Stephabeth and Family: January 2014

Uhm, yeah, did you notice it is already the 12th?! Crazy!

We made it safely home, did I already tell you that?
It's true that I really just type, make sure my words are spelled correctly and fit the random sense of humor/wit/fun that I am and go on with life. Tends to cause redundancy, but also helps you remember you've been here! I mean seriously, how many bloggers are sitting up on Jan 12th, grading papers, laughing at her puppies, whilst her husband and children are in bed. Did I mention that Santa Clause 2 is currently playing in the DVD player?

Yes!

The Christmas decorations came down (just in case I forgot to tell you my wonderful GA friend!)

We had a great, crazy, and very busy weekend!

A friend joined us for a walk with one of her sweet puppies!

The kids were over the moon THRILLED when she came later with both of her puppies in tow!

Hopefully I spelled that correctly.

Anyhoot it was great because she and I ended up with exhausted puppies!

Add exhausted children to the list, and I was a happy Momma!

Of course, true to form, my stories are not in linear historical order.

I prefer to refer to it as spaghetti.

You know, all connected but in whatever order it comes to mind in.

Friday we celebrated my GA friend becoming a stay-at-home mom!! Those of you who are stay at home moms know exactly how busy she will be! Granted, both of hers are in Elementary School. However, this lady is planning on essentially redoing the insides of her house and doing that beloved deep purging of children's rooms! She was so excited for this next phase God has allowed her to have! We ate at Ruby Tuesdays. Now we are all fun loving people, but we laughed so hard during dinner that my sides hurt! The kids all had a blast! I'll put up those pics soon (soon as in my version of soon ;) It was the absolute PERFECT start to a weekend! Today? Oh my goodness. Well, today we grocery shopped, washed the car, vacuumed the car, swept off the leaves from porches, still working on laundry, graded tests, and am entering grades....of course, not right now, but I will be again in just a minute!

My point in writing?

Kids say the daRndest things.

A kid made the statement that they don't ever remember hearing me laugh like I did Friday.

Heart broken!

I used to laugh all the time! ...and smile. People in college (the more stoic ones) would joke about my face must be frozen in a smile because it wasn't natural to smile that much. They'd also tease about how I must sniff laughing gas because I would laugh all the time.

So, not only do my children not hear me laugh, not see me smile, and don't get to play with me.

Uhm, Poopy-Mom-Of-The-Year Award!!!!!!!!

I play with my kids, don't get me wrong. But not like my kids would like: basketball, football,, wrestling, running around, etc.

I laugh, just not as much or as relaxed as I thought.

Smiling?

Apparently I just don't as much.

So, it's time to get God's joy back in my heart and soul!

I'll fail, of course, but that won't keep me from persevering!

2 weeks until my surgery.

2 weeks and 1 day until Mom and Dad travel to MN for the Mayo Clinic.

Please please please keep praying for Mom. She is still spunky, feisty, sweet, precious, and loving. There are still many times that Mom has her physical strength. However, there are other times that whatever this sickness is robs her of that strength. Please pray for her spirit to be lifted up! Pray for my Dad to have strength, encouragement and to get REST when he is supposed to! He is a perfect hubby who wants to be the one who does everything for the love of his life.

Goodnight friends.

Love ya bunches!

Wow! A whole new year is spread fresh before! All that I can think of is Anne of Green Gables. I know I will quote this incorrectly, but I LOVE how she said a new day was spread before her with no mistakes in it yet! That is how I feel about 2014. This year is going to be a great year with lots of surprises and blessings I am sure!

    Right now I am sitting in my parents' kitchen listening to Christmas music (yep!) Abby is playing with some toys; Stephen <3, Kyle, & Jonathan are playing Xbox; Mom is contentedly resting; Dad is working out (way to go Dad! Start it right!); Snoopy is resting after having her claws done; Sarah is hopefully resting from the flu at her house; Esther is safely home to comfort a sick little puppy; Abraham & Lauren are in GA; Solomon, Katie, Nolan, Micah & Baby Boy #3 are enjoying some sweet fellowship with friends in TN.

      Blogging is something that I have missed doing each week. You are probably thinking one of two things. If you are sarcastic (as I am) you are most likely thinking, "Yes, we can tell. That's why you've been blogging so much!" If you are sweet, (as my mother is) you are most likely thinking, "New job, 2 kids, 2 dogs, you are doing great!" Those of you in the second group I appreciate! Those of you in the first group, you are right and are also appreciated! All I have is excuses so let's ditch this paragraph and review 2013!

     Stephen survived his year of being 30. It was a tough birthday for him. One of those where you realize you are no longer a baby, a teenager, or a carefree 20 something person. We have helped him through turning 31 also! It was a rough year (*wink wink*) He got a fishing boat, a tree stand, a compound bow - the man is spoiled! Rightfully so though! Stephen has been such a huge blessing constantly ready to jump up and help. Many days, far too many for me to admit to, he has worked 10-12 hrs, come home, and helped do all of my things. (kids, homework, dinner, cleanup, etc.) Stephen has a true servant's heart and is constantly a Christ-like example to them.

     Kyle, the charmer, made it through a double ear procedure! Despite his protests, he does have perfect hearing! Kyle has charmed all of his teachers at school and is doing extremely well there! We are SO proud of him! We are hoping to get him into basketball once sign ups start after Christmas break. He missed the last season and was very disappointed. This is my favorite sport he plays! Football is ok. Baseball is...well, it's baseball. Basketball? I grew up on that! I LOVE to cheer him on and I understand the game! LOVE!

     Abby, also known as Abigail when she is having one of her "I am a second grader now and Abby just sounds childish" days, is doing fabulously! She did cheerleading this past semester. We now know every cheer that the school cheerleaders do. Abby would start cheering at 5:45am and go until 7:30pm when she went to bed. We are starting to call her the Dog Whisperer. Abby has taught both dogs to jump through hoops and is working on regular jumps too. Frank will now stand on his hind legs for a treat, jump onto the food bin when it's time for food, and she is working on getting him to sit on his hind legs to beg. Kaden just soaks up any attention he can get and doesn't seem to grasp the concept that he is supposed to be learning a trick. At times though, I do believe he acts like that just to irritate her. ;-) One of my biggest praises for her, well two of them really, is that Abby did not get sick this year! Every previous year she has had bronchitis that has bordered on pneumonia. Terrible fevers. It just breaks my heart every time - this year we skipped that! Thank you, Jesus! Praise #2 - a dear, sweet friend began giving gymnastics classes. Abby has joined and is LOVING it!

     Jonathan, my younger brother, has been extremely busy lately. Working for FedEx led to long hours and 21 straight days of work. I know he is very thankful to be past that holiday season. Our kids are extremely thankful he is able to stop and play with them! They soak up every one of his free moments!

     Mom, is doing well. This has been a very crazy year for her. We went from Lymes disease to some unknown something that is literally keeping her body from absorbing nutrition. Most people (including me) would have sank into "the depths of despair" (Anne of Green Gables for ya ;) but not Mom! She has fought this battle for her 5th year now and is encouraging people left and right. A sweet lady comes to stay with Mom Monday through Friday. This is the 3rd person to do so. I didn't meet the 1st lady, but the 2nd was a friend from my HS days. She made Mom laughed, did sweet little acts of kindness and encouraged her. I can't tell you how wonderful it was to hear the change in Mom's voice! Unfortunately, my friend had to take her nursing boards. We are very excited for her! Our new friend is wonderful! She helps Mom, helps around the house, makes Mom laugh, plays with the puppy, listens to sermons with my Mom and then discusses them. It is SO great! Please continue to lift Mom up in your prayers. She goes to the Mayo clinic in Rochester, MN at the end of January. Please pray they figure this out and are able to treat her. Our prayer is that the Lord decides to work miraculously to heal her before then.

     Dad is showing what Ann Voskamp described as a boring man. It is so sweet and precious to watch him. Dad will help Mom get up in the morning, go to work, come home in the evening, help Mom, fix dinner, clean up, do laundry, clean the house, grab groceries at some point, and prep for the next day. He never complains. He never does anything except encourage and show love. Just look up 1 Cor. 13, it will draw the exact picture of what my Dad is. I have to move on, I'll cry. He is so perfectly sweet.

     Snoopy is the Faithful one. She stays very close to Mom. When Mom changes rooms, Snoopy moves with her. If Mom goes to rest, Snoopy will lay down outside of the bedroom. As soon as Mom wakes up, Snoopy will come out to see who is here to help Mom out. Of course, Mom & Dad are wrapped around her little paw. Our little puppy is 9 yrs old! These past two weeks she has been completely spoiled rotten with extra love from her favorite (Esther) and the kids. =)

       I am doing pretty well too! So very ready for the 7th! Please understand, I love every SECOND up here in God's Land (aka the North.) However, Jan 7th we will be visiting a new urologist. I've exasperated my previous one. He called this new Dr and explained my case. My 1st urologist and I have been through 9 procedures, 6 of which were in this past year. It is time to end this kidney thing!

Both of our puppy dogs are doing very well! I am ready to see them too! They are so sweet and precious!

Abraham and Lauren are doing great in GA! Lauren is enjoying her promotion! Thankfully this job should be a touch less stressful. Both work very hard and I can't wait to see them! Currently we do not have a plan in place to visit, but should the opportunity arise we will jump to take it!

Friday we will be driving to Nashville to see Solomon, Katie & the boys. I love visiting them! It is so relaxing and fun!

I'm winding down dear friends. It is time to play games and be a family!

The kids got to experience Christmas at the Zoo!