2012: A Year in Review

As the year draws to a close, we are reminded daily of the faithfulness of God throughout the year.  We trust in His timing, in His plan and in His sovereignty.  We are grateful to him daily for all our many blessings!

Our biggest news this year is that in September we found out that we are expecting again!  We will welcome Baby #3 in mid-May (due date is the 16^th).  We are looking forward to our first ultrasound on Christmas Eve … and YES, we will be finding out our baby’s gender! J  Mommy is looking forward to our first spring/summer baby … and a schedule-free summer to adjust to three kids under 5. J

We are still trying to sell our house, it’s been on the market since February of this year.  We’ve had some very promising showings over the past month so we continue to pray that God’s timing would work in our favor in this regard.  We are looking to move into Dan’s parents house in Williams Bay (about 10 minutes down the road) – they have been trying to sell it for about 4 years, and have been living in Honduras for the past 3.  It’s currently rented on a month-to-month basis, so moving there upon the sale of our house would be relatively easy.  We are praying for this transition before baby arrives and before school decisions have to be made for next fall … but ultimately we trust God!

Dan’s work has continued to provide for us, in spite of a struggling economy and plummeting housing market.  This year we have been faced with some tax changes, more to come in 2013 … and about 3 months of very slow work in the late summer & fall.  But thankfully we are emerging from the slump into a very busy winter/spring!  Praise God!  In his spare time, Dan still enjoys hunting and playing with the boys, mostly teaching them how to throw and hit a baseball. J  He stays involved at church as an AWANA leader for 3^rd and 4^th grade boys on Wednesday nights, and has also joined the leadership team for the newly established “GuySpace” for boys in 7^th-12^th grades.

Haaken turned 4 in September, just after he began his first year of pre-school.  He attends Maranatha Preschool at our church (Calvary Community Church in Williams Bay) on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.  It’s been a good transition for him; he makes friends easily and does well in his school and Sunday school settings.  He has recently learned how to spell his name and is also learning to write it!  He already knows all his colors, shapes, alphabet and his numbers up to 20 (and sometimes more)!  He is enjoying his 2^nd year in AWANA on Wednesday nights as a “Cubbie” this year, memorizing Scripture, learning more about God and playing lots of energy-burning games with his friends.  J  We are looking forward to signing him up for his first year of T-ball in the spring, and soccer next fall … along with 4K! (Around here we have 4-year-old kindergarten provided by the public schools.  The schedule varies by school.)  This boy has plenty of energy to BURN!

Hunter turns 2 on the 15^th of this month and it seems like time has just flown by.  He’s learning more words, how to string 2 and more words together to communicate … and also how to throw himself on the floor for a nice tantrum. J  He tends to be ‘calmer’ than his brother overall, but the two of them together can certainly be a dangerous combination, ha!  He still loves to snuggle his mama a bit, take long daily naps (thank you, Jesus!), chase the dog, play with trucks & cars and generally run in circles.  He’s learning his colors too, and seems to pick up on things his big brother is doing very quickly.

Some days at bedtime I look back on my day and wonder what I did all day … but I certainly have no shortage of things to do!  I enjoy my involvement in my ladies Bible study on Tuesday mornings, and my new leadership role in my MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) group … I’m in charge of Publicity, so I feel great about putting my Marketing degree to work! J  I’m also a MOPS small group leader, so I’ve really enjoyed getting to know my 6 special ladies as well.  I’m finally past the overwhelming tiredness that early pregnancy brings, and starting to enjoy the anticipation.  I’ve been blessed the past 18 months with some cherished mommy-friends in the same life-stage – what a blessing to enjoy ‘grown up’ company, be ‘real’ with each other and find encouragement among like-minded women!  I still very much enjoy time in the kitchen cooking and baking, as well as scrapbooking (mostly digitally these days), when I have the time and the little ones aren’t running around under-foot. J 

Hoping all our friends and family are enjoying a blessed holiday season … remembering that when we cherish Christ in our hearts, and remember that He is the source and beginning of our hope and joy, that we are not that far from Bethlehem after all!

With love

Kristin (for the whole Hovestol family)

2011 - A Year in Review!

Merry Christmas!!!!

It’s been a crazy year for sure, but every day we are more convinced that the God who created us loves us very much, and faithfully provides for all our needs.  We are indeed very blessed!!!

Haaken, our oldest, turned 3 in September and definitely keeps Mom & Dad on their toes. J  He talks up a storm, and everything is a negotiation.  (Most days I’m convinced I’m raising a future attorney.)  The biggest challenge of the year has definitely been Haaken’s potty training!  He has recently learned his ABC’s and in September started attending AWANA’s on Wednesday nights at church.  AWANA is a nationwide youth program, and it stands for “Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed.”  His “Puggles” curriculum (ages 2 ½ to 4) includes an art project, songs and Bible memorization verse every week.  He has already successfully memorized 6 or 7 verses!  It’s such a joy to hear him recite these Scriptures, and then to talk with him about what they mean in his little heart.  One of Mommy’s favorite recent developments is his random “I love you, Mommy” followed by a list of additional people he loves.  He has also grown into quite the big brother – one of his favorite activities is making Hunter laugh, and he’s very generous with hugs and kisses!  He is looking forward to starting preschool next fall!

Our little Hunter will turn one on December 15^th.  He is growing so fast, and at 9 months old was in the 93^rd percentile for height!  He started walking at 11 months old, and is now all over the place and into everything!  He loves to dance (sway his head side to side), laugh, chase his brother, pet and kiss Kona (the dog), pretend to talk on the phone, push buttons, point to pictures in books and splash in the bath tub.  He had his first swimming lessons this fall, and held his own as the youngest one in his “Mommy & Me” class at the local Y.  He is much more of a “snuggler” than his brother ever was … now if I could just get him sleeping all the way through the night consistently … J

Dan has continued in his self-employment with DJ Hovestol Construction LLC.  His trim carpentry business has expanded into some general contracting remodel projects in the past year, and he has continued to be busy with trim carpentry as well.  In a recession, we know that his busy-ness is a rarity that should not be taken for granted.  Dan also continues to enjoy his hunting hobby, and this fall began as an AWANA leader at our new church (Calvary Community Church in Williams Bay, where we started attending in June) for 3^rd and 4^th grade boys.  He is looking forward to playing weekly floor hockey with other young dads at church!  (Shin guards, anyone???)  Dan loves being a daddy, and enjoys playing baseball, basketball, soccer and hockey with Haaken in our basement.

I (Kristin) have continued to stay home raising our two growing boys.  I can hardly believe how fast they are growing!  At our new church I’m involved in a Tuesday morning Bible study, and will join the “Apples of Gold” women’s mentorship program in January for a 6­-week term.  I’ve also joined the area’s MOPS group (Mothers of Pre-Schoolers).  It’s wonderful to be connected with other Christian young mothers, and I’ve made some great new friends!!!  The boys and I try to stay busy with activities, visits from my parents (“Papa and Beeba”), and play dates.  My biggest challenge is finding a few moments to myself here and there … and, of course, getting a full nights sleep! (What’s that???)  I’ve been blessed to be able to grab kid-free coffee dates here and there with some of my mom-friends!  (One of the great blessings of early bedtimes!)

This December, Dan’s parents are back from their mission work in Honduras for the entire month.  The boys love playing with them, and it’s wonderful to spend time together.

Wishing you all God’s abundant blessings for 2012 and beyond!  Keep in touch!  kahovestol@yahoo.com

Many blessings and love!!!

The Hovestols – Dan, Kristin, Haaken, Hunter & Kona too!

Comments on Motherhood - October 2011

I am a firstborn, Type A personality.  I love schedules, structure, order, predictability, planning, making lists and crossing things off those lists.  So it may surprise some to know that I am not anywhere near a “perfect” Mom.  Yes, my kids eat sweets and watch TV.  Sometimes when my 3-year-old wants Honey Nut Cheerios for the 3^rd time in the same day, I let him have them.  Other times, I allow my 3-year-old and 10-month-old sons to wrestle a little with each other until (inevitably) someone cries.  It seems like my house is in perpetual chaos – I do not pick up the toys in my living room every day. (gasp!)  I hate doing dishes, even though I have a dishwasher.  I dread folding laundry, and I almost always have at least two baskets of clean clothes sitting and wrinkling for a couple days before I muster up enough energy to get them folded and put away.  I almost never make my bed and on some occasions I find my kitchen utensils in the bath tub.

But before you judge me, here’s a few things I do “right” …

• I pray with and for my children on a daily basis, and talk to them about God
• I read stories to my kids before bed and before nap time … Bible stories, yes, but also Clifford, Berenstain Bears, Curious George and all those fun Sandra Boynton board books
• My family faithfully attends church every Sunday morning and Wednesday night
• I hang my son’s artwork on the refrigerator, and put the dandelions he picks in a vase
• I am assembling a shoe box or two to send to Operation Christmas Child with my kids, so they will understand what it means to give to others in need (www.samaritanspurse.org/occ)
• I work with my 3-year-old in memorizing his Bible verses, along with his numbers, colors, shapes and ABC’s
• I seek and find “mommy time” in Bible studies and my MOPS group – to help rejuvenate my spirit, find encouragement and support, and get advice from other godly women in the same season of life
• I consistently (constantly?! Haha) discipline my 3-year-old when he is defiant, disrespectful or unloving toward others
• I tell my children I love them at least twice a day
• I am not afraid to be silly with my kids, and love to laugh with them
• I clean my house when it’s dirty, not when I’ve scheduled a cleaning day J - and I use those moments to teach my children about how the world does not revolve around them
• I stick to a flexible schedule for my kids meals and naptimes so that they can find a measure of security in knowing what to expect each day
• I pay babysitters (even when it hurts) for date nights with my husband, so that the foundation of our family remains strong (and mom and dad stay sane!)

No mother is perfect.  We read parenting books, talk/vent/cry to other moms, search the Internet and rack our brains for creative parenting ideas when it seems like nothing is working.  I firmly believe that motherhood is about knowing your child and yourself.  It’s about trial-and-error, and deciding what your family’s preferences and values are – not the mom down the street.  It’s about trying (really hard) not to compare yourself/your kid/your messy house with anyone else’s.  And it’s definitely not about doing it all on your own – we were designed to exist in community.  By relying on God, family and other young moms, we draw upon the resources offered by ‘the village’ to raise our children to be honest, respectful citizens, destined to make a positive contribution to the world around them.

So maybe tonight I’ll pick up those toys or fold that laundry … or maybe I’ll just take a bubble bath and read a (parenting) magazine. J

2010 - A Year in Review

Happy New Year!

2010 was certainly a busy year for us in Lake Geneva!  We have been so blessed and are thankful for everything we have been privileged to experience – both good and bad – in the past year!

Of course our biggest news was finding out we were pregnant in March, and the arrival of our Hunter Jonathan on December 15^th.  We are adjusting to life with two, and learning the delicate juggling act that is parenthood!  We discovered very quickly how different the second baby is – Hunter is much more calm and easy-going, so very tolerant of his big brother’s many kisses, hugs, high-fives and even screeching through the house!  He is sleeping well, considering his age, and I am finding myself cherishing the little moments so much more this time – after all, I’ve learned firsthand how fast it all really flies by …

Haaken turned 2 in September and we celebrated by throwing a party and renting his very own bounce house for the front yard!  He is growing like a weed and learning something new every day - he is a little guy who definitely knows what he wants, and lets us know! (I am not enjoying the arrival of 2-year-old tantrums!)  He loves to dance around the house, jump on his very own trampoline (a Christmas gift) and play with a seemingly endless supply of toys.  He knows his animals and their sounds, all his colors and is communicating in full (2-year-old) sentences.  He’s recently learned to “step-swing!” when playing T-ball (always hitting a “home run” of course!), use the pedals on his tricycle, count to six and do “thumbs up.”  We go to a weekly “gym” class at our local YMCA which helps him burn some energy and interact with other kids his age.

Dan’s business, DJ Hovestol Construction, has continued to thrive, even amidst a suffering economy and housing market.  We are thankful to have a few key clients that keep him busy, and God has continued to provide work for him.  We also managed to sell our

Pleasant Street

(rental) house in October which was a HUGE answer to prayer!  We were not sad at all to say good bye to the headache of being landlords!!!

In May I completed the online MBA program from UW Whitewater that I began in January 2007.  However, that same month I also left my part-time position at the local electrical contractor where I’d been working for over 3 years.  I hope to someday use the skills and education I’ve gained to help grow DJ Hovestol Construction, but for right now God has opened the door for me to stay home and raise my two growing little men.  While the task does seem daunting at times (I still haven’t figured out how to grocery shop with both kids), I am thankful for the privilege of bringing them into the world and spending so much quality time with them!

Haaken and I enjoyed some traveling in 2010 – a trip to Florida in March to see my family, a weekend in Michigan visiting a high school friend’s family, almost a week in California, and a road trip to Anderson for AU homecoming!  I even got to take two trips this year WITHOUT kids (thank you, Daddy!) - a weekend in Anderson for my brother Jeff’s college graduation in May AND a weekend in Chicago with a college friend in early August!

I consider myself extremely lucky to have retired parents who also have their own place in Lake Geneva!  They made several trips north this year, staying for six weeks both in August/September for Haaken’s birthday & AU homecoming and again in December/January for Hunter’s arrival.  I cannot even put into words how helpful they are with the kids and how much it’s appreciated!

Dan’s parents were also able to make the trip back to the States a couple times in 2010.  They came for a couple weeks in April for his sister Courtney’s wedding in Bemidji, Minnesota.  Their "official" furlough was then for about another 5 weeks in September for Haaken’s birthday and the arrival of Sydney Anne on September 24th, Courtney’s daughter and our first niece!

We are looking forward to what 2011 has to hold for our growing family, and pray God’s blessings on you and yours for the coming year as well!

Love

Dan, Kristin, Haaken & Hunter Hovestol

(Kona too!)

Hunter's Birth Story

The arrival of our little Hunter, just as Haaken's, was nothing short of a miracle.  That God chose me to carry this little bundle, nurture and raise him, makes me realized how blessed I am!

Hunter's due date was Monday, December 13th.  My OB appointment the week before revealed that I was dilated to just 1-2cm, but essentially nothing was happening.  I visited the spa at Grand Geneva on my due date for a massage and pedicure! :)

The next day I had some Braxton Hicks (false labor) contractions throughout most of the day.  My OB appointment in the afternoon had me hooked up to a monitor, where they could see some of my contractions and monitor the baby's heart rate.  He was a bit sleepy, so they gave me some soda to drink to get him to move around more.  When checked, I was dilated to 3-4cm.

On Wednesday, December 15th I had SOME Braxton Hicks during the day, but they seemed to subside when I rested.  That evening, my parents brought pizza for dinner.  As we were all sitting around the dinner table, I keeled over ... my mom immediately realized what was happening and said "It's 6:15!" - knowing we needed to start timing the contractions right away.  I took a shower, and even blow-dried my hair - wanting to be "sure" that labor had indeed started and the contractions were coming fast enough to go to the hospital.

By 7:30pm I was on the phone with my doctor and the contractions were coming faster - much faster than the minimum five minute interval my doctor had given me!  We headed to the hospital and arrived just before 8pm.  Once settled in the room, the nurse said I was dilated to 4-5cm.  I immediately requested an epidural but had to have IV fluids for about an hour before I could have it; the contractions got harder and harder, coming about every 2 minutes but still a bit irregular.  By 8:45 or 9pm, I was up to 6-7cm; my OB was on her way and the anesthesiologist came up to give me my epidural. 

I was situated with the epidural by 9:15 or 9:30pm, but my left side went more numb than my right - I still had some back labor on my right side which, needless to say, was quite frustrating!  By around 10pm my OB came in and broke my water - she also tilted the bed almost upright to get the baby to move down more.

By about 10:25pm, I started pushing.  The contractions were coming about every 4 minutes, but slowed down - we spent considerable time 'twiddling our thumbs' and waiting for the next contraction!  Thankfully, we didn't have to wait too long - Hunter Jonathan was born at 11:01pm!

When he arrived, Hunter was greeted by Mommy, Daddy and Auntie Megan (who was waiting in the hall!).  His arrival and photo was also broadcast via text message and Facebook within the first hour!  When he was just 45 minutes old, he nursed for the first time - for about 45 minutes! 

Hunter nursed again at about 2:30am.  Then, while I was waiting for my epidural to wear off, the nurse took Hunter into the nursery for his first bath, hearing test and first photo so that Mommy and Daddy could sleep for a couple hours.  At about 5am, I got to take a shower and we moved into our recovery room.

Later that morning, Hunter was greeted by his big brother Haaken and his Papa and Grammie Giesler!  He was also visited in the hospital by several friends and family, including Great Grandma Hovestol and Great Uncle Joel & Aunt Annette!

Hunter came home late in the afternoon on Friday, December 17th!