Playing and singing with the kids. Just overlook

the messy kitchen!!

I love my babies so very much!! They bring me so close to God!!! They actually send me running to his throne for HELP!!!! I see glimpses of Him in each one of them. It's so amazing how God works in their lives.
They are excited about celebrating the birth of our savior...and of course of the gifts they will receive. Seems kind of backward to me sometimes...we are so overly concerned with what we are going to give to our family. We rarely stop to think about the one gift that we posses that so many are so desperate for, yet we keep it to ourselves. I often wonder what would be on Jesus' birthday wish list. I know he would want his people to come to a place of complete devotion. I also know he would want salvation for all. Instead of a new years resolution to get in shape or to shake a bad habit...I want to be devoted to the ONE who has devoted his life to me. Merry Christmas.

After almost ten years and four kids...we still got it!!! LOL!!!

The kids and I have been working hard to get the house all cleaned up. Their cleaning style is like most children's...out of sight and the room is clean. When I go in to inspect their work, it all looks really good, and then I bend down and look under the bed. Yep...Their whole room is somehow crammed under there. It just makes me laugh because I think that is how we adults tend to "clean up"...to make sure we look good on the outside...to hide things down deep...to appear to be alright, when all the while we are hurting. This is true for me a lot of the time. I easliy push my frustrations and disappointments out of the way so that no one can see them. When on the inside I am screaming for help. I isolate myself from those I love because I don't want them to really know who I am and what I struggle with. The truth is that we all know how to play the "everything's fine" game. I usually lose because I can't hide out forever, and I can't keep things pushed down inside of me for too long. Eventually I have to deal with myself and take myself to the God who heals all of my hurts and who takes my disappointments and turns them into new growth. Richard and I have been stretched more lately than we have ever been before. The stretching does hurt, but afterward we seem to know God in a new way and we know each other in a new way too. The end of the clean house story is that we did get it all cleaned up...for now. There will always be things that God needs me to give him so that he can renew me and grow me...I just need to become better at not hiding things underneath my heart. I want to truely let go and allow him to have His way.

We have had a really great week this week. I feel like I have been able to spend so much time with the kids. We have played games, sang to the tops of our lungs, and had lots of laughs. I enjoy every moment that I get to share with them. They are so much fun. I have learned this week that in order to truly forgive someone I have to clear their record. I know it is easy to say we have forgiven, but if we continue to bring up past hurt or talk about the one who hurt us in a negative way, then we have not truely forgiven them. We studied the parable of the ungrateful servant who owed the king millions of dollars and would never to be able to repay him. Of course, we are the servant and Jesus is the king whom we can never repay. Instead of him demanding us to repay him for our debts he cancels them. I love that so much. I spend so much time trying to earn love and acceptance. I just want to be good enough...but I just can't. I am who I am because of who Jesus is and becuase of what he has done. I want to live a life of forgiveness and mercy to others because of Jesus' forgiveness and mercy to me. I love being his child, and I know he loves being my God.

I hosted Mira's baby shower last night. It was so much fun, and everything turned out beautiful! Now all we need is that sweet baby!! We went with the brown and turquoise theme. We had enough food to feed an army!!! And the army came and devoured it!!

I went to the zoo with Ean's 1st grade class on Friday. We had a great time. Ean forgot his sweatshirt in Richard's truck, so I let him wear mine. You'll notice the sleeves hanging down to his knees.

Ean and Matthew under the ape!

Boys will be boys! and yes they were like that the whole time!!!

Amy's bringing the mullet back in!! I was considering going back to blonde. What do ya'll think?

Like mother like daughter.

During celebration practice the kids decided to "dress up" in my and Richard's clothes. Next year I am going to save some money on the Halloween costumes, and let them shop at home.

This was the boys idea of a great costume. I have to hand it to them...it was pretty cool. Haydn is underneath the coat. I wish you could have heard the giggles. They are so much fun, even if they do make huge messes, and totally disrupt singing group practice.

Richard and I went to the lake this weekend for a quick getaway. It's so nice to do that every now and then. Rachael and Scott came and kept the kiddos for us. It was all her idea. What a sweet sis in law!!! I bet they did not have as easy of a time as we did, but our kids loved time with Ra Ra and Scott and of course Cade man. We will hate it when they move back to Denver, but will have lots of great memories from their extended visit.

Davis and Hannah

The Blue Power Ranger, Basketball Princess,
Snowflake Princess, and Red Power Ranger

The Burton's and Johnston's

We had a great Halloween. We took pictures with our neighbors and then headed to trunk or treat. After filling up there, we went to Tootsie and Pop's where we did a little trick or treating with our Little Rock cousins. I know I will end up eating half of their candy. It's just too hard to resist.

He loves to steal my camera and do his own photo shoots. Ean's germy bed. Yikes!!!

Peace, baby.

Yummy. You don't want to know how much of it I ate by myself!!

My little helper added her love to the pie.

Well, now Ean has the stomach bug. It's so sad when they are sick. I seemed to always get stomach viruses when I was a kid, and I loved being at home with my mom on those days. She took such good care of me. She would make me a comfy place on the couch and cater to my every need. I love you mom!!

The kids can't wait until tommorow. Let the sugar induced hyperactivity begin!! We are planning on going to trunk or treat at a church in Little Rock. Fun, fun. We will see just how much candy we can get in the least amount of time.

Aven has a stomach bug again. I am praying that it is short lived and that no one alse gets it. I have lots to do this week. As usual I am behind on my laundry and other housework. We will have Celebration Singer practice here tommorow night, so I need to get busy (now that it is already lunchtime). The girls are tearing up something. I better go see about it.

We had a great day in Newport with Nanny and Poppy. We ate way too much, but it was worth it.

Surely Haydn is not the one making the silly face in his class picture... Daredevil caught on camera

On the Hayride through the pumpkin patch...

Today has been a fun day. Haydn's class had a field trip to the pumpkin patch. The girls and I tagged along with the big brother. I don't think we embarrassed him too much.

We miss you too Shannon. You are so awesome. I have had you on my mind lately. The kids and I went to Olivia's grave a few weeks ago. I had just been to a women's retreat on heaven and the lady who led it had lost a baby at birth also. She talked about how awesome it's going to be to raise a child in heaven, and how amazing of a life her child has right now being raised by God. She said this baby (Daniel) will actually be a perfect child. I hope to see you soon!! Lots of love!!!
Brooke