Wrestling and Bath Time...

The last few weeks have been challenging. Kirk has been "temporarily layed off" for the past two weeks....though it has been nice to have him home with us, the looming possibility of a permanent layoff (let alone the no paycheck) has been heavy on our hearts. We holding onto the hope that God's timing is perfect in all things, but we often wrestle with the "why now?" question. God chooses to "shake" those who seem comfortable....well that was us! We seemed to be so comfortable in our way of living....not that we had lots of money or everything was great, but we were comfortable in how we were living life. Great church. Great family. Great job. Great house. Great LIFE! Even though it is still great, God has chosen to move us from that comfort zone and tilt us more toward Himself. Even though it's not easy, I can see how God is molding our hearts, moving us closer together as a couple, and showing us what it truly means to focus on Him for our EVERYDAY needs.

I have to say that He definitly has provided for us in many ways. We have great family support and those around us are willing to help. PRAISE GOD FOR THAT. We also have a great church family that has lifted us up in prayer and offered to help in any way possible. We are getting by day by day. We have had to cut out a lot of "extra" things but have quickly found that those are not true NEEDS! God has provided what we NEED and for that we are grateful! He is so good.

I would appreciate your prayer through this time. I know also that we are not alone in this....there are SO MANY people looking for jobs and experiencing a job loss....lets pray for them too! We are so blessed but many are not so fortunate. May God be praised during this time and may He be the one that we continue to look for. He knows our needs and loves us THROUGH our circumstances!

On a lighter note, I thought I would add a few photos and video of Caleb. He sure is getting his own little personality! He loves bath time...maybe because he loves to splash in the water but I think it's because he gets to have DADDY TIME! He sure loves his daddy!

Enjoy the video and sorry if there is any inappropriate footage....oops :)

The day before a haircut....much needed haircut

Also a little update on our potty training.....today was our second day of BIG BOY UNDERWEAR and I must say he is doing GREAT! The first day we had 4 pee accidents and 1 poop accident. Today, we only had ONE pee accident!!! We are making progress. He seems to realize when he goes now so hopefully it clicks! The sooner we get this boy out of diapers the better :) We will keep fighting this good fight!!

God bless

Amy

Warm Days...

This was our first warm day....he LOVED just running around the driveway. Earlier in the day he splashed in some puddles! He is going to be outside a lot this summer, I just know it!

Caleb loves the little hill in our backyard. He and Daddy had fun running down it....

Caleb LOVES to watch his "babies" - this is what we call his Baby Einstein videos - and this particular night he found out that it is much more comfortable to sit on the couch next to mommy rather than on the floor. Too cute! He sat there the whole time just watching and chewing on his teether (molars are coming in!). I thought it was so cute!

He is growing up way to fast! Where did my little baby go?!?! God sure has blessed us!

Enjoy!

Pee-Pee Update

Just to keep everyone updated...Caleb is still getting on the potty every hour each day. It is taking it's toll on me but I am trying my best to wake up every morning and pray this prayer "God give me the grace I need today to love Caleb in EVERYWAY he needs to be loved today....even with potty training!" God knows my strength and weaknesses and He is working on me even through this. For that I am thankful.

Caleb actually GOES to the bathroom probably at least a few times a day. I am still unsure if he actually realizes when he goes, but I am just trying to be consistant with it and one day it will "click" (hopefully!)

Just wanted to send out that update! :) Keep the prayers coming if you think of us!

Our latest "challenge"...

Okay so just last week I decided to buy Caleb a potty chair. I did this with very little expectation of him even wanting to sit on the potty for any length of time. Well, much to my surpirse, HE LOVED IT! He sat there for a good 10 minutes (reading books mind you) the very first time he sat on the potty!

SOOOOO, I have decided to take a stab at potty training. I know, I may be crazy since he is only 19 months, but I figure, what the heck.....I am a stay-at-home mom with ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD! :) Right......

It has been going pretty well so far. He doesn't ever really put up a fuss when I put him on it, but it does get a little wearing on me....we sit on the potty once every hour! Wow, that is a lot of time sitting on the bathroom floor :)

I am trying to enjoy it, though, and take it with it's ups and downs. I still have him in diapers and we are going to move to pull-ups (the ones that get cold when he pees) in a day or so. We'll see how he does with that. I still am unsure if he actually KNOWS when he goes to the bathroom (even on the potty), but that can be worked on....I think right now the consistancy is KEY!

So, keep me in your prayers and I will keep you updated. Since we started on Saturday (Jan 24th) he has gone pee-pee on the big potty about 5 times. I am just going to keep on keepin on! :)

I enclosed a picture of our "challenge"...... :) hehe.

Enjoy :)

Loss vs. Prosperity

Just a thought to ponder....as I have been pondering it these last few days. May it challenge you and stretch your faith and trust in God...

"God is glorified in you when you are most satisfied in Him in the midst of LOSS not in Prosperity."

This is kinda a hard thing to grasp. What does this mean? To me, this means that we are not to show others that the THINGS we have are "gospel". For example....I have this great car because Jesus gave it to me. Or I have this wonderful job because Jesus gave it to me. That sure would make the world want Jesus huh? Well we need to show others that even through the midst of suffering, heartache, hard times, loss, struggles, and pain GOD IS STILL GOD. He is still the only one that is ENOUGH for all the circumstances we go through. He is enough even when we feel the oceans rage around us....when we feel the world cave in on us....when we lose everything.

No, I have not experienced this kind of pain or suffering lately, but I know some who have. It is a true testimony when you see those experiencing loss and pain turn their eyes to Christ. That they can see the handiwork of God through the deepest of pain. They can point their hands to heaven and says "Your will be done God, not my own....in Your timing not mine". WOW, that is faith! That is trust!

Oh God, may my heart turn toward You in good times and bad, happiness and sorrow, prosperity and loss! May my actions and LIFE reflect Your glory in whatever circumstance I am given. That my life here on earth would be a total reflection of Your grace and mercy. May Your name alone be glorified!!!

Amen and Amen

Needy...

Wow I can hardly believe it is already 2009....I remember where I was at midnight NINE years ago when we were wondering what would happen when the year changed from 1999 to 2000. Crazy time.

It seems like time goes so fast these days. With a toddler running around, things get kinda hairy some days. I have really needed to find time for myself...whether that is working out downstairs as Caleb enjoys a Baby Einstein movie in his pack-n-play or reading a book while Caleb naps. I have needed to stop doing the "things" that need to get done (yes, the never ending list) and just take time for ME. I find that I am a much better mom and wife when I take those times.

The other day, I had not felt like I could take time out for myself...I had things to return in the morning, came home, made lunch for Caleb and myself, put Caleb down for a nap, unloaded AND loaded the dishwasher, shoveled the driveway, finished my 4 loads of laundry that I started that morning, got Caleb up, gave him a snack, started dinner.......and before I knew it, my husband was home and wanting some of my time as well. UGH! It was a crazy day. Then I started wondering why I was in such a crappy mood. Most of the time when I am "busy" it helps my day go by faster so I can enjoy the evening with Caleb and Kirk....not this day. I didn't take the time for myself that I SO DESPERATELY needed.

So anyway, some of the things I look forward to this year are: Caleb's SECOND birthday (wow!), running my second 5K in May (the training is part of my ME time), possibly a new baby?!?!?! (we will see what God has in store for us there), finding more time for JUST my husband and I, and simply finding time for myself.

God is so good and as I look over the past year, I can see how His hand has guided me through hard days and protected me from many dangers. I look forward to 2009 in many ways but most of all just another year to dive deeper into my relationships....God, my husband, my son, and my family!

Here are also some recent pics of Caleb....enjoy :)

Caleb and Uncle Jeff

Caleb on the way to church

Just chillin'

Playing outside...didn't like it much because he couldn't walk well :)

Caleb and all his (Reid) cousins

MY reason for the season...

As Christmas draws closer, I have really been thinking about what CHRISTmas really means. This Christmas will be different for my family as some have been laid off their jobs and others are just trying to make their dollars stretch as far a possible. That's okay with me. There will be less gifts but for some reason I feel that this is going to be a very memorable Christmas. The reason is that we have all been forced to ponder the REAL reason for the season...our Savior's birth. That is the real reason we celebrate. It's not Santa, gifts, cookies and sweets, big meals, or anything else that is "typical" for others. Our reason is JESUS.

Our family has started a tradition since grandkids have arrived...my dad always makes a birthday cake on Christmas Eve and we decorate it just like a birthday cake. The kids LOVE to see the cake all decorated because they KNOW what it means...JESUS' BIRTHDAY IS HERE! They LOVE singing Happy Birthday to Jesus! It is so cute. I can't wait until Caleb can join in the fun and actually SING! What a great thing to teach your kids.....Christmas is NOT the gifts but the birthday of Jesus our Savior. I hope Caleb learns that well and knows at a very young age that Jesus is the reason we celebrate the Christmas season.

As I think now where my family is in preperation to all be home...my dad is in Detroit waiting for a plane to arrive from Arizona, my mom is in Arizona helping my sis-in-law pack up her home of 2 years to move back to MI with an unsure future, my two oldest brothers are DRIVING a moving truck back from Arizona all the way to MI (yes, all the way across the country!), my other brother and his wife are at home job hunting from a lay off just before Christmas, and we are here my Mt. Pleasant awaiting the arrival of all of them!

Lord keep them safe! Bring us all together soon to celebrate Christmas as a family. Help us to focus on the real reason of Christmas! Help us to feel your presence and know your love. Heal any hurt from lost jobs, goodbyes, and pains from this past year. Help us all to be "healing balm" for each other as we come together this Christmas. Thank you for sending your Son, Jesus, to come to earth as a baby and die on the cross to ransom us from our sin! We will serve you forever God as you continue to move and work through our family! We love you!

Amen and Amen!

Merry Christmas! I pray your know and celebrate the TRUE meaning of Christmas this year and in the New Year to come!