30 is the new 20, right??

RIGHT! Today is my 30th birthday and I am more delighted to be alive today then ever before. There is truly so much in my life to be thankful for. And may I just ask, WHY did I EVER think 30 was "old"??????? I will never understand that!

Jake is surprising me and taking me away today, "be ready at 2:30 and pack for overnight" are my commands to follow. I told him he can take me to the Motel 6 for all I care....they do leave the light on for you, you know?

Theater Thursday

my personal favorite: "i'm thankful that i don't have to live out in the wild like a hairy skunk." yeah, never thought of that one!!

Winter's First Snow

Last Friday we had our first snow here in PA. It turned out to be quite the cozy day. Jake's Mom, (Grammie) was here and we together, (well, mostly her just showing me) made homemade sticky buns. The house smelled amazing while the kids played outside and made the most of the falling snow. Tyler spent an hour here: he just laid in the snow with his two favorite trains and played and played. Only did he come in when I told him it's lunchtime. He was in his own little train land crashing, burying and sliding "James" across the snow. Good thing he has a warm snowsuit. I so enjoy watching him pretend, it's so fulfilling for me to see his imagination at work. Never a dull moment with him that's for sure! Here's Grammie and Tyler playing together later that day. Notice the shorts and short-sleeved shirt that he LOVES to wear, if it's not in the wash, it's on him and his legs are always cold to the touch. At least he has clothes ON, he's been into this being without a shirt thing lately, (*sorry to Tina for the influence on O*)!! I think I'll have to pack those summer things away so he's forced to dress warmly!!

Cheers!

"We are living in a world of beauty,
but few of us open our eyes to see it."
Lorado Taft

*"Let it snow" by Sesame Street gang*

My friend Kara

My dear friend Kara had a stroke a few days ago. She, her husband, and Ben & Shar were on vacation in Florida. Clark updated their blog tonight, so you can visit that site for more information of the events leading up to her stoke. I wish I were there with her right now. She called this evening and we talked for a bit. She sounds in good spirits and for that I am grateful. They've been through a lot in the last few years and this again, she is taking in such graceful stride. Please pray specifically that she will be able to come home for rehab, (regaining her balance, full use of her right arm and speech). It will be most difficult for her to be away from Maddie that long, something I pray doesn't have to happen. Please also pray for Clark as he is taking care of her in this time and being all that he promised he would be at the alter on their wedding day.

"There is no distance too far between friends,
for friendship gives wings to the heart."
~Unknown~

Flashback to Summertime-Campout 2008

It's November 19th and I just realized that I forgot to post pictures from our annual nieces/nephews campout! I was looking through our summer pictures trying to get warm inside and came upon them! Each year becomes a little event in and of itself. This was the 6th year in a row that we've done this and we don't intend to stop anytime soon! It's something that we all look forward to each Summer. So, here's to Summer!

The Happy Gang!
Mariah and Taryn...such great friends!

Self-explanatory...

the result of the above photo... My little chip-thief....

Caught!!! orange-handed! Sami, Kylie and Olivia. Golf anyone? Sweet Sophia. Here's a bunch lounging on the hammock eating pizza on a beautiful summer's eve.

Sami and Kylie...or shall I say, "Moldy Cheeseheads?" (don't ask)! All the kids running to see Grandma coming! So cute!!

Tyler and Chase crusin' around the yard, somehow Chase
is always the one pulling or pushing Tyler around! Bless his heart!!

The boys at their favorite place. Our makeshift "Thomas the train table."

The girls "swimming" in our hot tub! Always a highlight for them!

Playing on the giant ship and in the ball pit! (Thanks MaryJo for letting us use it)!

Movie Time! Jake cut down a tree and then rigged the screen on the side of the barn, with speakers on either side, (the cutting of the tree was a different night although I wouldn't put it past him to get an idea and put it into action immediately He's amazing! It looked so NEAT! We're looking forward to lots of outdoor movie nights next summer! A movie's not complete without....

POPCORN!
anxiously awaiting some buttery goodness!

We rented this great popcorn maker, (thank you Zimmerman's) and it came with popcorn and little pouches to put it in. They all looked so adorable sitting out there watching the movie with
their own personal popcorn in hand! Loves it!
JOY! We love our nieces and nephews so much! It truly is a highlight for us each summer.
Even when we were looking for a new home, Jake would say, in regards to the yard, "I don't think this yard would work for the campout!!" How sweet is he??


My buddies! (side note: could I please have my tan back? Thank you very much)!
Air mattresses outside = tons o' fun! EARLY the next morning, this is where I find Tyler and Aiden! Until next year...."God gave us memories that we might have roses in December."
~J.M. Barrie~

*"over the rainbow" israel k.

Theater Thursday

Brent

Yesterday my cousins son died in a tragic car accident. Mahlon is my first cousin, this was he and his wife's only son. My heart is especially heavy for the entire family as Mahlon's Father, Sister and now son have all died within the past 4 years. Once again I am reminded of the closeness of death. Brent was 20 years old and just about to graduate from college. There are no words, it is senseless. Brent's cousin Clarita wrote beautifully about him on her blog. So, I will simply link you to that site here. My sister sent all of us, (her brothers and sisters) an email and wrote this: "In light of yesterday's tragedy in Aunt Susie's family, I am so grateful that our family circle is still unbroken. I realize how very fragile life is and we have no guarantees of forever on this side of heaven. All we can do is treasure the moments and the people in our lives right now." I couldn't have said it better. Tomorrow morning all 8 of us are having breakfast together, a yearly Fall tradition. I will savor the moments with fresh vision.

This was Brent's obituary in the paper today. Brent A. Stoltzfus, 20, 61 Poplar Street, Gordonville, died Tuesday, Novemeber 11, 2008 of injuries sustained in an automobile accident. He was the son of Mahlon and June Schrock Stoltzfus. Brent graduated from Pequea Valley High School in 2006 and was currently a student at the Automotive Training Center, Exton. He enjoyed hockey and working on cars. He worked for C & J Tire Service, New Holland. Also surviving are: his sister, Beth married to Eric Hess of Willow Street; paternal grandmother, Susan Stoltzfus of Bird-in-Hand; maternal grandparents Ivan married to Ruby Schrock of Goshen, IN. The memorial service will be held at Ridgeview Mennonite Church on Saturday, November 15, 2008 at 4 pm. There will be no viewing. Greeting time with the family will be from 2-4 p.m. Saturday. Private interment at the convenience of the family.

Love the ones you're with.

*"Safe" by Plumb

Unamused until the candy arrived

We went trick or treating around our neighborhood. I scored a deal at Little Bo-Tique on halloween day by finding a Pooh AND Tigger costume!! I thought the boys looked adorable, I think they felt slightly different about my choice. I'm pretty sure I still get to dress them as I'd like....at least for the next year or so!

Here they are waiting for their ride. Daddy had to put air in the tires.
Still unamused! I think this could be a mug shot for Winnie-the-Pooh and Tigger.

They got lots of oohs and ahhs as we walked through town. My favorite costume was a little brother and sister dressed as raggedy Ann and Andy! So stinkin' cute! They really had no idea why we were going, but when they realized that just by going to someones door they got to reach their hands into bowls full of candy, their mood was elevated...or maybe it was the sugar! Regardless, it was a fun, memory making night and just another reason to visit our neighbors.

We ended our night at our yearly church outreach event, "Trunk or Treat." Several families from our church open their trunk and decorate it with a game/food/candy, etc. and the kids can come participate at each trunk. It's a cool idea and has really grown over the years. Tyler's favorite was of course the Thomas the tank engine trunk! We could hardly pull him away! All in all it was a fun night and they stayed nice and toasty in their head-to-toe outfits! I am now enjoying the fruit of their labor! Jake says that's why I do it....so I can eat their candy!

No comment.

Down comforter

Under 4 inches and all this!!

My baby can grasp, squint, frown, grimace and maybe suck her thumb! Not that it's a "her", but I kinda have a feeling it's a girl! Time will tell!!

The skin is so thin blood vessel are visible. It's covered by a fine, soft layer of hair called lanugo. Lanugo comes from a Latin word meaning "down." I love that. Like a down comforter wrapped around her already. This hair is thought to help insulate her little body.

She has all her major organs.

Fingernails and toenails are growing.

Eyebrows are beginning to grow and even the hair on her head is sprouting. It will probably change color and texture after birth.

I heard the heartbeat for the first time last week. My heart skipped a beat and I just smiled. Such wonderment never ceases with each child that I have the privledge of carrying. My next appointment will be our first ultrasound. I always anticipate this time and look forward to enjoying it will Jake at my side. It's also a time of discovery: is all well with our growing baby? Although I don't know the answer to that right now, I do not doubt that my God's hand is knitting her together just as she should be. Fearfully and wonderfully. We love you baby.

"Yet you brought me out of the womb;
you made me trust in you even at my mother's breast.
From birth I was cast upon you;
from my mother's womb you have been my God."

Psalm 22:9-10

Welcome Bennett!!

He looks ALL boy just hours after being born!!

Two weeks ago my sister and her husband had their fifth child, their FIRST son, Bennett Cole. He was 9 lbs. 8 oz. and 21 inches long! They didn't know what they were having so it was so exciting for all of us just wondering if this one would make 5 little girls or if this one would instead have 5 mommies!!! When she called to tell me it was a boy I just smiled and smiled. After I got off the phone, my cheeks were actually sore from smiling the entire time!! I'm so delighted for them! Boys are so much fun and so full of life, life, life!!!!!!!! And also so thankful that Tyler and Luke will have another cousin to walk through life with. Our next baby and Bennett will be 7 months apart....how fun!! It's always fascinating to me how life comes around. My sister and I are 6 years apart so when I was 12 and she was 18 we didn't have too much in common. I use to wonder if we would ever have "life" in common again, but sure enough, the years go by and we both became wives and Mothers and life just has a way of knitting you together.

"Sisters are different flowers from the same garden."
~Author Unknown

CONGRATULATIONS STOLTZFUS FAMILY ON YOUR NEWEST ADDITION!!