A Time For Every Season....

Dear John, You are the love of my life and I don't know what I would do without you. You are the most selfless person I know - never complaining, always seeking out  ways to help me around the house. You are a blessing and bring such excitement and joy into the house. I love the way the kids run to you and giggle when you come home. When you aren't home for dinner we all notice. Life seems to be on pause while we wait for you to get home. :: Thank you for sending the package back to Amazon last week even though I said I would put it in the mail. :: Thank you for cleaning the kitchen and clearing off the counter tops just the way I like them! :: Thank you for putting the boys to bed each night with Bible stories and helping Drew with his reading. :: Thank you for making me laugh and changing your schedule to help more this weekend. :: Thank you for eating healthier and asking for more vegi's in front of the kids and encouraging them to take seconds because they...

We learned the names of God over Christmas - sadly I've been a little behind and I just now uploaded the video's! Here were the kids reciting the names of God before Christmas.

Isn't this how all parents teach their energetic child  site words?

I can't believe my baby went from this: To This in just two years!!!

One year ago I wrote this crazy blog post about joy and Tortillas. Today I sit and smile, glad  I chose joy. I needed a sweet smile and a reminder like this post from myself, to search out and find joy - God is the author of joy and will not disappoint! I left them alone for just 5 minutes.  All three children were outside playing together, nicely for once! I was so thrilled that Abby wasn't whining and the boys were nicely playing in their makeshift tent. I went inside to put groceries away and then ran upstairs to tidy up a few things. As I looked out the window to check on them I see it - hair rises on my arm, I feel my blood pressure skyrocket and I think out-load, "What the heck are they doing, I leave them alone for 5 minutes and they go straight to mischief!" I went outside to begin ranting and stopped to pause for a quick second - what happened to my joy? It was here just 1 minute ago, the  day was going to well! Am  I going to let this be the climax of my ...

The last few months I've had some really long day!!!  I was looking  back at pictures of Abby's 2nd birthday and couldn't  believe how much she has changed in just 4 months! These days I'm having a hard time keeping up, putting articulate sentences together seem hard too. I'm not exactly sure why life seems overwhelming - nothing too new or crazy has taken place. My work has been a little more time consuming, a sweet boss of mine has taken leave due to illness,  which has left a large void. I'm not sure all he did but I know it was a lot. We're all filling in and learning new duties. I've added some new stuff onto my plate and that may be why I'm a little out of sorts?  I've been sleeping more, tired more, and well more irritable too. I'm working out more, it takes a lot of time out of my day which may account for my lack of  energy? I know working out gives you more energy, but I typically go in the afternoon so  the mornings drag on and...

My kids delight me and exhaust me! I love listening to all the things they say, like today while playing Lego's, Gabe told his brother it would take 1008 years for his Lego creation to be complete. Drew responded back with, "Gabe you'll be dead by then!" Gabe was not happy with his  brothers answer and told his brother he doesn't want to die which led to a very spiritual conversation between the 4 and 7 year old (going on27). Today is Spring Cleaning! We are getting rid of lots of clutter! I'm sorting and Drew is reading for 5 minutes, playing Lego's for 5 minutes, then Gabe gets to "read" and on it goes. Even Abby insists on sitting on my lap and pointing to the words while she pronounces the words in baby speak. Such a great morning yet I feel very off. It has been a long week, the clutter and mess of the house is getting to me. The exhausted body is craving the gym but we've had things all week long and I haven't been able to ge...

Did you know that "In South Asian culture, most widows are seen as a curse and shunned from society. Abandoned children face similar conditions and often have to fend for their own livelihood." That only a few dollars can "provide for these beloved women and children of God. They are given the chance to hear about the God who created them and loves them so much that He gave His life for them." So on this Easter my kids baskets were empty just as the tomb was empty on that wonderful Easter morning. Easter is celebrating the risen Lord who overcame the sins of the entire world! Doesn't it seem like the whole world should hear! We are instructed to seek and save the lost people of the world, there are still so many who have never heard the blessed name of Jesus.  So, we celebrated Easter with  family, food,  resurrection rolls, and empty baskets. We worshiped the Lord in gladness at church with amazing music that penetrated the hardest of hearts. We served ...

We've been busy with lots of wrestling! Abby's been talking up a storm and getting so big! Gabe can almost take Daddy! School time can involve blowgun practice. Drew lost another tooth - naturally - his brother didn't use him as a blowgun target... promise! Curly top has been spending more time in time out - she hates to go to sleep and loves whatever her brothers are playing with. Petty Zoo fun - not so fun for the animals! Fun at FBC Keller for their outreach to the community. Big  boy Gabe can keep up with the best of them! Drew was in heaven with all the bouncing! Abby loved her pink balloon. We visited firemen and toured the truck. Fireman Gabe! Fun science experiment on pules and traps.

To my sweet and loving husband, I am madly in love with you! I beam with great respect and love when I hear of you witnessing to prostitutes and the poor. I never question your love or devotion to me. You are my hero and I wish I were more like you. Your bold witness is one to be modeled and I pray our children grow up to be more like their father each day! I'm proud of you and am so blessed to call you my husband. Love, Missy

It has been a blessed three weeks! We've recovered from a relaxed but busy Spring Break, with John in Oregon visiting family. It was fun and very wild having all three kids for 5 days all to myself, but we had a blast! We scheduled a lot of  great play dates  with my friend Robyn, we  went to the library twice, went to a snake exhibit and learned everything there is to know about snakes. It was a great time of just me and the kids - we sure missed Daddy while he was gone though. We were a little behind schedule since I'd taken a few days in Oregon and a few extra days off because work was busy, so Spring Break wasn't exactly a school break for Drew,  but he didn't mind too much. We recently finished Handwriting without Tears and all the  1st grade modules in Time4Learning so Drew is off working on second grade, He is so excited. Drew is only 5 chapters away from finishing the MathUSee Alpha curriculum - we loved the program and are excited to get his working o...