What is your favorite color? Orange 



What is your favorite fruit? Apples and raspberries



What is your favorite food? Pizza!



What is your favorite TV show/movie? Bluey/ The Wild Robot

What is your favorite game? Abducktion



What is your favorite animal? Giraffe, Narwhal, Dolphin, and Peacock 


What is your favorite snack? Popcorn 



What is your favorite song?

Kilts and Stilts from Veggie Tales

What is your favorite book? Narwhal and Jelly



What is your favorite cereal? Fruity Pebbles



What is your favorite thing to do outside? Fly my mini kite

What is your favorite drink? Lemonade



What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Pancakes 



What do you want to be when you grow up? A scientist or astronaut

What do you want for dinner on your birthday? IHOP 



What do you pray about? To be safe and that we have everything we need



What do you love about yourself? I don’t know 



What is your favorite thing about Maila? She’s kind and likes to play with me.

What is your favorite thing about Zeke? That he’s funny. 



What is your favorite thing about Judah? He’s a great artist and he likes drawing with me. 


What challenges you? Trying something new for the first time.



What excites you? Whenever we get to go on a trip together or do a fun activity. 



What is one thing you want to accomplish before you turn 10? Grow to be 54 inches so I can ride all the rollercoasters at Kings Dominion.

What is your favorite color? Purple 



What is your favorite fruit? Any berry and peaches 



What is your favorite food? Cheese (which includes pizza and cheeseburgers).



What is your favorite TV show/movie? Full House/Harry Potter 



What is your favorite game? Guess Who for board game. Pet Clinic for Switch. 



What is your favorite animal? Dog or any baby animal.



What is your favorite snack? Fruit of some kind or cereal.



What is your favorite song? Any song that makes me wanna dance.



What is your favorite book? Graphic novels 



What is your favorite cereal? Rice Krispies and Honey Nut Cheerios.



What is your favorite thing to do outside? Play with friends or do something fun as a family.

What is your favorite drink? Lemonade or orange Fanta



What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Waffles 



What do you want to be when you grow up? A mom

What do you want for dinner on your birthday? 

Mellow Mushroom

What is your favorite thing to do with dad? Hang out and talk 



What is your favorite thing to do with mom? Hang out and talk



What do you praying about? Thanking Jesus for things. And the needs of my friends and family. 



What do you love about yourself? That I like to read. 



What is your favorite thing about Boone? He’s smart and creative and trustworthy.

What is your favorite thing about zeke? That he’s funny, silly, and is brave enough to try almost anything.


What is your favorite thing about Judah? He’s a great artist and he’ll always play with me and will read books out loud to me. 



What challenges you? Facing my fears.



What excites you? Anything with my friends. 



What is one thing you want to accomplish before you turn 13? Get a dog. 🐶 go to Bush gardens

He’s never met a stranger. He knows what he wants. If you tell him he can’t do something his next goal will be to prove you wrong.

He’s got determination that’s almost unmatched. He’s strong and brave.

He’s a helper to the core. Loves to lead.

He’s Silly and will do anything to make you laugh.

He has the biggest heart. And writes me almost daily notes of love and encouragement.

Being in the middle of the action is his jam. And he loves to get his hands dirty and figure out how things work.

Happy 7th Birthday to my trailblazer, Zeke! We love you!

Zeke’s Birthday Interview:

What is your favorite color? Purple 



What is your favorite food? Grapes 



What is your favorite TV show/movie? Dude Perfect or Bluey/Paw Patrol



What is your favorite game? Zelda 



What is your favorite animal? Cat



What is your favorite snack? Lucky Charms Cereal 



What is your favorite song? Hamster Banana by Parry Gripp 



What is your favorite book? Billy and Blaze 



What is your favorite cereal? Lucky Charms 



What is your favorite thing to do outside? Play with the water table

What is your favorite drink? Pink Lemonade 



What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Chocolate chip pancakes



What do you want to be when you grow up? A basketball player

What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Mellow mushroom . 



What challenges you? Not being tall enough for all the rides at kings dominion. 



What excites you? Going to a pool with friends 



What is one thing you want to accomplish before you turn 8? Ride Twisted Timbers and Grizzly.

What is your favorite color? Red


What is your favorite fruit? Watermelon 


What is your favorite food? Watermelon 


What is your favorite TV show/movie? AFV/Star Wars and Harry Potter


What is your favorite game? Zelda and Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze


What is your favorite animal? Kangaroos, elephants, and seals.


What is your favorite snack? Fruit


What is your favorite song? Chicken Yeah by: Parry Gripp 


What is your favorite book? Wings of Fire 


What is your favorite cereal? I don’t like cereal, so…none


What is your favorite thing to do outside? Play with neighbors

What is your favorite drink? Lemonade 


What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Chocolate croissants and donuts 


What do you want to be when you grow up? An author

What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Cracker Barrel Mac n cheese and grilled cheese and watermelon lemonade. 


What is your favorite thing to do with daddy? Playing games like tickle monster 


What is your favorite thing to do with Mommy? Hugging you 


What do you pray about? Thanking God for all the good things in my life. I pray that the people who are sick will be healed. That the people who don’t have food and water can have some. And lots of other things


What do you love about yourself? I like to draw and read. That I can run fast. That I have siblings. 


What is your favorite thing about Boone? He likes to draw with me, play games with me, and he’s kind.

What is your favorite thing about Maila? She’s kind and likes to play with me. 


What is your favorite thing about Zeke? He is funny. And he’s kind.


What challenges you? Trying to be calm around bees.


What excites you? Going to kings dominion, spending time as a family, and my birthday. 



What is one thing you want to accomplish before you turn 11? I want to try to publish a book of mine. Buy Star Wars mini figures

What is your favorite color? Orange



What is your favorite fruit? Apples



What is your favorite food? Apples



What is your favorite TV show/movie? Leo and BLUEY



What is your favorite game? Super Mario Odyssey 



What is your favorite animal? Narwhal and Giraffe 



What is your favorite snack? Cheesy Popcorners 



What is your favorite song? The Mountain by Trans Siberian Orchestra 



What is your favorite book? Investigators book 7: All Tied Up



What is your favorite cereal? Lucky Charms 



What is your favorite thing to do outside? Play my own game


What is your favorite drink? Pink Lemonade 



What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Waffles



What do you want to be when you grow up? Probably a scientist.


What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Cracker Barrel because I want bacon, eggs, and Fruity Pebbles.

What is your favorite thing to do with daddy? Late night date night 



What is your favorite thing to do with Mommy? Late night date night 



What do you pray about? To have a good life 



What do you love about yourself? I am tall.



What is your favorite thing about Judah? He’s kind and good at drawing and legos



What is your favorite thing about Maila? She’s kind and I like to play with her 



What is your favorite thing about Zeke? He is funny. 



What challenges you? Climbing a tall tree 




What excites you? Going to Kings Dominion 



What is one thing you want to accomplish before you turn 9? Grow tall enough for every ride at every amusement park ever.

What is your favorite color? Purple

What is your favorite fruit? Any kind of berry but mostly blackberries.

What is your favorite food? Pizza…pepperoni

What is your favorite TV show/movie? Harry Potter

What is your favorite game? Super mario bros on switch.

What is your favorite animal? A dog

What is your favorite snack? Candy, ice cream or dessert.

What is your favorite song? Fun songs I like to dance to.

What is your favorite book? Babysitter Club

What is your favorite cereal? Rice Krispies

What is your favorite thing to do outside? Play with neighbors

What is your favorite drink? Lemonade

What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Waffles and chocolate chip muffins

What do you want to be when you grow up? A normal mom and maybe an author.
What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Cracker Barrel

What is your favorite thing to do with daddy? Hangout with him

What is your favorite thing to do with Mommy? Hanging out and having girl nights.

What do you love about yourself? I am good with babies.

What is your favorite thing about Judah? He’s creative and likes to play with me. And kinda takes after you with being able to draw.

What is your favorite thing about boone? He’s smart and goes with the flow.

What is your favorite thing about Zeke? He’s funny. I like that I can still give him piggy back rides.

What challenges you? Trying to control the things I say.

What excites you? Fun plans

What is one thing you want to accomplish before you turn 12? I want to start babysitting, go to sea world, and Disney world.

What is your favorite color? “Those color gloves that you use to wash dishes” (purple)

What is your favorite fruit? Strawberries

What is your favorite food? Tortilla chips

What is your favorite TV show/movie? Creature cases/super mario bros

What is your favorite thing to wear? Mario clothes

What is your favorite game? Super Mario bros on the switch

What is your favorite animal? A cat

What is your favorite snack? Fruit snacks

What is your favorite song? Pary gripp

What is your favorite book? Super Mario book

What is your favorite cereal? Lucky charms

What is your favorite thing to do outside? Play in the snow

What is your favorite drink? Gaterade blue

What do you take to bed with you at night? My lamb lamb and Felton and duckens and horsey

What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? French toast sticks

What do you want to be when you grow up? A basketball player

What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Mod pizza

What is your favorite thing to do with daddy? Play car wash with him

What is your favorite thing to do with Mommy? Hug you

What do you pray about? I don’t know

What do you love about yourself? That it’s my birthday

What is your favorite thing about Judah? He’s nice to me.

What is your favorite thing about boone? He’s plays with me

What is your favorite thing about maila? She’s nice to me.

What challenges you? Nothing

What excites you? Having a birthday and going to surge today and getting new Legos.

What is one thing you want to accomplish before you turn 7? Go outside and play in the snow!

To my first son. My daydreamer. My goofball who loves telling jokes or playing tricks on me. You are silly to your core.

The one who likes to take his time and go at his own pace.

Who loves to draw, write, and create.

Whose BIGGEST loves at the moment are Star Wars and Pokemon.

You are not afraid to be your own person. To like what you like. You own it.

You are gentle. Patient. Laid back. Creative. A researcher. A lover of knowledge. If you can’t be good at it you don’t want to do it. You don’t pester. You are long suffering. And loyal. And smart.

You are the one who will eat his vegetables and can take down an entire watermelon in one sitting. The one who Ioves good food. Especially ice cream. Probably the one who will triple my grocery bill one day when you reach the teen years…let’s be real 😉

The one who will still give me hugs, a kiss on the cheek, and wants me there to cheer him on and see what he’s doing.

You are you! And I love who you are and watching what you are becoming.

Time makes my heart hurt and soar all at the same time! I love you! Happy birthday to my 9 year old!

What is your favorite color? Red

What is your favorite fruit? Watermelon

What is your favorite food? Watermelon

What is your favorite TV show/movie? Pokémon/Super Mario Bros

What is your favorite thing to wear? Pajamas that are comfy

What is your favorite game? Swinging on our swing set

What is your favorite animal? A dog

What is your favorite snack? Watermelon

What is your favorite song? I don’t have one (But his mom would like to add that it’s ANYTHING by Parry Gripp. ha!)

What is your favorite book? Any comic book and The Last Firehawk series

What is your favorite cereal? Fruity Pebbles

What is your favorite thing to do outside? Swing

What is your favorite drink? Lemonade

What do you take to bed with you at night? My BB8 giant squishmallow

What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Toast with strawberry jelly

What do you want to be when you grow up? A chef

What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Mellow mushroom

What is your favorite thing to do with daddy? Play tickle games

What is your favorite thing to do with Mommy? Hug you and hang out at night with you.

What do you pray about? Lots of stuff

What do you love about yourself? I don’t know

What is your favorite thing about Zeke? He’s funny

What is your favorite thing about boone? He’s nice and he likes to draw with me and play with me

What is your favorite thing about maila? She’s good at lots of stuff.

What challenges you? I don’t know

What excites you? My birthday

What is one thing you want to accomplish before you turn 10? Go to all the roller coasters at Kings Dominion.

To my fluffiest cheeked baby, with the darkest head full of hair. To the one who came into this world with a BANG but has been such a calm presence ever since.

You are along for the ride. You are go with the flow. You are chill and hold a lot inside. You mostly don’t complain and it’s hard to tell when something is bothering you cause you just don’t say it out loud. You possess so much quiet strength and hate to cause a fuss. It makes you happy when other people are happy and you smile the most when we are having “family time”.

You are gentle and kind and full of so much sweetness. You are a verbal encourager to your core.

You are a math whiz—really more like a human calculator—who can do math faster than I thought was possible at such a young age. You are always quietly calculating. Weighing risk. Figuring out numbers. Solving problems. You are my STEM kid who has an engineering mind.

You are creative and artistic. And have an appreciation for all things cute.

Your wishes and requests are simple because you are down to earth and not hard to please. You are genuinely happy with what you have and appreciative of what you get.

So thankful that you are YOU. And that I’ve been blessed to be your mom for SEVEN whole years. HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you, Boone! I love you!

What is your favorite color? Orange

What is your favorite fruit? Apple

What is your favorite food? Apple

What is your favorite TV show/movie? Bluey

What is your favorite thing to wear? Tshirt

What is your favorite game? Mario party

What is your favorite animal? Narwhal

What is your favorite snack? Fig bar

What is your favorite song? Christmas music

What is your favorite book? Investigators

What is your favorite cereal? Lucky Charms

What is your favorite thing to do outside? Play in the driveway

What is your favorite drink? Lemonade

What do you take to bed with you at night? My mango and brash stuffy and rainbow lobster stuffy

What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Waffles with syrup

What do you want to be when you grow up? Scientist/meteorologist

What do you want for dinner on your birthday? I-Hop

What is your favorite thing to do with daddy? Go places with him and play with him

What is your favorite thing to do with Mommy? Playing and doing math

What do you pray about? That I won’t worry about storms or dangerous things in my head.

What do you love about yourself? That I have a good life.

What is your favorite thing about Zeke? He’s silly

What is your favorite thing about Judah? His drawings

What is your favorite thing about maila? She’s kind. I love playing with her.

What challenges you? Battling with Pokémon cause it’s hard to know which one to choose.

What excites you? Surprises

What is one thing you want to accomplish before you turn 8? Go to lots of pools

To my thinker. Who wears her heart on her sleeve. Who since she was itty bitty has claimed she was “shy” but possesses bravery in ways that I wish I had.

You are strong. A hard worker. Smart. Sensitive. You have a big heart full of all the compassion. You are a helper. Creative. Organized. You have a system for all the things and my organizational self does not mind it one bit.

Your stack of books beside your bed actually gets read (unlike the one beside mine). And you end up wanting more to read so fast it’s hard to keep that stack going. You love imagination and fun and friends and family! You love all things sparkly and glittery and girly but you hate having bows and frilly things in your hair because it messes with your playing.

I pray you will see yourself the way I see you as you grow, but most importantly the way God does. I cannot believe you are DOUBLE DIGITS old. How in the world did that even happen so fast?!

Happy birthday to my TEN year old, Maila Jane! Every year with you is truly a gift.

What is your favorite color? Definitely pink!

What is your favorite fruit? Any berries

What is your favorite food? Pizza!

What is your favorite TV show/movie? Full house/Minions the Rise of Gru

What is your favorite thing to wear? Basically just any shorts and tshirts that’s comfortable.

What is your favorite game? Any game I play with my family.

What is your favorite animal? Dog

What is your favorite snack? Pretzels and Dunkaroos

What is your favorite song? Through Your Eyes by Britt Nicole. I don’t really have a favorite song but if I had to pick I’d pick that one.

What is your favorite book? Phoebe and her unicorn series.

What is your favorite cereal? Frosted Flakes and Rice Krispies.

What is your favorite thing to do outside? Everything. I really can’t choose.

What is your favorite drink? Lemonade

What do you take to bed with you at night? My Squishmallows…all of them!!

What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Chocolate chip muffins and waffles

What do you want to be when you grow up? A normal mom and wife.

What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Pizza

What is your favorite thing to do with daddy? Play games with him.

What is your favorite thing to do with Mommy? Have girl nights

What do you pray about? My family, my friends, what God has done for me.

What do you love about yourself? That I can understand babies.

What is your favorite thing about Zeke? He’s funny and that he’s kind.

What is your favorite thing about Judah? That he draws good. He’s kind. That he says “yes” everytime to playing with me.

What is your favorite thing about Boone? He is smart. He’s kind. He’s generous.

What challenges you? Trying to handle my feelings now that I’m getting older and dealing with my anger when my brothers annoy me.

What excites you? Any exciting thing.

What is one thing you want to accomplish before you turn 11? Get a dog.

Maila had a birthday party with a few of her friends at LAUNCH trampoline park. They were almost too old to let me take their picture with this green kangaroo. haha.

To my tea stirrer. Coffee smell tester. The one who greets everyday with energy and a smile. You are a go getter who won’t take no for an answer. Your perseverance and persistence (I am pretty sure) are unmatched. You don’t overthink things. You just do them. And you give them all you’ve got. You’ll try almost anything with that brave spirit of yours. You love to build. Create. Figure out how things work. Keep your hands moving at all times. You’ve been super strong physically and in spirit since the day you were born and it can challenge me more than I ever imagined. You are wonderful and wild. And you make me laugh so much. You bring all the silliness and goofiness to our days and I love you for it! It’s hard to believe you’re a whole hand old. Happy FIFTH birthday, Zeke! I love you and everything that God created you to be.

What is your favorite color? Purple

What is your favorite fruit? Strawberries

What is your favorite food? Chips

What is your favorite TV show/movie? Oomi zoomi/Despicable Me 3

What is your favorite thing to wear? Cozy shorts and a tshirt 

What is your favorite game? Sneaky Sasquatch 

What is your favorite animal? Koala

What is your favorite snack? Cheese sticks 

What is your favorite song? JUMP 

What is your favorite book? Library books (vox books)

What is your favorite cereal? Lucky Charms 

What is your favorite thing to do outside? Play in the water 

What is your favorite drink? Lemonade 

What do you take to bed with you at night? Lamb lamb and kitty and fluffy. Cause they’re family. 

What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Chocolate chip muffins 

What do you want to be when you grow up? A basketball player and I don’t know what their name is but someone who prays for God forever. 

What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Little pizzas from Pizza Hut.

What is your favorite thing to do with daddy? Help him build.

What is your favorite thing to do with Mommy? Help you cook.

What do you pray about? I don’t know. 

What do you love about yourself? Nothing. I love everyone and myself. I love myself and everyone about nothing. 

What is your favorite thing about Judah? I don’t know.

What is your favorite thing about Maila? Playing with her. 

What is your favorite thing about Boone? Maybe play with him baby raury. 

What challenges you? Lifting away tornados but maybe I can use my strength to cut it with my hands (apparently he has tornados on the brain since once came through here a week or so ago). 

What excites you?  my birthday 

What is one thing you want to accomplish before you turn 6? Have Halloween so I can be a Lego man

This week Maila is gone at horse camp with some friends. It’s rare that I get the opportunity to just be with my three boys. So, I decided I wanted to use this week to do some activities my boys would love that my daughter might not be into quite as much.

On Monday we did a wood project where we built robots. The boys enjoyed hammering, gluing, and screwing the parts together to make their robots.

Today, we decided to use those robots to create our very first stop motion video. The boys enjoyed planning the scene for the movie. And even creating some food and cups out of things we had around the house. I loved seeing them work together to move the robots around and make their video.

And, now I enjoy watching them giggle while watching the finished product on the TV. 🙂

Happy birthday to my animal lovin’, Pokemon tradin’, and avid readin’ boy! You are smart. Compassionate. Creative. Complimentary. Laid back. You roll with life pretty well most of the time. You are my kid who will eat almost anything I put on your plate. You are a lover of knowledge and facts just like your daddy. Which means you teach me about all sorts of things I don’t know. You love writing and illustrating books. Pretty soon I’m not sure where we will keep them all. But, most of them are such creative and unique ideas I feel like children books could use your ingenuity. Maybe one day. I am thankful for your sensitivity and sweetness. And all that you bring to our family! I am lucky to be your mom and happy watching you grow and become more of who you’re gonna be. Happy birthday, Judah!

What is your favorite color? Red

What is your favorite fruit? Watermelon

What is your favorite food? Watermelon and pizza

What is your favorite TV show/movie? Pokémon/Sing 2

What is your favorite thing to wear? Tshirts

What is your favorite game? Tickle fights

What is your favorite animal? An elephant seal

What is your favorite snack? Cheesesticks

What is your favorite song? I like all songs.

What is your favorite book? Comic books…especially Pokemon ones.

What is your favorite cereal? Fruity Pebbles

What is your favorite thing to do outside? Play with the neighbors.

What is your favorite drink? Watermelon lemonade.

What do you take to bed with you at night? Pokémon stuffies, my BB8 squishmallow, and most of all my baymax stuffy.

What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Raisin bread or waffles.

What do you want to be when you grow up? A mailman.

What do you want for dinner on your birthday? MOD pizza with pineapples.

What is your favorite thing to do with daddy? Tickle fights

What is your favorite thing to do with Mommy? Kiss you, hug you, and love you. And doing your activities.

What do you pray about? Everything. If there’s something bad happening to someone I pray about that. If I’m scared I pray about that. I pray about whatever is happening.

What do you love about yourself? That I love Pokémon.

What is your favorite thing about Zeke? He’s funny.

What is your favorite thing about Maila? She’s nice.

What is your favorite thing about Boone? He is nice.

What challenges you? To get Zeke to stay out of my room.

What excites you? Getting more Pokémon stuff and going somewhere fun.

What is one thing you want to accomplish before you turn 9? Get all the Pokémon figurines that there is to collect.

To my boy who is overflowing with kindness, patience, and goodness. Who is always willing to share if you’ll just ask. Who is an avid encourager and cheers people on daily. To my math whiz who can calculate things before I can even think about the answer myself. Who loves all things space and can tell me about every planet. The one who loves to figure out puzzles. Build things. And has an engineering mind.To my boy who gives the sweetest compliments. Kindest responses. And will always let me hug you even if it’s too much. I’m so glad you get to be mine. I will never be able to believe you’re already another year older. HAPPY SIX YEARS, BOONE!

What is your favorite color? Orange

What is your favorite fruit? Apples

What is your favorite food? Apples

What is your favorite TV show/movie? Corey Carson/Rons Gone Wrong

What is your favorite thing to wear? My raccoon pajamas.

What is your favorite game? Hungry, hungry Hippo. If there was such a game as hungry hungry blue whale that would be my favorite.

What is your favorite animal? A frigate bird

What is your favorite snack? Fig bar

What is your favorite song? Sunshine .

What is your favorite book? Narwhal and Jelly

What is your favorite cereal? Cheerios

What is your favorite thing to do outside? Play in the snow

What is your favorite drink? Lemonade then water

What do you take to bed with you at night? Saturn, flamingo, Whaley.

What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Waffles. And narwhals favorite food is waffles.

What do you want to be when you grow up? A scientist who studies space. But not an astronaut cause I don’t wanna get sucked up by a black hole. Those only live in space.

What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Breakfast for dinner. Eggs, apples, pigs n a blanket, sausage, and bacon.

What is your favorite thing to do with daddy? Tickle T-Rex

What is your favorite thing to do with Mommy? Play games

What do you pray about? God

What do you love about yourself? I’m good at puzzles.

What is your favorite thing about Zeke? He’s kind.

What is your favorite thing about Maila? She’s kind

What is your favorite thing about Judah? He is kind

What challenges you? That giant butterfly puzzle.

What excites you? Walking around the neighborhood.

What is one thing you want to accomplish before you turn 7? Dive under the ocean with sharks.

To my one and only girl:

You are smart. Thoughtful. Hard working. Compassionate. Tidy. Creative. You feel strongly. And love deeply. You are curious to your core. You are all in or all out. There’s no in between. I love watching you commit to something because I know you’ll go after it with everything in you. You finish a book in record time. At 34, I’m jealous of your reading skills. You have a wild imagination and I love seeing the ideas you have and the games you play. Your smile lights up my life. Your giggle brightens my day. Watching you get older is my absolute favorite. I am thankful you are my daughter!

Happy NINTH birthday, Maila Jane!

What is your favorite color? Pink

What is your favorite fruit? Blackberries

What is your favorite food? Pizza. Pepperoni.

What is your favorite TV show/movie? Bluey. Ron’s Gone Wrong.

What is your favorite thing to wear? Night gowns

What is your favorite game? The Vet game on my tablet, where you send them owners and take care of them.

What is your favorite animal? A cat or a dog. I can’t choose. Probably a dog.

What is your favorite snack? Heavenly Hunks.

What is your favorite song? The Rizers songs. If I had to pick my absolute favorite, it’d be 1 John 4:7.

What is your favorite book? Maybe the Nevergirls series.

What is your favorite cereal? Rice Krispies.

What is your favorite thing to do outside?
Go fun places and have play dates.

What is your favorite drink? Lemonade

What do you take to bed with you at night?
Cassie

What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Waffles and brown pancakes that we dip in whipped cream.

What do you want to be when you grow up? A normal wife.

What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Pizza

What is your favorite thing to do with Daddy?
Daddy daughter dances and going places on my late night date night in the car.

What is your favorite thing to do with Mommy? Taking girl trips with her.

What do you pray about? My brothers, especially Zeke. And things I’m worried about.

What do you love about yourself? I like the color of my hair and the color of my skin and the abilities that I’m able to do.

What is your favorite thing about Zeke? I like that he’s really funny.

What is your favorite thing about Boone? I like that Boone encourages people.

What is your favorite thing about Judah? I like that I have him to play with, and he makes me laugh all the time.

What challenges you? Math and deciding about who’s sitting beside me (of my brothers) because they give me their cute eyes. Cute eyes can be tempting to make you say yes.

What excites you? Hearing about fun events coming up.

What is one thing you want to accomplish before you turn 10? Get all of the American Girl stuff possible.

Before our recent trip to the Northeast I decided to get my kids prepared by reading them a few books that had to do with our travels.

We were going to stop by places like Plymouth Rock and I didn’t want my kids to have absolutely no back story for it. I knew they would just stare at it and wanna leave two seconds after we arrived. Without context, there is nothing exciting about a rock, right?

Also, as homeschoolers I used the opportunity for some of our stops to double as field trips. With reading some books about the places we went before we were in the thick of it, it helped ensure that it was a more educational experience where they learned something new.

On our trip we stopped by Plymouth Rock, The Newport Mansions, Mt. Desert Island (which is home to Acadia National Park), Stowe, Vt, and we explored lots of different lighthouses. With those destinations in mind, this is the booklist I covered before we headed out of town:

1. Looking for a Moose by Phyllis Root

I won’t lie. This was my least favorite. But somehow it made my kids giggle. And, Maine is known for it’s moose population. So it seemed like the perfect fit.

2. The Little Island by Margaret Brown Wise and Leonard Weisgard

This book is a classic with lots of beautiful illustrations. Acadia National Park is on a little island. So this was a cute book to add to the mix.

3. Hello Lighthouse by Sophie Blackall

This was one of my favorites that we read. This book also has stunning illustrations. But, it’s also educational. And we learned all about how lighthouses and how they used to be operated. I personally found it fascinating because I didn’t know much about the history of them. I have just always thought they were beautiful to look at.

4. Who’s that stepping on Plymouth Rock by Jean Fritz

Ok, this book was hands down my favorite. I knew nothing about the history of Plymouth Rock except that it is housed in the general vicinity of where the Mayflower landed upon arrival in the United States. This book had us giggling. It was humorous and educational. And when we saw Plymouth Rock in person, it made it a million times more interesting. I would highly recommend reading it if you get the chance. Especially if you plan on making a visit to Plymouth yourself.

5. If you were a kid on the Mayflower by John Son

I really enjoyed the perspective this book was written from. It was also very educational. But not in a boring way. It kept my kids engaged while they learned all about what it was like to live on the Mayflower as it sailed to America. My kids are often completely bored with history. So, I was happy when this book kept their attention and taught them a piece of the past. This is a series that has more books on other topics in history. And I am excited to get more for my kids to read.

6. The 50 States by Gabrielle Balkan

This book is honestly a must for me when studying the United States. It has all the states represented with fun facts about each of them. This book helped us explore a bit about what Maine and Vermont are like before we got there in person. And then helped us appreciate them a little bit more once we arrived.

I would love to know if you have a favorite book about the area we visited that I did not include on our reading list. 🙂

He’s crazy about cats. Loves being rough and tumble. He is super adventurous and will try almost anything. His favorite thing is making people laugh, so he spends a lot of his time being as goofy as possible. He enjoys dancing around the living room to all the upbeat songs that come on. If you need a hype man, he is your guy (trust me)! And when he gives hugs they feel a lot like a football tackle.

To my boy who has so much JOY, perseverance, and strength. Those are some of your most noticeable traits. And, I seriously stand in wonder at who God is creating you to be. I’ve watched you already be a little protector. And watch out for others. I’ve watched you love everyone you meet. You’ve never met a stranger. I’ve watched you fight with all your might for the things you set as goals and want to accomplish. 

I pray all the time that I’m capable of shaping your soul without crushing your spirit. But I often fear I just don’t know how. 

You bring me the deepest belly laughs. And a lot of warmth in my everyday. I’m so thankful you are mine because you make my life so much FUN! 

Happy fourth birthday to one amazing boy! I can’t believe you’re four. But I’m grateful I’ve gotten to see those four years and watch you grow into who you are becoming. Keep growing. And learning. And loving 

What is your favorite color? Green
What is your favorite fruit? Uh…pizza! Me: pizza is not a fruit! Zeke: banana!
What is your favorite food? Pizza!
What is your favorite TV show/movie? Animal Mechanicals/secret Life of Pets (he really loves Paw Patrol, Umi Zoomi Shape Bandit and Blaze)
What is your favorite thing to wear? These clothes I have on! (T-shirt and gym shorts)
What is your favorite game? The snake game!
What is your favorite animal? Hippo
What is your favorite snack? Fruit snacks
What is your favorite song? Aladdin
What is your favorite book? The cat book with the mousses (The Kitten Who Thought he was a Mouse…he also really loves any I Spy book).
What is your favorite cereal? Fruity pebbles
What is your favorite thing to do outside? Nothing
What is your favorite drink? Water
What do you take to bed with you at night? Cat stuffies
What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Waffles
What do you want to be when you grow up? Basketball
What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Donuts! I want to eat all the bacon!
What is your favorite thing to do with daddy? Do a game with him.
What is your favorite thing to do with Mommy? Give a kiss!
What do you pray about? God
What challenges you? Saying long words
What makes you happy? Kissing you!
What is one thing you want to accomplish before you turn 5? Go to the mountains

It can be hard to see progress when you’re sitting in the midst of it everyday. It often happens little by little. Moment by moment. Not in big portions that can be easily seen and tracked. We shed that weight pound by pound. We grow inch by inch. When we get stronger we may not notice until that box we once couldn’t lift on our own is now picked up and moved in our own strength.

I was reminded by some picture memories that last year at this time I had to put one of my children on a leash everywhere that we went. It was for their own safety because they wouldn’t listen to my instructions. When I was in the middle of it, it felt like a very hard thing to conquer. But here I sit a year later and it feels like a distant memory. I exited that phase almost as quickly as I entered it. And now I sit here hardly remembering what it felt like. Barely noticing when it was over.

I guess I’m pondering this because here I sit in the midst of other phases and hard things that I’m trying to make progress on. And it sorta feels like my wheels are spinning. Like the next step will never be reached. But it will. If I keep at it. Put in the work. Rely on Jesus. Pray. And remain steadfast. These things will also come to pass in His grace.

If you find yourself in the midst of something hard. That is taking all your strength. That you feel you might never see progress on. Faithfully keep going! Don’t quit. It’s hard to see progress when we are in the middle of it all. But in time that hard work will pay off. You will look back eventually and see how far you’ve come!

***And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9***

To my boy whose favorite things are books and animals. Who loves drawing. Writing. Creating. Inventing. Building.

Who absorbs all the facts he reads/hears and can teach me about all sorts of things I didn’t know about.

Who sets goals for himself that I never would’ve set at his age and accomplishes them.

To the one who still wants to hold my hand or give me a hug. Who’s compassionate. Kind. Smart. Sensitive. Caring. Who is a lover of knowledge and learning.

I absolutely love watching the things you come up with. From the books you write. To the things you draw. To the goals you give yourself to accomplish!

You started the year wanting to read through the entire Bible and you’re already to Numbers! That makes my mama heart so thrilled to see.

I love all these things about you and getting to watch you grow! Cannot believe you are SEVEN! Happy birthday, baby boy!

What is your favorite color? Red
What is your favorite fruit? Watermelon
What is your favorite food? Watermelon
What is your favorite TV show/movie? Zoobabu/Big Hero 6
What is your favorite thing to wear? Pajamas
What is your favorite game? Chicago or The Disney Color Game
What is your favorite animal? Killer Whale
What is your favorite snack? Smiley face fruit snacks
What is your favorite song? It’s too hard to choose just one.
What is your favorite book? Piggie and Gerald, Mighty Robot, and the picture books maila makes me.
What is your favorite cereal? Fruity pebbles
What is your favorite thing to do outside? Go places.
What is your favorite drink? Lemonade
What do you take to bed with you at night? My Baymax stuffies.
What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Donuts
What do you want to be when you grow up? A chef
What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Mellow Mushroom
What is your favorite thing to do with daddy? Play running tickle monster.
What is your favorite thing to do with Mommy? Play games and hug you.
What do you pray about? Helping people and that I won’t be scared.
What do you love about yourself? I’m nice.
What is your favorite thing about Zeke? He’s funny.
What is your favorite thing about Boone? He plays with me a lot and likes to build Legos with me.
What is your favorite thing about Maila? That she likes to play with me a lot. That she likes making presents for me.
What challenges you? Trying to do something in fifteen seconds.
What excites you? My birthday and holidays and my late night date night. And if other people are having babies.
What is one thing you want to accomplish before you turn 8? Go to the zoo.

Anyone else had to have a heart check the past few days? I know that Jesus and I have had a few moments. Some moments where I had to be reminded that my hope is in Him ALONE!

2020 has been a reminder of our deep HUMANITY and brokenness. Sickness. Division. And this week BIG reminders that there’s no perfect ruler for us but Christ himself. And He is the only one to look to for deliverance, safety, security, and wholeness.

When we take our eyes off of that we simply despair. I don’t know what the future looks like for me or my children (that last part is what makes me prone to despair the most). But I do know who the perfect KING is. He rules and reigns with no error of judgment. He’s got a spotless record. And HE holds US if we belong to him.

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” Colossians 3:15 “for dominion belongs to the LORD and he rules over the nations.” – Psalm 22:28“The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord;He turns it wherever He pleases.” Proverbs 21:1

Regardless of current events (or what might be happening in our country), for those who are in Christ, there are always better days ahead. That is a guarantee. Keep your hope in Christ where it cannot be disappointed. And keep giving every day your best for His glory. Fight the good fight. Run the race. Keep the faith. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” – Revelation 21:3-5

A few nights ago as I finished up the evening checklist, the moon caught my attention through our downstairs window. It’s never done that before. But on this particular night it was full and seemed extra radiant. That big bright light illuminating the night. Making sure the world didn’t sit in total darkness while the sun waited behind the horizon.

It got me to thinking about how God never allows the darkness to completely rule. When he made nighttime he also made a light to govern the night—the moon.

Once sin entered the world in the garden of Eden, He didn’t let darkness (sin) completely win. Instead He sent Jesus to be the “light of the world” (John 8:12).To bring light and hope to a dark and desperate situation.

Once Jesus ascended into Heaven, He left behind His people and said “you are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). We were to be the light. To be His presence to those around us now that Jesus was no longer physically here.

And, y’all…this past year I’ve felt the darkness in my bones. I can’t quite explain it. But just all the things. From current events, to disunity, to politics. The darkness has felt more present than I’ve ever felt before in my years of being alive.

But just to have that reminder in my heart as I stared up at that big beautiful bright moon. That even though God allowed sin to effect things for a time. Even though darkness would not be immediately and completely extinguished…He always left the light. His plan never included leaving the world in total darkness. And one day it won’t have a place at all.

For now, he brings His light in the form of the moon. And his people. We do have that job in the darkness that surrounds us. To shine His light.

So, LET IT SHINE so bright through us, Jesus. Though we are very undeserving vessels. Use us to light up this darkness. To shine you. So the darkness cannot win on this Earth, until the day of your return. 🌙 ⭐️

To my boy who marches to the beat of his own drum—and is perfectly OK with that. The one who is sweeter than ice cream.

 Who has a love for cute characters like I always have. 

The one who loves to create and build and challenge his mind. The one who is so quiet and introspective, yet always aware of everything going on around him. 

The one who will keep me in line by correcting when I’m wrong, because he knows more than I do about all sorts of things. 

To the one whose name means “good”. I truly believe that sums you up. You’re just really good inside where it counts because you are patient, kind, peaceful, meek, and mild. I love watching you grow up 

Thankful for FIVE years with my Boone. 

Keep building. Learning. Growing. And teaching your mom 

What is your favorite color? Green

What is your favorite fruit? Orange

What is your favorite food? Hot dog 

What is your favorite TV show/movie? Blaze/Trolls world tour

What is your favorite thing to wear? A jacket

What is your favorite game? The Hippo game. Where you pick up the balls and make the hippos start smashing their faces on the ground and then balls roll into the hippos. 

What is your favorite animal? Giraffe

What is your favorite snack? Fruit snacks

What is your favorite song? This song

What is your favorite book? Narwhal and jelly 

What is your favorite cereal? Lucky Charms 

What is your favorite thing to do outside? Play in the backyard. 

What is your favorite drink? Lemonade

What do you take to bed with you at night? My blanket and Stuffies.

What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Waffles

What do you want to be when you grow up? A scientist who takes care of animals. I wanna be an animal doctor, actually. 

What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Watermelon, bacon, and eggs. 

What is your favorite thing to do with daddy? Playing tickle monster.

What is your favorite thing to do with Mommy? For you to kiss and hug me.

What do you pray about? God

What do you love about yourself? Eating cake

What is your favorite thing about Zeke? For him sharing his toys with me.

What is your favorite thing about maila? She’s kind and sweet

What is your favorite thing about Judah? He is good at building puzzles and at building legos.

What challenges you? For me to jump backwards. 

What excites you? When it’s my birthday or I’m getting a sucker with chocolate in the middle. And eating gum. 

What is one thing you want to accomplish before you turn 6? Go to different peoples houses: gram and poppy, the Eller’s, grandma and grandpa.

My avid reader. Wild imagination. Vivid dreamer. Go getter. Hard worker. Deep feeler. 

You are so smart, even if you’ll never admit it. You are kind. Compassionate. A helper. Sometimes a little shy.

You are sensitive. Curious. And ask the deep questions. You think and internalize. You are never short on things to say 🥰

The older you get the more blown away I am at the person you are becoming. I’m proud I’ve gotten to be your mom for 8️⃣ whole years! It’s hard to believe, really. You’re growing up too fast if you ask me! 

Happy birthday to my girl! I love you 😘

What is your favorite color? Red

What is your favorite fruit? Apples 

What is your favorite food? Pizza. Pepperoni. 

What is your favorite TV show/movie? Super hero girls and Trolls world tour. 

What is your favorite thing to wear? Pajamas…they’re the most comfy and they look amazing. 

What is your favorite game? The princess cupcake game. Cause it smells like real cupcakes and you get to build cupcakes. And when you put them away it’s like a puzzle. 

What is your favorite animal? A cat

What is your favorite snack? Halloween trail mix. Or popcorners.

What is your favorite song? Trolls songs.

What is your favorite book? Nevergirls 

What is your favorite cereal? Chocolate Rice Krispies.

What is your favorite thing to do outside? Run around and play in pools and on playgrounds. 

What is your favorite drink? Lemonade

What do you take to bed with you at night? My blanket and Denise (a giant squishmallow mermaid pillow). 

What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Little bites

What do you want to be when you grow up? A regular mom

What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Pizza, watermelon, blueberries, and bacon. 

What is your favorite thing to do with daddy? Run fun errands with him. Like going to the stores and he lets me pick out some drinks for company and stuff. And daddy daughter dance at church. 

What is your favorite thing to do with Mommy? Going inside target with you. Late night date night. 

What do you pray about? That we will stay healthy and that god will keep providing stuff for us. That we will love him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength forever. And that everyone in the world will love him. 

What do you love about yourself? That I love God and that I’m a girl! 

What is your favorite thing about Zeke? He’s silly. 

What is your favorite thing about Boone? His voice is cute. 

What is your favorite thing about Judah? He is sweet and he asks to play with me at nighttime. 

What challenges you? Trying to play a game against someone whose older than me. 

What excites you? When it’s my birthday or late night date night of something good is happening. 

What is one thing you want to accomplish before you turn 9? I want to get a cat before I’m 9. 

Judah’s questions for maila:

What’s your favorite book I make? Super hero girls 

What’s your favorite state? Virginia. 

What do you like about mom? She’s sweet. 

What do you like about dad? He’s sweet and I like that he’s bald and has a beard and a mustache all in one. 

What do you like about Zeke being silly? Jumping off of logs and running around and making silly noises. 

What do you like that’s silly about dad? He is robot daddy and plays running tickle monster. 

What’s your favorite kind of chips? Doritos 

What’s your favorite kind of Mexican food? Tacos, chips, and cheese dip. 

What’s your favorite kind of dip? Spinach

What’s your favorite weather? Sunny and snowy. 

What’s your favorite month? October cause it’s my birthday month. 

What’s your favorite day of the week? Friday. 

Zekes question for maila:

Present you want? Cat

This house. It’s a reminder of God’s goodness, faithfulness, and provision. It’s a reminder that God knows the desire of our hearts before we speak it. And sometimes, He chooses to provide things that we are not brave enough to ask for or do not have enough FAITH to trust Him for. He does this because He is a good Father who enjoys giving us good gifts. Which will forever blow my mind. Especially considering I am a weak daughter who often doubts.

The fact that the process unfolded on a year like 2020 was not by mistake, I know. Because God at every step was telling me “you will have to trust me in this”. God was more praised in the situation when He accomplished this in a year when things seemingly all fell apart or were unpredictable. And even when it seemed like things should’ve all crumbled the entire process remained really smooth and seamless.

For that, I praise God for his goodness and love towards me.

Some of you have asked for a “house tour”. So, I wanted to share some pictures of the house here for those who are interested. And, if you have any questions about the building process I am happy to answer those too. It was definitely an adventure of faith but also an adventure of learning. ha!

He’s my “class clown” who will do anything for a laugh from his brothers and sister. The adventurous one who will try anything. The one who is always asking for a dance party in the kitchen. He’s bursting with smiles and joy and laughs. Loves all people, animals, and hugs (that feel more like a football tackle than a cuddle). He is the one who attacks any mosquito that gets on me with all the fierceness he possesses because he’s a protector.

He’s got more strength and perseverance than I ever thought possible for someone his age. I remember the first thing the doctor said after he was born was “you’ve got a strong one here”. And that has been confirmed every day since then over and over again. I believe God will use those traits for great things if he’ll submit them to Him. Praying for that, sweet boy! 
He loves his lamb-lamb, baseball cap, and singing loudly to all the songs on the radio. 

Happy birthday to my mischevious, wild, and fun THREE year old! 

What is your favorite color? Brown…actually, Orange.

What is your favorite fruit? Watermelon

What is your favorite food? Orange

What is your favorite TV show/movie? Blaze….WAQUEEEM (Lightning McQueen)

What is your favorite thing to wear? Mine Hat (Mickey hat)

What is your favorite game? Hippo game…I want to play that alllll night, mommy! (Hungry, hungry hippo)

What is your favorite animal? A lion…lions are nice.

What is your favorite snack? Watermelon

What is your favorite song? Trolls

What is your favorite book? Uh….lions

What is your favorite cereal? Lucky charms…milk on top

What is your favorite thing to do outside? Play on the slide

What is your favorite drink? Apple juice

What do you take to bed with you at night? I want to put my bed not in mine room…it’s tiny bed. (It’s a toddler bed and I guess he’s upset it isn’t bigger 😂 he loves his lamb lamb lovey and puppy stuffed animal)

What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Muffin

What do you want to be when you grow up? Build something

What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Watermelon and muffins and pineapple and apple juice.

What is your favorite thing to do with daddy? Get ice cream

What is your favorite thing to do with Mommy? Licking ice cream

What do you pray about? God

What do you love about yourself? Playing

What is your favorite thing about Maila? Getting stickers

What is your favorite thing about Boone? Getting dinner

What is your favorite thing about Judah? Drawing

What challenges you? Drawing

What excites you? God

What is one thing you want to accomplish before you turn 4? I want mommy to cut this paper

He’s my hard as a rock sleeper. LEGO creator. Book writer. Picture drawer. Animal lover.
He is into the details of things. He gets lost in thought. Is in his own world, sometimes 🤪 He is clean, tidy, and organized. And he loves to read.
He still loves my hugs and I’m gonna take it for as long as I can.
I cannot believe he’s SIX! Happy birthday to my Judah. Without you I would know way less about the animals and insects we encounter on our walks. I would say something incorrect and no one would set me straight. I wouldn’t have any requests for a pick up hug. And no one would compliment my dinners or eat alllll the vegetables.
I’m so thankful to get to watch you grow each day. You are a gift from God!

What is your favorite color? Red

What is your favorite fruit? Watermelon

What is your favorite food? Pizza, spaghetti, and macaroni and cheese, and noodles….BIG noodles.

What is your favorite TV show/movie?   Trolls World Tour

What is your favorite thing to wear? Pajamas

What is your favorite game? Hide n Seek

What is your favorite animal? Chameleon

What is your favorite snack? Goldfish

What is your favorite song? Trolls World Tour soundtrack

What is your favorite book? My fighting animal books and Elephant and Piggie Biggie Biggie books.

What do you like to learn about? Animals

What is your favorite cereal? Dinosaur oatmeal

What is your favorite thing to do outside? Blow bubbles and riding my scooter.

Who is your best friend? Caleb

What is your favorite drink? Lemonade

What is your favorite holiday? Birthdays and Easter

What do you take to bed with you at night? Baymax stuffed animals and books

What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Muffins

What do you want to be when you grow up? Builder

What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Pizza and watermelon

What is your favorite thing to do with Daddy? Running tickle monster

What is your favorite thing to do with Mommy? Hugs and kisses

What do you pray about? For me to not be scared. That I’ll have a good day. That children will obey their parents.

What do you love about yourself? I don’t know.

What is your favorite thing about Maila? She’s beautiful and she plays with me a lot.

What is your favorite thing about Boone? He’s funny. He plays with me a lot.

What is your favorite thing about Zeke? He’s funny and he’s cute.

What challenges you? Monkey bars and going down to see waterfalls.

What excites you? My birthday

What makes you sad? Nobody playing with me.

What is one thing you want to accomplish before you turn 7? Stay up late playing with my toys at nighttime

To my little guy who is a puzzle whiz and can finish a puzzle far before anyone else even stood a chance. The one who is filled with so much sweetness and a BIG heart. The boy whose main goal in life is to simply be left alone so he can have peace and quiet and concentration on whatever new thing he’s trying to accomplish.
You are silly. Shy. And kind. Tender hearted. Creative. Giving. Smart. Easy going. Detailed. Particular. And seriously you ooze sweetness.
It’s super hard to believe you are FOUR today. I’m so glad God let me be your mommy and that you’re a part of this family because you add so much creativity and cuteness to the bunch 🥰 You are truly un-FOUR-gettable!

1. Favorite toy? My stacking penguins
2. Favorite fruit? Apple
3. Favorite food? chicken nuggets
4. Favorite TV show? Animal shows
5. Favorite movie? Finding Dory
6. Favorite animal? Caterpillar

7. Favorite dessert? Cookies
8. Favorite song? My God is so BIG
9. Favorite book? Light shine books
10. Favorite thing to do outside? Find bugs
11. Thing he cannot go without? his blanket and caterpillars
12. His favorite thing to do with mom and dad? Play tickle monster with daddy and play with play dough with mom.
13. What excites you? Water
14. What makes you happy? Cookie cutters
15. Favorite memory from the last year? I don’t know. ????‍♀️
16. How many teeth have you lost? One
17. Who is your favorite Disney Character? Mickey Mouse
18. What is your favorite thing about yourself? My shirt and nothing
19. What is your favorite thing about your sister? Playing
20. What is your favorite thing about your brothers? I don’t know
21. What we love about Boone: he’s tender hearted, sweet, silly, and laid back.

Happy SEVENTH Birthday to my girl!
You are curious…so full of questions and wonder and a thirst for knowledge.
You are super smart. I think your brain works in a way mine never will. And it blows me away to watch you learn and grow.
You are my book worm. I used to quiz you on a book when you said you’d finished it because I simply didn’t believe you had finished it so quickly.
You are my helper. Willing to lend a hand with anything around the house (cooking, your brothers, etc..) You are compassionate. You feel for others and have such a big heart.
You are a hard worker. You have always been my best cleaner upper and so easy to teach. I can’t wait to see where that takes you in life.
I may have been terrified when they handed you to me when you were born because I felt like I had no clue what I was doing! But these seven years have confirmed that motherhood is such a joyous and beautiful journey that I wouldn’t trade for anything!
Let’s keep growing together! It’s one of my biggest joys in life to watch you BECOME who you are!

Favorite toy? My spirit horses

Favorite fruit? Apples

Favorite food: pepperoni pizza

Favorite TV show? Shopkins

Favorite movie: Alice in Wonderland

Favorite animal? Hippo

Favorite dessert? Cookies

Favorite song? Shake it off from the S.I.N.G movie

Favorite book? The Never Girls series

Favorite thing to do outside? Going on a hike and exploring.

Thing she cannot go without: mom

Her favorite thing to do with mom and dad? Late night date night

What excites you? A fun surprise

What makes you happy? Hugs

Favorite memory from the last year? Disney world, mom and me camp, and trick or treating.

How many teeth have you lost? Five.

Who is your favorite Disney Princess? Ariel

What we love about Maila: She’s smart, sweet, and a hard worker!!

Nothing in life that’s worthwhile is immediate. Even though I often want it to be! I wish I only had to tell my kids “stop hitting your brother/sister” ONE TIME and then they’d get it FOREVERMORE.

“Stop whining” has been said soooo many times I’m starting to wonder if they even have ears.

But God has been telling my heart repeatedly lately that you gotta keep sowing those seeds.

As we walked through a sunflower field today (most of them starting to die from the summer heat) it was echoed to my heart again as I held my son’s hand in mine.

IT TAKES TIME!

That sunflower seed doesn’t shoot up over night. You plant the seed. You water it. You let the sunlight do its thing. And eventually you start to see little shoots of green break forth from the soil. And after a while, it turns into a tall, beautiful, and budding sunflower in all its glory.

But it’s not just my kids. I am reminded that the work of making me into something beautiful isn’t instantaneous either. It takes time. And just like my kids, God has to teach me over and over and over before I even remotely get it, too!

How often he must look at me and say, “You still aren’t hearing me. So let’s try this lesson again”.

God tends to our hearts tirelessly and gently. Never ceasing to see what needs changing to turn us into something beautiful—-like Christ!
And so, I must be like Christ to my kids. Ever patient. But relentless. Sowing those seeds. Over and over. Waiting for the day that will come if I’m faithful to tend to them. One day I do hope the seeds planted will blossom into something magnificent and beautiful. But all in it’s time, right? Cause heart work can’t be as instant as I want it it to be!

 

“Be patient, therefore, brother, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the Earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains.” -James 5:7

He’s my sweet blonde hair blue eyed boy. “Fun loving” never described anyone more perfectly. He’s all boy and not gentle or delicate about anything at all 🤣 but he’s so very sweet at the same time.
My favorite thing he says is, “HUG” while he runs at you with his arms wide open! I’ve never met a hugger like him. He will stop strangers while we are out and wrap his arms around their legs 🙈
He says “HI” to everyone he sees.
He loves people. He craves fun and excitement. He loves music and dancing. His favorite toys at the moment are cars, trains, and balls (anything that goes 🤣). My favorite characteristics he possesses are his JOY, STRENGTH, and PERSISTENCE! Ironically some of those are also the characteristics that are the most challenging at times 😜 cause wow! that persistence and strength seem UNMATCHED!
HAPPY SECOND BIRTHDAY to my Ezekiel James Melin!!! You brighten my days, make me smile so big, and laugh so hard!

His favorite toy? His hot wheels and trains.

His favorite fruit? Grapes

Favorite food: mozzarella sticks, French fries, and chicken of any kind

His favorite TV show/movie? Bubble guppies

Favorite animal?  Puppy

Favorite snack? Babybel cheese

Favorite song? The cleanup song

Favorite book? Any book with buttons to press that make noises.

Favorite thing to do outside? Slide on the slide

What does he take to bed at night? His two blankets, lamb lamb, fluffy, bunny, Pooh bear and Nemo ????

Thing he cannot go without: His lovey named Lamb Lamb.

His favorite thing to do with mom and dad? Give hugs or build blocks 

What excites him? People, dancing, going OUT anywhere, food, watching the train at the mall, and really a never ending list cause he’s always so happy and excited.

What makes him sad? Being confined in anyway.

What we love about Zeke: His joy, persistence, and strength.

 

The way to his heart is really very simple. It includes: bacon, ranch, and anything with icing.
His current favorites are legos and robots.
He’s a thinker. An analyzer. creative. Inventive. Artistic. Can already carry a tune and remember all the lyrics. He’s sweet. Thoughtful. And goofy. The goofiest of all my kids. But he doesn’t like to show that side of himself to most. He’s got a tender heart.
I still miss those baby cuddles because he was the calmest baby!

Today he turns FIVE! Happy birthday to my JAM! So glad you introduced me to all things boy!!

 

What is your favorite color? Red

What is your favorite toy? My baymax toy

What is your favorite fruit? Pineapple

What is your favorite TV show/movie? Wallykazam and Big Hero 6

What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Hot dogs

What is your favorite thing to wear? My LEGO pajamas

What is your favorite game? Silly street

What is your favorite animal?  Elephant

What is your favorite snack? Fig bars

What is your favorite song? Muppet babies theme song

What is your favorite book? Ranger Rick JR.

What do you like to learn about? Counting numbers

What is your favorite cereal? Lucky Charms

What is your favorite thing to do outside? Slide on the slide

Who is your best friend? Caleb

What is your favorite drink? Lemonade

What is your favorite holiday? Easter

What do you take to bed with you at night? My stuffed animals

What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Muffins

What do you want to be when you grow up? A dinosaur bone digger

What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Chik Fil A

What is your favorite thing to do with Daddy? Go on a daddy son date

What is your favorite thing to do with Mommy? Read

What do you pray about? God

What do you love about yourself? My I don’t know

What is your favorite thing about maila? When she plays with me.

What is your favorite thing about Boone? Having Judah and Boone time.

What is your favorite thing about Zeke? He’s so cute

What challenges you? God

What excites you? Going to Disney world.

What makes you sad? Everybody taking away my toys.

What is one thing you want to accomplish before you turn 6? Write numbers

 

For me motherhood has been like a four way mirror—you know the one on the older TV show What Not to Wear. They show up in their favorite everyday attire. Usually something baggy. And once they step into a room surrounded by mirrors they realize that the outfit they THOUGHT looked (at least) OK on them actually makes them look frumpy and overweight.

Just like that, motherhood shows me the actual reality of myself. The ugly parts that still remain and need a “makeover” or overhaul.

It’s easy for me to focus on my kids actions and correcting those and noting their progress when all the while those attitudes they have or the bad mood they are in are also pointing out my own sin and flaws and all those things in my life that aren’t like Christ.

When my son is crying for the millionth time in a day and I respond with raising my voice. Or my kids are fighting and instead of addressing the heart issues at hand I take the lazy way out and only hand out punishments and harsh responses. When I would rather scroll my phone than listen to my daughters stories. All of it is sin and selfishness. And they’re good at helping expose it on a daily bases.

This process though—it’s painful. It HURTS! Anytime you’re being refined it isn’t easy. It’s hard to look in the four way mirror everyday and have the reality of your selfishness and sin staring back at you so clearly when you thought you were at least doing A-OK.

At the end of the day it’s a huge way God has ordained in my life to make me more like Him. And as painful as it is I’m thankful He hasn’t allowed me to remain in my baggy sweat pants and oversized T-shirt thinking that it’s a good look on me. It ain’t. It’s UGLY. It needs to go! Even if He has to pry the beloved old T-shirt from my hands Himself. He’s gonna take care of it! That’s His job.

And when it’s all said and done I will be better for it!

He sat there staring at his pink plate (the joys of coming after a girl in birth order and having a mom who was behind on the dishes). On it sat one noodle and one little piece of a sweet potato. But he just wouldn’t do it. I had never met someone who could stubbornly resist the tiniest of portions with more willpower.

“Come on!” I begged, “If you eat it you can get a snack later.” It had been two days of no snacks for him as he kept refusing his dinner, turning up his nose at everything I set before him. I was more invested in this child eating than any of my others because of his size. For some reason he never seems to need food to survive.

“I feel like he’s just going to shrink away to nothing” I lamented to my husband. Then I went back to trying to convince my third born that he wanted that noodle more than he had ever wanted anything in his life by trying to turn it into a game. “Let’s see how many bites it’ll take for that noodle to disappear” I challenged. Don’t little boys love a challenge, after all?

You see, I am a champion for my kids. I want them to succeed. In every area. If not eating that noodle means they won’t get snack later (and I know how much they are gonna want a snack when it comes time), then I am there cheering them on to succeed. Even at the tiniest of things like eating the one last bite on their dinner plate.

As a parent I am often telling my children what the punishment is going to be if they disobey but then secretly saying in my mind “Please choose the right thing” or “Don’t do it! Don’t make that decision!” It hurts me to see them hurting. It makes me sad to have to follow through on discipline. It’s not fun to watch them do the wrong thing.

Perhaps because God is not here physically with us, it’s easy for me to imagine God standing far off not watching over my life tenderly and lovingly. Not cheering me on. But watching for my mess ups. Keeping track of my wrongs. Or simply being indifferent and not taking notice of me at all. But that isn’t the Gospel. Sure, God lovingly disciplines those He loves. But, He is not rooting for my failure. He is not forgetting about my existence. He is keeping track of every last hair on my head (Luke 12:7).

We see this multiple times in Scripture (honestly it’s a theme throughout all of the Bible):

Romans 8:31b says “If God is for us, who can be against us?”

Psalm 118:7 says, “The LORD is for me among those who help me; Therefore I will look with satisfaction on those who hate me.”

Exodus 14:14 says, “The Lord will fight for you, you need only to be still.”

(Also see Luke 15:11-32)

So, today are you feeling like God stands far off from you or isn’t taking notice of your existence/circumstances? Like He isn’t a personal loving God? Or even that He is rooting against you?

As much of a cheerleader as I am for my kids, God is a bigger one for me and you. He is cheering us on to do what’s right. To make the right choices. To succeed. Especially in the matters of His kingdom. He is a champion for His people. He loves us. He watches over us from afar (just check out Psalm 139). He takes notice in the details of our lives.

Remind your heart of these truths, friends, and be comforted in this today. We are His children. He loves us as His own!

I was making lunch in the kitchen when I heard my youngest son wailing from the other room. It was the kind of crying where you knew he was in pain. He wasn’t just whining to get attention. He was hurt. I quickly laid down the food I was making for lunch and rushed to see what had happened. It was clear my son Boone had pushed his brother over onto the floor. He had not only hurt his feelings but he had hurt him physically. My arms reached out to scoop Zeke into my arms and comfort him. Once he had calmed down I went back to administer a punishment to my son. Zeke was still so little—just ten months—but you could tell he was watching my actions and his demeanor changed. He knew his momma was protecting and defending him. He was waiting for me to come to his aid.

This type of scenario happens often in our house and the child who has gotten hurt is always looking to me for justice in the situation.

I find this kind of thing compelling when I think about our relationship with Christ. How he protects and defends us. How we don’t have to take up our own case because He is fighting for us. He is the one who gets justice for us and for all of those who need it.

With current events like the legalizing of late term abortion in New York happening, it’s easy to get discouraged. We wanna look up at the sky and shake our fist and say “Lord, come quickly!” or “Lord, why would you let this injustice happen?” or even “Do not let the wicked prosper, Lord.” And, honestly, the Bible doesn’t condemn these types of prayers. The Psalms are full of the author begging and pleading for God to bring justice or come to the cause of those who need it (one example being Psalm 140:8).

The Bible is clear that we are to speak up for those who cannot. We are to stand for what is right (Proverbs 38:1-9). But, we are not the final justice givers. We cannot right every wrong. The world around us is full of sin.

So what are some practical things we can do as Christians in the face of what is going on?

1. Share the Gospel.

The Bible tells us that those who are not in Christ are blind to their own sin (1 Corinthians 2:14). How can you expect evil to be seen clearly to those who do not have Christ changing their hearts and lives? For sure, I was dead in my own sin before Christ changed me (Ephesians 2:1).

2. Pray for our nation.

The Bible reminds us that we are not in control of changing things, but God is. And therefore, we can petition Him for all things that need healing in our lives and country (see 2 Chronicles 7:14 and 1 Timothy 2:1-2).

3. Do something where you can.

Write your local Representative. Give to a cause that you believe in that stands against abortion. Consider petitioning your church to participate in ministries against abortion. Volunteer at a pregnancy center. Offer to adopt a baby that isn’t “wanted.” The Bible does tell us to speak out against injustice. To not be silent. That we are to love not just with words but with actions and in truth (1 John 3:18).

***Side note that I have mentioned before that Apologia Studios is a ministry my husband and I believe in that is doing great work, and one of their main ministries is work against abortion. I believe they are making a difference as they have saved many children from being aborted already. And you can find their website below. Please note I am not being asked to say anything about this ministry by them. I am dong it of my own free will.

https://endabortionnow.com

4. Rest in the hope and peace that ultimate justice is in the hands of God. And, He will set all things right.

The Bible is clear that justice is in the Lord’s hands and that He is keeping track of all evil and sin. We can surely mourn the choices of the wicked. The terrible mistakes and decisions that we know hurt God’s heart. But we cannot set all things right.

Proverbs 22:23 — “for the LORD will take up their case and will exact life for life.”

Romans 12:19 — “Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord.”

Colossians 3:25 — “For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality.”

Psalm 9:7-8 — “But the LORD abides forever; He has established His throne for judgment, And He will judge the world in righteousness; He will execute judgment for the peoples with equity.”

Psalm 37:13 — “The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them; but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming.”

In the same way my kids look to me to execute justice when they get hurt, I’m to look to my Heavenly Father for ultimate justice in all of life’s evils and situations. And that brings me great hope and comfort in times like the present.

The comment I get most about Boone is “he’s so sweet”. And it’s true! He’s tender hearted and compassionate.

Food is the way to his heart but he’s picky about what that food is 😜
He is the quietest of my four kids. An observer. He really doesn’t have much to say, but when he wants to speak he insists that you listen carefully! He will go with the flow of almost anything we are doing as a family. He just wants to be included.
He loves to keep things organized and in the right place. And he’ll make sure all the things his brothers and sister mess up get put back together perfectly.
Outside is his favorite place. And he loves animals and books.
It’s really a joy to be his mommy and I’m so thankful to have had 3 years with this little guy!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my sweet Boone! ❤️

1. What is your favorite color? Orange
2. What is your favorite toy? The turtle
3. What is your favorite fruit? Blueberry
4. What is your favorite TV show? The airplane show (superwings).
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Oranges and craisins
6. What is your favorite thing to wear? Costume
7. What is your favorite game? Hungry hungry hippo
8. What is your favorite animal? Elephant
9. What is your favorite snack? Fruit snacks
10. What is your favorite song? Music ????
11. What is your favorite book? Thomas book
12. What do you like to learn about? Turtles
13. What is your favorite cereal? Reese’s puffs
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Play turtles
15. What is your favorite drink? Apple juice
16. What is your favorite holiday? Turtles! ????‍♀️ Halloween.
17. What do you take to bed with you at night? Baby caterpillar
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Cupcakes
19. What do you want to be when you grow up? A turtle
20. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Cake
21. What is your favorite thing to do with Daddy? Puzzles
22. What is your favorite thing to do with Mommy? Play with toys
23. What do you pray about? Jesus
24. What do you love about yourself? I don’t want to answer
25. What is your favorite thing about your brothers? Play stuffy
26. What is your favorite thing about your Sister? Cupcakes

He was running down the sidewalk looking down at his feet as he went. Concentrating on crunching every dead leaf on the ground instead of looking up to see where he was going. His little chubby right hand grasped an assortment of orange, yellow, and red leaves. Collections were his favorite thing at the moment. The joy in his eyes and the smile on his face told it all. This was his happy place.

I had already been slightly nervous to go for a walk here. Downtown. With the street right beside us and four kids to watch while trying to take in and enjoy the beautiful fall leaves. With every street corner we approached I had to call out to each child to stop and wait so we could cross the road together.

Then it happened. He was so focused on the crunching of the leaves that he wasn’t paying attention. He was about to walk right into the street in front of a car. But my hand reached out to yank him back towards me. At that moment do you think he turned to me and was happy about me saving him from what was about to transpire? No! He started crying loudly and getting angry at me for stopping his fun. He could only see the leaves he had dropped on the sidewalk. Not the overall perspective of the danger his mom had just saved him from.

If God was the one who created us. The one who formed us out of the dirt and breathed His breath into us. The one who made us in His image…

Do you trust He also knows the very depths of your soul? What you truly NEED to have joy and completeness? That He knows what things you could do to yourself to cause great harm and destruction? He’s looking out for you. He’s got your back.

There was a time I didn’t understand how life giving God’s words were. The Bible felt like a bunch of rules I had to follow. A box to check. At times, a ruiner of the fun I could be having as I looked around at some of my peers in my younger years. The conviction of the Holy Spirit just made me feel guilty when I wanted to feel free to do whatever I pleased.

Thankfully, through the years God showed me graciously that He knows me best. He made me. I can either live by His words or not. I can either experience freedom from self destruction and harm or ignore Him and suffer. Paul David Tripp says, “Sin reduces all of us to fools. In our foolishness we see the world inside out and upside down. We look at what is false and see truth. We look at what is foolish and see wisdom.” Without God’s words in our lives we are only left with our foolish desires, thoughts, and ignorance of what is right and good.

Psalm 119:24 says, “Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors.”

His words and instructions are literally there as a means of mercy and grace. He made us. We are His. He KNOWS us. He KNEW I would need His help to navigate this world where the worst of sin sometimes seems ever so enticing to my eyes. His counsel shows me what the BEST thing is for my life. When we live in that wisdom He offers, we experience joy and fulfillment to the highest degree. Because He knows better than we do.

Don’t I often go through my days just like my two year old son? I’m often blindly unaware of the dangers that lurk around me. Like a toddler barreling down the sidewalk only focused on the leaves under my little feet. I don’t have a concept of what will hurt me. Of what’s best for me. Of what’s coming around the curve if I don’t stop in my tracks. It’s God who has that knowledge. It’s God who pulls me back when I’m about to meet danger. It’s Him who knows what nourishes and feeds my soul and what causes it great damage.

So what happens when God’s words keep us from saying “yes” to that person we want to date? Or means we have to say “no” to that job that we wanted? Will we then look at them as FREEDOM? Something that will give us the deepest satisfaction? Or will we look at them as a ball and chain. Something that weighs us down? What if instead of looking at God and His word like my child sometimes looks at me—as a ruiner of all the fun—I looked at them with thankfulness and relief. His words aren’t joy killers or fun ruiners. They are true FREEDOM. The One who created me knows much more than I do about what I need for lasting fulfillment.

When Jonathan first told me he loved me I remember feeling like it was way too soon for those words. Way too soon for him to “know”. So I responded by bursting into tears, getting out of his Ford, shutting the door, and walking away. The words scared me (and also I might’ve been a slightly dramatic girl). Looking back now, I know he meant them. Even that early on. Because love isn’t a feeling (though loving someone can bring some warm fuzzier with it). Love is a choice. It’s saying “yes” to committing to someone’s good qualities and also their bad.

There came a day when I realized he had the qualities I was looking for in a husband. And I was able to clearly see that our personality differences aside, I could say, “I love you too.” I loved his kindness, patience, and the fact that he was just genuinely a good guy with a good heart. He was a good listener who took the time to hear my heart on things. He was creative. Talented. Thoughtful. He was a Christian who thought through what he believed and knew the Bible better than I ever had. I could go on. But I won’t.

When I finally said I love you to him (which took way too long) I was recognizing he had a lot of amazing qualities that were important for a marriage to me. But I also was saying I would take the “bad” too. I was saying I was committed to loving him forever. Because it is a choice I make every day when I wake up.

I wish I had realized when I first started the whole dating thing that sometimes we make things too complicated. Obviously, it’s incredibly important to think through who you say “yes” to. I know I thought toad analyzed the situation into the ground. But the biggest thing in marriage once you find those qualities that are important to you, is making the choice to remind yourself of them every day. And waking up each morning saying, “yes, I’ll choose commitment. I’ll choose love.”

Even when life gets hard. Or exposes the bad in one another (it’s inevitable that it will). I’m thankful love isn’t dependent on my mood. On how I feel. That it’s based on something much more steady: choosing to stay, love, and be committed.

I cannot believe it’s been six years since Maila Jane joined our family! I know every parent says that but it’s so true. Someone told me once “the days are long but the years are short”. That could not be a more accurate description of being a mommy.

Maila is our hard worker. She is not afraid of doing things even if they are not easy. She’s strong and strong-willed.

She’s super smart and creative. The brains behind a lot of the activities and games all the kids play together. If you take her out of the equation her brothers are left wondering what they can do to entertain themselves. haha. Her heart is very tender and she looks out of her little brothers. She keeps asking me recently if she can buy them “this or that”. Or she will give me ideas for what presents they would like to receive next.

Maila is curious and always wants to know exactly “why” or “how” something works. She hates a simple answer to her questions. haha. She loves helping me and her brothers with any tasks we might need help with. I love seeing her grow and become more of her own person! So thankful for her life 🙂

What is your favorite color? Pink

What is your favorite toy? My muppet babies

What is your favorite fruit? Banana

What is your favorite TV show? Girly shows but mostly Yoko.

What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? An “M” shaped grilled cheese

What is your favorite thing to wear? My princess night gown

What is your favorite game? Guess Who

What is your favorite animal? A turtle

What is your favorite snack? Cheesy puffs

What is your favorite song? Frozen Fever

What is your favorite book? The Santa big book.

What do you like to learn about? Jesus

What is your favorite cereal? Lucky Charms

What is your favorite thing to do outside? Play in our backyard and catch butterflies.

What is your favorite drink? Lemonade

What is your favorite holiday? Christmas and Halloween

What do you take to bed with you at night? My muppet babies and grown up miss piggy.

What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Donuts ????

What do you want to be when you grow up? A regular mom. ????

What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Chik Fil A

What is your favorite thing to do with Daddy? Play Checkers and when he’s robot daddy.

What is your favorite thing to do with Mommy? Play games

What do you pray about? Jesus will steal our sins away from our bodies

What do you love about yourself? I like my earrings.

What is your favorite thing about your brothers? That they always want to play with me.

I can look back on all the different seasons of my life and transitions I have had along the way and clearly see God’s presence teaching me things. God’s work is represented in my mind by landmarks. And with each landmark is a lesson that stuck out and really transformed my heart.

This past season (while a short two years) was marked with the word generosity.

There is no doubt in my mind God brings circumstances and people into our lives at just the right times to shape us and make us who we are in Him. I am grateful for the people God has placed in my life while I have been here in Winston. They have truly taught me new things. My life has been transformed and my heart has learned so much.

I can still remember clearly only a few months after getting here. Praying that God would provide financially for a situation in our lives. Not sure how he would do it. I felt hopeless but as I vacuumed our carpet I was pouring my heart out to God to answer. Minutes later I walked to check our mail and found cash in an envelope to us from an anonymous person. It was the exact amount that we needed (which we hadn’t shared with anyone). I immediately started weeping. It was such a tangible way of God showing us grace—and from someone in our lives who probably didn’t even know us very well at the time since we hadn’t been here long. Add to that the time our dryer went out and someone in our community group lent us their extra dryer indefinitely. No questions asked. Other times when friends rushed over when I was in labor with our fourth child, dropping their plans for the day to serve us by watching our three others so Jonathan and I could be together at the hospital. Times when I had medical procedures that needed to get taken care of and someone came over to babysit. There have been meals when we needed them. Houses opened up to us. There are endless stories I could share (some I haven’t listed here today. You know who you are and what you have done for us).

It has truly been a time where I was humbled by feeling undeserving of others’ kindness and generosity. And God placed me in that position to remind my heart over and over again that He will meet all of our needs. That we truly don’t have to worry about tomorrow. He is already there. He will not abandon us.

So, it is definitely bittersweet that we leave Winston-Salem. Saying goodbye to the community that has really come around us and has been the Body of Christ to us in such tangible ways.

I’m so glad that God meets us in each new season with new lessons. With transformations and work to be done on our hearts to make us more like Him. I have no doubt he will do this in our next season as well.

As Jonathan accepts a job in Richmond, VA, I am humbled again by the generosity of my heavenly Father who has provided just what we needed in the exact moment we needed it! It goes right along with everything He has been teaching my heart for the last two years. And we are undeserving of this gift and His generosity.

Stay tuned for more blog posts and updates from us as we dive in to this next season! Prayers are always appreciated.

The sun beat down on my back as we rode along. The trail we were on was winding through the forest and had quite a few steep hills along the way. When the trees parted you could catch a glimpse of the Smoky Mountains in the distance. It was a beautiful day. But it was hot. I reached down to pat the horse below me and say “good job” for carrying me in this sweltering sun. As I did, I noticed that the horse was pouring sweat as well. Strapped with a saddle and with me for a load, he was probably wishing he could just be back at the barn in the cool shade eating his hay.

With each hill we started up Thor seemed to have a harder time. I felt almost as if he was about to give up and just sit down. My mind inevitably thought through what could happen if he decided to give up on me. But no matter how much he seemed to struggle he kept right on going. He kept moving forward. Pushing his legs onward. The last hill we climbed he decided to break out into a full on sprint. I wondered why the sudden change, but then I saw the barn in the distance and realized he knew that hill well, and he was just excited that the trail was over and he could be done and lay down.

As I climbed into the van after that ride I couldn’t help but think about the parallel to my own life. There are days I can feel a lot like Thor. I can feel like I am carrying a heavy load on my back, struggling up a hill in the hottest summer sun. Is it worth it to keep on going? Should I just lie down and quit?

God has been speaking a lot to my heart about perseverance lately. Perseverance in the mundane daily tasks. Perseverance in discipling my kids’ hearts when it’s HARD and I’m not really seeing progress. Perseverance in prayer when I don’t get the answers I am seeking in the time that makes sense to my finite mind. That last one is the one really getting me lately. Spending countless hours pouring your heart out and almost begging God and then feeling dead silence can be kind of maddening. Dave Barnes has a line in one of his song that says “Kinda feels like everything I pray Heaven thinks I’m joking”. There are many days I feel like that as well.

My tendency in perseverance honestly is to quit trusting God. To quit trusting the things Scripture says about Him: He is good, He sees me, He knows me, He loves me, He wants the best for me, etc… And instead of continuing to come to God I want to just give up and be done with it.

There is a story in the Bible that has long intrigued me. One where a guest shows up in the late hours of the night wishing to borrow some bread from a friend. You can find it in Luke 11:5-13:

⁵ And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, ⁶ for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; ⁷ and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? ⁸ I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. ⁹ And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. ¹⁰ For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. ¹¹ What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; ¹² or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? ¹³ If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Like any good father would, God wants us to keep coming to Him. And the Bible makes the point here that He wants us to keep asking even when we perceive silence from Him or haven’t yet gotten an answer. For me, to keep coming and laying it as His feet when I see no results is exhausting. In fact, the prayers I have been praying lately I feel like I have been praying for so long I’m tired of uttering them. It almost seems pointless. So I wanna lay down and quit. But it seems God is speaking perseverance to my heart instead of an answer. Almost like He wants me to learn to keep at it. To trust Him. To trust His timing. To be better at waiting and seeking and being quiet before Him.

Please hear me say that God doesn’t have to answer with a “Yes”. But, until I get a “Yes” or even a “No” I must keep bringing it to Him tirelessly.

The thing is, we have to balance God being our loving Father—one who lives to give us good gifts and wants us to come to Him with our hearts desires and needs—with a God who sees infinitely more than we ever will. He knows how what we are asking for will actually turn out for us. He always knows better than we do.

Just like I know better for my kids. I see more than they see. I have the facts and they don’t. So when I say “No” or “Wait” it’s not out of cruelty but out of kindness and love and protection. That’s the kind of insight and love my Father has into my own life. But I can often forget that just as easily as my kids do.

In addition to this, none of us is the only person on the planet. The intricacies of God working all details together for all His children’s good and His glory is something we will never grasp here. It’s not just about me and my little piece of the universe. There’s much more than that going on.

And so, it’s all a good reminder that the Christian life is all about perseverance. The Bible says much about persevering in all aspects of our faith. So even if we are out there in the hot sun sweating, toiling, wishing we could just stop asking and sit down in the middle of the steep climb, we cannot. We “press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14). One day we will climb up that last hill with the end in site and maybe everything will make sense when we see “then face to face” (1 Corinthians 13:12). Either way, it’s my goal to come in with a pat on my back and a “well done good and faithful” servant” (Matthew 25:23). And until I reach that point I’m gonna keep  knocking and asking and hoping for an answer soon.

Note: this post was written a while back when I was pregnant with my fourth. I’m just now posting it!

Tonight I watched my little ones dancing around the living room laughing with one another. And then my daughter gave me the biggest hug and the sweetest little kiss on my cheek. I thought to myself, “This time is to be treasured”. Watching my kids eyes light up at the wonder in the world. The imaginations they have as they make something magical out of the ordinary everyday things. Chubby little hands reach out to grab mine. The sweetest baby snuggles. There is so much to enjoy right here.

Don’t get me wrong. This place is hard. The mounds of endless laundry. The constant requests. The sleepless nights.

I am currently massive and pregnant with our fourth child. We will soon have four children four years of age and under. My body hurts. My feet ache. I have moments of crying out to God wondering how I will make it one more second with the physical strength that is demanded of me some days. And it isn’t just physical strength that I need. I need mental strength as well. It takes a lot of thinking and problem solving to raise a child. You need a huge heap of wisdom and perseverance to come along for the ride of parenthood.

But this place is also sweet. And that fact can be forgotten so easily amidst the hard demands of the day to day. When I have bent down despite my big pregnant belly to pick up that millionth toy. Or when I put my littlest in my arms to try to comfort him from the latest fall he has had (he’s such an adventurous one). These little ones depend so much on me.

God calls us to focus on today. To not live in the future (Matthrew 6:34). To be fully present in the moment He has for us RIGHT NOW.

Oh how I want to live that way because each season has it’s sweetness to offer.

In fact, I wonder if God planned it that way. How boring would it be if our entire years on earth were made up of the same things. I think it’s a beautiful thing that we go through different phases. For me, that was childhood, college, dating, marriage, kids, etc….I am glad that my entire life changes like the seasons. I believe we need that change.

We need each new phase to mold us and teach us new lessons. To make us more into His image.

I often can forget that in the moment. I can long for the past or strain for the future. But I often miss the here and now.

The time of dating my husband in college was truly a sweet time. Magical and full of butterflies. Lets be real…it also had it’s share of hard moments. Being newly married was also pretty great. Every night was like a date night. We got to go and do things freely. Spending so much time traveling and exploring. Those were some amazing days.

But here…..HERE even in this place of sweat and tears there is so much amazing good. And it is also to be savored and not missed. God places beauty, wonder, joy, and adventure here as well. It might look different…but it’s here. That’s where I need to live.

I assume there will be amazing times ahead as well. I haven’t lived those years yet but God gives so much beauty in every single time of life.

May my heart remember to savor the here and now. To not miss the wonder in those little eyes. Or the excitement over life’s little pleasures. The here and now is full of beauty all it’s own. If I blink I might altogether miss it. Soon it will be the past I want to go back to for even a second.

In those days my favorite thing was getting dirty. I lived for climbing trees, running through the woods, and exploring. I would keep Rolly Polly bugs in my pockets and my favorite pets were Catydids. When Fireflies lit up the night they would be cupped between my hands so I could watch them glow more brightly. So, it’s no surprise that day I was looking for another adventure as I ran down the hill to our neighbors house. Pounding down the concrete driveway I stopped when I came to a giant ditch that had collected all the rain water from the past several days. What else would I do at this point in my life but jump into the water? And so jump in I did.

A few minutes later, I saw a figure making its way down the street towards us. Once the figure came a little closer, I saw it was my dad. At this point I was fully expecting a “whoopin” as we called it in Mississippi. Instead, I got a pleasant surprise when I realized my dad was coming to join in the fun.

Another one of my favorite pastimes included fort building in the woods. My sister and I worked hard for what seemed like all day long building a perfect fort. We even went a step further and grabbed a branch that had pine needles on the end and “swept” the floor of the house. We loved doing it. But as we were playing that day a neighborhood “bully” came by and knocked the whole thing down. My sister and I were very distraught as we recounted for my mom and dad the details of everything that had unfolded that day in the woods. My dad’s response was epic as he declared he would build us a house in the woods that nobody was gonna knock down. And he did. He built us the cutest little house and we played in it for years. It had a real door, window, roof, and a bench we could sit on inside of it. You better believe nobody could knock that fort down.

There were snow days where he would grab a sled and join in our fun as we raced down the hills nearby our house. Times he would take us down to the lake and teach us how to fish or catch the baby frogs that lived near the water.  Nights where he would rake the leaves into a giant pile in the yard for us to jump in.

Then there were Nights when the storms rolled in and he would come in the middle of the night to check on us. We would wake up to him looking out the window in my sisters upstairs bedroom at the lightning that was flashing across the sky. Or hot summer days when he would chase snakes around our yard to kill them so they couldn’t cause any harm to us. Just the way anyone would who wanted to protect their family.

But there were also the Bible lessons at home that he would have with us even after working long hours at the office. Nights when he would grab a bible story and read it with us and then teach us about what we were reading. We could ask him any question and he would answer. I think I have learned more about the Bible and theology from him than I have any church or even seminary. His relationship with Christ is inspiring.

He was (and still is) a big cheerleader for us. An advocate for the things that we loved. He let me take art lessons as a kid because I loved to draw. He bought me a guitar when I wanted to learn to play and drove me to lessons. He came to my choir performances. And he made sure to say the words that really matter to a little girl like “I’m proud of you”, “I love you”, and “You’re beautiful”.

Working hard was what he did for our family on a daily basis. He always made sure he was providing for us well. But more than just providing, he was and continues to be one of the most generous people I know with his money.

The Bible refers to God’s love for us as being like a father’s love for his children. That concept of God has literally come to life when I think about my own dad and how hard he loves his children. There are no boundaries there.

So, on this Father’s Day I want to commemorate a dad whose love was really big. One where he joined in the fun. He laughed hard, played hard, and showed us what joy looks like. Then there were times when he would roll his sleeves up and do the even tougher job of training us in the Word. Having those tough conversations that no one wants to have. Disciplining us faithfully.

As I look at my own children these days I realize even more just how instrumental a father’s love is in their lives. Fathers give the foundation for success or failure in our lives. The foundation can be like sand or it can be like the strongest stone. Just like those fireflies lighting up the dark night with their yellow glow, a father’s love lights up the heart of their child. It’s a glow that radiates for the rest of their lives.

Nicknames: Jam, Jammer, Judah Man

How old are you? I’m four.

What is your favorite color? Red

What is your favorite toy? My tsum tsums

What is your favorite fruit? bananas

What is your favorite TV show? Zoo Babu (a show on Netflix) and Muppet Babies

What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? orange rolls

What is your favorite thing to wear? My batman suit

What is your favorite game? Silly Street

What is your favorite animal? Elephant

What is your favorite snack? granola bars

What is your favorite song? The song from Zoo Babu

What is your favorite book? My dinosaur book

What do you like to learn about? Jesus

What is your favorite cereal? Trail Mix

What is your favorite thing to do outside? Play in the yard. Slide.

Who is your best friend? Zeke

What is your favorite drink? Apple Juice

What is your favorite holiday? Christmas

What do you take to bed with you at night? My blankies and stuffed animals.

What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Dinosaur Oatmeal

What do you want to be when you grow up? Just a grownup

What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Cake! Chicken Nuggets, pickles, bacon.

What is your favorite thing to do with Daddy? Play games

What is your favorite thing to do with Mommy? Help mommy cook.

What do you pray about? God

What do you love about yourself? being a boy.

What is your favorite thing about your brothers? I love to play with Zeke (sorry Boone…lol)

What is your favorite thing about your sister? Her tsum tsums

“GUN IT, GUN IT, GUN IT” were the cheers from the backseat as we approached the hill in the middle of a small Mississippi town on our drive to school each day with my mom. At the top of that hill sat a set of railroad tracks and we would beg her to put the pedal to the floor board so we could all have that rush of adrenaline that comes with going “airborne” in a minivan. Really, we were barely getting up off the ground. But to us we felt like we were doing something really amazing. It was the highlight of the week for a girl who was only in the third grade at the time. Those rides to school were also filled with the Space Jam soundtrack on repeat. And I would rush off into school with “I believe I can fly” echoing in my brain and the feeling of soaring over those tracks still alive in my bones. After a day at school I would be greeted in the carline with a snack in hand.

Then there were the trips to the mall where my mom would let me get a “Cheese dog” down at the Corn Dog 7. They were so delicious that I crave them to this day but you can’t find those anywhere. It’s really a tragedy. If people only realized what they are missing out on.

There were summers she would create a giant slip in slide in the yard with a tarp and a hose. Other times she would pitch a tent on the back porch because we wanted to “go camping” and she would deliver warm cookies to us just before bedtime. Then she would let us back indoors when it got late and we were hearing all the strange noises in the woods and wanted to sleep in our beds.

I made my very first piece of classic 90s puff paint attire when my mom graciously sat down with me over the course of several weeks and taught me how to sew a denim vest with a Scottish Terrier on the front. It was with her that I learned how to cross stitch. And cook. I was always welcomed into the kitchen with her; because she was not afraid to do the things that required a God-sized dose of patience, perseverance, and gentleness.

My mom was faithful with warm tasty meals as we all sat around the table together each evening. She would answer homework questions. Listen to hours of my saxophone playing. And always help us dive into what we were gifted to do (which wasn’t saxophone playing by the way even though I might’ve wanted it to be 🙂 But she was also just as faithful with correction, a shoulder to cry on, and words of advice.

I remember moving to a new city and being made fun of on the playground. And on the ride home from school my mom always spoke words of encouragement or made me feel better. Like I could be ok even if I never fit in at school. Then during those teenage years when that guy I had my eye on decided to date another girl (and I would get down on myself), my mom was there to offer a listening ear and a bigger perspective on life.

I guess that’s really what families do— the solid ones anyways— they give you a solid foundation. Confidence. Support. Strength that will help you get through the tough times without feeling like you wanna give up.

My mom always did that. She has always been a place of warmth, calm, peace and love for me. A safe haven so to speak. And you know how many times a girl going through childhood and teenage angst and changes needs a safe haven? It’s often! My mom always has and always will lend a listening ear to any situation. She has really been my rock and help after each and every baby that I have birthed. She’ll show up and lose sleep, do all my laundry, make my bed, let me get naps, cuddle the baby, and spoil the other kids. She’s one of the hardest workers I know. But she never wants praise for it. She does it all totally behind the scenes.

Life for me growing up was just as it should be for any child— without the burden of any stress or serious concern. That was partly because I had a good momma who was faithful to show up every day and work hard and love well. I’m thankful for the comfort and steadiness she brought to my life back then.

Now, I often pray I will be like her in my own motherhood journey. I want to be those things that she seems to easily exhibit: calmness, steadiness, gentleness, patience, love, hard work, perseverance, creativity, and fun.

Honestly, those things don’t even come from my momma. They come from God. She is a beautiful person… she is all she is because she reflects the beauty of her Savior. And so, on this mother’s day I definitely want to acknowledge that I am very lucky that out of all the mothers in the world she is mine.  But I also want to acknowledge that I want to be like her because she is like Christ.

The gift of a good mother is irreplaceable. It has such a big impact. It will get you over each hill in life and set you up to go flying into your future with a solid foundation.

We had literally just come out of the most physically, emotionally, and mentally exhausting phase of our lives to date. As I unpacked the boxes in the living room one by one I thought, “I’m tired, Lord”. It was the type of tired that wasn’t just from lack of sleep the night before. It was the kind of tired that reached to my bones and made me groan inwardly. I continued in my prayer, “I know I have three children and rest is not in sight. But I need rest, father. Real rest.”

I really didn’t think anything would come from that prayer. But God is a good Father who knows exactly what we need, and He delivers it. About six months later I found myself sitting on a plane headed to California on a business trip with Jonathan. The week was full of REST. Riding along the California coastline and stopping to take in the jagged cliffs that cascaded into the water below. Watching the gigantic waves as they powerfully swelled over the rocks jutting out of the ocean. Listening to the chorus and flaps of seals as they sunbathed. Breathing in the cleanest, most fragrant air I’ve ever breathed. It was all a gift from my Father. He met me there.

It was not just physical rest I received, but mental and spiritual rest as well. In fact, on the plane ride home I remember feeling rested in a way I hadn’t felt in a LONG time. I didn’t even know that kind of rested could exist anymore. I had totally forgotten what it even felt like.

And my heart was grateful. God reminded me of the prayers of desperation I had uttered in those moments when I didn’t want to admit how run down I was to anyone else but Him. I stopped several times to say “THANK YOU, LORD, FOR DELIVERING THE REST I SO DESPERATELY NEEDED.”

Living a life of thankfulness and gratitude might be easier in those big moments like the rest I received in California, but it’s just as important in those everyday moments. For me that looks like dealing with sick babies. Losing sleep often when babies are teething or not feeling well. Changing diapers. Cooking meals. Cleaning up. Doing laundry. It’s easy for my heart to become a grumbling place when the days are long and demand a lot from me. It’s easy to lose sight of the “little” prayers that I lift up to God. Like when I cry out just asking for a little grace to get through a hard day and somehow my kids magically play together well. That isn’t “magic”. That’s grace, friends.

My heart often becomes a murmuring place that counts the stacks of laundry or hours of sleep I missed out on instead of one that counts the blessings and goodness I see all around me (if I would focus on it). Choosing joy in the mundane is difficult.

How often can we all be guilty of lifting up prayers to heaven (both big and small) and forgetting who those blessings have come from? I forget to stop and sing praises to the one who gives every good and perfect gift I receive (James 1:17). God is not just someone I should ask requests of, but one I should give all the glory to when He answers them. It’s a testimony to His goodness and love.

There’s a story in the Bible that has really captured my attention over the years that God used to convict my heart regarding my quickness to ask for blessing and my slowness to sing those praises to God when He comes through on my behalf (you can find it in Luke 17):

11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”

14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.

15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.

17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

In this story, Jesus healed ten men with leprosy and yet only one came back to give him the praise and thanks for it. In Jesus’ day, leprosy was pretty much a death sentence. Jesus literally gave these men a second chance at life. And they were ungrateful. They walked away with their gift and they never stopped to acknowledge the hands from which it came from.

What a sad truth. As I look at my life I realize that I have been given many blessings from God’s hand. I ask Him for MUCH. And He lovingly gives all I need like the amazing Father He is. My response should be to give Him all the praise and glory He deserves. To stop and take a minute to say “THANK YOU” for the gifts I don’t deserve but get anyways.

Gratefulness looks like choosing joy in the middle of the mundane daily tasks. It’s making sure our hearts don’t become a grumbling muttering place where we keep track of the negative instead of the positive. Where when we lift up those prayers of desperation to God we take note of the ways He is supplying our every need and sow a heart of gratefulness. One that recognizes His goodness and stops to say a prayer of thanksgiving.

Friends, will you join with me in being determined to thank God and remember Him when He comes through for us? And purposefully choose to have a heart of gratitude and joy for the ways He provides for us every single day? In the big ways and small ways He is there taking care of us like a loving Father. Sometimes, it could look like Him protecting us and saying “No”. But that’s a post for another day. Either way, He is FOR US and He is listening and answering. We just need to stop and take notice. Count the blessings. And whisper those prayers of gratitude.

My legs ached beneath me. They simply didn’t want to carry me any further up than I had already gone. But I kept forcing them to take me the rest of the way knowing the view would be worth it. And also knowing that my husband of just 7 days wanted to see the view more than I did. He had asked for this hike on this cold morning. So I had slipped on my feather down jacket and ear warmers and headed out to the mountainside. If we hadn’t already climbed every staircase in Paris for the last seven days I would not have been so resistant. But my legs were tired. More tired than I could ever remember them being leading up to that point.

The Swiss countryside, however, made it slightly better. The rivers that weaved through the valleys in Zermatt were the clearest blue I had ever seen. Sheep were grazing nearby. And with no cars or vehicles in sight, it was quiet. And beautiful. The stillness of it all made taking in the scenery even more awe inspiring.

As I pushed my way up the steep incline we finally reached the top we had been making our way toward for the last hour. At this height you could see a beautiful wooden cross with the Matterhorn peak situated right behind it. Yep. It was worth it. And it was a reminder of whose Canvas this was. God Himself had painted this picture. He is the best artist. But I wouldn’t have been able to see this had I not forced my legs to keep going for the last hour or so. If I had done what I really wanted to do: sit down and give up… I would have missed out on one breathtaking view.

And so it is every day in my life. Especially as a mom. Perseverance is the hardest trait to come by. There are days when I feel like a hamster on a wheel. Cooking that lunch AGAIN. Going through the bedtime routine for the millionth time. The constant stacks of laundry that never seem to end. Then I wake up and it repeats itself.

The tasks of the heart are much harder than the mundane ones though. The bad attitudes. The tantrums. The grumbling. The lying. Those are the things that require the most forbearance.

It can seem like you are getting nowhere. Even when you are consistent and faithful in teaching and correcting it can seem like no one is listening. There are so many days I want to give up altogether because I cannot possibly hand out one more spanking or time out or heart lesson.

This week especially, it seems the only thing my kids are saying is “She took this toy” or “He won’t share with me”. Then you can cue the crying from my third child who is trying to take a toy from his brother  and then ends up in a heap of tears because he told him to stop.

I’m reminded of a verse that has become literally my LIFE SONG during these young years. I’m sure you have heard it before too. But take a minute to let it sink in.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” -Galatians 6:9

The heart work we are doing every single day can be exhausting. We are indeed planting seeds and they will grow and bloom. But the blooming takes time. Before you see that rose bush in bloom you have to spend time in the soil getting your hands messy. You have to dig and sweat and toil. You have to water. And then you have to go back out there and keep tending to the garden so the sun doesn’t come along and dry up the dirt and kill the plant. You have to make sure the bugs aren’t eating it all. It takes work and time. It takes showing up every day.

That is just like parenting. It takes rolling up our sleeves daily and getting our hands dirty. Meeting that bad attitude with the response that will shape the heart of that little one and point them to Jesus. And we must never give up. The harvest is coming if we keep at it.

So will you join me fellow mommies? Will you wake up every day and tell your eyelids to keep opening with me? Tell your feet to keep walking? Tell your hands to keep making those lunches and giving those hugs?

I have a feeling if we can just keep going….even when it’s back-breaking hard. Even when we are weary in the deepest way our bones have ever felt. Even when no one notices or cares. ONE DAY… one day we will take a look at those beautiful adult human beings standing in front of us. The ones who no longer need us to tie their shoes or make their lunches or wipe their noses. And we will behold a beautiful sight. Beautiful people that (thanks to our perseverance and the Holy Spirit’s work) will be some great human beings. Hopefully they’ll be doing BIG things. And we will know that this view (maybe we will finally be sitting in our comfy chairs finishing our coffee while it’s still warm) we are beholding was worth every second. Every second where we wanted to quit going because we were too tired but instead we told our legs to keep moving forward. To keep taking us up the mountain. On to the most rewarding view we can see this side of heaven.

The fog was so thick we couldn’t even see it. Not even a little bit. In my mind I could envision what it would be like if the weather was cooperating, but it was not. The misty cold morning air stinging my nose was an annoying reminder of it all. I quickly felt my heart turn cold once again. It did that so easily those days. My heart was covered in just as much thickness as the fog that loomed in front of us. I wanted it to clear. But it just wouldn’t budge.

My mind raced with thoughts that I wished it wouldn’t:

“I don’t get it. Why would you make it seem like you were bringing everything together only to have it be a disappointment?”

“Why are you just gonna let me down AGAIN, Lord?”

“Why am I here? Why have I gone out of my way for no reason?”

“Add that to the long list of things that don’t work out for me lately.”

The loud foghorn in the air jolted me out of these thoughts. And my heart felt frustrated that I was even thinking them. Bitterness. Anger. I was sounding like God owed me something. And I knew it. It made me ashamed inside. I was even more ashamed of my lack of trust in His plan when things got hazy. But it was there like the doubtful questions I had.

You see, the past few years of our lives had seemed like one big disappointment. Things that once seemed SO incredibly clear (just like the most perfect blue sky with no clouds in sight) seemed pointless now. What I once would’ve said back to the question, “What do you feel called by God to do?” had disappeared. I no longer knew how to answer that question. And it left me feeling all but forgotten by God. And so confused. I knew God had spoken clearly to my heart only to get further down the road and feel like those screams I once heard from Him had now become just the tiniest of whispers— my ears straining now to even hear from my Father.

The plan was supposed to be missions. Nothing had ever seemed more clear to me in all my life. I saw confirmation after confirmation. If I was sure of anything it was that.

So then what happened when all that came crumbling down for what seemed like no apparent reason wasn’t pretty. Because my heart had even begun to make an idol from it. To act like my life could mean nothing without it. That I HAD to do it in order to have meaning or purpose.

I didn’t even recognize the idol until it got stripped away from me. But what followed was just the painful process of working through my sin. And I felt abandoned there by God to figure it all out myself. I didn’t want to take a closer look at myself in the mirror. I didn’t want to weed through the ugliness. It was painful.

Just about the time I started realizing the ugliness and the work that needed to be done, God took us on a journey. A scary one where we had to do things like take RISKS… something my Type A (always have a plan) personality could not handle. And as we risked it all in almost every way for my husband to do a course so we could have a different career path, God did something… He met me there.

He was faithful to show up daily. Even when I wanted to push Him away. He showed up in people He sent to rebuke me. In those He sent to remind me. Even in people He sent along to thwart plans we had put in place once again.

He started whispering, and I started hearing it once I quieted everything in my life down. And I decided to pick myself up, dust myself off, and ask God to show up.

I started by asking God to provide us with a job that would meet our needs. And once a week I walked the 2.2 miles around the lake nearby while my kids ate suckers so I could pray about my life. I prayed for God to provide the job we needed. I prayed for my heart. And I prayed for my husband and kids. And I found that each time I walked it felt like a little bit of the fog was clearing from inside the walls of my heart. Just a little bit. Because there would be times when something would come along and remind me that there was still more work to be done.

Once we got that job (God came through and answered all my prayers with a YES), I began praying other things. Sometimes, they were prayers that would seem silly if you heard them (like making it to the Golden Gate bridge on our trip out west). But they were important to me at the time because of what they represented in my life… that God cared even for the tiny details when for years I felt like He didn’t even see the big ones.

I felt a little bit like Gideon when he was testing God with the fleece he set out (which hear me say— I don’t think Gideon’s faith was strong for doing so. Just like mine was so very weak. God was just gracious and patient in answering him).

What happened in response was God kept answering with a “YES”. I realized He didn’t have to. God owes me nothing. I say that all the time. He has already given me everything I could possibly need in Christ. Even if He never answered another prayer I prayed with a “YES”, the truth is He already did more than imaginable for me on the cross. And He loves me deeply. He is a GOOD father. The Word of God reminds me of that even if I feel differently.

But, I am SO THANKFUL that God spent the next year answering even some silly little prayers of mine with a resounding “YES”. Because it was a gift of grace from him that reminded my heart that He heard, he cares, He SEES me. Every moment of every day He sees me.

I have so many stories from last year of God’s faithfulness to show up. To say YES. To love me and remind me that He does.

So what happened to that girl standing in the fog on that cold morning? Even as her heart grumbled she was reminded that God got her there. And He would show up. She just needed to be still and have faith. Show up He did. The fog was cleared from the sky and a beautiful site was seen. And God used that morning as a reminder to SEE that He is present in all the details.

The truth is sometimes it can take a while for the fog in our hearts to clear. But once it finally does, everything can become clearer; more in focus for our souls. Those details, twists, and turns suddenly don’t feel as random as we once thought they were. He is writing a great story. He is making us more like Him. And He will meet us every day right where we are. Even if the view from our side doesn’t *seem* as breathtaking as a red bridge with the California mountains surrounding it. Sometimes, the view can look a lot more ordinary. But it’s just as breathtaking because God is turning it into something great for His glory.

Have you ever noticed how an empty house feels… well, empty? But bring people in and decorate the walls and all the sudden it’s a home. You’ve probably heard the phrase “When I’m with you, I’m home.” It couldn’t be more true. It’s the people and love that make the home what it is. Take them out of it and it’s really just four walls, some carpet, etc…

As I was folding some laundry recently, I was reflecting on how my house felt several months ago while my sister and mom were here to help as my fourth baby was born. It almost feels like a different place in their absence. That’s because different people bring different things to a home.

And so I sit here wondering What is it that I bring to this home? Warmth? Joy? Love? or Anger? Chaos? Hurriedness? I truly believe a mom has great power in that way. You can really make or break a home. I want to make a home that is welcoming. Warm. I want my children to look back and say “I loved growing up there. I want to go back.”

To this day, I still remember the smells from my grandmother’s house and my mother’s house. Bacon. Coffee. Popcorn. Cinnamon rolls. They all bring back the best memories. Crazy how smells and things can make  experiences come flooding back. I love that those things take me back to a wonderful place. And they remind me of how peaceful, loving, and warm those houses were.

The other day, I spent nap time baking some snickerdoodle cookies because they’re my husband’s favorite. And I love the smell it brings. I love it when my daughter wakes up from nap and says, “MMMM… what is that wonderful smell, Mama?”

Right before I get my children up from nap every day I turn on some music. It’s a signal to them that Mama is coming up the stairs to get them. But I just really love the way the home feels with some candles lit, music playing, and a fragrant aroma coming from the oven.

However, those are the things that come fairly easy to me. The things that are really hard to accomplish in these young years with my children are making sure that I keep my house a warm and happy place with the words I’m using. With the attitude I am having. Even if my baby woke up a million times in the night. Or if we are stuck indoors because of sickness.

The Bible has a lot to say about just how powerful our words are:

Proverbs 11:17 “Your own soul is nourished when you are kind, but you destroy yourself when you are cruel.”

Proverbs 15:4 “Gentle words bring life and health; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.”

Proverbs 16:24 “Kind words are like honey–sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.”

Proverbs 18:4 “A person’s words can be life-giving water; words of true wisdom are as refreshing as a bubbling brook.”

Proverbs 18:20 “Words satisfy the soul as food satisfies the stomach; the right words on a person’s lips bring satisfaction.”

Proverbs 20:15 “Wise speech is rarer and more valuable than gold and rubies.”

So I set out on this journey to have the same type of house as my grandmother’s and my mom’s.  A house of loving memories made. Scents that will take people back to a fun, warm place. But even more than that— accomplishing what they did in their attitudes and actions. During the Christmas season, it is a wonderful time to focus on the warmth. The good food. The love that a family brings. And more than anything I wish to be a woman who brings kind words, loving hugs, and a Christ-like attitude into my home.

What things do you do to make your home a warm and loving place?