Kids Say the Funniest Things

Me:  "I am lovin' me some Beckers" (Beckers is Rebekah's affectionate and preferred nickname)

Rebekah:  "I am lovin' me some Nana"

Me:  "Do you love mommy?'

Rebekah:  "I love me some mommy too"

Sweet girl.  I love the innocence and complete honesty of kids!

An Apple A Day...

Saturday was the much anticipated pick-your-own Honey Crisp Apple Weekend at Eckert's.  This is my favorite time every year.  We take the girls to Eckert's and take a wagon ride out to the apple trees. We walk up and down aisles of apple trees, pick Honey Crisp Apples, and eat almost as many apples as we pick.  We were a little disappointed this year because the apples weren't as good as last year.  Despite the disappointment, we managed to find 20lbs of acceptable apples! 

We are having WHAT for dinner?

I decided to go all "culinary" on my family and fix Mexican Chicken with Black Beans.  I got the recipe from Relish (www.relishrelish.com).  It is a meal planning website.  LOVE IT.  Well, here is what turned out.

I thought it tasted great.

John cleaned his plate.

Rebekah ate all her chicken.

Abigail ate everything!

Hannah suffered through it.

(I guess 4 out of 5 ain't bad)

Rebekah's First Day of School

My sweet Rebekah started back to Preschool today.  She was SOOOO excited to start school.  When big sisters started school and she didn't, she was not happy.  She has Ms. Lisa and Ms. Laura this year.  She had a great day at school and personally I thought she was the prettiest one there!!  Love you Beck Beck!!

Remembering...

Today is the 4th anniversary of my dad's Heavenly homecoming.  This day is always met with lots of emotion.  In some ways, the passage of time has allowed healing and a lot has happened yet at the same time, the memory of this day 4 years ago still burns vivid in my mind as if it were yesterday.  I don't think I will ever forget that day. 

A few days prior to my dad passing away, I was able to spend some one-on-one time with him.  I had made him a journal of sorts....more like a story book.  As I opened the book and read it to him, my dad who had been somewhat in and out of conscious states for a few days was very much aware and became very emotional.  It was by God's strength I made it through.  As we cried together, some of the last words by dad spoke to me were "please don't let them forget me".  He was talking about my kids.  I made a promise to him and I have stood by my promise.  This one is for you dad!!!

This picture was taken last year.  I know the Hannah and Abigail were young when he died but I hope some day they will feel like they know him from stories and pictures.  Rebekah Danielle is named after him (Danny) and I pray she will feel a connection to him as well. 

Life is journey.  The last 4 years has been quite the journey for not only me but for my whole family.  I am speaking mainly about my sweet mom.  I love her more everyday because she is the strongest person I know.  I know how today makes me feel and I can only image how this must make her feel. 

      Mom, if you are reading this, I admire your strength and determination and your unfailing dedication to our Lord and Savior.  Legacy was very important to dad and you are continuing his legacy of keeping family number one!  Thank you for being who you are and most importantly for being my mom!

 Despite the rough times, GOD IS GOOD!  We may have lost my dad but he is NOT forgotten.  I will see him again one day on the streets of gold.  What a wonderful reunion that will be!!!  I Love you dad!!

It's good to be back

Where to begin.  It is hard to know where to start bringing this blog up to speed.  A lot has happened in 3 years.  For starters, the little girl in the ultrasound picture is now almost 3.  She is as cute as a button and a genuine stinker.  I love my little Rebekah.  She calls me her "buddy".  She is so cute you could just eat her up, but this is the same precious child that got mad at me today and threw a ball and hit my head and proceed to lie about throwing the ball.  Oh the memories.

Our little Abigail is still...well....little.  She is in the first grade this year but she is not bigger than a minute.  However I stand by my claim that dynamite comes in small packages.  She is our little firecracker.  We are working on fattening her up but it doesn't seem to slow her down.  Abigail is our fashion conscience one.  She loves fashion and style and has enough shoes to outfit a small army.  Let me clarify something though...I did not buy her all those shoes...somehow she had inherited most of these shoes from friends.  I guess it pays to stay the same size for a while.

Hannah is in the third grade this year.  She is getting taller.  I figure it won't take much longer before we are seeing eye to eye.  Grrr.  They grow up too fast.  Hannah is our piano player for now.  You never know when you will find Hannah playing a song and Abigail singing to it.  Rebekah is usually around but she is somehow sabotaging the whole event.  Haha

John is working for a government contractor and really liking it.  He recently went through a company change but the adjustment has been good.  He teaches a LifeGroup at our church and refs Upward Football.  He is starting to train for a road race....distance tbd...but he just likes the discipline of training.  He NEVER turns down an opportunity to play golf and manages to keep most people in stitches.  Oh and he plays on the church softball team....and they are HORRIBLE. :-)

As for me, well you know, I am a mom.  Enough said, right?  I am keeping myself busy with different activities.  I am the MOPS Coordinator for the MOPS group at our church.  I am also an "Administrative Assistant" for the Preschool at our church.  That is just a nice title for "Newsletter Person".   I also enjoy sewing, quilting and embroidery.  I would love to scrapbook but the last time I touched a scrapbook was before my last blog entry....so sad.

Now with the fam updates out of the way, here is what has been going on over the last 3 years...in a nutshell:
- moved back to Illinois from Germany
- Got out of military
- bought our first house
- had our third baby girl
- John got a job!  Shocker :-)
- experienced the loss of all our remaining grandparents (not at the same time) 3 total
- Have done countless home improvement projects (yet the house looks the same as the day we bought it) ha
- sent both Hannah and Abigail to elementary school. (wait as I wipe the tears)
- Abigail had kidney surgery
- Traveled to Washington D.C.
- Bought a ski boat
- got our last little one out of diapers !  PTL!!!!!
-and experienced the joy of watching our oldest daughter ask Jesus into her heart and follow in believer's baptism!
All in a 3 years work!!