Life

Sophia is 6 weeks old already.  She loves to be held, does not like to be put down. Thank goodness for my sleepywrap.

Gabe has hit toddlerhood full force. He is running everywhere, and starting to say a few words. He has learned how to go down the stairs, and is climbing on everything. He is also learning how to use utensils.

Isabelle and Isaac have been keeping me busy as well. I love seeing their imaginations at work. Today they made their pegboard a birthday cake. They even pretended to bake it in the box. Then we sang "happy birthday" and blew out the candles.

Party Planning - things my kids say

Source: 79ideas.org via Crystal on Pinterest

I love the enthusiasm of four year olds. Izzy has been planning her birthday party since October. "I want a princess party with pink cake and pink icing" I have recently found the pinterest love, and have been browsing on it while I nurse Sophia. Today I asked her what kind of party she wanted, so we could look for pictures on Pinterest. "I want a princess party! and I want it to be pink, and everyone must wear pink... or blue, and bring a pink toy or blue or purple"

A new year...

... a new beginning. I'm not big on New Year's resolutions, they seem to get broken in a few weeks anything. but I think of the new year as a sigh of relief, the holidays are over, our routines are so broken that we might as well work on new one's. Its been interesting looking back on this past year, as I feel like its been a year of growth for me.  A year ago,  we were still very uncertain about Gabe's recovery, and Sophia wasn't even a thought in the back of our minds. God has faithfully led us through this year. I am looking forward to this next year, as another year of growth.
There are a few things I would like to accomplish this year. We'll call them goals since I don't like resolutions.
1. Read my Bible every day.
2. Memorize scripture, and teach the children to memorize scripture.
3. Cook more meals, using whole foods whenever possible
4. Spend more meaningful time with the children.
5. Simplify. reduce clutter, get rid of the extra stuff in my life that causes me stress.

she is here!

Sophia Claire, 11/24/11 8:39 am, 7 pounds 13 ounces, 20 inches long.

my house may be messy...

and the kids may be tired and need a nap, but it will have to wait. We were blessed with beautiful weather today, all the snow has melted, and we have been spending way too much time inside in front of the TV lately. So I kicked them out. All of them, and me, too, I've been needing some sunshine. Usually I keep Gabe in the kitchen with me. He had so much fun out there with his brother and sister, I love seeing the relationships between them develop.  Hopefully they will sleep well tonight, too.

my big boy is taking steps!

Who's children are they?

Well obviously, when they are good they are mine, and when they are naughty they are my husbands. Realizing what we are raising children for is an important part of how we deal with them.

Before we had children (feels like forever ago) I was in a ladies Bible study, the teacher, a dear friend of mine, was teaching on this very subject. Giving our whole lives to God, and realizing that our children are not ours, but His, he gives them to us to raise and nurture, but ultimately they are his, to do with what He wills.

 I was reminded of her teaching as we dealt with the early stages and uncertainty of Gabe's injury. I did not want to see him suffer, or for things to be difficult for him. In praying for him in the early stages, when we did not know how much use of his arm he would recover, all I could do was rely on the fact that this was in God's plan for his life, and that He would use it for His glory.

I have been feeling weary lately, and like I am not doing a very good job of raising my children in Him. I cried out to the Lord, that He has given me these blessing, and to please give me the strength and the knowledge to raise them according to His will. The scriptures were my answer

You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. - Deuteronomy 6:5-7

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. -Proverbs 22:6

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. -Ephesians 6:4

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 2 Timothy 3:16

Promises

I set My bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a sign of a covenant between Me and the earth. Gen 8:13


I was driving home today from a doctors appointment after a tiring day during a tiring week. Then I saw the rainbow, and it was just a pleasant reminder of God and His promises to us.