The link to 2008!

I don't buy calenders. I like the printed version offered on our computer, so each month I print out 2 months and place them side by side on the wall. When the month is complete, (and I'm done doing the "Grandma" thing and crossing off each day as it passes) I place it in a drawer where the months pile atop each other one by one and create a year of memories! Since I don't journal as much as I use to, (although this blog has been my journal of sorts), it's nice to know what the year has held. I really hope this life starts slowing down, but I'm pretty sure that's not going to happen anytime soon! It feels like I was just celebrating the dawn of 2008 and now, it's gone already!!

So, here's a glance of my favorite things held within each month of 2008:

JANUARY- hosting a tea for three wonderful ladies and one of my favorite posts ever that I still think about at least once a week.

FEBRUARY- visiting my dear, forever friend Chrisy that I met when I did my DTS, (Discipleship Training School) in Monroe, NC with YWAM, (Youth With A Mission). Which by the way, I'll be taking the train at the end of this month to go visit her again in New Haven, CT. Tyler will be coming along as well, he will just LOVE the train ride! I'm so looking forward to it.

MARCH- I wouldn't say this was a "favorite", but it was nonetheless a life changing moment for me. Meeting Emma Shalom Scholten and so quickly saying goodbye. Visiting with one of my best friends who has moved to India. and celebrating my Luke's 1st birthday!

APRIL- Meeting my neighbor Jess, (who has since become a dear friend) at the first garage sale of the season.

MAY- Spending the weekend at the beach with my "hoo-hoo" girls!! Playing "Marilla" in the theater production of "Anne of Green Gables".

JUNE- another favorite post, my "fuchsia" world, Celebrating my precious Tyler's 3rd birthday here's a slide show remembering Tyler's 3 years!

JULY- Brunch on Waterford Drive!! Celebrating my Hubby's birthday with an extravagant French Outdoor Dinner Party~"Une Soiree Blanche."

AUGUST- Spending the weekend with our friends at the best cabin ever, Our 6th Annual nieces and nephews Campout, finding out we're having our 3rd baby!

SEPTEMBER- Our 6th Anniversary on the Gulf Coast in Florida, my first experience "on screen", filming for "Broken." Our adventures with cow butts at the Lampeter Fair!!

OCTOBER- Our first ever road trip to Canada! Welcoming Bennett Cole into this world!!

NOVEMBER- Voting, hosting a tea party for my Australian friend Miranda, breakfast with all 7 of my brothers and sisters, Turning 30, (the new 20!!), visiting with my cousin Amy.

DECEMBER- Indian Food with the fam, seeing our sweet BABY for the first time.

Thanks for journeying with us down the paths of life!

Here's to 2009 filled with true contentment, renewed hope,
and BREATHING LIFE into the time we have today.

"If each of us can be helped by science to live a hundred years,
what will it profit us if our hates and fears,
our loneliness and our remorse will not permit us to enjoy them?
What use is an extra year or two to the man who "kills" what time he has?"
~David Neiswanger~

*"What a wonderful world" by Eva Cassidy

First Movie Ever

Last week we decided to take the boys to their first big screen movie...Madagascar. It was a hit. We got some popcorn and some soft pretzels with cheese. I bought some lemonade along in mason jars and we were set! It cracked me up when we sat down because they weren't big enough to hold down the spring loaded seats so their little feet were stuck in the air! It was a great night making memories together. They were bug eyed and in all their glory just watching this enormous screen. It's been a bit since we've been to the movies, I forgot how LONG the previews are! They're practically another film in and of itself! I'm sure this won't be our last time in a theater together.

"You will never find time for anything.
If you want time you must make it."
~Charles Buxton~

Merry Christmas Friends!

"THIS IS THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE,
I WILL REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT!"
psalm 118:24

It's a beautiful Christmas morning. What a true, deep blessing to have a warm and happy home.....from this one to yours, we send LOVE, PEACE, & ABIDING JOY.

Some pictures from Christmas past:
Luke on his first Christmas morning, (9 months)
Tyler during his first Christmas, (6 months). Yes,
I made that poor kid actually wear this. You can tell
a first time Mom a mile away, dressing their kids like santa and reindeer!
Sorry Tyler!


Merry Christmas Friends!

"I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year."--Charles Dickens

Christmas card regrets??

So, I thought I'd get creative this year and try something different for our Christmas card. I'm having regrets though because I just don't think a majority of the receivers are "getting it." From the reactions I've seen, (being there while they open the card), there is for the most part, scrunched up eyebrows and a little noise the resembles a "hmmm" and then that's it......so I have to say to them, "do you get it" and then they look at it a bit longer and either say, "what's to get?" or "OH, NOW I see it!!"

So, how about you....if you received our card, did you get it?

If I didn't mail you a card, here it is and you can let me know if it catches you!

Behind the scenes at the making of this card: If you look closely you will see little brown things lying around me, they are raisins, they were used to keep the boys in their place, but they were getting thrown about at the same time! And lastly, a special shout out to Wendell & MaryJo for helping us capture the shots! It wasn't an easy task I assure you!! This was the first try, to get JOY all in one frame...not working.

My most accommodating husband laying down his 6'4 body
to try and make the letter "J" with Luke!

My version of "O" while squishing my almost 5 month pregnant belly into my knees!

Tyler in all his glory being the letter "Y"....something he
continued to do randomly throughout the day for about a week.
He would just lie down wherever he was,
"look Mama, I'm a letter Y!!"

Option 2 if I didn't have the guts to go with Option 1!!

Thanks for amusing me as I ramble about our Christmas card
that most people will throw away in about 3.5 weeks!

Decorated for the Holiday

Welcome!
Come in from the cold,
I finished decorating for the season
and thought I'd give you a little tour.

I painted our door bright red,
a change from the dark green it use to be.

Step into the kitchen:

The view from my sink.
there have been several birds visiting my little "nest",
I wouldn't mind if they settled there for the winter.

I found this old vintage looking toaster cover at a thrift store
here in town. It truly reminds me of a Grandma's house,
but I love it nonetheless. I think it annoys Jake because he has
to undress the thing before he make a piece of toast!!

When I find a picture in a magazine that particularly amuses me
or is full of beauty, I will tape it to my cabinet door or back splash.
"Bear in mind that you should conduct
yourself in life as at a feast."

My favorite little "spot." My Cath Kidston cards from
my cousin Shar, mini marshmallows, freshly ground coffee,
sugar and tiny butter knives.

Our living room.

We've lived here almost 2 years. I always had the idea of writing something above the couch,
but couldn't find the "perfect"quote that said what I felt about home. Then one night I had a dream and this is what was written there:

The next day it was painted on. I bought some "paint pens"
from the local hardware store and free handed it. If I spend too much
time trying to make it look just perfect I'll mess it up...
I have to just trust and go for it! (sounds a lot like life, doesn't it??)

Our mantle:
I had made the hydrangea wreath earlier this Fall,
it never found it's way down, so I stuck with the color theme
and worked around it. Tyler's room, freshly "spring cleaned" and rearranged.
Not sure what got into me last week, but I was cleaning
and wiping down walls and changing everything around like
I was getting paid to do it! I am really pleased
with how it all came out.

Tyler at 3 months old. I love this picture of us.

Sweet Luke's room:

Our haven of rest:

An amazing sketch by my cousin Freiman Stoltzfus.

'tis true indeed.
On this blustery winter's night
I am so grateful for a place to call home.
May your home be filled with
Peace, Joy and Rest tonight

and always.

Taj Mahal

All day Wednesday I was craving Indian food...I kept thinking about it until around 3:30 I just had to call Jake to inform him that we were going out to eat, (or option 2; you keep the boys and I will go out to eat)!! Our favorite food as a couple is Indian food so were on our way to the Taj Mahal. Just typing those words brings back several memories that will not soon disappear. In 2000 I spent 2 months living in central India doing some missions work with YWAM. One day we as a team decided to take the 5 hour crammed, bumpy, adventurous car ride to the Taj Mahal. Upon arriving we were informed that is was closed for the first time in 400 years for renovations!!!!! YOU'VE. GOT. TO. BE. KIDDING. ME!! We stared through the iron fence with longing and then made our way back home! Someday I would love to return....making sure of course that it's OPEN for tourists! Supposedly they are closed on Fridays now, in case you're wondering. So, onto the Taj Mahal in Millersville, PA! The second we stepped in the door my mouth was watering. This was the first time the boys have been out for Indian food since they've been born, (they practically lived on it while I was pregnant with them)! They enjoyed it for the most part, especially the huge "balloon bread" as Tyler called it! It was a great time had by all and bless those dear servers

for cleaning up the rice mess we left behind.

Here's to India!

In the bleak midwinter

Last Christmas, (or was it the Christmas before??) my cousin Raquel gave me Sarah McLachlan's CD "Wintersong." It has since become a favorite, especially this song. When I hear it, the words call to me: It was written by Gustav Holst, 1874-1934. I love that I am being a part of the past by listening to and embracing these words written so long ago.

"In the bleak midwinter, frost wind made moan,
earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
in the bleak midwinter, long ago.

Our God, heaven cannot hold him, nor earth sustain;
heaven and earth shall flee away when he comes to reign.
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
the Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.

Angels and archangels may have gathered there,
cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;
but his mother only, in her maiden bliss,
worshiped the beloved with a kiss.

What can I give him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
if I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
yet what I can I give him: give my heart."

Artwork by Freiman Stoltzfus

*Sarah McLachlan "In the bleak midwinter"

My "gift" boutique

Hello Friends! I'm still here, but haven't posted all week....AND missed my "theater thursday." Oh well, it will be here again next week!

The boys have been sick and I've been on clean-up duty! Every cough, (which inevitably lead to throwing up) would send me leaping out of bed and racing to their room in record breaking time! I amazed myself a few times at how fast I could get from my dead-sleep position to the side of the crib! So, my week consisted of: running to the rescue with bowl in hand, putting new sheets on the bed/crib, bathe child, lather with lotion and powder, spray room to eliminate the nasty odors which could have possibly caused ME to get sick, run a load of laundry.....and repeat!

It's been one week and we are all better now! I am more grateful then ever for food that stays where it should! Jake and I didn't get sick and for that too I am so thankful.

Let's end this short post with a picture of some of my lovely gifts I received for my birthday: thank you for all your well-wishes!
My bed is calling! I have been on a "nesting" rampage the last 48 hours! I have "spring cleaned" and rearranged every room in my house! No kidding! I'll post more on that later....for now, I must sleep!!
A happy Saturday to all....