I just gotta say...

Aren't they just the cutest little boys in the whole wide world?

They both travel really well, for the most part. Give Josiah his "passy" and a crib and he's out like a light. Elijah will do the same. Hotel rooms, unfamiliar bedrooms, you name it...Who knows, we might be brave enough to take them on a real trip someday!

....and She's Back

Hi all! My month-long hiatus is now officially over. Saying "no" to the computer was as difficult as I thought it would be. Hopefully, I have learned how to better use my time instead of being sucked into the world of the internet!
So, many things have happened this last month. Our oldest son, Elijah, turned 5 years old at the end of October. Yesterday he was a little raisin in my arms who just wanted to eat and sleep. Today he is tall enough to grab onto my shoulders with his feet flat on the ground. I know I will have many more of these "moments" but they do seem to be coming more and more frequently. He had his very first real birthday party, complete with 7 other children. We reserved a party at the coolest place. Eli had so much fun and I think the other kids did, too. The best part about it? We packed up and left the facility and didn't have to worry about all the clean-up.
Anyway, here are some pictures of this momentous occasion...



Elijah was thrilled with the motorcycle bike that he got for his birthday. Of course, Josiah couldn't be left out of the fun so he inherited one of Eli's old bikes.



More of this last month's happenings in the following posts....

So Very Thankful

We ate turkey in Florida. It was beautiful and sunny and we enjoyed every bit of it. Methinks food and family and a big huge yard go together perfectly!This Thanksgiving was so different from the years gone by because of all the screaming children running around. Kids really do know how to fill a room.
Major highlight of the day...We finally got to meet our new little niece, Lana. She was born October 27th and she is a doll! She let me hold her for a very long time.

How can you not fall in love with this little face??


Gianna will be 2 years old in January. She is full of toddler energy, that one. She adores Elijah and tolerates Josiah. She and Josiah are only 3 months apart so there were quite a few tiffs between the two. Hilarious!


Dinner was at Seth's Grandad's house. He lives on 4 1/2 acres with a good size citrus grove in the backyard. Heaven on earth for a 5 year old little boy. We actually got to eat citrus for the first time in years. When I first moved here to Missouri, I tried a couple of oranges from the grocery store. I'll just say, "Eww!"

Good times. Good times.

10 Whole Years

Brace yourselves, people. Now I may look super young but I'm really not. Oh who am I kidding? When I was in high school, I always got the comments that I looked older than I was. When I was in my early 20's, I heard comments of me looking younger. Here I am, now 28 years old, and I get nothing when I tell people how old I am. I guess I finally caught up to myself.
One of the main events of our visit to Florida, besides all the great visiting with family, was our 10 year class reunion. If I sit and think about it too long, it just blows my mind how quickly those 10 years flew by!! To give you a little history, Seth and I were high school sweethearts (insert awwww here). We were in the same class and started dating our junior year. We got engaged the night before graduation and married a little over a year later. Our class was so small due to the tiny Christian school we attended. Our graduating class had like 15 students.
So on Saturday, over 10 years later, we reunited. We couldn't believe how many people actually came. It was a great turnout. What a trippy experience to remember these people when we were teenagers and then fast forward through life to grownups who now have spouses and children and real jobs. It was truly great seeing everyone.
My friend said something that rang very true in me. It was wonderful to see everyone but it was even nicer to realize how grateful we are that we are no longer that same person we once were. I really had quite the battle the week before the reunion. The enemy attacked me with all the old insecurities and self-hatred that I dealt with on a daily basis while I went through high school. The night before we flew down to Orlando, I had such a sweet experience with the Lord. He knew I needed to be rescued from the very intense battle I was facing. And He did it in such a kind and tenderhearted way. He showed me who I am now in Him. My heart is ruined forever because of His love and mercy. He has changed me completely and know He will never stop perfecting that which He has begun.
Seth and I left the party content with each other and with ourselves. We have a good life and we know it is just going to get better and better as long as we are in full pursuit of the One we love!

It's a Small World After All

On Tuesday of our trip, we got to take the boys to Disneyworld. Seth's cousin's husband works for the fire department at Disney so he met us down there and let us in for free. We even parked for free! What a blessing, especially when you see the normal costs of that place.
The boys loved it! Seth and I had such a great time just watching their faces. It brought back many memories of when we went as children. The awe and wonder of that place is just fantastic. As "off" as Disney has become (we have turned off more Disney movies in the last couple of years because of all the junk they throw in!), it helped give us a day of memories that we will never forget.

Cold Reality

So after a week in sunny Florida, we came home to an intense snowstorm. Very, very beautiful to look at from the comfort of your cozy living room. Not so much when you are driving in it!
Friday morning, Elijah woke up and did the snow dance all morning. He was so excited to get out there. We all bundled up and played. The best part? Coming back in from the freezing cold and having a nice cup of hot chocolate.

I would like to do a small comparison. Here are Seth and the boys on Tuesday.

Here are Seth and the boys on Friday. Notice the difference??

Elijah loves him some snow!

Josiah wasn't very sure about it. But he sure stayed toasty in his full body snowsuit =)

Adios, my friends!

I just wanted to share with my 2 avid readers of this blog that I will be taking a siesta for a month or so. No, seriously, I have felt a nudge from the Lord and I have realized the importance of listening to Him. Everyone has their "thing" that tempts them to spend more time with than with the Lord. The computer happens to be mine. There are days where I have just wasted hours on the internet. Checking this blog or that blog, keeping up with friends on myspace, obsessively checking my inbox to see if I received an email.
It is time to re-prioritize. I choose God this time, even if it means doing something as drastic as packing up my computer and taking it down to my basement where its call will be muted.
I also choose the 20 items on my "To Do" list that needed to be accomplished 6 months ago. I believe I will have the time to do them now.
I apologize if this post falls under the Too Much Information category but I feel like I need to explain why, as of this evening, I will not be posting for a good long while.

The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.
Num 6:24-26

He Walks!

Yesterday, Josiah did it. He took his first real steps! Until last month, I was really okay with this "I'm going to take my sweet time" approach. But then the neurotic motherly worries began to kick in. Physical therapy...will he still be crawling at 2?....someone even suggested a chiropractor (what??!!).
This boy is all about timing. The Lord has taught us much about His perfect timing through this child. He came into the world a little too early for comfort. And he began walking a little late for comfort. It all evens out in the end, doesn't it?

It Feels like Autumn

It really does. The weather has been amazing. Fall colors have emerged. I have fallen in love with this time of year. Spring has always been my favorite but fall definitely comes very close. Yesterday afternoon we celebrated this time of year by visiting an apple festival. Oh my goodness! Here is a word of caution- Try not to go to an established apple festival when you are hungry because you will leave with barbecue, roasted corn, turkey legs, caramel apples, homemade cherry lemonade, and yum of all yums...homemade apple dumplings with ice cream tucked very tightly in your tummy. Good thing we shared all of it because that running I've been telling you about would have been for naught. We had so much fun. Here are some pictures to document the occasion...Oh and the pictures of us and the pumpkins are from a farm that we stopped at on the way home. It was quite beautiful!

Get Ready, Get Set....GO

My brother and I grew up going to running races. My parents would run 5k's and 10k's every Saturday morning, or so it felt like to us. My brother and I would love it because there were always tables of oranges, bananas, muffins, and bagels. We didn't have to do the work, we just ate.
Yesterday morning, while it was still dark outside, Seth and I drove downtown for our first 5k together. He and I have been running very consistently the last few months. We have set it where we run separately during the week and on the weekend (when we can), we run together. He pushes the boys in the jogging stroller so it has been fun family time as well. We registered for the 5k (3.1 miles) and then scheduled runs to surpass that mileage so when race day came, we (I) wouldn't feel so stretched. After a 5 mile run last weekend, we (I) were so ready for the race this weekend.

Yesterday was the beginning of a new thing for me. And it was not so much about the actual running. As I ran over the Start Line, a huge wave of emotion washed over me. I felt so many old fears and insecurities be released. Fears and insecurities that I have carried around for years and years. So by the time I got to the Finish Line, not only was I excited that I didn't have to stop to walk at all, but I was flying free. I still feel that freedom today, that lightness that has never really been there before.
The whole race was such a picture of our life with the Lord. My husband and I ran the whole thing together. My husband took on the role of supporter and encourager. He never left my side, he was with me the whole way. We experienced it all together. I just have a feeling when I have finished my race and I am finally in heaven with my true, eternal Husband we are going to have so much to talk about.

"Do you remember when the kids were young and they were driving me so nuts that I thought I was going to go crazy?"
"Yes, I was there with you. Do you remember how I encouraged you that day?"
"That's right! I thought I wasn't going to make it. I thought I was going to have to step out of the race for a while. But all of a sudden, I knew You were there running this thing with me and I could keep going. You gave me my 'second wind'."

Wow, I can't wait!

At Last....

Tonight was the beginning of a very good thing. Tonight I saw a glimpse of what true community can be. Tonight we started a care group. A care group of mostly younger couples with children, but not all younger which makes it exciting. There is wisdom to be imparted and shared. There is trust to be built. There are relationships to be formed, all founded in the love of God. I sensed His pleasure this evening. Because His desire is for us to share His love with each other. We grow in so many ways by loving each other. I believe it's that simple. Love Him and love each other.
We will move past the slightly awkward "where are you from" questions to "how are you really doing" inquiries. We will be a part of each other's lives, in whatever capacity the Lord leads.
It is so easy to become isolated these days. As long as we get an email from someone occasionally or even a phone call, we are all right. Or so we tell ourselves. I believe the Lord wants us to go deeper than that. We are beginning to see deep unrest in the world. There are so many signs pointing to the coming return of Jesus. There is an urgency that is building up in His people, those that are courageous enough to recognize what is happening. As we cry out "Come, Lord Jesus, Come", we must also see the importance of relying on one another in the days ahead. We will need each other like we never have before. To hold each other up, to encourage one another, and to keep each from falling away.
There are exciting and scary days ahead of us. Intimacy with the Lord and true community of believers will be the keys of preparation for walking through whatever is to come....

Preach it, sista!

Gettin' Rid of Junk (Treasure?)

This weekend, my friends and I are holding a garage sale. Probably one of the last of the season. When I first moved to this area, I couldn't believe the amount of garage sales going on. And they do it serious here- most of them begin on Wednesday and end on Saturday. We've decided to be lightweights and just do it on Friday and Saturday.
So I have been busily trying to get things together. I will be very glad when it's over....

Let's go on Vacation

This last weekend, we went on a mini vacation to Table Rock Lake and stayed here . It was a wonderful getaway. The weather was amazing and the lake was gorgeous. The vote was unanimous: we definitely all could have stayed a lot longer. But, alas, the world of audio called us (Seth) back to reality.

Here are some pictures for you to enjoy.

Sailor "Jo"

Captain Elijah

Grammy and Papa trying to stay warm despite the rather chilly wind

Elijah enjoying the indoor pool

Apparently this is the monarch butterfly migrating season. I believe they start from Canada and make their way down to a forest in Mexico where they mate and die. We were just amazed at the wonder of God's creation as we saw hundreds fly over our cabin. I think we were on Monarch Route 101 because there were just so many. I found myself silently cheering them on, these fragile and beautiful creatures. Fragile yet with the strength to fly thousands of miles to get to a destination they have never seen before. Simply amazing!!

S-T-R-E-T-C-H

Seth arrived home safely yesterday after 15 days in Texas. It is so wonderful to have him home again! This is definitely the season of stretching (yet once again) because next week he leaves for another 4 days. I calculated this morning that he will be home only 6 days out of 25 by the end of next week. Thankfully, we all feel God's grace covering this new season of our lives. Without it, you would find me in the fetal position in the middle of the floor saying over and over again, "I can't handle this. I can't handle this." Amazingly enough, I can handle it. At the risk of sounding like a cheeseball, God's strength allows me to do what I need to do.
These boys sure know how to keep me busy!!

Eli's 1st day of School

Since this is Elijah's second year of preschool, his first day was not as exciting as last year's. I signed him up for 3 days a week instead of just 2 and he is going in the mornings this year instead of the blessed afternoon schedule he had last year. The 8:30-11:30 schedule is
definitely more for me than Eli. I figured that I might as well get used to it since he will be doing this every day next year!
It just amazes me how quickly children grow and change. I found a picture from his first day of school last year and compared it to this year's. The difference is incredible. He still looks like Eli (of course) but he looks so much older!

LAST YEAR

THIS YEAR

He really was happier than this picture shows to go to school today. He was a bit nervous about meeting the new children but he has the same teacher this year as he had in summer program. That helps the boy who has a difficult time with change.

Here are some cute pictures of our time with my parents last week. One of Eli's favorite places to visit when we go to South Carolina is Cherry Park. It has a great playground with his special "roller coaster" swing. I think it's made for handicapped children but it's one of the highlights for Elijah.


Josiah had a pretty good time on the swings as well. And what is better than playing hide and seek with Nana??



Elijah had lots of wrestling time with Grandad and Josiah had lots of cuddle time with Nana. Sounds like a good vacation to me!

Up Up and We're Home!

"I just feel so sorry for that Mom!"

This is the comment I heard from the back of the airplane as we were getting ready to leave. Friends, I was THAT Mom. I could already tell that I would be in for it when Josiah woke up around 6am and never really fell back asleep. Our flight left at 12:45, smack in the middle of his naptime. The flight was an express flight so it was a smaller plane with 2 seats on each side. Needless to say, we did not have much room for movement. This didn't stop the little J man because he was filled with that over-tired energy that only people who have been around children know about. Wasn't it Phillip in the New Testament who was miraculously transported from one place to another? You better believe I was asking for this kind of miracle yesterday!
As the flight continued, Josiah became more and more irritable until a full meltdown began. And lasted a good 10-15 minutes. The-longest-minutes-of-my-entire-life. There is a defense mechanism in a human body called shock. I think that's what happened to me...all of a sudden I was in this "zone" where the horrible screaming faded away in my ears and I just sat there holding him tightly in my arms. And then, by the grace of a very good God, Josiah fell asleep. And continued sleeping through the flight's descent. I swear, it was only the crowd's good manners that kept them from cheering when this happened.

On another note, the boys and I just spent ten days in South Carolina with my parents. We had a wonderful time just hanging out with "Nana and Grandad". Elijah is older now so he is so much more aware of his emotions. Last night as we were praying, he interrupted me and said with tears in his eyes, "Mom, don't say Nana and Grandad because when you say their names, it makes me miss them so much." Isn't that the saddest thing you have ever heard? It is very difficult living so far away from them but we are all trying to be more "eternal-minded". There will come a day when none of us will be separated....we will live in all of eternity with our Beloved and with each other. How exciting!!

What the....?

This, my friends, is the result of 20 minutes of brushing our dog. I guess they call this in the malamute world- a blowout. That's a pretty good description of the extra dog that came from Kenzie this evening. I could have spent 20 more minutes and doubled this pile o' fur but Kenzie was sending out the signals that enough was enough.
Just thought I would share this small phenomenon. The dog seemed to feel better afterwards...


And if it's worth anything, Josiah was pretty happy with the whole situation as well...