Moving!!!! Why? Because He is so good.

Crazy story how it has all worked out. God is so amazing...I was walking down the street with Mia, it was the first chance that I had had in quite a while to take a walk around town just with her. I just decided to pick up real estate info to see what houses are going for around here right now. We just started our walk and the house around the corner from us which had been for sale for over a year, was still on sale. It is a house that I have driven past or walked by 100 times and said, "wow I love that house but I know we can't afford that"...It was priced around 320,000 last time I looked for curiosity's sake. I picked up the paper that described the house and all that is in it and it was priced at 205,900!!! We were definitely not thinking of moving yet, and certainly not selling our house! I told Nate that night and we decided just to look through it out of curiosity. So we met the realtor two days later and another couple was looking at it before us. Of course, we loved it (it is another old home-1929, which is our preference) and it has so much charm. 3 bedrooms, 1 1/2 bath, living room with a fireplace, dining room, kitchen, mud room, screened in porch, yankee basement, and completely unfinished second story (which could fit another bathroom and at least 2 more very large bedrooms, plus storage space. It has 2x's the amount of land that we have now and a 2 story garage and shed in the back. It has a white picket fence that surrounds the yard, room for a small garden, flowers, window boxes on the front...truly, our dream home.
So 2 days later I called because we decided to put an offer in on it. The realtor told me that we could set up an appt, but another couple was putting an offer in on it that day and he was sure it would go through.
I was so upset, because by then of course my hopes were in the clouds! But I talked it through with God, and He reassured me that it was ok, because He knows better that I do what is truly best. I fully accepted His reassurance.
That evening, the real estate agent called and told me that the other couple decided against putting an offer in because he had had cancer in the past, and they felt it was best if they stuck with a 1 story home.
So...we went ahead and put the offer in and they accepted it without a counter offer or anything! Our family has all walked through it and was amazed. We got the house for 200,000. Now we are trying to sell ours...not sure what His plan is...as we have toyed with the idea of keeping it as a rental property, but He has provided the down payment whether or not we sell our house or not. HE IS SO INCREDIBLE.
Later on, after we signed contracts and all, I asked the real estate agent when the owners of the house on Wyoming decided to drop the price. It was only a few days before I Mia and I went on our life changing walk. SO PROVIDENTIAL!!! Makes me want to dance in amazement of the LORD, OUR GOD!!!
At the same time as all of this happening...we were asked to lead a Bible Study that had already been in place without leadership. We began leading it just before this whole house thing started. It is currently taking place in the church, but the members of the study expressed that they would love to have it in a home...can I just tell you that the house that we currently live in cannot accommodate 15 people for Bible study and a baby trying to sleep, but the new house can! AHHHH! SO AMAZING!
God is so good! Can't say it enough.

So how about the Little Miss? She is 8 months old now, blowing raspberries, laughing alot, smiling all the time. Her personality is showing more and more everyday. So much fun.

I am working just 2 days a week now. Two 8 hr days...but I get to work no later that 6:30am so I am done by 3ish and still have time to spend with the grandma's and make dinner at night (if I don't fall asleep first).

Nate is working 3 jobs right now. Pilgrim, Stockton, and Clamming. He is such a hard worker. Mia and I are very blessed to have a man in the home who is so willing to do whatever it takes to make life work. Pilgrim will be over in about a month, Stockton will turn to a Mon, Tues, and Wed schedule, and clamming will be up and going shortly as he will be planting some clams within the next few weeks. He is also playing softball for the church, which we both love!

The Bible study is going well-there are usually at least 10 people there. We are excited to see how and where God wants it to go. We are currently studying 1st John. Please pray for us as we lead, we want to be faithful to fill the need that has been presented to us. We know we can only do it by His strength if we want it to be a purposeful, thriving, unified group.

I don't know that I will have the opportunity to write again until after we move. Pictures of the house to come.

Bigger and Bigger!

Today was Miriam's 6th month Dr.'s Appt...Unbelievable...how is it possible that she is 6months old already?!?! Actually 6 months and 8 days!
As fast as time goes by, she grows bigger! Mia is now 17lbs 4oz (75th%), 26 3/4in long (80th%), and her head is now 16in around (15th%). She's a big girl!
We'll go back to where I last left off...I went back to work the middle of last month and everything is fine...the last thing I want to do is leave her, still, but she is so fortunate to have 3 grandma's right here to watch her! She has been an angel for them all, too!
We had Mia's dedication on the 24th of Feb at Beacon. It was such a nice time...we felt so supported by our church and our family and friends.
A few days later, Little Lady popped through her first tooth!!! We didn't even know it was coming...and she still doesn't put everything in her mouth...she is very selective!
On leap day, Uncle Shawn, Kissy, Ayden, and Levi all moved into their new home! What a testimony to God's faithfulness that whole story is!
Pop-Pop's 57th birthday was on the day Miss Mia turned 6 mo.

Daddy started his new job at Stockton (yup, God opened that door!) on the 3rd of March. He will be working 4 days a week at TPA, so that he can fulfill his contract and keep our benefits until the end of the school year. Then he will work a few hours after work each day at Stockton, then Fri and Sat are dedicated to Stockton too, just until the end of the school year. Amazing that God worked it all out so perfectly.

Ayden's Birthday (the 7th) and Birthday party (the 8th) came shortly after. Mia was so exhausted by the end of the night, that while Andrea held Mia so I could feed her cereal, by the 6th bite her eyes were rolling and by the 8th she was counting sheep! So precious! She's been doing a lot of growing, so she's been doing a lot of sleeping...doesn't matter where, doesn't matter when, but when she's tired, she's gonna sleep! A huge blessing!!!!
Mia is still refusing to roll over! The only thing she is stubborn about! She's been teasing us with that since before she was 3 months old. Aunt Kassie can attest to that!
Things are great...We have wonderful conversations, lots and lots of giggle time, and we all sing songs while Daddy plays guitar. We love to watch her when she really concentrates on figuring something out.

God is so Good....He's been really challenging me at work. There is an older woman there (60's) who has been cancer free for the last 15 years. I was there with her one morning when she received a phone call saying that her "cancer numbers" were up on her blood test. The Holy Spirit threw the words "Do you want to pray?" out of my mouth. Since we have been getting pretty close and we're always saying things like, "God is always worth trusting" and "He knows what He's doing"...she's had to go through 2 more sets of testing and each time He has prompted me to encourage her through scripture and prayer...Saturday night, she called me at 8:00 at night to tell me she got the results of her PET scan (which she was terrified of, because she is claustrophobic) and she is cancer free! She has been a church goer as of recent, but I am not so sure how her walk is. It is so amazing to see how God used this trial to increase her faith! So exciting to know that I am where I am supposed to be right now. She is probably going to be switching facilities soon, so she won't be around that much longer...but the timing is so cool...that God had me go back to work when He did. He is soooooo GOOD!!!! So awesome!

Change

Lots of change...LOTS of change. That's been the last month in a nutshell. I'll not leave it all in the nutshell though...what fun would that be (maybe I belong in a nutshell!)?!

We'll start with the little love bug first. She is getting big! Eating rice, applesauce, bananas, pears, carrots, peaches, prunes, sweet potatoes, and peas (so far). Not so much eating peas as gagging and spewing them out of her mouth, but we'll keep trying. Peaches are her favorite so far after round one of trying each fruit...the most sour of them all...that's interesting! It is taking her a while to get used to the spoon, but she is most definitely catching on now. So much fun. Every moment...such a dream. She is really playing with her toys now...sleeps well, still. She was sick for a while with bronchiolitis, but is much better now. Has a runny nose and is still coughing, but she's doing much better. She is really close to rolling over...I'm guessing within the next few days...not a milestone we want to miss! It is so exciting to see her grow and do new things. She is blowing raspberries all the time, now. Those puckered little lips are so cute! I'm struggling a little bit right now...change for me too.

I'll be starting work 3 days a week from 7am-12pm. Nervous, because I haven't been in the field for a while and I'm feeling rusty on my skills with older adults, and sad that I may miss any time with my little love, at all. I have never been so happy in my whole life than when God blessed us with Mia...every day is full of joy. When I'm frustrated about something, irritated with a situation, or feeling unsure about anything, I can just look at her, and that beautiful smile is there to cheer me, calm me, and make me realize that nothing in this world is worth staying upset about. Never realized God would use her as such a learning tool in my life. I most definitely think I have learned more from her than she has learned from me over the last 5 months. These moments never come back, but I know for certain that I can trust God in this. All the blessings I have, including the people and lessons I hold dearest, came because of the circumstances and purposes that God orchestrated in my life. This is another of those circumstances. I know she will be taken care of and I know she knows how much I love her and delight in her, it really is just hard to even think about being away. When I set my schedule up this past week, Mia had been sleeping until about 5:30 each morning and then going back to sleep until 9. She would eat and then play for an hour and then go back to sleep again for about an hour. So really I would only have missed about 2 hours of time when she would be awake, but it seems, as of late, that her schedule is changing. I have been trying for the last 3 nights to get her back to that schedule, but I am starting to think that it might not happen. So instead of missing just 2 hours, if she keeps on this schedule I will be missing 4 and a half hours of time

while she is awake.
Need to trust...I know a few weeks from now, we'll be adjusted and just fine...
We're praying about whether or not Nate(Daddy/Our Favorite Man in the Whole World) will be getting a job at Stockton...ever since he graduated their Marine Sciences program, he has wanted to drive the boats for the program. That job (a part-time position) has opened up. So he is applying and we are just waiting to see what doors open and close over the next few months.

Can I blog even once a month?!?!?

Well, for right now that seems like it is going to be the goal. New Year's resolutions have never worked out for me, so I am trying to set my goals low (or reasonable) enough that I can keep them. Blog once a week?...no, once a month! Exercise daily?...no, exercise when I can, with the goal of health rather than a size 6 again. Cut out all sweets?...no, cut out some of the sweets. Do devotions for 30 minutes once a day?...no, be devoted to God. Have my house clean all the time?...no,have my house clean enough that you can walk through it without getting hurt. My personality is such that I set the most unreasonable expectations for myself...always perfection...or a failed attempt at it. So I guess my resolution would be to not set up expectations for myself and others that end up in disappointment anyway. I end up frustrated so often and miss the fun that could be had. I think Nate has been trying to tell me this for 7 years now. Sorry, Hon. I've been fearful that I would set up expectations for Little Miss Mia that would be unfair...so I am trying now to work on all that before she is old enough to recognize that her Mommy can be a little neurotic.

This past moth was a whirlwind to say the least. The last time I blogged Mia experienced her first snow in Jersey and it was substantial. I have you know that since that time we have had no more snow and have now experienced 3 days or 65 degree weather. Absolutely beautiful, but so strange, so NJ!

Two days after I wrote, Mia switched to all 3-6 mo. clothes. Girls clothes are soooooooo fun!

Grandpa Robinson also had surgery that day. He is home now...1 day before Luke and Lacey's wedding. He was at the Heath Center at Galloway (Where Mom-mom was for a while-a little nostalgic) and was able to leave on Christmas Day to come home and have dinner with the folks. Praise God he is doing well, though itching to get back to normalcy. Can you blame him?

Mia had her first cold that weekend (of the 8th). The 9th we took our family picture down by the meadow where Nate proposed to me. That week Mia didn't fit into size 1 diapers anymore and I switched her to 1-2's. By Christmas she was in 2's. Growing so fast!

The 18th was the start of the Christmas craziness for us. The 18th was Al Syvertsen's surprise B-day party and the 20 Something Christmas Party.

***Please Pray for the Syvertsen Family right now. Eileen who has been battling cancer was taken to the hospital because she had a severe stroke. She's currently unable to respond verbally to the family, but has responded through movement. Please pray for mercy and a miracle whether it be total physical healing or that she would go home to Jesus very soon. The whole family is with her and have asked for prayer. ***

The next night was the couples Christmas dinner at the Olive garden where Nate and I acquired a yellow porcelain duck toilet brush holder which in now on display and in use in our bathroom (Thanks to Jenna and Tony).

The 21st, Shawn, Kristy, Ayden, and Levi bought their first home in Egg Harbor-permanent NJ residents! Saturday night we had a little shindig over at their place to celebrate and thank God for how good his is...good, amazing, marvelous, faithful...awesome!

Sunday night was Mama's birthday. The Crema get together, we decorate the tree together (you just can't change some traditions!), catch up, watch the kids run around...Ayden bit the cake just after Mama blew out the candles...wish I had a picture of that for you! Nice relaxed time to see the family.

On Christmas Eve we went to Beacon to the later service. By that time I was getting cranky and Nate fell asleep (the service was awesome, but he said that it was unfair to have to stay awake when the lights were out). We came home and put the baby to bed.

Christmas morning Mia let us sleep in until 8:30 or so and we opened stockings and Nate found out that he would be getting the electronic drum set he had been wanting. My husband did an excellent job on my stocking this year and he even got me the apron that I had been wanting for so long that I forgot about it. He got me a tea infuser too-very creative!

Then we got ready and went over my parents house to have brunch and then over to Shawn and Kristy's to work on the house for a little bit.

Dinner was at 4:00 at the Robinson's- I guess I should clarify which ones now that there are 4 Robinson residences. Carl and Terri had Grandma and Grandpa, Luke and Lacey, George and Linda, Kathleen, Nate, Mia, and Myself over for a very nice dinner, dessert, and the yearly gift exchange...always fun.

Mia was introduced to her jumper on the 29th. My goodness she loves that thing! That morning she jumped to her heart's content and then fell right asleep in the jumper!

On New Year's Eve, we had plans to go over to Jeff and Sue's and celebrate with them, but by that time we were so tired, we really just needed a quiet night. So, Nate, Mia, and I had a nice simple New Year's celebration at home. Mia went to sleep around 10:00. Nate and I crashed after midnight and a long game of Monopoly-I never win that game!

On the 2nd Mia had her 4 month checkup. Dr. said everything was fine. She is doing very well developmentally. She was 24.5 inches long (50th %), 14.5 lbs. (70th %), and her head was 15.5 inches in circumference (10th %). So...for all who have thought that she still looks like a peanut...its cause she has a small noggin! She had to have her shots again...she's not a fan!!!! The nurses tried to do it as fast as they could...2 shots on each thigh, but Mia let them know what she thought of that. She screamed so loud for so long that the Dr. came back in the room to make sure that everyone was ok. After I was allowed to pick her up she calmed down with some hugs and a binky.

She ate rice for the first time on the 3rd. Not totally in love with it...but now she is doing much better and is definitely getting the hang of it! The 3rd was also Luke and Lacey's rehearsal for the wedding and then the rehearsal dinner at a local Japanese Hibachi grill. It was a wonderful time...absolutely hysterical!

Friday was the wedding at 4:00. It was really a beautiful ceremony and the country club that the reception was in was gorgeous! Nate was completely fine with his brother getting married...no emotions, no reminiscing...until it was time to do the toast and he broke down! It was a really beautiful toast to the future and that God would bless them with much joy and many blessings. A very fun night.

Charity and Ella stayed over the next two nights...so good to see them both. So glad they were able to stay with us. Ella was so sweet to Mia giving her kisses!

Things were much more calm this week. We took it easy. Yesterday Mia really giggled for the first time. Daddy was tickling her! Today she scrunched her nose for the first time at her Neenee (My Mom).

Tonight we are planning to meet up with Jeff and Sue and then go pick up Luke and Lacey from the airport. Tomorrow Nate has a CPR class about an hour away and I am helping with the house until he gets back. Sunday is Papa's birthday party and Sunday night we have Bible study. Back to the norm. Off to the races!

So BIG!!!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!
I have really slacked off on blogging for a while, so it is definitely time to catch up!

Little Miss Mia (who's not quite as little anymore) is 3 months old now!! It has been soo amazing watching her grow. I'm sure that she is at least 12 lbs 6 oz now, and it seemed to happen overnight, literally. Two days ago she was fitting into 0-3 clothes with room to spare and yesterday morning when I tried to put her clothes on her I was shocked to find that nothing 0-3 fit and I had to break out the 3-6. So fast!

She is trying to make intentional movements now, talks alot!!, and is still just her sweet, easy-going self. She is also playing in the exersaucer now.

Nov 18th was Daddy's 25th birthday and we had a party here at the house.

November 19th we celebrated Thanksgiving with the Wills/Crema side of the family.

On Wednesday, the 21st, we left for Ohio. Made it there around midnight. Thursday was Mia and Mommy's first Thanksgiving in Ohio. Mia got to meet her Aunt Rita, Aunt Wendy, Uncle Rex, and Uncle Brad; Her cousins Gwen, Shelli, Dawn, Jason, and Ryan (and she met Frederick, too); and she met her fellow great-grandkids Claye and Brookston. It was a very nice meal followed by card playing for the men and chatting for the women.

Friday we went to Gwen's beautiful new home to have a shower for Lacey. It was a very nice time as well.

That night we had dinner with Aunt Linda and Uncle George. She also met Charity, Derek, and Ella, and we are really looking forward to meeting baby Taatjes, too.

Saturday morning Nate, Mia, and I drove to Chardon to see Aunt Kassie and Uncle Bruce, Terry, Bruce, and the kids. Mia met Abbey and Parker while she was there. While we were there, Mia got to see her first snow!!

Uncle Bruce also took Nate on an errand...Uncle Bruce works for the funeral home and transports bodies from the hospital or home to the funeral home. Nate said he thought it was pretty interesting! I got to have a wonderful time catching up with Aunt Kassie and talking with Terri and Abbey. You can always count on Chardon for great snow storms!

You know, it is so amazing that both of our families live so close together! And 2 sides of his family too!!

With all that driving...probably around 30 hours in 5 days, she only cried for about 5 minutes. We are so grateful! We are so spoiled! We are expecting the next time (child) to be different!

On Saturday and Sunday, Daddy did a monolouge at church where he was Adam and lit the 1st candle on the advent wreath. We are so pround of Daddy...he did an awesome job. Saturday night after he was done he came and sat next to us...but forgot to turn off his Microphone! Mia decided it would be the best time to let out the loudest truck-driver burp you have ever heard come out of a litttle peanut person! So funny!

Lately, I've been working on Christmas cards like crazy with my sis (WHO IS STAYING IN NJ...PRAISE GOD! THEY ARE GETTING A HOUSE IN EGG HARBOR THAT IS SOOO CUTE! SHAWN AND AYDEN AND LEVI WILL ALL BE JERSEY BOYS!!!!! GOD IS SO GOOD!) Shopping for Christmas, and trying to get it all done before the crazy party rush.

This morning we woke up and there was 3.5 inches of snow on the ground, so Nate called over to Dad R to see who would be shoveling the driveway and walkway at Grandma and Grandpa's. We found out that Grandpa fell late last night and broke his hip. He is currently at the hospital waiting to have surgery, but can't have it for a few days because he is on Cumidin. He has a very positive outlook and the family is ready and willing to help in anyway possible. Please pray for both of them if you get the chance. So there we are, back up to the current events. Love you all.

Hello Again!

Hello!

It's like the Robinsons fell off the face of the blogging-earth! Been too long since I've had the chance to write! Mia is 10 weeks now...for some reason, we lost a week somewhere-I really thought she was only 9 weeks until I counted on the calendar today. Guess I'll be doing that with years sooner than later!

The last time I wrote was on the 2nd...Mia's 2 month birthday. Lots has happened in the last 10 days!
Her new bed

She slept in her crib for the first time that night (the 2nd) and slept all the way through the night. We spent Sat evening the 3rd with Uncle Shawn for his birthday.

Ready for Church!!

Then Mon morn, she had 4 shots and 1 oral vaccine. She cried, but recovered quickly when she got to eat! Mommy didn't cry either! At that appt., she weighed 10 lbs 2 oz (25th %), was 22 inches long (35th %) and her head was measured at 14.5 inches in circumference (10th %). So...she is still a peanut! Although I think she has definitely gained since then!

Two days later (Wed the 7th) we went to Lancaster so that Nate could attend the Christian School Teacher Conference they were having there. Thursday, Mia and I went shopping (my downfall is Carters!!!). We came home early on Friday because Nate had a pretty bad head cold that was driving him crazy!

A Little Smirk and A Makeshift Mobile in Lancaster

On Saturday, I spent the day with Misty, a friend I met at 20 Something. She organized a shower for her sister and did a beautiful job! That night, Rich came over, and we had a great time playing scategories and decorating cakes! That same night, I saw her staring at and following her hands. So much fun!

Sunday morning (the 11th), Miss Mia had her first shower and loved it! The water would hit her right in the face and she didn't mind at all! She just blinked a few times and smiled big.

Sunday afternoon was Aunt Lacey's surprise bridal shower too. It was very nice, and since there was cow print everywhere, Mia had lots to look at!

Today we were going to meet Renee and Reece to go walking, but we didn't because 15 minutes before we were going to leave Mia puked. I'm hoping it was just a bubble and not a tummy virus...but would rather be safe than sorry! So we will try to walk on Thursday instead.

Today she is wearing her first pair of jeans!

Nate's birthday is coming up, so we'll be having a family get together on Sat the 17th around 7:00. Then Wills' Thanksgiving will be Mon night the 19th, and then we get on the road again to go to OH to see the Hummels and enjoy a Berlin-style Thanksgiving. Mia has some relatives to meet out there too!

Daddy reading a book-a little while ago...Mia loves her books!

Our "Oh, so Happy!" Girl

2 Months old today!

Oh my!!! I'm 2 months old already!

Tonight we are really planning to put Mia in her crib for the first time overnight. She loves her crib during the daytime, I am just curious to see how it works out overnight. She has definitely found her hands now and they are in her mouth a lot. She is playing on her activity mat for longer periods of time...she played for 45 minutes by herself this morning on that play gym.

She is a happy little girl! She is getting lounder and chattier all the time, too.