Ethan turns 5!

This month we celebrated E's birthday at the gymnastics place in town - it was an amazingly easy birthday party, and the kids had so much fun. We basically just sat there and watched them tumble, and run, play games with the instructor, and jump into the pit of foam blocks. And then we had pizza and cupcakes - and it was over! No clean-up!









Best of all, Ethan loved it, and it was so fun to see him really enjoying time with his friends. He is growing up so much - it just amazes me to think that he will be going to school next year! I seriously feel like we just brought him home from the hospital, and now he is old enough to play games with friends without help, ride his scooter all over the neighborhood, play basketball....READ! He is getting so big!





















I'm mostly thankful to catch a glimpse of the man he will grow up to be - this year he has matured a lot, becoming more independent (getting dressed in the morning without being told, cleaning up his room all on his own, etc...), and slightly more trustworthy in other important areas! As a mom, it is so encouraging to look back over their little lives and realize that progress is being made...because I don't always recognize it so much in the day to day. :)










So how much longer do you think he and Cam will be so close? Check out this picture!










I tried to get a picture of him blowing out his candle, but it kept getting blown out by his friends! He didn't seem to mind though - he thought it was hilarious. :)







And just because I don't want to forget this....


When we were at Red Robin for his birthday dinner, he was sitting there with a thoughtful expression on his face. And then he leaned over to me and said, "You know, Mom, it's a good thing you sp*nk us, because otherwise we wouldn't learn to obey, would we?"

It took me by surprise - this random thought - but afterwards I realized that he is really thinking and learning - and wanting to obey. He is such a sweetheart, and I'm so thankful to see his heart softening.

Lord, keep him soft towards You! Draw his little heart by Your Word, and win him for Yourself. Thank You for letting us raise him!

Snow Day

It's been a good week - our families are adjusting nicely to an 11 person household (at least they are on our end!). The kids especially love having built-in playmates around. Lots of games around the table, art supplies have made it out several times, and someone is always fully decked out in dress-up clothes. Makes me laugh.






Today the kiddos woke me up with cries of, "Mommy, mommy, it snowed last night!" They were so excited to play in it today, especially with all the friends, who of course aren't as used to snow as we are. But the midday sun made for a nice day to play in it, and the kids had a blast. I had to make them come in for lunch, with promises of more snow days to come.

The Lord is Peace

"I have loved you," says the LORD. "Yet you say, 'In what way have you loved us?'..." Malachi 1:2

"The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God'...the LORD looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek God." Psalm 14:1,2

Meditating on these verses today - my heart is like the Israelites' sometimes, questioning the love of the Lord in my life. Oh, I wouldn't say it out loud, or even consciously think it...but my attitude betrays me sometimes. Just ask Dave. :) Frustration builds, and I find myself fuming over circumstances... and my husband asks, "who are you mad at anyway? God????"

Always makes me think.

Because that is what I'm really saying, when I let my mind wander down any path it chooses, dwelling on circumstances instead of trusting in the Controller of them. I'm saying in my haughty Israelite tone, "In what way have you loved me, God? Have you looked around recently????" Even though I'd never intend to go there... it is convicting, this Bible I read.

Tonight in Bible study we talked about the name of God Jehovah-Shalom, which means the Lord is Peace. God revealed Himself to Gideon as Jehovah-Shalom in the book of Judges, when the circumstances were dark...the nation of Israel was being oppressed by the Midianites because they had fallen into sin. The situation was desperate. But the Lord showed Himself to Gideon, and told him not to fear. He could have peace because the Lord was with him and already knew the outcome.

This excerpt from our book Lord, I Want to Know You by Kay Arthur really made me think:

"He gives us a peace that does not alter, regardless of circumstances, because the peace He gives us is resident in the One who promised, "I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,' so that we confidently say, 'THE LORD IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. WHAT SHALL MAN DO TO ME?'" Hebrews 13:5-6

He is with me - as Philippians 4:4 says, the Lord is near. And He gives a peace that does not alter.

"You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You." Isaiah 26:3

I was challenged tonight to run to Jehovah-Shalom with everything - every thought that threatens to steal the peace that He longs for me to have. Lord, let me not be like the fool, who ignores Your existence. Help me run to You first - and pour it all out to You.

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your forbearing spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:4-7

2009 begins with changes

So.....we have some news....David, Hope and their 5 kiddos moved in with us this week! He started a job here in town a couple months ago, and the rest of the family just joined him. They are praying that their house back in Florida will sell before too long. Granted, things look bleak in the housing market down there (or anywhere for that matter), but the Lord has brought them here...and we know He will keep leading and providing. So, for now, our home is full - and we are enjoying it!

We've been unpacking and organizing, doing laundry, setting up beds, and buying groceries (lots and lots of groceries), but things seem to be slowing down now. And I am enjoying the quiet tonight - 7 kids in bed, a cozy bed with a snack, and my laptop - oh, how I have missed thee!

We studied the book of Malachi in adult Sunday school this week, and I've been thinking about one verse ever since.

"Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings.....Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,” Says the LORD of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it." Malachi 3:8,10

Lord, open up the windows of heaven in my life this year! Help me to willingly give You what is rightfully Yours ... of everything - my money, my time, my thoughts, my pursuits, my goals - and make me more aware of areas where I'm holding back and robbing You of throne of my heart.

Because I want to see your blessing in 2009...and in the lives of others too!

Christmas 2008 part 2

Dave's family celebrated Christmas last Sunday - here's a few pics of the fun!

Christmas 2008

My family came here for Christmas this year - mostly because Nate and Ruth were able to fly home for a couple of weeks. They split the time between Nate's family and our house, so the week of Christmas was when we got them. I'm not sure we've ever housed so many people in our home, but it did work. It sure felt quiet when everyone left though!

And that is saying something, because one thing my boys are NOT is quiet! :)







































Thanks for coming, everyone! We loved having you here!

First Snow of 2008

Since then we've had a few more inches fall - this is pure heaven to my little boys' hearts!

I know, I know, I know....

I feel so bad. I really do. Ideally, I would not have left you hanging like that, I promise! Teasing you with my fun, new info. One of you even called this morning, just to make sure everything was okay. What a sweet reminder of the care and concern of our many dear friends. We are so blessed to share our lives with you!

It honestly wasn't my intent to wait until this afternoon to post my news. I've just been running like crazy. I got my mom and my sister called on the way home from the sonogram, but then kids were crying, the new snowfall was calling, the answering machine was full of messages that needed to be returned, and dinner needed to be started since we were having guests over. You know how it goes. Some of my very dearest friends didn't even get called before my sweet husband (love you!) posted the news on facebook. Haha! It was not intentional - I promise! (He took it down, after I called him, in case you're looking :).

We were up late Christmas shopping online - good grief, we are a little behind! And then we hit the ground running early this morning again, with the church to decorate for our MOPS Christmas party tomorrow. Then it was sledding fun in the front yard again (which means, mom runs around up and down the hills, pulling the sled behind her. Uh, huh, that's right. I am a FUN mom!), followed by hot chocolate, lunch, and - finally! - nap time.

So here I am - 1:45 pm - with my lunch and my laptop, ready to tell you my news. But you probably already know by now!

I am such a loser. But this is life, right?

Anyway, without further ado....



It looks like pink is in my future, after all!!!!! I am still in shock - was so not expecting that!

We are beyond excited - and amazed at the tiny 13 oz girl we watched kicking around inside of me yesterday. I still can't get over it. I am going to have a daughter, people! She was laying there, all stretched out, with her legs extended, one arm behind her head...very cool, this one. It made me laugh. And yes, cry. But I am NOT more emotional this time around - I swear, I am not! :)

Thanks for hanging in there, and for all the love and prayers. 20 more weeks, and you can meet her!

Today's the day!!!

Refer to the poll on the left. :)

Visiting Bethlehem

2 Sunday evenings ago, we surprised the boys with a trip to the Mast family farm for a live nativity experience. All around the pond on the property, it was set up like the city of Bethlehem, during the year the Lord was born. And numerous actors told the story in a way that made it seem so real to them. Everything was so well done - we just loved it, and hopefully we'll make this a tradition we keep every year.

We didn't tell the kids what we were doing until we parked and got on the bus to ride to Bethlehem. They were so excited!


I forgot to get my camera out again for awhile, so I don't have pictures of all of it. But when we arrived, a Roman soldier met us and took a group of us to "register" in the census. It was there that our guide Benjamin met us, and took us on our journey through Bethlehem.

We stopped to hear the rabbis read from the Torah the prophecies concerning the birth of the Messiah - that He would be born in Bethlehem! How incredible to think that God recorded so many prophecies about the coming Lord Jesus, and that there were ones who looked expectantly for His coming. What an amazing night that must have been, when He finally arrived!

Along our way, outside the city, we came across a group of shepherds, warming themselves by the fire. As we spoke with them, all of a sudden, angels appeared out of nowhere, proclaiming good news of the coming Babe!

We hurried on to Bethlehem. The city was a bustling marketplace.














The boys got to make dreidels - they loved this!





Finally we saw the star, above a stable. It was Mary, Joseph and Jesus! (But really, it was Chris, Candace and Conner!).





The wisemen - still looking for Him.










At the end of the journey, we passed 3 crosses and then an empty tomb. Joseph of Arimethea told us the story of how the Baby had come to die and to save His people from their sins. And he encouraged us to put our trust in Him if we hadn't already.



What a beautiful story! Thank you, Lord, that it is true!

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." Luke 2:14

Oh, Christmas tree, Oh, Christmas tree...

We decorated the tree tonight. The boys have been impatient with anticipation, but we wanted to wait for an evening when we could all do it together. And it ended up being really special, so I'm glad we did. The boys are just in awe of everything Christmas - from their toy nativity set to the stockings hung with care - and it is so fun to see their wonder at the beauty of a Christmas tree.

We bought a real one this year, a fraser fir. I have to admit, it smells like Christmas now. But I think I have vacuumed every day since we got it. Ugh...give and take, I guess.

This little one inside is moving a lot these days - I am almost 18 weeks now. I saw my doctor this afternoon for a general visit, and he said I am measuring right on. So probably no twins, for those of you who have asked. :) I am just fat. Although technically the 5 pounds that the scale says I have gained shouldn't make me look so fat, but it is what it is, right? I guess we'll see if this pregnancy workout video delivers like it promises.

Ha!

No puking today. I feel absolutely glorious, and at least a little hopeful that this is a good sign of things to come. My doctor just chuckled at me, and said that in his opinion, morning sickness itself is a good sign and it makes him very optimistic. Thanks, doc. Just what I wanted to hear. :)

My sono date is set for a week from Tuesday. I can hardly wait to take another peek at this little one!