Wedding Pictures

From Theresa

My dear friend Theresa posted this on her blog aunttheresasadventures....

A Story for Sarah

During the summer, Sarah, over at www.steepedbysarah.blogspot.com, got married. I was asked to write a little story for her bridal shower. I was so thrilled and honored to be asked by her lovely sister-in-law, Elly. Sarah and I have corresponded through letters for years. Writing her has been my therapy. I've written her about my struggles, joys and life away from my family. This is the story I wrote for her. When this was read at her shower, only a few people knew I wrote it. I don't like to share my writing but I think she would love to just read it again....so, here it goes.

Once upon a time there was a Raggedy Ann girl that lived in a Barbie world. She was a fair maiden, daughter to Ed and Ramona and sister to Jacob and Matthew. Her name was Sarah. She loved wearing dresses and skirts and always had her toes painted in such pretty colors. Her hair was always adorned with lovely flowers that she so delicately made with beautiful silk fabric in pinks and purples. In the winter, she would wear beautiful hats that she would crochet out of the most marvelous colors.

Sarah had two handsome nephews and an adorable niece she took great delight in. She was always sewing blankets for them to keep them nice and cozy. She also took great delight in children around her. She spent countless hours with the neighbor children, Miranda and Noah, and loved them like her own. They loved to camp, bake, play games and craft together. They especially loved the special smoothies she would make just for them. They helped her take care of her two dogs and bunnies. It was a special time for them all.

She had many friends and gave much love to all of their little ones. She traveled near and far to visit them. Sarah helped care for her friends when they were sick or in need. She was there for the delivery of a baby of a special friend. She would watch their babies, cook for them and spent a lot of time helping them clean their homes so that they could spend time with their little ones and get some rest. Many of her hours were spent scrubbing and scrubbing out baby bottles and she would dream of the day she would have her own bottles to scrub. She took comfort in the people around her.

She longed for the day when she would have her own little family.

For years Sarah prayed for her prince charming. Now, one evening, she stumbled onto a picture of a handsome gentleman and his seven children. He (Matt) referred to these seven children as his "blessings". She was impressed by the love he seemed to have for them. She was intrigued and started to write him. The thought of seven children around her apron throughout the day made her absolutely giddy and delighted. Could he be the one? Were these little ones the ones she had waited for all these years?

Sarah met Matt and his seven blessings and the sparks flew. She and Matt became betrothed and his seven blessings are now her seven blessings. She became stepmom to Christina, Amy, Madison, John, Abigal, Matthew and Josiah and they welcomed her as queen bee. She was so happy to be surrounded by them.

Sarah was really not a Raggedy Ann after all....instead she was Cinderella.

....to be continued...

Of God Writing a Love Story

Matt and I met on Christian Mingle which is an on-line dating service.  Both of us had protested meeting someone on-line, but in the end that is how God brought us together.  Our first email was July 2, 2011.  Although Matt lives in Maryland he was in Michigan visiting his parents who live about 45 minutes from my parents.  We were able to meet July 4th.  Our first date was spent all together - Matt and his seven children and me.  After meeting we texted and talked.  Within a short time Matt purchased a cell phone for me and added me to his plan. I was delighted to say the least.   A few weekends later I flew to Maryland and stayed at a hotel on base.  Matt, Chrissy, Amie, Madison, John, Abigail, Matthew, Josiah and I spent the weekend together swimming in the Chesapeake Bay, attending church and visiting friends.  Chrissy and a friend graciously watched her younger siblings while Matt and I went on our first alone date.  Three weeks after that Matt flew to Michigan with the intention of asking my dad's permission to marry me.  My dad agreed and I finally received that long awaited marriage proposal along with a long awaited first kiss.  My great grandma's diamond was finally placed on my finger. The next three weeks are a blur in my memory.  With the help of family and friends I packed, planned a wedding and Matt and I completed pre-marriage counseling via Skype with his pastor and an elder and his wife.  August 27, 2011 Matt and I said, "I do." The following Monday we drove home to Maryland and so in the past three months I met my husband, married, became a step mama to seven, moved half way across the country and am expecting our next child.  God's provision is complete and though the transition has been hard at times I am very well loved and grateful for the hand God has given to hold mine.  To someone else looking in it may seem rushed and quick this courtship and marriage.  However, to me it has seemed so long.  I am thankful that Matt has been a godly leader in our relationship.  He was open with me and made his intentions clear from the beginning.  We both love the Lord and seek to do His will, we believe the same on matters of doctrine, we both love children and see them as a blessing, we both firmly believe in a wife being the keeper at home and in home education.  To both of us those are the important items. Having those settled we have found our tastes to be similar in so many ways.  God truly planned us for each other.  It is a blessing to be a help meet to a godly husband who is a godly father to our children.  It is a blessing to have waited for him, to have kissed only him and I am thankful for God setting that desire in my heart and giving me the strength to wait.  God has given me more than I could ever imagine.  Though there have been difficult days and tears, God gives grace and mercies abundant and He has given me the one my soul loves.

A little post...big news

Praise God, baby on the way...due in May.  More posts to follow soon.

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. inspired by SouleMama

To Quote Jane Eyre

"Reader, I married him."



Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Lootens and family

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
inspired by SouleMama

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
inspired by SouleMama

Moving Moments

Pictures taken by Miranda

The Bad News about Homeschooling

The Bad News about Homeschooling
(click on the above link for the entire article)

If you homeschool your children, you will be putting them into a boat and rowing in the opposite direction of culture as a whole. You will be training them to seek different ends. You will prioritize family over peers and thinking skills over cramming for the test. You will teach them that every subject finds its beginning and center in God, and that He can’t just be dropped off at the front door like a backpack they can grab again on the way out. They won’t know what it’s like to ride the bus every morning, finally find their locker on the first day of school, to have to wear what’s currently “in” or face the consequences, to be the best in their class, or cheer for a school team. They will miss out, in other words, on the typical “life of the American teenager.”

Misty Krasawski

Farmer's Market Lunch

Miranda and I took a trip to the Marshall Farmer's Market this morning. We brought home fresh green beans and naturally grown pork chops. Served with mashed potatoes made from golden Trader Joe potatoes it made a delicious lunch.

Ring Pictures!!

A Date is Set

"There is one thing which gives radiance to everything. It is the idea of something around the corner."

~G.K. Chesterton

Looking forward to 27 August 2011

and the blessing of being married to a godly man!