Loving This Age

Luke is at such a fun age!  He is exploring, growing, and learning every minute he is awake.

 

When you're almost 12 months, you can

make the most of every splashing opportunity!

Explore new friendships

Be a little daring!

Go for a test drive

Feel the wind in your face

and the grass between your toes.

 

Yes life is good, when you're almost 12 months

 

"In the morning I will sing of your love."

Psalm 59:16

 

 

 

 

 

 



Our April in Pictures

I have been terrible about keeping up the blog this month.  Our decision to home school beginning next year has kept me very busy, reading, researching, and making plans while the days are still quiet.  I have still taken lots of pictures, so now that May is upon us, I have decided to just post our month in pictures.

 

We were blessed this month to be able to purchase a van that has plenty of space for our large family.  The day we went to pick up the van, Brett and I took turns going into the dealership to sign all the paperwork while we kept the kids in the car.  Matt was great that day about entertaining Luke!

We enjoyed painting on a few rainy days

We had all kinds of different weather this month.  We had days it was warm enough to play in the sprinkler....

and days it was cool enough we had to bundle up at the soccer field.

Caroline learned to drive....just kidding.  In the mornings when we get home from dropping Kate off at school, Caroline loves to climb into the front seat, put on my glasses and pretend to drive the car.

 

And last but not least, Mr. Luke joined the land of opportunity and adventure this month when he learned how to crawl.  A whole new world of fun has been opened up for him and he is enjoying everything about it.  As for Dad and Mom, we now have to be on our toes and make sure we know where Luke is at all times.  Oh, the fun begins!!

 

 

This summer, I am working through an online bible study in the book of John. 

"The bride belongs to the bridegroom.  The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice.  That joy is mine, and it is now complete.  He must become greater; I must become less."

John 3:29-30

 

 

 

 

 

 



Luke, You're 11 Months Old

Luke, you are 11 months old.  Every month you get sweeter and sweeter!  You're little personality is emerging more and more every day.  I am enjoying the blessing of being your Mom and the opportunity to be home with you observing first hand every time you try and learn something new.

I can't believe how much you have changed this month.  You are literally learning something new everyday.  Here are some of your firsts this month...

*You got your top two teeth.  You now have four teeth, two on top and two on the bottom.

*You self weaned yourself

*You drink milk from a cup

*You eat only table food

*You sleep through the night

*You crawl

*You pull yourself into a standing position

I am amazed that you learned all this in just one short month!

I'm totally biased, but you are the cutest little boy and I'm beyond grateful that God chose me to be your Mom.

You are loving your new freedom to explore

and we are learning to live with a house of gates again!

 

Luke,

In one short month you will reach a milestone.  Our last baby will turn one year old!   I pray constantly that God will direct your path.  That you will be protected spiritually and that your Dad and I will honor God in our parenting of you.  That we will be an example daily of His amazing love for you.  That you will be confident in God's love and accept Him readily into your heart.  That you will seek to know and follow His will for your life and that you will honor Him in everything you do. 

I love you more than words can express. 

Happy 11th Month

Mom

 

"Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen."

Hebrews 13:20-21

 

Gratitude Journal

For the peace of a decision made

For spring rains that bring new life

For empty laundry baskets

For Brett

For the blessings of being a Mom

For fresh smelling flowers

 

 

 



All In A Days Work

Spring has definitely arrived in Georgia!  Along with the beautiful signs of God's handiwork, comes the much anticipated yard work.  We have a good sized yard, so that also means we have a good amount of yard work to tackle every Saturday.

First of the list.....Spring cleaning and getting the beds ready for the season.

Friday morning, we had a load of pine straw delivered to split with our next door neighbor.

Saturday morning, bright and early our boys were up and outside raking leaves left behind from the fall.

Leaves left behind from our hardworking boys, were blown into a pile.

By this time, all the kids had made it outside.

 

 

Time for the bales!

We can always count on Andrew

Our tiny bale mover and her BOSS!

 

Taking a little break before the real work began!

Spreading the pine straw was a lot of work

Lucky for us, we have a lot of workers

 

And just to show that our kids also enjoyed the day.....

 

 

 

"Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life:  You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody."

1Thessalonians 4:11-12

 

Gratitude Journal

For the beauty and renewal of Spring

For a clear bedroom floor, with all the piles of clothes boxed up for a trip to Goodwill

For Luke's 12 hours of sleep last night, meaning Mommy also slept for 8 hours!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



A Spring Break Outing

Monday afternoon, we headed to the park to get some energy out.  The weather was beautiful, but it had rained much of the prior weekend, so there were puddles under all the swings.  I should have expected what was to come.....Andrew, our resident find trouble or it will find me child, fell into a mud puddle.  He was covered from his head to his feet on one whole side of his body with red clay mud.
(You will have to use your imagination because in all the clean up, no pictures were taken.)  All we will say is that one said child went straight to the shower and all his clothes including his tennis shoes went straight into the washing machine.

On our next outing, we chose a safer location....Chuck E Cheese...Where a Kid Can Be A Kid!

 

More of our week to come.

 

 

Soccer

Andrew's soccer team- The Gladiators

Emily's first game

Matt's team

 

The kids are playing soccer this spring for the Rec league.  They began practice in March and each played their first game before we had this past week off for spring break.  They will be back to playing games on Thursday and Saturday next week. 

 

"Enter through the narrow gate.  For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

Matthew 7:13-14

 

Gratitude Journal

For a loud week with the kids, which either means they are having fun with one another or fighting

For sunny weather almost all of the kids spring break

For the forecasted warm weather coming next week