Not to toot my own horn...

Ok, maybe a little tooting. As most of you know, I've been in school the last four semesters working to finish my degree (which I will accomplish, Lord willing, in April). And I just finished another semester. I only took 2 classes, Italian 201 and Brit Lit: Victorian to Present, because I wanted to give myself ample study time. I wasn't too worried about Brit Lit, since I'm an English major and I usually know what I'm about in all my Lit classes. But I was freaking out mildly concerned about Italian. This semester was my third semester and I took my first 2 semesters about 4 years ago. Needless to say, I remembered very little. My goal, honestly, was just to pass. A C or better would have been fine with me.

Well, friends, my grades just got posted and I TOTALLY GOT AN A!!! In both classes!!!!!!

I really don't mean to be all Braggy McBoasterson, but I am so excited because I really did work my heiny off this semester. And I really needed some good news today. Adam and I are currently in a time of...we'll say...testing. And things seem to be piling up all around me. I'm really trying not to wig out and I'm definately learning that dependence on God cannot coexist with my tendency to try to control and micromanage my life, as well as those of the people around me. So seeing my grades today really boosted my spirits.

I hope everyone is having a great week and finding true joy in this crazy, overly commercialized, but so meaningful holiday season. Merry Christmas, everyone!!! (That was a little Charlie Brownish and I like it.)

~erika

Let It Snow

I tend to get a bit annoyed around mid-November, when Halloween candy is still sitting on my counter and Christmas ads mount a full scale attack on my television and radio. I really don't ever feel truly "Christmasy" until after Thanksgiving. And, even then, I have a hard time without snow and decorations. So, in light of the 3 day blizzard we've been having and the fact that our Christmas tree and decorations are up, I'm definately more in the Christmas spirit. I can even stand Christmas songs on the radio and sometimes (::gasp::) I even seek them out.

Before we get too far into the thick of the Christmas season, I thought I'd share a few pics from the last two holidays. I have, as yet, failed to share any photographic proof that we did indeed participate in these holidays. So, I thought now as good a time as any. Here goes:

I was a super mom at Halloween this year and my kids wore the same thing as last year. They looked a little haggard, but I didn't waste $40 on costumes that they wore for about 20 minutes. This makes me a self-proclaimed super mom. And if you don't agree, well, then, you're probably one of those mothers who spent $50 on costumes for her kids or actually had the time to make them. Kudos to you. Leave me alone.

At least they weren't weeping this year. Here's a pic from Halloween 2007. Ok, so they're not weeping, but this is one of the few pics in which they're not. Notice how I switched they're costumes this year. I'm so crafty!

Here's Adam and I at Thanksgiving. It's a little sick that we match, but I promise we didn't plan it. Notice Adam's very professionally trussed turkey. He took a lot of pride in it and it was delicious!

And here's just a few cute ones of my kiddies. One day last week Addison refused to take a nap and then passed out on the couch at 4:00. This is Asher shushing everyone to not wake her up while simultaneously attempting to climb into her eye.

And last but not least... Two weeks ago Addison started sleeping in her big girl bed. ::SOOOOOOOOB::

Isn't she as precious as she could be??!!!

Happy weekend all!




~erika

Picture Day

Original Post: Tuesday, October 07, 2008

On Sunday we had our family pictures taken by wonderful, amazing Kasey. It was...interesting...to try to get both of our near-2-year-olds to hold still, let alone look like the world wouldn't come to an end if they were captured on film. Thankfully, Kasey has talents galore and magicked out some amazing shots. Here's a preview. I haven't even seen the rest, but I am so excited!!! To see more of our fam or Kasey's beautiful photos go to www.xanga.com/POSH_photography or http://www.poshphotographyonline.com/ .

And with that, my friends, I am officially caught up in my endeavor to copy all of my Xanga posts onto this blog. Hallelujah! Except now Sarah's telling me that I can't slurp it up. Bummer. Hopefully it will be fixed soon.

~erika

New Hampshire

Original Post: Tuesday, September 16, 2008

We are back from New Hampshire and, I have to say, it is so good to be home. If I ever again think it is a good idea to drive 17 hours to somewhere, only to spend 2 days there and then turn around and drive 17 hours back, somebody please knock me out and tie me up until said lunacy is over. At least the 2 days there were pleasant. Saturday we went to Adam's cousin Hannah's wedding and had a nice time. Weddings are always fun. Below are some pics. Then Sunday we took a drive (I know, right? More driving? For recreation?) up towards the mountains and Lake Winnipesaukee, hitting Alton Bay and Gilford and Laconia. Adam used to live in Gilford when he was really small, so the Lynds family took a little trip down memory lane.

It was actually really interesting to watch. I, of course, have none of the memories that Adam and his family do. So, for me, it was just more driving and some pretty views. But for Adam's family, especially Adam and his sister Aubury, these places conjured up images and memories and emotions long forgotten. We stopped at the cottage in Alton Bay that they vacationed at every summer as kids and I got to watch as their eyes lit up just like they probably did when they were 4 and 7. They pulled me around pointing out the boulders and trees and trees they used to climb and the beach they used to romp around on. We also drove by their old house and school in Gilford and ate across the street from the shop Buzz, Adam's dad, used to own in Laconia.

The only spoiler to the day was that I was miserably car sick. New England roads are definately NOT Michigan roads and I think I would take flat and pot-holey to winding and rolling and heaving any day. Other than that it was a nice weekend away. Although I think we're all exhausted and don't want to see another rest stop for the rest of our lives, it was fun to spend time with each other and see a place that is so near to my husband's heart. Here are a few pics...

Adam and his cousins Josh (left) and Jordan (middle), ready for their boy band album cover

Aub and MeMaggie (doing a jig) and Buzz
Abbie and Matthew (Adam's cousins, adopted a year or two ago from Africa. Matthew let us have his bed for the weekend. Thanks Matthew!)
The hubby and me

At a restaurant in Laconia. I got scallops fresh from the ocean. Yum!
A view from a scenic lookout...I think in Vermont?
A view of Alton Bay, Lake Winnipesaukee, from the old cottage
Adam and Aubury at the old resort

So that's that. Like I said, I am ecstatic to be home and getting back into the swing of every day life. I missed my kiddos terribly and being back with them makes even the exhaustion from the trip seem small. Hope you all had a great weekend, too!

~erika

And We're Away...

Original Post: Saturday, September 13, 2008

Hey ya'll. I'm in New Hampshire for the weekend. We were in the car from 5:15 am to 11:00 pm. It was rough, to say the least.
I'll update with some pics when we get back. Pray that my babies do OK at my mom's for 4 days without us. Yikes! I miss them already.

~erika

Heaven, anyone?

Original Post: Saturday, September 06, 2008

I'm sick of political arguments. I hate them. I hate how up in arms I find myself when I'm talking about it. I hate that there are only two choices, neither of which are great and I have to choose the lesser evil. I hate slanderous commercials. I hate people speaking to me like I'm a halfwit because I love the Lord and my faith affects the way I think politically. I hate reading about candidates and hurting my brain trying to decipher truth and facts from incorrect innuendos and outright lies. I hate that there are so many angry men on AM radio who yell all day about what they think is right and wrong.

It's in days like these that my heart becomes very, very homesick. I long for heaven and closeness with my Jesus with every fiber of my being. I long for my home where there are no games and no hidden agendas. Where there is no one crouching around like a lion looking for whom he may destroy. Where there is no wool to be pulled over anyone's eyes and, instead, there is revelation and enlightenment and fulfillment.

I keep picturing the Little Engine That Could, huffing and puffing and straining and plugging away up that steep, daunting hill. "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can..." That is me right now, huffing and puffing and struggling through this life that almost always feels like an uphill battle to keep moving. Just another inch. And just like that little train I keep going. Not because it's fun or easy. But because I know what lies on the other side. In that valley there is hope and promise and reward. And there is Jesus. For that, I will keep on. And when I get there, and I am walking hand in hand with my Lord, I will remember the little blue train and echo her words. "I thought I could, I thought I could, I thought I could."

My greatest hope is that when I think those words, my Savior will lean over and whisper, "I knew you could, I knew you would, and you did."

~erika

Birthday Treat

Original Post: Monday, August 25, 2008

I have literally no time, but I wanted to pop on and update quickly about my life.

Tomorrow is my birthday and I had a great weekend celebrating. I will write a post later that does the fun of my weekend and the generosity of my friends and family justice. But I did want to proclaim that my husband is amazing and abundantly generous and thoughtful and sweet and wonderful. I've been praying for a laptop forever and that's what he got me for my birthday!!! He's amazing. My answer to prayers in ways so much more important and grand than being the bearer of my laptop.

So cheers to Adam, my gracious companion.

More later...

~erika