My Day

Today I woke up an hour late. NOT a good way to start the day. I was supposed to bake a few items for MOPs for our Spa Day. Thankfully, although I was a little late, I managed to get my casserole baked. My scones didn’t make it, though. Very sad. I’m very proud of my scones. They are always a hit and such a wonderful comfort food. My pride hit the dust. Thankfully, my identity is not wrapped up in my scones. On our way home, Dan and I decided to meet at Mr. B’s and let the boys run around before heading home. Good idea. Gabe decided that pooping in the play zone…

Awakened By Psalm 116

I love the Lord because he has heard my voice and my plea for mercy. Because he gave me an ear and listened to me, I will always turn to him as long as I live. Death encompassed me. I went through hell. I suffered depression and anxiety. Then I called on the name of the Lord… “Oh Lord! Please deliver me!” Our God is gracious. He is righteous and merciful. (My problems are minuscule compared to what they could be!) The Lord defends those with childlike faith. I was left vulnerable and weak, and he saved me. Return, my soul, to your rest. The Lord has been good to you. You have delivered me from despair;…

heartbreaks and hurts

Taken at nine weeks – alive with a strong heartbeat. Four whole weeks before we found out she had died. In two weeks, I will have reached my due date with a few extra pounds and no baby to show for it.  In the past two years, we have lost two uncles, two grandparents and our BabyGirl. In the past year, we have gone from active in our community and having a steady income to unemployed and withdrawn. I have started working after five years of being home with our children. We endured a winter without heat (other than our trusty little wood stove – thank you, God!). And our hearts have broken over many things. …

The Day Is Good

Words. They fall short of truly capturing the moments I’ve enjoyed and the moments through which I’ve labored. There’s no doubt that this phase of life is a challenging one. There’s also no doubt in my heart that it is a blessing; a gift straight from heaven meant for our little seemingly insignificant family. The time we’ve spent together as a family has been truly fulfilling to me. Dan’s role as husband and father has warmed my very core. Sure there have been challenges. As a man – a hunter – he has the burning need to provide for his family. He can hardly stay still without some sort of direction. And believe me, it’s…

Our Gabey at Three

David Gabriel Simrak. Our quiet, laid-back, go-with-the-flow kinda guy who is rarely rattled or demanding… is now three. I’m afraid these character traits may hide for a while as he finds himself asserting his independence. Three years ago, God blessed us with “Kid 2″ as Dan affectionately calls him. With the demands (and joys – we mustn’t forget the laughs) that his boisterous and high-energy brother brought to our little family, Gabriel’s quiet demeanor was a breath of fresh air. While both of our boys are affectionate and loving, Gabe has been our cuddle-bug. He took an immediate liking to one blanket in particular (he calls it his “bibi”) and has no problem finding a place to sit, and…