Turbo Turns Three

It's official. She is not our "baby" anymore. Ally Grace turned three today!

We had a combined birthday party for Sierra and Ally with the whole family at the cabin on Monday. The theme was "Littlest Pet Shop" since both girls are really into those toys right now. There was a total of 18 people there to help us celebrate so we had lots of fun. I'll post some more pictures after Sierra's birthday next week, but here are a few of our little Turbo child.

Ally's enjoyed having a can of Ginger "Whale" all to herself at lunch time.

Grandma races against Ally in a rowdy Pugs vs. Poodles pet food relay.

Sierra and Ally blow out their candles together.

Ally woke up to find this in the living room this morning.

Her choice for a birthday treat was a pink snow cone!

THANK YOU

I have a special (TRUE!) story to share...

Early on Wednesday morning I opened the mini-blinds of our front windows and discovered a post-it note with an arrow pointing down to the ground outside. This led me to open the front door where I saw an ordinary brown mailing box with a small type-written tag taped on the front which read "For Valerie." The box was very light when I picked it up. My mind started reeling. I took the box inside and opened it up on the dining room table. No one else in my family was awake yet. I had just fed the little miss and knew that I couldn't go back to sleep. (Now I was very wide awake!) Inside the box was an envelope. On the envelope the reference "Matthew 6:25-34" was typed. Before I opened the envelope I got my Bible out and read the passage. By this time I was sobbing. My fingers trembled as I opened the envelope. A very large sum on money was inside. Cash. There was nothing else. A box, an envelope, a Bible passage and a very generous gift.


I immediately thought that my parents were behind all of this. After awkwardly bringing the matter up with them, I found out that they are not. In fact, they don't have any idea who is involved. Marc and I have tried to guess who left the box at our door but we really have no idea. This leaves us in a difficult situation. Obviously, we desperately want to say THANK YOU for the gift. But how?! Someone has chosen to remain anonymous. It seems like such a meaningless thing, but an open letter is really the only way that we could hope to get our gratefulness across. We pray that the right person/people will read this.

Dear Gift-Giver,
You will probably never know how much your gift has meant to our family! God has used you to teach us yet another lesson about His faithfulness and provision. Marc and I are humbled to tears to be on the receiving end of such generosity. Thank you for both the physical and spiritual blessings that your gift has given to us. You have helped us to pay a hospital bill, but your gift has done much more than that. We have been reminded of God's faithfulness. We have seen the body of Christ put love into action. We have been able to teach our girls about the Biblical model for giving. And we have realized again our utter dependence on God in all areas of life. Thank you!
At the beginning of Matthew 6 it says, "But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." Our prayer is that you will be rewarded in ways that only God could accomplish.
We are so very thankful,
Marc and Serena Mouser

Family Photo Shoot

My brother took these awesome pictures for us a couple of weekends ago at Albertson Park in Boise. I love them! Thanks, Chuck.

Outnumbered

We just got home from the cabin and for the first time ever the kids outnumbered the adults on this trip! Susie and Annie met us up in Garden Valley for a little get away on Tuesday through Thursday. (Benjy was in Seattle for Tim's sixth round of treatments and Susie didn't want to be home alone.) The first day was dreary and rainy, but then things cleared up nicely and we had plenty of time to play outside. We have had to switch from man-to-man to a zone defense when it comes to managing all the little girls. Considering they are all 4 years old and younger, they played together very nicely and didn't cause too much chaos in the cabin.

Sierra takes her turn pushing Annie in the swings.

Ally and Annie working on their summer tans.

(I'm going to save this one for a "then and now" in about 13 years!)

Valerie holding her head up to explore the beautiful scenery from the deck.

Susie and Annie resting in the shade.

Summertime memories at the cabin...PRICELESS!!!

Eleven Years

This picture was taken just after Marc asked me to marry him. We stopped for an afternoon visit to Yosemite National Park on our way up to Idaho for the summer of 1997. After a picnic lunch in front of Half Dome he popped the question. It was completely spontaneous and perfect. He had planned to have an elaborate proposal later in the summer, but couldn't pass up the peaceful afternoon and the beautiful setting. Some passers-by saw us out in the middle of the meadow and offered to take this picture for us just after the proposal.

Today we're celebrating 11 years of marriage
Here's to the next 11 years together!

Introducing Valerie Joy

Valerie Joy Mouser

May 11, 2009

6:10 a.m.

7 lbs. 3 oz.

20 inches

Many of you have already heard of the early arrival of our third sweet daughter. She was due on May 27th, but decided that was just too long to wait. The delivery went very smoothly, but shortly afterward her blood sugar levels started to fluctuate. She was admitted to the NICU at St. Luke's Hospital here in Meridian. That was certainly a very difficult experience for Marc and I. She looked and acted like a healthy little girl and it was heartbreaking to see her hooked up to monitors and an IV drip. Her blood sugar levels eventually balanced out and kept a steady level. Once she was discharged from the NICU, my blood pressure started to act up. (Whose wouldn't, right?!) My medication was changed and I was then released on strict orders to take it easy and come back for a check up. That check up was this morning. My blood pressure has started to come down and I will just continue to take the medication for at least the next 6 weeks. Valerie also had a check up this morning. The doctor said that everything looks great....except she is a bit yellow. So we had to have her poor little heels poked yet again! Her bilirubin results came back just a while ago and were within the acceptable range but still much higher than at the time of our release from the hospital. Just as a precaution, we are supposed to take her to the ER tomorrow to have a lab draw yet again. YIKES! How much more?! Yet God continues to provide His perfect peace just when we need it. This old hymn has been running through my mind all day today:

"When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed. When you are
discouraged thinking all is lost. Count your many blessings -name
them one by one. And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

So amid the conflict, whether great or small. Do not be
discouraged; God is over all. Count your many blessings; angels will
attend. Help and comfort give you to your journey's end.

Count your blessings, name them one by one. Count your blessings, see
what God hath done!"

So here are some of the blessings:

1. The delivery went very (very!) quickly and I was able go "all natural" this time!
2. Grandpa and Grandma Cook were able to see and hold Valerie for a short while before heading over to Israel. My mom was even there for the birth!
3. We had wonderful NICU nurses to care for our daughter.
4. Valerie is a good little eater.
5. Susie & Benjy and Chuck & Missy did (and continue to do) a fantastic job of taking care of Sierra and Ally for us. Although we missed the girls terribly, we were never worried about them. They were having such a good time that they barely missed us.
6. So many church friends and family members have been generous in providing delicious meals for our first week at home. THANK YOU!!!
7. Marc was able to take the whole week off from work to be with me and to help out at home. He only has one more week of school left this year!
8. Some guys have offered to take over Marc's Sunday school teaching responsibilities for the next couple of weeks.
9. My blood pressure has begun to come down.
10. We are all home together!!!

THANKS SO MUCH FOR PRAYING FOR US!!! We certainly have much to be thankful for. Now more than ever, Valerie's name and it's meaning have become extra special to us:

THE JOY OF THE LORD IS OUR STRENGTH!!!

Happy Birthday(S)!!!

It feels like this whole week has been a party. It all started with a fun family celebration for my birthday last weekend. Everyone gathered at our place on Saturday evening ... and I didn't have to do any of the work! After a delicious steak dinner on the grill, Mom served Pave - my favorite Brazilian dessert! Unfortunately, I'm usually the one behind the camera and I don't have any pictures of the event. It was a great family time complete with balloons, cards, candles and gifts!

On Friday, my dear friends Shawna and Julie surprised me with a little party during our Mom2Mom playgroup time. They prepared a delicious lunch and spoiled me with more gifts. Thanks so much, girls! It has been such a blessing to get together each week.

Today (my actual birthday) started off with cards and gifts from Marc and the girls. Then, we headed over to the Beck's for Savannah's first birthday party. (Can it possibly be a whole year already?!?!) Susie did a fantastic job of decorating, cooking and planning games with a luau theme. There were lots of people there to help celebrate Annie's first year of life...Cooks, Becks, Obenchains, Codrs, and Perrys. Annie was the life of the party in her little grass skirt! The kids played a couple of games before we devoured the meat/veggie kabobs, Hawaiian rice, and colorful fruit platters. So yummy!

Playing pin the fishie on the ocean.

Searching for sea shells in the Beck's front yard.

Annie thoroughly enjoyed demolishing her cupcake.

Sharing an otter-pop with Grand-Pop.

Opening gifts!

I must say, however, that the highlight of the day was Annie's last birthday gift. It was a t-shirt from Benjy and Susie that said, "I'm the BIG SISTER."

HOW AWESOME IS THAT?!?!? Baby Beck #2 is due on December 2nd. WAHOOO!!!