Are we rushing it?

Since they don't make drive through baby food stores, I had to go to a real store last night for oatmeal. The babies were on their way to sleep, so Evy and I headed to Walmart- since they have cheaper food. I walked in with the normal hustle and bustle, realizing my choice of clothing didn't match God's choice of weather. I headed up an aisle and noticed pies- pecan, pumpkin, Paula Dean- I thought of snagging one for Turkey day and noticed they expired before the 25th- so I passed.

As we headed on toward the baby food section and I continued to notice holiday preparations- fudge kits, chocolate chips, marshmallows. Clerks are making it easier to shop- even pairing sweet potatoes, marshmallows and brown sugar in one display. We got our baby foods- a quick peek at the craft section, a quicker look for clearance clothes and headed over to the children's medicine section.

As I walked I heard Christmas music- I hadn't really noticed until then...then I saw Christmas decorations in the front of the store- cupcake papers, ornaments, cookie cutters, tins for decorating...on display right in the front! The dishes section- which last week held beautiful leaf shapes dishes in golds, greens and reds, were replaced with red and white dishes proclaiming "peace on earth" Suddenly, I felt a little panicky...with only a couple gifts bought, I was nervous about how it was all going to get done in time. Then I realized it was over a month away.

Are we rushing it? I am all about celebrating our Savior's birth, celebrating traditions and teaching my children about the joy of giving, but something is missing. I felt like we were skipping the important part- the need to give Thanks. As a society we should be so thankful for our many, many, MANY blessings. I could run down the statics on how we are the wealthiest nation, have the most of everything- but frankly you have heard them- and I don't have time! I feel like we need a lesson on stopping and savoring what is in front of us. We don't know what tomorrow will bring. I know a soldier will die, people will hurt, people will lose jobs, cancer will win with someone, friends will disappoint you, children will be sick, bills will be due, and a plethora of negative circumstances will avail.

"Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." 1 Thes. 5:18

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they (A)may have life, and have it abundantly. John 10:10 (New American Standard Bible)

There you have it...The thief is stealing our season! It is time to be thankful in everything. Paul simply says very directly, "In everything give thanks." No exceptions, no excuses, nothing is outside those parameters, in everything give thanks. That little phrase enpante in the Greek means in connection with everything that occurs...in connection with everything in life give thanks no matter what it might be, with obvious exceptions of personal sin. He is saying no matter what happens to you in life, be thankful. No matter lot, no matter what circumstance, no matter what struggle, vicissitude, trial, testing, be thankful, give thanks. No matter what the situation we are to find reason to thank God. This is not some nebulous thanks fired off into space, it is a thanks given directly to God.

Let's take some time to be Thankful!

The smell of clean babies...

Isn't funny how smells spark memories? This morning I used baby soap in the shower and was flooded with memories of nurses handing me 6lb clean "burrito" babies in the middle of the night last April. I savored the memories of my ity, bity babies for a few seconds. The Bible tells us to pray continually and I have learned to use memories or situations to say little prayers for people. The memories of today sparked several prayers.

Generally, people fall into four stages when it comes to babies- they want babies, they are pregnant, they just had a baby or they have lost a baby. I know ladies who fit in all 4 categories. The thought of my little babies this morning sparked a prayer for a new mom who just had a baby girl about 36 hours ago. Then I thought of another lady who had recently shared her her desire and struggle with ttc and her losses. I said a prayer for her. Then I thought of moms who are currently pregnant and lifted a few prayers for them. Another dear friend popped into my mind whose daughter went to be with the Lord a few short months ago and I said a prayer for her.

Truthfully, I have struggled lately in the area of prayer in regards to confidence. I felt that my prayers didn't matter much. In the summer months, I spent many hours rocking babies and praying for my friend. I had prayed for her during her struggles to get pregnant, during times of miscarriage, during her pregnancy, when complications arose surrounding her pregnancy and after the birth of her daughter. I poured my heart out to God in each of those situations and he answered prayers. My will was that her sweet baby would live, His was that she would live with Him. For a while, I have felt like my prayers didn't do much regarding Lily's life. Maybe I didn't pray enough, maybe they were not heard because they didn't come from a "righteous man". I don't feel like the time was wasted, it just didn't matter much. Gods will was his will. Period. Then I was reminded by another prayer warrior that it was an honor to pray for Lily. Then I saw the lie. The Satan lie. The prayers did matter- and there were answers.

They were answered when Lily lived for 103 days.
They were answered when the she woke from surgery.
They were answered when she was able to drink from a bottle and breath a few breaths of oxygen unassisted.
They were answered when she left the hospital to go home with her parents.
Many were answered...Period. God's will was that she would live with Him.

As I type this morning, I am seeing the way the snake wrapped himself up in my life- my prayer life was squeezed out. I am seeing some repercussions of this lie in other areas of life. I have some work to do...and some prayers to pray! Thank You Lord that you exposed that lie to me all because of a memory and a journal entry. Isn't funny how smells spark memories?

Stream of Consciousness

I can't believe the twins are 7 months. I was planning to take their pictures playing in the leaves but the rain on Friday ruined that. I will have to do it this week, once everything dries out. All three kids have been full of energy as they are starting to feel better again. Evy colored her hand green while I was in the den watching TV- think Shrek green- because she wanted me to say "oh, no, go wash your hands and see if it comes off" Then she colored the other one, because I didn't react. So I called her Shrek and it hurt her heart. I was sorry. Jackson is really on the move- he tried to take a couple steps cruising the table and fell and bruised his forehead- he was pretty upset about it and was cranky the rest of last night.

My foot is really hurting again- I have resorted to using the big black boot- which makes it feel so much better. I have been taking the pain pills again, but only have 3 left- so I guess I will have to just live with it.

I am getting excited for Christmas, but have been trying to figure out what to get everyone on a *tight* budget. Our trip to St. Louis will take some of the extra money we had to spend- but will be so worth it to see everyone for Ryan's wedding. It is just a few weeks away. I can't wait to see Grandma and Uncle Bud and Aunt Donna, but am not looking forward to the 8+ hour drive with the babies. They are finally liking the carseats better so that is a plus.

Thanksgiving is just around the corner- so hard to believe- I kind of feel like this dark cloud lurks around that day after our pregnancy loss a couple years back. Seems to hit me harder every year that passes. I have moved on, grieved that loss, and have such joy about the abundant blessings we have- I am so thankful for all my children, but I just want that hurt to go away. It also makes me sad that so many others have had significant losses- found out this week a lady at church has lost three and another friend is pregnant- praying for a healthy baby for her. Then my thoughts flash back to the abundant prayers said for Lilian and the feeling that in the end it didn't really matter had fervently or righteous my prayers were. God's will is God's will. But I am still praying for her and believing by faith that God's will is for her to have a healthy child.

Oh...that might be a little to deep for some of you-- sorry. It is just were my heart has been lately- heavy and a little sad. My time with God this morning was centered around 1 Cor. chapter 3 where Paul talks about planting the seed and how God makes it grow. The truth is...it all goes back to God.

This is what I found the other night when I went in to check on a crying baby. Madelyn (who is recently mobile) was standing up in her bed. Last night, I lowered her bed, for fear her head would propel her over the side.

I am sure it is about to get really interesting around our house!

Halloween 2010

Say Hello to Little Bo Peep and her little sheep. We had a great time on Halloween. Cori and my sisters and BIL were all here and it a blast- no sister fights- even did some crafting. We all dressed up as "nerds" and Cori was Jasmine.


The last few weeks have been busy. Jackson is crawling and pulling up. Madelyn is crawling now too. They both have a yucky cold that won't shake, so we have had a couple of cranky little ones. I am hoping that this might be the last of it for a while, but since everyone seems to share germs...it is not likely.

My Lil Pumpkins

A time honored tradition at our house (at least in my mind) is a yearly trip to the pumpkin patch as the leaves begin to turn. I love fall. I love all things that go with fall...so hayrides and pumpkin patches are on the top of the list.

When Evy was a baby, we (me and my friend Kay) carved the insides out of a pumpkin, lined it with plastic wrap and put her inside the pumpkin and took pictures. These pictures are some of my favorites. However, she was only about 3 months old at the time.

Last Friday evening, Michael and I (and Evy) took the babies to the pumpkin patch. It was fun for Evy to pick out pumpkins and we took several pictures. It wasn't the awesome photo shoot I was aiming for, but it was fun non the less.
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A long time coming...

For those of you who are caring followers of my blog, I want to apologize for being a bad blogger. Once school started, I sort of lost my mojo. I have been busy teaching, raising three kids, cleaning and seeking the Lord. I have spent many days exhausted, but SO very blessed by these kids.

It is still hard for me to wrap my head around the fact that we have three kids. Twins aren't easy and I have felt frustrated at how difficult it is to accomplish simple tasks with two babies. I have simply had to give it up and focus on what is important- the family. I have so much to tell, but not enough hours in the day to get everything done.

So...the twins are 6 months old and we just had Evy's first parent-teacher conference of kindergarten last week.

Madelyn now weighs 17lbs 2oz and is 26 3/4 inches long. Jackson slightly behind her (for the first time ever at 16lbs 13 oz and 26 1/2 inches long. Their head are both 17cm.

Tonight I hope to take them to the pumpkin path and get their 6 month pictures.

I also hope to start taking time to blog more...it is my release and I have been ignoring it for the last 75 days.