Choosing JOY in 2017

It clearly has been a while since I posted...a very long while. It's a new year and I am going to try to keep up with our busy life here. If I tried to catch up here this post with take days to write and I have zero desire to write such a blog so let's just start with the here and now. 

A few months ago God laid on my heart a word for 2017. The word is JOY. True Christ-Filled JOY.  I have been placing my 'joy' in things or the want of things that I think will bring me joy. This year I want to see the joy in the ordinary and everyday. He has given me so much to be joyful about and somehow I have over looked the joy in all of it. 

God has been speaking this into my life over the past few months. I shared that my word for the year was JOY with a few of my very dear friends, who have over the past few months have started praying for and with each other almost daily, on New Years Day. That evening I picked up the new devotional I received from my sister-in-law at Christmas, 'Jesus Always'. Normally I don't read the introduction of devotionals but this time I did. The third paragraph of the introductions starts like this, "Jesus Always is designed to increase your joy and strengthen your relationship with Jesus". The subtitle is 'Embracing JOY in His Presence'. God is so good and I am so greatful for Him speaking this truth in my life and I can't wait to experience Joy in Christ this year. He has great things in store I just know it. 

The verse He gave me for the year is Psalm 28:7 "The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with Joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving".

There is also a song that I LOVE. It has been a theme song of sorts since November so I am making it my theme song for the year.  

"Joy"
By Rend Collective

We're choosing celebration
Breaking into freedom
You're the song
You're the song
Of our hearts
We cast aside our shadows
Trust You with our sorrows
You're the song
You're the song
Of our hearts
We're dancing to the rhythm of Your heart
We're rising from the ashes to the stars
You're the joy joy joy lighting my soul
The joy joy joy making me whole
Though I'm broken, I am running
Into Your arms of love
The pain will not define us
Joy will reignite us
You're the song
You're the song
Of our hearts
The dark is just a canvas
For Your grace and brightness
You're the song
You're the song
Of our hearts
We're dancing to the rhythm of Your heart
We're rising from the ashes to the stars
You're the joy joy joy lighting my soul
The joy joy joy making me whole
Though I'm broken, I am running
Into Your arms of love [x2]
You're the joy
The song in my heart
The hope of my soul
In the shadows
In the sorrows
In the desert
When the pain hits
You are constant
Ever-present
You're the song of my heart [x2]
You're the joy joy joy lighting my soul
The joy joy joy making me whole
Though I'm broken, I am running
Into Your arms of love
Into Your arms

May your 2017 be filled with JOY!! I leave you with this.

 ^{Romans 15:13}

¹³ May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

(This is also the verse I am choosing for Payton for the year)  

Middle Man turns 4

Charley's birthday day was more of a week long celebration. This always seems to happen when we don't have one big party. But due to our 'housing' situation we decided to forgo that this year.

I think it's safe to say he had a great day on his actual birthday. We make the day all about the birthday kid in our house so basically he got to do whatever he wanted...in terms of activities and food that is.

He chose to have eggs for breakfast that morning. He didn't love the next two things because they weren't exactly his idea. We went to BSF then we had to volunteer at P's school for lunch hour but after that he chose to eat at Wendy's, inside, for his special lunch. I talked him out of the kids meal with the toy by telling him we could visit the dollar store after lunch. He picked out a toy from the toy section then we went across the parking lot to pick out a cake. They didn't have a cake we liked but we found something even better! Spider-man cupcakes!

Because of the activities we had planned for the afternoon we had to head home to let G take a little rest. C was ok with this because he got Daddy's Ipad. P got picked up and after G woke up with went to the theater to see 'How to train your Dragon 2'. We were the only ones in the theater which was kind of fun. The movie was a little scary and sad at times so I'm still on the fence about it but the kids liked it of course. At the scary parts we moved to the very back where there is a double seat. This way we could all snuggle together. 

Then it was home for pancakes for supper and present time with Amma & Papa & Mommy & Daddy.

I'm not sure what he would say his favorite part was because the day was great all around. 

 

On Sunday he had another whole day celebrating. The celebrations started at Mimi & Grandpa's house where there were a few gifts along with a 'Go Blue' cake. In the evening we finished off the day at the new Tot Lot Papa built at the barn. A few balloons, cake and ice cream with mommy's side of the family was a perfect way to wind down the celebrations. 

Sunday night we headed to the barn to play on the new playground Papa made for the kids and have some cake and ice cream with the Genzink's. Overall it was a great bday for our Middle Man.
We love you little buddy!

Tooth Fairy visits Ms. P

Written September 2014

The tooth Fairy finally visited Ms. P! She was super excited about finally loosing her first tooth. The most exciting part was it fell out at school. Which is no surprise because she refused to let her mama pull it out even though it was literally hanging by a thread (and when I say this, it is what was actually happening). It was so loose that it didn't bleed when it finally did fall out. Silly girl. 

Her teacher made it more special by being so excited for her which was really special. 

3 School for Diesel

To have two little ones in school is very strange but that is my reality. Diesel started 3-school.

The year is going to be so good for my middle man. I was a little unsure of how he would do to be honest. I thought we'd have tears every morning or he would say he doesn't want to go or I'd get reports from his teacher about him misbehaving or something. He's just one of those kids who kids you on your toes with his responses to new situations but he has done amazing! He love it really and from what his teacher says he does really well in class. So proud of my little buddy. I can't believe he's going to school already. 

Kindergarten

Written 8/29/14

P is in kindergarten!

She is so excited to finally be one of the 'big kids' at school this year.  I thought maybe there would be some fear of going to school all day but she handled it like a champ. The only slight hesitation came in the car one the way to the first day when she said, "How long is all day Mom?" 

"Just until 3 o'clock honey." 

"Oh good." 

I think she was afraid she'd have to sleep there. :)

Her teacher is wonderful and I know P is going to love her and have a wonderful year.

It's always a good sign when you pick them up from school and ask how their day was and the response is, "It was AWESOME!"

Last 1st Movie Experiance

It's always fun for me to take my kids to their first experience of something.

This summer I took all three kids to "Planes: Fire & Rescue". It was G's first time at the theater. I thought for sure he would have no problem with this adventure however...I was wrong.

We bought tickets, got popcorn and drinks and were just about to head into the theater when he just lost it. Bawling! He kept saying, 'I scared mama, I scared'. Holy break my heart! Luckly I brought reinforcements with me...my mom. She took the older two in and got settled while I calmed Little Man down. Standing outside the theater he could only see random lights in a dark room and very loud noises comeing from inside. I can see why this might be scary when you have no idea what to expect. 

I explained to him we were going to see 'Dusty Crophopper' so we waited until we heard his voice coming from inside. As soon as we did we slowly walked in to where he could see the screen then he was super excited to sit down and watch the show on such a 'giant TV'. 

He did great the entire movie. 

*Pictures aren't the best. :(

 

Summer, Summer, Summer

With summer comes a whole lot of fun adventures.

We love spending time outside so summer activities for us are almost all outside enjoying the beautiful weather we have for this short season in Michigan.

Here are some pictures of our summertime adventures. 

Living at Amma & Papa's house brought all new adventures this summer. We loved watching the boats. Especially the cruise ship that came in every 10 days or so.

Jeepin' was super fun this summer because Papa made it so we could take all three kids in the back.

The kids get creative and made an outdoor kitchen.

We went with some friends to Miranda's Park Party at Kollen park. Kids had fun but there were far too many people and it was way too hot for my liking.

A little ice cream cooled them down a bit.

P met Daddy's favorite meteorologist. Daddy was jealous!

I picked up a slip-n-slide for $8 one day. P and C had a good time but G was unsure.

The kiddie pool was mainly used for boats this year but occasionally they would venture in.

Vacation Bible School was another activity the kids did...twice. Once at our own church the other at Ava's church

P & the other P.

We also checked out the new splash pad across town.

C & P loved it!

This is what G did. He was not a fan.

Finally he got his feet wet but still didn't love it.