No Words to Explain This One...

I have arrived at a point in my life where I do not have words to describe where I am. I looked around today and soaked in my blessings. In the face of tragedy (of several friends), I am left to remember how blessed I am. Why do we forget our blessings? My kids are so amazing and yet, I forget that sometimes. My husband is completely wonderful and I don't remind him enough. I am lucky that I was given the opportunity this week to remember God's Grace and his amazing work in my life. W is in the third grade and is doing great. He loves his teacher and his maturing (until he gets home and then he lets it all out!). J adores his Kindergarten teacher and is in seventh heaven when he gets to go to school. He is excited to try his hand at wrestling this winter. C is learning how to survive without her binky and diaper this month. She is so very proud of herself. These are such small, yet important parts of our life. I need to write more and remember more.

An Adventure Just Around the Corner.

Well, we are surviving the cold and enjoying good health. Funny how you don't appreciate good health until it is gone. We live our day moving forward with great speed until we are down for the count. In the month of January, Dan and I had strep, then Claire, then Claire got a virus for a few days, then stitches for James, and Will was sick with a bug. Let's hope January is behind us and a healthy February will ring in!

We sold our Lakeside condo and I am sad but, keeping my hopes up that new adventures await. We are ready for a different type of adventure. It appears that our new adventure will be a large pull behind camper with all kinds of goodies to take us around the U.S. of A. More family time to be had.

Back to it... Isn't it hard to come home from vacation and jump back into life again? At this point in the school year, it is a bit of both. I am ready to get back to school and enjoy the best part of the school year... the fun part. No big tests, no real stress, and a good time to break out the scissors, markers and glue. This is what I went to school for... the joy. It is so much fun to "get back to it" in the classroom. We are writing scripts, playing math games, and laughing and learning. Good to be home and ready to wrap up the year. It is such a nice way to make the kids forget all the testing and stress. Yea for the end of the school year.

New and Not so New

Yea for us... we are back at Lakeside. It is a good feeling to love this place and to see my childhood memories everywhere I walk. But there is joy in finding the new memories too. I now have new friends that I see on the street and at the park. The new is fun when you watch it through your family's eyes. The boys love the new playground and are excited when LKSD folks remember them and speak to them. Dan and I find it a bit crazy sometimes when we all pile back into the condo for "reprieve" and there is absolutely none of that going on.

We love LKSD, Ohio and embrace the new friends and adventures like: The Wild Animal Park, the park, the waterfront, kite flying, bikes, mini-golf, ice cream and Marilyn's shopping. I just love browsing the awesome shops. I love to sit on the dock alone and walking around. Oh, the donuts are the best. But, most importantly... the fun. Good to be back for another summer.

Working it Out

I love my three children. I will say that first. I don't like the carcus of a body that three children have left behind for me. I look at myself everyday and plan to take time for myself but, just like today... the day will fly by, the demands of motherhood will mount, and I will collapse into bed tonight without having "worked out" a plan for my physical reclamation.

With my motherhood role, also comes a full time job. I love teaching and know that it is my time for missionary work. Going into the "field" each day leaves me in God's hands so that I may guide, mold, and work through Him. This also leaves very little time for myself and the molding of my physique. As I sit here and vent about my plight in life andsuck down Easter's jelly beans, I know that my kids don't care what I look like. They don't even know what I used to look like or act like. They love me unconditionally, accept me, and know that I will be there for them.

The similarities between their need and my knowledge of what Christ is for me are wonderful. Christ's sacrifice for me was more than I can ever give. I know that I can sacrifice for my family and also find time to "work out" time for myself so that I can be the best mom possible.

Changes at Home

Why is change so hard sometimes? We grow from it, we need it, but we fight it most of the times. Take the arson in Old Town Pataskala. It changed the landscape of town forever. It robbed us of history and yet, with change a newness has spread over our town. There is an unspoken (sometimes spoken) fresh breath that has swept over Pataskala as if to say, "We are ready for change and it is time to unite for a goal". I feel it as I step on my front porch.

I look at my own family and I see my JCH starting to pull herself up and get teeth and with that brings a lot of change to the dynamics of the house and the grocery bill. JDH has become very successful with his language and with that come new frustrations for him. WCH is losing teeth rapidly, getting taller, and adjusting to different rules as he gets older.

Dan and I maintain this three ring circus to the best of our abilities and with the strength of our good God. No day is perfect, my house is not "in place" but, I am in love with my husband and with that brings changes as we grow older. I don't need to mention our physical changes, but we change emotionally and spiritually with each other too. How blessed am I but, yet so resistant to change. With all of this, why is change still so hard?

Winter fun

Winter brings a certain amount of fun every year. While it is not the joy of summer, it brings a moment to sit back and learn who your family has become. My family is growing up. We are still a young family but, as WCH turned 7, he brought to the table new skills and characteristics. JDH is gaining speed with his pronunciation of letters and sounds. He mastered the word 'puzzle' this week. JCH is bringing more personality to the house with her giggles, crawling, and need for total attention. As for Dan and I, we change with their needs, our work needs, and our own needs (sometimes).

Lately, we have been getting organized, playing a lot games together, and taking some time to just hang out. I love this time of the year when we can look at each other and learn more about one another. When summer and more sports come, we often don't take the time to do this. I wonder if this is how God feels when we take more time to get to know him. Am I spending enough time with him and when life gets busy, do I stray away until I have time. I imagine God desires our attitude to be more of a "winter" attitude where we get to know him and hang out.

Welcome to the Big Top!

Welcome to my circus. Wouldn't change it, just being honest...it is a circus around here. We are blessed to have it and wouldn't want it any different. We never have a day without high trapeze walks, the feeling that we are being shot out of a cannon, and moments where we feel the crowd cheering. Thankfully God catches us everytime we need it.

We had an awesome Christmas break. We saw all of our cousins, aunts and uncles. The gifts were nice, but the family time was the best. These are our top ten memorable moments:

10. Showing up to visit Santa and just missing our visit.
9. Everyone sick over break.... (I'll take it compared to two weeks of working with sick kids)
8. Sleeping in everyday, staying up later than normal, and sometimes... staying in our pj's all day.
7. Making birdhouses for our family and friends.
6. Seeing our Wisconsin cousins, our Hilliard cousin, and having our Pataskala cousin spend the night... They rock!
5. Going the Blue Jackets Hockey game
4. Getting a Wii from Santa and all the other stuff mom and dad gave the kids
3. Watching JCH learn to chatter, crawl little bits, and get bigger
2. Playing Wii with family: Papa Hayes' superhuman boxing skills, Mamma Lanfear's competitive bowling, and Nana Hayes thinking she was playing tennis when it was actually the replay.....
1. Laughter and good memories with family

Five People in My Family

Do you remember that old Sesame Street song where they sing... "Five people in my family" I live it now and while stress and exhaustion go hand in hand with motherhood, I wouldn't change it. WCH is loving the first grade and seems to be just fine with my presence in the building. JDH is doing better now that we pulled him out of pre-school. He has such a wonderful outlook on life and he makes me laugh constantly. We are excited that he possibly qualified for speech services. JCH is growing and changing so much. She can already sit up and is on her way to getting around the room by rolling and possibly scooting soon. Pretty good for a once three pounder. So, if you thought I was off my rocker before... You should see me now.

Where do I even begin?

Not much time lately to really write from the soul. Life has been dragging me every which way. Although sometimes I feel that I can barely rise out of bed and do it all over again, I made my self stop and look back at the last few months. I am proud to say that we did it! Dan and I managed to make it through all of these things since summer:

0. Losing an old dog and training a rescue dog
1. The Pataskala Street Fair
2. The beginning of school
3. Taking my first grader to work everyday
4. Papa Bill's campaign for 91st District (State Rep)
5. Accepting a dirty house
6. Dan's new presidency of Pataskala's Rotary
7. Dan's new chairmanship of the Licking County Republican Party
8. Dan and I threw the biggest birthday party of our life (at school).
9. Soccer season for both boys
10. solid food for Claire
11. realizing that Will is my genetic dump off site and he will suffer for that
12. Teaching Will how to contain all of that energy during the school day
13. Teaching James not to beat the tar out of the "first child"
14. Getting James tested for speech services
15. Is she sleeping through the night? Can't tell
16. Parent/Teacher Conferences
17. Dan's travels
18. Watching Papa Bill gracefully accept a Republican defeat for the State House.
19. Enjoying my Grandmother now that she lives in town at the Oaks.
20. 10 years of marriage
21. a concussion for me... Performing in Camp O'Bannon's Murder mystery is dangerous

Phew!

We did it!

Happy 100th Birthday Pataskala School!

My school and my husband's alma mater, turned 100 years old this year.

Dan and I pulled it off! For the last two years, Dan and I have been planning the 100th birthday party for Pataskala Elementary. We managed to pull off the art auction, fund the Ohio Historical Marker, develop school activities, and host over 200 people for an alumni banquet. It went better than I could have ever hoped. We had a blast and are still recovering.

1908-2008

Breathing down my neck

It's that time of year again... when school is around the corner, the street fair is looming in the near future, my children must return to school and life without me, and when I must rejoin society. It happens every year and I manage to get through it just fine. I stress, fret, freak, toil, and geek about all of it and without it, I would not be who I am. So, please keep in mind... that I mean no harm, I am just working through my issues. CAUTION: Keep a clear distance!

New Eyes

I rise each morning determined to leave a good work in each of my children's hearts. I really try to be loving all the time and to teach patience, strength, and love. Not every day is always successful in these areas. While that bothers me, I know it is part of life. Being the mother of three has strengthened me and well, mentally strapped me too. I am wiser and yet, still clueless. There are days when I question my abilities as a wife and mother and then I am reminded of God's Grace and his infinite wisdom. He would never have given me these three beautiful children without a master plan. Why do I complain about my path in life when God has done so much for me? He gave his only son so that I might be saved and I seem to forget that when I am complaining away about my day, my struggles with work or children, or when my weaknesses become obvious.

I was reminded this week at church to look at life with child-like eyes. I need to remember that God made the most majestic mountains and yet the softest breeze. My children continue to share their view on life with Dan and I and we are given a new way to view the world. After JCH's four month check up yesterday, I was reminded again of God's goodness. She is perfect (weight, developmental marks, etc.). I am blessed to be handed this precious child who trusts me and loves me. Her trust is breathtaking. I am reminded of the love God has for us through the bond I have with my three. No matter my sins, my children's faults, or how my day ends, looking at it all with new eyes is certainly helping.

Sailing Away

After ten years of marriage, I am convinced Dan and I can get through anything together if we can survive five days of Lakeside Sailing Lessons. We have had a good time learning how to do something completely new. Quite humbling to be with your best friend and be so clueless about what you are learning. We have had fun learning from our two Lakeside Sailing Instructors who are college students. Nice kids, but better comedians than instructors. Dan has been the sailor and I have been along for the ride although I am picking up a lot of vocabulary and the concept.

Things to remember about our sailing experience are:

1. We read in the course syllabus (during class) that there was a swim test. We were walked out to the end of the swim pier into the wide open Lake Erie and told to tread waves/water for 4 minutes. We barely passed the four minute swim test, being thrown a life vest in open waters, told to swim to it , put it on (with jello legs) and then to swim fifty yards and back. I thought I would die and then Lakeside would never be the same for my family.

2. Classroom time was a stitch but, learning to use what they taught us when we actually got out on the water was sometimes difficult.

4. Getting hit in the back of the head with the boom (sail) and landing in the water during a game of sail tag was a new experience.

5. Our "big" trip to East Harbor Beach by sailboat was fun but, really slow. We were the first to arrive and the last to get back. Turns out that our boat is a lot smaller than everyone else's boat.

Uncle Jerry

Jerry

brother, uncle

funny, sarcastic, witty

spoils his niece and nephews

adored by his nephews...and now his niece

thoughtful, athletic, supervisor, bachelor, coach

I really enjoy watching my brother as he grows older.

Our friendship continues to grow and change.

Jerry is a loving, excellent dad to AJL.

fisherman, ballplayer, poker player

Thirty-Six years old

friend

Lakeside I

Not much to say with words about this place. Actually it is hard to describe my love for Lakeside without rambling on and looking the fool. "It completes me..." is probably the only way to sum it up. It is my past, present, and future. My Grandma and Grandpa Lanfear started the tradition long before I was around and now that Dan and I own a "little peace of Lakeside", we will show our children how much it means to us. I have been blessed to spend about 3 weeks here off and on this summer. This week marks the Lanfear/Hayes gathering. We are separated into three places this year and I like parts of it and miss other parts of it. I like to have my own space yet, I miss the gathering of the family. I enjoy the laughter and rejoining of the family. My kids love having Uncle Jerry at their disposal. JDH adores Jerry and can't wait to putt putt and shuffle board with him. WCH can't wait to fish. Who knew that Grandma and Grandpa Lanfear would start such a wonderful tradition for our family and their Great Grandchildren. In a small way, Margianne has touched the lives of everyone here this week.

Batdog

Betsy has a new home. The Hayes' have a new dog. Miss Betsy has adapted wonderfully with our family and we are excited to have her.... All except a few potty accidents in the house on the first day and on the day of her "adoption" (translation: check written to shelter), Betsy ate half of our garlic pizza and messed in the house. We call that last incident the "Betsy Party". Her personality is perfect for our family as well as her energy level. She enjoys playing every once in awhile, sleeping a lot, licking and loving, and sniffing for bunnies. Her favorite place to hang out is in our window seat. WCH is thrilled to have her, JDH renamed her Batdog and pays attention to her every once in awhile and Dan thinks she is surprisingly well behaved. I am just glad to have her around. It was either a dog or a therapist.

Betsy Beagle

I couldn't handle it... the pain, the pressure, no pet. Although Dan would rather be petless for another year so that we have no home responsibilities, I can't handle it. I became a Petfinder.com addict shortly after Emma passed and I think I have found the dog for us. We decided that we would both get one shot at a dog and if it didn't happen, we would wait another year. Dan inquired about a Bluetick Coonhound and never heard back from the foster family and I wrote to a shelter in Pickerington about a beagle named Betsy. I received an email about Betsy the other day and we have a date for Thursday morning. Miss Betsy is 3, house-trained, crate-trained, and good with kids. She is due to come on Thursday for a visit and if all goes well... she will stay for a seven day trial run. If we like her, she stays... if we don't, no strings attached and she goes home. My only concern is the lack of a completely fenced in yard. I hope she can win Dan over. I have not fears about the kids and myself.... Keep you posted.

Growing Memories

Our backyard is a place where we can enjoy many things. From the gorgeous playset to the breathtaking flowers, we are in a world of our own. The Hayes five spends much time within the picket fence enjoying such activities as baseball, driving the Gator, frisbee, parties with friends, bonfires, playtime in the sprinkler, picnics and most recently... the family garden. Dan and the boys planted a vegetable garden about a month ago which has apparently attracted a "sweet" bunny family. At first, they nibbled on our corn and now they have destroyed our cauliflour. Dan is brainstorming ways to kindly rid the garden of the hungry family. We have discussed scarecrows, tin pans, and now we are in search of a place that still sells marigolds. My favorite part of the garden is watching Dan walk out to the back of the yard each day to inspect growth. He reminds me of my dad as he used to do the same thing when I was a kid. My dad used to plant an enormous garden in the back of the yard. I recall many hours watching him weed and water the garden. I have so many wonderful memories of throwing strawberries to our chickens, picking my watermelon, and helping my dad water the garden. It sure is fun growing memories.

Who Knew?

If I were asked to find the right words to describe motherhood, I would come up short. In my world, motherhood is indescribable. It has changed once again for me now that I have three children. As I look back to only having one child, I wonder how he survived since I knew nothing about this new world which I was embarking on. Dan and I were so scared trying to be parents to WCH. When we delivered JDH, we were much more relaxed and only lately have had eyes the size of quarters when trying to discipline two wonderfully different boys.

WCH is quite sensitive, emotional, verbal, and well... a typical first child. JDH is a completely different story. He is more aggressive, more cantankerous, and has no fear. Most recently, we welcomed JCH into the Hayes world and life as we know it has officially changed. After a Feb./Mar. bedrest, a 3 lb. 12 oz. blizzard March birth, and a 4.5 lb. home arrival, JCH has managed to strike down all obstacles and make me a proud mommy.

"So what was it we did before having children?" Dan recently asked me. Honestly, I don't remember what we did that was so much fun. I am glad that I can't remember what we did in our spare time because I might miss it. I think I had a clean house, a weedless garden, more adult friends without children, time on the toilet with the door closed, and longer showers. Dan and I may wish for a break now and then, but we wouldn't want a long one since we would miss our three. How did I get so lucky?