4 years

We are now just ten days away from having a big 4 year old. I can't believe how fast these first four years with have gone. I seem like just a few months ago we're were sitting in our 1 1/2 room apartment with clamy palms around the cell phone trying to decide who to tell frist that they would soon be grandparents. We have had tears, fears, lots of laughs, and new adventures. Every day I have with her I take as a gift. She is so full of life, and energy, and a need for learning, and energy! I am excited to see what roads and adventures lye ahead. Happy #4
Ra-ra! We are so proud of you!
Birthday prayer:
Thank you God for the health you have granted, and for the time that is yet to come. Please help her to grow in understanding of who you and come to love and serve you. May she live up to her name and be a lady of unfading beauty, with a kind and gentle spirit, full of grace and compassion.

I spy....

There is something about seeing that first little flower bud pushing it's way through the ground that can give a person hope. It is the sign of the end of the cold winter days, with short hours of sunlight and a reminder that spring and longer days filled with fresh air are just around the corner. Just when I've reached my limit of frozen toes, icy roads, taking 30 minutes to dress kids to go outside for 10 minutes just so they don't destroy the house the Lord is kind enough to give us a jacket -only warm day so that we can see the first evidences of life returning to His creation. I was so grateful to have one of these days this weekend. With the hubby out of town for most of the week and not returning till tonight it was a much needed and welcomed day. A light jacket, some chalk, a ball and a bike= F-U-N! (Who said stay -at- home moms don't use math!) I am anxiously waiting for this spring and summer more now than the last few years because the kids are old enough really enjoy the outdoors. With having infants the last 3 summer it has been hard to do all those pre-baby fun outside activities, playing in the water, planting flowers, playing ball, etc. As any parent knows if the kids aren't having fun, no one is; so it had been more convenant to stay away from the bugs and heat for the most part. This year all the girls are ready to get out and play too! :) Our oldest has conquered the bike and this year will tackel roller skates and a skooter, our sencond is just learning to ride a tricycle by herself and the twins just gotta RUN. :) They love to ride in the wagon and push the little kid cars around too but mostly they just want a wide open space. We are looking forward to learning more about this world God has created and seeing more of His beauty through its beauty. I spy some green poking its bud through the snow and mud.... now where are the garden shovels and ban-aids. :) Happy almost spring!

we're wathcing

Some days I'm amazed at just how much time in a day a child will spend watching you. They can be playing and entertaining themselves, and having a grand time when for not particular reason they stop their activities and watch what you're doing. I can be cooking all by myself and then instantly there will be at least 2 kids under my feet or sitting on the rug eagerly waiting to see what you do next. Its a large and sometime overwhelming feeling to know that you are being watched almost every waking moment, and sometimes even some of your sleeping ones. I feel asleep reading last week while the kids were napping to awake to Addy sitting on the floor in front of the chair with a blanket just sitting and looking at me. And the other day Amara woke up early and came down to our room and instead of the usual, climbing into bed with us, she decided to stand at the head of the bed and play with our hair- kind of a disconcerting feeling to awake to.
Days like today make all the messes and seemingly endless jobs of being a mom well worth the time. While sitting on the floor that needs vacuumed yet again, next to the table that still shows evidence of breakfast, with a lap full of toddlers and all 8 eyes are gazing up at me with anticipation for what the next page in the book says, even though they know what is next because we have read it like 50,000 time I continue on and read it again, explain it again. the funny thing is most days I don't even mind it. :)
I sometimes wonder when thinking about how the kids long to be close to us, watch us, interact with us, and imitate us, if I should strive to be more like them. I have a perfect Father, the ultimate example but do I long so hard to be near Him, to be like Him that I drop whatever I am doing so that I can learn His ways and try to imitate Him. Do I try to be like Him, talk like Him, love as he loved. I do hope that some day I will be able to say that I do. Its a constant battle, but one worth fighting. The other day I couldn't help but hear that old song saying, "Lord I wanna be just like you because they want to be just like me." And later when I look at my Father waiting for Him to tell me once more, explain it once more, He will be patient with me too and will explain it once more.
For now I am holding on to these moments with my girls that I know will be gone to soon. I will need these memories to get through those adolescent years where all I will be is the weird mom that ruins their fun. I hope they will continue to watch then too, even if from a distance, and that they will not see me but our Savior.

Cabin Fever!

The weather man has been threatening good amounts of snow for over a week and today it finally came- not a ton but several inches. I'm not a big fan of snow and cold but can appreciate the beauty of it. It does make me stop and marvel once again at the creativeness of our great God. Of course cold weather= cabin fever for the kids (and mom too). Today the twins found their own way to have a "snowball fight" at the table while I was making lunch. To cute not to share. :)

Giving In

I am finally giving in and gonna try blogging- probably won't be to often with with 4 kids under 4! Its crazy and often exciting so follow if you dare! :)