Avery Kate has been in our family for almost a month now. :) I can't even believe it. Here are some pictures of her first three weeks of life. What a sweet little blessing she is...
Peaceful Summer
Its time to talk about this new season. And I'm not just talking about the weather.
If you were listening at my front door it might not sound peaceful. There are still 10 little feet stomping running through the house like a heard of elephants, Electric Company blaring from the livingroom, squealing kids flying down the slide in the playroom, doors slamming as the girls come in and out from riding their bikes, the constant running of either the washing machine or dishwasher, and a baby crying because its time to nurse for the umpteenth time today. Even at night, the deafening sound of "rain" is coming from the sound machine in the upstairs hall. But despite the decibels... there is peace.
We're home.
Is it hard juggling 6 kids? Two with special needs and tiny newborn? The answer is actually no. Comical? Usually. ;) Tiring? Yes. But hard? No. Its been pretty smooth. But over and over I keep thinking, there's no way we could have done this in our old house. In this house, we all have our own space. We fit here. And everyone can feel the difference. Its wonderful. :)
And it feels so good to build new routines. I knew that between moving and having a baby this summer, I could not over commit myself. So I didn't. Which means- I have no where I have to be. And it feels great. :) We wake up, have breakfast, the kids play while I clean up/do some laundry/nurse my baby. Then we have lunch, the little ones and I nap while the girls play in their room. When everyone is up, we have snacks, play some more, have dinner, go to bed, and do it all over again the next day. With so much routine, I find myself thriving and growing as much as the kids.
I'm anticipating a smooth transition into the school year as well. While we're enjoying a peaceful summer, I know the kids will be so ready for school when it starts. And I'll be ready too. How sweet it'll be to have time alone with Mabry and Kate. I'm looking forward to lunches and shopping with my Grandmother and my mom... diving back into couponing... soaking in the Word at morning Women's Study... taking my time decorating each room of my beautiful new house... its gonna be awesome. :)
And it feels so good to build new routines. I knew that between moving and having a baby this summer, I could not over commit myself. So I didn't. Which means- I have no where I have to be. And it feels great. :) We wake up, have breakfast, the kids play while I clean up/do some laundry/nurse my baby. Then we have lunch, the little ones and I nap while the girls play in their room. When everyone is up, we have snacks, play some more, have dinner, go to bed, and do it all over again the next day. With so much routine, I find myself thriving and growing as much as the kids.
I'm anticipating a smooth transition into the school year as well. While we're enjoying a peaceful summer, I know the kids will be so ready for school when it starts. And I'll be ready too. How sweet it'll be to have time alone with Mabry and Kate. I'm looking forward to lunches and shopping with my Grandmother and my mom... diving back into couponing... soaking in the Word at morning Women's Study... taking my time decorating each room of my beautiful new house... its gonna be awesome. :)
Now, understand me. I fully believe that my home is in heaven. This is temporary. Never do I want to become so comfortable and complacent that I grow stagnant, not growing in my faith or being effective for the Kingdom. I hope that I can always say that I'd give up all that I have if that's what the Lord was calling me to do. But I also know that I know that He's blessed us with this house and I'm grateful. There are seasons of refreshing and we draw from those for our times in the fire. Sometimes we stand up and fight, sometimes we lay our heads on His chest and just soak Him in. And you never know whats around the corner.
And right now I'm thoroughly enjoying this peaceful summer. Sipping some sweet tea, watching my kids play, smelling my new baby. Aaaahhh, peace. :) Thank you Lord, You're so good to me.
John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you."
A 7 year olds prayer
This is just too sweet not to share.
A few weeks ago Jake took the two big girls to church while I stayed home with the little ones. Ashley wanted to stay in service with him and I'm not sure what the message was about that day but at some point, she wrote this prayer out on the back of a visitor welcome card. She saved it, brought it home, showed me,I cried, and now she keeps it on our kitchen table because she likes to read/pray it before dinner. :)
Translation just in case :)
God I thank you for my Dad my Mom my sister's and brother and I thank you for my life and for my friends and family and I pray for all those that are in beds all their life without food til they die and those at the dump and at Ukraine that need to be adopted and Jesus name Amen.
The prayer for "those in beds without food" is referring to Eastern European mental institutions. She's really soaked in the reality of what Micah's life would have been like had he not been adopted and is very concerned for the other children with special needs in those countries. Seriously.
"Those at the dump" is referring to the large communities of people living at a trash dump in the Dominican Republic, where Jake was last summer. Her little heart broke when she saw his pictures of people getting all that they had from others' trash.
(And she still can't quite pronounce "adopted" yet, hence her confused spelling of it. ;))
Its so hard to read kids sometimes and I never know how much of what we teach them and share with them is actually soaking in. Until I see something like this. And I don't have to tell you how incredibly good it feels to know that something is getting through and my kids are aware of the hurting world around them. Reading my seven year olds prayer of thanks to God for her life is one of my most amazing experiences as a parent, to date. Thank you Lord for my sweet girl!!
A few weeks ago Jake took the two big girls to church while I stayed home with the little ones. Ashley wanted to stay in service with him and I'm not sure what the message was about that day but at some point, she wrote this prayer out on the back of a visitor welcome card. She saved it, brought it home, showed me,
Translation just in case :)
God I thank you for my Dad my Mom my sister's and brother and I thank you for my life and for my friends and family and I pray for all those that are in beds all their life without food til they die and those at the dump and at Ukraine that need to be adopted and Jesus name Amen.
The prayer for "those in beds without food" is referring to Eastern European mental institutions. She's really soaked in the reality of what Micah's life would have been like had he not been adopted and is very concerned for the other children with special needs in those countries. Seriously.
"Those at the dump" is referring to the large communities of people living at a trash dump in the Dominican Republic, where Jake was last summer. Her little heart broke when she saw his pictures of people getting all that they had from others' trash.
(And she still can't quite pronounce "adopted" yet, hence her confused spelling of it. ;))
Its so hard to read kids sometimes and I never know how much of what we teach them and share with them is actually soaking in. Until I see something like this. And I don't have to tell you how incredibly good it feels to know that something is getting through and my kids are aware of the hurting world around them. Reading my seven year olds prayer of thanks to God for her life is one of my most amazing experiences as a parent, to date. Thank you Lord for my sweet girl!!
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