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Hello Fall! Can I just say I am LOVING the cooler weather? I used to love hot weather, but since having heart failure, it’s a hard aspect of summer that isn’t easy to deal with. But…fall? Yes ma’am! Bring on the colored leaves, warm drinks, sweatshirts, and cool nights!

Fall also means early goose season for the Sterk house! I’m not really a hunter, but our daughter? She’ll get up early with her daddy just to go. And, it means she can put on “make-up” which I have to say, she’s pretty good at doing:

Mazy loves to take pictures like her mama, and this is one that she snapped all on her own while out in the fields with daddy, hunting:

Can’t hunt in the morning without a donut:

This girl’s faces…

Mazy LOVES this time with her daddy – two peas in a pod:

And you can’t hunt without playing in the mud too…

I look at this picture and think, “Wow God, THANK YOU.” He has blessed us with such a loving, compassionate, sweet, sure, and feisty little girl, who loves everything to do with dirt, the outdoors, and just being with people (as long as she knows you). And not to mention, a girl who loves the Lord! Side note. Just have to share a 4-year-old’s logic: We were taking communion at church yesterday and Mazy asked about the bread and juice, after listening to what the pastor said, thinking that I was actually going to drink blood. I reassured her that the juice symbolizes and it wasn’t actually. S0, she called the items “Jesus bread” and “Jesus juice”. I just love teaching her about the truths of the Bible and how she accepts them in her simple faith. I chuckled, but also thought, you got it girl!

Helping daddy set up decoys:

Mazy was the “star” this week at her school, and she just LOVED walking with her teacher, who has been such a gift to us! She’s exactly what Mazy has needed in this time of life. I was able to help out and sit with the class, which was such a blessing, seeing what she does in a given day. Couldn’t be more thankful for her teacher and her assistant!

I had just finished reading this book this week and ironically, went to a training on trauma as a professional development day for my job, through the school. I cried many tears on the way home from the training because I’ve realized how much my heart failure as effected Mazy. But I also know, through many avenues, God continues to inform and reassure us we are doing what we can, to help her. I often think, oh this shouldn’t bother her, and why some things still do, but like the training said, it’s all what’s perceived from their point of view. It’s a big deal to her. And what I learned from this book, is to never lie about what I’m going through, but to be as honest as we can, within reason of her little 4-year-old understanding. I feel I’ve been vague at times, but the more I tell her WHY I feel the way I do, she handles it so much better. A simple change, but something I never thought of! This is an absolutely EXCELLENT resource for anyone who has a family member who is going through a serious illness! Some things I paged over, but most of it I read word for word. So many truths and practical advice given! HIGHLY recommend this book:

Dan’s window in his truck was stuck down, and with rain coming, he wanted to get ‘er fixed. So, Mazy jumped right on it and helped out. Thankfully my handy dandy Dan was able to replace the motor and it works like a champ now!

So thankful for a husband who knows something is going to take way longer with her helping, but is willing to take the time to teach and show her. A bond that means so much to that little girl! And to me.