8 Years Ago. . .

Pure joy, jumping up and down, throwing the pea stick at Paul, shrieks of exuberation, endless smiling..........shall I say more?! A woman reading her positive pregnancy test! It was the 4th of July and early in the morning. But before we left, I took, yet, another pregnancy test. This time it was positive and I was beyond...........Jump ahead 9 months and I was ready to pop and just finished celebrating a surprise baby shower at work. Thank you Kineka Hardin! That evening my clock was ticking down to countdown, 3 weeks early, and I had no idea what lye ahead. Paul had a speaking engagement with a room full of teenagers at church and I drove by to say hello. I was not feeling well and was 'strongly encouraged' to go home and rest. To make sure the 'resting' took place, my dear friend, Jaine Banks, sent her daughter home with me. And thank goodness she did! Just as we had unloaded my truck, I grabbed a piece of leftover cake from my baby shower and started across the floor when........yep, you guessed it....my water broke. Called Paul, took a shower, got dressed, packed a bag and headed to the hospital. Shanna and I got to talking and missed the exit for the hospital and soon received a call from my husband. How could he beat us to the hospital?! No surprise if you really know us!

No need to share details of labor/delivery. It was painful until i received the needle. I was sure I could endure without drugs but after 6 hours of sharp pains, I hoisted up the white flag. Kennedy was born 8ish in the morning and she was perfect! She is perfect!! Beautiful shaped head, quiet nature, adorable nose, kissable lips. Kennedy Berlynn Alexander: chief helmet, bright and illustrious! Eight years later and she lives up to her name. So much fun having 3 chief helmets/first borns in the Alexander home! LOL! She is a true blessing and is teaching me so much! Not sure if the world will ever be ready for such a lady as KK. Yep, we call her KK. Some things you should know about KK:

- she loves to eat, as much as I do
- she loves to read, almost as much as her parents (read 1 million words half way through 2nd grade)
- enjoys hunting for bugs(even has a bug collection)
- favorite food is spaghetti, steak, and anything chocolate (spoken like a true
woman)
- would agree that 'she knows everything about everything'......so much to learn :-)
- loves to snuggle in the early mornings

and her famous quotes....

"Mommy is my superhero"

"Mommy, you need pants on your legs cause the freckles on your legs itch me"

"When my ears are dirty, I talk loud"

"When I was a baby, I wanted to come out and see your eyes, mom."

"Mom, you smell like a nice, cozy worm."

"I need my hat on so I don't burn my hair off in the sun."

"You're making my eyes embarrassed, Mia! Stop chewing with your mouth open!"

"I'm always hungry for chocolate, unless I"m filled up with steak."

"Daddy, you are great! You catch great bugs for me."

I Can't Be This Old.......

I just laid there waiting to see sunrays push their way into the blinds but only gray hung in there. It is winter and only 6:30 in the morning but it's Tuesday morning and that means "running club" for my girls. Speaking of girls, one of them was snuggled right up in my small space/side of the bed with her tiny arm wrapped around my waist. In the distance I could hear my 3 year old demanding that it was time to rise and his stomach was needing chocolate cereal. He is completely unaware of real time. My husband already awake and exercising. I begin to crawl out of bed and hear a tiny voice murmor "happy birthday mommy". I think to myself "is it really my birthday? Is this really what it feels like to be 36?" I begin to process the day in my head, Before I leave the house, I must bake gf cupcakes and make homemade frosting. I can do this! I realize that I have to be at the girls' school to volunteer at 8:20, take Linc with me, then drop Linc off at preschool, squeeze in a workout at the musty old gym, steal a quick shower at home, pick Linc up from preschool, hoping he didn't hit anyone on my bday, then sit down to a quiet lunch with an amazing friend. Then, I'd have to chase my friend out of the house as I rush to pick up girls early from school, rush to doctor's appointment for Mia.....to find out that the dr wants to do more allergy testing on her back. This alerts her vocal chords and sends lots of high pitched sounds, alligator tears, and frustration for me.........on my birthday. Meanwhile keeping a 3 year old from climbing the blinds and riding the roller chair around the room. I rush out of dr office, zoom by the house to grab snacks, change clothes and off to gymnastics with friends, so the girls can see what it's like to tumble for free. Thank goodness for a wonderful man that goes with me to watch Linc while I watch my new tumblers dance and stumble with one eye on me to see if I am observing. I am. Then out the door of the gym at 6:30 to pick up Barros pizza for my bday; they serve gluten free for my kiddos. Drive home and eat the pizza, pop open an adult beverage, and breathe! Kids want daddy to share his gift. It's in a manilla envelope from his office. I'm excited cause I think the best gifts come in small and unassuming packages. I was right. It was a homemade card with a story telling of all the amazing gifts they had chosen for me: dinner/movie, kindle, giftcard for workout clothes (haven't bought new ones in 5 years), and then we dive into the pink cupcakes. After kids are in bed, Paul and I watch my free redbox movie, The Help. Happens to be my new favorite and I love watching it multiple times. Laying in bed, where my day began, grey still coming in, as the day has gone to sleep, I realize that I might be one of the luckiest women in the world! Yes, on my 36th bday, I rushed around making my own cake, taking kids to dr appointments, gymnastics and volunteering in their class, sharing my sleep space with a 7year old bed hog, meeting the hunger demands of a 3 year old and eating cheap pizza that meets my kids allergy standards but I love it. This is truly a mom's life. This is what it's like to be a mom. Soon the spring will fully be here and I'll be able to roll over at 6:30 to see the sun pushing into my room and demanding my rise. Soon, my 7 year old's arm will be a 17 year old arm........and my 3 year old's food demands will be demands of a 13 year old in a radical growth spurt. My 6 year old will soon be a 16 year old allergy free food lover and time will slip through me like sand in a bottle. I don't want to miss any of these moments, especially on my 36th bday. Looking forward to many more to come.

Friend...........A Tricky Little Word

A topic that continues to cycle in and out of my crazy life...........friendships. Unfortunately friends, good and bad, seem through all our lives too. It's not that having so many friends is a bad thing it's just that finding great friends is not an easy thing. I have begun to categorize my relationships into 3 areas, cause I'm a systematic person. I have Polite friends, Purposeful friends, and those I Pour into. Because time is always of the essence, it's impossible to spend time with everyone and a woman must decide where she wants to invest her soul. I, personally, choose to invest in these top things, going in order of importance: God, family, Purposeful and Pour friends, ministry, hobbies, and then Polite friends. Let me explain what these friends are. You have all 3types in your life. Not only are they in your life but you fall into all three categories yourself, depending on who you are relating with.

Everyone is and has Polite friends. Those are your very casual acquaintances and most of the conversations go like this. "How are you?" and you respond, "good, fine...all is good". Then then they might say something like "How are the kids and how is hubby?" and you might say "oh, kids are great, hubby is doing fine." and you get my point. All surface type of questions. All relationships do begin here and most, quite honestly, stay here! ugh. Now, they become more complex looking from the outside, as women try and fake sincerity, but bottom line..........it's still a Polite relationship. In fact, you might even be in a small group that you've known for years and you still remain at Polite relations and that is as far as it has gone. It is possible, not desirable.

The next type of friend is the type you Pour into. Those are your friends who may or may not be able to offer much to you, due to their life circumstances. Maybe they are going through a divorce, suffering from physical pain/disease, or just plain depressed and need you to be there for them. These are tough cause they involve you being completely selfless and knowing that you are not going to receive what you are putting into the relationship. These are your friends who may not even know how much they need you. But you have chosen, yes- you made a choice to be there, no matter what. You understand that these women don't really charge your batteries but they allow the joy in your heart to bubble out as you serve them! You can only have so many of these types of friends in your life or you will wear out quickly. So, go pour into someone!

The final type of friend is you B.F.F...................LOL!!! You know what I mean!! This is the woman who sharpens you, tells you (to your face) when your wrong, encourages you in dark moments, sticks around when the Polite friends run away.You may think that your current B.F.F. is the Purposeful friend........but is she? You don't really know until you've had to go through a tough time. Did she stick around? What about a moment when the 2 of you disagreed? Are you closer because of that disagreement or is it awkward? What about distance? Have you moved away and the relationship is just as vibrant? If so, that might be a Purposeful friend. Purposeful friends are those who "Love at ALL times" Prov. 17:17. Many Purposeful friends are disguised to be so.... but then when "ALL times" come along, they realize that they just can't handle the journey and find it easier to check out. That is okay. God is so good at providing in those moments. Trust me!

What type of friend are you? Many women have a hard time being the Purposeful friend. Friendships are risky, challenging, and scary! Let's face it; we've all been burned, and starting again with someone else is exhausting. But because we are always in the process of being sharpened and improved (sanctified)by our creator; we must continue to grow and continue to trust. That would be called MATURITY! Oh boy, a word that is so lacking in today's society. Growing up stinks! But it means walking through the tough times, learning from the mistakes, and trying again.

I could go on and on about this topic. I've had the greatest pleasure of knowing some amazing women. I think of Sheryl Dorsey, Robin Jones,Jaine Banks and Lori Laake. All 3 were older, wiser, and so much further in life than myself. I was in my early 20s and "knew" everything there was to know about life. These women slowed me down and became amazing friends. They were not afraid to speak the truth. As I age, I also have my amazing B.F.F.s; the ones walking and learning with me,like the ones in the picture above! I'm so blessed. However, I've lived and also felt the unwanting sting of betrayal in friendships. I've had friends drop off the face of the earth without reason; friends that I would have done anything for, friends that I LOVED! And yet, I cannot control them; I can only be the person and friend to all that HE has called me to be. One day at a time............

"Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends." spoken by the One who did it! Jn. 15:13 We should strive to work up to this standard. Seems impossible but it's not.

The Twinkle in Her Eye

Looking back through my journal of 1000 Gifts, inspired by Ann Voskamp, I realized how amazing our lives can be if we just allow His work and His plan to take root in our lives. Some say a picture is worth a 1000 words and I would concur; and if you look close enough you might see the twinkle in Mia's eyes. Read below to see a part of 1000 gifts that have been give to me. (She being one of them!)

#7 Thankful for Mia's naturally loud and jovial, booming voice (even when it's supposed to be a quiet or serene moment)

#42 Gasping for breath as I try and keep up with Mia on her bike and hearing the loud "wheee.........this is incredible.......whee" as she descends down miniature hills that feel like mountains to her.

#38 Watching Mia smell her freshly washed babies and blankies and then look up at me, with huge blue pools of eyes and small splashes of dimples and thank me.

#43 Hearing Kennedy remind me that she thinks I'm the best mom in the whole world and knowing that I'm full of flaws

#4 Finding Kennedy's dress up clothes scattered all over the floor and feeling the gentle tug at my heart as I thank God that she is still a little girl.

#14 Watching Kennedy 'mother' her dolls and play house. She will turn out to be a compassionate mother one day.

#22 Seeing Lincoln come bustling out of his room with great approval shining all over his face because he has managed to pull on 3 layers of clothes and has successfully dressed himself

#1 Listening to Lincoln's sweet underdeveloped speech as he sings "you are my sunshine"......while he is in timeout and hopes it will cause early release for him

#29 knowing that Lincoln begs me to tell him another batman story at bedtime every night.

#30 Watching all 3 kids and the dog tackle daddy on the floor with complete freedom to tickle, poke, and kiss at all measures. Hearing the unrelenting laughter and short breaths of instant happiness squeak loudly and continue to resonate in our home.

#35 Witnessing a broken and beat down man pick himself up and continue to become the father, husband, friend, and pastor that he was created to become.

#7 Hearing and feeling words "I forgive you" whispered from each and every family member as I continue to roll out my flaws.

So there you have it......a snapshot of things I'm thankful for in 2011. Keeping this journal has been one of the best investments ever. Writing in it is like therapy for the soul and it reminds me of how much God has given to me and reminds me too of how much I have to lose. I cherish each one of these gifts each day, knowing that they are not guaranteed or even deserved each day. Any gift can be lost or taken back at any moment. I hold these gifts, not because they are soley mine but are because they are given to me to borrow and take care of until further notice.

Alexander Values for 2012

As most of you know, Paul and I are planners and organizers by nature and we have even planned out some family values that we'd like to try and instill in our little monkeys! Now, we know that life surely does not go as planned; but we revised out family statement and hoping to be a bit more specific, beginning in 2012! Of course we still believe in our family statement that "God created the Alexanders to love Him, imitate Him and serve others first." But we have added another section. If we could have one wish for our kids or a snapshot of what we want them to grow into.........this would be it. Our desire is that the Alexander family:

Would listen to God's voice and obey Him (through His word and prayer), put others first, and attain a self-confidence in their identity that reflects God's image and a life-style that reflects what He created them to be/do.

What more can a mother and father ask for? Now that we have a target for them, it allows us to aim for something that is meaningful. Part of that is adapting a common language in our home. These are top statements that our kids will hear until we die.

Alexanders always tell the TRUTH.
Alexanders show COMPASSION to everyone.
Alexanders are RELIABLE. We keep our word.
Alexanders use SELF-CONTROL, no matter what.
Alexanders are HUMBLE. We don't brag or show off.
Alexanders are STRONG. We never give up.
Alexanders make WISE choices. We reflect Him.
Alexanders like to have FUN!

A Peek at 2011...........Top 10

A New Year means a Fresh Start. Imagine if there was never an end or beginning with years and months kept going and going?? God certainly knew what He was doing by giving us 12 months at a time and then allowing something new to begin again. As humans, I believe we need a fresh start, an opportunity to begin again. Each December, I begin to fill out my new calendar with birthdays, anniversaries and important dates for the new year. As I skimmed over 2011, I was amazed at all the transitions that took place. I found myself flipping back to the month of February of last year......can't believe it's almost been one whole year since our path changed in Atlanta. Even though there were some tough moments and difficult challenges to maneuver, I was able to find lots of blessings that also took place last year. So, here is the Alexander top 10 list of memorable (whether fun or challenging) for 2011........

10. Girls learn how to ride bike without training wheels in about 15 minutes
9. Experiencing snow days in ATL (out of school for 1 week)
8. Ringing in the New Year with Jason and Jacqueline Barieau!! Whoot Whoot
7. Driving with a dog, guinea pig, and 3 kids in mini van from ATL to PHX
6. Spending Halloween and Thanksgiving with Nanna and Pappa
5. Spring Break in ATL with the McGinnis Clan!!! Best time ever!
4. Closing on our house in Gilbert, AZ 1 month before Paul lost his job! LOL
3. Being Fired for 1st time ever.......from a church! crazy!!
2. Celebrating 15 years of Marriage and going to Hawaii!
1. Being asked to come serve at Sun Valley Community Church in Gilbert, AZ

So there you have it! Our lives in a nutshell in 2011. Bring on 2012!! What is in store for us?

The Teeter Totter of Materialism

Balance, balance, balance. Why is that so hard sometimes? I'm so cool and calm all year about spending and buying toys for my kids...........I just don't do it. Then Christmas comes and yikes!!! It's so hard!! My 7year old daughter asked us for an i-touch and I about had a heart attack. Paul calmly looked down at her and responded "Kennedy, I don't even have an i-phone.....dream on." We give the kids 3 gifts on Christmas morning. So, it takes some serious thinking to decide which 3 gifts to give them. They do get stockings too and those have some pretty cool items but then that's it! Just 3 gifts!!! No Santa gifts under the tree; just 3 gifts from mom/dad and then some gifts from Grandma and Grandpa. I"m not gonna lie; it's super hard to stick to that agreement but I'm glad we do that. I'm so inclined to buy every cute thing out there for my kids.
Christmas isn't the only time in life to keep that balance. It's challenging all year. Each time we have company over, the kids want to give away a toy or some trinket from their room. Sometimes they go into their piggy banks and give their friends money. A few years ago, when they first started doing this, I was inclined to step in and politely ask them not to give. But then I realized that there isn't a toy in their room that they can't live without. They are just toys! They aren't always so giving when it comes to 'eachother', but so glad to see them sharing with their friends. Glad to see them letting go of their possessions so easily. Wish it was always that easy for Paul and I.
Two experiences that stick out in my mind and remind me to chill out, happened last year. We were at a friend's house and my kids were wrestling on someone's 'new furniture' and it bothered the owners greatly. I couldn't help but wonder what on earth the couch was there for. When kids visit our home, I try and remember that it's more important that the guests feel welcome than my house remain in perfect condition. People are always more important than my stuff. Another situation was when Linc. wanted to hold an older boy's book last year. The mother bent down and whispered for the boy to put it away cause Linc. would probably break the book. Wow! I know kids do have valuable possessions and keep those put up from toddlers. But when we encourage our kids to hold tight to those simple things that can easily be replaced, what will happen when kids have something more valuable, like money? Will they share it?
Of course these are random experiences and I'm sure both situations can be properly defended to the death; but generally speaking, you get the point? I think we can always find an excuse to hold tight and keep things to ourselves. It's hard to let go, share at all costs, and play nicely.........as adults. Our kids are direct reflections of us, often. They learn from us. We can be amazing teachers...if we want :)

Santa or Not

Well, before we gave birth to 3 wonderful kids, we "knew everything about parenting"; so we decided that we would not celebrate Halloween or do Santa. Okay, so 8 years later.........we trick or treat and allow our kids to leave cookies for Santa and sprinkle oatmeal/glitter on the lawn for the 8 tiny reindeer. Do we celebrate Santa? No, not really. Do we believe he is from the devil? No, not really. It's been interesting to see our opinions and customs evolve over the last 8 years. In fact, Lincoln LOVES to go see "Ho Ho". He calls Santa the "Ho-Ho" and it's pretty stinking cute. However, this year Linc seemed to be a bit disappointed with Santa; and because he has my sense of smell, he picked up on some beef and cheese whiffs. After he leaped down from Santa's lap, he said "Mom, Santa Sinks!!" which means, Santa Stinks! I guess he smelled like beef and cheese, as in the movie Elf!
Our kids have always been told the truth. Christmas is about the birth of Christ and Santa does not exist. Do I regret omitting Santa from Dec. 25th??? Sometimes. Whether you celebrate Santa or not, the important thing is that the kids walk away appreciating the birth of Christ, not just knowing that it happened. Santa can be fun, like anything else that is magical and/or pretend. It's just a matter of balance and moderation. As parents we get caught up in the minor details and can become distracted in any event, whether it's Christmas, bdays, Easter, or just plain old life! The birth of Christ can be celebrated every day of the year, not just Dec.25. We love the Jesus Story Bible cause it is always pointing the reader back to the coming of Christ. Everything we do with our kids including cooking, riding bikes, arguments, bdays, shopping, funerals, cleaning rooms..........whatever it is..........there is always time to talk about Christ and what He is doing in our lives today. So Santa or not? Does it matter? This year we want to take time to appreciate the birth and the resurrection in all we do and in all we have.

What Did You Say?!!!

Isn't it amazing what flows from the mouth of a child? Good thing I'm writing these quotes down, cause no one would ever believe me. I keep a little journal in my desk and write down quotes as the kids spit them out. They don't know that I write them down and can't wait to share them later in life. Then, at the end of each year, we put together a calendar for the grandparents with pictures and quotes from the kids. It's unbelievable. Not only do I journal, but the girls each have a journal too. They occassionally put them out and write down what they are thankful for. It's on-going and lasts every day of the year. The hope is to get 1000 items in each journal by the time they are teenagers. Lately, they've been writing some pretty cute things in their journals too. So here are some quotes and journal entries.......straight from thier mouths/hearts.

"Next week when I'm an adult, I'll charge my husband to go get me a coffee and muffin too!" Kennedy

"Mia, you can't be selfish all your life! You have to share with your sister!" Kennedy

"Relax Lincoln. Anything that you want....I'll get it!" Mia

"I'm not afraid of anything....except the dark!" Mia

"Man! I"m growing so big.....right now!" Lincoln

"I'm going to get very very mad if I go to timeout and I'm going to break your heart!" Lincoln

"I'm thankful for Dad; he tucks me in every night." Mia

"I wish I could turn time back." Kennedy

"I see the sun coming through the clouds and I think it's God's glory showing through- and the angels are returning." Kennedy

"I'm thankful that C.S. Lewis made the Narnia books." Mia

"After exercising, I'm going to throw up!" Lincoln

"I saw a dragonfly and so I piped up my courage to go and get it. He wanted to be my friend." Kennedy

"I'm thankful for Mrs. Clemson for buying me a banana at school. Everyone else had a cupcake and I can't eat them cause of my allergies and I had nothing." Kennedy

"I don't like when your muffins taste like earwax" Mia

"When no one is around and I have to obey, I feel something inside of me tell what to do- it's the Holy Spirit." Kennedy

"I'm thankful that I got sleep with my mom's blanket." Kennedy

"Why doesn't God talk to me now, like He did with Moses? I want to hear his voice now!" Mia

"I'm thankful for cake!" Lincoln

"I not a baby anymore...I'm a big boy! I'm a man!" Lincoln

"You know me, Mom! I'm an Alexander and I'm going to be okay!" Lincoln

After 15 Years and He is still Sexy, Inspiring, Interesting, and My Best Friend

It happened. Someone randomly walked up to me today and asked me an interesting question. She said "You're a pastor's wife right? Even though your husband is a pastor, does he still drive you crazy? Cause mine does!!" Well, I barely know the person but decided to just let it all out. I said "yes he does, but we still love eachother and selflessly work at it each and everyday. Marriage is so very hard!" We then began to converse about marriage and why her's was so difficult at the moment. She was open and transparent and I really appreciated that. Hard to get that from most Christians; but a complete stranger was being vulnerable with me and I was eating it up!!
After 15 years, does he drive me crazy? I think we both have days where we drive one another bonkers......kind of like a brother and sister. It's not mean, bitter, or full of spite. It's just 2 people living together who happen to be selfish. But yes, going to Hawaii with him and celebrating 15 years was worth it; and we are growing closer each day. I am still very attracted to him. I find his messages and dreams to be inspiring. I love our conversations. They are not filled with meaningless words and ideas of coexisting. They are words that touch and change our hearts. Conversations about changing lives, kids growing up, taking care of the less fortunate, helping our friends, and sometimes full of heated disagreements. At the end of the day.........we have learned more about one another and chosen to be on the same team. At the end of the day........he is still by best friend and I can't wait to go on another trip in 5 years!! whoot whoot!

Who Invites Their In-Laws for 5 Weeks?

Most of my friends thought I had gone clinically insane because we invited my in-laws to stay for 5 weeks. The most common response was "their not staying with you right........in a hotel, right?" Well, after 15 years of marriage, many vacations together and many 2 week visits in the same home.....we decided it was time to spend some more time together. The fact is, both our families live on the other side of the country. Might as well live in Africa cause none of us can afford to come see one another as often as we'd like. We can understand and appreciate how much the grandparents mean to our kids! The LOVE their grandparents and let's be honest.....grandparents are not around forever. We want our kids to soak up as much wisdom and time with their grandparents as possible. Now, I have to admit; we have amazing grandparents. Living together is not as difficult as it could be. Things are not perfect; but we pretty much respect one another's boundaries and appreicate the time together.

The visit was filled with trick or treating, craft projects, sewing together (Nanna and girls), long walks to the park, teaching kids how to ride bikes, P.F. Chang visits, bday celebrations, Christmas shopping, tree decorating, Thanksgiving cooking, snuggles in the kids' rooms, late nights of card games, hot tub talks, putting up lights, making ginger bread houses,wrestling with Pappa, reading with Nanna, and many other endless memories. One just can't put a price tag on the memories that were created last month. We will all treasure those moments forever.

Adding Up the Letters

Funny how letters are so infrequently written and texts and emails are abundant and endless. When was the last time you received an actual written letter or 'snail mail'? I enjoy receiving letters from my kids..........yes, the ones who still live under this roof! They will occasionally leave letters for me. I will find one neatly tucked up next to my sink, sure not to miss it. I thought I would publish a few since they are so stinking adorable!

Mom,
Today was a bad day but I will fix it.
Love,
Mia

Okay, so this broke my heart. Yes, it was a full day of kids arguing, endless time outs and many talks.

Dear Mom,
Thank you for your note. I enjoyed it. I love you. gust for your inforemation- I love you more! Don't even copy me when I say I love you more. have a fun fall break. well, the rest of it. by by.
Love,
Kennedy

So yes, I save these notes and hide them away in my Kids' Book of Quotes. I
often pull it out and read the quotes and letters; it's good for my soul. Here is one last letter that KK wrote to Mia, right after we moved from Atlanta, back to Phoenix. Talk about a whirlwind for my kids!!!

Dear Mia,
I know your scared of going to church. I am but all you have to do is sit next to me at church or just stay home.
Love,
Kennedy

This one made me laugh. It took Kennedy about 6 weeks before she would go into her class without crying. She so desperately wanted Mia to go with her, but Mia in in the 1st grade room. It's not smooth as butter, but much better today.

Love to see my girls write about their feelings!!

Hiding Among Us

"It is the hidden heart, not the selfish heart, that is hardest to change." John Ortberg. How true this statement is. What is really going on in Mia, Kennedy, and Lincoln's hearts?? Only He knows. I'm constantly praying over their little souls and begging for His molding and shaping to take place, regardless of my ill-parenting. I'm hoping I'm always fortunate enough to know and understand their hearts, their passions, and my kids' fears. Hoping their hearts are never hidden from me. I love this age cause they hold nothing back and let everything go!! Kennedy has no shame in collecting bugs, Mia says everything outloud and Lincoln expresses himself in his gestures, voices, and touch. This is a great moment to be living in.

Breaking Away to the Mountains

Again, one of my favorite vacations and it was virtually free and simple. We escaped to northern Arizona and stayed in a friend's cabin. Thanks to their generosity, we were able to steal away and have some family fun. Each day the girls woke up to check their cardboard mailboxes for fun prizes. I stashed up at the Dollar Store. We went for a hike in the rain, had hot cocoa, a fire, watched new movies, played Corn Hole, played at the park, ate Red Devil Pizza, and played Uno Attack! The best part was having a fire at lunch time and roasting hotdogs and then putting kids to bed while we played Corn Hole and drank some ice cold beverages. Watching my girls explore the outdoors and thrive was vacation enough for me. We love to be outside, soaking up the fresh air and drinking the warm sunshine. Looking forward to many more vacations like this one.