Sunday, November 27, 2016

Thanksgiving 2016

Thanksgiving 
Thursday November 24th, 2016

Not the best pic of us, but the only one I have of us that day. 

We enjoyed the flurries we got that morning!




My boss, Krista, and her family invited us over for Thanksgiving. It was her and her husband two sons, and her in-laws. I brought homemade macaroni and chocolate chip cookies.








Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Asher John

I've been learning so much about Asher lately.

He is a deep thinker. He is sensitive. He is wise. He is smart. He is self-less. He's a protector. He's a defender. He internalizes. 

He is a beautiful person, inside and out. I am so proud of him for who he is.

As I learn more about who Asher is, I'm trying to adjust and be what he needs. 

The thing about Asher is he comes across silly, wild and rough. But once you get past that and get to know him, he is quite the opposite. He is such a gentle guy, loving kid. 


He is so sweet, loving, gentle in nature.
(This is from when we watched a friends baby.)

My heart melts when I find him cuddled so sweetly to his little sister. No matter how they may fight, he will always turn around and defend her. Always.

He knows how my feet hurt at times and he is just about always willing to rub my feet. 

He will randomly tell me he loves me, that I'm beautiful. Randomly hug me, kiss me. Y'all, how did I get to be so blessed?


He has grown in bravery as he took swimming lessons and can now swim and he totally conquered 9ft side which even I wouldn't dream of doing!





His big brother signed him up to do this and I was able to go a couple times and what a joy it was!

This boy has my heart.

The story of how Asher came to be is a story of forgiveness and redemption. My heart aches when I see this little fella whom I love struggle with sadness - BECAUSE of his tender heart. This boy is good. So good. God has big plans in store for him. I'm so lucky to be his mama.



Bless Their Hearts

Macie says some of the sweetest stuff.

Today she prayed TWICE for everyone who dies today that God will "bless their hearts".

Then at Zeke's Boy Scout meeting, we were coloring. She has been learning to read and write in school so she's been doing a lot it at home lately. She was writing and wrote, "I love mom because she gave me life." How cute is that?! And just the other night she wrote, "I am thankful you are alive" and "I'm thankful you're beautiful" - she cracks me up! I know my girl loves me and is a total mama's girl and I'm soaking it all in!

Sunday, November 6, 2016

A Rough Morning Turns Into Grace

Friday November 4th, 2016


Our day started off with a rough morning. Strong, hurt emotions lead to dragging of the feet which lead to leaving the house late, which lead to a chaotic drop off at school. She was shaken up as was I. I went to work in tears, e-mailed her teacher and school counselor - I wanted them to know, to talk to her to make her feel better. I messaged a few friends...more tears. Couldn't seem to focus on the tasks before me at work. My mind and heart were back at school with my youngest. I asked my boss if I could surprise her at lunch; she allowed me to. I do not take for granted my boss at all; she is unlike any other I've had before; she is a godly woman who embodies grace. 

I was able to surprise my little girl and sit with her at lunch. We snapped a couple pictures. Though I was grateful, I found it hard to smile; it was an emotionally taxing day. Getting to see her I think improved both of our days.

I am gonna mess up. I will never be a perfect parent. But boy oh boy am I ever grateful for gracious children who forgive easy and love hard.






I was able to see his guy which was such a treat. He was all, "Hi mom, bye mom, you're embarrassing me." But I definitely got in a few kisses before leaving. ;) 

Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Halloween 2016

Monday October 31st, 2016
Halloween















In all our years living here, this was actually our first time celebrating Halloween here! (First year we just moved and didn't participate minus Asher and Zeke running to the neighbors for candy, and the other two years we went out of town.) 

Macie was lady bug, Asher a ninja and Zeke was Harambe, the gorilla from the Ohio zoo. That kid has a sense of humor! 

We had a wonderful Halloween, but it was different. For the first time ever, I didn't have all my kids with me. Yes, Zeke went trick-or-treating with his friends. Zeke is a good and responsible young man, as are his close friends. I am truly impressed by them all. Bismarck is relatively small and safe. They all have phones. And I went over safety talks with Zeke. He had a good time!

Meanwhile, I took Ash and Mace and we went to Hebron to go trick-or-treating with our friends - Emily and her family. I was so tired I started to fall asleep on the drive so I pulled over to get some shut eye for 10 minutes (yes, I know, 28 years old and falling asleep at 5pm on a Monday). As I looked out my car windshield, I observed the beauty that is North Dakota, so I snapped some pictures. How crazy that I once found this state ugly. I had high expectations of what I expected North Dakota to be like, so many expectations of what I wanted to happen within my family once in this state, and not a single one of them came true. Not one! But it's all okay, I am not angry...

Aside from the drastic change in family dynamic, I have gone from hating the small town life to appreciating it's beauty and what makes it unique. I  can now look at an open plain and see it's beauty. My heart truly loves this state, and if the day comes we no longer call this place home, I will genuinely miss it.

...back to Halloween. I always have fun with Emily and our kiddos had a blast as well. :) We ate pizza and carrots, then went trick-or-treating for close to an hour. Oh, and we only saw one clown! As he was approaching the porch Macie was on, I ran over and grabbed her hand as I knew she would be scared. And she was; clinging to the door and reaching for Emily's son's hand, she was paralyzed with fear, I grabbed her and she spent the rest of her the night looking over her shoulder. Big brother Asher kept her posted on the clowns whereabouts the rest of the evening. He is such a good, protective brother.

All in all, it was a good Halloween. If the last few years have taught me anything, it's to be in the moment. Take it in. Treasure it all. You never know when your last day is going to be. Give thanks in all circumstances. Sounds deep for just a night of trick-or-treating, but I don't take sweet friendships or pretty sunsets for granted anymore. ;)

Happy Halloween, folks.