Mamaw & Papaw

Mamaw & Papaw came over for dinner about a week ago. They brought the highly prized "item" that is longed for each year at this time. Mamaw ALWAYS does this for her grandchildren. Leah has outgrown it of course, but Josh gets so excited about it! The "item"is the Toys R Us catalog. She brought a bunch of catalogs for Kirsten & Aaron too. We gave them pens & asked them to circle some things so that we had an idea of what they would like. They thought it was so fun to circle their hearts out in their own, personal catalog. Thank you Mamaw for this fun family tradition!

"My day"

Every day the kiddos take turns having "my day". It alleviates soooo many problems. I learned it from my mom when she did the same thing with us as children. Your day entails being Mom's helper, getting to pick the stories we read at nap & bedtime, saying the prayers for the day, setting & clearing the table at meals, picking the movie (if we watch one) & the best part of your "day" is that you do or get something special from Mom & Dad. It doesn't necessarily cost money. It can be picking out what we have for dinner or going on errands alone with one of us. Last week on one of Josh's days, we went to our favorite place while the other two were at school: Dunkin Donuts. We always get the same thing: DOUBLE CHOCOLATE DONUTS!!! We go to the drive-through (which I love) & then take our goodies home. Josh likes to microwave his donut, but I like mine just the way it is. Eat one of those babies & boy, talk about an endorphin rush. All that chocolate at one sitting is heaven. I'm sure of it. I was telling Josh why chocolate was so important. He says to me, "Mom, you already told me this. If a girl is upset, you just give her chocolate. It makes these things in your brain go so that you feel better." How hilarious!! Of all the things we try to teach our kids, he remembers that chocolate makes a girl happy. Oh my, what have I done? I don't know if this is a good thing. giggle.


Josh said, "Look mom, a chocolate mustache."








One of my girlfriends knew how much I loved chocolate & bought me this, oh so appropriate, mug. Thanks Susan! It is so me. Check out the hair on that chick. Again, so me in the morning.

Memories of Codorus

Although it's just a local attraction, Codorus (Lake Marburg) has always been a special place to me. Throughout my life it has served to be a part of important personal, family, friend, & work-related activities. I was married at Codorus, had Josh's 1st birthday party & many more afterwards, had countless picnics & family times there. Just so much.












The real reason that Codorus is so special to me is because of an event that DIDN'T happen when I was 13 years old. It was Memorial Day & my parents were planning our day. The choices were to go to Codorus or to have a picnic. I wanted to have the picnic AT Codorus & was trying to "sell" that idea to my parents. My dad didn't go a lot of places with us so this was a BIG DEAL!! As I ran upstairs to go look for something I could hear my parents talking to each other in the kitchen below. I could hear them discussing that it would be fun to have the picnic at Codorus. I remember being SO EXCITED that that we would all be doing something together as a family. I felt so loved. I still remember my very feelings.

My excitement was very short-lived though. All of a sudden, I heard an unfamiliar noise. My dad was going down into the basement to look for the cooler & had just fallen down our wooden basement steps. It was the first time in my life I heard my father cry. My parents went to the emergency room, & we waited (my brother & sister & I) many, many hours at home to find out what was wrong. It turned out that he had broken several ribs. Sadly during the x-rays they also discovered the cancerous tumors that ultimately took his life just 6 months later. My father never seemed to leave the basement to me. The man I knew never came back up. So each & every time I go to Codorus I think of my father & the picnic that would have been. I loved him so much. Little did I know at the time, that as the sun set at Codorus I would never return there with him again.












Codorus is a place I always take people that are special to me & my family. It's like a little unknown secret. (well, till now) They do not realize the significance of it of course, but for me, I'm building another fond memory there. A mere month ago one more memory was laid. I was hiking with Maren, Gwenda & Shelley (check out Maren's remix at the end when your done reading) , & anxiously waiting to hear "the news" that my sister would be going to the hospital to have her baby. It was a beautiful day for a hike & the company was the best. I LOVE the outdoors & HIKING! When our hike & our lunch was over we all went our separate ways. I decided to go to another part of the lake to do some scripture reading, journaling & praying. Much to my delight, as soon as I was done my cell rang with the news that my sister was in the hospital!!! Thank you Lord for allowing me to be at one of my favorite places to hear this exciting news.

Many, many hours later, Timothy James Shue was born on October 14, 2007. Even now, a month later, the very sight of him brings me to tears. (I know I look goofy in the pics, but I was crying!) I never dreamed I would have such strong feelings about him. I guess it's because it's my sister's baby, & I love my sister. I actually think we're closer now than we ever have been. My relationship with her is one of the most important in my life. I love you Amy!












Right before I got the call to go to the hospital I had taken a picture of this little acorn. TJ's my little acorn.











Now to appreciate my love for Codorus (& some of my favorite girlfriends) check out Maren's beautiful remix below. (Make sure you turn off the music at the bottom of my blog so that you can hear Maren's.) Each & every time I walk in the woods (any woods) I can feel my father with me. I love you Dad.

to be so wise

This was so worth putting on my blog. I can only hope my own son will be so wise.

Subject: KSBJ radio - The Sky Angel Cowboy

A remarkable phone call from a 12-yr old boy to Houston

radio station KSBJ FM 89.3. So profound, the station has it

posted on their website. Click below to listen to it. It's short.

http://www.ksbj.org/eblogs/morningShow/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/logan-calf-story.mp3

Yes, I am still alive

I borrowed my friend Maren's idea on her blog, "What I learned this week" to my blog as well. Being the new mother of four has brought so many different things to my life that today all I can do is laugh. I have some great things to blog, but when I will blog is a secret to us all, myself included. giggle.

New additions to our family!

It's been two weeks now since Kirsten & Aaron have joined our family. Kirsten is five & Aaron is four. They are to be a long-term placement. It will never be long enough for me. These blue-eyed beauties have completely stolen my heart. To stay I have fallen in love with them would be an understatement.