This is another entry that is more for my kids than for you blog readers, so sorry. :)
Doug is just the most fantastic man...I know I say that a lot, but I mean it. :) I just couldn't be more grateful to be married to such a wonderful man. And he makes me laugh ALL THE TIME. I love that. If I were to think of the one overriding emotion that I have experienced since being married to him, it would be joy. Happiness, laughter, good stories, good friends, good kids, good church, good life...it all revolves around joy. Even in the midst of really bad yucky stuff, that man makes me laugh. And then it all seems manageable again.
About 3 1/2 years ago, we got cell phones with cameras for the first time. I was pregnant with Danika, and I received this text/picture message from my husband:
Subject: The father of your child Sound clip: (Doug's voice, dripping with schmooze) "You are the LUCKIEST woman in the world!" Photo: I about fell off my chair at work laughing. I love that man. :)
Here are a few more flattering and recent pictures of that fantastic father of my children. :)
If you live in the Erie area and you are interested:
Doug will be preaching this weekend for all 3 services at the Edinboro campus at McLane Church. He is wrapping up the Nehemiah series we've been doing. He refuses to give me a preview - he likes it when I experience it for the first time with the rest of the audience. I'm pretty excited to hear what he has to say!
He also will be preaching Nov 29th at the Union City campus at 11am and 7pm at Church In A Bar. He is scheduled to preach at the Boro again January 16 & 17th.
If you don't live around Erie but still want to hear Doug, they will post his sermon to the website a few days after the sermon...you can check it out there.
That is what Danika loves to say about her Daddy. She looks at me and says, "Daddy is a good boy. I like 'im."
Well, Danika, I like 'im too.
Here's a couple of recent pics of that wonderful man.
I have been hoping for a new frame to put my porch swing out in the yard. We got engaged on that swing when it used to hang on my Mom & Dad's porch, and they recently gave it to us to keep. The week after John was born, Doug was determined to get it built so I would have it to swing on with the kids while off work on maternity leave.
However, the day he was finally assembling it, the weather did NOT cooperate and it was POURING. Here is a picture of that wonderful man braving the elements & soaked to the bone, but finishing my swing frame. I use it EVERY SINGLE day now. Thank you honey! And this pic was taken as he walked in the door from an exceptionally hard day at work. It was a very dirty job kind of day. But how I love that man for being such a hard worker. You're the best! :)
When Danika was born, I kind of made it known to my wonderful hubby that I would really like a piece of nice jewelry that I could pass down to her someday. :) I wanted something that would be meaningful.... that I could hand to her someday and tell her, "Your Dad bought this for me and gave it to me the day you were born...and now I'm giving it to you." I love jewelry, and I just really wanted to be able to share something meaningful with my daughter like that.
So...being the fantastic man that he is - my hubby gave me this when Danika came into the world. I love it. I wear it often, and it always reminds me of this precious little life that changed our lives forever when she danced into the world on December 29, 2006. I hope it means as much to her someday as it does to me.
So, when we found out this next little bundle was going to be a boy, my mind started racing...what do you give a man that he can pass down to his son? I wanted to return the sentiment to Doug and give him a gift when this precious little boy made his entrance that would be meaningful for a father and son. But considering my husband doesn't even wear a wedding band, jewelry was out of the question. A gun was actually the first thing to come to mind. In a hunting family like ours, that would be very appropriate and meaningful. But my budget was a little modest to get something like I would really want, so I kept pondering....and I decided on a knife.
If you know Doug - he is obsessed with pocket knives. He loves them. He carries one ALL THE TIME. He had one in his tuxedo pocket when we got married...to this day, he has one in his pocket when he works, when he preaches, when we travel, when we are just hanging out at home...he always has a pocket knife. And he is picky about them...he likes certain features and brands. It is just one of those things that makes Doug "Doug".
As a matter of fact - a pocket knife is the very first gift he ever gave me. :) June 2002 - We had only been dating a few weeks and I was coming home with him to meet his parents for the first time before I left on a long trip for the summer. In the car, he pulled out this little package and gave me my very first pocket knife. It may not sound romantic to you, but it was actually this very unique, cool, personal thing that could not have been more meaningful to me. It was just so "him." I still have this great knife...I have carried it often, and it completely reminds me of this man who protects me and loves me and gives of himself so much for me.
Anyway - the more I thought about it, the more that it settled in my mind that a great knife would be perfect. I found one that was similar to the one he gave me in 2002....a little bigger, a different color, but the same brand and style he loves. But I wanted to engrave something on it. I really wanted this to be meaningful...and I was somewhat stumped as to what to do. Engraving John's birthdate didn't seem like what I was looking for...and something that only had meaning for Doug would defeat the purpose of the "passing down" of the gift...so I had to think. I started searching scripture for a passage that seemed right.
Proverbs 23:15-16 "My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad; my inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right."
This is the passage that resonated with my heart on many levels. Someday, I know that this is what we both would want to say to our son. We want him to know how important it is to be wise and to "speak what is right." We want him to wisely choose to know and love the God who made him and died for him... to live his life in a way that speaks with his actions and his words that God's Truth is the only treasure that matters in this life and it is the only thing we will take with us to the next.
I also chose this scripture because I have no doubt in my mind or heart that this is what Doug's parents have communicated to him and have seen come to fruition. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that his Dad is proud of him...that his Mom was proud of him...because he has embodied these words as an adult. I know that when I met his family that first time in 2002 they both just beamed when they talked about him because they were so proud of the man he had become...a man who honored God, chose wisely to follow him, and who spoke rightly of God's Truth with his lips and his actions. I know that all the way to her core, Susan rejoiced at the man Doug became. I know Dana's heart is glad to have a son who has chosen rightly to honor God with his life. When I read these verses for the first time, they resonated so deeply within me because I saw the passing down from one generation to the next of this wisdom and joy already: from Doug's parents, to him, and someday to our children. I pray it continues for generations to come.
When Doug's mom was first diagnosed with cancer, I remember very specifically her looking me in the eye and saying, "How can I be upset? I have lived long enough to see my daughter become a godly woman, marry a godly man, and live a life serving Him. I have seen my son become a godly man, marry a godly woman, and live a life serving Him. I have total peace not only about where I am going when I die, but about the family I would leave behind. Anything else is just a bonus." When I read Proverbs 23:15-16, it was like I could hear Susan speaking it: "My son, because your heart is wise, my heart is glad; my inmost being rejoices when your lips speak what is right." There was no doubt - it had to be that passage for the engraving.
On July 28th, we went to the hospital for a planned c-section and Johnathan Douglas Bierer entered the world. It was a fantastic day. And when we got settled back in a room and they brought John to me, I gave Doug his gift. It was so fun. He loved it...and everything was just so cool.
And then he had to totally out-do me. :) He pulled this box out of his bag and gave it to me and told me he loved me. I opened it and there was the most beautiful ruby bracelet I have ever seen. It was perfect...my husband just knows me so well. It was completely my style...as if I had picked it out myself. And it was meaningful on many levels. Rubies are John's birthstone for July. Doug also knew that when his mom died his sister graciously let me have a ruby ring that had belonged to Susan. The bracelet would look beautiful with it. It was just the perfect symbol to tie together John's birth and Susan's life and to remember this emotional roller-coaster summer that we have survived hand-in-hand together. Awesome gift.
The bracelet.
The ring. John and my very emotional and meaningful jewelry.
Thank you Doug for the lovely, fitting gift. I hope yours meant to you even a portion of what mine meant to me.
Thank you, God, for the blessings of family, marriage and kids. Sometimes I'm not as grateful as I should be.
She squeals and screams just at the thought that his truck is coming up the road. She points to every silver-blue pick-up truck she sees and yells, "Daddy's truck!" Her morning is not complete if she doesn't get to see her Daddy before he leaves for work. She adores him and would follow him anywhere. Bed-time is not complete with out "jumping" up the stairs with Daddy, a story with Daddy, and a kiss from Daddy. A lot of her little world revolves around her Daddy...and I can't think of any way I would rather have it. :)
So...I thought I should post a few pictures of Danika and her Daddy ...I meant to do it for Father's Day, but life did not cooperate, so I am doing it now.
Doug - you are the best "Daddy" I could ever hope for my children to have....thanks for being so wonderful. Danika adores you, and I know our little boy on the way will have an incredible role model in you. Thank you for just being you....I love you. Happy Father's Day (even if it is a little late...)
You have heard it before...it's still true. Why is it little kids prefer big card board boxes to any other toy in the house? We recently brought home some groceries from Sam's Club in a cardboard box that Danika adopted as her new favorite toy. She stuffs it full of animals and lays in it, sits in it to watch TV, and begs Doug to pull her around the house in it. Doug of course is more than willing to meet this request...and he never just keeps it a "smooth ride"...he likes to go "off-roading" with her. During this particular evening, Danika and the box rode along the back of the couch, plummeted to a pillowed landing on the floor, climbed Mt. Blue Chair, careened down the side and skidded to a stop on a small hill of blankets. Through the kitchen, over the cat, crushing some small toys and possibly mommy's foot once or twice, it was quite the wild ride! This is what she looked like when Doug paused to let me take a picture.
I promise, she did NOT barf. :) This pause was immediately followed by cries for "more Daddy! More!"
So...Doug left today to catch really big fish. :) Doug is going on a salmon fishing trip to Michigan with my Dad, Uncle Aaron, and several other random relatives/friends/strangers. I have no doubt he will have a great time...I just hope my Dad brings him home in one piece.
Following the fishing trip, Doug and my Dad are spending next week tearing the roof off my parents house and putting a new one on. Dad says he has additional help coming from friends and fellow church members, and for both Doug and Dad's sakes I hope that is true. :) Either way, since my husband is going to be at my parent's house all week, Danika and I wanted to go too. However, I couldn't get off work until the weekend. So the two of us are riding the Amtrak train out to join Doug. I am actually quite excited about this little adventure. I will definitely let you know how it goes.
And just because I want to whine, I need to let you know I have a TERRIBLE cold! I believe my daughter may have given this to me...or maybe it was my husband...or maybe a grocery cart or a door at Wal-mart. Wherever I got it, I am miserable! So I hope I get better soon because I want to enjoy my week of socializing and not working! :)
April, 2008 - For those of you familiar with Doug's previous mode of transportation, you are probably aware it was a little....well.....special. :) The little brown truck we called "The Mudpuppy" was a 1989 Toyota pickup truck that we have had for 3 years or so. Doug has beat it around and it has been a good vehicle for us, but when inspection came up this last year, it was a little rough. So, we decided it was time for us to get Doug a decent vehicle. We knew we needed a truck for his job, and we knew we needed an extended cab so our little family can all fit in at the same time. We found a great used Toyota Tundra that was in our price range and met our needs. Its a great looking truck and Doug is thrilled to be driving it.
My Mom and Dad came up for a visit and to basically spoil our little girl. They accomplished thier mission. :)
They brought this great little toy with them that Danika loves. :)
Danika with Papa and Nana at church on Sunday.
After a few weeks with her new toy, Daddy got the great idea to tie a rope to it so he can pull her around the yard. Danika LOVES this new form of fun! Daddy thinks it's pretty fun, too.
This was an exciting weekend for us. As I have mentioned before, we go to McLane Church in Edinboro and we love it there. Every July they do a sermon series called "Sermons from the Seats". For this series they ask "regular" people from the church to speak and share thier story. Doug was asked to be one of these speakers this year. So, that meant that last weekend Doug spoke at the other McLane Church sites, and this weekend Doug spoke at McLane's main campus in Edinboro for all three services. He did a GREAT job! I was so proud of him. It was a great opportunity for him to share what God has been doing in our lives over the last year to 2 years. I will post a link to the web site where you can hear Doug's message if you are interested when it becomes available.
Okay...so since I've been so behind, I think I need to post some older Danika pictures that have been taken during the 3 months I've been a blogging reject. Check them out:
First up, my daughter has a unique physique. :) Her belly is enormous...and her little scrawny legs, butt, and arms are almost non-existent. It makse for a funny little profile. The daycare workers started calling her sizeable spare tire the "Bierer Belly" as a joke. One of our good friends, Courtney, heard about that and said it was too cute not to turn into a t-shirt. So...here is our little Bierer Bellied kiddo in her specialty t-shirt. :)
My daughter is also obsessed with chairs her size. ANY kind of chair her size...so we have lots of them.
And last but not least, I would like to take a moment to whine about how much I got ripped off. My daughter doesn't look like me. She looks just like her Dad. All that work, and she doesn't even look like me? :) People who barely know us will stop and comment about how much she looks like Doug. So, just for those that are wondering what he looked like as a baby...let me remove any doubt. Check out these pictures of Doug at a similar age...
This is Danika on the left and Doug on the right.
Again, Danika on the left, Doug on the right.
Yet again, I say....I got SO ripped off. :)
And if you want to know what she is going to look like at 50 and 70, let me tell you. Just look at Susan and Grandma Andrews, because that is exactly who Doug looks like. :) In the middle is a picture of Grandma Berniece when she was 7 months old. The ones on either side are Danika. I think there is a family resemblance, don't you?
