A New and Living Way

If you could penetrate the heart

To know anther's mind,

And find yourself reflected there
Your life would be refined.

You may not now appreciate
What others think kor say
Until you find yourself involved
In a new and living way.

There comes a time in every life-
Adjustments must be sought;
Replacing loads and burdens
With prayer, and praise and thought.

The Father has His children
Scattered everywhere.
At times we walk right past them
Not knowing they are there.

At other times we meet them,
And what great joy we share
Telling how the Lord has blessed,
And of His love and care.

"Be gentle unto all men." Tim. 2:24

So we celebrated Ethans 2nd Birthday. It was so cute! I got the table cloth on and he stood there and kept saying," pesents!"(presents) When I got his gifts on the table his eyes got so huge and then we put the cake on the table and he just was so excited! We had to keep telling Kiah and Ethan not to blow before we got both candles lit lol! Aaron lit them twice Ha Ha!!!
And when he started taking the tissue paper out of the gift bags he he was all business and needed no help. It was so fun to watch! He got moms gift last. A stick horse which he adored and kept running through the house pushing the horse's ear! Grandma was very pleased!
It is amazing to see my boys grow up so fast! And to realize for the first time in what seems like forever I don't have any babies. That is amazing! I will enjoy it while it lasts even though I have loved having babies!
We have pink eye in the house right now or that is what we believe it to be. Josh had it first so I found a home remedy and used a few of them lol and it was gone the next day. Now Christian has been having watery eyes,itching and says they hurt so I have been using the remedy on him as well. It is odd the things that you can use and work instead of going to the doctor. I used equal amounts of honey and milk and drip it into the eye. It does sting for a minuet but then Christian says it feels really good.
I have been deciding what to order for school next year! I love to hunt for sales online and get excited when I find faith building fun educational materials!
Lol I love to hunt for deals! Just love it!
The boys loved the warmer weather! Aaron,Christian and Josh went on a bike ride Sunday! They had a blast! They always do when ridding bikes and especially when dad is with them!
I got a little done in the yard. Less I have to do when it warms up. There is always so much to do outside when you live in the country. But am so glad my boys have had this opportunity!

Funny things my boys do!

Hmm where do I begin... They do so many things I am used to it and forget how funny they are until I tell someone else and they get such a kick out of it!

Yesterday I was making Pumpkin Bread for breakfast. I had all the spices on the counter. Why I didn't put them back up is beyond me but so Ethan got ahold of the Rum flavor and showed it to me and I smiled and told him what it was called. He repeated it back to me( which is something we do alot). I was sure he put it back but next thing I know he is dumping Rum into the bowl as I am mixing. Luckily there wasn't much in the bottle! I had no idea how the bread would end up tasting but it was actually real good! Thank you Ethan for your assistance.

Well later that day I realized Ethan was the only one unaccounted for and it was way to quite. So I headed to the bathroom(his favorite place to get into things) and heard the water running. I found him sitting in the tub. Sleep cloths and diaper still on of course with the hot water running. He was quit happy! I got pictures and video! Needless to say I took his cloths of and let him sit in water.

The day before that I found Ethan in the bathroom with his arms,cloths and hands covered in hairspray. He was just trying to be like mom lol! I was just glad he didn't rub is eyes before I got him washed up! He is such a funny little boy! I have found him spraying peroxide on his toes cause he said he had an awe. I have also found Aarons hair grease smeared on the bathroom cabinets and Him getting water out of the toilet and dumping it into the tub.

Kiah woke up this morning at about 1:30am and was crying until I held him then with his eyes closed he said,"I want more presents will you get me some more presents"? Lol! It has been ten day since he has opened gifts and wants more. The goof lol! I said for his Birthday and he said Ok. Lol his birthday is 7 months away.
Tonight as I paused righting this to check on him Kiah asked if he was gonna grow up to the moon. So funny! I love the things they ask! They have such wonderful ideas and imaginations! Kids are soo fun! When they are not frustrating lol!

I through many things in my life have found the way to freedom! I have found that when I give up my control, desires,ideas,plans,expectations,beliefs,fears,desires,needs, to God and release it all to God and allow Him to take over and do as He sees fit what ever it may be that it is fun,amazing,wonderful to watch God move! And much better than I ever could have hoped or dreamed! I am still learning to put this into practice. It is easy to forget when it hasn't been something I have made a habit in my life in the past! But well worth it! Well not always fun at first. Giving up all of those things can feel painful many many times but it doesn't last long and so rewarding!

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!