A decade seems like a long time..

Again this blog is probably more for the writer than the reader.. feel free to journey through Maria's emotions today  :)
Not a December 5th or December 11th goes by without me remembering 2004's December. It's different now that it's 2014.. 10 years since a sweet and precious soul entered life this side of heaven, for a brief but purposeful stay. I doubt that birthdays are very important in eternity.. but since I'm still bound by this thing called time- I found myself reflecting on Clint Lucas's little life today.. what would have been his 10th birthday.

19 years old, an EKG tech as a sophomore in college- I worked all night while my body was unexpectedly preparing to give birth to a little boy.. I had no idea that I was in labor until my trip home in the morning when I realized my stomach "hurt" every 2 minutes. That day was a blur- back to the hospital, shipped emergently to Akron Summa hospital (Akron Children's was a mile away)- after barely making it there, I delivered a sweet baby boy- in my mind he was going to be dead on arrival- I remember being shocked to hear a tiny voice- one little cry.. he was alive! They were able to intubate him and "stabilize" him enough to transfer him to Children's. "Name?" someone asked- "Clint Lucas" I said- still somewhat in shock that this was all happening. 12 inches long and 1 lb 7oz are not great measurements for a new life. For some reason I thought they'd just whisk him away.. but they got me in a chair and let me see him before the transport. (For some mom's that would be the last time their child was alive to be seen- so many things that can go wrong) It was one of the most precious moments of that whole week to come- A mother seeing her baby for the first time- so thankful he was alive.. I remember that moment very vividly, everything else went away and I was in love. So thankful to even have a moment to touch this sweet baby.. still numb to the reality of the situation, I knew I'd been given a gift.. moments with a soul who had been created in my womb by a God I was desperate to know better.

Clint was shipped to Children's then and I had to stay at the hospital I was at until later the next day. That night once everyone else left so I could sleep I remember weeping for what seemed like a long time. The exhaustion and reality of what was happening kind of found me that night. The emptiness in my life from not having Christ in my heart was probably more evident that day than any other time. I remember pleading with God for this little boy's life... my own heart full of questions and wanting peace that only the Holy Spirit can give.
Today, as I held my 13 month old, 25+ pound sweet Jones Theodore as he slept (I honestly cannot remember the last time he slept on mamma- but today was a really sweet day for that to happen) My heart was so full of thankfulness. Mostly for the PEACE in my life now- no longer an empty soul in need of redemption- I am evidence and living proof of the power of God. If He can redeem my life, he can redeem anything. It's good for me to remember what God has brought me through. I do not live in the past anymore- but at the same time our past has some things to remind us- for me this means remembering to be SO thankful for the grace and mercy I've been shown. I'm still desperately in need of Jesus on a moment to moment basis.. the difference is that he now has taken up residence in my soul. And Clint.. you can find him on the streets of heaven... I'd never wish him back.

Memorial Day '14

Sorry to you regular followers for the delayed blogging!!

May brought the first 3-day weekend and the official opening of the Thunder Lake cabin.

This was also Jones' first trip to the UP!

Kicking off the year right...on the trails.

Grand Marais, MI was our stop along Lake Superior. Town of roughly 3,000 people, this was the only place serving lunch since the other option was getting a kitchen remodel. Grilled burgers were excellent, almost as nice as the Lake  Superior view. Funny story: I was buying a new pair of socks, since my current pair got drowned in an earlier mud puddle, and I handed the lady my credit card and drivers license. She started laughing and turns out she grew up in Fort Wayne a couple miles from where I live now. Small world.

 

 

 

 

So it's the end of May, 60 degrees with the sun out and there's still snow on the ground and ice in the big lakes, pretty awesome. The DNR lady we talk to said that Lake Sup froze 96%...she's in her 70's and could only remember that happening 3 other times. Basically last winter was like our Indiana winter but 20 degrees colder, no thanks. The deer were running out of food and coming into town scavenging so the DNR let the people feed them, next thing you know the wolves followed the deer into town and started taking the women and children!! OK just kidding, but wolves in town was an issue...more for the dogs and cats.

The sand was warm and perfect for a quick nap after stuffing our faces.

Stroller rides are like warm sand...nap city.

Jones' first good look at a Northern Pike.

Triple Trouble.

A little Gma time.

The kids went swimming so how can any adult be sissy enough not to jump in?? It was so cold....like probably 45 degrees cold. Not kidding.

Campfire dessert.

Indian boot weather.

1st pontoon ride

The only picture of Faith we have where she's holding still.

Redemptive double berry tastiness

If at first you don't succeed. .. try try again. . And it. Was. Awesome. 

#ALSicebucketchallenge

Best. day. ever.

We've been trying to go for the last few years. . But it kept not working out. So we finally did it.. mid week on a Wednesday/Thursday we took off work, headed out to the Tucker's overnight,  woke up to a tasty breakfast made by mom (including Jeremy's favorite: blue berry muffins) then headed to Cedar Point while jonesy stayed behind for a thorough spoiling by grandma,  aunt Kristy and a special visit from some cousins:) 

We started the day with Jeremy's favorite: the raptor. . Then the mantus.. then we headed back to the maverick. . By this point the more popular roller coasters were getting 1-2 hour waits.. we also realized at this point that we have aged since our last trip to Cedar Point. . Just a little more quesey,  dizzy, and effected by the rides.. still fun though..

Then I played plinko.. and our day got even better! 3/20 slots had "front of the line" tickets for 2 people per coupon. . The rest were coupons to other things in the park. My first time playing we got 2/5 tickets to the front of the line.. they could be used for the maverick (we did this first and saved 2 hours of waiting. . We felt like VIP ' strutting to the front of the line) then we saved over 2 hours and went to the front of the line on millennium force. .. out of tickets.  So we tried to be regulars again. . Waited 45 minutes in top thrill dragster and it broke so we ate some lunch. We rode a few more of the non roller coaster rides and had only a few hours left.. so we headed back to the plinko game where I won us 3 more front of the line passes.. some people with not as good of luck begged us for one of them and we couldn't say no without feeling greedy so we gave it to them.  

We were pretty excited because this meant we'd get to ride 2 more rides before leaving.  We jumped on the maverick,  headed to millennium force which had been broken and opened right as we walked by so we only waited 30 minutes and saved our last tickets for the dragster. . Which we hopped right on (2 hour wait skipped again! ) it was then time to leave but we felt so blessed after such a fun time- we are attributing our success on the plinko board to God's blessing on our day-long date. It was so great spending a whole day together out of the hectic routine we've found ourselves in this summer.  

As much fun as we had.. we were overjoyed to meet Jones and mom tucker for a tasty meal and hear about their really fun day too. We from there headed towards home but stopped in toledo to give my brother Luke some things and celebrate Shari's birthday over ice cream.  (Got to see sweet Paiton girl too) Jeremy continued the drive home while jonesy and I relaxed. Then around 1130 we unloaded everything and went to bed. Exhausted but refreshed:) thanks Jeremy for another great date.. and thanks Lord for blessing our day!

Daddy Date

Today, Jones got to help Dad shop for more tools...

Double Berry=Double Burnt..

 In a last minute attempt to get a "hot meal" on the table by 6pm for my hubby... I googled an idea inspired by Grandma Rose- she mentioned that she had seen AND recreated something similar to this off a cooking show.. and said it was really easy!
Tonight I found out I'm no Rosie..
Note to self: Cast Iron Skillets are WAY heavier than normal ones= Half of my goods in the bottom of my very hot oven..
Double Berry became Double Burnt :(
I may or may not have over reacted.
The End.

http://www.recipegirl.com/2012/06/18/double-berry-puff-pancake/

Double Berry Puff Pancake

Yield: 4 servings

Prep Time: 10 min

Cook Time: 20 min

Ingredients:

4 large eggs
1 cup whole milk
1 cup Gold Medal® All-Purpose Flour
1/4 cup granulated white sugar
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated lemon zest
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup blueberries
1/2 cup halved raspberries
powdered sugar, syrup and/or freshly whipped cream for topping

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Use a blender or hand mixer to combine the eggs, milk, flour, sugar, lemon zest and salt.
3. Heat a 12-inch cast iron skillet over high heat on the stove. Add the butter and melt. Pour the batter into the skillet, then scatter the berries on top. Put the pan in the oven, and bake until puffed and cooked through, about 20 minutes. Slice and serve, topped with powdered sugar, syrup and/or freshly whipped cream, as desired.