Dear Gracie,

I love to hear your voice! Your laughter and your singing warms me like a pot belly stove on a cold, dreary, and snowy day! You laugh at anything that strikes your little fancy! Sometimes you'll laugh hysterically just because you caught me looking at you! I love this so much about you! You have such a pretty singing voice and you're not even 2 years old yet! You sing ALL THE TIME! You sing yourself and your brother to sleep and you always awaken first and sing your brother awake. This amuses him very much! I can hear you sing Itsy Bitsy Spider to him and when you add "BOO!" at the end I can hear him laugh around the fingers he's still sucking on! You love to sing Jesus Loves Me and last week when you wandered away from me in the library, Seth and I could hear you from the next aisle over singing it! We laughed and said "silly DeeDee!"
You are joy and sunshine in my life and I can't imagine the world without you! Thank you for being my lovey girl, "Groocie"

I love you, love you, love you!!!

Happy Birthday, Nora!

Three years ago today I witnessed for the very first time, the birth of a baby! Not my own, of course, but the birth of my best friend's precious little girl, Nora Francis.

Paula, our friend Holly, and myself had all planned to get pregnant around the same time. We thought it would be a smash being pregnant together and having kids very close in age! They waited until I was married to try, so it would be fair, and even joked about abstaining until my wedding night! LOL! Although it was not in GOD's sovereign will for me to conceive, Paula became pregnant in April 2007 and Holly in May. I was ecstatic!! It didn't matter that I had not conceived, two of my very great friends were having babies! Then I found out that Sharon, my sister, was with child and that added to the excitement mix!!

When Paula thought she might be pregnant (Mon night, May 28th) she told me she was going to wait until that Friday to get a test. Well, I was certainly NOT going to wait that long and I dragged her to Walgreens in Milltown where we purchased a digital Clear Blue test. She came home and I made her, well, fill a cup if you know what I mean. I then kicked her out and called her husband, Steve, into the bathroom with me to see the results. We followed the directions and laid the test on the flat counter top and watched that little hour glass icon for what seemed like HOURS!! Then I saw it in the millisecond it took to switch to the word PREGNANT and I leaped into the air and screamed on the top of my lungs, scaring the life out of poor Steve who didn't read it as fast as I did!! I went sailing past him as he stood there trying to comprehend what had just happened!! haha! Poor guy!! What a fabulous wonderful memorable night!

238 days later, Nora Francis arrived! With a head full of black hair and cute chubby cheeks, she was simply perfect! My Paula had asked me to be in the delivery room with her and I happily, joyously, excitedly said YES!!!!! It was a night that I will never forget! There is nothing disgusting or gross about a birth, it is all so beautiful and wonderful! Our Loving LORD gave such an amazing gift to the female race! I am so thankful for a friend (and my sister who gave birth to Seth 4 days later) for allowing me to share in the joy of childbirth!

Happy, Happy Birthday Nora Francis! I love you so very, very much!!!

10 Things I Love About My Seth!

1. He is such a helper! Whenever I need any kind of help, whether it's cleaning up or laying out snack he's always at my heels saying, "I help you, Pooka, I help"

2. He's got the best behind-me hugs. I can be seated on the floor and he'll come up behind me and wrap his arms around me neck and rub his cheek against mine...sooooo delicious!!

3. He's incredibly smart! To learn his geography he has named each country we learn with someone from his family. For instance, he says the USA is Daddy, Russia is Gracie, Brazil in Uncle Jimmy and Mexico is Pooka! He's named the few other ones as well but has reserved Antarctica for himself!

4. He loves to listen to stories and his favorite books are Goodnight Moon and Wibbly Pig. Wibbly Pig is a very cute pig who takes a long time to get ready for bed! Seth will walk up to me and say, "Wibbly Pig are you ready for bed? No, I'm taking a bath" and then burst into hysterical laughter!

5. He's very protective of "Dee Dee" his sister, Gracie. He always has to make sure that she isn't being left out of anything fun that's going on. Unless, of course, it involves her touching his play pots and food when he's trying to set up a "meal" for me!

6. He's got this hysterical laughter that is sooooo contagious. Last week in church he dropped a mint he was trying to hand Sarah, and we couldn't find it anywhere on the pew or my lap. He glanced down and saw it on the floor and burst into hysterical laughter right in the middle of announcements! Needless to say there were twitters of laughter all over the congregation!

7. He's such a big boy and can listen and obey Pooka in the store when he's out of the cart. I normally don't do this because I'm scared of someone hitting or knocking into him since he's so short, but today I needed the full back of the cart, so he walked and did a great job!

8. He loves to pray! Every day at lunch he folds his hands and closes his eyes, peeking just a little at times, and prays for our food. I love when I hear him say,"Opps, don't eat until we thank Jesus, DeeDee!"

9. He is a snuggle bug! Sometimes, even at crazy free-for-all playtime, the place he enjoys to be is right in my lap snuggle-snuggle-snugging and telling me a million and one things that he needs to say!

10. He is an amazing photographer! His most FAVORITE thing to do is take photos! Whenever I give him to OK, he takes my camera and secures the strap around his wrist and walks around taking photos of his school work, his toys, DeeDee &Pooka, and anything else that strikes his interest!! (The above photos are all his!)


I love you my Buddy!! You are such a ray of sunshine in your Pooka's life! I love every second that I get to spend with you! I love you, love you, love you!!

3's of Me

Three favorite pastimes:

1. reading biographies

2. planning parties and vacations

3. preparing lesson plans for my preschool babies!


Three names I go by

1. Babe, My love (James)

2. Pooka (Seth & Gracie)

3. Apey (pretty much everyone else)



Three jobs I have had in my life

1. QC Supervisor at a printing company

2. Teacher's assistant for 2 & 3's

3. Nanny



Three places I have lived

1. Chestnut St, South River

2. Gordon St, South River

3. Jackson St, South River



Three favorite drinks

1. water with fresh lemon

2. sparkling water with fresh lemon

3. ginger ale with fresh lime


Three favorite colors:

1. purple

2. dark blue

3. dark green



Three TV shows that I watch

1. Barney

2. Buffy

3. Duggar's



Three places I have been

1. Disney World, Orlando!!!!

2. Louisville, KY (for T4G, an AMAZING pastor/youth pastor's conference!!)

3. Raleigh, NC to visit my wonderful aunt and uncle!


Three phrases you would like to hear:

1. "Babe, Praise GOD, I got a job! I start Monday!" (from my husband)

2. "Congratulations, Mrs. Dynarski, you're expecting triplets!!" (from my doctor)

3. "We don't want our Disney Vacation Club anymore and it's all paid off, so would you like all our points?" (from anyone haha! =)


Three animals you would like to own:

1. a white horse

2. a brown horse

3. a black horse


Three places you'd like to live:

1. on a farm in PA

2. on a farm in VA

3. on a farm in West VA



People that call/text me regularly

1. Paula

2. Katie

3. Jessica


Three people that have made an impact in your life:

1. Jesus

2. James

3. Mama &Daddy (they are one =)



Three of my favorite foods

1. salmon

2. chicken Caesar salad

3. any soup from Olive Garden



Three favorite vacation spots:

1. DISNEY WORLD!!

2. Gettysburg, PA

3. down the shore!



Three things I am looking forward to:

1. All the time I get to spend with Seth and Gracie!

2. Our trip to Gettysburg with the Beisser's in May

3. T4G coming again in a little over a year!


Three things that you've accomplished in the last month:

1. I decluttered and simplified my ENTIRE house!! (I LOVE this!! It took about 30 hours all together!)

2. I have lost another 15 pounds bringing the total loss to 29 pounds since Oct!!! (this is the first time I've posted anything about my weight loss. I have kept a low profile because too many compliments are known to be a pride issue for me. I am trying to focus on getting healthy in obedience to the LORD, not so people will compliment me =) I praise GOD for this amazing accomplishment, it's ALL because of the strength He gives me!

3. I have cut my spending habits drastically! (another GREAT accomplishment for the girl who thinks if she wants it, she should just BUY it!)

3 Things The World Expects Me To Worry About

1. My husband being out of work for 18 months. The world would expect me to worry, but I don't! I mean, there are times when my heart twinges a bit and I think, "LORD, is one coming soon?" but then I remember that GOD is in control of ALL things! Even though I cannot see Jimmy's new job on a physical level, I know that GOD is preparing something so important for him to do! Jimmy's job is going to come at the perfect time and not a moment sooner! I claim Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

2. My inability to conceive. For as long as I remember I have wanted to be a mommy. Jimmy and I began trying for a child right off the bat and so far, nothing. The world expects me to be upset and to worry that I will never conceive, but I don't! The LORD is going to bring a child into my life in HIS own timing and according to HIS perfect will, not mine! I claim Psalms 37:4 " Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart."

3. The future. The world expects me to worry about the unseen. Things that are coming that I cannot foresee. Death, illness, injury, ect. I don't worry about these things. GOD will give me the grace to deal with each new day and any trials that might arise. GOD does not give grace for the "what-if"'s in life. He gives grace when you go THROUGH it! I claim Matthew 34:6 "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

I serve an AWESOME LORD and He alone is my joy, salvation and steadfast Lover of my soul!

Thank You LORD that I do not need to worry about ANYTHING in life. Thank You that I have an opportunity today to share Your perfect peace with someone who doesn't know!

Isaiah 26:3 "You will keep him in perfect peace,Whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. "

I'm back!

Oh my goodness, it has been soooo long since I blogged! Life seemed to have caught up with me after our trip to Disney World in September, and I don't think I've blogged since then! One of these days I will give you a rundown of our fantastical time in the wonderful world of Disney imagination! For now, I'd like to give you a quick recap of the time that has spanned since I last blogged.

Oct: I felt led of the LORD to leave my current positions and stay home to care for my niece and nephew. It was an emotional time speaking with each of the families and preparing them for my departure a mere 8 weeks from then. I had been with each family for a number of years and the children and I had developed a deep, loving relationship!

Nov: Thanksgiving was quiet and nice! The day was spent at my sister June's house where we laughed, ate, laughed, ate more and played lots of games! It was also very sad, as it was my first Thanksgiving EVER that my younger sister, Donna May, was not with us. Since she moved to Baton Rouge last July, I have not seen her ={..(and for the record, in case you're wondering, my Mama was pregnant with her on my first Thanksgiving, so this was indeed my very first Thanksgiving without her!)

Dec: This was a bittersweet month. I had to leave the children I had been with for over 5 years but I was given the awesome responsibility of caring for Seth and Gracie! Christmas was amazing, however, Seth did has a stomach virus that morning (poor boy!) and he couldn't sit up for very long, but watched quietly from the couch as his sister ripped into all of her gifts! James and i rang in the new year with great friends and a thankful prayer to the LORD for all that He provided in 2010!

...and here we are, JANUARY!

We have just entered our second week of preschool homeschool and it has been going swimmingly! Last week's highlights are:

Letter "A": We colored, sang about, and play-doh shaped this fantastic letter!

Number "1": We counted things around the room, colored a number "1" and sang a silly song about a number "1" who played the accordion!

Color RED: We grabbed our pointers and walked around the room pointing to anything RED that we could find. We colored with RED crayons and RED markers! We also got up to our elbows in RED finger paint (fun fun!)

Shape CIRCLE: We completed a worksheet where we put a big black "X" through any shape that was a CIRCLE! We also looked around and found some of our favorite things to play with are CIRCLES. Like all our balls (except our football of course!) our pretend cookies, our pretend pizza and all the pizza toppings, our play oranges, and even the cymbals in our musical instruments bag!

Geography: Seth can point out the USA, Canada, Mexico, Russia, Antarctica and Brazil! Gracie can point out USA and Canada...oh yes, and the compass because she LOVES it! She thinks it's a sun! LOL!

Bible Story time: GOD created the day and night. We put the sleeping doggie sticker with the sleeping boy, and the running doggie sticker with the boy that was playing! We also played a new favorite game where we line up three small pillows on the floor on one side of our schoolroom and our play kitchen stands at the other side with three play eggs waiting on a plate. We sit together and say, "GOD made the day, so I can play. GOD made the night, so I sleep tight!" Then one of us will say "nightime" and we run over and lay on a pillow and pretend to snore. Then someone says "daytime" and we jump up and run to "eat" our eggs! Back and forth, over and over! This was a fun game that produced a TON of laughter...(that pure, unadulterated laughter of precious children! It was wonderful!)

What an awesome week we had! There is so much more to share, like our library trip, our new favorite book that we borrowed called "Farmyard Lullaby", our daily calendar & what's the weather chart, our marching music class, and special story times but nap time is winding up so I must prepare snack. Today's snack is crispy Gala apples and vanilla yogurt!

Until next time!