LARRI Project

A few years ago there were terrible storms and flooding not too far from where we live.  We always hear about things far away and want to help in whatever way we can but we tend to forget that there are people hurting and in need right in our backyards.  Our friends were looking for a way to earn a free ticket to Disney with their "Give a Day Get a Day" campaign they put on at the beginning of the year.  My friend Jen, being the go-getter that she is, started researching and found that there was an organization that's helping people here in our own "backyard" so quickly she was on the phone with them trying to set something up.  

Jen & Kevin decided to share this experience with the whole church once they found out that there were still thousands and thousand of people who were still displaced from their homes from the flooding that had occurred two years ago!  We're always quick to jump on a plane to help another state or another country but there are people right here that desperately need help too!

I wasn't able to go with on this because I had wedding details to attend to with Amanda but Jack jumped right on board.  This is SOOO his thing.  He was very excited to be able to help with this and put his skills to use.  He has such an amazing heart to help others.  I'm so thankful for that in him and that God has blessed us both with that so there's no jealousy from either of us when we want to give our time, money, and resources to others.  What purpose did God give it to us for in the first place, right?!?!    

Romans 12:6-8

We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it.

*Note: the date on the camera wasn't set correctly.  My husbands not so good with the electronics but he can swing a hammer with the best of 'em ;)

Lincoln Park Zoo

There was a day back in March where the Christian school had a random day off that the public schools didn't.  Since our friends the Petersons home school, we thought it would be a perfect opportunity to go somewhere fun during the week that wouldn't be crowded because most everyone else was in school.  We decided on the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago :)

Sometimes I forget about the fact that we live so close to Chicago and that there are so many neat things there to do.  The Lincoln Park Zoo is completely free, which still amazes me!  We found a parking lot that was only $12 and packed our own lunches so the day of fun and exciting trip to the city was a very inexpensive day.  The zoo has a place where you can buy food but they also have rooms in the basement where you can eat your own lunch.  Again amazes me these days when places are free and fun :)

The first area we checked out was where all of the the feline creatures hang out.  It was a bit chilly that day so they were all inside but we got there right after they had cleaned their cages and hid snacks for them in cardboard boxes so it was very fun to watch all of them rip prowl around looking for their snack.  (Jackson was scared at first that he might become their snack but he got more brave as the day went on ;) )

 Our next stop was at the primate house.  Our silly little apes had lots of fun :)

They got to see the different sizes that the hands could be and of course we steered clear of the parts saying that we used to look like that.  Rubbish!!!

 

Our last stop was in the farm section.  The kids had lots of fun with the interactive learning center.  Chanda and I talked about how interesting it is that this is the only exposure that a lot of kids to what life in the country is like  We are very blessed to be able to get some of both worlds.  I would much rather live in the country and visit the city than the other way around but it is very neat to be able experience both and especially on a fun inexpensive day like this with some great friends :)

Aquarium Field Trip

I am so thankful to be a stay at home mom. Not sure I've mentioned that lately. I love the flexibility and the things that I get to share with my kids one a day to day basis but I definitely love getting to experience field trips with them.

I'm the room mom for Emma's classroom so I get to be pretty involved and most of the kids know me. I've actually gotten used to being called Mrs. Hamstra on a regular basis. I go into her classroom every Monday morning and take some of the kids that are excelling in spelling aside and challenge them with new words and get to encourage them in their studies. I was also privileged to be able to participate with them in the Junior Achievement program and taught them about community for five weeks every Monday afternoon. I love getting to know the other kids that Emma is around day to day and also (if you remember for my beginning of school month long crying session) I hate that her teachers get to see her more than I do so this makes me feel a little more like Im a part of that life she leads too.

We got to take a trip to the Shed Aquarium in March and had a great time.  I don't think that I had ever been there and I know Emma hadn't so it was a great treat for us to be able to experience it together.

A Visit from Colorado!!

We got to have a very fun visit from our friends from Colorado in February. Dave & Erin drove out and stay for two weeks, Jenni flew in over one of the weekends and Jenni's parents came down from Michigan for a few days too.

Erin's birthday is in January and since we didn't get to see her for it we decided to have a fun little birthday party for her while she was here. She LOVES Elmo so I decided to tackle making an Elmo cake for her and I'm SO glad I did because she was very excited about it :)

We also took them to the Fair Oaks Farms while they were here visiting and Erin got to have lots of fun playing in the adventure center, watching a calf be born and getting to watching the cows go round and round the milking carousel.
Two of my favorite girls :)


CEREAL!!
Sharing a bus ride.
We even got to stop by Uncle Jack's work on the way home and Erin had fun driving and airplane.Jenni had to go back to the airport so Jackson, Erin & I drove her there. Got a few cute pictures of Erin :)

We had lots of fun getting to just hang around the house enjoying each other's company as well. With being so far apart we try to make the best of every opportunity that we get to spend time with one another. God has been very good to all of us in the fact that we haven't spent much more than six months at a time without being able to see each other. One time we even got to see each other for just a few hours while they had a lay over at the Chicago airport. We'll take any bit we can get :)
Two peas in a pod :)

Finger painting fun!
Kind of an easy fort but they were still pretty excited about it.

On one of the last days before Dave & Erin left we decided it would be fun to go to Bellaboo's. We had a great time playing in all the fun rooms they have.

Story Time

Face Painting
Art Room
Water Play Room
Ball Pit

We're very thankful to have such great friends that they were willing to drive half way across the country to visit us. God has truly blessed us to stay in touch and so close over these several years. Thank you Father for your many blessing and thank you Dave & Jenni for your faithful friendship.

First foster experience

We got a chance to help out another foster family by doing some respite care for them while they went on a cruise. You can have people babysit for you but if is going to be an overnight stay it has to be someone licensed. We were happy to FINALLY be able to do something with this license we've had for months!

I can't give too many specifics or show pictures of how stinkin' cute these three were but I can share some of the things that we learned in the process.

1. Every child is very different and receives and gives love in many different ways.
2. Three boys together in one room makes for a very giggly bed time.
3. Be careful how you talk around your children and keep mean remarks to yourself. Even if you're frustrated or being sarcastic, they hear them and hold onto them for years.
4. Be careful of sibling rivalry.
5. Build a fort out of blankets and you'll be the coolest mom ever.
6. Even when a child tries to hit and kick you and say they'll never ever be good, just a simple "I love you and I will never believe that" can make you see something in their eyes that truly makes them believe it.
7. When you have a snow day and have six kids (I still babysit Alaina too) a schedule is a MUST!
8. Being a crazy busy mom is more rewarding than any other job or ministry could be.
9. Make time for your husband. Period.
   
10. When it time for them to go, be thankful for the time you had with them and trust they will remember the thing you said and leave the rest up to God.

Fort #1

Fort #2
We even got brave enough and brought all the kids to our volleyball game.
Some snow day activities

We got called for another respite placement for over memorial weekend. A two year old cutie. Looking forward to helping out with her as well :)

Indoor Waterpark!

Last spring we went to a charity fashion show/auction with my sister-in-law Brooke. There were lots of door prizes and such and Kevin won a free night's stay at an indoor water park in Lafayette for five people. Since Kevin & Brooke don't have kids he decided to be EXTREMELY GENEROUS and give it to us! We spend a lot of time in the water in the summer time between both parents having a lake house so we decided to save this fun time for for the middle of winter when it would be even more special to be able to go swimming.

I check with the hotel and was surprised to hear that they would let us use this voucher on New Year's day so it worked out perfectly because Jack gets that as a paid day off and since it was a Friday he would have the next day off too. So amazing the way things line up in place like that!

Jack coming out of the slide. Kind of a big splash there big guy ;)


Jackson thought the pirate ship was very cool!
We bribed Jackson with ice cream and he finally got brave enough to stay under the treasure chest.Can't see him but he's in there :) Emma got in there too. No fear for her with water!
Can't remember exactly what Jack's count was but I'm pretty sure between the two days she went down this water slide around 100 times.Jackson was still a little too short for the big water slide but he was happy with the little ones.What a blessing the way God has worked out so many fun, free or extremely cheap thing for us to do as a family since committing to Christian school. I know it's only by Him that we have had these blessings.

Thanks Uncle Kevin!!!

WOW

Goodness, I better get working on this again..........