Five years of marriage... letter to my husband (9/06/2013)

Dear Steve,

Here we are, five years of wedded bliss and two adorable little boys later...  What a fun ride it has been with you, since we both said 'I DO' on September 6, 2008!

I sometimes wonder, what does God have written for us in the next chapters of our lives?  I am so glad that we don't know, as the mystery keeps life fun and exciting!  And that's just how I sum up what life with you is like: fun and exciting! I do know, that I am so thankful for the importance we both place in our relationship with our Savior, Jesus, and all the blessings that shower down on us through our faith in Him. 



We know that through life's ups and downs that accompanies all human existence, we are not an exception, as we live in a fallen and sinful world.  Yet, through the good and the bad, the easy days and the hard days, we will have JOY in our hearts ALWAYS!  Joy, because we place our hope in the Lord, regardless of our circumstances. We have joy in our hearts because we are always there for each other, no matter what circumstances or emotions we might be facing!

 

This joy is reflected in you and I, my love. It is being passed down to our sons, as the legacy we will someday leave behind.  Steve, I am truly honored to be called your wife, and to have the privilege to raise our sons with you!

 

 

I feel that this is right where you and I are meant to be.  We are joyfully, teaching and instructing our sons to respect marriage and families, and to understand the importance of both.  To have a kind and gentle heart.  To respect life and others.  To be courageous and stand firm in their convictions.  To grow in the Christian faith and joyfully look forward to our heavenly reward, when we can see Jesus, face to face.

 

Celebrating two years of marriage. 9/06/2010

Welcoming our second son, Jack Steven on 1/11/2012

I remember that our wedding song we chose for our soloist to sing was called, 'Household of Faith.' Do you vaguely remember it, as I do?  We will have to pull out our old wedding video to remind ourselves of the words!  Yet, what a beautiful foreshadow the title alone is, for our present day lives. Truly, this is not a coincidence as God is the great orchestrator of our lives! 

 

 

I am thrilled to be celebrating five years of marriage with you, Steve! As we say often to each other, it just keeps getting better and better!  I have never been more in love with you then I am right now.

 

All my Love,

Gret

 

Mud Games (6/08/13)

 The group who participated in the 'Mud Games' with us.

The 'before' picture.

And the 'after' picture.

 

I'm a bit late in getting these photos up from the Mud Games, back in early June. But hey...better late than never, eh? We had such a great time doing this. As I was making the list of our fun summer activities, I forgot to add this one, but it was definitely up there on the list as one of our favorites!

 



Update on the boys and summer recap

 Quinn - 3 1/2

 Jack - 19 months

The boys are a growing! They are eating, eating and eating some more! They are also taking daily naps, and often times they wake up bigger then when we put them to bed. (I kid you not!) Steve and I are enjoying the summer with our boys! Yet here we are, gearing up for fall activities now.

Quinn is starting Preschool this fall! On September 10, 2013, I will drop him off for his first day! Although I anticipate a few many tears, from him both of us, I know he will do great once he gets into the routine, and is used to his new schedule! It is two days a week, for two hours a day. It is our church's preschool,  right at our church. For this I am grateful, as I love the Christian curriculum and culture that he will be immersed into, and he will be comfortable at the location since we are there at least once a week already, for church. His teacher is so kind, and patient and loving. I know this is the right fit for him!

Jack is already 19 months old, and becoming more and more adventurous, outspoken and comical as ever!  He loves to cruise down our driveway (which is on a small incline), on one of his 'cars.' He will race his daddy or brother, and when he gets to the very bottom he swerves to the side just in time (so he doesn't go into the street!) Good job, Jack! You know the house rules! Jack sees his big brother jumping off everything, everything. So it comes as no surprise here, that my little Jack also tries (and sometimes succeeds if I don't catch him in time), jumping off steps and rocks. He is loud and he is funny. He is mimicking anything we ask him to say. Some of the words and phrases are spot on, and some aren't even close! Yet, he tries to say everything and it's adorable!

It has been a great summer. Highlights have included two trips to the cabin (one last trip is also scheduled - before summer is officially over!), Maddens Resort, a family get together at my sister and brother in law's house, numerous trips to the beach, visits with friends and siblings,The Lifetime Fitness pool, Steve's softball games, Vacation Bible School, Horse Pull, Zoo, Splash pads near home, picnics, library trips, growing a garden and actually getting some delicious produce from it! ...And the list goes on and on.

Finger paints!

 Jack - 19 months old

8/20/2013

He was not afraid to get dirty! I'm so glad he was using washable paints, as he

mistook the table for paper! 

Maddens 2013

 Quinn - (almost) 3 1/2 - Summer 2013

 Jack and Quinn are 1 and 3 this summer!

 Jack - 1 1/2 - Summer 2013

 My Family

~7/29/2013~

 Married almost five years!

 The boys are really getting into t-ball this summer.

I think it helps that they've been to quite a few of Steve's softball games.

 Laurie and Quinn

 Ta-Da! ...of course it's a spider!

 Little brother chose a spider too!

Madden's Resort on Gull Lake (in Brainard, MN) was wonderful this year, again!

 

Lots of fun memories made, fun for the little boys, golf for Steve, catching up amongst family and enjoying one another's company!  Summer is not complete until we've made our annual family trip to Maddens!  Thank you, Grandpa Jerry! 

Family Get Together {Summer edition}

 

 Top Row: Pete, Quinn, Katie, Mandy, Jack and Gretchen

Bottom Row: Tom, Nick, Mom, Dad and Steve

 

8/04/2013

 

 Katie and Tom

 Nick and Amanda

 Cousin Jacob

 Amanda, Katie and Gretchen

 Dad and his three girls

 Mom and Aunt Bev

 A little game of 'Duck, Duck, Goose.'

 My big boy is almost three and a half years old now!

Beautiful Mom.

 

We had a wonderful family get together. Thank you so much for hosting and having us over to your new place, Mandy and Nick. You guys really know how to entertain and host a great get-together.

 

So glad to spend quality time with all the awesome peeps in the pictures above. I thank the Lord for this great family He has given to me!

     

'And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.'

Colossians 3:14 NIV

Birthday Banner Fun

My Grandpa is turning 87 on July 22nd!  All of us family members are going to send birthday cards, so that he has dozens upon dozens of birthday greetings in his mailbox come 7/22. So for our family alone, we will each send a card out = four cards just from us. We all think he will get a big kick out of this gesture and have a lot of fun reading these cards!

 

I thought it would be fun to make a big birthday banner with Quinn (while Jack napped). We got out finger paints and markers and went to town. It was a lot of fun. It was especially fun when Quinn walked right into a big glob of wet paint, didn't realize it, and ran into his room to get more 'supplies.'

 

Right as we were finishing taping up the banner, Jack woke up. I thought it was be the best idea to just quickly get my photo (so we can mail it, along with a birthday card.)  If we waited too long to get the photo, I could see the banner being ripped down by some innocent looking little boy.  Jack was not digging it. Quinn was pretending to be superman, and for some reason, superman was way too busy flying around to stop for ten seconds.  The last one if FAR from being perfect, but it's the 'best' one out of the bunch!  That's a winner in my book. Happy Birthday, Grandpa Shepard!