Wow

First and foremost... Someone gave me an award!! My new blogging friend, Cassandra, said the nicest things about me. Made me feel all loved. Even put a little tear in my eye. Thanks Cassandra!! I first found Cassandra over at MckMama's blog. MckMama does her not me Monday's and I saw the title for Cassandra's blog and had to check her out. Her title? Mama Needs A Time Out. Oh, how I could relate to her blog title alone! She's got great "not me's" and we've apparently both been blessed by my click to her blog... I love it when it works out like that!

I'm not so sure I'm creative and I don't really know the "rules" on this, but hey, she didn't either. She passed it on to three so, I'll do the same.

I'm starting with Rebecca. She and I have been friends since kindergarten. When my family moved from Southern California, she and I continued to keep in touch by writing letters. We were too young for the phone at that point and we never really graduated to the phone. We wrote letters back and forth for years... through boyfriends and break-ups. Graduations and weddings. Even into having babies. I don't remember the last time we wrote an actual letter as we're both busy moms now, but we still keep in touch. She is a great friend. A friend I don't see or talk to often, but we pick right back up where we left off. I love her! She's got a great blog about her family and for my wonderful friends that love to take pictures, she's a great photographer too!

Then there's Trish. Oh how she makes me laugh and warms my heart. There's just something about her. I love her writing. I love her! She's a great friend. I found out a secret about her a few months ago though. A secret that rocked my world. As I've mentioned before, I love to hug. After church one Sunday I walked up to Trish and gave her a big hug. She's a great hugger. You know how some people's hugs make everything better? That's what hers are to me. She feels safe. Guess what I found out after that hug? She's not a hugger!!! I'd been hugging her for months and I had no idea. Not even a hint. Another friend that was standing there said something about her hugging. I was shocked! Thankfully, she still hugs me. Thankfully, I think I'm pulling her over to the world of hugging. I'm so thankful for Trish!

Finally, because she's one of the most creative people I know and a wonderful friend too, there's Eryn. She is amazing!! She has been working her fanny off. Making beautiful treasures to sell for funds for the adoption of a baby girl from Ethiopia. Her treasures are beautiful and so is she. She is an amazing friend. She is gracious. She is loving. She is authentic. She is encouraging. She's who I want to be when I grow up. She's a blessing to all who know her!

Now, my friends who I've passed this award along to, please don't feel like you need to pass it on. I won't put that pressure on you...

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Moving along. I realized last night that I seem to complain about my craziness (not mental, of course. The kid kind. Although the mental could be there!) I started to think that people might get the wrong idea about me. They might just think I don't like my kids. I mean, really, does every one's kids drive them nuts like mine do, or am I alone in this? So, to show that I really and truly do love my children and my husband I'm doing a little tribute. Both to remind myself and to tell the world...

First, my husband. Oh how I love my husband. Cory is the perfect man for me. He loves me for me. He could care less if he comes home to me, day after day, with greasy hair, dirty sweatpants and a greasy face to boot. He doesn't care. He thinks I'm beautiful. He is a great Dad. He loves playing with his kids. He has a great sense of humor and can make me laugh even when I'm angry (don't tell him though!) I love him. I love that God created us for each other. God is so good!

Cole. Oh how I love this boy. He has been such a blessing to our family. I cannot believe it's been over a year now. He has such a great heart and to watch him play with the kids warms my heart. He and Brenton are the cutest to watch. B lights up when Cole walks into the room. Cole will tolerate just about anything that Brenton throws his way. He gives great hugs... when he wants to. He warms my heart.

Caden. My bug. My firstborn. He wears his heart on his sleeve. He loves his snuggles, even at 7. He has always been Daddy's boy, but I can tell, he's mine too. He just doesn't want to make his Daddy feel bad! He's thoughtful, sensitive, loving. He's 7 and getting to be a big boy. It's been fun to watch him grow from baby to boy. There are days I don't even recognize him. He says things that don't sound like him (good and bad). He's your typical firstborn. He obeys. He's cautious. He's my sweet sweet boy. He wraps his arms around my neck and squeezes tight as we pray before bed. He holds me close and I love that he still needs me. I know that in a few years it will probably be different. For now, I cherish my moments with him.



Jackson. My little spitfire. My sunshine. My charmer. He is the boy that can make you smile at any moment. He is funny. He is persistent. He is full of love and passion. He is the complete opposite of his brother. When he was a baby, we were at Costco. He was sitting in the cart smiling at everyone. Caden kept covering Jackson's eyes. I asked him why he kept doing that... "so he doesn't have to look at all the people." "Well, what if he wants to look at all the people?" "But, I don't like to look at the people Mama." Jackson has always had a ready smile. He's rarely serious. He gives the best hugs and squeezes with all his might. Oh, how I love my Jack Jack!

Ella. My princess. My blessing. My unanswered prayer. We were not trying to get pregnant. I didn't even know if I could handle another. Jackson was only 9 months old. I knew the very moment she was conceived. I prayed for 10 days that God would keep me from getting pregnant. I told God I could not handle it. I told God to please not let me get pregnant. God knew better. He knew we needed her. He knew how she would bless our lives. He knew. She is my daughter and my friend. She loves to play with me. I smashed my fingers the other night and went and sat on the couch. She came over, crawled up next to me and started rubbing my arm. She was comforting me without a word. No questions. Just loving me. She is kind hearted. She is loving. I watch her and am so thankful. Thankful that God knew better, thankful for her sweet heart, thankful that I must be doing something right to have her be so loving. I love to watch her and her Daddy. She loves him so. Whenever she hears the song "Cinderella" she goes running to her Daddy for a dance. It's beautiful.



Brenton. Mr. B. My baby. My miracle. He is so much like Jackson. Full of sunshine. Smile ready. Full of laughter. His sense of humor amazes me. He is only 2 and yet he knows how to work us. He is hilarious. He is opinionated (he has to be!) He is a snuggler. He is both Mommy's boy and Daddy's boy (can you tell we fight over that in our house?) He is obsessed with Bob the Builder these days and even started calling Bob by his first name. No Mr. Builder's here... just Bob. I am so thankful for him. He is the only one of our children that actually came when we thought the timing would be perfect. Both the boys were conceived with fertility meds. Ella surprised us. Brenton came just when we asked for him to come. Funny, it took us that long to get in alignment with God!

God has been so faithful. He has blessed me with an amazing family. They may drive me nuts at times but oh, what a blessing they are! I promise. So, for all the times I've said they drive me nuts, here are their wonderful qualities. Their blessings. Thank you Lord. Thank you for loving me and knowing me better than I know myself. Thank you for your faithfulness.

"Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them..." Psalm 127:3-5