Happy 6th Birthday, Cyrus Nathan!

Oh, this boy.  This sweet, kind, hilarious, always-thinking boy.  My firstborn, born June 14th 2006.  The one who made me a momma.  I do not even know where to start.

He was always such a good baby.  Content and always thinking.  Ask anyone!  I would kiss him ALL THE TIME!!!  It was as if my kisses were the only thing keeping him alive ;)

I remember the lonely days when we moved to Columbus and I didn't have friends yet and it was just me and him hanging out in our apartment by Easton.  I would play with him on the floor and stress during nap-time because he just didn't want to be without his momma and I didn't want to be without him! 

His head was a perfect circle.  Promise.  His cheeks were the color of watermelon, his chocolate chip eyes the shape of almonds and the cutest button nose you'd ever seen!

When his bottom teeth grew in, there were 3 but the one in the middle, that one came last so he looked like a little jack-o-lantern!

When he was 18 months, he would always want to hit lamp shades.  We figured out, he was keeping a beat!  So, we bought him toddler drums that he crashed through and eventually a full-set at age 3!  The boy amazed me as he learned new beats all on his own!  We actually potty-trained him by rewarding him with You Tube videos of drum solos.

When I would say, "I love you so so much." to Cyrus, he would reply, "Mommy, I E U so, so such!"  Oh, melt my heart every stinkin' time!

He came home one day, barely 3 and wrote "Tim Horton's" in cursive all on his own and started reading  soon after...so, all of this to say, He's crazy-smart but that isn't even close to the reason I love him so much.

He's always asking GREAT questions especially when it comes to Jesus, God, the Holy Spirit or just hard life lessons.  His questions are challenging but genuine.

God is going to use this boy for great things for His kingdom.  He is an amazing big brother.  Poor guy, I am hard on him and expect a lot because I know he's capable of being good, mostly because that's what he shows most of the time.  I forget how good of a boy he is sometimes.  He loves his siblings and his family.  He tells me he never wants to move out.  My how time will change ;)

My prayer for Cyrus is that God would use him to bring glory to His name.  That Cyrus' life would be a reflection of Jesus.  That whatever career path Cyrus takes, he would use it to share the love of Jesus.  I pray that with all that life will bring him, the good and the bad, that he'd remember a life without Jesus, really isn't a life at all.  Don't worry,  I do not expect perfection.  I'm too wise for that (ha!).

I pray for his future wife who I know I will be blessed to call my own daughter someday.  I pray she love Jesus, too!  I pray for his future kids (my grand-kids!) and that God would poor out his blessing on them and they'd see their need for a savior.

My life is sweeter and more joyful with Cyrus in it.  He has taught me to be a better person and Christ-follower.  God has used him (and I am sure will continue to) to create me to be more human, in the original intent...the image of God. 

If you haven't met him yet, you're missing out.  He's just that special.

Cyrus Nathan, my heart couldn't love you more!  I'm so blessed and thankful for 6 amazing years with you, bud!  I love you so, so such!

Playing Ketchup. (long post, mucho pictures)

Last week we were in Toledo and it was a great trip!

 Taking a break for the screaming babe who looks 'oh so happy!'

I loved sitting in my parents' living room being able to just sit and chat with her and my sister, Kacie and whoever else was willing to sit and be and chat.
The kids loved playing with their cousins and swinging on the tire swing at Andy's parents house.

 Bexley and my neice, Emeri hanging out, being cute.

 Zeke not sure of this contraption...maybe once he takes it apart to see how it works ;)

 Zekey and Eisley having a blast!  Driving crazy like her momma ;)

Andy was revitalized as he met with pastors from all over the world who listened, encouraged and spoke into his life.  I'm sure he was of value to them as well.  At the end of the week, we had to leave early as Cyrus was getting sick.  The morning after we got home, his skin near his joints was getting all puffy and red and he couldn't even bend some of his fingers!

It was like this on his knees and ankles...so sad!

 So, even though he's low key when sick, I knew this was something to be seen for.  Thankfully Andy was on his way home and I could take him in without the other 3.  Turns out he had Strep. Poor buddy.

The weekend was good.  Quick, per usual.  Sunday I was able to spend time alone at my favorite La Chateliane.I took time to sketch clothes and find the perfect fabric for them...

  I still have that "fashion designer" dream in me ;)  Someday!

 Sunday evening is always Ember church, which we love and is topped off with friends coming over and hanging out afterwards.  I felt it was best to keep Cy home although he was technically not contagious, I thought I'd wait another 24 hours before exposing him to other children.

Come to find out I missed a pretty darn good service.  It was Spirit filled, lots of tears, genuine hearts and Andy even scrapped his original sermon last minute as he felt God calling him to talk about something completely different.  So, I missed a good one.  Boo!  Ah, well!  I was able to listen to in online and yes, it was a goody!  Love, love Ember and all that God is doing.

 Monday was a good one!  Zeke had another speech therapy session and I was able to tell his teacher that Zeke had made some new sounds this week! (finally!)  Then, he was doing really well at the session!  So proud of him!  It's SO SO SO SO SO much work and sometimes, I just want to throw in the towel and say, "He'll talk eventually" but I must not.  I just want him to TALK ALREADY!!! ;)  Love him to pieces!

 He also did the laundry for me...in the bathroom sink, so that's nice.  Real nice.

Tuesday we had a play date with our favorites!  They came over and the kids played to their hearts content while us mommas chatted...3 hours. It.was.bliss.  I was so thankful!  Kids napped well and BONUS!  I was able to sneak in an hour nap, too!

Today (Wednesday) was fun!  Well, mostly...I planned (or not planned) to take the kids to the zoo for a picnic but I couldn't find my phone and I needed to call in to get my  membership activated.  So annoyed.  So we went to the next best thing, a picnic in the park with a special treat afterwards!

 Snacking on almond butter sandwiches and listening to tornado warning sirens (test).

 Bexley Jane being all cute and as her nickname says, "squishy" ;)

 I just love this face.

 Eisley Bree...I think I captured her well.  Pretty and sweet.

 haha!  I couldn't help but post this pic.  Too funny!

 Oh, such a cute, goofball of a boy :) 

 Sweet...love!

 Pretending to be a spider, of course! ;)

 Sib love.

 This is pretty much all he did.  Loverly.

And Josie's frozen yogurt afterwards!  All of our yogurt was only $8.23.  Score!

So, that was a fun morning.  Zeke fell asleep in the car and didn't go down for a nap, so that's always fun.  Then, I am on the phone with my mom (after having lost it most of the day) and the kids are saying fire in the background but I don't hear it until I smell it myself...Zeke had made a mini fire in the toaster-oven...That's what I get for just taking a few to sit and relax.  I tell  ya, the boy is going to make me go insane someday! ;)  Lord, Help me!

I was a bit of a bear today from about 2 on...Maybe it was the lack of break from the constant "curious George" of a boy I have but something made me a cranky mommy...and a wifey, too.  Felt bad.  Thankful for new mercies every morning!

Thankful...

Living Intentionally...

This post is very much inspired by a post I just read from Passionate Homemaking.  As I read it, I was like, "yes!  This is what I want!"  I am so thankful God showed this to me because this is exactly where I want to go...into a life where each moment is spent intentionally so that I can take this time I am blessed with as a wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, teacher, discipler, etc and use it to glorify God.

I want my life to exude Jesus'  love whether it be in my relationship with my family, friends or people I come in contact with. I have lost site of focusing on this very important way of living.  It will remind me to die to myself in order to really live.  I mean, I love Jesus and I love people but I also love to be liked, to be funny and I really love to constantly have something to do.

I do not think those things are bad but they can be.  I have let the things of this life stress me out.  I have let things creep in that seem so pretty and good but have gone sour on me.  As I sift through my life, in all the areas, I want the Spirit to fill those areas where I give him room (and push in the areas I have not).                          

It's all a fog right now.  I am just hearing God and obeying.  I think that's a good thing.  I'm excited to see where he takes me and wondering how difficult it will be.  What will I gain?  What will I loose during the process?

The areas I want to be more intentional with. (In no order of importance)
~Spending time with women during the week over coffee as they come to my home and all of the beautiful chaos that comes with it.
~Cleaning schedule and making that more of a priority.  I clean, but it's always random and there's no order.  That needs to change.
~Say "no" more.  Because I like to do things all the time, I do not say "no" to people enough nor do I say "no" to myself when I want to just get out.
~Spend more time in God's Word.  This has been happening more and more and I'm loving it.  God's saying so much and it's fun to listen.  It's also really fun to read to the kids.  They LOVE reading the bible together.
~Spend 3 evenings creating.  Probably through sewing clothes.  I love it, God has given me a desire and I need to use it!
~Spend time individually with my kids.  Reading more, intentionally cuddling, intentional conversations, drawing, playing make-believe.  And to do this daily.
~Spend more time focusing on how I can love my husband.  Daily.  Not just random things but intentionally things.  He'll love that.
~Journal.  I want to journal.
~Rest.  Take time for myself.  Weekly.  I NEED this.  I need this for myself, and I need this so I can be better to those in my life.  And, I really love it :)
~Working out...yeah. The day! ;)

Can you relate?  Share if you'd like!

Hideaway...

I recently deleted my FB and Twitter accounts.  Wow.  It was of course a last minute, so-stressed-out reaction (that's just how I roll! ha!) but I'm excited for it.  I seriously, even after just one full day (maybe two?), feel SUCH a relief.  Like, there is this lack of weight and I cannot really explain it better than that.

Here are the notes I wrote down on my loverly iPhone.
~still blog
~More time on creating
~More quality time with kids
~Less status' made up in my head
~Insecure if no comments on status?
~No 'friend' interaction?
~How much do I rely on FB to feel good about myself?
~Is it holding me back spiritually? Creatively?

I really just want to know, without FB, will I do the things I do (lol) better?  Will they be better quality?  FB is very much apart of so much of my life but now that I have taken even just 2 days away, it's amazing how much less I feel a tug to check my phone, check a computer, see who is saying what, do a FB "feed" check every couple of hours and get really annoyed when no one was "entertaining" me enough with their status'  and/or letting the "feed" give me too much satisfaction.

I've just been really annoyed with feeling lack of order in pretty much all areas of my life.  So, obviously yes, I decided to take away FB because that's the magic potion in making life less crazy, duh!  Well, for some dang reason it really does feel like FB is a bigger problem in my life than I can even put to words (and yet this external processor has SO many! ha!).

Sometimes, I catch myself NEEDING my phone near me, even when with my kids.  I know it's not b/c of a business (thankful, I gave that up as I weed out things in my life), it's not waiting for someone to call...it's all those dang notifications.  How can I be fully present with them when I have the view of my phone light going off?  I cannot...not really.  And I do not want my babies to look back and think about me and my phone...silly?  Maybe, but it's worth the thought! THEY are worth the thought.

I make status' up in my head far too often.  It's pathetic.  Some are good.  Really good.  Funny!  I love funny.  But some are so dumb (maybe you are reading this thinking, yep!  You did write some dumb status' often!) and you're right!  Why waist my time and yours?  I annoy myself just thinking of it!

I act like I do not care if I get a ton of comments or very few.  How true is that, really?  I cannot say yet because I really do not know.  I say it, I think I mean it, but who really knows until it's all taken away?  It's completely and utterly ridiculous to feel good about myself or have a good day just because of a lot of comments.  Why would I let FB comments have that much influence in my thoughts/feelings?  Jesus belongs there.  End of story.

Will I not see friends or talk to them as much because of simply deleting my FB account?  Gosh, that' would be crazy but maybe!  I mean, people I consider close friends are in my phone (some I still need, so don't read into this too much!) so will we still get together even if I am not on FB?  Maybe!

Does "checking my FB" turn into time I could spend on Creating?  I think so!

When I get back on FB and Twitter(of course I will!  I will need it when I come back with some big news!  NOT PREGGERS!) I want to go into it with a plan.  I want to know more of the role it had my life (before I took a break) and its NEW roll as it is controlled by me after sifting through what I have found in my time away. No longer will it be 'How do I fit into the FB world?" but "How will FB fit into MY life?"

I will blog.  I love this too much and it's good for me.  I do this for me, not for you but I LOVE when it blesses you.  Please, always feel free to write comments!  I reply to all of them (I know, ALL of them!  ha!)

I have a husband to love on and support, I have babies to nurture and I need to keep building into their lives the importance of Jesus and how a life without him is really no life at all...I have cuddles and kisses to give, I have amazing people in my life (more than just my FB life, real-life people!  Who knew?!) who I want to have over late into the night chatting and laughing.  I have college and post college girls I need to listen to and love on as we do life together and learn from each other.

So FB and Twitter, you get the boot.  For now at least.  Until I figure out who you are in my life and who you need to be.  Copeesh?  (My Grandpa Danny says that and I love it...one of the many things I love about him).

Blessings from a gal who's just trying to become more of who God wants her to be.

I leave you with a quote I made up in my head after being annoyed with recent status' and tweets. "Avoid trying to be like her.  It's exhausting just watching you."  See?!  I'm such a brat!  Until next time!