Reflections

  December and Christmas passed by in a big blur.  All the kiddos were sick starting with Claire and going from youngest to oldest.  High fevers were the telltale sign we were in for a longer illness.  


Usually I am sad to see Christmas end, but this year I found myself not really dwelling on it that much.  Maybe because I was thinking about my kids being healthy.  It's such a hard thing for a mama to watch her babies get sick.


Speaking of baby...today I am 9 weeks pregnant!  I have to say there are times I forget I'm pregnant.  I know it's mostly because of how busy I am.  I just don't want to take any moment for granted.  I've been thinking about the two babies we lost to miscarriage before Claire Bear.  I keep praying that God will protect this baby and keep him or her growing strong and healthy.


My other three "babies" are getting SO big!  


Afton is 8 and growing up much too fast for my liking.  She is a little version of me.  It's almost as if we are (sometimes) the same person.  She is aware of everything and knows details to things that even Mike doesn't remember!  She has such a kind, loving heart.  Although she has a selfish streak in her (who doesn't?), but it's something we are working really hard with her on.  Afton is like a little mother to Claire.  She can take over for me if I need to get some stuff done and I know (for the most part) that she'll do a great job.  Sometimes there are a bit TOO many Cheerios being fed to Claire, but I try to let that slide.


Caleb is 6 and is my super sensitive, quiet loner.  Not in a bad way.  Just in a "Caleb" sort of way.  He is content to go into his room, close the door, and play Legos all by himself.  Or he'll just sit on his bed and read a book.  Sensitive though!  Boy, he sure can cry at the drop of a hat.  We're working on him with that and he is doing better.  He loves Claire though and she adores him.  It's so cute to watch!


Claire is 1 and growing too fast for my liking!  How has one year already past??  It's just crazy!  She is smart, sweet, strong willed and SO cute!  She has the prettiest eyes and cutest smile!  She is definitely a mama's girl. I'm not gonna lie...I LOVE that!  We are working with her on signing and is quite successful as signing "more".  As in "more food"!  Man does that girl love to eat!  And when it's time to eat she claps her hands together letting us know she's ready to pray!  


Miya is the oldest and will be 14 in January.  I remember when she was just 4!  Time certainly does get fly and I really notice it when I look at my older kids.  Miya has grown into such a beautiful girl.  She loves to sing and likes to write her own songs.  She's had a bit of a tough year though.  Her mom moved her (again) to another town because she found another guy she wanted to move in with.  Poor Miya had to leave her friends and her school and move to another town that's a little rougher.  She is also struggling spiritually.  Watching her walk away from "her faith" is one of the most difficult things we've had to go through this year.  Hearing her say she doesn't believe in God and question everything is so sad.  Unfortunately she is only with us for 4 days out of the month.  The rest she is with her mother who sadly doesn't care.


I wish you could convince someone of how badly they need the Lord.  Sadly that is not that case as Mike and I have seen with other family members as well.  I pray for them though.  I pray the blinder will fall off and they will see how desperately they need Christ.  How they can't believe what they want to believe and leave the rest.  


Aside from that this past year was very busy and hectic for me as I tried to juggle a new baby, two other children, homeschooling and working from home.  Needless to say it was a challenging and frustrating year.  A huge blessing has been me being able to stop working from home as of January!  I will miss the company I work for, but am so excited to "just" be mommy and wife and do what I'm meant to do here at home.


With all that being said it's been a good year.  We are healthy, we have a home, Mike has a job, we have food on our table and clothes on our back.  We have an amazing church family and are so blessed with amazing friends...family really!


We are truly blessed and I am so thankful to God that He saved me and chose to bless me with my husband, my family and our church.  I do not take any of it for granted.  I don't deserve such amazing blessings, but thank Him for blessing me anyway.


Here is to 2012!

My "gloomy" Monday

It's Monday morning, about 10:45.  Claire fell asleep on my chest and is making smacking noises with her lips and gently snoring.


I can hear the dryer running.  A button is clinking the inside of the dryer.


Afton and Caleb are playing Legos in the living room.  I can hear the Legos being moved around.


It's grey and damp outside and some would look at this as a gloomy Monday.  However, inside my house the sun is shining.  We are warm, kids are playing peacefully and I have a beautiful baby girl asleep on my chest.


As I listen to her sleepy baby noises I couldn't be more thankful for this "gloomy Monday.

Joy In Motherhood

I have found a new joy in becoming a mother for the 3^rd time.

One could argue that it's age & wisdom. Others could say it's because I know what I'm doing now. I can tell you one thing...it's definitely not because it's easier. Going from two to three children has been the biggest adjustment of my life. Things take longer. More people need me. Work load is increased and I still have all the “normal” things that need to be done.

So, while age, wisdom and knowledge may be true I think it's something deeper. Something only God can give to a mom. It's a joy that only comes from Him. Knowing this is what I was created to do is so comforting. I am exactly where God wants me to be right now.

Even through many sleepless nights and crazy days I still look at Claire when she is nursing and am filled with a love that I can't describe.

I look at my other two children, Afton and Caleb, and feel so blessed that God would see fit to make me their mama.

So when things get tough and I get tired...when I feel so exhausted and discouraged...I try to remember that “this too shall pass” and I should enjoy every kid filled moment while I can. They will soon be grown and gone and I will wish for these moments again.

My house may be covered with kid items, but I will treasure it while I have it because soon enough my house will be empty and spotless. It is then I will be wishing for another load of laundry to do, more homemade pictures on the wall and endless amounts of toys to step over.

Psalm 127:3 (NASB) "Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward."

Love = The Green "Clean" Light on the Dishwasher

I just have to say...

"I have the most thoughtful husband in the world!" 

He came home from work late last night. Everyone was in bed and asleep. He left this morning well before anyone was awake. When I went to get my coffee at 6:30 this morning I noticed things were "different". 

Come to find out he had emptied the dishwasher last night with stealth like skill ("silent like a ninja" in his words)...super quiet...one dish/utensil at a time! He said it took a LONG time!!!

I never even heard him and I usually hear everything! 

He even wiped around the stove and counter and made sure my sink was shiny!

To top it all off he purposefully didn't close the dishwasher all the way because

he didn't want the little green "clean" light to go off!  This way I wouldn't 

know it had been emptied until I went to take care of it myself. 

He sure knows how to speak to a woman's heart...well, my heart anyway! That was the most romantic thing he could have done for me!

Thank you, my love! I am so blessed to be your wife ♥

 

A Day at the Orchard

I am a bit behind in posting, but I have a good excuse.  Really.  I do.  I just can't think of it right now.  Could be the baby that is due on Thursday.  Yeah.  That's it.

A few weekends ago we ventured out to a local apple orchard that has the best, to-die-for apple cider donuts.  We went to pick apples too, but the donuts are always the highlight.

The day happened to be a bit windy and chilly, but we're New Englanders!  We're tough.  We go through winter in shorts and flip flops.  Ok, maybe not shorts, but I have worn flip flops in winter.  Something about not being able to let them go.

Where was I?

Oh...yes, we were going apple picking.  The main objective was to get apples so I could make a few homemade pies.  Which I did.  I ended up making 4 pies and only 1 stayed home.  I was a little bummed especially after all that hard work, but I gave them up willingly since it made other people very happy.

Here are a few pictures from our apple picking adventures.

Waiting for the tractor to come around

Pretty Orchard

Reach!

Caleb loves sticks!

The pros

Going around again

The only proof I was there :)

 

So, that was our fun and exciting apple picking trip!  I only wish the season hadn't been so short because I would love to go one more time!  There is nothing like fresh picked apples from an orchard!

Yummmmmmm

Aaaargh Matey!

Caleb informed me the other day that his Lego man has an eye patch!  

I thought that was pretty cute and clever.

Of course, he is one of our kiddos so I'm a bit partial!

A Letter from Afton

It reads...

"You worked so hard. How about you stop after you worked and put your feet up while we play outside. Love Afton"

She made a point of showing me my belly too :)

Second Chances

Last Wednesday night while tucking the kids into bed I reminded them they were not to fool around or get out of bed. (We've been having a very big issue with this over the past several months)

Because of that Afton has been starting the night out it Miya's room & then we move her to her bed after both she and Caleb have fallen asleep.

This evening was no different.  After tucking Caleb in I went in to see Afton & reminded her (again) that she needed to stay in bed.  She doesn't particularly care for having to start out in Miya's room, however I reminder her it was because of the choice she (and Caleb) decided to make to disobey.

I reminder her that we have gently spoke, reminded, disciplined, followed through with consequences and now we were back to separate bedrooms.  No more "chances".  Just obedience.

Her response was, "...but doesn't it say something in the Bible about giving second chances?"

(Smarty pants!)

I responded by saying, "Yes, but the Bible also tells children to obey their parents in the Lord because it's right, and it also talks about being disciplined if you don't obey."

So, today we'll be doing some reading from the Bible on obedience, how it works for children & adults and what the consequences are when we don't obey.

I Remember Being 12 & This Was My Favorite Store Too!

We hit Starbucks & Target after Claire's :)

Innocence & Boobies

At first I only posted this on Facebook, but then I just had to share with those of you who were not friends with me on FB, but would get a kick out of it like I did!

Last night Caleb and I were in the bathroom brushing our teeth when Caleb says to me, "Do you have big boobies?" Then he reaches over, squeezes them and says, "Oh yeah! You have big boobies!"

Like it's the most normal thing in the world to do. I guess, for a 3 1/2 year old, it is!

Thunder & Lightning

Our conversation over breakfast this morning:


Afton: I know how God makes thunder...you wanna know how?

Me: How?

Afton: He has thunder in his footsteps and lightning in his fists!

(from "Awesome God" - Carmen)

Backseats

My blog is quite familiar with the backseat these days. I'm sure it could rustle up a few coins, several dead leaves, some stale cheerios and a dried out marker or three from in between the seats.

However, I have to think the backseat can't be all that bad. You gain a totally different perspective of things around you. You can see where you are going AND where you've been (if you turn around), you don't get kicked in the back by feet on your seat, however you GET to do the kicking.....

What I'm basically getting at is I've let my blogging slip because I've had bigger fish to fry. The summer was a busy one with it's fair share of difficulties. Can I have a summer re-do? I've realized how fast time flies! Didn't we just celebrate Christmas last month???

I can't promise I'll be "back" for any amount of time. When things get crazy my computer time tends to be cut short, and rightfully so!

During my blog neglect break I have learned (and am still learning) lots.

• I have found that I absolutely love cottage cheese and pomegranate!!! Oh yes! So delicious!
• I have heard the most interesting sentences come from my son's mouth. More on that later.
• I've heard my girl start reading & in turn found out that Caleb is now reading small words just from listening to her sister's learning.
• I have realized the importance of having that one, godly woman in your life. The one you look up to & admire for her relationship with God, her husband and her family.
• I am still learning how to let my house go just so I can spend time with my children.
• I have felt the pain of losing 2 little ones to miscarriage & knowing that a friend "wasted" a precious life because it wasn't convenient or easy.

I could go on and on, but those are just a few things I could think of off the top of my head.

I wouldn't take back any of the good things about this past summer, but I would not want to re-live it. I'm happy we move on and make better choices as we learn and grow. I'm glad God takes the negative in our lives and uses it for good.

I'm so thankful He saved me and is so patient with me even when I make the same stupid mistakes over and over.

I'm thankful He is still growing me in the wife and mother He wants me to be.

This year has been a year of struggles, heartache, letting go and growth. While I wouldn't like to repeat it I am so thankful God allows these things to happen so that we may grow in Him & be wiser & more thankful because of it.

So, with all the being said. I hope I am back to blogging a bit more regularly. I make no promises, however I will try my best.

Sleeping Flowers

Caleb looks at my flowers and says, "The flowers are not waking up. 'Cause it's
morning, and they are sleepy."

Lullaby

One of the job descriptions for a mama is that she sing to her lovebugs. At least that is one of my job descriptions. I absolutely loved rocking them in the rocking chair when they were babies and singing to them. Now I get to sing to them after I have tucked them in for the night and before I give them kisses.

One of the songs I sing is a lullaby I made up when Afton was a baby. Here are the words.

Little baby, little baby
I love you. I love you.
You're my little sweet pea. You're my little sweet pea.
Yes you are. Yes you are.
(sung to the tune of Frere Jacques)

Here are the lyrics to the song I made up for Caleb not too long ago. He requests it every night with extra "mama loves you"...

Lullaby and goodnight, little lovebug baby.
Mama loves you, Mama loves you
and I'll see you when you wake up.

Sometimes we vary the songs that we sing, however the first one always makes it in.

I love that my children have a song especially made up for them and I hope they carry it on with their children!

Do you have a special song you sing to your kiddos or have you made one up especially for them?

When it gets warm outside

...my children are transformed from this

to this

I don't think they enjoy playing outside. Do you?

Mothers Day & Other Happenings

To say I've been on a break is definitely an understatement. It's more like "I have too much going on right now and my brain can't handle anymore thinking than is absolutely necessary" break.

However, I do miss jotting down the day to day happenings in our happy little family. I miss posting pictures of our awesome kids and recounting the 101 funny things that happened in our day.

So, I wanted to try and pick this thing called blogging back up and re-start the so-called engines. The best way to do that would be to share some pictures and some "make mommy cry" news.

Lets start with the news, shall we?

Yesterday we were driving and Afton was trying to eat an apple. Well, she kept saying her tooth had a crack in it. So, Mike pulled over and had her come show us what she meant. Come to find out she doesn't have a crack, but a loose tooth. TWO loose teeth, in fact!!!

Seriously! How is that possible??!? She's still my little girl who is supposed to have her baby teeth until she gets married and has kids of her own. Then, maybe then, she can lose her teeth and put them under her pillow for mama, ahem, I mean, the tooth fairy to trade for a some cool gadgets or money.

Needless to say, I started to cry when I realized my 5 1/2 year old was growing up. She, by the way, is ecstatic!

In other news, life is busy, but good! Our ever expanding family is awesome!

Here are a few pictures I took when we went to an empty buildings huge parking lot to let the kids ride their bikes to their little hearts content.



Oh, and what happens when you have a sheet cake with chocolate frosting?


Why, you watch your husband and kids dig in with forks and have the best dessert ever. Notice the smiles? (and Mike licking his lips...hehe)


We even hit the park.



This is what happens after you've been running around for "hours".


We just love the ice cream truck too!



Of course, saving the best for last is my Mothers Day present. Mike was so thoughtful and picked up these for me!!


The tree is a snowdrift crabapple and it's so pretty right now. The other is a lilac bush which I have always wanted!!!

I'm so excited to watch them grow!!

So, that is what has been happening over the past month or so.

I hope you've had a wonderful month and Mothers Day (for all the mom's reading).

This weekend is our church's woman's retreat and I am very excited to be going! There is just something awesome about worshiping God with a group of like-minded women. I'm excited for a refreshing weekend and learning more about my Creator and what His plan for me is!