Yes, I Am Biased About My Kids...

Every parent should be biased about their own children. It's a given. 

I know my kids aren't the absolute best...they aren't on the genius levels...

But they are the smartest, funniest, most beautiful children that I know... and I am totally ok with you disagreeing and feeling those things towards your own children! 

Here are a few things I love about my kiddos::

1) They work hard to make each other laugh. Breelee is the one who does this the most. From bodily functions on demand or crazy dance moves...she can make them laugh. And when she's crying or another one of them is crying...they do their best to make that one laugh. Yes there is fighting...but most of the time, there is a lot of laughter in my house! 

2) They enjoy making new friends. It is very easy and natural for them to introduce themselves to others. I think this stems from our work with Chi Alpha, where Bella regularly heard her daddy introduce himself and then introduce us. He still introduces us when we go to visit him at work. It's precious to hear them introduce themselves in the same format...it's a blessing! 

3) I get to watch their faith grow. We ask them things that they want to pray about...and then Lee and I decide 1 or 2 things that we pray together for as a family...every night. One of the big things we prayed for when Bella was little was for some friends of ours to get a house. We prayed for months for their situation, and they eventually got a house! It wasn't where they planned or pictured, but they were able to trust God that it was the right place for them. Chris, our thoughtful friend who knew we were praying for his family, sent Bella a thank you card and a picture of their house...talk about building her faith! I know that God is not like Santa Claus...it's not a just because I ask I get it situation...but when we ask in accordance to what God's plans are, He will answer. 

This is not exhausted by any means...but this season of life is tough. Three little ones are not easy to manage. But again I want to challenge myself to focus on what I love. There is a lot that drives me bananas...a lot that I don't always handle well...but if I can focus on what I love, it will help me create the kind of safe, warm, and fun environment I want my home to be. 

So, now that I know you are biased...what do you love about your kiddos or those kiddos closest to you? 

A 4 Week Difference...

It's hard to believe that just a little over 4 weeks ago we were packing up in the snow and ice with mountains as our background. 

Now I am looking out a window at a beautiful yard with a mud puddle in the driveway that my children get excited about it filling back up!  

In some ways it feels like we've been here longer than a month. 

We've been able to reconnect with some amazing friends who live in this area or close enough to make a drive to see us. 

We had my niece spend the whole weekend with us our first weekend here! The girl cousins were thrilled with all that time together!!

We've been able to go to my mom and dad's house together as a family...something we haven't done in 2 and a half years (thanks to my husband's selfless sacrifices of sending me to my parents for Thanksgiving for 2 years). 

We've been able to spend time with another homeschooling family who has a daughter the same age as Bella! Jenelle has been an amazing resource to me - even before we started homeschooling, I picked her brain about her experiences since she's successfully homeschooled 5 children! She has encouraged me as we were 1300 miles apart, but now that we are in the same neck of the woods, being around her and her awesome kids makes me feel so much more normal. 

We are going to continue homeschooling for the remainder of this year and then assess where we will go from there. We've already been welcomed into local co-ops, field trips, play dates, and we attended a Valentine's Day party last week!! 

Lee is doing well at the Apple Store at Lakeside!! We are both so thankful that he has a job that he loves. He gets to be himself...the man I love. The man who loves people until it hurts. 

It is so refreshing. 

All of it. 

I look forward to what is ahead because I do believe the best is yet to come.