easter celebration

Every Holiday since we started having kids, I've been going through this process.



This process of perspective and realizing that being married to a Pastor requires sacrifice and that sacrifice gets into my personal space when Holidays come around. My parents did an incredible job at filling our homes with traditions, memories, delicious food and celebration. I love that about my childhood. I want to create our own traditions with my kiddos and celebrate each Holiday to the fullest. However, Easter and Christmas (two of the very best) are a big deal at church. It's such an amazing opportunity to tell people about Christ and His coming as a baby and dying for the sins of the world. Such a powerful and needed message to share. My hubby pours his heart and soul into the process and barely comes up for air. He is serving Jesus with his whole heart and entire life and that's the kind of man I prayed for and love. So why do I get all pity-party-Mel when holidays come around?

I asked myself this Saturday night as I put my kid's Easter baskets together. John was working and there I was, feeling sorry for myself again and how all the Holiday planning and prep is kind of left to me (which I do realize is very common whether or not you're married to a Pastor ;) After a good hour of this, Jesus so patiently and graciously reminded me that this sacrifice is what I'm called to do, what my heart desires to do, what I had told Him I wanted to do alone in a flat in Ukraine in 2006. My greatest desire is that people come to know Jesus and He is using John during this season of our lives to do so. And He's using him during Holidays and suddenly my Holidays aren't mine anymore. They are to be shared, with the Body with friends who are alone and with those who need to hear the message of Hope. So what if our kid's don't have every memory of their childhood that I did? (I write this, secretly asking Jesus to still give our kids a fun childhood, even without every tradition I had.) They'll have their own memories and how cool to think that this is all that they'll know. And here I have such an opportunity to share with them why their daddy does what he does and the sacrifice that they make, in sharing him, Jesus sees and knows and it's worth it.

and look at those two. they don't even know that there are supposed to be cinnamon rolls or coffee cake on Easter morning (we had hot cross buns) or that mom is supposed to hide their basket. They're just excited to eat candy. (and rightly so!)

they both loved sixlets.


I met with a dear mentor and friend who is also a Pastor's wife and has raised two kids. And man, she did a great job. Holidays were just always different, she told me. They celebrated on a different day sometimes, had different sort of traditions and that's all her kids knew. And they loved it.

I wonder what our kids will say, some twenty years from now when they're starting their own traditions with their family? I hope they look back, recalling how their parent's served Jesus with their whole lives and those sacrifices we all made, were made for Christ and He saw each one. I hope they are a little less selfish than I am in having to have everything just the way they had it when they were a kid and that they can be okay with trying something new. Because new is good. New is fresh and clean and necessary. Oh don't you know I've carried on many traditions that I had as a kid, but also some of John's and some new ones along the way. Because that's how it goes, I guess. Maybe that's all it is, maybe it's just another phase of growing up that I'm resisting because my childhood was really magical. Maybe I've been in denial up until now. Either way, it is time. This whole growing up and having kids process. It still feels so weird, yet here it is. Here we go.

Zoey had been fighting off a fever the night before and cutting two big molars. She is just not herself these last few days. Is it chicken pox? What is it?



//

I seriously was dying. This is so hilarious. And so reminds of these moments from a while ago.

We went to my parent's after Easter service and it was a grand time. Zoey still wasn't her usual self, but she was happy none the less.

and Jack had the time of his life on the trampoline with his cousins. he is still talking about it and asks to go back every morning.

Zoey with Aunt Leilani. That blanket, so great.

My brother said, "don't take a picture of me." love that face.

Jack and Papa.

halloween 2012

Before I travel onward to the rest of the Cali trip, I have to back up to Halloween. Mostly to document so my kiddos know I didn't forget to capture their cuteness, but also because it was pretty fun.

Prescott is the dream place to trick or treat and how wonderful it is to go with good friends, get a couple pieces of candy and to admire the falling leaves and the Meet Me In St. Louis-esque scenerio. Oh, how I love that scene.

We've gone trick or treating in the same neighborhood, with the same little buddies the last two years. This is our third year. 

Here's Jackboy last year. He refused a costume so he went as a Lumber Jack. Original, I know. We thought it on the way there.

And this was his first Halloween. A 'lil punkin'. I die from the cuteness. Seriously, every time.

This year was a little different. John had to work and so I was flyin' solo. I typically don't love flying solo with both kids, especially somewhere with so many people around. But we made it and it was so worth it.

Jack and some of his buddies. So, so cute to see them all together.

They literally held hands the entire time. Too cute.

 And the next morning when Jack wasn't looking, Zoey went trick or treating too.

Month Recap

It's already JULY. On June 1, Zoey turned four months. She's just at five months this week! My how she's changed.

I can hardly believe it.

I can hardly believe Zoey is already five months old.

that Jack is almost three.

that John and I have been married for five years.

that friends and family are finding out their pregnant or finding out if they're having a boy or girl. Oh, such delight!

I can hardly believe some of the hard things that this last month have brought. Big surprises and some not so big surprises, but mostly just life. The good and bad of it. Sometimes I forget just how unpredictable it is.

But all that aside, here we are. Monsoon season is upon us and for the for first time in my Arizona-lived life I am loving summer. Don't quote me on this, but I am really, really loving it. I love seeing Jack run outside and I love going lion hunting with him through the trees and around the playset. I love pushing him on the swing and letting him drag the hose around our dirt-filled back yard. I enjoy the morning sun, afternoon clouds and evening sunsets. It really has been a great summer. We're busier than any summer before, but I'm finding that that's exactly how to make it through the heat. Get busy.

Speaking of busy, we just returned from a family trip to Florida for a week. It was so lovely. The weather, the beach, the evening family meals, seeing cousins that I haven't seen in years and reconnecting with grandparents. (My grandpa turned 90!) It was really a joyous time. The traveling wasn't even too rough! It was a family adventure and I found myself turning into a little co-pilot with John as we journeyed through an airport, baggage claim, shuttle to the parking garage and into a rental car just the two of us. Man, I love those moments. I feel more like an adult than I do on an average day and I love the way we fit together. It's times like those that I'm reminded that we're a pretty good team. The kiddos did great (minus a nursing session mid-drive-hunched-over-the-carseat and listening to Jack's "songs"-Steve Green's Hide 'em in Your Heart-the entire journey)It was good. And it's good to be home. Hard to adjust back to real life and our time zone, but good.

We also saw Brave the last night we were there. And I have to say how disappointed I was. I'm not sure what I expected, but not that. It was basically a remake of Little Mermaid, a bit of Brother Bear and Braveheart all without a love story. I was inwardly cringing through most of it. It was cute, the graphics were good, but where were the moments? The first ten minutes of Up? The scene in Cars when Doc is at the stop light when Lightning is gone and the light is blinking yellow? The scene in Toy Story with Randy Newman singing "Sailing" and Buzz realizing he's a toy? Come on people! What is Pixar without John Lasseter? 

Brave. Apparently. Oh, and Cars 2.

Anyway, it was alright. Kind of how Shrek was alright.

But the short film before it? Wow, that was good.

//

Now that summer is embraced (and not nearly as hot as my hometown in Ohio) and cherries, watermelon and peaches are enjoyed I have found time to blog once again. I'm sorry for my inconsistently, but having two keeps me kind of busy.

Jack is talking up a storm and I am loving it. I love his little heart, his questions, his ever listening ear and his dance moves. He is such a gem and every day I find myself finding a little friend in him. He loves to cuddle Zoey and she lights up whenever she sees him. I can't wait to see how their relationship develops and the friendship they may have. I hear him saying the exact things I say to her (with the pitch that I say them in) and I realize how deeply my words and attitude affect him. He repeats nearly everything I say (including when I lose my temper) and I'm reminded of how gracious Jesus is with us and how I want Jack to learn that grace more than I want him to learn my temper and frustration. Sure, there are moments when discipline is needed, but he responds well to gentle correction. I'm learning. He's a sensitive soul. He gets that from both sides. 

Here are a collection of pictures starting with Father's Day up to 4th of July...

Before I begin, this is Zoey's hair nearly every, single morning. I love it. It's one of my most favorite things about her.

Jack's father's day card to John. I kept asking him what he loves about daddy and this is what he said.

Note: John did get a motorcycle. A toy one that Jack picked out. Jack calls it "father's day motorcycle."

Naples with the family. The house my parent's rented was gorgeous and had this pool. The steam in the picture is definitely the humidity. I didn't photoshop it at all. Florida had just come off of the hurricane and was very humid. But a nice contrast from our desert life.

 

Check out the humidity in this picture!! Crazy. Jack was having the time of his life with papa.

 

Sister in law, Leilani with my nephew Aaron. So fun.

 

Mags with Zoeybird. 

 

Learning to blow bubbles. Jack has very little water experience. Hence, the raft bathing suit. ;)

 

Love Aaron's face in this picture. Priceless.

My brother Justin with Aaron and Jack with Papa. Jack hung onto that raft for dear life. He was not too keen on the water. And before I get teased for having the kid in all the gear, he has fair skin and I want to avoid sun burn at all cost. The hat was a little overkill, but he barely kept it on anyway. The little raft suit was too cute.

 

Grandpa's 90th Birthday party. Sort of bittersweet, but memorable to hear stories about Grandpa and celebrate his life.

 

Singing Happy Birthday.

 

 Grandpa scolding the one candle that he missed. Ha. Ha.

All the siblings together. 

 

Grandma and Zoey. Zoey's middle name is Evelyn which is my Grandma's first name. So thankful she was able to finally meet her Great Grandma!

My cousin Bethany's daughter, Adria. Sweetest little girl.

 

The beach. So lovely and relaxing.

 

My guys.

 

My nephew Andy and Zoey. Her hair. 

 

John and his pie making skills.

 

4th of July:

We had a beautiful monsoon that lasted all day on the 4th. Unlike the rest of the country, we were enjoying not normal low temperatures. It was delightful. We watched Sandlot, ate lots of watermelon and felt the breeze throughout the whole house. 

 

Aaron! 

Zoey taking a snooze.

 

 A yummy spread.

After playing in the mud and rain the boys got a bath. First cousin bath. Precious.

Last photo of the day. Zoey who took one nap the entire day crashed around 7:30.

The festivities were fun, but it's good to return to normal life.

Next week is John's 30th Birthday. Kind of daunting and oh-so-exciting. I'm trying to come up with some surprise, but I am just horrible at surprises.