A post dedicated to my man!

Today is my hubby's 32nd Birthday!  We called and sang him happy birthday this morning, as I was not yet quite awake when he kissed me goodbye.  I had some terribly hilarious pictures of him that I wanted to scan and use in this blog, but I am not quite sure how to use the scanner.  Let's just say that they are of him in his younger days and might involve a permed mullet!  Yes, sir...he was quite a looker! Oh my, they are hilarious!!!  Praise the Lord that in his great plan we didn't meet in late middle school or things might not have turned out so well.  In his defense, his family had just moved back to the states from Turkey, so maybe that was a really cool look there! 

I have to say that I am so thankful for Kevin.  This past year has been very eye-opening for the both of us as we have seen more couples than we wish to count on the brink of divorce.  It has not only been eye-opening, but has really showed us both how blessed we are. 

Kevin is such a hard worker.  I mean he gets up early and hits the ground running.  He is constantly reading, studying and listening to sermons and lectures.  Yet, in the midst of all the things that he is doing, he always is willing to help others.  This past year I have watched him as he has put his own agenda aside to encourage and give Godly counsel to many men who are turning to him for help.  He is such a giver and loves helping and giving to those in need. I have seen the Lord using him in new ways. 

One example of his giving heart is that he works downtown and is always taking food, socks, shoes and clothing to homeless men he sees around his office.  He is always looking for ways to help them and ways to tell them about Christ.  Just recently he has had a homeless man refuse to take the canned food and water he offered him.  This really bothered him since it has been so hot and this man sits on the bench not far away from his window....all day every day.  I am so proud of him for even trying.  God has blessed our family so much and I feel a lot of it is due to Kevin's love and passion to give to others.

Kev is an awesome bible teacher.  I know I am partial, but I enjoy listening to him teach each week.  I love that he is bold and courageous in his stand for Christ, yet is always the first to shed a tear... or maybe I should say weep...over what Christ has done for us.  He is passionate about God's Word and very compassionate towards others.  I have seen the Lord working in his life throughout these past 8 years in an incredible way. 

Kev is my best friend.  We went away this past weekend for the first time since we had Ella.  We had so much fun together.  We felt a freedom to just spend the day focusing on each other in a way that we hadn't in quite a while.  We cherish time alone so much more these days.  I love that he is super committed to me and our girls. 

I love that he has been there in the valley with me.  He gets the loss of a child.  He gets the joy of our girls.  He understands my tendency to over organize his stuff and he loves me anyway.  There is no one else I'd rather laugh with, shop with (he is really a good shopper) or follow hard after Christ with.  You are my man and I love you so!  I can only imagine how much more I will love you when you are 62.   

What's been a happening!

1. Eliza turned 11 months on Sunday, which means she is officially almost a one year old.  She took her first two steps today, which means that we will soon have a walker on our hands.  I cannot believe that almost a year ago I was put on bed rest with the little peanut.  A little bit of bed rest sounds a little nice on a day like today!  Just Kidding...that was NO fun!

2.  Ella will be starting to Mother's Day Out preschool program at our church in a few weeks.  She is so excited about going to school.  I hope she won't be utterly devastated when she realizes that it is just the church nursery that she frequents often.  I think she will really enjoy playing with friends and mommy is looking forward to having a little down time with just Eliza.  We have big plans to get any and all shopping/cleaning done on those mornings.  I think it will be good for all of us!!

3.  We had a garage sale on Saturday.  I say every time we do it that I will never ever have another.  They are so much work.  It was so HOT and I only got 2 hours of sleep the night before due to pricing things and my Mocha Frappe that I had after dinner.  When I get really really tired I have the strangest thing happen...my eyelids droop and I can barely open my eyes.  I am sure this happens to a lot of people hence the expressions "I need toothpicks to hold my eyelids open" and "droopy eyelids."  But it seriously happens to me.  One old garage sale lady said, "sweetie, are you feeling okay?"  It was a ton of work but worth it as we made some good money and we got rid of A LOT!!!!

4.  I am starting to plan for my girls birthday parties.  Eliza is having a little "owl" themed family party and Ella is going to have her first ever friend party...it's going to be a Barnyard Birthday Bash!  I bought some cheap graphics for $2.50 and I am planning on making the decor myself.  I really do enjoy party planning...esp. for my girls. 

5.  Kevin is...busy!!

6.  Eliza is cutting both eye teeth before getting her upper two front teeth!  How silly is that!

7. Ella's new favorite word is fantastic!

8.  I can't wait for fall!

Eliza's 10 month post

I am consistently getting later and later on posting about Eliza's first year.  It must mean she is almost one!  By the way...my previous blog was titled "One of those day"  for the past 24 plus hours.  I would never claim to be a great writer and generally I blog in the midst of a lot of chaos...but I do know that is just plain wrong!  :) Don't worry it now is corrected!
Eliza is growing and changing into such a toddler.  She is cruising and standing alone without support.  She loves to walk and push her "push toy" across the room.  She also loves to push Ella's stroller!  She loves to be down on the ground investigating everything...including every speck on the carpet!  She gets her feelings hurt when Ella takes a toy from her, and she lets us all know about it.  She is super found of her little pink blankie square, and I think she might love it more than me.  She takes two naps everyday and LOVES real food.  She chowed on some good ole lasagna tonight and put away more than her mama!  It is so nice to have a child enjoy their food.  Eliza loves to clap, blow kisses and wave.  Her latest talent is dancing, which is a cute little twist with one arm. 

Last summer at this time, I was huge, hot and ready to get her out!  I am so thankful for God blessing us with her and I can't wait to watch her continue to grow!  I love you wizie woo!

"One of those days!"

I have never had a job that has brought me to my knees more than being a mother!  The past two years of mothering my oldest child has proven to be ummm....quite challenging at times.  It probably was majorly intensified by the fact that mommy and daddy brought home a new baby sister exactly two weeks prior to her second birthday.  The jealously, the fatigue, coupled with my own high standards has challenged me in a major way.  As a teacher I "prided" (for the lack of a less self-righteous word) on my classroom management and discipline.  I was firm yet loving, always holding high expectations for student success and an overall happy classroom environment.  Don't get me wrong...each year I had that one child (or children) that pushed and stretched me to the max, but none the less we learned and grew.

This year has been a huge learning process as we dealt with full-out call in the super nanny type tantrums!  We've disciplined, and disciplined, and loved, and offered grace and mercy...and then disciplined some more.  It has been the challenge of my life.  I have never seen my own pride, sin and lack of patience, as much as I have this past year.   Some days I look at my mothering and I feel like such a failure.

Often on "one of those days"  when I have failed to be patient for the 100th time as Ella has failed to listen for the 100th time and I've counted to three more times than I can count.....  I gather my little girls in my arms and we get on our hands and knees on the floor. I pour out my heart to the Lord, asking for forgiveness, wisdom and happy hearts.  I pray once again for my girls that they will learn of the Truth and learn to walk in it as they grow.  I realize that I am so in need of Christ at work in my own personal life and in the lives of my girls. 

Last Thursday had been "one of those days."  Ella had just gotten out of timeout, following a streak of direct defiance.  I picked her up and asked her if she was ready to obey.  She said, "yes,"  and then said, "Mommy, we gotta get down!"  I was unsure of what she meant until I watched her get down on the floor head to the ground with her tiny little (marker stained) folded hands!  It was then that I was thankful for "one of those days" of disobedience!

It's your kindness Lord
That leads us to repentance
Your favor Lord, is our desire
It's your beauty Lord
That makes us stand in silence
Your love
Your love
Is better than life!!

lazy hazy days of summer

Pics from wedding in May

Could she be any cuter?

Sweet Sisters

The Fam

Randomness

I click on my blog daily to read my fav. blogs from my blog list and then the thought comes to mind that I need to blog and then my next thought is...about what!  Don't get me wrong...there is lots going on around here I assure you, but not so much that is blog worthy.

Ella is busy and growing and continues to fill our home with lots of laughter each day.  She is really into playing pretend these days and I love to watch her.  In fact, as I type this she is in her rose petal cottage with Minnie mouse in the highchair fixing her an orange.  Although she is a girl on the go, she loves days like today when we have no real plans other than being lazy and playing around the house.  My favorite saying of hers at the present is, "Why sure mommy, I'd love too!"  She has done really well learning her ABC's and knows most of her letters and letter sounds.  I highly recommend Tad's letter factory and leapfrog fridge phonics.  She is spunky and sweet and I love her so much!

Eliza is growing....we had a pound and a half growth last month.  WOW!  She loves table food and seriously eats more than her big sister at most meals.  She is pulling up and standing alone some now.  When I go to put her down she wants to stand rather than sit.  She is the sweetest little thing and we think she is trying to say Ella which sounds a lot like lalala.  She cried for the first time when I left her in the nursery last week and when when start walking towards her class her little grip gets tighter and tighter around my arm.  I cannot believe she is almost one.  She is such a sweet little blessing!

Speaking of first birthdays...my sister, joy, was picking on me this morning for all my birthday planning.  I really do love planning their birthdays, and I want to make sure I try to do the same for Eliza that i did for Ella's (not that they will remember).  I think Eliza is going to have an owl party and Ella is going to have a carnival party this year.  This will be Ella's first year to invite a few friends to her party.  When I asked her what friends she wanted to come she only said , "Mrs. Sherry"  who is her teacher at church.  Their birthdays are two weeks apart so it will be a busy, but fun birthday season.

Life is still in limbo for us.  We feel called to make some changes, yet unsure of our direction.  We are knocking on some doors and seeking God's direction.  We are downsizing and simplifying our house and lives, which is always a good thing.  I am loving this two week break that Kev has before his busy fall begins.

Well, Eliza is done napping it's lunchtime for Ella.  happy Wednesday!