OK, so I am not as diligent about keeping up my blog as I would like to be but Life goes on so here is some updates on the Family.

                                                 My sweet Emma Grace is 7 months old!!!

                                   Lilyan just turned two on Monday. A bundle of energy!!

 

               And WOW! Eve is my beautiful now 14 year old... Where did she come from?

Everyone's gotta love some blue eyed girls...

Baby Days....

                                                     My sweet 3 month old Emma Grace.....

 

Being Careful and Making Plans.....

       With a tiny little one in an action packed house, I find myself trying to be extra careful not to leave her unattended. Even in those perfectly safe places like cribs or a bouncy seat the common dangers of flying super heroes, dancing ballerinas and airborne sippy cups seem to find her.  I even call upon my oldest children to sit in the room with her if I have to walk out so that any other loving, kind and helpful children that happen by will not be overcome with temptation to play with this new, live baby doll.  However, even my best laid plans always seem to have hiccups.  Whether it be the phone ringing in my teenage daughters pocket or the army of boys shooting each other with darts (Nerf) there is always a distraction to cause the babysitters to leave the room and the baby is left all alone and unsuspecting. Even those safety belts on the swing cannot keep her down.
       I try not to panic when I find a pile of blankets where the baby once sat or a trail of cracker crumbs leading through the open gate and up the stairs and no baby or toddler in sight. Abby, Sammy, Katie, Noah?  Where are you? Where is Emma (2 mo.)?  Where is Lily (18 mo.)?  What are you doing?  How could I miss this? I was only out of the room for 2 minutes....2 MINUTES! Where is Eve and Jack?  I thought they were watching! What is a mom to do?  Well, I can honestly say that i am not one to panic or worry much, but it does test my patience.  Should I be upset about what could have happened or be grateful that nothing did? 
       No matter how careful I am or how well planned things are there is usually something I miss or that goes wrong on my watch (the 24/7 watch). Sometimes I wish I had an extra set of eyes or arms then nothing would ever happen, right? But placing my trust in physical things like my own strengths or my older children doesn't work. I need something better, more than myself.  The one thing that i forget amidst all the chaos is that I already have that in Christ. He's my one hope, my protector and the one who lifts me up. He's there. Watching over my children and giving me wisdom, understanding and patience to handle whatever comes. He's the only one in whom I can place my trust. Thank God He is watching when I cannot, listening when I am not and Willing when I will not.

                                              (Proverbs 3:5-6)
                              Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
                              Lean not on your own understanding;
                                 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
                                  and He will direct your paths




So, I put Emma in her bouncy seat and buckled her in so I could run downstairs to start a load of laundry. When I returned a few minutes later I saw this..... I did not even realize it was NOT a doll in the doll stroller until I rounded the corner and saw the bouncy seat empty!  Luckily, this was not one of the most dangerous things my girls have done with their sister.  This was actually cute and Emma seemed to enjoy it.  They even remembered to buckle her in! 

 This is Noah sleeping on the living room floor. After destroying the couch and throwing the toys everywhere (he was just playing) he stepped on something and wanted a bandaid.  By the time I got back with the bandaid, about 5 minutes later, this is what I found.  That is what I like to find after leaving children alone in a room for a minute!!

This is a video I (Eve) took using my phone and wanted to post it because it is too funny not to.  This is what we do for entertainment when we're bored. Noah was trying out a hopper ball in the living room and couldn't quite get his balance.  Noah is usually the target for fun and games.  Since he is only 3 he doesn't seem to mind and he thinks it is fun anyway. Not sure if the sound will work but it is still funny.  Check it out!

Happy Easter!

We are a week late but Happy Easter!  Had a great Day with the family and Friends.  Eve and Jack sang in the cantata at Church and Eve had a solo.  She is quite the singer!  The little ones also got to sing an Easter song and did a wonderful job. One of the lines in the song was 'the past is over and gone,' and Katie apparently thought the line was, 'the pastor's over and gone'! It was too cute!  Here are some Pics.

New Year and New Baby

January and February usually don't have anything significant going on but this year two very awesome things took place!  The first is something we have been working hard toward for a long time. Joshua went to Lynchburg, VA. ant took his LAST class for his Doctorate!  After a comprehensive exam and a 2 week wait he got the news that he passed and now has been officially accepted to do his Dissertation!! He can now be called--    Rev. Dr. Joshua C. Strunk Ed. D.  --Praise The Lord!!  Though I am still processing I am super excited and looking forward to his time being a little less divided. 

Lily in January, 15 months

Then in February we were anticipating the arrival of baby #8 and everything else got put on hold. We were expecting her early but I guess it must have been too cold for her so she waited until the 19th. But we are soooo proud to announce the birth of Emma Grace Strunk. Born on February 19, 2013 at 3:13 am. She weighed 7 lbs. 4 oz. and was 19 1/2 inches long. Beautiful and healthy. God has truly blessed us overflowing!

                                                                       Emma Grace

 

                                                             Her first days at Home!

December and Christmas 2012

There is too much to put in one post so here is December.....

 Jack had his Birthday. The big 11 years. We all got the stomach bug the week before Christmas on his actual birthday. That was not fun but it passed and we were all OK in the end!!

                                                                       Jack 11 years

                     Jack got a bow and arrows and case!  He is really developing a love for archery.

 

 

 

Chistmas

Everyone had an awesome time! It was a welcomed gift after a week of sickness!

Sept., Oct., Nov., 2012

So here we are...a lot has obviously happened since JUNE.  Eve had a serious discussion with me and we decided that she will be taking over the blog for me since I can't seem to keep up! so hopefully you will be getting more regular updates and pics. As for now, I will update you on the last 6 months.

 September was our wonderful daughter, Eve's, 13th birthday.! We celebrated with a kind of  'coming of age' party. In the Jewish culture they call it a bat-mitzvah for a girl and a bar-mitzvah for a boy. We wanted to have a similar thing for Eve to honor and bless her.  We had a huge dinner and then Eve got baptized (by her dad, What an honor for him) and then we read some scripture and gave others an opportunity to read and bless her as well. She is such a beautiful young lady now and I feel blessed that She is my daughter.

AMEN!

 

 

After That we had two birthdays in October. Our second daughter, Abby, Turned 8 and Lily, Daughter 4, turned 1!! We celebrated by going to the zoo. We have been to the zoo many times but the kids love it so it has become the common field trip!

 

 

                                                                    Lily at 1 year

                                                                  Abby at 8 years

Then in November, Noah turned 3! It was also my birthday and Thanksgiving.  Fall is always a busy time of year around here!

Noah at 3 years 

Last little bit of Fall!