And, She's 4.....

Last week was a whole lot of this...

 She's 4. Lost her nap (completely), is over tired, strong-willed and knows exactly which buttons to push. Although, she's always known which buttons to push! Thankfully, her flip side is sweet and helpful and she melts my heart with the way she loves on her brothers and friends.

Fall is here, and we are enjoying it!

First Day of J.K

There's no looking back now!

Is it even possible? Does someone want to tell this momma how we got here?

 Because there is no way she is old enough for this.

Ready? Oh, more than ready, old enough? That's still up in the air!

Here's hoping her first day was filled with fun, laughter and new friends!

Now I'm off to meet the school bus.

Anthony's 6th Birthday

LLast 

Last Friday, Sept 10., my big boy turned 6. He started grade 1 on the 7th and turned 6 on the tenth! I cannot believe that time is flying so very fast!

The party may, or may not, have involved water balloons, alien cupcakes, crazy l.o.u.d yelling, mad dashing through the house and playing with army men.

They had a blast! It was a great way to celebrate this sweet, wonderful, handful of a boy of mine. We are truly blessed to have been given him to raise!

Vulnerability

Been thinking alot lately about a number of different things, but the biggest thing right now, is vunerability in the midst of struggles.

And what that means for Christians.

God's been working to break the walls I like to hide behind, walls that I think will keep me safe, but really, just keep everyone, including God out.

If we, as Christians, are too ashamed, prideful, fearful to share our struggles with the body of Christ, where does that leave the lost, broken, hurting of the world? What hope does it offer them to see individual strength in the pews when it is the same as what the world offers?

The church offers hope, but how is that displayed to a world longing for hope when the people behind the stained glass fail to be vulnerable with eachother?

I sit in church, in the midst of darkness, and sing words I should believe, and do on some level. But feel like a puppet, doing what everyone else is doing at the same time. If I, as a believer (even when my faith is weak) feel like that, what does that man off the street think as he crosses the threshold after the start of service, hoping to slink in unnoticed, searching for something to fill the void? Or that woman, who comes in laughing and talking admist friends she has known for years, lonely in the deepest places of her heart?

Do they find Him?

Christ offers hope, strength and joy in the midst of everything. His love is sure and forgiveness free - for us.

So maybe I need to get over my shame and pride and let Christ work in and through me.

First day of School 2010

Anthony starts grade one today and he is so very excited about it. Alexandra gets to meet her J.K teacher for an hour this afternoon, she doesn't officially start until the 21 of September because the school board here does a gradual - staggared start for the J.K. She is disappointed to say the least.

Anthony turns 6 on Friday!! This week is a busy one for us.

Fall is offically here, not just in weather, for it is here in that too, but in the ruotines and business that comes with school and dance and Beavers and swimming.

Thankful for the amazing summer that we had, glad to be back into routine though.

Last Days of Summer

 Yes, before you ask, I did, in fact, bribe my children with Timbits to get these pictures, the ones where they actually look nice and are smiling/looking at the camera! Don't judge me...I wanted faces of my children...especially since I think one of them is going on our Christmas cards for this year!

 Yup, see...evidence of the Timbit in chipmunk cheek here!