Old Man Winter

We are sooooo over winter at our house. Today the kiddos put their imagination into motion and we imagined how nice it would be hanging out on the ocean. I don't think it's ever going to warm up!

Hanging out at the 'beach' eating popsicles.

Livy working on her tan while listening to beach music.

Playing in the sand and looking for sea shells.(actual sand and shells from the ocean I had brought home from the Bahamas when Jeff and I went back in 2002)

Also, we celebrated Daddy's b-day yesterday. It was to cold to go anywhere or to have people over so we hung out at home. Happy b-day honey!!

Her Laugh

Josh was tossing some blocks onto the table this week causing Maddy to laugh. Luckily Jeff was there to capture the moment. This is sure to make you smile today!

5 Months

Makes the sound dada all the time (which makes Daddy happy),  beginning to sit on her own for short periods of time, making a high pitch scream when she gets excited, had her first Christmas, reaches out for mommy to hold her, cried for the first time when daddy left for work, found her ticklish spot and laughs like crazy

Let It Snow!

It finally came! My hubby has been waiting years on a snow storm this big. He loves to take the kiddos out in it and act like a kid again. However, today was way to cold to have them out. But that didn't stop him or the neighborhood men. They just can't stand sitting in the house while there are mounds of freshly fallen snow "that has to be taken care of." This afternoon Jeff wanted to see if he could make it down our road. When he finally gets down there he sees my dad sitting there in his car wanting to see if he too can make it down the road. While he's out on his road check, our neighbor was out blessing the neighborhood by plowing our drives. Well he slides off one of the driveways and gets stuck big time. A man stuck in the snow around here is an excuse for all of the neighbor men to play in the snow and to see whose truck can pull him out. After two rucks, and a snow blower trying he was stuck even worse. In fact he ended up down by the woods causing him to be really stuck. They ended up having to call the farmer down the road to bring his Bobcat to pull him out. Two hours later he was finally out and needless to say they were numb all over. I loved Lisa's response when she looked out the window and saw him stuck back there, "Did you all say to each other today would be a nice day to take a drive down by the woods today?" If you know Lisa, you know it was hilarious when she said it. Oh how we love our neighbors!

Men acting like boys playing in the snow! How did you ever get stuck back there Zach??

Jeff took the older ones sledding yesterday afternoon. They can't wait to get back out there and make some major snow forts with daddy!

Maddy loved watching the snow fall.

She is fascinated with it.

It won't be long until she is playing in the snow with her siblings.

2014

Happy New Year! We hope you all are enjoying your first day of this year. Last year was surely the year of   the highest of highs and the lowest of lows for us. We walked through moments of extreme happiness as we finally adopted a daughter and moments of fear as I received the call of Jeff's accident. However, I can say those moments have made us stronger individuals and made our marriage even stronger. Which made me realize as life gets crazier around here with juggling four kiddos, homeschooling, and two jobs for Jeff, our marriage needs to be placed before all of those things. Someday (coming way to soon) the kiddos will be gone, and the schoolroom will once again be a dining room and Jeff and I will be saying how big the house seems to be with them gone. The one thing I don't want us to say is that our hearts have grown apart because we put our marriage on the back burner so we could raise a family. Our marriage is not struggling, so I don't want anyone calling me worried. In fact, our marriage is the best it's been in 17 years and I want to keep it that way. What I'm saying is I never want to be a statistic of unsuccessful marriages. There are too many good Christian couples divorcing in this country because they put so much time and energy in their kiddos. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with that at all, but you have to take time as a couple and realize that your spouse's needs should be before the kids. When you do, your marriage not only thrives, but your children feel more secure and can be eye witnesses of how God intended a marriage to look like. I couldn't ask for a more God fearing, loving and considerate husband. In order to help him to thrive I need to be the wife that takes time for him so he knows he is #1 in my life. So, my New Year's resolution is to take more dates together, be a better listener, slow down and take time for him and support my hubby in all area of his life. I've found a few sites that have great date ideas such as:
 http://www.wifemomsuperwoman.com/2012/10/01/30-non-cheesy-date-night-ideas/
and
http://www.stayathomesusie.com/77-super-fun-date-ideas/
and
http://zachterry.wordpress.com/2009/10/07/50-questions-to-ask-your-spouse-on-a-date-night/

On the flip side here are our kiddos waiting for the new year last night at the annual New Year's party. This year we rang it in at Chamber's new beautiful home!

Waiting for the countdown to begin.

Josh is front and center.

10 seconds to the New Year.....

Can you feel their excitement?

One little boy partied a little to hard last night.

Miss Livy didn't get up until 11:00!!

Hope you all have a blessed and happy new year!

The sights and sounds of December

It seems like December is full of activity. Here's a peek of what we've been up to.

The boys making a 'mini' snowman.

Daddy taking them on a sled ride.

Maddy eating cereal with applesauce for the first time.

She loves it!!

Livy saying her part at her choir concert.

Livy's choir also performed at the library.

Maddy and Grammy watching Livy perform.

Two cute sisters!

Maddy got an early Christmas present from Grandma & Grandpa....a much needed exersaucer. She really enjoys it.

We got creative with shipping paper. These three are ready for delivery!

She is getting to be such a big girl as she is already sitting in her high chair and joining us for dinner!

Josh used his Awana bucks to get a new Lego set.

He would build with Legos all day if he could.

They had breakfast with Santa last weekend at church.

Livy had her Christmas piano recital last week. She did a great job!

Andrea took me last week to this amazing light display in Rossville. Tonight we surprised the kids and took them. Jeff was blown away that an 80 year old man does this every year and dresses up as Santa for the kiddos. Very beautiful!

4 months

Laughed for the first time at Nate, constantly making sounds, loves having Wheels On The Bus sang to her while doing the motions, takes three to four naps a day, taking 4 oz bottles, went to her first basketball game and really enjoying it, had her first Thanksgiving, pushing her head up when on her stomach, doesn't like to wear socks (always kicks them off), getting lots of love!

Life goes on

Jeff went back to work today (desk duty) and life is getting back to normal. I haven't done a good job of uploading pictures this last month with everything going on. Here's a few to share. Hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Olivia had her first choir concert in Lafayette. She was so excited to see Jeff there as she had it shortly after his accident and didn't think he would be there.  Their group did a great job.

Boys enjoying their Saturday morning cartoons.

Maddy is growing up to fast. She is full of smiles and is making lots of sounds. I think the funniest is when she sounds like an owl. She sounds like she is saying "Who, who" but every time I try to record it she stops.

Nate lost his first tooth!

We have been reading C.S. Lewis in school and I came across this quote that I must agree with. I love that I am blessed to be able to stay at home with the kiddos. I can't imagine life any other way.  “The homemaker has the ultimate career. All other careers exist for one purpose only - and that is to support the ultimate career. ”
― C.S. Lewis--

 

We finalized the adoption last Thursday. What an exciting day!

 

Olivia made a song up for Maddy. It's so sweet. She loves her little sis so much!

3 months

Full of smiles, becoming very vocal and squealing, getting up once or twice a night, loves being sung to, had her first sleep over, had her first slumber party with her cousins, reaching for toys, on the verge of rolling over, really recognizing voices and faces

In the midst of the storm

Jeff had his accident a week and a half ago and I'm so grateful to have him here with me tonight. I know that God had his angels watching over him and surrounding him with a hedge of protection that day. Things could have gone so differently and life as I have known it for the past seventeen years could have been different tonight. So first of all I just want to praise Him for protecting him and giving me another day to have him by my side. However, I keep asking God what is it he is wanting me to learn from all of this? Why did He allow this to happen in our lives and what does He want me to take away from it. I know that God doesn't allow anything into our lives that isn't a benefit for His kingdom. So as I was getting ready for church this morning (I'm so grateful Jeff was able to go today!) I was asking God again what He wants me to take away from this. I feel like there are three things He was reminding me of, not necessarily things he wants me to learn as of yet. But reminders in my life. However, first let me say how I have felt this week so these three things make sense. This past week I have felt like I have been in a storm. Before the storm all was calm and life was great. As soon I got the call he was in the accident it was like a hurricane hit me straight in the face and I was tossed into one of the worst storms of my life. If one knows that a storm is about to hit they take the necessary measures to prepare. Life is the same way. You must be prepared for when the storms arise unexpectedly. 1. Prayer- We all do it and often haphazardly just going through the motions of it. Every night before Jeff walks out the door to work in Kokomo we pray together. We know the dangers in his job and to go out the door without prayer is ,again, like going out into the water without a life preserver. But for some reason when he works Walton we didn't take it as seriously. We often refered to this job as his "Mayberry Job", and never prayed before he went on duty for it. Even though we knew how the power of prayer worked for his Kokomo job it was like we were telling God, "It's ok, we've got this other job covered on our own." We thought nothing serious can happen to him there and I'm ashamed to admit we thought we didn't need to pray about that job. So that's the first lesson I've learned. Know matter what job your spouse has, pray together each day before leaving the house. 2. The Word- When you are on the mountain top it is so easy to get out of God's word. Honestly, you feel like you are rereading the same scriptures over and over. However, this past week I'm so glad to have read those scriptures over and over. There is a reason you need to be in the Word everyday. It's for the moments when you suddenly crash from the mountain top to the valley. When my world came crashing in on me those scriptures came washing over me and reminding me to be strong, and hold onto Him. James 1:2-4 has been flooding my mind constantly since the accident(it's funny you reminded me of that too mom- also Joe in his sermon today). "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." God tells us that trials will come and when they do the Holy Spirit will wash those those scripture verses over you to give you peace in the storm. 3. Body of Christ- I have seen the body of Christ at work in our lives in the last week. I have had to humble myself and let others do for us, which is so difficult for me as I like to do everything myself. Pride had to fall this week and I have had to let others fill in the gap for me and help me. Once again God's timing is perfect and I got a devotional in my email about trials and this is the quote that hit me, "We’re not intended to do life alone. I need the faith of others when I’m in trials and troubles to remind me that God is our refuge and a very present help when I am in trouble. And you need that from me when you’re in trouble. There is a promise that our hearts will be safe, that we will have the help and the grace we need to endure even in the midst of that storm, even in the midst of great loss." How true! I could not have made it this week without our family and friends. They have been there day and night doing whatever needs to be done. From knowing as soon as I found out about the accident I could call Brittany and Andrea and they would drop everything to come and get the kids, others bringing dinner every night, family getting the outdoors ready for winter, friends taking my kiddos (and just telling me your doing it) because they know I need a break, praying, praying, praying,keeping the kids all night so I could be with Jeff in the hospital, bringing me a coke and donuts in the middle of the day, texts to check in, hauling my kids to church last week, coming to sit with Jeff so I can run errands, helping financially, calling from town to see if I need anything, and the list can go on. I have been reminded again how so important it is to be in fellowship with other believers. We have been so blessed and loved I feel guilty that I can't do anything in return for all of you but just to thank God for all of you. Besides Christ, your outpouring of love and support is what keeps me looking up toward the top of the mountain again. I love you all so much and I am so grateful to all of you.