December Recap

Well, the third trimester got the best of me, and I stopped blogging. Gonna fill in with some month-end recaps so that I don't lose these memories...

In December:

Josh and I took and early and abbreviated 10th anniversary trip to Estes Park. Our long-time plan had been to escape for a week on the beach sometime in the spring (our actual anniversary is January 3, 2014), but this impending baby changed those plans.

We decided to take a shorter, closer trip before I got miserably large, so we booked two nights at the Della Terra Mountain Chateau in Estes Park at the beginning of December. Unfortunately, I was pretty uncomfortable already, but it was a nice getaway nonetheless. (Except for the wind. The wind was insane!)

The trip included yummy food, no schedule to follow, our first ever couples' massage, and a lot of relaxing and enjoying each other's company.

When we got to the Della Terra, we were greeted by these guys. 

Happy Thanksgiving 2013!

Just to Keep Things Straight...

Thursday, June 6: Josh and my brother Steve leave Ohio in a Penske truck to move Steve's stuff to Colorado. They stop in Greenville, Illinois, to see Grandma Keffer, who is in the hospital with pneumonia.

Friday, June 7: Mom drives the kids and me to the airport at 6 a.m. Dad Keffer picks us up in Denver at 10 a.m., brings us home and I go straight to work.

Demova Joy Keffer

Back in January, we were surprised and glad to hear that Josh's Grandma Keffer would be making a visit to Colorado at age 93. When, two days into the trip, she ended up in the hospital with congestive heart failure, I wondered if that might be the beginning of the end. (Not to be crass—I just know that's what often happens with illness in old age.)

As it turns out, that was what happened. Grandma never regained the ground that she lost in January and she continued to battle compounding illness. She passed away late on Tuesday, June 11, 2013. She was the last of Josh's and my eight grandparents, and her death is a different kind of sad because it closes a chapter and a generation for our family.

Here's her obituary, which remembers many details of her life.

Life after Death

When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” 

“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” 

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Every year on the Sunday after Easter, our church celebrates Life After Death Sunday.

January Recap

We finally did it! I have been saying probably since we got married that our January 3 anniversary would make a great occasion for an overnight or weekend getaway to recover from the holidays and start the new year. Thanks to our friends the Abels watching our kids for the weekend, we actually did it this year, in celebration of our ninth anniversary.

Just 24 hours away felt like a chance for my soul to breathe deeply and soak in the sunshine. We used an Amazon Local deal to get dinner at the beautiful Briarhurst. We got a last-minute booking discount at a local B&B. We slept late, enjoyed breakfast, took a walk (it was a beautiful day for January), saw Les Miserables, which I absolutely loved, and finished with coffee and good conversation before heading to pick up the kids. Here's to many more getaways like that!

Crescent Lily Inn, downtown Colorado Springs

Boy did the second week of January turn out differently than we expected. A visit from Josh's Uncle Richard and Grandma Keffer turned into an ambulance ride and three-week inpatient stay for Grandma. At times, even her survival wasn't a given.

We're thankful that things turned out OK and that we got to spend some time with her on what will likely be her last visit to Colorado. My favorite part about visiting with grandparents is hearing their stories. For example, we learned this time around that Grandma and Grandpa Keffer drove to Colorado Springs on their honeymoon many moons ago and drove up Pikes Peak. Who knew?

Josiah is not interested in being photographed, but you can see
Grandma's joy at having these munchkins visit her in the rehab facility. 

Finally, we welcomed the 52nd class of the Focus Leadership Institute. I am so happy to say that my brother Steve is part of it. We're so excited to have him here.

And yes, there is a moose in this photo.

Stolen from Howie Fischer. (The photo, not the moose.) 

Christmas 2012

We had the loveliest of Christmas mornings with just our family of four. Thinking of it makes me sigh happy sighs. 

These two are just the perfect ages to enjoy Christmas with!

The morning started with Lorien completing her advent painting, and Josh reading the Christmas story from Luke.

Then we opened stockings

Josiah was not really interested in anything in his stocking...

...only in the Larry the Cucumber ornament from Lorien's stocking. 

Awwwww.

Gummy suckers were pretty much the longest-lasting hit of Christmas. I had purchased a whole package to use for gift tags and the kids couldn't get enough of them. 

Opening presents

I try to get them a dated ornament each year. Sometimes I fail and my mom covers for me (like last year).  

I have heard such good things about this kids' Bible. Excited to read it with Lorien. 

Veggie Tales bath toy from Grandma and Grandpa Beam

Stacking toy for Josiah.

We didn't put too much under the tree, because we bought one big gift that we hope they'll actively use for several years, but it didn't fit under the tree. (Nor did Daddy want to carry it up from the basement where it was hiding. That box was HEAVY.)

So then, yes, we did build the trampoline in the living room. It was totally worth it. And Mimi and Papa came over to watch the hilarity and share leftovers for dinner.

Lovely Christmas.

We tried...

The little blondie cousins were looking super cute in their Christmas outfits, but picture perfect was not to be had this year. :) 

Seriously, though, we had a good visit with the Randalls who visited from Michigan the week before Christmas. I wasn't quite ready for vacation when they got here and put in some pretty late nights trying to get my work done so I could really take some time off. We had some lovely dinner times together with the whole Keffer family and I really enjoyed some heart-to-heart talks with Christy, who is a wonderful listener. And some shopping—just us girls, alone! By next Christmas, we will add a fourth cousin to this set, whom we assume will also be blond. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

This is the first time I've ever hosted Thanksgiving. We went simple, and Josh's parents brought several dishes, including a veggie tray in the shape of a turkey, so it wasn't too stressful. We agreed afterward it's the best feast we've pulled off in some time!

Ready for the feast. 

The bird. Brined and roasted per The Pioneer Woman. Her instructions are right on and the turkey came out beautiful and delicious without too much fuss, even if Josh says the turkey brine looks like pond water.

Cheers!

Hungry boy is way into drumsticks of any kind right now.  

Pretty girl! (It was a beautiful day, so we had to take some pics outside.)

With Mimi and Papa

Happy Thanksgiving!

October Recap

October began with Josiah and me traveling to Atlanta for Catalyst to represent FLI and meet with alumni in the area. My mom met us there to hang out with the little guy while I was working. I must admit, though, that it didn't feel much like work. It was such an excellent conference. The flight home was a different story, though. I was that mom with the screaming toddler for most of the shuttle from the conference center to the airport and most of the flight from Atlanta to Denver. Of course, by the time we got in the car at DIA (where he couldn't bother anyone but me) he quieted down and went to sleep. 

{Update: Here's a post I eventually wrote for FLI's Faith & Action Blog about the Catalyst conference itself.}

We took a Sunday afternoon trip to a pumpkin patch north of Colorado Springs. The pumpkins don't really grow there. They're just carted in to make a fun experience for kids and families. 

Pony ride!

On top of the world. (One of my favorite photos of this girl!)

He's a climber!

Punkins!

Farm kids. 

October apparently involved a lot of dressing up—first for the FLI barn dance (one of my favorite activities of the year) and then for Halloween.

We had tried this setup for the barn dance when Lorien was little and it worked well. Mommy can dance and haul the kid around at the same time. 

Three out of four. Daddy's not a big fan of dancing. 

Halloween: Josiah went as Jack Jack from The Incredibles (thanks to one of the fall students so christening him) and Lorien went as a pirate. 

She initially chose this costume, but by the time Trick or Treat came, she was on to something else (I don't even remember what.) The costume already being planned, borrowed, and created, I didn't really give her a choice.

Mimi says she is a fairy pirate. 

Josiah's 1st Birthday

Of course, the biggest event of September was Josiah's birthday. At one, he is eager, energetic, jolly and hungry! He is such a joy, even though it takes a LOT of energy to chase him. 

We planned a family celebration with grandparents and cousins, but the Hackers were sick, so we celebrated with Mimi and Papa. 

Josiah loves his Papa

His shirt says, "I'm the birthday boy!" He's walking well with help, but not on his own yet. 

Mimi holds the candle juuuuuussst out of reach. 

Digging in! (Gluten free chocolate cake made with this recipe. It is YUMMY by any standard--not just GF standards. Since we're not dairy-free, I just use regular milk, or sometimes coconut milk instead of the rice milk.)

What a goof!

Josiah: "I can't believe I ate the whole thing."

He was such a mess that he went straight to the bathtub!