The Kintner Clan

In Remembrance

2011-05-08T16:44:00.004-05:00

To the greatest Mom in the world. I miss you and love you dearly.

Memorial Fund Contributions

2011-03-12T21:16:00.001-06:00

Thank you for the many of you whom have asked about memorial fund contributions for my mother Sharon Hurley.

A memorial fund has been established in Sharon's memory in which the proceeds will be used to support higher education for the grandchildren. Contributions accepted by Chase Bank Account Number 2947570616 or checks can be made out to Angela Kintner and sent to:

Angela Kintner
5489 Old Farm Circle East
Colorado Springs, CO 80917

With Sincere Thankfulness

Sharon's Memorial Celebration

2011-03-06T23:14:00.005-06:00

It is with great sorrow and joy that I share that my mother Sharon is resting in the arms of Jesus as of Friday, March 4th 2011. Our loss is heaven's gain. We celebrate that she is singing her heart out for her Jesus in heaven's angelic choir.

We would be honored to have you attend her Memorial Celebration.

Details are as follows.
When: Sat. March 12th, 2011 at 1:00p.m.
9440 W. Hutton Drive
Sun City, AZ 85351

Please forward the memorial service details to friends you know who love Sharon. We appreciate you helping us to spread the word.

In lieu of flowers the family is requesting donations. Further information will be provided as soon as possible.

Cards can be sent to Angela's home:

Angela Kintner
5489 Old Farm Circle East
Colorado Springs, CO 80917

Thank you for your prayers for me in this time of deep loss.

Best of Advent 2010

2011-01-21T09:18:00.000-06:00

Our Advent season overflowed in goodness, was rich in fellowship, and was full of anticipation, expectation and joy of the coming of the King.

Here I will highlight the 'Best of Advent' 2010:

I spent my birthday weekend with my mom in AZ. On my birthday my Aunt Melanie joined us for dinner and a concert by the a capella group Kings Singers. The next evening we celebrated duo birthday's with my sister in law and brother. My last night before departing home my dad treated my mom and I to dinner at the Cheesecake Factory. Our time together was significant. It is the only meal that I have had the pleasure of experiencing alongside both my mother and my father since my childhood.
Our 3rd annual Caroling party was another highlight. It was a sweet time of fellowship with friends old and new. In between caroling sets we shared stories. The awe and wonder of the Advent season filled the room. Several times my breath stopped at the raw beauty of the voices ringing around the piano. This yearly tradition is one that I hold close to my heart.
Enjoying our children sing songs to the King at church. Cuteness!
The joy I experienced Christmas Eve leading our church congregation in worship was overwhelming. My heart leaped out of my chest as I joined the masses in celebrating the coming of our King. The harmony of the congregation along with the band and string ensemble left me awe struck. Singing an 'Ave Maria' solo was serendipitous as it had a double meaning with my own mother present. An additional blessing was having my extended family in our midst.

In general, having mom and my brother's family at our home was a complete joy. More to come soon about our time together!

It's hard to believe how quickly Christmas came and went. While our Advent was overflowing in goodness, sometimes it felt too full.
Looking ahead it is our desire to be more intentional in celebrating the true meaning of Christmas. We desire to have family devotionals each day, to celebrate with friends and family, to keep gifts to a minimum and to continue to build family traditions in meaningful ways.
As you experience 2011 may you continue to dance with anticipation, expectation, hope and joy of our King.

Happy December

2010-12-02T15:52:00.011-06:00

This picture I took today is laugh-out-loud hilarious.

A genuine belly laugh was definitely medicine for my body and soul.

HAPPY DECEMBER!

With Thanksgiving

2010-11-30T21:05:00.001-06:00

After a holiday weekend full of family, friends, savory nibbles and game playing I pause again to give thanks to the One who withholds no good thing. He gives and He is good.

I am indeed grateful for the bountiful gifts of: my husband, our children, extended family, friends old and new, our church, the roof over our heads, our health, and employment. I'm also grateful for slipper socks, the warmth of the fireplace, scented candles, and freshly baked bread just to name a few.

I'm realizing the desire for my senses to be awakened to the gifts in the daily - to experience God working in even the littlest of things and to be fully present in each of them. Because God gives in the big moments and He gives in the small ones too. He gives. And gives. And gives.

For this I am a thankful Daughter of the King.
____________________________________________________

A few snapshots of our Thanksgiving weekend.Papa & Grandma with the huge bird!Cousins Kelci & Carissa

Caleb really thankful for his bread roll (he ate 4)Carissa striking a pose
and her younger cousin Olivia piercing us with the bluest eyesAnd Olivia's sister and Carissa's older cousin Kelci who is driving her own car now!
Its hard to believe that she was Carissa's age when she walked down the aisle as a flower girl in our wedding. How do they grow up so fast?A lovely holiday weekend

Here and Gone Again

2010-11-24T23:31:00.000-06:00

My Mom, aka 'Nana' came to visit us but she came and went very quickly. She was here two days before we had to send her back home on an airplane.

No more than 12 hours after her arrival she was unable to move her right shoulder and arm. Even with medication the pain was unbearable. After a series of events and talking to the on-call oncologist in Phoenix, consulting via Skype with our family chiropractor (my uncle), and attending the hospital emergency room it was decided that further diagnostics and care were necessary in AZ. In short the tests indicate a badly torn rotators cuff. (More details can be read on her blog - Strength of My Soul.)

We are thankful that Nana was here but it was a disappointment for her to leave. I know we made the best choice but the reality of her health issues hit the softer spots of our hearts.

Although my mom has been an exception to the norm I know that we are on an extended journey. The journey is occasionally calm, sometimes distressing and often intense like a winding road with unpredictable turns and random stops.

Sometimes I want to escape the ups and downs, other times I want to accept them. Admitting my conflict, it isn't my desire to shun the zigzags of the journey. Instead I want to embrace the joyful moments and grieve the sorrowful ones with harmony and balance.

May I learn to walk this journey well and ultimately experience authentic transformation.

Birthday Parties

2010-11-24T10:14:00.001-06:00

Birthday Party #1
We threw a waffle party for C & C's and a few of their little friends. We made waffles all together, ate a yummy breakfast, and opened a few surprises. Nana even got to be a part of the waffle party fun!Birthday Party #2
We had a family party drawing family members from Denver to Phoenix. It was complete with two cakes - A Cinderella/Fairy Godmother cake for Carissa and a Speed Racer cake for Caleb.Carissa got a doctor kit so that she can 'take care of everyone' - something that she does well.Caleb got a Spider Man shaving kit from his Aunt and Uncle. He thought he should get right on it since he's growing such a heavy beard and all.

The Best Birthday Surprise

2010-11-22T18:26:00.002-06:00

Caleb & Carissa have been deprived of GUM their entire '4' years. Please don't say I'm a bad mama or that I've traumatized my children. Seriously, what's the point of GUM at such a young age? We decided as parents that C & C needed to wait for the juicy pleasures of chewing gum until they were old enough to show a little responsibility.

Oh yes, the kids asked for it but we deterred their requests by telling them that GUM was for older children and something worth waiting for (we gave them no definitive time frame - translate: hold them off as long as possible...) but they came up with their target date - the year of '4' - and frankly we were ok with that.

So here it is, proof that on their big '4' birthday we took a trip to Walgreen's
and purchased their very own packs of GUM. It was the best birthday surprise ever! The experience was long awaited and the excitement was overwhelming. I just love the exuberance and joy of children. I've personally found that it is often the littlest pleasures that cause such enthusiasm.

They were chomping at the bit to get their gum open and....

...actually put it in their mouth and chew it. Carissa chose pink bubble gum and Caleb chose yellow Juicy Fruit.
I was so excited when they picked out their gum that I didn't even think about the fact that Caleb's gum wasn't sugar-free. Honestly it didn't strike me until Jeff asked me why I allowed Caleb to buy sugar gum. My answer was pretty baffled. "Uh, because I didn't even think about it? I was too in to the moment?" It was an honest answer but after two days I traded out his gum for some sugar-free spearmint which went over just as well.

So here is proof of the best birthday surprise ever. GUM.

Might I add that I felt a little strange with my camera taking pictures inside and outside the Walgreen's establishment? But the kids helped me out - they felt the need to show and tell everyone who walked by that it was their birthday and they just got GUM. Perfect.

Oh, and one lady said "that brick wall is good background, maybe I'll bring my family to take photos here". Maybe I've started something.

The Year of '4'

2010-11-20T17:16:00.000-06:00

Where oh where has the time gone?
And how can it be that my children turned '4' years old? (a mere 13 days ago...Nov. 8th)
It seems like such a short time ago they were just wee little ones.
And now, look at these sillies showing off their '4' fingers.

and playing peek-a-boo behind the aspen trees...two sillies definitely too silly Caleb, also known as 'Buddy' & 'Chunk': your smile, giggles and love for life is infectious. I love your adventurous personality, inquisitive nature and curiosity about all things (even though you set the church on fire). Your sensitive spirit and gentleness towards others is a gift. And your knowledge and love for God is developing.

You love preschool, enjoy reading books, playing imaginary games with your sister, riding your bike, playing with cars, light sabers and your new remote control car.
You are a lover of candy, Rice Krispies cereal, fruit, cornbread, popcorn and elk meat.
Your favorite colors are dark blue and red. Sometimes yellow.
You love to play hard with daddy but love mommy's kisses, tackles and hum's at bedtime.

When you grow up it wouldn't surprise me if you become a scientist. Lord help me if you become a football player. Since you are so 'big' we joke that we are going to put a brick on your head to stop you from growing.

Caleb, my son, you are a true gift in my life and loved beyond words. It thrills me to be your mama. Cheers to the year of '4', may it go by slowly so I can savor you this big.My dearest daughter Carissa, also known as 'little sweetie', 'honey bunny' & 'princess': your smiles, laughter and appreciation for even the littlest of things is so endearing. Your wild imagination often leads you, your brother and other children in free play. You adore your white blanket and still love naps (most of the time!).

You exemplify a little lady in every way. You love to cook in the kitchen, wash the dishes and help mommy do the laundry. You love all things pink and purple, princess, your baby dolls, little purses and dressing-up in your costumes.
One of your favorite activities is to ballet dance in your pink ballet costume & ballet shoes while mommy plays the piano. Your expressions crack me up! It wouldn't surprise me if you pursue dance and/or the arts as a profession. Teaching is also a likely field - you like to teach others and tell them what to do!

Your tender heart towards the Lord pleases me. Every night I look forward to hearing your favorite part of the day and your sweet prayers thanking God for simple things and praying for others.

Carissa, you are my angel and loved beyond words. Whenever I ask you "who loves you" you always answer with the long list of loved ones - "mommy, daddy, nana, papa, grandma, jesus, etc..." It thrills me that you know that you are loved by God and by your family. Please Carissa, don't grow up too fast! I cherish you and these years.

Spider Man, Cinderella & Jack O' Lanterns

2010-11-05T15:51:00.002-05:00

Spider Man and Cinderella made grand appearances on Halloween. We went trick or treating with our neighbor friends across the street.
(pic: Caleb, Ben, Ethan, Carissa)
Caleb, aka Spider Man raced the sidewalks with Ethan, the Power Ranger. His adrenaline was out of control!

Carissa, aka Cinderella was most concerned about being a beautiful princess. Even though her glass slippers slowed her pace she insisted on wearing them and showed them off at each neighborhood door.

Mid-way through collecting candy more little friends met up with us.
(pic: Walker, Caleb, Wyatt, Carissa)
Caleb checking out his loot.

Cinderella daintily eating her first piece of candy.
The Jack O' Lanters - One Eyed Jack and Mada
Carved by Jeff and the kids

the year of '40'

2010-10-28T20:24:00.001-05:00

It's official. Jeff is 40 years old.Earlier this month I planned a SURPRISE party to celebrate Jeff and all his wonderful-ness.Complete with cervesa, carnitas, and a variety of homemade salsas, and guac. dips, the mexican fiesta was not only a feast for the eyes but also the tummy!
Our friend Bridget made these gourmet desserts. Most guests indulged in more than one piece. (I'm not kidding. If you tried her desserts you would understand.)The mustaches caused lots of belly laughs!

I love Annie's (pic left) serious face - so contradictory! Not only did Peggy (pic right) look fabulous in her mustache she also got a free upper lip wax when she removed the sticky. While we were in hysterical laughter Peggy's 'wax' brought her to tears and blood to the surface. No worries for Peg, she won't need another waxing for at least six months.Jeff, may the year of '40' be a wonderful year!

Fire! Fire!

2010-10-23T10:23:00.001-05:00

Caleb set the church on fire.

Yes, our dear son, aka the pastor's kid flirted with the candelabras and caught the church on fire.

The combustion happened just minutes before the start of the church service.

I was sitting at the piano wrapping up our Worship Team practice when my friend Peggy, one of the singers, yelled "FIRE!".

Completely clueless as to why she was yelling "fire" (let alone the fact that she was referring to my child) I said, "what fire?".

When I stood up from the piano bench my eyes darted to the glow on the opposite end of the stage. My curly locked son stood with his head turned down to the ground. I followed his stare and there it was...a sea of flames billowing at his feet.

Peggy, mom of 5 children (2 of them boys) ran over to Caleb while yelling to the masses "what should I do?". "Stomp it out!" they said. And within seconds Peg's church shoes stomped out the little bonfire melting the church carpet.

Meanwhile I raced over to Caleb and embraced him. He was astonished at what had occurred. He shuddered...crocodile tears fell on my shoulder.

He knew he had done wrong. He knew that his 'experiment' fizzled.

The aftermath was quick - I consoled Caleb and examined his burnt finger while the ashes were being shop vac'd. And seconds before our band started the opening song my friend Nancy, mother of 4 older PK boys gave me a word of encouragement: "Angie, don't worry, this will be just one of many fire stories throughout the years". (thanks Nancy)

After church I asked Caleb "what happened?". His answer was simple.
He wanted his paper airplane to 'Blast Off'.

And 'blast off' it did.

In an effort to entertain Caleb before the service, daddy helped Caleb fold a paper airplane from the church bulletin (Caleb has this weird fascination with the church bulletin).

In his imaginary play the airplane was 'blasting off' and flying through the air. I guess when he saw the candles he thought he could make his imaginary play come true.

Sadly I don't have any pics of the 'action'. But, Nancy said she might make me a memento with the ashes and the tiny piece of leftover airplane. If she does I'll be sure to share it with you!

In the meantime I'd love to hear any 'fire stories' from your sweet children.

Cinderella

2010-09-18T16:00:00.002-05:00

When Nana came to visit she surprised Carissa with a Cinderella dress. Carissa was so proud she wanted to put her hair up in a bun (like her doll) and pose for beautiful pictures.
So, that's what we did.
I present to you.......................Princess Cinderella.

Breck

2010-09-08T10:07:00.015-05:00

We surprised my Mom the day she arrived in CO with a weekend getaway to Breckenridge in celebration of her birthday. God's provision for our lodging in a beautifully quint town was an affirmation of His love for us. We are so thankful.

On the day of my Mom's birthday she awoke to the kids singing 'happy birthday' alongside many strands of crate paper and colorful balloons around the condo. The kids were so excited to celebrate with her and made her feel special the entire day.

After a yummy breakfast we rode the gondola up the mountain.
When we got to the top we took another chair lift up higher and rode the Alpine Slide down the mountain. It was thrilling!That evening I cooked an Italian feast for my Mom's birthday dinner. I made this delicious Chicken Saltimbocca alongside wine, pasta, salad and bread with homemade pesto sauce for dipping.
We topped it all off with mom's favorite chocolate brownies and mint chocolate chip ice cream. It was a par-tay!
We spent the rest of our weekend relaxing at the Lodge, swimming, trail walking, taking in the sights of downtown, and just spending time together in God's creation. It was a weekend full of sweet memories.

ABC

2010-08-19T16:12:00.007-05:00

"Preschool" is back in session. The twins started on Monday.
Mommy thinks summer vacation was too short and is still not feeling ready for this new routine.

The kids think summer vacation was way too long. They were ready to go back to school after one week. literally.

One morning midway through the summer Carissa even cried for her 'little tiny baby'. I'm not saying she just shed a few tears, I'm saying she all-out wailed for her favorite little baby doll from Ms. Vicki's classroom.

C & C love learning +
C & C love playing with other children +
C & C love Ms. Vicki =
------------------------------------------------
love love love preschool

Here's a couple more pics from their first day!
Here they are running to their classroom with great enthusiasm. Carissa's hiding a 'surprise' for Ms. Vicki behind her back (pictures of them for their cubby).Here's to a great year!

Sunshiny Day

2010-08-16T23:27:00.002-05:00

Personalize a free digital scrapbook

I gift to you a smilebox of my two kiddos. I just couldn't resist.

Arizona

2010-08-14T22:15:00.000-05:00

Yes, we returned from AZ about 5 weeks ago. I've been out of the blog-o-sphere but I'm back and will be posting some up-dates. In AZ we did a lot of swimming. It was great. Even if the pool felt more like a hot tub than a swimming pool!
My mom's sweet neighbor gave the kidlets these cute little beanie babies. Carissa was especially enthralled with "Spotter" the wild cat and Caleb with "Derby" the horse. Thanks Paulette!
The kids and I made a couple trips across town to hang out with this crew.
Carissa, Joshua, Eli, & Caleb had lots of fun with marbles and other toys in their basement.And had lots of fun hugging.

This is a clip of my brother, aka 'Uncle B' sharing what its like trying to have a coherent conversation over dinner with three little ones.

Cabin Camping

2010-07-13T08:00:00.000-05:00

(Nana and her three grandchildren)

As soon as our flight landed in Phoenix myself and kids were off to the beautiful Mogollon Rim area of Arizona with my mom, brother, sis-in-law, and their cute baby Kyle. We landed at a cozy cabin in Forest Lakes, home to lakes and many many tall trees.(Brian aka 'Uncle B', Nun (longtime nickname for our Mom) and Angie)

(Brian, Angela, Baby Kyle, Kalua)

Caleb was ready to go fishing from "hello cabin"No fishy bites, so after awhile he made up his own fun with a plastic zip-lock bag. He declared it as 'jello' and kept saying "I want jello, just so ya know" in a sing song voice

Carissa was more in to batting her blue beauties than fishing

Back at the cabin we just hung out, ate good food, took walks, played card games, croquet and loved on baby Kyle.
Oh yeah, and the older kids were thrilled to drive 'BIGFOOT'
On our last day Carissa and I took a hike around the Woods Canyon Lake to this area. If you look closely in the right half of the tree lines you can see a Bald Eagles Nest (approx. 5" in diameter) holding two baby eagles. We hiked back to this side of the lake where telescopes were set up to view the Eaglets in their natural habitat. It was fascinating. When we got back to our picnic area we all witnessed the mommy bald eagle swoop down into the lake, get a fish and fly it to the nesting babies. It was breathtaking.

Bits-and-Pieces

2010-07-10T13:19:00.007-05:00

Oliver Paxton. Our kids have a new cousin! Jeff's brother and his wife had a precious baby boy in late June. We went to see him at one day old. I love this sweet pic of him with his older sister Olivia and his older cousins holding his wee little body.

Hot Wheels Carry Case. Caleb wanted me to take a picture of his vintage hot wheels carrying case because he thinks it is cool. This hot wheels case really is vintage - it was his father's when he was a boy.

Skito Bites. A couple of weeks ago Caleb woke up with a huge one inch circle on his forehead. At first I thought he had bumped his head (in the night?) but then we wondered if it was an insect bite. Two days later he awoke with 8 more red circles. Redness around the site, intense swelling, and itching made for an uncomfortable child. Jeff and I finally concluded that he had giant mosquito bites. The pending question, "Why is Caleb getting bit but we aren't?" Jeff did find two mosquitoes and killed them but the next morning Caleb awoke with more bites. After a through search of the room we wondered if the humidifier might be the issue. Although we hadn't used the humidifier for several months it still had some water in the bottom of it. Could the mosquitoes be multiplying in the humidifier? It seemed possible (gross!). We did get rid of the humidifier in his room, washed and dried it and the problem seems to have improved. (yeah) Caleb has decided he doesn't like 'skitos' because they suck his blood. Poor little guy!

French Braids. I put in double french braids to Carissa's hair for the first time recently. She was so proud of her three stranded braids that she told everyone at church "I have french braids!" (as if they didn't know).
Poppy's Popped. Each year I await for the three days post pop to enjoy these blazing orange beauties.
We've recently had a house full of good friends visiting us. Six adults and five children make for a grand time!
Right now I am in Arizona with the kiddos spending time with my mom. The first week of our trip was challenging with sick kiddos but our second week has been quite enjoyable. Except of course when you step outside and your make-up melts and your skin starts to blister. That's what I call f-u-n.

A Camping We Will Go

2010-07-05T15:53:00.002-05:00

We enjoyed a fun weekend camping at Lake Pueblo State Park. Papa and Grandma joined us with their fishing boat for lots of (sweltering) fun in the sun.

Father's Day

2010-06-23T17:00:00.000-05:00

Caleb and Carissa made daddy this Menu card on the Friday before Father's Day.
Daddy chose his desired menu for his Father's Day breakfast on Saturday morning. (we carved out Sat. for our main celebration since Jeff has pastoral responsibilities on Sun.) Friday night the kids and I shopped for a few presents and the groceries needed for the breakfast.

In the morning Daddy slept-in while the kids and I cooked the made-to -order breakfast. C & C sported their craft aprons and were very proud and enthusiastic about making Daddy a special meal. The kids did all of the preparations (with a little help!) so Daddy was able to sleep in for a loooonnnng time! Once breakfast was served the little cooks were hungry enough to eat the house down! Caleb downed the pancakes like pizza. No messin' around here.We ate together and then daddy opened presents and read handmade cards from the kids.

The kids told me what to write inside of their cards. "Daddy I love you because you..." and "Daddy you are special to me because..." They each came up with long lists of things they appreciate about their Daddy.

To me Father's Day is a reminder to be thankful for all ways that Jeff is a good husband and daddy every day of the year.

I feel blessed to experience life with a wonderful spouse who is my companion, playmate, and partner. I cherish him deeply and am grateful for the ways that we are growing together as lovers and parents.

As a father Jeff is very hands on and takes an active role in the upbringing of our children. I appreciate how he is truly present in our lives. Jeff has a good balance of fun and firmness. He reads many books to them, makes up funny games and encourages the children in imaginary play. They never tire of playing with dad especially when it comes to tickle time!

Caleb loves daddy to be his horsey (he loves to ride on daddy's back and get bucked off). And Carissa loves daddy to be her Prince (she loves to dance with daddy, her imaginary prince).

As we say in our home "_______ is the best!" (insert name)

And today we yell: "Daddy is the BEST!"

Mommy get your camera

2010-06-18T23:07:00.002-05:00

Today the kids were being 'lovey' and said "quick mom, get your camera! We're holding hands".

This is a dream request for a mom who loves to take pictures.

Here's a few fast takes of the moment.
i love these little closed mouth twin smiles here
this captures Carissa's joyful spiritCarissa wanted me to take lots of pictures of her 'posing'.
Then the kids asked if they could take pictures. I put the camera around their necks and they took these pics of me with each of them. Good aim for 3.5 year old photographers!

VBS

2010-06-15T23:07:00.002-05:00

Six hours after returning home from our trip to CA (more pics coming soon!) the kids were up and out the door for their first VBS.

It was love at first voyage.
Caleb was a 'ham'. Some of the stories we heard were hilarious.

Caleb and I had a conversation in the car about him yelling the songs.

Me: "Caleb, you like to sing the songs at VBS don't you?" Caleb: "yeah mom, they are really cool songs about Jesus"
Me: "I'm so glad that your excited to sing. You don't have to yell though, you can sing with a softer tone quality and still mean it" (the voice teacher in me...) Caleb: "no, I just like to sing the songs" Me: "okay honey, have fun"

When it came time for the presentation Caleb was a little less 'hammy'.

Carissa was really in to the motions. Carissa high-fiving Ms. Anna, our Children's Ministries Director.during the performances their friend Julia was their motion buddy Carissa & Caleb were in separate boats.
Even though they spent time together throughout the morning when pickup time arrived they were happy to see each other.
Carissa's class with Ms. Jan and Mr. Chris
Carissa and her sweet 2nd grade friend Maia (Maia, her siblings and parents are a part of our church home group)

VBS was a great adventure!

Home from the Happiest Place on Earth

2010-06-07T21:49:00.007-05:00

We are home from our trip to Disneyland. It was a wonderful trip chocked full of memorable moments with our kids, my mom (Nana) and my Aunt Melanie.

Apart from my ankle injury three days before the trip and our 4 hour flight delay on the return leg we had smooth travels and are glad to be home.

Upon entering Disneyland is this quote: “Here you leave today and enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow and fantasy”. The make believe world inside the park turns everyone into a kid.

It was Nana's dream to be like a kid again and take our children to this magical land.And magical it was.

I'll post pictures from our time in the happiest place on earth soon - that is when I have a few moments to wade through all 547 pictures. Seriously!

Bits-and-Pieces

2010-05-29T13:04:00.021-05:00

Weather news: We've had gorgeous weather this week. "Hello Summer, its so nice to feel you again."

In entertainment news, did you know Kelli Preston, 47 and John Travolta 56 are expecting a baby? Also expecting? engaged couple Alicia Keys (her first!) and Swizz Beatz.

In family news my mom is functioning pretty well but continues to battle side effects from the Leukemia and/or regular chemotherapy. She has been fighting a nasty cold for about 5 weeks. Because her white blood cell counts are so low she doesn't have the immunity fighters to kick the infection. She also copes with bone pain in her lower extremities. Some days the pain is worse than others.

Our family flies out Tuesday for our Disneyland trip with my mom. This is her dream trip with our kids. I can't wait to experience the magic with my mom, hubby and the kids.

In medical news: yesterday afternoon I had a freak accident (go klutzy me). While walking down our stairway my right ankle collapsed and rolled outward. I wasn't even wearing fun shoes! Thankfully we were able to get an emergency sitter (she was here in 3 minutes tops) and Jeff took me to the doctor. After x-rays it was determined that I have an avulsion fracture. When an avulsion fracture occurs the ankle ligaments that tore pulled off a small piece of bone from its attachment site. As a result I am immobile and my ankle area is swollen with an attractive purple hue. Hoping and praying I can actually stroll Disneyland without too much pain. Please pray that it will heal quickly and that it will not impede a good time in CA!

We went camping last weekend at Boyd Lake State Park. We had a great time hanging out on the swim beach, taking walks and watching the kids ride their bikes round and round the campground. Even Papa Grandma joined us for a day!

In home decorating news: Yesterday, before the ankle accident I was having a blast giving our front door a face lift with some red paint. I'd share the finished pics but due to my ankle accident its currently mid-project - primed and ready to paint a new shade.

In kitchen news: I made these Nourishing Protein Bars the other day from a blog that I frequent. Try them they are delish!

Mother's Day

2010-05-20T21:01:00.001-05:00

Mother's Day began early.

There was no sleeping in, or breakfast in bed (sigh) but instead I gathered with fellow friends to rehearse the music for our Sunday morning church service.My mom begged (groveled even) for me to sing a solo during the worship service. Even with a cold (courtesy of my mother) I was grateful for the opportunity to give her that gift.Mother's and Daughter'sIn the afternoon we took a nice drive to Helen Hunt Falls, a wilderness area in North Cheyenne Canyon in western Colorado Springs.

A short while in to the hike my mom was feeling weary.

"I need to sit down for awhile," she said. "I'm tired."

We assured Weary it was okay to rest.

Sitting on a log she encouraged us to forged ahead.

Several turns later I hollered down that she was going to miss the amazing views up ahead. The little lady at my side also gave her a supportive cheer.

Towards the top, I glanced back surprised to see Weary making her way up the hill. Huffing and puffing the mountain air she put one foot in front of the other.

When we caught eyes she said, "I want see the views. I don't want to miss out".

She did it.

She didn't miss out.

Climbing that mountain was a piece of her destiny.Even my little lady shouted "Nana, you did it"!At the top a few salty tears graced our cheeks while we soaked in the views of the canyon. It was a moment of beauty, of gratefulness.

God is Faithful

2010-05-12T14:15:00.009-05:00

When I enjoy the great outdoors I recognize more fully the majesty and strength of God. The sights, the smells, and the feeling of open space overflows my senses. When we went on this same hike as a family about a month ago I was praying to God that my mom would be able to walk this trail with us. I was hoping God would spare her the ability to travel so that I could share this beautiful hike with her. And it came to pass.
At the top of the 'Siamese Twins' rock formation the snowy pinnacles were breathtaking against the blue sky.
In that moment I was reminded that "God is faithful".

I don't say that lightly.

Sometimes it doesn't seem like God is faithful because he doesn't answer our prayers as we expect him to.

But even in the darkest moments I am reminded that God is in control and that as I keep turning my face towards him, he is faithful. He is faithful to be with me, faithful to watch over me, faithful to work in me and to mold me to become the woman I am called to be.

"This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in Him." Lamentations 2:21-24

Mother's Day Tea

2010-05-08T11:16:00.002-05:00

Tuesday was a special day.
My peeps hosted me and my mom (aka, Nana) for a 'Mother's Day Tea' at their preschool. Our 'tea' included yummy treats and hot tea poured from glass tea pots by my little ones. After the yummies the children performed four songs. One song included rhythm sticks. The other songs arm movements.
As a memento Ms. Vicki had the kids decorate magnetic frames for the pics she developed from the tea. Its perfect refrigerator decor!Ms. Vicki & Carissa
It was also extra special to share the tea with my Mom. Thankful tears welled up in her eyes during the kids performance. A blessing of time.

A Gaggle of Gals

2010-05-07T21:57:00.000-05:00

Who are these lovely ladies? (why, thanks for asking!)

These are the gals who participated in my annual Voice Studio Recital. I have the privilege of teaching these young ladies the ins and outs of vocal technique and performance practices every week. I so enjoy our time together and I was proud of their accomplishment on stage.

The gals are like my little flock.

Introducing: the Gaggle(L to R, top to bottom: Sarah, Kara, Kate, Rachel, Sarah, Olivia, Kacey, Marie, Bailey, ME, Laura, Julie, Katie, Chanelle, Stacey, Bailey)

Keeping Posted

2010-04-25T22:30:00.002-05:00

I haven't done a good job of posting lately. It seems that time has a way of slipping away from me.

I just realized that I didn't post about our trip to see my mom in AZ during Spring Break. Here's a sun squinting picture of she and the kids. It was a memorable trip.I also escaped for a three day trip to AZ the middle of April to be with my mom for an important Dr.'s appointment. You can read about the good news on her blog. Here we are celebrating life over lunch.During my trip to AZ I also got to celebrate my Aunt's birthday. Guess how old this diva is?I also fit in an overdue lunch with my long time friend Carrie.
And I was super excited to see her bump. Her third little bean is due to arrive mid June.Did you hear that we got hit with some wet heavy snow this weekend? Spring in the Rocky Mountains is ever changing. I'm really looking forward to warmer temperatures. I'm itching to spend lots of time outdoors, to hike more often, to garden, tend to flowers and fresh vegetables, have BBQ's and to go camping.

We've been doing some cleaning in the Kintner household. Inside and Outside. Were also working to finish up several home improvement projects that have lagged on and on. See this pic? That was taken in August. I really hope to share some finished project pictures soon!

I took Carissa to see her first stage musical last night. We saw a well done high school production of 'Once Upon a Mattress'. Carissa loved all the princesses and was perfectly attentive for a 2.5 hour production. It was a special night including a quick bite at Chik-fil-A.

That's a wrap for tonight.

Siamese Twins Trail

2010-04-09T21:49:00.008-05:00

Today we enjoyed the sunshine in Garden of the Gods on the 'Siamese Twins Trail'. The rocks are said to be like Siamese twins with Pikes Peak in the background.

We all hiked and...
they "climbed" and "climbed"

and watched many horses pass by

Hike = happy family

Easter 2010

2010-04-09T16:07:00.001-05:00

Our day celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus was full of life. In the morning we gathered with our church community for worship. The worship room was beautifully decorated with colorful potted flowers and a white cross with a crown of thorns hanging on it. In between services our dear friends/surrogate grandparents to Caleb and Carissa helped the kids find eggs on the Egg Hunt.

(Grandpa Jim, Caleb, Grandma Leta, Carissa)

After church we hung out with close friends at the Tibert's home. I didn't get a picture of the Tibert's together but I did capture...

'The Roberts'

'The Cowells'

'The Ladies' (including mama Tibert)

'The Gents' (minus papa Tibert)

and 'The Kids'

A wonderful day.
Easter 2010

Energizer Bunny x2

2010-04-06T20:57:00.004-05:00

On Saturday we had two little Energizer Bunnies excited for the Easter Basket Scavenger Hunt and the Egg Hunt.
Our Bunnies just kept going and going and goingAren't those bunny ears too cute?

Before & After

2010-04-06T09:04:00.003-05:00

Our own little 'Fro Boy' got a haircut the day before Easter.

Courtesy of Mom.

I don't know what got in to me but I was suddenly tired of his long fro and decided that I needed to do something about it immediately. In a moments time I found this tutorial, got Caleb situated on a stool in the kitchen and snipped away.

Its definitely not perfect but for his first 'mom cut' its not too bad.

Before

After

Anticipation

2010-04-03T21:30:00.007-05:00

On Friday night we joined our faith community in a Good Friday service.

The biblical passages, images of Jesus Christ, and devotional prayers caused me to ponder His suffering, His life, His death and the anticipation of His resurrection.

I can't imagine what it would be like to be in the crowd yelling at Jesus, denying Him, betraying Him and then watching his shameful death on a cross. Its hard to believe that anything good could come out of such tragedy.

But thankfully our loving Father redeems the curse. He accepts the voluntary sacrifice of His Son and exchanges the ugly acts of human violence into redemption and forgiveness.

There are many areas in my life that I want to die to. My selfishness, my propensity to worry, and my desire to be in control take away life. I hope I can release these deaths and receive the Father's love, abundant grace and forgiveness.

I am grateful that I am a loved and redeemed child of God.

The lyrics of the song 'How Deep the Father's Love For Us' resonate with my soul.

How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice,
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished
I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

The cross, originally representing a shameful death, has become through the work of Jesus the symbol of peace, hope, and life - eternal life.

In Him I can live. His truth is alive.

As we anticipate the celebration of His resurrection I'm longing even more for His living water to spring up in me. I desire the fruits of His Spirit, the depth of His character and the passion of His purpose to awaken inside me like the radiant new dawn.

'C' Scale

2010-04-03T20:40:00.000-05:00

Carissa is a proud performer singing and playing a 'C' scale.

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Arizona Bound

2010-03-23T09:56:00.010-05:00

Our boots are headed for Arizona for a week to spend precious time with my Mom.

This video and pics were shot during the Christmas holiday.
Hoping for a wonderful week full of remembering old times and making new memories.

As the Chris Rice song says "every day is gift that we've been given, make the most of the time every minute you're living"

Sunday Shimmer

2010-03-22T16:22:00.009-05:00

Caleb decided on a whim that he needed a little more 'pop' to his Sunday outfit yesterday. Apparently he didn't think he had enough shimmer and took it upon himself to 'dab' it on.The bright side?
He matched is new baseball jacket, his white collar was untouched and just a tiny smear graced his hands. While I did whip out the camera for a quick take (I told him it was because he needed to see how funny he looked on the computer) the mess wasn't anything one wipe couldn't erase.

I'm just glad Caleb asked for help in screwing on the lid. Who knows how much razzle-dazzle another minute would have provided.

Black Bean Soup

2010-03-13T22:00:00.001-06:00

Were on the end of soup season but this one has become a new regular in our kitchen. This wholesome soup is hearty and healthy. The leftovers warm up perfectly.

• 1 tablespoon oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 2 carrots, chopped
• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 4 cups chicken stock
• 2 (15 ounce) cans black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 ½ cups frozen whole kernel corn, thawed
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can stewed tomatoes

Sauté onions, garlic and carrots in oil. Add chili powder and cumin; cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
Add stock, 1 can of the beans, corn, and pepper; bring to boil.

In food processor or blender, puree together tomatoes and remaining can of beans; add to pot.

Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes or until carrots are tender.

Makes 8 - 1 1/4 cup servings 170 calories each

Optional: Garnish with cilantro, avocado or a dollop of sour cream

This soup tastes even better the next day!

Pop on Over

2010-02-27T17:18:00.004-06:00

to my mom's blog to read the latest posts on:

Infection
What its like

I so appreciate your love and care for me, my mom, and my family during this time.

I deeply cherish your notes of encouragement. Please, keep them coming!

Here

2010-02-25T14:29:00.013-06:00

I'm here.

Here in Arizona.

Here in my mom's hospital room perched next to her.

Here.

It's exactly where I need to be. Where I should be.

Being here with my mom helps to alleviate the stress of being miles away. I feel more relaxed and connected to what's happening with my mom's health and wellness, or lack thereof.

I still believe Jesus gave my mom the gift of living well these past 9 months - treatment free and in remission. It is a testimony of God's goodness and my faith has been strengthened by it.

But, heavy on my heart remains my mom's current health status and all of the unknown issues facing her and us as a family. I know the inevitable result but only God knows the journey leading up to it.

Thankfully He knows all and I feel deeply loved by this truth.

Its my desire that my roots dig deep into the soil of God's love. This poem by Amy Carmichael speaks to that longing.

"Love of my heart, my stream runs dry;
O Fountain of the heavenly hills,
Love, blessed Love, to Thee I cry,
Fill all my secret hidden rills.
Waters of Love, O pour through me;
I must have Love; I must have Thee."

The Snowy Day

2010-02-21T22:54:00.007-06:00

It was a snowy day. The Little's were aching to get outside so we bundled them up for some winter merriment.Daddy showed C&C how to make snow angels.
snow balls
and how to throw snow that doesn't pack well And how to shovel the driveway The Little's loved 'helping'.
And Daddy told them next year they can do it by themselves!
Right...

Heart-breaker

2010-02-19T17:38:00.008-06:00

We have a heart-breaker in our family.

Carissa Joy.

On her fourth valentines day she was asked on her first date.

She doesn't remember his name but she told me that while she was at church a little boy asked her to go to 'Skate City' with him.

(she calls these her 'skating shoes')

I was cracking up because she doesn't even know what 'Skate City' is! It must be a young boy who has been introduced to the rink by an older sibling.

When Daddy came home from church she told him about the invitation. Dad responds by asking her "well what did you say back to him?"

She paused for a moment, tilts her head to side and said with a long "hmmm...I told him that I had to get bigger".

Get bigger.

the perfect answer.

And with that lead in dad reminded her that dating was a ways off.

I think we have a heart-breaker.

Remission Denied

2010-02-17T15:08:00.001-06:00

My mom received the results of the bone marrow biopsy yesterday afternoon.

Remission was denied. She is not in remission.

The chemo did slow the leukemic cells however 5% leukemic cells remain.

While that sounds like good news (which it partly is) 5% wouldn't be much different than a higher percentage because the rate of multiplication is extremely rapid. This rapid metastasizing is due in part to her fighting two types of Leukemia (AML & ALL).

Dr. V is recommending further chemotherapy starting today. He strongly urged Sharon to accept the chemo now as waiting is not in her best interest.

If Sharon does not get these chemo drugs today her time here would be very short - possibly only weeks.

The hope is that this chemo will shock her system and get rid of the 5% of remaining leukemic cells.

Dr. V estimates that Sharon will be in the hospital another 2 weeks. She was admitted 3 weeks ago today. Please pray that her time will pass quickly as she truly loathes being in that tiny room.

As you can probably imagine my Mom was extremely downhearted yesterday. As are all of our family. I'm personally trying to absorb the grave reality and trying to discern what my next steps are.

Please, keep praying for my Mom and check back on this blog and my mom's blog www.strengthofmysoul.blogspot.com for updates.

Valentines Day

2010-02-16T22:37:00.002-06:00

From our heart to yours...Happy Valentines Day! (2 days late!)

Its not a box of chocolates or a dozen gerbera daisy's...just some cute kids (whom I call mine) sending you big smiles.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Proud Auntie

2010-02-09T14:30:00.000-06:00

When I was in AZ visiting my mom in the hospital I got to meet my 3 month old nephew, Kyle Scott. He is so cute and snugly. Lucky for Jeff, Kyle got my baby bug juices flowing ;)Baby Kyle with his sweet Mama and Dada
Kyle, I am proud to be your Auntie!

ParTay!

2010-02-07T15:30:00.000-06:00

Sharon (aka Mom, Nun, Nana)'s fifth day in the hospital was not ordinary.

We threw a ParTay!(Angie & Brian hugging Mom)

Just prior to Sharon being confined to her tiny room she was able to step outside the hospital doors and spend some precious time with those who are closest to her heart.

(Nana and her grandson: Kyle Scott)(Nana and Patty doting over Kyle)

(Angie, Melanie, Lorna, Patty, Sharon)

(Angela and baby Kyle, aka smiley guy)

(Angie and her Mom)

(the Nun with her son Brian)

A ParTay to remember!

Duck Pond

2010-02-05T21:00:00.000-06:00

Today we spent part of our day visiting a local duck pond.
Don't think that the partially frozen pond kept us from feeding the brood. Why, the duckies were so happy to see us they flocked towards our car barely giving an inch to open up the doors.Stale bread and cheerios.
An equally delightful experience for our littles and the waddlers.

Thankful Thursday

2010-02-04T13:34:00.000-06:00

I am thankful for Thursdays.

Thursday is my day to catch up on my full time job of homemaker after my part time job of voice teacher.

This morning after getting the kids off to preschool I tackled laundry piles, cleaned up the kitchen, prepped tonight's dinner, made homemade turkey stock, planned two weeks of meals with a grocery list and coupons, and managed to make it to the gym for a 40 min. workout, all before picking up the kids.

While there are some days accomplishing these tasks at break neck speed would make my head spin, this morning was the contrary.

I felt truly grateful that I can serve my family by maintaining a peaceful home. I believe that our home is a sanctuary for our family and others to find refreshment, encouragement and rest - ultimately used for the glory of God.

I'm also thankful for the imported blueberries I purchased at Whole Foods yesterday. Even though they aren't in season the high antioxidant fruits made my day!

And, I'm thankful that my mom is doing well considering all things.

Thank you God!

"Therefore I will praise you, Lord among the nations; I will sing the praises of your name." 2 Samuel 22:50

Sitting at her Feet

2010-01-30T02:34:00.002-06:00

I'm sitting at her feet.

And words cannot express how comforting it is to be next to my mom's hospital bed.

She is sleeping. Sleeping and Snoring.

Her breathing is labored.

I waited 14 days to place my bum in this rigid chair. 14 days too long.

Surrounding my chair is the bare space mom studied not long ago. It's chillingly familiar but I'm comforted by the fact that I'm only an arm's reach away rather than the alternative - hundred's of miles away.

I am thankful for this moment.
Thankful that I am here.
Thankful that I can just be.

Be with my mom, sitting at her feet.

D Day

2010-01-28T22:28:00.009-06:00

Wednesday was Decision Day. The weight on my mom Sharon's shoulders determining what her treatment would be was very heavy.

When she met with Dr. V the test results were conclusive. Leukemic cells were found in 90% of the bone marrow. Mom is not only fighting Acute Myelogenous Leukemia but also features of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia . With these findings Dr. V recommended one course of action.

The drug of choice is Clofarabine. It has been an effective treatment for patients with AML and/or ALL who have relapsed after remission. The drug is aggressive and it is her best option lest she desire the alternative...which she doesn't. We have high hopes that this drug will kill all of the bad cells and do it quickly.

Dr. V estimates that her hospital stay will be about 30 days. (we're hoping it's less!)

And I'm hoping that she will achieve remission again.

It was Jesus who gave my mom the gift of life these past 14 months. And anyone who knows her can give affirm that her life has been a testimony of God's goodness.

I know that God could choose to heal my mom completely. God has the power to erase her cancer and align all of her blood counts. It could be that He plans to and it could be that he doesn't plan to. Either way I know that my faith is being stretched and that God desires for me to trust Him during this time of trouble.

P.S. A remission report will definitely make headlines. Instead of 'D Day' it will be 'V Day' = Victory Day!

Devastating News

2010-01-23T10:40:00.001-06:00

I have bad news about my Mom's health.

Devastating news.

So devastating that it has taken me an entire week to actually sit down and share the news of my mom Sharon's relapse with you. Each day I've had the goal of writing a post but I've found myself tired and void of extra time and energy.

This morning isn't much different but I'm finding it helpful to click the keys and share what's going on - what's on my heart.

Here's the bottom line.

My mothers leukemia has returned. It doesn't look good.

Relapse in Acute Myleogenous Leukemia is common however we were hoping Sharon would fall outside statistical lines and have many more years of living. She responded favorably to treatment and has rebuilt her system with nutritional supplements. She looks great and she feels great. If you saw her you would never guess that she is a terminal patient. (picture taken with Carissa Christmas Day 2009)

If you want to understand Sharon's disease here is a short tutorial from marrow.org.

"Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) is a fast-growing cancer of the blood and bone marrow. In AML, the bone marrow makes many unformed cells called blasts. Blasts normally develop into white blood cells that fight infection. However, the blasts are abnormal in AML. They do not develop and cannot fight infections. The bone marrow may also make abnormal red blood cells and platelets. The number of abnormal cells (or leukemia cells) grows quickly. They crowd out the normal red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets the body needs

The devastating news of Mom's relapse came shortly after her monthly doctor's visit. During the appointment Dr. V expressed minimal concern over her blood work but it was understood that he was going to send her labs in for further testing. When she received a call two days later Dr. V told her that the labs showed a return of leukemic cells and that she is out of remission.

Hours later my brother sat by her side while Dr. V shared the harrowing realities and outlined her options.

Unfortunately options are limited.

Sharon has also consulted with the head physician at City of Hope, the Bone Marrow Transplantation Center in Phoenix, AZ. His assessment, while delivered with honest professionalism, was sobering.

A sobering confirmation of the devastating news.

For now we are awaiting extensive test results from a lab in California. Also, on Tuesday (January 26th) Sharon will have a bone marrow biopsy. The combination of these test results will better equip her Doctor about her condition. In light of this information my mom will evaluate and ultimately decide her treatment plan.

Her decision is pivotal. We all agree that her decision about treatment is hers. No one can make this decision for her. She has to own the decision and live and die the decision. literally.

So, along with our family, will you please join us in praying for my Mom Sharon?Please Pray:

Sharon is able to discern God's voice and direction well.
That Sharon experiences peace about her decision and treatment plan.
For clear test results and wisdom for Dr. V and the medical team
That our family would know how to best love and support Sharon through this health crisis
That our family, in the bigger sense would walk through this trial well
For Sharon's dreams to be made possible - for her wish to be to travel with our family to Disneyland, for a family reunion and for other special memory trips

Thank you for your prayers and for walking this road alongside me.

Fa la la la la...la la la la

2010-01-13T07:00:00.000-06:00

Our annual 'Caroling Party' was a wonderful time celebrating the season with those close to our hearts. It was a time of sweet fellowship, sharing yummy food together and singing the carols of Advent by piano, hammered dulcimer, oboe, and violin.

(Angie with Nancy)

(Steph, Angie, Stephanie, Teresa, Tammy)

(and special guest...my mom!)

Until next year,
Fa la la la la....la la la la

Our Token Rudolf

2010-01-11T21:30:00.001-06:00

Apparently Rudolf the red nosed reindeer made a smashing appearance at the staff Christmas party in Dec.
So smashing that he won 1st place in the 'crazy Christmas hat contest'. I'm telling you, I would have totally won if I would have known that there was going to be such a contest. I simply found out minutes before leaving the party when my sweet husband showed me what he had rigged up. After many giggles and me helping him to find a 'red nose' he simply handed me a traditional Santa hat to wear. It all turned out though because Rudolf's prize included a little Starbucks love!Brian (our youth pastor) and his wife Lori got 2nd and 3rd places.And Doug (counselor) and his teaching wife Jan just looked too cute for words.
Here's some of use ladies simultaneously stirring 4 pots of cheese fondue.

Bon Apetite!

A memorable evening!
I so appreciate and enjoy hanging out with our church staff!

Muffin Man Song

2010-01-07T15:30:00.002-06:00

Nana made these wholesome muffins with Caleb and Carissa yesterday.Muffins must have still been on the brain because when Carissa got up from her nap today she insisted on putting on her chef's hat and apron and making me some cookies while singing the 'Muffin Man' song.

Don't you love the key change midway through the song?

But seriously, listening to her sing made my grrrr day all better.

Grrrrrrr

2010-01-07T14:00:00.006-06:00

Its been one of those days.

Not a bad day but kind of a grrrrrr day.

Woke up this morning and severely stubbed my left pinky toe on a wood shelf awaiting hanging in our bathroom. I gasped so loud that even Caleb ran to my side and said "I'm sorry mommy" "that hurt!".

grrrr.

Got the kids off to preschool without a glitch and then headed to the Denver airport to drop my mom off for her departing flight to AZ.

Just as I was pulling to a stop at her airline entrance I see red and blue flashing lights in my rear view mirror. I thought, surely those lights are not for me, the officer must be pulling over for something else.

In line with the grrrr-ness I look to my left and the officer was at my drivers window asking for my license and registration.

Apparently, my license tags had expired. In August!

So along with the news flash came a $90 fine. And the consolation that the fee won't go on my record. Thank you very much.

After getting my stupid yellow ticket I was grrrrr (again) and then became weepy over having to say such a quick goodbye to my mom. Since my mom's leukemia diagnosis goodbye's are more difficult.

While driving South I remembered that there was a great Japanese take out so I stopped and ordered two spring rolls - 2 chilled white paper wraps with white chicken, basil, avocado, cucumber, carrots and peanut dipping sauce. Yum.

Because I got them 'to go' I practically salivated the entire way home.

When arriving at the DMV to up-date my tags I was alerted by a sign that they had relocated.

grrrrr.

And when I got to the new location and told the DMV lady that I never received a post card reminding me to pay for my new tags she said that the postcard reminders were nixed when funding was cut. So, in case you live in El Paso County don't just assume you'll get a reminder notice, just pay online the month that the tags expire.

grrrrr.

And just when I sat down to enjoy my two spring rolls I spilled the coveted peanut sauce on my desk. Don't think I wasted it after driving miles to enjoy it though. I just dipped my spring roll in the sauce on my desk. (my mom would die - what if it was a little dirty?)

And now? My son is crying because he doesn't want to take a nap. He says "its so hard" and that "he is waiting patiently to play". Maybe he thinks naps are grrrrr.

Thankfully, its not a bad day. Just grrrrr.

No more grrrrr tomorrow. It will be a new day.

Catching Up

2010-01-05T14:03:00.002-06:00

I'm planning to catch up on Dec. events so you can expect some new posts coming soon!

It was a festive month of parties, hanging out, and celebrating the season with friends and family.

Also, prior to Dec. I missed announcing my new nephew born to my brother Brian and his wife Angela. They are proud parents (as they should be!)and are adjusting well to a new baby.

Introducing...

*************Kyle Scott Koontz**************
born Nov. 7, 2009a first smile at DaddyAnd a proud Nana!

Cookie Houses

2010-01-05T14:00:00.001-06:00

The kids made these Cookie Houses at preschool and got to bring them home for break. Their teacher, Ms. Vicki does not assist the children when making their projects so this is their own personal masterpiece!Caleb was especially excited about eating the candy! And truth be told, I was especially excited when the candy was about gone and we got it out of sight, out of mind.

Our Getaway

2010-01-02T15:00:00.003-06:00

Today is my day to kick up my heals and celebrate 11 years of marriage to my life companion.

I love him!

Here's pictures (finally!) of our vacation in Mexico celebrating us. It was truly spectacular!

We took many walks on this beach everyday. I love the feeling of the hard sand underfoot.

On a recommendation we stayed at the Barcelo Maya about 1 hour south of Cancun, Mexico.The resort was beautiful. Our room was located about one hundred steps from the pool (which extends forever!)The food and drinks were all inclusive.

It was a continuous 'party in our mouth'.
seriously.

The Teppanyaki restaurant was a highlight. The Surf and Turf was soooo yummy!This is what my breakfast looked like on many mornings. I couldn't get enough of the papaya. It was delicious!One day we took an adventure by public bus to the Tulum Ruins. Tulum is considered one of the most beautiful of the Mayan Ruins. It is relatively small and poised on the fifteen-meter-high cliffs above the blue Caribbean Sea.After Tulum we went to Akumal Bay (place of the turtles in Mayan). The beaches of Akumal, Mexico are nesting grounds for two endangered species of sea turtles. We snorkeled off of this beach and swam with huge sea turtles, sting rays and a huge school of Sargent major fish (huge school = too many to count. maybe 5,000?).It was thrilling.

me and my Hubby, the love of my lifethis trip. to 'us'...a worthy investmentworth shouting for

Here's to walking another 11 years together.

And I wouldn't have it any other way.

Nana Nana...

2009-12-18T17:30:00.001-06:00

We can't wait for you to spend Christmas with us Nana!

We love you!

WWJW?

2009-12-17T14:26:00.010-06:00

As I mentioned in a previous post, I love birthdays.

And since Jesus' birthday celebration is only 8 days away I've been thinking:

WWJW?

Not to be confused with the overly used phrase 'What Would Jesus Do?', I was struck today by 'What Would Jesus Want?'. For his birthday party that is.

Ever find yourself being asked or asking someone what they want for their birthday? certainly.

Honestly though, I've never stopped to ask Jesus what he would want for his birthday. We celebrate the season by giving gifts to one another but if Jesus was sitting next to me and feasting on my plate of carrots and hummus what would he say he wanted for his birthday?

Would it be something I could give him? Broader than that? Or both?

I invite you to step back from the hustle and bustle of the season and just stop.

Stop doing.

Stop obsessing about the long list of things to do.

Just stop.

And ask the One who gives us all good gifts "Jesus, what do you want for your birthday?".

And that's exactly what I'm going to do right now.

goodbye computer. hello Jesus.

My Birthday

2009-12-10T22:00:00.004-06:00

I love birthdays.
My special day was yesterday and I turned another year older.

The kids were super cute. All day they were telling me
"happy birthday" and "I love you mommy".
And, we captured this priceless video of them singing to me!
Tonight Jeff and I went out on a date sans kids. It was fun to talk
about this past year and to dream about what this next year holds.

Snowday Shmoday

2009-12-08T13:03:00.010-06:00

Today all of the are schools are closed and people are staying 'in' due to the snowy weather. I personally love snow days because it is an opportunity to slow down and enjoy being home.

Since the kids didn't have preschool and were up at 6:10am this morning (ahhh!!!) I decided that an Advent craft was in order.

For three decades this ornament has graced my family's Christmas tree.This year while we were decorating the kids tree they thought it was really fun to see mommy when she was little.

So now, here is our own version of this timeless ornament.
The kids painted salsa jar lids on both sides (letting each side dry in between)then we glued green ribbon around the edges of the lid, made a hanger, and pasted their picture inside.

Voilaa timeless treasure

Our Thanksgiving Day

2009-12-06T15:01:00.026-06:00

I hope that you were able to spend Thanksgiving Day with those who are dear to your heart and that your thoughts were focused on the one who gives all good gifts.

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." James 1:17

We spent the day with Jeff's side of the family and long time friends. It was a wonderful time of hanging out together, loving, laughing and eating yummy food. Here's some pic's of our day!(Jeff's parental unit, aka Jack and Lennyce, aka Papa Grandma)(Jeff and his Dad)
(me...some people say they never see a pic of me on the blog. here you go.)(Our buddy, aka Caleb Jackson)
(Our sweetie, aka Carissa Joy)
(Our adorable niece, aka Olivia)(Our friend, aka Katie and youngest Izzy) (her eldest Evie and Carissa)(Papa carving the turkey, the kids admiring the 'raw' turkey)

Happy Birthday

2009-11-28T21:25:00.000-06:00

Caleb and Carissa anticipated their three year old birthday party for three months.

Seriously.

We had their party on their actual birthday, Nov. 8th.Caleb emphatically declared he wanted a 'Diego' cake and Carissa went along with it saying she'd like a 'Dora' cake. Whew, that worked out nicely.I bought this carved fondant cake from a nearby mom who is a friend of my friend. (it was a total bargain!) The kids were thrilled, all 13 of them.

Backpack, Backpack...

Caleb pinning the tail on Swiper - one of three party games the kids played It was a full house with 13 little people, some parents and other friends. Dinner for the wee ones included a Kintner kid favorite of 'mac & cheese' and 'cake'. Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you...The party blowers were a hit!

the presents were too!Goodbye hugs

A great party!

Thankful Thursday

2009-11-26T06:00:00.002-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving.

I love the Thanksgiving holiday.

A set aside time to be with family and close friends. Time to reflect on life's blessings. Time to unwind.

For today's thankful reflection I'd like to share an excerpt written by my pastor, Bill Tibert.

____________

"Today, I’d like to focus on two more aspects of giving: Giving thanks and giving to those in need."

"Giving thanks is not really about thanking God for what we get—though that is certainly a good thing. Giving thanks begins with the recognition that everything about us—all that we are, all that we have, all that we are able to do—everything comes from God and really belongs to him. God is the Creator, “we are his workmanship”—his work of art (Ephesians 2.10). We have life because of him—“… he himself gives to all mortals life and breath and all things … in him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17.25, 28); “The earth is the Lord’s and all that live in it” (Psalm 24.1)."

"When we start there, we are set free to give thanks to God in the midst of all things, regardless of the circumstances; regardless of what we have or don’t have; regardless of what we get or don’t get. This is what Paul is getting at in Philippians 4.11: “I have learned the secret of being content with whatever I have. I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty.” Earlier in his letter, he tells how we enter into that secret: by rejoicing in God, knowing that he is near, giving up worry, and making our requests to God in prayer with thanksgiving."

"This week we have the opportunity to join with people all across our nation in giving thanks. Some will be focused on giving thanks for what they have received, as ought we all. But I encourage you to give thanks and praise for God himself: that we live in the shadow of his wings and the hollow of his hand, that he is near, that he created us out of love for love, and that we have been invited into the realm of His Kingdom to carry out his plans and purposes in the world."

"Give thanks!"

"Give to those in need. Repeatedly throughout the Old and New Testaments, God reveals his bias on behalf of the needy: the poor, the marginalized, the disenfranchised, the outsider, and the stranger. And God wants us to give in a variety of ways to help those in need. Following is a selection of Scripture passages I encourage you to reflect on:"

“In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Acts 20.35

“Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.” Proverbs 19.17

“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ Matthew 25.35-40

“Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.” Proverbs 22.9

“Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6.2

“Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.” Matthew 10.8

“Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth …’” Matthew 5.1-48

"One more verse that ties these two together—in 2 Corinthians 9.11 Paul says: “You will be enriched in every way for your generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us … and overflow with thanksgivings to God.” When we give generously, the floodgates of thanksgiving open up and overflow! What a great image and promise."

(thoughts by, Bill Tibert, Pastor, Covenant Presbyterian Church)
________________________________________

May this be ever true in our lives in increasing ways.

Happy Thanksgiving

Were Back!

2009-11-20T13:45:00.005-06:00

Our trip was wonderful on this here beach.

It was idealic in every way.

A true vacation indeed.

But now were back and enjoying our little ones with lots of snuggles and love in our jammies. Its great.

More about our trip coming soon.

And a post of pics from the tots 3 year old birthday party!

Were Off!

2009-11-11T23:50:00.001-06:00

We've got our bags packed and were set to leave at the crack of dawn.

Just the two of us.

Me, and my honey of 10+ years.

Mexico, here we come!

Birthday Eve

2009-11-09T08:19:00.000-06:00

On the Eve of the kids third birthday we celebrated as a family of four.
Both kids received Harley Davidson scooters that light up and rev like a motorcycles.
It was fun and thrilling.

Happy Birthday sweet ones.

Thankful Thursday

2009-11-05T07:00:00.000-06:00

Lately I've been reading a book titled 'Sabbath Keeping' with a group of women from church.

While there are some whom still observe a day of rest many do not. We have become a 24/7 culture.

I am challenged by this discipline.
I'm noticing that when I experience rhythms of rest that my heart turns toward God and the wonderful things that He has done.

The Psalmist encourages us to:

"Seek his presence continually. Remember the wonderful works he has done, his miracles, and the judgements he has uttered." Psalm 105:4-5

I don't want to live life on auto-pilot.
I want to live a life remembering and appreciating who God is and the good things that He has done.

Today
I am grateful for beginnings and celebrations.
I am grateful that we are blessed with children and will celebrate their 3rd birthday this weekend.
I am grateful for the unusually high temperatures we have had this week.
I am grateful for scissors and the skilled hands of J to cut Caleb's many curls today. My, his hair grows fast!

09 Halloween

2009-11-04T14:55:00.011-06:00

This year the tots were very excited about dressing up.

Caleb Jackson dressed up as a 'Fire Chief' aka 'Fireman'

He wore the costume for 4 days prior to Halloween.

Carissa Joy dressed up as 'Tinkerbell'

Fireman extinguishing Tink. Tink aghast.
Caleb thought he was 'big time' with his real fire extinguisher

Tink 'ding-ing' Fireman. I'm not sure what she's changing him in to but...her face is glowingOur first stop was our neighbors home - this is where the tots play while I'm teaching voice lessons
Our second stop was at the Peterson's home. Caleb and Carissa thought it was really funny to say 'Trick or Treat'. Given the reward there was no coaxing needed.
Carissa 'ding-ed' Uncle Brian (pictured above) and he turned in to a monkey! Brian was fairly believable (to a tot) and Carissa got a little scared and wouldn't turn him back. Poor Kim, she had to live with a monkey the rest of the evening!
-

Our third stop was our church Harvest party. Complete with a bouncy house, toddler games and food, the kids had a blast!

Pumpkin Carving

2009-11-02T21:45:00.012-06:00

Caleb and Carissa's preschool teacher 'Ms Vicki' gave them pumpkins at their 'Fall Party' on Thursday.

The tots were very excited about having their very own pumpkin and wanted to carve them asap. Daddy acted without hesitation. (He was probably more excited than the kids!)

After scraping out the insides the duo told daddy exactly how they wanted their pumpkin faces carved.

Carissa's pumpkin was a happy pumpkin

and Caleb's pumpkin was a sad pumpkinIn line with Caleb's Fire Chief costume he was particularly interested in the 'fire' inside the pumpkins.

Hello Sunshine

2009-11-01T21:30:00.001-06:00

Just a few days ago I wrote about how wicked the roads were in our first snowstorm of the season.

Don't worry, were not still freezing. In fact, there's no sign of snow anywhere; its like the storm didn't even hit us.

In case you didn't know (which you probably do), Colorado weather can change very quickly.

Case in point: The high temperature on Oct. 29th was 26 °F / -3 °C. With the wind shield factor it was only 8 °F.

f f f f freezing!

But this weekend brought sunny skies and a high temperature of 68 °F / 19 °C today.

b b b beautiful!

During my afternoon walk in the neighborhood I said "hello sunshine"!

How nice it would be for these high temperatures to stay. But alas, the temperatures will probably drop again making me even more ready to walk the beaches of Mexico.

Thankful Thursday

2009-10-29T13:55:00.009-05:00

Today I am thankful for my body.

It is far from perfect.

Sometimes our life is so busy that our body is the last thing that we take care of. Do you ever intend to exercise and eat more whole foods but you find yourself saying tomorrow I will .....?

This morning while exercising on the treadmill I started thinking about the 'burden' of taking care of my body.

The truth is, my body is a gift from God.

Even though it doesn't look or act the way that I want it to, it is a gift and I have a daily choice to either serve it well or serve it poorly.

I believe that you cannot separate the body from the spirit. They work hand in hand - the physical side affects the spiritual and mental sides also.

I think that if I learn how to love the body that God gave me that I will be more diligent in taking care of it.

I'm not going to lie, it is hard work. But I'm hoping someday the 'burden' will transform in to a 'blessing'.

Today I am grateful for the gift of my body.

I am thankful that I am alive and well.

I am grateful that I can choose differently.

"I'm happy from the inside out, and from the outside in, I'm firmly formed."

Psalm 16:9

it's Wicked out there

2009-10-28T14:30:00.006-05:00

Our first Colorado winter snow storm is showing its face. Earlier than some years the snow has been falling steadily for hours and its wicked out there.

The roads are worse in the Denver area than they are here...which we had the pleasure of finding out first hand during our long road trip south this morning.

Even though the roads were icky our trip to the capital city was well worth it. Jeff and I, along with his entire church staff and their spouses met for dinner and a show - the musical production of Wicked.

Wicked is celebrating its 6th year on Broadway this month.

The story is a tongue-in-cheek back story about what was happening in the Land of Oz before Dorothy and Toto were dropped in by a Kansas tornado.

It underscores the social message: don't jump too quickly to judge by what you see happening on the surface - "Things are not what they seem"

I loved the inventive story.

I loved the cast.

In my opinion the stand out was the smart green-skinned "wicked witch of the west" Elphaba played by Donna Vivino. She is a dynamic all-around performer.
Glinda, played by newcomer Chandra Lee Schwartz was also enjoyable as the "good witch". I appreciated her silky soprano voice and her adorable yet ditsy character.

So, even though the roads are wicked, seeing Wicked was worth it!

Whatever Happened to Thankful Thursday?

2009-10-24T22:00:00.001-05:00

If you've been a reader on this blog for awhile then you may have wondered whatever happened to the 'Thankful Thursday' posts.

The hiatus wasn't intentional but as the temperatures rose this past summer and we were having too much fun in the sun I wasn't taking the extra time to share my thankful musings.

As we approach Thanksgiving I desire to share my reflections about grateful living on a more regular basis.

There is no doubt that I continue to have a stirring in my spirit to grow in the area of gratitude. I feel this past year has prompted a greater awareness of how much I have to be grateful for.

And, as a good friend of mine says, "awareness brings change".

As my awareness sharpens I continue to desire a deeper sense of gratitude.

Having gratitude is a powerful choice. Through gratitude we open up a space to see God in each detail of our life. When we choose gratitude, we see the activity of God all around us and in turn recognize the good things that God has for us.

Today I am thankful for today. For the candle lit in the kitchen, the laughter of little people that filled the house, enjoying friends over a Thai dinner at home, horsey rides, snuggling our children, and a long nap.

I loved today.

I rejoice and thank God for what today was - a normal day - a day to embrace and receive God's little gifts that matter.

"O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endures for ever." Psalms 107:1

Ratatouille

2009-10-06T14:40:00.003-05:00

I heart Ratatouille.

Lately I've been eating more vegetables and this past weekend I made this delicious dish.

It is so yummy, its like a party in my mouth!

Ratatouille

1/4 cup olive oil
2 large onions, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 medium eggplant, cut into 1-inch cubes
2 bell peppers (any color), chopped
1-2 zucchini, cut into 1/2-inch slices
1 yellow summer squash, cut into 1/2-inch slices
1 28-oz. can diced tomatoes, drained
(or substitute fresh tomatoes)
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 1/2 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp. thyme
1/2 tsp. basil
add other herbs as desired

In a stock pot, saute onion and garlic in 1 tbsp. oil for 5 minutes.
Add 1 tbsp. oil and eggplant and stir-fry for 5 minutes.
Add another tbsp. oil and the peppers and cook 5 minutes.
Add the last tbsp. oil and the zucchini; cook for 5 more minutes.
Then add seasonings and drained tomatoes;
Cover and simmer for 30 minutes stirring occasionally.

Use ratatouille to top spaghetti squash or as a vegetable side dish.

(the left-overs warm up great)
Enjoy!

Helmet & Tutu

2009-10-04T15:00:00.002-05:00

Meet Caleb, lover of all things boy.

Recently Caleb was given this red bicycle helmet by an older friend. It's as good as new and he is infatuated with it. He wanted me to take his picture wearing it. He's so proud!Meet Carissa, lover of all things girly.

Carissa doesn't have a bicycle helmet (yet) but she does have a Tutu! And when Caleb wanted his picture taken with his helmet she insisted that I click her in her fluffy Tutu.

This pic (completely unprompted) is so them.
Boy and Girl.
Helmet and Tutu.

Lake Pueblo

2009-09-30T22:00:00.000-05:00

Recently we escaped for 24 hours to Lake Pueblo State Park . The tots adore going to the 'beach' and had a blast with their buckets and shovels. Hopefully next summer they will get to experience a real beach! The tots were convinced that they could 'fill up the lake' by pouring their hefty buckets of sand in to the lake.

Caleb lugged around this piece of drift wood wherever he went. He threw it time and again enjoying the large splashes of water.

Uh oh! Carissa got stuck in the sand and she couldn't get out! No worries, Daddy to the rescue!And moments before leaving the state park we got to experience very large hairy spider, aka Tarantula.

Good times.

Oatmeal Cinnamon Pancakes

2009-09-21T06:00:00.007-05:00

These Oatmeal Cinnamon Pancakes are delicious!
They are loved by both big and little people in our family.

I snatched this recipe from Keeper of the Home - a blog I follow.

Oatmeal Cinnamon Pancake Mix

4 cups old fashioned oats

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 cups whole wheat flour

1 cup packed brown sugar (or other dry sweetener)

1 cup instant dry nonfat milk

3 Tablespoons baking powder

2 Tablespoons cinnamon

5 teaspoons salt

1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar

Mix these ingredients together in a large bowl.

Use hands to mix in brown sugar well.

Store the mix at room temperature in an airtight container or gallon-sized freezer bag.

Yield: 10 cups of pancake mix.

Oatmeal Cinnamon Pancakes

2 eggs

1/3 cup applesauce

2 cups of Oatmeal Cinnamon Pancake Mix (recipe above)

1 cup water

Optional: one mashed banana or fruit of your choice

Beat eggs in a large bowl. Gradually beat in applesauce. Alternately add mix and water to mixture. Blend well. Preheat and oil griddle. Pour 1/3 cup batter per pancake. Cook until bubbles form around edges, flip and cook until done.

Yield: about 10 pancakes

(Alternative: Leave out the powdered milk when making the mix. Substitute with 1 cup of milk or buttermilk for the cup of water when mixing with the wet ingredients.)

(Make Ahead Idea: I have mixed the wet ingredients with the dry the night before. I like how the flavors meld together)

ENJOY!

Kelli-O

2009-09-19T14:00:00.004-05:00

Hello Everyone,

Meet Kelli.

Lover of:
life
learning
books

writing
hiking
people

good times
and muffins (little people)

She has come and gone and we miss her already!

Kelli was a part of our family this Summer. She lived with us, ate with us, worked alongside Jeff as an Intern at our church and shared life with our small family on Old Farm Circle.

Kelli and I have a wee history.

Back in the day when I was the Vocal Music Director at a High School in WA, Kelli participated in choir for a year. I also worked closely with her as the vocal coach in the musical productions. And, I knew Kelli through her mom Christy, one of my good friends and colleagues whom took me under her wing as a young teacher. Her mom was one of the people who interviewed me, a fresh graduate ready to take on the world of Choral music. I was pretty gung-ho then but that's another post.

It has been wonderful getting acquainted with who Kelli is now. I have so enjoyed our many adult conversations about life, love, theology and food.

In addition to Kelli doing an internship at our church, hanging out with friends, hiking (go 14ers!)etc... she also spent time regularly with Caleb and Carissa. This was a huge blessing to our family. In addition to scheduled outings on my own, Jeff and I savored weekly date nights which gave us an opportunity to connect on deeper levels without the interruptions of little people. (not that our little people are interruptions!)

In these moments I experienced a sense of 'space' that I had been longing for since becoming a mother of two. I experienced God working within that space and in every square inch of me.

It was a wonderful and a strong reminder that in these hectic times slowing down and creating 'space' cultivates a deeper relationship with God and with others. When I slow down I find that I am a healthier and happier wife, mommy, friend and servant of God.

Refreshing.

Here are a few pics of Kelli with the Muffin Heads.
One of the things that Kelli made-up is the 'Muffin March' - a fun way to get the Muffins to march up the stairs to bed, out the door, in the car, wherever. The 'Muffin March' is definitely here to stay!

Kelli is awesome. (one of her favorite words!)

We love her and are thankful for slice of time that she was able to spend with our family and our church community in Colorado.

Thank you Kelli-O!

Celebrating Life part 2

2009-09-17T22:47:00.005-05:00

Tonight I joined 'Greg's Lymphoma Phyghters' and hundreds of others in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's 'Light the Night Walk' - a night to pay tribute and bring hope to people battling cancer.
The event raises funds for patient services, lifesaving research for better therapies and cures for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma.

Pictured here is the greater part of 'Greg's Lymphoma Phyghters'. A fighting team!I participated in the walk for several reasons.

1. to support the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

2. to support our friends Greg and Nancy. Greg is currently in treatment for Lymphoma.
3. to celebrate my mom's life - she is in remission from Leukemia - today marks one year since her diagnosis Sept. 17, 2008.
Everybody carried illuminated balloons during the walk.(me and my friend Nancy, Greg's wife)

Celebrating Life

2009-09-17T06:00:00.000-05:00

Today, 9-17-09 we celebrate life for my mom Sharon.

Sharon is a one year survivor of Acute Leukemia.

We celebrate this year of life with great joy and give thanks for the many memories yet to come.

"Give thanks to God—he is good and his love never quits"

I Chronicles 16:34

Best Friends

2009-09-14T15:02:00.001-05:00

Caleb Jackson &

Carissa Joy

are like two giggly peas in a podthey love each other more than anything else in the world

brother. sister. twins. best friends.It makes my heart glad

Bonatoes & Basil

2009-09-11T15:26:00.017-05:00

Its Harvest time and more tomatoes are ready for the picking! We've been picking the basil all Summer. Just yesterday I made another batch of pesto and froze it. Carissa was my little picking helper. She loved it! Carissa calls tomatoes 'bonatoes'. It is the cutest word morph ever. I hope she says 'bonatoe' until middle school. seriously.
I am happy with my tomatoes and basil this year. Unfortunately my other vegetables did not produce well due to the heavy hail storms late in the Summer.
Next year, I want to try the Topsy Turvy Upside Down Tomatoe Hanger in addition to my potted tomatoes.

T-Ball

2009-09-08T06:00:00.001-05:00

Baseball.It all started a few months ago when a good friend from church watched the tots when Jeff was out of the country. Her middle school aged son (a baseball star himself) set up a make-shift T-ball set in their backyard.

For Caleb it was love at first sight.

And since then Carissa has become pretty fond of it as well.

During our trip to AZ Jeff created the game of 'imaginary baseball' (video to come...) but in recent days we have turned the imaginary into reality...a new T-Ball set.

So, here is the new T-Ball set and Daddy coaching Caleb on how to hold the bat.the look of concentration...the look of determination...the look of a little girly girl with her first t-ball set...the look of a baseball bunny-love...and the look of Caleb and Carissa with their Daddy-O.According to Caleb and Carissa it doesn't get much better than this.

Good times.

The Very First Day of Preschool

2009-08-29T05:18:00.002-05:00

The twins had their very first day of preschool August 18th.

Since we visited their teacher 'Ms. Vicki' in May they have been begging me to go to school.

When the big day arrived Caleb and Carissa were so excited that they got dressed and ready faster than speeding bullets - motivation rocks.

When Jeff and I brought them to their classroom it was not a typical scenario you might imagine on the very first day of preschool.
There were no tears, no screaming, no holding on to mom or dad's legs for dear life. Honestly they just wanted us to be on our merry way so that they could check out all of the cool stuff in Ms. Vicki's classroom.

Jeff had to leave for work but I hung around for a bit trying to snap at least one good picture and make sure all was ok. (Of course, I missed the pic of them hugging Ms. Vicki and I couldn't get them to stand still to save my life) But while they wanted me to leave so that they could enjoy their very first day of preschool on their own, part of me wanted to stay and cherish the beginning of nearly two decades of school.

My heart throbbed a bit as I thought about how quickly they have grown from itty-bitty wee ones in to miniature people. My eyes welled up with tears as I said a halfhearted goodbye (with enthusiasm) upon leaving.

When I picked them up they were so excited to tell me about their very first day with classmates Kylee and Nathan, their Bible story (Noah's Ark), snack time, the toys and the letter 'a'.

Caleb and Carissa rated the very first day of preschool an A+

Miracle Report

2009-08-26T15:18:00.008-05:00

It's a miracle, my mom's bone marrow biopsy report came back...

...and the results show that my mom is still in remission!!!!

This is a wonderful report. We are all relieved and so happy for this encouraging news.

To read more link over to my mom's blog.

And, wish her a happy birthday! She turns 60 today.

Fossil Springs

2009-08-25T14:11:00.005-05:00

During our trip to AZ we stayed in Strawberry for 4 days at the 'Cabin Sweet Cabin'. This small town in Northern Arizona has an elevation of 6,047 feet and lies beneath the famed Mogollon Rim.

Only 7 miles from Strawberry is the Fossil Springs Wilderness. We enjoyed two afternoons in this 11,550 acre wilderness.

I was surprised at the lushness of the creek bed because the surrounding dessert is extremely dry. The area has over thirty species of trees and shrubs and over a hundred species of birds observed in this unique habitat.

We drove down in to the canyon on a dusty dirt road to the lower parking lot. Once parked it was only a short hike to this glorious-ness. The stream gushes 20,000 gallons a minute out of a series of springs at the bottom of a 1,600 foot deep canyon. The water is incredibly clear! We could see to the bottom of the creek bed and also saw many small and medium sized fish. The kids loved swimming with the fish!Like many visitors to the Fossil Springs we swam, waded in the water, floated in the current,
and enjoyed the beautiful surroundings.One of the highlights was the rope swings. The kids enjoyed watching people swing on the ropes and jump/fall in to the water. Even though there were some younger (read, more agile)guys jumping off of the rope swings, the kids favorite 'swinger' was Daddy himself. Click on the link below and you can see a short slide show of daddy on the rope swing.

Cabin Sweet Cabin

2009-08-17T21:13:00.006-05:00

We spent four days at this sah-weet cabin in Strawberry Arizona.

Courtesy of my Aunt Melanie and her hubby Jerry our family was blessed to use this cozy cabin on our family trip to AZ.

And cozy it was.

During our stay we had lots of 'porch time' in the hammock, the big swing and the white wicker rocking chairs.

Caleb and Carissa sporting their morning jammies and huge, giggly smiles

Caleb and Carissa took these pictures of Daddy with the opposite twin

Uncle B: our surprise visitor who drove 2 pizzas from my favorite joint in the Valley of the Sun. His visit was short but sah-weet.

A beloved brother, aka 'Bub' and 'Uncle B'

My mom, aka 'Nana' was able to join us for much longer than 4 hours. It was more like 4 days. She is a blessing to us all.

Another cabin activity besides 'porch time' was...

filling the bird and squirrel feeders with seeds!

of course Caleb and Carissa thought this was....sah-weet!

And next...our fun adventures at Fossil Springs

sweet.

No Glitches in Bone Marrow Biopsy

2009-08-14T23:08:00.001-05:00

My Mom made it through her bone marrow

test this morning without any complications.

After a friend drove her home she spent the day

sleeping off the anesthesia and catching up on her rest.

Thank you for lifting up prayers."Nana, this hugs for you" Love, Carissa

Bone Marrow Biopsy

2009-08-13T10:12:00.013-05:00

For about the past month my mom Sharon's blood test results have not showed good signs of continued remission. It is possible that she has relapsed and that the Leukemia has returned.

This is mere speculation (based on her test results) so no definitive answers will be had until she has a bone marrow biopsy.

So, tomorrow morning (Aug. 14) at 7:00am my mom will be admitted to the hospital and put under full anesthesia for the procedure. Results should be available within a week. After that my mom will evaluate what kind of treatment is necessary (if any).

My mom has endured quite the battle this past year. She continues to trust in God for ultimate healing supernaturally or through modern day medicine. If you want to read more of her story you can click over to her blog http://www.strengthofmysoul.blogspot.com/.

I so appreciate your prayers and support.

IV Reunion

2009-08-10T16:08:00.000-05:00

It has been 10+ years since I finished school at NAU. A large group of us who were friends from InterVaristy Christian Fellowship met up in Flagstaff for a weekend of fun and fellowship. It was a great time to connect with old friends, meet expanding families (lots of kids!) and to celebrate God's goodness in and through our lives.

This is a group picture from the picnic on Sunday.

(Pictured from left by families: Naomi Grether, Catina Ivy and baby Joseph, Jeff & Angie Kintner and tots Carissa & Caleb, Mike & Katie Peterson, Evie and Izzy, Mike and Jessica Blair, Justin & Claire Beeler and girls, Mark Staten, Rainy & Brad Schneeflock & 5 kids, Gary Hyde, Curtis & Anna Hunt, Pete & Erin Benedict, Trevor and Chelsea Bush with Colson & Kayson, Timothy & Stephanie Richards, Nicolle Howard and family)(Mark Blair and his lovely wife Jessica)One morning we gathered for yummies at Macy's. As it was 'back in the day' it was a perfect place to hang-out and catch-up!(Peter and Curtis)

On Sunday we gathered for a picnic at Thorpe Park. Curtis was not only our Reunion planner but our Grill-er-extraordinaire. (pic by Claire Beeler)(Colson, Carissa, Lauren, Evie, Caleb)(Jeff & Brad, Rainy & Angie with their 2 year old girls)(Carissa showing off her 'boo boo' which she showed to everyone in the park, including people that we didn't know. drama queen.)
(Katie & Izzy)(Catina with her 3 month old baby boy, Angie & Carissa)

(Caleb and Evie, instant friends goofing around)(Caleb enthralled with playing in the rain)A lousy picture taken from our car of a train crossing Rt 66. Caleb and Carissa loved all of the trains that they saw, especially on the drive parallel to Rt 66 on our way to and from Northern Arizona.

Trip 2009. our road trip in minutes

2009-08-02T21:12:00.001-05:00

Road trip Arizona
Total Miles traveled: 1,797

This is the first long road trip we have taken with Caleb and Carissa. They were champs! If it were up to me I wouldn't want to be harnessed in a car seat for hours on end but the tots didn't seem to mind too much.

Newsflash:
Traveling with toddlers takes longer than not traveling with toddlers.
At first we took more stops but as the tots got 'conditioned' our time between stops lengthened.

The departure.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
7:30am - depart Colorado Springs
8:20 - Breakfast (Cracker Barrel took forever! Ordering, eating and two potty stops...the minutes flew by)
9:55 - driving
10:50 - gas/pit stop
11:05 - driving, surprised the tots with a borrowed DVD player - watched 'Bee Movie'
12:40pm - pit stop (why it takes 15 minutes for 2 adults/2 tots to go potty I still don't know)
12:55 - driving
2:45 - arrived at hotel in Albuquerque
3:00 - swimming at hotel
5:30 - dinner
7:30 - bed
Bedtime was interesting. We realized (too late) that Caleb is too big for the Pack N Play. He moaned and groaned all night until I finally gave in and brought him in bed with us. It was a fitful night of sleep as Caleb tossed and turned and wanted me to rub his back every time he moved around. In the nights that followed however he got used to the smaller space and slept much better. whew.

Friday, July 24, 2009
9:45am - driving
10:10 - gas
10:25 - driving
1:03pm - pit stop on the side of the highway. Seriously, on the reservation there is no where to stop. Carissa had to pee so badly her eyes were watering. So, we pulled over and Carissa sat on her portable potty and Caleb got his first lesson from daddy about peeing in the bushes. And me? well, I also used Carissa's potty and mooned the highway drivers while doing it.
1:10 - driving
2:52 - arrive at hotel in Flagstaff

Flagstaff to Strawberry
During our short 1.5 hour drive on Sunday from Flagstaff to Strawberry our potty trained son announced that he had to poop. While we believed his 'plea for the potty' there was nowhere to pull off and he said that he could "hold it".

While driving I caught a whiff of what I was hoping was just passed gas. But moments later Caleb announced that he had poop on his fingers. I bolted around in my seat to see that yes, he did indeed have poop and nuggets stuck to his fingers.

What happened? After declaring that he could "hold it" Caleb pooped his pants quietly and then accidentally dropped his fruit snacks. When he went to 'fish' for his snacks in his lap he got more than just his fruit snacks.

It almost barfed (seriously). It was utterly disgusting.

Jeff pulled off the side of the road. We cleaned him up and stuck on an old tiny pull-up of Carissa's that we found in the side of the car door. This was a memory I don't want to relive.

To give the small kid a bit of credit he did tell us he had to go and afterwards he felt horrible about it. He hung his head.

Pictures of our Adventures in AZ to come...

The return.
Friday, July 31st, 2009
8:20am - depart cabin
9:30 - gas/pit stop (crossed state lines, lost 1 hour)
3:15 - lunch/gas
4:15 - driving
6:15 - pit stop (we had to wait for the guy who 'showered' in the sink)
6:35 - driving
8:20 - gas/pit stop
8:30 - driving
10:00 - home sweet home. finally.

Returning from AZ in one day was a stretch.
We learned a few things about our kiddos.
1. they do not sleep in the car
2. they got excited about 'pit stops' in hopes that they might get a treat
3. they still love videos (honestly, a lifesaver on long trips!)

Calisthenics with Carrie

2009-07-20T23:08:00.003-05:00

The four kiddos had a blast doing 'Calisthenics with Carrie'!

They grooved to my new favorite kids CD "All God's Animals"
by TJ McCloud.

Even the dad's got in on the fun demo-ing their golf swings.

Ben, golf teacher extraordinaire!And Carrie, being a sneaky leader, "instructed" all of the kids to line up and say "cheese".

All 4 kids smiling = Success!(Eli Bennet 20months, Carissa Joy 2, Caleb Jackson 2, Joshua Howard 3)All smiles, 'Calisthenics with Carrie' ended with goodnight hugs all around.