Chili Cookoff

We had a chili cookoff today to celebrate Daniel's finishing his Bachelor degree from LU.  I'm so stinkin' proud of that man!  We decorated a day ahead of time with red and blue balloons and streamers, and balloons kept popping out of nowhere, and we had discussed how streamers tend to loosen up after they hang awhile..and Parker kept saying, "Those will fall down to-mah-row (tomorrow)" then this morning they were still up, he said "Those NOT fall down to-mahh-row!!"  He was very northern about it, and very glad that Daddy's party didn't break.

We had 3 chili contestants and 2 prizes--a cookbook and a $25 gift card, and over all, I think everyone had a good time.  My lips are chapped to pieces--I can't handle spicy well, but each chili was delicious!  I got all the ballots, labels, invitations, everything from here so I didn't have to use my brain at all!  We have wayyy too many carby leftovers--chips, fritos, baked potatoes, calrose rice, brown rice, ahh we are going to bloat and float to Mexico if we eat it all by next week. Oh, and I made the crockpot cake best served with Breyer's triple chocolate ice cream, and ate lots of it...  Good thing we both need lots of calories! Right? ...

Parker's quote of the day:

"Baby Judah 'yaxin (relaxin') in there, him watch a Movie with his Mommy and Daddy, and eat a COOKIE and read a book like at Kiefer's house (where we went in Dec. for a cookie&book swap), and he play CARS but him not talk, he only KIE (cry).. He yaxin' in you tummy, Mommy. Him stay warmmm in dere."  

Sounds like Baby Brother is DREAM LIVIN' and Parker knows all about it!

This evening, we went to a farewell party for a friend we met the FIRST weekend we moved here! His wonderful wife and kids already went stateside a few weeks ago.  We are going to miss them, and we cherish the memories we made over the past 3 years! This military moving stuff is tough sometimes... But I'd rather have a great friend around for a short time, than no friends at all.  Most people end up being worth the time you put into them. Don't you think?

Life Update

Oh wow, its been over a year since I posted, but I think I want to get back into blogging both for others and for myself, so that in the future I'll have a "journal".  I would say I'll go back and fill you in on the past 13 months, but I don't wanna tell a fib. So we'll start with here and now.

Daniel's career has been rewarding and FULL OF AWARDS lately- I am SO SO proud of him.  And he is so humble about it all.  We are unsure of our next step (staying in? starting over? moving back to our hometown? and 349857 other options) but we are praying that God will make it OBVIOUS by shutting the wrong doors and maybe having someone pull him through the right one.  We, the dependents, will follow anywhere :)

Making Christmas pictures for the neighbors! Dec 2011



Baby2 is due in June, and we are blessed already by his part in our lives. I can feel him moving often, he's a busy little buffalo!  Parker kisses and loves on my belly everyday, blows "blueberries, not strawberries" on his brother (I actually call that blowing raspberries but whatever), and sets a car (one wheel in my bellybutton) so that baby Judah can have a turn.  He came and shoved 4 cars and 2 blocks under my shirt today and said "There you go, Baby Juju".  I'm glad he's sharing!  I am absolutely THRILLED that I get to stay home with my babies every single day. Parker has provided many hilarious stories and I'm glad I don't miss too much.


I am also considering which direction I should take with my stay-home "career". I'm still cutting hair and I enjoy every second of that, and I still sell It Works, but I'm not really into SALES, even though my downline is doing incredible.  Since I'm pregnant I'm not doing hair color--the chemicals make me dizzy--so I miss that like crazy: The artistry, chemistry, and the one-on-one time with clients.  I'm blessed to have that skill available anywhere we go, and plan to do it for years and years.

I also LOVE writing and Daniel's been encouraging me like crazy to actually DO IT more often, so I'm getting back into it.  I have a few books in mind for kids, and about 12 unfinished songs sitting in files. So there's a lot of ground I've already covered, just gotta RUN WITH IT.  I'm excited about pursuing an old dream, because when I'm writing/singing/composing, I'm full of excitement and fulfillment.  I don't experience that with some other income-producing things I've tried, and the thing about the songs is.. I don't care about making money.. I hope to share them and help people's hearts become refreshed and reminded about the important things in life.

Our time in Germany is closing, and I have to keep reminding myself to SLOW DOWN and enjoy RIGHT NOW. So I'm working on a song:


Not sure why these photos are sideways... Sorry!



Take a moment, take a breath,

Sit and stare at the sunset

And live life slow

As slowly as possible

Hold your babies, hold your fire
Kiss your lover even if you're tired
And live life slow
As slowly as possible...
I've been saying those lines to myself OVER AND OVER for the past few days... More to come :)

Thanks for reading,
Love,
                                                                                                           DJPJ