Living the Ride...

Three Month Pics

2012-01-02T20:25:00.002-05:00

What We Do To Our Sons...

2012-01-02T20:16:00.002-05:00

Luke, March of 2008.

Silas, December 2011

At least Silas's fit him. Although I know I laughed so hard when I put Luke in that snowsuit. It was mine when I was little and I knew mom would want to see a picture of him in it.

Gingerbread Playdough

2012-01-02T20:01:00.003-05:00

The kids and I made gingerbread playdough early in December. It is wonderful! Makes my house smell like Christmas every time they play with it. It's soft enough that they can squish it down to cut "cookies" out of. Luke would always pretend to make "gluten free cookies" for Chloe, Silas and me. Sweet kid!

Silas Mark

2011-10-17T21:33:00.003-04:00

Silas Mark Amstutz was born on September 27th at 12:21pm. 7lbs 10 oz and 20 1/2 inches long.

Mommy Questions

2011-08-29T19:18:00.003-04:00

"Mommy, when the baby comes out...does your tummy pop?"

"What happens to your tummy when your baby comes out?"
"It gets smaller."
"Then can me and Chloe jump on it again?"

little princes

2011-07-03T12:08:00.002-04:00

Last night I finished the book Little Princes by Conor Grennan. It was wonderful! The cover says "One Man's Promise to Bring Home the Lost Children of Nepal."

It's about a man who does a 3 month volunteer stint at an orphanage in Nepal before vacationing around the world for a year. While he's there he finds out that these children are not orphaned, but have been taken from their homes by a child trafficker and then dumped in the city's capital. The children's parents had paid this man huge sums of money to take their children and provide and educate them and mostly to keep them safe from the rebel army who is taking children as young as five for their army. Of course this trafficker does no such thing and takes the kids and the money and then dumps them. The author, Grennan, then decides to make it his mission to, if possible, reunite the children with their families.

Excellent read! I couldn't put it down!

The Highlight of my Vacation!

2011-06-21T08:25:00.002-04:00

Yes, we actually got to meet him! I have never met a "famous" person before and it was so cool! I told Matt, I think it's because he actually helps people. There's a point to him being famous, he's not just some tough guy star athlete or self-absorbed movie star. Had we talked to him much more I would have started crying. Now just Beth Moore and Angie Smith to go...and I will cry if I ever meet them!

Make sure to read the quote Matt is standing by. I had to get a picture of him with it.

We were so impressed with the place. We were personally greeted when we arrived and the lady told us Dave would be out in a few minutes. Exciting! They had seats out where you could sit and watch/listen to him do his radio show. And you could see when the callers would come in. There was also a book store/coffee shop across from his show where everything was complementary and delicious. They had fancy coffees, water, pop, different kinds of homemade cookies, muffins, desserts and huge chocolate covered strawberries. The lady that does the baking was so sweet. I had talked to her on the phone a week or two ago and she makes you feel like they really are glad you came to visit. Bonus for us...it was only about 15 minutes from Jake and Kate's!

Luke's First Baseball Game

2011-06-21T08:09:00.003-04:00

Matt, Luke, my dad and I went to a Nashville Sounds baseball game while we were on vacation last week. As you can see the stands weren't to full, but we had a fun time. This was Luke's first baseball game and since it was vacation we introduced him to all the stadium food you could possibly eat. Yay for vacation!

Don't they look so cute!

And Grampy couldn't resist buying Luke his new "Baseball Monkey" which has made quite nice friends with his "Monkey Monkey".

It was a fun time spent with Luke and a nice break away from Chloe. We don't imagine she would have been as entertained as he was. :)

Some Of My Thoughts This Morning

2011-05-23T07:17:00.001-04:00

This morning I was reading Matthew 21:22 "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."

So, I have a really hard time with this verse. I know it's God's Word, I know it's Jesus speaking. So it has to be true. It just sounds so "genie in a bottleish". And people pray for people to be healed and they die. And they pray for marriages to be put back together and they divorce. And they pray for relatives to accept Christ and they never believe.

So, back to what I know is true. I know it is God's Word, I know it is Jesus speaking, and I know that everything he says is truer than anything I think or anything this world says. Even if I don't understand it. So there must be more to it.

Some of the notes at the bottom of my bible say:
-"To be fulfilled, our requests must be in harmony with the principles of God's kingdom." Yes, I would agree.
-"The stronger our belief, the more likely our prayers will be in line with God's will..." Sounds too basic at first, but not if you think about. The stronger my belief in God (that He is who He says He is, that He can do what He says He can do, that I am who He says I am, that I can do all things through Him who gives me strength, and that God's Word is alive and active in me (thank you Beth Moore)) the more likely our prayers will be in line with God's will. Totally agree.
-"...and then God will be happy to grant them." Doesn't that sound like my idea of "genie in a bottle"? But then the following were my thoughts I had wrote somewhere else this morning.

"The LORD, I am sure answers more often in the affirmative than I notice. Most likely I am just not paying enough attention to see, or my prayers are trivial that a yes or no doesn't really matter, or (unknowingly) I don't really expect him to answer. So if he does, great. If he doesn't, I probably wouldn't notice anyhow. But when I do look back and think of certain prayers: contentment in my house, taking away the house hunt that was consuming me, helping us pay off our mortgage, making it financially without my job, insecurity issues, a protected and calm mind with baby #2,...also wisdom and guidance on teaching my little ones his ways. All those requests were in line with His Word, His principles, His ways, His desires. Not that I am perfect or even close to it at that, but from being scared because I had no idea how to teach Luke an Chloe your Word Lord, to sometimes being amazed at your goodness in how yo have hidden your word in little Lukey's heart. How he knows some of your Word already. How he knows many, many of your stories. How he loves them. How he sings praises to you. How his little high voice says his prayers, and he suggests praying for people and for things to happen. Lord, what a blessing from you. What an answer to prayer. Help me be patient and persistent when I don't see answers right away, like answers to...(big things)...Help me to see that these are big things. And, I am sure Lord, you are working in them. Behind the scenes. Preparing, training, softening hearts. Big things like this take time and work and details. Help me see that you didn't just ignore these prayers, but that you are working on answering them in the positive. But they do involve people, and people do have free will and people do choose their own ways. Oh, Lord, help me understand all this more..."

Side Note on Mother's Day Post

2011-05-10T15:33:00.003-04:00

I did not write the below post. Matt wrote it as though it were me. He didn't do too bad, huh? And all those things really did happen. :)

Happy Mothers Day!

2011-05-09T21:25:00.002-04:00

I had a wonderful Mothers day weekend with my two (three) kids and husband. Saturday night we went as a family to Findlay to run errands and get supper at Chipotle. YUM! it was super good that night. We then went shopping so Luke could pick out a pair of shoes. He was SO cute during this. He took them to the checkout counter at JCPenny's him self with a huge grin. He then carried "his new shoes" to the car, where he "needed" to put them in the trunk because "thats where that stuff goes when you go shopping." We then went to Meijers where Luke (and Chloe) helped their mom pick out some mothers day flowers. On our way home Matt asked if I wanted to stop at Dietches for IceCream...and we did after I thought long and hard about it for maybe a second. So we all shared a pepermint stick milkshake for the ride home. Then that night I felt our new baby kick for the first time!

Mothers Day was beautiful outside so we went for a family walk up town to get our chicken BBQ meals for dinner, which I love doing! We took them back home and ate at the picnic table on our NEW almost finished patio! It was wonderful except for the fact Chloe was sick.

I really, really, really enjoy being a mommy! I love it, love it, love it!!

And Still More....

2011-05-06T08:26:00.003-04:00

Chloe and her eggs went tumbling.

More Easter Pics

2011-05-06T08:15:00.002-04:00

These pictures are from hunting Easter eggs at the Mennonite Memorial Home. Chloe even won the prize basket for her age group! :)

Coloring Easter Eggs

2011-05-06T08:09:00.002-04:00

Easter Morning Pics

2011-05-06T07:49:00.003-04:00

Baby #3

2011-05-06T07:35:00.002-04:00

And for anyone who doesn't know yet (since we DON'T have facebook). Matt and I are expecting a new little one this October. On Chloe's birthday (the 9th) actually.

We are going to be surprised for this one and are excited about that.

Chloe doesn't seem to understand, but Luke is super excited! He wants to find a blue bear to take to the hospital for the baby (maybe he knows something we don't????). Although I think most of the time he wants a sister. The other day he told me he wants to name the baby Allie. Not sure where that came from. I don't think he even knows any Allie's.

He also told me he wants a green bear to give to the NEXT baby. Then he gave me a hug and told me he wants "lots and lots of family, lots and lots of babies and lots and lots of people". Cute huh?

We talk about moving Chloe into his room this summer and he wants to share a bed with her so bad. He's even such a good big brother that he wants to put her on the inside by the wall so she doesn't fall out. It would be cute, but there's no way Crazy Chloe is not going to be in a crib for awhile longer!

So we are looking forward to our new bundle of joy. Almost half way there already!

A New Patio...Almost

2011-05-06T07:21:00.003-04:00

Matt started working on tearing out our old deck to be able to pour a new patio. If the weather cooperates the plan is to do it tomorrow! Yay!

Matt worked so hard at this! And if you know him, he did this all in a couple days. Once he starts he can't stop. I was able to help a little bit, which I enjoyed, but I was mostly on kitchen crew and crowd control.

My Sleepy Bunny

2011-05-06T07:17:00.002-04:00

Tents

2011-02-20T20:00:00.002-05:00

Matt, the master tent maker and Luke, his little encouragement have built quite the tent tonight. One premade tent, 4 blankets, 5 pillows, 4 nonnies and 1 gloworm make a fun evening for a little boy and his dad. As Matt was trying to army crawl into the tent Luke cheered him on by "Come daddy, you can do it!"

Their little conversations inside the tent are pretty entertaining!

Excited!

2011-02-16T16:56:00.003-05:00

I am by myself. Completely. And loving it!

We all went on a nice walk together and then Matt took the kids to help feed the cows. Wonderful. I have Italian chicken baking in the oven and a gluten free garlic primavera risotto simmering on the stove. (Sounds fancy doesn't it...it's from a box!)

It's nice to cook and enjoy the smells without two kids once in awhile. I love them very much, but supper never comes soon enough for them. Whether it's 4:00 or 6:00. So this is wonderful. I might even break out the placemats for tonight!

February 16, 2011

2011-02-16T08:37:00.002-05:00

7 Quick Takes for Feb 16 2011

1. I just finished the second book in the Chronicles of the Kings series by Lynn Austin and I am so thankful! I love the books, but that is the problem. I don't want to do anything else. So I am not letting myself start the third one for awhile. I was telling Matt it's quite a relief to be "set free" from my book reading for awhile!

2. Matt and I have tickets to a Mark Lowry concert next Friday night and I am super excited! I LOVE LAUGHING at comedians and I am so excited that it will all be clean and fun!

3. Chloe loves her "pretties"! The little rubber bands, hair clips or headbands she has. She wants them in almost all the time. The only thing is the hair clips look darling on her, but she likes to pull those out so you put them back in again and again and again. The rubber bands look cute/silly, but that is what she likes the best.

4. Luke hugged me the other day and told me "Mommy, you're my favorite mommy." Awww...thanks.

5. We went sledding Sunday afternoon at the AT&T tower and had so much fun! I thought we would go down the little hill because of the kids, but Matt thought differently. And they loved it! Luke isn't exactly a dare-devil so we were excited that he even wanted to go down by himself a few times. And he walked and pulled the sled up the hill almost the whole time. Chloe-girl just stayed in the sled and rode down and up down and up.

6. Anyone heard of Red Light Therapy? There is a place in Bluffton that does it and I would love to try it! It's supposed to help with skin tone, acne, cellulite, fine lines, and those wonderful love scars I have all over my stomach from my two little ones. Plus I think it would feel awesome to lay in a tanning bed type machine, but without the health concerns.

7. I love that the sun is shining and it is going to be warm today! Thank you Lord!

Polar Bears

2011-01-25T11:16:00.002-05:00

Luke came in the kitchen yesterday morning and told me:

"Mommy, when King Jesus comes me and Wevi are going to pet the polar bears."

Yes, my little love, when King Jesus comes you and Levi can pet the polar bears.

Isaiah 11:6
The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.

C.S. Lewis

2011-01-22T22:52:00.003-05:00

I just finished a biography on C.S. Lewis and wish there were more hours in the day to read! I want to read so many of his books and the books that inspired him.

This week I requested a book by George MacDonald. He was one of the first writers to influence C.S. Lewis, way before he even became a Christian. He writes science fiction with spiritual themes. Like Chronicles of Narnia and Lord of the Rings. I think he wrote in the late 1800's so it will definitely be different than what I normally read. I am excited though. Hoping Rach will read it with me.

And back to Lord of the Rings...it was interesting learning about Lewis's and J.R.R. Tolkien's relationship. I think I need to be in a book club...I always want to talk about what I am reading. And I am sure it doesn't make for too interesting of a blog post. I sure hope my kids LOVE to read someday!

Happy Birthday Luke!

2011-01-13T22:18:00.004-05:00

Happy Birthday to my beautiful little boy!

Thank you Lord for the precious gift you entrusted us with. His tender generous heart, cute smile, child-like faith, and fluffy hair. His sweetness towards his sister and snuggles towards us bring us so much joy.

To my little fence building, nonny loving, thumb sucking, cassette listening, sandbox playing, cow feeding, kitty squeezing, m&m eating, popcorn making love of my life. You'll never know how special you are to me!

????

2011-01-06T14:40:00.002-05:00

I don't know why I can't get spaces to post between my numbers on my last post. So when you are reading it, know it bugs me too!

7 Quick Takes - Jan 6, 2010

2011-01-06T14:03:00.005-05:00

1. I made this! It is for Luke's birthday and it is a crayon roll up. I am going to try to rip out a stitch and put a small notepad on the left side. Since he will be 3 next week (sniff sniff) Matt and I would like him to start sitting in church with us instead of going to the nursery all the time. Maybe this could be just for Sundays...

2. I had not gotten on my blog in awhile and just realized Jess, from the Making Home blog I talked about left me a comment! Fun! Now it's fun to get any comments, but one from someone who I don't know, but REALLY wish I was friends with. That's fun!

3. And speaking of friends...I am super sad about our friends Jackie, Josue and Moshe moving! Like really sad. Matt and I had said before when other friends have moved away that "at least Gomez's won't move, they built a new house beside her parent's." I guess anything is possible. Although we are looking forward to them moving back with more babies someday!

4. I took the kids to the toddler nursery at church with me today and we cleaned house! I am "in charge" of taking care of that nursery and it felt so good to go through the cupboards and the toys and clean things out! It looks good and I am excited about that.

5. Matt is building us an entertainment center for our TV that has doors that close! WAHOO!!

6. I am looking over my goals for 2010 and I completed some of them. A few more I did great at the first 6 months, not so great the last half. And the one about losing my baby weight was good until about December 25th. So I think I will still count it. :)

7. I started my couponing again after taking a little break. It felt good to go to Rite Aid and score on lots of free or extremely cheap items.

7 Quick Takes

2010-12-21T22:24:00.002-05:00

This blog I like, Making Home, does "7 Quick Takes Fridays" which I think she got the idea from here. But anyways, I like it. You just write seven random things. Which is kind of how I think, so it fits me perfectly. So here is to my first "7 Quick Takes Friday" (on Tuesday).

1. We hired our first babysitter tonight. It went well I think . Kind of makes me laugh, I feel like I was just doing that; not being the old people who's house I was going to to watch their kids.

2. Chloe is finally eating and gaining weight. Her face is getting a little fuller and she is actually getting a little round belly. We are getting pretty used to the no gluten thing and it's working nicely.

3. I like to sew and wish I knew how more. I made Chloe two little cute bunnies from a Martha Stewart tutorial. Kathy came over and helped me a bit with the second one, and I found out I knew even less than I thought I knew about sewing. But they turned out cute, and I think she will like them.

4. Chloe said "Night-night" and "more" the other day. It was more like "nigh-nigh", but it was sure darn cute.

5. She also stuck her hands in Luke's little potty...not so cute.

6. We have been reading The Advent Book this month and I really am enjoying it! It makes the whole Advent season seem special.

7. Confession: I never knew what "Advent" was until last year. :)

Hi...this is my blog.

2010-12-21T22:19:00.002-05:00

So...here I am. Blogging. The reason I haven't blogged in forever is just that. That I haven't blogged in forever. So I feel like I can't just jump in with something without covering past things. Which is why Chloe's birthday is posted a month late with nothing else after it. Which is also why I have emails in my inbox from friends far away from May, August and October. Because I feel like I can't catch up.

So here's to not catching up and just moving on.

Happy Birthday Chloe!

2010-11-05T13:32:00.003-04:00

We had Chloe's birthday party at Litzenburg Memorial Park on her birthday. It was a beautiful day for a party! Warm and sunny. If it would only be that nice for her birthday every year we would always do it at the park.

So, I thought the new pictures I posted would go at the bottom, but they went to the top. So scroll down to read commentary on the cake. :)

A little help from cousin Gavin.

Luke was so eager to be a good big brother and help Chloe open her presents. He will be fun at Christmas this year!

Just taking a peak at Alivia...

Chloe loved her birthday cake! She is such a picky eater that I honestly expected her to not even touch it. Instead she did the "perfect" little one year old thing. Cute! She picked it up with both hand and dug right in!

Showing off her new walking skills. And with legs like that you might as well wear a mini dress!

Enough presents already mom!

Cute little headband thanks to Aunt Kate!

***Sales pitch***

If you are interested in adorably cute headbands click on Kate's blog to contact her!

9, 10, and 11 months

2010-11-05T13:28:00.001-04:00

Before I post Chloe's birthday pics I ought to post her 9, 10 and 11 month pictures. As they get older it sure is hard to keep them from moving/ripping/eating their little sign!

So behind...

2010-11-05T13:27:00.001-04:00

I have months worth of pictures to post on here. Dishes are done, living room is clean and kids are sleeping. We'll see how far we get...

To Him be the glory and honor.

2010-10-13T21:53:00.002-04:00

"To Him be the glory and honor. Because in His hands are the depths of the earth, and the heights of the heavens are His." Psalm 95:4

What you won't see on CNN. Click here to read this article about the faith of the Chilean miners.

Thank you Lord that YOU AND YOU ONLY rescue and sustain. YOU AND YOU ONLY give grace and cause miracles to happen. May all shouts of joy and applause go to YOU AND YOU ONLY.

Luke and Alia

2010-10-04T22:49:00.003-04:00

I'm not sure why I can't find/make time to blog lately so please look at my wonderful friend Renee's blog about our kiddos this summer. I had intentions to link up to it when she posted it...in August!

American History

2010-10-04T22:22:00.002-04:00

I read this book last night and loved it! I guess it's for grades 2-5, but I learned more about our Constitution last night than I remember learning in all my social studies classes in school. It was interesting, funny and educational. Before I could barely have told you anything about the Articles of Confederation, The Virginia Plan, the First Continental Congress and all those other names you learn about in 5th grade. I would have recognized the names, but that was it.

The book is wrote in more of a story form than textbook form. SO MUCH MORE INTERESTING!! I now feel like a more informed American. :)

And Jake, you will probably be the only person who doesn't think I'm nuts.

The Centurian's Wife

2010-09-19T21:41:00.001-04:00

If you like historical fiction I HIGHLY recommend The Centurion's Wife. I loved it!

First Word

2010-09-10T09:16:00.004-04:00

Chloe said her first word the other day.

No, it wasn't "ma-ma" or even "da-da". Or any attempt at Luke.

It was "no-no-no-no".
Great. I could have probably ignored it as just babbling if it hadn't been said in the bathroom while in front of Luke's potty shaking her hand at it.

Yep, you're right Chloe. That's a "no-no".

Then yesterday she was sitting in front of Luke's nightlight doing the same thing.
Darn. It's her official first word.

And to not lead anyone astray on my amazing parenting, she lunged for the potty and pulled the nightlight cover off.
At least she took the time to tell herself "no" first.

Wow. What a long time!

2010-08-20T07:52:00.003-04:00

I have felt like the last half of this summer has been nuts. And I was right. I have barely posted anything! Here's some things that have been going on (in no particular order)...

-My wonderful friend Renee has been here from Canada. Even thought we haven't been able to hang out as much as we would have liked it has been wonderful when we have!!! Please move back to Ohio soon!

-My aunt and uncle and cousins from Wisconsin were here. It had been 2 years since we had seen them last. Then my cousin from Indiana and my aunt from Florida came too.

-I'm going to go stay with Laura next week. We're going to Shipshewana. Fun! 3 hour car ride with Chloe, not looking forward to that.

-We looked at a huge house the other night and had to know in an hour and a half if we wanted it. Stressful! But we decided against it.

-We went to Marblehead for the Halupki Festival.

-Visited Rach in the hospital.

-Finished my "Believing God" Beth Moore study. A lot different from her other ones, but I still learned so much! And I know my faith has grown since 10 weeks ago. Thank you Lord for not giving up on me! And a little side note...You know that question "If you could meet any famous person who would it be and why?" Well I have always hated that question. I don't know. I've never been in to current famous people. And I picture meeting someone like Abraham Lincoln like this "Uhh...hello Mr. President...sir...uummm...I'm Amy Amstutz...uhhh...nice to meet you...Good job freeing the slaves...umm...I think your beard fits you well....ummm..." But NOW! Now, I have someone! I would meet Beth Moore in a heartbeat! I know she would hate to consider herself "famous", but she still answers my question! And I would hug the living daylights out of her too. And not be embarrassed about it. Her passion and love for the Lord and his Word is amazing! Really, I didn't know that was possible before. Lord, give me a passion like hers!

Chloe is awake now, so my little list has to end. But thank you thank you thank you to my friend Kara who is keeping my munchkins for me this morning!

Psalm 90:14

2010-07-27T07:05:00.002-04:00

Satisfy me in the morning with your unfailing love, Lord, that I may sing for joy and be glad all my days!

Fun Weekend!

2010-07-19T13:16:00.003-04:00

We had such a nice weekend! Rach, Matt and I headed up to Marblehead Thursday evening and stopped at Cheddar's for supper. I had to laugh because I am normally at home with kids in bed by the time we got our food. FUN! Thank you, thank you, thank you to Mark and Kathy for keeping Chloe and Pukey Lukey! Luckily he was only Lukey the rest of the weekend.

Friday morning the three of us headed to Cedar Point for the day thanks to Rachel's work! We had so much fun on all the rides and with our free drink wristbands. We got back in time to get a shower before mom and dad arrived with our kiddos. It was fun having a "day off", but it was sure nice to see them again! Matt and I were talking Thursday night and not sure how we will leave them for longer for our anniversary. **Side note**With the way Luke is whining today I don't really think it will be all that hard! :)

Saturday Matt went fishing with my cousin Matt and my dad. They limited out on perch in just a couple hours! They had a fun time and we had a nice fish fry that night. We took Luke to get ice cream that afternoon and then to the lighthouse. He had fun watching the waves and climbing on the rocks.

Sunday we were home for an hour and then headed to Matt's parents for a reunion/picnic. With brats, kickball and lots of cousins it was a fun afternoon. And we found out Jay and Cassandra's exciting baby news!

What a nice weekend!
Now back to dirty dishes, laundry, crying kiddos and unpacking. I'm glad the weekend was worth it.

How Adorably Cute!

2010-07-06T13:54:00.003-04:00

So this little girl is the cutest and GOOFIEST little one I have ever seen!

(I know...I am a little partial!)

$0.94!!!!

2010-07-06T13:50:00.003-04:00

I got all of this for $.94 the other week! Pretty much just tax!

Happy 4th of July!

2010-07-04T13:26:00.002-04:00

"We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any others."
~John Adams

"And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever."
~Thomas Jefferson

"For my own part, I sincerely esteem it [The Constitution] a system which without the finger of God, never could have been suggested and agreed upon by such a diversity of interests."
~Alexander Hamilton

"It cannot be emphasised too clearly and too often that this nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religion, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason, peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here."
~Patrick Henry

Summer Evenings with Chloe

2010-07-02T14:28:00.001-04:00

She loves being held up in air and hanging upside down. This girl is goofy!!!

Summer Evenings with Luke

2010-07-02T14:18:00.004-04:00

He LOVED reading this paper from Grandma about Bengal tigers!

goofy boys

A Hilarious Post!

2010-06-30T21:28:00.002-04:00

Please, please, please if you are up for a laugh read this post by Jamie the Very Worst Missionary.

If you haven't been in another culture it might not be as funny to you.

And here's to my sister...
*for knowing how large my personal space is
*for knowing how I am no longer a forearm caresser
*and for me knowing your boob-phobia.
You're going to love it!!!

Article on CNN

2010-06-30T08:38:00.003-04:00

I ran across this article on CNN.com this morning. I found it interesting, true, a little funny and I really like the way the guy writes.

My Take: Why Christians are Jerks Online by Jonathan Acuff

Three Years!

2010-06-28T15:30:00.002-04:00

This is what the Amstutzs can do in exactly three years.
May 11, 2007 to May 11, 2010.
We've been getting busy and keeping busy!
:)

De-Throned!

2010-06-28T15:27:00.002-04:00

I am looking through some of my pictures from last month and found this one.
So long pink throne!

And A Few More...

2010-06-24T09:41:00.001-04:00

A Little Mix & Match

2010-06-24T09:33:00.002-04:00

This one cracks me up. Now I know, that my kid too, can be a Baby Gap model. It's all about the pockets. Surprisingly, I liked a lot of the other ones better. What two year old really stands like that???

The Story of a Cute Picture

2010-06-24T09:30:00.003-04:00

My pictures tend to turn out like the bottom three, so I am thankful for the lady that persevered to get the first one!

Finally Our Shed!

2010-06-18T15:33:00.002-04:00

Here is our completed (still needs painted though) shed! Now we finally have some place to put our things. Much nicer than trying to squeeze bikes, strollers, wagon, lawnmower and jeep into our one car garage. Yay! And it was custom designed and built by Matt himself. With some wonderful help from Mark, Rob and Greg. Thanks!

Song Lyrics

2010-06-16T14:40:00.003-04:00

"So this is what it feels like to live life. This is breathing in for the very first time..."

Jimmy Needham, Yours To Take

Books!

2010-06-15T14:55:00.002-04:00

I just updated my reading book list and I have barely read this year! Nine books!

Although I just looked at my goals for the year and I have wrote down to read 20 books this year. So I guess I actually am on track. I think I read a lot in January and February. I better step up the pace!

On my "Piling Up To Read" list are:
The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom
The PeaceMaker by Ken Sande
Feathers From My Nest by Beth Moore
Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
The Giver by Lois Lowry

Any other suggestions?

Good Night Prayers

2010-06-03T20:44:00.002-04:00

"Thank you for strawberries Jesus."

Yes, Jesus, thank you for strawberries. And for Luke.

The Fruit of His Labor

2010-05-25T15:01:00.005-04:00

Matt has almost wrapped up his 9th year of teaching Industrial Arts at Elida High School. They had their awards banquet last week where the kids get to show off their completed projects. Click here to see Matt's school webpage and the projects his kids built this year.

What a talented teacher they have!

Growing up

2010-05-20T12:43:00.003-04:00

For those of you who know Luke even a little, you'll also know his "nonny". The little blueish-greenish (depending on how old it is) piece of fabric that is his dearest friend. He comforts himself with it, he plays with it, he takes it on car rides, wagon rides, to church, to grandparents, friends and everyone elses houses. And he also falls asleep with it. EVERYTIME.

Not today.

Over the last month we have lost two nonnys at church, one at Gavin's house, one somewhere at our house and now today the very last two have disappeared. They are somewhere in this house. But for the life of me I cannot find them. He was just playing with them in the living room, but now they are gone.

So I had no choice but to put him down for his nap without one.

And my little baby is turning into a big boy.
He didn't even cry.

I might.

Our little lady

2010-05-14T15:29:00.000-04:00

Thank you.

2010-05-14T14:21:00.003-04:00

I am listening to my "Hungry" CD from Vineyard Music that I have listened to seriously probably 100 time or more. And I am just doing dishes and these words from "Your Name is Holy" just stuck out to me.

"In Your name, there is mercy for sin..."

Wow.

The Sovereign "I AM".
The pure spotless lamb.
The Almighty One.
The Christ, God's own Son.

I know this is what my faith is based on. That my sins are forgiven by the blood of Jesus, but it just made me say "wow" all over again. Thank you Lord.

By the name of Jesus we are covered and cleansed.

Mercy: Compassion or forbearance shown especially to an offender or to one subject to one's power. (from www.meriam-webster.com)
Sin: a vitiated [faulty, defective, ineffective] state of human nature in which the self is estranged from God. (www.meriam-webster.com)

Mine

2010-05-13T20:39:00.001-04:00

I just have to say that I think I have the cutest men in the world. They are outside kicking the ball together and they just make me smile.

Alivia Ann

2010-05-12T16:11:00.002-04:00

Matt and I have our very first niece who arrived yesterday afternoon! She has beautiful dark hair and looks quite cute.

Chloe is excited to have a playmate now with all the boys running around. She even talked me into purchasing them matching dresses last night! Little stinker!

Mother's Day

2010-05-10T13:10:00.004-04:00

I had a wonderful Mother's Day yesterday. Saturday night I found a message on my pillow from Luke and Chloe which contained a (super cute!) menu for breakfast in bed. I had instructions to deliver it to daddy when I had made my choices. I placed my order for 2 eggs, toast, bacon and a glass of juice.

Sunday morning I woke up to the smell of bacon, which to me is about the most wonderful smell in the world to wake up to. I think it reminds me of camping when we were little and waking up to that. Yum. Plus I LOVE bacon. LOVE it, LOVE it, LOVE IT. So anyways...I just laid in bed for awhile and read some of my favorite verses I have wrote down and then the handsomest room service man you ever saw brought be breakfast in bed. And he outdid himself! I had dippy eggs, toast and bacon all laid out beautifully on my plate (which he had even warmed up!) along with flower petals decorating one side. Beautiful! On my tray was also a glass of juice, a bowl of cut mixed fruit and Beth Moore's new book! Yay!

I have to tell you I felt like a queen. Thank you Matthew (and Luke and Chloe of course!)

Splish Splash

2010-05-10T13:07:00.002-04:00

Splish Splash I was taking a bath all upon a Saturday night...

Attempt at a family Easter picture

2010-05-01T22:03:00.006-04:00

The kids were more interested in their Easter baskets then taking nice pictures. Which is why we have 35 pictures that all look about like this.

Chloe's 6 month pictures

2010-05-01T21:48:00.005-04:00

"Yet"

2010-05-01T10:43:00.003-04:00

"Yet". Such a little word, but with huge meaning!

The scripture I was memorizing for April was Lamentations 3:19-26 and since it's the first day of May I have really been trying to get it memorized, so it was fresh in my mind. Here's the part with the "yet".

"I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." (Lam. 3:19-23)

Then this morning I was doing my Beth Moore bible study and John 1 came up. It caught my attention because of the "yet".

"He (Jesus) was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God..." (John 1:10-12)

Amazing grace how sweet the sound...

My Day!

2010-04-29T06:48:00.002-04:00

I get the whole day to myself today!! I am SOOO EXCITED! Unfortunately, Chloe will not cooperate and take a bottle so I am "on call". But I'm still excited. I am even getting a massage this morning. How about that for a treat!

Luke is pretty excited about playing at Grandma's (aka Me-Ma's) house all day. Oh, and did I mention the cows? :)

Thanks Kathy!

David Klinkenberg

2010-04-20T13:04:00.001-04:00

Just thought I would mention that I love my David Klinkenberg "Legacy...Hymns Of Our Heritage" CD. Listening to it now and it's so peaceful!

Bittersweet

2010-04-09T13:54:00.002-04:00

Tonight is bittersweet. Matt and I are going on a date to Guru India in Findlay, our last date to Guru India. They are closing on Sunday and we love this restaurant! We started going in November for a joint anniversary celebration with our good friends Jackie and Josue. And we've been hooked ever since.

It's fun because it's something different and special Matt and I get to do together. And anyone who knows us knows we love to eat out! It's such a nice little quiet restaurant (hence the reason they are closing). The food is phenomenal! I have only had Indian food a few times since I was in South Africa, but this place definitely tops them all! Good news is they are opening a new restaurant in Columbus. Guess we'll have to check it out.

Namaste Phir Milenge Guru India! (Goodbye, we will meet again Guru India!)

Freedom!

2010-04-08T21:50:00.003-04:00

We are reading John Rosemond's book Parenting by the Book in our Sunday School class and I am enjoying it! He's a little more cynical than I would normally like, but I am finding the simplicity of it so refreshing! And just to show a little of how refreshing it is I listed my Preschool Wise and Child Wise books (I had the whole "Wise" series) on Paperback Swap this morning! And people want them already! Yay! I get two more books I want and get to get rid of two parenting how to books! If I had not marked in them already I would list Babywise, Babywise II and Toddlerwise. (I did like the full feedings while nursing and the "little hands down please", but the rest just made me feel so guilty!) Now that I'm thinking about it I should just take the step and put them in my garage sale pile.

Here is a quote from Chapter 1 of Parenting by The Book that is wonderful to me:

"My intent is to help parents understand and properly align themselves with God's blueprint for child rearing. I can promise you this: Unlike the attempts to conform one's parenting to the many intricate and confusing dos and don'ts of Postmodern Psychological Parenting, this alignment will not strain the brain or cause doubt, anxiety, and guilt. I can make this promise with authority because of two simple truths:
1. God makes nothing complicated.
2. Conforming to God's plan in any area of life will bring relief from troubles, cares, and woes.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. - Matthew 11:28"

Freedom!

Oh my little darlings...

2010-04-05T21:17:00.002-04:00

Christ is Risen...Indeed He is Risen!

2010-04-04T21:29:00.001-04:00

Christ the LORD is risen today! Hallelujah!

SPRING!

2010-03-24T16:55:00.003-04:00

First day it was warm outside. Luke, Chloe and I went on a walk to Levi's house. Luke raided Aunt Becky's fridge and found an apple and was quite excited!

And Five Month Pictures...

2010-03-24T16:48:00.003-04:00

She really does smile a lot. Just not when the camera is on her!

Finally Four Month Pictures!

2010-03-24T16:37:00.003-04:00

Potty Training TODAY!

2010-03-17T11:16:00.002-04:00

Yikes! We are starting potty training today. It's 11:15 and we have had one success and three wet pairs of big boy underwear. I guess it can only get better from here...

Making Home

2010-02-27T13:22:00.004-05:00

I found this blog called Making Home quite a few months ago. I REALLY enjoy it. Jess, the writer, shares so much depth in her posts. Her blog is so encouraging and challenging to read. I obviously don't know her at all, but wish I could be best friends with her! So many things I think/wonder/ponder about she writes about. This post titled "The Gaze of the Eyes and Philippians 3" is so good. I wish I could talk with her in person!

Dilemma

2010-02-15T20:03:00.004-05:00

Matt and I faced a new parenting dilemma tonight.

See, we had roast for supper. A big 'ol chuck roast with potatoes and carrots and onions cooking slowly in the crock pot all day. The kind that smells the entire house up with it's comforting aroma.

Then we sat down for supper.

As Luke spit the first bite of roast out and then continued to move his carrots, potatoes and meat from one section of his plate to another, Matt and I reminisced.

We reminisced about when we were little. And our moms made roast. And we wanted to cry. See, we both HATED it. That comforting aroma I mentioned, that is now that I am 27. 20 years ago the smell made me dread supper. Not just a "oh yuck, roast" sort of way, but in a way that I can still vividly remember almost being sick thinking about having to eat it.

And then the flood of memories came back.

Crying at the table because I hated it. Chewing and chewing and chewing and it never fully dissolving away. I couldn't swallow it because I would gag on the dryness of it (probably wasn't that dry, just that I had already sucked all the juices out of it by chewing it so much). Mom telling me to eat it with ketchup. But I was never a ketchup kid...only with french fries...not meat that has sat on my plate for 40 minutes. Lukewarm meat with cold ketchup. Gross. So I would again chew and chew and chew and then take a big gulp of milk hoping to rinse it down. And to my horror, not all of it would go down. So I would do it again. And again. And then my glass was empty and my parents refused to give me a seventh glass of milk until I ate my roast. Sometimes I could sneak it from my mouth into a napkin. Just a little bit, but hey, it was a little bit less I had to swallow. Those nights I thought I was going to die.

Please understand I am not exaggerating. I have very few bad memories of being a kid. Eating roast though, is one of them.

So back to our dilemma. What do we do about Luke and his supper? Is it just a right of passage that you force your kids to eat roast? Since we're the parents now is that what we're SUPPOSED to do? Is that just a part of being a kid that you have to deal with? Like skinned knees and early bedtimes? Anybody know????

So in our parental wisdom...we offered him ketchup. And he ate it. Just the ketchup, not the roast.

Since the lingering memories of our youth were still fresh to us (and since we're still not crazy of roast ourselves) we let the little guy off the hook. I hope he understands someday just how much we love him.

ZZZZZzzzz....

2010-02-09T21:55:00.001-05:00

We are sleeping...
All night long...
All of us...
Hallelujah!

Mark of the Lion Series

2010-01-29T06:58:00.003-05:00

I finished the second book in Francine River's Mark of the Lion series yesterday. Wow. I loved them! She is a fantastic writer and the history is so interesting to me! I could not put either of them down! 500 page books and the first one took me a week, the second only five days. I have never read a book that big and definitely don't usually finish them that quick. I hope after I finish the third one I can find another book as good.

Brother and Sister

2010-01-25T12:33:00.002-05:00

What do you think? Brother and sister?
(Luke sure was a chunky guy at that age!)

First Time Playing In The Snow!

2010-01-25T12:24:00.003-05:00

Putting our snowpants and boots on!

He wasn't quite sure what he thought of the snow. Although he did make the most precious little snow angel I have ever seen. I wish the picture was better. It was beautiful!

Chloe glad we were back inside with her.

And a nice warm mug of hot chocolate. This was a first also and he LOVED it!

Whipped cream and all...

Sleep Tight

2010-01-25T12:07:00.001-05:00

Chloe let me rock her to sleep for her nap this afternoon. It was so nice. She usually wants to just be laid down. She is such a precious little girl.

Finished...Pilgrim's Progress

2010-01-24T14:32:00.003-05:00

I did it...I finished Pilgrim's Progress. Many many months in the reading. I didn't dislike it, there was just so much to it! I was expecting more of a story (I loved Hinds Feet On High Places), but this was just different. You could almost take time with every section and think on it and work things out with it. Very challenging. I would like to read it again in ten years and see what new thing sticks out. Right now it makes me think of 1 Corinthians 3:10-15

"By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames."

May my life be more than just "escaping through the flames".

Lasting

2010-01-22T14:24:00.002-05:00

I just got off the phone with Rita, who I went to South Africa with. That was eight years ago and although we don't talk or catch up that often it's still nice. That was such a growing time for me that I feel this connection to her. Even though our lives have changed so much since then, there's something about someone knowing you in such a time of your life. Even if we just chat about the basic things...husbands, kids, houses etc. I still feel like I know her heart in things and she knows mine. What a blessing...

Beautiful!

2010-01-07T15:04:00.003-05:00

It is absolutely beautiful out! Our Fat Albert evergreens and Blue Spruce (oops...sorry to whoever buys our house eventually...we weren't thinking) are covered in snow! They look gorgeous. I'm so thankful to be a stay at home mom and have a husband that is a teacher. Looks like we'll probably be getting snowed in tomorrow! Maybe we can learn the game Puerto Rico I got for my birthday.

Keep Snowing!

Christmas Morning!

2010-01-04T21:45:00.004-05:00

Even Chloe is smiling at their Santa presents!

Merry First Christmas Chloe!

Chloe's the first one ready...Luke is still rounding up his cattle.

5 little kids, 7 big kids and 2 bigger kids...makes for a fun Christmas morning!

Tis The Season Pics

2010-01-04T21:35:00.005-05:00

Baking Christmas Cookies

My excellent little Santa's helper...she was so happy and content for me! Yay!

My precious little boy...

These were attempts at pictures for our Christmas card...never got them put on the computer until today. Guess that's life with two little ones. :)

"Happy Jesus!"

(How Luke says "Happy Birthday Jesus!")

Pilgrim's Progress

2009-12-29T22:31:00.001-05:00

Just curious...has anyone ever easily made it through Pilgrim's Progress???? This book is taking me forever!

2010 Coming...

2009-12-29T22:18:00.002-05:00

Over the past few years I have really enjoyed the coming of the new year. Not so much the "ringing in" of the new year (when I have made it the last few years it has been with lots of effort!), but the actual start of a new year.
I'm excited to find a couple hours to myself before then to look back at my goals for 2009 and to make new ones for 2010. Which is kind of funny since I am not a goal person...at all! Kind of turns me off, actually. As I am thinking about it it reminds me of track practices, annual work evaluations and overly competitive people. Ugh. So maybe "goal" is not the right word. Maybe "dreams" or "hopes" or "wishes". Those words seem to fit me much better. So hopefully soon I'll have a chance to work on that.

As a side note I had lots of fun playing Monopoly Deal with my hubby today! It was fun to take a break from housework and just play.

Chloe

2009-12-17T07:30:00.002-05:00

Chloe had her 2 month appointment yesterday. She is really growing! 11lbs 7oz and 23 3/4"!

Here We Go!

2009-12-11T08:02:00.001-05:00

Today's the big cookie day! I have Vanilla Sables and Pretzel Bark picked out to make. Becky has a lot of recipes she's bringing so we will be busy!

First Batch

2009-12-10T12:55:00.004-05:00

I made my first batch of Christmas cookies this year. Orange Snowballs. Yummy recipe!

I had a little helper also. Luke did good, but I think he had more fun playing in the dish water. I've never let him do that before so he was having a ball. Good thing him, his clothes, my cabinets, and chair all dry. He just sang Old MacDonald and played away. He did take time off to come help me roll the cookies. I think he thought it was play dough.

Becky and I are having our cookie day tomorrow. Hopefully we get lots done! Kathy is keeping the boys for us so it will be a good day!!!!!!

A Page Is Turned by Bebo Norman

2009-11-06T14:04:00.007-05:00

A page is turned by the wind to a boy in curly grin

With a world to conquer at the age of ten

But as history unfolds and the storybook is told

He finds salvation but not at the hands of man

And the God of second chance

Picked him up and He let him dance

Through a world that is not kind

And all this time, preparing him, the one

To hold him up when he comes undone

Beneath the storm, beneath the sun

And now a man, here you stand

Your day has come

A page is turned in this world to reveal a little girl

With a heart that's bigger, as it is unfurled

By the language in her soul, that's teaching her to grow

With a careful cover of love that will not fail

And the God of second chance

Picked her up and He let her dance

Through a world that is not kind

And all this time, preparing her the one

To hold her up when she comes undone

Beneath the storm, beneath the sun

And grown up tall, here you are

Your day has come

Beneath the air of autumn, she took him by his hand

And warm within the ardor, she took his heart instead

And high upon the mountain, he asked her for her hand

Just for her hand

A page is turned in this life, he's making her his wife

And there is no secret to the source of this much life

When the grace that falls like rain is washing them again

Just a chance to somehow rise above this land

Where the God of second chance

Will pick them up and he'll let them dance

Through a world that is not kind

And all this time, they're sharing with the one

That holds them up when they come undone

Beneath the storm, beneath the sun

And once again, here you stand

Your day has come

I have this song playing on my playlist at the bottom of the blog. I think it's so beautiful. I looked up the lyrics again and thought I would post them on here. A nice reminder since our 6 year anniversary is coming up soon.

Ephesians 6:12

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

Little Buckeyes

2009-10-18T20:25:00.003-04:00

Welcome Chloe!

2009-10-13T16:10:00.004-04:00

Chloe Lynne Amstutz

Born October 9, 2009
8:20am

7lbs 9oz and 20 1/2"

We are excited to have Chloe as part of our family! She came right on her due date and is doing great. My water broke at 1:00am and she was born just a few hours later at 8:20am. Sure beats her brother's labor!

Big brother Luke adores her and gives her lots of kisses. He even shared his tractors with her today while she was eating.

Once we get some more pictures I will post them so you can see her better. Keep us in your prayers that the adjustment for all of us would go smooth.

More Hayride Pictures

2009-10-02T07:12:00.003-04:00

Happy October!

2009-10-02T06:55:00.003-04:00

Fall is my favorite season and we had a wonderful day yesterday celebrating the first day of October! Becky M. arranged a hayride for some of our friends and then we went back to her house for beef stew, homemade bread, hot cider, apples and caramel dip and pumpkin dessert. YUM!!! It was so nice.

Story Time

2009-09-30T15:30:00.003-04:00

Becky and the boys came over Monday to help me finish a puzzle for Luke's room. Luke and Levi were having so much fun together! But when it got really quiet we went to check on them...and this is what we found. Just reading their little books with their sippy cups sitting up on the windowsill. Good little boys!

Again!

2009-09-30T15:24:00.003-04:00

He did it again! Fell into the hamper after he threw his nonny in it. Goofy kiddo.