25 months and a little pictorial update

I know what you're thinking...wow! this update goes all the way back to the 80's.
No.
I just wanted to share a few oldies to commemorate my brother's two sons arriving this past weekend.
Sibling love.
nothing like it.

Andy and I.
I was his favorite.
until 78
LOL
Beck's obviously always had more style than me
can't blame the kid

Charlie, 10, Phebe, 7 and Duncan, 12. Pheebs is staying in Florida.

My hubs and I. He's quite precious to me. I like to call him HIGH MAINTENANCE but in all actuality, I may be the HIGH MAINTENANCE one.

These pics are completely in random, space cadet order.
Pardon me.

Moll and Nora at Moll's 6th bday party. I can't believe I've been blogging for over 6 years now.

Tom refuses to submit to Andy and Scott's tomfoolery. Go Tom!!

We had a rare evening with this guy and his incognito bro, E. They ran a job at C9 for David in the month of July.
I miss seeing my big boys.

This was on the campus of Cedarville University, which will be a blog post in and of itself.  Stay Tuned for Camp Electric/Melanie post.
You know what I just discovered, by accident in mistyping Mel's name? If you take the L out of her name, it spells meanie.
Very fitting for this picture.
hahahahahahahhaha

My Dad, back in the early 60's. We were shocked as to how much Ethan resembles my Pops.
Makes sense, considering we named him Ethan James.

Someone may or may not need a haircut???

oh little guy.
I miss this tiny face.
I still have this face in my presence, for which I am most thankful...it's just not as small or innocent anymore.
doll boy.
see below.

Molly keeping her dad warm in JULY.
I have to say, I love a chillier July but this unseasonable chill is just weird.
makes for chilly, if any, swimming.

Zinnia love.
Sunflower love.

Majestic block delivered our newest load of retaining wall blocks.
Now, for the time to actually assemble wall?
Good question

This is what Ethan has been up to...farming, logging drive time, working with his dad a lot....
He's such a nice guy. We call him the Pied Piper because any time there are kids around, he is right in the center of them.

I feel so behind on my blog. So much has transpired that I've missed and so much is on the horizon and I just don't have the "time" to blog that I "used" to. haha.

25 months ago....this.
Hello....goodbye.
I miss this little person and feel his absence daily.
What I'd give to sniff your toddlerness and scold you for being pesky.
We all wonder and we all MISS you immensely, Jack Oliver Precious Boy.

In the news:

~My mom's back/hip/pelvis injury seems to be improving after a li'l nose dive in healing last week. Thank You, Lord! Get well, Momma!

~Our Aunt Sherry had surgery on her shoulder today. She is the soul up above, just in case you are new here, that is in the Jack pic with Melanie. She and our Uncle John lost their son, Tim, to CF 28 years ago. She is well-acquainted with grief and has been such a blessing to our family. God worked out all of those amazing details in having them move here 4 months before Jack died. Please pray for her, as she has had some annoying troubles with her "bionic"shoulder in the past few months. 

The thing I love about my mom and Sherry is their resilience. I know they cry and cry out to God in their pain...to be expected...but their spirit of selflessness and positivity is such a testimony to their Godly characteristics of patience, meekness, and love.

~David, Will and E are in IL this week. Finishing a rest stop there. Amen. Will is in his friends, Jonathon and Olivia's wedding this weekend. Jon is the Uncle of Li'l G. 

~Li'l G became a big sister this past Saturday, when Baby B was safely born (nearly 6 pounds) to Adam and Myssi. Praise the LORD!! She is a beautiful, tiny thing! We are so happy for Adam, Myssi and their family. Our youth pastor, Greg and his adorable wife, Erin, little 2 year old son, Nolan, welcomed Macy Louise a week ago yesterday (same day as Prince William and Kate!!) Babies everywhere. I'd like to get a sniff but I'm not holding my breath. haha.

~I have a rash behind my right ear. I shared it on FB last night...and many people said it sounded like Shingles. Ahhhh. Alas! it is not. How stupid and relieved was I to find out I have a case of Poison Ivy. See if I wrestle around in the weeds, feeling invincible anymore?? Yuck and ouch.

~Duncan, Charlie, Piper and Nora all started their adventures in the Perry Township schools today. Per Beck's report, all went well, with only a few minor glitches along the way! I know that is a big relief to all involved. Whew!!

~My kids have been doing school through the summer. Albeit, lighter loadages but I'm gearing up to start them out next week. Since we've changed Levi's math curriculum, he is actually excited about that part of school. Now, if I could get him excited about Phonics/Reading/Spelling/Proper Grammar. Urgh. 

Ok, the annual Young Summer Reunion is 8/10-8/11 and I am taking some crafty supplies to pass the time so I'd best be figuring that out...hope this update was fun.

*Note: I didn't blog much about Melanie because she will be in the Camp Electric post. yo!

mosaics and things that make up our days.

Good afternoon.
I have really neglected my blog. There is NO excuse for this.

This li'l mosaic fishy is hopefully going to be a table top for us someday. David is also going to do one with Jack's name. I'm really excited about that. When we will have the time to really do that, I have no clue.

A few things that have been happening lately:

~Mel just returned home from Camp Electric yesterday, much to her chagrin ;) not really but man, she had a wonderful time and I'm so happy for the lessons that she brought from her 4 days learning how to be an integral part of worshipping Jesus Christ. I believe this is just the beginning of an important part of her life.

~My momma fell almost two weeks ago and is suffering so with jumbled vertebra and pelvis probs. She had standing x-rays done today that will show her doc of osteopathy just how to treat her. Feel so bad for her. Get well, Mom.

~When I was a youngster, I LOVED Princess Diana. a lot. I would dream of meeting her and for some reason, I really adored her. Who didn't? Now, to watch her son and his beautiful wife welcome a new baby, do such normal things...and to see how adorable they are with their little son....awww. My heart melts. I know that even people of privilege can suffer loss, as Wills did when his momma was killed...but I couldn't help but think, wonder, question..."Do they know what a gift it is that their baby George Alexander Louis, is alive and breathing?" Will I always wonder about this? I do believe I will. I think it's just a natural part of loss. I naturally imagined myself on that stoop on the Lindo Wing in London, holding Jack and all of his beautiful brown crazy hair just blowing in the breeze. This is how he lives.

congrats to the Royals.

~I do believe that if things do not slow down a jot, I may implode. Why can I not handle the crazy pace that is our life? When I think of getting our school year going in full swing again (we have been doing Math/reading/phonics thru the summer), I want to curl up in a ball and disappear. To be able to do the things that I'd like to or that are necessary...well, they may have to wait till I have full blown arthritis and oodles of time. I have two elementary aged kids left. So weird. just weird.

~On a really cool, answer to years of praying note: My brother, who has been here for a little over a month now, is in FL retrieving his 12 year old son, Duncan and 10 year old son, Charlie. They will be back this weekend and starting their new school next week. Phebe, his 7 year old daughter, will be staying with her mom. I'm really excited about getting to finally really know my nephews and brother. Yay!!!

On that note....I must go for now. I must. I will aim to be back on here sooner than two weeks. poor blog. poor poor blog.

Jack's Balloon Launch (2 years in heaven) Part Two

(yes, I do imagine Molly with Jack when I see her with any tinier people. She was so impatient with babies and toddlers for the first year after Jack died. She's gotten a bit better.)

be still my heart.

Happy Birthday, sweetie! I love you.

My friend, Cyndy Reese. her and I share this niece. isn't that fun? beautiful ladies.

my balloons climb higher...

Yes, sadly out of order...thank you for your patience.

The day was so rainy, chilly and gloomy. I was kinda glad about it because on the day that Jack left us, it was a beautiful sunny summer day. His 1st birthday, as you will recall from last year's launch, was a day very similar to 6.30.11. (although with drought-like conditions). Though the gloom and drear did seem to dampen my spirits for a time, it was kinda neat to imagine that the heavens were crying with us as we remembered our wild haired boy.  The balloons looked so peaceful ascending against the grey skies...and I imagine the day I get to really meet my little boy. Will he be a baby still?

What would his personality be like, down here? hyper and inquisitive, or quiet and introspective? what cute things would he be saying.

I think back on each of my 5 living children and remember the adorable things they'd do at the baby/toddler stages and kinda put Jack there. Will's little noises and inquisitive spirit, Ethan's fear of NOTHING and peskiness, Mel's need for constant approval and killer obedience, Levi's tender neediness and laid back ways, or Molly, good from birth and turning into toddzilla at 2?

I see you, Jack. I look at old baby pix of the sibs and see you.Your memory will live on for as long as I'm alive. I'm so honored to be your momma.

*Ashley, pictured with me right below gives me good insight. Becky worked with her at Gray Road Christian School. Ashley and I were both preggers at the same time, with little boys.
To make a long story short, I met Ashley that fall, when her Henry (who is absolutely beautiful) was just a tiny one and Jack, just a few days older than Henry, had gone home to Jesus.

This tender-hearted girl....ahhhhh. Just precious. She shared with me how, because of Jack, she would give Henry extra kisses and hugged him a little bit tighter. The tears and stories she has shed and shared with me are nestled deeply in my soul. The emails she takes the time to send to me are printed out and tucked into Jack's scrapbook. She has been one of the most precious gifts I've received, thanks to Jack's story. Love you, Ashley. Praying for you, your precious family and the little gift you expect this December. I am so thankful for you!

I love this perspective. I believe this is Natalie's version.

and another one of Natalie's versions...her adorable, non-stop hunk of a doll boy, Ryan. I should add here that Sophie, the vision in red, is NickNat's second child. 

Kim and Hayley King. So glad they were with us!

Will. pure handsomeness.

Ethan and Sophie...(yeah, I imagine him doing this with Jack. And seeing him with Nat's kids melts my heart.) There isn't a bigger hearted 17 year old boy anywhere else, that I'm aware of. Love this big teddy bear boy.

Knock out Ethan

Jamie's pic of Soph....this girl....can you say baby model?

Ryan and his Pops, Nick (Sparkman) long story.

Another heart melting, tear inducing picture. Uncle John, who is my husband's mother's older brother, loving on sweet Sophie girl. We love this man and his precious wife, Sherry. but you knew that.

Kelsie, who we also love, Ian and Austin.

breathtaking.

lovelies

Jamie's perspective. Guess who put the little Sully at Jack's spot? my heart just exploded! BOOM!!

Molly and Noah Deak. I'm pretty sure he's one of the cutest kids I've ever met. He will melt your heart! he's probably telling Molly that she should put the stick down, it isn't nice to mess with the graveyard trees. Maybe we should arrange a marriage for them?? Jill? Michael? anyone? 

David talking with the Deak family. That tiny blonde doll? That is Jill. There's a story there. I plan to blog about her very soon. Her husband, Michael, Sons Isaac and Noah and sweet daughter, Halle, are on my 1,000 gifts list. 

There just isn't enough time, blog space or pictures to adequately convey the emotions that come to the surface when I look at these pictures. And if I started naming people or making lists, I'd surely forget someone because there are just. so. many!

The teens are hosting their Bible study tonight so I'd best get back out with them but wanted to get these up for your viewing pleasure. 

Up next: well....tomorrow is Molly's sixth birthday party. I find that difficult to swallow. High up on her wish list? High heels. she wants no toys. she doesn't even play with them, really. She has started playing with her Bitty Baby more but really...she doesn't have time for toys. 

Until then...adios! thanks for visiting.