HAPPY 23rd BIRTHDAY Aunt Weebies!

Here's a shot of the sisters (minus one) with Cole when we went horseback riding the morning before Erica's (AKA Weebs) wedding. L-R Me, Cole, Erica, Shelli. I wish we could all be together today...but at least we are in our hearts! We love you, Weebs!! Can't wait until we can ride again--and I hope Shelli gives us a laugh like last time when her horse sprinted for the jump and she yelled like a little girl! HAHAHAHA!!!

On the Road Again...

So we're starting our "Christmas Blitz Tour 2007". From this morning (Sunday) until arriving home Wednesday we will not be lying our heads in the same spot for any consecutive nights!! Our tour includes multiple destinations just south of Pittsburgh and in Cincinnati. We will have spent more time on the road than with family--but it is definately worth it. The kids are so excited to see everyone, Brayden has been crying about it for two days now because in his mind we should have already been there and back a few times!

Merry, merry Christmas to you. I pray that you find yourself in awe beside the manger bed.

John 3:16

My great-grandma was an amazing woman of God. She thought it very pertinent that I learn John 3:16 as soon as possible in my life. So by the tender age of 4, I had John 3:16 forever emblazoned in my mind and on my heart. After learning John 3:16, she presented me with a small box. Before I opened it, she explained very simply that the gift in that little box was nothing like the reward we have awaiting us in Heaven...that the gift of God's Son is the greatest of all gifts and that nothing on this earth could compare to what God did for us through Jesus. She also told me how proud she was that I took seriously the learning of this verse. And then I was finally allowed to open the box. Inside was a shiny, Susan B. Anthony silver dollar--something pretty cool to a four-year-old! Mind you, this all took place 25 years ago and I remember every detail. And I knew, especially as I got older, that I wanted to share that heritage with my children some day.

Well today was that day, sort of. Brayden and I recite the verse each night before bed--after he and his dad attempt to count to 20 together (Brayden gets a little screwed up after eleven, but we have fun with it anyways!). We've spent the past few months talking about what all of the words mean and what the verse as a whole is telling us. And while the day before Thanksgiving was the first time he said it without any assistance from me, tonight was the first time his dad had the opportunity to share in this humbling moment and the first time that we truly celebrated this accomplishment...and I can't explain the joy that is still bubbling in my soul at the sound of his little voice reciting John 3:16.

I guess the significance of it all really hit me and Daryl as we left Brayden's room. I had all of these different thoughts and emotions running through my brain. Then suddenly Daryl turnes to me and says, "That's pretty awesome that our little boy knows John 3:16 even before he can count to 20!"

Gram Chak would be glowing brighter than I am right now. Our little boy has received the greatest gift this Christmas...the beginning of Truth in his heart that "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life"!

Calm in the midst of the storm

I have said it many times and I'll say it again...I do not know how so many go through life without the Lord, without faith, without an Anchor. Today has been one of those days which so many relate to...where everything is out of order and nothing seems to be right! Let me first digress...

We are in the midst of remodeling our home. What started out as a "one room at a time" project totally blew up (ahem, in one day) into an "entire remake of every room in the house AND garage minus the bathroom while we're still (attempting) to live in it" project. And did I forget to mention that the majority of this came without warning?

Yeah. Picture all of that with three little ones and you can get an idea of how much fun it has been!! I have to laugh in spite of myself!! Daryl has been rewarding me with almost daily "Medals of Honor"--more specifically in the areas of Patience, Perserverance, Rolling-with-the-Punches and Oh-Sorry-Honey-Did-I-Forget-To-Mention-That-We'd-Be-Doing-That-Too Award. I often think that our kids are the ones deserving of the awards...their schedules are totally amiss, as are their rooms, beds, house, etc. Nothing is as it has been!

All that being said, today is the first day that I broke down and shed a few tears over the process and called aloud for Jesus to give me strength and patience to see this project through. I don't want to paint an entirely bleak picture--our home was in dire need of a redo (built in the early 80's with no updates since) and it will be fabulous when finished--but I'm ready for it to be completed.

So...I will upload some photos of the process as soon as I have a chance. And pray for us that we are daily reminded that this too shall pass!

5 Months--and the best picture ever!

Sunday, Dec. 9th marked Sophia's 5 month birthday. Hard to believe she's that old already!! Granny and Pap were out to visit & help with the Christkindl Market. Granny decided to help Sophia celebrate by putting Brayden's new earmuffs (AKA cheek-squeezers) on her--as you can clearly see she was NOT initially impressed by them...




But the idea quickly grew on her and she was soon smiling from earmuff to earmuff...




She is truly such a happy baby, always smiling and now singing us these wonderful little tunes.



Her beautiful, big blue eyes (which she got from her Daddy) are twinkling and bright and bring us so much joy! I thought you would enjoy gazing into them as well...



She has now conquered rolling over from her back to her belly (which actually irritates her!). Oh, and doing "Windsor Pilate Powerhouse crunches" in her swing. It is hysterical to watch and about gives me a heart attack every time I see her doing it. I think that she's going to go head-over-feet right out of the swing! She still adores her brother and sister--and Brayden can get her belly laughing without much effort...she LOVES him!! They both still have a hard time giving her some personal space, but she'll handle her own soon enough. And she gets SO excited when her Daddy comes into the room...her chunky little leggies start kicking about a mile a minute!

And, of course, she still thinks her Momma rocks most of all...and I am totally LOVING that!

What a blessing you are, Sophia Kathryn.

Before I was a Mom

Before I was a Mom
I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom -
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom
I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom
I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put
him or her down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't
stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom -
I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so
important and happy.

Before I was a Mom -
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes
to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache,
the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom.