Quotes of the Day. . . .

We were having the classic cup of sparkling white grape juice after the Thanksgiving Dinner. Big Boy got distracted by a fun game of War (the one with the cards of course). After about ten minutes. . . .

Big Boy: "Mom, do you know where my sprinkling sprite is?"

Enough said.

Goodnight.

Another Monday . . .

So though we can't contain our excitement about heading to NaeNae and PaPa's this week, I thought I would give you a glimpse into our day...



This is what I found when doing laundry and suddenly realizing that Little Boy was lacking in socks. I found this in his shoe basket. Yes ladies and gentlemen, in the shoe basket. Very logical to the young mind.



Another self-portrait. Enough said.

Goodbye.

Fun at the house. . . on a Saturday Afternoon!

Hello friends. I thought this was such a true statement about what we are teaching our kids. We were out yesterday afternoon working in the yard. Most of the time, the Big Boy is working with his Daddy and the Little Boy and I are doing something more 2 year old appropriate. Nonetheless, yesterday afternoon, my sweet boys were outside having a blast- if a bit differently than usual!





Little Boy told me, "Mom, I need to fix my car. But look at my hands."

Mom proceeds to look at hands, noticing they are fairly clean and there is nothing in them.

Mom: "Your hands aren't dirty. You can fix your car, like daddy."

Little Boy: "But Mom look. There aren't any tools in my hands."

Ahhh. . . . of course. :)





While we were all working outside, I found Big Boy inside watching whatever commercial happened to be on TV. I quickly decided that we had to find something else to do. SO, in a stroke of genius (you know me), I gave him some small hand pruning shears. He took to my brown-eyed susans and purple coneflowers like they were the enemy himself.

"Look MOM! I am zooming their heads off! Cool!"

Mom: "Can you stop for a minute to give me a cheese?"

That is what I got.

Goodbye.

New Babies. . .

So, here we are friends. Still without a new little one. The diaper bag is placed at the foot of the bed. I haven't really packed a bag for myself, since I don't know where we will be going. My parents are ready to take the boys if we need to leave in a moment. Our friends in Arkansas have just had a sweet baby boy, another 2 friends found out they were having their third girl (two different families), another friend found out she was having a boy, another friend is getting bigger and bigger every day with her third boy, another friend (or 2) is just beginning to show the marks of growing life. . . . and it goes on and on. New life is flourishing all around me.

I know. The Lord is completely taking care of my little one. I know, He knows where she is. I know, He is bringing her here at exactly the right time. I know, He knows better than I. I even know that she is exactly where she should be right now. I long for my babies to come out of my own uterus this intensely at the end of my pregnancies. It's just hard, you know??? I am ever ready to meet this little one, to hold her in my arms. To feel her, to experience in a tangible way who she is. As I long for this in my nights, I am sitting and watching the "awakening" happening here at IHOP. (that's another post for another time) It's pretty amazing- people who have struggled their life through are seeing Jesus in a way they never have before. They are seeing the Holy Spirit in a powerful, new way. Tangible. What is it about humanity? Eve- touched the apple, David- touched another man's wife, even Thomas had to touch the scars to believe Jesus had risen from the dead. I know that longing for our daughter is not in any way sinful- but I do know this. Sin always starts somewhere- and longing to be in a place that the Lord has not put me never leads anywhere good. Lord, give me peace and contentment. Give me the patience to long and pray for something, while keeping my heart connected to yours and trusting your plans. In my desire for the tangible, give me a new taste of the Holy Spirit. That I may know you in a new way. That it may sustain my heart, my longing, and my patience. That it would be my sustenance. My tangible.

Exercise, really???

Ok, so we all know that I am not nor have I ever been particularly inclined towards exercise. But, thanks to my dear friend Candace, my loving mother, and my sister and sister-in-law- every once in a while I like to do the pilates video. This week I decided it was time. Seeing as the holidays were approaching and I was going to eat even more- we went for it! Emily took this video and we thought is was hilarious! It does make quite a statement about what our children are learning from us. . .

A Momentous Occasion. . .

Friends, I had to document such a moment. And though it was short-lived, when you live in our house for 3 weeks with all 4 children, these moments don't come very often. What fun we are having!

Look at my cute kids. . . .

So, to relieve you of the costume drama this year, I will only pass on the highlights.

2 weeks ago:

Mom: Hey Big Boy, what do you want to dress up like?

Big Boy: I don't know. How about a cucumber?

(mom begins to think about how astoundingly cute her boys would be as Bob and Larry, the tomato and cucumber)

Mom: What about if you guys are a tomato and cucumber? Like in veggie tales? Wouldn't that be great?

Kids: (in unison) yeah!! That would be great fun mama!

see picture below....




Needless to say, despite the $30 spent and the endless discussions and work on said costumes, at the last minute we pulled something out of the box and went to the Fall Festival. You win some, you lose some. And then we go on.

We're going on a bear hunt. . . .

This is one of the funnier moments from the week. It's like reverse hide and seek. One person hides, (that's the bear) and then everyone goes to find that person. Be sure and keep your eye on the baby girl. . .

Here we are. . . . Gratitude.

So here we are, we have made it back to KC, been quarantined for 4 days, made it to a couple days of school and had a great weekend with our friend Lance, from Arkansas. What a week! I sit here and think through it and realize all the many things I am grateful for. (I know, you're not supposed to end a sentence with a preposition.) i digress. SO, in honor of my friend Candace (because she makes a mean list) here's my top ten from this past week.

10. I am so grateful for the lunch my friend Emily and I got to have a Chipotle this week. Not only is it the best food ever, but we had a really good chat that morning, and are learning to live this life as a Godly mother together. Thank you friend!

9. I got to pray over my son, teach him about the heart of the Father, and watch his body heal. I am so thankful that we are designed to seek Him in our time of need- and that I got to watch my son ask for prayer when He was sick. And then see him restored. Amazing. . . .

8. I am grateful for an amazing husband who reminded me ever so kindly Friday night that my life is not spinning out of control and it is going to slow down. And I will still be here. :)

7. It rained a beautiful fall rain today. Cool. Crisp.

6. My bills are paid for this round and we have food to eat. We stayed dry during the rain today.

5. Big Biy got an amazing hug today from our friend Haven. She's not even two and spread the love during family devotions tonight.

4. Little Boy hasn't gotten sick yet!! (And neither have any of the parents!)

3. We laughed really hard this weekend while watching Nacho Libre with Lance- our friend from Arkansas who visited this weekend. The visit was sweet and the fellowship was great. Thanks for coming friend!

2. When asked what the Lord said to him tonight, Big Boy said, "He said He is coming back." That's awesome. Really.

1. The Lord has given me a testimony- I have been saved. I have been given an opportunity to live eternally. With no pain, fear, or suffering. No sickness or disease. No sin, only love. For my life is only a breath and I am amazed at the days I am given. May He be shown in my waking and in my sleeping.

Goodnight and goodbye.

We made it home. . . only to find we had brought home MN germs.

Yeah! We did make it. I know, I already told you that, but I thought it would be appropriate for the pics I am about to unveil. So, you remember we bought the dresser at IKEA that was way cool? Remember me saying it almost didn't fit in the van? See below.









We also had some fun in the van. First, we watched a few videos.





Then we looked at the windmills. Really people, these things are huge. It makes the trees look like shrubs, and though you can't tell from the pic, they are actually higher than the clouds. It's crazy cool looking, and the boys (well, Big Boy) thought they were really amazing.













We had a great day Sunday, only to wake up with a fever, cough, and aches. Big Boy has been sick three times in the last six weeks! Say a prayer for him and us, as we are all stuck at home with a sick one. It has again reminded me that my longing for the return of Jesus grows every day. I have spent the last two days talking to a momma who had a VERY difficult labor and delivery of her baby boy and another momma with a daughter who has been sick for a long time. I know, for my family it's totally just a virus, but there will be no more sickness when the Father sends his son to return. He will make all things right, there will be no more pain, suffering or sin, and my heart is longing for it.

Goodnight and goodbye.