he's three

oh my soul my little eli you are three!  how did you get here so fast?  you are so busy and so amazing and i honestly think it was just yesterday that we brought you home all snuggled and little.  just yesterday that daddy and i were talking about adding another little person to our family.  oh how are our family is amazing and busy and adventurous because you are here.

we were supposed to go to a baseball game for your birthday but it was raining so we had a small party with the family and lots of celebrating.  we will do the baseball game soon my little sports fan!

you have grown so much this year.  you have no idea that you are not really as old as your brother and sister.  you will not be left behind no matter what that means, no matter what is going on.  asher is by far your best friend.  you want to spend time with him all the time.  yes, the two of you have your brotherly disagreements but you two are always together, share everything and are always running, sword fighting, and wrestling.  you want asher with you always especially at night.

you are my high adventure man. you have no fear of anything.  daddy has said more than once that as long as you survive your childhood we will have been successful parents.  we always laugh but there is more truth to that statement then either of us really wants to admit.  yes, we have spent some time in the ER with you.  usually though you are wondering around the house with an ice pack, several band-aids and way more bruises and bumps then i can even count.  you are a busy boy and we would not have you any other way.


you are always making us laugh and love to be the center of attention.  there are days when it's all i can do not to laugh when you have pulled some stunt or another that i really should be serious about and discussing safety.  your laugh is completely contagious and i love to hear it all over the house.  oh how you make my heart light and how you keep us all entertained.  you have your own special giggle and oh i know that means trouble and that you are up to something you probably shouldn't be. 

and yes, you are three. you have your own opinions, ideas and thoughts.  you are not about to let anyone tell you otherwise.  you may have older siblings but that has never stopped you from doing what you want.  you have your own plans and if they want to come along great.  if not, well, you're still going to do it.  you are not about to be overlooked or forgotten but you are also not about to let that happen to anyone you care about either.  you will stand up for anyone and want to be sure that the things you think should be happening are actually happening.  and that they are happening the way you think they should be happening.  you are loud and busy and all boy - all the time.  oh yes, you are.

and so my little man you are three now.  and i have so many wishes for you.  but mostly my heart wishes for you to be who God created you to be.  to run after Him with your whole heart.  to look out at the world and see the amazing things He created and to know that He loves you.  that in all creation He loves you! you are amazing and wonderful and such a precious gift.  your daddy and i treasure you more then you know.  we are always here for you and we love you and though we want to keep you close we also know that even now you need to fly - it's who you are.  we love you!

prayers and packing

so we have moved!!  

ethan was my little helper while we packed.

okay, he was more the UNpacker

and was happily pulling things out of the boxes as fast as i could put them in

but he was pretty cute

so it was allowed.

{or at least allowed until nap time or bed time and then the packing got serious}

most everything we own has now been sorted, organized, and packed.

decisions had to be made on each piece

to store, sell or bring it to africa.  

it was easier then i thought at times

and harder then i thought at times.

some things just brought up memories.

memories of times before children.

memories of little hands and little people as God added each of them to our family.

memories of trips and adventures

memories of everyday life in years past.

it slowed the packing.

but i wanted to have those moments to myself

before we sold almost everything we owned.

no real desire to relive those precious moments while people where perusing our things.

knowing that most things would eventually find homes in someone else's house

i found a lot of comfort in offering prayers over the things that went into the boxes.

so each box, tote or bag was filled with things

and with prayers.

prayers that our things would be a blessing to those who purchased them.

prayers that each person would find

comfort, joy or peace 

both in finding the things they purchase

but also each time they use/see those things.

prayers that the sale of these things

would bring us to the precious children 

waiting for us in africa.

so now we continue to move closer to those children

and perhaps we are closer then we think

perhaps.

skydiving

so a little while ago my husband and my father decided to go skydiving.  it's been something they have talked about for a few years now.  dad turned 60 this year and so we decided that we would get him his first jump as his gift.  we also figured that since he wasn't always that good at redeeming open-ended gift certificates we would send pete with him {that and pete just really wanted to go too}

so we loaded up and headed out to watch these crazy men jump out of an airplane.  they did the little class and had some instruction and then got ready.  dad went first.  he got all suited up, went through the review with the guy he would be tandem jumping with and got a bunch of hugs.

and then he flew off in an airplane.  and we waited.  and we waited. and we waited.  really it wasn't that long but with four little ones in an open hanger without much to do, well, you know.  but we found things to entertain ourselves....

like cones and tipping them over

and a golf cart that the very nice skydiving people said we could sit on and play with {thank you, thank you, thank you!}

and then we got the heads up that papa was out of the plane and headed down.  out we ran and then we saw him coming down and as he floated down we fought the urge to run and greet him.  but he landed great and then walked across the field with the biggest grin on his face.  the expression for the day - "oh, it was a hoot!" {i kid you not, those were his exact words!}

then it was daddy's turn.  he got all suited up and did he look great in all his gear.  eli thought it was great!!

then he got checked out and mia double checked just to be sure her daddy was safe!

one last big group hug and then he was off and running to the waiting plane. he climbed in and off they went up into the sky and out of sight.  and we waited again.  oh that waiting is hard. 

and then we got the same little announcement - daddy should be out of the plane and visible in just a few seconds.  out we went to search the sky to see if we could find him.  and sure enough, that little spec of something turned into a daddy drifting safely down to the field of grass.

and then he just as confidently strolled across the grass to us and grinned.  he loved it as well and now they are both trying to convince me that i should go.  and to be honest ... i may not be so opposed to that idea. =)