Better Late Than Never

I forgot about my blog.....how could I? Oh well, I am back now, and I hope to do a better job this time about remembering to blog about my "oh so exciting" life! (that was sarcasm in case you were wondering...

A year has passed by since I last blogged, and I wish I could say that it was because it went by so fast that I didn't blot. Honestly, I thought the last 12 months would never end. Josh was deployed to Iraq, and the kids and I tried to stay busy at home without getting into too much trouble! We also traveled and visited family different times throughout the year, and that was a lot of fun.

Jared is just a couple days away from finishing the first grade. He has thoroughly enjoyed doing the A Beka DVD extension school this year. He really loves his teacher although he has never met her, but he does get a bit frustrated when she shows some favoritism to the girls...haha!


Savannah was able to do some preschool. She is a harder one to teach, because every time we go over a new letter she explains to me that she already knows everything about this letter! The other day she told me that she taught herself to read in one day!!! She keeps me guessing because you never know what is gonna come out of her mouth! :) One of the funny things she said this year happened when I found the long lost Wii remote. I walked into the living room where Jared and Savannah were playing and I said, "Guess what I found today that we have been missing a long time." Savannah quickly jumped up, "Is it Daddy?" Somehow the Wii remote wasn't that exciting anymore..haha



Wade has been on the go all year. He keeps me on my toes, because his little curious self is always into something. His great love in life is tractors. He is either riding in one, playing with his little toy ones, or chatting about them! He loves his grandpa so much, and if Grandpa is anywhere near then Wade is definitely going to be his shadow....



The most exciting thing in our life right now is that Josh has finally made it back into the USA! Although he is not all the way home yet, we should be able to get him next week!!! I am so happy, excited, and nervous all at the same time...It will be great to finally have our soldier back home!!!

It gets harder every time

As many of you know, Josh is preparing for deployment. He has been training for this deployment since the first of the year. He has been gone more than he has been home this year. This has been hard on me, but I believe that it has been hardest on our children. Jared realizes what is going on for the most part, Wade basically lives from day to day and doesn't seem as phased; however, Savannah is struggling the most when daddy is absent. She is definitely Daddy's little girl. She adores her daddy, and she would much rather do things with him than with me (a bit sad for me)! Every time that Josh leaves it seems like Savannah has a harder time coping with him being gone.

Josh was able to have his two week block leave the first two weeks in May. The days went by quickly, and we had so much fun being together as a family. We left Sunday night after church to go back to Fremont, NE. Josh had to report back on Monday morning. The kids enjoyed the hotel because of the "wonderful swimming pool". We had to swim every day!!! On Wednesday, the had the farewell ceremony for the unit. Josh had a part in the ceremony, and we were so proud. The day went by quickly, and Josh learned that his plane was the first to leave on Thursday morning. His bus was leaving at 2:30 in the morning from the hotel. I got up with him as he got ready to leave, and I waved good-bye to him without a tear....I thought, "Yep, I am doing pretty good with all this!" The kids got up later, and we went and had our breakfast and got packed up to go home. Not soon after we left for our trip home, Wade and Savannah were sleeping and Jared was looking at some books. I looked back at them in the mirror, and it hit me....Daddy is not going to be coming home any more for a long time! As I looked at their sweet faces, I began to weep. We have been saying goodbye to daddy so many times this year that I had grown accustomed to it. I wondered..."do the kids realize that daddy won't be coming home for a while?" "When Savannah has her moments when all she wants to do is talk to daddy how will she respond when she can't call him?"Am I going to be able to care for all three of them like I should?" Yes, I was becoming overwhelmed with all these thought...and just at this moment a song came on.....I Need Thee Every Hour....this song was so comforting to me because I realized that I wasn't alone...I am going to get through this next year because I have the greatest Helper.

Josh will be in Texas for this next month, and we will be able to see him one more time....I ask prayer mostly for my children....and for understanding for their little minds to know what is happening!

Sorry this is so very long....I am very emotional as I write this. I probably should have waited to write this when I wasn't crying!!! LOL

Happy New Year!

It is January 2010 already!!! Why does time seem to fly faster and faster each year? We had a blessed 2009. On March 4, Wade Hampton made his way into our family and our hearts! Also, on October 9, Jared accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior. I am thankful for his tender heart.

For Christmas, we had planned to drive down to Texas for the weekend before Christmas and then be back in Iowa for Christmas. We drove out bright and early at 4 am on December 18....okay maybe it was early but we were not feeling to bright!!! We had a nice safe trip...it took about 11 hours with all the extra stops that you must take with three children age 5 and younger. The kids did extremely well in the car...in fact this was probably our best road trip yet! We had a great visit with family (although we missed my younger sis and her family). We were supposed to drive home on Tuesday; however, we received a call on Monday from Josh's dad telling about an ice/snow storm coming towards Iowa. We decided to wait a few more days before we left. We ended up staying through Christmas....and we were delayed leaving again because of 14 inches of snow in OK. What was supposed to be a 5 day visit ended up being an 11 day visit!!! However, we had so much fun....I was glad for the extra days to visit since I usually only see my family once a year. The night before we finally left, I overheard Jared telling his cousin Morgan, "I hope there is another storm tomorrow!" The kids had a great time with their cousins.

Well, I better go for now....Wade is clearing out my cupboards and trying to eat all my Crisco!!!! Happy 2010!!!!

Happy Harvest Time

October is really flying by!!! Josh and his dad are at this moment harvesting the beans and the corn is next on the list. The leaves are pretty much of all the trees in our yard, and I am looking forward to the upcoming holidays (I miss my parents and sisters)!!!

I noticed this morning that Wade is cutting his first tooth. It is in the center on the bottom. I imagine he will be weaned before long before he can cause me too much pain!!! :) He is really loving his baby food, but he is not a huge fan of the bottle. I will be trying to change his mind on that in the next couple of weeks. :)

Savannah has really been interested in changing her clothes lately. Every morning she comes up in different clothes than what we sent her to bed in! :) This also happens at nap time!!! :) I must admit that she needs some help with her matching skills. I really should take some pictures of the different combination of clothes she puts together.

Jared has been busy watching and playing football. He is one of the biggest football fanatics I have ever seen. He told me the other day, "Mom, did you know there are channels that play football all day long. If we had that I wouldn't be able to eat or sleep because I would want to watch football all the time." And I truely believe that he would!!! As he watches the games, he has to act out every play. He also likes to show us each play in instant replay - slow motion!!! :) He is very talented - he is the whole football team, the announcer, as well as the referees!!! :) He is quite sweaty by the end of the games, and I am quite wore out! :)

Saving Grace

God has blessed me and Josh with three beautiful children (plus two living in Heaven). After every child, we have prayed that God would use each child for His glory and we have tried to raise our children to love God, but most importantly to see their need as a sinner for Christ and his salvation plan. In school, we have been learning different verses and several had to do with salvation. This led to much discussion with Jared about his condition as a sinner in need of a Savior. I have been very burdened for Jared for the past couple of weeks. I kept having these thoughts as Jared went to bed -- what if he woke up in the morning and we were all gone because the rapture had occurred. I did not want him to have to spend his eternity away from me, but worst of all away from God.

Josh and I prayed for Jared and his tender heart. Jared realized he was a sinner and was asking all the right questions; however, he would always say that he would pray later. I would never push him because I knew that this needed to be his decision and not my decision for him. On Wednesday, Jared's little buddy accepted Christ as his Savior during church. Driving home from church, Jared kept asking more questions and he told me that he wanted to pray and get saved when he got home. I told him to talk to his daddy when he got home. When we arrived home, Jared and Savannah started playing and goofing around before bed and I was sure that Jared had forgotten. As Josh put the kids to bed, Jared pulled Daddy aside and told him that he would like to be saved tonight. Josh talked to him about it - and Jared knew all the answers! Jared prayed that night, October 7, 2009.

The next morning Jared came bounding up the stairs and one of the first things he stated to me, "Mom, I got saved last night. Now I can go to Heaven with you and Daddy!" I must say that I was happier on this day then on the day that he was born. I knew that I would be able to spend all of eternity with my little Jared-bear. Later, during his school lesson, we reviewing some verses that we are learning. We came to Acts 16:31 Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. Before we could say the verse, Jared shouted out - "Mom, that is what I did last night!"

I am thankful that God gave my son such a tender heart. I am praying for great things for him.

Chore safety

I love the Fall weather. It has been cooler in the morning when we first get up. Josh has been going out every morning checking on the pregnant cows to see if there were any baby calfs born in the night. Josh has been wearing long sleeves and then puts his jacket vest on over that. As he went to go out this morning, Jared (my eldest) asked his daddy, "Is it going to be dangerous, Daddy?" He seemed very worried. Josh replied, "No." Jared worriedly asked, "Then why are you wearing a life jacket?" I laughed so hard my sides were hurting!!! I am glad to know Josh is safe in his life jacket when he checks the cows every morning!!! :)

I love my life!

I am not much of a writer; however, I decided to begin a blog to share a little of what is happening in my family's life. There have been so many times that the kids do or say hilarious things - but I forget to write them down and then forget them entirely.

Jared (my eldest) is now five years old. He started Kindergarten this year, and he is doing extremely well. We are homeschooling using the A Beka Program. He reminds me so much of his daddy. He loves football, reading, and anything to do with Army (he is obsessed)!!!!

Savannah has recently turned three years old. She thinks she is in charge (or so she told me yesterday - I quickly changed her mind), but she has a strong love and protection for her brothers. The other day someone (I didn't know them) came up and started chatting to her baby brother - she promptly told them that they could not touch him, and she watched to make sure that the stranger did not touch. Savannah loves her cats and kittens. She loves to push them around in a stroller.

Wade is now six months old. He was due on Jared's birthday but came two days before. He is such a laid back baby, and he loves to just sit and watch his big brother and sister. He also loves to smile and show off his dimples!!! He has recently learned to crawl and has been exploring the house ever since!!!

Josh has just officially become an Army chaplain (after many years of preparing)!!!! We are very excited about this opportunity, and we are looking forward to God using him to serve his country and his God. There are so many opportunities!

I am so happy to be a stay-at-home mom (no better job)!!! It can be quite stressful at times, but there is nothing I would rather do. I am now considered a farm wife (many of you who knew me as I grew up and knew me well would laugh really hard about this)!!! I have many things to learn (that is quite the understatement). I miss my parents and my sisters (they all live so far away), and I love any opportunity to visit with them.

I hope this didn't bore anyone too much - I will try and get better at this stuff!!! :)