A Lifetime of Love

2010 has been a year marked by significant changes! On March 10 th we welcomed the newest member of our family, Taylor Ann. She was born almost 3 weeks early and has been a blessing since before her arrival. Now 9 months old, she is becoming more mobile and independent as she loves to explore her surroundings! She adores her siblings and is quite content to watch them play. At the end of May we moved into a larger house. The house is almost double the square footage of our old house, and is closer to the university where TJ works as the manager of the User Support and telephone call-center. It sits on a half-acre of land and is a long-awaited answer to prayer. We all have room to “spread out” but yet we enjoy the benefits of being closer to town. It is an older home that needs some updating, but we are slowly painting rooms and making it our own. Probably the best part of moving is our neighbors- over the months we’ve been here we have become closer with them and they are a blessing t...

Th and I are taking a break from homeschooling while Ta and the girls are out of school for Christmas. I was thinking (not really sure why!) I would have a relaxed “Christmas break” since Th and I wouldn’t have school work to do. Boy, was I wrong!   I am still trying to get my Christmas cards written, addressed, and in the mail, gifts wrapped and ready to be shipped for our out-of-town family, cookie dough prepared and chilled so the kids and I can bake them together, plus my usual chores of laundry, cooking, and cleaning. Whew- it seems like it never ends! On top of all that, I am organizing a huge outreach through my church designed for moms in the local area. I have about 6 weeks until the actual event but there is much to do to get prepared. Thankfully so many from my church have volunteered to help me; they are definitely a blessing to me!   Time to get my girls down for naps so I can finish addressing this batch of cards…  in case I don...

Annie Oooh, as we affectionately call you, you are such a happy baby. You love all of your brothers and sisters so much. T.G. thinks she is your mom, and you humor her by allowing her to hold and feed you. Although you don’t allow her to hold you as long as you used to, you still enjoy the attention! In the past 6 weeks or so you have mastered the “army” crawl. You use your little arms to pull and curl your toes to help you grip the floor and propel your body forward. You are the only one of my children to do the army crawl. You are now beginning to pull up to your knees on things so I’m sure it won’t be long until you are able to stand with assistance. You still prefer fruits over vegetables, and absolutely will not open your mouth for anything green. Your all-time favorite food is cheese puffs, and you cry until we give you some at lunch time. You have started to say “Ma ma” and “Da da” and when you wake up at night you sit in your bed and call for us. Although it’s sweet to hear, Da...

Th sang Christmas songs and passed out cards to residents of a local nursing home as part of a church outreach. My dad, watching in the audience, received a card from another boy in the group. Apparently the boy thought he was a resident. =)

I found an article amidst a packet of papers I’ve had for several years. The packet was tucked inside my Sunday School book acting as a bookmark. I’m not sure why I’ve saved this particular packet of papers for so long, but I’m glad I did as it was a refreshing reminder to me when I opened it up and read the article again. I got the article from a more experienced mom and wife a few years ago when I was struggling with my role of motherhood.  I am sharing it with you, along with my thoughts as I have gained some insight into motherhood as a result of my children aging and me having more children now than I did a back then. Wet Oatmeal Kisses The baby is teething. The children are fighting. Your husband just called and said, “Eat dinner without me.” One of these days you’ll explode and shout to the kids, “Why don’t you grow up and act your age?” And they will. Or, “You guys get outside and find yourselves something to do. And don’t slam the door!” And they don’t. You’ll straighten ...

Teagan has sensory issues that mainly relate to food but also includes her feet. As a result, she HATES to wear shoes because to wear shoes, she also has to wear socks (except with sandals, I know). Whenever we put socks on Teagan, she immediately fusses and claims they “hurt”. I am past the point of getting upset with her as I realize she’s not being difficult or disobedient, she simply has issues and that’s what makes her Teagan. We have recently been trying to find socks that are more comfortable and not as “tight” on her (it’s the seams that bother her so the bigger the sock, the looser the toe seam is). A few weeks ago my sis-in-law held a contest on her blog to win some seamless socks. The winner never contacted her so she had the company mail the socks to me to try with Teagan.  I just received them and can’t wait to try them on her. They truly are seamless so that’s the good news; the “bad” news is that there...

T.G. this morning, as she was opening her window blinds: “Mr. Sunshine is trying to come out.”   Me: “Yes, it looks like it’s going to be sunny today.” T.G. “I think he said, ‘God, can I go outside today? I want to shine on everything.’” It was so sweet!  =)

One day during his reading lesson a few weeks ago, Th read a story about a drummer boy named Alex who lived during the Revolutionary War. In the story, Alex's father joins the militia in fighting for their independence from the British. They were preparing to fight at Cowpens, and the story was based on an actual event (Morgan's men retreated because the signal boy, or drummer boy, gave the wrong signal). Morgan's quick thinking and decisive actions are ultimately what led to him winning the battle and forever etching his name in history. For whatever reason, Th really enjoyed this story and made a personal connection with the main character, Alex. So, to stay true to the beauty and character of homeschooling, I used Th's interest to my advantage and we did an entire study on the history of the battle, the men involved, and it's relevance to our lives today. Here are some pictures of his learning along the way: Completing a Venn diagram on characteristics of the 2 o...

I  can’t believe T.G. is 4 years old! Time just seems to pass more and more quickly, especially as my children age. I remember when I found out I was having a girl- I was so excited! I never could have imagined how blessed I would be when God placed you in our family! T.G., you are such a little princess, dainty and frilly in every way. You make me smile because you are the complete opposite of me: you adore wearing dresses, you LOVE to wear hair bows, and you absolutely refuse to leave the house without accessorizing with jewelry! Pink, of course, is your favorite color and according to you, one can never wear too much of it! You are a whiz at putting puzzles together and the more pieces there are, the more you enjoy doing them. You are great with Taylor Ann (your relationship with Teagan is another story!) and I am thankful you enjoy helping me out by “babysitting” her. It is obvious she loves you just as much as you love her. You adore your big brothers and have fun ...

My kids being silly... and then being sweet... I love these kids! :)

The kids and I went to Reed Gold Mine in Midland, NC today. Th just finished up a unit on the westward expansion, including the discovery of gold in California in 1849. I thought this field trip would be a fun way to end the unit. We looked at the exhibits, toured the mine, and panned for gold. It was so much fun, and a great learning experience! He was excited to find gold but as he shared with TJ, we "can't sell our house to become gold miners." I'd say he learned first-hand how labor intensive mining truly is, especially for such little pay-off. =) The mine entrance: Just inside the entrance: 50 feet underground, looking up a shaft: The mine shaft from the outside: T.G. watching the mill in operation. It was loud, but the noise didn't seem to bother her! Th panning for gold: T.G. panning for gold: This verse ties in nicely to today's field trip and is a good reminder for us all: "but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where nei...

That is the name we gave to the mountain where TJ's grandfather, Frank, and his wife, Dot, live. It is in northern Pennsylvania, only about 10 or so miles south of the New York state line. It was beautiful during our visit; the autumn colors were almost to their full glory! We had a busy week with them. TJ walked the cemetary where his grandmother is buried and shared fond memories with us of time spent with her. We went to the playground: We went to Ross Park and zoo (Binghamton, NY): We picked apples at Russell Farm and Orchard: We celebrated Teagan's 2nd birthday: We learned about the longest concrete train bridge, which was built in 1915: We celebrated Th's 8th birthday: But best of all, we enjoyed sweet fellowship with dear loved ones! The kids enjoyed putting on their "Patch the Pirate" performance each evening after supper, and the grandparents enjoyed watching it! These are precious memories that we will always have, and I am so thankful we took the time...

I was thinking about (reflecting on, really) Th's eye injury when something occurred to me: the night that it happened, he just wanted me. He wanted me to hold his hand, draw his bath water for him, sit with him, basically be close to him and not leave his side. The next day, when he went to the eye doctor, he wanted me to take him and not TJ. But, now that he's feeling better and his life has mostly returned to normal, he doesn't "need" me as much. I miss being needed and knowing that only I was able to soothe him. Unfortunately, the above scenario describes how I've been with God. During the difficult times in my life, as I struggle to make sense of the hurt and pain I'm experiencing, I seek the Lord and cling tightly to His promises. However, once the storm passes and the fog lifts, I catch myself moving away from the Lord and not seeking Him so diligently. I can only surmise that He, like myself, misses the fellowship that comes with drawing close...

As a mom to 5 kids, it's never a dull moment in our house. It seems like someone is always sick or hurt. This weekend it was Th's turn to visit the doctor. Here's why: It's a long story but thankfully he'll be okay. The Lord's protection is evident as literally 1cm to the left and Th could have been blinded or more seriously wounded. Although it's gross to look at, he can see fine and is in only minor pain. Thanks for the prayers for his quick recovery!

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall. Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. All the King's horses, and all the King's men, couldn't put Humpty together again. ~Mother Goose Mother Goose came to visit Ta's class for a tea party today. In preparation for her arrival, the kids practiced reciting their favorite nursery rhymes and were encouraged to dress up as their favorite character. I think he looks adorable, if I do say so myself! =)

I need to write Th's birthday post/picture, as well as share some pictures from our trip last week. However, a stomach bug has hit our family and in the past 24 hours, 5 of 7 family members have caught it. It's not fun living in this house right now! :(

Happy birthday, buddy! Stats: Height: 49 3/4 inches Weight: 56.6 pounds Favorite color: Red Life's ambition: to be a missionary and drive an R/V :) This past year has been marked by your baptism, along with changes to your education. You have excelled academically but more importantly, you continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Your love for the Lord spurs you to love others, and for that I am so grateful. You are a fabulous big brother, the kind I always wished I had when I was little. You are kind, caring, and take time to help and teach your younger siblings. You care about their spiritual walk with the Lord and are always sharing the gospel with them- a mini-missionary! The Lord truly blessed us when He gave you to us! We love you so much and are so thankful for your servant's heart!

Teagan is 2 years old! Wow! She has come a long way over the course of her life. Although still receiving speech therapy and meeting weekly with her Early Interventionist Crystal, she has overcome some obstacles that most children her age never face. And, she has done it with a smile on her face EVERY day! Teagan, you are the happiest kid I know. The only time you are unhappy is, as Th so eloquently phrased it, when you "...hear the word "NO!" You cry every time, and although it is usually for your protection or safety, you still don't like it. But, with a quick hug and a wipe of a few tears, you smile your beautiful smile and get on with life. I love that about you. Teagan, you have an infectious smile that draws people to you. Strangers in the store and friends at church are always commenting on your beautiful smile and sweet personality. Your teachers at preschool have nicknamed you "Sweet Tea" because of your warm smile and joyful personality. I have a ...

I cannot believe I am the mother of a 6-month old. When did Taylor Ann get so big? Wait, I remember. I remember every night because she still wakes up to feed. At least twice, lately three times. But, it's okay. She is so sweet and loving that I enjoy it. She coos and kisses and rubs my face as I hold her. This stage will not last long enough so I am making a conscious effort to enjoy it, even though it's difficult for me to get out of bed when the alarm rings at 6am. Developmentally, Taylor Ann is rolling back and forth between her belly and back, and she is working on sitting up independently. She is grasping toys and anything else she can get a hold of (today it was T.G.'s hair- ouch!). She is just starting out on baby food so no real "favorites" yet. Taylor Ann is chunky and has many rolls of baby fat that cause me to squeeze her several times a day, especially on her thunder thighs! She is getting some hair finally but still sports the Sinead O'Connor loo...

T.G. and Teagan started back to preschool last week. I have been so busy that I am just now getting a chance to post their "first day" pictures. Here they are: The bonds of sisterhood! :)

Okay, I gotta tell you, I really like homeschooling. We just completed our first "full" week of school, and at times it was challenging, but we did it! It is obviously a learning process for both Th and myself as we figure out the best way to do school while my girls, particularly Teagan, are home with us, but we're getting there. Thankfully he enjoys school and overall Th has an easy-going personality so he doesn't mind when I switch things up a bit. But, Friday's routine seemed to work the best with having the girls home with us so that is what I will do on the days they don't attend preschool. Plus, on the mornings they do attend preschool, I think Th and I will be able to move through the material quicker since we won't have the distractions of an almost 4- and 2-year-old. Hopefully we can get ahead on those days and, if needed, relax a bit on the others. Our first field trip is scheduled for October 1st. We are going to a local historical farm and ho...

This was on my friend Renee's blog, and I totally had to steal it because it's so true! LOL!! Happy school year!!! :)

Homeschooling has been going well. We started on Tuesday and completed a half day. We did the other half on Wednesday and then began full days on Thursday. It has been exciting, fun, and, at times, challenging. With my girls being so young, I have to find things for them to do with us at the table so they aren't getting into stuff. Plus, Ta was sick so he was home with us, too. I had to juggle my roles as teacher, mom, and nurse this past week. Not an ideal way to start the year but it went well and we pushed on! Overall it's going to be a great year! School, on average, takes us between 2 1/2 and 3 hours to get done. I like the routine that we've started but more importantly, the flexibility is great! Plus, since I'm home for a dedicated amount of time, I can get stuff done around the house while Th is completing assignments. Most of the housework and laundry is done during the week, freeing up our weekends to spend time with TJ. It's been great! We've been fol...

Taylor Ann is five months old today. She is getting so big so quickly! She, like her sisters, sucks her left thumb. I don't know what it is about that left thumb, but it must taste extra-special for all 3 of them to do it! She is also rolling from side-to-side now that she has discovered her feet. I must say, I just love this age! She is, for the most part, a very content baby who greatly enjoys watching the others play around her. T.G. just simply adores her and affectionately calls her, "That baby." Ironically enough, today is also the one-year mark that I found out I was pregnant with twins. I have very mixed emotions today. I am sooo thankful to have this beautiful, healthy, happy baby girl but I am saddened by the fact that her twin is not on this earth with us. I still look at the ultrasound picture and remember the shock and disbelief of it all. My, how my life has changed in a year! God has been so good and gracious to me, but in getting to this high-point in my...

I love Teagan very much! She has brought so much joy to our family and we are grateful the Lord gave her to us- what a blessing! As many of you know, she has a developmental delay and has been receiving various types of therapy for almost a year and a half. She has "graduated" from all except speech. She is making great progress, except I've started to notice something that concerns me a little. Growling. When she doesn't like or want to do something, Teagan growls. Loudly. I guess maybe growling is easier than trying to say, "No," which she can't say. I'm not really sure, but I am going to talk to Susan, her S/LP, about it tomorrow when she sees Teagan. Just another confirmation from the Lord how truly special Teagan is! =)

It's been a couple of weeks since my last post so I thought I'd share some of what I've been up to. We went to the beach and had a fabulous trip. We actually stayed a little longer than planned because we just love the ocean and really didn't want to leave. :) Since getting back, I have been working on lesson plans for homeschooling next year. I finalized my curriculum and am now transferring the lessons for each subject into my lesson planner. It's time consuming and I am really only able to do it for a little bit in the afternoons while the kids nap. But, Lord willing, it's getting done and I am thankful. There are still boxes in almost every room that need to be unpacked, but motivation is small and honestly it's just too difficult for me to unpack with 5 small children. We've done some little projects around the house, one of which was putting plywood sheets up in the rafters of the attic to expand our attic space. We still have a storage unit full ...

TJ and I are celebrating 11 years of marriage today. Where has the time gone? We've been through so much in our 11 years, more than some ever experience in a lifetime. God has been so gracious to us, bringing trials into our lives that have helped us to grow closer to Him and to each other. In the past year alone, we've lost a baby, gained a baby, and moved into a larger house, among other things. This time last year I would have never expected any of those things to happen, and thankfully they have as we have learned a few things in the process. Now, for those of you who knew us when we were dating, I have this to say to you, "See, we made it this far, and we will continue to make it only by God's grace." To those of you who have known us for only part of our marriage, I have this to say to you, "See, we made it this far, and we will continue to make it only by God's grace." Marriage is hard work but so worth the effort. *Thank you, Lord, for TJ . ...

We are getting ready to go to the Outer Banks this Friday. The kids and I are so excited! This is our FAVORITE family vacation spot and we haven't been there in 3 years. The past 2 years we have gone to Topsail Island, and although it's nice, nothing compares to the Outer Banks. Plus, my mom is meeting us there so we'll get to visit with her! The kids are already making a list of things to bring such as their "boogie boards," kites, crab nets, and sand toys. The last time we were there, we went searching for crabs on the beach at night. TJ and the boys caught quite a few of them (and released them, of course) and the kids are most excited about that. I am excited about getting some sand in my toes and some sun on my back! LOL! Nothing is better than seeing God's beautiful creation at the beach: the ocean's boundaries, the beautiful skies, and all the life in between the two. *Psalm 19:1~ "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the wo...

It's been a while since I've updated on Teagan's progress with her therapy and such. At this point in her life (at age 21 months), she is now only receiving speech therapy along with her weekly visits with Crystal, her Early Interventionist. She was re-evaluated last week and on Tuesday Susan, her speech therapist, and I went over the results. When Teagan was first assessed last December she scored in the 90s on both receptive and expressive skills. Average is anywhere between 85-115, and a true "delay" is below 85 and "advanced" is above 115. She qualified because of her eating difficulties and aversion to textured foods (she was 15 months old and still on pureed baby foods). Susan not only worked on her speech, but did lots of work with her in terms of getting Teagan to accept foods and getting over her texture aversion. When Teagan was assessed last week, her receptive score was 115 but her expressive was 86; quite a significant difference. She should...

Just thought I'd share. . . I am so blessed! I have seen God answer my prayers in so many ways over the past few months. God is good! Psalm 119:68

I am so thrilled to finally be moved into our new "old" house. I call it that because the house is new to us, but it's actually 45 years old. It's so spacious compared to our other house; the kids and I LOVE it! The layout is perfect for us and I am so thankful the Lord, in His wisdom and timing, provided it for us. We are slowly unpacking because the more immediate priority is with cleaning. The house was previously owned by an elderly man whose wife died from cancer last year. He himself suffered from a stroke so it's been a VERY long time since the house has been cleaned. Each room requires a scrubbing from floor to ceiling and everything in between. Thankfully a friend of mine from church has been willing and able to come over to help clean. Together we were able to get the kitchen, kids' bedrooms, playroom, and 2 bathrooms completed; we're about halfway there! I have started unpacking the playroom so the kids have been acting like it's Christmas. ...

Packing and visiting with my mom and sis and neices. Loving life right now! Thankful for the many blessings of great family and friends! :)

“There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are messengers of overwhelming grief...and unspeakable love.” ~Washington Irving As a mother, I have experienced both overwhelming grief and unspeakable love. But, through it all, God is faithful and His word is a comfort to me. I am sure there will be many more tears to come, and I anticipate them with joy that comes with knowing I am in His care. I am so blessed to be a mother! To all the mothers out there, I wish you a happy Mother's Day!

In my last post, I wrote about how I was searching for joy in raising my children... Well, I can happily report that I have finally figured it out. I realized that I can have joy no matter the circumstance or situation, but this joy is only found through Christ. Thankfully the Lord really opened my "spiritual eyes" enough for me to understand what having joy really means. It means that, no matter how much crying Taylor Ann does or how much arguing the others do, I am doing exactly what the Lord has called me to do: mother my children. As Mother's Day approaches, I am so thankful for the opportunity the Lord has charged me with in raising children. I am training them to fear the Lord and to be responsible for their actions. I am also taking time to enjoy my children, making time to play and talk and cuddle and rock and sing and dance and run and all the other things they like to do on a daily basis. And you know what, it's FUN!! :) *"Her children rise up and call...

I am the mother of 5 children. Most days I still cannot believe it, although reality hits when I am being pulled in different directions by 5 needy children. I have been thinking lately about how to "enjoy my children" as I have been told numerous times by well-intentioned, and much wiser, friends. But, honestly, I have no idea how to do that. It is something I have struggled with for years, and as my kids get older, the more I miss out on, or so it seems. I just can't seem to grasp how to balance all of my responsibilities: wife, mother, chef, laundress, chauffeur, maid, and many others that I can't seem to think of off-hand. Don't get me wrong, I love Taylor Ann and am so thankful for all that God has taught me through her short time with our family. I am just struggling even more to find time to do even the simplest of everyday tasks (like showering!!) even more so now that she is here. But today during Sunday School, a thought occurred to me that was very enco...

Wednesday, March 10, 2010. The day God chose for Taylor Ann to make her debut into the world. I started to have contractions just as preschool dismissal began, around noon. They weren’t very close, happening only about once every 10-15 minutes or so. Once I got home, I told TJ I wasn’t feeling well. He offered to take the afternoon off but since the contractions weren’t unbearable or close together, I assured him it was okay to go back to work and I would call him around 4pm to give him an update. Plus, Teagan has therapy on Wednesday so her EI, Crystal, would be here with me for an hour if something drastically changed and I needed to go to the hospital. He agreed and off he went! During Teagan’s therapy, I mainly sat on the couch and relaxed because I just did not feel well. Every movement caused me to have a contraction and as anyone who has had children knows, they are painful! =) Crystal left about 2:30 and I loaded the kids up in the van and we picked up Th from school, returning...

I have to share how good the Lord has been to TJ and I over the past couple of weeks. . . About a month ago, I found out some friends from church were planning a baby shower for me. I was utterly surprised, to say the least. The shower was a couple of weeks ago and was wonderful! It was a scrapbook theme in which each guest decorated a scrapbook page, and at the end of the shower, I had a complete album for Taylor's first year. The scrapbook is gorgeous! Some of the pages are very elaborate and others are very simple; it is a nice balance and something I could have never completed on my own. The best part of the album is that each lady signed her name on the back so I know who created each page. I love it and will cherish it always! I will admit I got emotional during the shower simply at the thoughtfulness and planning of each person in attendance. Each guest not only created a scrapbook page, but they prepared dishes to share and just the fact that they came meant so much to me!...