Lotte's Page

12.01.2009

11.25.2009

Happy Thanksgiving

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and enjoy the time with your friends and family!

Love, Justin, Tarah, and Charlotte

I feel very lucky to have a house that is so beautiful, but even more than that, I feel very lucky for such a wonderful HOME. This is a place where family and friends can come and enjoy each other. It is a place to sit by the fireplace and watch movies with Lotte. It is a place with beautiful flowers in the warm weather and cozy spaces in the cold weather. This house is truly a gift and not a day goes by that I do not feel a sense of gratefulness for such a beautiful place to live and for such beautiful memories that happen here. I cannot wait for the new baby to fill our home with even more happiness.

Every house where love abides
And friendship is a guest,
Is surely home, and home, sweet home
For there the heart can rest.
-Henry Van Dyke

11.24.2009

Lotte at Playhouse Disney Live

Lotte went with her Grammie to see Playhouse Disney Live last weekend. Here are a few pictures of her. She had a great time!

I'm Thankful for Family

I am so thankful for the family that Eck, Lotte, and I have become. I am also thankful for our parents and my brothers. They have been such a wonderful support system and such a great source of love for Lotte. Although sometimes families can be difficult, I am thankful for the memories and good times that we have together. I look forward to many more years of making memories with our family.

"What greater thing is there for human souls than to feel that they are joined for life - to be with each other in silent unspeakable memories." ~George Eliot

11.23.2009

I am Thankful for the Fire

It took me a long time to reach a point where I could look back at the events of last December and feel a sense of thankfulness. But as I reflect back on the year, I can't help but feel that the Lord has shown Himself to my family in ways that are far too numerous to write about here, but I will list a few.
Although we lost a house that we loved and put so much hard work into, we now have an even more beautiful house that allows Justin, Lotte, and I to spend more time together.
We have seen the true love and goodness of people. I have never in my life been so humbled as when our friends, family, and the community showed an outpouring of graciousness to us in our time of need.
Justin and I have realized how short life is and how important it is to surround Lotte with goodness and love. I treasure each day with Justin and Lotte more than I ever did before the fire. It is so easy to go through the motions of the day, forgetting to show love to the ones that mean the most to us.
I no longer see value in material things. I saw how quickly they can leave and how insignificant most of the things are. How ridiculous to live in pursuit of money or things.
And lastly, I have realized that people all around us are in need. Maybe they have large needs or perhaps just in need of a hug or encouraging word. Our lives should be spent showing love to others.

Matthew 6:19-21
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Happy Thanksgiving week everyone! And another thank you to each and every person who showed our family so much kindness this past year.

Thanksgiving Week

Happy Thanksgiving week everyone! Like I did last year, I will post each day about something I am thankful for. I hope that each of you take a moment each day to reflect on the things/people that you are most thankful for. Also, think about how much time you spend talking badly about others, complaining, worrying, or being negative and compare that to the time you spend speaking kindly of others, being thankful, finding peace, or looking for the positive things in life. If you aren't spending enough time in the positive, it's never too late to change. Our time with those we love is far too short. Live thankfully and joyfully, celebrating each day and everything is may bring; good or bad.

11.18.2009

Coming June 2010: Baby Eck 2.0!

That's right, Lotte is going to be a big sister. She swears that there will be two babies that will be named "Mickey" and "Minnie"...we'll see. First doctor's appointment is in December so we will have an exact due date at that time.