To my Warriors

To a daughter who is loved by a mommy who adores her daughter
To a son who is loved by a mommy who adores her son

My sweet children,
You know, you two have been on my heart all night. I never knew that I could love you like I do. Unspeakable, unimaginable, lasting, overflowing love...There is no ending to the affection I feel- it grows- stronger-deeper. It is real, concrete, and touchable.

Gabriella-You are your Daddy's daughter
Caleb-You are your Daddy's son

To both of you - My desire for you, among many others, is that you both will come to know and love the Lord your God. May you trust him, give your lives to Him, and live a life that pleases Him, your Maker.

May I , your Mommy, bear good witness of His love everyday to you. My dear ones, in my imperfections, and shortcomings, may you know that I too walk with the one and true Living God. That He guides me, sustains me, teaches and molds me. His love undying, His grace unending...

My prayer is that you will know Jesus early on, that you will seek His heart as much as He earnestly seeks for yours every minute of everyday.

God's Little Hero, my Bella Bella. From the first time I held you, I knew you were to be a warrior. You were strong and feisty then, and now. My love- put on the armor of God. ( Ephesians 6:11-18) You will need it. God calls you to do many things in His Name.
Beautiful are you my child. Don't allow the world's negativity and strife defeat you. Stand firm in the knowledge that you are indeed loved and cherished. Daily cling to truth, search out God's word, live it, know it, and claim it. You have found favor in God. May you be joyful in this.

Faithful One - who is like God- my little Balec. I fear that today the word faithful is not known for it's true meaning. Sometimes faithful is confused with weak, or soft. You my child, are not those. You too are a warrior. One who is "true, devoted, constant". It is not an easy calling. You my love will face many trials and tribulations in order to remain true to the Lord, you will war with evils and enemies because of your devotion to God, but your faithfulness will bring great blessings. My son know 2 Samuel 22:21-26. May you desire to please God always, and in this know that He will reward you with your faithful servant hood.

Gabriella and Caleb,
God has given you many giftings and strengths. As you grow older may you recognize these, and use them to glorify Him. May you also recognize your weaknesses, and allow God to work in you and through you.

My loves,
I have full confidence in you. You are wonderful children, and I am proud to be entrusted with you. I am proud of you both. I love you.

Love Mommy

Stillwater

Hi!

I have really good news! This afternoon I recieved my 10 year residency card, otherwise known as the famous Green card! In a flurry of excitement we tried to plan to head to Canada tomorro morning, sadly it didn't work out, so we will have to actually plan in advance to go. Thank you all for praying! Perhaps I will get to eat those greasy fries under the bridge soon! The amazing thing was that the INS didn't even call me in for a second interview!

Michael left earlier this afternoon for a boys night! Secretly I am a teensy bit pleased he is gone. I do love my solitary time in small dosages! Michelle and Penelope came over earlier, to play and eat supper, but now the kidlings are asleep and I am alone! Sigh... how lovely!

Last night Michael surprised me with a trip to Stillwater! We had a blast with the kids, roaming the quaint streets with our squeaky stroller. I wouldn't want to live in such a little town, but I adore visiting. This particular town holds fond memories for Michael and I. We went there for our first group date, and then later for our first picnic, and two years later a B&B getaway a few weeks before little Bella made her mark. Michael treated us to dinner at a crab house with a fabulous view of the lake. We all ate too much! The food was wonderful, and the company even better. I've said it before, and I'll say it again... my family is amazing and I love being with each of them. I am over blessed! Michael knows how to love me in the best ways. He is such a good friend, husband, father, and so much more. I am so thankful...

Our day- Part One

This is for my Candadian and Brazilian family and anybody else that is interested :) Here is a brief look into our day. Mind you with a video camera it is hard to edit all of the stuff out that is emabarrasing. Ex. Messy house, dumb mommy voice, disobedient baby moments... Enjoy!

First thing in the morning...

What makes a Mama tick...

Breakfast

Thats all for now ... more of our day to come!

No title- just thoughts

After putting my daughter to bed, I finally sat down on the couch. Only to get up twice in three minutes. The first time was to bring Bella to the potty, it is times like these that I am wishing the diapers back, this and when we are at the opposite end of the mall from the nearest bathroom. The second time was to put Bella back to bed. She had something big to tell me: "Thanks Mommy for going to the park with me." Sure thing honey... thanks for getting your tiny behind back to bed!
Now after the third time walking her back to her room, "Mommy I need a hug!" - was the far from innocent excuse!I am ready to relax! Well almost. It is the night of indecision. Do I relish the quietness of the house, or do I get up and clean the mess I made in the kitchen? Sigh... I really am not above hiring a full time maid... too bad our bank account doesn't support it! We had rice and beans tonight, which always means a huge mess on the floor, and everywhere else. It is unfortunate the apartment doesn't allow dogs, we could just feed him the food Caleb tosses on the floor... please don't mind my ramblings...
I suppose my better judgement wins tonight... if I work fast enough maybe I can sit down for awhile later. There is always that hope.

Flower

It is pretty rare that Bella and I get some quality girl time together. So I just love it when the opportunity arises! Today Caleb napped longer than usual allowing us to 'hang' as my daughter puts it! Her conversation is pretty hilarious. So serious for such a little girl. She was pretty opinionated about my flower vase today:

Bella: Mommy! Why did you throw your flower in the garbage? That wasn't very nice...

Mommy: Well the flower wasn't smelling so nice, and I need to wash the vase

Bella: Oh. ( She was puzzled but went on to other subjects- I listened while washing the vase)

Three cookies, one potty break, and five minutes later...

Bella: Mommy Mommy don't put that away! ( referring to the now clean vase)

Mommy: Why not?

Bella: You need to put it on the table

Mommy: Without a flower?

Bella: Don't worry. When Daddy comes home, I'll go and buy you a pretty flower. A flower and some milk. You can stay home with Caleb and rest.

Mommy: Really?

Bella: uh huh... Caleb might cry though...

Wow! Doesn't she have it all figured out! When Michael came home she promptly told him of her plan! The best part is I did get a pretty red rose out of it. Thank you sweet girl!

Finally.. "IT"

"IT" is in motion! Hooray!

I have to say that the past week has been mentally exhausting! Our idea that birthed last Sunday took growth on a massive scale. More and more that I thought of "IT" the more I desired "IT' to become. And think of "IT" I did. I thought of it in the morning, in the evening, in the car, on the toilet, at the park... and so on and so forth. Poor Michael was thrown into my emotional tornado!

In the end, we prayed and asked God that if "IT" was a good decision, that the circumstances surrounding it would be worked out. I believe that God gives us freedom in making decisions regarding our future, our desire is to be always in His will.

What was IT? IT was the possibility of moving back to Bethany campus. There was a two bedroom apartment that had opened up, and we were on top of the waiting list since the time we at to attempted to move there. I do love the current apartment we are in, it is nice, and homey, and comfortable. I love that we have made so many special memories here; bringing Caleb home from the hospital, family dinners, Bella moving into a big girl bed, deciding to move to Brasil, Christmas, and lots and lots of laughter. It will be a little bit sad to repaint this place and say goodbye to our first official home.

BUT...

There is always the other side of things. To afford a nice apartment we had to live in a not so nice neighbourhood. This place is not so kid friendly. I have never felt totally comfortable going outside with the kids, and there isn't really any place to walk to. Also here I was left car-less since Michael takes our one and only to work. Errands, and fun outings needed to be prearranged or done at night. I was beginning to feel a little bit trapped here, and I didn't like that feeling. The kids have been a little bit squirmy too, and I wonder if that is from a lack of a place to run. Laundry is also a nightmare, it is $2.50 a load, and it piles up like nobodies business since we never get change!

One of the lessons I have been learning is, to be content where I am at. Part of me wondered if moving to Bethany was not going to work out because that lesson of contentment still isn't fully learned. This summer I have had to constantly choose to be joyful in our apartment regardless of the above circumstances. Some days were better than others, and some days were worse. Just ask Michael, he can testify!

However I believe that moving to Bethany will be most beneficial to Gabriella and Caleb. They will have three nearby parks, tons of little friends to play with, and walking trails. Their Daddy will be able to come home for lunch most days and we will have a car at our disposal. Just the apartment itself is bigger, and the balcony is huge and safe to play on! Also our church is just next door. We hope to be more involved this fall with the youth group, and a ministry at the college. Not to mention that the music studio is right there for Michael.

Our current apartment managers were extremely gracious and are giving us a huge break from the penalties of terminating our lease. We are extremely thankful. It is obvious that God had his hand on this end, and on Bethany's . They too have been extra willing to work with us! On September 29th we will be moved! Praise God.

In a way I feel like we are ending one chapter in our lives to begin another. Leaving this apartment seems to be our first step to Brasil. Candidacy begins in October, and from there we will be thrown into support raising and logistics full time. I can't think of a better place to be during our season of preparation.

Please pray for Gabriella and Caleb. This will be Caleb's first move, and I don't know how he will be adjusting to a new home. Please pray specifically that he will feel peace, and a sense of stability. Gabriella is a seasoned mover. Technically this will be her fifth move in 3 years! She tends to go with the flow if she is prepared in advance for the change. Please pray that we will be in tune with her feelings during this time, and that we will be able to involve her with the process. Please also pray that she too will feel have fun with the change, and feel secure.

We are looking forward to our new home, the memories that await us. Bethany has and always will be a special place to us, and I am happy to spend more time there. Please come and visit us! We love you!

Bedtime

It's begun. The many excuses to get out of bed at night. She is just a beginner, but is already very clever in her reasons of WHY.

• The famous : I need some agua- this one always works for her. She appeals to mama's soft side. Who would think of putting their baby to bed thirsty? Never mind the full sippy cup in her hand!

• I'm sad, can you pray for me? ... I don't need to explain why this is a winner!

• I need to go xixi ( potty) ... This one is annoying especially since she just went three times in the last fifteen minutes. But really do I want to change the bed sheets because I didn't give her the benefit of the doubt? I think not!

• My tummy hurts. This one beats all. We will ignore the fact that my daughter is a hypochondriac and focus on What if? What if her little Belly is aching. Of course she needs extra hugs and kisses.

• And my favorite: Baby needs to go xixi. Okay this one gets a stern "Bella go back to bed NOW! " And she responds with .... "I'm sad". What a clever little criminal!

Bugs

After an entire week of rain, the wonderful sun shined down on us! I was sorely tempted to take them outside to play, but after Wednesday's muddy wet experience, and the fact that $2.5o for a load of laundy adds up quickly, we opted for some other creative activities.

It is amazing how long one package of stickers can entertain two toddlers. They had so much fun sticking bugs on themselves, and teasing each other. I was delighted that Bella actually let a bug touch her! I attempted very poorly to teach them that God created the bugs too, but it went right over their heads, maybe next time. On a side note it took a long time for me to convince them that we needed to take ALL of the bugs off before their nap. I can picture Caleb wanting to eat the bugs as a bedtime snack! And I am sure that I am going to find our little ladybug friends all over the house for days!

Baby's Makeover

Today Bella told me that I needed to make Baby look like a princess. I asked her why. And she explained that since Baby was a girl she needed to be a princess too. What was I going to do? We all know that Baby isn't the most attractive little doll. Baby was going to need alot of work!

Thankfully Bella's grandma is a genius and I improvised with an outfit on a doll she made for Gabriella a couple of years ago. Amazingly it fit, and we topped her off with clips in her ears, and a bracelet paci.

Baby looked beautiful, and is now extra special with the love and care of Grandma clothed on her. Bella declared that her princess baby was so cute, and that her dress was never going to come off, cause it was never going to be dirty!

Caleb on the other hand was a bit offended that I didn't have an outfit for his Lion! Maybe Grandma will have to take out her sewing machine...

From Bella

Daddy: Honey I have to go to work now

Bella: No Daddy, You can't...

Daddy: yes Honey it is time...

Bella: No Daddy, you need to stay home and relax!

Family

Today I was feeling so homesick! My brother made it all better when he gave me an unexpected phone call! My first reaction was, "What is wrong? Is eveything ok?" He and his wife just signed up for unlimited long distance! So now we can talk all the time! I was also delighted to see some pictures of my neice and nephews. Aren't they just adorable?

Corey J.R. 7yrs
Ashton 2yrs
Lexie 9yrs

Oh Canada...

Many people forget that I am indeed Canadian. I was born in Ontario and lived there for 18 years. It is funny to think that even as a little girl I knew that I was going to marry an American. I remember asking my Mom what she would do if I did marry internationally, and her answer was hurried, "I guess it would be okay as long as he was a good guy." She obviously was unaware that God was busy preparing this little five year old's heart for something big!

I haven't been home for almost 3 years. Now that the summer is ending, I am feeling a little sad that I have once again missed out on one of my favorite summer pastimes. There is nothing like hanging out by Lake Huron on a large cool rock, underneath the warm sun, listening to the seagulls over head, while eating hot homemade chip truck fries, loaded with sea salt and malt vinegar. Yum...I can almost taste it! The last time I had this wonderful experience was five years ago! And it hit me this morning that this summer was my last oppourtunity for a long time, since next summer we plan to be in Brazil. One day I will share this pleasure with Caleb and Gabriella. It is a wonder American's haven't caught on yet!

We are hoping to visit my family this fall. But once again we are at the mercy of the USA goverment. My papers need to be approved before I can return, and who knows how long that will take! I just need to accept the fact that for the rest of my life I will be dealing with visas and passports and documents. Ugghhh...

Please pray for us that our request for ten year residency will be approved quickly! It's not just the fries that I miss (wink!)

Sleeping habits in the Dugan Home

Bella Bella

Little Balec Balec

"IT"

It dawned on me recently that this blog is begining to revolve mainly around two adorable kids, and the drama of my life as a mom! I am sorry if I bore some of my readers. Perhaps you are looking for some juicy details about the Dugan household, and instead you are reading alot of sap and cheese. Thank you for rollin with us anyways...

There may be a big change coming up in our lives , amongst all the other BIG changes. Calm down grandparents... let me stress the fact that NO, we are NOT pregnant. But a wonderful opportunity may have presented itself to us this afternoon. This idea, that randomly occured, grew bigger and bigger, as the day progressed! Curious?

I would love to tell you all about "IT", but perhaps I should wait and see if "IT" is actually a possibility. Many things would have to be worked out for "IT" to be a reality, and we are praying. Please pray for God's favor and wisdom with us and for the circumstances surrounding "IT'!"

Postage for a Brain

Have you ever wanted to take a vacation from your brain?
How about letting it rest for awhile, perhaps sending it on vacation. So you can relax, stop thinking, and stop pondering life's questions.

Today I want to put my brain in an envelope and send it to some far away land. I wonder how much it would cost to ship a brain to Italy. Maybe then it will slow down a bit... Lately I have had a lot on my mind! Brazil, the Lord, my marriage, Michael, Gabriella, Caleb, the church, friends, my life... around and around the prayers and thoughts go. They spin, turn, fire arrows to my heart, but never do they rest!

Today we had a laid back rainy day. This was not good for Mr. Brainey Brain. He took the opportunity to work overtime as I watched the kids play, as we took a long drive, and as we watched mindless t.v. Can you believe that my brain even had the nerve to interrupt a much needed attempt to sleep! Oh how I long for some distraction. A mall, the zoo, or just a huge pile of yummy junk food!

Speaking of yummy food. Michael and I found Requeijao Cremoso ( like cream cheese) at a Brazilian store Friday night. We have been missing this treat every since we returned to the USA. We indulged ourselves this morning, and had it with french bread. So delicious! The combination of pao, requeijao, and cafe pilao, mixed with the fresh scent of rain teased our senses, and made Brazil seem so close. But caused my heart to go into overdrive as well! Sigh... soon Mr. Brain, and my longing heart will run out of steam and I will be able to relax! Right?

Royalty

"First pray that you will see your children as God sees them - as royalty worth dying for. The "royalty" part helps you hold your children to a higher standard......They are not raised to be average; they're being raised to lead as servant-kings. The "worth dying for" part helps the parents remember that their sacrifice of time and energy is of eternal value and worth. This is the first mission field God has handed you. Obey Him in all you do in it."
(Leigh A Bortins, Classical Conversations Foundations Curriculum).

A friend sent me this quote the other day and it has been on my heart ever since...

Introducing Our Celebrities

Like a Babbling brook, my Bella Bella's conversation flows all day long. Caleb hardly gets a word in! We had fun making little videos this morning. This is my first time trying to put videos on my blog. I hope it works out! I am sorry the videos are not edited, nor is the quality excellent. But my kids are wonderful little actors! I hope hearing their voices, and seeing their cute faces will shorten the distance between us and you. We love you guys!

A Mid Morning Battle

"NO! IT'S NOT FAIR. " She yelled at me, in a new, unfamiliar demanding, voice that struck my heart like a sharp arrow.

WHO IN THE WORLD IS THIS GIRL?

I thought as I looked at the tiny creature standing before me with her hands on her hips, her eyes wild, her eyebrows raised ready for combat. Her stance was determined, clearly she was not going to move in her position.

Stunned, I took a step back and wondered what my strategy should be. I was not prepared for this war. Only a few moments earlier, my little attacker had her arms around me saying, "I just love you so much." She called me Mama with admiration in her sweet voice.

WHERE IS MY BACK UP WHEN I NEED IT?

I was taking too long to make my next move, and the tiny creature could sense my weakness.
I knew that my weapon needed to be swift love. In the calmest mommy warrior voice I could muster I told my gremlin to wait for me in her room.

She paused and pursed her lips. I could tell her mind was working.

WHAT IF SHE REFUSES? LORD YOU NEED TO HELP ME ON THIS ONE...

She turned and strode out of the kitchen towards her room...

A long sigh escaped from my mouth, and then... I surprised myself, and laughed and laughed and laughed! Such a little person with such strong determination.

I can't even remember why the battle lines were drawn. I doubt that she knew either.
I won this war, I may lose others in the future. Oh how I need God 's guidance and wisdom.

When I entered her cave, she looked up at me sadly and then ran into my arms. She sobbed and sobbed. And my little girl returned to me, but I can't help but miss my monster...
So convicted, so funny...

No worries, I am sure that my attacker will return... hopefully next time I will be better prepared!

Gabriella's First Dinner

Tonight Gabriella "cooked" for our family. She made corn and black bean salsa. It was delicious!

We ate together in the living room while watching Veggie Tales. What a nice way to end our weekend!

This is how we beat the heat

Summer Night Storm

Last night we were woken with the sounds of thunder, pounding rain, and high winds. The lightning was so bright that it illuminated our bedroom. Michael and I watched in awe of this powerful storm. We couldn't even see the road 100 feet in front of our home. I was disappointed I didn't grab the camera. But this is what the aftermath looks like. This is where we usually park our car. Good thing we didn't last night!
The heavy steel fence from our pool completely down!
This tree has taken many beatings this summer.
Our fence in the back destroyed
Caleb and Papai surveying the damage

Leftover dishes...

I want to hide when I look at the complete disarray of my home. And Lord forgive me but I can't help but think mockingly at people's comments, "Let cleaning slide, just enjoy your babies, while they are still babies."

HA! If I did that, I would LOSE my babies in this clutter! It's a nice idea but who can really enjoy their children while stepping on goldfish, tripping over shoes, and smelling the remains of leftover chicken...My emotions are drowning in this mess...and so were theirs. In a matter of one morning many tantrums were thrown, mommy included in the mix. Many tears were shed, apologies and hugs and kisses given, but the chaos remains.

Yes, I let the supper dishes slide last night... I always, always regret that decision the next day...You would think that I would learn but somehow t.v on the couch last night with my husband was more appealing than greasy pots and pans.
I should get up, ignore my laptop, and pull up my boots, and begin cleaning, and begin preparing once again for another meal...
But my muscles ache, my eyelids are droopy, and my 5 am morning girl, and my monkey boy drained every last bit of energy from me. My mind tells me to go, but really I must have a ton of bricks on my back, because I can't move.

It's not as if I haven't done anything this morning. Earlier we went for our walk. Let me tell you, dragging that 20 pound double stroller up and down a flight of stairs becomes old really quick. Especially when both early morning girl, and monkey boy are demanding me to get them while I carry the monster down. But it is so worth walking in silence, with the morning wind, and the blue skies overhead. It is also a nice feeling knowing that I am exercising a little bit. I got really happy this morning in anticipation of fall. It is my favorite season, I wish it could last all year long. I love the sound of crunching leaves under my shoes, and the smell of the brisk air.

We stopped at the grocery store to buy fresh vegetables for dinner tonight, I am beginning to like this activity, as does Gabriella who proudly holds mommy's list. If it wasn't for my irritation with our stair situation it may become a part of our routine. The colors of the fruit and vegetables are so vibrant, and the way they are arranged is beautiful. I feel very homemakerish doing my shopping for dinner, I even stopped by the florist and bought a single yellow rose. It is sitting looking very pretty in it's clear vase, in my very messy kitchen...

Coffee, maybe if I get some brewing I can gain some motivation. There was a day when coffee never tasted my lips, I crave it now! It' s like drinking pure energy from a cup. One day I won't need that Starbucks, or Caribou and I will save that money for an elaborate vacation, but for now it is what is helping me throughout my day. That and nap times, what am I going to do when my kids outgrow theirs?

Becoming Rachel Rae

So we all know that Michael is the creative cook in our family. But tonight I blew my family out of the water by recreating Rachel Rae's recipe for oven roasted chicken. I used lots of garlic, rosemary, and white cooking wine. It was delicious. The only thing is that it was only suppose to take 30 mins to prepare, it took me an hour and a half! Oops! And she didn't say anything about clean up time...maybe I will save the dishes for tomorro!
Let me know if you want the recipe!

By 10am

• By 6am, I already had Bella tell me good- morning 30 times


• By 6:30am we were dressed and beds were made


• By 7am we were on our way out the door for a walk to Starbucks


• By 8am we had eaten breakfast outside in the shade, with the cool morning breeze


• By 8:30am we were at the grocery store shopping for dinner. As we were leaving Bella said sweetly," Thank you for shopping with me Mama." What a girl!


• By 9am we were running around at the park


• By 10am we were home again and I was feeling so thankful to have the job I do. What a fun morning!

And the answer is...

Lately the BIG questions we have been getting are: Are you going to have another baby? ... and When are you going to have another? And my favorite: Are you pregnant? ( What!? Do i look pregnant? Be careful how you answer!)

A little snugly bundle to love, soft skin, the newborn smell (mmm), little clothes, little toes, and tiny fingers... it sounds wonderful... Another little person to add to our family.. laughter, tears, play...PRAYER... (there is something about children that demands your heart to pour out to God daily isn't there?) It sounds perfect...

I really can't blame those who are asking, I mean Michael and I have been pondering the idea for a while now. Maybe it is because Caleb is walking and coming into his own, or because Bella is going to be THREE this fall, or because the idea of having three siblings so close in age appeals to us.

We would love to have another son or daughter... we are just waiting for the right timing. I believe God gives us some kind of control of how big our families become. But both Bella and Caleb weren't 'planned' babies. What does planned really mean anyways? I struggle with this idea because know matter how hard we try to fit a child into our ideal schedule, it is ultimately the Lord who chooses to give life. He created two beautiful children, breathed life into them for us to call our own, so we can return them to Him. What amazing gifts we were entrusted with...the responsibility can be overwhelming at times.

It would be ideal for us to be in Brazil before number three arrives, it would be nice to have a better grasp on Portuguese before I am up all night nursing, it would be wonderful if my mother in law could be available to help me cope with intense morning(lets be honest- ALL day ) sickness for 6 months! ( is that okay with you Mom2?) , and I would love to be in better shape physically before I begin a third pregnancy...

But God knows this already, and he knows what Michael and I can handle, what my body can handle, and the change our family can sustain. He knows the BEST timing for our family, and this lifts a huge burden off of me. Whether baby number three remains a dream, or comes soon, or much much later, he or she will be a huge blessing in our lives. The same goes for number four, five, six, seven...

Michael and I are so thankful for Caleb and Gabriella. The have enriched our lives and marriage more than we ever could have imagined. I am absolutely head over heals, dance silly, tickled pink, in love with my unplanned, but very planned kids.

So the answer is, No we aren't pregnant right now, we are waiting and praying, and allowing God to move in our lives. Like we tell little Bella Bella, ( who's fascination with my belly has grown since we told her Sarah is having a baby) Pray and ask God, and then wait and see what happens!

We are Back!

It took a while to put this together
Caleb was so happy
Our boater- Chris

Penelope
Daddy and Bella Bella
Drinking coke- hey it's vacation!

Penelope getting ready to go outside

The front view of the cabin
The back view of the cabin
Look what Daddy Found
Mommy loves her Balec



We had a wonderful vacation! The cabin we stayed at was simple, but in every sense beautiful! There was more than enough space for all of us, and the kids had plenty of room to make messes and roam. I am so thankful for this time.... I am so thankful to the family that made this happen. Their generosity has blessed our family above and beyond!



It rained for the majority of the weekend, ( go figure- MN is in a state of drought and it rains on our vacation!) But we still had a great time. We ate tons of food, played outside, explored the lake on Chris's boat, blew bubbles, ate more food, looked for bugs, shared fun conversation, and laughed at our children's cute antics. It was low key, and exactly what we all needed.



Even though I am not the best photographer, I decided instead of writing to include lots of pictures. Enjoy!

Where's Spot?

Phew! Today has been a busy but very fun day! It started early with begining laundry and picking up my tornado of a house. It never fails to amaze me what damage my husband and kids can do in an evening! In just a few hours they leave a trail of bowls, clothes, books, toys, magazines, and you name it in every room! But with prayer, some good music, and a pot of hot coffee you can tackle anything ...right!?!

I had a good laugh mid morning when preparing for the kids bath, Bella decided she wanted to read in the tub like Mommy does. "Lets read Mommy!" Bella shouted in all of her glory. I walked into the bathroom to find Where's Spot, and The Cat in The Hat floating in the water! Too bad I didn't think of taking a picture! Thankfully I was able to salvage the books. Poor Bella was so confused on why I didn't think it was a good idea! And Caleb got a case of the giggles, and laughed and laughed!

My goal today was to do laundry and pack for our vacation, but I got a little distracted and ended up cleaning cuboards, closets, and drawers. I discarded a ton of stuff we didn't need, and created more space. No, I didn't end up packing until late tonight, but it feels so good to have the 'hidden' places in my home once again clean. It really bothers me when I know that I have clutter stashed away. I have been accused of being OCD. Maybe I am!

Mid Afternoon we went to Noemi's to pick up a pack and play. After a bit of convincing Bella and I ended up staying for a bit to play in their 'water sprinkler slide' . It was so nice to soak in the sun and watch our girls play. The two of them are really sweet to each other. I love watching them together. Two peas in a Pod!

Now we are exhausted, ready for bed. I would like to be more prepared for this trip. But what can I say? Michael and I are both procrastinators at heart! I can't wait for morning!

To my blogger readers and friends. I love that you take the time to read, even if it is only about poop, and cleaning, and the wonder of parenthood! What I find to be mundane, you enjoy. Thank you. I have been so encouraged through blogging. To think, i didn't even know what a blog was a few months ago!

Mpls 35W Bridge

Last night at 7:30 I breathed a sigh of relief for all of my immediate family was safe and accounted for. Earlier at 6pm I had flipped on the news to find that the Mpls 35W bridge that crosses the Mississippi River had collapsed during evening rush hour. I watched in horror at the smoke, the mounds of cement, and the cars in the water.
I was at home alone with the kids, we were in the process of getting ready for bed. Gabriella and I held hands, bowed our heads and prayed for the people on that bridge. At that time we were told that about 100 cars went into the water.
My thoughts went to out to my brother in law, who is a courier in the Twin Cities, and spends his days driving all over the place. I sent 3 emails and waited for almost an hour before Chris emailed and said he was ok, and all of the other Accel drivers were safe as well. PTL!
When Michael came home, we watched more footage. It is unbelievable that such a strong structure could collapse into pieces. How? That is still being determined. In the meantime my heart and prayers goes out the the families who are affected by this tragedy.
Michael reminded me that we were just on that same bridge Sunday evening. What if... is a question that clings to my mind today... What if ...
I am very thankful that I can hold my family close today. It makes everyday seem brighter, more important.

Random Blogger

• Nope, no phone yet... we ordered one from eBay so I am beginning to get nervous that we got scammed. I am sure that it will be here soon... right? To my daily chatters- I miss you and our talks... one positive note... i think my phone bill this month is going to be low!
• I am reading a book called Different children, Different needs by Dr. Charles Boyd. It is very insightful, but if I'm not careful it may overwhelm me. One of my greatest desires is for my children to be loved deeply, and know that they are loved. Such a huge responsibility! Sigh...
• Last night Michael took me out to BIG BOWL. (my new favorite restaurant) We had a great time. I love that we feel so comfortable with each other. Afterwards we went for a walk around the lake that Michael proposed to me at. It was a warm, relaxing night. There were many other couples snuggling and enjoying the evening, it made our date seem like a scene out of a movie.
• On Friday we begin our vacation at a cabin. Hooray! We truly feel blessed! For awhile nothing seemed to be working out for us to go anywhere. But long story short we get to stay at a cabin for free. The family that owns this cabin loves to bless young families who need a getaway. I am so excited I can hardly stand it! I am so thankful...
• And unmotivated... I really need to get my behind in gear. So much to do, so little time... and such a lack of interest in the dishes, the unfolded laundry, and .... it never ends!