Christmas blizzard!

We are in Montana with Todd's parents for the holidays! On Christmas day the snow came hard and the wind blew all day with below-zero temps. We were very glad that we were not on the road, and could relax in a cozy house with the wood fire burning.

The picture above is the drifts by the house, and the truck that needed to get shoveled out before the plowing could begin!


Here is our lovely Christmas table, set with Todd's mom's "new" inherited apple blossom dishes. Elijah was taking a rare nap for this picture.

You can enjoy our blizzard vicariously, ok?

Here's Elijah, napping next to Grandpa. Must've been a pretty boring book. Poor Elijah is fighting a cold.

Merry Christmas!

We send our love this Christmas! May you and your family enjoy a blessed time together...and may your thoughts be full of gratefulness for the birth of Christ so long ago.


This picture was taken by accident (it was supposed to be a family picture, but the camera was zoomed in) -- isn't it cute? Merry Christmas to all the little ones!

Heaven-sent child

I love these pictures of Elijah! His therapist was having him practice sitting without support on her lap, so it was a great time for me to catch a few shots of him having fun.





My heart has just melted in a big puddle all over the keyboard. Isn't he just the SWEETEST???



This is last weekend's sledding party with the youth group. Once again we notice changes from last year when we tried to do the same thing - he was so much happier and able to tolerate the cold for a bit! We're so thankful as we see these changes in Elijah that allow us to live in a more "normal" way, bringing him outside to play even in cold weather. And life is more fun for him, too!

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Many of you know that we would like to have another child. Lately I have been dealing with some grief and fears of never having more babies...and the ache in my heart has been a bit unbearable at times.

I can see, though, that these thoughts should help me to focus, to live purposefully as a mother to one very special boy. Of course I would like to have other children whom I can see grow up, learn to talk, run around, and do all the usual things of childhood. I won't minimize how much I long for and dream of those children. However, I don't want my unfulfilled desires to overshadow the tremendous joy I have today.

I have one precious son whom I love like none other. I have unfailing smiles to look forward to every morning. I have a gentle little soul to nourish and care for. I have small but shining joys in his accomplishments. I have someone who is helpless and dependent, who teaches me how to live before my God. And perhaps best of all, I can creep into my small boy's room at night to watch him sleep. And lean in close for a whiff of his sweetness. I love you, Elijah.


I love You, Father.

Thank you...thank you for all these joys and the reminders of Your goodness.

5 Years!

Oh baby, has it really been five years? I love you!

a few months history...

This sweet face greets me every morning! (Look past the unwashed face...we all know that mornings aren't kind!)


None of these pics are in the right order, but I thought you would enjoy them anyway! Here we are last weekend. We found the nicest "mostly-handicapped-accessible" trail, a perfect three mile walk. Thank you, Lord!


A few weeks back, we got to spend the weekend with my sister and brother in law. Here's my sweet sis-in-law, being a good sport about taking a picture even though she didn't feel good due to morning sickness.

My darling niece.

Elijah and his cousin in their matching pjs. Aren't they getting big?


Todd, his brother and the cuties.


My ruggedly handsome husband :) and my boy who doesn't have to shave yet.


This was a music session at our house lately. Doesn't Elijah look like he's about to sing?


Here is Elijah and his cousin from my side of the family. True to form, B has things to do and people to see! We had such a great visit with my family!

My lovely and so grown-up youngest sister.


One of the problems with having a photographer in the family -- I end up leaving Wisconsin without taking many pictures! This is my only picture of my brother who was just married. His sweet and beautiful wife is visiting with my mom at the table behind him.
A highlight from my WI visit - we met my great-aunt and uncle for the first time. I never met my Grandma (on Mom's side), so it was special to meet Grandma's sister and catch a little glimpse of who she was.




Elijah and his adorable newest cousin.


Another beautiful sister and my youngest brother. I must apologize here...I cannot believe how few pictures I've taken of the visit. I'm sorry that just a few people are pictured!



I was privileged to be part of a special bread-baking class that my Grandma (and aunt) did for the youth group girls, along with two close friends of mine. Fun!! See pictures of bread to follow.


We love our friends in Wisconsin! (above and below)

Elijah's eyes

I've been away...visiting my family and seeing good friends in other parts. I'm thankful for a totally wonderful time, good conversations and the catching up I got to do. You'll probably see some pictures soon.

I don't know which of the three of us was happiest to be reunited after the time apart (Todd came home after my brother's wedding...I got to stay). Missing Todd is like not being able to breathe quite right - life just isn't as good!

One of the things we've done since coming home was take Elijah to a pediatric eye doctor. This was the first time since his initial visit at about three months old. At that time, the doctor told us that his optic nerve was intact and healthy, but that his damaged brain couldn't interpret the info from the eyes. His opinion was that Elijah couldn't see a thing. We knew that Elijah WAS seeing at least light and dark, so we decided to hope for the best and perhaps his vision would improve with time.

This week, the doctor told us that his optic nerve doesn't look healthy, most likely as a result of the brain injury. That explains why his pupils don't constrict with light. That was new information for us. Her opinion was that his vision is probably minimal, due to his damaged optic nerve and the damage to the brain itself.

Our mood was a bit sad when we left the doctor's office. We've known for a long time that Elijah's vision wasn't normal, but we haven't known the extent of it. Todd stopped to look out at a huge picture window on the fifth floor of the hospital. His voice cracked when he said 'i've always loved telling Elijah to look at different things...the train, the lake, the dog.'

I have realized before that this journey we're on is going to have multiple places of grief along the way. Ache, hurt, pain...not new here. I want to ask, Lord, why can't he at least see? I mean, how hard is that for you?

I have to rest again on the soft pillow of God's sovereignty...He knows, He cares, He loves, He will come for us - soon. And Elijah might see God's face as His very first sight, when He comes for His kids. I think that might just possibly be worth the wait!

North! Or Be Eaten

It's time!

I am excited to review for you here Andrew Peterson's latest book, North! Or Be Eaten. In case you're wondering, Andrew Peterson the author is the same guy as Andrew Peterson, the Christian singer-songwriter. I do count Andrew as one of my favorite musicians, and now I am also a fan of his writing!

First, a short summary for you. This is a quote from the publishers:

Janner, Tink, and Leeli Igiby thought they were normal children with normal lives and a normal past. But now they know they’re really the Lost Jewels of Anniera, heirs to a legendary kingdom across the sea, and suddenly everyone wants to kill them.

Their escape brings readers to the very brink of Fingap Falls, over the Stony Mountains, and across the Ice Prairies, while villains galore try to stop the Igibys permanently. Fearsome toothy cows and horned hounds return, along with new dangers: a mad man running a fork factory, a den of rockroaches, and majestic talking sea dragons.

Andrew Peterson’s lovable characters create what FantasyBookCritic.com says made Book One “one of the best fantasy novels in a very long time,” and Book Two contains even more thrills, exploring “themes universal in nature, ranging from the classic good versus evil, to the importance of family, and burdens of responsibility.”

You should know that my husband, Todd, and I stayed up way past our bedtimes reading this book together. The further we read, the less we wanted to put it down. We were literally taking turns reading at the table, during household chores, and just before turning out the lights at night!

North! Or Be Eaten is not only suspenseful, it is beautifully written. In fact, I read some sentences twice because they were like reading descriptive poetry.

I kept imagining the author writing this book for his own children (and maybe he did). I wondered if certain dimensions reflected his children's personalities, faults and interests.

Woven throughout the book are lessons about growing up, loyalty, courage, love, and sacrifice. It is not an overtly spiritual or Christian book, but The Maker is mentioned many times, and strength of character is encouraged.

My vocabulary has officially been expanded from reading North! Or Be Eaten - toothy cows, quill diggles, bomnubbles, and snickbuzzards, to name a few of the critters. (By the way, there are some lovely illustrations to help your poor, overtaxed imagination...either that or to give you nightmares.) The first chapter was a bit rough to read because I had to get comfortable with learning a new word every paragraph or so. After that, it was just part of the territory!

A little bit of a disclaimer: if you are wanting to read this book aloud to your children, be aware that some sections are frightening and obviously not meant for a three-year-old's bedtime story (but a ten-year-old would beg you to keep reading!). Todd and I also noticed that stealing and picking pockets could possibly be seen as glamorous survival skills since they were never discussed as otherwise.

We are happy to be getting more sleep now that we're done reading North! Or Be Eaten, but we are already eagerly awaiting the next installment. We could hardly bear to leave Tink as he was at the end of the book. I have also decided that it's a lot of fun to read something not entirely meant for adults! I am looking forward to reading North! Or Be Eaten to my children and grandkids someday. Lord willing, it's going to be on my bookshelf a long, long time.

moments of our life lately...

These little flowers shine while the last summer days hang on...I don't want you to leave, summer!



A milestone: our first real 'camping' since Elijah's birth! Here is the sleepy boy waking up to a cold north Idaho morning, all cuddled with his daddy. We had so much fun, and the beauty and peacefulness of it all was good for my soul.



I think that we've just discovered our favorite place so far in Idaho. We might have to keep it a secret!








Elijah, wearing his dad's hat.


This picture's for you, Mom and Dad! Elijah says thanks for the GB duds!


This fire look-out could be your very own hideaway in the mountains -- with the world as your view -- for just a few dollars per night. Isn't it lovely? Never mind the fact that it is without electricity or running water. We stopped here on one of our explorations and visited with the friendly folks staying there.








My two handsome men.


Todd's family (aunt, uncle, cousin and family) spent a day with us recently. We loved seeing them and adventuring together!


This is our summer garden...just the row that is directly in the picture. Some kind friends gave us this place to use...and I am loving all the produce! A blessing for us apartment-dwellers!


And finally, I'll leave you with some huckleberries. Picking them is one of our favorite ways to spend time...and eating them ranks right up there, too. :)

new place, new people, new blessings

Hmmm, it's been a while since I've posted. I guess moving, attempting to start another round of hyperbaric oxygen treatments, and then having a sick child for over a week has adds up to not much time for blogging!

We're now nicely squished into a 2 bedroom apartment. Since most of our stuff is now stored in the apartment's garage, it really doesn't feel too squished...just a little. :)

The blessing of apartment living for us is having lots of people nearby (whoa -- did I really just say that?? Privacy-loving me?). Two little girls have been visiting regularly and Elijah LOVES having them here. Interestingly, their (single) mothers did not step foot inside my home or even talk with me for more than two minutes before sending their girls over to play. Either I look really safe or they were just desperate for a break from their kids!

Todd commented that we should buy some Bible story books to read with these little girls. I, too, see these apartments as a place where we can interact with people who need to know Jesus!

Thanks, Lord...for the little souls You've brought to our family. Help us love them!

On a different note, we plan to start HBOT again tomorrow for Elijah. Lots of driving for us, but a huge blessing to have this treatment available for him. Maybe, just maybe, I'll get to shop a little, too! :) Living in our little town means that we don't get to shop at fun stores like Target and TJ Maxx (two of my faves) very often. So off we go tomorrow!

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Fun news: I'm going to do my very first book review this fall! In September, I'll be reviewing the children's book, "North! Or Be Eaten" by Andrew Peterson. I'm so excited you might think I was just hired to be his publicist. :)

I am enjoying long walks with my boy these days, soaking in much-beloved sun.

We're moving in the next few days, so I might be signing off for awhile until we get reconnected. We decided on a small apartment (it was actually about the only option).

Love to you all tonight!

a quiet moment...

Ahhhhh, friends.

Wonderful to have a moment to catch up with you here. I've missed you! We have put 4,000 miles on our Toyota (having fun!) in the last few weeks and while we were gone, our rented house sold.

So now we are packing up for the third time in 6 months, needing to be out of our house in just a few days and still without a really great option for a new place. I told Todd when we got home from vacation that the Lord might take it right down to the wire, but He's never failed us yet. And that wire is lookin' mighty close...a little TOO close to be comfortable for this woman who likes things in order and planned out. Oh well! Exercises and stretches hurt a little (or a lot) sometimes, right?

However, despite the circumstances of moving, I really am still glowing from my visits with friends and family on our road trip. Pictures to follow! On top of everything, we were even blessed with a quick visit yesterday from Todd's brother and his wife.

Thank you, Lord, for precious times with loved people here on this earth.

cousins and birthdays

We managed to get a group photo while Todd's family was here visiting! I am learning our "new" computer and still have no idea how to use our photo program to crop this pic - sorry. :)


Delightful little girl cousin Addy! They look like they're having the sweetest conversation.


Ahhh, wrapping paper, what fun! These photos were from Elijah's birthday three weeks ago. :)



Along with Elijah's cousins, some of his little and big friends were able to come to his party at the park near our house. Thanks, guys, Elijah loved his party!