Christmas Last Night!

Christmas was so fun last night! Of course, Jackson didn't have a clue and could care less about it all! Jaycee was all about her presents and Jackson's. She was thrilled with her trunk of fairytale princess dresses. She also received a Melissa and Doug princess dress up doll. It is like paper dolls but its all magnetic. So which is really cool! Jackson got a rocking horse, which of course Jaycee thinks is hers. She rode on it for a very long time. Jackson is still a little small for it, but he will love it before long. He also got his first set of John Deere tractors! Right now the cows that came with that are his favorites!

Last night Jaycee decided she was ready to play dress up. She put the first dress on! OH MY GOODNESS! She was so beautiful! She loved just prancing around the room. It also came with a lace fan and she walk around the room fanning herself! It was so adorable! I can't even describe. So maybe tonight I can get some pics on her so you can see her!

Also, Papa (Andy) was building Jaycee a house out of the Lincoln Logs. He had gotten one all finished and before he could really even show Jaycee the house, she knocked the whole thing over. Papa said, "Jaycee why did you do that?" Jaycee's reply, "That's just what girls do!" It was so funny! Oh what a character she is!

Before I forget!

Oh the joy of being a mother to Jaycee Ann! She is such a little girl! Her smile can light up a room. This whole moving thing I think has been a little challenging for us all. She isn't quite sure what is happening. She tries but that brain of hers just can't process all of the info. Anyways, yesterday we weren't at the house at all. I felt like the kids needed a break and to have a little bit of a "normal" day. So Jaycee and Jackson did very well. They both had good naps and for the most part were very happy. Today we went out to the house to do all of the cleaning and to make sure we had everything packed. When we got there, Jaycee went to her room threw down her blanket, bear, and pacifier and shut the door. (that is here usual thing). She really likes to play in her room. So later on she took some toys in and played for the longest time. Then she came out and told me that she was getting tired. So she gathered up the 3 items that she had first placed in her room and she shut the door again. Few minutes later I went to check on her, and she was laying on the floor exactly in the spot where her bed use to be. She had covered herself up and was all snuggled with her teddy bear! (Wasn't quite asleep yet) So of course tears came to my eyes when I saw how precious this was and that no matter what (in her mind) that would always be her bedroom!

4 days left!

Wow, this week has gone by soooo fast! I feel like I have hit the wall! I am a little drained at this point! I am ready to sit down and relax and not really have to do a thing! Which I don't think is really possible at this point. The house is pretty much packed up. Byron and Andy are loading the truck as I type! Marilee, the kids, and I are just hanging out at Marilee's house. Jaycee is having a hard time processing everything that is going on. So I didn't think it would be a good idea for her to be at the house watching everything that we own go into a big truck. She needed a change of pace and it seems to be working.

I know in my last blog, I said that we were doing Christmas Wed. with Andy and Marilee. But we postponed until tonight. We decided it might be easier since we are staying here. So that will be something fun for tonight. Hopefully, we all can just enjoy the time and not think about the million other things we still have left to do! So maybe tomorrow I can post some pics of our Christmas.

We have received good news from the Lohrers in Ghana. They got Kathryn's passport yesterday. Today they got all the medical exams and paperwork done. All they lack now is the visas. So please be praying that God's favor will allow them to file the paperwork and receive the visas on Monday. What we all understand is that you can only file for the visas on Fridays. So they are going to go on Monday and plead their case. We serve a mighty God and know that with Him anything is possible That would be the best Christmas present for everyone if they received the visas and could return home by Christmas!

Have a great weekend!

The Latest Pics from the Lohrers!

My little cowboy!
Jackson is standing!
Jackson is falling!
Zoe and Scooby, best buds!

Jaycee wearing her new coat and loving her teddy bear!
Jackson pounding on our slider! One of his favorite things to do!

So tired he fell asleep! So cute!
My little cowgirl!

Our last week in Washington :(

Wow! I can't believe its already here. Our last full week in Washington. Its going to go by so fast I tell you. We have something going on every night. Which is wonderful. We will be spending every free moment that we have saying good-bye to all of our friends and family! Its so very hard this time around. When we moved 6 mos. after we were married it was definitely hard. This time especially for me is extremely tough. I have had over 2 yrs. to really get to know our family and friends up here. I love them all so very much. Now, not only do we have to say good-bye to them but its saying good-bye to all of their kids as well. Thank you Lord, for having someone invent the internet! Its wonderful technology! Even though we will be thousands of miles away, we will can still watch everyone's children grow up! To all of you Pacific Northwesterners know how much I love and care for you all! You all have a very special place in my heart and it will be with me forever! You all are the best!

Now, for this week ahead! Byron and I have mapped out our plan for this week. Its pretty hectic! Making phone calls to turn stuff off, to turn stuff on, and to change addresses. Also, we still have packing to do. Tonight we are having dinner with Tyler and Alli. Tues. night we say good-bye to our small group. Wed. night is Christmas with Andy and Marilee. Thurs. we have dinner plans with Joel and Misty. Friday we pick up the truck and load all of our stuff. Sat. we will spend cleaning our house and doing last minute touch up stuff. Sunday we will attend church in the new Worship Center at NCCTK. Then we will head down to Seattle to pick up Trey and Serah. Monday we will make sure things are in order and show Trey and Serah a little bit of Whatcom County. Tuesday we are off!

Please pray for patience, strength, and energy for us. Also, that everyone will have safe travels. That we will have a contract on the house by the time we leave. Continue to pray for Phil, Amanda, and their 4 kids! For Andy and Marilee b/c they will be on a emotional roller coaster. Bless their hearts they are such troopers! Thank you all so much for all of your prayers and support! Its means so much to us to have such wonderful friends and family!

Randomness!

Where do I begin? Things around here are a little crazy! We have had lots of different things going on! I think a lot of you know that Phil and Amanda are adopting 2 kids from Ghana in Africa. They left on Monday morning. They arrived safely. They now have their precious babies in arms! So that has been a roller coaster of emotions for the entire family. So they are not suppose to be back before we move to Oklahoma. So we already said our good-byes to them. Which was very difficult! We are still believing for God's favor and that all their paperwork gets processed quickly and they can return home before we leave. They have set up a blogsite so if any of you would like to read about their adventures in Africa feel free. They have pics up of their children as well! Here is the blog site http://www.lohrerland.blogspot.com/

As for us, we have begun the packing! So our house is a mess! Which is very hard for Byron and I both to live with. It won't be this way for long. Marilee was here yesterday and will be back today to continue to help with the packing. So thankful that she is willing, b/c I probably wouldn't have started. Its just a little overwhelming to know that I need to pack the house up and take care of the kids. We are doing it, I just needed a jump start!

In regards to our house, I think God is really trying to teach me patience! It has been very trying at times! I know that God's timing is best! I know that He has a buyer for our home, but my flesh wants to rule and have it all now! I continue to have faith and trust in the Lord. He has already brought us through so much in our lives, I know He isn't going to stop now! We have had so many lookers! In the past week, we have had 3 returners! We really thought all 3 were going to make offers! One person needs a house in 2 weeks, but her granddaughter thinks she needs a bigger place. The other couple loved our yard, and didn't want the new houses across the street b/c they didn't want to live with mud for 5 mos. Then we had some return on Tues. They were here for an hour and 15 mins. We still haven't heard back from them! So it is very frustrating! We keep believing in God's favor and his perfect timing! We know our house is sold and each day we expect to hear that! So continue to pray and agree with us on that!

Jaycee and Jackson are doing great! Jaycee has a strong little personality! At times she can be a little bossy! We are working on that. I keep reminding her that God has made her to be a leader, but that she needs to learn how to use it in a right manner. That if she continues to be bossy then she will be like the bully on the Veggietale show Minnesota Cuke. So I think it is starting to sink in a little! She is a very big Daddy's girl! She could ask for anything and Byron would do it in a heartbeat for her! Its so cute. As for Jackson, he just goes and goes! He is crawling all over the house and pulls up on everything. He can stand all by himself. He is now walking along things. He loves to "pound" on any and everything. As I am typing this he is pounding on our slider in our room! He loves his freedom! He is also drinking from a sippy cup and can feed himself cheerios and crackers!

Well, I think that is it for now! Hope you enjoy!

I'm 28!

Wow! I can't believe I am 2 yrs. away from 30! It just seems impossible! I am actually a little nervous about getting to 30! There are times I feel like I can still do all the things I use to do, but then there are times I am like wow how did I ever do those things! I know I have had 2 kids in 3yrs. so my body isn't in the best shape! I am working on that! I do believe I will be back to running before long! (I just hate that my bum jiggles so much)!

Celebrating my birthday is always lots of fun. I'm not big on a lot hoopla or anything. Just keeping it nice and simple works great for me. Probably, the best present was having a nice dinner at The Keg Steakhouse on Wednesday. It was just Byron and me! I think that was Jackson's first time staying with his Nana and Papa! YAY! At the beginning I was nursing so we just didn't leave him. Then around 5 mos. I would leave him with a bottle, but in no time he just realized I wasn't there and would just cry! So it wasn't fun for him or Nana & Papa. Now, that he is mobile I think it has helped tremendously. Also, he eats other foods and he is on the bottle now! It was so nice to have a couple of hours with my hubby! I know it meant a lot to Nana and Papa just having Jaycee and Jackson!

For my birthday, Byron got me new Rachael Ray pots and pans! I was so happy! The ones that I had were from my college days! So YAY! Then I got a dozen red roses and some chocolate candy! From family in Oklahoma I received money, which is always nice! My sis got my PJs from Victoria's Secret. Phil and Amanda got me a gift card to Chili's! Which they aren't up here, but as soon as we step off the plane in OKC I will be sprinting to a Chili's! Then Andy and Marilee got me some very fun and stylish jewelry, a really soft leopard blanket, a ring holder, and a new 3 position candle lighter. Also, Marilee cooked a fabulous meal. We had Lasagna. Which is at the top of my lists of favs! My absolute favorite dessert CHERRY PIE! She knows me so well, and I really appreciate that she cares for me that much to make my day extra special for me!

There is no stopping the birthday every year, but when you have family that spoil you I guess getting older isn't too terribly bad! So Thank you all for making me feel special! I love you!