Critters.....

Our oldest son has always been quite the character....never a day goes by that he doesn't make me laugh, (just like his Daddy.) On most mornings Noah asks  if we are going to be doing anything "exciting"  that day. He is always up for anything, I love that about him. 

On this day he caught a toad in our back yard. If you have been following my blog for a while you will remember that Noah is fond of critters. No snakes have been spotted thus far....and this mama is not complaining. I can handle a little toad now and again.....just as long as it stays outside.

So here are some photos of Noah being Noah....being proud of his catch. After holding him and checking him out for a while, and showing Mr. Toad to his brothers and sister, (none of whom wanted to hold him), he released the little guy safely back into our yard.

And yes...I see the disgusting dirt under his nails.  Keeping clean nails is an ongoing battle for a tree climbing, dirt digging, critter catching boy.

Below I've attached a couple of links to previous blog posts of Noah. The first is about 5 yrs ago when he caught his first toad, and the second is of his snake he caught last May.....one of many.

First Toad Catch

Snake Catcher

Another Lovie On The Way......

Our family is growing....and so is my belly.

We have been blessed beyond measure and are so very thankful for each of our children.

This October we will joyfully welcome another little lovie.

I am going into my 17th week of pregnancy and am feeling great. 

Jared is overjoyed that our family is growing.

Noah, Nate, Lauren and Luke are beyond excited for another baby brother or sister. 

(We will find out early next month if we are having a boy or girl)

And as for me....I am in daily awe at the fact that there is a tiny life growing inside of me.

The other day at our checkup I heard the baby's heartbeat....it was hard to hear at first because I could only hear my heartbeat....and then, I heard the baby's. Mine was louder and slower, the baby's was softer but faster....amazing. I could hear both of our hearts beating at the same time.

The calling of motherhood is a privilege that I do not take lightly. 

Indeed I fail and fall short on this beautiful and challenging journey of motherhood...but I press on only by the grace of God.

It should be any day now that I will feel this baby moving...words can't describe the emotion I have at that moment. I so look forward to the time when Daddy and our 4 little lovies can also feel our baby kicking. They are already talking to and kissing my belly....precious.

4 Smiles for You......

I know that it has been a while, but we are all doing very well.....living and loving life. I took a blogging vacation....honestly time has gotten away from me, but I really do miss sharing our lives with all of you. As I have said before, having this blog does help to feel somewhat connected to our friends & family who we do not get to see very often. My lovies are growing so fast, and I know it is important for family to see them grow and know what we are up to....even if it is through photos and online journaling.  (I wish everyone in my family would have a blog so I could check in on you all from time to time!)

Anywho, it's back to blogging for me,  and I really am looking forward to sharing what our family has been up to lately. So let's just start with a photo of our lovies now. As you will notice in comparison to the last photo of this crew, Noah and Nate have opted for summer hair cuts.....I love their long hair....but I have to say they look mighty cute with their new short dos. Daddy had fun buzzing their hair. He tried to talk me in to buzzing Luke, but I stood firm, and was not ready to say goodbye to his soft baby hair just yet!

We work on school during the morning and have lots of free time for enjoying this beautiful weather.  We have already enjoyed back yard campfires and laying in the yard looking at the stars....the two older boys and Jared have already slept in a tent in our back yard!  We are starting to make plans for some camping trips this summer and are also looking forward to heading back to PA for a couple of weeks. 

 We really do miss our family and always will, but are very thankful that God has provided a beautiful "family" here in Indiana for us through our church.  We plan to grow roots here and are enjoying this new place that our lovies now call home.  This is where they are going to grow up and we pray for each of them to fully embrace and enjoy their childhoods.....because life truly does move so fast.

Remembering....

Today is a day that my husband and I remember and hold close to our hearts. Please read
 this post
from last year as I expressed my feelings on remembering the first lovie we lost in 2002.

I will be back to blogging very soon....we are living and loving life and I have so much to share with you. 

Kids and Popsicles.....

It's that time of year already! 

Eating popsicles on the front porch in March.  

It was a good day.

 

My View This Morning....

.....and what a sweet view it was. 

I wish you could have heard the laughter coming out of my little girl....one of my most favorite sounds ever....

.....and we can't forget one special big brother who helps to make his sister laugh.

Spring And All It Brings....

I know my moments as of lately have been few and far between here on my blog....not intentionally mind you. I have so much to share with all of you, but have been watching the moments literally fly by while I am.....

.....reading to my lovies, laughing, being peacemaker when there are disputes, going for walks, finding missing lego pieces, praying, housekeeping, homeschooling, having quiet time with God, trying to get to bed early, caring for a sick little one, serving my family, loving my husband, getting together with families from church, music lessons, talking long distance with family and friends over the phone an face time on the Ipad, planning a garden, making meals.....you get the picture.

We are celebrating new life here.....enjoying all of the rain and sunshine bringing forth the bright colors popping out of the ground, and soon to be seen buds on trees. Spring is a close second as my favorite season, as Autumn is my first. 

I am starting my Spring cleaning along with reorganization of my time management and am hoping to make blogging more of a priority than it has been as of lately. Many moments upon the horizon to share with all of you. Four Sweet little faces enjoying their childhood, and one mama trying to take it all in and savor these blessings in life, capturing as much as I can through my lens.

Here is a little splash of yellow that can be seen in the front of our home. I thought it would be best to snap a photo now, as I am sure a well meaning child will eagerly pick the flower and quickly bring it inside for mama to put it in a vase.

Happy Birthday To My Husband.....

Today we celebrated a beautiful life whose impact on this family is unsurpassed. A man whose heart was changed by God which led to him to give his life to Jesus Christ when he was 

 21 yrs. old....who now leads His family with love, humility and strength by the grace of God.  

He loves  our children with a fierce love and strives daily to direct their precious little hearts to God. We have 4 little lovies who adore their Daddy....each having their own special relationship with him.

Jared and I have been together for more than half of our lives....and there isn't a day that goes by that I do not thank our Good Lord for blessing me with my husband. To be loved the way my husband loves me is not something that I will ever take for granted.....and I pray that  each day I am able to show the depth of the love that I have for him.

Happy Birthday Jared...

all of your lovies are blessed to call you Daddy and I am blessed to call you my husband.

Thank you for taking such good care of us.

I Love You,

Lisa

Luke.....

.....need I say more?

Happy Birthday Lauren.....

A few years ago God blessed our family with a beautiful baby girl. And today that baby girl turned 3.  This is a post to my daughter, who I love more than words could ever express. 

I will never forget the moment that I laid eyes on you....being in complete awe that I was a mama to a little girl. God is using you in so many beautiful ways, moving my heart daily....I love watching you grow and I cherish the bond that you and I share.

.....you love pink....alot

.....you play with your babies everyday

.....you have a shoe fetish

.....you love to sing

.....you like to chew gum

.....you give each of your brothers a kiss every night...and they love it

.....you get excited when we get together with other little girls

.....you love to fold laundry

.....you are very nurturing

.....you pray more than any other one of our lovies

.....you can be emotional

.....you tell me that I'm pretty all of the time

.....you gave up your nucky today...finally (no more pacifier at bedtime)

.....you cut the tip off of your nucky and threw it in the garbage

.....you cried hard....and I cried with you

.....you like to have your nails painted...pink of course

.....you love love love to be read to...and I love love love to read to you

.....you often end up in bed between Daddy and I 

.....you enjoy going to Sunday School and church

.....you named one of your baby dolls "Noah"

.....you ask to "do school" like your big brothers

.....you are very loving and affectionate

.....you love to help me in the kitchen

.....you like to pick out your clothes and prefer little help with getting dressed

.....you have a wonderful imagination

.....you usually cry when I brush your hair

.....you want a baby sister

.....you love to play outside

.....you are quite a talker....always telling stories

.....your laugh is sweet

.....you love to be tickled

.....you love to talk on the phone 

.....you love looking at photos....just like your mama

.....you are still a Daddy's girl

.....you always used to reply to "I love you" with "I love you too much"

.....you and Luke have a special bond...only being 15mos. apart

.....you often sit and pretend like you are reading a book

.....you still wear a bow or some kind of clip in your hair every day....we call it a "hair pretty"

.....you know what foods are healthy and which are not

.....you would never know you had two broken legs less than six months ago

.....you love Jesus

.....you run to the door every day when your Daddy comes home from work

.....you are a hugger and a snuggler...I love it!

.....you like to dance

.....you love it when Nate chases you

.....you love babies, always wanting to hold one that is near...you even still try to hold Luke!

.....you love to draw and are proud of your art

Lauren....you are loved more than you know. Not only from a family who adores you, but from a Heavenly Father who cares for you more deeply than any of us even realize. God has used you to strengthen my faith in many ways. Thank you for all of the times that you hold my hand and ask to pray with me.....in those moments it is hard to remember that you are only three.....I often well up with tears because of how you talk to God. Daddy and I are so thankful for you and we pray for you everyday sweet girl.

Happy Birthday Lauren

I Love You,

Mommy

Loving These Years.......

All children go through their different stages in life....different seasons throughout their childhood....I really have been enjoying them all, even though some years are more challenging than others. It's the challenging seasons that seem to be the most rewarding. 

I think we are entering a new season of childhood with Noah as he grows and matures.  

There are times when I just sit and watch my 8 yr. old son....and I think to myself....how did we get here so fast? 

I am slowly letting go....and it is hard....because I just want to hold on tight to my baby....but that's not going to do him any good.  I am trying to embrace the blessings of being able to be here, along side my lovies as they experience life while they grow in maturity....and in that growth is where I have to patiently sit in the nest, giving them room.....so that they can fly.

God willing,  Noah will someday be a husband and a father....and yes I think about that....and I pray about that even now....because right now matters.  Someday he is going to be the spiritual leader in his family. What we do with him now will affect the kind of man he will become.

God has been so gracious to us....and Jared and I cling to Him for His grace and mercy in raising our children.  Are there days I feel like a complete failure?.....Yep...it's the many days when I try to do this on my own, when I am not relying and trusting in God.

There are a plethora of tools in raising and training children. The most important tool as parents that Jared and I have is the beautiful truth of God's Word. This is what we must be training our lovies in....every. single. day. 

For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12

These photos of Noah are precious to me....not only because He is working on copying one his memory verses (Romans 12:9), but because these photos have captured the way Noah holds his tongue to the side of his mouth....I see this everyday,(anytime he is working hard at something.) As his mama I think that it is cute.  And just in case when he is older and doesn't believe me....I will have these photos as proof! 

Waiting....

Having moved from New England to Indiana six months ago, God has certainly blessed our transition in more ways than I can count.

Our lovies have settled right in....we have made our house a home and are six months into memory making here.

No complaints.....except for one...."Mama, where is the snow?" These words are usually asked by Nate...the snow lover. Our last New England winter was memorable to say the least....more snow than any of us have ever seen. The boys absolutely had a blast playing outside....Lauren was even out there as well.

Beautiful and breathtaking were usually the way I described the white blanket that draped anything that was motionless....for months.  Jared would use words like....ridiculously cold, wet and heavy, relentless....usually as he was snowblowing and shoveling....while I was warm and cozy inside with a cup of coffee, next to the wood burner holding a baby looking out the window...*smile*

So....we've been waiting. Waiting for winter to start....but isn't spring just around the corner? I hope you enjoy these photos of Nate.....desperate for some fun in the white stuff. Of course I was smiling from ear to ear as I watched my son "play in the snow."

If you would like to see our last New England winter, just click on some of the winter months from 2011 located on my side bar....or click here to see one of the most beautiful winter days I have ever experienced.