He's in the Navy now.

Yes, I know he left 5 months ago. But I'm just now getting around to sharing how proud of him I am. :)

She's growing up.....

This last weekend, our oldest child, Bella, went on her first "get away" with her BFF. (too cute!) Her friend, Lily, got to bring a buddy along to Great Wolf Lodge for a birthday celebration.
She was soooo excited to go (GWL is one of our favorite places!), and of course I was happy about this opportunity for her.....BUT (and BIG BUT), I was nervous! She's only stayed the night next door at the neighbor's house or with mamai and papi. She's never been out of town without us! I kept thinking about how my little baby is leaving without me. It wasn't about me not trusting her or Lily's parents, it was just my baby being out of my control.
A week in advance, I started "prepping" her. I wrote my cell # and Mike's cell # on her hands in permanent marker so she could memorize them; she also had to memorize our address, lily's parents first and last names, what to do if she was lost in the water park, lost in the hotel, to wear a life jacket in the wave pool (though she's a strong swimmer), and what to do if a stranger approaches you.....most of this was redundant, but I HAD to know she would do all she could to be safe. Ultimately, she did GREAT....and listened to everything I asked her to do. And I did good, too....I only called twice! :)

A funny side note, I sent her with $30....to pay for some arcade games, a few treats and her magic wand game ($10). (I knew she'd spend it all) When she came home she showed me all she bought: A small stuffed doggy, a LARGE lollipop, and a ball for Ethan. What?? All of that for $30? I asked her how much it all cost.....her stuffed puppy was $19!!! and Her lollipop was $4!!! Leaving her $7 for the arcade.....pretty good right? I just laughed and figured, "well, she got what she wanted....and even brought her brother a gift!"

Drawing Closer.

Let's see...it's been OVER a year since I've blogged. It all pretty much stopped on July 6, 2009....the day Pop was diagnosed with the "Big C". Not just the basic cancer....stage 4, TERMINAL. It's been a long road. Our family has been through the gambit of emotional, physical, physcological and even relational changes in the last 15 months.
Most of you have been kept abreast of Pop's situation....my mom is good at keeping everyone informed. There's not much else to say about it. The dr.'s say he's going to die....there's nothing they can do. We are STILL standing on the Lord, looking to him for peace, comfort, encouragement. It's a moment by moment process....one moment I'm hopeful and the next moment I am wavering with death staring me in the face. With that said, I, at times, keep my self distant to the cancer....I don't really read all of my mom's updates (mostly because I see it for myself every day), I've come accustomed to the routine of mom and pop not leaving the house, like it's just the way they live and not because he's too sick to get out of bed.
In a need to just survive, I've also withdrawn from a deepness with my Heavenly Father. I'm not too sure why....Fear? Possibly..... Anger? Possibly that, too..... Keeping everything on the surface, refusing to see the reality of what's happening before me. Though I've stepped away, He (God) has continued to speak to me, gently calling me closer.
"Tell daughter Zion, 'Look! Your Savior comes, ready to do what He said He'd do, prepared to complete what He promised.' Zion will be called new names: Holy people, God-redeemed, SOUGHT OUT, City- NOT FORSAKEN." Isaiah 62:11-12
We can run. We can hide. We can step back. But with every step we take, God's sweetness is there to draw us near. I may not have all my strength, but He doesn't require that. All I need to do is lay in His arms and be comforted.

Do you know what "stop" means?

Bella and Ethan have one night a week they spend at my mom's house. This last week Ethan and Mamai had a conversation that went something like this:
Mamai: Ethan please stop.
(ethan continues to do whatever he's doing)
Mamai: Ethan, I asked you to stop.
(he still continues)
Mamai: Ethan, do you know what "stop" means?
Ethan: no.
Mamai: Stop means "stop what you are doing."
Ethan: So they mean the same thing?!

Reading is good. :)

Her New Lip Thing.

She does this all the time now...very cute!

Nature is pretty cool.

So, we looked out the window about a month ago, so see this little "perch type" bird flittering outside our window. She kept flying back and forth, it was obvious she was building a nest on one of the flood lights above our deck. Yesterday, we looked at the nest and found her sitting in it....while she "stepped out", to eat, I'm assuming, we peeked in her nest and saw 3 tiny eggs! The kids are really excited and check for her every day (through the window). We are careful not to disturb her, though it's hard for the kids because they want a better look. :) Can't wait until the babies are born! What a good lesson in the life of a bird for the kids!