Ooooo, I just want to squeeze you!

Do you ever have moments when you are so happy that you could just squeeze something as hard as you can or scream out loud?  Here are some things that make me feel that way:

1.  When I've spent time talking with a friend and the conversation was completely satisfying.

2.  When I am snuggled up with Hanna on the couch and she looks at me with her big smile.

3.  Erik's look that says "I love you" without uttering a word.

4.  When I've been around the students at our youth group.

5.  When I get to pray for those students!

6.  When my children tell me randomly that they love me and hug and kiss me.

7.  When God has shown me something in His word that speaks to my exact situation.

8.  When someone tells me they are praying for me.

Have a joyous day and look for those things that make you overwhelmed with happiness that you could just SCREAM!!!!

It's December!

Today is the first day of December.  We have offically lived here for 11 years now.  Wow!  I can hardly believe how quickly the years have passed.  We are headed towards Christmas.  My favorite time of year.  I love the weather, the decorations, the music...but most of all, I love the reason we have to celebrate it.  If you don't know who Jesus is, there is no better time than now to find out.  He is the reason I live.  I hope all of you have a most blessed Christmas season.  Try not to let the busyness of the season keep you from focusing on the real reason we celebrate!

Thanksgiving

It's Thanksgiving time and so what better way to blog than to write what I'm thankful for?  So, here's goes:

1.  That Erik has a job with potential for moving up!

2.  My 4 beautiful daughters are healthy.

3.  All the girls have wonderful teachers and are learning so much.

4.  Friends who are so giving and loving.  Some are close in proximity and others have moved farther away, but all of you are very dear to me and my family.  We thank you for all the ways you have blessed us.

5.  For opportunities to serve at a new church service where God's spirit is moving.

6.  To worship with some awesome people and to be stretched beyond my own abilities.

7.  For new friendships that have blossomed over the last several months.  This includes the awesome youth that I have begun working with and getting to know.

8.  My parents, who have had their share of medical issues but are otherwise healthy.  They have helped out with the kids so much lately and that has been the most tremendous blessing for all of us.

I am going to stop here for now, but may pick up again later...have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Invasion

So, I recently started helping out with the youth group at our church.  They are called Invasion.  The first few weeks, I felt odd and out of place.  I only knew about 2 students and wasn't sure how to even begin getting to know everyone.  This past weekend was the fall retreat and I had the unbelievable, fortune of being a chaperone/leader.

It was truly an amazing experience.  The girls in my rap group (and the girls' who weren't) all stole my heart.  The girls hunger for God!  They are some of the kindest people.  One of the other leaders mentioned that she noticed that none of the students seemed to hang out with the same person repeatedly.  It was truly, one big happy family.

Tonight, (Wednesday) was Wednesday Church for Invasion and several of the students gave testimonies.  I was in tears as I listened to what God did in each students' life.  This is what it is all about!  When I walked in, I no longer felt odd and out of place.  I now have a home here.  I almost cannot contain myself when I think of about those girls.  Oh, how I love them!  Thank you, God, for placing me once again right where you want me!

Simply put...

I LOVE MY KIDS!!!!!!!

Letting Go!

So, over the last several months, I have been growing deeper in my walk with God.  He has been drawing me closer and closer.  It has been an amazing journey so far and I continue to travel the road He is carving out for me.
I have moments where I can feel myself let go of all that inhibits me and really move into His presence.  It's almost like I could reach out and touch Him.  At times, I wonder why I don't feel that more often.  I am left to ask, why?  Why can't I feel his presence continually through the day.  Why does it have to be just moments?  I want to feel His presence the whole day through.  I am seeking to make this happen.  The more I spend reading His precious word, the more I am drawn to Him.  I hunger for time with God.  I hunger to rest in Him.  I want to know more of Him.   I want to hear His voice and know that it's Him.  I want to be used and know that I am doing what God wants me to be doing.  I am NOT content to just sit back and go about my life from day to day without ever giving God a thought.
Today, Hanna was holding my Bible and hugging it.  I asked her if she knew that God could help her with anything she needed help with if she asked Him.  She shook her head no and I told her he could.  She looked up towards the ceiling and said, "God, will you help me to read this book?"  That is the type of childlike faith that God wants us to have.  That if we simply ask, He will do it!  So, I am asking God to do all the things above that I desire, and I know, that in His time, it will be done!
I hope that anyone reading this will pray this not only for me, but for you too.  Our worship team has been singing Even Greater by Planetshakers.  Check it out on YouTube.  You won't regret it.  Click on this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMbcQIzVWeI&feature=related

Bigger Friends

This morning, Hanna randomly asked me if her friend, Reagan, could have lunch or dinner with us.  I remarked, "Hanna, when we do go to Reagan's you never play with her."  She responded, "Well, that's cuz she plays with girl things."  Erik then asked how old Reagan was.  I said 3, but her birthday is in May so they aren't quite a whole year apart.  Hanna reconfirmed, "Reagan is 3?"  "Yes!"  I replied, to which Hanna said, "I think I need to get bigger friends.  I'm 4."

Question

If you had to create an account in order to read my blog, would you do it?  Either comment on here or go to facebook and let me know.  I'm not sure whether or not to make my blog private.

My Sweet Hanna

Today, we had the great pleasure of going to the zoo with several special people.  Hanna had so much fun running around with Marley and Jayson.  It was great to be with everyone.  Thanks girls for a great time!

When Meghan came home, she was in a bad mood.  So I took her to my room for some Mommy & Meghan time.  Once Hanna heard this, she started begging for some Mommy time.  I nicely reminded her that we had just had Mommy time ALL MORNING!  She was not satisfied with that, but she accepted it and off Meghan and I went.

Fast forward to tonight.  I had worship practice and Erik was home with the girls, getting them into bed.  I stopped at the grocery store on my way home, and as I was checking out at the register I received a text.  I opened it up to read this..."Hanna prayed...Thank God for making ma ma who is da best ever!"  I got tears in my eyes, right there in Kroger!

I love being my girls' mom!  God is so good!

My Baby Is Not A Baby

Today is Hanna's birthday.  She is officially 4!  I cannot believe it.  To me she is still my baby.  I am amazed how quickly four years have flown by.  So, Happy Birthday sweet Hanna!  You are one of the funniest kids I have EVER known.  I am so thankful that God has allowed me to be your mom.  You have brought so much joy and laughter into our home.  Your quirkiness, spunk, fun loving attitude is like no other.  You say some of the most off the wall things and I am always being told by people how silly you are.  Here are just a few of the things from the last few days that have made us laugh:

You were smacking your lips together and declared, "I'm clapping my lips!"

You rubbed the top of Jason's head with your face because you like how his hair feels.

You want to wear either soccer or basketball jerseys ALL THE TIME!  In fact, you have been known to wear more than one set at a time.  At one time, you had on 5 shirts and 6 pants!

You don't care if it's 100+ degrees outside, you'll wear a sweatshirt if you want!

You won't wear your flip flops all summer.  However, when I take you shopping with your birthday money all you want are the flip flops from Children's Place.  Go figure!

You say copporn for popcorn, hanatizer for sanitizer, and hamaburg for hamburger and I don't correct you because I think it's cute.

HAPPY 4TH BIRTHDAY TO MY SWEET SURPRISE!  WE ALL LOVE YOU SO VERY MUCH!

The First Full Week

Whew!  We have almost made it.  Today is that last day of a full week of school for the girls.  It has been quite challenging at times.  Meghan is having to adjust to a new schedule and how to be able to function peacefully in the afternoons.  Completely normal for one who has just started kindergarten.  I watched my two oldest go through a similar adjustment.  Alyson has for sure felt the loss of some freedom she had during the summer.  There are just not enough hours after school for everything she wants to do after homework is done.

I'm looking forward to next week to see how much progress we have all made.  In the meantime, my baby is soon to be turning 4!!!!  What?????  That's right, 4, on Tuesday!  It is so hard to think of my baby as not a baby.  I have had so much fun having a whole day with just her.  She is funny and can play for long periods of time by herself.  My favorite thing to do is pretend I'm doing something on the computer or read and just watch and listen to her play.  It is so completely sweet!  She'll be starting preschool soon, and then I won't have all these hours with her.  You would think I'd be sad (and I am a little bit), but I am so excited for her to be able to do what her big sisters are doing and to begin learning in a new environment.  So fun!

Well, I guess I'll write more about her on her birthday, so I'll quite now.  Have a blessed day!

A Very Exciting First Day

Today was Meghan's first day of kindergarten.  She waited so patiently yesterday to be able to have her day and I was amazed at how well she handled it.  She watched her two older sisters go off to school and never said, "That's not fair!"  Good for her.

So, many of my friends have posted pictures of their little girls, dressed in cute skirts and matching shirts with adorable shoes and little bows in their hair.  I couldn't help but notice the stark contrast of my little girl.  She had on her green capri pants with her blue Spiderman shirt and tennis shoes.  Her hair was back in a regular ol' ponytail.  I sorta laughed inside about that.

I thought I might cry when I dropped her off at school.  I did with my first two and sort of expected to with her, but for some unknown reason, I didn't.  Maybe it's because she was beyond excited.  I don't know.  I was so anticipating her homecoming so I could hear how much she loved it!  When I heard the bus stop, I looked out the window, and saw her running all the way from her bus stop to our house with one of the biggest smiles on her face.  I didn't really NEED to ask how her day was, but I did anyway.  Needless to say, it was fabulous!

A local church donated backpacks and school supplies this year, so today she got her backpack.  Do you know what she got?  A Spiderman bag!  Perfect!  After she told me about their hunt for the cookies the mouse stole and how she must walk in the hall, she asked me if she was going tomorrow.  Slight disappointment followed when I told her no, that it was Saturday and she would have to wait two more days.  Then, she got over it.  I am so proud of her and hope she keeps that love for school like her two older sisters.

A Very Frustrating Last Day

So, today was the last day of summer break for the kids.  Thank goodness!!!!!  Don't get me wrong.  I really do love these kids, but they were at their worst  today.  I got so frustrated with them that I ended up sitting outside on the front steps to cool off.  Kind of ironic since it was so HOT and HUMID!!!

Anyway, while sitting there, I hear Meghan say, "I just want to find out why mommy is mad."  Alyson yelled, "No!"  Meghan responded, "Maybe she just needs a good night's sleep."  I just about busted up.  I probably would have if I weren't so mad.

My Week

So last Tuesday just feels like a few hours ago and yet, it is actually Sunday night as I write this.  Tuesday, my big brother and his daughter flew in to visit from Washington state.  They left early this morning, but the visit seems like a whirlwind.  While they were here we managed to do the following:

Visit the zoo on two different days
Go to Family Night at Edventure
Skating at the Plex in NE Columbia
Swimming at the Temples house
and lots and lots of visiting and playing at the grandparents house.

My kids were 4 tired little puppies by the time we got them back home.  It was a great visit to say the least.  We finished this most fabulous weekend by going to church and it was almost beyond words how great it was!  After church we had a some friends over to celebrate a birthday!

I feel so completely blessed!  This was a great last week before school starts.  I'm sitting here trying to figure what else to say, but can't come up with anything.  Have a great next week!  I'm know I will!

Twitter and my Thursday night

Okay, I finally did it.  Why?  I don't know.  Just wondered what all they hype was about.  Everyone got facebook and I held off for a loooooong time.  Then, finally, I gave in and got an account and have for the most part, enjoyed following people on it.  Then came Twitter and a lot of people jumped on that band wagon.  Again, I held off.  But, now, my curiosity has gotten best of me.  I got a Twitter account.  Not sure what all they hoopla is all about, but maybe over the next few days I will find out.

So, it's Thursday night and instead of worship practice (which was moved to Tuesday nights), we had MOB!  That stands for Meeting Of Believers!  Basically, it's a small group.  This group is made up of our worship team members.  Tonight was our first meeting and it was amazing.  We began with dinner and laughed...a lot!  What a funny bunch of people.  We then moved on to our sharing time and it was truly amazing.  I am so blessed by this group of people who are seeking after God and push me to want more of God as well.

And, to top all of that off!  My kids are spending the night at my parents house with their cousin.  What could be better!!!!!

Washing Herself

A couple days ago, Hanna had an ice cream cone along with her sisters.  At some point the younger two decided to take off their shirts and be "boys!"  The oldest three finished their cones and moved on to other things (Meghan put her shirt back on).  Hanna, however, still had her shirt off.  She came into the living room rubbing her underarms.  I asked her what she was doing and she said, "Washing myself!"  So the question I had was what was she washing herself with?  Well, leave it to Hanna to use her ice cream to wash herself in.  She had it all over her belly and her underarms and part of her back!  Yuck!  She was a sticky mess.

A Lunch Time Conversation

There is nothing like talking about childbirth with your children over a nice lunch.  Alyson started off the whole conversation by asking if I "took that medicine so it wouldn't hurt to have a baby."  When I told her yes, she asked me what it tasted like.  Ha!  That was surprise number 1.  It gets better.  So, I proceeded to describe the way you get this medicine.  At the mention of the needle, the eyes got really big.  I stated, "It doesn't hurt near as much as labor does!"  Oops!  Didn't take into consideration that they didn't know what labor meant.  So, now I had to talk about that.

I told them that labor was when the thing (the uterus) that the baby was in basically squeezes or contracts to help get the baby out.  At the mention of this, Meghan looks completely disgusted and says, "Well, I'm not having any babies when I have kids."  And, here comes surprise number 2.  "They cut you in half!  At least, that's what someone at my school told me."  That was Meghan.  Truly wasn't expecting that comment.  Then surprise number 3 followed right after that by Kelli, "No, they just squeeze the baby out!"  I was almost in tears after this conversation!!!!  Oh, my!  I'm not sure if I did any good by having this conversation with them.

I Am Old!!

Oh, man!  If you have looked at my Facebook page recently, you would have seen my posts about this, but I had to take a moment to write it out.  See, I was at worship practice tonight and I shared what God has been teaching me through one of the songs.  Our 21 year old worship leader commented, "That is sick!"  I have come to learn that means it's really, really, really, good.  It's pretty much the equivalent of how we used the word "bad" when I was a teenager.

So, I used that word (sick) to describe worship practice and it just didn't feel right coming from this 35 year old mom.  Hahahaha!  I ended up changing my status because it made me feel so old.  Wow!  I just cannot believe I am now in that phase of my life.  Ugh!  At least my oldest isn't that age yet!

Popcorn

At my friend Ashley's today, the kids wanted a snack, so we made them some microwave popcorn.  Ashley was asking which flavor topping they wanted and Hanna replied, "Yes, I want that on my cop porn!"  Enough said!

She's gonna marry...

Hanna:  I'm going to marry Jay.

Kelli:  What about Noah?

Hanna:  Ooohhh!  Yea!  I'm gonna marry them boph.

Kelli:  You can't marry two guys.

Hanna:  I'm going to marry Noah and Jay and be big like mama and daddy.  And, I'm gonna have a baby and some kids.

The Power of Worship

This morning, I really needed to reconnect with God. I have felt so much worry recently and have been struggling. As I read my Bible this morning, I felt a sense of needing more. Just reading my passage for the day was not enough. I picked up my computer so I could see what I might find on the internet to read. I thought I might find a Bible passage that would speak to me better. Instead I found an article titled "The Power of Worship." Well, I am on our worship team, so maybe that will help me lead better. What I found, was not what I expected. The flood gates were opened!

My spirit of worry is gone. I feel complete peace. I feel God's presence around me. I prayed in a way I haven't prayed in a long time. I WANT more of God! The very thing we talked about at worship practice last night, is what I am want. More of God! If you are feeling stagnant in your spritiual walk and desire more, read this article. I have come to understand that in order to have real breakthroughs in our lives, I must enter into true worship of the One True God!

http://www.crosswalk.com/spirituallife/worship/11634783

I would love to hear your comments about this article, so please feel free to email, call, or facebook me. Psalm 96:1-3, "Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvfelous deeds among all peoples."

Is silence really golden?

So, it's Wednesday morning and my 4 girls are all off to VBS today.  The house is quiet and the break has been so nice.  This is a small glimpse into what my life will be in a few short weeks.  This fall, Meghan will begin kindergarten and Hanna will be in preschool.  If I'm truly being honest, the first day of silence was wonderful!  The second day, I found myself doing more chores and enjoyed not being interrupted.  Today, however, I am straightening up and it's nice, but in some ways, I am missing the noise and laughter my children bring to this home.

What am I going to do, when this is an everyday thing?  It's almost too quiet.  I can hear the clocks ticking and the refrigerator humming, but somehow it's just not enough noise.  I really didn't think I would feel this way already.

The saying is true.  Silence is golden.  But only when you have too much noise.  So, I am forced to say, yes, silence is golden, but if that's the case then laughter....it's platinum!

From the mouth of babes...

I was saying to Erik this morning, "Why can't our kids handle staying up late like other kids.  All they do is fight and whine and complain the next day."  To which my wise beyond years 9 year old, Alyson, replies, "Because all kids are different, mom!"

A Power Outage and A Funny Story

I'll start with my funny story.  About a week and half ago, we stopped in at Chick-fil-A.  Meghan was having one of her OCD moments about not sitting down because the table wasn't clean.  Now, if I remember correctly, the table only had crumbs on it that were easily wiped off.  I told her she was OCD and go tell daddy, who was at the register ordering.  She quickly ran over with a huge smile and declared to her dad that she was OCD.  She came running back to me.  I was not pleased with Erik's response, so I decided to try another word.  I told her to go tell Daddy that she was neurotic.  She eagerly approached Erik and declared to all that stood nearby, in a loud voice, "Daddy!  I'm EROTIC!"  As she ran back to me, I covered my face and then told Meghan to never say that again!  We did, however, work on pronouncing neurotic just in case she decides to fore go my request.

Okay, now on to my thoughts about our recent 4 hour power outage.  Just before 4:00 today, a huge thunderstorm blew right over our town.  I couldn't even see the houses across the street through the rain.  The thunder and lightening were all around and then, the power went out.  No telling how long this would last!  I love thunderstorms and I normally don't mind a power outage within reason.  I began to ask myself why this was?  Who actually doesn't want the power on?  Well, I do and here's why!  It makes it really easy to tell the kids no to t.v., video games, computer time, and music (although the music part I really do not mind)!  They have absolutely no choice but to find something to do either with their sisters or on their own.

I was waiting for any of the 4 girls to start in on me with the whole, "I'm bored!" (imagine that with a very whiny voice).  But, not this day!  For the first hour, my 3 oldest read books!  I napped on the couch.  Then, they moved on to trying to jump rope.  I watched!  They couldn't make that work and instead of stomping off and getting mad, they moved on to games at the table.  I washed the dishes.  At about 6:00 and still no power, we decided to head over to WMHK's Family Night.  It was one great evening!  By the time we arrived home at 9:00, our power had been back on for about an hour.  I was so glad I didn't have to endure the entire 4 hours at home or my blog would probably sound very different.

I am thankful for power, but every now and then, it's kind of nice to experience life without it!

Happy 44th Anniversary!!!!!

June 25 marks a very special day.  Today, 44 years ago, God brought two very special people together to fulfill their purpose as a couple.  They have persevered through the tough times, and have remained faithful to what God has asked of them.

Some of you may have guessed already, but for those who are still wondering, it is my parents anniversary!  I can hardly believe that they have made it 44 years when so many things could have torn them apart.  I am forever grateful for my mom's steadfast love for my dad and her ability to remain to what she knew God was telling her.  I am forever grateful for my dad's humility and steadfast love for my mom.  They have been a model for what marriage should be.

It has taken a lot of hard work to get to 44 years.  Thank you so much for setting the bar high!  It is because of your example and legacy, that Erik and I have something to aim for.  We love you both dearly.  May today be filled with much love and excitement!

Your SID!

My Friend, Tara

Meet my friend, Tara.  I've only known Tara for about 8 months.  In those 8 months, I have been fortunate to really get to know this lady's heart.  She has become one of my closest friends.

I am dedicating this post to her because in the next few weeks, she will be moving to Atlanta.  I have been trying my hardest to "hold it together" and pretend that this is some cruel joke and that at any moment someone will say, "Just kidding!  We're not going anywhere."  I told her today that denial is sometimes a good thing, right?

So, in order to force myself to face the music, I am writing.  Here are some things I have learned about Tara:
1.  She is completely honest with EVERYONE!  Something I admire greatly about her.  She stands up for what she believes and isn't afraid to speak her mind.  It has shown me that sometimes, it's okay to say the things that need to be said.

2.  She is spiritually mature and loves the Lord and worshipping him.  She has an amazing voice and I have been so privileged to share the platform with her and bring others into His presence.  I am going to miss that time together!

3.  She is a fabulous mother and takes her job seriously...but not too seriously.  To watch her play with her boys is soooo entertaining and her gentle, but firm, way of dealing with them is something to strive for.

4.  She is a great friend, who took time to get to know me and not just on a surface level.  We have a lot in common and I believe that is why we bonded so quickly.

5.  Age doesn't really matter.  She is 8 years younger than me and I didn't feel like it mattered.  She taught me many things.  I only hope that I have also been able to give to her.

I could go on and on, but in case she reads this, I don't want to blow her head up toooo big.  I know that this move to Atlanta is exactly what God wants for her and her wonderful family, but it really stinks for me.  I selfishly would like to keep her here.  It is so hard to know that I am going to have to say good bye in a few short weeks.

Tara, if you are reading this, I want you to know that I love you and your family.  I really am excited for Davon and all that God has for him to do.  I know this is not the end of a friendship, but I sure will miss singing with you and hanging out with you at your house.  You are an amazing woman of God and I know he will use you greatly in the lives of the kids you are going to be working with.  I thank you for your friendship.  I think you know how much you mean to me.  It's been unreal how close we have grown in such a short time.

So, there you have it.  I've let out some of the emotions that have been building up and pushed down over the last few days.  I'm sure there will be more tears to follow, but this was a good start, right?

Update on Mr. Socks

Well, it looks as if this little kitten is actually a girl, so we must change the name to Ms. Socks.  Oops!

She is doing quite well considering Mr. Putty, or the girls for that matter, won't leave her alone.  She sort of disappears most of the day.  She is cute as anything and loves to chase her tail, which is absolutely hilarious!

Mr. Socks

So, Wednesday evening before church, I asked Erik if he wanted to get another cat.  I fully expected a swift, "NO!" from him.  Instead, he responded with a laid back, "Sure."  What?  Did I hear that correctly?

I gave him the details I had about the kittens that needed a home or they would be taken to the humane society.  Nothing more was said.

Fast forward to church and I find Erik is speaking with Sam (who has the kittens).  Again, total surprise!

We decided that night, we would go ahead and get one and surprise the girls.  At 6:30 Thursday night, Liz and family arrived with our new kitten.  The girls were excited and surprised for sure.  The kitten, not so much.  Apparently, he hid for a while.  When I arrived home, I found him laid out on the couch looking quite content.  I truly hope this will be the case tomorrow.

You may be wondering how Mr. Putty feels about this new "friend."  He wasn't quite as excited as the girls.  See the next picture for a visual:


Our new kitten's name (for now is Mr. Socks), however, we are not 100% sure what his/her sex is, so the name could change.

I really hope these two cats learn to love each other!  Only time will tell.

Summer

When summer break first began I wondered how we would make the weeks fly by.  I completely forgot about Family Film Festival at the movies and that, my friends, is how I will be keeping cool and keeping my kids busy!

Someone so kindly reminded about the free summer movies and I am so grateful.  Here is the link to their website with a list of the movies they are showing.  The have 2 different movies, each week.  You can go either Tues, Wed, or Thurs to see either movie at 10:00!  And did I mention, it's FREE.  Okay, now here is the link (for SC theaters):

http://www.regmovies.com/nowshowing/familyfilmfestivalschedule.aspx?state=SC

You'll know where to find us and if you want to join us, feel free to contact me!  We love bringing our friends along!  What do you do to make the summer days go by?

Beginning of summer vacation...

So, last week, I wondered if I was going to make it through summer break.  Our transition from school to no school was NOT smooth.  The kids fought non stop, were bored, tired...the list could go on and on, but I won't bore you with the details.

It's a new week, and we all turned over a new leaf.  The key to my families happiness:  busyness.  Not a mindless, purposeless busyness.  Rather, a busyness that means a good combination of fun and laughter.  We've already had many trips to the library, playdates, and movies.  Thank you to all those friends of mine who have made this past week ridiculously fun!  Love you all!

Here's to hoping for a quick summer!

SCHOOL IS OUT!!!!

Let the chaos begin!!!!!!  Well, maybe not chaos...hopefully.  I'm sitting here and waiting for my girls to get off the bus so we can offically say, summer vacation has started!  I've said it before and I'll say it again, I cannot believe how fast this school year went.  All in all, it was a great year!  It most certainly had it's challenges, but it also had it's triumphs!

I watched my children learn so many new things and it's always fun to watch them discover for themselves, the world around them.  I've had to help my children learn how to deal with difficult situations and I've had the joy of guiding them through it.  I've made new friends and in some unexpected places.

I am looking forward to a break (no more early mornings, dragging kids out of bed and rushing them through the morning routine)!  I'm sure, before any of us realize it, the summer will be over and I'll be writing about how I can't believe how fast THAT went.  Next school year will be here before we know it!  Enjoy your summer and I hope that we'll be seeing you soon!  Until next blog!

Security Update

It's been a while, hasn't it?  We've had modem issues and as a result, we took our router off, so I haven't been able to sit in the middle of all the chaos in my home and get on the computer.  Instead, I'd have to hole up in the office.  I didn't want to, so therefore, I haven't been on the computer as much.  And, I'd have to say, it's been kind of nice.  Instead of getting on facebook all day long, I only got on maybe once or twice a day.  I can't believe how much more I got done!

On top of all that, it's been a very busy couple of weeks with end of school activities.  It's been a lot fun.

As you can see, I haven't yet made my blog secure.  In order to do that, I have to enter everyone's email and invite you and that takes time.  Refer to above as to why I haven't done any of this.  Now that we have our issues worked out, maybe I'll finally get around to it, but don't hold your breath!

FYI, Security

Hello friends.  For those of you who take time to read this blog, I wanted to let you know that I am going to add a step for you to have to get to this blog.  Because of the private nature of my posts (as in, about my family) and the fact I have pictures on here, I do not want just anyone to read it.  Very shortly, you will have to enter your email and password to be able to to access my blog.  If you want to continue reading, please let me know so I can add you to the list of friends who can read my blog.  I will make the change in the next couple of days.  You can facebook message me or send me an email.

Have a fantastic day!

School Years

Another school year almost done! I can hardly believe it! Where did it all go? Tonight, as I was driving Meghan home, we started talking about kindergarten. She has 3 days left of preschool and then she'll be a big kindergartener. She said she is getting soooo excited. We then proceeded to discuss all the things you get to do in kindergarten that you don't do in preschool. The smile across her face was priceless. How did I get to where my 3rd baby is going to be starting kindergarten? I am soooo excited for her.

She is so ready for school and I cannot wait for her to get to meet new friends, learn, and play. It's going to be amazing. I must learn how to enjoy every moment because it really does go quickly. Before I know it, I'll have teenagers in the house like my friend Ashley.

For all the young mom's reading this, truly cherish those babies. It seems like yesterday that Alyson was my baby and she's going into 4th grade! Wow!

Teachers

I don't know about you, but I think anyone who teaches is a rock star! I was thinking earlier today about that. You see, when we think of rock stars or actresses or actors, we sort of look at them with awe and put them on a pedestal.

That is how I feel about teachers. I am in awe of them. I definitely put them on a pedestal. And I feel like they completely deserve it! Over the last two weeks, I have spent more than half of my days either subbing or chaperoning. I have spent a lot of time talking with teachers and watching them. I have learned more from them than I would have ever thought. They helped me understand how children learn and how to teach to their certain style of learning. They have helped me see the importance of consistency with discipline and how to better discipline my own kids.

My children's teachers have become my friends. Not what I ever expected, but I am so very grateful for them. I hear parents say, "I don't know how she does this every day!" I have said this very statement many times. It's a tiring job! It's a rewarding job! It's one that I do not see myself doing but only on occasion as a substitute.

To all my teacher friends who read this, I have the deepest admiration and respect for you. You are superstars in my book. Thank you for the way you care for each child in your classroom regardless of how difficult they are. You make a difference every day! Love you all!!!

GRITS

For those who don't live in the south, you might think of the food when you hear someone say grits. Well, now that I live in the south, I have learned that grits is also known as Girls Raised In The South. I like to call my girls GRITS, but they don't quite get it yet.

I am not a GRIT! I consider myself a California girl through and through and, although I've lived here in the south for 10 years, I still have that California in me. You know the old saying, "You can take the girl out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the girl." Well, take out country and insert California and you got a true statement for me.

It is very interesting to raise my girls in the south. I don't have a southern accent by the standards of southerners. I may have picked up a bit of an accent by my CA friends standards. My girls, however, are picking it up despite my lack of use. I don't eat things like black eyed peas, bbq, or biscuits and gravy, and yet my oldest does. My kids are learning about South Carolina history and I know NOTHING about it. Try helping your daughter do Social Studies homework without a book! She loves the fact that she can teach me about it.

I can tell you one thing I absolutely adore about the south: MY GRITS!!!!!

Mother's Day

To all those mother's out there, hope you had a great Mother's Day. I sure did! We had the pleasure of spending the morning with my parents at their church and the afternoon at their home. It's not very often that we get away from our responsibilities at our church to go to their side of town. It was a great way to begin the day!

I have been so blessed with a great mother of my very own. She spurs me on to want to be more like her. She has been a solid rock in our family. She has been a great example for me to follow. She has left a legacy for me and for my kids and one I hope that they will carry on for generations to come.

I have 4 of the most beautiful daughters! How I've been so blessed is beyond me. I received several hand made cards from them and they mean more to me than I could ever have imagined. I remember making cards for my parents thinking I was being cute. I always thought they would think it was lame, and that they were just being nice. I now understand what they really felt.

Love to all who read this!

Mother's Day Tea

I just returned from Meghan's preschool Mother's Day Tea. I must first note, that there was no tea in sight. Just some yummy lemonade mixed with sprite.

I have never been so proud to be a mother. At the preschool Christmas program, Meghan would not sing even one word of any song that day. She stood the entire program, looking mad.

Yesterday, Meghan came home saying she sang on stage during practice and she was so excited!!! Her teacher was proud of her too. She told me she would sing during the program. As the music began, I wondered, "Would she actually do it?"

SHE DID!!!!!!!!!!! She sang every word of every song and with a big smile on her face. And, to top it off, she sang right to ME! I cried through the entire program! My heart felt like it would burst.

On our way home, I was telling Meghan how much I appreciated her singing to me and she replied, "You are a special mommy!" More tears followed.

I feel so blessed by my children. And, they make me feel special.

What Matters to You?

For me, friendships are high on my list of priorities. It seems so ridiculous to me that I am just now learning that not everyone places friendships near the top of their list. And, I am having to learn that it's okay. God has made everyone different for a reason. Could you imagine what the world would look like if everyone put friendships as a top priority. It could be a little scary. I recently re-evaluated what friendship means to me and asked on facebook what friendship meant to others. It was very interesting to hear people's view.

One of the most important lessons I have begun to learn is that we all have a different idea of what friendship is. I guess what it really comes down to are the different levels of friendship. Not every person I meet will be my soul mate. For someone like me, who finds a lot of my value in friendship, it's a tough thought to process. For me, friendship is time spent together and talking. Talking doesn't have to be in person, it could be over the phone, a quick email, a note on facebook. Communication is key for me.

Please don't misunderstand what I'm saying here. Everyone has their priorities. Mine are not better than yours. They are just different. I am so glad that God is teaching me this.

I love my friends and there is nothing that I wouldn't do for them. God has given me a diverse group of people in my life and they add so much to it. I hope this helps you to understand me a little better.

So, now you know what matters to me...what matters to you?

Nothing...

I needed to change my post because it's not Alyson's birthday anymore. But I really don't have anything to say. Nothing funny stands out to me to write. I have no morsel of encouragement. Many of my friends have very profound, life lessons to share. Sorry, I have none of that either.

I guess I feel sort of...speechelss. I've been thinking for days about what to write. This is what I came up with you.

Hope you have a fabulous rest of the week!!

It's Alyson's Birthday!!!!!

Today is Alyson's 9th birthday. In fact, as I write this, she really wouldn't have entered the world yet. Here is what I remember from that day.

Alyson was born April 24, 2001. It was a Tuesday. The Friday before, I had an ultrasound (still not sure why they scheduled one, they had not given any reason), where the tech asked me if I knew the baby was breach? I said, "No!" and began to worry as any new mom who had never been through this would do.

The doctor checked me and said, "Yep! That's definitely a butt. I can see why they thought it would be the head, but it's definitely a butt." Funny now, then, not so much. So, my options were to try and turn her (I was full term and this was not recommended) or to schedule a c-section. We opted for the c-section, although, this was really the last thing I wanted. Then we prayed for 3 days, that she would not arrive on her own. I really didn't want to go through an emergency c-section.

On Tuesday, we woke up at 5:30 to get ready to go to the hospital and meet our baby. We didn't know at the time if we were having a boy or a girl. I was so nervous and scared and excited. Such a weird combination of feelings. So, the doctors and nurses prepared me for surgery. They were able to start early and at 9:08, my beautiful daughter entered the world, all 8 lbs. 2 oz. She was my smallest baby of all 4 girls!

Being that Alyson was my first full term pregnancy, I had nothing to compare it with. After my pregnancy with Kelli, I realized how different Alyson's movements were. I realized that I only felt her movement right under my left rib cage. I though that was normal. Turns out, she was basically folded in half, with her feet by her head! Had I gone into labor before having that ultrasound, she would've tried to enter the world behind first! I can't imagine that would be a good thing. God's hand was definitely all over that situation.

Alyson loves people and it doesn't matter what the age is. She befriends children and adults alike! She has a way of making those connections so easily. Over the last couple of weeks, I have noticed a change in my daughter. She has definitely matured and is handling the tough, disappointments in life with grace and understanding. It is wonderful to watch her grow into a young lady, who is learning what it means to live for God. I am excited to see what God is doing in her already and look forward to all that He's going to do in the future.


Happy Birthday, Alyson! I love you!

Whistle

A few days ago, Hanna was whistling. I didn't know she could do that! She's 3 by the way. I asked her where she learned to do that and she said papa taught her.

So, I told her to go show daddy. She ran off to show him and was unsuccessful. She came running back to me in tears and declared, "I ran out of whistles!" I laughed, she cried some more, I consoled, she tried again, and what do you know! She found more whistles and was able to show daddy!

On a side note, last night I asked my dad if he taught her how to whistle and he said no. So, where did she pick it up? Your guess is as good as mine.

Some days are just like that

Ever have one of those days when you just feel like you've been through the wringer? For me, it's been a day full of some highs and lows. Thank goodness it was mostly highs. Tonight, we celebrated Erik's birthday again and added Alyson's birthday, with my parents. The kids were loud and rambunctious, but we had fun anyway!!!

I do have to say, that even though today had it's rough moments, my girls definitely brightened my day. Hanna and her one liners kept me laughing all day. And, Alyson's sweet smile and attitude lifted my spirits.

So, all I can say is that, when you've had "one of those days," repeat after me...Some days are just like that!

It's Erik's Birthday!

By the time most people see this, it will be Erik's birthday! Now, he may not be as excited as I am, but who cares. I love to celebrate people's birthdays! I love for people to feel special, because, well, they are! So as a tribute to my man, here's what I love about him:

Erik, first and foremost, is a man of God. Everything he does, is for God' glory. He is a spiritual leader in our family and desires to be right where God wants him. Through every trial, Erik has been my rock. His trust in the Lord is truly authentic and when he's struggling, he is honest about it.

Erik is the hardest, working man I've ever met. He puts everything he has into any job he ever does. Even folding laundry! Do you remember those days at Bethany, Erik? He just doesn't give up on anything.

Erik is one awesome dad! People used to tell us we would have beautiful kids and they were right! Erik loves those girls and adores them beyond words. I love watching him when he is watching and interacting with the kids.

Erik is my sidekick and my extra set of hands. He is always willing to help with things around the house. He is one of the funniest guys I know and he makes me laugh all the time.

He's not afraid to kick the cat off the bed so he can be comfortable. This is something I have not mastered and probably never will. And, Erik loves me despite the stupid things I do.

Erik is my forever guy! I know with him, that I will always have someone to come home to. He sure puts up with a lot from me.

I love you Erik and I hope you truly know that. You are my best friend. Have a happy birthday!

Lessons learned this week

So this week, I subbed for three days in a row. I was reminded of why I have so much respect for working moms. There are very different pressures for moms who work outside the home. I, being a stay at home mom most of the time, have not mastered those pressures. I do not know how to juggle housework with my job. I have not learned how to be with children all day, and then return home to deal with more of that stuff.

And on top of those obvious pressures, there are the ones that we don't often think about. Now, I realize that not all working moms are teachers, but being that this is the arena I am currently in, my thoughts center around moms who are teachers. How do you give so much all day long, only to come home and continue to give until your precious kids are snuggled in bed, and then most likely have planning and more school preparation for the rest of the night.

I have come home all three days, exhausted and just wanting to sit on the couch while the laundry pile (more like mountain) grows. I've been told that you build up endurance, but that still doesn't change anything in my eyes.

So for all those working outside of the home moms, I have the utmost respect for you. May God bless you in your careers and your families!

Things I love...

As promised, here is my list of things I love...

I love hearing my children play with and laugh with each other. It's absolutely priceless!

I love when one of my children apologizes for something they did and I really love it when it's completely thought of on their own and not because they were instructed to ask for forgiveness.

I love my friends. I love how they can be honest with me and take time for me. I love being able to call them when I am completely frustrated and I can tell them exactly how I feel and they still love me. I love that a simple phone call from someone can brighten my day and turn even the most tense situations around.

I love relationships. I guess that sort of goes with the above. I love spending time with people of all different backgrounds! It energizes me and it gives me insights that I don't always see otherwise.

I love my husband and the wonderful family we have built together. He makes me laugh all the time and I love that. I love hearing him laugh at the t.v. over something stupid. Half the time, I'm laughing not because of the show, but because of him laughing. I can watch the same show by myself and not laugh at all.

I love my kids teachers. A couple of them have become not just the kids teacher, but my friend. I don't think that happens very often and I am so blessed to have them in my life. I'm a better mother because of them. Weird, I know! But, they have taught me so much in discipline and how to help my child learn.

I love what God has taught me over the last year and how my relationship with him has grown so much. I am not the same person I was a year ago, thank goodness!

I love my church family, old and new. God has placed those people in my life for various reasons and I am so grateful for that. You will never know how much you have meant.

I really could go on and on, but for now, I will stop here. Now, that was definitely more uplifting than my little rant last night.

Things I hate...

I hate having to swap out winter and summer clothes for four girls. It's complete insanity! The piles of clothes waiting to be put away continues to sit there.

I had such grand ideas for spring break! Since my two older girls were home, I figured they could help sort and put away the clothes. Did that happen? Oh, no! Now, they are back in school and I am left with this monumental task. And, to top that off, I am working Wed., Thurs., and Fri. this week so there is no chance it will happen this week.

I also hate spring time. Don't get me wrong. I don't mind the blooming flowers and cool temperatures, but I really hate the pollen. And, the cold mornings where my girls freeze because they pick clothes for when they are coming home in 80 degree weather. It's crazy!

I hate school projects. I am not a very creative, artsy person. I do not like playdoh or art projects and I really do not like having to help with school projects that require me to use that part of my brain. That is why, tonight, I was so elated that my sweet husband stepped up to help Alyson with her school project. What a blessing! I have never enjoyed being the one to give 3 little girls their baths, than tonight.

I guess this hasn't been the most uplifting blog, however, I just really needed to get that off my chest. I think tomorrow, I'll look for all the things I love!

Big sister/little sister...

Yesterday, my dad gave all four of the kids sleeping masks. Two of them used them last night. Today, they were using them as blindfolds and trying to walk around the house. But, the funniest moment was when Kelli, who was sitting on the couch, was playing a "game" with Hanna. I wasn't paying too much attention to what they were doing when I decided to listen in and see what this game was. Hanna would have her blindfold on her forehead and say, "Now what, Kelli?" Kelli would name something. For example, one time she said, "The fireplace." Hanna would quickly say okay and pull the blindfold over her eyes. She would then make her way to the fireplace, bend down, and (gently) bang her head on it. Then she would run back to Kelli and the conversation started all over. I watched as Hanna proceeded to hit her head on the wall, the stairs, the table...I think you get the picture. And, every time Hanna did something, Kelli just sat there like a big sister and laughed! Priceless!

Spring Break

We are almost half way through a school less week. I always marvel at how I dread breaks in school and think it's going to be torture only for it to fly by! It's been fun to watch Hanna be able to play with her sister's. I've enjoyed sleeping in until 8:00 (or later) and to hang out with whoever we want and not have to run off to pick up someone from school.

Tonight, when saying good night to Alyson, she asked if spring break was good so far and I had to say yes! And it's not over yet. We still have hair appointments, a trip to the zoo, a trip to Charleston and who knows what else.

I've been reflecting this week about how blessed my family is. We have some of the best friends anyone could have. I am so very thankful for all of those people out there who love my kids like family! Meghan's 5th birthday party consisted of several of her friends but mostly adults that love her. Alyson's birthday is coming up soon and I figured she would want a slumber party (mostly because that what's she's told me) instead, she told me she wants a birthday party like Meghan's. What almost 9 year old kids says that?

I love that we have found friends who want to be friends and who desire to grow together and not just be Sunday friends. Friends who love to hang out and play games and talk...

Okay, how did I get on this. I was talking about Spring break. Ha! I shall end this now and wish everyone a fantastic night!

Happy Easter!

In honor of today, I decided to change our picture to the Easter photo. What a glorious day it was! It went sooooo fast. I hope you enjoyed your day as much as we did. Until next time!

She Did It...

So, here's the story if you haven't read my Facebook status today. I was lucky enough to get away for the night at my friends! After going to sleep at 3:30, I am woken up at 8:00 in the morning! Not one bit happy!! Then, I hear the sweetest voice saying, "Hi mommy! It's Meghan. I'm a Christian now!"

I am in utter amazement. She is 5 years old! Wow! What a great Easter blessing!

How did this happen? Kelli and Meghan share a room. They woke up this morning and were looking at the calendar. They began talking about Good Friday and what it meant. Next thing daddy knows, he's being awakened by these two. Kelli tells Erik, "Daddy, Meghan wants to know how to become a Christian." So, Erik talks with her and they all pray. My 7 year old daughter, led her little sister to the Lord (with the help of daddy of course)! What a great way to wake up.

Now comes the part where we get to help Meghan understand about this relationship and what that means. Thank you, Lord for the privilege of raising these 4 girls in Your knowledge.

What I've Learned From My Pictures

Hanna has good taste in boys. And, as a side note, even at 2 and 4, they can't take their eyes off of the t.v. Some things just never change!

My cat sleeps in weird, contorted positions.

My eight (almost 9) year old is not too old to see the Easter bunny and wear bunny ears around the mall!

This is apparently what my husband and our friend, Melvyn, think vacation means.

My 3 1/2 year old is as tall as my 5 year old and she weighs more than her too!

You can sure learn a lot when you really study your pictures! Hope you smiled today!

Smelling the Flowers...

This is one of my most favorite pictures. I have noticed that Hanna, who is a mere 3 1/2 years old, takes the time to actually stop and smell the flowers. I do not! I took some time to reflect on this. How can she know to do this? Why don't I do it?

Sadly, I have no grand ideas or answers to these questions. I am so glad though, that she can appreciate the beauty of these things, despite her mother's lack of teaching her. I should really take the time to learn a few things from her. What a tender girl. Take a look at her hand gently cupping the flower. She didn't destroy it, but rather, took great care in holding it! Precious! May we all stop and smell the "roses" and take the time to appreciate all of God's gorgeous creation. As I write this, I am spending my last night in Pipestem National Park in West Virginia. I took the time to look at all of my surroundings and appreciate it all! It's beautiful! If you ever get a chance, come check it out!

Funny of the Day

Tonight, we took the kids to eat for free at McAlister's. Towards the end of dinner, Meghan and I were sitting at the table alone. The song "Some Like it Hot" was playing overhead. I started to sing it quietly when all of sudden Meghan announces, "I like it hot...in the bath! I like a hot bath!" Oh my! The table across from us looked over. I just put my head down and laughed.

Hope that little story brightened your day!

Grandma cut my...ummm....wire thing

About a week ago, I was having a conversation with Meghan and the topic of her birth came up. I told her that her grandma cut her umbilical cord to which she responded, "Really! Wow! How do you know that?" So, I told her I was there, that's how. Then, I asked her if she knew what an umbilical cord was and she said, "No!" I just laughed and then briefly explained what it was. She wasn't as impressed as I thought she might be. End of conversation.

Fast forward about a week, and we're at home having lunch with another couple after church. Meghan randomly declares, "My grandma cut my, umm, wire thing!" Our friends weren't exactly sure what it meant and kindly reacted by saying, "Oh, really?" From the kitchen, laughter! I howled! I quickly explained that we had recently discussed how grandma cut her umblical cord and the light bulbs went on.

Lesson: You never know when a topic from weeks or even months ago might be revisited, so be prepared!

Kids

Last night I dropped my girls off at Noah's house. For those of you who may not have been following my posts until now, Noah is Hanna's declared future husband. If you scroll down this blog, you will find a picture of him. So, back to the story. Hanna was wearing her sister's orange soccer jersey. If it's out, she's gonna wear it! Noah arrives with his dad, and as he walks up to the house I notice he is wearing his orange Clemson football jersey. I do declare a match made in heaven!!!! Great minds think alike, so they say.

Anniversary plans

Fifeteen years ago today, I married my best friend. It's been a wonderful 15 years and I couldn't imagine life any other way. It's a pretty big milestone in my opinion. You might guess that we have some big huge way we'll celebrate this anniversary. The irony of it all, is that often times, this day takes a back seat to life. I'm not complaining. I have simply come to terms with that fact. It started with the birthday celebrations.

Do you remember when you were a kid and how excited you were for your birthday to get here. The party, the gifts, feeling like the most special person in the world (even though there were others celebrating that same day). For some reason, along the way it still a special day, but you realize that for the rest of the world, it's just another day. As I write this, I am beginning to see the reason. As a child, we are soooo self-centered. Everything revolves around us (or so we think). As we grow, we (hopefully) begin to see that is doesn't.

So, what are our plans for this big day? Erik gets the privilege of working today, while I have the privilege of taking care of the house (mainly laundry) and kids. Tonight, while Erik finishes with his last appointments of the day, I'll be joining my wonderful worship team for practice. We'll reunite tonight sometime after 8:00. I can't wait!

Features

Have you ever taken the time to really look at your children? I don't mean to just take a passing glance, but to really study them. One of my favorite things to do, is to just sit and watch my girls' face. I love to look at the their smiles, and the shape of their noses. The way they get this shy little smile when they catch me staring at them. I marvel at the fact that we all have noses, mouths, eyes and yet none of us look the same. I took this picture of Alyson at the doctor one day and I still cannot get over her beauty. She's going to be 9 soon and before we know it, the boys will be calling and the "dating" will begin. Ugh! So, while you still can, take a moment to really look at your child and enjoy the beauty that God has given them!

It's Meghan's Birthday!

Today, my baby girl turns 5! I can hardly believe it! I love Meghan! I hope this is your best birthday so far!!!!!

Food Network

I never watch the Food Network Channel, however, I wasn't in the mood to watch House Hunters International and ended up on the Food Network. I've heard of the show Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives, but I've never really watched it...until now. And, now it's 10:38 and I'm hungry! And, I can't even go out and get this food because it's in Pennsylvania! Ugh! Stupid show!

How Time Flies!

In three days, My 3rd child will turn 5 and 2 days after that I celebrate my 15th anniversary!!! Where did 15 years go? I can remember wondering what sorts of trials we face over the next 15 years and would we withstand it? And, now here I am, approaching that mile marker. So, have we withstood it? We most definitely have! We have survived getting married young and trying to figure out who we were, 2 miscarriages, 2 job losses, moves to MN and SC where we knew no one, the birth of 4 children...I could go on.

So begs the question, how did we make it? Simply put, God! He is the one who sustained us through the darkness of losing our first child. He is the one who provided for our every need when we had no jobs. He is the one who brought amazing people in our lives from all walks of life no matter where we lived. He has been the center of our marriage from the day we "tied the knot." We made a decision on March 18, 1995 to honor God and we knew he would bless us.

I am more in love with Erik today than the day we married and who thought that would be possible? I cannot wait to see what's in store for us over the next 15+ years. I'm sure that time will fly just as quickly. And, Erik, if you read this, I love you! Thank you for the best years. It's been an adventure and I can't wait for more!

Why? Because I said so! That's not enough!

I had a conversation with my dad recently about teaching your child the reason why you tell them to do or not do something. Most of us were brought up with the saying, "Because I said so, that's why!" or some form of that, anyway. My dad challenged me to give the reason why. There's nothing wrong with telling your child the reason not to lie, especially from a biblical standpoint. If you simply tell a child no and give them no reason to abide, why should they want to obey? We are raising morally inept children!

So, I have been trying to implement this into the way I parent my children. It has been so much more difficult that I thought it would. It has exposed how little I bring God into every moment. If I want my kids to grow up living for God, I HAVE to teach them that. They aren't born knowing how to do that.

This morning, Alyson and Kelli were arguing about talking with food in their mouth and it turned into a verbal war! My first response to them was, "Stop fighting! You need to stop using that attitude and be nice!" Not a bad response, but would I take a step further and tell them why they needed to be nice?

We talked about what being like Jesus means. I asked them how would Jesus ask someone to not talk with food in their mouth. They immediately used their manners and spoke kindly to one another! By bringing, a "Jesus perspective" into it, they could see why they needed to be nice. I told them I wanted people to see that Jesus makes a difference in how they behave. If they acted like all of their friends who don't have Jesus, what makes them different then? Not only did they see why the needed to be "nice" but they stopped arguing!!!! Alyson said, "But it's so hard sometimes!" What an opportunity to tell her that YES! It is hard and that's when we need to stop and ask God for help to control our mouths! I was then able to share with them how I struggle with this and how I have to cry out to God as well! See, even mom isn't perfect!

I have so far to go with all of this. As I challenge my kids to think about how they live and present Jesus, I also need to do the same.

It is 5:19 on a beautiful afternoon in South Carolina! I am sitting in my front yard, while the kids are either playing or working on a work book (and this is for fun, not homework). It is absolutely refreshing and yet somehow, I am not at peace. My kids are being rude to me and to each other, one kept crying over homework (that is now thankfully done), and my thoughts are muddled.

So, that is why I picked up my computer and decided to put my thoughts down on "paper." It appears that things will start looking up soon. A girl can hope right?

Have you ever felt black listed and unable to prove it? Where did Kelli learn to say, "Wow!" when she didn't like what someone did? Who bought the house across the street and will they flip it and sell it to someone nice with a cute little family? Why do they keep on fighting? Hmmm....these are the things running around in my head.

On a lighter note, it is sunny and warm. We will have a new roof on the house by the end of April and maybe, just maybe, some new windows as well. We shall see! Thank you God for being in ALL things.

Here's to hoping for a better evening! Guess I should move on and get some dinner ready. Ugh!

Arranged Marriage Anyone?

No, I did not recently adopt a boy. We still have all girls. This handsome young man is Noah Eargle. He is the son of our dear friends, Toni and Rial Eargle. He just turned 4 and is one of the most amazing little boys I have met. How fortunate for me, because he loves Hanna and she loves him. Toni shared with me the other day, that Noah asked her, "Why do we call them the Davenports?" Toni responded, "Because that's their last name, just like you're last name is Eargle." Noah then asked, "When will Hanna be Hanna Rial Eargle?" Toni explained that she would be Hanna Eargle and asked if he wanted to marry her to which he replied, "Yes!"

Toni and I are thinking that the idea of an arranged marriage may not be a bad idea! We know each other and as far as I can tell, we like each other's family. We have the benefit of watching the kids grow up together and to see the character that each child will develop.

Who knows what God has in store for these two sweet kids, but I would be totally okay if the two of them ended up married in let's say 30+ years. Hahaha!

Friendship

Tonight, I have once again been reminded of the importance of friendship. God has been so gracious to my family and put such wonderful people in our lives. My kids are so fortunate to not just have a mom and dad, but to have people outside of our family who love them. I can think of so many people who take the time to hug my girls and talk with them because they care not just to tolerate them!

For many years, I have longed for families we could just have some good ol' fashion fun with. We have been given that. So this a HUGE THANK YOU to all of the people in our lives who love us like like family and accept my loud, crazy kids without question. My family will never be the same because of you!

2 Hour Snow Delay

So, as many of you know, it snowed here again last night. Just a nice dusting to cover most everything outside, but it didn't stick around for long. Our wonderful school district called at 5:50 this morning to let us know that the schools were on a 2 hour delay. Nothing like being jerked awake by the sound of your phone ringing at an odd hour of the night.

We all slept a little longer that usual, and that was quite nice. What I found funny, was that even though we had 2 extra hours to get ready for school, my kids still were not ready to leave when the time came. They were left scrambling to find shoes, belts, jackets, and backpacks all while listening to mommy loudly declare (also known as yelling) it was time to get in the car! It's a good thing this mommy pads our time so we won't be late!

A Bedtime Prayer

Tonight's bedtime routine was, well, routine to say the least. Meghan brushed her teeth, raced to her bed, did our usual Eskimo kiss, butterfly kiss, kiss on the cheek, and squeezes. Then we giggled!

Next came a quick prayer, at least mine was quick. Now Meghan, she can pray! Her prayer tonight went something like this, "Dear God, thank you for all the people in our neighborhood and for making all the people better with your magic..." I don't really remember what she said after that.

Thank goodness that God knows what we are really trying to say!

A New Venture

Okay, so I have no idea what I am doing but I guess I'll figure it out as I go. So, a couple friends of mine blog and I figured I'd leave it all to them, but they have encouraged me to try it. My thought was, what in the world would I have to say? The response was, "You have 4 kids. You have a lot to share!" So here I am, getting ready to make my first post. Hmmm, should be interesting!

I sat for a while trying to figure out what to title this blog. My friends who blog have the greatest titles, but I couldn't steal their ideas, so I knew I had to come up with my own special title. Then it hit me! Everywhere I go, I am forever being asked, "Are they all yours?" My response, "Yep, they're all mine!" Sounded like a great title to me!

Now, I know there a lot of families made up of way more kids than I have and there are plenty of families with the kids all the same sex, but it still feels like we are a spectacle no matter where we go! Just today, as I walking into CVS, the lady trying to walk out the door had to wait for me and my 4 stragglers to get out of her way. "Oh my, OH my, OH MY!" was her comment as each child came around the corner. It was priceless!!!

I'm not really sure exactly how this blog will go, but I'm sure I'll be able to share plenty of silly stories from my 4 kiddos. Hope you enjoy!