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!