Goodbye 2014, it's been fun!

I haven't posted as often this year, but it's been a really good year. Maybe that's why I haven't posted a lot. I've been living it. :)

Derek became a sergeant, after so much prayer and times of waiting. We had a really fun time in Colorado with our family there. Braylen grew from a middle schooler to a high school student, which is a VERY big deal, while Kaleb established himself within a solid friend group. Aaron is WAY more independent at the end of 2014 than he was at the beginning, something I have mixed feelings about. Oh, and Braylen is driving!!!

This is the year of our big trip to DC. The year I took Aaron to San Diego. We saw lots of America this year and continue to celebrate all we have done, while knowing in our hearts that there's no place like home. 

I really, really want to hold on to what I have and not take these years with my family for granted. Our parents remain involved in our lives and I love to see the bonds grow between the generations. Our sisters and brothers and cousins and friends make everything more fun and exciting. We may not be rich with money, but we are wealthy in the ways that count. I am so grateful.

Goodbye 2014, thanks for the memories. :)

It's Christmas

It's the most wonderful time of the year...

I love that song. I love Christmas music, period! I love all things Christmas...even the things that feel like so much work.

Like shopping, and wrapping, and cards, and baking. I think it's all worth it. :) It's all just the fluff of Christmas anyway. When it comes down to it, Christmas is about so much more.

Tonight Kaleb told me about a new kid he met at school this week. The details are a bit jumbled, but here's the gist of it. Kaleb says he's a nice kid, kind of quiet, so he sat with him at lunch today. (My sweet boy.) The first thing he said to Kaleb was, "Are your mom and dad your foster parents?" When Kaleb told him no, he just hung his head. Then he told Kaleb some of his background, and that tonight he's moving--again--and he won't be back at this school. He shared that he's not getting anything for Christmas, and if he did, he wanted a Nintendo DS. Kaleb wanted to give his to this boy, but after talking with him some more, he found out that he can't have anything like that where he's going. 

Hearing the compassion Kaleb has for this boy really touched me. Suddenly I didn't care that bedtime was delayed. I didn't care that all my Christmas cookies--4 batches--are gone and I have to make more. (My boys eat a lot of cookies!) I saw my son touched by this boy's story and I realized this is so much bigger than me and my plans.

We have so much. We really do. 

I hear the whisper in my heart: "To whom much is given, much is required." 

What are we doing about that? Here in our community, at Christmas, how can we love people? Maybe it starts with something as simple as sitting with a new kid at lunch, looking him in the eye, and listening.

"And a little child shall lead them." Isaiah 11:6

And that is why this is the most wonderful time of the year.

Merry Christmas from my heart to yours! :)

A Very Special Birthday

November's highlight always comes on the last day of the month for our family. Kaleb is 13 today, my goodness, how did that happen?! He's such a fun son, no matter what age he is. :)

He wanted a deer cake this year!

One week before his 13th birthday, he got his first deer. The day before his birthday, he got his first turkey! Throw in his awesome Uncle Si impersonation and there was no doubt in my mind that this cake and this t-shirt are perfect representations of who he is right now. :)

Kaleb with his money tree and with Aaron :)

Kaleb with cousin Danny
Danny LOVES Kaleb!

So now we officially have two teenagers in our house. Our world is rocking, that's for sure. I'm learning how to hang on and enjoy the ride. :)

A successful hunt all around, lots to be thankful for on Thanksgiving, family pictures with Derek's side of the family, Kaleb's 13th birthday...those are some of the reasons why my blog posts are few and far between!

Our little reader
Derek said, "Are you reading over my shoulder?" :)

Yay Kaleb!

Yay Braylen!

Our 3 boys with Shawn and Devyn
Derek got his deer with his dad, and I don't have that picture.

Loading up Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes at church

Kaleb's fall band concert
This is his jazz band.

Grandma Muriel and Kaleb on Thanksgiving
We are so happy to have her with us. :)

We met our newest nephew and fell in love with him!

Cousins Braylen and Michael, the oldest and the youngest :)

Another beautiful sunset

At Kaleb's family birthday celebration, we asked him questions and told him what we love about him and what we hope for him this next year. Some of the standouts:

• His favorite weather is not too hot and not too cold--fall weather!
• His favorite car--Lamborghini
• His favorite restaurant--Arby's
• The best gift he's been given--"Mom and Dad teaching me about Christ"

I should have written them down because that is all I can remember! Oh Kaleb, you are such a gift to me. When you were born I had no idea what kind of person you would become. It's been the joy of my life to be your mom! Keep lighting up this world--it needs more of you in it. :)

Act Like Men

We're well into the month of November. All is well, and nothing's really new around here. It's deer season. I'm getting ready for Kaleb's birthday. Obviously, it's almost Thanksgiving. So today I'll share a little bit of what's happening beneath the surface of our family. What I'm working through, and what makes this season unique from the years before it.

Act Like Men. This phrase has been running through my head lately. Our boys are no longer little cuties playing cars and snuggling with mommy. I do miss those days...

Today our boys are young men in training. (Key words--in training.) With Braylen at 15, Kaleb on the cusp of 13, and Aaron right in the middle of age 10, Derek and I are officially training up young men. We'll be in this mode for quite a while. In lots of ways it's like having little boy antics present in bigger bodies. The wrestling, the noise levels, the odors, the fights, the messes--young men in training are all of these things and more. Some days I delight in it. Some days I grow weary of it. One thing that never changes? I am SO THANKFUL for my husband. He used to be a young man in training, so I run to him for help a lot these days. It struck me recently that while I needed his help with the baby years and the little boy years, his involvement with our sons in THESE years is essential. I could not effectively parent these young men without him.

Why is this just now hitting me? Maybe it's because 4th grade has changed Aaron. While his older brothers were already young men in training, Aaron remained my little boy. I still had him to keep me grounded in those little boy years. Then 4th grade happened and I really didn't see the change coming. You would think by now I should know what to expect with a 4th grade boy. Maybe I just forgot? Anyway, with Aaron's new independence and separation from Mom, we're moving on.

Here's what I know:

• I'm no longer the center of their lives. And that is how it should be.
• These young men need to bravely walk the path towards manhood, while I learn to step back and let them.
• I'm still here for them, sometimes out of sight and out of mind, but always within reach.

Someday, when they are grown, I hope to see sparks of playfulness and humor remain in their eyes. Little bits to reflect their boyhood. However, I pray they will not act like boys. They will be watchful, stand firm, be strong, and do everything in love. That's called acting like men.

My inspiration for this post comes from the Bible verse below. It's my new favorite for this season of training young men.

I Corinthians 16:13-14
"Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love."

And that's what's going on beneath the surface of everyday life. :)

A few pictures to wrap this up!

Since taking Family Consumer Science, Kaleb helps out more in the kitchen.

Veteran's Day parade
Braylen's last chance to march this season and our last chance to watch him.

Derek got the boys ready for deer season this year.
Then he went to bed since he worked all night long.

They needed lots of layers to stay warm!

Serving his son and sending him out to hunt while he stays behind.
My husband acting like a man!

Snow on November 15th, opening day of deer season!
Since Derek was home and awake, he and Aaron shoveled our driveway. :)

Aaron and his smiley face pepperoni pizza