Cookies!!!

Calling all Cookie lovers, Kacia and I have joined a Girl Scout troop, (her uniform is on order or I would have posted a picture with this) and it is cookie season. So I wanted to let all of my local readers know that if they are addicted to Girl Scout cookies like myself (oh, I LOVE the Samoas!), then to let me know and we would be happy to add them to our order.

Weak & Weary

"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30

Yesterday I was painting (there is a lot of painting to do in this house!). Rylin and Lincoln were napping, Kacia was having quiet time and Kevin was working. The tv was off and I found myself alone with my thoughts for the first time in a long time, and I realized that I am weary and my burdens feel so great right now. And as my mind continued to process, this passage of Scripture kept coming back- God promises to give me rest! Yes, I am slightly sleep deprived, but I have been for years and God has given me the grace to keep going, but what I've been feeling lately is not just fatigue from lack of sleep, but rather exhaustion from trying to carry my burdens, and those of others on my own shoulders. Why do I think I can do it all on my own? Why do I not surrender to the One who holds all things in His hands? Why do I need to keep learning the same lessons? So I wanted to encourage and challenge any of my readers who like me are weary, get on your knees and in the Word, it is the only cure-all!
This song was on today and encouraged me... (The girls think its funny and this song always prompts great conversation "Why it say Dance for Jesus, Mom? Fly to Jesus- that's funny, huh!)

Weak and wounded sinner, Lost and left to die,

O, raise your head for Love is passing by

Come to Jesus,Come to Jesus,Come to Jesus and live

Now your burden's lifted,And carried far away,

And precious blood has washed away the stain... so

Sing to Jesus ,Sing to Jesus ,Sing to Jesus and live

And like a newborn baby,Don't be afraid to crawl,

And remember when you walk sometimes we fall... so

Fall on Jesus,Fall on Jesus, Fall on Jesus and live

Sometimes the way is lonely,And steep and filled with pain,

So if your sky is dark and pours the rain... then

Cry to Jesus,Cry to Jesus,Cry to Jesus and live

O, and when the love spills over,And music fills the night,

And when you can't contain you joy inside... then

Dance for Jesus,Dance for Jesus,Dance for Jesus and live

And with your final heartbeat,Kiss the world goodbye,

Then go in peace, and laugh on Glory's side... and

Fly to Jesus,Fly to Jesus,Fly to Jesus and live

Fly to Jesus,Fly to Jesus,Fly to Jesus and live

Date Night

Kevin and I typically try to go on date nights pretty consistantly. When you have 3 kids that dominate the conversations in our home, sometimes this is the only way we can know what is going on each other's lives. We had an Outback gift card and Kevin had been waiting for the movie Defiance to come out, so Saturday we got a babysitter and had a few hours to ourselves.
4 Hours of Babysitting... $40.00
Dinner out (forgot to use the gift card!)....$48.oo
2 Movie Tickets...$15.00
A few hours of no baby spit-up, disciplining, interuptions, arguing or explaining...Priceless.

We did decide however that swapping babysitting with friends or using Grandma drastically changes the bottom line, but some things like growing and investing in your relationship with your spouse is far more important than our bank account!

My Little Puppy Dog

So Lincoln is quite the lady's man. He loves going for the girls' dolls whenever they leave them around. The day before I found him with this little girl, I caught him making out with Tinkerbell. He is crawling around quite well and quite quickly these days. He is starting to pull books down, and he chews on whatever he can find. Just the other day I was picking up one of the girls' games they had left out and the box was all chewed up in one spot. I feel like we have a puppy around the house right now. Shoes can never be left out of the basket because those get chewed on, and if you are sitting on the couch and your feet are visible, watch out, because as soon as he locks his eyes on them, they will soon be covered in baby drool! Oh life with a mobile baby! (I find it quite odd that all of my kids have crawled before they learn to sit, but it also seems to be the way they live- always moving, never still!)

Another Game of Tag

So if I understand this game of tag correctly, I am supposed to post the 4th picture from my 4th folder, so here it is. Kacia when she is 2 1/2 having story time with her dolls. (The open spot on the floor was my seat, but I had to get up to grab my camera!) She has always had a wonderful imagination and can make up the greatest stories- it's just now she's actually starting to WRITE them down! How did my daughter go from this little 2 year old with spaghetti sauce on her face to my bright kindergartner who is learning to read and write!

I tag... Kaitlin, Tricia and Melissa R. and Melissa S.

If I Had Written a Christmas Letter for 2008...

As I look back on 2008, two things stick out above all else- our Lord's incredible guiding and providing Hands! This past year has brought about a couple of major changes for our family. Obviously the most signigicant was the wonderful addition of our healthy and happy son Lincoln! I feel like I spent the first 6 months of '08 anxiously awaiting his arrival, and the 2nd 6 months, well, I feel like they were on fast forward! Seriously, I cannot believe he is 6 months old! Where did Fall go?
The second change would be our home address. Kevin and I are still thanking the Lord for providing this home for us and for the awesome way it has allowed Kevin to be around more! Our family time has more than doubled! Kevin and I really felt like we were moving blindly there for a little while, but God had a plan and allowed things to fall right into place in His perfect timing!
A couple of other noteworthy things...
Kevin continues to sell Real Estate in a very difficult and evolving market. God has provided some great opportunities through different people and circumstances which has allowed for Kevin's business to once again grow. We are still learning how to handle months with no paychecks and months with too many, but we are learning, and progress, even when it is small, is a good thing! We feel truly blessed that God continues to provide assurance that Kevin is in the right place for now, and that I am still able to stay home and attempt to manage our "sometimes chaotic" fort.
The girls have adjusted wonderfully to their baby brother! They are so patient and kind with him- and me. Kacia started kindergarten in the fall, and absolutely loves it! She is sometimes a little too smart for her own good and thinks she is older than she is, but she is also one of the sweetest and compassionate individuals I know! She is growing in her knowledge of Jesus and her questions often challenge me. Yes, she has that "childlike faith" but also possesses a need to understand issues like death, heaven, hell, eternity, etc. Rylin is our little turkey! She is so independent in some ways and still so dependent in others. She is my little helper around the house and keeps me constantly on my toes with the over abundance of energy she has. She is full of random words of affection, and showers us with hugs and kisses. And eventhough we thought Kacia was stubborn until we had Rylin, she has this ability to just melt all of our frustration and anger away in a split second with those big blue eyes! And as for Lincoln, my sweet little mama's boy is all I ever wanted in a son! Kevin and I are still sometimes in shock that we actually have a boy and need to buy blue things, although it is starting to settle in!
We thank our King and Savior for giving us 9 wonderful years of marriage together! For blessing us with our children, and for giving us the strength to raise them in a love and fear for Him! As I look back and reflect on this past year and look ahead to 2009, we pray that we will continue to rest in God's provision, and that whatever this year holds we will glorify our God in all things! Here's to the blessing of another year! Happy New Year!