Happy Graduation (a year late), Will & Ethan!!!

A Belated Graduation Celebration

for

Will and Ethan Young

When: Saturday, August 1, 2015

3:00 - 7:00 pm

Where: Young Manor

(if you'd like to join us and don't know where we live, you can send me a private message at DL4everyoung@att.net and I will send you directions) 

Hope to see your bright, shining faces here as we celebrate the young men we are so blessed to call our sons and friends! 

Parenting....an update.

I don't know why but I really love this pic.

just waiting on our baby sis to get here....

From this picture up, there is no purpose other than just pure randomness and nostalgia...for digging through files, boxes, gobs of pics for the two big boys' upcoming open house....there ya go!

May 28, 2015: The infamous bike crash......way to initiate summer, kid.

She knocked these two teeth out...the rooted one was not loose. the unrooted one was on the verge of coming out....but that rooted one?? yeeee-ouch!

Looking a bit like a prize figher! she handled it all like such a champ, I still can't get over it.

I'm obviously way behind in an update but when I'm done explaining, you'll see why and hopefully all is well....

I needed to get Molly's bike-sker-faffle blogged because, in looking back over the blog to scour for pix from 2007 and on, I've really appreciated the documented life. If for one else than us, yah! it has been so fun to look back over the past 8 years on the blog, to see our family's development and growth...of course, some things don't make it onto the blog....but hopefully the things that do will remind us of the so-to-speak undocumented items.

I journal also...so I always tell my kids that, when I leave this crusty ol' earth, the documentation they will have to sift through will be interesting and probably somewhat entertaining....oh dear.

So back to the bike accident....We'd been out running errands and such on a lovely May Thursday. Upon arriving home, we decided an evening bike ride would help us shake out the jitters and hunker down for a chill evening. David, Will and Ethan were out of town. I was putting some groceries away and straightening up....I walked out of my room, after hearing Mel speak loudly that "the baby is bleeding" and I assumed, quickly, that she was playing around or encouraging Moll to "get over herself" a bit (as we have to do a lot at this sassy age of 7-8)...Nope....there stands Mel with a very bloody Molly in her arms....buckle....Oh no!

Now, I must add, I don't do the bloody situations in our house....you know, the kind that are more than a bloody nose or scratch...or birthing on the bedroom floor....those are all pretty straight forward blood-soaked situations....David or Ethan are the go to blood guys. Calm, non-squeamish and pure awesome. (refer to the April 2008 blog post when Levi needed medical attention/stitches, while his dad was NOT home, and I called on Ethan.....)

not me.

We get her seated, kinda look at her face out of the corner of my eye and assess that she probably knocked out 3 teeth (come to find out that she'd only knocked out 2, see above. Mel, bless her tender soul, found them both) but that garbled, bloody mess was hard to navigate for a sissy. "Mel, can you maybe look in there and see what the damage is???" (I did look but gosh. looked like ground beef) Moll's lip was blowing up like a balloon and it was hard to tell if she'd need stitches. Her nose even took a hit and I think she will always have a little scar there....aww.

Naturally, I called my mom almost instantly....they came down as rapidly as they could. My Mom is another one of those calm in the face of trouble kinda gals...

The scariest part of the first few moments was the shock she was in. She kept asking what happened...when we'd tell her that she fell off her bike and knocked her teeth out, she'd reply "I did????? what happened??" and Mel and I would just look at each other and cry. Secretly, so as not to freak our little patient out more. Then, once we got her settled on the couch, she'd ask questions about going to heaven and seeing Jack...again, Mel and I would cry and comfort her a little more. Then Levi read Scripture to her (Psalm 23) and we prayed for her...she really calmed down at this point and started to become more coherent.

That girl got whatever she requested that evening. You know what that was?

Stouffer's Macaroni and Cheese
McDonald's french fries (in small bits)
Edy's all natural fruit popsicles
And Chocolate for the momma and sister, who were finally able to breathe normally.

So yeah...this parenting thing is NOT for the faint of heart. Makes these days on earth just all the more special.

In hindsight...a helmet would not have prevented this injury, though now we are more hypervigilant about making sure the two younger kids have them with us, not always on....That was the first question David asked me...."Was she wearing her helmet???"..........no.

In other news....I will be blogging a copy of the flyer I've made for Will and Ethan's upcoming open house. Why are we having an open house a year late? Because we need to and because they actually wanted one. How can a parent not honor that?

So, Stay tuned for the official announcement...Saturday, August 1, 2015, 3-7 pm, here at Young Manor....A big ol' whopping party to celebrate two of the most amazing, Christ-honoring young men this side of the Mason/Dixon....

I'll get back to more of that parenting insight I've been gleaning and putting into practice in a bit....hopefully not a month, but in a bit....

surely goodness and mercy

Jack Oliver Young
6.30.11

So here we are...the fourth June since Jack died. It always kinda sneaks up on me.

Not really but really, I can be chugging along nicely and out of nowhere, something will remind me of the events from June of 2011. You'd think that, four years later, that would subside. but it doesn't. And I don't want it to. ever.

For example, the garden tub that I gave birth in...one of the downsides (one of the only down sides to home birth is when the baby dies....you don't get to leave the place that triggers all of your memories) is being around all the things that remind you....I will never not think of Jack when I'm in that bathroom, or cleaning that tub, as I was the other day....or bathing my little chick in there....I just never will...four years out, I can safely say that Jack will be forever tied to that tub. Same with the pool...I will never forget that that is the one place I spent his last living  on earth moments with him. I will just never forget that, every single time I get in that pool, I think of that. When it's covered and filled with goo and leaves, I think of that beautiful end of June day and my beautiful, brown haired boy. (being in the water really took my mind off of labor and took the edge off of discomfort so water birthing is the way to go y'all)...

I don't know what my point is...I just felt I needed to blog tonight. I was looking through pics and came up on this one of David holding Jack and there are just so many things that I absolutely LOVE about it...David's hands (he has the best hands), lovingly holding his 4th son. He was so good about checking him all out...I wish I could go back and be less in shock so I could really sniff him, check him out, just hold him and tell him how much I love him...but I can't so I will cherish this beautiful pic that one of the nurses snapped. (so so so thankful for the pics that were captured!!) I love his perfect little head, the little ring around his crown, his perfect hair. his forehead. Oh gosh, his forehead kills me. that perfect little nose that I want to beep. The way his little leg is resting under the blanket, on his daddy's arm. that perfect little blend of Greenhill and Young, McCoy and Taylor. How he looks like he's just sleeping and so beautiful. man. The blanket...how many new baby pics have I seen since then, and every time, it is like a punch in the gut...why why why??

I had some moments not too long ago, where I was just kinda miffed at God...and I've probably blogged about it but maybe not...a mom goes through 9 months of toil, her body not being her own, general discomfort and weirdness (and when you've had previous miscarriages or losses, making it through 9 months is extra amazing!!)....you make it to the magical date...and in Jack's case, beyond that magical date. The thing that kept me sane and going was knowing that he'd be in my arms soon enough and our family would finally be complete.

When the baby dies at the finish line, well...that just sucks. badly. And I had this discussion with God that that is just not a nice thing to allow, even in our world's fallen state...babies don't die, or at least, they shouldn't. The living, squawking, breathing baby is the prize you as the momma get for making it through all that growing, kicking and urping, and smelling weird, and craving, and grouching, etc.

I know, I know...there is a reason for this, some of which I know of, and some I am unaware of. The growth and new eyes that I've received in the past four years, well.....I'd never give back. The sense of God's presence in my life is worth more to me than anything I possess, or any person that I have the privilege of being with...the realness of Jesus Christ and the sacrifice He became for me, for all of us, on the cross has only become more amazing to me. If Jack had lived, I'm not sure I'd be so heavenly-minded or open to the things I've learned in the past 47+ months.

That precious baby boy was no mistake. He was alive and real. I'm so extremely thankful for him, that I can't stay mopey and depressing for too long. yes, I still cry. a lot more than you'd think.

I so wish I could figure out how to add the little audio clip of his heart beat at 15 weeks...I've been listening to it all week and it just rocks my flip flops off....if you ever happen to be over here, I'll let you listen to it. It. IS. AMAZING!

Well, I need to get to bed...I mowed the yard today with no self-propelled action on the mower, also while tending to the chickens that were free-ranging (one of which was the rooster, Hannibal = jerk chicken)...I'm tired and sore. Whilst freshening up the chickens' water, he attempted to attack me, which is very scary to endure (am I right, Becky?)...so attempting to run away from him while NOT turning my back on him, I tripped and flipped head over heels, nearly clipping the retaining wall...quite a sight, I'm sure! Molly watched the whole thing (which reminds me,  I need to blog about her intense bicycling accident from last Thursday...tomorrow) and proceeds to tell me "That was wild!!! Are you OK?????"

I'm so old and sore tonight...so from these aching hands and heart, to you....Good night. God bless you.

Gravity keeps holding me down...

unofficial Young Band marketing

ashes to ashes....
Nora was also out here but she was kinda hanging back by me. She asked me, very quietly, where we'd buried Gracie, her little doggie that died in July of 2011...the stone has since been picked up and moved. I showed her and she stuck close to me. We've also buried one of the boys' lizards out here...so I guess you could say we have a regular ol'  pet cemetery (or is it Pet Sematary?? never mind...scary movie reference). 

RIP Snappy

The Birthday Kids. Mel's dessert choice was Key Lime Pie.

Duncan wanted pie but got cake..that's what ya get kid!

Mel will turn 17 this coming Sunday (May 31)

Duncan turned 14 on the 26th.

so, these picture ledges from IKEA...I got them, not knowing where I'd even put them, as I have limited wall space in the lower level...I took down the jumble of stuff that was here (all very cool stuff) and waaa-laaaaa, a cool display wall.
those albums on the bottom shelf...ChatBooks. Quite the deal. I don't know about you but I don't develop pics nearly as much as I used to...if even once a quarter, and then it's only pix I may need for a project I'm working on. So ChatBooks takes your Instagram account and puts all the pix into 60 pic albums. I currently have over 30 volumes waiting...but I get them in 5 album installments monthly. You can speed it up but I chose turtle speed. it is such an affordable way to get some pics developed and into your house, and in album form, no less!! 60 pix for 5 bucks?? Yes, Please!!

Well good Thursday morning to you!!

I hope this posting on Livin' the Joy-filled Life finds you enjoying this lazy start to summer.

Around this house today, things are reasonably quiet...David, Will and Ethan are up in Ft Wayne, staying at our favorite RV park, Johnny Appleseed...to get some much much needed down time, biking, doing a really low key job in Marion (which is an hour south of Ft Wayne) and just doing guy things! Mel, Levi, Molly and I are keeping the home fires burning and loving springtime around here. Fall and winter are nice here, but spring and early summer are THEE BEST!! Each year, I love being outside more and more...turning into the perfect old lady, with my watering can in hand and dirty hands and knees.

The pool is up and running, even hosting a tree frog or two. eww. I can honestly do without this kinda thing but ya pick your battles, right? if you build it, they will come. eww.

Stay tuned for swimmy-type pix. We will be hosting my two nieces on and off this summer...my lil sis is doing photography for a local realtor so she works a lot more. We will get some much needed hang time with Piper and Nora.

On Memorial Day, the kids had gone up to the school playground, which is just across from our house. Ethan set his phone down to play some hoops with Dunc, left it there, remembered 15 minutes later that he'd set it down, walked back to get it and it was gone. After much searching and talking to some (guilty-looking) neighborhood boys about bringing it back if it was found or in their possession, they came home defeated and more than slightly bewildered. We suspended service and began a claim on a replacement.

Early the next morning, we heard a little frantic knock on the upstairs door. A little 9 year old guy breathlessly told us that he'd found E's phone on his friend's porch, grabbed it and ran it back to us...We were elated and praising the Lord for this fortunate turn of events. Tyler. We told him he was our hero (even knowing that he could very well have been the one that had it, but it doesn't matter. the fact is, he brought it back!), gave him $10 and thanked him! He came back to see if he could hang out with us later and to see if the phone was damaged..He's seriously so cute. He was with us till 9:00 that evening...came back yesterday to swim, eat spinach casserole with us and Levi is beside himself because he now has a friend.

We are thankful for Tyler and know that it's no mistake that he is in our lives. More on Tyler as the summer progresses, I'm sure!

Mel and Will's music is progressing....Natalie has taken some cool pix of them and Tom has also. If you haven't yet, you can follow them on Facebook (Young Band) and Instagram (@youngbandofficial). We are pretty excited about their future! (and definitely know that whatever comes, we will get to be a part!!)

Ok, time to get this party started today! I hope to be back much sooner than 3 weeks from now...fingers crossed.

May the Lord bless you as you go about this day.

Happy almost 47th month with Jesus, Jack Oliver Young...I miss you SO much. you know that.

Happy Mother's Day to me!

People watching at the Indpls Airport

selfies with some of them

then they steal my phone and do this, which is a-ok with me!

Here we are, at one of our favorite all time spots in Indy and even on this planet. I almost bit the dust
right before this was taken..uneven sidewalks and I don't get alone. As I "gracefully" dove toward anything (Mel), I had enough thought to grab ahold of her and I think she loved it. hahaha. I put on a good show for Mom's Day, folks!

another one of those things that we always have to do when we are at the canal.

Molly wants to join in but 1.) she's small and 2.) she's wearing a dress.

How's that, girl?

Paul, Cammi, Christy, and Austin

So glad we ran into the Kitchen Fam, so we could each take pics of each other! Thanks guys!

 I know it's been way too long since I last blogged and I'm really feeling bad about that.

 Although Facebook and Instagram seem like blogging, in a sense, they really aren't. Here at my blog, I'm able to journal and write as I would in a book. I'm not going to beat myself up for not blogging for two months or even vow to become a better, more consistent blogger. Then I'll just beat myself up even more, which is dumb.

So I'm here today and hope to be here more in the coming days, months...

I think that what overwhelms me is that there is so much going on, that I don't even know where to begin..I know I don't have to share it all or even most of it, but some of it's pretty daunting and it's kinda intertwined in the day to day so how does one blog when they really can't or shouldn't talk about what is going on?? Ugh.

Let me assure you, o faithful blog visiter, all is very well and I, and my family, are thriving, counting our blessings and safely tucked in the Lord's hands. We want for nothing and worry only a little bit. haha

As you can see above, our Mother's Day was very interesting. We attended church, where our pastor spoke very eloquently on honoring our mother's (alive or not), verbally, in our actions, and how that corresponds to our relationship with God. We then made a trek out to the Indianapolis Int'l Airport to take in some sights (I know that seems strange to some but David really wanted all of us to see the place)...we got 1/2 off Frappucinos (we all split them!!) while there, watched people (always entertaining!!), and watched airplanes land and take off. Next stop: the Canal in downtown Indy...one of our all time favorite places to be and apparently, now, everyone else in Indiana's as well! it was crowded but still so freakin' lovely! If you ever come to Indy and miss this place, I'll spank you! We ran into our friends, as mentioned above, and walked with them for a bit, took some pics, nearly tripped and busted our faces and had a wonderful time! (it was kinda hot for May 10th, but no one was complaining, except maybe Levi.)

We decided that Panda Express and Starbucks would be a lovely end to our Motherly celebration. Lovely Kacey gave me a Mom's special and we supped on our Panda on the front patio. We then rented "Unbroken" to watch and only got half way through....intensity and the promise of an early morning caused us to head to bed by midnight. All in all, it was a beautiful day and I'm so grateful for the gift and love of each child that God gave to me. Even though I don't get to take care of all of them here on earth, I know they are all right where they were meant to be. Weird to imagine what it would be like to have a bouncy, pesky nearly four year old little fella in our midst. I miss him.

I have so much more to blog but we have to leave for piano lessons in an hour so I guess I should get ready...Hope this post finds you doing well and enjoying this lovely spring.

Will & Melanie Young - Your Love Is Strong (Jon Foreman Cover)

Remember Green? and other randomness.

The play structure is history and now we have a yard of chickens out here...
but look how green!

Can't wait to grow zinnias again!

Green!!

it's coming! That's what all this spring rain brings, right? Oh wait, I guess it's still technically winter.....

Anyways...I'm blogging these pictures because springtime is such a time of renewed hope. I have renewed hope!

I also have a bunch of blog posts tormenting me daily...tormenting in a good way, mostly, but I will think of a post while driving or exercising and then when I sit with my laptop, I completely (no joke) forget this grand thought I'd had and how the words that I would type would change the peoples' lives that were blessed enough to encounter it.....

haha. cute, huh?

I used to write down my blog notes, and have started doing that again but I'm not going to blog about the things that are pressing me today. Pressing is good....it's just hard to know when to speak and if I should speak about what is pressing me.

This coming weekend holds some interesting things:

YFF got a job at a really cool "furniture" shop on the northside of Indy and they are starting it tomorrow...I hope to get some really cool pix, or steal some from Ethan or Will....

My parents made it back home last Saturday...their snow bird time has come to an end for this year. Tomorrow, we celebrate with a heaping plate of beef stroganoff and broccoli, for which I am most excited.

Mel and Will are practicing "Oceans" in Mel's room...for their next cover on YouTube...look them up....they've done some pretty cool music and they usually have some bloopers to go along with it. I've posted a Jon Foreman cover "Your Love is Strong" above!!

Ethan has some Krav Maga practice tonight. he's a cool dude!

Molly and Levi just live to try my patience right now but I thank the Lord for their feisty selves...

Ok, on that note...this Momma needs to get ready for the "date night" with Will! That fella suggested that he and I head out for a bit tonight to just hang out. How cool is THAT???

I'm kind of in awe and so thankful that I get to do this kind of thing too.....when I think of so many who aren't able to go about freely, for whatever reason, or for that momma fighting to stay alive another day (Kara Tippetts) or the momma that doesn't have custody of her kid.....

stand in awe and feel thankful.

Over and out....

Our little cupid...and some words that I hope will encourage.

Since the transition with Young Final Finish, Ethan has become one of David's most reliable floor guys.

The formidable three.
Haha.

Ethan is Molly's best friend. forever.

Michigan. Love these two brothers.

up in New Buffalo, Michigan

E with his cousin, Charlie!

You're getting so big, Ethan!

This was taken right after we moved back to Indy from N. Dakota

those baby blues...God gave them to E for a reason. He knew that this little boy was going to be very pesky. So He made him extra cute and delicious. Otherwise, we'd have handed him over to any band of traveling gypsies. for sure.

Already such a charmer at 5.

Ethan James Young will turn NINETEEN on Saturday. I can remember the day almost like it was yesterday.

I labored for two days with this guy. I thought for sure that he was a Melanie. When he emerged at 9:20 pm on Wednesday, February 14, 1996, I thought he looked an awful lot like Jeff Goldblum. Now, as you can see, he looks NOTHING like Mr. Goldblum but just like Ethan J. Young.

When he was five weeks old, we packed up and moved to the Great Northwest (North Dakota) until he was 5 months old.

He has been such a sweetheart. As a small boy, he was very precocious, stubborn, but tender hearted to beat the band. Nowadays, when he's home, I feel a bit safer...he's very safety-minded, helpful and cautious. In fact, next week, he's flying south to visit with some friends of ours for a week and his dad and I just don't know what we will do because E is the kind of guy that will literally drop whatever he's doing to help us out.

We will miss you, guy. Hope you know how much we love you and thank the Lord for the gift of being your parents. You will make some blessed girl a loving husband someday. And I hope that whatever little kids God blesses you with are as rambunctious and adorable as you.


On that note, I still have so many blog posts rolling around in my head. The one that is brewing now concerns investing in the spiritual aspect of our kids' lives.

So many parents (myself included, honestly) get their kid involved in this program, activity  or that

Make sure that they're in bed by a certain time, eat their fruits and veggies,  protect them from the sun or from chemical-laden food...make sure they get fresh air and activity...

don't watch too much television etc etc so on, so forth...

all the while, never investing in the spiritual aspects of their child's life...now if you are not a believer in Jesus Christ, this may not apply to you...(though I wish it did, but I'm a simple gal)....

If you claim to believe in the name of Jesus Christ and aren't actively investing in your children's spiritual life, that is not cool. This area of life is more important than physical activity, how well they know how to read or how good they are at a certain sport....though I'd never advocate that these are not good things....cuz they are...they just aren't the FIRST things...

I'm so thankful for David on this point...he is a disciplined guy. He always made sure we met as a family to pray, read Bible and memorize Scripture...Though our lives were busy, we tried to make time to gather as a family...Also, part of our kids' homeschool day included spending time in the Word and in prayer, for themselves. This is so important...

If it'd been up to me, it would've happened a lot less, since I am a little bit less disciplined than my guy. I'm willing to admit this. David is a wonderful leader for our family and watching him read his own Bible and spend time singing praises and praying at the couch is one of my life's most cherished photographs...What a picture for my kids to see! We've faced some pretty daunting situations throughout our 20+ years together...and the only way to really handle them is on our knees.

It's more than just a cheesy cliche'... He is our All in All. It's so rewarding and encouraging to see my older kids welcoming this into their own lives. I have learned so much from each of them and they encourage me in ways that I can't even put into words.

For reals.

To God be the glory....
Great things He hath done!!

so, let me encourage you, wherever you are....to give it a try. Jesus Christ will NOT let you down.

I can say that since I started cracking open my own Bible, journal, etc every day, it has opened my eyes. I am so grateful.

It causes you to see other's through Jesus' eyes....

and this, my friend, is today's blog post.

So thankful for my nearly 19 year old son and the time that God has given me to be with my beautiful gaggle of children.

Hugs!