happy monday, whether we want it to be or not. Immanuel in June.

thought you'd enjoy these little treasures I found on the YFF laptop. You've got to love Photobooth. Or do you?? I know my parents will despise these pix...haha. the one right up there, with Molly and the kitty eyes....hahahahaha.

I needed a good laugh to start this week off.

For this week marks the one year anniversary of our friends' precious daughter's sudden home going. Sweet baby G left suddenly and without much explanation. You can visit Myssi's beautiful blog...on my blogroll....called Finding GEMs. There is nothing like watching another person go through this kind of loss. just nothing. Please be praying for Myssi, Adam, their family...and also the precious little sister to Baby G that is nestled safely in her momma's womb. I know they'd deeply appreciate the prayers.

I wouldn't wish this on anyone. but for some reason, God allows this to happen. We will probably never know while we walk the earth but it is sacred ground. It has opened our eyes to new things. Sometimes to more pain, sometimes to JOY but always to God and the gift of Jesus Christ.

All things become new. Things of this world fade...doesn't mean we don't want to have fun but you want to focus more on what is important. Like people, relationships and talking about Jesus, talking about your sweet child and making sure to remember our heavenly ambassadors every day. everything becomes a little bit clearer.

trying not to pine to be there with them.

this Thursday marks Jack's 100th  Thursday. not like I'm counting or anything.

Which brings me to his balloon launch on Sunday, June 30th, 2013. We are having it out at his spot again...and we are letting go of balloons again, asking people, if they come, to bring their own balloons. 6:00 pm at Forest Lawn. and hoping to release them at 6:08, which is his time of birth, though I've never seen any documentation on his birth (that reminds me).

If you want to join us, we'd love to have you. We will then proceed to our house for refreshments and swimming. Anyone is welcomed to join us, just let me know.

I'm getting more and more behind on my blog...so many things to update, like Shellee's new baby boy and David, Will, Ethan, Adam, Jonathon and Jacobi's camping trip, Mel's trip as a middle school co-counselor at camp last week, her 15th birthday, the continued pool debacle of 2013...ahhhhh. I just totally overwhelmed myself....

so on that note, here's to another chock full week (where did my lazy summer go??)

On your marks, get set, go!

so the lazy days begin...

gotta love the A Beautiful Mess app for iPhone.

After a long day of bike riding through the paths, nooks and crannies of Fort Wayne, we spent some time chilling and goofing off.

Just one of the little stops along the way...

This was Sunday morning at the Display Gardens on the campus of IPFW. Such a cool campus with trails and cool places like this.

scarfing the Panda Express leftovers.

Display Garden love

Having our tank emptied. ewww.

Molly loving her little Jack Bear. (the bear that we got with his casket)

I don't know if these are the lazy days or not...they don't feel too lazy to me.

In the summer months, ya feel like ya wanna make the most of your daylight hours, and there are a lot of 'em, yes? from sun up to sun down and beyond...we are going going going.....

Will, Ethan and Mel spent last weekend (a yearly event now) in Danville, IL with their Aunt Nat, Uncle Nick, Ryan and Sophie. David just happened to have our camper up in Ft. Wayne again, like he did last year, so the four of us made the trek up there for Sat-Mon. I will admit, it's nice to just be the four of us but it does lend some strange feelings and a sense of helplessness because I realize just how much the 3 big kids ROCK and help out. and encourage...and keep me going and hold me accountable. Molly and Levi, if left to their own devices, bicker and bug the tar out of each other...

We had a wonderful time...though poor David's allergies were beating him up pretty badly...as well as some things he has on his plate with work and the Bricklayer's Union. (don't get me started on that one)
We ate at Panda Express every evening because you can get a totally Trim Healthy Mama kinda meal...meat and steamed veggies....and those chow mein noodles are scrum-diddly-umptious. (though David and I left more of those for the young'uns.) We asked the littles every night what they'd like to eat and they never ever seemed to mind our suggestion to eat at the Panda again. good kids.

Monday, upon our return, we had a fun li'l gathering here at Young Manor...my parents, my bro Tom, my sis Beck and her family, John and Sherry, Christie Kitchen and her 3 kids, and the kids' friend, Mati, all descended on our place for some grilled tasties, famous Mac n Cheese of Beck's, root beer floats and other summertime delights.

The kids will be doing their school throughout the summer for many reasons but a few of the main ones are as follows:

~we like to keep it fresh and stay at it all year long.
~we never really  have caught up from having Molly in 2007, ya know?
~then you add Jack's death and heck, I may never recover fully from that...to be honest.
~the pursuit of knowledge is never ending. ha ha.

We have birds trying to make nests in our upstairs porch and why that bugs me? I dunno...I appreciate the concept of birds but in reality, they poop all over my porch and chirp at us incessantly if we try to enjoy our porch...we were here first, dumb birds. I've decided I only like birds in stamps or on cards or in decoration...not in real life. (I type this right now because as I sit here, I can here them chirping, which means they are bringing more loot to make nests but watch out....I'm coming!!)

My goals for this summer:
~make a slew of cards for JOY ministries...to keep up with events and encouragement of loved ones and young moms.
~lose weight.
~get really good at being a homemaker. It's not wrong to have that goal after almost 20 year of marriage, is it??
~learn to be more like Jesus...the things of and in this world pale in comparison to a life completely devoted to him...the world offers NOTHING. nada. zip. To be merciful and loving, compassionate and strong like Him. Pleased to say that I have been consistently spending time in prayer and in His Word every morning (mostly) and if I miss, I don't go to bed till I spend this valuable time. It really is the best way to find out how to be more like Him.
~make sure I cry every day (and I do) because tears soften my stony heart. 2 years ago, I cried but for selfish reasons. Now I cry because, sometimes I am selfish, but mostly because I want to see the world and the people around me with Christ-like eyes. I thank Jack for this change. and if you see me hesitating, it's only because I'm praying or crying...

On that note, I'm outta here...I have a curtain to make for my lower level door. (I love that my sissy sews!!)

Peace and JOY!

I have so much catching up to do, it isn't even funny...

Please forgive the complete neglect here....I'll admit, springtime is my busiest time...what with getting everything around here unwinterized and such...I always dream of it, all winter long and then once spring hits, I get completely overwhelmed with all that is involved.

I need to really catch my breath and choose joy. Not freak out about things...I tend to do that very easily.

breathe....

and then I freak everyone out around me...this is one of my thorns...pure freakoutishness. forgive me loved ones.

Ok, well...I don't even know where to begin with updating...so I will start with last weekend, when Will had the honor of attending the Center Grove High School Prom with his friend, Hayley K. We went to her house to take pictures of the beauteousness and bask in their youth...Hayley's parents, Bud and Kim, graciously funded the event (did you know that tuxedo rental has gone up to $200??? I almost died, but Will then told me that they were going to cover it. wow. cool)

They then went to another friend's house to take pics of the entire gaggle of couples that they'd be promming with. I don't have any of those pictures but they are on FB. He was with a really nice group of people. They all converged on a restaurant downtown (the name escapes me currently) and then proceeded to Union Station for the dancing festivities.  Will also happened to "run" into the young gentleman that he'd had a fender bender with just a few days before. haha. oh, that is a blog post for another day. or not.

After Union Station, they went to Rascal's Fun Zone till 2 a.m. Will had a really wonderful time. Thank you, K family, for asking him to go along and making it an evening to remember.

The other pics up there are of crazy E and his garden. Molly took the pix of him kissing his tater plants. He has really amazed us this year...in so many ways, but this garden?? wow...Uncle John and he are working on it and my dad helps out with advice and plants also. What an experience...there is gardening on both sides of E's heritage so this is a beautiful thing to see. Collard greens, radishes, okra, corn, tomatoes, squash (eventually) and many other things that I can't remember currently...I am sure we will update here frequently.

I really need to sit here and do a blog post on the amazing Craft Liberation I was a part of exactly 3 weeks ago...I have a few pix on my cam and most of them are on FB...All I can say, right now, is that it was an incredible honor to be a part of The Lemondime/Kellie Nowacki's first event...so until that post, hang tight.

In other news, May is half way over, soccer ended today, Mel is getting ready to turn 15. I can't help but think of that little boy who didn't stay but will always be with us...this time, two years ago, I anxiously waited for him. (I still just cannot believe how freaked out scared I was. I should've known. I just should've) The sights and smells of this time of year come flooding back....the floods of tears. I find it hard to swallow that he would be nearing two...I weep for him still. not every day, but I guess when you round it out, and I have a heavy weepy day, it evens out...not a day goes by where he isn't in my thoughts and dreams.

I want to celebrate that little boy not just for who he was but for how his short, precious life brought such change to my life and the lives of my family members. We will have another balloon launch on Sunday, June 30 at 6:10 pm. It's a bring your own balloon kinda thing...it's a whoop and holler, thank the Lord for the gift of sight kinda thing. We will also have another low key, swim, eat kinda thing back at the ranch, anyone is welcomed to join us. please do. Do it for Jack. Do it because God is good, even in the hurt. Do it because people are so much more important than anything else...

on that note, I shall turn on the grill and prepare to cook some angus dogs for the gigantic brood of teenagers that is at my house. It's the 3 bigs' bi-monthly young person Bible study...such an awesome thing to witness....ahhhhh.

Hope your weekend is swell....hope to get back here much quicker to keep y'all updated and stuff.

Love to all..

don't talk about me like I'm not here....

I think it's safe to say that this guy will be moving back to Indy. He hasn't lived here since he was a young pup. This is my yiddle brudda Andy. Since leaving, he has spawned forth these three beautiful kiddies. Duncan will be 12 next month, Charlie will be 10 in July and Phebe just turned 7 in January. We are pretty flippin' excited!

So these next pix are obviously super duper old but I love them and will use them because 1.) they are precious and 2.) I have been stinking at taking pix with my cam and 3.) I'm kinda too lazy to download pix from my phone to here and if you are my friend on Instagram or Facebook, it'd be old news anyways. I know you just come here to hear my fanciful words and to laugh at my dorkiness. it's ok.

apparently, I loved to put Molly in this legging outfit. (I really did!) because she has it on in a lot of pictures. How can you honestly resist chubby baby legs in leggings? I can't. I squeeze.

I love that we put them on this bar and then....

ditched them....well, not really ditched them but left them hanging long enough to take pictures that we will put up at their open houses so their friends can laugh and think to themselves "Wow! Your mom was sorta mean!!" (2008 ish)

She has never been as sweet and approachable as Mel was. I won't hold that against her but I don't blame others for doing so. She is aloof.
and oh so cute! (2009)

This is how we homeschool. or at least used to...these pix are from 2009 I believe.

I sincerely have sooooo much catching up to do, I don't even know where to start. I may cry.

more than I already do.

and before I forget, as if I'd ever forget...this little chubster has been with Jesus Christ for 22 months today.  I know in Glory, that time means nothing, that it is something we use on this side...is he 22 months old now or how does that work? I dunno. I just know it really struck me the other day that I long to see him smile. long so intensely that I just start that weird weeping thing and water floods my eyeballs.
The little open-mouthed grin that babies do...and I prayed and asked God to let me see that when I get there. his eyes. are they light blue like his sister Molly's? would the crazy hair have stayed? What I'd give to sniff that little temple up above and nuzzle his extra chubby, delicious cheeks. He will always be perfect.

He is our little heavenly ambassador...His life had purpose...He was not a mistake for God makes no mistakes and He wastes NOTHING.

Happy 22 months in heaven, Jack Oliver Young. I miss you so so SO much.

Today is as follows:
Gymnastics at 12:15 (for Molly. ha ha)
SCHOOL
Exercise
Yardwork
Gear up for an extremely busy day tomorrow, which is as follows:

Drop L and M off to my parentals house and proceed to the Indiana Repertory Theatre, one of our favorite places....to watch A Midsummer Night's Dream.
View this until at least 12 Noon.
Drop whoever off that goes with us and retrieve the Levner and Mooski.
Hope to get something done at home before embarking on a CHiPs dream at our church. Yes, our church. Erik Estrada is hosting a viewing of a movie he is involved in called Finding Faith. I have to get there early so I can get his autograph and greet! WooooHOOOO.
David and Will? you ask? yes, they are out of town in Ft. Wayne, missing all of this excitement and hullabaloo!

Ok, I need to run so I can get this party started.

Many many more thoughts and good, cool, amazing, Godly things to share but it will all have to wait until at least Friday, when I find a minute to breathe again.

Love to all and prayers for my friends....

blinded by the Light...

every time I go to add a caption, blogger moves the pic I'm captioning to the top. grrrrr.  anyways, I love these little dollbabies.

little friends and possibly spouses. I dunno...this is when they went thru their married phase. oh boy.

I seriously miss this little button head.  she adds such joy to our lives.

my tiny lady

my tiny man

I will admit, I don't take many pix with my camera anymore. I go through phases.
I'm in an Instagram phase. I love Instagram.

A lot.

so, until I find an easier way to transfer those pix here, you will have to bear with me and enjoy some li'l blasts from the past. I cannot believe that these people up above are not 13, 12, 10, 6 and 1 anymore. (I'm estimating on their ages. this was 2008!!)

You know what's totally cool?
That I have an 18 year old son who will still give me a hug and a kiss. Right now, he has a big ol' head of hair, he works out often and he's tall and thin. He looks a lot like his Dad with just enough of me to make him tolerable. ha hahahahah. just kiddin, David. not that you ever read my blog but ya know.
I also have a 17 year old son who is excited about planting a garden with his Uncle John this year. He is always concerned for my safety and when he's not around, I don't feel as safe. After all, he is a karate man...He's our lethal weapon. We found a pic of my family back when Beck was a baby on...My Dad is standing behind us and MAN, it's amazing how much E looks like my father! I love it!
I have this funny girl who isn't afraid to tease me (well, mostly. she may be sort of afraid to tease me but she can handle my bad moods). She is growing in her creativity, having just painted a mural on her bedroom wall with her friend, Mati. I will have to blog that soon!!
I have this amazingly tender 10 year old boy who left his iPod in his pants and it got washed. It is broken. He wanted to blame the iPod but it was a totally teachable moment and I was able to tell him that it was not the iPod's fault. I have a strict policy that I will do all of your wash but you are responsible for emptying pockets, separating undies from pants and stuff like that. That 10 year old is growing in responsibility daily and his reading skills are getting better all the time. His tender heart and loving spirit are gifts we don't deserve.
And that 5 year old little sprite...she loves Jello right now, her 100 number chart (give her a # and she will do her best, usually succeeding, to find that #) and being able to sound out letters/words. She is a SPONGE and brings such exuberance to this home. In her Kindy class at White River last week, they were focusing on character and her teacher asked her what word she thought of when she heard J...she said "My baby brother, Jack. I miss him." Her teacher shared this with me.
I don't mean to ever imply that life is perfect or that we don't struggle...because we have had our share of (horrendous) struggles this past 2 years. Seems that from June of 2012 to now, the Lord has been shaping and refining each of us and I have to say, it is very encouraging to see 1.) the way in which He works and 2.) how He works out every detail. I want to shout it from the rooftop that I am a Child of the King and I want you to be too! There will be more on this soon...
David is busy promoting/seeking more work and marketing. His company has a new website you should go check out...youngfinalfinish.com. He has recently signed his company up for the Chamber of Commerce in Franklin, at the encouragement of his good friend, Michael Baun...The Danish Guy who has a chimney sweeping business. I am taking on a smidgen of responsibility working with him, doing payroll and other things like that.
The Craft Liberation is two weekends from now. Kellie Nowacki has a contagious exuberance and mad creative skills to go along with it. I cannot WAIT to showcase some of the pics that I will surely take THAT weekend. Last night, we were up till 2 a.m. working on the name tags for each of the attending ladies. I love being around such creativity and positivity.
Ok...gotta go...so much more to be said but my time is up on here!!
Love and Peace to you...God bless you!

hang on...this is a lil bit random...

Molls N Bean

This hangs next to my bed. I'm trying to make it more than a pretty suggestion.
I'm embracing it.
mostly.

This is Ethan James Young.
He makes a rare Livin' the JOY-filled Life appearance

These pix are completely outta order, as usual.
This was taken in Champaign, IL a few weeks ago. We made a trek there to see the Winter Jam.
TobyMac, Newsong, Matthew West, Jamie Grace, Sidewalk Prophets (who I missed because I was searching hi and low for flippin' cotton candy but that's ok. everyone said they were AWESOME!!)
anywho...I thought this pic of Molly and I was kinda cute. for us. She was, in fact, quite sick! slept thru most of the Jam and the next day. She did perk up to spend time with her lil Ryan and Adelaide cousins.

this...ohhh, this.
grilled turkey burger, no bun and a side of spaghetti squash.
I'll blog more about this later on.

so this was the night we got home from Winter Jam...little miss perky pants was starting to feel better. We were laying on the living room floor. We currently don't have a couch. and that's ok with us.

the epitome of cuteness.

this pic should be with the Scott being mauled by Nora and Molls pic. Is this springy wreath not the cutest thing since this pic of Erik Estrada below?

this. just makes me laugh.
He will be at our church on May 1, 2013, promoting his new movie.
More deets later.
If I remember.
Until then...have a laugh at this hilariously happy pic of Ponch.

I mean, really, if she wasn't so golldarned cute....
love this ramen noodle butt.

Oh look, one of the pix from the Winter Jam. The disco ball was extremely coolio.

outta order...all the way around. these little ladies love their daddy uncle guy.

I had the ladies one day after gymnastics. we got some springy flowery pinwheels and trekked out to Jack's grave.  Zoom in on this pic for some priceless expressions.
and btw, I still love to hear/talk/cry about my precious glory baby.
When these little people (and not so little people) bring him up? yeah, it makes my heart soar.
I will never ever forget him and it's nice when others say his name.

Melanie, Melanie...what would we do without your documentation of life?
Love you, sweet girl.

I really really need to blog. Sorry I didn't get on here this weekend, as I told my loving father I would.
The weather was so nice and we spent any time we could out doors or being too busy.

Seriously. I have so many thoughts and things I am thankful for tonight...

1.) That our nieces, Abbey and Alexandra were found after some very scary moments last weekend.
2.) That I serve a Risen Savior and He's in the world today. He has done so much to show Himself to me and for that, I wanna shout it from the mountaintop. Or maybe the rooftop so you'd have a better chance of hearing. Jesus Christ. There is POWER in that name.
3.) So many great family members and friends that just make me smile.
4.) My awesome kids (really, really incredible!!) and their out of this world dad.
5.) The way that the Lord Jesus works things out. Too many situations to write and some need to remain sorta private but wow!! When we obey, He honors.
6.) Good health. Lungs and legs that allow me to jump on my treadmill and spit out 2.25 miles of walking/running (high intensity spurts, which I hear are so good for you) on our tready.
7.) Lovely weather that reminds us that spring is coming and how beautiful that is.

Ok....time to hit the hay. I am driving Aunt Sherry to her doctor appt in the morning and this cat (ME) will have to be up early. (for me, early...7:15)

I do hope that this finds you well and healthy, thanking the Lord for another day to praise Him.
Nice to see you today, Lela, Duncan 1, Duncan 2, Luke, Ray, Rachel, Melissa, Christy....at our bimonthly Incredible Pizza Bible study.

Ok really.
Good night.