Christmas decorating has begun!

The kids each made a Christmas countdown garland today.....each of them has different activities/fun Christmas facts/songs on each day's ring.

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And the Celebration Continues!

Due to my own negligence, a family tradition we have had for several years had to be postponed for a week or so.

We have a stocking from Guatemala that is filled each year w/ gifts from our kids' birth country. 

Since we moved, I have pretty much updated all our address info-except for w/ Amazon, apparently.  And, wouldn't you know......the stuff I ordered came from 3 different shippers-all to our old address.

So, tonight (almost 2 weeks late), we opened our "Guatemala Stocking."

Merry Christmas, again.  :)

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Blessed Beyond Mesure!!

My children (& their cousins-all of them) have grandparents that LOVE spending time w/ their grandkids!  Papa took them on a walk yesterday......

 And Grammie read them stories......

And kept them enterained all day....w/ art projects, & games as well. 

Merry Christmas-from our family to yours!

 Please tell me that *at least one* of your pics turned out as goofy as this one of the cousins eating Christmas Dinner together!

The first fancy dinner in our new home-last night!

Well, here I am-apologizing yet again.

I can't believe, w/ how much I love to blog-how terrible I have been about keeping up w/ it lately!  Anyone else feel as swamped as I do?



Our two ballerinas......

A chef in the making.....

⁴ But when the set time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,

⁵ to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.

~Galatians 4:4 & 5

I am so thankful for God....ordering all time (including these busy days leading up to the celebration of the birth of His Son!)

Christmas Program at Church......

 Yes, Nat was *supposed* to be singing "Away in a Manger."

 Ruthie, waiting her turn to sing.

Ana (on right) was an angel-dancing to "Angels We Have Heard on High."

A little picture time in front of the tree this morning......

Happy Halloween......(yes, we do celebrate it at our house!)

Mother's Day.....

While my life is far from perfect......my Mother's Day was just about! 

A look back....

*Re-post from last year at this time*
As I sit here on Sunday night, the kids are in bed, Dave & my aunt are watching a Dallas Cowboys game while I reflect on the last few days. (oops, excuse me for just a moment while I re-fill Ruthie's cup-ha!)

One thing I realized for the first time this Christmas, is how similar Christmas is for everyone…..busy, for sure, but beyond that-I bet your family also had a few of these things-

~yummy food-everywhere & in great abundance

~kids filled with excitement & anticipation

~ a few moments where you missed those who couldn’t be around your Tree with you (my Grandpa, our Jesse, our dear foster family in Guatemala, other far-flung family).

~a few “disagreements” around the Tree-ours were *mostly* among our 2 YO & our 3 YO (wink-ha!!!).

~I bet a few of you had sick kids Christmas Eve/Christmas Day like we did, & therefore, had to postpone our traditional Christmas Eve dinner, in order to not crush our 8 YO’s heart.

~a few toys that must be taken back to the store & replaced

~I hope you also had a few quiet moments to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas-Jesus willingly came to this earth as a baby-with the sole purpose of dying for sinful man-33 years later…..

I was struck by “sameness” that makes Christmas a “common thing” for all of us-while at the same time we all have traditions that are different & make each family unique……
I’m so glad I have things that make Christmas “special” for our family.
But, this year, I realized-I’m also glad I have things that make *my * Christmas a bit like yours, you know what I mean?



(Last year's post)

Happy Father's Day, Dear!!!!

Daddy Dave…..the best dad any kids could ever ask for….

When you are gone on one of your business trips, these are some of the things they miss:
Ana-all the dates you take her on.

Ruthie-just sitting on your lap.

Nat-Nat-getting “haiw-cuts wuff Dad.”

& I love the way you:
~talk with Ana like she is an adult. You always treat her with respect.
~cuddle with Ruthie in the morning. You always seem to know when all she needs is to be held.
~bend over & pick up that tiny little boy and carry him when his legs are too tired.

Hubby-I appreciate many things about you, but this one thing outshines them all-our kids have a dad who demonstrates his love in ways they understand.
Happy belated Father’s Day to the best Dad EVER!!!

Loving Life......

Memorial Day Weekend…….

Well, as anyone who knows me in real life (IRL) can attest-there is never a dull moment in our house.

We decided (on fairly short notice) it would be fun to load up the kids & take them to the Great Sand Dunes National Monument.

We tried to go on Friday night, but before we had even made it out of Colorado Springs, we had a tire blow-out on our van.

Please……I beg you, don’t ask how it happened…….that shall forever remain a closely guarded family secret. ;)

After an hour or two of trying (in vain) to get a new tire put on (yeah-it was Friday NIGHT of Memorial Day Weekend-WHAT where we thinking?!!?) we gave up, & took the kids home.

Calling the hotel secured us a night on SUNDAY night, instead of the much-anticipated Friday night get-away.

So……Sunday afternoon-we tried again-& made it to Alamosa, CO with all van parts present & accounted for.

& Monday-glorious Monday, was cloudless & a perfect 80 degrees.

I took tons of pics as the kids played & splashed in the water, & dug in the sand.

At one point in the day, as I watched them all floating their boats down the creek, enjoying the giggles & laughter of all the kids, I just stopped realized I should thank the Lord for such a wonderful day-that was fun from beginning to end.

& I did……I realized what a blessing it was to watch them having so much fun-& to love THEIR enjoyment of life!

What a delightful day!

Thank-you again, Father!!!

(If you click on the above picture, you will see tiny little dots that are actually people climbing the dunes. They are HUGE!!!)

Mom.......

I thought about this a while……what does being a mommy mean to me?

I wondered, “How is my life different than any other Mommy out there?”

I finally figured that what makes my life different is that God has given me the perfect kids for ME-to grow & develop me as a person.

They all try my patience at times, but……..

Ana has taught me compassion for others. Our 70ish older neighbor passed away last week, & she has NEVER been intimidated by death. When she found out he was dying, every time she saw his wife outside, she would BEG permission to just run & give Mrs. “H” a hug. WOW!!! How often would I do something like that? While I’m not scared of death, per se, I still don’t particularly relish running out to comfort someone who is in the midst of the worst trial of her life.

But…..my daughter does.
She LOVES….with such an open heart.

Ruth has taught me to laugh-at almost everything! Just about every time you look at that child, she is either laughing or smiling. You can’t help but have your spirits lifted around her.

She also LOVES hugs. I am NOT a “hug” person.
At least, I could live all my life without hugging.
But, not now that a “hugger/cuddler” has come into my life.
She demands it (you know how 2 year olds are).

& it’s very good for me.
I have discovered it’s good to have hugs.
Especially from one who loves you so completely
& unconditionally.

Natty has slowed me down.
With one or two kids,
I found I could still pretty much do whatever I wanted whenever I wanted.
But three!!?
Nope. I have to slow down & stop to meet their needs first-
or else my whole day quickly falls apart.

He is also LOUD. Before I had a boy, everyone told me boys are LOUD. I never really understood that until he found his voice.
His volume is good for me, because I have found that my tolerance for general “kid” noise has greatly increased as well.
(& yes, we are starting to work on using an “inside voice” inside & an “outside voice” outside…..but, hey, he’s only 21 months. Can’t have too high of expectations, can we?)


How have your kids made you a better person?
**************************************************

Also, I want to thank the mothers in our lives for all they have contributed to us:

My mom, Dave’s mom, Grandmothers. You have taught us well, & we love you all!

But, the mothers I can’t ever forget-

Mama A*****-thank you so much for the love you showered on our children when they were so young & vulnerable.

Mama N*****-thank you…….there really are no words to describe the GIFT you have given us.

This is a repost from last year around Mother's Day.....with a new pic, though! :)

FFF.....Easter

I am so thankful for a RISEN SAVIOUR!!!

From one of my favorite Easter hymns:

Low in the Grave He lay-Jesus my Saviour!
Waiting the coming day-Jesus my Lord!!

Vainly they watch His bed-Jesus my Saviour!
Vainly they seal the dead-Jesus my Lord!

Death cannot keep his prey-Jesus my Saviour!
He tore the bars away-Jesus my Lord!

CHORUS
Up from the grave He arose! With a mighty triumph o'er His foes!

He arose a victor from the dark domain, & He lives forever with His saints to reign!

He arose!! He arose!

Hallelujah, Christ arose!

(Can't wait to edit this picture with my new Photoshop software! Maybe it won't end up quite so blurry!)

Love is......making your family *feel* loved.

Yesterday morning, this is what each family had sitting at their place, each with their own special verse about love:

I didn’t necessarily feel like taking the time to do it, but you know what?

The smiles & the hugs & kisses I got in return were worth all the extra time I took (on a Sunday morning, no less! & we still made it to church on time!)

& yes, after a bowl of cereal, everyone had a cupcake-FOR BREAKFAST!!!

Happy Valentine's Day to the LOVES of my life!

Ok.....This Is SOOOO NOT Fair!

Do you really expect me to choose just one, Hannah?

(I guess not, since you didn't either! Ha!)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I didn't get too many pictures of the actual present opening this year,

but I still got some great pics that really mean a lot to me!

This picture (above) is so special to me because it represents LOVE between generations.

Ana made this scarf for my mom, with a bit (ok, a lot) of help from me.

My mom was THRILLED with her gift & wore it everywhere!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~& you know what's even better?

Out kids have grandparents on BOTH SIDES that LOVE & ARE LOVED!
We know the time will be just as special when we can one day share Christmas again with Dave's side of the family! I found Dave coffee straight from Guatemala.

This represents a new tradition I started this year-

each family member will get a little gift from

Guatemala.

I love this picture-even though Ruth's eyes are closed!


This is Natty at most every meal these days-
all silverware goes by the wayside-
slows him down too much!

This was taken at Ruthie's "Gottcha Day" meal.
What a smile!

There is nothing quite like that look
(above) when a present is opened.
It says to me, "YES!!!! I NAILED that gift!"
(Ana, with her new cup!)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


P.S. Shameless plug for my own blog (I can do that here, right? wink!)
If I can gain just ONE MORE FOLLOWER, that will put me at 40 followers!
;)