They Have Each Other

I'm so glad that God knows what is better for our lives than I what I do.

Nov 2010

We didn't plan on getting pregnant with Josiah, and we certainly didn't plan on getting pregnant with Micah only 7 months after Jo was born.


But I'm so glad that we did.

God knew that they needed each other.

He knew their bond would be instant.

God knew that these boys needed each other. He knew that they would be best friends. That they would keep each other company; they would always stick up for the other.

He knew that that they would save my sanity by keeping each other busy.
He knew they would get into stay out of trouble together.

He knew that they would always have each other.

Awake or sleeping.

Thank you Lord for my boys.

So if your wondering wether or not to give your child a sibling; do it.
Giving Josiah a brother has been the best thing I have ever given him.

Kansas City

We traveled to Kansas City for a quick little visit.

We spent a few nights in Colorado Springs visiting my family.

We got home and I spent the day cleaning and packing up…again.

Then headed out for our 9 hour drive to Kansas City for a little family reunion to celebrate James' uncle's 60th birthday party.

It was so fun!

They live on a lake and have the most amazing backyard.
This is their back yard.

This diving board is actually really high, Micah was a champ and went off the board over, and over again the first night. But wouldn't have anything to do it the second day. 

See….looking a little timid.

Fearless.

 How gorgeous is their dock?
And that man?

There was even a kiddie pool on the pontoon boat.

Did you catch that?
Grandma drinking a beer.
I love it!

This is exactly what the weekend looked like.
Just a lot of floating.

So much fun! But we were so happy to be  home. Finally!

And now that summer is coming to an end, it was a perfect way to wrap things up!
I am truly blessed to have great family surrounding me!

Girly

I was so hopeful for a girly girl.
I think I just may have gotten one.

This girl loves her shoes.

And her jewelry.

And her dresses.

But one thing is for sure, she can get dirty with the best of them!

And... she is the toughest of my babies yet.
She had such a terrible fall down a concrete stoop, cried for about a minute, and was bopping around the next.
She's so tough!

So adorable!

Contentment

Is finding contentment one of your greatest challenges?

It is mine.

The other day I was helping a friend of mine unpack her new home. I got the job of organizing her closet. Her gorgeous, fully shelved, giant, walk-in closet.
I found myself being a little envious of all the storage space, and the shelving.
Then I found myself a bit envious of her shoe collection.
Then it was her clothes. Gorgeous dresses!

But then I remembered that I have a huge closet.
I have shoes, many shoes!
And I have MORE than enough clothes!

I'm such a whiner!

I am always catching myself wanting more "stuff".
What else?
A new entertainment center. Well, actually a buffet to sit underneath my TV.
My idea is gorgeous, my desire is strong, and I usually end up getting what I want.

But I catch myself thinking about what I could be doing with the $400 instead.

Here's a few things I found through World Vision that I could give instead:

Give  $420 worth of medicine for only $35

Share of a deep well for $100

This can provide up to 28,000 people with clean water

$300 worth of necessities to children in poverty for $25

A Goat and 2 chickens for $100

This would change a family's life

Hope for sexually exploited girls for $35

This will provided women with medical care, food, education, and training to women and girls who have been sexually exploited.

And you can get all of these things for $295.

For less than $300 how many lives can you save?

And I want to spend that money on a place for my flat screen TV.

Seeing why I'm feeling a little bit convicted?

Hebrews 13:5 

Keep your life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have, for He has said, "I will never leave you or forsake you."

1 Timothy 6:6-8

Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these with will be content.

Phillipians 4: 11-13

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound, In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all thing through him who strengthens me.

There are so many more with so much less than I have.

And I catch myself full of greed on a daily basis.

I am praying for contentment in all my circumstances. 

Because I know that true happiness comes through Christ, not things.

Difficult Decisions

We have made the decision to keep Josiah home one last  year.

He will be turning 5 in September, so that would make him the youngest in his class if we were to put him in today.

Today marks the first day of our "home" school year.

But I won't lie….
I'm a bit worried.

I'm worried that his speech will not progress the way it did when he was getting speech therapy at preschool. I'm nervous that he will not be with his peers academically.

I'm not a natural born teacher. That's my husband.
I'm not patient enough.
I don't even know where to begin with teaching.

But it's important to me to savor moments with my kids.
Josiah doesn't need to go to Kindergarten for one more year. And Micah still has 2 years until he needs to go.

These are the biggest reasons we're keeping him home:

1. The kid would still take a nap nearly every day if we made him.

2. Emotionally he is not ready to deal with K.

3. He would (most likely) be both the youngest and the smallest boy in his class.

4. Keeping him home one more year will make him (most likely) one of the oldest and biggest boys in his class.

5. Preschool is a small fortune, and not paying that money will allow both of the boys to do gymnastics in the fall, and get a speech therapist for both of the kids.

6. I like him. I want to smother him all to myself.

7. Micah loves him, and would be sad without him.

8. He will get plenty of socialization through the Bible Studies, MOPS, and playdates we participate in.

So now that we have made that decision I am determined to make sure that when he does go to Kindergarten he's not behind.

I have a schedule.
I have the workbooks for the boys.
I have chore charts.
And I have the will to get it done!

But most importantly I have two boys who love to learn and who love their family time.

I've got this….right?

What could possibly go wrong…..

I {Heart} Chalkboard Paint

I love this stuff!

Rustoleum's Chalkboard Paint in Black

I feel like I want to paint everything with this!

Here's a few easy projects I've made with chalkboard paint. 

~ Photo Frame ~  

Family Verse of the Week 

This verse has been up forever because it's not sinking in a tough one to remember ; )

I painted the cardboard backing of this frame and saved the glass for another time.

~ Pantry Door ~
How awesome is this?
I just painted the inside of my pantry door!
The kids love to draw on it too!

~ Spaghetti Can ~
I love that I can use this old spaghetti can anywhere in the house and I can change it anytime!

~ Garage Door ~
This is an awesome place to put reminders of things to grab before I leave the house.

How sweet is James?

Yeah …. I love this stuff!