4 years and counting....

Today is our 4year anniversary! I have to admit the time has flown by!! Jeff brought me home a really pretty bouqet of fresh flowers and attached was a very sweet message. I have to say that he is the best decision I ever made. We really compliment each other well, I have especially realized this in the last couple years since having children. He really is the best father I could ever ask for. I still remember April 26, 2003 very vividly and fondly recall all the events of the day. From beautiful Stetson chapel and the crisp spring day, much better than the cold rainy day we had to my handmade dress, to Sabrina French's beautiful voice and being surrounded by all our friends and family..perfect! Now we have Matthew and Caroline and our loved has changed and grown but, as I say to him alot, "He and my children are my dream come true!" (Remind me of this when he hasn't done something and I am endlessly nagging him!:)

Speaking of which, he still hasn't taken the computer into the other room and therefore my new camera pics aren't ready yet! I can't wait till they are!! I love my new one! Have a great day!

S

Matthew is Two

Well, on Saturday my baby boy turned two!! I can't believe its been two years in so many ways but in alot of ways, like having a 6 month old baby girl, it does seem like a long time ago that I held that little boy for the first time! It was beautiful weather here and his party turned out wonderfully. My parents came into town and we hadn't seen them since December. My mom is "Miss get it done" so my house is never more organized or clean than when she is here. We had the carpet installed in the basement last Tuesday, so we spent alot of time organizing Matt and Caroline's new toyroom and our new office. I love it! I am so happy to have a designated toy space and office space/craft space. I will post pics when I download the new software from our NEW digital camera! Yes, we now own a real digital camera, so no more crappy, fuzzy pics of the kids with our camcorder. But, back to Matthew's party, we had mostly family and some friends over for cake and icecream . I spent way too much money on a custom made cake, Curious George themed,from Bert's Bakery, the place that made our wedding cake and it was very, very YUMMY!! We just had snacks,not a meal, so I didn't feel quite so guilty splerging on the cake! Matthew loved his presents, although he kept saying, "On, on" which is what he says when he means, "Open!". He thought we could open them all right when they came out of the box. His speech is really coming along and he now calls Jeff "Daddy" with such enthusiasm all the time. He has become a real daddy's boy.

Both Matthew and Caroline went to the doctor today for their 6 month and 2 year checkups. Caroline's stats for height and weight came in at over 100% :) and Matthew came in the 95%. Proportinatly big!! Caroline seriously looks like she is one! She is jibber jabbering all the time and I swear she will be talking in sentences before Matthew! I tell you one thing about that little girl, she never sleeps at night! I slept with her for two nights while my parents were here and she was rolling around, playing with her piggies, talking, laughing all night long! At first it was cute and then I was like, "Listen here Missy!! GO TO BED!"

Sue

Stuff Happens and God is so Good!

So your all probably thinking, man she is all over the board and yes..I am! After spending the weekend praying a lot about my friends situation I have come to a better place about it. I think on Friday, I was just feeling like," How could something more happen to this women ,to this family. I mean in addition to her sister in law, brother in law, niece and her husband being killed by her nephew in Sept 2005, she has lost a son to a devastating brain disease which left him blind and deaf for years before it took his life, lost a brother to a fire he was fighting as a firefighter, another sister in law to a drunk driving accident and now she found out that the husband she has trusted for her entire adult life has stolen her life savings and that of her alzheimer ridden mothers. I think part of my anger on Friday was most defintely toward this man, who is like an uncle to me and my siblings, I have known him all my life. Its as shocking to me as finding out that my dad did something like this. Each morning that I have woken since finding out I think, "Was that a dream? That couldn't really be happening?" and then I realize, yes it is the reality. Our friend is staying with my parents right now and I had a chance to briefly speak to her and was felt like I couldn't speak, literally I had trouble forming the words.

God is so good because he totally sent the Pastor's message for me today..literally it was titled, "Why Bad things happen Good people" and it just reaffirmed to me what I know in my brain, that God will not forsake those who love Him, that He will carry us all through any "stuff" life might send my way. I just can't stand to watch this women and her remaining family suffer anymore, it literally hurts my heart. I have laid awake the last several nights with tears streaming down my face, I want to make it better. So, I will pray, I will lean on God and do whatever I can do to support my mom, her best friend, to help her through this. I take great solace in knowing that whatever "Stuff" we deal with here on Earth is so fleeting, even if it seems eternal at the time and that in the end, when we just begin, that through what Christ did for us, there will be no more loss, no more grief, only eternal, abundant life!

S

It makes me sad...

I am really bummed right now, our family friends who have been married for around 40 some years are getting a divorce. These are the same friends whose nephew murdered his parents, sister and her husband a little less than 2 years ago. I won't go into details since you never know who reads your blog and I want to respect their privacy, but these people have been through so much. They lost their son a little less than 10 years ago and then the tragedy with their family being murdered and many other horrible things have happened. But now it turns out that he was betraying he in so many ways. I want to scream at God.."Why?? Why does it seem like some people get so much piled on them and others don't?" and then I remember that God doesn't make anyone do anything,we all chose our choices! and that He is grieving with our friend, He is sad for her, he wants her to Trust in Him. That is why I get such solace from blogs like www.greenhouseministries.org and www.noahstevens.blogspot.com, because they are such shining examples of how to face adversity,even when its piled on. That through God, everything will be ok... But the human part of me, on days like today thinks...Life really does suck in so many ways. This is all a little raw right now...so excuse the harshness...


S

Life with a two year old...

Can really suck!!! I have had two really horrible days with Matthew!! He has been such a stinker and I am sick of it! Yesterday we were stuck inside all day because it snowed like 6 inches, yes it April!! He was so naughty all day and finally I just put him to bed at around 7:30 because I needed a break from him, something tells me he wanted a break from me just as bad. :) Jeff has to work the next several days to finish up tax time and I also think Matt's ear infection isn't clearing up and that maybe Caroline has one too! So in a few hours I have to go through the horror that is to take them there!! We went to Toys R us to buy my nephew Derek a birthday gift and some of Matthew's bday presents too he was the worst I have ever seen him there. Screamed and cried pretty much the whole time including in the parking lot and all the way home. Then when we got home I gave him chicken nuggets with ranch to dip and when he ran out and couldn't have anymore he tried throwing the plate at me.

Last night when Jeff came home I was a little teary, thinking that it must be something I am doing but now I think its just...2 year olds..at least I hope so!! Thankfully, I hired a babysitter and am going to a ladies night out for my MOPS group! I need it badly! On a side not,Caroline is so immune to his carrying on that she just looks at him curiously and then back at me and smiles as if she is saying, "He is a crazy man mommy, look how good I am being!" Very cute!

S

Easter Miracle!

So its Easter Morning and I am taking a shower and singing, badly, but joyfully to "Jesus Christ is Risen today" and thinking of all of our friends who don't know Christ. I am almost crying at the thought and wondering how I can change that...not five minutes after going downstairs the following phone conversation happens with our friend Abe, who is agnostic...

Abe: Hi Sue, this is Abe, what are you doing?
ME: Not much, just getting ready for church..
Abe: Yeah, thats why I am calling, I have decided to explore religion and was wondering if I could come to church with you and Jeff?
ME: ( My heart beating almost out of my chest from excitment), "Sure!!" We would love that!"

Well, of course the morning had its share of "kid issues" Matthew had been pulling on his ear all day Sat and cried hard in the bathrub Sat night and kept saying "AWEEW" so I took him in, while Jeff took Caroline and met Abe. It turned out Matty did have not one, but two ear infections , oops! Bad mommy...I can't tell you how many times I have taken that kid in and its been nothing though! He is on the mend now!!

So, I have asked Jeff to follow up with Abe and plan on doing so as well . I am just so excited! I hope this is the beginning of wonderful things for Abe and his faith! I have also decided that I am talking to all of my friends about with religion with the same abandon that I do on this blog! I have some friends who I can talk this way to, obviously church buddies, and some lifelong pals(Sarah W, if your reading, a little shout out to you:) but I need to talk about Christ with all people...even if sometimes they think..."Jesus Freak". Can't think of anyone better to freak over, can you??

S

Its Friday but...Sunday's coming...

It's Friday. Jesus is arrested in the garden where He was praying. But Sunday's coming.
It's Friday. The disciples are hiding and Peter's denying that he knows the Lord. But Sunday's coming.
It's Friday. Jesus is standing before the high priest of Israel, silent as a lamb before the slaughter. But Sunday's coming.
It's Friday. Jesus is beaten, mocked, and spit upon. But Sunday's coming.
It's Friday. Those Roman soldiers are flogging our Lord with a leather scourge that has bits of bones and glass and metal, tearing at his flesh. But Sunday's coming.
It's Friday. The Son of man stands firm as they press the crown of thorns down into his brow. But Sunday's coming.
It's Friday. See Him walking to Calvary, the blood dripping from His body. See the cross crashing down on His back as He stumbles beneath the load. It's Friday; but Sunday's a coming.
It's Friday. See those Roman soldiers driving the nails into the feet and hands of my Lord. Hear my Jesus cry, Father, forgive them. It's Friday; but Sunday's coming.
It's Friday. Jesus is hanging on the cross, bloody and dying. But Sunday's coming.
It's Friday. The sky grows dark, the earth begins to tremble, and He who knew no sin became sin for us. Holy God who will not abide with sin pours out His wrath on that perfect sacrificial lamb who cries out, "My God, My God. Why hast thou forsaken me?" What a horrible cry. But Sunday's coming.
It's Friday. And at the moment of Jesus' death, the veil of the Temple that separates sinful man from Holy God was torn from the top to the bottom because Sunday's coming.
It's Friday. Jesus is hanging on the cross, heaven is weeping and hell is partying. But that's because it's Friday, and they don't know it, but Sunday's a coming.

Happy Birthday Jeffy!

Happy Birthday to my hubby...he's 33 today!!! I can't believe that...we have known each other for eleven years!!! We celebrated by going to Jeff's mom's house for dinner, Matthew was a stinker but it was nice to get out of the house. We all enjoyed watching the snow..but it made for a heck of a ride home...accidents everywhere and I almost got in one!! Thankfully all is well and everyone is safe at home with two sleeping babies!!

5 things I love about Jeff

5. His laugh..so adorable

4. His tempermant...so calm, especially when I am psycho and hormonal!

3. Great at giving advice, since he is so even keeled its always rational...unless you steal his car and hit a deer with it..another story for another blog entry!

2. Amazing father...my children are so very blessed to have him in their lives.

1. Great support and sounding board, shoulder to cry on..etc....my everything..as I say to him alot.."Your my dream come true!" , Seriously, I would imagine our lives together when I was stalking..oops I mean wooing him!!

Sue

Wannabe Catholic?

I really miss the Catholic church around Easter time..the tradition of those types of services is more fitted for Easter to me..at least for Maundy Thursday and Good Friday...especially Good Friday. When I lived in Chicago, my friend and I would go to her catholic church on Good Friday and it brought me to tears every time. We would end the service with " Where you there when they crucified my Lord" it always causes me to tremble!

I am trying to figure out a time to go but its not looking good, Jeff works Fri night and I feel bad asking Barb, although I am sure she would do it. True to Michigan form, we are expecting highs in the 30's and chances of snow tommorrow through Sunday...Spring??!! Good thing I never plan my kids outfits for warm weather until its like July!! Caroline is wearing the cutest dress ever! My mom bought it for her, I will be sure and post her cutey patootey pics. She has to go back to the doc on Thursday..her ecema is so bad and I think its really bothering her, she has been waking up covered in scratches and is drawing blood! I hope they can help her out!!

I also think Matthew may be getting sick....please no..he felt a little warm but didn't have a temp when I took it under his arm, although I don't think that is the most reliable way! Only time will tell!!

HAPPY EASTER! May you and yours know the saving grace and assurance that can only be found through a personal relationship with Christ!

S

You have to wonder?

I sometimes wonder if people think before they talk or make comments? Lately, I have had a barage of comments from people that down right anger me. I am usually either a) taken so aback by what they have said that I am speechless or b) they aren't being overtly rude so it usually hits me after the conversation has ended. I am fed up and at my breaking point in these situations and am worried that I might end up speaking sharply back.

I defintely need to pray more about these feelings. Its really starting to make me not want to be involved with things or people!

S