Happy 1st Birthday Magerie!!!

Today (Thursday, May 27th) is Ellia’s cousin Magerie’s 1st Birthday. We celebrated a couple of weekends ago up in Greenville, PA where Todd (Magerie’s dad) grew up. Todd’s family’s house and land is beautiful! We were excited for the adventure and enjoyed the greenery, quietness and company. Magerie is already walking around and is as cute as can be. She was not shy at all about eating her birthday cake. The girls really had a great time playing with each other. Nana was in her glory with her two granddaughters! Here are some pictures from the party.

Ellia loved the open space, swing set and enjoyed playing Korn Hole (a bean bag tossing game) with her Papa. She also loved Olly, Todd’s old toy when he was little. I think all the kids did.. too cute.

Ellia had her 18 month check up this past week. She is 23 lbs 12 oz and 32 ½ inches long. My little miss is becoming more and more of a little lady. She will be transitioning into the toddler room at daycare this June. No more crib for her, she already has started sleeping on a cot at daycare. They say she does really well with it and will lay down by herself to take a nap. Her speech and sign language is developing more and more. She tries to sing her ABC’s, counts to 5 or even 10 at times, recognizes and identifies with many objects, and even plays pretend with her babies. My, how she loves her babies! She walks them every day and will even show them her flash cards that we show her. She will point to the card and tell them what the objects are. I guess it is good that she is mimicking my teaching behaviors. Kevin and I have to be careful more than ever to watch our actions and words around her.

She loves taking walks outside and looks for birds, bunnies, airplanes, and her favorite, dogs. She has to visit with any dog that walks by. Most people are good about it and the dogs are always friendly. And she MUST say Hi and Bye-Bye to everyone! No matter what too.. or she will scream it at them until they acknowledge her!!!

With this weekend being Memorial Day weekend, we’re looking forward to the pool opening and her reaction to the water this year. I am sure we will have may fun things to share. I hope you all enjoy your extra day of relaxation and ask everyone to remember to thank and pray for those that continue to fight for our freedom. Love ya all!

Mother’s Day Weekend…A time for reflection

She is clothed in strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. Proverbs 31:25
What a wonderful way to describe a woman, a mother, a girlfriend, a daughter, a wife, a sister…a princess to the King! Recently this has become my favorite bible verse. It puts a smile on my face and fills my heart with great joy. To be clothed in strength… not the strength of my own but that of the Lords. In those moments when I’m overwhelmed and I feel like I will never get through, I remember this and know that He is strengthening me, helping me push on. Besides this, being clothed in dignity… to have worthiness… to be worthy and valued, being held in high esteem by HIM! All because of the Lord’s grace and as I accept this grace, He cloths me… He surrounds me… He takes away my biggest insecurities and I feel abundantly loved, abundantly humbled and abundantly grateful!
With this, I can laugh at the days to come, meaning, I can look forward to each and every day with a joyful heart. No matter what may come my way, good or bad, being “clothed” in the Lord’s love and grace gives me the ability to enjoy each moment.
This blog is filled with these moments! These moments that are so precious to me and I thank you for allowing me to share them. With that said, my Mother’s Day weekend reminded me heavily of the love that God so graciously extends to each one of us.
Having lunch with my sister and mom on Saturday was quite a challenge but turned out to be a wonderful afternoon. I need to give you some background of the morning’s events to truly get the feel.
This day was also Kevin’s birthday and I wanted to make the day special for him. While Kevin golfed, I wanted to make sure the house was in order for when he got home so my morning was rushed by me cleaning and also getting gifts wrapped for my mom and sister plus get Ellia fed, bathed and clothed (not to forget myself as well) all before 12:30. Rushing around, feeling overwhelmed, and running out of time … the above verse popped in my head. I immediately stopped and petitioned all my “good intentions” to the Lord asking him to help me accomplish what I could, all the while telling myself that I would enjoy and delight in the day no matter what! Ironically, my mom slept in and my sister started the day out with a migraine! Hmm…coincidence or God incident?! God works all for good! I was able to get the house cleaned, gifts wrapped, get Ellia ready (as well as myself )and be on time.. an hour after we originally planned. Every time throughout that day that a worrisome thought filled my head or things didn’t seem to be working out according to “my” plan…the Lord took over. The day flowed from there. Even though our choice of restaurant was changed, we enjoyed a nice lunch, exchanged gifts, and were thankful that the kids behaved! We headed to the mall, found great sales and watched the kids play at the mall play yard. Kevin was able to come home to a nice clean house, relax and even take a nap. I made it home in time for Kevin and I to go to dinner at a new Japanese Steak house where we enjoyed sushi and an atmosphere similar to the restaurant we visited in Aruba on our honeymoon. We also enjoyed a cocktail or two and each other’s company. Nana and Papa had Ellia in bed by the time we got home… what a GREAT-Full day!

The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. Numbers 6:25

Children’s children are a crown to the aged and parents are the pride of their children. Proverbs 17:6

Sunday we headed to church. Kevin helped served lunch at the special Mother’s Day brunch after service, which Ellia and I enjoyed. It warmed my heart to see Kevin cheerfully greet mothers and their families. Again I felt thankful for that moment.. for Kevin.. for our life together.
That evening we met Nana Angelo and family for dinner at Rock Bottom. Ellia enjoyed eating an extremely sugar filled cookie afterwards and I enjoyed watching her act silly. She of course is my joy for whom I continually praise the Lord.

Monday was Muffins with Mom at daycare. I refer to the women who take care of Ellia every day during the work week as her adoptive mothers. I am so thankful for the loving care they provide.

With all the events that transpired over the weekend, Monday came and my husband humbly apologized for letting Mother’s day slip away without “getting” me something. He as already given me so much! However, little does he know that his sincerity on Monday with surprise flowers and thoughtful card was more meaningful to me than him getting it “right”. Who's to say he didn't get it right! I think it was the way it was meant to be and at that moment...I again reflected on my new favorite verse with a simile on my face...She is clothed in strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. Proverbs 31:25

Thank you for sharing in my heartfelt joy. God is so good! I hope all of you women had a wonderful weekend as well. And maybe if it wasn’t this particular weekend I’m sure there is one out there that you've had or will have. My example of God strengthening me might seem minimal but it is important to me because trust is built into these simple trials and helps prepare me to continue to trust in Him for whatever may come my way. We as women should relish in the beauty God has given us and enjoy each moment no matter if we are a mother, daughter, friend, wife, sister... we are beautiful in His sight and He delights in us… just as we are. Please remember this my dear friends! I pray that my daughter may read this one day and see how imperfect I am but how perfect HE is! To Him be the glory. To Him be the thanks, for our time here is short but his grace is forever extended to us...I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. 3 John 4

April Showers Bring May…

April has been filled with some fun events and some not so fun weather on the weekends. Well that is of lately. In the beginning of the month you would have thought it was Summer and here and there we have felt that heat. I haven’t written in a while being tied up with so much and now it is already May. Where are the flowers? The showers are in full effect.
Here is an update about all that has been going on this past month and weekend.
April 10th we went to celebrate the baptism of Isabella Angelia Stupakis. What a treat to experience a Greek baptism. The ceremony was an hour long and then a huge reception followed. Ellia enjoyed running around the hall and interacting with the other kids.


We have been of course enjoying the local park and some of my favorite pictures are of when Nana and Papa stopped by to swing and slide with Ellia.

Ellia has also been really into strawberries lately. We have been having luck with them and you can usually find her face (and shirt) covered red after enjoying a couple.

She is also into chocolate chip cookies. After a day of shopping at Costco’s we gave her a mini cookie. We were driving along and Kevin happened to glance back at her only to find a bearded lady in the back seat. Ellia thought it was hilarious. Instead of grabbing the wipes first, mommy had to grab her camera. Priceless!

We have been referring to little miss as Miss Congeniality as of lately. She is such a little talkative greeter…Always saying hi and bye, bye to everyone and usually blowing kisses as she leaves. What a ham she is. She now sings her ABC’s.. my favorite is when she gets to L,M,N,O,P because it usually all just gets mumbled together. She is also catching on more and more to things “we” meaning Kevin and I say. So now it is time to really watch exactly what we say. Example, I call Kevin Boub...just a nick name we have had for each other since our dating years, well one day I was yelling “Boub” while changing Ellia because i needed something and so she decided to start yelling it as well. It came out more like “bubp!” but made me laugh so hard. She has done it now a couple of times instead of yelling Dada. Too Funny!

Her hair is growing longer, her legs too… more teeth are coming in as well as a little more attitude. She asks to watch her DDD’s (DVD’s) and lately it is Sesame Street. I bought a throwback set as well as a recap of 40 years. Can you believe Sesame Street has been on TV that long?! Maria and Louise are still on there too. It is amazing how much of the episodes Kevin and I remember. Ellia loves Elmo and also has a couple of the songs already memorized. We often get her to sing and dance to “I Got a New Way to Walk”.

This past weekend we attended yet another baptism but this time at a Russian Orthodox church. The ceremony was similar to the Greek ceremony. The symbolism throughout the whole service is so beautiful. This was for Dmitry Nicholas Bohonak. Ellia enjoyed running around with her cousin’s and eating all the delicious food at the reception.

We also took her to bowling that night. She was obsessed with the bowling balls and would clap for anyone who was bowling no matter if they got a strike or a gutter ball…such an encourager.

My baby is turning into a little girl. With curls and kisses, hugs and more, who wouldn’t love this face! She plays with her babies and takes them for walks. And when she talks, she knows exactly what she is saying. In some way I think Vader does too! Such character and love in this little person…Such an unbelievable gift from above. Lord keep her safe and in your grace. Help Kevin and I to teach her your ways so she will not stray. Thank you for her love.

Next weekend is Kevin’s birthday and Mother’s day so I am sure we will have some more fun stories to share.