today it snowed!  in October! Ava & Jack were at the window all morning ...eyes wide with wonder!
Jack in his sweet army PJ's...on his tiptoes.and Ava in pink elephants...
we lost power..no heat..but had a joyful day!! lots of reading books...snacks &  chocolate almond milk!

happy day!

kids were shouting out window to daddy and pop shoveling ..."no hat pop..no hat Dada! silly pop ..silly Dada..snow on head!"

things

this is my very brave sister betsie... we may not look alike but we always say we are twins...                        born 10 yrs apart...miss her.

my toughguy sandman creating chalk masterpieces with his little girl...

ava the artist

hula fun

sweetness....

wonderful

so. our life has certainly been crazy ...

but some things are  just wonderfully the same...

~the way ava snuggles up as close as she can while we read nighttime books

~jacks face when he explores...such wonder!!

~the sweet smell of fresh out of the bath babies &  the warm smell of the my sandman after working in the sun

o lovely

o love:
the way Ava randomly stops playing to shout out Jack. baby Elle ..just to make sure they are around..and ..how every night she says her prayers then says goodnight to the cheepcheeps..how excited she gets over freeze pops and how she never forgets if I say she can have one after dinner...her obvious joy over the smallest thngs( "o wow")  her sense of wonder...
Jacks tight arms around my neck after his nap. the way he says 'me to me to'..whenever he sees food.
how observant he is and the long  he spends exploring his toys before playing..his sweet voice saying amen after prayers..and the smacking sound of his kisses...
Ella's big stretches. and curled up body next to me.the way she fits just right on my shoulder or lying on daddy's chest...the almost smile I see right around the corner..

walk in the park (-ing lot)

went for a walk on this delicious autumn day...
ava & jack both jump at any chance to go "out" .. the run to the front door where the pile of shoes resides...(ugh)
ella was asleep in the sling and the (big) babies couldnt wait to "run..run..run..."

   o love.

psalm 16:6

The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;

surely I have a delightful inheritance.



some days just feel completely overwhelming.
some nights I just feel like crying.

but
neither height nor depth can keep me from Him...its His call on my life that I m clinging too.....

grace

"...if you never bless me once again..its enough Your grace has took my sin..and ill use my mouth and my life to tell the world...."

right now my world is small...babies...mommy & me group...friendly strangers at the store...

but o Lord!
help my countenance ...my small talk. my life reflect your Grace.

warrior calling

feeling challenged. stirred.

as i prayed goodnight prayers over my beautiful babies tonight and spoke the promises God gave me for them before they were born..I felt my heart stir.
and my God quickened my spirit ~
and challenged me to remember the promises spoken over me ...the calling on my own life..

to walk confident in my warrior calling.

I hear you Father. I'm listening.

in these moments...my heart grows stronger. my faith expands. my spirit soars. amazing love.

ava

dear bluebird,
my big girl..your legs are soooo long!
and your vocabulary is growing every day! I especially love the joy in your voice when you say " o wow" or ask me.." mama too?..jack too ? baby elle ..dada too..?"
or when u bring me a book and ask to read.
& watching you look out the window at the chipmunks...then run to find your shoes..
Ava. my miracle. l o v e.
xoxo
mama

ella

dear victory girl,
your 6 wks old.
tonight I rocked you to sleep..then I couldn't put you down...you smelled so sweet and felt so perfectly wonderful snuggled in my arms. so warm...just right...
your already changing and growing...my last baby. . . grow slow....
xoxo mama

jack

dear Jack,
I love how you fold your hands at bedtime and say amen.
I love how you hum along when I sing you a lullaby.
I love your little hands around my neck and the way you stick your tongue out after sweet kisses.
xoxo
mama