A long update

School ended and now it's free time!!! Not really free and I had to define what that was going to look like so I'm wise with the time God has given me. It has been a struggle to keep up with a regular schedule since school has been out. Our first days without school started with the girls jointing a local swim team and needing to be at practices 4 nights a week. The first practice was a struggle for the girls but they worked through them as we talked and prayed together and made some changes. Both girls had their first meet a couple weeks ago and it was a wonderful but challenging experience for them. One of the many blessing from it was cheering them on as they raced and pushing them beyond what they thought they could do. And during their practices I have had some opportunities to talk about Christ and fellowship with other believers.
The other day the kids came with me to a meeting that had a pool and the girls jumped right in with no questions. We had another opportunity to spend more time at a pool with some friends that gave the girls an opportunity to encourage someone else. The girls didn't really notice it until It was turned into a teaching moment on the way home. I told them how they encouraged their friend with what they learned from their own swimming and how we can glorify God in those situations. Being apart of the swim team has stretched us all and it's been a blessing to be apart of.

Liam has gone to a different level in how he responds to doing what is right. He is smarter and trying to get away with more. Like saying, " Mommy can I watch a video" not now...when you read your Bible...no..no more asking...the list goes on, We have had up the consequences so he understands what is right and what is wrong more clearly. The other day we where at his first dentist appointment and he threw a fit. ( he didn't want anyone else to play the video games in the lobby) I then had to pray to myself for wisdom so we said the verse together," obey your parents in the Lord for this is right" after we said it together he claimed down and then his name was called. My heart was then beating a bit slower and thanking God for the quick response. And Liam is now 100% potty trained...we started in Sept.and stopped and started again. As the candy was gone for the pee I added hot wheels for poop and he was so motivated. He would run to the potty and said mommy I'm going to get a new hot wheel. One day he went 3 times and was pleased with all those hot wheels. Liam is growing up so fast and is excited about doing preschool work with the girls this next year. I told him about his book tonight and he just lit up and told the girls all about it. Out of all 4 Liam has been the greatest challenge for us and the one that keeps mommy praying for more patience.



Silas loves to test and test and test...he thinks he is so cute with that grin and then he does something a second time after I have told him no. He has gotten new consequences and gives me a strange look afterwords but it's a blessing that he responds well the first time. And he has found a new place to play...yes you guessed it the toilet. He has been the only kid that has really played in it with a cup, Yuck!! And he loves to eat and drink like a dog. Yes, he has eaten dog food several times when I wasn't looking. When he eats his cereal he puts his whole face in the bowl and licks it all up. We need to work on the table manners but that will come in time. Silas loves to copy his big brother in everything which makes double work for the both of us. Sometimes I'll be disciplining Liam when Silas turns and does the same thing. Both of the boys keep us busy with the screams and yelling that boy do. ( boys are very loud!!!) I'm so thankful that God has given us boys last because he now I'm so much more laid back and don't mind the mess or the noise as much. I end up preaching to myself by saying, "Is what they are doing really wrong or is it just me feeling bothered by it?" Most of the time it ends up being my selfishness and then I end up praying for God to help find joy in their playing.





Holly just lost one of her front teeth and got her first pair of glasses. I don't think I've ever seen someone so excited about glasses. She loved sitting in the chair to try them on and is very careful to take care of them. Holly has also struggled with her coach on her swim team. It's his first year teaching the group and she talks about how he doesn't say nice things to the other kids. We have watched how things are and we have had some great opportunities to talk about fears and how we can ask God to help us. These struggles have given Holly opportunities to ask for prayer. Holly has gone from being fearful to just saying Mommy I don't think he knows the Lord because of how he talks and treats the other kids. We have had some great teaching opportunities on how we can show love to others and how we all sin and fall short of the glory of God. God uses Holly daily to remind me of what I need to be doing. It's like having someone turn around and put a mirror right in front of you and you see yourself and your ugly sin. It's not easy to see, but it turns out to be a blessing when God has given me the self control to stop and recount the steps I took.

Ayla is growing, growing, and maturing daily. She loves to help out and I am guilty of not letting her help out more. Lots of the time I want the control and I think that I can do it better. I have had to swallow my pride so many times and also apologize and do a replay on how to do it right. Ayla is so great with the boys and is that extra helping hand that is needed to encourage the boys to do what is right. When she tries it with Holly it doesn't turn out well, that is something we have to work on daily. I find myself reminding her that she isn't the parent many times and we talk about how God wants us to encourage the other to do what is right without sounding like parent. Ayla is so great at including others and understanding how our relationships best please God.


David and I have had some extra time together and time as a family as he continues to look for more work. The verse that has filled my thoughts has been, "I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need." Phip.4:12
It is a privileged to go to the Word of God and find comfort, peace, and rest in knowing that God is in control of all things. He has displayed himself beyond what words can describe and I would have it no other way than to be where I am today. Yes, I do wish I would have done things differently but quickly have to let go of those things because I don't want to over look what God has done and is doing. I want to glorify him in all ways. I'm so thankful for the marriage, the children, and friendships he has graciously given. All the glory goes to him alone.
1 Cor. 15:10 "But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me."
Colo. 1:29 " For this I toil struggling with all His energy that He powerfully works in me."