Fireman Josh!

Yesterday our sweet friends invited us to the Fire Station to celebrate Owen's 3rd birthday!  We had a great time and the kids loved it.  The firemen were so awesome, letting the kids try on their suits and even giving us a ride in the engine.  What a fun day!!

May not be the most clear picture, but his expression is priceless!

Things I love...

This morning was just one of those mornings.  Nothing bad happened, nothing out of the ordinary, but I just couldn't get motivated.  I had done my normal morning routine and even got some extra time to spend finishing my bible study before the kids got up.  So, as I trudged through the morning I just wasn't sure what I needed to get that extra kick in the pants energy I needed.  I got all the kids in the tub and turned on some worship music, hoping that a little more time with the Lord and without the kids would help.  I got busy on the dishes and cleaning the kitchen, still in a bit of a fog, got the kids out of the tub, felt a little stirring in my soul, yet still a little foggy.  Made tea for everyone (because that is what we do every morning as we head down to do school!), and all of a sudden, I realized what I needed more than anything...
I was listening to Jesus Culture on Pandora and something in me just broke.  There I stood, in the kitchen, kids looking at me, hands up in the air, tears in my eyes, singing and praising Jesus.  I needed more of JESUS this morning and He met me in the kitchen.  The song ended and I just felt a peace inside.  I felt the ability to go and do the rest of my day, I felt that little kick in the pants that I needed and I felt Jesus, sweet Jesus loving me right where I am.

So, the day continues and I am feeling good, things are going fine.  I put Joshua down for his rest, the house is so quiet and words just come to mind, so I write...

I love that when I turn on the computer, pictures of people I love come on the screen.
I love that some of those pictures are taken by my kiddos.
I love that one of those pictures is just little Abby Freeman's eyes and freckles.
I love that my house smells like the candle my husband bought me, that he remembered I liked it and went back to the store to get it for me.
I love that I can talk for 30+ minutes to a friend about coats, mom wounds, and what we are eating for lunch.
I love that I am excited that my hubby is coming home a little early tonight so we can run errands together as a family.
I love that I love my husband.
I love that when I look at my children I see a little of me, a little of him, and a lot of them in each one.
I love that there was a beautiful snow yesterday and the sun shone bright and warm today.
I love that the birds come each morning to our window to see if we refilled our feeders.
I love my big red dog who loves the word walk.
I love that each new day is a new beginning.
I love that I am still learning who I am and learning to love that girl.
I love that Jesus meets me in the kitchen.

Quotables...

It has been so long since I have written and the other day I sat down and looked at some old posts.  They made me smile and think how much my kids have grown and changed.  It was fun to go down memory lane.  So, today as I was putting Joshua to bed and he had plenty to say, I thought it was time to write down some of those things - the things that make me smile and make me remember how quickly they change.  There will come a day when they won't tell me everything they are thinking (it does happen already around here).  Not that writing them down with still the clock, but it will be fun and perhaps soothing to the soul in those moments when not much is being said, to stop, look back and smile!

J to Mom (after reading a street sweeper book at rest time) - "You remind me of an elephant because you know so much and elephants are really smart.  Elephants are kind of like street sweepers because they pick up things with their trunk and put them in their mouth.  But they don't pick up trash and dirt like a street sweeper does."

J to Mom (another day at rest time) - "I do like restin'.  I like restin' with you mom.  But I do like restin' with Jesus.  I believe in Jesus mom." (Melt My Heart!)

J to the family after reading the Bible story book at dinner - "I know a really good Bible story.  It has a guy with a strange name in it.  His name is Tooty.  Here is the story... There was a guy named Tooty who rode his camel and he tooted. The End" (nice one, thanks?!)

S to Mom - "I had a funny feeling inside my heart and I just felt like I need to pray for someone" How awesome is that, that already Sarah is recognizing Jesus speaks to her and will prompt her to pray!

I know there have been many more funny, touching, silly, sweet things said around here.  It would be impossible to write them all down, but here are a few and here's to being young and speaking your mind!