It's a Golden Life

2014 seemed to fly by. I think as our kids get older, the time must go faster!  Paxton turned 3 in November. He has gone from our reserved, quiet guy-to a reserved, but very independent guy. He has a thirst for figuring things out and doing things on his own. Not a day goes by where he hasn't gotten into the fridge or cabinet and fixed himself a little something to eat. Pax is always making a mess, and always eating. He adores his brother and sister. While he is very street smart, he is stubborn in the learning department. He would rather be playing with cars than learning colors and ABC's.  He is super affectionate and favors his daddy. Since switching from his crib in February, he has woken up at least once a night-usually making his way to our bed for the remainder of the night. He is super cuddly and is talking a mile a minute. He loves Daniel Tiger, Thomas the Train, and Ninja Turtles.  Halynd turned 5 in July. She started kindergarten and is loving it! Since startin...

As an adult, Christmas is SO different! This year, at 27, it really hit me hard in the gut that we celebrate Christmas to remember Jesus coming to earth as a baby. His birthday. It seems so strange to gift each other presents when I think about it. But it's so much fun! I love thinking of unique gifts to get friends and family to show them I am thinking about them. There's something so satisfying and sweet seeing the excitement in your children's eyes when they open that gift they really wanted.  While there are things on my imaginary Christmas list, it is no longer important to me to get the things I want or ask for. I think that is because the things I desire most cannot be bought or made!  I really would like to start encouraging our kiddos to think more about others around Christmastime, and to be thankful for what they receive and not want more. To focus on the fact that we celebrate Christmas because that is the day we remember that Jesus came to earth as a baby. 

The year of 2014 is almost over. As I begin a new year, the word that comes to mind for me in 2014 is-stagnant. I feel as though I am just now balancing mothering 3 kids, being a wife, being a pastors wife, taking care of our house..and yet, there are still things that need to get thrown into the mix. While I am not one for "New Years resolutions" (just because time is linear, not cyclical), I definitely feel God calling me to more. I spent much of this past year in complacency and laziness trying to escape the high demands of motherhood. There came a certain time of the day where I had been cooked, cuddled, loved on, comforted, encouraged, needed-out. I had gone full throttle from the moment I woke up (usually waking up late with not enough time to shower or brush my teeth even) to after dinner time, and I have been spent!  I feel called to rest this year. I feel as though big things are happening for our family in 2015, and I want to find rest in Him. I need to find my stre...

With how fast life is zooming by, there are some hilarious things the kids say that I want to remember!  -Malachi- *sinking="zinking" *dizzy="bizzy" (when he has a headache or is feeling dizzy, he says his head is bizzy)  *calls sneezing- bless you. Ex. I just bless youed so many times!  -Halynd- "I'm licking my chops" (I'm really hungry)  "I love pepperoni pizza, but without pepperoni" "I want to learn gymnastics, except the splits!" -Paxton- *when you say, "Say what?", he replies with a questioning "whhhhatt??" *he says, "Hot dog, hot dog" like Mickey Mouse clubhouse. *when he wants to do something, he said " (so and so) said me yeah". *When someone gets hurt, you say, "poor (so and so)" with a sad look on your face. 

While one of my kids was peeling an orange today, they started to whine and complain that it hurt their fingers. The juice was seeping into the little places where skin was around their cuticles, causing a burning feeling. Acid in a cut. When I advised for them to either stop peeling the Orange and wait for help, or to keep peeling, but stop complaining-they replied that the Orange was just so yummy that they didn't want to stop. As if the pain was worth it.  This just reminded me of my relationship with Christ. On this day as we celebrate his birthday.  So often I am faced with that yummy orange situation, and I am impatient in waiting for help. I am warned by the burning in my cuticles, but keep going because I want to eat that orange. And I complain and whine when I am burned.  So many times God has prompted in my heart to be patient and wait for help, for his help. I am too impatient or stubborn to listen! I pray that I remember to listen to God and be willing to wait...

As our life has been woven together with various strands of this and that in the past 19 months, I feel the adoption has gone from being one of the major threads, to one of the finer ones. While it is less visible, the adoption is still there and still a part of what makes up our family. Time has proven that it is difficult to come up with all the required fees and paperwork within a 6-month schedule. Our paperwork has expired for the second time while we are pushing for that one document required from our life insurance company to send over our dossier. This has shown us that our concept of time might as well be thrown out the window. This process has been exciting, moving, humbling, and a time of testing. It has shown me how much of an advocate we already are for our little girl waiting for us. The expiration of man decided deadlines has moved me to a feeling of strain and a state of clouded vision to the end of this process (which is when we have our daughter home). I will co...

Halynd,  We had your 5 year well check yesterday. You are a healthy, happy, smart little gal.  You weigh 34.10 lbs (10th%) and are 41 inches tall (25th%). You know all your shapes and colors, count past 30, have all your gross and fine motor skills down, and can do all the things a 5 year old should be doing! We are working on learning to tie your shoes :). We always get slip ons or Velcro, so it's difficult to teach!  (Here you are at Dr. F's office. You think he is hilarious. Especially when he said he could hear your birthday cake milkshake talking in your stomach)  While sassy, you are so sweet! You are always looking for ways to be helpful-be it in the kitchen, helping mommy with daycare kiddos, or helping with your siblings. You have a servant heart. We often have disagreements on what you will wear for the day. It is a norm for you to gallop down the stairs-proud to be wearing-the frilliest dress you own. Completely with a style of your own, you match bright r...