Taylor Family Adventures!!!

i can do this!

2011-10-18T17:01:00.000-04:00

i THINK i shall start to blog again!!!! Lets do this!! :)

will you join us?

2010-11-23T10:25:00.003-05:00

On Saturday, the 20th of November, we had a guest speaker, Christopher Alam, at our church. It was a healing service, so of course i made sure of it that we would be there.. for Miles. The week leading up to it i was really struggling with the thought: "I know God can heal, but i dont believe that he will..." Sad really. But this is really how i felt, and how i was believing. Well, Saturday night was an awesome service... and Christopher Alam preached on Faith.. haha, of course, right? Well, it was really challenging, and it made me let down my wall that i built up, with my unbelief that God wouldn't heal Miles. Miles got prayed for and we went home. No fireworks happened, no big, "run down the isles i am healed" kinda thing happened. It was just silent... normal. Pastor Christopher told of a story where he prayed for a woman's sick dying son. The woman kept bringing the boy back to him, to get prayer for again, because he was not well yet. Finally, one of Christophers workers said, "He has already been prayed for, why do you keep bringing him back?" She said well, he is not better. And he replied, "Well, what have you done to test if he is well? Give him some food." Well, after that, they stopped seeing the lady come around for prayer for her son. A few years later, Chritopher got a call, saying that this boy was now a man, preaching and leading a church. His mother started to believe the TRUTH of God's Word, and spoke it over her son.

All that to say, this is what we are starting with Miles and the Diabetes and Celiac...

So, i wanted to join you in on the miracle that is taking place.

We are going to be constantly speaking God's truth over Miles's pancreas, that it would begin producing insulin again. Speaking God's scripture over his body.

Are you on board with us?

We dont feel like we can "stop" giving him insulin, at this time, we are going to be slowly lowering the amounts. I think this is more of a lesson, and a miracle in the power of faith, the the Truth already laid out in God's word.

Last night i looked up a bunch of scriptures on healing, and wrote them out on paper plates, and have them on our kitchen cupboards.. i want to be able to see them alllll the time, and declare them over Miles, and his pancreas!

So, we are stepping out in faith for Miles to be healed from Type 1 Diabetes & Celiac Disease.

Do you believe that all scripture is God breathed?

Then, pray and declare his healing with us.

I am going to be updating his success in this blog.

The scriptures that are on the plates are:
Psalm 6:9
Mark 16:17
Isaiah 53:5
Exodus 15:26
Matthew 8:7
James 5:15
Exodus 23:25

"...And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well;

the Lord will raise them up..."

James 5:15

what is love?

2010-11-07T13:57:00.002-05:00

"Daddy, do you love me??" I overheard Miles ask Bryce yesterday while we were getting ready to go out. "Of course!" Bryce exclaimed. I then asked Miles, "What is love Miles?" I wanted to know what a 4yr old thought love was. Was it kisses, hugs, presents, warm fuzzy feelings??? What would his answer be?? Welllll, was i shocked with what answer proceeded next.

"Jesus Christ laid down his life for us." WHOA. This was his answer to what love was. BOY, my definition off the cuff would have not even come close to his perfect answer. I would have probly started babbling off different things people do, marriage, how babies come to be, but probly not the scripture definition of "love." See, Miles is a great memoriser. Sooo, i had seized this valuable asset of his and began teaching him scripture. Well, one of our verses was: "This is how we know what love is, Jesus Christ laid down his life for us." (found in 1 John 3:16) And man, did Miles just nail it on the head. This IS how we know what love is. Simple as that. Thanks Buddy... mommy needed that loving reminder again...

fruit

2010-11-06T19:54:00.006-04:00

do you ever feel like you have to work for peace?? i do. ESPECIALLY at bed time.. no no, not MY bed time, THAT comes easily.. but putting my kids to bed, now THAT is a task and a half. ug. and its never peaceful. i am thinking back now, to when those Johnson & Johnson commercials would come on, selling there "night time miracle lavender bath wash and lotion." now, was it me, or did it look like the baby/children magically were in a "lavender trance" as they peacefully went to sleep.. and these actor parents? HA, WHO is still in the room WHILE the child is asleep just petting there face? i know i know, when they are little that happens..... but very few, and far between times.. WE, the parents, look more like tattered up worn out rags than peaceful, "model-esk" <--sooo made that word up, parents! Am i right? or what? So here is the Q.. do we HAVE to work for peace? I mean in an all around sense. Peace in our lives. Peace in our personality profile. Peace in our mind, our spirit. DO we need to work for it. I know the Bible tells us that "peace" is a fruit of the spirit. And, so if i have the Spirit in me, my branches should be sprouting peace! But, what if it isn't? What if that branch has a void? Unfinished buds, that never produce juicy lush "peace fruit?" hmmm... are the fruit of the spirit like a "Pick Your Own Orchard" in our lives? Do we pick n choose what fruit to plant in our orchard of life? Now, i know i gave the "Master Gardener" the keys to the garden a long time ago.. but, i might still have my hand on the seed bags. I mean, i WANT all the fruit, but am i willing to go the distance to truly be transformed? Why would i limit my orchards abundant possibilities, just to hold onto a few thorn bushes, or the "pretty" dandelions disguised as flowers, but are just truly weeds??

A sad fact, but oh so true.

My orchard is growing. It never stops.

The question is, what is it producing?

Peace, or thorns?

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." Galatians 5:22

ocean

2010-11-04T22:24:00.004-04:00

i used to love the ocean.

the cool breeze it blew you on a hot summer day.

the sand that messaged your feet when no one else would touch them.

the castles you made with just a shovel and a pale.

the break of the waves.

the irresistible soothing sound that only a wave and a shore can make together as they meet.

BUT now?

no.

i am mad at the ocean.

its a heart breaker.

you cant swim across it.

you fall in love with it, only to let it slip through your fingertips.

it waves hello.

it waves goodbye.

it shows distance.

it lets you know you are far away.

it tells you what side you are on.

it doesn't lie.

you cant be on two sides of its shores at once.

you have to pick a side.

but no matter what side you pick, there is always an empty side.

a side that has a void.

a side that is unreachable.

untouchable.

have any of us really touched the ocean?

the ocean tells us our place.

where we live.

what we eat.

what we think.

its a lot more that a "body of water."

it gives us placement.

it makes us choose.

what side will we be on?

i wish sides didn't matter.

but sides are the only thing that give shape.

what shape am i?

what shape are my children?

i am mad at the ocean.

you separate.

you divide.

you make me think.

but you also produce life.

without you we would just be green.

but you are blue.

green is envy.

blue is life.

beautiful.

fresh.

maybe i cant be mad at blue.

i don't want to be just stuck with green.

but i am still mad.

you separate.

and divide.

why did you let me build castles in the sand that you would only just wash away?

i am mad at the ocean.

who knew

2010-11-02T12:07:00.003-04:00

Yesterday, the 1st of November, was my 26th birthday. Its was great, filled with gooood food, shopping, presents, and of course my family. Its funny when you have a birthday, and you look at old photos of yourself and you remember that "life stage." WHO would have know where you would be today... other than God, no one! I love looking at myself when i was 4, 10, or 16, remembering what was the "BIG" part of my life, the focus at that time... 4, well it was probably playing kitchen and trying to get as messy as i possibly could... 10, hmmm, i think it was friends, and 16, THATS a no brainer... it was DEFINITELY boys.... lots n lots of boys on the mind... i am now reminded of my "shrine" to Leonardo Dicaprio.. hahaha.... i think i had about 50 cut out photos and posters of this guy PLASTERED to my bedroom walls.. i "loved" and dreamt of marrying this man of mystery... haha, OH how things have straighten out.. THANKFULLY. I still LOVE playing kitchen in our many homes we have lived in, and the sink is always messy, and i still LOVE good friends, and making new ones, and i still LOVE boys! ITS true, cant lie. But now, instead of a name like "Leonardo" its more like, Miles, Levi, Ezra.. and the MAN of my dreams, BRYCE. Watching my kids grow, and to see the things they love at this stage of there lives, it makes me wonder what there loves will be years from now... its a puzzle... a mystery, little clues, a little glimpse into the lives of the children i love, and the young men they will be become.

wowzerssss

2010-10-29T09:24:00.003-04:00

WELL, i have been more than neglectful with my blog... yikes... BUT, to be fair we have had a whole, life turned upside down, last few kind of months! Moving half way around the world, starting a new job, starting rent and all those good things again, AND having our 3rd beautiful baby boy... 5wks early! AH! So, that has been my MIA excuse.... haha, for sure. With all the *new beginnings and new life, we are truly excited, and feel soooo blessed! We LOVE the church we are working with, doing Young Adults ministry, we LOVE this area, Lancaster, PA, and LOVE being near our family once again, we also LOVE our new little son, Ezra. Soooo, WHAT a blessed life we have! YES, i wont lie, it has, and can be very stressful at times... but once i have my "oh yeahhh" moment, and give all my worries and cares to Jesus, i remember, in a much clearer mind set, that God is STILL, and has been, in control. My life is not "me" centered, its all about bringing glory to His name, and to His fame. MAN, what a constant mind redirect we need to conduct to have this be the daily goal...

‎

need i say more??

2010-07-25T04:34:00.003-04:00

Isaiah 49:1-4

Listen to me, you islands; hear this, you distant nations: Before I was born the LORD called me; from my birth he has made mention of my name. He made my mouth like a sharpened sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me into a polished arrow and concealed me in his quiver. He said to me, "You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will display my splendor." But I said, "I have labored to no purpose; I have spent my strength in vain and for nothing. Yet what is due me is in the LORD's hand, and my reward is with my God."

Need i say more???

Read this last night, as was like, whoa.... for real....

I mean, dosent this just describe our "little adventure?"

This verse read me like a book....

.need i say more.

yummmmm, peace......

2010-07-24T05:08:00.003-04:00

peace... i cant WAIT for peace..... moving half way around the world once in a lifetime is ONCE enough, but, twice, in a short amount of time should be illegal... ha, to say the least. Can i just say, that when i start up home, again, i am buying BIG, HEAVY, things, and i WONT be thinking "Who could i pass this on to..." or "Will this fit in a suitcase?" NO WAY, i am done, completed, stick a fork in me, COOKED, lol.... I have also found that being supported financially by ways of a missionary title is great, but it can have some fall backs. I think it gives people the idea that they have a certain amount of control on your families decisions. OK, i can see if we were buying big and extravagant, YES, the spending should be questioned, haha, BUT, making decisions about your family, is the families decision, ESPECIALLY when the family is a family that would not make hasty decisions, or make a decision without prayer... am i right? We have been blessed with a great church that has supported us in this ministry and in our family.
Sometimes i feel like i am stuck in a sticky web, and either way i move multiply parts of the web move, and pull and twist. 3 wks is all we have left here in New Zealand... and I WISH this part of the web didnt leave so much rip and tear, on our family, on me, and on Bryce... there are no regrets about us coming here, i just just wish it would have ended with a better taste on our tongue. so peace is what i am craving at the moment.... yummmmy yummmmy peace :)

the short and sweet

2010-07-22T17:23:00.003-04:00

SO, how to begin...

As ya'll know we have been living in New Zealand since December 10th, when we chose as a family to fly over, selling house and home and leaving everything to serve at a camp along a beautiful beach. Its been fun, its been HARD, its been up and its been down. With many circumstances playing into our family decision, we are coming home to the States the beginning of August this year. YES, next month. I know many of our friends and family have ideas, and agendas of what we should be doing, but we know this is the right move for our family. We are very grateful for SOO many of you pouring support into our family, through prayer, support and finances. We would NOT have made it without the support from our home church, Community Christian Fellowship, and the help from Warrenton Bible Fellowship, month by faithful month. We know without a shadow of a doubt that moving here was the right decision, and we are so glad that we listened and followed. We have no regrets. This was an important season of our life, another chapter added to the Taylor Family Adventures. We are not "giving up" we are not running from hard circumstances, we are simply doing what is best for our family, our family of 4 and growing. THANK you all for the love and support you have shown, I pray that none of you will take personal offence to our decision. We would NOT have made this decision without a lot of prayer. SO, for the next adventure, right around the corner, we would LOVE it if you still poured out prayer for our family. We have a lot of loose ends to close, and many decisions to be made. Till we meet again!! The Taylor Family :)

there is only 1

2010-06-30T22:04:00.005-04:00

One year ago today, July 1st 2009, Miles at just 3yrs old, our baby, our first born, was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes.

I thought he might have a UTI, so i scheduled a Dr's appointment, to test for a UTI, and a blood sugar test for the RARE chance it could be anything different. Our schedule that day meant that i had to go by myself, Levi was just a few days away from turning 1, Bryce stayed home with him, and Miles and I shot out at 8am to the Dr.'s. "We'll be right back!" I said as I jetted out the door, to a "routine" visit... or so i thought.

I shared with the Dr. my concerns that had alerted me for the last 2 weeks. Miles was extremely thirsty all the time, and went to the bathroom more than normal. The Dr. got the little blood sugar checker, picked his finger, and dipped the little stick in his blood. Then we waited... I remember asking: "Soooo, is this the test? Will i know now??? Do we send anything off to a lab?" And she said, "No, we will know now." The number read 207. I asked, "Is that ok??" "No, she said, thats high..." "Soooo, thats it??" I kept asking. Realising that our life as we knew it just changed... in about 5 seconds.... The Dr. started crying, in sympathy for us, as i just sat there staring off, as she was telling me to take him to the Hospital, they have will have a bed ready for him. I remember calling Bryce on the way home, telling him to call someone to babysit Levi, because it sounded like we would be in the hospital for a few days. The rest was a blur, i quickly packed a little over night bag for Miles, gathered a few toys, and gave him some breakfast not knowing what to do food wise. The hospital, that we had never been to, was over an hour away. It was a horrible drive, not knowing what had just happened. We called my parents, and they were on their way from PA, a 4 hr trip, to take care of Levi. We got to the hospital, and went in the emergency section. Miles had an IV put in, and numerous amounts of blood taken. We did a urine test, that showed his sugar levels were in the 700's. The numerous Dr's we saw kept asking us in amazement, "how did we know to get his sugar checked??" They were shocked that we caught it so early, and that Miles was still in good health. ((Most parents will find their child in a coma, and thats when they will find out they had diabetes...)) All i could really say was.. "My mom spotted it." She somehow knew that frequent urination and extreme thirst was a sign. If it wasn't for my mom, i am sure that we would never had caught it that early... The next day and a half in the hospital was lived in pure shock... as we learned that our son could never eat again without us checking his sugar and injecting insulin in his body. I felt angry. I felt like I had no control. I felt like it was a cruel joke. "Can someone please wake me up? This is not whats suppost to happen." I was heartbroken knowing that everyday I would have to cause my son pain. My baby now had a "chronic disease." I have never cried as much, or prayed as much, as i did that first night in the hospital, sleeping in a chair next to my baby boy. I cried out during that night: "LORD, wake up his pancreas! I DONT except this!!! Heal him!!"

I was crushed.

BUT, here we are, 1 year later. And we have survived. We have conquered. We have triumphed. We have won. No, the Lord hasn't woken up his pancreas, yet, but i know one day He will. Maybe not in the way i am picturing, or imagining, but one day, either here on earth or in Heaven, Miles will be healed. THAT, my friend, is a 100% guarantee.

Miles has numerous finger pricks a day to check his sugar levels. These readings are displayed by numbers. First we had to learn the American number system, then the New Zealand. And trust me, they are very very different. He has 4 insulin shots a day, 1 for every meal, and 1 at nighttime. Numbers are a big part of our day. The time of day, counting carbs, the amount of insulin to inject, the readings on his sugar checker.... numbers, numbers, numbers!! Ironically, i HATE math, so this is just plain funny. But, the only number i need to keep remembering, is 1. Just, one.

There is only 1 true God, and HE is in control. He has the answers. He is our hope. He is our strength. I dont know what the future holds with Miles and his diabetes, but what i do know, is that my ONE true God will never change, never let me down, never look at Miles diabetes as "too much." He is the constant. There is only 1, only 1 true God. And, I am so glad to give him this burden, and turn it into an amazing testimony of our 1 true God's faithfulness.

Our MAY Newsletter!

2010-06-01T21:05:00.003-04:00

"So much has happened since January when our last news letter was written that a starting point is hard to pinpoint! Has it really been 6 months since we got on that plane destined for New Zealand?! Did we really sell off our possessions, and just ‘go?’ It’s hard to believe, but yes, it has been 6 months, and we did get rid of EVERYTHING!! But what we have gained has been so much more.
January started out with a surprise, as we found out that we were going to have another child!! As the months have rolled on, we now know that we will be welcoming our 3rd son into our lives, and we couldn’t be any happier! February Bryce celebrated his 28th birthday, and March followed with Miles starting preschool. April was filled with BUNNIES, as we welcomed 2 little rabbits into our adventure. May is still blossoming, with the highlight on the 10th where Miles turned 4!! Now, in between those gaps of birthdays, bunnies and baby to come, CAMP has taken over our lives!! Ha-ha, I say this with humor, because humor can lighten many loads.
Camp life has been “full on,” taking every spare moment and consuming. Bryce works approximately 60hrs a week. 6 to 7 hrs of a DAY is filled with dishes, dishes and more dishes. ((needless to say I am in charge of dishes on the home front)) If you were to ask us if this is what we had envisioned or expected, we would be honest and say “No.” We are lonely, without a church, friendless, and over worked. And did I mention all this in a foreign country?! There are days we want to throw in the towel and head back to cozy VA… to once again feel surrounded by family and friends. We have been stretched and pulled to points of breaking, but we know God has us here for a reason. And until that reason is fulfilled this is where we will be. Since we have been here, our view has changed on why we are here, specifically at this camp. We both came into this ministry thinking camp life would be IT for us, and it IS to an extent. We are seeing how Bryce’s gifts in marketing and his great connection with people “in charge” will put this camp in the position it NEEDS to keep it going for years to come. This is our new vision. Maybe not to be the “leaders” of this awesome camp, but to inspire, push and challenge the camp to go from good to GREAT! To go from being unknown in its own community, to becoming a vital outreach point and refuge for ministries throughout Auckland, New Zealand, and the South Pacific!!
Please continue to keep us in your prayers for many decisions that need to be made. We have felt so blessed by all of our family back home, and saying we miss ya’ll is an understatement. Your prayers are felt, and the miracles we see, and the daily provision, is more than reassuring to us that we are indeed in the right place for the right time. Whether great or small, our time here in New Zealand, know that we will take, by his grace, every opportunity to be used by Him to be an impact! Thank you all for getting, and keeping us here. We love every one of you. Till we meet again!! All our love."

(There are also Printed copies of this newsletter with some other pictures,

in the foyer at CCF!!)

Easter

2010-04-03T23:12:00.011-04:00

Many, almost ALL my friends and family that i grew up with celebrated Easter in SOME way. The Easter bunny, church with white gloves and new shoes, an egg shaped kegger, picnics, cooked ham, and of course CHOCOLATE... lots n lots of chocolate... I think i can even remember selling Niagara chocolate as a fund raiser around Easter every year as a kid in elementary school! ..weird... But, in all those Easter Tradition memories i dont reallllly remember anything that stands out.. nothing that shaped my life into what it is now... Of course growing up in a believing Christian home we talked about what Easter truly means, and we knew even as little kids it was NOT about a big dumb bunny.. but... there was never really a STAND OUT, miracle took place, SHOUT IT TO THE WORLD, kind-of Easter Sunday... And ya know.. i dont even think i know how to make it that for my family today! And as hard as i could try, i cant make it "special." Nothing i do can make it more 'stand out' more amazing, or more true than it already is. And maybe it just takes that ONE time, when we become a believer, for that awe struck experience of what our Lord did for us! After that revelation, i guess it doesn't need to be over the top, we just have to accept that love, that truth and believe.

And when you know of what belief and believing is, its ALL or NOTHING. right?

Soo, isnt that (believing) all out already?? isnt your belief already an action??

...maybe it is... maybe it is... got ya thinking.. right?? :) ...jjjjust what i wanted...

THE WIGGLES!!!

2010-03-29T19:57:00.007-04:00

We did it, we went to our first kid's concert and SURVIVED!!!

....welllllll, sort of... LET me tell you our story.... frommm the beginning....

We woke up bright and early, and mommy, thats me!, had a "greattttt" idea we should go out to breakfast before our show, it was at 10am... As we were getting ready to leave, my right eye in a matter of seconds lost its sight.... it was not blurry, it was gone, only the edges of the "picture" i could see. When i would take my hand and slowly bring it up towards my face i could see it completely disappear... This had happened about a month ago, and it was followed by a huge headache, SO instantly when it happened i took some Advil... Well, we were on our way to Denny's, and by 20mins the sight had restored itself. BUT, now, as i thought, i was left with a huge headache. We got to Denny's... yayyyy.... and now we had to entertain 2 very excited little boys while we waited for the longest breakfast everr. haha. I had, i think, 2 bites of my breakfast and we left in a hurry b4 mommy gave the nice Denny's their breakfast back....... I decided i would sit in the last row of the van so i could lay down and rest... hahaha, what was i thinking?? It was rockin and rollin back there, and welllllll, it did not spare my breakfast from.... wellll..... "returning".... AS, i was "returning" Miles kept asking me, not being able to see me, if i was "ok," WHILE he snickered... yes, my boy was laughing at me while i was "returning.." WELLL, we got to the concert with time to spare... It was loud, it was bright, it was a headaches worst nightmare, BUT, i had waited for this day, and i was NOT gonna let anything stop us from having the time of our life! So, we went in, wayyyyyy up to our row, and squeeeezed into our seats. The view was actually really good, for how high we were, that i was really impressed with that! As you can see from the pictures, i dont look my best, a little fever sweat and a ginormous pimple that made the day even better!! haha, BUT we had a great time at The Wiggles concert. Miles was into every song, doing all the motions, and singing at the top of his lungs. We did have almost a melt down when Miles kept asking me if he could go onstage and i kept saying, "NO." He didnt like that we could not play games with them either.... dear oh dear. 2hrs later, we were back in the car, with 2 little tiried children, 2 tired parents, 1 sicky, and 1 Henry the Octopus. All in all it was a success!!!

But sadly the adventure did not stop there.... no..... When we got home i went straight to bed, woke up with a worse headache, numb hand, and uncontrollable spontaneous twitching in my head and wrist.... I also could not communicate to Bryce very well with my speech, and i was definitely out of it.... Soooooo, Bryce said "ok, NOW its time to go see a Dr!" Sooo, we went, they saw and they sent me to the Hospital... oh joy, right? Did i mention i had to "return again," and in the car!! aweee man! sorry bout the details... After 3 hrs of waiting in the ER, they had NO idea what was wrong other than my nervous system was reacting in unusual ways. They kept me over night to have a MRI in the morning. HOLD ON: Have you ever been in a NZ hospital over night? Have you ever been in a NZ hospital where you are placed in the worst possible wing, where Mr and Mrs Frankenstein are your nurses during the night? And your window is broken? And there is NO TV! AND NO MAGAZINES?! ..... i have... and i NEVER want to go back!!! ha. SO, the Neurologist came and saw me in the morning, and by this time i am basically normal. I am slightly jolly, and my headache is just barley there. He does all his body tests, and then tells me.... "I don't think we will do an MRI, b/c i think you just had a classic migraine.. other than the wrist and head twitching, that we cant explain. Different parts of your nervous in your head were effected, and if i did an MRI i wouldn't be able to tell where to look, or to see what was going on. So it was just a migraine." Ooooh, ok.... I think if i was still lying in bed, somber looking, i might have gotten that MRI. Honestly it would have put me at ease a little more that just saying i had a headache. Praise God though it was nothing complicated! Soooo, that was our Wiggles day extravaganza!!!!! Any takers for our next trip????

....i didn't think so.....

"Jesus LOVES the world..."

2010-03-26T23:18:00.003-04:00

Sometimes at 10:30am Bryce has about an hour off between dishes, office work, and more dishes. Well, today i got the kids and myself dressed and ready to "spring" Bryce to see if he would quickly run to the grocery store with us. I JUST ran out of rice flour, the key ingredient in almost ALL gluten free cooking. Because we live in such an Asian influenced area, we have a great Asian grocery store, where MORE than half the products are written in Chinese or something with little sticks crossing, BUT they have rice flour!!! We quickly went, and on our drive Miles started singing his own song: "Jesus loves the world, Jesus loves the world, Jesus loves the world, and i know He's gonna make it, i know he's gonna make it, Jesus loves the world, Jesus really loves the world!" It was adorable, and so sweet as he sang his heart song. We came up to a stop sign, and Miles insisted we put his window down so the world could hear his song... it was priceless... Yes little kids make up songs all the time, but you KNOW when something this precious is written on their hearts. I wanna be like that, to have my heart song always ready, singing out about my Saviour's love!! AND, Miles didn't even keep that heart song that the Lord gave him to himself, no, he completed the circle, he let the "whole world know..." How often do we receive a heart song from the Lord, whether in music, writings, a word of encouragement, something, anything, and we lock it up keeping it "special" and only for "me." We all do it.... but i want to learn to roll down my window and sing it to the "world," completing the circle of a gift... given, received, and to give again...

"Jesus loves the world, Jesus LOVES the world..."

baby #3!

2010-03-22T23:46:00.003-04:00

(i thought the picture of the little feet was cute! You can see littlr toes!!)

Here our little one is! Baby is measuring at about 13wks, soo we are due around the end of September!! The ultra sound technician gave us about a 75% guess on what the babies sex is.. BUT, we wont know "for sure" until our 18wk scan... Our little one is very very active, and healthy. We couldn't ask for more... seeing our baby for the first time gave us such a feeling of relief! We are so excited... and Miles was thrilled seeing the baby on the screen. We are a family of five... i can not believe it.

...letting go

2010-03-20T19:54:00.005-04:00

There are countless things in our life where we have to "let go.." Either physically, emotionally, or mentally... I dont know which one i struggle with more... Maybe being a woman the emotional part can be the hardest. Its how we as females tie emotions to EVERYTHING... think i am crazy saying everything?.... let me give you some examples, of this emotional ridden female. As we were packing up our lives in VA, i had to purge almost everything... purge everything that would not fit into several suitcases. Ya know that half empty box of q-tips, or the "special" half used bottle of body wash your friend gave you for Christmas about 5yrs ago, that lives under the bathroom sink?? Welll, i had hard times parting with these things... Do they have any eternal value....no.... are they REALLLY worth anything???...no... Its little things like the shower curtain i left in our bathroom... it was zebra printed and ordered online from Target..... its still in our unsold house.... probly frozen, or nearly thawed, hanging there pitifully... I STILL will think of that STUPID curtain!! Why!??!!? Because somehow i have tied an emotion to that piece of fabric... to those silly wasted box of q-tips, to the very old, never to be used body wash. I did have to let go of things that i think are OK, to be a sad about... Our first home, our cat Jason, Miles first big boy bed, the special baby items i thought i'd use for all my babies, special pieces of my childhood that held no purpose but held a memory, the baby swing in the backyard, the flower beds planted by my dad and i, the knowing that any more memories wont be made at that home... the chapter is closed, its over. Looking at that list, i think its fare to say i am effected by all the ways of letting go... all of them are hard, not one worse or better than the other. I am blessed. I did NOT have to "let go" of something that could not be replaced, i didn't lose a child, i simply just said goodbye to "things.." How sad it is when we let "things" take over our minds, winning the battle in our lives through regret and complacency... not willing to let go, and see where, and what God can do with our lives... arnt we just surrounded by things?? And arnt we promised that we will always be looked after? Just as the birds of the land?? Ya know... i have NEVER seen a bird dragging its nest from place to place... and still its tummy is full, and it is fulfilling its life given purpose given by the Creator. I can choose to mourn over my things left behind, or i can choose to live out my God given purpose..

We need to get bold, live with an eternal viewpoint, and let go...

Matthew 6:25

"For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? "Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to to his life?"

if you have a son...

2010-03-19T22:38:00.005-04:00

Who knew having little boys would be so much fun?.. Somehow deep in our growing up years the world implants this idea that, "girls are more fun..." NOW, it might have something to do with some songs we have heard over the years, "Girls just wanna have funnnn!" and "Get away Jack, and dont come back no more no more no more nooo more!" I am NOT pointing any fingers, WAL*MART or TARGET, or to any other place affordable to Americans, WHY their little kids clothing section cater to the girls, while boys are left with stripes and sweat pants. I have not put some deep thought into WHY we put bows and ribbons onto our little sweet girls heads, like a perfect present to bless the world with... while boys on the other hand, have an option of a hat... think about it... is this meant to hide and disguise? haha, I'M JUST SAYING!! I have NEVER seen a little boy "present" walking around with his bow!! Just "cap" ridden male children... Now, i'm NOT gonna lie, sweat pants are easy and hats ARE great cover ups, and ya know, boys are loud, and they push the envelope, their boundaries, and their siblings.... they are messy, and rough and tough... BUT! No one ever prepares you for the things little boys do the best... love their momma's... In the midst of the day, when "Toys-R-Us on drugs" takes over your house, and the kitchen is unrecognisable with the "orders" of the day, in the middle of the storm, those little bug pickers, dirt investigators, boogy eater, (yeah thats right, i said boogy!)will run up, and say "momma, i have a surprise for you..(pulls out flowered weed)... for you! Because your special..." Or, and when you've slacked on dinner, and your son says "Momma..... best... dinner... EVER!!" -as he is saying this, his eyes are closed and he has a slight smirk on his face, with arms getting higher and higher until the climax of "EVER!!" I LOVE MY BOYS... I love the sweet heart melting, little man statements that escape their mouths with NO warning and NO explanation and always just what you needed...

((if you have a girl, she may be just like what i have described as a boy, that is OK, and normal, this post was meant for laughter and the truth of every day with children, especially boys, thank you!!))

just write about it!

2010-03-18T20:23:00.003-04:00

With nothing to really report i have decided that when there IS nothing new to report on, i will look in my pictures and find something to spur a blog. I am trying to keep in the spirit of writing, cuz once ya stop, its so hard to get back into it again!!

~Levi, Oceana, Miles~

Wellll, this picture, really does say it all, children eating yummmy stickyyy marshmallows by the fire. Dirty, dirty children enjoying no baths and filthy feet that will last all night, and well into the next day. Levi, as you can see, enjoys stuffing his face with as many marshmallows as humanly possible, with possibly entering a new world record. His diabetic brother on the other hand, saviors and enjoys every precious bite, HOPING against all hope, that mom will let him go crazy and eat the entire bag. ((butttt we all know that is not likly)) As always the rose does sit between 2 thorns, haha, just kidding, its more like a crazy PB&J sandwich, OR something at least sticky! We had a great time camping with Susie and her two girls. It was wet, it was wild, and it was awesome. Sometimes when i hold my pillow just right, i can still smell a little of our wonderful campfire, and i go back to what life must have been like much simpler. Cooking over a camp fire, water from the creek, the dirt under our feet.... and in our hair and nails and in our living quarters.... and then i wake up and say "thank Heaven for homes with showers!!" Yesss, i might love camping but knowing you can always come home and get clean and microwave something in 10seconds or less and have a complete family meal, is something truly magical....

my fishy man...

2010-03-17T16:14:00.005-04:00

Sorry this IS a gross picture!!

Bryce was invited out yesterday to go deep sea fishing, with 4 other "dudes." He left very very early, and came back stinky, i mean late, afternoon, haha. They caught soo many fish that they legally could not keep any more!! The main fish they caught was snapper, big, bug eyed, ugly reddish fish.... I really dont like fish. no. I dont like the smell. And the smell sets the deal with me. I bet before they butcher a cow it doesn't smell like roses, and i know chicken farms are one of the stinkiest places on the face of the earth, but the stench of a fish is like no other.. it pierces through the strongest deodorizers, through the boldest candles and lighting a match is a joke. Last night, as i went to sleep next to my fisherman, i opened a window KNOWING the fish was gonna find me there, asleep. BUT what i did NOT know was that it was gonna be that bad. MAYBE because i am pregnant the smell was detectable through my sleeping nose, but, MAN my dreams were effect by the stench of the fish... haha, i was soo mad about the fish smell that i woke up my poor exhausted husband and scolded him for going fishing while i was pregnant, hahaha... yup, crazy girl. BUT, it was horrrrible!!!!!! And it wasn't like he didn't try to rid the smell off him, he tried... but to no avail.
Sooo thats my beef with fish.
End of story.

the 2 wolves

2010-03-16T21:19:00.006-04:00

TWO WOLVES

"One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, "My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all. "One is Evil - It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego. "The other is Good - It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith." The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: "Which wolf wins?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

My mother sent this to me via email, and man, it is so true!! Being in a new place, a new season of life, in an unfamiliar land, started our lives again, being "just a mom," has had me feed the wrong wolf... I have felt all those things, and forgot that i have a choice. I HAVE a choice which wolf will win, and to whom i will surrender my day to. When i think of how the two separate wolves would eat the food i throw at them, it sickened me. The evil wolf i can visualise gnashing its teeth into my self pity, ripping apart inferiority and lies, growling at any others who might pass by for a bite, barking anger greed and arrogance... It sickens me to no end. Then their is the good wolf... the kind wolf, graciously accepting what i throw its way in humility, and faith. The wolf you just want to cuddle up with, not afraid to stick your hand in the dogs dish. Its coat shines with health and beauty, where as the evil wolf's coat is dirty and matted... you are what you eat they say. Without a Perfect Shepherd i could not even being to choose the right wolf to feed each day.. and even with a Shepherd, its still easy for me to get in the way and toss a bone here, or there to the evil wolf... BUT, i know my Saviour has already won the battle for me, and just choosing to say "whom i will serve this day" is enough to plant my feet in and do MORE than "just survive" but prosper and live a life honoring the King of Kings... Jesus Christ.

"For whatever is born of God is victorious over the world; and this is the victory that conquers the world, even our faith." 1John5:4-AmplifiedBible

"For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.." 1John5:4-NewLivingTranslation

"Every God-begotten person conquers the world's ways. The conquering power that brings the world to its knees is our faith. The person who wins out over the world's ways is simply the one who believes Jesus is the Son of God." 1John5:4-TheMessage

$yikers$

2010-03-15T22:51:00.005-04:00

Today Bryce had off of work, and it was a Tuesday, meaning Miles had school this afternoon, SOo, plans of going out for the day were not realllly an option. When i dropped Miles off, i stayed out for the 2 1/2 hrs ALL BY MYSELF!!! It was wonderful... and it felt lengthy!! haha. SO, i have been wanting a haircut for a while now, NOT to cut the length, just to give me some style, loose the frump, and keep me in the long haul of the challenge to grow my hair out. IF you know me, and know me well, you know i love hair! And i want it new every season and change is ALWAYS an option!! BUT, with the challenge of growing it out for the first time since i was like 16, its hard! Soo today on my afternoon "off" i needed to find a hair salon, and get some tender lovin care. WELLL, i did NOT knowing that i was gonna get the lovin that i ended up getting.... It was a nice place, very "posh" with drinks offered upon sitting. I got a long hair wash WITH conditioner massaged into my head of hair.. as i drifted off to sleep......zzzzzz..... OH! Where was i?? Ahh yes, the "poshness" carried on into hair haircut where it was not just a trim, but a transformation! haha. WELL, all this came with a price tag..... a tag i have NEVER seen before at my trational Super Cuts-kinda place back in the States.... should i even tell you the price?? MAybe i should keep the SHAME to myself.... OH, what the heyyy..... ok..... a lill nervous...... $.. there is the first part.... here is the rest: 84. YES, $84.00...... i know..... GULP! I was like, welllll, we ate good last week, we can live on cheese and crackers for the next 2wks.. hahahaha... I will chalk this experience into the memory/adventure pocket, thats for sure. Because even though it was the nicest haircut i have ever had.... it will be the LAST haircut that will cost me an arm and a leg!! GOOD NIGHT!!

wellll, it might not look like much!

2010-03-14T20:40:00.003-04:00

(11 weeks)

Wellll, here it is folks, the first "belly" shot. haha, i am laughing because i can hear my friends saying.. "welll, thats nothing!!!" yesss, it might not look like anything, BUT i can feel the difference my very "little room mate" is making in the pant size i wear... I am justttt almost out of the 1st trimester, and MAN, am i ready!! I am ready to feel 100% and get some energy back! Its amazing how you can feel like sleeping all day, but then when you try to sleep at night, its so broken and not fulfilling! I am still tryng to grasp the idea that i am pregnant. We have not heard the hear beat yet, and its killllllllling me that i just have to have faith that my little baby is alright. Maternity clothing here in New Zealand is a JOKE!! Its very expensive, and the "affordable" selection is very poorly made, AND when it was made, they must have just guessed what a pregnant woman looks like... haha... its sad. SOOoo, yesterday i did some searching on the "old faithful" Target website and ordered 2 maternity knit sweaters to be sent to my mom, and then me. It works out great switching seasons when it comes to clothing and sales! I am going to be pregnant when its gonna be fall, winter, and give birth in the veryyy early chilly spring. Soo, i will definitely need to warm clothing. Today i have reallly felt winter coming, no more tank tops and short, thats for sure!! It reallllly shows that the chill is in the air when i have my mothers beef stew recipe cooking on the stove, and the heat from the stove is VERY WELCOMED! No central heating here in NZ!!! Whatever will we do??... I think the stove and the dryer and I will become very very good friends over the next few months, if only just to heat up the house!! haha..

the dress my poppa sent me!

2010-03-12T14:36:00.004-05:00

Early this week, we got a surprise package from my parents! There were many WONDERFUL things inside, BUT the special surprise was a dress, FOR ME!! My dad bought it for me. He has always loved to pick out clothing for me. (and my mom) I remember when we would go cloth shopping, he would pick out the best outfits!

Well, this dress is no different, it fits perfect, WITH matching earrings!

I love it, it brought back memories of good times shopping with my dad. Thanks Daddy!

"Poppa can you hear me!?!?"

snap shot of the excited prechooler!!

2010-03-11T21:46:00.001-05:00

Here is my little man!! Ready to take on the world!

its gonna be ok

2010-03-11T20:43:00.002-05:00

Today as i dropped Miles off at Kindy, i felt a lot more at ease. The teachers there really seem to know Miles already. As i walked him in, he ran to all his teachers in sight, and HAD to say hello. He showed them his diabetic bracelet, and told them "i have diabetes." Its weird to hear your 3, almost 4 year old say "i have diabetes," as though its no biggy. As i said "ok Miles, i'm gonna leave now..." he had a very important message for me: "OH, mom mom, wait. DONT let ANYONE step on your toes... OR Levi's toes, ok?" haha.. Well, it was a little better than him telling me, the day before: "MOMMM, wait, watch out for cars, and tractors, ok?" haha, he really cracks me up! It was as though he HAD to give me advice before i left him, sooo funny. Well, its about that time of the day where i go and pick him up. Ya know, I think he's gonna be ok.... wait a min, i think I'M gonna be ok....

Diabetes/Celiac + Preschool

2010-03-10T19:16:00.002-05:00

Well, today i dropped Miles off at "kindy" which they call preschool here in New Zealand, for the 2nd day, and his first day without me there. Of course i did not just "drop him off" I sat down with a few of the teachers and showed them how to check his sugar, to NOT give him anything outside of his lunch box for snack, and what signs to look out for if he is "going low." NOW, when i was signing him in, i noticed on the roster there are 50 children in his afternoon session.... whoa. I am trying not to freak out about how can they keep track of my little diabetic/celiac child with 49 other little ones... Its hard to let go of something that needs to be managed so tightly. AND then i started to think... "school is where kids get sick!!" and Miles getting sick is NOT in the question!! If he starts puking, or doesn't want to eat, we will have a serious situation on our hands, one that can lead to a hospital visit. SOO, whats a mother to do...? Hes only 3 1/2... hes still too young to know when his sugar is dropping and to warn a teacher, and he will still reach for a wheat infested cookie just like any other child. This is hard. And it gets me thinking of when one day he will go to school full time!! What then? We are not interested in the insulin pump, and that means still doing injections for meal times. Will he sit down and focus and eat his meal in the allowed 20mins after his insulin shot? Will he trade his preapproved Gluten Free lunch for treats that will make him sick?? Uggg... sorry about the vent, its too much to think about. I looked at Levi the other day and thought... "how easy and weird its going to be to just drop him off at school one day, and not worry about what he'll eat, or if his sugar gets too low... he will be a "normal kid" part of the 49 other children who just carry on with their day reaching for the wheat infested cookies and not getting sick..."

PAINT TIME!!!

2010-03-09T13:51:00.007-05:00

Paint time is always hard.... they beg they plead, and FINALLY you say "...uhhh, ooook.....???" It never easy to say yes to paint time. I wish it was, but MAN the mess. Levi insisted on painting ONLY his paint tray, not the paper.. and Miles did a great job, as long as he resisted to urge to paint the table, the chairs and of course, himself. Who doesn't want to pain themselves?? I know we only have a few more weeks of summer heat, so i am TRYING to be a good mommy and be wise and do the out door activities now, before the cold and rain hit us. Yes, its rain in NZ, not snow... BUT i can still pray for a miracle snow fall, cant i?? This newest baby is going to be born in the last months of rainy winter... uggg. Both the boys we warm weather and just lovely. But, a cold day arrival sounds just so.... brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Maybe there will be a warm spell just for me and baby. So back to the paint, i love to paint, and i know they love to paint too, so its time to "get messy..." Why not?? right?

2010-02-27T13:38:00.000-05:00

ok....I "forgot" your password !:)

My BLUE eye boy...

2010-02-26T22:44:00.004-05:00

How did i end up with such a beautiful blue eye boy??? His eyes just take my breath away sometimes... and being a girl with hazel eyes, and always wanting blue, they just suck me in!! He is just a little cute, BUT A HANDFUL!!! SOME would say he is just like his Uncle Philip.. and wellllllllllll, they might be right. As NZ'ers put it, "He is full on!" haha, i like this statement, it says it all in one simple line... FULLLL ON!!!! But, he is still a joy, and he is becoming more and more lovey every day. YES, sometimes he will only get me a kiss if i promise to put him down after he gives me a smooch... BUT, he will give me one! ha. Miles and Levi are reallllly best of friends. Miles will sometimes have a fit when i put Levi down for a nap, as he's telling me: "But momma he is my buddy!" And they i say, "welll, Buddy needs a nap!" I love having 2 "full on" boys... but maybe, justttttt maybe, a girl next wouldn't be so bad... wink wink.

Haha......

2010-02-25T14:57:00.001-05:00

NEVER GIVE YOUR MOM YOUR PASSWORD !!!!! This is just for Bryce......love you guys !

i LOVE my grandparents....

2010-02-23T14:36:00.007-05:00

I LOVE MY GRANDPARENTS....

I have always been very blessed to be so close to my fathers parents, my Grandma and Grandpa. Soooo many good memories of growing up with having them around.

I was always Grandpa's "Buddy" and I will always treasure how special that made me feel.

My Grandma is the BEST cook, and how i wish i learned soooo much more!!

I desperately need some beef stroganof, gooood pot roast, the BEST mashed potato's, wacky cake, sour cherry pie, apple pie, rhubarb crunch, and the funnel cakes we used to make!!!

AND how i wish i could drive over to Grandpa's and say "HEY, lets go blueberry picking!!" OR "HEY lets make homemade ice cream today!!"

I reallly miss them terribly.. BUT i am sooo thankful they have and ARE apart of my everyday.

I LOVE YOU GRANDMA & GRANDPA!!!

Wish we could be listening to some good records together and eating something horrible for us!!

Pictures from Bryce's B-day!!

2010-02-18T02:06:00.006-05:00

These pictures were too cute to keep to myself! YES, and the super yummy home made from scratch chocolate cake, WAS gluten free... It was very very veryyyyy good... BUT for some reason the batter smelled "off." I am now starting to think maybe the smell was there so that i would NOT eat the entire bowl of chocolate cake batter... cuz i just might have!!

immigrantion....

2010-02-15T18:42:00.003-05:00

Immigration.... it sounds as bad as it truly is.... and THIS TIME i am the immigrant in a foreign country... ugggg. Bryce has been filling out numerous papers, getting lots of information gathered, and calculating what a Visa will cost me. Its a pain. And we have only so much time to complete it in.. this is the tricky but. YES the paper work is a pain, YES the $bill$ will be outrageous, but the time space? Ha, wellll thats almost undoable... Bryce asked me today, "Soo how would you feel about a mini vacation?" Without trying to sound too excited, i softy said: "Well, if i have too...." OF COURSE i would love to fly by myself back to the States, by myself, get some paper work done, in the States by myself, visit my family, by myself, and eat lots and lots of cheap junk food i have been missing..... by myself.. haha. It would be realllllllly hard to leave Miles behind because i know his schedule and body so well. Will his "care taker" do exactly the same as I would considering the Diabetes and Celiac?? Probably not... I would worry a lot. But, i would get to see my friends newest baby, see my BEST FRIEND-aka-my momma, my family, and numerous very very close girl friends i have been dying without! SOOOOOooo, IF this "vacation" is meant to be, i will embrace it with veryyyyy open arms, and try to manage my time in the Land of the Free to the best of my ability... Wal*Mart, here i come!!!

Bryce's 28th Birthday

2010-02-13T02:34:00.003-05:00

On Friday the 12th of February, my man Bryce, turned 28... There is something about getting farther and farther away from 25 that says "time isnt getting any slower..." I know thats how Bryce felt on his birthday. YES, in the grand scheme of things, 28 is a spring chicken, BUT when you are 28, you know you have left the club of "young 20's" behind... I was thinking the other day and ya know how somethings things just hit ya?? I had the thought "WOW, i am gonna die one day, and... its gonna be AWESOME!" haha, now dont get scared, I just had the rare moment of looking at my life through eternities eyes, and I am stoked to be with Jesus. Seriously, stoked stoked stoked. I was telling Miles just the other day, that in Heaven there are "no more tears, no more pain, no more insulin shots, and you can eat alllll the wheat you want!" You should have seen his eyes. He saw and BELIEVED the big picture. He accepted instantly the joyous plan that Jesus has for us, and that he wants us the live in Peace... FOREVER, in no pain... FOREVER.... wrapped in our Saviours Love... FOREVER. At the end of me telling Miles about the awesomeness of Heaven, he asked me "why??" And I had the privledge to tell him... "Because Jesus loves us, thats why..." His child like faith answered plain and simply: "OH, well lets go now then!"

I better get outside!!!

2010-02-10T14:19:00.003-05:00

ewww, not the best picture of me, look past it! haha

NO snow here in NZ.. thats for sure!! Its mid February, and normally I would be cuddled somewhere under a blanket refusing to come out till April or maybe even May!! But this year I am in a country where December-February is hot and the flowers are out, and if you live near the beach,well, you better be there every day... no excuse. Wellll, we live near the beach, walking time 3mins, and I still make an excuse sometimes... shame on me!!! BUT, i am taking an oath, as of today, to take charge of my summer and enjoy it while it lasts, BECAUSE before i know it, i WILL be under the covers at some stage this year freezing my toosh off... BETTER enjoy free heat now, then pay for it later!!!

1st Timothy 6:17
"Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment."

its wayyyyyy about time!!!

2010-02-09T14:16:00.006-05:00

Our New Zealand Home!!

Wow, months and months have pasted since my last post.. but i think i get a little break, with diabetes, celiac, selling our home, packing up, moving half way across the world, and starting a new job, SHOULD give me a little allowance. right?? WELL<>long for Monday some wks...)) Bryce is loving his position, and we are slowly learning what camp wants from us, and what we can bring to the table. Our first year here will just be learning the ropes, getting to know everyone, and the schedule, then, BAM-O, next year will be more designed from us. We are reallllly excited about our kids living at camp, we can already see positive outcomes of it. Miles, of course, is a little Super Star.. haha.. i dont know how he does it!! Levi is still our little blue eyes, and veryyy energetic and LOUD, wow the 2nd child is never like the first, eh?? We were planning on getting a dog, butttt some circumstance have changed, sooo, looks like no dog for us... AT LEAST for a little while... he he he... Well, this is all i can write while the boys finish up breakfast, and i try to drink some bitter tea i made -yuck- and then we HAVE to go the store... no milk or bread.. yikes! Soo good writing to you all!

Yes, that right, Levi is drinking from a fresh coconut...

Our view of our part of the beach! At veryyyy low tide, we are out about half a mile!!

gimme ONE reason...

2009-09-12T10:51:00.005-04:00

...just look at these beautiful children...

"I used to ask for a sign to believe in, but He never gave me a reason to ever doubt Him. Gimme one reason to doubt He's the Messiah, gimme one reason to doubt, He is alive, gimme one reason to doubt I am the the apple of His eye. Just one reason now, just one reason to doubt Jesus Christ." -Jason Upton

I have been listening to Jason Upton all week, and this song has really been speaking to me. Through all these trials its easy to forget we arnt fighting this battle alone. Sometimes i find myself crying or just angry then i have the "duhh" moment and realise, God's already provided... A few months ago, about the time soon after we found out about Miles diabetes, the Lord spoke to Bryce: "I've already provided..." Now, a few weeks after that I felt God took it a little farther with me: "He's not our Provider, he's our Provided...."

He already has, nothing that needs fixing has God complexed... He aint trying to come up with a plan, He's not researching, scheming, or plotting a solution to get us outta this mess. NO! He has already provided, He is our Provided... followin me?

So anyways, gimme one reason to doubt,

gimme ONE reason to doubt HE's the Messiah,

He's Alive,

gimme one reason to doubt He'll heal Miles,

gimme one reason to doubt He'll take care of our bills,

GIMME ONE, just ONE, REASON TO DOUBT,

He is Jesus Christ.

a taste of Anthem....

2009-09-09T22:19:00.002-04:00

This here is a rough draft of the appeal letter to Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, on their decisioin on calling Miles diabetes pre existing..... those syco people.... grrrrr, haha, no seriously they must be syco...

To whom it may conern,

My 3 yr old son, Miles James Taylor is being denied coverage due to a so called “pre existing” condition of Diabetes. Now our policy effective date was July 1st, and we were told we could go to the Dr at any point from then on. Now, my son had been on our policy up untill April ’09, and then we took him off due to not being able to afford it any longer. My husband is a youth ministor, and does not get insurance through the church. On the 1st of July we went to our childrens Dr. for a check up, since he had not been there since April. Now, keep in mind Miles is 3, I mentioned to the Dr. that he had been wetting the bed at night, and was thirsty, I had him checked out for a UTI, and they also took a blood glucos check. NOW, you tell me what 3yr old does not wet the bed and is thirsty…. BUT, you are telling me this is considered a pre existing condition, WHEN NO indication of Diabetes was ever detected before, no diagnoses no nothing. If my son was a “pre existing” condition, as you are classifing him, well, he would be dead. What insulin depend diabetic can go without their insulin… NONE. And, how can you even put children into a category where they will be faced with clauses such as pre existing?? My son has only been alive for 3 years….. he dosent even know how to read and write, but you are telling me he has a pre existing condition? He dosent even have all his teeth yet! I know you are an insurance company and you are going to do your best to NOT pay out... We have tried EVERY other avenue to get this financial nightmare taken care of, and frankly no one can believe the stance you are taking, they are appaled and disgusted. With this all said, please make the right moral decision to drop the pre existing title. Thank you.

Sincerly, a mother trying to take care of her child,

Christina

howwww much is that doggggy in the window???

2009-09-07T20:56:00.004-04:00

"ruff ruff!"
"ummm, on the phone ma'..."

"Helllo? Operator?"

Here we are celebrating labor day Chuckie Cheeeese style, along with EVERY other family with little loud children in Virginia... no joke we were there with.. millions.

The man at the front asked us "Are you celebrating anything special today?"

And i said, "No, we are just insane..."

haha, he knew just what i ment as i replied over the deafening screeching of children in the background. We had fun with the quarters i had been saving, the fun goes a long way with just a quarter a game/ride. -WAYYY more of a way- than mall rides, those things cost like, .75 cents, yikes! Welllllll, after the long day at the Chuck, i am turning in, afterrr i devour my pint of cappuccino ice cream....... ohhhhhyeahhhh.

who dosent like hot air balloons?

2009-08-16T20:39:00.007-04:00

Bealeton, Virginia Hot Air Balloon Show

Here we are, posing... NOT knowing that it was coming our way...

"OH, its headed right for us!" said Bryce
"Hello there little girl.. errr, uh little boy.." said Balloon Man as he flew over our house.

And off into the sunset they went.... sooooooooo beautiful!
All together we saw 5 balloons last night and 8 tonight!!

AND, Miles is adorable....

He told us that he reallllly wanted to see more balloons tonight, and so he told us he was gonna pray to God and ask. He stands by the back door eyes closed and prays:

"Dear Jesus, make hot balloons come back, in my backyard, in Jesus name, amen.."

Then he says: "It worked."

And I said, "OH, do you see one?"

And he said, "No, not yet."

Isn't that just a beautiful picture of child like faith??

...ooo, it melts my heart...

AND, as we took a walk after dinner, God did answer his prayer,

and we saw more balloons than the night before...

Awesome....

trip to the ducks

2009-08-02T21:25:00.006-04:00

"Ready, set, JUMP!!!"

"I fed the ducks! YESSS!!!"

haha, love this kiddo...

Levi's 1st Birthday Party!

2009-07-20T11:58:00.009-04:00

Our little 1yr old... in his birthday best!

The gluten free cake... a little grainy, BUT stilllll a CAKE!

"now, what am i supost to do ma?"

The manditory pool time after a veryyy messsy little cake boy.
Trying to figure out how to get into his present....
"YAYY, a lawn mower!!"
We had a great day celebrating Levi and Reed's (our little friend born 2 wks of eachother) birthday party. The weather was beautiful, and the kids had soo much fun together. We cant believe a year has gone by soo quickly... like for real, where does the time go?...

wow.... just when we were starting to get organised...

2009-07-16T21:34:00.003-04:00

SOOOOO, today we had a follow up apt. with the diabetes Dr.'s..... welllll, b4 they could talk to us about diabetes, they had a new surprise for us: Celiac Disease. Never heard of it. Wellllll, here it goes. It is a condition in which the lining of the intestines are damaged and can no longer absorb all the needed nutrients to remain in good health, it can be treated by a strict diet to a gluten free diet. (no wheat, rye, oats, barley, and any derivative of the same..') HA, this is a joke right?? EVERYTHING HAS GLUTEN! no not kidding, there are "hidden" gluten's, in salad dressing, in some prescriptions, fast food, communion wafers, luncheon meats, everything.... everything. I just laughed when the Dr. told us. I was like "oh, ok, sure, why not?" So after 'shock ville' we went to a health food store..... i never ever thought i'd shop there...i am not a hippy, lol, justttt kiddding... anyways, we picked up a few items, no meals, just random things, cereal, and such, like 10 items, and wanna know the bill total?? hahaha, 70............. yes as in $70.00.... at the end of a tax year we can even have a section for celtic disease gluten free food cuz it will cost us that much extra... wow... so, i am stressssing. We have no gluten free items other than what we jsut bought, and like, Miles dosent like meat... Miles dosent like meat,... ironic. No carbs in meat, no gluten, but dosent like it.... ha, and its a perfect food for both diseases.... OH welll, although i am stresssed, i have been pretttty joyful today. God is good, and is still on the throne, and even though our life has changed and is stillllll changing, God will always remain the same, HE is the constant. Let me get an amen!

id tag!

2009-07-15T15:32:00.004-04:00

Miles was very excited about his new bracelet, and want to show you all! Mommy thinks its cute too. I did have to put it around his ankle instead OR it would have been broken in a matter of hrs... you'd think things would be a little tougher!!

its wednesday

2009-07-15T13:56:00.002-04:00

aS you can see, we like spagetti..... its never clean but always fun. This morning we went to the library to hear story hr, good fun, Um, i cant type very well, i have fake nails on and they are in need of coming off!! So pardon the cr4azy spelled words, these th9ings wiol type just about anything!! haha. I am gonna try to start blogging more, we have a new laptop, yayyyy, and now i can downlaod pictures and post them more frequesntly. We also havce a littttttle bit of internet if i stand in the living room and hop on one leg... just kidding about the hopping. ANYWAYS, the children are napping so i best go! love to all....

Miles, Levi and diabetes...

2009-07-14T11:42:00.005-04:00

Well, a lot has happened since the last post.... Levi is now 1 beautiful yr old, and Miles has been diagnosed with Diabetes type 1... The Diabetes has been a big shock to our family. What 3yr old do you know with diabetes?? not many.... i cant name a single one. To be honest i was pretty angry the first week, and i kept thinking "this is sooo annoying! cant we go back to yesterday!?" well, we all know the answer to that... no. I was just so mad feeling like someone stole something from Miles, stole something from us all. Now that we are slowly getting into a whole new life style, and routine, its getting better. But when i start to look too far into the future, i can get all upset again. Its true, you have to take one day at a time... Its ironic now that I look back to the weeks b4 Miles was diagnose, Miles and i were busy learning a new verse. ( I write a short verse on construction paper, and we color the words to look like the meaning) Well our verse was... "The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous run in it and are safe..." That verse meant alot to all of us as we sat in the hospital, as we cried, as our insurance was a flop, as we gave our first of many shots, i just kept thinking, "here I come Lord, i'm running in..." As we have been home now, Miles and I have learned a new verse... "Look to the Lord, and his strength, seek his face always..." Let me tell you, i have no strength, i have no joy, no love, no goal, unless i seek his face.... always.

one more, JUST for you Aunty!!!

2009-06-20T12:58:00.003-04:00

"WE ARE COMING AUNTY!!! CANT WAIT TO SEE YOU!!!
THIS POST IS JUST FOR YOU!!!! WE LOVE YOU! SMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOCH!!!"

and then there was... an update!!!!

2009-06-20T12:21:00.010-04:00

Well, this is our beginning of summer in a nut shell. We've seen a 2yr old turn 3, a 10month old start to walk, (he's 11months old now, and 1yr in about 2wks!) we road a mini Thomas the Tank Engine Train, ate strawberry's by the bucket, visited many friends, dug gardens, and we are enjoying our warm summer tan... I love summer, but love it even more if I don't have to turn on the air conditioning. I love the windows open with a warm breeze, and sitting by the kiddy pool watching my boys play. Levi is in love with adventure already... he has dove in head first into the little pool, and laughed about it. On the other hand, Miles dies a slow death if he gets splashed, haha... I have funny kids. Nana Joy would be proud, we are raising a mini-Bryce, the pastor side. The report i always get from Sunday school is: "He's a hugger! He is our nurturer, always comforting the other children." I LOVE to here that... makes momma proud. I hope you enjoyed the mini update, sorry for the months gap, but its hard with no Internet... love to all!

heres some photos for you Grammy!

2009-04-28T15:37:00.004-04:00

OK, so this is the best i could do with a picture with us all in, i cant find ANY with ALL of us.... Hope these will do the trick! LOVE YA!

God's Promise...

2009-04-21T19:38:00.003-04:00

Just a little video of this AMAZING rainbow we saw, it wasss a double, its hard to give it justice on a little video, BUT it was pretty awesome!
Just your friendly neighbourhood reminder of God's promises...

HE never falls through for you.

April and in the pool! WHOA!

2009-04-18T20:00:00.003-04:00

Dont know if butts are allowed on blogger land, BUTT, it was too cute to resist.... So as you can see, yes it is still April, but here in VA, we opened our pool... haha, ok ok, it is only a kiddy pool, but still, it was colddddd.... Levi is SO different from Miles. Levi LOVESSS the water, and i mean like "throw me in there!!" kinda love. Bryce is still in NZ, and well i still have like a week without him, Miles is very sad, and every day asks me "where is Daddy?" Its hard of a 2 yr old to understand that Daddy is visiting his mommy half way around the world. All any of us can say is:

WE MISS YOU DADDY!!!

Easter and our Seder meal!

2009-04-12T20:58:00.010-04:00

Yes, we are not Jewish, yes we had the Seder meal on Good Friday, BUT we celebrated it in celebration of JESUS our redemption and our provider! It was good, we recorded the whole thing.... boy it was long, not as longgg as tradition states it should be, i think it normally lasts 4 hrs, yeahh thats right a LONGGGG time, i was done like 10mins into it, but it was good, lots of payers and some songs. MIles kept on insisting he wanted to eat alll the motza bread, we had to hold him back!! He is a carb-a-voir.... Oh, any advice for a picky 9month old eater?? Yeahhh, Levi is taking a stance against ALLL food. How did this happen?? Ok, so here are the pictures to tell the story of our Seder....

Easter eggs are a tradition, i dont realllly know why, BUT none the less they are....
Now, the box of dye for the eggs said 5yrs and up, as i laughed at that recommendation, i began to see why a minuet into our "fun." OH, and it was... fun.
See those hulk hands??? He insited he was a dino or something.. haha, cute.

BUT, these are beautiful, arnt they??? The outcome, yesss some brown, but none the less beautiful, love em. Happppy Easter.......

George's Birthday

2009-04-08T20:38:00.002-04:00

"This is George, he is a good little monkey, and always veryyy curious."

If, like me, your children are obsessed, or just mildly love Curious George, then you know this quote alll toooo wellll. Every story begins with this. I think this is how I will begin to introduce my children..

"This is Miles, he is a good little monkey, and always verrrry curious..."

So, anyways, we read a book the other night and it was about George's birthday. So naturally we NEEDED to give George a birthday. Miles LOVES birthdays, i mean LOVESsssss them. Every day its:

"G.G's birthday?? Miles birthday?? Miles birthday is COMING!"

hahaha, i love it. so cute.

Sooooo, Miles was NOT sleeping through the night for the last, i dunno, 3 yrs, so I said "if you sleep through the night, then we will have a b-day party for George!!" Well, you can imagine the excitement.

That night, we did not have a full sleep through, soo the next day I had to tell him no party, lets try again tomorrow night! AND finally we did it!

And had a spectacular party.. As you can see, "cake" and all.

The party was great, until Miles blew out the candles before George got a chance... poor George.

for Auntie.. hehe

2009-04-08T13:18:00.006-04:00

OK, so the first photo cracks me up! Its like those pictures on the old woman lawn pictures, ya know what i;'m talking about? yeahhh, those ones... haha, poor Levi, but i just could not resist the urge to "click" that photo. haha... So Levi is now 9months old, that means 9months ago he was in my tummy, where does the time go? AND, even worse MILES will be 3 next month.. not happy about that.. no sir. We are having a good day, making dinner for friends who are moving into their first home, baking cookies, napping, hearing the CRAZy wind outside, and doing loads and loads of laundry... wowzers, theres a lot. Oh, and i am sipping ice tea from my IKEA cups, they are stinking adorable!!! Who else LOVES IKEA?!?!?! If you dont love IKEA, welll, its b/c you never have been there, BUT once you have to obsession will begin.. trust me on that one... danger valley....

good ol' fam time...

2009-04-02T21:04:00.006-04:00

My momma and me.

Remember I told you we had a momma daughter date, seeing that lady christian comedian? Well, let me tell you, it was grrreat!! We had a great time, and laughed from the moment we left the house till we fell in the door. We had a lovely time shopping, eating Krispie Kremes, eating Olive Garden, getting DSW crazy bargains, OH and dont forget seeing a great show. Our time out and about was soo needed, and such fun. Ok, so the bargains we got, we purchased an amazing purse for..... .50 and a silver amazing clutch for... 1.95.... hahahaha, i was like to the cashier.. "ARNT YOU EXCITED?!?!" and HE was like... "um... yyeahhhh...." Oh well, i was like dancing out of the store! I also bought at Kohls a pair of jeans, Candies label for..... $4.00.... i know, sick eh? And thats with tax.... wow, breathe my friends.... ok, SO i guess i better post at least one more photo for the fam:

little Stellan, big story...

2009-04-01T21:05:00.002-04:00

Little baby, 5month old Stellan, a picture posted at the right, is fighting for his life... My heart aches for him, every day I check up on him via his mothers blog. (you can read about it by clicking on the picture) He was diagnosed while still in his mommy's tummy, with a condition that makes his heart beat veryy fast. The Dr's told his mommy that he would not make it after he was born. Well, here he is 5 months later and a joy to the world. His condition on the heart has recently come back, and he is in the hospital now fighting for his life... Actually, people around the world are also fighting for his life, praying for little Stellan all around the world. When you view her blog, you will see his name, Stellan, has been written allllll over the world. People from every nation it seems know this little champion. So, if you will take a moment and look at little Stellans blog, say a prayer for him and his family, that would be awesome... Our God is a God of miracles, and nothing is impossible for Thee...

Miles ate all hid dinner, "horray!"

2009-03-27T18:49:00.011-04:00

For the start of my blog a row of photos for a quick update!!! See this one below?? Notice the Spiderman tent in the background sister Rachael? Miles and Levi love it.... Thanks again!!! Miles posing for mommma, hehe..

Levi cute as a baby can be!

The boys and Daddy, aweeee....

Down Below: Miles tonight after eating a BIG dinner of fried chicken and roasted veggies, soooooooooooooooooooooo good. We even had a chance to chat with Bryce's mum Joy via Skype, yippy, but poor connection kept us from chatting long, booo. Levi is into full on crawling mode, no more army crawl. Tomorrow mom and I are out for a girls day, we are going to see a lady christian comedian, we are sooooooooooooo excited! Her name is Chandra Pierce. She is sooo good, you should check her out on you tube.. sooo funny. I dont know about you but laughing is the best medicine. I get soooo happy after an afternoon of laughter, its theropy. The tulips are coming up very quickly, and i cant wait to see all the color they will bring. Yum, yum, hot cocoa from his NZ cuppa....

Bryce and I on our marriage trip wkend get away, downtown Baltimore, MD.

Its not the greatest photo<>
Ta ta for now, i promise anupdate a lot sooner next time! love to all!

correction!

2009-03-11T22:07:00.003-04:00

ok, sooo, Bryce's messages are at www.summit122.com , click on the right hand side of the page where messages are displayed! (mp 3's) ((downlaodable to ipod or whatever)) enjoyyyy

yes, its 70 again...

2009-03-11T14:50:00.003-04:00

so, i have been going to a tough work out class every tuesday night with my friend Lisa... it is an ouch one.... let me just start off by saying the first class i was on the verge of fainting in front of everyone... the instructor ran out and got me a wet cloth, while i tried to hide my majorly embarrassed face... not a pretty sight. BUT, since that first "fun" class, i have loved it, its an interval class, high impact/ weight trainging thing. AND boy, the day after the class i am a mess with ouchy spots, but boy that type of ouch is always exciting, isnt it??

Bryce preached on sunday, and it went really good. If any of you want to hear him, go to our church's web page: http://www.ccf-va.org/ I think you can find it there, if not write to me and i'll have a look. Levi is out of controle, nothing is safe anymore, NOTHING... i will be moving around the furniture for the 3rd time since he has started moving.... i am running out of ideas! Miles is still doing great on the potty front, and i am still amazed that he is diaper free, wow, great feeling. Bryce is slowly geering up to take his trip to NZ, he will be leaving Easter Sunday, and coming back the following week. I WANNA GOO TOOOO!!! BUttttt..... I will try to survive here in virginia... boo-hoo. When i think that we were only there a yr ago this month, its a crazy thought... I think of all the fun we had traveling around NZ, and all the family and friends we saw, it was a great time. I also think of Little Joshua Matthew Sams, our dear friends baby, whom most of you know is with the Lord now, BUT for that breif visit we had with our little Joshy baby, it was blissful. So i will end this blog with a special picture of our dear Joshua,

"we love you little man, and cant wait to meet your new little sister!"

its 70 here, and i see tulips breaking through the winter soil...

2009-03-07T14:58:00.005-05:00

YEAH, Internet at home, for once... So as always there is plenty to say and not enough time to tell it all so here goes: Miles is officially potty trained, as in #1's, #2's, "momma i got to go potty.." and even an occasional dry morning diaper... i am thrilled, it only took like 3 months.. BUT never the less, it is over, i did it. I Swear those motivational songs for the toddlers about YOU CAN DO IT, are really for the moms.... "you mean, I wont be changing my teenagers nappy? one day he'll use a potty?" PRAISE THE LORD! Also, we have discovered that Miles is hyper... seriously, i thought he was just happy all the time, but, he is a little mini-me when i was his age, always chattering/singing/screaming/dancing/rambling on and on and on and onnnn... it is a full day of the circus for FREE! Levi on the other hand is well, wait a min, yup on the same path as his brother, only a TON faster... he is just 8months old and is climbing up to a stand, crawling like no ones business, and eating for 3... WHAT am i gonna do. And we are certain he has said "da da.." I know every ones baby is "Super Baby" but let me tell you, we might have the real thing here in little Bealeton, Virginia..... Today was beautifullll, 70 with a warm breeze, and a long walk to enjoy it with. (also a Moo latte from DQ) Well, I think that is it, I can never remember what to type when i get the chance.... OH, Bryce is preaching this Sunday, i'll tell you on Monday if we still have a job or not, haha..... yeahhh. OK, well, here are some pictures to cheer ya allll up from the drought of, welll, no pictures..... oooooooooo, and a short Levi film.

Love to ALL!!!

reallll quick!

2009-03-06T16:51:00.002-05:00

Levi's dedication on Feb. 15tH!!
hE IS NOW hardly 8 months old, and climbing to a stand! AHHHH!
Christina!!!! sorry Library is closing!

7 month old "momma photo shoot"

2009-02-11T15:18:00.008-05:00

MAJOR CUTE!!!!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

7 monther, a big boy bed, a newest haircut, and so much more!!!

2009-02-11T11:18:00.006-05:00

Snow, it finally came.... in February? haha, oh well... ok, Sooo, as always a ton has happened, Levi is now 7months, how did this happen, someone tell me??? The poor guy has had a miserable cold now since b4 Christmas, soo I scheduled a Dr. apt. they checked him for RSV, praise the Lord, that was negative, but still put him on Antibiotics, if the cold dosent go away in 2wks, we are back again, to try new things, he's already had 2 days of the meds, and well no difference yet. His nose is thickly green, and plugged, and a yuck cough. poooor baby, is having trouble breathing, and esp. eating.
Ok, onto Miles, he has been potty trainging now for the past month, and still its a rare thing for HIM to tell ME its time for potty, i have to ask HIM and tell him its time to go... any advice??? Its WAYYY too late to turn back to diapers... But i would have thought by now he would have the idea... ug. BUT, he has grown up in other way, no more crib, yess he was in his crib till 2 1/2 but, he never tried to get our, sooo why change a good thing. Ok, soo when he started to escape, about 2 wks ago, i said to Bryce, its time for a bed, and that led us to my favorite store, a home store, YAY!!! We got him a bunk bed, a double on bottom and a twin on top. I LOVE IT, and well of course we had to get new begging, we have nothing in a double, sooo we went cowboy... its sooo stinking cute, i love love love it. Susie you could be proud, i sowed, with a sowing machine, wow, cowboy tassel onto the curtains, hehe... When anyone enters our home Miles grabs them and says "Show ROOM!!!" while dragging them down the hall... He loves it.

Ok, and for the hair cut, its me this time, oh well, i guess Bryce too. He has a mohawck, and i have chopped it once again... I think thats it for updates. Bryce's b-day is tomorrow, and i am making it special. I found a Kiwi resturant downtown, and i am talking him there, making FABULOUS carrot cake, cinnomin buns for breakfast, Guitar Center for the afternoon, a early movie, and lots and lots of laughs, CANT WAIT! Well, lots to do, soo i better jet!!!! Love to all!!! OH, almost forgot, did i tell you LEVI is crawling!!! AHHHH! LORD HELP ME!!! ~Christina

its been a MONTH of no blogging, tisk, tisk...

2009-01-21T13:13:00.012-05:00

HELLLLLLLLLO FAMILY & FRIENDS!!!! (special hello to Margo, yes its been forever..haha) We are indeed alive and well, and have lots and lots of stories and pictures to post, practically all the way back to Christmas... yikes, who's up for reading? The reason of this horrrrrrible absence is NO INTERNET, wanna just put pure torture on someone? Cut off allll Internet and see what happens, pure madnesss, hahaha, ok i'm fine, really, but still a bit deprived. Sooo, we had an awesome Chistmas, and a great New Year, and yesterday we watched the Inauguration of our 44th President. I kept telling Miles, "We are watching history, thats Barack Obama, our new President.." and then he would say "Barack OMama??" And I would say, "Wellll, sureeee." very cute.. So I have not told you all but our little crazy red haired child is NO longer a crazy haired little one, NO, he has grown up, and welll, we have cut his hair... I will pause while some of you scream in shock, and some of you jump for joy, and others get a few tissues for the tears, lol.... Rest assured he is still very cute.

Well, I think with that bit of news its time for some pictures:

Before shot

AFTER the CHOP!!!!

((I did his haircut in the bath tub))

Glancing at the new hair, wow, they are family, YIKES!
When I get some dry hair pictures, i'll post those as well. He is a "real boy now" hahaha, ok ok, always a real boy, but now you can tell from behind.

OK, so Levi is also a big boy now, no hair cuts for him, but for the first time yesterday he used a little bottle with watery juice! He was like, "what were you guys waiting for, this stuff is grrreat!" Also, he is madly in love with his fruits and veggies, and crys if we dont feed him fast enough.

He's our little 6 1/2 month old little Tank.

Welll, to all those out there, I don't know the next time i'll make it to the Library, but its been GREAT blogging today while i could.. sniffff, tilllll next time,

CHOW!

wow, a new post, crazzy eh?

2008-12-29T21:07:00.003-05:00

i know its been FOREVER, but here i am, and i got pictures! YAY! Soo, lets start with Christmas, it was grrreat, Miles had a blast, and i can tell this is the beginning of some amazing Christmas's to come, he just loved it! Levi, well he just stared in utter amazment at "what the heck are they doing? whatever, ok, back to jumping in my jumper.. weeeeeeeeee!!" haha, yeahh, he must have thought something like that... Tomorrow is a new year, and I am ready, I need a change, I have been in a stale state, on my own laziness, but still its stale, and I know i need to get myself in order. I need to wake up and know " this is the day that the Lord has made, I WILL REJOICE and be glad in it.." I will make a plan for the day and have some order in a day that can just seem aimless. My mom told me a great thing she read out of her one of mannnny books she is reading. "If you can't find joy where you are right now, you wont find it in the places you go either.." Meaning, if I cant find meaning, and happiness, and joy now, where I am, how can i expect it to change just by leaving and starting a new, we make the choices of our joy and happiness. (now, just the get that through my head.. haha) OK, on to the pictures: welllllllllll, I have just tries and tried, and they are not uploading, sooooo another day, love to all!!!

a few days to go!

2008-12-20T13:56:00.002-05:00

Christmas is like right around the corner! AH! I just finished a "healthy" trip to Wal*Mart.... last minuet goodies, but of course you know i get home and OH i needed this and that, grrr, oh well... we can do without TP... yikes. Its rainy and cold here, and the sky is a beautiful shade of gray... nice I know. Bryce left for winter camp this morning, and wont be back till Tuesday, 4 days of no Bryce... oh man oh man... sooo I gave up on potty training, well, at least until after Christmas. OH, and we got a cat, named it Jason.. Miles named him. His favorite boy name is Jason, and favorite girl name is Lisa, sooo the cat is a boy so naturally its being called Jason, poooor little kittty... haha. Still no Internet at home, and there wont be unless Santa brings it for us.... boy I wish he was real right about now, cuz i want some Internet accress, "can i get an amen??"
Well, thats all folks, i am sick of the library at the moment, but I can see my house from the window, nice perk.
Marry Christmas to all, if I dont get back here!!!

wow, we got some newssss

2008-12-17T11:17:00.002-05:00

Soooooooo, its been FOREVER since i've last posted, b/c well our Internet is gone, yup, i am in the library as we speek... grrrr. BUT, even though no new blogs have been written, a TON has happened, Levi turned 5months, Miles is potty training for real now, and our family just got a LOT bigger.... So, Bryce had a crazy beginning of life, and well, this week we just learned that Bryce has 3 half siblings that we never new about!! (Hello there to Shaun, Rachael, and Hayden, hehe) Its crazy exciting for us all, and sooo weird at the same time. Bryce was actually friends with Hayden while doing Youth Ministry in Waihi, New Zealand, and when we were married we ran into him at a KFC.... well, 3rys after that we got a phone call saying, "helllllo bro!" haha, ok not like that but you get the point. I think its a little convenient that its right b4 Christmas... hmmmm, haha, just kidding! OK, so, Bryce's brother Jason is getting married in April and Bryce will be going over there for that, and NOW he will be also visiting his long lost family as well, soooooooooooooo awesome! OK, so to the new, well, always there family, thank you from me, Bryce has always wondered about his other side and now sooo many answers are being filled, i am so grateful.. Even better, now we have the answer to the famous red hair, it means the world to us, all my love and cant wait to meet alll of you in the future... Christina , your new AMERICAN (sorry) sister in law...

cutie crib time

2008-12-05T09:27:00.002-05:00

Yesturday before nap time:

That face says it all I think...

To help nap time become nap time, I like to sing and sing untill I hear those little sweet breaths become nice and slowww. This morning we were singing a song I really love, "What a Friend I've Found," it goes something like this: "What a friend I've found, closer than a brother, I could search the world, and never find another. Jesus, Jesus, Jeeeesus, friend forever..." Levi was pretty restless soo, I started making up my own verses, what a hope, what a joy, what a love, what a peace, it was awesome singing of all the things Jesus our Lord is, and we can "never find another.." Before I knew it I was singing without an audience, little Levi was fassst asleep. It was sooo precious... what a Peace we've found, peace like no other...

the "great's"

2008-12-04T09:11:00.004-05:00

the "Greats"

Great Grandma Dietrich...

(We like to call her "G.G")

Ok, so watching my grandparents lets me see my little ones in a new light. They bring such joy to their hearts. And, as I can only try to imagine me as a Great Grandparent, I would be beaming too. I love love loveee my children, but can you even begin to imagine the love you would have for your children's, chrilden?? Out of this WORLD love... My grandparents are always telling me they are soo happy we are serving the Lord, that alone brings them so much happiness. And I believe it! As I pray daily over my children, one constant prayer is that:

"their hearts would always seek after Your ways..."

I am, as any parent a little ( a little? HA, a lot!) scared for the future, like teenage years, and will they still let me cuddle them?, or will they even "like" me anymore?, BUT I know the power of prayer, and I am going to proclaim their lives to Jesus Christ daily, praying that powerful Blood of Jesus of their minds and bodies, and I believe the Lord to be faithful, and to instill a hunger only He can fill. Can you parents, give me an Amen!!

So, I think as I raise my children I am going to be looking at them as future parents, and grandparents, and even someday great grandparents, and ask myself, "How am I today pointing them to Jesus, so that one day they will have no greater joy than to see their children serving the Lord?"

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.." 3 John 1:4

can you believe it? almost 5 months.... whoa....

2008-12-03T16:23:00.002-05:00

This "little" guy is gona be 5, yesss five months old this week, December 7th, I cant believe it... It seems like only yesturday it was just a family of 3, then "poof" we were 4.. and I LOVE it, I wouldn't have it any other way... Christmas is right around the corner and its gonna be extra special to have 2 boys to celebrate with... yayy! I cant wait for little Miles face Christmas morning.. Did I mention that everytime he sees a Christmas tree he sings "Oh Christmas Tree" yesss,

he truly loves Christmas...

Thanksgiving Day for the Taylor's

2008-11-27T20:34:00.010-05:00

The Thanks giving feast started with the day before, with pumkin soup, here we are digging out the "yuck part."

G.G mashing the potatos, yum-o... my favorite...

Grandpa/Dad carving the bird.
The spread....

The table ready for MADNESS!!! HA HA HA!

Little Levi smiling away, so glad Momma is gonna eat good...

"PLEASE gimme some pie!!"

A little pumkin pie ALL for Miles.. lucky boy...
So thankful for my family... what more could I ask for??

THANK YOU LORD JESUS!!!

ugg

2008-11-26T20:53:00.002-05:00

Uggg, too much food already. OK, so today is the day before the infamous food day, and welll, we ate too much already... We had a great dinner, Rubin sandwiches, and home made pumpkin soup made right in the pumpkin!! Also, i had made a (from scratch) Coconut cream pie... its my mothers birthday tomorrow, and that pie is her favorite! It was good if you like coconut, i dont, but still it was tasty! The family has all arrived, and now tomorrow we will have a full house full of NOISE... i mean, love.... It is already a bit too noisy for me, but i am praying that i will loosen up a bit and relaxxx, and pray my children sleep through it all, eek!! We had a killer time tonight, turning off all the light and playing with glow sticks... yup, from the young and old, we threw them around, made glowy swirly lines in the dark, and laughed very very lard. IF the camera could pick up such a time, it would be posted... its a great idea for CHEAP free fun. Well, Miles is up wayyyy past his bed time, and i am a wreck, its almost 9 and i don't feel bad about going to bed at this time... HEY, i wanted to go to bed at 8! I did pretty well holding out... phewwww....

my grandpa, and the boys pappy...

2008-11-26T12:27:00.001-05:00

Create your own FACEinHOLE

family time

2008-11-25T19:22:00.004-05:00

Sooo its holiday season, and that means FAMILY... I love having a full house, and the fuller and happier the better, except at night time when i want quiet.. hehe. My grandparents arrived today and Miles was thrillllllled. "G-G & Pappy" live in PA, and are the first of our arriving guests. My brother and his friend are arriving tomorrow, and my parents are already here, soooo we are ready for TURKEY TIME! YAYY!!! yum.. yum... When Bryce and I were first dating, it was around Thanksgiving, and we were in NYC, and I saw a funny Thanksgiving Day card, soo I said to Bryce trying to impress him and said "Wouldn't your mom just love this card? I should send it to her for Thanksgiving, do you think she would get it in time in New Zealand?" Bryce, then with a strange look on his face said.... "Well, she might like it IF we celebrated Thanksgiving?..." Ohhhhhhh..... dumb moment for me..... oops! C'mon... how was I supposed to know?! (wink, wink)

LOOK @ those blue eyes!! AHH, I can't get enough of them!

FACEinHOLE

2008-11-22T20:23:00.002-05:00

If only it was painted this way...

Soooo, i am trying for a contest, I am mentioning a great blog i read, http://www.mycharmingkids.net/ , the post is in honor of her daughter, Small Fry. If you havent checked out this blog its a must. If you wanna read about a true miricle, its also a must. They are a beautiful family of 4 kids, who love eachother, life, and Jesus, so what are you waiting for, go check it out!!!

Create your own FACEinHOLE

dear Joy

2008-11-21T13:22:00.002-05:00

Helllo there mother in law, Joy,
I have received a beautifulllll package with all kinds of birthday goodies in it, I LOVE IT!!! I have been wearing my kiwi apron non stop, lol, no really its on everytime i start to even think of cooking, its just grrrreat! And the "pookeko" plate is awesome, and the magnet is right on the fridge.. and the crunchies wellll, they are in my tummy! hahaha, nahhh not really i read the note that they are ment for youth group, ok, but i did eat one, and it was one of the BIG ONES< AHH, i know, baddd girl... no more for me! And yes, i have been getting your comments, i love them, soo if you could right one everytime you read i will be so thrilled, hehe... Do ya like the photo under this post? Miles and Levi in the cartoon? Great, eh? Well i found this funnn web page, called FaCE IN hOLE, i think, and welll, its awesome and SOOOOOOOOOO fun, i highly recommend it for everyone. A warning though it will suck out all your free time of the day.... yikes, sooo beware! BUT, you can download the picture to basicly anyy web page, OR create a shirt, niceeee... Well, its time to blast off, its cold here and windy and a nice hot shower sounds grreat right now.... all the kids are in bed, whoo-hoo!!!

FACEinHOLE

2008-11-20T20:15:00.001-05:00

Create your own FACEinHOLE

mini update

2008-11-18T13:13:00.004-05:00

Sooo, today it snowed for the very first time, yes it was sunny, yess the flakes were no bigger than a dot, yesss no white stuff collected on the ground, BUT none the less, it did snow! Levi was very tired the other day, and soo at 4:30 he went down for a nap, and welll, didn't wake up until 6:30 the next morning.... wowy I know, super baby. Levi and Miles both went to the Dr. yesterday, got shots, gave blood, we have a rough visit, sooo ice cream at 10 in the morning at Chick-fi-A was the answer, please don't judge me, lol... I was a good girl, no ice cream for me.. nope, just a chocolate milkshake... Other than that nothing new is happening. I did rearrange the furniture, and have started to clean the mess of a house, OH but i did make some awesome apple pie for my Daddy's birthday! I'm not one to brag but it was super super, goood. Can you believe new week is Turkey Day? It is my favorite holiday by fare.. all the food all the family... how can you go wrong? PLUS that means Christmas decorations can come out and play, YAYY! And the start of continuous Christmas Music, nothing else! So, please excuse me while I search out some yummy Christmas CD's.... this is gonna be fun, pure blisssss......
This is Miles, 2years ago at Christmas time... how the time flys.

cuz i like his chub...

2008-11-14T07:35:00.002-05:00

who can resist a chub-a-lub?? nottt me, yum yum yum!!!

precious...

2008-11-13T19:04:00.002-05:00

We are soo blessed to have healthy, beautiful little boys. I have been reading so many sad, heartbreaking blogs about health problems with children. It breaks my heart. Those who know Bryce and I know we want a lot of children, we just love them and would love a full house of little ones... BUT, the thought of having more children makes me think the more we have the more of a possibility of a health problem there is. I know this is no reason to say "hey, no more children" but its scary... My family is a very healthy family, no one with cancer, or any critical illnesses or any deaths recently, soo i feel its only a matter of time. These are the times I guess we have to remember God's promises, Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." I guess when I've read this before I thought it meant a peachy keen life, BUT if we look at it from a broken heart we realise that a life doesn't have to be lived for long to have it prosper and have a future. Its still an eternal life, and one of God's beautiful hand crafted creations! Even though I will always pray for healthy children, I know God's plans are higher than mine and He loves my children more than I ever could...

do you need a good laugh? watch this.... oh my goodnesss!

2008-11-09T18:10:00.002-05:00

Do I need to say more???

4 months today

2008-11-07T20:38:00.003-05:00

Soo, today Levi William is 4months old. We were supost to have a Dr.'s apt, buttttt I got there an hour late.. yeahhh. I thought the paper said 11am, BUT when I got there they told me I was an hour late, it was at 10. NOT HAPPY, I was for sure i was right so i was mad, and said "do NOT make me another apt!" and, well, stormed out. The whole way to the Dr.'s i was sooo happy cuz i was only like 1 min late, little did i know, i was 61mins late... yeahhhh. I got home, ran to the fridege to see the paper and, yup, it said 10am. Grrrrrrrr, boy was i mad. In the meantime from the Dr.'s to home, we had a picni, met up with some friends, and scheduled a Meet and Greet with a new Dr. I never liked the Dr i was going to for the boys, soo this was my golden opportunity. Very happy about that. Sooo, even though it was a bad start, it did end good. I have been making up a story every night, and every nap time about "Scooter" the fish, Miles is obsessed!!! Sooo, i told a mega longggg story on the couch, resseled with him, and made him laugh like crazy, then off to bed. AND, Levi was in bad by 7... nice. Now i am sitting back, relaxing, and drinking a Pepsi. ahh....

the flesh vs the Spirit

2008-11-05T12:45:00.002-05:00

Who Reigns in Your Town?

"Consuming, constant, and containing. The flesh and spirit are very similar in their strength to inhabit. As an old time western movie, there are two forces, and only one can reign in the “town.” This is the same case concerning the flesh and the spirit; only one can be in power within the human being.
When the terms ‘flesh and spirit’ are brought up in a conversation many different ideas will come to ones mind. Someone involved with the study of medicine might link flesh with the tissue of the body covering the bones and consisting mainly of skeletal muscle and fat. Or, a frequent drinker might recognize the term spirit, as a link to ‘spirits,’ an alcoholic beverage, especially distilled liquor. The terms to a Believer would possibly be linked to the written Word of God, the Bible. This is where the terms are defined, and are applied to ones life.
The term ‘flesh,’ is found 24 times in the book of Romans, defining its self as human nature. The Greek word is Sarx. In the story line of an old western movie, flesh would take the leading role of the bad guy. Flesh is not pleasing to anyone, but he still is in power. “So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” (Romans 8:8)
Flesh brings nothing but greed, selfishness, dispute, and filth into the town. He who dwells with flesh become slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness. (Romans 6:19) Even though flesh has taken a strong grip on the town, and he is in a period of influence, law still exists with its weight heavy on our backs. “For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death.” (Romans 7:5)
So how does one emerge from such a heavy life, daily dragging the condemning weight of flesh? A hopeful town member might get the idea of bringing in another ‘force,’ but this time a good force. They look and find the spirit to be tantalizing.
The ‘spirit’ is found 28 times in the book of Romans, and is defined as a current of air, or as the Holy Spirit. The Greek word is Pnema. To the people this sounds like an answer to their problems. “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you.” (Romans 8:9) As they soon find out, the spirit and the flesh cannot dwell together. “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.” (Romans 8:5) They cant set their minds to more than one thing. Either the flesh or the spirit.
The truth is finally found out when the hard fact is reveled. “For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” (Romans 8:13) The people then decide to not submit their members as slaves of uncleanness and of lawlessness, but now to submit as slaves of righteousness for holiness. (Romans 6:19)
As the flesh was thrown out, and its spot was taken over by the spirit, the heavy weight was lifted as well. “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” (Romans 8:1)
The excitement increases when they find that with the moving in of the spirit, it brings life! “And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.” (Romans 8:10) The town is saved, and the spirit reigns. It is no longer the flesh that is consuming, constant, and containing, but now the spirit is entrusted with that job.
Even though western shootouts for power are only in the movies, a real battle is taking place daily for whom we will let reign in our lives. The flesh or the spirit? Death or life? Which will you choose to rule your town? Choose wisely… "

if ya feel a little yuck today...

2008-11-03T14:08:00.001-05:00

You
are
Beautiful,
my darling…

Song of Songs 6:4

new hair!

2008-11-02T19:28:00.000-05:00

Sooo, those who know me well, or, just see me once in a while will have to agree that i loveee to change my hair. Seriously, about 3 days after giving birth to Levi i put in highlights... and then about a month after that I went slightly red, then a week after that blonde highlights were added, and now I am a completly dark.. and no i did not dye my brows, they are naturally dark. Dont get used to this color, i could change on a dime! Sometimes i'm not even prepared for my crazy ideas, lol....

story time again!! hehe

2008-10-31T11:05:00.002-04:00

ok, soo i'm into reading my old papers, this one i didn't even remember this untill i read the whole thing, its crazy how you can forget things in your life soo quickly! I just thought the last statement was reallly interesting, that how it got onto my blog! Cheers!

"My personal encounter was one I will never forget…

It was a chilly damp night in March, and I was apart of a group of Elim students bringing the Warm Light to Monroe Street. With all of my schooling information stored in my head and on my heart, and multicultural tracks in my pockets, I felt ready to take on the world!
I felt like an animal looking for its prey, seeking the meek and lost sheep.
Finally at one encounter a deeper conversation started with a man named Jimmy.
We started talking about the weather and March Madness, and then the big topic was introduced…. Jesus.
The “topic” of Jesus came into our conversation as Jimmy noticed some tracks in my hand and asked what I was holding, as he glanced over very curiously. He seemed to act in a manor of knowing everything I was talking about, but with every question it became clearer that he was a bit off to say it nicely. I asked him if he had seen the Passion, and he said no that he didn’t see it because the movie was his story. He proceeded to then tell me how he had died in 1983 and then was brought back to life after 3 days.
By then I was wearing a puzzled look on my face as I tried to regain my thoughts, and get back on track. I then told him that I thought he should go see it because he had such a strong tie to Jesus, and what He went through. He didn’t agree with me, so we moved on in our conversation.
We talked for a while longer, until I saw that the conversation wasn’t going to go anywhere because he kept trying to take over the conversation.
At one moment, when I said to myself: “this is conversation over,” he asked me a question. He said: Do you believe in the Trinity? And I said yes. Then he continued to quiz me on what each part was. Then he told me that there really were four parts, and that we were part of the Trinity, making it four.
So, I politely gathered my composure, and excused myself from Jimmy’s conversation with mainly himself, and went on my way on the streets on Rochester.
I learned a lot from my first encounter of sharing the gospel. I learned that when someone is trying to take over the conversation, that it’s a good idea to get out, because you will never win. I learned that even though you can keep bringing up the point of the conversation, and even asking them specific questions of salvation, that if they feel confident in their knowledge they will disregard your words. As if you said nothing at all.
As the night came to a close, a statement was made. “The people are rejecting Jesus not us personally.” As I chewed on that thought, I first felt good, and relieved that I wasn’t being rejected. But on the long ride back to school, it hit me. People were ready to reject a perfect man, and in return, eagerly ready to except a mere sinner who was saved. What a sad statement to end a night on…"

because i love photos...

2008-10-30T22:05:00.005-04:00

These are my boys... one has blue eyes the other has brown... cuties.

soo, a true story written by... ME

2008-10-30T14:01:00.002-04:00

so, i'm sitting here eating Sour Patch Kids, my favorite candy in the world, and reading some of my past writtings, do you wanna read one?, ok here it is:

"Before the planned creation was nourished with growth, and after the seed was planted into two hearts, God already held my name in His hands. A meeting, then a courtship, with letters in between, a marriage was set, and the “plant” sprouted with ease. A foundation of God, love, trust, and faith, they brought me into the world with great approval on their face.
The beginning of my life sounds so poetic and surreal, and in a way it is. In a world where hate flourishes and love is a dying necessity, God blessed me beyond belief.
Born on a cold, misty morning, as the sun unwillingly peaked from blankets of clouds, one of Gods creation entered the world. Wales, Great Britain wasn’t home for the new parents, but it would serve for their little ones first part of life. November 1st, 1984 was the date the Doctor wrote on the crisp birth certificate. Mother and fathers signatures were filled with ink that flowed with excitement and love. A new chapter in their life had begun.
On the plane ride homeward bound to America, the new parents anticipated the reactions to their first child God had given them. The plane landed, guests were greeted with love, the parents moved back into Buffalo, God still flourished in their lives, and new adventures took place.
My roots had been set, and now three years had passed. Gods’ overwhelming love and will in our lives was still growing, but our place where we planted our home, had moved to where God called us quite frequently.
In this particular town where we invested our time in this particular church, a magician was working Gods’ awe and awesome power into a children’s ministry. Barely able to contain myself, the excitement filled my 3-year-old body and soul. God had swept me up like the dove out of the magician’s top hat.
Since that day where God officially entered my life, He has been my life. Picture yourself as a little girl, freckles and pigtails, witnessing to other little girls and boys on swing sets and merry-go-rounds. That was me. I was preaching and teaching God’s love into every encounter with another human being, proving the point that every dream has to start somewhere. My dream was sprouting like Jack’s Bean Stock, reaching higher and higher into territory unknown, with excitement beckoning every onward step.
As my teen years approached daily, middle school, youth group, children’s choir, and in my mothers shadow, were the places I was found. God still served as my Lord and Savior, but a feeling of more yearned inside of me. The love of children had always filled my heart, like marbles fill a velvet bag, precious and preserved, always ready to play. The dream of traveling to parts unknown across the world to show my Fathers love to children, sounded like a question that knew the answer.
This is when I truly believe that God opened my heart up to the purpose He had for my life. He put into my heart that tingle of traveling, and preaching His love into children’s lives. Later on, as I would look back on my life and wonder, “why was I so blessed?” the answer was obvious. I was fed daily with love and support, and to most people this was the perfect home life. In return for this gift of family love and support, it enabled me to show the same to the less fortunate; in other words, I was blessed, to bless.
With my parents’ constant support, they helped me research Costa Rica, which I felt was the place that I should travel and minister Gods’ love. Under certain circumstances the trip was cancelled, but the dream was not forgotten; like a good chapter in a book, taking the hard step of placing the bookmark in the climatic spot, coming back to it when the time is right. God placed a decision of taking a step of faith and listening to the Author, (God) instead of the naive reader (me).
Middle school came to pass as quickly as a night flower dies at the break of day, and High school was the next big flower in my journey. My life as perfect as it had always been, began to be even more of a blessing to me as the stories of failed marriages, and adolescent rebellion, filled the halls of my school, which flowed into my ears daily. It was hard to be the “only” kid who could not relate to kids my own age who had been through Hell. Quickly my parents become a raft of rescue to the drowning teens in my school. Spoonfuls upon spoonfuls of love, was my parents method. The kids whose parents had no interest it their lives, soon become the interest of our lives, and we as a family grew and grew with every addition of young spirits. Growing up with this type of home life was a gift straight from Heaven, like fresh manna floating my way daily.
The stage is set, the props are mounted correctly, and the actress is anxiously awaiting the Directors next move of orders. With this picture of God giving the orders, and I as the actress playing the part of myself, the brief thought of my personal hopes and dreams can get in the way. But, through daily remembrance of God’s positive plans, and His position of the planter of my dreams and desires into my soul, keeps me encouraged and at ease. “Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4
My dreams of missions are in blossom, and the season of Spring will be eternal in my life. Cool winds may come my way, but the Gardener of my life and soul is protecting me, and building me stronger. Therefore, I know I am safe. Bring on the frost."
~Psalm 46:1-7~

we had to bribe, BIG time, hehe...

2008-10-28T15:26:00.004-04:00

Sooooooooooo, Miles told me he wanted to be a Bee for our church's harvest fest, soo like a good little mommy, i made him a Bee outfit. ((Susie, i know you are proud)) I found a very yellow sleeper at a thrift store, a friend gave me black felt, 2 destroyed coat hangers, and a pair of white stockings later, a Bee was born!! He failed to mention that after I spent a good amount of effort on the bee that he would refuse to wear it, no matter how much chocolate i bribed him with, lol.... Sooo we started with other costumes lying around the house, a tiger, Tigger, Winnie the Poo, then when he "wasn't" looking we slipped on the Bee, with chocolate shoved in his mouth.. hehe, awful i know. BUT, he has grown to like the bee, not love, but like, sooo, YAYY! We will still have to bribe the night of the party, BUT, nothing a little candy cant do...

See the chocolate?? For those who would think this is interesting, its a Pineapple Lump...

NZ style...

it has begun.

2008-10-27T09:12:00.002-04:00

welll, yes its not even Thanksgiving yet, BUT none the less, a Christmas movie is playing in our VCR... yes, and its not the first, it started, eeeeek, about a month ago!! AH, i know i'm bad.. BUT Miles love "Crim-iss" as he calls it, and wellll so do I. Thought i could get a blog in, BUT Levi wont have it! Got to go....

an update!

2008-10-24T08:19:00.002-04:00

SO! Here i am friday morning, Miles and I are up, no Bryce or LEvi, just us.. we are watching Jonah, a Veggie Tails Movie. I have a nice cup of cocoa, well it was nice, now its half gone, and luke warm.. ew. I've taken allll my vitamins, calcium, prenatal vitamins, and a new one fenugreek. Susie knows this one. Levi has been sleeping through the night, sooo in return my milk supply is well, low. (12 hrs of not feeding will do that to ya!) Soo, i did my research, and remember that Susie took this stuff, so off i go. I hope it works. Lately I have been ichy, ichy for something new, I was thinking of in Spring '09 of stating school, possibly for Nursing, then i wanted a dag, then a cat... I'm not content feeling, like i need something new! I realised starting school was probly bad timing, cuz we want more children in the future, and we all know a dog is a big bad decision for us, lol, had a dog for 2months and returned it, And a cat is a bad idea too! When Bryce and I were first married we got a cat from the New Zealand version of the SPCA and well, after about 2wks we returned... haha, SOOOO, pets are BAD for us. So, what does this mean?! OH well, maybe its the start of a new season, the leaves are falling and its getting cold, so maybe i feel like something should be starting. Maybe its the thought of another year gone in my life, my birthday is in about 1 week. I am soo excited for it, Bryce is taking me to a 6 flags theme park, just me and him for the whole day! YAY! I''m gonna eat cotten candy till i'm crazy! haha, cant wait! Ok, well that was a little update on everything, nice...

today.... cookies!

2008-10-22T20:44:00.004-04:00

What can I say, I make cookies from a bag, add 1 egg and a stick of butter, stir and ta-da, cookie dough! But it only costs $1 something and it makes for creativity, cheap fun, self confidence for little Miles and lots and lots of memories. I highly recommend cooking with your kid-o's. They LOVE it and get a real joy out of seeing their creation. Especially if its chocolate chip cookies.... Miles rolled alllll the cookies and placed them on the sheet to bake. He did it all, even picking out an occasional chocolate chip to munch on.. hehe. We had fun, and all for a little effort on mommy's part, and a $1.and some odd cents.
So got out an make a memory!!
Its goood, especially with milk.

((sticky fingers shot, on the way to the sink for clean up, then MUNCHing time!))

sleeping update

2008-10-22T10:56:00.004-04:00

Sooooooooooooooo, this wonder of a baby boy has done it, last night slept through the night...
No joke, from 7pm to 7:30am.... wow
I also weighed him this morning, and I'm pretty sure it read 17lbs.... yikes!

BIG BOY

2008-10-20T15:43:00.005-04:00

Levi's shirt explains it all...

My boys.. I do love them very, very much..

They are about 2 years and 2months apart,

BUT, in this picture they could be twins in weight...

((((LEVI is ONLY 3 1/2 months old))))

Don't they look the same size?

YIKES, i know...

I promise Levi is only getting mothers milk, lol...

See Levi's blueish eyes??Miles was very tired after the photos, just look at his exhausted facial expression!!!

hehehehehe.....

2008-10-17T08:54:00.005-04:00

10 days old....

...3 months later, and KA-POWY!!!!!!
Dont know if this allowed on Blogger Land but, too cute to pass up!!!

guess who?

2008-10-15T08:44:00.002-04:00

yesss, its Miles at 3months old... wow. Do you think they look similar?

a milestone

2008-10-15T08:41:00.001-04:00

Levi slep last night from 7:30pm to 5am....ate... then went back to sleep till 8:30am....

...who is this child?

giggles

2008-10-14T17:55:00.004-04:00

Just a little video to bring ya a smile...

...it did it for me!

mini fall photo shoot..hehe

2008-10-13T08:00:00.006-04:00

Harvest time here in VA, very chilly mornings, with crisp fall leaves under feet.

We have our pumkins picked and now all we are waiting for is Thanksgiving, our favorite time of year.. yummmmmmmm. I love turkey, and turkey loves me.
Levi being very patriotic, I only thought it appropriate, it is Columbus Day, lol.
"WE DID IT, no more pictures ma', now we can relax..."