Singing for the King!

Tuesday night was the Christmas program for our 3 youngest girls. It was a first time performance for all three. I must say, I was nervous for the twins. They do not like a lot of attention drawn to themselves publicly. And obviously singing Christmas songs on stage in front of 1300 people is just asking for attention! I was actually quite pleased that Grace and Emmy even stood on stage. Gracie had a little trouble beforehand because her Daddy dropped her off and left without giving her the standard kiss and hug. Not good! Eventually she calmed down and made her first debut on stage with the rest of the preschoolers. I think the 3 yr olds were on stage maybe 15 minutes or so and the twins didn't open their mouths in song even once! It was actually quite amusing watching them stand there somewhat shell shocked :) I was just glad they didn't scream, puke, or run off stage. They stood there stiffly and silently through the whole performance. I was still so proud!

Hannah Boo, on the other hand, rocked out the house!!! This was, like I said, her first performance of any kind, and she did fabulously! She sang her little heart out and knew every motion and every word. Adam and I chuckled as we watched her bob and sway to every song. She had the beat! Hannah definitely enjoyed herself up there. My heart soared with pride.

But whether singing out loud, or not so loud (or not at all!), I knew that this was a time in which children were remembering who they were celebrating. The One that came and was born to save us from our sins. The One that came to give us hope. The One that came so we could have life more abundantly. And as we celebrate Jesus' birth we also need to remember that it's also because of His death and resurrection that we can have eternal life. Because of God's immense love for us, He gave His Son. How much love does that require? Love beyond my comprehension! But I am so grateful for it! Sadly, I sometimes take that love for granted all too often. But my Heavenly Father is still there, holding His outstretched arms to me, always welcoming me back. God, you're love, grace, forgiveness, and mercy are so wonderful beyond words! I need to remember that those gifts are mine every day....every season. So yes, the birth of that little baby gives me much reason to celebrate! Thank you Lord!

Thankful Heart

It is the season of thanks; the time of year people most often take into account all the blessings and goodness that is in their lives. I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and cherished every bit of "goodness" on that special day.

This Thanksgiving was a big "first" for us. It was the first time that we didn't share our big meal with our extended family. I must admit that when we moved to Oregon back in June, I wondered what our Thanksgiving would be like. I knew we wouldn't be making a trip to Ohio or Wisconsin, and figured others wouldn't be coming here. (It's quite a costly trip coming from the Midwest!) So, as the weeks counted down until turkey day, I wondered what our plans would be. I eventually decided that we would just be eating turkey for months on end, because 2 adults and 4 children can only eat so much! We, however, did receive several invitations to join other families for the day. We were blessed by others thoughtfulness and concern~ thank you so much to all who invited us! It meant much to know you were willing to share your table and time with us.

We had one invitation in particular that we accepted. In the short time we have lived in Oregon, God has truly blessed me with a very fast friendship. It wasn't long before our families spent some time together and now I think the rest is history! Well, history in the making maybe :)

Joe and Missy, thanks so much for sharing your day with us! We couldn't have asked for a better time! You guys have quickly become family to us. Just for the record....Missy is the queen of Nerts (sp?). Actually, that doesn't really sound that flattering, does it??? Well, I'm sure she'll take it as a compliment :) The meal was incredible and the company was even better! Thanks for making this Thanksgiving a great one for us!

So for all of our family far away who might have missed us at their tables this year, we want you to know that we missed you too. But God has been faithful and loving in providing us a support of "family" here too.

My God is good all the time...for that I am forever thankful!

Just so you know, the kids' hair does not usually look like this. All of the children posted here are quite normal looking. They had fun with these little makeovers!

Hannah's 6th Birthday

Six and Counting

Our Hannah Brooke just celebrated her 6th birthday on Nov. 20. She wanted to spend the evening with her family at Chuck E. Cheese. I think she had a lot fun, to say the least! Hannah walked right up to Chuck E. Cheese and asked to have her picture taken with him (while her older sister tearfully tried to hide herself at the table!). Hannah has always been the brave one of her sisters, which scares her Mom a little bit. I was quite sure that by the time Hannah turned 3, she would have her first visit to the emergency room. Surprisingly, she hasn't made a visit yet in her six years. (Except for a trip made 2 years ago in the middle of the night with whooping cough.) But, so far, her injuries haven't been too serious.

Hannah has such an adventurous spirit about her. I love watching her get excited about new challenges and accomplishing new feats! And while she loves excitement and adventure, she also has a gentle, compassionate heart. She has a heart that is very aware of what others around her need. Just recently I have found her sweeping the floor for me, putting away toys, or helping her little sisters reach something that's out of their reach. She isn't asked to do any of these things; it's purely out of a desire to care for and help others. I am so thankful for her sensitivity to others.

Hannah is also our source for lots of laughs! I posted some "Hannahisms" a while ago that show what a sense of humor she has as well. She has a contagious smile that melts my heart and makes me smile too (sometimes when I don't want to smile because she is being talked to sternly. I don't know how many times I've had to turn away because I don't want her to see me smiling when I'm trying to discipline her on a certain issue. The expressions this kid makes are sometimes too much!).

Overall, this daughter of ours is just an unbelievable blessing from God. I am so glad she is mine. It's my honor to raise this little girl into a young lady who loves her Heavenly Father. I love you Hannah Boo!

I Love My Family!

Hair Do's....and Don'ts

Last night my husband and 4 daughters spent some wonderful quality time together...the results are as follows:

















Doesn't he look marvelous? One of my 3 year old twins looked at these pictures today and said "Aw, Daddy is so adorable!" The girls were quite proud of their creations :)

I am so thankful that I have a husband who is willing to spend this kind of time with his daughters. He has never once complained or shown any regret that we never had a son. He's totally willing to sit and have his hair (not to mention his manhood) completely adulterated if it means spending time with his girls :) It just warms my heart.

I know of some men that are all about being a "man's man," but I see my husband being more concerned about being "God's man" instead. For that, I am grateful beyond words. Being sensitive to who God wants him to be as a dad, as a husband, and as a friend is what makes him a real man, in my eyes. I have seen my husband grow in his sensitivity to his girls (all 5 of us) over the years, and again, it warms my heart. He continues to strive toward gentleness with his little ladies. Some day our girls will grow into young women, and I know how much they will appreciate his gentleness, patience, and sensitivity to their needs as girls. They (as I) need him to be "God's man." It's a great deal of responsibility that he has taken seriously. Thank you honey! Because you choose to honor God as my husband, and the father of my children, you are all the man I need....pretty bows and all!!!

Oh yes, and to those of you who are waiting for my pumpkin patch pictures, they are coming soon. I promise!

Battle of the Bed

Morning.... It's never been my best time of day. Rolling out of bed only when I absolutely have to, has been the start of my day for years; maybe my whole life. The idea of waking at the crack of dawn has never appealed to me. If I got up that early I would be so tired...and so crabby. I needed as much sleep as possible to successfully function throughout the day, right? Yep, the later my feet touched the floor, the better. Until now.

I have recently been inspired and encouraged by someone that I've always respected and admired. He reminded me (probably without even realizing that he was speaking to me personally) that my day is won (or lost) by when I choose to start and end my day. With 4 little girls I've always considered their bedtime to be "me time." Of course by evening, I'm feeling quite exhausted and run down. But I also feel the pressure to take advantage of that time to have some relaxing moments for myself and time to reconnect with my husband. So often that meant finishing the evening with a movie or something mindless. Soon I would find that it was really late at night and time for bed. I would climb the stairs extremely tired wishing I could sleep in the next morning. What a miserable rut I was in!

So...as of today I have chosen to stop that unhealthy routine. Last night I was in bed 1 to 2 hours earlier than usual and at 6:00 this morning I awoke to my husband nudging me, reminding me that it was time to start my new routine. (Okay, I actually didn't get up until about 6:10). My hubby and I came downstairs, started the coffee, grabbed our Bibles, and cozied up on the sofa in front of the fireplace. We spent about an hour doing our devotions, enjoying our coffee, and savoring the quiet moments before the kids came down. By the time I woke up my oldest daughter so she could get ready for school, I was feeling so refreshed and renewed. I was ready to start my day as a mother of 4. I wasn't running around half asleep, mumbling complaints under my breath, wanting only to return to the comfort of my bed. No! I was reflecting on what I read in Scripture. My heart was thankful, my mind clear. I would never have guessed I could feel that way before 7:00 in the morning! I have gotten up early many times before, but usually only out of obligation, or necessity; not by pure desire to take ownership of my day.

So many times before I would "fit" my quiet time with the Lord into my day. If I had a few spare minutes, I would do my devotions, not having a whole lot of time to reflect on what I had read. Sad, but true. I convinced myself that I needed that extra time to sleep every morning, because my days are so busy. It's just amazing how God has changed my view...and my desire. So often I had already lost many battles with impatience, quick-temper, and bad attitudes by the time I took time to really listen to God (my devotions). I often prayed throughout my days, always asking for His help and strength to get through the afternoon, but I didn't make "listening" a priority when I should have. I don't want to survive my day, I want to thrive in my day. I know that is what God wants for me. My flesh is strong (especially early in the morning) but I have the freedom not to give into it!

I don't think my days are going to be "a piece of cake" now, just because I've changed my priorities, but I know that how I act during my days will be more a reflection of my Heavenly Father than of a stressed out mom who's holding on by a thread.

So ask me in a month if I'm sticking to this commitment I've made. I hope I can honestly say that I am. My husband and I are taking on this challenge together, so I have his encouragement. I'm sure I will need it! Discipline is rarely easy, but always necessary. I need discipline in many areas of my life, but now I am choosing to be victorious in the Battle of the Bed!