Filed under: family news
The news is in. . . Jeremy has orders to go to school in Maryland starting in May until August. The military is unable to put his family on his orders. . . so we are getting creative about ways to be closer to him so that he (and we) isn’t/aren’t missing out on the whole summer with each other. I have signed up for a service that matches homeowners and people who want to house sit or act as pet sitters in hopes that we can get fairly close to him and be able to at least meet up with him on weekends.
Also, if you know of someone living in the DC area who has an extra room or basement to rent out fairly cheap (we have to keep our base house here) we’d be interested in that too.
So. . . spread the word, and if you know of anyone who is looking for someone to watch their house or pets for the summer or any time during the summer near the DC or Baltimore area (Jeremy is going to school right in between near Laurel, MD) please let me know.
Keywords: pet house home sit sitter sitters housesit petsit housesitter petsitter dog cat laurel fort meade maryland, washington dc virginia kensington baltimore annapolis, bowie
The weather has finally turned, we hope – it was so gorgeous today. . . we went to a fun day down at the youth center and the base lake to BBQ. Elijah had his first pony ride (he repeatedly asked for it) and we thought it was terribly appropriate since he has loved wearing his straw hat lately. Well, as you can see from the picture, he was one little freaked out cowboy! We left him on just long enough to take this lovely photo!
Here he is a few hours later calmed down and wearing his hat at an even more comfortable tilt (he adjusted it himself!)
Here is Mimi (that’s what Elijah calls Merry) relaxing at the lake. . .smiling as usual!
Praise the Lord for warm weather and room for little boys to run!
Our friend Ian decided to try Merry in his daughter’s doll stroller and she fit just perfect! Elijah thought it was pretty cool too – notice Ian’s hands has on Elijah’s hands on the stroller – that’s what you call a Mimi-racing-prevention tactic. 
Jeremy is spending some time with his family this week and I came home this afternoon with the children to a mowed lawn. My neighbor knew Jeremy wouldn’t be able to do it and mowed my lawn for me! God gives me so many blessings I don’t even think of asking for sometimes! Thank you God, and thank you David and Emma!
Merry rolled over on Wednesday, and has again a few times from her tummy to her back. Today she started in her exersaucer and enjoyed that too.
This morning Elijah woke up, ran out to the computer and asked for “Gaga and Paa” (that is where we video chat with them) and called them on the toy phone at his friends house a few hours later.
Later, when he was playing in the yard, a little boy got to the playground behind our house with his Grandpa. Elijah came running to me to show me “Paa” which is Pap, Jeremy’s dad. I tried to explain to him that the man he saw was not HIS Pap, but the other boy’s Pap. . . this obviously was not making any sense to him, so we headed out to the playground.
I thought that would seal the deal for him and he would understand once he got closer (this gentleman didn’t look anything like Jeremy’s dad. . . he had a long white beard and was totally bald on top – he looked like a life-size gnome you might see in a fairy-tale!) He ran up to the guy and said “Hi, Paa!” to which the gentleman replied, “hi, do you want to swing with us?” Of course Elijah did, and had a good time. When we went inside he said, “Bye Paa!” all the way into the house. It’s obviously time for a visit to Grandma and Pap very soon!
Filed under: Elijah
“He who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious will have the king for his friend.” Proverbs 22:11
Today the weather was so beautiful we had to get out and run some of our energy out. . . and take pictures of course! Here is Elijah and his friend Hannah taking a rest on a bench at the park in downtown Omaha.
Filed under: family news
Jeremy received news today that he will be attending his cross-training school in Fort Meade Maryland from May 17 to August 13. Our plans are to travel with him for a good portion of the time he is there. Details to come. . .
Somehow we will make the road trip to DC from Nebraska. Please email or post if you would like us to detour through where you live. . . only if you are somewhat on the way, please! Sorry Joe, we aren’t going to stop in California on the way to DC!
Tonight Elijah sleeps in his big boy bed for the first night. Recent new word attempts include okay, “more milk and cereal,” cute (referring to Merry) Christian (the name of his friend next door which ends up sounding like “choo-choo”) poop and peepee, help, dada’s work, playground, shirt, ice cream and anything else he decides to copy.
Merry sits in her Bumbo seat and can push herself up on her arms when she plays on the floor on her tummy. She is giggling out loud now and so sweet to have in our family.
Filed under: Friends
Jeremy writes,
Our good friends here in Omaha had their third child on Wednesday night, Isaac Avery. Mom (Jenny) and Dad (Sam) are home doing well.
The baby came quickly so Sam wasn’t as worn out this time (to our relief). 
Both of Isaac’s older siblings: Molly (4) and Benjamin (Elijah’s age) are very excited about “brother” as Benjamin calls him. It’s cute!
We went to the hospital yesterday to see the baby – wow! It’s hard to believe that was us (with Merry) 3 and a half months ago. They grow so fast. In our excitement to get to the hospital we left our camera at home on the way out the door so hopefully a picture of Isaac will be coming soon. Elijah got to see the baby from outside the room and kept asking for “baby” the whole way there. Congratulations!
Filed under: Elijah
Almost every day we get to have Jeremy home for lunch. I usually have to wait until I know he is on his way because mayhem ensues as soon as Elijah hears anything that even sounds like Daddy.
Yesterday when he was done with his breakfast, he went over to the phone, picked it up and started talking to “daddy,” so I made the real call and let him talk. Around 11 after Elijah had “helped” me make pizza and calzones for lunch (same ingredients, different form) I called Jeremy to let him know lunch would be ready soon. Elijah overheard me talking with him and started the daddy’s-coming-home-crazy-toddler thing. Yelling all over the house, “DADA!!” “DADA!!” I try to calm him by giving him something to do, “Elijah, why don’t you come over to the couch and watch for his bike out the window.” “Bike! DADA!” Running over to the couch, shouting out the window and back again to the front door. More of the same. Mommy just hopes daddy doesn’t get held up by a customer at the last minute.
On the heels of a recent study “Thinking Heavenward,” I couldn’t help but think of how I am called to look forward to and hasten the day (2 Peter 3:12) that Christ Jesus returns for the Church. I wondered how it would look if I had Elijah’s attitude toward my Redeemer’s return. Am I even half that ecstatic? And I have heaven and eternity to be excited about – Elijah just has lunch and 45 minutes with his Dad. When I think about Christ’s return (on a white horse, not a black bike, of course) does it thrill my heart and make me want to drop what I am doing to look for Him or even talk with Him and tell Him I look forward to seeing Him? The more the Holy Spirit trains my heart toward God and His Word, the more I find myself recognizing that I don’t belong to this earth, I’m just traveling through on my way to eternity. (Hebrews 11:14, 16)
So, now that I’ve been taught by my child about heaven, what practical things can I do to teach both my children about heaven? What do you do in your home to remind your children or family about heaven?
Filed under: Once a Month Cooking
In the spirit of Proverbs 31:14-18 and 20, once again, it is time to start planning for our next cooking club party! Yeah! You can visit Joy Folken’s Blog about OAMC for a good description. Kinda’ combined once-a-month-cooking with a cooking club and revised it to work with our little freezer space. For those of you interested, I’ve included a few sites below that give ideas, recipes and hints for freezer cooking.
During the last two months I have cooked triple batches of 5 different recipes and ended up with 15 meals to use throughout the month when days get hectic or I want to be out of the house for the morning.
I’m going to try to keep this cooking thing reasonable, even though Jeremy, my sweetheart of 9 years gave me a used upright freezer for our basement for an anniversary gift a few weeks ago! I never would have imagined an ugly avocado green freezer would be romantic to me. . .but hey, things change when you become a mommy, right?!
Here is the schedule, details and “assignments” for our cooking party:
Our goals:
1. To cook 5 double recipes (10 or 15 meals total) to freeze for emergency meals for our family for the next month
2. To share recipe and meal ideas with each other
3. To enjoy fellowship and encourage each other
Thursday: Meet at my house 7-8 PM for meal planning, grocery list making, and planning for the actual cooking day
PLEASE BRING ON THURSDAY:
1. At least 5 recipes you plan to make for your family at the party – written out on cards or in a notebook
2. Recipe books/resources you got your recipes from for sharing with the group
3. Grocery ads if you aren’t shopping at the Commissary
4. Pen, paper, notebook, cooking journal, or binder
Friday: Grocery shopping on your own
Saturday: Meet at my house from 11AM to 4PM to cook and package meals for freezing
We will determine what each person will bring (besides the groceries to cook the meals) on Thursday.
My goal is to have cleanup done BY 4PM.
http://www.30daygourmet.com/
http://www.dinnersinthefreezer.com/
http://snider.mardox.com/OAMC.htm
http://www.momsbudget.com/freezercooking/index.html
http://www.realfood4realpeople.com/oamc.html
http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/advice/20000131a.asp
Two new cookbooks that have some GREAT freezer recipes and instructions
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0696230542/102-5800966-0807306
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0800730550/102-5800966-0807306 – If you only buy one, this is the ONE to get!
I would like to challenge each of you to DO Proverbs 31:20 and consider finding someone who could use a meal this month. I know we all live on tight budgets, but I have found that God faithfully provides abundantly as we obey Him in serving and ministering to others.
Now all we have to do is pick a weekend this month – I’m free (right now) any weekend except next weekend (the 21st).
So, if you want to join the cooking party and live in or near Bellevue Nebraska. . . or would like to fly or drive to cook with us (I can only hope, right?!) please email me or comment.
