Biker.

There is something about a boy and a bike...

Silas had been riding on Moses's worn hand me down bike with a blown out tire (he did not get very far) for the last several months and the one thing he wanted besides legos was a new bike! Well his wish was granted. Thanks Grandma and Pa-Paw!

He is so proud and loves his new bike! The new biker jacket perfects the look don't you think!

Here's to new bikes and wishes come true!

little potato head

So... i am in the kitchen only to see this emerge from the playroom. Her brothers and sisters had "dressed" her but she was a willing sport and actually refused when i tried to de-potato head her.

When asked to say "cheese" this is what I got. She squeezes her eyes real tight and says "eeze".

the instigators with their little side kick

Have a great Tuesday!

times of refreshment

Here are a few pictures of our refreshing time with Matt & Naomi and family during our visit to New Bern in October! We don't have a lot of pictures simply because we were too busy just ENJOYING the short time we had together. We talked, laughed, cried, prayed, talked some more. The kids loved playing with their cousins, going swimming in October, and learning to shoot a b-b gun. Thanks for the great time guys and we look forward to seeing you again in a month at Christmas! Yeah!

Zion Rae after a chilly swim

Ezra with a frog!

Noah teaching Moses how to shoot! He was LOVING it!

"Those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed"

Proverbs 11:25

tis the season

I don't know why but I started to get in the mood for the Christmas season today... I love this time of the year despite the craziness it can sometimes bring.
I put some new Christmas tunes on the blog and was reminiscing back to Mark and I's first Christmas together. We started dating in January and by our first Christmas we had already been married and were expecting our first child. Crazy what a difference a year can make! Ever since then life has been full speed ahead. It's kind of funny to think back to that first year in our little house with our little tree and little family. That was the first and last Christmas we spent just the two of us. But I am so thankful for the fullness that is our life these days.
Here's to enjoying the holiday season and all the joy, love, and fullness it brings...

Emerald Isle Revisted

In the beginning of October we headed south to visit Matt & Naomi. We spent one morning visiting Emerald Isle where we had lived for a year. It was hard to believe that this used to be our back yard, living less than a mile from the beach. Life was so different then. It seemed much simplier in some ways. Mark had been a manager at a restaurant when we lived down there so we also stopped and ate lunch there! We used to eat there once a week for free as a family. Boy...life was really different! :)

There is something so freeing and life giving to be at beach. To look out at the ocean brings refreshement to my soul. And the kids loved the FREEDOM to run and play!

While the kids splashed in the water. I walked along the shore and collected shells. There is something so satisfying to me about finding a treasure in the sand. I guess it is the same kind of thrill I get when I find a good bargain at a yard sale. Just little "i love you"s from God.

Even though it was great to visit the island again I realized that was simply what it was "a visit". It no longer felt like home. It is strange how that is. I think Mark & I both came back with deeper appreciation for that season in our lives along with new vision for where God has planted us now.

Cousins and Friends

Moses and Noah enjoying a stroll over the bridge on our trip to New Bern, NC last month. It was awesome to watch these guys hang out together.

Don't try this at home...

Too Late...

We saw a BMX bike show in North Carolina in the beginning of October (more about that trip later). And Moses was enthralled. He already does tricks like the above picture and this show just fanned his enthusiasm. He really is pretty coordinated on the bike and rides with no hands or with his feet on the seat... it is a definitely a test in trust for me. I want to encourage him in his passions yet spare him from emergency room visits.

These quotes from John Elderidge's book "The Way of the Wild Heart" spoke to me the other day about raising boys:

"Boyhood is a time of exploration and wonder and to be a boy is to be an explorer"

"This is what the heart of a boy longs for-daring adventures, battles, and uncharted territory to be discovered..."

"The quickest way to kill a spirit of the boy is through rigid moralism which lacks any spontaneity, adventure or freedom"

That is definitely a challenge... I want to learn how to mother my boys in such a way that I encourage these things in them.

Buckwalter Builders

So Moses has this dream to be a builder...he loves to build with legos and work with tools. He even made his own business card "Buckwalter Builders" and has his business plan in place. This is what he told me one day: "First I am going to work at Lowes so I can save up money to buy lumber. Then maybe I can get a discount because I work there. Then I will use the lumber to build a house for my family." I was so surprised he had thought all that through. He is full of vision.

One of his visions was to fix the treehouse on our property which had a hole in the floor and a broken ladder. He had been asking us for months to have "building day" to restore the treehouse. Finally on Saturday we did just that...

The boys loved working side by side with Daddy. Here they are standing on the restored treehouse floor! Great job guys!

Baby Doll

While Mommy was sleeping...

While I was in bed recovering from surgery the kids and Daddy took a trip to Pine View Dairy.

I love these guys...

Four years ago today...

....our son Silas Mark was born! He brings so much JOY to our lives. It is crazy that he is four...in my mind I still sometimes think of him as a little guy but he is almost as big as Moses now, rides a bike, no longer naps, and sings a long with songs on the radio. He is growing up...

I asked Silas what he wanted for his birthday yesterday and one of the things he said was a coat. I just laughed because I had already gotten him the coat below...it is so Silas. He loves anything to do with motorcycles, racecars or dirtbikes.

Here is the birthday boy with his Daddy:

Do You Remember...

....what it was like to be 4 years old and getting ready to make a wish and blow out the candles on your birthday cake?

That is a good place to be.

Life as Normal...

Life is slowly returning to normal...if there is such thing!

I had a second unexpected D&E surgery last Tuesday to remove a retained placenta.... which left me very weak and tired physically and emotionally. I am healing and regaining strength every day and for that I am very thankful...

This week I am enjoying the little things in life...like having energy to play with the kids or actually catching up on the piles of laundry or walking out the lane to get the mail or staying up past 8:30 (well...maybe i am not quite there yet!)

Thanks to those who helped me out last week and for all the prayers we have recieved on this journey. I have been so blessed by meals, cards, phone calls, and emails. And thank you Lord for healing!