Mother's Day

You may have noticed I just started a new book....The Strong Willed Child by Dr. Dobson. You now have some insight as to why I haven't been posting as often...

On another note, here is a picture taken on Mother's Day. We have been blessed with two girls that are beautiful on the inside and out. I can not wait to see what God has in store for their lives. Although, I could wait a little while longer as they seem to be growing-up way too quickly, but I know that is not how it goes.

I have two favorite things Miya is currently doing. One is that she's learning to say the Lord's Prayer. I tried teaching it to her a while ago and she didn't pick up on it, now she's doing it more on her own. The other is that she LOVES to sing praise songs. If we are in the car there has to be a "little girl CD" on (she calls it that because there are kids singing on the cd). Her favorite Cd has switched from kids songs (Only a Boy Named David, The B-i-b-l-e, etc.) to praise songs(including Awesome God, and All in All). It is amazing to hear such a sweat little voice singing. The best part is when she's singing the songs around the house without even thinking about it. Jayden is also trying to sing...she has a way to go yet.

My favorite thing Jayden is now doing is carrying her blanket around EVERYWHERE. She has become attached to the blanket Mrs. Kleyn made for her which is white...well, it used to be white. When she's walking around she drags it through her legs. When she's tired she'll put it on the ground and lay on it (it's more of a squat-something you have to see). While in bed she puts it on her face, and in the car she holds it in her lap and rubs her finger on the edges. While in a cart she puts it over the handle and lays her head on it (or throws it on the ground...depends on the mood).

I know that both girls will quickly out-grow both of these stages and move on to the next. So for now, I will treasure every minute I can of singing in the car and dragging around a blanket, thanking God for blessing us with these girls!

Some Pictures

Here are some attempts at pictures from last week. You'll notice the girls don't like taking pictures very much (and that I have a very slow camera).

Here is what's going through their heads....

"Mom, how come she gets to touch the Tulips?"



"I get to touch them if Miya gets to touch them!"


"MOM, Jayden's touching the tulips!"


"I sure am glad Miya taught me how to do this!"


"Do we really have to do this Mom? We kinda look ridiculous"


"I wonder why those kids get to play and I have to sit here in these FLOWERS and smile...."


"Hurry, Hurry, take the picture mom, I can't hold this pose forever."

Living Life

I came across another quote in the book I'm reading "Simon Says" by Chuck Goetschel that really made me think. I'll share it with you.

"Money should never direct your life. Don' let it get a grip on you. Don't let it define you....Consider what your life would be like if you followed your passion first over the pursuit of money... Are you doing one thing to make money and squeezing in another because you love it?...."

What a great thought to ponder! I know this economy is tough right now, but does that mean we are going to change the order of our priorities so we feel more secure, or so we can keep up with the "Jones'"? My priorities are first my faith, then my husband, then my children, then my extended family and friends and then comes the finances. So that means I will (with the help and grace of God) live my life in that order. I'm sure many of you have priorities that look exactly like that. So the question that really made me think was....

"What if you only had 18 months to live? Would you change anything about your life? If so what would it be and why would you wait?! What if you never get your "warning?""

There are some things I would like to change, and I'm currently putting together a plan to change those. I do know however, that I have been truly blessed with an amazing husband that is striving every day to live out his priorities...he is currently doing the 'action' part of his plan so he won't have to miss the precious minutes of our family growing up. He has also allowed me to be able to stay at home with our girls every single day. We have made so many memories together already in the (almost) three short years I have been able to stay home with them. And most of all we thank God for we know all of these blessings are from Him.

Mark Twain said "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do...."

So look back at what you did in this week and ask yourself 'Did my week reflect my priorities or my obligations? Do I have any regrets?'

Pictures

Tulip Time is here. We went downtown yesterday for our annual pictures in the park and parade (Miya calls the parade a hair braid). We tried to take Jayden's one year pictures, I'll write more on that when I don't have her crawling all over me....bye for now.



Madison, we didn't forget your birthday. We hope you had a good day, your gift is on the way. We miss you so much and love you to pieces!

Update

Here is an updated picture on how our garden is coming along. The beans are looking to have a promising crop, the flowers should fare okay. The peppers on the other hand probably are not going to make it. There appears to be one sprout that may (or may not) break ground. We'll see! Miya last night informed me that have leaves growing in our house and they can't do that. We have to put them outside!

As for our week, we have been busy going to garage sales. Miya thinks they are the BEST!! She never asks for anything and if I do buy her something she doesn't even notice. I'll give it to her at home and she'll ask where I got it. She loves to play with all of the different toys at the different garage sales. When it's time to leave I say okay Miya lets go the another garage sale and she'll get off from whatever toy she's sitting on and say "Bye ______ (mirror, desk, horsey, etc.) I'll play with you next week!" and off we go. She is so much fun to garage sale with this year. Jayden does well too. So far she has been content to sit in her stroller and watch Miya play with the toys (I'm such a mean mom). So for now, we will continue to enjoy this time of garage sales; maybe the weather will warm up a little so we can begin our "great adventures" to the park! (Miya has been saying "that sounds like a great adventure" and 'that doesn't sounds like a great adventure'....thanks Dora). I'll try to take more pictures and post them.

Grandpa is 50!!!

Hey everyone!

Jeffs turn to post again. Probably not doing this at the best of times, but we got another half inch of rain on top of the 4.5 inches that we got over the two days before that, so we arent getting much done at work right now, and I got a break here now. Gary, dad, or grandpa...whatever his title is, turned 50 yesterday. I was going to write dad a letter, but I decided there is no reason to brag on him in a letter. I want everyone who reads this to know how I feel. He came out to visit not too long ago, and what to put into words has been running through my head since he left. I just about wrote a letter, but decided that wouldnt do justice, so here we are.

Last night on the way home, I was thinking about a man who has lived for half a century, been married for 30+ years to the same wonderful wife, (which is the way it should be, but somewhat rare in this day and age) raised 6 kids that look to be turning out alright :) and has 6 grandkids (with maybe more on the way if Steve or Glenda havent told anyone new news...we dont have news) and loves them like the chickens...aka the dickens!

Dad has been and continues to be a fine example of how to be a son of loving parents, a husband, a father, and a grandpa that every man should follow. Many times having the patience of Job, the wisdom of Solomon, and the uniqueness that only he can possess. Sorry to bring it up again dad, but driving a Harley in 45 degree weather 750 miles with no liscense to see family has to qualify for uniqueness!

A man who loves living, inspiring his kids to do what they love, showing how we have to have good work ethic in all that we do, (note here: not to brag on us, but no one has every accused the Westra boys of being lazy on a job because we were brought up to work hard! ) but being able to enjoy some things in life when the work is done, mostly with family because that is priority number 2 behind keeping faith in line. Being passionate for the outdoors, usually fishing or hunting or sitting by a body of water with family and friends. Teaching his children how to be parents by example, and not just owning the title cuz they learned the science of reproducing :) Loving his grandkids, spoiling them, and teaching them, and maybe most importantly laughing when his grandkids get to be a handful to their parents just like his kids did to him! Its an amazing thing to watch how bright eyed these kids can get when grandpa comes around. Every child being very different, but all in all, their love for grandpa is the same. Listening to Miya lately has been pretty funny. Nicki told me last nite that when Miya came down from her nap yesterday, she said she didnt sleep cuz she was playing with her babies in grandpas bed (the bed in the room right next to hers that grandpa slept in when he was here). Watching Jaden after she warmed up to grandpa after a few hours and hearing her EH! EH! when she wants grandpa to pick her up again. Hearing stories from Iowa about how he loves Marissa, Carter, Cambrie and Madison, and the laughter that these young ones bring on a day to day basis.
But maybe, most importantly, knowing my dad is leaving a legacy. We are all put on this earth for a purpose. Dad isnt one who just sits back and lets life happen. He wears many hats, and I dont mean John Deere hats although he wears those too. What I mean by that is he jugles many things in life. He is involved all over the place. Involved in family, ie brothers, sisters, mother, in-laws, involved with his wife, even when shopping is in order, involved in church, involved in school support, involved in kids sports and musical things, involved in his grandkids lives, involved in his kids work, involved in his kids farms, involved in opportunities...all these hats, yet not letting a single hat collect dust on a shelf. He is one who has many obligations, yet lives his life according to priorities. Knowing that being a dad means teaching his children and grandchildren spiritually. (He's probably the best scripture quoter of Ephesians 6:1 that Ive ever seen...if you dont know what it is, look it up...best passage ever for kids to read :)
With all that being said dad, if you are reading this now, I want you to know, I dont know if these next words could come out of my mouth without crying too hard. I want you know how very proud I am of you...How very proud I am to be called your son...Very proud of the knowledge you have passed on to me in the years of MY life...How proud I am to talk about my dad to my kids...and how hopeful I am that I can be the father to my kids, the husband to my wife, and if God allows, the grandpa to my grandkids that you are being...the legacy you continue to leave on a day to day basis will be passed on to every generation that God continues to allow for.

Thank you for being who you are...I love ya...and I hope the next 50 years of your life if God so chooses to bless you with it will be as remembered as the first 50 were.

Congrats Wendi!

Wendi has officially graduated from college! Congratulations Wendi, we are so proud of you. You will be the teacher everyone remembers as their 'favorite'!