Summer Fun In The Wintertime

We went on a mini-vacation to the City of Warren Indoor Waterpark on Friday. The girls always enjoy going there. Unfortunately there were not enough people there to run the waterslide, but it was nice to have to place, practically, to ourselves.

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Th 5:18

We have been celebrating the happy news of our pregnancy for a couple months now, but unfortunately I must now share that we have suffered a miscarriage in our tenth week.
This is obviously a heart-wrenching time, but we are so appreciative to everyone for their outpouring of love and excitement for us these past weeks. It has truly been a blessed time. We have no regrets of sharing our joy, and the experiences it brought with it. Children truly are a blessing and can impact and change your life before you even meet them.
We are thankful to have had the privileged of this child for even a short time, and are grateful for the blessed hope of reuniting one day.

Please keep us in your thoughts & prayers as we transition through these emotions.

Buddies

Jacob and Ava were over for a visit recently. What cuties!




My favorite..."talk to the hand".

Ava Wilmoth

Congratulations Wilmoth family on your newest addition! What a blessing!

2010 Loshaw Family Cider Mill Trip

Expecting 'The Unexpected'

I'm sitting here trying to figure out some great lead-in to my most recent news, and this is just the best I could come up with.
I'm PREGNANT! Yes, pregnant. Pregnant. Going to have a baby. (Still trying to get my head around it as you can tell).
Ben and I are feeling many, many, adjectives, but mostly, excited. This scenario was not part of our plans for the next 18+ forever years, but life sure has that funny way of adding an unexpected peice to your puzzle.
During the emotional waves of happiness, shock, and impending change, that we are daily feeling, I keep coming back to the truth. Children are great, and I don't know what else I would want to do but spend the rest of my life loving and caring for them. I've never had any other big exciting plans :-). What really could be bigger than life anyway?
So, as long as all goes well, Loshaw #3 will be here sometime in June.

Wow.

Yates

My mom, the girls, and I went to Yates Cider Mill after their co-op classes on Friday. What a beautiful day for it.

Muskegon 2010

(There are so many pictures that I did them all in a smaller size. Sorry that they are hard to see. If you click on the picture though, it will enlarge it.)

Forever My Friend

One of my dearest friends, Cristin W., uexpectantly passed away on August 14th. The news of this has shocked and saddened me so deeply. I have known and loved Cristy for most of my life. We have shared so much together. I do not know how to process it and I realize that what I am going through must pale in comparison to what her family has to endure. At her funeral, her mother said that Cristy would never want to come back from where she is now. That must be so true, and it was so comforting...but I miss her all the same, and I'm not quite sure how to deal with it it, which is the reason for this post.
Besides sadness, I get frustrated. I wonder how strangers that I see during the day, or pass by on the street, could possibly be going on as everything is the same. Don't they know what has happened, I wonder? Of course they don't...but the pain is so deep that I can't believe it doesn't resound to others...that they don't somehow feel like something is just not right in the world...
I am posting this video because it is one of my favorite songs, and it will always remind me of Cristy. A few years ago she moved to Florida and fell in love with the ocean, and loved spending time there. This song and video, and the unexpected picture of the violin, (another reminder of her), will best exemplify my friend to those who happen to read this.

I sure do wish I could have experienced her ocean with her.
I will never forget, and will always love her, my sweet friend.

'Universe' by Rebecca St. James(lyrics)

Like the river that runs to the sea
The oceans speak of Your love for me
It's wider than I can imagine
Higher than the sky is Your love for me
Like the river that runs to the sea
The sky it speaks of Your love for me
It's wider than I can imagine
And don't have to ever be afraid
Nothing in the universe could take this love away

If I were to fly on the wings of the sunrise
Settle on the farthest side of the sea
If I go up to the heavens You are there
If I make my bed in the depths You're there

If I were to count every thought that You think of me
They would be more than the sand on the shore
When I'm awake You see what I'm thinking
And when I'm asleep You're watching

Like the river that runs to the sea
The oceans speak of Your love for me
It's deeper than I can imagine
Higher than the sky is Your love for me
Like the river that runs to the sea
The sky it speaks of Your love for me
It's wider than I can imagine
And don't have to ever be afraid
Nothing in the universe could take this love away

If I were to walk through the deepest valley
If I were to hide my face in shame
Even there You see what I'm thinking
I can't get away from You

Like the river that runs to the sea
The oceans speak of Your love for me
It's wider than I can imagine
Higher than the sky is Your love for me
Like the river that runs to the sea
The sky it speaks of Your love for me
It's wider than I can imagine
And don't have to ever be afraid
Nothing in the universe could take this love away

If I were to fly
If I were to go
If I were to ride
On the wings of the dawn
If I were to run
If I were to hide
Even there you know my heart
Lord You know my mind

Do You Hear The People Sing????

'I dreamed a dream' that they would bring this back.....and it's on it's way!! I am so excited!!!!

Les Miserables
Mar 22, 2011 8:00 pm | Tuesday
Fisher Theatre, Detroit

Present Time

It was a big ordeal to say the least, but I am now sitting on my new sectional couch that Ben got me for my birthday! Our other couch was very small and only sat two (and a dog) comfortably. The girls were getting sick-n-tired of not being able to 'snuggle', so we've had an eye out for a smaller sectional. This one fit the bill. Unfortunatley, it didn't fit the door, so the delivery guys had to come back (at 10:30pm!), and get it through the window. But, it's here now...let the snuggle time begin!!

(Looks like Zoe already found his spot).

GYPSY

This is the camper that Ben bought for me this spring. He is not a huge fan of camping, and the popup that we had did not help that at all. This is so much easier.
It's a '92 and shows some wear on the outside, but the inside looks really good for its age. I love it, and would be gone most the summer if I could. I am looking forward to our upcoming trip to Muskegon and some trips this fall with the girls while we homeschool on the road! I'll keep you 'posted'.
'Gypsy' is her name, by the way.

COTM - Dad Life

Saw this and had to share it for all the truly cool dads out there!

Tales From The Dark Side

Blogs don't usually tell the whole truth so I thought that I might 'keep it real' and put some reality on here. Why? I guess I don't completely recognize myself when I log onto this blog. Sure, I see all sorts of nice things going on, but, come on, life is not THAT rosey.
So, here's some dirt. Hope it's refreshing.

The biggest thing I struggle with? Weight. Wait a second, that's not realistic. Overeating. That's better. I thought i was getting a real good handle on it. About a year ago now I lost 50lbs. That was awesome. Then...whammo. Head trip. (aka, brain hemmorrage). That was followed by a few different meds, incuding, my nemesis...steroids. Uuuggh. Hate them. Mine as well have handed me back 25lbs, with instructions to 'call me in the morning'.
And while we are on that subject, everyone of those blasted drugs they gave me caused hairloss. Not that they warned me of that. I got to figure that out on my own. I have lost at least 35% of my hair. Not only that, but it's all wirey and stuff now. Don't get me wrong. I am thankful for my heartbeat, but I miss my hair. And, it doesn't seem to be regrowing. (What's left is still growing, but not what fell out). Ben is sweet about it. He calls me his Fozzy Bear. I do love that guy. Thank goodness for that wonderful ceramic hair iron thingy! Dont' know what I'd do without that! ---ok, that's too much optimism in what is supposed to be a more darkside blog ---

Hmmm, what else.

I don't have much fashion sense. Not long ago, my sister Noelle and I were looking at some high school pics of us and I was wearing cotton shorts and some athletic t-shirt of some sort. I looked at it and laughed and said, "How funny, I am still wearing the same kind of clothes" (I had on red, cotton shorts and a Shock t-shirt). Noelle did a few fake chuckles and then matter-of-factly said, "not funny".
I can't say that it really bothers me that I can't put a decent outfit together. I just don't care about it. If it matches, is clean, and void of any stains, and preferably denim, then it should be good. And, if I'm having a bad hair day, which is pretty much every day now,or an 'I don't care day', then a doo-rag is my hair-style of choice. I have many different colored ones, to match whatever t-shirt I might be wearing. Luckily, I have no need to dress up much. Sure there is the occasional wedding or something, but usually I were the same old stand by thing.
Those who know me might be surprised to know that if I could figure it out, my dress of choice would be a jean skirt or khaki skirt and sweatshirt of some sort. Or maybe a polo or something. Not that that's a far cry from what i do already though.

I have lost 3 grandparents and a beloved auntie. That might not compare in numbers to many other people, but I deeply miss them all the same.

I feel as though I spent the first 32 years of my life accepting what the majority said concerning 'truth'. Now I've spent the last 4 years of my life going over some of those details and realizing there may be a whole other side to the story.

I make faces at my kids. Not just the, 'hey you better quit that' type of faces, but the ones that let them know EXACTLY how you are feeling. I have to apologize for it a lot. I hate that I do that. Not exactly the humble mother approach that I would love to have.

I procrastinate.

I stay up way too late most nights when I should be going to bed with my husband.

I have friends that I haven't seen or even talked to in a really long time. I miss them.

There's more, but that's about all the dark side I can handle right now. Time to turn the lights back on & go to bed.

Alive & Well

Quick update for anyone who has been wondering. My carnie fish are still alive and well. They are now 4 years old, this summer. Unbelievable. If you dont' know the story, you will have to check back to my post about them last summer.
Whenever I think they might be on their way out, they always seem to bounce back. Ben said that they only act sick so I will clean their tank. Works everytime too.
Maybe I should give them official names. Carnie 1 & Carnie 2. That works.

Weird Phone Call

Back in April my dear friend, Kristan W. gave me a call around midday and started the conversation with, "Hi Sonya...this is going to be one of those 'weird phone calls'..." She then proceeded to tell me that she had just been informed that she'd won an all expense paid trip to Hollywood California! Then, she tells me that her husband was not ging to be able to go and she wanted to take me! I was shocked and speechless, and when I got over that, I was esctatic! Three short weeks later we were on our way. After 12 hours of travel, we arrived in LA, and no sooner had we landed when we got a call from Jay Leno (a recording actually) inviting us to his 60th anniversary show taping...in 1 hour! Kristan had 'worked her unexplainable magic' and got us on a waiting list and we were chosen! Somehow we managed to arrive in time and got 3rd row main floor seats for the show. They are the seats for the people who get to go up and high-five Leno as the show opens. (I wanted nothing to do with that as we had come straight from the airport and looked like something the cat dragged in, so I just stayed where I was). It was a blast though, and I will never forget it. The next day we went to Six Flags. We thought, 'what better way to test out my brain issues...it passed,... although that could be argued. :-)



Here are some pictures of Rodeo Drive. I didn't think that I would care much about this place seeing as I have zero fashion sense or care, but it was actually pretty neat. I even spent some money buying some stuff for Ben at the Guess store. The girl who helped me out was actually from the U.P.,eh? Pretty small world!


(My version of concrete jungle)

Pacific Ocean & Venice Beach

About this picture, to make a long story short, I have been searching multiple cities and states to find someone who could make a 'Mint Julep' beverage. I love the 60's song by the same name, and when trying to figure out a name for my first camper, my sister suggested 'Mint Julep'. Being as it was green, that name was perfect. So, I was determined to try this drink one way or another. The bartender at the hotel we stayed at in Santa Monica (I think that's right), knew how to make one, so I ordered up! It was horrid to say the least! I even asked him to put it in a taller glass and put more pop in it, and it was barely tolerable! But, I had to document this rare find in a picture, and mark it off my 'to-do' list.

Wish the song was titled, "Tall, Cold, Slurpee". That would be more accurate for me!

I made a few pizzas on the grill a couple night ago. Here are pics of two of them. They were quite gourmet tasting, and the family loved them so I will be adding them to my vegetarian list.

(For the sake of reality, I should have taken a picture of the smore's that we cooked and the pop that we drank that night too...).

Melting

This little cutie loves to be in the water, so she asked us if she could get a pool. Well, where we live, you can't have a pool up overnight, so I just bought her one of those sad, little rinky dink pools, but she loves it.

Well, yesterday I looked out the window, and this is what I saw.

This shot shows why he melts my heart all the time. It's not like he is just in a kiddie pool in a fenced in back yard! He's out there, playing with his daughter, for all the world (or at least our neighbors) to see. Love it!

Happy Camping

We spent this 4th of July camping with the Kahaian's, Williams and Wilmoths at the Port Huron Koa. What a great time we had!