Monday, April 19, 2010
Sunday, April 18, 2010
CHANGE IS GOOD
CHANGE IS GOOD, CHANGE IS GOOD CHANGE IS GOOD.... do you think if I say it enough I'll believe it??? lol... I believe so:) We ALL love stability, routine, schedules EVEN BABIES are secure knowing "what comes next". I've always been a erratic person, so routine wasn't part of my nature. HOWEVER, after having the twins I realize it's a "MUST" and that NOTHING will get accomplished without it. I've learned to LOVE a schedule (though still loving a spontaneous adventure), but I've loved it to a fault. The "new" me has impressed my husband when dinner is made, dishes done, floors mopped, laundry (not just DONE but put away), toys organized, clean sheets on beds, shutters are dusted and so on, but I've realized I've sacrificed something in the process.... my kids. I've given them the impression that I don't have time to color with them, to play games with them, to pretend play, to tell stories, jump on the trampoline, to go on nature hikes or trips to the park. Instead they've come to realize "cleaning is MOST important". It breaks my heart to even write that. I'm flawed (in WAY TOO MANY ways:) I'm constantly telling my kids "you have to be flexible, things change"... but yet, I've failed in taking my own advice. I can't just walk away from laundry and actually am upset when it's interrupted (by dirty diapers, or someone "needing" me). I'm not sure how this happened, but it has. I'm a STAY AT HOME MOM, who isn't really "home" or "present" when my kids need me and today it not only got my attention but has convicted me. I'm NOT saying the opposite should be true. We should spend ALL day doting and catering to kids and neglecting our other responsibilities, but the key is balance. I believe that is the key to most of life. We are constantly trying to find the balance.
I thank my church for indirectly teaching me this. Our church has been through SO many changes in the last few months. It started with church discipline of an elder, which resulted in half our church body leaving. Then after a few weeks, our Senior Pastor took a job in church planting and missions. We then merged with a well known church in the valley, Cornerstone, Francis Chan becoming our pastor. The next week one of our elders tells us he's moving up north for missions work, then ANOTHER elder is moving (due to job transfer). I start looking around the church, MY FAMILY, and I realize I don't even recognize anyone ... things are "changing" and they are changing quickly. Today we received word that Francis Chan is now leaving and starting a ministry in LA city. Every week someone leaves and there is instability ..... or is there??? God is our constant, he is the NEVER CHANGING GOD, who we CAN trust. He doesn't leave. He doesn't change, He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Oh what a comfort. We can not say this of any other person. We want to trust our parents, our spouses, our kids, but if ALL our hope lies in them, we are setting ourselves up for a huge let down. I'm not saying these people don't have good intentions, because they do, but are not intended to take the place of God. I've let that happen, but thankfully God has shown his grace upon me to open my eyes to the this deceptive thinking. Change, outside of God, is inevitable. The faster I realize that the faster I can grow and develop and mature my thinking. My life changed drastically when I realized I was pregnant a 3rd time, then received the gift of that 3rd AND 4th child. My life is CONSTANTLY changing with their changes. Two babies walking is a whole new ball game. Jobs change, people change, government and economy change, kids grow up, people die, nothing stays the same, NO MATTER HOW HARD WE TRY TO MAKE IT. We may love the comfort of routine, but we need to learn to love the instability of change as well, because it IS our promised future. I know we weren't called to live "comfortable lives", but to live OUTSIDE our comfort level.... to take risks, to be hurt, to fail so that we can get BACK up and try again. It's a beautiful thing to fail, it gives yet ANOTHER opportunity to succeed. So in my failings as a mother, I WILL rejoice in that God has allowed me another day to get back up and try again. I hope and pray my kids learn this in life. I want them to KNOW they are important, but that I can NOT take the place of God in their life. I pray that I have wisdom in knowing how to incorporate this into daily activities and life lessons.
Sorry to ramble.... blogging can be scary at times, bc you open yourself up to be real and criticized for what you believe and how you do things...... but also a good way to challenge yourself to live authentically.
On a side note, I believe Slade has learned his new (AND ONLY) "trick". He can shake his head "no" and laugh... he'll do it for hours... (which tells me he HEARS IT A LOT FROM ALL OF US)... Ramsey on the other hand has NO IDEA what that means or why he is doing it. She will sit and clap though, at his antics. They amuse me with how they interact. The nursery at church told me that they have formed their OWN "clique". They like to play together but don't include the other babies... LOL.... maybe a twin thing? I don't know, but the thought makes me laugh. They tell me Ramsey is the ring leader and Slade just follows her around. She may be tiny, but she's wearing the pants in that relationship:)
We are off to see the poppies in FULL bloom.... here's to HOPING all kids are awake and smiling for some pictures.... don't be surprised if #3 child is screaming though.
I thank my church for indirectly teaching me this. Our church has been through SO many changes in the last few months. It started with church discipline of an elder, which resulted in half our church body leaving. Then after a few weeks, our Senior Pastor took a job in church planting and missions. We then merged with a well known church in the valley, Cornerstone, Francis Chan becoming our pastor. The next week one of our elders tells us he's moving up north for missions work, then ANOTHER elder is moving (due to job transfer). I start looking around the church, MY FAMILY, and I realize I don't even recognize anyone ... things are "changing" and they are changing quickly. Today we received word that Francis Chan is now leaving and starting a ministry in LA city. Every week someone leaves and there is instability ..... or is there??? God is our constant, he is the NEVER CHANGING GOD, who we CAN trust. He doesn't leave. He doesn't change, He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Oh what a comfort. We can not say this of any other person. We want to trust our parents, our spouses, our kids, but if ALL our hope lies in them, we are setting ourselves up for a huge let down. I'm not saying these people don't have good intentions, because they do, but are not intended to take the place of God. I've let that happen, but thankfully God has shown his grace upon me to open my eyes to the this deceptive thinking. Change, outside of God, is inevitable. The faster I realize that the faster I can grow and develop and mature my thinking. My life changed drastically when I realized I was pregnant a 3rd time, then received the gift of that 3rd AND 4th child. My life is CONSTANTLY changing with their changes. Two babies walking is a whole new ball game. Jobs change, people change, government and economy change, kids grow up, people die, nothing stays the same, NO MATTER HOW HARD WE TRY TO MAKE IT. We may love the comfort of routine, but we need to learn to love the instability of change as well, because it IS our promised future. I know we weren't called to live "comfortable lives", but to live OUTSIDE our comfort level.... to take risks, to be hurt, to fail so that we can get BACK up and try again. It's a beautiful thing to fail, it gives yet ANOTHER opportunity to succeed. So in my failings as a mother, I WILL rejoice in that God has allowed me another day to get back up and try again. I hope and pray my kids learn this in life. I want them to KNOW they are important, but that I can NOT take the place of God in their life. I pray that I have wisdom in knowing how to incorporate this into daily activities and life lessons.
Sorry to ramble.... blogging can be scary at times, bc you open yourself up to be real and criticized for what you believe and how you do things...... but also a good way to challenge yourself to live authentically.
On a side note, I believe Slade has learned his new (AND ONLY) "trick". He can shake his head "no" and laugh... he'll do it for hours... (which tells me he HEARS IT A LOT FROM ALL OF US)... Ramsey on the other hand has NO IDEA what that means or why he is doing it. She will sit and clap though, at his antics. They amuse me with how they interact. The nursery at church told me that they have formed their OWN "clique". They like to play together but don't include the other babies... LOL.... maybe a twin thing? I don't know, but the thought makes me laugh. They tell me Ramsey is the ring leader and Slade just follows her around. She may be tiny, but she's wearing the pants in that relationship:)
We are off to see the poppies in FULL bloom.... here's to HOPING all kids are awake and smiling for some pictures.... don't be surprised if #3 child is screaming though.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
The baby jail = productive day
WOW, has it really been over 2 months since I last posted? There is a GOOD reason for that... twins have turned 1!!! I'm literally chasing them around NONSTOP. They have quite the personalities which keep me sane, but they are into EVERYTHING and are constantly going in opposite directions. It's humorous at first, but at the end of the day I'm at my wit's end with tupperware all over my kitchen, laundry turned upside down, toys in places I never thought they could fit, remotes lost, dressers completely empty because clothes are ALL over the floor, lotions, powders, make up thrashed, trash cans upside down and so on. Now I'm usually the one who PROMOTES chaos for learning, but there is a point where it ALL has to stop so we have a sense of "normalcy". SO.... I invested in one of man's greatest inventions ... a BABY JAIL!!! LOL. That is what the previous owner referred to it as and now I see why. It cages these monsters in (and I say that VERY lovingly)!!! Seriously, it has been a life saver! I can take it anywhere and the twins LOVE being in there (as LONG as they are together ... if just ONE is in there it's torture, they NEED their playmate). The sides are close enough to give them (OK just Ramsey) the confidence to walk!!!! She toddles back and forth and laughs at her abilities. Slade watches in jealousy and confusion wondering how in the world she manages such a feat!
The last 2 months have been full of vacations, spring breaks, and birthdays, etc. I turned the big 3-5!!1 OUCH! We celebrated the day (and Keller's Spring Break) at Mimi and Diddy's in AZ! Mimi of course makes every holiday and birthday as special as can be! The house was decorated with balloons and birthday signs! She took the kids out shopping for gifts and made an INCREDIBLE dinner (including T-bone steaks!!!!) We had a great week swimming, shopping, spending time with Mimi, Diddy and Ellie! We returned home to a house decorated with bday signs, chalked up driveway with birthday messages and a shopping spree (thank you KIngsley:)
IN the last few months we also welcomed a new cousin to the family, Caleb Cohen. We surprised Kingsley's youngest sister by flying out to Virginia to meet our adorable nephew and cousin. We flew into DC and had a whirlwind trip! We spent the night in DC and visited the smithsonian museums and White house, capitol building, memorials, etc... We had dinner with my Brother in law's parents (who are family to us:) in Alexandria, VA then set out for Richmond, VA! We spent the night and met up with Kingsley's brother Bobby and his son, Jo Jo. Nana and Pop Pop also drove down. We showed up to Didi's the next morning and SHOCKED her (had previously told her hubby we were coming). We spent some good quality time loving on our newest family member then we continued on to Charlottesville to visit with Kingsley's older sister, Gigi and her family! Kingsley's ENTIRE family showed up. We got to see sister Roberta and family, Bobby and Jo Jo, Didi and Josh also drove over along with Nana and Pop! IT was QUITE the reunion. The kids had so much fun reuniting with their East Coast cousins. I was overwhelmed with a thankful heart for the opportunity to be there and have them all bond!!! Nana took them all to walmart and everyone picked out a DS game.... We then continued our trip to Fork Union Military Academy. We showed the kids where daddy spent time developing who he is today... a man of discipline:) Kingsley went to high school there so we showed them his old "stomping ground". Keller loved standing and saluting in the very spot his daddy did! It was fun to see Kingsley reminisce! We then drove down to Kitty Hawk, NC and "popped in" on the Doyle's (again... hubby knew of our arrival). Bethany was SHOCKED and confused when she saw us! We were able to meet ANOTHER family member, Lily, for the very first time!! She is such a happy, elated baby. She smiles at the slightest thing and has "eyes" for her daddy. What joy it was to see them interact as a family! We also saw Brant's "finished" work on the house... and to sum it up in one word: AMAZING. That boy has talent. He built this house from nothing and it's just amazing to see them living there now. After that we returned to Richmond for one last night with the Cohens then back to DC for our flight home. Flying with 4 was an experience:) We were THAT family that NO ONE wanted to sit by... and I took NO OFFENSE:) I wouldn't want to sit next to TWO babies (who were crying before we took off) either!!! I had both babies in my lap while Kingsley ate dinner, so the seat next to me was the LAST on the plane to be filled. The look on the POOR POOR man's face when he looked at me with TWO lap babies and the MIDDLE seat... lol. I simply said "I apologize, and I feel your pain right now". He laughed and said "is this REALLY the ONLY seat left"? hahaha!!! Thankfully the babies were VERY good and the man wasn't bothered TOO much (an occasional ecstatic scream in his ear or tug on his shirt). All in all it was one of the best vacations we've taken and we returned home to our beautiful beds:) I'll post pics of the trip in the next few days....
Now we look forward to our little princess turning 5 in May and starting kindergarten in the fall. Keller has been attending the Santa Clarita International Charter school and the wait list for kindergarten is well over 400! Siblings are a "shoe in" so Saylor made the cut and will be a PROUD kindergartner soon. She is quite excited about school and has been in training at home. We do home school preschool at home and she has mastered everything she needs to know for kindergarten. She loves writing!!! She has been my little buddy while Keller is gone. We spend our days looking for lady bugs, roly polies, butterflies and BEES!! She loves bugs (they all end up taking LONG LONG naps by the end of the day). She is also my new walking buddy. She truly wishes she could sit in a stroller but her little 4 year old legs carry her on our 2 mile hike a few times a week.
Kingsley has been busy with work. He's doing more testing these days. He's CNHP (certified natural health practicioner) and does dried blood, live blood, urine and saliva testing, along with iridology and BIA testing. This week starts his phlebotomy course and in the end he'll be able to draw blood. He'll be in the hospital the next few weekends. He never ceases to amaze me... and it's always a plus to have our own "N.D." in the house to draw blood when we need it...
So that is our life in a nutshell. We couldn't be more thankful for all God has blessed us with. We know what a privledge it is to raise and nurture these 4 little lives. My prayer is that they will grow to love and fear God and impact the world around them. They teach me daily to humble myself, seek forgiveness and love with all that I have.
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