Fall Break

Last week Kyla had a couple of days off of school for Fall Break.  I was so excited to have her home and I think the break came at a perfect time for her.  School can make her tired and it was a good time for her to have extra time to rest. Our break got off to a rocky start when we were walking outside on Friday and Troy noticed something was not right.....the pumpkins we had gotten at the pumpkin patch and that were on our front porch were smashed to pieces all over our driveway.  He called me out and we instantly knew what had happened.......probably kids with some days off of school staying up late at night and roaming the streets to smash people's pumpkins.  

Kyla did not appreciate this.  It honestly did break my heart to see her crying, so confused about our pumpkins.  She buried her head into me, asking who did this? It was a mixture of Troy and I trying to comfort her and trying not to laugh at the same time.....she was so mad.  I kept trying to comfort.  We were on our way to lunch and so I told her once we got into the car we would talk about how the Bible says we should handle things like this to which she said through tears, "I bet the people who did this probably don't read the Bible everyday."  (Again, hiding laughter).

Once in the van we explained to her that sometimes people will do mean things that upset us, but that the Bible says to pray for our enemies and those who hurt us.  We told her we would pray for their hearts to realize what they did was wrong and not do it again.  She was still crying and I knew the wheels in her mind were turning.  She kept saying those were the pumpkins we got at the pumpkin patch and why would someone do that?

While we were at lunch the wheels were still turning and in between eating she would have another thought on the pumpkin fiasco.  Things like....Why did their Mommy let them do this?  I don't think their Mommy was watching them very good.  Do you think they will do it again?  If we get new pumpkins, I want to leave a note outside so they know not to smash our pumpkins.  And my favorite....she said to me, "Who other than a boy could have done this?" and I said, "Well, other than a boy, it would have been a girl."  Kyla's response....,"I don't think a girl would have done that."  I didn't say it out loud, but inside, I had to agree with her.

Anyway, we actually were planning on carving pumpkins the first day of Fall Break, but with no pumpkins that was hard to do.  So, off to Meijer we went to pick out some new ones for carving.

Our smiles are back and we are ready to move on from the smashed pumpkins.  Time to carve some new ones.

Kyla with her new pumpkin

Her first time pumpkin carving.....mesmerized watching Daddy get it started

Checking out the insides

After Kyla got her pumpkin carving started it was time for Troy to work on his....even designing his own carving design.  You can see on his phone what pattern he is working on....the Cardinals may not have made it to the World Series, but he will still show his loyalty through the art of pumpkin carving.

And, now Ashlyn's turn!  What is in there?

We are ready to carve

Two happy faces

The girls with their finished pumpkins

And Kyla was serious about the note....once our pumpkins were carved and on the front porch, she made sure this message was in place

Our pumpkin carving work

All lit up and so far they are all still safe on our front porch.  I think the note worked.

Other fun things from our Fall Break included.....

Eating some of our favorite fall treats.....like chocolate chip pumpkin cookies

Staying up a little bit later to play games

We even got a little school work in.....Troy helped Kyla make a chart to help her with learning to count to 100.  This is something they are working on in kindergarten and Troy knows she can do it.  He is so great at helping with learning and Kyla is getting really close to 100.

We played in the leaves.....

And stayed up late to have a movie night.....Cinderella!

Ready to watch

Snuggled up

And it was great to have Kyla back with us to do some of the everyday things us three girls are used to all doing together. Like going to the library......

And grocery shopping....loved having Kyla with us

Our family is God's greatest gift to me......no matter what we are doing, us being together is my very favorite thing.  We loved our fall break.

Fighting for Joy

I first heard of the writer, Ann Voskamp, when my sweet friend gave me her book "One Thousand Gifts" as a gift.  From the first page I couldn't put it down. I often read it with tears rolling down my cheeks.  Her writing is some of the most beautiful and honest I have ever read.  At the time of reading it I was in the thick of wrestling through emotions over Ashlyn's diagnosis.  And that book so spoke to me then.  But, the message of her book....everyday counting your gifts and receiving it all as grace, speaks to me everyday.  If you haven't read her book....run, don't walk to go get it. 

I was on Ann's blog the other day and was crying by the end of her post.  Please read it here.....

http://www.aholyexperience.com/2012/10/why-the-battle-for-joy-is-worth-it-crazy-joy-17/

This one got me in my heart.  Not so much about having someone in my family line that I now act like as an adult in a negative way.  Honestly, my family line has left me nothing but blessing.  What really resonated with me is the truth of how my fight for joy affects my children.  It can be so easy to get stressed about things that really aren't important and to find joy in things that really aren't important.  And our kids are watching.  Yes, I like a clean and orderly house, but I really don't want that to take a higher place than leaving those things to share a hug with one of my girls, giggle or play a game. 

I am learning as an adult that joy doesn't seem to come as naturally to us as it does to children. But that doesn't mean we can't fight for it.....to find God in the moments.  And a lot of the times our children are the ones who lead the way.  I think of this when we pull into our garage on Wednesday evenings after a long day and late night at church.  I know we just need to get inside and start the bedtime routine but I have two little girls in the car behind me saying, "Moon!" , "Mommy, let's go see the moon!"  And we all go to the driveway and look up at the dark night sky and point to the moon and notice the stars.  The girls are so excited and they wave up to the moon and giggle.  Those moments are so worth getting to bed a few minutes later.  That is joy.  And for as much as my children lead me to joy, as their mother, I always want to lead them their too.  As I train my eyes to see joy in each moment.....I pray their eyes are trained as well. 

"If you don't fight for joy, it's your children who lose.  What do I want my children to remember - my joy in clean floors, made beds and ironed shirts - or my joy of the Lord?  You will be remembered - by what brought you most joy."

Everything means everything

There are many times when I feel like I am hearing the same message over and over at the time I need to hear it.  God is faithful like that.  Sometimes I still can't believe that He knows us each so personally and talk to us each so personally. 

For me right now, God is speaking to me on the issue of surrender.  Surrender of my life to Him....something that I know I have done.....surrendered my life to Christ.  But I am finding and know that it really is a daily decision.  There is no way to live daily life without making this decision.....day in and day out.  There is too much going on.....too many issues, worries, desires, thoughts, hopes and relationships....it goes on and on.  Basically, every morning when I wake up, in my self, all I want is to have my way. I want to know how everything is going to work out.  But, as I get a few minutes into the day, if I am not careful, I will notice my anxiety level rising and know I have to surrender.  Every day. Every hour....minute by minute.  The beauty is that I know God means it for my good.  He doesn't ask me to surrender to Him everyday because He needs something from me.....it is for my good and His kingdom purposes.

Anyway, yesterday at church my awesome pastor spoke God's words that were so timely for me.  Everyday I thank God for making Troy my husband, but week after week I also thank Him that he is my pastor.   Some things I wrote down during yesterday's sermon.....

"Partial commitment coupled with even deep devotion is not enough.  That is not total surrender.  It isn't how much we have that makes the difference, it is how much of what we have does God have?"  

And isn't that just the thing?  Surrender is not partial....it is everything. And surrender of everything means freedom.  I love that.  I think we are always fighting the temptation to think that giving our whole lives over to God is so scary and costly, but it is always for our freedom.  A truth that I have to hold onto tightly.

And so today, right after yesterday's sermon, I read these truths on the same subject of submission to God from a study of the book of James I am currently in.....

*God knows everything about you and every matter concerning you.  Nothing is hidden from His sight.  So submit to God.
*He is always looking out for your ultimate good and takes your hurts personally.  So submit to God.
*He is holy and worthy and incapable of abusing His divine authority over you.  So submit to God.
*He knows when your motive was right but your mouth messed up.  So submit to God.
*He knows exactly how to work terrible into good.  So submit to God.
*He loves you completely and unconditionally and will never let you go.  So submit to God.
*He knows the well-deliberated plan for you life and how all things must fall into place for you to fulfill your destiny.  So submit to God.
*He will never put to shame those who trust in Him.  So submit to God.

There are some things for me that are harder than others to give over.  Total surrender or submission to God......however you put, everything means everything.  Thankful for God's grace that covers us on this journey. 

Walking for Ashlyn

This past weekend was our second time of walking in the Buddy Walk for Down Syndrome Indiana.  After Ashlyn was first born I wasn't quite ready for something like this, but the farther we get into the journey the easier it is to take joy in the community we are a part of.  It is such a special day to gather friends and family and walk in honor of a child you love so much. 

The star of the day getting warmed up

I love this picture.  Sisters.  Kyla doesn't understand all that Down Syndrome means yet, all she knows is that she really loves her sister.

With my girl

Daddy and Ashlyn

Kyla with our teams sign

Ashlyn and Grandma getting ready to walk

With my love

Three sweet girls....Kyla, Londyn and Ashlyn

Ashlyn loving on Judy

Giving a hug to Tim

Saying hi to Karen and Lance

This girl loves her Pastor Heather

Love this family.....the Pollocks getting ready to walk.  Britton fueling up with a banana :)

These girls love their Aunt Heidi so much!

Yeah!  Doug is here!

 Team Ashlyn's Rubies.  We are so blessed by this group of people.

And we are off....

Holding hands with Heather along the way

Getting some lunch with Grandma and Grandpa after the walk

This girl is such a gift to us

 What a special day walking in honor of Ashlyn and for the futures of all of those with Down Syndrome.  Thank you to all who donated and who walked with us and for all the love you show to Ashlyn.  And to Ashlyn.....we love you so much and are so grateful you are in our family.  We will always walk with you.

Fall Freaks

As I have mentioned, we really love fall.  Fall in the midwest......so perfect.  Great temperatures, beautiful colors, leaves on the ground, apple pies, burning candles......I love all of it. And along with all of that I love decorating for fall inside and outside.  The front porch always has a scarecrow and pumpkins.....and a little Ashlyn to go with it.

And if you can't have growing flowers anymore.....fill it up with pumpkins

 We are loving everything about this season including a fun week time visit from my parents last week.  Since my mom is newly retired they are now much more flexible on when they can visit.  So, we were so excited to have them here during the week which meant they got to visit both of the girls schools.

 Ashlyn and Grandma on a beautiful day in West Lafayette by Purdue's campus and Ashlyn's preschool

All three of us girls

The next day Grandma and Grandpa got to eat lunch with Kyla at her school.  She was one exited girl!

And got to get her at the bus stop after school

Kyla and Grandma before a very cold morning of soccer

Okay, so because of our extreme love for fall, imagine our happiness when these adorable shirts arrived in the mail from Grandma Hochstetler. So cute!

Happy girl on a beautiful fall day in her candy corn shirt = extra fall happiness

Checking out some leaves

And one of the best parts of the day....waiting for Kyla's bus

Back together

 Another leaf found

Little bits of the season.....we are high on fall happiness around here.