Katriel’s Baptism

March 28, 2021 | Stacy

Oh – that I would have seen this joy with my own eyes.

A few weeks ago, while we were finishing up with story time, Katriel turned to me and stated, “Mom, I want to be baptized.” Can you imagine the spirit within me leaping with gratefulness?

Right after the sermon on Sunday, John walked Katriel up to speak with Pastor Tim, and a few nights later he and Miss Polly came by to talk with Katriel about what it meant.

We told Stewart and Noelle, and also William and his family, that the special day was coming. They all joined us at PCC for the morning.

Katriel grabbed a small hug as she came up.

We had a small lunch back at home with our friends.

And Miss Barb brought some special frog cupcakes from her favorite bakery on the west side.

This was super special for a few reasons.

First – Katriel almost drowned a few years ago. We don’t really talk about it. But even getting her face wet is dramatic.

Second – the rest of us were baptized together in 2018. She was really too young to grasp it, but what a joy it is for me to know she arrived at this moment 100% on her own.

Birthday + Zoo = FUN

February 27, 2021 | Stacy

For extra birthday fun we loaded into the big van and headed to the zoo.

(Missed Melody and Daddy in the shot.)

We had a 2PM entry time and the zoo was PACKED.

We explored the zoo for about 100 minutes, enjoying the particularly active animals. It was about 45F and SUNNY! PTL.

We had to wait in line once for about 20 minutes as they limited entry into the building. The kids kept themselves joyful playing Simon Says.

We stayed a little later than we meant to as we HAD to get in to see Katriel’s favorite animal: Poison Dart Frogs. (That doesn’t require capitalization, but they are Poison Dart Frogs and that’s important!)

We got home for cupcakes and presents.

It was just SO cool. I am so grateful for friends who are on the same page as we are.

FYI – the last normal thing our family got to do last year was go to Chuck E. Cheese for Katriel’s birthday.

Superbowl

February 7, 2021 | Stacy

sweetie

and snacks

Love doing life with the Hoyts.

2020 Christmas… uncancelable

December 26, 2020 | Stacy

While our Christmas Eve service was cancelled, there was no stopping us for Christmas Day… and we determined to enjoy it.

The kids were up early and we waited for Stewart and Noelle to arrive (he had gone out to her town for Christmas Eve).

Ba and Poppy weren’t feeling up to the AM outing this year and we missed them.

Gifting was insane, as usual.

Tab had beautiful homemade art work for each of us.

this is mine, from our epic Disney Trip last year.

Kelly wrapped Katriel’s gift in a chip box and we momentarily had Katriel convinced she had a giant box of chips. Her acceptance level for that was beautiful.

She really had a Jessie outfit.

Daddy bought Marie, Tab and I all bags.

Loungefly bags

Daddy got the best gift of all – Costa Rican coffee.

Nan got the largest gift of all…

She had asked for it!!

Katriel made Johanna a shirt.

Mom “made” the boys each new shirts.

Tabby wanted girly combat boots.

Nigel got a computer chair.

Stewart got a desk extension.

He later showed us how it worked – he can stand and edit now to change his body mechanics.

there were games and cooking

and at 4PM or so, Noelle’s parents and brother came up to share dinner with us.

Noelle gave us two new games and we watched the instructions online.

We laughed so hard as we pretended to be dinosaurs, etc.

It was such a fabulous holiday!

Meeting Victorious

November 17, 2020 | Stacy

It took three months to finally get there, but we got to meet Victorious tonight.

We’ve prayed for her for years… It was good to finally hug and hold her.

Play dates are good for the soul.

September 18, 2020 | Stacy

I am not so good at taking photos – either remembering to take them, or executing them… but we’ve been very intentional about setting up play dates for Johanna and Katriel this fall.

Today, we picked up Asher and headed to Chase’s for doughnuts, and some animals.

He made Katriel this incredible picture out of LEAVES from his yard!

July 4, 2020 (A/K/A People Make Me Happy)

July 5, 2020 | Stacy

First – I want to show the cake Tabby made on 7/3… The silly cake crumbled under her frosting efforts. So we HAD NO CHOICE but to eat the cake and make a new one.

July 4th was warm and wonderful.
We did some errands and took care of some yard work and prepared for GUESTS!

OH yes – 2020 – hear that? GUESTS. HUMANS. FELLOWSHIP. FRIENDS.

And then it was so much fun having people around, I didn’t take many photos.

Jeff and William joined us and we realized it was the first time Stewart and Jeff were able to talk in over a year!!

Oh – and there was FOOD too. Lots of yummy food.

We were joined by Stewart’s girlfriend, Noelle, and her family. It was lovely to get to know the Nortons.

Noelle had a thoughtful gift and a funny card.

Cake number 2.

Land of the free, home of the brave and NO MASKS at my house…

Stewy’s stuff and swimming fun

June 10, 2020 | Stacy

Stewart has started two work. Praise the LORD for the provision of jobs for him.

He works Monday through Friday 7AM to 3:30PM at Mendon Ponds Park doing park maintenance. He has added this to the job he started two weeks ago at FedEx as a sorter. That job goes from about 10PM – 1AM. He sleeps in between, and he leaves his stuff lying around for his sisters to mess around with…

His cap and blue light glasses –

And some sunglasses from Houghton.

Marie and Tabitha went to their friends’ house to swim and hang out, and Nan brought the girls and I lunch and we swam.

William joined us! We’ve missed him so much.

I love this weather!

Thank you, God, for the provision of jobs, for sunny days, and for friends who are as ready to LIVE again as we are!

THE CLOUD IS LIFTING!

June 1, 2020 | Stacy

One thing that I realized last week when I started to text around to see if anyone else was over this whole LOCKDOWN thing, was that pretty much everyone is over the whole LOCKDOWN thing. While a few friends have decided it is in their best interest to stay socially distant, I couldn’t set up play dates quickly enough with other friends!

Katriel was up at the crack of dawn and asking me to start school before breakfast, because she thought that would make it time to see Madeline faster.

Well.

No.

After lunch is still after lunch.

Then again – she tried to get us to eat lunch at 10:30AM.

But then – this happened….