And they're off!

All 4 of my guys left today. For a week. On a man's trip.

Aren't they so handsome? Yes, I miss them already! :-)

My guys are headed on a train trip up north to Portland and then Seattle and then back home again next Tuesday. What will they do on their trip you ask? Well, I don't exactly know. All I know is there will be some fun sights to take in, some man-food to be eaten, and a lot of father-son bonding taking place. That is the blessing of having 3 sons so close in age- it makes for great opportunities to have some of that guy-time with the best dad in the world. Randy has plans for a special time of discipleship and training during this trip and I am so proud of him for just planning it and making it a priority. He has been looking forward to getting away with them and having fun and being able to discuss some of the things they have been reading about becoming men more in depth. The boys were pretty excited about it too!

And what about the girls? Well, little miss Elliana thought she should be allowed to go too! Trying to hop right into the truck...

Sorry baby, this trip is for BOYS ONLY.

She was NOT happy about that at all.


The girls (as in Elliana and I) are actually STILL recovering from our rough weekend. She was still very sick yesterday and seems to be recovering today, and I seem to have gotten an infection at the extraction site which would explain why I'm still in so much pain, but I've got meds to help clear that up soon. So after we are all well, we have small plans to go play at the park, swim at grandma's, go to the zoo, have the girl cousins and auntie over for a girl's night, and relax here at home. I have a list a mile long of projects that need to be done around here, but who knows what will realistically get accomplished before the week is over!

Of course she wanted to join in on the picture too! I know she is going to miss her da-da and bubbas this week!

And I am too!!!

"My son, keep your father's commands and do not forsake your mother's teaching.

 Bind them upon your heart forever; fasten them around your neck.


When you walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you.


For these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light,
and the corrections of discipline are the way to life..."

Proverbs 6:20-23

The boys are away for the week...

And I think little sister misses them!





Yep, the boys left last Friday to go to the beach with Papa and Grandma and I must say that it has been pretty quiet around here! They are having tons of fun and when I asked them tonight if they missed me and daddy and Elliana- they all said no, not really! Ha!
Well, we miss them!


Last week the weather was so beautiful and we took advantage of those few days when the temperature dropped from the 100's to the 80's. We took our first real family outing and went to the zoo! It was the perfect day and Elliana did really well. The boys of course fought over who would push sister in the stroller, and had fun "showing" Elliana all of the different animals. Really, I don't think she had a clue about where she was at, but she does like to be outside and there was a lot for her to observe so she was happy.

Looking all cute and ready to go to the zoo!



First stop: the elephants.


Austin has been really anxious to be the one to help her and push her in the stroller. Sweet brother.


Watching the silly monkeys with daddy



Or is daddy the silly one?!



Petting the goats and not sure what to think about them!



Love this one of the giraffe


Nathan tries to get a better view through the giraffe-scope



Jensen's favorite- the bear


Nathan checks to see how big his wingspan is


Mommy loves her girl

(her cute little clip was almost about to fall out of her hair. It bugs me to look at all these pics now and see that!)

I have FOUR children now. After 8 1/2 years of having 3 boys- it still does not seem real!



Having a picnic lunch on the blanket in the shade- she was so happy



Well, MOST of the time she was happy



We are enjoying our time without the boys here and we are truly beginning to bond with our sweet girl. She laughs at us and loves it when we get down on the floor to play with her and give her kisses. She is beginning to imitate a few things we do, such as waving bye and making silly noises with her mouth. She knows me now and as we have ventured to a few places (Target, Costco and Pick up Stix :-) ) she loves to be close to me in the carrier and looks up at me to make sure I am still there.
The three of us miss the boys and will be glad when they are back home, but it has been a wonderful opportunity to learn more about Elliana this week and enjoy her while they are gone. I must say that not even a day after they left I had a huge list of things I wanted to get done this week, but so far none of it has happened because I have had more important things to do...

Things like cuddling, feeding, laughing, dancing, rocking, playing peek-a-boo, reading board books, changing diapers, napping, carrying, putting adorable dresses and bows on her, going for evening walks, giving baths, taking endless pictures and video, singing, praying, comforting, hugging, kissing, and just LOVING.

Yep, I guess you could say I'm still following the Dr's orders! :-) That list is just going to have to wait!

Where we've been...

It has been awhile!

Not much time for blogging these days, but here's a glimpse of what our days have been filled with:

Soccer with 3 boys

School of course

And a little field trip to the Hillcrest pumpkin patch

Hope to post more soon :-)

Seize the Day!

It seems every year around this time, there is a common observation that many parents share. And it is that our kids grow up way too fast.

I think it must have something to do with the time of year, you know back to school which means back to schedules and routines, after a 2 1/2 month summer break from it all. We tend to get into a mode of planning and goal setting and making long to-do lists. And as you are shopping for those new backpacks and pencil boxes and clothes a size bigger than last year, all of a sudden you realize that your "babies" aren't babies anymore. In fact, they are now going into 6th grade (or jr. high or high-school)! Where did the time go? we lament, and then sigh as we realize all of the things we were going to do with them or teach them last year never actually happened and we hope that the time won't pass as quickly this year as it did before!

Does this sound familiar?

I have been thinking about this lately as I have had a chance to reflect on some recent conversations I've had with my neighbors.

Last week when we had that wonderful drop in temperature, everyone came out of the woodwork and the entire neighborhood gathered to chat and watch the kids play. We know all of our neighbors and especially enjoy being out in the Spring and Fall, but we hadn't seen much of eachother most of the summer, because it was too hot to play outside unless you were in someone's pool, so everyone just kept to themselves. So it was fun to have a few nights to hang out before school started. The common theme of the conversation was obviously about school starting and who had what teacher and everything else related. But it was this lament of our kids growing up too fast that had me in sort of a confusion.

Here's why...

You see at the very beginning of Summer (I think the 1st Monday or Tuesday of vacation) we were all sitting out there chatting as usual, this time about school being out and plans for the next few months. I remember one mom wondering what in the world she was going to "do" with her children all summer because it was only the 2nd day of vacation and the kids were driving her crazy! Now fast forward 2 months to our converstaion last week, and it seems like quite a contradiction right?

What is wrong with this picture???

Why do we spend half of our lives wishing our children would grow up or be independent or reach the next milestone.... and the other half of our lives wishing they were young again, reminicsing and wondering where the time has gone?

Have you ever heard the saying: Carpe Diem? It's Latin for SEIZE THE DAY!

I want to challenge you to live in the day God has given you. Stop and enjoy the wonders of creation today and praise Him for all of it. Every part of your day should reflect God's grace and mercy in your life. He has given you this moment. Now use it to glorify Him- there should be no regrets. That doesn't mean you are to "live it up" as some people would say as they use that to justify their sin, but rather "Choose this day whom you will serve, but as for me and my house we will serve the Lord." And to "offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God..." Also read the book of Ecclesiastes if you want more encouragement to seize the day!

Many people have asked me about homeschooling over the years and while I am most certainly still learning with each year that goes by, I can honestly say that I have no regrets. I believe that the Lord brought us on this journey to teach me far more than I ever would have learned had I not chosen to answer this call. It has been a difficult road at times as I have had to learn to fall on my knees daily and yield to the Master plan which goes much further and deeper than how many math facts my children learn that day.

It is this kind of "seizing" that our Father will help us to do throughout our day- whether it's taking the time to listen to a story from one child, or serving one of "the least of these" together or praying and restoring relationships with another after they have sinned, or laughing at a silly joke, or just "being there" when they have a question- it is not our first nature to stop doing what we have on our "to-do" list for a minute and live in the moment.

So, while I have done better some days than others, I can honestly say that I have no regrets. That doesn't mean I don't mess up- no, I am pretty good at that most every day- but it means that I have learned to enjoy each precious day that God has given me with my boys and husband and delight in being there to watch them grow and learn. For those that don't homeschool, you have an even bigger challenge- make sure you seize those few precious hours after school and on the weekends, and by all means- take the time to teach and disciple and love your kids... you are still the most important teacher they'll ever have!

Carpe Diem!!!

A few pictures of us seizing the last days of summer:

And here is Nathan right after we received our big box of curriculum- he had found his readers and organized them right away. He was so excited to have his own set of books to read this year. Let's see if he still has that much enthusiasm after this first week of school! Pray for us as we start a new school year and our last one without our Little Sister!