Finding my New Self

It has been a process of entering my last year in my thirties. Since this past summer, I have just been looking at myself and realizing that I want to move forward on all the things I
"will someday do". It is time...here is my list...

• dive into interior design
• do something with my figure skating (compete, teach, something more than skate once a week)
• pursue my love for broadway
• get time for me in new and inventive ways
• develop for my kids a love for cultural things
• do ministry out of what I love most...speaking, counseling and seeking justice

It is time...for the rest of my life. God, direct me and give me your heart on the things you have for me!

On the First Day of Christmas...

Here I am on the first day of the busiest month of the year and I am getting back to my blog! What am I thinking?! I suppose these last 6 months have been pretty reflective for me. I am hoping that since I get little time to write down my thoughts and try to understand them, my blog could help to give me a chance to do that! After all, I am at my computer quite a bit! So this morning, we were all excited about starting the chocolate advent calendars with it being the 1st of the month (I picked them up last night just in the nick of time!). We were running around getting breakfast together...grabbing bowls, spoons, milk, cream cheese, shouting out what kind of cereal each wanted when Colin turns to me and says, "We are all crazy here!". I thought, "Colin, you are so right!" I had to chuckle! I had told the kids they could have their piece of chocolate after breakfast just today instead of after lunch and they were all nuts about that! Colin, had no idea what these calendars were all about so he was waiting and waiting to see what it was. Too cute!
So...I got my Christmas shopping almost all done so that this month can be more about celebrating and reflecting than about thinking about gifts and shopping for them. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE giving gifts (very high on the Love Language list!), but I have found in the past years it is what most consumes me and the holiday feels empty and rushed. I so don't want that this year! Let's see if I can learn something after 10 years!
So, welcome December! I know I would not have said that even a few weeks ago...and thank you, Lord for getting things to this place. Let's enjoy!

Shhhh...it's a secret

For my mother-in-law's Christmas present I am framing pictures of the whole family. Scott and Mindy, their 5 kids-in order: Trevor, Alayna, Logan, Chase and Grant, Gary and Amy, Me and Jeff and Christy with her precious dog, Gracie. (Siblings are Gary, Scott, Christy and Jeff). It is coming together...except, of course, that our camera broke and I have 2 more pictures to take (obviously they are of our kids!!! (Our printer is in need of ink too-again...can't get all the technology working at one time!!!) Anyway, Here are the pics for the frame. They will all be in sepia...I am praying it can all happen SOON!

Enjoy!

We are Back in Action!

OK! It has been waaaaay too long since I wrote on the blog!
We have been experiencing technical difficulites at the Doeringer
home. When it was not the camera, it was the internet and vice versa. Now it is currently the camera, but if I wait until all is at peace, I will never do anything!
Here are the 4 treasures that God has blessed us with! These pics are from summer of course, because, well, the camera! Anyway, we are keeping busy these days with homeschooling, ministry and life.

Our latest adventure was just this week with our first overnight hospital stay (2 nights!). Analiese has had bowel and urinary issues since age 2. As a result, that nasty stuff does tend to get backed up so, they poured in a little (well, actually almost 3 gallons of Drano (just kidding...it was Go Lytely), into her and flushed out that plumbing/colon of hers. Poor thing. She was such a trooper. From the NG tube, to the IV, to sitting on the potty 20 times a day, it was not a fun time. We are hoping this helps us take the next step of toilet training. She is doing great so far. The Lord has definitely answered my desperate plea of late to give us direction and guidance as we have literally tried everything in the past 4 years to help her body do what is supposed to do. More exploration on that ahead, but we are finally moving forward!

Better Together Than Apart

10 years ago yesterday Jeff and I were married on a chilly, just the right amount of snow day in Buffalo, NY. It was a milestone for us and we celebrated and remembered all that God has done in the last 10 years. There is so much, yet, it can be summed up in the fact that we have chosen Jesus and His ways. We have tried to laid ourselves aside so many times for the sake of the other and now there is much fruit. We are enjoying a season of marriage that we could not have imagined what it would be like then and we are grateful. Our relationship just gets better and we look forward to the next 10! We talked about having a wedding reunion at our 20 year mark since there were 30 people in our wedding party! It would be so fun to all be together! The night started with these dozen white roses on the arm of my man. They are absolutely beautiful! We enjoyed a lovely dinner as a gift from Jeff's parents, a wonderful trip down memory lane as we sat by the fire at Starbucks and then we watched the video of our 10 years that I made. We look forward to spending the gift my parents gave to us as well! Thanks Jan, for watching the little two and thanks Scott and Mindy for giving the older two a different place to sleep for the night! Thanks Jeff for your heart, life and soul. I am so glad we are husband and wife-life is more rich, meaningful and precious because I get to live it with you!

Happy Halloween!

Here are the kids in their costumes. Analiese has talked about being a pink cat for quite some time now and we were able to make a fun homeade costume. She got her haircut about 2 weeks ago. It was not supposed to be so short, but as I cut, it was not even and then I cut and then it wasn't even and so on. In fact, Jeff and I have revisited the hair length issue for some time and he really wanted her to keep long hair (looks more little girlish and can have pigtails) and I really wanted her to have it at this length (much easier to wash and style!). He has every right to his opinion since when he is home he is the one who gives them their baths even though I am typically the one who styles the hair. So, I had decided I would not push and honor his request. He was out of town the night I cut it so I emailed him to warn him of the change. He was grateful for the warning and very gracious and complimentary of her hair. I thoroughly hope my mom can save her from the crazy scissors I control in the future (are you up for fixing it at Thanksgiving, Mom?)! She is an experienced hair stylist unlike myself. In fact, my mom had a shop before I was born and after that did hair in our basement on Saturday mornings for as long as I can remember.

We have really enjoyed making Halloween a holiday to bless others! Last night was the second year we have served free hot dogs, coffee and water. Jeff is quite a hot dog vendor and thanks again to Mr. Marty for all of his help (he grills hot dogs PERFECTLY)! Thanks too to Maggie and Cara for manning the candy and the cornhole (we gave prizes of large candy bars and quarters for those who could make it in the hole!) It is amazing how appreciative parents are as they come by and see FREE and DINNER. I am certain few of them have time for dinner when you are getting home from work and competing with excited little faces. It is a HUGE help to us too as when we returned from Trick or Treating in our neighborhood, our dinner was waiting for us.

Alexa dressed up, but spent the evening in her swing as she fell asleep right before we left to go Trick or Treating. I didn't want to make her miserable (and the rest of the clan...or worse, cut our Trick or Treating short!). She was still sleeping when we returned and then I finally woke her up at 8:30. It all worked out for the best as Colin needed to ride in the stroller anyway.

What a fun day. Analiese already said she would like to be a mouse next year. That should be easy! We will see if that remains!

Mr. Marty, the Entertainer!

We want to say a BIG thanks to Mr. Marty for not only staying for dinner last week, but for providing unending entertainment that we CAN NOT duplicate! There was no lack of BOINK! jokes (every joke and every punch line is a form of this word!)...hilarious! He was such a gracious guest as our kids made the most of his company. It was really fun to watch someone enjoy our kids so much, especially when we often feel we spend most of our time telling them what to do and what not to do! Mr. Marty is MUCH more fun....so THANKS again for just being you!