Life Story, His Glory

Lately I have been thinking a lot about our angel babies; maybe it's due to the fact that I have a playlist on my iPod (example song: "I Will Carry You" - Selah) that is all about our children that are in heaven and God's faithfulness.  Maybe it's due to the fact that I have 3 healthy children now and I need something to bring me back to a place of "thankfulness" for what God has given when the days get crazy and I feel overwhelmed.  Maybe it's due to the fact that a few dear friends are walking the road of heartache and loss of their own and it makes my own heart ache for them and with them.   Maybe it's due to the fact that I have a circle of friends that God has called me to minister to. 

Let me just say, it's all an honor.  I am so thankful that God spent so much time comforting my heart during our heartache and loss, just so I could turn and comfort others that are walking that familiar road.  Only our God can take our heartache and loss and turn into something that will bring Him glory.  What an honor to serve a God like that and to serve his servants.

God, give me your eyes to see and reveal to my heart the perfect way to minister to each one you bring into my life.  Let my life story bring you glory and may it always point to You.

We sure miss you Isaiah, Jayden and Jael - our sweet angel babies.  We know the day will come when we will hold you near just like we hold, Joshua, Saray and Grayson.  Until then, continue to enjoy the presence of the Almighty God!   Your life stories live on, even here.  God is using your story to bring Him glory!  Praise God!


2 Corinthians 1: 3-5 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ.





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Josh and Saray's 3rd Birthday

We celebrated Josh and Saray's 3rd birthday last week!  Unbelievable!  We decided to celebrate with a Rainbow theme; I find it very challenging to decide on a good theme when you have a boy and a girl that are the same age.  I just so happened to find some great blogs and some great ideas for our Rainbow party.  I found a great and cheap way to make a rainbow balloon banner (thanks to http://www.designmom.com/2011/05/balloon-banner-diy/ ), we made rainbow ribbon streamers for birthday favors for the kids.  We also made rainbow fruit skewers & fruit salad and a fun-fetti cake with homemade butter cream frosting and a rainbow made out of sprinkles (thanks to Jer!), oh and don't forget the rainbow goldfish.  We also had a guessing game for the adults, they had to guess how many skittles (taste the rainbow!) were in a small jar.   Amazingly enough, I was able to fit 344 skittles into a small jar!  Guesses ranged from 73 - 250, minus Levi and My Mom who guessed 15 and 7 below the actual number of skittles.  
Overall, I kept the planning for the party pretty simple.  I didn't plan any games for the kids since they are still pretty young, plus we were having the party at a great park, we knew the kids would just want to play anyway.  Most of the kids were old enough to play on the playground while the adults sat around talking and eating.  Seriously, it can't get much better than that. 

I have run out of time.  The twins rarely take naps now, but are required to rest/play quietly together in the room.  That rest time is over for today and the twins are ready to move on with our day.  I will write more later.  Enjoy the pictures from the party. 

Rainbow Cake

Rainbow Fruit Skewers

Rainbow Fruit Salad (due to the fact that I didn't want to skew anymore fruit)

Rainbow Ribbon Streamers - Party Favors

Jer and I blew up 72 balloons, used a needle and kitchen string to tie 4 balloons together (coloring according), then threaded them all together. 

Rainbow Balloon Banner

Family of Five

Homemade Flubber + Josh & Saray = Giggles

Josh and Saray playing with flubber a video by The Chapeau Fam on Flickr.

Lately I have been shooting more videos with my Canon 60D, pocket camera or computer camera. It's been such a joy to go back and watch the videos (some over and over). The kids truly do change before your eyes and we don't even see it until we look back, even over a span of a month!
Daddy decided to make homemade flubber for the twins back in the middle of July. It was a bit gooey, had a nice smell to it and it was super bad on clothes (hence why the twins are in their undies). Saray jumped right in touching and stretching the flubber,. Josh on the other hand was a bit shy, but once Daddy entered the picture, Josh thought flubber was hilarious!
I personally could hardly contain my giggles from hearing Josh giggle, but being behind the camera one learns to be a little more silent., especially when doing video clips.

Enjoy the new video clip.

Video - Daddy making Josh and Saray laugh

Video - Daddy making Josh and Saray laugh a video by The Chapeau Fam on Flickr.

This video was taken just a few days ago (August 8th). I love how Josh laughs and at the end Saray adds to the laughter.
Life is full and busy. Jer is busy working on getting the sprinkler system in, which always seems to take WAY longer than originally planned. I finally unpacked another set of boxes and moved a ton of boxes out of the garage. It felt so incredibly good to get that stuff moved & some of it unpacked and put away. We can now park either the Sienna or Xterra in there without feeling cramped. Yay! 
I will try and take some pictures of the house soon. I haven't taken any yet just cause I don't think of it. Plus I don't have any wall decor up so it feels a little blah to be taking pictures of it, but nevertheless, I really should take pictures of at least the progress.

Enjoy this last month of Summer!

Trent and Tanner's Photo Book

Just wanted to post this even though it's old.  Please pray for Trent and Izaak as God brings them to your mind.  Pray for their safety and for wisdom for those that make decisions regarding their safety.  The current situation has turned from okay to not so good.  I will keep you posted as I know more.

Trent is now 6 and his brother Izaak is now 7.  Hard to believe!

Enjoy the book of memories that we shared with Trent and Tanner. 

Click here to view this photo book larger

Grayson 1st Year Photo Book

Click here to view this photo book larger

Kids' First Time at the Carnival

What a busy 4th of July weekend.  We celebrated my 29th birthday by going to the carnival in Belle Fourche.  The kids absolutely loved the carnival; they are still talking about the rides a week later.  We went to the Spearfish parade and went to the firework display in Belle Fourche.  The kids did amazingly well for being off schedule for so many days in a row.  I am anxious to get them back on schedule though, I want my quiet evenings back (yes I know, I am a bit selfish, but it's only for my sanity.)

Joshua and Trent (yes, Tanner's twin) had a blast "driving" the car.  Joshua's expression is priceless.

Grayson loved the carnival too.

Grayson, Jer and Josh

The little kids and a few big kids.  Grayson, Jer, Josh, Saray, Tristan (front - 2nd stroller), Torin (back), Molly, Trent, Jansen, Jesse, & Britany. 

My sister Molly

"Oh check out that one!"  Josh and Saray watching all the people and the rides.

Saray and Josh on the carousel, loving every moment.

Saray was jumping up and down, cheering for Josh and Trent as they were on the car ride.

Love that she was cheering for her brother.

"Ohhh!" - Grayson - 13 months old

Grayson and Daddy waving at Josh and Saray while they ride the helicopter.

"What's next!?"  I think Josh & Saray are going to love carnival rides for years to come.

"Momma, look at the dragon!"  - Josh and Saray