9 Months

We're rounding the corner to a year!

As you can see, Miss S loves to stand now, especially by the front window where she watches the world go by.  She tries to pull up on most things and looks like she wants to start cruising but can't make herself move quiet yet.  

She got all four top front teeth at one time, which has made for a nice long stretch of waking up again at night.  Those teeth are just starting to show when she cries or laughs and she looks like such a big girl with a smile that's no longer just gums.

She also loves to babble and does an adorable fake sneeze that's always followed by big smiles and giggles.  We're moving more into finger food, which is fun but messy.  I do get excited about her being able to eat more of what we eat.  It makes life a little easier.

And of course, she loves her brothers and is so loved by them.  They always want her to come in their beds with them and she squeals in delight to join them.  Her smile doesn't get bigger than when she sees those boys! 

 

 

Love these Kids

they make me laugh.
enjoy some very random pictures of some very fun times.

 

Halloween

Christmas carols are playing, Christmas lights are on display, and Christmas trees are attched to every car that passes.  And I am posting my Halloween pictures.  Better late than never, right?

One day, I heard Mr. Mister ask our 12 year old neighbor if he likes Super Why.  The boy had no idea who Super Why was, much to the surprise of Mr. Mister who must think that everyone watches PBS in their spare time.  If you have kids his age, you probably know this super reader who flies into books.  He's definitely a favorite in our house. 

After Mr. Mister recovered from his initial devestation when I told him I wasn't going to order him the $30 Super Why costume he saw on the computer, he soon got on board with making our own version.  It was actually fun to do and I thought it turned out well, despite the fact that I used saftey pins where I should have used a sewing machine.  But that's another skill for another day.

Mr. Newton was a fire fighter.  This was his first year really experiencing trick-or-treating and he quickly caught on to the joy of filling up his bucket with candy!

Miss S was a pumpkin, which only lasted long enough to take a picture because it was so big on her that she couldn't sit and I couldn't hold her very easily.

these pictures aren't great but they get the job done!
 

Mr. Newton went with us to his brother's party at school.  He joined in on circle time like he was one of the class.  He even sang some of the songs with them, watching Mr. Mister the whole time and doing whatever he did.   He thinks he's 5 too!

 

Thankful and Hopeful

Hello, blog world.  It's been a month, I know.  I've had the thought to blog here and there and even started a post or two, but really, this was just a month where I couldn't keep my head above water so blogging took the back seat.  I was actually tempted to give up on it altogether and had to laugh when I recently glanced back at my blogging history and saw how often I posted each month when Mr. Mister was little. And how I wrote about things like how the day was really hot.  Ha.  Add a couple more kids and I'm lucky to get a good picture up now.  But  I'm motivated again and hopeful to catch up a little bit on documenting what's going on in our lives. It's such a valuable resource for me to look back on and remember some of the little things that I would otherwise forget.

So....where to start.  I'm overdue on a 9 month update, a 2.5 year update and most of the fall in general.  I think I'll save those for the near future.  I finally uploaded a couple month's worth of pictures onto my computer so I'll have some good ones to share.

I think to start I'll just go with the day after Thanksgiving statement that I am incredibly thankful for so many blessings in my life.

These three definitely top the list.  

Mr. Mister, our intense little man who is creative & passionate about everything he does.

Mr. Newton, our laughter. So cute and always with a giant smile or giggle.

And our sweet girl - restful and joyful, as her name means. So thankful for the peace and joy she adds to our family.

And of course, my husband. Also passionate about everything he does, he has stretched me past my comfort zone over and over. He has vision far beyond what I see and what most of the world sees and he's willing to take big risks in order to make a big impact.  It's not always comfortable, but it's certainly not boring.

and so many other things ... our families, health, a new home, daily provision, clean water, real community, deepening friendships, warm days in november, and on and on and on.

But most of all, I am thankful for the Rescue Plan.   As I sit and type, I am listening to a playlist of every version of Oh Holy Night that I have on my computer. (for the record, I think David Crowder's is my fav).  This song evokes in me such an awareness of the anticipation of the Great Rescue.  The anticipation of all of creation awaiting the King.  The Savior.  The One who came to rescue us from sin and deception and death and from hopelessness, mundane living, rules and religion.  To give us eternal hope and life and purpose.  The gift of abundant life here and the promise of more to come, when everything will be made new.  When there will be no more tears, fear, sadness, pain, sickness, striving, failing, or brokenness. 

I am thankful for that. For Jesus. For hope and promise and life.  Because as I watch life continue on, ending for some, beginning for others, I want to slow it down.  But I can't.  I can't slow it down, I can't change circumstances, I can't know what tomorrow will bring.  In all of the uncertainty, I am incredibly thankful that God and His promises are certain.  And I'm thankful that even in our sin and our pursuit of things other than our Creator, Jesus stepped into our mess, full of grace, to rescue us, redeem us and make us new.

So as I sit and plan advent activities for my kids and as we put up a Christmas tree and make our plans and gather with friends and family, I long to worship the King and celebrate God's extravagant love poured out in sending His Son to rescue His kids.  In a culture that has made Christmas about gifts and food and good deals at the store, I want my heart to be set on the King. Who came. And is coming again.