2012 - A New Year, A New Post!!!

 Field Trips!!! 

This year brought some fun changes for my sister - Kayla became a home-schooler!  The great thing about this is that we get lots of quality time with her AND we can do "field trips" together.  The first one we went on was over the weekend - so Selah gladly got to join in on the fun.  We went to Lake Farm Parks for their Spring Exploration...we saw all sorts of baby goats, pigs, sheep and even got to make our own maple candy (my personal favorite).

Our BFF girls...checking out the horse stable

Maple stir time...yummy!!!!

Mercy LOVED getting to go on the tractor ride - what a big girl sitting all on her own!

Nee Nee Heather and Mercy

Judah's face was priceless when he saw the cow getting milked (I love this boy!!)

Our Next Field Trip was at the Cleveland Botanical's Garden...I can't believe I have never been there before.  On this trip - Heather and Kayla joined us, along with, my girlfriend Ashley and her boys.  Thanks to a tip - we were able to all go for FREE, gotta love Free Garden Day.  It was the most beautiful day and we were able to enjoy the indoor butterfly garden as well as the most amazing outdoor gardens and kids play area.  We ended the fun-filled day with a picnic outside - perfection!

They have fresh fruit out for the butterflies - they were everywhere, so cool!

Kayla and I inside the "rain forest"

An indoor waterfall - the kids were in their glory.

Mercy HAD to bring "Ginny" - my baby doll since I was a little girl.

Heather and Kayla exploring the outdoors!

Gorgeous - inspiration for our yard (updates on that to come..Derek has been very hard at work)!

Ashley, Josh and Owen - so glad they ventured out with us!

One of many beautiful shots of birds birds everywhere!


AND...last but not least - Happy 5th Birthday Judah!!!  Crazy that one of the last posts I did was about his 4th birthday - here is hoping I can be a bit more consistent this year.

Home Update - FINALLY!!!

So, I finally am getting around to posting some updated pictures of our house!!!  When I look at these pictures I am amazed at how much has gotten done in such a short period of time.  If it wasn't for the help from all our amazing friends and family - it wouldn't have been possible - we love ya all!!!  The other thing that strikes me as I look at these pictures is God's hand in it all.  If it wasn't for Him and Him alone - we wouldn't be in this amazing home.  It gives me goose bumps as I remember how clearly He showed Himself through every last detail of our home sale and purchase - up to us signing our new home exactly 9 years to the day of our first home.  He has given us more in this home than we ever could have imagined and it makes me laugh inside to think of the other homes I was saddened to have lost along the 2 1/2 year wait.  He has once again reminded me that He does know best and I need to just trust in Him for He is so faithful.  I think the best thing about being in our new home is the true sense of "home at last".  We feel such peace and contentment being here together as a family.  There is something to be said about having to wait a long time for something - because with that comes such joy when the end has come and you see what He has delivered.  We LOVE our house, the good, the bad and the ugly and LOVE working on a home once again.  It is fun to want to do something to your house and I feel like we have missed that desire for so long.  So, without further ramblings - here is the updated version of our home and there will be more photos to come as our projects here are endless!!!

The Living Room

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The Dining Room

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The Kitchen

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 The Master Bathroom

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The Family Room

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Our Man is "4" and more....

 Yes, Yes....I know it has been forever and a day since I have blogged - but the house has been keeping us MORE than busy and we love it.  And, nope - there are no updated pictures on this blog, but very soon I promise!!!  Today I just had to get my bootie in gear and get these pics up of our Big Man who turned "4" yesterday!  He has been making progress in leaps and bounds and there are days I think "can he stop chatting just for a second" and then I laugh inside knowing this is what we have been waiting so long to hear.  He is full of expressing himself these days and mostly it is all good.  He has adjusted to our new house like a true champ and his new school just as well (to the surprise of all his doctors and teachers, but not to our Lord - who knows him best)!!  He still has the most amazing smile - I can't help but think he will win over his future bride with it one day!  He is our joy, our funny man, our tender hearted spirit and our lover of all things outdoors.  Happy Birthday Sweet Boy - We Love You!!!

As for our girls...Mercy is like Judah and LOVES the outdoors - really, she just loves life in general and I am soaking every single minute up of these toddler days.  Don't get me started that she is our last - the tears won't stop!!  She is chatting up a storm herself and has even learned how to sing "Happy Birthday To You".  She is attached to my hip and is a true "Mama's Girl" - but honestly, she is my last and I wouldn't want it any other way!!  With that being said though - one of the greatest joys I get each day is when Derek pulls in and she goes screaming for her daddy, it is the most precious thing ever!  

 

And last, but not least is our Selah Anne!!  Her progress in school this year is just scary...she is reading and writing unbelievably.  Her favorite thing to do is read her bible to us and go over a list of questions to see if we "understood" what she just read!!  She keeps us on our toes alright.  The other day I was blown away by the math sheet she came home with and that it was done all by herself.  Here is a shot of her at her school play - thanks Nana and Papa for sharing in her big day.  Kindergarten graduation is this week and that is another topic that will turn the water works on.  So, for now I will leave it at that and hope to blog soon about her graduation and our home!  Love ya all. 



Selah's Ski Lesson #2

On Saturday, Selah took her second ski lesson at Alpine Valley in Chesterland. Judah accompanied me to watch Selah in action as she hit the slopes. The winds were whipping out of the north at around 30 mph (hence, a bit of camera shake). Yes, it was frigid and the three of us were ready for a warm-up. From Alpine, we headed west on Mayfield road for a bite and a bit of indoor playground fun. 


Ski Lesson #2 from Derek DuRoss on Vimeo.

Finally, Alpine Valley 'Resort' made national news Saturday when skiers had to be plucked from the the Quad ski lift. I guess we left just in time, although, I would have enjoyed documenting the action on my video camera!

Below is a video of this story. Here is the link to the actual write-up: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41095299

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

2010 - Full of Family, Full of Friends, Full of Deep Deep Love

Well, 2010 has come and gone. Where do the years go? Hope and I often wish we could just freeze moments in time. Yet we all know that is not to be...we get older, our kiddos get bigger, and life moves ever so fast. That being said, Hope and I take comfort in knowing that our faithful and sovereign Lord has each and every moment of our lives, perfectly planned and in His loving hands.

So as we move into 2011, here is a look back at the year that was 2010: Another wondeful year filled with the many blessings of family and friends and lots and lots of love. For our family, we thank the Lord for always providing and lay all of our plans for 2011 at His feet.

We love you all so much and thank each one of you for making 2010 such a special year.

Love,

Derek, Hope, Selah, Judah, and Mercy

Our Family - 2010 Review in Pictures from Derek DuRoss on Vimeo.

Happy Birthday Sweet Girl

When I think of Mercy's 1st year of life - it is filled with many emotions.  It is a bit hard to not look back over the last year and see the impact cancer has had on our lives.  Mom DuRoss was diagnosed with Sarcoma a few months before Mercy was born and has gone through radiation and 2 surgeries in this first year of her life.  Heather was diagnosed exactly one week after Mercy was born with Non Hotchin's Lymphoma and under went chemotherapy during her first year of life.  What most people would look at as a devistating year, I honestly only see blessing upon blessing the Lord has graced us with.  He gave us a child whose name has lived up to more than I ever would have imagined.  She is a daughter who not only brings joy to my heart, but walked the chemo hall with me at every visit bringing smiles to the patients and care giver's day.  She slept in her NeNe's arms while she was being treated and brought peace to her soul.  She has snuggled up with Nana and Papa after returning from Boston and mom's treatments there.  Our sweet girl has experienced so much in her first year of life and I am thankful that the Lord gave her to me at just the moment I would need such sweet love from a baby.  What a gentle way the Lord choose to guide me through this year - how could you look back and not just be thankful for His love over us all??  I love you Mercy Lynn DuRoss - you have a tender loving soul, you bring a smile to my everyday, you have a presence of contentment and yet we already see your passion for life.  Mostly as I look over this past year I realize even more that I am just crazy over you!! 

Happy Birthday Sweet Girl - Happy Birthday!

Our Big Man is "3"!!!

Our Favorite Things About Judah:

His face - it tells it all!!

His tender heart towards his sisters

How he plays pretend "night-night" and lays all his animals to bed, turns the fan on, sings them each a song and kisses them goodnight!

How he will follow Selah to the moon and back

How he is CRAZY over his "baby" aka..Mercy

His quirky sense of humor

His need for lots of drinks throughout the day

His eyes - they simply draw you in!

Even though he is "3" ~ he still wants to cuddle mommy all day long!

How a day spent outside working with daddy is like winning the lottery!

That he is our son and we are blest to have him in our lives, teaching us everyday and loving us with his amazing heart.