Juliana Kimberly Your As Precious As Can Be…

Our house has been full of sick people this week.  I have been looking forward all week for everyone to feel better.  Well, this morning everyone seems to be on the mend…but me!!!  I woke up with a killer headache & the start of a cold.  All I can say is, "What's up with that?".

If I got my cold from Henry, it is worth it.  I cannot give up all the kisses that he wants to give and the snuggles.  If my price is catching his cold, no problem.  I can endure all the sniffles and headaches if it gives him some comfort while he is sick.  I will play with him and love on him and snuggle on the couch.

We are truly enjoying this Christmas season with our grandson.  He has so much excitement about the trees, elf on the shelf, lights, outside decorations…everything that sparkles catches his eye.  I know that in a month and a half, Henry will be moving to a town house with his Mommy & step Dad after the wedding.

I got my first pangs of separation yesterday when Juliana and Aaron took Henry to see his soon to be home.  He came running to me saying, "Bye Dammy.  Going to Henry's house."  He gave me a kiss and hug then they all left.  Juliana asked me if I was sad and I had to say yes.  I am happy for them all but this is not going to be easy.  Juliana has never lived away from home and neither has Henry.  Two in one shot…so sad.

Life changes are very difficult even when you know its a good thing.  So I will concentrate on Christmas and the Wedding.  Trying to put the thought of my babies leaving in January out of my head.  
I will get sentimental sometimes but you will just have to humor me, it's just who I am.

So here is something I wrote from Bo's eyes:

Juliana Kimberly your as precious as can be and i love you tenderly Juliana Kimberly

A little girl so perfect and round 

Came from the kind of love that is profound

I looked at your Mama and said Thank you

You just made my dream come true.

You are my dream come true

Everything I ever wanted

Eyes like your Mommy

A smile like mine

You stole my heart and never gave it back

My beautiful baby girl

My dream come true

We were always together 

hand in hand

Daddy's little girl

Just like I had planned

Now we are dancing on your wedding day

The hand that once held mine

I just gave away

You are my dream come true

Everything I ever wanted

My life has never been the same

because of you

Juliana, my dream come true.

Robert Frost

God's Garden

God made a beatous garden

With lovely flowers strown,

But one straight, narrow pathway

That was not overgrown.

And to this beauteous garden

He brought mankind to live,

And said: 'To you, my children,

These lovely flowers I give.

Prune ye my vines and fig trees,

With care my flowerets tend,

But keep the pathway open

Your home is at the end.'

Then came another master,

Who did not love mankind,

And planted on the pathway

Gold flowers for them to find.

And mankind saw the bright flowers,

That, glitt'ring in the sun,

Quite hid the thorns of av'rice

That poison blood and bone;

And far off many wandered,

And when life's night came on,

They still were seeking gold flowers,

Lost, helpless and alone.

O, cease to heed the glamour

That blinds your foolish eyes,

Look upward to the glitter

Of stars in God's clear skies.

Their ways are pure and harmless

And will not lead astray,

Bid aid your erring footsteps

To keep the narrow way.

And when the sun shines brightly

Tend flowers that God has given

And keep the pathway open

That leads you on to heaven. 

Robert Frost

Elf on The Shelf

I am so enjoying Elf on The Shelf this year with Henry.  We got him out of the Christmas stuff yesterday and Henry hasn't left him alone since.  He has named him Meemo.  It probably is Nemo but he can't say it right so we all call him Meemo.

When Juliana went to take Henry upstairs for a nap yesterday, Henry cried for Meemo until I took the Elf upstairs.  Henry covered him up and went to sleep.  It made me laugh.

When Henry got up this morning he asked his mommy for Meemo.  Meemo was hiding in the little tree.  Henry went looking for him.  He has made it so much fun this year.  Meemo has taken a ride in Juliana's slipper through the living room as a car and a plane.

Christmas is so much fun with a 2 year old in the house.  Gosh I didn't realize how much I missed the wonderment of a little child at Christmas.  I am loving every minute of it.

Serve One Another

I have a confession to make.  I am not one for confessions but I think someone may benefit from it.  After my post yesterday, I was really feeling the Christmas Spirit but then I got in the way.  I started looking around at the mess this weekend had produced in my house and I got angry.  I then let that anger feed on other things in my life that I have no control over and it just grew from there.  By the time I finished washing the dishes, counters, stove, sweeping the floor and wiping down the trash can and all around it, Christmas was no longer on my mind.  I was livid and not fit to be around anyone except for Henry.  Of course that is when my phone started ringing and the poor person on the other end was not greeted with love or joy.  Yes, it was poor Bo.  He called and wasn't expecting an angry elf on the other end.  Yes, I was a south pole elf…wayyyyy south.

I was angry all day.  I didn't want to talk to anyone and so I took a nap.  When I woke up, I decided that my poor husband and son who worked hard all day needed a home cooked meal.  We had tons of left overs and I was going to make something of them.  I made beef tips with gravy, rice and cooked apples.  It was yummy and just doing that one thing, my mood began to change.  By the time dinner was over and cleaned up, Mommy was back in the Christmas mood.

As I began to decorate the tree with Henry, Scovia & Juliana, I started thinking.  Doing for others, changes you.  I needed a different perspective and that's what I got.  I started serving someone and stopped thinking of myself.  I felt totally revived and renewed.

I am so thankful for Bo's patience with me today.  His gentleness and kindness when he wasn't getting any response was amazing.  He knew exactly what I was thinking and feeling (because he asked and I answered).  He came in and immediately put his strong arms around me and just held me.  I love this man more than words can describe.  His presence puts my heart and mind at ease.  He is a strength to me and our whole family.  He is easy to love and I count it an honor to be his wife.

Here I go again encouraging you to be kind, serve one another…it just might change your perspective.

Showers and Christmas

Busy week doesn't even begin to describe last week.  I think it is catching up with my whole family.  I have two sick on the couch and the rest is just worn out.  But today, I am going to decorate the house for Christmas.

I usually have the house decorated by now.  But since Juliana's bridal shower was Saturday, the weekend after Thanksgiving was totally dedicated to it.  We had a beautiful freezing cold day for the shower.  Juliana was surprised and that delighted us all.  We had a great time.

My mom and Juliana

Juliana & her wedding party

Our wonderful pink sugared Champagne flutes
We had yummy Mormon Champagne.

So now on to the Christmas season.  Christmas music, movies, cookies, decorations, cards, gifts, gatherings, shopping, laughing, sharing, family, friends, spirit…I LOVE IT ALL!!!  I know many people get overwhelmed with all the things they want to accomplish during this wonderful season but I love to take it all in.  I look forward to it all year.  I love to read all the magazines and see all the different ways people decorate.  I love to read stories of Christmas long ago and how they celebrated.  It makes my heart flutter a little.  I know you may think I am crazy and maybe I am but I like Christmas.  I love nativity scenes, and how the name of Jesus is almost everywhere you look.  I love that this holiday is grounded in the birth of my savior.  

In this season of giving, make it more than a chore.  Give someone a kind word, a smile, a hug.  You never know what they are going through and your gentleness or kindness might be just what they need.  Love started it all and love is the fuel to keep it going.  

John 13:34  A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

Christmas adds to my blessed life and for that I am truley thankful!!

Shop Local…The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

Good morning.  Today I just wanted to give a plug to Shop local.  We should all support the small business owners.  I do realize that the convince of a one stop shop.  But I know what small businesses provide America.  I love what has been happening the past couple of years with a focus on small business during the Christmas season.

I cannot go shopping today but I will be making my way to the small businesses near me in the coming weeks.  We have some great shops near us, like Silver n Sassy in North East, Sonia Rose in Lancaster and Details in Lancaster…these are just some of my favorites.  My sister Cheryl and I will be making a day of shopping local, like we did last year.  I bought some of my most precious decorations from local small businesses AND we had a great time meeting the owners and having little chats.

So go out and support your local small businesses today and all through this wonderful Christmas season.  It is The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year!!!

Here are some pictures of our Thanksgiving Day!

Daughter in love, Scovia…so beautiful

My beautiful Juliana trying to hold on to
Henry and Jacob (who is falling)

Our great friends, John & Julia Courts

My Amazing Parents, Ronald & Lorraine Estep

My beautiful Great Nephew and Godson, Jacob Niles

The Three Greats,
Jacob, Presley & Henry

Home & Bubba Teeth

On this Thanksgiving Eve morning, I am all nice and warm in my cozy house with all my children, grandson & husband.  Dora is on in the family room, I am at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee, Juliana is in the shower and everyone else is still in bed.  Without Dora playing, it would be very quiet in the house.  Outside there is frost on the neighbors front lawn.  It is a silvery white and glistens in the morning sun.  Henry said it is pretty.

Today I am thankful for my home.  We have lived here a little over 8 years.  Of course I can look around and see everything that needs to be fixed but today I choose to look around and see God's provision.  I am loving the memories that have been made in my home.  The family gatherings, the snow days with a fire in the stove, the way too early Christmas mornings and the way too late school nights.  We have had wedding receptions, birthday parties, high school and college graduation parties, baby showers, domino wars, coloring extravaganzas, family game nights, bingo game night with 30 people all trying to win bubba teeth…this is a house where anything can happen.

Still dark outside, Christmas morning

The kids that same morning

I remember last Christmas break, Kelcie and I stayed up all night watching season one of Downton Abbey.  I kept saying, "After this episode, I have to go to bed" and then I would watch the next one until we had watched them all.  We were snuggled on the couch with a snack or two and the trees were all lit up.  It was a good night.

Thanksgiving

The Thanksgiving that Matt proposed to CeCe

Our home is full of memories and love.  No matter if we lived in a mansion or a small apartment, home is where your heart is.  I am thankful for our home.

Henry's first birthday party

Pop reading Henry a story

Last Christmas…tree in family room

Nate making a domino wonder

My Cup Runneth Over

Thankful Day 20- I am in the middle of getting ready for Thanksgiving dinner for 23, planning Juliana's wedding, getting stuff ready for the Christmas season and all that entails.  To say that life is busy would be a total understatement.

Yesterday in the middle of all the madness, The VanDyke family took a little time to take some family pictures.  I set up the tripod on the patio and everyone filed outside so that Mommy could capture some pics of our growing family.

To tell you the truth, I expected some complaining about the cold, although it was quite pleasant, and I expected Henry to try and run away through the yard.  I am happy to say that I was wrong.  Everyone enjoyed it and we laughed and talked and had a good time.

I do believe that I have the most gorgeous children so I like to take pictures of them.  I love it that my handsome debonair husband wore his black hat, like I asked him to.  Juliana, Scovia & Kelcie allowed me to sit them on the cold stone wall for a picture.  I did feel bad about the stone being so cold.

Juliana, Scovia & Kelcie…Gosh, they are beautiful

Today, I am thankful for the time I get to spend with my family.  Bo, Jake, Juliana, Kelcie, Henry and now Scovia and Aaron, I love you all very much and I am thankful to have you in my life.  I am thankful that they indulge my passion of taking pictures of them at any given moment.  They are my heart and today my heart is full.  I feel like the Mom on Hope Floats, "My cup runneth over."

Everyone is making silly faces except for Scovia

Our Family

Henry is saying, "Wook, Mommy" as he hits Aaron in the face

The men of the family!!
Jake, Henry, Bo & Aaron

Such a lovely couple
Jake & Scovia

The bride & groom to be
Juliana, Henry & Aaron

Scovia and Grace

Thankful Day 18--I am thankful that on Saturday, Bo & I got to be with Scovia when she put her very first ornament on an American Christmas tree.  She was so excited and so were we.  Her life has changed so much in just a couple of months. She has handled these changes with grace and a smile.  I know it cannot be easy getting used to a new country, way colder weather and our loud family.  I am so very proud of her and thankful to have her as a part of our family.

Our Scovia putting up her 1st ornament

Thankful Day 19-- In church Sunday morning during Praise & Worship as the Presence of the LORD was filling up the sanctuary, this thought came to me, "No one and nothing can keep me from being God.  I am God when things are good and I am still God when things are bad.  You can leave me but I will never leave you.  When you return, I will still be God, sitting on the throne welcoming you back with love and grace."  Today I am so thankful for God's grace.  His grace that brings us through.  

Dad preached a message a couple of services ago and he said, "Grace empowers us to know Gods will and then to do it".  Grace is not a license to do wrong and then ask for forgiveness, it helps us to do right.  Sunday morning service was by the grace of God…because of His Grace, He anointed that service for a wake up call.  Stanley Williams said that it was time to stop playing church and start being The Church, no longer are we black churches and white churches but we are The Church.  He said that we were there because that is where God has placed us.  We are responsible for our relationship with God, not Bishop Estep or Pastor Estep or the Leadership of CTK or our parents, grand parents, friends or enemies…it is up to us.  Take responsibility and stop pointing fingers at others as to why we are not doing what God has called us to do…OWN IT!!!  It was a powerful word.  

I believe that it is God's grace that sends men and women into our lives to tell us the truth.  To help lead us down the right path and give us the tools necessary to complete our journey.  

We have to remember to be like the one leper out of the ten that came back and said Thank You.  I never want to receive from God without saying Thank You.  In Luke 17, all ten lepers were healed because of Grace and obedience.  They asked Jesus for mercy and he gave them instruction, "Go show yourselves to the priests".  As they went to do as commanded they were healed, but only one came back to say Thank You.  

We ask the LORD for peace, grace, things…etc. but when we receive we forget to say Thank You. Instead we look at what we did to receive the blessing(s).  We forget WHO is our provision, our source…we forget that all good things come from God.    

This week is all about Thanksgiving, a time set aside in our country for giving Thanks to God for all the blessings that He has given to America.  Let's not forget to say Thank You for Grace.  It's by His Grace that we live in this free country.  Not everyone has been given this measure of Grace.  

Thankful Tree 

To Touch The Life of A Child

Thankful Day 17-Today I am thankful for the opportunity to touch the life of a child.  I am thankful that I have the honor of telling them about Jesus.  I try to remember that I may be the only "Jesus" they see.

God is love and that is what I long to show the kids who come to Friday Night Light.   We were created to learn, love, have fun, be a part of a community.  We try to make FNL full of fun and full of Jesus.  November FNL was all about Giving Thanks.  Bo & Jack with helpers Abby and Brady acted out the first Thanksgiving and Bo followed that with scripture.  We sing songs and dance like crazy people, especially Jacob and Presley.  This month we had a festival of games, snacks, crafts, face painting all with prizes.  It was crazy and loud and almost seemed like unorganized chaos but it was just what we had planned.  Enjoying the children that God placed in our care for 21/2 hours.  It's never a waste of a Friday Night when you spend it investing in the life of a child or several children.

When the kids come into Friday Night Light I see the future of The Church.  Not just CTK but the church as a whole.  They cannot pass on what we do not teach them.  It is our responsibility to teach them…it is our honor.

So when I feel overwhelmed and start to wonder if I am making an impact at all, I have to remember WHY I do it.  My only answer is Love compels me.  I love them so I must tell them, teach them, be there even when my body is tired and my mind is exhausted.  Love requires this of me.  Love for the children and Love for The LORD.

Jake at the end of FNL tonight…Clean up was fun

Friends and Marriage

Thankful Day 15- I didn't get a chance to write yesterday so I am posting two today.  I am Thankful for a chance to spend some time with my sister in law Wendy yesterday.  We live like 2 miles apart and we hardly ever get to spend time together.  We worked together for 7 years and she was my boss.  There are some people you connect with right away and that was Wendy for me, over 24 years ago.
Wendy Smith adds to my blessed life.

Wendy and my beautiful niece, Emily

Wednesday I felt sick all day.  I had chills and no strength.  My mind was racing with things that need to be done for Friday Night Light (which is tonight), Thanksgiving and Juliana's wedding.  When you don't feel well, your emotions are really high.  I told Bo that I felt like I was going to burst into tears at any moment. 

After he got home he talked to me about my day and why I was feeling so overwhelmed.  He turned the heat way up in the house so I could try and get warm.  Come to find out, he had an extremely stressful day as well.  I listened to his rough day and then we just sat.  We just sat on the couch and relaxed, wrapped up in a blanket or two.  

Our circumstance didn't change but talking to each other gave us peace and support.  So on Day 16 of being Thankful I want to acknowledge my marriage.  I am thankful for arms of my husband that bring me such peace, security and comfort.  I am thankful for his hands that with just a touch I can feel the warmth of his love.  I love to hold his hand, it just fits perfectly with mine.  I am thankful for his compassion for me and others.  I am thankful that we communicate well with each other (most of the time).  I am thankful for my marriage.  It's not a 50/50 thing, it's 110%/110%.  

I am blessed and I am so thankful.

  

The Adult Table and Traditions

Thanksgiving is one week and one day away.  This year is going to be a little different.  My brother and his family moved to Chicago, so that means six less at the dinner table.

In years past, we had 10 adults and around 17 kids…give or take a few.  I always put the adults in the dining room and we managed the kids in the kitchen/family room.  But we sort of ran into a little dilemma this year.  Most of the "kids" are now adults with some being married.  We no longer have the original 10 adults for the dining room and we are minus six people in the total sum.

With all the changes, I have decided to switch things up.  I am setting up one huge table in the kitchen/family room for everyone older than three.  The 3 under three are sitting at the little oak table that was my kids when they were babies.  We will use the dining room as a buffet area.

The upside is Lauren, Jake, Tori, Juliana & Kelcie won't have to fight for the "Adult" table.  Truthfully, we haven't had that fight for quite a few years.

I am very excited because I bought Henry, Presley & Jacob their own plates with their names on them.  The baby table is going to be so pretty and festive.  I just love decorating the tables.  Last year, we had Thanksgiving at Christian and Pat's house.  Christian filled out a card with what she was most thankful for, for each person.  I just love that idea.  It made everyone feel wanted and special.

On this 14th Day of Giving Thanks, I am thankful for traditions.  Some people think tradition is a bad word but to me it is a wonderful word.  I love the idea that I am handing down to the next generation something more than just material things.  I am giving them family values, memories, strength, love, a sense of belonging…TRADITION!!  It's in the traditions that we learn about community, family structure, our heritage, our faith, our place in this world when all else fails, it's our foundation.

This Thanksgiving we will sit around our extra large table and tell stories.  It will be so loud that at times some of us might walk into the front room for a little break from the noise but we will return to the crowd to laugh and enjoy one another.  We will feel the absence of Ronald, Kimberly, Gabe, Autumn, Ian and Nate but they will of course be a part of the conversation and stories.

Bo & Ronald

Bo & Nate

Daddy & Bo

Bo & Henry last Thanksgiving Day

Patrick, Bo & Ronald during Grace

Traditions add to my Blessed Life.  Start some this year or continue with the ones you have already started.

Thankful Day 13--Christmas Cards

Thankful day 13--  I am thankful for Christmas Cards.  Not many people send them anymore but I love them.  I always feel amazed that someone remembered to send me one.

Our Christmas Tree last year

I think back to the first year I was married and how excited I was to send out Christmas cards.  Our church made up a list of all church members and we would bring the cards in and sort them out.  I couldn't wait to get my very first stack, addressed to Bo & Kim VanDyke or Mr. & Mrs. VanDyke.
I was even more excited to sign my first Christmas cards.  I practiced and got special colored pens.  I took real effort to pick out the best ones.



Back in 1989 we didn't take a Christmas picture but now it is something I look forward to.  I love getting my family together for this special occasion.  I think receiving picture cards are amazing.  I love when people make an effort for a special card.  I display them until all decorations are taken down.

This year we will have the whole family together for our Christmas picture.  I cannot explain how much this means to me.  Our family is constantly growing.  Added to the picture this year will be my son in law to be, Aaron and our daughter in law, Scovia.

Our Card from last year

If you stopped the tradition of sending out cards, remember that it just might make someones day.  I love opening up our Christmas decorations and finding the last card we ever received from Bo's Granny and from my Nanny.  We didn't know it would be their last but it was.  I didn't even know I saved them until the following year, now they are precious to me.

Christmas Cards add to my Blessed Life.

Thankful Day 11 & !2…The Goldsteins & The Internet

I missed Thankful day 11 so I am going to play catchup this morning. 

 So for Thankful day 11, I am thankful for my sister Cheryl and her husband Jack.  They invited us to their beach house this past weekend and we all had a blast.  It was a small break that Bo & I needed.  We enjoyed just being together and visiting a small town near the beach with its little shops and old time charm.  I am so grateful to them for this weekend.  

Thankful Day 12- Today I am thankful for the Internet.  I know this seems like a strange topic but the Internet has allowed me to daily connect to people that I don't see even once a year.  It keeps me in contact with my niece and nephews in Chicago who I miss terribly.  The Internet kept me in constant contact with my son and his bride while they were living in Africa.  Because of the Internet, I get to Face Time with my daughter, Kelcie at school in Florida.  

I love getting on Pinterest and seeing what my childhood friend, Pearl Sanborn pins.  We have similar tastes and I just love to see what she finds.  My cousin Jeanie in North Carolina says the funniest things on Facebook along with my cousin Jerry.  I think Jerry and Jeanie are two of the funniest people I know.  

Reading blogs about life with little children or large families shows me that Family is still where the heart is in America.  It is not a focus of the news or even with our government but it is very much alive in the hearts of every day Americans.  

Now that this terrible election is over and we can focus on other things, I enjoy the Internet even more.  I can get on Facebook without being harassed by liberal agendas and liberal bullying.  That has stopped, hopefully.  But the beauty of the Internet is that if I don't like it or agree, I can go look at something else.  

Some call the Internet evil but I say that anything can be used as tool for good or evil.  So, I will continue to connect with friends far and near.  I will continue to read blogs about family, crafts, decorating and photography.  I will shop in my fat pants and sweatshirt.  I will read writings from my friend Lori Willey who is truly a gifted writer with such insight into the WORD that can easily be understood and applied to our lives.  I will upload pictures and look at pictures of those I love.  

It's like the song on "Parent Trap", the first one, "Let's get together yeah yeah yeah…".  That's what this incredible invention has the ability to do…getting us back together.  Yes, it sounds romantic and very simplistic but I don't care.  Think what you want but I choose to use this tool for good.  

I hope you all have a wonderful day and continue to enjoy your Blessed Life.