Joseph Turns 5!

Each year our precious Joseph turns a certain age, I am never shocked. He seems to fit the next age months before the calendar makes it official. This year Joseph wanted donuts for breakfast for his birthday, to go to a Children's Museum in Lynchburg, enchiladas and then go out for frozen custard. He got his wished. It was a beautiful day celebrating our Joe Joe.

Here is where the boys spent a lot of their time at the museum. The engineering side of Joseph really came out in this activity. He loves moving parts, fitting things together and building. At this time, he wants to be a builder. It's been that way for about a year.

She's Potty Trained

Joseph was quite difficult to potty train so I had the absolute worst attitude about potty training Annabelle. Even when she was motivated for a few days, I would brush it off, because I just didn't have it in me yet. Then when I would think about it and ask her, she wasn't interested. Finally I had just had enough. One Monday morning we packed up all her cloth diapers and put them into a trash bag and she put on big girl underwear. The first day was a disaster!!! The second day she did tons better and by the third day she was totally potty trained. I'm still shocked at how easy that was.

Holding Hands

Rarely are we ever able to capture sweet moments like these on camera, so when Andy caught glimpse of this moment between Samuel and Annabelle in our van he just had to snap a photo. They were just quietly sitting there not even talking to one another, holding hands. I just love seeing each and every one of their relationships grow.

MomHeart Conference

Several moms from our church traveled down to Durham, NC to attend a Sally Clarkson conference. It was such a blast. The conference was so uplifting and encouraging. It was really fun to get away and spend such quality time with other like-minded mamas. We were close to a very dear friend of mine who lives in NC. Jennifer graciously drove the 40 minutes to come and see us so we could go out together for dinner during a break in the conference. She hadn't meet Rosemary yet so I was so delighted to introduce them to one another.

 

A bunch of women at the conference brought our nursing babies and while a handful of us were out in the lobby Sally Clarkson came over to say hello. She asked to get her picture with us. It was very cute.

I left that weekend with my cup so full. I am so blessed to have such sweet friends to live my life with and to share in all of the ups and downs we face in our many roles as women.

Trying To Find Egypt

We were given a telescope for Christmas by Andy's dad and stepmom. It was finally a clear night when we could also give the telescope a try. While they were setting it up, Joseph ran inside and exclaimed to me, "Daddy said we can see planets with the telescope. I'm going to try and find Egypt!" Oh my! I try so hard.

My Heart Is So Full

At least a dozen times a day Andy and I just shake our heads at one another and smile. The cuteness is just unbearable.

We're still making the same gestures about Annabelle at 2 1/2, so I'm certain we have a lot of years of cuteness in our future.

Feeling so blessed.

Kids Photo Shoot

I do not know how we've gotten to this point, but the kids are now having photo shoots with each other using my fancy camera. I suppose I should let them keep doing it, because precious pictures like these are the result:

Buddy Junior

My sweet bird, BJ, of 22 years has finally said goodbye to this life. Such a sweet friend that I will miss dearly!

Rosemary - 2 Months Old

Rosemary was not thrilled with the less-than-ideal time I chose to take her photos (right before bed). The crying pictures were just too cute to leave out.

Happy Valentine's Day!

This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. John 15:12

Love Always Begins with Patience

I have a sweet little girl that always wants to help me in the kitchen. I mean, always! Most of the time it's adorable. Other times I'd rather do it all myself, therefore finishing the task multiple times faster.

One thing I'm working on lately as a mama is fighting the goal-oriented part of myself and embrace each moment that my children want to be with me. There are many moments a day where Annabelle desires to spend with me. It doesn't matter if it's to help me do something I'm doing, to have me help her with something, play a game with her, read to her, brush her hair, tickle, hug or kiss; whatever it may be - she simple wants my time. And if I pack our schedule too tight that there is no room in it for a smoothie taking 25 minutes to make, then our lives are simply too busy.

A whole life can be lost in minutes wasted, small moments missed. ~A.V. 

There will be one day she won't be under our roof and I just know I'm going to regret all those times I told her to go play and I'll call her when the food is ready instead of pulling up a chair and getting out her special spatula she loves to use. And even when I convince myself that placing her at the kitchen table with a puzzle while I cook is "just fine" deep down I know it's not meeting that need in her heart to live life along side of me. I'm learning to slow down and let the little ones join me.

Time’s this priceless currency and only the slow spend it wise enough to be rich. ~A.V.

Yes, it means that more rags are soiled, clothes need to be changed, the first cracked egg didn't actually make it into the bowl, fruit needs to be washed and rewashed again because it has dropped on the floor, or the entire jar of salt was dropped into the freshly milled flour. But, oh how sweet that food is going to taste to that child if I hollow out space in our lives to embrace her with joy.

Memories she and I will remember forever.

Rosemary - 8 Weeks Old

Bye Bye Civic

In 2000, my parents and I purchased this car for approximately $12,000. 12 years later, it was totaled in an accident (Andy is fine) and we got almost $4,000 for it! I'd say that was a pretty good deal. We used the money from our insurance settlement to pay off our van loan and now are a one car family with no car payments. Woohoo! It feels great. For many reasons, we have always wanted to see if we could live with one car. Here is our chance.

 

Mr. D.

My areas of ministry outside the home recently have been few. Part of me struggles with my lack of influence in my community. But, the majority of me realizes that this season is short, and that I am influencing my community in the best way I know how - to raise a godly generation that we will one day send out into the world to, as Andy calls it, "knock out the teeth of the wicked". We're raising up a generation of children who we pray will influence our world for the kingdom of heaven.

But, one thing that I can do as a mama to lots of kids is have people over to our house for dinner. If they are willing to put up with the chaos, of course. I'm already feeding lots of mouths, so adding more isn't all that big of a deal. Andy has a good friend at work that we have had over several times. The kiddos love him. This was his first time meeting Rosemary.

Love Bugs

Not only does Annabelle love her baby sister, but Rosemary really adores her big sister, too. I'm so excited for what the years have ahead for these two girls. It's pretty cool that each of our kids now has both a brother and a sister. Annabelle loves to take Rosemary from me after a feeding and burp her. Such a precious little helper.

 

Rosemary - 7 Weeks Old

Snuggle Sisters