He Lives

The week leading up to Easter, we took a pause from nightly Book of Mormon reading. Instead we read from the King James version of the New Testament and studied the last week of Christ earthly ministry together.  In the mornings, the kids and I watched the exceptionally done videos of the Life of Christ.  Each one is so beautiful and they helped make our reading from the previous night come alive.  

Nothing is more important to me than for my children to know that Christ isn't just a character from a book.  I need them to know that Jesus really lived and that He truly is the Only Begotten of our Father in Heaven.  They need to know that, because of His love for us and His Father, He drank the Bitter Cup and atoned for the sins of the world.  They must understand that he truly did rise from the dead on that first Easter morning, and that He lives today as our Savior and King.  

Without Christ there is no real joy, no real peace, and no hope of us every returning to live with our Father in Heaven.  I am grateful that I was raised in a home where I could develop of testimony of my Savior, and I pray that I creating that same opportunity for my children.  

Easter, even more than Thanksgiving, fills me with gratitude!  I am overwhelmed at the love my Savior has for me.  I am reminded how blessed I am to spend my life learning and growing with my little family and that, because of Him, my family can be together forever.  I am grateful for the plan of Salvation and for a Savior who has provided all of us a way home.

I love coloring eggs with my children.  I adore their sleepy excited faces as they search for their hidden Easter baskets on Easter morning.  And my heart sings when my house is full of family and friends for Easter dinner.  However, the most special part of the day is getting to attend church with my family, and partake of the Sacrament.  It is something we have the opportunity to do each week as Latter Day Saints.  But this Easter, as I reflected on Christ serving his disciples the Last Supper, I was overwhelmed with its sacredness and symbolism.  

I fall short each and everyday in my attempts to follow Christ's commandment to "Be you therefore perfect, even as your Father who is in heaven is perfect." -Matthew 5:48  So it is amazing to know that each week I can renew my baptismal covenants and start clean.  I can recommit myself to taking the name of Christ upon me.  Even though I will never find perfection in this life, I am blessed to have a loving older brother who will always make up the difference.  

There is nothing else worth celebrating more than knowing that He lives!

PS Here are a few pictures I took after church.  Scarlett refused to let me do her hair before we left, and after 3 hours of church her eyelashes are sure looking heavy!  The boys were less than enthused to put on their suits, but seriously, look how handsome they look!!

Easter Eve

Holy Smokes!  You know those days, when you have so much to do and you know there is no possible way you can get it all done?  Easter weekend was that way for me.  I was stressed about it all week, but with Daddy back on the truck full time, it is impossible for me to get anything done without my little crew.  And let's face it, it is difficult to surprise anyone if they are with you all the time.

Luckily, Aunt Robyn came to the rescue (as she so often does), and I was able to slip away for an hour before our starting our crazy soccer Saturday.  After two games, a couple of errands, and some dinner at Crackle Barrel, we finally got back home.  While we were all dirty and tired, we still had one more thing that couldn't wait...it was time to color our Easter eggs!

I ask for a little grace on the photos.  In my effort to get things done, it is obvious that changing the white balance on my camera did not make that list...hence my yellow children, and I am not referring to their soccer jerseys.  But hey, I documented the moment, right?

Sunny and Spontaneous

As I went to bed last night, I had a mini panic attack about the lack of pictures I have taken of my kids this year.  Of course that is not entirely true since I have at least a hundred of Scarlett on my phone, and probably even a couple of the boys (they are not big on cameras these days).  But for some reason I don't really count them unless I take them with the "real" camera.  And why would this little realization cause anxiety and insomnia, one might ask.  I have no idea.  Maybe it is the pregnancy hormones to maybe I'm just crazy...yeah, I know, I'm just crazy.

Then this morning, this gorgeous sunny warm morning, I had my chance.  Scarlett was sitting on the steps and the light from the front door was streaming in so beautifully...I couldn't help grab the camera.  And then much to my delight, after several cute snaps of her, James wanted to join in!  And then, never wanting to be the odd man out, Jake did too.  Since I gave each boy a couple of turns behind the camera, they were more than willing to get in front of it.

So with a few minutes to spare before Jake's piano class, the four of us all had a little photo shoot.  Scarlett gave her best two year old smiles, James was sweet and cooperative, Jake was a goof ball, and I am looking every bit of 32.  But I love that I got some sweet. silly, spontaneous pictures with my little crew.

The Boys Take The Stage (aka The Front of the Church)

We finally made it to a group piano/violin recital this year!  It is funny how I can hear the boys play the same songs nearly every day, and it is still a thrill for me get to watch them perform.

The church where the recitals are now held is beautiful, however, I do really miss the feel of the theater at Austin Peay.  I loved watching my tiny little Jacob stand on that big stage and way the notes from his itty bitty violin could fill the building (got to love good acoustics).  But the church is probably just the right fit for Jamie right now.  While he didn't feel ready to play at his first recital, he did a great job at his second this past November (if only I hadn't deleted the SIM card before uploading those pictures and videos...Mom FAIL!).  And it was a proud moment, this time, when he didn't even hesitate to grab his violin and join the group to play Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star and Song of the Wind.

Boys play Twinkle Twinkle (Mississippi Hot)

We did have to get through nearly two pages of piano duets and trios until it was the boys' turn, but it was totally worth it to watch the boys play.  They both did great!  I cannot believe James is moving through the songs in book 1 so quickly (I guess it helps to have listened to them practically all his life) and having Jacob fill our home with Bach minuets feels a little surreal.

Jake plays Minuet 2

Jake plays Etude

It is a blessing to have our home filled with their music, and I am excited to see how they each of them use the talents they are developing as they grow.  I hope there are many stages and theaters in their future, but if they only use their music to bring beauty and joy to themselves and their families, then it will have all been worth it.

Unsent Christmas Card Photos

Once again, I did not get Christmas cards sent out.  Maybe by the time my kids are teenagers I will have that figured out...although I doubt it.  I think the secret is that I have to start thinking and planning for Christmas starting the first of November.  The problem is that I LOVE Thanksgiving!  But when I give Thanksgiving all of my November focus, I end up treating Christmas like an unexpected surprise.  "Wait...What?!?  Christmas is in 3 weeks?!?" yeah that is me like every year...

So here are this years Christmas pictures!  Taking pictures with an almost two year old actually went better than I expected it.  But she did let some of that Scarlett sass shine through toward the end of our little shoot.  My boys where awesome!  They were both so cooperative and helpful, and I appreciated their willing attitudes more than they know.

Even though these pictures didn't end up on any fancy card stock or on anyone else's fridge, I am so glad that we took them.  Pictures of my kids, especially all together, are such a gift.  I love to see their unique personalities come through, and it always warms my heart to capture the love that they have for one another.

 

Christmas Cookie Party

The best part of living in an Army town are the amazing people you meet.  The worst part about living in an Army town in is saying goodbye to the amazing people you meet.  Even after our move to the more "stable" side of Clarksville, most of the friends we have made are military and sadly, we will have to say "good bye" to many of them this summer.

But in the mean time, we are grateful to get to spend time and make memories with these great families.  I am especially grateful for awesome (organized) women who put together fun activities and playdates because my kids and I enjoy them so much!  Even Jacob has a great time (even though it is getting more and more difficult to get him in a picture).  I was worried that he would start to resist hanging out with younger kids since we don't really have any homeschool kids in the ward.  But instead he just steps up as a such a big help.

These are a couple pictures I took at a Christmas cookie decorating party.  It is obvious the Scarlett and James enjoyed themselves, and if you look closely, you can see that Jake was in fact in attendance.  The cutest part was watching him help Scarlett make her Christmas tree craft.  It hangs on our fridge and every time Scarlett sees it, she excitedly tells me, "That is my Christmas tree!  Jacob helped me!"

Wild, Fast, and Crazy With A Christ Like Heart

My Sweet Baby James turned 5 this month...5!!!  I can hardly believe it!!

Fifth birthdays are little rough for me.  Something about one of my babies becoming "school age" breaks my heart.  It doesn't make very much sense with us being a homeschool family.  It isn't like he is going anywhere.  I guess it is just knowing that if we were little more "normal," James would be joining his peers on the school bus this next fall and that even with homeschool I still have to register my son with the powers that be.  It just makes him feel a little less mine and that is more than this Momma can handle.

Luckily, I could not have dreamed up a sweeter 5 year old!  Sure James is a little wild and crazy.  He climbs up door ways (and then hangs from the top and slides down one side), flies down hills at a million miles an hour on his strider, and has holes in all his shirts and scratches on his ears from intense wrestling matches with our puppy, Dixie.  But it is selflessness and thoughtfulness that amazes me the most.  In the weeks leading up to his 5th Birthday, there were two moments that really stood out that perfectly illustrate the special kind-hearted spirit our James has.

When mom forgets candles you have to just pretend

In this first narrative I give total permission to laugh at my expense:  A couple of weeks ago James, Scarlett and I were hanging out outside, enjoying a gorgeous fall afternoon, while Jake finished his violin lesson.  James and Scarlett were happily playing in the crunchy leaves, while I looked on, having one of those "I am so blessed!  My life it so beautiful" moments.  Well, I was, until I heard a very loud buzzing sound right next to my ear.  I tried not to panic and hoped I could just wait it out for a few seconds and whatever it was would fly away.  Unfortunately, that was not the case and much to my horror, the buzzing insect was now trapped in my hair.  Que Mommy freak out!  "James!!  James!!  There is a bug in my hair!!  Get it out!!!" I squealed (yes, like a little girl).

Without a hesitation, James dropped the rake he had been playing with, and came running to my rescue.  I leaned over so he could assess the situation.  He reached forward, and then jumped back, "It is a WASP!!"  Now I was really freaking out, but, as my mind raced to find the a solution to this mini crisis, James stepped forward and reached up to untangle the wasp from my hair.  He did get the wasp out, but not without getting stung first.

While I'm sure it would have won first place at any American Funniest Home Videos contest had anyone been lucky enough to get it all on tape, it was the way my baby didn't hesitate to put my needs in front of his own that will make this a moment I will never forget.  He knew the wasp would likely sting him, but he helped me anyway.  I get a lump in throat just thinking about it.  James doesn't need to be taught or reminded "what Jesus would do" he already knows and he is probably already doing it.

The second story is as simple as it is sweet.  The night after my sister's wedding, the kids and I stayed across the hall from my parents at their hotel to squeeze in some extra family time.  The following morning, my kids and I were enjoying the yummy buffet breakfast before we headed back home when we heard my mom making her way down the hall.  Before she had even made her way into the lobby, James had leaped from his chair, grabbed a chair for my mom, and was clearing her a space on the little table so she could join us.

I could fill this blog of stories where James goes out of his way to help someone else or sacrifices what he wants to make his brother or sister smile.  He is a bring light in our family and in his sweet five year old ways he continues to teach each of us what Christ like love and service looks like.

James, you are an incredible boy!  You have a natural love for others and selflessness that most adults are still struggling to grasp.  I know that you will grow into an amazing man one day and you will bless the lives of everyone you come in contact with.  Thank you for your endless supply of snuggles and smiles.  You add a warmth to my life that I thank God for everyday.