Easter Egg Hunt - 2014

Let's go to Vegas!

The first week of November Tyler and I headed to Las Vegas for a few days.  I had a conference at Caesar's Palace for work, and he came along to bring me Starbucks at every break!  :-)  Hahaha.  Saturday we got in about 3 and were able to walk around, shop, and have a nice dinner.  Sunday I was in class in the morning and then we really did some shopping on "the strip."  It was nice to get a few things the kids needed, and walk hand in hand with Tyler.  And have a real conversation without interruption!  It took us a few days to get used to talking to each other, and by the time we did it was time for him to fly out.  :-(  Oh well, it was fun while it lasted.  I enjoyed being able to focus on the practice group that I lead at work, and learn about all the new technology and possibilities.  But I missed our kiddos terribly.  I really do love being their mom and wouldn't trade it for anything in the world, not even for a day!  I am so grateful to the group of family who watched them all over the 5 days that I was gone - Tanya and Jason had all 4 for 2 nights and 2 days, and then the four split up between my parents, Tara, Breanne, and my dear friend Traci for the remaining 3 nights and 3 days.  The kids had a blast and no one was ready to give them up, so they must have been good too.  So thankful for the time away, the much needed sleep and bonding with Tyler.  He's still a pretty fun guy to hang around with!

21 Questions to Start My Year

A number of years ago our pastor presented these 21 questions to consider at the beginning of each year.  A friend recently reminded me of them, and I am going to spend some time answering each one today.  I am not just going to read the questions and think "That's a good question!" I am going to READ and THINK and WRITE (okay type...  I'm keeping it in excel so I can look over my answers from year to year)  Should be.. fun?  Convicting?  There might be some much needed change that comes from this process!


1.What’s the most important decision I need to make this year?

2. What area of my life most needs simplifying and what’s one way I can
simplify in that area?

3. What’s the most important need I feel burdened to meet this year?

4. What habit would I most like to establish this year?

5. Who do I most want to encourage this year?

6. What is my most important financial goal this year, and what is the
most important step I can take toward achieving it?

7. What’s the single most important thing I can do to improve the
quality of my work life this year?

8. What’s one new way I could be a blessing to someone who ministers
to me?

9. What’s one thing I can do this year to enrich the spiritual legacy I will
leave to my children and grandchildren?

10. What book, in addition to the Bible, do I most want to read this
year?

11. What one thing do I most regret about last year and what will I do
about it this year?

12. What singe blessing from God do I want to seek most earnestly this
year?

13. In what area of my life do I most need growth, and what will I do
about it?

14. What’s the most important trip I want to take this year?

15. What skill do I most want to learn or improve this year?

16. To what need or ministry will I try to give an unprecedented
amount this year?

17. What’s the single most important thing I can do to improve the
quality of my downtime this year?

18. What one biblical doctrine do I most want to understand better this
year?

19. If those who know me best gave me one piece of advice, what would
they say? Would they be right? What am I willing to do about it?

20. What’s the most important new item I want to buy this year?

21. In what area of my life do I most need change, and what will I do
about it?

Well Done

Our days are wonderful, with moments each and every day that I know I am truly blessed to have such an amazing husband, and 4 amazing children.  I take time to enjoy the little moments, I snuggle them, and I pray for them.  But lately, with the change in the weather, going back to work a few days each week, and feeling like unless I keep an iron grip on our schedule, it will run away with me, I find that I have to "dig deep" to finish cleaning the house, to pick up the Duplos for the fourth time since lunch, to wash, dry, fold and put away yet another load of laundry...  you get the idea.  That's when I hear my Mom's words of encouragement ring in my ears, "These are the hardest days of your life." And, "You do the hard things Tanya, you are a good mom."  And that's when I love to find a song that I can listen to and be inspired.  And this is one of those songs!  May it inspire you as well. 

Well Done, by Moriah Peters

I’m headed down this narrow road
Chosen by the few
And all that I know is
You told me to follow You

I’m taking a risk and leaving it all
Not knowing what I’ll go through
But I’m not alone
As long as I follow You

So when my life’s a leap of faith
I can hear You say

Well done, well done
I’m gonna chase You, Lord
I’m gonna show the world Your love, woah
I’ll run, I’ll run
I’m gonna run this race
To hear You say well done

If people walk with me, talk with me, looking for truth
They’re gonna find out soon
If they’re following me then
They’re gonna follow You

So let my life speak loud and clear
Lord, I wanna hear

I’m so glad that I get to serve You, Lord
You’re the only One I am living for, woah
I’m gonna run straight into Your open arms
I’m gonna follow You with all my heart,

And check out the song on youtube HERE

I love to be reminded why it is that I am running.  

Two sweet babies, Two weeks apart

I was THRILLED to meet Oliver this past week - to say he is SWEET would be a major understatement.  Born just 2 weeks and 5 days after Addison, I was shocked to see the differences between them.  Skin tone, chubby cheeks, it's amazing what happens in 2 weeks!  I didn't think Addison was changing until I saw the two of them laying there together.  Amazing!  Amanda looked amazing for having had him just 6 days before, and it was a lovely time to catch up and here the story of Oliver's arrival.  It reminded me of this verse: 

Psalm 139:13

  For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 


That Amanda and I each carried these two precious children for 9 months of feeling icky, tired, hungry, countless trips to the bathroom, being kicked, feeling them move, growing from just a peanut (literally!) to these two, sweet, bundles of joy who are so new and perfect....  and that God created them, and chose US to be their moms.  AMAZING!

 I wanted one picture to commemorate the moment...  and the only photographer I had was Wayne.  The first shot is the look on my face as he was "figuring out the buttons" on my nice camera... yeesh.  The second one was the one he took.  And the cropping was done by me!  :-)

Bethany Home Tour - 2011

I can't even tell you how long I had been looking forward to Saturday... forever!  Mom, Tara, Breanne, Kaitlyn and Adri all piled in the Denali and ventured out to the Bethany Home Tour.  An annual event that raises money to support local women and adoption, it is a FAB reason to get together with the girls and enjoy an afternoon!  The houses were beautiful, and my favorite part...  at times even PRACTICAL.  I brought away a ton of ideas that I am excited to roll out around between our four walls in the coming months!  I want our house to be a home and a haven to our boys - that no matter what their day brings, they know they always come home to a home and a family that loves them just as they are, no matter what.  After this day, I vow to:

1. Personalize each boys' room to them, in a cohesive, attractive way.
2. Put up more pictures of US!
3. Putty the holes in the entry wall
4. Finish the fireplace
5. Build a case for above our washer and dryer
6. Streamline!

Here a few pictures of things we LOVED!

"I Need a Silent Night" Women's NIght - Christ Fellowship

To kick of the Christmas season, our church hosted a women's night, and called it, "I Need a Silent Night" after Amy Grant's Christmas hit.  It was DELIGHTFUL.  To set the stage... picture the most beautiful Christmas wedding in greenery and white accents, with a little silver sparkle, no men, and no little kids.  Got that in your mind?  DELIGHTFUL!  The night for me was all the sweeter because my mom played a big role in playing it with another lady from our church, and they did a phenomenal job organizing, planning, decorating and fasten your seat belts folks....  SPEAKING!  Mom spoke on keeping Christ in Christmas, and her message is one that struck home with so many women, including me.  I could not be more proud of her!!!  I totally held back from taking her picture while she was talking, but it took a great amount of self control.  I even got to go with my dear friend Amanda, making the night all the more special. 

Turkey Trot - my "first" 5K!

On Saturday I did my first official 5k in Lynden to support the local girl scouts, with a bunch of gals from my office.  There was a running crew, and a walking crew.  Cathy and I started running, lasted for about a 1/3 of a mile, and then settled into our brisk walking pace.  We finished the 3.1 miles in 45:12 (Cathy finished a few seconds faster... she neglected to tell me she was a SPRINTER in high school!)  It was just a hair longer than what I normally walk, and we kept a good pace the whole way, so definitely a workout, and FUN! Maybe next year I will RUN the whole thing!

PS - the other girls just look tough... it was COLD.  37 degrees cold, and I could not get warm (until we started moving!)

The Sun Standing Still

I loved this week's edition of "Devotions for Mom's" and thought I'd post it - in case anyone else could benefit.  For any of you readers who are doing the Bible Study at Christ Fellowship - it is CRAZY to me that at a time when I am studying Gilgal, of all things - it comes up again in this week's reading!  "God's work is alive and active in me!"

Time Wasters

Today's reading: Joshua 10:1-15
Where does your time go? Do you ever look back at the end of the day and wonder? Do you sometimes wish God would stretch your days, as he did for Joshua fighting the enemies of Israel?
One reason you may not have enough time is that you waste the time you do have. Before you go on a guilt trip, think about it.
Do you waste time by overdoing? Why, exactly, does the kitchen have to be spotless every time you leave it? Is there a law that requires that you always wash your car after it rains?
Maybe you waste time by under-planning. Going to the store without a list is okay sometimes, but when you're planning a big meal for company, you'll probably have to head back again for overlooked items.
And how about overreacting? Do you have to race to the phone every time it rings? Is it necessary to start wallpapering all over just because you made a tiny mistake or could you force yourself to patch it?
Maybe you can't make the sun stand still to give you more time. But you can add minutes and hours to your days by trimming time wasters.

Scrap Happy

I've found the time and the lack of energy to do other things lately (thanks to a bad head cold) to make some progress on scrapping!  I've plowed through to mid June 2010.  Here are a few pages!

 Whoops... just caught a date mistake in this one.  Better go back and fix it!