The Gerths

Love

2011-02-15T07:20:00.001-08:00

Yet another demonstration of my husband's love for me. He is so sweet, and so creative. This was what I woke up to Valentine's morning, along with a dozen roses. Ben sported his "I love my wife" shirt, and we had a wonderful day together. I love him.

Our January

2011-01-30T07:00:00.000-08:00

January has been a blur for the Gerth family. We began the month by moving out of our home of seven years and finishing our time with our dear church family at Ventura. Then we took off for Minnesota to see family and do some partnership development. Unfortunately we all got sick on the trip and continue to fight the illnesses, but we as a family still have much to be thankful for and joyful about. Amidst the tears and difficulties of this month we were able to spend wonderful time with family and old friends.

A few highlights:

This is our first family picture that we've been present for in over a year. We sure have missed Ben's family and it was wonderful to be ALL together. Ben's parents and siblings graciously opened their homes to our crazy little clan, and we enjoyed our time with them all thoroughly.

Jenna was able to meet Grandpa and Grandma Gerth for the first time. She loved her time with them and can't wait till next time :)

Playing "popcorn" with Aunt Suzy!

Criss-cross Applesauce with Grandpa...as you can see this is crazy fun!

Jenna loving every minute of it all!

"Miss Moosebee"

"My Aunties are AWESOME"

RAAAR...Dinosaur battles with Uncle Josh

Bonding with Aunt Jennifer and talking to Cousin Baby Gerth due to arrive any day now. We can't wait to meet her!!

Legos with Uncle Matt and Uncle Steve

Sister time!

Time to just plain be silly :)

Story time with Uncle Josh and Aunt Jennifer

And lots of together time with daddy.

We are so thankful for the family that God has blessed us with and for the time we can spend with them!

My Hub

2011-01-17T18:53:00.001-08:00

Have I mentioned lately that I love my husband? Well, I do!!

One more day!!

2010-12-24T12:59:00.001-08:00

At our house we love to celebrate Advent, the coming of our Savior! One way that we celebrate is by gathering around our Advent Calendar (thank you Aunt Suzy :) every evening after supper and reading through the story of Christ's birth. Every night Ben reads a little further and we get to add one more figure to our Advent Scene.

The kids are THRILLED that there is only ONE day left!! Tomorrow we celebrate the coming of our Savior and the kids get to put baby Jesus in His manger.

We are so thankful that Jesus came, died and an rose again so that we could stand justified before God! And we are also excited that He is coming again, and when He does there will be no more death, pain or fighting sin. So thankful for the coming of our King! Happy Advent!

It's been a while!

2010-11-27T12:25:00.001-08:00

It has been a long while since I have posted anything new, and this is my reason...

Jenna Grace arrived on October 20! She is sweet as can be, and her brother and sisters adore her. Here are a few pics from her arrival.

We have lots of great conversations already, and I look forward to many many more :)
Ben is very excited to now have three little princesses. He is such a good Daddy!
Kara takes her responsibility as the biggest sister very seriously. She loves to help me by holding Jenna for me when I have something I need to do.
Luke is the proud protector of his new little sister. He loves to kiss her on her head, and it mealts my heart every time! She sure brings out his sweet side.

Ellie and Jenna will be good friends I think. Ellie enjoys finally being bigger than someone and is excited to be a big sister. Her favorite thing to do is sing to Baby Jenna and Jenna loves it!

We love being a family of 6!!

Fabulous Day!

2010-10-14T10:37:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday was a beautiful day. It was nearly 80 degrees, sunny and just plain perfect! Our day started with Kara and I going to get her hair cut. She had been looking forward to this for weeks, so it was a very exciting morning! A friend from high school cut Kara's hair, and Kara thinks it is great fun to go to Miss Randi's salon :)

After the haircut we picked up the rest of the family and headed on a beautiful drive to Crane's Apple Orchard for some apple picking and apple cider doughnuts...yum!!

We got home and ate lunch outside in the beautiful weather and played for a while.

Then we ended the day with a campfire and roasted hot dogs. It was the perfect fall day and good to spend the whole day together as a family.

We're realizing that in Tanazania we will not have this beautiful season called fall. This is a bit sad. It is both Ben and my favorite time of year! So, we're making the most of this one, and it has been so fun. Happy beautiful fall to you all!

A day at the zoo

2010-10-03T10:35:00.001-07:00

Monday is Ben's day off, and it was a beautiful day, so we decided to pack up the kids and head to the zoo! Luke wanted to pet every animal...especially the lions. Can you blame him? Those big kitties look so cuddly! The lions were actually from Tanzania, which made them even cooler. The bear was the second fave and he was actually awake and gave us a great show! We had a blast admiring all of God's beautiful and sometimes entertaining creation.

The kids especially love the little cabin that is just their size!

This is probably one of our last family shots as a family of five! Our little girl will be joining us soon for any further adventures :)

And then there is the train! I think we spend more time here than we do at any of the animal exhibits, but the kids love it.

Ben and I like the train too. We sat and talked while the kids played.

And kissed too :)

We watched the bear play for a long time!

And then played the African drums for a while.

It was a marvelous day!

My favorite day :)

2010-09-29T18:52:00.001-07:00

Today Ben and I celebrate our 9th wedding anniversary. I love our marriage. I love my husband. I am blessed beyond understanding! He loves me, leads me and cherishes me. I am so thankful! I have so many fun memories from anniversaries in the past, and tomorrow my husband is taking me on a surprise date...more fun memories! Ben says he wants to be married for 99 more years, which would put us at approximately 131 years of age :) Today Ben gave me a 7 page hand written letter. I cried. Thank you my hub for taking the time to invest and grow in your relationship with me but more importatntly to grow in your relationship with Christ and leading me and our children toward Him. You are my bestest friend!!

36 weeks along!!!!!!

2010-09-28T12:17:00.000-07:00

Actually, I'm 36 weeks and 5 days along. Every day counts at this point! This means less than 4 weeks to go in this pregnancy!! I am SO very ready to be done. I know, the real work begins on the day we meet this little one, but I'm ready to move from the "joys" :) of pregnancy to looking into her eyes, and yes, even feeding her in the middle of the night. We must admit that we are excited to be able to have one baby to care for instead of two at one time. We LOVE our twins, and I wouldn't trade a moment of their lives, but that sure was a lot of work, and often I feel like I never got to enjoy the infant stage due to pure exhaustion! I'm so glad we have so many pictures of them as infants as we so often were in such a fog just trying to get everyone fed, changed and sleeping. I'm so thankful that God blessed me with an amazing husband who endured every sleepless night with me! He is my fave :)

Kara, Luke and Ellie are so excited to meet their little sister, and I know she will be well loved and protected! The kids have had some practice with new babies at church, and they all understand that, and I quote, "we get to have one of THOSE at our house." :)

Autumn fun!

2010-09-15T16:43:00.000-07:00

One of our favorite fall traditions is apple picking. Monday we went picking for the first time this season and had a blast! The kids are all old enough to enjoy it now, so it made for a fun family outing. We've already enjoyed our first homemade apple pie of the season too...much more of that to come!

Dreaming about spheres

2010-09-06T18:42:00.000-07:00

In the morning when Kara wakes up she loves to tell me about her dreams, and I love to hear about them! The latest...

Kara: Mom, last night I just kept dreaming and dreaming about Kindergarten.

Me: That sounds fun. What kind of things did you dream about?

Kara: Oh, you know, spheres and cubes and stuff...

Me: giggling

Kara: ...and all about writing whatever letters I want to, whenever I want to, and getting my ears pierced! Oh, and my numbers too. I like to dream about numbers and the pictures that I color too!

Oh how I love my little ones. I am amazed at what they learn and how they communicate. I desire for them to always share their dreams and what they are thinking with me. I pray that she will still tell me about her dreams when she is 15 years old and 30 years old! Sometimes it is easy to get discouraged and just plain feel drained in the midst of these pre-school and toddler years, but time truly is flying by, and it's these little conversations that make me just adore being a mom. My kids are little people. Yes, to some this is obvious, but often I forget that when the day is filled with whining. They have souls and I am blessed to have the privilege of parenting these little souls. I look forward to our conversation tomorrow morning...I'm smiling just thinking about it!

Happy Birthday Aunt Mary!!

2010-08-27T17:44:00.000-07:00

We love you Aunt Mary!!

Luke's solo :)

Sparkles...

2010-08-25T09:01:00.001-07:00

Before (no ear sparkles)

and After (pink sparkles on the lobes)

If you look closely you can see beautiful pink sparkles on Kara and Kailyn's ears...what fun for two little girls! Kara's friend Kailyn turns 5 today! To celebrate we went and visited this weekend and one of the highlights was getting Kara and Kailyn's ears pierced. Kara loves her new pink sparkles and is taking very good care of her ears.

We love our friends and with the transitions that are coming up in our lives we are cherishing the time that we have to spend with them.

A few other highlights:

A stroll downtown

A visit to the library

The group picture, which is always fun :)

All made for a wonderful, friend-filled weekend!

Happy 5th Birthday Kailyn!!

The Dreaded Pantry...defeated!

2010-08-16T16:25:00.000-07:00

I can not keep my pantry/mudroom/shoe room organized for the life of me! It drives me crazy! It is the first thing we see when we enter our house and it always makes me nuts. Today Kara asked if she could organize the shoes in the pantry. You have no idea what a service this is to a mom who can barely bend down to put on my own shoes, let alone organize and put away all of the shoes that clutter up our little pantry floor. She began and worked for over 20 minutes until she had them all paired up and removed from the floor so I could sweep it out and organize. What sweetness! She thought it was fun of course, because she is MUCH like her daddy (which I adore :) She loves projects and loves to organize and sort things. I told my little 4 year old how much it meant to me, and she just kind of stared at me blankly. When she is a 7 month along pregnant mom of three little ones, she will understand...and I will thank her again. So thankful for my little helper!

July...where did you go?

2010-08-10T10:46:00.000-07:00

I realize that I went a whole month without posting anything at all. July was a crazy but wonderful month! Here are a few pics of our month that flew by.

Blueberry picking

The Beach

A wonderful visit from family

Fourth of July FUN!!

Wycliffe

Kara's new friends who taught her how to use an I Phone :)

Time with the Tuckers

It went by WAY too fast!

Sunny Florida

2010-08-09T20:16:00.000-07:00

We're back from Florida, and we will never complain about heat here in Michigan again :) Despite the heat, we had a wonderful time there. We just returned from our two week orientation and training with Wycliffe Bible Translators. The program was entitled "Equip" and for good reason! We truly do feel equipped for this next phase of our lives, Partnership Development. Ben and I thoroughly enjoyed being together all day every day for 2 weeks straight, and the kids had a blast in Wycliffe's kid's program. They had a wonderful staff who loved on our kids like crazy. We're so excited to be a part of this organization, and our time there just reinforced that excitement. Thank you for all of your prayers as we were away.

Daddy's Day

2010-06-25T06:51:00.000-07:00

Happy Father's Day

As many of you know, around our house Daddy is pretty special. He is our hero!! He can fix everything, do the most push ups, he's super smart, and most important of all he loves Jesus and leads our family in loving Him too. So, Father's Day is quite the holiday here.

Kara wanted to do something extra special for Dad this year, so she washed the van :) Super fun on a toasty hot day!

So, Happy Daddy's Day to the BEST Dad in the world!! WE LOVE YOU DADDY!

Update

2010-06-16T18:09:00.001-07:00

What a busy season of life! We are in the midst of a 6 week online course with Wycliffe that culminates in our two week training in Orlando that we will attend in July..just 4 short weeks away. Funny how hard it is to keep up with homework and three small children..not to mention the one on the way who also likes to drain the life out of me. Props to you of my friends who have gone back to school while being moms. I can't quite fathom finding the time to think! It has been good so far though. We're learning a lot about the ins and outs of Wycliffe which we have had many questions about. We are more and more encouraged as we learn about the structure of Wycliffe and the accountability they will provide. Also just learning more of their heart and meeting people who have dedicated their lives to working with the organization has been great. Amazing people.

Currently we are getting all of our medical records up to date, having exams done for all of us, choosing insurance options, and definitely the most overhwhelming, choosing a field assignment. It has been amazing to see how God has led us to where He has. Right now we are in serious conversation with Tanzania, a country in Africa. There is a cluster project in process there and there is a position needing to be filled that fits Ben to a T! We would appreciate your prayers as we make our final decision. The amount of need is overwhelming, and it has been difficult know where we should go. But, we are trying to follow God's leading, and Tanzania seems like it would be a great fit for our family. We are also in conversation with Senegal and Cameroon. So, who knows? We really could end up anywhere! We will keep you updated as things become more certain. Thanks for all of your prayers!

Fans

2010-05-05T11:30:00.001-07:00

Kara had another great week in her new found soccer career, and this week she even drew fans!

We topped the night off with a most delicious Tulip Time Corn Dog. Love this time of year!

Celebrating Aunt Suzy

2010-04-30T13:36:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Aunt Suzy...we love you!!!!!!!

attempt # 2 :)

GOAL, GOAL, GOAL!!!!!

2010-04-29T08:57:00.001-07:00

This is what Ben, Luke, Ellie and I screamed and cheered as we watched Kara dribble down the field and score her first ever goal in a soccer game. It was a huge accomplishment given that the week before she didn't even touch the ball during the game :) She was very cute running around out there though! Kara is officially a "Little Kicker" on our township league. She is on the RED team and loves to get all geared up for soccer on Mondays.

Kara kicks off...go Kara go!!
and, yes, that is her scoring her first goal!!!! So Fun!!

Ben even got in on the action assisting the coach during practice time.

We only have three weeks left, and I know that Kara is having a blast! What fun kids are..we are having a blast too :)

Too BIG!

2010-04-10T16:49:00.000-07:00

Our Munchkins...

Easter 2009

Easter 2010
Time goes way too fast, and our kids are getting too big! There is nothing we can do to slow it down, so instead we will cherish every minute...even the hard ones. Next year there will be another little Gerth in these pictures.
What joy!

An Even Number

2010-04-06T07:00:00.000-07:00

We are happy to announce that Baby Gerth #4 is due to arrive October 22! And, yes, we are sure that we are not having triplets :) We had an ultrasound already, and the doctor is confident there is only one baby in there! Kara really thinks we should have a boy because Luke needs a brother, but she would also love to have another little sister. At least Luke would have Dad to play with! I have taken quite the break from blogging due to the "morning" sickness. Unfortunately it has been all day and worse at night this time, but I know it is for a good reason, and it will soon come to an end. I am in my 12th week, so we are looking forward to this second trimester. Can't wait till I can finally glow instead of being green!

Celebration times TWO

2010-02-16T16:25:00.000-08:00

SO happy to be TWO!

A boat for Luke and a duck for Ellie.

On February 14 our babies turned 2. I know how dramatically kids change while they are two, and I am so excited for all the milestones that will be reached! We love that they say new words everyday and it just seems like they grow leaps and bounds from week to week. We love age 2!

Kara Joy is 4!!

2010-02-15T17:29:00.001-08:00

Kara has already decided that 4 is a far superior age to 3. On February 11, 2006 this beautiful young lady rocked our world by changing everything! She is growing up so quickly, and we are fighting to find a way to slow down time.

Kara requested that I make a strawberry heart cake again this year. She also requested that we have heart-shaped PB and J sandwiches and make and decorate heart cookies. And most of all she wanted her friend Amber to come and enjoy all of this love with her :) It was a wonderful day, and she hasn't stopped chatting about all the fun we had.

Of course, since that was 4 whole days ago, she is already planning what her 5th birthday should consist of. She is not helping in the slowing down of time process that we are trying to figure out! I look forward to many more heart cakes and special birthdays with our precious Kara Joy.

Birthday Week

2010-01-28T08:29:00.000-08:00

Today I was looking at my calendar and realized that our birthday fun week is only 2 weeks away! I'm in need of some creative, yet simple and not too time consuming, cake ideas. Last year we had a party with Kara's little girl friends (which was a blast), but this year I think we will just be celebrating with family and keeping things simple. Kara's birthday is on the 11th and the twins on the 14th. Last year Kara wanted a big pink heart cake which was simple and very yummy!! I'm thinking it might be fun to stick with a traditional big pink heart cake for Kara and Ellie given the time of year and something different for Luke. Not sure what to do! The past few years with Kara have been so fun seeing her delight in what we come up with. Time is ticking, and we will see what we come up with. Any ideas are welcome!!!

Sunny Florida

2010-01-15T13:34:00.000-08:00

We returned a couple days ago from spending a wonderful (although quite chilly) vacation visiting with our dear friends in Florida. We had such a relaxing time just spending time with them and seeing what their new life in Florida is like. They took us to Disney's Magic Kingdom, Epcot and Hollywood Studios, and we had a blast!

My kids are having Tucker withdrawals (and so am I!!)...it was a lively house with 14 people living together for a week, and I think our house seems pretty quiet and boring compared to that! We had quite a few adventures while there. Florida had the lowest temperatures they have had in 80 years..BRRR! Our kids and I got the stomach flu which passed quickly and thankfully didn't pass beyond us...phew! We got a flat tire out on a late night adventure which ended up keeping us out til nearly 3 in the morning (this actually ended up being VERY fun and involved A LOT of laughter!). Kara was beside herself when she actually got to meet Cinderella...seriously in awe :) She and Cinderella chatted a while and then Kara squealed with joy "Cinderella twirled me!" She was in heaven! Other than these things, we mostly just relaxed and enjoyed each other's company and friendship.

We (ages 10 and up) stayed up super late every night and played games and talked after the little kids were in bed (admittedly this was one of my favorite parts!). We miss doing every day life with our friends, but are so glad we could see into their new world in Florida. We love you friends, and can't wait until our next visit!

Happy New Year!

2010-01-02T17:00:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year smooches all around!!!

Here's wishing you all a wonderful and blessed 2010!

Merry Christmas!!!!

2009-12-25T12:03:00.000-08:00

We wish you all a Merry Christmas remembering our Savior Jesus Christ who came to dwell among us, live a sinless life, die on the cross for our sins and rise again so that we could have new life in Christ!! With thankful hearts we celebrate!

My Men

2009-12-10T19:43:00.000-08:00

My handsome men...

oh how I love them!!

O Let Your Soul Now be Filled with Gladness

2009-12-09T12:51:00.000-08:00

O let your soul now be filled with gladness

Your heart redeemed, rejoice indeed!

O may the thought banish all your sadness

That in his blood you have been freed,

That God's unfailing love is yours,

That you the only Son were given,

That by his death he has opened heaven,

That you are ransomed as you are.

If you seem empty of any feeling,

Rejoice - you are his ransomed bride!

If those you cherish seem not to love you,

And dark assails from every side,

Still yours the promise, come what may,

In loss and triumph, in laughter, crying,

In want and riches, in living, dying,

That you are purchased as you are.

It is a good every good transcending

That Christ has died for you and me!

It is a gladness that has no ending

Therin God's wondrous love to see!

Praise be to him, the spotless Lamb,

Who through the desert my soul is leading

To that fair city of joy exceeding,

For which he bought me as I am.

by Peter Jonsson Aschan

Does a mom's heart good...

2009-12-05T19:04:00.000-08:00

This afternoon Kara and I were making supper together. This is often when we have some of our best talks..or most hilarious ones! For your entertainment...

Me: Kara, I just love cooking meals for our family. Isn't it fun to do it together?

Kara: Yes mom, it's so fun!

Me: Perhaps someday you will be able to enjoy cooking meals for your own husband and kids.

Kara: (no response...just a very sad look)

Me: What's wrong??

Kara: Momma, I don't want to leave! I want to stay here with you and Dad and Luke and Ellie. My husband and kids can just come over for a visit and eat with us here, then they can leave and I'll stay here with you.

HA! I love the way a three year old thinks, and I'm glad that this three year old loves her family. I know someday she will leave, and I realize it will come much more quickly than I can imagine. Until then, I will treasure our little chats and encourage her to love the roll that God may bless her with in her very own family someday.

Ian

2009-12-04T11:38:00.000-08:00

Everytime I hear the name Ian I can't help but be swept by emotion. You see, three years ago yesterday, Ian Jonathan was born to our dear friends. He looked just like their other three sons, so beautiful...an amazing mix of their parents. But this day was not full of joy. No, this day was full of tears, sadness and grieving. Ian had died a few days earlier while still in his mommy's womb. Ian has touched our lives more than we ever imagined, and we were only able to spend a few short hours with his lifeless body. Ian has taught us many things. He has taught us that God will do all His holy will, and it won't make sense to us much of the time...but yet, God is good. Our dear friends have allowed us to be a part of their lives and of the loss they have experienced. They have given us a gift that has truly changed us. We have been so blessed to walk beside them as they share with us all that God has done in their lives through the loss of their precious son. Our friends are currently in another state for work purposes, so this is the first year since Ian was born that I can not hug my friend. This makes me so sad. I know that she needs a hug and to know that Ian is not forgotten. When looking forward to eternity, one of my greatest anticipations is to see the joyful reunion of Ian with his parents. No more pain. No more missing. Until that day, our friends press on through the grief. They persevere with a son and brother absent from their everyday. How I wish I could do more to encourage and comfort. For now I will pray and long expectantly for that glorious day when my friends will hug their precious Ian.

Thankfulness

2009-11-25T12:27:00.000-08:00

This morning I asked Kara what she was thankful for. Her first enthusiastic answer was "books!!!". A couple months ago Ben's mom gave us a big stack of "Magic Tree House" books for the kids. I figured I would put them on the shelf for future use, thinking that maybe we would read them in 3 or 4 years. Well, Kara got one off the shelf the other day and asked if we could read it. I smiled and said sure, certain that she would lose all interest once she saw the absence of pictures on every page in these "big kid" chapter books. Much to my surprise, she sat and listened intently to the first chapter. She followed the story-line completely and begged me to read another chapter to her. Today we finished our 4th book, and it's been less than a week. With help from the Magic Tree House we have visited the jungles of Africa, the prairie, the Civil War and the Revolutionary War. If you ask Kara who our first President was, she will excitedly answer George Washington, and she will tell you all about the Revolutionary War. She will then proceed to tell you how Clara Barton founded the Red Cross during the Civil War. I love watching her learn, and more than that I love watching her LOVE learning! Ben's parents have given us more books than I can count for the kids, and I am so grateful! Our children already have a love for reading that Ben and I are excitedly cultivating. So, thanks for the books Grandma and Grandpa Gerth!! We love them!!

Oh, and don't worry...right after Kara said she was thankful for books she quickly followed with Grandpas, Grandmas and Jesus! :)

Thoughtful

2009-11-20T08:53:00.000-08:00

One day last week my husband went out to run a few errands, and this is what he came home with. A rose that thrived beautifully for over a week, and my favorite white chocolate mocha from Seattle's Best Coffee. These may seem like little things, but they are not! He knows me so well. He knows when I need a hug, a listening ear, to be put in my place, encouragement, to laugh, or a rose and a yummy white mocha. Marriage is an amazing thing! God has grown us so close together, through joys and trials. Mostly the trials I suppose. They are not fun, but God does miraculous things through them to make us one. Ben has chosen to love me despite my faults, and they are many! Thank you my hub for your thoughtfulness and for continuing to be a learner, lover and leader. I love you!!

Wedding Bells

2009-11-13T08:49:00.000-08:00

Conversation between Kara and I this morning while we were washing dishes together...

Kara: Mom, I am all ready to get married.

Me: Oh, really? Tell me about it.

Kara: Well, I have a wedding dress already. The one from Uncle Josh's wedding! (this was over 2 years ago, and Kara was the flower girl...might be a wee bit small :)

Me: Yes, that is a beautiful dress. I hope it still fits. You might need some alterations. :) (now I'm giggling!) Umm, who will you marry?

Kara: Oh mom (with that, "isn't it obvious" look on her face), I will marry Daddy of course! He's the best Daddy and Husband.

Me: I agree completely! He is amazing! Who will you invite to the wedding?

Kara: ALL (with great 3 year old emotion) of my friends...Shelby, Shanna, Isabelle, Kailyn, Shiloh, Amber, .....(the list went on and on...and on)

Me: Well, that sounds really nice Kara.

Kara: You'll come too, won't ya mom?

Me: Wouldn't miss it!

I love the conversations we have, especially when I see our kids picking up on how amazing their dad is!! We are so blessed, and I pray that our little girls will find husbands just like their daddy!

Cuteness

2009-11-10T17:09:00.000-08:00

Ellie's first pony tails...not for lack of trying on my part! This is the first time I could get her to sit still long enough to get them in. It makes her look so old!

My polka-dotted princesses!

A laundry basket full of love and laughs :)

Dizzy-ing

2009-10-28T08:48:00.000-07:00

Luke has officially mastered walking, running, walking backwards, climbing, dancing and now...drum roll please...SPINNING!!

mmmmm mmmmm good

2009-10-27T14:14:00.001-07:00

A few weeks ago I ventured into the world of pie baking.

Until I took this brave leap, I had "baker's block", as I like to call it. There are certain things that I have never tried to make, simply because I have never done it and am not confident that they will turn out. I had never made a pie crust and had convinced myself that it would be a flop! One evening I had been shopping in Meijer and found a glass pie plate for $1.99. The week before I had seen them, but they cost $5.00. I wanted to buy it but thought there were many more important things that $5.00 could go towards. Well, when I saw them for a mere $1.99 I thought it was time to conquer this crazy fear of "the crust." I was amazed at the results of my attempt! A delicious apple pie, and a very happy hubby! I foresee many more pies in my family's future!

What was I thinking?

2009-10-16T09:16:00.000-07:00

This morning I had the fantastic idea of making sugar cut-out cookies with my kids. You see, Thanksgiving is approaching, and I'm starting to get that warm, fuzzy holiday feeling at times. So, I thought this would be a way of doing something kind of festive, without really doing something Christmas-y too early. Doesn't that sound fun to you?

My goal was also to accomplish some educational goals. Kara is learning her shapes right now, so I thought it would be fun for her to be able to cut shapes out of the dough and then get to eat them later. What better way is there to learn your shapes? And, of course Luke and Ellie would enjoy the whole adventure too, right? We would make wonderful memories for years to come! Well, it took the WHOLE morning, and the twins cried nearly the entire time. The house was basically destroyed by the time we were finished, not to mention flour EVERYWHERE which tends to happen when a three year old is baking. What made me think that they would be OK with stopping at just one, or two, or in Luke's case three cookies? They knew there were more, and I could not distract them from this fact. At times I just laughed, and a few times I nearly cried. They were out of control! There were a few positives to this fiasco. Kara behaved marvelously. She tried to help me by logically explaining the situation to Luke and Ellie. She told them they would get tummy aches if they ate any more and that cookies were just once in a while treats since they are not very healthy for us. She had one cookie, and asked for no more. Phew!! This was a highlight! And, I suppose, God was supplying more opportunities for me to train Luke and Ellie's little hearts.

The drama is over. The cookies are safely put out of sight, and now it's just the "normal" chaos taking place with my three little cherubs :)

What a Wonderful Month

2009-10-02T11:00:00.001-07:00

Apple picking at Crane's

Kara and Grandma Gerth on the first day of RALLY

Luke taking a walk with Grandpa and Grandma Gerth

Ellie and Grandma hanging out on the boat!

Kara helping Grandpa pick tomatoes in the garden

I can't believe that September has come to an end! This past month was a blast for the Gerth family! It all began with apple picking with friends, which we will hopefully do much more of before the end of fall. I love apple picking, and all things fall, especially when done with friends! This was just the beginning. We spent a week in Minnesota with Ben's family, which is always wonderful. The kids had a great time reconnecting with Grandma and Grandpa Gerth and their Minnesota aunts and uncles. Ben was able to attend a men's retreat with his dad, brother and brother-in-law while the kids and I stayed back at Ben's parent's place and had "girl-time" (with Luke of course! He wasn't quite old enough for the men's retreat :) Kara is still talking about girl-time and how much fun she had stamping with Grandma! Kara was able to attend a special pre -school class (RALLY) that Ben's mom teaches once a week. She was Grandma's special helper, which was a very important roll! Kara also got to help Grandpa pick veggies from their amazing garden, visit Grandma when she was working at the library, make cookies with Grandma, and we all went on a boat ride. Ben's Grandpa and Grandma Gerth were even visiting, so we were able to spend time with them. All this and more made for a wonderful visit with family!

On the way home from Minnesota, we stopped in Wisconsin to visit with some friends from Moody for a few days. It was a wonderful time of fellowship and LAUGHTER! God has blessed us with such wonderful relationships, and it was so refreshing to spend time with these dear friends and their beautiful children.

To end this blessed month, Ben and I celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary. Some dear friends of ours graciously moved their family into our house for 3 days to care for our children so that we could spend our anniversary, kid-free, in Chicago. We LOVE Chicago!! Ben and I met at Moody, so all of our dating took place in Chicago. We went to Shedd's Aquarium, rode the bus, rode the "L", ate out, walked along the lake, went to coffee, visited Moody and walked and walked and walked all around the city to many of our most memorable spots. It was amazing!

What a wonderful month, and fall has just begun!

A Typical Saturday Night

2009-09-13T13:27:00.000-07:00

We typically keep Saturday nights reserved for staying home as a family, preparing for a busy Sunday ahead of us. This is one of my favorite times..wrestle time with dad!! After the kids are all bathed, and ready for bed, the fun begins! I pray that we will always make time for things like this, and not let business crowd out this joy. So, if you ever stop by on a Saturday night, beware! You just may get dragged into the fun :)

My Little Shadow

2009-09-11T07:03:00.000-07:00

For the past 19 months, Luke has been our "hardest" baby. He has been such a joy, but at the same time has exhausted me at points! In the past few weeks he has finally begun the adventure of walking, which I can tell thrills his little heart! He is so much more content, and seems to love life in a whole new way. Today he has become my little shadow, following me all around the house. So far he has "helped" me sweep, load the dryer, change the bedding...and the day has just begun! I must admit, I love having my little man at my side, jabbering away. He is even standing at my side talking my ear off as I type. Is it possible to freeze time? If so, I think I shall!

Good for the soul

2009-09-09T13:27:00.000-07:00

Need to smile today? This is an oldy but a goody!! If you have had a rough day, this is sure to get you giggling!

Put on Christ...

2009-09-03T11:59:00.000-07:00

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, PUT ON tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long-suffering; bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Colossians 3:12-17

The last few weeks have been a bit exhausting. Mommying two teethers and a VERY strong-willed three year old has begun to sap me of my energy, and yes, even give me a few gray hairs! Don't get me wrong, I LOVE being a mom. I treasure my time with my kids and am so thankful that God has allowed me to stay home with them! Having said that, I'm just plain tired! It is easy for me to begin complaining to Ben about this kid's behavior, and that kid's behavior, but God, so graciously, has been reminding me of what my behavior toward my kids should be like, and showing me sin in my own heart. In the midst of the kid's tantrums and fits, am I being tender, kind, humble, patient, forgiving, loving, peaceful and thankful in my actions and my words?...hmmm, not always. What a high calling we have, to be Christ to our kids. So, this passage has become dear to me as of late. Just look at how much truth is here, even about parenting. Not only is this what my life is to look like now that I am a new creature, but there is so much here that I need to be training my kids in. God's Word is so full and rich!

Thankful...

2009-08-28T14:11:00.000-07:00

I just got off the phone with a dear friend that I went to college with my freshman year. We were wondering why we don't talk on the phone more often. What a blessing friendship is! Bearing one another's burdens. Sharing in eachother's joys. I am so thankful for it. It is always the "bearing of the burdens" that seems to draw you closer. The joys are wonderful, but isn't it true that the pain is what really cements your friendship? That sure seems to be the case in my life. I've had some friends apologize for the fact that Ben and I have had to walk through the mud of life with them. More and more I am learning that being able to walk through trials with people is a gift. I wouldn't trade it. So, if I have walked through a trial with you, big or small, know that it truly is a joy for me to walk beside you. And for those of you who have pulled me through some of those deep waters, thank you! Our God is so gracious to have put you in my life!

When the Cat's Away...

2009-08-27T16:33:00.000-07:00

Music to my ears :) I ran out to the store quick the other day, and I came home to this evidence of what goes on when I'm not around! What a good daddy my children have. I'm so thankful for a husband who loves his family, teaches us the Word, and also enjoys spending time with us! We are blessed beyond measure.

Sweet Sleep

2009-08-20T11:30:00.000-07:00

I so easily forget how exhausting having children up in the night can be. For some reason I haven't been able to sleep well for a few nights. My sweet husband, being the hero that he so often is, had me tucked into bed by 10:00 last night with high hopes that I would snooze the night away! It appeared to be a success! My head hit the pillow and I was out. Well, at about 10:20 Luke started whaling. Ben got him calmed down pretty quickly and was still pretty happy that we would be snoozing by quarter to 11. At about 11:10 Luke began again, and I didn't get him settled til about 2. Now it is nap time, and just as I got snuggled down on the couch for a nap myself, Luke began his piercing cries. He is getting two teeth right now, so we think that is the culprit! Goodbye sweet sleep. Someday I will know you again :) I have a few friends right now with newborns, and God is reminding me how much they need my prayers. So, I am committing my sleepless times in the nights to praying for these friends. Those first couple weeks can feel daunting to a new mom. They are precious days, but can be so draining! Funny how we forget those times so quickly. I guess God wanted to give me a little reminder so I would better sympathise with my sleep-deprived friends.

He Reigns!!!

2009-08-12T08:54:00.000-07:00

Revelation 5:9 says, "You have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation." Amazing!! What a beautiful truth that God's offer of salvation through Christ is for EVERY tribe, tongue, people and nation. What is our responsibility in this?? This is what Ben and I have been pondering.

Kara has a new favorite song lately. We've listened to it at least 6 times today, and it's not even noon yet :)! Enjoy!
You can listen to it here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twuLr5rQmp0

Summer Bliss

2009-08-10T16:46:00.000-07:00

Today it was FINALLY warm enough here in Holland to break out the kiddie pool. This was Luke and Ellie's first time, so we were all super excited for them to experience this summer time delight!

Well,

it took Luke a little time to get used to the idea,

but, as you can see, he quickly came around!

Ellie loved it too, and quickly became a pro!

And of course, Ben and I loved taking in every moment of it.

Now we are just hoping for a few more warm days to be able to pull it out again! We love summer!!!

Welcome!

2009-08-05T11:58:00.000-07:00

Our most recent attempt at a family picture! Welcome to the crazy life of the Gerths!

We've had a great summer so far. The highlights have been Kara getting glasses (she's doing great with them!!), a trip to Tennessee to visit my dear friend Jennifer and her family, a quick visit from Ben's sister Mary and her hubby Steve, a wonderful visit by Ben's parents and now we're just waiting for Luke and Ellie to start walking to end the summer with a bang. We wonder some days if they will ever take their first steps, since they will be 18 months old in just a week! Life is exciting with three kids three and under! We are so enjoying their personalities and God is graciously walking us through this adventure of parenting.

We hope that this will be a way to stay in better contact with friends and family! Love you all!