The Six Pack

Wow, what a year it has been! With the craziness that is going on around here, we nearly decided to take Christmas cards out of our schedule. But keeping in touch with our friends and family around the holidays is a priority we simply can’t write off! So we hope our greeting finds you all happy and healthy, awaiting the peace and joy that only the Christ child can bring. Our year started off in full force with the sale of our beloved home of ten years. We were sad to leave behind such an important part of our lives, but our family had since expanded and we needed a little more space! So in early March the whole herd picked up and moved a mere 2½ miles southwest. We love our new house, the bigger, fenced yard, the quiet (and safer!) cul-de-sac, and the friendly neighbors! We chose not to take a “real” family vacation this year so we could focus on getting settled and save some cash. Instead, when school let out in May we packed our bags for a few days in Minneapolis to attend a we...

Loverboy, you melt my heart!!!

I have been feeling sorry for myself and for my family lately... sorry that I am so big, fat, and tired that I don't have the energy for the Christmas I had dreamed of in our new house.  Sorry that we are having problems at school that put a damper on the holiday spirit.  Sorry that I may have to cancel Zachary's three year-old pictures yet a second time because a nasty rash on his eyelid won't go away. But then I am reminded that there are families this time of year facing tougher challenges, like Baby Robert who is recovering from yesterday's surgery to repair a ventricular septal defect. His family are friends from our church and his older sister also underwent two open-heart surgeries as an infant.  I think back to our similar experience just three years ago, and how I promised myself to always keep the holiday season in perspective. I am reminded of all those families who never took their child home from the hospital.  And my heart especially goes out to those...

No way--my sweet baby boy turns THREE YEARS OLD today! Zachy has certainly come a long way in such a short time. I never will forget how we waited in eager anticipation--and fear--of our sweet baby's arrival. He came bright and early on a cold fall morning , and right from the start he was a fighter. He was born with the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck, and scared us with his dusky-blue color. But the doctors and nurses were quick to act, and Zachy's strong set of lungs helped him to pink up in a matter of minutes! Over the next few days, months, and years Zachary kept fighting and defying the odds time and time again. Today he is a happy, healthy, sweet, and independent little boy who is looking forward to becoming a big brother! Tonight we will have a quiet celebration with Daddy and his brothers, and tomorrow we will meet with extended family at a pizza parlor for a super-hero party, with a Spider-Man cake and cupcakes that Zachy himself made! Happy birthday, m...