Minnesota Adventures

Creation...

2010-08-13T12:58:00.001-05:00

Happy Birthday Josiah

2010-08-02T07:56:00.001-05:00

August 2nd, 2010

On this day, twelve years ago… Amongst the rushing of doctors and nurses and specialist with scalpels and lots of machines, my first born son came into the world. I can’t really say that it was a happy moment. At 3o weeks and weighing only 3 pounds his first hours would be filled with needles and wires and strangers with bright lights. I awoke from surgery to balloons and cards and congratulations all around but kept thinking to myself “What is wrong with these people? Why are they celebrating? This is the worst day of my life!” It was indeed a difficult day… as were the next 32 days while my boy lived in a plastic box. But truly, God’s grace was sufficient for us and his mercies were new every morning. And then one beautiful Hawaiian morning in September, my little peanut came home. He was still only 4 pounds and needed to be on a monitor that woke us up with its annoying false alarms more often than a new born already does. But he was home and I couldn’t have been more delighted to have my life gloriously interrupted by his every need!
Twelve years have passed since those long uncertain days. The tiny little boy is growing into a young man who loves his family, has a tender heart for all God’s creatures and is striving to be a follower of the Most High God. His life has not been without a few set back and trials but we are so proud of who he is and the destiny he is reaching to attain.
Not a day goes by that we are not thankful that God breathed his breath of life into a tiny soul and brought Josiah David into the world and into our hearts… Our lives were forever and wonderfully changed on that day!

I Blinked

2010-07-25T14:42:00.004-05:00

I remember the long days of mothering babies and toddlers and preschoolers...In the midst of the diapers and dinners, some wise woman would tell me "don't blink, these years will be over before you know it."

But somewhere along the way...

I blinked!

But as I open my eyes, I find that I quite enjoy the view!

What a delightful gift my sweet Siri is to me!

4 years

2010-07-19T08:43:00.003-05:00

This week we celebrate the 4 year anniversary of our arrival in Elk River, Minnesota. Did I say "Celebrate"?... Why yes, I did!

Four years ago, we had a lot of ideas about what our new life here would look like.

We had a lot of plans.

We had a lot of dreams.

But The LORD says:

I know the plans I have for you...Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, Plans to give you a hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11

He also says:

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,"

declares the Lord.

Isaiah 55:8

We are finding that the treasures God has for us in this adventure are not the ones we thought we would find but they are the priceless gifts of the heart... treasure that the world cannot take away... Eternal gifts from our Father!

Blessed is the man who trust in the LORD, and who's hope is in the LORD, For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out it's roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; But it's leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding it's fruit.

Jeremiah 17:26

Our prayer is that in every season of this life, we would walk in faith and bear good fruit. We want to thank our dear friends and family for being part of that journey as well as part of our treasure.

Independence Day 2010

2010-07-06T09:44:00.010-05:00

Movies, Fireworks, Ice Cream & Family...

We had a fun, and not so quiet evening at home, just our little family...

Along with our un-invited guest... the 42 bazillion Mosquitoes!

But, none the less... a bright smokey fun time was had by all!

Mommy, of course had the camera ready and had a great time capturing the moments of the evening.

Jonah, would do his Flag-Fire dance every time we would light the fuse. He was hysterical to watch and inspired us all to be a little crazy!

After the outside fun, we made beds in the family room and stayed up into the wee hours watching movies and eating Ice Cream! We are so blessed with the freedom we have in this great Nation.

If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed. John 8:36

Men of Hope

2010-06-30T12:59:00.002-05:00

And Josiah walked in all the ways of his Father David...

2 Kings 22:2

Summer

2010-06-25T11:05:00.003-05:00

The long days of summer are here with her sweet scents and bright colors....

I love the beautiful blossoms that show up at the back door in the hands of smiling children...

While I may not love all the critters that show up in the back yard, I love that my kids want to explore and learn about them, even if Mama jumps and screams and we all giggle about it later...

I love the occasional bright and tasty berry that we rescue from the previously mentioned critters... Even if we have to split it 3 ways, the moment of that fresh, juicy bite is so sweet!

Praise the LORD! Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.

Psalm 106:1

I am giving thanks on this Summer day for all the goodness that God has provided!

Held

2010-06-22T20:35:00.001-05:00

I am amazed at the way God loves us...
The way he faithfully reminds me of his love.

The other day, our Jonah fell off his bike and skinned his knee. It wasn't too bad, but he was quite distraught over it. He wept for a long time... big soppy tears that seemed too much for a little scrape. He wept the way my heart sometimes does... over little things that shouldn't matter so much.

For a long time, I just sat and held him. I don't mind this small sacrifice of motherhood. I know that I can't always take away the pain or fix the little things in his life... But I my arms long to hold him through the scrapes.

And when my heart weeps... over the little scrapes of this life as well as the things that are too big for me to control or even to understand... He runs to me. He wraps his arms around me. He doesn't always fix it, or take away the pain but he never leaves me to cry alone. Every time I hold my little boy... I am reminded how I am held and how my Father doesn't mind my tears and my questioning thoughts. He promised to never leave me... and he never has. What an amazing gift of love he offers to my scraped up heart.

Mother's Day

2010-05-09T17:30:00.002-05:00

With the extra leverage I had this morning... It being Mother's Day and all... I talked the family into posing for a few photos before Church. Here is what we got...

I am so blessed to be in the midst of such beautiful people.

My sweet Jonah loves to bestow kisses on his mommy... such a gift!

I don't think I could ever get enough butterfly kisses... and he is willing to dish out dozens a day!

Art

2010-02-26T17:40:00.001-06:00

snap shots

2010-02-09T16:40:00.002-06:00

Just thought I would share these fun pictures of the kids that I snapped this afternoon.Josiah and Siri are still best of friends and it blesses me to see them enjoy each other so much.Our little girl is not so little but still has that girlish giggle that brings us all lots of joy!
There are so many sides to Josiah....
Just captured one I thought you would all enjoy!

Our Sweet, beautiful, complex Jonah-Boy! He keeps us on our toes and counting our blessing and seeking God each and every day!

We are in love with the beautiful children God has given us...

We pray the same for all of you!

December Fun

2010-01-08T09:39:00.003-06:00

Fall 2009

2009-12-22T10:45:00.002-06:00

Snowing in June

2009-06-01T16:26:00.003-05:00

Every year, around this time, we get our "June Snow" as the kids like to call it. And it really does look like snow... whirling and swirling in the air, sticking to the screens and covering the plants. But here is the culprit... our giant Cottonwood Tree! It showers us with it's soft, feathery fluff, So much that I start imagining making pillows and using it for stuffing. But we are thankful for the warm winds of June that blow it around, and even more thankful that it isn't really snowing in June.

"Only You Can Prevent Forrest Fire"

2009-05-31T19:09:00.005-05:00

This afternoon, David went for a bike ride on the trail behind our house. As he was nearing home he came upon a quickly spreading brush fire. There was a lady walking with a cell phone who called 911 and then David had her call us to come out and help.

The kids, along with our neighbors lugged buckets of all sizes filled with water and doused it onto the flames.

Thankfully, it didn't take long for the Fire Department to arrive on the scene. They were able to put it out quickly, much to our relief.

Of course, Josiah was most concerned about the animal and their damaged habitats. He let me know that he was praying for them the whole time.

Then we got to stand back and watch our tax dollars hard at work. We are just thankful it didn't hit any closer to home.

My American Girl

2009-05-25T09:15:00.004-05:00

Last weekend, My beautiful little girl and I got to go on a very fun date!

After saving her money for months and then getting a matching grant from Grandma, she finally had enough for us to head down to the American Girl Store. A new American Girl Store recently opened at the Mall of America. All set in our Matching sweaters and jean skirts, we got there just as the mall was opening.After much consideration and deliberation, she finally settled on a "Just Like Me" doll. ... Who really does look just like her.

Then it was off to the American Girl Bistro for lunch where they actually seat and serve your doll as well. Sara named her doll "Akele" after her big sister who she loves and misses so much.
It was such a fun day with my favorite "American Girl". I love you Sara Ashley!

New Season

2009-04-20T12:53:00.003-05:00

Well, it is that time of year... The time when good, virtuous women lead their families in the noble art of Gardening. I have never been such a woman myself but am bravely attempting to learn this new skill.I must admit to you that I am quite intimidated by the whole process. I feel more like the Village Idiot than the Proverbs 31 woman, but I will not be deterred! I am determined to give it my best. I am also hoping for lots of those afore mentioned noble women to offer advice and instruction. Having said all of that, the kids and I are excited about our new adventure. We have planted our seedlings and they now line the sunny window sills waiting for the ground to be warm and ready.

We are working on breaking up the ground, work that makes us appreciate our early American ancestors and all they endured just to put food on the table. We are also hopeful that God will grant us many lessons during this process and we might produce a harvest of righteousness.

Hosea 10:12
Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.

Not Too Bright

2009-04-05T16:20:00.003-05:00

Today, Jake got his head stuck in a plastic animal cracker container.... And I do mean STUCK!

When I first found him, I quickly realized that he had no air and would suffocate if I didn't act fast. I made holes so that he could breath and that took care of the first problem. The next was to figure out how to get it off!

He was quite scared and stressed, especially when I came at him with the garden trimmers, but after an hour and half, I finally got him free. Let's hope he learned his lesson, but as this is not the first time, I won't hold my breath. He may not be the brightest dog in town, but we love him and are glad we didn't loose him to a plastic jar!

Spring Rain

2009-03-24T15:19:00.005-05:00

With the rain of Spring upon us, the gloomy days tempt us to be gloomy ourselves. So this morning we pushed back a little with a lovely Nature Walk. The woods around our home have come alive with birds and bugs, moss and mushrooms, and the trees are starting to awaken from their slumber with tiny buds.We brought back our rugged treasures in cardboard boxes and got busy with our creative work.We each worked on our own arrangements.. a twig here, a rock there, all tucked into a bed of moss.

Each creation had it's own personality, taking on that of it's maker, but beautifully reminding us of the Creator of all.

We were actually quite proud of the finished product, and even took one to a friend as a gift.

I will send you rain in it's season, and the ground will yield it's crops and the trees of the field, their fruit. Lev.26:4

Snow

2009-03-11T10:07:00.004-05:00

Winter does not go down without a fight here in Minnesota...

So As I struggled this morning, feeling discouraged with another cold day, I went looking for encouragement in the words of the Bible. Here is what I found.... Job 37:6
For he saith to the snow, Be thou [on] the earth;

likewise to the small rain,

and to the great rain of his strength.

Job 38:22
Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow?
or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,

Psa 51:7
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean:
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Isa 1:18
Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet,

they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Pro 31:21
She is not afraid of the snow for her household:

for all her household [are] clothed with scarlet.

Isa 55:10
For as the rain cometh down,

and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither,

but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud,

that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth:

it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please,

and it shall prosper [in the thing] whereto I sent it.

Birthday Girl!

2009-03-01T17:50:00.005-06:00

This morning we woke up ready to celebrate the birth of our big girl. She is 9 Years old today.... (half way to 18... YIKES!)

So we started the morning with Grandpa's homemade pancake recipe. YUM!

Then it was off to Chuck E. Cheese for a fun family outing. We got tokens and the kids all played.

Ok, well, the parents had fun too!

Once we got hungry, it was off to our favorite restaurant, Cottage Grill, where there was lunch and some yummy chocolate cake with our name on it.

We are so thankful that God has blessed us with this amazing little girl. It is so fun watching her grow... WE LOVE YOU SARA!!!

The View from my Window

2009-01-01T13:05:00.003-06:00

Sitting inside my warm toasty houseAs Husband clears half a foot of snow from our long driveway..He then inspects his work and kicks aside a few clumps of snow that survived the noisy assault of the blower.Meanwhile... daughter finds playmates in cold and they unite their winter joy for hours of fun!Hiding, pretending... barking like lost puppies in the snow... until The Sun sets, painting the sky as he goes.

What a beautiful view I have from my window!

That Time of Year

2008-12-01T20:06:00.003-06:00

Yes my Friends... It is that time of year again. And I don't mean Turkey and snow and lights on trees... though we are not opposed to those things... The Times of which I speak is that of the Monroy Household's Annual Holiday Fitness Challenge.

Every year, between Thanksgiving and New Year, David and I have a little friendly competition. It varies from year to year but almost always involves some form of abdominal exercise. ie. sit ups, crunches... you get the idea. This year we are also including push-ups and/or arm weight repetitions. So the rules are as follows:

We have a daily chart and we are required to write our totals at the end of the day and keep a running total day to day. We are not required to tell our competitor (read: Spouse) of our totals for the day until bedtime. (it keeps it a little suspenseful)

So today was the first day of competition for this holiday season. Without knowing it, we both totaled 400!.... and so it begins! The winner gets bragging rights for the whole year. We have spent a few New Years Eves on the floor doing crunches until we both conceded to a tie so we will see where we end up. We just figure that this way, the extra chocolate and whipped cream that comes with the Season might not stick around quite as long.

Feel free to join us in our quest and let us know who wins in your household!

Joel Peter H.

2008-10-18T16:47:00.002-05:00

We are celebrating another birth this week. My dear friend Becky gave birth to their 5th child, Joel Peter H., in their home in Honolulu. We are praising God with them for this beautiful new gift of life. We can't wait to meet him.

Special Gift

2008-10-12T19:53:00.003-05:00

My Friend Sara dropped by this evening with a special gift for me. Sara's sister is a florist here in the Twin Cities and Sara was helping her with a show today. She found this lovely orchid lei in a display and asked if she could bring it for me. When she walked up to my door with it, I burst into tears.

I do so miss my beautiful Hawaii but for a moment on this lovely Fall evening in Minnesota, the Aloha Spirit is alive and well and I feel so blessed to have such a thoughtful friend. Sara drove about 40 min out of her way home to bring me the lei fresh.I know that the pictures don't do it justice but it had the desired effect. What a special gift from a special friend.

Fall, Food, Fires & Friends

2008-10-10T18:42:00.005-05:00

On this beautiful Fall evening, the kids were blessed to have some friends over for a sleepover!We had dinner outside in the crisp evening air.The kids all ran around and played... Daddy Started up a fire to keep us all warm and of course to.....Roast Marshmallows!
Yummy!!!

We love the fall, food, fire & good friends.

Good Night

Sleep Tight!

Samantha & Ellie

2008-09-29T17:51:00.002-05:00

While my Husband is in Hawaii, my dear friend Samantha and her daughter Ellie have come to visit from Washington State. We have had a wonderful time of fellowship, interesting and inspirational conversations and catching up on Chick Flicks... (we discovered that for the most part, we weren't missing much)
The kids have had fun getting to know Ellie who was in her mommies tummy during their last visit.....
She is a delightfully sweet baby girl and it makes us all wish we had one! It has been a wonderful visit and we are so sad that it is almost over but so blessed that they came.

Hawaiian Get-A-Way

2008-09-28T18:31:00.003-05:00

David flew to Hawaii for the weekend to visit Ashley and meet Kana'i, our beautiful Grand Daughter. He got there on Friday and got to attend the Baptism for Kana'i on Saturday, along with his Mom. He will be flying home tomorrow and I will get more details on the rest of his trip but in the meantime, I wanted to share these pictures that he sent me.....Kana'i MarieAshley, Will & Kana'i David with his Mom, Ashley & Kana'iIsn't she Sweet!!
Great Granny!
We are so happy for Ashley and her Family and the many blessings that lie in store for them.

Fall Harvest Orchard

2008-09-24T21:51:00.002-05:00

With the air turning to the crispness of fall, it was time to head out for a day at the Fall Harvest Orchard in Delano, MN. Let me start by saying that "Getting There" was not half the fun. After 2 detours, lots of driving in circles, and getting lost, we arrived at our destination an hour and a half later.It was well worth the effort though. It was a beautiful sunny day and the apples were ripe for picking. It was so fun to watch the kids picking their apples and crunching into them. There were lots of farm animals with their newborns and this was a farm where holding all the animals as much as you can is encouraged.
Sara kept heading back to this adorable baby goat who just loved to be snuggled.

We were there with our homeschool coop and all the kids had so much fun being together and exploring the beauty of Fall.... before Winter steals it from us!

Corn

2008-09-17T12:40:00.002-05:00

The other day, my friend Sara gave us some fresh picked corn from her garden. My little Jonah was so excited. After he helped me shuck the corn he carried around an uncooked ear all day waiting till it was time to cook it.
He was so excited when dinner time finally came around. He plowed through two ears and had the time of his life doing it!

"The Duke of Hawaii"

2008-08-31T14:51:00.003-05:00

This week, we have some dear friends who are in town from Hawaii. We got to spend some time with them on Friday and then today we had them over for lunch. We were telling the kids that "Uncle Duke and Auntie Vivian" were coming over and that Duke is the Lt. Governor of Hawaii. This was very exciting to the children as they have been learning all about Presidents and Government Leaders. Yesterday Josiah exclaimed in his excitement, "The Duke of Hawaii is coming to my house!" Here he is with his friend "The Duke of Hawaii".
The kids had lots of questions for them, especially wanting to know if they had ever met any real Presidents. Duke and Vivian were wonderful guest and the kids so enjoyed getting to know them better.
We loved getting to catch up and "talk story" and David got to get out all his pent up Pidgeon...(for those of you who don't know, Pidgeon is what they call the local slang in Hawaii. Any good local Hawaiian boy grew up speaking this version on English) It was such a blessing for us to spend the afternoon with our friends and pray that God blesses the rest of their stay in Minnesota.

Granddaughter!

2008-08-20T11:50:00.002-05:00

We are excited to announce the birth of our first Grandbaby! Kanai Marie was born to Ashley and Will on Monday, August 18 in Honolulu. We are so excited for them and can't wait to get to know this precious little gift from God!

The Rest of the Trip

2008-08-16T20:47:00.010-05:00

Here are a few pics from the rest of our trip to California... My Mom and I playing our favorite game, Mancala...
Grandma playing Candyland with the kids...
Tickles and snuggles with Jonah...

Going out to breakfast at "Hanks"...
With Grandpa...

By brother Nathan works there and whipped us up an awesome breakfast.
David came for the weekend and we spent more time up at my Brother Fernando's house.
The kids had fun playing down at the creek...

Then Fernando and My brother Matthew took David Fishing at this beautiful spot.
They caught lots of fish and had a great time together.
They had to hike into the spot and almost stepped on this Rattle Snake!

Back at Grandma's with cousins and lollipops.
And Swimming everyday!

Baskin & Robin's 31 Flavors Ice Cream!
This was a childhood hang out for me so it was fun to go back with my kids and enjoy the ice cream.... My favorite: Chocolate Chip Mint... But I also had some chocolate-peanut-butter for old times sake.

Here we are, happy to be heading home!
The kids were great travelers and it was a fun adventure! Thanks to my Mom and family for making it such a fun and special trip.

Birthday Weekend

2008-08-04T10:28:00.005-05:00

This past weekend we got to celebrate Josiah's Birthday as well as my brother Matthew's.So the kids and I, along with Micah, took the long winding road up to my brother Fernando's house.The weekend started with a pogo-stick competition with the boys.They caught on pretty fast and had a blast trying to out jump each other.The family all came up for the party. Here is Grandpa with his two oldest Grand daughters.The girls all enjoyed each other... and all the girly-ness that that includes.

Here is my brother Nathan and my sister Moriah. On Saturday afternoon, we finally got around to the actual birthday party with included games.....
Lining up for the Pinata....
Presents.....
Craft projects......

And an Amazing Cake!
My Sister-in-Law, Abra, has taken professional cake decorating classes. It was amazing to watch her put this together from scratch. And I got to learn a few tips along the way.
The finished product was awesome and Josiah has asked if we could print the picture and hang it on the wall in a frame in his room.... That is how much he loved it.
My big 10 year old boy was so excited and so blessed to be surrounded by Aunts and Uncles, Cousins and Friends. It was indeed a Happy Birthday!

2008-08-01T00:03:00.003-05:00

This morning we woke up bright and early, had breakfast and then... We watched Grandma walk her dog. It was quite entertaining to watch this canine run a mile on the tread mill while Grandma sat and relaxed and fed him treats.
Jonah found this activity to be quite funny. He plopped on to Grandma's lap for the best view.
This led to a few snuggles which My Mom fully enjoyed.
Inspired by the dog's example, Josiah and Siri took turns burning off their breakfast.

After a little shopping this morning, the kids spent most of the afternoon in the pool with Grandpa.This evening, My brother's and their beautiful wives came over for a potluck dinner. We enjoyed catching up and just hanging out together.The kids had a blast with all their cousins, playing chase and hide and seek and just laughing and doing kid stuff.My Family usually gathers on Thursday evenings for a time of worship, bible study and fellowship. It was such a treat for me to join them in praising our God. I am so blessed to have a family that seeks to grow and serve our Lord together.

The Adventure Takes Flight

2008-07-30T23:38:00.004-05:00

Yes, you guessed it... We are off on a new adventure. One that will take us far away from our home in Minnesota! Bright and early this morning, we loaded up our excited kids... (that is Jonah's version of saying "cheese", he was happier than he looks)
We loaded up 3 bags full of necessities...
And hopped on a plane.... a trip sponsored by Grandma and Grandpa who are, no doubt getting things ready for a house full of kids.
After lots of snacks and books and video games and a few hours of "are we there yet".....
And one very timely nap...

We finally arrived at our destination in San Fransisco, California. We stopped at the look out after crossing the bridge. As you can see it was a little windy and the kids were anxious to get back in the car.
As always, though, it is a beautiful view. We excitedly made the drive over the bridge and though the hills... to Grandmother's house we go. We are happy to be here and looking forward to spending lots of time with my family. More pictures of the family excitement to come...

Long Days of Summer

2008-07-28T19:16:00.006-05:00

Like all true Minnesotans, we have come to appreciate the long days of summer... especially ones like today! There is nothing like a hot day spent at the lake with good friends... And a great dock for Jumping off of!!
Even Daddy couldn't resist the temptation to fling his body off the dock with his boy.

Jonah, of course, had a splashing good time....He even joined the family for a little water sport adventure in the tubes.

Josiah and Siri just couldn't get enough either.

My kids are just like little fish. They love the water and stayed in all day.
Mom, on the other hand, tries to stay out of it as much as possible. But I love watching my kids having a wonderful time.

At the end of the day, only food could lure them out of their watery playground. Pizza for dinner and Ice cream cones to top off a perfect day.

The Cottage Grill

2008-07-12T18:05:00.009-05:00

Tonight we went out for dinner at our favorite local spot. We love it so much, we thought we would share it with all of you..... It is a little place in Roger's called the Cottage Grill.
David happened upon an article in the newspaper about this restaurant started by a couple who came to America many years ago from Southern Greece. We were intrigued by their story and craving good Greek food so we thought we should give it a try. We found, much to the delight of our children, that their menu is not limited to Greek cuisine but offers a little something for everyone. Everything we have ordered comes to the table tasting like your grandma is back in the kitchen making you dinner. Some of our favorites... any thing with Gyros, the Salmon Salad, the Steak was excellent, good Vegetable soup, waffle fries and the homemade egg rolls. Last, but not least, their award winning Apple Pie may be the best I have ever had.
The Tiramisu was also delicious.... to be honest, we have yet to order anything that didn't taste great. We have found the prices to be fair and the portions to be Quite generous. It is a good thing we only go every couple of weeks or our waistlines would show it.

The food is what started us going there but it is only part of what keeps us coming back.
This place is truly a family affair. We met Libby and her daughter Joanne the first time we went. Joanne helps to manage the restaurant with all the beauty and joy you could imagine. It feels like she should be a long lost cousin or a good friend. Her brother runs the kitchen and Mom is always around whipping up some new dessert. Of course we, not being the shy type, have made quick friends of everyone and are looking forward to many more meals shared together. So stop on by... and tell them we sent you. And be sure to save room for the apple pie!!

Rogers, Minnesota

763-428-4176

2008-06-29T18:41:00.004-05:00

What an exciting weekend we have had!

After preparing our Guest Rooms and planning meals, we were very excited for the arrival of some dear friends. Penny, with her boys, Arron and Kannon arrived on Saturday Morning. They have been in Wisconsin and Minnesota visiting family and we are delighted to have them for the last leg of their journey before they return home to Hawaii.We spent hours talking and catching up and it has been such a precious blessing for me to have my dear friend and sister in Christ to visit with.Tom and Kristi, along with their kids also came to spend the day with all of us on Saturday. Tom was the Best man in our Wedding and Kristi was the Best Maid so it was so great to spend more time with them and get to reconnect. It was also fun to see all the kids. They are all growing up so fast and it was wonderful to watch all the kids having so much fun together.A jumping good time was had by all!The mommies got lots of chit chatting in along with a few good deep conversations and we even got in a power walk.... Kristi Style!
After dinner came the sweetest Dessert... no, not the home made ice cream and blondies... though those were good too. But we had the sweetest time of worship. Tom is the worship leader at our church in Hawaii and he and David spent many a night playing and worshiping into the wee hours. They got to do a little of that on Saturday and we all got to join in.It was just so precious to sing all the old songs together and some of the new ones Tom has written. Mostly, we just loved coming together and praising our God together. It was like a deep drink in a cool fountain.... so wonderful!

I am so thankful for my beautiful friends and the gift of this time together. It blessed me more than they can know! God is so good to us!

Summer Fun

2008-06-26T16:15:00.006-05:00

Summer is officially here... and you know what that means... Homemade juice Popsicles...
Setting up the pool...
And jumping in, even if the water is FREEZING!!

And my personal favorite.... Good friends coming to visit! Tom and Kristi are in town with their family so we met up at the Mall of America.
The kids had fun getting re-acquainted and of course, riding lots of rides.

Bumper cars are always a favorite....

Jonah loves riding the train and watching the roller coaster. Today, he even said "roller coaster".

Josiah and Sara tried something new... the swings. They both enjoyed it and I am sure will add it to their list of rides. In between all the business of 7 kids and tons of rides, it was fun to chat and catch up with our dear friends.

The Long Road Home

2008-06-18T18:33:00.001-05:00

Hannah's Birthday Party

2008-06-18T18:26:00.001-05:00

Hats!

2008-06-18T13:17:00.002-05:00

Sand, Boats & Good Friends

2008-06-18T13:07:00.002-05:00

Around the House

2008-06-18T12:56:00.000-05:00

Colorado Wool Festival

2008-06-18T12:47:00.002-05:00

Picnic at Estes Lake Park

2008-06-17T20:39:00.000-05:00

Horseback Riding in the Rockies

2008-06-17T20:11:00.005-05:00

just pictures

2008-06-12T16:49:00.004-05:00

no time to write now but here are some pictures. I will explain them later.

Family Tree

2008-06-08T20:57:00.004-05:00

Our Morning started with rain, but that didn't stop David from getting up early and catching a handful of fish. He shared his morning with a few Elk having their breakfast. Next if was up to my Aunt and Uncles home for breakfast and then to Red Rocks park.
It was fun but the kids were anxious to get back to our temporary home at the creek, ready to start a day of fishing and playing outdoors.

They didn't catch much but enjoyed trying.
To all our surprise, Jonah decided to go for a dip in the frigid stream. He stripped down to his birthday suit and jumped in.
Then the guys decided that we needed a bridge over to the island and it was quite entertaining to watch. They had to fight the current with this heavy metal grate.
Their determination won over mother nature and they finally succeeded in their quest.... much to the delight of all the children.

And children there were. My cousins came with all their kids. We had a hard time figuring out the whole second, third cousin connections. Josiah proclaimed..."wow, our family tree just keeps getting bigger and bigger."
Here is me with my cousins, Richard, Lisa and Robert.
It was so wonderful to have my Dad around too. The kids had a great day with Grandpa!
We could not have asked for a better day. Full of the wonder of nature and a beautiful Family Tree.

On The Road Again

2008-06-08T11:23:00.007-05:00

Yesterday morning we got on the road again bright and early.

We drove Through Wyoming....
Found a few prairie flowers...
Stopped at a few scenic view points...... and saw lots more cows

In the late afternoon we arrived at our destination in Idledale, Colorado. My Aunt Jesse and Uncle Bob have some property on the Bear Creek where we are camping for a few days.I was so blessed to have my Dad there. He flew in From California. I also got to see my Aunt Carmen and Uncle Charlie as well as my Uncle Pete. It was so wonderful to see Family all together after so many years.My Uncle Bob has made the kids quite at home...

He let them Drive a tractor....And a Back Ho!!!Then it was time for fishing in the stream. Josiah caught a little Rainbow Trout.
My Cousin Richard... the Pro Fisherman was giving him a few tips.As it cooled off, we stoked up the fire and warmed up. Josiah was quite diligent at minding the fire. After a good nights sleep we are off on more Colorado adventures today... until later....

The Adventure Continues

2008-06-06T21:38:00.006-05:00

After a very cold night, we woke up this morning to a beautiful, bright, sunny day.

The camp ground we are at is in a lovely wooded area and is conveniently close to activities.
Since our first go at Mt. Rushmore was so wet and cold, we decided to try it again.
We were not disappointed. It was breathtaking and awe inspiring.
While the actual monument is quite amazing, God is not to be outdone. The surrounding mountains and valleys are beautiful and the shimmering rocks and crystals are amazing.
It was a great family outing that brought out many interesting discussions about Presidents, current and historical, and how they lived and how they died. I think we all learned a thing or two.

Next we were off to the

1880 Train

Much to the Joy of our Sweet Jonah!

It is a beautiful historical train ride that goes from Keystone to Hill City.
It was an hour long ride, meandering though forest and over streams with lots of wildlife peeking out to say hello. We got off in Hill City to discover a crowd of children waiting for Thomas the Tank Engine who was in town for a special appearance. That was a fun treat for Jonah. We took the return train back to keystone, had a quick snack and then set off for....

Reptile Gardens!
It was a large reptile habitat where we got to pet crocodiles....
Pet snakes....
And see lots of other creatures. They had a bird show, an alligator show and a snake show, all which were thoroughly enjoyed by our budding animal conservationists.

So now we are all just a little tired. The kids are sound asleep and David and I are not far behind. We are so thankful for the beautiful weather, God's amazing creations and this precious time to be together.

Summer Road Trip

2008-06-05T20:52:00.006-05:00

Hello to all our friends from South Dakota! The first stop on our summer road trip.

We started our adventure yesterday morning by packing up our rented RV. The kids were so excited and ready to start our journey
We made it to Mitchell, South Dakota last night and started off early this morning. Here is David and the kids at our first rest stop.
They are having fun with the co-pilot job. Josiah loves to narrate the tour and point out passing interest on the road... such as... cows, and cows, oh and look, more cows!

We arrived at the 1880's town and took the hour long tour looking at all the old building and interesting stuff.It was raining and a little cold so we really had to work at staying out of the mud.David and I enjoyed looking at the movie set museum from Dances With Wolves. Then we loaded everyone back into the RV and headed to the Badlands.

One of the first signs we saw said "Beware of Rattlesnakes" The kids took this warning quite seriously and nearly missed the awesomeness of the view because there were looking for rattlesnakes the whole time.Here is Josiah pointing out some possible snake holes!

It was an amazing view though and was a reminder of how creative our God is! I really enjoyed watching the terrain change. Driving through Minnesota was mostly flat farmland. When we got to South Dakota, it changes to beautiful rolling hills... with lots of Cows... Oh, did I mention that already. Anyway on to...
Mount Rushmore!

Josiah, Siri and I made the walk up to the monument while Jonah slept and Dad stayed with him in the RV. Because of the rain, it looked as though the Presidents were crying. But it was beautiful, even in the rain.
They have all the state flags there with and inscription on the marble below them. We were excited to find this one!

We are camping overnight and have more adventures waiting for us tomorrow. Stay tuned for more as Minnesota Adventures explores the country.

If You Give a Mouse A Cookie

2008-05-23T17:24:00.005-05:00

Or in our case.... If your neighbor brings you a raspberry bush, you have to plant it ....
And if you plant it, you need to water it...
.... and if you water it, Jonah will think that it is time for water play....
When Daddy comes out to see what is going on,
he may decide to pull some weeds.
When Daddy starts to pull weeds, it will make us look at flowers... And if we look at flowers, we will have to stop and smell the lilacs....

The smell of the lilacs will make us so happy, we may need to spin around...

Of course, boys who have no interest in lilacs or spinning will have to go jump on the trampoline...

....and boys who jump on the trampoline get very hungry..... So we will go inside wishing we already had raspberries to eat!

Hatchlings!

2008-05-14T10:33:00.003-05:00

(Try Clicking on the Photo for a closer look)

After weeks of watching and waiting, our baby birds have finally hatched! The mother Robin has faithfully cared for her 4 eggs, one of which still hasn't hatched. The babies are so new, possibly just hours old. They are just little pink wiggling blobs. But we are so excited to watched them grow in the coming days. Josiah and Siri are so thrilled to get to experience nature in such a tangible way.

Are You Smarter Than A Second Grader

2008-05-08T12:56:00.003-05:00

As Homeschooler's, we are required by law to have our children participate in Testing every year. So this week we picked up the test and I have been administering it to Josiah and Siri. I have tried to make it as relaxed an atmosphere as possible so they wont get too nervous... The truth is, I am working myself not to be anxious over the results. There are some things that I just know they are getting wrong. (Things that we haven't covered yet in our curriculum or areas where I know they struggle) It is an interesting mix of emotions I find myself in. I want them to do well, in large part because I know that it is a reflection on me as their teacher, not because I really feel that the stuff they are being tested on is that important.
As I watch them make mistakes (and bite my tongue so I wont try to help them) it is good for me to see areas that we need to step it up a little.
But then I also get to see how much they absorb from just living life in our family and playing and exploring. There are things on the test that I didn't teach them yet and they surprised me by getting it right anyway.
We have a few days to go and we will all be happy to put this week behind us.

Bird's Nest

2008-04-30T12:27:00.004-05:00

Among the trees

It's a bird's nest

And in the nest

Her three eggs rest,

And in each egg---

Hush, you'll be heard--

There lies asleep

A tiny bird.

By: H.N. Bialik

We found this beautiful Robin's nest in a low evergreen tree. Today when we went to check on it we found this wonderful surprise. Three tiny eggs! We have watched from afar to make sure that our presence did not scare away the mother bird. She is not daunted in her task by a few curios kids. We are so excited to watch for the arrival of new life.... we will keep you posted.

Fishing and Other Fun

2008-04-30T08:12:00.005-05:00

After a week of cold and rain and even a few inches of snow, we have been excited to get a few sunny days. Daddy had an afternoon meeting get cancelled yesterday, so he came home, grabbed the kids and they were off to their first '08 fishing adventure. The fish were biting and they had lots of fun catches.
They came come home all excited with lots of stories to tell.
David will be updating the Family Fishing blog soon for those of you who like the gory details. The Link for that blog is on the right of the screen along with the other blogs.

After dinner, with hours of daylight still upon us, we were off to the park.

Jonah has got quite adventurous these days and was having so much fun with Josiah and Siri and the slides.
We got home around 8:00pm, just in time for a bath, a quick snack and then off to bed.

Spring Is.......

2008-04-14T19:21:00.004-05:00

Spring is....the first hint of green pushing through the cold ground. Building a tree from forgotten twigs...
Finding the first new buds as they reach towards the warmth of the sun.

Asking for just 10 more minutes after 2 hours outside.Running our fingers through fresh green blades of grass...

Collapsing into the warm, damp earth with the warmth of the sun on your face and the sound of children playing in your ears.
Searching all day for a nest... and then finding one!

Whittling a stick... just because you can.
This was our glorious day.

The sun was warm but the wind was chill.
You know how it is with an April day.
~Robert Frost

Coyotes

2008-04-07T20:10:00.002-05:00

Let me start by saying that the pictures will not do justice to the excitement of this event. Tonight while having an evening snack, we heard the dogs barking as if something were in the front yard. David got up to check and saw two coyotes walking across the driveway. They were headed towards the side of the house. David ran into the kitchen yelling something about "Coyotes". We all ran to the window.
And sure enough, there were two coyotes in our yard. They were not in a hurry but cruised around sniffing for about 10 minutes before trotting off to the cover of the trees.
I know that it is a little hard to see, but there is one of them slightly to the left of the center of the picture. We spent the next 20 minutes on the Internet. First to confirm that they were really coyotes and then finding out everything we could about them. It was so fun.... like science class in real life.

2008-03-31T12:06:00.001-05:00

Snowing again.....

Attachment Parenting ~ Kitty Style

2008-03-27T10:25:00.003-05:00

Siri is really enjoying her new kitten. Mia is really fun for everyone to play with but she is deffinately attached to Siri. I had made Siri this sling for her to carry her dolls. It turned out to be the percect size for Mia and she loves to ride in it.... but only with Siri.
She even sleeps with her...
Here is Siri doing her math school work.... And of course, there is Mia snuggled up in her sling.
Don't worry though. between the dogs and the boys, she gets all the exersize a little cat needs.

Mommy's Helper

2008-03-27T10:10:00.004-05:00

A couple of weeks ago, I fell and sprained my knee. I was completely out of commission for a few days and then on crutches for a week. I really could not do much in the way of house work so the whole family had to pitch in. My sweet Siri was an awesome helper. I would give her instructions and she would carry them out the best she could. Here she is doing my laundry.
Helping to clean up after dinner....
And serving mommy with a glad and sincere heart. Josiah helped out lots too.... with all the enthusiasm a 9 year old boy could muster. They both blessed me so much and continue to help me as I am still hobbling around the house. I honestly don't know what I would have done without the help of my kids and I am so thankful to have them around everyday.

First Day of Spring

2008-03-21T14:25:00.002-05:00

Here is the view outside our window on this first day of Spring! So I thought I would take this occasion to share with you a Minnesota Winter Poem.... Since winter seems to be sticking around... for now.

It's winter in Minnesota

And the gentle breezes blow

Seventy miles an hour

At twenty-five below.

Oh, how I love Minnesota

When the snow's up to your butt

You take a breath of winter

And your nose gets frozen shut.

Yes, the weather here is wonderful

So I guess I'll hang around

I could never leave Minnesota

'Cause I'm frozen to the ground!!

Four-Eyes

2008-03-21T11:42:00.002-05:00

Don't worry, there is no teasing going on around here! In fact, we all wish we could have some too. Today, Josiah got his new reading glasses. We had his vision tested and it turns out he is going to need some Vision Therapy. But for starters, they prescribed reading glasses.
Dad went this morning to pick them up and Josiah was quite excited. He is convinced that they will make reading and school much easier.
So he wore them today while we did school and so far the report is positive. If nothing else, It has made him more excited to read and certain that he is just a little smarter now.

What happened to Spring?

2008-03-18T09:04:00.002-05:00

With the official start of Spring just a few days away, Winter decided to roll up her sleeves and give one more good punch.

We woke up this morning to several inches of fresh snow and my Hero of a husband got up shortly after 5am to clear the long driveway. We all find ourselves lamenting the loss of the sun but we also can't help but marvel at the beautiful snow covered forest. We have the comfort of knowing that Winter will eventually lose her grip and that Spring will arrive the victor. The season's will continue moving forward... each one with new wisdom to impart as we journey Heavenward.

A Little SPRING in Our Step

2008-03-14T16:44:00.002-05:00

We are excited to report that Spring is near. The biting cold is gone and, though the ground is still covered with slushy snow, we were able to clear a path to the thawed trampoline.
The kids are so excited to get outside and jump around. Jonah is especially thrilled. Jumping may, quite possibly, be his favorite activity and we are looking forward to the months ahead with lots of sunny, jumping days.

Broccoli

2008-03-07T15:13:00.002-06:00

The other night we had broccoli with dinner. It is one of mom's favorites.... But the kids are not big fans of it. Siri doesn't mind it too much and Josiah will eat what he is told even though he would rather not.... but Jonah is a different story. He absolutely will not eat fresh fruit or veggies and pulling the obedience cord just doesn't work with him. But now he has a favorite video of Daniel and the Lions Den in which the Angel turns the lions into Vegetarians. They sing a catchy little song about how they want to eat broccoli and asparagus and so on.
So I put a piece of broccoli on Jonah's plate and much to all of our amazement, he picked it up and took a bite... then another... then another. We all cheered and clapped. I know it may not seem like a big deal in most peoples houses, but in ours, it was reason to celebrate... and we did with some yummy home made Ice Cream for dessert!

A Birthday Surprise

2008-02-26T18:59:00.005-06:00

Our beautiful little girl is turning 8 on Saturday. So in celebration of this special day we decided to get her a special gift... a Kitty of her very own! But as I soon learned, there is a shortage of kittens this time of year and her Daddy had to make a 5 1/2 hour round trip drive to a shelter in the small town of Fairfax, MN to find this sweet little 10 week old bundle of fluffy joy.

Our Kids knew nothing about our surprise, in fact Sara had been asking for a Kitten and we kept telling her "no, not yet". So the shock and awe was spectacular. We put her in a box and, after securing the dogs in the laundry room, brought it in to Sara's room for her to open.
The rest of the day was spent playing with our new friend.Sara has decided to call her "Mia". Next came the task of introducing her to the dogs.....As you can see we are making lots of progress!

Jonah Without Autism

2008-02-18T15:52:00.002-06:00

Today, the kids were feeling much better. Sara~Ashley spent most of the day coloring pictures. She is getting really good at it and she enjoys it so much. She drew a really fun picture of all the kids outside sledding

There is Josiah, Siri & Jonah as well as their friends Joshua and Hannah.

My favorite part was when she was describing everyone and she pointed to this part and said "This is Jonah without autism. See how he is playing with us." What an exciting thought. We are praying that this will, someday be a reality. We love our little Jonah so much just the way he is but we are also looking forward to who he will be when God heals him and reveals all he is inside that we don't yet see. When you think of him, would you say a prayer with us for God's best in his life and for wisdom to guide him into all that he is destined to be.

Mama Said There'd be Days Like This

2008-02-16T08:37:00.003-06:00

Monroy's are up to bat.

Respiratory Influenza in the outfield.

Here comes the first pitch.......

STRIKE ONE!
STRIKE TWO!!
STRIKE THREE!!!YOU ARE OUTTA THERE!!!!

In the meantime, Mom is busier than a one-legged woman in a butt-kicking contest..... At the moment, Minnesota Winter is kicking our butts!

I Am From

2008-02-12T14:46:00.000-06:00

I found this poem on some one elses blog about childhood memories along with the form so that you could write your own. I enjoyed hers so much that I decided to do my own. It was really easy and fun to do. So here is mine. Enjoy it and then go write your own. (I want my parents to do one so we can save it for our kids... Ok Mom)

I Am From

I am from big yellow station wagons with no seatbelts, from banana seat bikes and big hair and bell bottoms.

I am from the house on the corner with the swimming pool and diving board and the smell of horses.

I am from giant Willow trees that sway in the wind and fishing at Spring Lake in the early morning fog.

I am from Family dinners every night and listening to phone calls in Spanish on Sundays, from Albert and Johnda and Sara and Louis and Johanna and Marco and a Frenchman somewhere.

I am from secret meetings at dawn in the café by the river and afternoons spent down at the creek with tadpoles and rope swings.

From “Yes, you have to eat all your Butternut squash” and “Don’t you ma’am me, I’m your mother.”

I am from Church in a gym or a cafeteria or a park with lots of room for dancing. From laughter and tears and big families with big voices. From no lock on the doors and no keys to be found.

I am from a cabin in the woods and Mexico and Spain and Germany and a wood pile somewhere. From brown rice and chocolate cookies and hoagies on birthdays.

From summers in Yosemite with the bears that ate our food and from road trips and roller coasters and picnics and parties.

I am from faded pictures of long beards and beads. From Polaroids and pencil drawings and Grandparents on the walls.

I am from a place where the hungry were fed, the thirsty were given drink and the lonely could join the family.... for a day… for a season or for the rest of your life.

Underground Church

2008-02-10T11:14:00.000-06:00

Our Kids like to play pretend down in the basement. They have turned that space into an Orphanage, an Animal Rescue Center, a Book Store and this week they decided to make it a Church. They have been preparing for the last few days and last night asked David if we could stay home on Sunday morning so they could lead a Church service for our family. With enthusiasm like that we decided not to deny them. So this morning we headed down to the basement.

Josiah welcomed the "Congregation" and opened in prayer.
Siri was the Worship Leader. She used a CD. Josiah got up and introduced each song and then she would lead the singing. They used the story of Danniel in the Lions Den so all the songs came from a CD that told that story.
Here we are... The "Congregation". It was actually awesome the way that God used our children and their version of a Bible story to minister his truth to us. Being as that the windchill this morning was 40 below zero and the basement is the coldest spot in the house, we ended up all bundled up in the dress up clothes that the kids have stored down there. I am sure it was quite a sight with David wearing a Jedi cape as he worshiped our Lord and I had on the Knights cape. Of course I had Jonah to keep me warm too.
After the singing, Josiah read from a children's book about Daniel.

He then read from 1 John 4:18 and Epesians 6:11 and shared about how God helps us not to be afraid and about putting on all of God's armor so we can stand against the Devil's plans. Then he closed us in Prayer. It was so neat to see our Son leading our family in worship and prayer.

I want to share that part of what inspired them to this end was a video series that my Mom bought for the Kids. It is called LIKEN the Scriptures. Here is the link for their website.. http://www.likenthescriptures.com/ They are theatrical, musical versions of the Bible stories. My kids love them! They are really well done and it is refreshing to see it done for children with live actors instead of animated. The music is wonderful too. Josiah is already plannng to preach on David and Goliath next week. I highly recomend them the next time you are in the markent for Bible Story DVDs.

Birthday

2008-02-04T16:44:00.000-06:00

(The spell check isn't working and I can't get the pictures where I want them but I am just going to publish this post anyway so I can go to bed.)

Today was my Birthday! I am 38 years old. In all fairness to my husband I figured I better put some old embarassing pictures of myself up on the blog. If you don't know of what I speak, please see this post. So here are a few I came up with.... Enjoy

Here is me at about 2 years old visiting my grandma in Kentucky.

Next Is my amazing mom with her 5 kids in a convertable... yes we all really drove around it that.

Me at about 14 years old with my mom.

Traveling in Japan at about 23 years old.

Here is me while I was pregnant with Siri... and can you believe that I still had another month to go. Good thing my little Josiah was so light. Oh, now this is a good one. Here is Samantha and I about 7 years ago after I talked her into us getting our hair cut really short. As you can see it looked nothing like the magazine picture we were hoping for. After shedding a few tears and a few laughs.... I found out I was pregnant and gained 50 lbs. That was the year that God was dealing with my vanity!

Lets fast forward to today. A few of my friends took me out for a lovely Afternoon Tea at the Mad Hatter Tea Room in Anoka. (Hats are provided but not required)

Sara, Lisa and Deanna joined me and we had a wonderful time.
They made me feel so special and loved... And we just sat and talked for hours.

Then it was home to my waiting children with Birthday signs and cards and presents. It was so exciting.
They always get me the funniest cards and the most thoughtful presents.
Here we are laughing at the card from Jonah and David. It was one of those musical ones that sing when you open it. This one belted out the song "I Will Survive".

I got an expresso maker so I can make my own Lattes. I also got a Coffee gift card and a cirtificate for a Spa Pecicure along with some thoughtfull gifts from Friends and Family.
We went to Applebees for dinner so I wouldn't have to cook. It was a fun and relaxing day. I just LOVE Birthdays!

Dinner and a Show

2008-01-31T13:24:00.000-06:00

Last night, just as we were setting the table for dinner, Josiah noticed some movement in the woods linning our property. We were delighted to discover a familiy of 8 deer cruising through the yard.
It was fun to watch them becuase, while they are usually just passing through, this time they stayed and frolicked a while. They were actually playing with each other, eating, doing their "buisiness" (if you know what I mean). Well, dinner was getting cold when they finally moved on, but the thrill of wildlife in the backyard never get old.

Man of the House

2008-01-24T09:28:00.000-06:00

Earlier this week, David had to travel to New York on business for a few days. While he was gone, Josiah decided that he needed to be the "Man of the House" since Dad was gone. So my little 9 and 1/2 year old boy tried to think of all the important things that Dad does so he could fill his shoes. He sat at the head of the table and blessed the food at dinner time.
After dinner, David always blesses me by washing the dishes. So Josiah enthusiastically jumped in and attempted to do the job in Dad's place. I pitched in a little more than usual but it was a joy to work along side my son. Siri tried to help to... She kept picking at the left over plate of chicken. Then she said that she was still eating because that is what Dad does while he is cleaning up.
Josiah also pitched in taking out the trash and being generally supportive. He even dressed up as a Knight and said that he would protect me. I told him that the greatest thing that his Dad does as the Man of the House is to pray for his family so Josiah tried to fill those shoes as well. I am usually not thrilled about David being gone but my son's desire to step up and be a man like his Father made this trip all worth it.

Colder than Siberia

2008-01-19T16:57:00.000-06:00

This weekend we are experiencing some severe winter weather. On the news last night they compared the Minnesota forecast with that of Siberia... And you guessed it, we are colder here.

When we woke up this morning the temperature outside was 19 degrees below zero and the wind chill factor or what they call the "feels like" temps were 30 degrees below zero. After taking the dogs out this morning at 6:00am, David declared that it was the coldest he has ever been. When I took them out at noon it was still painfully cold and after dinner, Jake (our beagle we brought from Hawaii) flat out refused to go outside. We actually checked his feet for frost bite which can be common on the dog's paws. We have come to appreciate the meteorologist here. They work hard and are very educational. I guess when we have weather that you can die in, it is good to understand what you are dealing with. Personally, I think it is unnatural for humans to live in these conditions. If God had intended it He would have given us FUR! I guess I better stop complaining though, as I am still hoping some of our friends might someday decide to visit us for a winter Holiday. But right about now, a Hawaiian Holiday sounds pretty wonderful.

Squiggly Poop

2008-01-12T09:30:00.000-06:00

This Post is not for the Squeamish.

This week, My children have, one by one, succumbed to the Stomach Flu.
Jonah got it Sunday, then Josiah and now Siri. She woke me up at 4:00am this morning and threw up several times. This morning she seems to be doing a little better but still reached for the bowl on occasion just in case. Listen in to a conversation we had a few minutes ago.... While holding the bowl and waiting.....

Siri: Mom, I think maybe it is going to come out the other end instead.

Mom: Yeah, sometimes that happens. You might have squiggly poop. (this is what my kids call the runs)

Siri: The only thing I like about squiggly poop is that it's better than throw up and easy to get out. But I like the hard kind better... But not the stuck kind, just the regular kind.

Both: giggles.....

Mom: I think you might be feeling a little better.

Siri: Maybe I just needed to Fart!

Minnesota Wild Rice Soup

2008-01-05T17:56:00.000-06:00

When we arrived in Minnesota a year and a half ago, we received a welcome gift basket with some MN wild rice. Since then we have received several bags of wild rice as gifts. We knew that Minnesota was known for their wild rice soup and even sampled a few versions of it at various restaurants. So after receiving yet another bag of the rice in a Christmas gift basket I decided it was time to learn how to make this famous soup. I went searching on the Internet and settled on the recipe found at http://www.recipezaar.com/183736 I made it using chicken that I had made last week and homemade Chicken broth. Well, I am happy to report that it was beautiful and delicious. My husband exclaimed that it was the best Chicken Soup I had ever made. We had it with some sour dough bread from Diamond City Bakery and it turned out to be the perfect soup for a cold Minnesota winter. So thanks to all of you who have supplied me with bags of rice which gently nudged me towards this wonderful culinary experience.

Sleep Over

2008-01-04T17:41:00.000-06:00

Yesterday, Gisele, her daughter Alex, and her Grandson, Elijah came for a sleep over. It was so much fun hanging out with them. We stayed up late and at and talked and watched Evan Almighty... Great movie, by the way! This morning we all went outside to go sledding. It was so fun to watch them have so much fun. They went zooming down out hills cracking up and then climb up to do it again and again.
Elijah loved it and it was so neat to see Gisele with her beloved grandson. My kids love to play with him so it was a nice visit for all.
Our dog, Jake got out and ran away so in between all the laughs we were out calling for him. He eventually came home, much to Josiah's relief and we all came in to warm up and have lunch. They are heading back to Honolulu tomorrow so we were so blessed to have them here and are hoping for a longer stay next time,

Happy New Paint

2008-01-02T11:34:00.000-06:00

Happy New Year!
This is how we spent our New Year, with some new paint. We decided to paint our living room with "Cinnamon Spice" and "Pumpkin Butter".

David and I started on New Years Eve and the kids joined in the next day.
Siri, was especially excited to help out... I think it must be all the HGTV she watches with mommy. She even got out the video camera to film and narrate the process.

Jonah mostly enjoyed playing with the drop cloths. ..... And here is the finished product. We were quite pleased with the way it turned out.
It now feels like we are sitting in Starbucks drinking a Pumpkin Latte.

Last Day

2007-12-29T20:47:00.000-06:00

Today is Micah's last day with us. His flight leaves tomorrow morning to take him back to California. So we went out to Perkins for a farewell lunch
We all had such a fun, silly time eating and taking pictures.
The food was yummy too.

Jonah was happy to be getting out of the house again after his rather severe case of Chicken Pox.Next we decided to take Micah for a walk across a frozen lake... a new experience for him. We went to Lake Orono but didn't make it all the was across. It was cold and snowing and he was slightly freaked out by the whole Idea.So we came home and the kids watched a movie and then went out sledding in the yard until it got dark. It was a fun last day and they all went to bed a little sad and a little happy.

Snow Balls

2007-12-28T19:29:00.000-06:00

Today the kids all went outside to make snowballs. It was lots of fun.

We have this contraption that makes a perfect ball.
Micah had fun making them for Jonah...
And throwing them at Josiah. They also did some more sledding and digging and we tried to make an igloo but the snow wasn't sticky enough. Then we all went to see a movie... Alvin and the Chipmunks. Jonah and I only made it through about a half hour but David and the kids stayed and all came home talking and singing like they had swallowed a helium balloon.

Christmas 2007

2007-12-25T15:31:00.000-06:00

Merry Christmas 2007

Here is what we did today.... After everyone sleeping in till almost 8:00am we started out the morning with some home made crepes with lots of whipped cream on top.
Then we gathered around the table to read the Christmas story from God's Word.
David read the account from the book of Luke. By then the kids were ready and waiting by the tree excited about the giving... and the getting!

They were all excited with lots of smiles and hugs and words of jubilee.

Here are the boys with their new light sabers.
And Mommy got a gift card for Caribou Coffee!! Whoo Hooo!!
Mommy and Daddy just had a great time watching all the Joy go around.

Then... it was time to go OUTSIDE!

There was a beautiful snow falling all day but that only added a magical element to the fun.
They had so much fun just being together... And of course, eating lots of snow!
Daddy got in on the fun.... but seriously, I think it is time to get the man a real snow board... He has gone as far as he can on the kids plastic one.
After a few hours and lots of rosy cheeks, it was time to pack up the sleds and come inside.
Every one relaxed in their own way. The big kids played Play Station. Josiah was so excited to get a set of remote controllers so now he can play with 2 people.Jonah decided to spend some quality time with his trains.And Daddy decided to spend some quality time with Mom's new Christmas present.... The Homedics Shiatsu Massage Cushion. He has decided that it is the best present he ever bought me.
It was a beautiful day of celebrating the gift of Family and the beauty of God's creation.

Micah

2007-12-24T12:51:00.000-06:00

My Nephew, Micah is here visiting with us for Christmas. He arrived last night after braving his fist ever solo Airplane flight. He was quite the brave 10 year old and managed the whole adventure just fine.

Josiah and Siri were so excited. They took a nap yesterday so they would be able to stay up til he got here. With the flight delay and a winter storm slowing down the roads David and Micah finally arrived home at 12:35 am. They were all tired but warmed up in front of the fire and had a snack before getting to sleep at about 1:30am.

Micah wanted to get outside and play first thing this morning. So with a chilly 9 degrees outside they bundled up for some digging and sledding.
The first round was fun but after a short time they were cold and came in for some hot chocolate. When Micah finished he promptly bundled up and went back outside for more sledding with Uncle David.They had a great time. They are all begging to go out again already. What a fun way to enjoy a beautiful Christmas Eve.

Christmas Craft

2007-12-14T19:25:00.000-06:00

Now that the kids are feeling better from their Chicken Pox episode....
It was time for a little Christmas Crafting. We made a fun Christmas paper chain with red and green construction paper.
But before we put it all together, a name is written on each strip. Mostly names of Aunts & Uncles, cousins and friends who live far away.
After putting it all together we hung it up next to the kids beds. Each night at bedtime, they each tear off a ring and read the name. We then pray for the person. It is so sweet to hear them pray for their friends and cousins. They pray mostly for the things that matter to them at bedtime... that you will sleep well and not have any bad dreams... and last night Siri prayed that her cousin would "Rest in Peace".

Adventures in Chicken Pox

2007-12-09T14:17:00.000-06:00

Yes, you read that title right... we have the Chicken Pox. I have to say that it did not come as too much of a surprise when Josiah and Siri started getting it. We knew that they had been exposed..... The surprise came when David got it right along with them!So... I went out and got all the recommended stuff. Oatmeal bath, lavender oil, Sea Breeze, itch relief cream. I ending up making a mixture of all of it in a spray bottle and I am like the little running spray dispenser. The kids are hanging in there. Distraction seems to be the main strategy. Siri and I did this 300 piece puzzle yesterday. I went to the video store and got lots of stuff to watch.
Siri seems to have the worst of it. She didn't get that sick but started breaking out almost immediately and now is quite uncomfortable.Josiah and Daddy are doing really well. They got sicker in the beginning. Josiah did not break out as bad and the ones he has are not bothering him too much. David is still getting more spots so we will have to see how he does but he is not a complainer so it is hard for me to tell.

Oatmeal baths are the recommended treatment. They seem to serve more as a fun distraction than anything else but it is a treat for them to play in the "big bathtub".

As you can see by Siri's back, she is at the worst stage. Very itchy and painful. I think she should be over the hump today though and we are hoping for a better night sleep tonight.She did manage a nap this afternoon which is why I found time to write this entry.As for me.... I am a little bit frazzled but hanging in there. I am expecting that Jonah will be getting it in about 10 days or so. Here is what I have learned for maintaing my sanity....

Coffee is a necessity, getting dressed is optional and

words of sympathy are welcome.

First Winter Snow 2007

2007-12-04T21:30:00.000-06:00

This week, we had our first good snow of the season. The kids were so excited. Every day, now, they are begging to get out there and play. They like to play on the snow drifts and sled down our hills. Last year, Jonah did not like to go out in the snow but he seems to have had a change of heart this time around. He especially loves to eat the snow.. While we were outside the other day, our neighbors came over to join in the fun. They are very sweet girls and the kids all played together for hours. They made a train with their sleds and tried to come down the hill like a together. It was fun to watch them. I am sure there will be many more days like this to come, but there is something a little extra special about the First Snow.

Gingerbread Spice Tea

2007-12-01T08:54:00.000-06:00

Yesterday, My friend Lisa's children picked out this tea to bring me as a gift. I woke up on this cold wintry morning and made myself some. I added a smidgen of sweetener and a touch of cream and sipped it form my mug that Kristi made me. What a delightful and yummy experience. If you like the taste of gingerbread.... I highly recommend that you pick some up the next time you visit the market. Then cuddle up next to the lighted Christmas tree and have a quiet holiday moment!

Play Date

2007-11-30T17:29:00.000-06:00

Today we invited some friends over for a play-date. There were 3 of us mommies and 12 little Blessings ranging in age from 3 to 13. The kids had a blast. They used up all 4 levels of the house playing Castle. We were overwhelmed with Princesses and Knights in Shinning Armor. They only took a break to eat and there were a few tears shed when it was time to say goodbye. We were so blessed to be surrounded by friends and look forward to many more days like this through the long winter.

Thanks Sara and Lisa for sharing your Families with us today.... You are such a blessing!!!

Dinner Guest from Hawaii

2007-11-25T21:51:00.000-06:00

This evening we had the pleasure of more wonderful Hawaiian Guests. Sam and Gisele, our dear friends from Honolulu stopped over in Minnesota on their way to Africa. They came for dinner along with Jacque and Elijah.
We had a wonderful time of catching up and talking story.....
We have not seen them for a year and a half and yet it was like it has only been a month. We settled right in to sweet fellowship..... just like old times.

We played a fun game of Who Nu.... lots of laughs, and Jacque won both rounds.
Sam and Gisele are off to Africa to minister for a few weeks and then they will be stopping here again. It was nice that we didn't really have to say goodbye yet... Just, "We love you, we will be praying for you and we will see you in a few weeks".

Thanksgiving 2007

2007-11-23T09:25:00.000-06:00

Yesterday was Thanksgiving. It is one of my favorite Holidays and this year was no exception. We love all the preparations. I love how I have to call my mom 12 times in 3 days to discuss how to make the sweet potatoes and how David is always in charge of the Turkey. He did a great job this year.... Well, I helped a little.
As always, rain or shine.... or snow, he cooked it in the grill. It came out perfect.

This year we had the wonderful privilege of spending the day with our friends, Andrew and Sara and their children. It was a feast of good food, football, and fellowship.

The children had a wonderful time and we all felt blessed to be together. We hope all of you had a great day celebrating all the goodness God has brought into your life.

Our Family Fishing Blog

2007-11-17T15:25:00.000-06:00

We have a new blog.... It is especially for our friends interested in our fishing adventures. A sort of Scrap-Book, if you will, for David and the kids to share their Fish Tales. Check it out! http://fishingwithjosiah.blogspot.com/
You will also find the link at the right side of this page. The updates may be slow, as we don't do much ice fishing but come next spring we will be ready to go. Enjoy!

Dean

2007-11-16T21:05:00.000-06:00

This week, we had a visit from a dear Friend. Dean flew in from Honolulu for business but was able to spare a little time with us. David and I got to take him out for dinner the day he flew in. We went to the Twin Cities Grill at The Mall Of America. It was fun to catch up.After his conference, he got to spend his last night with us. We spent some time outside enjoying the beautiful, crisp day.

Of course no visit to Minnesota would be complete with out a visit to Cabela's. So after a dinner of Lamb Stew and Sour Dough we loaded up the van and set off.The kids enjoyed showing Uncle Dean all of the animals and the shooting gallery.We ending the evening with dessert at Perkins restaurant. We were so blessed with Dean's fellowship and the Joy of the Lord that always shines through him.

Cold

2007-11-15T14:58:00.000-06:00

The Weather is starting to get cold. This past week we had our first snow flurries. It is always so exciting when it begins.... Ask me how I feel about it in March. But for now we will enjoy the wonder of a new season. The Kids watched it falling and couldn't wait to get out there.
They were hoping to be sledding by the end of the day but nothing stuck this time. Maybe we will be sledding by Thanksgiving. We'll see.

Wedding Dress

2007-11-07T17:46:00.001-06:00

Well, I have a little story to tell you about my day. It all started a couple weeks ago with a bright idea.

"Wouldn't it be fun to be able to fit into my wedding dress for my 10 year anniversary?" So a few crash diets and a several hours on the elliptical later.... here I am in my dress.

Then I decided it would be fun to take pictures in it and make a card for my husband about how I would marry him all over again.

So, I put it on today, fixed my hair and put on some makeup. The dress is a little tighter than the first time and I kept having to re-zip it, but it worked. So I got my personal photographer.... aka my 7 year old daughter Siri, and we started shooting. We took a few in the house but the lighting wasn't great so we decided to go outside.

Never mind that it was 35 degrees out there. We were determined. Things we going fine until I got another bright idea. I thought it would be fun to take a picture of me running down the hill, looking like a carefree bride.... ok so maybe I have watched a few too many romantic movies... but this was my chance to shine. We had to do it a few times to get a decent shot.Then, on my 3rd run down the hill, the unthinkable happened..... I tripped on my dress and went tumbling! Literally, head over heals, rolling, bumping and thumping down the hill. The straps on my dress broke, my flowers were crushed and there were grass and mud stains on my beautiful wedding gown that I had saved for 10 years.

I couldn't decide weather to laugh or cry.... I wanted to do a little of both. I escaped with only a scraped up arm and a little damaged pride. But I don't think my dress will ever be wearable again... It may have been worth it though. My daughter will forever have the memory of her mother tumbling down the hill in her wedding dress. And I guess I can tell my husband about how I still fall head over heals for him.

10 YEARS!!!

2007-11-05T18:30:00.000-06:00

This week, David and I will be celebrating our 10th Wedding Anniversary!

We are excited to report that we are more in Love now than we were then!We thought we would share a few pictures of our Special Day.

It was such a blessing to have so many of our friends and family stand with us as we started our journey together.

Here we are with our Wedding Party:

Men: (Left to Right) Neal, Tom, David, Tommy & Sam

Women: (Left to Right) Kristi, Malia, Rohnda, Becky & Ashley

It is hard to believe that Ashley was only 13 then. She has grown more beautiful every year and I am so happy that she is included in our family... and that she was there for the start of it.

Here is me with the Flower Children.... I had 10 of them! That was one of my favorite parts of the ceremony. They walked down the aisle dropping Plumeria Flowers as my brother, Mathew, sang Jesus Loves Me. So precious.

It was so wonderful to have our Families all there. Here is a picture with David's mom and Ashley.

My Family Journeyed from California to Hawaii to be with us.L-R: Eva & Matthew with Micah, Nathan, Fernando, Me, David, Mom & Dad and my sister Moriah in front with Sage. It was quite a trip for them and I am especially grateful to my Mom who helped get them all there.

Our Dear Friend Pastor Mark performed the Ceremony and it turned out to be all that we had hoped for. We celebrate all that God has done in us the last 10 years and look forward to many more years of growing and learning together.

Minnesota Zoo

2007-10-26T15:59:00.000-05:00

Today's Adventure took us to the Minnesota Zoo. It is located in Apple Valley, about an hour's drive from our home.

It was a beautiful day. The exhibits are quite spread out but the walking trails in between were gloriously painted with the vibrant colors of Fall.
Here are the kids and I near the Tiger's domain. Jonah especially enjoyed climbing on the sculpture.
Next, it was off to the Camels. What amazing creatures. I think it was my favorite.... God must have been in a silly mood when he thought those up.

The Prairie Dogs where especially entertaining and I think they enjoyed us as much as we enjoyed them.The Meerkats had already moved to their winter home but the habitat is still there and was a great place to stop and play. There is a series of tunnels and caves to climb though that lets the kids see some of the underground habitats and pretend to be Meerkats themselves.We then went to Discovery Bay. It is an aquarium with several beautiful displays. The kids favorite tank was the interactive one. They actually got to reach in and pet Leopard Sharks and Sting Rays.The Monorail took us on a tour of the whole Zoo with a narrator to educate us on the different exhibits. It was a beautiful, relaxing and informative ride.Thank you God for a lovely day to enjoy your Creations.

Football & A Fire

2007-10-25T21:28:00.000-05:00

Tonight we were off to my friend, Sara's house for the last night of Flag Football. It was a beautiful, crisp fall evening. The kids had a great last game and I had lots of fun taking pictures.

We got this great team picture of all the kids and the coaches.
Siri even decided to play tonight and that is Josiah going for the ball.
As the sun set, they finished up their game and then went over to the Bon Fire.

We roasted hot dogs......
And marshmallows..........
And watched to moon rise. Once it was dark, the kids played a fun game of tag in the blackness until it was time to go home. They were completely exhausted... but the good kind. The kind where you had so much fun that you can barely stand up and your head hits the pillow with a smile on your face and you are asleep in 2 minutes. A wonderful day!

David's Birthday

2007-10-22T21:29:00.000-05:00

Today, October 23rd we celebrate the birth and therefore the life of my Dearest Love David!

We are going on a little trip down memory lane... come along. I think you will enjoy the ride.

Here he is... still a wee boy at his mother's side and already charming, with a handsome face...

Here is David at about 6 years old... now we know who Josiah looks like.
Getting bigger... and check out those teeth!

Well.... for all of you who have wanted to see what he looks like with hair....
Oh the stories we could tell......
And here he is with a few of his life's greatest achievements... Namely: Ashely, Sara, Josiah and Jonah. We are so thankful that God gave him life and then gave him to us.