Germany? Really?

So today has been super fun. Already today, I've listened to two stories, helped 13 four year olds make the cutest little gingerbread boys and girls, and played bingo. When I got home I sat down....four hours with four year olds can definitely wear a girl out. So I thought... I'll post about my fun times with Ava Elise at school and I find on my dashboard this.....

Pageviews by Countries

United States 493 Germany 7 Russia 2 Brazil 1 Japan 1 Who the heck is reading my blog in Germany? I'd love to know and what about the rest of these folks. That's just craziness. I'm baffled and probably will be for days. Oh well, no matter where you are when you read this I hope you enjoy it.

 

Prayers for Zander's Family

Hold your children close. They aren't ours to keep, but only on loan from the Lord. Today little Zander would have been four weeks old.  My heart breaks for my family, people I love so dear are hurting. I have faith that even though sometimes we can't put into words what it is we need to say, God hears and understands us. He knows the pain of our hearts and he provides us with a peace that no one can provide.

"⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:4-7

Praying for peace and comfort for Andy, Dana, and thier families.  

Zander's Obituary

A Big deal

Posting late from last Thursday.

We had a super exciting experience tonight. Maybe nothing much out of the ordinary for most folks but it was big stuff around here. We went out to dinner. Yes, a real family night out at a restaurant.  We went out to celebrate Wyatt's "book it". Originally the plan was for me to take Wyatt to pizza hut. But by 3 in the afternoon I said "Screw it. We are all going to Pizza King". I didn't want to leave Ava Elise out, while Wyatt and I enjoyed pizza. I made her a gluten free cheese less pizza (not as bad as you think), and we headed to dinner. It was wonderful, the pic is not so great. But, it shows how happy we were. Ava hasn't stopped talking about being able to go out to eat. It's been so long since the four of us went out together. Feeling blessed that Ava Elise was able to enjoy time out in a restaurant and her own food. Some times it really is the little things that make the biggest moments!

Circle of Lights

A short post with pics to start the holiday season.

Dad, Mom, Kevin and I
The first time in forever that the four of us have been together on Thanksgiving.

 

The kiddos decorating Great-Grandma's tree with Dianne 

The Circle of Lights....A long tradition for me. Although it's changed many times over the years, we don't ice skate afterwords anymore and the bars are off limits, we still have a blast. Last year we took our first carriage ride and this year Aunt Jan and our cousin Dianne joined us. 

I'm so full

Black Friday?  Not this year. I decided that since the hubs has to work today the kiddos and I would stay in our PJ's as long a possible.  Check.

 I'm still feeling super full. Not just from the 19 pounds of turkey along with enough stuffing to feed around 20 people, but full with a feeling that is anything but black. Yesterday was a feast of food and a feast of love. I would definitely say this was my favorite Thanksgiving yet. It was a day spent with lots of little things. We showed our family the new house, even though it's empty and technically not ours yet. We finished a puzzle that Wyatt and I have been working on for days. We lit candles and sang for my Dad's 61st birthday. I got to see my brother and it's been months since that happened. I got to see how happy it made my Dad that my brother actually came. I watched Trent and Wyatt look through toys books like they were both six. I spent time with just "the girls" shopping in the late afternoon. (Deep down I do not like the idea of supporting a store that believes we can't just take a day to be thankful for what we already have, but I went anyways.) I ate ooey gooey pumpkin cake, cauliflower salad, green bean casserole and homemade dressing, foods that I swear I could eat everyday and never get tired of.

Today is shaping up to be just as good. Wyatt and I started another puzzle as soon as we got up this morning. I actually got the coffee maker to make me a cup of coffee (I swear the stupid thing hates me).  The kids and I are going to get dressed and go to Grandma's house and help decorate the tree. We will sit down and write our letters to Santa. This evening and we will take them downtown to drop in the mailbox and watch the tree lighting. I think the only thing that would make me feel sappier in the holiday spirit would be a little snow.

Hope you all had a Thanksgiving that was full with really good "little things" and maybe even a few "big moments".

Zander

Things have been super crazy around here lately. Will fill in the blanks another day, but I wanted to share with everyone our new miracle. When I say new I mean a new addition to the big family I posted about here. My cousin Andy and his beautiful fiancee Dana welcomed a bundle of joy a week ago this past Monday. I know you're thinking 'Geeze, isn't your family used to people having babies....like all the time.' Well this baby is kinda special.
I wont dive into all the crazy details, by no means am I an expert. During the middle of the Dana's pregnancy she was told that her baby has trisomy 18. Trisomy 18 is a genetic disorder. These kids can have a multitude of problems and half don't survive the first week of life.  Well today Zander Jackson Carter is 10 days old. Last week when I went up to see the little guy the doctors were saying they couldn't find anything on the little booger that wasn't normal.
Praise God was all I could do. Well that and cry. He is so super cute and tiny. What a miracle. I can't wait to hold him, and don't think I wont elbow my mom to be able to hold him first. OK I'm kidding she could totally knock me out. This tiny little baby is proof positive that God answers prayers, for that I'm thankful.

I may have packed my patience

So here we are in the middle of October, all settled into our school routine We are enjoying fall festivities like the pumpkin patch and apple orchard.  Getting our Halloween costumes ready and wearing them everyday....because when you are four or six you can do that.

OK so most of the above is true....we've done all of these things, but on top of all of the "fun stuff". We have sold our house and bought a new one. Stress? Oh heavens no. In my organized household we pack like this....

Source: apartmenttherapy.com via Beth on Pinterest

Aright then now back to reality....My house is chaos. I have crap everywhere, except where it needs to be. I have packed almost everything anticipating that we will be closing in less than a week.....then BAM "Oh I'm sorry but your closing is being pushed back almost three weeks".

My kitchen is running on the bare essentials. I have packed most of the toys only leaving things that are usually stored in totes. I cleaned out my closet thinking I only needed about 10 days worth of clothes and boxed up the rest.

Well then....enough of my complaining, because really it's not all that bad and actually kind of fun. I'm  definitely being shown I don't need as much as I have and that is making me thankful for all that I do have. I have felt unbelievably blessed that this whole process has gone as smooth as it has. I'm still leaning on the Lord to lead me along this path, and if I can find where I packed my patience I will do my best to use it.