got the better of me. I asked him about what I had seen him do earlier. Oh, that's my trouble tree," he replied "I know I can't help having troubles on the job, but one thing's for sure, these troubles don't belong in the house with my wife and the children... So I just hang them up on the tree every night when I come home and ask God to take care of them. Then in the morning I pick them up again." "Funny thing is," he smiled, "when I come out in the morning to pick'em up, there aren't nearly as many as I remember hanging up the night before."

Deal or no Deal!!!

Do you see this stunning woman in blue?? Yes, the one in the middle glowing with excitement and a touch of pregnancy hormone!! She, my dear friend Jeane applied to be on the TV show "Deal or No Deal" and to her, (and my) ETERNAL delight, she was picked to continue her way to the final destination. She was so kind to let me join in this fun by being one of her "supporters" on a "test run" of the game show. It was videotaped and sent to the producers. Oh, I'm just doing an awful job retelling the story, PLEASE VISIT HER BLOG to get the full, eloquent, exciting scoop! All I can say is the interview went so well she is now onto the last "hoop" as it were before SHE APPEARS ON THE SHOW!!!!!!!!! OOOOOOOH JOYOUS DAY!!!!!!! Thanks Jeane, for sharing this with me! You are AMAZING!!!

we're captive on the carousel of time

oh, I just love my boys so much. this is such a precious time and I do try my very best to embrace these days. It's so easy to let the day slip away DOING stuff and miss the sweetness of the moment. I thank God for giving me the gift, a mindful attitude toward the present, the "now." A few days ago Tyler fell asleep in my arms while I was rocking him...a rarity to be certain! It was nap time and he wanted me to hold him, so I sat on the little comfy chair in his room and rocked away. Slowly, he became heavier and heavier in my arms until our breathing matched each other and sleep came upon him. I started to get up, but decided to stay a bit longer...the laundry can wait, it will always be there. The kitchen floor can wait to be wiped, the dirt will be back tomorrow anyway and all the other things "calling my name" so loudly were silenced. I looked at the pictures surrounding me, the picture of me holding him just days after he was born....so tiny. And now, 1005 days later, so BIG in my arms. My eyes well up just thinking about it. Lord, please help me to number my days, (OUR days) that I may gain a heart of wisdom. I love this picture, Luke is such a ham and Tyler is loving every moment of it!

Now, let us not be fools and think that my days are filled with sunshine and laughter. They are hard, sometimes the entire week is hard...tiring, long, exhausting, and frustrating. But, I have found that the more days I get into THEIR world go a lot better then the days I spend PUTTING them into MINE! Yes, there are things to be done and projects to be completed, but my babies are neither one of those. Sometimes it's just CrAzY around here and I have to give into that and laugh and "roll with it" as it were. Letting go is a good thing, a necessary thing, a character thing. "Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are. Let me learn from you, love you, bless you before you depart. Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow. Let me hold you while I may, for it may not always be so." ~Mary Jean Iorn Yes, these "normal days", they are blessings...in all their loud, dirty, hungry, whining ways...they are gifts!

"Sixteen springs and sixteen summers gone now
Cartwheels turn to car wheels thru the town
And they tell him,Take your time, it won't be long now
Till you drag your feet to slow the circles down
And the seasons they go round and round
And the painted ponies go up and down
We're captive on the carousel of time
We can't return we can only look behind
From where we came
And go round and round and round
In the circle game."
~Joni Mitchell, "Circle Game"~

wonder never ceases

how the heck he didn't fall down these steps I will never know!! Jake and I were relaxing on the couch and when we headed upstairs, we pulled back the curtain and low and behold this is what we found!! At first I thought he was awake and I said, "Tyler, what are you doing?" No answer, so at closer inspection I realize he's FAST ASLEEP, twitching and all!! I'm sure this wasn't the plan when he embarked on his top secret spy mission! It looks like puppy provided just the right amount of "cushion." Yes, wonder never ceases around these parts....these are the days.

"These are the days,
These are days you’ll remember.
Never before and never since, I promise
Will the whole world be warm as this
And as you feel it,
You’ll know it’s true
that you are blessed and lucky." ~10,000 Maniacs

Four things you may not know.

I'm it....I was tagged by Aimee so here's some info about me you might not know....


Four jobs I have had in my life:

1. waitress, (with my cool friend Jena...good times).

2. cleaned houses, (since I was 9....my Mom owns a cleaning business).

3. nanny for two little girls, ages 1 and 3, (who are now 9 and 11 and still come to my house every chance they get!!) LOVE THEM!

4. wedding coordinator.


Four places I have lived:

1. honolulu, hawaii, (2 months at age 14)

2. monroe, NC

3. Jabalpur, India

4. strasburg, PA


Four TV shows I watch:

1. oprah

2. american idol

3. access hollywood, (yes, i like to keep up on the celebs!)

4. amazing race


Four Places I have been:

1. india, (will go again someday I am sure)

2. chile

3. bali, indonesia

4. honolulu, hawaii


Four people who e-mail me (regularly):

1. jeane

2. kara

3. jena

4. shar


Four of my favorite foods:

1. thigh...i mean thai, (that's what my husband would say!! HA)

2. frosted mini wheat's before bed.

3. ribs w/ lots of sauce.

4. not sure if this counts as "food", tall, decaf, white chocolate mocha.


Four Places I'd rather be right now:

1. in bed.

2. asleep.

3. for at least 8 hours

4. uninterrupted!!


Four things I look forward to:

1. planting flowers.

2. parenting conference in harrisburg this month.

3. performing on the stage again....Anne of Green Gables May 30-31st at Garden Spot H.S.

4. watching Luke learn to walk...and then run....and then jump!


Now I tag Mary June and Jeane! Have a happy Saturday!!

Sister time

Last Saturday my sisters and I took some "us" time! It was, as always delightful, refreshing, inspiring and calming. "I love you" does not suffice....
There is a precious little tea shop in a town near here. The owners are true British ladies which makes the experience that much more enjoyable. The food was amazing! (sorry, no pictures, I was enjoying myself too much to stop to take a picture!!)
The front entrance a little "general store" of sorts, all kinds of treats from England and abroad...it truly transported me to a far-away place.

cozy corners filled the shop...doesn't this looks like the perfect spot to be all alone w/ a cup of tea and a good book? (You can tell what I'm craving right now, some alone time!)
this was my favorite feature of the place....SO creative.
Please come for a visit and we'll enjoy ourselves at this little hideaway.

Thanks Fan, Jan and Von for the great morning together.
I never tire of your company & our conversations.

"To the outside world we all grow old. But not to brothers and sisters. We know each other as we always were. We know each other's hearts. We share private family jokes. We remember family feuds and secrets, family griefs and joys. We live outside the touch of time."~Clara Ortega