The Stanford Family

Halloween 2009

2009-11-02T09:28:00.000-08:00

We spent halloween with some very special friends, the Sharps and the Deebs, and had a blast. We ate homemade chili and cornbread on the front porch and gave out lots of candy. The daddy's took the kids down the street to Trick or Treat. When they got back we ate some delicious homemade apple pie. Judson wanted to be BATMAN and Mary Grace was a candycorn!!!

MG's special day!

2009-09-28T09:07:00.000-07:00

We celebrated Mary Grace's first birthday Thursday and Friday!! Thursday Judson and I made MG a special breakfast, cinnamon muffins with a candle!! MG loved it. Friday we had a few friends and family over for a birthday party. It was such a fun and special birthday. MG is so much fun. She is trying to walk every where she goes. She still falls a lot, but gets right back up and tries again. She has such a great smile and laugh!! I love to here her laugh. No one can make her laugh like her big brother. MG also loves our dogs. She wakes up in the morning asking to go see the doggies. Then she doesnt want to come in. She loves to be outside. Both of my children do. I dont mind one bit, I love to be outside also!!! I can't wait for some nice fall weather so we can really enjoy playing outside.

I have loved everyday of the past year with MG. Although I wasnt sure she was ever going to sleep all night. I tried to enjoy the sweet, quiet times with her in the wee hours. I pray daily that God would capture her heart in a very special way. I pray that she would have the confidence of knowing that her Heavenly Father created her special and has a purpose and plan for her life. I pray that she would chose to follow Him wherever He leads her. I pray that I would be a mom that encourages her to be exactly who God made her to be. She is so precious to me and Neal. But even more precious to her Father in Heaven. Thank you God for this sweet angel. Thank you for entrusting her to us for this time. Help us to be the parents she needs us to be.

more pictures

2009-09-09T12:47:00.001-07:00

My sweet friend Sherri took some pictures of Judson and Mary Grace. They turned out great. We went to a friend of my mom's to take the pictures. Her yard is beautiful!! Here are a few of my favorites!!

Growing Up...

2009-09-09T12:37:00.000-07:00

Judson and Mary Grace are growing up too fast. Mary Grace is ready to take off. She can stand by herself and take about 3-4 steps. Judson is such a great big brother. They are really starting to play together. It is a lot of fun to see them playing. We have to watch MG very closely. She is a climber!! She loves sitting in the Cozy Coupe and watching the dogs. Here are a couple of pictures!!!

9 months...

2009-07-16T18:39:00.000-07:00

Where has the past 9 months gone? It seems to be flying by. Mary Grace is doing so much. Eating real food and making a mess, drinking out of a big cup, playing independantly with her toys and bringing us so much joy. She loves to make us laugh by making funny faces. Her favorite book is an animal book that has a picture of dogs. She says, "DOGGIE!" She finally has gotten one tooth. And is finally sleeping through the night!!!

Judson turns 5!

2009-07-16T18:14:00.000-07:00

Judson turned 5 on July 7th. He had a great birthday. He woke up ready to open some presents. We let him open a few from us just to get the day started!!Next, he wanted birthday muffins with a candle!! I made some blueberry muffins for the birthday boy!! Neal and my dad took him to lunch at Anne's for hotdogs!! He invited several friends to come slip n slide and celebrate his special day!! They had a great time. Neal greased the slip n slides with baby oil. I'm not sure who had more fun the kids, or Neal. And yes, Neal did try out the slip n slide. They are not as long as they used to be. They come with inflatable boogie boards now!! Finally, we had a family dinner and then opened presents. It was a great day. I can't believe I have a 5 year old!!!

Cape San Blas 2009

2009-06-27T14:17:00.000-07:00

We just got back from our yearly trip to Cape San Blas, FL. It was absolutely beautiful!! I love the beach. I love everything about it...the sand, the salt water, the waves, the seashells, the sun, the sunset. God did not hold anything back when he created the beach. It is so full of his creativity and I love to see it all. What a blessing to see just a glimpse of our creator in something as wonderful as the beach. He is every where if we will just take the time to look!!!

Judson had a great time. He loves spending as much time as possible with his cousins. He liked the ocean ok, but his favorite was the pool!! Mary Grace surprisingly loved the beach as well. She did great in her little pool and would kick her legs with excitement when I took her in the ocean. Trevor had no fear this year as he wrestled the waves. My nephew, William spent hours patiently combing the beach for treasures. He found some really unique and beautiful things. Samuel decided it was time to swim ( in the pool). He put his goggles on and off he went!! Judson is already asking when we can go back.

Some pictures of Judson

2009-06-06T11:57:00.001-07:00

Judson is having a great summer so far. Last week he went to VBS and had a great time. His cousins came over to play and eat homemade popsicles!!! He helped his daddy fix something under his truck. We have been to the pool a lot, but I have not been able to take any pictures. Trying to watch Judson in the big pool while playing with Mary Grace in the baby pool is a little stressful!! Judson was not sure about swimming at first, but is doing great now. Hopefully Neal will go with us this weekend and I can get some pictures.

We went to our local farmers market this morning. It was great!! It is in the Civic Center parking lot. There were a lot of local farmers with all kinds of fresh produce. We got blueberries, peaches, and cucumbers. They will be there every Sat. in June and July. Go by and check it out!!!

I think I am in trouble...

2009-06-06T11:42:00.000-07:00

I think I am in trouble because I have a little firecracker for a daughter. She is active, fast and very loud!!! Yet, she has the sweetest smile ever. This week she has learned how to pull herself up. It started in her crib and now she can pull up on just about anything. She is only 8 months old!! She started crawling (army style) when she was 6 months old. At this rate I am afraid she will be walking by 10 months. I dont want her to grow up so fast!!

Mothers Day

2009-05-13T07:57:00.000-07:00

I had a very nice Mothers Day. Neal smoked ribs and a tenderloin Saturday in honor of his mother, grandmother and my mom. We had a wonderful dinner. Sunday we had big plans to go out to dinner after church and do something fun. Our plans were changed when Judson got a really high fever and pretty much slept on the couch all day. If you know Judson that is very unlike him. However, it made for a very relaxing day. I actually enjoy taking care of sick people, especially my family. So, as weird as it sounds I had a wonderful Mothers day, doing what I love to do...serving my family.

My SIL and I decided to attempt to take a picture of the 5 grandchildren for my mom for Mothers day. They did pretty good, although it did take 2 days of photo shoots before we found one we really liked.

Easter 2009

2009-04-16T18:35:00.000-07:00

We had a wonderful Easter weekend. Starting with an amazing Good Friday service at our church and ending with a great lunch at my parents with a lot of my family and some very special friends. I am so greatful that we have the freedom to celebrate our Saviors resurrection. I love to make my children special Easter outfits, dye easter eggs, fill my childrens easter baskets, etc... but most of all I love celebrating the freedom I have because of what Christ endured on the cross. I do not deserve it and cannot earn it. It is a gift that cost my Father his perfect son. And it is available to ALL!

6 months already!!

2009-04-01T14:19:00.000-07:00

Mary Grace is already 6 mos. It is really hard for me to believe. I still think of her as this little tiny baby. She is so sweet and so much fun. She loves to laugh. I love her laugh!! She had her 6 months checkup and wouldn't let go of me. Dr. B said I was in trouble if she is already this clingy at 6 mos. I think she knew the shots were coming. Last time we were there she had a shot for croup. She associated the doctors office with pain!!!

A boy and some dirt

2009-04-01T14:07:00.000-07:00

Neal brought Judson a pile of dirt home from the farm. Judson thought it was the best thing ever. All he wants to do is play in his dirt pile. He was almost in tears when it started raining. He was so afraid the rain would wash away all his dirt. Neal assured him he could get all the dirt he wanted at the farm. His cousins came over one day during spring break and they played in the dirt for hours. Judson had dirt caked in his hair. I had to really scrub to get it all out. Who knew how much fun a pile of dirt could be!!

Judson has also been praciting his golf!! He uses his jeep as his golf cart.

Mary Grace

2009-03-16T15:19:00.000-07:00

Mary Grace is growing and learning so much. She is rolling all over the place. I can no longer put her on a blanket and expect to find her there when I get back. She is already pushing herself up and trying to get those knees up under her. I have a feeling she may be crawling soon.

No more training wheels!!

2009-03-16T15:11:00.000-07:00

Judson learned how to ride his bike without training wheels. We have been working with him for a while. Last Monday it finally clicked!! We are so proud of him and he is so proud of himself. Here are a few pictures. And yes he does have on a life jacket. It had been raining and he thought he might go through some deep puddles!!!

Landmark Park

2009-02-25T08:19:00.000-08:00

Neal took the afternoon off last Friday and we went to Landmark Park. We had so much fun. Judson loves to go out there. I just don't take the time to take him out there as often as I should. It is such a neat place. The playground is great!! The animals are so much fun to look at and you can even feed them if you are there around 4:30. We walked around the boardwalk and saw some fish and 2 turtles. What a great way to spend a beautiful afternoon!!

What a mess!!

2009-02-25T08:14:00.001-08:00

Mary Grace has been eating cereal for a couple of weeks. She still makes the biggest mess!! Most of the time she likes eating it!! She does sleep a little bit better when she eats it. Which makes me very HAPPY!!

Playing at the park

2009-01-31T10:27:00.000-08:00

We met the Sticklers at the park for a picnic and some playing. The kids had a great time. Here are a few pictures. Mary Grace was there although she didn't make any of the pictures. She was asleep in the stroller!!

My little man

2009-01-20T08:09:00.000-08:00

My little man is growing up so fast. He loves to hear how fast and how strong he is. He loves to hear how big he is getting. He loves to hear how smart he is. I love that he wants to go with his dad to help a friend cut down a tree. I love that he want to go to Sams with Neal and push the buggy all by himself (without running over anybody)! I love that he wants to go hunting with his dad, and play football with his dad and go to the farm and bush hog with his dad. I love that he still wants his mom when he doesn't feel good or is hurt.

I pray this little man grows to be a big man who loves God with all his heart. I pray this little man grows to be a big man that follows hard after God. I pray he is kind, compassionate and generous. I pray he choses to do the wise thing over the cool thing. I pray he treats others with respect no matter who they are!! I pray a lot of Big things for this little man. I have a Big God who loves this little man more than I can. Above all else I pray this little man will know how Big our God is and how Big is His love for us!!!

Sweet Mary Grace

2009-01-16T07:27:00.000-08:00

Sweet Mary Grace is almost 4 mos. old. She is still the sweetest baby. She loves to smile at you and talk to you. She loves her big brother. She tries to watch everything he does. She was so proud of herself for sitting in the Bumbo seat. She is trying to roll over but gets very frustrated when she can't make it over. I find myself just about everyday praising God for allowing me to be a mom. I know it is a gift from Him. I don't always get it right. I make a lot of mistakes parenting and will continue to make mistakes. But thankfully God is gracious. He knew I would not be a perfect parent. He still chose to entrust these two children to me and Neal. We depend on Him daily to guide us and equip us to disciplin, train and love Judson and Mary Grace. In Colossians, Paul says that in Christ are hidden the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. It is in Christ that I find the wisdom and knowledge to be a mom, a wife, a friend, a sister, a daughter...

On my own I am selfish, prideful, impatient, intolerant...Thankfully I have a saviour who knew me as a sinner and chose to die for those sins. The wisdom that I need has to be sought out. It is a hidden treasure that I have to search for. Solomon says we should search for it as we would search for silver and gold. I pray that I would treasure wisdom and understanding more than any worldly possession and I would teach my children to treasure it as well.

Christmas at our house

2008-12-29T15:23:00.000-08:00

We had a wonderful Christmas at our house. Judson left a sweet note and some cookies for Santa and his reindeer. He left race cars for the reindeer to make them go faster. He also asked for a race car track for Christmas so he wanted to make race car cookies. Judson woke up and we did Christmas with just our family. It was a lot of fun seeing him so excited!! Mary Grace obviously slept through most of Christmas morning!! Next, our families came over. Judson was so excited about having our family over for breakfast. My mom and dad, Tommy, my Uncle Earl, Neal's mom and grandmom all joined us for breakfast. We had wonderful food and fellowship. After such a big breakfast the guys played football. Thankfully no one was seriously injured!! I did not do a good job of capturing Christmas on film. Here are a few of the pictures I was able to get.

Merry Christmas!!

2008-12-21T09:51:00.000-08:00

Christmas through the eyes of a four year old is priceless. Judson is so excited about Christmas. He can tell you all about the Christmas story, from Mary and Joseph had to go to Bethlehem to pay taxes to the Wise Men brought baby Jesus, Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. He has also asked some pretty tough questions. How will Santa get in our house? (we don't have a fireplace) Why do we have to buy gifts for our Angel tree girl? Why doesn't Santa bring her gifts? It has really made me think about what I want him to believe. I want him to know that Christmas is about giving because of all God has given us. I want him to know how God wants us to be generous and faithful with what he has given us. I want him to know the true reason for Christmas, Jesus. But I also love the excitement of Christmas morning, waking up to see what Santa brought!!! Baking cookies to leave for Santa. I have prayed that God would give Neal and I wisdom in knowing how to celebrate Christmas. My desire is to honor Him, no matter how we choose to celebrate.

I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas. How you choose to celebrate is between you and God. He knows our hearts and that's whats important to Him!!

Mary Grace and her friend John Martin

2008-12-19T12:55:00.000-08:00

Mary Grace and John Martin Stickler had a playdate. They were too cute. John Martin watched Mary Grace. John Martin has the cutest smile, when he doesn't have his paci in his mouth. They are destined to be best friends just like Morgan and Judson. I can't wait to see what their little personalities are going to be like. We are having FUN!!!

2 months

2008-11-25T10:04:00.000-08:00

Today Mary Grace had her 2 month check-up. She weighs 9lbs 1oz and is 22 inches long. She is doing great. Still a little on the small side, but that is okay!! She is smiling and laughing. Her smile will absolutely melt your heart. She has Neal's big dimples!! The mornings are her best time. She loves to wake up and get in our bed. She looks out the window and just smiles. Although I am still tired, I love those mornings. Judson will usually come join us around 7:00. I really love these two precious ones. What a gift they truelly are. I prayed a lot before Mary Grace was born that I would enjoy every second with her. That I would not be so busy with the things of this world that I missed rocking her, holding her, making her smile. I have done very little sewing, blogging, checking email, all those things I love. But...I have really enjoyed my children!! Thank you God!!

Judson is learning to write his letters and spell words. He loves to ask me how to spell words and then try to write them. He is all boy!! He loves to wrestle with Neal, play tackle football, and get soo dirty!!

I have so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. I know that it is all from God and he deserves all the praise. Remember to thank Him this thanksgiving!!

Still Alive

2008-11-13T12:56:00.000-08:00

Yes, We are still alive. However, finding time to update the blog, read other blogs, check emails, return phone calls, is impossible these days. So, I am just going to post some pictures!!

Super Judson

2008-10-15T12:32:00.000-07:00

Judson had a birthday party Monday for his friend Tucker Lee. He wanted to dress up like SuperMan. I called around and found this SuperMan costume for him. He was so excited. To add to the excitement...One hour before the party, our back door was left open and 2 tiny birds flew into our house. They were in the playroom flying around. They kept flying into the windows. We opened the windows and took the screens off. My mom got a broom and tried to shew them out. One of them flew out. We had to leave for the party with one of the birds still in the house. We left the windows opened hoping the little bird would figure out how to get out. Thankfully when we got home the little bird was gone!! With all that excitement and a birthday party, I was pretty wiped out Monday night. Thankfully Monday night was a good night for Mary Grace. She went 3 hours between feedings, TWICE!!! It is amazing how much better I felt Tuesday getting just a few extra hours of sleep!!

Stomach Bug!!

2008-10-12T14:47:00.000-07:00

We have been bitten by the stomach bug. It started Wed. night with Judson. He threw up most of Wed. night then had a fever all day Thursday. Judson and Neal spent the night at my parents to try and keep Mary Grace and myself from getting it. Friday Judson was still a little puny.

Saturday Neal and I both said we didnt feel great. By Saturday afternoon we were both sick!!

Mom and Dad came to the rescue and came and got Judson. I am praying that Mary Grace doesnt get it. I've washed my hand so much that they are raw!! I have heard of several others who have had it. It is short lived, but pretty bad while you have it!

Mary Grace is staying awake more. It is so fun to watch her looking around and discovering her surroundings. As hard as the night time feedings are, God has really used that time to connect with me. I spend most of the 30 minutes feeding her praying for my friends and family. It has truelly been a blessing!! Let me know if you need prayer! I have a lot of time to feel!!!

Very Powerful Message!!

2008-10-05T12:12:00.001-07:00

This is a link to a message by Louie Giglio on Hope. It is a very powerful!! I pray it will bless you as it did me. We all face troubles in this world, but we can find hope and peace in Jesus Christ!! Louie does an excellent job unpacking this idea.
http://www.northpointministries.org/player/player_large.jsp?occurrenceID=2197
http://www.northpointministries.org/player/player.jsp?occurrenceID=2198

Almost a week...

2008-09-30T14:25:00.000-07:00

Well, it has been almost a week since Mary Grace was born. God has blessed us with a very sweet little girl. She is an angel. Judson is a great big brother. He wants to know when she is going to wake up and play with him. He likes to check on her, but I can't get him to hold her. Neal has been so amazing. He has been so helpful, so patient, and so understanding. Saturday when we got home we realized that none of her clothes fit her. He went out and bought her some premie clothes, some blankets, something really soft to support her in the car seat. He said he knew he was in trouble. He wanted to buy everything for her. She already has us wrapped. We took her to the doctor yesterday to have her weight checked. She dropped down to 5lbs 5oz. when we left the hospital. Yesterday she was up to 5lbs 9oz. It was time for her to eat while we were at the doctor so she was crying. Judson asked why she was crying. Neal was holding her and said it was because she was hungry. Judson said "Dad, just put her right here (pointing to his chest) that's where her milk is." That gave us a good laugh!!

Here are a few pictures.

Home Sweet Home

2008-09-27T11:21:00.000-07:00

We made it. We are finally home. Mary Grace and Tami are both doing great. Mary Grace is taking her pre-game nap. Once she is up for the game I will get her dressed in her game day outfit and post some pictures. We are blessed to have such good friends and family. Tami and I want to thank everyone for their kindness this past week. War Eagle!!

Just Chillin

2008-09-25T19:46:00.000-07:00

I think the picture says it all. Mary Grace is just chillin at Flowers. She is not even waking up to watch Oregon St. whoop up on USC. I know two blogs in one day. I just can not help myself. I really need to go back to work so I want be tempted to blog. Got to go, half time is over.

Neal

Amazing Grace

2008-09-25T11:06:00.000-07:00

How sweet the sound of Mary Grace's little grunting noises. God has blessed us with such a beautiful daughter. 9/24/08 at 7:33 am a 5 lb 13 oz brown headed miracle arived in our life. I did not think I would be able to love another child like I love Judson. How wrong I was. All I want to do is hold her next to my chest. Tami and Mary Grace are going well. Mary Grace has done a great job breast feeding. This is my first blog experiance. I am blogging on Tami's behalf. I guess I could get use to blogging and watching soap operas all day, not a chance.
Neal

Judson's tea party

2008-09-18T09:05:00.000-07:00

Judson had a tea party at school today. They have been working on Manners the past two weeks at school and learning the letter "T". They had to dress up for the party. They all looked so cute. They did a little dance for us and then the boys pulled out the chairs and helped the girls sit down, then pushed their chairs up for them. I was so proud of Judson!!

One more week...

2008-09-17T13:31:00.000-07:00

One more week until our precious baby girl is here!! I had my last Dr. visit today. My c-section is scheduled for next Wednesday, Sept.24th. I am very excited and ready. Although I feel a little emotional about how Judson is going to handle everything. He seems very excited about his little sister. He wanted to buy her a baby doll, so I took him to the store and let him pick out a baby doll for her. He picked out a very soft doll and came home and put it in her bassinet. He has the biggest heart for a four year old. I pray his love for his little sister will grow even more when he actually meets her. I pray I will have the energy to really enjoy these next few days with him. I pray God will help me be very sensitive to his needs once she gets here. I praise God that I do not have to go through this without him. He promises to be with me and to give me strength when I am weak.

I can't wait to post pictures of our precious baby girl!!

My 2 remodelers!!

2008-08-25T14:31:00.000-07:00

Neal has been remodeling my laundry room/sewing room. He took down some walls, added some walls. He is working really hard. Judson has been right by his side helping him every step of the way. Some afternoons I can hear Judson in there hammering, just like he's seen Neal do. These 2 guys are precious gifts to me from my Father. I love them so much and am so thankful for them!!

First Day of School!

2008-08-25T14:21:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure who was dreading the first day of school more, me or Judson. We have really had a hard time this summer with the idea of going to school everyday. Many nights Judson would start crying because he didnt want to go to school. It broke Neal and I's heart to see him so upset and fearful of school. We prayed with him and for him a lot. I have prayed all summer for his teacher. Well, the first day of school finally came. God gave me a very precious gift!! We went to meet his teacher, Mrs Sanders, and Judson loved it. When we got in the car he said, "Mom, I really like my classroom." Mrs Sanders is a precious Christian lady. She loves the children, but more importantly she loves the Lord. Tuesday morning Judson woke up and said he was ready to go to school. Thank you God!! So far he has done really well. He has had a couple of days when he didnt want to go, but as soon as we got there and he saw his cousins or his friends he was okay!! This is the only picture I got of the first day of school. I was afraid to hang around and make to big of a deal about it.

Watch out Tiger Woods!!

2008-08-06T11:04:00.000-07:00

Neal took Judson to play golf a couple of weeks ago. I'm not sure who had more fun, Judson or Neal. They next day Neal went out and bought Judson some small clubs. They practice in the back yard and Neal says Judson is pretty good. Neal called yesterday to see if Judson wanted to go play the par 3. Judson couldn't wait. He wanted to ask Neal if he should wear his cleats or tennis shoes. He also wanted to know what kind of shirt Neal had on. He had to wear a shirt like Daddy's and tuck it in. Neal definately has a little shadow. What a great role model Judson has!!!

Judson's party!

2008-07-09T13:54:00.000-07:00

Judson had a wonderful birthday! We had a party for him at Solomon Park. He invited a few of his friends to come celebrate his birthday. The weather couldn't have been any better. It was a little overcast, which helped with the HOT july day. We had frog cupcakes and ice cream, strawberry lemonade with Sonic ice in cool frozen mugs, and then play on the playground!! It was a very special party. Then the family came back to our house for a special birthday dinner. Judson's favorite food is Pasta, specifically Spaghetti noodles, which he calls "That way, that way pasta." Mom made Chicken Spaghettie, aka- That way,that way pasta for Judson. I made orange jello, brocolli and carrots with ranch, and green beans, all Judson's favorites!!

Beach Trip

2008-07-09T13:33:00.000-07:00

We had a great family vacation at the beach!! We went to Cape San Blas for a week. The water was beautiful, except for a few jelly fish!! The weather was great also. Mom, Dad, Tommy, Neal, Me, and the 4 boys were all able to go. Tim and Jill were not able to come because of a crazy spinal headache Tim had. Instead of the beach, they spent the week in the hospital. I have decided that as long as we have young children vacation is going to look different. It is a lot of work. It's not always getting to do what I want to do (sitting on the beach relaxing). But I am so blessed to have a precious family to vacation with. I thank God for the wonderful memories that will be made each year. I thank God that we are able (physically and financially) to enjoy a vacation. The beach is such a wonderful place to be reminded of the majesty of our God. The vast ocean that looks like it never ends, just like His love. The waves that come only as far as He allows them to. The countless sea creatures that He created and all have a purpose. And the beautiful white sand that He knows exactly how many granules there are!!! Thank you God for a wonderful vacation!!

Happy Birthday Judson!!

2008-07-07T06:23:00.000-07:00

Today is Judson's 4th birthday. He has had a hard time with this concept. Several mornings he woke up crying because he did not want to turn 4. He wants to stay 3. He says it is because he doesnt want to go to school everyday. Only God knows what is going on inside that little brain. Neal and I tried to assure him that turning 4 would be great, and he still had a lot of days before he actually had to start school!! I really tried to be very sensitive to the fact that this was a real fear for him. I prayed a lot for God to give me wisdom in knowing what to say. I did not want to make light of something that was real to Judson. I pray today is a very special day for him. I pray he feels loved by all his friends and family and knows that he was fearfully and wonderfully made by his Heavenly Father.

Lake weekend!

2008-05-27T13:23:00.000-07:00

We spent the weekend at Silver Lake with our great friends Justin and Darby. They have 2 precious little girls. Morgan, the oldest, is one of Judson's best friends. They had the best time playing and swimming in the lake. Judson drove us around the lake on the boat. It was fun to spent several days with Neal and Judson at the lake. Neal and Justin talked farm talk the entire weekend. It is fun to hear him talk about something he loves so much. Darby and I tried to relax as much as possible and sew as much as possible. We both took our sewing machines and several projects. We put the kids down for naps and starting sewing and then at night would put them in the bed and resume where ever we left off. Darby and I decided we could use a whole weekend of just sewing. It is so much fun to have a friend that loves to sew as much as I do. We get really excited about each others projects!! It was such a wonderful weekend.

It's a....

2008-05-23T11:41:00.000-07:00

GIRL!!! I went to the hospital today and had another ultrasound. We had a very cooperative baby this time and could tell for sure that it is a girl. We are very excited!! Just wanted to let everyone know!!!

Survival Swimming Graduates

2008-05-20T12:32:00.000-07:00

Judson and his swimming class all graduated Monday. We had a great day. The kids were everywhere. Swimming, jumping off the side, going under water to touch the bottom (Morgan). It was great!! Judson ended very strong. He was jumping off the side to me and swimming back to the side by himself. He was very proud of himself and kept wanting Mrs. Michelle to watch him. Now we just have to keep up the practice all summer. Being pregnant this summer, I dont think I'll argue if he wants to go swimming everyday.

Uncooperative baby!!

2008-05-20T08:16:00.000-07:00

Neal and I went to the doctor for my 20 week ultrasound, in hopes of finding out the sex of our baby. However, the baby did not cooperate. The baby kept its legs tightly crossed the entire ultrasound. We even went back for a second try after seeing the doctor... legs still crossed!! The great news is that the baby looks great. We have a very healthy baby, which is most important anyway. The ultrasound tech said I could come back next week and we would try againd. My mom also said I could come up to the hospital and have the girls up there do another ultrasound. So, hopefully we'll know more next week!!

Splash Day!!

2008-05-15T14:12:00.000-07:00

Judson's preshcool had a splash party today. Thankfully the rain held off. It was a little chilly for the splashers, but they still had a great time!! Judson has had such a great first year of preschool. Thanks to his wonderful teachers, Mrs. Mann and Mrs. Peak.

Swimming lessons

2008-05-15T13:31:00.000-07:00

Judson had a break through at swimming lessons today. He was smiling and swimming. Something he has not done all week. He was very proud of himself and I was very proud of him too. He jumped to Mrs. Michelle in the deep end and swam to the ladder. He ventured off the steps all by himself. He is getting more confident!! Tomorrow is the last day. I am a huge fan of survival swimming lessons.

Pictures of Judson

2008-05-14T10:17:00.000-07:00

Here are some recent pictures of Judson.

Survival Swimming Lessons

2008-05-13T08:44:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Judson started survival swimming lessons. It was pretty scary for him. The teacher, Michelle Colbert (who is so patient and wonderful!!), took him to the middle of the pool, told him to kick and with her hand on his back pushed him toward the side, underwater. She really wanted him to grab the side and pool himself up. He cried every time it was his turn. I prayed a lot last night and this morning that today would go better. We read a little devotion last night that said God gives us strength when we are tired and scared. It was perfect. I was able to talk to Judson about being scared of swimming. We prayed that God would help him not be scared today and would give him the strength to learn to swim. I have faith that everyday will get better and by friday we will have a little swimmer!! I'll keep you posted!!

Still Sick...

2008-04-03T08:24:00.000-07:00

I have heard many times over the past 7-8 weeks that the sicker I am the healthier the baby is. I sure hope that is true. If it is this is going to be the healthiest baby ever!!! I am 14 weeks and still really sick. I have had a few days where I felt pretty good, but most days I still get sick in the morning and feel nauseated most of the day. God is definately teaching me how much I have to depend on Him for everything. Some days I just don't want to get up. But I know I have a 3 year old that needs his Mom. I have to put myself aside and see the needs of Judson and Neal. They have both been so patient and loving during this time. They are both precious gifts to me from God. I can't wait to see and know this new gift God has given us. We had an ultrasound about 2 weeks ago and were able to see the miracle. Neal and I were both in awe. At 13 weeks we could see fingers, toes, a precious profile, and a busy baby. My God has formed this baby in my womb. He knows every detail of this childs makeup. He also know every detail of this childs life. I pray this child will learn early that God has a purpose and plan for its life. That God created this child with gifts and talents God wants to use for His glory. I pray for this childs friends and relationships. I pray for this child to love others, serve others, and have compassion for others. But above all else, I pray this child will learn early that it is a sinner in need of a Savior. A sinner who can never be good enough to earn salvation on its own. A sinner who is so loved by its heavenly Father that He sent His only Son to pay for those sins and to give us eternal life. Thank you God for this precious child!!!

Good News

2008-02-22T13:35:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to share our good news with ya'll. I am pregnant!! We are very excited!! Judson has been asking for a baby for several months. He is really excited about being a big brother. He will be such a great brother. He talks about helping the baby walk and teaching the baby to share. When I ask him if he wants a girl or boy, he says he wants one of each!!! He told his bible study teachers we were having twins. Neal is concerned that he may have the gift of prophesy!! I am due the end of September. I have been very sick. I was sick with Judson, but I don't remember being this sick, or tired. Neal has been amazing!! He has been doing the laundry, the dishes, taking care of me and Judson. I am truelly blessed to have such a wonderful husband!!

BATS!?!?

2008-02-10T12:47:00.000-08:00

Yes, BATS!! Several months ago I was in the laundry room and noticed 2 strange creatures in the utility sink. I was afraid to get to close, but from what I could tell they looked liked rats. I assumed they were dead, so I put a towel over the sink and waited for Neal to come home. I had laundry to do and did not want to look at those creatures all day. When Neal got home I told him there were 2 dead rats in the sink. Neal went to check it out. He came back into the kitchen and said, "Those are not rats. They are bats, and they are not dead!!" He began trying to figure how to get 2 ALIVE Bats out of our house. He honestly wanted to get a gun and shoot them. He called his animal loving friend, Justin Stickler and my dad. Neal had made several attempts to capture the bats, but just couln't do it. He said he kept having visions of them flying onto his face. My dad arrived first. He checked out the situation and decided that he would just pick them up and carry them out side. He suited up with gloves and rescued us from BATS. Justin would not allow Neal to kill the bats. So they let them go. Fast forward...Wed night we had bible study and Judson went to my parents. We got home late and put Judson right to bed. I was in the bed when I heard Neal saying, "What is that? Oh dang it!! (I promise that is what he said!!)
He came back to the bedroom and said there was a bat flying around the playroom. The laundry room is just off the playroom and there is no door between the playroom and the rest of the house. Neal called my dad and asked him to come help get rid of he bat. They put a sheet over the door, just incase the bat decided to try to escape into the rest of the house. Dad came with 2 fishing nets. They hid the bat and it fell into the net. They took the bat outside, and killed it (Sorry Justin!!) The Critter Getter is coming to make sure there are not anymore bats in our attic!!

Imitate your Father!

2008-01-23T14:11:00.001-08:00

Ephesians 5:1 says, " Be imitators of God, as dearly loved children." Judson is such a perfect wordly example of this verse. Imitating Neal is his favorite thing do to. If Neal has on his boots, Judson wants his boots on too. Neal loves spending time on his farm and riding the tractor. Guess what Judson wanted for Christmas? A Massey Ferguson tractor just like his daddy. Judson loves to talk about going to work and often the people he works with are Neal's friends ( Jared, Justin, Tommy, Tim). Why does he want to be like his dad so much? Because he is so loved by his daddy. Neal is a wonderful DAD! He lets Judson help him when he is working around the house or on the farm. Judson trusts his daddy completely. Being just like him is all he wants to be. I ask him one time what he wanted to be when he grew up, expecting him to say a football player or a construction man. His answer was, " I want to be a daddy." May we all know the the width and depth and height of our Fathers love. And may we long to imitate him because of that great love!!

Angels watching over me!

2008-01-12T15:43:00.000-08:00

I have always loved the song "Angels watching over me," by Amy Grant. The song says, "Angles watching over me every move I make, angles watching over me. Angels watching over me every step I take, angels watching over me. God only know the times my life was threatened just today. A reckless car ran out of gas before it ran my way. Near messes all around me, accidents unknown. I only know the hand of God safely leads me home." I was reminded of this song last night.
Last night we were eating dinner with our friends the Sticklers and the Paynes. Judson and Morgan Stickler are very best friends. They can really get into some messes. After dinner they decided to go in the bathroom in the playroom and wash the dishes. What a precious mess they mades. All of Morgan's plastic dishes and a few toys are now squeaky clean. Once we found them, Darby and I began drying all their clean dishes. Morgan and Judson went to Morgan's room to find some dry clothes for Morgan. All of a sudden I heard Ann running down the hall saying "Oh no, What's the matter?" As I ran down the hall I heard Judson and Morgan SCREAMING!! When I walked in Morgan's room I got a very sick feeling in my stomach. Her dresser was laying on her bed. They were trying to climb the dresser to get Morgan's clothes and it fell on them. Morgan had a busted lip and a scratch on her back. Judson didn't have any wounds, but was pretty shaken up.
I truelly believe there were angels all around them protecting them. They could have been seriously injured if the dresser hadn't hit the bed. Thank you God for protecting our 2 precious children!!!

Christmas Day

2007-12-27T12:02:00.000-08:00

I hope you all had a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!! We definately did. Our morning began with Judson searching for baby Jesus. (a new tradition we started this year) I wrapped baby Jesus up and hid Him in the den. Judson had to find Him and put Him in the manager. Then Judson told us about each person in the nativity scene. Neal and I told Judson that he would get a lot of gifts for Christmas, but the best gift came from God. It is Jesus. We prayed together and then headed for the sunroom where Judson's Massey Ferguson tractor and trailer awaited him. He was so excited!! We spent the rest of the day at my parents house with my brothers, sister-in-law and nephews. It was a wonderful day!!

Our Blog

2007-12-21T06:35:00.000-08:00

I have finally decided to join the blog club!!
I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and I pray that Christ is the center of your Christmas this year. God has been so faithful to us this year. Judson is growing and developing into a precious little boy. We moved into our new house in July. It is coming along really well. It is a great house for entertaining. And Neal loves to entertain!! Thanks for your friendship and family support. We love you all!!