Time flies ....

When you add a new wee babe to the mix. And now he's not such a wee one at 11 months old this week. Yes you read that right Henry is 11 months old. How on earth did the year fly by so fast?

We've been blessed to see him change and grow in amazing ways. He is walking now - standing up from the middle of the floor and just walking. And he knows the word Uh-Oh. He uses it all the time when he throws stuff onto the floor and then laughs and says "Uh-OH". He is so happy with himself. Totally cracks us all up.

My favorite thing about Henry? Well, other than I think everything the boy does is amazingly awesome and so very different than the girls? The boy loves music. I mean LOVES it. We went to our Lay retreat in March and the second night he went right up to the stage while the worship team was singing and stood there dancing and lifting his hands up waving and praising the Lord. How cool is that? He was 9 months old! I pray that he continues to Praise the Lord in all his ways for all his life.

And Charlotte - well that child has been sleeping in Miracle Grow because she has grown several inches in the last year. She was so mad at me in October when she had to change her pants four times in one morning. A little background - we swapped out all her clothes in September and only put the things she could wear right then back in her drawers. Flash forward 4 weeks and those same pants were all too short. She told me as she stomped back to her room the fourth time "If these pants are too short I'm still wearing them because I am done changing today!" Praise the Lord the 4th pair fit! And mama had to empty out her drawers again. And then go shopping because there was some mighty slim pickins left that actually wasn't too small for her! Miracle Grow I tell you!

I love to see her working at her school work. She is amazing at Math and is working hard on her reading and writing. She is smart as a whip and is constantly asking me what a word means. I often have to ask for the context in which she heard it in order to clarify to her the different meanings. My favorite exchange with her and new words was one Sunday afternoon. We'd gotten ready for church and as we left the house I realized that she had written her name on Henry's infant car seat. Now she denied to the last that SHE had actually been the one to write it. Even to the point of giving me a handwriting sample!

As she is sitting on the Kitchen floor scrubbing the writing off with a Magic Eraser and lamenting her fate to all who would listen one of the girls came into the kitchen and said "What is up with Charlotte?" And I replied "Well she is simply STUNNED that I, her MOTHER, who taught her HOW to write her NAME, recognize her handwriting." Total quiet for a few minutes and then Charlotte says "What does stunned mean, Mama?" When I explained it meant surprised or amazed she said "Oh" and kept on scrubbing. A couple of minutes later she AGAIN brought me her handwriting sample to show that indeed it was NOT her handwriting. (NOW you all know that matched the car seat graffiti to a tee, right?) And I was so exasperated with her I made the worst mistake a mother can make: I said "Do I LOOK stupid? Do you think I am STUPID?" And she said - wait for it...."No I don't think you are stupid. I think you are STUNNED!" Yes that chica came back not five minutes later and used that new word in complete context. Oh my stinking word you know we were laughing hysterically at that girl. She is the laughter in my life always. It is her gift.

And my sweet Emma - my how she's grown this year too. She has a heart for helping others and it shows most days in that she is glad to make sure her dad has a clean shirt for work or that the meal is planned out for dinner in time for us to actually eat before 10 p.m. She's going to be 13 in about a month. I can't believe it. She is my heart in so many ways.

McGinley is growing too. She's using the leftover Miracle Grow Charlotte didn't use. She is actually taller than I am now. I don't know that I like that. I do continue to remind myself I can still jerk a knot when I need to...And she knows it too. She is the light of my heart in that she loves to help with the littles at church and Henry loves her so much. She is his "Gee". Many times she can quiet him faster than everyone but mama. I rely on that help more than you know.

Then there is my Sophia. She is growing into an amazing young woman with a heart for the Lord that I love to see play out in her life. She is a hard worker and is self motivated when it comes to school and all areas of her life. She and McGinley are getting ready to go to NYC (Nazarene Youth Conference) this summer in Louisville, KY to do some ministry work and some stretching of their faith. I'm excited to see how they come back changed from that trip.

Did I mention we're starting to discuss colleges? I'm so NOT ready for my sweet girl to leave home already. She is my right arm in so many ways and I love her heart. I'm very blessed.

And speaking of blessed, my beloved and I have been making an effort to take time for us this year. We have been going on a date every couple of weeks. I'm enjoying that time together. Of course, Henry gets to come along for a while longer...

So while I haven't been here in a while life goes on as it flies by...We are focused on serving the Lord where he leads in whatever way he asks us to serve. We're here - doing the next thing.

In Christ's Abundant and Amazing love,
Peg