June Happenings

This week we've been able to be a part of having a CEF (Child Evangelism Fellowship) club at our house. We haven't done a Bible club since we've moved to this house nearly four years ago. It used to be something we did almost every holiday and usually for a week during the summer. It was so neat to have this opportunity brought to us without even seeking it out. I realized how much I miss doing this and hope to make it part of our life regularly once again! Please pray for the rest of the week as the club goes on and for continued opportunities with the kids in our neighborhood.

Sarah started handing us things. I know, it's one of those small developmental things, but it is so much fun to watch her grow and learn new things (and those sweet eyes when she does it!). She also started blowing kisses which simply melts my heart. I can't believe she'll be one in only ten days! Where has the time gone?

Olivia and I were able to go out on a date for some $.49 and $.99 ice cream :) I love having that one-on-one time with the kids. It's so neat to be able to connect a little deeper with each one. I'm working on being more intentional in this area.

I've been working through the Money Saving Mom's "Makeover Your Mornings" Course this month and it has been really good to start cultivating some habits that I've been wanting to implement for a while. When I complete it, I will probably share some goals and routines I'm starting to try to put into place in my life. 

We've also really enjoyed starting to get back into the habit of going to the library and getting lots of good books. It's become a new addiction of sorts to look for good books at garage sales and thrift stores to build my library with quality books for my kiddos. I absolutely love reading aloud to them and have been enjoying many books that I never took the time to read as a kid. 

Some recent books I've been enjoying with the kids over the past school year: 

Missionary Stories with the Millers

Wisdom with the Millers

On the Alaskan Trail

Mrs. Piggle Wiggle books

21 Balloons

Farmer Boy currently in the Little House series

Pilgrim's Progress

Oliver Twist 

The Story of Dr. Doolittle

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Charlotte's Web

Abraham Lincoln (Du'Laire)

Paddington Bear (audio)

Miss Rumphius (picture book)

And some books I've been enjoying: 

Seasons of a Mother's Heart

Evidence Not Seen (Amazing true story, missionary biography)

Green Leaf in Drought (another missionary story)

Lord, Change my Attitude Before it's too Late

It's been a good summer so far and we look forward to seeing what else the Lord has in store as we seek Him.

Where has the time gone?!

Where do I begin? ONE post last year? Wow... well, I guess I'll start with this past week and hope to go back and fill in some blanks.

My newest nephew was born on March 12th, Judah Nathaniel. We were thrilled to be able to go up and meet him when he was only a day old! He was so tiny and precious! We are truly praising the Lord after a very complicated pregnancy. We are very thankful for him to be here safe and sound! Here's a picture of Logan with his new baby brother.

We were also glad to spend a little time with my brother, Josh and his wife Laura before they move even further north. This will be the first time a sibling besides myself will be moving away from Iowa. A little sad for me because I’m used to going back and seeing everyone when we visit. Hopefully, we’ll be able to plan our trips so that will still work out!

It was just the kids and I who went up. Seth was directing his first Teen Retreat back at a camp the same weekend. Thankfully everything went well. It was an encouraging time for all, a challenging time as they looked into God's word and were reminded the importance of loving the Lord Jesus and each other.

We sadly got sick with a stomach bug a couple days into our trip so, it put a little bit of a damper on things. We made the best of it and had a fun time at my parents. My mom was helping Heidi at her place and my dad left to go work, so we had the place to ourselves. I figured we'd have been alone at home anyway, so it didn't really matter where we were! Sarah started to pull up. Can't believe how big she's getting so quickly. She is crawling all over, I have to figure out a solution to the whole Lego situation, if anyone has any ideas, let me know! They end up all over and she will find them...

The weather was nice after we were better, so I was able to meet up at a park with some friends. I'm so excited for spring to pretty much be here! Landon was thrilled to find a tree that he could climb, he's been wanting to for so long. It was sweet of little Roman to share the pinecones he found with Sarah :)

 And we had fun getting free DQ afterwards! I think it was James' first ice cream cone, he loved it and finished the whole thing! So thankful for so many friends and family that stay close even though we are miles away!

Summer

Here's a glimpse of our summer thus far... 

James got to spend time with his cousin, Madison 

We went blueberry picking. It was a lot of fun, definitely something we will try to do every year!

Seth had his work family day at Incredible Pizza, the kids had a blast

Then, we made it out to an amusement park with friends. I loved this place, there was no ride to small for these little guys.

Next was the Fourth of July so we headed north to visit my family. I love this picture of Olivia with Nanny :)

We had so much fun with family and friends

 Landon loved the sparklers! Olivia on the other hand, burnt her foot on one so did not like them a bit. They all really enjoyed the firework show though! 

 I got to take the kids to their first parade, they loved it!

We had a great time at the annual conference as well. I love that Landon is starting to form friendships with my lifelong friends' kiddos.

Landon took swimming lessons, he is getting so close to learning how to swim, he can now sort of doggie paddle, and just loves the water!

We harvested our pumpkins that Landon was so excited to plant earlier this year, I guess we planted them a little too early since they were ready early July! I then proceeded to bake, de-seed and make pumpkin puree - my, was that a project that I do not care to do again! There's a reason that they are supposed to be harvested in the fall, the kitchen was like a sauna.

Then, we had more cousins come to visit. It was a little crazy because we had a huge wind storm that knocked out power for a lot of the city. We had a great time despite the craziness.

The boys got to go to see a real submarine. They all came back talking a mile a minute about how many doors (Landon's guess 100 :) ), bunkbeds, and bathrooms there were and how cool it was!

 We lost a tree at our rental house in the wind storm. Here's a picture of Landon helping Seth cut up all the branches, he's a hard worker!

We have had a wonderful summer so far (it's not quite over). We're gearing up for school now, Landon will be in kindergarten this year, so we're excited to begin this new phase of life.

May Happenings

I had a wonderful Mother's Day. Seth and I are so thankful to have two amazing mother's. We are so blessed to have such a wonderful example of love and self-sacrifice. So thankful that they taught us about the Lord Jesus and lived out a genuine relationship with Him for us to see.

. 

2 Timothy 1:5 "I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also."

For my Mother's Day, we had a nice picnic at the park. After some fun on the swings and slides, we headed for Cherry Berry - I love that place! Then, we took a trip out to the cemetery to visit Samuel. I really wish I could have all my kids together, so, for now, this is the closest thing. It was sweet that the kids picked out the smiley face balloons :)

Olivia was heaping dirt and grass on James... He didn't seem to mind!

Here we are watching the balloons fly away.

James is now eight months old! This month: He got his first tooth! He is also getting around really well. He loves to tip the trash can over, pulls up on everything, and said, "dada" and "ball." He is sleeping really well - 10-12 hours most nights! He's such a happy baby and loves to smile and wave at everyone he sees. He started clapping when we sing to him - he just loves music. He really likes to sit on my lap while I play the piano, it melts my heart. He brings us so much joy!

Here are the other two that bring me so much joy :) We're so excited that it's warm enough for slash pads! They are both growing up so much. Olivia's still really into anything princess and pink. She loves to wear dresses and always carries a purse. She also still loves her "bear bear." She's been treating her bear like her baby. Cheering her bear on when she stands up, trying to feed her bananas, and buckling her in next to herself. James loves his bear too and immediately snuggles and chews on it when I lay him down.

Landon is so much fun. He loves to create art projects that he imagines. I love seeing what he comes up with! We've been trying to spend a little more one-on-one time with each of the kids, he really likes to go on dates with me :) such sweet memories. He loves to dress up like super heroes and always talks about being just like daddy when he grows up.

I'm so thankful for this family the Lord has so graciously blessed me with!

James is 6 months

James is now six months old. This month he has changed sooo much! I can't leave the room if he's on the floor because he rolls around and shimmies his way to where he wants to go. He is such a sweet boy, smiling all the time and very tolerant for his surroundings (being squeezed, kissed, patted almost continually by his brother and sister). He is just so laid back, I'm not sure if it's by nature or by necessity... I think both because in the hospital he was already so calm, we didn't understand how it was possible he was ours!

Here he has on his, "Samuel's baby brother" onesie that my friend, Brooke, made for Landon, I love that he can wear it too. I wish our little Samuel was here to love on him. I wish James could know his biggest brother. Although I know that the Lord has a plan and even though my heart aches to have our entire family together, I'm reminded that this world is not our home. One day, all things will be made new and the longing of our hearts will be fulfilled, to be with our Savior forever and leave all heartache behind. I can't wait to meet our little Samuel one day. 

Here is James's reaction to his first taste of food (avocado). He didn't look like he liked it based on his facial expressions, but he kept eating it. He really likes bananas and the other day, his cousin Layla (6) fed him an entire jar and the start of a second of banana-strawberry-apple baby food. Landon and Olivia never really liked baby food, but with James anytime we're eating, he gets mad if I don't feed him something. Just as I thought I was starting to figure out this three kid thing, it's changing (who am I kidding, I haven't figured anything out!). He's eating real food and the mobile stage is pretty much here - he's only going to get better at crawling and getting into things. The house is already a disaster most of the time. How am I going to keep this boy away from Landon's legos and small paper crafts, and Olivia's little pink trinkets she takes to every room she's in??

I'm praying for protection for this sweet boy and strength for me. I'm thankful that in our weaknesses, the Lord is proved strong. I'm continually asking the Lord to remind me to keep my eyes fixed on Him and the purpose He has for me, which is not to have a perfectly clean house all the time. His purpose for me is to raise these children in His ways and to model a close relationship with Him. To snuggle them and show them I love them, and that they are more important than a clean house. Not to neglect my house and training these kiddos to help take care of it, but to realize the MOST important things and not get caught up in the temporary. I'm realizing more and more how fleeting the moments are with these sweet ones and I truly want to enjoy them even through the difficult times.

Life is crazy right now (hence the lack of posts)... But it is wonderful and I feel so blessed to have the job of raising these sweet kiddos.