Baby, it's cold outside

We may be gender discriminating, but we were hesitant to give Luke a Rainbow Loom; however he was using his sisters' so often and making his own designs that I folded and got him his own kit for his birthday.  He was pretty excited about it, all 4 kids hold their own looming club, with rules and a pledge and everything.

Build-a-bear monkey named Patrick Kane

Justin's sister gave him the Duck Dynasty Christmas cd (which we still listen to a month after Christmas) and that was one of the kid's favorite songs.  We are on our 4th "cold" day of the season here, which means we will be done with school June 10th (if we don't have any more extra days off).  Personally I don't mind, I am not a fan of the cold, plus it means I can sleep in for an extra few days.  Saturdays tend to be "I don't know what to do" kinda days, so by a Monday or Tuesday off the kids have found something to entertain themselves with for a while.  But, this winter has been a stinky one for sure, nothing but cold and snow, and we still have two months left!  So, this post is just an updates kinda post, nothing too exciting here.

Work has been steady for Justin, which we continually praise God for.  He traded cars with a guy he worked with, and unfortunately the car has not liked winter.  Justin missed his first 2 days of work in over a year with the first polar vortex we had because the car wouldn't start.  Then a few weekends ago Justin and Anna went out to his tree stand in the woods and slid off the road.  Thankfully a tow truck was able to get them out, and Anna has a good story to tell her kids.

Speaking of Anna:  she has completed two laser treatments for her birthmark.  Unfortunately, there has been little change, if any.  We go back again next Thursday for what was supposed to be the last treatment, though I suspect the dermatologist will just go ahead and suggest surgery (ideally I would like to do it over spring break, but it will more likely be over summer).

Heidi is really enjoying the clarinet; she doesn't have another concert until late April. 

Luke joined chorus, which means I have three days a week that one child has to be to school an hour early.  He is starting to get nervous about the state testing that starts in March, which I expected from him (he has already had the January blues, where he complained about going to school).

Emily and I spent a day in the city a little over a week ago, doing the kidney test that I really dreaded.  She had two IV's placed and several blood draws spread over 5 hours.  I haven't heard results, though they weren't looking for something specifically wrong, it was more of a baseline test that will better indicate the future health of her kidneys.  I just finished scheduling a few more appointments that need to be done before April (we are hoping to squeeze in another MRI too).  Emily is still enjoying school, though she won't admit it if you ask her.  Her feet have been hurting quite a bit lately, sometimes it's her ankles (they are fused in a spot that shouldn't be) and sometimes it's the bottom of her feet (she has Dr. Scholl's inserts, she never liked the orthopedic ones).

I start Bible study at the beginning of February, we are looking at Nehemiah with a video by Kelly Minter.  The study will run 10 weeks, and I am hoping to only miss the last week.  I am 29 weeks now, so I still have a while to go.  For the most part I have been feeling good.  My legs get sore if I run any errands, but I am sure baby is sitting low (my ligaments don't support anything anymore).  I check in with my doctor this week and then it will be every 2 weeks after that.  He has done scheduled c-sections on Tuesdays and Fridays for several years, but just changed to Monday's, so we are planning on an April 14th surgery, if I can make it that long.

Well, that's about it here, stay warm and healthy (which again, praise God, we have been here)!  

Luke's 9th birthday

I think I have already posted most of my good pictures of Luke, so here he is being silly at Christmas.

Silly string on New Year's Eve

the silly string didn't last long, but the kids were happy to play in the snow, regardless of the cold

There is a song, and I am dating myself, that goes, "Time is ticking away, ticking, ticking away" (I couldn't even tell you who sings it).  Anyway, it is already time for Luke's birthday!  And he is in his last year of single digits.  I am not sure what we all have planned for after school, but I know Build-a-Bear was mentioned.  Luke also requested Outback for dinner and when I asked "why" (he doesn't eat meat), he replied, "for the macaroni".  Noodles and pizza, I have always said that he had better marry an Italian girl.  I wanted to share this email from his teacher upon returning to school last week:
"Hope you enjoyed your break home with the kids! I know Luke had fun, although he was bummed that his aunt [Meg] didn't make it in. I just wanted to let you know how fortunate I feel to have another [...] in my class. Luke is so engaged and invested in his own learning. He's a hard worker and the other kids in our class love being partners with him. I'm so proud of the great work he does. I feel lucky to have him!!
Enjoy your weekend!"
I couldn't sum it up much better than that, so happy 9th birthday to our Luke.  

A collection

This is obviously a newer print, my grandma kept buying me pieces for many years

My grandma and grandpa made these for my mom, unfortunately Ann's head is no longer attached

lots of handmade goodies

lots of collector plates from the 70's

My favorite piece when I was little was the lamp at the back, right; it was a teeter-totter than moved to the music

there are tons of knick-knacks, from soaps to ornaments to squeaky toys to music boxes

just about everything here was handmade

that is a shoe holder on the left

several handmade dolls and a few newer ones too

I know this is an odd post, but several people asked to see pictures so I figured I would go ahead and share for all to see (just a reminder, you can click right on a photo and see it larger).  This is my mom's Raggedy Ann collection.  Actually, it's not all of it, I kept a bin's worth and many of those pieces I packed back up before photographing.  I have 3-4 handmade blankets and many books that are not pictured.  This was my main project over Christmas break, sorting thru 30-plus years of collecting.  Much of this decorated my room when I was young, and some of it was again used in Heidi and Anna's nursery, but for the most part it has been boxed up and moved from one house to the next.  Obviously, many people put a lot of work into this collection, both in making pieces and in buying them.  Part of me hates to move them on, but it is highly unlikely that this collection will get any use again.  It was a big part of who my mom was for many years, but I have many of her other "important" possessions ( like her Singer sewing machine, her thimble collection, her jewelry and many pieces of furniture), so it's time to part ways.  The memories are just as good in photographs as they are in real life.

And on a totally different note, no school tomorrow!  They are calling for -40 to -50 degree windchills!  That is just COLD!  Happy New Year and stay warm.

The end of another year

Heidi had her first clarinet concert in early December, see previous post for a sample of her playing Silent Night

school Christmas concert

There are some years I just get sad about New Year's; it's like reading the last page of a good book, I am not ready to put it down yet.  Another year come and gone means we are all getting older and changes are coming.  2014 holds some exciting changes for us.  First a new family member, then moving, a new school for Anna and Heidi, and a new feeding/daily routine for Emily.  This time I am excited to see what will happen this coming year.  I am excited to see God's provisions for us.  And I trust God's provisions for us.  January will mark a year of Justin working non-stop, the first full year since 2008.  I just feel like 2014 will be a good year for us.

Yesterday in church we sang a song by Chris Tomlin called Lay Me Down (see the full lyrics below).  I really liked the chorus, "It will be my joy to say Your will, Your way".  I, we, have a whole lot of hopes for this coming year, but ultimately we want to follow God's will for our family.  No resolutions here, just a desire to follow God's leading.  I often want to say certain words just right, have just the right attitude so that God will answer my prayers, my way.  I am a very visual person, so I picture myself handing things over to God.  I hand Him Emily, Luke, Heidi, Anna and baby #5, I hand Him Justin and Justin's job, I hand Him a house.  This song talks about a sacrifice, and I think that is the sacrifice, giving up these things I hold dear to God.  So, this year as we embark on several new adventures I want to let God be in control, because I trust Him to work all things for good (Romans 8:28).  Happy 2014 (this year should be good, after all 14 seems to be our "lucky" number)!!

Lay Me Down by Chris Tomlin
With this heart open wide
From the depths from the heights
I will bring a sacrifice
With these hands lifted high
Hear my song hear my cry
I will bring a sacrifice
I will bring a sacrifice

Chorus:
I lay me down
Im not my own
I belong to you alone
Lay me down
Lay me down
Hand on my heart
This much is true
Theres no life apart from you
Lay me down
Lay me down
Oh oh oh
Lay me down
Lay me down

Verse 2:
Letting go of my pride
Giving up all my rights
Take this life and let it shine
Take this life and let it shine

Chorus

Bridge:
It will be my joy to say
Your will
Your way
It will be my joy to say
Your will
Your way
It will be my joy to say
Your will
Your way
always
(x3)

Read more: Chris Tomlin - Lay Me Down Lyrics | MetroLyrics

Silent Night

Here is a video of Heidi playing Silent Night on her clarinet.  She has been working really hard and only squeaks once (keep in mind she has only been playing since September and has no prior music instruction).  The video is about 3 minutes long.  She was going to play for our family gathering and we all forgot in the busyness of the night.  Anna's cello is out of tune right now, otherwise she would play something as well.

http://youtu.be/xtTI5CK1tYk

We hope you enjoyed your festivities!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!  Thank you for the Christmas cards.  Every year I plan to get some out, late rather than never and then I don't follow thru.  This year I figure we will send out something in April/May anyway.  We just want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas! 2 Corinthians 9:15, "Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!"  Have a great few days celebrating with family and friends!

This time of year

This time of year lends itself to reminiscing, especially with Christmas cards that recap the last year's events.  So I have been thinking about this time of year, over the last several years:

• about 22 years ago (it could be 23) at this time my mom was in the hospital, she had been for Thanksgiving, and we were just hoping she would be home in time for Christmas.  She was, thankfully, able to be home that Christmas and one more after that.
• about 14 years ago at this time Justin and I were looking at wedding rings, he asked me to marry him two days before Christmas.
• about 11 years ago at this time we had just announced that we were expecting twins, the first grandchildren on both sides.
• about 9 years ago at this time I was very round with our first son.
• about 7 years ago at this time Justin was injured at work and we found out we were expecting our 4th child.
• about 6 years ago at this time Emily was diagnosed as "failure to thrive" and we began her medical journey.
• about 4 years ago at this time we sold our home and moved in with Justin's parents.
• about 3 years ago at this time we received a wonderful Christmas gift, a free house for a year.
• last year at this time Justin was told to wait for work at home, and friends and family came to our aid.
• at this time next year our second son will already be 8 months old, Heidi and Anna will be in middle school, Luke will be in 4th grade and Emily will be at school all day in 1st grade.

I say all that, hoping to not at all be negative, but rather to show God's grace throughout the last years, especially during Christmas time.  Ann Voskamp, author of One Thousand Gifts, says that it is good to record our blessings, things and times to be thankful for, as they build a bridge of trust.  We can see God's hand, His activity over time.  Life has never been perfect and never will be (there seems to be a trend of something bad, linked with something good).  I think sometimes we feel like we are owed a "good" life, like we deserve perfection.  I am learning just the opposite.

One of the things that I struggle with and spoke a little about when I presented to our women's Bible study is contentment.  I want security so badly, to the point that it is an idol is my life.  I want to know that Justin's job is secure, that there is work for several years to come.  I want a steady house, nothing big and beautiful, just someplace that can be home for the next 10 years or more.  I want to tell the kids which schools they will be going to.  I want to know that Emily's health will continue to be stable.  I want to know that baby #5 will be 100% healthy.  Obviously, we can't know our future, but I see other families with steady things, like jobs and homes, and think, "it's not fair". 

God is teaching me to trust Him, to be satisfied in Him; it is a theme that keeps popping up in songs and verses (see the lyrics below for He is With Us by Love and the Outcome).  One of my favorite songs is Lord I Need You, by Matt Maher (the you tube video can be found here www.youtube.com/watch?v=gS9e0nxHP-w).  And that was much of my point when I spoke, that all we need is God, that we can be and are content with just Him.  When we find refuge in, or seek things, other than God, they become idols (like security, or control, or people, or material things).  Those idols take our hearts away from the one and only true fulfillment.  My devotion today was Psalm 23:1, "The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need."  We may not, and likely will never have everything we want in life.  What we do have is a Provider that gives us exactly what we need, and that is Himself.  The author puts it from God's perspective this way, "I allow you to have needs and expect them to drive you to Me as your Provider...Understand that there's a difference between having provision and knowing a Provider...My Presence with you means that you can be at peace about your future, I see all the days ahead of you, and you won't be forsaken in any of them...I take care of my sheep and you are one of them".  

So at this time of  year I am thankful that God sent his Son as a provision and Provider, as a fulfillment for all that we could ever need.  As I look back thru the years I see pieces of God's plan and I trust that He has a good future planned for His children.  These lyrics say exactly what I want to share:

Remember when
Your hope is lost and faith is shaken
Remember when
You wonder if you're gonna make it
There's a hand stretched out
Through your deepest doubt

We can't pretend
To see the ending or what's coming up ahead
Don't know the story of tomorrow
But we can stay close
To the One who knows

CHORUS
We can trust our God
He knows what He's doing
Though it might hurt now
We won't be ruined
It might seem there's an ocean in between
But He's holding onto you and me
And He's never gonna leave, no
He is with us, He is with us, always, always
He is with us, He is with us, always

We believe
There is purpose, there is meaning
In everything
We surrender to His leading
He wants nothing more
Than to have us close

CHORUS

Our faith is sealed
Our hope is real
Come what may
We're not afraid

We can trust our God, always, always
We can trust our God, always, always

CHORUS

He is with us, He is with us, always, always
He is with us, He is with us, always
Our God is with us