A confession

I began this blog thinking I would help others. That my experiences of raising Beth would be a huge benefit to those following in my footsteps. I've been through potty training, puberty, and have acquired vast amounts of knowledge in the area of childraising. :)

Honestly, I was a little pompous in my idea that I had reached the finish line. Beth was 25 and I was basically done! Woo hoo!! Let me impart my wisdom on you! Yea, now it's time for me to eat some humble pie.

I have been reading your blogs and am humbled at your lives. You are experiencing moments with your children that leave me breathless. The various diagnosis you've received fill my eyes with tears and my heart with pain. Some of you hear it from the doctors year after year! Yet you wake up the next day and you keep going.

You are an inspiration to me!! Your determination to live life despite your circumstances has given me hope and reminded me to always look for the good in life. I tend to be a pessimist but your blogs are changing me! Keep writing! You are making a difference in the lives of others!!

Merry Christmas!

From our family to yours, we wish you a very Merry Christmas

and a new year filled with the joy and peace of the Lord!

And the part of baby Jesus will be played by....

When Beth was just two months old, she was the baby Jesus in a live nativity at our church in San Diego. It was such an honor and a lot of fun too!

Look what Beth won!

Remember the pictures at the fair, for which she won blue ribbons? This week she received $10 as an additional prize for them! You can tell by the smile on her face how happy she is!

More Auntie Elizabeth pictures!

Ryan and Sharaya brought Allison over last night and Beth was willing to hold her. These pictures make Allison look very yellow, but she's fine. She almost looks like a porcelin doll!

I loved the way Beth was so gentle with her. She is so proud of her and talks about her a lot.

She'll really have fun as Allison grows up. Can't you just see them playing Barbies together, and coloring? :) I know Beth is going to be a wonderful Aunt!

Baby Allison is here!!

Allison Lucy Ehlert was born on Wednesday, December 2, 2009 at 10:38 PM. She weighed 7.12 pounds and was 20.5 inches long. A beautiful baby - she looks like Daddy!

Mom, Dad and Allison are all doing well.

Soon to be... Auntie Elizabeth!

Beth's sister Sharaya and her husband Ryan, are due to have their baby any day now! They are having a girl, Allison Lucy. We are so anxious to meet her and to see who she looks like! The hustle and bustle of Thanksgiving is over and now we are just waiting for baby Allison. She is actually 11 days late... and counting! Sharaya will see her doctor tomorrow and there is a good possibility they will induce her then.

Allison is our first grandchild and we can hardly breathe!! The thought of holding our daughter's baby, is just beyond words. My mom passed away a few years ago and I so wish I could talk to her about all this! Did she feel this much excitement when I was pregnant? Did she create a space at home to care for the kids when they came over? Did she want to yell it from the rooftops, "I'm gonna be a Grandma!!" Or in my case, Nana!

I was recently asked, "Aren't you Sharaya's mom?" For a split second, Sharaya was back in 3rd grade and I was standing on the elementry school playground. And now, forever more, people will be asking her, "Aren't you Allison's mom?" It causes me to look at my daughter with new eyes. To see her not as my little girl, but as 'Allison's mom'.

And Beth wants to be called Auntie Elizabeth. I know she is up to the task and will shine with pride as Allison's Aunt.

At the dentist

Raise your hand if you like to go to the dentist. Yea, my hand isn't raised either. :)
Most of us don't like to go to the dentist, but they do help us keep our teeth clean and healthy. Beth went to the dentist this week. She had to have two fillings. I've actually fainted at the dentist, but Beth does so well.

She gets nervous when they lay the chair back and raise it up, but she doesn't cry or anything! She holds onto the arm rests and sometimes she shakes a little. But she is amazing! When the dentist is finished, she sits up and says she's ready to go! I wish I was as brave as her!

She's my hero!!

Game Night!

Monday nights after dinner, we have game night! We clear off the kitchen table, fix some hot tea and pull out the games. Some of our favorites are Sorry and Uno!

Brother Tom

We have learned that Brother Tom, the pastor that dedicated Beth to the Lord, has recently passed away. Twenty five years later, Beth is still walking with God. Tom and Kathy Nutt were amazing leaders, soft spoken, yet fierce for God. Brother Tom will be missed.