I've Got No Clever Title For This One

Life has been pretty normal around here lately. Nothing big (unless you count a snowstorm yesterday that my kids were pretty bummed about). We've been playing a lot, homeschooling, and the kids and I took a trip down to stay at my parents' house for a few days. This has been a very loooong winter (we had our first snow in the middle of October) and we are all very anxious to get outside again!

 

Here are a few pictures from the Herzog house the past couple of months:

The boy loves Legos!

 "There's nothing like a better day than looking at Lego sets." Tate, age 5 1/2. I HAD to write that one down, because even though I think I'll remember it years from now, I won't.

 Tate was so excited about the tie-dye shirt that he made at Kids' Club! Of course, Norah wanted something tie-dye too, so I looked in her closet and found this dress (thank you Auntie for hand-me-downs). Lookin' up to big brother!

 And this is Grandpa Jim on his shoulder. Enough said.


 

 Sibling love.


 

 We took a trip down to my parents' house - far enough south that all the snow was melted, so we got to play outside! It was such a needed change of scenery for all of us! We had lots of cousin time too, which is always a highlight for the kids.
 

 Norah and Auntie Heather dying eggs!



 

 She likes to be creative with her wardrobe. And this one, ladies and gentlemen, was worn grocery shopping. I had an inner battle. Do I let her be her unique self, or do I make her change before we leave? Maybe she'll thank me for it later, and maybe she'll be humiliated that I let her leave the house like this, but the most important part is that I got a picture of it!



 

 It is April 17th, and the ruler on our deck measured a little over 9 inches of snow that fell yesterday. We took this chance for one last time (here's to hoping) to play outside. A milestone for the day was that this was the first time that Anja played outside in the snow. It's either been too cold, or I've been too lazy to go out with her, but today I sucked it up and let her be Minnesotan.
 

  The kids have not watched the movie Frozen (gasp) yet, but they went outside and wanted to play "Frozen," which is why Norah is wearing her princess crown.
 

 What's wrong with this picture? I'll give you a minute............ something's not quite right. Do you see it yet? Someone is missing her boot (well, mittens too, but we'll ignore that one. She kept pulling them off). Not sure how long she'd been walking around in her sock before I noticed. Mother of the year, right here!
 

 Big brother to the rescue! Found in a snowbank. This was especially funny for him, because just a couple of weeks ago, his boot fell off in a snowbank and we could not find it until the snow melted last week. He was a happy boy when it reappeared!
 

 Winter would not be complete until you've eaten some snow!

 

 

 

Can you spy the cat? (Do you see an "I Spy" theme here?) In November we had 3 cats, and now we're down to this little guy, Dado (named by a 3 year old). I guess that's how it goes when you have outdoor cats, huh? For all you philanthropic types, we are perfectly fine with only one cat, so don't feel the need to find us any more!


 We'll wait a few days for the snow to melt and we'll head back out to play in the mud! Happy Spring!

Cracks and Holes

I had to throw away a cracked plate and bowl a couple of weeks ago. They were gifts that we got for our wedding and we have used them ever since. It brought our plate and bowl count down to 5. I've also been noticing holes in our dish towels. It all makes me smile.

It makes me smile, not at the prospect of getting a new set of dishes. Not because I am unsentimental. It makes me smile because it means that we've been married long enough to have holes wear through the dish towels. We've seen enough life together that things (not just material things) have broken along the way. But unlike the broken dishes that got thrown in the trash, God can and does heal the brokenness in our lives.

Every moment of the last 9 years and 7 months hasn't been easy, but it has been good. The hard times have brought us closer as a couple and refined us as individual Christ followers. James 1:2 says,

 "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

Have I faced every trial with joy? Admittedly, no, but I have seen after-the-fact how the trials have produced steadfastness.

Some of the trials in our marriage have not been outsiders forcing trouble into our lives. Some of them have been the result of our humanity. Our shortcomings. It's not easy to admit your shortcomings and struggles to your spouse, but those times have been some of the best times in our marriage. We've cried together, shared our hearts and become closer in the long run. It's so easy to think that it will be better if I just keep (fill in the blank) to myself, because I wouldn't want to hurt him, but it is just the opposite. It has brought healing.

Not one of us is perfect and complete yet. We all have cracks and holes somewhere, but God is the Healer. Sometimes that means going through hard times to bring the healing. When Romans 8:28 says, "and we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose," it's not a promise that every situation will turn out how we want it to, but that we will turn out more like Christ.  God uses trials in life to make us "perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

Are you facing a trial right now? God will refine you through it if you let Him. Have you noticed some cracks and holes in your life, or has someone pointed some out to you? God is refining you. Have you noticed some cracks and holes in your spouse (or someone else)? Be patient, and pray for them. Wait for God's timing to point it out to them. Sometimes He resolves it without your help and sometimes He'll use you to help refine them.

...and let the cracks and holes make you smile.

Anja is 2!

Our youngest turned 2 today. I know I am like every other parent when I say that I can't believe it's already been 2 years since this little fire cracker joined our family.

 

Some facts about Anja at this stage of her life:

*She's a busy girl. Sometime I should count how many times a day I say, "No Anja!" "Get down Anja!" "Don't touch that Anja!"

*Likes to climb (on the table, out of her crib, on top of her dresser, etc.)

*We just discovered her love for playing catch. She's got a pretty good arm and decent aim!

*She doesn't say too many words, but some of her favorites are: Mommy, Daddy, Tate, ummm, more, uh huh, no, baby, cow, moo, dog, Hi!

*She likes all animals (pictures, and the real thing).

*We've been working on getting her 2 year molars now for months and one is finally poking through.

*As of late, she likes mommy to hold her....especially during dinner preparations.

*We just put a door knob cover on the pantry, because she would spend all day in there if we let her. Not necessarily eating, but making messes (think cereal dumped on the floor, raisins spread on the basement landing and bags of fruit snacks dumped from the box).

*Some favorite foods right now are: veggie sticks, broccoli, grilled cheese sandwiches, fruit, French toast, granola, fruit snacks, smoothies, oatmeal.

*She really isn't into meat right now.

*She likes to make people smile and laugh.

*Wants to be in on the action with her brother and sister, but they are not so excited about that all the time, because she tends to be kind of destructive.

*She sleeps with her stuffed Hello Kitty that she got from her Sunday School teachers.

*When she enters a social situation, she jumps right in. No fear.

*Whenever mommy's on the phone, she wants to talk too.

 

Apparently, there's no such thing as too many accessories! 

"Why wouldn't I put saltines in my play-doh, Mommy?"

 

Anja really likes to play in her kitchen, so she got an apron for Christmas (handmade by her talented Auntie Heather).

Who doesn't wear sparkly shoes with socks and a diaper?

And because she is a silly girl, she's trying on her brother's boots. They don't look like they fit quite right!

She sleeps like this a lot. So cute.

Opening some birthday presents!

Since she likes all things animal, here's her jungle birthday cake!

"Happy Birthday to yooooou!"

 

I think she likes it!

 

 

 Anja,

You are such a fabulous member of our family! You keep us laughing, and you keep us on our toes. We love your sweet spirit, and the unique way God has created you. We pray the God would draw you to Himself and that you will follow Him wherever He leads you in your life. God loves you more than we ever could (and that's A LOT). Your life is a gift. We love you so much!

Love,

Mommy and Daddy

Ashes into Beauty

I was reminded tonight of a painful time in my life. A time that prompted my sister to come over one night with two songs for me to listen to. Several times in the following days/weeks, I laid on the floor listening, sometimes singing, sometimes weeping to the words of the songs.

One of the songs was, "At the Foot of the Cross," by Kathryn Scott, and whenever I hear it I stop what I am doing and listen to the words. The pain has lessened now, but I am reminded of that time when my prayer was that God would turn my pain into something beautiful.

It was April of 2007. I had just lost our second baby to miscarriage. So many feelings were coursing through me. Disappointment. Sadness. Hopelessness. Grief. Anger.

After I suspected that I had lost the baby, I went to the doctor who did some blood tests to see where my levels were. The doctor gave me a sliver of hope, so I sat on the couch that day, and God and I had some words together. I said, "God, if you will let this baby live, I will give you ALL the glory." And it was as if I heard God say to me, "And what if it doesn't live, Melissa? What then? Will you still give me the glory?" In that moment I was reminded that no matter what the situation, God still deserves the glory. Just a day or two later, I received the results, and I knew that even though it wasn't what I wanted, God still deserved all the glory. He would turn these ashes into beauty.

My anger came one day when I was shopping, and I saw what appeared to be a teenage mom, pushing a stroller while hanging out with several friends. I wondered why on earth someone so unprepared for motherhood could conceive, and carry a child while I seemingly could not. Perhaps I was jumping to conclusions, and perhaps I was being judgmental, but I doubt that I'm alone. If it's not seeing a teenage mom, it's the fact that when you want so badly to be pregnant, you seem to see pregnant women EVERYWHERE and it seems to rip that wound open every time. Ashes into beauty.

Its been surprising when my emotions have resurfaced. Months later, on the way to a wedding I cried for our lost babies. At a staff prayer time at church I could barely speak through my tears as I prayed for our pastor's daughter who had just had her second miscarriage. At a friend's house over a year later I struggled to hold it together because she and another friend there had babies the same age as our baby would have been. Ashes into beauty.

Every once in a while I wonder who those babies would have been if they had lived. But I also wonder who I would be had I not gone through the pain. I know that God used my pain to help me grow and to glorify Him and His ways no matter what. Ashes into beauty.

The Day Tate Turned 5!

Our little man has been so pumped to turn 5! He's been talking about it for months, so the morning of his big day was exciting! He's been really into Superheroes lately - specifically Larry Boy, so we went with a Larry Boy theme. Mike was chuckling as I was making the cake, because I've kind of committed myself to elaborate cakes for all the kids' birthdays. Good thing I like doing it (and I'm also really glad that Tate changed his mind about the snake cake he requested for his 5th birthday right after he turned 4).

 

While he was away at his friend's birthday party (it was a birthday party kind of a day), I put the finishing touches on the cake so they were ready when he got home.

 

I woke up early in the morning thinking about how I was going to make Larry Boy, and I was happy with the end product. For those of you who were at Sunday school on Sunday and heard me say that I didn't want to ruin Larry Boy, he has now been eaten. Good thing I've got pictures!

 

Not only did Tate want a Larry Boy cake, he also wanted it to be a chocolate mint cake. So, together we decided to put York Peppermint Patties between the layers and he was convinced that his friends were going to LOVE his cake! I don't recall any rave reviews from the other 5 year olds at the party, but I didn't hear any complaints either. He was also very excited about the peppermints (a.k.a.: Superhero Vitamins) that we bought a couple weeks before the party.

The house was ready for the guests to arrive!

I found some bad looking villains in our yard right before the party started (older siblings and one excited coerced dad). They got loose.....

...but these Superheroes were ready to stop 'em!

Dragging the bad guy to jail!

If you're a bad guy, be afraid of that cute blond Superhero tackling you to the ground!

Go Super J! (This is my nephew, and he turned on his charm and had all the moms in love with him by the end of the party. It was pretty funny.)

 

Of course Tate's cape had to be orange!

The kids had so much fun chasing the bad guys around the yard and putting them in jail! Such a simple game, but so much fun!

Present time!

 

Happy Birthday to you!

 

After the friends had gone home, Tate got to open some presents from us and Grandma and Grandpa. I asked him today what his favorite present was (dangerous question, I know), and he wisely said, "All of them!"

 

Super pumped about his Larry Boy hat!

 

It's a team effort to open "the big one."

"It's my very own suitcase! And it's orange!!!" He loved it and he might even be planning his next trip so he can use it.

At the end of the day, where does the baby play? In the box of course!

 

This was the first birthday that we've had a friend party, and I was a bit tired by the end of the day. It was so worth it though. I am very thankful for the help that my mom and mother-in-law gave me during the party! They were very gracious with me when I felt a little bossy.

 

We are so thankful for the gift that God gave us when Tate was born 5 years ago. His name means cheerful gift from God, and he fits the bill. He is ready for life every morning and he has an excitement and imagination that I smile at every single day. We love this boy so much and we are looking forward to the years ahead when we get to watch God shape and mold him into who He wants him to be.