What's New with Us: 2010

I try not to be text heavy ...but there is just a lot to say (don't worry, there are pictures to follow). 

This Christmas started out with a wonderful trip to IL for some sibling time.  I flew out on my b-day to Chicago, where I met up with my sis & her fam. for my nieces volleyball tourney (She took 3rd!).  Chicago and Cheesecake from Cheesecake Factory -what a way to celebrate ones birthday!!  Then to Champaign, IL to meet up with my brothers, Jim and Bob.  It was wonderful to spend time with my sibs and just hang. 
However, on the day before I was to fly home ...my Husband called with hard news, my mother-in-law (Bunny) had finally confirmed that her shoulder was indeed broken (initial injury was Dec. 5!) a n d that she had a stroke!  Christmas was spent a little at home and a little at the hospital.  She is fine.  Thank you to all who have been praying.  She is now in an intensive PT wing at Menorah Hospital.  Her left side has been impaired, little to no use of her left hand, ankle, and foot).  Her speech is about at 85% and you can hardly see the effect on her face anymore.  She is in high spirits, motivated to getting back to 100%.  Her stay will depend on her progress -2 to 3 weeks.
Others on both sides of our families have potential serious health concerns.  So the health saga continues :)  God is in control and we are handling it well.  We are focusing on the positives and letting God handle the rest!

Pam and Brad

The boys cleaning up :)

Jim, Pam, Brad, Me, and Bob (only missing my #1 guy Troy)

our quaint little mantle

Our "Charlie Brown" tree

Rowen with her new cart

Good Morn'n

Mimaw and her girl

Noah

Say "Cheese"

In T-1 day I am on a plane to IL to spend time with my Sister and Brothers!!!  We have never had "sibling time" together like this.  I am excited about the QT we will get.  This is also the first time I will be away from the kids and Troy (doing something fun non-the-less) for any length of time!!!  Troy has been away -a lot for trips, camps, fund raising, etc...  This will be good for all of us :)
Troy and I reminisced about Christmas in Ukraine.  It was the best Christmas we have ever had.  Something special happened that year ...sharing our traditions, caroling, giving, ministering, finding out we were expecting.  It was amazing!  I am looking forward to what God has in store for us in Verona ...what amazing things we will be able to reminisce about as the years go by.

Noah at his pre-k Christmas party

gift giving

Rowen at Noah's party

Kids!  Phrases I hear a lot in my house (and I quote) "Mom, watch what I can do"  "Mom, can I have ..."  "Is it snack time?"  "Me First!"  "NO"  and last but not least  "Mooooommmmmyyyyy (X's a million)"  This should be a fun year with the kids.  They are old enough to "get it" and be excited about it.  Noah has been asking questions about death.  I am praying that God is working on his little heart and opening it to understand His salvation.  We pray for that every night and it is cool to be a part of the process.  

Noah was a shepherd in his preschool Christmas play.  A star is born :)  We pray over him every night that he follows the maker of the stars with his life!

I am thankful for my family and my kids!  I am most thankful for Christ -the ultimate (epic) gift of love and redemption!  What a wonderful time of year for reflection and thanks giving!

Epic Brother-in-law and Mom

Epic Sirena and dad

epic gift "smarshmellow" shooter

the gang vegging

epic sister, Pam, and Rowen

Pig tales!

Cutest man alive :)

Uncle B and Noah -epic

I love teaching my kids about how God loves them ...and that Christmas is all about that!  Noah has been asking to listen to "Our God" -Chris Tomlin's new song.  He calls it the healer song ...which means he is listening to the words!  It is so awesome to hear him praise!!  He also said that daddy and God are twins and God wears glasses. lol  Then Rowen starts singing "our God is spacious" So we are doing a good job! (lol) Noah thinks his dad is so Godly, he even looks like God and Rowen knows God is BIG. I only wish!! They are amazing little people.    

My husband is now 34!!!!!  It was so exciting ...there are no pictures, I didn't get him a card, no present, nor did I bake him anything.  We did get some good family time in at Panera (one of our favorite spots) and dinner with his parents.  Yes.  November used to be a month long celebration of Troy's birthday -but alas, it has dwindled down from a month, to a week, to not even our neighbors/friends knowing November 13 was a glorious day to be celebrated.  Ahh, here is to getting over yourself and getting old ;)
The blog got an update/change (Thank you Brea!).  Look around ...there is now more information about us and  ministry.
Here are a few pictures to hopefully make you smile:

Calzone night -yum.  Kids made their own.

I made dessert banana chocolate pizza.

I built this -yes me Penny Taylor! I succeeded by making everything connect and using every piece!!

 

So I'm looking at recent pics and video of the kids and these two videos capture the "essence" of Noah & Rowen's personalities -polar opposites!

Outside of working to complete our budget and get to the field we are pretty darn cute ...these pictures will explain :)

costume wit attitude

Super baker and Super Hero

I'm on a mission 4 candy

Where there is candy, he is there!

Awh, Troy showing his soft side with a goat :)

Grandpas and their girls are sweet!  Grandpa Bina and Rowen are reading together.

what a face

greeting daddy at the door :)

I have a girl -oh yes, I have a girl!

...and she comes complete with the prerogative to change her mind!

Noah is 4 and teaching himself to spell ...with leap frog video help :)  He has learned to spell words like pop and cat. I am impressed with my 4-year-old boy wonder! 

...we continued to play :)  Oh my lack of whit is stunning.  Anyway, here is some happenings via picture and video from the home front:

There is a dying tree in our yard attracting butterflies! Beautiful.

The tree is also attracting red-waspy looking things -yikes!

Noah LOVES school!  Letter U this week and our turn to bring snacks ...Umbrella cupcakes :)

Bring on the Umbrella cupcakes!!!! (and a mess for my mom lol)

Troy returned home!!  He was able to make great connections, secure one apartment (that is furnished!), maybe a possible apartment for us (deal is still in the works ...we'll see??), step by step instructions from other missionaries on what to do first, how to do XY and Z, and that gelato is awesome :)  Here are some pics of sights, people, and what apartments look like.

Troy @ colosseum

this pic says "Italian"

teammate Trevor sip'n from a fountain

busy Italian life

more of the apartment that could be ours

doors close off each room -not very open floor plans

what could be our bathroom

Troy and his new friend Lorenzo