A little late, but still very blessed

 A week in the middle of January brought about these blessings...

 Heat when it was just too cold outside

 Finally a clean bathroom

 A kitchen stocked with one of our favorites

 Getting back to school

 A "to do" list that got "ta done"

A Friday morning that started with a "gourmet" breakfast

A Week Filled with Blessings - How it began

This post series is something new I'm trying this year. Although not a resolution, it's an idea that developed from a book Lauren received at Christmas. The book is called The Blessings Jar: A Story about being Thankful and it's really sweet. It made me think about all the blessings that I have during a week and how I don't think I could fit them in a jar, but I could try and capture them in a blog post. I'm hoping to include pictures and try and do it on Fridays, when the week is unwinding. Feel free to contact me and join in on this series! 

This post is just about why I felt lead to start it, and then tomorrow I'll start it. I actually started a post last week but never got around to finishing it, but after yesterday and a talk with a great friend, I was inspired to really go ahead a get this started. It was a bit of a roller coaster ride yesterday with Lauren and I. The morning started slow as we anticipated a day with not much going on- that was until Matt's famous last words as he kissed me goodbye and walked out the door were "You guys should have a pretty easy, slow day." It wasn't but another two breaths and the day took a turn. From the moment I heard "Mommy, I'm peeing" (when said little girl was not on the toilet) it was a day filled with struggles, and sprinkled with blessings. Sometimes I really wonder if every mom has these days, or is it just me?! By the time I talked with my dear friend that evening I was exhausted and feeling deeply desperate for someone to tell me it's okay. She told me when things feel like this to look at the week as a whole and when you do that it doesn't seem like it was a big of a struggle as when you look at the isolated moments of frustration and confusion. Her suggestion fit right into what I was already thinking of doing, so here I am beginning a series that reviews my week and a blessing for each day.

Now I want other reading this series to know that I'm finding the blessings in each day and that doesn't mean that I don't have days that make me want to scream and throw a toddler tantrum myself. There are moments I pray for God's grace and mercy to bubble up from the depths of my soul because I don't feel like I'm doing my children justice as we navigate our days. There are times we run late, we lose our temper, cups spill, we get upset with each others actions, we aren't as compassionate as we need to be, etc. I'm not perfect and neither are my children. We try though, to live out our lives in a manor that is pleasing to our Heavenly Father. We read the Bible and learn and study it as it is our guide to how God treats his people with endless compassion, mercy, and love. The ultimate parenting guide. And it shows us how Jesus lived his life, a sinless man in a sin filled world. His teachings give us lessons that can better us people. Just recently I read this quote and it struck a chord with my heart, the quote read "Being a Christian is less about cautiously avoiding sin than about courageously and actively doing God's will." ~Dietrich Bonhoeffer I can't live my life fearful of doing the wrong thing, but rather live my life, striving to do the right thing. 

So after much rambling I hope you follow this as I try and look for the blessings in a life filled with craziness and cios. But we wouldn't want it any other way!!

"Being a Christian is less about cautiously avoiding sin than about courageously and actively doing God's will." ~Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Take 1, and 2, and 3, and ...

Enjoy and giggle as you view our photo shoot gone awry...

My attempt at a photo opt with the girls in their cute outfits (again a gift from my aunt). As I looked back at them I felt like this was a gag reel and had to share the goofiness! The joys of parenting these crazy little girls is a pleasure we enjoy each moment of each day!

"In Him was life,

and the life was the Light of men.

The light shines in the darkness." 

John 1:4-5

The Reason

Today's naptime began with a nice hot shower. It's been a lazy day here and oh how we have all enjoyed the first lazy day in about a month. But as I was putting myself back together and enjoying the heat from the hot water still radiating from my skin I hear Lauren yelling on the monitor. I head to the bottom of the stairs to find out what is the matter. As I enter her room, after her not saying any specifics as to why she was screaming my name at the top of her lungs, I find a child in just her underoos. "Why are you in just your underwear Lauren?" I ask with a relaxed, but puzzled tone. Since I was in the shower I hadn't heard any of the the "goings on" from the monitor. She tells me in her frustrated and annoyed voice "I need you to put my pajamas on right now!" of course I had to ask the question "Why are they off?" She goes on to explain that she tried to unzip them but when as she began the task the zipper got stuck and by the time she got the zipper working again she was frustrated so she just took them off altogether. This makes perfect sense, but then I just needed to know, as I help her back into the pajamas, "Why did you need to unzip them in the first place?" "Well mama, I wanted to see my boo-be-button." I laugh and reply "What's your boo-be-button?" She plainly restates the word again, like I must have not heard her the first time- duh lady, you know my boo-be-button. Then it clicks and I realize she wanted to look at her belly button. Oh the joys of being three!

I have felt her frustration so much this holiday season. I L.O.V.E the holiday season but I'm finding myself needing to hear, as I have repeated a million and a half times to Lauren as she rattles off the long list of Thomas the Train Engines she's expecting Santa to bring her (mind you she told him they could all be found at, where else, Target)- that the reason for the season is to celebrate the birth of our loving Savior and Lord Jesus.

This holiday season has been so short and rushed. It all began with preparing to have my family down for Thanksgiving. Oh what a grand time it was to have a house filled with the crazy known as my mom, step-dad, sister, brother-in-law, and nephew. I love them so much and was glad that they could all come, because there are always lasting memories made when we're all together. After a fast and furious Thanksgiving (everyone arrived the day of, thankfully we were smart enough to have it catered form a local grocery store- best idea ever!) we headed off to a vacation spot not too far from our house, about an hour. There we stayed in two adjoining condos and had a fun week of spending time together. Although a few hiccups occurred it was an overall wonderful week (it's hard putting three "head-of-the-house", take charge women in one community space and expect there to be nothing but harmony). I really enjoyed Lauren getting to know Bill, her Papa P, since this is really the first time she's spent more than a day or two around him in a few years. By the end of the week they were good buddies. It was also great because this is the first time Bill had met Olivia too! My second favorite thing about our week away was snuggling with my nephew Finn- he is such a cutie. His personality is so different from my girls, it was neat to watch them all interact. Finn pretty much followed Lauren around all week. This took some getting use to for Lauren but when the vacation was over and I ask her what her favorite part was she said sleeping in a room with Olivia and Finn- I thought that was so awesome! And Olivia, she just spent the whole week wanting to be wherever the big kids were- and playing with whatever they had, much to their annoyance. 

All three kids enjoying a bounce on Aunt Shauna's air mattress Thanksgiving night.

Matt stayed only for the weekend, and then him and my brother-in-law headed back home Sunday to go back to work that week, while the rest of us enjoyed the whole week together. Before we knew it, Thursday evening was upon us and back home we headed. Friday I spent doing laundry, organizing, and repacking. Because off we were again. That weekend we were headed north for a wedding. Thanks to my wonderful friend Esther, who watched both kids for us overnight, Matt and I got to get away to celebrate the wonderful marriage of a great friend. Natalie was my mentee when she started teaching and now she's in her seventh year of teaching and even though she has moved to the northern part of the state I still hold our time teaching together so close. Her friendship is so cherished. Her now husband, also Matt, is wonderful as well. I love weddings more than ever as I take the time to reflect on my marriage and friendship with my Matt. It was so nice to have some quality couple time too. It was a two and a half hour ride up and over three hours home due to crazy weather conditions. We spent the time talking, laughing, and being goofy with each other. Giving thanks for our girls and all the blessings we have. Taking a moment and remembering what life was like before two girls took our attention away from each other and on to them was just what we needed. The wedding day/night was filled with laughing and enjoying all my old teacher friends. Some of whom I get to still see regularly but rarely all together. They are a goofy bunch. It's been a long time since I'd stayed up and out that late!

 All the teacher friends with the bride.

 Matt and I

Natalie and I - what a beautiful bride!

As I was walking down stairs from Lauren's boo-be-button episode I felt like I completely understood and identified with her frustration. All she wanted to do was see her belly button- a simple task. But as she set out to complete it things got in the way and muttered up what was to be a fun adventure. That is how almost every task has been this holiday season. Here are the ways this holiday season has been a little more frustrating then normal...

-I went with the girls on a Tuesday morning to get our Christmas tree because I couldn't bear to wait until the following weekend and have it up for a mere two weeks. We get to the tree place only to find it was all gated up, closed, no one around. The sign read open on Tuesdays starting at 10, my clock read 11:15- what's going on. So we turned around and headed home. I told Lauren we'd eat lunch and give the place a call after lunch. When I called the co-owner picked up to tell us how sorry he was, that he had misplaced his keys and that is why he wasn't there earlier. So we headed back after lunch only to have both kids fall asleep in the car and for me to pick the tree out all by myself. Not really the fun experience I had pictured in my head. But I kept my thoughts positive, and my spirits high. Nothing good would be accomplished from me being a Grinch.

-Life continued to be busy so fast forward to Friday night. Lauren was at church for Parents Night Out- enjoying dinner, craft, a movie, a magician, and Santa while we enjoyed Olivia and all her cuteness. I decided we'd put the lights on the tree so that when Lauren got home she would see them and be all excited. I tending to our very mobile little girl as Matt hangs up all six strands of light onto the tree only to find out five out of the six no longer work. Lots of efforts for nothing but a garbage can full of broken lights. Again I kept my thoughts positive, and my spirits high- we'll get the nice new LED lights that should last us at least another ten years! Nothing good would be accomplished from me being a Grinch.

Ultra cuteness known as Olivia the red nosed reindeer!

-Saturday arrives and I was planning on making Christmas cutout cookies with Lauren and decorating the tree. What do I wake up to? I wake up feeling like pooh!!! I spent the whole day getting each task done, but wishing I was in bed and not feeling like a sick lady. But again I continued to keep my thoughts positive and my spirits high. The cookies did get baked, although mostly by me since Lauren elected to go with Matt and Olivia to Target to buy new Christmas lights. And the tree got decorated, even though I sat on the couch and directed Matt and Lauren. It was so cute as she asked with each ornament "Does this one need a sturdy branch Mama?" Nothing good would be accomplished from me being a Grinch.

 Cookies baked and awaiting frosting - that is a Christmas Eve task, as we prepare for Santa's arrival

The Tree is done!

-About midweek I had started having severe pain when I nursed Olivia on my left side. I had also gotten my first blocked duct with her. After emailing our pediatrician, who is a lactation consultant, and going to the lactation center near us I learned I had developed a nipple bleb. Not. fun. But I was keeping my thought positive and my spirits high. I was praying a lot and gritting my teeth too. Nothing good would be accomplished from me being a Grinch.

-Then last night. We headed to see Santa. After much debate was to when strategically it would be best to do it, we headed out after a quick dinner. As we left rain drops fell upon the deck. Oh goodness. We get there and it is pretty much a downpour. I run inside with Olivia and find out that they've given all the passes out already but if we hung around we will still be able to see Santa around 8:15 or so. We shopped and looked around for over an hour and then Matt stood in line for another 45 minutes while I took the girls to different activities they had set up for the kids to be entertained. We got our picture (in such cute coordinating dresses given to us by my aunt) and Lauren informed Santa that she wanted "Some trains." We came home soaked to the bone at 9:05 pm (a little late for our girls) but I kept my thoughts positive and my spirits high. The girls were so well behaved for the circumstance in which they just endured and we learned to go earlier next year. Nothing good would be accomplished from me being a Grinch.

So cute!

So today was I enjoyed snuggling with the girls as we let movies play on the television all day and I reminded myself once more that this season is about God and His eternal gift of life and love given to us in the form of a humble baby, born in a barn. Yes, each of the crazy encounters we had could have us moaning and groaning, but then what would we be teaching Lauren and Olivia. We'd be teaching them that if things don't go as planned and that if life doesn't always fall in our favor that we behave like brats who think the world should revolve around them. When in fact our world revolves around a loving Heavenly Father. And when we keep our eyes on Him then we will have faith in the truth of His redeeming love. Life might not always fall into place exactly how we expect it too, but it's not about us. In the big picture- we have a beautiful, fragrant Christmas tree adorned with lights that remind us of the starry night that shown the night Jesus was born, and ornaments that each hold a special meaning as we watch them dangle from the branches. We have yummy cookies waiting to be special treats for us and Santa on Christmas Eve. We have two beautiful girls, who are full of life, love, and joy this holiday season. Whose dreamy eyes await to see what each new day will bring. So as I held each girl this week during nap time and today, I have reminded myself of all the blessings and all the happiness that surrounds our family this holiday season and beyond. So Merry Christmas to you and many blessings this holiday season!!

 And Mary said:

“My soul glorifies the Lord
     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
 for he has been mindful
    of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
     for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
    holy is his name.
 His mercy extends to those who fear him,
    from generation to generation.
 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
    he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
 He has brought down rulers from their thrones
    but has lifted up the humble.

He has filled the hungry with good things
    but has sent the rich away empty.
 He has helped his servant Israel,
    remembering to be merciful
 to Abraham and his descendants forever,
    just as he promised our ancestors.”

Luke 1:46-55

Our Fall Picture Book

Apple picking with the youth from church!

We all had fun!

 Lots of fun school activities, we're slowly making our way through the alphabet and the Bible.

 Fall Festival at church- fun on the bouncy house in the cold rain.

 Grandma and Grandpa B came to visit and enjoyed some fun at the park for another fall festival.

 Great trip to the zoo with Esther, Caitlyn, and Evan.

 Olivia enjoyed the zoo too!

 Fun in the backyard.

 Olivia's first Halloween. Only the cutest elephant I've ever seen.

 The whole family. Olivia Jean - Elephant; Lauren Shea- Shark

 Olivia finding the candy in Lauren's bag to be irresistible! 

 Saturday family fun at the park. Look who loves the swings.

 Two goofy girls.

 Children's Museum fun with Esther, Caitlyn, and Evan.

 Taking a break with Ellie while she army crawls around the living room. 

 Lauren and Daddy enjoyed building a car at Lowe's build and grow.

 Just one goofy girl dancing to her favorite song "Speak Life" by TobyMac

 "By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures."
Proverbs 24:3-4

It's About Time!

It's About Time...that I made time to sit down and catch up on some wonderful blogs I follow and write down what's been going on here in our house. So with peanut butter covered graham crackers and some warm apple cinnamon tea it's time to write!

So here it is mid-November and I've been preparing for my little girl to turn three. With all her silliness and her ever encroaching desire for independence she is becoming quite the little/big girl. This fall had us in a few "phases" of toddlerhood I'm happy to see pass with the leaves. We've entered into the time when her body doesn't need a nap everyday but she still requires downtime. It took us some trial and error but we've worked out a system that works for us. She spends 1 hour in her bed (where sometimes she does in fact fall asleep) and then I set the timer for 1 hour of quiet playtime in her room. This allows me the time to get stuff done without kids in toe and it has also helped her grow. See, along with struggling at naptime she was also struggling with entertaining herself. Now there was 'once upon a time' when she would do her own thing and I could get something done in those 20 minutes before she was interested in my attention again but for some reason that capability seemed to disappear. She was very demanding and it was very exhausting. It seemed worse once Matt got home from work. It was like we couldn't even have a conversation without her needing someone to be paying full attention to her. It was a constant struggle because although we would give her good quality attention it was never enough. You pair that with less and less napping and we were exhausted each day- she was plain tuckered out and so were we. I think the hour of alone playtime in her room each day has given her time to grow in using her own imagination and seeing how fun it is when you're 'in charge' of your time, space, ideas, etc. I'd be very interested in hearing if other moms have gone through this stage of toddlerhood before.

I tell you I was up in arms more days than not. It was during the time when I was watching a lot of Little House on the Prairie on the tv at night and reading through the book series. I would watch/read it, and I know that it is tv and not real life, but still, I would watch it and read through the books and think to myself, back then it was like the kids worked for the parents and in my life I felt like I was working for her. I would say "Lauren, it is not mommy's job to entertain you all day- you need to give me time to do my work." And I knew it was hard for her to understand but as she's growing and learning I'm seeing a change and a difference. I don't want you to think I just sent her to the corner of the house as I propped my feet up and scrawled on my Facebook homepage- no I was doing things like house chores or dinner. I think my lack of blog posts lately can speak to this ever busy mama. And another added point I need to add is, I do let Lauren help with my tasks and sometimes that is great- but I can't do that with every chore, everyday- it's just not possible. 

Needless to say we're making lots of progress in this area. Me taking back my well needed down time for my stuff/sanity and her being directed to spend time alone has helped out everyone. One of my favorite parts of the day now is going up to get her when the timer goes off and check out what she's done in her time. She loves giving me a recap of the things she created, played with, and enjoyed and I love hearing it. Now...how to help Matt and her with bathtime...this is our next hurdle!

Isn't it funny, this motherhood thing?! My sense of humor has stayed very active as I've navigated the last three years. One funny joke I've been telling Matt and friends these day is how when Lauren was Olivia's age (~9 months) I thought I was rocking this mommy thing. She was well behaved, sweet, and doing all the things she should be doing- achieving her physical, emotional, and developmental milestones just like the books said. I was wondering what I was doing right, but I had it all figured out- HA! Not! My good friend Garrett said it perfectly to me one day when my nerves where fried and my hair seemed to be falling out at an exponential rate, "I once thought if I did everything right as a mother then I would produce this perfect, well rounded child who do would all the right things- but then I learned that isn't how it works." So true and such great advice. Because in the end they have free will and they're going to use it just like we do. 

I've been making the parallel in my head these days that toddlerhood is just a glimpse of the teenage years. They struggle to push you away and figure it out on their own. They can be unpredictable and throw a tantrum and then turn around to hug and snuggle you with warmth and affection moments later. They seek to see the world on their own but need you near to help them make sense of it all. Then I watched this internet video of a woman, Sally Clarkson and she said the same thing. I was like "this is a God thing!" I had been lead to her through Facebook- a friend from back home had posted something about her and I clicked the link and just couldn't stop reading. My heart was lead there by God because everything I was reading was making my heart fill with His love in a way only He can. You should check her out. I've since ordered on of her books on Amazon and I'm waiting so patiently for it to arrive any day now. She is all about helping women and mothers find their role of raising God loving, God fearing children. I'm looking forward to how God is going to use her wisdom to help me be the best God loving, God fearing mommy I can be.

So the little one, no I didn't forget about her. Oh Olivia. I can't get enough of her these days. She is just the happiest little girl ever. I'm enjoying her sweetness and the phase of life she's in. Right now it is a nice time and I'm soaking it all up. She wakes up smiling, is easy going, takes two naps both about 2-3 hours each. She is content in almost all of the hussle and crazy as well as the slow and mundane. She squeals with delight and screams with joy. She eats what's put in front of her (for the most part). She's getting better at remaining relatively still during diaper changes- even though yesterday she flipped over on me and then proceeded to mark her territory, if you know what I mean, for the first time in a long time. Right now she's my easy one- but I know that it has nothing to do with my magical mommy mojo- and soon enough she'll be running around like a crazy girl too. Speaking of "running" she's on the move- slowly she will army crawl herself to a desired object. Last night she popped herself up from her belly to her bum- but she has yet to repeat that move. I was so happy and lucky that I was watching as it happened. So much fun! The best part of watching her 'move' about is seeing her personality in the way she does it. She will take four or five rests on her way to wherever she's going- oh she's going to be my doddler. No rush or sense of urgency in her, which right now works to my advantage but I see so many, many ways this quality will not be so sweet in the future. But she's the most perfect Olivia Jean ever and I wouldn't want her any other way.

I say that to my girls all the time: 'God made you to be the most perfect Lauren Shea and Olivia Jean and I'm so lucky to enjoy you' or 'thanks for being you'. They're so much fun and even though most days I'm too drained to do much more than park my fanny in front of the tv, I wouldn't trade it for the world. Even though I've spent the last few days in zombie mommy mode due to sleep deprivation and a sick baby I won't have wanted to spend my days doing anything else. 

These days also have us doing some different things at church. We've been reading through the book The Story. It is the bible turned into novel form so that you're able to see the story of God and His love unfold more seamlessly than if you were to pick up the bible and read it. It is the actual words straight from the bible. It has been great. I've learned so much by seeing the Old Testament in this story format. Matt and I are going through the book in our Sunday School class and then I lead the high schoolers through it on Wednesday night. Wednesday night have been different around here too- in a good way. Our church turned this bible study into a family night format. So every Wednesday we head to church when Matt gets home and we eat dinner there. For an extravert like me its so much fun to have dinner with all of our church family regularly. Then after dinner we break off into small groups to do the study. Since Matt and I do it on Sundays, Matt is the helper in the nursery and I'm able to lead the high schoolers. Then Lauren goes to the preschool class and Olivia chills with Matt in nursery. It's been great having the whole family going on Wednesday. Its been a welcomed change. It is however mighty challenging getting everyone in our family feed in a half hour, so we get there early in order to give the little ones, and ourselves, enough time to enjoy the yummy food and fellowship. It's also great to give up cooking one night a week and enjoy playing with the girls during the time I'd usually be preparing dinner.

As life keeps going by faster, I keep trying to keep up with it all. So much going on and so much waiting for us ahead. I really hope I can keep my feet on the ground and my head attached as I enjoy this journey and all the blessings of God that surround us. Here's to all the fun and crazy!

"Blessed are those who find wisdom,
    those who gain understanding,
for she is more profitable than silver
    and yields better returns than gold.
She is more precious than rubies;
    nothing you desire can compare with her.
Long life is in her right hand;
    in her left hand are riches and honor.
Her ways are pleasant ways,
    and all her paths are peace.
She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her;
    those who hold her fast will be blessed."
~Proverbs 3:13-18~

Big Red

So here it is Monday and I'm just getting around to writing a post about three weekends ago. I haven't been blogging as much these days and it kills me that so many memories aren't get "archived." Sometimes I look back on old posts and I'm so grateful I wrote them since without them that memory might have set sail to the part of my brain in which memories don't come out of. I was just laughing last night that I'm going down in my old age with full understanding that I'll have some form of dementia- and I feel for my poor girls who will have to deal with their batty mom who can't remember her own name. Anyway, my whole purpose in blogging is to keep track of all the blessings God gives us and each moment with these girls is a blessing. 

Like how Lauren is ALL about being a little mommy these days. She has been dressing up her lovies (stuffed animals) in pj's and clothes and taking them places in her "car." Packing bags of food for them and feeding them. She is just so sweet and cute I can't get enough of it. And the things she says...her vocabulary astounds us. And Olivia is just all sorts of crazy. The other day in the car while we were out and about running errands she was in her seat flailing her arms and legs around in a circular motion screaming and having this little conversation with Lauren and I. I just couldn't get enough of it- I was laughing and carrying on, right back at her. Or the moment the other day when she was on the bathroom floor, while I helped Lauren out, and she got herself stuck in the corner- since she's in the part of crawling where she just pushes herself backwards across the floor frustrated she's moving further away from her desired object- and she was screaming and rocking back and forth trying to figure her way out of this predicament. Any day now she'll be crawling  I can feel it in my bones- yikes! Somedays I just want to wear a video helmet archive it all and then we have our moments of crazy and I'm glad that wasn't caught on camera ;-).

So back to a few weekends ago, because that is when we became the "Minivan Family." The iconic suburb home fully equipped with a minivan in the driveway. That isn't the part I want to "archive" though. I want to look back and remember God's hand in it all. This is a case of hindsight being 20/20.

So it all started WAY back when Matt and I decided it would be financially best to pay off our car loan on the Pilot early. Now full props to Matt who had brought up the idea and about a month or so later it occurred to me that Matt's train of thought was best (which is usually the case, but don't let him know that ;-) He helped me to realize that with the economy the way it is right now our savings account was not making us much money and that to pay off our car loan was really saving us money. This is because the interest rate on our loan was greater than the interest rate on our savings account. Plus, he was still at his old job and paying off that loan meant more money for our monthly budget, which at this point was very much needed. So we put a chunk of money towards the loan and paid it off early. 

After doing this, we still took part of the money we were using to pay the car loan each month and opened a new savings account and put a portion of that money into it so we could start saving for a down payment for a 'new to us' car, when the time was right. Because at this time we didn't see the need for a new car for a few years.

Then months later we were very blessed by God and some loved ones. We were able to pay off Matt's loan completely, leaving us with one one student loan payment. Mind you this was totally unprompted by us- we were approached and didn't ask anything of others. Matt and I both fully believe it was our choice to attend college and assume the debut associated with a four year degree. We had full intentions of paying for these loans ourselves. God had another plan though. Very shortly after having Matt's loan taken care of mine was too. This is a blessing I can say without a doubt is the Lord's doing. Matt and I have diligently been paying off student loans since graduating. We started with four loans, two each. We paid off two before having Lauren, when we were a two income house. The two remaining were manageable and plugging away we would have paid them off but to have them taken care early a miracle beyond words. This freed up the funds needed, without even knowing we needed them. In fact, I have a vivid memory after we were approached about helping us out and saying to God- "You must know something I don't- because we're doing okay right now, You're providing for our needs- why do we need more?"

You see we had the Pilot and a four door sedan, both in good working order, nothing wrong with them. That was until Olivia was born. I know that may seem silly, since both of those cars work just fine with two kids, but here's the kicker- when Brooke is around that brings us up to three kids. And if we're lucky enough God will bless our family again (Lord knows I'd love a van full).

The Pilot seemed SO big, until you put three car seats in there. First off with two kids in car seats in the middle row you can't get to the back row unless you climb through the back. So each time I watched Brooke, I would crawl into the back with her- my butt on full display was I buckled her in. Then add a double stroller into the mix. Plus, in order to give Brooke her much needed leg room, I had to move the passenger seat all the way forward, move the middle row seat all the way forward and then she didn't look like an elf stuffed into a too small box. It wasn't horrible, but it just showed us that a minivan was in our future. And the same goes with vacations/trips. Yes, the Pilot fit all of our stuff but we are busting at the seams, especially when we had a little baby that requires so much stuff- it gets better once they're older and I've become a better packer as I've realized what is needed and what can be lived without. But again all signs pointed to a minivan in our future.

Now I'm going to send you back some years. When I met Matt he was driving his family hand-me-down 1988 Dodge Caravan. He's been a minivan man since I've known him. He has been all about a roomie minivan since we were talking babies. So he was on board when I was screaming "minivan" the first time I tried to put three car seats into the Pilot. 

We are not frivolous people so we did not run out and buy a minivan just to accommodate me driving around with three kids when I watched Brooke. I began praying for our next car and what it might be. Praying for God's timing in this decision. We live on one income- two years ago I would have told you we'd be sporting the same two cars for years to come, knowing full right we couldn't afford a new car any time soon. But then God provided in a way only he can. 

We did kind of set a time frame for the new potential car- we were flexible knowing God's timing would be best. When we first talked about it- we were thinking some time in 2014. As things fell together financially though it seemed that it might happen sooner. So things get better- as they always do when God's hand is in it. So here's the cherry on top and sprinkles all over part! We had set a date for Matt's parents to come down and enjoy the girls while we enjoyed some time to ourselves for our anniversary. And as everything worked out the perfect van came into the scene. It was all we desired and more. It was a gift from God delivered at such a time as we could take care of everything kid free. God even provided babysitter so that we could spend then many hours at the dealership without our little loves in toe. That was beyond my imagination wonderful!

I needed to write this. I needed to achieve His working in Our lives. He blesses us beyond our imagination. We were just hoping for a car to better suit our growing family and he didn't just give a four wheels and a payment. No HE provided the money for the car, a newer car that will last for years, a car that fit not only our list of needs but our list of wants too. 

So here she is "Big Red." The car my kids will remember at their childhood minivan. May many fun memories be made in this car. May many great trips be enjoyed in this car. May God's hand always remain as part of this car so that we will be safe and protected every time we're in it. May it always remain a symbol to us of how God will provide!

"And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ-- to the glory and praise of God" Philippians 1:9-11