Rita's Water Ice: Take Two!

     This was Chase's face the other night when we treated him to a Rita's Gelati. He loves their water ice but because of his egg allergy had never tried their ice cream (or any soft serve) before. He was so excited to be able to pick out his treat. We got this reaction after we got home and he was able to try it!

Window Seat Wanderings

Every Wednesday I post about a book I’ve read that I think is worth passing on. I have a personal love for Christian fiction so that is my main focus but you will find other reads sprinkled in here from time to time.

I’d love to hear what you thought of a book I recommended or if you have a new one for me to try. So grab your favorite beverage and get comfortable, let’s get wandering!

     I'm changing things up a bit this week with a much more serious subject line. The book is I Will Carry You: The Sacred Dance of Grief and Joy by Angie Smith.

     I've followed Angie's blog for quite some time and have been moved to tears quite often as she has shared her heart with others. Here is the book description:

     In 2008, Angie Smith and her husband Todd (lead singer of the group Selah) learned through ultrasound that their fourth daughter had conditions making her “incompatible with life.” Advised to terminate the pregnancy, the Smiths chose instead to carry this child and allow room for a miracle. That miracle came the day they met Audrey Caroline and got the chance to love her for the precious two-and-a-half hours she lived on earth.    


Upon receiving the original diagnosis, Angie started a blog (Bring the Rain) to keep family and friends informed of their journey. Soon, the site exploded in popularity, connecting with thousands who were either experiencing their own heartbreaking situations or simply curious about how God could carry someone through something so tragic. I Will Carry You tells the powerful story of a parent losing her child, interwoven with the biblical story of Lazarus to help those who mourn to still have hope—to find grace and peace in the sacred dance of grief and joy.

     I've read this book just recently and found it heartbreakingly beautiful. Honestly, I cried through a lot of it. It was good crying because I could see the beauty even in the midst of all the tragedy taking place. Angie's got personal struggles that I can relate to and her writing is as intimate as if you were sitting in a room together having a private conversation. It's a good read for anyone who wants to be challenged in their walk with the Lord; who has lost a child; or who knows someone who has experienced the loss of a loved one.

Summer Preview

     We've had some warmer weather lately and we've all been eating up our time outdoors.
     We didn't break out the kiddie pool yet but I set up the sprinkler for the kids yesterday.

     Alexa hated the sprinkler; Chase took a little while to warm up to it and then had a blast.

     She was much more content to sit and watch her big brother play...

which he did with much enthusiasm!

Window Seat Wanderings

Every Wednesday I post about a book I’ve read that I think is worth passing on. I have a personal love for Christian fiction so that is my main focus but you will find other reads sprinkled in here from time to time.

I’d love to hear what you thought of a book I recommended or if you have a new one for me to try. So grab your favorite beverage and get comfortable, let’s get wandering!

Today's book is "When the Heart Cries" by Cindy Woodsmall. I'm not usually an Amish fiction fan because I find the books typically romanticize the Amish faith and often overlook fundamental Amish beliefs for the sake of their story. I stumbled on this author shortly after our library got a copy of her first book "When the Heart Cries". The book was fascinating, riveting and heartwrenchingly real. I loved it and devoured the two subsequent titles in the trilogy.

Premise:

     Hannah Lapp was born and raised in an Old Order Amish home, without electricity, a telephone, or the right to follow her heart. Without her parents’ knowledge, she’s been in love with Mennonite Paul Waddell for years. When he asks her to marry him, she accepts, even though to do so will cause her family to avoid her for the rest of her life.

     Before Hannah and Paul reveal their relationship, tragedy strikes. In one unwelcome encounter, all that Hannah has known and believed is destroyed and she faces losing everything: her family, her fiancé, and even her faith in God.

Also in the trilogy:

When the Morning Comes

                                                                   When the Soul Mends

Minivan Mom

     You got it! I am officially a minivan mom! I've been so apprehensive about this because my past experience with minivans was that they were pretty lame (no offense to you minivan owners out there!). There wasn't really any option for me but the Honda Odyssey as I love the way it looks and I am a Honda person through and through. Howard test drove the van a few months ago and agreed that it was the one he wanted as well.

     The 2010 vans are so hard to come by now because Honda it getting ready to change the bodystyle for 2011. We had to wait for our new "family member" for about five weeks. Nothing like waiting on such a big purchase to make you get cold feet. I kept freaking out every few days as to whether this was the right decision for us. Howard calmly reminded me that we had planned on this for quite a while and that I'd be happy with it once we got it. He was right of course! I love the convenience of the van and we upgraded from a 4 cylinder to a V6 which is great for this lead foot!

     The whole drive home Chase kept saying "I so happy! I really like this minivan! Mommy are you so happy? Daddy are you so happy? I really like this minivan!" The best part is that now when I say it's time to get in the van Chase bolts to get in it. He loves it and so do we!

Window Seat Wanderings

     Every Wednesday I post about a book I’ve read that I think is worth passing on. I have a personal love for Christian fiction so that is my main focus but you will find other reads sprinkled in here from time to time.



     I’d love to hear what you thought of a book I recommended or if you have a new one for me to try. So grab your favorite beverage and get comfortable, let’s get wandering!

     This weeks title is "The Princess" by Lori Wick. I picked this as my first title because, of all the books I've read, this is still my favorite. I read it at least once a year (sometimes more!); it's the perfect romance story.

Don't let the cover fool you! This is the older cover I own. The book was released with a redesigned cover not that long ago. I posted the older cover because it is the perfect example of why to not judge a book by it's cover.

This is a brief synopsis of the book:

      Born to a royal family, Prince Nicolai has grown up with the knowledge that he will be heir to the throne and to his people's hearts. Having suffered the early and painful death of his first wife, the young prince agrees to an arranged marriage to fulfill an ancient statute that the heir be married by his twenty-sixth birthday.

     He and his new bride, Shelby, live together as strangers for many weeks, but in time the prince draws closer to her. Yet it never occurs to Shelby, a commoner who married for the sake of her country but who secretly loves him deeply, that the prince's affection could truly turn toward her. By the time he comes to love her, she has walled off her heart to protect herself, and he must tenderly scale that wall.

     When you have the chance check out the book and let me know what you thought. Happy wanderings!

Mother's Day Pictures 2010

     We finally got the kids to take some good pictures with us. Well, Alexa cooperated. Pictures with Chase anymore are like pulling teeth! This was the best picture of the three of us. :-)

                                     

         I had to get a picture with each of my kids for their scrapbooks too!
                                     

                     He's getting so big but he's still my baby...
                                      

     Our budding photographer took this one of Howard and I. It's a little blurry and of course Alexa's in the way but it's nice to have a few of just the two of us so we appreciate Chase's efforts!
                                 

     It was a very nice Mother's Day. Howard got up and made waffles for breakfast. A favorite of mine and a rarity since they are so high in carbs! He and the kids took me out to a local Mexican restaurant, that I love, for dinner. Oh, it is so good! We then came home and went outside to toss a baseball together before the kids went to bed. Howard and I spent the evening playing games together. It's something we love to do and it was so nice to end the day talking and enjoying being together. It was a family sort of day which was just perfect considering what was being celebrated!

Mother's Day

This is my favorite YouTube video of all time. If you knew me and my brothers growing up it portrays our relationship perfectly. I can't stop laughing when I watch it. Enjoy it and Happy Mother's Day to all you moms out there. We definitely "earn" our title!

B-I-B-L-E

Well, our peanut is 17 months old now! She's babbling more and getting down animal sounds which are so cute.

She's really into peek-a-boo and hide-and-seek.

She's got a mind of her own which we are quickly coming to learn the more vocal she becomes!

The best part is she is picking up skills as her older brother practices his. Chase has been learning the B-I-B-L-E song and sings it constantly. Alexa now walks around the house in her little girl voice singing "b-l-e, b-l-e, b-l-e". I got it on video tape and it is so cute! She's so proud of herself too. :-) I love when they pick up the good things!