The Candy Cake....

13 years ago today my littlest sister was born. The other day she was over at the house and she saw one of my candy bouquets and made a comment that she would like one of those for her birthday. She said something like, "Hey, I would like one of those with just a ton of candy coming out all over it." So, as usual, this got me to thinking...... I have been wanting to do a "candy cake" for the longest time. (It really isn't a cake, it is just a bunch of candy arranged to look like a cake, just for clarification.) I wanted it to be pretty big as turning 13 is a pretty big deal and I wanted it to have lots of PINK! (That is my sister's favorite color.)

This is what I came up with.....

The Candy Cake

I thought it turned out cute! I hope she likes it :-).

October 2010

Hi all! So I totally realize how far behind that I am. I started this posting the first week of November and for whatever reason didn't finish it. I was browsing through all of my "on hold" blogs and saw this one still un-posted and it looked very lonely :-). I was tempted to delete it but realized that I HAD written several paragraphs already so I decided not to waste it. :-) So, here it is....

Another month down in the wonderful year of 2010. We have had such an exciting year that I just want to take a few moments to record some thoughts, events, and really just whatever about this past month! My goal is to do this for each month from here on out but I have a lot of thoughts and ideas that I currently am writing about and hoping to post soon so I am not sure if that is an attainable goal or not.

The month of October marked our 2nd son's 5th birthday on October 30th. This was a very exciting time for us. We can't believe that he is 5 now and it is so very bitter sweet. Sad because he is just growing so fast but oh so sweet  because he is doing so many wonderful and amazing things and I just really like the person that he is becoming. He is such a blessing and I just feel so honored that God chose me to be his mommy! (Will be posting about his birthday celebration shortly.)

We also gained a new family member this month in celebration to Ky's 5th birthday. We actually adopted another four legged friend from the local pound. He is a yellow lab, around a year old, and is so sweet. A perfect addition to our family. Ky named him Fletcher and he is quickly adjusting to the busyness of the Gressman household. A perfect place for an energetic puppy!

This month seemed to be marked with a lot of bitter sweets. At the beginning of the month we had to say goodbye to the pastor of our church which was heartbreaking as we will miss him so much. I do not think he will ever know how God has used him in my life, my husband's life, and the lives of our children. We don't know how we would even be close to where we are today without his wisdom, love and support. The sweet side of this is kind of two-fold. We deeply respect our former pastor and know that he is following God's will and that is exciting for us to see. Secondly, we have gained an incredible new pastor that Jason and I deeply respect and many times are just left in awe of his character and values. He is an amazing man and we can't wait to see how God uses him.

Another bitter/sweet, October 15th marked the Infant and Pregnancy Loss Remembrance Day. This is something that Jason and I are too familiar with unfortunately. I was asked by a dear sweet lady that coordinated the very first candlelight ceremony in our town  in honor of this day to actually come and share some of my poetry as well as a few words about what we have gone through. (To read more about that go here.) It is a topic that is very close to my heart and I continually pray that God is able to use me to help someone else that may be traveling this very difficult path in their own life. I have a few more pieces that I have been working on regarding this topic so I will save my words for those.

Another month behind us in 2010 as the holidays approach. We are excited to make new memories this year with our family and friends. God bless you all and we can't wait to continue to share. :-)

Dear Jason....

I am writing this to you as we have been apart this weekend and I am missing you dearly. I just finished a "chic flick" as you so eloquently call them and was reminded yet again why I don't watch these types of movies when you are not here. I just end up missing you so much more. It doesn't matter what the leading actor says or does I just think about you and how amazing it has been to be married to you all these years. I am forever grateful that I don't live in the drama that the leading ladies always seem to find themselves in. :-)

I know our life isn't for everyone and doesn't make sense to most but it is our life and I am honored to be called your wife. I know there are times it seems like it is crazy and we have too much to do but at the end of the day I so look forward to spending that time with you and our precious four children in the home that we have created. It has been the most amazing adventure knowing that I am married to the one God intended for me to be with. It is just a joy to do life with you as He has called us to do it. I pray that our children find someone that loves them as you have loved me because you do love me well.

I am missing you here and eagerly awaiting your return. Only a few hours more.

Your Loving Wife,
Andrea

the gressman four....

I think there is a point with the addition of each child that I have said to myself...."Wow, I have X number of kids now..." You just get so use to taking care of one child, then two, then three that when you add another one there is a bit of an adjustment period. These are the first pictures I remember taking of all four of my children together. And let me tell you it was quite interesting as you can probably tell from the pictures! ;-) (And these are only about half of the pictures taken! :-)

I have always dreamed of having four children. I believe that it was a promise placed in my heart long ago by God himself. This promise was what got me through all of the hard times and all of the losses. Don't get me wrong, there were several times when I did just want to give up but as I stare at the faces of my four beautiful children I thank God with all that I am that I did NOT give up. I can't imagine living my life not knowing each of these precious little ones that God has so graciously blessed me with. Thank you God for my Cale, my Ky, my Creide, and my Kearyn.

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Stay tuned for more conversation on the adjustment to having four children....

ky & creide....

These were taken at the Ouray Hot Springs on Cale's birthday. Just thought I would share the pictures...

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Praying in Public....

My mother-in-law actually passed on the following story to me and I thought I would share it. We always pray at mealtime even if we are at a restaurant and one of the boys almost always prays for us. I am sure I wouldn't be too happy if someone did this to one of my kids. Fortunately, we usually receive a favorable reaction from those who overhear my children praying. Anyway, I thought I would pass this on and see what you all thought of it....

THE STORY BEGINS....

Last week, I took my grand-children to a restaurant. My six-year-old grand-son asked if he could say grace.
As we bowed our heads he said, "God is good, God is great. Thank you for the food, and I would even thank you more if Nana gets us ice cream for dessert.. And liberty and justice for all! Amen!"

Along with the laughter from the other customers nearby, I heard a woman remark, "That's what's wrong with this country. Kids today don't even know how to pray. Asking God for ice cream! Why, I never!"

Hearing this, my grand-son burst into tears and asked me, "Did I do it wrong? Is God mad at me?"

As I held him and assured him that he had done a terrific job, and God was certainly not mad at him, an elderly gentleman approached the table.

He winked at my grand-son and said, "I happen to know that God thought that was a great prayer."

"Really?" my grand-son asked.

"Cross my heart," the man replied.

Then, in a theatrical whisper, he added (indicating the woman whose remark had started this whole thing), "Too bad she never asks God for ice cream. A little ice cream is good for the soul sometimes."

Naturally, I bought my grand-children ice cream at the end of the meal. My grand-son stared at his for a moment, and then did something I will remember the rest of my life.

He picked up his sundae and, without a word, walked over and placed it in front of the woman. With a big smile he told her, "Here, this is for you. Ice cream is good for the soul sometimes; and my soul is good already."


The End

Cale's 11th Birthday...

So, I am a bit behind on my pictures but here are some from Cale's birthday. Enjoy!

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Gressman Family Fun...

One of the things that we love to do as a family is go for walks and hikes as a family. It is great to get outside, stretch our legs and discover great treasures that the boys always seem to discover. The boys are so much fun to watch when they are doing their thing. Here are a few casual pictures Jason took on one of our walks/hikes.

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Good times!

Jason....the youth pastor

So, I just wanted to post some pictures of Jason to let you know what his job really consists of. It is a lot of really hard work as you will see.....

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Pretty rough I know.....Sometimes I wonder how he makes it through his days. ;-)

This was actually taken on a dodgeball night. (Yes people, and by people I mean adults, do still play dodgeball. And yes, it is a sport!) 

Gressman Boys - 2010

These were taken just after we moved into our new house. :-)

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Cale & Creide

Being that it is getting close to the holidays I have been going through a ton of pictures. I love looking at pictures. It brings back so many wonderful memories. Here are just a couple of candid shots that I found of Cale and Creide that I wanted to share. Love my boys so very much!

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Stay tuned for more.... :-)

The Temper Tantrum

Recently I was attempting to reason with my 2 year old (now 3 year old) when he decided that all negotiations were off and threw himself in the floor to begin a temper tantrum. It doesn’t seem to matter how many times he does this I still get irritated. He is our third child and I don’t seem to remember our first two children engaging in such behavior as frequently as our third son. 

I know for a fact that my first son only threw two tantrums in his toddler years and I know that my second son threw a few more then that but it didn’t seem to be as many as our third baby boy has participated in. We have always said that our third son is the most dramatic one of the bunch so I guess that tantrums fit in with that part of his personality.

This time as he began the tantrum process I just watched him instead of going right into discipline mode. It made me think of us as the human race. It made me think of myself as an individual, our family, our church body and so on down the line. I began to think of how many times I have not gotten “my way” and thrown a tantrum. Sure, I didn’t get down in the floor, kick and scream and carry on but I started to really think about my heart condition. How many times have I “pouted” before God because I simply did not get my way?!?

I thought of the tantrums that my children have thrown. In my heart as their parent I was restricting them from something that would be harmful to them in some way. Sometimes they could potentially harm themselves physically, sometimes character-wise, and sometimes something even more serious such as spiritual damage. As a parent, I was trying to keep my child safe from something. So, why cannot we give that same trust to our own Heavenly Father who is far more intelligent then we can ever dream to be. How come it is that we don’t trust the one that knows the past, future, and present? If we had that same kind of insight how would that change the way we disciplined our children?

As I watched my two year old continue his tantrum I tried to think of what this looks like through God’s eyes. How patient and loving our Father is to allow each of us to go through our own personal “tantrums” sometimes multiple times a day! Oh praise God for his patience and wisdom. Praise Him for not becoming agitated as I do when my own children act in such a way. I couldn't help but to think of the following scripture....

"because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, 

   and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” Hebrews 12:6

"My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline, 

   and do not resent his rebuke, 
because the LORD disciplines those he loves, 
   as a father the son he delights in." Proverbs 3: 11-12

Memories 1 and 2.....finally here!

So, for all of you who were wondering what happened to the ten part series on my memories of Ky, I am so very sorry. Some of you may know but we were all sick and had been sick for about two weeks and with three days to go until Ky's birthday my body just kind of gave out and I needed sleep! So, I ended up going to bed extremely early for about three days straight in order to be up and around during Ky's birthday. Being that I am a night owl that is when I do most of my writing so my writing just didn't get done.

We are all doing better now. There is still an occasional cough and a sore throat here and there but we are doing far better then we were for a while there. 

On to complete the 10 part series......

For those of you who were not reading along, Ky's 5th birthday was October 30th. With 10 days to go I decided I would write about my 10 favorite memories of my sweet boy. I completed all the way through memory number 3 before my fatigue caught up with me. So, here are memories number 2 and number 1. 

Memory #2....

One of my favorite things is when the boys decide to dress themselves. It is always when their own individual personalities come out. One of the best times is when he decided to wear his mud boots to Wal-mart on a perfectly sunny day! :-) 

Love this!

My #1 memory....

Ky is all boy. Yet, he has a softer side to him as well. He absolutely loves animals and he absolutely loves babies. This really came out when we were expecting our little girl, Kearyn. He just couldn't wait for her to arrive. He was the first one of his brothers to snatch her up in the hospital and from the moment we brought her home he was constantly wanting to hold her. I remember her just being a couple of days old and he was holding her sitting next to me on my bed. He looked down at her and then up at me and said, "Mommy, I'm her tector (protector)." My heart melted. "Yes you are Ky.....yes you are."

Pregnancy & Infant Loss Remembrance Day - October 15, 2010

October 15, 2010 marked the annual Pregnancy & Infant Loss Remembrance Day. I was asked by a dear sweet lady to participate in this event by sharing my story and some of my poetry that I wrote at the first candlelight ceremony held in our community in honor of this event. This is something that I felt and still feel very called to do. This experience was completely overwhelming for me and truly humbling. I am so thankful for the opportunity that I was given. 

My husband and I have experienced a tremendous amount of heartache in this area of our lives and it is my heart to reach out and be there for others that may be walking through something like this themselves. I have lost 5 babies due to miscarriage. I know all too well the heartache that goes along with this. How you feel like your hopes and dreams are being shattered and the helplessness you feel because there is nothing you can do to stop it. I know what it feels like to want to give up, to finally give up, and then...somehow....someway you find the strength to go on. You find the courage to walk by faith once again. I know what it is like to not understand why and ask the question, "Why me?"  

I look back now and often wonder how I got through it. It was definitely not on my own that is for sure. Then I think of that wonderful poem, "Footprints in the Sand" and I realize that this was truly when God was carrying me. 

My heart goes out to all of those who have walked or may be walking through something like this now. I pray for you all continually. It is my prayer that you never give up hope and continually seek our Heavenly Father. God bless you all and the little ones that are no longer with us.