Christmas

This year Christmas was very different but I loved it! We went and spent Christmas eve and Christmas day with the Evens. It was snowing on the way there and by Christmas eve there was so much snow that we drove between 20-30 mile an hour. I couldn't wait to get to the house. I hid my face most the time until we got into town. I really need to over come that fear. Driving in heavy snow.
It was great seeing friends we hardly ever see! The boys loved seeing the girls again. Kiah asked if they could come with us lol!
We come home Christmas night and the three oldest boys opened gifts! I love seeing there excitement over there gifts! Ethan was asleep so he opened his in the morning.
Hopefully it wont snow anymore and then family will come here on Tuesday for family Christmas! We will miss not having all our family together! It of course is never the same when we are not all together!
I will start more baking tomorrow after nap time. I plan on making butter horns on Tuesday so we can have them fresh. We shall see how it all works out though. Aaron wants a Meringue Pie which I have never made so again we shall see how it all works out. Also want to try Peanut butter fudge and Lemon lime sugar cookies. With Aaron being home I think I can get it all done.

It really was a special time at the Evens home! Aaron has such a way of making things special! I do adore that man! Thank you Lord for all Your many many Blessings!

I have truly enjoyed having my husband home so much! Yesterday we went and did some Christmas shopping just us and then later a bit with the boys. Then we came home and Aaron and I stayed up till about 3am painting the dining room and talking! I loved it and it looks great!

Of course my little guy had to wake up at 5:13 am! It was funny at around 10 am Josh came and wanted me to see Ethan. Ethan was sitting on the couch with his head leaning on the couch trying to keep his head from falling. LOL! It was funny so I gave him a pillow. Later I looked and he was sleeping with his feet sticking of the couch and then later he was standing with his chest on the couch. I got pics! And when he woke up he was attacked with Kiss's and hugs from his brothers. They love each other so much it is adorable!

Today We got the curtains up. I don't like the curtains but at least the windows are covered and I am thankful! We will wrap more gifts today! It is looking great!

I am so thankful for my boys who remind us that Christmas isn't about the toys!

I was overcome with sadness today thinking about leaving this neighbor hood and friends here! Aaron applied for a full time military position in Wichita! We new this was coming but I didn't realize it would happen so fast! Yesterday Aaron said we need to make room to start keeping boxes.
I am ready to have a change though. I have loved living in the country but it really stinks that it is so hard for people to stop by and see us! I love having people over! It helps keep me motivated and not stale lol
Aaron has finished his BA and will begin working on his Masters. At least his masters will only take two years and not four like his BA did! I can't wait to watch him walk to accept his diploma!

Christian is doing great in school and has a photo graphic memory. Which helps but he is also a perfectionist. Where he got that I have no idea lol!

Josh is doing well and is begun reading starter books. He can add basic first grade math!

Kiah is doing great and is a handful always wanting to do more and more homework. If I don't have something for him to do when the others are doing their work he gets upset. But I love it! I love that they love to learn!

It is really a challenge homeschooling with four little ones!! It really try's my patience! I love watching them learn though. I can't help feeling what every homeschooling parent feels though that somehow I might be not covering everything they need to know.

I am glad for Christmas break!

Ethan is another little loving boy! More so than any of them were at his age. He is always giving me hugs. The last two days he will reach for me and say,Mommy hug you! I love it! He loves to sing and will sing parts of many songs. I have caught him using Aarons little flash light as a microphone and singing into it with no music on just rocking back and fourth as he sang. He is sooo cute! He talks so well and understands like a three year old. He is only 23 months old! They are all dare devils and I call them monkeys and crazy which only makes them laugh! He has begun potty training.

I got most of the dining room painted. It is better than pink sponge paint that is on it now. I hate the pink! I am determined that before Christmas to get it all done. I really look forward to Christmas this year!

We have learned about the truth about Santa lol! We teach them the story of how Santa all began. I want the true meaning of Christmas to be more important to them then Santa. I want them to see the birth of Christ as more "magical"/special/amazing then Santa! It is funny cause we were giving a little girl a ride to church and she started talking about Santa and Christian begged me to tell her the real story of Santa.

We have a silly dog that barks at everything lol! I call him a woos lol! I am unsure if we will be able to keep him when we move Hmmmm.....

Right now Kiah and Ethan are dancing like crazy to Hillsong DVD. They get quite crazy. It if fun to watch! Oh and it is really cute cause they had a bath together and Kiah isn't dressed yet so he is dancing in the nude lol! He really has no shame. He will strip in front of anyone if he gets wet without a second thought! He has stripped at the park homeschooling group meeting. Awkward!

I think we will have to buy new tree decorations. Between the dog and Ethan so many have been broken or chewed up. Most of them were old anyway.

Tomorrow I get to go get my hair trimmed. It is just a little to long to style like. It is really short and I love it this way. And then some Christmas shopping well a little at least. Fun day ahead! I have been out of the house for one hour since last saterday.

Good!

Well I made this a not computer day lol which the boys don't like but man it has been fun watching them play together! We got some Christmas shopping done it was soo fun! Aaron took me to dinner first and we had such a good time! We get to do it again this week. I had two ladys from my church (who I love!) come and give me a gift of 5 hours to be free from being a mother as she put it. Lol! I am so excited! I think I will get my hair trimmed and eat lunch with Aaron and go shopping! Lord willing! lol It is so hard to go shopping with four restless boys especially Christmas shopping! Wow by the time we leave the store I am so exhausted! I love shopping with my husband! I am so glad he loves to shop and like things that aren't cheep cause it is easy for me to think little and he helps me to open my box lol!

Snow

Today was a good day :) I got all the kids dressed for playing in the snow after school. Getting four boys and me ready to play in snow isn't an easy task but well worth it. I thought Ethan might not remember snow since he was like eleven months old the last time he saw it but he just grinned great big kicked the snow then picked some up and threw it at me lol! I love boys! They are so fun! Kiah kept getting on all fours and licking up the snow. Which created a snow ring around his face lol! Christian said half his face was frozen but just loved being in the snow and trying to get me with it! I finally said we had to go in when Ethan took his gloves off because they were to wet and then tried playing in the snow with out them. lol! He kept trying to shake the snow off! It was funny and even though his hands were very cold he didn't want to go inside! Josh liked it but gave up much faster then the rest of us and went inside lol!
So I took them all inside and got them undressed and went out and got snow for snow Ice Cream. MMMMM....
I am trying real hard to change the way we discipline our Kiah. I am trying so hard not to spank him. And trying to give him more one on one time with me. So I have been doing alot and I mean a lot of time outs. One minute per age so for him three minutes. And alot of praise and encouragement when ever I can find any reason to give it!I think I see a change in him just in the last two days. Aaron said he saw a change too. He is a strong willed and can be defiant child whom we love but can be quiet frustrating lol!

Blessed

I am feeling very blessed right now! I love the man God has put in my life! He is sooo awesome! lol!
I am soo thankful for the presence of God in all my trials and sorrows! No matter how down I may feel God always sends a message through Himself, friends,husband or my children,radio,Bible. What more could I ask for? :) Life sure isn't easy! Decisions we have to make are not easy many many times! But when and I mean when cause I don't always do it lol but when you pray and let God be the one to direct you in making decisions it will always give you peace even if it hurts to make that decision. Lol if that makes any since! Well it does for me! I am just happy for a husband who redirects me to the Lord when I am hurt or kicking myself for something I did wrong or said wrong! He is such a blessing!
My Boys are growing so big! Schooling is going! Good sometimes, great others and not well other times lol!

Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving was great at out house! Aaron made a wonderful turkey and stuffing!!!! We had a couple friends over from the collage and played the Wii! Then after we got the kids to bed Aaron and I watched a couple shows online and played Bowling on the Wii! That was fun!!! I won once and Aaron won once! Today is a day of rest and then heading to moms in the late morning tomorrow! I am soo excited to see family! I don't want to do anything lol at home but just lay around but that isn't gonna happen :)

Thanksgiving!

I have much to be thankful for as we all do! God is so good and so faithful! Living for God is an adventure. With twists and changes always around the bin.
This thanksgiving we are having a dinner at our house with just our family and about three friends. Aaron as usual is cooking the turkey and doing the stuffing.I don't think I have ever cooked a turkey in the 9 years we've been married lol! I will make Butterhorn roles,mashed potatoes, corn(Josh adores), Broccoli (Kiah adores), and I think Apple Pie along with Aarons special Strawberry,Oreo,Peppermint Ice Cream dish. I plan on starting things today so tomorrow is much easier! I think I need a nap first though!
Then two days later we will be going to moms for the family Thanksgiving! And my brothers birthday. Which I am at a total loss as to what to get him.... hmmm... What do you get for a brother who has whatever he wants lol.
The boys are so excited to see Uncle Bob and Aunt TT And especially Anabel! They adore her! Little girls are precious to them! I can't wait either! I haven't seen her in 5 months and she is so big now! Crawling already! Man! Life goes by so fast!
One day we will all be together for the Holidays and we will lol have to get a big place to celebrate cause man that will be 11 Grand kids and 9 adults and maybe more kids lol never know!
We already have our tree up for Christmas lol Aaron came home from work and said that is what he wanted to do. It was fun watching the kids decorate the tree. Can't say it looks umm per say orderly but I love it! Aaron hung garland around the walk way and we will hang more lights later! He loves Christmas well we all do!
My Friend from Florida is coming this week and I am excited! I feel like God is gonna touch her big while she is here and I am excited! Well He has touched me so I am expectant!
Church Sunday was just so awesome! The sermon and worship it just was so Good! I am so thankful for my church. They have been there for us in so many ways! Thank you God for My Pastor and Elders and Prophets and friends!

We fight not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers of this world!

Thanksgiving!

God is so good!

Today church was amazing!!!!!!!! I had a shockingly wake up after watching the video A letter to Satan.It is amazing! And then in church worship was so anointed and then Aaron sang with the worship team and it was such a Blessing!
I believe we will be moving to Hesston in January and I will be taking over some of the childrens ministry. Aaron is applying for a full time military positions. So many changes so fast! It will be hard leaving this place and really the people around us here! It has been so wonderful to live in a Christian country community! It has been a blessing for all of us! I will miss some of the freedom the kids have living here but am ready for a change and believe God is the one setting this all up cause we didn't ask nor look for this opportunity to happen. Change is great but also hard! But life is full of seasons and this was one of ours and was such a Wonderful and Great Two years! I will never forget it and will have these friends for life!
I will be continuing my stepping out of my box journey lol! I am interested to see how God will work this all out for us! Cause He is in charge not me which I am very thankful for!
God,I know that I love You, And I know without doubt that Your goodness and mercy Never run out.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. Psalm 23:6

God is so good!

A good Day!

We have had a good day today! I got the floors and stairs vacuumed,dog bathed,shopping list made,snuggled with my Kiah for nap,things picked up and had time to spend reading the word. I think it is amazing cause when I read it is like there are things that I never new always popping out at me. How I never saw them when I know I read that scripture I am unsure but think maybe I have had such a set way of thinking of things that I somehow just read it but didn't really see it if that makes since. It makes me want to read more and more!
I get to go to a friends sons party this afternoon and the boys are sooo excited! I look forward to seeing my friend who I don't get to see much at all! She is such a woman of God! I am so blessed to have her as a friend!

A good Day!

Changes are a comin!

Man we have so many things to think about! It is exciting though! I will write about it when it is all settled lol! I am trying not to get in a hurry and speak to fast! But things will be changing for us and fast! I am ready lol! I enjoy change and watching what God has for us with each new change and challenge!

Got some things done and have been thinking :)

I did get Christians room/Office carpeted today. Yes! And rearranged and it looks Great! It made the whole room look bigger and cleaner. Christian was so pleased he couldn't stay out of it:) It feels so much more like a home with carpet and not just old dark scratched up wood floors. Sigh of being pleased......
I did also realize that I haven't been spending time like I used to in prayer and reading the word. I used to talk to God through out my day about all kinds of things and realized I haven't been. :( I love though how God is so awesome and as I prayed and asked Him to forgive me and I saw Him come and stand above me smiling and just brushing my hair back and I new He was there for me! Yah you can think I am crazy if you like I don't care :)
I am truly amazed with all my faults every time God shows His love for me in a dream or in prayer or simply telling me. I so don't deserve all God has done for me! Or in ways He helps us financially or in things we need or just want. Like carpet in the house. Or like the time our dryer quit on us and within a day we were given a used dryer free. The funny thing is I never even prayed for those things but never got worried either. Which is amazing for me! I didn't even tell anyone but Aaron about the dryer. I love the way God works. Or the time a friend gave us a side by side fridge(we had one that worked but not a side by side) and it ended up not working so we sold it. I laugh when I think of these things cause it was all God! I could go on and on. And what amazes me is I know it isn't because I am faultless or never sin But I do want to be the best I can be and I do love God and it is awesome how God moves in your life because He loves you and you love Him!
And I am continually amazed by my children! They love God! They ask questions about God and beg me to read the Bible at night. Lol! I am amazed cause I don't make them read the Bible or make them listen to me read the Bible or memorize scripture. They say things that make me see my faults or sin or harmful ways. Josh one night said,"Mom it's hard to leave your old ways"! LOL this from a 5 year old and I didn't know if he even understood the concept of "old ways". Kiah my 3 year old was asking me tonight what God meant. LOL I love it! They make me think and think hard! Four boys can truly be hard at times but man I wouldn't give this life up for anything!
I am continually aware of the different ways people think. Many keep their kids at home with little interaction with others thinking that is best and others seem to think that being at as many church meetings you can even if that means getting a sitter is really important. I am right between them both. Church I believe is vital to each person and child but there are many times that I am only able to got to chruch once a week. I believe that God will supply whatever I need spiritually with out me having to run off and leave my kids very often. Not that I wont ever but not on a regular bases. He always has! So now I watch and see and when I am unable to go to a desired church function or meeting I know that I am where God wants me. And life is full of seasons and right now my season is spending lots of time with my four young boys at home. I think it is probably the best spiritual training place to be! If you let it be!

Hmm....

Today I am about to fix breakfast then clean up,start school with the kids, then fix lunch,clean up and get some of the kids down for a nap. I also need to finish laying carpet today and mop down stairs and vacuum upstairs.I want it done!!!
I am excited cause we are having Christmas at our place this year and we are gonna paint the dining room before then! YES! I am tired of pink sponge painted walls! Uggg....
Josh said he wasn't going to complain today about doing homework. I am unsure where that came from but would love it if it really happened! :)
Aaron is gonna be more involved with the homeschooling from now on. I am ubber excited about that! It makes a burden lift from my shoulders ! I love homeschooling don't get me wrong but each year trying to decide on my own what things to get for four kids is really stressing for me! So I am really excited!
My little angel Ethan has been going potty on the big toilet before baths and the family makes a big deal about it. He loves it when they do and grins soo big and then lays his head on my shoulder. He is only 23 months so I think he is doing great!
I am a proud momma of my four boys!

My Changing Boys

It is amazing to me to watch my boys grow and change! Ethan is now 20 months old and repeats just about everything he hears. He just brought me his brothers drawing and said,"Ook OOk a robot". He does this often and I am always surprised! And yesterday as I laid him down for nap he said poop and and looked down at his diaper.I checked and he had peed but just a couple minutes later he did poop and he did the same thing this morning. Maybe it is time to potty train...

Homeschooling can be quite time consuming and hard.Especially with little ones running around making things harder. But I am extremely excited when I see my seven year old reading huge words or my five year old add in his head. Homeschooling is a giving up of many wants and of self. Many people can't do it. Give up so much of themselves and their time.
It has taught me how selfish I can be. It has been a humbling learning experience that I wouldn't have if I had put my kids in school and went to work to find fulfillment. Or gone to college! I have felt the pressure to do just that. I am glad though that I didn't give in to them!

God moves

God moves in our lives just like the changing weather and seasons! I go through many ups and downs but all the downs are worth the ups! LOL! I am excited when I can see God moving in our lives and see changes that only God could have made! I love it when things are not going good in many ways in our lives but yet we are content and happy and know God is taking care of us and what ever we are dealing with.
My life is full of things that do get me down many times. I don't handle things the right way so many times. But I am learning to accept that I can do my best to fix things then leave them to God and rest knowing God can take care of me and my mistakes better then I ever could!
I am beginning to be able to happily accept who I am because The God of all made me. He loves who I am and is extremely happy with me! I have faults and am glad I do because without those faults I wouldn't need my God and Savior Jesus Christ to help me. I am glad to be able to look back over my life and see how God has changed me because I gave my faults to Him and was determined to become better through Him!

I love the life that God has given me! I am so blessed to live in a place where I can safely send all my boys outside to play. The other day I sent them all outside and when I looked the three older ones were sward fighting and the baby was playing on the bridge and slide in the playground. I just had such an overwhelming peace and joy when I looked at them!
I am so amazed at how God uses different people around me to comfort me,give me words of strength and wisdom,just love on me, and uplift me even when I don't realize I need it or just don't ask! I didn't even know that you could have such a group of people that truly love you and keep you in prayer. I mean really cares about you!!
I am so pleased to see my boys grow and there love for God and the changes in there lives. I was talking to a little three year old about obeying her mom ect. and Christian brought me a Bible and said here mom. He wanted me to show her in the Bible what God said about obeying parents. I was very surprised and pleased!
We have such a wonderful Church family and they are there for us at all times! It is so important to have that and allow yourself to be a part of a church family I believe!
God is just so Goood!