Killin' Time

Brock's race lasted over 2 hours so we had LOTS of time to kill. It was an unexpectedly HOT day so we spent most of the time trying to find shade and contain the kids. There were 3 families and 9 kids in our group, with 3 of the guys racing and 4 of the kids. It was a lot of fun, although I wouldn't want to do that too often - a little too much sitting around :-)

While it was hard for us to find things to do, Isaac and Izyk had not problem. :-) They played the whole time - never taking a break or running out of things to do :-) The invented a new sport called "goggle wresting". First you hold goggles to your head and . . . .

push the goggles back and forth, laugh alot and eventually fall to the ground. Next, get up and do it over and over :-)

Luckily Strege's are old pro's at the racing thing and came prepared - a trailer to hang out in and let the kids play in, lots of chairs and most importantly lots of food and drinks :-)

Berlin and Hannah staring at something - I am not sure what :-)

Denise and Berlin (like I said it was really hot so the kiddos were shedding clothes as the day went on. Here is Berlin down to shirt; however, she is still wearing her furry warm boots because that is all she had) :-) Izyk Strege demonstrating just how many goggles he can wear at once (he also demonstrates daily how many Bluewater necklaces he can wear at once) :-)

Race Day - again

Brock bought his motorcycle this summer and had never raced, but wanted to see what it was like. He was able to race with a couple of his friends.

Brock and Paul shortly before heading to the starting line

The course he raced was the same as the one Madison did in addition to lots of tight woods. Most of the course I couldn't see and a lap took him about 23 minutes. I was never very close to the course so it was hard to take pictures. Had I been more prepared I could have walked to different parts of the course and taken pictures. Oh well - I guess that gives him a good excuse for a "next time"

Brock at the starting line - he is on the red bike

Madison watching Brock - she wanted to be right there cheering him on! It was cute!

Here he is again (in the center - red helmet and bike). They all have to stand in front of the bike with both hands on their handlebars until the signal. He did a good job getting going and was the 4th one out.

My camera battery died just as I was getting a picture of him racing! My friend took one for me so I will try to add it later :-)

After the race. Brock was completely exhausted. He had been riding for a little over 2 hours! Madison was so cute - she raced over there and immediately started taking his boots off.

Hannah was very interested in what daddy was doing it. She ran right up to him when he returned and stayed nearby the whole time. Cute!

The proud kiddos and there daddy's. Jesse Strege and his kids (except Alex) - Andi, Berlin and Izyk and Brock and Isaac, Hannah and Madison

Race Day

There was a race (Hare Scramble) nearby that Brock decided he wanted to run. We never expected Madison would want to, but she was immediately excited. She does have a motorcycle but thought 4 wheels would be best for her first try :-) She rode a 90cc Yamaha of our friends, the Strege's, who also raced that weekend.

The kids race consisted of a winding section through a field as well as a motocross course. The all did 3-4 laps. Madison did 3 laps and rode approximately 45 minutes. Brock rode along with her most of the time and also helped her get started.

Off she goes!!

There they are!! Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures of the motocross section, but according to Madison - it was the best part of the race! She loved riding up and down the jumps. Her machine died once in this area and she was afraid the other motorcycles were going to jump over her!

Madison right after the race - she was very tired! She said her thumb was really sore from the throttle, but also that she had alot of fun! Madison's friend Andi also raced but she rode her motorcycle. It was so fun for her to be able to experience her first race with her friend!Award time! Madison got a trophy for 3rd place. She was BEAMING! We were very proud of her for trying something she has never done before and enjoying herself in the process.

Andi got 2nd place!! Good job Andi!

Change

Today is the first big step to a huge change for us - Brock's last day of work at Polaris. Soon we will be saying goodbye to MN and heading to MT. We are excited because we know that this is God's leading and we know this is His will for us. However, while knowing that gives us the confidence to take the steps it doesn't take the emotions away. We will be leaving so many awesome friends, our church, our first home, our first business, the only place our kids know as "home" and taking with us unending memories of happiness. While my heart is heavy with sadness for what we must say goodbye to it is filled with joyful anticipation for what God has for us in MT.Brock went to ID this last spring for work and was able to ride with a photographer. He sent us lots of awesome pictures of Brock riding.

I am very proud of Brock, proud of him for leaving the comforts of his job and setting out on a new adventure. This new adventure means he will learn a new job and reenter that uncomfortable time of being the rookie and not knowing exactly what you are doing. He could continue doing what is known or what is comfortable but it is more important to him to follow God than take the "easy" road. That is one of the many reasons I love him and am proud of him, he is leading our family as he follows God's leading.

I can't imagine doing this - it is scary just to look at :-) It is an awesome picture though isn't it?

I guess riding sideways is as fun as flying through the air!!

What a cool guy I am married to :-)

The picture of Brock heading up the hill and going over (bottom left) reminds me of what this journey to MT could be like - if we didn't have God. Doing it without HIM would feel like going over the hill without knowing if a cliff or valley lies beyond. However, when you trust your life to God and let Him lead it doesn't matter what is below. If it is a cliff - hang on, stay focused and keep following HIM. I have learned through experience that I would rather follow HIM down a cliff than take the easy road without Him. This truth has only become even clearer to us on this 2 year process of deciding to make this move.

Our Little Man is Growing UP

Once again, I am in shock over that fact that another year has come and gone. As if the shock of Madison turning 8 wasn't enough - Isaac turned 4 the next day! What a sweet little happy guy he is (and always has been). While Madison has a contagious laugh, Isaac has a contagious smile. It lights up his face and you can't help but smile back. :-) Little did we know how well his name would fit him when we first decided on Isaac (which means laughter)

Now for another stroll down memory lane! Isaac was due October 8th, the same day we moved into our house. My sister Cori (and her 2 kids Kate and Jack), my mom and Brock's mom all came to help us get settled into our new house and hopefully be there for the birth. No promises after Madison's extremely late arrival :-) I was so determined to go into labor naturally and wanted that so bad that when my doctor encouraged me to be induced I cried. I am sure he and his nurse were baffled, most people can't wait to be done and jump up for joy when their doctor will finally induce them! :-) We came in the next morning at 8 a.m. and during the exam my water broke! I had a slight panic attack - my heart started racing, I got light headed and thought I was going to puke. It makes me laugh to think about it - was it fear, shock, excitement - who knows :-) My labor was slow and I didn't make much progress. By the next day around noon I was a 5-6. However, at my next check a couple hours later I was told I was a 4. I just about started crying, I felt myself deflate. I didn't think I could do it any longer. My doctor came in and realized the water hadn't fully broken so he broke it. After that, labor was FAST FAST FAST. It was intense and hard to catch my breath. I had him less than 2 hours after my water broke. So, after 33 hours of labor (some quite "easy" of course) I finally had a baby - a boy at that! We were so excited. He was healthy and cute as can be! He weighed 8 lb 2.5 ounces and once again I could see God's hand in the whole things. My labor was so slow in the beginning it gave Brock and I time together that was priceless, my sister Cori was leaving that evening but was able to be in there for the birth, Brock's mom got to experience her first birth and the arrival of her 2nd grandchild, my mom was there again (she has been at most of the births in our family), I had an awesome christian doctor who was a good friend of ours, I had great nurses who followed my birth plan without much fuss :-) and I had a completely drug free labor and delivery. God was Good!!

Here is the little darling shortly after birth. He looks so serious with his furrowed eyebrows :-) He had quite a bit of dark hair under his hat :-)

Now, for who he is today . . . .

Isaac is a little character - he makes us laugh nonstop. Whether it is stuff he says or things he does, it is always funny. He doesn't usually try to be funny - he just is.

He loves to sing, his favorite songs are "Go Tell it on the Mountain", "One Way", "Awesome God" and "Days of Elijah"

He loves to "play" any instrument he can get his hands on (at least he thinks he is playing) He is actually pretty good at it and I am sure will be playing for real before we know it

He is a boy all the way - he loves guns, motorcycles, loud noises (coming from anything including himself), knights and "fighting guys" as he calls them, firetrucks, cars, tools and on and on

He isn't much of a snuggler ("okay mom you can go now" is his famous line when I try to snuggle with him in bed) :-) but he is a complimentor and is often tellingus how much he loves us

He thinks Madison hung the moon and he is loving his role as protector of Hannah

He is 3 ft 2.5 inches and 32 lbs (he has grown 3.5 inches and gained 4.5 lbs. this year)

He adores Brock and thinks he is the strongest guy in the world (and then he thinks he is next) :-)
He is determined to learn how to ride his bike without training wheels so he can ride a motorcycle :-)

Once again, we are blessed beyond measure by God and thank Him for giving us yet another child to care for and adore

Disbelief

I can't believe that Madison is 8!!! Something about 8 sounds so much older than 7 - or maybe I think that about every age that comes and goes. I wish I had a baby picture of her to put on but . . . she was born long before I had a digital camera! Wow, that does make her sound old :-) I could scan a picture but they are packed right now - I will post a picture of the sweet little baby Madison Joy some other day :-)

When we found out we were going to have a baby we were SO EXCITED! I had a great pregnancy and loved experiencing her growing inside. I was due September 16th and was SURE I would have her near that date (I had several contractions a month earlier and was already slightly dilated). I rushed my family along and they arrived on my due date - my mom (with my younger sister and brother Karmen and David), my older sister Cori and her two children and my older sister Bekah. All the rushing was not necessary as we waited around for 3 1/2 weeks (yes WEEKS) for her to be born. I wanted an entirely natural birth so was very opposed to being induced. I actually enjoyed the weeks (I was probably the only one!) because I was having fun with my family and was a little scared of the whole birth process and didn't mind putting it off :-) However, by Oct. 4th I was convinced (by my dr) it would be good to be induced. So . . . we headed off the the hospital expecting to be home soon with our baby. We were home that night, however, not with a baby. The pitocin didn't work. We tried induction two more times. None of them worked. Around 5 pm on October 11th (and our 3rd attempt at pitocin) my doctor told me if I wanted to deliver in St. Peter (a smaller town with a small hospital - which I really wanted) then I needed to let her break my water. So, we did and labor took right off. I had her the next morning at 5:40 a.m. It was slow and steady, similiar to what I had prepared for (Husband Coached Childbirth classes) and I was very happy with it. I had little interruptions from the nurses or dr, had soothing music, nice dark room, no drugs and Brock and my mom and sister (Cori had to leave earlier) all there. Unfortunately, she stopped breathing a couple hours later while I was holding her. Brock ran her to the nurses station and I sat in the room waiting, praying, wondering and crying. I didn't know if she was alive or not. It was very scary. After Brock's return I found out they were able to get her breathing again and were doing tests on her to see what was wrong. Soon, my mom and sister, Brock's mom and her husband and his dad and his wife arrived. It was awesome to have family with us as we waited and wondered about her health and what was wrong with her. After a couple hours they wanted to transfer her to Minneapolis because they didn't have the staff to monitor her and didn't know what was wrong with her. The ambulance rushed in and took her away and would not let anyone ride with her. I was released from the hospital because I had had such a great birth (God's planning of course) and was able to head there with Brock and his dad (1 hour away) I remember the worst moment of the trip was while we were stopped at the gas station before leaving town and the ambulance went flying by with flashing lights and sirens. I knew it was our baby inside and it was a killer! It was a long, painful, scary trip and I had no idea what would greet me on the other side. As always, we could see God's hand in the fact that we had so many family members there with us. After 3 days in the NICU she was released. She had excess fluid in her stomach and once it was all drained out (through a tube in her nose) she seemed to do well. We were so thrilled to be heading home with her that I never asked too many questions about the cause etc. We have never taken for granted the fact that she remained healthy and still is! I felt God's care and peace through it all and actually have a harder time thinking back on it than I did while in the midst of it. It is amazing how God prepares you for tough things and sustains you through it. He has continued to carry us through tough times and He has made all the difference in our lives.

I wanted to be sure to journal "her" at this moment in time but was having a hard time putting it in words :-) Because I do not get to scrapbook as much as I would like and am WAY behind this has to be my "scrapbook" and where I keep track of important things. What is more important than your LITTLE girl turning EIGHT!!! So, this is her -

She loves horses, she reads about them, draws them, dreams about them and is saving her money for one!

She also loves to draw. She is very good too. She has been spending a couple hours a week with a lady from our church who is talented at drawing, clay, painting etc. She loves to go over there and anticipates it all week. They are two peas in a pod and Madison comes home with all sorts of creative projects they have done together.

Madison is extremely creative in her playing and thinks of things I never would have. She creates horses, halters, wagons, saddles, houses, stables, beds and on and on out of anything and everything.

She takes very good care of her doll Nicki and treats her like a real person. She saved her money (chore money, yard sales money and b-day/christmas money) to get her and she is very proud of that fact :-) She loves to dress her and fix her hair (and she especially likes to do hers the same way)

Madison is doing great in school although doesn't love it. She is very good at math and whizzes right through it. She also really likes science and doing experiments.

She is a good big sister and helps with Hannah and plays with Isaac a lot. However, like most big sisters the play goes best if he is willing to play what she wants! :-) As he is getting older that isn't going as well, he has his own ideas. When they used to play she would tell him what to do and say! It was hilarious, she would say "you say - okay horsey lets go here" and Isaac would say it. Then she would say something and then say "okay you do this and say this . . . ." What a compliant little boy he was - he would do that forever. Not so much anymore - now he says, "no thanks!"

Madison is an animal and insect lover - all except spiders

She is quite shy although she continues to surprise us with her boldness :-)

She is very loving and sweet and a little nurturer. She has always been full of compliments, loves to give hugs and snuggle and is the best little "nurse" when we are sick. She runs all over just to get us what we need, ice, water, blanket, vitamins etc. It is so sweet to see her, always asking if we are okay, if we need anything and jumping to do it. It is so cute because if you even say oww or grimace she is right there making sure you are okay!

Madison is 4 ft. 1.5 inches and 47 pounds. She has grown 3 inches this year and gained 5 pounds!

We are blessed beyond belief by her and thank God for entrusting her to us!

Top 10 Predictions . . . .

No Matter Who Wins the Election

1. The Bible will still have all the answers.

2. Prayer will still work.

3. The Holy Spirit will still move.

4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people.

5. There will still be God-anointed preaching.

6. There will still be singing of praise to God.

7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.

8. There will still be room at the Cross.

9. Jesus will still love you.

10. Jesus will still save the lost when they come to Him.


ISN'T IT GREAT TO KNOW WHO IS REALLY IN CONTROL?!!

I received this as an email and thought it was worth sharing :-)

Picnic in the field

Madison and Andi preparing the spread

The gang, dogs and all

Hannah was very glad the girls brought carrots to eat :-)

The Life . . .

. . . according to Madison and Andi at least

While visiting Strege's, Denise and I took the kids out to the field to see the horses. Madison and Andi had packed a little lunch so we could have a picnic while there. It was really cute. They even packed pretty healthy, carrots, trail mix, apples and licorice.

Madison has a crew following her :-) Aren't these horses beautiful? It was really fun to be out there.

Don't they look so cute with their cowgirl dolls :-)

Like Madison, Isaac has no fear of horses. I must say I was a tad worried when we were getting surrounded. The guys rode up on their motorcycles and the horses ran off. It scared me because you could see how easily they could trample someone. Madison and Andi brought apples for the horses and had fun feeding them. The ones that really liked apples knew they were in the backpacks and kept following them and nosing the backpacks. It was funny.

He looks so happy out there :-)

This is such a cute picture

Izyk deep in thought

Alex carried Berlin back and got quite a workout :-)