One Month Old!!!

Here's the BIG BOY! One month old! I typed up a long post and, unfortunately, the computer froze between the draft and publish stage...so it's gone. I will have to type a longer update later. Suffice it to say, we love our little boy! He brings a smile to everyone's face, and we can't imagine life without him. Praise God from whom all blessings flow...

Vote for Gustav...

No, he's not running for office! But he would like some help choosing which one of his clips to send in to a competition. Check them out at this link:

http://www.gustavhoyer.com/vote-video.html

Please leave comments and vote for the score you like best. Thanks!!

You know it'll be an interesting day when...

It's 9AM. You're still in your jammies. You get yourself a nice warm cup of coffee...the last in the pot... as you sit to nurse the baby. After nursing said baby, you get up to change his diaper. While away, the bad, bad beagle drinks your coffee. Every. Last. Sip.

Doesn't he look guilty?

What a Reward!

Here's a beautiful picture of Lillian proudly showing off her new Bible. You may notice that it has her name on it - in GOLD!! Lillian received this Bible as a reward from her Sunday School teachers after memorizing all 66 books of the Bible and reciting them in front of the class. She worked so very diligently for 2 months...reciting them every single day.

When she first received her new Bible, the name was wrong...it said Lillian Douglas. Lillian had not told her teachers of the mistake, and had put a sticker over the incorrect last name. I tried to convince her to tell them...assuring her that they would correct the mistake. Lillian broke down and downright refused to give up the Bible. She had worked so hard for this...she didn't even care that the name was wrong. She just wanted that Bible.

Well, her wonderful teachers let her keep that one, and ordered a new one with the correct last name. When the new one came in, Lillian gave the old one away to a little girl in her class who didn't have a Bible.

So, here's to loving the Word of God! Here's to refusing to give it up, no matter what! It is my earnest prayer that all of my children would cling to the Word...as Lillian clung to the Book with her name on it - in GOLD!

For the Love of Coffee...

Yep, we've got another coffee addict in the family! He's actually woken us up early to ask that someone please make him some coffee! Recently, Gretchen and Lillian made me a pot of coffee while I was sleeping in after a long night with Kurt (bless their hearts!). The coffee was perfect, despite the fact that they had never made it before. When I asked them how they could possibly have known how to make coffee, Gretchen stated, "Gabriel showed us." Not bad for a three year old!

Life's Beachy!

While my parents were here, we decided to make a trip to Santa Monica to visit the beach. Gretchen, Gabriel, and I had been in August when we were out for our house-hunting trip, but the rest of the Hoyer clan had not yet been, and were chomping at the bit.

It was a beautiful, albeit chilly (for SoCal...sorry New Englanders!) day. We told the children that they could roll up their pants and go in up to their knees, but that it was a bit too cold for swimsuits. Alas, led by the 9 year old ringleader, they all wound up wet to their eyeballs in their clothes. Their only set of clothes. Forty five minutes from home. It was a long (and stinky) drive!

But we did have fun! Did I mention the perks of living in a place where it is always warm? The beach in February qualifies right up there as a substantial perk! It was wonderful to get out of the house, even if we had to take two cars, because we are at capacity in the van. Kurt had some time outside in the sunshine, which he enjoyed. The older children can now all say they have been to the beach. And we got a rare family photo out of it!

Life is good.

Flying Solo

I love this picture of Kurt! He loves to sleep with his hands thrown over his head like this...soooo cute!

My Mom and Dad left this morning. I cried and cried. Take a hormonal lady, facing her first day with five children by herself and throw in the fact that she has no idea when she'll see her parents again and, well, it's not pretty! They were such a HUGE blessing while they were here....helping in so many ways. We are doing pretty well, however. God is good, and has supplied me with just what I need for this day. We managed to get some school done this morning. Kurt took a really good nap in his crib, and I feel pretty good.

I am excited to get back into our routine. I really thrive in a structured environment. I find it completely exhausting to fly by the seat of my pants for days at a time. So, we will slowly fold school, chores, instrument practice, trips to the library, etc. into the schedule this week. That will feel good to this Mommy.

Thanks to all of you for your many notes, cards, emails, etc. We have been so blessed to know that we have friends and family on two coasts (as well as many places in between!) praying for us. Gustav introduced Kurt in our Sunday School class yesterday and became choked up as he was doing so. After choking back my own tears, I began to really acknowledge how unbelievably blessed we are. We serve a good and gracious God who does not turn His back on us despite how wicked and undeserving we are. He continues to bless us with the comforts that we all too readily take for granted, and then on top of that, He blesses us with these beautiful children to raise for His glory. It really puts a handful of sleepless nights into perspective...

For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.
1Timothy2:13-14

Our pastor discussed this verse yesterday. Isn't God amazing? The idea is that, even though woman has the stigma of having been deceived by Satan, and having led humanity into sin, we may be freed from that stigma by raising a generation of godly children. Again, how inconsequential a few sleepless nights seem in light of that amazing truth!

So, here's to sleepless nights, crying babies, discipline, frustration, first giggles, first steps, hugs and kisses......and, most importantly, a generation of godly children.