Blog-Hopping

So, I doubt I am the only one who does this: You start off on a friend's blog, see the different blogs on the sidebar, click on one that you think you might know or that just has an interesting title, which takes you to another, and so on. This is where I found myself this past weekend. I stumbled onto a blog of an old friend, which led me to another, and another, and another. And as I got caught up on their lives, their kids, and where the Lord has taken them, I realized what a strange world blogging can be! First off, it's as addicting as those reality tv shows, but way better because it's people that you knew, or kinda knew. And second, it's strange because here I was in my own house, reading about the lives of people I haven't seen in years that are states away, and they have no clue! Weird, so very weird.

And this got me thinking, who has stumbled upon my blog, and what have they taken away from it?

I began our blog a few years ago, after enjoying reading a few friends' and being able to see their kids grow up even when distance separated us. I knew that family and friends far away would enjoy this as well. So I started "blogging". What I didn't realize is how much I would enjoy it. It has become a family journal, a tool I use to help us later remember what different stages in our life looked like. For instance, I want to remember that in the 1st grade, Kacia always says "Oh, tarter sauce!" when something goes wrong, and that I always smile when my Rylin says, "It will be super-duper fun!!!" (she says this about wanting to go somewhere, when she's asking me if she can help me clean/cook, when she wants to play a board-game, etc.). Life goes by fast, I want to remember as much of these "little" things as I can, like yesterday when I found cat poop in Lincoln's mouth (we don't even have a cat!).

So that is why I blog, but I started thinking "what do people see when they hop onto our blog?" And this is what I hope: I hope they see a wife and mother that realizes she is blessed by her Heavenly Father. I do LOVE being a wife and a mother to my incredible family! I hope they see a child of God that desires to grow and walk with Him more. And I hope they see reality. I don't ever try to sugar-coat my life. It is not perfect, there are days that I struggle to be kind and loving, there are days I struggle to be content, there are days that life hurts and seems confusing, but in the midst of the messiness of life, I hope they see joy! For I am joyful that I serve a God who always works for my good, and ordains every aspect of my life, and it is through Him and for Him that I find comfort, strength, encouragement and purpose.

So if you've hopped on here by accident or intentionally, enjoy the pictures of my kids (because they are stinkin cute!) and know that I am praying that through us, you too may know the wonderful joy of living life as a child of God. Happy Hopping!

Lincoln- My Broken Record

So Lincoln's not a big talker. Well, maybe I should rephrase that, he talks a lot, just not with a lot of words, especially compared to his sister's at this age. We often compare him to curious George, who also talks with grunts and hand motionsBut one word, he's had down since he was one is mama. The kids says it ALL day long! He just follows me around the house, "mama, mama, mama...." I answer him, but he just says it 5 more times. The other night we were running errands together, and every time, we'd get back in the car, Kevin would put him in his seat and I'd walk around the back of the car to get in my side, the whole time, he's frantically saying my name, and turning his head in all directions, to try to keep an eye on me to make sure I was getting in too. So, it came time for me to run some dvd's into the store, and as I grabbed my door handle, I asked Kevin if he was ready to hear my name 100 times when I got out. So he decided to count. I went into Safeway, put 2 dvd's in the redbox, and came back out. 69 times. 69 times my son said "mama". That just gives you a small sample as to what I hear all day long!

But lately, he's added a few more words to his limited vocabulary of mama, dada, dog, ball, and nana (his word for banana and when pronounced slightly differently- his word for please.) When prompted by the girls, "what does santa say?" He answers, "ho, ho, ho." Recently, "anma" for Grandma, and tonight- my least favorite word for my kids to learn, "no." But Lincoln, doesn't just say "no", he says, "no, no, no, no" with his finger pointed, every time.

I'm pretty sure he actually says more words than I realize, they just all sound so similar, I don't necessarily recognize the distinction. So that's what's new in Lincoln world.

Surgery?!?

So Kacia's doctor had been a little uneasy from the beginning as to how one of the bones had been re-set. It was a little bit crooked, but with the desire for this to be the least traumatic experience as possible for a 6 year old, he decided to cast it and then check it 2 weeks later. When the appointment came, I was not prepared at all for the possibility of surgery. However, when he brought the x-rays in, it was immediately obvious to me, that the bone was slipping and could most definitely not be left to heal on it's own. We left his office with a surgery scheduled for the next morning, along with a stack of paperwork about how we are to pay for this whole ordeal. Who knew a fall from a bed a foot off the ground could cause so much damage?

Knowing that we would be saying goodbye to the pink cast, we had to capture all the signatures of family and friends.

She did great when the guy came in with the saw to cut the cast off. And although a little alarmed by it all in the beginning, once he held the saw to his own hand, and she could see that it caused no damage, she allowed him to proceed cutting the top and bottom so the surgeon could remove it entirely once she was asleep.

All ready to be wheeled in, and already a little loopy from some medicine, we handed our little girl over to the team...

Kacia now has a plate and 6 screws in her little arm. The big question is "will it stay or will we go through this surgery again later?" and the answer is I don't know. The doctor says we'll discuss it later, but from what I've heard from others, we'll most likely remove it so that in case there is a future break, we won't have to deal with a horrible mangled bone/steel mess.

Kacia has been an absolute trooper through all of this! Our little drama queen who typically cries over a hangnail has undergone a surgery explained by adults as very painful due to the cutting of muscle, etc. and yet, she was back to life as normal the day after. We are so thankful to our great Physician for creating and knowing all of the intricate details of her little body, and for guiding the surgeon's hands, and putting her on the road to recovery!

Finally- It's Payday

So Kacia was telling me today how the hospital experience on Christmas Eve was probably the worst day of her life. She went on about how bad her arm hurt, how she was worried, and how she didn't like the shots she had to have. Then she asked me if the hospital was my worst day too. But then, before I could answer, she went on to talk about how it probably was my worst day because Dad had said it hurt me a lot, and there were shots (iv) and blood involved. So I asked her what she was talking about because I didn't have any shots or anything that night. So then she goes on to explain- "The time you were at the hospital and I came out of your tummy." To which I quickly answered that was most definitely not my worst day, in fact it was one of my very favorite days! This brought about only more questions, I mean honestly, how could a painful day be a favorite day? But as I explained to her, that yes that day hurt my body, but it was the best because after 9 months of carrying her in my tummy I finally got to see, hold, touch and kiss my healthy, beautiful baby! She smiled and asked more questions about what she was like as a baby, and details, always more details. (One answer with this child only brings about 10 more questions!)

Then Rylin, who has been listening to this entire conversation gets my attention, and says, "Here Mom, this is for you. For carrying me in your tummy, thanks." Then she hands me a penny from her wallet! A penny!! Oh the wonderful mind of a four year old! Within a matter of seconds, she handed me 2 more, for Kacia and Lincoln. Finally, some compensation for all the hard and exhausting work of being a mother! :)

Thinking out loud...

So due to wonderful technology, I have lately been able to reconnect with people from all varying stages of my past. People and friends that had played important roles in my life at different times. And the more people that I get in contact with, and the more I hear of their lives, the more I realize that life is different now that it was in high school. My youth group was fairly large, but fairly close. Now, 12 years post graduation, we are a group that consists of: orphans, widows, cancer survivors, cancer fighters, single parents, childless parents. Some of us have had our dreams come true while others of us have lived through horribly terrifying nightmares. Some of us have the jobs we always had planned on while others of us struggle to buy groceries. We share our past in common, but just like the past, we are still as different from one another now as we were then, and our struggles have been just as different, but struggling is still common ground. We have been broken and hurt by the effects of an imperfect world, but for those of us who have clung to our faith- we are better for it. For those who have not- my heart just breaks!

This group of people that I shared Sunday nights with, weekend rallies, mission trips and summer camps with, is the group I grew up with. Together we went from freshmen to legal "adults". But it's been the circumstances after high school that have caused us to truly grow up. There are days that I long for the innocent and carefree days of high school. Sunday afternoons at the lake on the first sunny day of spring, pick-up softball games, wandering the mall, ferry rides in downtown Seattle, phonecalls full of laughter and boytalk. We had plans for our future, but for the most part, we had no clue of what the future would really look like. But God did! Nothing has been a surprise to Him and nothing has taken place out of His control. There is peaceful confidence that comes from knowing I worship a God who is purposeful and loving, a God who always works for my good, which in the end, means a God who is working in my life to keep me running to Him, growing in my love for Him, and a God who loves me beyond my understanding. And so, although my heart hurts for my friends who have experienced hard and trying things in life, my heart hurts even more knowing that some of them are trying to carry their burdens alone, and some still do not know the joy that comes from resting in Him. I pray that they will remember the truths we were taught at all those events- Jesus Christ came and suffered and died, so that we, imperfect sinners, don't have to suffer for eternity.

Life in high school is about sports and essays, boyfriends and first kisses. Life after is hard, but the older I get and the more trials I see my friends encounter- the more I honestly yearn for my home, which is part of His plan- I know.

The Pre-Christmas Fun

Here's pictures of some of the fun things we did to get ready for Christmas...

My girls love to help in the kitchen!! Here, they are finishing off the top of the almond roca.

Here's some of the finished goodies. We tried some new recipes like peppermint bark and cookie dough truffles. Along with some old favorites, the almond roca and peanut butter fudge. Oh what December does to my waistline!!!

I had gotten some crafts that were clearanced out at Michael's. They had done a real gingerbread house at Sawyer's. So these were our slightly less messy foam kits that also didn't add to the sugar rush. I have found that when you have two busy girls- anything that keeps their hands busy helps reduce the arguments! We also made a ton of foam snowmen, but you don't need all the pictures, right.

One night Michael and Alex spent the night to have a movie night with Kevin. This meant that they had to first accompany us to the Christmas light show at the fairgrounds. It's always so nice to have extra sets of hands!

Kacia insisted on having a picture with the baby- not quite sure why.

They were very much into their silly smiles/faces...

...as you can see.

Kaitlin and Ian came to visit, which is always a big hit in this house! Unfortunately I don't have any pictures of Kaitlin that she would approve of my posting (she hates the candid pictures that you take, but don't warn her ahead of time). But she and the little baby arriving in June(!) looked absolutely beautiful!

Here's us on Christmas Eve before dinner and church (and with all of our arms still functioning!)

The Golden's before dinner.

The picture of K & I is on Bre's camera and Kaitlin's :(

So that's us in the very busy and fun month of December.