18 Months!

It's hard to believe Hope is officially 1 1/2!! The older she gets, the more I love the stages she is in! Babies are cute and all, but I am loving having my toddler!!! I love watching her play as her brain engages in imagining and pretend! I love watching her explore and discover and try new things! I love watching run (not walk) through the house! I love listening to her talk (and babble at times). I love that she can tell me what she wants/needs or likes/dislikes. I love the funny faces she makes at me when she is done eating and thinks that if she closes her eyes that I can't see her. I love the little songs she "sings" as she plays. I love that she has a great sense of humor and cracks herself up! I just love everything about her at this age/stage...so much fun!!! Here's more of what she's up to these days...

-she still loves books! She has a bookshelf full of boardbooks and selectively chooses which ones to read. She loves anything with animals & Pooh right now!
-Hope's favorite foods are oatmeal and rasins. She eats 2 packets of oatmeal at breakfast each morning! (that's how much I usually eat)
-She is a lucky girl and gets to ride the choo choo at least once a week now. She talks about choo choos and Da Da all day long! Love that she has that special time with Jaye!
-She's a great hockey fan! She walks around saying "hockey" and "quack quack". Tonight she'll get to meet lots of players and show off her cute self in her jersey!
-When she wakes up in the morning or from a nap we often find all of her little friends/dolls lined up in a row between her bumper and the crib.
-Hope loves babies! She finds them on TV, in books, when we're out and about! When we talk about going to Grandma's house, the first thing she says is "baby"...that's where she has a baby cradle and high chair and loves to play with her babies!
-Each night and at dinner when we pray with her, after we say "Amen" she always has to add "cow" and "choo choo" and we then have to thank Jesus for the cows and choo choos.
-Her favorite show is Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. She randomly says "oh toodles" as she's playing!
-She's almost mastered a sommersault. She gets in position and at times can push herself over!
-Her top canine teeth are almost done coming in. 1 of them is already through and the other is just about there. Everything goes in her mouth as a result!
-Hope loves bath time! She loves having her own tub to splash in, lay in, pretend in. Her favorite thing is to count her ducks and line them all up.
-If we ask what her name is she now says "Hope" and can hold up 1 finger when asked how old she is.

I'm sure there's lots of other stuff I am forgetting...but at least I've written most of it down so I can remember!

Famous Faces of the Ducks (Last Year and This Year)

This was our 1st preseason game last year...Hope's 1st hockey game ever! She was so tiny! This is with Brett Festerling.

Each year on opening day of the season the Ducks have a red-carpet event prior to the game. We decided to check it out. The picture above is with Bobby Ryan. He is amazing!

A couple of the guys signed our ticket book. This is Wizneiski...when he was signing our book, he accidentally signed Hope's hand! Ha ha!

This was from another fun event, Face Off Fest. Every year season ticket holders get to explore the stadium, meet players, and just enjoy a fun night of hockey stuff! This is Scott Neidermeyer, long-time player and captain of the Ducks. Last year was his final season as he retired. I'm glad we have this fun picture!

FAST FORWARD TO THIS YEAR...

During the 1st few preseason games, many of the veteran players don't play in order to give the new guys a chance to show the coaches their game. As a result, many of the veteran players have been scattered around the Honda Center before the games to surprise fans. Here's a few of the players we got to meet this year....

This is Jason Blake...we often refer to him as "the albino"...

Kyle Chipchura...Jaye teased him that this is what happens when you don't perform at training camp...you get stuck scanning tickets. Only Jaye would tease NHL players!!

This is George Parros, one our favorites!!! George is the team "enforcer" (fighter) and he is such a good guy! He was quite taken with Hope and teased me for having my hands full as I was carrying Winnie the Pooh in front and Hope on my back!

Yay for George!!! (We like to call him "The Pirate"...can you see why?!?!)

Here's Bobby Ryan again. He was such a nice guy! He was a fan of Hope!!! Jaye has an "old school" jersey from when Bobby played for the minors and we got Bobby to sign his jersey...it looks awesome!!!

YAY FOR DUCKS HOCKEY!!!

Hope Loves Choo Choos!

Hope got a new backpack and a few new toys, just for her train rides!!!

Last week Jaye started taking the train to and from work. We discovered that the cost of a monthly pass was about the same as what we pay in tolls each month, not including gas and wear n tear on his car. We've been talking about logistics and how things would work on hockey nights or days when Hope is at my Mom's house and this week we got to try it all out. Since we had hockey Tues & Weds night, Hope and I drove out and picked Jaye up at the train station in Orange on our way to the game. Hope LOVES watching the "choo choo" go by, but isn't necessarily a fan of the loud horn. Today Hope was at my Mom's and my Mom met Jaye at the train and attempted our first hand-off of Hope to Jaye during the quick stop in Orange. All went well I hear and Hope loved riding the train!! I love that public transportation is an option!!!

We heart hockey!

2 hockey games down and probably close to 40 left!! I love that it is hockey season again, even if it is a bit crazy some weeks when we have 3 games! Tuesday night was our 1st pre-game of the season and our team didn't play so great, but we sure had fun! Prior to the game we got to meet a few of the players and got one of our favorites, George Parros (#16), to sign Hope's jersey! These are some pretty cool guys!! Hope danced and played happily on my lap through all of the 1st period and was asleep by the start of the 2nd. When Hope is awake I don't get much watching of the game done so I was thankful for sleep so I could watch some of the game!

Last night was pre-season game 2 and it was a great one! Hope decided not to sleep at all and was a busy bee!! Thankfully we had 2 seats next to us that were empty so Hope mostly played on the floor (let's not think about the germs and nastiness!) and had fun rocking in her seat (that tried to fold up on her). Last night we met another great player, Bobby Ryan, after waiting in a nice long line...good guy! Jaye got his Bobby Ryan jersey signed and it's pretty darn cool! The game was a good one and our guys played great!

The only bummer so far is that our new friend, Jake Newton, hasn't gotten to play yet! BOO! I had the pleasure of working with Jake's Mom and we used to talk about her son who played minor league hockey and how much we loved the sport. Last season Jake got signed with the Ducks towards the end of the season and we got to see him a few times around the arena. We've enjoyed 2 scrimmage games with Jake's family and it's been so fun!!! We can't wait for Jake to play and are so excited for him and his family!!!!

Next game is next Friday!!! Bring it on!

God is good...ALL the time!

I was blown away yesterday by God's faithfulness. A few years ago we left a place we had come to love, filled with kids and families we cherished and valued. When we left it was so hard to see what God was doing and actual understanding of everything was out of the question. We left hurt and confused and maybe even feeling a bit betrayed, yet we knew we were doing what needed to be done. Although we weren't necessarily ready to go, God so graciously opened doors to what would come next for us. He faithfully provided financially and emotionally as we transitioned and figured out what this new phase of life looked like for us.

Right away we began searching for a new place to belong. We wanted to find our fit quickly and establish some continuity from week to week. A good friend of ours invited us to join her and we did so gladly for awhile. As much as we loved this new place, it was too far of a drive and we couldn't connect with others because of the distance. We really desired to get plugged in and knew that this wasn't the place to do so.

It took awhile, but we eventually found a place to settle into and were able to find a small piece of the community we were missing. A friend from work invited us to join them and their family and we found ourselves developing new relationships. It was so good to feel as though we belonged. We were welcomed warmly and found refuge and rest in this new place. We tried to enjoy this new place and all they had to offer. We learned invaluable lessons about money and stewardship and were given amazing examples of what it means to love those around us, both near and far. As Hope got bigger we struggled with where she fit as there wasn't a place specifically for her age group. As much as we enjoyed everything, we wanted more for Hope.

This brings us to the end of June. We were at a friend's wedding and sitting at a table with other friends who mentioned what God was doing and told us of many changes that had come to be since we had left. Much to my surprise, Jaye suggested we revisit the place we once called "home". After talking some more, Jaye and I decided to go back, to give it a 2nd chance. We immediately felt at home being back in that place and Hope was more than happy to be there as well, which is what we wanted for her. When we left, I wasn't sure we'd ever go back...God knew otherwise!

Yesterday we had the amazing privilege of attending an "installation service" for someone I used to work with, who we used to rent from, and who we are honored to call a friend. Sitting in that place I was overwhelmed as I thought back over the past few years and all that God has taken us through. Even though we often felt lost and confused and questioned why things happened the way we did, God knew exactly what he was doing...in our lives and in that place. God's hand was so evident yesterday and it was a blessing to be a part of everything. Many times yesterday I found myself moved to tears as I thought about the healing God has brought about in my heart and the person He has shaped me to be as a result of an amazing place, filled with amazing people. It so hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel when we are in the midst of hard times, but what an amazing view back we have once we have found that light and made it through the dark!!

I am so grateful for a God who truly knows me and promises a plan for hope and a future for me! He has been so good to our family and led us on an incredible journey these past years.I am so thankful for all He has taught us and for how He so gently held us and carried us when we didn't know where to turn or what to do. He truly is a good shepherd who cares for each of His sheep wholeheartedly! Thank you Lord for the healing you have given me and the peace that you cover us with daily!

She's a Fan!

Yesterday we went to a scrimmage/practice at Ducks training camp. We met up with friends of ours (who also happen to be family of a Ducks player) and had a blast! We've gotten to enjoy games with the Newton clan twice now and we love it as they have little ones too! I'm not so sure the people around us were amused by our 4 little ones under 3, but we sure enjoyed them! It's so fun to cheer for someone you actually (sorta) "know" (we've only met Jake a few times, but it's fun to cheer him on with his family) I can't help but think how proud his family must be of him as he is living his dream of playing pro hockey! Good job Jakey! Hope did amazingly well and watched most of the game and was very content to play on my lap or sit by my feet. I think we are going to have a very fun hockey season ahead of us!!!

PB&J Video

Hope was too funny eating her PB&J. I couldn't help but laugh at all her little noises and sound effects as she enjoyed her messy snack! Enjoy!