Sunday Football

Around these parts everybody's a Seahawk fan. Well most everybody. Pretty sure we have the biggest Russell "Wussell" Wilson fan living under our roof. I have to bribe him to wear attire other than the jersey and if my counting is right he's taken his Seahawk football for show and tell five consecutive weeks. 

 This kiddo runs play after play in our front room so it was nice to take the game outside on this beautiful sunny Sunday.

 He begged the girls all day to play football with him.

 And he was so thrilled when they obliged. 

Amelia is always happy to join him for some football.

 Maggie vs. the Littles

 Holding?

 Josie Kate with the kickoff

Don't mess with the girl in a pink Unicorn shirt

So thankful for this beautiful afternoon, fall colors, front yard football and watching my kiddos making memories. Just missing my biggest player who's sidelined with a football injury. Hopefully we can take him off the injured reserve list for next Sunday's front yard game.

Moments

This morning we started a new Bible study at church. Ann Voskamp's 1000 Gifts. I read her book a couple years ago so it shouldn't have come as a surprise when the tears welled up and the emotions let loose. Her words are so beautiful, so poetic and filled with truth. One of the many points that hit home today was the moments in our day. Each of the minutes that add up to the moments that comprise her lives.

Our days are so hurried. From the moment we wake in the morning we're hurrying from one activity to the next. By 8:45am I've already loaded kids in the car and left my driveway twice. Most days there will be at least four more trips down the driveway. Always on the go.

I have to admit, I'm growing weary of this pace. I want to slow down and enjoy the moments. I want to take in the minutes with my children because I know those minutes are fleeting and before you know it your baby boy is fourteen and feeling the growing pains of teen years.

I want to slow down and rediscover life with my kids.

To see the world through their eyes and with their enthusiasm.

I want to cherish each and every moment without feeling the pressure to rush to the next activity.

I want to document again so they have record of our moments together.

So when our memories fail us we have an archive.

 

 I don't want to miss the minutes with these sweet faces.

 

 

To see through their eyes and from their perspective.

Signs along the way that I've passed dozens and dozens of times but never noticed.

Today I'm giving thanks for those moments and prayerful for more minutes.

 Less hurried. More simple.

 

 

{3}

Today marked three months home with our Z man. In some ways it feels far longer than three months but in most ways it's hard to believe it's going so fast. It's difficult to say that things are getting "better" or "easier" because the tone can change around here so quickly. Most often we are able to quantify it by days but at other times it moments. We are all getting to know each other better and understand the new dynamics of our family. Our new is beginning to feel much more normal albeit very loud! Henry Zelalem is adored by his siblings and there is never a shortage of hugs, kisses and snuggles around here. Rocky and Sam have introduced him to nightly wrestling matches but truth be told, I think he prefers wrestling his sisters.

The big brother

I have learned so much in my 12 years being Sam's mom. Lessons that have not always come easy but so worth it. He is, and always has been, a constant source of energy. We have so many things in common. Both nightowls, quick to anger and even quicker to see the error of our ways (okay, maybe I'm not always that quick), he already shares a love for running and when there's a sad movie..pass us the tissue cause we're the cry babies in the family. He cried the day we told him he was going to have a third sister.

I can't imagine him without his sidekick now. He adores the girls and can even become a bit irritating to them in his quest for hugs and snuggles. In the past few months we've had more time together than we've had in years. I honestly could not be more thankful. I have loved every minute of our time and I feel so blessed that we have the opportunity to learn and grow together. 12 years ago, he made me a mama and I count that as one of my most treasured blessings!

World Changer

The most social of butterflies is our Maggie Lu. She has the gift of gab and even when her mouth isn't actually saying words it's still moving and some type of noise is coming out. I am so thankful for our first girl. Big sister just comes natural to her and even though we're hitting some new territory she is almost always willing to invest in her little sisters. Who, by they way, think she's the greatest girl in the world! Of course they do. She is a born leader and as her teacher so sweetly told me at conferences, if there is a food drive or bake sale to be organized, Maggie is the girl. I think that might have been her polite way of saying she's a bit bossy. But bossy, harnassed and pointed in the right direction means a girl with vision and power to make change. I love her heart for little ones. I'm qute positive she would miss just about any social event if it meant time loving on babies. I sometimes worry about the years ahead and this new season we're entering as tween/teenage girl and her mama. I pray for both our hearts and give Him thanks for the moments we have now. Thankful that she still wants to spend time with me and selfishly happy that she never wants to spend a night away from home. Our first gift all wrapped up in pink. Our hearts our filled with thanks!

In All Circumstances

Since I was on the topic of giving thanks for my kiddos, I figured I might as well work my way through the crew as we approach Thanksgiving day. Amelia Mae, I don't know that I will ever find the words to accurately describe this blazing ball of energy and love. Look at that smile, how can you not just love her? Okay, I might possibly be a bit biased but she really IS just a load of fun! She possesses such an adventerous spirit and from a tiny age loved maps. She loves to learn about far away places and her prayers always include a country in need. Her heart is BIG and full of love for the Lord. She sings those songs (the ones that never end) about Jesus and how He loves us and we are His and someday we'll see Him in heaven. And they go on and on and on. I could listen to them all day. She is funny. I mean, turn your head the other way because you probably shouldn't be laughing at what she just said funny. She has amazing comedic timing and most nights has us in stitches at the dinner table. She's a baller and I'm sure will follow in the sporty footsteps of her older siblings. She's all limbs and we're still scratching our heads trying to figure out where she gets her big feet and her long legs. She reminds us how to love Jesus and to love Him in all circumstances.

Her prayer last night.....
"God, please give us good days......and bad days because we love you no matter what and this day is starting to go pretty bad."

I never want to forget her tender thoughts and prayers! I am SO thankful for our #3 and all the lessons she is teaching us at age 5! Love, love, love you Millie Mae!

Gifts

Miss Josie, lover of all things small, creepy and crawly...especially caterpillars. You are a joy. Today, as we had a rare, few moments alone in the car I was struck by the overwhelming  feeling of gratitude I have for the gift of you. I tried telling you that God wrapped you up special for us. That you are a gift, a present from heaven. You giggled at me and said I was silly. Sometimes the most treasured gifts are the ones that come when we're least expecting them! Love you Josephine Kate!



Give Thanks

{Always}

{Chinook Pass}

Yesterday Rocky's car broke down. It's not an old car or one with hundreds of thousands of miles on it, but it broke. I've lost count over the past couple years how many things have broken down in our cars or around our house. Seriously too many to count. I came into the house after he told me ready to have a pity party, ready to grumble and complain. I sat down on the couch eager to give God a piece of my mind and I looked up to the chalkboard above our dining room table. There were the words I had just written last week....

Give Thanks

always

Oh, and how He transformed my heart in that moment. I have SO much to be thankful for. So for the rest of the day I thanked him. I thanked Him for having parents that are willing to help us out at a moment's notice. My dad ready to pull the car apart and tinker around, willing to tow the car wherever needed and willing to drive us across the mountains to Rocky's parents where they were willing to hand over the keys to their truck. Wow, are we blessed! Thankful for the most gorgeous drive across the pass where we got to see the snow and changing leaves and even sun off in the distance. Thankful for some quiet time in the car so that Rocky and I actually had a conversation and not just about what was on the agenda for the week. Thankful for a mother-in-law that dropped everything to make sure we were fed and well-stocked for the long drive back home. Thankful for milkshake treats to reward the kiddos for being such troopers. Thankful for amazing friends that pour into my kids and then keep one of them while we made this trek. Thankful that we came home to a warm house with beds to sleep in and food to eat. We are blessed and often it's too easy to look at what we don't have or the inconveniences we're dealing with and feel a little pouty. It only takes a moment though, to find the blessings. They are all around us and too numerous to count. As I'm writing this a prayer the kid's used to sing just came to me.....

Thank you Lord for giving me

my food, my friends and my family

The Lord is good to me!

So simple but so true!

Be joyful always, pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

                                                                     1 Thessalonians 5:16-18