A West River Holiday

If you were born in West River, you already know what three day  'holiday' falls between Halloween and before Thanksgiving.  That's right- deer season!  Families gather, tables are loaded full of food and we celebrate the traditions of generations past.  Or, something like that anyways.  Here's a quick catch up look at our weekend.  It was fun, lots and lots of fun!  

 1st Tractor Ride with Grandpa

 Riding Patches for the 1st time :)

Fixing water tanks with Grandpa. 

 Checking on Patches one last time... because she is sweet :)

 And, helping Grandpa go get his really, really big Mule deer buck. 

 And, then he drove us home.  

His shifting was a little rough but, he definitely knew what he was doing! 

Grandma, Uncle RyRy, Auntie Ashley and Justin also joined in the fun too.  

Giving Thanks...

My "Month of Thanks" List...

(I'm doing it all at once because, well, you see- life is crazy) 

1.  My God 

The one and only God.  Wow- He does amazing things :) 

2. My Husband.  

You sir, are a rock star.  A most blessed surprise I never saw coming.  For making sure I've 'got everything'.  For coffee money and always listening to my crazy ideas :) 

3.  My Kaleb.  

God knew we needed each other and I am so thrilled to be your mom.  

What a profound blessing you are in our lives! 

4. My Dad.  

Oh, the lessons I've learned from this man.  

And, the crazy wacky adventures we've shared in our farmin' and ranchin' days.  

5. My Mom.  

Thanks for all you do!!  Wow, you're an amazing Mom, 

Grandma, teacher, cook, and lots, lots more!  

You've taught me how to 'do life'.  Thanks! 

‘Fröhliche Danksagung’

6. My Brother... Ryon

For our hunting adventures.  Random phone calls and your vision for always improving 'things'.   

Kaleb says 'hi Uncle RyRy'  :)  

7. My Sister... Ashley

Best Road Trip Buddy in the WORLD!  Heart of gold.  

Awesome Auntie and fabulous friend.  You are simply lovely :)   

8.  Grandma & Grandpa

Quiet faithfulness in God.  And, a good dose of fun along the way.  

I'll never forget Grandma's packed lunches & Grandpa's prayers before meal time.  

 9.  Grandma Kozitka

Strength and Courage to raise 11 kids on her own.  

Oh, ya- and, a dairy farm to.  

My Family-in-Love.  

10. Bob & Bonnie 

For welcoming me.  For raising a great guy who I got to marry.  

And, for always lovin' on us and sweet encouragement.  

11. Ryan & Jennifer 

Tough as nails, you two are.  

Four kids, a run with cancer, two full time jobs and lots of crazy in between.  

You pull it off with style and still have lots of fun along the way.  

12. NANS

Thankful for Cousin Week 2012.  Can't wait to have you next summer!  

You're all awesome :)  

13.  Our big ole' extended family.  

Altogether that includes... 

16 Uncles

16 Aunts

37 Cousins

and, 23 second cousins for Mr. Kaleb.  

 Praise the Lord for all 92 of you :) 

And, now... for some of the random things in life I'm super thankful for... 

(in absolutely no coordinated order at all!) 

14.  Common Cents Coffee.  

It gets me there.  Every morning and that makes me happy inside.

15.  Hot Showers 

Because not everyone has them.  

And, they make my brain happy every morning.

16.  An amazing church... Hills View- we love you! 

17.  Our Friends

Although our times together are few and far between it seems... 

you're all quite remarkable!  

18.  Trips to the Ranch 

Nothing beats fresh air, dirt on the boots and checking cows.

19.  Washer and Dryer

... my goodness, how did those woman do it. 

20.  Our Home  

Its warm and cozy and filled full of lots of love.  

We have a lot of fun here, I tell ya! 

21.   The Little Things

Tickle wars on the couch.  Blown kisses from Kaleb.  

Homemade buttered popcorn.  

Singing knees & toes.  

22. God's Plan 

Four years ago I would have NEVER, EVER imagined where/how God 

had the next few years laid out.   Talk about 180's and piles of blessings. Wow. Wow! 

God Bless & Happy Thanksgiving! 

Welcome November!! : )

We made it to November.  And, if you've managed to catch up with us this past month... you'd totally understand why we feel like we've just finished a marathon length three-legged race.  If it doesn't get too exhausting...I'll  try recollecting all the 'fun and adventures' of October 2012.  We started the month with our 1st Family Day and we knew that from there on out, it was going to be a crazy busy month.  And, we were right.  Kim had trips to Chamberlain then Huron all in one week.  Chamberlain to be recognized for my National Board Certification and Huron for FCCLA.  Wes was (as usual) AMAZING!  Between the trips on the one day (Saturday) home between all the driving... we had our 1st family photos!

They turned out great and thanks so much HH Photography!  

That same day- we were incredibly blessed to welcome home this sweet little Ethiopian princess.

nothing compares to an airport welcome home... 

Oh, how we have prayed and believed and prayed and hoped and prayed for that day to finally happen.  She is beautiful and is an amazing answer to prayer.  That part of the day really, really reminded me that God never forgets about us.  He rescues the needy.  And, he brings joy after times of quiet.  It was amazing to witness the homecoming and uniting of a family.  A family that God created and orchestrated.  I think it is even more emotional to watch having been there in those shoes with those emotions before while knowing the joy and blessings which are just beginning.

And... I might have whispered in Kaleb ear something about how they'll look great together at prom and/or their wedding someday down the road ;)  

By the time we got home that night... we discovered Kaleb had a fever.  A fever of 102- yuck.  Within a few days, he started breaking out in this weird bumpy rash.  Roseolla, it was.  Had never heard of it but it quickly explained the 4-5 days of sudden fevers.  His bumps came back again last week but, thankfully are going away with some prescription cream.

Other fun fillers we've had this month include... still running the volleyball concessions (I sold 30lbs of popcorn seed last night alone) during the week, a VB Saturday Tournament, organizing our church Operation Christmas Child project, getting lots and lots of dangling house projects done, cleaned the carpets, purged the closets and a quick but super, super nasty bout of food poisoning for Kim.  I will never, ever eat store bought spinach dip again.  Enough said.  Wes made a trip to Colorado to be with his brother who is recovering from his recent surgery related to his colorectal cancer.  The BEST news of the month- the chemo, the radiation, the surgery and prayers were successful!  Go God!  Go Ryan!

And, now its November.  And, we are excited for November because it means that the calendar is still full but not nearly as psycho, crazy busy.  It means that maybe I'll get crazy and you know... cook.  And, fold the laundry this month (maybe).  It also means that within a few weekends it'll be Thanksgiving with family and suddenly Christmas will be here.  And, before we know it we'll have turned the corner on winter.

I'll leave you with one last picture... 

This is how my guys fell asleep the other night- literally, collapsing in a heap on top of each other.  

Have a good one... I'm off to bake my rock star husband some long, long over due chocolate chip cookies!  

Homecoming

This week has been homecoming week... in more ways than one.  The week at school as been full of Bronc homecoming activities.  On the home front, we've been celebrating our 1st Family Day and our own little homecoming week.  A year ago right now...(like almost to the minute) we were walking into our house for the 1st time as a family of three together.  One of the most meaningful and emotional moments of my life!
Tuesday was our 1st Family Day as we call it- so we celebrated with balloons for Kaleb and cupcakes for everyone.  It was simple and fun and wonderful.

Fun times as a family!!  Praise the Lord for such a wonderful year :)

Homecoming Go to School with Mom afternoon :)

 

 This Friday, was Bronc Day for homecoming.  As is the tradition, all the high school teachers bring their little kids to the pep rally in the gym.  Its always fun to see the kids dressed up in their purple and having fun.  It was a great day- one I've waited for.  One that has always been a little bitter-sweet as I stand there thinking...oh, how fun it would be to get to bring my own kid to the pep rally. So, this year I was the one who got to run down to daycare at lunch to pick up my kid.  Oh, so much fun!!

 

 

Go Broncs!! 

 

We rounded out the festivities with the annual homecoming parade which was cold but fun.  We had a great afternoon hanging out together and mama's heart was full :)   In fact he was so tired, he fell asleep at Walmart afterwards sitting right in the cart.  Too bad my phone was in the car because would have totally loved to capture that moment. 



A Year of Blessings!

One year ago tonight...we drove to the Hilawe orphanage for the very last time.  We were so excited- the day we had hoped and prayed for.  But, within the excitement there was also sadness for all the huge changes our little guy would be facing.  Sadness for the nannies having to say goodbye.  Gratitude for all they had done for him and the tremendous love given to him when no parents could provide that. There was uncertainty about how the next weeks and months would go.  What we found when we arrived at the orphanage though was excitement in the air.  The other children were singing, dressed in their finest and peering through the windows with jumbo sunglasses on.  The day was really about the future.  Our future as a family.  A family for forever!  And, suddenly with children singing and dancing; smiles flashing and nannies scurrying around- out they came with the three little boys going home that day.  It was a beautiful celebration gifts, Ethiopian cake, Cokes, the singing on Ethiopian Sunday School songs and then, one by one- each child was brought to his family.

And, like that- these sweet loving women entrusted him to us.  God had called us to be together as a family.  These nannies though had stood in the gap until our family could be united.  What a blessing they will always be to us!  

One year ago tonight, 'we' became three.  God has been so incredibly gracious to us.  We are simply amazed at the year we've had.  We love our Kaleb Abera!!! :)  

Tonight, I rocked Kaleb to sleep like I always do and couldn't help but think back to the little boy I rocked to sleep one year ago tonight.  He was little.  Wore size 1-2 diapers and 0-3 month jeans would barely stay on him.  He was bald, he was skinny and his fingers looked really long because well... he was skinny.  He spit up constantly and would fall asleep by simply putting a blanket over his head.  He wasn't strong enough to sit in the Bumbo and wouldn't uncurl his legs into a standing position at 6 months old.  And, he sucked him thumb.  

Tonight, my little man is so big I kind of curled him up on my lap to convince myself he still really fits.  His 18 month jeans are too short and he wears size 5 diapers.  His 'fro' is ridiculously long and big and totally rockin'.  Its big and wild and crazy sometimes but, there are so many times when I look over and think of all the nutrients that mob of hair stands for.  Its nutrients that grew that hair.  Nutrients from the gallons of milk the kid goes through, the near adult-size portions of mac n' cheese he can put away and his incredible love for cinnamon waffles.  Today, he's a great sprinter for any distance shorter than the alley.  Can climb a dining room chair to get to anything.  And, thinks its fun to 'surf' in  his little plastic wagon across the kitchen floor.  He tell us when its bed time and kindly requests 'baba... dada... please'.  And, he still sucks his thumb because, well... its the only thing that has always been there for him.  

We love you, our sweet Kaleb Abera!!!  You're the best blessing God could have ever entrusted us with.  Thanks for the tickle wars, the 'roaring' attacks on Dada, your gentle spirit and compassionate heart.  You are a sweet, loving little man and are so thrilled to be your parents.  Go God!! 

P.S.  Could you slow down your growing up-ness?  

Thanks, 

Mom 

Fall & Family

These last few weeks have been especially busy for our little 'Roth B&B' as we like to call it.  Family has been flowing in and out.  Which we think is awesome!  Auntie Ashley booked a room from Wednesday 'till Monday of last week.  Dad stayed Tuesday night.  And, this weekend we had Kaleb's Great Uncle Walt and Great Aunt.  We enjoyed a drive up the canyon to see the changing leaves.  Grandma & Grandpa Berry joined us too.  It was a beautiful evening and great fellowship with family.

A Horse, Of Course!

If a picture can define one's childhood... this pretty much sums it up.  

Growing up, I don't really remember having the most recent of toys or cartoon-ish 'things'.  You know, a bedroom of Hello Kitty or dozens and dozens of barbies.  There were toys, fun stuff and cool things.  But nothing, and I mean nothing compared to my shetland pony.  Oh, the fun we had!  I'd give him a bath and a hair cut.  Ride him around the yard or to the river or chase the bucket calves.  We'd work cows and ride along with Dad.  Those were the days, I tell you. Good times :)  

Cody & Kim (circa 1985?) 

A few weeks ago, I got to talking with a student of mine who mentioned they needed to find a good home for her pony because everyone had gotten too old/too big to ride it.  To make a long story short... I traded two loaves of banana bread & the promise to love her lots for this sweet little shetland pony.   

Now, that's my kind of deal!  

They call her "Patches" and she is so very sweet!  

Good times ahead, for sure!