January Happenings

On Christmas Day the kids had fun cutting Daddy's hair with Mommy's supervision. It was fun for the kids but I had to quickly clean up before our company came.  That added some extra pressure on the day but it was joy to see the kids having fun.

January Happenings:

As I look back over the things that happened in January I remember spending lots of time at home watching the kids be creative with their time.  On this day the kids dressed the dog up with their dress up clothes.

And the boys spent their time hiding out in the hall way closet playing hide and go seek with mom and the camera. Liam and Silas seem to be buddies these days.  They spend up to and hour in their room each night talking and laughing with each other after they have been put to bed.  I have also seen Liam put a car in Silas's hand over and over again to get him to play cars with him.  And Silas is so mellow that he just takes it and doesn't seem to mind until he wants to do something else.  Then he just leaves and Liam follows him with that car and continues to put it in his hand and gets so frustrated.  Liam has changed so much in the last couple weeks because he is talking so much more and using larger words.  He catches me by surprise when he throws his opinion in about something that the girls told me about.  If I don't acknowledge that he also said something he says, " I want to talk tttt you!!!"  So I've had to make sure that I give him a turn to talk and teach him patience all at the same time.  Silas has a new found love for Daddy...As you can see in the picture below

Silas was trying to hug Daddy when he was exercising it's so cute to see him bonding with Daddy.  Silas lights up when Daddy enters the room and it make Daddy so happy now that he has a son that is a Daddy's boy.  Liam has always seemed to want mom over Dad. And Silas will go to ether easily.
I have noticed that Liam is a boy version of Ayla and Silas is a boy version of Holly.  Like I said earlier the boys are just growing and showing their personalities more and more.  Silas has his own games that he now likes to start and he can now get snacks out of the cabinet, bring them to me, and then he rubs his head to say please.  It is the sweetest thing to watch.

One day when Liam needed some help finding something to do I brought out the Tinker Toys they got for Christmas.  We end up stopping school early and we all sat down and played together.  The girls where amazed at what I made and they started going to town on their own creations. It's something I need to remember to do more often.

It was time for the girls to get a hair cut and I wanted to save some cash so I did it myself again.  This time I wanted to try and do something different so I watched a u tube video on how to cut layers.  I tried it on Holly first who loves being first in line to get a hair cut. Some other thoughts about Holly just came up...She must change 3-5 times a day with new outfits.  When she has to fold her own laundry she has twice as much to fold and hang up as Ayla and she gets so frustrated with that.  She has come up with some really cute outfits that she created on her own.  It's been fun to see her change and do more of what she like instead of just doing what Ayla wants her to do. ....Now back to the hair cut...You brush all the hair forward into a polly tail and then cut the top off about an inch.  If you want more layers then cut more off.  It worked out well and I even did it on my own hair and saved myself the cost of a hair cut.  You can see the after pictures below.

We enjoyed going out to breakfast as a family one moring.
The girls just love spending time with Daddy

 Silas didn't want to miss his morning nap so he fell asleep in stroller while we ate. ......It's late and I need to get to bed.  I hope to pick up on blogging more regularly in the future.  I am proud to say that I haven't been as consistent because my honey has been home more and I am reading more books in my free time.  The books I'm currently reading beside the Bible are " A Cross Centered Life" and " Just Do Something"

What my kids reminded me of

It’s a little gray and wet outdoors today so we enjoyed time with friends indoors at the local Mac Donald’s play area. .  As we drove home I thought wow I’m glad the kids got sometime to run out there energy because its starting to rain harder. I had to laugh at myself when we walked inside because as soon as we got into the door the kids headed for the back door with umbrellas to enjoy the rain.  As you can see by the picture they enjoyed a nice cup of hot coco outside.  I share these things because it reminds me of how much I think I need to entertain the kids when I don’t.  It also reminds me of what I read once in a book by Ted Tripp called “Hints for Parents”

            “Do we regularly cultivate higher and nobler principles than the love of earth? If our children are taught that the great business of men is to heap up wealth, attain honors, and enjoy human life, what will be the probable end of their careers? (Colossians 3:23; Matthew 25)

            If we would train them up for usefulness and heaven, they must often be reminded to put a low estimate upon every thing beneath the sun. They must not be shielded from the world, but instead taught how vain and empty a thing it is.

            The sooner a child can see that there is a higher object of pursuit than his own advancement, that there are more elevated and enduring joys than the sordid and transitory pleasures of time and sense, the sooner he will bear fruit unto eternal life. The sooner he sees that even thought he may attain popularity, power and wealth and yet be filled with disappointment and sorrow, the more quickly he is prepared for eternal usefulness.”

After rereading this it reminds me of what I read a couple days ago in Gen. 2:15

“The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and keep it.” This was said before Adam and Eve sinned.  (Also showed this to the kids that morning)

One more set of verses that also comes to mind is: Ecc. 1:1-8

 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem .

 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher,
vanity of vanities! All is vanity.
 What does man gain by all the toil
at which he toils under the sun?
A generation goes, and a generation comes,
but the earth remains forever.
 The sun rises, and the sun goes down,
and hastens  to the place where it rises.
 The wind blows to the south
and goes around to the north;
around and around goes the wind,
and on its circuits the wind returns.
 All streams run to the sea,
but the sea is not full;
to the place where the streams flow,
there they flow again.
 All things are full of weariness;
a man cannot utter it;
the eye is not satisfied with seeing,
nor the ear filled with hearing.

Christmas Happening Part 2

I found another picture of Liam play with regular everyday things.

Now back to our night out with Daddy...

After we got a tree we all decorated it as a family and called it a night.

Here's  Christmas picture number 30...You can never get everyone looking at the same time.

The kids and I enjoyed a Christmas eve dinner with my parents while Daddy was at work.

Then we went to their Christmas Eve candle light service at their church. It was a joy to join them and I loved how the service reflected Christ birth and end with a focus on the cross.

Then we enjoyed some Christmas lights and we opened some gifts at their house.

Their is more I will post later...that will make part 3

What I got for Christmas before Christmas...

What I got for Christmas before Christmas.

 I'm sitting here reflecting on the things that God has done in peace and quite  morning of Christmas.  What joy I have found in Christ this last year!! I don’t say this because of my own doing, because none of it is by me, it is by God’s Grace.  We have had less to give in stuff, but my heart isn’t heavy with worry and stress.  I’m walking in thankfulness and finding joy in what God has already given us.  Treasuring Christ above all is what brings me true joy.  I thank him for bringing me that joy and I know it will never end because I am His child.  Bringing joy to others through Christ is what I treasure.  I can only treasure this because of what I don’t have. Christ has opened my eyes by taking away the extra things that I have been distracted by in this world.  Because of the type of work that David does we don’t know when a paycheck will come or how much it will be.  This sounds hard and I’m not going to deny that but, I have found joy in looking back and seeing What God has done with this. I am depending upon him for our daily needs because I am praying for the paycheck to come.  He has been so faithful!! Their have been times that I have been filled with worry and God provided a way for me to pursue him and only find joy in being obedient to him.  And when the money wasn’t there he provided for the need in a different way.

Two of these things happened this last week:  All the bills where paid and up to date and after we had bought what we needed we didn’t have anything extra for gifts for the kids. I knew a paycheck was coming and I was hoping it would before Christmas.  Well it never did come, but I was content with that because of how Christ caused me to wait and to found joy in how he had changed my heart and shown me thankfulness. Two days before Christmas he laid it on someone’s heart to give us some money to buy them something. After that I was still content to give them nothing even when we now had something to give.
    On Thursday morning Liam woke up with goopy eyes and saying that his ear hurt.  (We have been waiting for word on some medical insurance that we have applied for so we currently didn’t have it.)  I called the doctor we have gone to in the past when we had insurance a couple months ago.  They said that it would be 174 dollars up front for them to see him.  I started to get a credit card and said no we can’t so I stopped and prayed.  After talking to a couple people and making some others calls I had an appointment that would only cost me 30 dollars up front and they would send me a bill for the rest later.  So I went with them and thanked God for what he had provided.  God not only provided a short line and short wait but he provided someone to take the girls so I only had the boys.  Liam got the appointment and the medication he needed for only 4 dollars that day. And the doctor that he saw and the person who filled his prescription took extra time off their lunch hour to provide a quick in and out.  But I came home and couldn’t find joy in my heart and I was saddened by this.  This day was very hard because I was deeply humbled and emotionally drained.  As I looked back over the day I see the still quite spirit that God had given me through out it all.  After I got home I was encouraged by reading a Morning and Evening by C. H. Spurgeon and my joy in Christ was restored. 

Morning and Evening: Daily Readings
by C. H. Spurgeon
Tuesday Morning, December 22

I will strengthen thee.

Isaiah 41:10

God has a strong reserve with which to discharge this engagement; for he is able to do all things. Believer, till thou canst drain dry the ocean of omnipotence, till thou canst break into pieces the towering mountains of almighty strength, thou never needest to fear. Think not that the strength of man shall ever be able to overcome the power of God. Whilst the earth's huge pillars stand, thou hast enough reason to abide firm in thy faith. The same God who directs the earth in its orbit, who feeds the burning furnace of the sun, and trims the lamps of heaven, has promised to supply thee with daily strength. While he is able to uphold the universe, dream not that he will prove unable to fulfil his own promises. Remember what he did in the days of old, in the former generations. Remember how he spake and it was done; how he commanded, and it stood fast. Shall he that created the world grow weary? He hangeth the world upon nothing; shall he who doth this be unable to support his children? Shall he be unfaithful to his word for want of power? Who is it that restrains the tempest? Doth not he ride upon the wings of the wind, and make the clouds his chariots, and hold the ocean in the hollow of his hand? How can he fail thee? When he has put such a faithful promise as this on record, wilt thou for a moment indulge the thought that he has outpromised himself, and gone beyond his power to fulfil? Ah, no! Thou canst doubt no longer.

O thou who art my God and my strength, I can believe that this promise shall be fulfilled, for the boundless reservoir of thy grace can never be exhausted, and the overflowing storehouse of thy strength can never be emptied by thy friends or rifled by thine enemies.

Now let the feeble all be strong, And make Jehovah's arm their song.

December Happenings Part 1

I'm about ready to blog a book because I haven't blogged in almost a month...

The month of December started with Liam taking a lamb costume home from church so he could get use to it for a future play. He loved it so much on the first day that he took a nap with it.

Ayla and Holly had a friend stay over night for the first time.
Our church had an advent club every Saturday until Christmas that the kids enjoyed doing.

 Before Daddy left for Connecticut we went out for dinner and Liam tried an octopus.  I couldn't believe that he ate the whole thing!!!

After dinner we went shopping for a Christmas tree and we were blessed with a tree for 16 dollars.

After we got a tree, we went to a local Churches live nativity to remember the reason we celebrate Christmas.  It was such a blessing to see people in live costumes as they acted out the Christmas Story. They ended the live nativity play with a light shining on the cross and that was the high light of the play.  ... to be continued

Below are some pictures of the kids enjoying some time off of school.

Holly made Silas and Liam laugh by reading them a Silly book.

Liam didn't want me to put my shoes away beacuse he was using them as a tunnel for his cars.
Ayla made a bed for the cat so Rascal wouldn't bother him.

Welcome to our new blog!!

I'm not sure where to start since it has been sooooo long since I posted anything. And I'm very tired and feel like my brain is mush at the moment. First your asking, why the new blog?? I wanted our blog to reflect Christ more so I changed it.
I'll start with our fun trip to Monterrey. The kids and I went to Monterrey with my parents and had a wonderful time. Daddy had to work :0( ... We spent time at the Aquarium, stayed over night, and played on the beach. The beach was the best part...


The kids loved running in the waves and Liam enjoyed the sand until a huge wave got him wet. He was sad for a good 40 minutes.
And then calmed down and made me a Birthday cake out of sand and sang happy birthday to Mommy. This is something the girls have been playing since Holly's Birthday. And Liam loves to sing the song and then ends by saying; " Smell Mommy!! Smell Mommy!!"...what he really means is blow. I have yet to correct him because it's so cute.
The kids had fun in the hotel...



Now everyone started to calm down with a brownie and the movie "Up" for Grandmas Birthday.


Our trip was such a blessing. It was a time for Grandma and Grandpa to bond with the kids without all the regular everyday distractions. I'm so thankful for my parents and the joy that God has brought through their relationship. It's been a real blessing to have them so close because of Daddy's crazy schedule it helps me out in so many ways. We are blessed to have so much of our family close. ( We do miss the ones who live in Texas and Oregon... Now it's time for Thanksgiving!!

The night before Thanksgiving the kids made Turkey's with their hands to give to family the next day. As we prepared for everyone to come over for Thanksgiving the kids and I made a Turkey out of fruit. It was lots of fun and the kids seemed to like it. We had a potluck style dinner which made things so much easier. One of the biggest things we where thankful for was having Daddy home for Thanksgiving.

Daddy came home one night and just slept on the floor with kids playing around him. I think he had just gotten off from a day and night shift back to back. I'm so thankful for the hard work that he does to provide for us. And Rascal thinks so too.
A simple but rare picture of everyone playing with the same toy.

Sunday we enjoyed going to Church as a family and then stopped by the store to pick up some vegetables and fruit for our new juicer. It was such a fun but simple afternoon. The kids and I watched as Daddy thought up a crazy juice with pears, spinach, apples, oranges, tomatoes and carrots. Holly and Liam drank theirs down fast while Ayla and I took our time. I'm even more thankful for the time that I have had with my husband alone and time as a family. In the past I have taken it for granted and have been so quick to think about myself. Now I'm so quick to celebrate the time that we have together and treasure the memories even more. Just even thinking back about Sunday warms my heart. Going to Church as a family was the greatest part and then spending time together. What also encouraged me this last Sunday was the bonding that I have seen between my husband and I. Usually when he drives I am more fearful because I'm such a causious driver so I hold on more or add funny sounds to his turns and stops. ( This drives him nuts) I've noticed that I haven't felt the need to react in those ways, because the Lord has faithfully opened my eyes to my own selfish ways and how they have discouraged my husband from leading. I become so independant in my thinking that I can do it all myself...what an ugly attitude...I'm thankful for the answered prays and how the Lord has opened up my eyes to see the ugly sin so I can turn from it and find joy in him and then see it blossom into my marriage.