A minute later... bringing on Thankfulness in a COVID era

 This year has been a roller coaster ride for the whole world. COVID has complicated everyone’s life, but the world doesn’t stop spinning. 

Babies keep growing, children keep learning and life continues.

2020 Update

 2020 has been quite a ride.

In March COVID-19 rolled in cancelling any hope we had of giving my son his first real birthday party with friends. We still celebrated, but it was much quieter than originally intended. 

It's been an even more interesting ride since then... work, virus infection possibilities and well just general activity!

My husband works in the insurance industry and his work has been had hit by this plague. Reflecting on the flu epidemic some time ago, I know mankind has experienced all kinds of illnesses but this is definitely a new chapter in our lives.

Our daughter turned one on the last day of July and there is still no sign of our old normal resurfacing. I'm hoping I can return to this little page more often and jot something down with greater frequency. 

As a stay at home mom, I've been trying to evaluate my personal skills while keeping up with my daily tasks of keeping two little people alive and somewhat educated. God has given us great grace and has always provided in the past hard times. 

At the moment our bank account is very slim, but we have been able to pay our bills and not dip into our savings yet. I noticed a rip in our shower curtain last week but we don't really NEED a new one yet so I'm not going to buy one. We have some food, we have lots of books, there are always sticks if we tire of counting hotwheel cars. God is good and gives grace. Sometimes I like to bake yummy foods- even when they're a normal healthy meal.

Yesterday- August 16th I realized it was the first unofficial anniversary for my husband and me. August 16, 2009 we officially pledged ourselves to each other to be married and a little over four years later that marriage occurred. It's been almost seven years of marriage now and two babies born- one flew away to heaven before we welcomed the two we hold in our arms.

It's been a minute... fastforward to 2018

I was just reading the last posting on this blog over three years ago and SO MUCH has happened since then!

We now have a 2 1/2 year old son who keeps us on our toes more often than not. So much energy, so much joy in life.

A new twist in the tale

Just today it is was with great excitement that my husband and I visited the doctor's office. We excitedly watched the screen and her face during the ultrasound. But then another procedure had to be done... And we complied- confused. But not all was as we hoped. 

We entered excited parents... And left

Broken-hearted... At present without a living child. Although we were reassured that every third pregnancy ends in miscarriage this was new, sad and disheartening.

That's all for now. We still have hope for the future and someday this too will pass.

News just out...

Some have heard it... some have not, so here we go!

We're expecting a BABY late this summer.

That's all for now folks!

-Stephen & Chelsea (+Havoc & Aristasia)

Merry Christmas!

The end of the year is quickly approaching and with it the most important Birthday party of all time. That is, after all, what we're doing amid all the commercialized hoopla and stress-ridden travel plans; we're celebrating the birth of the Christ, the Saviour who humbled Himself to leave the eternal realm and be bound up in human flesh to ultimately take our sin and it's punishment as His own. And here you thought it was about shopping and an overweight seasonal wizard. You silly reindeer.

Speaking of wizards, Destiny came out this fall and we've been playing quite a bit. Of course 'we' really means Stephen, but Chelsea's created a character and played a touch also. Stephen's been playing as a Warlock-class guardian, affectionately known as space-wizards. Chelsea's character is a Titan-class, basically a human tank. It's been a little nerdy here this year.

Chelsea started a new job toward the beginning of the year with Custom Glam Girl, a customized clothing company specializing in vinyl heat-press work. Chelsea's been serving as their graphic designer and website manager, bringing her own creative talents to grow and promote the company. She also started dancing again, taking classes up in Carmel near work. On top of all that she's also been doing a lot of freelance work, designing logos and letterhead, power points and websites. Her photography has been busy too, shooting for the Indiana Ballet Conservatory's Nutcracker and several family/engagement portraits. With all of that going on, the holidays are a much-anticipated break from the insanity.

Stephen's year has been full too. He is still working as a full-time security officer at the IMA (marking 2 years as full-time this next February) and has been doing some freelance graphic design here and there as well, mostly working with a custom tattoo website. Designs have ranged from infinity trees to initials to negative-space dancers. No income yet, but plenty of interesting experience.

December 12th

December entered with a flourish of snowflakes this year... I wondered if I should have invested in a husky-drawn sled. Cat's are't quite as fond of the snow, but they certainly are good for cuddling!

Stephen and I celebrated one year of marriage in October and our family of three (two humans, one cat) grew around late August, early September to include a second cat- who was but a ball of spunk at three months old. Aptly named, Havoc, he join our family and continues to make our lives enjoyable with his playful games and childish nature. Yes,  I realized I'm relating a feline to a human, but right now we have fur babies...

Christmas is but a mere 13 days away and my schedule sometimes seems bursting until I recall that more can fit inside my brain than inside a 24-hour day.

Cheerio!
 Chelsea