Birthday Girl

My little girl is growing up. She turned 2 this month and got spoiled with too many gifts from her grandparents, including her adopted AZ Grandma and Grandpa. She is the life of our party, but can also be a little drama queen. She of course has her big brother wrapped around her little finger, and can get him to do all kinds of things. Just yesterday she attempted to blame him for a unfortunate diaper incident. I asked her why her diaper was smelly and she replied with a coy dip of the head -"Zak did it". Typical female!

Cousins, Unpaking, Sweet peas and such...

This is Zak pushing his little cousin Mathew Stinebrickner. He is not quite a 18 mos old and is a very advertersome little tike. My poor sister has no fence on their 5 acre property, and he, like most boys, loves to explore. We had just rescued him for the deep dark woods and since he was not to fond of the idea of returning to the safe back yard, a creative ride and push from his big cousin Zak was the ticket to convincing him.

OH the JOYs of unpacking.

I don't mind getting ready for a trip, it's coming home and then unloading all the things you thought you needed to take. I always wonder, what I was thinking... "Did I really need so many pairs of shoes..."
Sidney decided the duffel bag made a great seat for her popcycle break. Have I mentioned She LOVES popcycles. I think it may have even been one of her first words. I know, I know, the sweeper does not make a great backdrop. I never said I was a great photographer.
It's nice to be home, although I am already dying from the heat. We have been hitting the 90's already and it's ONLY MAY. YIKKESSS
Pray for me that I shall Endure. God is teaching me not to complain...I'm not always a fast learner
Our dear friends Bud and Sherry were so kind to water our flowers and plants while were were gone. David is still a country boy at heart (I am too, I just don't go to all the trouble) so this year he tried again to plant a garden in our back yard. It is doing amazingly well, and we are enjoying turnips, turnips and more turnips, (he got a little carried away with the turnips) as well as sweet peas. The carrots and lettus don't seem to be ready yet, and the corn decided it miscalculated the days, as it is so hot, so it started to tassel. The poor things are only 2 feet high.

Excuse the grass which is in need of a hair cut.

First fruits of our "hard" labors.

An IHC to remember...

As some of you know we made a flying trip back to Ohio for IHC this year. This is the second time we have had to drive there from Arizona, because of Davids responsibilities in Mission Helps as their PR Director. He was responsible this year for developing and designing new displays for them. Needless to say, what hair he has left -is white. (just kidding) He was stressed beyond belief to meet all his deadlines for printing, but Thank the LORD, the last items for the displays arrived the day before we left.

IHC was a special time this year to meet old friends from Penn View and worship together with such a wonderful large group of believers. As you know, we attend a VERY SMALL church and we were joking that when the singing started we would be ducking, and running for cover, wondering what the loud noise was.


One neat thing that happened this year was that Zakary got to sing for the first time in the children's mass Choir. He is in the blue shirt in the center of the picture. The boy in the red shirt at the bottom, is my nephew, Gavin Gordon, my brother - Alan's boy. It was a touching scene to see my little boy, and his cousin up there with all those other future church leaders, preachers, and missionaries. I couldn't help the tears in my eyes as I thought of the wonderful heritage I have to pass on to my children. I am so thankful for the Holiness movement, and the privilege to raise my children to know the truth.


It was great to see some of our friends and share many great talks and laughs. Bro and Sis Bryan are dear friends and spiritual examples to us.
We also got to see many others who I didn't get a chance to take pictures of, but it was a fun time.




After leaving IHC following the last service Thursday night, we traveled all night to my sisters home in Tennessee. I have to say, I have been blessed by the most wonderful sister in the whole wide world. She is my best friend, and a great garage seller!!!!

The cousins had a great time together, along with some "friendly" cousin rivalry, but in the end they all shed tears when it was time to say goodbye. Zak and Sid had a blast being in the country, and enjoying lots of fun experiences. Sidney was delighted to get to
ride a real hoossee.



Trampoline fun!!!!






The sweetest sister in the world, who is 5 mos pregnant. We had a blast talking, shopping and cooking, and oh yeah - keeping the peace between a 4, 3, 2, and 1 year old. I bribed David with a promised back rub if he would watch the kids one afternoon, while we went shopping and had some much needed quiet time. We agreed before we left to - back rub time equal to half the total time we were gone. Alas, I now owe him and hour and 1/2 worth of a back rub. But it was well worth it.
Did I mention I have a jewel in my Husband??!!! Not many men would attempt to babysit 4 children under under 5 y/o.

My lil' slugger

I loved to play softball as a kid growing up, so I hope my children will also. Zak is a great hitter, but Sidney still needs assistance. I was looking through photos saved on the computer and thought you all would like this one. As you can see I am struggling for material for this post. I was going to put up a family pic. we had taken at church Sunday for Easter. I had great ambitions and even remembered our camera for church, however when we attempted to take pictures, I discovered that camera battery was dead. So my friend took some for us on her camera. I will post one as soon as she has time to e-m them to me.
Today I have plans to start getting everything packed for our journey to the mid-west. We are setting out for IHC this weekend. It is a 32 hour trip not counting the multiple stops, I'm sure we will have to make. After last year, I emphatically stated I would NEVER drive that far again with small children. Yet here we are a year later, and I am gritting my teeth in "anticipation". A sane women would never allow herself to be talked into such an miserable ordeal.

Mothering

It seems like only yesterday when they were just babies. Time does fly so fast. I am so thankful for the two little souls which Jesus has given me and David to raise. I used to worry so much about being a failure as a mother, but I am learning that everyday is a chance to mold and shape their little lives. I have learned to pray hard, ask for lots of wisdom and trust God with the outcome. I am not always perfect, but I love them to death (quite a miracle for those who know how I felt about having children in the first place) and hopefully that will make up for all the mistakes I make. The other day when I was working in the yard I was making foot prints in the dirt as I walked. I noticed Zak was coming behind me stepping where I didn't really want him walking. I started to scold him, and he protested "Mom, I'm being careful, I'm stepping in your footprints." What a huge responsibility. My actions are being mirrored each day. "Jesus help me to walk right, and not lead my children astray."

Cake Creations

Zak turned 4 on March 20. Because of our schedules we did not have time to have his party until March 31. He is very enraptured with race cars of late, especially Lightening McQueen and co. I decided to make a 3-D cake for his birthday. It was a bit difficult so I made a "practice" one for his actual Birthday. By the time his party came around I didn't have the energy to try again so I went with a bit of an easier creation. He was just as impressed, as he is very attached to several other cars as well as Lightening. I used 4 cake mixes and made it in a larger pan (I think 11x15) Afterward I wished I had just gone with one layer. It would have worked as well. Zak was in the clouds to have his good buddies Nathan and Izzak here to play for his party. Also his very favorite AZ Grandma Nora and Grandpa Doug. We had a really nice time.


Now I just have to come up with a good idea for a 2 year old girl's cake. Any suggestions are appreciated.

My Munchkins

These are my little munchkins, who keep me busy all day, with never a dull moment. A mother of toddlers truly has to be a jack of all trades and able to multitask with finesse. Zak just turned 4 on March 2o, and Sidney will be 2 in April. They are the loves of my life and I can't imagine why I thought I never wanted kids. This picture was taken during a trip to Grand Canyon with my Friend Denessa Walter from PA.