Our Buddy, Drew turned 2!

We had such a fun time at Drew's 2nd birthday! He had his party at the University of Gymnastics and the kids loved it! Clay had so much fun on the trampoline. Happy Birthday sweet Drew!

2009 Lessons Learned

(I started this 3 weeks ago and just now sat down to finish.)

I love reading annual Christmas letters from our friends and family members. So for 2009, I decided that I would do my first ever letter for our growing family. As I sat down at my computer and began to type, I realized that that was the purpose of our blog: to document our lives as a scrapbook of sorts. I have made such an effort to keep our blog updated, so I felt like a Christmas letter would be redundant. Therefore, I scratched that idea, but was led to another. This year, I have learned so much about God, life, marriage, parenting and business… and also how little I know about each of these things. So, for 2009, I am going to document all of my “lessons learned!” … some the hard way, some the easy way, and some the round-about way!

Lessons learned about God: I have been so richly blessed by Bible Study Fellowship and the dept of the study. I feel so challenged by studying the Bible. We began studying the book John in August and I just love how God has spoken to me through it. I have learned that can God use all circumstances for His glory. And, His glory is all that matters, plainly stated in John 3:30: “He must increase, but I must decrease.” I am constantly reminded of this in all arenas of life. I am challenged to give up my rights and desires, so that His purposes can be accomplished in my life. I struggle with this daily. What a great lesson to be learning right before facing the most physically demanding time of my child-rearing years.

Lessons learned about life: it is not fair. We will suffer and pay for others’ poor choices and mistakes whether it is in business, politics, or even church. Yet, I am called to forgive. No exceptions. Hopefully, when I make a poor choice, the person that endures its consequences will be gracious to me. Life is not fair, because there will always be somebody thinner and prettier than me, more accomplished than me, a better mom and wife than me, more creative than me, and the list goes on. Yet, a dear friend once said to me “Envy is the thief of all joy!” and that will forever stick in my mind. On the other side of this coin, life is not fair because I have been blessed way more than I deserve. I do not deserve my wonderful husband, my healthy and vibrant son, my growing baby girl, my loving parents, my wonderful in-laws, great friends, a beautiful and warm home, and the ability to stay at home with my child(ren). There are days that I feel like life is too good to be true. When, I hear about friends can’t get pregnant, have children with cancer, husbands who have lost their jobs, etc., I am quickly reminded that, yes indeed, life is not fair. Not fair because I have all that I have ever dreamed of and they are hanging by a thread. So, life is not fair in many ways and, for that, I am thankful!

Lessons learned about marriage: Never claim to have the perfect marriage or to be the perfect spouse. Kyle is involved in a men’s Bible study and they were discussing how easy it is to slip into lust and/or adultery. To claim, “It won’t be me” is a huge mistake. We have learned to always be on guard, protect and fight for our marriage. Marriage is a responsibility with no vacations or sick days. Biblical marriage is not honored in our society, infidelity is looked over, and divorce is accepted and even expected. Therefore, we are required to fight for our marriage with withhold the holy covenants that we made to one another and God. Kyle and I constantly have to take time for one another in order for our marriage to be healthy. Between work, kids, and other responsibilities, marriage can so easily take a back seat. We celebrated five years this past August and look forward to many more years to come and many more lessons to be learned!

I look forward to all the lessons that 2010 will bring!

Conversation with Clay

Driving on the highway, we see a large tractor (larger that normal) on the side of the road, this is the conversation that follows:

Me: "Clay, WOW! that is a big tractor!"
Clay: "No Mommy, baby tractor"
Me: "That is a baby tractor? It looks like a really big tractor to me."
Clay: "No, baby tractor. Daddy's tractor is big tractor!"

Lamby & Pappy

Lamby and Pappy are Clay's lamb blanket and pacifier. By some people's standards, he has probably outgrown them, but I can't bring myself to get rid of them. He only gets them during nap time and bedtime (and the occasional desperate moment). I think that it is cute. If he decides that he wants to take lamby and pappy to college, so be it!

Help for Haiti

This morning, our pastor presented the opportunity to help with the relief efforts in Haiti. The Children's Hunger Fund returns 99% of all money given back to those in need. They have been working around the clock to provide water, food and other necessities to those in Haiti. Please consider giving to help their efforts and PRAY for those hurting people in Haiti!

I can't even imagine not being able to feed my baby or lay him down in a warm bed. That is so far from my comprehension. Haiti is the most underdeveloped and the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, so the devastation is so vast.

I am ashamed to admit that I hadn't given Haiti much thought after hearing about the earthquake. I had seen the pictures on the news and seen other information on blogs, yet failed to even pray.

'I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink'...Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink?...'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.' Matthew 25:35, 37, 40

Kyle and I were so fortunate to travel to Cuba in 2005. My heart just aches for those in Haiti, because I think of those sweet Christian people in Cuba. Haiti is not only geographically close to Cuba, but I assume that the conditions are very similar too.

March 25, 2010

... that is when we expect to meet our baby girl. Avery's birthday is expected to be March 25th. I scheduled my c-section yesterday at my doctor's appointment. We picked the 25th, because Kyle's birthday is June 25. We like sticking with numbers that we know. Our anniversary is August 7 and Clay's birthday is November 7. We can't wait to meet our sweet little girl on March 25.

She, obviously, is growing because I gained 8 POUNDS since my last appointment. I have gained 15 pounds total, 8 in month of December. Yikes. My thighs are probably growing just as rapidly as Avery is! ha!

We have finally started preparing for the big change. We have moved Clay into his big boy room and bed. He started climbing out of his crib, so we had to make the transition for safety reasons. So far, he has done really well at night. Nap time is a different story. I am hoping that it won't always take two hours to get him to stay in his bed and go to sleep for naps.

It was so bittersweet to move him out of his crib: proof of the inevitable. I am ready to start preparing the new nursery, yet so sad to see my baby boy grow up.

We have a lot to do before March 25: potty train (maybe), purchase double stroller, decorate Avery's nursery, prepare Clay for his sister (he is NOT going to like sharing the attention).......

In the meantime, we covet your prayers and thank you for loving our Clay-boy and our little Aves.

Clay's Best Friend:

Elmo!!! This is what I found this morning during Sesame Street.