Monday, November 29, 2010

The boys of fall

Well, I guess you all are wondering why I haven't blogged in a while... and I'll have to say, I'm just at the point where I can catch my breath! Its been a whirlwind of a fall! Our fall could be described in one word, Football! What a fall it was.... Enjoy!


Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Down to #2

#2. This summer we've been at the pool just about every day of the week. Bekah and Jaron went out for the swim team.. so I've been lugging them up to the pool just about every morning. So, you know what they say about the oldest and the youngest. The youngest always gets drug along and eventually will catch on. Micah has struggled with swimming, even though we've been at the pool every summer since he was a newborn. But this year.. it just clicked! HE GOT IT! A couple of weeks ago, after swim team practice, he went off the diving board, with no life jacket, and no floats. He's been a fish ever since! That's four down,  and one to go. (kids swimming independently, that is!) Momma is happy!!







Thursday, July 8, 2010

Significance -Continued

#3. Bekah turned 13
 The day began with singing in the apartment. Bekah said she really wanted to spend the day with her best friend, Alyvia. So, at noon, she and I went to  get her to spend the night with us. At 1:49 pm (her birth time) she opened her big gifts... money from grandparents, art supplies, clothes, and a laptop with an art easel. She was so happy! We headed to the pool, out to dinner, the mall for shopping and strawberry fraps, and then home for mani's, pedi's and movies!
I guess the most precious part of the night was when Dan gave Bekah a promise (purity) ring. We had  just finished reading "Authentic Beauty by Leslie Ludy" earlier in the year and the book talked a lot about purity, finding the right prince, and being a princess of the King! So I found this great box with a crown on it, and put the ring inside with an inscription. It was a very tender moment between all of us, including Alyivia,  who promised to keep her accountable. I watched her glissen as her dad took her by the hand and spoke to her. I pictured her barely walking, paci in her mouth, with her cute little blond curls bouncy up and down.  I saw her as a four year old, playing with her 50 stuffed puppy dogs on her bed,  imagination running wild, doing cartwheels in the hallway, watching Cinderella,  and  writing on my comforter  and on the walls with sharpie marker ( that wasn't a great memory). My sweet little peanut playing in the dirt, sandbox, sprinkler, and anything else she could climb on!! I teared up for a moment, and then smiled. It was a very strange, sad, but wonderful feeling all at the same time. I know my little girl is growing up, and its all good!  Happy birthday to my sweet Rebekah Katherine.  I love you more than words can say.
















Significance #2

#5 Our pastor was elected president of the Pastors Conference at the SBC this year, so Dan was given the great privilege of helping lead worship at the conference along with all of our music and media team. We also asked our great friend, Travis Cottrell, who isn't too shabby, and David Moffitt, another great friend, and songwriter to help lead. (He wrote Jesus Saves!) We had a blast! It was one of those "once in a lifetime" opportunities, and we were grateful!  We all had an amazing time leading and worshipping the Lord. I can say it was exhausting, but a blessing. It rocked.














#4 Family Vacation. After pastors conference, we were exhausted, so we ventured to Palm Coast Florida for family vacay! Our condo was beautiful and the beach was relaxing. The children had great fun swimming, and saw a lot of sea life. Dolphins and starfish were few of the favorites. It was so much fun, and we really enjoyed ourselves and watching the children. I'm going to have a beach house in heaven!!
Below is a picture from our condo/ and the kids after Toy Story 3 ( the highlight of our vacation!) Even Ella loved it and did very well in the theater.































More to come!!

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Summer of Significance

 This Spring and Summer have proven to be lots of things going on with much significance for our family. So much to blog about, but so little time. So, I decided to list our happenings!

#10. Rebekah went out for the tennis team this spring. She loves tennis and is developing quite a skill. She made it to regionals with her doubles partner, Victoria! For 7th and 8th grade girls, playing high school seniors, they lost, but did very well. We were very proud of them!














#9. May continued with  Dan's annual Odle/ Cremer fishing trip his family takes every year with some of the men in his family. This year proved to be an even greater one, because Jacob was old enough to finally go. He and Dan had a wonderful time with Dan's dad! They fished, ate, ate and fished! Jacob baited, fished, and cleaned the fish. Jake was very proud and so excited to be able to go.















#8. We decided we had outgrown our house this winter and decided to put it on the market, thinking it would take a while in our economy to sell. So we put in on the market in late April and it sold within three days! So needless to say, we began to frantically pack our belongings in order to get out within 15 days! THAT WAS FUN!!  I didn't think I would be as emotional as I was to leave it though. I began to think about everything that we had done, and all the get-togethers' we'd had. I loved that little house, and I shed some tears pulling out of the drive one last time as I took this picture.














#7. Micah graduated from preschool. Micah has had his share of issues, but were so elated to see him up on the stage with the rest of his class participating in graduation. He will go to kindergarten next year. This will be a totally new chapter in his little life and ours! When I think about it, I have to catch my breath because it's really hard to believe he's going to kindergarten. We are hopeful about his future and pray he can get the help he needs  in school to catch up with his peers... I will expound later.














#6. After frantically packing and closing on our house, which by the way, is a blessing. We were homeless and needed a place to live fast.. so we moved out of our house and into a three bedroom apartment for the time being until our house is built! It has been a little crowded, but we're making it and realizing what we can live without. Our family is getting a lot of "together time" too. LITERALLY SPEAKING!  I told the kids to think of it as an extended vacation...so we are!!!

TO BE CONTINUED TOMORROW!

Thursday, May 13, 2010

The Big 1st Birthday

It happened, sooner than I thought. I was just living life and she did it. She turned one! Growing up before my eyes, my sweet little Ella!
On April 28th, 2009, I went for my routine Dr's visit, wanting him to so badly send me to the hospital. After the exam, he looked at me and said, "See you in September" meaning, no change, I wasn't  going anywhere. Usual.. all of my pregnancies have been like that. So we scheduled a routine induction for the next week. I then proceeded to call the family to set up childcare for the children for the next week. It was all planned. That evening, Dan took Micah  and the boys to swim lessons, and Bekah and I went to Target for a few last minute baby things. We met the boys at our favorite place for dinner, Puerta!  After dinner, it was late, so we gathered children, proceeded with our night time routine and bed. I headed for the couch, which had been pretty normal for me, I hadn't been able to sleep in my bed for two months. (sciatica) I remember, turning over to get some relief from my side, and it happened, my water broke. I headed for the bathroom and then looked at the clock in the kitchen, it said 3:04 a.m. I woke Dan and told him my water broke, he went back to sleep. I told him again and the second time it wasn't nice! We proceeded to head out the door with no one to watch the children, so I called my mother, my sister, and the next best thing, Kim, one of my dearest friends. Kim came and sat with the kids until 7:30. Then she had to go to work.
 So we proceeded to the hospital to check in, Dan got me settled and left around 7:30 to relieve Kim and get the kids squared away! Ten minutes after he left, six nurses came rushing in my room, elevated my feet over my head and one gave me a shot in the back of my arm to stop my labor. I knew something was wrong, this wasn't at all like my other deliveries. Ella wasn't tolerating labor, so they had to give me a c section within 20 minutes.. Dan got back just in time, and I had little Ella. The cord was wrapped around her neck and her arm. The Dr. said she would've never been able to make it on her own! Praise Jesus for modern medicine!
I had planned a big "Derby" bash outside, but the rain decided we would stay in. It was a little crowded with people and LOVE, which was the best part of all. So glad our families and sweet friends could make it in for the occasion, even my sister could come!! YAY SIS! This year has been a year of many ups and downs (post pardom depression) I'll write about that later! However, the Lord is gracious and He has lifted me out of the pit!! As I relished in the moment, I reflected on how incredibly blessed I am. So grateful for healthy babies, and what a miracle life is!  I will be forever amazed and in awe of grace upon grace  He gives to me. Thank you Jesus for the wonderful blessing of Ella Grace and all the many blessings you so graciously give.





Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Crusin'

Finally, she did it!
We've been waiting and waiting... On the eve of Easter Sunday, Ella decided to stand and it has been busy, busy, busy ever since. She's crusin', as the song would say! We're headed to the beach in June and it would be so much better for momma, if she could walk. NOTE.... Add to prayer list! :) Until then, she will be crusin' and the Odle house is back in the business of "no no's" and baby gates! YAY!! Now, if we could only grow some hair!