four years with my best friend

It has been awhile since I have blogged, my sweet husband has been keeping up with it lately. That said, this post is out of order but it was something important enough to me that I still wanted it recorded here.

On May 27th Jeff and I celebrated our 4th anniversary. My Mom was in town to help us because Si was brand new so we were able to go on a date. One of our favorite indulgences that we do not get often anymore is sushi so we seized the opportunity and tried out a new place. One of the things that we enjoy most about each other is that we are both willing to be adventurous and try new things together which resulted in the one negative experience of the evening, sea urchin. Jeff put it well when he said it was like licking an ocean rock... not the best after taste either. Overall it was a great time, we talked, laughed, ate good food and just enjoyed each other... something that we have to seek out with purpose since 2 blessings have entered our lives. Jeff, you are my best friend and I am incredibly blessed to be your wife. Looking forward to many more years :)

Camping

Recently we went camping to see how it would go. We kept it short (24 hours) just in case things (kids) got crazy. Overall it went well. We forgot many things and in so doing learned a very valuable lesson, never ever under any circumstances forget to bring the dog bed. In spite of his appearance Ruger (the big dog) is a weenie. He loves nothing more than comfort and the tent floor just wasn't up to his standards. Thus, he spent most of the night pacing and begging to get out of the tent. This of course kept us up and Maddie too. Maddie in turn had a bit of a short fuse the next day, for some reason she didn't take it out on Ruger though. We did manage to get in a hike to a wonderful waterfall and we escaped the 100 degree heat in Billings. Maddie also discovered the wonderful world of dirt. We will go again, but we won't forget the dog bed. More posts to follow about our summer adventures. Here are some pics.

Maddie and the Hose

The annual May deluge has finally ceased and given way to sunshine and warmth. This means Maddie has been helping me with the yard work and last night she discovered the hose. We returned to the house completely soaked. Today she helped me water the garden and we returned to the house completely soaked. Looks like we have a new summer pastime. Enjoy the pics, I know I do!

Josiah Comes Home

After two nights in the hospital, Josiah was cleared to come home Thursday. There is no sign of the pneumothorax and he is breathing like a champ. He is a little jaundiced, but LeeAnn took him in this morning to have it looked at and all is well. If all stays as is, we are done with doctors until his two week checkup. It's pretty awesome having everyone home. Here are some pics.


Grandma Gini and her Grand Kids.


Maddie Loves Her Little Brother


Momma Finally Home With her Little Man


Travel Buddies


Our First Family Portrait, on the Way Out the Door.


Let's go Already


A Quick Nap Before the Trip Home


Maddie's Favorite Chair at the Hospital


Let's Hope They Always Get Along This Well

A Beautiful Day for a Birthday

Josiah arrived this morning (5/17/2011) at 9:19. LeeAnn started having contractions at 3:30 and we checked into the hospital around 7:00 so our Ob would be the one on call. After a lot more contractions (sans epidural) and a couple hours our son arrived. He was almost a month early but still tipped the scales at 6 pounds 14 ounces and 19 inches long. Overall he is doing very well. They did take him to the NICU for about 5 hours due to a slight breathing problem, but he is currently sleeping comfortably with mommy in their room. It's somewhat doubtful that he will be able to accompany LeeAnn home tomorrow, but according to to doctors his breathing problem should work itself out sooner than later and we hope to have him home for the weekend. Fortunately all of his vitals are good without supplemental oxygen and he is starting to figure out how to eat. Thanks for your prayers. Come on over for a visit. Here are some of our favorite pictures from the day.

יאשיה

Jo·si·ah

1. whom Yahweh heals.


"Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and walked in the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left.

In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his father David. In his twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of high places, Asherah poles, carved idols and cast images.

Under his direction the altars of the Baals were torn down; he cut to pieces the incense altars that were above them, and smashed the Asherah poles, the idols and the images. These he broke to pieces and scattered over the graves of those who had sacrificed to them.

In the eighteenth year of Josiah's reign, to purify the land and the temple, he sent Shaphan son of Azaliah and Maaseiah the ruler of the city, with Joah son of Joahaz, the recorder, to repair the temple of the LORD his God. . . While they were bringing out the money that had been taken into the temple of the LORD, Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the LORD that had been given through Moses. . . Then Shaphan the secretary informed the king, "Hilkiah the priest has given me a book." And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king. . . When the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his robes. . .

Then the king called together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. . . He went up to the temple of the LORD with the men of Judah, the people of Jerusalem, the priests and the Levites--all the people from the least to the greatest. He read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant, which had been found in the temple of the LORD.

The king stood by his pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the LORD--to follow the LORD and keep his commands, regulations and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, and to obey the words of the covenant written in this book.

Then he had everyone in Jerusalem and Benjamin pledge themselves to it; the people of Jerusalem did this in accordance with the covenant of God, the God of their fathers.

Josiah removed all the detestable idols from all the territory belonging to the Israelites, and he had all who were present in Israel serve the LORD their God. As long as he lived, they did not fail to follow the LORD, the God of their fathers."

Josiah my son,

It is our prayer that the meaning of your name will be true in your life. We ask that God will heal your sinful heart, making you a new creation through His grace given because of your faith in Jesus Christ. We pray that you, like your namesake, will be used by the LORD in this perverse nation to lead those in your sphere of influence back to Him. We love you and can't wait to meet you! See you in a few short weeks.

Love, Dad

Maddie and Mommy go to Texas

Madeline and I had the opportunity to spend a week in TX recently and had a wonderful time with my brothers families and my mother.

My sweet sister in law carted Maddie and I to my dear friend Jenn's house where we had some quality time... it only happens once every year or two but I treasure our time together.



After leaving Jenn's house we took Maddie to the mall in Frisco where she went on her first carousel ride, thank you Aunt Emily!





Saturday was the day that both my brother's families and my Mom spent together. We started by watching my nephew Seth play flag football (for some reason my camera did not come out for this) and then proceeded to spend the rest of the day relaxing at Randy's house. It was wonderful to have a laid back day hanging out with my family and letting all the cousins get some quality time together. As you will see in these pictures, Grandma was a favorite of the day for all the grandkids!






That evening Mom, Maddie and I left Randy's house and spent the rest of the trip at Jon's. Our girls had some great time together, we ate delicious TexMex (thanks Mom!) and, once again, spend some great quality time together. Uncle Jon even taught Maddie how to ride the four wheeler, next time maybe she will learn how to steer too! We are expecting our little boy in June and Jon and Emily are expecting a little boy in August so we had to get a picture of the boys :)