Hectic

Why is it that some weeks seem more overwhelming than others?

I have a to-do list that's a mile long.

I feel like my feet are mired in mud, slowing me down to a crawl, preventing me from getting anything done.

The older two kids are back in school, but Gabe doesn't start until next week.

Gabe has recently discovered the joy of learning, and wants me to help him with his numbers and letters and shapes...all day long. Don't get me wrong, I am loving this! But I don't love the stressful feeling I get as I watch my to-do list grow before my very eyes.

This is my last week of working too many hours before I get to cut back to just 20 hours per week at the hospital. (Thank you, Jesus!)

My not-so-dear-friend, Mrs. Period, is here to visit in the midst of all of this. Now that I'm done having babies, I really don't appreciate her barging in every darn month. I'm considering having the Novasure procedure done so that I can kick her to the curb...

Maybe by Wednesday I'll be feeling better. Less stressed. Less tired. Happier.

Maybe.

Five

Dear Gabriel,

Six years ago, the thought of you had not even entered my mind. (You were a blessed surprise, our "bonus baby", an answered prayer for a little girl who wanted more than anything to be a big sister and a mommy who was suffering from a severe case of baby fever!)

Five years ago today, you came into this world. Your birth was everything I had hoped for. You were welcomed by many loving arms, but none more than mine (and maybe Isabel's).


You were clearly the baby of the family, spoiled with love and attention by all of us.


You were the happiest baby ever, always laughing and smiling, rarely crying unless there was a need. Your first birthday arrived before we knew it, and we celebrated with a big family party.

Then you turned two, and the trouble began...

You were the busiest toddler I had ever seen. Thank God you were so freakin' cute; it saved your life many times!

By the time you turned three, you had definite likes and dislikes. The biggest "like": Hot Wheels!

Somehow we all survived your year of terrible three's, and then you were four...

A precocious preschooler, making friends and attracting attention wherever you went. Your love of Hot Wheels continued, along with dinosaurs and Thomas the Tank. Your exuberance and zest for life inspires all of us!

And now you're five. "Taller enough" for lots of rides at King's Island. Able to sit still long enough to color three Superman pictures for your mommy. Loving to "scrapbook" with me in my craft room for hours on end (I love these times!).

You may not have been in our original plan, but you were always in God's plan. You have so much love for all of us, and you have given us the opportunity to have a "baby" of the family, one that each of us could spoil and love.

Happy Birthday, Gabe! We love you, buddy!

Love,

Mommy

Tears and Angels...

Our sweet blog friend, Kori, has lost her husband today.

She has had to bear the unbearable, watching him slip away before her eyes.

Richard finally lost his battle this morning. He leaves behind his dear wife and their two boys.

And I know that although there will be many tears shed here on earth for this amazing man, the angels are singing a chorus of hallelujahs to welcome him into the gates of Heaven.

No more pain, no more sorrow...these are the promises that I pray will help this family deal with their loss.

Kori had to make her blog private months ago; if you'd like to leave a comment, do it here and I'll forward them to her.

Kori, we love you. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and the boys at this impossibly difficult time.

Bits and Pieces...

Prepare yourself for a post of random bits and pieces...

Watching Elijah getting geared up for puberty has been an experience.

His face is becoming more chiseled and defined. He has completely lost that babyface that I loved so much. But as he grows, he looks more and more like my dad. I hadn't noticed it until my sister pointed it out in the last picture. No overwhelming changes, but it is amazing to see the little differences...

Age 9.

Age 10.

Age 11.

Gabe is quickly improving on his photography skills. I'm thinking of getting him a camera for his birthday. Check out this shot he took of me and my sister, Rhonda and our girls...

Pretty impressive for a four year old.

We discovered this cabin at the Nature Preserve near my sister's house.

We have made plans to come back in the fall, my sister and I with just the girls, to play Little House on the Prairie for an entire afternoon.

Wonder who will have the most fun?

Have you ever caught a photo of a frog with his tail still on? I did. Look close.

Gabe let me make his hair spiky in honor of Elijah's premier football game. I love it!

I'm a little surprised at how much I am enjoying being a "football mom" this year. We've met some really nice parents, and I am having fun watching the boys play (even when they lose).

(another "Gabe" photograph)

School starts in three days.

My baby turns five in three days.

I am planning a birthday party for Gabe for this Saturday. I can't decide between cake or cupcakes. Maybe I'll do both.

It's 6pm and I haven't had dinner. I'm starving, and now it's time for football practice. I'm gonna lose these last five pounds yet!

And now I'm boring you. I apologize...

Time to Declutter

I've been reading a great book which I thought I would share. It's titled "From Clutter to Clarity", written by Nancy Twigg. A biblical approach to prioritizing your life and getting rid of all the clutter that stops you from truly enjoying your time here on earth.

This time of year makes me eager to get organized.

I want to clean out my closets and cabinets.

I want to make lists.

I want to have a menu plan for the week, with delicious homemade meals instead of fast-food.

Am I alone in this, or does anyone else feel the same way?

I want to have a peaceful, pleasant home for my family; a place where we can relax and enjoy each other, with fewer distractions and less, well, clutter.

I'm not going to review the whole book, but here are some of the key points:

Definition of clutter: anything that complicates your life and prevents you from living in peace as you live out your purpose.

Your lifestyle reflects what you believe and what you value most.

One of my favorite chapters, and a lesson I so want to teach my children: Finding Contentment in a Discontented World. She defines contentment as "being able to come to terms with where you are and what's going on in your life, even if it's not what you would have chosen for yourself." I am finally at a place in my life where I am more and more content. I have a beautiful home, a supportive husband, three wonderful kids, our health, a loving family; my Lord, my list is endless. There are many people who have more than me, but also many who have less. God has blessed with me with this life, though, and it's my job to appreciate it and tend the garden that he has given me.

This book has struck such a chord in my heart, I just felt compelled to share it with you.

What about you? Is there a book that you just love, that you fall back on time and again? Please do share with us.

Green thumb

Somehow, despite my heritage, I managed to have a green thumb. (Sorry, Mom, but you know it's the truth :)

And happily, it appears that I have passed this gene down to at least two of my children.

Isabel and Gabe love to help me in the garden. One year, Isabel and I planted over 30 bulbs, and they were gorgeous.

This year, Gabe decided he wanted to try his hand at morning glories.

Our back patio went from this:



To this, in a matter of months:

(Gabe is still experimenting with his photographic abilities...)

The best part of all these flowers is that we will have enough seeds to give to the whole neighborhood, and then some. Every morning, we wake up to hundreds of magenta flowers greeting us from our patio. I love it, and so do the kids!

Suzann, if you want to borrow Gabe for your yard, you're welcome to :)

Say it ain't so!

Yes, kids, I'm sorry to tell you, but the end is near.

All good things must come to an end.

Every beginning has an end.

Any more cliches you can think of? 'Cause I'm fresh out.

Anyway, we spent one last summer vacation day having nothing but fun. It was our last big hurrah before school, and it was a blast.

First, we went to King's Island. I made the kids pose a lot. I usually leave my camera at home so I can just focus on having fun, but today I wanted to capture exactly why we love this park so much.

We love the Eiffel Tower-wannabe, with its fountains and beautiful landscaping all around...




We love riding roller coasters together and letting Gabe stay in the locked area, taking pictures to his heart's content. We especially love when there's no line to get on our favorite rides!


We love "make your own Icee's", especially cherry and coke and sprite flavors.

(I love that the kids still let me coordinate their outfits to make for a good scrapbook page.)

After a day at KI, we ran home and grilled out some yummy pork chops, then headed out to the Southwest Golf Ranch.

Elijah's golf club was almost as big as him...

And even though it rained for the first fifteen minutes, we still had an awesome time. One of the best parts was hearing Gabe shout, "Not the bunker! Watch out for the rough!". The fact that he knows golf terms was cracking us all up!

We've been wanting to try a newer ice cream shoppe in town, so when the rain moved in again, we headed over to Whit's Custard and dug in. (Gabe was d-u-n getting his picture taken by this point.)

Tired and soaking wet after an action-packed-day...

We have been blessed this summer to be able to spend so much time together.

I have to tell you a little secret, though.

I'm ready for a tiny break from all that togetherness. And so are the kids.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder and all that. (One last cliche for the road...)