Ethan just LOVES...
to go
see
Tanner.
Playing with
the ball
is a favorite
game of theirs!
Monday, December 13, 2010
Friday, December 10, 2010
Late Sunday Pics.
This past Sunday my kids and I were sick again! I wasn't able to take the pictures that I had hoped to. But, we received a gift card to Olive Garden in the mail so I dressed the kids up for that this week! By-the-way, Olive Garden is my favorite restaurant and I am so-o thankful to Jon's grandma for the early present!!!
Thursday, December 9, 2010
My 11 Month "Cheerio"
Madison LOVES her cheerios! I have started calling her my little "Cheerio." She has a VERY happy personality! She is content so much of the time. It is a huge blessing! I think the Lord new I needed an easy-going 2nd child!For the past few weeks I have found Madison standing in her crib in the mornings and after nap times. It is so-o cute! She always has a great big smile for me. She looks like such a big girl standing in her crib. Part of me is in denial that she is growing out of babyhood. But, she still cuddles constantly with me and puts her thumb in her mouth. It's so endearing!!!
Her favorite word is "hi" and she says it ALL day long! She has also said, "ma ma, da da, ball, cow, duck, dog, cat and uh oh." She just started the sign language for "please."
She is definitely the little girl of my dreams! She laughs very hard at silly things. Ever known a person that you had to laugh with every time they laughed? Well, that is how infectious her laugh is. Inevitably when she starts laughing so do I!
One more month and she will be a one year old. This past year seems to have flown by. It makes me think of that song "Cherish the Moments" by Ron Hamilton. I used to wonder as a child about the women who always shed tears during that song. Now that I am a mom I totally understand! You just can't rewind the time and play it over again. This is the only year we have with our child at this age. We need to enjoy it even on the days when we have to endure it.
"Lord, thank you for my children. Thank you for all the blessings and joy that they bring to my life. Thank you for giving me the gift of motherhood. Please help me to train my little boy and girl to obey so that they are prepared to obey you. Please help me to make good use of the time you have given me with them."
Monday, December 6, 2010
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Ethan's 2 Year Birthday Celebration!
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| The Big 2 |
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| We LOVE you! |
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| Not sure about the candles! |
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| Instead of blowing on his candles he started putting his forehead on them! Yikes!!! |
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Eats the frosting, but not the cake!
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| New broom and dust pan.--mommy's idea! |
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| New favorite spot to lounge!-Thanks grandparents! |
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| Enjoying Ethan's new Colts cup and bean bag |
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| Having fun with the new golf ball and dust pan! |
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| Giving Pastor a 5?! |
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| Precious people in our kids lives! |
Friday, December 3, 2010
Focused on the Fight or Bruised in the Battle?
My Favorite Verse:
Isaiah 41:10 "Fear thou not for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."
For some time I have debated about writing a blog about some of my struggles. I don't want to focus on the "trials" or the negative part of life. Yet, this title came to me and inspired me to write and be an encouragement to myself and others that deal with health problems. Some of you know my struggles, some do not, and there are probably many of you that just do NOT understand!--I've come to realize that the latter is just a part of life, and that those who have never experienced real health issues will probably never understand.--Sorry! If you have never heard of my health problems - well, all I can say is that people struggle every day with autoimmune diseases and no one even knows :) Besides, who wants to hear about bruises, pain, insomnia, extreme fatigue, migraines, etc.? It is so much more fun to hear about my sweet kids! There are a few people that I do not mind sharing my health issues with, and I know that they will pray for me. I covet that. I know that after sleepless nights and hard mornings those prayers help me through another day.
Even though I am still young, only 28, I do not understand when older people talk about the vitality, energy, and ways they could multi-task and run circles around every one else when they were young. Inside I smile and think....if you only knew how hard each day is for me to just get out of bed. If you only knew that I literally grit my teeth every time I go to lift my little boy and girl because it is so painful. I could go on, but I do not need to. Hopefully you get the point! It is funny, but usually when older people talk about their health problems I totally understand their world!--Hee hee!
I know after some years of health struggles that as a Christian I need to be focused on the fight. In other words, I need to look to what needs to be done right now and not think about whether or not I'll have the strength to teach junior church, help with the children's Wed. night program, do nursery duty, give my kids baths, and the list could go on and on! My pregnancies are very rough and I deal with a lot of bruises and pain. My doctor tells me to keep my feet elevated the majority of the day.--I laugh! I am a mother of two small kids (which I LOVE) and I serve in a small church that really doesn't have anyone to replace me when I quit serving. Let me stop here and stay a while! It makes me sad to see people in perfectly good health who do very little in church when there are so many needs. Why is it that so many times the one's serving and doing so much are those very pregnant with child, struggling with health issues, or the same one's who have had to do it for the last 25 years?! Well, the answer is simple to me. Some have a heart to serve and others do not. How can you sit and hear announcements of the areas that need people to serve and not be willing to volunteer? Since I push myself to keep going every day I have very little sympathy for excuses such as work or tiredness. I think many people seem to think their life is too hard! Let's get over our excuses and serve our Lord!
I ask God for strength to keep serving. I do not want to be sitting during a battle nursing my bruises. Even though that can be easy to do! There are times when I have to pull back from ministry and make my family the priority because my health doesn't allow for me to serve outside of the home. But, I know God wants me to get back up from those hard days and persevere.
Isaiah 41:10 is such a blessing to me. I can trust in God to strengthen and help me. He will uphold me!
Isaiah 41:10 "Fear thou not for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."
For some time I have debated about writing a blog about some of my struggles. I don't want to focus on the "trials" or the negative part of life. Yet, this title came to me and inspired me to write and be an encouragement to myself and others that deal with health problems. Some of you know my struggles, some do not, and there are probably many of you that just do NOT understand!--I've come to realize that the latter is just a part of life, and that those who have never experienced real health issues will probably never understand.--Sorry! If you have never heard of my health problems - well, all I can say is that people struggle every day with autoimmune diseases and no one even knows :) Besides, who wants to hear about bruises, pain, insomnia, extreme fatigue, migraines, etc.? It is so much more fun to hear about my sweet kids! There are a few people that I do not mind sharing my health issues with, and I know that they will pray for me. I covet that. I know that after sleepless nights and hard mornings those prayers help me through another day.
Even though I am still young, only 28, I do not understand when older people talk about the vitality, energy, and ways they could multi-task and run circles around every one else when they were young. Inside I smile and think....if you only knew how hard each day is for me to just get out of bed. If you only knew that I literally grit my teeth every time I go to lift my little boy and girl because it is so painful. I could go on, but I do not need to. Hopefully you get the point! It is funny, but usually when older people talk about their health problems I totally understand their world!--Hee hee!
I know after some years of health struggles that as a Christian I need to be focused on the fight. In other words, I need to look to what needs to be done right now and not think about whether or not I'll have the strength to teach junior church, help with the children's Wed. night program, do nursery duty, give my kids baths, and the list could go on and on! My pregnancies are very rough and I deal with a lot of bruises and pain. My doctor tells me to keep my feet elevated the majority of the day.--I laugh! I am a mother of two small kids (which I LOVE) and I serve in a small church that really doesn't have anyone to replace me when I quit serving. Let me stop here and stay a while! It makes me sad to see people in perfectly good health who do very little in church when there are so many needs. Why is it that so many times the one's serving and doing so much are those very pregnant with child, struggling with health issues, or the same one's who have had to do it for the last 25 years?! Well, the answer is simple to me. Some have a heart to serve and others do not. How can you sit and hear announcements of the areas that need people to serve and not be willing to volunteer? Since I push myself to keep going every day I have very little sympathy for excuses such as work or tiredness. I think many people seem to think their life is too hard! Let's get over our excuses and serve our Lord!
I ask God for strength to keep serving. I do not want to be sitting during a battle nursing my bruises. Even though that can be easy to do! There are times when I have to pull back from ministry and make my family the priority because my health doesn't allow for me to serve outside of the home. But, I know God wants me to get back up from those hard days and persevere.
Isaiah 41:10 is such a blessing to me. I can trust in God to strengthen and help me. He will uphold me!
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
To My Two Year Old, Ethan
It is hard to believe that 2 years ago today you were born. You have filled our home with so much joy. Since I carried you inside of me you have been full of energy and wiggles. You are a TRUE boy. If you fall you get back up. When you get shots you hardly cry. You would stay outside with Tanner (the neighbor's dog) all day if you could. You have always been content with anyone that has energy, enthusiasm, and is willing to play with you! Usually the rougher the better! When you were a baby I used to wish that you were a little bit more clingy. Now that you are a boy I'm so thankful that you are independent. It makes leaving you in church nursery so much easier!
Your favorite....
Foods: Well, I used to say your favorite food was everything you could eat! You are now getting a little more choosy. But, you still eat VERY well. You love fruit and meat especially hot dogs and hamburgers. You could live off of fries and chicken nuggets, but I won't let you :) You really enjoy steamed carrots, and always eat all the carrots out of our mixed vegetables! You ask for cheese and juice all the time. But, you are a smart cookie and won't touch sliced American cheese. It is the cheddar cheese off the block that you want. Peanut butter and jelly is a staple for lunch, but you also eat sliced turkey a lot. 
Toys: the tree house, big lego blocks, cell phones, an old computer that doesn't work, and ballsSleeping buddies: transportation blanket, big bear, big lion, pillow, and your cherished Winnie the pooh
Person: Well that would be a toss up between Madison and Daddy. You LOVE Maddie because she is your faithful playmate that follows you around like a little puppy dog and laughs really hard at all you do. You LOVE Daddy because he teases you, plays rough, and reads books to you.Books: Dr. Seuss and picture books that we can point to the picture and tell you the name of the object in the pic.
Things to do: skype grandma, color with
crayons, play in your room with sissy, watch videos, play outside, and dance to music--(It doesn't matter if I'm just singing "Jesus Loves Me" you will be doing some very funny moves! You have always loved music and even though we don't dance we find your moves hilarious :)
You are now a little boy. We pray that you will grow up to be sensitive to God's leading in your life, and that you will live for Him. We thank God for the treasure He has given us in you. We LOVE you so-o much! We are so thankful for you.
