Continue Praying

I just wanted to thank all of you for your prayers for my family over the last week. Please, please continue to pray for my sister and her kids Nathan, Lily and Logan. Specifically, that Misty will feel God's strength and peace and as she continues to mourn the loss of her husband. And for myself, that I wouldn't speak out of emotion to her, but that I would only speak God's truth.

Black and White (and color)

I have a new old past time that I can't believe I forgot about. I've recently discovered that all my old favorite movies live together on a wonderful channel called Turner Classic Movies.


Here's a new one that I just discovered:

Roman Holiday, which introduced Audrey Hepburn in 1953. It was so cute and cleverly done. I love that they kissed only twice, but didn't even need that to show that they were in love.



An Affair to Remember (1957) with Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr. I have loved this movie for a long time. They fall in love on a cruise from Europe to New York and agree to meet at the top of the Empire State Building in 6 months if they still want to be with each other. Quirky and touching all at the same time.


Then there is this type of movie:

The Gidget movies started in 1959. I mean who doesn't like a good surfing and teenage romance movie? They were just so much fun.

I'm also ashamed to say that my mom and I watched most of the Elvis Presley movies. Each year they would have a marathon on TV and we'd tune in!

Then there are these:


Natalie Wood in West Side Story (1961) was just beautiful. And although I didn't understand everything about South Pacific (1958) at the time, the music was lovely.

I sang chorus at our high school's production of both of those musicals and still to this day can remember the lyrics to most of the songs. Betcha didn't know that about me!

Sidenote: I just tried "Gonna wash that man right outta my hair" on jack and he smiled at me weirdly. I think I'm going to keep that hidden talent all to myself.

Each day, every moment

Addy started 1st grade today! . I had to put an exclamation point and a period after that sentence. The exclamation point because she was beyond excited and that makes me happy for her. The period because I have a little Addy sized hole in my house during the day now.


Pray for me!!



Addy begged to ride the bus to and from school this year, so we're trying it out this week to see how it goes. She looks so small getting on that bus.



Jack portrayed how I felt when Addy left on the bus. He let it out for both of us!


Then, to further help me, he ate toothpaste and started complaining that he didn't "felt better." After a quick call to poison control, we waited for him to throw up while snuggled on the couch together. Nothing like a good poison scare to take your mind off the sadness. He's completely fine, by the way.

Each step of her getting older seems so much harder than I thought it could be. I am reminded anew to treasure each day, every moment that I have with her. And poor Jack and Joe...hope they like quality time with their mom! I'll be like that creepy little mom from the children's book, I'll love you forever, who sneaks in her grown son's room to rock him while he's asleep.

Jake's twin

Look at this girl....she's a little Jake in the making! She 100% cracks me up!


I threw this one in just for fun!

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.