sigh

Couldn't see or hear my kids earlier this morning so I looked outside for them to no avail. Poked my head in the boys' room and found them all sitting on the floor quietly taking turns reading out load to each other.

Each of those kids stole a piece of my heart the moment they were placed in my arms and they keep chipping away at it moment by moment as we go about our days and sometimes I wonder how, after all the stealing, my heart is even able to still beat.

How did I get so lucky as to be their Mama?

Sigh.

it brings Him joy

We are overwhelmed (and that is the understatement of the century). I'm not talking about overwhelmed with the business of the holiday season, Jeff's job, the kids' schedules, or any of that (that's just life stuff)...I'm talking about being overwhelmed with the generosity and love that others so selflessly have shown our family.

We have so many people loving us that my heart feels like it's going to swell so much that I won't even be able to squeeze any words out of it. We have been given to, loved on, prayed for, and encouraged more than I even know and there just aren't any words big enough to say 'thank you' properly. There is nothing (nothing!) that we can do to repay the generosity that has been given us and that's what makes the giving so selfless and pure - it's what makes it love from Jesus shared directly through His people.

As Jeff  and I were praying together this morning, tears ran down my face because I was so overwhelmed with the pure love that has been shown our family. I was continuing to thank the Lord later in the morning while I was driving home from taking Carter to basketball practice, and I found myself completely overwhelmed, and then more stuff happened later in the day and I just couldn't even handle it emotionally. God is so good. He is faithful and BIG and trustworthy and just waiting to bless His children - He delights in us and it brings Him joy to bless us - do you know that?! That's HUGE!

Anyway, I'm so flustered that I'm sure this post doesn't even make much sense, and that's okay, I just wanted to sing the praises of our God. I wanted to express my gratitude to Him and to the people he's so obviously working through. We are blessed (yet again - and always) beyond measure.

On the second (and third!) day of Christmas...

...my neighbor gave to me:

on the first day...

If finding this on our doorstep yesterday morning doesn't prove we live in the best community with fun and amazing neighbors, then I don't know what would:

 I mean, really, how fun is that!?

each age and stage

Tonight I gave my two little big boys hair cuts. I remember the first time I tried to cut their hair. It almost ruined our relationship. I hated it. They each hated it. My only saving grace was the bubble-bath they were promised if we all survived the ordeal afterwards.

Things have changed a lot since then. Now they are such men big boys about it. They hop up in the chair and sit still, it goes rather quickly and before I know it, their hair is cut off and they look 2 years older.

I know that it's so cliche, but it's true you know. "It" goes by so fast. Too fast. I heard once that 'the days are long but the years are short' and boy-howdy is that ever accurate. Some days I feel like I'm barely getting through this parenting gig (even though I, like every mother, love my kids more than life itself) and other days (most days) I look at these children God gifted me with and I just can't believe they're so...grown already.

There are certainly hardships and hilarity in each age and stage of their growing up but I have to admit I'm a little sad when I'm reminded by simple things like the fact that they don't need booster seats when they sit in the haircut chair to try to cherish the good in each day, because even though these days can be long, the years are indeed short.

Coziness of Christmastime

We got our tree up and decorated and it's just beautiful. I love the glow of the lights and the warmness it exudes during Christmastime. It just makes my heart happy. Fischer thinks the tree is just called "Christmas" so he'll come out of his bedroom in the morning and say, "Oh! Christmas is right there!" He is so much fun!

Jeff has been MIA for a while (not really - he's been working like crazy but the time he's logged at home has been few and far between the past few weeks months) and having the house decorated and cozy has made a big difference in my we-can-get-through-this attitude. There's just something about the holiday season (ahem - JESUS) that makes everything just a bit easier. Even when life is this busy and stressful, at the end of the day (usually) there is a calm. I appreciate that calm now more than ever. {That being said, my husband will be back home tonight from a business trip and I'm ready for the calm that he brings home with him too!} 

Now that it's finally the "tomorrow" I talked about yesterday last week, I'll grab some photos we've taken lately and catch you up. It's December and life is busy! We have a middle schooler who is on the student council, the basketball team, and is working her tail off in school - her schedule alone makes me exhausted. Add in three younger brothers, two part time jobs (of mine), an insanely stressful more-than-full-time job of the hubs' (it's not always this stressful but right now? WHOA.), an international adoption and the holidays - you get us - we're on the brink, people. But still - we're sailing trudging through this one day at a time (while holding hands and praying we don't slip off the edge).

God is good though. So so good. He is faithful and present and we're constantly amazed at the ways He's showing up. Every time. So, in all this busyness and stuff we're singing His praises because wow - He is worthy of it!