O Christmas Tree

It has been a long while since I updated our blog; I am sorry! Christmas projects, stories, and clean-up are my excuses. :) Here a few pictures of the girls and of our Christmas tree hunt. Merry Christmas!

Tea Party

Those of you who do not know Robin Jones Gunn's stories will not enjoy this entry as much as those who do.... but my sister Michelle and I attended an online tea party tonight that was launching her newest novel. She had three giveaways during the evening and we won two of them! Michelle won the trivia contest, and I won the photo contest for this picture of a tea party. So silly, and yet, we are both thrilled. We have loved her stories for years, and both of us can recount snippets of her writing that have been integral in our spiritual walks.... fiction that has spoken to our hearts deeply. Anyway, it was fun to win a contest - even more fun to do it together!

Birthdays, Homecomings and a few quick updates

Quickly, because it is late... here a couple of photos. We just celebrated Sadie's birthday last week... a small party, some carrot and pumpkin cupcakes, and lots of sweet, happy smiles. She is a charmer. She is 31 inches by my measurement, and weighs about 21.5 pounds. She has about ten words or so... most of them only recognizable by mama. She cruises all over and loves outside! ("Aussh!")


Sadie in a pile of leaves

Elisa on the mound of grass and leaf clippings

Family photo

Check out Craig and Valerie's blog some time and read about the homecoming of their miracle baby boy, Ethan. We are overjoyed with them that he is in their home. What a Thanksgiving miracle for this beautiful family.

Thanksgiving Musings

This afternoon, the girls and I retrieved a large package from the post office. When we returned to the house, we eagerly opened the box to discover mounds of new clothes, socks, and a beautiful handmade quilt. Erik and I are immensely blessed by all of our parents. They are God-loving, wise, and gracious. And they love to lavish good gifts on their grandchildren. I was flabbergasted and thankful for the new winter clothes for Elisa and Sadie (Elisa is rapidly moving beyond 2T size.) And the intricate, pink quilt represents many loving hours of patient stitching and (if I know my perfectionist mother-in-law) seam ripping. A labor of tender love for her one year-old grandbaby. We receive these beautiful gifts with deeply thankful hearts and an awareness of how blessed we are - materially and relationally - by our amazing parents.

Tonight, Elisa struggled with the gratefulness part. Erik and I want with all of our hearts to instill in our sweet daughters a sense of abiding contentment, and a constant gratitude for each gift handed to them from the Father of lights. We want them to live in humble thankfulness - not to feel that they are in any way entitled to any of it, but that all this abundant goodness is a gift from the One who made them. We want them to give generously to others, to understand that wants are not needs, that others live in situations far different than their own middle-class American luxury.

Elisa hurriedly tried on a pair of oh-so-soft brown jammies. For a few minutes she enjoyed them, and we talked about how she would sleep so well in her new, well-fitting, warm pajamas. Then we sat down to eat our dinner, and she snapped. She began to throw one of the worst fits I have seen to date (and we have seen some whoppers from our headstrong toddler!). She screamed that she did not like the brown ones, they were yucky. She wanted to change into some of her other new clothes. She wailed and ranted, and I held her tightly on my lap for nearly 30 minutes as she kicked and fought me. She never ate dinner, and we headed up stairs - still in the brown jammies - for bed.

My little girl's temper tantrum broke my heart tonight. I know she is two, and she is learning. She gets excited, and self-control is a battle she often loses during those moments. If she had graciously said, "Mom, when dinner is over, could I try on some of my other new clothes?" I would have said, "Sure, honey. Finish your rice, and we'll see how the blue ones fit." But, sadly, that wasn't how it went tonight.

How do you teach your children gratefulness when they live in a land of abundance? How do you teach them others-focus when the world is self-absorbed? (And so are we, if we are honest, a great deal of the time!)

My mail today also included a plea from Compassion for donations to their Unsponsored Childrens' Fund. The stories and faces of those precious little ones make me weep. We support a girl named Eri in Peru, and I cannot wait until Elisa is old enough to correspond with our "sponsored child" and learn about Eri's way of life, learn to love her and pray for her. Tomorrow for our preschool time, I am planning to show Elisa those pictures and read about each of those little children. I know she won't understand it all. But maybe, before she puts on one of her fuzzy new sweatsuits, she will thank Jesus for His good gifts.

Signing Sadie

I have to jot down quickly that my Sadie girl is getting smart! All of a sudden she is communicating so much! She has learned hand signs for "night-night," "milk," "bye-bye," "light,"
"hot," and "more." I love watching her learn and begin to "talk" to all of us. She also knows where her nose is and proudly points to it using her big finger. :) And she plays patty-cake on command. She is still just army crawling and I am sure it will be many months before she walks - but I am loving her advancements in this area! Sweet punkin. Both girls got "I voted" stickers today and loved them!

Nursery Rhymes

Here is photo of the Wachob family decked out for our Harvest Carnival on Friday. Elisa and Sadie are Little Bo Peep and her sheep, and Erik and I went (spur of the moment) as the clock and the mouse. (Hickory Dickory Dock). Pretty cute, huh?

Indian Summer

Elisa, after her nap in the wilderness

Mommy and Sadie

Elisa sound asleep on Daddy's back


Today, after church and Sadie's morning nap, we loaded up the girls for a hike in the park. It was a warm and pleasant autumn day... the kind where the sun is shining and the air is crisp, and sweatshirts and jeans are the perfect kind of clothing to keep you just warm enough in the occasional breeze... We hiked along Jenny Lake and picnicked on a rock jutting over the water. We forgot the camera in the car and were lamenting the missed opportunity for family Christmas photos! :) It was past afternoon nap time, and both girls were getting sleepy. Nearing the end of the trail, they both fell asleep... Sadie snuggled against my chest in the Snuggli, and Elisa nestled on Daddy's back in the backpack. She was so cute! Erik and I decided to take a few short side loops, then trek through a field of sagebrush (where are we?!) in order to let them rest for about 45 minutes or an hour. When we got back to the car, Erik made me wake up Sadie first and retrieve the camera to capture sweet sleeping Elisa. She really was cute... and seemed so small and vulnerable. She is such a wild-spirited little girl that sometimes I forget how fragile and little she truly is. Anyway... here are a few photos from our sunny Sunday. A far cry from blizzarding two weeks ago! Fall in the West!

A Big Mess

A painted Sadie


Elisa, covered from head to toe with red and blue fingerpaint



Our posters! Come to the Harvest Festival!

Somehow this fall I have found myself on the committee to organize our church's Harvest Carnival. There are four women on the committee -- four women and seven children ages 2 and under. This morning we were supposed to meet at my friend Becca's home to paint signs. Her water went out, so met at our house instead. We spread butcher paper on the sunroom floor and started off by allowing James and Elisa (the two oldest) to finger paint. Whoa! What a mess! After we got the kids cleaned up, we started in on our projects - but how to keep the four one-year-olds, two two-year-olds, and a three-month-old happy in the process? Hayden kept trying to go up and down the tile stairs by herself, Ellie howled from the family room and tried to stuff food in her twin sister's mouth, and Sadie covered herself in orange and green when I leaped up to rescue Hayden from a crash. Little Eislie finally gave into a nap and slept through the cacophony. Meanwhile, James and Elisa were upstairs, playing in Elisa's room. All was quiet. When I checked on them I discovered why. They had emptied her bookshelf onto the floor, emptied her clothes from the dresser into a mound on the floor of the closet, shifted knick-knacks, stripped her bed, dumped out a basket of stuffed animals, and ransacked the guest room.

I had cleaned house earlier in preparation for Bible Study tonight - thinking we would be at Becca's. Oops! Out came the vacuum, the windex for the glass sunroom doors, the tile cleaner for a potty defiled by potty-trainers.... It was a fun morning. I love being with these ladies, even though our times together are definitely chaotic as we try to be productive while keeping track of so many energetic little ones. Our beautiful blessing babies certainly keep us busy! :)

As we served our church body in a sort of unconventional way today, we were mindful of the fact that two faithful church members passed away yesterday, both victims of cancer. Another long-time church member is currently at home with hospice care, expected to go home to Jesus soon. A good friend of Erik's parents (a young woman our age) just lost her dad last Saturday to a sudden heart attack. There is so much grief in the world. I think my own heartache this last year has made me so much more aware of the hurting of others... We are not alone in sorrow.

Today was also Sadie's 11-month birthday. What a big girl! She is sweeter every day. I love her snuggles and the way she laughs and the coy grin she gives as she cocks her round little head. She has about 1 1/2 teeth. It is adorable. Her life and Elisa's bring such hope to my heart, every day.

A Snowy Day

I don't know if I am quite ready for this! Winter is coming!
Sadie had her first taste of snow... Elisa loves it! She remembers making "angels" and flopping in the soft mounds of it. Mittens and hats and scarves, oh my!

Happy 30th Birthday Amy!

Happy Birthday Amy! We love you! You are an amazing sister and auntie and we hope you have a wonderful day celebrating YOU!

Daddy

Daddy –

A year ago today I woke up and felt a flicker of excitement as I realized you and Mom would be returning from Oregon. You had only been gone for a couple of days, and yet I had missed you. Being neighbors and traipsing across the pond to see you was such a natural part of our lives… such a sweet part of my days. I talked to you on the phone as you cruised through Idaho, expecting to eat dinner with you that evening and hear happy stories of your beautiful new home and your time with Amy, Michelle and Ryan. The phone call I received early that afternoon flabbergasted me.

As I drove over the pass towards the hospital, weeping and praying, I couldn’t imagine God would really take your life. People survived heart attacks every day, and you were a fighter. You were strong. And you were needed. Your life made a difference and you were, to my thinking, not even close to being finished with the good you could do on this earth. As I reached the bottom of the pass another phone call came. Erik was sobbing as he told me that you had gone to be with Jesus. I couldn’t believe it then, and I still have a hard time believing it today. You were so full of life, so vibrant, so giving. You loved with your whole heart… served with your whole heart… embraced your calling and service with a whole heart. Was your heart simply so great and so big that it could no longer fit inside your earthly shell? Was such a loving and beautiful heart fit only for Heaven?

I imagine you in Heaven, Daddy. I imagine you singing with joyful tears on your cheeks… the way you would sometimes in the car when a praise song touched you deeply. I imagine you enjoying all the beauty of Heaven… and the freedom of body no longer bound by the hindrances of injury or age.

There are so many memories. I am so thankful you are my dad. That you were the one God chose to raise the four of us. My last memories are of that week at Lake Powell in September. I remember you chopping vegetables for your scrambled egg breakfast, so happy to be serving all of us. I remember you taking Elisa out for an evening boat ride, and playing with us in the water. I remember watching you out on the kayak… mostly I remember you loving patience. I remember you coming up behind me and kissing my head and telling me that you loved me. You were so patient with me, with Elisa. I am so glad we came with you that week. Do you remember singing Old McDonald to her in the car with that crazy musical book? She still calls that “Boppa’s song.”

I wish that I had gone with you on your trip to Oregon. You asked us to, but Erik was hunting and I couldn’t get word to him… so we stayed home. I wish I had been there to share one more memory… to have been with Mom that day. Sometimes I wonder if it might have made a difference… if I had been there, there would have been an extra person to start CPR sooner… and yet I know that Lord wanted you home that day. As Emily once said, “Heaven must have needed some fresh laughter.” We don’t understand, and we second-guess, and we grieve… but we do trust that God Is, and that He is good.

I love you, Daddy. I wish you could be here with us. I wish we were here together today just because… I wish you could see your beautiful granddaughter Sadie Pearl, and your sweet namesake baby boy – Ephraim Alvis. I wish you could take us out on the boat this afternoon and let Elisa sit on your lap and help you drive.

In all of our hearts, you are here. Our family is what it is because of you. Because of the love you and Mom shared and demonstrated, because of your steady faith… because of your exuberance and your passion. We love you so much.

We don’t exactly know where to go from here. But we want our lives to shine as brightly as yours, we want to carry on your legacy and honor you.

Thank you, Daddy.

We miss you so much.

Mountain Man

Last weekend, Erik trucked off into the wilderness with three buddies and returned with an antelope. The two of us butchered it on the kitchen counter and added pork fat to the grainy pieces to grind into antelope burger. (Can you believe I helped do that???)

This weekend, he set off by himself - deeper into the wilderness - in search of a bull elk. He found one yesterday afternoon as he summited Mount Randolph (several hours away from his car.) He bugled the elk closer, and shot him at a distance of just 30 yards. Then it started to storm. Thunder, lightening, drenching rain.... and he was at the top of a mountain. He waited out a series of frightening storms, then quartered the 5X5 bull and carried out what he was able to shoulder on his own. By the time he reached the car it was 2:00 in the morning. He was freezing cold, and hoarse from singing at the top of his lungs as he tried to ward off any grizzly bears. Meanwhile, his wife is lying awake, wondering if he has been eaten by the aforementioned grizzly bears! He came home at 3:00, and shivered his way to a short sleep. This morning, he gathered up a few of his hunting friends and they headed back to retrieve Erik's elk. The womenfolk stayed home to care for the babies and enjoy a walk together... during which we speculated about whether some of the other men might spy elk of their own! We also speculated about the possibility of all four of them being mauled by a grizzly, and leaving seven children and two on the way to be raised by four widowed mamas. Well... I don't know about the grizzlies... but one of the girls received a call from her hubby two hours ago that Ryan (Block) and Dan (Tolson) had followed some bugling bulls off the trail. It is now 10:00. Hmmmm.....

Tomorrow is my 28th birthday, and I can only hope that it does not include a dead elk being butchered on my granite counter top. :)

Thirty-Five Years

Tomorrow would have been my parents' 35th wedding anniversary. Isn't this picture beautiful? I know it is crackly and a bit rough (it has been twice scanned) but I love their smiles. For nearly 35 years, my amazing mom and dad portrayed the grace and love of Christ in their commitment to their marriage and the sacrifices they made for each other. We are so blessed to be their children... to have witnessed the beauty and tenderness of a marriage that grew stronger with each passing year, the laughter of shared jokes and experiences, the partnership of raising children together, the unity of heart as they placed each other's needs above their own.

Daddy, we miss you. And I know that today, Mom misses you even more than usual. I know that my parents would have loved each other for another 35 years had they been given the chance. Thank you for teaching us what a loving marriage should look like!

New York, New York, and Other Happenings

I promised my husband's aunt Deb that I would post something about our trip to New York within a week of our return. So here I am, two days ahead of schedule! :) However, I did not take a single picture and am hoping to collect some from the many family members who made the East Coast trek with us.

After only six days at home, we boarded another Delta connection and flew to New York to be a part of Adam and Kristen's beautiful nuptial ceremony and celebration. We were so blessed to be able to stay in a charming cottage owned by Kristen's friends, providing us with a little extra space for the girls to sleep and play. It was perfect. Jennie and Jeremy are newlyweds who generously gave up their home for the weekend -- hospitality at its most extravagant, I thought. The wedding was perfect. Erik, Elisa and I were all a part of the ceremony. Elisa was a brave little flower girl -- and an adorable one. Erik was Adam's best man, and enjoyed a few special brother bonding moments in the days leading up to the Big Day. They even ran together the morning of the wedding. The rehearsal dinner took place at a Bath Club on the Long Island sound. Lasagna in the sand. The wedding itself was in an old white church in the town of Huntington, and followed by a beautiful outdoor reception at the Coyne's home. A live band, delicious food, amazing floral arrangements... the reception should have been featured in a magazine. (Or maybe it was??) I smile to think of my Eddie Bauer flannel-wearing brother-in-law now irrevocably tied to the flashy society of Long Island.:) Truly, the evening was memorable and beautiful in every way. I had a great view of Adam's beaming face as he watched his beautiful bride walk up the aisle. They are a wonderful couple and I am thrilled to have a sister-in-law.

On Sunday, we met up with my aunt, uncle and cousins from Maryland for an afternoon of sightseeing in the city. It was fun to see Central Park and Times Square... but an afternoon was definitely all Erik and I needed. We are county folk, and the Big Apple was a bit overwhelming for all of us. Home is a quiet town with wide open spaces. :)

The girls were champions.... we kept them up late and let them sleep til 9 or later... effectively keeping them on Mountain Standard time. It worked well, especially given our recent transition from Maui! I received so many comments on how cute they are, especially smiling little Sadie. :) We are a bit sad our much anticipated month is over, and yet relieved to be back to normal.

Erik's parents stayed with us for the week, and it was great to see them. The girls love their grandparents, and I am thankful we had some time apart from the busyness of the wedding weekend. Now we look forward to fall... starting our home preschool program again, settling back to routine, soups, applesauce, bread-making, Erik hunting, watching the colors change, and pulling out our sweaters and jackets for the winter. Summer is gone, autumn is here!

A Promise

I have had requests for more Maui pictures, and I hope to oblige soon! Erik and I purposefully took few photos... our camera is very simple and slow, and with several others having digital SLRs or higher quality cameras, we opted to take pictures with their cameras. So as soon as I have pictures from Amy, Mom, Ryan and Michelle, I will post some! It may be a while... but I promise!

In the meantime -- here are things I love and am missing from our tropical holiday.

-POG juice. Passion Orange Guava.
-Fresh pineapple from the market
-Apple bananas
-Haupia ice cream (coconut custard)
-the sight of white-crested waves curling up on shore
-the sound of those same waves
-the taste of salt water as I splash with Elisa
-humuhumunukunukuapua'as. (Hawaiian state fish.) :)
- sunsets over Molokai
- wind ruffling through palm trees
-papaya

-and mostly, my amazing family. The kids really miss them too, especially cute baby Ephraim.
Our second adventure in the month of August is approaching in a couple of days, as we head to New York to celebrate Erik's brother's wedding. We are switching gears from bathing suits and sand to formal dresses and sightseeing in the Big Apple. :)

The Music of the Ocean

I have always loved the ocean. There is something so peaceful about the soft rush of waves over sand, the ebb and flow of water. And also something so powerful and BIG about the strength God breathes into that same water, about the vast openness of the sea. And it is full of unique and amazing beauty - coral reefs that glow,vibrant fish, cathedral-like caverns of rock....

I feel so blessed to have spent the last week on the shores of West Maui. What a beautiful spot! I felt so sad to leave, and yet, so thankful for a week of sunshine, family and, yes, splashing in the ocean.

It seems a little silly to write a play-by-play of our week, since many who read this were with us, but I want to record the memories for myself, too.

We arrived on Wednesday evening, hurtling down the coastline in an open Jeep Wrangler. After finding our condo and meeting up with Ryan's girlfriend Emily and my aunt Trisha, who had arrived earlier in the day, we ventured over to the resort's pool. An evening Mai Tai party and our first plunge into the deep blue! The rest of the gang arrived later in the evening.

On Thursday, our girls awoke, not surprisingly, at 3 AM, in spite of the fact we had kept them up until 7 PM Maui time. Baby Ephraim woke Amy up then, too, so it was an early morning party at our condo. After naps we headed to a beach called Launiopoko, where there is consistent surfing and a sort of protective jetty that creates a small wading area free of waves. We met up with friends John and Dawn Smith from Oregon, and their three children. Erik got a short surfing lesson from John and Michelle while Elisa and I splashed with Jaci, Blake and Davis in the shallow water. He got up on his knees, but never quite caught a wave.

Friday morning, Erik, Forrest, and Ryan had their first guided dive. They got up early and drove to nearby Lahaina to catch their boat. They did two dives, one of which was off the shore of Lanaii, into an area called the Cathedral. It sounded beautiful, and I know it was a definite highlight for Erik. He got extremely seasick on the boat ride and threw up multiple times, including once through his regulator. Oops! He attributed this to a lack of sleep as our little ones continued to struggle with adjusting to a four-hour time change. The ladies and babies headed out to Kaanapaali for lunch with a view of the ocean and then some beach time. Amy and I left the babies with Nana for a ten-minute snorkel to Black Rock and danced with a big sea turtle! The water was a bit churned up and not especially clear for viewing fish, but I loved seeing the turtle so close.

Saturday was a low-key day, spent pool lounging and reading in the sun. We drove to Napili Bay in the late afternoon. This is a beautiful beach, and it is where we stayed during our trips when I was in high school. Lots of memories. Erik and Forrest had a fun snorkel trip, and Elisa grew braver and braver as she splashed and swam in the water.

On Sunday we went to an outdoor church service. More turtles splashed just off the shore as we sang along to a ukelele. In the afternoon we headed back to Kaanapaali and found a shady grass area to set up "camp" for few hours. Michelle jumped off Black Rock, the boys and Emily did some more snorkeling, and four of us parasailed. Yes, parasailed! On a whim, my mom, Michelle, my aunt, and I boarded a boat and then allowed the wind to carry us 800 feet in the air for a ten minute-long, breathtaking sail. It was so quiet in the air, hushed and calm and beautiful. Mid-ride, they lowered the sail and touched our toes to the water below, then let us fly back up. It was amazing. Michelle went solo, and she looked like a little kid, just stretching her arms wide and dancing. We ate a beachside dinner at my favorite restaurant, Leilani's. Most of us ordered fish - and it was so good. Huge, shared slices of Hula Pie finished off our evening. I should have taken a picture of this delectable Hawaiian dessert - macadamia nut ice cream, fudge sauce.... yummy!

On Monday, Erik and the boys dived at Molokini. Amy and I took the kids to the Maui Ocean Center. Amy has some photos of Elisa looking at the fish and saying "Yellow fishes! Come here!" It was fun to let her see some marine life up close since she couldn't snorkel with the grown-ups. We met up with everyone else back at Launiopoko Beach Park.

Tuesday, the boys had planned a shore dive. We gathered snorkel gear and two rented kayaks and joined them at the marine reserve at Honolua Bay. It was a long trek down to the rocky beach and there was little shade for the babies, but it definitely felt like "real" Hawaii. A private inholding of land just off the beach was home to beat-up cars, tents, and a wandering rooster. It wasn't a terrific spot for the little ones or their mommies, but the variety of marine life was amazing. The water was amazingly clear, and so many fish swam through the reefs. I snorkeled again for about ten minutes, and saw amazing, vibrant fish - including a bright yellow, scary-eyed needle fish. It is amazing that God splashed fish - so hidden under the water - with such vibrant colors. He didn't have to - but he did. It is so cool to see those small creative details that the Master Artist "painted" into our amazing world. Grandpa took us out to dinner in Lahaina to close our last full Hawaiian day.

Wednesday we packed, checked out, and were given free access to another unoccupied unit for the afternoon. (Kahana Village was so kind to us!) We spent more time at Kaanapaali Beach. I splashed through the waves and attempted a little body-surfing. (Kind of.) Elisa said goodbye to her beloved ocean with lots of wild running and jumping. After quick showers back at Kahana Village, we headed to the airport for our red-eye flight.





A sunset at Kaanapaali Beach, a few minutes south of our hotel. This was one of my favorite spots.... white sand, soft surf to play in, pleasant snorkeling with giant sea turtles!


The view from our lanai



Elisa and Erik at Napili Beach


Kahana Village Resort

I miss my family. What a joy to be all together in one place. We missed Daddy so much. I kept trying to mentally insert him into the picture - to imagine what he would be doing. He would have loved our week there. Mom brought a picture to hang on the wall, and I felt as though he was watching over us, so happy we were together.

I found it hard to sleep last night without the music of the ocean washing over me, and I am already thinking ahead to our next trip - which will have to be substantially longer than this one. :)

From the Mouth of Babes

I have to post a few more funny Elisa sayings....

Yesterday I helped at our church's VBS. Though Elisa is a few months too young to participate, she was able to tag along with her mommy while I herded rowdy boys through the stations. It was a busy, fun morning. We headed home for naps, took a long walk, then readied our home and prepared a meal for our Bible Study group... At 8:30 the group headed home and we headed to bed. Elisa lost it. She just sobbed and sobbed, saying," It's been such a long day. So long day, Mommy. So long day."

I reminded her of all the fun things, the friends, the yummy treats, the running in the sunshine and beachcombing for treasures in the sandbox, the "surfing" to Bible songs.... "Wasn't it a fun day?" I asked.

She said, "No. It was too long. Too long. That make it not fun." Erik and I had to chuckle. Poor little thing. I want so much to serve in the church and be a part of the various ministries, but I am learning to take it easy... that my own kiddos have be my first priority. And little Elisa may not be quite ready for such a "long day."

The other night, she was being a bit wild and rough and I said, "Elisa, let's take all the meanness out of your heart." So we ripped the yucky meanness out, and then acted out replacing it with handfuls of kindness. In the morning, I said, "Elisa, do you have meanness or kindness in your heart today?" She said "Kindness," and I said, "Yeah! That's great! We're going to have a great day!" A few minutes later she was being too rough again, and I said, "Hey, where is the meanness coming from? I thought your heart was full of kindness today. Where did the kindness go?" She thought and said, "It fell out on the floor."

Elisa - isms

"Mommy," she says. "Your house is a mess. You need to clean it up."
"Really?" I say.
"No. I'm just teasing." Big laugh.


"I'm Daddy's girl today. Mommy, I'll be your friend tomorrow when Daddy's at work."

"Mom, I can't go to sleep by myself."
"Elisa, Jesus is with you all the time. You can't see Him, but you can imagine that He is all snuggled up next to you."
"He fits, Mom? His feet are not too big?"

The next night.... "Jesus needs a blanket, Mommy. Tuck Him in. And, scoot me over. I don't want to squish Him."

Camping, Splashing, and Squishing

Last weekend, the Wachobs decided to venture out on another camping trip - a quick overnight near the trailhead where Erik planned an epic day hike with his friend Ryan. We arrived late and Erik and I ended up laying down in the tent to get the girls to sleep for what ended up being a very restless night. Elisa has recently begun sleeping in panties overnight, and she is worried about wetting her pants... so she cries and fusses to get up multiple times before she'll succumb to sleep. This results in some really late bedtimes, and camping was no exception - even though we offered a pull-up. She is a little pogo-stick at bedtime, up and down and up and down. Her noise wakes up sensitive little Sadie and a vicious cycle of wakefulness begins. That cycle was definitely magnified with all four of us in a tent. But we love being outdoors and waking in the chill of early morning for hot cocoa and a fire... what a blessing to be in God's creation! We camped beside a creek and listened to the trickling giggle of water over rocks... and then Erik had a great hike while the girls and I drove home.


Sadie watching the tent go up.



Elisa, saying "This is my tent!"

Peeking out

A little cozy angel... just before our tiny spitfire reared her wide-awake head.

Ryan... at the plateau he and Erik crossed (they climbed from one side of a mountain to the other - beginning at Flat Creek and ending 12 miles later at Crystal Creek).


At home.... Sadie splashing in the water!



I was trying to capture a close shot of Sadie enjoying the water, but Erik's comment was, "Were you taking a close-up of her deformed finger?" I guess I was. I don't even notice her long middle finger anymore... though I guess I should since I still haven't taken her in for an x-ray.

Elisa - all the way in.



Play-dough! I only had hard wheat berries on hand, no white flour, so I had to grind some wheat to make the play-dough. Pretty funny - and a little on the grainy side. :) Elisa didn't mind. Squish!

Erik and Elisa in the Land-Cruiser. She got to ride with him to the drop-off point at Crystal Creek. She loves riding in the open air.

Mara Antina Wolfswinkel

Erin is a mommy! I am so thrilled for my good friend Erin. At 12:30 this afternoon, she delivered a beautiful baby girl named Mara Antina. Little Mara is so blessed to be born into this special family! And I know that her coming blesses them.

Erin and I met in Seattle, while both of us were finishing our degrees at the University of Washington. We were coming out of strikingly similar circumstances, and a fast friendship formed... we led a women's Bible study together, ran, ate countless sweet potatoes, and shared life. God saw fit to bring two wonderful men into our lives... both of whom happened to live in Fort Collins Colorado. Erin married Karl just six months after Erik and I were married. It was such an amazing God-thing to have a kindred spirit nearby during our two years in Colorado, and I miss her!

Erin is open-hearted, kind, loyal, and full of joy. I have learned so much about God through her friendship, and I could not be more happy for her and Karl to enter into the journey of parenthood. I only wish we could convince them to follow us to Wyoming, and that our three girls could grow up together.

Mara Antina weighed 8 pounds, 7 ounces, and was 20 inches long... a big bundle for my petite little friend! :)

Congratulations, Erin and Karl!

Like Mother, Like Daughter

Like Mother, Like Daughter

“Elisa,” I say, struggling to keep my voice calm and steady. “Come here.” With a cackle, my blonde-haired vixen turns on her itty-bitty heel and barrels – full-speed – the other direction. My blood pressure rises. Only moments ago, she received a spanking for pushing baby Sadie, then returned to the playroom and promptly snatched a toy from her sister’s hand. Is she really going to choose to defy me again – so quickly? I set Sadie down on the floor and settle her with a different toy before catapulting after my wayward two-year-old. Softly, gently, I direct Elisa again to come, crouching down to her level and willing her to meet my gaze with those firecracker brown eyes of hers. She laughs again, twirls in a circle, and traipses toward the kitchen, ignoring her mama’s command for the second time. This time, I catch her in my arms and hold her firmly against my chest. She flails as I carry her to the dreaded red, overstuffed chair.

I pin wild limbs to her side and lift her defiant chin up. “Elisa, did Mommy tell you to come?”

She turns her head and clamps her mouth shut.

I try again. “Elisa Joy, did Mommy tell you to come?” My voice is rising. I don’t want to discipline her in anger, and yet, her unwillingness to comply frustrates my heart in a way I don’t quite understand. I wait for her to respond, trying to still my own churning emotions.

As I wait, something in my spirit quiets. I stroke her hair, then kiss the top of her head. Even when she is unlovable, I realize, I love her. Funny how God instills that capacity within us. He equips parents to love their children with the unquenchable, unconditional agape love He has for us! How often, I wonder, have I responded just like my daughter? How often have I hid, turned away, or run from the chastisement I know I deserve? How many times have I reaped consequences for my sin, only to backpedal into the same defiant behavior? How many times have I ducked my head in silent humiliation while my Heavenly Papa reaches out to me in love? Like mother, like daughter.

Sitting there, I think about how God’s heart is always toward us. He is always seeking to restore the broken relationship with His child. He wants our souls to be clean, forgiven. He wants us to receive His mercy and then move forward to walk closer in step with Him.

My motives are not always so pure. Sometimes, when I discipline my child, I am doing so with a selfish heart. She has embarrassed me, or inconvenienced me, and I desire to change her behavior for my own sake. But the point of discipline is to teach our children about sin, and repentance, about forgiveness, and mercy. It’s to lead them to the foot of the cross.

I don’t always know how to do that. Sometimes life in our home is chaotic, and it’s all I can do to plop Elisa in a time-out and send her back on her way. But, pondering the ways of my Heavenly Father, I am humbled. My mama’s heart swells with mercy – the mercy Christ has poured out on me, the mercy I am called to pour out on others.

I cup Elisa’s face in my hands and hold her firmly so that she can see my expression. “Elisa,” I whisper. “I love you.”

She wiggles, trying to writhe out of my grasp, but I hold fast. “Do you know that I love you?” Reluctantly she nods, and snarled strands of peanut-butter crusted hair swing forward. “God has entrusted me to raise you. And you know what, sweetie? That’s a big job.” I fold her fingers in my hands and bend my forehead to hers. “Before I discipline you, let’s pray.” And I do, thanking God for the gift of my child, asking for His wisdom as I teach her and train her, beseeching him to soften her heart to my instruction and praying that she would come to understand His grace and walk always in His ways. I know she doesn’t understand all the words. But I think she hears the soft surrender in my voice, and I feel the stiffness in her little body begin to melt away.

“Elisa?” I ask again. “Did you obey Mommy or disobey Mommy?”

Quietly she answers. “Disobey Mommy.”

“When Mommy says come, what should you do?”

“Come to Mommy.”

“That’s right. You need to obey Mommy. God has put Mommy in authority over you, and by learning to obey Mommy, you are learning to obey Him.”

A nod.

“When Sadie is playing with a toy, are you supposed to take it away from her?”

Her little head shakes. “No. Ask her.”

“That’s right.” I cuddle her and remind her that she loves Sadie, and that love is not selfish. I tell her that I love her to much to allow her sin to grow in her heart, and, after issuing a spanking, I hug her tightly.

She is a lot like her mommy. My Elisa is stubborn and strong-willed, wild-spirited and curious. But Elisa is also tender-hearted, teachable and full of life. I pray the lessons I give her – the ones that right now go so far over her adorable little head – will go down deep into the soil of her heart. I pray she will grow in the grace and truth of her God, and that someday she will pass these fumbling words onto her own daughter.

Like mother, like daughter.

Swinging Sisters

Elisa pushing her little sister on the swing



Both girls!

Elisa and Sadie have a new favorite pastime. Swinging in the backyard tree! Elisa has always loved to swing, and we sing a special "birdie" song while I push her... now Sadie is getting in on the action, and we hung up a second swing next to Elisa's so that Mama can push both girls at once. Thanks to grandparents for leaving behind both swings for our pleasure!

Four of the five June/July babies I have been anticipating with friends have arrived! Madelyn Kuntz, Megan Paisley, Ethan Perciante (born early in April), and now Salim Jacoby. Baby Wolfswinkel is due any day! What a blessing to see our friends' families grow!

Wild West Adventures

The past two weekends have found the Wachob family sharing adventures... First, Erik's brother and sister-in-law to-be came to visit on their trek east to Georgia. We had a wonderful time hosting them and getting to throw a bridal shower for Kristen's friends. On Saturday, the six of us set off a camping adventure. We loaded the car with canoes and camping gear and rowed placidly through the Oxbow Bend in the park. The girls were lathered with sunscreen and topped with sun hats... the sun was warm and bright... it was beautiful! Sadie fussed against her life jacket and finally fell asleep about twenty minutes from the landing. I tried to ever-so-carefully step out of our rickety old canoe without awaking her, but slipped in the mud and fell into several feet of cold river water. Sadie woke up screaming as her little body plunged into the water. Oh, I felt so bad! She dried off quickly, and we found a secluded - and mosquito infested - campsite up Pacific Creek. Our tent was set up quickly and my weary girl fell right asleep on a pad on the floor. Our friends the Tolsons joined us for a Dutch oven supper and campfire, then headed home while we crammed five Wachobs and an almost Wachob in our tent. The girls slept well and we shared a hearty breakfast before heading home for showers and naps in the early afternoon.



Sadie in the sunshine!

Hosting a shower for Kristen, Adam's bride-to-be, the day before camping.



Then, this past weekend, Adam's bachelor party was planned in Fort Collins, CO, our old home. So the girls and I tagged along for the ride, eager to see some old friends. It was a long drive, and poor Sadie just can't seem to sleep in the car... but they were troopers! We stayed at our friends Scott and Jebeke's home and Elisa had a great time playing with Hosannah and Hadie - who are 3 1/2 and 14 months. Hosannah and Elisa enjoyed a few home fireworks before simultaneously burning their fingers on sparklers. Yikes! Two screaming toddlers, two white blistered index fingers. We also got to see Erin and Karl Wolfswinkel, our dear friends who are just weeks away from welcoming their first child into the world, and Erik played a rowdy round of paintball with the boys to usher Adam into his nuptial season. :) Elisa, Sadie, Hosie and Hadie all took a bath together. Jebeke has pictures and I will have to post some later on as they are so cute!

On the way home, our trusty Tahoe broke down in beautiful Rock Springs, WY (read with a tang of sarcasm). We spent the night at an overpriced Best Western and were thankful to find a mechanic who could replace the fuel pump the next day. Things went smoothly.... Sadie had a nice morning nap in the hotel room, and Elisa slept briefly before we had to wake her up to check out of our room. Then we trekked four blocks on foot with suitcases in tow, and had a lunch of PB and J in the dealership's lobby. We walked about a mile while Sadie slept in my arms and found a city park that even had a free community pool! We didn't have our swimsuits with us, but let Elisa splash, fully dressed, and cool off. Truly, God was caring for us in this mishap. We are glad to be home. The girls and I have slept little over the last days and I am thankful for bedrooms and cribs and doors. :)

Hosannah and Elisa



Erin Wolswinkel. Isn't she a beautiful mommy?


Vagabonds in Rock Springs


Flowers in bloom at home!






Also - my friend Melissa and her hubby Nathan had a baby girl on July 3rd. Megan McKenzie Rose Paisley weighed in at 9 lb, 2 oz. She is sweet and we are so happy for them! Children are such gifts from God.

Hope you all had a great Fourth!

Five Little Girls

Hayden Block, Sadie Wachob, Trinity Green, Ellie and Olivia Tolson

I thought I'd share another little essay today... I wrote this one a few weeks ago, but last week we actually did get all five girls together and manage a photo. Aren't they all amazing?

Five Little Girls All In a Row

Shuffling through a stack of summertime photos, I smiled as I lifted out a picture of five round-bellied mamas standing side-to-side. Dancy was at the front of the line, her twin girls –Ellie and Olivia - easily filling out the folds of her maternity blouse. Jen was due only a few weeks behind Dancy, but her athletic figure camouflaged Trinity’s growing form. Tiny Becca carried Hayden all out front – a thin form with a perfect basketball tummy. I had tucked myself behind Becca, looking ever-so-slightly rounded at twenty-four weeks.

Time had passed so quickly. Those bulging bellies had disappeared. Our arms now held bouncing baby girls, and it would have been nearly impossible to coordinate all five schedules for a photo opportunity.

I stared again and thought of how different the four posing mamas were, different in temperament, different in shape and size, and different in talent. I realized those differences carried over into the lives of our growing girls.

Little Ellie carries the wisdom of an old woman in her countenance. She is beautiful, and while she is slower in development than her twin Olivia, she seems to process the world with a mature thoughtfulness. Olivia is petite and pixie-like. She scoots from place to place on her tummy, using her little arms to propel her tiny torso forward and back. Early on, Olivia was the complacent, easygoing twin; now she’s finding her place in the nursery world.

Trinity is a firecracker. She has the sweetest shock of dark hair and dancing eyes. A feisty little fighter in the beginning, her personality has tempered as she’s grown, and she’s finally sleeping through the night . At almost eight months, she sits up unsupported and rolls continuously.

Hayden is wiry and active. At seven months, she crawls all over and pulls up haphazardly on anything within reach. She weighs just fourteen pounds, and yet she began sleeping through the night only three weeks after she was born. Her physical talents are already so evident; will this tiny tumbler one day be scaling rocks or aerial skiing?

My Sadie is the youngest, at six months. She is also the biggest. Sadie is long and solid and relatively immobile. She is placid, content, happy. Her laughter is contagious and her smile is utterly charming. She is an easy, unflappable baby .

Yes, if we lined up the five little girls in a row, the differences between our offspring would be clear. Blonde, bald, brunette… blue-eyed, brown-eyed… content to sit and smile, eager to scamper off on an adventure.

With our daughters so close in age, it is easy to compare. I find myself watching Sadie and wondering whether she will ever catch up to ambitious little Hayden. She seems slow to progress, slow to catch on to new skills. The over-achiever in me wants to hurry her along. I want my child to advance as quickly as her peers, not lag behind.

And yet, I wouldn’t trade my sweet Sadie girl for anything. I wouldn’t exchange her happy-go-lucky personality for a skill set.

A holy, creative God knit together the lives of each of these baby girls. He fashioned their DNA with His almighty hands. He created them! Just as they are: unique in their abilities and their demeanors, alike in their worth to Him. Each of them is formed in His image; each of them reflects a tiny piece of who He is.

I am reminded of Isaiah 45:9, where the prophet writes, “Does the clay say to the Potter, ‘what are you making?’” It is not my job to question the creative work of my God. It is not my job to compare my child to others. I am called to embrace my baby girl – just as she is – and revel in the miracle of her individuality. God created Sadie perfect for His purpose. As she opens her heart to Him, He will fulfill His purposes in her life. He will use her unique gifts for His glory.

Maybe someday we will line up five adult daughters and marvel at their differences, at all they have achieved and become as they’ve surrendered their lives to their Creator, at the way their individual lives glorify Him. And when we do, it won’t matter whether they crawled late or talked early, whether they were A+ overachievers, athletes, or bubbly social leaders. Just as they are, their lives will bless their God, and their world.