December Update

One might say this is an interesting picture choice for a December Update ~ but I just had to put in this photo of our two pumpkins and their pumpkin creations this year. I am wondering where October and November went and couldn't let it slide by without posting this shot!


One may think that I am going back into the archived pictures once again for this next photo ~ but I am not, we are just having unusually warm weather this winter. I know I should be frustrated that we aren't getting hit with blizzard after blizzard since I am the wife of a man supported by Mr. Heater ~ but I am still just a girl who LOVES warm weather, so I am not complaining!! This new ride was a very sweet gift from a generous friend whose children had outgrown it ~ our children have been smiles ever since!

Our baby girl is already 10 weeks old and I literally wish I could freeze time. The other day Derek teased me and said "she doesn't even look like an infant anymore" ~ say it isn't true. Not only is she the most content, happy and loving baby ~ but she is our last and I feel the need to capture every single second I can with her. I mean really, look at her ~ not too hard to just stare for hours and soak her in!!!


Last but not least ~ our tree is up, the house is decorated and we are ready to simply and joyously enjoy family this Christmas!! Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas until I post again!

Miss Molly's Tea Room

This past Saturday we headed down to Medina for our 1st Annual Mother/Daughter Tea Room day at Miss Molly's. There is something that simply melts your heart while watching your 4 year old pour her own china tea pot (full of lemondade) and sip out of a very tiny tea cup. The weather was amazing ~ so we were able to tour the town's charming stores and soak in the gorgeous day. I am thankful for so many things this year ~ mostly family and the support and love I recieve from each of them. It was a huge blessing that Heather was feeling great on Saturday and I just have to say how proud I am of my big sis!! I feel like I am walking through this with her and yet realize that it is her getting the chemo treatments, it is her feeling sick and exhausted, it is her loosing her beautiful hair and it is her that each day chooses to surrender to the Lord and make the very best of the day she has been given. God was merciful to give us a wonderful day and I will always treasure this day!!

"You don't choose your family ~ they are God's gift to you, as you are to them" Desmond Tutu

Mercy Lynn DuRoss

I can hardly believe our sweet baby girl is already one month old ~ where has the time gone! Sorry to have taken so very long to post pictures, life has been a bit crazed to say the least. So, lets go back to that memorable day on October 1st when Mercy Lynn DuRoss brought tears of joy to our eyes. That morning I woke up and realized very quickly that "today was the day"! It really was a picture perfect labor and delivery ~ and for our last child, I was so thankful for a wonderful birthing experience. I labored a bit throughout the day at home, stopped in at the Hairnook to have my hair braided (yes, in labor I still cared about my hair!), got to the hospital and within 3 hours she was born ~ in only 4 pushes. I have to say the moment they said she was a girl, my heart just melted and I fell deeply in love with her just like our other two.

We were beyond thrilled and blest to have my mom, Heather and Joanie in the delivery room with us for the big event!

I remember thinking throughout the day that it seemed so odd to be going into labor 9 days early and for it to be moving along as quickly and easily as it did ~ it took only one week to realize why the Lord had been so merciful to us that day. It was exactly one week after Mercy was born that we were given the very sad news that Heather (my big sis) has Non-Hotchkins Lymphoma. Although our world seems to have been turned upside down with this sadness ~ I do know this, that the Lord gave us this time to be filled with joy in our new baby and He is not at all surprised by the timing of all these events. He is sovereign, He has a plan and purpose, and He will love us through this storm of life. There is a song that I cling to that simply states my core belief "I believe, He is the Christ, Son of the Living God" ~ and in that statement I place my every hope.

As we look into our little girl's eyes ~ we feel our family complete!

Seriously ~ could there be two more handsome men in my life???

As we brought Mercy home from the hospital ~ we couldn't stop laughing at just how much she reminds us of Selah. If you could see this same shot of Selah when she was born, it is scary how identical they look!

Selah and Judah have been amazing with their little sister. Each night wanting to take turns holding her, kissing her, helping out with bath time and for some reason ~ getting really excited when it's time to change her "poops"!!

So Mercy Lynn ~ Happy 1 Month Birthday, we love you!!

Reflections on Summer 2009

There are times I think about our summer and realize it certainly has not been the "normal" summer and it almost feels like the summer that never was. But, then I look at all our pictures and realize that even through the storms of life ~ we have been blessed with beauty, friends and family that we love. As I think about our end to summer ~ I am thankful that we're entering a new "season" in our lives which will bring two wonderful events, a new life to cuddle up and love and Mom and Dad DuRoss back home with us. Here are some pictures to share in the joys over the past few months.

So ~ how can you have joy without friends and food I ask you?? To me, IMPOSSIBLE! Here are some shots from our "girls get-away" to Lake Milton. God has been so good to give us friends that are able to walk through life with us and just enjoy life's simple pleasures!

How can you have summer without extreme croquet ~ and how can you have this summer without the new and very much beloved hand-engraved croquet set??? To the men, IMPOSSIBLE! So thankfully they were given amazing weather to play as many "rounds" as they desire, wives who let them play for hours at every family gathering, and good times trying to beat the other!

Another great week that we didn't post pictures of yet was in July when Chris, Erika & Finn came to visit us from Utah. I ask again, how can you have a DuRoss family gathering without heading to Chautauqua for some boating time? To all of us ~ IMPOSSIBLE! Although the week was filled with the sadness of mom's diagnosis, it was also filled with lots of love, fishing off the dock w/ lessons from Papa, and lots of laughter watching the cousins play, play play. And yes, this picture had to be blogged to prove even Uncle Chris joined in the play time!!!

Last, but certainly not least ~ is our end of the summer pictures from Geauga Lake Waterpark. Do I need to ask how you have a summer without spending the sunny days catching waves at the wave pool, dancing with Snoopy and the Gang and riding the wild slides? To the "Austin" cousins ~ IMPOSSIBLE! It was amazing to see how brave Selah has become this year, literally throwing herself under the waves and to watch our little man trying to keep up with all his big cousins. Good times for sure!!

What I am able to reflect upon now is really quite simple ~ our God is good, faithful and truly a constant through it all. "Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God" Psalm 90:1-2

Boston "Love"

Our time in Boston was short ~ but ohhhhh so sweet! It meant everything to get to visit Mom & Dad DuRoss while they're there for 5 weeks during her radiation treatments. We were able to experience their life from mom's radiation appointment and the huge machine, to the crazy beach tides that go out almost 1/2 mile, to where their laundry room is, to where they make chicken salad at night, to just how uncomfortable their couches are (seriously, feel sorry for them people), to city tours that should have thrown me into labor!!! Here are some photos to highlight our time with them.

Charles Street has fun shops, yummy restaurants and mainly wasn't too far for me (big and preggers to walk to)!

George Washington statue at the most beautiful park right in the city. It made us keep asking ~ why doesn't Cleveland look like this???

I begrudgingly place this photo in here (but Audzzz did ask to see my belly ~ so here ya go)!!

Can't ya just feel the love between them ~ this is a pond in the middle of the beautiful park I was mentioning above.

The architecture is so beautiful in Boston ~ it was easy to love the city for its old world charm and yet hate the city for keeping Mom and Dad away from us.

Derek couldn't leave without getting a shot of the historic (or so I am told) Fenway Park.

I couldn't leave without getting a shot of 7-Eleven ~ the store I grew up with as a child in PA.





Photos from our relaxing day at Boston's finest beach! If you closed your eyes and imagined large waves hitting the beach ~ you could almost believe we were in North Carolina on summer vacation.


I think the best part of the trip was just "being" with Mom and Dad and realizing that no matter where they are ~ we are right there with them in our hearts! We miss you like crazy already and are counting down the days until you return HOME to us.

Reel Time

Our men became fishermen on Saturday when they headed out on Lake Erie for a manly excursion of charter boat fishing. What I was able to gather from my hubby's beaming face and all the "sea" stories ~ the day was perfection from start to finish!

(Derek, Mark, Dad, Logan, Dave & Gordy)

From generation to generation ~ I love this picture of Logan with Grandpa! Makes me realize that it won't be too long before our little Judah will be out there hanging with the big boys.

Logan claimed the first fish of the day ~ way to go buddy!

I hear the steelhead were especially fiesty and Gordy got to capture this guy as he flung himself out of the cooler.
Derek reeled in his own beauty!

The "elderly" men getting their much needed rest!!!

Great catch Dave ~ life is good!

Couldn't resist adding this picture ~ is our boy handsome or what?? And, he's the only true fisherman of the day wearing proper hat attire!

Love ya Pops ~ glad you enjoyed your big day!