Thankful List ~ January 2016

January Thankful List

My dad came to visit and we had a GREAT time hanging out! He played with the kids and even took Josh and I to the movies one night!

Addilyn and Josiah started basketball. It was hysterical. Josiah is so naturally gifted and coordinated when it comes to sports but my sweet Addi is just like me, very clumsy and in need of lots of practice. We’ve been practicing a lot outside on days when it’s warmer and not raining and she is getting much better and much more confidant.

I’ve been so thankful to be able to talk with Traci who moved to Germany through Face Time. We’ve both had a hard time with some stuff lately and I’m thankful for God’s grace in gifting us with technology so we have one another to lean on.

I was thankful for the encouragement of several former church friends who came to visit over the past month. Kate Forest, Dana Haynes, Princess Grimes, and the Rouses all came to visit this past month. In addition we were able to have dinner with the McInnis so we are feeling very thankful for friendships with these fellow believers in Christ!

Elias is practically running. He is always on the go and doesn’t like to sit still for even a minute. My sweet boy was diagnosed with pneumonia in both lungs and it was rough on all of us as he was a little more irritable and his sleeping was even worse than normal. I am so thankful for the wisdom of doctors and for modern medicine that helped him to feel better after a week or so.

Eli is also starting to talk (or babble) a lot more. He is saying “Mama”, “Bye-Bye”, and “Yay!” on a regular basis now. He also like using his fingers to make funny sounds with his lips. He is so happy and we all just love him to pieces!

Addi and Josiah had their routine dentist appointment and it may seem like a small thing, but I am SO thankful Josiah did not throw a tantrum this time. He did great and I’m continually praying that God will help him not to be fearful or anxious of situations like this in the future.

  

I’ve been thankful to start developing a relationship with one lady at our new church. We’ve been studying the Bible together and I’m thankful she is willing to be vulnerable and have real conversation with me. It is such a blessing to me and I hope I’m able to encourage her as well.

Thankful List ~ December 2016

December Thankful List

We were able to go see Disney on Ice as a family.  It was cute watching how excited Addi and Josiah would get when their favorite characters would come out and preform.

Addi and Josiah were in several different Christmas productions and programs this month.  It was really sweet to see them “perform” and sing on stage.

We were able to spend several evenings with our friends Josh and Traci who are moving to Germany the first week of January.

I was very thankful for a time of fellowship and prayer with other moms in a homeschool cohort we are a part of.  It was very refreshing.

Eli started cruising along the couches and cabinets and on New Years Eve he took about 4-5 steps all by himself!

Josh was officially ordained on December 20^th.  Although he has been serving in a pastoral role for a while now it was nice to have the official service.

We were so very excited to have family visit us during Christmas and New Years.  Josh’s dad and sister came up as well as my dad!

Thankful List ~ October and November 2015

October and November Thankful Lists

Again, I’m late in posting and I want to partially blame it on the fact that I haven’t had time to sit down and write the many, many ways we’ve been blessed over the past two months.  Yea, that’s going to be my excuse.  ;)  I am going to try and quickly bullet point just a few of the highlights.

We’ve been able to have a lot of great experiences with the kids, soccer, reading the Secret Garden with the Shephard’s Co-op book club, a field trip to Fisher Farm with Josiah’s preschool, a Veteran’s Day Band Concert, experiencing the play Lion King Jr. with the kids, and even catching the last 45 minutes of the Raleigh Christmas Parade.

In addition, we’ve had lots of great things going on at church.  The Life Action One Cry conference, home groups, Homecoming, an Operation Christmas Child party, and I’ve personally been very encouraged by WMU!  We’ve hosted several youth events including a trip to Defy Gravity, a Rend Collective and Chris Tomlin Concert, a Youth ladies night, a Youth Guys Night, and our Fall Bonfire!

One of our favorite Calvary events this season was the Fall Festival. This year our family costumes were The Incredibles.  Addilyn played each game about 20 times and took home an amazing loot of sugar.  Oh my.  Personally, I was thrilled that the cake I made sold for $210 in the cake auction.  It’s even more exciting because the money goes towards missions!

I was given the opportunity to speak on Colossians 3 at a women’s retreat in TN.  I was most thankful for the time with my dear friend who helped care for Eli while I was in the sessions.  She and I had great conversation on the long ride there and back, and we even got to explore Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge in our free time.

Last but not least I’m thankful for our family who we got go visit again!  We’ve been able to go down more this year than we have in the past few years combined.  This trip I even got to introduce Elias to his great-great-grandmother, Nettie.

We have so much to be thankful for and not a day goes by that I do not realize how blessed I am!

Thankful List ~ September 2015

September 2015 Thankful List
Classical Conversations began and I have the joy of tutoring Addilyn’s class.  We have had a great time so far and there are only a handful of times when I’ve felt completely incompetent (I was expecting this to be a constant thing- lol). In addition to our community days, there are two families who come over to our house every Monday to do additional lessons that correspond to the weekly memory work.  It’s been fun to do additional crafts and/or experiments that we don’t have time for on community days!

I finally was able to attend WMU.  I was so thankful to be surrounded by missions minded women.  We had great discussion about how to be mindful of those in our church, community, and around the world.  We planned several practical ways to serve throughout the month and we began a video series about a missionary. I left feeling very encouraged.

Josiah started PRESCHOOL at Englewood Baptist Church!!!  This was so bittersweet for me.  He is the first one to “go off” to school.  My little buddy bear is doing so well so far.  We are SO thankful for his WONDERFUL teacher, Ms. Wanda and her helper Ms. Annette!  They are such blessings.

We made a very quick trip to Georgia!  Josh and I went to a UGA game and my mom watched ALL three kids ALL day!  We also had a pool day with my cousins and their kids, which was such a sweet time with family.  It made me miss home so much more than I already did.

My mom came back with us for a week-long visit.  She helped around the house and did a TON of work in the yard for us.  She really doesn’t know how much of a blessing she is!

The kids started a lot of their extracurricular activities this month.  We are trying out American Heritage Girls with Addi but we are considering waiting until next year when she’ll be just a little older.

Addi participated in a book club this month.  She read Oliver Twist and each week completed an assignment (like making an acrostic with the name of their favorite character) to discuss with the group of other kids.  She and I spent lots of time reading together outside.  She would ride her bike in circles around me while I pushed Eli in the stroller and read aloud.  It was a fun time for all of us.  One more reason why I love the flexiability of homeschooling.

Addi and Josiah are both playing soccer this year.  They are so fun to watch.  Addi is really good this year.  She has scored quite a few goals and when she does play goalie she dives on top of the ball every time.  Josiah, my crazy-fun and goofy kiddo, just kicks the ball as far and as long as he can.  Even when it goes out of bounds he doesn’t stop until a coach catches up with him.  During one game, he was about 50 yards away when he finally kicked the ball into a fence and stopped running.  After a celebratory dance, he high-fived everyone on the way back.  The coaches, the referee, and all the parents on the bleachers got a great laugh.

We were able to experience Three Bears Acers with several other families from church (and my mom).  We had SO much fun!  The jumping pillow, sledding track, slip and slide, and paddle-boats were our favorite.  The kids also had a great time painting on the graffiti wall, playing “angry birds” with the sling shot launcher, and playing tag on the HUGE tree house playground.  We definitely plan to go back sometime soon.

This may sound silly, but I was thankful to make some homemade baby food this month.  Eli really started eating a lot more and I had a great time creating food pouches for him.

We started our new schedule at church; having Revive (an extended youth group time with games, music, and a lesson) and CLU classes on Sunday nights and home groups on Wednesdays. So far, it’s been great.  Our small group is made up of a lot of wonderful people and each week we’ve had a few new faces show up.

We had a youth movie night at our house and were jam-packed!  We made breakfast for dinner, watched Big Hero Six, and then played several games.  I think we all had a blast!

In addition, many of the youth at our church play fall sports or are involved in the arts.  So far we’ve been able to go to a volleyball match, a tennis match, and watch one of the ladies who played Anne Frank in the play The Diaries of Anne Frank.  God has also allowed us the opportunity to meet with several for one on one time so we can begin building deeper relationships with them. I’m thankful for the occasional coffee date with one of the ladies.

Bible Study Fellowship started this month. I’ve known of a lot of really Godly women who have been part of this bible study and so I thought I would give it a try.  This year we will be studying the book of Revelation.

Josh hosted Calvary’s 2^nd Family Room this month.  He spoke on the topic of marriage and it seemed to have gone really well.

Our little Eli has not only started eating a ton but when he’s hungry sometimes he’ll say “maaaaama.”  We’re not sure if he is actually calling to me but it sure does sound like it and it melts my heart every time.  In addition, he has started clapping.  He uses big wide arms and gets really excited.

Thankful List ~ August 2015

August 2015 Thankful List
We celebrated Josiah’s 4^th Birthday with a Water War birthday party!  He seemed to have had a blast!

Josh gave me lot of time to plan for homeschool and get ready for the start of the school year.

I had several medical issues and was able to get an appointment to see my doctor.  Praise the Lord it was nothing more than just exhaustion taking it’s toll.

We took the kids to their very first baseball game.  Addi and Josiah love Muddy the Mud-cat and Addi had a great time figuring out all the cheers, chants, and claps.  We went a second time a few weeks later with a large group from our church.  That night the kids ran the bases and we had our first successful watching of fireworks (other than at Disney World).

We hosted a youth game night at our house and had a great time.

Josh’s car had some issues but we were able to get a great deal on a rental long enough for him to go to Atlanta for a funeral

I’ve really begun to meet and hang out with other moms with kids the same ages as our own. I thankful to be joining a few different things that are helping us to connect.  CHARM- Christian Homeschool Association of Rocky Mount (we had an ice cream social and pool party which my kids LOVED).  I’ve been blessed to be invited to a group called Shephard’s Co-op.  The other moms have similar passions and convictions in parenting and most of them have children the same ages as my own.  In addition, the kids will be starting soccer soon.

Addilyn started riding her bike without training wheels!!! She just picked up one day while at a friend’s house and when we came home Josh took off the training wheels from her bike.  A few times up and down the driveway and she had it!  I was so proud.

Life has been crazy with making preparations to start a new schedule.  I will be a tutor for Classical Conversations this year.  We are preparing for Josiah to be in preschool. We will be starting home groups through Calvary soon.  And we had a meeting  with the youth and parents to explain vision for the youth group and calendar of events for the upcoming academic year.