hi- ya!

Josiah loves the movie kungfu panda, and so whenever he sees a panda he says 'hi-ya!' Promise is wearing a super cute panda outfit, and Josiah is thinking she is so cool!

brother and sister

hardy family newsletter '09

This has been a whirlwind year. God has been preparing us for a big change and things have changed. We moved twice this year, we lost Patrick's mother, we were blessed with a baby girl, and we celebrated our 5 year anniversary! One verse that has given us hope and faith that God has a plan for our good is Jeremiah 29:11. " 'For I know the plans I have for you,' says the Lord ' plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and future.' "

Patrick and I have always felt that Redding, CA is a temporary home, knowing that anywhere we go God has provided a family for us. The reality of 'temporary' caught up to us this summer when Patrick's mom was murdered by her ex-husband. This was a very difficult situation that we are still in the grieving process, no one was prepared for her untimely death. Pamela Jean Hardy (Panzeca) was a wonderful mother and grandmother. I am missing her now that we have another baby who will never know the love and care that Pam gave so generously. However, we are relieved that no one can ever hurt her again, and she is with her Lord and Saviour in Paradise. Praise the Lord! That is what gives us peace and hope through our pain and confusion.

With this new understanding of 'temporary' we are gearing up for spending the year in Australia so that Patrick can attend the worship ministry school at Hillsong in Sydney. We would leave January of 2011, and so this year we are researching and saving up enough funds. We are excited and ready for a new adventure with our two children in tow!

This past year Josiah, our oldest turned 2. He is really into playing the drums, he bangs on our homemade drums, which are cookie tins, all day long if I let him. Sunday's are his favorite because he gets to watch and sometimes play the drums on stage at our church. He sits there while they practice and just watches the drummer for as long as possible. I am truly amazed that God gives us passions and talents from birth. There are many little boys Josiah's age at our church which he loves playing with. My theory is that he will be the friend who eggs on the kids getting into trouble because when his friends do something naughty he just laughs at them encouragin their behavior! Josiah is also learning how to share mommy with baby sister, Promise Joy.

Well, the newest member of our family was just born a few weeks ago on November 24th, two days before thanksgiving. She was 6 lbs 8oz, blonde hair and blue eyes. She looks a lot like Josiah when he was born. My family was able to make it up for part of the week to be with us, they really helped me out, and mom made a really delicious thanksgiving meal! What a great day to come home from the hospital! Promise is eating and growing really well. I'm so thankful that she is a normal happy healthy baby.

Thank you all for your prayers and support this past year, we really appreciate and feel the love you give, even though you may be far away.
Also, please pray about supporting us financially for our year in Australia. I will be sending out a support letter that will give you more details about our trip.

May God give you His peace through this New Year! Blessings! We love you.
Bethany, Patrick, Josiah and Promise.

Promise Joy

So, I've got a few pictures of our sweet little girl.
She was born Tuesday Nov. 24th. weighing 6 pounds 8 ounces. She has blonde hair and greyish eyes. (I'm thinking they will be blue.) I'm really happy with how well she eats.
Josiah is doing better than I expected with the transition. Sometimes its hard for him to share mommy and to wait, but he helps me a lot.
My recovery is going great! Which has helped me to have more time with baby and Josiah. We all take naps in the afternoon and that also helps!
Josiah finally got a hair cut! Right now he really loves playing with cars.

Its Fall!

This is a season of change, even though we are waiting, we are looking forward to what God is showing us for the future.
"we can make plans, but it is God who determines our steps" (proverbs)

Josiah's 2nd birthday just passed and I am reminded of all the things God put on my heart for him when he was born and even before we were pregnant. Josiah was promised to us by God and so I need to remember that and not let worries creep into my mind and heart about Josiah. I've been praying for God's supernatural creativity to be on all my children, and Patrick. I want to empower my kids to use their talents and passions for God's glory.

God is our god of Peace! I have just put all the pieces of my life together and realized that He has always given me supernatural Peace. I knew this but not in the understanding I have now. I always pray for peace, and I see that He knew I needed it before I was born. Such a wonderful revelation.

The morning service at the Stirring had its one year anniversary! Things are moving fast and going rather well! God has His hand on our little church here and we are now looking to buy a building! WOW!
Nate's messages on "under the Chuppah" is so powerful because it is what God wants to say in our lives, that ALL our relationships need to have Him there! This was His intention from the beginning. (listen to the podcasts)
Life group is going well. I have a nice small group of girls, all at different stages in life and so it makes it interesting and we are able to encourage and support each other. I am loving that we are talking about all the "taboo" subjects now. Lets cut through the B.S. and really get to the heart issues! Yeah! (the words "pumped' and "stoked" come to mind)

Lastly, this baby is coming soon! About 6 weeks left! I am ready for this child to be out of me.
I am praying for things to go smoothly and that I will have God's supernatural peace once again. NO matter what!

major update! (and pics)

I know it has been a very long time since I've blogged, I was talking to some other mom's about this and they have the same problem I have.... less time on the computer because our children are getting older.

But! Josiah is still asleep this morning! (WOW) and it is almost 9am. This is a good morning, no one screaming and whining because they want juice.

So, we have had a wild summer so far! Just this past spring we moved to a house on the west side of Redding, we went to a wedding in sacramento where Josiah was the ringbearer.

I was so excited for my little man!

Then we has a few hot weeks of summer in Redding and going to pools and trying to stay cool.

The new baby in me is growing and I'm feeling good!

Then we get the horrible news about Patrick's mom and her ex and we flew out about 5 hours after to Ohio. That day was crazy for Patrick because he had gotten up at 5 am to get work done that day and then didn't sleep until 6am the next day! We were in so much shock, and I was definitely in denial, it still doesn't seem real.

However, we got to spend a lot of time with family and that was a blessing. We made some deeper connections and has some good talks. My Aunt and Uncle from Michigan, and a cousin were able to drive down for a few days, and that was nice for me to have family that I am close to but hardly see supporting me and my family.

Is anyone else laughing?!

These are just some random thoughts about what I have been learning and what I've been up to.

I've been babysitting a little boy about 4 months older than Josiah and the 1st week he was pooping every hour on the hour for 6-7 hours! I was really getting concerned until I found out he was given a laxative. hmmm...... He is going normally now.

I like to watch the talk show Ellen because she has her audience do these funny games. Did anyone see the blindfolded cracker eating, then whistling contest? Or the nylon ball twister? I want us to do this at the women's retreat coming up! (April 3-5) Whos up for a challenge?!



God has been opening my eyes, through Josiah and the boy I am watching, to how gracious He is to me. He has a lot of patience with me, and I don't always have patience with the people around me. hmmm....

I've been reading some good encouraging blogs from other mom's around the country. I love hearing that I'm not alone as a mom of a boy, and that I don't need to worry about being a 'good mom', but focus on being a 'godly woman'. That was exactly what I needed to hear today. =)

The boys are so cute, especially when they are doing something naughty! Why is that? I fight with myself not to crack up, but they are both learning so much. I'm really proud about the progress they have made in just a few weeks! Josiah is repeating words more, he is also starting to do as I say. The boy I am watching has also grown in using his words when he is unhappy with something (Josiah stealing his toys). I wasn't expecting him to change this quickly but I am quickly learning that I do not know everything!

My big boy!

the new year

Well, I know I haven't blogged in a while.... I just have too much to say sometimes.
Ok, so these past months have been eventful! we got some great gifts for Christmas and are very happy to be God's children because He loves to bless us! (can I get a whoot whoot!)

We also just got back from a fun trip to Ohio. I know what you are thinking... COLD! But I really miss the cold sometimes, and I really liked being cold enough to need lots of warm cozy sweaters, socks and blankets.=)
Patrick has loads of pictures of the trip. It always suprises me to find people who we connect with in different places. Plus, we always learn so much about family from our families, which leads to learning more about ourselves. I love both sides of my family and am so thankful for wonderful doting grandmothers for Josiah. ( like he doesn't get spoiled enough from us and our friends).
Another reason I enjoy trips with Josiah is that he crosses growth milestones during them. A few examples, 1st laugh, pulled up and stood, stopped breastfeeding, and this time he started really repeating words. So, he is saying 'apple', 'hi',and 'wow'.

Ok, so I got a sewing machine for Christmas, so if anyone loves being creative with sewing, let me know... I would love to have some fun projects to do. Right now, I just know about sewing quilting blocks together.
I guess that is all I can think of right now....
Later!