Random

Wow, I usually wait to blog until I have pictures to post. Unfortunately, we can't find our camera cord so we can't download any photos :( Bummer. I've really been wanting to post pictures of our house. Lots of people have asked about it and want to see what it looks like. I really want to show it off, but can't :( Another day, I suppose!
Christian & I celebrated our 6 year anniversary on the 9th of March. 6 years has gone by really fast, it seems, and yet, it seems so far away (our wedding day). Life was sooo simple for us when we got married, and we thought it was hard! I carry a letter around in my wallet that Christian wrote me (an email, actually, that I printed off). He talks about how he hopes that this (him being away at war) is the hardest thing we will ever have to go through, and how it will make us stronger, and how we will surely face hardships down the road. It's so strange to read it because it's almost like he wrote it for the present, but God meant it to be read in the future. I pull it out every now and then and read it and think about our life. One of the things I really am bummed about is vacationing. We have lots of free time to go on little excursions, but Christian is quite limited in what he can physically do. The zoo? Lots of walking--too much. It seriously IS a lot to ask of him to take the kids to the zoo for the day. Multnomah falls? Lots of walking. Uphill. The beach? Sand is THE WORST surface for an amputee to walk on. His right leg's toe has to touch a hard surface, then is programmed to make his knee bend so he can take a step. Since sand is so forgiving, his leg doesn't kick, etc. etc. Anyway--Hawaii, Mexico anyone? All the things you do on these tropical vacations--swim, hike, sunbathe, walk, jetski.....hmph. I'm not trying to be a downer, but it really has got me down lately. People often say, "Just focus on all the things you CAN do." And that is terrific advice. And I do try to do that. But when you're trying to plan a vacation it gets kind of difficult with all these hurdles to consider, and how to get around them. I'm guessing we will just probably have to vacation with other couples, or with grandparents when we want to take the kids along...for extra help. It will all work out...and we CAN still do them, we will just have to do things a little differently, I guess.
My mom told me a while back that she couldn't think of a better match for me than Christian, and she couldn't think of a better person for Christian than me. That made me feel really good. I know that in my heart, but to hear someone else say it makes me feel so blessed. He really is a special man and a wonderful dad. Speaking of, Brynnie is starting to say words. Mainly, "Da da". I try to get her to say "Mama" and "Da da" comes out. She LOVES him, and Noah too (oh and me also). Soo precious. She's also waving now. What an absolute miracle!

Noah is also a joy in our lives. He talks CONSTANTLY and always asks questions like, "What would happen if a skunk ate a car?" or "What would happen if Brynne sat on the sun?? ...would she get an owie? Would the firetrucks have to come? What would she say?" These go on and on and onnnnn. I just try to soak it all in. He is so innocent and curious. He is totally discovering the world right now and I love watching him learn. :)
We are truly a blessed family!

Getting settled!

A pic of us entering our key ceremony! More pictures of the inside of the house as soon as I can find my camera cord!

Well, we are almost settled into our new home! We just got internet...I have been out of the loop forever it seems like! We received the keys to our new home on February 5th. It was such a special ceremony and a whirlwind of people. We were pretty much moved in THAT day, thanks to the help of hundreds of volunteers. Safeway donated A TON of food (30 boxes!) and that was a huge help. Our cupboards and fridge were completely filled with food, diapers, toiletries, etc. Thank you, Safeway! We were also given $300 in gift cards which came in very very handy! I want to post pictures but I can't find our camera cord (packed away, still!). Our house is absolutely beautiful. It is over 2600 sq feet and is all completely wheelchair accessible. All one floor, 4 bedrooms, a beautiful slate fireplace. We are loving it. This is a gift that we will open every day for the rest of our lives! If anyone is interested in donating to this worthy cause, see http://www.homesforourtroops.org/ Schools around the country have chosen to fundraise for this non-profit organization and it is truly a wonderful organization to give money to.

I will post pics as soon as possible!

On a completely different note, I took Brynnie to get her first professional pictures yesterday. She is an absolute DOLL! I AM able to post these since I got a CD of all the proofs. What a precious little joy she is! Can't believe she is already 8 months old! Time has gone by so quickly. She is crawling and starting to say "Da da". No teeth though. One started popping through on the bottom a few months ago but then decided to go away.

Anyway, here are some pictures!

Sun River Part 2

Oops, I totally typed all this out and then lost it. >:(

This post goes with the pictures posted below! We had the privilege of going to Sun River last weekend for Christian's brother Levi's surprise 30th birthday party. We stayed in the most beautiful home with Levi's friends and family. His wife, Tiffany, had been planning this surprise for MONTHS and it was a huge success! Got some good games in, walks, and a few good drinks, too :)
Christian was also featured on Sean Hannity on Monday, November 15th. President George W. Bush was on doing an interview about his new book, and Christian was asked to go to New York to attend the taping. They did a special clip on Christian running with Bush (back in 2006), and a few other pictures. Bush wrote about us in his new book! (page 370 if anyone cares to look--there is also a pic!) Anyway, I wasn't able to go to the taping of the show because of the kids, but fortunately Christian's brother Levi was able to go. They had a blast, and Christian promised to take me back to NYC someday!
I've been thinking a lot this week about how thankful and grateful I am for my healthy, beautiful kids. I talked with a young mother in our office last week who had lost a son only an hour after he was born to spina bifida, and I found myself feeling great sorrow for her. As we talked, she held her second son, a 5 week old little boy (and a miracle). I then started thinking about how fortunate and blessed we were to have Brynne be born completely healthy and perfect after a series of discussions about how she might NOT be. There was serious concern for spina bifida, which was ruled out by ultrasound, but then there were concerns for Trisomy 18, which would have been fatal, then a malformed head, a cyst in her brain...the list goes on. This morning in church the opportunity was given to share in front of the congregation things that you are thankful for. It was a very casual, open mic time. I found myself squiggling in my seat and wanting so much to go up and say how thankful I am for my beautiful and healthy babies. They are sooo precious to me and God has laid that on my heart a lot lately. As I was considering it, Christian came walking down the aisle to the front of the church, holding Brynnie (he had been out walking her in the lobby and had not been next to me for about 25 minutes). He immediately explained how my pregnancy had been complicated and how we were given the choice to terminate it ("bail out" was the correct phrase used), and that I had quickly said that that was not an option for us. He talked about how thankful he was that we had let God lead us, that we had kept her, and thankful that she was healthy and precious and ours. I was struck with the sense that our story needed to be shared one way or another, and if I wasn't going to do it, God would put it on Christian's heart to do it! It was a really special moment to me to see him up there with our little baby girl, as healthy and as sweet as can be.
Anyway, it was really neat and my heart is feeling very full with love for my family, and love for God. I have found that I need to be more thankful and content for the gifts I have been given. We have two wonderful children and a happy marriage...a beautiful home being built for us by wonderful and caring people. I need to be reminded of the big picture very often lately and am trying to focus more on that and not so much on the details. As I learned from the young mother in our office last week, there is always someone watching and learning from us, whether we know it or not. So I am really working on being more positive and having a more thankful heart! Happy Thanksgiving to all of you. :)

Sun River

Fall

This is my favorite season. Noah and I have been going on walks in the "wide wide world" lately and have been raking leaves in the back yard as they fall. The other day I started to show him a pine tree and explained to him the different types of leaves that trees make and how they fall to the ground during this season. I said, "Do you know what type of tree this is?" and he said, "YES--it's a pine tree mama!" He knows a lot more than I thought!

Lately I've been feeling as if I am in a rut. Same old same old. Yet, we have lots going on. And don't get me wrong, I am thankful and grateful for all that we have been blessed with. Just the fact that our children are healthy is a huge blessing. But I just feel depressed. I've always been the type of person who needs to have something to look forward to--a trip, time to myself--something. And right now, I feel as if there's nothing. I've been feeling like I don't know what my purpose is in life. Like, is my sole purpose to just be a mother and a wife? Why did I go to college then? I would love to go back and get my master's, but in what? What should I be doing with my life?

I've been asking myself these questions and also God. I'll admit it's been quite a struggle to get myself to just be still. I know I need to listen and to find contentment. And I know being a mother is a huge job and a huge blessing. I am just now learning to start embracing my role. It's not been easy for me. Does anyone else feel that way? I can think of several mothers who have to work--they have no choice and they would LOVE to just stay at home and love on their children. I love to be home with the kids, but I often feel at the end of my rope. Our Noah is quite a busy child. He has been diagnosed with sensory integration disorder, but the more we look at him and observe, the more we think he may have ADHD. He fits the description to a "t". My heart is broken at this thought, but I am also feeling despair because I am frustrated ALL.THE.TIME. with him. He is so busy and taking and following simple instructions is just not something he does. I can spend 20 minutes asking/telling/helping him to pick up his cars and I finally just end up doing it myself. I feel like every day is a constant battle. But then there are moments when I am looking at him lovingly--love is just pouring from my eyes for him--and he looks back at me and says, "I love you too mama." He is such a precious gift and has such a sweet soul. I just want to know how to mother him and parent him the best way that I can. And it seems everything we are trying is not really too effective. :( So, this area of my life needs prayer.

Brynnie bee is doing great. She is a beautiful baby and is always always smiling. I love her to pieces. This is my absolute favorite stage that she is in right now. From now until about age 2! :)

Time is flying by...

Sorry about the cleavage shot. Guess I could have cropped it out...oh well.


Loves holding his sister :)

such a happy baby

Beach trip with extended family. Beautiful weather!

Our future home! Isn't Mt. Hood BREATHTAKING?!

Raising the first wall!

View from our back yard!

Mt. Hood is hiding behind the house. We have a gorgeous view!

Opening ceremony of our Build Brigade. Someone was singing "You Raise Me Up" and it was beautiful. Yes, I was crying!

Wow time is going by so fast. It is already almost October (my favorite month!) Our house is being built! That all started in late August. So we go up about once a week to check on it and Noah goes and plays in his room. Can't WAIT til it is finished. What a blessing. I am posting some pics of that and of our sweet little babies. Noah started pre-school last week and has almost mastered potty training--thank you LORD! I thought it might never happen. Brynnie is doing great. So sweet and sleeping through the night. She is a content little thing, EXCEPT when you try and give her a bottle. Won't take ANYTHING that is artificial, and believe me, we've tried it ALL. Any tips? This has been a point of serious stress for our family, especially with me working. And when we move, she will be 30 minutes away from my work, so it will be really hard to get her to my work to feed her twice a day. We are praying about it and we know that just might have to make some drastic changes if nothing will work. Babies and family first---everything else, second.

Crazy life!

Wow, time is going by really fast! Brynnie will be three weeks old tomorrow. I can't believe it. She is doing well...has a bit of a cold and I pulled an extremely large, super gross booger out of her nose this morning (do infants make boogers?? Yes, I found out. They do.) Anyway, we have figured that she sleeps at night from midnight to around 5 or 6 am. Really nice, but also crummy when we want to go to bed at 10 pm and her little peepers are WIDE open. She doesn't cry (until we put her down). She just looks around and is happy. She is the most beautiful thing I've seen on this earth (besides Noah).

We are still missing Macie a lot. There is a drag mark out on the street in front of our house that won't go away. Could it please just rain and wash it away so we don't have to see it every time we go outside? I am reminded of how awful the whole ordeal was and I just get sad. It was so sad to watch her go that way. You always sort of just imagine you'll have to eventually "put them down". No one expects what happened to happen. :( We saw a dog on the dock today and it jumped in the river and was paddling around and I couldn't help but start crying. I miss my old friend :(

On an happier note, my mom watched the kids for a few hours this morning so Christian and I could go fishing on the boat. It was REALLY nice. The river was absolutely still and we caught several fish. The alone time to talk and not be distracted was amazing! We caught this beautiful fish. It was the smallest (obviously) so I had to take a picture of it :) Just a baby!

Fun times.