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!