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Daily Verse

Sunday~
"How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from you commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you." Psalm 119:9-11

Why do we try to conform God to our will? Live in His word and know true joy.

Monday~
"Make me to know your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. Remember your mercy, O LORD, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old."
Psalm 25:4-6

God reveals the truth of our time and all time to us through Scripture.

Tuesday~
"The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the tstimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple: the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb."
Psalm 19:7-10

All the laws in all the books in all the libraries of the world are but a footnote to the law of God.

Wednesday~
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways ackowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."
Proverbs 3:5-6

To know and understand God comes not through our intellect, but through the wisdom given to us by the grace of God.

Thursday~
"My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart."
Proverbs 3:1-3

Don't measure success by society's standards. Use Christ as your measuring stick.

Friday~
"The the LORD answered Job our of the whirlwind and said: 'Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding, Who determined its measurements - surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? Or who laid its cornerstond...?'"
Job 38:1, 4-6

When we measure God by our limited standards, we attempt to measure the elephant by weighing one strand of its hair.

Saturaday~
"Philip said to him, 'Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.' Jesus said to him, 'Have I been with you so lon, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, Show us the Father?'"
John 14:8-9

Christ is God made flesh. If you want to know God, you must draw closer to Jesus.

J.E.N.E

Patch

12.14.03

8.20.04

1.20.05

4.26.05

Anniversary

Daisypath Anniversary tickers

Princess

Lilypie Kids Birthday tickers

Sunshine

Lilypie Kids Birthday tickers

Cupcake

Lilypie Kids Birthday tickers

Love Bug

Lilypie Kids Birthday tickers

Ri-Bear

Lilypie Kids Birthday tickers

BoBo

Lilypie Kids Birthday tickers

NiNi

Lilypie Third Birthday tickers

20th Anniversary Trip to Disney

Daisypath Vacation tickers

Friday, December 27, 2013

Happy Birthday Sunshine

 Oh my sunshine, what is this Mama supposed to say about you?  You have melted my heart from the very begging of you entering our home as our first foster baby you have melted this Mama's heart.  There was something about you that I KNEW you were not leaving us.  Even though it took the state 21 months for us to be able to LEGALLY be your family, you were my son from the minute you entered my arms on January 2nd 2007 when you were six days old!
 In the first few years we knew that you were not a 'normal' child but you were going to be very special....and that you are.  You do not do things the way that others do, but you get them done.  You are very smart and have the opportunity to do great things with your intelligence.
 Your precious smile/giggle and your loving/warm eyes have always melted every single person that comes around.  From very early in your little life your smile and giggle were that people would comment on.  Oh how you can melt those around you with your charm.

 Tonight as we celebrated your 7th birthday it was so special to have you surrounded by those that love you.  When I asked you tonight what was your favorite part of your day your response was naming the people that were here throughout the day...those that came to be a part of your day.  2 sets of Aunts & Uncles and a GREAT Aunt & Uncle.  Sunshine you are loved.  There is love all around you, and how blessed we are to be your parents.  I understand you have more struggles than the average kid....I also know I struggle at times as your Mama.  Please forgive me for that because when I think about you I remember these special moments.  The giggles, the laughter and your quirkiness like squealing when you opened your coon skin hat tonight because you were afraid it was something alive!  ;)  I look forward to what your future holds...you can do great things my Sunshine! 
Happy 7th Birthday Baby!

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Merry Christmas

 
Happy Happy Happy...this is one of my favorite phrases.  As the youngest (official) child in this family I try really hard to keep people laughing.  My mom is so busy with all the kids at The Patch the she forgets to laugh sometimes and my dad, well he makes me laugh because he is always coming and going from one of my appointments to his Bible study or one of his jobs...he is just REALLY busy (and popular!!!)  Just in case he doesn't have enough to do Mom always has a list of painting or fixing for him.  My sister Cupcake tends to forget she isn't my mom sometimes, but I'll give her credit, she knows the Pumpkin babies needs fairly well!  I like her because she is always asking to watch Veggietales, now if she would just stop trying to push me around!
 
I have another sister and she turned 7 in September! She started the year getting spoiled by Grandma & Grandpa....they took her on a boat bigger than our block and it had Mickey, Minnie & lots of Princesses on it.  She started in Texas....went to some islands that sound like cayenne pepper (Cayman Islands) and also to a place in Mexico that sounds like someone is sneezing when you say it (Cozumel.) Princess still loves to dance and she even gets to be on a competition team this year!  She gets to stay at home all day because my mom is her 1st grade teacher, but I just think she likes to hang around to remind Mama that her (Mama's) feet are smaller than hers.  Princess is very happy because two weeks before Thanksgiving our family added two little chocolate foster siblings...we are all think they are pretty special, but Princess loves that they are 'dark chocolate' like her!
 
My brother, Sunshine, has had a rough year and many of his appointments have added to the old Suburban coming and going quickly from our driveway.  He is in 1st too, but he gets to ride a bus to school and he LOVES that!  He has decided that his favorite day is Wednesday because he gets to eat supper at church and then they have Bible Club after.  Sunshine is also REALLY enjoyed being in the Christmas program at church last weekend.
 
I also have  to share, from my 2 years of experience, that my Mama turned OLD this year!  She celebrated her 30th with a hail storm that gave us a new roof and holes in our siding.  Daddy was so thankful to be our of town so the Suburban's were safe, but he should have known to keep quiet because a month later ANOTHER storm came through and made it look all dimpled like Cupcake's cheeks!  Do you know how lough golf ball sized hail is from the inside of the Suburban???  Mama was thankful that her precious roses survived both those storms AND the October 40 inch snow storm as well!  Her red rose bush reached over 6.5 feet tall this year!!!
 
So I think it is time for me to go to bed now.  Usually that means I jump in my crib and sing some of my favorite songs (Jesus Loves Me, The Wheels on the Bus & Jingle Bells are at the top of my list.)  I'm going to try and be good though, because Sunday is coming and after church we always get to go to Guadalajara's for lunch an d then go home and watch the Vikings loose.  I get bored and usually starting chasing Buzz Buzz (out dog) around trying to kiss him!
 
My family stays very busy, but we work hard and love the Lord.  We also enjoy being together.  I hope you have had a HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY 2013 and that 2014 will be just as wonderful or better! 
 
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
Love,
LoveBug...but don't forget Daddy, Mommy, Princess, Sunshine & Cupcake love you too!


Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Trying this again.

As of late I have been looking back at previous posts and remembering the memories that they hold like they were yesterday...and then there is a gap between February 28th 2012 and December 17th 2013.  I have missed being able to look at the high {and low} points from the blog to write the last two years Christmas letter.  And my husband made a comment a couple months back, my mother yesterday and a couple other people in between that they missed my blogging.  Truth is, I have also!  So here we are, we are going to play a little catch up...and see if we can try to at least do a once a week post about our family!
I celebrated my 30th birthday this summer.  I remember when my mom turned 30...it seemed like such a big number back then...now it doesn't.  Funny how so much in life is that way!!!  Handsome and I also celebrated our 11th Anniversary in August.  That number DOES seem big when you are talking marriage {these days} but I wouldn't do it any different...this man is my best friend and I'm so thankful God put our paths next to each other. 
I am still doing Pumpkin Patch Daycare in our home.  Celebrated our 5th birthday with that one in October...have been blessed to have so many wonderful clients. With all the little people in my life I really do not have much left over time for me...but it is only a season and it will be over far too soon.
 
Handsome just celebrated his 2nd year at the waste water treatment plant in town and is loving that job.  He has been working hard on fine tuing the landscaping around the house and also getting rid of the 1991 blue that was all over the inside of the house.  The main living space is pretty much finished (except my wish list of new cabinets & counter top) and this winter in his free time he is going to tackle the kids' bedrooms and the bathrooms!  He doesn't get much free time either, but he enjoyed a couple hikes this summer/fall and also just ended a 39 week Bible study that has really blessed him.  Just recently he has started helping out with a youth Bible class on Wednesday nights.  His time is occupied with those things along with helping with cooking & cleaning and taking kids to and from appointments, dance & church!

 Our Precious Princess!  She turned 7 in September and is full of life and energy.  She is a constant reminder that I am not a Mama to only babies/toddlers any more!  She is in her 6th year of dance and got to join a competition team this year.  She is confidant that the team will be bringing home a trophy.  Some of her other milestones this year were: she is in 1st grade (home school), being big enough to go down the water slides at the Rec Center, getting new 'big kid' glasses, starting the process of braces (just today), finding out she is going to have surgery on her adenoids and also her feet are now bigger than Mamas. 
I appreciate so much about this girl.  She laughs so often, she helps out with the babies and keeping Pumpkins rallied for me.  She is very active when it comes to anything that DOESN'T involve work!
 
 Our Sunshine has had a tough year but looks forward to his 7th birthday the end of this month.  After 18 months of us pulling our hair out of some very peculiar destructive behaviors we finally found a doctor that would help us...he evaluated Sunshine and came to the conclusion that we had figured a couple of years ago: Bi-Polar and Oppositional Defiance Disorder.  With his 'family' history (the little that we know) this is not a shock to us.  We are now learning how to help him and he is able to be a part of our family more because he is able to function more than he was before.  His smile will still melt your heart.  With his troubles I decided I was no longer able to home school him and so in August I cried as my baby boy walked away to the bus stop for the very first time.  We are thankful for the team at school that is helping him!  He loves riding the bus.  He also has found a love for Uncle Si on Duck Dynasty...something the whole family agrees on!!!  He is the first one to get dirty and the first one to give a hug if someone is having a tough day.  He enjoys anything that moves and building things with Lego's or Lincoln logs!!!
 Our Cupcake.  I could write a book about this crazy loving 2 year old!  She has definitely rewritten some of our parenting in the different ways she has taught us to love.  She happily holds the title of the boss to her brother and sisters and they oblige.  She is so full of life with everything that she does...and has some really fun quirks about her as well.  She has wiggled her way into our -no kid zone- bed every Wednesday night and wouldn't have it any other way.  She loves to be a big girl and try new things, but sometimes bites off more than she can chew and is happy to run back to snuggle a hug or find safety in Daddy's arms!  She loves babies...both dollies and the real deal.  She often knows what my Pumpkin Babies need before I do.  She has a great love for her Papa and wants to hog him whenever we are around him!  Cupcake looks forward to starting dance after the new year and is all worried about making sure Mama puts the groceries away in the correct place every Sunday afternoon.  One of her favorite things to do is to dance to "What does the fox say" or "Gummi Bear" on Wii Just Dance Kids!
Our LoveBug!  She is a happy happy happy 2 year old that can frequently be found singing, counting, or laughing.  This little girl has been full of surprises!  Born addicted to cocaine proved to be a little bit of a trial in the beginning, just when getting through the 3rd month of withdrawals we discovered she had cerebral palsy.  While it is a very mild form, the combination of being addicted to drugs in utero and the CP makes her a 'difficult case.'  She was blessed to be accepted by the Shriner's hospital in November and will be making her first trip to Minneapolis with Daddy for her first appointments in March...just before her 2nd Anniversary of her adoption day.  She makes you laugh and is our family clown...we are so blessed to have this little lady in our lives.  She has so many little ways she communicates without words, which is nice because some days she is unable to speak in ways that she can be understood.  Sign language also helps us out too.  On her rough days she doesn't like to be around the daycare kids and actually prefers playing in her crib so she can just lay down and nap as needed.  I breaks this Mama's heart to have her spend so much of the day alone, but at those moments that is what helps best.  She has occupational therapy every other week and physical therapy every week.  In the new year we will be doubling both PT & OT and adding Speech also. 
 
We are blessed to have two little dark chocolate foster babies that have been with us for just over a month also.  That brings the ages of our 6 kids living here to 7, 6, 2, 2, 2 and 1!  It makes for a busy household...but can I just tell you how amazing it is to remember back to 10 years ago when we had our first miscarriage and hearing that is was unlikely we would ever have children! 
 
My hope for this blog is to post weekly (sometimes more or less.)  I would be happy if you would follow along, but understand if you are not interested.  Love Being Mama ended up being more for me to remember all the ways I LOVE BEING A MAMA, and I look forward to continuing on that journey!