Construction Advice

Busted!!!

"There comes a time in every rightly constructed boy's life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure."

- Mark Twain
Well, I'm not sure exactly what hidden treasure Mr. Elijah is digging for but he has found what may just delight him for years. For the last two summers my brother John has joined the elite group of college aged tree planters, working in the True North fighting moose, bears and freak snow falls just to keep the forests going. We always thought this was appropriate as for a couple of years Naomi had a knack for using up paper napkins like crazy and we'd always say, "go ask Uncle John to plant another tree!". Well, Uncle John's tree planting days are over and if the conditions are right, and someone has left the washroom door open, Elijah has just found great delight in unraveling the toilet paper until it's unusable.....I hope somewhere, someone is planting a tree!

P.S. Is it just me or does he look a little like Charlie Brown?

Sweaty Palms

Alright, so this picture isn't completely true. We couldn't get a good angle when Jerusha preformed at her spring recital so we had her pose at the piano afterwards. However, we did have the great joy of listening to our eldest child preform "Power Walk" by Robert D. Vandall. She memorized the piece and played it flawlessly she was completely professional. I however, had the sweaty palms that is all too familiar, I was instantly whisked back to a time in my childhood when it's silent and all eyes are on me waiting for me to begin. I'm so glad it wasn't me up there! When I told Jerusha that her recital would be in the sanctuary at church and that she would be playing on the grand piano, the one Pastor Geary plays on no less, she looked up at me and said, "will Dad be preaching?" Love it! This girl is ready to bring it! Move over George Beverly Shae (that reference was for the grandparents!) (you're welcome!) How fun put your children through those same torturous rites of passage that we had to go through, I'll just sit comfortably in the audience....with sweaty palms.

Light the Torch!

Is it just me or do you hear the Olympic anthem right now too? Here's sweet Naomi at her very first gymnastic class. She was built for this...all but the front roll, which you can see she hadn't quite mastered when I took the picture, she has since figured it out and can somersault with the best of them.

Here's Naomi getting ready, she tends to get silly when she's excited and as you can see, she's pretty excited! It's fun to watch Naomi do something on her own, something just for her to do...and she's LOVING IT!!!!

Up For It!

Well, the world is looking brighter for Mr. Elijah! From rolling, to the army crawl, to crawling and now standing up, our little one is on the move! And look how proud he is of himself, yeppers, once someone experiences the world on their feet, it's not likely they'll go back to their bellies! When we found out our third one would be a boy I heard chuckles and warnings about how busy boys were and wishes of good luck keeping up with him. Elijah is only 9 months but I'm finding those well-wishers to be on the right track. From the moment he wakes up until he goes down for naps, this boy is on the move! How fun it is to watch him discover new things (he found bubbles particularly hilarious the other morning) and to master new milestones. He charms anyone he meets with a sweet smile and a laugh, that is until someone tries to take him from Mom.....He's a blessing we didn't even know we wanted and now that he's here, I can't imagine life without him.

What Life Sounds Like

"Music is what life sounds like." - Eric Olson

Mondays are full. Somehow there's always more laundry than usual and after taking as much as a Sabbath as I can, it seems I play "catch-up" on Mondays. In the evening, after a quick snack and half of a practice Jerusha has piano lessons. Off to Mrs. Willmann's we go, the little ones and I go for a walk if it's nice, or read books in the van if it isn't and Jerusha comes bounding out of her house excited to start on the next page of a piece that is quickly becoming her favourite.

Jerusha has impressed me with her musical abilities, even as a really little girl, she always sang on key which I never thought much of until I listened to other kids singing, and now she has piano....what a blessing to express yourself in music! She is quickly moving on to more difficult (and more lovely) songs and I frequently hear her playing just for fun. She really cracks me up with her aria entitled "candy" (things that inspire I suppose!) We have a tradition in our house, each child has their own "song", a hymn that I've sung to them since before they were born, partly out of wanting to nurture, and partly out of curiosity about a study I had heard of. Anyways, Jerusha's song is "Like a River Glorious" and just lately she's been singing along with me adding her own harmonies, she took it to the next level a couple nights ago as she came up with a three part harmony arrangement and recruited Jeremy to join in.....I don't think it happened quite as she had heard it in her head ah, the joys and frustrations of a composer! Whether it's a favourite song on the radio or a cherished song of worship to the greatest Composer, I hope you get a chance to enjoy some music this week!


"Alas for those that never sing
but die with all their music in them!"
- Oliver Wendell Holmes

Rain

Last month we had record amounts of rain. It feels as if it's been raining for 40 days and 40 nights, one local nursery had a sign in the front saying that they were building an arc and anyone who felt it was necessary was welcome to join them. Usually I don't mind the rain but it's starting to get old. Jerusha's soccer season has come to a halt, they were supposed to start in March but they've only had two games, one of which my parents were able to watch (mostly from the van as it was, yes you guessed it, raining!) BUT, on a very special Saturday we had one beautiful sunny day....and a very fun birthday party!

On April 16th Jeremy was ordained. It was a long process of study and defending his theology and doctrine in front of three different councils and then the vote was unanimous to ordain him. The service was such a blessing, with a dear friend Ken Atchison giving the message, our friends leading worship and many friends and even family there to support him. It was such a worshipful time and during the laying on of hands such a Spirit-filled time, it is a very cherished memory for both of us. We've always felt the Call to minister in a church setting and have been serving for 11 years now, but this felt somewhat like a confirmation and to have the support of the church, our denomination is such a blessing.

On April 21st Jerusha turned 7. Wow......is it always shocking to watch your children grow? I know they do that, it somehow just surprises me at times. On her birthday, Roo and I went for a bike ride at the end of it we told her that her bike was simply too small and she's not able to ride it anymore. A very disappointed Miss. Taylor schlepped her way up the driveway when Jeremy brought out a new bike for her to ride. Needless to say her schlepping turned to skipping and off we went on another bike ride! We had her party here at the house last Saturday and with all we did in a very busy weekend that was by far the most exhausting! She had a blast and it was well worth it!

Naomi has mastered her name! She'd be happy to spell it for you and she's super close to being able to write it for you too. ("A" gives her a bit of trouble but she's almost there) Naomi has been very inquisitive about spiritual things lately. We took our time working through the Easter story, at our church we have a prayer garden that takes you through the garden of Gethsemane through to the empty tomb and we stood there for a while looking in the tomb to see if Jesus was in there. ( while we did not see Jesus, Naomi did see an empty Coke can) She is becoming aware that we all have a big problem and the God loved us so much He came to rescue us. I love being on the "ground level" of teaching these truths to her, what an awesome responsibility!

Elijah has decided that sitting still is for the birds so off he went learning to crawl just this week. My parents we out to visit for Jeremy's ordination and Jerusha's and my birthday and I really thought he would take off then, but he decided a week later was a better fit for his schedule. He's on the move......really on the move.....and quite proud of himself too!

That's all I have to report for now. I haven't written for a while as our computer had all but died, but thanks to some tax cuts (Thank you, Obama) we have a new one! I look forward to keeping you up to date! And maybe, just maybe, this rain will stop.....if not, I'm getting a canoe!

Update

So much has happened since I last logged on so here's a quick update....as I'm sure you surmised from the title. ...

In November my Grandma Helen Letkeman passed away. It was not unexpected and to be honest, the first thing I felt was relief, she had wanted to go home to quite some time. Eli and I flew west to be at the funeral and just to be with family.

Christmas came and went at lightning speed. Jerusha got an ipod and has been bopping around the house listening to Highschool Muscial. Naomi got her first bike and with the weather being snowy, has really mastered making the sharp corners as she wizzes by in the basement. Elijah, well, he just sat there and took it all in.

We went up to Newmarket to be with family the day after Christmas (Boxing Day) and got to go to the Holmes' family gathering, always great to be with family!

The New Year came, the ball dropped, Dick Clark didn't look quite as bad as he did last year, school started again (yeah!) and now, Jeremy is in Haiti.

Yep, Haiti. He's there with folks from our church (including our senior pastor) and he's preparing the mission trip that he will lead the youth to in June.

Phew! Now that we're on the same page I'll try to keep you posted weekly.

Sunday Mornings

The typical Sunday morning in our house is a well-timed, well-run, machine. Up we get with bright smiling faces, ready to start the day. The birds are chirping as the sun floods into our bedrooms, and if you listen really hard you can hear the sound of little girls giggling really quietly so they won't wake up their brother. We enjoy a leisurely breakfast as we discuss current events over our freshly bakes cinnamon rolls. Afterwards, my children get ready while singing, my hair always does exactly what I want it to, Elijah happily sits their and coos and smiles and never ever spits up on his "church clothes".....Okay, maybe not. Sunday mornings in our house probably more accurately resemble roping a calf at a rodeo, and chances are Elijah has caused me to change my outfit twice before I walk out the door. But in the moments between the chaos we review memory verses, prepare for what Naomi will be learning about in Sunday School, and thank God for our church family. I often think of our brothers and sisters in Christ.....when we get to church there are many whom we love who are beginning their worship gatherings as well, and when we are finishing ours, I know there are many more who are just beginning to worship together. What a beautiful bond we have. We may not have sung the same songs or heard the same passage in scripture, but we have worshipped the same God, we have read from the same Bible and we have been encouraged and challenged by the same Spirit and in 6 more days, if the Lord wills, we will do it again. "Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care." - Psalm 95:6,7

Laughter

Today my son laughed. Not the little chuckle that young infants do but a hearty belly laugh. There is nothing like hearing your children laugh. This is something I thoroughly enjoy about our home, come by for a visit and it won't be long before you hear someone cracking up. Jeremy is quick to find the tickle bugs that seem to invade our children's beds. At the last book fair at school, Jerusha bought a knock-knock joke book (which I regretted almost immediately) and she is refining the art of skillfully telling a knock-knock joke. Elijah is enjoys a good game of peekaboo, Naomi loves to laugh at whatever tickles her funny bone and growing up in a family that laughs a lot together, I love every minute of it! So feel free to come on over, bring your best jokes and prepare to laugh!

Delightful

A delightful moment in a other-wise trying day...my daughter, Naomi, heard a song, put on a dress and twirled. "Mommy, I pretty?" "Naomi, you are absolutely beautiful". She happily continued to twirl and I enjoyed the dance recital. I think I caught an earthly glimpse of how my heavenly Father delights in me. It wasn't Naomi's elaborate dance steps that were so impressive, it wasn't her costume, it was the fact that she is my daughter and I love her. "I am my Beloved's and He is mine. His banner over me is love."

Happy Thanksgiving

"Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done....remember the wonders he has done..." Psalm 105 1 & 5

Today is the Sunday before Canadian Thanksgiving, and as any good Canadian family should, we cooked up a fine Thanksgiving feast. In the Stobbe family we have a tradition that at every major holiday one person is sick (it's not a great tradition) and this year Jerusha took that honour. Despite her croaky voice, we had a great meal and shared what we were thankful for. Our list got longer and longer as we thought of God's goodness to us this past year and what topped everyone's list was the arrival of Elijah, a blessing before we even asked but we are so thankful he is here. So to our Canadian friends and family...Happy Thanksgiving!

Won't This Be Fun?

When we first looked at the house that is now our home we knew it needed a little extra care and attention. It's been a great house to learn new skills on and with that in mind, as I was perusing the coupons from Costco, I came across a deal I couldn't pass up.....and Jeremy found himself committing a full weekend and some week nights to installing a new floor. Now, for those who haven't seen the old floor this isn't all that exciting, but trust me, linoleum looks pretty bad after 16 years of wear and tear. My dear husband did an excellent job and after 11 years of marriage we have an understanding, when I say, "won't this be fun?" he heads to the garage to get his tool-belt.

It's Been A While

Alright, let's pretend that it hasn't been over a year since I last wrote. How about I get everyone caught up and we'll continue? Since Jerusha's birthday last year........

Naomi turned 2 and then 3! She is such a sweet girl and everyone who comes in contact with can't help but smile. She's learning her alphabet and numbers and with Jerusha gone all day at school, she is thoroughly enjoying having full reign of the toys.

Jerusha turned 6 and has started the first grade! She rides the bus for about an hour and a half which I feel is a little long for a 6 year old. But she enjoys her commute....maybe I'll send the daily paper and a cup of coffee as she catches up on her current events! She enjoys school and loves reading. She has also started soccer and piano lessons, she's a busy girl!

Jeremy has been working very hard in seminary and this May he graduated with his Masters in Transformational Leadership. When I asked him what he was going to do with it when he grows up, he paused, shrugged his shoulders and said, "I don't know". I'm teasing :) Seminary has been a great experience for him and for myself as well as we both continue to grow in our faith and dig deep into scripture. I'm really proud of him for doing so well (he was elected into the "Who's Who of American Universities").

I've been keeping busy, teaching small groups for the senior high girls and taking on a leadership position in MOPS (Mothers Of Preschoolers) but what really keeps me up at night is our son. Around a year ago Jeremy and I were discussing whether we were really living by faith, and if not, we should start asking for the Lord's help to grow our faith. The next month we found out

we were expecting our third child....I'm not even kidding!

So, here he is.....Lloyd Elijah Taylor. Born on July 28, weighing 7lbs, 12oz. The name Lloyd is after his daddy (Lloyd Christopher Jeremy) and his Grand-dad (Lloyd Keith Taylor) and his Great-Grand-dad (Lloyd Taylor.....the original). We are honoured to give him the name and our prayer and desire is that he would follow in the steps of all of these men by loving the Lord deeply. He has a great legacy behind him!

Whew....that's almost a Christmas letter isn't it?

Happy Birthday Roo!!

5........One whole hand......."I'm five, I'm five, I'm five!". This is an important moment in the life of Jerusha Pauline. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, she is five. And should you have the good pleasure of speaking with her on the phone, she will inform you, in no uncertain terms, that she indeed had a birthday and that she is half way to 10.

Jerusha has grown so much this past year. Starting pre-school, tying her shoes (that's a recent one) learning to print and even beginning to read. Her understanding of spiritual things has expanded too. She holds onto Biblical stories dearly and works hard on her memory verses, and while she pushes boundaries (let's hold on to reality here) she is a delight to have in our family. I don't think she's ever heard a song or piece of music that she didn't want to dance to, or seen a pile of dirt that she couldn't make into a gourmet dinner. I am so thankful for our Jerusha....happy birthday sweetie!

Birthday Extravaganza!!!

Here's a story.......this April I turned 30. Yep, 30. I think it'll be my best decade yet! My "baby" brother John came for the weekend right before my big day. It was a short visit but it was so great just to spend time with him and get to know him again. We enjoyed wrangling the girls and showing him the city. I went to drop him off at the airport, we were there a little early so we had supper together. He left to use the washroom and when he returned there with him was my dad! And then my mom! And then my older brother Tim! I couldn't believe it!! My family came to surprise me for my birthday.....and they got me good! It was such a blessing to have them here, at just a time when we could use the encouragement, God is so good that way. I don't know if they knew I was feeling a little homesick at the time but God knew before hand, and He sent my family to be with me. Jeremy, obviously was in on it, and the entire weekend with John and week with the rest of the Stobbe clan was a blast. Showing them around the city. Taking them to our favorite place, the Bike Trail. Baking Paska (Russian Easter Bread) with Mom. And then for my present (like there could possibly be any more!) they all chipped in and got me a new digital camera. I've had a great time rediscovering a hobbie I have neglected for a while. I am so grateful for my family, both the Stobbe's and the Taylor's and my own sweet family. The Lord has given me such a gift. Dad and Tim and Roo on the Bike Trail. Roo informed everyone of the rules.....stop when Mom calls.....stay on your side.....have fun.....and catch a butterfly. That last one was her own addition, but wouldn't you know it.....Tim and her caught one!

Mom showing Roo how to bake Paska...get in touch with your menno side girl!

Family Update

Two months is a little too long to go without updating, I apologize. But, let me fill you in on what has been happening in the land of the Reds. I have thoroughly enjoyed making this house a home. Figuring out what works where and what needs to move. It has been a thrill to go through our own things, books that I haven't finished reading yet, Jerusha's baby books, craft supplies, it's a bit like Christmas....without even having to pay for it!!

God's goodness still amazed me. Right next door there is a family that have 4 girls. One of them, Cora, is 5 years old and will be starting kindergarten next year with Jerusha. I am so thankful that there will be a friend on the bus for her. And of course, they are fast friends. I can't help but think of my dear friend, Pam. We met when I was in kindergarten and we are still dear friends today. My friendship with her is a one-in-a-lifetime kind of thing....you know the friendships that while you may not see each other as often as you like, you pick up right where you left off....it's not a friendship of convenience....it's worth much more than that. All that to say that I don't expect Roo and Cora to have that kind of friendship, but I remember when.....

Naomi is as sweet as ever. She is such a shy little girl, slowly warming to people, such a different personality than Roo. She likes to make us laugh and she is really into making sure every door is closed....not sure why, but she seems to enjoy it. She also has an ear for music, although she tends to enjoy the rock genre more than anything.....I can appreciate that!

Jeremy is working hard as usual. Right now he's in Minnesota for school. Ministry is going well, we have such a range of students coming to youth group, from the ones who have gone to church all their lives to the ones where this is a new thing for them. We love having all of them. The students have really gone deep this year, their relationships with Christ are maturing and we are seeing the fruit in their lives. I am so thankful that God allows us to speak of Him...and even get paid for it! The church itself is going through a rough time....as many are. We are searching for a senior pastor and in the mean time there has been a lot of transition, a lot of change. My prayer for our church is that we are united. There are so many hurting people so close to us and we need to be a beacon and a safe place.

I have more to write about, but I will do that in my next post. Happy spring!

Here We Go....

"It's moving day!!!!" This is how Jerusha woke us up at 6:00am on Feb. the 7th. Whenever we would talk about moving or the new house we would make sure that she would know that it is the house that God is giving us and we have to wait on His timing. Well...He apparently informed her that at 6:00am it was go time. We were moving! Here is Roo and Noamers in the moving truck with Jeremy. Some wonderful friends took care of the girls for the day while many other friends came and helped haul everything from house to house. It was a lot of work but we were so happy to do it. Home sweet home....when you're coming to visit, this is what to look for!

I just had to show you a picture of the new kitchen. Mom, I can't wait for you to see it in real life! I was thinking of all the Easter and Christmas dinners we made together, we could really cook up a masterpiece here! Next time I'll include some pictures of the girls' rooms, they've gotten quite good at giving the tour!

Home

Comfort....warmth....acceptance.....food.....home. For well over a year now, we have been calling the Sabbath House home. But the thing is...it's not really our home. We've made memories here, we brought Naomi into our family here, we've celebrated and cried in this house, and we are extremely grateful for it. I've tucked Jerusha into bed at night, thankful for the warm bed, but in the back of my mind always remembering that it's not really her bed. I've served dinner on plates, and while I'm very thankful for the food and the ability to serve it, it has never been on our dishes. We have had a front row seat to watch God's faithfulness to our family (all from the comfort of very plush couches), and have waited to go home. Well, it's happened. We closed on our house last Friday. A lovely 3 bedroom home in Mason (suburb north of Cincinnati). It was a foreclosure and needs a bit of work and we've been going very strong for a week. We have it all painted and we just have the carpet to do and the master bath. So many people have come out to help us paint, with the plumbing or the appliances....so many dear people that have been praying with us to bring us home. As we go through this experience (living in a place that's not ours) I can't help but think that really, this is just how we should feel. Living in this world but knowing that there is a place so much better, a place where we will truly be home.

Thank you so much for praying through this with us. I'm not sure what all I've learned or how I've grown through this, that's to figure out later, but I do know that God good. We are working very hard to get the house ready to move in, we are expecting to move on the 7th. Like I said, we are working on the master bath which is a little beyond our comfort zone for home repairs (Jer is fond of saying "let's just say I'm more handsome than handy"). Thankfully, we have some very capable people helping us...it should be fun! I'll be sure to post some pictures,I've taken quite a few, however they are all at the other house...I'll blame it on all the paint fumes I've been inhaling.

Family Time

I hope your Christmas was as lovely as ours...we enjoyed having the Taylor side reunite at our house. With lots of food, new toys and two very willing uncles (thanks Aaron and Jonathan!) Jerusha and Naomi were running from morning till night. It was great to take the time to catch up with each other and just enjoy one another's company.

Here Jerusha and Jonathan share their Christmas meal. He made for much better dinner conversation than her sister does, so Roo made the most of it and spent every meal chatting it up!