Adventure Day

Outer Banks

Well we took our annual trip to the Outer Banks in October this year. It was even more beautiful there than it is in the spring. Here are a few pictures of our week. If you have never been, but love the beach, you should check it out some time!

Cub Scouts

I have wanted to get Evan involved in Cub Scouts since last year, but Jason tends to not like crowds very much and was a bit concerned when they told him he would have to be a den leader his first year out. So we waited. This year we decided to try again, and although he has to help with one lesson, there is someone else who has taken the reins, so Evan is working towards being a wolf cub. I am so excited. There really were no boys in my family, so sometimes I have trouble letting him be one. :) I thought with cub scouts he would have that special bonding with Jason, plus he would be able to have some real "boy" fun without me being terrified each time he tried something new that I might consider "living on the edge". I have included some pictures of his first pack meeting where he received his neckerchief. I am so proud of him. He is really into it and has already completed a bunch of things in his handbook. Way to go Evan!!!!

My Little Supermen

The boys have been so cute lately. Everyday Brayden is home with me he wants his "supercape" on. Which translates to one of Jason's t-shirts tied around his neck. Then he leaves it on all day long and you can tell by looking at him he just loves to feel the breeze of the cape on his back! Too funny!!! Here are some pictures to show you my little Superman!

Geocaching

Well, we started a new family hobby. If you have never heard of Geocaching it is this really great treasure hunting that you can go on. If you want to find out more about it visit: www.geocaching.com. We have already found 4 hidden caches. Basically how it works is you use a GPS device and enter in latitude and longitude coordinates to find the cache or treasure. People can make up their own cache and hide them to. All the locations are found on the above website. It is a blast! The boys really feel like pirates!!! Arrrr Matey!!!! It is also a great history lesson for the kids, because a lot of the caches are hidden in some type of historical place. We have really enjoyed it, and plan to do some when we are on vacation with our friends!

The Start of 2nd Grade

Well, I can't believe it, but Evan started 2nd grade today. He looks so grownup in these photos! He seemed to be okay about going to school today which I was glad. I just pray that he has a good teacher and good friends. Awhile back before school started we were doing school shopping. When it came time to pick out a lunch bag he saw a purple and gray camo one. He asked me, "Mommy will I get made fun of at school if I choose that lunch bag?" His favorite color is purple. Boy, I didn't know what to say. I didn't want to tell him he wouldn't, because it did look like a "girl" lunch bag. I told him that kids can be mean sometimes and though they would have no reason for picking on him, yes they might. So he chose the black camo one instead. It just broke my heart that he had to go along with things when a boy should be able to pick whichever lunch bag he wants without being ridiculed. Anyway, I love you Evan, and I am so proud of you for the young boy you have become!

Just as the Sun Rises

Well...it seems that I have caused an upheaval from my last blog, people wondering what exactly I meant by getting a little busier. Well most have figured it out, and we have told everyone in our family, so the secret is out. Yes, Jason and I are going to have another beautiful baby. We are thrilled, scared, excited, all of those emotions rolled into one. I have to say the with my other two pregnancies, I just tried to enjoy them. This little kiddo has made me pretty sick most of the day which has not been fun. I also sit and think too much about how we have been blessed twice before with healthy children, who as of yet have no sickness or allergies or really anything that makes it difficult to raise these two boys. I guess after our cousin lost her three month old baby boy, I have really been concerned. Walking around on egg shells so to speak. Even with maybe a little bit of depression. It seems so unfair to me that while some families go through life and never really know true pain, others deal with it on a daily basis. Do I feel that God gives every life a purpose and what's meant to happen will, whether you want it to or not, of course! This is just one of the promises that God has given us, and I need to remind myself often.
"Oh, that we might know the Lord! Let us press on to know him! Then he will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn." ~Hosea 6:3 NLT
What a promise! Just as the sun always rises, the Lord is going to be there for us, for me!!!! I can't ask for more than that.

The 4th and my Baby's 3rd Birthday

Gosh, sorry it's been a while since I've entered blog world. Things have been pretty busy around here with the family, so we have just been enjoying summer! We had a wonderful picnic for the 4th at my Mom's house. I have included a few pictures from my Baby's 3rd birthday party. I can't believe how fast he has grown, and what a beautiful little boy he is. The other day during breakfast, I had scolded him for something with his table manners. He put his head down to his chest and said, "That makes my heart hurt, Mama." Oh break my heart!!!! Where does he come up with them???? It is never dull around here with two boys, and it is about to get a whole lot busier...More on that to come...

For Father's Day I took the boys to have their photos taken. While I was there I also got Brayden's 3 year old pictures done. I can't believe that it has been three years already!!! Time goes so fast when you become a Mom. Love you buddy!!!

Follow Up from To Home School or Not to Home School

Well, it has been a lot of prayer, and a lot of yes and no's, but I have decided to put Evan back in public school next school year. I know I tend to be a very controlling person. This occurs in all aspects of my life. As much as I have tried to change, it is a part of me. The one area though that I feel that I can't be so controlling is this area of homeschooling. I have found that I will rely on God more if I put him in school, then if I keep him home with me. I will rely on God through daily prayer that Evan is safe and not picking up bad habits and unGodly things. If he were home with me, I don't think I would go to God as much. Especally with the well being of my children, because again, I would be controlling what they watch, listen to, almost what they would believe. All I can do as a Mom is to give them a firm Christian foundation at home and a strong family unit, and I have to let God take care of the rest......

Happy Belated Mother's Day!!!!

Bausher Retreat

I can't say it enough, I feel so blessed to have married into a family like I did. When I was little girl I often dreamed of a large family with lots of kids to have fun with. The fact that I was lucky enough to marry into the family I did has been a bonus. Every year we go to a retreat with the Bausher's. Jason remembers going with his family and his cousins when he was younger to the Pocono's area and he has always remembered this fondly. He was speaking with his Aunt Cindy 4 years ago and told her how much he wants that same thing for our kids. His Aunt Cindy found a place for us to all meet one weekend, and so the Walter and Marie Bausher annual retreat began. The last four years a lot has happened in all of our lives. Some births, and some deaths, but we are all the stronger for it. Here are some pictures of our time together on this retreat. Enjoy!

To Homeschool or Not to Homeschool.....

Oh boy, where do I begin. I have always had it on my heart that when I had children I wanted to homeschool them. Jason and I were unable to survive on one income, so I knew I would have to work. I never thought that I would be in the place or have a job that would allow me to do so. Almost 5 years ago, God opened up this opportunity for me to work as a teacher with Pennsylvania Virtual Charter School. (www.pavcs.org) Now I feel like I have the opportunity to do what I have always wanted, but I am scared to make the final commitment. This past year I tried it for 1 1/2 months, but Evan and I seem to have such similar personalities, that I wasn't prepared for it, and I am a "preparer"! So we placed him back in school. He still asks me almost daily if he can be homeschooled. So it seems that my pros list is about two pages, where my cons to do it are maybe three things. One, I am concerned about how much time I spend with him will actually affect our relationship in a negative way. Two, can I really do my job to the best of my ability, while also schooling him which is of the highest priorities in my book. I know that many who read this will not understand why I would ever dream of doing such a thing. I don't have an answer for you, I just feel it in my heart. Is it God leading me to this???? Some days it feels so strong, and then other days I am pulled in the other direction. A family member shared that sometimes we need to just "WAIT". The problem is I don't know what I am waiting for. Do I think a magical answer will just appear? I don't know. What I do know is that I love my children, and I want the best for them. If that means that I need to protect them from the "world" a little while longer, so be it. Am I naive enough to believe that they won't come up against trials and tribulation? Of course not. But I do feel I can better prepare them for how to deal with it when they are being raised by our family everyday, and not their peers for 7 hours a day. So this is my daily dilemma. I know everyone has opinion on this subject, so I would love for you to leave a comment for me, even if it is just to tell me you'll be praying. Blessings!!!!

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

This past Monday we went with the couples from our small group to the Reading Phillies game. We had a blast! I just have to say how blessed Jason and I are to have such wonderful friends in our life. This was a social gathering for us, but I feel that through these gatherings and our studies on God's word, Jason and I have grown in all aspects of our faith. We are closer to each other, our family, and our friends because of these Monday night meetings. I have posted a few of the pictures that I took from Monday night's game. The Phillies won! Our boys also get so excited when we say we are getting together with the group. So I just wanted to thank you all for being so important to Jason and myself, and to tell you what an impact you all have on our lives. God Bless!!!!

A Tribute to Nana

Jason and I lost our Nana last Friday. Words can not express how sad we are that she will not be part of our family on this side of heaven anymore. Even though Nana was not my grandmother, she felt like one. In fact out of all my grandparents next to my own Grammie, she was who I had become closest to. I have been with Jason for 16 years and in that time I had gotten very close with Nana. She was an amazing women. Anyone who knew her is better for it. If you venture over to my sister-in-law Sharon's blog she said it exactly right. She just said it like it was whether while playing a card game or telling a really funny (sometimes clean sometimes not) joke, she was one in a million. I could type for days and still not be able to write down all of the funny stories I have heard about Nana the family over the years. I feel blessed that I married into such a wonderful family. When I was little growing up this was the family that I had dreamed of, so for Nana I say... Go Phillies!!!!

Sad Times

We had some very sad news last Friday. Our cousin's baby boy died at the age of 3 months. I have been in a state of shock for these past few days. Yesterday was the funeral, and I have never been to such a sad and horrible experience. As a mother of two young boys I can not even begin to imagine what his parents are going through. I sat in amazement yesterday at how strong they are and the kindness and support given by families and loved ones. Why does it always take something tragic for us to realize how precious everyday is with our own loved ones? They asked us all yesterday at the service to let them know in a few months, years, or days how Baby Caleb affected our lives. I want to wait for a little while, but I will let them know that even just for one day it has affected me. I smile at my boys more, hug when I want to scream, and just realize how amazing each day is! Each day is a gift from God! Even though Caleb was only with us three short months, his life had a purpose. We might not know what it was this side of heaven, but someday we will know. I have been praying hard for the peace of the family. I know that Caleb is much better off in heaven sitting right beside Jesus, and he will never have to go through the suffering that we do here on Earth. We will all have to wait until the day that Jesus calls each of us home to see Caleb again. But in the meantime, Grammie, please hold him extra tight for all of us! I miss you....

Did you Ever Have One of Those Days?

Did you ever have one of those days when you realize you just shouldn't have gotten out of bed? Well, this for me is one of those days. I woke E up for school this morning, and then went into B's room to wake him up. The smell hit me as soon as I opened the door. As I looked closer I realized he had gotten sick somewhere in the middle of the night, and then must have fallen back to sleep in it. What a mess!!! On the walls, bed, his hair, everywhere. I woke him up and that's when I realized it came out both ends. Oh my, B as always being such a trooper was very calm and so sweet. So that's how my day started. It's days like this that I need the little devotional calendar that sits on my desk where I find verses and little snipits like this one:
Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.-Psalm 31:24
Do you ever wake up and think,"Forget it! I'm not even going to try anymore"? A better way to handle those days when stress and feelings of inadequacy try to overtake us is to run to Jesus. Some people forget that Jesus is Lord over evry part of our lives-even the stressful parts. He has already gone before us, ensuring our victory. Rejoice! Be strong! Take heart!

Outer Banks Vacation

Baseball has Begun:)

E started baseball again for this season, and he loves it! It took awhile to find a sport that he would enjoy. We tried swimming, ice skating(in prep for ice hockey), nothing seemed to take quite like baseball has. He is rather good at it to. B has spent his time following in his older brothers footsteps saying, I play baseball too? The coach was even nice enough to give the younger siblings shirts and hats. B was thrilled! This year will be a little different, because it is coach pitch this year instead of hitting it from the T. Here is a cute pic of the brothers. I love them so much, and they are growing sooo fast. I just stare at them in amazement sometimes of all of the blessings God has given to me, even though none of us deserve it. His grace is sufficient for me!

Here Goes Nothing.....

Well, I have ventured into the world of blogging. I never thought I would have any interest in this, because the truth be told; I just did not think that I had anything to write about. However, after talking to my good friends M & G and seeing how wonderful their blogs are, I am doing this as a way I can get my life out on a page. Things that happen with my children, my husband and my daily walk with God. If I can witness to just one person with keeping up with this blog, then it will have been worth it. So sit back, enjoy a brief read, and stand by me in my walk.....