Happy New year

I was thinking tonight about New Year, I do always look forward to it with anticiaption and excitement but I know sometimes there is a part of me that is also a little nervous. Yes, I know who holds the future, but I know that I still allow myself to become a little fearful. Maybe b/c this past year has been a little rough at times. Although in it all I have seen God's faithfulness, that has never changed.
I kind of see it as another chapter closing and one just about to open again! There are some things that we can anticipate happening, but again most of the time we just have to continue to trust as we continue in our daily journeys.

I look forward this year to building our house, we have a starting date now. They are breaking ground on Jan. 10th and we will start to build on 14th! I am excited and nervous about this new venture! I am excited about working with Sabin on the house! I can't think of a better building partner :)
I look forward to seeing Ethan & Micah learning and growing! They are both fun and great little boys. They bring us much joy!
I have hopes too for this New Year, it is so important to have hope. I think that is what keeps us going, but it needs to be focused on God. It is because of Him that we have hope :)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Time really does fly!!

So where did Christmas go? It is hard to believe that 2 days ago we actually celebrated our Savior's birth! As the popular saying goes 'Time really does fly" Yesterday we went into the grocery store and they already had a display of Valentine chocolate, gfits & candy all set up. I was in shock!!! Then today, I was in Walmart, all the Christmas candy, ornaments etc. were 50 % off and they had Valentine candy all set up opposite the reduced Christmas candy. The other weird thing I saw was they were also starting to bring in some Easter stuff too!!!! It seems like in the commerical world they go straight from one holiday to the other.
But it really made me stop and think about how we live our lives too!!! I was actually feeling quite sad yesterday, everything had pretty much returned back to normal, Sabin was even back to work and they didn't even have any special programs on the T.V??. Then today, when I returned from my little shopping trip, I came home to no Christmas tree!!! I was kind of sad, although I know Sabin was doing a good thing to help me! It almost seemed like we hadn't even celebrated Christmas. It seems like we too just get wrapped up in life, working, going to one appointment after another and sometimes we really don't stop. We too like the commerical world live for the next event rather than stopping and really enjoying what each day brings. Whether it is a special celebration or just another day! There are so many of those moments in each day that we can enjoy. Sometimes it may mean me stopping in the middle of dinner and turning off the stove so I can hold Micahor sitting down and helping Ethan put his train track together when I am in the middle of trying to fold yet another load of laundry. Maybe just apprecaiting those special moments in our childrens lives. Recently Ethan' s speech has really progressed. But on Christmas Eve, Ethan had stepped out of the shower, came over to me. I was standing right by our linen closet and he pointed and said to me " Hey I need a towel' Maybe not just so clear, but clear enough for us to exactly know what he was saying!!! As you can imagine Sabin & I stood their with our mouths open, then Sabin started to count on his fingers, he said 5 words!!!! yeaaahhh Ethan!!!
That is one of those precious moments that we again need to stop and enjoy!!

Looking for love?

Last night we took our boys to McDonalds in the evening as there is an indoor play area and they can let off some steam! They had been inside all day, so they were really in need of running around and getting out of the house and so was mummy too :)
Boy, that place was noisy, all it takes is for one child to scream and then they all start!!! You really wouldn't need to be of a nervous diposition!! There was probably 12 kids in there but it sounded like 50!!

Anyway, Micah was running back and forward having a blast, then all of a sudden he falls and hits his head. He got up and started to rub his head, we could see him looking around wondering if anyboy was going to show him love or symapathy, then he gets up and goes over to a little girl about the same age as himself and tries to give her a hug. Unfortunately for Micah the little girl wasn't too interested in the fact that he needed some tender loving care and someone to make him feel all better!
Thinking about it later, I thought about many people who are looking for love, for someone to know that they need a little tlc, someone to take notice of them and to show them that they are loved and are special. If we slow down enough or even stop and take a look around us when we are out and about, we can see them. Maybe it is that person in the grocery store who stops to talk to you about your baby, the person on the corner of the road with a sign for food, the tired mom at the dr. office? You just never know? Especially this time of year, it is a huge opportunity for us to take time and really show others what Christmas is all about! I know myself I feel like i am always in a hurry, so it is a good reminder to me too!
All of us have something to give to others even if it is our time, a smile and encouraging word you never know how you can bless others and be that TLC that they need!

breathing!

Do you ever wake up and just think, where do I start? It seems like so much needs to be taken care of and your house looks like such a mess you don't know where to start? Well that is how I felt this morning :) I didn't know whether to eat first, feed the kids, clean up , take a shower, have my coffee or just go back to bed!!!
So what I did do was pray! I prayed for a good attitude, strength and also for peace. It is so easy to get overwhelmed and I know when I feel like that I don't get much achieved and plus I also have a bad attitude that lasts throughout the day! So far things are going well!!!

Yesterday the boys had been playing in their bedroom, I walked in there to find they had gone into their closet and had opened every box that was in there. The boxes had been filled with clothes that I needed to either give away or take to good will! They had piled the clothes up on the floor and had taken the boxes and had made a tower :) I didn't know whether to be frustrated with them for the mess or to praise them for their creativity!!! They were having so much fun with those boxes and actually played with them most of the day and this morning. I know it is so easy for me to react and then realize afterwards ok if I just take a moment to breath and think about the siutation, maybe it is not so bad!!

The last few weeks, I have had a lot of those moments!! As a mum/mom you want to do your best and do your best for your family!
Since we have had Ethan's diagnosis of Autism, I have had some really good and some really bad days!! I have tried to step back at times and evaluate the situation, but there are times when I am so exhausted, upset and confused that I know I don't react the way I should!
I think God that He is a God who never changes, he is the same each and everyday, no matter the situation. Midst the craziness, I thank God for that as it is one of the things that keeps me getting up and doing what He has called me to do each day!

A full belly and a full heart

Well we just got back after spending Thanksgiving with Sabin's mom. We drove out to her house on Wed. night and stayed there until Lunch time today ( Saturday). It was a good time for us! I have to say we enjoyed the fact that we only had to drive 30 mins to stay with family. It is nice out at her house, it is quiet, she has no landline phone and only 2 channels on her TV! Some people may see this as a disadvantage, but it was actually a Blessing! It meant no internet connection, so I was forced to take a break from cyber world! One of my weaknesses! Also not much of a TV choice, so another good thing! And no phone ringing!
Thanksgiving dinner was a treat and so delicious as always!! Everyone ate until their hearts and stomachs were content! Then the best part of the day for me was I got to take a nap!!!! A very rare treat for me and it was wonderful, I felt like it was my birthday :)
Both boys got to play outside until they were filthy dirty! This was a definite treat for them too. Ethan especailly as he got to play in his Grandma's dirt pile!! I am amazed though as bthey don't seem to feel the cold, although I had them bundled up and then they got to take warm showers!
Sabin and I did join the other crazy people out shopping, but we didn't get up at an ungodly hour, we woke up when we were ready and then headed in to see what was left! We did come home with some great buys and the coolest thing of all is a new Christmas tree for our house! I am so excited to decorate our little place and dream of what it will be like hopefully next year to decorate our brand new home!!!

Well, I need to finish up but this was one of our best holidays in a long time and a really relaxing and fun few days!! We feel refreshed and ready to face the challenges of a new week!

Thanksgiving

I love Thanksgiving! One of my favorite American holidays!! I am not sure why, I think it is maybe that it is not as commerialised as Christmas and it does seem to be a little more low key! I enjoy the turkey and all the fixings and most of all the time to be with my family! For my friends back in Northern Ireland I thought I would post a link to a website if you are interested in finding out what is all about! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving

I am going to try today and attempt to make gluten free bread rolls for the boys! They love bread and with them being on a gluten/dairy free diet I always feel so bad for them when they can't have what we are enjoying! I am also going to make a pumpkin cake that they can eat and they love! SO I am going to get going here soon and attempt to make these rolls. Ethan is in preschool this morning and Micah is actually still fast asleep, so a good time for me to go and get busy!

The day after Thanksgiving day is known as Black Friday! It is because it is one of the biggest retail days in America and where most businesses hope to get out of the black finacially! It is CRAZY!!! But I actually kind of enjoy going out there and watching all the craziness! I am definitely not willing to wait in line for that next great deal, but if I can make it up and out there I may brave the crowds on Friday!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING :)

Simple Pleasures

As a mum sometimes my days are so busy and even a little stressful. As I go about my day, I like to try and enjoy the simple things of life. It might be something my boys do or some kind of yummy treat or just whatever comes my way! Since Ethan doesn't really talk very much, when he does say something or says something new it causes a lot of excitement around here! One of his latest passions is hotdogs, I was very happy recently to find gluten free, perservative free hotdogs at our grocery store. He absolutely loves them! The other day I found some breakfast sausage links that were also all natural. We cooked them up for breakfast and Ethan sat up at the breakfast bar and he looked at them and started to say baby, baby, baby hotdogs :)

Micha has figured how to get out of his crib at night. So we had a few nights of him in and out, in and out of the crib and his bedroom. On Saturday night, we put him back in again and he never came out, so we were glad about that! I always check on the boys before I go to bed, to make sure they have their blankets over them! I walked into the bedroom to find Micah laying on the floor right beside Ethan's bed fast asleep, he had all his blankets righ there! He looked so snuggly and warm! I decided to let him sleep there, he slept until 5am when I heard his little footsteps so I went in and put him back into his crib with his blanket and he went back to sleep :) They were having their own little slumber party!

I love this time of year as the grocery store always has some kind of different foods. The other day I found a new treat for me at the grocery store, it is called Chai Nog! Anyway once the boys are in bed, I make myself a cup of this Chai nog and last night I really splurged and put some whipped cream and nutmeg on top.......hhmmmm delicious!!

I think it is good to stop and enjoy the simple pleasures of life, they give us joy, refreshment and sometimes just a that little bit of encouragement to keep going!

Feeling Thankful

Well I think it has been almost a month since I set this up and wrote anything!! I am not doing too good am I ?
Well with Thanksgiving coming up, I have been thinking about what I am thankful for! I wrote something the other day for a competition that was on the radio . You were to write or call in with what you were thanful for, so this is what I shared with them! I didn't get a call or win anything but it was good for me to sit down and write this, so I am going to share it here too!

Being Thankful!
I think what I am most thankful for is God's faithfulness! This past year has been a like a rollercoaster ride for our family! We have 2 beautiful little boys, Ethan aged 4 1/2 and Micah 22 months! Over the last couple of years we have had some concerns over our oldest sons development. We had our suspicions and fears but never had an official diagnosis. In Sept. this year we took Ethan for a full development evaluation and our fears were confirmed! Our little boy was diagnosed with autism. For us as parents we had felt for over a year that we had been walking around in darkness, just finally to know what was going on with our little boy was a relief! The day we were told this news, I did feel very sad but I also had an amazing sense of God's peace and also confidence that He was going to be with us each step of this journey!
I am not saying it is easy, my husband and I both have days of feeling sad, disappointment with the situation, and an overwhelming sense of the responsibilty of raising this precious little boy!! But in the midst of all this we have been very aware of God's provision for our family. We took a step of faith at the beginning of the year, my husband resigned from his job as a youth pastor, and we moved our family so that we could be closer to my husbands mom! We also wanted to be in an area where we could get more help for our son. We had no job and no home, but each step of the way God has provided exactly what we need! We don't know what God has long term for our family, but we are willing to follow Him each step of the way, as we know we cannot do it without Him! We also know God's timing is perfect in everything that has happened in the last year.

Joining the bloggers

Well this is something I have been wanting to do for quite some time now!! I love to write, so thought this would be a fun and creative way for me to jot down my thoughts when I have one!!
I have family and freinds all over the world, so another great way to keep everybody updated!

I need to try and figure out how to post pictures but when I do, I will try and post some pictures of me and my family!

Well I am going to go and try and figure out this blog business a bit more, but will be trying to write something on a regular basis...............Love Jayne