We Are Here! We Are Here! We Are Here!!!

What is there to say after 8-9 months of blogging absence.  Clearly anyone who read my blog in years gone by has moved on.  I am sure my mom will still be interested.:)

So, here goes Gramma!

A Faith Filled Family Retrospective

 Here is my beautiful Elsie.  She is sixteen and has her Driver's License!!!  What a blessing that license is.  And because she is the oldest, she is incredibly responsible.  I know, I shouldn't put that kind of pressure on her.  She is amazing.  She is about to complete her Junior year in a Running Start program at a local Community College.  She loves her classes and can't wait to move on to real college:) where she will pursue a degree in ASL.  Signing is her passion!  Her hands are always moving when she talks.  At first we thought it was cute and now we are not so sure, since none of us are as fluent as she is.
She recently began helping in a ministry at our church where she signs to a little guy who is seven.  She thought it was funny to sign the story of the plagues that God helped Moses bring against the Egyptians.  She said, "Mom, there aren't different signs for all the bugs.  I just kept signing that God brought more bugs, and more bugs."  Her new little friend thought that was quite funny.
Her favorite part of her week is hanging out with her group of six, 3 and 4 year olds at Cubbies.  She has loved investing in their lives.  Her leader says that she could teach the grown up leaders a thing or two about how to wrangle preschoolers.
My favorite part of parenting Elsie is watching her mature into a beautiful young woman and finding a true kindred spirit.

Aren't these the most adorable tootsies you have ever seen?

I can't explain my love for these feet.  The little brown toes... 

how they used to fit perfectly in my hand...

Precious!

 Little Buddy is six and a half years old.  He is super smart in SO many ways!  He has been a part of my life for over three years and I am overwhelmed by my love for this precious boy.
Little Buddy has needed more of me than I ever anticipated.  He is teaching me what it means to love like Christ.  He is showing me how deep hurts can go and leave you broken in ways that it seems you can't be repaired.  But God gave him a Mommy and Daddy who are super good friends with the greatest healer ever.  If you think of my little boy with the adorable tootsies and piercing brown eyes, please pray for him.
I have seen God's plan for my little guy and I am waiting in anticipation for His work to break forth and shine brightly in his life.
My favorite part of this picture is that I did not pose him at all.  He sat down and knew exactly how to give the camera his best.  Maybe a modeling career is in his future.:)

Bookworm is ten!!  Can't say how much I like this kid!  I know we all love our kids, but Bookworm is just plain fun!  He is all boy, but not.  He loves to tell jokes and make bodily noises.. ewww!  He is also a great friend and tender to ridicule and always willing to help as long as it has nothing to do with chores.:)  We call him our own Encyclopedia Brown.  He spends countless hours reading and is happy to expound interesting facts to anyone who will listen.  Well, interesting to him anyway.
He loves sports and has perfected "crack the egg" on the trampoline.
One of the things that I LOVE about him is that he talks to me.  I have his heart and he trusts me with all of his stuff.  I have seen his heart ache for his little brother.  He prays like a warrior that God would heal the broken parts.  God is creating a strong man who will be more compassionate than most because of the life God has given him.

What can I say about my 8 year old, little miss Sunshine?  She is a miracle walking around.  I mentioned brokenness before...  I know we are all broken people, but my littlest ones have had a very tough beginning.  This little girl leaves me in awe almost every day.  She is learning daily about family and God's love and what is really looks like to trust someone and how to be a true friend, and she is listening and trying all of it!  Sunshine is finally LIVING!  She is loving being a little girl and not needing to be in control of everything.  She tells me often that she is so glad she gave up trying to be in charge, because it is more fun just being a kid.
Thank you God for healing her heart!  Please keep her in your prayers as she continues to trust and grow in God's beautiful grace.

 Sweet Pea is twelve and well on her way to young lady status.  I have seen many things awaken in this precious girl this year.  She has developed an incredible passion to share her love for God with others.  It is so strong that she believes God might be calling her into some sort of ministry for Him.  She is a wonderful friend and has been the most amazing encourager to me.  Life at our house has been challenging... there are days when I am worn.  She takes time to write a letter and leave it on my pillow or in my purse.  Most of her notes remind me that God is bigger than whatever is going on and that He loves me.  I am sure I was not even 10% that sensitive to others needs at twelve.  She is beautiful on the inside and out.  She is still very easy going, but has also gained big sister status which comes with some opinions.  She and I are having a lot of fun sharing a journal.  She writes me a note and leaves it on my night stand and then I write back and return it when she isn't looking.  Such a good way to see into her precious heart.

 Before you think I have allowed my 15 year old Cate go absolutely crazy with make up...

take a look at these photos

Cate is the reason I took all of these pictures today.  A mom at our home school co-op is so talented at face painting.  It only took her a few minutes to paint her face.  I had to get some shots of her beautiful work.  Cate had so much fun being all glammed up!

The paint almost makes her look like she is blooming.  And that would be a wonderful description of my second daughter.  She takes on life with passion and can get bored with the every day things like biology.  This year she has learned that life is full of fun and the mundane for a reason and that there is a place for both.  I love to watch how she loves on people and makes everyone in the room feel like they fit.  She has learned that being beautiful can look like many things.  Beauty can be seen in the face of a 3 year old, a job well done, a humble heart and any other place that you allow God to lead you.

This girl has so much potential and she is so excited to see where it will take her.  What an amazing time in life... when the whole world waits before you to see what mark you will leave on it.

God, please protect my beautiful flower and lead her in your ways.

There it is mom.  A little more about us with a few great pictures.  I hope it won't be nine months before I get back to blogging.  I miss it.

Many Blessings,

Sweet Momma