5 Days - 4 Nights

For the first time in 3 years we are going to all be together.
The whole family.
Together.

It has the potential to be a glorious time.
And there is opportunity for, well, a not so glorious time.

Fourteen personalities - 9 guys, and 5 girls.
Four marriages.  6 kids.
Many different ages.
14 different opinions.
1 house.

And I am beyond excited!!!!

Being that we live in 4 different states -
 two clear across the country from the other two -
we don't get this chance often enough.
And we always love to get together.

But, we are people, and in spite of our love for each other
we must still make a conscience decision
to unconditionally love each other in confined spaces.
To look over each other's faults.
To speak kindly of each other and to each other.
To put others needs and desires ahead of our own.
To respect each others space and opinions.
To not be easily offended or hurt.

To remember that just because we are family it does not give us the
freedom to operate in the flesh
but rather the greater responsibility to live by the Spirit.

I have not really worried about us,
knowing we are blessed
to have a family that longs to be together,
but I would be naive to think that there is not a risk here.

We are living in a time when families are easily
torn apart by things said
or actions taken.
And it is, by nature, our tendency to look out for ourselves
before others.

And so I write this;
Knowing how excited we all are to spend this time together.
Wanting it to be with the same expectation that we wait for the next time.
Desiring that we miss each other when all is said and done.

And knowing that each one makes this imperfectly, perfect family.

Blowing in the Wind...

We're planning on a move.  Soon.  Across country.  Again.

Things have changed some with our involvement in Brazil and so we have been kicking around

and praying about our future.  What is needed, what we want to do and when to do it.  

We made plans to stay in Tennessee where two of our children and their spouses are.  We were fine about staying here.  We love our church and the people there.  Can put up with the summer weather knowing that the winters are wonderful.  But work was a factor and it was becoming more of a concern with each passing month as we thought about our future.  Besides, every time we tried to open a door here it seemed to close....

And then Warren got a job offer. A good offer. In Idaho.  Around my parents and two of my sisters and their families.  Closer to our other son and our five grandchildren.  Back to the west that Warren, especially, loves so much.  We talked.  We prayed.  

We are moving toward that with the prayer that God will slam the door shut if it's not to be.  

We are growing more excited with each day although it is mixed with the realization that we have yet more hard good-byes to say.  Now we have people in so many places that we love.  That we miss and will miss. 

With these changes I am also changing this blog - the name and the reason for it. 

 I will keep all of the old posts, mainly because I want  to remember. 

 I will be using this blog, now, for my thoughts and insights into what God is doing through ordinary circumstances in life to teach me. 

For those of you that are not so interested in that, I am also starting a new blog.  It will be about "house stuff".  Both the house we are finishing up here in Tennessee and also about the house we hope to get and transform in Idaho.  You'll find this blog at

 http://sheriyoder.blogspot.com/

I have NOT posted anything on that blog yet - give me a few days!

A new adventure is just around the corner....

For Today

Warren's brother-in-law died last night.

Totally unexpected. Too young to be gone. Too soon for all the loved ones that remain here.

I watched a good friend of mine go through the grieving process after losing her husband and

felt that I learned so much from watching her...

but now, once again, I have no idea what to say or do. Death is too hard on the people that are left to live life. There is no words that you can say to someone that will bring comfort for a loss that feels as though it is strangling them.... where they are almost wish it would.

Here we are in Brazil. Feeling so helpless and far away. We had thought the day could come

when we would lose someone we loved while we were at such a distance. But the thought of it

was so much easier than the reality of it.

I had the sudden rush of wanting to be with my family. Not wanting to lose a second of time with any of them. Of course, this isn't possible. Of course, even if there were not such a distance we would continue living life in and out of each other's presence.

But for today, I will treasure more the lives of those that I love so much. I will pray more for them and take joy in their voices on the phone, their comments on Facebook and just in my knowledge that they are a part of my life.

For today we will mourn the loss of a man that made Warren's sister so happy. A man that was a great father and grandfather. A man that was friends with all.

I can only picture him smiling. I can only picture him living life to the fullest.

This is the man we shall mourn today.

Rest in peace, Dennis. You are greatly loved and will be greatly missed.

Oliver is 3!!!!!!!

Oliver Isaac our little "laughter" boy!

His big brothers knew what they were doing when they picked his name -

he can bring sunshine to the darkest of days with his joy for life.

You are my sunshine

you make me happy when skies are gray

you'll never know, dear, how much I love you.

please don't take my sunshine away.

Love you to the moon and back again, little guy.

You are a joy.

Happy Birthday!!!!!

1/2 a Century?!

Happy Birthday, Dori!!!!!

How does it feel to be 50?

Thought so.

Hope it's your greatest year yet!

Dori, from the very beginning you have always brought a bunch
of "life" to our family.
Your sense of humor always makes one smile
and your kindness is beyond words.
Your also the one that has the greatest sense of what it takes
to keep this family connected.

You're a one-of-a-kind sister
and a one-of-a-kind friend.

I am so thankful you're mine.

Enjoy today.
You'll be in my thoughts.

Love you much.

I can't believe I'M old enough.....

You have always been amazing.

You were one of those "great" kids -
an "awesome" teenager-

(Okay, there are a few things during that time
I still don't like to hear about or talk about!)

And then you became a man.
A husband. A father.
A grown son.

And you're great at all three.
I'm proud to be your mother -
I love being your mother!

You've changed my life.
And it's been wonderful.

Happy birthday

to my favorite
oldest son!

I love you, Josh.

Happy Happy Birthday Birthday!!

Today is the birthday of two very special girls in my life -
Both of them brought to me because of one man's love.
My son's.

The first is his wife of 8 years.

She was Josh's dream for a wife.
And my dream for a daughter-in-law.
Neither of us have been disappointed!

I love you, Jodi.
I couldn't have done any better had I picked you myself.
I love how you love my son
and your children.

How respectful you are of other people.
And the goodness and sweetness that is your heart.

And then there is Lily!
The only girl in a sea of boys.
And every bit the princess.

I loved you from the moment I knew there was a you.
Enough gentleness to call you girlie
and yet enough toughness to hold your own
with four brothers.

One years old today.
You make my heart sing.

To two of my favorite girls

Happy Birthday!

My life wouldn't be the same without
either one of you.

Feliz Aniversario, Warren

It has been my joy to share
life with you.

To be your wife.

To be able to laugh and cry with you.

To share adventures
as well as every day life.

To know you as a father, grandfather

and friend.

I am so glad that I choose you
to share this life with.

I did good.
Very, very good!

I love you, sweetie.
Happy Birthday
to my most favorite person
in the whole world.

(and thanks for choosing me, too!)

MR. DYKAST

It's almost hard to remember our family without Jason.
It's as though he always was.

And that's the way it should be with family.
Incomplete without each one.

We realize, Jason, that it really wasn't us that you thought you were
choosing when you married our daughter.
But you got us anyway.

We got the better end of the deal!
Love you so much.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!

Our Family Christmas 2010 Tennessee

While our whole family was together earlier this month,
we were blessed that a good friend
of Jason and Kellie
(who just so happens to be a professional photographer)
volunteered
(by his wife's nudges!)
to take some family pictures for us.

What a gift!

This guy still gives me butterflies!

Our "crazy" grandchildren.
Our cup runneth over with joy!

You can get a little bit of a glimpse of their personalities
with these pictures!

Our family has a lot of fun together
and I think Rich captured our enjoyment of each other.

side note: Notice Jake on Brett's shoulders.
While taking these picture, at some point,
Brett spit on the ground.
(he said later that right after he did it
he knew it was a mistake)
Jake copied him.
Then Brett heard,
"oh, that was a mistake."
He continued to tell Brett that he had spit but it landed
in Brett's hair - thus the mistake.
He then proceeded to try and wipe it off.
Not so good for Brett's purposely messed up hair.
Oh well, like Brett said - he made the first mistake!

Josh and Jodi thought it was a great time to have a good
picture taken of their family together....

Actually, I think it's great.
Each person is so themselves in this picture.
It's a keeper!

Thank you so much Rich Smith!
They are the greatest and we are blessed that you would do this for us.
And Heather, thank you for the little arm twisting that you may have had to do!

You guys are the best!

One Amazing 3 Year Old!

Noah
Can it be that you are actually 3 years old already?
Where has the time gone?

It seems like only yesterday that we were dreaming of you.

You may not have been born into this family
but it has always been God's intention
for you to be a part of us.
You are.
And we couldn't be happier.

We love you so much.

Happy Birthday, sweet boy!

Is It 58? Already?

I've already told you how wonderful I believe my parents are.
Not only have they given me a childhood full of great memories
they have given me an adulthood full of unconditional love,
Godly wisdom and the best of examples.

I couldn't love them more.


And the greatest gift they have given me:
Their love for each other.
It has only grown bigger with time.

I am blessed by you both.

Happy Anniversary!!!!

I Seem to Remember That Today is Special.....

Happy Birthday, Joni!!!

You're still not ready for purple!

So thankful that you are my sister.
We may have had our rough patches but, seriously,
they are hard to remember right now.
A history together is worth so very much.

So thankful you are my friend.
We have had fun!
The many shopping trips and the laughing until early morning hours
(or not going to bed at all!).
Sharing deep, heart felt things.
You know how to give of your time, how to laugh
& how to listen.
Very important things in friendship.

So thankful you are in my life.
I can't imagine it without you.


Have a wonderful birthday
and know you are deeply loved.

A Little Humor

This picture got me to thinking......

do you see any resemblance?.......

or is it my imagination?.....

I've got my own "Little Rascals"!!!!

the "Little Rascals", or early version "Our Gang" was a show created in the 1920's.
It was intended to be about real children doing things that real children do.
Google it and you will find a few laughs.