My friend Dawn tagged me. It looks like fun. Here goes:

Rules: You must answer the questions using only one word. Then tag four others.

1. Where is your cell phone? purse
2. Your significant other? Nathan
3. Your hair? ponytail
4. Your mother? wonderful
5. Your father? godly
6. Your favorite thing? books
7. Your dream last night? bizarre
8 Your favorite drink? latte
9. Your dream/goal? contentment
10. The room you’re in? den
11. Your hobby? piano
12. Your fear? heights
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Home
14. What you’re not? brave
15. Muffins? blueberry
16. One of your wish list items? car
17. Where you grew up? West Virginia (a state counts as one word, right?)
18. The last thing you did? email
19. What are you wearing? capris
20. Favorite gadget? straightener
21. Your pets? No
22. Your computer? Laptop
23. Your mood? calm
24. Missing someone? sister
25. Your car? Sentra
26. Something you’re not wearing? make-up
27. Favorite store? IKEA
28. Like someone? Hannah
29. Your favorite color? Navy
30. When is the last time you laughed? Today
31. Last time you cried? Wednesday

Okay, so I tag Christina, Kari, Stephanie, and Nathan

These are a few of my favorite things...

Here are a few things Hannah loves...

Her Daddy!

For Father's Day, my friend Heather took some
marvelous pictures of Hannah and we gave this
collage to Nathan for his desk at work.

Flowers!

This is Grandma Johnson,
letting Hannah help water her flowers

Reading!
(This is her reading with Grandpa Johnson)

Hats! Balls!
(If you notice, she has a ball in each
hand; any size or color will do.)

Great Grandparents!
(Great Grandma Evelyn)

Family!
(Two weekends ago at my parents' house)

What we do when it's hot outside...

I'm sure you're wondering what we're up to these days. Why else would you be looking at our blog? During these hot days in early June, we've been...

1. Wearing sun hats and sunblock,

2. Watching Daddy grill on the balcony while we enjoy the A/C

3. Going to the neighborhood pool and dunking our heads under the water,
Note: Hannah's just like me when I was little;
she was scared and we only lasted 10 minutes before walking home.
(Now I know what my parents went through!)

4. Going to the Baltimore Aquarium with friends,
(This is Hannah and Audrey looking at a fish as big as they are!)
4. Drinking lots of juice,
5. and having indoor tea parties

It's been lots of fun so far.
If you want to see more pictures of these fun events,
you can visit www.heijermans.us
I'm in the process of learning how to help Nathan out
by uploading the pictures myself. I'm slow, but
I'm learning. Happy Summer everyone!

Happy Belated Mother's Day!

First it was going to be a Christmas present; then a birthday present; finally I finished it for Mother's Day. I presented the finished product to my Mom after what I must admit had been much procrastination and frustration. It was enjoyable but a lot of work. Nathan was kind enough to help with the cutting of the mat and the framing. And it was a big hit. Here is the finished product as well as a picture of my Mom opening it.

And it couldn't have gone to a more deserving person. My Mom is such a wonderful example of what a selfless, godly woman should be. Happy belated Mother's Day to all my friends who are Moms, but especially to my Mom.

Once upon our day...

Today Hannah and I walked down the stairs of
our apartment complex and down the sidewalk...

Then Hannah held my hand
and we walked

across the parking lot to
the playground!!

She climbed up the stairs all by herself...

walked across the bridge...

stopped to say "hi" to me...

got a little help sitting down...

And slid down the slide.

It was so much fun! So we did it again.



THE END

Happy Easter

We sang a song in choir this morning for Easter Sunday. Wow! What a powerful song with deep words. Thought I'd share it with you:

Heavy laden weary soul, bearing up a heart of stone,
His Spirit comes to dwell in you,
and Christ the weight of sin assume.
All my guilt is cast on Christ;
and his righteousness is mine.
What guilt should weigh upon my head?
For Christ has cleared it all!

The sum of all my sacrifice, though joyful fails to justify.
I cannot pay for grace that's free,
nor add to work that is complete.
Jesus paid it all for me.
This my ransom and my plea.
What debt I labor to repay?
For Christ has paid it all!!

Through the law comes sin and death,
but faith is counted righteousness.
So I will trust in Christ alone,
my debt to pay, my sin atone.
And I stand in confidence,
covered by His righteousness.
What shall become of boasting tongues?
For Christ has done it all!

Where O death is not thy sting? Swallowed up in victory.
The Lord of glory reigns on high.
Sovereign over earth and sky!
Yes he triumphed oe'r the grave.
And He comes again someday.
What lesser name shall draw our praise?
For Christ has conquered all!!

My latest jobs

So of course, a woman has many jobs--clean the house, wash the dishes, do the laundry. My husband needs dinner; he deserves my time, attention, and a listening ear. And then there is always the many responsibilities that come with a little one at home. Hannah needs fed, changed, comforted (she has been trying to stand and then falls down, bumping her head), taught, and disciplined. (A side note is that lately I have been teaching Hannah how to brush her teeth, how to paint, and how to feed herself with a spoon. See below for pictures.) I believe that these tasks are my main responsibility right now. As Titus 2 tells us, younger women are to be "workers at home." But of course, there comes a time that we all need a break from the sheer monotony of it all. (Not that I don't love Nathan and Hannah.) Spending time with friends and being involved in ministry helps a lot. But I have also found a fulfilling part-time job at Curves for women. Three mornings a week, I am working while Nate stays home with Hannah. When I get home, he goes to work. Working at Curves has been a great way to meet ladies in the community. The same women usually come in at the same time every day. And since I get to work out while I'm there, I've also had more energy for my work at home. I hear many people complain about having to work (I do my fair share of that at times). And yet, even in the perfectness of the Garden of Eden, God assigned them work to do. There is a great sense of accomplishment and joy when work gets done. And I pray that as I seek to do each task with excellence (even if it is changing diapers or cleaning the bathroom) that it will be an act of worship to the Lord. After all, whether the task is big or small, He alone is worthy of our highest conduct.