Eat, Drink, and Be Married

I know, the actual phrase is eat, drink and be merry, as in happy, but in my opinion it should be eat, drink and be married because all these things, when done the right way, are simply fun. It's fun to eat food, as long as it's not a Thanksgiving feast where you gorge yourself. It's fun to drink, as long as it's not too much and...you get the idea. It's fun to be married, as long as it's to the right person. And Jeff Murry is the right person for me. PRAISE GOD!

When my mom met Jeff almost 16 years ago she said, "He's good for you. I really like him." She's right. Even though she didn't know him and I was only 16 (for the record, none of my girls will be able to speak to boys until 21) she could see that he was a good fit for me.

Here we are, 16 years after we started dating, 10 years after our "I do"...6 moves, 2 of which were cross country, a teaching degree and PhD, three job changes for Sarah, 3 job changes for Jeff, 1 brother-in-law and 3 sister-in-laws, 2 nephews and 4 nieces, saying good-bye to 4 grandparents, meeting and saying good bye to many friends just to meet new ones, and embracing three beautiful, magnificent daughters...and I would do it all over again. I would just worry less about all the transitions. I had so much anxiety before we were married, wondering whether we would really love each other 10, 20, 30 years from now. I was anxious when were we moving whether I would make any new friends. I was concerned when we were having Hannah if we were really ready to care for a baby...then there were all the worried nights before Kate and Rachel Lee.

As I look at the last 10 years I regret all the worry and concern and realize now that it really shows how little I trust God to take care of me each step of the way. God brought Jeff into my life. God took us to Boston and back. God blessed us with three little girls, and it is God who will provide and care for us the next 10, 20, 30 years from now. So, I pray that the next 10 years will be filled with a deep trust in God to sustain us, and to bring us together as a family to serve our neighbors, family and friends.

Jeff Murry, you are a blessing in my life every day. Thank you for you love and caring over the last 10 years. Here's to 10x10 more together! I love you, I love you, I love you!! I love you!

Hands

You've heard the expression "Cold hands, warm heart" we're hoping for "Dirty hands, clean heart."


Psalm 51
Have mercy on my, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from me sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgement. Behold I was brought forth in iniquity and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, you delight in truth in the secret hear. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in my a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

Can you hear me now?

I often quote the Verizon commercial "Can you hear me now?" to a) see if Kate can hear me, and b) make a joke and remind myself to be gracious with Kate when she can't hear me...it's like when Hannah says, "Mom, where are you?" and I respond "In the west wing, sweetie." Sarcasm run deep in my family, and I need some comic relief during my day, even if the only one that gets my jokes. Jeff did once say that I am my own best audience...hope that was a compliment!

So, on Wednesday night as I gathered books, paper, crayons, drinks, snacks diapers, wipes, sippy cups, spare clothes, burp clothes, and whatever else I might need in the span of 6 hours for 3 kids (I needed to take Rachel Lee since I am nursing her, and no one was available to babysit at 5:15am, so Hannah, Rachel Lee and my mom came with me to the hospital, and my mom was going to take care of the girls in the waiting room while I took care of Kate), I questioned whether the surgery for Kate was really essential, and whether we should just wait. And it ht me as I folded some spare clothes in case she had an accident while recovering from the anesthesia, I want my daughter to hear me, to hear her friends and to hear what is going on around her. I don't want to continue asking facetiously, "Can you hear me now?" I don't want her missing out on social interaction because she can't hear what is being said. And then I prayed. I always pray for my girls, but I prayed fervently, "Lord, my Kate is really your Kate. I cannot control her future, her hearing, the surgery, or any circumstances in her life, but Lord you control it all. So please, as her Father, as my Father, bless tomorrow."

And it was a blessed day.




We checked in at 6am and by 6:30 she was in her hospital jammies. She cried a few times as she got changed and waited with me, telling me that she did not want to go to sleep, and protesting that her ears were fine. Every time a nurse or doctor came around the curtain she pulled herself together and stopped crying. She is a brave little girl. I held her and reassured her, prayed for her and kissed her. The anesthesiologist saw her tears and asked if I would go with her and hold her while she fell asleep. He told me that he would hold the mask and she would probably cry but that crying is actually good because it would help her breath in faster and fall asleep faster, but that if I held her she would be more comfortable than a nurse or doctor hold her. I told him I would go, and by 7:00 I was suited up and ready to go with her. I tried to have her practice breathing deeply like diving under water or blowing out candles on a cake, trying to make things "fun" but she was not easily fooled and told me she did not want to swim and it was not her birthday. Tough crowd. But, when we got to the surgery room at 7:30, I sat in the chair prepared to hold my baby while she cried but instead she took deep breaths and simply fell asleep. I was so proud of her, and the doctor and anesthesiologist were amazed at how well she did. The doctor said she was the best 2 year old patient he's ever had. That's my girl. Then I was escorted out.

I took off the marshmallow suit, and went to the waiting room. I fed Rahcel Lee (who had not had her morning meal but was still happy until she saw me). Rachel Lee fell asleep while eating, and the doctor came out to get me and told me that he was done and Kate was already waking up. Perfect timing, praise God!!

I had heard that many kids cry, have accidents, and are disoriented when coming out of anesthesia, so I was prepared for the worst since my sweet Kate is usually a grumpy waker-uper. Kate surprised me and woke up happy and very talkative telling me how nice everyone was. "What a nice nurse. I love the nurse. What a nice doctor. He's a nice doctor. Mommy, why is he a nice doctor?" (I love how this girl can turn anything into a 'why' question!). Praise God again in giving us such a great wake up! She asked to get dressed, and in 10 minutes we were walking out to the car with stickers as a reward for her good behavior. We were in the car by 8:30am, and home by 9am. The anticipated 6 hours was only 3 hours praise God again! We were even able to go to Hanna's last swim practice at 11am.

And I have already noticed a difference in her hearing. She is able to hear me in the other room and is able to hear me call her when she is outside.

As I sit and think about how smoothly everything went - even with Rachel Lee waiting to eat until Kate was asleep, and then sleeping and staying asleep until we were home - I am overwhelmed with thankfulness that God took such good care of Kate and me. I am also so thankful to have family and friends pray for us, send e-mails, text, and phone calls. I totally felt prayed for, and I felt God caring for us. Praise God!

5 Months (and then some...)

She's sitting!!!

She's also not sleeping, but we won't discuss that right now. Instead, we'll focus on what a joyful, happy baby she is!! She is loving her exersaucer, toys, playing with her sisters, and we recently started letting her sleep in her crib for naps and nighttime sleep unswaddled. She's getting so big (13 pounds and 8 ounces for the record!).





We also started to introduce other foods like pears, avocados, bananas and green beans. Pears and bananas seem to be a hit, avocado and green beans will be an acquired taste for her.

5 months seems to go by so quickly, and yet I. am. tired. Very tired. Lots of sleepless nights are accumulating and I am looking forward to some rest. One day. Hopefully soon.

Father's Day 2011

All I wanted on Mother's Day was to take a nap. All Jeff wanted on Father's Day was to go to the beach. So, we had an Egg-cellent breakfast, went to church and then we headed to the beach, had lunch, played, came home for naps and then had a fun BBQ with some friends. PHEW!















It was a packed day, but a great day celebrating the 'WORLD'S GREATEST DAD!'

Swim Lessons

This year Hannah AND Kate are enrolled in swim lessons. Hannah is a regular fish, jumping in the water, getting her head wet, learning to use big arms to take strokes. Kate is a little more cautious (that's MY girl!). The first day her teacher asked her to put her eyes in the water and she said, "No." Not loudly, not like she was being naughty, she just didn't want to do it. After her first turn she started to get out of the water and the teacher told her she had to stay in for the full minutes and she looked at her teacher and said, "No thank you." At least she used her manners this time. But, she did stay in the water. During her next turn she told her teacher "I don't want to" and "Can I go in the warm water?" referring to the jacuzzi. That really IS my girl!





After the first week in the water, Hannah is laying on her back, taking 3 consecutive strokes, jumping through a hula hoop, and getting rings from the steps. Kate is putting her eyes in the water, blowing bubbles and making progress to jump in the water. Both girls progressing, both girls having fun (I hope).

U-C-L-A!

Henry did it. He graduate from UCLA. Not that I ever wondered if he could, but more that I can't believe he's old enough to actually enter the working world as a college graduate. Did I ever mentioned that I was a teacher's helper in hos Vacation Bible School class when he was in KINDERGARTEN?!? WOW - I feel old.











It was a great day to celebrate his hard work and as a side benefit I was able to begin talking to my girls about college. Hannah and Kate sat through the entire ceremony, and at Kate clapped for every name that was called. Rachel Lee slept the entire time in my arms, which was not easy to do when people were cheering or sounding a blow horn. Now why can't she sleep like that at night?? Hmmm...but I digress...back to Henry...

Henry not only graduate with one degree, but two: Arabic and Political Science. It will be exciting to see where God leads him with his diverse skill set and sensitive heart.

Auntie Audrey

We love our Auntie Audrey. In Hannah's words, "She spoils me." It's true. Auntie Audrey will mail things to the girls, spends many Saturday morning Skyping with the girls, and just enjoys reading all kinds of blog stories that most of you probably only skim (and rightfully so).



While she was here we walked at the lake, went to the beach, read for hours, ate tortilla chips like there was no tomorrow, pushed the girls on the swings, had an oh-la-la beauty day in preparation for Henry's college graduation (more on that later), and chatted in between playing with the girls.



Audrey had a mission's trip immediately following this California trip, so her goals were to eat well (keeping to her gluten free diet) and get plenty of rest. To be honest, I think we failed at both but we had fun and that's all that counts!

Thanks for the fun Auntie Audrey!! Please, please come again!!

First of Many Beach Days...

Memorial Day was spent at the beach. Relaxing with my girls and my husband. It was simply lovely. Lovely.










Oh yah, and a little cold too. But still very lovely.

Turning 32

My birthday seemed to be celebrated in a haze this year. My sister and her family were moving, Jeff was away for the week on a conference (where he gave a short presentation on his research - you go babe!), but he arranged to have flowers delivered to my parent's house where the girls and I were staying for the week. It was also the last night before my sister and her family moved, so in addition to hanging out with Rachel, Kirk, Joe and Kara, Jenna and her girls were at my parent's for the day. We all had a lovely barbecue and enjoyed the fellowship of family. There's no sweeter way than to celebrate the beginning of a new year than with the people who were there 32 years ago when it all began, plus a few extras.

Catching Up...

Lack of sleep. That's all I can say. There has been a LOT happening lately, but with the lack of sleep actually wearing on me, I rest every free moment. And sometimes I only have a moment. But, today Hannah is awake and I am playing hookey from preschool to catch up on my blog. We'll see how this goes...I've already stopped twice to tend to her needs and I'm only 4 sentences into it...





My oldest sister Rachel and her family, Joe, Kara and Kirk, have moved to Colorado. It was a sad day, but it is a really good work opportunity for Kirk to expand, they will get to be closer to his family, and since Joe and Kara were homeschooled this past year and plan to continue through junior high, they were able to move without disrupting their school routines.

To celebrate out last day and night together, we went to a park, had lunch, fed ducks, took naps and then had a wonderful barbecue. The kids slept in a tent with Mom and Dad that night and had a great "camping" experience.







Although I am sad to see them go, I am so happy for the time we were able to live in the same area and visit as often as we were able to. Family is truly such a gift, and I love, LOVE the family that God has given me.

Baby Love