My Boys

I have been just itching to get some photos on this blog! I think I have it figured out, so I'm giving it a whirl. Today's snapshots will be of my sweet baby boys, Blake, Jacob, and Jared.

Now most of you are already aware of the fact that Jon and I are the parents of three great boys....they're actually the greatest boys! And many of you know that we actually have five children.....we have two babies who are currently spending their time in the arms of Jesus.

We were saddened that our second and fourth children were not able to make it to full term, but I believe with all of my heart that they were living human beings from the moment of conception. The Lord created their inmost beings and knit them together in my womb (Psalm 139:13). He saw their unformed bodies when they were woven together, and He knew all the days ordained for them before they were even created (verse 16). I am so excited to tell you a little more about them; but, I'm saving that for another day.

So I just want to post a picture of my favourite fellows to show you how handsome they are. Just look at these adorable faces:




(l-r: Jacob, Jared, Blake - taken October 2008)

Yup, they're handsome! and they're big boys now....but they'll always be my babies.


I just HAVE to include two photos that were taken in August of 2003 (wow! Five and a half years ago!!!). These photos were taken by Peggy deWitt and please check out her website by clicking on her name. She does fantastic work! (Peggy, I promise to put a button for your business on the sidebar, once I figure out how to do it!!!!) I really must book another photo session with her, as the boys seem to have grown up so much....without my permission, I might add!

Look at this:


(Photo by Peggy deWitt)
(l-r: Jared, Blake, Jacob - taken August 2003)


Isn't that adorable????


And THIS one:



(Photo by Peggy deWitt)
(l-r: Blake, Jared, Jacob - taken August 2003)

Oh aren't they just yummy? (Yes, Michelle, they certainly are!)

Well, thank you for saying so. (You're very most welcome!)

I love these guys so much and am very proud of them. I knew time would fly by, but I had no idea it would be quite so rapid.

Thank You, Lord, for loaning me these boys while we are here on earth. I don't think You could have given me any better kids.

Lots of stories of my boys to come. Time is slipping away today.....I started this blog at 5-something and it's already after 8pm. And within that time, I have already picked up two kids from their jobs and now my supper is getting cold. I have so many things to blog about. I want to tell you about, and show photos of, my kids and husband and my parents and my sisters and my brothers-in-law and nieces & nephews and my dogs and my kitty cat; I have to post YouTube videos of the boys playing their fiddles; I want to tell you about my new friend, John, who I had coffee with today (Hi John & Brigitte) and I want to tell you about my dear girlfriend in Oregon (Hey Tammie!) and, oh there are just so many things I could go on about.... (get a life, Michelle).

Well, I'm just thankful I have so many wonderful people in my life, and the bonus of the computer is that you can hit the big red 'X' in the top right corner at any time if I start driving you crazy or bore you to death! (HEY! Wake up! Did you just nod off there?) However, I'm hoping that you find yourself entertained, and I am so looking forward to your comments and advice (that's advice for the blog AND for life in general! Y'all know I need all the help I can get).

Now, if you'll excuse me, my chicken caesar salad awaits.

Update - Wooden-Wheeled Duckie

UPDATE:
You know the saying, "What goes around comes around"?? Well, it's come around. All those years of critiquing the boys' homework and essays and assignments has come back to haunt me. Blake informed me, after reading today's blog, of the following:
Unnecessary Junk is not an oxymoron, it is a double negative.
Necessary Junk is an oxymoron.
Thanks, Blake, for keeping your momma in line.
Now I can sleep tonight.
ps - HaPpY BiRtHdAy, jAcKiE S.!!!!!

Wooden-Wheeled Duckie

Junk! We all have it! (Don't lie, you KNOW you have it too!) It is scattered throughout my house in every room and closet and mostly in my basement. It's even managed it's way into my shed. The only reason there's no junk in my car is because I must always save room for transporting all that hockey equipment back and forth to the rink; otherwise, there'd be unnecessary junk in there too! Hey, was that an oxymoron? Unnecessary junk. Is there such a thing as Necessary Junk? Maybe. I have been looking around my house and noticing areas that have clutter (that is, if I can actually see the clutter amongst all the dust and dog hair!). I decided that I need to get my butt in gear and do some purging on these clutter areas.

Last summer I was coming across many items in my home that I don't use anymore. There were also toys and games and puzzles, etc. that the boys have outgrown. I didn't think I had bought the kids many Happy Meals over the years, but the tote full of toddler toys indicated that we visited Ronald McDonald on a fairly regular basis. So I hauled all this stuff out to the lawn for a yard sale. I had no idea how to price things, so I put out a sign: "$1". It only took one day to realize how time consuming it is to have a yard sale, especially when this stuff was, in my opinion, "junk". Too good for the Milford Dump, but not good enough to keep shuffling around in my home. So I put a sign out: "EVERYTHING FREE". Hokey-Dinah!!!! Stuff disappeared over the next few weeks.....people actually WANTED some of my garbage treasures. One fellow found an old frying pan I had placed out there. I was fully expecting to take it to the dump once the "treasure hunt" had well served it's time. All the Teflon had worn off and it was completely useless. Well, just as the guy was leaving, Jon was pulling into the driveway from taking Jake to barn chores. This fellow grinned from ear to ear, raising his new-found treasure with one hand in triumphant victory whilst waving to Jon with the other! He was so delighted with his find! Jon walked in the house laughing and saying, "I can't believe the stuff you're getting rid of.....and people actually WANT it!"

So today I decided I need to clean the closet in the office, which was originally the children's toy room. I opened the door, looked in, sighed, shut the door. Enough for today! [sigh] I don't want to tackle it. But as I glanced around, I saw a little ol' wooden duck with red wheels and a red pull string. I had bought this for Blake when he was just a baby. The wheels are offset so that the little duckie waddles when you pull him across the floor. Now....here's the problem..... is Mr. Duckie "junk"? At 18 years old, I cannot see Blake having the desire to walk around with Mr. Duckie. But at the same time, I cannot see me putting him out at the roadside edge (Mr. Duckie, not Blake). I just can't do it. People! Listen to me! I have Fraser blood in me! You don't get rid of anything because someday you might need it! I am telling you, and history proves this, that if I get rid of that duck, within a matter of a few weeks or months, I will have a reason to use that duck. Sounds stupid, I know. But....Fraser blood.

So what am I supposed to do with that Duckie and the hundreds of other items in that category? I am told you need piles when purging your clutter: Keep; Give Away; Throw Away. So now I need a pile called "Ohhhhh, what do I do with THIS?" Once I get started, I'm sure it will get easier, but I have a feeling that I'll be calling Janna who is the Queen of Totes and asking her where the best deals are because I need to efficiently store some "junk" for another thirty or forty years.

I think I hang on to some junk in my head too. There are some things that I just can't let go of, yet God tells me to let them go. Anger, bitterness, ooooh---do I dare say 'revenge'??? It's junk! It's not doing any good in me, yet I hold on to it for some stupid reason...pulling it out every once in a while and reverting back to my "oh poor me" moments. I need to put those feelings and emotions on the roadside curb and let God have them. He asks me for them, but obviously I'm not really serious about completely giving them over to Him. Ephesians 4:31-32 says, "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."

I need to get rid of the junk and clutter in my life, physically AND mentally. Oh Lord, give me strength.... and the desire.... and the ambition..... and the right attitude! I sense a Spring cleaning coming on......and it's only February!

Morning Workout

This morning my phone rings....it's my baby sister, Danielle. She wants to know if I'm on my way to her house. I have NO idea what she's talking about. Well apparently she left a message on my machine early this morning announcing a Richard Simmons workout at her place for 9:30am! As I am nicely curled up in my chair eating toast, drinking my morning coffee, and anticipating my morning sermon from James McDonald's Walk In The Word, my LAST thought is actually jumping up and down and sweating with dear ol' Richard. Dani persists, explaining that our mother is already at her place dressed in shorts and a tank top and ready to take on Mr. Simmons in his shiny little short-shorts and sparkly tank top.

Well, I mention to Danielle that I look terrible this morning, have a million things to do, and really don't have the ambition today for a workout. Simply raising my large coffee mug to my mouth seems like enough of a workout. "Oh c'mon!!!!!" she says, "we're starting in 15 minutes!!!! Grab your shorts and get over here!" So, humouring my baby sister, I finish my coffee, grab some workout clothing, say goodbye to the pups and the kitty cat, and drive to Dani's.

I must say that it felt good to actually get the heart pumping. I really don't think it compares to the physical workout that I did in karate classes, which I must say that I very greatly miss! Received a gift certificate for Christmas for a three-month membership, which I haven't used yet......must get around to that! But after the end of Richard's video, I did feel some burnin'. My back hurt as I drove home, but I knew it was a good kind of hurt. Sometimes we need to just do things we don't want to, and it sure helps when you're doing it with someone else. Thanx, Mom & Danielle, for not laughing at me!

Isn't that the way it should be in our Christian walk as well? When one is down, another comes along and encourages and says, "Oh c'mon!" They may assist you physically with a need you have; they may assist you mentally with encouraging words or Scripture; they may assist you emotionally by just sitting with you or giving you a hug and letting you know they are there for you no matter what. Why? Because they're family. God's family. I've got some great folks in my God Family, and I've got the best in my blood family. I am a very blessed person, and I am thankful, Lord.

But most of all today, I am thankful that my Sensei does not wear a Richard Simmons tank top and shorts.

Setting Up A Blog ..... Argh!

Hi Everyone,

I set up a blog account yesterday, but I am so untechnically minded. I was getting frustrated and just left it until today. I'm just taking a quick second to write my first post, simply to see if it works!

I am excited to keep everyone up to date with the life of this busy family, hopefully including lots of photos!

I'm especially hoping it gives those long distance friends and family a closer touch.
God bless.