A New Year's Blessing
May God make your year a
happy one!
Not by shielding you from
all sorrow and pain,
But by strengthening
you to bear it as it comes;
Not by making your path
easy,
But by making you
sturdy to travel any path;
Not by taking hardships
from you,
But by taking fear
from your heart;
Not by granting you
unbroken sunshine,
But by keeping your
face bright, even in the
shadows;
Not by making your life
always pleasant,
But by showing you
when people and their
causes need you most,
And by making you
anxious to be there to
help.
God’s love, peace, hope
and joy to you for the year
ahead.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Monday, May 30, 2011
Memorial Day
Happy Memorial Day!!
Had a wonderful long weekend with the family enjoying the warm weather and sunshine. We went swimming, had a BBQ, and even made it to Greenfield Village for the Civil War Remembrance at the village. The kids really enjoyed the village, we got to see a bayonet drill, they got to enlist in the military, and saw the soldier's camp.
Here are pictures from the rest of the weekend!!
In honor of Memorial day, I found this poem and thought I would share!! Thanks to all the men and women who proudly and fearlessly defend our freedom, and my heart goes out to all the families who have lost loved ones who were fighting and protecting our freedom in this great nation!!!
FREEDOM IS NOT FREE!!
I watched the flag pass by one day.
It fluttered in the breeze.
A young Marine saluted it,
and then he stood at ease.
I looked at him in uniform
So young, so tall, so proud,
He'd stand out in any crowd.
I thought how many men like him
Had fallen through the years.
How many died on foreign soil?
How many mothers' tears?
How many pilots' planes shot down?
How many died at sea?
How many foxholes were soldiers' graves?
No, freedom isn't free.
I heard the sound of TAPS one night,
When everything was still
I listened to the bugler play
And felt a sudden chill.
I wondered just how many times
That TAPS had meant "Amen,"
When a flag had draped a coffin
Of a brother or a friend.
I thought of all the children,
Of the mothers and the wives,
Of fathers, sons and husbands
With interrupted lives.
I thought about a graveyard
At the bottom of the sea
Of unmarked graves in Arlington.
No, freedom isn't free.
It fluttered in the breeze.
A young Marine saluted it,
and then he stood at ease.
I looked at him in uniform
So young, so tall, so proud,
He'd stand out in any crowd.
I thought how many men like him
Had fallen through the years.
How many died on foreign soil?
How many mothers' tears?
How many pilots' planes shot down?
How many died at sea?
How many foxholes were soldiers' graves?
No, freedom isn't free.
I heard the sound of TAPS one night,
When everything was still
I listened to the bugler play
And felt a sudden chill.
I wondered just how many times
That TAPS had meant "Amen,"
When a flag had draped a coffin
Of a brother or a friend.
I thought of all the children,
Of the mothers and the wives,
Of fathers, sons and husbands
With interrupted lives.
I thought about a graveyard
At the bottom of the sea
Of unmarked graves in Arlington.
No, freedom isn't free.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Yard Work & Opening Day
Last Friday night after work, I came home and worked diligently getting our flowers planted and our front yard landscaping completed. We have lived in this house for 5 years this June and never did the landscaping so this year we decided it was time to get it done. For our first year, I think it turned out great!!! I want to find one more little shrub to put behind the weeping cherry, and then maybe a little lawn ornament of some sort to go in the flower bed. I'm gonna wait for the street fairs to see if I can find something, or maybe I'll have the kids do stepping stones with their hand prints, not sure yet. I need to paint the posts on the front porch, but the awful red color on my house is impossible to match, so I'm thinking of painting just the wood portion of the posts a greyish white to match the siding and hopefully it wont look as bad. Josh and I want to get our windows and siding done, all in due time I suppose.
Saturday was opening day, and we had a beautiful day. It was sunny and warm, and just perfect. The parade was in the morning, and the boys seemed to have a lot of fun. Josh walked with the team to help out, and he said it reminded him of when he used to play baseball. My mom and I watched the parade, stayed for opening announcements, the Anthem, and the traditional Take Me Out to the Ballgame. After that, her and I left to go stand in line to buy tickets for Madison's upcoming dance recital, and Josh stayed with the boys to finish up the opening day ceremony and baseball pictures. It was a busy busy Saturday, but lots of fun!! I think the sun shining is what really made the day, thats been few and far between this Spring.
Later that afternoon, the Orioles had their first game. They played great but lost a close one to the Angels. The final score was 8-7. Pee Wee is so much more exciting than t-ball. I expected it to be much better, but its actually a structured game with outs, strikes, and a score - hahah!! Looking forward to a fun season, here are a few pictures from their first game!!!
Saturday was opening day, and we had a beautiful day. It was sunny and warm, and just perfect. The parade was in the morning, and the boys seemed to have a lot of fun. Josh walked with the team to help out, and he said it reminded him of when he used to play baseball. My mom and I watched the parade, stayed for opening announcements, the Anthem, and the traditional Take Me Out to the Ballgame. After that, her and I left to go stand in line to buy tickets for Madison's upcoming dance recital, and Josh stayed with the boys to finish up the opening day ceremony and baseball pictures. It was a busy busy Saturday, but lots of fun!! I think the sun shining is what really made the day, thats been few and far between this Spring.
Later that afternoon, the Orioles had their first game. They played great but lost a close one to the Angels. The final score was 8-7. Pee Wee is so much more exciting than t-ball. I expected it to be much better, but its actually a structured game with outs, strikes, and a score - hahah!! Looking forward to a fun season, here are a few pictures from their first game!!!
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Summer Time
I can't seem to keep my blog updated on a regular basis, Im not sure what my disfunction is, but its slightly annoying to me. I love reading other bloggers, and get a little disappointed when they dont update theirs regularly, but yet I dont hold up on my own end of the deal. I went with a red, white and blue theme to get me through the summer just in case I dont get on here to update at least the background is relevant - hahahah. It says 4th of July, but truthfully it represents summer all the way, starting with Memorial Day, in the middle is Independance Day, and wrap up summer with Labor Day.
Personally, I feel we should honor and respect these colors every day of our lives. I am so blessed and grateful to the men and women who have served and continue to serve and protect our great nation.
Sorry hit a tangent there for a moment.......
Anyways, we have moved beyond winter here in Michigan, but Summer is taking its time to arrive. Spring has been soooooo rainy, Im pretty much done with rain and cold, and for some reason, mother nature is not getting the hint. We do have leaves on the trees again, and many animals have returned from hibernation, so the earth looks alive again.....winter can be so dreary.
Baseball season has started, Justin and Jake are in the Pee Wee division on the Baltimore Orioles. Opening day is this Saturday, and we are hoping for sunny skies and warmer temps. They will walk in a parade in the morning and then their first game is in the afternoon. Joey just got done with swimming lessons, and is playing t-ball through the Cabrini program since he does not meet age eligibility for the RBA. He doesnt start t-ball for another few weeks, but we will be busy at the baseball diamonds this summer. Madison is wrapping up her dance class, and has her recital on June 18th which I am sooo excited to see. She is doing a tap dance to Mony Mony, and the little sneak previews I've seen, are absolutely adorable. Its amazing to me how much joy you can get out of things seeing it through your childrens eyes. She absolutely loves dance, and i love watching her. Next year she will be doing tap and ballet which is pretty exciting.
I keep telling all of my kids that I dont want them to get any older, its not working, but I'll keep trying. They are all at such great ages, and they still like me, so thats an added bonus. Im only 5 short years away from a teenager, and it freaks me out. I try not to live in the future and savor every minute in the "NOW" but I can't help but think about it once in a while.
We are in for a busy summmer, and I say this all the time, i'll try to keep this updated, but no promises. Maybe i'll shoot for a weekly update.....i'll put a reminder in my phone, that might work. Here are a few random pictures until then, and ill try to be more specific to events and not so general so the pictures are a little more coordinated........
Here are the boys enjoying a drink in the back of the van after our day at the Village to see Thomas the Train!!
Madison - Enough Said, but I sure love this little girl!!
Picnic on the Front Lawn.....taking advantage of one of the very few nice spring days!!!
Personally, I feel we should honor and respect these colors every day of our lives. I am so blessed and grateful to the men and women who have served and continue to serve and protect our great nation.
Sorry hit a tangent there for a moment.......
Anyways, we have moved beyond winter here in Michigan, but Summer is taking its time to arrive. Spring has been soooooo rainy, Im pretty much done with rain and cold, and for some reason, mother nature is not getting the hint. We do have leaves on the trees again, and many animals have returned from hibernation, so the earth looks alive again.....winter can be so dreary.
Baseball season has started, Justin and Jake are in the Pee Wee division on the Baltimore Orioles. Opening day is this Saturday, and we are hoping for sunny skies and warmer temps. They will walk in a parade in the morning and then their first game is in the afternoon. Joey just got done with swimming lessons, and is playing t-ball through the Cabrini program since he does not meet age eligibility for the RBA. He doesnt start t-ball for another few weeks, but we will be busy at the baseball diamonds this summer. Madison is wrapping up her dance class, and has her recital on June 18th which I am sooo excited to see. She is doing a tap dance to Mony Mony, and the little sneak previews I've seen, are absolutely adorable. Its amazing to me how much joy you can get out of things seeing it through your childrens eyes. She absolutely loves dance, and i love watching her. Next year she will be doing tap and ballet which is pretty exciting.
I keep telling all of my kids that I dont want them to get any older, its not working, but I'll keep trying. They are all at such great ages, and they still like me, so thats an added bonus. Im only 5 short years away from a teenager, and it freaks me out. I try not to live in the future and savor every minute in the "NOW" but I can't help but think about it once in a while.
We are in for a busy summmer, and I say this all the time, i'll try to keep this updated, but no promises. Maybe i'll shoot for a weekly update.....i'll put a reminder in my phone, that might work. Here are a few random pictures until then, and ill try to be more specific to events and not so general so the pictures are a little more coordinated........
Here are the boys enjoying a drink in the back of the van after our day at the Village to see Thomas the Train!!
Madison - Enough Said, but I sure love this little girl!!
Picnic on the Front Lawn.....taking advantage of one of the very few nice spring days!!!
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
A Little Early
I might be early in posting about Spring, being that we are in the dead of winter up here in Michigan, but it cant hurt, right!!?!? There are parts of winter I love, and would totally miss if I weren't here in Michigan, but the problem is, I dont want them to last for as long as they do up here. One month is enough for me, then it can warm up and the snow can go away!! :) So, I'm channeling spring through my BLOG.
I keep thinking I would love to move somewhere warm, I have Arizona on my brain right now, but Texas would be good too. The good thing about Texas is the fact that AT&T is down there, so maybe we would have transfer rights. However, if we move, there are a lot of other people that need to be moving along with us....otherwise it will never happen, but a girl can dream right!!!
I definitely think i have the winter blues right now....everything i have to look forward too happens in the spring and summer!! So hopefully that will at least get me through the next few months.
We have been so lucky this winter, and aside from a couple coughs, and a round of ear infections, we have been a pretty healthy bunch, the last few winters have been brutal flu seasons, so I am SUPER greatful for that!!! *Knock on Wood*
The kids have so much energy, and if it werent for sub-zero temps, i'd be sending them out the door, so instead we are trying to find creative ways to entertain four kids indoors. My suggestion of sitting down for a good book doesnt seem to be the fan favorite amongst the Shupe kids, so instead we have been having bey blade tournaments, attempting to beat LEGO Harry Potter on the Wii, and the boys love playing their DS games, and Madison loves to play with her dolls. Then of course they love to wrestle each other and run through the house.....this will get old at some point, right???
Soon the swing set will reveal itself from under the snow, and the sun will peak through the clouds again, and the birds will come back, and we can go outside to ride bikes, play catch, and run, run, run. My kids sooooo need to run!!! Where do they get this energy, I wish they could pass some on to me. So, here's to hoping Spring will knock on our door VERY soon!!
In the meantime, we are thankful for our house and our furnace, hot chocolate, and our super warm fireplace. Although the gas bill isnt so fun - ha!!
I keep thinking I would love to move somewhere warm, I have Arizona on my brain right now, but Texas would be good too. The good thing about Texas is the fact that AT&T is down there, so maybe we would have transfer rights. However, if we move, there are a lot of other people that need to be moving along with us....otherwise it will never happen, but a girl can dream right!!!
I definitely think i have the winter blues right now....everything i have to look forward too happens in the spring and summer!! So hopefully that will at least get me through the next few months.
We have been so lucky this winter, and aside from a couple coughs, and a round of ear infections, we have been a pretty healthy bunch, the last few winters have been brutal flu seasons, so I am SUPER greatful for that!!! *Knock on Wood*
The kids have so much energy, and if it werent for sub-zero temps, i'd be sending them out the door, so instead we are trying to find creative ways to entertain four kids indoors. My suggestion of sitting down for a good book doesnt seem to be the fan favorite amongst the Shupe kids, so instead we have been having bey blade tournaments, attempting to beat LEGO Harry Potter on the Wii, and the boys love playing their DS games, and Madison loves to play with her dolls. Then of course they love to wrestle each other and run through the house.....this will get old at some point, right???
Soon the swing set will reveal itself from under the snow, and the sun will peak through the clouds again, and the birds will come back, and we can go outside to ride bikes, play catch, and run, run, run. My kids sooooo need to run!!! Where do they get this energy, I wish they could pass some on to me. So, here's to hoping Spring will knock on our door VERY soon!!
In the meantime, we are thankful for our house and our furnace, hot chocolate, and our super warm fireplace. Although the gas bill isnt so fun - ha!!
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Christmas Time!!
Oh how I love Christmas time!!
Let me count the ways:
1. Shopping
2. Christmas Music (non-stop every day)
3. The hustle and bustle at the malls
4. The joy and excitement in the kids
5. Christmas Plays
6. Wrapping (sometimes)
7. The joy of giving
8. Celebrating our Savior's birthday
9. Family, Family, and More Family time
10. Good food
11. Baking (or enjoying other peoples baking)
12. Time off
13. Snow (only on christmas day, then i want it to go away)
14. Christmas Jammies
15. The trees and lights
16. Christmas Nouggat Candies
17. Candy Canes
18. The excitement of what a new year will bring!!
Ok, i think i've made my point!!!
Christmas Eve we will spend at my parents, my mom will be making us a wonderful dinner and we sit around and enjoy each others company, play games, and of course open presents!!
Christmas Morning everyone comes over and joins us for the kids to open their presents. We exchange gifts with Josh's side of the family that morning, and have a wonderful Christmas morning breakfast. We stay in comfy jammies all day, turn on the fireplace, and watch christmas movies and football all day long!!! Its such a great tradition and I love every minute of it!!! We dont let our family leave, or we try not to let htem leave because we want to spend all day with them. Later on in the evening we have ham and turkey and cheesy potatoes and all kinds of yummy food. The kids get to play with all their new stuff, and its just good fun. Last year we had a nerf gun fight, but that wont be happening this year, we asked Santa to skip the nerf guns this year!!! As fun as it was, those darts get everywhere, not to mention you have to watch every corner you turn, you never know when one is coming at your head. And most of the time its coming from Josh and not the kids.....hmmmm!!
Anyways, to all of you out there that read my blog when I post on it once every 8 months, I hope you have a wonderful and blessed Christmas. Enjoy yourselves and whatever you are doing this holiday, and I hope that Santa brings all that you need, and I wish everyone a wonderful new year! May 2011 bring lots of good things to everyone!!!
Love always,
Sara
Let me count the ways:
1. Shopping
2. Christmas Music (non-stop every day)
3. The hustle and bustle at the malls
4. The joy and excitement in the kids
5. Christmas Plays
6. Wrapping (sometimes)
7. The joy of giving
8. Celebrating our Savior's birthday
9. Family, Family, and More Family time
10. Good food
11. Baking (or enjoying other peoples baking)
12. Time off
13. Snow (only on christmas day, then i want it to go away)
14. Christmas Jammies
15. The trees and lights
16. Christmas Nouggat Candies
17. Candy Canes
18. The excitement of what a new year will bring!!
Ok, i think i've made my point!!!
Christmas Eve we will spend at my parents, my mom will be making us a wonderful dinner and we sit around and enjoy each others company, play games, and of course open presents!!
Christmas Morning everyone comes over and joins us for the kids to open their presents. We exchange gifts with Josh's side of the family that morning, and have a wonderful Christmas morning breakfast. We stay in comfy jammies all day, turn on the fireplace, and watch christmas movies and football all day long!!! Its such a great tradition and I love every minute of it!!! We dont let our family leave, or we try not to let htem leave because we want to spend all day with them. Later on in the evening we have ham and turkey and cheesy potatoes and all kinds of yummy food. The kids get to play with all their new stuff, and its just good fun. Last year we had a nerf gun fight, but that wont be happening this year, we asked Santa to skip the nerf guns this year!!! As fun as it was, those darts get everywhere, not to mention you have to watch every corner you turn, you never know when one is coming at your head. And most of the time its coming from Josh and not the kids.....hmmmm!!
Anyways, to all of you out there that read my blog when I post on it once every 8 months, I hope you have a wonderful and blessed Christmas. Enjoy yourselves and whatever you are doing this holiday, and I hope that Santa brings all that you need, and I wish everyone a wonderful new year! May 2011 bring lots of good things to everyone!!!
Love always,
Sara
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Day 2: The meaning behind your blog name
Well I'm not super creative when it comes to blogging, so I think its pretty self explanatory....
Shupe Family of 6 = 6 people in our little Shupe family!!
:)
At least it was an easy post - ahahah!!!
Shupe Family of 6 = 6 people in our little Shupe family!!
:)
At least it was an easy post - ahahah!!!
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