Thankful List ~ January through March 2018

January – March

The first three months of 2018 have shown us again that God is worthy of all praise. Josh’s job changed directions and now he is working as an independent consultant for Keller Williams.  Although we are excited about this we did not think this would happen in this timing.  With this change, we have had to fully trust on the Lord to provide for our family.  Josh is working many days in a row without a break and very long hours.  I am so thankful for what initiative, determination, and integrity my awesome husband has.  I completely trust the Lord will provide for us because he loves us and will give us all that we need. 

We’ve been blessed to also have lots of friends and family come visit us, some for dinner, some just to hang out, and quiet a few to stay the night.  We love celebrating what the Lord is doing in the lives of all these people and we are so thankful for dear friendships.

We’ve continued to enjoy our church, our homeschool community, and establishing a routine in our city.  The kids have loved taking part in another season of soccer, weekly library visits, classes at the YMCA, and Addi even got to take a cooking class with a friend.

Thankful List ~ July through December 2017

July through December Thankful List

Here’s a bullet point summary of our lives over the past 6 months!  A lot of great things and a lot of challenging things, yet we count ourselves blessed and have numerous reasons to be thankful!

July 4th celebrations on the lake and with community group friends.

Vacation Bible School in GA at my cousin’s church.

Josh and I celebrated our 13^th Anniversary!

Addilyn and Josiah participated in drama camp.

Volunteered at Exodus Kids Extreme!

Grace Baptist Church in Cumming, GA Homecoming!

Summer movies at local theaters (Sing, Peanuts, etc.).

Swimming at the apartment pool, the YMCA pools, and Addilyn passing swim tests!

Checking out a reading TONS of library books.

Aubri learned to crawl, wave by-by (backwards), and clap her hands.

Josiah’s Army Birthday Party.

Josiah starts swimming!

Start of the homeschool year with a 2nd grader and a 1st grader.

Traveled to SC see the solar eclipse.

Start of our Classical Conversations co-op.

Tutoring Classical Conversations Abecedarians.

Potty training Elias.

Tuesday night soccer practices and Saturday morning soccer games.

Watching Aubri learn to pull up, stand and start taking a step or two.

Start of another academic homeschool co-op, Smaritian’s Scholars.

Writing lesson plans, homework assignments, and grading.

Josh “holding down the fort” for his company while boss was abroad for six weeks.

Losing a loved one and helping to plan/ coordinate the funeral.

Four separate one-hour-long new patient/ well-visits at a new pediatrician.

Josh took a six week Real Estate Course.

Out of town company on ten different occasions (seven of those overnight).

A teething baby.

Changing banks and updating all billing information.

Closing on our new home.

Painting almost every room in our new house.

Repairing other aspects of the new house.

Redoing all the kitchen cabinetry in the new house.

Pulling up carpet and laying hardwood in the new house.

Packing…again.

Josh studying day and night and all weekends for his realtor exams.

Josh taking real estate school exam, national exam, and state exams.

Traveling out of town and staying overnight on twelve different occasions.

Editing deadlines for the church devotional team.

Three pediatric dentist appointments.

Adult dentist appointments.

Multiple orthodontist appointments.

Five trips to Ikea.

Building bunk beds, twin beds, cribs, bookshelves, tables, chairs, and cabinets.

Dealing with getting new drivers license, vehicle inspections, tags, etc.

Change of address for everything.

Moving from the apartment into our new house.

Dealing damaged belongings from the storage unit and insurance issues.

Sorting through belongings from storage and deciding to either restore or trash.

Washing 35+ loads of baby clothes and resorting by gender and size.

Trying to spend quality fun time with the kids while unpacking and getting settled.

Unpacking boxes and purging the many things we don’t need.

Aubri learning to walk, drink from a cup by herself, giving hugs and kisses, playing peek a boo and pat-a-cake.

Family pumpkin patch and pumpkin carving.

Aubri’s 1^st Birthday!!!

Creating Toy Story Costumes for Halloween.

Trick or Treating.

Mountain trip and hiking up Roan Mountain near Ashville.

Thanksgiving in our new home and then traveling to GA.

Multiple field trips with the kids to Kings Mountain Battleground, Mayfield Dairy Plant, to see Mary Poppins the Musical, and the Nutcracker.

Christmas festivities such as parades, light shows, gingerbread house building competition, baking and decorating cookies, and more.

Ashville trip for Hallie’s Graduation.

Tour of Sierra Navada and the Biltmore Estate.

Christmas and New Year’s Eve parties.

Thankful List ~ January through June 2017

January through June Thankful List

Wow, how has it been six months since I wrote out a thankful list?  Time goes much too quickly these days.

Addilyn, Josiah, Elias, and Aubri growing, learning, and developing.  Addilyn’s reading has taken off and she not only is reading chapter books but also reading aloud to Josiah and Eli.  She is so helpful with Aubri, loves crafting, and helping in the kitchen. She is exceptionally nurturing and self-sufficient.  Josiah grew up overnight.  Although still a sweet rambunctious little boy, he has matured so much over the past six months.  He is much more focused during lessons, has become a big helper, and is more willing to try new things.  Elias’ vocabulary has grown tremendously and he rarely stops talking.  He is fearless, stubborn, and makes sure to get his own way.  Aubri is still the “perfect baby.”  She eats and sleeps well.  She is rolling over and sitting up but has yet to crawl (thank goodness).  Recently she started babbling “mama” but I’m not completely convinced it actually means mama.

Here is a bullet point list of just a few other things we are incredibly thankful for over the past 6 months.

·      Friendships at Calvary:   Our community group!  Trip and Lisa Rodgers and how they absolutely love our children and serve sacrificially.  The CBC prayer ministry and friendships with Anita, Lisa, and Brenda.  The passion and zeal of the youth.

·      North Carolina Wesleyan College International Student Ministry:  I was so thankful for Katherine inviting me to be a part of the ministry, for Dawn and Donna welcoming me.  I enjoyed planning and hosting the Calvary Board Game Night, the community group cookout, an Easter party, going to the events on campus like the International Festival and Taste the Nations lunches.

·      Homeschool:  Josiah started understanding reading and math concepts, which was a huge highlight for the semester.  We took lot of fun field trips as a family and with Shepherd’s Co-Op.  Addi and Josiah were also able to participate in their very first craft fair. I thoroughly enjoyed spending more time with other homeschool moms this semester.  Addi and Josiah both did basketball.  We found an affordable dance class for Addi and in the spring she played soccer again while Josiah tried out baseball for the first time.

·      My dental work:  We were finally in a place where we could take care of all my dental work that needed to be done.  Dr. Gaskins was so generous with his time and care for me.  I also had oral surgery and then I began Invisalign.

·     Transitions:  A series of events led to Josh and I evaluating God’s call for our future.  We decided to relocate to Charlotte to help with the planning of a future church plant.  The Lord allowed all the details to fall into place with the selling of our house very quickly.  God provided a place for us to live in Charlotte and our new community group welcomed us with eagerness.  We are still waiting for the Lord to provide a new job for Josh but we are trusting in faith, as He has provided everything else in a remarkable way.

Thankful List ~ December 2016

December 2016 Thankful List

Well we are at the end of another year and able to express yet again so many things we are thankful for.  I’m thankful that my mom got to visit again at the beginning of the month.  The kids had fun going fishing with her and spending an afternoon at Chuckie Cheese playing games with her. 

I am thankful for my husband and how much he serves and loves our family.  Even with having a newborn he has continued to find a way to help me have an hour to myself occasionally so that I can have an uninterrupted quiet time or work on a project that makes me feel accomplished.

We were able to go visit family in GA the week before Christmas.  It was wonderful to see everyone. It was the first time in several years that we were able to get together with all of Josh’s immediate family at one time.  It was a very sweet time and we are so glad that Josh’s mom is doing a bit better.  Susu took Addilyn to the American Doll store to eat and to get her hair done. My dad took Josh and I to see the new Star Wars (Rogue One) movie.   And, my mom’s side of the family had their huge get together.  Unfortunately, Addi and Josiah got the stomach bug and were throwing up for part of it, but fortunately it didn’t last long.

I am thankful for my kids who keep me busy and bring me so much joy.  Addi has become such a big girl.  She helps with everything including cooking, cleaning, and caring for her siblings.  Addi was also in the Calvary Christmas production.  This year she was a sand princess.”   I thought she was adorable.  She knew every line of every person for the entire play. Josiah is becoming more helpful as he is getting older too.  Josiah has been doing great with learning how to read and he is catching on to some math concepts we’ve been working on for awhile.  Eli is so funny.  He is always saying something or doing something to make us laugh. I turned around one day and he was in Aubri’s baby swing just having a good old time.  He has recently become completely obsessed with all things “Tar Warrrrs” (Star Wars).  In fact, he will sing both the basic Star Wars song and the Darth Vader song. And of course, sweet baby Aubri is an absolute joy.  She is such a good baby.  She sleeps well and nurses great.  She started giving us really big smiles this month, which just melt my heart. We are all so thankful for her and how she has already depended our family’s love for one another.

Thankful List ~ November 2016

I have been so very thankful this month for how God has blessed out family.  My husband is more amazing than I can ever describe.  We have four healthy, smart, and beautiful children.  Addi, Josiah, and Eli all have welcomed Aubri and showered her with affection.  They actually have been very helpful!  Eli was not too aware of her the first week or two but by the end of the month he started saying “baby” or “Ahhh-beee” while gently patting her head.  It’s been very sweet to see how much they love her already!  She is doing great.  She sleeps a ton and eats really well.  I couldn’t ask for anything more.

Despite having a newborn we’ve still had a lot going on.  Between school, church, visitors, and other random events, life has been quite busy.  We’ve been so incredibly blessed by many different people bringing us meals or offering to help entertain the “big kids.”    So, yet again, another month that we have a TON to be thankful for.