rounding out football season

This is going to be the picture that rounds out our high school football season this year!

We spent most of our Friday nights since September at Varisty Football games

and Saturday mornings at JV football games.

We were sad to see GM loose the weekend before Thanksgiving in the 3nd round of playoffs.

It was so much fun to see Zach start on special teams in the Varsity games!

and it was also fun to watch the games with the Irwins this year...

(the pictures of Ellie and Parker are too cute, i might just have to post some of those later!)

anyway...back to the pictures

Oh so many pictures of the field with many little people in view...one of which is Zach...

So, rather than tourture you with those pictures i have instead choose the picture below...

This was a normal Friday night after the game.

the kids, still excited and pumped up on the sugar they ate during hte game!

This particular night, we had the camera...and when you have a camera...

there will be some sillyness!!

~

With October also comes fire awareness month!

So, there was the day at the Edinboro Firestation over Homecoming weekend

with free hotdogs and popcorn! (and the Irwins)

And my favorite thing was when they let the kids use the hose!

Josh loved it!

~

This was a picture from the Zelie firestation preschool field trip!

Dad always get's to go to this one

and this year, he took Ellie too!

During the presentation, the firefighter asks, "where is your meeting spot in case of a fire?"
Josh bravely answers, "the big tree out front of our house!"

(I was so proud)

then, Ellie raises her hand and without being called on says, while crying,

"they cut that tree down!"

which brings me to the other sadness of the end of our summer...

They cut down part of the tree in our front yard.

a large part of the tree.

so much of the tree that I was very very sad.

so was ellie.

~

Then, one rainy day in October, Josh was quiet and sitting still for about 20-30 minutes one afternoon. When I went up to find him, he had worked his way through a large dot-to-dot book!

Not wanting to throw them out, he later agreed to throw them out after we took a picture of them to keep forever! He really did a great job...and that phase lasted almost a whole week!

just because i haven't blogged...

doesn't mean i haven't taken pictures....
hoping to catch up over thanksgiving...

Homecoming dance

Ellie with the 2009 Homecoming Queen!



Zach with the Homecoming Queen!



EUP Homecoming Parade:
Looking for Queen Kelsey


Finally finding her! and getting some candy!

My cute little family

after a long day, with no nap, she fell asleep

upright during the book!

my cute teacher husband!

the day i cleaned out hte pantry...

they used all the empty containers

to set up a grocery store!

Field Trip to the Dairy Farm!

these calves are days old!

they are all girls...the boys get sold right away!

~

brave enough to pet her!

with the babies again!

Ellie's Date with Daddy

riding the gateway clipper back across the river after the game!

at the Pirates Stadium!

Feeding the Horses!

His new favorite thing

Josh's first day of PreK

just being his silly self!

Ellie and the Potty

Knowing she was getting closer to using the big girl potty,
i decided we needed to get one for grandmas house...
since we have one at home, at nana and papas and in the car...
so, off we went.
pink it is. shocking, i know!
and we had to buy toilet paper and we got some big girl underware too!
then, at the store...she swore off diapers!
she wouldn't even put one on to travel to church! scary!
but, only one accident...
and lots of sucess on the potty!

way to go ellie!

can't wait to see what the week has in store!

Ever just have one of those days?

A man came home from work and found his three children outside, still in their pyjamas, playing in the mud, with empty food boxes and 20 wrappers strewn all around the front yard.
The door of his wife's car was open, and so the front door to the house and there was no sign of the dog. Proceeding into the entry, he found an even bigger mess. A lamp had been knocked over, and the throw rug was wadded against one wall.
In the front room the TV was loudly blaring a cartoon channel, and the family room was strewn with toys and various items of clothing.
In the kitchen, dishes filled the sink, breakfast food was spilled onthe counter, the fridge door was open wide, dog food was spilled on the floor a broken glass lay under the table, and a small pile of sand was spread by the back door.
He quickly headed up the stairs, stepping over toys and more piles ofclothes, looking for his wife. He was worried she might be ill, or that something serious had happened.
He was met with a small trickle of water as it made its way out thebathroom door.
As he peered inside he found wet towels, scummy soap and more toysstrewn over the floor.
Miles of toilet paper lay in a heap and toothpaste had been smeared over the mirror and walls.
As he rushed to the bedroom, he found his wife still curled up in thebed in her pyjamas, reading a novel.

She looked up at him, smiled, and asked how his day went.

He looked at her bewildered and asked, 'What happened here today?'

She again smiled and answered, 'You know every day when you come home from work and you ask me what in the world I do all day?

'Yes,' was his incredulous reply.
She answered, 'Well, today I didn't do it.'



i'm still laughing ...and the laughing has turned to tears!! hahahahahah!

Words do NO justice...

I just want to take an opportunity to thank everyone that helped us get through this summer! Thank you to those who watched my kids, took care of me, brought us food, sent well wishes, prayed for us and a special thanks to our parents who did most of the listed above, some at the same time! We wouldn't have made it through without all of you!

We are finally back into routine, just in time for school to start back up! The kids are missing their play mates that they got so used to visiting! And I am finding joy in the simple things!

I am feeling great! Physical Therapy has been great! I am progressing but will continue to go.

~

So, after spending two seperate occassions on "bed rest" for at least three weeks, I continue to ponder what God was teaching me through it all.

And to me returns a verse that a wise woman spoke to me almost three years ago now...

"Be STILL and know that I am God."

~

Always working on being still!!!

Jen

something to smile about!

Ok, so here's how the story goes:

Mom goes to take Matt's (or anyone for that matter)

picture. Right before she snaps the photo,

her red eye light (it's really orange) lights up!

~

She has taken so many pictures that even if you just push

the button down half way, causing the red eye light to come on,

this is the look/smile you get from Matt!!!

hahahahahahaha!!

notice how even Aunt Nelle is laughing!!!

~

this is him laughing with us,

not knowing we're laughing at him!!!

The Reception

I love my husband for taking this picture!

It's my favorite!

"Perfect"

As I awoke in recovery, I saw Dr. Maroon approaching me.
"Your surgery went perfect." he said.
"Good." I said, still half out of it.
"No, perfect." he said.
then he blamed it all on my dad which was sorta funny! : )
so i knew he had already talked to adam and my dad who were patiently waiting for me to wake up!
~
Dr. Maroon was so genuine. and everyone at Presby was so wonderful. I wish I could have thanked than nurse anethesis (sp?) but I was out before I knew I would be. I'll just leave it in the Lords hands to reward her for her company and patience and care. I was definitely where the Lord wanted me.
Today, I am in very little pain and I am drug free! There is some tenderness around my incision and I am uncomfortable from having to "act like a log." I cannot bend, twist or lift anything over 5lbs until aug 4th when i am released by the doctor to life as normal. So, I long for the fetal position, only because i can't sit in it now.
My foot still tingles after I stand for an extended period of time since the herniation that Dr. Maroon removed was the size of a grape! so, my nerve is still calming down after a very long temper tamtrum! but the pain is nothing like it was! what a blessing!
~
There are no words of thanks that are enough for everyone who has reached out to help. Especially with the children. They are well taken care of and I think they are loving the extra attention from all the friends and family! Ellie will be happy to show you her finger and toe nails painted by the Kiefer's and today they came home with ice cream mouths from their walk with grandma into town today. And Josh is already asking when Ben will be here to pick him up tonight! The 4th was some what normal as I asked Adam to take all three to the parade (all by himself) a project he should be more than proud of! I hated to miss it, but was more happy that they didn't. And we got to watch the Zelie fireworks from the front yard! And Sunday rounded out 6 wonderful years of being married to the love of my life!
Adam has been amazing and is exhausted at the same time! He is doing the job of two parents as well as having to take care of me, the fourth child! When tested with the "sickness and health" I am blessed to have him as my husband!
~
But most especially, thank you for your prayers. I have truly felt them and I know that the Lord has his hand on me.
I am learning today to not take tomorrow for granted. I no longer care if my kids wear me out, if i have 4 poopy diapers to change before lunch or if i have to struggle with the one that won't eat their lunch or play with josh who just want to hit baseballs over and over and over and over again. I can't wait for July to be over so I can do it all again. I will let them wear me out and thank the Lord for every minute they do. And then I will enjoy my nap time with them only to get up to the witching hour all moms know as 4pm and find joy in being able to do it again. at least for a few days. ; )
Right now, I am most especially enjoying cuddling with them and a good book in bed. I get them right before nap and bedtime, but then they realize they haven't seen me all day and long for more time with mom (especially Ellie...matt is on the move right after i get my hug! there is no stopping that boy now! he is so close to walking and i fear i'll miss it), making those times harder than they already are as a parent. (For example, Ellie was in our bed until 1am last night and after moving her, we awoke to her right between us again!)

~
So, once again, thank you and keep praying!
and sorry for the delay in the post...
I can only do so much with my itouch...and typing in this text block is not one of them.
love yall!
Jen

prayers needed!!

I am still scheduled to have surgery tomorrow (Thursday July 2nd) at 11:15.
I'll post news on my recovery as soon as possible!
~
Thanks in advance for your prayers
Pray that I am brave, and peaceful.
Pray that Dr. Maroon is focused.
Pray that Adam is peaceful.
Pray that the children find comfort
Pray for strenght and endurance for our support team
Pray that I have a quick recovery!
~
Love ya all!
Jen

Matt is baptized

He came up out of the water

and the heavens were opened

and the Spirit of God descended upon him.

Matthew 3:16

Mr. and Mrs. Ben Martin

Faith, Hope & Love remain,

but the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13:13