Fishing, Cow Pastures and Chicken Houses

For those of you who don't know my grandma passed away this summer, and I wanted to share a few things that I will miss most about her.

--We called her Grandma Hubert. Hubert is my grandpa's name, but she wanted us to call her his name because that is what her mom did.

--She could make any meal country. I grew up picking vegetables from her garden and eating them that same day. Stewed okra and tomatoes, smothered squash, fresh green beans. And the sweetest tea you have ever drank. Although, in retrospect, it was so sweet it might be the reason I drink unsweet tea now.

--She giggled at everything. Like a little child giggles.

--She was sweet and kind and never wanted anyone to feel sad. She would hurt when someone she loved hurt.

--She would always, always ask about Jake the second we got on the phone.

--They lived on the most amazing farm. I'm sad that my kids won't grow up fishing in the pond, hiking the cow pastures and playing hide and seek in the chicken houses.

--She played bingo and cards at least 4 nights a week. And she was serious about it.

--She loved to dance and she was really good at it. She and my grandpa would get out there and dance. And not to the slow stuff either.

--There was not one moment that I didn't know how much she loved me. Anytime I saw her or got off the phone with her she would tell me multiple times how proud she was of me and how much she loved me.

--And most important...she loved the Lord. She trusted Him and never lost faith.

So tonight I cried. For the first time really since she died. Not from writing this post, but realizing that I had lost a candid picture of her that was only on my phone. My phone literally fell in two pieces today (thanks to dropping it one to many times and a mighty pull by jack jack) and this picture that I had taken of her laughing at me was gone. It's the little things isn't it?

I wanted to share so that I don't forget. I wanted to share so that you might glimpse a little bit of my history and I wanted to share so that you might see where little pieces of "me" come from.

I need some clever people

Last year, we had the wonderful opportunity to participate in the walk to find a cure for diabetes with the JDRF. Many of you walked in support of Addy and we had such a great time. Our team name last year was....get ready for it, Team Addy. This year we're wanting to change it up a little. Make the name reflect our little girl somehow.

So that is where you guys come in to play. We are going to have a contest to come up with our new team name. Comment on this post with your ideas and Jake and I will choose the winner sometime in mid-August. The winner, will not only get the team name on our T-shirts, but will also get their T-shirt for free! So get your thinking caps on and come up with something clever for us!

Here are a few pictures from last year:


Team Addy right before the walk

Team Addy walking while giving a big thumbs up!


Addy girl enjoying the activities after the walk. She's so cute!


By the way, for those of you who like to plan ahead, the walk will be on October 17th this year

Three kids....Three different parenting styles--Joe

Since Joe is only 8 months old, I don't know completely what he will be like. What I have gotten to experience with his little personality I am very excited about. Joe is a mommas boy. He is happiest curled up in my lap. Not sitting on the ground beside me, but center of the lap and within pulling distance of my hair. He's fine around other people, as long as he can't see me in the room. When I look at Joe I see an old man in a babies body. He is so serious, and a lot of time I will look up to find he has been studying me intently. He is also his own little man. While Addy and Jack have blond, curly hair, Joe's is brown with a few waves. His grin is amazing and I could literally sit and stare at him all day long. Joe Hoyt was named in honor of my grandpa, Hubert Hoyt. Joe was born on the day that my grandpa passed away, and brought some sunshine to that day for my grandma. I like to think that he will always be like that. Someone who listens wholeheartedly and then has just the right thing to say or do.

Perhaps in two years I'll be able to talk about how I discipline Joe. I like to think; however, that he'll stay a perfect little angel!

My prayers for Joe is that he would choose to study the Word more than he would choose to study the world. That he will maintain his individuality while still being content to honor God and respect authority. I pray that he will listen to those who ask for his ear and that he will always be able to point the lost toward God. I pray that he will see beyond what he knows and trust wholly that the Lord's plan for his life is good and true. I pray that he would have strength of character and a humble heart. That he will always feel loved by us, but will know there is One who loves him more.

He is my sweet, sweet baby, and I love him.

I didn't forget

I haven't forgotten about my third child! We've been out of town and I didn't have a lot of computer time. Baby Joe will be coming in the next few days. Stay tuned....

Three kids....Three different parenting styles--Jack

Jack. For most of you I could stop right there and big smiles would come to your faces. I have never met someone who loves life more than him. He is my people person and seems to draw everyone into his happy circle. We'll pass old women in a store and he'll yell, "Hi Grandma" and they will stop in surprise and then begin to have an animated conversation with him. He is very touchy and likes to make sure I'm paying attention to what he is saying by touching my face and pulling it toward him. He gives hugs and kisses and is just so incredibly loving. He never stops moving either. He is always running (I should say bouncing) and finding something to get into. He spends his time playing trains and matchbox cars and following his sister around. He loves to wrestle and jump on his daddy. He plays in his poop and drinks rainwater off the trampoline. Well, those were only one time occurrences, but it's something like that everyday! His personality is infectious and it is truly hard to say no to curly blond hair, big blue eyes and his impish little grin!

When my little Jack is in trouble, all I have to do is look at him and he begins to cry. He is heartbroken if I am angry with him and devastated if the crime warrants a spanking. Sometimes, since he can't sit still, I will hold him in my lap and not look at him for a time out. He doesn't like not being able to play and so it does work for him. Then I turn him around to face me and remind him of why he was in time out and his eyes drop and we hug. I always make sure to hug him after he is in trouble because "little bit" needs to be reminded that he is loved.

My prayers for Jack is that he would be able to use his outgoing personality to reach people for Christ. That he would always be sensitive to people's needs when they open up to him. I pray that he will desire to walk the straight and narrow while continuing to be larger than life. And that God would press on his heart the dire need for unselfish servants in this world. I pray that he would be filled with the knowledge of who he is in Christ and that when things come naturally or easy for him that he would act with humility. I desire for him to jump without hesitation when the Lord says, "go." That he will always feel loved by us, but will know there is One who loves him more.

He is my precious little man, and I love him.

Three kids....Three different parenting styles--Addy

Addy is my independent, strong willed child. She sticks to her guns and will question authority when she thinks she is right. She is a little shy in social settings, but quickly makes herself at home after 5 minutes. She loves to wear dresses and fix her hair "in a style." She is brave and cautious at the same time. She is one of the strongest people that I know because she faces needles and finger pricks everyday and rarely complains. She is beginning to know and understand Jesus and it is so incredibly sweet to watch. She loves her brothers, but would rather do her own thing. She has a roomful of toys, but would prefer to color or paint. She laughs and tells jokes. She is forever smiling. She dances and sings when she is happy, and cries when her brothers are hurt. She loves school, but gets in trouble for talking.

Spankings, time outs, taking away privileges don't work for her. What does work is encouragement when she does right, and staying consistent in what we expect of her. For a long time I thought that nothing that we were doing was working, but I can see now that God has slowly been chipping away at the pride that keeps her from listening. And that things we thought went in one ear and out the other have actually sunk in

My prayers for Ad is that she would learn to channel her strong will and independence. That it means never compromising her beliefs in Jesus Christ and standing strong under trials. That she would learn to put others before herself and understand the true value of being a servant. That she would understand that beauty goes beyond frilly dresses and bows and is a matter of the heart. That she would desire to be a wife and mother. That she will always feel loved by us, but will know there is One who loves her more.

She is my beautiful little princess and I love her.

That's Crazy!!

Today was Addy's last day of kindergarten! My 5 year old daughter finished kindergarten today! I don't know how else to say it so that I can wrap my head around that thought. I have a child that has completed a grade. I thought her going to school was tough, but the fact that she completed a grade and is moving on to the next one is so much harder to swallow. Why is that?

She is such an amazing little girl. There is not a person untouched by her bubbly personality in the office at her school--Prairieville Primary. In fact, they can tell she is not feeling well when she doesn't skip or dance into their office. Their walls are covered with her art work and coloring pages. She is a happy constant in their day to day.

Another reason she is amazing is the way she took off in swim lessons these last few weeks. Her report card from her instructor said that, "Adelyn showed the most progress out of all his students. She has an excellent back stroke for her level. Awesome job!!" I mean what kind of boy puts lots of exclamation marks unless he really means them! I was just so proud of her.

Forgive everyone yelling in the background please. There was this little boy who kept jumping in and he kept freaking everyone out each time.

I am so excited about what this summer holds for us. It will be the first time that I will actually have all three kids together for an extended period of time and I am looking forward to the fun that we are going to have.

And then off to first grade.....