Our Trip to Illinois

A complete family picture of Mommies immediate family, from L to R, Pappa, Gammie, Alicia with Bella, Jeremy (Alicia's husband), Gracie, Becky, Daddy & Mommy with Titus.

We had a very good trip to Illinois this past week. We flew into Cedar Rapids, IA on the 13th from Missoula with only one stop in Denver, CO. Titus did very well flying and I don't think the air pressure bothered his ears too much that I could tell. They say to have them nurse or suck on a pacifier during the take off and landing to help their ears but he only nursed half the time and seemed fine the other times he wasn't. My dad picked us up from the airport and we headed to Galena, IL where both of my sisters and parents live, amongst many others on my dads side of the family. My mom was busy making a big dinner for all of our family to come over and enjoy. We had many good meals while we were there and we had three family Christmas'! My parents just moved back to Galena after living in WI for about the majority of 17 years now. Galena is where they grew up and met and I did also until 8th grade year. The Lord provided them a beautiful place just about 3.5 miles outside of Galena with 10 acres. The house is the nicest house they have have ever had and has 3 bedrooms and 2 1/2 baths. So they are very close to both of my sisters and the two grand kids that are there, which makes everyone very happy.

On Wednesday my dad and Tom went and cut down a huge beautiful tree for us to decorate that night before we would have our family Christmas.

Friday Tom got to enjoy ice fishing all day with Jeremy. They both love ice fishing so that is a great blessing for them to connect in that way. I think they caught 12 fish between the two of them. I got to get my trimmed by Alicia, she does hair in Galena amongst other services there.

Saturday was my dads side of the family Christmas at Great Grandmas house. I took my pumpkin dump cake and it was a hit! My cousin had her first baby this year too so Titus got to enjoy little Nolan, he is 4 months old.

Sunday was my moms side family Christmas out at the Apple Canyon Golf Pro Shop! Now my moms side does Christmas a little different than most of you would. We have what you would probably call a 'talent show.' You don't have to participate but some people write a poem to share with the family (yours was beautiful aunt Sandy) and some people sing some of their favorite songs like karaoke but there is no screen with words! Gracie was very brave and got up there and sang a Taylor Swift song! She brought tears to my eyes because she is growing up too fast for her auntie and she knew every word! She went 2nd and when she was done I asked if anyone could top that, cuz I didn't think so! Ha! Then she tried a couple other ones that she didn't know so well but very cute. I think Tom and Jeremy thought this was a very different way to do Christmas but it is fun for the family and very funny at times.

Monday was our travel day again :( We were sad to be leaving and both of my sisters got teary eyed to see us go. Both my parents and Becky took us back to the airport and Tom and I hadn't gotten the same flight home but I went on standby and got on his flight out to Denver with him but once we got there I was stuck there for a couple hours cuz his flight to Missoula was overbooked. So he got into Missoula around 9 pm and Titus and I got in around 12 am! I was so exhausted and had a terrible headache but Titus just slept the whole time. When we got in thou it was just at the time of the lunar eclipse which was cool! It felt nice to be in our own bed but I am still missing them all.


Mommy got to meet her niece, Bella Jean, for the first time. She just turned 1 year November 11! She loves any kind of food, dancing and her big sister.


Four Generations: Great Grandpa & Grandma Berning, Pappa, Mommy & Titus @ Galena Stauss Senior Care where Great Gramps now resides.


Goofy picture of Gracie and us, we had just finished watching the first Narnia movie with her and she was spending the night at Gammie and Pappa's with us. We had lots of fun with her and we hope she comes to Montana to spend a month with us next Summer!


Tom and I got to enjoy a date one night after Titus went to bed! We went into town to enjoy what they call the 'Old Fashioned Christmas in Galena' with the 'Night of Luminaria'. They have around 5,000 luminaries lit along Main Street, hills and stairs throughout the town! We got some chocolate at the old Candy Kitchen store before we climbed the old Galena High School Stairs (around 180 steps), enjoyed the view with some chocolate and came back down.

17 Months Today And Fish?

Wayne, our good friend, with a Brook Trout, couldn't keep those!


Tom with all the fish that he and Wayne caught together! Now all missing theirs heads and guts and soon to be in our freezer! Yummy.


Well today has been 17 months since Tom and I said "I do." The day started with Tom getting up early, like 5:00 am, to get ready to go ice fishing @ 5:30 for the day with a friend of ours for trout and salmon! He was doing his "hunting and gathering" for us. I on the other hand had plans to sleep in a little, spend some time with my aunt putting up Christmas decorations at their house and then babysitting our little Jayce buddy while his sisters and parents went to enjoy the new Narnia movie (#3) in the theater. Well I didn't really sleep in, Titus woke just after 6 this morning and mommy was planning on trying to get him to take a bottle today so that maybe while we are home in IL my mom can watch him while we go to enjoy the Narnia movie ourselves. Well since he woke up earlier than I anticipated I was trying to get a bottle ready of my own milk while he was crying in his crib :( Then he screamed the whole time (15 minutes) that I tried to give him the bottle. I tried again a little later in morning, still cried, not as bad but mom was heart broken and I am not trying that again! After his morning nap, we headed over to my aunts and on the way I had to get gas and figured out I left my wallet at home! Yikes, so I got back to the pump and I got a call that the babysitting was cancelled because one of Jayce's sisters had been a little under the weather for unknown reasons and they felt one of them should stay home with her and Jayce instead of Titus and I.

So I spent the day over at my aunts and had fun. Later this afternoon I got a text from Tom that they had gotten 55 salmon! There is no limit on the Salmon where they went but a limit of 5 trout per person, which they only got 1 trout! But awesome anyway! So I headed home after a short visit with my Grandpa on Skype with my aunt, which was sweet! When I got home Titus just wanted to cry the whole time and I couldn't figure out what was wrong and he refused to nurse, which NEVER happens with him. So after much agony of trying everything and starting to worry something was seriously wrong because his tongue had been sticking out all day in a way he hasn't done before, Tom said to try some Orajel! Well I didn't think it would help because I couldn't see or feel any teeth coming in, well, he almost instantly started nursing and fell asleep like the sweet baby he is.

Got to show you these pics though before we leave for IL! Only 41 hours till I see my family!

And I decided to make a playlist of "love" songs to be able to put on here when it is our anniversary! I was listening to some of our honeymoon cds today we had made for us by my cousin Lauren and one of our other good friends. Sometimes it is so sweet to reminisce.

6 Months Old!?

What? Where has the time gone? I can't believe Titus is half a year old already and my heart can't believe it either! I was pathetically crying to Tom on Saturday night about the time going so fast and how much I don't want Titus to grow up and get older. I want him to stay an infant even though at times this stage can be trying for me at least. He is just beginning the stage where he is clingy and I thought it was tough before, at least he enjoyed his toys for a small amount of time without Mom being there but now he does on rare occasion. If mom tries to have him entertained with his toys so she can do the dishes, man that is a no no! I try to reassure him that he is okay without picking him up but that rarely works. And it is hard to find peace or pleasure in letting your little baby cry because you know they are okay but they don't think they are. Anyway he will only continue to get older and eventually won't need me and I don't like that idea. He is also starting to get snugly and that will someday go away too!

Well we introduced rice cereal yesterday as you can see in this cute pic of his first bite. Daddy got to feed him too, he took about 5 or 6 bites I would say and then he wasn't interested anymore. I think he liked it just not as much/long as I thought he would but what do I know, it was his first time. I would say he swallowed half of what we fed him and the other half ran down his chin! Anyway it was very cute and exciting. Although I am not excited for stinky solid food stool! With breast milk it barely stinks ever except when he passes gas!


Then we took him outside to see what he thought of the snow since dad was out there grilling some pork ribs, which were so delicious by the way. Mmmmmmmmmmm. Course dad thought he would like to taste the snow since he likes to put everything else in his mouth. That lasted a short bit and then he was cold.

Today was his 6 month well check! He is 16 lbs. 11 1/2 oz. now and 28 1/4 in. long! It is always interesting, every time he has a Dr. appt. and mom wants to get there a little early he has a blow out at home before we leave and I have to change his clothes along with his diaper and practically wipe his whole body down! So we still get there on time but just once I would like to get there early! He is starting to army crawl also! Very impressive to me, he gets his knees up under him but he doesn't put the two together yet. I don't think it will be long though.

Well I should go, we are trying to get things in order to leave for IL on Monday! Not long away, so excited! Oh just a prayer request if you think of it, my old red car that I have had forever (1996) I think has seen it's day! We are pretty sure there is a head gasket problem because the car is overheating and the oil looks like the coolant is leaking into it. It would most likely cost more to fix it than what the car is worth. So we are praying for what we should do, it will be interesting to see how the Lord provides for this need. This week Tom is driving his car to work, which I have been using since Titus was born, and we either go with him to have the car for the day or we stay home all day with no car. Our budget is pretty tight to be able to afford a monthly payment on something so we are not sure what is going to happen?

Pumpkin Dump Cake

I have to share another recipe with you that was introduced to me at a birthday party on Halloween. I loved it almost better than pumpkin pie. Maybe you would want to try a new holiday dish?! We did, I made it in CO and I plan on making it in IL for our Christmas parties there.

1 can Libby's pumpkin pie filling
then all the ingredients you need to make filling according to directions on can.
(eggs, sugar, salt, ground cinnamon, nutmeg or ground ginger, ground cloves, & evaporated milk)
1 box of yellow or white cake mix
1 stick of butter, melted

Make filling according to directions on can. Pour batter into greased 9x13 pan. Top with pkg. of cake mix. Melt butter & pour over dry cake mix. Bake 1 hour @ 350. May serve topped with whip cream.

NOTE: Personally I like it better if the cake batter is just mixed in with the pie filling instead of just on top of filling. It tasted better to me and looked more appetizing but you could do either and it would be good.

Taco Soup Anyone!

I made this really great Taco Soup this week for the first time, a recipe I got from Tom's side of the family when we got married. So I thought I would share it with you since it was so good.

2 Lbs. Hamburger
1/2 onion chopped
2 qt. Tomato juice
1 pt. or 16 fl. oz. whole kernel corn
1 c. chili beans (Mexican style, we just used black beans)
1 pkg. Taco seasoning

Brown meat, drain & add rest of ingredients and simmer, (I just brought it to a boil on a medium setting since my instructions didn't say how long to simmer.) Serve with sliced black olives, grated cheese, sour cream, chopped tomatoes and Mexican corn chips. We also made corn bread to go with it! Mmmmm really yummy. Enjoy!

Our First Family Thanksgiving Adventure

Well our Thanksgiving trip to Colorado was great all the way around. We did end up leaving a little later than we wanted due to weather but we got on the road Wednesday morning just when Titus was ready to take his morning nap. He did really well and actually slept almost the whole way to Billings which was where we stopped to spend the night. Thursday traveling for him was a little different, he was not as happy to be in his car seat as the first day and he was in it longer on Thursday. But I did sit in the back with him for a while and discovered that he couldn't move even his arms a whole lot since mommy was strapping him in with his winter jacket on! But we made it into Colorado to our destination at Larry & Linda's (second cousin of Toms') just in time for dinner. Mmmm, it was all very good, my personal favorite besides the star turkey of course, was the sweet potato dish that Gary (Larry's brother) made. It was soooo good and I thought it was a shame that Tom doesn't like sweet potatoes but I ate his portion!

Then we had to load Titus up one more time to make it over to Rich & Carols' to stay til Saturday morning when we would get back on the road. Our stay was great there and it was so good to see Grandpa and Grandma enjoy their grandson when he would let them. Sharon, Carol's sister, (in picture above) also stayed with us there to visit while we were there. I was determined not to put Titus in his car seat on Friday to give him a break, I thought that was only fair to him with 4 of our 5 days of travel being in the car for long hours. So we played some games and played with the baby, Titus got really tired during the day but wouldn't go down for a nap, I don't think he wanted to miss any action or miss out on time with Grandpa and Grandma.

We had him of course sleeping in the same room as us this whole time on our trip which he hasn't done since he was 3 months old and I was impressed. I did hear him wake up at least once every night and he would just put himself back to sleep. Such a good baby he is.

We headed back then on Saturday and the roads were pretty much fine the whole way, wet in areas. But mommy didn't strap him in in his car seat with his winter jacket on this time and he did even better! He hardly complained at all, if he was awake he would just play with his toys on his bar and I didn't have to even sit in the back with him at all. He was a trooper! Tom did all the driving which was so nice of him.

We had many things to be thankful for over the holiday and everyday we do. God answered many prayers to keep us safe and to keep Titus happy during the traveling. And we had a good visit with Grandpa, Grandma, aunt Sharon, Larry, Linda and Gary. Titus just loved all the attention he was getting at the Thanksgiving table. He was soaking it up the little ham. And our car ran good for that long trip, it has some issues that need to be addressed but it did fine.

Now we will be getting ready for our IL trip, coming up in just 12 days! Yikes! I am so excited, it has been a year and a half since I have seen my sisters and the rest of my relatives. I am so excited for all of my family to enjoy Titus, it is refreshing to me as a stay at home mom to have other people enjoy him and all I have to do is feed and change him. It kind of recharges me and he is such a good boy too.

We will be trying our first foods on Sunday! He will be 6 months old and we are going to try that rice cereal and see what he thinks!? I am just going to take my time with it though if he ends up not being to interested. Everything you read these days as far as development and when you go see the Pediatrician are letting you know that they are finding more and more links to allergies due to starting foods too early in babies and nutritionally they say that they don't need anything else the first year if they are breastfed. But they do after that so they need the know how by then and that is why you introduce it before a year. Besides they are also finding that you as a mom are less likely to get breast cancer if you breast feed. So either way it doesn't matter to me, I plan on breastfeeding til he is a year anyway unless he weans himself before then. With all the allergies that his cousins have on his dad's side I don't want to take any chances. I even am going to avoid introducing potential high risk allergy foods until he is older than 6 months to try to prevent it. Basically no dairy, nuts, eggs, wheat based products, fish or chocolate until he is 9-12 months.


Mommy found some long underwear and some sweet wool socks for Titus before our trip just in case the weather got bad or something and we got stranded. I wanted to make sure he was warm and he was enjoying this box for a little while. His eyes always look big in our pictures because he is looking at the red eye light on the front of the camera! Ha!

Thanksgiving!

 

Just Around the Corner!

Oh my, the great Holidays are just around the corner and I am so excited for them! And I am most excited for family and food for these holidays. We are going to drive to Johnstown, CO to see Tom's parents among other relatives of his for Thanksgiving! I have to say I am not excited about the drive, 12 hours normally without a baby, and a little nervous about possible road conditions this time of year. We drove there for Thanksgiving 2 years ago before we were engaged and on the way home there were some scary places on the road! But I am so excited for his parents and other relatives to enjoy Titus. He is at one of those first really enjoyable stages, laughs and tries to talk to you. Isn't no longer only sleeping and eating. Although there has already been days where I wish he was that small again, guess that just means we will have to have more babies! Ha! And I am really excited for the food too! I love watching the Food Network and mostly this month it seems they have been preparing Thanksgiving feasts! Oh, sometimes I wish I had smell-o-vision television! But I am really thankful for the opportunity to spend the holiday with Rich and Carol, I am really thankful for my own family, my wonderful husband and my beautiful, delightful son. I am thankful for our health, for God's provision for us. It has been an adjustment for us to go down to one income this year and an adjustment for me in the change of pace and just daily routines from working in a workplace full time to being a stay at home mom. I am thankful for Bible Study Fellowship, for all the ladies there that are exploring God's Word with me and all of them just love Titus. One lady said a couple weeks ago as she was talking to Titus, "it is like you have 150 grandma's!" They are not all old enough to be his grandma but I thought it was so sweet and cute of her because they all adore him and I told her that is nice because unfortunately his real grandmas live far away. I am thankful for my aunt Mary, she likes to meet with Titus and I a couple times a week to chat, pray and walk together. And she loves entertaining Titus. I am thankful that God's Word is living and active in our hearts, He is working in the lives of loved ones around me in ways I never expected Him to. I am thankful for the freedom that we have in this country thanks to the soldiers who have given their lives and time away from their families to keep that freedom. Freedom to enjoy life, freedom to love God openly, freedom to have God's Word, freedom to meet openly with other believers. I am thankful for friends, like Brian and Rachelle, Daisy, Mike and Allison, Stephanie, Emily, Erin, Kristi and Sarah just to name a few. Anyway I am sure my thankful list could go on and on if had the time.

And then we have Christmas! Yikes! I am super psyched about that. We are flying into IA to visit my family in Galena, IL for Christmas. I am also excited not only for my parents to enjoy Titus but my sisters get to meet him for the first time and so does 2 of his cousins! I am so excited for the three of them to be together and play. And we get to meet our niece Bella for the first time and she just turned a year old this month! And basically my dads whole family lives back there except for Mary who is here and then most of my moms side lives back there too. So we will be having Christmas on both sides back there plus my immediate family! So what do you get a 6 month old for Christmas? I am trying to keep Christmas simple this year, with one income I am trying to come up with nice things that I can make. And I so do not want to go overboard with gifts for my child, not only do we not really have the room in our 2 bedroom apartment but I don't want to teach him that Christmas is all about gifts. This might sound unheard of but I know a family who tries to stick with 3 gifts per child based on the fact that the wise men brought 3 gifts for the baby Jesus to Bethlehem (see Matthew 2)! And I know another family that just basically does stocking stuffers with their children! I think those are some good things to think about! Besides we all know the grandparents can't hold back and resist going all out on presents for their grand kids so it isn't like he would be lacking anything if we tried to keep it simple for him.

So if you would, we would appreciate your prayers during our travel to CO, we plan on leaving Tuesday night, the 23rd, to drive to Billings while Titus sleeps and then Lord willing make it the rest of the way on Wednesday. And then begin our return on Saturday, the 27th, to head again to Billings Lord willing and do the rest on Sunday to home here. Not only that Titus would do okay in his car seat that long but that the roads would be clear and the Lord would just have His hand over our vehicle protecting us.

Praise Him

Praise God from Whom all blessings flow,
Praise Him all creatures here below,
Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts,
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

Today at Bible Study it was just an awesome lesson over Isaiah 11-12. What refreshing chapters after all the judgement upon the disobedient people of God so far. It just makes me want to sing out to Him and about how good He is. Even through our disobedience He still loves us and He promised a Redeemer and that Redeemer came 2010 years ago! Praise God that by His grace I came to know Him and His saving love for me, a wretched sinner, in September of 1998! By His grace everyday I can choose to live for Him and His glory bringing upon myself NO shame or regrets! By His grace everyday I can love my wonderful husband who also loves God and share life with him and everything that God brings our way whether it is grace to face another wretched day on this messed up earth that has fallen so far from what God had in mind when He made it and everything on it or it is moments like these when you realize how blessed you are to be living in His grace and experiencing His blessing upon your life. By His grace everyday I or my husband get to see the waking smile of the precious son God has given us, knowing that it is also by His grace that we are going to meet all of Titus' needs. And by His grace everyday we will teach Titus that God also loves him very much and has a great plan for his life, one that brings glory to Him and blessing upon him as His servant. And it will also be by His grace that one day we enter into eternal life with our sweet Jesus, where peace will rule and love will abide between all mankind and their Creator there. And we will sing with the angels many songs and praises to Him for all of His greatness and faithfulness throughout the ages past and for eternity.

Hellooooo!

Well since I last wrote obviously life has gone on and Titus just keeps developing into the cutest baby boy I have ever loved, which has not been a whole lot in my life, Sior (pronounced like shore) and Jayce to name the ones I think of immediately. Oh I remember when Sior was a baby and I would hold him and I just remember thinking I want one these precious baby boys of my own. Now he is five years old and I do have one of my own! Anyway we had a busy day on Halloween since it was Sunday, there was of course church, then we did family pictures and then Sior had his birthday party which was a harvest party. His birthday was on the 29th and we were supposed to come dressed up but Tom and I both refuse to participate in teaching our child anything that has to do with Halloween, even if it is made as simple as a harvest party. We both participated in it when we were children but it is interesting that both of us on our own had decided that was something we did not want for our kids. Anyway it was a fun party with great food and company and fun for the birthday boy and that is what matters.

We went to one of our favorite places up the Rattlesnake for our family pictures. Some pictures were taken on the this bridge that we have played cribbage on a couple of times up there. I was very nervous because I think my smile is always fake but what a blessing it was to get them back and find that you couldn't tell that and most of them turned out awesome. Our photographer was a girl from our church who really got into it once she started having kids and she did a great job with posing us and making it comfortable and natural feeling. She spent a little over an hour with us and then she goes through all the poses and pics out her favorite one in each pose and sharpens it in color and then pics out her second favorite in each pose and turns it black and white and then erases the rest of the shots and gives all of them to you on a cd for you to do what you want with them. So we actually got about 58 pictures back, which I think is awesome. And she was very affordable!

Oh the total proceeds of the pumpkin patch ended up being over $18,000 to go towards the Great Commission Fund of the Alliance Missionaries! How awesome is that?!

Titus now always sleeps on his belly, we initially start him on his back but he always rolls over now. Which is awesome because now his little bald patches can grow back fully that his mattress has rubbed off.

Tom went hunting this last Saturday with Brian and Ronnie but they did not have any luck. They are going to go again next Saturday and we will be praying they get something between the three of them. Titus and I hung out with Rachelle and her kids and Dawn and her boys at Brian and Rachelle's house while the boys hunted. That was fun for the all and good soup for dinner.

Oh Tom and I did get to go on our first date also on the 30th. Thanks to Brian and Rachelle, they not only sponsored our date by giving towards pretty much the whole meal but they watched Titus for us. I was so relieved, I knew that he was in good hands and I was able to fully enjoy myself and time with Tom. We went to Johnny Carino's and I got my favorite eggplant dish there! Then we also went to Starbucks and got some non coffee beverages and then we went for a short walk in a park near Brian and Rachelle's house and when we pulled up to the park we got a text from Brian that said "no hurry but he is starting to get fussy." So we did our short walk and got over there and he was crying really hard and his face was all red and he just looked mad. He was hungry which I knew he would be getting, we were out about 2 hours and he ate before we left their house but that is about how long he lasts before he is hungry again. Otherwise he did great and he didn't complain or anything till he got hungry and he loved playing with Kezia, Shaelie and Jayce. And Rachelle was so sweet, she knew he was hungry and she couldn't do anything about it and she just tried to comfort him till we got there.

Anyway that is about it, I do have most of the family pictures uploaded to Costco.com, if you want to see them and possibly order some, I can send you an email invite to view them. They will have you set up an account to view them but that does NOT require a membership to Costco. Just let me know by email, tom.carrie.johnson@gmail.com, and if you don't have a Costco near you to order some to pick up I can upload to WalMart and you would be able to pick them up there, I have done that for my sister and Tom's parents already and WalMart online is pretty easy to work with also. Otherwise we will probably send out one for a Christmas card but it may most likely have typing on it.

20 Weeks & Counting....

Tom with the pack and Titus back at the car after the hike.

Titus sleeping on trail on the way back down.

Our little guy is now almost 5 months old! That is crazy. I have found him 3 times now awake in his crib on his belly this last week! One of those times just being this morning. He isn't too happy about it yet but for some reason he does it.

This last weekend the students were off of school Thursday and Friday and what our youth group does every year with that 4 day weekend is plan a 3 day/2 night "Missoula missions trip." Giving 32 of our high school students the opportunity to experience missions right here in their home town by staying at the church and serving our community in different ways for the past 9 years! They usually always get to go to the Poverello Center, a local homeless shelter, where they organize their clothes closet for the homeless people, many times wipe down the mattresses that the homeless people sleep on and serve the homeless lunch and usually get to eat lunch and visit with the homeless people themselves. They also usually go to Missoula 3:16 Rescue Mission, a local Rescue Mission that also serves the homeless by providing lunch for them and opportunities for them to overcome addictions that many of them face and they provide a place for them to study the Bible. The students normally get to organize their food pantry, rake leaves and serve lunch and get to eat lunch with the homeless there also. The students always get to go to Burlington Square Apartments too, an apartment place for the elderly in our community. Here they get to clean apartments for those who have said yes to the opportunity for the students to help them in that way. They also were able to play Wii bowling with these elderly residents who beat the students badly I might add and have dinner with them and visit. The last day of the missions trip the students load up and go to each one of the high schools that is represented in our youth group, Missoula has about 3 public High Schools and 2 private High Schools, and they split up into groups and prayer walk around the schools. Those 4 events are usually things they do every year, there are other things throughout the weekend that they do that may change every year like Random Acts of Kindness or they did spend an afternoon this year helping with the City Parks and Recs Department, working on a local park in town. So many of the students are blessed by helping their community and realizing that there are people right here that they can help and I think it hugely helps them realize how blessed they are.

Well Tom and I usually have always helped as volunteer staff, Tom has all 9 years and this year I really felt like I couldn't with Titus. So Tom helped as much as he could and he was planning to help all 3 days but I was having a difficult time with Titus on Friday, he would not nap all afternoon and was very crabby and it was making me really crabby to say the least. Tom had helped all day on Thursday and came home for a couple hours in the evening and then went back and stayed at the church and helped all day Friday and didn't get home until 11 pm and then he stayed home with us and never went back on Saturday morning as he had planned. I felt very selfish when he came home and said he was done and wasn't going back on Saturday but it was good I think. Brian, the youth pastor, did have someone there to help on Saturday, but Tom has always helped all 3 days, he takes off work every year to do this and here I was not able to handle our 4 month old by myself for 3 days! Anyway, it was ok, Tom had said the Lord had showed him that He didn't need him for that last day and he was ok with that, so I needed to be ok with that.

Saturday we decided to go for a hike with Titus and we went down the Bitterroot and went hiking almost all the way to Bear Creek Overlook but Titus was just not going to make it that long. It was about 2 1/2 to 3 miles each way and we made it almost to the top but he was crying about half of the way up and it got a little late and we didn't want to be hiking back down in the dark so we ate our little lunch and turned around. A friend of Tom's at work has given us a Kelty K.I.D.S. pack for Titus. Something for us to use while we attempt hiking with him. I think what we found is he is still a little small to enjoy it, he lasted a little while on our way up and then we needed to take him out and carry him the rest of the way.

Sunday after church we decided to take some pictures of Titus in our church's Pumpkin Patch. This is the 4th year our church has sold pumpkins in our Great Pumpkin Patch they set up on the hill just below the church. All the money goes to missions each year and this year it is going towards the Great Commission Fund of the Alliance Missionaries. Members of the church have grown and harvested pumpkins this year for the patch and your family can go pick out pumpkins to purchase and they also sell many donated baked goods too. We happen to get a delicious pumpkin pie there yesterday. This year we had a "pumpkin slasher" come through the patch one late night and the story was in the newspaper and a gentleman, who doesn't even go to our church, decided to come get all the damaged pumpkins and make pies with all of them which was about 20 hrs. worth of work and he brought the pies back to the patch for them to be sold! God is amazing! They started selling pumpkins on the 10th and will sell thru the 31st and already the report on the 17th was that they had sold $8,000! So anyway we wanted some cute pics of our punkin with the pumpkins.

Last week at BSF I helped in the children's program and I loved it. What a blessing, they have a little story time and the babies and those under 2 learned that 'God always keeps His promises' based on the prophecy in Isaiah "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel" Isaiah 7:14. They sang a little song and had a snack and then those ladies just stay busy keeping those little ones happy. But I think I will wait to put Titus in there until he can crawl, there was this little boy in there who I think might be 1 but is just starting to walk and he can be rough on the little ones around him if you are not watching him every second. I want Titus to be able to flee if Mason comes after him. Ha!

An Ounce of Heart Knowledge ... Zondervan

An Ounce of Heart Knowledge ... Zondervan

Another Day!

I love that my child is already practicing modesty here! That's my boy! Ha! Titus had his well check this last Friday and he just keeps growing! He was 15 lbs. 4 1/2 oz., in the 60% and 26 1/2 in. long, in the 90%! He is doing well in his development, I noticed when I filled out his development questionnaire they didn't ask if he is rolling over yet?! He is now rolling both ways, front to back and back to front! He is our big boy! He continues to love his baths but right now he does not care much for his stroller. The last few times mommy has tried to take him for a stroll he just scream cries and I can't handle that too long so we turn around and go back home :( The people in the apartment complex probably think I am pinching my child! Ha! 

Mommy just finished as of today getting all of her fillings filled! Yeah, what a relief. I had to go in four times, I had so many for so long and never had any insurance until Tom and I married so I got them all fixed. Thanks to some sweet graduate girls from youth group that would come sit with Titus in the waiting room, I was able to get them done. Thanks Steph and Janna! And now I can just keep up with my routine cleanings. He did pretty well except the last two times here, he was crying about the last 10 minutes I was in the chair :( I felt bad for Janna.

Titus doesn't have any teeth yet but he loves to gnaw on his fingers! He is drooling and gnawing a lot these days and mommy keeps checking for teeth buds but I can't feel any.

I just noticed recently for myself that I am in this awkward stage in my church and I have to admit that it is kind of lonely for me even though our church is huge. Usually when we are at church is during a nap time for Titus and so for the Sunday School hour I don't want to go to the youth room because it is pretty crazy in there and that was where I was connected before. And I don't want to put Titus in the nursery that is available just because I don't feel right about it and there is a better chance of him catching something in there and then we would have to deal with that. They have these connection groups for people where you read a book and discuss it with other people reading the book but I would want to do it with Tom and I am not sure you can take your baby with you. Tom is involved in the high school sunday school helping. So I have isolated myself and I think I can just work on my BSF homework but Titus usually isn't napping because he doesn't nap that long away from home. So anyway if you think of it you can pray for me, I was pretty upset and emotional about this last Sunday night to Tom because it hit me that I am just in this new stage of life and I have yet to adjust to it and feel like I really have some good friends that are also moms besides a couple that I have always been close to. I also feel like I have been in youth ministry so long that it is hard for me to connect to other adults whom I don't already know.

Anyway I should go, my child is growing impatient with me.

Redhead Genetics

So my sweet little man, Titus, has red hair and I have found that he is not only a magnet for attention due to this blessing of color but everyone always asks, "Where does it come from?" My hair is what I would call a strawberry blonde and Tom has a small reddish tint to his beard. But other than that Tom's brother is a redhead and Titus does have a cousin, Gracie, that is a redhead! So I went searching today and wanted to find for myself some understanding and this is what I found from the website listed below the article.
It's All in the GenesThe answers came to scientists in the late 1990's. The focus of their studies was chromosome 16 and in particular one of its genes, MC1R. Now the job of MC1R is to make a protein called MC1R receptor (melanocortin 1). This protein plays a key role in the conversion of phaeomelanin to eumelanin. When there are two mutated versions of the MC1R gene, the conversions are not as frequent and so there is a build up of phaeomelanin in the pigment cells. Consequently a person will have red hair and fair skin, they are also prone to freckles.
To understand why this happens we need to cover some basic genetics. You inherit two copies of every gene from your parents, one from your mother and one from your father. So you have two copies of the MC1R gene. If both are mutated in the same way, the respective individual is likely to have red hair.
Inheriting Traits
Of course many people wonder how a child with red hair can be born to parents who are brunette or blonde. That too can be explained by simple genetics, and a pattern of inheritance known as autosomal recessive.
The parents will both have a functioning and a mutant version of the MC1R gene. They are said to be carriers and there is a 1 in 4 chance of them having a child who is a redhead. That's the probability that the mutant versions from both parents will come together in the next generation. It doesn't of course mean that if a couple have four kids, one of them will have a child with ginger hair. Odds and probabilities do not work like that. They are not reliant on what went before. It means that each child has a 25% chance of having red hair.
Medical Implications
There is much more to this subject than its curiosity factor. There appear to be medical implications for people with red hair. Although here, like many areas of science, the research is contradictory. In 2002 researchers from Louisville University showed that redheads are more sensitive to pain, and need more anaesthetic during surgery than people with blonde or dark hair. However, in 2005 scientists from the University of Edinburgh found that a MC1R mutation gives redheads a higher tolerance for pain. Research into these aspects of red hair genetics continues.
Redheads should though be more careful about their exposure to sunlight as they are at an increased risk of contracting skin cancer. One theory suggests that melanin, the pigment responsible for tanning (it darkens as a protective mechanism) may be chemically different from the melanin of people with dark hair. Researchers have found that UV rays interact with phaeomelanin, creating molecules that cause damage to DNA, which can lead to cancer.
If you are a redhead, the advice is not to stay out of the sun, but to be careful about how much exposure you get, and to cover yourself with a high factor sunscreen.Read more: http://www.brighthub.com/science/genetics/articles/4704.aspx#ixzz11mvhK9HH

The Essence of Worldliness

My devotional this morning was very straight forward and I just wanted to share part of it with you, my prayer is that I myself can act upon the wisdom given here.
"Those present-day teachers who place the Sermon on the Mount in some other dispensation than this and so release the Church from its teachings little realize the evil they do. For the Sermon on the Mount gives in brief the characteristics of the kingdom of renewed men. The blessed poor who mourn for their sins and thirst after righteousness are true sons of the kingdom. In meekness they show mercy to their enemies; with guileless candor they gaze upon God; surrounded by persecutors they bless and curse not. In modesty they hide their good deeds. They go out of their way to agree with their adversaries and forgive those who sin against them. They serve God in secret in the depth of their hearts and wait with patience for His open reward. They freely surrender their earthly goods rather than use violence to protect them. They lay up treasures in heaven. They avoid praise and wait for the day of final reckoning to learn who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven."- A.W. Tozer The Pursuit of Man

The God Who Cried and Roared ... Zondervan

The God Who Cried and Roared ... Zondervan

A Personal Question: Where Is God? ... Zondervan

A Personal Question: Where Is God? ... Zondervan

Another Beautiful Weekend

We had a good weekend, we started by hiking the "L" on Friday night right after Tom got off work. I was excited to go until I got there and the beginning part is a little steep, then I wanted to whine about it. But we did it and Titus loved it. Then on Saturday we went to the market and got some fresh veggies and fruit and hung out with Daisy and the kids there. Then Daddy wanted to get mommy a bike so we stopped at the Bicycle store on the way home. We want to go for rides next summer with Titus after we get a bicycle trailer for him and we got my bike 30% off because it is this last years model! And Sunday we enjoyed church and then we went to lunch with some friends of ours, the Tuinstra's, at IHOP, thanks to my aunt Mary for the gift card for my birthday back in June.
Titus is starting to figure out how to roll from his back to his tummy these days, he just can't figure out how to get that arm out of the way so he gets all the way over. He is also starting to enjoy his Exer Saucer that his friend Mr. Drake gave him. Thankfully it is a farm themed one cuz that is part of his heritage, he just doesn't know it yet. He hasn't quit figured out how to spin his seat in different directions to look/play with other things, mommy and daddy have to help him with that. He has his four month check up this Friday and I am so excited to see how much he has grown.

Mommies new bike, a Globe Carmel 5 made by Specialized. The color is called a bourgogne red and I have a little dinger bell too, reminds me of an ice cream truck coming through the neighborhood when I ding it! And it also has a suspension system which is cool, I can stand on my bike and bounce up and down with my suspension! And it has a nice Comfort Plus seat and the frame is Aluminum so it is a lot lighter than your typical bike you would find at Walmart!

" The Prepared Daddy," ready for any spit up, has a water bottle in one pocket of his shorts and a blanket in the other in case it gets cooler on our bike/walk. Titus does have a onesie on!

Our destination picture at the top of the "L" hike on Friday night. Only a mile and half round trip with a 500 ft. elevation gain.

Who Is Your Looking-Glass Self? ... Zondervan

Who Is Your Looking-Glass Self? ... Zondervan

Spirit-Controlled Emotions

This an excerpt from my devotional this morning, The Pursuit of Man by A.W. Tozer that I thought was really good and reminded me that I not only need to examine where I seek my own pleasure from but I need to be faithful to pray for those in my life who do get their pleasure from 'false and degrading thrills':
"One of the very greatest calamities which sin has brought upon us is the debasement of our normal emotions. We laugh at things which are not funny; we find pleasure in acts which are beneath our human dignity; and we rejoice in objects which should have no place in our affections. The objection to 'sinful pleasures,' which has always been characteristic of the true saint, is at bottom simply a protest against the degradation of our human emotions. That gambling, for instance, should be allowed to engross the interests of men made in the image of God has seemed like a horrid perversion of noble powers; that alcohol should be necessary to stimulate the feeling of pleasure has seemed like a kind of prostitution; that men should turn to the man-made theater for enjoyment has seemed an affront to the God who placed us in the midst of a universe charged with high dramatic action. The world's artificial pleasures are all but evidence that the human race has to a large extent lost its power to enjoy the true pleasures of life and is forced to substitute for them false and degrading thrills."

Triple Dog Dares ... Zondervan

Triple Dog Dares ... Zondervan

Taste and See ... Zondervan

Taste and See ... Zondervan

Holiness First, Happiness Second

This is an excerpt from my devotional, The Pursuit of Man by A.W. Tozer, this morning that I thought was really thought provoking and great to share.
"A selfish desire for happiness is as sinful as any other selfish desire. People are coming more and more to excuse every sort of wrongdoing on the grounds that they are 'just trying to secure a little happiness.' The doctrine of man's inalienable right to happiness is anti-God and anti-Christ, and its wide acceptance by society tells us a lot about that same society.
The effect of this modern hedonism is felt also among the people of God. The gospel is too often presented as a means toward happiness, to peace of mind or security. There are even those who use the Bible to 'relax' them, as if it were a drug.
How far wrong all this is will be discovered easily by the simple act of reading the New Testament through once with meditation. There the emphasis is not upon happiness but upon holiness. God is more concerned with the state of people's hearts than with the state of their feelings. Undoubtedly the will of God brings final happiness to those who obey, but the most important matter is not how happy we are but how holy."-AWT in Of God and Men

Baking Time

Okay so I don't really like to cook, but I do like baking! Titus and I baked these yesterday and I felt the need to share it with you. We also made a loaf of homemade bread, we don't have a bread machine but we do have a stand mixer and an oven, Yummy! These caramel rolls were good this morning for breakfast with a little heat and butter on them. Tom on the other hand likes cooking and he is great at it. He is marinading a whole chicken right now to grill for tonight, Yummy. Maybe I will get a picture of that finished product for you!

God's Secret Name ... Zondervan

God's Secret Name ... Zondervan

Update on Little Big Man!

Titus is close to 16 weeks now, he is getting very vocal and he is such a good baby. Sure there are moments or days when mom feels like she doesn't get anything done but I am learning to adjust still and trying to work with that as much as I know how at this point. I feel like nothing prepares you for this and at times it is different than how you thought it would be, but by God's grace it is still good and it is worth it. You have the opportunity to make a direct impact for eternity in the life of your children in how you decide to raise them. I love that verse, Proverbs 22:6, "Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it." That is a promise from the very Word of God that we can claim as His children. Titus is very strong with his neck and holding up his head, it seems he has been from birth and he is about 15 lbs. now! Most everyone that meets him or sees him thinks he looks older than what he is because of his size! I am hoping to hold off introducing any food at all until he is 6 months, therefore eating only breast milk til then. His Pediatrician recommends that because of allergies these days and with the allergy history of some of his cousins I think that would be best for him too.
Well last week mom joined Bible Study Fellowship (BSF), which is an interdenominational, in-depth Bible study that actually meets all over the world! Some of you may remember that I did this about 10 years ago, the first year they taught the book of Romans. Then I started work at the Vet Clinic and I couldn't go anymore because it is on Wednesday mornings here in Missoula for the women. But now I have Titus and they have a great children's program where they teach them the same thing that the parents are studying. And this year is a new study to BSF, they are teaching through Isaiah! And actually since Titus is so young I can keep him with me for nursing and such. I think once he is crawling I will put him in the children's program. If you are interested and are looking for a good Bible Study, just click on the link for BSF down under the websites we enjoy. You can search for one by your zip code and they have a class for men too. Tom is not going yet because he is pretty involved in our church's youth group on Wednesday nights and Sunday mornings plus any extra activities they do. But I am loving it and it just started last week and goes through the school year with breaks like for Christmas and such.
I think Tom is happy that NFL season is started back up, we love those Broncos! Titus already has two Broncos outfits, at this point for the future. We also think it is awesome that Tim Tebow is on the team after his awesome Pro-Life testimony last year during the Super Bowl commercials!
We are hoping to drive to CO to spend Thanksgiving with Toms parents and then fly into IL or WI to spend Christmas with my family this year! Pray that we can accomplish those trips, we should be able to get at least one free ticket because we earn travel reward points with both of our debit cards thanks to our great US Bank. I am so excited for Titus to play with his cousins, Gracie and Bella, they have not met him yet and neither have my sisters! And we have not met Bella yet and she is going to be a year old in November! And Titus is only about 5-6 lbs. less than her from what my sister tells me! What a ham! But Tom does have plenty of PTO stored up so that is great.

I love this picture cuz it looks like Titus is sitting in the ball! His development book actually recommended doing this to encourage muscle development, another great use for those exercise balls.

Okay I know those who are close to me know that I love most things that few people like, like anchovies, sushi and yes, sardines! I actually saw this on t.v. and wanted to try it and I had the ingredients for it so why not? A peanut butter and sardine sandwich, and it tasted really good! If anyone likes sardines, I recommend trying it.

One of Tom's great soups, Udon, actually from his time in Japan. I love it cuz the noodles (called Udon noodles) are like the size of earthworms and then he cooks up some good veggies to put in it like carrots, mushrooms and pea pods. And usually he slices up a hard boiled egg and puts that in too, which is an awesome way to enjoy hard boiled eggs.

Titus in his Bumbo chair with his precious bunny.

A view out our living room window! There has been a group of whitetail/mule deer of 7-10 everyday down in the gully outside our window! Some are good size bucks, Jerm you could come out here to hunt!

Sacred Spaces ... Zondervan

Sacred Spaces ... Zondervan

Quiet Enough to Hear Your Soul Growl ... Zondervan

Quiet Enough to Hear Your Soul Growl ... Zondervan

Rooted (Like a Tree) ... Zondervan

Rooted (Like a Tree) ... Zondervan

How to Carry Less Anger ... Zondervan

How to Carry Less Anger ... Zondervan

More Beautiful You

Little girl fourteen flipping through a magazine
Says she wants to look that way
But her hair isn't straight, her body isn't fake
And she's always felt overweight

Well, little girl fourteen I wish that you could see
That beauty is within your heart
And you were made with such care, your skin, your body and your hair
Are perfect just the way they are

There could never be a more beautiful you
Don't buy the lies, disguises and hoops, they make you jump through
You were made to fill a purpose that only you could do
So there could never be a more beautiful you

Little girl twenty one the things that you've already done
Anything to get ahead
And you say you've got a man but he's got another plan
Only wants what you'll do instead

Well, little girl twenty one you never thought that this would come
You starve yourself to play the part
But I can promise you there's a man whose love is true
And He'll treat you like the jewel you are

There could never be a more beautiful you
Don't buy the lies, disguises and hoops, they make you jump through
You were made to fill a purpose that only you could do
So there could never be a more beautiful you, more beautiful you

So turn around, you're not too far
To back away, be who you are
To change your path, go another way
It's not too late, you can be saved
If you feel depressed with past regrets
The shameful nights hope to forget
Can disappear, they can all be washed away

By the One who's strong, can right your wrongs
Can rid your fears, dry all your tears
And change the way you look at this big world
He will take your dark distorted view
And with His light, He will show you truth
And again you'll see through the eyes of a little girl

That there could never be a more beautiful you
Don't buy the lies, disguises and hoops, they make you jump through
You were made to fill a purpose that only you could do
So there could never be a more beautiful you
There could never be a more beautiful you

Labor Day Weekend

Titus turned 13 weeks this last Saturday and we decided to take him for his first hike! Our adventure on Saturday was up to Blue Mountain Lookout. We hiked the last mile of the 8 mile trail up to the Lookout Tower, so we drove about 10 miles on a gravel road to get to the start of the last mile of the hike. Very pretty drive but the hike was even more beautiful. Tom carried Titus in our front carrier and he just looked around at everything, very alert. Looking at all the pretty trees and interesting things in the forest. He did get hungry on the way up and we had to stop so mommy could nurse him. Then we finally reached the top and it has a great view of different mountain ranges around us. The Lookout Tower is a working Forest Service fire lookout! I wish we could have climbed the stairs to the top but it looked a little scary to do with a baby. Then Titus got hungry again and then we headed back down after attempting many pictures with the sun shining so bright. Titus slept on the way back down, what should have taken us an hour and half for the whole trip took us about 2 and a half hours with a baby!
Then on Sunday after church and much errand running we headed to Rock Creek, east of Missoula, to hike there, hoping to see many Bighorn Sheep! We drove about 27 miles to get there, it was all paved roads which was nice. The area out there I noticed was very pretty and just about everyone lived in a cabin type home, which is one of our dreams someday, a cabin with some land! Right when we started our hike there we saw some Whitetail, course mommy couldn't get the camera out fast enough before they ran away. But we enjoyed that hike, we just hiked until we thought we should turn around for the sake of Titus. He got hungry on that hike too, and slept on the way back to the car. I am not sure where that trail took you for a destination but I think we will go back again sometime and try to find out. We also had packed some firewood in the car with some food and smores to enjoy for dinner but as soon as we got back to the car it started pouring. We never saw any Bighorn on our hike but we drove a little further up the road hoping it would stop raining and find a campsite to enjoy our goodies. We found a group of Bighorn near the road but it never stopped raining so we went back home. We will enjoy a campfire here soon with our goodies!
Titus is growing so big and no one can believe he is only 3 months old! I think he has rolled over at least a dozen times now since he was 8 weeks old! Three times just yesterday! And he is discovering his hands and feet and his voice. He generally sleeps about 10-11 hours at night now but he has been sleeping through the night for at least a month already. He has moved into his own room since he was 12 weeks old and that transition went really well for him. I think mommy was more worried than he was. Just tonight I got out his rubber duckies at bath time for the first time and was squirting him with them and he was laughing! Oh, he is so cute! Daddy gives him airplane rides and he loves it, he just keeps springing up off his feet cuz he wants more!

We hiked around this rocky cliff area, the trail was probably just at the base of the rocks and above the trees that are below, a lot of the trail was covered in shale.

The view below our Rock Creek hike, horses grazing, one of mommies favorite of all God's creation.

Daddy and Titus on our hike in Rock Creek, my two favorite men!

A view of Missoula coming back down the Blue Mountain National Recreation Trail.

Blue Mountain (fire) Lookout Tower, 50 ft., we wanted to go up into it but the stairs were very steep and at the top of the stairs the door was closed. But they say you can see 5 different mountain ranges from up there!

At the top of Blue Mountain, 6,460 ft.

Do We Reap What We Sow? ... Zondervan

Do We Reap What We Sow? ... Zondervan

Is Quitting Ever Biblical? ... Zondervan

Is Quitting Ever Biblical? ... Zondervan

Summer and Kingdom Living ... Zondervan

Summer and Kingdom Living ... Zondervan

Trust and Complaint ... Zondervan

Trust and Complaint ... Zondervan

Say Something ... Zondervan

Say Something ... Zondervan

Creator or Chance? ... Zondervan

Creator or Chance? ... Zondervan

First time Swimmin'

Yesterday we had the priviledge to go swimming with a friend who's parents are members of The Ranch Club here in Missoula which also has golfing. But it was Titus' first time experiencing "swimming". He loves his baths so I wasn't sure what he would think of this cooler water, but he seemed to not mind. At first I just sat him in the dipping part after dipping his feet in and he didn't complain. Then I walked down the steps with him in my arms where it was 4ft. and out further closer to the 6ft mark after a while. Then he started to complain but I think he was just bored because he had gone in up to his little chin and didn't complain.

Crazy visit with the Sells' smallies

On Tuesday I went to the Sells' household for a long awaited visit. With a newborn it is sometimes difficult to get out and visit the ones you long to be around. Daisy is one of my closest girlfriends and she has four beautiful children that I adore. I was here for all of their births except the oldest, Mia, who is about to turn 7! I was away at school when she came along but for Sior and the twins, Lilli and Penny, I was here. I have always enjoyed watching them on various occasions and when the twins came along, Tom and I were together by then and I enlisted his help! Things can get a bit crazy with those two girls! The kids adore each one of us as we do them. I am so excited for Titus to get older and be able to play with Sior, part of me wanted a boy just for his sake, and so that Tom can take them both fishing someday. The twins just love Titus, they think breastfeeding is a very interesting thing and they also each held him on Tuesday but Titus was a bit upset by that time and it made it a little difficult to capture a pic. The first time I went for a visit over there Sior was the only one not napping and I had to feed Titus and I of course had my nursing cover on but soon he said while sitting there watching me "Mommy, what is Auntie Carrie doing to her baby?" Oh my, we were laughing so hard. Anyway I just wanted to share a piece of cuteness with you from what seems like my extended family at times.

I captured Penny playing with her doll house in her helmet! Not sure her thought in the need of the helmet at the time?

Penny, Daisy and Titus. Penny loves his hands and his feet!! So cute. Oh and Titus is actually grinning at Sior, his future wrestling, fishing buddy.

Mia and Titus, very cute!!

The day after Titus was born, Auntie Daisy came to visit us at the hospital.

Grace: Sweeter Than Amnesia ... Zondervan

Grace: Sweeter Than Amnesia ... Zondervan

My Dream Come True

I love to watch you sleeping
All nestled in your bed
As one arm rests across your chest
The other by your head
I hear you softly breathing
and a chill comes over me
Without a sound I bend down
and gently kiss your cheek

I don't know what you're dreaming but
you're my dream come true
I can't believe I'm standing here
looking back at you
I see your peaceful slumber smile
and wonder if I'm dreaming too
I don't know what you're dreaming
but you're my dream come true

Your night-light casts a shadow
upon the moonlit wall
Your rocking horse is small of course
but now looks ten feet tall
Is this the steed you ride on
when drifting off to sleep
Your toy chest there can not be
where your secret treasures keep

I don't know what you're dreaming but
you're my dream come true
I can't believe I'm standing here
looking back at you
I see your peaceful slumber smile
and wonder if I'm dreaming too
I don't know what you're dreaming
but you're my dream come true

I see your peaceful slumber smile
And wonder if I'm dreaming too
Don't know what you're dreaming
But you're my dream
You're my dream come true

2 Months Already!

I can't believe our little Titus is already 2 months old as of yesterday actually! Time flies when you have a cute little smiler on your hands. I took this cute picture this morning before I woke him up to get ready to go see the Pediatrician, he didn't start out with his little bottom in the air like that, it was so cute to find him that way after I got out of the shower. He is growing so big already, he now weighs 12 lbs. 11 1/2 oz., which is bigger than 75% of other baby boys his age and he is 24 1/2 in. long which is longer than 93% of other baby boys his age! Crazy, thank you Lord for a big healthy boy.
Mommy got some cavities filled earlier this week! I don't think I have ever had a filling before because well we didn't go to the dentist that much growing up and I don't remember one. But I have several cavities that I have known about for longer than anyone wants to know but haven't had anything done because I couldn't afford it. But now we have sweet insurance through Daddy and so we are going to tackle those issues. I can't believe how numb your face feels when you get that done and it lasted about 2 1/2 hrs. after we were done too! It is kind of funny to try to talk and half of one of your jaws is numb! I get to go back on the 16th for more fillings! Sweet! At least we have a good dentist who does a good job and is gentle about the whole thing.
Anyway I hope you all have a good weekend, I am always excited for the weekends because that means Daddy is off work and gets to hang out with Mommy and Titus!

My Master

The day You heard my plea,
You looked right through me
You saw the pit I was in
And You came and pulled me out...

You set my feet upon a rock
And put a new song in my mouth
Then You called me Your own
And I'm never turning back

I love my Master, I will not go free...
I take Your name and live in liberty
My life is Yours forever
I'll serve You faithfully
I love my Master, I will not go free...

You're a love I've never known
And Your faithfulness has shown
No matter what I'm about
You always find me out

And You lovingly remain
Age to age the same
And for all of my days
I will tell of Your ways...Your mighty ways...

I love my Master, I will not go free...
I take Your name and live in liberty
My life is Yours forever
I'll serve You faithfully
I love my Master, I will not go free...

Covenant Keeper
You are, You are
Merciful, Kindness
You are, You are
Passionate Father
You are, You are
Lifeblood Redeemer
You are...

I love my Master, I will not go free...
I take Your name and live in liberty
My life is Yours forever
I'll serve You faithfully
I love my Master, I will not go free...

Weekend at Flathead Lake

Well we spent the weekend at Flathead Lake at the Cross' cabin again. We were there with them and my cousin Laurens new fiance, Jason and his parents, and a friend of Heidi's. It was so relaxing for us but the weather was kind of weird. It would be sunny and then it also was storming at different times with hail. Titus turned 8 weeks on Saturday and he not only had slept his longest ever on Friday night with 8 1/2 hrs but on Saturday up at the lake he rolled over twice from his tummy to his back. He would only do it when Tom and I were watching and it was so cute. He is really starting to "talk" to us too, he sounds so cute. He has an appointment this week on Friday for his 2 month check up, I am so excited to see how much my big boy weighs. I did go swimming this time and the water felt a little cold but good. I didn't touch it before getting in because I knew it would be a little cold and take me longer to get in if I felt it.

Snoozin' in the hammock with dad, while mom goes for a swim off the dock.

We had crazy weather up there, sometimes it was sunny and then sometimes it was storming with hail!

Hangin' with Nate while he plays Farkle with dad and mom gets something to eat.

Snoozin' with dad on the couch up at the lake.