Living, Remembering, and Honoring

2 weeks is a long time for me to go between blog posts, but it's becoming more and more normal, I guess. Life keeps happening all around me, and I'm trying not to miss it. I also want to capture it--so here we go!

Last night I spent two hours teaching Kaleb how to write a speech. He would much rather stand in front of his class and read a paper he wrote. (I would too, wouldn't you?) But his teacher expects a 3-5 minute speech. This is a new experience for Kaleb, and I loved being the one to help him with it. Together, we translated his paper into bullet points on note cards. I gave him tips on his delivery. Several times he told me my suggestions were "too girly!" Yes, I'm sure he's right. Good thing he can filter out all the "girly" things, and I am confident he will give an excellent 6th grade boy speech on Friday. :)

Aaron had another medication decrease recently. On 12/24/13 we decreased his Depakote to 3 pills twice a day. Last week's blood test showed his level to be 58, which is pretty low on the spectrum of therapeutic range. But his doctor says as long as he's not having seizures, we can continue at this dose. We are SO thankful to God for how well Aaron is doing. It amazes me that he was taking 6 pills twice a day for so long--and now we've cut that dose in half. Praise God!

You would think by now I would have a system in place for 3rd grade boys to practice math facts and read books. I don't. It's a battle for me to get Aaron to do these things. His timed math tests in school reflect the lack of effort he puts in with learning his multiplication facts. Consistency has never been one of my parenting strengths--right, Derek? ;) So I'm looking for something that will work for Aaron. A checklist, a set time every day, SOMETHING that will help us remember he is our little boy who needs to learn these very basic things. I wonder if I was better at this with my older kids? By the time the youngest needs to learn things the older ones mastered long ago, you kind of forget he doesn't know it yet. And that's a glimpse into my world of top-notch parenting, 101. Ha!

Braylen stepped up last night and helped Aaron with his flashcards. We didn't even ask him to. Those two can so often be like oil and water--never mixing--but last night they showed me it IS possible for them to get along. Way to go, Braylen! 8th grade continues to be a good year for him. Some days he tells me school is "boring." In fact, that's the response I get most often out of him. He also says it's "lame." As long as he keeps getting good grades and getting along socially, it can stay boring and lame! I'll take it! :)

My mom and dad retired from their jobs on January 10th and 17th. I still have a hard time imagining them at home every day and not at their jobs. They each had a retirement party I wished I could be at. Thank goodness for FaceTime. I was able to hear all about their parties and see the gifts they received--it felt like I was right there with them. Our boys loved visiting both Grammy and Grampy at work. Over the years we made many visits and took lots of pictures. I pulled a bunch of those pictures together and made an online album for Mom and Dad to enjoy. The kids and I really liked looking at it too. Here are a few of my favorites:

2 year old BRAYLEN with my dad

2.5 year old KALEB with almost 5 year old Braylen.
They kinda look the same size, don't they?

They were so cute and little!

Kaleb, age 8

AARON, 3 weeks shy of 8 years old

At at my mom's work...

BRAYLEN age 4 and Grammy

I wonder if this was the first time he rode in the totes? I'm thinking it is.

My most favorite picture--Braylen, age 8.5

Kaleb-6 and Aaron, almost 4

Kaleb-10.5 and Aaron, 8

Aaron-6, Kaleb-8.5, Braylen-10.5

Congratulations, Dad and Mom!!!

Keep taking pictures, Eric, because that is the BEST way to remember all of these things really happened! Speaking of pictures, I do have some from recent days. And I have more to write about. But it seems right to save all that for next time. I will try and squeeze in one more post this month. :)

A Quiet House

With life group unexpectedly cancelled tonight, the kids at church, and Derek at work--I am left in a quiet house for a bit. And it's not even midnight! (Usually I stay up late since that is the only time I can be alone.) Where do I even go with my thoughts when it's this quiet??!!

Our Christmas break was anything but quiet. And just when I thought the kids would go back to school and I would get a break from all the extra dishes and chores and activities around here--the polar vortex happened and school started a day late! We all rolled with the changes and I was really proud of everyone's attitude. With Derek on his long working weekend, we had to keep the house quiet for 3 days while he slept. Not an easy task when everyone's been together for a 2 week holiday break. God must have poured an extra measure of grace into our days together, and overall we had a good time.

The new year is moving right along. When I think about this being Braylen's last semester of middle school, I am reminded again how short our time with our kids at home really is. Next month we're attending a parent meeting to learn all about registering our son for high school. How did this happen? Really, how did I get here? All those years Derek spent working at the high school, and I never really thought about our kids actually going there. It was always far off in the land called "someday." Now that day is just about here and Derek is not at the high school anymore. I trust that this is all part of God's plan for our family, but it sure would bring comfort to this mother's heart if my husband were still at that school.

Speaking of Derek's job...we are down to just one more month of night shift! Woo-hoo! I'm pretty sure Derek is even more relieved for this than we are. I've been keeping a mental list of things that have happened these past few months, and I really should take the time to write them down. I would title it, "You Know You're Married to a Police Officer When..."

Before I pick the kids up from church, I have just a few pictures from our days stuck inside during the brutally cold weather. When our house was not quiet, but quiet enough for Derek to sleep in. :)

Aaron wrote me a message one night and talk about melting a mommy's heart!

Aaron LOVES eggs.

All on his own, he made this race track and called it the AK 500.

They used the cars Aaron's made with his new car maker.

Ginger is wearing one of her new pretty collar sleeves made by Grammy.
This one is red with white snowflakes on it.

Aaron earned a 2nd place medal in his class for reading points. He also received
Gatorade from his teacher. The picture he painted is part Ginger, part wolf!

Happy 2014!!! :)

It's a Wrap

2013.

I remember telling myself in January that I needed to be more organized this year. Hmm.

Looking at my filing system (a laundry basket overflowing with papers from the past few years) and my kitchen cabinets (crammed with odd assortments of just about everything,) I can see that "getting organized" did not make it to the top of my priorities after all. And yet--our bills are paid, we always manage to find something to eat, and our sons have grown.

What did I do this year that matters for eternity? Clean out some cabinets? File some papers? Did I print my pictures or dust the hard to reach places in my house? Nope! Maybe some day I will get to those things. I really hope I can. But tonight I am choosing to look at 2013 as the year I supported my husband through lots of changes at work. It's the year I loved watching one son rise to the top at his middle school while bringing his 6th grade brother along with him. It's a year to celebrate Aaron's health, and his little-boy sweetness with snuggles at night and big squeezes for hugs. It's a year I stepped outside of my own little world and asked God what He would have me do for Him.

I have loved this year. Thank you, Lord, for an incredible 2013. It is filled with much love, rich friendships, highs, lows, tests, and trials. I think the song Never Once, by Matt Redman, describes what I'm trying to say.

"Never once did we ever walk alone. Never once did You leave us on our own. You are faithful, God You are faithful."

To wrap it up, I have more Christmas pictures to post. :) Surprise! Tee hee! I noticed I didn't post as often in my blog this year. It's not because of pinterest. I don't like pinterest. It must be because I'm so busy being a mom to 3 growing boys...and maybe I'm on facebook too much? ;) Happy New Year!

Making gingerbread cookies with Aaron

Braylen and Kaleb made almond bark pretzels.

Kaleb called them "barky pretzels."

Aaron was a toy soldier in his school program. :)

The 3rd grade Christmas gift is...

...a handprint rug! Now we have 3!

Waiting for Grammy & Grampy to arrive

A favorite gift this year for Aaron

Eagles vs. Bears :)

Another favorite gift--his own pottery wheel.

Christmas Eve

His last present to open...do you think he likes it?!

We played lots of board games this week--especially Clue. Although the game pictured here is Sorry.

Aaron's air swimmer that he wanted SO badly! It's huge!

My biggest blessings of all, my family.

Merry Christmas - He is With Us

Merry Christmas dear family and friends!

"He is With Us."

Emmanuel, Wonderful Counselor, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Our God is with us. Through deep sadness and hurt. Through great joy and celebration. Through every day moments and big moments.

Through it all, Jesus is with us.

Merry Christmas with love from Derek & Sarah

Kaleb and Braylen received a hunting rifle from the 4 of us.

Ginger, a.k.a. Rudolph, rejected her carrot!

Derek and his starlight mints!

Grammy's Christmas morning cinnamon rolls

Braylen bought this gift for Derek and they both loved it.

One of my mom's creations this year. I asked for headbands!

Proverbs 3:5-6

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart. Lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths."