Catching Up - Summer 2009

So, it seems every time I post I'm apologizing for not keeping up. Instead of apologizing, I'm just going to catch up, so here goes...

MAY

May brought one of the highlights of this year, our gorgeous new niece, Gabriela Elise (aka Gabby)! We are overjoyed at her arrival and love her to pieces already. Jeremy and Micah have taken to new parenthood beautifully, and it is so much fun to see them becoming a family.

May also brought the end of another soccer season, second grade and Hannah's tenure at West Suburban Christian Academy. WSCA has been a wonderful place for Hannah to learn, mature and grow, but after much prayer and consideration, we feel it's time to make the transition to public schools. We are blessed to be putting her in a school with a Christian principal and many Christian teachers. It seems to be the best school we can hope for in a transition period.

Hannah scoring a goal

JUNE


June brought Hannah's 8th birthday. I can hardly believe it has already been 8 years. Her birthday present this year was a surprise visit from Taylor, Katie and Aunt Becky. Attached is the video of the kids reactions'. It was a short, but fun visit, and great to surprise Hannah that way.

Three days after Hannah's birthday, we left to visit Micah, Jeremy and Gabby in England. As if traveling to Europe for the first time wasn't treat enough, we got to spend time with our family, snuggle our sweet niece, tour the countryside and London with "the locals", and Hannah finally got to see Big Ben in person. It was a full and too short trip. I couldn't possibly post enough pictures here to be representative, but you can see all of them here.

Hannah after seeing Big Ben for the first time

After our trip to England, June was much quieter though we did take our annual trip to the Cedarburg Strawberry Festival. Hannah enjoyed getting her hair done "princess" style, decorating a sugar cookie and picking up her requisite caramel apple. Mostly, she spent the three weeks at YMCA summer camps anxiously awaiting Mimi's arrival.

JULY / AUGUST

July 3rd was the start of test-driving for a new car. We looked at the Mitsubishi Outlander, the Hyundai Santa Fe and the Subaru Forester.

July 4th was spent with our friends, Tim & Michelle and their two boys. After spending most of the afternoon relaxing, eating and letting the kids play, we headed to Pewaukee Lake for the fireworks that evening. As we knew from our first Independence Day in Wisconsin, it can be very cool by the lake in the evening. Fortunately, we were prepared with blankets for sitting on and for wrapping up in. The fireworks over the lake were beautiful, and Hannah didn't even cover her ears for the first time.

On July 10, we picked up our new Santa Fe. We drove it around some and spent the evening introducing our friends, the Kings, to downtown Waukesha. We LOVE downtown Waukesha! On Friday evenings in the summer, the Waukesha Freeman hosts "Friday Night Live" which includes live music, shops and galleries open later, and typically beautiful Wisconsin summer weather.

July 14th brought a visit from Mimi. She stayed with us for three days. After that, she and Hannah returned to Colorado for Hannah's summer stay. She enjoyed five weeks of hiking, four-wheeling, off-roading in the new Jeep and generally soaking up Colorado. They even squeezed in a trip to South Dakota to visit Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse for a week in August.

Daddy came up for his annual visit while Hannah was gone. We thoroughly enjoyed his visit. Though I know he would have loved to have seen Hannah, we were able to do some different things this year including a boat tour of historic Geneva Lake, a Brewers game, and German food. Daddy even got to help me pack for my office move...lucky him!

We got up very early on the morning of the 22nd and headed to Omaha to meet Mimi, Papaw and Hannah. We enjoyed a nice dinner with them at Upstream Brewing Company and presented them with a small gift for their 40th wedding anniversary which was the 23rd. After a much too short visit, we headed home. We decided to take a non-Interstate route home which we knew would add some time to the trip...little did we know it would add 4-1/2 HOURS. Needless to say, we got home a little later than anticipated, and we were all very grateful to get here.

So, we had a whirlwind summer, especially Ms. Hannah. Hopefully, she can some day fully appreciate the opportunities and experiences she's had this summer. She is growing up so quickly, so we want to fully enjoy life with her as much as we can.

How do you know there is a God?

How many times has this question been asked? People who don't believe often wonder how we can be so sure. I know (head-knowledge) He exists because I know Him (heart-knowledge) personally. He sat beside me and held my hand when I was laying on the couch sick from chemotherapy. He comforted me when we discovered the lump and my worst fear became real. He gave me an unearthly peace through every step. He still walks with me even when my heart wanders, and oh, how these human hearts tend to wander. He's always there when I turn back around looking for Him. I know there is a God because I know Him.

This link is to a post by another woman, who's story of faith and our personal Savior is more proof that He exists. Please read this post. Thankfully, I have not known her specific pain, but I understand her heart. She very eloquently explains what a personal relationship with the Creator of the Universe can look like. He does not promise we will not endure hardship in this life, but He does promise to always be there with us.

Thank you, Jesus! You are true to your promises.

Sacagawea & Spring

Sacagawea

The second grade classes at Hannah's school have hosted an American Hall of Fame for the past several years. The kids choose from a list of men and women who had a significant influence on America. Hannah was Sacagawea. This was a two month project for the students. After receiving their character assignment, they had a month to research them. Hannah read two chapter books about Sacagawea, taking notes while reading. From their notes, the students developed written speeches as their hero/heroine during class time. The final drafts were sent home for minor editing with help from parents; costumes were made; treats were made (for the "after-party"), etc. After all of their hard work, it was amazing to see them. They all did so well and were so proud of their work. Completely unbiased as I am (ha, ha), I must say Hannah rocked as Sacagawea. Below are a couple of pictures and a video clipped together. Enjoy!

Hannah and Miss Nickels

Spring

Thought you might also enjoy a couple of "Wisconsin in Spring" pictures. Today, we drove the entire Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive. I've been wanting to make that drive since we discovered parts of it.

Beautiful, peaceful farm

Historic church and cemetary

Goose family on the side of the road

(The second family we saw today. The first had about ten goslings!)

Beautiful Day

Today, my baby girl was baptized. It was a beautiful moment and one I wanted to share with our friends and family. How I wish you could have all been with us, but you were in our hearts! It is amazing to watch God setting her aside for Himself...to God be the glory and honor and power forever! My greatest prayer is that she will live her life for her sweet Savior.

Here is a video...the volume is a little low, so you may have to adjust it to hear everyone. (The clapping will be loud, but it doesn't last long.)

Why is it so difficult??

Why is it so difficult to trust God with our everyday lives? A beautiful sister in Christ whom I have yet to meet, but know I will someday (even if it isn't until we're finally home) posted on her blog last week. I didn't have the opportunity to read it until tonight, but it really spoke to me. http://audreycaroline.blogspot.com/2009/03/sea-and-scarf.html

Here is my response to her post:
Dear sweet sister, it is amazing how God can use your posts (even when I'm a week or more late in catching them ;-) to speak straight to my heart. I have been "the special scarf lady" and quite honestly, that was an easy thing to trust God with. For the control freak I can tend to be, that was a no-brainer...life and death...way out of my league...okay God, you take this one. My massage therapist who had been seeing me for years said she had never seen me so relaxed as I was while going through that battle.

Fast forward 3-1/2 years...I still trust God and love Him beyond words. We have followed Him from Texas to Wisconsin and will go wherever He leads us. It's the day-to-day mundane things I struggle with letting go of or "bothering" Him with. I know He cares, but it doesn't always feel like it. Things like the days I can hardly stand to go into work because my job drives me crazy or the times I feel I can't juggle working full-time, being a good mommy and wife, taking care of home, etc. Then, I will allow myself to fret over these things trying to figure them all out. Then, I allow satan to beat me up with the fact that I "should" be trusting God with all of this and now I'm failing at that, too.

Praise God that He loves us through all the human-ness too...even when we don't feel it.Thank you for being an open vessel and reminding us that we're all on a journey, that not one of us has it all together...but Hallelujah! He will be faithful to complete the work He has started in us. (Just may take longer than I might sometimes like ;-)

Love you sister! Praying for you through this transition with your dear sweet baby.

But, back to my original question? Why is it so difficult? Do you find it difficult? While I was going through the cancer treatments, so many people would comment on the strength of my faith or my trust in God in the face of cancer. That wasn't strength. For me, that was the easy part. It was WAY out of my control. The real struggle for me is giving up control and trusting Him with the non-life-threatening parts. Struggles at work, fear of failing someone I love, fear of simply not doing enough or being good enough, wanting to be all things to all people. This is the battle of my life. I desperately want to return to my "let go and let God" attitude (without having the illness to go with it of course). I don't want to only trust Him with the really big things. I want to trust Him with everything. I suppose this is the next step in my journey with my Lord. Pray for me, please. I am desperate for more of Him. I can't do any of this without my precious Jesus. And, you know what...He's right here as I type telling me, "I'm right here. I've always been right here, even when you don't feel me." Praise God that He doesn't depend on us and our emotions and our human attempts at fixing things! Praise God that He's always reaching out to us even when He's patiently waiting for us to realize we just need to reach back!

Always an excuse...

Well, it's been way too long since I've posted. My excuse this time...the holidays and my lack of a laptop with working wireless connection and my crazy work life and.... The list could go on and on, but the fact remains that I simply haven't made the time. During the last few months, there have been at least two times if not more when God has giving me something to post during my quiet times. Two major holidays and two months have passed since I last posted. Yikes! Time really does fly, and if I don't stop on occasion and really think about it, many memories will be lost with it.

So here it is...

Thanksgiving:

My favorite holiday, ever! No commercialization, no pressure, just good food, fun and family. It doesn't get any better. Shayne's parents came up again this year and spent the week with us. It was so nice to have them. We hated that they had to leave a day or two earlier than planned, but our first really good snowstorm of the season was on its way, so it was best for them to head back to Colorado.

Christmas:

We spent Christmas morning at home, just the three of us. I know many people talk about how peaceful and nice it is to have a "low-key" Christmas, but I don't like it. Until last year, I don't think I have ever in my life had a low-key Christmas. When you're accustomed to lots of places to go and family to see and lots of noise, it's a little disconcerting to be honest with you. However, it was a wonderful day. We all had a great Christmas morning celebrating Jesus' birth, opening gifts, sledding on a beautiful, sunny winter day and eating a traditional Christmas dinner.

We left the around 4:30 pm the day after Christmas to fulfill all of those desires for family and arrived at my grandparents' in Texas around 10:00 am. We drove through some of the worst fog I have ever seen in my life (which is a longer story for another post), but with God's guidance arrived safely if not well rested. After spending the day with my aunt, uncle, cousin and grandparents, we went to my sister's house for the evening.

The next day, Sunday, brought what has essentially become a miracle. My entire family spent the day together at my parents' house: Daddy, Kathy, all six kids, spouses, fiancee, grandchildren...even Grandma Libby & Greg. With five children and fourteen adult schedules to coordinate, you can see why this is now a miracle.

Monday was a very busy day. We went to Granbury to visit my Grandma Neeper with Taylor in tow. We tried to maximize the amount of time that Hannah and Taylor had together since we were only in Texas for three days. From there, we headed back to Burleson to spend some time with Blaine, Kelly and Ethan. We were prepared for all of the traveling. Many people can't stand that much driving, but for us it was not a big deal in any way. It was critical for us to see each and every person we saw on this trip and a joy. I only wish we could have extended our stay with everyone. What we hadn't prepared for (I know...we should have known) was the weather. We watched the weather for a week leading up to our trip trying to pack for three different climates. All week, the weather folks had claimed that the highs would be in the 50s while we were in Texas. Well, Monday, it was 70 degrees on Blaine & Kelly's back porch. Note to self: always pack short sleeves and capris when going to Texas...ALWAYS!

After a much too short visit with the Fords, we headed over to Nana Gloria & Uncle Don's house for the night. Another very pleasurable, but too short visit. We finally met the two newest additions to that side of the family: Beryn & Beck. They are beautiful, and Hannah was the biggest girl trying to help babysit the twins. She enjoyed every minute with them.

Tuesday was transition day. We left Fort Worth around 7:30 am, and spent most of the day like this...

We got to Shayne's parents' house that evening with dinner prepared. After dinner, we went ahead and opened gifts since Micah's parents were leaving the next morning and got the great news that our newest baby will be a GIRL!! Micah and Jeremy were so sly about it, too. They had canceled their sono appointment in the States, so no one was expecting to find out while they were here. They conveniently left out that they had another sono in England just before coming home for Christmas. The first gift opened that night was by Mom:

We were able to spend the next two full days with Jeremy & Micah before they left. Shayne and Jeremy hiked off trail from their parent's house to Dome Rock (with Hannah worried the whole time that the mountain lions might decide they looked good). The girls spend most of that time hanging out playing games and chatting and exploring in the car. Unfortunately, Dad woke up with a cold Thursday morning and spent most of that two days trying to recover.

On Friday, we had breakfast at the Hungry Bear before taking Micah & Jeremy to the airport. After a stop at Lowe's and Chick-fil-A, we headed back up the hill. Friday night (my birthday), Shayne took me to Cripple Creek for a seafood buffet dinner at the new casino...very nice dinner and nice Chardonnay.

Saturday, we hiked the Dome Rock trail from Four Mile Road for a bit. We didn't get to go far since we had Hannah, but it was beautiful!

That night, after two weeks of gorgeous Colorado weather, the snow came. We thought about leaving before it hit, but I didn't want another drive through the night, and after all, we have lived in Wisconsin for two-and-a-half years; we could handle driving through some snow. The drive the next morning wasn't bad, just slow. We averaged 40 miles an hour the first five hours of our trip. After that, we made pretty good time, but we still didn't get to Wisconsin until nearly 1:00 in the morning. Since we got home much later than anticipated, so we let Hannah skip school the next day and get some much needed rest.

Well, it was a whirlwind ten days, but worth everything to spend time with all of our family.

I hope to be much better about posting more regularly. I need to stop more often and think about these days that are flying by. Hannah will be grown before I can blink, and if I don't stop and jot some of these things down, they'll be gone.

Love,

Courtney