Quiet on the Home Front

Well, last weekend was our weekend away to Ft. Worth and the Texas White House Bed and Breakfast...it was absolutely wonderful. I forget how much I enjoy Jason's company. I know that sounds silly but usually the girls get my full attention rather than Jase. We ate (and ate). We went to the botanical gardens and an improv comedy show, stayed up late, and slept in late. Okay, Jason's internal clock went off at 7 each morning but he's normally at work before then so he too slept in. They had cable which we don't, so we got to watch a bunch of HGTV (looove that channel). It truly was so enjoyable and such perfect timing. I know that I'm tired but didn't know how much until I got to slow down. To whoever it is that treated us...a HUGE THANK YOU! We loved it!

When we got home on Sunday afternoon Mimi and Papa D then left to go back home but took the big girls with them. Can I tell you how quiet it is around here and a tad boring? It really is so weird. They went up last year too but I was on my mission trip so this is the first time I've been home with both of them gone. I think Reesie has enjoyed being an only child but will love having her little entertainers back. She has been keeping herself busy with her Little People house. We go up tomorrow to get them. Can I tell you what a breeze having only 1 child is? We love and miss you Ashlyn and Laney and can't wait to see you tomorrow.

Any bloggers out there. how do you keep the piocs from automatically posting at the top? It drives me crazy!

Thank Offerings

The above pic is of the girls and their friends in their princess bounce house that we put up inside the house when it's so hot outside. And I'll be the first to admit...it is very hot outside.

"Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy." Ps. 107:22

Today I am celebrating some of the smaller things in life God has blessed us with lately:

1. Reese is 8 mos. old and we have never had to buy wipes for her. We were so blessed from our baby shower for her.
   
2. Drum roll please....Laney Hope has stayed in bed for 5 nights in a row!!! Woo hoo!! She is on her way to a special reward. I've taken out her nap for the most part and added swim lessons. She's a sleepy girl when bedtime rolls around.


3. A couple or two from our LifeGroup at church (although we don't know who) are blessing Jase and I with a weekend to a bed and breakfast. Only a few more days and we'll be childless for over 36 hours. We adore our kids but it will be nice to have a meal longer than 25 minutes, not have to tell anyone to "stop talking and eat please", have no laundry or dishes to do, sleep in past 7am, etc......


4. We always have food to eat and a roof over our head (an air conditioned one at that).
   
5. Our girls play really well together. They can get frustrated with one another but it normally only lasts for about 20 seconds.

A little more randomness:

Ashlyn always talks to Reese in a higher pitch than she normally talks. Actually, I do too but I'm telling you I am surprised each day that we don't have every neighborhood dog lined up at our front door with how high Ashlyn talks to her. Reese loves it though so it's all good. She is very into playing office at the moment. She pretty much sets up her office in a different place in the playroom everyday and will spend a long time playing in there. She is swimming like a fish at swim lessons.

Laney is loving the movie Enchanted. She does not love having to put her head in the water at swim lessons, however. A few tears have been shed but overall she's doing well. Since she is so fun and spunky it always throws me off that she isn't more adventuresome, but honestly it brings me comfort. Seriously, I get so nervous with my children around pools.

Reese loves dancing with her mommy. She likes to play with her blocks and loves toys that make music. I love that I know every teeny tiny thing about her and know how to comfort her within seconds.

Jason loves that he has such a great wife (tee hee)! Since I'm writing I get to post what I want. He's also been enjoying getting in a few more runs lately. I think in his head he is planning on running the San Antonio marathon this November. I normally cave so he probably will.

8 mos. old

Our sweet Reesie turned 8 months old yesterday. Today we had another appt. with the pediatric cardiologist. He didn't do another echo on her. We will do that next month he said and that is when he will determine whether or not she needs surgery...so please keep up the prayers.

She is just a doll-baby...so incredibly sweet and smiley. She is up to 13 1/2 lbs. She sits up for a long time to play now and rolls over like a champ. She has 2

teeth. She has the greatest laugh too which we get to hear many times a day. She is very much a mama's girl but loves to watch her sisters, daddy, and puppy too. They get the biggest grins out of her.

I wish I could express with words how much we love her, but words just aren't adequate!

Fourth of July Festivities

First, I have to say that I am so thankful and proud to be an American. Not because I think we are better than other countries. We aren't. God is passionate about all peoples and nations. Every person is created in His image and that alone gives them great value and worth. I am thankful for our freedoms though and feel incredibly blessed to call the USA home. Thank you men and women, past and present, who have fought for my freedom. I do know it comes with a great price.

Alright I get too wordy. The rest will just be pictures.

My Spunky Middle Child

I can remember the day before our Laney-bear was born crying to Jason. I was scared I might not be able to love this second child as much as I loved my first. When I think about it now it makes me laugh. I love her more than life itself; I do all of my children.

I can't imagine our lives without Laney. She is spunky and sweet. She is a cuddle big and has a grin that captures anyones heart. She know the words to High School Musical and will sing along gladly. If she doesn't think you're looking she'll try to do the movements to the songs too. Just about every mother from the kids in her class would tell me how much their child talked about Laney and how much they loved Laney. People are just attracted to her. I pray fervently that God uses her joy to bring people to Himself as she grows older.

She pronounces cupcake, "pupcake." She will call Ashlyn, Ashlyn Jean Hope. Ashlyn's middle name is Jean and her middle name is Hope but apparently she thinks everyone has Hope in their name. She loves to be a part of everything Ashlyn is doing and she can't help but kiss and hug Reese a million times a day. She prefers to be in a dress and has about 3 that she'll try to take out of the dirty clothes and wear two days in a row (the one above is one of those 3). She has a sweet voice and a great giggle. She isn't about to let anyone run over her though. And the precious thing can't help but get out of bed 3 times every night before falling to sleep (any help in that area? anyone?). Laney Hope, you make my heart smile just thinking about you!

My Sweet Firstborn

Each of my children hold such a special place in my heart. I love all of them more than life itself. My Ashlyn Jean, is my firstborn, and that alone makes her special. She is the first one to expose me to the overwhelming love a mother's heart holds for her children. I can honestly remember thinking within seconds of her being born, tears streaming down my face and my husband's, that I would die for her.

So far, out of all three of my girls, she is the most like me. I'm telling you the girl is definitely mine. Not only in looks but personality as well. There is something precious in the fact that she is my only daughter to be held here on earth by her Nana, my mom. My mom was there when she was born. And the reality is that when Mom went Home two months later, Ashlyn was the gracious gift from God (which is literally what her middle name means) that got me out of bed in the morning and encouraged me to go on.

She is so, so kind-hearted. She shares better than any child I have ever met. She has impeccable memory. She prays in a way that I know makes the Lord smile. She thinks and asks about Mom which brings a smile to my heart as well.

And honestly the girl is quite funny and mature for her age. A couple of funny stories. She loves the Fancy Nancy books my dad has given her. (Sidenote...I highly recommend these books for any little girl). Anyways, one shows a picture of how Fancy Nancy has made her room fancy. Ashlyn, after reading the book, looks at me and asks if there is anything fancy she can use to decorate her room. She asks about several different objects...none of which I have. Then she casually says outloud. "Well, I would like my room to be fancy too but my mom thinks it would be too messy...maybe I should blog about that!"

One of my best friends, who the girls call Aunt Jen, was over a few weeks ago too watching the girls while Jase and I went to dinner for his birthday. She asked Jen "Are you married yet? " I didn't know but she always asks Jen this question.

Jen-"Nope. Not yet...keep praying for me."

Ashlyn- "Do you have a boyfriend?"

Jen- "No."

Ashlyn- "Do you know who you want to marry?"

Jen- "No. Not yet."

Ashlyn- "Did you skip the grades?"

Jen- "Skip the grades?"

Ashlyn- "Yea, did you do kindergarten and first grade and stuff?"

Jen- "Yes."

Ashlyn- "Did you finish high school?"

Jen- "Yes."

Ashlyn- "Did you finish college?"

Jen- "No."
Ashlyn- "Well, maybe if you finished college you would have a husband by now!"

Jen- "You know Ashlyn, I've thought the same thing :)!"

Aaahh, there are so many things I love about this girl! She makes my heart happy!

(The girls with Aunt Jen)

The greatest woman I've ever known

Jean Carol Ashford Boerckel. The name might not be in history books. Most of the world may not recognize the name. To me it is one of the sweetest and most significant names in my life, worn well by the greatest woman I have ever known. My precious mom. Today is her birthday. She would have been 56 today.

She was known for her infectious laugh, huge smile and the twinkle in her eyes. She was my dad's greatest partner, my brother's biggest fan, and my very best friend. She loved the Lord with faith like a child...she trusted Him not only in wonderful times but in the worst of times too.

She was without a doubt queen of hospitality. We constantly had people over for dinner. Missionaries stayed with us while in country. Several people lived with us for months at a time when they were trying to turn their life around. Our home was the house to hang out not only for my own friends but for Andy's as well. Every Friday night before a football game you would find the offensive line from my brother's team in our kitchen with mom behind a blender making milkshakes. She was room mom, team mom, and mom to our friends whose moms weren't around or weren't as good as they could have been. She served on the PTA, yelled louder than most parents at any sporting event, and proudly wore Andy's colors and picture with pride. She made gymnastics leotards, though it almost killed her, for my entire team.

You wouldn't ever find her up front, but she constantly did all the behind the scenes things she possibly could. She was a servant at heart. She laughed often and loved deeply. There has never been another person that has made me feel more comfortable to be me, and more loved. She was my best friend and I told her everything, as a child and as an adult. She wasn't just a good mom, she was the very best. I learned how to live well and how to die well because of her.

Very rarely can I speak of her without tears streaming down my face (they are right now). It isn't because I'm sad for her. Her home is with her Savior now and I have hope and truth to stand on because I know I will see her again. She was decorator extrordinaire and while the Lord may have built my mansion in Heaven I guarantee she has talked Him into letting her decorate it for me.

But I miss her. I miss her deeply. To the degree we love, we often grieve. My hearstrings are tied to hers for eternity. And frankly there are days I would do anything to just sit and have dinner with her, to hold her hand, to hear her laugh, to see her with my children. Heavenly Father, I still don't understand why you took her so early but thank You for blessing me with the kindest, most loving mom ever. Happy Birthday, Momma. I love you!