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.

Leap Day and some Random Thoughts

Since this only comes around every 4 years I feel like I should post something. You know, celebrate, because its a special day. Ok, honestly its just like any other Wednesday, but you make the most of whatever you've been given, right?!

**As I type this the boys are looking out our second story window watching the garbage truck picking up the garbage. They are telling each other which way it turned, whose house its next to, etc. Garbage trucks are exciting. (Almost as exciting as Leap Day.) I love that they are fascinated by the simple things in life.

**We had Monkey Bread for breakfast. It turned out pretty good. The boys took the leftovers as snack for school this morning. I guess it was a hit. They didn't bring any home with them...Monkey Bread always makes me think of my Great Grandma Beach. I don't know why exactly. I think she use to make it? Maybe its because her name is on my Mom's recipe card for monkey bread? Isn't it funny the things that float around in our memories.

**Isabelle has started laughing like crazy and guess what?! She has my laugh. I love it. Especially because its a laugh that I've kinda hidden away for really funny stuff, but its her everyday always laugh at this point and oh my goodness its great! Shaking her rattle at her will really get her going and the boys seem to trigger her giggle whenever they run around like crazy people. Which is often, so there is lots of laughter happening. And a home filled with laughter is filled with love. At least, that makes sense in my mind.

**I made Peanut Butter and Jelly Pie Bars the other day. They turned out pretty good. I actually liked them best just out of the oven. Super gooey and sticky. It would have been heavenly over ice cream. Joey likes them alot cold or hot. Since I was making them for him, that means success!

**I found the PB&J bars on Pintrest. Seriously I love that place. I could get sucked in and never come out. Its like a break for my brain. I sometimes wonder how mom's survived before the internet. Really, how did you do it?! Sometimes I find myself about to die from lack of adult contact and then I sit down for five minutes and check facebook or look at nice pictures on pintrest and its like a defibrillator for my brain.

**I wonder what sort of things the next generation of Mom's will cling to in order to maintain their sanity. Or the illusion of sanity. At least its an illusion in my case. I don't mind though. Sanity is overrated, and kids are underrated so it all works together in the end. right?! I couldn't imagine life without my four bundles of joy. They are one of the greatest blessings in my life. Not only because they make me happy, but because through them God has reminded me of whats important, what is true and shown me how I can change to be a better example of him and his love. So, who really needs sanity anyways?!

**Time to wrap up these random thoughts. If I sit here long enough things will get REALLY crazy. Hope your Leap Day was hopin' (heeheehee).

6 Months Old

Our little princess is 6 months old today. I can't even believe that much time has gone by. Sometimes I find myself looking at her sweet face and wonder how in the world did I get such a cute and wonderful little thing? And a girl no less?! We truly are blessed. Happy 6 months Isabelle!

Wasn't our little photo shoot fun?! I seriously could just eat those cheeks she is SO cute!