Memoirs of a Mommy: October 2010

Sunday, October 24, 2010

5 years ago God gave us YOU!

Dear Josiah,
5 years ago today God made our family complete by sending us YOU! It was a rainy day in Dayton, Ohio and I remember stopping to get a sandwich at subway on the way to the hospital around dinner time. We knew daddy wouldn't get to eat for a long time while we were waiting for you to arrive so we had to fill his tummy first. :) I think I have a hard time remembering the time in the hospital because it was just very uneventful. Maybe since I was a mommy who already had 3 kids they thought I didn't need much help. But for the most part, it was just daddy and me waiting for you to arrive. When it was time for your grand entrance the doctor came and just like the other kids you came in just a few minutes. You were really cute and you weighed exactly the same as your big brother, 9 lbs 6 oz. The other kids were so excited when they got to come to the hospital to see you. They liked to take you for walks up and down the hallway in your little bed. When you came home from the hospital you spent a lot of time with daddy because your bed was in his office and he was working on his thesis. You liked to sit in your bouncer seat next to him and listen to classical music. I'm pretty sure he told you lots of top secret stuff but I'm guessing you don't remember. If you are really good at physics someday I guess we can attribute it to your early exposure. :)
These days you love playing outside, always getting REALLY dirty, riding your bike and playing with the neighbor boys. You are learning so much in school and it seems like you are changing, growing up, more and more each day. Sometimes I see you sitting on the couch looking at a book and I just can't believe you are so big. You see, even though you don't like it when I say you are my baby, you ARE my baby, my last baby...and even though I'm so proud of all the amazing things you can do, I'm also a little sad that it's the last time for all these "firsts". So you are just going to have to get used to me saying things like, "I can't believe my baby is going to school." Or "I can't believe my baby is driving!" Or I can't believe my baby is graduating." Because you're going to be hearing it your entire life....I know because I'm Grammie's baby and I still hear it from her. :) Try not to let it bother you too much it's just another way you'll know how much I love you. So HAPPY 5th BIRTHDAY Josiah. Mommy loves you all the way to the moon and back and I'm so proud of you and all the amazing things you do. You are very special and I'm thankful that 5 years ago today God gave us YOU!

We celebrated your birthday at Chuck E Cheese with some friends. In case you're wondering, Uncle James is responsible for the bunny ears here. In a few years, you'll be able to take him down and you can get him back. :)

Takin' an older chick out for a spin in your jeep...just like your daddy.

You are still in love with all things John Deere and Grammie and Poppi came through with this awesome shirt and tractor socks! So cool!

Grammie also made a John Deere blanket. You were ready to throw your other blanket in the trash after you opened this gift but I convinced you to just keep both. You are so funny.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

I know, I know, I'm a slacker

I guess I've been a little unmotivated as far as blogging goes for a while. I'm not sure why that is. There are lots of times when something happens or we have some kind of event and I think, "I should blog about this later..." but then I just don't do it. So you'll just have to settle for another catch up post from this slacker mama.
A lot has happened since our final summer trip. Bob and I went to Denver, CO to attend a wedding. The wedding was fun and I got to see my sister and her family too. It was just a nice long weekend away from all the craziness that had been surrounding us. Only a few days after we got back from Denver the kids started school at Zion Christian. We are so thankful for excellent teachers and very nice friends.
We've had several exciting and fun activities in the last several months. We went to Irish Fest in Kalamazoo with our friends Chuck and Kathy. It was so much fun! We ate and danced and ate and got to see Irish dancing and heard a really fun Irish band. Good friends, good times! We also went to the circus with our buddies the Jippings. I just love the circus. We liked the little doggie act, the elephants, the guy getting shot out of the cannon, the high wire...it was all great! Aside from these BIG events the kids have started some other activities as well. Abigail has started up piano lessons again and is doing spectacular! I'm so proud of the progress she is making. Joshua has started Cub Scouts and just loves it. Next weekend he is going on his first Scout hike, which is sure to be a GREAT adventure! Chloe and Josiah are both taking gymnastics and loving it. Chloe's cartwheels and handstands have improved so much in just a few weeks we are amazed. And Josiah earned his first ribbon in his class. He loves to tumble (but I already knew that)!
Last weekend we went to a Fall Fest at our local YMCA and the kids all had the chance to climb the rock wall. Chloe declined the opportunity, said she'd rather watch the other kids. But everyone else gave it a go. It was Josiah's first time doing the rock wall and he did great! He kept up with Joshua the whole way and never got scared. That's my little dare devil. It's hard to believe in just a few days he will be 5 years old! Crazy! Actually, sometimes it's hard to believe he's only 4 years old. He does so much to keep up with the big kids that I often have to remind myself he's just little...my baby.
So I know I should address the question that we get on a regular basis..."How's the job hunt going?" As of right now, today, we don't have a job or an offer for a job. We are waiting...still. There have been a few interviews and actually we are waiting to hear back on a job right now. But waiting is the operative word here. Recently, one of my dear friends was praying for me over the phone and she prayed that I would find security in God and not in a job that my husband might find (or might not find as the case may be). It's a tough lesson to learn when you feel the burden of bills and private school and groceries and health care and so much more bearing down on you. So we are "Trusting in the Lord with all our hearts and leaning not on our own understanding". Well, that's what we are striving for anyway, we fail a lot....okay, I fail a lot. I told a friend a mine that my theme song should be the old kids song, "He's still workin' on me. To make me what I ought to be. It took Him just a week to make the moon and the stars, the sun and the moon and Jupiter and Mars. How loving and how patient He must be! He's still workin' on me." So that's where we are. I promise I'll update when we get job news. Hopefully that will be really soon! :)