Christmas Time

It's Christmas time... my most favorite time of year. As Jay is old enough now to enjoy the magic of the season, we are trying to come up with ways to make it meaningful. We want to start new traditions, our traditions. They say children thrive on things like this, and thinking back to my very happy childhood I could not agree more. My parents made this whole season so incredibly special, joyful, and exciting. I want our kids to know that christmas is not about santa claus and christmas trees, though these things aren't bad, but it is about the birth of Christ. That in itself was miraculous and awe inspiring. So we will do a walk through Bethlehem, and drive around and see christmas lights, take him to see christmas trees, all of that in the spirit of the season knowing that ultimately it is a time to celebrate the birth of the world's savior. God loves each and every one of us, exactly where we are today, and that is why He sent His son. If you follow the life of Christ we start with something incredibly joyful, followed by a lifetime of miracles and wonders, then it is followed by a toturous and horrible death, then comes another event that can be dubbed joyful and miraculous, but the very greatest part of the whole entire story... is the end that hasn't come yet.

With all of that said, I was listening to the satellite radio on my TV tonight while updating this blog and heard the song "Joy to the World" come on. The lyrics are so beautiful and touched me to my soul. Enjoy reading, may it touch you in the same way as you go through this season of Joy and Awe!

Joy to the World , the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the World, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.

Vacay '09

We had a very relaxing time on vacation this year. Well, except when my ever so wonderful father in law (that is total sarcasm, he really is wonderful!) decided to give me a grief as we went over a bridge, suffice to say I am not a fan of bridges! We got to do all kinds of fun things like tour lighthouses, go hiking, play on the beach, and feed birds.

July 4th

We are trying to give our kid(s) plenty of amazing memories and traditions. This year for July 4th we watched the city fireworks and let our kids do sparklers. Here is Jay and our nephews' being their cute selves, it was a GREAT night! My parents, grandmother, cousins, aunt, and loads of friends were with us. We are VERY blessed to have such an amazing group of people around us!

Zoo With The V Family

Well, we decided to take our kids to the Zoo in June for their' birthdays. They were born three weeks apart (though it was supposed to be a little further!) It was so much fun! I have to admit I adore Loo's pigtails! Jay had a blast.
From top left, clockwise:
Loo and Jay sitting on Iguana... we tried ALL day to capture the two of them looking at a camera at the same time, this was the best we ever got!
Loo's face is so stinkin' adorable, I just HAD to put it up! Look at it, does it get much cuter than that? seriously?
This one is pretty self explanatory....
Looking over Jay's shoulders at some animals..

Late Update!

So, as you can see, I am PREGNANT! This is something I had come to the conclusion I would never be able to say again! Such a miracle that God has done. After two years of seeing a specialist and fertility treatments, we had a combined doozy. In July we were told that we were going to have to go on a medically induced fertility break. We were considering giving up. We knew we were going to have to wait until October before we would even be able to try another round, if not December or January. July was an incredibly busy month. We had a friends wedding I was doing flowers for and then we had an event at our church that gives out backpacks and supplies for needy kids. These two events soaked up that month, and then we were on into August. We were scheduled to leave for my husbands' parents' house on August 7th,a friday. All week long I had been impossibly hot and just off. My period wasn't coming, and I was a little bitter at it, since I KNEW that meant I was going to get it on vacation. My DH told me to take a preegnancy test, but my response was "no, thank you, I have seen over 30 negatives in the last two years and I just don't want to face the disappointment" He had encourages me to take the test at the beginning of the week, but I wasn't planning on it. However I ended up going to the Dollar Store to pick up a few toys for the trip and decided to just grab a test. I took it the friday morning we were headed out, just because. I remember thinking as the test was taking it's time that IF this test was going to be positive, that the outlines of the 2nd line I could see would be where it showed up. Having taken 30+ of these tests in the last two years that should have been my first clue. Silly, silly me! I watched as the line grew darker and bust up laughing when I realized the test was a +. I was in full shock and couldn't wait to show my husband! Needless to say, he was pretty excited too! Of course wee immediately called my family as we knew we couldn't leave for a week and a half without telling them. Then we ended up calling my inlaws. Everyone is overjoyed! This baby is so wanted and will be so loved by its entire family! J is excited to have a new baby and he often says he is going to share it with me. If you have been one of the ones praying for us over the last few years, thank you so very much. We have a big God who builds families in such unique ways. We hope and pray that this child will love the Lord from a very young age and live its life to His glory. There is no better way to live!

Top picture is facial structure, with an arm to the side. You can see the arm up next to its head in the forefront. The bottom picture is full body. It makes me laugh because it already sleeps like its big brother.

End of April Update

Well, In my last picture-less post, I had told you all kinds of things going on with us, so I figured maybe it was about time to re-update you!
*My grandfather died at the very end of March. I find myself missing him, but have a lot of peace knowing he is with Jesus.
*My parents did not get to go to Uruguay because the trip left a few days after my grandfather's funeral.
*We are considering going to Uruguay on our own (my parents, my husband and I, and J) without the group from our church. This would give us more personal time with the people we love down there, and more opportunity to do construction projects that need to be done.
*I am responding well to the fertility treatments, so hopefully something will happen soon!
*My husband broke his wrist, and had to have surgery to fix it. The break was BAD!!! The good news from this is that his doctor said he had amazing bones, and in fact, they broke two of the bits they were using to put in a metal plate, and smoked another.
*We are still looking forward to our family vacation, we can't WAIT!

Despite some things that have been really hard, we are excited about what God has for us in the future and we are trying to patiently wait until we can really get started.

Car Show

So I guess I will have to have my wonderful husband give you some information on this day, but C, J, and my dad all went to a carshow a bit back when they were in town. J just LOVEs to drive cars, and he got to do so to his hearts content.

Spring 09 Z Boys 1st Games

Chris and I try to make it to the Z boys first game of the season. This year we had such a BLAST going! It was M's first season. We were so excited for him, and he looked absolutely adorable! Maybe that isn't the best descriptive term for it, but he did! They both played a great game. We are so proud of the both of them!

A Picture-less Post

Hello!
It seems that every time I get on to update you, time has flown since the last time. I say it every time, but it is still true!
I don't have any pictures for this post, but I have a new one coming soon... as soon as I find the cord for my camera! So far this new year has brought all kinds of things.
*My mija is six months old!!! I can't barely believe it! She is cute as pie, everyone should have the pleasure of her company.
*My other friend who had a baby the same week I have gotten to spend more time with, and her daughter is so precious, I am grateful I get to be a part of all of these babies' lives. My prayers are that they grow up to be strong people.
*We have a new president! Though we didn't vote for him, and are unhappy with his election, God has obvioulsy placed him in this position and we pray for him, that he will guide our country well.
*We are praying about what to do concerning future children.
*Mom and Dad are headed to Uruguay in just a few short weeks. We are so excited for them, and a teeny bit jealous as well!
*My maternal grandfather is suffering from alzheimer's and a bad heart, we are praying he will pass away soon. He will be so much happier in Heaven, with the God he dearly loves and has served well for the past many years.
*I am back at work/church, and loving EVERY minute of it, volunteer and paid. We consistently are thankful that God has given us such a great church and friends.
*We moved in December, and are enjoying being closer to everything.
*We are looking forward to a family vacation with chris's family in northern michigan. It is going to be a week at a cabin with my sister in law, father in law, mother in law, and us. We are going to have so much fun!!!!!!!!!!! (extra !'s for excitement!)

All in all God has been so good to us, and even the hard times are made more bearable by His presence.

Hi Fish Face

Looking at the Piranhas!

Man I am so grateful for that GLASS! Otherwise, this would have been downright terrifying!

Above: A bunch of mesmerized boys! Below Middle: I think my favorite picture taken that day!!!



We FINALLY went to the GA Aquarium the other day. They had this great deal for a "mommy and me" pass. A friend of ours had told us about the pass, and she brought her boys. Mommy and J went, and some of our other friends joined in too! There were 6 little boys 5 and Under running around. It was a blast!!!

We are consistently grateful for our circle of friends. Realizing that there are so many people out there who wish they had just one friend of such quality. We can't even count on our fingers and toes the number of real-quality-friends we have.

The GA aquarium holds three whale sharks, they are gigantic! They are actually the largest fish species in the world. It also holds the 2nd largest viewing window in the world. It is 23 feet high by 61 feet wide (and two feet thick!!!). I am such a fish lover, this was an amazing experience for me!