Graduation Is In About A Month

Krista

As you finish up your last few weeks of high school, I wanted to let you know just how special you are to me.  While digging out old pictures of you for a slide show presentation at church, and selecting a song to set them to, I thought about putting this on our family blog.  I wanted you to have this to always remind you of your life and just how precious you are to us!  I just want you to know that it has been such a blessing to have you as my daughter!  You have been such a joy to raise!  As you start your adult life I know it will take you down alot of very exciting roads.  You will go to college, get a job, get married and start a family of your own!   You will have some ups and downs along life's journey, but always look to GOD as your guide and stay close to your family.  I am so excited to see where life takes you!!

  GO FIND YOUR WINGS!!

It's only for a moment you are mine to hold

The plans that heaven has for you

Will all too soon unfold

So many different prayers I'll pray

For all that you might do

But most of all I'll want to know

You're walking in the truth

And If I never told you 

I want you to know

As I watch you grow
I pray that God would fill your heart with dreams

And that faith gives you the courage

To dare to do great things

I'm here for you whatever this life brings

So let my love give you roots

And help you find your wings

May passion be the wind

That leads you through your days

And may conviction keep you strong

Guide you on your way

May there be many moments
That make your life so sweet

Oh, but more than memories
I pray that God would fill your heart with dreams

And that faith gives you the courage

To dare to do great things

 I'm here for you whatever this life brings
So let my love give you roots
And help you find your wings

It's not living if you don't reach for the sky

I'll have tears as you take off
But I'll cheer as you fly!

Congratulations Krista !!

I Love You!!

From:  MOM !!!

Sunday Afternoon at Wye Mtn

WYE MOUNTAIN ~ SPRING 2010

Jared, Krista, Blenda, Bill, Jason

Sunday March 28, 2010 ~ We took a family drive out to Wye Mountain, Arkansas.  The field of daffodials were beautiful and in full bloom.  We had been trying to take this trip for about three weeks, but with "Arkansas Weather", you just never know what you are going to get!!  We can go from 70' degrees and beautiful to rain / sleet/ snow in about 60 seconds flat!!  W-e-l-l maybe not that fast but if you live in Arkansas you know exactly what I am talking about.

It was the week before Easter, so we dressed Jordan up in a cute outfit that Nana bought her, and took her Easter basket that Nana made her along with a few GIANT Easter Eggs to snap a few pictures of her!!  LOL a few hundred!!

 

Jordan Lilah Koder ~ 16 months

~The Koder Family~

Jared, Krista, Bill & Jason

~MY KIDS~

Jared, Krista and Jason

Jared & Shannon Koder

Krista & Dillon

Delilah, Jason and Jordan

Jason and Jordan

Jason Swinging Jordan

picking flowers for his girl

Nana & Jordan

Playing At The Park

Today was the first beautiful day that was warm and not raining! Jason and Delilah went to Fayetteville to go to a Razorback Basketball game.  We took Jordan to Mills Park to play on the playground... and she LOVED IT!!

She had so much fun playing on the slide and driving the cars.  She liked the swing at first, and was even swinging it herself!  When Peepaw started swinging her a little higher....she wasn't so sure that she liked it after all.

Aunt Krista took about 150-200 pictures of her at the park!  LOL ~ Wonder how many she will take of her own kidos someday  LOL!!

JORDAN ~ 15 MONTHS

JORDAN AND PEEPAW

MARCH 6, 2010

Doesn't this look like she is having a blast!!  I guess we will make many more trips to the park with this little girl....

Blenda's Pollo Asada

This is my first time to link so I hope that it works....this is a family favorite!!  This recipe is actually mine alone!! I created this from the lack of $$ and wanting to go to our favorite Mexican restaurant where we love the Pollo Asada. Everyone that I fix this for raves about it!! I have even been told that it is BETTER than the restaurants :)

I also am a Rachael Ray type cook...I measure in the palmof my hand....probably using more seasonings than I have listed for you.



Blenda's Pollo Asada ~ Chicken


4-6 Chicken Breasts
3 cups Minute Rice
3 cups chicken stock
1 can Rotel
1 bunch fresh Cilantro
2 ctn White Cheese Dip*

Seasonings:

1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp garlic pwdr
1 tsp cavander's
1 tsp cumin pwdr
1 tsp cumin seed

Season chicken breasts generously with all seasonings, grill, bake, or sear until chicken is done and tender. Prepare rice with chicken stock, adding all of the same seasonings to the water as it boils. When water starts to boil, add rice, remove from heat and add Rotel. Add lid to pan, let rest until all moisture and liquid has absorbed. Serve chicken as whole breasts or slice into strips, serve over the rice, top with cheese dip and chopped cilantro.

** You can make your own white cheese dip with white american cheese and chopped jalapeno peppers.  I have used the mexican melting cheese and also used leftover white cheese dip from our favorite mexican restaurant.

5 Things That I Am Thankful for in 2009

I have been meaning to post this since Dec 31!  BUT...I came down with the crud AGAIN!!! SO...Here I am on Jan 8, posting the things that I am thankful for in 2009, and goals for 2010!!  UGH!!  I hate being behind...just last night started removing all of the Christmas decorations!  By now I am usually so sick of seing them and really wanted to get the house back to somewhat of a organized mess, but when you don't feel good stuff just doesn't get done!

5 Things That I Am Thankful For ~ 2009

1. Husband ~ I probably have the most patient/loving husband in the world!  I am certain that I don't deserve him!  But, I am so thankful that I have him!  I honestly think that he lives to make me happy, he is always there to help me thru all of my screw ups!  Thank you Bill for 34 years of putting up with me...I Love You!!

2.  Family ~ My Kids/Grandbaby - The Days are Long but the Years are Short!

I have to start this part with a note to you guys:  I recently read another mom's blog that found out during her pregnancy that the baby girl she was carrying may not live thru her entire pregnancy, and if she did, the baby would certainly die.  Things like this sometimes do not seem real to anyone that it doesn't actually happen to directly.  But let me tell you this touched my heart so much and I am so blessed to have all of you in my life.  I love you all so much.

Jason - My First Born:
You were my first  baby, I love you so much!  I know that I probably way overprotected you!!  I just wanted to give you the best of everything in the world.  I surrounded you with the best people to influence you, best schools to send you to, best clothes that I could buy you...(you always had to have the NAME BRAND stuff)!! Just a little bit spoiled, huh??  I tried to train you to make good choices so you would grow into the best adult you could be.

I enjoyed watching you grown up, chasing you all over the place and supporting you in your sports activities was just so much fun.  I look back and think about all of the different sports that you participated in from, swim, soccer, baseball, basketball ....it is no wonder that you are such a sports nut!!

You now have your own babygirl, my first grandbaby who I totally adore!!  I think you now can see and feel the love for a child that only a parent can understand or know.  You WILL make mistakes, I DID, but you will do the best you can.  You may not recognize them as mistakes until Jordan is much older or even grown!  The best advise that I can offer you is to LOVE her as much as you possibly can, then LOVE her more.  Spend lots of time with her, she will be grown before you know it!!  Teach her right from wrong and about God, then she will have no choice but to become a wonderful young lady!

Jared - My 2nd Sweet Baby Boy
My little "preemie", "tadpole" (as Papaw Bivens used to call you)...what a tiny little guy you were!!  I was so totally amazed by you, and you were so small and fragile!  I was so scared that I was going to do something wrong and hurt you.  When you were only a few weeks old we had to take you to the ICU at St Vincents hospital, you were so sick.  I was so afraid that I would lose you, and I wasn't sure that I would ever be the same without you.  Little did I know how strong you were and what a determined little guy you were.  When I was pregnant with you I sometimes wondered how in the world that I could love two kids as much as I loved your brother.  But let me tell you...one look at you and God made a BIG HUGE spot  in my heart that only YOU could fill!!

I know that you STILL fuss at me all of the time about the "flower" clothes that I put on you as a baby, I really am sorry about that!  I honestly never really thought about them being flowers or being "girlie" I just wanted to put clothes on my "little guy" that you didn't get lost in.  Also, there really wasn't much to choose from in premmie clothes back then. 

What a loving and affectionare little man you were.  I loved, loved. loved being at home with you when you were little.  I also loved being a parent that participated in the activites of what their kids were involved in.  I often wonder where the time went...how did you grow up so fast? 

I know that someday you will have babies of your own, I have always said that you will be a great dad....and I still believe that!!  You have a special gift of patience with kids and that will be useful to you someday.  You know I tease you guys all of the time about wanting another grandbaby....but I am just messing with ya...I know you will when the time is right for you. 

Krista - My Sweet Little Baby Girl
What a "Little Princess" you were, and still are!!  I have enjoyed every minute that God has given me with you!!  From the time you were 4 weeks old, as a little girl, and now a 17 year old teenager, almost grown ... you have been very very busy young lady.  From Jared pooping in your pants... to you putting on my make up, making your aunt Linda feel like a child kidnapper, your stringy thin toddler hair, to the big thick head of hair you have now, from dance to cheer, and traveling everywhere with you.  I can't believe my baby girl is almost grown and a Senior in High School now.

It is so true....The Days are Long, but the Years are SO Short!!

You truly have been a blessing to us!  I couldn't have ask for a better daughter!  You have such a sweet spirit, (a little OCD at times), but your heart always wants to please!

I am so impressed with your committment to God and your faith!  Keep that close to you, and you will have a very happy life and future. 

As you start your adult life, focus on your education, prepare for your future, get married and have a family of your own, I want to be there every step of the way with you.  I love being your mom and your friend!

Little Jordan - My First Grandbaby!
Where do I start, to tell you how special you are.  YOU are my very first grandbaby!  I have wanted you for so long...you will forever have a special place in my heart. 

I have only had you for a year and a month now, but I cherish every minute that I get to spend with you.

I have had you almost every weekend of your life! I live for Friday's when you are mine for the weekend!!  What a blessing that is for your mommy and daddy to share you with me (Nana) and Peepaw!!  With the exception of only a few weekends, you spend time with us and it is such a joy to have you in our life.

You have such a precious little personality...a little mean to me at times, but we are working on that!!

3. Church/God - Isn't It Amazing!! ~ God Never Leaves Us....Even when we are not as faithful as we should be.
I may not understand what/why things happen, but I know in my heart God is always with me.

4. Health
I have to admit that thankful isn't the first thing that came to my mind when I put Health on this list.  I sometimes do not feel healthy or thankful!!  It seems that all my life, well since having kids...(sorry guys), I have struggled with weight, high blood pressure, now heart disease and diabetes.  I get so frustrated and want to give up sometimes. 

I often wondered if I will get to live long enough to have grandkids.  Now that I have Jordan, I wonder if  I will live long enough for her to get to know me (be old enough to remember me).  Also, if I will be able to really know the grandkids that I hopefully will have in the future from Jared, and Krista....

I don't want this to sound like I have given up, because I haven't ...I have a new outlook and goal to be healthier in 2010!!  I want all of these things that I have mentioned...so I have resolved to do what I can to make it happen!

Since both my daddy and my grandmother, (his mother) died in their 60's, I realize that I have to do something different!  If I don't want the same thing to happen to me that happend to them.  I have some changes to make! 

5.  Job
What do I post about my job, when what I really want is to be at home.  Actually, I really am thankful to have this job, it is actually the most non stress job that I have had in many many years!!  In this economy, since I do have to work, I am very bless with this job!

Goals for 2010! 

BE A BETTER ME!!

" Do You Hear My Family?  They Are Sayin "YOO HOO"

1. Wife - Be A Better Support To Bill

2. Mother/Nana - To love my kids and grandkids more, spend as much them with them as I can

3. Just Me - I Am Work In Progress

4. Friend -Randon Acts of Kindness, Pray for Others, Pay It Forward

5.  Christian - Spend more time with God, sometimes, I totally neglect Him.  I know that he is always there, and I Love Him everyday, but fail to show Him, by studying His word and getting to know him more.


2010

I truly want 2010 to be a great year for my family!  The number "10" seems to be a magic number for the Koder Family. 

Bill wore # 10 in high school (basketball)
Jason wore #10 in high school (basketball and same school)
Jared wore #10 in high school (basketball and same school)
Krista graduates high school in 2010 (same school)

should be a Great Year!!

**When You are down to nothing, God is up to something**