Its so easy to take things in this life for granted. We all do it everyday. Lately I’ve been striving to make a better effort to count my blessings and be grateful in even the little things! Being a Mom is tough sometimes, a lot of times actually. Sometimes I feel so overwhelmed with things I want to do, things I’m doing, and things that need to get done! Sometimes I have to sit back and just enjoy the life right in front of me and not worry about the things of tomorrow. I’ve been noticing lately how our boys are growing up so fast. Brian and I were joking about the kitchen floor that I JUST mopped and I was complaining about how it was already messy. Brian said “when they are all out of the house, then the kitchen floor will stay clean more than a day”. But then I’ll miss those messes and wish they were back on the floor! Ha! I don’t ever want to take my family for granted! Recently reading
stories of really great families who have lost children and parents…
just makes me want to hold on to each day and make it count. I fail so
often. But I’m trying to be more aware.
Gregory ( 12 1/2) is getting so tall. He’s becoming a really great young man. He’s often quiet. He’s a thinker. I’m realizing how hard it is to let go of him some and trust God more. Its so very hard. I have to pray daily for this struggle of letting go. I’m finding this stage difficult. Maybe because its new, or I’m just not used to working with “older kids”, or maybe I’m having trouble trusting in the HUGE God I serve?. God has given us such a blessing with each of our boys. He’s entrusted us with them and we are to guide and direct them. “And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly
to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and
again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when
you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting
up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders.
Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your
gates”(Deuteronomy 6:6-9 NLT) This is a big responsibility and I pray that we can direct him , lead him, allow him to listen to the Lord as he continues to grow up.
Adam (9) too is getting taller. He’s learning a lot. He’s not quiet. Very much “speaks his mind”. He thinks too but does speak up a lot more than his older brother. Its tough having so many different personalities to work with. You can’t be exactly the “same” with each of them because they are so different. Adam really enjoys his one on one time with Brian and I. He opens up a lot more than when he’s with the “group”. I love visiting with him. He’s my hugger! He will hug me pretty much everyday and I just love that! Gregory isn’t a hugger so having this special thing with Adam is sweet! We can see Adam being a great leader, but he’s gotta remember who he’s following. He needs lots of reminders. I hear often from Brian that he is exactly like me. Not just in looks but personality too. Gregory is just like Brian. Its so funny how that works, isn’t it?
Luke Samuel (3). We joke almost daily about him staying THREE forever just for me and Luke will laugh and say “no I’m growing up Mommy”. He is! I just try to IGNORE it. Really though. He’s a smart cookie! Always has been. He’s our comedian. We all laugh at this kid daily. Oh my goodness….. the chickens and the eggs………. He seriously has to check for eggs at least every hour. We only have 5 hens that lay and they most of the time lay one a day. They finally got back on their laying streak so Luke is just so excited to check all day long for eggs! Girl is his pride and joy and he has her on his mind 24-7. Gertrude (the stuffed chicken) lays pretend eggs and he’s always checking for those too! Cracks us up. Luke has inspired me to work on blog devoted to all these chicken stories and eventually do a children’s book series. I’m really excited about it and getting a logo made for the website that Brian is creating. We recently brought up the topic of school since he will start preschool (maybe) in August with his cousin Matthew (just two days a week for a couple hrs each day). He is very ad-omit that he DOES NOT want to go to school because he’s not bigger. I dropped the subject since he was pretty upset about it. I can’t wait for him to start Awana Cubbies and learning those verses from the Bible. We already started a little at home and he picks it up really well. He loves to nap with me on my bed in the afternoons. He still is very much attached to Daddy and he climbs in our bed at night (this is a recent thing…). Brian sometimes brings him back to his bed and tucks him in. He still likes to be tickled at night too. Funny, don’t remember it like this with Gregory and Adam.
Gideon (18 months). What a joy he is. The personality is starting to shine! He too likes the laughs and attention on him! His hair makes him stand out in our family! 🙂 I love it!! Hope it doesn’t change to blond. He’s such a sweetie and loves his new found talents of walking and he’s getting really good too! He’s a great sleeper and is pretty much HAPPY all the time unless he’s sick. He’s learning new things all the time and his big brothers adore him, as do we. He will be 18 months Friday and I keep thinking how its gone so fast and how he’s been through so much in his life already. He too has taught me to trust God more. We still don’t know why he has the seizures. May never know and really I guess that is a “good thing” since if they did know it would most likely be something really bad. I’m grateful he’s healthy and that I can just trust God with his life and with the issues that come up. As I still rock and nurse him I try to just take it in and enjoy those times, for I know…. they soon will pass and he will be grown.
I couldn’t do this life without my best friend Brian by my side! He’s an amazing husband to me and I feel more blessed everyday to have him in my life. I hope the boys grow up to be just like him! He truly strives to be the man God wants him to be. I’m so grateful and never take him for granted! I love that we make time for each other and consider that a priority. He’s a wonderful father too. He’s so great with boys. Maybe that is why God gave us all boys because he knows Brian is just so wonderful with them. They look up to him and love him dearly! A few are VERY attached to him too! Babe, I know you read this blog and I want you to know you are wonderful and have always been too good for me! Love you.
I wouldn’t be where I am today with a wonderful husband, four awesome boys and another on the way without two of the greatest parents in the world. Honestly Pop and Mom are awesome! They love all their kids more than anything. They love and serve God with all their heart and have a heart for the lost. Jesus shines through them and I’m so grateful God blessed me with them! I hope and pray that my kids get to GROW up with them and know them for a really long time! They are such a godly example to me. Brian and I both go to them for advice and counsel many times! I love that we still have that relationship that so many do not have with their grown kids. I hope and pray that my boys will have that with us too! Love you Pop and Mom so very much!
Those are just a few of the great and wonderful “things” in my life that I never want to take for granted. I want to count my blessing and thank God daily! God, you are awesome above all else and I thank you for each of these people in my life.
