A Reason to have Peace...

"Blessings"
Laura Story

Although my "reason" series was going to go through December, it seemed that life had a different plan. Between sicknesses (mine and Steven's...but mostly Steven's), Christmas planning and get togethers, work, and family--the blog posts took a bit of a back seat. However, I have a lot of other songs and lot of other reasons to share, so I'll keep sharing as long I have something to share:)
This song is so perfect as we look at starting a new year. 2011 definitely wouldn't seem like a year that I would want to re-live--but then stop to consider that many of the bad things that happened this year were closely followed by really great things. Most significantly, my mom nearly died in October, but by the middle of December she was shopping, celebrating Christmas, playing Minute to Win It, WALKING, and even visiting the nurses and staff that took care of her this year. I can't think of a bigger blessing--but would all of those things seemed so significant if she hadn't been diagnosed with AML and later coded in the ICU? Probably not. Not that I would wish any of that to happen ever again, but when we come out on the other side of "bad" things, the good things seem a little better and little quicker to come. That's why I think this song speaks to me--what if our blessings come through raindrops? And if our healing comes through tears---well I'm good at healing then, because I've cried millions of tears this year. And to remember that those friends and family that we've lost this year (and the years before) are waiting for us when we begin our eternal life? Well, sometimes we need that reminder for just a little bit of peace.

I was listening to KLOVE this week (if you don't know the station, consider tuning it...it's a national station, and it's available online at klove.com)....anyhow, when listening to KLOVE they mentioned that we could start 2012 with PEACE and one of the ways they were going to 'do' something to get there was by writing down all the things that you wanted to get past on a piece of paper and then shredding it. Wouldn't that be symbolic? Maybe you don't need a symbol, but if you do, that's a way to start. I think I might make a list of things that I want to shred, but I think that I may also make a list of all the blessings that I want to remember too. Just something to consider for the new year.

"Blessings"
Laura Story
We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
It's not our home

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise

A Reason to Surrender

I Lift My Hands

Chris Tomlin

Chris Tomlin is one of my absolute favorite artists--Steven's too. In fact, we didn't attend many concerts this year, but we made sure to go to Chris Tomlin a few weeks ago when he was in town with Louie Giglio. If you ever have the opportunity to worship with Chris Tomlin--DO IT! You will thank God for the gift He has blessed Chris with!! So, now that you know I Heart Chris Tomlin, let's share a little about this song.
I think this year has been one of doing a little more than lifting up my hands. Sometimes I just felt like I was throwing up my hands and asking God...."what next?!?" It was this song that kept me thinking "You are faithful God, forever". If God is faithful FOREVER then shouldn't I surrender to Him? Lift my hands to Him and know that if I give up what I think I want and rely on Him to provide what I need then I can find comfort.
Easier said than done, right? How does someone just surrender to God. I think that each person would answer that in a unique way, and that is the amazing thing about our relationship with God...He is OK that we are all unique in how we relate to Him. You can go to God on your best day or at your worst and He will treat you the same--with unconditional Love. Don't you wish you could do that to everyone? Oh sure, we try to, but sometimes... well, you know what I mean.

Be still....be still...surrender to God. Reminding myself of this has helped so much during this year. It's almost like I'm singing parts of the Bible to help remind myself...I may not know which verse I always want to turn to, or which book or chapter is the one I'm looking for, but the songs are always in my heart and my head. That being said, I do know some verses that I particularly turn to or recite to myself; Psalm 46:10 "Be Still and Know that I am God...". This doesn't mean that you don't move, but more important that you are intentionally surrendering to God. You stop to listen to Him and to recognize that you are not doing this on your own (whatever this may be at the time. So the next time you find yourself wanting to throw up your hands in despair, do so...but be ready to feel the strength of the Lord as He takes care of the weak. He will recognize your surrender and find ways to remind you that He is faithful, FOREVER.

I Lift My Hands lyrics
Songwriters: Christopher Tomlin,Matt Maher,Louie Giglio

Be still, there is a healer
His love is deeper than the sea
His mercy, it is unfailing
His arms are fortress for the weak

Let faith arise
Let faith arise

I lift my hands to believe again
You are my refuge, You are my strength
As I pour out my heart
These things, I remember
You are faithful, God, forever

Be still, there is a river
That flows from Calvary's tree
A fountain for the thirsty
Pure grace that washes over me

Let faith arise
Let faith arise

I lift my hands to believe again
You are my refuge, You are my strength
As I pour out my heart
These things, I remember
You are faithful, God, forever

I lift my hands to believe again
You are my refuge, You are my strength
As I pour out my heart
These things, I remember
You are faithful, God, forever
Let faith arise, let faith arise
Open my eyes, open my eyes
Let faith arise, let faith arise
Open my eyes, open my eyes

I lift my hands to believe again
You are my refuge, You are my strength
As I pour out my heart
These things, I remember
You are faithful, God, forever
And I lift my hands to believe again
You are my refuge, You are my strength
As I pour out my heart
These things, I remember
You are faithful, God
You are faithful, God, forever

Let faith arise
Let faith arise

A Reason to Remember...

This is the Stuff
Francesca Battistelli

I love this song, it's my phone ringtone...yes, I actually paid for it! It's so loud, I actually jump a little when my phone rings, but I can't bear to change it.
This songs speaks to me on so many levels...it's that everyday stuff that seems to happen that sometimes gets irritating ...but this song reminds me that it's all for a reason. That if I keep looking for the reason for some things happening, I'll realize that maybe the initial frustration isn't so I will be irritated, but so that I will realize that it's something that doesn't TRULY matter. So this song reminds me that I need to remember that it's not all about the choices I make, but maybe it's about the reason I made the choice I did or maybe I was presented with this situation because God needed to get my attention.
I think some people would think of it as "don't sweat the small stuff"...which is a nice idea, but sometimes you gotta "sweat it and forget it". Learn the lesson and move on.

"so break me of impatience, conquer my frustrations, I gotta new appreciation...it's not the end of the world" If there is one part of the song that I sing over and over again as a reminder, it's this section. Sometimes that is my prayer. Lord help me realize that whatever "this" is that seems big at the time is not that big. Lord, help me REMEMBER that no matter what, "You got this!"
"Someone save me"--Lord, that is You, because, ultimately, doesn't God have our back? I mean, He sacrificed His Son, Jesus, for US! FOR ME! Thank God for that!!! Isn't it great to remember that even when these little things start to frustrate you or make you impatient that you can ask the Lord to forgive--AND HE WILL!!

The lyrics to "This is the Stuff":
(Written by Francesca Battistelli, Ian Eskelin, & Tony Wood)

I lost my keys in the great unknown
And call me please 'Cuz I can't find my phone

This is the stuff that drives me crazy
This is the stuff that's getting to me lately
In the middle of my little mess
I forget how big I'm blessed
This is the stuff that gets under my skin
But I gotta trust You know exactly what You're doing
It might not be what I would choose
But this is the stuff You use

45 in a 35
Sirens and fines while I'm running behind
Whoa

This is the stuff that drives me crazy
This is the stuff that's getting to me lately
In the middle of my little mess
I forget how big I'm blessed
This is the stuff that gets under my skin
But I gotta trust You know exactly what You're doing
It might not be what I would choose
But this is the stuff You use

So break me of impatience
Conquer my frustrations
I've got a new appreciation
It's not the end of the world
Oh Oh Oh

This is the stuff that drives me crazy
This is the stuff
Someone save me
In the middle of my little mess
I forget how big I'm blessed
This is the stuff that gets under my skin
And I've gotta trust You know exactly what You're doing
It might not be what I would choose
But this is the stuff You use

Oh Oh Oh Oh
This is the stuff You use

A Reason to Feel Weak...

Held
Natalie Grant (Written by Christa Wells)

Now this song is one that I have loved for several years, but has recently been popping up in some crazy places...like "Stir Crazy", the restaurant in Greenwood.

I think what this song reminds me of is that God loves us and has promised us eternal life...but that it won't be easy. Like I said yesterday, good is so quickly followed by bad sometimes, but how would we know it's good if we haven't experienced the bad? Quite honestly, it's those times when we are experiencing the bad is when God is holding us up. It is actually good for us to feel weak so that we can feel God's Love as He can always comfort us. Ever wonder how some people can just keep going when things get crazy? I've done it and let me tell you it's not about me, it's my faith. My belief that the truth that Jesus died for us, so that we can have eternal life keeps me going at times when it seems like there is no other reason. I know that my friend Laurie, who we lost on this earth in August, believed that, and so she let our Lord hold her during all of her trials and her life demonstrated that faith. Also, to my dear, dear friend (you know how you are), this song has been a way for us to connect even more. Love you girl!!

The lyrics to the song along with verses that have helped me while I'm feeling broken and in need.
"If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you." Romans 8:11
Psalm 23

Two months is too little.
They let him go.
They had no sudden healing.
To think that providence would
Take a child from his mother while she prays
Is appalling.

Who told us we'd be rescued?
What has changed and why should we be saved from nightmares?
We're asking why this happens
To us who have died to live?
It's unfair.

Chorus:
This is what it means to be held.
How it feels when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive.
This is what it is to be loved.
And to know that the promise was
When everything fell we'd be held.

This hand is bitterness.
We want to taste it, let the hatred numb our sorrow.
The wise hand opens slowly to lilies of the valley and tomorrow.

(Chorus)
This is what it means to be held.
How it feels when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive.
This is what it is to be loved.
And to know that the promise was
When everything fell we'd be held.

Bridge:
If hope is born of suffering.
If this is only the beginning.
Can we not wait for one hour watching for our Savior?

(Chorus)
This is what it means to be held.
How it feels when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive.
This is what it is to be loved.
And to know that the promise was
When everything fell we'd be held.

© Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.

A Reason to Celebrate...

Praise You in This Storm

written by Mark Hall (Casting Crowns)

As the Christmas season approaches, I am reminded of the REAL reason we celebrate CHRISTmas. The birth of our Saviour, Jesus Christ! What an awesome reason to celebrate. I've also started thinking, how can I celebrate this season in a way different from any year before....considering this has been a year like none before! That's when I started praying and searching for some way that I could uniquely celebrate--for me--and for those of you who want to read (and sing) along this season (and who knows....this might just continue all year long!).


I started thinking that so often it's music that I connect with and use to pull me through the ups and downs that I've been facing, so with that, I'm going to share some of the videos/songs that I have used over this past year to get me through. It's my way to connect back to the unconditional Love from Jesus. Sometimes it's because the song is in my head all day, reminding me of God's promise, other times it's because a song reminds me of a scripture that I need to read again (or find for the first time in the Bible and not in a lyrical list), and sometimes it's because I've thrown my hands up and said, "Really, God?" because the song is answer to my current situation. My hope is that these posts will encourage you the way the have encouraged me...or maybe they'll help you understand how, in the face of the year that has unfolded, that I can still Praise the Lord and know that God is good. I was going to wait to start this little 'gift' on December 1st, but just felt pulled to start today...maybe it's the rain? Maybe it's the leaking laundry room (at my parent's house? Maybe it's because I can't get this song out of my head today...but, then again, it's not my timing is it?


So today, I start with Casting Crowns "Praise You in this Storm". If one thing has been true about this year, it's that it has felt like one looooonnnnngggg storm. Here's food for thought...Steven and I joined an amazing Life Group this year, I think our first meeting was in February and for EVERY time we've met, our friends have been praying for one of our parent's cancer...not kidding! If you don't think Cancer is a storm, call me and we'll chat. But even when the storm was bad, there was a Praise to be found...something worked, something was caught early, the medications worked, the family grew closer, and on and on and on. I keep asking myself why all the good stuff has to be so quickly followed by a bad thing, but then realize that good seems that much better when you put the bad in perspective. THAT is why I continue to praise, even in the depths of the storm.

The lyrics to the song, along with the related scripture are below, according to the Casting Crowns website.

Romans 8:28 / 2 Corinthians. 4:16-18
Psalm 42:5 / Psalm 121:1-2
Job 1:20-21 / Daniel 3:16-18

I was sure by now
God, You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say "Amen", and it's still raining

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with You"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
Every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when
I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry
You raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can't find You

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with You"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
Every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The Maker of Heaven and Earth
(repeat)

I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
Every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

Though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

2005 Club Zoo Music (BMI) / SWECS Music (BMI) (adm. by EMI CMG Publishing) / Word Music, LLC (ASCAP) / Banahama Tunes (ASCAP) (adm. by Word Music, LLC)

Surprise Party!

Today was a special day at work. The girls decided to organize a surprise birthday party for me:) Several months back, some of us were talking about parties and I mentioned I would probably never have a surprise party. They started planning and had me completely clueless--I really thought we were doing a lunch and learn! Even some of the unit staff were in on the covert operations:) Thank you, Thank you,Thank you to my wonderful work family!!

As a special gift, they created a wordle:

Pinterest Junkie!!

SOOOO, my new guilty pleasure is Pinterest surfing. If you haven't heard of Pinterest, it's like an online bulletin board of ideas (Pinning your interests). I've been pinning a lot of clever ideas (and maybe bugging Steven with some of them), but this is my first attempt at creating SOMETHING I've seen. Kim Christopherson's video for the DIY Infinity Scarf is found at http://studio5.ksl.com/ ...I modified this one a little bit because I wanted to make it quick and didn't have many t-shirts that were cut-worthy. Not bad for 20 minutes of NO-SEW work!! My circles were much smaller than 9-inches and I made the spirals about 1 inch. This is especially comfy for people, like me, who like the idea of scarves, but get too hot to actually wear one. I'm excited to try more!!

What a fall....

So clearly I haven't been updating this blog too much, but I think our crazy summer/fall speaks for itself!
July we had a lot of fun as Dominic showed pigs at the Hendricks County 4-H fair.
Then there was All-Star Baseball....well, that might not have been quite as much fun. August there was the State Fair...Steven and I went several times, including the night that the Sugarland concert tragedy happened. Amazingly enough, we decided NOT to go into the concert that night, even though we love Sugarland and hadn't missed a concert in years.
September--We had a lot of little league football games that we got to see, but I didn't take my camera and didn't get too many good pictures. We did have the chance at the end of September to travel to Missouri to watch Sarah's military graduation. While we were there we also went to Bass Pro Shops and the St. Louis Zoo. And as for October, well let's just say October 2011 is best described at www.maryandwinnie.blogspot.com !!

Sarah after graduation...gotta love the military issue glasses!! Steven and Jaidyn checking out the elephants at the St. Louis Zoo

St. Louis Zoo

My Friend, Laurie

Summer 2006
November 2010

Heaven got a special delivery this week, as my dear friend Laurie finally got to end her cancer battle and join Jesus...where she will have perfect, cancer-free body. I've known Laurie since my Pre-internship at Riley in the Summer of 1999--12 awesome years. Laurie had an amazing throng of friends and was a tremendous friend to all of them. Some of these friends (and probably family) had the idea to ask each person that knew Laurie to write a letter to her beautiful 4 year old daughter, Casey, so that Casey could try to understand how awesome her mom was. I thought about what I would write for a long time and really mulled over this idea...wishing I wouldn't have waited for Laurie to pass away to put some of these things in writing, but it is what it is. Anyway, I realized that I didn't want just Casey (and her daddy Cory) to know what a great person Laurie was, but I wanted everyone to know...so my blog post today is my letter to Casey, so that everyone can get just a glimpse of Laurie.

Dear Casey,
You don't know me well, but trust me that I've been praying for you long before you were even born. I know that no words can even begin to describe your beautiful mom, but I'm going to try my best to share with you how much I love her. Your mom was my mentor, my spiritual inspiration, and more important than anything, she was my friend.
I met your mom in the summer of 1999--she had only been at Riley Hospital a little over a year when I was a student there trying to learn about Child Life. She helped me that summer and even kept helping me during my last year at Purdue and during my internship at Methodist--that is the same college she went to and the same place that she did her internship! When I was ready to get a job, your mom was one of people that interviewed me and really helped me get hired. After I started working with your mom at Riley Hospital she really helped me understand the skills I would need. She taught me how to handle all of the hard stuff about working at the hospital. She taught me how to love people no matter where they came from or what they've done. She taught me how to teach children of all ages about their feelings. She taught me how to be the best Child Life Specialist I could be...and I'm not the only person she taught that to--just ask anyone that worked with her at Methodist or Riley, anyone that was her patient, or anyone that just was around her at work.
One of the things that made your mom so wonderful was how much she LOVED Jesus. She really, really wanted to be the very best person she could be and she wanted to love everyone like Jesus loved everyone. Your mom learned that loving people was the greatest gift you could give anyone and she taught me so many different ways to love people. Sometimes she loved people by doing nice things for them, other times she loved people by giving them a special gift, but most of the time she loved people by listening to them. When she listened to them, she would hear all the things they were saying, but she also would hear things they weren't saying. That is a special gift Casey, not everyone can do that! After she would love on people, she would pray for them. That is something that your mom taught me how to do. So many times I would come to her with problems or with questions and she would ask if I wanted to pray about it. Your mom showed me how to look to Jesus for all my needs, but it took me a lot longer to get there...you know what? Your mom NEVER gave up on me.
That is why your mom is one of the best friends anyone could ever imagine. Your mom LOVED to be with people. She was happy and smiling all of the time! She loved to listen to music and watch movies. She wanted to stay updated on all the cool things that teenagers were doing so that she would be able to help her patients (or at least that is what she says...I secretly think she really liked all that stuff!) Your mom loved to pull practical jokes and she loved jokes that went on for a long time between people. One time your mom hid a troll doll on my desk at work and I hid it back at her desk. We shared that joke going back and forth for YEARS! And I wasn't the only one that she would do fun stuff like that with. Your mom knew that it was those little things that helped build a bond between people. If everyone that was friends with your mom would write down every fun memory that they have with your mom, there wouldn't be enough paper in the world!! Even after I didn't see your mom at work every day, she still wanted to be my friend and we talked a lot! We continued to share our lives with each other and get together to laugh and cry, to share stories, and to share pictures. Most of the time she had pictures of YOU to share:) The week after your mom went to be with God we were supposed to go to the movies together and catch up...so I'm going to have to catch a movie myself and "talk" to your mom that way. Casey, I promise that I will always lovingly think of your mom, and I hope that everyone sharing with you will give you just a small glimpse of all the love that your mommy poured into your heart in just 4 short years. I know she did everything she absolutely could so you would know with all your heart that with every ounce of her soul she loved you and your daddy!

New Arrival

Here's the new addition to the family...the baby calf arrived in time for mom's homecoming!!

Andrew's First Trophy

Today was the awards day for Andrew's tee ball league! He got a "cool trophy"!!

Champions!!

Look at this awesome team! Dominic's team was really great this year...so many boys improved and they played as a team...and they had great coaches (Joe being one of them). Here they are with their FIRST place trophies after today's game. Go Blackhawks!!

Never in a million years...

While much of what I choose to put on this blog is about the fun times we have together and with our awesome families, it feels right to post something about what has been consuming me lately. My mom's leukemia diagnosis. Really? My mom has leukemia? I really can't believe that's what is going on in our lives now. I've spent my entire child life career helping cancer patients and their families, I just never imagined I'd have to help my own family through it. My dad's treatment was so different, but the treatment my mom is going through is so much what I know from my previous life experience.
Don't get me wrong, I value that experience because I feel like I can prepare the family for what to expect and where there are gaps, Steven is amazing at filling in the details (because of his career and previous life experience). Knowing what to expect is only part if this, knowing what I will feel...impossible to predict. I don't think I even wanted to think about it as real...until the second bone marrow and that's when the emotional roller coaster finally had gotten to the top of the first summit...and down the hill we go! This whole month has been a roller coaster of emotions...and most of you know I do NOT like roller coasters!
At the bottom of that first hill was the looming "hair loss". My mom's hair was slowly coming out, but she still had quite a bit of hair...which was driving her crazy all over the pillows, her clothes, and the room. So last night I did something I never in a million years thought I would do:
I. shaved. my. mom's. head.
And you know what, we laughed (thank you Amanda!!), we cried, and we moved on to the next fight in this war. Fortunately for my mom, she has a beautifully shaped head and she looks great bald! Not saying it was easy to see...for us or for her...but all things considered-- she's bald, she's beautiful, and she's bad a$$!

Chicago Conference

This past weekend, in the midst of all the other "stuff" going on in the Sexton world, the annual Child Life Conference was held in Chicago. Many months ago, one of my coworkers (Brooke) and I submitted an abstract for a presentation...and we were accepted! On Saturday, we gave an awesome "Humanism in Medicine" presentation...and in my opinion, we knocked it out of the park! I was so happy with the way the whole thing went and I couldn't be more proud of Brooke!! To think it was less than 5 years ago that she was giving her intern presentation to our staff and here she is presenting on the national stage--well done Rookie:)

Brooke and I, less than an hour before our presentation.

The other exciting thing about this conference is that our entire staff had the opportunity to go because of the location! We had a great time with one another and I'm sure there were lots of memories made (I can't help but think of Hope in the backseat of the convertible with the top down...on the highway:)!!) We also had a nice time relaxing AFTER the presentation and I'm pretty sure all of the folks at P.J. Clarke's loved our group too:)

Amber and I...AFTER the presentation...gotta love my work spouse:)

Storytime

Steven and I had a great time having dinner with the Gockley's on Friday night. It was nice to catch up and see the kiddos again too. I think my favorite part of the night was story time. L read me a story (I know, can you believe it?!?) about Star Wars. Then I read everyone a cute story about getting married.
It was a super time and we can't wait to have them over later this summer!

Happy Mother's Day!!

Happy Mother's Day to two of the greatest moms-- Mary & Sharon :)
Our Mom's really are wonderful women and we are lucky to have them in our lives. Thank you for being great!
(This is a photo from our wedding, just after they lit the candles for the unity candle)

T-Ball at it's best...

The kids get a chance to hit before using the tee. Andrew was knocking into the outfield:)

E I E I O....

In honor of Joe's birthday, I thought I'd post a little about the farm.

So this farm season is turning into a bigger endeavor than we expected!! Dominic is old enough for 4-H, so he's starting his 4-H career with PIGS!! He'll probably show 3 of them, but we have 8! Dominic also REALLY wants chickens, so be on the look out for the next chapter of farming attempts!

Last season we had good luck with our cattle co-op, so we thought we'd try again...little did we know that we'd miss the mark on cattle, so we've had a little trouble finding the right size for the right price. So, for now we are going to work on growing our own little herd:) She doesn't look pretty right now, but this little heifer has been very nice and calm around us. I wonder what the boys will decide to name her (hopefully something better than Blade the Cat...but that cat is pretty ugly, so I guess the name fits).

This gal should have a calf to add to the mix in July or August!


Of course, I can't forget a picture of our little farmer in training.
..if he could join 4-H, I'm sure he would!!

Andrew, the pig whisperer...these little guys are MUCH bigger now!

Happy Valentine's Day!

I have to say that I have the most amazing husband! For Valentine's day I got a very sweet card, dinner at Papa Joe's Italian restaurant (yum!), and these beautiful flowers. There is no doubt I'm the luckiest wife!!

Cosmic Bowling

Dominic is ready to sends the ball down the lane...

Andrew sends himself down the lane!!

We decided to shake off some of the winter blues by going bowling with Mom, Joe, Kim, and the boys. Everyone had a good time and Steven even made a successful return to bowling after his back surgery:)

Ice Storm

This is how February started...several inches of ice covering the house and driveway! Fortunately Steven and I were able to stay home for a fee days during the worst of it!