arg, happy birthday me love

I just wanted to tell you today that I love you very much!

You are a wonderful husband,

the best dad ever,

a respectable man of God,

my best friend.

oh, and in case I haven't told you lately...

you're first in my heart!

oh, and this is you with facial hair

;{0]

Happy Birthday!

Some people make jokes about mother-in-laws... not at our house! I have been so incredibly blessed to call this lady my mom for the past 12+ years... Jackie is not only a godly grandma, but one cool lady too. If you need proof - just check out these photos!

Indulging Rebekah and trying on hats in Williamsburg!

Cramming in the back for our trip to Virginia, grandma reads us books, passes out healthy snacks and never complains!

Her grandchildren know that they are loved!!!

Stop on over at today www.encouragementfromabove.blogspot.com and wish Jackie a very happy birthday!!!

Out with the old...in with the new!

Today was a momentous occasion at the DeGroff house! We said goodbye to our old oven! There was not even a hint of sadness as we watched it go!!!

Our oven was so old we had seen it in antique stores and there were parts we could no longer replace!

The story is amazing, really! We've needed an oven for a long time. I have had numerous fires, almost everything burns because of the uneven temperatures, and I have more recently been without the ability to broil, which has been very sad, since we love nachos and frittatas! Anyhow, a friend called from shopping at Sears the other day and had found this oven in the clearance room. It was originally a floor model, priced at $1250. They had taken it off the floor and had it in this tiny little clearance room I didn't even know existed! It had sat there for months, being marked down to $950, then to $450, and now to $250! So, basically, we got a $1250 oven for $250 - never heard of the brand, but I figured, if it originally cost that much, then it's got to be better than we had! And it comes with Sears full warranty. So, we thought it was worth taking a chance. But then, after already having bought it - we were telling some friends about it - and discovered it is a top of the line oven! Isn't that just like the Lord??? :) What a blessing!!!

Meet our new Jenn-air!

Here are some of the things I am really excited about!!!

1. no fires!
2. even temperatures!
3. it has a timer!
4. it has a clock!
5. it is self-cleaning!
6. it actually tells me when it is pre-heated!
7. I can set it and leave it!
8. it is beautiful!
9. all of the buttons on it work!
10. I can program favorite settings - like for bread and cookies!!!

oh, and did I mention that I can use it in English, French or Spanish, fahrenheit or celsius, even true Sabbath Mode, whatever that is!! (maybe it means I can put food it in on Sundays and come home and it will be ready - imagine that) I think this may be life-changing for me, and maybe I will be able to put batteries back in my smoke alarms - I suppose that could be a good thing :)

Love Rekindled!

The course of true love never did run smooth - one of my true loves throughout middle school and high school I simply pushed by the wayside. I forgot the meaning of it to me. I was recently reminded, and oh how wonderful it was to rekindle the memories and the passion!


Thou art such stuff as dreams are made of,
and the dreams dreamed on my pillow now smell right again.
Thou are more fair than all others - yea,
the beauty you bring me,
the sweetness you inspire,
the wonders of meeting you daily...

Though this be madness, yet there is method in it

To me, fair friend, you can never be old. For as you were when first your smell I smelled, such seems your beauty still.

To Aussie or not to Aussie, now that is the question for you