Turning 40

So I had a big problem with turning 30. I'll admit it, I was vain and thought, OH I'm so old. However, I was getting married so I wasn't that upset, at least I was doing that and marrying a wonderful man, who is now the best husband. However, I actually was looking forward to turning 40. My 30's have been so far the best years of my life, God has blessed me so richly. Not only did I get married, but we have been able to purchase our own homes, take several vacations, of course have 4 of the most beautiful children in the world (yes I'm biased, of course this picture doesn't do them justice, but this is what they look like at the end of a long day) but I have also been able to stay home and take care of them and be their mom. So what I have I learned in the past decade, am I wiser?...Maybe, I know one thing for sure, life is never what you planned. "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."Jeremiah 29:10-12 Yes this verse is used quite frequently in the bible but I love it anyway, because my plans aren't always his plans, thank you for that. I don't always have the big picture and he always does. He has given me way more than I deserve and even on my worst days when I am broken, exhausted and weak, but I wouldn't change a thing. My life is not perfect, and I make lots of mistakes daily but he gives me the strength to get through the days and hope to keep going. I cannot wait to see what he does in my 40's, because my 30's were amazing.

The Flu

So just to let you all know, no I have not been ignoring my blog, I've just been swamped. Last week Michael was out of town and had to go to Texas, fun stuff. I asked my parents and my mother-in-law if they could come to help me out because he would be gone the entire week. An eternity with four kids. Well on Sunday when we woke up, I could hear Jaden start to cough and I thought he was catching Madison's sinus infection, turns out by Thursday, after two trips to the doctors and several breathing treatments, Jaden was confirmed to have the Flu. Now mind you I am a stickler for getting everyone their flu shot in the fall, but of course in the fall, Jaden was too young so when they asked me if we wanted to give it to him in January I declined thinking that Flu season would soon be over and we could wait until the fall. I half regret that decision now only because even if he had received the flu shot he might still have gotten the flu just a different strain of it. Needless to say it was a long week, with little sleep and a very unhappy little boy. Thank goodness I had help, or I would not have made it.

Prayers

My friend Leighann and her husband Henry need prayers for their little boy who was born with part of his organs outside his body, please pray for them as they begin the next few months in the hospital and that their little boy will continue to not only survive, but thrive.

Here is there blog so you can follow their story.

http://marquissclan.blogspot.com/

Valentine's Day

We had a pretty low key Valentine's day. We got up we got the kids some small gifts, a movie (An American Girl One..we've been reading the books lately and they love them), pj's we found on sale for almost nothing, and small toys for Madison and Jaden. Michael and I aren't really into celebrating, although he always picks me up flowers and chocolate, but we aren't one of those families that goes all out, we think you should show the people you love you love them 365 days out of the year. But we had fun an dtook some pictues, it was fun.

Check out the hair!!! I don't know what to do with it.

Bible Study

So I started a bible study on Thursday's last week, the first one in a long time and it felt really good. Finally something for me, even though Jaden didn't do so well. It's a Beth Moore study on Esther. Beth Moore being one of my favorite teachers is always so forthright. Well today the study was on the chapter two and how Haman hated Mordecai because Mordecai would not bow to him, and thus Beth showed us how the feud between the Jews and the Agagites came from history and culminated to hatred and meanness. If you are familiar with the book of Esther (one of my favorite books in the bible), Haman in the end gets his, it's good and Esther is a pivotal strong woman who is brave, and humble in a smart way, it's one of the million reasons I love Esther. However Beth talked about meanness in people and meanness in ourselves. It was incredible, because as always she is spot on. One point in particular which resonated with me deeply was watching the meanness come out when someone is mean to our children. She made a comment about how you can hate an 8 year old for being mean to your little girl. Oh how that hit me hard. Yesterday I went to Jordan's school for lunch and witnessed two girls at Jordan's table being mean to another, purposely ignoring her and torturing this poor girl as she sat there. After 15 minutes my heart couldn't take it any more, I pulled the girl aside and told her not to allow the two of them to make her feel that way, that only she could allow them to make her feel bad or she could choose to feel good about herself (unfortunately I could not go into God loves you no matter what, I'm not sure about the whole public school and how God fits into it. Although I imagine not being a faculty member but a parent wouldn't make much of a different). Anyway, she felt better for only a few minutes but lunch was over after that. I was so upset when I got home, I had to pray right then and there, because I wanted God to soften my heart toward these two girls. Not just for the sake of the other little girl but for my daughter as well. I know she sees these things and takes them to heart, she is different and I think she is noticing she is different so I don't want them to make fun of her. I prayed for wisdom so that I can give my daughters all of them, the tools to handle these girls and this type of situation and how to show Christ's love to all the girls regardless of what they have done, hard lesson even for me. Later I sat with the girls and explained the situation and tried to see if they understood what was going on and why it was wrong. I told them how we can show love, why God wants us to show them love even if we feel like we can't. Hard lesson. It was a hard for me to explain why these girls were like this, that unfortunately they did not have Christ in their heart and we just need to pray for them. My heart still aches 2 days later.

Not Lost

OK so it's been a while since I've posted, like always been kind of crazy. But here are some recent pics.

I have yet to get one of all 4 with them smiling, I'm still working on it.

First Snow

We had the first snow of the season. The kids have been dying for it to snow and it finally did, they have been in and out all day, playing in the snow. Even Madison who I was sure wouldn't last 5 minutes really didn't want to come in, she loved it. They can't wait for Michael to come home so he can take them sleigh riding (might not happen if it's too dark) but at least he'll build a snow man with them before it rains tomorrow and it's all gone.