Brotherly Love

It's precious to me to see the love Elijah has for his little brother.

Even though he can be a bit rough with Ethan at times, he usually means well and is just over exuberant in showing his affection. He is always wanting to be right in Ethan's face and "playing" with him as well as giving lots of hugs and kisses. Oh yes, he get's a lot of l♥ving that's for sure!

Whether Ethan is sitting in his seat...

or laying on his tummy...

Elijah is usually right there with him!

These were taken last week. Elijah was getting a kick out of watching his little buddy roll over! When Ethan is on his tummy he just "talks" away and Elijah just giggles and thinks it's the funniest thing!While he's talking and laying on his tummy he'll start kicking his legs and waving his arms like this...

And he keeps leaning farther and farther until finally he'll tip himself over and roll to his back...

All the while big brother Elijah is there cheering him on and saying "Good job, baby Effan!"

If you ask Elijah if you can take Ethan home with you he'll tell you "No he's my baby. You want to hold him?"

That's all you'll get. You can hold "his" baby but don't think about taking him home!

Poochy Lips!

It's Pout Week!

Kid Entry:This is Ethan at the beach a few weeks ago.
He's 7 weeks old.

I finally gave in and joined in the fun at I Heart Faces!

Pet Entry:My sweet Earl Gray who is no longer with us.

He was such a great cat!

These are for you...

Do you need a Monday morning pick me up?

Yes?

Then these are for you!

Cheerful March daffodils will brighten anyone's day! These are from our garden but you can find them in most everyone's gardens around here. There are different varieties of daffodils. You can see from the picture that there are the almost white ones, the bright yellow ones and the white ones with bright yellow centers.

I love how no matter where you look this time of year you'll see these bright happy flowers blooming. All along the road sides, lining fences, in people's gardens and even in a vase on Granny's table.

Speaking of flowers, lets talk about roses for just a minuet.

I received an email from Angela on Sunday with a picture attached of a beautiful peach colored rose... the first rose to bloom on a bush Geoff had planted for me over a year ago at our Lake Helen house. He planted those rose bushes in front of our house in February of 2008 and they brought so much color and joy to me and now to Angela who is living in our house now.

Click here to go to Angela's blog and read the story of the smallest of the bushes and how it's been an example of a precious life lesson.

This started out as a quick note...

Geoff and Elijah are both in bed, Ethan is finally getting sleepy and i'm about to change the clocks. My poor little body is getting worn out and confused with all these time changes! First we moved our clocks ahead a few weeks ago while we were in Florida, then we fly over the ocean and have to adjust to the 4 hour time difference and now we're jumping ahead another hour! Can we just quite playing around with the time? Now we'll be 5 hours ahead of our family in Florida.

The view this afternoon from one of the back roads near us.

It was a beautiful day today! The wind was bitterly cold though. We had a good day. Our original plans of going to Belfast and getting the boys British passports applied for got moved to another week. Our day ended up being rather relaxing. We had a late breakfast out and then did some grocery shopping.

Daddy and son at breakfast.

I surprised Elijah when I stuck the camera back and took his picture! He's such a good traveler!

Tonight at church was a speical once a month meeting. This month they asked us to share. It was sort of an informal Q & A with Geoff and Melissa. I was nervous as usual to be in front of a group of people. My plan was to take Ethan up with me so that every one would be distracted by his cuteness and wouldn't notice if i stumbled over some easy question. =) I thought it was a good plan... everyone would rather look at a baby anyway right? But I didn't do it. And actually it went rather well and I enjoyed talking to people afterwards. Ethan got passed around and gave out a few smiles and goos. Elijah was busy making friends with every one as well and gave out hugs and waved goodbye as people left.

And since we've got a picture of each of the other family members, here's me...
In my favorite place to be... behind a camera taking pictures!

And here is what I was taking a picture of... Sketrick Castle

Ethan Discovers His Hand

It's a joy watching your children grow and discover new things. They take great delight in those little things that you may never even notice anymore. Like hands, when was the last time you really took a look at your hands and thought about the amazing tools that they are? Ethan has reminded me to thank the Lord for two healthy hands that I usually take for granted. With my hands i'm able to touch his sweet face and hold him close. I'm also able give hugs and bake cookies with his big brother. Thank you, Lord.

What are you thankful for today?

We were talking...

... and Ethan laughed right out loud at me! How precious to hear! Totally made my day!
I just had to share!

Pictures to come of Ethan discovering his hand. So cute how he goes cross eyed while studying his hand in front of his face!

I'm on our old laptop and it won't read my cameras new memory card. For some reason Geoff has a password set on our new lap top and I can't remember it so i'll have to wait for him to get home before i can load my pictures.

Maybe i should go try it again... i was trying to remember it this morning before my cup of coffee and my brain wasn't in top shape yet. =)

Happy Friday!

A Support Our Troops Give a way is happening here.

"Here is your chance to enter a contest that not only might win you a great prize, but will also benefit our hardworking, life-risking soldiers fighting overseas, like the one pictured in this wonderful homecoming photo by Karyn."


I'm a huge photography fan and I just love this lady's pictures! She has a fantastic way of capturing emotions, it's really beautiful.

Blue on a Gray Day

Since it's such a gray day outside today i decided to put a little blue up here!

Ethan Meets the Family

These are the pictures from Rachel of our first day back here in Northern Ireland.

This is Elijah on our way home from the airport. He was happy to see his Auntie Rachel... just look at the big smile he's giving her!

Nana Freda with her boys.

Ethan meets his Great Granny.
Elijah looking thrilled to be back in Granda's arms.
He really was happy and has already been out to see the cows with his Granda Charlie.
This time its Ethan who looks thrilled to be in his Auntie's arms.

Ethan meeting Granda Charlie.It's been fun to introduce Ethan to our family here and friends at church.

I really like this picture... doesn't the always beautiful Rachel also look gorgeous in sepia tone?
She's coming in a few minuets to kidnap Elijah for a while today.
Yay! I can get a shower... and maybe a nap! Ohh the possibilities!
But Ethan needs a bath and then there's the laundry and vacuuming...

Simple Joys

Who knew soapy water and a little plastic wand could bring so much joy!

I just love photographing Elijah when he's blowing bubbles! He gives me so many fun faces to try and capture. He really gets into it and his face just reflects his joy.

These were taken yesterday while it was sunny. A few minuets later is was raining... and then sunny again and then cloudy... it was like that all day.

I've found a new way to edit my photos. Sherri said I might enjoy PhotoScape and she was right! I just down loaded it this morning. It's free. And there is so much you can do with it. Like make these nifty little collages. They're a lot of fun to make... you might get tired of seeing them before i get tired of making them! =)

Well, Elijah is begging to make cookies and Ethan is sleeping so this would be a good time to do some baking.

Bye for now.

Thanks for following along with us as we take each day as it comes.

Leave your prayer in God's hands, who knows when to give, how to give, what to give, and what to withhold, Let it be as God wills, and He will determine the best.

-- Charles Spurgeon

It's Mother's Day here in Northern Ireland

Happy Mother's Day to those of you in the UK!

This is Ethan and I on our first mother's day together!

I'd get a picture with my other little munchkin but he's already in bed. I'm guessing he's going to be up early tomorrow seeing early he was in bed tonight!

"Of all the rights of women, the greatest is to be a mother." -- Lin Yutang


A Mother's Love

A Mother's love is something
that no on can explain,
It is made of deep devotion
and of sacrifice and pain,
It is endless and unselfish
and enduring come what may
For nothing can destroy it
or take that love away . . .
It is patient and forgiving
when all others are forsaking,
And it never fails or falters
even though the heart is breaking . . .
It believes beyond believing
when the world around condemns,
And it glows with all the beauty
of the rarest, brightest gems . . .
It is far beyond defining,
it defies all explanation,
And it still remains a secret
like the mysteries of creation . . .
A many splendoured miracle
man cannot understand
And another wondrous evidence
of God's tender guiding hand.

~Helen Steiner Rice~

Special Moments

I have to write this down for my own sake so I can remember it always. I love how Elijah is able to share his thoughts now. It's fun to hear what he is thinking!

Earlier this evening Elijah and I were visiting some blogs and saw one story about a baby and Elijah got excited and said "She has a baby too! Like our baby!" I said "Are you glad we have a baby? You like our baby?" he nodded and said "Thank you for baby."

Jet lagged with a Newborn...

I'd never traveled with a three year old and a new born before so I was anxious about how our trans Atlantic trip would go. Thankfully it went much smoother than I'd anticipated.

Our flight out of Orlando was delayed a bit so that put in to Newark behind schedule so we had to rush to catch our next flight. We barely made it in time and amazingly our luggage made it on the plane as well! It was actually nice because they were some of the first bags to come off the plane and onto the luggage carousel in Belfast so we didn't have to stand around and wait at all!

We sat in the bulkhead seats on both flights so that gave us more leg room and they attached a bassinet to the wall for the over night flight. Very nice! Ethan was so good. He happily lay in the bassinet and finally fell asleep. After Elijah watched a movie he fell asleep too, all curled up in his seat. So I was able to get a nap in as well.

Geoff's mom and sister picked us up at the airport. It was a crisp and foggy Belfast morning.
Rachel has some pictures on her camera of yesterday. I'll ask her to send some so i can put them up. Elijah was happy to see his Nana, Auntie Rachel and Granny and later on his Granddad Charlie. Ethan didn't much care about anything. Just that mommy was there when he woke up to feed him.

After sleeping in this morning we went over to see Geoff's boss. Thankfully he still has work for Geoff so he starts on Monday. Geoff's the kind of guy who likes to keep busy so he's looking forward to getting back to work.

Here's a couple pictures taken this after noon through the window of the car. I wasn't about to roll the window down and let in all the cold wind even if it would make my pictures clearer!

Ethan's all bundled up and ready to go!

We passed this farm in the country.
Things will be getting greener as spring arrives. You can already see daffodils every wear lining the roads and in people's gardens. They are so pretty. I'm sure you'll be seeing the cheerful flowers adorning this blog soon as well!

The narrow and windy roads.

AJ's diner. Has great fish 'n chips!

Also, thank you for praying for my Uncle as he had his hip replaced on Wednesday. The surgery only took 1 hour! The doctor said everything went well. I'm going to continue to pray that his healing will go just as well.

I'm going to get back to unpacking. Bye for now.

What are your plans for the weekend?

Uncle Tim Gets Hip!

Please join me in keeping my Uncle Tim in prayer today. He is having hip replacement surgery! Below is an email from my Aunt with some specific prayer requests.

The Rabe Family

"Never before known to be fashion conscience Tim none the less is going to be really hip starting tomorrow!

He will be having hip replacement surgery at 10:30 am. He needs to get a shot of radiation at the health campus at 7:00 am (this is due to bone spurs) and then we need to head over to Lancaster General.

For those who don't know, Tim has had arthritis since childhood and his hip in recent years has given him a lot of pain, and he has had poor mobility. He has continued his amazing work schedule and rarely complains, but when he went into the doctor for his annual check up late last year, he finally mentioned it. The doctor had an xray done, and was frankly shocked at how bad his hip was and that he was just now giving it some attention. The orthopedic docs all look at the xray and go "that hurts".

So a new hip. It is an answer to prayer. Tim's concerns about restrictions at work and mobility after the surgery were all answered and we feel like this is going to be a huge blessing! The rest of us are worried as to how we will be able to keep up with him once he recovers!

He will be home for 6 weeks on disability. The kids and I and Kyle especially will be so spoiled having him home...it will be hard to let him go back to work! We are trusting God for all our needs during this time!

Thanks in advance for your prayer for us!

A few specific requests:

1. That God will be glorified in all we do and say.

2. That the doctor will be able to get everything placed just right.

3. For our little kids as they will be babysat most of the day tomorrow.

4. For my parents and older girls who will be traveling home from California tomorrow.

5. all the tiny, little details that need to come together.

Love

Tim and Deanna"

Packing and more packing

I haven't be able to get my daily dose of ya'll blogs yet! I'll have some catching up to do once we're back in Northern Ireland.

I've been sorting and packing all day today! We're almost done! Now the question is...

...how to pack the baby?

Sherri came over to say goodbye today and this was her idea.

I'd say he's ready to go! What do ya think?

I hate this part... the night before a move or trip with big goodbyes my heart starts thumping when i think of having to say goodbye and my stomach gets all jittery. Not a nice feeling at all! It's hard to leave behind the people you love! But i'm so thankful for the time we've had and memories we've made.

Well, i'd better go finish packing. We leave the house tomorrow around 2pm. Fly to Newark and then on to Belfast. We'll arive in Belfast on Thursday morning. Bye for now. Happy St Patricks Day!

Here's My Spring Picture!

Kristin over at An Ordinary Life is hosting a photo contest to win a Seagate Free Agent Go. What a great way to make sure you never lose your precious pictures!
We have to post a spring picture in order to enter so here's my spring photo. Taken just a couple weeks ago in Florida.

Grandpa and Ethan Moments

The lighting isn't the best in this picture but I still love it because Ethan is giving his grandpa a huge smile...This little grin makes my world go round. I love it. I also love how we caught this sweet moment between the two of them...

Future Firemen!

I think we have a future fireman on our hands. Dustin and Elijah had a fun time at the fire station yesterday. It was a busy place! Three calls came in during their visit so they got to see the trucks roll out with lights flashing and sirens blaring!

Apparently Elijah was a little over whelmed at first and had the deer in the headlights look for the first couple pictures...

This is Luke the fireman showing the boys around.
The boys are in the drivers seat.
Can you see their little faces peeking out the window?Thank you Mom for taking the boys on this adventure! I love the pictures you took!
And thank you to Luke for taking the time to show them around and giving them this experience.

Then last evening we had dinner with some new friends from church. They are such a great family and we always enjoy our time with them. Elijah loves playing with their kids. Ethan was a good boy and took a nice long nap. Regina and I had fun talking about our families, homeschooling, missions and Ireland. And I know Geoff had a good time talking to Patrick. I wish we didn't have to say goodbye so soon.