Thanksgiving

Sometimes in the midst of life I forget. I forget things like why I opened the refrigerator and what I was going to do after I finished making coffee. Sometimes I forget to enjoy the moments and laugh at the insanity. Mostly I forget to be thankful. 

And I have SO much to be thankful for. So many blessings that I can't even begin to number them. My God has supplied all my needs according to his riches in heaven and he has done more than I could ever ask or imagine. 

I find myself rejoicing that we have such a day here in America. A day to remember what we've been given, what we've been spared and how we've been cared for. 

So this Thanksgiving, I will not forget. I will remember and be Thankful.

 

I am especially thankful for these 4 bundles and all the joy they bring my way. Thankful that we get to add one more blessing to our family in January. Seriously, how could I forget to be thankful with little reminders such as these?! Aren't they cute?!

Isabelle Turns One!

 

Its hard to believe that at this time a year ago I was already out of surgery and holding my new baby girl. I'll never forget the excitement of the Dr. and nurses when they told me we'd had a girl. They all knew about our three wonderful boys and they were so excited for us to be able to add a little girl. Since she was born in Spain they spoke Spanish when telling me about her. It took a few minutes for me to process what they had said. Not only because my Spanish is horrid, but also because I was so surprised. 

Isabelle has been such a fun addition to the family. I love her laugh and smile and especially the way she is head over heels about her brothers. Her personality is starting to show up and we are having a blast watching her grow and learn. I can't wait for the coming years!

We celebrated her birthday a few days early because Joey's parents are headed to Morocco today. We combined first birthday and going away. It made the going easier, and the party bigger! Nothing like Mexican lazagna and cheesecake to bolster the party spirit. In my family we have a tradition (like every other family in America) of giving the birthday kid, on their 1st birthday, their very own cake. Then you stand back and wait for them to dig in. Usually its a lot of fun. Not so much this time. Isabelle was not interested in eating this cake.

We even got a cheering squad to encourage a little digging in. They were all ready to step in an help eat if need be. 

Nope, not interested. So last night we decided we'll try again. There was a whole pink carrot cake that needed eating. So we set her up in the highchair and went for a second round. At first things seemed a bit more promising. She started eating the frosting and trying to suck every last drop off her hands.

But it wasn't until I dug in with a fork for a few bites that she really got into it. Our pretty little princess didn't want to be too messy. 

Well, not at first anyway. She ended up finishing off a third of the cake and only stopped because it was time for dinner and she was more interested in meat and potatoes.

I think that means she's going to be ok. 

Happy Birthday Isabelle. 

We love you!

They Say The Darndest Things!

**While discussing going to heaven and leaving our present body behind.**

Josiah: "But what are we going to do [in heaven] if we don't have a bottom?!"

Me: "Uh?..."

Josiah: (Very concerned expression on his face) "Are we going to get to sit down?"

**While talking about how its a brothers job to protect his sister and ok any future husbands.**

Josiah: "but we don't want her [Isabelle] to get married"

Joey: "We don't?"

Josiah: "No, she's sooo nice and cute. We want her to stay with us."

**While talking about riding bikes with friends Elias & TT (a girl).**

 Benson: "Lets go ride bikes with Elias and TT. Well, not TT she doesn't have a bike. She'll have to just stand there and yell 'GO  BENSON!!!'"

**Anytime after racing or playing a game.**

 Josiah or Benson: "I'm the winner"

William: (With arms raised and smiling.) "Yeah! Mine Did It! I Loser!!!"

I sure do love my kiddos and the crazy things they say!

Happy Birthday!

Today I am celebrating the birth of my wonderful husband. There is a lot I could say about this amazing man that God has given me. Probably more that I couldn't even begin to express. He is my very most favorite person ever. He makes me laugh and comforts me when I'm crying. He has been an instrument of change in my life. I could not imagine life without him, I don't want to. When I say he's my best friend, its not because I'm being cheesy (which I am prone to) its because its true. There is no one else I'd rather hang out with. Needless to say I am blessed to know him and have him in my life. 

I'm praying that this year He is blessed 100 times for all the blessings he gives. I am praying he is filled with joy and peace and that whatever this year brings us we'll be able to stand together with the Lord.

Happy Birthday Youssef. I Love You!

Motherhood

For Mothers Day we had just arrived in Southern Spain for a week long get away with my parents. Joey however was faithful to slip away and get some beautiful daisy's and we went out to a wonderful dinner that evening. I was blessed and appreciated. It was nice. 

Now three days after the special day I find myself reflecting on motherhood. Sometimes in the midst of the chaos that comes with four kids 5 and under I forget about the joy and see only the trial. Sometimes I find myself reacting only to the negatives and never the positives. And sometimes I am overwhelmed and tired. But on vacation I can remember that motherhood isn't only about the hard times. My life as a Mom is FULL of victories and joy. FULL of laughter and growth. FULL of blessing and gifts. 

These four precious people that God has graciously entrusted to my care are one of the most incredible and wonderful gifts I have ever known. God has used them to shape me and mold me to be a better person and to walk away from sin. He has reminded me what it means to have a child like faith and a trusting spirit. Through them He has taught me to laugh at the chaos and let Him have control. Because only He can truly have control in their lives and mine.

I love them. These four. They are something special. There is a lot I could do better as I mother them. A lot of areas I still need to surrender unto God. They are helping me though and I know that in the years to come as I again have opportunity to reflect I will see the hand of God using them to shape and mold my life. Lord willing I will be a better reflection of Him and Lord willing they will see more of Christ in me. 

Thank you Lord for the gift of motherhood. Thank you for helping me to be a better mom and for letting me be a mom to these four balls of chaos and joy. I couldn't ask for anything more.

Grab A Spoon.

I've mentioned before about a new store in town called Marjane. Well, one of the best things we've gotten from there is ice cream. Good ice cream. See ice cream in Morocco is typically, well, flat. No creamy goodness to speak of, just ice and flavor. This stuff though, mmmm. SO good. We like to put the carton down on the table and grab a spoon. The boys LOVE that we are doing something "naughty" and eating out of the container and I love that there are only 5 spoons to clean up. 

We were given a turtle the other day that likes to roam around our yard looking for food and avoiding the dog. He's pretty good sized and can move quickly. Josiah and Benson spent the morning building him a house out of old floor tiles using mud as mortar and a garden shovel as a trowel. It was a great looking house until the turtle decided to have a dance party and the walls came tumbling down. Much like Jericho, without the trumpets, or the Israelites for that matter. Needless to say the mud as mortar created quite the mess on the front porch. But the turtle was happy and the boys excited to try again tomorrow maybe with real cement and Daddy to help.

I've been thinking off and on about doing fun things with the kids. Things that when they're older they can sit around and tell stories about or remember and laugh. Sometimes I feel like I spend so much time just saying "Stop" or "Don't" and we never get to just be crazy together. So who cares if there is a mess on the table or a disaster on the front porch, these are the times for memories and I want to be a part of that.

Long Time No Talk

April 18th. Can you believe it? Time quickly goes slipping past when there are 4 little people running around, houses being moved and volunteer teams needing attention. We are finally moved into our new house and in the process of getting settled. To say I love the new place would be an understatement. It is really perfect. As I type all three boys are outside playing in the sandbox, Isabelle is scooting around on the floor and Joey is drilling into the kitchen walls hanging something or other. Did you catch that, the boys are outside! Honestly my favorite part about this new place is the fully enclosed yard. It has been a life changer. 

Hopefully I'll be back on board talking to you all more often. Sorry for those few who actually check this from time to time. The adventures are back on.