Today's weather....

I know, I am behind on posting pictures and keep you up-to-date on your lives. But I just had to post the local weather......

Forecast Details from the Weather Team
Rest of Today - Snow late in the morning...then snow and isolated thunderstorms in the afternoon. New snow accumulation of 6 to 7 inches. Highs 25 to 30. North winds 15 to 20 mph.
Tonight - Colder. Mostly cloudy with snow likely in the evening...then partly cloudy after midnight. Snow accumulation up to 1 inch. Storm total snow accumulation of 8 to 10 inches. Lows around zero. North winds 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 70 percent.

Okay so I didn't know that thunderstorms and 10 inches of snow could happen all at the same time.

Live and learn.....live and learn.

The Promise Is....

......"when everything failed, we'd be held".

I heard a song at church the other Sunday. It was a Sunday when I truly didn't know if life would ever get better. I truly believe it was meant for me. The lady singing it didn't know me. I didn't know her, she has never met me. She might have been singing it for some one else, or maybe even for herself. But on that Sunday, God knew I needed to hear it. I was held, but had forgotten.

The chours of "Held"is this:

This is what it means to be held.
How it feels when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive.
This is what it is to be loved.
And to know that the promise was
When everything fell we'd be held.

I have been a Christian since I was 8. I have been in church since I was born. I was blessed (pronounced in the south as "bless-ed") to have Godly parents that raised me to love and trust the Lord.

Somewhere along the way, I forgot the promise. It isn't that life will be perfect. God never said that life will always be "peaches and cream". He promised healing, but not necessarily on Earth or when WE want it. He never promised pain and anguish wouldn't enter our lives.

His promise is that when, "everything fell we'd be held". When life spins out of control we are tight in His hands. When we are sick, when we loose a loved one, or when the pain seems like death itself....we are held.

The payment for sin is heartache, trials, and hurt. The only thing different for a Christian is that we are lovingly held and have the promise of heaven. That is the difference between living life full of hope and just struggling from one heartache to the next.

James 1:2 states, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance."

I will admit, I find it hard to consider trying times "pure joy". I even struggle with understanding why such a loving God allows terrible things to happen to His children. I believe to my core that God is the only God. That Jesus died on a cross for my sins and that only through Jesus can I be saved. I believe that He can heal and preform miracles at anytime, but understanding why He doesn't is really hard for me.

This is what it is to be loved.
And to know that the promise was
When everything fell we'd be held.

I need to just praise the Lord that, "gave and the Lord has taken away" Job 1:21. I just need to remember that the promise was given to us by a Father who allowed his Son to die on a cross. That promise is that we are deeply loved and tightly held at all times, even when everything else falls away....He is there.

I pray today, dear readers, that you are "held" and if you aren't....that you find your way back to the God that created the heavens and earth.

Sam's first ice skating lesson

Sam loved watching Maddie ice skate so much that we decided to let him try ice skating lessons. Nothing is as scary as watching your "baby" slip and fall their way onto an ice rink. Let's just say....I don't think an Olympic metal is in his future.

Hey, look at me I'm up on the ice.

Still up, talking to one of my many teachers. I am sure she was telling him that he actually had to make an effort when trying to stand on ice.

And down again. Of course, I am not going to ACTUALLY TRY to get up on my own...no, no!

Thanks to the help of a teacher, I am up again....Hey Mom, look at me.

Wait, yes still up looky looky...YEAH.



And down again.

This last picture was followed by Sam trying to tell his teacher that he needed to go potty. I could read his over exaggerated lips as he was trying to explain. Of course, these teachers are young and not versed in Sam-speech. Finally, someone understood him and skated him to the side where Wade was waiting for him. We will see how next week goes.

Catchin' Up

Dear Friends-

I am so sorry I have been so long in posting. I didn't realize how many people actually read my blog till the emails started arriving...wondering where I had been.

I have been here, in the "frozen tundra" near the "Artic Circle". But life and other things have happened and kept me from posting. But I am back and will catch you up on all that we have been up to.

February is a busy month for us. Sam turned "3" on February 1st and Maddie turned "5" on the 13th. We also had a joint birthday party for them. We are so blessed that Ga-Ga was able to brave the cold and join us. Actually, she brought the warmest weather we have had since Thanksgiving with her.

So read the following and catch up on all the "Blurbs from the Burbs".

Love to you all.....near and far!

Maddie turns "5"....

On Friday, February 13th, my baby girl turned 5. Even as I type it, I can't believe it.

Really.

Just yesterday she was born.

Really.

Just yesterday she was a colicy infant, that screamed her lungs off the first 3 months of life.

If you know the history of Maddie.......If you know the scare we had when she was just a few weeks old...you know how grateful we are that she was able to scream her lungs off. How so very thankful we are that she is able to celebrate her 5th birthday.

This year, she chose a "bee-u-tee-ful" (drawn out in that sweet southern way she talks) heart cake. Heart cakes are always easy to come by near Maddie's "day before Valentine's Day" birthday.

May all your wishes, hopes, and dreams come true baby girl!!

Can you tell Maddie is "willy wee" excited about her new Leapster. Her old Leapster had seen it's better day. It was a well used, well loved, well traveled, and well worn Leapster. So, she got a new and pink one.

Grandma and Papa sent her a great box full of goodies. Thank you Grandma and Papa!!

Some of her friends in Georgia also remembered her birthday. Her friend Jacob sent her a new Strawberry Shortcake movie and Sleep Beauty Polly Pocket. Her friends Matt and Alex sent her a new outfit and Tinkerbell Color Wonder. I LOVE Color Wonder. Color anywhere with that!

From us, she also received a Snow White doll, some Polly Pockets, and some My Little Ponies.

Maddie has grown into a wonderful little girl. She is a great big sister and really tries to be a good girl. She has a wonderful heart on her that makes her really try to take care of everyone and please everyone. I am so proud of the way she has taken this tough transition and really blossomed. I tell her every night, as I am putting her to bed, that "I love her to the moon and back and all the way past the stars". I can't wait to see what wonderful things God has in store for my "baby girl".

The Splatter Sisters....

On Tuesday, February 10th, the kids and I attended a Splatter Sisters' concert at Mall of America. We went with our friend Kim and her boys, Collin and Shawn. I am so sad that Kim will soon be moving on to bigger and better things, as her family relocates to Wisconsin.

American Girl Bistro....

Minnesota Style.

I took Maddie and Ga-Ga to the American Girl Bistro as part of Maddie's Birthday celebration. We also went to the one in Georgia right before we moved.

Maddie chose a new out fit for Bitty Baby. And both Bitty Baby and Bitty Twin were able to join in on the birthday celebration.

We were so happy that Ga-Ga could be here to join us!

Maddie and Sam's Birthday Party, 2009

This year, we had a different sort of birthday party. Gone are the days of parties with all our Georgia friends and their kids. Gone are the parties where it is more of a get together for the parents, than a party for the kids.

This is a new era of birthday parties for the Sheek family. So we decided to embrace it and jump in with both feet. This year, Maddie and Sam had their party at the Nature Center. If you read my little blog, you may remember that we "lived" at the Nature Center this summer. We caught frogs and turtles, hung out with friends, and made puppet shows there.

What does a birthday party at a Nature Center entail, you ask? Good question...let's explore and see.....


First, a Naturalist meets with your party and talks about all the different animals that live in your area and the footprints they leave.

Then, you walk up stairs and to the "look out room" to see if any of those native animals are near. Obviously, the turkeys were out and about that day.

Next, you get the group of 6 2/3 year olds and 6 4/5 year olds bundled up in their winter gear...

and proceed to track animals in the snow. Do you remember the pond that Ga-Ga and Granddaddy caught frogs at over Labor Day? If so, you probably will not recognize it in the next picture. I thought I had a picture of my mom walking on the frozen pond....but I guess I didn't. She was brave enough to walk out with us. Looking mighty cute in her boots from Marshall's I might add :)

Once back inside, with every one's winter gear off, the birthday kids got to choose a resident animal to "come" to their party. The Nature Center has a selection of birds and other animals that live there. Maddie loves the owl......

However she chose the SALAMANDER to come to her party. What in the world was she thinking?!?!?

She was able to hold her choice Salamander while the other kids could only touch it.

Any guesses what animal Sam chose? The really cool hawk? Nope. The friendly turtle? Uh-Uh.

A snake. Guess he didn't want Maddie to seem braver than him.

But Daddy had to hold Sam while Sam held the snake. I don't blame him....I wouldn't want to hold a snake by myself.

After hiking in the snow and meeting the animals....it was pizza time, of course. This is a Georgia tradition we brought here with us.

Of course after pizza comes cake. Maddie chose a Tinkerbell theme this year and Sam chose a Cars theme. Please don't tell him he had the same cake 2 years in a row. He doesn't remember his 2 year old cake and chose it again this year.

After eating the cake Sam spit all over.....I jest, I jest..... it was PRESENT TIME! Luckily Ga-Ga was here to help Sam while I helped Maddie.

Both kids received many wonderful gifts. However, the best gift of all was having friends come to their party. I admit I was nervous. I sweated it out, until guests started to arrive.

God blessed us with friends to come to the kids party even though we haven't been here a year yet.

Happy Birthday to my "Big Boy"...

On Sunday, my "baby" boy turned 3. I guess, when you are 3 you aren't a "baby" anymore. In my eyes, he will always be my "baby boy".

His morning started off great. Nothing like snuggling on the couch and watching T.B. (TV) with Daddy. Don't tell Sam, it's Daddy's way of catching a few more Zzzs before church.

Maddie wasn't ready to get her day started either.

After naps, Sam opened his presents. This was Wade's hope for being able to watch the Super Bowl.....new toys = entertained kids. In reality new toys = needing Daddy to play too.

Maddie was really good about being happy for Sam. It is hard when you aren't the one getting all the presents and attention.

Grandma and Papa sent a box full of goodies. In the box was books, puzzles, dinosaurs and stickers. Thanks Grandma and Papa (and Bucky too)!


Sam also received presents in the mail from his buddies Alex, Matt and Josh Taylor. Thanks so much for the "G-o-Tax" (GeoTrax) and the warm sweatshirt. He loved them both!!

After Sam opened his presents from us, he had to wait for his "big surprise". Here he is on the stairs. If you look, you can see his eyes peaking from between his fingers. He is sneaky like that.

YEAH!! A Pirate Ship, Argh Mate's. This ship you can "steer", shoot cannons, and "bite" (fight) off other pirates. It was a HUGE hit for my pirate boy.

After presents it was supper time. Each year, the kids get to choose what they want for their "special" dinner. This year, Sam wanted pizza. We didn't argue. Papa John's to the rescue. Luckily Sam can tolerate some cheese this year.

Once we were done with pizza it was time for cupcakes and candles. Sam chose some lovely football ones. Nice that his birthday is always around Super Bowl time, huh?

What more could a pirate want? Cupcakes and the Super Bowl. Ahh, this is the life.