Summertime round up

Summer came to a fast end I feel... and we still continue to be busy, busy, busy!  I wouldn't trade our crazy busy, fun-filled summer though for nothin!  We thouroughly enjoyed every minute of the 3 HOTTEST months on record (well, they were in my book! ; ), taking an airplane ride in June, July & August, hanging out at the ball diamond on Monday nights to cheer on Dada & the Harvest Mens softball team, going to a splash park a few times, which will be a must do every summer for sure!, celebrating birthdays & births, going to the annual Coon Creek Country Days in Hampshire (my hometown) & much, much more!  (I've already blogged about a lot of the summer) (Also, I'm having trouble uploading pics, bummmmmer!)

Blackberry Farm & Tehya's 3rd Birthday
On August 2nd Tehya turned 3!  Angie had just had Judah, so I offered to take Tehya to Blackberry farm with Siah & I, along with my Mom & Cameren.  It was a really fun day!  They got to ride the train, carrousel, & pony's multiple times.  The kiddos absolutely loved it & Tehya has been asking me every time I see her when we can go back : )

Splash Park
This summer we found a splash park in Glen Ellyn that is close & cheap, & really fun!  We were taking Josiah to the pool at the beginning of the summer, but mid way through he started to get really comfortable in the water & all he wanted to do was venture into the deep end & go under the water.  So needless to say, it was a lot of work for just me to take him to the pool anymore.  I was really happy when we found this splash park.  We went with Alison & Parker one day, & also with Dada.

Coon Creek Country Days
This is an annual tradition in my hometown of Hampshire, & therefore has been a tradition for my family since I was little.  Saturday night is always the fireworks, & let me tell ya, they are the BEST firework show around!  Unfortunately Josiah didn't care for the cracks, bangs & booms this year, so we left shortly after they began, I was bummed to miss out.  But, my son comes first!
Sunday is the parade on State St. & we always line up at the Bishops home (good family friends since forever & they live on State) & then party afterwards.  We all bring a dish to pass & enjoy a wonderful meal together.  Its always a fun weekend spent with family & friends!

Saddle Up Saloon
2 of my best girlfriends, Katie & Alison, have birthdays 5 days apart, so they decided to celebrate their 25th together... at Saddle Up Saloon.  It was a blast of a night line dancin to Footloose, Boot Scoot & Boogie & other fun country songs.  By the end of the night Alison was pretty good at the whole line dancin thing!  I love when we are all together & have something like birthdays to celebrate : )

That pretty much concludes our fun & exciteful summer!  Here's to fall, my favorite time of the year : )

Summer Olympics 2012

I have always loved watching the olympics, both the summer & winter games.  I look forward to it in the weeks prior and watch as many events as I can.  But of course, I have my favorites which are the women's gymnastics, mens gymnastics (specifically the high bar & rings), all the swimming events & diving, & some of the volleyball & track & field.

It was so fun to watch the women's USA gymnastics team, the Fab 5, win gold this year!  What an incredible night of competition!  Seeing McKayla Maroney do amazing on vault & stick her landing, was so cool!  All those girls definitely brought their A game & came to win.  And then watching Gabby Douglas in the All Around exceed in all the events & win gold, was surreal!  She was so on that night & all the glory goes to God.  I love how vocal she is in her faith, saying "It's kind of a win-win situation, the glory goes up to God & the blessings come down on me."  If only we all could be a little more like Gabby!  Way to go girl!

Watching Michael Phelps make olympic history, winning a total of 22 olympic medals in his swimming career & 18 of them being gold , wow!  Was that amazing & inspiring.  It's because of him & other swimmers, like Missy Franklin, why I have come to love watching the sport.  I look forward to watching Missy in 4 years!

I also loved watching Kerri Walsh & Misty May go for their dream of 3 gold medals in beach volleyball & they sure did it!  More olympic history made by the Americans, so sweet!

Although he isn't American, it sure was cool to watch Usain Bolt, the fastest man in the world, win gold in 2 events.  He is so lightning speed fast, which makes his name very fitting : )

Last but not least, of course I was happy to see both the USA men & women basketball team win gold!  

I cannot wait for the winter olympics in less than 2 years!  I love watching the iceskating & snowboarding.

Overall USA medal count: 104
Gold medal count: 46

I think its safe to say, USA rocked the house!

Siah watching some of the closing ceremony

I am proud to be an American, God bless the USA!!!!

Annual weekend trip to Lake Geneva 2012

Ever since Dan & I got married, well even before we were married, Lake Geneva has been our favorite place.  Before we were married we would go visit the town for a day, shopping, eating, & walking along the shore.  I suppose since we fell in love with Lake Geneva while we were falling in love with each other is why we decided to honeymoon there.  Sometimes I wish we would've gotten the experience of an all inclusive resort on a tropical island for a whole week for our honeymoon, but then I remember the fun we had & how special it was, & I wouldn't change a thing about it : )  The fall of 2007 (the year we were married) we joined a 2:1 small group (a small group for newly married couples).  That is when we met Brian & Leslie Schwartz, & we immediately connected with them & loved them!  They have become great friends & mentors to Dan & I, we are blessed to know them.  Brian & Leslie own a condo on the lake (along with a boat!) & have so graciously invited us year after year to join them for a night or two.  So of course we took them up on their offer every year!  But now, they actually own a house on the lake that they have completely re-modeled with 4 bedrooms, 4 bath, bonus rooms & a theater room!  We are so grateful to the Schwartz's for their hospitality & generosity to us & look forward to our time up at the lake with them every year.  I share all that with you to lead into this years annual weekend trip to Lake Geneva...

It was a blast!  (as the theme for our summer has been!)  Last year we went up to the lake with a few other couples, one of them being Ryan & Emily Baker, who only had their 1 son Colin, at the time.  We could tell right off the bat that we were gonna be fast friends with this couple!  They are great!  So, naturally when we were all thinking of when to go up to the lake this year we planned a weekend to go together again.  This will hopefully be a yearly tradition now with the Bakers : )

We got up to the house on Friday night, unloaded the cars & enjoyed a delicious meal made by the Bakers.  After we put the kids to bed (Colin (2), Josiah (1) & Elijah (4mo.) us adults stayed up & talked & caught up with Brian & Leslie.  But we wanted to get a good nights sleep for a fun Saturday, so we went to bed shortly after 10pm.  We woke up Saturday morning, had bagels for breakfast & got ready to go on the boat.  It was a beautiful day on the lake!  The boys absolutely loved the boat ride, & got to help Gmpa Brian drive it several different times, too.  We took a short break & anchored so the guys could jump in the water & cool off.  The kids loved it too!  After a few hours on the boat we rode back to shore for lunch & naps.  It was a quiet afternoon- the kids napped, & well some of us adults napped too : )  Dan & I made dinner Saturday night- homemade burgers, sweet corn & the worlds best potato salad (no I didn't make it, its from Costco).  We decided to watch a movie after the kids were in bed, & the one we watched I wouldn't recommend, but now I can't even think of the name of it!  Haha  But we shared some laughs!

Sunday morning we were able to go out on the boat again, & believe it or not, Sunday was even more beautiful out than Saturday.  Wow, I was so so grateful!  We toured the lake again, took a quick swim break, passed by the Abbey resort (where we honeymooned!) & got back to the house again for lunch. Our campus pastor, Jeff Donaldson, at Elgin Harvest & his family were on their way up for a nights stay at the Schwartz Inn, so they joined us for lunch.  It was great to see them & fellowship with one another.  We left to go home shortly after lunch, though, & as always, it was hard to leave this beautiful place & wonderful company.  We had such a great time with y'all!  & cannot wait until next year!!

 2 cutie boys!  Colin & Josiah

 Enjoying a swim

 Gmpa Brian & Josiah- he LOVED getting to drive the boat!

 Aww presh!

 Siah & Mama

 Our family of 3 on the lake : )

All 9 of us!  Schwartz', Baker's & Haskell's

A trip down South

I have been dying to write this post (but wanted to stay in chronological order of our eventful summer, of course, & I've been so behind)!  But, FINALLY, here we go!

We left on a Tuesday morning in July for our family vacation to Lizella, Georgia (1 1/2hrs south of Atlanta) to visit my Uncle Jeff & Aunt Beth & cousins, Nate, Sarah & Rachael.  They had just moved there (from Ohio) 6 weeks prior to our visit, so you can imagine our excitement to see them & their new  home!  I already mentioned in a previous post (A time for 1sts) that we flew down, which was of course Josiah's 1st time flying.  It was fun, a little stressful, but fun!  Again, I'm really glad we weren't traveling alone!  Once we got to their beautiful house & had the tour, we immediately got in our swimsuits... & this is why:

I know, right??!!  Incredible!  We basically lived in our suits in this pool, if we weren't at the lake on their jet ski or kayaks, all week long!  For dinner that night we ordered out Firehouse Subs, which I have been wanting to try for a while now back home, & wow, my sandwich was delicious!  A must try people!  After the "grown-ups" went to bed (hehe) (& Siah), the boys & I went to Wal-Mart to get a few groceries for the week & then stayed up way too late playing cards.  But, it was a lot of fun!

Wednesday we visited Major Jeff at the Airforce base where he works.  That was pretty cool!  I've always admired my uncle Jeff & was excited to see the base & tour the museum with him.  He even paid for us kids to ride the simulator where we flew with the Blue Angels!  

Wednesday night my mom, Aunt Beth & I stayed up talking.  I love when we get to do that & just have girl talk!  & then after they went to bed, I watched the boys put on a show going off the diving board, I love my bros & cousin, Nate!  They make me smile : ) & then at a little after midnight we all ran into Sarah's room to wish her a Happy Birthday!  She loved it : )

Thursday, July 12, was a special day, because it was Sarah's 17th birthday!  We pretty much spent all day in the pool again & then went out to dinner that night to celebrate.  When we got home we sang Happy Birthday! & she opened her gifts.  Then the guys started watching preliminary Olympic basketball & I think we ended up playing cards again that night.

Friday we hung out all day pool side again (I told you we lived in the pool!) & then when Major Jeff got home from work we packed up & headed to the lake.  Aunt Beth, Sean & Nate went out on the kayaks, and Rachael & Brandon rode the wave runner first.  Then Sean had a turn, my dad, & Dan.  While my mom, Uncle Jeff & Josiah hung out on the beach & played.  The sun was setting & Dan wanted to take me out on the jet ski.  He took me on a wild ride! : )  It was a lot of fun!  Once we got back the guys put on a movie & I somehow convinced my uncle to make popcorn in the theater like homemade popcorn machine : )  My absolute fave!  Family movie night was a blast!

Saturday we decided to let the boys go have fun on the lake- jet skiing, tubing, & kayaking, while us girls had a relaxing day at home... again by the pool.  That is when I got the majority of The Hunger Games read, I couldn't put it down!  My mom made yummy pasta & homemade bread for dinner & we hung out in the pool all night long.  And on our last night in Georgia, we got the whole family to play cards, that was sooo much fun!

Sunday morning Mom & Dad, Dan, Siah & I went back to the lake for one last run on the jet ski.  The water was like glass, so smooth & calm, it was a beautiful morning!  We roughed it up though & got the jet up to almost 70mph!  Dan loves doing donuts, & gave me another wild & crazy ride, sooo fun!  Siah even got out on it, only going idle speed, but I think he liked it!  Once we got back we did a clean sweep of the house, & while Josiah napped, had one more hour to relax pool side.  It was so hard to leave this place, can you imagine?! 

 We had an absolute blast all week long!  I love my family so much & we can't wait to go back!

Oh & I almost forgot to mention the litter of puppies!  My aunt breeds golden doodles & they are absolutely adorable!  We had a lot of fun playing with them, as did Siah!

Isaiah Reflection

I have continued my quest of reading the Bible chronologically in a year (I got behind a little bit here & there, but I'm cutting myself some slack, it's summer, right?!) & just finished reading Isaiah.  Wow, a great book that is quite convicting towards the end.  While reading Isaiah 53, I began to weep.  It's about Jesus, the Servant, who was wounded for our transgressions.  It was me who put Jesus through all of that... the trial, floggings & ultimately death on a cross.  Jesus didn't suffer for his own sin, because he was sinless, but as the substitute for sinners, me & all mankind.  Every person has sinned (Romans 3:23), but Jesus sufficiently shouldered the consequences of sin & the wrath of God deserved by sinners, again, me.  God laid on him our iniquities as if he committed every sin ever committed by every person who would ever believe, though he was perfectly innocent of ANY sin.  

This past weekend in church Pastor James preached on Isaiah 64:1 and the Vertical Church.  During worship I was so moved by the Holy Spirit to the point of tears.  God is at work in our church.  He is present.  & He is sooooo good!  Vertical Church is the biblical belief that deep within the heart of every person is a longing for God.  Our hearts are restless until we find God.  From Isaiah 64:1 which says, "Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence."  Pastor James had one point:

• The Manifest (visible) presence of God:  With it we have everything we need, no matter what we lack; without it we have nothing, no matter what we have.   

This verse in Isaiah is a plea for the LORD to demonstrate his power & show his visible presence.  

I also love verse 8 of chapter 64 when it talks about God as the potter & we as the clay, we are all a work of his hands.  I pray I am continually being molded into who God wants me to be.  I pray I seek him with my whole heart & that I'm awake spiritually in order to do so.  In chapter 66:2 the Lord says, "He who is humble & contrite in spirit & trembles at my word, is the one to whom I will look."  God is looking for a heart to dwell in, a heart that is tender & broken, not one concerned with the externalities of religion.  God is looking to dwell in the heart of a person who takes his word seriously.  (MacArthur commentary)
I pray the Lord looks on me as this, having a soft heart & moldable spirit.  

Thank you God for your Word, that provides truth, conviction, encouragement & peace.  Thank you Lord for your son, Jesus, who was perfectly sinless & yet had the sins of the world upon his shoulders as he died upon the cross.  & thank you God for the Holy Spirit who guides & directs & moves me to tears as I worship you, the one TRUE God!  I love you Lord Jesus!

   

A time for 1st's

In the past couple weeks Josiah has had many 1st's.  First haircut, 1st airplane ride & drum roll please... 1st time saying "mama"!!!  Let me tell you about each of these...

1.  At 15 1/2 months old I gave Josiah his 1st haircut.  I think it's pretty cool that I was able to personally do this, being a hairstylist & all : )  Siah did so well & is such a cutie.  I was feeling a little sentimental & kept a lock of his fine baby hair for keepsake.

2.  First airplane ride.  In July we took a family vacation with my parents & brothers to Georgia to visit my Aunt & Uncle & cousins (this will be a separate post as well).  Josiah was so excited to ride on an airplane like the ones he always points to in the sky.  But to be honest, I don't think he really knew he was on an airplane once we were in the air.  Overall he did pretty good.  I'm just glad we were with my family, because we passed him back in forth between everyone & let him walk up & down the isle!

3.  And last but not least his 1st time saying "Mama".  It was quite special to say the least & melted my heart.  I have been waiting a long time for this day!  It was the last Friday in July & Alison & Parker were over.  We were playing in the living room & Al asked Siah to say mama, but he wouldn't, shocking ; ).  So she told Parker to go tell Siah to say it. 

Parkie: "Siah, say mama." 

Josiah: "MAMA"!!!  

I couldn't believe it!!  We have told him time & time again to say it, but I guess it just took his best buddy to tell him!  He then continued to say it over & over, & I just hugged & squeezed him & teared all up : )  It made my day, well actually my year!

Fun with our "neighbors"

So we have this long-lasting joke with the Glendenning's since they moved to Wheaton earlier in the summer that we are now 20-minute-neighbors : )  Because this is the closest they've ever lived to us, we are quite excited about it!  Anyway's, last month we had planned a day to go biking downtown, unfortunately that didn't happen (maybe soon?), but what we ended up doing instead was super fun!!  


The Arlington Heights fest was going on that weekend & Ryan was going to help out with the fire department, so we decided to meet them up there.  Well, Ryan was given free tickets for the kiddie rides, so the boys rode their hearts out on a few different ones.  The car ride being their favorite, of course, so they rode that multiple times!  

Then we drove over to Arlington Heights Fire station 2 where Ry guy works.  We had been wanting to visit him while he was working for a while now, but since we were in the neighborhood, this seemed as fitting a time as any.  It was really cool to get a tour of the station & see the firetrucks & equipment.  I think Josiah will really look up to his Uncle Ryan someday : )

After visiting the fire house we needed to fill our tummies, so...we went to the Pei Wei here in Illinois, FINALLY!!  It's pretty delicious fast food Asian cuisine, so another place we can check off our list : )  Well, the night didn't end after dinner... Pei Wei just happens to be next to Munchies frozen yogurt where we then satisfied our sweet tooth.  I was like a little kid in a candy store : )  It was delicious!

What a fun summer night with our "neighbors"!!