Memorials

Wow, a week and no post! Well, things have been pretty crazy here and of course, the prospect of getting gifts had nothing to do with it???? We had a wonderful Christmas and are looking forward to an amazing new year. I didn't do Christmas cards this year and instead am going to send out a New Years letter. There simply wasn't any time for me to write a letter and there has been so much to share from this year - I just wanted time to enjoy the season. And boy did we! My dad came and shared Christmas with us, and of course, we got to spend some fun time with Jeff's family too. The Wii has been a big hit - and is providing us with many teachable moments about kindness, good-sportsmanship, consideration, and self-control! I'm sure there will be many other lessons to come:)
I will post pics etc. later but wanted to share something that has God continues to press upon my heart. Biblically, the concept of memorials is meant to teach His people to not only not forget what He has done for us (be it saving us from devastation, to bringing us through a trial) but looking ahead and forward, to be grateful for what He did and Who He is and to reinforce our trust in Him. I am sad to think of how many times God has brought me through something that I now cannot recall - not for lack of significance, rather because there have been so many things. This blog and my journals have helped preserve some of those stories, but I want to be so much more diligent, so that our children, our children's children, will have those stories to share of God's goodness, grace, and mercy. So, not to jump the gun, but that's one of my "resolutions!"
More to come about our Christmas...

Praise

At Ryan's checkup last week, I specifically asked for our pediatrician to confer with our NICU doc about Ryan's heart issue. We wanted to know if any follow-up cardio exams should be scheduled and if so, when. Well, shocker, I called on Fri, spoke with his nurse of of course those calls to the NICU hadn't been made yet. No biggie really, but then she said she would call me back on Mon., and didn't. So, I called this morning, left a message to please call me back. Lo and behold, the good Dr. himself returned my call and gave me some amazing news. Ryan has NO lingering heart concerns. At all! Yeah!!!!! Apparently, the issues that were diagnosed while he was in the NICU are considered "normal" for early babies and his specifically resolved themselves while he was still there. So, as long as we are diligent about having his pediatricians listen carefully to his heart during his regular checkups, then we are all good. Of course, in my crazy, watched -too -many- 20/20 episodes, read too many scary blogs head I called my sister and said, "what if they're mistaken? What if they were rushed and didn't look carefully at the initial echocardiogram? Should I schedule on anyway?" Yes I know. A whole new kind of crazy over here people. Poor Jeff. That's just how I roll.

Firsts

Bowlin' fun!

Jack bowled like a big boy at one point literally throwing the ball down the alley! Yikes!

Chillin' waiting for her turn.

Um, Mom, why are you taking my picture? Is it these super cute little bowling shoes?

Our church gave us a fun Christmas party - well the party was for Jeff who actually "works" for the church part-time. Anyway, we have this amazing place called Fastlane down by the church. It's an indoor play place - bowling, laser tag, arcades, go-carts etc. Really, just neat and clean and so much fun. It's been around for a year or so now, but let's face it, not a place we can afford right now, so this was an awesome opportunity for us to get to go. We had pizza with some of the other part-timers/volunteers and then got to bowl! So much fun! And Will's first time:) They had a great ramp kind of thing that you can set the ball on and then just push it down the ramp and watch it go. He loved it and kept saying "yes, yes!" Too cute. Jack and EK really enjoyed their time too, and Jeff and I were so proud of them. They all behaved wonderfully and we just had a great family night. Jeff and I laughed because he and I bowled HORRIBLY. Not that we've ever been mistaken for pros, but we really stunk! At one point Will was ahead of all of us! And my sweet Ryan slept through the whole thing~
The kids are counting down the days til Xmas, til Poppy comes, and of course til school lets out for break. Because of the FRIGID temps and poor scheduling, we have missed all of the local parades. Boo! Thus, we have missed all of the opportunities to sit on Santa's lap and get a free pic. So, today was Breakfast with Santa at our elementary school and the proceeds were to benefit the PTO. As you all know we are very tightly budgeted around here, but we thought, well the money goes to a good cause and we might not get another chance for Jeff to help me with the kids doing the Santa pic thing. So for 3 bucks a person, Will and Ryan did not have to pay, Jeff and I got 2 danish and coffee and the kids got 1 pastry and juice or milk etc. At one point Jeff says to EK, "you'd better enjoy that, it is the most expensive donut EVER!" Also you got 1 free pic with Santa, of course the photog pushed for you to buy a "package." I have nothing against this per se, but seriously, a package of Santa pics? No thanks, and don't look at me that way when I turn down the package, because if you want to volunteer your time to do this then that's what it should be, voluntary with a bonus of some people buying extra. Anyhoo - the new header pic is the kiddos with Santa - I realized after the fact that it was a bit rude of me to usurp the photog, but oops I did it anyway. We then "shopped" at the Jingle Bell Shop, merely window shopped though. I told the kids I'd take them to the dollar store later to pick out stuff for each other.
A funny: after a movie tonight, Jack, EK, and Will are horsing around on the living room floor and Jack says, "mom, I've got some fierce in me." Hee hee! Yes you do son!

The cutest little man in snowman pjs.

PS- I colored my hair (again) and here's the result. Dang that red, just can't shake it:)

More Randomness

I was just messing around with the blog - background, colors etc and clicked on the "text font" button. You know what that daggum thing popped up as. "Georgia"
You have got to be kidding me.

Randomness

Tonight while Jack was reading The Little Red Hen, we had gotten through the third round of the hen's friends not helping her and she was headed off to the millers when Jack turned to me and said,"Man, she's really stepping it up!"

I've Fallen and I Can't Get Up!!!

Ok, so I haven't actually fallen, but I have fallen way behind on posting! Not sure what happened, life I guess, but I'm back:)
We've been busy with Scouts, school, Christmas shopping etc. I finally got to visit with my dear friend H. on Fri. What a sweet time that was, just to catch up and enjoy her new addition - no not a baby, literally an addition to their home. Love that girl!!! We should all be so blessed by a friend like her - thoughtful, considerate, and truly caring of her family and friends.

This little man had his 4 month checkup today.

He is a whopping 14 lbs and is 25 in. long! Yeah Ryan! His heart sounds good, but we're checking in with his original NICU doc to make sure we shouldn't be doing any follow-up echos. Poor kid had to get 3 shots and take one med orally, but he did great and since yesterday afternoon is taking 6 oz - up from 5. He still sleeps ALL night, Praise Jesus and Hollerlewya (yes that's the phonetic way of saying it southern style). He is such a happy baby, and thank heavens for that with him being the 4th and all. He goes right along with everyone else and LOVES to laugh at his brothers and sister. And they all love to make him laugh:)
Jack had awesome behavior at school last week - 5's all week, and did well on his tests. We are so proud of his hard work and his self-control. He is trying so hard to keep himself in check. On Sat. he and Jeff took a drive to go check out a car in Siloam Springs. Apparently on the way there and back, he and his dad did some serious talking. Manly stuff including when he would be old enough to get his own car (a Mustang) and move out (Never if his mom can help it.). He told Jeff that "mom would cry when I moved out." Amen son:)

Christmas parade season is in full swing around here and that means that Jeff is off riding his police motorcycle. His dress includes these riding boots which are like waders on the kids, but they love to try them on.

Not sure why both of them have such goofy expressions other than they are my children...

Seasons

Doesn't it look like he's praying? Love this little man!

Now, onto business...

In Ecclesiastes one reads about timing and seasons of life. That catchword "season" is tossed around quite a bit amongst Christian mommy circles and with good reason. It is, I think, the most concise way to describe the fact that we each go through different phases: singlehood, dating, engagement, marriage, newly-married, mommyhood etc. Disclaimer, this is all about the mommyhood and yes I am fully aware that there are many other phases of life etc, but this is what I'm posting about, so there. Anyhoo, amid the mommyhood season there are distinct subseasons: newborn, one baby, 2 kids, toddlers, tweens, teens etc ( I am really into lists tonight!). My point is, we often use "I am just in a busy season/difficult season right now and can't_____." I myself have said this many a time. But, I must confess, when I've said it, I've wondered if I was using it as an excuse. As in, "I just can't have a quiet time right now, I've got and infant and a 2 year old, and the 2 year old doesn't sleep well." True enough, but is there really not one little spot of time (thank you Virginia Wolf) to carve out for my God? Really, not 10 minutes? Um, well, yes there is. So, it is an excuse in that example. Now there really are some things that I just cannot accomplish right now - serving at Samaritan House with Ryan strapped to me might work, but now with Will hanging onto my leg. So, all of this is just to point out that sometimes, I think we rely on our season to bail us out of stuff that really is a matter of discipline, spiritual or otherwise. This has been rolling around in my head as of late as I struggle to find, no strike that, make time for exercise and as Jeff and I crunch numbers to "do" Christmas and pay off the hospital bills. Self-discipline is in and of itself a lovely concept, but I for one will fail every time if my motivation is not "glory-filled." In other words, if I am working out merely to look good (a massive feat for this stretched-marked body:)) rather than because I am a work of God and it is my duty to care for his creation, then I will fail because I will never look good enough for the world. I can, however, take care of this body, to be strong to lift up my children, help my husband, neighbors, friends, and strangers. If we are not self-controlled in our finances then we will be unable to give generously to those in need. So, we're prayin' for self-control around here!

We had a great break. For the most part everyone got along and our actual Thanksgiving was a delight thanks to my in-laws for the amazing feast! Jack got to spend the night with a friend last night and EK is having a friend over tonight. They are both blessed with some dear friends, whom we hope stick with them for a long time to come! I am sad to see the vacation come to an end, but it will only be a matter of weeks before we're back on break for Christmas.

Here are some pics of our past week.

One of our nights on Thanksgiving break - we made a pallet, popped in a movie and enjoyed some down time.

This is what happens when you have a sister!

But, this is also what happens when you have a sister! Everyone loves to hold Ryan:)
We even made time to bust out the Christmas decorations and get the house all prettied up! Funny, in the pic I am noticing a spot where I didn't put as many lights - oh well. The kids enjoyed hanging the "instruments" as Jack kept calling them. I didn't even have to go back and "fix" that many as I have in years past. Tomorrow we will light the first Advent candle and begin our scripture reading as we strive to stay focused on Jesus' birth. Note the cockeyed star - Jeff hasn't trimmed the top for me yet, so we're just saying it represents our family: a little off-centered but really shiny!