Thanks Joanie

We LOVE the big and little sister shirts...although the Little Sister doesn't seem so little anymore!

Special

I have grown up always admiring my mom's spice rack that she still uses to this day. I mentioned it to my Pepe one day and this is what I received in the mail the other day...an exact duplicate of it made from scratch by my Pepe. I can't wait to hang this up in my kitchen one day and always cherish it and remember my special Pepe and his amazing talents and love...thank you so much!!

Thanks Grammy & Grandpa

...for the cool new shades. These are neat....they have an elastic band that goes around head and velcros to help keep sunglasses on little ones.

Truly Thankful

I was thinking today how much I truly have to be thankful for. Not just the obvious with a new baby and this time of year...but these past couple of weeks have shown me how blessed I am and how much I do indeed have to be thankful for.
I am blessed and want to say thanks to all the extended family members and friends who have sent cards and gifts for me and new baby, have called to offer congratulations and support, have kept us all in your prayers and shared in our joy with us. We cherish each and every one of year and remember you especially today. Thank you.
To my fellow Martha Ministry members and local friends that have provided us with many many meals. This is such a huge help with a new baby (and also when hubby is working 12 hour shifts) to not even have to think about it, shop for it and cook it! We are enjoying the leftovers and getting some new recipes too!! Thank you!
To all those friends who have stopped by, brought goodies, came over to help in any way (especially the Grays who helped me with watching the big girls and taking me and Michaela to her appointment!) and kept us in your prayers during this time of healing and transition. We are truly blessed with generous, caring and loving friends! Thank you.

Now to some people to whom there are truly no words to express my thanks:

First, to my hubby. Not only are you an amazing support to me and take such concern to make sure I am ok and needs are met during this time...but you are an amazing father. You spent so many days when we first came home taking the big girls out to do special things. Whether it was to the mall to play and get treats...to Toys R Us (or We R Toys as Angel called it) to play with the toys there....or to the zoo for a fun day...you did it to help me out so I could relax and heal and be with Michaela...but also because you knew the girls needed that special fun time and how they loved and cherished it. You give more than 100% and amaze me with your patience and willingness to take such a leading role and helping hand in our family! Also, thank you for how hard you have been working at your job. After 9 days of 12 hour shift work with barely any sleep....I am glad you get a break. You were barely awake and home this past week which was hard but you still managed in the time you were to do the girls baths, take out the trash and try to leave me as comfortable and at ease as you could. I am so honored and proud of you and love you so very much! I promise I will one day soon be back to managing our home and daily duties!!! (maybe....:) )

To my sister Caitlin....not only have you been experiencing morning sickness and such with the little one you are expecting...but you have been such a huge support and help to me and the family these past couple of weeks. From staying by my side all through labor and delivery and coaching me just as I had asked....to staying with the other girls when I was still in the hospital....to coming over almost every day to help with the big girls, change diapers, and just be with me. The girls loved going out with you the other day and I have enjoyed your company and help so much. Thank you for helping me with my vendor show too! I am so blessed to have a sister living so close and one who is willing to help out in such a generous way. I only hope that I can contribute and be there for you as much as I can when it is your turn!!! I love you and am so thankful for our friendship.

And to my mama. Mom.....it seems we have come full circle in a way. You started out taking care of me when I was born and unable to do so...and here you have been again, holding my hand and helping me get through these times. You have been here for every step of this pregnancy and birth. From sleeping over to help, making so many meals, making sure I took my meds and kept drinking, helping me with the aches and pains and hormones....helping with my vendor show...doing the shopping, the cleaning etc. You took the big girls every day to your house and they had a blast...they miss you so much. That time alone to rest and spend with Michaela was very needed and special, so thank you. I am so blessed to have you so close and so eager to be here for me and the girls. I hope I don't ever take you and all you do for granted and can be there for you when needed like you have been for me. I love you so much and feel so blessed that my girls get to see so much of you and build that special relationship. I have missed you this week and can't wait to see you again. So on this Thanksgiving, I just want to say thank you for all you always do, have done this past couple of weeks and know that I feel honored and blessed to have you as my mom and friend.

Thank you Lord for my family and friends and each and all the daily blessings you continue to shower upon me, may I never take them for granted.

Thanks Aunt Ann

...the girls are loving their store!! Angel makes me come buy things all day long...and I have to go to the window!! Emma loves the cash register. Very generous gift, the accessories for it are already on their wish list!

Thanks Joanie

...for my adorable outfit!

Beautiful Example

Last night we had the privilege of attending a foster parent couple shower for our dear friends, John and Jenny. I had never been to a shower to celebrate the decision to become foster parents. They have worked so hard through the classes and training and preparing to get ready to welcome children into their home. They are such a beautiful couple and the children that get placed with them are going to be so blessed to have a wonderful example of loving parents. I look forward to witnessing them transform and impact these children's lives and watching their family grow....I am touched by their courage and generosity to open their hearts and home to children just waiting to find a family!! I hope someone took pictures last night because I forgot my camera and would love to have some!! But....of course there were lots of good friends to catch up with and like usual some yummy food!! I am posting the recipes of some things I brought and were a huge hit.....enjoy!!

Meringue Cookies
Chocolate Caramel Slice (a recipe from my friend in Australia that converted the measurements and ingredients for me...thanks Kate)
BBQ Glazed Homemade Meatballs....these were a HUGE HIT and very yummy.
Zippy Cranberry Appetizer
Apple Cider (I just buy apple cider and then in stock pot add numeg, cinnamon, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1 cup OJ, 1 TB butter, and mulling spices...so yummy)

Prayers Today and Thanksgiving

Prayers today are being said for my mother-in-law as she has her first chemo treatment. I will keep you posted on how she does through this tough time and again thanks for the prayers and support during this time.

Today I have also once again been shown the kindness, love and blessings of friendship. We found two bags on our doorstep this morning filled with thoughtful tokens of kindness and help for us during this tough time we have been having due to the strike issue. We were so surprised and thankful and it really struck a chord. I have been thinking all day about friendship and kindness and truly living the Gospel. We are very blessed to have such wonderful family members that help take care of us when we need it and are a huge support system. But, we are even more blessed to have such wonderful friends that support us and help us through the good and the hard times. This whole experience has made me so humble and thankful and trusting in truly God's plan to get us through each and every day. The material things may come and go, but true friendship and love remain and will get us through the darkest of times. I only hope that I am as good of a friend as all of you have been to us. I hope that one day we will have the opportunity to follow this loving example and help someone else when they are in need. So thanks again for the goodies, the help, and most of all the prayers and offerings you are doing on our behalf!!

"If it doesn't kill you..."

Well, I know I have heard the saying "If it doesn't kill you, it makes you stronger" and "God never gives you more than you can handle"....but starting the third week in this Boeing strike, I am feeling very weak and frustrated, scared and stressed. There is still no "new contract" on the table and the strike is going strong. We found out this last week that the strike checks don't even start until the third week of a strike, but you have to go to Seattle to even get that. It is $150 a week and the first one is issued this Saturday. There is also some buzz that come October 1st, your medical benefits might stop as well....GREAT!! Of course, they offer COBRA which is ridiculously expensive. And of course we don't qualify for unemployment because technically we have a job...one which we are just not allowed to go to work for and not receive any kind of pay or benefits in the meantime. I am having a hard time understanding how the Union which is fighting for the people, is really creating quite a burden for us in the process. Of course, this is all just compiled with the stress of the transmission in the van deciding it was a perfect time to BREAK and poor hubby is trying to find one in a junk yard and how to do ti himself so save us the $3000 the shop wanted! So, yes it hasn't killed me yet and I believe God gives us strength through the hard spots....just trying not to lose my sanity in the process of surviving.

But on a more serious note, we want to thank EVERYONE for all their support and prayers during the time and for all of those that have helped. Especially again, the Grays for the car which has been HUGE right now!! We are hoping this all can come to a close soon!!! October 3rd is Jason's birthday, so the end to this strike would be a wonderful present!!

Update: My brother-in-law, Chris, who was with Lehman Brothers....for now has a job with Barclays at least for sure through December so that is HUGE. And he gets to continue his MBA program too!! They are updating , HERE.

Pajama Time

The girls look so cute in yes...their Hanna Andersson PJs (thanks Aunty Megs)...it is nice that Emma can wear all the beautiful clothes Angel got!

Missing you Sophie

My friend Sophie has just recently moved to CT and we miss her a lot. We are grateful that she has made several trips back so they we could visit some. Sophie, this outfit still fits Angel and SHE LOVES THE HAT AND SWEATER. Couldn't get them off of her!! We think of you whenever she wears it!

Thanks Grammy and Grandpa

For my beautiful cross necklace...I love it!! Love, Angel.

One of many reasons

There are many reasons why I love my hubby, but one of them is definitely is mister-fix-it and frugal spending, do-it-myself mentality and talent. We have so far (other than new tires) NEVER taken our cars to get fixed for anything. He has always said that places charge way too much and most of it is for labor costs, so why not just learn how and do it yourself? He has gotten books on our cars and when there is a problem he figures out what it is, shops around for the best part and learns how to do it. While sometimes these things take hours to remedy, he has saved us hundreds of dollars. Last Friday, he drove home and his car sounded like a truck or Harley pulling into the driveway. He thought his exhaust manifold had broken but it ended up being something with the muffler area (note how car savvy I am? I am probably getting all the details wrong!). Anyways, he started driving around to get estimates on parts etc....to only keep getting told that the part was between$100-200 bucks and with labor to fix would cost around $500!! He kept at it and finally found a place where he asked if his car really needed two catalytic converters...the answer was no. So Jason asked them if they would just cut out the bad one and weld a straight pipe on to fix the problem. The shop agreed and $40 bucks later the problem was fixed and he drove home, happy and quietly!! I am so thankful to have him around to fix these issues and determined to do it because I am afraid I would have gotten suckered into the $500 rip off deal!

Thanks Joanie...

...for the cute shirt!! She "loves" it!