January

Here are a few snapshots of what I've seen around my home this past month: Elias in our backyard: stick and sword in hand--a dangerous combo
One of our Barred-Rock Hens peering into our house from the deck

Red the Rooster and Henny Penny...a courtship not to be separated (or Red will attack you)

Elias in the January Sun

Nearly every morning, Elias awakes before me, comes into Mommy and Daddy's room and whispers in my ear "Mommy, I'm hungry for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich"...here he is making it so early in the a.m.

Adventures

Elias LOVES to hold Georgia in his lap! She likes it too.

Jillian playing "Princess"

Jillian loves to dance in this Princess Dress from Pop Pop and Emmy Rudolph (the dress has a built in music box that plays "Swan Lake" when the person wearing it dances--a little girl's dream!).

Last Saturday I had the fun of spending the day in Seattle with my dear friend Rebecca Jones. We roamed all over downtown together in the January sun, had time to laugh, chit chat, and catch up. We even went to Nordstrom to look for a pair of shoes for an upcoming event in which Becky is to take part. I felt very unsophisticated at this store, wearing REI, toting an infant in a carseat, and a two year old bolting this way and that. Plus, Steve Madden was there...THE Steve Madden shoe guy sporting a dorky pair of faded jeans atop a pair of pointy black shiny shoes. I have one pair of pumps. They are black. They are Steve Madden. This personal fact made it a little interesting to see the designer in person.

It was also interesting to browse the clearance rack at Nordstrom. I saw a sign advertising "50-60% off original prices"--an advertisement to which I am drawn like dust to a ceiling fan. I found a shoe I liked the look of...but it was a little out of my price range, even with the discount ($369.00 after 60% off).

Jillian and I had lots of fun while Becky modeled shoes. We rode escalators, elevators (a thrill for Jilly who found them to make her dizzy...which made her want to ride them over and over). Jillian also got to get a make-over at bareescentuals.

While I was feeling unsophisticated in Nordstrom, Dustin was experiencing the opposite feeling while hanging out with Elias, Elijah and Makaio. Dustin and Elijah took their boys to just about the ultimate Father/Son event ever: Monster Jam. They had a great time, and Monster Trucks are now ranked as fun to play with as Lightning McQueen Pixar Cars at our house.

It was a fun weekend.

Snow Cream

This is snow cream. Dustin introduced me to it our first year of marriage. It snowed a bunch that year. I remember snowboarding down the driveway to our apartment. Pre-kids, just a couple of kids, in married bliss, playing in the snow together. Playing in the snow with Dustin is one of my sentiments because I first developed a crush on him during our snowboarding excursions throughout the winter of 2000-2001 while we both went to Seattle Pacific University. Sometimes I still get those little "crush" butterflies when I see him trapsing through snow in his snow clothes. Cheesy, TMI, I know. But its true.

Here is that delicious creation: Vanilla Snow Cream. To make, scoop loads of clean, fresh, white snow into a large container or big bowl. Add a little milk, a lot of vanilla extract, and a little sugar to taste. Mix it all up (preferrably outside where its cold so it doesn't melt too quickly). Then eat!

Happy New Year!

I have that empty feeling I usually get after Christmas ends or after snow melts away! This New Year is a double whammie! The snow is gone and Christmas 2008 is a memory stored in my mind and on the "J" drive of my computer (the extra memory drive where we store all of our family pics. It's called Maxtor).
We had a really great Christmas season this year. We celebrated Christ's Birth in many ways and I feel that it is always a challenge to remember that this is why we celebrate Christmas.
Here is a list or our season highlights:
Hovde Tree Farm days
Christmas Dinner at church
Christmas Shopping on Amazon
Decorating our home with a Christmas Tree, Laurel Wreaths, and lots of red "shatterproof" ball ornaments
Lining our Driveway with Christmas Lights with the kids
Advent Calendar countdown
Nick and Sarah Kheriaty visit us
Christmas Eve (at Grammie and Grandpa's and at GiGi's)
Christmas Morning at Home (ahhh....home is best)
Our baby chick hatched on Christmas morning! Its name is appropriately "Christmas".
Christmas Dinner at Greatgrandma and Greatgrandpa's
The Rudolph's arrive in the Northwest the day after Christmas!
Dec. 27th Rudolph Family Christmas!
Board Game Day!
Elias' first ski day with Dad!
Rudolph family leaves :(
Visit Shoreline to see the Cabiles'
New Years Eve @ the Tarrells
New Years Day Brunch at Grammie and Grandpa's with David and Sarah.
I really truly enjoyed this busy season. Not that we don't have our moments of being marred by the curse of sin, but as we are married longer, Dustin and I are growing closer. We have the same vision, same goal for our family (to magnify Christ) and in desiring that end, we both seek to serve each other and our family. Dustin is kind, patient, trustworthy and loving toward me. He leads me confidently and firmly. I really like that. I really need that. It is a joy for me to submit to his headship in our marriage because of how he leads us. And when I submit to his headship, it is a joy for him to be the leader.

I will post some new photos of our family tomorrow.
For now, a thousand words will have to create the picture of the Rudolph Christmas Season.

Do you know your Neighbors?

Here is our neighbor Shirley.
Proverbs 27:10 Do not forsake your friend and the friend of your father, and do not go to your brother's house when disaster strikes you--better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away."

I love having neighbors. I love the idea and practice of being neighborly. Growing up we had wonderful neighbors. I can think of five different families that lived on our street growing up, with whom my family shared our lives with. I still keep in touch with them today and they are my friends. As a kid, it was good for me to see how different families run and live (examining the good, the bad, and the ugly).

Shirley is our neighbor. She is in her late 80's and has been widowed for 15 yrs or so. She still wears her wedding ring. Our other neighbor mows her lawn for her once a week from spring through summer. It has been great getting to know Shirley. All of her family lives in the Seattle area or south of there, so she typically is alone, as she says most of her friend's here have died.

I like Shirley and think it is interesting to hear stories from her about the old days. We have each others' phone numbers and I could call her if I need something and she calls me when she needs something.

Our neighbors across the street are the Isaksons. They are a family of four and Yvonne and her two boys take care of our animals when we are out of town. They are really sweet. We've exchanged phone numbers with them as well. Last night she brought over some veggie scraps to feed to our pig.

Do you know your neighbors? Who are they? Can you trust them? Be wise in this area, don't risk your safety or your family's safety just because you want to be neighborly. However, it is important to build community and your neighbors are people in close proximity to you. Make an effort to get to know them. And even if you've lived where you do for a while and have never extended a hand of friendship to your neighbors, do it now and begin being a neighbor.

A Useful Blog for Moms

May I recommend a practical and helpful blog, written from a Biblical perspective?
If you want handy tips on managing a home, working on your heart, and glorifiying Jesus...you can find that here: www.workandworship.com

A Shout Out to Moms

Proverbs 31:28 "Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her."

Dustin's Mom, Emily, with Jillian and Georgia
My Mama, Miki, with Georgia

How blessed I am to have been raised by a wise, diligent, fun and loving mom. The longer that I am a mom, the greater my thankfulness for the mom that the Lord provided to me. As I grow as a mom, I see how much of herself, her dreams, hopes, energy, she put forth into her raising of my brother and I. She gives and gives and gives and gives to me in boundless areas: love, wisdom, grace, forgiveness, encouragement, time, energy, friendship. And I am so thankful that she gets to share in the life of my kids as Dustin and I raise them. Mom, you are a continual blessing and encouragement to me and I love to just hang out with you. We have fun being together.

PS: My Mom and Auntie Berna cleaned my whole house for me while we were on vacation! Thank you for that wonderful gift!

Another mom I have in my life, is Dustin's mom, Emily. Over the years that I have known her, I have discovered a rare person. She is one of the most giving people that I have ever known. She is always looking for ways that she can help another person. No task is to complicated or too great for her to take on. I have learned much from Emily about giving, sacrificing of time and comfort for the benefit of others. I love to talk with her and learn her perspective when it comes to relationships and situations. I am inspired by her ability to cook a gourmet meal nearly every meal. And I am encouraged by her humbleness of heart...to look back on her life and reflect, repent, and change.