Thankful for generations

We had a sweet time this Christmas with Peter's family.  I think my favorite moment was when Samuel's Great Grandmother opened a gift which included some of the names that Jesus was to be called (as prophesied by Isaiah).  She just began to read each one and as she did she talked with Samuel about the beauty of each one.  I think as we get older and we have more time to really stop and think about who God is and the gift that His son truly is, we are more and more amazed by it.   She certainly is.  Right now I feel like just about every thought I have is interrupted, and my quiet times are often hurried and distracted, hoping someone doesn't wake early.  While I don't like the thought of every aspect of aging, I do hope that as time goes by and as I have more time to reflect that I will be able to enjoy the wonder of Jesus more and more.

Co-op fun!

Isaac and his preschool buddy, Gianna, having fun with their mustaches.  

The "wild" side of God

A few days ago I saw an interview by the fixer-upper couple Chip and Joanna Gains, and it struck a chord with me in several ways.  When I listened to him describe his wife, and when I listened to her describe herself, I was sitting there thinking that they were describing so many aspects of me:  "good" kid, obedient rule follower, organized, (to a degree), and predictable.  Then they began describing him.  He described himself, and she described him, and those descriptions reminded me so much of Peter:  as close to the edge of the line as possible, risk taking, unpredictable, free, and even a bit wild; even their example of the way he lets the gas in the car get as low as possible before filling up is true of Pete and I.  My dad never let the gas get below half of a tank, and so when I married Peter, I had to get used to getting into the car with the tank on or below empty on a pretty regular basis!  What I enjoyed most about this particular interview was how they wove their differences into something unified, and how they each saw aspects of God in each other's gifts.  This is what God seeks to do in marriage and in relationships in general!  He wants us to see more of what He looks like.  I have loved life with Peter for so many reasons, but I think one of the things I like best is his wild and free side.  He is not encumbered by man's approval.  There is an aspect of God that is this way, too.  I like to think of God as like Aslan, in the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe: dangerous and not safe, but so full of love!

Maybe it's because I have so many sons, or because I have enjoyed life more fully since I started sharing life with my wilder half, but there is this adventurous aspect of my man (and in my crazy boys) that I am more and more aware of and feel called to embrace and enjoy.  It's made my life so much better!

The other day I was walking through the house noting just how much furniture Peter has made for us.

He will go dumpster diving, and ride home on his bicycle with a pallet on his back which he has then turned into furniture that adorns our home.

  I would be worried about people's stares as I rode through town on my bike with a new pallet in tow, but for Peter, it's a grand adventure.

 God created all of us with unique gifts, abilities, and personalities.  I think that the more we can embrace that the more we can be unified to one another.  I know for certain that God knew what I needed when He sent Pete my way.  

9 years!

While we were recently at the Outer Banks, we celebrated 9 years of marriage!  On the one hand, it feels like yesterday we were those shy kids falling for each other and choosing to commit out lives to each other.   On the other hand, when I look around at my kids, and the changes our lives have taken since those early days, it does feel closer to 9 years.  I am grateful every day for this man God gave to me to be my husband in this life and father to my sons.  I love him more than words can express.

World's best husband.

Best daddy ever!

School days

We have started our school year; in fact we have been at it for a month already.  I didn't get any "1st day of school" pictures yet, but maybe one day soon, I will.  It's been rough settling into a routine this year.  Most of the difficulty stems from my one-year-old, who either screams at me most of the morning, regularly injures himself because of his obsession to climb everything, harasses the brother I am trying to school, or gets into; colors on; *fill in the blank*; everything in sight.

He reminds me a lot of Marcus, who was also very destructive and regularly had me in tears.  Ah, those were the days.  I don't cry much about the very colorful, broken, chaotic mess that my house is now, but this kind of curious kid makes for a hectic attempt at education for sure.

Thankfully, the addition of a gate to keep him out of the dining room and hence off of the table, and a school room with a door have been lifesavers!  I generally have to work with one of my kiddos at a time, with the door to the school room closed, so the others can entertain and keep my 1-year-old occupied.  He does stand outside the door and scream sometimes, but I have to say my older kids are really bringing some sanity to school time.

Their favorite game to play is "tear apart the couches".  Yes, it is as it sounds.  I fought this game for awhile because I actually like to sit on my couches, and I had this idea that I could keep something "nice" in my house.  But, as they say; that was so yesterday!  Conrad likes to play in the forts and tunnels his brothers build, and the ones who are on break from school really enjoy the creativity that comes from this game.

There is so much about motherhood that involves letting go, relaxing, letting go....did I mention not holding on so tightly?  This season forces me to embrace contentment at a whole new level, and to be honest, it is liberating.  I don't really have much "me time", or many "nice things" right now.  And I'm truly okay with that.  God is teaching me to rest and to be content, and while it can be a hard lesson to learn, and one that my flesh fights, I'm glad He's working in my heart.  My kids will only be little once.  I'm trying to remember that in this season.

 

This is how I'd prefer to shop, too!

Homeschool Co-op Mom

I believe that God gives us our children very specifically, and I am convinced that two of the reasons he gave me my firstborn are to help me to grow out of my shy shell, and to be more social.  I tend toward shyness, and I am most at peace alone, or with a few close friends.  Crowds often intimidate and exhaust me.  Since I began homeschooling Sam, he has regularly asked me to put him into public school.  He thrives on social interactions, and crowds, and the bus ride with crowds of kids appeals to him.  He is energized by people and especially his friends.  This year we compromised and joined a homeschool co-op.  It's a newer, smaller group, and it seemed like a good fit for us.  I was, naturally, slightly intimidated, but after week one, I can honestly say, this was a good move for us.  Sam is loving our Friday co-op and soccer day.  It's nice to have other moms come along side me in instructing my kids, and it's fun to be able to teach a little myself.   Even my shy second born really enjoyed his first day at co-op, and my 3 year old had a blast as well.

My littlest one didn't really like the co-op, but I'm not surprised.  He prefers to play like this: