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!

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.

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!

Eleventh Birthday!

On every April 13th we celebrate Jacob Daniel McKee Odle. He was the first boy born in our family in 3 generations. He was named after my grandfather Bill McKee. My grandfather, as far as I was always concerned, could walk on water... he was a man of integrity, hard worker, man of his word, loved his wife, family, and most importantly his God! I miss him!! He was a great example of what a follower of Christ should be.
My grandfather was an amazing baseball player. I never got to see him play, but many who did grow up watching him, or had him as a coach have always raved about how good he was. He was so good that he was drafted by the Pittsburg Pirates in 1947 to play in their Triple A League.
We asked Jake what he would like to do for his birthday and we talked about the possibility of many things, but he finally decided on a Louisville Bats game, Triple A ball club for the Reds.
As we drove downtown, the weather was gorgeous, the kids were excited, chatting in the car, and I couldn't help but to think of my grandpa. How proud he would've been of Jacob. As I sat quietly and tried to take it all in as the night progressed, I watched the sweet boy that God gave me, I watched as an old man walked up to my son and gave him a game ball the team was practicing with,( it made me think of my grandpa, Thank you, Lord!) I watched his sweet friends with hats and gloves on, watching the game. I watched them get excited about an outfielder throwing them a ball, and get mad as Bekah, (the only girl in the group) caught the ball. She shouted "Girl Power" as she caught it! I watched them throw popcorn up in the air and try to catch it in their mouths, I watched them eat snow cones, and throw the baseball in the pitching radar. I watched as a man sitting close to the boys told Jacob how much he liked his Cubs shirt, and Jake, with a smile from ear to ear, so proudly yelled back, "GO CUBBIES!" I cherished the moment!
I knew in my heart that these days were numbered, as little boys grow up to be men, and little girls, women. I knew this was the only eleventh birthday he will celebrate, and it was good!! I celebrated! My heart was bursting with joy and pride!! It was fabulous! It was only fitting that we happened to celebrate it at a Triple A ballpark, in the city, on a beautiful spring night at the beginning of baseball season. A season his namesake knew all too well!! Happy Birthday Jacob Daniel MCKEE Odle! Your grandfather was proud of you. Wear the name well!

Easter 2010

Fridays + Man Lunches = Faith in Action

Since we've been homeschooling, every Friday is what our boys call their "Man Lunch" with dad! Friday is Dan's day off and he takes the boys out to lunch every Friday.The boys look forward to spending coveted time with dad and Dan really enjoys getting to "talk" to them about life, what it means to be a man, and scripture. This Friday was a little different!
About three weeks ago, our sweet neighbor, Mr. Whitaker, 72, went home to be with the Lord. He was a precious pastor in our community, and the children loved playing in his driveway. We would talk now and then and the children would always talk to him when he was outside. It was very sad for the children when they learned of his death.
Today, at " the man lunch" Dan talked to the boys how the bible teaches us to take care of widows and orphans, and so the boys (and Bekah) put that faith into action. They raked, mowed, and cleaned Mrs. Whitakers yard. It took them all day, and they were so tired but Dan and I couldn't have been prouder! Our children... learning what the bible says... and then not just hearing it ... but doing it!

Music Team Ladies

The one thing that I've always enjoyed and looked forward to, since being at Highview, are fun times with the praise team ladies. We've been at East and Fegenbush both.. and I have to say, those have been some of the sweetest times in our ten years here. Did I just say that? Ten years?! A couple of Saturdays ago was no exception. Three sweet ladies on our music team are expecting and we had a sweet ladies luncheon for them. A labor of love on my part, but I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE hosting! I'm especially proud of the cake from scratch (yes I'm bragging!) It is a true honor for me to celebrate with each of them.
Meg(boy) Ashley(girl) and Kim(boy).. are going to be great momma's! So happy for them.

My "from scratch" Lemonade cake... Amazing! (still bragging)

The "ya ya sisterhood"

The girls with their baskets

Bekah and her bff Alyvia helped serve.